Afterwiping out her bank account to buy him, Trin had been forced to pay even moreto have the security Crangs carry him aboard her ship. He was out cold—possiblybrain damaged from the punishing jolts of the pain collar—and much too big andheavy for her to even try lifting or dragging on her own.

Currentlyhe was installed in the only spare room on TheAlacrity—the small connecting cabin that linked with Trin’s own suite ofrooms. The space had originally been designed for a body slave to stay in sincethe ship had been built on Yonnie Six. It had been empty for the entire fiveyears she’d been captain. Now it was filled to capacity—the massive Havoc tookup the entire cot and overflowed it, his muscular bulk barely leaving room forthe med-bot Trin had stationed in his room for assistance and security.

“Istill think you should put him in the brig,” Sidna said. She was a small, trimwoman of about fifty cycles with short, no-nonsense iron gray hair and sharpgray eyes to match. “That’s where we kept the Gox we transported last cycle.”

“TheGox was a dangerous animal with three inch long fangs and claws like knives,”Trin objected. “We took hazard pay to transport it. This is just a slave.”

“Don’tfool yourself, Trin—he’s a dangerous animal too.” Sidna nodded at the Havoc.“All males are but this one looks especially hazardous.”

“Youcan’t tell that just from looking at him,” Trin said uneasily. At least, shehoped not although what Sidna was saying actually matched with her own firstimpression of the Havoc male.

Asshe watched, a low groan broke from the slave’s lips and he twitched in hissleep, his face contorting into a mask of agony.

“Doyou think he’s still having pain?” Trin asked, looking at the other female.

“Impossibleto say.” Sidna shook her head. “How long did you say the pain collar wasactivated?” she asked.

Trinshrugged. “Don’t know. Five minutes maybe? I turned it off as quickly as Icould but that bastard of a slaver had it set to its maximum pain threshold.”

Sidnasighed. “Could be permanent nerve damage—those collars the Yonnites use are nojoke.”

“Whatcan we do for him?” Trin asked. “I know the whole situation is a pain in theass but I feel responsible for him now.”

Sidnashook her head again.

“Nothingto do but wait and see what happens when he wakes. I still don’t like him beingso close to your room, though. He’s huge.”

“Hemight take a little handling,” Trin admitted reluctantly. “But the med-bot canmanage him. I’ve got it set to alert me when he wakes.”

“Whatif he wakes up agitated or aggressive?” Sidna protested. “Think what kind ofdamage an animal of this size could do to the ship! Not to mention everyoneaboard it. You’re not safe with him so close. Please, Trin, move him to thebrig.”

“Iknow how to manage big animals,” Trin said grimly. “I grew up riding every day,remember?”

“Amale is not a morse,” Sidna said severely.

Trinsmiled. “A horse. They’re animalsfrom Earth. My mother bought me a pair because I was so interested in theplanet where she got the sperm that created me.”

“Yes,I’ve seen pictures—they’re huge,” Sidna said. “And so is this Havoc you boughtbut that doesn’t make them the same kind of animal.”

“I’llbe careful,” Trin promised her. “An animal is an animal—they just need to begentled.”

Sidnasighed in exasperation. “At least keep a blaster on your belt.”

“I’vegot a stunner if it makes you feel better,” Trin said. “See?” She pulled outthe small weapon and handed it to Sidna to make her point. “But I’m not goingto use it on him—his nervous system has already been ravaged by that damn paincollar.”

“Whichbegs the question, will he ever recover from it enough to do you any good?”Sidna looked at the big form twitching on the bunk skeptically.

“Youcan answer that better than me,” Trin said. “If there isn’t permanent damage,do you think he’ll be up and around soon?”

“Hardto say. Havoc are said to be hardy—they’re an offshoot of the Kindred afterall. And the Kindred are supposed to be damn near unkillable. He may make a full recovery but I don’tknow if it will be in time to stand at your side through the next negotiationon Yonnie Six.”

“That’sbeen pushed back a bit,” Trin said. “I don’t have anything to bargain withright now and we’re low on credit.”

“Lowon credit?” Sidna’s gray eyebrows shot up. “You said we were flush from thatlast deal you did in Charn. We made enough to give the whole crew bonuses. Whathappened?”

“He happened.” Trin sighed andnodded down at the prone slave. “I…had to pay a bit more than I planned forhim.”

“Howmuch more?” Sidna wanted to know.

“I’drather not say,” Trin said briskly. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I have a littleleft—enough to buy a good shipment of Jaxitecrystals for the trade negotiations when we do get back to Yonnie Six.” Shedidn’t mention that the little credit she had was her personal nest egg—thesmall amount she kept back only for extreme emergencies and never touched. Ifthis deal didn’t go well, she would be completely out of options.

“Jaxite is rare,” Sidna pointed out. Thesmoky blue crystals were used in the distillation of Dream Gas—a high pricedcommodity on the decadent Yonnie Six. “If you only have a little credit left,how are you going to afford them?”

Trinbusied herself with making sure the med-bot’s settings were correct.

“I’veheard from a reliable source that there’s a load of it for sale in the Demon’sEye and I’ve already contacted the seller. If we can get there before anyoneelse, he’ll sell them to me at cost.”

“TheDemon’s Eye?” Sidna put a hand on one slim hip. “Just how desperate are you, Trin? That place is a cesspoolof filth and danger. I know hardened pirates who’d be afraid to cross itsboarders. The crew won’t like this—not a bit.”

“Theydon’t have to like it,” Trin said stubbornly. “Once we get there I’m going inalone.”

“What? But you can’t—”

“I’mthe captain of this ship and I can do what I deem necessary.” Trin hardened hervoice purposefully. “I mean it, Sidna—I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

Themedic looked like she wanted to say something else but Trin lifted her chin andfrowned at her, letting her know she wouldn’t tolerate any more talk about thematter.

Shedidn’t like to pull rank on Sidna—the older woman was like an aunt to her andshe normally gave good advice. But in this case, Trin was backed into a corner.Her credit was almost nonexistent, the payment on The Alacrity was due, andthey only had enough fuel for one more run. They had to get liquid and fast. The Jaxite shipment seemed like the best way to do that—even if itwasn’t the safest way.

“Ican handle it, Sidna,” she said, making her voice a little softer. “Really.”

Sidnalooked at her, her lips thinned down to a bloodless line.

“Fine,Captain. Should I tell the navigatorto set a course for the Demon’s Eye?”

“I’lltell her myself as soon as I finish tending to my new…acquisition.” Tringrimaced as she looked at the huge Havoc, still twitching on his small cot.

“Fine.But I still say he’s dangerous.”

“Ican manage him,” Trin snapped, losing her patience. “And if you’re so worried,you can keep your distance. I’ll tend to him myself.”

Sidna’slips got even thinner.

“Asyou wish, Captain.” Turning on her heel, she left Trin to look down at the hugeslave and wonder what the hell she’d gotten herself into.

Chapter Three

“You, boy, up on your feet. Let me seewhat my credit has bought.”

Thrace rises on unsteady legs but he isn’t fastenough. A big hand snakes out and slaps him hard across the face. He reelsbackward, off balance because his arms are bound behind his back. Before he canfall, armed guards catch him and thrust him upright, their loud, trollishlaughter ringing in his ears.