Given that unaccustomed solitude, it was perhaps inevitable that she and Tarrant would become lovers, just as Bash had predicted.

Barely more than a month into their voyage, Megan made her way to the command deck to start her usual shift in the astrogation chair. Bash stood next to it, in an otherwise deserted deck, one corner of his mouth twisted up in a wry and knowing grin.

What did I tell you? he said, as she approached. I knew Tarrant would find a way into your pants.

Despite herself, Megans face coloured, and Bash almost choked from laughing.

How the fuck did you know? she asked.

He reached up and tapped the side of his head. You were broadcasting loud and clear, he told her.

Belles tits, Megan exclaimed. You were listening in?

Not intentionally, no. Bash shrugged, still grinning. Youve really got to learn how to hide it better when youre having sex. So?

So, what?

You like him?

Sure. It was Megans turn to shrug. I guess.

You guess, Bashir repeated, clearly not fooled. I dont need to read your mind to see you like him a whole lot.

She stepped past him, pulling herself up and into the astrogation chair, leaving the petals folded down while they still talked. He wasnt like I thought he would be.

Which is?

A blowhard, I guess . . . full of himself. But hes not. In fact, hes almost ridiculously charming.

Bashs expression grew fractionally more sober. Still, he said, you probably arent the first pretty girl hes made feel that way.

By the time they were halfway through their six-month voyage in search of the Wanderer, the Beauregards crew of four had fallen into patterns of behaviour that only rarely saw them all meeting at the same time. Megan found herself spending more and more of her off-duty hours with Tarrant, while Bashir disappeared for long hours with Sifra, the two of them poring over the Beauregards nova drive. Sifra, it now turned out, had trained as a drive-specialist.

Megan and Bash, however, maintained their customary habit of taking meals together on those occasions when neither of them was required in the astrogation chair. They spent long hours talking about all the ways they would spend their newfound wealth, once they returned home.

You know, it hit me that even if they parade us in triumph down the streets of Ladested, said Megan on one such occasion, any time we step outside of Alliance territory, well be targets. Therell always be someone from the Accord gunning for us.

Bash stopped, a spoonful of broth halfway to his mouth. You mean like arrest us, for taking the Beauregard? Then well just have to head the other way, he said, gesturing with the spoon as if to indicate the entirety of the universe beyond the hull. Theres a whole galaxy out there, Megan.

Yeah, I guess.