All Our Tomorrows

By

Eden Robins

(c) copyright August 2003 by Eden Robins Cover art by Eliza Black, (c) copyright August 2003 New Concepts Publishing 5202 Humphreys Rd. Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

To my father, Edgar, who helped me realize that ugly ducklings can grow up to become beautiful swans. Thanks Dad.

Year 2004

The raised knife reflected the moonlight shining in through the open window, momentarily blinding Jo Sha Ta Rem. He lowered it slightly, regaining his sight. And what a sight it was. The woman lay peacefully in her bed, oblivious to the danger she was now in. Though he hadn?t much practice using

such an ancient weapon, he knew that his warrior?s skill would not fail him. He could kill her in a second, if he chose to. Yet her appearance, so innocent, so vulnerable in her sleep, stayed his hand. She lay on her back, arms raised and resting on either side of her head. Her long slightly curly hair was spread all around her, in waves of disarray upon her pillow. Though he couldn?t see much of her features in the dark, he knew from the image he had been shown that her lips were full and lush, and her nose strong. When he had first seen her picture, her eyes had touched him the most. They were bright green, lively, and filled with intelligence, and they seemed to pull at him relentlessly. He fought that attraction, knowing it would lead to no good. He was here to kill her, not woo her. She suddenly grew restless and kicked the sheets off, giving him an enticing view of her voluptuous curves. She wore nothing under the sheet. Jo Sha stood frozen as desire crashed through him in unrelenting waves. He clenched both fists, one around the knife?s handle and one around the blade, as he struggled to get control of himself. The feel of the metal cutting into his flesh helped him regain his ability to function again. He stumbled backwards from the bed. Losing all his usual stealth, he almost knocked over a lamp in his rush to climb out of the window. He heard her sharp intake of breath with his acute hearing. Had she seen him? Once outside, Jo Sha melted into the darkened desert around him. He leaned his head back and exhaled loudly. He could not do this tonight. He would have to go with his alternate plan.

?Dr. Matthews, meet your new colleague, Dr. Joshua Trem. He?ll be handling quality assurance and procedure evaluation until Dr. Morrow is back on his feet.? Dr. Helen Matthews turned, gave the man she was being introduced to a quick once over, nodded her head, then swung back around to resume her work. She had little time for social pleasantries as lead environmental researcher for the Phoenix Project. She was meticulous about following correct procedure and didn?t like being required to have one team member looking over her shoulder, checking that she follow all the rules. She had hoped after Dr. Morrow?s accident that they would have a break from observation for a while. ?Nice to meet you, Dr. Matthews,? Dr. Trem said, holding his hand out. ?Please call me Josh.? ?And you can call me Dr. Matthews,? she countered impatiently, as she held out her own hand. The feel of his warm, strong grip surrounding hers left her somewhat unsettled. She finally took a good look at her new associate. He was definitely no GQ model. He was so far from it that it momentarily took her breath away. There was nothing soft about Dr. Joshua Trem. He practically screamed the word

male. He was tall, over six feet, yet he appeared stocky instead of lanky, due to the well-developed muscles that were apparent even under his clothing. If she met this man on the street, and didn?t know he was a scientist like herself, she would have guessed that he was a bodyguard, professional soldier, or even someone?s hired muscle. It wasn?t just the way he looked. It was how he held himself. Tense, as if waiting for something to happen. And when it did, she knew he would be ready for it. Piercing steel blue eyes beneath dark slashing eyebrows, a nose that appeared to have once been broken and not properly reset, and a mouth that looked like it rarely gave a smile made up the craggy features of his face. Yet, two things about his appearance surprised her. First, he had a small cleft in his chin, which made the hard line of his jaw look less uncompromising. Second, his long, chocolate brown hair, which he wore tied back, looked so soft she had to restrain herself from reaching out and testing its silky texture. Helen continued to ogle him, until he noticed and held her stare with his own. He gazed so intently at her that she felt like he was trying to read her mind. She shifted her eyes from his while attempting to pull her hand away. When he didn?t immediately release it, she met his stare once more. His expression had turned as cold as ice. ?It?s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Matthews. I?m sure we?ll be very compatible.? He released her hand so abruptly that she almost stumbled back, but managed to right herself at the last minute. She was about to make a biting comment to him about there being no need for compatibility in their work, but he had already turned away from her. He moved on to meet the next scientist on their team. It was Druscilla Andrews, and in her usual animated way, the attractive red head practically fell all over Dr. Trem. Helen cringed when Dru let out her infamous giggle. Dru had once told Helen that she used that giggle when she was flirting, because men always told her they liked her bubbly personality and laughter. Helen thought her laugh sounded like a mix between a braying donkey and a sick bullfrog, but never shared that information with the woman. Nevertheless, it seemed to work, as she saw the previously stoic Dr. Trem laugh in a husky, intimate tone at something Dru had whispered in his ear. The sound of his laugh sent shivers down her spine, bringing the image of silk sheets and a candle lit bedroom to mind. She gritted her teeth and tried to return her concentration to her current project. If the two of them wanted to act like hormonal teenagers, that was their prerogative. She had work to do. Despite her efforts to ignore Dr. Trem, she was conscious of every move he made. He was like a caged animal prowling restlessly through the lab. And she couldn?t shake the feeling that he was just as aware of her. She felt his eyes burning holes in her back, yet every time she turned around, his interest was always elsewhere. She saw his boredom and relaxed air as he spoke with the other scientists on the team, but sensed that it was not real. She imagined a predator laying in wait. Ready to pounce when the time was right. Helen shook her head at her own foolishness. What was she thinking? So the man was interesting to look at, why was she obsessing about it? It had to be because of last night. She had the strangest dream. She was lying in her bed, and a tall, powerfully built man was leaning over her, his dark hair falling around his face, making his features unrecognizable. She had felt no fear, only a certain restlessness, which she couldn?t quite understand. He drew close to her for a moment, almost touching her. His proximity had brought a fire roaring to life inside her. It made her yearn for something just out of reach. Then he pulled away.

She wanted to move closer to him but couldn?t. Her restlessness grew until she had actually woken up, gasping with a pulsating ache that almost consumed her. A noise by her window diverted her attention. When she glanced in that direction, all she saw was the swaying curtain being blown inwards by the wind. She didn?t remember opening it. Too tired to dwell on it, she shut the window and went back to bed. When she woke up this morning, she could still remember the feel of that powerful ache. Even now something stirred to life inside her. She closed her eyes, and clenched her body tightly in an effort to stop it. Sensing someone was near, she opened her eyes and gasped. Dr. Trem was standing so close to her that she had to lift her chin to meet his gaze. She maintained the indifferent look she had managed to perfect over the years. Nothing of what she felt showed on her face. His eyes searched hers deeply and his brow furrowed in consternation. His nostrils flared, as if he was catching her scent. He began clenching and unclenching his jaw tightly. His burning eyes never left hers as he slowly lifted his hand towards her face. Helen wanted to tell him to stop but couldn?t form the words. The ache she had only so recently become aware of engulfed her. Her legs felt unsteady. She held the counter behind her for support. His hand was drawing closer, and her skin tingled in anticipation of his touch. She fell into the depths of his blue eyes, unable to stop herself. ?Josh, did you say you would meet me at my apartment tonight at six or seven o?clock?? Druscilla practically purred as she sidled close to Dr. Trem and placed a hand on his shoulder. Dru?s question was like a bucket of ice-cold water being thrown on Helen. She recoiled from Dr. Trem and pulled herself together. Her eyes narrowed with contempt and shot darts of anger his way. He seemed oblivious to it as he continued to devour her with his hot stare. She lifted her chin proudly and dared him with her eyes. She saw admiration flash briefly in his gaze and a small smile tilt one corner of his mouth up. Then he shuttered his expression to one of pleasant boredom and turned with a serene smile to Dru. ?Six o?clock, Dru. I?ll see you then,? he said with a friendly nod before walking away. Helen released the breath she had been holding. ?Isn?t he a hunk?? Dru asked with a dreamy expression. Her gaze followed his exit from the lab. ?Yes, a hunk of something I?d rather not say in polite conversation,? she responded tartly, then turned with a scowl to her colleague. ?Don?t you have work to do, Dru?? Later that night, Helen was still stewing with anger as she tried to read. One of her favorite authors had just come out with another book. It was the fifth in a series of humorous, amateur sleuth romances, and Helen was really looking forward to starting it. But she just couldn?t get into it. Her thoughts kept going over the way Dr. Trem had looked at her in the lab earlier that day. The nerve of the man--being such a blatant player was unbelievable! And she knew players well. She had enough experience with them to last a lifetime. Users and abusers, men without honor, who didn?t know what honesty was. They were men who had used her for what she knew or where she could get them with their career. She had met a few on her path to becoming what she was today. And she had learned her lesson well.

Yes, she knew just the kind of man Dr. Trem was. And if he thought she was cold when they first met, just wait until tomorrow. He would be frozen! She would maintain a professional relationship with him, but that would be it. Her goal to become team leader of the Phoenix Project had come to fruition, and she wasn?t about to let a man like him distract her or get in her way. She couldn?t remember a time when she hadn?t struggled and competed to attain her goals. Even as a child, her environment led itself to such things. In a house full of siblings who were faster, taller, skinnier, prettier and more popular than her, competition became second nature to her. She was the proverbial ugly duckling of her family. Short on looks, long on brains, and full on hips, her two sisters always used to tease. Whereas they were cheerleaders and prom queens, always dating the best looking, popular, star of the football team types, she was the brainy, plump wallflower, with glasses and a book constantly stuck under her nose. Her three brothers were jocks, alternately playing track, football, or baseball, and she found out early on that sports just weren?t her strength either. Her coordination, or lack thereof became a problem she just couldn?t overcome. Once she realized that she could never compete with her sisters in popularity, or her brothers in sports, she strove instead to be better in school than all her siblings. Her competition didn?t stop there though--she also joined the debate team and science club. She thought if she excelled in these areas, her siblings would accept and respect her, but that never happened. Instead, her sisters called her a brainy dweeb and her brothers told her that her drive for success only made her seem cold to the boys they knew. Despite this, she held out, hoping to make her parents proud. Unfortunately, her parents? background left them little room for understanding her ?uniqueness?, as they used to call it. Her father was an ex-fraternity president--turned real estate developer, and her mother was a former prom queen--turned-socialite housewife. Helen loved them both, and she hoped they loved her in their own way, but they never seemed to express it physically or verbally, or tried to understand her. More often than not, they would look at her like she was an alien whose language they didn?t comprehend. They kept all her science, debate, and academic awards up on the mantel with her brothers and sisters, but they never seemed to convey the same amount of pride in her for those efforts as they did for her siblings. They would pat her head and make comments like, ?That?s nice, dear. We?ll put it on the mantel with the others.? Then they would always have to add the same questions, ?But aren?t you going to try out for cheer this year?? or ?do you have a date for the prom yet?? It was as if her accomplishments weren?t good enough. She never made many friends, because her single-minded pursuit of success, and her competitive attitude left people thinking she was cold-hearted and mean, and her intelligence often intimidated her peers. She had acquaintances on the debate team and science club, who she would go out with on the weekends, but no one she could really call her best friend. At times, growing up, she had been lonely and missed having a special friend to confide in but then eventually accepted the fact that she just wasn?t a social person. She kept trying to be the best she could be in school, hoping that her parents would just once say that magical phrase, ?We love you and we?re so proud of you, Helen?. After graduating top of her class in college, then graduate school, and having her parents still look at her like she was a curiosity to them, she finally realized she may never hear those words. She still was competitive and strove to be the best at what she did, but now she did it for herself. She wanted to eventually become lead scientist of all of the Phoenix Project environmental research teams, and she wasn?t going to let a man like Dr. Joshua Trem sidetrack her, no matter how much he appealed to her. Where had that thought come from? Dr. Trem appeal to her? Well, maybe he did in some sort of basic,

physical way, but she would get over it. She didn?t need a big, muscle-bound, blue-eyed Casanova to make her life complete. She would do just fine without him. Feeling much better after giving herself a pep talk, Helen tried to continue reading, but the words in front of her kept blurring, and the image of a fierce, rugged warrior with long, silky, brown hair and a bare chest kept popping up in her mind. Helen groaned in frustration, and put the book down on the coffee table in front of her. She had just resigned herself to going to bed early, and had changed into one of her comfortable tank tops, when there was a knock on her front door. She looked at the clock and saw that it was nine o?clock. Who could that be at this hour? Most of the people she knew were either reading or watching TV at home, or headed for bed. ?Who is it?? she asked, as she approached the door. ?It?s Jo Sh-uh--Dr. Trem. May I come in and speak to you for a moment?? Helen jumped at the sound of his voice. What was he doing here? It was as if all her thoughts had somehow conjured him. She wished she had peeked out the window to see who it was first, so she could have pretended she wasn?t home. But that was the coward?s way out, and she was no coward. She would just use this opportunity to set things straight with Josh, so there would be no misunderstandings in the future. She raised her chin high, and forgetting what she was wearing, opened the door. That was her first mistake. The second one was looking into his eyes. She clutched the doorknob tightly for support as her legs turned into useless noodles.

Josh felt the hunger course through him fast and hard. The impact left him struggling to keep from grabbing Helen and pulling her roughly into his arms. His eyes drank in the sight of her as she stood frozen, eyes dilated like an animal caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Her hair was loose, falling in delicate disarray around her face and shoulders, making her eyes look large and luminous, and her chin soft and vulnerable. Some strands of golden blond hair lay softly curled at the base of her throat, covering the pulse he saw fluttering rapidly beneath it. His gazed lowered to her breasts. He swallowed convulsively at the sight of her straining nipples, so clearly outlined beneath the tight, sleeveless top she wore. He reached out shakily with one hand to touch her. He heard her gasp, and he froze. His eyes rose sharply to meet hers. Her gaze reflected the desire that was pounding at him, but she was slowly shaking her head back and forth in denial. ?No,? she said in the barest of whispers. Josh immediately dropped his hand to his side, then with a last burning look, brushed past her into her apartment. He kept his eyes averted, pretending interest in her furnishings. She slipped by him into another room. ?I-uh-I?ll be right out. Let me just change,? she stammered loudly before slamming her bedroom door. When she came out a few minutes later he couldn?t hide his amused smile. She looked like she was dressed for battle. Her hair was tied back tightly against her head. She had on a bulky sweater and loose pants. Despite the fact that he could barely make out her shape beneath her clothes, the image of her sweet curves when she answered the door was branded on his brain. ?I don?t find this the least bit amusing. What are you doing here so late? I would have thought you?d still

be visiting with Dru,? she said with a frown, folding her arms over her chest defensively. Her stress on the word ?visiting? was not lost on Josh, yet he chose to ignore it. He had a plan, and he needed to follow through with it. He could not afford to let his attraction to Helen get in the way. ?I?m not here to socialize. I have a question for you, and I expect an honest answer,? he said coldly, all emotion gone from his face. The minute he spoke, he knew Helen would bristle like the native yaquesh that lived in the forests of his planet. Like the porcupine of earth, the animal?s needles would stand on end when it was threatened. However, unlike the porcupine, one sting from a yaquesh?s needle could kill a full-grown man, and its intelligence kept its multicolored beatuy elusive. He knew he wasn?t going to be disappointed when Helen stiffened after hearing his words, then drew herself up ramrod straight. She lifted her chin imperiously at him. ?How dare you imply that I?d be dishonest? I?ve worked on this project for the last year, and my record is impeccable. I resent the implication against my integrity. If anyone should be questioned, I?d insist that it be you. You?ve just joined our team, and we know absolutely nothing about you,? she stated proudly. ?Dr. Matthews, I expect an answer. Why have this team?s experiments over the last year been tampered with, and therefore, made invalid?? he asked, holding her gaze with his own uncompromising one, despite the fact that hers had narrowed with anger. ?What are you talking about? Where did you get this information? Our experiments are completely clean. No one has tampered with them,? she stated firmly. ?During my visit with Druscilla, we went over my predecessor?s notes, observations, and results from the last year. There are several discrepancies and departures from correct procedure, which require looking into,? Josh explained. He could tell by Helen?s surprised expression, that she was genuinely unaware of what he spoke about. He would take full advantage of this. It would be a way for him to get to know her better and learn her habits. This would help him when the time came for him to fulfill his obligation to his family. ?I don?t know what you found during your little tete ?a tete with Druscilla, but you must be mistaken,? she said coldly. ?I don?t make mistakes about something like this, Dr. Matthews. Please meet me tomorrow morning at six o?clock in the lab. I?d like to discuss this further with you then,? he demanded just as coldly. ?Six o?clock? I can?t do that. I have results that I need to record first thing in the morn--? ?It can wait. I?ll see you at six. Don?t be late,? he interrupted, and with one last scathing perusal of her from head to toe, he left without another word. As he walked away, he heard the door to Helen?s apartment slam so loudly the walls seemed to shake. He smiled and shook his head. That woman was going to be a handful, that?s for sure. She was not only very intelligent; she was also full of spirit and courage. Traits a warrior could be proud of in himself or his mate. Mate? Where had that thought come from? His smile turned into a scowl, just as he felt a vibration

at his hip. Although it appeared to be a regular pager, the small square shaped box attached to the waistband of his pants was in fact his communications link to his computer. He spoke aloud, knowing Brunhilda could pick up his voice almost anywhere. ?What is it, Brunhilda?? ?I just wanted to let you know that I finished all the adjustments to the computer files here. Everything is set up for you,? a woman?s voice answered from the communicator, yet it was in the well-modulated, unemotional tone of a machine. ?Thank you. Is there anything else?? ?No, Jo Sha Ta Rem. That is all,? the computer stated, closing the link between them. The computer?s communication reminded Josh that he was not here to ?handle? Helen. He was here to assassinate her. That grated against all he upheld in the name of honor, but his duty was apparent. Kill this woman, or his sister would die. His sister?s abductors, Tanvierans For the Environment, or TFE as they were often called, had made it abundantly clear on the day they kidnapped Sa Ra, that if he didn?t succeed in this mission back in time, her life would be forfeit. The fact that the TFE were environmental terrorists who had killed before left him no doubt they would murder his sister without hesitation. It made no difference to them that his father and mother ruled the entire planet of Tanviera, or that he and his sister were Tok Rok and Toka Rok, heir and heiress to the throne. To them, this was merely a means to an end, with little regard for the life or lives of the people involved. That night, Josh tossed and turned restlessly in his bed. He dreamed of his home planet, Tanviera. He was in the ballroom where his parents often entertained. The swaying music of the Rov Hum filled the air, yet the dance floor was empty except for one couple. As they turned and swayed, he discovered that he was the man dancing. He was in the throes of the movements, easily communicating to his partner that he wanted her as his mate. The woman he held in his arms was equally meeting the intensity of his seductive actions. The Rov Hum was a dance made up of a sequence of choreographed steps, each one meant to seduce and attract one?s partner. The music of the Rov Hum was created to synchronize with each action, enticing and entrancing with each note. The combination of movement, sight and sound, with a male and female already attracted to each other, performing it in perfect unison, created a sexual energy that was hard to deny. This dance had originated hundreds of years ago on Tanviera, but once the planet joined the Interplanetary Coalition and started allowing visitors, the Rov Hum became popular throughout the universe. What most visitors didn?t realize, however, was that there was more to the dance than the music and movements. It was actually a ceremony, which not only bound the man and woman together, but also symbolically initiated their togetherness in the Rov Hum, or ?true self?. At the culmination of the dance, when both the male and female were almost desperate with need for each other, people each dancer had chosen to represent them would physically separate them from one another. The man and woman would be brought separately to a large private chamber. Their hands were bound to opposite walls, allowing them to see each other across the room, but not touch, and then they were left alone. It was only after they each evolved to the state of Rov Hum, strong, feral, and dangerous, that they could break their bonds and come together in a wild and sometimes violent joining. It was both a spiritual and physical ceremony, culminating in each person attaining his or her ?true self?. Once completed, their bond was for life. The only thing that could separate the two was death.

The two dancers continued to spin around the ballroom in his dream, but still Josh could not make out the face of his partner. She would turn toward him for a moment, giving him tantalizing glimpses of full lips, sparkling eyes and golden hair, but never enough for him to recognize her. As his desire for her grew to the point of no return, she was pulled away from him. He roared his outrage, violently straining against the arms that held him back. He desperately strained to watch her progress as she was forcibly led out of the room. Just before she was pushed through the door leading her away, she looked over her shoulder, frantically searching for him. Her hair, now in wild disarray momentarily moved away from her face, and he finally saw who she was. Recognition ripped through Josh in shock wave after shock wave, waking him up to a painful state of arousal. Sweat poured down his body. He struggled to gulp in deep breaths of air. Denial rose up in him immediately as the implication of his dream fully hit him. He knew that this reverie could not be ignored. In his world, dreams were revered for their meaning and future implications. If that was the case in this instance, it changed everything. He knew of only one way to verify the truth of his dream, and he wasn?t sure if the other person involved would easily agree to it. Looking at the clock beside his bed, he saw that it was five o?clock. He would be meeting with Helen in one hour. He would dwell on the meaning of his dream later. For now he had to concentrate on his mission. Helen entered the lab at exactly six, looking stiff and unrelenting. Josh smiled wolfishly as anticipation coursed through him. He always did like a good challenge.

Helen walked into the lab, and immediately spied Josh. She stopped short and scowled at him. No man had a right to look so good, especially this early in the morning. He wasn?t handsome in the traditional movie star sort of way, yet something about him pulled at her whenever she was near him. This did not improve her mood, however. She felt grumpy and out of sorts, while he looked calm, almost serene, and quite put together. ?Good morning, Dr. Matthews. Did you sleep well?? he asked with such a pleasant smile and even tone that it grated against her nerve endings. ?Fine, thanks,? she lied, gritting her teeth. No, she definitely did not sleep well. Her night was filled with endless thoughts of a muscle bound, rough faced man, with intense blue eyes who had left her angry, and aching for something she didn?t want to admit. She tossed and turned most of the night, thinking about the way Josh had looked at her in the doorway last night. When he reached out to her, she had wanted to fling herself forward into his touch.

Only through sheer will had she managed to tell him no. And that had been barely more than a breath of air forced from her lips. Despite the fact that he had actually pulled back and not touched her last night, Helen?s dreams had been filled with just the opposite. In her reveries, she hadn?t said no, and his hand had reached its destination, covering her breast with its warmth, fondling it to the point that her knees buckled. She would have slid to the ground if Josh hadn?t grabbed her around the waist, supporting her against him, then leaned her back over his arm. Her back arched, and her breasts were thrust forward as if in offering to him. His head descended, and his mouth covered where his hand had been, suckling her through her shirt. Each pull of his lips caused a matching ache to pulse at the very core of her. She had awoken from the dream, breathless, sweat drenched and full of need. After that, trying to sleep had been useless. She just lay in her bed until morning, her thoughts going back again and again to Dr. Joshua Trem. Ever since what she called her ?college mistake?, no man had affected her to this extent. She hadn?t let anyone get close enough to. It had been her junior year in college and she actually had a boyfriend. He was good looking, funny, and seemed to think she was something special. He had been one of her first, and they had just finished making love to celebrate the fact that the science practical they had worked on together was finally finished. That was before she?d found out the truth. He?d used her to complete the project because she was ?the smartest person in the class.? And if that wasn?t bad enough, after he?d bedded her, he confessed with a cruel smile that ?I slept with you out of curiosity. All my friends said you?d be a bore in bed, but I wanted to see for myself. Alas, they were right. You?re like ice in the sack, Hel. You really should work on that.? Those were the last words he ever spoke to her. She had made a mistake in judgment, learned a lesson, and moved on with her life. She became smarter, and more determined not to make the same error again. So why was it that, despite her experience, Josh merely had to saunter into her life with eyes that seemed to offer her everything, and a body that made her want to take it, and she responded like a lusty teenager? She should be worried about her job, her position on the team, and this man?s ability to ruin her career. Instead, her gaze kept straying to the snug, faded jeans he wore, and the steel blue T-shirt which molded around his muscular chest. Her traitorous mind kept playing her dream from the night before, over and over. Coffee. She needed coffee?now. She went over to the coffeemaker and poured herself a cup. It was just brewed, she could tell by the delicious smell. Her first sip of it, black and strong, improved her mood slightly. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring those first few swallows, while struggling to get herself under control. Josh cleared his throat, and her gaze snapped back to him. ?Uh--ready to get started?? Josh asked in a voice that sounded somewhat strangled. She noticed he was staring at her throat with a look that could only be described as hungry. His eyes slowly rose to meet hers, and she felt a jolt from the electricity that zinged between them. Shaking her head to clear it, she moved farther away from him and tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. After a minute she was able to pull herself together. She adopted her iciest demeanor. ?I will definitely be ready to discuss your so-called issue with protocol, once you fulfill a request of mine,? she stated.

?Oh? And what might that be?? he asked. ?Before I share any of the daily results and procedure of Project Phoenix with you, I want a full accounting of your background, past projects and qualifications,? she demanded, meeting his gaze without flinching. Surprise, followed quickly by anger darkened Josh?s expression. ?What! You can?t be serious. Why would you want this information?? he asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. ?I?m totally serious. You?ve accused the rest of the team and I with procedural misconduct. That?s a serious charge. If you want me to cooperate fully with your investigation, then first I need to know that you?re who and what you claim to be.? She saw Josh?s jaw tighten, as he realized she had check mated him. His gaze locked with hers in challenge. She boldly returned his stare, refusing to back down. ?You know I could refuse and still go forward with this investigation without you?? he asked. ?You could, but I don?t think you?d find the people on my team any more cooperative than me, except, of course, for Dru,? she returned with a saccharine smile. Josh silently studied her for a moment. Then his face changed. The hostility and anger in his eyes was replaced by admiration and something else she didn?t let herself examine too closely. ?Fine. I?ll have the information for you at our next meeting tomorrow morning, six a.m.,? he said. ?I don?t think so. I can?t neglect my experiments two days--? she started to argue, but Josh interrupted her with a wave of his hand. ?Have someone else do it. Tomorrow at six a.m. This is the time that will be convenient for me from now on. I insist, or we have no deal,? he countered with a hard smile. ?Fine,? she said through gritted teeth. Helen had learned early on that there were times to concede and times to push the issue. Now was not the time to push it. She had won the battle. That was enough for now. ?See you in the morning, Dr. Matthews,? Josh said. He turned away from her in dismissal, as if she were no longer in his thoughts. ?Six a.m. sharp, Dr. Trem.? As Helen left him, her mind worked furiously. She needed to find out as much as possible before tomorrow. She needed answers, and she knew just who to talk to. ?Phillip, I need this data by this afternoon. Can you do it?? Helen asked the man sitting behind the desk in his small office. Dr. Phillip Moshie was what many perceived to be the stereotypical scientist. He was in his late thirties, with a small frame, short stature, and balding head. He even had small, round, thick glasses. It was like someone had drawn a comic book picture of a scientist and Phillip came to life, yet Helen held no regard

for the importance of his appearance. She was just glad to have him on her team. ?No problem. I should able to put the information together by then,? he assured her with a warm smile. ?I should have everything together by lunch time. I?ll see you then?? he asked. ?Sure,? she replied with a friendly smile. Helen spent the morning completing her observation sheets and recording her results. By lunch time, she was ready for a break. When she got back to her office, Phillip was already waiting with lunch in one hand and papers in the other. ?You?re not going to believe what I found, Helen.? Phillip was the only one of her coworkers she allowed to call her by her first name. ?But first let?s eat, I?m starving,? he said. ?Me too. What did you bring today?? she asked as her stomach growled loudly. ?My sentiments exactly,? he said with a conspirator?s smile, as he set everything out on her desk. She could tell from the bag he carried that he had gotten something delicious from the campus canteen. He took out hot roast beef on rye with spicy mustard, crunchy dill pickles, steaming hot french fries, and of course the obligatory diet soda for her, and regular soda for him. Never one to forget dessert, he had bought thick, dense, fudge brownies for both of them. Though he was very thin, he always managed to eat like a horse, relishing each bite. They devoured their food, each of them quiet as they enjoyed the feast before them. Afterwards, they cleared the desk, sprawled out on her couch, and laid their heads back. ?That was great,? she said, unbuttoning the first three buttons of her blouse so that she could breath a little easier over her full stomach. ?It sure was,? he said, loosening his tie. ?Thanks for bringing it,? she said. ?My pleasure,? he said with a sigh. Neither of them seemed capable of more than a few words, as they felt the inevitable sleepiness that came after eating a big meal steal over them. They decided to close their eyes simultaneously. That was the scene that lay before Josh moments later, as he entered Helen?s office and softly closed the door behind him. Rage like he had never felt before crashed into him as he saw Helen and Phillip stretched out on the couch. They both had contentment written all over their faces, and if Phillip?s loosened tie and her unbuttoned blouse were any indicator, he knew exactly why. His gaze took in the whole office, not missing her desk cleared of everything. That only confirmed it. The two of them were lovers, and they had just finished engaging in some pretty intense love play right here in her office. That thought sent another sharp jolt of anger through him. He looked at Phillip and his muscles tightened in preparation for battle. His hands curled into fists. He widened his stance, balancing his body, as if waiting for an attack. A red haze glazed over his eyes, and

only one thought filled his head as he glared down at the man on the couch. SHE IS MINE. Though only his mind shouted it, he emitted a growl low in his throat. Helen was the first to pick up the sound. Her eyes opened and then widened in surprise as she saw him standing over them. She stood up quickly, fumbling with her buttons. ?Dr. Trem. What are you doing here? I?m surprised to see you. I thought we weren?t supposed to meet again until tomorrow?? she babbled, trying to wake Phillip by inconspicuously nudging his leg with her foot. Josh?s gaze swung to her as she spoke, but he said nothing. She must have seen something in his eyes, because she unconsciously tried to take a step back, running into the couch. Then, as if remembering who she was, she squared her shoulders, and raised her chin proudly. ?Is there something I can do for you?? she asked. She gave Phillip one last kick, which finally got his attention. ?What? Ow! Why did you do that Hel-oh, uh, hello Josh,? Phillip scurried to his feet, tightening his tie. Josh said nothing as he turned his stony stare to him. He glared fiercely down at the other man, and somehow communicated his thoughts very clearly to him. Phillip?s eyes widened, and then he shook his head in denial. ?Helen and I just finished a big lunch from the canteen, and were recovering from our full stomachs on the couch. Sorry I didn?t save you any. If I had known you would be stopping by, I would have brought more,? he said in a rush as he gathered his things together. ?Here?s that file you wanted to see, Helen. I?ll just be leaving now,? Phillip said. He got no response however, as he was preparing to leave. He laid the file on her desk, then turned towards them. His eyes narrowed speculatively. The two of them stared intently at each other, completely unaware of his existence. He shrugged his shoulders, walked out of the office, and quietly closed the door behind him. ?I asked you what you wanted, Dr. Trem?? Helen asked in a voice that she wanted to sound firm, but was little more than a whisper. Josh couldn?t answer her immediately, because he was still struggling to get his body under control. It was difficult for him, just like all his kind, to send the beast away. He concentrated on relaxing one muscle at a time, as Phillip?s words rang true in his mind. He should have realized the two of them had not just made love here. As he took a deep calming breath, he sensed the air did not carry the scent of mating. It was food--roast beef with mustard, french fries, and Helen. His sense of smell had never failed him. He felt his shoulders loosen with relief. His ability to think and speak coherently slowly returned. ?I just wanted to bring you some of the paperwork you requested. I had the university fax it over today,? he said in a voice that was still too deep to be his normal one. Once the feral side took control of him, it was difficult to let it go. Usually his body would need some sort of physical release to do so, either through fighting in battle, or making love. Neither was an option right now, so he concentrated on calming himself through breathing. It was a technique all Tanvieran warriors learned. It helped control the rage that sometimes overtook them in the heat of battle. The problem was, with each breath he took; Helen?s scent surrounded him. He moved away from her, laying the papers he

had brought on her desk. He was able to breathe slightly easier when he wasn?t so close. ?I?ll bring the rest of the papers to our meeting tomorrow,? he said, starting to turn back towards Helen when the file Phillip left caught his eye. ?What?s this?? Josh asked. He reached down to pick it up, only to have Helen rush over and grab it before he could. ?Oh nothing much. Just some figures I had Phillip put together for me on the most recent rate of climate change,? she responded, tucking the file in the top drawer of her desk. ?Climate study has been the major component of Project Phoenix, hasn?t it?? ?Yes,? she said quickly, glad to get the subject away from the file. ?As I?m sure you?re aware, the blame for global warming can be placed firmly as a result of human actions. Even the president has finally admitted that the effects from human use of fossil fuels has led to much of the heat trapping greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Do you remember that Climate Action Report the US issued to the United Nations a few years back, discussing the effect of climate change over the next three decades?? she asked. ?Of course,? he responded automatically, even though he had not actually read the article. ?Then you?ll recall that it discussed how, over the next thirty years, the disruption of snow-fed water supplies, continuing heat waves, the disappearance all together of Rocky Mountain meadows and even coastal marshes was very possible,? she said, before continuing. ?Yet our government is still taking the stance that we can do nothing about the damage done, that we just have to prepare and plan for the worst. I agree we should plan for the worst. However, I also think we should be attempting to improve the situation and at the very least, discontinue doing the things, which caused the problem to begin with,? she said adamantly. ?Unfortunately, I can?t stop the world from driving cars run on fossil fuels, but I can attempt to come up with ways to counteract, and possibly reverse some of the damage done.? Josh watched Helen pace the room, discussing figures and statistics off the top of her head. Her intelligence and dedication to this project was admirable, and his respect for her grew. Something else also grew as his eyes were drawn to the seductive sway of her hips. His pants suddenly became uncomfortably tight. On Tanviera, courage and spirit in a woman was considered important, and intelligence was prized above all else. Although men on his planet did want to find a mate they were attracted to, physical beauty was only secondary to that attraction. Finding a woman who could think and express her ideas in an intelligent, articulate manner was considered admirable, beautiful and sexy. Before coming to this time and this planet, Josh had gone through Mind Set, a computer aided memory and indoctrination system, which committed to a person?s memory all the information a time traveler would need to know about their destination, in a matter of minutes. It included all aspects of a certain time, such as cultural and language trends, politics and even societal mores. The technique had been discovered during the last world war of 2650, and eventually became a standard tool used by all time travelers.

Josh had been shocked to learn about the importance put on physical beauty in Helen?s time. People seemed more concerned about looking and staying beautiful than they did about the state of their world. He was especially taken aback by what was considered the standard of beauty for women in this time. The thinner the better, it seemed. Women who purposely attained underdeveloped, undernourished bodies were revered and looked up to as role models for everything from health and beauty, to relationships and morals. The fact that Helen had a well-developed, voluptuous body pleased him immensely, however, it was her courage, spirit, and most importantly her intelligence, which made the attraction so strong. ?So you see, that?s why the results of climate change are a large part of this project,? Helen finished. Though she was confident and self-assured in expressing her thoughts, her fingers were still nervously fumbling with the buttons on her blouse. That expanse of exposed skin at her throat drew Josh?s attention. He couldn?t keep his eyes from it as her hands fluttered about. She tried to tug the blouse together. Another button came undone. The lavender colored lace of her bra suddenly peeked through. Josh stiffened at the sight of it. The hard won calm he had managed to regain earlier came crashing down around him. His gaze rose to meet Helen?s. He knew from her face that she could see the hunger burning in his eyes. She froze, stretching her blouse tightly in her fingers, unknowingly loosening yet another button. Josh struggled not to look down at what she had exposed now. He knew that it would push him over the edge. Using the discipline he had learned as a warrior, he managed not to lunge at Helen. Not to take her right there in her office. He emitted a growl low in his throat and slowly advanced on her.

Helen couldn?t move. Her mind screamed run, run, run, but her body wouldn?t cooperate with that primal instinct to escape. Josh looked like a tiger about to pounce. She took a step back, then another, then another until she had backed herself against the couch and her legs gave way beneath her. She slid back on the seat only to have Josh drop down on his knees in front of her a second later. ?Hold still,? he said gruffly as he reached out towards her. Helen held herself stiffly in place. He gently brushed her fingers out of the way and grasped her blouse. He moved closer, nudging her thighs apart and sliding between them. She started to panic. Her eyes widened and met his. ?Easy now, yaquesh, I?m just going to button you back up, then I?ll move away,? he crooned softly, trying to calm her with his gentle words.

He bent his head, concentrating on her buttons while talking softly to her, and her panic subsided. She silently studied the silky texture of his hair. She wanted to stroke it, feel its softness, but before she could even contemplate doing so, he quickly rose to his feet, and strode across the room. He faced away from her. His hands were clenched and held stiffly by his sides. After a moment he swung around, and his eyes, now void of emotion, met hers. ?I?ll see you tomorrow, Dr. Matthews,? he stated brusquely, walking to the door of her office, and opening it. Helen managed to get herself under control enough to stand up and straighten her clothing. ?Of course Dr. Trem. And don?t forget the rest of that paper work,? she commanded. Josh stopped and slowly turned around. His gaze ran hungrily over her body. His perusal reached her face last and a feral smile spread across his lips. ?Don?t worry about that. I plan on giving you everything you need. Then you?re mine,? he warned before walking out of her office. **** Then you?re mine. Then you?re mine. Josh?s words kept running through Helen?s head, hours later in her apartment. She was trying to concentrate on the figures Phillip had given her. She knew Josh probably meant that after he gave her the paperwork she wanted, she would be obligated to work with him on this investigation, yet she just couldn?t get over the feeling his words had caused. Excitement had coursed through her, and image of the two of them making love flashed before her eyes. What was it about this man that had her so distracted? Granted her experience with men had been limited, but she had her small share of boyfriends, most of whom came into her life during college. Yet none of her beaus had made her feel the way Josh did. Their company had always been sort of one pleasant diversion after another, never leading to a true commitment of love. Despite this, she knew she wouldn?t allow herself to fall for Josh. She had to keep in mind that he was not here to help her, he was here to analyze and make public any deficiencies she might have, or negligence she may have perpetuated on this project. As team leader, she had to remember that all the blame eventually would be laid at her feet. She needed to figure out a way to correct the situation, if possible, before that happened. Still, it had been hard for her to shake the feeling and erotic images his words had brought to mind, especially after Dru approached her later that afternoon. The woman came sauntering up, with her usual ?look at me? sway in her hips, which always seemed to catch the eye of more than one male on her team. ?So, don?t you want to hear what happened last night with Josh and I?? she practically purred. ?No,? Helen said through gritted teeth. Why Dru thought it was okay to share her intimacies with her, she would never understand. The woman would initiate these conversations without any sign of willingness on Helen?s part. She groaned quietly as Dru ignored her response and continued anyway. ?Well, he stopped by around six. Like we planned. I served this great chicken carbonara with sun dried tomato pasta, mixed greens with a creamy balsamic vinegar dressing, and Tiramasu for dessert. I bought

it all at the natural market in town, ready-to-eat. The twenty-minute drive each way was worth it. Of course, I only nibbled on a little salad. You know how men are about women who eat too much, and are overwei--well, what I mean is, uh--? Dru stuttered as she realized that she may have offended Helen. ?It?s all right, Dru. I know how you feel. You?re entitled to your own perspective, just like me. I?m happy and confident with who I am, and the way I look, so don?t worry about expressing your own feelings of insecurity and such,? Helen assured her with a sweet syrupy smile. Dru gave her a perplexed frown for a moment, then smiled back with relief and continued talking. As she did so, Helen couldn?t help wondering if the woman only had intelligence when it came to science, because in many other ways she seemed a little slow on the uptake. ?Anyways, we had some wine with our dinner, and I must have gotten a little tipsy, having not eaten much that day, and told Josh I needed to lay down on my bed. Now listen to this. The man actually picked me up, cradled me in his arms, and carried me to my bed. I couldn?t believe it! I mean the last time someone carried me was when I was a small child. And if you don?t think that got me going, well, wouldn?t it you? This strong, hunky guy carrying you around like you weighed nothing at all?? Dru went on and on, but Helen was only half listening as she pictured Josh carrying her in his arms. The thought left her breathless. Luckily, one of Helen?s other colleagues came up to Dru, and asked her to look at the results of one of his experiments. Their ?girl talk? came to an abrupt end. ?Don?t worry, Helen, I?ll tell you the rest later. Sorry to keep you waiting, but duty calls,? Dru said with a grin as she sauntered away. Helen sighed with relief when the woman left, but the image she had created on top of her already intense images, was difficult to ignore. Somehow she managed to get it under control by keeping busy the rest of the day. She immersed herself in checking and recording observations of her recent plant adaptation experiment. She was monitoring how, just like human metabolism, plants were able to ?metabolize? some of the toxic chemicals in the air, filter them out, and release clean air. She knew certain plants, like the cottonwood tree or the rubber plant, were better at this than others. Her current study concentrated on these super air cleaning plants and their response to increased levels of pollutants in the atmosphere. She was also testing the theory some scientists held, that certain plants are evolving in response to higher levels of toxins in the air. This was fascinating work for her. Simply put, she loved what she did for a living. As strange and odd as her family thought it was, for her this was a dream profession, and normally her mind was one hundred percent into it. Yet later that night, as she sat in her apartment looking over Phillip?s statistics, she just couldn?t keep them straight in her head. She knew that she had to have some ammunition to confront Josh with tomorrow, but wasn?t able to put it all together. The numbers blurred together for the fiftieth time. She shut the file and decided to take a break. She had been so wound up from today that she had forgotten to eat when she came home, but as she noticed the delicious smell of pot roast and potatoes coming from the kitchen, she went to check on dinner. She had used the crock-pot, her favorite cooking tool, to make dinner that day. Helen served herself some pot roast and potatoes, as well as a small salad she had thrown together. She sat down at her little four-seat table with Phillip?s file, and again tried to work while she ate. When the numbers somehow kept reforming themselves into the shape of Josh?s face, she slammed the file closed

with a growl and gave up. She finished her dinner, cleaned up and got ready to go to sleep. As she climbed into bed, she saw that it was already ten p.m., but she didn?t feel the least bit tired. She lay in the dark for the next hour with her thoughts bouncing back and forth between Phillip?s file and Josh. She bolted up in bed as she suddenly remembered something she had read. She turned the lamp on and grabbed the file from the nightstand. After looking at the section she was interested in, she jumped out of bed, grabbed her briefcase and pulled out another file. She spread both on her bed and compared them. When she saw that the numbers from the file in her briefcase didn?t match the numbers Phillip had given her, she knew she was onto something. Taking out a third file, she also laid that on the bed beside the others. She compared that one to the other two and found the pattern she had expected. A smug smile spread across her face as she read and reread the numbers again. She had the ammunition she needed to face Josh tomorrow. She put everything away and climbed into bed again, knowing she would sleep a lot sounder with the information she had just discovered. As she turned off the lights and closed her eyes, she never saw the figure outside her window peering in with great interest before quietly slipping away. She fell asleep quickly, dreaming of a handsome warrior carrying her away into the sunset. Helen woke up the next morning looking forward to her meeting with Josh. She had forced all wayward thoughts to the back of her mind and felt very in control of herself again. She knew she had something to help defend her position as team leader, and was prepared for a battle. What she hadn?t been prepared for was fresh brewed coffee with real cream, flaky croissants, cheese danish, and juicy, sweet strawberries. As she entered Josh?s office, she couldn?t get over the spread he had put out for them. ?I want to make this meeting as pleasant as possible for both of us,? Josh said with a shrug when she looked at him questioningly. ?I?ll just have coffee,? she said without emotion, turning away from him to pull out her paperwork, and place it on his desk. She went to the coffee maker and poured herself a cup, adding a generous dollop of cream. She couldn?t ignore every pleasure he offered. That thought led to another, and she coughed loudly as she almost choked on her fist sip of coffee. Pulling herself together, she turned toward Josh, only to find him sprawled out on the couch, checking out and munching on the goodies he brought, with little interest in her or her coughing fit. She cleared her throat loudly, but still got no response from him, as he savored a strawberry. The sight of his mouth nibbling and sucking lightly on the fruit caused a reaction from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. The fact that he was enjoying it so much made something clench tightly inside of her. She watched him silently, unable to look away, until he finally caught the last bite with his tongue and chewed it slowly. She pulled her gaze from his mouth to his eyes, and felt a shock of awareness run through her. His hot, knowing stare met hers. They held each other?s eyes for a moment. Hers widened with awareness and his heated up by the second. Somehow she managed to break contact and abruptly turned away from him. She walked back to his desk, took a quick sip of coffee, almost burning her mouth in the process, and picked up one of the files she had brought with her. If she didn?t get down to business immediately, she knew she would be in trouble. Facing him with her papers, she dove right in. ?My figures and the computer?s don?t match up,? ?What do you mean the figures don?t match up?? Josh asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. He immediately sat up.

?I mean they don?t match up,? Helen said, turning away from him to spread the documents across his desk. ?If you look at my papers detailing the results for the first quarter and the papers of the second quarter, you?ll see that they don?t concur with the detailed accumulated results for the last three quarters. For instance, the result figures from the climate change study for the first quarter on this plant are 2.5%, but the results on the summary report of the last three quarters for this same plant show a first quarter result of 8.5%. That?s a substantial difference, Dr. Trem.? ?Please explain further,? he said softly. Helen almost jumped out of her skin as she felt his breath brush the back of her neck. He had managed to come right up behind her without her hearing him. ?Not so fast,? she said as she moved around to the other side of the desk to put some space between them. ?First, I want to see the rest of the paperwork you promised me.? She saw irritation flit across Josh?s face for a moment, but then amusement filled his eyes. He gave her a sexy smile and pulled something out of his desk drawer. ?I?ll show you mine, if you show me yours.? he said, daring her with his eyes. He held the file above the desk between them, just out of her reach. ?Oh, please,? she said with a roll of her eyes, but inside her body was tingling with feeling from the image his words brought to mind. She gathered her files in one hand and held them out to him. He quickly snatched them away, but when she tried to grab his file, he pulled it back. ?Before I give you this file, I have one more request,? he said with a teasing smile. ?What? Absolutely not! Need I remind you we had a bargain?? she asked in indignation. ?And I plan on living up to that bargain. However, before I do, I want you to sample some of the food I brought,? ?Why is that so important to you?? ?Didn?t anyone ever teach you in this ti--uh--I mean in this world, that?s it rude to refuse someone?s hospitality? Besides, I like to watch a woman eat. Some women today starve themselves, and I think it?s really sad to see,? he said, carefully watching for her reaction. For the first time in a very long time, Helen was at a loss for words. His words left her feeling flustered, something that rarely happened to her. She could only look at him silently for a moment, before finally getting a hold of herself. She needed to see that file, before she felt comfortable enough to continue this investigation with him. ?Well, I suppose it is rude to not eat the food you brought,? she conceded warily. ?But I insist on having the file first.? Josh gave her a satisfied smile, then handed the file to her. She quickly grabbed it, before he changed his mind, and clutched it tightly. ?Let?s eat,? he said. He walked back over to the table that held all the food, and helped himself to some pastries.

Helen waited for him to finish picking out what he wanted and sit down, then she helped herself. She took a buttery croissant, some strawberries, and one of the decadent looking cheese danish. Other than at the desk, the couch was the only place to sit. Since Josh had planted himself squarely in the middle of it, she placed her food on the coffee table in front of him, then went to get the desk chair. She lifted it, brought it over to the coffee table, and placed it directly across from him. ?Couch not comfortable enough for you?? he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, as he took a bite of strawberry. She watched transfixed, as some juice escaped his mouth and ran slowly from his lips. Keeping his gaze locked with hers, he caught it quickly with his tongue, then sucked on the strawberry to prevent anymore juice from coming out. She struggled to tamp down the jolt of awareness that coursed through her. Looking away from him, helped a little. Couldn?t the guy eat a strawberry without savoring it quite so much? She concentrated on spreading butter on her croissant, until she calmed down, then replied to his question. ?The couch is a little too cozy for me,? she said, ignoring the fact that his smile widened to wolfish proportions. His teasing smile dropped to a shocked look however, when she opened his file and ignored him as she ate. ?What are you doing?? he asked. ?Uh, I?m looking over the file you just gave me?? she said as if he had no brain cells left, before continuing to read. Though Helen started scanning the file again, the fact that Josh was steaming mad wasn?t lost on her. She allowed herself a little smirk. He had wanted her to eat, so she was eating. Just because she wasn?t giving him her utmost attention while doing so, was just too bad. ?I don?t think so,? he said, surprising her by snaking his hand across the table. He took the file from her before she could respond, closed it, and placed it on the couch beside him. ?What?s the problem, Josh?? Helen asked through clenched teeth, barely controlling the urge to stand up and leave. ?No problem, Helen. And I?m glad we?re on a first name basis now,? he said with a gloating smirk that mirrored the one she had only a moment ago. Helen counted to ten in her head, then released the breath she had been holding. He and she both realized that she could no longer ask him to call her by her last name when she had just called him by his first. She would just have to live with it, for now. ?Why did you take the file?? she asked, very proud of herself for managing to keep her voice calm. ?Because it?s not nice to read when you?re eating with someone else. Also, I?d like to get to know you better before we continue with the business at hand. Why don?t you tell me a little bit about yourself while we eat?? he asked sitting back on the couch, while chewing on a danish. He waited with an expectant look on his face for her to speak. Helen knew she was being rude. Though she tried to always speak her mind, was very competitive, and didn?t communicate well with many people, she had never acted quite so obnoxiously to anyone before.

The man just rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn?t help it. She could refuse him, take her files and just walk out then and there, but she needed to stay. She had to find out what information Josh had that might help her figure out what was going on. If she left now, he would conduct the investigation without her. She sighed loudly, then spoke. ?Fine. What would you like to know about me?? she asked before taking another bite of croissant. It was so flaky that it melted in her mouth, lifting her mood slightly. Is your skin so creamy smooth all over? A sexy male voice asked inside her head. Helen?s eyes widened and she jumped as if she had been shocked. ?Excuse me?? she asked narrowing her eyes in suspicion. Josh kept his face blank as he met Helen?s eyes, but inside, satisfaction coursed through him. He could tell from her reaction that she had picked up his thoughts. It was unusual, although not unheard of, for others not of their kind to pick up the projected thoughts of his race. Usually that person had to have been in close contact with a Tanvieran for a prolonged period of time to become sensitive to what they were thinking. There was only one other instance when someone not from Tanviera could pick up a Tanvieran?s ideas, and he had a suspicion that Helen was a case in point. ?I haven?t asked my question yet,? he said innocently. ?Oh,? she said, clearly dumbfounded. ?Where did you grow up?? he asked aloud. ?In Arizona,? she said simply. ?Were you born there?? he asked. ?No,? she answered. ?Where were you born?? ?California,? she said. It became clear that Helen wasn?t going to be forthcoming with her replies. This didn?t bother him in the least because he had been taught early on how to get the answers he needed. He gave her a wide grin and sat up straighter, then began his gentle interrogation. ?What was your childhood like?? he asked. ?Normal,? she replied, after a moment?s hesitation. He had noticed a shadow crossing briefly over her eyes before she answered. That piqued his curiosity, and he decided to press her on it. ?What do you mean, normal?? ?I mean normal. I had two parents and siblings who I some times got a long with, and other times didn?t,? she responded.

?How many brothers and sisters?? he asked. ?Two brothers, two sisters.? ?Were you the youngest?? ?Yes.? ?Ah ha,? he muttered just loud enough for her to hear. ?What is that supposed to mean?? she asked. ?Nothing.? ?Ah ha usually means something. It?s not nothing. So I was the youngest. So what? The fact that my brothers and sisters and I didn?t see eye to eye is no big deal.? ?I see,? he said quietly, then remained quiet. Josh saw Helen?s face grow stormy. ?No, you don?t see. And just because my parents didn?t understand me, doesn?t mean I had an abnormal childhood,? Helen said in a defensive voice. As soon as she said those words, she clamped her hand over her mouth and stared accusingly at Josh. ?How did you do that?? she asked, narrowing her eyes. ?Do what?? Josh asked with an innocent expression on his face. Helen shot daggers at him with her gaze. She looked very agitated. He managed to keep his face a blank as she continued to scrutinize him. After a moment, she stood up and poured herself another cup of coffee, then came back to sit down. ?Now it?s your turn, Josh,? she said, holding her hand out. ?Turn for what?? ?For you to have your life scrutinized, while I read through your background file,? she said, giving him a smug smile. **** Josh gave her his paperwork then spread her files out before him, pretending great interest in them. He took note of the discrepancies, and got angry at himself all over again for forgetting something so basic. He would have Brunhilda adjust the numbers that were overlooked before she had a chance to reprint her past results. He glanced up at Helen as she studied his file. She had immediately become engrossed in it, ignoring him. He and Brunhilda had compiled his fictitious background quite easily. As long as Helen didn?t follow up with phone calls to the various institutions

listed to check on him, he was safe. He wasn?t worried, though, because he intended to keep her too busy to even think about doing that. He lowered his gaze to the file again, and let her read for what he felt was a sufficient amount of time to get the information she needed, then slowly slipped a thought into her mind. Your emerald green cat eyes make me wild. No sooner had the thought formed, then Helen?s head jerked up, and he felt her staring at him. Slowly, as if suddenly realizing he had her attention, his eyes rose to meet her startled one. ?What did you just say?? Helen asked. ?I didn?t say anything,? Josh replied with a perplexed look on his face. ?You didn?t?? ?No.? ?Oh.? ?What did you think you heard me say?? he asked, struggling to hide his amused grin as Helen suddenly busied herself with his file again. ?I?m not really sure, it must have been my imagination,? she admitted reluctantly, pretending great interest in what she was reading. Josh bent his head and pretended to continue reading her paperwork. He barely kept himself from laughing out loud when he sent her another mental message and she bolted to her feet. Your full, lush lips were made for my kisses. ?I?ve read enough,? she said somewhat shrilly. Josh noticed with satisfaction that her face was flushed as she gathered her belongings. ?You seem adequately qualified for this position,? she blurted out. ?I just remembered something I forgot to do in the lab, and it has to be done now. If you have any questions about the information in the file, call me. See you tomorrow morning.? Helen practically ran to the door leading out of his office. Josh rose also, and with a few quick strides, ate up the distance between them. ?Not so fast,? Josh said quietly. He put his hand over her head and against the door, preventing her from opening it. She kept her hand on the door knob, refusing to turn around. He could hear her breathing heavily, as if she were struggling to get herself under control. He decided then and there that he didn?t want her to. He ran one finger lightly up and down the back of her neck, and she shivered in response. He gently grasped her shoulders and turned her around, so she faced him. Then he placed his hands against the door on either side of her, effectively trapping her there. Her proximity did things to him he knew he should be avoiding, but he couldn?t help himself. He pressed closer to her, so that his body was in light contact with hers from chest to knee.

I think about you all the time, yaquesh. I even dream about you, about us, together. At first, she kept her gaze straight ahead on his throat, but after he sent Helen his thoughts she stiffened. Slowly her eyes rose to meet his. When he saw her dark, passion-filled gaze, her flushed face, and her parted lips, he knew she was as affected by him, as he was by her. That pushed him over the edge, and with a groan, his mouth descended towards hers. As soon as their lips touched, he heard Helen?s belongings drop to the ground. Her hands ran up and down his back in gentle exploration. She strained against him, and he accommodated her by pressing closer. His chest rumbled with pleasure as her hands moved downward.

Helen was lost in a sea of feeling. Josh?s lips were maneuvering hers like he knew just the right way to create the most impact. Each brush of his mouth lit a flame inside her, then erupted into a storm of sensations throughout her body that threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn?t resist the urge to feel him. Her belongings long forgotten, she explored the planes and angles of his back. She knew he was well-built, however his clothes hid the true extent of that. She felt his large, firm muscles clenching and relaxing as she passed her fingers over them. When Josh touched the tip of his tongue to hers, her knees almost gave out beneath her. She responded without thought, tentatively returning his touch, until their tongues were doing a sensual dance of thrust and parry. Helen couldn?t suppress the moan of pleasure that rose from deep in her throat. His answering groan only heightened her awareness of him. She needed, no, had to feel more. Her hands slid greedily down his back to the waistband of his pants. She hesitated only a second before delving beneath his trousers. She was momentarily waylaid by the fact that he wore nothing underneath but skin. A shiver of desire rippled through her at that discovery. Her hand descended lower, until she reached the rise of his buttocks, then she did something she had never done to a man before. She slid her hands down and squeezed gently. He stiffened in response. Thinking she had done something wrong, she started to pull her hands away, until Josh reached around her, and stayed them where they were. ?Leave them yaquesh. I don?t want you to stop,? Josh told her in a husky voice as he pulled his lips from hers and stared intently into her eyes. His breathing was heavy, and his look was so hot, she felt like she was burning up. She was relieved when he lowered his mouth to hers again, and her eyes fluttered closed. His kisses still

felt incredible, but they were different now. Whereas before he seemed to be exploring her, this time, he was devouring her lips with an intense need that echoed the desire building up in her. She responded by opening her mouth wider, letting him explore every inch of her mouth. She felt Josh?s hand slip between them and slide under the front of her shirt. A thrill coursed through her as he moved higher and higher. When he reached her bra, he hesitated only a moment before slipping underneath it and cupping her in his hand. She felt like her breasts had just come to life. Her nipples pebbled against his touch. She moaned with pleasure, and she heard him growl in response as she thrust herself more fully into his grasp. He alternately ran his hands back and forth over her nipples, rolling them between his fingers. Her hands rose out of his pants, and moved around his waist to the front. She ran her hands over his stomach, and felt his muscles shudder in response to her touch. When she brushed her fingers up and over his chest, concentrating on his nipples, he pulled away from her with a sharp gasp. ?No more. I won?t be able to stop if we continue with this much longer,? he said through heaving breaths. Helen was also having trouble getting her breathing under control. As she looked up into Josh?s eyes, still full of longing and desire, she wanted to throw herself back into his embrace and kiss him with all the passion that was ready to burst out of her. ?Don?t look at me like that, yaquesh, or I might change my mind and lay you down right here on the floor of my office and make love to you so thoroughly that your screams of passion will be heard throughout the whole building,? he warned with a dangerous glint in his eyes that told her he meant each and every word of what he was saying. He turned and walked across the room before swinging back around to face her again. She knew he was trying to separate them, so that he could prevent what would have almost assuredly happened had they remained in each other?s embrace. Helen was speechless for a moment. The erotic image his words brought to mind left her breathless. She shook her head to clear it. What had she been thinking? She had practically thrown herself at Josh, and a small part of her still wanted him to do everything he had just warned her about. She needed to get this situation under control immediately. She could not let herself become vulnerable to this man. Not when he had the opportunity to ruin everything she had worked for so long. She had to ignore the way his face looked tight with passion, and his eyes still roamed over her hungrily. She clenched her hands into fists as she recalled how his firm behind had felt beneath her fingers. No, she had to stop this at once! Stiffening her spine and lifting her chin, she met his gaze with her own haughty stare. ?I don?t think so,? she said coolly. ?Just because your hormones got a little out of control, doesn?t mean I?m going to be doing anything, anywhere on the floor of this office with you, Dr Trem.? Anger flared into Josh?s eyes at her cool tone. ?Oh really? And we?re back to Doctor, are we?? he asked, slowly advancing on her. ?Why is that, Helen? Feeling threatened perhaps?? He reached her in only a few strides and loomed menacingly over her. Unaware she was retreating, she bumped her back into the door. She saw the look in his eyes as he gazed at her, and she felt very afraid.

Not of him, but of herself, because his eyes were telling her that he was aware of the fact that he could have her if he wanted to, that she wouldn?t say no. Helen panicked, because she knew he was right. She searched desperately behind her back and swallowed a small squeak of relief when she finally found the doorknob. ?Now let?s be reasonable Josh,? she said while struggling to meet his gaze with her own unflinching one. ?You and I both know this is highly unprofessional. Both our careers are at stake here. Why don?t we sit down on the couch and discuss this?? she asked in her most reasonable tone. But she could tell from the intense look in his eyes, that Josh wanted to be anything but reasonable. He moved even closer to her, pressing himself against her. His hardness pushed against the core of her, leaving her no doubt about his desire. ?Do I seem reasonable to you right now?? he asked in almost a whisper, rubbing himself lightly against her. Sparks of pleasure ran up from their point of contact to Helen?s breasts, until they tingled and hardened. Her eyes widened and her lips parted in a gasp at the pleasure she was feeling. Josh gave her an arrogant smile. ?Exactly. Now whose hormones seem a little out of control?? he asked, as his gaze became focused on her lips. She fought not to wet them, but the urge was too strong. The minute her tongue appeared, she heard a low growl rumble from Josh?s chest. Josh pulled his upper body slightly away from her and slipped his hands under her shirt again. Ignoring her sharp intake of breath, he ran his fingers over her stomach, making small circles outwards from her belly button until her stomach was vibrating from his touch. After what seemed like an hour of tortuous pleasure that left Helen?s knees weak, he slid his hands around her waist, behind her and braced them against the door on either side of her, before sliding them down until he came in contact with her hands covering the doorknob. ?Planning your escape?? he asked with a strained smile that told her exactly how affected he was by their encounter. Pulling her hands from the knob, Josh held them together behind her back with one of his hands. His free hand slid down, lightly caressing her behind, before moving around her hip to her stomach. He reached the button of her pants, and tucked his fingers inside, grasping her waistband tightly. Helen suddenly lost the ability to breathe. She looked up sharply and saw a determined glint fill his eyes as he pulled her roughly against him. Before she could utter a word of protest however, she heard the door open behind her. Josh released her hands and gave her a not too gentle nudge out the door, almost causing her to stumble before she caught herself. She stood frozen while Josh picked up her belongings and gave them to her. ?I need to look over the files you brought, Dr. Matthews. I?ll let you know what my findings are as soon as possible,? he said gruffly, with a distinct warning in his eyes, before slamming the door in her face. Helen stood rooted to the spot in shock. Then she heard someone behind her clear their throat. She turned around to face the large outer offices, and a number of people intently watching her. Now she understood why Josh had given her a warning with his eyes. She could have heard a pin drop because it was so quite.

?What are you all staring at? Don?t any of you have work to do?? she snapped as she lifted her chin and proudly walked away. All around her she heard the sound of people shuffling papers and returning to their work. She marched back to her own office and slammed the door behind her. Leaning against it, she finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She couldn?t believe Josh threw her out of his office and slammed the door on her face! If she hadn?t been so flustered from his actions she would have let him have it. On second thought, considering the avid curiosity of her coworkers as she left, maybe she would have saved it for another time. Helen left her things by the door and walked over to her couch. She flopped down on it with a heavy sigh. What had she been thinking back there? She almost let Josh seduce her. And now, alone in her office, she admitted to herself that he was not the only one actively participating. If he hadn?t stopped things when he did, Helen knew she wouldn?t have stopped. She had been so lost in the pleasure of his touch, and touching him, that nothing else mattered to her in those moments. That thought sobered her immediately. Enough was enough. She obviously couldn?t control herself around the man. If she had to make sure she was never absolutely alone with Josh, then so be it. She would just have to find a way to meet with him in a more public area. But how could she request that without giving herself away? She didn?t want Josh to know how much he affected her, yet she had to safeguard herself from anymore awkward situations like today. Her career depended on it. Spying the small foam ball sitting on the coffee table, Helen smiled. When she first moved into this office, she had put up a small basketball net on the wall behind her desk. Whenever she was trying to come up with a solution or answer for something, she would often shoot hoops to help her think. Not being very athletic, she rarely made it, but the actual process of picking up the ball and trying to throw it in, somehow seemed to help her thought process. Sitting up, she reached over and picked up the ball. She squeezed its spongy softness while thinking about her predicament. Closing one eye, she aimed for the hoop and threw it. The ball missed, as she expected it would, and bounced off the backboard before falling onto her desk chair. As she started to get up to retrieve it, an explosion so large it knocked her backwards into the wall across the room detonated and everything went black.

Josh stared down at Helen?s bruised, slightly burned face for the hundredth time, and let the fury wash over him. She softly moaned in what he was sure must be from intense pain, and he felt like someone punched him in the stomach. He knew he shouldn?t feel guilty. After all, his mission here was to kill Helen, but that still didn?t change the fact that he felt somehow responsible for her.

He admitted to himself that the thought of hurting Helen in any way was unacceptable to him now. After sitting at the hospital with Helen all day yesterday, and last night he had finally come up with an idea that might save her and his sister, but he had to gain Helen?s confidence first. Despite the physical closeness and attraction they shared, Helen did not trust him. Josh realized that it was not going to be easy to gain the confidence of his beautiful, proud and prickly yaquesh, but so be it. That image brought back the memory of what had happened to Helen the day before, when she had left his office. After he had pushed her out the door, Josh sat at his desk trying to calm himself down, and thought over what was happening between the two of them. He was disturbed by his recent dreams, and his conflicting emotions. He had risen from his desk chair and headed out the door, determined to see her, when the explosion went off. Instantly, pain had shot up his arm and into his stomach, making him double over for a minute. After a couple of deep breaths he was able to straighten up. He ran directly to her office, instinctively knowing she had been hurt, and fearing the worse. The sight that greeted him made him stagger. Her desk chair was nothing but a charred metal skeleton, and Helen was nowhere to be found. His stomach twisted with pain once more as he scanned the room and spotted her lying limp against the wall. He immediately went to kneel beside her. The sight of her burned face covered with cuts shook him, and her stillness worried him more. He felt for the pulse at her wrist and picked up a weakly fluttering thread. ?What happened?? Phillip?s voice whispered beside him. ?Get a doctor, now,? Josh ordered gruffly, without taking his gaze from Helen?s face, and Phillip scurried away to do his bidding. Josh ignored the fact that he hadn?t heard Phillip approach him. As a Tanvieran, his hearing was so acute, he should have. Besides this, his warrior?s training had taught him the ability to open his senses to all things around him to such an extent, that he should have been aware of the other man?s presence immediately, even without hearing him. Obviously, his concentration was all on Helen, and would stay that way until a doctor arrived. ?She?ll be okay, but we do need to operate on that arm as soon as possible. After that, she?ll just need to rest and heal,? the doctor said later on at the hospital, after examining Helen. ?Why is she still unconscious?? Josh asked with concern. ?Sometimes when a person?s body gets traumatized like this, they just shut down for a while, to sort of regroup. She?ll wake up when she?s ready.? Josh had sat at the hospital while they operated on her, along with Phillip and surprisingly, also Druscilla. They both seemed genuinely concerned for Helen. After the doctor came out saying her arm had been reset and she was sleeping quietly in her room, they all went in to see her. Phillip and Dru stayed for a while, but when she didn?t wake up right away, they went back to work, saying they would visit again. He sat with her the rest of that day and all night, sleeping restlessly in a chair by her bed. He had hoped she would awaken before morning, but she had barely stirred over the last twenty-four hours. Seeing her lying so still, he felt helpless. As a warrior, it was a feeling he didn?t relish. The fact that someone else dared to harm her angered him like never before. All the protectiveness in him reared its head. No one was going to hurt her ever again; he would make sure of it. And when he found the person responsible for this, he would make them very, very sorry. Unfortunately, the only way to do that would be for him to leave her for a short time. He had to return to the research center to organize everything.

He knew it was necessary to do so, but he hated leaving her now, despite the fact that the doctors told him she would be fine. Luckily, she had been far enough from the explosion to only suffer minor injuries. If she had been sitting in that desk chair she would have been dead, but instead, she had some burns, and small cuts and bruises. She also had broken her left arm in three different places from the impact of hitting the wall as she was thrown back. The doctor determined that she would be required to wear the full arm cast they fitted her with for the next three months. This slow process frustrated Josh, because in his time these kinds of injuries could be repaired and healed immediately. Nevertheless, he knew there was nothing he could do at this point. Instead, he needed to concentrate on finding out who did this. His instinct was to stay as close to her as possible now, and to watch those around her carefully. But in reality, the person who did this was probably long gone, most likely back to the future. Although there was a possibility that someone in this time had attempted to kill Helen, it seemed unlikely, as no one he knew of had a motive. Instead he believed the TFE was sending him a clear message: kill the woman or they would. He needed to get back to his time to establish the well being of his family, especially his sister, but he didn?t want to leave Helen now that he knew her life was in danger. If the TFE was impatient enough to do this, they could have hurt or even killed his sister as well. His duty was to his family, and the thought of losing his sister, Sa Rah, was unbearable. Yet the idea of anything else happening to Helen was just as hard to accept. Josh felt pulled in two directions, but knew he had to make a decision. As the Tok Rok, he had been trained for these kinds of situations, but had never faced one quite so difficult. Thinking it over as he sat watching Helen sleep through the night, he had made a decision, and as was his way and all warriors? way, he would follow through with that choice immediately. He knew Helen was scheduled to stay in the hospital until tomorrow morning, and she had a police guard on the door, so she should be safe until then. His sister, on the other hand, had no such guarantee. He wanted to return home tonight to see how Sa Rah was doing, but if he did, his energy levels would be severely depleted, and he needed all his strength and wits about him to execute his plan. In his time there were a group of professional time travelers who had been recruited from all different galaxies. Their job was to go back to the past and make ?adjustments? for the betterment of the future. It was an intricate mission, during which the designated traveler had to be extremely careful to change only those events he was assigned to. In the beginning, when returning to the past was initially discovered to be a useful tool, there were some mistakes, and near disasters, which made those in charge of the project closely scrutinize how they went about these missions. Soon it became apparent that this was a highly sensitive project, which had to have very focused, specific targets if it were to succeed. Besides the stress and responsibility of such missions, these highly trained ?time jumpers?, as they were called, went through extensive programming and indoctrination to help them cope with the hazards of their chosen profession. One of those hazards was the exhaustion caused by time traveling. They were put through many exercises to condition their bodies to the physical strain of this mode of travel. Others were normally not allowed to time travel without previous permission of the Galactic Chamber, the group of high-ranking officials from throughout the galaxy who had initiated the use of time travel as a tool. However, rulers of each planet did have access to time travel if the need arose. Usually that need was in the form of saving the sovereignty if there was no other escape, or some other significant emergency. Although that was not the actual usage of time travel on Josh?s part, it was his right as a member of the

ruling party to make use of this tool. He had been aware of this right since early in life, and had been given modified training on a regular basis to prepare him for such an event. However, it was nowhere as extensive as the training the jumpers working under the Chamber received. Therefore, if he did travel twice in one night, he would come back with a very weak body. His ability to function would be inhibited for at least the next few hours after his return. Also, the Chamber frowned on what they considered unnecessary time travel and tried to keep track of all ?jumping? going on anywhere. Strict dictates were implemented to deal with those who tried to abuse the system. They had sensors that could pick up such activity, but they were not fool proof, and sometimes things could be done to disguise such travel. Josh would have to make use of those techniques when he jumped tomorrow. Despite the danger and risk involved, he knew he had no other choice. He took one last look at Helen, reached down and ran his fingers softly over her hair, and rose to leave. Before moving forward with his plan, he had to talk to the police one last time. He had given them a statement earlier in the day, but he wanted to make sure they kept Helen well protected while he was away. He strode briskly towards the door, his mind occupied on the details of what he had to accomplish in the next twent--four hours, when Helen?s voice stopped him in his tracks. ?J-Josh is that you?? she asked in a voice that sounded raspy and dry.

Helen?s eyes fluttered open as Josh stood up to leave. The feel of his hand running lightly over her hair had woken her up. Her first instinct upon seeing him leave was to call him back. She felt like a truck had run over her, then reversed and did it again. She was scared and disoriented, and wanted someone she knew around her so she could find out what had happened. She tried to sit up, but quickly collapsed back on the bed with a groan as pain shot up her arm to her shoulders. Josh rushed back to her side in a few quick strides, and sat down on the bed beside her. ?Relax. You?re fine. You?re in the hospital.? ?What happened? The last thing I remember was sitting on the couch in my office, and shooting hoops with my thinking ball,? she asked in confusion. ?You?re thinking ball?? Josh asked with an amused smile. ?Yes. I sometimes try to make baskets while I?m thinking about things. It helps to clear my mind,? she said defensively. ?Never mind that, what happened to me, Josh?? She could see Josh hesitate before answering her, and knew that he was debating on how much to tell

her. ?Just tell me everything. I have a right to know,? she demanded. Josh scrutinized her for a moment longer, as if deciding on exactly what she should and shouldn?t know. This frustrated her to no end, but she decided to wait for him to explain before demanding any more. ?There was an explosion yesterday morning. The police think that your desk chair was wired with explosives set to detonate when you sat down on it. You broke your left arm in a few of places, and have some minor burns, cuts and bruises,? he said carefully, while watching for her reaction. Helen was shocked. ?Someone tried to kill me? But why? Who would want to do such a thing?? ?I can?t answer your questions, but I intend to find out what?s going on. I promise you that,? he vowed fiercely. Helen was surprised by Josh?s words. She didn?t know what to think about him being so concerned for her welfare. She wasn?t used to having someone worry about her like this. It left her feeling warm and protected in a way she had never felt before. Before she could comment on it, a man walked into the room, and she noticed an immediate change in Josh?s demeanor. Instead of casually sitting beside her on the bed, he moved closer and faced away from her, almost completely shielding her from the other man?s view. She also noticed the muscles in his back tense up, as he sat stiffly in front of her. ?Can I help you?? Josh asked, in a hard voice that she barely recognized as his. The man hesitated before speaking. She scooted slightly around Josh, being careful of her arm, so that she could get a better view, and couldn?t help gaping at the man standing there. He looked about Josh?s age, but that?s where the resemblance ended. Whereas Josh had long, dark, straight hair, craggy features, a square jaw and hard, steel blue eyes, the other man had light blond hair, which fell in golden waves to his shoulders, and softer features, that somehow remained completely masculine. Her gaze met his, and the light emerald color of his eyes momentarily stunned her. He had the face of an angel. There was no other way to put it. His classic good looks, dimpled smile and bright white teeth completed the perfect picture of someone who should be a cover model. Helen?s scrutiny was broken by a slight rumbling noise, which sounded suspiciously like a growl, coming from Josh. When she swung her gaze over to him, she saw that he was clenching and unclenching his jaw while glaring at the other man. The air suddenly became thick with tension as the two men measured each other with their eyes. The man?s eyes darted briefly to her, and Josh immediately moved in front of her again, blocking his view. ?I?m Detective Tristan Zax. I?ll be the one handling this case from now on. Since Dr. Matthews is awake, I?d like to ask her a few questions.? ?I?ll answer your questions,? Josh replied arrogantly. Helen didn?t appreciate the macho show they were both putting on. She sat up straighter and tried to push Josh out of the way so that she could talk to the detective. It was like trying to move a brick wall.

She gave one more shove with her good arm and when he still didn?t move, she got angry. ?I can speak for myself. Move out of the way,? she ordered quietly, through gritted teeth. In response, Josh turned and looked down at her hand, still on his arm, then up at her face, giving her a mocking smile. She knew he was telling her with his eyes that he would move only when he was ready, but then he gently took her hand and brought it to his lips. As his mouth touched her, she felt a warm tingly feeling from her head to her toes. His gaze was equally hot as her startled eyes met his. She got lost for a moment in his intense, burning blue stare. Someone cleared their throat and Helen jerked her hand from Josh?s as she suddenly remembered the detective was still in the room. Josh chuckled quietly, and Helen shot him a withering glare. He merely smiled unabashedly at her, and turned back to the policeman. ?I?m Dr. Trem. Dr. Matthews and I, uh, work together,? he said in a way that caused Detective Zax to look at her differently. It took her a moment to identify that look, because she was still so dazed from Josh?s actions only a moment before, and then she got angry again. Helen did not like the way this was going. She was practically choking from the testosterone in the room. Enough was enough. She scooted over again, ignoring the dizziness that swept over her from the effort, and put as much distance as she could between she and Josh. ?I?ll be glad to talk to you about what happened yesterday in my office, Detective Zax, but I also have some questions of my own,? she said in a haughty voice before turning to Josh. ?And weren?t you just leaving Dr. Trem?? she asked, emphasizing the formal use of his name, as she glared at him. ?No. I?m fine right here,? he said, sitting back against the bed?s headboard in a relaxed pose while giving her a gloating smile that left her fuming. She didn?t have time to ponder it though, as Detective Zax completely caught her attention. His question was both blunt and to the point. ?What enemies do you have, Dr. Matthews?? ?Enemies? None that I know of. I mean there is a certain amount of competition in the field I work in, but I wouldn?t classify any of my competitors as enemies,? she responded. ?So, there?s no one you can think of who might wish you harm?? he asked. ?No, Detective, there really isn?t.? ?Okay, let?s back up a little. First, why don?t you tell me about the kind of work that you do, then we?ll talk more about those competitors you mentioned,? he said. ?Fine, but first I have some questions for you,? she said in a voice that brooked no argument. Detective Zax opened his mouth as if he was about to argue, but then Josh cleared his throat loudly. He must have seen something in his expression, because after quickly glancing at Josh, he wisely remained quiet. Catching their exchange, Helen glanced Josh?s way, but she saw nothing unusual in his expression, as he sat looking at her expectantly. Knowing some kind of silent male communication had just occurred between the two of them, Helen wanted to ask what was going on, but then decided that it really didn?t matter. The detective was waiting patiently for her to ask her questions, so she did.

?How could someone get into the lab, and my office without being noticed? After all, we have very stringent security there.? ?You?re right about the security being tight at your facility, and under normal circumstances, an outsider coming in and wiring your office in this manner would have been nearly impossible. However, that was not the case in this instance.? ?What do you mean Detective?? Helen asked. ?The person who planted this bomb was not an outsider. It was someone working at your research center, possibly someone you know,? he explained.

Josh could see that Helen was stunned speechless by Tristan?s words. Obviously, it never crossed her mind that the culprit could be someone working with her at the research center. Taking advantage of her momentary loss of speech, he spoke to Tristan. ?What else can you tell us about what happened?? ?Nothing, The rest is on a need to know basis, and at least for the moment, you don?t need to know, Dr. Trem,? Tristan said with a meaningful look. Josh gave Tristan a curt nod as something unsaid passed between them again, and then he turned back to Helen. ?Helen, are you okay?? he asked, with concern lacing his voice. She still looked in shock over Tristan?s words. She turned as if in a daze towards him, then spoke softly. ?I can?t believe someone I work with could have done this.? ?Don?t worry, Dr. Matthews, we?ll find the person responsible,? Tristan said in a comforting voice. ?Do you mind if I ask you some questions now. It really would help with the investigation.? Josh could tell that Tristan?s reassuring, coaxing voice was working on Helen because she nodded her head in response.

?Of course, Detective, I?ll do whatever?s necessary to help find the culprit, and I expect you to do just that,? she said firmly. Josh barely controlled his laughter as he saw Tristan?s annoyed frown. He was glad to see Helen recovering from her shock, and returning to her old spirited self. Tristan regained his composure and asked Helen various questions about her job, what it entailed, and about her daily routine. After about fifteen minutes of questioning, Josh could see Helen?s eyes starting to droop with fatigue. Her body needed more time to recover from the impact of that explosion, and he was sure her mind needed rest from the shock of learning someone she may know attempted to kill her. ?I think that?s enough questions for now,? he said as he positioned himself in front of Helen again. Tristan looked like he was going to argue the point. ?Could I have a word with you in private, Detective? I think Dr. Matthews might may need a moment to collect herself, and I have a question about the timing of this event,? he said giving the other man a pointed look. Tristan gave a nod of understanding, and then swung around and strode out of the room. Josh turned back to Helen, and found her glaring suspiciously at him. ?Detective Zax wasn?t through with his inquiry. Why did you kick him out of here? Whatever you have to say can be said in front of me,? she said. Josh dismissed her glare, stood up, and started walking towards the door. ?He and I need to talk privately for a moment, and you need to rest.? ?I?m coming too,? she said defiantly, throwing off the blankets and swinging her legs off the bed. But as she stood up, her legs gave way beneath her, and she started to fall. Josh caught her before she hit the floor. He could tell Helen didn?t understand how he could get so quickly from one side of the room to the other, but he didn?t give her time to dwell on his unusually fast reflexes. ?That was foolish, yaquesh,? he said tenderly as he gently laid her back on the bed. ?Your body needs time to rest and recover. Don?t attempt that again, or I might have to have the nurse come in here with the bed pan,? he warned with a humorous glint in his eyes. ?You wouldn?t dare!? she said, outraged by his words. ?Just watch me,? he said, folding his arms, and smiling smugly at her. Helen lifted her chin a notch, then stuck her tongue out at him. That was so out of character from her normally aloof behavior that Josh could only look at her in amused shock. Helen quickly pulled her tongue back in, and folded her arms in front of her. ?Fine. I?ll stay in this bed, but I want to know about any important information that I should be made aware of,? she demanded. ?Try to rest. I?ll only be a few minutes.? he assured her before walking out of the room. **** The minute the door closed behind him he turned angrily towards Tristan.

?What are you doing here?? Josh knew it was no coincidence that brought Tristan from the year 3005 to this time. He would bet everything that his old friend was here because of Helen. Tristan Zax was head of security for earth, and a well-trained time jumper. As Tok Rok of Tanviera, Josh had worked with him on several occasions. In the process, the two of them had become friends. If he was personally handling this, then there was definitely a problem. ?I?m on an official mission here. What?s your excuse, buddy?? Tristan asked casually, using this time?s lingo naturally as he folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. Josh wasn?t fooled. As relaxed as Tristan seemed, he knew his friend was tense and wary. This was a very grave situation, and despite their friendship, such a serious breach in protocol couldn?t be ignored. Josh ran a hand through his hair in frustration, as he thought of the best way to handle this, then he spoke. ?This may not have been solely an inside job.? Josh?s words got Tristan?s immediate attention, as he stood up straight and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. ?What do you mean by that?? ?What I?m about to tell you must stay between us for now.? Tristan looked like he was about to object, so Josh spoke quickly. ?My family?s life depends on it,? he said. A pained expression crossed Tristan?s face. He had gotten to know Josh?s family pretty well over the last few years and was often invited over for dinner or holidays when he was on their planet. Tristan clenched his jaw and shook his head. ?I?m sorry, pal. I can?t promise to keep this between us without knowing more,? he said with regret lacing his voice. ?I understand. Let me tell you what I know at this point, and then you can decide.? Tristan nodded his head, and Josh told him what had occurred up to that morning. Josh noticed a shadowed look cross Tristan?s face when he mentioned his sister?s abduction. ?Sa Rah?s been kidnapped?? Tristan asked in a pained voice. ?Yes. We?ve been on a continual search since they took her, but can?t pinpoint her exact location. We think they?re moving her around to keep us even more confused,? Josh said sadly. ?Why didn?t you tell me or the chamber about this? We could have helped,? Tristan demanded. ?These are terrorists. They?ve killed in the past and I?m sure it won?t be the last time. They told my family that if we talked to anyone else about this, they would kill Sa Rah instantly. We have had to keep this a secret, even from all but the closest of our security team. We don?t want the people to go into a panic because of it. Those on our security staff who know what?s going on are working tirelessly on this

case. However, it was decided that in the meantime, my parents and I needed to comply with the terrorist?s demands up to a point. However, the TFE also said something, which disturbed my greatly. They said that they had a very well placed ally who would know if our family attempted to get help from the Chamber. So you see, I?m duty bound to save my sister, regardless of the consequences to myself.? ?I?ll start searching on my own as soon as I return to our time. And I will find her, one way or another,? Tristan vowed with a hard glint in his eyes. ?Thanks. I?d appreciate any help you can give.? Josh said. ?You explained why you?re here, but not everything else. You seem very, uh, attached to the lady in there, buddy,? Tristan said, giving him a knowing grin. ?If you?re trying to kill her, I think you?re going about it the wrong way.? Josh ignored Tristan?s ribbing. Instead his face grew cold. ?She will not be dying any time soon, by my hand or anyone else?s, I promise you that.? ?That?s good to know, pal. Because I was sent back here to stop whoever tried to kill her. We knew the explosion attempt in her office would fail, but we let it happen because we wanted to see if we could find more evidence about the culprit that way. The name of the people responsible for her murder are not on any records we can find in the future, so my mission is to return here and stop her possible assassination from happening, and then find out who planned it.? Tristan explained. ?I traveled back to our time a couple of nights ago and know some of the history, but was not aware of yesterday?s attack. However, I do know that this was more than a murder attempt by Helen?s coworkers. The TFE are getting a little impatient with my assassination efforts, and want to hurry along the process. I was warned that if my efforts were not fruitful, they would arrange to have Helen killed, soon followed by Sa Rah?s murder. The question is; how did they get the capability to travel back here? As we both know, no one but the heads of planets, and the Chamber?s special forces are supposed to have that capability.? ?That?s one more thing I plan on finding out. I?m jumping forward tonight, after I clear a few things up here,? Tristan explained. ?I need your word that you won?t talk to the Chamber about my presence here just yet, and that you?ll keep your search for my sister to yourself,? Josh requested. ?I?ll agree to that, as long as you keep me apprised of everything you?re doing.? ?Agreed,? Josh said, nodding his head. ?There are two other things you need to know, buddy.? Tristan narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Josh?s tone, and then waited silently him to continue. ?First of all, Helen is under my protection,? Josh said, meeting his friend?s stare with his own cold, emotionless one. ?Don?t take that statement lightly. Despite our friendship, there are certain things inherent to my race, which will make me very protective and easily provoked when it pertains to her.? Tristan nodded his head. Having spent time on Tanviera, Josh knew that his friend would understand exactly what he was talking about. Despite the fact that his planet was as technologically advanced as other planets, the Tanvieran people had instincts and methods of living, which often seemed primitive to

others. ?Understood. What?s the other thing?? Tristan asked. ?I?m traveling forward tomorrow, and I?m bringing Helen with me,? he said grimly.

?What! You can?t do that. You, of all people, know the Chamber strictly forbids time jumping unauthorized individuals, under any circumstances,? Tristan responded adamantly. Josh nodded in understanding. Both he and Tristan had personal experience concerning unauthorized jumping. Four years ago, one of their good friends, Arin McClintock, jumped back on a secret mission, authorized by a top military person. That person, known only as the General, was in actuality planning to control the process of time travel so that he could rule the universe. And the Chamber had been unaware of his plan. Arin was initially unaware of it, but once he discovered the truth he managed to stop the General?s diabolical plan by manipulating the use of successive unofficial time jumps. ?I wonder how Arin?s doing,? Josh asked aloud, voicing both their thoughts. ?If it weren?t for the time regulations, we could go see him,? Tristan said with regret evident in his voice. Josh nodded his head in agreement, but was undeterred in his own mission. ?Despite the restrictions, I have to do this, Tristan. There?s no other choice now.? ?What are you talking about? Why don?t you have a choice? ?Helen is the Rov Shoma.? Tristan?s eyes widened and he let out a low whistle. Josh knew it was hard for Tristan to believe his words. ?Are you sure?? ?I wasn?t completely at first, but yesterday?s explosion confirmed it.? ?What happened?? ?At the moment Helen felt the impact of the bomb detonating, I also felt something. It was like I had

been punched in the stomach, and then an intense pain shot up my arm. Somehow she had unknowingly projected her feelings to me. And I?ve already discovered that she can pick up my thoughts, and feelings.? ?I see,? said Tristan thoughtfully. ?But why do you feel the need to take her back with you at this point?? ?If the TFE doesn?t have the capability to time jump, how could they have made an attempt on Helen?s life in this time? Obviously they do know someone with some clout, or they wouldn?t have been able to travel back here. What I?m wondering is why they kidnapped Sa Rah, and then arranged for me to be the one to travel back here, if they had the capability all along? And why did the Chamber put you in charge of this mission? It must be something serious, or you wouldn?t have been personally sent,? Josh said. ?John McClintock sent me back here, saying that I needed to find out who the killers were as soon as possible. He said that Chamber security, among other serious issues were at stake. Considering what you just told me, it makes a little more sense now. At first, I couldn?t understand why this woman?s death would be so detrimental to the future, but now I do,? Tristan reasoned. ?I do too. It?s obvious that the TFE and their benefactor are worried about being found out, so they want Helen killed as soon as possible. But some members of the Chamber must suspect something, or the head of their organization wouldn?t have sent you back here with such urgency. What I still can?t understand, is why I was sent back,? Josh said. ?I have a feeling you?re the decoy. You were meant to throw us off the trail of the real people responsible. That way not only would the TFE succeed in their mission, they would be able to keep their high ranking ally a secret,? Tristan said. ?From the TFE?s little show of muscle yesterday, it?s obvious they?re not going to wait much longer. Helen and Sa Rah?s life are at stake right now. I can better protect both of them in my time, on my world. You know that.? Josh explained. Tristan nodded his head in agreement. ?But once you go back with Helen, the TFE will know you haven?t accomplished your mission, and they?ll kill your sister.? ?No they won?t. I plan on making it look as though I?ve killed Helen. Whoever the TFE are in contact with here will be fooled, and pass on the message to them. Then I?ll bring Helen back to Tanviera, in hiding, until I can save Sa Rah.? ?It sounds like you?ve thought this situation through,? Tristan said. ?Only as far as Helen?s predicament here. Saving my sister is another matter entirely,? Josh said. ?But I think I have a plan that may work.? Tristan?s eyes lit with interest at his words. ?I?m all ears, buddy,? he said with a smile. ?You?ve really got this time?s lingo down, bro,? Josh said, grinning.

?You?ve got it pretty tight yourself, pal. Now tell me your idea,? he said with a chuckle. Josh explained what he wanted to do. Then he and Tristan discussed it over the next few minutes and agreed on what each thought was the best approach. ?Remember, no one else can know about this. If it gets back to the spy helping the TFE, it will be the end of my sister.? ?Understood. I?ll start things on my end, and see you when you get back. Good travel.? Tristan said, holding out his hands. ?Good travel,? Josh said, as the two of them grasped each other?s forearms in the traditional Tanvieran way. Josh walked back into Helen?s hospital room only to find her trying to get out of bed again. ?Do the words ?bed pan? mean nothing to you, woman?? Josh asked. Helen jumped in surprise and almost fell out of bed. Josh was there in a second, helping her get back under the covers. Once she was settled in, she raised her chin a notch and met his eyes proudly. ?You were taking too long. This is my life, you know, Josh. I?m the one whose life was threatened, and I need to know what?s going to be done about it. I?m not a child.? Josh didn?t say anything for a moment. Instead he let his eyes speak. His gaze traveled first to the top of her head, then slid over her hair in all its curly disarray. Then it slipped over her bright, intelligent eyes, down her slightly aquiline nose, to her full lush lips. It lingered there for a moment, savoring the sight of their ripeness, letting them call to him and make him hungry. Her tongue peeked out as she moistened her mouth and he made a noise deep in his throat, which caused her to stiffen in response. His eyes rose to meet hers, and the awareness in them was obvious. ?Believe me. I?m very aware that you are no child,? he said in a low, husky voice filled with need. Josh only wanted to show her that he was totally aware of her as a woman, however, the need that coursed through him made him do more. He reached out one hand and slowly ran his thumb back and forth over Helen?s bottom lip. They parted in invitation and he couldn?t resist moving closer. His head descended towards hers, and he gently held her chin as their lips touched. He groaned softly, and Helen shivered in response as his mouth worshipped hers. He parted her lips even further and delved inside to explore. She was right there to meet him, and their tongues entwined, enjoying the feel of the other. He needed to feel more of her. His fingers were at her waist, pulling the sheet with them, and then his hands slid behind, under her gown and caressed her back in a slow zigzag motion. He pulled her closer, gently, not wanting to hurt her, so that her breasts pressed lightly against his chest. He felt her nipples pebble against the thin material she wore, and he couldn?t stop his groan of pleasure. His hands found their way around to her breasts, and he covered one with his hands. He felt Helen push herself forward into his touch as she released her own moan of pleasure. He rubbed her nipples and stretched them between her fingers. When she moaned again, he couldn?t take it any longer. He gently untied, then pulled off her gown and laid her down on the bed. He couldn?t resist the sight of her creamy white breasts, topped with dark nipples that reminded him of sweet, ripe berries. They made him feel like

he had gone too long without a meal. His mouth lowered to her breasts and closed over one of her nipples. It tasted as good as it looked. He ran his tongue back and forth over its sweetness, then covered it with his lips and drew on her until she was writhing with pleasure. He could hear her hitched breath, and knew she was experiencing the same passion as him. I want to touch you everywhere, yaquesh, and bring you to your peak again and again. He had conveyed his feelings naturally, as was the way of his people when they were filled with desire. The combination of sensual thoughts and physical touch always heightened the lovemaking experience. When Helen stiffened, and started tugging on his hair, he knew it had been too much for her. He swore softly, then reluctantly pulled away, and slid her gown up to cover her once more. He stood up from the bed and began pacing restlessly. How could he have just done that? She was injured and he still couldn?t keep his hands off of her. He tried to get himself under control immediately. He had finally accomplished that when she spoke. Her words stopped him in his tracks, and he swung around to look at her in disbelief. She looked flustered, yet determination filled her eyes. ?I need you to leave, now. I only want to see you and talk to you when it?s absolutely necessary. And I definitely don?t want you to touch me--ever again,? she said in a quiet voice, devoid of all emotion, as she met his gaze with her own unflinchingly resolute one. .

10

Helen faced Josh proudly; despite the fact that she was shaking inside from the way he had made her feel only moments ago. No one had ever affected her this way before, and she wasn?t sure how to deal with it. She almost flinched from the shock and anger in his eyes caused by her words, but somehow held herself together. ?I have no problem not touching you, however, we will still work together from here on out. My observations are not complete, and I need to discover why the discrepancies in the results occurred. After that, I will be glad to leave you alone,? he said coldly, his face harsh with anger. Helen swallowed the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. It was for the best after all, she kept telling herself. She didn?t need this kind of entanglement with Josh right now. Her career, and more importantly, her life were at stake. She didn?t know if he was a threat to either of them, but becoming physically involved with him, no matter how tempting, just wasn?t a good idea until she knew exactly who her enemies were.

Suddenly, Josh?s face gentled, and he moved closer to her. ?You don?t have to be afraid of me, yaquesh. I won?t hurt you, and I?m definitely not your enemy,? he said. Now it was Helen?s turn to look shocked. ?How did you do that?? ?Do what?? ?How did you know what I was thinking?? she asked, as her eyes narrowed suspiciously. ?It wasn?t difficult. Anyone in your position would feel threatened by those around them, until the culprit is found. However, I can tell you right now, that you have no need to fear me,? he reassured her. ?You mean, you didn?t, um, you weren?t reading my mind a minute ago?? she asked tentatively. ?Why would you think such a thing?? ?Never mind. Listen, I knew you might take this personally, but please don?t. It has absolutely nothing to do with you. What it has to do with is me. You see, I just need to be on my own with this thing. You?re only here to observe me, and determine if I?m doing my job competently. The police are here to solve this case, So, I need to let them handle this mess, while I try to concentrate on my research.? ?You can?t pretend this isn?t happening, Helen,? Josh reasoned. ?I?m not pretending anything. I?ve just decided to let the police do what they do best while I do what I do best. I will not let this incident interfere with me doing my job properly. I want to be lead researcher at the center, Josh, and I have no intention of letting a jealous colleague stop me from doing that,? she argued. ?What if that jealous colleague manages to kill you?? he asked quietly. Helen flinched at his words. ?That?s not going to happen. That police detective seems very competent, and I have no doubt that he?ll find the person responsible.? ?Maybe, but I?d still feel better if you?d let me help you,? he said. ?Help me how?? ?Nothing much. Just agree to let me keep an eye out for you, and protect you if necessary,? he said casually. Helen wasn?t fooled. ?Protect me? I don?t think that?s necessary--? Helen started to protest. ?Don?t worry about it, I?m just planning on helping out if you need anything,? he said.

Helen studied him with narrowed eyes for a moment. ?Well, I guess that?s okay,? she said reluctantly. The arrogant smile that spread across Josh?s mouth left her feeling uneasy about their agreement, but before she could say another word, he started to leave. ?I?m going back to the lab to look over some more of your research results. Detective Zax told me a police officer will be assigned to your apartment from now on, for your own protection, and the doctor said you can go home tomorrow, as long as someone picks you up. Why don?t I come get you?? he said, pausing by the door as he waited for her answer. Helen needed to put some space between the two of them, so didn?t want him driving her home. ?No, that?s okay. I?ll ask someone else to pick me up. Don?t worry about it. Thanks for the offer, and all your help. It?s good to know that a policeman will be keeping an eye out at my apartment. I?ll see you some time tomorrow then,? she replied. Josh looked like he was about to argue, but then he gave her a smile that looked more like an animal baring his teeth. ?Fine. I?ll see you tomorrow,? he said through gritted teeth, then turned and walked out the door. Helen sighed in relief. When Josh and she were together, things became too complicated and intense. Despite agreeing to let him help her, she was planning on staying as far away from Josh as possible. Phillip agreed to pick her up from the hospital, and showed up the next morning. His warm smile and joking manner during the ride back to her apartment were a welcome change from the intensity of her encounter with Josh yesterday. She had spent much of last night tossing and turning with thoughts of her murder attempt warring with thoughts of Josh. ?You look horrible,? Phillip said with a teasing grin. ?Although I have to say, you do look better than when we first saw you right after the explosion. I?m glad to see you up and about now. Druscilla and I came to the hospital yesterday morning, but you were still sleeping then.? ?Druscilla came with you? That must have been an interesting car conversation.? ?Actually she?s not so bad, once you really start talking to her,? he said. ?I?ll take your word for it. I?ve already had enough girl talks with Druscilla to last me for a very long time.? ?I?ll say no more,? he said with a smile as he held one hand up in mock surrender. ?So, what do you plan on doing now? I mean, I know this isn?t easy for you. Just remember that if you need me, all you have to do is call, okay?? Phillip asked, looking somewhat embarrassed by his offer. Helen smiled warmly and gave his hand a squeeze. ?Thanks, Phillip, that means a lot to me. As far as what I?m going to do now, well, I really don?t have a plan. I just know that I can?t give up my research. It means everything to me,? she said adamantly, as

Phillip pulled up in front of her apartment. ?You just make sure you?re careful, Helen. This is a serious situation. Someone actually tried to kill you remember?? he asked, walking her to her front door. ?I know the police say they?re handling it, but maybe you should consider taking a break from all of this, and going away for a while, at least until things settle down somewhat,? he suggested. Helen opened her apartment door, then turned back to Phillip. ?I can?t do that, but thanks for your concern Phillip. Don?t worry, I?ll be careful. See you tomorrow morning,? she said. ?Okay. See you then,? he said with a friendly wave as he got into his car and drove away. Helen closed the door to her apartment, glad to be home. She had forgotten to open the curtains before leaving for work the other morning and the apartment was dim. As she looked around her, she couldn?t help the shiver of apprehension that ran up her spine. The fact that someone actually tried to kill her finally hit her. What was she going to do? Josh?s words kept repeating in her head. What if that jealous colleague manages to kill you? Why would someone want her dead? She honestly never thought anyone hated her enough to kill her. Also, she didn?t think her work was at the point where someone would kill her over it. She was close to making some significant breakthroughs in her field of research, but she still had a lot of work to do to get there. The thought of the challenges she had ahead of her, in terms of research and documenting, excited her rather than intimidated her. Her work was so important to her. She didn?t want to give it up, but would this assassin cause her to do just that? Too drained from her trip home from the hospital, she didn?t bother to turn on any lights or open the curtains as she walked into her bedroom. She needed to take a shower, but then she remembered her arm, and thought a bath might be a better choice. She filled the tub with water and her favorite bath gel, and wrapped a plastic bag around her cast. The scented bubbles filled the room with the smell of gardenias, and she sank into the warm water with a sigh. Baths were one pleasure that Helen never seemed to have the chance to indulge in. She laid her head back against the rim, and closed her eyes, deciding that she needed to take the time for baths more often in the future. After several minutes, she could feel her tense muscles loosen and she started to relax. A small creaking on the floorboards was all the warning she got as her eyes flew open in alarm. Turning toward the noise, she saw a movement in the doorway of her darkened bedroom. Before she had time to react, a shadowed figure moved toward her at a rapid pace. Helen sat frozen, her mind racing, yet knowing there was no escape.

11

Josh saw Helen stifle the scream she was about to emit as he entered her bathroom, and her eyes narrowed, first in recognition, and then suspicion. His gaze unnervingly moved from her face downward, and he couldn?t resist his sharp intake of breath at the sight in front of him. Her graceful neck ended with the top of two voluptuous breasts peaking out of the bubbles. His mouth practically watered at the sight of them, as he imagined running his tongue along their smooth silkiness, then delving below the bubbles to the feast on what lay beneath. He felt his heart sped up, and his body began to harden in response. ?How did you get into my apartment, Josh? Haven?t you ever heard of knocking?? Helen asked irritably as she sank lower into the bath, to cover herself more fully. ?Your front door was open. I knocked a few times, but you didn?t answer. I got worried, so I came in,? he said, still unable to tear his gaze away from the bubbles. He kept getting teasing glimpses of skin that were driving him crazy. ?My door was open? But I could have sworn I locked it when I came in,? she pondered, then cleared her throat loudly. ?Uh, do you think you could look at my face for a minute?? she asked in a sarcastic voice that sounded somewhat strangled. Josh?s eyes guiltily shot up to meet hers. He couldn?t seem to forget the sight of her creamy white breasts floating out of the bubbles. He was a Tanvieran warrior, and as such, knew he should have more control over himself. Shaking his head, he forced his concentration away from her curvaceous body to her words. ?You locked the door? Are you sure? This is important, Helen. Did you or did you not lock the door?? he asked insistently. Helen thought about it for a moment then nodded her head. ?Yes, I?m positive that as soon as Phillip left, I locked the door,? she replied.. ?Phillip?? Josh asked in what came out more like a growl. ?Yes, he picked me up from the hospital and brought me home,? she replied easily, unaware of the tension emanating from Josh. ?And did he help you bathe too?? Josh bit out angrily. Helen?s mouth dropped open and the shock on her face was obvious. His words must have fully registered a moment later, because her eyes flared with anger as she stared at him. ?I think you better leave now,? she said through gritted teeth. ?I don?t like what you?re implying.? ?I?m only telling it like I see it,? he said with a smirk, his insolent gaze perusing her body beneath the bubbles.

Helen?s face turned red, and she looked like she was about to yell at him, but then she paused, as if pondering something, and gave him a smug smile instead. ?Well, you certainly are perceptive, aren?t you? And since that?s the case, then there really is no reason for you to hang around, is there? Obviously, Phillip has me well satisfied, so if there?s nothing else...?? Helen asked, looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to leave. She didn?t have long to wait before she got a reaction, however, it wasn?t the one she expected. Before she knew what was happening, he reached in and lifted her out of the tub. Ignoring her protests, he carried her dripping wet body cradled in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all, and laid her on her bed. He loomed over her, and saw with satisfaction that her eyes widened with alarm as she realized the true extent of his anger. ?I don?t like to be teased, yaquesh. You shouldn?t have taunted me like that, because now you?ve woken up my beast. And when it awakens, there?s no stopping me until I?m satisfied,? he said in a deep, husky voice. He stared at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes, then raked his gaze up and down her body. After devouring her with his eyes, he slowly lowered his upper body so that it pressed lightly against Helen?s bare, wet breasts. He was careful not lean on her injured arm, while his lower body rested on the bed. He could feel her nipples harden immediately as they pressed against his T-shirt clad chest, and he groaned aloud at how pleasurable that felt. Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, and as he lowered his lips to hers, he felt a deep satisfaction in the knowledge that Helen wanted him as badly as he wanted her. **** Helen couldn?t seem to control her actions. From the time Josh had lifter her out of the tub, she was lost. Though she knew he was angry, his touch was gentle, and as he cradled her in his arms, she felt cosseted in a way she had never felt before. When he ran his eyes over her, it was if an electric current raced throughout her body, sending tingles everywhere. Her breasts suddenly felt fuller, her stomach tightened, and an ache started somewhere below her bellybutton before moving lower to the center of her. The minute his chest lowered and touched hers, her body almost leapt with excitement, and she could feel her breasts harden as they rubbed against his warm chest. Even the smell of him excited her, spicy yet also woodsy, and she couldn?t stop herself from reaching up and pulling him closer. She needed him closer, needed to feel his hard lips pressed against hers so desperately that she almost cried out in pleasure when their mouths finally met. She met the touch of his tongue with her own enthusiastic participation. She couldn?t seem to get enough of his mouth, and trembled with the pleasure of each thrust and parry of his tongue mimicking a more intimate act. When he pulled away slightly she moaned with disappointment, but was glad when he only slid to the side so that his hands could begin their own exploration. His fingers ran lightly along her skin, leaving a burning trail wherever they went. His touch was gentle, and Helen knew he was being careful not to hurt her. He inched closer to her breasts and she arched her back in an effort to bring him there faster. A crash in the other room made them both suddenly stiffen, and Josh immediately covered her mouth with his hand, before she could speak, then brought his mouth close to her ear.

?Not a sound. I?m going to go see who or what made that noise. Stay here until I come back,? he whispered softly. Despite the situation they were in, the feel of Josh?s warm breath tickling her ear left a hitch in her throat that made it difficult for her to breathe, but somehow she managed to nod her head in agreement. Josh released her and slowly pulled himself up. He made his way across the room with amazing stealth. The few men she knew who were built like Josh rarely could move so silently, yet that was just what he was doing. He was so quiet that when he left her bedroom, she wasn?t even sure he was still in her apartment. He was like some huge jungle cat moving stealthily towards his prey. She was tempted to call out to him for a moment, but clamped her mouth shut before she could do so. Now would not be a good time to alert whoever had entered her home that she knew they were there. Helen listened carefully for any sign of what was going on. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a woman?s scream, cut off mid way, and the sound of two bodies hitting the floor hard, followed by a loud grunt that she knew belonged to Josh. Not thinking about the consequences, she grabbed the bathrobe hanging on the hook behind her door, and after putting it on; she rushed out of her bedroom and turned on the nearest light. She gasped in surprise at the unlikely scene that appeared before her. Josh lay on the hard floor with Druscilla sprawled on top of him. He still had his hand over her mouth, but slowly removed it as the light turned on. Instead of jumping to her feet immediately, Dru seemed to snuggle even closer to Josh, and an alluring smile spread across her lips. ?Josh, I?m so glad it?s you,? she purred, hugging him. Helen noticed with disgust that he didn?t resist her embrace, and suddenly she felt like throwing cold water on the two of them. Dru finally released Josh, and they both got to their feet. ?What are you doing here, Dru?? Helen asked in a sharp voice. Dru jumped at the sound of Helen?s voice and swung around to face her. ?Oh! Hi, Helen. You?re just the person I came to see. I?m glad you?re looking so much better,? she said with a quick smile, before turning back towards Josh. ?I know we already spoke last night, and by the way, I think I left my earring at your apartment,? she murmured in an intimate tone that was just loud enough for Helen to hear, then continued in a much louder one. ?Anyways, when I woke up this morning, I thought about Helen and had the sudden urge to check up on her to make sure she was okay. But when I came to the door, it was slightly ajar. I knocked quietly a couple of times, but no one answered, so I decided to come in and see if she was okay.? ?Weren?t you worried about what you would find? Why didn?t you go for help first?? Josh asked. ?Help? I really didn?t think about it,? she said with a shrug. ?I just assumed Helen had left the door open for some extra air circulation, because we all know how stuffy these apartments get, especially during the summer, and that she was in the bath or shower and couldn?t hear me knocking on the door. Whichever the case, I felt like I needed to make sure she was okay. What I didn?t expect was to find you here,

Josh,? she said looking slightly perturbed. ?I came over for the same reason as you. I wanted to make sure Helen was okay,? he explained. Helen couldn?t keep quiet any longer. Her face burned with embarrassment and she was simmering with anger from the fact that Josh had the nerve to come on to her after being with Druscilla last night, and that Dru seemed very cozy with Josh at the moment. She wanted both of them out of her apartment as soon as possible. ?Great. Now that we?ve established that I?m fine and the two of you have figured out where the other was and why, I?d like you both to leave,? she said folding her arms across her chest and staring at both of them coldly.

12

Helen tried to nap after they both left, Dru looking insulted and Josh glaring at her in warning, but she was unable to relax. She needed to work, that was all there was to it. She wondered how she was going to make it through the day. The thought of seeing Josh after this morning?s fiasco left her feeling sick. He had seemed so genuinely caring that she had made the mistake of letting herself fall into his trap. She hadn?t done that since her early teens. She had let herself start to feel some hope with Josh, despite all her internal alarms telling her not to. And with Dru hanging around also, the writing had been on the wall, easy to read, if she had been paying attention. She wouldn?t easily forget the look on Josh and Dru?s face when she had practically thrown them out the door. They both had shocked expressions on their faces for a moment before Josh finally got over it and anger glinted in his eyes instead. ?This isn?t over yet, yaquesh,? Josh warned, as he walked Dru out the door, then turned back towards her. ?I?d advise you to make sure all your windows and doors are locked. I?ll check to see that the police officer assigned to you is around. We will talk more later,? he said arrogantly before shutting the door after him. Helen waited until Josh was gone before she jumped to her feet and double checked that everything was locked. After laying awake in her bed, jumping at every sound, she almost regretted throwing Josh out. But the memory of he and Dru huddled close in her apartment made her angry all over again. Dragging herself out of bed, Helen decided that she couldn?t lie in bed all day, and would just go the lab and work for a while. Her body felt bruised all over, but the pain had lessened somewhat since the day

before. She had trouble doing all the things she took for granted before she broke her arm, like brushing her teeth, and dressing herself. By the time she got to work, she was feeling extremely frustrated. The only thing which lightened her mood somewhat was the fact that her office had already been cleaned up, repainted, and she had been given a new desk and chair. Also, because she kept extra copies of her research in both hard copy and on extra disks in a different location, most of her work had been saved from permanent damage. Everyone she passed that day took one look at her stormy face, and instead of asking how she was, went the other way. She was able to get a small amount of work done. Unfortunately, much of it was paperwork to make up for the days she had missed. By the early afternoon, she was caught up enough to start on her current projects, including recording the most recent observation results. As she sat at her new desk, looking at the numbers, Helen was reminded of the observation discrepancies Josh and she were discussing before the explosion, and knew, as difficult as it might be, she needed to speak to him about that. They had resolved nothing yet, and she was aware of the fact that her job was still being questioned, despite everything else going on. Between the attempt on her life, the research result problems, and her situation with Josh, she didn?t think things could get much worse. Unfortunately, the next person that walked through her office door made her realize just how wrong she was.

13

?Well, I guess I don?t have much of a choice in the matter, now do I?? Josh heard Helen state angrily. She shut her office door a little too loudly as the center?s lead researcher, Dr. James Gilbert, walked away looking very uncomfortable. Josh had been on the way to see her because they definitely needed to talk. This morning had not turned out as planned. He had let himself get disgracefully out of control. That would not happen again, if he could help it. After speaking with the officer assigned to watch Helen, and assuring himself that the man could handle the situation, he had spent much of the remainder of the morning making all the preparations for his plan. Everything was in place, but he wanted to speak to Helen first, and establish where they stood, so that there wouldn?t be any more situations like this morning, at least not until she was ready, and he knew that time would come soon. He could control himself until then. He reached her door, and knocked lightly. ?I?m busy,? he heard her muffled voice say from the other side of the door. ?It?s Josh. I need to speak to you,? he said through the door.

?Go away. I can?t talk right now. I, uh, have too much work to do,? she replied, again in a suspiciously muffled voice. Josh made a decision quickly and, as was his usual way, acted on it immediately. Ignoring her words, he opened the door and closed it quietly behind him. Helen sat at her desk, resting her head on her folded hands, sniffing softly. The thought that his strong and proud yaquesh was crying made him feel like he had just been punched in the stomach. He was picking up her sadness in waves of pain. He walked over to her desk, lifted her from the chair and carried her cradled in his arms. Stepping to the couch, he sat down and cradled her on his lap, holding her head gently against his chest. ?It?s all right, yaquesh, don?t cry,? he murmured, stroking her hair with his hand. He continued giving her soft words of comfort until she stopped sniffling, and his shirt was wet with tears. Eventually, Helen raised her tear-streaked face to his and looked at him with such longing that he couldn?t resist pressing a soft kiss to her lips. When she didn?t resist, he kissed her again and again, until he knew she had to feel his hardness pressed against bottom. She wiggled a little, as if trying to get more comfortable, and he groaned aloud. Pulling away from her slightly, he placed his finger under her chin, and gently tilted it up so that she was looking at him. ?Are you okay now?? Helen nodded her head mutely then gave him a tremulous smile. ?I?m feeling a little better now, thanks. I guess with everything going on, I just needed to have a good cry,? she said. Josh nodded his head, and they sat together in a comfortable silence for a while. ?What just happened with Dr. Gilbert?? he finally asked, breaking the quiet. Helen lifted her chin and looked at him proudly. ?He decided that with the attempts on my life, it might be better if I take some time off until this gets straightened out,? she said in a shaky voice. Her eyes started to fill with tears again, and her chin began to tremble. Somehow she managed to hold back the tears as she swallowed convulsively. ?You would be safer some place else, you know,? he said. ?I know it makes sense, but I don?t have to like it,? she said heatedly, untangling herself from his arms, standing. ?And to top it all off, he?s letting Druscilla take my place as temporary lead researcher of our project. This job is something I?ve worked so long to reach. I?d hate to lose all the ground I?ve gained up to this point, and just hand it over to someone else,? she said in agitation as she began pacing the room. ?What if I told you I had a way to take you away from this, without you losing anything you?ve achieved up to this point?? ?I?d say tell me more,? she said with an expectant smile, walking back to the couch and sitting down beside him. ?Dr. Gilbert came to see me today also. It seems Dr. Morrow is on the mend, and will be ready to

return to work on Monday. Tomorrow will be my last day anyway, and since you?ll be leaving also, there?s not that much I can do to clarify this situation without your input, unless I?m away from the center with you,? he explained before continuing. ?I have a place in the, uh, country, that you could stay at for a short while. We could both keep updated on what?s happening at the center while we?re there, you?ll be safe from whoever is trying to kill you, and we can continue to work on those result discrepancies,? he offered. ?Why would you do that for me? Aren?t you here to expose all my faults with this project?? she asked suspiciously. ?You know I?m not. I?m here to make sure everything is running as it should be. I?m not out to get you fired, Helen,? he assured her. ?I want to help you. You?re in a difficult situation, and I think my plan is a good one for both of us. I can still get to the bottom of the numerical errors, and you can be safe from harm.? he explained. Josh could tell she was thinking about his plan, but he also knew there was an issue weighing on her mind, which she hadn?t brought up yet. He almost smiled, but caught himself just in time. His yaquesh needed to feel safe from him before she would agree. He would let her have that illusion, until she was safely ensconced in his home, but after that, she would be his. ?Well, what do you think?? ?I don?t? know,? she hesitated. ?What is it?? ?I?m not one to beat around the bush, Josh. The thing is, I?d like to go stay at your place in the country, but it has to be with no strings attached. I want to be there as your guest only, not your lover,? she explained, looking slightly uncomfortable. ?I see,? he said thoughtfully. ?Is that going to be a problem for you? Because if it is, I can go some place else.? ?Where? You couldn?t stay with your family, because that would be too easy to figure out. My summerhouse will be the best choice for you. No one will think to look for you there,? he explained logically before continuing. ?As far as your status while staying in my home, I?ll keep it at whatever level you?re happy with,? he said without actually promising not to touch her. He knew his touch could make both of them very happy. Helen didn?t seem to notice anything amiss with his words. ?Can you be ready to go tonight? I need to speak to Dr. Gilbert first, but after that, I think I?ll be free to take you there,? he asked ?Tonight? That?s so quick. I need to pack and there are some things I should pick up at the store for the trip, plus I want to say good-bye to Phillip before I go,? she said. Though the man appeared harmless, there was something about him that didn?t sit right with Josh. Just the mention of Phillip?s name on Helen?s lips triggered his territorial and protective instincts. He wanted to forbid her to talk to the other man, but managed to keep his anger hidden, and smiled at her benignly. ?Why don?t you say good-bye to him right now? It?s your lunch break, so you have some time. And

I?m sure anything extra you need, you?ll be able to get where we?re going. I?m heading over to see Dr. Gilbert now. I?ll let him know I?m leaving tonight, but not where I?m going. I would advise you to do the same. Just say you?re going to stay with some friends for a while, and that you?ll be in contact soon.? ?What? Do you honestly think Phillip could be behind any of this?? ?I don?t know. But what I do know is that if Phillip inadvertently mentions your whereabouts to someone else, it could get back to the assassin.? Helen pondered his words for a minute and then nodded her head in agreement. ?I guess you?re right,? she admitted reluctantly. ?Why don?t I come get you at around eight tonight, and we?ll head out then?? he asked. Josh knew Helen wasn?t sure about leaving so suddenly. She was probably already regretting her decision to go to his house in the first place. He played his next card, knowing it would help make up her mind. ?Helen, I?m not trying to force you into anything. I?m just trying to help. If you?re not sure about this, I?m sure your family will be glad to arrange for you to go somewhere else,? he offered. The look of horror that came over Helen?s face almost made him laugh out loud. He had learned just about everything about her since coming to her time. He knew she and her family didn?t get along well. He also was aware of how badly they treated her, just because she was different from them. This angered him because he knew her family had no understanding of her intelligence and true beauty, and so felt threatened by her. Helen was loath to ask them for anything because they would fall on her vulnerability like a pack of wolves on their prey. ?No. I?ve made up my mind. I?m going with you,? she replied with determination lacing her voice. ?I?ll see you at eight o?clock tonight,? she said before turning and hurrying away. Josh watched her go with admiration shining in his eyes. Helen was truly like a warrior. She made the best possible decision for a given situation with great speed and accuracy, then acted on that decision right away. Heading back to his office, he ran through his plan again, and reaffirmed that all was as it should be. He didn?t encounter Helen for the rest of the afternoon, and at the end of the work day, he headed back to his apartment. He didn?t go to see Dr. Gilbert as he had mentioned to her, because it really wasn?t necessary now. At eight o?clock tonight, Helen would die, and he would be long gone.

14

Helen had a hard time saying good-bye to Phillip, but finally managed it after promising to let him know where she was once she got there. Druscilla happened by while she and Phillip were talking and must have overheard part of the conversation. ?You?re leaving tonight?? Dru asked in surprise. ?That?s so sudden isn?t it? I mean I know I should be able to step into your shoes, temporarily of course, without too much of a problem, but I thought you?d be around to consult with, just in case. Is there a number where I can reach you if need be?? Helen was tempted to tell Druscilla ?too bad, so sad?, but knew that would not be very professional. ?I?m sure Dr. Gilbert will be able to answer any questions you have, Dru. Besides all my observations and hypotheses are available to download onto your computer whenever you need them. I know you?ll be fine, until I get back,? she explained. ?Besides, I?ll be checking in from time to time also, so if something goes wrong I?ll find out about it,? she warned in a voice that said there better not be any mistakes. Dru looked like she was about to say something, then her gaze slid to Phillip for a moment, and instead she shrugged her shoulders and turned away. ?Good luck,? she said as she walked out the door of Helen?s office. ?Bye, Dru,? she said without much emotion before turning back to Phillip. She wasn?t much on good-byes or all the teary-eyed hugs or kisses. ?Take care, Phillip. I?ll see you soon,? she said uncomfortably, holding out her hand for a shake. Phillip shook it, then gently pulled her closer for a brief hug. ?You take care of yourself too, Helen. Be careful and I?ll see you soon,? he said gruffly. Helen watched him leave her office, and knew that she would miss him. He was one of the few people she felt like she could call a friend. Later that evening, she finished packing everything she thought she might need, then sat down on her bed with a sigh. She had doubts about making this trip to Josh?s house, but knew that she didn?t have many other options. She couldn?t ask her family. That would be like admitting defeat to them, even though her request would save her life. Her family would help her of course, but with a sort of smug satisfaction that she didn?t know if she could handle, and they would never let her forget it. It wouldn?t surprise her if her parents told her to consider settling down with a man and forgetting about this ?science stuff?, as they so often called it. It was painful to her, even after this many years, that she was still unable to feel any kind of real connection to her family. The times when she did attend family gatherings, she always felt like the odd man out, a spectator rather than a participant. Although when she was younger, she tried to break through and be a part of them, she had finally given up on that. She was being silly. Life was what life was. As she had once heard from someone, when you get lemons, make lemonade. Things could be worse. She would just have to handle this situation like she always did, with her chin up, looking to the future, and not dwelling on the past. She knew that she couldn?t deal with asking her parents for help, so she would have to go with Josh for the time being.

Unfortunately, Helen didn?t know if she could deal with Josh either, but of the two options, she knew she would choose him and his country home over her family?s ?hospitality?. She would just take things a day at a time with Josh. He had said he would behave himself, so she would have to be happy with that. As if her thoughts had conjured him to her, she heard a knock on the door. ?It?s Josh,? he said loudly through the door. ?Are you ready to go?? Helen glanced up at the clock and realized that it was already eight o?clock. Everything seemed to be moving too fast, but she got up and walked over to the door. She had made a decision, and now she would follow through with her plan. ?Hi, Josh,? she said as she opened the door. ?Come on in while I get the last few things together.? Josh followed close behind her as she entered her bedroom and started to lift her suitcase up, until she felt his hand cover hers as it gripped the handle of the case. ?Let me help you with that,? he said. Helen released it, and stepped back, letting him take it for you. ?Thanks. It is pretty heavy. I wasn?t sure what to bring. You did say we were going up to the mountains didn?t you?? ?Hmm,? he grunted noncommittally as he carried her suitcase out to his car, and put it into the back. With one last look at her apartment, she closed the door and walked to Josh?s Jeep. They started to drive away, when Josh suddenly muttered under his breath, and stopped the car. ?Sorry. I just remembered something I left behind in my apartment. Would you mind if we stopped there before going?? ?Of course not. I?ll just wait in the car for you.? ?Why don?t you come in? This may take a minute.? Josh unlocked the door and held it open for her to go through. ?Ladies first,? he said with a gallant sweep of his hand. Helen walked into his apartment, then stopped short at the sight before her. Josh?s apartment looked like hers from the outside, but that?s where the similarity ended. Once inside, the majority of the room was empty. The only furniture she could see was a bed and a small table with two chairs. ?You don?t need much do you?? she asked with a teasing grin. ?I hadn?t planned on staying long, so the center provided me with just the necessities,? he replied with a shrug. ?Why don?t you have a seat for a moment while I get what I need??

Helen sat at the table and waited. After about five minutes, she started drumming her fingers on its surface. Suddenly she had to steady herself to keep from falling over as an explosion close by seemed to shake the whole room. She gripped the table tightly and looked around wildly. Everything around her rattled and vibrated for a moment, then it was still. She held the table tightly a moment longer as she struggled to get her bearings, then slowly released it. Where was Josh? What was taking him so long, and why hadn?t he come out after the explosion? She looked towards his bedroom. ?Josh, what was that?? When no one answered, she walked over to the kitchen window. She saw a plume of smoke coming from the direction of her apartment, and Josh?s jeep was nowhere in sight. She started towards the door leading outside, when it flew open and Josh walked through. He looked very calm considering the explosion that just went off. ?How did you get outside? I thought you were in your bedroom?? she asked, confused by what was happening. ?Did you hear the explosion? What?s going on?? ?Never mind that,? he said striding quickly towards her, turned her away from him, and then pulled her back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and held her tightly. ?Hold on, Helen. Go ahead, Brunhilda.? ?Yes, Jo Sha Ta Rem.? The soft detached voice was the last thing Helen heard. She didn?t even have time to move as she suddenly felt the floor give way beneath them and they started falling. After that, everything went black.

Year 3005

15

Josh opened his eyes with a groan as nausea threatened to empty the contents of his stomach. This always happened to him after time travel, but dissipated within a few minutes as he gained his bearings. Helen was slumped over in his arms. She hadn?t regained consciousness yet, but for a first time jump, that wasn?t unusual. He knew when she woke up, she would feel something similar to what, in her time, was called a hangover. Her head would ache, her stomach would churn with queasiness, and she would feel weak with fatigue. ?Travels end, Jo Sha Ta Rem,? Brunhilda said. ?Are you ready for transport?? Josh looked down at Helen for a moment. He could wait for her to wake up, but it would be easier to get her back to his estate and make her as comfortable as possible before that. Lifting her gently in his arms he carried her to the nearby transport station. ?Travels end, Brunhilda. Yes, we?re ready,? Josh said, closing his eyes. He opened his eyes a moment later to the familiar surroundings of his study. Though people occasionally walked and drove airborne vehicles to go from one place to another, the favored method of getting around was through mental transport. It was instantaneous up to a certain distance, and there were no pollution or traffic issues to worry about. A person merely had to find a nearby transport station, and they were located throughout the main cities and scattered throughout the outlying areas, step into it, and either visualize the place they wanted to go, or think about the actual address of their destination. Josh automatically headed for his suite of rooms, not once considering putting Helen in the guest room. Only after setting her on his bed did the reality of that hit him. He had brought a few other women to his country home, but he?d never considered letting them into his private suite. The fact that he did so naturally with Helen only confirmed his feeling towards her. Rather than comforting him, this confused him. He had never let his emotions rule him in this manner before. It just wasn?t something he did naturally. Since he was a small child, his teachers and parents had been very clear about one thing; intelligent thinking, honor and duty must dictate actions, never emotions. His environment growing up had been bound by this rule, and he was seriously discouraged from showing any emotional outbursts. Josh conformed to his parents? and teachers? expectations of him, as was his duty. His relationship with his parents was one based on respect and formal politeness. Despite this, his parents made him very aware that they loved him, just as he loved them. In the privacy of their home, his mother often showed she cared through her gentle touch and soft words of encouragement, and his father with pats on back, and the pride shining in his eyes when he looked at his son. His warrior training had further instilled his responsibility. He was trained to think and act, not feel. He was taught many forms of self-defense, fighting techniques and weaponry, and he was conditioned to withstand mental and physical torture, if necessary. He grew up with a strong awareness of duty and honor, and was taught how to uphold both. He became the Tok Rok, as his father before him, and his father before him. ?Can I get you or the Rov Shoma anything Jo Sha Ta Rem?? Brunhilda asked, interrupting Josh?s thoughts.

?Not right now, Brunhilda. And please call her Helen once she wakes up. I don?t wish to confuse her when she awakens, as she has been through much over the last few days. Also, I may need a restorative for her later.? A restorative was probably going to be necessary in this case, because of the fact that Helen had never jumped before. It was an herbal tea, which brought balance to the chaos time travel created in a person?s system. Unfortunately, there was one side affect that couldn?t be helped. Immediately after consuming it, the person became almost drunk, and often acted out of character. Although this was more uncomfortable for the people around the tea drinker, then the jumpers themselves, the effect was short, only lasting a few minutes, after which that person suddenly became calm and more in balance. The Chamber designed the drink initially just for their time jumpers in training, but later allowed its distribution for those emergency cases where someone might be required to jump who had little or no previous experience. All rulers of the various planets had the recipe or tea available for such a situation. ?As you say Jo Sha. Please let me know when you?re ready,? the computer said. Josh looked hesitantly down at Helen. He wanted to partially undress her, so that she would be more comfortable, but wasn?t looking forward to the test of his willpower. Just the sight of her satiny smooth expanse of skin where the ?V? of her blouse was open, caused his heartbeat to accelerate. No, for now her would just take her shoes off and let her remain in her clothes. That would have to do. He carefully removed them, and laid them on the floor by the bed. Just as he sat down on a chair facing her, she started to stir. At first it was just a slight toss and turn, but then she began emitting soft moans of pain. At that point, he rose immediately and went to her. He brushed the hair from her face, and spoke in soft soothing tones to her. After a while, her eyes fluttered open and her gaze remained unfocused until she found his. Her eyes widened suddenly, and she tried to sit up. Josh gently pushed her back down. As her head met the pillow, she let out another moan and her eyes seemed to roll back in her head. ?Brunhilda, I think now would be a good time for some tea,? Josh said calmly. In actuality Josh was anything but calm. He didn?t like feeling so helpless about a person?s pain, especially Helen?s, and felt at a loss that there wasn?t more he could do for her. She hugged her good arm tightly around her stomach and finally spoke. ?No tea. Feel sick. Won?t be able to swallow,? she gasped out. Josh disregarded her words as he picked up the tea that suddenly appeared on the table beside his bed. ?Drink some. You?ll feel better,? he said her softly. Helen slightly opened one eye and squinted it warily up at him. ?Promise?? ?Yes. This tea will help, I promise. And I?m sure it tastes very pleasant also,? he assured her with an encouraging smile as he held the cup to her lips. Unfortunately he must have been wrong about the taste, because the minute she took one sip of the tea her face puckered up like she had just eaten something extremely sour, and she glared at him.

?Well, maybe not. But you will feel better, so keep drinking,? he said persistently pushing the tea time and time again to her mouth. Helen?s face remained puckered for the first minute or so as she drank the tea, but then suddenly she grabbed the cup from his hand, drank the rest of the liquid with a slurp, then set it down on the table by the bed. She let out a loud sigh of contentment, and a wide smile spread across her lips as she stared at him with a dreamy look in her eyes. ?Do you know that you have the most incredible eyes? They look like gray clouds and blue sky swirling around each other, as if they can?t decide if the day should be cloudy or clear. And sometimes they glow with a kind of warmth that leaves me singed, while other times they look so cold, I get the shivers,? she said earnestly staring at his face. Josh hid his surprise when Helen placed her hands on his shoulders and pulled his face close to hers. ?You really are an incredibly sexy guy, you know that? It?s not like you?re this perfect faced Adonis, thank goodness, you?re more like a rough around the edges warrior with incredible muscles and a body that leaves me breathless,? she continued with a sigh that lost it?s wistfulness when it ended in a loud hiccup. Helen covered her mouth, then tried to smother the giggle that somehow lost control as she threw back her head and laughed. The sound of her laughter stunned him. It was so low, deep, and heartfelt. It held none of the usual restraint, which Helen held on to with such tight reins. It sounded natural and free, as if that were the true woman coming through. He stared at her and felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. This free and happy woman was part of Helen?s true self, and he couldn?t wait for her to set it free. Helen laughter eventually died down, but her hiccups remained. She met his gaze with a perplexed look on her face, then a seductive smile spread across her face. Josh saw that smile, and knew that it would always have the power to move him. ?Oops, I think I have the hiccups. Oh well, I?m sure they?ll pass. Anyways, where was I? Um, right, I was talking about you, you big hunky guy,? she said as she rubbed her nose back and forth across his. ?It?s not just your great body and rugged face either, you know. It?s the way you carry yourself, like a large tiger waiting to pounce. It gives me shivers all over--oh and your hair!? she said enthusiastically, reaching around to where his hair was tied back. She undid the tie, and ran her fingers through his mane. ?Do you know that I?ve been wanting to do that since we met? My fingers have practically itched to reach out and touch your hair,? she said with a sigh. ?Now I know why. It?s as silky as it looks. I could do this all day.? Josh wouldn?t mind her doing it all day either. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the pleasure of her stroking him, and the unbidden images of her touching him all over came to mind. The feel of her hands on him caused his body to tighten in response, and only through sheer determination did he manage to not touch her. He clenched his fists tightly by his side, knowing that now was not the time. She was only doing this because of the restorative, and he would not use that as an excuse to fulfill his desire. His honor wouldn?t allow it. She would come to him with a clear mind and of her own free will, or not at all. He gritted his teeth, struggling to control himself. It was sweet torture, and he didn?t know how much longer he could hold out against her soft touch. Suddenly, her hands stilled, then tightened in his hair

before she slowly removed them. Josh slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring into Helen?s confused ones. ?WHAT?IS?GOING--ON?? Helen asked, slowly enunciated each word. The dreamy, slightly slurred voice of a moment ago was now completely gone. His princess had awoken from her slumber.

16

What had she been thinking? One minute she was in her apartment, the next she?s running her fingers through Josh?s hair. She vaguely remembered an explosion and the feel of Josh wrapping his arms tightly around her, but that was about it. A movement to the right of Josh distracted her, and her mouth practically dropped open in surprise at what she saw. It was a painting of beautiful lake scene. The colors were so rich that she was transfixed by it. The dark black shore looked soft and velvety, with lush, emerald green plant life sprinkled around it, and the clear cool blue water perfectly reflected the shining rays of two small suns sitting side by side in a lavender sky. Though that was surprising, it wasn?t what had caught her attention. It was the fact that the scene in the painting would actually move every few seconds. One moment it was still, and the next she would see small sparkling waves lapping at the shore, glittering like diamonds from the suns? reflection. She was transfixed by the incredible beauty of the painting as it moved, and it wasn?t until Josh cleared his throat that her attention returned to him. When it did, however, so did her panic. She didn?t like feeling like this, as if she was out of control. She needed answers and she needed them now. ?Where am I, and why was I, um, running my hands through your hair a moment ago?? she asked uncomfortably. ?You?re at my country home, as promised. You felt a little ill upon arrival, so I gave you some tea to help settle your stomach. Unfortunately, the tea has a tendency to make people momentarily, uh--? Josh searched for a word from her time that would satisfy her but not scare her. ?It makes people somewhat giddy.? ?Giddy?? she asked. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. ?Yes, somewhat imbalanced for a moment or two, but it soon passes and the person feels immensely better afterwards,? he explained. ?But I don?t get motion sickness. As a matter of fact, I even like riding on roller coasters and sailing in boats. Plus, I don?t remember driving here. Why is that??

?Because we didn?t drive here.? ?What do you mean? Did we fly on a plane to get here?? she asked, confused by the fact that she had no memory of getting to his home. ?No, not a plane either. I want you to take a deep breath, and then listen to everything I have to say until I?m done. After that, if you want to ask me anything, you may,? Josh said. Helen lifted her chin mutinously. ?I can?t promise not to talk, Josh. However, I will try to hear you out as much as possible,? she agreed reluctantly. ?Thank you, yaquesh.? A smile spread across Josh?s mouth. Was that admiration she saw in his eyes? Whatever it was became lost to Helen as Josh spoke his first words, and her mouth dropped open in amazement. ?First of all, you have not just traveled through space, from one place to another. You have also traveled from one time to another. You are on my home planet of Tanviera, which is located about two galaxies over from earth?s Milky Way. It?s considered a primitive planet by many, but our technological capabilities are as strong as most. We?ve just chosen to preserve certain aspects of our culture, which other races don?t, uh, seem to appreciate or understand,? he explained carefully. Helen opened her mouth to speak, but before she could do so, Josh held up and continued. ?Wait, Helen. I?ll only be a minute longer, then you may speak. I can tell you more of my world later. The most important thing you need to know right now is that you are here on my planet, and that you have traveled to the year 3005.? Helen couldn?t help herself. Laughter bubbled uncontrollably out of her.. Eventually she calmed down somewhat and looked at Josh with a smile on her face. He wasn?t smiling. ?Why are you laughing?? he asked with a stony expression. ?Because that was funny. If your goal was to help me feel better by making me laugh, it worked. I haven?t had a good laugh in, well, its been too many years to count,? she explained with a sigh. ?I?m glad to see you happy, yaquesh. However, my words weren?t meant to amuse you. Come with me to the window,? he requested, holding his arm out to help her get up. Stubborn as usual, she ignored his arm until she had gotten up, then only took it when she felt wobbly on her feet. Josh hid the small smile on his face as he walked her over to a large, long rectangular window, which took up about half of one of the walls. Her pride and determination were admirable. He pushed a button and a screen lifted, revealing the outside to them. The brightness of the sun made Helen gasp, and she shielded her eyes with her hand, until they had grown accustomed to the light. However, she gasped again once she was able to see clearly. She closed her eyes, then opened them, closed them again, then opened them again. The scene before remained the same, yet her mind was screaming a denial even as it was processing every image. She swung her head around and looked at the painting hanging on the wall, then looked back out the window. She couldn?t believe it! The picture portrayed the outside panoramic almost exactly true to life.

It was as if someone sat at this window and painted this picture. The sparkling blue lake with its waves lapping endlessly against the pitch black soil of the shore, the surrounding dense forest, the light lavender sky, clear of any clouds, and lastly and most amazingly, the two suns sitting side by side high above. Helen knew that having a planet revolving around two suns would normally cause such high temperatures no life force should be able to live in. Yet she immediately noticed that the size of each of the suns was much, much smaller than the one sun she was used to. If this place was real, then those suns were a much larger distance away then the sun that Earth revolved around. That could explain why the temperatures remained so mild. The house seemed to be located in a small alcove. Helen could also see various foliage on either side. She was startled to realize that none of it looked familiar. She was fully aware of the types of plants that should thrive in a forest environment, yet none were present here. She peered closer out the window but couldn?t recognize one single species. ?This can?t be real,? Helen whispered, frantically looking back and forth from the painting on the wall to the window. ?I assure you, it is very real,? Josh said in a soft, comforting voice. He slid her hand from his arm, to his hand, and gave it a reassuring squeeze before continuing. ?My sister, Sa Rah, likes to paint, and she always said I had the best view in the house. One day she decided she wanted to paint this scene, so did so. She gave it to me on my next life day as a present.? ?Your sister? Life day?? Helen asked in a dazed voice. She still was having trouble assimilating the outside scene. Her confusion must have showed on her face, because Josh reacted immediately. He pushed the button on the wall, and the screen closed once more. He turned back towards her and started guiding her away from the window. ?Yes, life day is like a birthday on earth. And Sa Rah is the name of my sister. In actuality, that?s partially why you?re here. But first you need to lie down and rest,? he said as he brought her back to his bed. Helen didn?t budge a bit. She rose her chin proudly, and met his gaze. ?I don?t want to go to bed right now, Josh. I want answers.? Josh fought the enticing image her words brought to mind as he steered her towards his bedroom door. ?Very well. Let?s go sit down in my study and I?ll explain more.? Helen let Josh lead her by the hand from the bedroom, down a hall covered in paintings she decided to avoid looking at for the time being. How was it possible that the sky was lavender and there were two suns? In Arizona there were often spectacular sunsets, with brightly hued pinks, oranges and even purples, but when she had looked out that window just now, the suns were high, not ready to set. Could she actually be on another planet and in the future? The thought seemed so ridiculous that she wanted to immediately dismiss it, yet her scientist?s mind had started to kick in and her curiosity piqued. Josh stopped at a set of intricately carved mahogany double doors, and they immediately slid open. The room was not as Helen expected. When Josh said study, she was thinking of an impersonal office space.

Instead, the room seemed to represent a certain personality. The furniture was large, over stuffed and in various tones of brown. Josh helped her to the couch, and as she sat down on it, she was shocked to feel it move. ?What the--?? she jumped off the couch, causing her head to spin from the left over dizziness that hadn?t quite dissipated, and she automatically reached out for something to steady herself. It just happened to be Josh?s hand. ?Your couch moved!? she exclaimed in dismay. ?It?s all right,? he said in a soft voice, as he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. ?The furniture throughout the house is designed to accommodate each user?s body shape, weight, and height. The couch will change slightly with each person who sits on it, but it only takes a moment, and then it stops. You?ll find it very comfortable,? he exclaimed. Helen was amazed by this. She immediately sat back down, let the furniture adjust itself, and then stood up again. She went to a nearby chair and did the same thing, and then with a laugh of delight, she did it again, this time with the love seat. She sat down and let it adjust itself, then laid her head back, and felt it realign again. She had never felt anything so comfortable before. ?This is delicious,? she said with a sigh, giving in to the urge to close her eyes. ?Yes, it is,? Josh said in a tone that made Helen raise her head and look at him. His gaze was hungry as he stared at her, and she felt her body start to burn in response. She sat up immediately, holding herself ramrod stiff. She had momentarily forgotten where she was, and with whom. ?Okay, enough furniture,? she said in a no nonsense voice. ?I need to know what?s going on, and I need to know now.? Josh gave her an indulgent smile. ?I think you already know that what I?ve told you is true, however I?ll explain it again. You?re in my country home, on the planet of Tanviera, in the year 3005,? he repeated calmly, then walked to a bookshelf, took out a book, and placed it on the table in front of her. ?Here?s a book you might find enlightening.? Helen quickly glanced down at the book. The title read: A History of Earth, 2000 AD to 3000 AD, The Turbulent Millennium. Her gaze returned to his and she silently studied his face for a moment. ?I need more proof,? she finally stated with a stubborn lift of her chin. ?Proof?? he asked raising one eyebrow. ?Yes. I?m a scientist. We base our conclusions on proof, remember?? she asked, then paused as her eyes widened with enlightenment. ?But of course, you?re not a scientist are you? Not that appearances necessarily mean anything, but you just don?t seem the type. Wait, don?t tell me, you?re some kind of warrior, or soldier, or something like that right?? she asked. Josh hesitated for a moment, then answered.

?I am a warrior,? he answered carefully. A satisfied ?I just knew it? smile spread across Helen?s face. ?So why were you pretending to be a scientist?? Josh looked intensely into her eyes, then shuttered his expression. ?I was sent back in time to kill you,? he said without emotion, as if he was talking about the weather. Helen jumped to her feet, making herself dizzy again, and winced as she bumped her arm, making her cradle it unconsciously with her other hand. When Josh reached out to steady her, she recoiled and backed up with a horrified look on her face. ?You were the one making attempts on my life?? she gasped. ?No, that was someone else. By the time the attempts on your life already started, I decided I couldn?t kill you.? Helen felt somewhat relieved by his words until he spoke again. ?I brought you to the future to prevent the group who wants you dead from accomplishing that. If I hadn?t, they would have succeeded eventually, and I wouldn?t have been able to finish my mission,? he spoke about her death in a voice so cold, it caused a shiver of fear to run up her spine. ?Now that I?m here, what do you plan on doing with me?? she asked, even though she dreaded hearing the answer. ?I still haven?t decided,? he replied. Helen waited for him to say more, but he just continued to look at her with a brooding expression. ?Well?? she blurted out when she couldn?t stand the silence any longer. ?Well what?? ?Proof. I need to know everything you?re telling me is true. Then I need to know what happens now,? she said in a voice much calmer than she felt inside. ?I?ll give you the proof you want, then we?ll talk more about you being here,? he said, holding out his hand to her. When Helen didn?t reach out immediately to take his hand, he gently clasped her hand in his. The warmth of his hand comforted her and she stared up in confusion at Josh. Was he going to kill her or not? ?I could never hurt you, yaquesh. If you look deep in your heart, I think you already know that,? he said with a warm smile, as if reading her mind. ?Are you feeling well enough now to go on a short outing with me?? ?An outing? If it will give me the proof I need, then of course I am,? she said proudly as they left the

study hand and hand.

17

Their ?outing? wasn?t quite what Helen expected. She and Josh ascended stairs, which went up through a hatchway onto the roof. As Helen stepped into the sunlight, she was awed by the beauty around her. The warmth of the two suns was mild, almost spring like, and the refreshing breeze held a sweet scent similar to Jasmine. Though she couldn?t place the plant life around her, she noticed that the vegetation looked lush and green, like one might find in a forest. The sight of the clear blue lake only steps away from the house lulled her to an even more relaxed state as she peered out over her surroundings to the lavender sky above. Helen took a deep breath and sighed softly. ?Beautiful isn?t it?? Helen jumped slightly at the sound of Josh?s voice so close to her ear. His warm breath slid over her neck and she shivered, despite the warm day. Firmly getting herself under control, she calmly turned to face him. ?Yes it is. Is this what you wanted to show me?? ?No. Come with me,? he gently took her arm and led her across the rooftop to some sort of vehicle. It looked like something out of ?the Jetsons?. The rounded bubbled windows made it look like a Pinto on the outside and all the buttons and displays made it look like an upgraded Mercedes on the inside. Curiously, the only thing missing were the wheels. There were no wheels on it. Helen looked around for a ramp or something for the car to go down, but found none. She was about to ask Josh about that when the doors to the vehicle opened automatically as they approached it. He made sure she was seated before he sat down in what she assumed was the driver?s seat. The doors soundlessly closed. ?Destination?? a detached female voice inquired. ?MU 7,? Josh replied. They rose effortlessly into the air, without any action from Josh. He held no steering wheel, and had not pushed any buttons. As they rose higher, and higher, Helen grasped the closest thing to her for support with a frightened gasp. It was Josh?s arm, but she didn?t let that stop her. She dug her nails in deep, as the vehicle suddenly lunged forward on its own. ?Who is driving this thing?? Helen asked, unable to keep the fear from her breathless voice.

Josh gently pried her nails out of his arm, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, while continuing to hold it. ?This mobile transport has its own navigation system. I merely give it a destination, and it configures the best possible route and takes us there,? he explained with an indulgent smile. Her panic was starting to subside, but she still didn?t feel safe. ?What about other traffic, how does it know how to drive around things?? ?The system had built in monitors that detect obstacles or other vehicles more than a mile away, and takes that into account when reaching its destination. It is also tied into a larger unit, which alerts it to any traffic restrictions that may be out there, and updates its files continually, so as to avoid areas of great congestion or problems.? Helen said nothing for a moment as she settled down and let her scientific side analyze his words. ?So what are all the buttons and displays for?? she eventually asked. ?In case of a manual override. If there?s some sort of error that has occurred, and you can?t get to your destination using the system, you may take control of the vehicle,? he said. ?Has that ever happened to you?? ?No. I?ve always been able to depend on the mobile transport?s navigation when using it for traveling.? Helen silently nodded her head, then tried to study her surroundings. Unfortunately, they were moving too fast for her to see much more than a blur of colors. She knew they had to be going at an incredibly high speed, but couldn?t bring herself to look for a speedometer. She had a feeling she really didn?t want to know, as the vehicle made a sharp turn that left her feeling slightly sick, then began to slow down, and after a slight ?bump? on landing, thankfully stopped. The doors softly whooshed open and she carefully climbed out of the mobile transport. Josh was at her side almost instantly with his hand out, to steady her, if need be. She managed to walk by his side unaided, however, and they proceeded across a rooftop much like the one at Josh?s house, except it was much larger, and slightly recessed so she couldn?t see the surrounding area. ?Where are we?? Helen asked as they approached a door that slid open when they drew close. ?The local medical unit. With your recent accident and injuries, and our abrupt travel, I want to make sure you?re okay. Also, once you see how far medicine has come from your time, I think you?ll more readily believe what I?ve been telling you. In other words, yaquesh, I?m going to give you the proof you?ve been asking for,? he said, smiling smugly over his shoulder at her, as he walked inside. Helen followed close behind. It took her a minute to adjust her eyes from the bright sunlight outside to the artificial light inside, but once she did, she gasped aloud in surprise. She was in what looked to be some sort of waiting area, but she knew without a doubt that this place was unlike any medical facility she had seen before. The light was the first giveaway. In place of the harsh fluorescent ones most hospitals use, they were slightly muted. However, instead of making the room appear dark, they seemed to comfort and soothe her eyes. Add the fact that the whole room was set in tones of white, light blue and yellow,

with oak colored tables, and she could have very well been in someone?s home instead of at a hospital. The next thing she noticed was that there was a very distinct scent wafting through the air. Instead of the usual strong disinfectant smell she usually experienced in most health care facilities, she detected one similar to lavender, but slightly less floral, and it left her feeling very relaxed. The last and most unbelievable observation she made was the sound of music playing. It was soft and lulling, and gave her a distinct sense of well-being. As she looked around her, she noticed that no one seemed particularly stressed or worried. Everyone appeared very calm. Josh had said this was a medical center, but considering the cold and sterile environment of the hospitals of her time, that was hard to believe. It felt more like she had walked into a new age health spa. ?Ready to go in?? Josh asked her. She hadn?t noticed him talking to anyone, but when she turned towards him, she saw an attractive woman who looked to be in her late forties standing beside him. She wore something that looked like a Kaftan. It was a soothing sky blue color, with wide sleeves, and flowing ankle length robes. ?Hello, Helen. I?m Dr. Av Ril. Won?t you please come with me?? the woman asked with a kind smile. ?Where are you taking me?? The woman looked curiously at her for a moment, then turned towards Josh. ?Helen isn?t from our planet, Doctor. Where she?s from, the medical units are much different,? he explained. ?I see. Thank you Tok Rok,? the doctor said with a slight bow in Josh?s direction, before turning back to Helen. ?Let me explain. I need to take you to a healing chamber. I will explain what it does when we get there. Please follow me,? the woman said as she turned and headed away. Helen hesitated for a moment, then squared her shoulders and followed the woman. Curiosity more than anything had now taken over. Helen had to see what this ?healing chamber? was. Her scientist?s mind would allow nothing less. ?First we will look at your injuries, by doing a brief body scan. Then we will heal you. There isn?t much more to it than that,? Doctor Av Ril explained. Then she looked behind Helen and shook her head. ?I?m sorry, Tok Rok. I would respectfully request that you wait here. A patient?s privacy is a vow all doctors take seriously. Since you are not blood relation to this woman, you may not accompany her,? she explained awkwardly. It was obvious the woman wasn?t comfortable with what she had to say, but the determination to uphold her medical vows was clear in her eyes. ?She is the Rov Shoma, and therefore, I will not leave her side,? Josh explained giving the woman a stubborn, arrogant stare. Doctor Av Ril?s eyes widened perceptibly at his words before she swung her gaze back towards Helen and gave her surprised look. ?Again I apologize, Tok Rok,? she said with another small bow. ?I had no idea. Please follow me.? Helen was very interested in her surroundings and curious about the healing chamber, but Josh?s

conversation with the doctor had caught her attention right away. She stood rooted to the spot as Doctor Av Ril and Josh continued on their way. They eventually noticed she wasn?t following and returned to where she stood, and looked at her questioningly. Josh opened his mouth to speak, but Helen raised her hand and cut him off. ?Wait just a minute. First of all, I?d like to know what a Tok Rok and Rov Shoma is, and by the way,? she said, giving Josh a pointed glare. ?Where I come from it?s rude to talk about someone standing beside you as if they aren?t even there. Secondly, you are not coming with me. I like my privacy when I?m being examined by a doctor, thank you very much.? ?Listen, Helen, I--? ?No. Listen to me. I?ve been very calm and accepting up to this point, however, this is where it ends. I am going into that healing chamber without you, and when I come out, I want some answers, Josh,? she demanded. Josh looked like he was about to answer, but instead gave her an admiring smile, and a slight bow. ?As you wish, yaquesh. I will allow your need for privacy, and then we?ll talk more when you?re finished here.? ?Thank you,? she said with a smile before turning back to the doctor. ?Shall we go, Doctor Av Ril? I have a feeling I?m going to have quite a few questions for you also.? At first, Doctor Av Ril looked at Helen in a shocked disbelief, but when Josh said nothing, and Helen proudly turned and walked away from him, a wide grin spread across her mouth. She quickly caught up with Helen and led her in the right direction. ?I like you already, Helen. I?ll be glad to answer any questions you have for me.? ?Thank you doctor,? Helen replied with her own small smile. The walked down a narrow hallway with peaceful garden scenes decorating the walls. Helen glanced at one briefly, but when she saw it start to move, she quickly looked away. It was going to take her a while to get use to the ?moving paintings? that seemed so prevalent here. Doctor Av Ril stopped at a door and it slid open soundlessly. Helen followed her into the room, and again was surprised by her surroundings. It was a spacious room, but much of the space was taken up by a large tubular shaped object, which reminded Helen of the MRI machines of her time. Though she had never had an MRI, the thought of it made her uncomfortable. She didn?t like being stuck in a tube, unable to get out without the help of someone else. She wasn?t claustrophobic, but the thought of being in such a small, enclosed space for a lengthy period of time was not something she looked forward to. Her gaze shifted to take in the rest of the room and she found it as aesthetically pleasing to the eyes as the rest of the center. The color tone of the walls, paintings and one table and chair were just as soothing as in the waiting area. The lights were also dim in here, and the music from the waiting area was playing. Helen took a deep breath and detected the same lavender scent, but there was also the smell of something stronger, which she couldn?t quite place. When she turned towards Dr. Av Ril, she noticed that the woman now wore some sort of mask over her mouth and nose. ?Don?t worry about the mask. It?s just to keep me alert. The scent you smell in this room is a mixture of

plants and herbs designed to relax you,? she explained. Though the woman?s voice was slightly muted, the soothing tone of it was apparent. Helen felt a sense of disembodiment overcome her. Suddenly she was not only feeling extremely calm and relaxed, but she also was experiencing a kind of numbness to everything around her. ?This relaxant will not harm your body in any way, and it only lasts a short while. What I?m going to do is help you into the healing scanner, so that we can find out the exact extent of your injuries,? Doctor Av Ril explained softly. ?But first I need to remove this, uh, covering from your arm.? Helen was aware of the other woman talking, but her attention was elsewhere. She stared, fixated on a large painting on one of the walls in the room. It looked like a large, golden wheat field set against the pale lavender sky. Each minute the stalks would sway in the wind, making it look like a turbulent sea of gold, blinding in its reflection from the suns visible overhead. She heard a faint buzzing noise, then cool air brushed against her injured arm, but the painting still held her captive in its swaying motion. It wasn?t until she felt herself being helped into the healing scanner that her gaze broke away from the painting. Despite the relaxant in the air, her heart sped into a frantic pace, as she realized she was now lying in the tubular machine, unable to move.

18

?Are you going to cover my head also?? Helen asked anxiously. ?Yes, but first I want you to put on these glasses.? Doctor Av Ril responded with a nod. ?What are they for?? Helen asked as the doctor approached her with large dark glasses in her hand. They looked like the all cover type that skiers sometimes wore. ?They provide a mild hypnotic sedative which will induce an almost dream like state.? ?Are you sure it?ll work on me? I mean, I?m not, uh, from around here,? Helen said in a worried voice. She was somewhat anxious about this procedure, but she was also extremely curious about how it worked. Scientist mode was definitely in place. ?I?m sure. This technique has been used throughout the universe for many years. You?re going to be fine,? she explained in a comforting voice. Helen looked into the Doctor?s gaze, and saw only kindness as she gently placed the glasses over her eyes. She tensed as her eyes were covered. She heard a soft ?whoosh? and felt the air around her move. She

knew she was now totally enclosed in the machine, but the glasses seemed to be doing their job. Helen concentrated on the swirling patterns playing repeatedly in front of her eyes, and slipped effortlessly into the dream. She was twirling around and around in the man?s arms, and she had never felt so free. The feel of his warm hand at her waist sent sparks of fire throughout her body. He had initially guided her in the dance, but after the first seductive sway of his hips and the heated touch of his hand, her body was no longer hers. It belonged to the ?other?, the swan inside her who wanted to spread her wings and fly. She knew her well. She was a majestic animal, graceful, intelligent, strong, and beautiful. She let nothing and no one limit her, and she truly strove to be all she could be. Feeling her wings unfold, she tipped her head back and gloried in her freedom. The dance took her over, as was its way, and she let the yearning inside show in every move of her body, every step she took, and every burning look she gave her lover. Though she couldn?t make out his features behind the curtain of his long hair, she knew he was magnificent, everything she wanted in a man, but had never dreamed of finding. He was smart, he had shown her his intelligence in so many different ways. He was strong, a protector and a warrior. He was caring. Every look and touch told her how much he loved her, and wanted to continue loving her. He was physically appealing, calling to her in many different ways. And they shared a connection between them that grew stronger with each passing day. He pulled her roughly against him, and the air momentarily left her lungs, as she felt his hot, firm, body press tightly against hers. His need was pushing against her, and she couldn?t hold back her cry of frustration. The clothes separating them had become unbearable and completely unnecessary. She was panting loudly in an effort to gain some control, but the feel of his heavy breath brushing over her cheek and down her neck destroyed any discipline she had left. She tried to rip the buttons of his shirt open, even as he started to yank her blouse up over her head. It didn?t matter that they were in a room full of people. It didn?t matter that they were all watching their dance. Everything but the two of them disappeared. All that mattered was that they needed to join together right now, or one of them would surely die. Before they could remove each other?s clothes, cruel hands yanked them apart. She fought their hold with all the strength in her, and screamed her protest. She heard her lover?s growl grow louder and louder, until he roared so loudly it seemed to shake the room. Yet neither of them could break free. There were too many of them. As she was being dragged through a doorway, she looked over her shoulder, searching frantically for him. She finally found him across the room, being pulled out a different doorway. There were four men holding him, yet they still had trouble controlling him as he tried to break away. He was staring across the room at her with glittering eyes that promised he would have her, no matter what. Looking at his face, twisted with anger and need, she finally got a good look at his features and gasped in surprise. Her arm was given one last painful tug and she was dragged out of the room. **** Josh followed Dr. Av Ril back into the healing chamber. When he entered the room he saw Helen and immediately went to her side. She was still sleeping. ?How did it go?? he asked. ?She was a little anxious about the scanner, but once she went into dream state, she relaxed. We repaired her arm and healed her cuts and bruises. Everything else in the scan looked normal,? she assured him. ?She should be waking up in the next few minutes. She?ll be fine, but you should take her home, and let her rest for the remainder of the day. Sometimes the healing procedure leaves a patient

feeling drained and tired for the first ten to twelve hours after. By tomorrow she should be fine.? ?Thank you doctor. I appreciate all you?ve done for Helen.? ?It was my honor, Tok Rok,? Doctor Av Ril said with a small bow, before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. Josh stared down at Helen sleeping peacefully. He was still shaken by the intense feelings he had picked up from her while he sat in the waiting area. Each twinge of desire and pulsating ache of need had made him feel as though someone had punched him in the stomach. Her dream had been unclear to him, but the sexual awareness behind it had been screamingly, intensely obvious. He had felt stiff and uncomfortable with need once it was finally over. He thought of how soft and fragile Helen now looked in her sleep. Seeing her right now, someone who didn?t know her would never guess the strength and spirit this woman had inside her. He admired that about Helen, just as he admired it in his sister. Sa Rah had a fragile look about her, which made people want to protect her, yet her inner light was blindingly bright and her inner strength awesome to behold. Josh?s sense of duty and honor was a constant goal he had to live up to on a day--to-day basis while he was growing up. Weakness was not encouraged, nor allowed. As Toka Rok, Sa Rah was also expected to comport herself in a certain way, yet she had always managed to bring lightness and humor to their strictly disciplined lives. Intense frustration filled him and his hands clenched into fists when he thought about his sister?s abduction once more. He hoped Tristan was making some progress in finding her, he would speak to him as soon as he brought Helen home. Josh would save his sister. There was no other choice. Just as he knew there was no other choice but for him to save the woman lying in front of him. He was a warrior. He was Tok Rok. He would find a way. Josh saw Helen move slightly and he focused all his attention on her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open a few minutes later, and a confused look crossed her face. It seemed to take her a moment to place her surroundings, but then she focused on Josh leaning over her, and relief showed clearly in her eyes. He helped her sit up, and she silently let him lead her out of the medical unit and into the mobile transport. She hadn?t spoken a word since she woke up, and he was beginning to worry. The silence continued all the way back to his home, up until the point that they landed and started walking across the roof. Suddenly, Helen swung towards him and slapped him, hard, across the face. ?That was for not telling me what to expect at the medical center,? she said in cold voice. Her eyes blazed with fury, and she pressed her fists tightly against her hips. ?I had no idea what to expect. You could have warned me, or told me more about it.? ?And this is for invading my dreams!? she lifted her hand back again, but Josh?s warrior instincts took over, and he easily caught it before she could deliver another stinging slap. So much for her feeling weak after the procedure. ?Don?t ever do that again, yaquesh,? he said in a low, angry voice. ?In my culture, a slap in the face is not the same as in yours. Some see it as an insult, but others see it as a form of foreplay.? Though Josh wasn?t speaking loudly, his tone conveyed the message he wanted. Holding her gaze with his, he brought Helen?s hand down to his chest, and pressed it lightly over his heart, then he slowly slid it

downwards, over his stomach, which leapt in response to her touch, until he stopped at the waistband of his pants. He saw Helen?s eyes widen in surprise, and he smiled with satisfaction. He wasn?t one of those who enjoyed hurting or being hurt while making love, but he wanted to send a clear message to Helen. He would not tolerate this type of disrespect from her, just as he would never dishonor her by physically hurting her. Helen?s eyes followed the path of his hand, and as it reached its destination, she swallowed convulsively, and her gaze rose to meet his. At that moment, her pupils dilated, and her eyes looked like two fathomless seas of emerald green. He felt an intense need to dive into their endless depths. When her mouth parted and she exhaled a soft sigh, he couldn?t resist. His mouth closed over hers with a groan. He released her hand, pulling her against him. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to bring herself closer, his heart leapt with joy. His mouth explored the sweetness of hers, tasting and sipping at her lips, until he could feel them swell in response. Then he delved inside, and his tongue and hers were soon entangled in a lover?s dance. His hands slid down her back to her bottom and he kneaded it gently. Helen made a slight mewl of pleasure, which almost drove him over the edge. He pulled her closer, so she could feel his desire, and cradled her hips so that he pushed against the entrance to the very core of her. Helen squirmed against him, and he stopped breathing. ?If we don?t stop, I will take you right now, here on the roof,? he growled. Helen stopped moving instantly. Gritting his teeth, he extricated himself from her arms, and stepped away. That was one of the hardest things he had ever done. ?Let?s go inside,? was all he managed to say in a gruff voice, but his thoughts finished what he didn?t say: ?so we can make love now?. He held his hand out to her, and waited. He needed to know that she wanted this too. Helen?s eyes flared and he knew that his thoughts were conveying what his words didn?t. They looked at each other silently, expressing their desire for each other with only a look. Finally, she took his outstretched hand and they walked to the hatch that led into the house. He lifted her before she reached the bottom step of the stair and slowly slid her body down along his. Each touch sparked fires in his body that he didn?t know if he could put out without her. Her sharp intake of breath told him she was feeling it too. Once her feet touched the ground, he lowered his mouth to hers. She pressed against him without hesitation, and he growled his pleasure. His hands skimmed over her hips, and slipped under her shirt. He trailed his fingers over her soft stomach, and up to her chest. His fingers slid over her bra, making small circles that grew smaller and smaller until they had almost reached the center. ?Please,? Helen whispered in a rush of breath, and pressed into his touch. Instead of finishing his circles, he slipped his fingers under bra, lifting it off of her breasts, then covered both with his hands. Helen release her breath in a rush, and Josh almost lost it. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her nipples until she was moaning softly. He needed to taste her now. The thought of her nipples, stiff and swollen with need, called to him. He started to lift her shirt up, when a sound alerted him to another presence in the room. He instantly released Helen as swung around, placing her safely behind him, and stood ready to do battle.

His warrior?s stance faltered as he saw who was standing there looking at him in shocked surprise. He swore softly under his breath, then gently brought Helen around to stand beside him. She was still struggling to right her clothing, when she noticed others in the room, and stood perfectly still. ?Hello, mother and father,? Josh said casually, as he gave them a small, formal bow.

19

Please let this be a dream. Please let this be a dream. Helen chanted several times in her mind, but when the man and woman continued to stand in front of her, she gave up her mantra. She looked for the nearest rock to crawl under, but finding none, she somehow managed to overcome her embarrassment at being caught by Josh?s parents with their son?s hands up her shirt. She knew she had suffered worse embarrassment in her life, but at that particular moment, with her bra sitting up around her chin as she desperately tried to adjust it to its normal position without anyone noticing, not one of those other moments came to mind. ?Travels end, son,? his parents both said in unison, giving Josh a stiff bow, and studiously avoiding looking at her as she got her clothes in order. Despite their formality, Helen could see warm smiles on both of their faces as they greeted Josh. His mother and father were genuinely glad to see him. Looking at the two of them, she could see where Josh got his looks. Though much older, his father had the same craggy, yet appealing features, tall frame, and well developed muscles as Josh. And his grin was almost exactly like the wickedly mischievous smile his son sometimes wore. His snug pants and the loose V-neck shirt he wore tucked into his waistband were unique in that she couldn?t quite place the color of them. They seemed to change even as she looked at it, from blue to cobalt, then back to blue. Helen discreetly glanced at Josh?s mother. She wore a kaftan with a fitted top and flowing robes similar to the one Dr. Av Ril wore, except that it had an elaborate embroidery design, which shimmered and swirled around the bodice and sleeves. Again she could not place the color of the gown. One moment it looked dark lilac and the next it looked mauve, then back to lilac again. Helen was surprised by Josh?s mother. She had expected a strong Amazon like beauty, but instead she found a tall woman in her 50s with voluptuous curves, and soft, somewhat plain features. But as the woman turned and looked into Helen?s eyes, her initial estimation quickly changed. She found a bright, intelligent, lively, gaze filled with inquisitiveness. And when Josh?s mother smiled at her, her whole face transformed, becoming beautifully radiant. ?Who is this lovely woman you?ve brought to our home, Jo Sha?? Josh?s father asked. Helen noticed he was now studying her with curious intensity.

Ignoring his question, Josh posed one of his own. ?How did you know I was back?? ?Brunhilda notified us, of course. Now don?t be rude, son. Please introduce us to your friend,? his mother said in a disapproving voice. Josh ran his hands through his hair in frustration, then gave his mother a quick nod. ?It?s my pleasure to introduce Dr. Helen Matthews of the planet Earth,? Josh declared formally. ?Helen, please meet my parents, King Jo Na Ta Rem and Queen Vi La Ta Rem, rulers of Tanviera.? Helen stood rooted to the spot, frozen in shock. Queen and King? Then that would make Josh a prince? And why did his parents call him Jo Sha? Turning angry eyes to him, she gritted her teeth while trying to appear as if she were smiling. ?Who are you?? she asked between clenched jaws. ?He is our son, Prince Jo Sha Ta Rem, as you call him on Earth. Here, on our planet, he is known as Tok Rok, and we are known a Tok and Toka,? King Jo Na explained kindly pointed to himself then his wife before turning back to Josh. ?Jo Sha, may we speak with you privately for a moment?? he asked, giving his son a pointed look, which Helen couldn?t interpret. ?Of course, father. Let me make Helen more comfortable first, she?s just been to the healing chamber to heal a broken arm and some cuts and bruises,? Josh replied. ?Oh, I?m sorry,? his mother clucked sympathetically as she turned towards Helen. ?We wouldn?t have kept you standing here had we known. We hope your recuperation is speedy, dear.? ?Yes, we hope you have a quick renewal,? Josh?s father agreed. ?Thank you both, but I really am feeling fine,? Helen insisted. ?I?ll join you both in your study as soon as Helen has settled in,? Josh replied. ?Very well, Jo Sha,? queen Vi La said, before turning towards Helen with a speculative gleam in her eyes. ?It?s been a pleasure meeting you, Dr. Matthews.? ?It was very nice to meet you too,? Helen replied. ?The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Matthews,? King Jo Na said, giving her a friendly grin. ?Thank you. I?m glad to have met both of you also,? she said with a warm smile. King Jo Na held out his arm to the queen. She slipped her hand through his arm and they both walked regally down the hallway. Silence followed their departure, until Helen couldn?t hold her tongue any

longer. ?What?s going on here Josh, or should I call you Prince Jo Sha?? ?Actually you could just call me sir,? Josh said with a humorous glint in his eyes, but when Helen glared at him he held up his hands in surrender, and gave a low chuckle which ran unerringly down her spine with a tingle, curling her toes. The man was just way too sexy. ?Yes, I am prince of this planet, heir to the throne. However, I really didn?t feel it was necessary to tell you that, considering the fact that I was trying to kill you,? he said with a sardonic smile. ?How about telling me when you decided to bring me here? Or telling me you were taking me to the future? Or don?t you think that information was pertinent at the time?? ?Would you have believed me, yaquesh? If I told you all of this back in your time?? he asked quietly, all humor gone from his face. Helen hesitated as she thought of his question. ?No, I probably wouldn?t have, but that really is beside the point. I had a right to know where you were taking me before you hijacked me across time and space,? she replied stubbornly. ?Yes, you did. But at the time I decided it was too dangerous to tell you the truth. After all, there was someone in your time trying to kill you.? ?So what? That has nothing to do with me traveling here.? ?But it does. I suspect that the person responsible is either in contact with someone from my time or actually from my time.? ?Why do you think that?? Helen asked in shocked disbelief. This day was turning up surprise after surprise, and she had just about enough of it. Suddenly she was feeling bone tired, and just wanted to find a place to curl up and sleep for a while. ?Let?s just say that I?ve been in contact with various people who gave me that impression,? he explained. ?I can?t tell you more than that right now. I made a choice that I felt was best for everyone involved. Now let me take you to your room so you can relax.. I need to speak with my parents about several issues. And Dr. Av Ril recommended that you rest after your procedure. I?ll gladly talk with you more about this later.? Helen let Josh lead her to her room, while she thought about everything that had happened so far. She had three issues to deal with. The first was that she was either really in the future, or a strange, strange dream. What she had seen and experienced up to this point had made a believer out of her. The fact that she could be healed instantaneously astounded her, and the mobile transport she had ridden in to the medical center was like nothing she had ever seen. Seeing two suns in a lavender sky was an especially convincing point also. But what really convinced her of the fact that she wasn?t in Kansas anymore, was the vegetation on this planet. She was familiar with almost all forms of plant species on Earth, yet since she had arrived here, she had been unable to recognize even one. As a biological researcher, that in itself was very telling to her. The second issue was that someone had tried to kill her, and that person may either be from the future or

in contact with someone from the future. The fact that somebody was still out to kill her, scared her. It was even more unsettling to know that she not only didn?t know who was after her, but also that she didn?t know which time and place that person came from. This left her frightened, but somehow Josh?s handling of the situation had made her feel protected and safe. This worried her, and led to her third, and last dilemma. She was beginning to care for Josh, or Prince Jo Sha Ta Rem, or Tok Rok--whatever he was called. She was starting to feel something towards a man she really didn?t even know. The analytical part of her mind screamed for answers, while the emotional part sounded alarms left and right. She wanted to learn more about this world, but she knew that if she did, she could end up falling for Josh in the process. And that would only lead to heartbreak. Men like Josh didn?t want to be with women like her. She had learned that already, but despite this knowledge, he seemed attracted to her too. She wondered about their mutual attraction, but then dismissed it. She had to remember, that he had also seemed to be attracted to Druscilla back in her time. Maybe he was, as she had originally thought, a man who liked to play around with lots of women. Fine. Josh had brought her here to accomplish a mission, nothing more, nothing less. He also liked to flirt with women. She would just have to be an adult and accept the fact that he was like this, and concentrate on why she was here, and when she could go home. If she was able to quench her researcher?s inquisitiveness while here, all the better. But that was the only thing she would be satisfying. Helen needed to keep her physical and personal feelings out of it. From now on, it was going to be all business. Josh stopped in front of a door that was situated down the hall from his study and his bedroom. The door slid open silently, and he stopped to allow her to go first. Helen glanced quickly into the room and noticed that it had a lighter, airier feel than Josh?s had. It reminded her of what the inside of a beach cottage might look like, with bright yellows, peacock blues, and pristine whites abundant throughout. Though the room enticed her with the soft looking bed topped by fluffy pillows that stood in the center of it, she stood her ground and slowly shook her head back and forth. She definitely didn?t need to be alone in a bedroom with Josh right now. That would not lead to professional behavior on her part, she was almost sure of it. ?I?d prefer to wait in the study,? she stated firmly. ?Why? You?ll be much more comfortable in your room, and the doctor?? ?I?m well aware of what the doctor said, however, I won?t rest until I find out exactly what?s going on here,? she snapped. Josh eyes grew stormy and his jaw clenched and unclenched repeatedly. She raised her chin and proudly met his gaze with her own determined one. When he stepped towards her, and looked like he was about to force the issue, Helen softened her tone, and quickly tried to reason with him. ?Listen, I?ll just lay on that really comfy couch you have in your study, read one of the many books on the bookshelf, and relax. That way you can talk to your parents, and I can find out more about this place.? When he still didn?t look quite convinced, she threw her hands up in frustration and sighed loudly. ?What else do you expect from me, Josh? I?m a scientist. I need results and factual observations,? she explained softly.

Either her mellow tone or her argument worked, because Josh finally agreed. ?Very well,? he said, walking with her to his study. Helen reached it first, but the door didn?t open. She backed up, and walked towards the door again, but still it remained unmoved. She turned to Josh with consternation written all over her face. ?It only responds to recognized individuals. It?s a security measure,? he explained, as he approached the door and it opened immediately. ?You mean once I?m in this study, and the door closes, I can?t get out?? Josh nodded his head slowly, and watched her intently as he spoke. ?Not until I return. I won?t be long. However, if you?ve decided that you?d rather wait in your bedroom, I?ll be glad to take you back there. After I return, I?ll set the doors to your presence. Since you?ll be staying with us for a time,? he explained. Helen didn?t like the idea of being stuck in the study, but she did like the idea of finding out more about where and when she was. ?No, that?s all right. I?m fine right here.? she responded, quickly glancing through his bookshelf, and picking out a book before sitting down on the couch. ?I?m sure my reading will keep me occupied until you come back.? ?Very well. I?ll try to make this meeting as brief as possible,? he said, then turned around and headed out of the room. ?Bye,? Helen said in an absented minded tone. She was already lost in the unbelievably bloody, turbulent and fascinatingly primitive history of Tanviera, unaware of the potentially explosive politics that were going on under the same roof, at exactly that same moment.

20

Vi La swung around and glared at her husband. ?I can?t believe you just said that. This is exactly what I mean.? ?What?? Jo Na asked, conveying complete ignorance with his puzzled expression.

Vi La wasn?t fooled. ?You know exactly what I mean, Jo Na, so please don?t try to deny it. The fact that you feel as if the old ways should still be upheld, especially now with this woman and Jo Sha is, well, primitive!? she declared hotly. ?You use to like it when I was primitive,? he suggested in a husky voice, as he closed the distance between them. Vi La?s face turned pink, but she refused to back down. She raised her chin, and faced her husband squarely. ?Well, things have changed, Jo Na, and not just because of Sa Rah?s kidnapping. You and I have not seen eye to eye in a while. That?s why I moved into my own set of suites,? she explained. ?We both know that?s not why you moved out of my bed, Vi La. You?re pursuing a younger lover, to take my place. Please don?t try to deny it,? he said, when she looked as if she were about to argue. Pain crossed over his features, then his face turned hard, and anger filled his eyes. ?You are aware that I can make you return to my bed should I wish it,? he stated arrogantly. ?You wouldn?t dare!? she said, outrage written all over her face. ?Wouldn?t I?? he asked, moving so close to her that she could see the thick, dark lashes on his stormy blue eyes. She raised her chin proudly and met his hot stare with her own proud one. Their gazes clashed for a moment then Vi La lowered hers and moved away. ?Don?t do this Jo Na. Now is not the time, nor the place,? she said sadly, maneuvering around him and walking across the room. ?Besides, I don?t want Jo Sha to know that anything is wrong between us, especially now. Our children must see a united front in us, during this frightening time. When Sa Rah is safely back with us, she needs to know we?re together, there for her, ready to support and help her get over this terrible ordeal.? Jo Na looked as if he were about to argue the point, but before he could, there was a soft knock on their study door. Vi La looked at him pleadingly, and with a pained expression, he nodded his head in silent agreement. ?Come in, son,? Jo Na said loudly, deactivating the door lock, as he moved to stand by Vi La?s side, and placed his arm lightly around her waist. **** When Jo Sha walked into the room, he saw his mother and father standing together, smiling pleasantly at him. ?We?re so glad to see you, son,? Vi la said as she crossed the room and hugged her son tightly. After a moment she moved slightly away, and Jo Na approached Josh and they held each other?s forearm in a traditional Tanvieran greeting. Then his father patted his back heartily. ?We?re happy you?re back safe and sound,? his father said. ?We hadn?t gotten any more messages from the TFE since you left, and were getting concerned.?

?I?m sorry about not contacting you, but considering the circumstances, I felt it was safer to cut off all communication until I returned,? Josh explained. ?What happened? Did you, I mean, were you able to?well?? Vi La asked looking very unhappy about her question. ?I did and I didn?t,? he said evasively. He didn?t realize he would have to explain everything so soon to his parents, but at their confused expression, he knew it was necessary. ?Please sit down, this will take a little bit. And try to keep an open mind.? His parents sat down and waited quietly with expectant looks on their faces, while he decided where to start. ?The first night I was there, I had an opportunity to fulfill my mission, but I couldn?t. I should have realized then, that there was more going on than I realized,? he began. He told them everything that had happened, except about his unexpected revelation concerning Helen, and their physical attraction to each other. ?So, have you contacted Tristan yet?? his father asked. ?Maybe he has more news about Sa Rah.? ?We only arrived a few hours ago. Once Helen was healed, I planned to return here, and while she rested, contact Tristan,? he assured them. ?After we?re done here, I will speak with him.? ?Do you think your plan will fool the TFE?? his mother asked. ?I hope so. Between Tristan and I, we will get Sa Rah back safely,? he promised them. ?Thank you, son,? his mother said. ?We know you?ll do it,? his father said. ?We see you gave Helen a translator implant. Does she know that we speak a different language?? Vi La asked. ?No. She?s unaware of the transplant. Considering everything else that?s happened to her up to this point, I wanted her transition to our world to be as smooth as possible,? Josh explained. ?As you both know, there?s no harm in it. The only difference in her will be that she will rapidly learn Tanvieran, and the translation implant will dissolve like it always does once its host has mastered the language.? ?What happens when she goes back, son?? Jo Na asked carefully as he watched Jo Sha?s response. Jo Sha tightened his jaw angrily and clenched his fists. ?I?ll deal with that at the time it occurs. For now, I feel this is the best way to ease Helen?s time spent here,? he replied curtly. Vi La and Jo Na shared a glance, and Vi La nodded her head at her husband. ?There?s something else we?d like to discuss with you. Dr. Matthews seems very important to you. Is

there more you want to tell us?? Jo Na asked. ?What do you mean?? Josh asked with the same confused expression his father often used. His mother knew that look, and persisted ruthlessly. ?We feel there?s more between the two of you than you?re saying. Your father seems to be sensing a different way about you since you?ve been back. You seem very protective of Dr. Matthews. We are your parents, but we are also Tok and Toka. We need to know this, son.? Josh looked at his father, and knew that he was aware of what was going on between he and Helen. Tanvieran males could pick up when another male has claimed possession of a female, because the male gives off a type of scent warning others away. Males have no control of this, as it?s just their body?s natural response. ?Is she your Rov Shoma?? his father asked bluntly. Josh hesitated a moment, knowing what his admission would mean, then answered carefully. ?Yes, but she?s unaware of it, and it needs to stay that way until she?s ready to hear it. Right now that?s not the case.? ?Are you sure about her feelings, Jo Sha? Helen seemed just as involved in your embrace as you were when we approached you both earlier,? her mother noted. ?And if she is truly your Rov Shoma, your Truth Mate, then she must also have feelings for you. As you know, the attraction between Truth Mates is always there, even from the beginning. Deep inside, on a very basic level, each of you recognizes the fact that you must be together to be complete, like two halves for a whole.? Josh didn?t comment on that, because he knew his mother was right. ?Neither of you seem surprised that a human woman from the past, who I was sent to Earth to kill, is in actuality my Rov Shoma. Why is that?? ?The way of two souls meeting and connecting is never set, son. Just as we accept so many of our dreams as portents of things to come, so we also accept the pull of the Rov Hum. There?s no logical method for understanding either. Never-the-less, we embrace both as very real and meaningful to our life,? his father responded. Josh nodded his head in understanding. It was the way of his people. So advanced technologically, yet so primitive in their base beliefs. Though Tanviera was considered modern by the rest of the world, many of the choices made by its people were based on intuition, dreams, and instinct, instead of logic. ?You know what this means son?? his mother asked quietly. Josh was jerked out of his pondering by her soft words. ?We can?t impose our societal mores on-? ?Yes we can, and yes we will,? his father interrupted firmly. ?If Dr. Matthews is to become the next Toka, then she needs to start acclimating to our culture immediately, or else the people will never accept her,?

?I understand your reasoning, father. But the issue at this point really isn?t if our people will accept Helen, it?s whether Helen will accept us. She?s a very successful and dedicated researcher in her time, and has admirable goals, which she wishes to accomplish during her life. Also she has no awareness of her significance to me, other than our mutual physical attraction. I don?t feel she?s ready for anything more than perhaps getting to know me better, as well as learning more about our world, and this time. After that, I?ll think on what you?ve both said, and see what develops.? Jo Na looked opened his mouth to argue, but Vi La squeezed his arm and shook her head silently. ?We?ll honor your wishes for now, however, this is an issue that must be dealt with eventually. In the meantime, there still has to be certain restrictions on your contact with Helen. Our society demands it of all single women of Rov Hum age, regardless of their status. I will gladly act as your chaperone. This will give me the opportunity to get to know Helen better.? Josh gritted his teeth, but knew by the determined look on his mother?s face, that this would be a battle better left for another time. Despite his extensive training as a warrior and a leader, his honor demanded he respect Vi La, not only as his mother, but also as his Toka. ?Fine. However, we must keep her stay here as quiet as possible. The TFE think she?s dead, for now, and we need to keep it that way. We know they?ve taken decent care of and not harmed Sa Rah up to this point, however, if they find out they?ve been tricked, then they might not be so careful with her. Despite the fact that I will not kill Helen, I also will do everything in my power to protect Sa Rah. I will not make a choice between the two of them. They will both get out of this without further harm,? he vowed. ?We see now that this journey hasn?t been filled with easy choices, son. We admire you for the decisions you?ve made up to this point, and will help and support you in any way we can with future assessments you might make,? his father assured him. ?I plan on having my team of security specialists continue to determine the base location of the TFE, and will keep you posted on anything we come up with. Between you, Tristan, and I we should discover some useful information soon.? ?I?ll have my belongings moved down here for now, while your father returns to the capital,? his mother explained. ?I do plan on having a few small gatherings with only our closest friends and family, as well as some outings to acclimate Helen to our planet. To do otherwise might incite suspicion, and as you said, someone well placed could be watching our behavior. However, I promise you that I?ll in no way endanger our daughter or your Rov Shoma in the process,? his mother declared fiercely. ?Actually, Vi La, I plan on traveling back and forth from the capital daily, so that I?m kept updated on both fronts,? Jo Na said, looking meaningfully at his wife. ?I?ll also inform my counselors, and security team that we?ve retired to the country to calm ourselves during this troubled time. That way they?ll know where to contact me at all times. So, please prepare the suite for both of us.? ?Of course, Jo Na.? Though she nodded her head in agreement, Vi La?s eyes flared angrily at her husband for a moment, but then she shuttered them and turned towards her son with a serene expression when he began walking towards the door. ?I better get back to Helen. She can be very, uh, impatient when she needs information. As a scientist, she needs to base all her beliefs, and conclusions about her trip to this time and planet on facts. As I said earlier, she isn?t aware of her significance to both Sa Rah and myself. I?ll have to explain some of it to

her now, or she won?t be satisfied,? he explained with a wry smile. ?I?m going to try to get her to rest, then I?ll meet up with you both for dinner later. Helen may or may not be with me,? ?I look forward to speaking with her again, if she does join us for dinner. That way we can ease her into the fact that I?ll be around much of the time from now on,? her mother explained, then spoke up loudly. ?Brunhilda, please prepare the dining room for four for dinner.? ?Does roast timbo sound appetizing to both of you?? Vi La asked. ?Whatever you have Brunhilda make will be fine. See you both later,? Josh said, as he walked out of the room. Jo Na turned towards his wife, as Josh left the room, but before he could say a word, Vi La headed out of the room also. ?This discussion is over, husband. I?ll see you at dinner,? she said in a cold voice, as she walked proudly out the door, without a backwards glance. ?I?ll see you much sooner than that, wife,? he muttered quietly, with a determined glint in his eyes, as he walked in the same direction she had just taken.

21

Vi La walked out onto the private balcony of she and Jo Na?s suite. Leaning against the stone railing, and looking at the natural beauty around her, she felt her body?s tension start to unwind. She took a deep breath, held it for five seconds, then released it. Then she took another breath, and another, and another, until her she felt her mind clear of everything but the process of breathing. She had used this relaxation exercise often since her precious daughter had been kidnapped. Her meditation and breathing, the knowledge that her daughter was alive and being treated fairly by the TFE, and the fact that her son was now safely home, were the only things keeping her together at the moment. However, the estrangement between she and Jo Na pained her, and constantly put a strain on her hard won inner peace. She concentrated on the beauty of the setting suns, and quietly watched as the lavender sky became almost pink, then darkened to plum as the suns disappeared from the horizon. She closed her eyes and took one last, deep, cleansing breath. ?Beautiful.? Vi La gasped when she heard Jo Na?s husky voice so close to her ear. She tried to turn around, but

discovered that he had grasped the balcony rail on either side of her, trapping her within his embrace. He moved closer, so that she felt him press lightly against her back. She couldn?t help noticing the feel of his hardness against her bottom, and suddenly grew breathless, as her body began to tingle with awareness. ?You?re so beautiful. You still make me feel as weak as a baby, when I walk into a room and see you standing there,? Jo Na groaned and pressed a light kiss to the back of her neck. She shivered and he chuckled huskily. He slowly turned her in his arms and pulled her tightly against him. His mouth lowered slowly towards her, as if waiting for her to stop him, but she was so lost in the warm feel of his embrace, and the desire, which she had been denying for so long, that she got lost in his hot gaze, and could only wait impatiently for his mouth. When their lips finally touched, she moaned with pleasure, and his answering growl told her that he was just as affected by her. She had missed the comforting feel of her husband?s arms around her, and the physical closeness they shared, especially with all the fear and stress she had been experiencing lately. So when he deepened his kiss and began to explore her body with his hands, she could only cling tightly to him as the waves of pleasure washed over her. He pulled away from her a moment later, and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep a cry of dismay from wrenching out of her mouth. However, when he merely led her to their bed, and helped her lay down by his side, she released the pent-up breath she had been holding. His caresses grew bolder and bolder, until she was making small mewling noises of pleasure. Her own hands began to wander over him, and she thrilled in the firm, hard body of her husband. She knew his ongoing warrior training and active life style kept him fit, and she loved it. Somehow, they were both suddenly naked. Jo Na was leaning over her, his manhood pressed against her most intimate place, yet he waited. Her gaze swung to his, and all the love, desire, and longing she saw in his eyes made up her mind instantly. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him towards her, so that he plunged inside, fast and deep. She gasped with the pleasure of it, and lost herself in the rhythm of their joining. As was the way of their kind, they each reached their Rov Hum, and soon met as only two connected souls could. Their movements became frenzied and almost wild, and as she reached her peak she screamed from the intensity of it. Soon after, Jo Na stiffened and roared his release as he shuddered above her. They lay entwined on the bed, and Vi La felt herself slowly float back to consciousness. She became aware of Jo Na stroking her hair softly, and found her own fingers entangled in his. She smiled. She had missed this. This intimate joining of souls and bodies that she and her husband lovingly shared. However, her husband?s next words shattered any belief she might have that maybe she and he could work things out. ?You can?t deny what?s between us, even if you are looking for another to take my place in your bed,? he said softly as he continued to stroke her hair. Vi La stiffened in anger at his words and struggled to break free of his grasp. She pushed against one of his arms, and he slowly removed it so that she could move away from him. Getting off the bed, she putting as much distance between them as she could then turned and faced Jo Na proudly. ?This is the last time I?ll defend myself to you. I?m not seeking a younger mate. You?re my Rov Shom, no one else will take your place,? she explained earnestly.

?This is not what I?ve been told by some of those around me. They say you have different men come to your bed quite often,? he responded angrily. ?And you believe them over me, of course,? she replied tonelessly. How could she have thought that their lovemaking would change anything? ?Another man isn?t the issue, Jo Na. Our relationship is. The way you treat me, and the way you?ve changed is the issue. When you?re ready to talk about that, then I?ll be glad to discuss this more. Otherwise I have nothing else to say on this matter,? she said angrily before storming into the bathroom and activating the door lock. **** Jo Sha entered his study and stopped in his tracks. Helen lay asleep on the couch, with a book laying face down on her chest. His stomach clenched in response to the sight of her. One arm was thrown carelessly over her head, and her golden hair fanned out in wild disarray around her. He became transfixed by the sight of her soft lips parting with each shallow breath she took, and suddenly they reminded him of the juicy pink berries which grew in the forest surrounding their country home. They were mouth wateringly sweet, and just as he craved to devour them often, Helen?s lips left him with that same obsession. He remembered the feel of them pressed against his mouth, and he groaned. Helen stirred slightly at the noise, but didn?t awaken. He quietly approached her, removed the book she had been reading, picked her up, and carefully carried her out of his study, down the hall to her room. He placed her on the already down turned sheets, took off her shoes, then debated on what to do. He would like nothing more than to peel each item of clothing slowly off of her, as he delighted in the sight of her full figured curves, and her gasps of pleasure while he explored each and every one of them. That image left him even more painfully hard then he already was, and he gritted his teeth to gain some control. He moved jerkily away from the bed, as if fighting strings that were pulling him to her side. She would just have to sleep as she was. He knew that he wouldn?t be able to undress her without taking things farther. The doctor said she needed her rest, and he would give her that. He left the room, quietly closing the door firmly behind him. He had to concentrate on the matters at hand, and he knew just where he would begin. Heading back to his study, he contacted Tristan on the video transmitter. ?I?m glad to see you back. How did your plan execute?? Tristan asked. ?Everything went as scheduled, but we?ll have to wait and see how the TFE deals with the information. I?m sure they?ve heard about the explosion, so I expect to hear from them soon.? ?Good. Let me know when that happens.? ?Have you found out anything new?? Josh asked. ?Yes. I located a couple of reluctant TFE insiders, who were eventually persuaded to help me. They?re low in the ranks, but they had one bit of crucial information, which aided me somewhat. There?s a TFE communications link open to only those approved members of the organization. My new friends were able to get me into that network,? Tristan explained. ?Good work. Were you able to find the location where they?re keeping Sa Rah??

?Unfortunately, no. However, I did find out where they?re having their next underground rally. It?s going to be held in the Kirna zone, just outside of the capital.? Josh swore under his breath. ?They?re getting more brazen in their movements. They think they have our family where they want us, and can do as they please. I?m going to this rally, and finding out where Sa Rah is being kept,? Josh said with determination lacing his voice. ?It?s being held the day after tomorrow. And I?m going with you,? Tristan said, just as resolutely. ?I don?t expect you to go with me.? ?I?m going. I need to find your sister.? Josh saw a shadow cross Tristan?s face again. He could tell by his friend?s set jaw, and the determined glint in his eye, that arguing about this would be futile. Something more was going on then Tristan was telling him, but Josh decided not to push the issue, yet. He nodded his head in agreement. ?Fine. This is how we?re going to do it,? Josh outlined the plan that had formed in his mind the moment Tristan told him about the upcoming rally. ?And while we?re there, I want to find out as much as possible about the politically powerful friend of the TFE.? ?So our two objectives are to find out where Sa Rah is being held, and who the influential friend of the group is,? Tristan confirmed with a nod. ?While you?re finalizing things on your side, I?ll work on my two guests, and see if I can get more information from them. There must be some kind of code or ID required to attend these meetings. I?m sure they?ll be glad to share that information with me.? The two of them exchanged knowing grins. Though women always commented on the contrast between Josh?s intensely dark brooding good looks to Tristan?s classically blond, handsome, and almost angelic appearance, Josh knew what the other man was capable of. He hadn?t become head of security for Earth by being a nice person. Like Josh, his friend was an intelligent, ruthless warrior, who protected his own, and doggedly went after his prey until they were caught. ?While you do that. I?m going to do a little fieldwork in the Kirna zone, to see if I can pick up on any unusual activity in the area. If this is like any of the other organized meetings the TFE has held, then the turn out may be fairly large. At last count there were approximately a thousand suspected members of their group, although many of them couldn?t be confirmed. If that?s the case, then preparing for that many people congregating in one place takes some planning. I?m sure some of the locals are getting nicely paid for their help in organizing this,? Josh explained. ?What kind of field work did you have planned?? Tristan asked. ?I think a little sky soaring would work for a start. That will allow me to view a large part of the countryside from the air. After that, I can do some investigative ground work.? ?Sky soaring, huh?? Tristan asked with an eager grin. ?I think I?ll join you. I haven?t been soaring for a while. Let me know what time you?re going.? ?I?ll vid you as soon as I set things up and establish a time frame. Out,? Josh said with a nod.

?Out,? Tristan said, and the screen went blank. Josh had just gotten up from the desk, when his screen buzzed. Someone was trying to reach him, but the screen kept flashing the words ?No Recognition? so Josh knew it was from an unidentifiable caller. That meant only one thing. The TFE had finally decided to contact him. He sat back down stiffly and pushed the receive button. As had been the case in the past, the image of the person who had called, was intentionally blurred, and the voice distorted so that the true identity of the terrorist would remain unknown. ?Travels end, Tok Rok. We were glad to hear that you?re back, and that you had accomplished your mission,? the man said in a completely insincere voice. ?When will you deliver my sister back to me?? Josh said immediately. He didn?t like negotiating with these terrorists, and didn?t pretend to like small talk with them. He wanted to get to the point immediately. ?Not so fast. We first have to conduct our own investigation into your mission before your sister leaves our tender care,? the man answered sarcastically. ?Once we?ve been completely assured that Dr. Matthews is indeed dead, then we?ll discuss your sister?s return.? Josh didn?t like what he was being told, but hadn?t really expected more from the TFE. They were killers who used a bogus cause to justify their violence, and criminal behavior. Still, he had to clench his fists tightly to prevent himself from slamming his fist against something. ?When will you know?? he asked between gritted teeth, hating the fact that he was dependent on these people for his sister?s continued existence. ?Soon. We will contact you soon, Tok Rok. Out.? The screen went black before he could say a word. He growled loudly in frustration and slammed his fist down hard against his desk, finally giving in to the urge to hit something. He would see his sister safely home, and the TFE would pay a heavy price for their treachery. He would make sure of it. Josh left his study and headed down the hall to his room. His mind was still firmly on his discussion with the TFE, but as he passed the closed door to Helen?s room and almost reached his own, he stopped abruptly at the sound of her crying out. He felt such a strong pull to go to her that without another thought he immediately turned around and headed back to her bedroom, and walked inside.

22

Helen woke up sweating and shaking from the desire tearing through her body. She had the dream again. The one where she and Josh were engaging in an intensely sensual dance, then were torn apart by others. This time the dream continued on, to find her arms bound by thick ropes attached to a large stone column. Suddenly she saw Josh being dragged into the same room. He was struggling wildly until he saw her. She could see his body stiffen and still at the sight of her, and his eyes, which stayed glued on her, seemed to pierce right into her with their intensity. She couldn?t look away from the fire in his stare, and knew that the desire that crashed through her must also be reflected in her gaze. He let the other men lead him across the room, and bind his arms, all the while watching her intently. Like her, he was bound by thick ropes, but his seemed to be longer, allowing him more movement. The men left the room laughing, and making comments she couldn?t understand, even though they were looking at her when they spoke. She ignored them as her attention was drawn to Josh. He had begun pacing restlessly within the confined area the rope allowed. Back and forth he aggressively strode, his muscles bunching, and his fists clenching and unclenching as he walked, while his burning stare never left her. He reminded her of some restless predatory beast waiting to break free from its chains. His eyes insolently ran up and down her body, stopping with intensity at certain points. Though he wasn?t actually touching her, she felt as if each area his hot gaze ran over, left her burning and tingling. Her nipples tightened and pressed against the tight fitting bodice. She knew he could see her reaction, because she wore nothing underneath and the material of her silky gown was very thin. She heard him growling loudly, and as his eyes rose from her chest, he smiled wolfishly at her. The message was clear in his hungry eyes, she was his now. Suddenly she felt hunted and took a few involuntary steps backwards before she even realized it. She knew immediately that had been a tactical mistake on her part because when he saw her retreat, his smile widened, and once more he ran his eyes possessively over her. This time, his perusal lingered at the very center of her, and she felt her body clench in response. She felt weak in the knees and a moan of desire escaped her lips. His burning gaze swung back to hers at the sound, and he began earnestly pulling at the bonds holding him. She could see the ropes tighten and thin as he stretched the rope farther and farther. She tried to meet his stare proudly, but the fact that his eyes held a type of animal hunger so intense that it was too primitive to describe, frightened and thrilled her at the same time. She wanted to evade his burning gaze, yet he managed to hold her there, merely with the power of his stare. The knowing look in his eyes made her reach out to the column for support. He knew somehow, that he could take her right here and now, she wouldn?t say no. Desire engulfed her completely and suddenly she lost control. The feelings inside of her, which had been building and building, suddenly exploded and splintered throughout her body, causing her to cry out from the deep intensity of it. Helen woke up, crying out as tears ran down her eyes. She glanced around her, trying to remember where she was, but then stilled her movements as the bedroom door opened quietly. She closed her eyes again, and feigned sleep. She heard movement, and suddenly felt someone looming over her. She continued to keep her eyes closed and struggled to keep her breathing even. After what must have been only a minute, yet felt like an hour, she heard movement again as the person walked away from her, and closed the door. She kept her eyes shut a moment more to make sure no one was in her room, then, when she heard nothing else, she cautiously opened them. She was alone. Letting out a breath of relief, she stared up and thought about her night visitor. Helen had known almost immediately it was Josh. He had a certain scent, which she had somehow already committed to memory. It had been in the dream too, his special scent, and now, as it lingered in the room, she felt a stirring of desire. It was for the best that she had feigned sleep. She didn?t know

what would have happened if she had faced him right after her dream. All she did know that it would have been way out of control. She must have fallen asleep in the study, and when he found her, he had brought her into the guest room. Looking under the sheet, she sighed in relief. He had left her clothes on. At least she should be thankful for that. However, at the moment the clothes felt itchy and confining. She removed everything but her underwear in an effort to cool the desire, which still seemed to run rampant through her. Instead of helping, the sheets of the bed rubbed against her sensitive body, leaving her groaning. Throwing off the covers, she lay stiffly on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and wondering if she would ever fall asleep.

Vi La lay down on the bed, stared up at the ceiling, and got lost in her thoughts. When she had heard a door slam earlier, and peeked her head out of the bathroom a short time later, she had released a sigh of relief. Jo Na had left their bedroom, most likely to sleep elsewhere for the night. Thoughts of her husband pained her, but she knew that she would have to face the true issue, which divided them, soon. It was obvious to her now, that he had no idea why she was feeling estranged towards him. She had assumed he had some inkling of what was going on between them, but after tonight?s conversation, she knew it wasn?t so. This just proved to her conclusively that Jo Na?s close counselors were doing what they had set out to do. Poisoning her husband against her by placing false rumors within Jo Na?s reach. She knew the council in itself was not an evil group, however, she also knew they were aware of some of her more modern ideas, and didn?t entirely agree with them. The fact that they would go to this extent, to further their own agendas, saddened her. It had gone far enough. It was time her husband faced the changes that desperately needed to be made in their society. She could not longer allow the council to keep him in the past. Up until now, she had only allowed herself to think as a woman and a wife, not as the queen and warrior she was, and still is. She would do whatever she could to save her marriage in this process, but knew that Jo Na?s actions would play a big part in how that turned out. **** Helen woke up and stretched. Her bed felt unusually comfortable today. It seemed to accommodate her position by curling around her. Curling around her? Her eyes flew open and she bolted up in bed. Looking wildly around at the strange surroundings, she remembered that she wasn?t at home, in her own bed. She was in the future, on a strange planet, with an incredibly sexy man who planned on killing her. ?Are you well this morning, Toka Rok?? Helen nearly jumped out of her skin at the strange voice coming seemingly out of nowhere. She swung around looking behind her, then craned her neck up as she peered at the ceiling. She was the only one in the room. Great, just what she needed right now. Hearing voices was not a good sign. ?Toka Rok, are you well?? Helen didn?t jump this time, but she still looked around her to find who was speaking. Again, seeing no one, she narrowed her eyes and responded cautiously. ?Who are you?? she asked.

No one answered for a minute. Great. She was now not only hearing voices, but she was answering them also. She needed help, big time. ?I am Brunhilda. I will provide for your needs during your stay here.? ?My needs?? Helen asked, still unable to place where the voice was coming from. ?Yes. I am responsible for the Ta Rem household and all its guests. Now would you like some coffee or tea? I know you are from the 2000?s and my research has allowed me to create a near facsimile of such hot beverages as coffee. I?m aware that it was a staple during your time.? ?And it?s not in this time?? Helen asked, forgetting for a moment her situation as she tried to imagine her life without coffee. She shuddered at the thought. ?No. There are other invigorating beverages which the inhabitants of Tanviera drink.? ?I see.? Helen said noncommittally, as she pondered this new development. Her researcher?s mind took over immediately. Brunhilda must be some sort of computerized network that was programmed throughout the house as sort of an overseer of the place. ?If you would like something else, I will do my best to accommodate you, Toka Rok,? Brunhilda offered. ?Uh, thank you Brunhilda,? Helen answered, recovering some of her composure. ?Coffee would be great, with cream and sugar please, if possible.? ?Of course, Toka Rok.? Helen was about to ask Brunhilda why she kept calling her princess, when suddenly a tray slid out from the wall by her bed, and a panel slid out above it. Helen jumped with surprise when with a small flash, a steaming cup of coffee appeared on the tray. She peered closer at it, and saw from the light color of it, that cream had been added. Helen grasped the cup and brought it slowly to her lips. She took a quick sip, and was pleasantly surprised. It sure wasn?t a gourmet blend, but it definitely hit the spot. ?Thank you, Brunhilda. There?s nothing like breakfast in bed,? Helen muttered as she held the warm cup in her hands, and savored the taste of the coffee. ?You are welcome. However, even though I am capable of preparing your food here, the family usually eats their main meals together. I believe the Tok Rok is on his way to escort you to breakfast.? Helen spilled some of the coffee as she scrambled to get out of the bed. ?He?s on his way now?? she asked in horror. ?Yes, he is currently leaving his room and walking down the hallway. He will be arriving outside your door shortly,? the computer explained accurately. ?No!? Helen couldn?t help shouting.

?Is something troubling you, Toka Rok?? ?Wrong? Is something wrong? Please don?t get me started, Brunhilda. Everything is so wrong at the moment.? ?How can I help?? Brunhilda asked in a perfectly pleasant and calm voice, which was starting to grate on Helen?s nerves. ?You can start by telling me how to keep Jo?I mean the Tok Rok from entering my room,? she hurriedly asked. She knew she didn?t have much time. She had already discovered that Josh was not the type to knock and ask permission to enter. He would charge in here like it was his right to do so. And she just couldn?t permit that. ?It is very easy, Toka Rok, but why would you want to keep the Tok Rok--? ?Just tell me now!? Helen asked in panicked voice. ?Very well. All you have to do is say, ?activate lock? and-? ?Activate lock!? Helen practically squealed. Her command came just in time, as a moment later, she heard what sounded like a loud growl outside her door. ?Helen, are you in there?? Josh?s angry voice asked through the door. ?Yes,? Helen replied. ?Let me in,? he said, sounding very calm. She wasn?t swayed. ?No,? she said just as calmly, but she began frantically gathering the clothes she had discarded last night, and pulling them on as quickly as she could. ?I will not be locked out of a room in my own suite,? he said with no small amount of threat slipping into his voice. ?I?ll come out when I?m ready?and I?m not ready now,? she declared, knowing she sounded childish, but refusing to back down. Though she was now fully dressed, she didn?t feel ready to face Josh yet. She needed to drink her coffee and think about what had happened yesterday. After a moment?s silence, Josh spoke. ?I?ll give you ten minutes to prepare, if you?re not ready by then, I?ll come in there, whether you like it or not,? he said in a voice laced with steel. Win the war, not the battle. That thought suddenly ran through Helen?s mind. She had ten minutes to drink her coffee, get cleaned up and gather her thoughts before she had to face Josh again. It wasn?t much, but she would take it. ?Fine. See you shortly,? she muttered resentfully.

Silence followed her announcement. ?The Tok Rok has already left. He has gone into his study to await you,? Brunhilda explained. Helen wanted to stomp her feet and scream. The man hadn?t even waited to see what her response would be! He just arrogantly assumed she would follow his lead. Well, that was just fine. She would drink her coffee, and then get cleaned up. But after that she was doing things her way. ?Would you like clean garments, Toka Rok? I will gladly provide you with some,? Brunhilda offered after Helen had finished her coffee. ?Clean clothes?? Helen asked, glancing down at the day old wrinkled clothing she wore. ?Sure, why not? But first you have to stop calling me Toka Rok. I?m nowhere near being a princess, theoretically or literally. Just call me Helen, okay?? ?Very well, To--Helen,? the computer agreed. ?Is there a specific color you prefer?? ?Red. Today is definitely a red day. I have a feeling I?m going to need all the empowerment I can get,? Helen responded, as she washed up, and managed to get her mop of curls into a tight bun using the pins and hair bands she always kept in her pocket. Suddenly a gown similar to the one she saw Josh?s mom wear yesterday appeared on her bed. It was a vivid red, made of a material that reminded her of silk, with an inlaid embroidered pattern in a darker red, swirling along the long loose sleeves and around the somewhat plunging neckline. ?Isn?t this a little dressy for breakfast?? Helen asked. ?This is the customary day dress of the Tanvieran people,? Brunhilda replied. ?Okay,? she said, studying the clothing for a minute. ?I guess, when in Rome.? She quickly undressed then put on the gown. The fitted bodice and flowing skirt fit her quite well, and was much more comfortable than it looked. It allowed her freedom of movement while maintaining a very tailored look. After lifting the dress, Helen was surprised to see matching shoes, with a slight heel, on the bed. Putting them on, she was once again astonished by their comfort. They felt worn in and soft, even though they looked new. Realizing she was obsessing about clothes when she had never done so in the past, made her shake her head with a chuckle. However, Brunhilda?s voice quickly dispelled her humor. ?The Tok Rok is preparing to return.?

23

?Okay. Listen Brunhilda,? Helen said quickly. ?I need you to guide me to the dining room where the family is going to eat breakfast. Can you do that?? ?Yes, but the Tok Rok?? ?Will be meeting me there. Now please tell me how to get where I need to go,? Helen requested. ?Very well.? Helen deactivated the door lock and walked out of her room. Luckily, she managed to get past the study and Josh?s room without alerting him, and with Brunhilda?s soft voice guiding her, she was able to maneuver out of Josh?s suite and into the rest of the house. Mansion would have really been the word for it, as the size of the place was enormous. Without the computer?s help, she knew she would have gotten lost easily. The house was gigantic, but it also was different from any other house she had seen. Whereas Josh?s suites were somewhat similar to those on earth, the rest of the house was drastically different. It was if the outside had been purposely brought in. The raised ceilings alternated between what looked like glass in some areas, and wood beams in others, and were so high that they accommodated various large trees, which she noticed grew throughout the interior of the house. She detected some of the trees? leaves moving, as if from a slight wind. A tickle of cool air brushed over her, and Helen realized that the elongated windows in the foyer she had just entered were wide open. They stretched from the floor to the ceiling, and gave her a dramatic view of the forest and lake surrounding the house. The wonderful smell of the woods had her taking in deep breaths of fresh air. The sound of running water also caught her attention. She had noticed a small waterfall in her bedroom, and as she followed Brunhilda?s directions, she saw more of them scattered along the way. Some were very small and others so large they almost reached the ceiling, but all of them had one thing in common. They appeared natural, including rocks and algae, as if they belonged outside rather than in. Helen stopped walking, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. She opened her senses to everything around her, and let the sounds wash over her for a moment. The flowing water softly chiming its own song, the rustle of leaves, whispering their secrets to one another, and the fresh, woodsy smell of outdoors surrounded her and soothed her frayed nerves somewhat. Who ever thought you could feel this way inside a house? Suddenly Helen remembered why she had decided on biology as her area of study. The study of life enthralled her, especially plant life. On a scientific level, there was something incredible about the immense, yet silent proliferation of vegetation throughout the world. Its endurance in situations unacceptable to other living creatures, and its capability to adapt to the constantly changing environment was endlessly fascinating to her. On a personal level, the ability of plants to change ones? perspective with a glance, to soothe and inspire was something she held dear. Now was such a moment for her, and she took a second to appreciate the glory of it. ?Wonderful, isn?t it?? Vi La?s soft voice asked, breaking her meditation.

Helen opened her eyes and slowly turned to the other woman, watching her approach. She noticed that Josh?s mother wore a soft silk gown similar to hers, except that it kept changing from a periwinkle blue one moment to a sky blue color the next, then finally settled on a color somewhere in between. ?There?s one thing you should know right away about our planet, Helen. Despite the technological advances we?ve created, or adopted from other planets, the Tanvieran people share a special and some say, primitive, bond with the life around us. Plants aren?t just scenery for us, and animal life is more than entertainment,? Vi La explained fervently. ?We uphold and perpetuate our connection to all living entities on our planet. In our opinion, to ignore life, is to do so at our own peril, risking the destruction of our world.? ?I understand. My work as a plant biologist has given me a great appreciation for all life forms,? Helen explained. ?I?m glad to hear that,? Josh?s mother said with a shrewd expression in her eyes. ?Why don?t we go into the dining room and have some breakfast, while you tell me more about what you do?? Helen walked with Vi La to a room just off the foyer. It was large enough to feed quite a large crowd, but the table to one side of the room was set for four with a small buffet along one wall close by. Delicious smells filled Helen?s nose, and her stomach suddenly growled loudly. She felt like she hadn?t eaten in a week. ?You sound as hungry as me,? Vi La chuckled. ?I?m starved,? Helen admitted with a smile. ?So am I,? a booming male voice said. Helen and Vi La turned simultaneously to see Jo Na stride into the room. His eyes were glued on Vi La, giving her a penetrating stare, while he stalked towards them. Helen saw Vi La stiffen slightly, out of the corner of her eye. There seemed to be a strong current between the two of them that left her wondering what was going on. Stopping directly in front of Vi La, Josh?s father gazed down at her. ?Actually I?m not just starving, I?m so voracious that I?m tempted to take a bite out of the nearest thing to me, regardless of how bitter it may taste,? Jo Na said, as his eyes fell insolently to Vi La?s chest and stayed there for a moment before slowly rising back to her face. As he did so, a wolfish smile that was no more than a showing of teeth spread across his mouth, and he gazed at her mockingly. Helen stood frozen in shock, as she watched the electricity run between Josh?s parents. Vi La raised her hand, as if to slap her husband, but before she could, his hand shot out, and held hers. Then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. ?Remember our company, little cat,? Jo Na said softly. Vi La glared at Jo Na, then pulled her hand out of his grasp. Squaring her shoulders, and raising her chin high, despite the blush that suddenly tinged her cheek, Vi La ignored her husband and turned towards Helen. ?Please eat, dear. I know the food may not be familiar to you, but I assure you it?s very delicious.? Vi La lead her away from Jo Na without a backwards glance and began filling her own plate with food, after handing a plate to Helen.

?Some of us have gotten so spoiled by the availability of such good food, that we?ve forgotten what it?s like to be without it,? Vi La said, giving Jo Na a pointed look before turning her attention away from him again, and sitting down at the table with her filled plate. ?I?d like to take you on an outing today, Helen, and show you some of our planet,? Vi La suggested. Helen tried to ignore the verbal sparring that was going on between Josh?s parents as she filled her plate with the strange looking, but delicious smelling food presented on the buffet. Before she could respond to the older woman?s offer, Jo Na suddenly walked over to where Vi La sat and loomed over her. He looked like he was about to respond to her last comment, but at that moment, Josh?s voice broke the silence, as he strode into the room, and Vi La got the last word. ?I don?t know if an outing would be a good idea today, mother. Helen and I need to discuss a few things, so that she?ll be more acclimated to our planet,? Helen?s gaze swung around at the sound of Josh?s voice and his penetrating gaze captured her eyes as he began stalking towards her. She was surprised to see that he also wore red today, but the color of his clothes were hard to define, as they kept changing back and forth from brick red to crimson red as each moment past. Josh?s similarity to his father struck her at that moment, as she noticed the way he moved with a grace that belied his size, and the play of muscles underneath his loose fitting, slightly open shirt and tight pants left little to the imagination. His complete masculine appeal emanated so strongly from him that she was left feeling breathless. Yet the look he gave her as he drew closer was anything but assuring. His gaze raked over her audaciously as he approached, before returning to her face and giving her an intense stare. She was surprised when she suddenly felt a powerful wave of anger and desire wash over her, and shocked to somehow know that it was coming from Josh. She could feel what he was feeling, and it was anything but calm. Helen realized she may have tried his patience a little too much this time, but refused to back down. She raised her chin, and met his gaze proudly as he approached, trying to ignore the fact that he looked like some predatory cat, about to pounce on its prey. Josh walked right up to where she stood, so close she could see the dark navy colored rims around the steel blue irises of his stormy eyes. Glancing down at the plate of food that she held between them, he belied the anger radiating from him by gently grasping the plate?s edges and setting it on the table. Once that was gone, he took her hand in his, and began guiding her out of the room. Helen was momentarily put off balance by his proximity. But once she realized he was attempting to remove her from the room, and that they would be alone together once he did, she regained her senses. She dug her heels into the ground and pulled against his grasp. He turned towards her when he felt resistance, and smiled in a way that didn?t reach his eyes. ?You can come with me of your own free will, yaquesh, or I will carry you. It?s your choice,? he ground out between gritted teeth. ?I?m staying here with your parents, Josh. We can talk privately another time. Your mother?s suggestion to show me around is wonderful, and I?d prefer to spend the day with her,? she said, meeting his gaze squarely. The unspoken ?rather than you? that Helen purposely left out of the end of her sentence hung in the air

between them. Josh?s eyes narrowed dangerously, but instead of replying he pulled Helen roughly against him, then lifted her easily in his arms and gently threw her over his shoulder. He held her there with one arm wrapped around her waist. She was momentarily stunned by the air leaving her body in a rush, but soon recovered enough to notice each bump against her hip as Josh began carrying her out of the room. ?I need to speak to Helen alone for a moment,? Josh said calmly, as he continued walking. ?I?ll talk with you later, father. Perhaps you and Helen will have time to meet later, mother, and don?t worry. I?m aware of protocol and will not step over the line.? Helen raised her head slightly to get a glimpse of Josh?s parents. Jo Na was watching them with a masculine smile, which showed a father?s pride in every curve, while Vi La?s eyes were narrowed suspiciously as she watched them leave. Helen met the older woman?s eyes for a moment, and they seemed to show regret, but also a hint of humor, which Helen couldn?t quite understand. She had assumed his parents would stop Josh from doing this, but obviously there were differences in this culture she had yet to comprehend. One thing was obvious as they left the room. She was on her own with this warrior, and she needed to come up with a plan, quick. Emotions were warring within Helen at that moment. No one had ever picked her up, and carried her anywhere since she was a small child. She had always been too big for that. The fact that Josh had done so as if she weighed nothing at all unsettled her. On the one hand she was outraged that he dared to do this, on the other she was practically humming with excitement over his actions. The man somehow kept making her feel fragile and petite when she was definitely neither. And although, she felt some pleasure in the experience, she needed to show him, once and for all, that she wasn?t going to be pushed around. She hadn?t wanted to embarrass herself in front of Josh?s parents by kicking and screaming, but after he carried her out of the dining room, she had no qualms about it. ?You have just a few control issues, don?t you big guy?? she asked in a voice dripping with sarcasm. When he merely grunted, making no other response, she began her protest in earnest. ?Let me down right now, you Neanderthal!? she shouted as she began pummeling his back with her fists. ?You?re not some primitive caveman, and I?m not some fainting maiden you can throw over your shoulder. I?m a competent, adult woman, and I expect to be treated as such.? Instead of replying, she suddenly felt Josh?s fingers on her calf, under her dress. He slowly slid them higher and higher up her leg, until he had reached just above the backs of her knees. She stilled immediately and stiffened with awareness, even as she felt goosebumps rise up on her skin. When he began making small circles along the back of her thigh, gradually going higher and higher, she sucked in her breath sharply, and bit her lip in an effort to control the desire, which his touch suddenly ignited inside of her. ?Oh, I plan on treating you just like a full-grown woman, yaquesh, don?t worry about that,? he said roughly as he flattened his palm on her thigh, just below her bottom. ?And I realize that you?re not weak hearted. You?re a strong woman who needs a strong man to tame you. And I plan to do just that.?

24

Before Helen could express her outrage over his chauvinistic comments, Josh slid his hand up and covered one side of her bottom. Her underwear was thin, and didn?t provide much protection against the warm, rough feel of his hand as he began caressing her. Any response she was about to make got lodged in her throat as desire slammed into her. She tried desperately to lift herself up, away from his touch and off his shoulder, but he held her easily with his other arm around her waist. Helen bit her lip to keep from moaning with pleasure as his hands played her body. She suddenly felt on fire, and was embarrassed to realize that she was practically panting with desire. As his fingers continued their lazy circles, she squirmed restlessly, and the rest of her body screamed for attention. Just as she was about to yell her frustration, Josh removed his hand, lifted her from his shoulder, and set her down on a nearby couch. He walked away from her, putting some distance between them. She was glad he had not left her standing, because she knew her knees were nothing more than wet noodles at that moment. She realized they were back in his study, as the couch conformed to the curves of her body. She sat up a little straighter, trying to get control of herself, then looked over at Josh. Their gazes locked and the hunger burning in his eyes left little doubt in her mind, that food was not what he wanted at that moment. He was breathing heavily, and she wondered if it was from carrying her, or from the need that she was also feeling. ?We will talk now,? he said in a husky voice that sounded different from his own. His penetrating gaze left her feeling pinned to the couch, and Helen could only nod her head mutely. ?You need to realize a few things about your position here. You?re not on a vacation; free to roam where you please. As I explained earlier, your presence in my time, on my world must be monitored and controlled if we?re to accomplish what we must, and protect you,? he began in earnest. ?That means that if you want to survive, you must defer to my judgment in all things, and do as I say.? Helen was finally feeling calm enough to think and speak coherently, and was about to protest his words, when he raised his hand, palm side out, and stopped her. ?I know you?re not used to following orders, yaquesh, but in this case, I must insist. And it?s not because I am being a ?Neanderthal?, as you so aptly put it,? he said flashing her an amused grin, before becoming somber again. ?It?s because your life, as well as my family?s is at stake here. Do you understand that?? Before she could utter her reply, her stomach spoke for her. It growled loudly, and she flushed with embarrassment. That didn?t deter her hunger, however, because in the next moment it did it again. She looked down at her stomach, as if to reprimand it, then glanced up sharply as she heard Josh?s low chuckle. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. ?What?s so funny?? she demanded. ?Nothing, I just think we better feed you before that lion in your stomach devours us both. Besides, I

haven?t eaten yet and I?m hungry also. Is there something you?d prefer for breakfast? Brunhilda can be very creative.? Helen couldn?t resist returning Josh?s smile, despite how bossy he was currently being. ?Whatever she was making for the family in the dining room smelled great. I like trying new foods, so I?m up for giving it a whirl,? she replied. ?However, this discussion is not over Josh. We need to particularly talk about the part about me doing whatever you say.? ?I especially like that part, yaquesh. It could lead to some interesting moments, don?t you think?? Josh asked with a very masculine look. For once, Helen was at a loss for words. She couldn?t believe Josh had just hinted at what she thought he did. He must have taken her silence as agreement, because he turned from her with a low chuckle that sent chills up her spine, then called out to the computer. ?Brunhilda?? ?Yes, Tok Rok?? the computer answered immediately. ?Helen and I will have two plates of the breakfast you prepared for the family this morning.? Of course, Tok Rok,? Brunhilda agreed. The next moment, a panel slid out from the wall by Josh?s desk, and then two plates of steaming food, two glasses of a yellow colored liquid, and utensils appeared. Smelling the delicious food that had appeared, and remembering her ?win the war, don?t worry about the battles? philosophy, Helen decided to wait until she finished eating to pursue this topic with Josh any further. ?I have to admit, I like food preparation in your time,? Helen said with a grin as Josh retrieved their breakfast. ?It even beats a crock pot, and from me, that?s saying a lot.? **** Vi La tried to ignore Jo Na, as she silently finished her breakfast. That became difficult, however, when he sat down on the chair beside her with his breakfast, and kept offering to feed her food from his plate. Each time he held the morsel to her mouth, she refused with a firm shake of her head. In response, he would smile, then pop the food into his mouth. After about the fifth try, Vi La shook her head again, then finally spoke. ?Please stop doing that. I don?t want any of your food,? she said firmly. It was a struggle for her to keep a straight face, as Jo Na smiled boyishly at her. ?I remember when we first joined, and couldn?t stand to be apart for very long, you loved when we fed each other at meal time,? he said. ?We are different people now, Jo Na. We are older, and our relationship has changed since the beginning.?

?I agree there are differences now, but that doesn?t mean we can?t do things like this.? Vi La saw his words as a way for her to begin her campaign to help her people, and their relationship. ?You know I care for you, do you not?? she asked. ?I know that, despite everything that has been happening between us, you still care for me. If you didn?t, last night would never have happened.? Vi La blushed slightly at the reminder of her wanton behavior last night. She and her mate had not joined in such a long time, that she couldn?t help herself. Despite this, she knew there was much she needed to work out with Jo Na. ?Last night was a mistake, and will not be happening again,? she said coolly. ?We need to work out our relationship first, regardless of the physical attraction we still share.? ?Is that all it is to you? Physical attraction?? Jo Na said as he shot to his feet, knocking his chair over in the process. The anger coming from him was palpable. ?That?s not what I mean??Vi La tried to tell him. ?Yes, it is. You?re need for physical company is obvious. The younger men you choose to visit your suite as your consorts say it all. Why can?t you just admit you?re interviewing for a new Rov Shom?? Jo Na demanded. ?Jo Na, I?m not looking for a new Rov Shom. You know as well as I that there?s only one true mate for each of us. That hasn?t changed,? she explained gently. Jo Na stared mutely at her with accusation in his eyes, and a stubborn jut to his jaw. Vi La knew that look. It was the one her husband used when he had decided on something and refused to see it any other way. Hurt over his mistrust filled her, and then her own anger suddenly flared to life. Couldn?t the man stop being so stubborn for once, and listen to what she had to say? ?What has changed, Jo Na, is the trust we shared between us,? she said angrily, as she also stood up and faced him. ?You are letting your councilors tell you what you should be doing, how you should be doing it, and with whom. Where is the warrior I married, who had a mind of his own and didn?t follow others like a cub after a meal?? Jo Na?s face grew livid, and his eyes narrowed dangerously at her words. She knew she had hurt him by questioning his masculinity, but he had hurt her by questioning her honesty. Although he looked like he was about to explode, she raised her chin and faced him like the warrior she was. Jo Na stepped ominously closer to her, until their bodies almost touched. ?So, now I?m a cub instead of a man? Are you sure about that Vi La?? he asked, snaking his arm around her waist before she had time to react. Vi La was about to respond when Brunhilda?s voice broke the tension between them. ?Tok Jo Na, you have a vid from the capital. It?s marked urgent,? the computer said. Jo Na continued to stare down intently at Vi La for a moment before finally responding. ?Thank you,

Brunhilda. I?ll take the call in my study right away,? he said. ?Good day, Vi La. We?ll finish this discussion later, I promise you that.? Jo Na vowed with fury still burning in his eyes as he walked away from her without a backwards glance. Vi La released her pent-up breath with a loud sigh. That had not gone well, but at least she had gotten the issue out in the open. It would give Jo Na something to ponder until they spoke again. She would try to stay out of his way the rest of the day, so that he could calm down somewhat and gather his thoughts, and she knew just how to do that. **** Helen and Josh sat together on the couch in companionable silence for a short time, each enjoying their own breakfast. Helen wasn?t too sure about the strange looking liquid Josh gave her, but was pleasantly surprised once she tasted how good it was. It had the flavor of mango and guava juice mixed with a hint of pineapple, and something else she couldn?t quite pinpoint. ?This drink is delicious. What?s in it?? she finally asked. ?It?s kago juice. The kago fruit grows well in this area, and is popular among my people.? ?Well, I can tell why. Its mix of flavors is delectable.? ?What do you think of the rest of your breakfast?? Josh asked casually. ?I don?t know what any of it is, but it?s all very good. That is, except for this,? she said, wrinkling her nose, and pointing to a thick brown goop, which looked like a mix between lumpy chocolate pudding and Jell-O. ?It?s extremely salty, and the taste is so pungent that I don?t think I can eat it.? ?That is called lemva. It is a delicacy on my world. It?s very expensive, and usually only eaten on special occasions. My mother must have had Brunhilda prepare it due to my travel?s end,? he explained. ?Travel?s end?? ?Yes, when someone returns from a trip, that is the traditional greeting they receive,? he said. Then after pondering something for a moment he continued his explanation, ?It?s similar to the ?welcome back? you say in your time on earth.? ?I see. Well, unfortunately lemva just isn?t to my taste, but everything else is wonderful,? Helen said. ?By the way, what?s in lemva?? ?It?s a mixture of glands from the various domesticated animals we use as a food source on this planet,? Vi La explained nonchalantly, as she walked into the study. Helen felt sick. She had only taken one bite of the stuff, but she seemed to feel it rising, burning a trail up the back of her throat. She looked around her frantically, wondering how she was going to keep her food down, when she suddenly felt the tension between Josh and his mother. It seemed to fill the room. Food forgotten, Helen peered back and forth at the two of them as they stared at each other for a moment. Finally, Vi La broke her stare and turned with a smile towards Helen. ?You?re not alone in your dislike of lemva. I?ve never liked it, but Jo Na and Jo Sha do, so I have

Brunhilda make it occasionally for them,? Vi La explained with a shrug. ?What brings you here to my study, mother?? Josh asked while giving Vi La a penetrating stare. Helen was getting really tired of this silent communication between everybody but her. It was obvious she wasn?t being told everything, but she was determined to find out what that was as soon as possible. ?As I mentioned earlier, I thought it might be nice if Helen and I spent some time together. I could show her around the house, and then the outside gardens. You know I take an interest in gardening, and I?m sure with her background, she would be interested in learning about the plant life on this planet, don?t you?? Vi La asked Josh. ?I think that would be wonderful,? Helen answered enthusiastically before Josh could respond. She really would like to learn about the strange plants on this planet, but she also would like to learn a little more about Josh at the same time, and his mother was the perfect person to talk to about him. Josh didn?t say a word for a minute. He just looked suspiciously back and forth between his mother and Helen. Then finally he gave a curt nod. ?Fine. I have other matters to attend to also. I?ll be occupied most of the day, but will meet up with both you for the evening meal,? he said. ?We?ll see you then. And don?t worry about Helen. She and I will have an enjoyable day together,? his mother assured him. ?Helen. Please don?t forget what we discussed,? he requested, although it sounded more like a command. Win the war. Win the war. Helen chanted to herself, biting back the tart reply that was bursting to come out of her mouth in reply to his mandate. ?See you later, Josh,? Helen said, smiling brightly. Josh frowned as if perplexed by her overly eager expression, but after a last swallow of his juice, he left the room. As soon as he walked out, Vi La turned towards Helen with a warm smile. ?Would you like some more breakfast before I show you around?? ?No. I?m all set, thanks. I?m ready to begin when you are.? ?Where would you like to start? The house or the surrounding grounds outside?? ?Outside, of course,? she answered with an excited grin.

25

Josh headed to Jo Na?s study, trying to dispel thoughts of Helen from his mind and concentrate on the situation with his sister. He needed to begin his covert study of the Kirna region today, but wanted to verify with his father that he was updated about everything that had occurred while he was gone, and up to that point. He knew his dad had his men discreetly working on the situation at the capitol, and it was necessary that he be kept abreast of any developments before entering Kirna. One of the most important lessons he had learned as a warrior was to always be as informed and prepared as you can be for a potentially dangerous situation, before going into it. Josh stopped in front of his father?s study door and waited. When the door didn?t immediately open, he knew his father had activated the lock, so he waited while the scan alerted his father to his presence. After a moment, the door slid open and Jo Na stood up and walked out from behind his desk as Josh entered the room. ?I?m glad you?re here, Jo Sha,? his father said, patting him lightly on the back, and waving towards one of the chairs in the room. ?Please sit down. I just finished speaking to my agents at the capitol, and they had some interesting news about the Kirna zone. There has been a substantial amount of unusual activity going on there, and a report I just received this morning claims some sightings of known TFE members in that area.? ?Then it?s verified,? Josh said with a nod. When his father only stared at him in confusion, he explained what he had found out from Tristan, and what his plans were. ?You?re going sky soaring to check out the area? What an ingenious idea, but you must take Tristan with you,? Jo Na insisted. ?Father, I think I?? ?It?s not a question of me wondering if you can accomplish this, son. I have no doubt about that. However, you?re still Tok Rok, and as such, your safety is a priority. I know you don?t want any of my men, or your own personal guard there for fear it would give you away, but Tristan wouldn?t be recognized by many, and his warrior skills are exceedingly good. Plus you have a good reason to be out sky soaring with him because he is, after all, your friend.? When Jo Na had finally stopped talking, Josh released the breath he was holding. ?Thanks for your concern, but what I was about to say, is that I think I need to vid Tristan now, so that I can arrange a pick up and drop off meeting time with him,? Josh explained. ?Furthermore, I am aware of my duty to you and this planet. I haven?t forgotten it, nor do I plan on ever forgetting it, just as I know that I must be careful,? he said stiffly. ?Please forgive me, son. You know that I?m proud of who you are, and all that you do. This situation

with your sister has both your mother and I worried, and preoccupied. I didn?t mean to insult your honor,? Jo Na explained. ?I understand. Speaking of mother, how is she taking all of this? She seems very composed, considering what?s going on, yet at moments, I catch her looking extremely fatigued. Is she all right?? ?You know how strong your mother is. She?s dealing with this as best she can, however it has taken its toll on her. I?m sure you?re aware of how women can sometimes be. She acts normally one moment, and the next she?s emotional and teary eyed.? ?Helen is the same,? Josh said nodding his head in agreement. ?Mostly she?s strong like a warrior, but then there are moments when she overflows with emotions. I?m not always sure how to handle it, but so far, things have worked themselves out.? ?Don?t even try to understand the female mind, gentlemen. I know I never will,? said Tristan?s amused voice. Both men turned towards the doorway and smiled. ?Tristan, I was about to vid you to set up a time to go sky soaring,? Josh said as his friend walked into the room. ?I figured you?d be contacting me soon anyway, so I decided to come say hello to your mother and father before we head out. Brunhilda let me in the house, and told me where to find you.? ?Travel?s end, Tristan,? Jo Na said with a formal nod as Tristan approached him. ?Thank you Tok Jo Na. It?s good to be back,? Tristan responded with a respectful bow. ?Enough with the formalities,? Jo Na said giving Tristan a friendly pat on the back. ?You?re going to advise us about women? I?ve seen you with so many different women since we met, that I?m surprised you can keep any of their names straight, let alone understand them,? Jo Na said with a snort, while his eye filled with amusement. Jo Sha let out a short guffaw and nodded his head in agreement. ?My father?s right. You always did attract more women than Arin McClintock and I put together, but I haven?t seen you in a single meaningful relationship since we?ve met. I don?t think emotions are what you?re looking at when you choose the women I?ve seen you with,? Josh said with a grin, as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Tristan grinned wolfishly at Josh, and shrugged his shoulders. ?I can?t defend your reasoning. Beautiful women like to be with me, and I like to be with them, at least for a while. Emotions aren?t something I?m interested in, when it comes to a woman,? he explained. ?Really? What about the last time you visited here?? Josh asked with a doubtful look on his face. ?There seemed to be a lot of emotion between you and Sa Rah on that occasion; most of it anger, if I remember correctly. It amazes me how much the two of you rub each other the wrong way. I?ve never seen my sister act so shrewish with anyone else, and I?ve never seen you so stiff and forbidding with others. Obviously your attractiveness to women is lost on my sister,? Josh smiled patronizingly and patted his

friend on the back. Josh noticed Tristan?s smile fade as he mentioned his sister. His face turned hard and his eyes filled with steely determination. ?Regardless of how your sister feels about me, I will find her, and bring her back here,? he promised fervently. Jo Na looked curiously at Tristan, then turned to Josh in silent question. Josh?s face grew serious and his eyebrows knotted in confusion. He returned his father?s gaze, and shrugged his shoulders in dismay over his friend?s sudden change. ?I appreciate your devotion to my family, and all the help you?re giving us in this situation, Tristan,? Jo Na said. ?Why don?t we go over my plan for today?s sky soar?? Josh suggested, deciding to move the conversation along. ?Hopefully it will prove fruitful, and bring us that much closer to finding my sister.? Tristan nodded his head, and his face grew less troubled as Josh went over his plan, then opened the aerial map he held under his arm, and spread it out on Jo Na?s desk. ?I think your strategy will work, however, we need to have an alternative meeting point on the ground, just in case our first site is compromised,? Tristan suggested. ?I think here will be a good place,? Josh said, pointing to a location not far from the original spot. ?That?s far enough away that we won?t be discovered if the first site is occupied, and close enough that we won?t have to wander too much over the area and risk detection.? ?Both points are close enough to this transport to get you back here quickly, if necessary,? Jo Na explained, circling the location of the unit that will bring them home. ?Some of my men and I are going to monitor your progress from here. Just don?t forget to swallow your location implants before the jump, so we know where you both are at all times.? ?We won?t,? Josh said with a nod. Tristan and he said good-bye to Jo Na, and then put together all of their equipment before heading out to the air transport vehicle they were going to use. ?This reminds me of some of the missions you, Arin, and I use to go on together,? Josh said. ?Yeah, except I?m sure right about now, Arin is at home with Talia, safe and sound,? Tristan responded with a smile. At one time that would have sounded extremely boring to Josh, but as the image of he and Helen embracing in his study came to mind, a craving like he had never known came over him. He glanced sharply at Tristan, and saw a wistful look on his face also. ?We?re getting old,? Josh said; only partly disgusted with himself. ?I know what you mean,? Tristan said, giving Josh a knowing look, and a wry smile.

As they stepped into the air craft, Josh caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and glanced sideways to see Helen and his mother below in the garden, strolling while deep in conversation. Helen must have sensed him somehow, because she suddenly stopped walking and looked around her. When she didn?t see anything, her gaze rose up to find where he and Tristan were, and focused on them. Josh raised his hand in greeting before getting into the transport. Helen and his mother raised their hand and waved back, but he could pick up a sense of disquiet from Helen. She was worried about him. He grinned widely at the thought as he sat down and started the vehicle. Tristan snorted loudly while Josh took off. ?What?? Josh asked his friend. ?You,? Tristan replied as if it were the most obvious answer in the universe. ?What about me?? ?In Helen?s time, I would say something like, ?You are so whipped?.? ?Whipped?? Josh asked in confusion, not understanding what he meant. ?Yes,? Tristan responded with a look of superiority. ?In other words, Helen has you well and truly caught.? Josh narrowed his eyes and glanced irritably at Tristan, but said only one sentence. ?I don?t think so, my friend.? ?Really?? ?Yes. If anyone is going to be doing the chasing and catching, it?s going to be me,? Josh said with a roguish grin and anticipation in his eyes. ?I always did like a good hunt.? Tristan still looked doubtful. ?That?s what Arin thought too, and look at him now,? Tristan said smugly. ?We?ll see,? Josh said. ?We sure will,? Tristan agreed with a gloating smile that made Josh want to punch him, but he kept silent as he pondered his friend?s words. Tristan seemed lost in his thoughts also, and they spent the remainder of the ride in silence until some time later, when the onboard computer interrupted the quiet. ?We are approaching the jump site, Tok Rok.? Without a word, each of them simultaneously took out their locator beacons and swallowed them. ?Are you ready?? Josh asked his friend with an excited smile. ?Of course,? Tristan answered with an eager look on his face. ?We are now over the drop area, Tok Rok,? the computer?s emotionless voice alerted them.

?Open the hatch,? Josh commanded. ?Yes, Tok Rok.? Josh set the vehicle to automatically return home in sixty seconds, then he and Tristan grabbed their equipment packs and approached the open hatch. They stopped at the edge of it, then grasped each others forearms. ?See you on the other side,? Josh said with a grin. ?On the other side,? Tristan answered with a nod, and an answering smile. After releasing his friend?s arm, Josh pulled goggles over his eyes, put his ear transmitter in place, and jumped through the hatch. He fell into the seemingly endless lavender sky, and began to fly.

26

?That flower is so vivid. I don?t thing I?ve ever seen anything like it on my planet,? Helen said, as she and Vi La walked outside into the garden. ?Yes, it is. Many such flowers exist here. We are fortunate to have a diversity of flora in this area of the world. As I mentioned earlier to you, we revere plants and strive to incorporate them naturally into our life.? Vi La replied. They continued to walk down one of the many pathways Helen could see running all around the grounds. She could get lost for days here, studying all the new and different vegetation present. It amazed her that plant life could differ so much on this planet when its environment seemed so similar to Earth?s. Vi La pointed to an especially interesting plant that looked like a pine tree, except it had long tangled vines shooting out of the top of it, which hung in strands all around it. Helen also noticed some sort of fruit that looked similar to an apple, growing on the vines. She was about to ask Vi La about it when a tingling awareness ran down her spine. It felt as if someone were watching her, but as she looked around her, she saw no one. Suddenly, the urge to look up overtook her, and as her eyes rose, she saw Josh. He was a standing on the roof of the house, looking down at her. It was too far to see his eyes, but still she felt his pull. She also felt something else. It was anticipation, or maybe nerves emanating from him, she wasn?t sure. Either way, it worried her, and she frowned. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look at Josh, but still couldn?t see his face clearly.

?There?s Josh,? Helen said to Vi La, while keeping her eyes on him. ?Josh?? Vi La asked in confusion, then suddenly her face cleared. ?Oh, you mean Jo Sha.? She followed the direction of Helen?s gaze. Then Josh waved, and they both returned their own waves. Helen saw that Josh continued to look down at them for a moment, then got into the vehicle. Only then did she see the other man getting into the aircraft, and realized that it was Tristan Zax, the detective she had met in her time at the hospital. Why was he with Josh, and who was he really? ?Who is that man with Josh, uh, Jo Sha?? Helen asked, trying to use Josh?s proper name. ?That?s his good friend, Tristan Zax,? Vi La answered. ?He?s from Earth also. I didn?t know he would be visiting us. I wonder where they?re going?? ?So do I,? Helen agreed as she watched the air craft lift into the sky and speed away. She also wondered who Tristan Zax really was, and why he had been in her hospital room back in her time. Helen and Vi La started walking down the paths again. Vi La would point out vegetation she thought was interesting, and answer any questions Helen would have about it. Eventually, Vi La stopped at a white wicker looking bench, and sat down on it. ?Let take a little rest here.? Helen sat down beside her. They sat together in comfortable silence for a short while, then Vi La finally spoke. ?I?m sure you must lead a very exciting life back in your time, developing new hypotheses and making previously unknown research discoveries.? ?Actually, much of my work is repetitive study. We conduct related tests, changing small factors in one area or another, and then we do a lot of observation over an extended period of time. Breakthroughs and discoveries don?t come as often as I?d like, but despite this, my research fascinates me. I look forward to each day of lab study, knowing I?ll be challenged and motivated along the way. I plan on being the lead researcher at our facility one day,? Helen explained with excitement in her voice. She expected Vi La to react as her family always did when she tried to explain her work, but instead was pleasantly surprised. ?I think you work is very important, and I admire your obvious dedication to it, Vi La said with a genuine smile. ?Your parents must be proud to have such an intelligent, strong, and beautiful daughter.? Helen?s gaze went sharply to Vi La?s face to see if she was teasing her. When she realized by the look on the older woman?s face that she meant every word she was saying, she was at a loss for words. A door inside of her, which she normally kept tightly closed, creaked open slightly, and left Helen feeling like one of the chains around her soul had been broken. No one in her family had ever expressed such admiration for her work, or her. Helen gazed down at the ground, then stamped down the tears that she felt beginning to form in her eyes. She shook her head to gain control, and after a moment regained her composure. Her gaze rose back to meet Vi La?s eyes. ?Thank you, Vi La. Your words are appreciated more than you know. Unfortunately, my family doesn?t share your admiration or excitement about my chosen career path.?

?That is truly their loss, my dear. It?s obvious from what Jo Sha has told me about you, and what you?ve had to go through recently, that you are indeed a special person, who should be admired.? ?Josh has spoken about me?? she asked before she even realized the words came out of her mouth. Vi La smiled gently at her. ?Of course. He has told Jo Na and I about your life in your time. Jo Sha also admires your many qualities. Has he not told you this?? she asked. ?No, he hasn?t.? Helen knew that Josh, for some strange reason, admired her body, but she wasn?t about to share that with the man?s mother. ?What do you know about my son, Helen?? Vi La asked shrewdly. ?Only that he isn?t a scientist, and he is a prince. He acts like some sort of warrior or soldier at times also. Has he been trained to be a soldier?? ?Most of the men and some of the women on this planet are trained to be warriors from the time they can walk. Before the discovery of our planet by the interplanetary coalition, we had to constantly defend this world from invasion, and though things have settled down since we joined the coalition, our warrior training remains the same.? ?Why do so many others want to capture this planet?? Helen asked. ?Let?s just say for now, that we have an abundance of natural resources that are valued throughout the universe,? Vi La said evasively. ?But back to Jo Sha. He?s been trained as both a warrior and a prince. Sometimes that can be a difficult task even for an adult, so you must be able to imagine how hard Jo Sha had to work to balance the warrior and the diplomat in himself. Not all Tok Rok or Toka Rok are able to accomplish this successfully. We were lucky that, both Jo Sha and Sa Rah grasped hold of both ways of living, and developed the best use for each in their own lives.? ?So Sa Rah was also trained as a warrior? Are she and Jo Sha equal heirs to the throne?? ?Yes, and no. In most cases it is the male who ascends to the throne, but other factors may come into play, such as the suitability of the heir, his or her desire to reign, and so on. The Tok Rok or Toka Rok are honor bound to lead our people, however when there is more than one heir, that leaves a little more choice for those involved.? ?I see.? ?Jo Sha has known from a very young age that he will be Tok one day. His duty and training has been ingrained in him, and it is difficult for him to act otherwise. I think, in your case, my son has had to make some choices that called for him to think in a way he has never had to do before. He had to think not only as a warrior and a prince, he has also had to think as a man who wants a woman,? Vi La said bluntly. Helen struggled not to look away from the other woman?s eyes, but her frank words made it difficult.

?My son admires you. Not just for your beauty either, and your are beautiful, Helen,? his mother said, reaching out her hand and tilting Helen?s chin up so that she looked into her eyes. Vi La smiled encouragingly before continuing. ?On our planet, intelligence, strength of spirit and bravery are considered the most important and attractive attributes a woman can have. Though there always seems to be an undeniable attraction between mates, physical appearances comes second as part of that. Since you hold all of these characteristics, you would be considered a very desirable woman on Tanviera.? Vi La released Helen?s chin, then turned to stare into the surrounding forest, and released a heavy sigh. ?Now you see my son?s dilemma. He finds you immensely attractive, on the one hand, but he also feels a sense of duty as a warrior, and honor as a prince, which must be fulfilled. So, if he hasn?t expressed his admiration for you yet, that?s why. He must come to terms with himself, including the part of him that is just a man, before he can declare himself to you.? ?I see,? Helen barely managed to say, as her throat seemed to close in on her. Emotions hummed through her, leaving her shaky. She was so shocked by what Vi La was telling her, that she didn?t know how to respond. Josh?s mother was telling her that Josh wanted her because he thought she was intelligent, strong, brave, and beautiful. The image of the beautiful swan, Helen sometimes thought about now came to mind, and it spread its wings wide, preparing to soar through the sky. She had struggled her whole life to ignore her parents? disappointment, her siblings? cruelty, and others? stereotypes of her because of her appearance as well as her chosen profession. It was hard to believe that a man like Josh could actually like the attributes so many others found disappointing or distasteful. Could his mother be right in her assessment of the situation? The wings of her graceful, white swan quivered a little, then slowly closed, and the beautiful bird hung its head in defeat. Helen wanted to believe Vi La?s words, but her past experiences made it difficult. She would have to think on this. ?Shall we continue our walk?? Vi La asked. When Helen silently nodded her head and met the other woman?s eyes, she saw only kindness and understanding. ?One day soon you will let yourself be free,? Vi La softly told her. Without another word, Josh?s mother rose from the bench and began walking down the path. Helen quickly caught up with her, and they spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon in the gardens. Both of them claimed to be too full from breakfast to eat lunch, but in actuality, Helen was just too interested in the gardens to eat. By early afternoon, their stomachs were alternately growling loudly, and after laughing at each others ?roaring?, they went back into the house. ?Why don?t you freshen up in your room for a moment, then we can have a light meal,? Vi La suggested. ?Sure, I?ll meet you in the dining room shortly.? With a nod, each woman went her separate way. After washing up and tidying her hair, Helen headed back to the dining room.

Seeing Vi La?s serious face, deep in thought, she wondered what she was thinking about. ?Please come in, Helen. Brunhilda has prepared us a wonderful vegetarian meal,? Josh?s mom said without looking her way. Helen wondered how Vi La was aware of her presence, when she was being so quiet, but the delicious smell of lunch distracted her. She walked over to the table and sat next to the other woman. ?Penny for your thoughts,? Helen ventured kindly. ?Excuse me?? Vi La said, as her brows knitted in confusion. ?That?s a saying in my time. It just means, what are you thinking about? I don?t mean to be nosy, but you seemed to be so serious a moment ago.? ?I was just thinking about Sa Rah. She is very dear to me. You remind me of her in many ways. I, uh, haven?t seen her in quite a while, and miss her very much,? Vi La explained in a choked voice. Though Josh?s mom didn?t cry, Helen could sense that she was close to it. She reached out a hand and covered the older woman?s one, which lay on the table. ?I?m so sorry.? Helen said, while softly patting her hand. ?Why don?t you contact her, and let her know how you feel? Maybe she can come for a visit.? ?Unfortunately that?s impossible right now. She is, uh, on a mission which is highly confidential, and I?m unable to contact her at the moment, despite how much I would like to,? Vi La explained sadly. ?I see. Well I hope everything turns out successfully, and she comes home soon,? Helen offered lamely, not sure what else say to the woman. ?Thank you, dear,? Vi La said, smiling warmly at Helen. ?Now let?s eat. I?m hungry!? Helen laughed when her stomach chose that moment to growl, extremely loud. ?My stomach obviously concurs,? she said picking up her fork and diving in. Whatever they were eating was delicious. It tasted like some sort of vegetable casserole, gooey with what she assumed was cheese, and having the consistency of stuffing. The mixed vegetables were indistinguishable in taste, however, Helen could tell by their texture, that they were fresh. Their meal was accompanied by a cold vegetable dish, which tasted like asparagus dipped in a balsamic like vinegar. Rounding out the meal was a cold glass of water. Thirsty from all the walking they did, she drank half of it before she even tasted her food. Just as Helen was starting to feel full, she heard the sound of Brunhilda?s voice. ?Toka Vi La, you must come quickly. Tok Jo Na has just departed, and he requested I notify you immediately.? Vi La and Helen both stood up quickly. ?What has happened to Jo Na?? Vi La asked, her face fearful.

?It isn?t Tok Jo Na, it?s the Tok Rok, Jo Sha. He has been in an accident,? the computer explained.

27

Josh closed his eyes as the wind whipped past him. He pictured a black Elak in his mind, the large, powerful, predatory bird that existed only in the forests of his planet. It was the animal that he always held in his mind, ready to spring forth at such times as this. It spread its powerful wings, lifted up, and soared through the sky. The freedom he felt was exhilarating and he laughed aloud. Sky soaring had been a favorite hobby of his since he was a small boy, and because his parents allowed it, he had done it often while growing up. Yet no matter how many times he made the leap and flew through the open sky, he never tired of it. He had introduced Tristan to it not long after they met, and his friend had gotten hooked fast. He opened his eyes again, and looked above him to see Tristan not far away. He had a wide grin on his face that mirrored the one Josh now wore. His mind cleared, as it always did when he was soaring, and he spread his arms wide. The stiff fabric attached like a web between his arms and body made him begin to soar sideways instead of fall downward, catching pockets of air as it was designed to do. As he slid across the horizon, he let his gaze wander below to the ground that was now visible far beneath him. Though a good distance away, Josh could see the land markings he and Tristan had studied before going on this mission. He closed his arms so that he could descend slightly, then opened them again to maintain his position. Learning how to maneuver his fall in this way had taken him many efforts; some resulting in accidents that left his parents wondering if they had made a good choice in letting him pursue this hobby. His enjoyment of it and his determination to become proficient must have communicated itself to his parents, because they let him continue. He grew up and eventually mastered the basics along the way, but, even to this day, he liked to challenge himself by trying new or different sky soaring techniques. Tristan thought he was crazy to attempt these stunts, but the exhilarating feeling Josh got when he did them was undeniably addictive. His descent had allowed him to get a better view of his target area, and he noticed activity, which seemed inharmonious with the area. The Kirna zone was comprised mostly of uninhabitable desert, large dunes, and the occasional oasis. There were only scattered small communities, and usually very little activity. Yet what he was seeing now was a lot more then that. It looked like there were about fifty small tents surrounding one giant one in a circular shape. Josh closed his arms and fell a little more, before steadying his drop again. He narrowed his eyes in an effort to get a closer look at what he could now make out to be several hundred people milling around the area. He was about to lower himself further, when Tristan?s voice coming through his ear monitor momentarily halted his actions.

?You see what I?m seeing?? ?Yes, this has to be the TFE camp. It looks like they?ve already accumulated quite a lot of followers for their meeting.? ?Just a few? It looks like there are at least 700 people down there.? ?I?m going to drop down a little more so that I can get a closer look.? ?Okay, I?m going to shoot by you and take a look at what kind of security they have around the perimeter.? ?I?ll meet back with you at the drop site.? ?Right. Out.? Tristan soared over Josh?s head, and then disappeared in another direction. Josh clamped his arms tight to his body and fell. He was just about to open his arms again when a heavy weight fell on him, and knocked the breath from his lungs. He was dazed, but realized dimly that someone had purposely fell on him, and was preventing him from opening his arms. But before he could attempt to fight the person off, something solid hit his head, and everything went black. **** Josh was dreaming. It had to be a dream, because in it, Helen was sky soaring with him. Her hair was flying wildly about her, and she was laughing with delight. They were facing each other, letting themselves fall freely. She looked happy and carefree. Instantly the image of Helen as a beautiful white swan flying with her wings spread wide and he, as the black Elak, flying proudly by her side came to mind. The image shimmered and disappeared as her eyes turned soft, and she pulled him closer. Their noses touched and she rubbed hers against his with a giggle. After a moment her face grew serious, and she looked deeply into his eyes. She leaned closer and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss. The feel of her mouth on his caused jolts of awareness to run through him, and he instantly woke up. When Josh opened his eyes, he was surprised to find himself in his bedroom at home with his father, mother, Tristan and Helen surrounding his bed with worried frowns on their faces. Finding humor in the way they all had almost exactly the same facial expressions, he grinned widely. ?Did I miss something?? he asked. Tristan was the first to answer with his own wry smile. ?Oh, not too much. You were just falling to your death from the sky, and I soared over to where you were, knocked the fellow out who was wrestling with you, and managed to get all three of us to the drop point without too much damage. Other than that, it?s been a fairly routine day.? Suddenly everything came back to Josh: the sky soaring over the Kirna zone, the TFE camp, dropping for a closer look, and the person falling on him and knocking him out. His eyes widened appreciatively as he looked at Tristan, and he held out his hand to him. ?Thank you for saving my life, Tristan.?

Tristan reached out and they grabbed each others? forearms. ?I did what needed to be done, buddy. I know you would have done the same thing for me, although that soar move I did wasn?t one I?ve seen too many people do. I?m not sure even you would have been able to accomplish it,? Tristan teased with a smug grin. ?You?ll have to show it to me some time. I?m sure I can improve on it,? Josh shot back with amusement in his eyes. ?Enough!? Jo Na said sternly, as he stepped closer to Josh. Tristan released his friend?s arm and stepped away. ?Are you sure you?re well, Josh?? Vi La asked as she also moved to his side, and place a reassuring hand gently on his arm. Josh nodded his head. ?I?m fine, mom.? ?The doctor said you have quite a bump on your head, but no concussion, you broke your arm in two places, and your leg in one, but she was able to fix it without a problem, and recommended you rest here at home for the next day or so,? Vi La explained. ?Your father and I were very worried about you when we heard what had happened, as was Helen,? his mother said moving slightly to the side so that he could see Helen standing somewhat back from the bed. Her face was very white, and her expression grim. He peered intently at her, and she silently met his gaze, with her own searching one. The tension in the air suddenly became thick. Tristan cleared his throat loudly, then began backing towards the door. ?I?m going to interview our sky soaring friend. I think his TFE connection is obvious. Unfortunately, neither of us realized they would be patrolling the sky. I?ll vid you later to let you know whatever information I gain from my meeting,? Tristan said, preparing to walk out the door, but Jo Na?s words momentarily stopped him. ?Thank you again for saving our son?s life, Tristan. Vi La and I are in your debt. If there is ever anything you need from us, please don?t hesitate to ask,? Josh?s father said earnestly. ?Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.? Tristan said with a quick bow, before he turned and left the room. Josh and Helen were still staring at each other, oblivious to Vi La and Jo Na in the room. ?I think we?ll let you two, uh, talk privately. Isn?t that right Vi La?? Jo Na lightly squeezed his wife?s arm. ?I don?t think it?s proper--? she started to protest, but Jo Na lead her from the room anyway. ?I think now is not time to worry about such things, Vi La,? he said when they closed the door behind them.

She looked like she was about to argue, but then she suddenly smiled mysteriously at her husband, and nodded her head. ?You?re so right, Jo Na. Let?s go into your study and talk about other things,? she said, slipping her arm through his and leading him away. **** ?You were worried about me?? Josh asked with a very serious look on his face. ?Why didn?t you tell me about your sister?s kidnapping?? Helen demanded. When she frantically questioned Vi La as they sped to the medical unit where Tristan had brought an unconscious Josh, his mother had reluctantly told her all about Sa Rah and her abduction by terrorists, as well as Josh?s plans to rescue her. Josh studied her face for a moment then ran his hand through his hair in frustration. ?I didn?t think you needed one more thing to worry about. Despite what happened today, Tristan and I have Sa Rah?s rescue plans well on their way,? he explained as he sat up and faced her. Helen?s eyes dilated, and went from worried to heated as they fell to Josh?s bare chest and stomach, and then she took a small step backwards. He followed her gaze with his own, and realized that he wore no clothing, and the sheet that was covering him had slipped down to rest low on his stomach, only partially covering his lap, and leaving one leg revealed. Helen was affected by his state of undress. A slow grin spread across Josh?s lips as he noted her reaction. The Elak in him unfurled its powerful wings, its predatory nature making it ready to strike in an instant. Heat suffused his body, and desire slammed through him. When she saw his body reacting, Helen?s eyes widened even further and she swallowed convulsively before tearing her gaze up to his face once more. Her eyes looked like those of his prey, caught unprepared. He smiled knowingly, and slowly rose from the bed, allowing the sheet to fall away. He stood there proudly, comfortable with himself, and let her look her fill. Helen?s eyes ran hungrily over his body, and her hands clenched into fists. He knew she was trying to look away, but couldn?t help herself. He could feel her desire emanate in waves from her body, and his body hardened even further. He loosened the band that was holding his hair back, and gave his head a quick shake so that his mane fell in waves around him. He saw her eyes follow his movements and could see her stiffen perceptibly in response. Come to me yaquesh. I need you. Helen jumped as if Josh had shouted the words aloud rather than projected them from his mind to hers. She started slowly shaking her head back and forth in denial, yet her body moved jerkily towards him, as if pulled on puppet strings. Her helpless gaze met his once more, and he noticed her passion-glazed eyes had turned a dark jade color and were shining with desire. She stopped only inches from him, and gave him a penetrating stare. I need you too. Helen?s mind pushed at him with that statement, and the full impact of her admission hit him so hard, he

lost his breath. He slowly regained control of himself, and stared deeply into her eyes. He craved to reach out a hand and stroke his thumb back and forth over her plump lips, until she opened them for him, but he clenched his hands into fists and kept them at his sides. She needed to make the first move this time, so he was sure that it was what she truly wanted. Josh had to know there would be no turning back this time. So he sent a request through his thoughts that would make her do just that. Show me.

28

Show me. His thoughts hit her square in the stomach, causing an ache to spread to her most intimate parts, leaving them pulsating with need. Her mouth had gone dry at the first site of his bare chest, but now they practically watered with the thought of tasting his firm lips. Despite how she had arrived at this moment, she knew she wanted Josh in a way she had never wanted anyone before in her life. When she had first heard from Brunhilda that Josh was hurt, she felt her heart skip a beat. As she rode with Vi La to the medical unit where they brought Josh, she shivered with the fear that had over taken her. What if he was so seriously hurt that he died? What if she could never speak to him again, enjoy his intelligence and wit, hear his sexy rough voice, look at his craggy features, or feel his strong body against hers? What if she never saw her proud, honorable warrior again, except as a memory in her mind? It was in that moment that she realized that she loved him. No matter how difficult, overbearing, and bossy he could be, she loved him. And then, she immediately decided that if he wasn?t dead, she was going to kill him for causing her so much worry. That thought carried her up until the minute she saw him lying quietly on a bed in one of the medical unit rooms. At that moment, all her fear came rushing back to her, and she felt tears come to her eyes. Disregarding everyone else in the room, she ran to his side and immediately felt for his pulse. Once she had assured herself that he was alive, she ran her hands lightly down his cheek, and smoothed his hair back. Josh?s mother and father said nothing about her actions; only Tristan had given her a knowing look, but even he didn?t speak. Seeing her concern, the doctor assured her that Josh was all fixed up, and could go home now, but also said that he needed to rest over the next day or so. He stayed asleep during the ride home. Once Josh was in his room, Vi La had removed his hospital gown with Jo Na?s help, then put him into bed. Tristan and she came into the room after that, and they all waited anxiously. The doctor said he would wake within the hour, so they knew it wouldn?t be too long. After only a couple of minutes of waiting, Helen had stood up and began pacing the room, then stopped abruptly and sat down on the bed by Josh. She placed her hand on his cheek once more, intently studying his face, and then an undeniable urge to kiss him came over her. She lowered her head, and

gently touched her lips to his. He suddenly began to stir, so she rose from the bed, and moved away. When his eyes slowly opened and he smiled, she felt herself release the breath she had been holding, and the tightness in her chest released. Now, as Helen stood facing this incredible man, the two of them alone together, she was aware that she had to show him how much she wanted and needed him. The fact that he was letting her take charge of the moment strengthened her feelings for him and empowered her. The swan in her unfurled its wings and stood proudly in her mind. She felt power hum through her, making her feel strong, beautiful, and?enough. That was the only way she could think of it. She was enough, for herself, for him and for everyone else. Despite the fact that she had graduated top of her class, and was on her way to being the lead scientist for a very prestigious research center, she still held tightly to that feeling that had remained with her since she was young child. All her life she felt as if she had something to prove, that she was never smart enough, strong enough, or pretty enough, until now. At that moment, the truth came shining through loud and clear. She was whatever she wanted to be, and no one could make her feel bad about herself, except her. Josh helped her see that, by appreciating all the things about her that she had so conveniently overlooked. Helen met his steel blue eyes and let a smile spread across her mouth. Then she reached a finger out and softly ran it across first his top, then his bottom lip, and back again. Her eyes followed the path her fingers laid, and when his lips grew slack and parted, so did hers. Watch me. Her mind practically purred to him. She didn?t know how he was picking up the thoughts she projected or how she was picking up on Josh?s, but at that moment she didn?t care. The feel of his mind softly touching hers was incredibly sexy, and only deepened the desire she was feeling. As his eyes widened and he stiffened in reaction to her thoughts, she knew it was the same for him. Ever so slowly, she began to undress. She felt no shame as she unzipped her dress and unhurriedly peeled it down her body, keeping her gaze connected to his face. His eyes darkened from icy steel to burning sapphire as he ran them over what she was revealing. She felt her breath quicken at the appreciation, then hunger she saw in his face. Shivers ran up and down her body, tightening her nipples and making her stomach clench tightly in anticipation. You are so beautiful, yaquesh that I find it hard to breath. His heartfelt thought smoothed over her mind like honey, so sweet her heart contracted with emotion. She removed her undergarments next, slipping them off without much hesitation, as her desire for him was becoming unbearable. She needed to touch Josh--now. As the last item of clothing dropped to the floor, she removed the clips from her hair, and shook her head, as he had done, so that her curly golden tresses fell around her shoulders and down her back. She heard his sharp intake of breath, and met the burning desire in his eyes with her own. She stood proudly before him, and let him peruse her body from head to toe. When his appreciative stare came back to her face, she smiled seductively and closed the distance between them. She pressed her body against his, and reveled in the feel of his hard, hot form, so different from her own. Her eyes rose to meet his, and standing on tip-toe, she brought her lips to his, but stopped right before they touched. She felt his breath tickling her mouth, and she softly blew on his lips, causing a low growl to

rise from his throat. He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her tighter against him, but did nothing else. He waited for her to make the next move, despite the fact that she could feel his body shaking with need. Helen closed the remaining distance between them and touched her lips to his, sliding first her mouth back and forth across his, and then running the tip of her tongue over where her mouth had been. Josh groaned and tightened his hold on her waist even more. The sound of his need triggered hers, and she finally pressed her lips fully against his. I want you, now. She thrust that thought to him with all the need that was building up inside of her. In response, Josh growled in response , slid one arm up to the back of her head and pressed her mouth harder against his, then nudged her lips open with his own. Just as his tongue delved into her mouth, he slid his hand down her back, cupped her bottom, and lifted her slightly, so that the core of her was cradled against his hardness. The feel of him, pressed so intimately against her, while his tongue danced sensually with her own, made her knees weak. If he hadn?t been holding her up, she would have dissolved like a puddle to the floor. Josh pulled his mouth from hers only long enough to turn her in his arms, and lay her on the bed. He followed her down, letting his body lay on hers. Despite his size, Helen thought his weight pressed against her was just right. He rose on his elbows, his face even with hers and smiled in a wickedly sexy way that created a hunger in her body that only he could satisfy. ?There?s something I?ve been wanting to do to you almost from the moment we met. I want to do it now, yaquesh,? he said as his mouth once more pressed against hers. He slid his lips down to her chin, sucking on it for a moment, before sliding his tongue down her neck, sending shivers of delight throughout her body. She didn?t know what he had in mind, but so far, she was most definitely liking it. After a moment, his mouth moved down to her breasts. He ran his tongue teasingly over each nipple, then greedily suckled them, causing her to arch her back off the bed from the delightfully strong pull of his mouth. Each suck caused a matching twinge in her womanhood, until she was soaking wet from desire. When Helen didn?t know if she could take much more, his mouth left a trail of soft kisses down her stomach, to the center of her. The first time she felt his mouth press a kiss so intimately against her, she practically bucked her hips off the bed, and lifted her head in slight panic. Josh looked up at her, with a knowing stare, as she gazed wide eyed at him, and he gave a soft, husky laugh that left her gasping. ?Easy, yaquesh. I will satisfy your hunger, don?t worry about that.? Helen didn?t know what to say. She felt as if she were floating in a strong current of desire, and wasn?t sure how to control herself. So she laid her head back on the bed, somehow knowing that she could trust Josh in this. He placed one hand on each of her legs, and gently pushed her thighs apart. When she automatically tried to hide herself by closing her legs, he held them firmly in place, and once more met her gaze. ?You body is beautiful and just as a woman?s should be,? he assured her. ?Don?t hide it.? When she said nothing and relaxed her legs once more, he lowered his head and placed a kiss on her inner thigh. The feel of his hot mouth on that spot made her moan with desire as she gave herself freely to

his touch. He continued to rain small kisses on her thighs, slowly working his way up to their apex. When he reached her most intimate spot and placed a kiss there once more, she reveled in the feel of it. Then his tongue gently parted her, and he began a light caress that left her breathless. The feel of him running his tongue over such a sensitive part of her made her feel as if she was going to break into a million pieces. When his tongue delved inside of her, a whimper of pleasure escaped her, and as he continued his gentle massage, it erupted into loud mewling noises that she had no control over. Each stroke and dip of his tongue brought her closer and closer to the precipice, until she hurtled over it, screaming his name. Helen slowly floated back to reality as she became aware of Josh making small circles on her shoulder, and then raining light kisses where his fingers had gone. She turned her head to see him lying beside her, and despite the satisfaction she had experienced only moments ago, the sexy smile he wore, and hot passion in his eyes caused a twinge of desire to course through her body. His body looked strung tight as a bow, yet he said nothing as they stared at one another. She felt herself responding to his heated gaze and couldn?t resist touching him again. She sat up, and turned so that she faced him, then reached out a hand to explore the texture of the silky looking hair on his chest. She let her fingers tangle and untangle in his silken pelt, amazed that it felt as soft as it looked. Unaware of what she was doing to Josh, she slid her fingers along a line of curls that ran from his chest straight down the center of his abdomen and lower. As she made her way below his belly button, he groaned loudly. Her startled gaze rose to his face, and she gasped from the need she saw there. Josh was gritting his teeth and his eyes were squeezed tightly shut. His hands were now closed fists at his side. She could tell he was struggling to keep himself from moving. Mixed feelings ran through Helen. She realized with dismay that her touch was doing this to him, and a feminine power that she hadn?t felt before surged to life by the knowledge that she affected him so strongly. Then she experienced an overwhelming sense of love for him. He was letting her set the pace of their lovemaking, despite his obvious need. The fact that Josh cared about her enough to do that, made her next decision an easy one. Letting her fingers slide lower to his hardness, she wrapped them around him, and then slid them slowly up and down along the velvet length of him. He bucked his hips uncontrollably, and a loud hiss escaped his mouth. His eyes flew open and he stared at her with a dangerous glint in them. ?I can?t take much more, yaquesh,? he warned in a strangled voice. ?You don?t have to hold back any longer, Josh,? she admitted, unashamed of the need that now seemed to be consuming her again. ?I want you, all of you, now.? Her words released him. With a growl, he clasped his hands around her waist, lifter her up, and placed her so that she was sitting on him, straddling his body with her legs. The feel of him pressed hotly against her was her undoing. She moaned, and bent her head to kiss him. He returned her ardor with his lips and tongue, imitating something more intimate by plunging his tongue slowly in and out of her mouth. The taste of herself on his lips and the sensual motion of his tongue drove her so wild she began to squirm restlessly on him, needing more. Josh slid his fingers from her waist to her breasts and paid homage to each one with first his hands, then his mouth. As his hands began a slow descent along her quivering stomach to her womanhood, Helen went rigid from the need that coursed through her. He expertly stroked the center of her until she was rocking her hips with need to meet each touch.

?Josh, please,? she begged in a voice hoarse with need. ?I?m ready too,? he said through gritted teeth. Josh lifted her hips slightly, so that she was poised right above his hard shaft. ?Look at me, yaquesh. I want to see your face, when we join for the first time.? Helen?s desire glazed eyes met his, and then he pulled her hips down so that she was filled completely. Her lips parted as a gasp of pleasure escaped. It felt so full, so right to have him inside of her like this. She lifted herself up and down along his hardness, and her passion took over. Each stroke of him inside her sent tingles of pleasure to every extremity, and she panted aloud with the pleasure she was feeling. Suddenly, Josh groaned low in his throat and flipped her over, so that he lay poised above her. Resting the tip of his manhood against her opening, he stared penetratingly into her eyes for a moment, then spoke. ?You are mine now, Helen. My Rov Shoma, as I am your Rov Shom. We are truth mates, meant to be together always,? he said hoarsely. Before Helen could think about his words, he plunged deeply inside of her, and she was lost. His strokes became faster and harder, and she rode the wave of desire, meeting each of his thrusts with her bucking hips. Closer and closer she came to the edge once more, then helplessly tumbled over. She felt him stiffen a moment later, and yell her name. After that, she knew nothing.

29

?Why the change of heart, Jo Na?? Vi La asked. ?This is not you usual conservative approach to such matters. Especially considering our conversation about it the other day.? ?Which conversation was that?? he asked, sitting down beside her on the couch in his study. Vi La fought the urge to put some space between them, as he was so close she could almost feel the heat from his body. Instead, she raised her chin and proudly met his gaze. Her only concession to the nervousness she was now feeling was to cross her arms over her chest. She knew it was an instinctively defensive stance, however, she couldn?t help herself. Her husband?s proximity had always affected her, and having different political viewpoints did not change that. She could already feel her body tightening with need even though Jo Na hadn?t shown any sign of desire to touch her.

Jo Na?s eyes glittered dangerously as he met her stare. Then his mouth spread into a knowing grin. She stiffened at the action. She knew that look. It was the one her arrogant husband used when he knew he could have her if he wanted to, and she wouldn?t say no. This time she did move away from him, if for nothing else than to show him that she would not be easily taken. His low chuckle rumbled from his chest, and his face looked smug. ?You know exactly which conversation I?m talking about.? Vi La explained in a much calmer voice than she was feeling, trying to hide the fact that she was flustered. ?The one where you were saying that Helen needed to conform to all of our ways without fail, or she would not be accepted by our people. The one when you were describing all of the ridiculous outdated protocol she must endure, or she could not be Jo Sha?s Rov Shoma. The one where?? ?Okay,? he said, lifting his hand in surrender. ?I know which conversation you mean. So, what?s your point?? Vi La groaned in frustration. The man had always been able to drive her crazy, both in and out of bed. In this case, he was really trying her patience. But when he suddenly began unbuttoning his shirt, her impatience dissolved into intense physical awareness almost immediately. ?Wh-what do you think you?re doing?? she stuttered. ?I?m opening my shirt. Does it seem hot in here to you?? he asked nonchalantly. ?Suddenly, I?m feeling overheated.? Vi La couldn?t answer him, and she couldn?t seem to keep her eyes from his chest. As each button came undone, and more and more of his magnificent chest became visible, her mouth grew dry. Now she remembered why she had moved into her own set of suites at their home in the city. It was the only way to keep her focused on what she should be focused on. Just the sight of his tanned, well-muscled abdomen made her heart skip a beat. ?Feeling hot too?? Jo Na asked in a seductively low voice. The sound of it sent shivers of need throughout her body. Amusement lit his eyes, and Vi La stiffened in response. No, she would not succumb to him this time. They had too many other issues to settle before that. Namely, getting her husband back to being the fair and just ruler of Tanviera, instead of the ultraconservative, unforgiving one he had become. Ignoring his question, she quickly stood up, and put some distance between them, by walking behind his desk and sitting in his chair. ?So which one is it, Jo Na?? ?What are you speaking of, Vi La?? ?In the case of our son, you seem to be the benevolent, tolerant, leader, but with our people you are becoming no more than a cruel dictator, who is in actuality being led by those around him.? Jo Na?s face darkened with anger. Vi La knew she was pushing hard, but if she didn?t look out for the people of Tanviera, who would? Her husband didn?t seem to be on their side at the moment.

?How dare you! You know they are two different situations. This is our son. No one would expect us to treat him as we do the rest of our people.? ?In this case, what makes him so different? Why should he be allowed to be with his Rov Shoma in this way, without a chaperone, without supervision? You and I both know what can happen when two people who are so attracted to each other, are left alone in the same room for a good length of time,? she explained. ?I thought your new campaign was to bring back the old traditions of Tanviera; the days when everything was so simple, and people were happier? Isn?t that what you?re trying to preach and force on our people? If you can?t get your own son to follow in the old ways, then how do you expect to get your subjects to?? Jo Na was quiet for a moment, as he pondered what Vi La had said. He had let her speak her mind, and seemed to listen attentively while she spoke. She only hoped he was seriously considering her words. ?This isn?t about Jo Sha at all is it? This is about my current policy of traditional values,? he said, studying her with speculation in his eyes. ?You disagree that strongly with it?? Vi La nodded her head and was about to explain, when Brunhilda interrupted. ?I am sorry to disturb you, Tok Jo Na, but you have an urgent vid from the capital.? Jo Na ignored the computer as he continued to study his wife?s face. He seemed to be trying to gauge her true feelings. After a moment he spoke. ?We?ll speak more of this, wife. I must take this call.? Vi La watched her husband walk over to the video communicator, and enable it. The image of a man of about the same years as Jo Na came on, and she didn?t hide her grimace of distaste. It was one of her husband?s councilors who were pushing for the most societal restrictions. With a snort of disgust, she rose from the desk chair. Jo Na turned at the sound and motioned for her to stay, but she strode out of the room before he could stop her. She needed to speak to her informant. There was one last piece of the puzzle that was necessary, if she was going to succeed in her campaign. When she had spoken to him, right before she left the city, he had said he was very close to getting it for her. If he had finally obtained it, she would request that he send a messenger here with the information. If Jo Na couldn?t see what was going on around him, she needed to show him. If her husband only knew that the men who came to her suite in the city so often, and who he suspected of being her lovers were, in actuality, messengers from the informant who was helping her get the evidence she needed to convince her husband of his councilor?s bad intentions. If what she showed him didn?t change his viewpoint, she would try something else that would. One way or another, her husband was going to get back to being the fair, and open-minded man he once was. She was getting so tired of the intrigue and deception. And the constant heartache and worry over Sa Rah wore her down even more. Her daughter should be first and foremost on her mind, yet she knew that she also had an obligation to the people she and her husband ruled. Jo Na, Jo Sha, and even Tristan were doing all they could to save her daughter. If, while they?re doing that, she could help save her people from the misery she was sure would come from her husband?s traditional values movement, then that is what she had to do.

**** Helen floated slowly back to awareness. The first thing she noticed was that she was facing away from Josh, and he was lying against her back, spoon fashion. His arm was thrown over her waist and every time he exhaled, it tickled her neck. She scooted back so that she was pressed more firmly against him and he gave squeezed her waist. ?Are you well?? he asked softly. Helen wasn?t sure how to answer that. Was she well, physically? Definitely. Mentally? Now that was the question. She just slept with a man who had wanted to kill her not long ago, who kidnapped her and brought her a thousand years into the future, and who she didn?t know all that well. The first two things she couldn?t do much about, but the last one she wanted to work on right away. Turning in his arms, she faced him nose to nose, and looked deeply into his eyes. ?Tell me about yourself,? she demanded. When Josh merely stared heatedly at her lips in a way that made her start to throb with desire, then kissed her, their conversation stopped as they satisfied each other?s passion once more. This time it was slower and drawn out, so that when their climax came they both yelled their release. After Helen came back to consciousness this time, she lay there enjoying the closeness she felt for him, until her doubts intruded once more. Who was he really? What did she know about him? He had lied to her about who he was once, could she trust him now? She gently extricated herself from Josh?s arms, stood up and walked over to the chair facing the bed. She sat down in it, and waiting expectantly. Eventually, Josh woke up, and instantly found her with his eyes. He saw the stubborn determination in her expression and sighed loudly as a resigned look came over his face. ?What would you like to know?? ?Tell me what it was like growing up as a prince?? And so Josh did. He told her stories of his childhood, some of which he had forgotten about until he started talking to her. He talked about the demands on him as Tok Rok, and how this affected the course of his life. And he spoke fondly of his sister, their close relationship, and the trouble the two of them managed to get into while growing up. Helen listened to him speak of his happy childhood. She could tell from his words, that his parents loved him and were proud of him. Although they couldn?t always show it in public they had no qualms doing so in private. And she felt the green arms of jealousy grab her when he spoke about his sister and their closeness. How she wished she could have had such a relationship with even one of her siblings, and have parents who showed their love and pride in their children. ?That was my childhood. Nothing special. I think it was very close to the life of other children my age, other than the warrior training, and royal education,? he explained. ?How about you? I know a little about your background, but why don?t you tell me about it?? Helen looked at him in a horrified way, then shook her head.

?There?s nothing to tell. I had two parents, some siblings and myself. There really isn?t much else to say. I grew up like most other kids, in an average neighborhood, and at an average school,? she explained quickly, too quickly. Josh narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ?That sounds a little too average to me,? he said jokingly. Helen didn?t take it well. Her childhood was something she took very seriously, and it was no joking matter. ?Well, I?m sorry that we can?t all have a perfect, fairy tale childhood like you did, or that we can?t all have siblings who are also our good friends, or parents who show us how much they love us,? she said through gritted teeth. She knew she wasn?t acting very mature about it, but she couldn?t seem to help herself. ?However, regardless of the fact that not all of us grew up like you, I am ready to go home, back to my time, my world, and my work,? she said adamantly, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. She had forgotten that she was naked, but Josh didn?t. His eyes roamed hungrily over her before he got up, and walked over to where she stood. He didn?t seem the least bit shaky or weak from his injuries as he stood over her and stared down at her intently, as if studying her. She raised her eyes and met his stare with her own unwavering one. ?You know that?s impossible right now, Helen. Until we find out who your killer is, you must stay her in this time and place. It?s the safest place for you.? ?I don?t agree.? ?Nevertheless, you will do what I say,? he commanded with a determined glint in his eyes. ?Why do you think that?? she asked arrogantly. ?Because it is the way of things. You are my Rov Shoma, thus you are mine, as I am yours,? he said in a smug voice. Helen immediately bristled at his words. She didn?t belong to any one but herself, period. Then she vaguely remembered him saying something about Rov Shoma, during their lovemaking, and became curious because she couldn?t remember what exactly he had said. ?Rov Shoma?? she asked. ?Yes. You are my Rov Shoma, or my truth mate, as they say on Earth and I am your Rov Shom, also meaning truth mate. We are meant to be together. There is a connection between us like no one else can have with either of us. That?s why we?re sometimes able to exchange our thoughts without speaking,? he explained while carefully watching for her reaction. Helen?s eyes widened and she backed away from Josh, forgetting the chair right behind her, and as it caught the backs of her knees, she lost her balance and fell so that she was once again sitting in it. Josh closed in so that she couldn?t get up, and stared down at her. Trying to ignore his proximity, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

?How do you know that we?re, uh, truth mates?? she asked. ?There are several ways I know. First, as I already mentioned, we have a mental connection. That in itself is rare, because although people of Earth are not known to have that capability, Tanvierans are, in only one case. When they communicate with their truth mates.? ?The next clue to me were my dreams. Have you had any intense dreams lately, involving you and I dancing together?? Helen tried to prevent it by gritting her teeth together, but a blush still rose to her face. ?I see that you have,? Josh said, giving her a knowing smile. ?Well, what you?re dreaming about is called the Rov Hum. And I believe it?s a portent of what is to come. Dreams are a very integral part of our people?s lives, and we don?t dismiss them easily. The Rov Hum is the traditional dance of truth mates on this planet. It?s almost what you might compare to a wedding ceremony on Earth, but much more intense. In it, two truth mates show their true feelings for each other in a very primitive manner, and then consummate their joining in the traditional Tanvieran way.? ?What way is that?? Helen asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. ?By ending each other?s life,? he said, looking down at her with an intensity that made her heart speed out of control. Then he crouched down in front of her, wrapped his hands around her neck, and slowly began to squeeze.

30

Josh began massaging Helen?s neck, but when she gasped and pulled away from him, he stared at her curiously. He saw fear in her eyes, and once he realized what it was about, he suddenly swore quietly. His last statement must have frightened her. He needed to explain. He just couldn?t seem to think straight at the moment. Making love to Helen had been so incredibly right that it had rocked him to his soul, leaving him feeling shaken by the intensity of it. If he had any doubt about her being his Rov Shoma before, it had been wiped completely away by their lovemaking. When he was inside of her, he felt as if that was where he was meant to be. And after the first experience, and then the second, his need for her only seemed to grow. His hands had been drawn, of their own accord, around her neck to massage her, as if they were unable to do other wise. Even now he itched to touch her all over, but instead removed his hands from her skin. Seeing her scoot back against the seat and give him a horrified look as he released her neck, he sighed

with frustration. He needed to set things straight with her right away. ?Helen, I didn?t explain that well. When I said that truth mates consummate their connection by ending each other?s life, I only meant it theoretically, not physically. In terms of life, I meant their previous life as only half of a whole, one part without the other. Once the consummation occurs, they become their whole true selves. In our culture, that means they end one life and begin another, not that they kill each other. I didn?t mean to frighten you. Do you understand now?? he asked with concern. Helen sat up a little straighter and looked at him with her head held high. ?Of course I knew what you meant. You just surprised me when you put your hands around my neck,? she replied quickly. He knew Helen was not being completely honest with him, but he also knew that she was proud, his yaquesh, so he would allow it. He carefully reached his hand out and stroked her cheek, hoping she wouldn?t flinch. When instead she seemed to get lost in the feel of his hand, closing her eyes and sighing, he let himself release the breath he had been holding. ?We are connected, yaquesh. You can?t deny that,? he said in a husky voice. Helen opened her eyes, and as she looked at him, he could see her emotions warring there. He could feel her confusion. She wanted to trust her feelings about him, but didn?t know if she could. Knowing her history, that didn?t surprise her. When she couldn?t even trust her own parent?s love, how could she trust his? Love? Yes, that?s what he felt for Helen. Josh knew that now. He hadn?t defined his feelings for her, until that moment, and it seemed like it was finally the right time to admit it to himself. She was truly his truth mate, and no other would do. He needed her to know that. But just as he was about to tell her, Brunhilda?s voice interrupted. ?I?m sorry to disturb you, Tok Rok. Tristan Zax is on the vid, and he says it is urgent.? Josh looked at Helen with regret, then began dressing. Once he had slipped on a pair of loosely fitting pants and a shirt, he turned to leave. ?I need to speak to Tristan. We?ll talk more later,? he explained hurriedly as he kissed her lightly on the cheek, then walked towards the doorway. ?Wait!? she cried before he left. He raised his eyebrow in question as he turned to look back at her, and then waited silently. ?You?re supposed to be resting. The doctor said you may need up to twenty-four hours to get back your strength,? she said with reproof in her voice. Josh gave her a very masculine smile. ?I feel fine. But thank you for your concern, yaquesh. Why don?t you rest until dinner? This may take a while. I?ll meet you in the dining room later, or you?re welcome to stay in my room, if you?d like. I?d be very happy to continue what we were doing, when I return,? he offered as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Helen?s face grew hot, even as she tried to come back with a smart reply, but the words never materialized. Turning from her with a chuckle, Josh deactivated the lock on his door, and strode out of the room. **** Helen fumed as she dressed and then left Josh?s room immediately. She was definitely not going to wait for him to get back, after he left her so easily just to take a call. Especially considering the fact that she had just had some of the best lovemaking she had ever experienced in her life. Not that she had much to compare it to, but what she did have, came nowhere close to the sensual delight she had felt in Josh?s arms. She was still in daze over it, and couldn?t seem to think clearly. All his talk of truth mates was confusing also. She needed to find Vi La and ask her about it. She would just go to her room and freshen up, then speak to the older woman. Walking out of Josh?s room she headed down the hallway to her own room. She approached the study, and just as she was about to pass by, she heard Josh?s voice through the open door. She would have walked quickly by if she hadn?t heard her him say her name. ?--and Helen has to be dead for those terrorists to give me back my sister, remember? Yes, Tristan, I think our original plan will work the best. We?re going to do it tomorrow, and that?s final. Knowing that Helen is dead should prevent there from being too much suspicion when we go in for Sa Rah. With everything else going on, we should be able to get in and out of there, without much trouble. Tell only those you trust implicitly,? Josh said. After a pause he continued. ?What? No, Helen doesn?t know. That would only make this more complicated.? Helen rushed by the door without listening to another word. She had been lied to, betrayed again by someone she thought she could trust. Josh really was going to kill her! And now she knew why, to save his beloved sister. After she went to her room and activated the lock, she began pacing the room in agitation. When she felt something wet on her neck, she put her fingers there, and discovered water was dripping from her face. Then she realized that it wasn?t water, it was her tears. She was crying over Josh. This startled her because she hadn?t cried over someone since that episode with Adam Neville and her sister, so long ago. She hadn?t let anyone get close enough to hurt her since then, until now. And of course that person also would betray her. Helen let the tears fall, silently, as she pondered the cruel fate that kept making her fall for men who would turn on her. She didn?t bother to wipe them away as she sat on her bed and stared at the walls around her. She knew they would stop eventually. Besides, her pain was slowly turning into anger and resolve. She wouldn?t let him win. It wasn?t time to feel sorry for herself. It was time to pick herself up off the ground, dust off her pants, and move forward. This time around she was going to be the strong, powerful swan, not the ugly duckling. The first thing she needed to do was escape. Granted she didn?t know how she was going to get back to her time, but regardless of this, she had to get away from Josh, before he killed her. An idea hit as she was thinking about her best possible route of escape. She realized that she didn?t have to sneak out of this house, she could walk out freely, without a problem. All she had to do was convince Vi La that tomorrow would be a good day for the older woman to show her around the nearby town and maybe do

some shopping. That way, Helen could study her surroundings, find out more information about how to get home, and then conveniently get separated from Vi La, so she could escape. During their talk in the garden, Vi La mentioned wanting to take her sightseeing already, so it shouldn?t be hard for Helen to convince her to take her out tomorrow. She doubted Josh?s mother knew about her son?s intentions, but couldn?t be absolutely sure. She really knew very little about Josh?s planet or his people, other than what he and his family told her. She couldn?t risk trusting Vi La or anyone but herself at this point. ?Brunhilda, where can I find Vi La at this moment?? Helen asked the computer as she stood up, wiped the tears away from her face. When the computer had told her where to find Josh?s mom, Helen freshened up and went to find her. Brunhilda guided her to a small garden area, which Helen hadn?t seen yet. It had a paved cobblestone area with a few wicker chairs and a matching table. The table had a vase on it, which was filled with a bunch of flowers that reminded Helen of sweet peas. Vi La sat at the table looking out into the forest with a very serious expression. She was so lost in thought that she jumped as if startled when Helen approached her and said hello. ?Oh! I didn?t hear you approach,? Vi La explained in obvious embarrassment. Then she looked at Helen carefully and spoke again. ?How are you, uh, doing, dear? Is, um, everything all right?? Josh?s mom asked awkwardly. Helen knew Vi La was trying to ask what had happened with she and Josh without asking, and she knew that the woman meant well, but she just wasn?t about to share any intimate details with her at the moment. The current circumstances made any further emotional connection with this woman inadvisable. So Helen put on a bright smile as she answered her. ?Everything is fine. Thanks for asking. Josh is definitely having no trouble recovering. In fact, he dressed and took a call from Tristan Zax in his study a little while ago.? Vi La looked at Helen in amazement and opened her mouth as if she were about to tell her something, then she closed it and merely smiled. Trying to ignore her curiosity over what Josh?s mom was about to say, she continued with her own plan. ?The reason I came looking for you is because I was wondering if we could do some of that sightseeing tomorrow, which you mentioned earlier? I really would like to learn more about this planet and its people.? For some reason, Vi La looked relieved by Helen?s suggestion and smiled warmly at her. ?That would be wonderful. We?ll make a day of it with sightseeing, lunch and then some shopping,? Vi La agreed with an excited nod of her head. ?That sounds good to me. I think I?m going to spend the rest of the evening in my room, so I can rest up for tomorrow,? Helen said. ?But don?t you want dinner? We?ll be eating very soon.? ?Would you mind if I just have Brunhilda make up a plate for me in my room? With all the excitement

today, I?m not feeling myself, and just need to take a break,? Helen explained. She hated lying, but knew that she wouldn?t be able to deal with dinner with Josh and his parents, knowing what Josh was planning. She would just stay in her room, with the door locked, until tomorrow morning. The thought of Josh?s betrayal almost brought tears to her eyes again, but she swallowed the lump of emotion that formed in her throat and smiled warmly at Vi La. ?Do you mind, Vi La?? The older woman smiled warmly at Helen, and she had to fight the feelings of guilt, which suddenly swamped through her. ?Not at all, dear. You rest, and I?ll make sure that Brunhilda sends a dinner tray to your room.? Helen let out a small breath of relief that one hurdle had been overcome in her plan. ?Thank you. Please tell Jo Sha and Jo Na that I?m sorry I wasn?t up to having dinner with all of you,? she said over her shoulder as she walked from the room. ?But--? Helen never heard Vi La?s protest as she strode quickly back to her room. She wanted to avoid seeing Josh at all costs. She didn?t think she could hide her anger that well, and might lash out at him. Hopefully, she wouldn?t have to see him at all before she left. Then, if her plan succeeded, she?d never have to look at the deceptively tender expression on his face when he looked at her, or feel his melt-me-like-butter kisses, or quiver from his strong, hard hands on her body?stop! She shook her head firmly to clear it. She needed to put Josh out of her mind once and for all. He was a liar, and a betrayer, and she never wanted to see him again. She heard nothing inside Josh?s study as she hurried past it this time, and finally reached her room. Activating the lock, she fell back on the bed with deep sigh, and closed her eyes. ?Brunhilda, please tell me about transportation in this area. Specifically, I would like to know about transport stations, and the location of time portals, if available,? Helen requested. If she was going to escape this place and time, Brunhilda was key to helping her accomplish this. ?Of course. As a member of the ruling household, and the Rov Shoma to the Tok Rok, you have access to both at your disposal. However, I must caution you, that the time portal is to be used in only emergency situations.? ?I understand. Please continue,? Helen said calmly, despite the emotions churning inside of her because of Josh?s betrayal. As she listened to the information Brunhilda provided, she kept repeating the one phrase that was somehow holding her together. She would not cry. She would not cry. She would not cry. Her mantra seemed to help as Helen felt herself start to calm down and gain control of her emotions. After the computer had provided the information Helen needed, she kept her eyes closed and tried to imagine the picture of the lake with the lapping waves she had seen in Josh?s room. Letting her mind focus on that image relaxed her even more, and soon she fell into an exhausted sleep, unaware of the fact that her actions would create a violent storm that would shake the rulers of this world.

31

?Good evening Jo Sha,? Vi La said as Josh strolled into the dining room and joined his mother already seated at the table. ?Good evening, mother. Father,? Josh said with a nod as Jo Na entered the room, and sat down at the table with them. ?How are you feeling?? Jo Na asked with concern in his voice. ?I?m fine.? Josh answered truthfully. ?That?s good to hear, son. Are you all set for tomorrow?? Jo Na asked. ?Tomorrow?? Vi La repeated in confusion. Jo Sha and Jo Na explained the details of their mission to her. Her face grew more concerned as they finished speaking. ?Are you sure you?re up to it Jo Sha? I want SA Rah home as soon as possible, but if you are still feeling weak from today?s procedure, it might not be wise for you to attempt this rescue. I don?t want to risk your capture as well,? Vi La said, with a worried frown. ?Don?t worry, mother. I?m fine. Besides, tomorrow is our best opportunity to get to Sa Rah. I will not miss this chance. Her life means too much to me,? Jo Na vowed, as he rose and began pacing the room. ?To us also, son,? Jo Na said, placing an arm around Vi La and giving her a loving squeeze. Josh missed the angry glare his mother?s eyes shot at her husband, as she shrugged off Jo Na?s hand and rose from her seat. She walked over to Jo Sha so that he was forced to stop his pacing, and she took his hands in hers. ?I?ve planned a small outing to town with Helen tomorrow. It should help keep my mind off what you, Tristan, and your father are attempting. However, I?ll have my communicator with me at all times. Please keep me informed as your mission progresses,? Vi La demanded. ?Of course,? Josh agreed. ?Please try to be as discreet as possible. We don?t want too much attention on Helen while you?re out. Remember, the TFE think she?s dead.? ?I won?t forget. And I know you?ll do your best to save your sister, son. I expect nothing more. If things don?t work out, I-I?ll know--?, Vi La tried to talk but tears filled her eyes, and she had to bite her lip to keep it from trembling uncontrollably.

?I will do everything in my power to save her. I promise you that,? he swore. His mother slowly nodded her head and smiled weakly as she gave Josh?s hands a squeeze. ?I know you will, son. Just be very careful. Promise me that?? ?I promise.? ?Thank you,? Vi La said with a watery smile. ?I?m sure Helen will help me keep my mind off of things also. I?m getting to know her a little, and she seems like wonderful person. I think you?ve made a fine choice in a mate. She is intelligent, strong, and caring. It?s too bad she couldn?t join us for dinner this evening. I would have enjoyed speaking with her some more. But I?m sure we?ll have time tomorrow.? ?What do you mean, Helen is not joining us? I told her to meet me in the dining room for dinner,? Jo Sha asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. ?Oh, I forgot to tell you,? Vi La said, releasing her son?s hands as she strode back to her seat, and sat down at the table. ?I spoke to Helen a little while ago, and she said she wanted to rest in preparation for tomorrow?s outing. I know she should have spoken to you directly, but when she asked me to tell you, I agreed. I meant to tell you immediately, but it slipped my mind,? Vi La explained. ?Now, please sit down with us and eat something son. The food is getting cold.? Ignoring his mother?s request, Josh stalked angrily towards the door he had just come in through. ?Where are you going?? Vi La asked, with alarm apparent in her face. She stood up and started towards Josh, but Jo Na placed a restraining hand lightly around her wrist. Josh stopped walking, and slowly turned towards his parents. The anger in his eyes glittered dangerously. ?It seems that Helen and I must have another talk. I hope both of you will excuse me,? Josh practically growled as he gave them a quick bow and walked from the room. **** ?Our son is not pleased, Vi La. Like me, he doesn?t appreciate being disobeyed in his own household,? Jo Na said in a deceptively quiet voice, staring at he meaningfully. Vi La stiffened in outrage at her husband?s accusation, and tried to pull free from his grasp, but knew it was a futile attempt. Though he was not hurting her, she could tell that his viselike grip around her wrist would only be released when he was ready. Instead she turned towards him, raised her other hand and angrily slapped him across the face. Jo Na did nothing but stare at her, but the fury in his eyes left her shaken. Her eyes widened in shock as he pulled her tightly against him, causing her breath to leave her lungs in a rush. However, when he looked down at her with a mocking smile, and an arrogantly knowing look in his eyes, Vi La raised her hand yet again. Before she could slap him, Jo Na grabbed her hand, placed it behind her back and held it there with the hand that was already holding her wrist. Then he bent her back over his arm, and pressed

her lower body tightly against his. In this position, with her hands trapped behind her in his grip, her back was arched, and her breasts were pushed up, straining against the gown she wore. Jo Na didn?t miss that fact. He let his eyes roam thoroughly over her breasts, causing them to swell and tighten with awareness. She knew at such close range, he would easily be able to see her nipples harden and push against the material covering her, and her face flushed red in response. When he had looked his fill, his eyes rose, glittering and dangerous to her face. ?You have claws today, I see. But never forget that I have my own,? he growled. That was the only warning Vi La got, as her husband?s mouth swooped down to hers, and pressed a hot lingering kiss on her lips. She wanted to fight him, but the feel of his persuasive lips, worshipping her mouth, while the hard length of him pushed against her was capturing her in his seductive spell. His grip on her hands loosened, but instead of trying to break free, she slid them up around his neck, and pressed her lips tighter against his. She heard Jo Na groan in response, as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even tighter against him. You will be mine tonight. Her husband?s commanding voice in her head sent tingles of awareness up and down her spine. The last time they joined it had been a gentle lovemaking, but Vi La knew this time would be different. They were both angry, but they were also hungry for each other. Are you so sure? Vi La sent the teasing thought to him, and Jo Na immediately tightened his hold on her, then growled low in his throat. Definitely. Her husband?s arrogant answer made her smile against his mouth. In response, his chest rumbled against hers in what sounded almost like a purr of satisfaction. He had a right to be so arrogant. They were both so intent on having each other tonight that their true selves were just below the surface, waiting to break free. Vi La felt her husband?s ravenous mouth leave hers, and begin making a hot trail of kisses down her neck. On the way, he gave her skin little nips which stung, then laved the area soothingly with his tongue, giving her a mixture of pleasure and pain which left her breathless. When he made his way to the neckline of her gown, he ran his tongue back and forth along it, occasionally dipping his tongue quickly beneath the fabric. Vi La couldn?t help pushing her chest closer to his mouth. She needed to feel his mouth underneath the fabric, craved the feel of his tongue to the point that she cried out in frustration when his mouth left her skin. ?Don?t worry, wife. I?m only insuring our privacy,? Jo Na said in a deep husky voice as he verbally activated the door locks. ?I?m sorry, but I can?t wait long enough to bring you back to our suite, my love. I need you now.? With those words, he cleared the table with a sweep of his hand, lifted Vi La and placed her on it. Releasing a growl of frustration, he tore the clothing from his body, then approached Vi La with a predatory look in his eyes. Seeing his beast glowing in his eyes took her breath away. She felt her own beast come to attention at the knowledge that her mate was near.

Forgetting the fact that they were in the dining room, forgetting the fact that her son and his future wife were just down the hall, she pulled herself up, so that she was sitting up on the table staring into Jo Na?s eyes. She practically tore first the dress, then the remaining undergarments from her body. As she did, Jo Na growled low in his throat. His eyes narrowed dangerously, his nostrils flared as if sensing her readiness, and his beast shined bright in his eyes. She could feel her own animal meet his eyes, stare for stare. Jo Na got approached the table and stood tall, looming above her. She strained her neck to look up at him from her sitting position. He was devouring her with his eyes one moment, and then the next he grabbed her waist, crushed her against him, and kissed her mouth so thoroughly that there was little doubt of his need for her. His lips and tongue worked their way down to her breasts, and then his mouth covered one, and Vi La?s legs felt weak from the feel of it. His mouth pulled strongly on each nipple until a matching pull began pulsating from the center of her, and she gasped from the pleasure. Vi La felt her body grow swollen and wet with desire, and only then did she let her beast take over. Jo Na roared her name, and she knew by the sound of it, that he had let his animal free as well. They proudly met each other, touch for touch, until they could take no more. Jo Na laid Vi La down, gently spread her legs and held them open wide. She arched her hips in welcome, and needing no other invitation, he plunged inside of her. His strokes were strong and deep, and soon Vi La was meeting each one with moans of pleasure. The happiness and total rightness she always felt at joining with her truth mate burst forth and she yelled his name aloud. His answering yell told her he also felt it. Their souls met and joyfully merged until both of them went tumbling over the edge to oblivion. When Vi La finally returned to consciousness and opened her eyes, she instantly met the lazy, satisfied eyes of her husband. He smiled tenderly down at her, and her heart gave a little tug. This man was her husband, best friend, and lover, as well as the king. How could she have gotten so caught up in the lies and deceit so prevalent in their court to forget what they shared? Seeing the gentle way he looked at her made her realize that the intimacy and friendship they had shared and taken for granted through the years had somehow gotten lost during this turbulent time in their lives. A time when it was needed most. Vi La realized that Jo Na was still the man she has pledged her life to. She didn?t need to try to change him as if he were an enemy, she needed to talk to him as the friend he was and always had been. Their ability to communicate their thoughts and feelings easily to each other had gotten lost somewhere along the way. The problem wasn?t just that she disagreed with her husband?s politics, it was the fact that they didn?t talk---really talk to each other any more. She would get the proof she needed tomorrow while in the city, and then she would sit down with her husband, and communicate with him like they used to, before their position as Tok and Toka had gotten in the way. And once there daughter was safely home, she would allow no distractions. She and her husband needed to get their feelings out in the open again, and settle this. Jo Na shifted, and without another word, easily lifted her off the table and after deactivating the locks, carried her, cradled in his arms, out of the room. Neither of them spoke as he brought her into their bedroom, and laid her down on the bed. It was as if each of them realized there was a fragile truce between them, and neither wanted to break it. Jo Na lay down beside her, and pulled her back against him, spoon fashion. Vi La snuggled against him, as he pulled the blanket up to cover them both, and reveled in the feel of him holding her. She had missed this intimacy with her husband terribly. But now that she knew the way to save her people and her marriage, everything would be all right.

**** Helen woke to the sound of loud pounding on her bedroom door. Bolting up in bed, she couldn?t get her bearings immediately, and wasn?t sure where she was. As her eyes focused on her surroundings, it all came crashing back to her. She was in the future, with Josh. He had kidnapped her, and was planning on killing her tomorrow. The loud pounding sounded again and Helen?s heart raced as she heard the voice behind the noise. ?Open the door, Helen,? Josh demanded through the door. Though his voice sounded calm and in control, she knew it wasn?t. Josh was furious. His next words verified that feeling. ?If you don?t open this door, you will be very, very sorry.? ?Go away, Josh. I don?t feel like company right now,? she said, trying to sound calm while her heart sped out of control. ?I warned you.? After that ominous statement, she heard Josh say something to Brunhilda, but couldn?t make out the words. In the next moment, her door slid open, and Josh strode into her room, his eyes blazing with fury, and his hands clenched into tight fists at his side.

32

Helen unconsciously scooted as far back on the bed as she could, until she hit the headboard. Josh just watched her with burning eyes, until she stopped moving, then he slowly walked to the bed, got on it, and crawled towards her. His actions mimicked a predatory animal that had finally caught his prey and was closing in for the kill. His penetrating stare left her feeling pinned against the headboard. She frantically looked on either side of him for a way to escape, but knew that whichever way she chose, he would just have to reach out a hand and he would catch her. The space between the wall and the bed was just too close to get through without passing right beside him. When she turned back to face Josh, she gasped. He was right in front of her, only inches from her face, and his whole body was leaning over hers. She gulped, then met his gaze squarely. She would not cower in front of any man, regardless of the circumstances. ?I warned you, yaquesh. Now you will have to face the consequences,? he said, smiling in a way that

didn?t reach the anger still blazing in his eyes. Instead of comforting her, his smile left her feeling cold, and she shivered. Josh noticed her actions, and his smile grew more dangerous. ?Don?t worry. I?ll warm you up if you?re cold. Soon you?re going to be burning up. I promise you that,? he vowed looking at her intensely. ?And when you?re so hot, so filled with desire that you?re practically weeping for your need to release, you?ll beg me to take you and finish what I?ve started, or I will not do it.? ?No,? Helen gasped in horror, even as Josh?s words caused desire to bubble up inside of her. She would never beg him. She raised her chin and tried to look down her nose at him. ?I will not.? ?You lost the choice to decide that when you kept yourself from me. Now I?ll teach you why it is not wise to deny one?s desire,? he said closing the distance between them. Helen pushed her head back against the wall, but couldn?t get away as Josh closed in. When his lips touched her, she had expected a forceful joining, but it was not to be. Josh touched only her mouth. He placed his hands against the wall on either side of her head, and took small nips and sips of her lips, until her mouth felt swollen and throbbing from his attentions. ?Soon your whole body will feel as your lips do now, yaquesh,? he whispered. His heavy breath brushed seductively against her mouth, and her breath hitched in her throat from the sensation. Tingles of awareness were already shooting throughout her body. Her breasts tightened and her stomach clenched in anticipation. His mouth continued its gentle persuasion, until her mouth opened in invitation. His tongue delved between her lips, exploring her completely. Helen knew she should be fighting this, but when his hand closed around one breast, she practically jumped off the bed from the pleasure of it. Somehow, while she was losing herself in the feel of his mouth, Josh had pulled the front of her dress down, so that her arms were pinned to her sides, and her breasts were pushed up and out; free for him to explore. Helen stiffened as she realized what a vulnerable position she was in, with her arms tangled in her dress, and her legs pinned beneath him. Josh continued to feast on her mouth and then put his hand around her waist, and slid her body down on the bed, so that she was lying completely back on it, unable to move. Next he tried to gently nudge her legs apart, but she kept them tightly closed. She would not make this easy for him. He lifted his mouth from hers for a moment and stared deeply into her eyes. ?I will not force you, or hurt you, yaquesh. Everything we?ve done up to now, you?ve participated in freely.? Helen lifted her chin proudly, determined to deny his words, but couldn?t. She knew he was right. She could have stopped him, if she really wanted to, but had chosen instead to enjoy the pleasure of his touch. That was her last coherent thought, as she saw his eyes flare with desire at the challenge in her eyes. Helen wanted to argue, but before she could, he lowered his head to hers, and started running his tongue over her lips, while his hands paid loving attention to her breasts. She got lost in the haze of desire Josh was creating with his touch. His lips and tongue burned a trail from her mouth, to meander along her neck, then made their way down to her breasts. He stopped inches from them, and waited a moment. Helen was going crazy with the need. She wanted his mouth on her now. She helplessly arched her back up towards his mouth.

However, instead of doing what she wished, he merely blew on each nipple, causing them to tighten and pucker even more. ?They?re like two ripe berries, ready to be eaten. My mouth is watering just looking at them, yaquesh. Do you know what you?re doing to me with your beautiful, voluptuous body? I want you to feel my need, so you know. Can you feel it?? Josh asked in a strangled voice, as he moved slightly and pressed himself against her hand. He growled low in his throat at the contact, and Helen couldn?t hold back her own moan. She thrilled in the feel of how hard and rigid he was, even through his pants, and her desire flamed even brighter. It was a heady feeling to know that she caused his state of arousal. She ran her hand up and down his hardness, reveling in the feel of him. ?Ah, I see you?re aware of what you do to me. Just remember, that it?s a two way street, my love,? he said hoarsely in response to her touch. With a groan of pleasure, he captured one of her breasts in his mouth, and sucked deeply on it. Helen?s breath left her in a hiss, as desire slammed into her, causing a throbbing at the very core of her. She was so caught up in Josh?s mouth on hers, that she only became aware of him taking off her dress, when he lifted her hips and slid it down her waist. But before she could utter a word of protest, Josh cupped her womanhood with his hand. The heat from his hand and the tug of his mouth on her breasts made the throbbing inside of her turn to an undeniable ache, and she moaned with need. When he slid his fingers around the side of her panties and touched her most sensitive spot, her body turned into a burning inferno. Her moans grew louder and more needy, as Josh continued his relentless seduction. She felt herself grow wet and slick against his hand, and her breasts swelled from his demanding mouth. This time when he nudged her legs farther apart, Helen didn?t deny him. She longed to feel his hard heat against the center of her. **** Josh gritted his teeth as he pressed himself between her silken thighs, feeling the small slip of material at her apex that was the only barrier to their joining. What had started out as punishment for her, had turned out to be torture for him. He had ordered Brunhilda to unlock the door, and entered Helen?s room intent on retribution. He had only wanted to show her what she did to him, but at the first sight of her sitting back on her bed, her hair tousled from sleep, her sparkling eyes wide, and her lush lips parted in surprise, he knew it would be difficult to hold himself back. One taste of her lips started his downward slide, one sip of her voluptuous breasts made him lose more control, and now, the warm feel of her womanhood, wet with need and pressed against him, was his undoing. Her moans of pleasure made his disrobing increase to a frantic pace that was comedic. And when he was finally undressed and began pulling her under garments down, the sight of her, wet and swollen almost made him climax. Holding himself back with a sheer force of will, he made himself take deep breaths while completely undressing her. As he removed the last item of clothing and sat back to look at her, he felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach. Her lush body called to him relentlessly, and the desire in her gaze as she ran her eyes boldly over him was intense. He couldn?t seem to catch his breath from the beauty of her. He couldn?t stop himself from telling her so. ?You take my breath away with your beauty, yaquesh. It?s almost as if I could die from it,? Josh told

her with a tenderness he had never felt for another. He watched Helen?s face as he spoke, and when he finished, he noticed something was wrong. Her eyes widened in awareness and horror, and she bolted up from the bed. She slowly backed away from him, grabbing her clothes, and holding them in front of her. ?Please leave, now,? she said coldly. All the emotion and desire he saw in her eyes only moments ago was now gone. ?I don?t want you here, and I don?t want to die.? ?What are you talking about?? he asked, shocked that she would take his words so literally, and respond in this way. ?When I said die, I didn?t mean it literally.? Helen narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. ?I know exactly what you meant. Now just leave,? she said in a strangled voice. Josh stared intently into her eyes, and thought he saw tears begin to form there, but when he started towards her, she held her hand palm out towards him, and he stopped in his tracks. ?No. Don?t come near me. You--you disgust me,? Helen said in a hoarse voice. Josh felt like he had suddenly turned to stone. He felt her words cut him deeply, then he blocked out the pain and hardened his heart against her. Their eyes met, and he studied her coldly for a moment. Her lips trembled, her nostrils flared and her eyes began to fill with tears. Maybe he had pushed her too hard, but no, she had responded ardently to his touch. She had wanted this as much as he. Helen?s words were lies, but he didn?t know what she was trying to achieve by lashing out at him, and he would not play games with her. He had too much going on right now. His sister?s life was the most urgent at this time. Picking up his clothes, he swung around towards the door, and walked out of the room without saying another word. Josh left her and strode down the hallway, wondering what had happened to make Helen respond in such a way. As he entered his room, and remembered all he still needed to do before tomorrow, he tried to clear his mind of everything but the mission he was to embark upon. He would deal with Helen after he saved his sister and weakened the TFE network. After putting his clothes back on, he began systematically going through his plans and finalizing all the arrangements and equipment he would need for the next day. But the image of Helen, her lips quivering, and eyes filled and overflowing with tears kept coming to mind. Josh gritted his teeth and brought his concentration back to the mission yet again. It was going to be a long night.

33

Vi La woke up in Jo Na?s arms. Tears formed in her eyes as she snuggled in the warm comfort of her husband?s embrace. She decided then and there that she would settle this thing with her husband today, so that they could go back to how they were. She wanted, no needed, Jo Na back in her life, and her bed, permanently. She slowly extricated herself from her husband?s tangle of arms and legs, trying not to wake him. Once she was loose, she quietly got ready for the day. Just as she was about to leave the room, Jo Na?s words stopped her in her tracks. ?Leaving me so soon?? he asked in a husky, seductive voice that sent tingles of awareness through her body. When she turned to him, she sharply caught her breath. The sight of him stirred her, as it always did. He was lying on his side, leaning his head up on an arm supported by his elbow. Her gaze ran helplessly over his handsome face, and wild mane of hair, to his chest, then down to his tapering waist. She grew warm and her belly clenched as she noticed the swirl of hair trailing down from his hard stomach to hide beneath the scrap of sheet just covering him. She swallowed hard as she thought of what lay beneath that sheet. Forcing her gaze back to his face, she noticed the amusement in his knowing gaze, and wanted to stamp her feet in frustration. He knew just what he was doing to her. Well, now was not the time. They would settle things tonight. ?After our daughter is back safely tonight, we will talk. It?s time to settle this once and for all Jo Na,? she declared proudly. She noticed his face grew cold at her words, but didn?t wait for his response. Striding quickly out of the room, she headed straight for the dining room. She wanted to go back and assure her husband that everything was well, but new that now was not the time. If she went back, they would only argue again, and her heart just couldn?t take it today. Not with everything going on with their daughter, as well as their son. She knew something was happening between Jo Sha and Helen that she wasn?t aware of, and if there weren?t so many other things going one, she would have found out what that was, right away. After her daughter was back home, and her own marriage back on track, she would look into it. She could tell from their interaction, that her son was in love, and knew that Helen loved her son too. She liked Helen and was looking forward to having another intelligent, strong, and independent daughter. Vi La also realized that her son needed someone like Helen in his life, someone who wouldn?t do everything he told her, who had her own mind, and could use it well. She would just have to talk some sense into her son, so he would see just what a precious gem his Rov Shoma was. She sighed when she thought of all that this day and the coming days would bring, then resolutely strode towards the dining room. Her family, and her people needed her, and she would do whatever she could to make things right. She hoped Helen was there, so that they could eat, then go into the city, where she would discreetly meet her informant. He had replied to her missive by arranging a meeting place in the city. Normally his informants came to her, but considering the importance of this last bit of information and all that was going on, she knew it would be better to meet directly with him in the city. She wanted to acquire that last bit of information, so that she could sit down and really talk to her husband. She would have to come up with some sort of distraction for Helen, but knowing her curiosity and the fact that she was new to this

time, and planet, she didn?t think it would be a problem. She wished tonight were already here. She wanted her daughter to be home safe, and she wanted her marriage and her people happy. Soon everything would be okay. She could just feel it. **** Helen woke with eyes red and swollen. She had cried most of the night, then finally fell asleep some time in the very early morning. As she sat up in bed and stared around her, she remembered her last thought before falling asleep. She was done crying. Today she was the brave, strong, beautiful swan. She would be the ugly duckling no longer. There would be no more looking back. She would escape today, find her way back to her time, and forget about Joshua Trem. Once there, she?d fulfill her goal of becoming lead researcher at the center. Then she would be happy. She didn?t need love. Between her family and Josh, she now knew that it only led to betrayal and pain. She wanted no part of it. As if mocking her decision, her mind reluctantly played over the time she had spent with Josh. The first moment they met, the instant attraction they shared, the bond that formed between them in so little time, and the way he made her feel when they were together. His intelligence and his strong will were qualities she respected. His craggy good looks and his hard, muscular body made her crave him. His gentleness, and his sensitivity made her love him. Yet, despite all of this, his betrayal made her fear him. If he was actually planning to kill her why was it so hard to hate him? The fine line between love and hate wavered in her thoughts. It was so easy to blur that line, and right now she wasn?t sure which way she felt. What she did know was that she had to get far away from Josh. Only then would she be able to truly trust her own thoughts. ?Good morning, Helen. Would you like me to supply you with clothes again this morning?? Brunhilda asked, interrupting her thoughts. ?Yes, thank you. Vi La and I will be going to town to shop today, so I need clothing and shoes that I can walk around easily in,? Helen explained. She would need to be able to move quickly during her escape. She had found out last night from the computer that the time portal was actually located close to the medical center where Josh had brought her to repair her arm. Both were at the edge of to main town area where Vi La was taking her today. Brunhilda had actually produced a simple map of the town, the medical center, and the area where the time portal was located. She said that only the ruling family, and a few chosen others knew of its location, and that it was difficult to find. ?It?s hidden so that outsiders can?t find it, but if they did, they would still need access permission to get inside.? Brunhilda had explained after she produced the map for Helen. ?What sort of access permission?? Helen asked. ?They would need to have voice activated signal which the computer system acknowledges.? ?Do I have that access ability?? Helen asked, trying not to sound too concerned. ?Of course. Tok Rok Jo Sha has authorized for you to have entrance to all areas open to the ruling family. All you need to do is state your name, and you will be allowed admission to the area of your choice.?

Helen dressed in the clothing Brunhilda had produced. She felt guilty for a moment as she thought about the trust Josh had given her by allowing her access everywhere, but then she shook her head in disgust. Of course he could give her access to any location. If she was going to be dead today anyway, it didn?t really matter if she could get into secure areas. Today, Brunhilda gave her loose fitting gauze pants, and a matching shirt. Soft leather like sandals were also provided. After washing in a large tub of warm fragrant water, which Brunhilda supplied for her, Helen dried off and dressed. The clothing was just what she needed, leaving her comfortable and unencumbered. The sandals fit her just right, and she knew she would have no problem running in them, if necessary. The outfit had appeared aqua colored when Helen picked it up, but once she put it on, it seemed to shimmer and change to dark turquoise right before her eyes. She was about to ask Brunhilda about it, when the computer spoke first. ?Toka Vi La is waiting for you in the dining room.? ?Thank you Brunhilda. I?ll go there immediately,? Helen said, heading for the door. She stopped abruptly as a thought occurred to her. ?Has Jo Sha arrived in the dining room yet?? she asked. ?No. Tok Rok Jo Sha will not be eating with you this morning. He is occupied elsewhere,? the computer answered. Helen relaxed at Brunhilda?s words. She was hoping to avoid seeing Josh before her escape. She guessed by the fact that Vi La would be with her during this outing, that she should be safe from harm during that time. Josh probably planned on killing her sometime after that. The fact that she was thinking so clearly about her own demise frightened her, but she knew that she had to be this way, if she wanted to stay alive. Helen walked down the hall towards the dining room. As she passed Josh?s room, she felt goosebumps run up and down her arms, and hurried past, not slowing down until she had reached Vi La?s side. She noticed the older woman wearing an outfit similar to hers, but the color seemed to be shimmering and changing right before her eyes, one minute deep red, and the next pale pink. She got lost in the kaleidoscope of colors for a moment, until Vi La?s voice broke the spell. ?Good morning, Helen. Are you well?? Vi La asked with a worried frown. Helen raised her gaze to meet the other woman?s. Knowing Josh?s mother was probably thinking about what had occurred between she and Josh, she immediately tried to put her at ease. She didn?t want to get into any in depth discussions about Josh and herself this morning. ?I?m fine. Jo Sha and I had a bit of a disagreement last night, but I think I know where he stands now,? Helen said with a strained smile. Vi La looked at her curiously for a moment, then sighed loudly. ?I?m glad to hear you worked things out, dear. I know my son can seem hard sometimes, but the men of this planet are all trained as warriors. It is just the way of things. The key is to establish a relationship where your mate and you can talk to each other. That goes a long way in understanding and respecting

each other, believe me,? Vi La said with a pained look in her eyes. ?Sometimes, miscommunication or even lack of communication can cause problems in a relationship which could have been avoided if only the two people involved would talk to each other.? ?Thank you, Vi La. I will keep that in mind for the future,? Helen said politely, wondering why Vi La suddenly looked so sad. She stamped down her concern ruthlessly. She couldn?t let it bother her because she knew that Josh and she wouldn?t even be in the same time, let alone on the same planet soon. ?Enough lecturing for today. Would you like some breakfast before we go into town?? Vi La asked with a warm smile. Helen nodded her head with a smile, but noticed that sadness remained in the other woman?s eyes and wished she could ask her what was wrong. All through breakfast they spoke about their plans for the day, yet Vi La?s thoughts seemed far away, on something else. After breakfast, Vi La led her to what looked like a large telephone booth located in the main entranceway of the house. As they approached it, two grim, powerful looking men silently joined them. ?Helen, these are members of my personal guard. They will be escorting us around the city,? Vi La explained matter-of-factly. The two men got into the telephone booth and Helen watched in astonishment as they closed their eyes and disappeared. Vi La quickly followed into the now empty booth and tried to gently pull her in with her, but Helen dug in her heels, and refused to move. Vi La looked at her curiously for a moment then understanding dawned in her eyes. ?Josh hasn?t told you how to use the transport stations, Helen?? Vi La asked ?No. We?ve only taken the air transport vehicles when we?ve gone out,? Helen replied warily as she studied the booth. ?I?ll explain it quickly since this is the mode of transport used most often on our planet. To get where you want to go, all you need to do is step into the station and think about where you want to go, specifically the name and address of the destination. Or, if you don?t know the address, then just think of what your destination looks like, and you should arrive there safely. There are transport stations located throughout the more populated area, and some scattered in the outlying areas.? Helen listened in amazement as Vi La explained how the transport station functioned with a form of mental telepathy between a computer and a person. ?But how does that work? How does the computer pick up on your thoughts? How does--? ?Wait, Helen,? Vi La said, her face filled with amusement as she held her hands up in surrender. ?I?m not the scientist, you are. I don?t know the intricacies of this form of transportation, but I will be glad to find that information for you after we get back.? ?Sorry. It?s the researcher in me, I guess. I want to know how things work,? Helen said. This time when Vi La pulled her towards the booth, she went into it.

?I understand. Now let me help you put this around your wrist,? Vi La said, as she pulled out a thin black band and wrapped it around Helen?s wrist. A sharp sting on the inside of her wrist made her start with surprise. ?Ouch!? ?Sorry about that. It?s always like that when you put on one of these things,? the older woman explained, as she put her own band on. ?That?s your wrist communicator. You can contact Brunhilda anytime, anywhere by just speaking into it. If, for some reason we get separated, she?ll be able to guide you back to me. So don?t worry about getting lost.? Vi La gave her hand a reassuring pat, making Helen feel instantly guilty. This woman was looking out for her protection, while she was planning her escape from her. Forcing the feelings aside, Helen gave Vi La a smile. ?I?m ready when you are,? she said. ?Okay, close your eyes, and let me hold you hand. For this trip, I?m going to take us to where we need to go. Just keep you hand in mine, and you?ll be fine,? Vi La said closing her eyes. Helen clasped Vi La?s hand, closed hers and waited a few moments, but nothing happened. She slowly opened her eyes, thinking that maybe the transport wasn?t working. She expected to see the same scene she had a minute ago, but gasped in shock at what actually met her open eyes.

34

It was something out of a dream. Helen reached up and rubbed her eyes, then opened them again. Walking out of the booth, she looked around, taking in the incredible scene before her. She had never seen a city like this before. It was if the natural world and the man made world had a melding of minds. There were skyscrapers, but there were also trees that reached as high as any of the buildings. There were sidewalks, but grass and bushes ran beside it in bigger and smaller patches. She couldn?t say whether there were more trees or buildings because it was hard to tell. It was if someone decided to build a city in the middle of a forest without cutting down any of the trees, shrubs, or grass away first. And then she noticed something her eyes couldn?t tell her. It was quiet. No city in her time on earth had this kind of peacefulness. There were no car engines revving, no horns blaring, and no people talking. Helen looked around desperately for people, but found no one. Where was everyone? Helen turned towards Vi La and asked her. ?Where are all the people??

Instead of speaking, Vi La pointed up. Helen followed the direction of the older woman?s hand and almost staggered from the activity going on way above her. She saw air transport vehicles shooting back and forth on invisible routes that resembled the intricate windings of the highways in her time, without the actual road. Everything seemed to be going on at the same height as the tops of most of the buildings. ?Between the mental transport stations, and all of the air vehicles routes and parking being on top of the buildings, there are few people down at this level. The only reason I brought you here was to show you our city from this perspective before we enter the main fray. Ground level is used primarily for weekend outings, and official planetary functions. Remember how I mentioned that all life forms are considered precious and sacred on our planet?? Vi La asked. ?Well, this is one example of that. We?ll do most of our activity at the upper level today, but maybe we can come down here later to enjoy some peace and quiet before returning home.? ?This is amazing. I wish the scientists of my time could see this. This is truly how it should be everywhere. Man living in harmony with all life, not destroying it in the name of progress,? Helen said fervently. . ?I?m glad you agree with our philosophy. Knowing a little about your background, I figured it might be so.? Vi La said, nodding her head approvingly. ?Now, are you ready to explore my city?? ?Let?s go,? Helen replied eagerly. She really did want to see some of the city first, then she would make her escape. The bodyguards might make that more difficult, but after a little thought, Helen knew she would be able to get around that. One man went ahead of them, then Vi La and she stepped back into the transport station. Once they arrived at their destination, the other guard followed close behind. They both scanned the area thoroughly before letting the two women proceed. A tall woman approached, looking flustered and excited. She bowed low to Vi La, and then rose and gave them both a friendly smile. ?Toka Vi La, it is a pleasure, as usual to have you honor us with your presence,? the woman said, and then proceeded to ask Vi La about what she was looking for today. Helen lost her focus on the conversation, as she stared at her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was that all of the women in the store were very tall. The fact that she was the shortest person in the room amazed her. In her time she was as tall if not taller than most women. Secondly, she noticed that none of ladies looked especially emaciated like some of the women in her time. Some were plump, while others looked like they worked out, but none looked thin. Then she noticed the clothing, and forgot about all the rest. She was amazed at the shimmering variety of colors and textures available. Aristocratic looking women were walking around the area, followed closely by scampering sales clerks who were offering information or aid with the clothing selections. It all seemed very similar to shopping in her time, at a very expensive boutique in New York or Beverly Hills, that is. Not the kind of place Helen usually frequented. The normalcy of her surroundings made the shock of what she saw next two fold. A woman took a dress off a rack to look at it, and as she ran her hands over the material, it shimmered and seemed to come to life as it changed color. When she had taken it off the hanger it was tan colored, but at the woman?s touch it turned a dark chocolate brown. Then the woman handed it to the clerk

helping her, and as she did, the material shimmered and changed to a deep brick red color. Vi La must have finally noticed Helen gaping, because she touched her arm and looked at her with concern. ?Are you well, dear? Is something wrong?? ?The clothes. They change color,? Helen said in wonder. ?Yes, that?s right,? Vi La said with amused indulgence on her face. ?Each item of clothing is made of an organic material which reacts to each person who wears it. So even if two women wear the same dress, it will, in all likelihood, be different colors. Since each person has their own chemical make up, the clothing will react differently each time it is worn by a different person.? ?Why were the clothes made this way?? ?Well, initially, they were designed this way to make them biodegradable, so when the clothing was discarded, it wouldn?t harm the environment, and it could be recycled. Quite by accident it was discovered that the clothes had this reaction to each wearer. People liked the idea of having clothing that was individual to them, and soon all clothes were made from this material. It was also discovered that mood affected the color, changing the shade variation slightly depending what the wearer was feeling at the time. If it is an extremely strong emotion it will affect the clothing color, otherwise there?s just a slight change in shade with lesser mood changes. I?m sure you can see the benefit of this. Clothing tailored to each person who wears it, and environmentally positive,? Vi La explained. ?How fascinating,? Helen said earnestly. ?I?d like to learn more about the organic matter in the material. ?Why don?t we put that on our list information to research after our outing? When we get back home, we?ll look into it.? Helen noticed the sales clerk looking oddly at her. Vi La must have also, because she placed one arm around Helen as she spoke to the woman. ?This is my future daughter-in-law, Rov Shoma of the Tok Rok. Please give her all the courtesy befitting her position.? The woman?s eyes widened for a moment before she bowed low to Helen, making her feel uncomfortable. She wasn?t used to people showing such deference to her. ?Of course Toka Vi La. It will be an honor to help both of you today,? the woman responded. The rest of the morning was spent trying on clothes. Helen thought she would get bored soon because shopping was not on her priority of things to do, but as she tried on each item, she studied the changing colors with fascination. She even tried to make herself feel sad, happy, and angry to see what the clothing would do. She didn?t notice much change when she tried for the first two, but as she thought about Josh, and his betrayal, anger exploded in her once more. The color of the gown suddenly changed so dramatically, that Helen momentarily forgot her anger as she studied the phenomenon. She definitely had some unresolved issues when it came to Joshua Trem. Wherever he was at that moment, she wished he were close by so that she could get all her feelings out before she left, but she knew that wasn?t meant to be. She and Vi La spent the next hour going to different exclusive shops, trying on clothes, and shoes. When Helen didn?t think she could take anymore, Vi La decided they needed to take a break. After speaking

with her ever-present bodyguards, they walked to what looked like a small caf. People were seated in an open patio area, and there were also tables inside. Vi La?s guards stayed close by her side as they entered. The management was so thrilled to have her, that they corded off half of the restaurant just for them, while Vi La?s protectors stood protectively a slight distance away, Helen and she enjoyed a deliciously refreshing juice. Helen had noticed people looking at Vi La as they shopped, and again now, as they enjoyed a break. They would smile, sometimes wave, and Vi La would acknowledge them with a nod, smile or even a return wave, yet not once did someone try to approach her. And Helen didn?t think it was just because of her bodyguards. The Tanvieran people seemed to admire and respect their queen. It was as if the thought of disturbing her was unthinkable. And Vi La carried on as if she were a regular person, out with a friend. ?Your people greatly respect you, Vi La.? ?I respect them in return. Their welfare is very important to me,? Vi La responded with a gentle smile. ?I have my own children, yet I must also think of my people as my children, to be protected, cared for, and appreciated.? Then, before Helen could respond, Vi La stood abruptly and looked nervously over her shoulder. She slid her startled gaze back to Helen, and then gave her a forced smile, which didn?t look like the warm one she usually wore. ?Would you excuse me for a moment dear? I, uh, see someone I know, who I must speak with immediately. I?ll only be a moment,? Vi La asked. This was her moment. Helen knew that it was now or never. If she wanted to attempt her escape there wouldn?t be a better opportunity. ?That?s fine. While you do that, I need to use the bathroom. Do you know where it is?? ?Back there to the right,? Vi La said distractedly, pointed towards the back of the caf, even as her eyes narrowed on a man across the room. ?Thank you. I?ll meet you back here,? Helen said casually, even though her heart seemed to be beating a thousand miles per hour. For a moment the guards seemed confused as to who they should go with, and Helen knew they had been instructed to protect both of them. ?Don?t worry guys, I?m just going to the bathroom. Stay with your Toka,? she said with a smile that was forced and stiff. The men hesitated for a moment, but when they heard Vi La?s raised voice, concerned marred their features, and they hurried over to where she stood with a man Helen estimated to be half her age, and extremely good looking. Though Vi La seemed to be angry, he just stood patiently, watching her with amused indulgence. Helen stared at the two of them for a moment, wondering what they were discussing, but then made herself turn around and walk away. That is what she needed to do now. Just walk away. Her own life was at stake, and she needed to leave this place forever. Helen headed back to the bathroom, but at the last moment swerved towards what she guessed was the

kitchen. When she entered, there was so much hustle and bustle no one seemed to notice her as she slipped out the back door. She quickly headed down a deserted hallway, looking over her shoulder every couple of seconds to see if anyone followed her. Seeing no one, she released the breath she had been holding and continued on her way. She came to another exit, and with a last look over her shoulder, walked through it, right into something solid. She would have fallen back if someone hadn?t grabbed her arms tightly, and held her up. As her eyes rose to see who held her, she found the last person she expected to see at that moment. Her eyes widened in surprise and she drew in a sharp breath. ?Phillip?? she asked as if she couldn?t believe her own eyes. ?Hello, Helen. It?s so nice to finally find you,? Phillip responded casually, as if he wasn?t a thousand years in the future on a planet other than Earth. He released her and she took a hesitant step backwards. ?What are you doing here? How did you know--? Helen started to ask, but Phillip held his hand up as if signaling her to stop talking. ?I?ll explain everything to you. But I need to get you away from here first,? he explained, nodding to the men around him. That was when Helen noticed that Phillip wasn?t alone. He had about five men with him, who looked like they could qualify for the World Wrestling Federation without a problem. And they didn?t look very happy. One of them approached Helen with a syringe in his hand, and she started to back away from him, only to bump back against another man, who held her in place, despite her struggles to get away. ?Philip, what?s going on here?? she asked nervously, while keeping her eyes on the man approaching her with the needle. ?Don?t worry, Helen. It will only pinch for a minute, then it will be all over,? Phillip said in a voice that suddenly didn?t sound like his. There was a menace in his tone, which Helen had never heard before. As she turned frantic eyes to him, she saw him staring at her with such a malevolent look in his gaze that it was as if he had physically attacked her. She gasped loudly as she felt a needle prick her arm. After that, everything went black.

35

Helen woke up to the sound of someone yelling. ?You will regret the day you kidnapped me, I promise you that!? The woman?s voice boomed into Helen?s consciousness. She sat up slowly, and after a minute was able to get her bearings. She was in what appeared to be a large tent. Yet it was furnished as someone would a small house. It had all the furnishings one needed to be comfortable. As she looked around her, she noticed a woman pacing back and forth. She was tall, muscular and appeared quite agitated, as she mumbled curses under her breath, and shook her head, so that her midnight black hair swayed around her shoulders. When she finally noticed Helen was awake, she stopped pacing and turned to her in shocked surprise. Helen gasped at the sight of the young woman. She had dramatic cheekbones that Helen always wished she had, flawless, slightly tanned skin, and full red lips. Yet it was her eyes that drew her in. They were the dark blue of sapphires, and shined with an intelligence and spirit, which couldn?t be denied. Her beauty was breathtaking. After the two of them stared silently at each other for a moment, the woman strode confidently over to Helen, then stopped a few feet from her. She waited patiently, as if she expected her to do something, but Helen didn?t know what, so she stood up slowly and stuck out her hand out. ?Hello, I?m Helen. And you are?? she asked The woman looked down at Helen?s hand, but ignored it as her gaze narrowed on the other woman. When she still did nothing the woman raised one eyebrow arrogantly at Helen. First she?s drugged, then kidnapped and now she?s stuck with a woman with an attitude problem. She really didn?t need this. Folding her hands across her chest in front of her she stared just as arrogantly back at the woman. ?Is there a problem?? Helen asked. The woman looked at her in surprise. ?You are not from Tanviera, are you?? she asked. ?No. Actually, I?m from earth,? Helen replied. ?Earth? I know some people form Earth, maybe you know them.? ?I doubt it. I?m from the year 2004, so most of the people I know are dead by now,? she explained. The other woman?s mouth hung open. She gazed at Helen in shock. Then she regained her composure and studied Helen intently. After a minute she nodded her head and gave Helen a smile. ?My name is Sa RahTa Rem. I am Toka Rok of this planet,? she said with a slight incline of her head. Now it was Helen?s turn to gape at her. ?You?re Jo Sha?s kidnapped sister?? she asked in surprise as she studied Sa Rah?s face. ?I didn?t notice the similarities between the two of you, but now that you said it, you do look a little like each other.?

?You know my brother?? Sa Rah asked eagerly, as her eyes lit with excitement. ?Yes. I met him in my time. He saved my life, and brought me to this time, to keep me safe until we find the people responsible for trying to kill you. He and Tristan are making plans to rescue you,? she explained. At the mention of Tristan?s name, Sa Rah stiffened perceptibly. ?You?ve seen Tristan Zax?? she asked trying to appear calm, yet Helen noticed her clenching and unclenching her hands nervously. ?Yes, he has been helping Jo Sha.? ?I see,? Sa Rah said with a thoughtful look on her face, which soon turned sad. ?How are my mother and father?? she asked. ?They?re fine, but I know from a conversation I had with your mother, that she misses you terribly.? ?As I miss her,? Sa Rah said sadly. ?I?m sure you?ll all be together soon,? Helen said patting Sa Rah?s hand reassuringly. Helen let Sa Rah have a moment to herself, as she began studying her surroundings, trying to get a glimpse of what lay outside the tent. However, there were no windows, so she finally gave up and turned back to Sa Rah. ?Where are we?? ?At the TFE covert meeting site. They are assembling people from all over to converge here for an environmental rally,? she responded. ?The TFE group trying to preserve the environment?? Helen asked. Sa Rah laughed bitterly at her question, and shook her head. ?No, the TFE is a terrorist organization which is trying to turn back time on our environment,? she said. ?What do you mean?? Helen asked. Sa Rah explained about the group?s plan to reverse the environmental cleansing that saved first the earth?s, and then many other planet?s inhabitants from dying off due to the deterioration of their environment. ?So, you see. If the TFE has their way, they will turn our world and many others back into the sick pollution ridden planets they were,? Sa Rah explained. ?But that transition would harm them also. Why would they want to kill themselves?? ?The TFE is made up of true environmental fundamentalists. They feel that whatever the higher powers

meant to happen to them, should happen to them, and that people should not tamper with that. They feel that their mission is to bring about the end of the world as we know it, and that if they do so, they will one day be honored as heroes forever. They don?t care if they die. They have been brainwashed into believing that they are directed by a higher power who will give them everlasting honor and reward after they die.? ?That?s sick. What about all the innocent people who will die? Don?t they care about them?? Helen asked with a horrified look on her face. ?No, Helen, they don?t. They only care about their cause,? Sa Rah said grimly. ?That?s why I have to keep myself strong and try to escape. Once the TFE has what they want from my family, they will kill me. I will be of no use to them afterwards. I know it, and they know it.? ?What do they want?? ?You mean you don?t know? My brother never told you what mission he was on when he was sent back to your time?? When Helen slowly shook her head, Sa Rah hesitated for a moment, but then seemed to come to a decision, and spoke. ?The TFE told Jo Sha must go back in time to kill the scientist responsible for starting the environmental transformation project. They felt that by murdering her, the project might never come to fruition, and their mission would then be a success,? she explained. ?So they kidnapped me, and told my family that the only way they would free me was for Jo Sha to kill this scientist.? Helen suddenly felt dizzy as everything suddenly fell into place. ?Do you remember the name of the researcher your brother was sent back to kill?? Helen asked softly. ?Let?s see,? Sa Rah said, closing her eyes for as she thought for a minute, then opened her eyes when the answer came to her. ?It was a Dr. Matthews. That?s right, a Doctor Helen Matth--? Sa Rah broke off as she looked at Helen in horror. ?I?m so sorry, Helen. I didn?t realize it was you.? ?It?s okay. Now I know why Phillip brought me here. But what does Phillip have to do with all of this?? ?That?s a very good question, Helen. I?m so glad I?m here just in time to answer it.? Phillip said mockingly as he entered the tent with two of his men following close behind. Helen watched in horror, and Sa Rah launched herself at Phillip, but was easily held back by his two guards. ?Now, Sa Rah. Please behave yourself. I don?t want to have to hurt, again,? Phillip said with anticipation in his eyes that belied his words. Nausea tightened in Helen?s stomach as she looked at the man she once thought she knew. Seeing him this way made her realize she didn?t know him at all.

Sa Rah continued to struggle in the guards? arms, but Phillip ignored her as he approached Helen. She watched him suspiciously as he drew closer, then passed by her and sat on a couch located behind where she stood. Helen turned to face him as he made himself comfortable. ?Please join me, Helen,? he requested with a friendly smile as he patted the seat cushion beside him. ?No thanks, Phillip. Instead, why don?t you tell me who you really are?? Helen watched in fascination, as his face turned from a pleasant smile to an angry sneer in only a matter of seconds. ?It?s not a request. Sit down now,? he ordered. Helen thought to resist, but then she saw Phillip nod his head at the two men holding Sa Rah. She turned just as one of the men reached up and began choking Josh?s sister with his free hand as they continued to restrain her. ?Okay, I?m sitting. Please leave her alone.? Phillip gave a nod, and the man instantly released Sa Rah as Helen sat down. ?Good choice.? Phillip said with a cold smile. ?Now I?m going to answer your question about me, and tell you why we kidnapped you. Then you?re going to answer my questions.? Helen listened as Phillip explained his dual roles in the Tanvieran government and his participation in the TFE. Then he repeated Sa Rah?s explanation of her part in it all. ?Now I want you to answer a few of my questions,? Phillip said. ?What has Jo Sha discovered about us? Is he planning an attack? When does he plan on attempting to rescue Sa Rah? We know he?s seen our encampment, but we need you to tell us if, when and where he?ll attack.? ?I will do no such thing! I would never betray Jo Sha and his family!? she said adamantly. ?We?ll see about that,? Phillip said arrogantly, as he slowly got to his feet, and walked towards Sa Rah. He stood in front of her and tightly grasped her chin so that she was forced to look at him. ?But first why don?t you say good-bye to your new friend? Sa Rah is going on a one way trip?back in time,? he said with an evil leer. Before Helen could respond, he released Sa Rah?s chin and started to leave. His men followed close behind him. ?I have to put something special together for you, Helen, but I?ll return soon, so say your good-byes quickly,? he said as he walked out of the tent. ?Are you okay?? Helen asked Sa Rah. ?Yes, and you??

?I?m fine, but I don?t like the sound of what Phillip had planned for each of us.? Sa Rah reached into her pocket and pulled out a beautiful stone. She took Helen?s hand and placed it in her palm. ?Please give this to Tristan, if you see him. He will know what it means. Will you do that for me, Helen?? Sa Rah asked with anxiety in her eyes. ?Of course,? Helen said reassuringly, but inside she wondered if either of them would see Tristan or Josh again. ?And tell my parents I love them. And?uh?my mother, tell her I miss her, but I know that I will see her one day soon,? she said in a choked voice. Helen saw Sa Rah?s eyes fill with tears, and not knowing what else to do, pulled Josh?s sister into a tight embrace. ?I will tell them, and you will be home with your family soon. Just keep believing, okay? We will never give up on you,? Helen promised softly. ?How touching,? Phillip said with a sneer as his men entered the tent and immediately pulled the two of them apart. Something snapped in Helen. As she saw the men try to drag Sa Rah away, she rushed them, wildly pulling their hair, scratching, hitting and kicking them. ?Leave her alone!? she yelled angrily. Two more men pulled her away from Sa Rah and then she felt a needle pierce her arm. Everything became foggy and unfocused as she watched them take Josh?s sister away. Then Phillip easily led her to the couch and sat her down beside him. Helen felt like she was happily floating on a cloud and had no will to resist him. ?That needle in your arm held a little incentive to you answering my questions, Helen. Initially it just makes you very responsive to questioning, but after that, well, why don?t we wait and see if you survive the questioning first, shall we?? he asked with an evil leer. Helen gritted her teeth and tried to swallow her fear as Phillip?s men closed in around her.

36

Josh felt the exhilaration he always experienced when flying. His mission today was going to a difficult one, so he tried to enjoy the ride while he could. Closing his eyes he leaned his head back against the seat. Tristan?s amused voice soon broke his reverie, however. ?Do you really think now is a good time to sleep?? Josh opened his eyes and smiled at his friend. Tristan was piloting the air vehicle for the mission, because he was the most qualified at handling the high performance aircraft they were using. It was big enough to carry four people, but light enough to be the fastest, most maneuverable air transportation available. ?How much longer until we reach the landing point?? Josh asked as his face grew serious again. ?We?ll be there within five minutes,? Tristan replied, all humor gone from his face. Josh nodded his head, then laid it back and closed his eyes again. His thoughts flew unerringly back to Helen. After leaving her last night, he had spent the rest of the night working out the remaining details for today, staunchly keeping his mind off of his Rov Shoma, then feel into an exhausted sleep. But now, as he let his mind wander, he played over what had happened between them the night before. He still didn?t understand what had happened. One minute they were going to make love, and the next Helen was asking him to leave. He knew she had gotten upset about something, but he couldn?t think what had caused it. She had said words meant to cut him, which they did, but when he saw her tear filled eyes and trembling lips he knew there was more than what she was saying. Her pain had been written all over her face, but he had also felt her fear and despair coming from her in waves. ?We?re here,? Tristan said, once more breaking into his thoughts. Tristan easily landed the craft. When they got out of the ship there was nothing around them but dessert. ?The transport station should be right behind that large gathering of rocks over there,? Josh said pointing to a small hill in the distance. They walked silently towards their destination, each of them lost in their own thoughts. They reached the gathering of rocks, and just as Josh predicted, the station was right behind them. He stopped Tristan from entering and pulled out several photos. ?The aerial photos we took yesterday show possible entry spots located here and here,? he said, pointing out the locations to Tristan. ?I?ll take this one, you take that one. Set your timer for one hour. If you find nothing in that time period contact me. If you find Sa Rah, contact me immediately.? ?Don?t worry, I will find Sa Rah,? Tristan practically growled. Josh placed an arm to stay Tristan before he strode away towards the station. ?Tristan, wait. I don?t know what?s going on between my sister and you, but I do know that having her safe and sound back home is my first priority on this mission. Is there something you?re not telling me? Because I?d like to know before we both go in there and risk our lives,? Josh asked. Tristan ran his fingers through his hair and let out a long frustrated breath.

?Let?s just say that I owe your sister a debt that I will repay, no matter what.? Josh narrowed his eyes as he studied his friend for a moment. ?Will this debt get in the way of us accomplishing this mission?? Josh asked ruthlessly. He wasn?t about to risk his sister?s life over something like this. ?No. If anything, it makes me wish even more to find her and bring her home safely,? Tristan responded earnestly. ?Good,? Josh said with a satisfied nod. ?Are your men in place in case we need them?? ?Yes, they?re in position.? ?Then let?s do this. I?ll expect to see or hear from you within an hour. I?ll contact you if I run into any trouble. You do the same.? Both men nodded, then shook forearms in the traditional Tanvieran way before going their separate ways. ?Good travel,? Tristan said to Josh as he got into the transport, closed his eyes, and then disappeared. ?Good travel, my friend,? Josh said as he followed close behind. After taking one last look at the photograph of his destination, he closed his eyes and transported. When he opened them he was shocked to see a familiar face standing in front of him. ?Hello, Jo Sha Ta Rem. So nice to see you again.? ?Phillip? What are you doing here?? Josh asked as his mind raced with the possibilities. Phillip was standing there calmly with ten men who he could tell were trained warriors like himself. He was severely outnumbered. ?Surprised to see me?? he said with a cold smile that never reached his eyes. ?So was your Rov Shoma when I found her wandering alone in the city.? Despite the number of his opponents, Josh took a threatening step forward as Phillip reached behind him, and pulled Helen into view. She stood unsteady on her feet next to Phillip, and her eyes looked unfocused and dreamy. Phillip yanked her back against him, slid one of his arms around her waist, and wrapped his free hand around her throat. ?Please, no sudden moves. It makes me nervous, and you wouldn?t like me to be nervous, Tok Rok, because I have a tendency to squeeze things when I get that way,? Phillip said as he tightened his grip around Helen?s neck. Her eyes widened as she struggled to breathe, and began to choke. Josh took a step back and held his hands up at his sides as if in surrender. Phillip instantly loosened his hold on Helen and she coughed and gasped helplessly in an attempt to get air back into her lungs. Yet Phillip kept his hand placed tight enough around her neck, that he could see she was too uncomfortable to even speak. Rage rushed through him at the sight of his Rov Shoma in someone else?s arms, and the thought of that person hurting her. Josh resorted to his warrior training to calm himself down. After a moment, he got control of himself, and looked unemotionally at Phillip.

?That?s more like it. Please keep this moment in mind for the future, as I will not hesitate to repeat it again, and again, with pleasure,? Phillip explained, softly running his fingers up and down Helen?s neck. Helen leaned her head back and closed her eyes at the feel of it, and Josh felt fury roar through him. She was his! Somehow Josh managed to retain his self-control, barely. ?You see, our friend Helen has been quite difficult to deal with. And contrary to your declarations of a successful mission, she is obviously still very much alive,? Phillip said with irritation glittering in his eyes. ?But don?t worry about that, she won?t be with us for very much longer. I have big plans for your Rov Shoma that will take her out of my presence, and yours, forever.? ?Who are you?? Josh demanded. ?I apologize for the lack of introduction Tok Rok,? Phillip said bowing his head mockingly. ?I am the Fi Li Mo She, Tanvieran ambassador for the still unexplored Dark Galaxy. Your parents sent me into that hellhole years ago, and since then I vowed to repay them for their bad decision. Luckily, I have some loyal friends. I, of course can?t mention any names, but let?s just say we kept in touch over the years, and those friends have been feeding me information for a very long time. ? ?What does this have to do with Helen?? Josh asked. ?I?ll explain that to you momentarily, but first, let?s go somewhere more comfortable. We have much to discuss,? Phillip responded, turning his back on Josh and walking away with Helen still held tightly against him. Some of his men followed close behind him, while others roughly motioned for Josh to move, and then walked directly behind him, as he did. As he walked through the camp, Josh noticed two things. First, there were a large number of people here, as he and Tristan had expected. The second thing he noticed was what neither of them had expected. Josh had thought this was merely going to be another TFE rally, full of speeches and propaganda, but there was more. He saw people getting military training all around him. Though all men on the planet had warrior training, this went beyond that, into something more specialized. He could see some men practicing hand to hand combat, others various weapons usage, while others dealt specifically with some sort of chemistry training. He thought the latter probably had to do with either explosives, or chemical terrorism. The fact that this was going on didn?t surprise him. What did surprise him was that it was happening at this location, and during this rally. That wasn?t the TFE?s usual mode of operation. And the fact that Phillip was showing him all of this without hesitation worried him. If he didn?t care whether or not Josh saw this, then he must be planning on killing him. When he looked ahead, he could see Helen leaning against Phillip for support as they walked. It was obvious Phillip meant to dispose of her soon, so why was Helen getting so close to him? Anger and jealousy flared to life as he saw Helen lay her head on Phillip?s shoulder as they walked. What game was she playing? It was as if she wasn?t even aware of Josh?s presence. Clenching his fists tightly by his side, he vowed to keep his head until he found out exactly what was going on. Phillip finally stopped at a large tented structure, and went inside, followed by his men. Josh also went in and his entourage came in directly behind him. Phillip motioned for Josh to sit down, then he sat on a large couch opposite him, and pulled Helen down so that she sprawled back across his lap. He helped her sit up, but kept her on his lap. Phillip?s arm once again wrapped tightly around her waist, and his other hand went back to her throat. Then he silently nodded at his men, and all but four of them left. The remaining men stationed themselves defensively around the tent.

?Helen is really quite attractive isn?t she?? Phillip asked mockingly, as he began stroking her neck again. Helen closed her eyes, and let her head fall back against Phillip?s shoulders. ?And she?s become so much more responsive to a man?s touch now that she?s met you, hasn?t she? When I first encountered her at the research center, I tried to get her into my bed, but she was as cold as ice, and not at all interested, so I knew that I would have to pretend to be just her friend, if I wanted to get closer to her.? As he spoke, Phillip shifted his arm from Helen?s waist, and slid his free hand up to cover one of her breasts. He massaged it, and then gently squeezed her nipple until Helen moaned softly. Then he turned his face towards her, and slowly ran his tongue up and down her neck. All the while, his eyes never left Josh?s face, as if waiting for a reaction. ?Helen seems to like my touch now, doesn?t she?? Phillip taunted. His men all laughed suggestively around him. Josh growled low in his throat and his body tightened in preparation for battle. He clenched and unclenched his jaws as fury and jealousy tore through him. But then he saw the look of anticipation in Phillip?s eyes, and suddenly realized what was going on. He wanted Josh to respond so that he could kill Helen, and then his men could kill him. Drawing from the many years of training, Josh slowly got himself back under control. A look of disappointment crossed Phillip?s face. He released Helen, pushing her off of his lap, and she almost fell off the couch. Somehow, she managed to right herself and sit quietly beside Phillip, but she kept her head down and her eyes lowered. Phillip grasped one of her hands and held it securely, as if that would prevent her escape. ?Your warrior training must be extensive if you?re able to withstand someone else touching your Rov Shoma,? Phillip said with real admiration in his voice. ?What do you want?? Josh demanded impatiently. ?Want? What I?ve always wanted, power, and revenge. And now that the TFE has become so strong, and I have the Tok Rok, the Toka Rok, and the Rov Shoma, my power has become immense. Your mother and father will regret the day they sent me away, and all because of a slight breach in time travel protocol, which was nothing really,? he explained vaguely before continuing his ranting. ?I?ve spent the past several years living a dual life. My days were spent in Helen?s time, monitoring her work as Dr. Phillip Moshie, while my nights and weekends were spent helping the TFE with its worthy cause and planning my revenge. All I had to do was report in with occasional bogus accounts of my exploration of the Dark Galaxy, and your parent?s assumed I was where I should be. A big miscalculation on their part, wouldn?t you say?? Phillip asked with wry amusement in his voice.

37

?What do you mean Helen disappeared? How did it happen, Vi La?? Jo Na demanded. ?I don?t know what happened. One moment she was there and the next she wasn?t. I sent the guards out to search the area, but they couldn?t find her,? Vi La explained worriedly. ?What were you doing when this happened?? Jo Na asked. ?I was talking to an?uh?acquaintance of mine.? ?An acquaintance.? Jo Na repeated, then grasped her shoulders and brought Vi La up against him. She glanced sharply up at him, startled by his actions. He met her gaze with eyes narrowed in suspicion. ?Was it a man or woman?? he asked in a voice low and angry. Vi La swallowed convulsively, and tried unsuccessfully, to look away from Jo Na. He cupped her chin gently, then tilted her face up so that she was forced to keep her gaze on him. ?Well, Vi La?? he demanded softly. His eyes bored relentlessly into hers. Despite his quiet tone, she could here the menace in it. She started to feel guilty, but then she realized that she had done nothing wrong. What she had done had been for her family and her people. Pulling her chin out of his grasp, she met his angry gaze with her own furious one. ?It was a man,? she quietly replied without a flinch. Jo Na?s gaze widened at her, then he thrust her away from him as if he couldn?t bear to touch her any longer. He studied her coldly as he clenched and released his fists while pacing back and forth across the room. He eventually stopped in front of her and towered menacingly above her. ?How could you? How could you meet your lover right in front of our future daughter, and at a time like this? I thought you were--? Vi La brought her hand up to Jo Na?s mouth and pressed her fingers gently against his lips. He was so surprised by her actions that his eyes widened, and he was speechless for a moment. That was just the response she wanted. ?He was not my lover. He was an informant I had hired several months ago to help gather information for me. And those men you keep hearing about me meeting with? They are not my lovers. They work for this informant, and each time I met with them, they were bringing me information I requested about the men who counsel you, and how they are in actuality betraying you,? she explained adamantly, throwing the file containing the information she had collected on his nearby desk. ?That?s the only reason I was meeting with them. Nothing more, nothing less.? When Jo Na still looked at her doubtfully and said nothing, she pressed forward relentlessly. ?Jo Na, look at me. Do you really think I?ve stopped loving you? You are my heart. You are part of me. You are my soul mate, my friend and my lover. No one could ever replace you,? she said softly. Jo Na searched her eyes for a moment, then shook his head and closed his eyes, as if in pain.

?The why Vi La? Why did you move out of our suites? Why did you act like you no longer cared?? Jo Na asked hoarsely. And as Vi La heard the pain in his voice, and looked at this man who was her husband, and the father of her children, her love for him exploded bright and strong in her heart. ?That was stupid of me. I should have realized that separating myself from you would not solve the problem. We had always figured out how to resolve issues together as a team, but I forgot about that. I was just so angry with you, and I guess I wanted to hurt you the way you had hurt me,? she replied quietly. ?What have I done to hurt you?? Jo Na asked with concern and tenderness in his eyes as he reached out and brought her close to him. ?I never want to cause you pain, my love. You are my life.? Vi La looked up at Jo Na . The love in his eyes was so strong that she felt bathed in its warmth, and tears filled her eyes. Wiping them away impatiently, she forged ahead, determined to finish what she had started. ?You forgot also, Jo Na. You forgot that I?m not only your wife, and lover. I?m also your queen, and more importantly your friend. You stopped talking to me, and started listening to everyone around you. You let others sway you in your decision making without consulting with me. You forgot that I am the queen, and therefore also care greatly about what happens to our people, and you,? Vi La explained. Jo Na looked intently into her eyes for a few moments, as if silently looking for something there. Then he picked up the file she had put on his desk, took Vi La?s hand and guided her to the couch. They sat down, and Jo Na silently scanned the information for the next few minutes. His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in anger. He struggled to get himself under control. Once he did, Jo Na took both of Vi La?s hands in his, and gently caressed them with his thumbs, as he stared intently into her eyes. ?I am sorry for doubting you, Vi La. When this day is over, and we have our daughter, son and his Rov Shoma back, we will discuss what to do about these men who have betrayed us. We will decide this together, my love. You have given me a lot to think about, and I will not take it lightly. As you said, I have forgotten some things, especially all the reasons why I married you, and love you so much. Jo Na lowered his head, and touched his lips gently to hers. Vi La wrapped her arms around her husband and returned his kisses with all the love she felt for him, happy to have the husband she once knew, back again. After a moment they both pulled away, knowing the day ahead still held much for them. ?Let?s track Helen with the implant that was injected into her wrist when she put on the communicator. We should be able to pick her signal up anywhere, as long as she?s still on this planet, and in this time,? Jo Na said. ?Do you think she?s gone back to her own time?? Vi La asked with a worried frown. ?Let?s find out,? he replied. ?Brunhilda, have you managed to pick up the signal from Helen?s implant yet?? ?Yes, Tok Jo Na. Her signal is located in the Kirna zone.?

?The Kirna zone. How did she get there? That?s where the TFE is gathering for their covert gathering, and where Jo Sha and Tristan are trying to find Sa Rah,? Jo Na said with a confused look on his face, then his eyes widened in fear. ?Somehow the TFE must have found out about Helen being alive, and kidnapped her. I have to contact Jo Sha now, so that he is aware of her presence.? ?Tok Rok Jo Sha, Helen and Tristan Zax are in the same area at the moment. However, according to their remote vital signs, the Tok Rok and Tristan are in a state of distress,? the computer reported. ?I?m gathering some men and heading there now,? Jo Na said, hurrying out of the room. Vi La followed close on his heels. ?I?m going with you. And don?t give me an argument about this Jo Na. My son, daughter, future daughter, and a loyal family friend are in trouble, and I want to help them any way I can,? Vi La said, stubbornly raising her chin and meeting her husband?s gaze. ?Fine. But you are not getting off the air transport once we?re there. It?s too dangerous,? Jo Na replied with an uncompromising look in his eyes. Vi La smiled, but said nothing as she quickly brushed past her husband and headed for the transport. Jo Na shook his head begrudgingly at his wife?s stubbornness, but then moved forward, collected the men he needed, and headed out towards the Kirna zone. **** Josh glared at Phillip with narrowed eyes glinting dangerously. ?What do you plan on doing with Helen?? he asked. ?Getting rid of her of course,? Phillip explained coldly. ?The TFE?s goal is still the same. We don?t want the environmental transformation to occur, and since Helen was the person responsible for initiating it, we need to dispose of her. I came up with a perfect solution in the Dark Galaxy. Although I never got around to exploring it, I did visit a few of the planets there. One in particular caught my eye. It?s inhabitants are extremely primitive, and bloodthirsty. Violence and war are an every day occurrence there, as well as slavery. I know a buyer who?s very interested in having Helen join him,? he explained as he grasped Helen?s chin and forced her to look up. ?And now that you?ve broken her in, I?m sure she?ll be a perfect addition to this individual?s collection of women.? Phillip said with a sneer. Phillip was dead. That was what Josh said over and over in his head even as his fingers itched to wrap around the man?s neck and squeeze. But he knew that would only bring about Helen?s death, so he restrained himself. There would come a moment when he would be able to get to Phillip, and when that happened, Josh would finish this. ?Where is my sister?? Josh demanded. ?She is safe here at the compound, for the moment. She has not been harmed, and has been given the utmost respect due her position, Jo Sha. That will change, however, if you and your family don?t do as I

say. If you betray us, Sa Rah will be disposed of, much the same way Helen will be.? ?No!? an outraged voice roared. Josh turned just as Tristan suddenly appeared inside the tent. He immediately took care of two of the men standing guard, then turned towards the other two with such a savage look on his face, that Josh knew the men had little chance against his friend. Phillip stood up in shock, releasing Helen?s hand, and Josh saw his chance. He struck quickly and without hesitation, knocking Phillip unconscious to the ground, before he even realized what had happened. Then he helped Tristan finish off the other two men before turning back to Helen. She was still sitting on the couch silently looking down at her feet. Josh went to her, and pulled her to her feet. She responded like rag doll, barely able to stand on her own. Josh pushed her tangled hair from her eyes and took a good look at her face. He searched her unfocused eyes and saw tears forming there, but still she didn?t speak. ?Helen! What?s going on? Speak to me!? he demanded shaking her slightly until he felt a hand on his shoulder. ?She?s been drugged, Jo Sha,? Tristan explained, walking over to them and studying Helen?s eyes. ?It looks like maybe she was given a semi paralyzing relaxant. She only has a limited ability to move and her mind is probably working at half the speed it normally does. Speech is almost impossible. It?s going to take at least six hours for it to wear off.? That explained Helen?s reaction to Phillip. She was a woman who liked to be in control of herself. So knowing what was going on around her, but being unable to do anything about it, must have been hell for her ?I?m sorry, yaquesh,? Josh said, gently lifting her chin so that their eyes met. ?I didn?t realize what was going on. But don?t worry, we?ll get you home as soon as we find Sa Rah, and then you?ll have time to recover from this drug.? Helen looked at him with wide, tear filled eyes, and then tried to speak. ?G--Gone.? ?Gone? What?s gone?? Josh asked. Helen looked dazed for a moment, then her eyes hardened with determination and she spoke again. ?Sa?Sa R--Ra. G-Gone.? ?Sa Rah? Gone where?? Tristan asked with concern on his face. Helen swallowed, and after taking a few deep breaths, tried again. ?Ba?ack ti-time,? she struggled to say. ?Back time?? Tristan asked in confusion. ?No, not back time, I think she?s trying to say back in time. Sa Ra?s been sent back in time, is that right, Helen?? Josh asked staring deeply in her eyes.

Helen didn?t respond, yet he saw relief show in her expression. ?But to where and when?? Tristan asked, running his hands through his hair in frustration. ?I think we?ll be taking our friend Phillip with us also, so that we can find that out,? Josh replied. ?I knew there was a reason I hadn?t killed him yet.? Josh held Helen up as they walked, while Tristan carried Phillip over his shoulder as they left the tent. They stopped in their tracks at what they faced, outside. Hundreds of men faced them and stood ready to do battle. Josh and Tristan looked grimly at one another, then with a nod, Josh set Helen down gently to the side and cupped her chin in his hand. ?This doesn?t look good, yaquesh. If something happens to me, I want you to know one thing. I love you. I think I?ve loved you from the first moment I met you, and I know I?ll love you for all our tomorrows.? With those words he kissed Helen gently on the lips, then placed a pill in her hands. ?If Tristan and I don?t make it, take this pill. It will make you fall asleep, and you?ll appear dead, but you won?t be. It will just slow your system way down. That may fool the TFE long enough for Tristan?s or my father?s men to get to you, because I?m sure they?re on the way.? Without another word, Josh turned from Helen and stood by his friend?s side. Tristan dropped Phillip unceremoniously onto the ground, and the two proud warriors grimly faced the horde in front of them.

38

Helen didn?t know how they were doing it. Tristan and Josh were holding their own against the mass of men standing against them. She saw that the TFE warriors were not all rushing them at once. Instead they would pit groups of four men at a time against Tristan and Josh, and let them battle it out before sending in four more. They were trying to slowly wear the men down. She knew that at this rate, Tristan and Josh would falter eventually, and be killed, but she didn?t know what to do. Her mind was working, but not as quickly as usual, and she couldn?t move very well, even when she concentrated all her energy on it. So, all she could do was sit back, and watch the man she loved die. Tears started to blur her eyes, but then she thought she heard Vi La?s familiar voice nearby. Struggling to turn her head, she looked towards the sound and couldn?t believe her eyes. Jo Na strode proudly in front of what must be a thousand men, all quickly closing the distance between them and the TFE warriors. When they were almost upon them, Jo Na?s men charged, and the TFE faced them in combat.

The battle ended quickly, and Helen was shocked to see Vi La appear, rush to Josh?s side, and hug him close to her. He was unsteady on his feet and almost fell from the impact of his mother?s hug, but managed to stand his ground. Tristan also got caught up in an embrace as Vi La turned to him afterwards. Although Helen couldn?t hear them, she could see them speaking and then Josh scanned the area until he found her with his eyes, and pointed in her direction. Vi La followed his gaze and started towards her, but Josh stopped her and spoke quickly to her. Vi La?s shoulder slumped dejectedly for a moment, but then she straightened proudly, shook off his hand impatiently, and said something over her shoulder as she headed in Helen?s direction. Vi La quickly reached where she sat, and kneeled beside her. Two of Jo Na?s men approached them also, but then moved on to where Phillip lay, and dragged him away. Vi La gently slid the hair out of Helen?s face and looked at her with kindness and a gentle smile. ?I know you can?t talk very well right now, but I?m glad you?re well. I was so worried about you when you disappeared. Don?t worry, you?re going to be fine. We?ll get you home and call the doctor to bring over something that will speed up your recovery,? Vi la said. Helen couldn?t reply as tears formed and ran down her cheeks. Vi La gently wiped them away. ?What is it Helen? What?s wrong?? ?S?sorry,? Helen struggled to say. ?Sorry? Sorry for what?? ?N?not h-help Sa R--Rah. I-I tri?tried,? Helen said helplessly as tears flowed down her eyes. Vi La?s gaze grew shadowed at her words, and her eyes also filled with tears. But she wiped them away quickly and faced Helen with a warm smile. ?I?m sure you did, dear. Please don?t be sorry. It wasn?t your fault. In the state you?re in, I?m surprised you can even function,? Vi La said squeezing her hand reassuringly. ?Besides, Jo Sha says we have the person responsible for sending her away, so I?m sure we?ll get her back soon.? Helen tried to nod her head encouragingly, but wasn?t sure if she managed it. ?H-how was she, Helen? Was she hurt?? Vi La asked with a haunted look on her face. ?No,? Helen responded, honestly. ?Did she look like she was being taken care of or?or abused?? Vi La struggled to ask as tears flowed from her eyes. ?N-not abused,? Helen managed to say. The relief in Vi La?s eyes was immense, and Helen was glad she could at least give her that. She wished she could tell her more, but knew that it would have to wait until the drug Phillip gave her wore off. Once

that happened, Helen would tell Vi La how well her daughter fared, and how she was strong, just like her mother. She and Vi La sat silently watching the men bind the remaining TFE members, and load them into one of the large air transports. Jo Na was directing his men to take care of half of them, while Tristan was directing the other men to do the same. Once they had brought them all in, Jo Na and Tristan?s men searched the camp thoroughly to make sure Sa Rah was nowhere to be found, then returned to their crafts. Jo Na, Tristan, and Josh approached the two women. Jo Na shook his head sadly, then helped Vi La to her feet, and walked her back to the air transport while they talked quietly. Tristan and Josh helped Helen to her feet, and then Josh picked her up, cradled her in his arms, and carried her back to their transport craft. Helen reveled in the feel of him as he held her, so glad that the man she loved was alive and well. He helped her sit and strapped her into her seat, as Tristan started to move up to the pilot?s seat. Neither man had said a word as they walked with her back to the ship, but now Helen knew she needed to speak. ?W-wait.? Tristan turned around and looked at her. ?Tha-thank you,? she said looking at both of them. ?Anything for a beautiful woman,? Tristan joked, but Helen saw the sadness in his eyes. She slowly reached out her fist towards Tristan. ?From Sa?Sa Rah,? she said, slowly opening her hand, as she broke into a sweat from the effort. Tristan looked curiously down at her hand, then his eyes widened perceptively, and he drew his breath in sharply. Helen held the beautiful turquoise colored stone in her hand, and wondered at its significance. When Sa Rah gave her the stone she never explained anything about it. Tristan reached out his hand, and took the stone from her, then gently placed Helen?s hand back on her lap. He squeezed the gem tightly in his hand, and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his eyes looked calmer, more at peace. ?Thank you, Helen,? Tristan said gruffly, then turned from her to take the pilot?s seat. ?What was that all about?? Josh pondered aloud with a frown as he watched Tristan walk away. Then he turned back to Helen and knelt beside her, giving her his full attention. ?Are you well?? Helen tried to give him a reassuring look, because she was suddenly feeling too tired to try to speak or talk again. ?Good,? he said with a smile, before he lowered his head and kissed her softly. ?We?ll talk more about you wandering off in the city without an escort later,? he said with a stern look even as a smile broke across his lips.

He walked up to sit beside Tristan as they took off, and Helen was left to her own thoughts. Tears fell from her eyes as she thought about Sa Rah. She hoped that wherever Phillip had sent her, she was safe. Once they returned back to Josh?s house, Doctor Av Ril from the medical center arrived and gave Helen a shot that would help speed up her recovery from the drugs Phillip had given her. Tristan, Jo Na, and Jo Sha never came back to the house, and although Helen shuddered at what was probably happening to Phillip, she knew he deserved every minute of it. The doctor put her to bed, and she fell into an exhausted sleep, while Vi La sat by her side, holding her hand. She woke hours later, and saw Vi La still sitting by her bed. As she looked down at Vi La?s hand holding hers, emotion burst inside of her. This woman, whom she had only known for a matter of days was caring about her in a way her own mother could never understand. And she was doing this despite the fact that her own daughter was missing, and possibly in danger. Vi La saw that Helen was awake and smiled kindly down at her. ?How are you feeling?? Helen swallowed, then tried to speak, not sure if she would be able to yet. ?I?m still a little groggy, but at least I can speak now,? she replied, then attempted to lift her arm up, and then put it down. When she succeeded, she smiled in relief. ?And I seem able to move now. So, yes, I think I?m doing much better, thanks.? ?I?m so glad. Jo Na and I were very worried about you.? ?How long have I been sleeping?? ?About three hours.? ?That long?? Helen asked, surprised by the rapid passage of time. ?Yes,? Vi La answered, then asked. ?Helen, why did you wander off by yourself?? ?I thought your son was trying to kill me, and I wanted to escape before that could happen.? ?What? Jo Sha trying to kill you? Where did you get that idea?? ?Well, he was sent back in time to do just that, wasn?t he?? ?That?s true, but so much has changed since then, you have to realize that.? ?I do realize it, now.? ?Do you love my son, Helen?? Vi La asked, staring intently at her. Helen didn?t hesitate at all before answering. ?Yes.?

?Then you must know that he loves you also. He is your Rov Shom, and you are his Rov Shoma.? ?What exactly does that mean in terms of our relationship?? ?You are soul mates. Destined to meet and be together for the rest of your lives. You are like two puzzle pieces that can only be complete when you are put together. Do you understand?? Helen thought about Vi La?s words, and what Josh told her about the Rov Shoma, then nodded her head. ?Yes, but your son and I need to talk about this,? she said. Vi La gave Helen?s hand one last reassuring squeeze before she rose from the chair and began walking towards the door. ?I need to go and see if he, Tristan, and Jo Na have returned yet,? she said with a worried frown. Helen knew Vi La was thinking about what the three men were doing to Phillip to get him to give up the time he sent Sa Rah to. She shuddered at the thought but pushed away her guilty feelings almost immediately. She needed to think about Sa Rah, now, not the man she thought she knew, but who never really existed. ?He is an evil man, who had no qualms about killing Sa Rah or I,? Helen said to Vi La. Josh?s mother stopped walking and turned back to Helen before walking out of the room. Helen was surprised by what she saw on the older woman?s face. Instead of sadness, as she had expected, she saw that Vi La?s eyes glinted with anger and determination. ?I know. And he?s now also the man who will help me get my daughter back. If my husband can?t get the information from him, I will,? Vi La vowed with steel in her gaze, before turning around and walking out of the room. Helen sat up waiting for a while, but didn?t attempt to get up from the bed. She felt stronger, but didn?t think she was steady on her feet yet. Soon she felt drowsy again, and went back to sleep. When she woke up some time later, it was to the feel of someone running their fingers softly up and down her arm. Her eyes fluttered open, and she focused immediately on Josh sitting beside her on the bed. His gaze lingered on her face, sliding slowly over each of her features as if he were committing them to memory. Then he finally brought his eyes back to hers, and stared at her with an intensity that left Helen breathless. ?My mother said you wished to speak with me?? Helen?s eyes slid away from his hot gaze. She didn?t know what to say. She suddenly felt shy and tongue tied like the insecure girl she had once been. Then Josh put his finger gently under her chin and tilted her head up so their gazes met again. ?What is it, yaquesh?? Josh softly asked with concern etched into his craggy features. Helen saw his worried expression, and gave herself a mental shake. What was wrong with her? She was so caught up in her own insecurities that she had momentarily forgotten about Sa Rah.

?Have you learned anything from Phillip?? ?He was very stubborn, but in the end we persuaded him to tell us where and when he sent my sister, as well as some other pertinent information,? he replied grimly. From the look on his face, Helen guessed it hadn?t been a very pleasant experience. ?Tomorrow, he?ll be sent to one of the penal colonies we?ve set up, and remain there for a very long time, if he survives, that is.? Helen could tell from the savage satisfaction on Josh?s face, that he was hoping Phillip would not survive. ?So what happens now?? she asked. ?Tristan is preparing for the time jump.? ?He is going back to find Sa Rah?? ?Yes, but not alone. I?m going with him. I?ve come to say good-bye.?

39

?Good-bye?? Helen repeated dumbly. Josh saw Helen?s eyes widen in pain, and he wished he had worded his impending time jump better. ?Listen, Helen. I need to go with him. My sister?s life is at stake. You must understand that I have to do this.? Helen shook her head slightly as if trying to get her thoughts in order, then smiled brightly at him. ?Of course, I understand completely. Your sister needs to be saved,? Helen said looking slightly shell shocked. ?I?ll just change my clothes and you can send me back home,? she said, as she tried to get out of bed. ?Home?? Josh asked as his eyes narrowed with suspicion. Then he grasped her wrist, and kept her from standing. ?Yes, back to my time, to the people I know, you know, my life in the year 2004??

Josh grew stony faced at her words. ?I caused an explosion before we left your time that made everyone think you?re dead,? he said. ?You did?? she asked, looking surprised by that. ?It was one of the ways I thought to further guarantee your safety,? he explained. ?You?re already home. Here, with me,? he said in a voice that tolerated no argument. Helen sat back and stared at him in confusion. Didn?t she realize that he could never let her go now? He loved her too much. ?But I thought you were--? ?What? Sending you away?? he asked quietly. ?Why would you think such a thing? You?re mine now, yaquesh. My Rov Shoma. I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.? ?But you?re leaving,? she protested. ?Only long enough to get my sister back home, then I will return to you. But before I go, I want to initiate the Rov Hum with you,? he said firmly. ?The Rov Hum?? ?Yes, the ceremony that will bind us together for life. The dance you and I have both been having dreams about since we met,? he explained, staring heatedly at her, and taking both her hands in his. ?Will you perform the Rov Hum with me?? he asked earnestly. Helen looked scared for a moment, but then she stared deeply into his eyes and smiled. ?Yes,? she replied in a slightly dazed voice. Josh could tell by the slight flush to her skin, and the way she kept biting her bottom lip that Helen knew exactly which wildly erotic dream he spoke of. He grinned wolfishly at her and began to run his thumbs sensually back and forth across her inner wrists. Helen?s gaze rose to his, and her eyes flared with desire. Bending his head downwards, he brought his mouth to hers, and began softly nibbling on her bottom lip, as she had done only a moment before. In response she parted her lips and released a sigh of pleasure. Josh took the opportunity to deepen his kiss, closing his whole mouth over hers. Helen wrapped her arms around his neck and he smiled against her lips. She wanted him as bad as he wanted her. His mouth worshipped hers until she opened it further, and he delved inside. Their tongues met and danced sensually, until Helen was making small mewling noises at the back of her throat and pressing herself tightly against his chest. The feel of her breasts straining to get closer made him lose control. Tearing his lips from hers, his mouth descended to her chin and down her neck, while his hands began undoing her shirt. ?Stop Jo Sha!? Jo Na?s voice roared, and immediately the two of them separated.

Jo Sha rose off the bed and glared at his father, but Jo Na held his ground. ?I?m glad I came to see how Helen was doing. You know this must wait until the ceremony, Jo Sha,? his father said sternly, before walking over to where Helen lay on the bed. ?How are you, my dear?? he asked in a much gentler voice. ?I?m much better,? she replied shakily. ?Thank you for coming to my rescue, Jo Na.? ?It was the locator implant that saved you, when it was injected into your arm as you put on the communication wrist device,? he said modestly. ?We saw that your signal was showing up in the same location as Tristan?s and Jo Sha?s, so we knew something was happening.? ?That?s what that prick was when I put the communicator on?? ?Yes. I instruct Vi La to always put one on when she goes alone on her various outings. That way, if anything should happen, I can find her anywhere. I?m glad she thought to put one on you also,? he responded, before turning back towards Jo Sha and giving him serious look. ?Let?s go, son. You need to prepare for the ceremony,? Jo Na said. Jo Sha wanted to argue, but knew that his father was right. He gave Helen one last heated look, then spun around and strode out of the room. ?Don?t worry, Helen. His feelings for you are so strong that he finds it hard to control himself,? Jo Na explained with a reassuring pat on her hand. ?Vi La will be in momentarily to explain everything to you. Welcome to our family,? he said with a warm smile, then bent down and gave Helen a light peck on the cheek, before leaving the room. **** Helen stood up and began pacing as she pondered what had just occurred. Was that Josh?s proposal of marriage? She thought in Tanvieran terms, it probably was. She had just agreed to marry Josh. No not Josh, Jo Sha Ta Rem, prince of the planet of Tanviera, and heir to its throne. She swallowed hard as she thought about what that meant. She was about to become a princess. Suddenly it all seemed overwhelming and she had to sit back down as her legs grew wobbly. ?A little overwhelming isn?t it?? Vi La asked. Helen looked up and saw Vi La walk into her room, dressed in a beautifully elegant dress, that shimmered with a rainbow of colors. ?Yes. I don?t know if I?m up to being a princess,? Helen responded shakily. Vi La sat down on the bed next to Helen, held both of her hands and looked intently into her eyes. ?I?m going to ask you this one more time, Helen. Do you love my son?? ?Yes, but--? ?Then that?s all that matters. The politics, the position, the power, it all won?t make a difference if you

truly love the man you?re with. Believe me, I recently had to learn that the hard way,? Vi La said enigmatically. ?And I know that you are not only an extremely intelligent woman, you are also no weak kneed little girl. You?re a strong woman who has a brain, and uses it well.? Vi La?s words hit home. She was right. Helen had a mind of her own, and she would face this head on like she had everything else in her life, and deal with what comes to the best of her ability. She loved Josh, and she thought he loved her. That would be enough for now. The rest they would figure out along the way. ?There?s one thing that you need to consider before you go through with this, Helen,? Vi La said softly. ?Once you become princess you will need to live in our time, not back in the past. Are you ready to give up what you have there, and start over here, with Josh?? Helen thought about Vi La?s words. She thought about what she left behind, and about how anyone who knew her thought she was dead now. She wanted to feel that her parents and family were enough to make her go back, but they weren?t. Her relationship had been dysfunctional and uncomfortable for as long as she could remember. If she had to choose between a relationship with Josh or them, she knew her family would lose. This made her sad, but when she looked up into Vi La?s kind face, she knew she had a new family in this time. They wouldn?t replace her own family in the past, but they would be an important part of her new life here. Another thought crossed her mind, and she couldn?t prevent herself from frowning. ?You?re not ready to leave the past, Helen?? Vi La asked. ?No, I mean yes?uh?I am ready to stay here, but one issue weighs heavily on my mind.? ?What?s that?? ?My work as a biological researcher. I love what I do, and I don?t know if I would be satisfied with anything else.? ?You don?t have to settle for anything else, dear.? ?I don?t?? ?No, of course not. It would be a shame to waist such a brilliant mind as yours. We have our own research facilities in this time, Helen. I?m sure once you go through our time?s mind set training, you will be in great demand on our planet. As I?ve mentioned before, our relationship to all living things is precious to Tanvierans, so your work would be highly looked upon by all its inhabitants.? ?Mind set?? ?Yes, let me explain it,? Vi La said, and went on to explain the computer device time jumpers used to acclimate themselves to the time they were traveling to. Helen was in awe of such a tool, and spent the next several minutes excitedly asking Vi La all sorts of questions about it. Finally, Josh?s mother held her hand up in surrender. ?I can?t answer all your questions right now,? she said with a chuckle. ?But I promise you, someone will later. Right now we have a ceremony to attend, and you need to get ready. That is, if you?ve made your decision??

Helen smiled widely and nodded her head. ?I?m ready to spend the rest of my life here, with the man I love, and his family,? she said happily. Vi La gave her a warm smile and a quick hug. Then she had Brunhilda make a light snack for them, and helped Helen prepare for the ceremony. When she was finished, Vi La held Helen?s hand and moved slightly away so she could get a good look at her. ?You look beautiful. My son should feel honored to have a mate such as you,? Vi La said beaming proudly at her. ?Welcome to our family, Helen.? Vi La gave Helen a quick peck on the cheek, just as Jo Na had done, and then led her from the room. They walked hand and hand until they reached an area of the house she had never seen before. As the doors slid open, Helen gasped at what lay within. It was the opulent ballroom she had seen in her dreams, and it was filled with hundreds of elegantly dressed people. Above them, instead of a ceiling, was a blanket of star-studded sky. Along the walls were crystal sconces holding long, thin candles, lending an intimate, dream-like quality to the room. The scent of Jasmine filled the air and a single drum beat softly in the background. Tall trees grew interspersed between the groups of people who watched her with silent anticipation. Helen wondered how so many people were able to make it to this ceremony on such short notice, but then she remembered that Jo Na and Vi La were the rulers of this world. She also recalled how quickly mental transport worked, and how clothing could be created by a computer with a word. Despite the fact that so many waited for her, she suddenly felt frozen, and unsure. When she felt a little nudge from behind, she looked back and saw Vi La giving her an encouraging smile, and an assuring nod. ?Let yourself free, Helen. Be proud of who you truly are inside,? Josh?s mother whispered. Helen immediately pictured the majestic swan inside of her. She turned back around to face the crowd with a confident smile, and raised her chin proudly as she walked into the room.

40

Helen?s steps faltered for a moment as she saw him step from the crowd. Jo Sha, resplendent in tight black trousers, and a loose fitting, silver colored, V--neck shirt walked slowly towards her with a sexy smile on his face. He stopped when he was about four feet from her, and held out his hand to her.

?Would you like to dance with me, yaquesh?? he asked softly. Helen?s eyes widened as she looked around her, then back to him and she shook her head adamantly. ?I don?t think so. If my dreams about us dancing together had even a grain of truth to it, I don?t want to do this in front of a crowd,? Helen said, as she took one step back. Josh kept his hand extended and followed her step back with a step forward. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, as he moved forward. Helen retreated another step and he immediately followed, but this time, he rolled his hips in a slowly seductive way that sent her libido skyrocketing. The drumming she had heard earlier suddenly got louder, and soft music started to play in time to each beat. ?Are you sure you don?t want to dance with me?? Josh asked as he swayed his hips provocatively in her direction. Helen took another step back, but her body was starting to protest her retreat. When Josh once again moved closer, seductively calling to her with his body, she had the urge to close the distance between them, instead of moving away. As she watched Josh sensually move his body, and heard the drum beating in time with the pulsating ache that had begun between her thighs, she bit her lip desperately to control the desire that was starting to build inside of her. Josh stared intensely at her, and he gave her a smile that told her he knew what he was doing to her. Then, as she took a step back again, she ran into a tree. Josh continued to seductively stalk her, this time bringing himself within inches of her body. The tree?s wide trunk was solid against her back, as she tried to put some distance between she and Josh, by pressing herself closer to it. Your lush, ripe, mouth may be telling me no, but your body is telling me yes. Josh?s thought reached her like a direct hit to the stomach, leaving her panting. Her body suddenly became engulfed with licking flames of desire. Josh reached out and grasped her hand, then gently pulled her forward, to close the remaining distance between them. Helen let Josh place his hands on her hips, as he brought her back to the center of the room. Each step he took was filled with the kind of movement that left Helen hot all over. He began directing her hips as well, slowly rotating them back and forth. Close your eyes and listen to the music, yaquesh. Let it guide your movements. Forget about everything else. Helen listened to the sexy sound of his voice in her head, and closed her eyes, imagining just the two of them in the room together. Suddenly the music seemed to get clearer, and it seemed to almost tell her how to move. She let it lead her where it would, until her body was swaying and undulating completely in tune with the music. She slowly opened her eyes, and found herself staring into Josh?s steamy gaze. His passion filled eyes caressed her body, and it felt like he was actually touching her. His movements and hers connected, and each flex of his hips was met by a responding tilt of hers. She thought of their intense lovemaking the day before, and desire washed over her again and again, until she felt like she was close to exploding. They moved closer and closer to each other, until their bodies pressed tightly together and their movements coincided exactly. Josh devoured her with his eyes, and she let her own hunger shine bright in her gaze. Josh?s low growl was her only warning as she felt hands clasp her arms and pull her away from him. When he made to go after her, ten men suddenly appeared, forming a barrier between them, and forced

Josh back towards the opposite wall. He roared his outrage as he strained to keep his eyes on her. Her own cry of dismay was lost on the women who firmly guided her out of the room. She fought them as they tried to pull her through the door, managing to turn slightly around. She scanned the room quickly, and found Josh. He was pacing back and forth behind the men, like a tiger behind bars. When their eyes met, he charged forward, but the men held him back. He strained against them, keeping his glittering eyes fiercely locked on hers. You are mine, and I will have you. His savage thought was the last she heard of him as she was led out of the room. ?Wh?where are you taking me?? she asked desperately. Her captors said nothing as they brought her into another room. It was also candle lit, the smell of musk was strong in the air, and she could still hear the music from the ball room. The four silent women took her past an extremely large bed, covered completely in what looked like silk sheets and pillows, to a wall that had four cloth ropes hanging from it. Suddenly the image from her dream came back to her, and she started to struggle in earnest. ?I will not be tied up, ladies. Do you hear me!? she yelled frantically. Her efforts proved futile, as the women ignored her protests, and easily controlled her long enough to tie first each hand, then each foot. Her hands were tied above her head to each side of her, and her feet were tied slightly spread apart. Then the women turned without a word, and began walking out of the room. ?Let me go this minute! I will not be tied up liked some, some, animal,? she said in a panicked voice. One of the women stopped at her words, and motioned the others out before turning back to her, and offering her a kind smile. ?Toka Rok, you will be well, I promise you. Just go with your feelings. Toka Vi La told me to tell you to just let yourself be free, and you will be set free,? the young women told her gently, then left the room without another word. ?Wait! I don?t underst--? Helen protested, but it was too late. The woman had already left. She hung her head in defeat. In the next instant she felt him, his desire penetrating her mind. Her head rose, and their gazes collided as the men brought him struggling into the room. His actions ceased the moment her saw her. His gaze made her shiver. His eyes looked different somehow, almost alien in their appearance, as they studied her coldly like a bird studying its prey. Then she realized that his eyes were different. They were almost all black in color, as if the blue irises, and most of the white around it had been completely engulfed by his pupils. She gasped and pressed herself back against the wall holding her. The men tied Josh to the wall, then left the room. Once they left, Josh smiled knowingly at her. ?I will have you now, yaquesh,? he said in a deep, husky voice, as his penetrating stare began a thorough perusal of her body.

Is your body weeping for me yet? If not, it will be soon. His thought hit her hard, and her legs suddenly felt week. She watched his eyes slide from her face to her neck, and linger on her breasts. She felt them tingle with awareness, then his hot stare lowered to her stomach and her muscles there tightened in response. When his gaze descended to her womanhood, his eyes flared with desire, and she felt the core of her pulsate with need. She thought about the last time he touched her there with first his hands, then his mouth, and she couldn?t hold back the moan of need that escaped her mouth. He must have heard it because his hot gaze flew up and crashed into hers, and he gave her a very masculine smile, which made her shiver again. ?Get ready for me. You will need to be strong, my mate. Can you be strong?? he asked. ?Find that swan in you, Helen. The one that is brave, strong and free. You will need her now,? he said in a voice hoarse with need. Then before she could respond, Josh closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. He clenched his jaws, then Helen noticed his muscles ripple and bulge under his shirt. She could feel tension in the air start to build as she watched Josh. It built and built until he roared as if in release, and then the bonds that held him simply fell away. Helen gasped as he opened his eyes and began stalking towards her. His eyes were now completely black and unemotional, while his face held a savage expression. Instead of coming directly to her, as she thought he would, Josh zigzagged across the room, as if continuing his pacing from earlier, yet still moving slowly forward. His gaze never left hers as he moved, and Helen felt as if he were holding her in place just with his eyes. ?You see my true self, Helen,? Josh said in a voice that was so deep it didn?t sound like his. ?I am the mate you have chosen. This is the way of my people. I am like the Elak of my world. A proud, predatory bird that is large, strong, and very dangerous. However, you need not fear me ever, because you are my Rov Shoma. I would never hurt you. Do you understand that?? Helen studied Josh as he spoke, and realized that he was holding himself back. He held his hands curled into tight fists by his sides, and as he drew closer, she could see him clenching and unclenching his jaw. He was trying to restrain himself, so as not to frighten her, despite his obvious need. Her gaze lowered and she gulped at the sight of him straining against his pants. Her eyes rose again to his face, and suddenly she was no longer afraid. Although he looked and sounded somewhat different, this was the man she loved. She wanted to be with him always, and knew he wanted the same with her. He would never hurt her. She was the swan. She was strong, brave, and free. She imagined herself as that beautiful creature inside of her, with its wings spread wide, as it soared joyfully across the sky beside Josh?s Elak. Suddenly her ties released, and Helen really was free. Now she knew what Vi La had meant when she said let yourself free, and you will be set free. ?I understand now,? she said with a smile spreading across her face. ?And I want you so bad I ache with it, my love.? Josh?s face transformed instantly at her words, and he once again became the man she knew. His face broke into a tender smile that mirrored her own. And his steel blue eyes stared heatedly into hers.

Show me. Josh teased her with the thought, and her answer was almost immediate. Gladly, my love. But are you sure you?re ready for me? Helen teased in return. ?Definitely,? he said aloud with a sexy smile and closed the distance between them. ?I will always be ready for your love, and to love you in return, yaquesh,? Josh promised, then lowered his head and kissed her. Helen?s legs became wet noodles as she reveled in the feel of Josh?s mouth worshipping hers. She was glad when her lifted her, brought her to the large bed in the center of the room, and lay her down upon it. He slowly undressed her, his hands shaking as he undid the fastenings on her gown, until she finally lay naked in front of him. ?You are truly the most beautiful woman in the universe,? he said earnestly. She didn?t try to hide her body from his view this time, because she was proud of who she was, and would stay that way. Never again would she feel like the ugly duckling. Instead she was now the brave swan; free to be who she truly was inside. As Josh?s eyes ran appreciatively over her, she smiled seductively, sat up, and began undressing him. He allowed her to, until he wore nothing, then he gently pushed her back down on the bed. She studied his body with passion glazed eyes, and he groaned softly. ?When you look at me like that, yaquesh, I don?t want to go slow. I want to be hard and deep inside you, leaving us both breathless with satisfaction,? he said as he laid down beside her, and gathered her in his arms. ?Who said anything about soft? And deep? Hmm, tell me more,? she practically purred, as she wiggled enticingly against him. Josh growled softly as desire flared brightly in his gaze, and then he proceeded to show her just how hard and deep he could go. True to his word, Helen was left breathless from the experience, but also very, very satisfied. They spent the remainder of the night in each other?s arms, alternately making love, talking, snuggling and sleeping. Helen woke the next morning and stretched languorously. She had just spent an incredible night with the man she loved, and she felt happier than she had for a very long time. She rolled over to snuggle next to Josh because she wasn?t quite ready to get up, but only encountered empty space. Opening her eyes, and glancing around her, she realized that he was not in the bed, or in the room. He was gone.

41

?I?m very happy that the two of you have made up, although I didn?t realize you were fighting, but was it really necessary to wake me, and take me away from my Rov Shoma?? Jo Sha asked his parents in exasperation. He was glad that all was well between his mother and father, but knew that Helen could wake up at any time, and might think he had already left without saying good-bye. ?Although that was one of the reasons we woke you, son, there are two other issues which are urgent, thus the need to disturb you,? his father said grimly. ?What is it, Father?? he asked, now concerned by the serious expressions on his parents face. ?It?s about my council. I will be forming a new one. Your mother discovered that there were high-ranking members, who just happened to be associates of the TFE, and I suspect of Fi Li Mo She?s also. They have been working together in an effort to slowly meet the agenda that organization had all along, to start an ultraconservative movement that would eventually lead to a complete break off with the Interplanetary Coalition, and an environmental reversion back to the pollution filled world we once lived in. If your mother hadn?t become suspicious of some of the counsel?s motives, I don?t think I would have ever known, until too late.? Jo Sha was shocked speechless by his father?s revelation. ?I know it?s hard to believe, son, but it?s true. So I?ve devised a plan to establish a new council, but I would still like you to serve as lead security specialist on it. Do you think your new life with your truth mate will allow that?? his father asked only half jokingly. ?Of course. I?ll be proud to serve in that position again,? Jo Sha assured him. ?And what of your Rov Shoma? We need someone like her as part of the counsel?s environmental research and development team. Please ask her if she would like to do that, once she is finished with mind set,? Vi La requested with a smile. ?Of course,? Jo Sha agreed, already guessing how excited Helen would be at such a prospect. ?There is one more thing, Jo Sha,? his mother said growing serious once more. ?Yes?? ?Tristan contacted us this morning. He has found Sa Rah,? his father explained carefully. ?That?s good news. I need to say good-bye to Helen and join him,? Jo Sha said with a grim, but determined look on his face as he turned to leave the room. ?Wait!? Jo Sha and Vi La both said simultaneously.

Jo Na turned back towards them in confusion. ?You won?t be going back in time, son. Tristan told us that Sa Rah has no memory of us. Fi Li must have done something to erase her memory before sending her back in time. Tristan has already established a relationship with her, but claims that your appearance might disrupt that.? ?Disrupt? I?m her brother, how could I disrupt anything?? he asked furiously. ?If she?s lost her memory, maybe my presence would help her remember. Tristan knows I would do anything I can to get Sa Rah back!? Vi La walked over and put her hand on Jo Sha?s arm. ?We know that, son. And your father and I have talked about this extensively. But we think we should take Tristan?s word on this. He also cares for your sister, and wants to bring her back safely. He knows what?s happening there, and we don?t. Let?s trust him for now. He is your friend, and he has shown us loyalty always,? Vi La explained softly. ?I don?t want to risk losing my daughter again, Jo Sha.? Josh nodded his head slowly in agreement. ?You?re right, mother. I also trust Tristan. If he says he?ll bring Sa Rah home safely, he will. He is a man of honor and a man of his word,? Jo Sha agreed. ?It?s good to know that Sa Rah has a warrior such as him looking out for her.? ?I agree. Tristan also feels he will be able to bring her back to us in no more that one week?s time,? Jo Na said . ?Bring who back in one week?s time?? Helen asked as she entered the room. Once she spotted Josh, she shot him an angry look. ?Sa Rah,? Vi La answered. ?Tristan has found her, and feels that he can have her back home in less than a week?s time. He said she has lost her memory, and needs a short period of time to straighten out some issues before he can bring her back. Isn?t that wonderful news?? ?Yes it is,? she said sincerely before turning to Josh. ?Will you be leaving soon?? she asked. Before he could answer, Jo Na interrupted. ?We?ll see you two later. Vi La and I have some of our own issues to discuss,? Jo Na said with a roguish grin as he wrapped his arm around his smiling wife?s waist and walked her out of the room. Josh watched them with amusement as they left, then turned back to Helen with a warm smile. ?I?m sorry for leaving you so suddenly, yaquesh. My parents woke me and said they needed to speak to me immediately. You looked so peaceful sleeping, that I didn?t want to wake you.? Helen didn?t return his smile. ?When are you leaving?? she asked grimly.

?I?m not,? Josh said. ?Why not?? Josh explained what his parents told him, and Helen listened carefully. ?I see. Well, I can?t say that I?m sad you?re not going. I want your sister back as soon as possible, but I have a feeling that Tristan may be just the man to do it.? ?Why do you say that?? ?Let?s just say that he cares about your sister, and wants her safe just as much as you do,? Helen said with a smile. ?Brilliant, strong, and beautiful. How did I get so lucky?? Josh asked as he pulled her into his arms. ?It?s all in the science, you know. A spark here, chemistry there, and viola! We?re here together,? she said teasingly. ?Science huh? I?d like to try an experiment in my bedroom with you right now, Dr. Matthews. I?d appreciate all your attention and efforts for it,? he requested in a low, sexy voice. ?I?m always glad to help in the name of research,? she replied with a seductive smile as she let the man of her dreams lead her away.

THE END