any real preparation possible.*

*Both my studies and Jim made that perfectly clear, sir--but the
Protector removed my allergy to teaching tapes, so I'll be able to cram
in a lot more information than I would've been able to earlier.*

*Understood, but there's still a tremendous amount of information for
you to absorb.* Davis sent another smile. *You know how much getting
a new Ranger means, and I'd like to spend more time with you, but I'm
getting ready for a Grand Audience I can't put off just to chat. So
I'll talk to you later.*

*Yes, sir.*

With that, contact broke, and Odeon's consciousness returned to the
common-room. "What now?" he asked Medart.

But it was Keith who answered, entering the room. "You change
uniforms, Your Highness. Don't worry about the change in your sidearm;
you know how to use a needler, and you're as accurate with it as I
am--a lot more so than you were with your slugthrower."

With that, Odeon was wearing comfortable forest green, rather than the
snug gray he was used to. "Thank you, Lord Protector. I don't care to
wear a uniform I'm no longer entitled to."

Cortin followed Keith into the common-room, looking to Odeon like she'd
been crying. "Mike--the Protector told me I should ask your advice, if
you were willing to give it."

Medart swore to himself. This didn't sound like a promising start for
his new colleague . . . *Mike, don't say yes unless you're willing to
face the consequences. This is part of the Empire now, you don't have
the option I gave you yesterday of answering as a private individual.*

Odeon's answering thought was grim. *I know, but I can't refuse her.
I can give her the same warning, though.* "Make sure you want the
advice, Joanie. As Jim told me last night when I asked him for some,
most people don't ask Rangers questions because they won't like our
answers."

"Keith told me the same thing. I'm still asking."

"In that case, I'll answer. What's the question?"

"What's the best way to handle your . . . change? You're still senior
spouse of Family Cortin and my heir, among other things."

Odeon thought about that briefly, then the answer was obvious--and as
unpleasant as Medart had suggested it might be. "We both know that,
even though I haven't changed much physically, I'm not the same person
I was at breakfast. The fastest and most economical way to handle my
change would be to have Captain Michael Patrick Cortin-Odeon declared
legal