Passion and Peril on the Frontier

Chapter 7

As the Excalibur and the Shogun made their way to Nova Three, Maxwell received a call from his sister and went to take it in his quarters. His sister's holo appeared as he walked in, and he gave her a grin.

Princess Emma was becoming the spitting image of their mother more each day, and the fourteen year old was going to be a heartbreaker when she got older.

"Maxie!" she said brightly.

"Hey Em, what's up?" he asked in greeting.

"Not much, just wanted to catch up; I heard you fought some pirates today," she said excitedly.

"I did; have you been eavesdropping on naval communications again?" he asked with a grin.

"Maybe," she said mischievously.

"Well yes, we took out a decent pirate operation today," he said.

"Aww, I miss out on all the good stuff," she said with a pout.

"You're a bit young to be going around hunting pirates, Em, don't let mother hear you talking like that; she'll never let you leave the palace," he warned, and she giggled.

"Eugh, I know right," she said.

"So how's things there?" he asked, and she shrugged.

"Boring as usual, mother had me sit in on a negotiation between the mining guild and the shipbuilder's guild; I almost passed out from boredom," she said with a huff.

"You're going to have to get used to lots of that," he warned.

Emma just made a disapproving face, and then they both laughed.

"So how's life out on the frontier; meet anyone?" she then asked.

Maxwell hesitated, and Emma's eyes narrowed.

"You have met someone," said Emma, her face lighting up.

Maxwell just raised an eyebrow at his sisters hunch, and she grinned.

"So what's her name?" she asked.

Maxwell didn't want to lie to his sister; she was going to get it out of him eventually.

"Her name is Bethany; she's the governor's granddaughter on the colony here," he said.

"So what does she like? I bet she's very pretty and sweet," Emma asked.

Maxwell just smirked; his sister obviously knew him too well. Emma's smile got even wider, and her eyes sparkled.

"So is she coming with you?" she then asked.

It was a poignant question, and one he didn't have an answer for yet.

"I don't know yet," he said admittedly.

Emma just sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Ok, Maxwell, but you obliviously like this girl, I can tell," she said.

Maxwell just nodded, and Emma just smiled warmly at him.

"So are you coming back to Avalon soon?" she then asked, changing the subject.

"It's on the list," he promised.

"Ok, well, I can't wait to see you and with your new consort, of course," said Emma firmly.

They both signed off and Maxwell then went to grab a drink.

He found Admiral Nagata and Doc Beverly having a conversation in the galley.

"I didn't know you two knew each other," said Maxwell as he grabbed a bottle of juice from the little galley fridge.

"Oh, we're old friends, your grace; we served together on the Valiant when we were both lowly ensigns," said Doc Beverly, and Nagata chuckled.