Pay Me, Bug!

Chapter 24

WHEREIN Our Hero Goes Home

A few hours later Grif's arm was completely healed—it wasn't even sore, a far cry from the mostly useless thing he'd been dragging about the last time it was taken out of the machine. Aside from discovering his bill was paid in full, he and Amys learned the Baron had also arranged for transportation to take them back to the Fool's Errand: a high-end transport, the height of comfort in Tyrelos Station. Completely separated from their driver, they had absolute privacy.

For half the trip they said nothing, each staring out their own windows. Finally Grif sighed, shook his head, and looked at Amys ruefully.

"I'm an idiot."

"Not usually," Amys said. "Which is why it's so goddamn frustrating when you are."

"I'm just not sure what happened," Grif said.

Amys snorted in disgust. "You were showing off in front of a pretty girl. Only she wasn't a girl, she was the Baron of Tyrelos Industries. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I…hell, I don't know, Amys." Grif shrugged defensively. "There's a part of my brain that tells me I need to shut up, and there's another part of my brain that pantses the first part, then goes on to get me in trouble while the first part is getting itself all sorted out."

Amys sighed, and stared out the window again.

"Besides," Grif added, face breaking into a grin, "you didn't complain back when I was showing off for you."

Amys smiled slightly. "Another act of idiocy on your part."

"Without question," Grif agreed solemnly. "Worst decision I ever made."

Amys barked a laugh and elbowed him in the arm. Grif grunted good-naturedly.

"The fact that you're charming doesn't change the fact that you screwed up," Amys said.

"Yeah..." Grif admitted. "Well, let's review. The Throne hates us… wants to arrest all of us and apparently kill me. The Alliance is sending us on a suicide mission. And now the weakest of the Trade Baronies, caught in the middle of a coup, is trying to force me to be their spokesman for the Independents Tourism Board."

"That sums it up," Amys said.

"On the other hand," Grif said, "Baron Tyrelos is stunningly attractive."

Amys shot him a look.

"Well did you see her?" Grif asked. "I mean, up close. You saw her, right?"

Amys narrowed her eyes. "You're baiting me."

"Nevermind," Grif said. "It's not as much fun when you figure it out."

The second city raced below them, gradually changing from the gleaming, well-to-do neighborhoods to the industrial districts. They were getting to close to the transport hub that connected to Dock 78.

"It could work. I think." Amys sounded reluctant. "Her idea."

Grif looked at Amys curiously. "Making Tyrelos the new home for the Independents? You didn't sound convinced back in the hospital."

"I wasn't," Amys said. "I'm still not. I said it could work, but I'm not sure if she'd be willing to do what it would take."

"What would it take?"

"She'd have to improve her shipyards," Amys said. "Drastically, and quickly. And it'd have to be on one of the planets. Tyrelos Station is too difficult to get to."