Conflict by Viola Grace Page A

been undergoing for the last four weeks. It seemed that the moment Bael Lerock’s woman settled in, his dreams had caught fire. At first, it was simple images--the inside of an unmarked cylinder--but then it changed to the bright mind of a woman from Earth. It was not every night, but when he was in her mind, he invariably woke with a pounding headache and a throbbing erection. He wasn’t sure which disturbed him more.
    He glared up at the stars and focussed on the brightest spot in the night sky. If she was truly up there, he wanted to know, and if she was in trouble…
    He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck before he headed for a shower. He was meeting with Bael Lerock in the morning, and since he couldn’t sleep, he had better get an early start to the day.
    “So, how are the crops this year, Thaxis?”
    Bael Norwen looked over at his friend for the last century. “Good, Orriko, green and energetic. How is life with your mate?”
    Orriko gave him a grin that spoke volumes. The lazy satisfaction sent a spurring of envy through Thaxis but only because he had met Bael Hislar, and the woman was truly a creature worth winning.
    “Another question then. Do any Terrans have blue and green hair?”
    Orriko frowned. “Not that I am aware. I can ask Lillibeth if you like.”
    Thaxis hesitated before he found himself saying, “Yes, the sooner the better.”
    Orriko got to his feet and popped out of his office for a moment. When he returned, he was frowning. “Lillibeth wants to know if there was something strange about the eyes.”
    Thaxis nodded. “Yes. No colour at all.”
    Bael Lerock disappeared again. He returned and sat back at his desk. “The woman you describe is on the orbital station. She was put in place as an alternate to this listening station when it was unsure as to whether I would allow this post to remain open. Apparently, we are a strategic centre.”
    “So, she really is that colour?”
    Orriko shrugged. “Apparently. Now, how do you know about her?”
    Thaxis sat back and sighed. “I have been seeing her in my dreams for weeks. Last night, I saw her attacked, and when I woke, there was the feeling of her wounds on my chest.”
    Orriko looked at him, and there was astonishment on his face. “Do you think you are dream locking with her?”
    “If she is real, I know I am dreaming with her. Now, what do I do about it? There is no way for me to contact her.” Thaxis was younger than Orriko by half a century, but right now, he felt very old indeed.
    How could he protect a woman he had never met, thousands of miles away in a station he had never seen?
    “How much of the station have you seen in your dreams?” Orriko was taking the practical approach.
    Thaxis groaned. “Not enough. I don’t have enough of a grasp on her location or the rooms surrounding her tank.”
    Bael Hislar appeared as he spoke the last. “Tank?”
    She was wearing Ikanni clothing but only barely. Her breasts were wrapped with a wide swath of silk and a flowing skirt was paneled to show her legs with every motion. Her long, dark hair was arranged in waves, and despite her odd colouration by Ikanni standards, her body was truly striking.
    “Yes, she is suspended in a liquid if the computer does not call for defence.” He answered her question.
    Bael Hislar put her hand on her mate’s shoulder. The cuffs of her station gleamed on her wrists and biceps. “That sounds like a station guard. They are used on unmanned stations as a defence of last resort. Is there one on the orbital station?”
    Thaxis ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, but she doesn’t look at all like you, or the species specs for Terrans.”
    Bael Hislar inclined her head. “I can check the records. Describe her.”
    Thaxis described the woman of his dreams, and Orriko’s mate narrowed her eyes, her lids showing the darting of her pupils.
    “Kaia Whynot is the officer on duty at Ikanni orbital station. There was one attack on the station in the last