Sybil frowned, thinking back, but she hadn't realized that none of the others had been close by when she'd spoken to him. She'd been too focused on him, she realized. She shrugged after a moment. 'He's Commander Anka l'Kartay. That's what he said anyway. I don't know why he'd lie.'

'Or tell us anything.'

Sybil had wondered at that herself, but she didn't acknowledge what Holly was suggesting. She didn't see any point in arguing when neither one of them really knew if he was being truthful or not.

'What else did he tell you?'

Sybil frowned, trying to recall. The truth was she'd been so on edge she couldn't remember anything very clearly. 'He just said it was cool because they'd moved the facility to the dark side to cool it from the heat. He said sometimes they would pull into the sunlight because they missed home and it was depressing to always be in the dark.'

Holly didn't say anything for several moments. 'It seems like he said quite a lot.'

She was fishing and it irritated Sybil. 'Yes, we took a stroll around the facilities and he explained everything-even told me how many soldiers were stationed here and where they were stationed,' she said sarcastically. 'He was just being polite.'

'If you say so.'

Anger flickered through Sybil. 'Why don't you just go ahead and let me in on the workings of your mind? I like to know what I'm being accused of. It makes it a little f.u.c.king easier to defend myself.'

'You don't have to be so defensive. It was just a comment.'

With undertones. Sybil wondered if Dr. Rains just thought she was too stupid to catch the subtle insults and insinuations. 'He was courteous enough to take me to look for my clothes,' she responded tightly. 'I don't see that responding with hostility will get us anywhere.'

'I'm not sure being friendly is a good idea.'

There it was! The accusation she'd been expecting. 'Why don't you handle things the way you think you should and let me worry about my behavior? You aren't my mother or my superior.'

Her lips tightened. 'I'm just saying it could put you in more danger-all of us.'

Sybil stared at her in disbelief. 'You're telling me you think being friendly is more more dangerous than being hostile?' dangerous than being hostile?'

'I don't think being hostile is a good idea either. Being cautious is is.'

Sybil sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. She supposed a lot of her anger was aimed at herself. Being cautious was was the best idea-not being friendly to the point of offering an opening for s.e.xual congress! Maybe it had been an unconscious prompting of her survival instincts? the best idea-not being friendly to the point of offering an opening for s.e.xual congress! Maybe it had been an unconscious prompting of her survival instincts?

And maybe not. She just d.a.m.ned well didn't know. All she did know was that her reaction to him disturbed her more than his reaction to her if possible.

She dismissed it, tried to eject the memory from her mind even though she knew she wasn't going to be able to. So it was stupid! It wasn't as if she didn't know that herself. In any case, Holly Rains was just worried about her own a.s.s! The comment about endangering all of them was telling and at least part of it, she thought, might be hostility because she thought Sybil might be trying to use s.e.x to save herself and it might not work for her.

Not that she thought for a moment that it would would for her! for her!

So maybe, deep down in her subconscious mind, she'd resorted to the age old weapon women had always tried to use to protect themselves, but it certainly hadn't been conscious!

What worried her was that it might not have been that subconscious prompting. She hadn't really been aware of any attraction to him. She hadn't acknowledged it anyway, but there was no getting around the fact that she was acutely acutely aware of him. She'd put it down to fear, understandable fear, and yet even though she'd been scared she couldn't recall even a moment of being repulsed. Shouldn't she have been? aware of him. She'd put it down to fear, understandable fear, and yet even though she'd been scared she couldn't recall even a moment of being repulsed. Shouldn't she have been?

Alright, she had had been scared s.h.i.tless when he'd first entered her cell, but it had been mostly the lighting. That had added an eeriness to his alien appearance that had further unnerved her, and it had vanished as soon as she'd seen him in full light. been scared s.h.i.tless when he'd first entered her cell, but it had been mostly the lighting. That had added an eeriness to his alien appearance that had further unnerved her, and it had vanished as soon as she'd seen him in full light.

She could've understood that better if she'd discovered he looked like a human. He didn't-close, but definitely alien. The impression, she realized, was almost cat-like. Not that he looked like a cat and she couldn't think of any feature in particular that gave her that impression, and yet, overall, it was there and it should have bothered her even if it didn't repulse her.

It certainly shouldn't have appealed to her and yet the truth was, he was fascinating- exotic in a way that was a lot closer to appealing than repulsive. She would've liked to think it was just the fact that he was the first alien she'd ever encountered. She knew that was probably part of it-and completely understandable. The problem was, that wasn't the only level of appeal-scientific curiosity. His maleness maleness appealed to her-his build. He was tall-very tall, well over six feet in height, she was sure, muscular-in a raw-boned sort of way, as if he should have been a good bit heavier-but his build was still undeniably appealing to her. appealed to her-his build. He was tall-very tall, well over six feet in height, she was sure, muscular-in a raw-boned sort of way, as if he should have been a good bit heavier-but his build was still undeniably appealing to her.

Maybe that was partially responsible for the sense that he was cat-like? The leanness? Maybe. The thick mane of hair that fell to his shoulders and grew down his forehead in a wedge-shaped V added to it, certainly. It was no widow's peak, that was for sure, and his hair was gorgeous, thick and streaked with gold, brown, and dark auburn.

It reminded her of a lion's mane, she realized abruptly and maybe that was why her mind said *cat-like'? The hair and the lean build?

Even his eyes, she realized, were oddly cat-like, slightly tilted, heavy lidded-like a lion.

He had striations on his tan skin she thought abruptly, lighter streaks like stripes along his forearms, even along the column of his neck.

The image that instantly rose in her mind with that memory was disturbing, mostly because it was undeniably arousing.

She lifted her head and looked at her roommate. 'You're right-caution.' She hesitated. 'That means in all dealings with them, you know.'

'What are you getting at?'

Sybil considered whether she should say anything at all and finally decided, as long as Holly had thought it was alright to lecture her, t.i.t for tat. 'We don't know anything about them-and I haven't seen anything to make me believe they're aggressive or cruel-but we don't know that they're a lot different from us either.'

'Meaning?'

Sybil gave her a look. 'It's safer to be pa.s.sive.'

Holly stared at her blankly for several moments before that sank in. The look of horror and revulsion that crossed her features made her sorry to have spoken at all, but she thought the woman should try to prepare herself mentally. Captive women always had to worry about rape. 'I don't believe they would,' she added hurriedly. 'I'm just saying, it's safer to be pa.s.sive. It's usually more an act of aggression than anything else and fighting is the wrong thing to do. It only encourages them to more violence.'

'Did he?'

Sybil resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'No. He didn't try anything.' She wasn't sure it would've const.i.tuted rape if he had, because she was uncomfortably aware that he wouldn't have had to try very hard to convince her, but that was beside the point. 'I have the feeling he hasn't really decided what to do with us yet, but I don't think he'd encourage that or allow it-if he knew. We don't know that everyone agrees with him, though.'

'You said he was the commander!'

Sybil did roll her eyes that time. 'Do you think the base commander is aware of everything that happens on the base? Yes, he would probably hear about it, but that wouldn't do you any good-not if it was after the fact.'

'What kind of creature is is he?' Holly demanded as if she hadn't heard a word she'd said. he?' Holly demanded as if she hadn't heard a word she'd said.

Anger surged through Sybil but she tamped it, examined it, and realized why she'd felt it. 'I think he's a good man.' The kind that would try to protect a complete stranger from harm by shielding her with his own body.

Anka cursed himself for being ten kinds of fool all the way down to the command center. He arrived to find chaos, however, and that, thankfully, distracted his mind for a time. 'What happened?'

'The volcano in sector ten blew!' Loka, the captain on duty reported.

'I deduced that,' Anka said dryly. 'It was too close to be anything else. What's the damage?'

'Damage to the shutters on the southern observation room, Sir! The translucent is cracked but holding. I don't know how long it will continue, though, with the atmospheric pressure. We sealed the room off and I sent a crew out to repair the damage to the shutters as soon as the volcano ceased to bombard us.'

Anka nodded grimly. 'What's the estimated time on patching it?'

'Within the hour, Sir.'

Anka relaxed fractionally. 'Send another crew out to examine the hull for any other damage. We can't afford a breach.' He scanned the other workstations in the room finally settling his attention on Cerek. 'Any damage to any of the terra-forming units?'

Cerek saluted. 'I'm still checking, sir. The unit that lies between us and the volcano seems to be working alright, but there was quite a bit of debris deposited around it and there's interference in communications-which could be damage to the unit or simply damage to communications. We need to site check it. Unfortunately, the conditions aren't safe right now for flight and there's a lava river cutting us off from it.'

Anka nodded. 'Ready a team to go out as soon as it's deemed safe enough. No heroics. We can afford to lose anybody.' As he turned to go, he met up with Onur, one of the civilian engineers attached to the project. His expression was eloquent of doom and Anka felt his belly clench in antic.i.p.ation. 'Yes?'

'We lost at least six droids at the new construction site.'

Anka ground his teeth to keep from cursing long and loudly. 'You're certain?'

Onur looked uncomfortable. 'We lost communications with them. No, I'm not completely certain, but it seems likely.'

Anka nodded grimly. 'Inform me immediately if you manage to reestablish communications. Otherwise, you'll need to take a team out when it's possible to retrieve the units to see if there's anything salvageable.'

Onur looked uncomfortable. 'I think the damage to the construction site was pretty heavy, as well.'

'Very likely that will be more a matter of wasted man-hours than resources. Let me know when you have a full report on it.'

He paused in the corridor outside of the command center, trying to decide where to go next. Remembering abruptly that he'd offered to try to retrieve Sybil's flight suit, he headed down to the recycling center. It wasn't difficult to find. The materials it was made of were not like anything that they had. Beyond that, there wasn't actually a lot that made it to the recycler. No one was willing to give anything up as long as there was some use to be had from it.

He hesitated as he retrieved it, an image of her in the bulky flight suit rising to his mind. He supposed it served a purpose, but she didn't need it now, regardless of what she thought. She certainly needed something, however. From the moment he'd seen her in the short top and briefs that left her more bare than clothed, he had been on fire. He'd refused to consciously acknowledge it, but he wouldn't have done anything as stupid as he had if he'd had an ounce of self-control or resistance. And he wouldn't have as much control now as he'd had before when it was only his imagination working upon him.

It wasn't that he regretted the impulse to try to protect her. Although he acknowledged that it would've been a useless gesture if the hull actually had been breached, the impulse to do so was telling in itself. He hadn't considered that it would be useless. He hadn't considered anything beyond trying to protect her.

Until he'd gathered her into the dubious shelter of his body. Even his fear that they would both be crushed by the atmospheric pressure and suffocated by Venus' toxic fumes hadn't been enough to allow him to completely detach his mind from her then, though.

He hadn't expected to see interest in her eyes when he'd looked down at her despite the way she'd clung to him. He'd expected to see fear, perhaps dawning revulsion when she realized who, and what, was holding her. Maybe it was the unexpectedness of it that had thrown him completely off kilter, but that was little comfort now.

He should've pulled away from her.

He didn't even know why he'd felt the urge to kiss her and yet that was exactly what had popped into his mind. It was an Earth mating ritual, not theirs and, as aware of he had been of it, he had never been particularly curious about it, couldn't recall that he'd ever wondered, until he'd found himself looking down at Sybil, what it must feel like when they did that.

It had felt almost like the act of love-making itself, more more intimate in some strange way that he couldn't quite grasp than many times when he actually had made love to a woman. intimate in some strange way that he couldn't quite grasp than many times when he actually had made love to a woman.

He tried to crush the thought and banish it. She wouldn't consider taking him as a lover even if it was possible, and it wasn't-not what he wanted, in any case. She wouldn't understand their customs.

He didn't completely understand the Earth customs, if it came to that, although he knew the mechanics of their various liaisons. With them they were either lovers or mates, together or not. They took lovers, but not in the way his people did. There was no real relationship. There was no expectation that they would form a long term bond, perhaps have children together. They were merely lovers and free to go to another whenever they chose. Their lovers had no rights, no expectations beyond the moment.

Not that lovers on his own world were under any hard and fast obligation to cleave to one another, particularly in the budding of romance. Part of the excitement of it was learning one another and, unfortunately, that also led to disappointment on occasion and one or the other would decide they simply weren't suited.

The chances were that Sybil would even if she understood completely. They were too different. Where would they find a meeting of minds, hearts, and interests?

It was far better not to think about it-especially now. He was too needy, little though he liked to acknowledge it. He'd lost too much, been severed from his roots, and he would not be able to handle disappointment well if she rejected him.

He needed to focus on the good of all, on trying to unravel the political mess of preserving what they had left against the aggression of the Earth people. He had to keep his wits about him.

There could be no harm in looking, however, of taking pleasure in the joy of living that only desire for a beautiful woman could engender. For a little while, he could enjoy the pulse pounding excitement of flirtation with a desirable woman who, if not similarly enchanted with him at least seemed curious. He could fantasize, as long as he was discreet and kept a tight rein on himself.

It would be playing with fire. He knew it would, but the urge was too compelling to completely ignore it. For the first time since the disaster on their home world, he actually felt as if he was alive not merely existing and, as grateful as he was to be a survivor, it wasn't enough.

His decision made, he carried Sybil's suit to the recycling unit and resolutely stuffed it into the hopper. When he'd selected the design that most appealed to him, he programmed the processor and ordered it to be delivered to her once finished. Noting the time to completion, he left the recycling center and went to check the progress of the *feast' he'd ordered prepared. It seemed propitious that it was expected to be served within an hour after she would receive her new clothing.

Resisting the urge to return immediately to his quarters to examine his own skimpy wardrobe for something that might appeal to her and spend the time while he waited grooming in an effort to attain whatever perfection he could, he headed to his office to review the details of the latest disaster. His dress uniform and a bath would be sufficient. Anything more and the entire populace of the f.u.c.king base would be speculating that he was serious in his courtship.

Sybil had mixed feelings when Holly left to join the others in the observatory. She hadn't particularly welcomed Holly's company but it had been a distraction from her thoughts and once she left there was no distraction. Beyond that, she strongly suspected the reason Holly had left was to report to the others and discuss what she might have been doing when she was alone with the aliens.

She didn't like the sense that she'd become an outsider rather than a part of the team, but she wasn't sure that joining the group would dispel what seemed to be a widening chasm. Even if she'd thought it would help, she didn't feel comfortable sitting with them in her underwear. She hadn't liked the way Spencer had looked at her.

The arrival some time later of clothing was almost a relief, regardless of the fact that it was delivered by one of the creepy little gray droids. The discovery that it wasn't her suit as she'd thought dispelled the relief very quickly, though. Shocked at first when she examined it, anger very quickly took precedence. It was was the material. She was sure of that. It just wasn't her suit. the material. She was sure of that. It just wasn't her suit.

She wasn't sure what the h.e.l.l it was! She flung it down on the bunk as soon as she realized it wasn't what she'd thought, holding her anger inside with an effort and mentally berating Anka and the aliens in general.

'They brought your flight suit?'

Sybil glared at Holly unwelcomingly. 'What's left of it,' she responded tightly.

Curiosity flickered in the woman's eyes. 'What's left of it?'

Sybil's lips tightened. 'Clearly, it had already been recycled.'

Holly moved closer and examined the clothing. Sybil watched her resentfully, but refrained from blasting the woman with her temper with an effort. 'It looks like a skirt and some sort of top.'

Sybil slipped to the edge of the bed and took it from the other woman. 'I might as well put it on-not that it will be any protection, d.a.m.n it! At least I don't have to run around in my underwear, though.'

As simple as the garments appeared to be, it took her a few minutes to figure out how to put them on and she wasn't comfortable when she had. The top had sleeves, but it was backless, which meant removing her t-shirt or looking like an idiot or a prude. It sure as h.e.l.l wasn't going to keep her warm! And she'd forgotten to ask for her boots! Of course, those those would've looked absolutely lovely with the outfit! would've looked absolutely lovely with the outfit!

She looked down at it when she'd finished dressing and was dismayed to discover she looked almost as d.a.m.ned naked as she had before! The top barely covered her front, wrapping only partially around her sides and she had a bad feeling she had side-b.o.o.b showing. The skirt went to her ankles, but it was slit d.a.m.ned near to the waist of her d.a.m.ned panties on both sides!

Was this what their their women wore? women wore?

'It looks uh well, it's certainly s.e.xy!'

Sybil glared at her. 'Thanks!' she muttered. Resisting the urge to fling it off and cover up in bed again, she stalked from the room. Her arrival in the observatory almost coincided with Anka's return and created a sensation. Powell, Spencer, and Kushbu turned to look at her, did a double-take and then simply gaped at her. She could already feel her face turning red when Anka stepped through the door and came to a halt as if he'd slammed into an invisible wall.

She didn't think she'd ever in her life been as keenly aware of her femininity or as uncomfortable about it. The urge to retreat was strong and instantly at war with the urge to pretend nonchalance she didn't feel and simply find a place to sit-a.s.suming she could without exposing herself. The end result was that she was as frozen in place as a manikin and unable to decide whether to retreat or not.

Powell seemed to recover first, but he looked like he couldn't decide whether to be outraged or pleased that she'd been given something to wear. He flicked an a.s.sessing, almost possessive glare in Anka's direction.

Almost as if the three men were mentally linked, Spencer and Kushbu also looked at Anka. She could almost see their hackles rise like a pack of cur dogs that had all spotted a female in heat at the same time-and a bigger dog that seemed intent on marking his territory first.

It was the most bizarre, unnerving situation she'd ever found herself in. Not one of her crewmembers had ever looked at her, or behaved, in any way as if they had any interest in her as a woman. She didn't think they were now. It was pure territorialism because the *other' dog wasn't a member of the pack.