around him, he had to stop himself from his natural inclination to kiss her. And he wasn't thinking about a brotherly peck on the cheek either. Every instinct in him demanded that he dip his head, part her lips, and discover if she tasted as good as she looked.

d.a.m.n.

Up close, she smelled feminine and her friendly warmth reminded him that not only was Dora a family member and an essential part of his crew, she was all female.

While his mind had difficulty corning to terms with Dora as a woman his body responded as if she were his dream lover.

Focus on the mission.

Gently he pulled away, reminding himself that Tessa wanted him to coax Dora out of her quarters. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he smiled down at her. "Why don't we go for a walk? Get reacquainted."

She shook her head, a lock of net cinnamon hair falling over her cheek. "We can talk here."

"The gardens are in full bloom."

"I can see them, on the monitor."

She was being difficult but he didn't know why. He recalled when he'd had to coax Summar out of their closet the morning after she'd gone shopping and spent too much money. She'd been terrified of him for no reason. But just like Summar, Dora was too frightened to think clearly.

Zical tried to keep judgment from his voice. "But wouldn't you like to smell the flowers? Feel the breeze your face? Isn't that why you became human, for the new experiences?"

Dora shivered "I'm not ready yet."

Zical picked up the thread of fear in her tone and gentled his voice. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, Dora. What's bothering you?"

The muscles in her neck tensed, and she walked to a window that overlooked the gardens. He sensed that she desperately trying to hide her emotions, and when spoke, her tone was flat. "I'm not yet adjusted, I need more time."

He had no idea what she was talking about, but he'd gone from trying to help her to anger to wondering how to help her again so quickly that be marveled over the disturbing effect she was having on him.

"What do you mean that you haven't adjusted?"

"For the last three hundred years I've been protected by five thousand tons of bendar on a ship. Later, Tessa buried my main processor deep in Mystique's core. But my sensor could see enemies from afar, from whatever direction they attacked, In addition, I possessed the entire acc.u.mulate knowledge of the Federation in my data

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banks. Instead of the most powerful laser cannons to defend me"-she held up her hand-"I now have... fingernails. Instead of sensors that can warn me of danger that could come from light-years away I have only two eyes that can't see past the door.

And instead of bendar, the hardest substance created by human to protect me, I am flesh and bone."

"But you wanted to be human." He kept his words gentle, his gaze on her profile.

Unlike Summar, who had been, frightened for no good reason. Dora had made a logical argument to support the rationale for her behavior. But he wasn't buying. "You knew we couldn't do the same things as a computer.''

"Yes. I knew. But I didn't know how vulnerable I'd feel once I was in this body.

Humans are brave. I'm not." She refused to meet his eyes, and continued to stare out the window, but even as she twisted her hands behind her back to hide the tremors, he couldn't miss the shudder of distaste that rolled through her.

He couldn't demand that she curtail her fear when she had good reasons to be afraid. Flesh had to be a million time more fragile than bender. And although she had two good eyes, compared to sensors on starships and satellites and even other worlds, her sight must seem extremely limited. He wished she'd confided her fears to Tessa, not him, be cause he didn't know what to say. But she'd opened to him, putting a burden on his shoulders, one for which he might not be equipped to cope, and yet he was touched that she trusted him with her fears.

"Humans deal with fear by facing it." He sounded harsh, even to his own ears, and she flinched, then crossed her arms access her chest.

"I don't want to face my fears."

He could have told her he'd protect her. He could have tried to sweet-talk her into coming cut of her quarters, but her mind seemed so set, like that of a stubborn two- year-old. Oh, she might not be throwing a temper tantrum, but this was the adult equivalent.

Zical took two steps forward and swept her into his arms. Even as she stiffened, gasped, and flung her arms around his neck, he enjoyed the feel of her curves.

As her lips parted in surprise, she lost her look of composure. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you outside."

"No."

"Yes."

"Put me down. Please."

Her plea knifed him, but his mind was made up. Tessa had told him strength, not gentleness, might be required and he finally understood what she'd meant. He wasn't taking Dora into danger. He was carrying her to the garden. Instead of answering her, he strode toward the door with steady, determined steps.

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When Dora understood that he had no intention of yielding to her pleas, her eyes narrowed in fury. She kicked her legs, squirmed, but he simply tightened his grip, overpowering her with his superior strength.

She pounded his shoulder with a fist, then complained. "Ow. You hurt me.

He chuckled. "Next time, try raising your shield before you punch someone."

"Let me go?"

She didn't scream, but the desperation in her tone clawed at him, made him question if he was taking the right approach. But he didn't let her see his doubts. "We're going outside for thirty minutes."

"Thirty... minutes?" She ceased struggling, but if the outrage in her gaze could have shot lasers, he would have been a dead man.

"I know you're scared-"

"Well, du-uh."

In spite of her fear, her natural courage was so much a part of her character she revealed it under duress. She just needed reminding. "Ranth's watching after out safety with his sensors. We aren't at war, but if we came under sudden attack, he'd warn us.

So exactly what do you think can happen?"

"You could drop me."

"I won't." Even as he spoke he chuckled, pleased that although she night be frightened, she hadn't lost her wits.

Dora took deep breaths but her face remained pale, and she trembled in fits and starts as he carried her from her quarters, down a hallway, through an exit, and into the gardens filled with paved walkways, a fountain, and several sculptures. Tessa and Kahn had wanted Mystique to not only be a home to the displaced Rystani people, they wanted the world to be welcoming. Tessa had imported many of her favorite shrubs, trees and flowers from Earth, enhancing the area's, natural beauty At this time of day, most of Mystique's citizens remained at work. A few couples, strolled by, but for the most part, they had the place to themselves.

Hoping the trickling water would soothe her fears, he headed for a secluded area by a waterfall. He owed her patience. He owed her time to adjust to her body. She'd sparks of her former courage when she'd called him a coward. But she wasn't the same friend be remembered. She'd t lost huge amounts of memory, all of her sensors. The adjustment had to be difficult, and if he could, he wanted to her through the hard part.

When he glanced down at her, he was surprised to see she'd closed her eyes. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead and her suit absorbed the excess moisture. Her breathing remained ragged, her face was pale as Mount Shachauri's highest peak, and her pulse leaped erratically u her neck.

Perhaps this hadn't been such a good idea. "Why are you closing your eyes?"

"It lessens the shock of being unable to see behind me."

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He settled in the sweet-scented, green gra.s.s and kept her on has lap, enjoying the warmth of her skin, the clean scent of her hair, and her bottom snuggled against his lap.

Compared to Dora's sparkling vibrancy, Xentos was quickly becoming a fading memory. Risking Tessa's wrath by plucking a fragrant flower from a nearby stem, he whisked the delicate petals across her forehead. "But with your eyes shut, you can't see this beautiful snowy white lidenia."

She smacked his, hand aside with a petulant frown. "The scent is making me ill."

"Rare perfume is made from flowers like-"

"How many more minutes are left?" Dora refused to open her eyes.

"Twenty-eight."

"Your manhandling a not working. I'm more frightened now than before I was before. Take me back, Zical. Now."

"No."

"Ranth" she said, speaking to her portable computer call security."

"Ranth, cancel that request." Zical responded calmly. "We're in no danger Dora only thinks she is."

"Compliance," Ranth responded. Ranth's complex ethics programs probably weren't happy. However, he'd been built to cope with conflicting orders. In case of danger, he protected life. If rank was involved, he obeyed whoever was in command.

And among squabbling friends, he stayed out of the way.

"d.a.m.n you." Dora cursed through gritted teeth, "I want to return to my room."

"You sound like a child."

"I don't give a freakin' dove tail how I sound."

Zical held her tightly against him, her head tucked under his chin, his arms wrapped around her. "Don't you like the warmth of the son on your face? The glow makes your skin luminescent."

"I don't want your compliments either."

"And the breeze is fluffing your shimmering hair."

He brushed a lock from her perfect face, marveling at the silky texture, the glossy multicolored strands of rich copper threaded with golden highlights. He reminded himself that although she possessed the physical attributes of a holovid star and a genius IQ, she'd only been human a few months-which was no doubt why she felt so vulnerable and was acting so childish. And if she hadn't duplicated the body of his holosim, making her so devastatingly attractive and womanly, he wouldn't have minded her petulance so much.

"How many minutes?"

"Not enough." He held her and spoke softly as he'd once done to his child bride, who had been frightened of him, of leaving her home, and of being left alone when he'd had to hunt for their dinner. "You're safe, Dora. I know the adjustment is difficult, I

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can't imagine what it must be like for you, but you have friends and family who love you. We all want you to experience the good parts of being human. Tell me what you like best so far."

"Chocolate."

He grinned. "What about the scent of the gra.s.s and the garden?

She wrinkled her nose, It's... okay."

"Just okay? You don't like the scent of flowers?"

"Mm." Dora tilted back her head, opened eyes that shimmered with fiery red heat.

"You smell much better than any perfumed flower."

Chapter Six.