Shan Fung sighed as the door slid open without her permission. She knew who it was, of course. She had scheduled his meeting for this hour and, as usual, he had arrived on the dot. I suppose if nothing else, he's never late. She briefly considered pulling her sidearm on him-as she would have with most of her soldiers, to remind them that her lenience had limits-but he was the one member of her crew who might just be dangerous enough to give her a run for her money.

"You rang, O' Captain, My Captain?" he said, putting on a mockery of oozing salesman charm as he stepped through the door.

She pursed her lips; he was also one of the rare members of her crew who could test her composure. "Good afternoon, Mr. Diver."

He fell into an at ease position-even the civvies on her ship learned basic military stances and how to salute properly-and grinned at her. She was not unaware that he was good-looking, or that he was a genius; but he was also a pain in the ass, and for t