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to start new lives, what would happen to Eldin, Bear, Terle, Able and Silky? Their ages and criminal pasts, as wel as some of their physical peculiarities, would make it difficult for them to fit into any normal law-abiding, human community or lifestyle.
    Perhaps she could sel Independence . No. Sel ing the ship was out of the question. It was her home and her last tie to Kedar. She knew every inch of the old girl. Losing her just wasn’t an option.
    Greyson turned as Terle faced him. A shrewd gleam had replaced the anger in his eyes, and the man said, “Even if we agree to help ASP bring Dempster down—
    which I’m not saying isn’t a good idea; the man’s scum—we’l be risking everything we have. A pardon isn’t enough to make it worth our while. We’d be agreeing to give up our livelihood.”
    Greyson nodded. “There’s a substantial reward for the capture of the pirate responsible for the attacks in Consortium space. I imagine that wil help you al resettle in more…legitimate careers.” The reward was real; he just didn’t add it was posted for Shyanne rather than Dempster. They probably already knew about the price on her head.
    Eldin asked, “What do you think, Shy?”
    Greyson saw the respect in the old man’s eyes, and the other two men also as they looked to Shyanne for guidance. Even Terle, despite his macho attitude, waited before saying anything else.
    “It’s something to consider, but as Greyson suggested, we need to discuss it with the others before we come to a decision. That’s only fair. When are they due back?”
    “Able and Silky should be coming in anytime. Da-mon’s scheduled to rendezvous with us tomorrow,” Eldin answered.
    “Good. We’l convene then and decide. In the meantime, I’l get our guest settled.” She faced Greyson. “Come on. I’l show you to your quarters.”
    “The brig is nice and comfy,” Terle muttered.
    Greyson fol owed Shyanne off the bridge. The door slid shut behind them with a solid thunk, cutting off Eldin’s chuckle, and the pair walked silently down the corridor and into the lift. The door closed and they were sealed inside.
    What happened next came as a surprise. With a muffled thump, the lift jolted, dropped, then jerked to a halt. Thrown off balance, Greyson staggered. His right shoulder rammed painful y into the wal and Shyanne fel against him. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her, to keep her from fal ing, as a series of what sounded and felt like explosions rocked the ship. The lights flickered and went out, leaving them in complete darkness.
    For a few seconds Shyanne didn’t react. Her back pressed against Greyson from shoulder to hip. He could feel the rapid thud of her heart beneath his palm.
    When the emergency lights kicked in, washing the smal lift in a ghostly reddish hue, she straightened away from him and touched her fingertip to her left temple, where a communication chip was embedded. A moment later she said, “Damn.
    Com system is down.”
    Greyson’s arms felt empty without her. “What happened?” Busy with the lift control panel, she didn’t look at him. “I don’t know.
    Independence is old. Sometimes bits of her electrical system short out, but…I don’t think that’s what happened this time. Those felt like explosions. We’re under attack.” She turned to him, calm as could be, and pointed toward an access panel at the top of the lift. “The controls are fried. Give me a boost up.”
    “Let me go first. I don’t think you’l be able to lift me out.”
    “Maybe that was the plan.” In the glow of the red light, her grin was wicked.
    Then she put her hands together, and he put his foot into her cupped palms.
    “Not much of a plan,” he muttered. “Even without your help I could get out of this box.”
    The access panel slid aside in a shower of rust. Coughing, Greyson pul ed himself through the narrow opening and up into the dark shaft beyond; the dim emergency lights from the lift barely