The next morning, Radhya sent a smiling Amlina to the kitchen to start training with Aninya. Barone sent her a message saying that he expected her to join him for breakfast, so only slightly passed the prescribed hour she entered the dining room. She gave Noel a brilliant smile as she took her seat. Will and Padr were standing behind her chair. She could feel their presences in her mind; she kept probing at the spot. Max was also present in a strange not-here-feeling. She greeted 72 and another slave behind Barone’s chair.

“My, we are in a good mood today,” Noel stated sourly.

“My spa should be a wonderful success,” she grinned at him.

72 leaned forward and whispered in Barone’s ear. He frowned at her.

“I thought it wasn’t yet operating?” he questioned.

“The facilities are all in place. I only need the staffing,” she replied. “I leave tonight for Jabin’s World. I assume you are leaving as well?”

“I am still very sore,” he complained, “but perhaps I can hitch a ride with you. It seems the other royal I was traveling with has abandoned me.”

“Why don’t you just hire your own spaceship?” Radhya retorted, the smile fading from her face.

“Ah, well then, my dearest, I am forced to remain here as your guest,” returned Noel with a sly grin of his own.

“If that is the case, by all means, accompany me to Jabin’s World. You will have to bunk with the slaves for I have only one cabin and it is mine.”

Radhya patted her lips and left for her business meeting with Geo. At the conclusion of the meeting, she rose to go.

“Assign D’Bara to Li. She can work in the stables while I’m gone. Keep her out of the house,” suggested Radhya hand on the doorknob.

“Be extraordinarily careful, my little Radhya,” warned Geo. “I have a very bad feeling about this trip.”

“Never fear, old friend, Noel will be locked from my cabin. Once I drop him off, I won’t need to see him again for two years. That’s my hope anyway.”

Geo shook his head as she went to pack her things. They walked into the westering sun that evening as they headed down the fungi path. Radhya, Max, Will, and Padr led the troupe. Aninya trailed behind with Barone’s slaves, and he limped behind everyone. Dave met them at the bottom of the path with a large hovervan. When they all piled in, Dave drove them to the spaceport. Arrow was waiting for them, gangplank down. They trouped aboard and strapped down for liftoff. As soon as they were in overlight drive, Radhya headed for her cabin.

“How long until we reach Jabin’s World?” Lord Barone asked Max.

“Three days milord,” he answered.

“Am I to spend three days in this chair?” he inquired.

“There is only a small galley and head aft, this space, Lady Kirbyson’s cabin and the bridge on this deck,” replied Max. “And below are the holds that are not heated. So I presume this is where you will have to stay.”

“We’ll see about that.” Lord Barone rose and marched to Radhya’s cabin. He pounded on the door. When there was no answer, he tried forcing the door, bashing his shoulder against it when it proved to be locked.

“72 get a toolkit and come here,” he demanded.

Max, Will, Padr, and Dave moved forward at that and forced Lord Barone from the door.

“I’m sorry milord. Lady Kirbyson told you how it would be and you insisted on accompanying her,” growled Dave. “You have no right to disturb her at her business, and I cannot let you break into her room.”

Lord Barone turned away, disgust on his face. Then he whipped back facing Will.

“You are her personal physician?”

“Yes milord,” answered Will.

“Should a man who has just undergone what I have, have to sit in a chair for three days and nights? She practically threw me out from sick bed.”

“I’m sorry milord; I know nothing of genetic reconstruction. I am simply a doctor,” replied Will noticing for the first time the fine lacy white foam in Lord Barone’s irises. The women slaves they received had much more pronounced rings. Radhya did fine quality work, even for an enemy. Will snapped his attention back to Lord Barone.

“I said,” he repeated raising his voice several decibels, “that I must lie down when it becomes too painful and how is that to be accomplished?”

Padr fielded this question, saying, “Milord can either lie on the floor, like slaves do, or he can recline the seat to one hundred and twenty degrees and sleep partially lying down.”

Lord Barone paced back and forth in front of the quartet. He muttered and grumbled to himself.

Finally, he turned to them and said, “I want to talk to her. She has cheated me for the last time, and I want to talk to her. My lawyers will take care of it if she doesn’t speak to me.”

Will left to go to the bridge. He spoke to Stane who passed the message to Radhya in her cabin. Will returned to stand in front of her door again. The door opened, and she called Max into the room. She shut the door in Barone’s face.

“I need your skills,” she began. “The way Barone is acting means trouble for me when we get there. Geo felt trouble, and I trust his instincts totally. I had installed a small shop in the hold by the engines. Stane put the heat on in there for you. I need weapons, mainly defensive, but also make a few offensive ones just in case. I need you to protect us. I have a few biological defenses, the specs are in the comp, but I would feel more secure if I knew you were working on it.”

“Yes, Radhya. I’ll help in any way I can,” he smiled eagerly.

She handed him a powerful X10 comp. She touched his cheek gently and opened the door. Max left. She shut the door in Noel’s face. An hour later, she opened the door again.

“Noel?”

Lord Barone rose gracelessly from his chair and entered her cabin, rudely pushing the bodyguards out of the way. The first thing he noticed was the oppressive blackness. Walls, ceiling, and floor were all matt black. A desk and chair were against one wall, and a tiny bunk was on the opposite wall. Through an open door, Noel could see a tiny bathroom. There were bare shelves over the bunk and over the desk was a screen. The screen was alight with a two-dimensional image of a man. He was in his seventies with wavy silver hair and a narrow oval face. His nose was large and bony, his mouth wide and generous. He had the distinguished look of an aristocrat.

Radhya seated herself on the chair and motioned Lord Barone to the narrow bunk. It was hard and even more uncomfortable than it looked. He shifted about in a vain attempt at easing his distress.

“Lord Noel Barone makes complaint,” began Radhya. “He threatens legal action against me, claiming I cheated him. I have this on tape, recorded on this ship just hours ago.”

The man on the screen said, “Lord Barone, please state the nature of this dishonesty against you.”

Noel gulped and looked at Radhya’s stony face. “I have just had a painful procedure, and now I am forced to endure three days and nights sitting in a chair.”

“Who supplied the procedure and please describe it.”

“I would rather not.”

“Your wishes do not enter in. You have a complaint. This young lady’s reputation is in question. You will divulge or do not trouble us ever again, or slander Lady Kirbyson.”

Noel stared, recognizing, at last, the magisterial branch of the proctors.

“I, uh, I had a genetic alteration,” he stammered.

“Describe the alteration, who provided it, the cost, and the result.”

“I had a penis enlargement. Lady Radhya Kirbyson created it for me. It, uh, had no cost, it was a gift, and the result was a lot of pain.”

“Was the genetic procedure a gift Lady Kirbyson?”

“It was,” Radhya answered.

“The result was pain; I take it there was no enlargement then?”

“No,” replied Noel. “I mean yes, I grew two and a half times larger, but still there was so much pain and there still is that I don’t find any use for the procedure.”

“How long ago was the procedure done?”

“About a week.”

“How long does the discomfort usually last Lady Kirbyson?”

“For between two weeks and a month at the outside,” she replied.

“Did you inform Lord Barone that there would be pain associated with the procedure?”

“Yes, many times before he took it.”

“Did she so inform you, Lord Barone?”

“Yes, she did.”

“What is your complaint? You received a free procedure that normally costs what Lady Kirbyson?”

Radhya replied, “The only other one I did cost seven million macros.”

Noel started on the hard bunk, and then winced.

“Did she receive anything in return for this gift?”

“I gave her three female slaves fully trained,” replied Noel.

“Estimated cost of three female slaves, with the most expensive training is two hundred and twenty-five minas, correct?”

“Yes,” confirmed Noel. “But she offered me a ride home, and while I am still tender, she gives me only a chair to sleep in, beside the slaves.”

“So your complaint is not the procedure you had done but a transportation contract unfulfilled?”

“It’s not a contract,” put in Barone.

“Is it a verbal contract?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then what is it exactly?”

“I asked to accompany her to Jabin’s World where I live.”

“Did she tell you what the accommodations would be?”

“No, of course not.”

“Did you tell him what the accommodations would be Lady Kirbyson?”

Radhya replied, “Yes, I did. I told him there was only one small cabin and it was mine.”

Barone flushed red. “I expected her to share the cabin. We are engaged,” he snarled at Radhya.

“Are you engaged to Lord Barone, Lady Kirbyson?”

“We have a contract to contract that I was forced into by threat of removing my status as a member of the aristocracy.”

The face on the screen raised one grizzled eyebrow.

“Tell me about that.”

Radhya explained, “At a banquet, I held to celebrate my racetrack’s opening, I was approached by Lord Barone who asked me to contract with him. I refused. He danced with Princess Felina, status five. When they returned, Princess Felina asked me to contract with Lord Barone the next day. I again refused. Princess Felina threatened to remove my status and have me sold as a slave if I did not enter into a contract with him. We negotiated a contract to contract the day after the status review. This was against my stated will. I insisted that a clause be inserted that provides that I contract only if I do not exceed his status by my own merits at that time.”

“Your status?”

“676”

“Lord Barone your status?”

“498”

“Does your contract to contract allow you use of her property?”

“No,” replied Noel.

“Are you paying for your ride, food, anything?”

“No,” he again replied.

“So you, at no cost are given transportation to your home world, with slaves?”

“Yes.”

“And you are registering a complaint about your accommodations?”

“Yes.”

“Complaint dismissed. Grow up Lord Barone.”

“Lady Kirbyson, can you supply proof that you were coerced into this contract to contract?”

“Yes. It is written right into the contract. There were several witnesses to my refusal as well as to the threat.”

“Send a contract copy. Names of witnesses?”

“Lady Koom, Lady Amelia, Lord Pehelalatin, and Lord Desmoinnis.”

“Postponed until verification.”

The screen went to static, then dark.

“Care to threaten me some more milord?” asked Radhya in a hard voice.

Lord Barone was brick red, sputtering with rage.

“You won’t live to break my contract. Proctors take years to settle these things. We’ll be long contracted before there is anything done.”

“Maybe, but you don’t own me. Moreover, if you think to inherit, check my will. It’s on public file. Now get out of my room.”

“You’ll be sorry you little slave loving tramp. You’ll be sorry you treated me like this.”

Noel stamped through the door. Radhya locked it behind him. Throwing herself on the bunk, she tried to recall the glorious peace of the day before. The emotions of three other people were in her mind, coming and going, a spot that two days before she didn’t even know was there, now it nagged at her. She tried in vain to master her control of it, but it was elusive.

Time dragged on the little ship. Radhya tried to work but found concentration difficult, the new place in her mind intruding at odd moments pulling her into the emotions of one of the other three. Padr’s frustration was the biggest distraction. Radhya knew how badly he wanted to dispose of Lord Barone. Will was very controlled, but the effort of such patience was a drain on Radhya. Max, on the other hand, was elated, working feverishly in the hold by himself. His sharp bursts of triumph were punctuated by waves of sheer delight at doing what he did best. He seemed to deal with the multiple emotions the best, Padr the worst. Once when Lord Barone raised his hand to hit Aninya, Radhya was sure Padr was going to strike the obnoxious Lord.

As the time approached for free-fall, preparatory to landing, Radhya emerged from her sanctuary; sleepless and haggard. She smiled at her slaves as she strapped in between Will and Padr. Max returned and strapped in behind her. Barone glared at all of them.

Arrow feathered her way down and landed with a gentle bump. Lord Barone barged off the little ship without even a thank you. 72 bowed his head to Radhya and scurried after his master like a rat, the rest of Barone’s slaves following, dragging his luggage with them. Radhya heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“Max, stay here with Stane. The two of you continue working on your projects. Padr, Will, come with me to Seellia’s auction. Rory, Dave, and Aninya go to Jabin’s auction. Rory, you have the numbers I want on your wrist comp, and you have my seal. Make sure you clean, feed and clothe them before you bring them here.”

Radhya left, followed by her two faithful guards. She could feel the uncontrollable spurt of fear from the two of them as their feet touched the burning asphalt of the starport. The heat lay on the land, breathless and heavy; the stench in the streets overwhelming. Radhya veiled herself in a vain attempt to keep some of the odor out. The heat was radiating from every surface as she attended the sunset auction.

The pitiable merchandise, exhausted and beaten by the sun staggered out one by one. Radhya made her purchases in the state of helpless anger that always possessed her on this planet, confused with the fear, resentment, and anger of her two bodyguards. The sky was black with stars shining cleanly when the ordeal was over.

“Will, can you take care of this lot, feed, wash, dress, you know the drill. I don’t want to take any more of this. I’m going back to the Arrow.”

“Yes, milady,” Will replied. “Will you be all right with just one bodyguard?”

“We are going straight back to the ship. You’ll know if anything happens, but I used to walk these streets all the time with just Rory. We’ll be fine.”

Padr and Radhya threaded their way through the twisting narrow streets. It was still hard to breathe in the airless heat. The street before the entry to the starport they heard loud yells behind them. Radhya turned. Padr pushed her. They raced for the starport gates with seven of Jabin’s planetary guards pounding after them. She ran at her top speed, Padr at her side, but the guards caught up to them and surrounded them. They grabbed for Radhya. Padr blocked them with his arm. Grinning like gargoyles, the seven circled them. One lunged again at the Lady. Padr seized his arm and twisted it until they heard the bone snap. He hurled him to the ground. He kicked and struck at the remaining six, using his body as a weapon. He smashed one guard in the throat. Jabin’s minion dropped like a stone.

Padr snapped another arm in two. The attackers brought out tazers. Padr kicked one in the groin but was tazed in return. They kept hitting him repeatedly with tazers ignoring Radhya for the moment. Ganging up on Padr, they tazed him into submission. He fell unconscious in the hot dirt of the street. Radhya felt a searing pain as the emerald light went out in her mind. She hurled herself at the attackers screaming and kicking. One guard flipped her onto her back, and another threatened to taze Padr some more if she did not stop. Radhya glared up at them, panting. One attacker on each side hauled her to her feet. The other two guards did the same with a limp Padr. He slumped bonelessly between the two beefy bullies. Two of the guards lay in the dust of the street; one was moaning softly, the other lay ominously still.

The guards pulled Padr and Radhya through street after street, turn, and twist. They came to a broad avenue cooled by fountains and shaded by a row of flat-topped trees. Turning right, Radhya recognized Jabin’s palace from the holos she had seen.

It was enormous, barbarically decorated in gold, silver and precious stones, a garish and obscene exhibition of wealth. Radhya and an unconscious Padr were dragged through a side door and down a long corridor sloping into the earth. At a dimly lit guard station, she was stripped to her underwear; even her wrist comp was taken. She was shoved into a small cell with bare stone walls, floor, and ceiling. It was dim and windowless. Seconds later Padr, relieved of his protecting uniform was tossed in behind her. The door slammed shut. Padr lay still where he had fallen.

Radhya paced the dimensions, five paces square. She returned to where Padr lay and straightened his limbs into a more comfortable position.

“Oh Padr,” she whispered to him, “I’m such a fool. Geo warned me, Will warned me. Why didn’t I count on Barone moving this fast? He was so angry when he left. Maybe I was a fool to call his bluff on the Arrow. Wake up Padr. I’m scared. Wake up, please. Don’t you dare leave me. I just found you. Don’t leave me now. You fought for me like Geo. He is the only other person who ever fought for me like that. You have given your life for me. Please Padr, wake up. I need you. If I wasn’t locked in here, I could fix you, but I’m locked up. I don’t even have my wrist comp. Padr, Padr wake up, please, please wake up. I’ve never heard of anyone ever taking as much electricity as you did, but you’re strong, you can do it, wake up, please. This is all my fault.”

Weary and worn, filled with self-loathing and worry Radhya fell asleep, Padr’s head cradled on her lap.