were advanced enough to contribute representatives, or to fully embrace the complex legalities that were developed. So, in answer to this need, the Central Galactic Court was formed. It's sort of like..." She paused, searching for a way to describe it, "...like a traveling judicial system."
She turned away from the porthole.
"We visit planets who don't have their own interspatial legal system set up yet, and we help them with their legal issues. We adjudicate, offer them a court system if they need it, and help them understand the intergalactic laws that are currently in effect. Occasionally we negotiate for them in disputes, or assist them in settling internal problems."
She raised her chin proudly.
"My last assignment was in helping Lesser Canis create its very first charter. It was a great job and the Canisians were most appreciative."
Her lips curved into another of those delightfully genuine smiles.
"Gave you a nice party, did they?" said Rory, grinning back at her.
"Well, not so much a party as a rite of purification. Very important on Lesser Canis, and quite beautiful. It's said to restore innocence and virginity." Boralle's smile gave way to a blush.
"Really?" The interest in his voice gave Rory away, and Boralle turned with a cough to continue their walk.
"Yes. Really."
"So, did it work then, lass?" He could no more have held the question back than he could have stopped breathing.
"I guess we'll be finding out, won't we?"
*~*~*~*
Rassing hell, what was the matter with her? She was acting like some low-gig pleasure droid, getting all silly over a man.
Mind you, he was one hell of a man to get silly over.
She slanted a quick look at him as they strolled down another of GSC-131's endless miles of corridor.
His bones were strong, lending a look of masculine beauty to his face as the high cheekbones and firm jaw told a tale of man at his most attractive. She knew his body was damn near perfect, honed, muscled and warmly hard to the touch. Her fingers tingled at the thought of touching him again.
As if he read her thoughts, he once again slipped his fingers around hers, encompassing her hand in his larger one, and making her feel...feel...what?
Safe? Protected? Secure?
She didn't know. An assortment of new emotions were running wild through her flesh, and not a one of them made any sense to her.
Of course she was safe and protected. And secure too. She was on familiar territory in a CGC ship. Why should another's touch make her yearn?
Gently, she eased her hand away from his.
"Perhaps you might like this, Rory," she said, to cover her withdrawal.
He let her go, but she had the funniest notion he had seen her maneuver and acknowledged it for what it was. A scared retreat. But before she could lead him off the corridor, footsteps interrupted them.
Boralle tensed, then remembered Rory had said he was invisible to all but her. She hoped, for once, that such an impossible thing might be true.
Coming down the corridor at a brisk clip was the one person she'd rather have avoided. Officer Durwood Lefton. The same sig-ops Officer Durwood Lefton who'd been harassing her about her limited sexual skills for the last few weeks.
"Well, well, well," boomed his loud and nasal voice. "If it isn't little Boralle North. Going in to the holo-vid for a bit of practice, are we?"
Boralle raised an eyebrow at him. "Practice?"
Lefton sneered. "Well, dear, seeing as the whole ship knows you can only get a three on the cummeter...I would say practice is in order, wouldn't you?"
Boralle felt Rory move behind her, and realized with astonishment that Lefton truly was unaware of his presence. " Stand a little straighter, Boralle ," Rory's voice was a mere whisper against her ear.
She followed his instructions.
" Ask him what he scored ."
"You know, Lefton," said Boralle, wondering where this was going, "I never did hear what your score was?"
Lefton's chest puffed out. "Me? Why I scored a high four, you know."
"Really? A
She turned away from the porthole.
"We visit planets who don't have their own interspatial legal system set up yet, and we help them with their legal issues. We adjudicate, offer them a court system if they need it, and help them understand the intergalactic laws that are currently in effect. Occasionally we negotiate for them in disputes, or assist them in settling internal problems."
She raised her chin proudly.
"My last assignment was in helping Lesser Canis create its very first charter. It was a great job and the Canisians were most appreciative."
Her lips curved into another of those delightfully genuine smiles.
"Gave you a nice party, did they?" said Rory, grinning back at her.
"Well, not so much a party as a rite of purification. Very important on Lesser Canis, and quite beautiful. It's said to restore innocence and virginity." Boralle's smile gave way to a blush.
"Really?" The interest in his voice gave Rory away, and Boralle turned with a cough to continue their walk.
"Yes. Really."
"So, did it work then, lass?" He could no more have held the question back than he could have stopped breathing.
"I guess we'll be finding out, won't we?"
*~*~*~*
Rassing hell, what was the matter with her? She was acting like some low-gig pleasure droid, getting all silly over a man.
Mind you, he was one hell of a man to get silly over.
She slanted a quick look at him as they strolled down another of GSC-131's endless miles of corridor.
His bones were strong, lending a look of masculine beauty to his face as the high cheekbones and firm jaw told a tale of man at his most attractive. She knew his body was damn near perfect, honed, muscled and warmly hard to the touch. Her fingers tingled at the thought of touching him again.
As if he read her thoughts, he once again slipped his fingers around hers, encompassing her hand in his larger one, and making her feel...feel...what?
Safe? Protected? Secure?
She didn't know. An assortment of new emotions were running wild through her flesh, and not a one of them made any sense to her.
Of course she was safe and protected. And secure too. She was on familiar territory in a CGC ship. Why should another's touch make her yearn?
Gently, she eased her hand away from his.
"Perhaps you might like this, Rory," she said, to cover her withdrawal.
He let her go, but she had the funniest notion he had seen her maneuver and acknowledged it for what it was. A scared retreat. But before she could lead him off the corridor, footsteps interrupted them.
Boralle tensed, then remembered Rory had said he was invisible to all but her. She hoped, for once, that such an impossible thing might be true.
Coming down the corridor at a brisk clip was the one person she'd rather have avoided. Officer Durwood Lefton. The same sig-ops Officer Durwood Lefton who'd been harassing her about her limited sexual skills for the last few weeks.
"Well, well, well," boomed his loud and nasal voice. "If it isn't little Boralle North. Going in to the holo-vid for a bit of practice, are we?"
Boralle raised an eyebrow at him. "Practice?"
Lefton sneered. "Well, dear, seeing as the whole ship knows you can only get a three on the cummeter...I would say practice is in order, wouldn't you?"
Boralle felt Rory move behind her, and realized with astonishment that Lefton truly was unaware of his presence. " Stand a little straighter, Boralle ," Rory's voice was a mere whisper against her ear.
She followed his instructions.
" Ask him what he scored ."
"You know, Lefton," said Boralle, wondering where this was going, "I never did hear what your score was?"
Lefton's chest puffed out. "Me? Why I scored a high four, you know."
"Really? A
Similar Books
