*Robbie*

"You look worried."

"Since I am worried, it probably makes sense for me to look that way," Robbie growled.

"Whoa there." Jane held up her hands. "Down, boy. No offense meant."

"None taken. I'm sorry, Jane." Robbie ran a hand over his jaw, then glared down at the console in front of him. "I thought I could handle watching him go and waiting, but my patience deserted me the second he stepped on that ship. I hate the thought of him down there." Garrett had called back to say that his father had gotten the news and was working on it, but also to caution that the extradition process might take weeks. Weeks. Fuck.

"You've got it bad.” She shook her head. "What's the name of his crazy boss again?"

"Danica Jessom."

"Hmm." Her eyes gleamed. "Shall we pass some time looking her up?"

Robbie blinked. "Even we aren't allowed to access her personal files, Jane. Only medical personnel can do that."

"Yep, that would be me."

"I thought you didn't work as a counselor."

"I don’t. That doesn't mean I didn't go through the certification process, though. I'm licensed, I just don't practice. That is enough to allow me to have access to her files, however, especially with her being under our jurisdiction."

"Isn't that unethical?"

Jane shrugged. "The line blurs. Space does strange things to people. The Alliance docs make a practice of testing and archiving every citizen's mental and physical status every five years, and they keep those available for review by practitioners close to the individual. I'm one of four licensed psychotherapists on this station, and just because I'm also a retired marine and a marshal doesn't mean I can't exercise my authority and check the status of a citizen." She grinned suddenly. "Didn't know I went all the way to my doctorate, did ya?"

"No clue," Robbie replied. "Let's do this, then. Read it, but keep it to yourself unless you think there's something I need to know. No specifics."

Jane rolled her eyes. "You're so square." She moved over to the console and touched in a few numbers. It took a couple minutes, but then she pumped a fist in the air triumphantly. "Gotcha! Man, she was buried deep. Looks like her last check-up was three years ago." She scanned the information listed there. "She's on a lot of behavior-modification drug therapies. She was born to be a psychopath, poor thing. Lots of different therapies for that, and from the looks of things they've tried them all on her." Jane winced suddenly. "God, I haven't heard about that one for twenty years. Some of these have been outlawed on civilized planets. They could give her as many problems as they're trying to correct."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Problems like what?" Robbie asked concernedly.

"Extreme paranoia, hallucinations, sensitivity, a desire to hurt herself or others, suicidal tendencies, homicidal tendencies, narcissism and all of the above," Jane said matter-of-factly.

"Wyl said she was obsessed with him."

"I could believe that." Her com buzzed. "Yeah? From where? Yeah, I'll tell him." Jane looked up at Robbie, her face serious. "We're getting a bouncer, boss-man." A bouncer was a message sent at random, roughly pointed and released with the hope that someone would detect it. Most bouncers were SOS calls from ships that had gotten into trouble.

"Where from?"

"Can't tell yet. They're routing it here now." She tapped the console again. "Looks generic, no ship-specific indication. That's strange. Here it comes." A voice suddenly sounded over the speakers.

"This is Alliance Marshal Elizabeth Paulsen, badge number 90577, operating under Code Twelve restrictions." Robbie and Jane glanced at each other. Code Twelve meant undercover work. "The operation has been compromised. Subject Danica Jessom has become unstable. Send a relief team to Planet Hazard now and prep for extraction. The subject is armed and dangerous. Shots have been fired and someone is hurt." There was a faint quaver in her voice, like she was holding back tears. "Hostages are barricaded, but none of us can approach Danica. She's insane. Send help, now. Please."

Robbie sat still for a moment while his mind whirled with activity. "Jane, verify her information."

Jane worked on it for a moment. "Looks good from here. Elizabeth Paulsen, also known as Leesie, marshal out of planet Larkspur. Criminal Investigations unit, mostly money fraud. Voice check matches as well."

"How long did it take for that message to make it here?"

"Umm...probably a few hours."

"What's the fastest ship we have in dock right now?"

Jane tapped the console a few more times, running her finger up and down a list. "Looks like a cruiser, belonging to a Mr. James Hadden. The ship's an F-class, but the engine is C-class. How did he pull that off?"

"Doesn't matter. We're taking it." Robbie stood up. Jane still sat, looking dumbfounded.

"We can't just commandeer someone else's ship—"

"This is an emergency, Jane," Robbie said coldly. "Inform the station master and let him work it out with Mr. Hadden. Then get your gear and meet me there. We leave in five."

"Sir, you can't do this."

"Either get helpful or get out of the way." He softened his tone a little. "Jane, I'm willing to risk ruffling a few feathers if it means we get to Hazard in time to save someone's life."

Her eyes widened. "You think it's Wyl?"

"I know it’s Wyl. We can get there fast with a C-class engine. Now go tell the station master, and I'll explain things to Mr. Hadden if he's there."

"Yes sir."

Robbie stalked out of his office, looking so fierce that no one dared to approach him. Wyl, dammit...

It was good that Mr. Hadden wasn't there, because Robbie doubted he could have been civil. The ship was unlocked, standard procedure for inspection in a private berth. He stepped inside and up to the pilot's chair. The ship would hold six comfortably, and eight if they had to squeeze. That was good.

Wyl. Robbie shook his head, trying to stay calm. Wyl, hurt, bleeding, shot...

Jane arrived before he started hitting something. "We've got clearance from the station master, and Mr. Hadden was very cooperative after he was promised he could dock without fees his next five trips."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me, his fees are coming out of your pay," Jane replied. She looked him over. "Get up, I'm driving."

Robbie wanted to snarl at her, but he knew she was a better choice. He stood wordlessly and traded places with her. In moments the engine was going and they were sailing into space.

This ship was fast. Very fast. Hazard wasn't too far away, and Jane was urging every ounce of power out of the engines that she could. They would get there soon. Robbie prayed it would be soon enough.