Page 2 of Tomlin

CHAPTER 2

Dr. Etta Morgan frowned down at the results of her experiment. The work she’d been doing with the morchev kept surprising her.

Once again the seemingly insignificant gems had displayed unusual readings. Her original research project had simply been to catalog the various gems and minerals found on Cresca - an undertaking that had not been accomplished before.

Although it had begun as a routine process, once she discovered the morchev and their more unusual properties she’d been fascinated. With the approval of her department head at the university in Port Cantor, she’d decided to focus solely on the gems until she had uncovered all of their mysteries. Unfortunately it seemed as if everything she discovered only revealed more intriguing possibilities.

A knock on the door startled her out of her abstraction, her frown deepening. She wasn’t expecting visitors. She had set up her lab in the foothills of the mountains specifically to avoid any unwanted interruptions and, other than a once monthlydelivery of supplies, she didn’t see or hear from anyone. Why was someone here now?

She started for the door then paused and retrieved a small blaster from its usual location in the drawer of her desk. While she wasn’t an expert, she was a competent shot and she wasn’t foolish enough to assume that anyone who appeared at her door had good intentions.

She’d even been accosted once in Wainwright, the closest town, while taking a shortcut between two buildings. Fortunately a swift knee to the balls had discouraged her attacker, and as she’d been exiting the alley a large alien male had been entering it. She’d heard enough of the following conversation to know that he had also threatened the man who had tried to take advantage of her. Apparently he’d been successful in convincing the man not to be so foolish in future. From what she’d heard he’d left town shortly thereafter.

Pausing to one side of the door, she took a quick glance through the one way glass. A normal-looking human man dressed in black stood outside.

Well, perhaps not entirely normal, she decided as she studied him.

While he was remarkably well built - both tall and muscular - that wasn’t what caught her attention. It was the way he held himself, not stiffly but with a precision which argued some kind of martial training. He had short-cropped dark hair and rather stern, angular features, composed in an expressionless mask.

He was looking directly at the door and she had the uneasy feeling that he could see her despite the one way glass. A shiver ran down her spine and she was suddenly quite surethat this man was dangerous - but that didn’t necessarily mean he was dangerous to her. He had knocked politely enough, and it seemed foolish not to at least find out why he’d made the journey.

“Take two paces back from the door,” she ordered.

A flash of what might have been surprise crossed his face, but then it settled back into the previous cool expression as he obeyed. Once he had moved away she opened the door, keeping her gun concealed at her side.

“What do you want?”

“You are Dr. E. Morgan?”

His deep voice was as calm and controlled as his appearance.

“Yes - although I assume you knew that before you made the trip out here. What do you want?”

After an almost imperceptible pause he focused directly on her face and their eyes met. His eyes were an unusual shade of green with a slight bluish tint. Another shiver ran down her spine but this time it was due not to nerves but rather an unexpected current of attraction.

Nonsense, she thought, immediately dismissing the idea. She had long ago decided that she had no interest in the opposite sex.

“My name is Tomlin. I understand that you are researching morchev,” he said after another tiny pause.

“That is correct. Why?”

Another hesitation.

“I am interested in the results of your research. I believe I may also be able to provide some information which would be useful to you.”

“Are you a scientist?” she asked skeptically.

“No, but I do have some… experience with the gems. Also I have heard stories about them.”

Now that was interesting. None of the research that she had done had indicated anyone else taking any interest in the stones except as attractive if not particularly valuable gems.

“What kind of stories?” she demanded.

The eyebrow went up again.

“Perhaps we could have this conversation inside. It may take a while.”

This time she was the one to hesitate. Even though he wasn’t carrying any obvious weapons, her earlier impression hadn’t changed - she was still convinced that he could be dangerous. However one of the first things a scientist learned was not to make assumptions, and she studied him thoughtfully. He had knocked politely enough, and if he had intended her harm there would have been nothing to prevent him from making an attempt.

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