Authors: Marilyn Campbell
Topaz Dreams (23 page)
It was that other
one whom Underwood thought of now. Falcon and Barbanell had accessed
Miss Preston's computer. He had to take the guard's word for the fact
that they seemed pleased about whatever they had discovered, for he had
ordered Miss Preston to burn the tape of their visit immediately.
Had
the two detectives been bright enough to figure out where he was
hiding? Where had Falcon gone while Barbanell was getting herself
killed? Was he on his way to Alaska at this moment? Underwood knew the
aliens had a way of disappearing at will. Perhaps that is what Falcon
had done this evening in San Francisco.
Underwood's heart was
pumping rapidly, his stomach fluttering excitedly, as he went into the
parlor to speak with Delphina. She rose as soon as he entered and held
her hands out to him. Without explanation, he yanked her hard against
his powerful body and hugged her until he reorganized his thoughts. He
backed into an overstuffed chair and pulled her down onto his lap as he
captured her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Gradually, his lips
softened on hers, and he nibbled his way to her ear. He sucked on her
perfect lobe as his large hand moved smoothly up her thigh, caressed
her hip, and then her delicate breast. When she breathed, he felt the
small, hardened bud rub sensuously against his palm, and he knew she
was his alone.
"Delphina?"
"Yes, Gordon?"
"You know I love you above all things. Do you love me just a little?"
"Would that please you to hear the words?"
"More than anything."
"I love you, Gordon, above all things, as well."
He
continued his caresses and gentle touches, but his mind was clicking
away in a calculated manner that was more familiar to him than tender
persuasion. "I may need to rely upon your love in the near future,
Delphina. Someone is coming who would do me great harm. A man who would
take you away from me. You know I would die if we were separated."
"Gordon, my love, we must not allow this man to do such a thing. Why would he do this? Who is he?"
Underwood
sighed and slumped back in the chair, looking as forlorn as possible.
"He is from your world, Delphina, and I am afraid he does not
understand how much I need you to remain with me."
"Then we will tell him, and he will go away again."
"I'm
afraid it won't be that simple. They'll just send someone else until I
have lost you." He closed his eyes and grimaced in mock pain.
Delphina kissed his forehead and stroked his smooth head. "There must be something we can do."
Underwood
pretended to consider her words, then carefully began outlining his
plan to her. "They have so much more power than I, but if I were to
possess a small portion of their knowledge, perhaps I would discover
how to stop them from coming. I would require only a few of your
special skills. Would you be willing to help me?"
"Of course, Gordon."
just finished her shift, Doctor Yeguli was about to head home when a
phantom appeared in her path. The shape was humanoid except for the
large black globe where the head should have been and the reflective,
black shield that wrapped around what might be its eyes. Its arms
protectively held a long object wrapped in a blood-soaked shroud. The
beast growled and she stepped aside. Bloody fingers shot out from
beneath their burden and grasped her arm. The phantom growled again.
Falcon
stared at the frightened woman and tried again to communicate his need.
What was wrong with him? He could not think beyond the dense, red fog
swirling madly around him. "Falcon! Falcon! What's the matter?" The
familiar, deep voice cut through the haze and made him turn toward the
sound. Romulus. Falcon clung to the name, using it as a focus for his
control. Reason found a foothold as he forced himself to remember why,
when he had arrived in Innerworld, he had asked for the governor of the
colony, and slowly, he defeated the pervasive fog. "Romulus. You once
promised me a favor. I must request it at this time."
Romulus
closely regarded the man whose gravelly voice confirmed he was his
friend. "Of course." He took in Falcon's blood-splattered condition,
then appraised the bundle in Falcon's arms. "Are you hurt, Falcon?"
"They
killed her, Romulus. I should not have left her. She was protecting me.
You will order the doctor to bring her back and repair what the
butchers did to her."
Romulus frowned and pulled the sheet back to
view the face. As he did so, Falcon clutched the body tighter to him.
Whatever happened to Falcon in the last week would have to be explained
later. "This is not the female you were sent to track. She's a Terran,
isn't she? You brought her here, like this, knowing it's against our
laws?"
"Her death is my fault. You promised a favor. Her life is what I ask of you. She has two beautiful, little children, Romulus."
Romulus
did not hesitate to make his decision. "Release Doctor Yeguli's arm,
Falcon. Let her show you where to put your patient, then we'll talk."
Falcon looked down at his own hand with disgust as he relaxed his fingers. "I apologize, Doctor. I am... upset."
She
nodded at him hesitantly and, after assuring herself that what she was
about to do had the governor's approval, she led Falcon to a treatment
room.
When Falcon did not immediately return, Romulus went looking
for him. He found him hovering over the patient, holding her hand in
one of his and touching her temple with the other. "Falcon. You can't
help her. Let Doctor Yeguli do her work, and you come with me. It's
time for some explanations." He laid his hand on Falcon's shoulder and
waited.
Slowly, Falcon gave in to Romulus's prompting and followed him upstairs to the governor's suite.
"Maybe we should start with an easy question," Romulus prodded. "What the drek are you supposed to be dressed for?"
Falcon
managed an expression that fell between a grimace and a smile as he
removed the helmet and sunglasses and shook his hair loose. "I
exchanged clothes with a police officer. They were not acquired in a
completely honorable manner, but I had little choice at the time." His
gaze scanned the ruined uniform and his bloodstained hands. "I would
appreciate the opportunity to improve my appearance before I report."
Romulus offered the use of his shower and a change of clothes in exchange for one more question. "Did you get the ring?"
"No. But I know where it is now. As soon as I am certain Steve will be all right, I will return for it."
"You
took a terrible risk using the transmigrator just now, and you want
permission to go back out? You were under strict orders—"
Falcon
held up a hand. "Please, Romulus, my friend, I can barely hear your
words, let alone respond intelligently. Your lecture will be
considerably more effective without the smell of her blood in my
nostrils." He accepted Romulus's shrug as permission to attend to his
needs.
Rom tried in vain to correlate what he had just seen and
heard with the Falcon he had met with a little over a week ago. He
decided his co-governor's assistance was clearly required, and he sent
out his mental call to her. Aster?
Hi, darling.
I think we may have a problem and I'd like your input. I'm in my office. Ill fill you in on your way.
All right. What is it? Aster headed to her mate's office as they continued their telepathic communication.
Falcons
here, and, no, he doesn't have the ring. You can hear the update at the
same time I do. It's Falcon who has me worried. He brought back a
deceased female and demanded she be repaired. But it's more than that.
I want you to see him, talk to him. Something is drastically different
about our friend.
Ill be there in a few minutes. I love you.
"Say
greetings for me, too," Falcon said as he returned. When Rom raised an
eyebrow, he went on, "It is not difficult to deduce with whom you were
communicating. You reserve that particular expression only for your
mate." He smiled easily as he made himself comfortable. Between
delivering Steve into capable hands and the hot shower, he had regained
control of his overwhelmingly emotional state.
"She'll be here in a moment. Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you. I apologize for my manner earlier. I am not yet accustomed to dealing with my own fears."
"So, it's gotten worse in the last week?"
"Yes and no. I. . ."
Aster's
appearance in the doorway stopped Falcon from completing his
explanation. She came forward and took both of his hands as he rose.
"Hello, Falcon. I'm glad to see you in one piece. You were strictly
ordered not to use the transmigrator unless you had retrieved the ring."
Falcon
smiled. "The two of you are beginning to sound alike. I hope you will
understand why I disobeyed your order when I have completed my report."
Aster
squeezed his hands once and went to sit next to Rom. She placed her
hand in his open palm and their fingers intertwined. Falcon had seen
them touching before. He should not have felt anything unusual when
Rom's fingers slid between Aster's. It was an insignificant gesture.
Yet his heart trembled, and he found it difficult to take a deep
breath. Steve. He should have stayed in Medical where he could make
sure she was restored, where he could be there when she awakened. Steve
would like to have her hand held like that.
"Falcon?" Rom waved his hand in front of him. "Are you sure you're up to this?" He and Aster shared a concerned glance.
Falcon
blinked and cleared his thoughts. "I am fine. As I intimated, I am
having a few problems adjusting." He caught Aster's slight eye movement
and knew she was questioning his meaning. "It is all right, Romulus. I
believe if I explain this first, the rest will sound more rational. You
see, Aster, before I left, I told Romulus I was experiencing some
changes. My human emotions were beginning to surface— emotions I was
not even aware I had. I was very disturbed by the belief that if I did
not control and suppress these ... feelings, that I would lose some or
all of my felan gifts."
Rom leaned forward. "I gather from what I've seen today, you weren't able to control your reactions."
"I do not believe I ever had a chance of doing that, especially after meeting Steve."
"Steve?" Aster asked quickly.
"Perhaps,
after all, it would be better if I simply began at the beginning." For
the next hour, Falcon gave his official progress report, peppered with
personal asides that involved Steve, her family, his emotional growth,
and his subsequent discovery of new and greater powers.
It occurred
to Aster that what Falcon did not say about Steve told her more than
what he did say, but it would not be proper for her to mention it. Rom
had no such qualms.
"It sounds like Steve may have been a catalyst
for this stage of your life, Falcon. Don't forget you are half
Noronian, and therefore, subject to the same mating fever I had with
Aster." He continued before Falcon could come up with a response. "What
about that other little matter we discussed in our last conversation?"
The
bronzing on Falcon's cheekbones rose before he could stop it. This was
absurd! He was actually embarrassed over a normal physical function. Of
course, he did not have any way of knowing whether what he and Steve
had shared was normal or not.
"Falcon, you left us again," Rom taunted.
"Oh. Yes. The matter... has been resolved."
Rom could not resist. "Satisfactorily?"
Aster
glanced from one man to another. There was something male going on
here, and Rom was blocking his thoughts from her. Well, she would just
have to get it out of him later.
Falcon finally gave in and laughed
at Rom's question. If Aster were not present, he might have asked for
some further insight on "the matter." Later. "Yes. Very."
"And I believe that brings us to the problem of Steve's presence in Innerworld. What exactly do you plan to do with her?"
"I am responsible. When she is well, I will return her to her family. She is needed."
Rom and Aster both spoke at once, "You can't return her."
"It is against our laws to allow an Outerworlder to return once they are here," Rom added unnecessarily.
Falcon sighed. "She already knows all there is to know. She has not and will never betray us."
"Even so, wouldn't you like to have her stay here?" Aster suggested.
That
solution had never entered Falcon's mind, but he felt its seductive
appeal immediately and determined to remain logical in the face of such
a welcome idea. "There are two small children and her mother to be
considered."
Aster opened her mouth, but Rom stopped her. "It is one
thing when an Outerworlder is trapped here by accident. There is~always
the possibility that it was meant to be in the greater scheme of life.
What you are considering, Aster, would be a conscious decision that
would change the future of two young lives, as well as countless others
whom they would have affected. As long as we cannot see what those
children's futures hold, I cannot condone interference."
Falcon
nodded his understanding. "I have already interfered with their lives.
Their mother should be alive and with them in their own world. There
are two scientists from your mission who know of our existence. You
trusted them not to reveal our secret. I ask you to trust me now. Steve
will never speak to anyone of our world. I request permission to return
to Outerworld while she is recuperating here. I will return with the
ring and Delphina and will then take Steve home." And never again see
her, touch her, love her. He struggled against the fist tightening
around his heart.
Aster was shocked to see his feelings displayed so
clearly. Her own romantic heart cried for him. "Falcon, perhaps you
could stay out there awhile longer. Rom? Isn't there some way?"
Rom
tried to warn her mentally that this was probably not a simple matter
of star-crossed lovers, but rather Falcon's inability to blend in with
Outerworld humans. Instantly, he realized the futility of such a
warning in the face of her feelings for Falcon. "I suppose. We have not
yet replaced the emissary we lost in that sector. Falcon?"
Falcon
shook his head. "I know you both mean well, but there are too many
aspects of Outerworld that rule out such an alternative. My eyes can be
disguised, but only with great discomfort to me. Also, my senses are
too acute for a world so filled with noise and noxious odors. A more
critical problem involves my empathy. I would be forced to live every
hour of my life with the guard up against a possible onslaught of
emotion from some passing stranger. Now I have to learn to deal with my
own emotions as well. I would never find the peace needed to do that if
I were out there.
"If all that were not enough, you must know I am
proud of my work here, both as a tracker and a trainer in the Arena.
Whatever I did out there, my gifts would have to remain hidden. There
would always be the fear that someone would discover I was different. I
would not be content to deny my capabilities and my felan gifts
constantly."
Aster could not refute his convictions, but she also
could not stand the thought of an unhappy ending. At least she and
Steve should have a chat when the woman awoke before Falcon took her
back.
Falcon steered the conversation back to the business at hand
by giving Romulus the coordinates of Underwood's Alaskan property. He
anticipated being in Outerworld and back within a few hours.
Rom
hoped Falcon's optimism would prove to be well-founded. "When you told
us about your adventures this past week, it sounded as though having a
partner came in handy. Would you like me to assign someone to go with
you?"
Falcon tried to smile, but did not quite make it. "No. I fear
no one could take my last partner's place." He took a deep breath and
got up. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will check on Steve and depart."
After he left, Aster turned to Rom. "Well?"
Well,
what? He's our friend. We both owe him our lives. Do you honestly think
I would refuse him anything, simply because it happens to be against
the law?"
Aster placed her palm on his cheek and gazed lovingly into
his eyes. "You're a wise man, Governor Romulus. That must be why I love
you so much."
Rom lowered his mouth to hers to deliver a leisurely promising kiss. "Are there any other reasons, my shalla?"
"Hmmm. Maybe one or two." Her tongue tasted his lips, then retreated quickly.
"You
know, I think I'll accompany you on your visit to Medical. I'm curious
to meet the woman who could create such a disturbance in our
unflappable tracker."
Aster laughed. There were still times she was
surprised when he knew what she was thinking. "Okay, but then you go
away. I want to talk girl talk."
Steve was alive! Doctor Yeguli and
her associate were repairing her body, and the monitors showed her
heart and lungs functioning normally. The brain activity had not yet
returned to the proper level, but Falcon was not concerned. The death
process could be reversed any time within eighteen hours.
Only under
rare circumstances were the restoration results less than perfect. Work
on Steve had begun within one hour of her death. She would be fine.
one whom Underwood thought of now. Falcon and Barbanell had accessed
Miss Preston's computer. He had to take the guard's word for the fact
that they seemed pleased about whatever they had discovered, for he had
ordered Miss Preston to burn the tape of their visit immediately.
Had
the two detectives been bright enough to figure out where he was
hiding? Where had Falcon gone while Barbanell was getting herself
killed? Was he on his way to Alaska at this moment? Underwood knew the
aliens had a way of disappearing at will. Perhaps that is what Falcon
had done this evening in San Francisco.
Underwood's heart was
pumping rapidly, his stomach fluttering excitedly, as he went into the
parlor to speak with Delphina. She rose as soon as he entered and held
her hands out to him. Without explanation, he yanked her hard against
his powerful body and hugged her until he reorganized his thoughts. He
backed into an overstuffed chair and pulled her down onto his lap as he
captured her mouth in a passionate kiss.
Gradually, his lips
softened on hers, and he nibbled his way to her ear. He sucked on her
perfect lobe as his large hand moved smoothly up her thigh, caressed
her hip, and then her delicate breast. When she breathed, he felt the
small, hardened bud rub sensuously against his palm, and he knew she
was his alone.
"Delphina?"
"Yes, Gordon?"
"You know I love you above all things. Do you love me just a little?"
"Would that please you to hear the words?"
"More than anything."
"I love you, Gordon, above all things, as well."
He
continued his caresses and gentle touches, but his mind was clicking
away in a calculated manner that was more familiar to him than tender
persuasion. "I may need to rely upon your love in the near future,
Delphina. Someone is coming who would do me great harm. A man who would
take you away from me. You know I would die if we were separated."
"Gordon, my love, we must not allow this man to do such a thing. Why would he do this? Who is he?"
Underwood
sighed and slumped back in the chair, looking as forlorn as possible.
"He is from your world, Delphina, and I am afraid he does not
understand how much I need you to remain with me."
"Then we will tell him, and he will go away again."
"I'm
afraid it won't be that simple. They'll just send someone else until I
have lost you." He closed his eyes and grimaced in mock pain.
Delphina kissed his forehead and stroked his smooth head. "There must be something we can do."
Underwood
pretended to consider her words, then carefully began outlining his
plan to her. "They have so much more power than I, but if I were to
possess a small portion of their knowledge, perhaps I would discover
how to stop them from coming. I would require only a few of your
special skills. Would you be willing to help me?"
"Of course, Gordon."
Chapter Sixteen
Hasten slowly.—Augustus Caesar
Havingjust finished her shift, Doctor Yeguli was about to head home when a
phantom appeared in her path. The shape was humanoid except for the
large black globe where the head should have been and the reflective,
black shield that wrapped around what might be its eyes. Its arms
protectively held a long object wrapped in a blood-soaked shroud. The
beast growled and she stepped aside. Bloody fingers shot out from
beneath their burden and grasped her arm. The phantom growled again.
Falcon
stared at the frightened woman and tried again to communicate his need.
What was wrong with him? He could not think beyond the dense, red fog
swirling madly around him. "Falcon! Falcon! What's the matter?" The
familiar, deep voice cut through the haze and made him turn toward the
sound. Romulus. Falcon clung to the name, using it as a focus for his
control. Reason found a foothold as he forced himself to remember why,
when he had arrived in Innerworld, he had asked for the governor of the
colony, and slowly, he defeated the pervasive fog. "Romulus. You once
promised me a favor. I must request it at this time."
Romulus
closely regarded the man whose gravelly voice confirmed he was his
friend. "Of course." He took in Falcon's blood-splattered condition,
then appraised the bundle in Falcon's arms. "Are you hurt, Falcon?"
"They
killed her, Romulus. I should not have left her. She was protecting me.
You will order the doctor to bring her back and repair what the
butchers did to her."
Romulus frowned and pulled the sheet back to
view the face. As he did so, Falcon clutched the body tighter to him.
Whatever happened to Falcon in the last week would have to be explained
later. "This is not the female you were sent to track. She's a Terran,
isn't she? You brought her here, like this, knowing it's against our
laws?"
"Her death is my fault. You promised a favor. Her life is what I ask of you. She has two beautiful, little children, Romulus."
Romulus
did not hesitate to make his decision. "Release Doctor Yeguli's arm,
Falcon. Let her show you where to put your patient, then we'll talk."
Falcon looked down at his own hand with disgust as he relaxed his fingers. "I apologize, Doctor. I am... upset."
She
nodded at him hesitantly and, after assuring herself that what she was
about to do had the governor's approval, she led Falcon to a treatment
room.
When Falcon did not immediately return, Romulus went looking
for him. He found him hovering over the patient, holding her hand in
one of his and touching her temple with the other. "Falcon. You can't
help her. Let Doctor Yeguli do her work, and you come with me. It's
time for some explanations." He laid his hand on Falcon's shoulder and
waited.
Slowly, Falcon gave in to Romulus's prompting and followed him upstairs to the governor's suite.
"Maybe we should start with an easy question," Romulus prodded. "What the drek are you supposed to be dressed for?"
Falcon
managed an expression that fell between a grimace and a smile as he
removed the helmet and sunglasses and shook his hair loose. "I
exchanged clothes with a police officer. They were not acquired in a
completely honorable manner, but I had little choice at the time." His
gaze scanned the ruined uniform and his bloodstained hands. "I would
appreciate the opportunity to improve my appearance before I report."
Romulus offered the use of his shower and a change of clothes in exchange for one more question. "Did you get the ring?"
"No. But I know where it is now. As soon as I am certain Steve will be all right, I will return for it."
"You
took a terrible risk using the transmigrator just now, and you want
permission to go back out? You were under strict orders—"
Falcon
held up a hand. "Please, Romulus, my friend, I can barely hear your
words, let alone respond intelligently. Your lecture will be
considerably more effective without the smell of her blood in my
nostrils." He accepted Romulus's shrug as permission to attend to his
needs.
Rom tried in vain to correlate what he had just seen and
heard with the Falcon he had met with a little over a week ago. He
decided his co-governor's assistance was clearly required, and he sent
out his mental call to her. Aster?
Hi, darling.
I think we may have a problem and I'd like your input. I'm in my office. Ill fill you in on your way.
All right. What is it? Aster headed to her mate's office as they continued their telepathic communication.
Falcons
here, and, no, he doesn't have the ring. You can hear the update at the
same time I do. It's Falcon who has me worried. He brought back a
deceased female and demanded she be repaired. But it's more than that.
I want you to see him, talk to him. Something is drastically different
about our friend.
Ill be there in a few minutes. I love you.
"Say
greetings for me, too," Falcon said as he returned. When Rom raised an
eyebrow, he went on, "It is not difficult to deduce with whom you were
communicating. You reserve that particular expression only for your
mate." He smiled easily as he made himself comfortable. Between
delivering Steve into capable hands and the hot shower, he had regained
control of his overwhelmingly emotional state.
"She'll be here in a moment. Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you. I apologize for my manner earlier. I am not yet accustomed to dealing with my own fears."
"So, it's gotten worse in the last week?"
"Yes and no. I. . ."
Aster's
appearance in the doorway stopped Falcon from completing his
explanation. She came forward and took both of his hands as he rose.
"Hello, Falcon. I'm glad to see you in one piece. You were strictly
ordered not to use the transmigrator unless you had retrieved the ring."
Falcon
smiled. "The two of you are beginning to sound alike. I hope you will
understand why I disobeyed your order when I have completed my report."
Aster
squeezed his hands once and went to sit next to Rom. She placed her
hand in his open palm and their fingers intertwined. Falcon had seen
them touching before. He should not have felt anything unusual when
Rom's fingers slid between Aster's. It was an insignificant gesture.
Yet his heart trembled, and he found it difficult to take a deep
breath. Steve. He should have stayed in Medical where he could make
sure she was restored, where he could be there when she awakened. Steve
would like to have her hand held like that.
"Falcon?" Rom waved his hand in front of him. "Are you sure you're up to this?" He and Aster shared a concerned glance.
Falcon
blinked and cleared his thoughts. "I am fine. As I intimated, I am
having a few problems adjusting." He caught Aster's slight eye movement
and knew she was questioning his meaning. "It is all right, Romulus. I
believe if I explain this first, the rest will sound more rational. You
see, Aster, before I left, I told Romulus I was experiencing some
changes. My human emotions were beginning to surface— emotions I was
not even aware I had. I was very disturbed by the belief that if I did
not control and suppress these ... feelings, that I would lose some or
all of my felan gifts."
Rom leaned forward. "I gather from what I've seen today, you weren't able to control your reactions."
"I do not believe I ever had a chance of doing that, especially after meeting Steve."
"Steve?" Aster asked quickly.
"Perhaps,
after all, it would be better if I simply began at the beginning." For
the next hour, Falcon gave his official progress report, peppered with
personal asides that involved Steve, her family, his emotional growth,
and his subsequent discovery of new and greater powers.
It occurred
to Aster that what Falcon did not say about Steve told her more than
what he did say, but it would not be proper for her to mention it. Rom
had no such qualms.
"It sounds like Steve may have been a catalyst
for this stage of your life, Falcon. Don't forget you are half
Noronian, and therefore, subject to the same mating fever I had with
Aster." He continued before Falcon could come up with a response. "What
about that other little matter we discussed in our last conversation?"
The
bronzing on Falcon's cheekbones rose before he could stop it. This was
absurd! He was actually embarrassed over a normal physical function. Of
course, he did not have any way of knowing whether what he and Steve
had shared was normal or not.
"Falcon, you left us again," Rom taunted.
"Oh. Yes. The matter... has been resolved."
Rom could not resist. "Satisfactorily?"
Aster
glanced from one man to another. There was something male going on
here, and Rom was blocking his thoughts from her. Well, she would just
have to get it out of him later.
Falcon finally gave in and laughed
at Rom's question. If Aster were not present, he might have asked for
some further insight on "the matter." Later. "Yes. Very."
"And I believe that brings us to the problem of Steve's presence in Innerworld. What exactly do you plan to do with her?"
"I am responsible. When she is well, I will return her to her family. She is needed."
Rom and Aster both spoke at once, "You can't return her."
"It is against our laws to allow an Outerworlder to return once they are here," Rom added unnecessarily.
Falcon sighed. "She already knows all there is to know. She has not and will never betray us."
"Even so, wouldn't you like to have her stay here?" Aster suggested.
That
solution had never entered Falcon's mind, but he felt its seductive
appeal immediately and determined to remain logical in the face of such
a welcome idea. "There are two small children and her mother to be
considered."
Aster opened her mouth, but Rom stopped her. "It is one
thing when an Outerworlder is trapped here by accident. There is~always
the possibility that it was meant to be in the greater scheme of life.
What you are considering, Aster, would be a conscious decision that
would change the future of two young lives, as well as countless others
whom they would have affected. As long as we cannot see what those
children's futures hold, I cannot condone interference."
Falcon
nodded his understanding. "I have already interfered with their lives.
Their mother should be alive and with them in their own world. There
are two scientists from your mission who know of our existence. You
trusted them not to reveal our secret. I ask you to trust me now. Steve
will never speak to anyone of our world. I request permission to return
to Outerworld while she is recuperating here. I will return with the
ring and Delphina and will then take Steve home." And never again see
her, touch her, love her. He struggled against the fist tightening
around his heart.
Aster was shocked to see his feelings displayed so
clearly. Her own romantic heart cried for him. "Falcon, perhaps you
could stay out there awhile longer. Rom? Isn't there some way?"
Rom
tried to warn her mentally that this was probably not a simple matter
of star-crossed lovers, but rather Falcon's inability to blend in with
Outerworld humans. Instantly, he realized the futility of such a
warning in the face of her feelings for Falcon. "I suppose. We have not
yet replaced the emissary we lost in that sector. Falcon?"
Falcon
shook his head. "I know you both mean well, but there are too many
aspects of Outerworld that rule out such an alternative. My eyes can be
disguised, but only with great discomfort to me. Also, my senses are
too acute for a world so filled with noise and noxious odors. A more
critical problem involves my empathy. I would be forced to live every
hour of my life with the guard up against a possible onslaught of
emotion from some passing stranger. Now I have to learn to deal with my
own emotions as well. I would never find the peace needed to do that if
I were out there.
"If all that were not enough, you must know I am
proud of my work here, both as a tracker and a trainer in the Arena.
Whatever I did out there, my gifts would have to remain hidden. There
would always be the fear that someone would discover I was different. I
would not be content to deny my capabilities and my felan gifts
constantly."
Aster could not refute his convictions, but she also
could not stand the thought of an unhappy ending. At least she and
Steve should have a chat when the woman awoke before Falcon took her
back.
Falcon steered the conversation back to the business at hand
by giving Romulus the coordinates of Underwood's Alaskan property. He
anticipated being in Outerworld and back within a few hours.
Rom
hoped Falcon's optimism would prove to be well-founded. "When you told
us about your adventures this past week, it sounded as though having a
partner came in handy. Would you like me to assign someone to go with
you?"
Falcon tried to smile, but did not quite make it. "No. I fear
no one could take my last partner's place." He took a deep breath and
got up. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will check on Steve and depart."
After he left, Aster turned to Rom. "Well?"
Well,
what? He's our friend. We both owe him our lives. Do you honestly think
I would refuse him anything, simply because it happens to be against
the law?"
Aster placed her palm on his cheek and gazed lovingly into
his eyes. "You're a wise man, Governor Romulus. That must be why I love
you so much."
Rom lowered his mouth to hers to deliver a leisurely promising kiss. "Are there any other reasons, my shalla?"
"Hmmm. Maybe one or two." Her tongue tasted his lips, then retreated quickly.
"You
know, I think I'll accompany you on your visit to Medical. I'm curious
to meet the woman who could create such a disturbance in our
unflappable tracker."
Aster laughed. There were still times she was
surprised when he knew what she was thinking. "Okay, but then you go
away. I want to talk girl talk."
Steve was alive! Doctor Yeguli and
her associate were repairing her body, and the monitors showed her
heart and lungs functioning normally. The brain activity had not yet
returned to the proper level, but Falcon was not concerned. The death
process could be reversed any time within eighteen hours.
Only under
rare circumstances were the restoration results less than perfect. Work
on Steve had begun within one hour of her death. She would be fine.
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