Kris swished the skirt and discovered she liked the feel of this new self. She still wasn't sure how Abby had gotten her into a backless, strapless push-up bra, but it seemed to involve glue, and Kris did not look forward to taking it off. The front looped over her neck, spread just enough to cover the essentials, then dropped to her waist. Kris was proud of that narrow asset; it was something she owned all by herself. From there hung several gauzy skirts, ready to go their separate ways as she walked. If Kris moved quickly, bare skin flashed openly. Most of the time, there was at least one thin layer of flaming red between her and the world. The most substantial material in the entire rig was the sash of the Order of the Wounded Lion cutting across from the right breast to the left hip.
The only thing more interesting than seeing how this planet's fashion police would respond to her dress tomorrow would be to see Sandfire's face tonight when he saw what she'd earned blowing his last plot out of space.
''And to top it all off,'' Abby said, presenting the golden confection of a tiara Mother had bought. Kris frowned at it. Several thin strands circled among a finely beaten wisp of webbing. The patina showed the actual hammer marks… or claimed to. Kris's eyes detected a repetitive pattern; she studied the rear of the crown. Yes, there it was; the tiny data entry port. Not only was the dang thing smart metal, but its maker had been too cheap to use a radio hookup! So much for Mother's claim it was from Earth's dark ages, twentieth century or earlier. Abby settled the tiara on her head, then returned once more with an automatic and Nelly.
''And here's where we put these,'' Abby said, settling both weapon and computer into place around Kris's hips. A thin wire, cosmetically covered, connected Nelly to Kris's implant.
''If I'd known I was going to be decked out like this regularly, I'd have had a backup jack put in my belly button.''
''Not a good place,'' Abby said with a knowing frown. ''One of my employers tried that. Too much tummy rumbling. And when a guy danced too close, or got on top, reception went all to hell.''
''One of your former employers,'' Kris said.
''I don't stay around the dumb ones long.''
''So, is my idea of walking right up to Sandfire dumb?''
The maid stopped her fussing about Kris, eyed her a moment, then gave a quick shake of her head. ''We won't know until we're done. Besides, he pretty much has you where he wants you, and there's not a lot you can do.'' Abby chuckled. ''Mr. Sandfire may rue the day he left you with nothing much to do.''
''Empty hands being the devil's workshop and all that,'' Kris agreed. She did not like being in anyone's trap. Sooner or later, she would get out. Kris took several steps, testing the three-inch heels Abby insisted were perfect for this getup. The many-layered gown shimmered and flashed, and Kris stayed upright.
She paused at the door to her room to take in her friends. Tommy and Penny stood waiting in dress uniforms, his dashing, hers frumpy. Jack looked dapper in formal tails. ''Well, crew, let's see what Turantic nightlife has to offer at the Top.''
''Yeah,'' said Tom, offering Kris an arm, ''we saw the bottom last night.''
At the door, Kris faced four unsmiling men in white ties, tails, and earplug comm devices, as well as two women in black gowns. ''Six,'' she said over her shoulder to Jack.
''That's just a start. I'd have had more if I could.''
Kris swallowed a question about who was paying; that had to be the least of her worries. With a smile and a nod to her new security, Kris crossed the threshold. Down the hall were two more agents. Mr. Klaggath held a spacious and richly apportioned slide car for them. ''Everything is cleared,'' he told Jack.
''Is all this necessary?'' Kris asked, entering the car.
''Princess, you play your part. I'll do mine,'' Jack said as he took station ahead of her, four or five agents to his right and left. Penny stepped back to stand beside Kris.
Like a good Princess, Kris settled comfortably onto the couch at the rear of the car and prepared for a long ride up to the Top of Turantic. The car accelerated sideways smoothly and rapidly. WE ARE UNDER OBSERVATION, Nelly advised Kris. THERE ARE SEVERAL BUGS IN THE ELEVATOR'S CHANDELIER.
I EXPECT WE WILL BE FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.
''No stops,'' Kris said, inviting Penny to join her on the couch for what looked to be a long ride.
''No. The yard has its own bank of elevators, they told us. We've got an express from the old station to the Top.''
Kris mulled that over. ''The Nuu yards share the ferry with High Wardhaven,'' she said slowly.
''Well, High Turantic is proud that its yards have their own totally secure lifts from planet straight to the yard,'' Penny said, apparently quoting someone's advertising cover.
Kris let that roll around for a moment, then swallowed an ''interesting'' before it got out. Instead, Kris raised an eyebrow at Penny. The woman returned just the hint of a smile as if she, too, was finding that bit of data suddenly more interesting than before. NELLY, REMIND ME TO LOOK INTO WHY A SPACE DOCK NEEDS ITS OWN FERRY.
YES, KRIS.
Much sooner than Kris expected, the slide car came to a gentle halt, and she walked into her first surprise of the night. She had expected a ballroom, probably larger than any she'd frequented on Wardhaven, but still a ballroom. What she found as the elevator opened was not so much a room as a place.
Thirty thousand kilometers above the surface of the planet, the cylinder of the station rotated, giving Kris a sense that the floor was down. The ceilings above usually kept her from gasping at the reality. There was no ceiling here. The void reached out above her head. On one side was glass, letting in the vast dark of space and pinprick stars. Opposite that was one huge mirror, echoing, and, if possible, enlarging space. And in a ring between them, going out in both directions and meeting above her head, was a place of places.
Kris needed a whole new meaning for extravagant. Mother had, on occasion, reminded a younger Kris that a lady does not let her mouth hang open. ''She might swallow a fly.'' Tonight, only the fear of swallowing a surveillance bug kept Kris's mouth shut as she took in the breathtaking view.
The slide cars opened on a marble stage with a daunting view. By carefully applying pressure to Tommy's arm, she steered him in a walk around the entire panorama. Three broad stairways curved lazily around, taking people down some twenty meters into different venues.
''Wow,'' Tommy finally whispered.
''Here's a place Grampa could use as a palace,'' Kris said.
''Looks like it was made with that in mind,'' Jack observed dryly, which raised an eyebrow from Penny. Maybe empire building was no longer a metaphor.
''And here comes the Emperor now,'' Tommy whispered.
Disgorging from a newly arrived car was a bevy of sparkling but scarcely clad women. Almost lost in their glitter was a single man attired soberly in black. Black tie, black shirt, black tails and pants. His waist and neck alone gleamed gold: one was girded by a cummerbund; from the other hung a sign of office appropriate for a Royal Chamberlain of yore.
Kris aimed Tommy at him, approaching the dark man much as a smiling matador might have done the most dangerous of horned bulls in the now-banned sport of bullfighting.
''Interesting choice of jewelry,'' Kris said as she came to a stop before her host.
Apparently too lost in chatter with his harem to notice her, he glanced around at her words. He might have gone back to ignoring her for longer, but he blinked as his eyes passed over Kris's own jewelry. Maybe the merest shadow of a frown creased his lips, but it was gone in a moment. ''I might say the same of yours,'' he said softly.
''Mine had to be earned,'' Kris said, fingering the medallion at her waist.
He ran his hand lazily over his golden breastplate. ''This, a minor bauble. I'm told it has some historical significance. I just like how it impresses the girls,'' he said patting one of his collection on her bare rump. Kris did not blink but held his eyes with her own. She didn't miss the hint of commotion behind him among two of his women. One stared at Tom on Kris's elbow, then, with slight eye flicks and nods, drew the notice of her associates to him. Very interesting.