That had been the foundation of their empire. A solo shipper and her crew who’d been wrongfully persecuted by the Krellins who had them all executed. The parents of that captain, Tavali Snitch, had rallied all the independent shippers they could, and created a nation other empires would be afraid to prey on.

For that reason, most nations wisely turned a blind eye to Tavali activities and allowed them to go their own way so long as they didn’t cause any insurrections or other problems that the recognized leaders had to deal with.

Don’t start no shit, won’t be no shit. That should have been the Tavali national motto instead of Hem me never.

Which got back to her original question. “Given how territorial and exclusive the Tavali are, why would they ever allow an outsider to reside in one of their bases?”

Hadrian glanced at Hauk as he joined them before he answered her. “I’m going to hazard a guess that she’s not an outsider.”

Jayne scowled at that. “Tavali aren’t assassins.”

“Technically, Tavali don’t exist as they’re made up of all species of sentient beings. So, why couldn’t someone be both?”

Hauk nodded. “That tracks.”

Jayne wasn’t so sure. “I just can’t see a pirate as a licensed assassin.”

Hadrian put the heel of his hand against his temple as they stepped away from their ship. “There’s a lot of anger in the Tavali, isn’t there?”

“You okay?”

He shook his head and winced. “Not sure. But if I go down, we now have help.” He gestured at Hauk.

“Really? Why do I always get stuck carrying the idiot?”

Hadrian started to clap his arm again, then caught himself. “Your awesome Andarion strength.”

Hauk snorted. “Wishing I was Tavali at the moment.”

Those words had barely left his lips before a tall man wearing a black battlesuit trimmed in red approached them like a wary predator. “Can I help you?” His gaze went from Hauk to Hadrian and finally to her.

Little did he know, she was probably the more lethal of this bunch, given the fury that forever gripped her.

Hadrian jumped in before either of them could speak. “I’m here to see Mordacity Pride.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, especially as he noted the blood on Hadrian’s pants. “Why?”

Hadrian turned charming. “Don’t worry about that. I cut my leg climbing into my ship.” He turned around to show it to the Tavali. “Nothing nefarious. As for Mordacity, she’s a friend of my brother’s and by friend, I mean intimate. I wanted to thank her for saving his life.”

That didn’t seem to allay the man’s fears at all. “Who’s your brother?”

“Rather not say, Relic. But I know you from the stories she’s told my brother. How’s your wife doing? Is Vatrice flying again?”

He put his hand on his blaster and stepped back as if he was about to draw it. “Anyone could find that out.”

“But would they know about that little escapade you and Mordacity had two weeks ago?”