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“Why can’t you tell them you’re a dumb Forka who forgot to log the plan?”

“Because I’m smarter than you.”

“I sometimes wonder,” Billy muttered.

“Just do it. Buy us time, so we can get to Ivy.”

“What is your identification and purpose of travel?” the Prodigy security officer asked.

“My name is Billy Quinn the Fifth. My purpose of travel is to save the life of a beautiful woman in distress.”

There was silence.

“You confused them,” Karn said. “Keep going. We’re almost at Ivy’s ship.” He could see her ship through the cockpit window. Its movements were less erratic. Maybe she’d gotten it back under control but had knocked the comm system off-line. His worry could be for nothing.

“Say again. You’re out here to rescue someone?” the Prodigy security officer asked.

Billy looked at Karn. “Should I tell them about Ivy? They could help.”

“They won’t help. They want to drag us back to the station and slap our wrists for breaking the rules. We’re not going back until Ivy is safe.” Karn didn’t care what happened to him. He needed to make sure Ivy got away from Marcus.

“This is your final warning. Change course and return to the station.”

“Let me speak to them,” Karn said.

Billy opened a comm line for him.

“Or what? We’re on a damn rescue mission. Somebody is in trouble and needs our help.”

“Identify yourself.”

Karn sighed. “Who I am isn’t important. It’s what I’m doing that is. You see that ship ahead of us? On board is the woman of my dreams. She’s in trouble. She’s been taken without her permission by some idiot human who thinks he can do what he likes with her. I’m making sure that doesn’t happen. You can order us around all you like, but I’m not turning back until she’s safe.”

There was more silence. With every second that passed, Karn got closer to Ivy.

“We will deal with that ship. You must return to Prodigy. You’re on a stolen ship.”

It looked like security wasn’t as dumb as they appeared to be. “I borrowed it. The alien I borrowed it from must have forgotten I planned to take it for a short journey. You know, test how good the ship is. I have to admit I’m not loving it. It’s basically a bit of tin with an engine. It doesn’t even have effective warp drive.”

“This vessel has been reported as stolen. There is also no record of your flight plan. You are breaching space convention rules 33 and 76.”

“I thought you said we’d broken station protocol twenty-four.”

“You have.”

“Which is worse?”

“They all are.”

“You’ve really memorized all the rules and protocols?” Karn laughed. “You need to get out more, my friend. Maybe we can grab a drink sometime in the Enchanted Captain, and I can help you figure out the meaning of the words social life.”

There was no response.

“You’ve pissed him off,” Billy said. “You shouldn’t have done that. They’re bigger than us. They have weapons.”

“They won’t shoot us.” Karn was ninety percent certain they wouldn’t destroy them. He’d place money on it if he had any.

“Return to Prodigy.” The security guard sounded even sharper. “We will deal with you there.”

“No can do. Now, you either help us or get lost. I’m going to save Ivy.”

Karn cut the comm link and gestured to Billy. “Let’s get to that ship.”