Saar: Stardust And Shadows Part 5

As he turned to put away the items and apparatuses he had used, Jana wanted to weep in anguish. She wanted to scream at herself for being so foolish and dreamy-eyed. She must forget the fantasy of Varian Saar and accept the reality of Ryker Triloni. She was his wife, his captive, forever. She was doomed to an unpredictable existence here on Darkar. She had already wept over her other losses: her home, her friends, her world, her career, her ident.i.ty, and her freedom. Now, her love was lost. Never again would Varian hold her in his arms, call her "Moonbeam," and take her to ecstasy's realm in his arms. Nor could he ever deceive and betray her again. The man nearby seemed to be reaching out to her, if he could be trusted. Perhaps, with luck, Varian's evil motive for using her to spite and defeat his half brother had failed. It was a grave error not to know or to misjudge one's enemies and rivals. Had Varian captured her to complete a cycle of vengeance which Shara and Galen had begun thirty-two years ago with their unbridled l.u.s.t? How stupid and dangerous for her to have mentioned the hallucination about his hated foe! As he started to leave for her to dress, she called out to him.

He stopped and turned.

Her gaze swept over him as he came to her side and studied her heartsick expression.

"What's wrong, Jana? You look ready to cry."

"I just realized something important. I almost died and I haven't even thanked you for saving my life and for being so kind and patient with me. I'm sorry for how I've behaved. It's scary being unable to remember a week of your life, a very important week. I promise to do my best to please you and to make you proud of me." He smiled as he wiped away her tears, but his gaze appeared troubled to her instead of relieved or victorious. She didn't want to ask or to a.n.a.lyze why; she had done too much erroneous reasoning and testing in the last four days.

"I'm glad to hear this, Jana. Things will be fine now." He leaned over and kissed her, a short, tender kiss, full of emotion and longing. He smiled and told her, "I've been wanting to do that all day, for days, for weeks. You go to the house to rest and I'll see you at dinner."

He left the room as if afraid he'd do more than kiss her if he stayed.. Jana gaped at his retreating back. If she didn't know better ... Don't do this again, J. G.; he isn't Varian. He can't be Varian. But the kiss ... Stop it!

The alien sat down at a panel in the private lab and switched on the retrometer for light-beam voice communication. He began a scrambled message to someone far away, a full report to his ruler, the kadim.

A voice soon filled the room. "How are things going, Varian?"

"Proceeding as planned, Grandfather. The stars be d.a.m.ned, sir! What in Gehenna am I doing to her, to us, with this infernal mission?"

Chapter Four.

Kadim Tirol Trygue heard despair in Varian's voice. He knew he was asking a great deal of his beloved and only grandson, his sole heir and kin, but he had no choice. No man was better trained or qualified, and no other man could take Ryker Triloni's place. Varian sounded soul-weary and heartsick, but Tirol knew he could depend on the young man to do his duty to the Alliance. The fates of two galaxies rested on his grandson's shoulders, a heavy burden. Tirol also realized how dangerous this secret and desperate a.s.signment was and prayed not only for Varian's survival and success, but for Jana's safety, as well. "You're saving her world and safeguarding ours, Son," the older man reminded, "for the near future and the years ahead."

"I know, Grandfather, but you should have seen the look on her face when I finally had her convinced that I'm Ryker. It nearly ripped my heart from my chest. It took all of my self-control not to confess the truth. She's in so much pain and confusion that it's almost unbearable."

In a gentle tone, Tirol warned, "You can't tell her anything, Varian. You have to stay strong. So much is at stake."

"Kahala, sir! Don't you think I know that? I'm sorry, Grandfather, but this tension is working on me day and night. I've finished going over their journals and tapes. Added to what Ryker told me at our deadly showdown, our worst fears and suspicions have been confirmed. Maal is planning to form an alliance with Jurad to attack while we're gone. If we don't go, Jana's world is doomed and ours might be damaged by aftershocks. If we do go, Maffei will be attacked as soon as we're out of defense range, unless I can persuade Maal to hold off his plot when I visit him. The Tabrizes would never attack alone. If I can convince Maal I'm Ryker and that it's to our best interests to postpone the a.s.sault, things will go our way. He usually does what Ryker suggests, so I'm hoping and praying he'll agree this time, too. I've already decided what strategies to use with him."

After Varian related his plans, Tirol concurred they sounded clever and feasible. "But fooling Maal will be harder than fooling Jana and getting onto Darkar disguised as Ryker," he pointed out. "Don't take any unnecessary risks in Androas. We'll have an Elite Squad on standby in case a rescue is needed for you and Jana. You said you have her convinced now?"

"Yes, sir. We repaired and cleared away all damages and clues while she was kept drugged. We even constructed a cyborg who looks like Ryker to play forsha with his right hand. It helps that I'm ambidextrous because she immediately noticed which hand I used. I've convinced her she's been ill from Rahgine's Fever because some of her inoculations didn't take. She finally believes my rescue was only a delusion and she has partial amnesia. She fought the so-called 'truth,' Grandfather, but I've played my role well. I hope she'll forgive me for tricking her."

As they unscrambled at his end, Tirol heard the bitter and sarcastic tone of Varian's words. "I wish this wasn't necessary, but it is. I'm relieved we discovered their treachery before it was too late for all of us."

"If I hadn't started reading Shara's journals while Jana was asleep, this charade wouldn't exist. Before I realized the potential repercussions, it was already under way with my reluctant agreement. Ryker overestimated his cunning. Our new device imitated his voice perfectly so we could reprogram his androids, especially since I had learned the codes from him and from the journals. We have Jana to thank for telling me about them. I also found a stockpile of videotapes; it seems Ryker and Shara liked to record everything that happened here. Hopefully we have enough evidence to coerce treaties with Jurad and Maal when I return; we dare not risk revealing the truth to them before our s.h.i.+ps depart. Their reactions are unpredictable."

Varian sighed deeply. "Even with this evidence, they might not believe Father was innocent all those years ago, not with Ryker and Shara dead-both by another Saar's hand-and unable to argue our word against theirs. There's no guessing how Maal will take his grandson's death by my laser shot. He could go mad like Shara and start a war for revenge. Maal will probably accuse us of stealing Shara's body, subst.i.tuting the phony one on display there, and trying to trick him. I'm not sure he'll ever believe she didn't die seven years ago, and she could do the wicked things we know she has. The same goes for Jurad. While I'm playing Ryker, maybe I can gather even more proof to help us convince them we're telling the truth."

"What about your crew and s.h.i.+p, Varian? Don't let them be seen."

"Nigel and I finished going through everything before he returned to the s.h.i.+p. He'll command the Wanderl.u.s.t until I'm back aboard. I placed Martella in charge of security after Lieutenant Dykstra was transferred."

"A wise choice; she's excellent. What if you come in contact with Prince Taemin? You said those two had been working together on the sly."

"I'm sure I know enough from Ryker's materials to dupe Maal and Taemin and whoever else might be necessary. I know his mannerisms, secrets, and his conversations with them. It's to our advantage again that Shara loved to keep such detailed entries and to make videos. Besides, Grandfather, Tris did a superb job with his surgical procedures to make me match Ryker perfectly. It was almost perfect."

"What do you mean, Son? Is there something he can't alter?"

"We forgot to add one scar we didn't know Jana had viewed, but I convinced her I'd had it lasered off since the last time she'd seen it. She's very smart and observant, but I've been trained to notice any and every thing. So far, I've managed to cover myself."

"You know that iris dye might not be removable after this mission?"

"Yes, sir. If Tris can't extract it, I'll just have to wear blue lens covers for the rest of my life like Ryker wore green ones and blond hair to conceal his resemblance to me and Father. He desperately wanted his own ident.i.ty, Grandfather. His hatred for me was so deep and bitter. As much as I detested him and his battles with me, I didn't want to kill him. But he gave me no choice. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. Shara filled him with too many lies and too much evil. The crazy thing is, while viewing those videos, I picked up on something incredible: I think he was actually falling for Jana. I think Shara realized it, too, and that's why she tried to kill Jana while Ryker was off stalking me. No matter that Ryker taunted me about killing Jana, I believe, if he had been the one to survive our duel, he might have kept her and gotten rid of Shara. He was trying very hard to woo my woman under the guise of a ruse. That's why I have to behave the same way with Jana. Tris did a good job on her, too, didn't leave a single sign on her to make her think her trauma was real."

"She's a scientist, a researcher. How did you fool her?"

"The mental implants Tris used worked perfectly. I answered every question she asked with speed and ease, almost without thinking, even though I didn't know what I was saying. He gave me plenty of lessons and practice in the lab before we awakened her so I could act natural in here."

"Thank goodness you speak and write other languages. You'll need that skill when you head for Androas. With our men working the shuttles now, neither Jana nor anyone else can learn what's really going on there. When the time comes to expose Ryker's accidental death, we'll make certain you and Jana are nowhere nearby. We don't want Maal and Jurad to have any reason to doubt your innocence or Jana's claim as Ryker's heir."

"Even if they protest letting her inherit, by then, we'll have gathered all his secrets and made Trilabs useless to them. I hope, once their powerful ally is gone, they'll agree to treaties without us having to use those journals and videotapes. Too many of our secrets are discussed on them."

"You said Canissia's to blame for part of it. She's committed treason, kidnapping, and the murders of Moloch and Baruch. Moloch wasn't a big loss, but your former friend and officer was. It's too bad he put himself in the position of being blackmailed and bewitched by her. When she's located and arrested, she'll be sent to the female prison planetoid for life."

"If she isn't already dead, Grandfather. I learned from the last journal that Ryker plotted her death, and no one has seen or heard from her since Jana's disappearance. Supposedly she had an alibi, but it won't work now. It seems likely she's gone, since she hasn't responded to the marriage proposal I made to her to lure her out of hiding. Everyone in the Tri Galaxy knows about our impending wedding except her. Ryker even used it to coerce Jana into marrying him. He'd better be glad he didn't touch her! He had Jana believing he freed her to marry her when I'm the one responsible. I wish I could ease her fears."

"So do I, Son. You know we dared not use Rendelar on her to make her immune to Thorin in the event of capture and questioning; that would have been suspicious. Canissia's abduction of her proved an enemy can get to her even while she's being protected. She has to believe this is real to play her part with accuracy. As Ryker's wife, with luck and your skills to make her appear happy, she's your protection. Hers, too."

"I want to get this a.s.signment finished, Grandfather, and get her off Darkar as soon as possible. She deserves peace and happiness. After seeing on videotape how that b.a.s.t.a.r.d treated her, I could kill him again if he hadn't already forced me to do it last week. We rescued her just in the nick of time, even if Shara hadn't tried to slay her. Ryker told me he was planning to breed her for an heir, then kill her. Maybe he would have carried out his taunt. Kahala, I never realized those two were that evil. I can't imagine a mother and son sharing the same bed and planning to marry. Shara would have never persuaded me she's Jana Greyson, even with surgical alterations to take Jana's face. Now I have to convince her to hate me and to fall in love with him. I've already learned things about her that I didn't know because our time together was too short. When this is over, she'll never understand and forgive me, Grandfather, never."

"You know what's at stake and you must do your duty, Varian."

"But why me? Why her? Why at this fragile time in our relations.h.i.+p? We freed her to marry me, not wed my evil half brother. She's suffered too much because of me and my d.a.m.ned secret a.s.signments."

"You can't tell her now, Son; the scheme is in motion."

"Don't you think I know I can't sacrifice everything to have her? I won't turn away from my duty and loyalty to the Alliance or to you, Grandfather. I've always obeyed our laws and carried out my missions, no matter the cost to me. Don't you think I realize she's actually safer at this time as Ryker Triloni's wife than as Varian Saar's? But that doesn't help. She's my world, Grandfather. I can't lose her. Do you know what it's like to continue Ryker's phony pursuit? To draw her toward me when it's to him I'm pulling her? To compel her to think, feel, and say terrible things about me, if only to protect herself from him? I'm forced to say vile things about Father and myself for her to see me as Ryker. At times I know she was trying to provoke me into a confession. I couldn't make it then and can't do so now, not while our lives and worlds are in peril. I want to hold her and kiss her and I dare not trust myself to do so."

Tirol knew Varian wasn't angry at him, but his tormented grandson needed to purge himself of his fury and tension.

"I almost lost Jana to Shara's evil, just like she stole my parents from me. I was afraid an enemy would harm her if I laid claim to her and my fears and suspicions were right. But I never imagined my worst foe would do his worst damage from his blasted grave. How much does one man have to sacrifice? It isn't fair, sir."

Tirol knew that Varian was not a man p.r.o.ne to self-pity or selfishness, but he had just cause to be angry and defiant on this vital and personal matter. "With you in control of Trilabs, Son, we have the weapons and chemicals we need for Project Starguard. If you succeed in Androas with Maal, that threat will be destroyed. When you return from Earth and make treaties with Maal and Jurad, peace will rule the Tri-Galaxy as in the days before Shara began her evil deeds. As we decided, Segall has been told nothing of your current mission and location. He knows it is against the law and treasonous to tell even his family of Alliance secrets. When the time comes, he will be disgraced and cast aside. But we cannot move against him until after you return and everything is settled concerning your impersonation. If Canissia doesn't return soon, we must fake a wedding with a lookalike cyborg. Everyone must believe you are away on your honeymoon. It will be suspicious for you to simply vanish from sight for so long."

"What about when Jana learns of our alleged marriage, Grandfather?"

"Try to prevent that discovery. If you cannot, you must handle it without exposing yourself to her. You must not forget, Varian, her life will be in great danger if Maal or his allies hold her even partly responsible for his death. Everyone knows about your past relations.h.i.+p with Jana. The day Ryker summoned you to his death challenge, he released the news of her freedom and her marriage to him, claiming you gave her to him as a truce token. He registered the marriage, so it is legal and binding. Jana is his heir. It is as much to her safety and advantage to confirm her union to him in the public's eye as it is to ours. Brec has everything under control at Star Base. Our schedule is perfect. Do not weaken and fail us when we are so close to victory."

Varian thought of Breccia Sard, Supreme Commander of the Alliance Force and Star Fleet and head of the Elite Squad, who had confidence and faith in him. "Contact Brec and tell him I will report for duty in three weeks. Don't worry, Grandfather, I won't let you and the Alliance down."

"I know you won't, Son. I love you, Varian. Stay safe and alert."

"I will, sir, and I love you. To victory and peace, Grandfather," he murmured before signing off. His mind added, And pray seeking them doesn't cost me everything I hold dear. I love you, Jana Greyson, so please don't turn against me, no matter what I'm forced to do for this mission.

Jana spent the afternoon reading from books the blond alien had given to her after her check-up in the medical laboratory. Concentration was difficult because she could not get his soul-stirring kiss off of her mind. Perhaps it was possible for two men to kiss and to taste the same way, but it was strange and suspicious. The experience had been much too arousing if he were Ryker Triloni. She was distressed she could be so attracted this fast and deep to the blond if he weren't her ebony-haired lover. He had convinced her he wasn't Varian, hadn't he? He wasn't Varian Saar, was he?

If only there was a strenuous ch.o.r.e to drain her abundance of energy and tension. But everything was spotless in the house. All tasks were done either by the technologically advanced appliances or by the android Ine. When the nonhuman wasn't busy, she stayed in the area which Ryker had told her was for storage, perhaps in a rest mode. Jana didn't know what was in that room because the door opened only for Ine and Ryker. She would have loved to look inside but didn't know how to manage it.

Read, J. G., and stop thinking about such crazy speculations! That command worked until she came to sections she and "Ryker" had discussed; there she learned he had given her almost verbatim textbook responses! She looked up Thorin and Rendelar and discovered that a person given the truth serum would expose an immunity within moments of the injection. If there was a secret mission in progress and she were captured by the wrong side, if given Rendelar to prevent slips, it would be suspicious and dangerous ... Was that why she couldn't be told, why she had to believe this man was Ryker? A new influx of doubts flooded her.

At dinner, Jana noticed that Ryker was watching her with a strange look in his emerald eyes. When his gaze focused on his food, she studied him. He was strikingly handsome and provocative and magnetic. She cautioned herself to cease her line of thought. "You're awfully quiet tonight, Ryker," she observed. "Did I annoy you with all my questions today?"

He smiled with the left side of his mouth as his half brother would have done. As he finished chewing the meat in his mouth, his gaze roved over her to absorb every detail of this woman he loved and desired. She was so beautiful and perfect. His eyes caressed the satiny texture of her face, its covering firm and smooth and flawless. His gaze traced her high cheekbones and inviting lips. He longed to finger her dainty chin and pleasingly shaped nose. What was it about this particular alien woman that caused him to experience such an upheaval of emotions and brought dangerous thoughts of defiance to duty to his mind? Why had he flaunted this rare and precious jewel before the eyes of greedy and evil men, when he should have hidden her away on Altair until he could defeat his enemies and lay public claim to her?

Jana worried over what was taking him so long to respond. He had finished chewing, then sipped his wine leisurely as if stalling a reply. Once more she felt like a specimen beneath his lens.

"Of course you didn't annoy me, Jana. The only way to learn is by asking questions. Soon, you'll know everything about me and this place. I have important matters on my mind, that's all."

Was there, she mused, an odd inflection on everything? His curious mood and probing stare made her nervous, and too warm. "Is there a problem with your research? Can I do anything to help?"

"Things couldn't be going better in that area," he replied. "But thank you. Soon, everything will be back to normal. Be patient and understanding."

His curious tone and choice of words made her tension increase. She recalled the horrid things Canissia had told her about Ryker Triloni. She recalled how cold, harsh, and forbidding he had been at their first meeting. But she also remembered how he switched from freezing winter night to sultry summer day the moment that hateful woman left Darkar. It was stupid to offend or challenge an unknown force. "Is it me? Have I done something wrong or disappointed you?"

"You could never do anything wrong, Jana, and I'm pleased with you."

He looked as if he truly meant what he said. Yet ... "I hope so. I'm going to try my best to do what you expect of me."

"I'm sure you will." I almost lost you to death; now, I'm forced to take a big risk of losing you forever. Once, before my duty and mission stood between us and they're doing so again. If only I didn't have to hurt you and use you and deceive you in this despicable manner, for a second time. When this is over, will you understand and forgive me? Will you still love and want me?

Jana pretended to return her attention to the meal. She sliced through a meat-wrapped vegetable pouch and placed a bite in her mouth. It was tender, juicy, and delicious. She sipped lavender wine and set down her gla.s.s before reaching for her bread. She was too aware of the alien's potent gaze. Why was he observing her so intensely? She had the feeling he wanted to discuss something with her and couldn't or wouldn't. An aura of longing and dissatisfaction surrounded him. He was so complex, so mercurial, so unpredictable. Yet, he wasn't cold and harsh; nor was he intimidating or threatening. His spirit seemed to reach out to her, to caress her, to tempt her, to baffle her.

Varian hungered for the five-foot-eight-inch treat dangled before his starved senses. She was a confection of sweetness and temptation-warm, generous, unspoiled, and delightful ... proud, intelligent, and brave. He adored the coalescence of colors in her eyes: a heavy dash of forest green, a sprinkle of deep blue, and a trace of rich violet-all the shades encased in a band of dark green. Her lashes were thick with curled-up edges. She wore little cosmetics, and none were needed to enhance her natural, bewitching beauty. He yearned to stroke the champagne tresses that flowed over her shoulders. It looked as if a magician had stolen colors from the two moons of Zamarra and painted her hair with the gold-and-silver mixture.

Varian remembered how curls had wrapped themselves around his fingers in days gone by, curls as soft as Mailiorcan silk, a sensuous material shot with threads of expensive gold and silver. Her tresses were long and bouncy on the sides and back but shorter and fluffy on the top and around her face. His pulse quickened as his study of her ignited his senses and enflamed his pa.s.sions. He was relieved he wasn't standing, as the snug sapphire garment would expose his desire for her. Never had he blazed to life so hotly and urgently from simply gazing at a female. No women of his world had ever been able to resist him, but since meeting Jana Greyson, she was the only one he wanted. She was like a beacon set out by the bored G.o.ds to lure him into danger to provide them with amus.e.m.e.nt. If he was not careful, the Moondust those mischievous deities flung in his eyes would blind him to his duty, and all could be lost. Shara had used that mind-controlling, trance-inducing chemical on his father to enslave him to her. Unable to resist its potency, Galen had succ.u.mbed to the evil enchantress, until Dr. Tristan Zarcoff realized what was afoot and gave his father an antidote, along with the awareness of the treachery Maal's daughter had wreaked on him.

The silence grew heavy and stifling to Jana. She sought the first subject that came to mind to break it. "Would you like to play laius after dinner?" she asked. Immediately she wanted to bite her tongue to punish it for making that crazy suggestion, but it was too late to withdraw her invitation. He grinned and his verdant eyes sparkled with a familiar expression: Varian's.

He was instantly swept back in time to a heady scene on his stars.h.i.+p when a chess wager led to their two-week love affair. The flames returned to his body to heighten his desire. He lost his wits for a moment and said, "That sounds intriguing, especially since you beat me the last time we played."

She stared at him. A slip? she wondered. "I did? When?"

"Last week. You asked for your ring back as your winning prize."

Honesty or quick wits? "You want to play for it again tonight?"

"Why? It's special to you."

Varian had given it to her before her auction, no doubt to serve as a constant reminder of him after their separation. "Why would you think that?"

"You told me so. And it was the only jewelry you were wearing when you arrived here. Did your parents give it to you?"

Why would he ask that last question when there were no caritrary gems in her world, only in his? His arms were folded and locked over his chest, implying confidence and an air of contempt for danger. Even so, she suspected he could respond to any threat in an instant. In days past, she had witnessed how alert and quick he was. As he ruffled his tawny hair, she caught a gleam of roguish mischief in his eyes. "No, they didn't, and it isn't special to me. It was a gift from Kadim Tirol," she lied, "shortly before I was sent here. It's lovely and valuable, but I can't imagine why I would ask for its return. Perhaps, since we were still strangers at that time, it was the only safe wager I could think of. Why did you take it away when we married?"

"Because I a.s.sumed Varian had given it to you." "Now you know he didn't. But this was a nice exchange," she remarked as she fingered the gem-encrusted gold marriage bracelet.

"I'm happy you think so. How did you learn to play laius?" Why hadn't Ryker asked her that question the last time they played, if they had? "My father taught me chess when I was nine. Until his death,-we kept a running compet.i.tion. On the Wanderl.u.s.t," she continued, not wanting to say Varian's name again, "Nigel taught me your version. He was the s.h.i.+p champion, but I managed to beat him a few times." Varian had been number two. Actually Tesla Rilke, the Wanderl.u.s.t's navigational and guidance officer, had played with her the first time. In her delusion, Tesla had been killed in a s.p.a.cer accident while transporting her to the s.h.i.+p to be revived from a state that was close to death. How could she learn if Tesla was still alive?

He chuckled at her saucy grin. Being with Jana again was heaven, and it was h.e.l.l. She was suns.h.i.+ne: warm, radiant, vital, and life-sustaining. She was moonlight: mysterious, intoxicating, romantic. She had more glittering facets than a precious stone beneath bright light. He had never dared to yield to the emotions called love and commitment, but his love for adventure had lessened since meeting her; now, he wanted to settle down and share a different kind of excitement and satisfaction. She was everything a man could desire in a woman, and she was his. Almost. "So, you're better than I was led to believe? A trick, my cunning wife, to lure me into another game with higher stakes?"

"If you want to play for stakes again, name one. Anything." She noticed the beads of perspiration on his upper lip, the smoldering fire in his eyes, the sudden tautness of his body: she was getting to him!

"I'm tempted to accept your challenge, but I'll have to give it serious thought first. I wouldn't want you to ask for something I cannot provide."

"I wouldn't. I'll let you select what's at stake on your side, and I'll let you select what's at stake on my side. Is that fair enough for you, husband?"

When she stood, his gaze roamed her figure. Her bosom was ample and firm. Her slim waist drifted into a flat stomach between seductively rounded hips. Her shapely legs were lithe and smooth. Her ankles appeared both dainty and strong. Her body was taut and supple. Many men must have been tempted by her magic and allure, yet none of them had possessed her the way he had, and would again! "That's a dangerous offer, Dr. Triloni."

"Is it, Dr. Triloni?" You're playing with fire, J. G. Remember the trouble you got into last time when you were in a similar situation. Varian had warned, "As surely as my eyes are blue, we'll both live to regret this night." He had disobeyed direct orders to possess her before any other man could do so. This time, it was an emerald gaze giving her that silent caution.

"What prize of mine do you have in mind?" he asked.

"Can I see my files and the tapes you had made of me?" From his expression, her request had taken him by surprise. And disappointment? What had he expected her to answer? The same way as on his s.h.i.+p?

"That's impossible. I destroyed them after studying them."

"Why?" Had any, she mused, ever existed?

"They had private and revealing things about you on them that no one else should ever see. Besides, it wouldn't be good for you anyway."

How could anyone get their hands on anything here on Darkar? For once, had his wits failed him? "What do you mean? Did I misbehave on them?"

"No, but seeing the ruse Varian forced you to play would bring back bad memories, memories of times best forgotten. You were a slave then."

"You're right. I hadn't thought of it that way. I'm glad they're gone. I was just curious about what impression I had made on you because of them."

"A good one, the best possible. That's why you're here with me."

"That's very flattering."

"Only the truth." Being with this sunny-haired angel brightened his gloomy heart, but having her so close and yet out of reach increased his agony. He had been lonely before he met and won her, something he hadn'trealized until almost losing her.

He stood and summoned Ine to clear the table. The yellow-eyed, monotoned android obeyed.

"I'll set up the board while you take a break," he said.

"I'll return shortly. Don't run scared and change your mind," she teased before leaving the dining dome.

Jana sat at the game table that had been placed near a transascreen. Red pieces were on their appointed squares on her side, and blue on his. The large room suddenly seemed small and cozy, or was it the effect of the soft music and lighting? She glanced out the window into a lush garden. It was almost as if she could smell the flowers growing there, or was a floral scent being pumped into the room? Jana ignored the gla.s.s of wine nearby, as she wanted to keep her head clear for the game. The setting was charged with emotions, conducive to romance and seduction, yet her calm appearance concealed the turmoil raging within her, just as Varian's stoic expression denied the turbulent winds storming his mind and body. With each pa.s.sing minute, the chemistry between them, despite his disguise and alleged ident.i.ty, heightened.