much more time on our ID cards than his kin dirtside. When he tapped his comm badge and growled in a request, my heart stopped for a few beats.
Megan Sybil Baker - 31
An M.O.C. officer in a dark brown uniform appeared quickly. Female, mid-fifties. Short dark hair with one wide streak of silver on the left. Her almond-shaped eyes showed only boredom as our cards processed through a second time.
Then her right hand rose. “Sister Solaria?”
I’d taken perhaps two steps past her. A slight chill of fear rippled through me. I forced myself not to flinch, turned slowly, plastered what I hoped was a holy, and wholly, innocent look on my face. “Praise the stars, sister. How may I assist you?”
Her name tag said Tran, D.. “Your immunizations aren’t up to date.”
Minor problem. Go to Medical, get a hypospray. Not a minor problem. My bio-prints wouldn’t match the real Berri Solaria’s. But they would match Chasidah Bergren’s in the M.O.C.’s central files.
Drogue spoke up quickly. “An error, I am sure, Officer Tran. The Guardianship has even more stringent medical requirements than the Empire. Sister Solaria is one of our most active missionaries. She would not be permitted to carry on her work unless she had full medical clearance.”
“I’m aware of that, Guardian, but her card file shows—”
“Perhaps I can assist.” Ren’s soft tones flowed over Drogue and Tran, standing almost nose-to-nose.
I waited to see her reaction to the Stolorth’s presence. Most people would have backed up a step. Or five.
Tran peered up at the silver-tinged face under the hood. “Brother Ren Ackravaro. Back again?”
I didn’t know if her recognition of Ren were a good or bad sign. Things were starting to look slightly less easy.
“Final trip, for awhile, I’m afraid. Moabar’s winters and I do not get along.” Ren motioned toward me, knowing where I stood, I guessed, by the sound of my voice. “Sister Solaria and I are heading in-system. There’s much work to be done at the orphanage in Kressal on Walker-Three.”
Tran glanced at me. “You’re a teacher, Sister?”
“We’re all teachers and students to each other,” I said softly. “I guide the poor orphans through the light of Abbot Eng shining his wisdom through me.”
“Sister Solaria’s medical files were appended at the convent. Perhaps they were entered incorrectly?” Ren held his card toward Tran. “Ours came through the Guardianship in Dafir. Perhaps if you compare them?”
“It might just be a difference in origination code.” Sully lightly touched Tran’s shoulder as he offered her his card. “Could we trouble you to make sure this is not the case, before we must experience a delay at Medical?”
Tran stared at Sully for a moment. Then obviously taken in, as most women were, by that slow, sexy smile of his, she shrugged and tabbed at the screen. She slid the three cards through again. Sighed. “Someone logged them with the wrong parameters. They’re fine. Jalvert?”
The Taka stepped over. I caught a brief flash of irritation in the small eyes. Didn’t like an M.O.C. officer correcting his mistakes, most likely.
“She’s clear. Just a skewed entry.”
Drogue bowed. “Our apologies. We often have our young novices do the clerical work. I appreciate your diligence, Officer Tran.”
The woman nodded, waved us on. “Praise the stars.”
Megan Sybil Baker - 32
“Praise the stars,” I called back to her. For the first time, I meant it.
No one said a word until the four of us were alone in the lift.
“I though we cleared up that glitch in the program.” Sully glanced over at Ren.
“I believed we had as well.”
How could Ren see to program if he were blind?
Sully flashed me a wry smile. “Sorry, my angel. I guess I’m not perfect after all.”
My first inclination was to reply with some biting comment in agreement. But two could
play at this flirtation game. I went with my second. “Pity. Wedding’s off, then.” I
Megan Sybil Baker - 31
An M.O.C. officer in a dark brown uniform appeared quickly. Female, mid-fifties. Short dark hair with one wide streak of silver on the left. Her almond-shaped eyes showed only boredom as our cards processed through a second time.
Then her right hand rose. “Sister Solaria?”
I’d taken perhaps two steps past her. A slight chill of fear rippled through me. I forced myself not to flinch, turned slowly, plastered what I hoped was a holy, and wholly, innocent look on my face. “Praise the stars, sister. How may I assist you?”
Her name tag said Tran, D.. “Your immunizations aren’t up to date.”
Minor problem. Go to Medical, get a hypospray. Not a minor problem. My bio-prints wouldn’t match the real Berri Solaria’s. But they would match Chasidah Bergren’s in the M.O.C.’s central files.
Drogue spoke up quickly. “An error, I am sure, Officer Tran. The Guardianship has even more stringent medical requirements than the Empire. Sister Solaria is one of our most active missionaries. She would not be permitted to carry on her work unless she had full medical clearance.”
“I’m aware of that, Guardian, but her card file shows—”
“Perhaps I can assist.” Ren’s soft tones flowed over Drogue and Tran, standing almost nose-to-nose.
I waited to see her reaction to the Stolorth’s presence. Most people would have backed up a step. Or five.
Tran peered up at the silver-tinged face under the hood. “Brother Ren Ackravaro. Back again?”
I didn’t know if her recognition of Ren were a good or bad sign. Things were starting to look slightly less easy.
“Final trip, for awhile, I’m afraid. Moabar’s winters and I do not get along.” Ren motioned toward me, knowing where I stood, I guessed, by the sound of my voice. “Sister Solaria and I are heading in-system. There’s much work to be done at the orphanage in Kressal on Walker-Three.”
Tran glanced at me. “You’re a teacher, Sister?”
“We’re all teachers and students to each other,” I said softly. “I guide the poor orphans through the light of Abbot Eng shining his wisdom through me.”
“Sister Solaria’s medical files were appended at the convent. Perhaps they were entered incorrectly?” Ren held his card toward Tran. “Ours came through the Guardianship in Dafir. Perhaps if you compare them?”
“It might just be a difference in origination code.” Sully lightly touched Tran’s shoulder as he offered her his card. “Could we trouble you to make sure this is not the case, before we must experience a delay at Medical?”
Tran stared at Sully for a moment. Then obviously taken in, as most women were, by that slow, sexy smile of his, she shrugged and tabbed at the screen. She slid the three cards through again. Sighed. “Someone logged them with the wrong parameters. They’re fine. Jalvert?”
The Taka stepped over. I caught a brief flash of irritation in the small eyes. Didn’t like an M.O.C. officer correcting his mistakes, most likely.
“She’s clear. Just a skewed entry.”
Drogue bowed. “Our apologies. We often have our young novices do the clerical work. I appreciate your diligence, Officer Tran.”
The woman nodded, waved us on. “Praise the stars.”
Megan Sybil Baker - 32
“Praise the stars,” I called back to her. For the first time, I meant it.
No one said a word until the four of us were alone in the lift.
“I though we cleared up that glitch in the program.” Sully glanced over at Ren.
“I believed we had as well.”
How could Ren see to program if he were blind?
Sully flashed me a wry smile. “Sorry, my angel. I guess I’m not perfect after all.”
My first inclination was to reply with some biting comment in agreement. But two could
play at this flirtation game. I went with my second. “Pity. Wedding’s off, then.” I
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