God, she was tired of sialon. Would have given anything to walk under an open sky, or even a high ceiling or dome like she’d so taken for granted on Transluna. She thought of her bedroom, high in the Taglioni tower; it had an infinity ceiling that mimicked an endless vista of reflected light, stars, or clouds depending upon the programming.

Turalon might have been a high-security penitentiary for all the freedom Falise had. True, she might be able to leave her cramped quarters, but her travels were, for all intent and purpose, limited to Crew Deck and the even more restricted Command Deck. She wouldn’t have allowed herself to be caught dead down on the Transportee Deck, Shuttle Deck, or in the pressurized parts of the cargo hold.

Some standards had to be maintained, even in this miserable burrow.

Crossing her arms, she ambled slowly down the corridor, passing Chad Grunnel’s quarters, with Cinque’s door directly across the hall. In the beginning, having her rivals so close had been distinctly uncomfortable. Like being boxed into cramped catacombs, forced every day to be face-to-face with venomous human serpents, all of whom were dedicated, in the end, to your downfall.

That was due to Derek, of course. If he hadn’t sent that foul Dan Wirth creature back under Taglioni protection, she’d have never found herself in this position.

So, she wondered, what do I do about Derek?

The question had preoccupied her for months. Now that she needn’t worry about dying somewhere in the black, she could turn her full attention to the problem of Capella III and her renegade brother.

Though no formal statement had been made by the Board, the importance of the Inspector General was obvious. If he found conditions on Cap III required it, by the power of his Board appointment, he had the authority to dismiss Kalico Aguila and replace her with anyone he might choose. It would be an interim appointment until approved by the Board, or until they chose someone they considered better suited to the position.

And from what pool of candidates will he choose?

The answer to that was obvious: Inspector General Soukup would choose either Falise Taglioni, Cinque Suharto, Chad Grunnel, or Bad Bart Radcek. One of the four—representing as they did, the powerful families—would take Aguila’s place. Become the administrator for the richest planet in the known galaxy.

No wonder the IG avoided socializing, having stuck to his quarters through most of the seemingly endless nineteen months they’d been trapped in this sialon hell. He understood. Would not be compromised by any claims of favoritism or conflict of interest.