"It's beautiful. Is it new?"

"Yes, I mean, no," Tani said, then shook her head and smiled. "It's very old, but it's new to me. It was a birthday gift." Tani removed the last of the packing, shocked to find that the wound looked more than half healed already.

"Steel said that you healed fast," she said as she carefully cleaned the wound. "I had no idea he meant overnight."

"It can't be fully healed, can it?" Astra asked in surprise.

"No," Tani said, "but it's over half way there. I'm not going to pack it this time. I'll treat it with antibiotics and cover it with a light dressing. I'll put a heavier dressing on before you go to bed to protect it."

"Thanks, Tani," Astra said, lying still as the wound was cleansed, treated, and dressed.

"Do you need any pain meds?"

"No, thanks," Astra said, sitting up and hopping off the medi-cot. "It barely hurts at all. I heal a little faster than most people, Tani, but never anything like this. I don't understand it."

"Neither do I," Tani said as she stripped off the sterile gloves and began cleaning up after herself. "I think we should just count our blessings that the wound is healing nicely and that you'll be fine."

"Agreed," Astra said. "Tani, what happened back there, in the galley?"

"Actually, I was going to ask you that," Tani said.

"You don't know?"

Tani shook her head slowly. "Not all of it, no." She turned around and sprayed the counter with antiseptic, then started wiping it down.

"Steel got angry when you said you spoke to your aunt," Astra said. "He accused you of lying to him. You told him that he'd insulted your honor, and that if he wasn't careful you'd challenge him to a death duel. Then you told him he needed to assemble knowledge before making threats. Kind of a strange way to put it, but accurate nonetheless."

"I said all that?" Tani asked, looking over her shoulder at Astra, her voice so high she squeaked. "Truly? I used those words? I threatened him?"

"Yes, truly," Astra replied. "I didn't know you could shift, though."

"Shift?" Tani asked in surprise. "I can't shift, Astra."

"Oh," Astra said, frowning. Then she shrugged. "Well, you're eyes glowed and your voice got really deep so, whatever that means, that's what happened." Tani was so shocked she felt a little dizzy. She turned back around, hiding her face from Astra. "I've never seen my cousin back off so fast before when he's in a temper."

Tani sprayed the counter again and continued wiping unnecessarily. "I don't remember it," she said. Glowing eyes? Deep voice? What in the great galaxy happened? "Should I apologize to him?"

"I don't see why," Astra said. "You didn't do or say anything wrong, Tani. Steel has a lot on his shoulders right now, and while he's doing a great job with the responsibilities, he's not handling the stress at all well. His temper is becoming a real problem lately. If anyone should apologize, it's him, not you."

"Thanks, Astra," Tani said. "I appreciate that. But would you please do me a favor?"

"Sure, if I can."

"Let me know if I do anything like that again, okay?"

"Sure, no problem," Astra said. Then she took a deep breath and asked the question she most wanted an answer to. "So um, what did you mean when you said you spoke with your aunt?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Tani said. "My Aunt Glory is a Dream Walker. A really powerful one. When we were children she worked with my sisters and me to see if we had a talent for it, which we didn't. She did manage to teach us how to call to her in our sleep though. I haven't done it in years but I tried it last night and it worked." Tani shrugged. "Or, she just found me on her own without my help. I told her that I was fine, why I ended up on this ship and that we were going to a world I didn't know the location of and couldn't even remember the name of. I promised to try to get information for her today to pass along to my parents."

"That's fantastic, Tani," Astra said, her eyes wide with awe. "Oh, I wish I could do something like that."

"So do I," Tani said wistfully. "My sisters, my aunts, and my cousins all have strong abilities. If I have a talent, I've never been able to figure out what it is. Aunt Honey could never find it either, and finding other people's psychic abilities is one of her psychic abilities, confusing as that might sound. She tried a couple times and always said that it hadn't come forward yet, whatever that means."

"I think you might have a talent for healing," Astra said thoughtfully as she touched the bandage on her side lightly.

"I seriously doubt that," Tani said.

"Why?"

"Because healing is a magical ability and among Clan Jasani, only males wield magic."

"Speaking of Clan Jasani," Astra said slowly, "I can't help but wonder about something."

"Yes?" Tani asked, hearing the sudden tension in Astra's voice.

"I know this is not my business, and after what just happened in the galley I suspect I may be way off track, but um...I got the feeling last night that you and Steel had a bit of a...connection."

Tani stopped wiping and turned around, frowning slightly. "And?"

"And, well, is it true?" Astra asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable for asking such a personal question, but determined to do what she thought was right.

Tani saw no reason to answer the question because, as Astra herself had said, it wasn't her business. But she did have a question of her own. "Would you like to tell me why you seem to have a problem with the idea?"

"Steel is my cousin, Tani, and I love him. We have enough trouble right now. Please don't be offended, I just don't want to see him hurt."

"What makes you think I'd hurt him?" Tani asked, dumbfounded.

Astra frowned as she looked into Tani's eyes. She thought of all she knew of the young woman who'd befriended her on her first day of college four years earlier, and wondered how she could be so foolish. "Oh Tani," she said, her face burning with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry. I'm such an idiot. Please forgive me."

"Forgive you for what?" Tani asked at a complete loss.

"I can't even tell you," Astra said. "It's just so...wrong of me."

Tani crossed the room to where Astra stood and wrapped her arms around her. She rubbed Astra's back while she cried, waiting patiently for her to collect herself. When she calmed, Tani stepped back, then looked up into Astra's eyes for a long moment.

"Ah," she whispered. "I see."

"I'm so sorry, Tani," Astra said, but Tani shook her head.

"It's all right, Astra," she said. "The truth is that if I were any other Clan Jasani female, you'd be right."

"No," Astra said. "You'd never do anything dishonorable, and I know that. There's no excuse for me thinking such a thing of you for even a moment. Especially since it's because of me that you're even here to begin with."

"Well, since you never actually said it, then I don't have to be hurt and defensive, right?" Tani said. "Besides, in your place, I'd have had the same concern. So let it go, Astra. Okay?"

"I'll try," Astra said. Then sighed deeply. "I'm so ashamed of myself."

"You didn't do or say anything to be ashamed of, Astra," Tani insisted. "Please, please let it go."

At that moment, Steel entered the infirmary with Marbic, but Tani kept her eyes on Astra, waiting for an answer.

"I will, Tani," she said. "Thank you."

"How's your wound?" Steel asked Astra after shooting a quick glance at Tani who moved to the far side of the room to put the last few supplies away and stayed there.

"Nearly healed," Astra replied.

"How is that possible?" She glanced over at Tani, then shrugged.

"Tani," Marbic said, "if you aren't too upset, which I wouldn't blame you for, would you mind telling us how you got a message out, and what you were able to say? And no, I do not believe for a moment that you sent a transmission. Neither does Khurda."

"Nor do I," Steel said. "I apologize for calling you a liar, and making assumptions without giving you a chance to explain."

Tani dipped her chin a fraction of an inch, accepting his apology in silence, but she didn't look at him. She kept her eyes on Marbic instead while she explained about her Aunt Glory, and Dream Walking.

"I've never heard of Dream Walking, but I sure do wish I could do it," Marbic said when she was finished. "I'll give you the coordinates for Garza, and the exact coordinates for a landing party. The Nomen have installed a new Blind Sight on the planet, making it invisible again, so without the coordinates, no one will ever find it."

"Will the coordinates be enough for a ship to land?" Tani asked, carefully not looking directly at Steel who was standing beside Astra.

"Yes, we do it all the time," Marbic said. "Khurda has found their Blind Sight twice and we've shut it down twice, but now it's shielded and guarded so we just work around it."

"All right," Tani said. "I warn you, I'm really bad with numbers, but I'll do my best to remember them."

"Thanks for the warning," Marbic said. "I'll do what I can to simplify directions."

"Thanks, I appreciate that."

"We appreciate your aid, Tani," Marbic said. "This alone, sending information and requesting help in a manner that cannot be traced or intercepted, is priceless to us. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Marbic," Tani said, suddenly feeling wrung out and tired though it was still early morning.

Marbic left, and an uncomfortable silence fell in the infirmary. Tani was just about to excuse herself and go to her room. It was bare and cold, but at least she could be alone in it. Before she opened her mouth, Steel spoke.

"Are you a healer, Tani?"

Tani shook her head. "Not in the sense you mean, no. As I just told Astra, I do not wield magic."

"What is it that you shift into?" he asked.

"I don't shift."

Steel frowned in confusion. "I've no wish to question your word or risk insulting you again, Tani, but in the galley, earlier, it looked as though you were about to shift. I...recognized some of the...signs."

"Such as?"

"Excuse me," Astra said, interrupting suddenly. "I just thought of something I need to do. See you later, Tani."

"All right," Tani said as she and Steel watched Astra leave the infirmary with matching frowns. As soon as the door closed behind her, Steel turned his attention back to Tani and answered her question.

"Your eyes changed, your voice changed, your demeanor changed, even your manner of speech was different."

Tani nodded slowly. "Astra said my voice changed and my eyes glowed."

"You don't remember?"

"No," she said, looking up at him with stark fear in her eyes. She hid it quickly, but seeing fear in Tani Dracon's eyes tore at him. He crossed the room without giving himself time to think about what he was doing, and took her into his arms. Tani stiffened for a moment, then relaxed against him with a soft sigh.

They stood that way for long moments, neither of them speaking, just giving and receiving comfort from one another. When he felt the warm dampness of tears soaking through his shirt he thought his heart would break. He tightened his hold on her for a moment, then he picked her up and set her on the edge of the exam table. He reached up and wiped the tears from her face with gentle fingers.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"For what?"

"Crying like a child," she said.

He smiled. "You are by far the strongest woman I've ever had the pleasure to know, Tani Dracon. You've been through a lot in the past few days. Releasing a little emotion is perfectly natural."

"Thanks, Steel," she said, trying to smile for his sake. He wasn't fooled though. He went to the sink and filled a disposable cup with water, then carried it back to her. When she was finished drinking he disposed of the cup, then stood in front of her, as close as he could, and looked into her eyes.

"Now, tell me what it is that has you so worried," he said very softly. "I swear that whatever you say will remain between us."

Tani returned his steady stare and nodded. She'd been fortunate to have a lot of good people around her when she was a child. People she knew and loved as family. But outside of that carefully protected sphere, she'd never trusted anyone. Until now. She barely knew Steel, knew next to nothing about him. But that didn't change the fact that she trusted him absolutely and completely.

"I don't know what's happening to me," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't remember all of what happened in the galley, Steel," she admitted. "I remember you being angry, and then I got angry which, all by itself scares me."

"Why does getting angry scare you?"

"Because I've never been angry before."

He stared at her in shock, but he didn't disbelieve her. He couldn't. The truth was right there in front of him, in her eyes and the expression on her face. "How is that even possible?" he asked. "Or is that normal for Clan Jasani?"

"No, it's not normal at all," Tani said. "I've been annoyed, and I've been irritated, and I wake up on the wrong side of the bed now and then like everyone else. But I've never been really and truly angry. I've never lost my temper. Not like that."

"What about your sisters?"

"Salene has a quick temper, but cools off fast. Rayne is slow to anger, but stays angry longer. My younger brothers used to try to make me angry, but I knew what they were up to and didn't let it bother me much. Everyone used to make fun of me because I was always happy, or at least content."

"So, no one but me has ever made you angry?" he asked, his mouth twitching. She smiled as she shook her head.

"No, and I don't know why. There've been many times when people have insulted me far worse than you did, or done cruel things that should've infuriated me, but somehow, I always managed to keep my temper in check."

Steel cocked his head to one side. "That's an interesting way to put it."

Tani frowned and started to ask what he meant. Then she repeated her own words in her mind, and nodded. "Yes, it is," she agreed. "How odd."