Long purposeful strides carried Kotto Tarr across the command center of the Crusader and into the adjoining conference room. He had to appear strong and confident even though his emotions were conflicted. Any hint of weakness would be exploited by the crew and Kotto had only started to earn their trust.
Ever since he was a child, Kotto had dreamed of commanding his own starship. He’d studied longer and trained harder than anyone else he knew. But none of his dreams or aspirations had prepared him for the tragedy that led to his first command.
The Crusader, a sleek, state-of-the-art fighter, had been his brother Keyran’s ship, a long-awaited reward for decades of faithful service. Keyran had been thrilled by the assignment and was more than ready for the challenge of a lifetime. Then circumstances deteriorated, putting Keyran in an impossible situation. He’d been forced to choose between following orders and the possible rescue of their cherished niece. Keyran chose their niece, but the mission failed and it cost Keyran his career. Worse, their niece remained the prisoner of Akim Farmon, one of the most ruthless bastards ever produced by the planet Rodymia.
Now Kotto had been assigned to the position once held by his brother and every member of the crew resented him for it. As if that weren’t challenging enough, the Crusader had also become the unofficial headquarters for the battle born rebellion, meaning he had other commanders coming and going with little or no notice.
Bandar Nox was one such commander. His orders came directly from the rebellion’s leader, General Garin Nox. The fact that Bandar was the general’s younger brother was one more reason for Kotto to watch his step.
Kotto took a deep breath as the door slid shut behind him. Bandar sat with his human mate, Ashley, near one end of the oblong table. Regulations dictated that they stand when a commander entered the room, but the Crusader was no longer on official Rodyte business so many of the regulations had been abandoned.
Rather than selecting the chair at the head of the table, he sat across from the couple. They were a striking pair, a study in contrast. Like most Rodytes, Bandar had dark hair and a tall, muscular build. His dark eyes were ringed in gold, indicating the region from which his mother hailed. Ashley was pale and delicate with golden hair and bright green eyes. Kotto glanced at the lovely female then centered his focus on Bandar. Their bond was newly formed and Rodyte males could be very possessive of their mates.
Never one to waste time, he dove right to the heart of the matter. “Have you both toured Lunar 9?”
“You know we have.” Somehow Bandar managed to sound both bored and impatient. In the two weeks Kotto had been in command, Bandar had never been overtly disrespectful. He’d just made it obvious he preferred Keyran.
“Then you’re aware of the challenges.” Reopening the outpost concealed inside Earth’s moon was Kotto’s primary objective. The site had been abandoned more than thirty years before, so it was going to require extensive renovations before it was habitable. Kotto had yet to receive a specific deadline. Even so, he knew they had weeks, not months to prepare for the full-scale arrival of the battle born.
“She won’t do it,” Ashley said with calm finality.
Kotto smiled though her directness bordered on disrespect. He’d planned out exactly what to say, how to convince her that enlisting the help of her best friend was not only logical, but imperative to their eventual success. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have another female, a good friend, join our cause?” It was supposed to have been his final point, the personal touch softening all the facts and statistics.
“It would be very nice for me, but what about Raina? Exposing her to all of this will change her life forever. Thanks to my father’s carelessness, I already knew aliens existed. Raina is like most people on Earth. She thinks we’re alone in the universe, that climate change is our biggest challenge, and human ingenuity can solve any problem.” She glanced at Bandar and smiled. “I still believe that last one.”
Bandar reached over and covered her hand with his. Their fingers wove together with familiar intimacy, making Kotto feel intrusive. “It’s a valid point,” Bandar said. “Reality expands considerably for any human we involve in our conflict. Some are ready for the changes, but others are not.”
Ashley had drawn his attention, so Kotto risked looking directly at her. “You’ve known Raina for many years. Have you never spoken to her about your father’s involvement with Rodytes?”
Ashley shook her head, her gaze carefully guarded. “I had no proof until I met Bandar. And voicing my suspicions in the past led to some very unpleasant events. I’d learned to keep my opinions to myself by the time I met Raina.”
“But she’s a scientist. She’s dedicated to the exploration of possibilities. Wouldn’t she welcome the chance to learn from a society more technologically advanced than her own?”
“She’d be thrilled by the opportunity if she were allowed to share her discoveries. But that’s not the way this works. She’d have access to technologies she can barely imagine. Then she’d be sworn to secrecy. There’s nothing worse than knowing something incredible that you’re not allowed to tell anyone else. For someone like Raina, it would be torture.”
Kotto squared his shoulders and raised his chin. “Her skillset is perfect for our needs and your involvement gives us an additional advantage.”
“Rodytes built the outpost,” Ashley objected. “There has to be someone in your star system with the necessary knowledge to repair everything up there. ET just needs to phone home.”
Her last statement made no sense, but it was pointless to deny her other point. “There are many on Rodymia capable of repairing the equipment. Unfortunately, recruiting any of them would draw undo attention to our activities. We’re using fictitious military missions to account for our movements. How would General Nox explain his need for a hydroponics expert?”
She shook her head, though uncertainty flickered within her gaze. “It’s not fair to Raina.”
This was a waste of time. He’d hoped to minimize Raina’s shock by having Ashley prepare her for the awakening. Either way, this needed to be done. “I’d prefer to do this with your help, but I’m moving forward with or without you.”
Ashley’s eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. “What if she tells you to go to hell? Will you force her to help you or will she be allowed to return to Earth?”
“If she refuses to cooperate, she’ll be given phloristan and released.”
“Phloristan was banned ten years ago,” Bandar snapped.
“The military is exempt from the ban and you know it,” Kotto replied just as vehemently.
“What is phloristan?” She looked at her mate for the answer.
“A psychotropic compound that scrambles memories. Its results are notoriously hard to control.”
“Dr. Irron is familiar with the compound. His skill with the drug was one of the reasons he was assigned to the Crusader. We will minimize Raina’s exposure to the ship and she will be given just enough phloristan to rid her memory of the past few hours if she insists on returning to Earth.”
Ashley shook her head. “Life is never that simple. What happens if she’s curious enough to learn more but changes her mind after seeing the outpost? Will she still be free to go home?”
“Every human will be required to sign a six-month contract before they’re given access to the outpost. General Nox said there will be no exceptions to that rule.”
“I didn’t sign a contract,” Ashley pointed out.
“You’re Bandar’s mate. That’s a lot more binding than any contract.” That earned him a reluctant smile from Bandar. Maybe there was hope for the stubborn commander after all. “Our time is extremely limited. Raina is our best hope. Are you going to help me recruit her or not?”
Ashley hesitated for a moment longer. She looked at Bandar, likely continuing the debate telepathically. Finally she looked at Kotto and smiled. “I can’t guarantee what Raina will decide, but I’ll give it my best shot.”
Restlessly shifting on the hard wooden chair, Raina Solano automatically reached for her phone then stopped and set it back down. She’d promised herself she’d stop spending so much time staring at the inanimate object. It was a sun-drenched summer day in Georgetown, Washington, and she was going to enjoy the world around her. She sat at a small round table near the front of her favorite bistro. The restaurant/bar was far enough off the beaten path to discourage tourists, yet close enough to the university where she worked for frequent visits.
The waitress stopped by and topped off Raina’s coffee. “Would you like to order now or wait for your friend?”
“I’ll wait. She should be here shortly.”
“No worries,” the server said with a smile. “I’ll check back in a few.”
Raina looked out the front window as she enjoyed the fragrant beverage. With cobblestone streets and long rows of connected shops, this area of Georgetown had an old world charm Raina found welcoming. Still, the temptation to text Ashley and find out how much longer she’d be was rapidly wining the tug-of-war with Raina’s determination not to be a slave to her phone.
Her hand was creeping toward the addictive device when a brisk movement drew her attention back to the window. Ashley, Raina’s long-time friend and ex-college roommate, had just stepped into view. Beside her walked a very tall and beefy dark-haired man. Though dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved henley, the man’s posture and bearing shouted military. No, it was more than his watchful bearing. Something about him was incongruous with the casual setting. Mirrored sunglasses made it even harder to pin down what was bothering her, but something just didn’t fit. Then he smiled at Ashley and his demeanor softened, changing from hyper-awareness to adoring protector in less than a heartbeat.
Had she just discovered the reason for Ashley’s “spontaneous” visit? They’d made a conscious effort to stay in touch after Ashley graduated from college and moved back to New York. Actually spending time in the same state, however, only happened once or twice a year. So Ashley’s call this morning had caught Raina by surprise. Ashley claimed to be in the area and wanted to have lunch so they could catch up. The excuse was thin at best, but Raina was always willing to make time for Ashley. Raina was the first to admit she was socially awkward and Ashley was one of the few people who had taken time to penetrate her outward reserve.
The man pulled the door open, but continued down the sidewalk as Ashley entered the small restaurant. Raina waved, drawing Ashley’s attention, then stood and hugged her when she reached the table.
Raina let Ashley sit and settle in, but the question would wait no longer. “Okay. Who’s the hunk and why didn’t he come in with you?”
Ashley laughed, happy secrets making her green eyes shine. “His name is Bandar and he’ll join us after we’ve had time to talk.”
“Bandar is his first name?”
Ashley nodded, her long blonde hair swishing against her flushed cheeks. With a cover girl face and curvaceous body, Ashley had always made Raina feel even more mousy and unattractive. The irony was, Ashley thought she was fat. Hopefully, Ashley’s new romance would cure her self-esteem issues. Raina honestly wanted her friend to be happy.
“Bandar Nox,” Ashley clarified. “He’s—foreign, but let’s come back to all that. How are you? Are you still in self-imposed isolation?”
Raina lowered her gaze to the table with a sigh. It was an inevitable conversation, one they’d replayed countless times. “I’ve been busy.”
“We’re all busy. You have to make time for yourself. When’s the last time you went on a date or to a party? I know a dance club is never going to happen, but you have your groceries delivered, for heaven’s sake. When are you ever going to cross paths with Mr. Right?”
“I don’t have time for that sort of thing right now.” Arming herself with a calming breath, she prepared to defend her position. “My work is important and engrossing.” She looked up and her tone grew stronger. “It’s not that I don’t want a social life. I’d like to get married and have children—eventually. But it will simply have to wait until I’ve reached my personal goals.”
Ashley folded her arms on the tabletop and leaned in. “Do you still read those erotic novels?”
Heat crawled up Raina’s neck and burned across her cheeks. “I’m not ashamed of the indulgence. It proves I have a healthy sex drive.”
“One that is utterly wasted because you won’t leave your lab,” Ashley lamented. “Fantasies are wonderful, but they won’t satisfy you indefinitely.”
Raina smiled as she picked up her mug. “I’ve done just fine so far. Now change the subject or I’ll go back to work.”
“Fine.” Ashley harrumphed then asked, “Is the new location an improvement or a setback?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” She paused for a sip of coffee. “It’s a six greenhouse complex, which is wonderful. But the site hasn’t been used in years. It’s going to take an army of students just to make the place functional and I was really hoping to get started right away.” Last year she’d devoted the majority of her time and energy to her hydroponic research, while this year she’d secured funding for her hybrid grains study. She hadn’t given up on her other project. There just wasn’t much she could do until she found financial backing.
For some reason the developments made Ashley grin like a precocious child who’d just gotten her way for the hundredth time. “Sorry, hon, but your frustrations work to my advantage.”
“You mean there’s an ulterior motive for this visit?” She chuckled. “I never would have guessed.” The waitress returned, postponing Ashley’s reply. They ordered and Raina waited until the waitress was out of earshot before prompting, “What’s going on? If you’re touring the East Coast with your mystery man, who’s counseling traumatized poodles?”
Ashley’s brows drew together and hurt sparked in her gaze. “You don’t need to make it sound so frivolous. I might not be trying to solve world hunger, but a disruptive pet can be very stressful. The service I provide enriches lives.” The waitress set a frosty mug full of diet cola in front of Ashley then quietly withdrew.
“I didn’t mean it as an insult. I was just wondering how your customers were dealing with your ongoing absence?” This visit was the third strange event Ashley had been involved in during the past two weeks. First, she claimed her building was being fumigated so she was going to spend time with her mother. Needing fumigation in New York City wasn’t surprising, but Ashley and her mother had never been close. Then someone broke in and ransacked the house during Ashley’s visit. According to Ashley, they’d made a terrible mess, but nothing was taken and no one was hurt. And now this impromptu visit with a mysterious man in tow. Ashley was too young for a midlife crisis, but something was definitely going on. “How’s your mom doing? Are you still staying with her?”
“Mom’s a trooper. I think I was more upset by the fiasco than she was. I really don’t like her living alone, which means exactly nothing. She won’t even consider any other option.” She suddenly sounded like she was reciting dialogue. Raina had never had reason to mistrust Ashley. Still, none of this felt right.
Rather than confront her, Raina ventured deeper into the conversation, carefully listening for contradictions and inconsistencies. “Home invasions are always traumatizing. She might not be as calm as she seems. You better keep an eye on her.”
“I intend to.”
“Then back to my original question.” She picked up her coffee mug before asking, “Aren’t all of these delays costing you customers?”
“Yeah, my home visits are basically nonexistent right now.”
Raina didn’t sense deception in the explanation, but again it didn’t make sense. The one-on-one sessions with difficult pets and their owners was the part of Ashley’s enterprise that she enjoyed the most. “So what’s important enough to keep you away?”
“Bandar and his people.” A dreamy smile briefly parted her lips. Raina was dying to know more about this mysterious stranger. “They need our help. Well actually, they need your help and I agreed to see if I could recruit you.”
“What sort of help?” She blew a strand of her hair out of her eyes and set down her empty mug. “I don’t have much time for anything other than work right now.”
“Your project hasn’t really started, correct?” Ashley’s gaze took on a calculative gleam that made Raina bristle. She knew that look, had seen the resulting mischief too many times to ignore it.
“That’s technically true, but I’m finally a senior fellow. I don’t want to screw that up. The university—not to mention my investors—expects progress on a regular basis. And the greenhouse complex is a mess.”
Ashley scooted closer to the table. “How long will it take to whip the greenhouses into shape?”
“That depends on how many people I can recruit. Even if I offer them credit in exchange for their work, I won’t have students lining up for this.”
“With a minimal crew, are you talking days or weeks?” Ashley persisted.
It was all guess work at this point. There were too many variables. Still, she gave Ashley a best estimation. “Two, maybe three weeks, if I can recruit four to six students.”
“Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
Ashley’s smile was hopeful rather than triumphant, so Raina gave in to her curiosity. “Just spit it out. What is this about?”
“If Bandar provides a crew of strong, capable men to do the work for you, will you spend the next ‘two, maybe three weeks’ working on our project? It won’t delay your research. In fact, you’ll likely come out ahead.”
“What would I be doing?”
“Basically the same thing you’re doing here.” Ashley paused and gazed past Raina for a moment. Was she organizing her thoughts or concocting a believable story? Raina wasn’t sure why, but she still doubted that Ashley was being honest with her. “His country was decimated by a particularly violent war. It left the soil and ground water toxic for miles around. Traditional farming is impossible. They need to be able to grow food with limited space, recycled water and little or no dirt.”
“Why don’t they just import food from other locations? Hydroponics is seldom cost-effective. That’s been one of my biggest challenges.”
“The outpo-village is very remote.” She stumbled over the word village as if she’d started to say something else. “They really need to become self-sufficient.”
Enough of these generalizations. If she was going to consider a detour from her research, she needed details. “Which country are we talking about? What sort of weapon made the ground toxic? If the environment is tainted, is it safe for habitation? How did you cross paths with someone from a remote village? And does this have anything to do with the break-in at your mother’s house?” Raina watched Ashley squirm and grew even more suspicious. Ashley had never been a good liar and now was no exception. Raina had no idea what this was really about, but the war-torn village story was nonsense.
Ashley sighed and folded her hands on top of the table. “All right, Bandar works for a foreign government and the project is Top Secret. They need someone familiar with hydroponics, but I can’t explain the details unless you agree to join the project.”
At least that explanation fit what little she’d seen of Bandar. There wasn’t any way to weaponized hydroponics, but she still hesitated. “Can you tell me which government? There are quite a few I have no interest in assisting.”
“I’d never heard of it before and I doubt you will have either. It used to be part of the Soviet Union. This is a fledgling democracy struggling to recover from the ravages of war. I thought it would be right up your alley.”
“I don’t know. This is all a little too weird.” They’d been friends for a long time and there wasn’t much Raina wouldn’t do for Ashley. Still, Raina tried to listen when her protective instincts engaged.
“Will you at least meet Bandar and listen to what he has to say?”
She’d seen Bandar well enough to realize he was good-looking. Was Ashley hoping she’d be swayed by his physical appeal? That only made Raina more hesitant. “Can he tell me anything you haven’t said already? If I can’t know the details unless I’ve agreed to join the project, I’m not interested.”
Suddenly, Ashley pressed her hand over her mouth and groaned.
“Are you all right?” Raina scooted her chair back from the table.
Ashley shook her head then made a mad dash for the restrooms nestled in the back corner of the dining area.
Perfect. This just got better and better.
Ashley hadn’t seemed ill before Raina turned down her bizarre offer and they hadn’t eaten anything yet. Was Ashley being coerced in some way? What could have upset her enough to turn her stomach?
The waitress approached the table, looking concerned and a bit uncomfortable. “Is she okay?”
“I’m not sure.” Raina stood. There was a slim possibility this attack was physical rather than emotional. She better go see for herself. “If the cook hasn’t started our order, you might have him or her hold off.”
After acknowledging the suggestion with a distracted nod, the waitress asked, “Do I need to call an ambulance or something?”
“I don’t think so, but let me find out what’s going on.” Raina quickly crossed the restaurant and knocked on the bathroom door. “Ashley? Are you okay?” No answer. Trepidation tightened her gut. Was something seriously wrong? “I’m coming in, okay?”
Thankfully, the door wasn’t locked, so Raina stepped into the small room and let the door close behind her. The toilet was surrounded by a privacy partition. The metal door swung open and Ashley stood there looking hale and hearty.
“I’m sorry.” Her expression pleaded for understanding. “Please, don’t be afraid. They won’t hurt you.”
Before Raina could reply to the bizarre statement, the world around her blurred. Her skin tingled and her muscles clenched. She inhaled, meaning to scream, but reality accelerated like a bullet blasting from a high-powered rifle. Everything faded to black, yet somehow she remained aware. One second of utter terror gave way to confusion and anger as reality came into focus again.
She stood in the middle of a room, trembling and unsteady. What the hell just happened? The walls and floor were gray with a faint iridescence. The upper portion of one wall was transparent, revealing an adjoining space. Two men occupied the smaller room. One stood and one sat. Both were dressed in black and gold. Their outfits were identical, uniform.
“Hello.” Her voice cracked despite her best effort to appear calm. “Where am I?”
Please, don’t be afraid. They won’t hurt you. Ashley’s words echoed through Raina’s mind, but she found little comfort in the fact that her best friend was involved in…whatever this was.
A section of the wall to her right parted and a third man stepped into the room. His uniform was also black, but the gold stripes on his pants were wider and there was an intricate crest on the left side of his shirt, above where a human’s heart would be.
The thought sent a fresh rush of fear cascading through her body and she took a step backward. He looked similar to a human and yet the differences were distinct enough to make Raina doubt her sanity. He was tall and lean with broad shoulders and narrow hips. His wavy brown hair had been brushed away from his face, accenting the harsh angles of his features. And his eyes. There was nothing human about his eyes. They were almond-shaped and exotic, vivid purple rings dissecting a solid field of black.
Stunned and terrified, she stared at him in paralyzed silence.
The man seated in the adjoining room spoke into an intercom. Raina didn’t understand his words, but the third man responded in the same language.
Shit. If they couldn’t understand each other, how was she going to find out what was happening?
As if the third man heard her panicked thought, he turned to face her. “Good morning, Ms. Solano.” He spoke English with an odd accent, guttural yet rolling, like Russian or maybe Czech. Was this why Ashley had claimed they were from Eastern Europe? “I apologize for your abrupt arrival, but there was no help for it.”
If they could communicate, there was hope. She took a breath, forcing air past the massive lump in her throat. “Where am I? Who are you?” Raina crossed her arms, barely able to think past the strange rushing in her ears.
He remained by the open doorway, giving her as much space as the room allowed. He spread his arms, fingers open, indicating he was unarmed. “No one is going to hurt you, Raina. We simply need your help.”
She took another step backward and looked beyond him. All she could see was a small section of corridor constructed of the same gray material as the room. “What… How did you… What the hell is going on?”
“I’m Commander Kotto Tarr. You’re aboard the Crusader. We’re currently orbiting Earth’s moon.”
“I’m on a spaceship?” She whispered the question, unable to believe the words coming out of her mouth.
A smile slowly parted his lips, making him look a bit less savage. “Yes, you’re on a spaceship.”
Her logical mind bulked against the concept while her senses swamped her with proof. This was no hallucination, unless the scene with Ashley had been part of her delusion. Ashley had known this was about to happen and tried to warn her, soothe her. “What did you do with Ashley?” She crossed her arms over her chest, restless, almost desperate to escape the impossible situation.
“Ashley’s fine.” His voice was deep and authoritative, compelling her to believe. “She’ll be here shortly. I thought it wise to reassure the waitress that nothing—”
“You were spying on us?” She uncrossed her arms and narrowed her gaze as anger began to burn away her fear. Good, anger was strong. It allowed her to act, as long as she controlled it. “Why is she helping you? Oh my God. Do you have her mother?” There had to be a reason easygoing Ashley was cooperating with aliens.
He scowled, clearly insulted by the accusation. “As soon as you calm down, I’ll escort you to more comfortable surroundings. And then I’ll explain everything.”
“What is there to explain?” Her gaze clashed with his and he took a step forward. This was not a man used to being challenged. Still, she couldn’t seem to back down. “For some reason, you need a hydroponics expert, so you kidnapped one.”
“You’re my guest,” he insisted with a sardonic half-smile, “not my hostage.”
She raised her chin and arched her brows, surprised by her own defiance. Aggressive people usually had her scurrying for the nearest corner. Why did this man make her feel…feisty? “Then put me back where you got me. I have no intention of helping you.”
“Is that really what you want?” Despite her belligerence, his smile broadened, gradually warming his gaze. “You’re face-to-face with an alien and you want to run away? That doesn’t seem very scientific.” When she didn’t reply, he provoked her even further. “I didn’t take you for a coward.”
His strategy was transparent, but Raina helplessly took the bait. “I’m not a coward,” she stressed after a tense pause. “I don’t like being manipulated. There’s a big difference.”
He bowed his head, acknowledging her assertion without agreeing or disagreeing with the claim. His uniform accented his height and hugged every bulge and angle of his impressive physique. The man was built like an Olympic swimmer, all lean strength and agility.
“Ashley is back on board,” he told her. “Are you calm enough to join her? Or do you need some time alone.”
“I am perfectly calm.” She wasn’t fooled by his thinly veiled threat. He’d leave her locked in some dismal cell until she was “calm” enough to agree with whatever he said. It was an old and despicable tactic.
He spoke several phrases she didn’t understand and then swept his arm toward the doorway. “After you.”
There was no obvious communications device on his person, but she had no doubt he was speaking to others. Was the transceiver part of his uniform, or did he have some sort of implant? She tried to remain focused on her goal of returning to Earth, but a barrage of questions filled her mind. Why were they here? How long had they been visiting Earth? Why did they need hydroponics if they were capable of space travel? Or was hydroponics how they dealt with the need for sustenance on their ships?
Rather than reveal how intriguing she found the situation, she asked, “Does the government know you’re up here?”
“Which government?” His strides were long and purposeful. She had to rush to keep up with him. “Earth has so many.”
It was a distraction, but she was curious enough not to care that he’d sidestepped her question. “Your planet has only one government?” They reached the end of the first corridor and turned down another. Holy shit, how big was this ship?
“My planet has had every form of government you can imagine. Currently, we have a planetary ruler who is heavily influenced by various special interest groups.”
Raina shook her head. “That sounds familiar. It doesn’t seem to matter which political party is in control, it’s the special interests who wield the true power.” She tried to keep track of their position, but everything looked the same. “So what brings you to Earth?”
“Rebellion.” He flashed an unexpected grin and the strange purple rings in his eyes gleamed. Her chest tightened and a memory stirred in the back of her mind. Mimi, her grandmother, told wild stories about a dark-haired warrior with rings of blue fire in his eyes. Everyone thought her tales were the tragic imaginings of a dementia-inflicted mind. Was it possible…
She shook away the distraction and focused on her current situation. “Against what are you rebelling?”
“We’re the forsaken, the battle born. We’re a byproduct of a war we didn’t start. We’ve been enslaved by a society that rejects us. We’re treated as if we have no value and we will no longer tolerate the abuse.” Any hint of amusement left his expression, burned away by bitterness and pain.
She had no idea if what he said was true or the circumstances that might have led to such injustice. Still, he obviously believed every word. “I’m sorry. Are you hoping for an ally in Earth or are you looking for a place to…” Her chaotic thoughts tangled around each other. “Why are you here?”
“It’s probably better if I let Ashley fill you in on the basics.” Kotto glanced down at her, a curious expression softening his sharp features. His gaze lowered, lingering on her mouth for a moment. “Do you need to notify a spouse or roommate that you’ll be gone for several hours, perhaps more?”
She studied her captor/host and allowed herself to relax just a little. He didn’t seem dangerous. No, that wasn’t accurate at all. He seemed extremely dangerous, just not to her. He needed her and was obviously willing to go to extremes to secure her cooperation. But his question surprised her. Was he just being polite or was his interest personal?
Her heart missed a beat and her throat tightened as her awkwardness returned with a vengeance. Men like this went after women like Ashley, not plain Jane brainiacs like her.
“I live alone.” A lie would have been off-putting, so why had she told him the truth? He accepted the answer with another nod and awareness arced between them. Even after he faced forward again, the tingling remained. She shook her head, trying to disperse the strange sensation. Her nervous system must be recovering from the…transporter beam? “What do you call whatever allowed you to zap me up here?”
“Bio-streaming. It’s a relatively new technology.” Her eyes widened and he chuckled. “It’s perfectly safe. The system was tested extensively before it was put into production.”
“Glad to hear it.” That system alone would be worth studying. It could revolutionize transportation as Earth knew it. She was on a spaceship! Who cares how she got here. She would never have an opportunity like this again.
They reached a door identical to the multitude they’d passed along the way. How did these people keep things straight? Kotto triggered the panel with a verbal command and motioned Raina inside. “We’ll speak again after Ashley has briefed you.”
She wasn’t sure what to say, so she just nodded and walked into the room. The door slid closed behind her and Ashley offered a tentative smile. Raina couldn’t remember her vivacious friend ever looking so uncomfortable. At least they had the room to themselves. Raina wouldn’t have been surprised if Ashley had brought Bandar for support, but she was glad Ashley had chosen to face her alone.
The room was like nothing Raina had ever seen before. The space was perfectly square with rows of padded benches situated in the middle so the room could be viewed from any angle. Each wall, and even the floor and ceiling displayed the slowly changing images. Sweeping seascapes gave way to majestic mountains, then Raina stood suspended in the vastness of space.
“Can you make it stop?” She staggered toward the benches and quickly sat down. “This is making me sick.”
“Pause display.” When the command had no effect, Ashley tried again. “Dacon verita.” The tranquil forest scene surrounding them remained steady and Raina sighed. “Bandar’s working on an English interface for the computer, but it only works about half the time.” Ashley moved to the bench beside Raina, caution still apparent in her movements. “I didn’t want to involve you in this, but Kotto didn’t leave me a choice.”
“How did you become involved with these people?” The ambiance was surprisingly immersive. She could hear the distant call of birds and the scurry of forest creatures. The temperature seemed to drop as the tang of pine and moist earth reached her nose. “What is this place?”
“Didn’t Kotto tell you?”
“I meant this room. He told me I’m on a spaceship.”
Ashley tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, still looking uncomfortable. “They call it the contemplation cube. It’s sort of like a chapel.”
She was dying to know what aliens contemplated, but other things were more important right now. “Back to my other question. How did you get mixed up with aliens? Are they coercing you in some way?”
“They were hoping to track down my father and found me instead.” Ashley’s smile was almost sad. “You can imagine their disappointment.”
Ashley’s father had been a geneticist and much of his work was highly controversial. They would explore the details of that subject later. Raina wanted to understand the basic situation before she focused on details. “Bandar didn’t seem disappointed at the bistro. How far has that gone?” Even in the hazy light Ashley’s blush was obvious. “You’re sleeping with him.” They frequently harassed each other about their isolation, but Bandar wasn’t even human! “How long have you been together?”
“A few weeks, ever since my apartment needed to be ‘fumigated’.” She shifted on the bench, angling her body so she could look at Raina without craning her neck. “What I told you in the bistro isn’t far from the truth. The battle born are rebels fighting for a better life and they—”
“Fighting whom and is their war likely to follow them to Earth?”
Ashley sighed, averting her gaze without turning her head. “It’s a long, complicated story. Maybe we should wait until Bandar has time to explain everything to you.”
“I don’t know Bandar. I know you. I trust you.” At least she used to trust Ashley. Right now Raina’s faith in her friend was strained to the point of breaking. “Boil it down to specific facts and tell me what I need to know.”