"You, however, have unconsciously derived your ethical code from Allegiancy culture and law. When it abandoned you, you acted to survive, and then had to answer to your conscience. What you've been asking me, Krinata, is to give you a new system to replace the old. And I can't do that. You're going to have to do that for yourself."

She stared at him, thinking that he was right. She couldn't judge him or the Allegiancy in her heart until she had a code against which to measure their acts. But where can I start?

"Ephemerals are amazing," he said with reverence, and affection. "Here you've acquired an advanced trait which many Dushau never do, yet you're barely ready to create your first epistemology."

He'd won her over again completely. But the part of her that had obeyed that trooper was not gone, only dormant. Somehow, she wasn't convinced the Allegiancy was in senile death throes. But she responded teasingly, "Immortals are amazing. They think Ephemerals are children. And sometimes they're even right!"

Then he said something odd. "I've never met an Ephemeral

who was a child."

Arlai said, "I wouldn't like being commanded by a captain who was a child. But Krinata is not a child."

Jindigar gave him a peculiar look, as if he were coming back to harsh realities from a realm where he preferred to dwell. "You're right, Arlai. Krinata, I take back what I said about Khol. You're welcome to come with me. In fact, I think you need to come with me for your own reasons, and I've no business shackling your judgment about how much of yourself you wish to give. I just want you to understand you're perfectly free to withdraw anytime."

"I always have been," she said, realizing he'd never said, Help me rescue my friends and I’ll take you to safety. He would take her whether she helped or not. She had already won his loyalty, though she still craved it. "But before you accept me into your ventures, I have to confess."

She told him why she had obeyed that soldier, getting him shot. "I might do that again. Outlaw or no, I'm still loyal to the Allegiancy."

He nodded, "I know. But, Krinata, your act was in total accord with your being. No more can be asked of anyone." He rose to go. If I should die in such an action, I would count myself fortunate indeed. But don't ask me to explain why."

NINE

Allegiancy Loyalists

Khol, the Holot's oldest colony, circled a yellow G-2 star. Its five-day long "day" and wildly varying climate suited the six-limbed, furred Holot, though humans shuddered at the necessity of visiting them on the surface.

Therefore, they'd built a commercial space station outside the orbits of their three tiny moons. Arlai figured their approach trajectory to the station while conversing with the system's Orbital Control Central. Krinata had only to sit in the captain's chair and watch.

"Krinata," said Jindigar, seated at the astrogator's console. "It's time to get dressed."

They'd decided Krinata would go as a Terran merchant who'd swung a deal for a surplus ship and was looking for new markets. Thus an interest in souvenir pottery would seem logical. Jindigar would become one of the rare space traveling Lehrtrili, a feathered, birdlike species with vestigial wings and strong territorial instincts.

"I'll go first," she said rising. She was itching to try on her new costume. She'd been working out hard in the gym. She felt vigorous enough to meet any challenge.

Just as she reached the hatch, Trassle announced from the com station, "We've just been switched to military orbit control. They're ordering us out of the ecliptic."

"Arlai, report!" snapped Jindigar.

"A moment... there!" The plotting scope projected a globe of dark space representing the system, pinpointing Truth and then adding other traffic around them, complete with dotted lines to represent projected orbits.

Arlai narrated, "Ahead, starboard, three small passenger craft; lifereadings indicate they're overloaded; power readings show them barely spaceworthy. One—the center one—lacks an onboard Sentient. The other two Sentients seem confused and incompetent.

"Behind," continued Arlai, "eight armed seeker craft in hot pursuit of the three. Then– Flag Sentient has ordered us out of the way. I am complying, but retaining interference capability. Jindigar, I really don't want to be targeted by those craft. They are much more than we can handle."

"I can see that," answered Jindigar. His blue teeth gnawed at his bottom lip. "Krinata, you'll need to be dressed soon. Arlai, what species aboard those ships?"

"The fugitives seem to be mostly Dushau, a sprinkling of Holot, and other species aboard. The seekers are shielded. As a wild, intuitive guess: mostly Holot, possibly officers of other species. But the Duke of this zone is Holot."

"Krinata!" Jindigar complained, seeing her still there.

She went, grasping that they were witnessing an escape attempt engineered by the rumored underground resistance. Arlai had intercepted official dispatches to Duke Huch about the growing resistance organization dedicated to harboring Dushau and their sympathizers. Jindigar's plan had been to contact this underground via a descendent of a Holot he'd once known. He was sure they could help him find Terab.

Trassle's wife helped Krinata into her costume, and one of Arlai's servitors applied makeup to change her complexion to match her bleached hair. A dental appliance forced a change in her speech. It might not be authentic Terran, but she could claim to have left Terra early in life.

When she returned to the bridge, Grisnilter was faced off against Jindigar. She sensed she'd walked into a very tense confrontation, but all she heard was Grisnilter's acidic tones. "And what will your mother say about that? You are planning to see her again before she dies, aren't you?"

Jindigar lowered his eyes, and started, in a hoarse whisper, "I'm sorry—" Then he spotted Krinata, quickly made some adjustments on the control boards and sped past her as if making an escape. Over his shoulder, he called, "Arlai says we have an hour before the seekers are in range to fire on those vessels. Trassle will fill you in."

She sidled around Grisnilter, not daring to speak to him for fear she'd spit out just what she thought of him for upsetting Jindigar at such a time. If Jindigar could still treat him respectfully, she could manage to remain civil.

As she was taking the captain's seat, Trassle arrived and Grisnilter departed silently. She brought her mind back to their problem. Now that she was properly dressed, they could bluff their way around any challenge, if she could only figure out what to say. The haughty demeanor of Zavaronne wouldn't do. But she could still be a captain, irate at being kept in a solar orbit when she had business to conduct.

In his carefully modulated Standard voice, Trassle told her, "The seekers have been broadcasting orders in the name of the Emperor for the fugitives to take up a standard solar orbit or be blown out of space. The fugitives have not replied, but Arlai has contact with their Sentients that he doesn't believe the seeker's flag Sentient has intercepted."

"Trassle," said Arlai, "you have the paranoia of a merchant. What does it take to convince you I know my job?"

"I'm convinced," said Krinata. "What do the fugitives say?"

"They've got ninety-seven Dushau aboard the three ships, sixty-three Holot, and fifteen of assorted species. They knew fleeing was a desperate gamble, but their headquarters was about to be raided. The city was a shambles around them from the rioting that started when Dushau establishments were looted. They've got two full Oliat teams complete with Outriders, all professionals. They figured they could make a go of it on some marginal planet. The middle ship, though, is heading for Dushaun. It's all Dushau-crewed, and they've elected to try to run the blockade and the defenses."