GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) (37 page)

"We'll see," was his only answer. But when they landed on Norona two days later, he was convinced that she should accompany him to give his report and turn the document over to the Consociation.

With both of them dressed in their white jumpsuits, Cherry thought they looked quite official as they were brought before Regent Esquinerra. After all they'd been through together, Gallant hadn't thought to warn Cherry about the Regent.

Although the Ruling Tribunal of Norona made up the strongest element of the Consociation, Esquinerra was not Noronian... nor was she anything close to humanoid.

Sitting on a wheeled pedestal in the Regent's chambers was a big, squishy lump of pink clay about the size of a beach ball, with a single black marble in the front. As Cherry and Gallant approached, the clay moved on its own, reshaping itself into a tall, straight column. The black marble seemed to be staring down at them.

"Madame Regent," Gallant said to the pink being with a gentlemanly bow, "it is good to see you again. May I present Cherry Cochran, a special friend and my partner on this last mission."

A bit stunned, Cherry did the only thing that came to mind. She curtsied.

A sound similar to glass wind chimes whispered around her and the Regent relaxed back into a lump. Blended in with the pleasant tinkling had been the word, "Welcome."

Gallant proceeded to give Esquinerra a concise account of his mission, revealing both Josep's duplicity and his final act of heroism. The truth of his own origins remained a secret, however. He had Cherry personally relate Josep's final messages. After the Regent was briefed, Gallant held out the copy of the Illusian hundred-year plan and a portion of the clay formed an extended arm to take it from him.

"You have done well, as usual, Gallant Voyager," the Regent tinkled. "And your friend has earned our gratitude. Is there any service you desire?"

"Yes, madame. Due to Cherry's involvement in this assignment, she was unable to keep a very important appointment with Theodophilus, the director of the Noronian Performing Company. I would personally appreciate it if you would use your influence to acquire another appointment for her with him in the near future. The location is irrelevant as I've promised to provide her transport."

"It is done. The old maestro owes me a favor or two from his early days."

The Regent and Gallant discussed his course of action regarding Bessima and she assured him she would attend to the matter of securing Illusia's barrier immediately.

Outwardly, Cherry appeared to be paying attention. Inwardly, she was working on a personal puzzle. She thought she should be overjoyed to hear the Regent's implication that an appointment with Theodophilus was a simple matter to arrange. It was what she wanted more than anything in the universe.

Right?

Half her mind shouted,
absolutely
! But it was the other, silent half that had her confused.

Chapter 19

"Good Heavens, Rom, what is it?" Aster paused to catch her breath after the hurried trip from her office to his. He had sent her a mental message to come quickly without elaborating why.

Rom's eyes sparkled the bright green they always did when he was happy or up to mischief. "I didn't say you had to run, but I'm glad you did. There's something in the adjoining suite I want you to see."

He opened the side door of his office and waved for Aster to precede him.

Cherry's delighted squeal was probably heard throughout the building as she caught sight of Aster.

Aster started crying immediately and only a very long, clinging hug calmed her. "Thank God you're all right! I've been so worried." As soon as she recovered from the welcome shock of seeing Cherry, she turned on Gallant. "
You
, I am
not
happy to see. Your execution is scheduled for dawn. Be there!"

Cherry burst out laughing at the look on Gallant's face as his gaze darted between the three of them trying to tell whether Aster was serious. She gave her best friend another hug. "It's good to be home, kid. I missed you. I'd rather you cancel the firing squad though. The man looks like the devil but he has proven to have a number of angelic qualities."

Cherry could see neither Aster nor Rom were entirely convinced and it was up to her to break the tension. She held out her hand to Gallant and he grasped it like a lifeline. "Let's sit down so we can fill you in."

Throughout the telling of their story, Cherry held Gallant's hand and occasionally touched his cheek or his hair. It was her way of reassuring everyone—including him—that he was forgiven for kidnapping her as far as she was concerned.

When the conversation switched to talk of babies and false labor, Rom suggested the two women remain in the suite and visit while he and Gallant attended to the arrangements for his trip to Outerworld.

"Cherry Cochran!" Aster exclaimed as soon as the door closed behind the men. "I don't believe you finally got bitten, and I wasn't even around to witness the phenomenon."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play innocent with me. I know you too well. You look at that man like... well, like I look at Rom. How dare you fall in love without my written approval?"

"Love?" Cherry practically choked on the word. "Don't be ridiculous. The baby must be affecting your memory. I'm immune to that particular disease and you know it."

"Oh, I see. We're still in the denial stage. Fine. I've waited this long to see it happen to you. I don't mind waiting a little longer."

"Listen, kid. Don't waste your time fantasizing about me and Gallant living happily ever after. As soon as I finish helping him tie up this assignment, he's taking me to audition for Theodophilus's company then he'll be leaving on another mission, probably in the opposite direction from anything remotely similar to civilization. It's been fun, but it's almost over. So, let's talk about what you're going to name our little girl."

* * *

"I don't get it, Gallant," Cherry said the next morning as she daubed the black dye into his white streaks. "You told me you didn't want to do any sightseeing, so why would we go to Outerworld today? Bessima isn't supposed to show until the day after tomorrow."

"I just want to be ready ahead of time. This is not the way my mother used to tint my hair. Are you sure it will come out?"

"It's just a temporary rinse, not a dye. After a couple of washings... with shampoo and water, that is. Your ship's sanitizing beam won't have any effect on it. Which reminds me, you really ought to figure out some way to put a real shower on board."

"We'll see."

Cherry smiled at his usual response. "You might consider wearing a hat and tucking your hair up in it even though the streaks are hidden. Also, you definitely need to wear sunglasses, whether you have the patch on or not, and a less conspicuous outfit is a must. From what Rom and Aster said last night, Bessima has really managed to create a major disturbance with her illusions. It doesn't sound like there's a person on the whole planet who hasn't seen your face."

Gallant frowned. "She accomplished exactly what the Princess expected her to by this time. It's quite amazing actually. I wouldn't have thought Terrans were so gullible."

"Just because they're all talking about God's arrival doesn't mean they believe it will really happen. If you showed up in front of the horde that has collected around the White House, the chances of you being assaulted probably far outweigh the possibility of you being instantly worshiped. In fact, some newspaper undoubtedly did a poll on that issue already."

"I could always have a little surgical rearrangement of my features—"

"Don't you dare!" Cherry said, meeting his gaze in the mirror. "I like your face just the way it is."

He grinned at her. "You could make me feel really good and say you
love
my face."

"I could. But I won't. You're too cocky as it is. Someone has to keep you humble and I'm the only one volunteering for the job at the moment. I see you got one of those special rings from Rom."

He held up his left hand and moved it back and forth so that the ornate gold ring with its fire opal setting picked up glints of light. The ring had innumerable capabilities, including its being a microcomputer and an extension of Innerworld's transmigrator. "Rom gave me enough instruction that I should have no problem using it to transport us from place to place and back into Innerworld when the time comes. Using it as a communication device would take a lot more practice than I have time for though."

"Why would we need to go from place to place?"

Gallant raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. "We don't. Are you about finished with my hair?"

She made a face to let him know she suspected he was evading, but she let it go for the moment. "Leave the color on for five more minutes then go rinse it off in the shower. I'm going to start packing some clothes and toiletries for each of us. They don't have computerized supply stations and recyclable clothing out there, you know. Thank the stars it's summer, otherwise we'd have to take a whole wardrobe along with us."

By midday they were in the transmigrator cell, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, with Gallant carrying one satchel for the two of them. There was nothing strange about Gallant's behavior, yet Cherry's feeling that he was hiding something was increasing.

Her suspicions were justified the moment they materialized on the corner of a busy city intersection bearing street signs with the names Broadway and 47th Street. A quick scan of the neighborhood confirmed that they were in New York City, not Washington, D.C. "Either the transmigrator technician got the signals seriously crossed or this is part of the secret you've been pretending not to have."

"Who, me? Have a secret from you?" He gave her a kiss on the nose. "I refuse to reveal any information one second before it's absolutely necessary." Placing his arm around her shoulders, he urged her to walk with him. "It should be right down here."

"What
should? Come on, you're driving me crazy." His sexy grin didn't help her bewilderment at all.

"Here we are."

He had brought her to the ticket window of a theater. While he picked up matinee tickets that had miraculously been reserved for him, Cherry glanced at the advertising poster for the show.

"Dear God," she whispered as her eyes focused on one line—
Starring Rose Cochran
. Words escaped her as she gaped at the poster then at Gallant.

With his index finger under her chin, he closed her mouth and gave her a light kiss. "She's expecting special,
nameless
guests backstage after the performance and no one else will be with her. But the decision is yours."

Her eyes filled with moisture as she threw her arms around his neck. "You dear, sweet man! I can't believe you tracked her down, and... and..." Again she was rendered mute by emotion and settled for hugging him as hard as she could.

"I gather you like my surprise," Gallant said with a satisfied smile. "Let's go see if she's as good as you."

Cherry knew that Innerworld had Noronian emissaries that lived quietly in Outerworld, keeping their eyes and ears open for problems. These men and women were placed in strategic locations and careers so that they might be able to accomplish a variety of things without any Terran being aware of alien surveillance or interference. But reserving center front seats for a big Broadway show on a moment's notice and arranging a private appointment with its leading lady were not the sort of things Cherry imagined they usually did.

The play may or may not have been wonderful. Cherry had no idea. She only had eyes for her baby sister, Rose. The physical likeness to herself was incredible, but she felt the younger woman's stage presence completely outshone her own. She felt proud enough to burst. As the curtain closed for the final time, Cherry's hands started shaking. What if Rose never forgave her for abandoning her? What if she didn't even remember her? What if—

"Ready?" Gallant asked gently, squeezing her hand.

She took a deep breath and stood up. "It's good you didn't warn me ahead of time. I'd have been a basket case before we got here."

A stagehand escorted them to Rose's dressing room, knocked and announced the arrival of her guests. Rose opened the door with a bright smile... then turned ghostly pale.