"The Bible and outline should be enough, if it's going to work at all. I have a funny feeling I'm going to be up all night reading and praying . . . Would you mind if we get back to the main subject?" "Sure. I can't do much else about your feeling of betrayal, but I'm hoping to get rid of the useless feeling for you." Medart paused, smiled. "Even if you decide against the job I want you to take, if those feelings are strong enough that you feel you have to leave the Systems, all you need to do is claim your Imperial citizenship, then exercise your option to change your world of residence once at Imperial expense--in this case, aboard my ship." "They're strong enough," Odeon said, "but I've still got a Family I love and responsibilities I can't just run away from. I'll claim citizenship, yes--the other, not unless you can persuade me the Empire has more of a claim on me than my Family and the Archduchy of High Teton do." "I think I can manage that. Welcome to the Empire, Mike--I think you're the first Systems person to take that step officially. Now what's this about being Joan's heir, and an Archduchy? I don't remember anything about you being part of the nobility." "What?" Odeon frowned, thinking back over the past three weeks. "You know, I don't think the subject ever came up. Joanie's Archduchess of High Teton, and she named me her heir, which makes me a Duke. Local nobility only, of course." "Of course," Medart agreed, pleased that Odeon was showing even that tiny trace of humor. "Shall I start calling you 'Excellency'?" "I don't feel much like an Excellency at the moment. Just stick with Mike, please." He'd better slow down, Medart told himself. Mike was good, but he wasn't Ranger-level yet, and if Medart screwed up, he never would be. "Sorry; I was just trying to lighten things up a bit. If you decide to take the job, you won't be able to inherit. Is the succession set up?" Odeon nodded. "If anything happens to me, Sis' baby would inherit, with her acting for him until he's of age." "Good. No extra arrangements to make if you accept, then. Okay, Mike, let me talk you through working out what job I want you to take; you don't have the background to accept it if I just come out and ask." "I asked for your professional help; we do it your way. I think I'm starting to see where you're going, though." "I hope so; that'll make it easier for both of us. I know you've read about recent Imperial history, so you're aware of our losses during the Traiti war and the White Order rebellion." "Uh-huh--specifically the four Rangers, if I'm reading you right." "You are. I was incredibly fortunate to find Ranger Losinj during the rebellion, but we're critically short even when we have the average of ten, and right now we're down to seven."