"I would be delighted. That's what I was looking for, as a matter of fact." Medart grinned at her as they started walking. "We've changed ships; are we bound for Sandeman?"
"Yes. Have you been there?"
"To Alpha Prime's, yes—but that's a different world, in a different part of the galaxy. I'm looking forward to seeing yours."
"It is a beautiful one, particularly near the Vader clanhome," Kelly said. "As the first clan formed after Overthrow, we took the Shapers' area—and they, of course, had chosen one of the best and most attractive parts of the planet."
"The same was true at home," Medart said. "I visited there a couple of years after Annexation, not long after they were granted the patent I suggested they try for, on the saber's controlled-length blade."
"What is a patent?"
"The exclusive right to market something you've invented. On something as useful as a controlled-length laser beam, that's quite an advantage—last I heard, Clan Vader was one of the richest groups in the Empire. And probably the only one that amount of money didn't change much."
"Why should it change?"
Medart laughed. "No reason, really, but most people who suddenly get a lot of money do change."
"In here—most people aren't Sandemans."