“Indeed, I won’t.”
Miriell spun around to see the Mellurean standing at the edge of the garden’s open space. Glennit nodded at them. “Since you’ve chosen this new future together, I’m ready to send you off. It’s a long journey to your new home. Your possessions have been packed and placed in the military shuttle awaiting you in the landing bay. The Navy’ll take you to the ship for the next segment of the voyage, after which you’ll be transferring again, at a Sector Hub, to begin the final portion of the journey. As Agent Murphy stated, the colony where he’s to be sheriff lies many light years away from this Sector.”
“And I thought the Sectors was so slow-moving.” Miriell glanced at Conor—no, Stefan—and laughed.
“I guess having wrung us both dry of all the testimony and evidence we can give, the SCIA can’t wait to get rid of us.” His dry tone indicated he might not be joking.
“There are those who’ll be relieved to know you’ve gone,” Glennit agreed. “I don’t count myself among them. Meeting the two of you has been a fascinating experience. You may hear from me again, should your homeworld of Tulavarra be located at some point. And, of course, you’re always welcome to visit Mellure. After all, your papers do state you’re Mellurean affiliates. You may call upon us if the need is sufficient.”
She escorted them from the garden and along corridors Miriell hadn’t seen before, apparently heading to the landing bay. “Will you thank Captain Sarqisi for me, as well as the two lieutenants who were tutoring me, for their help and kindness?”
“Of course.”
“Will these ships we’re to be traveling on have adequate biological support for Miriell’s needs? A garden or hydroponics?” Conor-Stefan asked. “Or should we be discussing cryo sleep?”
Hating the idea of ever enduring cryo sleep again, she protested, but he squeezed her hand. “My priority is to get you to our new home in a healthy state. If it comes to cryo sleep, we’ll pay for the best specialized services, I promise. And I’ll be there to stand watch over you every moment.”
“I think you’ll find the amenities more than meeting your needs on the ships I’ve selected for your passage.” Glennit’s expression and slight smile held an odd hint of mischief. “I should also mention that, given your status as an SCIA agent, you weren’t eligible for any kind of a monetary reward connected with the takedown of the Combine, of course—”
“I have five years of back salary banked,” he said.
“I was going to say Miriell was eligible for a reward. We’ve established an account for her on New Switzerland with a significant balance.” She reached into a pocket of her elegant dress and brought out a shiny black personal AI. “The details are here.”
“Not much to buy on a colony world.” Stefan raised his eyebrows at the amount on the readout as Miriell showed it to him. He whistled. “But I’m sure we’ll think of a few things.”
“Especially if there are children born of our union,” Miriell said. Her cheeks felt hot, and she knew she was blushing. “Eventually.”
“Which reminds me, we want to get married,” Stefan told Glennit. “Can the captain of this ship—”
“Regrettably, there isn’t time. I’m sure the captain of the space liner you’ll be traveling on next will be happy to oblige. You can consider the voyage a honeymoon.”
Ushered by a small contingent of military personnel, Miriell and Conor entered the docking bay, Glennit leading the way. A trim ship with sleek lines that spoke of speed sat waiting, ramp extended for passengers to board. Glennit stopped, and they paused with her. She held out her arms, and she and Miriell embraced. “I send you forth with my blessings,” the lady said. She shook hands with Stefan.
He offered his arm to Miriell. “Shall we?”
Her powers flooded over her in a rush as Glennit released her psychic hold. She staggered, and Stefan caught her. Leaning on his strong arm, she saw the full glory of the blue flames, mixed with the vibrant clear red of true love, and she sighed. Thank you, she said to Glennit. I never had any doubts about the strength of my bond with him, but it’s beautiful to see.
Journey well and be happy.
“Are you all right?” he asked, face full of concern.
“I’m fine, eager to be on our way to our new home and a fresh start. Freedom to make choices again.” She smiled at him. “I choose you.”
EPILOGUE
“I wish just once someone would explain to me ahead of time why we have to keep dropping out of hyperspace in the middle of the night.” The Nebula Zephyr’s chief security officer, Jake Dilon, scowled at the deserted landing bay. “It’s never for something good. Why can’t some other ship handle these weird extra assignments? Why is it always us?”
“You don’t have any reason to complain. This middle-of-the-night mystery stuff is probably in your job description,” said Owen Embersson, the cargo master. “And maybe mine, if there’s cargo to be taken on. But why my wife had to get out of a warm bed and come down here is beyond me.” He glanced at the woman beside him and frowned.
“All will become clear to you momentarily.” Captain Fleming joined them. “And we’re doing this because the Mellureans requested the CLC Line to make accommodations on our ship available for two special passengers. Mrs. Embersson is here because I asked her to be here.”
“No problem, sir,” she said, although she hid a yawn behind one graceful hand.
Owen tried not to stare. The captain was never to be found in the landing bay in the middle of the night. Something major must be going down, although Fleming’s demeanor was cheerful rather than ready for a firefight.
“The military shuttle is docking now,” announced the traffic coordinator over the comlink.
As he watched the small craft dart into the huge expanse of the Zephyr’s landing bay and set down neatly, Owen felt something brush against his leg. Midorri, the ship’s green-furred alien pet, sat next to him, one clawed paw gingerly hooked onto his pants leg. Moby, the ship’s cat, rubbed against him to say hello before plopping down next to the other animal and beginning a painstaking bath. He exchanged a grin with his wife and threw up his hands. “Great, now the gang’s all here. Wonder why they’re so curious tonight?”
The trim little shuttle extended a ramp as the Nebula Zephyr’s robos bustled to extract a small pile of luggage from the military craft’s cargo container. A man and a woman appeared on the ramp, the man pausing to speak to someone remaining inside the ship.
Owen’s wife grabbed his arm, clamping down on his skin so hard he thought she must have had an attack. “Tyrelle, what’s wrong?”
Without saying a word in answer, she released him and ran onto the landing bay deck, dodging the hardworking robos. “Miriell! Praise be to Thuun, it is you!”
The two women embraced beside the military shuttle, tears of joy flowing, each talking a light-year a minute in the lilting language Owen knew was his wife’s native tongue. The resemblance between the two was astounding, from their soft green hair to the delicate features of their faces. Midorri and Moby circled the pair, twining around their ankles, purring and making little chirruping sounds, begging for attention.
Owen and Captain Fleming approached more slowly, Jake right behind.
“I had a personal message from Lady Glennit, asking me to arrange to surprise Tyrelle and her newly found sister,” the captain said. “I believe it’s always the best choice to go along with a Mellurean’s request. I don’t know a whole lot more details, other than the couple will be sailing with us to Sector Hub. Oh, and I’m to perform a wedding with all the bells and whistles.”
The male half of the passenger pair stood at the end of the ramp, hands in his utility pants pockets, looking bemused by the joyous reunion taking place in front of him. Owen walked over and stuck his hand out, “Owen Embersson, your future brother-in-law, apparently. Tyrelle’s my wife.”
“Pleased to meet you. Sheriff Stefan Murphy, at your service.”
Owen introduced the captai
n and Jake.
“Welcome aboard my ship, Murphy,” Fleming said. “I understand from the Mellureans there’s a good story about how you and Miriell met.”
The sheriff seemed taken aback. “No one’s supposed to know the circumstances.”
The captain made a gesture, indicating their little group. “We’re cleared to hear it, and then Owen can tell you how he and Jake got Tyrelle out of the Devir 6 hellhole. Which is also only for restricted audiences.”
Stefan regarded Owen with new respect. “You were responsible for that operation? Man, I owe you. The destruction of the base set a whole chain of events in motion, almost miraculously resulting in Miriell and me standing here in one piece.”
“Owen gets the lion’s share of the credit. I came in for the mop-up. We can compare notes over beers later,” Jake suggested. “In a more private place.”
Tyrelle towed the other woman to the group of men, the pets following her. “Owen, I want you to meet my sister, Miriell.”
“It’s an honor, ma’am,” he said, taking her small hand in his large one. “I hope we’ll have time to get properly acquainted.”
“Our new passengers will be sailing with us for three weeks to Sector Hub,” Captain Fleming said after he’d introduced himself. “Right now, we should be clearing the landing bay so your ride can be on his way and I can send this ship of mine into hyperdrive where she belongs.” He herded them all into the corridor. “Tyrelle, I’ve put you on the inactive roster for the next three weeks so you can have the maximum time with your sister. And as I understand it, there’s to be a wedding, so I’ve set up an appointment for you ladies for tomorrow afternoon—and Sheriff Murphy, of course—with Meg Thomsill. She’ll coordinate the arrangements. Your sister can have access to anything she needs on my ship. And now, I’ll be on my way, let you have your family reunion. Owen, the Murphys are booked into the best suite on Level A, if you can escort them there.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s my honor to have you both on board the Nebula Zephyr,” Fleming said, and then he and Jake moved away toward the crew gravlift.
Owen took over as guide, leading them to the passenger gravlift. He and the sheriff drifted upward in the silvery stream of antigrav together, watching the two women talk animatedly, each holding one of the ship’s pets. “You’ll probably have to adopt a furred pet of some kind yourself,” he warned Murphy. “Your wife-to-be looks pretty comfortable holding my cat. Her people can talk to the animals, you know.”
“I have a feeling I’ll be learning things about Miriell till the day I die.” Murphy sounded happy at the prospect.
“Holds true for any woman, I guess, but even more so for these ladies,” Owen agreed.
The suite the captain had assigned to the couple was one of the best on the entire ship. The robos had delivered their luggage already, and Owen stepped around the neat stack of containers as he showed Miriell and Stefan the amenities the cabin offered.
The sisters were so distracted by their desire to talk and catch up on events that Miriell paid barely any attention before she sank onto the plush couch in the sitting area and drew Tyrelle down beside her. Moby the cat jumped into her lap and purred loudly as the conversation went on in Tulavarran.
Owen went to the kitchenette and returned with two cold beers, handing one to Stefan. “You won’t get a word in edgewise tonight.”
“Apparently not.” The sheriff laughed. “But I’m happy to see her so excited, you know? I wish Lady Glennit could see the effect of her surprise. I never would have suspected her of the subterfuge, not telling us Tyrelle was on this ship.”
“Oh, she probably knows how it all worked out. Never underestimate the Mellureans. So what shall we drink to?” Owen raised his bottle of the feelgood. “My wife always says her god Thuun brought us together, and I don’t argue, because it was pure goddamn luck I found her. Well, with some assistance from the pets, of course.”
“Miriell says the same thing about Thuun.” Murphy clinked his bottle against Owen’s. “Here’s to continued good favor from alien gods.”
“You said it, brother.” The two men drank and then moved to sit with the sisters on the couch to join the happy conversation.
And the Nebula Zephyr sailed on through the stars.
***
Thank you for reading DANGER IN THE STARS! I really hope you enjoyed the adventure (and of course I’d love a review if you have time and the inclination to write one – even a few sentences would be wonderful. Authors relish reader feedback).
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STAR CRUISE: STOWAWAY, the novella which tells the story of Miriell’s sister Tyrelle, and how she escaped from the Combine with Owen’s help, has previously only been available in a multi author short term anthology. As of early May 2017, the novella will be available as a standalone ebook (wth two other Sectors short stories by me), so be sure to look for that one if you haven’t read it!
Also by Veronica Scott
Ancient Egyptian Romance
(with a dash of the paranormal too!)
The Gods of Egypt Series
Priestess of the Nile
Warrior of the Nile
Dancer of the Nile
Magic of the Nile
Ghost of the Nile
Healer of the Nile
Science Fiction Romance
The Sectors SF Romance Series
Wreck of the Nebula Dream
Escape from Zulaire
Mission to Mahjundar
Hostage to the Stars
Trapped on Talonque
The Star Cruise Series
Star Cruise: Marooned
Star Cruise: Outbreak
Standalone Science Fiction Romance
Lady of the Star Wind
Standalone Fantasy Romance
The Captive Shifter
About Veronica Scott
Best Selling Science Fiction, Fantasy & Paranormal Romance author, as well as the “SciFi Encounters” columnist for the USA Today Happy Ever After blog, Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances! She recently was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
Keep in touch with Veronica, via Facebook, Twitter, and her Blog.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Danger in the Stars
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Other Titles by Veronica Scott
About the Author
Danger in the Stars: (The Sectors SF Romance Series) Page 18