"You'll want to change that code," she said to Max as the door slid open.

"But then how will you sneak in to surprise me in the night?"

Maiga laughed, but stopped quickly. She couldn't encourage that. He liked to flirt; he'd even been charming Wixa on the way home, despite her hostility. But Maiga didn't intend a repeat of what had happened on the Friss.

She called for the lights and they illuminated a set of single sized quarters, with basic furnishings.

"Nothing fancy," she said, "But clean, and... Well, they're fine, really. I have no complaints with mine."

He dropped his bags and jacket. "Thanks for organising them for me."

"No problem. Your rent is paid up for six weeks. That should give you time to get yourself sorted out."

He nodded. He had some savings he'd told her on the journey back, and they might still be accessible. Once he got at them, he'd pay her back he promised. Of course there was only so long one could live on savings.

"There's work available on the station, or off it," she said. "An officer like you should have no trouble finding something. The factories and industrial facilities are always looking for people for supervisory jobs. Or transport and cargo ships." He grimaced, unimpressed. Well he'd have to get used to it, like everyone else. Back to civilisation. "You should register with the job placement agency. It's in the marketplace."

Max winced. They'd only skirted the marketplace after they left the ship and headed to the living areas, but for a moment she thought he was going to have a panic attack at the crowds. Well, he'd get used to them too. He'd have to. This place grew more crowded all the time.

"Will you give me a tour?" Max said. "I mean, I have no idea where to find anything around here. Where do I buy food or get a haircut?"

Maiga walked over and tapped on the computer panel to bring up the station's information directory.

"You should be able to find everything you need here." Pointing her snapper at the panel, she went on. "That's my contact details. Call me if you need any help."

"Maiga..." He moved close to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "You're talking as if you're just dropping me off and leaving."

"I am off the station a lot."

"That's not quite what I meant." His hand moved down her arm. Under her jacket she felt the skin thrill with goose pimples. But despite that, she moved away from him, breaking the contact.

"Max, I'm involved with someone here on the station. I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that before."

"Oh. I see." He shook his head, and then raked a hand through his hair. "Right, well, I don't want to interfere with that of course."

"I've enjoyed spending time with you and I... ah, I hope I helped you through this difficult time. But we can only be friends now."

"Okay." He didn't seem too unhappy about it, which ticked Maiga off a bit. Not that she wanted him to be broken hearted. But... Oh what the hell, he was too young for her anyway. And he'd have his pick of the women on the station.

"Well, I should go." She felt awkward now. Where did you go after that conversation? "I'll let you settle in."

He nodded and looked around again at his new home. A troubled expression crossed his face and he hugged his arms across his chest.

"Are you okay?" Maiga asked. "Are the quarters okay?"

"Yes, I, they're fine. Just a little claustrophobic."

After what he'd been used to on the planet, that wasn't surprising.

"You'll get used to it."

She had to get out of here. He had a little boy lost look, which made her want to go and hug him to make him feel safe. And that would lead only one place. She hardened her heart. He's a big boy. He'll be fine.

"I'll see you later, Max."

~o~

If she hadn't had to drop Max off in his quarters her next stop would have been the first. As the Friss approached the station, she'd contacted Chervaz, just a quick message to say they were arriving. A reply came only a minute or two later, to say that by the time she got in, he'd be in his quarters.

So she hurried there, eager to see him now, realising how much she'd missed him, despite the... distractions on the trip. She had no intention of "confessing" anything about the most distracting part of it. Not from shame, even if she did wish that she hadn't given in to the temptation. But because she felt no obligation to. She didn't owe him a confession. Not yet. Perhaps one day in the future, if she gave him certain promises. But not now.

"Maiga!"

His smile and exclamation when he opened the door wiped away any final feelings of doubt she had. Every time she went away she should come and see him as soon as she returned. Because that smile must be the best welcome home anyone could get.

She stepped inside, into his arms and kissed him, leaning in against his broad chest, broad as a wall.

Only after she pulled back from the kiss and looked up at him, did she notice the faded bruising around his eye.

"What happened to your face?"

"Oh, there was some trouble, at a Business Guild meeting, I'll tell you in a minute. But are you okay? And Wixa? What delayed you?"

"Oh, we had an adventure." He looked intrigued at once. "Come on," she said, taking his arm and moving away from the door. "We both have tales to tell. Let's not do it standing up."

"Of course, sorry. Would you like some tea?"

He made them tea while she sat on the couch. In a moment he joined her and she moved close and let him put an arm around her shoulders. That felt good.

She told him about the "adventure" of finding Max, and he hung on her words, like a man who loved a good story naturally would.

"You have to introduce me to him," he said, when she finished the story. "This would make a wonderful story for the paper."

Maiga frowned. Ah, she hadn't considered that. Getting them together, could that be a good idea? What if Max said something?

"It's not really 'news' though is it?" She said.

"It's what they call a 'human interest' story. A terrible accident, a lone survivor, a struggle for survival against the odds, the triumph of a man over the hostile wilderness."

"Seemed quite pleasant territory actually."

He laughed. "A 'struggle to survive in really quite pleasant territory' doesn't have the same ring to it."

"I suppose not."

"Hmm, and then the twist about him not knowing about the huge events going on, while he's fighting to survive, that's even better. No home to come back to, making rescue a bittersweet moment. Oh, there's a series in this. I have to set up a meeting with him."

"Chervaz," she said, not just thinking of herself now, but of Max, and a little shocked at Chervaz. "I know you want a good story, but I think you should give it a few days. He's got a lot to adjust to right now. It's not fair to pressure him about it too soon."

He grimaced and then smiled, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, you're right of course. I get carried away sometimes. It must be very difficult for him and I certainly don't want to make it any more so. I'll give him some time before I contact him."

Maiga sighed, and then nodded, to try to turn relief into approval. At least she'd put that off for a while.

"Now it's your turn." She touched his face, just with the tips of her fingers, not enough to make him wince. "What hit you?"

"A chair." He smiled at her surprised expression. "It's a long story."

He told her about the meeting, two nights ago now and her reaction wasn't the interest and excitement her story had induced in him, but rather irritation, annoyance, oh, admit it, she thought. Anger. She stood up and started to pace back and forth.

"Bara must have set that up."

"Well, the Trebuchet wasn't docked at the time. I don't think even those men she has guarding the brothel were there. So you can't really say her people started it."

"Her people aren't just her crew." Maiga shook her head. "Not any more."

"There do seem to be a lot of, I suppose you could call them loyalists, defenders."

"I'd call them apologists." Maiga snorted. "Hard to call someone a pirate if they give you free food and medicine."

"There were a lot of people wearing that Watch badge too," Chervaz said. "I'm not sure Station Security authorised so many. I've put in a request for an interview with Chief Neex; see what he has to say about it. But I don't know when he'll make the time to see me."

This was building, Maiga thought. But to what? Could conflict be Bara's aim? What purpose did that serve? Why set drifties against lifers? They certainly had interests in conflict. But they were all humans; they had more interests in common. To break them into factions like this, to provoke humans to fight each other on any scale beyond a bar room brawl, well it was unconscionable.

Humans had eliminated all the reasons to fight each other. It had taken them hundreds of years, but they'd got rid of it all: nationalism, tribalism, religion, even family feuding, all gone. And they'd become stronger for it. United.

Yes, and united, we hired ourselves out and spilled the blood of others instead, she reminded herself, so let's not get too proud of ourselves, shall we?

But whether it was something to be proud of or not, humans didn't fight each other like this. Bara might call herself a traditionalist, but Maiga saw instead an atavist, dragging them back to a past they had escaped long ago.

And she wanted no part of that. If this station erupted into a stupid, wasteful conflict, she would leave. With Wixa, if she would come. And Chervaz?

She looked at him, silent now, watching her pace. Was he still thinking about Bara, or just enjoying the way Maiga moved? Never mind. If she did decide to leave, could she talk him into coming? And what about Jaff? They'd been friends for years; Chervaz probably wouldn't want to leave him behind.

So Maiga, Wixa, Chervaz and Jaff, not to mention Glyph and Smoke the robot cats. And the Friss only slept two.

She just might need a bigger ship.

Chervaz smiled at her, a little nervous looking and she realised her gaze had become rather intense. She relaxed and glanced at the clock. Late now, time perhaps to go out for some supper. She turned back and smiled at Chervaz.