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Tamche smiled sweetly. “I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

Moving casually around the room, running a finger over various pieces of furniture as if anything in the room was of more importance than Mara herself, Tamche laughed softly. “Our technology makes your methods obsolete. You can never hope to make enough of an impact with anything you can do to gain the respect of Medical Command.” Finally, Tamche stopped and faced Mara from across the room. “You’re a mascot. A cute but unnecessary addition to our team. It is my opinion that you’re wasting everyone’s time and resources with archaic and barbaric equipment we will never need.”

Mara blinked, taking a small step back. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’d hoped to make everyone understand that Earth methods could be used as a means to improve your own.”

“How can such a primitive culture improve on a thousand years of technical and biomedical research?”

Mara shook her head. “I’ve been working with you for two years. Why are you doing this now?”

“Because you need to know your place!” Tamche transformed from a smiling, if condescending, colleague into the most alien, hate-filled person Mara had ever seen. “You don’t belong here. I suggest you leave before you make the wrong people angry.”

Mara shrugged. “I think you know I’m not going anywhere, Tamche.”

“Oh, but I think you will.” Tamche pulled a gun from behind her back and aimed it at Mara. An Earth gun. “Killing you with a weapon of your own people will prove none of you belong here. They’ll send everyone home, but you won’t care.” Tamche smiled again, an unholy, evil smile. “You’ll be long departed from the Universe.”

?* * *

Kiril’s attention was uncharacteristically divided. Mikkarn had spent the day in the mainframe chamber adjusting the failsafe alarms on the recently implemented interventions for human patients. Kiril had nothing to do and he tried to blame that for his restlessness. The cause of his agitation, however, lay in the fact that they hadn’t seen Mara all day.

Kiril tried to reach for her mind, to catch some emotion from her, but he felt nothing. Knowing how focused Mikkarn needed to be, Kiril refused to bother him. Kiril was simply having a tough time accepting that he had two soul’s mates. Such was unheard of.

Pacing down an aisle between the massive machines, Kiril stopped in his tracks. He stilled and concentrated. Something wasn’t right.

I’m going to die. Mara’s voice was clear in his mind, her extreme fear calling out to him.

“Mik! Mara’s in trouble!”

The other man was already sprinting from the other end of the cavernous chamber.

“Go, Kiril! I’ll follow!”

Not pausing even a moment, Kiril hurried through the three security checkpoints, reaching for Mara as he went.

Where are you, Mara?

He didn’t hear her voice, but he caught images of her surroundings… and her attacker.Tamche!

The room was familiar, thank the Universe, and he ran as quickly as he could, shoving people out of his way. When he reached the door he was sure led to Mara, he didn’t stop to collect himself, or to wait for help. He simply disengaged the lock and burst in.

A mistake he only hoped he lived to regret.

Chapter Six

Mikkarn wasn’t far behind Kiril. The simple fact that Kiril had to maneuver through the crowded halls ensured that. When Kiril reached the door to the lounge, Mikkarn expected to be able to catch up. Instead, Kiril opened it and roared inside.

His battle cry was cut short by a loudBANG, and Kiril halted abruptly.

Mara screamed and lunged for Tamche.

“Mara! Don’t!” Mikkarn’s cry was frantic.

It was too late. Mara already held Tamche’s wrist above her head, struggling with the gun. Not waiting on the outcome, Mikkarn simply grabbed Tamche from behind with one hand and the gun with the other. Tamche struggled wildly and Mikkarn wasn’t sure how long he could hold her.

Before Mikkarn could decide what to do, Mara landed a punch to Tamche’s jaw, effectively knocking the kicking, screaming woman out cold.

“Kiril,” Mara whispered, and she turned deathly pale.

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