“Captain, Commander Travis is at the door.”

“Open,” Barron snapped to the AI. The door slid aside, and Dauntless’s tactical officer walked in.

“I saw you were still aboard, Captain.”

“Tyler will do, Atara. I strongly suspect we are the only two members of the crew still on the ship. Or onboard again, should I say? I thought you left yesterday.”

“I did, Tyler. But then I got a comm from maintenance command. I’m afraid the fact that Dauntless’s captain is still lurking in his quarters is rattling the maintenance teams.”

“So they sent you to ease me out?” He laughed softly. “Very well, tell them you were successful. I’ll be out within the hour. Have they arranged quarters for me at the base?”

“Better than that, mon capitaine. The locals have invited you to stay at the finest hotel in Archa City. In the Starburst Suite, no less. I’m told it’s quite plush.”

Barron sighed. “Now you know why I try to hide onboard, especially this far out in the provinces.”

“They are honored to have you here, Tyler. It does no harm. Enjoy it.”

“I’d never be disingenuous enough to argue there weren’t advantages to being his grandson, Atara…but trust me, there are burdens too. Dinner with the local functionaries is a given wherever we put into dock, but we’re going to be here a month, so who knows what they’ll cook up. I wouldn’t put a parade out of the question.”

“It’s your lot in life, my friend. Your birthright. Take the bad with the good—after all, your grandfather was the greatest hero in Confederation history.”

“And he died when I was thirteen. I loved him, Atara, I truly did. But to me he wasn’t the great admiral, the hero. He was the man who taught me how to fish, who helped me restore an old speeder. We used to go out on these amazing camping trips for days and days. And then he went to war…and he was gone. I’m not him, as much as I loved him. I have to be my own man, and it’s wearying when all they want to see is some vestige of the great hero reborn.”

Travis walked up to Barron, put her hand on his shoulder. “You are your own man, Tyler. To me, to the rest of the crew. Everyone who works with you, fights alongside you…they know the real you. I know it’s hard sometimes, especially in places like this. People love your grandfather, they believe he saved the Confederation. But never forget that the people who truly know you value you for your own achievements.”

Barron forced a smile. “I do know that, Atara. But thank you for saying it.”