Mara grimaced. “We accidentally ran into each other. It’s like he cast a spell on me. I couldn’t move.”
“Uh-oh, this sounds serious.”
“The only thing that’s serious is our mission.” For all the fun things Hedy had brought, they shouldn’t lose sight of their purpose.
“I need to make sure my equipment arrived intact,” Hedy said. “I suppose they put our luggage in our cabins. Did you check to see if your foot pan arrived?”
Mara winced. She couldn’t fathom why Hedy kept referring to her sculpting tray as a foot pan. “I figured it would be too big to fit in the cabin, so I had it delivered to the cargo bay. Do you want to take a tour with me after we’re settled in?”
“Sure. Maybe I’ll run into Lieutenant Wren the same way you met Commander Sage.”
Hedy’s green eyes sparkled with mischief as her mood shifted from somber to lighthearted. It was one of the features about her that Mara admired. Dealing with pain and suffering on a daily basis, Hedy was able to walk away from her job and enjoy herself on her time off.
After unloading Hedy’s packages, Mara entered her cabin and shut the door. She wished she could be as blithe about life as her friend, but one cause or another always seemed to attract her attention. This latest one with the Yanurans threatened to undermine her goals. Her push for the Yanurans to be admitted into the Coalition offended certain influential parties. This attitude impeded her chances of getting promoted, but she wouldn’t sacrifice her ideals for selfish reasons. The Yanurans were being mistreated and it was up to her to prove their sincerity, regardless of the consequences.
Yet she had her doubts. Fromoth Trun’s emotions had been impossible to read. She had relied mostly on her impressions of the Yanuran leader to form an opinion. Even Hedy had advised her to be more discriminating in her judgments, but after experiencing prejudice firsthand, Mara felt compelled to support the Yanuran cause. She was as firm in her commitment as that ruby crystalline table was rock solid.
Her gaze swept from the low table to the plush sitter upholstered in a rose and beige pattern that sat behind it. Hanging on the wall above was a painting with colorful geometric designs. The sharp lines didn’t appeal to her artistic sense. She preferred the rounded rims and graceful curvatures of her sculptures.
Through an archway beyond, she spotted the firm double lounger that served as a bed. Her case had been placed beside it on the carpeted floor. Built-in shelves, a lighted vanity, and a fabricator alcove completed the decor. Off to one side was the entrance to a private sanitary.
Not bad for a spaceship, she thought, going to use the facilities. The sanitary was roomy, and the sonic shower was big enough for two.
With a sigh, she remembered the voyage to Antarus IV, Pietor’s home planet. The ship Pietor had leased was small but comfortable. Taking advantage of the autopilot, they’d spent most of the time in their cabin. The spacious shower had been an added attraction. All had gone well until they arrived at his home world and she met his parents. She could still feel the sting of their disapproval.
Not only was her complexion dark compared to their people, but she was... different. It was a label she’d suffered throughout her childhood, but she’d never expected to hear it from Pietor’s lips. The painful memories were still fresh in her mind.
As she washed and dried her hands, she focused on more current issues. It had been a while since she’d checked on Jallyn’s status. Glotaj had requested she do periodic separations to see if the baby’s location had changed. Mara unpacked her case until she came to the baby’s blanket. Clutching it in her hands, she sat on the lounger and closed her eyes.
The astral plane beckoned her, and her essence left her body. She floated upward and concentrated on receiving vibrations from the blanket. A strange sensation tugged at her, something dark and unpleasant. Disturbed, she ignored it and concentrated on Jallyn. The next moment found her inside the baby’s head.
Jallyn was asleep. Her eyes were closed, and somnolence started to overwhelm Mara as she absorbed the infant’s tranquil state. She dissolved back into the astral plane, recalling that Sarina’s hands had touched the blanket. How was her friend faring?
Instantly, she was zipping through non-dimensional space and popping into Sarina’s perspective. The Great Healer sat alone by the comm unit inside her residence. Her gaze was fixed on a framed image of Jallyn that hung on the wall. Staring at the happy vision through tears swimming in her eyes, Sarina’s heart twisted with anguish.
Abruptly, Mara separated. She couldn’t bear to share her friend’s pain and not be able to help. Sarina would have liked to come with them, but there were no guarantees they’d find Jallyn. The baby could have been taken aboard one of the other two ships that left that day. Mara still didn’t believe the Yanurans were involved but intended to fulfill her duty. Glotaj wanted all possibilities checked out, and she would play her part.
Returning to her body, she prayed Jallyn would be recovered quickly. At least the baby appeared unharmed. She’d have to do more frequent separations in case the situation changed. How terrible for Sarina, waiting by the comm unit for the chime to sound, worried about her beloved daughter. Mara’s eyes flooded with moisture.
She covered her face with her hands, yielding to her fears when someone knocked on her door. Thinking it was Hedy, Mara called out, “Come in.”
Commader Sage swept inside her cabin. He took one look at the tears streaking her face, and his handsome visage blanched. “I’m dreadfully sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.” He stepped back as though meaning to leave.
“It’s all right.” Mara managed a smile. “I... I was just thinking about Jallyn.” Uncertain of how much he knew about her, she didn’t mention the separation.
Standing, she appraised her visitor. His thick dark hair swept his forehead in a casual style. His eyes held a look of sympathy. Her gaze fell to his uniform. The fabric stretched tautly across his broad shoulders and tapered over a wide chest, trim waist, and narrow hips. His pants tucked into a pair of polished black boots.
“I came to ask if you’d received your bags,” Deke remarked, his tone light.
“Yes, I did, Commander. Thank you for your concern.”
“I said you could call me Deke.” His eyes crinkled with amusement.
“Very well... Deke.” She felt strange using his first name, and uncomfortable when he was so near. His bulk seemed to take up half the space in her cabin. Swallowing, she tried to look anywhere but into his eyes.
“You’re the alien culture specialist, but you’re also a friend of Sarina and Teir’s?” he asked.
“That’s right.”
“And the medic, I understand you and she room together on Bimordus Two?”
“Hedy and I met at the conservatory where we both took exobiology. Hedy branched off into multispecies medicine, and I went into cultural studies.”
“I see.” Deke studied her, his expression oblique.
Mara wondered what he was thinking. It didn’t take her long to find out.
“I’d like to get to know you better,” he said, taking a step closer.
“W-What do you mean?” She backed away until her legs hit the upholstered sitter. “You read my dossier, so I assume you’re aware of my professional qualifications.”