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The Thyferran pilot nodded slowly. “I follow you so far.”

“It strikes me that my position here is no longer going to be profitable. I have managed, in my position, to set aside a certain amount of credits that would be sufficient, say, to purchase a planet. I would require a loyal staff and even a wing of pilots to keep my rivals at bay.”

“I see. And would you be requiring my services as a pilot or my company?”

Vorru bowed his head in a salute. “Your services as a pilot would be most valuable to me. Your company, on the other hand, would be invaluable to me. I leave the choice of role to you, to be modified as you wish.”

“Very well, I shall start as the commander of your pilots.” Erisi clasped her hands at the small of her back. “How do you see this defection being accomplished?”

“After the Lusankya and the Virulence return from destroying the Yag’Dhul station, we will head out on the Virulence on an inspection tour of facilities. There will be an accident, we will disappear. It can be arranged.”

“Then arrange it.” Erisi looked around and toward the viewports displaying the planet’s lush greenery. “Iceheart will find a way to destroy this world I love. I have no desire to be here when that happens.”

“Nor do I, Erisi dear, nor do I.”

34

Corran reached across the table at Flarestar and took Mirax’s hand in his. “Thanks.”

She gave his hand a squeeze. “Buying dinner was no big deal.”

“That’s not what I’m thanking you for.” Corran glanced down at the table, then back up at her. “Seeing you sitting there I remember the first time I saw you, back on Talasea.”

Mirax smiled. “Yeah, the lighting is dim enough in here to resemble that world.”

He chuckled. “I was remembering how beautiful you looked then and how beautiful you are now.”

“And I remember you cut a rather dashing figure in your flightsuit, then I had to go and spoil it by bringing our fathers’ rivalry into things.”

“But we got over that fast. Then I was remembering our last conversation on Coruscant before we headed out to conquer a world.” His smile shrank somewhat. “And then I ruined what we were heading for by getting captured by Isard.”

“Yet another crime for which she should pay.”

“Agreed.” Corran sat back as a serving droid started clearing platters from their table. “A huge chunk of what gnawed at me while I was on the Lusankya, was knowing you thought I was dead. I didn’t want to presume that my disappearance would have hurt you that much, but I knew how I’d have felt were our situations reversed.”

Mirax nodded solemnly. “And now, in less than a day, we’ll be tossed again into a fight where we both might die …”

Corran shot her a wry grin. “You wouldn’t be trying to turn this into a ‘sleep with me tonight because tomorrow we may die’ thing, would you?”

“Me?” Mirax demurely pressed a hand against her breastbone. “Perish the thought. I’d never think of taking advantage of you like that—despite having bought you a lavish meal.”

“Oh, no?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Corran sniffed. “Am I not good enough for you?”

“You are that, but, as I recall, you’re also already sleeping in my bed.”

“Good point. It does sort of make this kind of seduction rather moot.”

“True, but the flirtation is fun.”

“I agree there, too.” Corran smiled and tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly, doing his best to make sure he didn’t feed the pressure building in his chest into his hand. “And I can’t think of anyone I would rather flirt with and be seduced by than you. In fact, I think we should make it permanent.”

Mirax’s brown eyes grew wide. “Lieutenant Corran Horn, are you asking me to marry you?”

“Look, I know this might seem abrupt. I mean, I know we’ve been living together since my return from the grave, but with all our missions and trips and everything, I’d guess we’ve not had more than three weeks in the last four months where we’ve actually been able to spend time alone with each other. Despite how hectic and chaotic things have been, what I do know is that I want more time to spend with you. I know that I’m never going to find someone for whom I feel