“We're approaching the moon, Lady Colbert-Jiangyin,” the captain announced to Lady Vera.

She looked up from her desk and gave the captain a compliant smile. “Thank you, captain. Once we hit land, I think I'll be taking the shuttle out my self.”

The captain of the Parthenon gave her a pained look. “My lady, General Tsao gave me specific orders to not let any harm come to you. It is the reason why I agreed to take you on as a passenger. We don't usually take on such high ranking citizens as their safety is a high liability.”

“Captain, I rented the shuttle for the next week. You won't be going anywhere until I return it obviously. And for what I am offering to rent it, you shouldn't care whether I paint myself green and dance naked around in it,” she arched a regal brow.

The captain blushed at such a vivid picture. “Be that as it may...” He seemed to be trying to find a way to diplomatically say he didn't think a spoiled, empty-headed noblewoman should be trouncing about unescorted on an outer Rim moon.

“Captain, I'm simply visiting an ailing friend. No one will harm me. If it will make you feel any better, my servant girl there is a master in martial arts,” she pointed to the dainty young woman serving her mistress' tea.

The captain gave her a disbelieving look. Lady Vera sighed. She motioned to the girl who set down her work. She moved to the middle of the spacious room and bowed to both the captain and Lady Colbert-Jiangyin. Then all of a sudden she jumped in the air and somersaulted a few feet in front of the captain and aimed a high kick at his neck, stopping an inch from striking him. She lowered her leg and gave him a courteous bow before returning to serving tea.

The captain, to his credit showed no more surprise than a small gulp and a cough. “I see I do indeed have nothing to worry over. Not many men have had the opportunity to surprise me, I'm embarrassed to admit that such a small young woman did.”

He bowed slightly towards the girl and then lowly to Lady Vera and left her chambers.

“You needn't have scared him so, Joon-mei. Had he been less of a man, he'd have wet his pants. Just showing him the somersault would have sufficed,” Lady Vera sipped her tea delicately.

“He insulted your intelligence, my lady. Thus insulted me. Men often need to remember that appearances can be very deceiving,” she said softly but clearly. She stood behind her mistress staring at her shoes and kept her hands folded neatly in front of her.

Lady Vera only gave her a tiny smile. Joon-mei, as she was known since she claimed to have no last name, was only twenty. She'd lived as a small indentured servant from the age of five to a tyrant nobleman who constantly flogged her for not working fast enough. That is, until Lady Vera bought out her and ten others debts when she was eight. Joon-mei and Lady Vera had bonded when she couldn't seem to find a home to suit her.

She knew the young girl could never fit into her world of high society, having seen the worst of it. So she offered her a deal, she would pay for her schooling in self-defense, etiquette, and anything else she thought would be relevant.

In exchange, if Joon-mei wished, she could work for her as her personal bodyguard. The stoic little girl gave it not a second thought and heartily agreed. After all, what could be better than the honor of protecting the great lady that took her away from that horrible man.

She learned from the best sword masters, martial arts masters, weapons experts, and of course the best etiquette teachers, and this was only the beginning. A companion came to teach her the art of serving tea twice a week for five years until she mastered it completely. She learned to speak the classical languages of Greek, Latin, and even Aramaic. Thus helping her learn easily all of the romance modern languages and many of the Earth-that-was Middle Eastern languages. Not withstanding the two major languages that everyone already knew, English and Chinese.

She also was taught how to read body language and signals. How to tell when someone is lying or hiding the truth even. She knew what pressure points in the body made a man writhe in pain or in ecstasy. In truth, the Alliance would have offered her a position as an operative had they known of her abilities.

Most of what she learned would have taken at least half a lifetime to master. But her passion to learn it for the sake of Lady Vera's approval had her finished with her training at eighteen. The only thing Lady Vera regretted was that throughout all her strict training, Joon-mei never had a chance to find love or at least affection.

She had offered her once the services of a male or female, if she wished, companion. Joon-mei blushed for the first time ever, and muttered that while she was attracted to males and a companion would no doubt do a pleasurable enough job, she wished to focus her energy on protecting and serving her ladyship to the best of her abilities.

The subject was dropped and never brought up again. But at least Lady Vera now knew that Joon-mei leaned towards males and to keep an eye out for any potential mates for her. While she had dropped the matter, it did not mean she considered it closed. She reflected on these thoughts as she answered Joon-mei's comment carefully.

“He is a man. No matter how advanced humanity is, men will always think themselves as the protector and women as the protected. It is a flaw in our biological design,” she murmured into her tea cup.

Joon-mei gave a shrug. “I do not believe because evolution deemed women to be naturally weaker in the physical form makes us meek little beings. If anything, females are far more advanced in our manner of thinking. We know when to fight and when to bow out. The Alliance is obviously run by mostly men. Had women run the show, we would have never allowed Reavers to be created or for the war to have even started.”

“I knew I shouldn't have insisted on those philosophy classes with Master Chen. He's always had a soft spot for the rebels,” Lady Vera shook her head ruefully, even thought she secretly agreed with him.

“I only know that I know nothing,” Joon-mei quoted.

“My lady, we have landed. Your shuttle is ready. Would you like me to have my men take some of your belongings on to the shuttle?” the captain offered over the com.

“Thank you captain. That won't be necessary. Joon-mei has already taken care of that,” Lady Vera answered.

“Very well. I shall see you in a week's time. Safe journey, my lady,” was the captain's answer.

“Thank you,” she said politely.

“He should have offered to escort you to the shuttle and see you off. Etiquette demands it,” Joon-mei said blandly.

“Did you not hear his voice, Joon-mei? I thought you were taught to listen for changes of tones in a persons voice as well as to read body language,” she smirked and lead the way out.

“If you are referring to his fear of me, it is of no consequence. It is his job and duty as captain of the ship to see that you have all your needs met, even if you have a servant with you. It is the way things are. That man has been too far removed from society to remember how things are done. Had I the time I would kindly offer to remind him,” Joon-mei answered.

Lady Vera laughed heartily. Joon-mei gave a small rigid smile in response. Her ladyship had not laughed so energetically in a while. It was nice to know she had been the cause of it.

“Oh, mei mei! You do know how to make me laugh,” she sighed after her laughter subsided.

Joon-mei's rigid smile bloomed into a rare grin. While she knew her ladyship cared for her, there were few instances where she called her mei-mei, and it was in these instances that she knew she was more than just a lady's maid. She was a beloved friend.