Guarding Forever by Viola Grace Page B

negative.”
    “And then I will go into government service?”
    “If you want to. I am pretty sure that you will have options.” She rose to her feet and walked to the edge of the cliff, looking out over the endless expanse of starlight.
    “What about you? Will you have options when this is over?”
    She snorted and crossed her arms. “If I survive plague exposure, I might be able to get a mind-scrub and re-up to be a monitor again. Maybe.”
    “So, you are in this for the long haul and don’t really have a plan.”
    Ohra made a face at the man who had settled near her on another rock. “You don’t really have to rub it in.”
    He grinned. “I know my situation and it is not pleasant. I was just surprised to hear you mention that you are getting plague exposure.”
    “Well, they can’t treat you without exposing me for some reason. That or they think I am disposable, which I probably am.”
    He stood up next to her, and she didn’t hear him move. Of course. It was his mind; he could go where he wanted.
    “What is with the white peacocks?”
    “I had to get you over here somehow. It isn’t really conducive to signage around here.” He smirked.
    “Thank you for the welcome, General Thanloss. It is much appreciated.”
    “That is very formal for a woman I have seen naked. Call me Forin.”
    “Naked? I thought you said I was wearing a uniform.”
    “I lied to protect your sensibilities. So, tell me about what happens when I get out of here?”
    “Well, you will get physical therapy to counteract the coma you are currently in. I will be getting it as well, so don’t worry.”
    “And then what? I am guessing they don’t just want us to die out again, so there will be matchmaking.”
    She shrugged and noticed that she could feel the heat coming off his body, even on the astral plane. It was very distracting.
    “Probably, but since I am not in the know, I have no idea. They ran out of regular monitors and had to begin hitting schools that specialised in psychic interface. I was a recent graduate.”
    “Congratulations. Now, I would like to take you for dinner. Would you care to join me?”
    She shrugged and took his arm. A second later, they were standing in a charming restaurant with elegant tables and heavily embossed menus.
    Forin smiled as he helped her with her chair. “I have consumed everything on the menu here, so ask and I can create a fair facsimile.”
    She grinned and settled in to eat her first virtual meal with a companion.
    The words were printed in Edinar, and Ohra raised her eyebrows when she realised that he had inserted it into her mind.
    After she had ordered and the meal appeared in front of her, she began to eat.
    “How is it?”
    He looked at her intently and she smiled.
    “It is pretty good. I enjoy the hint of spice on the tail end of the savory flavour.”
    Forin sighed and his shoulders relaxed. “Thank you. I have been in here alone for a while.”
    She paused. “You were awake during your cold sleep?”
    He shrugged. “Off and on.”
    She sliced up and finished the food on her plate.
    “How did you manage the long wait?”
    “I kept myself busy.” He finished his own meal and the plate disappeared. Hers vanished a moment later.
    “I see. Well, I am glad to see that you have maintained your sanity.”
    “I did?” He quirked his lips and drank some wine.
    She mimicked him. “You have appeared to.”
    He tapped his finger on the table. “Why are you here?”
    “I told you. To keep you from trying to wake yourself. The pain would be tremendous.”
    Forin narrowed his eyes at her. “You are hiding something.”
    She squirmed in her chair. “I am also here to make time go faster. That was what my training was for. One month of your treatment has already passed. It will feel like two days here and will in fact be six months of reality.”
    He leaned back in his chair with a thud. “A month? Wow, you are very good. I would have thought it was only an hour.”
    She