The Seer (Tellaran Series) (2 page)

She stared at the rainbow hued bills he held out to her, the breath rushing out of her lungs. Five
hundred
? She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen so much money. It would pay five months rent at her run-down rooming house. She could sleep in a bed tonight.

She could
eat
.

“Well?” he demanded. “Five hundred and you’re mine for five nights. Do we have a deal?”

Numbly her fingers closed around the bills, the reinforced paper crinkling as she clasped them.

“Great," he muttered. "I’m looking forward to it.”

He pulled her along, the money gripped tightly in her hand. Clearly he didn’t trust her enough to let go of her wrist.

What did I just do?

She didn’t even have any rooms to take him to! She glanced at the money clutched in her hand. Well, she could certainly pay her rent now. But he wanted to—

She swallowed. And he really
did
want to.  She could still feel the current of desire, of hunger, from him. 

“Just let me do the talking when TelSec gets here.” Jolar said.

“You’ve already called them?” She stopped. “No, I’ll meet you after, okay?”

He gave her an impatient look. “No, it’s
not
okay. Once we’re finished with TelSec, I’m taking you to the medcenter.”

Medcenter? Her heart hammered. They’d want an ID scan before they treated her. An ID check would show her real records, her name, how out of date her information was.

A medical scan would show
why
.

“No, I—I don't need a doctor.”

“Yes, you do, Tianna. Why don't you want to go to the medcenter?” He glanced at her belly. “Are you pregnant? Is that why you ran away from the pleasure house? I can buy you out of your contract if I need to. I can set you up somewhere else.”

Buy an Ornament out a year’s contract from a pleasure house? Set her up somewhere? That must be a staggering amount of money. Who had money like that?

Why would he even
want
to?

Colored lights suddenly flashed down into the street as the TelSec vehicle came to hover over them. A second shuttle continued on, going in the direction of the alley.

Arissa twisted her wrist sharply to break his hold. She made it only two steps then he caught her from behind.

The money scattered at her feet as she clawed at his hands. "Oh, gods!
Please!
"

He hesitated then pulled her to the shelter of an overhang. Lights from the security vehicle lit the alley in nightmarish colors.

Her breath came in quick shallow gulps. The shuttle paused, hovering over the street. The shadows sharpened as the security vehicle directed its searchlights down.

She whimpered, shrinking into the scant safety of the overhang’s shadow.

“This isn’t about a broken employment contract, Tianna,” Jolar growled in her ear. “You have to tell me before they get here.”

"I can't!"

"Whatever it is, I promise—I
promise
—I'll help you. But I need to know what I’m dealing with!"

“No!”

"Damn it, come on! They're landing!"

He was right. The TelSec shuttle was touching down. The officer inside was looking right at them.

"I'll help you,” he insisted. “Just
tell
me."

Jolar was warm against her back, his strength curled around her as he held her, the roughness of his cheek brushing her temple.

“I’m a telepath,” she whispered.

Two

He froze, his sense reverberating with shock and horror. “You’re a Seer?”

“You said—I helped you!” Arissa’s eyes stung. “Just let me go!”

He wavered, indecisive, fearful.

“No,” he said hoarsely. “It’s too late.”

The TelSec officer was out of the shuttle now, his blaster in hand.

"Damn you!" Arissa’s fists clenched. “I should have left you back there. I should have let you die!”

Jolar gave her a shake. “Shut up, godsdamn it! I need to think!”

Arissa flinched as the TelSec officer shone his handheld light on them.

"Hands where I can see them!" The officer took a few steps toward them, his blaster in his hand. “Both of you!”

"It's all right!" Jolar shouted. "I'm the one who called you."

The brightness made her eyes water and made the pain in her head double.

"I'm going to let go of you," Jolar hissed in her ear. "
Don't
run, understand? He'll shoot you if you do. Just put your hands up. I'll handle this."

Handle it? Didn't he know she could feel his fear?  

He eased his hands off. She hadn't realized how tightly he'd held her, how cold the night air was, until he moved away. 

He faced the TelSec officer, his hands held up.

"Tianna," Jolar prompted tightly.

Arissa shakily raised her hands.

After a moment the TelSec officer stepped forward. "Are you armed?"

"My blaster is holstered. I don't have any other weapons."

Arissa cringed as the TelSec’s light fell on her again.

"You?"

"She's not armed," Jolar said quickly.

"I'm not asking you, am I? I'm asking
her
," the TelSec officer snapped. "You, miss, you armed?"

Arissa shook her head, biting her lip at the dizziness that action caused.

The TelSec looked over Jolar's uniform. "Fleet, huh?" He threw a derisive glance at Arissa that made her cheeks hot. "Guess I don't need to ask what you're doing in this part of the capital. Don't you Fleet types like to keep to the upper city pleasure houses for downtime?"

Jolar narrowed his eyes. "I came here to meet a friend."

The TelSec glanced at Arissa again. "Right.” He flicked off the light and hooked it to his belt, lowering his blaster but keeping it unholstered as he pulled a scanner from his pocket. “Let's see who you are, Fleet.”

He passed the red light over Jolar's right eye.

The officer glanced at the display. "d’Tural, Jolar, Commander. Zartan," he read. "Looks like you are cleared for that weapon you’re carrying.” The TelSec smirked. “Guess I'll let you keep the blaster after all."

"Thanks," Jolar muttered.

"You can put your hands down, Commander." The TelSec officer holstered his blaster and turned to Arissa. "Now, you."

Arissa's throat closed as the TelSec lifted the scanner toward her.

Jolar quickly shielded her eyes from the TelSec’s instrument with his hand.

"You can't scan her,” Jolar said. “She’s injured, see? She has eye pain, probably a concussion too."

She glanced at Jolar as he scrambled to find some excuse the TelSec would believe.

The TelSec’s jaw hardened. "I need a scan."

"I'm telling you, you
can't
. Look at what he did to her! She needs medical attention, damn it. The Fleet medcenter can give you her info later."

Why does he want so badly to take me
there?

The TelSec officer hesitated. "All right. Put your hands down, girl. Wait—the Fleet medcenter? You're telling me she's Fleet too?"

"No," Jolar said. “
I'm
Fleet,
she's
pregnant so that's where I'm taking her."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Yours?"

"Yes, mine," Jolar growled. "Are you going to put
that
in your report?"

Arissa blinked at his unhesitating claim of responsibility for her and her supposed baby. Jolar shifted his weight, partially shielding her from the TelSec’s gaze.

The officer gave a snort and slid the scanner back into his pocket. "Not part of the investigation, I guess." He jerked a thumb toward the alley and the other TelSec shuttle parked there. "You want to tell me what happened?"

Jolar shrugged. "I met a friend for a drink. I was walking back to—"

Over Jolar’s shoulder the TelSec speared Arissa with a look, his mind darkening with suspicion. "And where was your pregnant Orny here? Didn't she go with you?"

"No," Jolar said coldly. "Actually I spent a good deal of time tonight chasing her down and convincing her to come home with me."

The TelSec narrowed his gaze. Finally, he gave a short nod.

"The man pushed me into the alley, he didn't see Tianna behind him. He pulled a blaster. Tianna distracted him and I shot first. Then I called TelSec."

"Why didn't you stay with the body?"

"Tianna was frightened. She ran off, I went after her. We were on our way back to meet you."

"Did you know the man?" He glanced at Arissa. "Either of you?"

"If I ever met him," Jolar answered, "I don't remember it."

The TelSec looked at her. Arissa shook her head and pain shot through her head at the movement.

"You say he pulled a blaster," he continued. "What did he want?"

Jolar shrugged. "Money for more chemicals probably. He had his blaster pointed at me, he was going to fire. I didn't have any choice."

"Did he take anything? Money? Your security badge?"

Jolar shook his head. "No, nothing. Look, she's in pain. Can I get her to medical now? You know where to find me."

The TelSec gave a nod in the direction of the other shuttle. “I’ll get our medic to—”

“She needs a
doctor
,” Jolar snapped. “Not some Sec officer with a first aid kit. She goes to the Fleet medcenter and she goes
now
.”

The TelSec officer's mouth tightened. "Let me clear it."

He stepped away pulling out his communicator.

Arissa was trembling, her breath coming in short, quick bursts.

"Hold on," Jolar murmured, taking her cold hand in his strong grip. "Just a couple more minutes, okay, Tianna?"

His hand was warm around hers, his thumb lightly stroked her skin. She suddenly remembered he'd wanted her before he knew.

The TelSec turned back. He gave them a nod. "I’m authorized to take you to the Fleet base."

"No!"

"Yes," Jolar said deliberately, glaring at her. "We need a ride to Fleet Sector Xan. To take you to the medcenter."

Voluntarily get into a Security transport? Is he insane? 

He still held her hand, his pull gentle but insistent. "Come on, Tianna. He's taking us to the Fleet medcenter. It'll be all right."

He meant it.

"Jolar, I—I can't—"

His vivid eyes narrowed. "Do you want me to carry you, sweetheart? I will."

He
really
meant
that
.

She took clumsy steps forward and the TelSec slid the shuttle door open. Jolar put his hand on the small of her back and gave her a gentle push inside.

Arissa wrinkled her nose. The shuttle’s interior smelled artificial, heavily fragranced with some awful fake floral scent. She scooted over on the seat as Jolar sat next to her. The TelSec slid the door shut, trapping her inside.

"Please—"

"
Quiet
," Jolar hissed.

The TelSec was already taking the controls. He spoke into his comm unit looking towards the other shuttle. "Yeah, lifting off now. Should be back in twenty or so. Right, thanks."

Arissa gripped the seat as they rose, her stomach lurching at the sudden movement. It had been nearly eight months since she'd ridden in a shuttle. Not since—

Jolar frowned. "Tianna?"

The TelSec glanced back at them. "She’s not going to throw up back there, is she? I just had it cleaned."

"My head hurts," Arissa said faintly.

Unexpectedly gentle, Jolar pulled her close against his big body, drawing her head to his shoulder, encircling her in the warmth of his arms.

"Hang on,” he murmured. “We'll be there in a few minutes.” He stroked her hair, his hand cradling the back of her head, his cheek against her temple. “It's going to be okay.”

She closed her eyes.
Gods, he smells so good.

A tingle of desire.

Quickly crushed.

She could feel the sudden tension in his body as he turned his face away to look out the window. The city was speeding by below as the TelSec officer joined the airlanes, the neighborhoods showing more green space as they became more respectable.

It was a silent trip, neither man interested in small talk. The shuttle ride roiled her stomach but it was far too soon that the TelSec decreased speed.

"I'm going to drop you at the gate and—"

"No," Jolar said. "Send them my ID scan. Tell them to clear us through to land at the medcenter."

The TelSec glanced back, then shrugged and lifted the communicator to hail the gate.

Jolar's vibration uncoiled with relief when the gate gave clearance. He pulled away from her before the shuttle touched down and was out of the vehicle as soon as the door opened.

It was full dark now and the well-lit neat square around them was a study in straight lines and uninspired landscaping.

A military base? How is this better than a TelSec station?

Jolar looked at her sitting there frozen in the shuttle. "Come on, sweetheart.”

He’s afraid too.

He held his hand out. "Let's get you taken care of." His eyes narrowed, his anxiety buffeting her. "Come
on
, Tianna. The officer wants to leave."

Arissa swallowed hard and put her hand in his.

Jolar nodded his thanks to the TelSec officer as she climbed out and urged her back as the man closed up the shuttle and lifted off.

She clutched his arm. "You can't let a doctor examine me! My records—I never had the full medical scan. They'll do one and—and they'll find—"

"I know," he said tightly. "Just be quiet."

Everything in her was crying out that Jolar truly meant to help her, was committed to protecting her . . .

Still she couldn’t bring herself to walk into the gleaming medical center and Jolar nearly had to push her through the sliding doors.

Sparklingly clean with white and silver appointments, the Fleet emblem shone on the doors, on the walls, on the blue medtech uniform of the young man who greeted them.

"Commander." The medtech’s eyes flicked toward Arissa and his eyebrows raised, just a touch. "How can I help you?"

"Call Doctor de’Sar," Jolar said. “Tell her it’s urgent.”

The medtech’s glance took in her threadbare clothes, her face, where she’d been hit.

“Doctor de’Sar is not on duty tonight, sir.” He was already looking at the datapad in his hand. “But Doctor Yuseh—”

“I know she’s not here,” Jolar interrupted. “That’s why you’re going to call her, Lieutenant.
Now
.”

The man blinked and his mouth tightened. “Yes, sir.” He tapped on his screen, his eyes scanning the response. “I’ve relayed your message. Doctor de’Sar has confirmed she is on her way. Would you care to have a seat?”

Arissa glanced uneasily at the bright, clean, empty waiting room.

“No,” Jolar said. “Jensah has an exam room off her office. We’ll wait for her there.”

The man straightened. “I really don’t think that—”

Jolar’s eyes were blue ice. “What part of this conversation makes you believe I'm interested in your opinion?”

The man’s nostrils flared, his tone clipped. “Follow me.”