HeartFast Page 19

  “I’ll meet you in the dining hall for breakfast. I need to go over to my quarters and get something to wear.”

  Something to wear? She paused to look back at him. “Hunter? Would it … I mean…”

  Did she have the right to ask him to bring some of his things over to her quarters? To ask that he become a more permanent part of her life? Was that a wish she had the privilege to dream at all? His blue eyes calmly waited, but her courage gave out. “Never mind.”

  “Your feelings just spiked when I mentioned getting something to wear,” he told her gently. “Were you going to ask me something relating to that?”

  She shook her head and lied. “No. Never mind.”

  “Uh-huh.” He remained leaning against the doorjamb a moment longer. He knew. He knew she’d flat-out fibbed, but he didn’t appear upset. “Well, then, may I ask you a question?”

  “Fair’s fair.”

  “You might want to start thinking pretty soon about joint quarters, in case we have to go the whole year. In the meantime, would you have any objections to me bringing over a few of my things, so I won’t have to go popping back and forth between here and my place? You could leave a change of clothing over in my quarters, as well.”

  She turned her back to him and leaned into the spray, trying to hide the overwhelmingly happy smile that broke over her. “No. I don’t mind.”

  “Good. Another thing, and this one’s also a request. Tonight, would you mind if we spent it over at my place?”

  Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a warm flush rise into her face. Unable to speak, she nodded.

  “Oh, one last thing. Don’t forget to hit that damn testing device before you come join me,” he reminded her with a wink and a grin dancing around his lips when she whirled around, open-mouthed. “Don’t want all my hard work this morning to go down the drain.” At her gasp of indignant astonishment, he laughed and dematerialized.

  Star finished her bath and quickly changed into a pair of casual pants and midriff top after swatting the testing device. Declared days off were rare, and one of the few times everyone could doff their uniforms and enjoy regular clothing. As she was running a brush through her hair, there came a knock on her door.

  “Star? Are you awake?”

  “Door open,” she ordered, not stopping what she was doing as Morning Fire tentatively scanned the room before entering. Laughing, Star assured her, “He’s not here.”

  The petite woman ran over to throw her arms around Star’s waist. “Dearest heavens, you don’t know how worried I was yesterday.” Rearing back, she swatted her friend on the arm. “How dare you run off like that!”

  “So shoot me. This past week has been hell.” Star paused. “Well, parts of it has.”

  She noticed Morning Fire taking in the messy bed, especially the double set of indentations in the sheets and pillows. Hunter had taken the uniform he’d worn yesterday back with him when he’d left. Hers was still lying on the floor where she’d flung it. Other than the bed, there was nothing to indicate he’d spent the night with her.

  Star smiled at her dearest friend. The woman had on a soft, comfortable blouse and matching pants, instead of her scarlet and gold uniform. Her dark red hair was clipped behind her, not loose like she normally wore it. Unless a person knew better, the woman could pass for a young girl. Sometimes, Star noted, most Guardians could easily merge into the regular populace once they put on everyday clothes. She, on the other hand, would always stand out, no matter what she wore.

  Finishing, she laid the brush back on her vanity, and went over to the wall closet to find and slip on her shoes.

  “You’re happy, aren’t you?” Morning Fire asked, her eyes carefully scrutinizing every move.

  “Yeah. Very happy. Why? Is that a crime, too?”

  “We’re all talking about it. You and Hunter.”

  “Everybody knows, then?”

  Morning Fire snorted softly. “We were doubtful at first. But now that we’re certain, we’re overjoyed for you. Most of us, anyway. Bruiser’s been positively glum ever since we got back.”

  “Well, it’s not like we were expecting it to happen,” Star told her. “Let’s go eat. I’m famished.”

  They strode out of her quarters and headed for the dining hall. “What’s going to happen now?” Morning Fire quizzed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean … well … this is the real thing, isn’t it?”

  Star smiled slightly. “Yeah. It’s the real thing. The real permanent thing. But there’s nothing we can do right now, not while we’re still bound under the rules of HandFast.”

  “What’ll happen once it’s over? Think Hunter will ask you to make it a permanent thing?”

  Shrugging her shoulders, Star admitted, “It doesn’t matter whether he does or not. We’ll always be together now. Nothing will ever separate us. We’ve given our hearts to each other.”

  As they walked into the dining hall, almost everyone was already present. Before she could get a tray, both Animator and Corona ran over to give her enthusiastic hugs.

  “We’re so happy for you,” Animator confessed with a giggle. “After all you’ve had to go through, it’s about time something good came out of this whole mess.”

  Corona nudged Star’s arm. “Tell us. Is this permanent?”

  “For me it is,” Star answered softly.

  “While they’re still bound by the laws of the HandFast, there isn’t much they can do,” Morning Fire explained.

  “He’ll ask you,” Corona nodded confidently. “I just know he will. Good heavens, the man risked his life to find you.”

  The tingling sensation came to her, and Star unconsciously reacted to the feeling. The other three noticed her sudden stiffening, and Corona laid a steadying hand on her upper arm.

  “What? What’s the matter?” Animator asked.

  Smiling, Star blinked the haziness from her eyes and shook her head. “Nothing. It’s just that … I know when Hunter’s nearby. I guess … I guess I’ve become attuned to him.” Closing her eyes, she gave them a gentle smile. “Behind me. To the right.” She tilted her head, and added, “Now he’s moving left, along the wall.”

  “Gee, that’s amazing!” Morning Fire giggled as they watched the man in question maneuvering across the room. Giving her friend’s hand a tug, she ordered, “Come on. I thought you said you were hungry.”

  Star allowed her friend to drag her over to one of the dispensers, where she got a tray and drink. From the corner of her eye she could see that Deceiver and Hunter were discussing something, but she knew he was just as aware of where she was in the room as she was of him. Damn, but he also looked good in everyday clothes.

  Once she got her food, Morning Fire led her to an empty table. Star barely had time to drain her first glass of juice when Hunter joined them.

  “Morning, Fire,” he jovially greeted the redhead.

  Morning Fire gave them each a questioning glance. “Is that my cue to leave you two alone?”

  Hunter smiled. “You’re welcome to stay. I figured that, since our secret’s out of the bag, it wouldn’t hurt if we publicly spent a little more time together.”

  “This table has four chairs,” Deceiver commented, coming to join them. “Is the last one reserved? Morning, Fire. Star, how are you feeling this morning?” He set his tray down and joined them as well.

  “Better,” Star admitted. “The more sun I take in, the stronger I’ll get. Anything on the boards this morning?”

  “Just a couple of requests. No emergencies, thank goodness. No, I was discussing with Hunter what happened after he left to go after you yesterday.” After taking a big sip of brew, the Guardian leader continued. “I know you and Hunter haven’t tackled head-on with the Ombitra, but their behavior yesterday was suspect.”

  “Suspect? How so?” Star questioned.

  “Once we got over to the populace, to see how much damage had been done, we found that the majority of ruin had been
restricted to the outlying fields, away from the towns. That’s not like the Ombitra.”

  “What are you thinking?” Morning Fire broke in.

  “Seeker thinks it may have been a diversionary tactic,” Hunter told her.

  “For what purpose?” Star asked.

  Deceiver had no idea. “It was like they were there to draw us to them. Testing us, for some unknown reason. Then, just like that, they throw out a few proton blasts to clear the way, and disappear into space.”

  “Yeah. Just about the same time Hunter got the communiqué from the Committee,” Morning Fire said.

  Star paused with a bite halfway to her lips. Her eyes flew over to Hunter. “You didn’t tell me we got a message from them. Or did you?”

  “I did, and I distinctly remember hearing you let go with one of your more favorite curse words when I told you.” He grinned.

  “Oh, yeah. I did. Sorry. I forgot.”

  “But if we had been forced to engage them, how would we have done so?” Morning Fire continued. “Nothing we did four years ago seemed to make any difference. It was pure luck that we managed to bring down that mothership. Otherwise, they would have overrun us.”

  “I don’t know if we have enough sheer force to bring another ship down,” Deceiver admitted. “We’ve gained Provoker since the fiasco, plus Time Merchant and you two,” he waved a hand at Star and Hunter, “but that doesn’t guarantee us enough manpower to defeat them. The transport ships aren’t equipped with armament strong enough to go to war with. We are our own weapons. And we face our battles with the intent to resolve them peacefully, not with force.”

  “And there was very little I could gain while I was inside their ship,” Hunter told them. “The place is a maze. I’ll need more time to snoop around. What I did discover, though, was that there’s a dark green Ombitra who seems to be their leader, of sorts. At least, I saw several defer to him when I was watching.”

  “We never knew there was a green version. It’s a tiny piece of information, but every piece helps to put the whole picture into perspective, sooner or later.”

  “Why are you needing to use brute force to bring down their ships?” Star asked Deceiver.

  “Because nothing else works. Not return photon fire. Not laser fire. Not friction missiles. Nothing.”

  “Screw the artillery. Just cut off their gravitational fields, and they’ll drop like rocks,” she calmly told him.

  The entire room went silent.

  “Star, repeat that,” Hunter asked her softly as she glanced up from her food in surprise.

  “I said, cut off their gravitational fields. The damn things are using the same power source I use. One little burst of magnetic energy, and I was flattened up against the skin of one of them.” She blinked to see everyone staring at her in shock. “What? Didn’t you already know that?”

  “Star, why haven’t you told us this before?” Deceiver asked.

  “I tried to, but you started ragging on me about running off without permission. Remember?”

  “Star.”

  She looked over at Hunter.

  “How hard would it be for you to bring down, say, one of those vessels?”

  “By cutting off their gravity? Ha. Shutting stuff down is child’s play. It’s being asked to generate something that drains me.”

  Deceiver turned around in his chair to directly face her. “What would be easier for you? Shutting off their gravity? Or creating a magnetic field to hold them down?”

  “I just told you, Deceiver. Shutting down is like closing my eyes. It’s nothing. But if I have to make something, like a magnetic field, it would suck all the energy out of me. If you put me in direct contact with a sun, I could pretty much maintain a hold on them indefinitely. But then it would be their strength against mine, since we’d be drawing from the same power source. And, frankly, there are more of them, and they’re also bigger than me. Wouldn’t be a long battle.”

  After a moment’s pause, Deceiver leaned back in his chair, a huge smile erupting on his face. “Well, I’ll be damned. I think you may have just answered our prayers, Star. Commander!”

  “Yeah, Deceiver?”

  “Did you hear Star?”

  “You bet your green-clad hide, I did.”

  “How difficult would it be to create a magnetic disrupter? Give us that edge we need to defeat them in the future?”

  “I’m already on it,” the man affirmed as he hustled out the door.

  “Better make sure you let me know when you turn that disrupter on,” Star warned him. “Otherwise, there’s no telling what kind of havoc you’ll play on my system.”

  “Do you really think we’ll meet up with them again so soon?” asked Morning Fire.

  “There’s no telling, but at least we have a better chance this time than we did in the past. Thanks, Star. It seems this time your instincts were correct,” Deceiver conceded.

  Getting to his feet, the Guardian leader bid them a good day, picked up his tray, and left.

  “Well, seeing as how we have the whole day to be lazy, I’m heading into the city to go shopping. Get in a little walking. Want to come with me, Star?” Morning Fire asked her friend. However, the moment she looked at Star’s face, she knew what her answer would be. Star and Hunter had their eyes locked on each other over cups of brew.

  “No, thanks, Fire,” Star replied softly. “However, a walk sounds delightful. Lots of sunshine will do me a world of good.” The last part of her statement was not directed at her friend.

  Morning Fire grinned. “Not a problem. Next time, then,” she said, and bid the couple good day.

  “A walk?” Hunter reiterated.

  “Yeah,” Star nodded, unable to resist smiling herself. “In the light of day.”

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter 21

  Gardens

  Challenger joined Animator and Disaster at the window to see what they were watching. Across the courtyard, Hunter and Star were talking as they slowly strolled in the direction of the botanical gardens. At one point something Star said must have been funny, as Hunter openly laughed.

  Animator shook her head. “I’ve never seen them like that. Hunter’s so serious most of the time.”

  “Yeah, well, look at how much Star has changed,” Disaster pointed out. “I never thought we’d see her this calm. Content, almost. Tamed.”

  Snorting, Challenger said, “She’s not tamed. Not by a long shot. But she’s more careful. Less reckless.”

  “That’s what I meant. Less reckless,” Disaster agreed.

  “Even after yesterday?” Animator asked.

  “Yeah.” Challenger nodded. “Especially after yesterday.”

  Silence descended again as they continued to watch. It was Animator who observed, “Isn’t it odd? The only two of us who don’t have to walk … and they’re walking?”

  “Not really,” said Disaster. “Hunter can’t fly, and Star can’t disappear. What else could they do?”

  “Think he’ll propose?” their female counterpart grinned.

  Challenger grinned. “Who knows? If he’s smart, he’ll keep the arrangement just like it is, with no strings attached. Ow!” He quickly jerked away from the wall that had suddenly pinched him, and gave Animator a surly look. “Women!”

  Disaster laughed aloud as they chased each other out of the dining hall. The day was certainly starting out on a good note.

  Once they reached the botanical gardens, they were relieved to find it empty. Of course, it was still early morning, and most people didn’t descend upon it until late afternoon or evening.

  They had talked of unimportant things. Or, at least Hunter had. Childhood things mostly. Anecdotes from growing up. About teasing his younger brother. That part seemed to interest Star the most, until she finally admitted to him that she had no siblings. That confession would soon lead to others. There were years and years, and layers upon layers of old scars he would have to work through before Star was finally healed and
whole.

  He smiled. They had the rest of their lives to get to that point, if they needed to.

  He had taken her hand when they had entered the enormous crystalline building housing the plants. That small touch made them both hesitate and turn to look at each other. Bringing her hand to his lips, Hunter graced it with a caressing kiss, and was delighted to see her responding smile.

  They descended the stairs and began strolling down the walkway. Knowing Star was reluctant to speak about her family, he turned the discussion to the four years she had wandered through space, prior to her joining the Guardians.

  “Let me get this straight. When you got hungry or thirsty, or needed a place to sleep, you just found the next inhabited planet and offered your services for a fee?”

  She nodded. “Every planet has their own disasters to deal with. Fortunately, there are plenty of humanoid species, and water is always a basic commodity.” She made a face. “Of course, when it came to food, there wasn’t always the most appetizing meals offered. Sometimes you had to decided whether to hold your nose and suffer through it, or go hungry.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I held my nose a lot of times, let me tell you!”

  Hunter chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Were you StarLight back then? Or did you choose that moniker when you joined the Guardians?”

  “People called me Star long before I left my home planet.” She paused, lost in her dark memories. Hunter gave her arm a little jiggle to bring her back to the present. The trick seemed to work. “So when everyone asked me who I was, I said ‘Star’. I added the ‘Light’ part when I came here.”

  “Then, if I may ask … is Terrin DiLyric your real name?” he inquired softly. They were passing a bundle of fragrant blue blossoms. Star paused to inhale their heady scent.

  “Yeah. Terrin is my real name. But DiLyric is the name of my—” She stopped as a tiny shiver went through her. “It’s not my mother’s or father’s,” she managed to say before that emotional gate closed and locked.

  Pulling her into his arms, Hunter sought her lips. She eagerly gave herself to him, needing his love to provide adequate solace. Long minutes passed as they savored each other’s warmth and touch. It wasn’t until hearing the sound of people entering the gardens that they were forced to break apart and continue on their walk.