The knocking came again, more insistent this time.
“I’ll keep it in mind, Beek … but no promises. Sometimes I have to go with the flow.”
“I know, sir.” The butler sighed. “But I felt I had to at least make the effort.”
“Evenin’, Cap’n.”
Chocolate Harry, the company’s supply sergeant, slouched against the door frame, casually shooting a salute at his commander with his index finger.
“I’ll keep this short, ’cause it looks like you got quite a mob shapin’ up out there. Just put me down as one of your scouts.”
“All right, C. H.” Phule nodded, jotting a note on his pad. “I’ll admit I’m a little surprised, though. I didn’t think you’d want to be separated from your inventory.”
“I’ll admit I’m not wild about it,” Harry said, “but I figure most of it will be packed and stored anyway for this assignment, and my boys can handle that easy enough. ‘Sides, I don’t think there’s anyone in this outfit who can pass for a civilian as easy as me … ‘specially when it comes to movin’ through the less legal portions of polite society.”
He winked broadly at this. While it was normal in the Legion to keep one’s pre-Legion life a secret, Harry was very open about the fact that when he joined up he had been on the run from associates who, if not criminal, were at least outlaw.
The commander did not return the smile.
“That brings up an interesting point, C.H. Is it going to be safe for you to operate out of uniform?”
“I’ve given that some thought myself, Cap’n,” the sergeant admitted. “There shouldn’t be any special trouble for me on Lorelei … or if it pops up, it won’t be any more dangerous for me out of uniform than in.”