“Sony about that, Chief Goetz. I think it’s taken care of now. “
“Nice of you to try so hard to keep our work load down.”
“Wasn’t I supposed to handle that?” the Legionnaire said, raising his eyebrows. “I thought you asked-“
“Now, what’s all this ‘fool’ stuff?” the chief broke in. “I thought you said your name was Jester … excuse me, Captain Jester.”
“Captain Jester is my official name within the Space Legion,” Phule clarified. “Unfortunately my credit cards are still in my civilian name, and I had to use that when I signed my company into the hotel.”
It was Chief Goetz’s turn to raise his eyebrows.
“Your credit cards? Then you weren’t kidding about taking personal responsibility for any damage done to the hotel? I was wondering how a down-at-the-heels outfit like the Space Legion could afford to use the Plaza for temporary housing, but I’m starting to see the light. Just what is your background, Captain?”
“In the Legion, it’s generally considered poor manners to ask- that, Chief.”
Goetz bared his teeth in a wolfish grin.
“Well, I don’t happen to be in your Legion, Captain. I’m in charge of keeping order in this settlement, and that includes checking out suspicious characters who wander in … like people who start throwing around large hunks of credit with no visible income to explain it. That gives me the right to ask just about anything I damn well please, so I’m asking you again: What were you before the Legion dipped you in tar?”
Phule shrugged. “The same as I am now. Wealthy. If you want to run a check, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble confirming that my assets are legitimate. Incidentally that’s spelled with a ‘p-h’ … P-h-u-l-e, as in Phule-Proof Munitions.”