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Authors: Annabel Wolfe
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after risking
her life. What possible harm can it do to just let me talk to her?”
“It is against the rules.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“She’s confined to quarters. It’s that simple. My job is to enforce
regulations. When she commandeered that transport against direct
orders, she risked her whole career. When we get back to Minoa, I
have no idea if my superiors will applaud my decision to drop the
unauthorized appropriation charge or not. For all I know I’ll get
reprimanded as well.”
“She saved lives!” Tara gave up fighting the urge and paced
across the space. There was a virtual map of the galaxy they crossed
at that moment and she stared at the brilliant lines and symbols. She
turned back. “She saved the life of the son of the governor. Doesn’t
that count for something?”
“It seems to, since I put my neck on the line to give her the
lightest punishment possible.” His tone was dry. “If you are worried
over her well-being, I promise she’s fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me,
I’m a busy man.”
Not only was she dismissed, she was summarily escorted back to
her assigned quarters by two equally uncommunicative soldiers. Once
inside, she sank down on one of the chairs in the tiny recreation area
and morosely propped her chin on her fist. It wasn’t two seconds
before the light by the door flashed, indicating she had a visitor. With
a sigh she got up and went to scan the admittance panel.
Will Janssen stood outside, a frown on his face. He’d shaved, she
noticed, his chin clean and taut, and someone had given him a set of
clothes that weren’t singed and dirty from their precipitous flight
across a disintegrating planet. Tousled dark brown hair and very light
blue eyes gave him a boyish look, but Tara knew he was thirty. Under
his father’s administration he’d been in charge of the colony’s
governmental finances as chief officer, which was an important
position with or without his family prominence. It was also appointed
by the Universal Council, not his father. Will had still been on
54
Annabel Wolfe
Epsilon trying to manage the last transfers of the assets of the laggard
colonists who refused to leave until the last minute. His determination
to do his duty had almost killed him.
They’d met socially a few times during her research stay on the
planet and she liked his mild-mannered personality and diffident air.
Their recent mutual brush with disaster seemed to have given them
some sort of natural camaraderie, though usually brainy quiet males
were not her type.
Without preamble, he asked, “Well?”
She stepped back and motioned him in, moving away to go back
and sit down. “Well nothing. Gallico won’t budge about letting me
see her. Bastard.”
Will trailed in and the door swished shut. “I see. I guess I’m not
totally surprised. From what I understand from talking to other
members of the crew, he’s pretty by the book.”
“Yeah.” Tara gestured at a chair. “Have a seat.”
“Was he actually a bastard?” He took the indicated spot and lifted
his brow in inquiry. “The common opinion seems to be he’s strict but
fair.”
“No, I guess he wasn’t.” She sighed and rubbed the stinging spot
on her cheek. The burn from a piece of flying volcanic cinder would
probably leave a small scar the ship’s physician who had treated her
injuries had informed her, but compared to what might have
happened, it was nothing. “He was just immoveable.”
“He and Naiad seem decent enough. I had a brief meeting with the
commander today. I needed to ask him for permission to use the
central communications system.” Will cleared his throat and looked a
little embarrassed. “I’m sure your sister is in good hands.”
Tara lifted her brows, unwillingly amused over his discomfort
with the subject. Most S-species males seemed to dwell on the subject
of sex a great deal of the time. The evolution of humans into
her life. What possible harm can it do to just let me talk to her?”
“It is against the rules.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“She’s confined to quarters. It’s that simple. My job is to enforce
regulations. When she commandeered that transport against direct
orders, she risked her whole career. When we get back to Minoa, I
have no idea if my superiors will applaud my decision to drop the
unauthorized appropriation charge or not. For all I know I’ll get
reprimanded as well.”
“She saved lives!” Tara gave up fighting the urge and paced
across the space. There was a virtual map of the galaxy they crossed
at that moment and she stared at the brilliant lines and symbols. She
turned back. “She saved the life of the son of the governor. Doesn’t
that count for something?”
“It seems to, since I put my neck on the line to give her the
lightest punishment possible.” His tone was dry. “If you are worried
over her well-being, I promise she’s fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me,
I’m a busy man.”
Not only was she dismissed, she was summarily escorted back to
her assigned quarters by two equally uncommunicative soldiers. Once
inside, she sank down on one of the chairs in the tiny recreation area
and morosely propped her chin on her fist. It wasn’t two seconds
before the light by the door flashed, indicating she had a visitor. With
a sigh she got up and went to scan the admittance panel.
Will Janssen stood outside, a frown on his face. He’d shaved, she
noticed, his chin clean and taut, and someone had given him a set of
clothes that weren’t singed and dirty from their precipitous flight
across a disintegrating planet. Tousled dark brown hair and very light
blue eyes gave him a boyish look, but Tara knew he was thirty. Under
his father’s administration he’d been in charge of the colony’s
governmental finances as chief officer, which was an important
position with or without his family prominence. It was also appointed
by the Universal Council, not his father. Will had still been on
54
Annabel Wolfe
Epsilon trying to manage the last transfers of the assets of the laggard
colonists who refused to leave until the last minute. His determination
to do his duty had almost killed him.
They’d met socially a few times during her research stay on the
planet and she liked his mild-mannered personality and diffident air.
Their recent mutual brush with disaster seemed to have given them
some sort of natural camaraderie, though usually brainy quiet males
were not her type.
Without preamble, he asked, “Well?”
She stepped back and motioned him in, moving away to go back
and sit down. “Well nothing. Gallico won’t budge about letting me
see her. Bastard.”
Will trailed in and the door swished shut. “I see. I guess I’m not
totally surprised. From what I understand from talking to other
members of the crew, he’s pretty by the book.”
“Yeah.” Tara gestured at a chair. “Have a seat.”
“Was he actually a bastard?” He took the indicated spot and lifted
his brow in inquiry. “The common opinion seems to be he’s strict but
fair.”
“No, I guess he wasn’t.” She sighed and rubbed the stinging spot
on her cheek. The burn from a piece of flying volcanic cinder would
probably leave a small scar the ship’s physician who had treated her
injuries had informed her, but compared to what might have
happened, it was nothing. “He was just immoveable.”
“He and Naiad seem decent enough. I had a brief meeting with the
commander today. I needed to ask him for permission to use the
central communications system.” Will cleared his throat and looked a
little embarrassed. “I’m sure your sister is in good hands.”
Tara lifted her brows, unwillingly amused over his discomfort
with the subject. Most S-species males seemed to dwell on the subject
of sex a great deal of the time. The evolution of humans into
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