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The Darkened Eye is well-supplied overall We're short on fuel cells, but our food stores are plentiful and our weapons cartridges fully stocked Once we stop at Prefalon, we can hide out in a quiet nebula so…or we can confront them on the station I haven't decided which one is safest yet I have no doubts that ht, but I worry about Ruth So tells me she won't stay put

I'll need to arm her and keep her safely hidden, I think She wasn't happy about the hidden coht be safest for her On the station, she's exposed and vulnerable Theon board the Eye, hidden away, is the best course of action

I don't relish the idea of telling her, though

I spend the evening going through finance records, ed or connected with my mother in any way Most of my credit accounts are under assumed nale through account after account, looking for remote inquiries, and I'm not surprised when I find a few

I e the funds to a Homeworld charity for orphans Ironic howbut helps herself to my credits At least if I donate the funds, she can't touch them It'll make her furious, which just makes it all the sweeter

Once we lose our tail, we'll have to get back to replenishing our funds We've passed a few fat-looking freighters just begging to be robbed, and I'ht of howat a time, however

I've just closed the final account when the computer chirps "Welcoerly "Will you be docking at this time?"

I push up fro procedures yet Contact Saluruus Bist," I say "Tell him that an old friend wants to explore the cantina" I leave it at that, because Bist will knohat it means It's not as if I can announce Lord Straik sa'Rin just docked, after all Mythe bridge "Aithar?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"I've put a e our ship identification Cycle back to our Dos We haven't used those in a while"

"The Do over Are we docking?"

"Not until we hear from Bist"

"Very well, my lord I'll wait for your orders" He closes the co for ether, or Bist is going to wonder what's going on If he finds out I' hunted, there's no amount of credits in the universe that will entice him to let me dock

Best to not tell him at all

44

RUTH

When Straik rushes back into his quarters, he looks…tired There are dark circles under his eyes and his big body seeh sun He didn't co tells me that our lunch date rattled hi me

For so out with him, and I hope he hasn't decided that it's one-sided That after our quasi-flirty lunch date, he hasn't decided to back off I guess I wouldn't bla with, even onI hate that I' myself It's stupid He's supposed to be my eneand give hi stare "You look as fresh as a daisy"

He storms in, all business, and I wonder if he ever walks nor soh life Probably not "We've arrived at the station"

Oh I glance at his bare chest and then pullback into my lap I've felt so bad about his clothes Sure, it was a perfect bitchhi around in a state of dishevel his chest, I can't i fan of the situation He didn't co, so I asked one of the bots for a needle and thread and got to work repairing one of his tunics It's easy enough to follow the sea clothes back on the Star, so it's soood at "What now?"