Drex watched Jenna react to the Triumphant.

“I still can’t believe something that big…stays up here.” Her eyes were open so wide she looked comical, but he understood the reaction. He’d been raised around spaceships and advanced technology, and the Triumphant had still taken his breath away the first time he saw it. Deck upon deck of the mobile base filled the viewscreen and they were still at least ten minutes away. Ships, some small agile shuttles, some mid-size fighters, launched from multiple decks as they hurried off to complete various missions.

“I know I’ve seen it before, but wow.” She shook her head then smiled. “Just wow.”

“Humans are distrusting enough without knowing this is up here,” Sedrik told her, his expression cautious. “I’d appreciate your discretion on this.”

Uncertainty narrowed her gaze for a moment, then she nodded. “Of course. I haven’t said anything and I won’t.”

They arrived a short time later. Raylon skillfully flew the Phantom into one of the landing bays, but remained seated as everyone else prepared to disembark. The governor was headed back to Lunar Nine. He’d just agreed to play chauffer, so they didn’t tie up two of the valuable covert shuttles.

“Torrin is waiting for us in the officers’ dining hall,” Drex told Jenna, once they reached a main corridor. “Sedrik will have a runner deliver your bag to your cabin.” She nodded, still rather dazed. “Unless you’d rather stay with me. My cabin is much nicer than yours.”

Her head snapped around and she looked at him. “As if. The cabin I had before is just fine.”

He smiled. At least she was back in the moment. “Why did you let a stranger into your house?” The detail had been eclipsed by her other revelations, but her carelessness still bothered him. His mate was entirely too trusting—except with him.

“I thought she was a reporter and I was going to harass her for being so inconsiderate.” Color stained her cheeks and she looked everywhere but at him.

Pleased that she comprehended her mistake, he allowed the subject to drop.

“Abaddon’s message claimed that he has one third of the U.S. military under his control.” He stopped walking and turned her to face him. “Is that possible?” The combined force of every human military was no match for the battle born, but the U.S. nuclear capabilities could cost the battle born unacceptable losses before they were left with no alternative but to shut down the humans by force. “We don’t want a war with Earth.”

“Most humans don’t want that either,” she insisted, “but the Resistance Force is not most humans. And I haven’t been able to confirm or disprove the claim. If that many of our people are ready to turn traitor, they’ve given no overt indications.”

“Then it could be a bluff?”

“It likely is a bluff, but we’re not taking any chances.”

He nodded with a sigh and they continued on down the corridor.

It was late morning, so the midday rush had yet to begin. Torrin sat alone at one of the tables, but he stood as soon as he saw Jenna. The mercenary was dressed in faded jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. The shirt was tight, accenting his sleekly muscled build. Black hair was drawn away from his face, making his angular features appear lethal. His eyes were an unusual combination of gray and green, with golden phitons so faint they were barely noticeable. Drex didn’t know much about him, other than Sedrik trusted him, and Torrin had proved his loyalty on several vital missions in the past few weeks.

Drex looked at Jenna and tensed.

All the color had left her face and her bottom lip trembled. “Th-that’s Torrin?”

“He’s not as ferocious as he looks.” Actually, Drex had heard that he was, but Torrin wouldn’t harm a female. The battle born refused to deal with anyone who would. “He’s dangerous. I won’t pretend otherwise, but he’s no danger to you.”

“I’d rather have Indigo do this.” She turned toward him with wide, pleading eyes, and Drex felt his heart melt.

Apparently guessing the reason for the delay, Torrin walked toward them. His rolling gait and narrowed eyes were so inherently predatory that Drex was glad Jenna’s back was turned.

“I’ve just devoured three little pigs, silly girl. I have no reason to bite you.”

Drex didn’t understand the strange comment, but it made Jenna smile. She took a deep breath and turned around. “Sorry. I’m still a little leery of strangers.”

“Terrorist attacks will do that to you.” His intense gaze remained on her face and he made no move to touch her. “My name is Torrin Havier and I’ll only do the transfer if you want me to. No one else has a say in this.”

Understanding the warning, Drex held his tongue and allowed Jenna to make up her mind.

It didn’t take her long. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Being able to manipulate the images with a computer will be a tremendous help. I’d like you to do the transfer, but can I ask a rude question first?”

“Ask anything you like.”

Torrin was being remarkably considerate. Maybe his reputation was exaggerated. As if hearing the thought, Torrin suddenly looked at Drex and flashed a menacing smile. Okay, maybe not.

“I’ve known many people with extraordinary abilities,” Jenna told him, “but I’ve never even heard of anyone who can interact with machines.”

“That’s not a question.” His smile softened, becoming almost playful as he looked at Jenna.

Drex slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his side. The bastard was flirting with her.

“How do you do it?” she asked bluntly.

“Trade secret. If I told you, I’d have to kill you, and you’re much too sweet to die.”

She just stared at him, gaze narrowed and uncertain. “I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”

His playfulness evaporated and he looked as stern and serious as Sedrik. “Suffice it to say I have technological enhancements as well as biological abilities. Does that assuage your curiosity?”

“Let’s get this over with.” She licked her lips and her body tensed again. “Should I sit down?”

“Only if you’re too tired to stand. Do I have your permission to begin?”

“Yes.”

He brushed his fingertips against her temple and then smiled. “All done.”

Her eyes rounded again. “Seriously?”

With a chuckle, he walked back to the table where he’d been sitting. “Actually, I still need to transfer the information, but I’m finished with you.” He picked up a datapad, then returned to where they stood. “There you go. The file name is Jenna.” He handed the datapad to Drex and started to leave. He’d made it to the archway leading to the corridor when he stopped and turned back around. “This place fills up fast in about fifteen minutes. You should find a private place to explore the images. Your mate is much more appetizing than the food.”

Jenna twisted out of Drex’s light hold. “How did he know we’re compatible?”

They hadn’t spoken about their kiss gone wild since it happened. He hadn’t been avoiding the issue, they just hadn’t been alone. “When I kissed you the other night, my scent transferred to you.”

“You marked me?” She was clearly not pleased with the idea.

Nothing he said would change the truth, so he didn’t try to twist it. “I didn’t set out to mark you, but yes. For five more days you’ll wear my mark.”

She looked as if she’d object, then shook her head and motioned toward the datapad. “I’ve seen people with those, but I’ve never used one. What all can it do.”

Not willing to subject her to a rush of curious officers, he reached down and took her hand. “I’ll give you a full demonstration as soon as we get you out of here. Your cabin or mine?” He punctuated the question with a grin.

* * * * *

Naked and fully relaxed for the first time in weeks, Arton the Heretic closed his eyes and soaked up the sun with every pore of his exposed skin. The cool mountain breeze contrasted sharply with the sun’s warmth, creating the perfect environment for meditation. He sat in the grass at the edge of a small lake a short distance from the open meadow where the Outcasts landed their ships, or more often, their shuttles. He’d returned to Telluride, Colorado, with Kage Razel because Arton was desperate for a few hours of fresh air and a setting not generated by a computer. Kage, leader of the Outcasts, had a series of meetings with various faction leaders within his mercenary army. Kage always kept himself busy, but the past few weeks had been downright manic. They were preparing for a mass exodus to the uninhabited planet they intended to settle and such a monumental move required in-depth planning.

Arton had an important role to play in the relocation and his planning was just about finished. All of the pieces to his complex puzzle had been located and very soon he would set them in motion. Once he did, there would be no turning back.

“There you are!”

Kage’s deep voice snapped Arton out of his light trance and he reluctantly opened his eyes.

“I’ve been searching all over for you.”

Arton rolled his shoulders then stood and casually reached for his pants. He frequently meditated naked, so the overlord didn’t react to finding him unclothed. “Why were you looking for me? I thought your meetings would run late into the evening.” Arton wasn’t ready to return to the confinement of the Relentless. Kage’s ship might be the fastest, most technologically advanced in the outlaw fleet, but it was still a spaceship.

“I need you to run an errand in the meantime.” Most of Kage’s head was shaved, but a wide strip of long hair ran from the center of his forehead to his nape. The breeze caught in the long dark strands, making the dramatic style comical. Though highly intelligent and accomplished, Kage used his barbaric appearance to convey menace. Arton knew him too well to be intimidated by the show.

“What sort of errand?”

“I keep hearing about a man named Torrin Havier,” Kage told him. “There are all sorts of rumors about him and I want to know more.”

Knowing they would need every able-bodied Outcast in the coming years, Kage had been recruiting heavily and perhaps a bit too quickly. “What have you heard about him?” Arton preferred to vet prospects fully before inviting them to join. And proper assessment took time.

“I’d rather not say. I want you to make your determination without being influenced by anything I’ve heard.”

“Fair enough. Where can I find him?”

Kage rubbed his stubbly chin as he gazed out over the lake. “On second thought, he’ll respond more openly if this doesn’t come from leadership.” Kage looked at him, dark eyes intense and reflective. “Everyone likes Rex Dravon. Go see if my favorite pirate will play nicely for a change.”

Rex considered himself a smuggler, not a pirate, and he definitely had a mind of his own. Still, when specifically asked to do something for the brotherhood, he generally agreed. “Is the Marauder here or at Outpost L.A.” Though built by Rodytes, the outpost was operated by civilians. The sprawling series of connected bio domes was submerged in the Pacific Ocean, so it had been protected from the tragedy that obliterated a good portion of the city. Outpost L.A. was one of the few places on Earth not controlled by the battle born, which meant it was one of the few places left in this star system where the Outcasts were still welcome.

“Rex should still be at Outpost L.A., which is why I thought of him. Torrin was spotted there this morning. If Rex doesn’t answer on general coms, take my shuttle and go talk to him in person. Unfortunately, you should make it there and back before my meetings finish. If not,” he shrugged, “I’ll find one of the local females to entertain me.”

* * * * *

Drex hadn’t been exaggerating. His cabin was much nicer than hers. Jenna looked around, trying not to let her envy show. The main room was half again as big as her entire cabin, yet he had a separate bedroom besides. “What did you do to deserve a cabin this nice?”

He smiled, unruffled by her grumbling tone. “I’m a visiting dignitary, not an uninvited guest.”

He had a point. Neither of her visits to the Triumphant had been instigated by the battle born. The first had been necessary to save her life, and today she had basically crashed their exit party. “Maybe I’ll sleep on your couch. It looks more comfortable than my bed.”

His smile turned wicked and he quickly closed the distance between them. “You’re welcome to join me in bed. It’s much more comfortable than the couch.”

“Somehow I don’t think I’d get a lot of sleep if I foolishly agreed to that.” She sidestepped him and moved to the small round table near the refreshment station, complete with nutri-gen and recycler. “So show me what that thing can do.” She motioned toward the device Torrin had given him.

“It’s called a datapad and it can do most anything the ship’s computer can do. It’s simply an access point to the central network.”

She pulled out a chair and sat. “Then let’s see what Torrin managed to recover.”

Drex sat beside her and set the datapad on the tabletop. His warm gaze searched hers for a moment and it looked as if he’d say something. Then he sighed and activated the datapad. To her astonishment, a holographic display arose from the flat screen, presenting Thea’s memories in full color and three dimensions.

She already knew Thea had lost her family in L.A. Still, her utter devastation was extremely hard to watch. Drex let the images run without commenting or stopping to make adjustments. Obviously, he was also uncomfortable watching a stranger’s suffering. The next set of images featured a silver-haired man. Was he a relative or friend?

“Can you pause it?” she asked, when a clear image of the man was on screen.

Drex said a Rodyte phrase and the image froze.

“Handy.” She smiled at him. “Can you identify the man? He’s obviously important, but he appears after the devastation.”

He spoke several words in Rodyte and an illuminated graph mapped the man’s face. A few seconds later, a faintly female-sounding voice said, “Elintarit, Jacob Romero, fondit lotar Riverside, California.”

She didn’t need to understand Rodyte to know that was his name and city of residence. “Does he have a criminal record?”

Drex asked the computer then shook his head after a much longer response. “Not so much as a parking ticket. His home wasn’t affected by the impact, but it’s probable that he knew people who were. Riverside is about sixty miles from the crash site.”

“Thanks. We can move on.”

Most of the images were from Thea’s perspective, but a few featured her in the action rather than showing the scene from her point of view. The current image showed her moving a small box of miscellaneous items into a walk-in tent. “Why is she seeing herself in this image?”

“I’m not sure. It could be a dream rather than a memory.”

The anomaly was distracting. Jenna summoned one of her own memories and tried to see if it was from her point of view or if she saw herself in the memory.

Drex paused the playback. “Where’d you go? You’re not even looking at the display.”

“Sorry. Are your memories first person or do you see yourself in them?”

He thought for a minute then shrugged. “Depends on the memory. The more impactful the incident, the deeper I sink into the image.”

She was a character in some of her memories, while others were from her point of view, but there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to why. “I don’t think it matters. It just caught my attention. We can move on.”

Thea sat around a campfire eating dinner with a group of others, and then the images shifted. She sat at a round table with five other people. They all faced a large video display, but the scene kept fading in and out of focus. It seemed distorted or obscured. Jenna knew from past experience that the memories people fought against were often the most important.

“Abaddon, do you want…”

She couldn’t tell who spoke or make out the rest of the question, but one thing was clear. The person on the display was Abaddon. “Can you back it up to the beginning of this image? Maybe slow it down.”

“Sure.” He used verbal commands to slow down the image then restarted it from the beginning.

Jenna sank into the image, pouring energy into her psychic sensitivity. She heard voices, but couldn’t decipher specific words. Through the image threaded a sense of fear, almost like suspicion only less specific.

“She doesn’t trust him,” Jenna concluded.

“Who?”

“Thea doesn’t trust Abaddon.”

“They were speaking with Abaddon?” Why did Drex seem surprised? “Are you certain?”

That was odd. She’d heard the phrase clearly. Apparently, her Sensitivity was augmenting the digital images. “One of them referred to him by name. Didn’t you hear that?”

He shook his head. “Both the image and sound are distorted.”

“Damn it.” With a soft groan, she pushed back from the table and stood so she could stretch out her back. “This is the sort of thing my visions are good for. I’ll often see things more clearly once my power takes over completely.”

“Do you need to meditate?”

She shook her head, dreading where this was heading. “I can’t bring them on intentionally.”

“Then why are you blushing?”

Averting her gaze from his handsome face, she focused on the importance of their search. If they could identify Abaddon, they would be one giant step closer to stopping any more attacks. “One of my Tandori instructors had some unusual, even scandalous, techniques, but they were very effective.”

Drex stood as well. He pushed in his chair, but didn’t approach her. “Do tell. Scandalous always catches my attention.”

“He believed that strong emotions could be used to transcend the physical and access the metaphysical. Some of his students required pain, others fear or anger. What worked best with me was…” She couldn’t bring herself to admit what she’d done all those years ago. It had been forbidden.

He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her hips. “Which emotion worked best with you? I bet I can guess.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against one corner of her mouth. “How intense do the emotions need to be?” He whispered the words against her lips, his warm breath as sensual as his tone.

“How intense can you make them?” He hadn’t mentioned her inappropriate behavior, so she gladly let the subject drop.

“Let’s find out.” He swept her into his arms, his mouth taking control as his lips slanted over hers.

She wrapped her arms around his back, touching him boldly as she’d longed to do ever since she walked into the conference room. His back was broad and tightly muscled, but she was frustrated by the material separating her fingers from his skin. She tugged on the offending shirt, desperately wanting it gone. He flipped open the first few buttons with one hand, then drew the shirt off over his head. Their mouths separated only long enough for him to toss the shirt aside.

They kissed and kissed, his hands moving over her back, hips and behind. She lost herself in his taste and the feel of his muscular body, but all she could think about was how badly she wanted him. Breathless, and restless as hell, she tore her mouth away. “I don’t think this will work with us.”

“Why? We’ve barely begun.”

She looked into his eyes and admitted, “I want you so badly. I can’t think of anything else.”

He kissed her again, a slow, evocative kiss. “So let me put out that fire, then we’ll try again.”

With a frustrated cry, she tried to pull away, but he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into his arms. Instead of kissing her, he tucked her head under his chin and just held her, inhaling her scent. “I’ll behave. Tell me what you need.”

What she needed was so damn selfish she couldn’t speak the words. If she had no intention of having sex with him, this wasn’t fair. Besides, the only way she would know it worked was if she’d done it before. She really didn’t want him to realize that embarrassing fact.

“Do you want me to touch you while you concentrate on the vision?”

She nodded, but kept her face pressed against his chest.

“Do I need to do more than touch you?” She nodded again and he laughed, then brought her face up until she looked at him. “Sweetheart, I’ve dreamed about tasting you for weeks. This is no sacrifice.”

A shiver passed along her spine and heat suffused her face. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I’ll return the favor if you want me to.”

“Let’s see if we can trigger a vision before we worry about anything else.” He took her by the hand and led her into his bedroom.

Her heart beat faster with each step she took. Could she honestly keep herself from wanting more if Drex went down on her? She’d dreamed about him too, every night since the tribunal had been filled with his image. She’d imagined all the things they’d do together.

He turned her around and reached for the zipper on her dress. She kicked off her shoes and quickly pulled the pins from her hair. He started to lower the zipper, then stopped. “Is this how—never mind. It’s none of my business.”

She tensed, but didn’t speak. Clearly, he’d connected the dots. She finger combed her hair, dreading what he’d do next. Would he reject her? Berate her for allowing such improper conduct?

“Were you willing or did he use his authority to coerce you?”

“I was willing,” she stressed. “His ideas were controversial, but he never hurt me in any way.”

“All right.” He finished unzipping her dress then turned her back around. “I’ve had lovers too, so I have no reason to judge you, but thinking of you with anyone else makes me crazy.”

She smiled. “I’m bothered by the idea of you with anyone else too.”

One of his brows arched and he pushed his fingers into her loosened hair, the heel of his hand resting against her cheek. “Why would it bother you if you have no interest in bonding with me?”

“I have no interest in bonding with anyone, but you are the most desirable man I’ve ever met.”

He raised his other hand to her face as well. “I can work with that.” His lips sealed over hers again, his tongue gently stroking.

She raised her hands to his chest and groaned at the heat of his skin and the hardness of the muscles beneath. His entire body felt like velvet-covered steel, and she was anxious to explore.

He eased the dress off her shoulders and she lowered her arms, allowing the garment to slide down her body. Their mouths continued to mesh while he rid her of her bra and panties, but he made no move to remove his pants.

She touched his waistband, slipping her fingers just inside the stiff material. “Aren’t you going to undress?”

He shook his head. “If I get naked, this will end with me inside you.”

She quickly moved her hand to the middle of his chest, but her resistance was starting to feel dishonest. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her, so why was she still fighting their attraction?

Taking her with him, he moved to the bed and pulled down the covers. “In you go.” When she didn’t move fast enough, he picked her up and placed her in the middle of the bed. “Now raise your arms over your head. You’re not allowed to touch me.”

“But I want to touch you.”

“Not right now. You have a job to do.” He put one knee on the edge of the bed and leaned over her, guiding her arms into place above her head. “Close your eyes and concentrate on the image. I’m just the fuel to get you there.”

She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate, but he didn’t join her immediately. Cool air played over her bare skin, making her nipples tingle. What was he doing? She heard a distinct thunk and had her answer. He’d stopped to pull off his boots.

The bed dipped as he joined her, and then his warm hand glided from her neck to navel. He skimmed over her breasts, not allowing the exploration for which she desperately longed. He eased her legs apart then moved between her thighs, his body arching over rather than resting on top of hers.

His lips settled over hers again and she opened for him, needing the warm intimacy of his tongue sliding against hers. It was a pale foreshadowing of the penetration they both craved, but it would have to do for now. They lost themselves in the intoxicating mixture of their breaths and tastes. His mouth grew aggressive, then gradually backed off, soothing and teasing her.

But kissing was interactive. It distracted her from her objective. She reluctantly turned her face aside, panting harshly. Without hesitation, he kissed his way down her neck, lingering over her collarbones before finally paying attention to her breasts. He caressed one side, while he kissed the other. His lips sucked and his teeth gently nipped. She let the sensations wash over her without thinking about what he was doing or where the pleasure led.

His lips focused on her nipples, while his hand explored lower. She licked her lips, absorbing each sensation with greedy relish. This was an exercise, a highly pleasurable technique with a specific purpose. She sank deeper into her own mind, pouring energy into her Sensitivity. She wasn’t actually touching Drex, but he was touching her. The connection flooded her mind with unexpected images. She saw him as a child, felt his need for acceptance and his aching loneliness. Each time his father paid attention to him, young Drex came alive, his heart filling with hope and longing for more of the same. It broke her heart to feel how acutely he had experienced each emotion. Was that part of being an empath? Did they feel emotions differently than those without empathic abilities?

As if to answer the question, Drex’s image aged, he was an adolescent now and hope had been replaced with resentment, yet the loneliness remained.

He tore his mouth away from her breast and growled, “Stop it. You’re supposed to be searching Thea’s memories not mine.”

She opened her eyes with a gasp, not realizing he was seeing the images too. “I’m not doing it intentionally. I’m not sure I can unless you stop touching me.”

He stared down at her for a long, tense moment, but she couldn’t read the emotions in his eyes. “I guess I’m not trying hard enough.” He caught the backs of her knees and spread her legs, boldly looking at her sex.

She tried not to move, but her hands closed into fists. His head lowered between her thighs and she quickly closed her eyes. She needed to be overwhelmed, to experience sensations powerful enough to propel her beyond conscious thought. He was clearly annoyed, but his touch remained gentle, careful, evocative.

He pushed his tongue between her folds and effortlessly located her clit. She jerked as pleasure pulsed up through her. But the images resumed as well. His lips moved over and against her as his tongue skillfully circled the sensitive bundle of nerves. Her core tightened and her nipples tingled, but she was captivated by the images. Long hours of training and endless medical procedures. His transformation had taken years not weeks as she’d presumed. And each change made him hate his father more. The only person who had ever showed him love was now the enemy.

The images shifted again. He’d become a young adult, hardened, wary and reserved. He hid behind professionalism and focused entirely on his career. There was nothing in the world but ridicule and pain, so he kept himself apart, protected.

She wanted to pull him up and kiss him, show him that he wasn’t alone. But he pushed two fingers into her core and she moaned. The teasing fullness only made her want a true joining. She tried to absorb the pleasure without thinking about the specifics, but it was hard to ignore the mechanics. Then she felt his energy slip into her mind. He anchored some sort of link as his fingers began to move between her thighs.

You’re still thinking. Let me see if I can help.

His emotions flooded her mind, consuming hunger and the soul-deep longing for a mate. No, not just a mate, he wanted her, yearned for her with every cell in his body. She moaned again then shuddered. She felt his tenderness as he adored her with his mouth and the thrill of having any part of his body inside her. His emotions were so strong they triggered responses his touch alone had failed to unleash.

She rolled her hips, taking his fingers deeper, but that seemed to frustrate him. He draped her legs over his shoulders and held her hips firmly, keeping her from moving as he focused on the pleasure center of her body. He controlled her pleasure, freeing her to soar.

An orgasm built deep inside her, rolling toward her like a powerful tide. She arched and cried out as it crested, but he pushed her even higher. Reality shattered, flinging her beyond her body, beyond rational thought.

The vision unfurled within the pleasure, taking over by degrees. She was no longer Jenna. She relived Thea’s memory as if it were happening live.

Thea looked around at the adoring faces surrounding her. What was wrong with these people? They sat here like zombies, worshiping a person they couldn’t even see. Why didn’t anyone object to any element of the plan or at least ask questions? They accepted Abaddon’s word as law and didn’t seem to have an individual thought in their heads. Were they drugged? It didn’t make sense.

“Abaddon.” Big Jim sat closest to the display, as always. With dark hair, a thick mustache and piercing dark eyes, he unnerved Thea almost as much as their leader. Big Jim owned this house and the land surrounding it, which afforded him indulgences not offered to anyone else. One was questioning the supreme leader. Within reason, of course. “Do you want all five of us on this raid or just a few?”

“Two should be enough. I’ll leave that detail to you.”

Thea stared at the display, searching for any hint of Abaddon’s appearance. There was nothing. He was a silhouette, a featureless shadow. He could be anyone, anywhere. “He” might even be a woman. His voice was modulated and there was no way of knowing how drastically it was changed.

“Contact me when it is finished.” As usual, he ended the transmission as soon as he was finished speaking, never waiting for questions or reactions to whatever he’d said.

“I’ll go,” Big Jim volunteered. “Who wants to come with me?”

The memory faded and Jenna separated from the image.

Wait! Look at the table. See the device sticking out of Big Jim’s laptop.

Jenna tried to recapture the image, but it continued to fade. She brought the device into focus for half a second, and then it was gone. The vison released, returning Jenna to reality. She sprawled naked on Drex’s bed. He now lay beside her. Quickly arranging her body in a less brazen position, she rolled to her side and looked at him. His features were blank, eyes shut, body still as death.

Fear stabbed through her and she carefully shook his shoulder. “Drex? Drex, wake up.”

No response.

Forcing herself not to panic, she shook him again, harder this time. “Drex. This isn’t funny. Open your eyes.”

He didn’t move.

She leapt off the bed and frantically pulled on her dress. “Computer, I have a medical emergency.” But the computer didn’t respond either. It must not recognize English commands.

She ran to the main door and stood in the doorway, not allowing the panel to close. “Hello! Can somebody help me!”

A soldier paused in an adjacent hallway and looked at her curiously. “Did you just call for help?”

“Yes.” She motioned him toward her. “Drex is unresponsive. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

He jogged toward her, calling out in Rodyte as he went. Hopefully, he was summoning help. She took him into the bedroom and showed him Drex. He shot her one salacious glance, then retreated behind an expressionless mask. “A medical team is on their way.”

It didn’t take long for the medical team to arrive. They shooed her out of the bedroom, insisting that she let them work. She stood in the doorway, helplessly watching as the worked on Drex.

“What happened?”

She whipped her head around and found Sedrik behind her. “I don’t know. We were going through the images and…” Did they need to know the details, or would her embarrassment compound the danger for Drex. “He helped me summon a vision and when I came out of it, he was like this.”

The medics loaded Drex onto a hover cart and maneuvered him out of the cabin.

“Where are they taking him?” Guilt and fear were tearing apart her composure. It hadn’t been intentional, but she’d done this to him.

“Clinic seven is closest.” She started for the door, but he blocked her path. “They won’t let you near him until he’s stabilized and they have some idea of what’s wrong. I’ll have someone contact you when that has been accomplished.”

She nodded, not liking the directive, but understanding the approach. A frantic loved one would just be in the way. “Loved one?” Was she in love with Drex? She cared about him, was intensely attracted to him, but love? He was a Rodyte! She could not love a Rodyte. She would not make the same mistakes as her mother.

Pushing the disquieting possibility to the back of her mind, she went to the bedroom and gathered her clothing. She needed to be publicly presentable when the doctor called.

* * * * *

Calming herself with a deep breath, Thea Cline reached for the driver’s side door release. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest and her mouth was so dry she wasn’t sure she could speak. She’d passed a restless night trying to anticipate every obstacle and her response to it. Unfortunately, her options were so limited all the exercise had done was highlight the impossibility of her task. Recruit Jenna Fermont by recruiting her mother. Yeah, right. Abaddon made it sound so simple, just another stroll in the park.

She forced away the pessimism and plastered on her best friendly neighbor smile. Two burly guards watched her as she approached the wide, stone stairs, but neither spoke nor blocked her path. Hurdle one cleared. Her legs felt rubbery as she started up the stairs, but she only made it halfway. The head goon—she thought his name was Forest or Foster—stepped in front of her, arms crossed over his massive chest.

“I give you points for persistence, but apparently you’re not too smart,” he spoke in a deep, rumbly voice.

“I’m not here to bother Jenna. I—”

“Doctor Fermont,” he corrected. His sunglasses disguised much of his expression, but he didn’t look pleased to see her.

“I’d like to speak with Ms. Lenore Fermont. Would you please tell her I’m here?”

“Give it up, lady. Leave now or I’ll call the police.”

She scrambled for a new strategy, but it was obvious he meant business. If she got arrested, would the RF come bail her out? Doubtful.

With a frustrated sigh, she retraced her steps and climbed back in her car. One of the goons followed her, intimidating in his silence. He stood on the sidewalk, staring at her from behind dark sunglasses. Did the goon squad buy the shades wholesale and distribute them to each student upon graduation from goon school?

She started her car and waved with a cheesy smile as she drove away. “See you in a few hours,” she muttered under her breath. If the head goon took a break, maybe she could sneak past the others. Again, doubtful, but she had to try. Abaddon said there would be consequences if she failed and he never made idle threats.

She was much too agitated for sightseeing, so she drove back to her hotel. The longer she stayed, the shabbier the room seemed to become. Still, housekeeping had been through so the floor was vacuumed and the bed made. She dug out her laptop, but couldn’t make herself check in. Abaddon insisted on an update at least once a day. There were many hours left in this day and she didn’t have anything useful to report, so she decided to wait.

Instead, she called her grandmother. One of Helen’s silly jokes was exactly what she needed right now. The line connected, but the answering machine clicked on after several rings. Was she in the bathroom? Nature called to everyone from time to time. She glanced at the time on her phone and a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. It was too late for breakfast yet too early for lunch. Had Helen felt good enough to play bingo?

“You’re being paranoid.” Helen’s rambling message ended, so Thea said, “It’s me again, Gran. Glad you’re out and about. I’ll try again later this afternoon.” She tucked the phone back inside her pocket, but the trepidation wouldn’t release.

She’d been careful not to mention her grandmother to anyone at the RF camp. It had been an instinctual precaution, but it seemed insufficient now. Using loved ones as motivation was a common tactic among unscrupulous people.

But the RF leaders were the good guys. Weren’t they?