Aello leaned her gorgeous body across the desk. Her tight-fitting tunic was open at the throat, providing a most inviting view. Elan Carter had to admit that the young woman’s cleavage was spectacular, but he had seen many a pair of splendid tits before, and he was not about to be influenced in his decision by this set.

"So," said Carter, "you want to fight for me? You’re a Clan warrior. Why should you want to leave your kith and kin to become a mercenary?"

"I don’t have a choice," said Aello. "The Clan expelled me. I didn’t meet with their standard regarding honor."

"Honor?" asked Carter. "Correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t you the one known as the Whirlwind? You have accounted for over a dozen enemy BARs in only two battles. An amazing record for one so young. What standard are you expected to meet?"

Aello could not hide a blush. Her fair complexion turned almost beet red. "I…I’d rather not discuss it." She sat down on the hard wooden chair across from Carter’s desk.

Cater leaned back in his chair. A grim smile played about his lips. "I think I understand, but I have to know. I can’t have anyone I hire having any secrets. I suppose I could always bring your friend in here. Now he’s someone I can use, a BAR mechanic."

"No," said Aello. "You would embarrass him and he would not tell you anything in any case. He is a true man of honor."

"Tell me then, and we will not have to bring the subject up with your friend."

Aello took a deep breath. She swallowed. "In my last battle I was careless. I was taken prisoner. I lost my honor."

"You mean you were raped," interrupted Carter.

"Yes," said Aello, bowing her head.

"And the code of honor of your Clan regards the loss of a woman’s virginity, no matter what the reason, as the greatest disgrace."

"Yes," replied Aello again. Her voice was filled with emotion.

"Huummph!" said Carter. "I’ve heard of such outmoded codes of honor. But I didn’t realize that any Clan would sacrifice its best BAR pilot in order to uphold it. I’ll hire you, but there are some things you have to know."

""Thank you," said Aello. She was controlling herself only with great difficulty.

"First of all," explained Carter, "I’m hiring you as much for the services of your mechanic friend as I am for you. BAR pilots are a dime a dozen. Good mechanics are tough to find. Second, you start at the bottom. I’ll supply you with a basic machine. You get first choice of salvage of anything you kill. I get the rest. Third, we fight for money, not patriotism or anything else. You may have to fight against your own people. Can you handle that?"

"Yes," answered Aello, "I owe my clan nothing."

"Good," said Carter. "You start tomorrow. Got a place to stay?"

"I’m staying in the spaceport hostel."

"That place is a dump, and it’s not convenient to my base. You and your mechanic friend stay here with me. I’ve got several adequate rooms upstairs. I’ll take the cost of your room out of your pay."

"Alright," Aello agreed reluctantly. She did not like the idea of staying with a man as domineering as Elan Carter, but felt that as long as her mechanic friend Jason Miklos was allowed to stay with her she would be safe.

"You got anything valuable in that hostel?" Carter asked.

"Just some clothes and personal items," Aello answered.

"Then leave them. You will find your room has everything you need. Now go get your friend."

Aello rose and left the room. Her head was in a bit of a whirl. Elan Carter was a lot younger than she had imagined he would be. He was reputed to be the toughest mercenary leader on the planet and Aello had expected someone much older. He could not have been more than thirty years old, and was surprisingly handsome, standing over six feet tall, with dark wavy hair. She found herself blushing again. Why should she be having such thoughts? After losing her virginity to a rapist, she should be leery of all men, especially men like Carter who owed no loyalty to anyone but themselves.

She exited through the security screen surrounding Carter’s building. Outside Jason was waiting. She gave him a friendly hug. She owed a lot to Jason. He was the only one who had stuck by her through all of her trials, following her capture and violation by an enemy soldier. He was also quite good looking, although in quite a different way from Carter. Jason was tall and wiry with wavy blond hair, as opposed to Carter’s powerfully muscled body. Jason was, however, just a good friend. Aello was not attracted to him sexually.

"Well," she said, holding him at arm’s length. "We’re in. We’re mercenaries."