Right. Scowling, Kris turned to the Admiral. ''I know with the crisis, promotions are coming fast, but three months ago you were a Commander. Rapid promotion''—she took in his ribbons and the rest of his uniform, no real information there—''even for the Intelligence Service.''
The man shrugged. ''A Vice Admiral interrogating a mutinous Ensign, even an Ensign whose dad is the Prime Minister, might get people talking. I figured a Commander was about the right rank. What did you think?''
Kris thought she'd had enough of this man's games and let the angry Prime Minister's daughter and billionaire speak. ''I didn't much like the topic of conversation, no matter who was pushing it at me. I didn't plan a mutiny. It just happened.''
''I know that now,'' the Admiral said, leaning back into his seat as the car began to move. ''We've finished debriefing those who took your side against your Captain, and its clear you did nothing illegal beforehand. Some damn good leadership in some tough situations, yes. Few men or women could have earned the trust and respect you did. And that fast.''
''Flattery from Naval Intelligence?''
''I like to think that truth is my business. Care to make it yours?''
Kris let her eyes rove out the window. The station with its piers and ships spun above her, then quickly receded as they fell away at one g acceleration. She spotted Firebolt, still in its diminished form. Ship duty! Right!
''This a job offer?''
''Mac still doesn't know where to assign you. You're one of his many hot potatoes. He offered me the chance to solve one of his problems and one of mine. I can use someone with your skills and unique opportunities. Unlike Hayworth, I don't mind you using your own pet computer.''
''For what? Does the Chief of Staff expect me to spy on my father?''
The admiral rubbed his eyes with one hand. ''Tact is not one of your strong points.''
''I'm not a spy,'' Kris said. ''Certainly not on my own father.''
''I don't want you to be. Mac doesn't want it either.''
Kris took that with a grain of salt. ''So, what kind of job are you offering me?''
The Admiral swept a hand out to the black of space and its unblinking stars. ''The galaxy is a challenging place. It's got the most dangerous critters in it: man. It's got people who want this or that and frequently don't want other people to have that or this. Latest news reports say Siris and Humboldt are this close to war,'' he said, holding two fingers a few centimeters apart. ''As a Princess—and yes, I know you hate the word—you can go lots of places an officer can't or shouldn't. You can learn and do things Wardhaven needs to know and get done. And I could help you as much as you could help me.''
Kris turned back to stare out the window. The drop car passed rapidly into the atmosphere, causing fireflies of ionization. The dark of space was rapidly replaced by the haze of atmosphere. Below, Kris spotted the bay Wardhaven City wrapped itself around.
When she rode the elevator up, on her way to Officer Candidate School, she'd been glad to be quit of the place. Now, having seen a few other places, Wardhaven looked mighty nice.
Did she want to protect it?
That's why she put on the uniform. That and a wish to get out from under a father and mother who left very little air for their daughter. That and a desire to save a bit of this, do a bit of that.
Which she'd done.
Did she want to let this man call the shots for her now?
It had to be better than the Firebolt, she reminded herself.
But the Firebolt was a job for Lieutenant JG Kristine Anne Longknife. Not the Prime Minister's brat, or the Princess, or the rich kid. This Admiral, if that was what he was, wanted her for all the things about her that she wanted to escape.
She shook her head. ''Sorry, Admiral, I've got this job. A ship depending on me. I wouldn't want to disappoint my Captain.''
''I doubt he'd shed a tear if you got new orders.''
''Yes, but the Chief Engineer loves what me and Nelly do.''
''My budget can get Dale a very good computer.''
The bastard even knew the Chief Engineer's first name. ''What is it about no that you don't understand?'' Kris asked.
''Just wanted to make sure no was no,'' the Admiral said, reaching in his pocket for an old-fashioned printed business card.
Special Systems Analyst
Call anyplace, anytime
27-38-212-748-3001
Kris eyed the card for only a moment. She'd never seen a fifteen-digit phone number. Fourteen, yes. Fifteen! What did the two do? Nelly, you got it?
Yes.
Kris tore the card in half, then into quarters, and handed it back to the man. ''Not interested.''
He gave her a crack of a smile. ''Would not have expected anything less from you, but Mac wanted me to try. Have a good evening. Maybe I'll see you at the ball tonight.''
''What rank should I look for?'' Kris asked to his back, but, despite the sign flashing for all passengers to stay put, the man made his way out of the observation deck. And they say I don't follow the rules. Kris snorted.
Harvey, the old family chauffeur, was waiting for her as she left the ferry. Jack, her Protective Service agent, was right beside, him. ''How'd the test cruise go?'' the driver asked as her agent eyed the surroundings.
''Not good. Looks like we'll be tied up for the next month while they try something new,'' she told him. ''So I'm off early. Think Lotty can scare up a bite to eat before I have to dress for tonight's command performance?''
''And when hasn't my wife?'' he said with a grin, then added softly, ''Tru would like you to drop by when you have the time.''
Kris raised an eyebrow. Aunty Tru was retired now from her job as Wardhaven's Chief of Info War. Still, the honorary aunt had been helping Kris with her math and
But when Tru quit trusting her messages to the net, life did get interesting. ''Why don't we drop by on the way home.''
Harvey nodded. The car, not a limo today, but just as armored, was in a reserved security lot, something new to the area around the elevator since the Society of Humanity self-destructed and Wardhaven doubled its defense budget. Kris settled in for a quiet drive. Maybe she should review the engine room specs for the Firebolt?
''Test really disappointing?'' Jack asked.
''We were so close.'' Kris sighed. ''Last benchmark, then bam, we're back to square one.''
''Frustrating,'' her Agent said, his eyes roving the traffic. Jack had a knack for being both security and confidant. There was talk that a Princess deserved a full security detail. It would probably mean a promotion for Jack. For Kris, it would mean losing times like these. True, somebody—apparently a lot of somebodies—wanted her dead, but no attack had ever been made on Wardhaven. Besides, a Navy Junior Officer couldn't move in a security bubble. Or maybe she just didn't want to.
At Tru's apartment complex, Jack activated the car's security system and followed Kris and Harvey into the elevator. Tru had bought a penthouse when she retired. Her view of Wardhaven City wasn't quite as breathtaking as that from Grampa Al's lofty tower outside town, but it was still spectacular. More spectacular was Tru's hug.
''I didn't expect you to drop everything and come running just because your old Aunty Tru sent up a smoke signal,'' she said as she engulfed Kris in her arms. There'd been a time when all Kris had to hold on to was Tru's hugs… and the bottle. Those times were long gone, but Kris would never pass up a few moments feeling safe in Tru's arms.
Hug over, Kris explained that the test ended early.
''Problem?''
''I'm still alive. The ship's still in one piece. Nothing we can't work around. But it looks like Grampa Al will have a major market for Uni-plex.