Read Online The Tracker's Dilemma: (A Mandrake Company Science Fiction Romance) by Ruby Lionsdrake - Free Book Online

hasn’t agreed to be your guide and protector yet,” she pointed out, half hoping Mandrake would stop this before it started.
    Oh sure, Hailey would find another way if she was truly determined, but Lauren didn’t see what she could do without the microflora. She fully expected Hailey to try to get a sample by bribing Ankari, or perhaps by even sketchier methods. All Lauren knew for sure was that Hailey couldn’t offer to sleep with Ankari in exchange for access. Well, technically she could . Lauren just didn’t think it would work. Ankari seemed enamored with all of Mandrake’s big manly muscles.
    “I’m certain he will.” Hailey removed her tablet from the table and whispered something to it to pull up another display. This one she kept in privacy mode so Lauren couldn’t read it. Hailey walked to Mandrake’s side and showed it to him. “My offer, Captain.”
    His expression did not change, but he did admit, “That’s a lot of money for what you’re asking. Either you expect more trouble than you’re hinting at, or—”
    “I highly value you.” She smiled at him.
    “Please,” Ankari muttered.
    Lauren sighed, not surprised her sister had found rich backers. After all, a finance lord had put a huge bounty on Lauren’s head when he’d learned of her research. ESP notwithstanding, the health, longevity, and improved physical and mental aptitude that the alien microflora promised were enough to entice many people.
    Mandrake looked around the room, meeting the eyes of his department heads. “Any objections to the mission?”
    “No complaints from the engine room,” Borage said. “Doesn’t sound like the Albatross is likely to see much trouble. You’ll go down to the moon in shuttles, right?”
    “Likely,” Mandrake said.
    “Sounds less expensive than a war,” Garland said with a shrug.
    “Agreed.” Mandrake didn’t sound that happy. He liked to shoot things. Maybe he would have preferred a war.
    “I’m always ready to fly, sir,” Commander Thatcher said, his fingers threaded together on the table, his posture perfect, his clothing pressed and tidy, a distinct difference from the slouching Commander Borage next to him, whose rumpled shirt held engine grease and coffee stains. Apparently, Borage wasn’t a fan of material with Gar-zymes threaded in.
    “Tick?” Mandrake asked.
    “Sir?” Tick sounded surprised to have been called upon.
    “Think you can track some technodruids?”
    “I can track anything, Cap’n. You know that.”
    The two men gazed at each other for a long moment, Tick looking faintly confused, Mandrake looking… assessing. Lauren recalled that Tick had mentioned the captain witnessing his prescient moments.
    “Just want to make sure you’re comfortable doing so,” Mandrake said.
    Tick hesitated. “Sure, Cap’n. Always comfortable doing my job. It’s what you’ve got me here for, isn’t it?”
    “Nobody’s going to ask me and Hazel if we’re comfortable doing our jobs?” Striker asked.
    “Aren’t you always comfortable blowing things up?” Mandrake asked.
    “Of course. Will there be things to blow up?” Striker smiled brightly at Hailey.
    She spread her hands. “Perhaps?”
    “If nothing else, those raptors live down there,” Ankari murmured.
    Lauren shuddered. Maybe she would be able to get some quality research done while the company was down tramping around on the moon. Hailey’s new interest in the technodruids also had Lauren wanting to research them specifically. What had her contact told her about their history? What databases had she found to access that had specific information regarding Grenavinian genetic engineering of the past?
    “Will you and Dr. Keys come along?” Mandrake asked Ankari quietly.
    A surge of alarm ran through Lauren. What? Why should she have to go?
    “Yes,” Ankari said at the same time as Lauren blurted, “No.”
    Ankari frowned at her. “Yes.”
    “ No .”
    “You can stay in the shuttle and work in the lab in