Mitzner sat on the other side of the Captain's desk, grinning like an idiot.

"You don't really think this guy is the last of the Gormenghast Dynasty, do you?" asked the Captain, utterly incredulous.

"No," said Mitzner, in a dopey voice "But I won't tell people that part when I tell the story of dining in his private gravity bubble."

"This is ridiculous," said the Captain.

"Oh come on, Captain," pleaded Mitzner "We're explorers. This kook's dining room is still completely uncharted."

She beamed.

"You're really pushing it, Zarah," said the Captain "Fine. You can go for the evening then come straight back. Then we're out of this barren system."

"I'll go tell McAfree," said Mitzner.

"You're taking her too?" asked the Captain "How many people were you planning on bringing with you?"

"You saw how smitten the 'Emperor' was with her. She's my ticket down there. I wasn't technically, in the strictest sense, actually invited. He really meant to invite you; I just got hit by some of the invitation's shrapnel."

"This idea is getting worse by the minute," said the Captain.

"Too late," said Mitzner, already sprinting from the office "You said I could-"

Mitzner's voice disappeared as the door closed behind her.

* * *

There was only one place that McAfree was likely to be. Mitzner had to suck it up and go down to the Science Department.

To Mitzner's surprise the door to the Science Department opened at her presence, just like it was supposed to. That was suspicious. She walked in and looked around. McAfree was sleeping on a chair in a rather undignified position. Wagner was de-gunking some equipment. Most promising of all, Dr. Kang was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm afraid Dr. Kang is still asleep in his quarters," said Wagner "He had a late night last night."

"That's the best news I have heard in a long time," said Mitzner "I'm actually here to speak to McAfree."

They both looked over at McAfree, sprawled out on a chair and sleeping with her mouth open.

"You can wake her if you want," said Wagner "She would literally kill me."

"She doesn't scare me," said Mitzner, pinching McAfree's nose.

McAfree snorted, then woke with a start.

"Hey, what?" she stammered, eyes half open "Why would you do something so horrible? I was sleeping. I have to sleep some time."

She straightened up in the chair.

"I need to ask you a favor," said Mitzner.

"You're off to a terrible start," said McAfree.

"How do you feel about having dinner down on that moon with the overdressed idiot who was on the main screen last night?" asked Mitzner.

"That guy the Captain was addressing like he was the Emperor?" asked McAfree "And who called me a critter?"

"I think he said creature," said Mitzner.

"Why in the galaxy would I want to do that?" asked McAfree.

"That's why it's a favor," said Mitzner "They open the door for you and I slip in behind you."

"Bu- why do you want to have dinner with a lunatic?" asked McAfree "I think I'm missing a middle part here."

"Because he says he's the last of House Gormenghast, the former Emperors of the Galaxy," said Mitzner "Who knows if he is or not. I don't know why I have to keep explaining to everyone how cool this is."

"Do I have to dress up?" asked McAfree.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," said Mitzner.

"If I say yes you go away and I can go back to sleep?" asked McAfree.

"I'll be out the door," said Mitzner.

"Fine. Whatever."

And McAfree had already closed her eyes again.

Mitzner hurried out to be sure to avoid Dr. Kang.

* * *

Mitzner waited in the shuttle bay for McAfree. She was wearing an elaborate, puffy ball gown in the Babylonian style. It was colored white with gold trim for the Foundation Explorers. Most importantly to Mitzner, however, it was large enough to comfortably conceal some pretty heavy personal weaponry.

Finally Mitzner saw McAfree walking down the hall. She was dressed less impressively: in a grey Mars Academy - Computer Sciences hoodie and comfortable pants.

"I know I said you didn't have to dress up," said Mitzner "But are you going out of your way to be insulting?"

"I don't want to give the wrong impression by looking like I care," said McAfree.

"Fine," said Mitzner "Let's go."

"We just have to wait for the Doc," said McAfree.

"Dr. Kang? Why is he going?"

"Why are any of us going?" asked McAfree "I think this whole idea is stupid."

"How did he find out about the dinner?"

"Well you insisted I go so what did you think was going to happen?"

"You really screwed me here, McAfree," said Mitzner.

"You never said it was a secret and you know how he likes to insert himself into everything," said McAfree "You should be more precise in what you ask from people."

"Oh forget it, let's just go without him," said Mitzner.

"Here he comes now," said McAfree, pointing Dr. Kang out a little ways down the hall. He was dressed in his white Foundation uniform like always.

"If we run we can still make it!" yelled Mitzner, pressing frantically at the button for the airlock door "Come on! Come one! Decompress!"

No matter how many times she pressed the button, she wasn't able to make the airlock decompress any faster.

"Good evening, ladies," said Dr. Kang, as he arrived.

And just like that, the evening was ruined.