Manifest (2 page)

“Yes, Agent Geller. A good day’s work.” Wikins smiled.

She nodded and smiled in return, but where his blue skin was glowing with triumph, she was completely flattened.

Mel gathered her composure and smiled. “I just had an idea. Stall the investigation for an hour. I have to make a call.”

One hour later, she had her answers and her day’s exertions were wearing on her nerves.

She entered the room where the ship’s owner was being held, and she pointed at the chair. “Sit.”

“I beg your pardon! I will have your badge! Makuada runs on its imposed duties and my company routes millions of credits through here on a yearly basis.” The man was ruby red and his skin was glossy. Orin-Srat was his species and his name was Urgus.

“Sit!” She roared and showed her teeth, slamming her fist against the table. He sat.

“You are being charged with kidnapping three citizens of the Adru-Skari. We know this because the female was on her way to her fiancé on another colony and his name is not Urgus. I have been provided with all communications between the two and it is confirmed that she, her brother and her father, are not guests of yours, but you have met them. You attended their home world this summer and proposed to the young lady. She turned you down and now she is here in medical.”

Urgus leaned forward. “Is she injured?”

“That is none of your business. Your only concern is abducting and trafficking three Adru-Skari citizens. They are rather upset with you. Your business dealings are about to take a sudden downward trend when it gets around that you skipped off with nobility from one of the most respected families in your sector. Have fun in Janial.”

She waved and nodded to the guards. “Take him for processing. Don’t let him bribe his way out. He kidnapped nobles of Adru-Skari and they will have their justice.”

They stiffened and nodded in response. “Yes, Agent Geller.”

She sighed, returned to her desk and signed off duty. She tucked her toolkit away, stretched and headed for medical.

The three golden patients were all in a secure ward. Mel’s badge got her through and she snuck around the corner for a visit.

“Hello?”

Three faces turned to her and she smiled at their similarity.

“I would like to speak with Ashur-tah, if I may.” She waited.

Yirka-tah nodded. “You may speak with my daughter.”

Mel stepped into the room and walked to the young woman’s feet. “Ashur-tah, I have spoken with your betrothed, Furdo-nil, and he is delighted and relieved that you have been found.”

Ashur-tah sat up completely. “You have spoken with him? Will he still have me?”

Her father made a sound but she ignored him.

Mel nodded. “He awaits your arrival eagerly and requests that you contact him as soon as you are able. I can link a com for you and bring it in here if you like.”

Ashur-tah looked to her father and he nodded.

“Please.”

Mel smiled. “I will bring it right away. Oh, your government has been notified of your retrieval and they are sending a ship for you.”

The younger man looked at her. “Miss, who are you?”

She bobbed her head. “Apologies. It has been a long day. I am Makuada Customs Agent Geller.”

She left the room, told the security that she would be back in a few minutes with a com pad, and she went to get one from the communications center.

* * * *

Koru-tah looked at his father and sister. “Didn’t they say that the one who found us was Agent Geller?”

His father nodded. “Yes, they mentioned that the agent had to rip a wall apart to get us out.”

“It couldn’t be that slight woman, could it?”

Ashur-tah sighed, “Her hands were red and looked raw considering the rest of her skin.”

Koru-tah closed his eyes. “She looked very soft.”

His father chuckled. “She is not for you. You are not of age yet, Koru-tah.”

He sighed. “I know, but she is lovely.”

“She saved us. We owe her.”

Koru-tah wiggled his eye ridges. “I can think of a few things I would like to give her in exchange.”

* * * *

Mel returned and handed over the com unit with the connection already pending.

“I also have good news. Your government has gotten emergency authorization for an in-system jump. The ship will be here in sixteen hours.”

Ashur-tah held the com unit with reverence and smiled at Mel, “Thank you, Agent Geller.”

“As soon as the connection is made, I will leave. The com authorization is keyed to my code and print so you can’t restart it without me. When you are done with the call, disconnect and give the unit to the physician on duty.”

Yirka-tah sat up and said, “Excuse me, Agent Geller, but who is captaining the ship?”

Mel checked her wrist display for the manifest. “Captain Dornin-tah. Any relation?”

The gathering of the tah family grinned.

Yirka-tah smiled. “My eldest son.”

She inclined her head. “I am glad you will soon be reunited. Good night.”

Ashur-tah began to speak and the voice from the com unit answered her.

Mel bowed and left, heading for her quarters, a meal and bed.

All in a day’s work for Agent Geller.

Morning was rough. She felt like she had been hammered in her sleep. She checked her chrono and did some quick calculations. She had time.

Mel gulped water and dialled the spa.

When Moffin answered, he smiled. “Need a workout, Agent Geller?”

“No, I need a rubdown. I had a bad day yesterday and I am in desperate need of a massage. Any chance I could get worked on in the next two hours?”

He looked at his schedule. “Can you come in right away? Tymo is just finishing up.”

“Right. But just a massage. Make that clear. He likes to slip into foreplay and I don’t have time for that today. I am on duty later.”

“Clear. See you soon.”

She wrapped a gauzy robe around her and headed for the spa. With the exotic clothing of the locals, she didn’t even stand out.

As she reached the spa, she was passed by a contingent of Adru-Skari on their way to medical. It appeared that their ride was here. It was refreshing that something went right for a change.

Moffin smiled. “Have you eaten?”

“No. I would like water and a light meal after I am done.”

“Of course. Tymo is ready for you in room six.”

Mel nodded and walked the familiar hallway. She opened the door to room six, and her favourite masseuse and pleasure specialist was waiting for her. “Good morning, Tymo.”

He smiled and locked the door behind her. He removed her robe and hung it in the cleaning cabinet. “Lie down, please.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. She lay in the gel bed, configured so she could breathe, and he examined her.

“What were you doing?”

He began to work on her, his hands smoothing her skin and working the muscles beneath.

She groaned, “Same old, same old.”

“Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you beyond loosening your muscles?” Tymo’s hands were slick with oil and he was rubbing them up and down her spine.

“Just relax me and take care of the bruising. I need to be able to work tonight.”

“You are no fun.” He chuckled and worked at her right arm.

“You know better.”

His snort was gleeful, but she closed her eyes and let the pain of the rubdown become an all-consuming hum.

* * * *

Dornin-tah flicked a look at the female in the nearly transparent robe. If he wasn’t in a hurry, he would have paused to investigate her in greater detail.

He focussed and went in search of his family. He checked through the security and mentally applauded the station for putting the guards on duty.

Seeing his fashionable sister in a baggy coverall sent a thump through his heart. She had so nearly been out of their reach.

“Ashur.” He held out his arms, and she ran to him, hugging him tight. He used his senses and sighed in relief. She was still unfixed.

Koru waited his turn for a hug, and Dornin squeezed his little brother tightly when Ashur attained her release.

His father stood and gripped his arm tightly before coming in for a hug.

“What happened?” Dornin had been wanting to ask that question for the last four days, since his family had disappeared.

“Urgus came up behind us and froze the ship. We got cold and we woke up here.” His father was disgusted.

“Well, you are safe and Furdo-nil is waiting for you, Ashur.”

She smiled. “I know. I spoke with him yesterday. The customs officer that found us set me up with a portable com screen.”

“How were you found?”

Koru smiled slyly. “She dug us out of a bulkhead, got us medical treatment and arrested Urgus. I hear he has been sentenced and is on his way to Janial prison already.”

“She?”

Koru nodded. “She. A pleasant, little, soft thing with keen intelligence and a lovely manner, not to mention amazing curves.”

Their father snapped, “Koru! Show some respect.”

“I speak the truth, Father. If I were a little older and she was amenable, she would be joining us on our trip to Mishkim.” Koru sighed wistfully.

Dornin was curious. “Is she
vrasku
?”

Yirka snapped. “Enough, you two. Whether she is
vrasku
or not is none of our business. She saved our family and she deserves our respect.”

Ashur pitched in, “Yes, she does. She is very attractive though. Even I wanted to touch her skin. It looks so silky.”

Dornin began to feel the frustration of not seeing what the rest of his family had. “Is she on duty?”

Koru snorted. “I doubt it. It was end of shift for her last night and she spent extra time making sure we were comfortable. Based on an average sleep cycle, she would have just woken. If she is on a standard station cycle, she will be working in two hours.”

Ashur smiled slyly. “Well, I do need to get some proper clothing. I can’t show up at Mishkim looking like this.”

Dornin smiled. “You are a sly one, sister.”

“You should at least meet her. She has saved your whole family, after all.” Koru looked around innocently.

Their father sighed and threw his hands up. “For the sake of family honour, let’s shop and then meet with Agent Geller.”

Dornin could see his father’s embarrassment, but there was also a sense of anticipation in his eyes. He wanted to see what would happen as much as the others did.

“Done. I have done what I could for the bruising, but you have to stop pushing your body so hard. It can’t take it, Agent Geller.”

Tymo helped her into the solar shower after her meal, and she quickly turned to make sure that she got every fleck of everything off her skin.

She stepped out of the shower and slipped on her robe. “It’s my job. I need to be able to move around like the other agents can.”

“The other agents are species where climbing is the first means of personal transport.”

Mel stretched. “Well, you got the worst of the kinks out, thanks, Tymo.”

He positioned himself between her and the door.

“Out of my way, Tymo. I need to check on the tahs before I get back to work.”

“The tahs? The tahs of the Adru-Skari?” He raised his brows in his incredibly handsome face.

“Yes. Them.”

“What do you have to do with them?”

She made a face. “It is work related. Now, out of my way or I am going to have to get you out of the way and it will come out of your tip.”

He raised his hands and stepped aside. “As you wish, Agent Geller.”

She kissed him on the cheek and left the treatment room.

Moffin extended the pay plate, and she swiped her wrist; the embedded information took the funds for an hour massage out of her account.

Mel walked back through the halls of the galleria area of the station. She saw a flash of golden skin a moment before she ploughed into a wall of muscle.

Hands caught her arms and she pressed her hands to his chest. “Thanks. I am sorry. I was not watching where I was going.”

She felt the strength in the hands and the scrape of claws along her skin through the thin robe. Her gaze slowly travelled up the uniformed chest to the golden skin with the minute scales barely visible at this distance. His wide chin fit the wide column of his neck and finally she arrived at his face.

The wide curve of his mouth and slightly flattened but straight nose fit the wide, tilted eyes with the serpentine pupils in brilliant plum. His hair was the same dark purple with black highlights.

Mel took the whole thing in in a second, and he smiled under her scrutiny.

He was the tah brother that hadn’t been with his family. Captain Dornin-tah.

She squirmed a little in his grip. “I am not in danger of falling, Captain.”

He smiled. “But I like holding you. It is like holding warm silk.”

She shivered. “I have to dress for duty. Please accept my apology for the collision.”

“It is a shame. When do you finish your shift?”

She licked her lips. “Not for twelve hours. I am afraid you will be long gone by then, Captain.”

She backed up, but he kept his grip. He scratched her slightly, and she didn’t pause as she jerked free and sprinted away from him, heading home.

She didn’t know what his problem with her was, but she had apologized twice and he still hadn’t let her go. That was just rude.

* * * *

Dornin-tah looked around, but the woman knew the station far better than he did. He smelled blood and lifted his fingers to his lips. A small flick of his tongue and he knew that his little kitten was definitely
vrasku
. Compatible enough to use a donor egg for reproduction.

She was small and fierce, but in his arms, she had been soft, warm and helpless. He fought the erection that was threatening to force him to seek her out.

He sighed and returned to his family’s shopping spree. His moment away from the shops had definitely been a distraction, but now, he needed to focus again.

He had to get his family to Mishkim and his father and brother back to Reuval. If the woman worked on the station, she would still be here when he returned in a month.