Ouch! Kitti Hagarson bit off a cry of pain as sharp claws sank through her T-shirt and pricked her stomach. She lay on her back in her bunk aboard the Planetary Transport ship Gallagher. Her six-month-old kitten Licorice squirmed under her loose hoodie.

As Kitti muffled another yelp, the wall screen in their tiny cabin lit up, displaying the face of their captain, Sam Lepvik.

"Attention all passengers," he said. "Our takeoff is complete, and you are free to move around the ship. We'll arrive at the Tin Can space station in the asteroid belt in seven weeks. Welcome aboard the Gallagher, and enjoy your flight."

"We can get up now, kids," Ingrid Hagarson said as she and Olaf unstrapped from their own bunks.

Seven year old Peter scrambled to the deck.

Kitti rose slowly, keeping her arms folded over her stomach, desperate to keep Licorice hidden for as long as possible.

"Kitti, are you feeling alright?" Ingrid asked.

"I'm fine." Kitti cast about for a way to get out from under her mother's gaze. "I just have to go to the bathroom."

"Me too," said Peter.

"Wait, and I'll come with you." Ingrid unzipped her duffel bag and rummaged inside.

"I'm nine years old, Mom," complained Kitti. "I can go by myself." She sidled toward the cabin door.

"No," insisted Ingrid. "We're in a new place and we don't know anyone yet."

"I'll take Peter," rumbled Olaf, opening the cabin door. "We'll meet you in the cafeteria for dinner."

Seeing her chance, Kitti stepped out into the hallway after them. Thankfully Licorice stopped squirming. Now if she could just get to the bathrooms and some privacy. Looking down at the front of her hoodie, she took two steps and crashed into someone. She looked up into the smiling face of Captain Lepvik.

"Are you alright, young lady?" he asked.

Terrified, Kitti didn't answer, just crossed her arms tighter over her stomach.

Ingrid hurried into the corridor.

"Kitti needs the young ladies room," she said. "I was just about to take her."

"Well then." Captain Lepvik stepped aside. " Don't let me delay you."

That's when Licorice let out a loud squall from under Kitti's hoodie, clawed her way up the inside, and poked her black and white head out through the neck.

Fifteen minutes later, in the tiny conference room off the bridge, Kitti slumped in a chair, staring miserably down at Licorice, who lay purring in her lap.

"Why?" asked Ingrid. "I thought your friend, Flaire, was going to take Licorice."

"She was," Kitti said, stroking Licorice's side. She squeezed her stinging eyes shut. "But she couldn't. Her dad is allergic. His whole face swelled up. And there's no one else I trusted to love Licorice."

At the head of the conference table, Captain Lepvik cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Kitti," he said. "But we can't ignore the problem your cat creates. This ship was never designed to carry pets."

"Licorice won't be a problem," protested Kitti. "I promise."

"Suppose someone else aboard is allergic?" Captain Lepvik asked.

"No one is," said Kitti. "I hacked your passenger records and checked."

"I like Licorice," piped Peter.

Ingrid groaned and planted her face in her hands. Olaf gazed up at the ceiling, trying hard not to laugh.

"Hmm. We'll discuss that later," said the Captain. "But there are still other problems, such as sanitation."

"I'll clean up after Licorice," promised Kitti. "Every day. Three times a day. Or more. I'll sterilize her litter. And anything else."

Captain Lepvik gazed at her and sighed. "I'm not going to be the first ship's captain in history to order a little girl's cat put down if I can avoid it."

Kitti eagerly nodded several times, and hugged Licorice.

"Thank you, Captain," Olaf said in his deep, quiet voice.

"Just remember," Captain Lepvik cautioned. "I have no say what happens when Licorice arrives at the Tin Can."

So Kitti took care of Licorice throughout the long flight to the asteroid belt. She took Licorice with her everywhere aboard the Gallagher. The kitten was a favorite at the game cabin, and even the cafeteria, though not allowed on the tables. But no one could reassure her that Licorice would be welcome at the Tin Can.

"You won't let them do anything to Licorice, will you?" Kitti asked her father.

"If it were up to me, Licorice will be safe," said Olaf. "But it isn't up to me. The Tin Can's council makes that decision. And so far, they haven't allowed any pets."

* * *

They arrived at the Tin Can, which actually did look like two stacked beer cans, gripped in the center by a giant fist and tumbling end over end through space. After docking at an airlock on the spin axis, Kitti, Peter, and their parents cycled through. A slight Asian woman with short black hair greeted them on the low gravity deck.

"I'm Dr. Luhua Chong O'Hara, the station's chief biologist," she said. "Call me Dr. Luhua. Or just Luhua." She crouched to Kitti's level. "May I see your cat?"

Reluctantly, Kitti slipped Licorice out from under her hoodie.

"Can she stay?"

"Perhaps," Dr. Luhua said. "Let's try a little test."

They took an elevator to another deck and followed a long corridor. At last they entered a vast green space, lush and fragrant, filled with countless rows of high, foliage covered shelves.

"Welcome to my space farm," said Dr. Luhua. "Why don't you let Licorice go and we'll see what she does?"

Heart thumping, Kitti put Licorice down. Licorice immediately raced off. But not for long. Five minutes later she came trotting back.

"Excellent!" Dr. Luhua was smiling. "Miss Hagarson, I am delighted to inform you that Licorice is officially welcome. If you let her work."

"Work at what?" asked Kitti.

"Catching the stowaways who came here with our last seed shipment from Earth."

Dr. Luhua nodded approval as Licorice stopped at their feet. And dropped a mouse.