Comfy?

“Can I get you anything? Room service maybe.”

“Oh shit.” Miranda jumped slightly and reached behind her ear tapping the little pad behind her ear to turn off whatever song she was listening to. “Sorry. Didn't expect you back. Doc told me to stay out of the shower and this is the only tub on the ship.” She pointed. I moved closer to get a look at the patch on her back.

“Collagen Mesh. That should do it.” I smiled. Collagen Mesh was a thin sheet of collagen material applied over burns and such that served as a lattice for the skin to repair itself. Perfect for large wounds and such where areas of skin that couldn't be stitched. Not to mention it was dosed with a pain killer that soaked into the blood slowly which explained the smile. She was high as a kite on a windy day.

“Why is their a tub in here anyways?” She smiled.

“It's a noble thing I guess.”I shrugged. Every military ship had at least one room that was even nicer then the captains quarters for VIP personal. Though a large body of water in zero G if the grav gens went out would get pretty messy.

“Can you get my back?” She said handing me the loofah. I didn't even know their was one in here.

“Sure.” I smiled and took the loofah from her and began to run it over her back trying my best to avoid the mesh bandage. “What did you do with the pilot.” I asked.

“Stuck him with the woman friend of his, I felt a little bad for shooting him.” She shrugged.

“Now I know you are high.” I teased.

“Maybe just a little.” She pinched her fingers close together. “The woman he described. You think it's...”

“Artemis. Has to be. She probably turned them onto this system as well before the previous lord died. Whatever she was planning she was hoping they would kill themselves and save the empire the trouble of dealing with them and wasting resources. Maybe slow the new Edenist cults recruitment.” Religion was one of the better and worst things humans had invented. It brought out the best in some people while others used it to justify their own misdeeds.

“Should have let me shoot her when I had the chance.” Miranda smiled as she glanced back.

“I am sure we haven't heard or seen the last of her. I am sure you might get a second chance.”

“Should I shoot her on sight or use my own discretion?”

“Is their a deference?” I teased.

“Damn. You caught me.” Miranda smiled. Their was no love lost between the two of them.

“Anastasia called. Said the shipping guild contacted her to try and persuade me.”

“They didn't waste no time after you where gone. I will have to check out the audio logs when I get back.” Miranda smiled. The necklace I had given Anastasia had a built in listing device. It wasn't a live feed you could listen in on since that could be traced. Instead it recorded and then downloaded once a day late at night. As long as they didn't have a jamming device I would know everything they had talked about. It would let me know for certain if I could trust Anastasia or not. I really wanted to but I had to be sure. “Okay. You can do the front now.” Miranda smiled as she sat back against the back of the tub. Sticking her nice ass tits out. I admit I was a little more then tempted to take her up on her offer.

“I think you can handle it captain.” I said dropping the sponge into the water.

“Can't blame a girl for trying.” She smiled.

It took two days to get back home compared to the two seconds it had taken to get their but I thought it best not to try that trick twice if we didn't have to. It would take the carrier a week or so to get under way but in the meantime she could take on mining equipment and people to carry to the mining site on Icfyre. The capture of the carrier and its presence in orbit would deter any future pirate attacks in the system. Nova wanted to stay but I had other work for her to do on the trip back. Thompson had been working on our smuggler problem. Nova was busily putting that brain of hers to track the money upward working up the food chain.

Mining had gotten underway on the moon though slowly until the equipment arrived. It had however netted a large amount of ore already in just a few days. Jessica Anderson accepted my offer and took up a seat on the council as Minister of scientific affairs. Back on the planet the old man had brought others on board as Minsters. Transportation, health, justice, and trade. Ms. Baker agreed to be the minister of public relations if for no other reason then to keep me honest. When the shuttle touched down and I got out I took a deep breath of the air. It was warm but it was a dry heat. The sun was warm upon my face.

“My lord.” Anastasia came up to meet me as she bowed.

“My lady.” I nodded. “Glad to see the palace is still standing in my absence.” She shook her head at me. I offered her my arm as we walked. “I was glad to hear everything went well and you where not hurt.”

“Sorry I left in such a hurry.” I shook my head. I hadn't given her much of a warning. She hid it well but mistress Elizabeth was keen enough to let me know. I wasn't used to leaving people behind when I went off to some planet or another. Most of my relationships over the past five years had been short term or purely sexual. Anastasia had committed herself to me.

“It is to be expected my lord.” She shook her head.

“I still should have told you.” I shrugged.

“You could always make it up to me later.”

“I will.” I said and stopped. I touched her chin and leaned in giving her a kiss before we moved on. She filled me in on anything not covered in the reports she had sent me. “Where is your locket?”

“That is a long story my lord. I would prefer to talk about it in private.”

“As you wish.” I nodded. I wondered if someone had found out what it really was inside or maybe she had. I glanced back to Miranda who nodded and then headed off in a different direction. I noticed a lot of new faces in the palace. Young women and teenage girls following the servants about stopping only to bow as I passed before moving on. I had been told Lady Cassandra had refilled the ranks of the household staff completely though it takes time to train them. Their was no shot to teach a person to be a servant, yet anyways, So each maid had her own assistant shadow them and to help in her duties. Miranda approved of the system since it meant none where ever unattended. As we walked by the war room I could hear raised voices inside.

“I am telling you it isn't fair.” A voice said. I looked in to see Jessica and Sarah arguing.

“And I am telling you it isn't possible.” Jessica replied. I already had an idea of what they where arguing about. The moon and who should mine it.

“Excuse me. I have to go see to the children.” I smiled and kissed Anastasia cheek then went into the war room. “Ladies. What seems to be the problem here?”

“My lord.” Sarah and Jessica bowed. Sarah was quick to speak first though.

“We want some of our people to be able to mine on the moon. It isn't fair that the freelancers will make so much more then we do here on world.” Sarah said.

“It takes more resources to mine in space then on world. More time, more training for working in low gravity. More dangers They can't even go home at the end of a shift. They go back to a small cabin and sleep in bedroom with three other people in a bed the size of a foot locker.” Jessica shook her head. In my short time before making officer I knew exactly what she meant. The only personal space you had was your bunk and a locker. Four bunks per room and four lockers.

“I am not saying they have it better. I know it is hard but that doesn't mean we don't want to try or that we can't do it if given the opportunity. A lot of the old timers here on world used to mine that rock.”

“But they couldn't do it now. It's a young mans job. Even forty is pushing it.” Jessica said. Low gravity played hell on even the body of a younger man in his prime. The military drew the line at thirty. If you hadn't made officer by then you got an honorable discharge.

“Then put the skills of the old men in the young men.” I shrugged.

“What?” Sarah looked at me.

“Memory engrams.” Jess responded.

“Harvest them from someone who isn't using them any more. I am sure you can find an old timer or two who wouldn't mind having his memories harvested and cloned if you pay him well enough. Not like he is using them.” I said. It be a little out of date but it would cut down the learning curve. That was the catch with memory implantation. The memories had to be extracted from the memory section of the brain. A small piece of brain tissue was removed then cloned. The donor forgot whatever was taken. Not completely since the brain had a little redundancy when storing information but at least parts of it. The cloned engrams where known as a batch. A batch was given to several people to see who retained the most information as well as to grade the quality of the batch.

“They would still need training, ships to house them...” Sarah began to speak.

“...and an assortment of other things and we have limited funds till we start shipping the ore.” I nodded.
Once the first ship reached earth money wouldn't be a problem. As much as I wanted to mine as much ore as possible it took time and money to do. “How about this. Why not a lottery. Each man pays in and one or more is drawn from random. The winners get hands on training under the supervision of the freelancers paid for by the miners guild lottery. They in turn can train others. Think your peoples will agree to that or at least consider it.” I looked at the two of them. Or they could have a cat fight right here and tear each others clothes off right here and now.

“Yes my lord.” Sarah bowed.

“They should my lord.” Jess responded. “While we are discussing planetary resources. This might interest the mining guild to learn. I looked into the food problem.” She walked over and pulled up the map of the planet.

“How do we look?” I said. People could work on the promise of getting rich later but not on an empty stomach.

“The numbers are good but they can be better. I looked at terraforming of the planet and I found this.” She pulled up a part of the planet. “ A small valley to the north. Water from the ice caps in the summers run into the valley. It actually rains here frequently and the mountains serve to keep the water in the valley.” She said showing a time lapsed image of clouds forming and rain.

“Is it farmable?” Sarah asked.

“Not yet but if we put algae in the lakes. It will grow to support algae eating fish...”

“Which can feed larger fish and so on creating a small ecosystem in the valley.” I smiled.

“Anything you don't know my lord?” Jess glanced back

“A lot actually.” I nodded.

“In another year storms in the area will help introduce enough nitrogen into the soil to make it fertile enough for grass to grow and some plant life though that could be helped along to speed up the process. Five to ten years and the valley will be able to support agriculture on a large scale. You could even use your lottery idea to fund it. Auction of farmland.” Jess showed an image of the valley in five years.

“Green grass fields and lakes. That would be a sight to see.” Sarah smiled. Looking at the image as if entranced. I could forget that most of these people had never seen a green world. Even earth was like some legendary place told in children bedtime stories.

“I would be happy to help for a small parcel of land?” A voice said. I turned to see the young man who I had dueled and had almost lost to. “My lord. Good to see you again though without the swords.” He bowed slightly. He was flanked by Thompson and Miranda who had escorted him here

“You as well lord Baptiste.” I smiled.

“Baptiste.” Jessica nodded and walked by.

“Jessica.” He smiled and shook his head as she left.

“You two know each other?” I looked at him once she was out of ear shot..

“We had a thing. Though I do not know this lovely young lady?” He smiled and took Sarah's hand.

“Sarah my lord. I am just a miner.” She blushed lightly.

“A very beautiful one.” He smiled.

“Thank you.” Sarah blushed.

“She is my liaison to the mining guild.” I grinned.

“I will trade you. The one my family does business with is an old man.” He smiled. His family had made their fortune building the machines that the miners used daily.

“He would be my uncle.” Sarah said. It probably be hard to find a Miner she wasn't in some way related to at the very least distantly. At least locally anyways.

“Then you clearly got all the looks in the family.” He grinned.

“Could you excuse us Sarah.” I smiled at her.

“Yes my lord.” She bowed and headed out of the room. Miranda closing the door. I slid my ring on just in case anyone was listening.

“To business then? I was surprised to hear from you after...” He began to say.

“I cheated and won by playing on your moral character.” I teased.

“Not how I would have said it but yes my lord.” He nodded.

“I am just hoping you don't hold a grudge.”

“Not at all my lord. You didn't kill my cousin, only his pride.” He shrugged.

“So on to business. I need the smuggling to stop.” I looked at him.

“What makes you presume...” He began to speak as I put up my hand.

“I never presume anything. You are not involved but your father is and has been for some time now. A friend of mine has a good head for numbers.” I pulled out the data crystal from my pocket and walked over putting it into the map. Hundreds of pages opened up around us detailing every shady deal Thompson and Nova could find. “Their isn't a shady deal that doesn't go down on this planet without your father knowing about it. I am sure you have to know about it but you haven't gained directly from it or else we wouldn't be having this conversation.” Baptiste old man even had involvement with the ministers whom had profited under my predecessor.

“Yes. I knew but have done my best to distance myself from the family while still maintaining the image of nobility expected of us. Me dating Jessica was just to piss him off. At least at first. So why am I here?” The charm had gone from his face as I saw the man I had crossed blades with in front of me.

“Because I want you to run your house when your father is gone.”

“You want me to kill my father or something? I hate the bastard and all...” He shook his head

“No. I want you to save me the trouble of having to. If this information becomes public then your entire family would suffer for all of your fathers sins. If he was to step aside however you could take over.”

“You would not arrest him?” He gave me a look of surprise.

“Once he is out of this system he is no longer my concern. I think he is due a retirement on some beach some where nice.”

“And if he says no?” He put his hands in his pocket as he looked at the papers around him.

“Then he becomes my problem. I am a fair man but we both know he would never receive a fair trial. He would try to buy his way out of it having a few judges in his pocket all ready. So he will never see the inside of a courtroom. Least not here. He will stand before the emperor himself to argue his case against all the evidence around you that I will provide.”

“He will fight this.” Baptiste shook his head.

“He can try but I can't be bought nor intimidated. Events of the last week should show my resolve. Even if he wants to kill me there are only nine people on the planet who could even get close enough to try and two of them are standing behind you.” I looked at Thompson and Miranda.

“Your fathers right hand man would be the obvious choice to try and kill me so we have eyes on him.” I said pulling up the map and pinpointing his exact location. It take weeks to get the radioactive isotopes in his blood stream out of his system. Until then we could track every move he made on the planet.

“Even if he did kill me all of this information around you will become public knowledge to both the media and the empire. I don't want that but I can not let this continue.” I pulled the crystal out and killed the holo.

“Not to mention possible retaliation by the emperor and the duke who have shown our lord favor because of his service to the empire. As well as ourselves. If someone should kill the man who we went through hell with and came out on the other side, they will know our pain and beg for mercy that will never come.” Miranda spoke up. It wasn't a **** threat so much as a promise.

“If you can't do this or don't want to I will understand but I felt obligated to let you save your families reputation out of respect. I would not ask this of a lesser man.” I held out my hand and handed him the crystal. Part of me felt bad putting this on him but he might be the only one who could do what I was asking and convince his father.

“I will need time.” He nodded.

“Of course.” I said handing him the data crystal. “Your a good man and your father is smart. I only hope he is smart enough to do what is best for his family. You will have time though I cannot offer more then forty eight hours by which time all of his financial accounts will be either frozen or transferred to you.”

“Thank you my lord. I should go.” He bowed.

“Of course.” I nodded. Thompson showed him out. Miranda closed the door behind her.

“Think he will do it?” Miranda asked as she walked over.

“Yes. Or at least try.” I nodded. “The recordings?”

“Here my lord. You sure you want to watch it?” She handed me over the crystal.

“Yes. Please stay though.”I replied. I put it in and saw an image of Anastasia. An ultrasonic projection of her anyways. It was scary how good the picture was even if their was no color.

“Hello.” She said as she walked into a room that appeared around us as she stopped.

“Please sit.” A man's voice said and I saw Mister Jones sitting behind his desk. The quite younger man. Mister Stanton sat in a chair nearby. I wasn't sure where the room was but it was an office of some kind.

“I take it the meeting didn't go well?” She asked.

“No, it did not. When we paid for your fathers treatments we expected results.” The old man glared at her.

“I can only do so much. He is a military man. Not some common noble. It will take him time to trust me. We haven't even had sex yet. I can't work miracles.”

“What is he gay?” The younger man looked her over.

“Seriously.” Miranda asked. “Hell I would fuck her.”

“No. I know when a man likes me.”Anastasia responded as if answering Miranda.

“Do you think he suspects we sent you to spy on him?” Mister Jones asked. I swore I felt my heart pause for a second.

“No, least I don't think so but he is smart. If I rush things he will figure things out eventually.” She said making a smile cross my lips. I could tell she was lying as she licked her lips slightly.

“Then maybe we should slow your fathers treatments as well.” Jones responded.

“You promised me...” She got angry and stood up. Stanton stood up as well and slapped her across the face.

“No we made a bargain.” Stanton said. I had to hold back the urge to try and punch a hologram as anger filled me. He grabbed her and slammed her down onto the desk. Miranda touched my shoulder offering what support she could in the moment..

“You where to give us information. Not excuses.”

“I am. I told you everything, I told you about his meetings. About what he shared with me.”

“Where was he heading when he rushed off so quickly.” Mister Stanton pulled a gun and put it to her head.

“Leviathan. That's all I know. I think I overheard something about pirates.”

“You think he knows?” Mister Stanton looked at Mister Jones.

“Knows what?” Anastasia asked.

“Nothing that concerns you tramp.” Mister Stanton looked down at her and pushed the barrel against her forehead. “I suggest if he comes back you to get him in line or we will have no use for you or your father.” He said letting her stand up. “Nothing we have given you cannot be taken away.” He grabbed her necklace and pulled it off her neck. “Now get out of here you little bitch. You keep your ears open, legs spread and your mouth shut. We will contact you later. You understand?”

“Yes. I understand. I am going.” Anastasia said and got out of the room as fast as she could. I was as angry with myself as I was with them. I had put her in this spot. Even with a gun to her head she hadn't betrayed me. If anything I had used her and put her in danger. I hated myself as much as I did them.

“If he repels that carrier he will realize what we are up to.” Stanton said after closing the door. He walked over and through the locket in the trash can.

“Fucking idiots.” Miranda smiled as she stepped closer.

“He is one man. A fucking military grunt with illusions of nobility. He will come around and once those New Edenist zealots take what they want and destroy the ship yards he will have no one to build ships for him. Him and the other system lords in this sector will come around and pay us whatever we ask for. If he gets himself killed in the process all the better for us.” Jones said smugly. So much for that plan I thought. I turned it off and would watch the rest later after I had calmed down. I had their asses now. Had proof of what they had done.

“I say we kill them.” Anastasia looked at me.