Keeper by Viola Grace Page A

had one of the specialised com units, and it was set up to answer her code and nothing else.
    When her twin’s perky face appeared in the com unit, Aggie smiled. “Hiya, Marty.”
    Marty grinned. “English, Aggie.”
    “Oops. Hello, Marty. Sorry, I was in language boot camp again today.”
    “It is so weird, I am looking at the moon right now. I can’t believe you are up there.”
    “Believe it. They put a protective dome over the flag and the footprints, but the rest of the facility is really coming along.” She grinned and started to unravel the braid in her hair.
    “What are you doing this evening?”
    “More studying. I am going to be dispatched soon, and from then on, our communication will be spotty at best.” Aggie wanted to make sure that whoever was listening in on their calls was aware that she was prepared for what happened next.
    “I will miss you, but you seem to be taking to this like a duck to water.”
    “I am. I am finally excited about something. Now I know how you feel all the time.” Aggie grinned. It was true. She knew how her twin felt most of the time, but the difference between them was Marty was the volcano and Aggie could just identify one when she saw it.
    “I am glad that you have found enjoyment in life but a little weirded out at what it takes to get you excited, sis.” She wrinkled her nose.
    “Well, you know that the one place in your mind I never go is your intimate moments. This is the most excited I have ever been about anything .”
    Marty caught on and made an appropriate face. “Ew. Gross, and yet I am glad that you have found it.”
    “There is just so much out here. So much to learn and so much to do.” She rubbed her hands together.
    Relief covered her sister’s face. “Learn it. Revel in it and keep in touch.” When she said, keep in touch , she rubbed her nose.
    Aggie scratched her temple. “I will.”
    The com went black and Aggie sat back with relief. Across their genetic link, they exchanged comfort and encouragement as well as flickers of frustration.
    Aggie switched to an exercise suit and kept the emotional exchange up while she headed to the gym. There were nine physical trainers from different species on the moon. Aggie wasn’t assigned to one yet; she had floated through on the most basic of physical endurance, but her body was already more fit than most of the females on the base.
    She started to make rounds on the track and gradually increased her speed until she was thudding on the surface and letting her mind go blank.
    She was joined on her rounds by one of the trainers who looked like he was made of black velvet. He kept pace with her around the track until she staggered off and grabbed her water pack. She sat on one of the benches and the trainer sat next to her.
    “You are fast.”
    She swallowed and hung her head while her arms rested on her knees. “Thanks. I have worked at it.”
    “You are the new one.”
    Aggie didn’t look at him but drank more water. “We are all new ones. The Terrans, I mean.”
    “Your grasp of Alliance Common is impressive. Are you speaking it naturally?”
    “Yes. No implants for me. Apparently they won’t stick.”
    He chuckled. “Interesting. I am trainer Ikvaro.” He held his hand out, palm up.
    She put her hand on his in the gesture she had been taught when she first arrived. “Candidate Aggie Keller.”
    He clasped her hand in his for a moment and then released her. “What are you training for?”
    She tried to ignore the tingle that ran up her body and along her nerve endings. “I believe they have said that I am to be a Keeper. Some kind of companion or escort.”
    “It is a good option. For someone in your situation with your skill set, you are definitely suited to the role. I have been assigned to be your physical trainer.”
    She turned her head and gave him a surprised look. Her instincts took apart his features and the minute expressions as he let her dissect him with her gaze.
    His body