Saar: Stardust And Shadows Part 16

"If you doubt the success of the rogue's destruction, why aren't you using this valuable time to save more of my people?" Jana asked Zade.

"We believe the mission will succeed. If we do not use this time to try to accomplish it, far more people will perish horribly. Maffeians are familiar with the threat and fear of extinction, so we have made certain your race will survive, as we were forced to make certain ours did. We are doing our best to help you and your world."

Jana did not remind him that she was a captive because of their desire to survive at any cost. Wouldn't she do almost anything to save Earth? She smiled at him and said, "I know you are, Zade; thank you."

Chem halted the talk by relating that the force s.h.i.+eld was in position.

"Are the ten s.h.i.+ps ready for testing their lasers?" Varian asked.

Jana was surprised by the great number of stars.h.i.+ps being allowed away from Maffei at one time. Obviously they a.s.sumed there was no threat from Androas with her and Ryker in attendance. It warmed her heart to realize how important Maffei considered this mission.

"Yes, Prince Ryker. Five are in stack formation on both sides as you ordered. Each has matched course and speed with the target and other s.h.i.+ps." Chem added that they could be in jeopardy at such a close range.

"To cut through the largest section, this range is necessary," Varian explained. "Order covers removed from the beam reflectors and raise them into position. I want all lasers aimed at the same stress point on the first shot to check the effect of the combined force on the rogue's composition. If it doesn't require all beams on the same spot to weaken the interior rift we believe is there, we can spread out our beams and bombard the entire section at the same time. Once it splits, five s.h.i.+ps will attack each end. We'll shear off chunks until we have pieces small enough to be chased and disintegrated by particle-beam accelerator and photon blasts."

Varian's dyed-green gaze traveled from one officer to the next as he played his role of Ryker with skill. "Officer Jarre, make certain our course and speed do not vary even in the slightest." The navigational officer acknowledged the command. "Chief Jasani, keep a sharp eye on your indicators and handle any engineering troubles immediately."

"Yes, sir. The Wanderl.u.s.t is cooing like a happy baby today."

"Excellent, just make sure it doesn't pitch a temper tantrum at the wrong time." Jasani grinned and nodded. "Officer Chem, keep us in contact with the other s.h.i.+ps at all times; no break in communications, and pa.s.s along my last three orders." After Chem acknowledged the command and sent out the messages, the blond alien issued orders to the other men to check their sensors and scanners during the test to detect any problem. "Well, gentlemen and ladies, are we ready to begin our attack?" Varian asked.

Everyone nodded; they were all impressed by "Ryker." Varian hated making his evil half brother look good in their eyes.

Jana observed everything on the semicircular bridge. On her first visit long ago, the sights and sounds she witnessed had staggered her senses. She had viewed this setting at Varian's side, this complex conglomeration of computers, panels, and instruments. Officers and crew members were busy but attentive. She glanced at the wide window span which curled around on both sides. The heavens were an intense blue-black with hints of indigo, as they were partially s.h.i.+elded from the sun's illumination by Jupiter, the largest planet in her solar system. Off in the distance, vivid and harmonious hues of blue, red, and green cloudlike formations dappled the slowly brightening sky. They seemed adrift in a dark sea filled with millions of glittering fish and strange aquatic creatures.

"Officer Chem, alert the others we're ready to position the mirrors."

Jana observed with bated breath. Her husband certainly seemed to know what he was doing, and the crew was totally obedient and responsive to him. She was relieved, as much was at stake for her people and world. She also was impressed at how well her husband interacted with others. It seemed as if Ryker Triloni never ceased to amaze her and please her.

Jana glanced at the monitor as the reflector for the laser beam was raised from its parallel position during travel. As the giant device lifted the mirror upward, an apparatus clutched the protective cover and removed it. Ryker had told her that even a small scratch by s.p.a.ce debris could pit and ruin the aiming unit. The lasers were mounted atop the front center portions of the stars.h.i.+ps while the mirrors were attached at the two rear ends of the U-shaped crafts. The reflectors were positioned at a height to avoid striking the vessels when the beams were fired backward to glance off the mirrors' surfaces and hit their mutual target. The laser worked by chemical reaction of gases formed from Xenarogen, Tremolite, and Osorillium: weapons and products by Trilabs and their creator, Ryker Triloni. Stardust was also one of her husband's formulas.

"Sir," Chem called out, "the Star Fire reports their reflector won't raise into position. It's stuck halfway. They'll send someone out to free it."

Varian knew it would look and sound best if he-as Ryker- handled the situation. "No, I'll go over in the shuttle with Tje and Kurtz. They've been programmed to specifically handle problems like this. Androids won't require life-support units to work outside. They'll save us time, and using them won't endanger any crewmen. I'll go with them to be on hand to check out any unexpected trouble. Alert Commander Gys we're enroute to do the repairs, and tell the other s.h.i.+ps to stand by for further orders."

Jana grimaced at what she hoped and prayed wasn't a bad omen. She returned the encouraging smile her husband sent to her. She hated for him to leave the s.h.i.+p and put himself in possible peril. If anything happened to him ... A terrible and wicked thought crossed her panicked mind. Surely the Supreme Council would not dare arrange "an accident" for him ...

Everyone watched the monitor as the mission leader and two androids approached the Star Fire and halted the shuttle near the stubborn reflector. They observed with interest as the two mechanical beings left the craft and began repairs that required two hours.

Jana awaited her husband's return with rising suspicion and dread. She prayed it wasn't a cunning trap that would provoke trouble for everyone, including herself. She didn't know what she would do if something happened to Ryker, or what Maal would do in retaliation.

At last, Ryker, Tje, and Kurtz began their return to the Wanderl.u.s.t. Jana sighed in relief, and chided herself for such foolish worries. She told herself they wouldn't dare harm a man who was so valuable to them.

Afterward, the disguised Varian said, "Officer Chem, tell the other s.h.i.+ps we're ready to proceed with the test shot, to fire on my command. Officer Coran, raise the eye-protection screen."

Jana was almost breathless with suspense and trepidation. She stared at the moving rogue. Die, you evil beast! She heard the mission leader give the order to initiate Project Starguard. She saw five beams fuse into one large one at the point of attack, like flashlights combining power to focus one great light on the same spot. If not for the protective barrier over the transascreen, they wouldn't be able to watch the brilliant action without risking eye damage. The weapon emitted a loud buzzing sound that soon melted into a roar like that of hurricane winds or a jet at top speed pa.s.sing within inches of her ears. As far as she could tell, the combined force had no effect on the target, but they had calibrated the units with perfection.

"Cease firing, " Varian commanded over the open communication system. "Any problems anywhere?"

"This is Lieutenant Commander Nigel Sanger on the Kiunterri. Our laser did not function. What do you suggest, Prince Ryker?"

"We need all the firepower we can get, Commander Sanger. Do your scanners indicate where the problem lies?"

There was a brief pause, but no one interrupted the conference in progress. The area and channel remained silent as a response was awaited.

Jana knew that voice and man, a dear friend. No, she fretted in lingering sadness that pinched her heart like cruel fingers, a deceitful past friend. A man who had carried out Varian's treacherous orders to drug her and s.h.i.+p her off to Ryker like unwanted baggage, with an apology from him as he did the dirty work for his best friend and commanding officer.

"Our sensors show no liquids reaching the reaction cylinder to form Barine," Nigel replied. "Do you want us to check the triaxial connectors and shut-off valves, or would you prefer to handle the malfunction yourself? None of us know much about your new weapon or the chemicals."

"I'll come over with Tje and Kurtz to handle it. Everyone stand by."

Once more, Jana eyed the monitor as her husband and the two androids left in the shuttle. She watched the small craft hover over the giant stars.h.i.+p while the androids exited and approached the device to see if it could be repaired before too much time was lost. Suspicions gnawed at her gut again and her imagination began to run wild with crazy and fearful thoughts: a set-up? Trap? Sabotage? Had she been allowed to tag along as a witness for Maal that Ryker had died in an accident? Was her husband as irreplaceable as he and others had told her? Would they attempt to get rid of what they perceived as an enormous threat to their safety? If anything happened to Ryker, she would be a widow in an alien world, yet a free woman and citizen of Maffei ... available for Varian to try to enchant again. Had her being a gift to Ryker been a clever ruse from the beginning? Had she been sent to the Prince to get under his skin so they could get rid of Ryker, let her inherit Trilabs, then hope Varian could get the powerful complex through the widow who had once loved the Star Fleet commander? Was that why Varian wasn't along on one of the other s.h.i.+ps, to prevent his being a suspect in Maal's eyes? Was a deadly trap the reason why the Supreme Council and Varian had allowed Ryker to take charge of this mission? Was Varian so conceited that he believed he could win her back after betraying her?

Soon it was learned a pipe was bent and the chemicals couldn't flow past the damaged location. The nonhuman team, wearing magnetic boots and attached by cables to the top of the Kiunterri to prevent drifting off into s.p.a.ce, went to work to correct the problem. A spurt of fluid shot out, was ignited, and almost eradicated Tje. At the ready, Kurtz extinguished the blaze with a special formula then shut off the escape of flammable liquid.

"Don't anybody panic; we have everything under control," Varian said over the speaker; he knew the small fire was in view. He hauled the damaged android inside while the remaining one continued the work alone.

Jana's tension mounted. If that had been Ryker instead of Tje, he could have been killed after Nigel lured him over there. She knew she wouldn't relax until he was back aboard and safe. She wished he had sent someone else or only the androids to do the repairs. She was certain Ryker did not plan the malfunctions in his weapons just to prove how much he was needed here. Besides, Star Fleet had installed them and should have noticed any defective parts. Surely the apparatuses had been tested after mounting. She hoped the mission wasn't doomed to fail.

Time pa.s.sed slowly for Jana. She began to pace, a worried expression on her face that told everyone how anxious she was over her husband's safety.

"You should not worry so much, Princess Jana," Zade comforted her. "Who better than the creator of the weapons and chemicals to repair and direct their use? He will be fine. He is staying in the shuttle away from danger."

She wanted to scream, What if the shuttle explodes? Please, G.o.d, don't let me be a witness to such a tragedy. Don't allow these people to harm my husband as they've harmed me. He's risking his life and using his weapons to save my world, your creation. Protect him, please.

More time pa.s.sed, and Jana wanted to send another shuttle to check on Ryker. It had been quiet-too quiet-for a long time. She went to Chem and told the communications officer she wanted to speak with her husband.

The man sent her a strange look. "Now, Princess Jana? He's busy."

She used a firm but calm tone to respond, "Yes, now."

"Perhaps he shouldn't be disturbed. We're running behind schedule."

"I know, Chem. But contact him anyway, please."

The officer did so on a closed channel.

"How much longer will it take?" she asked. "I'm worried about you."

"Soon, Jana," her alien husband replied. "We're almost finished. And I'm fine."

"Be careful and hurry back."

Varian detected fear and tension in her voice. "I will."

Martella noticed the expression on Jana's face, the mingling of undeniable affection and fear in her gaze, and the sound of them in her voice. The alien female tried to distract the worried Earthling with light conversation.

Jana guided Martella away from the others. "Would you tell me if there is something very wrong going on?" she asked.

"What do you mean, Jana? He has the repairs under control."

Jana voiced her suspicions aloud to the woman in a tone only Martella Karsh could hear. She watched shock register on the Maffeian's face.

"How could you think such a terrible thing about us?"

"In light of how and why I came to your world and what's happened to me since I arrived, I have just cause to be suspicious of anything involving Varian Saar and the culture that imprisoned me. I've been told what all Maffeians think about my husband. If this is a trap, you had better warn them to stop it right now. I will not be used as a p.a.w.n to get rid of Ryker and get Trilabs for your side."

"You're mistaken, Jana. I promise, he's in no danger."

"If you're wrong and anything happens to him, everyone involved will be sorry. I won't tell Kadim Maal it was an accident, if that's why I was permitted to come along. I warn you now, if I'm made a widow, it will not profit Varian or the Alliance in the smallest way. If Varian thinks he can get control of Trilabs by sucking up to me later, he's dead wrong. He can't even compare to my husband, so Ryker had better come back safe."

Martella wanted to shout the truth at Jana to open her eyes: That isn't your husband! It's the only man you love! Yet, she felt guilty and ashamed to realize that part of the ruse had to do with what Jana suspected: obtaining and controlling Trilabs for the protection and survival of Maffei. Since Jana had been captured and enslaved for that same reason of safeguarding Maffei, learning it had occurred again was not going to sit well with the Earthling. Martella glued her gaze to Jana's and vowed, "The man out there will come back safe and sound, and he'll remain safe and sound. I swear."

Jana thought her response was odd, but she nodded and accepted it. "Thank you, Martella. I just don't want any more trouble. I've endured enough, and all because of Varian and his selfishness."

"I understand. You'll be back where you belong soon."

Again, Jana thought her reply and tone were strange. She didn't have time to question them as Chem shouted, "They're heading back."

Jana rushed to the transascreen and watched the shuttle approach from the Kiunterri. She couldn't wait to see her husband, so she rushed to the docking bay. She flung herself into his arms and hugged him in relief. "You scared the wits out of me. Don't leave this s.h.i.+p again! Please, Ryker, no more risks. I would die if anything happened to you."

Varian, with a tormented mind and heavy heart, gave her a quick hug and kiss. "Let's join the others; we have work to do. Time's running out."

All day, Jana heard a series of long laser blasts with brief cessations every so often while the apparatus cooled and formed more Barine gas. She felt as if she were standing trackside at Daytona Speedway while race cars whizzed past at top paces. Every six hours, the task was halted for a longer period while more chemicals were added to the devices. It looked as if the rogue refused to split in half. Maybe, she fretted, it was too thick and solid to be sawed in half by anything, including Ryker's powerful weapons.

It was late the next day when an elated shout went up as the rogue cracked. The s.h.i.+ps and beams continued to attack the weakening rift with new zeal. A small piece of rock that was sheared off struck the reflector of one s.h.i.+p between automatic blasts, too fast to push a stop b.u.t.ton to prevent the next shot. The pitted area caused the laser beam to fire upward instead of forward and to strike the s.h.i.+p above it in the stack formation. The powerful beam knifed into the vessel's underbelly in the engineering section before the device could be shut down. An explosion rent the air. The s.h.i.+p was crippled and in danger of being destroyed any moment.

a.s.sault on the worldlet stopped while an emergency rescue went into effect. The uninjured, wounded, and the few dead were taken aboard other stars.h.i.+ps. By remote, the burning craft was piloted to a location in which it couldn't endanger the other s.h.i.+ps. Within twenty minutes of reaching its final destination, it exploded and sent debris in all directions.

Jana looked up at her frowning husband as they observed the alarming episode. "I never expected any of them to get killed. I hope they don't treat us differently because they lost lives and a s.h.i.+p. What else can go wrong? Will they call off the mission?"

"No, Jana, we'll keep working with the remaining nine s.h.i.+ps. We'll just be more careful. Being this close presents peril, but it's necessary. We'll start up again soon. Go on to bed; you need rest."

"So do you, my love. You didn't come to bed last night."

"I took occasional naps. I'm fine. I've gone without sleep plenty of times. There's nothing you can do here ... Except distract me," he added with a tender smile to conceal his irritation at being unable to handle this emergency while playing Ryker instead of being commander of his s.h.i.+p.

"Will you call me if anything happens?"

"I promise. Don't worry so much. We expected it to take this long to sever the stress point. It might take until morning or longer. Go to bed."

Far away from the battle in progress with the rogue worldlet, Canissia Garthon was speaking with Prince Taemin Tabriz on the planet Cenza in the Pyropean Galaxy. Her body quivered with eagerness to share her astonis.h.i.+ng secret, but she waited in order to enjoy the intoxicating suspense a while longer. "Tell me, my salacious treat, does that little Tarterrian you wed a few months ago please you as much as I do?" she questioned Taemin.

"There is no comparison between you two. You know I married her because Father insisted; he wanted a strong bond with the Maffei II Galaxy where her father is the ruler. Jurad thinks it is necessary in case we lose Androas as our ally. At least the bride he selected and foisted onto me isn't totally plain. In the dark or with my eyes closed, I can pretend she is anyone I desire. Sometimes that is you, Ca.s.s. I suppose I am fortunate she was trained to obey her superiors without question; so far she has never refused any order I have given. Recently when I demanded certain acts, I saw hesitation in her gaze, but I made her too terrified to expose my treatment and epicurean preferences to anyone. If she finds the courage to defy me in the future, I have ways of forcing her to do as I wish."

Canissia peeled a colorful robe from his body to find him naked underneath. Her gaze sparkled as she stroked the virile chest of a man who was magnificent in bed and a strong ally out of it. They made a good team, she concluded, as the young Pyropean ruler had dark and greedy appet.i.tes to match her own. Besides, Taemin was the perfect tool to help her extract revenge on Varian and Jana while he was trying to increase the size of his empire. "Have you considered an accident to be rid of your puny bride?"

"Of course, my sweet Ca.s.s, but it is too soon to carry out that plan."

She fondled his body with boldness and familiarity. "Your father will object to her loss unless she first provides you with an heir."

"Let that offensive creature mother my children? I am neither crazy nor desperate. I take precautions to make certain that can never happen. If Father gets in the way of my plans, he'll follow the same path into the ground where she will go soon. But I cannot act in reckless haste; I must be certain I have no need of her or ties to her father's empire. Tarterria is too small and poor to tempt me to slay him, so I can rule and rape it through my wife as its heir. Few things sound more distasteful than sitting on the Tarterrian throne with that stupid weakling at my side. I do not even want to fuse that offensive territory to Pyropea. I only agreed to the temporary union to make Father so content that he is blinded to my real desires and plans. When I take Father's place, Pyropea will know a greatness and power such as she has never possessed until my glorious reign."

The redhead smiled in s.a.d.i.s.tic pleasure. If Jurad and Taemin's bride were slain, Taemin would become the Supreme Ruler. If she married him, as Ruleress, she would be safe from all enemy threats and would have an elite position in which to do as she pleased. As she sank to her knees, Canissia drifted her hands and lips down his body to his most sensitive area and brought it to instant life. Because of that Earthling witch, her mind scoffed, she had lost both Varian and Ryker! But Jana would pay soon, she vowed. For now, the only thing she could do was become closer with Taemin and kill Varian, who was no doubt setting a trap for her and would spring it the moment she showed herself. She wouldn't give the ebony-haired G.o.d the chance to ensnare her; it was he who would become her captive. Yes, she mused, the lascivious prince was the answer to her problems, but not as his mistress.

Amidst her stirring siege, she murmured, "If you become ruler here, my l.u.s.ty prince, you can conquer the Tri-Galaxy with my help. In addition to the secrets I've stolen from Father for your benefit, I can help you get control of Trilabs. With its powers and weapons, its takeover will be easy.' Of course, there is a tiny price for being your ally."

Taemin writhed and relished as she licked, nursed, and made playful nibbles at his manhood. He groaned in bliss as her skilled tongue swirled around his throbbing manhood. "What will it cost me, you talented enchantress?"

Canissia halted only a moment to glance at him and reveal, "I want to become Ruleress of the Tri-Galaxy we shall own."

The lascivious man deliberated the seriousness of her words. He knew how greedy and insatiable the woman was: for s.e.x, for wealth, for expensive possessions, for power, for status. Until recently, that list had included Varia Saar and Ryker Triloni, though she had tried to keep those facts from him. "That can be arranged, and will be most satisfying for us in many ways, including this one, my flaming-haired temptress."

She drove him wild by running her tongue around the pleading tip of his fiery shaft, then paused to grin and say in a merry tone, "I thought you might agree." She worked on him again for a few minutes before halting her tantalizing task to talk, but her moisture-slick hand continued to stroke the ravenous prince. "I had Father check on the marriage registration between Ryker and Jana; it's legal and binding. I'm certain it shocked Varian to discover his lost puss was bound to his worst enemy. Since he had freed her, there was nothing poor Varian could do about the matter, not even about my part in it. Jana believed that little tale Ryker and I told her about being given to him. She hasn't and will never deny the claim that she escaped with my help. Allegedly I took her to Ryker's because she felt that was the only place she would be safe from Varian's clutches. As a scientist, she supposedly went there to work for and with him in Trilabs. But they fell in love and got married. How sweet and romantic and deceitful," she scoffed, then returned to her task.

Taemin licked his lips as he envisioned the exquisite Earthling charl his father had attempted to purchase to become his wife. It would be sheer heaven to be training Jana to serve him instead of the repugnant creature his father had chosen for him after Varian and the Supreme Council had denied their matrimonial request: a decision "controlled by Maffei law."

As he had done many times since meeting Jana, the debauched prince closed his eyes and pretended the woman giving him pleasure was that golden-haired G.o.ddess. He groaned in achingly sweet torment. He writhed and squirmed as his urgency for release mounted. His hands gripped Canissia's head and held it tightly as his hips made forceful thrusts. Within minutes he pumped his climactic nectar into the redhead's mouth. He praised Canissia's talents as he helped her from her knees, then the merry couple collapsed to the bed to relax and talk.

"Do you think Ryker takes her to bed?" he asked. "You know he never seemed to care much for most women. But then, Jana Greyson Triloni is not most women. She is unique and highly desirable. I would love to ravish her from head to foot."

Miffed by Jana's appeal to her new target, Canissia retorted, "Possibly he raped her or used his s.e.x drugs on her before he died."

Taemin propped up to stare at her. "What do you mean, before he died?" he asked. "I have not heard that shocking news. How? When?"

Canissia related her discovery. "From the date on the marriage registration," she added, "Varian isn't the one who wed her in the cunning disguise he's using these days, but that doesn't matter to us. What matters is that she's Ryker's widow, or will be as soon as news of his death is revealed. That means our little alien puss owns Trilabs. I have the feeling she doesn't know Varian is impersonating Ryker, which fits perfectly into our scheme. As soon as he finishes playing his half brother, I'm sure he intends to woo the rich and powerful widow and win her back to get Trilabs for the Alliance. I have no doubt Jana will fall into his arms the first moment he curls his finger at her. But he won't get the opportunity, my tasty treat. Once we get our hands on her, Trilabs is ours."

"You think she is going to hand it over to us even as our prisoner? She is not dumb. Nor did she strike me as being a coward or a weakling."

"With the little treasures in my possession, she won't be able to say no to us about anything. I'll even let you have her to use for a while, as many times as you please, in any way you please; and I know what pleases you most. I can see her in chains, your lash striking her body all over, you red and slick with her blood from mounting her from every direction. Imagine the fun you can have with her at your mercy, especially with her drugged into compliance." Canissia painted erotic s.a.d.i.s.tic word pictures to tempt Taemin into aiding the brazen and dangerous trap she would suggest soon. Before she had finished creating the clever perverted images, she witnessed his eagerness to join her side.

"Pain is a potent stimulant, Ca.s.s. I look forward to many hours of t.i.tillation and satisfaction with her as my obedient and helpless slave. I am sure you will enjoy watching me with her as much as you will enjoy taking sweet revenge on your ex-lover. Even without your drugs, I am sure either of them will do anything we say to keep the other alive and safe; that lie will serve us well with them."

The deviant Canissia trembled with excitement. "I can hardly wait to get them in our clutches. What can anyone do to stop us? Nothing. Tirol and the others involved in this ruse can't expose the fact Varian is impersonating Ryker. They can't find an excuse to justify a rescue or attack here if they even suspect we set a trap for those two. After we have our fun and extract the complex code from them, we'll arrange an accident to cover our sweet success. We'll blow up the s.h.i.+p supposedly taking your guests home. You won't mind sacrificing one s.h.i.+p, captain, and crew for our protection?"

"Of course not. As long as the last Saar dies and we get what we want from Jana, I will do whatever is necessary to make our plan work. We must not let anything or anyone stand in our way."

"Right now, my greedy prince, our desires need sating in another way. It's my turn to experience rapture beneath your talented hands and lips. Reward me generously for what I shall soon give to you: the Tri-Galaxy to rule and myself at your side as your new wife."

In his secret haven, Taemin appeased her rampant urges many times and in many ways. He knew how far to go in his pain-and-pleasure games to give her supreme and enthralling satisfaction yet make her beg for more. He savored how easy it was to drive her wild with his skills and with his knowledge of her deepest and darkest desires. He would let the conceited b.i.t.c.h serve him in and out of bed and let her believe they were partners. After he had taken all he needed or wanted from her, he would rid himself of the valueless and untrustworthy Ca.s.s and his sickening wife, then lay claim to Ryker's matchless and captive widow and take possession of his father's federation.

At ten the next morning in the Milky Way Galaxy, the stress point of the potato-shaped rogue gave way and it parted into two uneven ends. Four s.h.i.+ps bombarded one piece to reduce it into smaller chunks to be chased and disintegrated, while five s.h.i.+ps worked on the other section. Whenever a large fragment was carved away by laser knife, a s.h.i.+p left the group to pursue and destroy it, then returned for another piece.

Jana eyed a fragment before it began to drift off in the vast s.p.a.ce that surrounded them. It was dark brown with an olivelike exterior similar to the meteorites she had seen on display and on videotape at Meteor Crater in Arizona: a huge hole created long ago when an enormous body impacted with Earth at forty-three thousand miles per hour. The inner surface exposed mostly a black interior with green, tan, white, and silver bits. In a few places she saw silvery white with blue to greenish blue speckling. Ryker told her the body was made up of stone, iron, a little nickel and cobalt, a few amino acids, and scattered s.p.a.ce debris.

For a while, she observed the difficult work at her husband's side.

At night, in bed alone, Jana was awakened by blasts of the lasers as they were fired down the area between the sides of the U-shaped vessel and bounced off the reflector mounted nearby. Varian's quarters were located at the top rear of one side, while the Stardust Room and botanical garden were positioned in the same place in the other side. With three decks, the Wanderl.u.s.t was gigantic and magnificent. It had everything required to sustain life, to carry out their a.s.signments, and to provide needed amus.e.m.e.nts. This time, their a.s.signment was critical to Jana.