The money we got from the salvage of the old freighter wasn't a lot but it did buy Candy's new manifolds, my new coffee software and high power breake...s for Lila's little baby, the plasma cannon. Blend number 42 was strong and smooth and I savoured it for many minutes."Heaven, just heaven," I sighed."Captain," said Lila with an edge to her voice."Yeah," I replied.Once again we were cruising along on a mail run to Star Base 19, usually a safe sector."I'm picking up some navigations pulses," she. " Gayle told Helen."But you be single mother," Helen replied. "I cans not let you be that. I hab ta take care of you." I will always love you if you are Helen or Mike," she explained. "If I had that choice I'd take both of you, but you are happier this way and I'm happy to be able to take care of you. And you gave me something this month I didn't know I needed badly, a child to care for. Please stay this way." I'll help you make a child or two," Helen insisted as she started to cry. "Money?" . The huge dog stood in front of them, crouching and snarling. Bahren watched his soldiers slowly backing away from the trio as the noise of the shouting increased.“BURN THEM!” Someone shouted and it was taken and repeated, again and again.Ten years ago Bahren had accepted the job to guard this town. Ten years, and he had found a home and a family. Ten years it had been an easy task for the battle hardened mercenary. Today he would protect the town, his home and his family, just like any other. Rach Yawned again.***Talk of finals began making the rounds that next day. All nighters andscrambling slackers would soon be the order of the day. Bobbie wasn'tworried about the academics, that had been simple the whole yearthrough. It was just a forgone conclusion that everyone would finish andeither move on to the next year or onto the next step.Bobbie looked at the lunch table. Faye had joined them that day, sharingsandwiches and musing about the activities that Summer would bring.Heather.