Beyond Varallan by S. L. Viehl Page A

substance.
    Reever avoided me. Whenever I saw him, I merely turned and walked into an available gyrlift. We were being very civilized. It was a big ship. Both of us had plenty of responsibilities in our respective positions. We could do this all the way to Joren.
    “Priority direct relay for you, Healer Cherijo.”
    I walked over to the main display and acknowledged the signal. “Forward it through to the Senior Healer’s office for me, please.”
    I grabbed a server of tea from the ward prep unit on the way in, closed the door, then activated Tonetka’s display. The vid screen glowed and coalesced into an image of a sleek, well-groomed blond woman. “Ana?”
    “Hello, Dr. Grey Veil!” K-2’s Administrator smiled as she scrutinized me thoroughly. “You're looking very well for an escaped League criminal with an outrageous amount of credits on your head.”
    I laughed with delight. “Ana Hansen, how in the universe did you manage to make a direct relay to the Sunlacel”
    “Commander Norash owed me a favor, and the Jorenians were happy to help. We arranged a signal rendezvous before you left orbit. So tell me, how are you?“
    I quickly related some of the events since my rescue from K-2, leaving out the latest clash with Reever.
    She was astonished to learn I had been adopted by HouseClan Torin. “This makes you Dr. Cherijo Torin ?”
    “Among other things,” I said, and took a sip from the server. “Namely, ClanDaughter, ClanCousin, ClanNiece…”
    She beamed with pleasure. “Just what you needed. One big family.” I could debate that, I thought, but decided instead to tell her about replacing Tonetka once we reached Joren. “Quite an honor,” was her reaction.
    I winced. “Please, don’t say that word. The first week I was on board, I said something about what an honor it was to be working with the crew. Apparently my wording translated to a licentious proposal to three different males standing nearby.”
    “Did any of them hold you to it?”
    “Happily, no.”
    “Too bad,” she said. “Speaking of males, how is Duncan?”
    I tried to find out, I thought sourly, but he got cold feet on me. Irritation made me flush, and I tugged at my collar. “He’s working as the ship's linguist.”
    “Any… progress between you two?”
    “No.” Time to change the subject. To anything but Reever. “How are things at your end of the galaxy?”
    “The League cruisers pulled out of orbit some weeks ago, when it finally became apparent you weren’t coming back.”
    Idiots. “Takes them awhile to catch on, doesn’t it?”
    She nodded. “Your old nemesis Phorap Rogan was dismissed at the same time. Rumor has it he returned to his homeworld.”
    “The patients declare a colonial holiday?” I finished my tea and set the server aside.
    “Some wanted to.” Ana tried to look official, but the grin spoiled the effect. “Dr. Mayer sends you his regards. He asked me to say that should the League’s decision ever be reversed in your case, he will allow you to be Chief of Staff while he spends a few years on Caszaria's Moon.”
    I laughed. I couldn’t imagine the taciturn surgeon ever relaxing on K-2, much less a resort planet. “How are the colonists? Has everyone settled down?”
    One of Ana’s slim hands rubbed her brow for a moment. “Those who are left, yes. We've had a general exodus. More than half the population transferred out as soon as Pmoc Quadrant lifted the last travel restrictions.”
    That was a shame. “Colonial Admin had to figure that was going to happen.” Surreptitiously I rubbed my damp palms on my trousers, and wondered if Squilyp had been fooling with the environmental controls again.
    “We planned for it, but the need for key staffing has become critical. We now need construction workers as much as medical personnel. No one, naturally, wants to transfer in. We hope, with time, the panic will fade.” She grew serious. “What about your situation, Joey? Will you be all right with