Maggie hadn’t expected it to be so easy to scam the Imperial Authority, but then, Imperial Authority had a lot of work and there were nearly a thousand ships waiting to get through Customs. With papers that looked legitimate, presented by someone who looked like money, they were waved through with barely a glance. Maggie made a mental note of it, but since the lax security wasn’t actually hurting anybody, she probably wouldn’t do more than mention it to Luka.
Luka probably wouldn’t do anything about it either, except maybe put an Intelligence agent on the checkpoint to make sure nothing toodangerous was coming through.
“We’re never going through another checkpoint without you riding point,” Zaaba decided on their way back to the ship. Maggie laughed, still in the guise of Young Money with Zaaba and Kady serving as her personal bodyguards. Women, even those with obvious Other heritage, like Kady’s quarter-troll blood, were underestimated. It occasionally infuriated Maggie, but for now, it was useful. Being underestimated meant that no one was looking to closely at them for hidden motives. “That was the smoothest check-through we’ve had in years.”
Of course, it didn’t hurt that Maggie had a great many permissions on the ident card of Maggie Gol, including the authorization to bring whatever she wanted through a checkpoint.
That, however, was a secret she would keep to herself unless they found trouble. Zaaba would have questions if she knew, and Maggie didn’t want to try and explain why the Red Baron’s sister had Imperial Authorization.
“Why would they assume a problem?” Maggie said when they reached the Blackbird. “We have paperwork and don’t look like trouble. Customs only look closer when someone ha paperwork and looks nervous.”
“I expected you to look nervous,” Zaaba told her and raised her voice to their pilot. “Hey, Clunk, we’re clear. Get the hov-sled loaded up so we don’t have to carry everything to Salteyes’s people by hand. You’re cool under pressure, aren’t you, Girlie?”
“Unless there’s big magic, a gun to my head, or my brother in a temper, I assume it’s something I can handle.”
“You were alright with the kidnapping, too.”
“It wasn’t my first. I’m going to go get changed. This getup is pretty, but it’s been months since I wore any makeup and my face itches.”
“Yeah, go ahead, but get down here. I want you on delivery with us. You’re one of our better spell-slingers and I don’t trust Salteyes.”
“No hurry. Getting here was the hard part.”
A quick change later, her expensive dress, jewelry, and heels once again hidden in the bottom of her duffle, and Maggie made her way back down to the cargo hold. It was strange to realize that she felt ore like herself in rough canvas pants and a loose cotton shirt than she did in the polished finery she had lived in for most of her life. Maybe it wasn’t so unexpected, though. Luka felt the same, if his fondness for his red leather jacket was any indication.
By the time she was back, the hov-sled was loaded and they were ready to go. Maggie slid down the rail of the cargo hold just in time for Zaaba to pull her up to sit on top of the crates. As soon as they were ready, Clunk, who had no visible Other heritage but was a good pilot and a better sniper, pulled them out of the ship. Kady waved as she closed down the ship. Until they were back, no one would be getting on or off.
“We’re spending a week here,” Zaaba said as Clunk drove the hov-sled towards their drop-off point. “Next job is meeting us, so there’s time for everyone to have some fun once we get paid. Don’t to anything or anyone stupid, and if you get arrested, bail is coming out of your pay. Check in at least once every twenty-four solar hours. Everyone clear?”
“Aye, Captain,” Maggie said with the rest, entirely amused by the speech Zaaba gave every time they went on leave for a few days. Maggie had arranged for most of her own pay to go into a small account tied to her larger, personal accounts. It was pocket money compared to the royal account she shared with Luka, but her finances were her own business. “Are we still doing ship dinners?”
“If someone feels like making something, but frankly, I’m planning to eat out most of the time. We work too hard to eat our own cooking when we’re in port.”
A week. A glorious week of freedom to wander around Seti Base, which was as safe as anywhere, considering it was a newer base, and still had a substantial Imperial presence keeping the peace. There was plenty of fun to be had, too. Maggie had already sent a message to Luka to see if he wanted to meet up. The Rojawas never too far away, and he could usually find some excuse to be wherever he wanted to be. He had replied in minutes, promising to be there the next day.”
And she missed her brother.
“You especially, Girlie,” Zaaba said with a great deal of meaningful eye contact that was probably supposed to be a warning. “Don’t you get kidnapped again.”
“The last time was your fault,” Maggie pointed out dryly, and waved her captain off. “Relax, Zaaba. My brother is flying in tomorrow.”
“Red Baron is gonna be in port?”
“My brother Luka is going to be in port.”
Zaaba still had some trouble with the what of Luka, and his relationship to Maggie. Maggie was just hoping her captain didn’t kill her when she eventually found out who Luka, and Maggie, really were.
“Fine, fine,” Zaaba allowed reluctantly. “Are we gonna meet him?”
“If you want to. I promise he doesn’t bite.”
“Doesn’t have to, if he’s as electrical as you.”
“He’s not. So, what is there to do on this rock? I’m thinking dancing. There’s gotta be somewhere that has decent drinks and decent music.”
Crown Princess Lucia Therese Magdalene has taken to the sky like her brother, Luka, before her. With her name and her crown set aside, Maggie Gol will take the Human Galactic Empire by storm.
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