Dinah rested her chin on her knees, her arms hugging her legs and watched Marc undress.  "Wow.  A strange man in my bedroom," she said aloud as if musing.  "Maybe I should yell for help."

"Don't be an ass. I'm the ass, remember?" he asked as he climbed into bed beside her. "Do you mind terribly that I'm a bit... obsessed with this?"

She shook her head.  "It's not that I mind, it's that I'm selfish and I miss you."

He wrapped her up tight in his arms. "Just come in and bop me on the head when you need to. I tend to forget the time. I'm sorry."

She snuggled close.  "So why are you so obsessed with this?"

He frowned as he thought of how to answer her. "I suppose because I've felt a bit... I dunno. Like the world's passed me by. The universe, the multiverse, whatever. That having been part of bloody Tabitha's omens and portents that now there was nothing left for me except to.. I dunno. Roam around. Yes, we've worlds to deal with but we had no challenge other than bloody barons. I need an intellectual challenge I guess, and this seems to be it. At least for now."

"I'm vain enough to think I'm enough challenge for any man, but I suppose I'd have to go back to playing hard to get," she said.  "And since I don't want to do that, I suppose I'm glad this came along.  The dragons are certainly delighted."

"Are they? I haven't had much chance to talk to them. How's McGee. You know, you could aim your own considerable talents at him and try to extract more information from him. He's holding back, of course."

"I could," she said.  "But at the moment I am remarkably reluctant to do so.  I'm not sure why, but I think it has to do with the keep out signs he put up after the business with the dragons.  I keep thinking of how your keep out signs got to be less emphatic...less in your face...as you and Stephen became friends."

"Hmmm. So you think I ought to cultivate McGee as a friend so you can seduce him?"

She laughed.  "No, I don't think you want me trying to seduce him.  But I do think what you said about companions touched a nerve and that whoever or whatever Zaf is, he isn't McGee's companion.  Or even, really, his friend."

"All right, tomorrow I'll go and get drunk with Mr. McGee and chat with him about thousands of years alone. I did mean it when I told him I understood. Well, as much as anyone can, at any rate."

"I wasn't really suggesting that.  At least not in the sense of manipulating him.  I was suggesting that we let it alone, let the relationship develop and see what happens.  Right now we aren't starved for information and we've got time."

"Ok, so instead I'll make love to you. My options are pretty damn good."

"I love it when I get what I want in the end," she said.  "And I love you."

"I know," he said smugly. "It's what sustains me."

"Well then it's time to sustain me in my efforts to sustain you," she said.  She was about to say something else when the ship shuddered and Aaru hit her version of general quarters.

"Shit," Marc said, dressing himself with a thought and taking off at a run toward the nerve center of Aaru.  Dinah wasn't far behind him.  Ingev, who'd been asleep, arrived in only his jockeys. He was holding his pants but hadn't taken the time to put them on.

"What?" Ingev and Marc asked in unison.

"Pirates, fired as they dropped out of d-space," Laz said, watching the dragons appear on the screen.  "Four ships.   She's got her shields full up now."

"What are they? Dumb?" Marc asked. "Attacking a ship like Aaru?  Surely they knew we have dragons aboard too."

Ingev shrugged. "Dumb is pretty common in the Rim."  He was checking readings and muttering to Aaru. 

Laz watched on the screen as the dragons began a strafing run that allowed them break the pirates defensive formation and Ther'lin appeared in their rear.  McGee's voice came over the comms, coordinating a cross-fire with Ingev.  In minutes one of the pirate ships exploded and the dragons, coordinating their efforts with Aaru and Ther'lin, through Anja, outside on Snow and Paul working the comms board, picked off another one, blowing its engine compartment.

The other two ships turned to run, but the dragons cut them off.

Ingev grunted, "They're begging for terms of surrender; they're afraid we'll blow them up too."

"Where's the nearest decent prison?" Dinah asked, after exchanging a look with Marc.

"Bring who's ever in charge aboard. I'd like to talk to them."

"You want to talk to them?" Laz said.

"Sure. Why not?" Marc asked. "I'd like to hear what they think they're doing."

"Go ahead," Dinah said to Ingev.  "Tell them we'll discuss terms face to face or we'll blow them to kingdom come."

Ingev grinned and passed that bit on verbatim. "They're arguing over who gets to come. I think we'll talk to the loser."

"Tell them we want both," Dinah said.

Ingev grinned. "Aaru says, yes ma'am." With that two men were ported in looking shocked and angry, then startled and defensive when they realized where they were.

"Not the brightest pennies in the pond," Marc said, shaking his head at them.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them demanded.

"Marc Siolastre. And that's Dinah Siolastre the Siolastre. Who the hell are you?"

"Grigson, and that's Anders," he said.  "So what are your terms?"

"I don't know," Marc replied frowning at first Grigson then Anders. "What were you after, and why the hell were you stupid enough to attack us?"

Grigson's face turn red.  "What the hell do you think we were after?" he said.  "Whatever you're carrying.  The word is it's a fortune in genetics, plus whatever else you're trading along the way.  And there's a fortune on your heads.  Both of ya.  The Siolastre and her fuck."

"A fortune!  Imagine that. What sort of fortune," Marc asked.

"Whaddya mean what sort of fortune?  Money's the only sort that matters out here, money or the equivalent."

"Well, you know, I'm only the Siolastre's fuck so obviously I'm not very bright," Marc replied. "On the other hand, I'm the one who can kill you with a word, so perhaps I'm not quite as dumb as you seem to think. If my mistress would allow me such a thing, of course."

"How bright do you have to be to kill with a word?" Dinah asked, watching the two men blanch.  "Or does it depend on the word?"

"Look," Anders said. "Times are tough and they're offering a lot for your head.  Roberts thought this was a good idea, I wasn't so sure. Yeah, you're new to the Rim and untested but still..."

"Who's they?" Dinah asked.  "The barons or the syndicate or someone else?"

Anders looked over at Grigson who glared at him. "Take your pick.  They both want you folks dead.  Although the Guild is sitting on the sidelines."

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Dinah murmured.  She leaned back against the console behind her.  "Well, I'm a trifle undecided here.  We can take you and your ships to the nearest planetary prison or we can do something else.  Personally I'm a little annoyed since you managed to mess up my plans for the evening, so I'm leaning towards something more...oh I don't know.  What would the word be?  Painful?"

Anders went pale. "I'd rather that than you blow my ship apart."

"Why?" Marc asked.

"My family's aboard."

Dinah gaped at him.  "You're family's aboard?" she said, aghast.  "You're stupid enough to endanger them to play these games?"

"What would you suggest?" Anders asked. "Let the Syndicate have them? Or maybe the barons. Oh yeah, great idea."

"Come again?  You lost me there," Dinah said.  "We're the new kids on the block remember?"

"I understand you didn't think much of Sutta. Ever wonder what the folks who pay for their perversions there do at home? Or maybe that just never occurred to you," Anders replied heatedly. "Maybe you were never threatened with having your world blown up if you don't do whatever they want."

Dinah's eyes narrowed to green slits.  "It's occurred to me," she said harshly.  "I have nightmares about it, in fact, just like I have nightmares about them rebuilding Sutta."

Marc frowned, looking from Grigson to Anders and back again. "Is your family aboard your vessel too?" he asked Grigson.

He nodded, the muscle in his jaw jumping.

"Shit. And the two ships we destroyed? Were you able to save any of them?" Marc asked, feeling sick.

"Some, from the second one."

"Is it usual for pirate ships to carry their family on board?" Dinah asked, her face white.

Anders and Grigson shared a look, then Anders said, "It is for those of us who don't have any choice. If you throw in with the Barons or the Syndicate you have a home. Sometimes the Margassans will let us stay on a planet at the periphery of their territory, but for the most part... It's safer having them with us than leaving them elsewhere."

"Jesus!" Dinah said, looking at Marc.  "And if you had a choice, what would you do?"

"Dunno. Don't have one," Anders replied.

"If you had one? If you had a safe planet, what then?" Marc asked.

"There ain't none. The supply lines get cut unless you throw in with the bloody barons. Or the Syndicate. If you have enough money you can hire the Guild to get you supplies but there ain't too many who have that option."

Dinah shook her head.  "Let's play let's pretend.  If supply lines weren't a problem, if you had a planet, what then?  What if the problems were solved?"

Anders gaped at her.

"Indulge her," Marc suggested.

"I don't know, do I? I suppose I'd farm like my father did. If the dirt weren't dried up or the water poisoned."

Dinah closed her eyes for a moment.  Then, "Is anyone hurt on your ships?"

Grigson nodded.  "A couple we pulled off the second ship."

"Can you handle it or do you need help?"

"They're pretty bad," he said.

"Alright.  Aaru will bring them here."  She flicked a glance at Ingev as she spoke.  "We've healers aboard.  I need an hour or two to think.  You can stay with them to make sure we aren't playing games.  Aaru and Ther'lin and the dragons will make sure your ships don't leave until I'm done thinking," she said.

"Here," Ingev said. "Comm your ships and give me coordinates on the wounded. I'll have Aaru bring them to our sick bay."

Marc followed Dinah off the bridge and wrapped her up in his arms when they reached the rec area. "Well, folks'll do a lot of things when they're desperate."

"The real problem, whether it's supply lines or the planet we put them on will be security, right?" she said, snuggling against him.

"Yeah, and making it damn clear we won't brook anyone, Syndicate, Baron or anybody else, bothering the worlds that are ours.  And if it's as bad as it seems to be, word gets out we have worlds where they can be safe, we'll have a lot of folks clamoring to join us, which in turn will piss of the Barons and the Syndicate even more."

She nodded.  "We need Kalie," she said, sending Quinn the message.  "I have an idea."

"If you're thinking dragon protection teams on a world, we just don't have enough dragons," he replied.

"I know.  That's why we need Kalie," she said.  "You remember how we were turning dragons who wanted to join us away?  Plus we have the world that Baz and the Old Ones are settling.  So there's talent there."
 
"It's worth a try, that's for sure. It'll make us even bigger targets, but what the hell."

"We can only die once," she said as Aaru opened a wall to the dragon bay.

"Hullo Kalie," Marc said as she stuck her head in to look at them.

She gave them a dragonish smile.  "We were having fun."

Dinah laughed.  "Sorry but I need to know some things."

"What?"

"Who speaks for the dragons?  I mean is there just one or what?"

Kalie tilted her head.  "It depends on what it is."

"Well if we needed dragons to help us do something?"  Dinah said.  "Aaru?  Could you ask Morrigan to join us?  And Ingev?"  She smiled at Kalie.  "Would they?"

"You are the Heir, the Siolastre.  You are helping us with the thing we have dreamed of for forever.  I speak for them in matters related to you."

Ingev and Morrigan came in to join them, Ing saying, "We've got the wounded aboard, Dinah. Kalket and Max are ... busy."

"Thanks. I need to know some things.   Morrigan, what would happen if a very large number of unbonded dragons left the Houses and such and came to us?"

At her look Marc added, "What if we wanted to set up a couple of planets for settlement but they needed protection from ... well, anyone bothering them. We thought perhaps dragons could provide that protection for them."

"But we'd need a lot of them.  To protect their shipping and the settlements.  And would there be warriors who'd come with them?  Some at least, for a while?" Dinah asked.

"Well," Marc said thoughtfully, "I bet we could hire the Guild to do the supply runs for us until we could get up to speed.  I can comm Paxx and ask."

"If that's what you were doing with them," Morrigan said slowly, "it would probably be alright.  The Houses would like to expand to the Rim but don't like the risks.  If you're footing the bill to do something about those, they wouldn't be as threatened as they might otherwise.  You'd be basically starting an open war with the barons and the syndicate from what I can tell and there's always warriors who'd like to fight."

"I'm not crazy about starting a shooting war," Marc said to Dinah.

"I'm not either.  Ing, what would the Rim do if we stood up as a real viable alternative to the Barons and the Syndicate?  What would happen if we starting drawing people away who didn't have a choice before?"

Ingev frowned and thought. "You should ask the Darrochs too.  I think the Barons would be cautious at first. But the Syndicate would call in markers from everyone who owes them and go after you."

"I'm not ready to ask the Darrochs," Dinah said.  She looked at Marc.  "Well?"

"Well, we said we were gonna stay here,"  Marc replied. "I suppose we might as well make an even bigger mark."

"Kalie?"

"Just tell me how many dragons you want," she said.  "It will be fun."

"I'm ready to talk to the Darrochs," Dinah said.

"Kalie, can you contact Rolf or Goldie? Ask the boys to drop by,"  Marc requested.

She nodded and did so.  "They'll be here in a minute.  They're mad they missed the fun."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me one bit," Marc commented dryly. He barely had time to pour Dinah, himself, Ing and Morrigan a drink before the boys were ported in by Aaru.

"Hey!" Darin said with a grin. 

Dermot was frowning. "You shoulda yelled earlier!"

"Next time we'll know," Dinah said, waving them towards the bottle.  Then she outlined the plan.  "It'll piss them off for sure," she concluded.  "And I want to know what you think they'll do and what your father will do."

The boys looked at one another. "Dad's been dying to take them on but didn't think he had enough firepower on his own. He's still not forgiven you for not involving him more with the Sutta caper," Dermot said.

Darin, the saner brother, frowned. "It could get messy."

"As I said, next time I'll know.  Now tell me what you think the Barons and the Syndicate will do."
 
The Syndicate will attempt to interfere with any business you attempt to do on the Rim. They'll hire muscle to go after any of you who stray off world. Their real power is behind the scenes. Freezing assets and wrecking deals. The Barons are a bigger puzzle," Darin answered. "There are two camps. The ones who helped you at Sutta might privately help you out, but want to keep a low profile about it to freeze any attempts to cause an outright break within COBRA.  The Guild will stay neutral but some traders will work for one or the other side."

"Fortunately my assets aren't freeze-able nor my business ventures wreck-able," Dinah said.  "And I can probably help your father there.  I think we need McGee and Zaf," she told Aaru.  "Because the next question is everyone else on the Rim.  The people who live out here."

McGee and Zaf ported in a few minutes later, Zaf sporting a black eye. "What's going on now? You seem to be surrounded," Zaf commented. "And by wreckage too. Had a bit of a problem?"

"What happened to you?" Dinah asked.

"Red Limit on a Saturday night," Zaf explained.

"Ah.  Well what do you think the response on the Rim will be if we give people a real alternative to the Barons and the Syndicate?" she asked, explaining what she meant. 

McGee's mouth fell open.  He shut it and went and helped himself to a drink.  "Jesus, I knew you were trouble."

Zaf leant against a convenient wall and downed his drink in one gulp. "This I gotta see."

"But what do you think the people will do?  Not the Barons or the Syndicate or the Guild.  The people who live out here on the worlds controlled by one or the other?" Dianh asked, ignoring their comments. 

"It'll take some convincing that you'd stand by them," Zaf replied. "They expect to be used, but they like gettin' used by the folks they understand."

She nodded.  "Anything to add, McGee?"

He shook his head, bemused.  "Only that I'm glad you aren't mine."

"I'll remind you of that one day, old fellow," Marc commented with a grin.

"Well, now that we're all clear on that," Dinah snapped, "maybe we should let them know their savior has arrived.  Want to go get them Ing?"

Ing grinned. "Sure. This I gotta see."

A few minutes later he returned with Anders and Grigson. The two men looked worried.

"How are your people?" Marc asked.

"I can't thank you enough for helping them," Anders said. "Your healers are wonderful."

"I'm glad they could help.  Would you tell me how many of you are there?" Dinah asked.  "Pirate ships with families?  Others caught between the Barons, the Syndicate and staying alive?"

"Depends," Anders replied. "Do they have to have a clean record?"

"No," Marc replied.

"There's maybe 20 families who've gone pirate, right Grigson?  Others... they're pretty scattered. Hiding out in places like Pensa and even Utern. Hard to say how many might be willing to step up and get in the middle for you."

Dinah nodded.  "Alright, here are the terms.  I'll give you a planet and provide the security for you, both the settlements and your shipping and you and the others get out of the pirate business for good."

"Well, we'd need some capital to get started. We can't just set up with nothing," Anders replied.

"We'll provide you building materials and basic food stuffs. You'd have to make your own way beyond that," Marc replied.

"What's the catch," Grigson asked.  "Whaddya want?"

"You out of the pirate business," Dinah said.

"Look, someone always has a hook. What is it," Anders added.

"The first kid born, you name after me or Marc," Dinah said. 

Anders laughed. "All right. You got a deal."