"One more crack out of you, and you won't need to worry about the Council."

It took a couple of hours to pack Asher's equipment and clothes. It was really happening. In a matter of hours, she had gone from a single woman living alone to someone who wasn't going to be alone anymore, at least for the near future. Asher would know it all.

Tarris shuddered at the thought of tomorrow night when Asher would see Rya emerge, but there was no way she could avoid it. The plan was in motion, and she would to have to live with it... or, in this case, with her.

"Stop worrying. You haven't got anything that I haven't seen before." Could Asher sense her concern?

"Don't bet on it," Tarris mumbled. She still had one surprise to reveal to her, one that would probably send her running from the apartment.

"Come on. Let's get moving." Asher pulled the trolley that held her bags. The medical equipment was secreted inside the bags that looked to the world like she had a huge wardrobe. The ceramic wheels moved the platform easily, and Asher needed very little energy to pull it.

Outside, Tarris touched her wrist computer and sent out a signal for a taxi. Moments later, the checkered vehicle pulled up to the curb and waited for them. Asher went around to the back of the vehicle with her trolley while the baggage platform emerged from the bottom of the cab. She pushed the trolley onto it but didn't wait to see the platform disappear back up into the metal compartment.

Tarris got into the taxi. She smoothly touched the pads that would collapse the hydraulic joints to make it possible for her to sit. Was this foolhardy charade worth the risk of them both dying so she had a chance of walking again? Sadly, there was only one answer as far as she was concerned. Yes.

Tarris hesitated outside the door to her apartment.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... everything." How could she explain this? "I don't know if I can do this." She flinched when Asher's hand touched her own.

"What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing. Fear makes you weak, it makes you slow, and it will eventually kill you, so it's not a matter of being afraid." Tarris feared very little, of that she was sure. "It's more... more..." What did she want to say? "I suppose it's a matter of losing my independence." Did she truly believe that? Maybe she was a little afraid of letting someone in, and somehow she had a feeling this woman would be the one to do it.

Rule Eight in her Survival Handbook: Don't let your enemies see your emotion; it leaves you open to attack.

Asher gave her hand a pat. "I'll stay out of your way as much as possible. Okay?"

"Okay." But she would still be there. Watching her. Judging her. Tarris reminded herself why she was doing this. She would do what it took to walk again. She swiped her barcode over the infrared lock, and her gaze dropped to the floor as the door slid open.

"Well, here it is." She stood aside to allow Asher inside with her trolley. The clatter of the jostled bags disturbed the peace of the apartment. "Light," Tarris announced. She felt like her inner sanctum had been violated. "Coffee?"

"Sure," Asher answered as Tarris walked smoothly to the kitchen alcove. Tarris returned to where Asher was seated and handed over a thermal cup full of synth coffee. "Thanks."

Tarris reached to the nape of her neck. The color drained from her hair to return to her natural white.

"How do you do that?"

Instead of answering, Tarris put down her cup and flipped her hair forward to allow Asher access to her neck. Asher stood and circled her. "Just under the skin is a small tab." Asher felt around until she found the small circle of metal. "I just tap it..."

"Can I?"

"Sure." Tarris felt Asher's fingers brush her neck then tap the spot to switch on the current.

"That is so amazing," Asher said with enthusiasm "It's pretty cool all right."

"How does it work?"

"The tab is connected to a tiny battery that sends a light electrical current over my skull. It conducts down the hair follicles and reacts with the chemically treated hair. While the current is on, the hair will remain dark."

"Don't you run the risk of giving yourself a shock?"

"The current is so low that wouldn't happen."

"How does it feel?"

Tarris felt Asher's fingers trail over the nape of her neck. "It tingles a little, that's all."

"And what about if it rains or when you wash it?"

"I get wet?" Tarris flipped her hair back and studied Asher's annoyed expression. "It's safe enough, believe me." She reached back and tapped her neck once more to return the color to white.

"And is it all worth it?"

"Yeah... yeah, it is." She had thought long and hard before she made the changes to her body. She hadn't gone into it blindly or lightly. Tarris really wanted to be invisible to those around her.

"Can I ask you something?" Asher waited for a nod before proceeding. "Why do you hide yourself? The others make no effort to blend in. In fact, they seem to take pride in who they are."

"They are also arrogant, self-absorbed pricks, but that's just my opinion." Tarris chuckled. Her definition didn't fit Corman anymore. His arrogance was so immense that he needed the entire planet just to house it.

"I don't understand." Asher looked at her quizzically. "Why aren't you like them?"

"I don't know. Maybe my legs remind me I'm human like everyone else."

"But you're not like everyone else. You should know that."

"Yeah... yeah, I do." Tarris picked up her cup and drank the hot beverage. She used the action to end the conversation.

Asher reached into her pocket and took out the small device Tarris had given her. She activated it and scanned the room, noting the signal emanating from Tarris.

Asher stood and wandered around the apartment. "Nice place you have here." With some amusement, Tarris watched her scan the room. She would find nothing. "A bed in the living room. Interesting choice."

"I think so. It's been very comfortable for me, and I have good access. The spare bedroom is too small."

The light on the box flashed. "Honey," Asher said, "do you want to show me around?"

"Wha..." A small hand quickly covered Tarris's mouth and stopped her from muttering anything more. Slowly, Asher's hand moved to her lips to show silence.

"What?" Tarris whispered. Asher showed the box to Tarris and let go as it was snatched away.

Tarris checked the settings and re-scanned the area. No, the first reading was correct. That couldn't be. She scanned her apartment regularly with the device from Derille. Not sure what she would find, Tarris moved along the wall and narrowed down her search with the aid of the device. Sure enough, she found a small hole in the wall, just above an abstract painting that hung there. Slowly she approached it, sliding along the wall to keep out of sight. She saw the reflection of a lens. She was being watched. Anger burned within her. She. Was. Being. Watched. First there was the betrayal of purposely damaging her spine, and now this.

A tap on her shoulder nearly sent her into action. Only her mental checking of herself stopped Tarris from slamming Asher against the wall. "What's going on?" Asher mouthed the words. Tarris wanted to hit something, and bad.

She motioned Asher toward the door and indicated she should keep to the walls as she did so. When they reached the hall, only then did Tarris speak in a low murmur. "I'm being watched. How the hell did I miss that? I can't believe it." She paced up and down the narrow corridor, agitated to the point of wanting to lash out. "All this time I've been watched. I just want to-"

"It could be a recent thing," Asher said.

"Maybe. But why didn't my own detector pick it up?" Now Tarris's suspicious mind began to see more conspiracies and betrayals.

"It could be faulty."

"It could be. It could also be deliberately meant not to work." Had Derille played her all along? What did he want from her? Had she jumped to conclusions? Whether it was all in her head or everyone was out to get her, life had just gotten infinitely more dangerous and complicated.

"So what do we do now?"

Indeed, what should they do? They? Tarris never had to consider anyone's actions but her own before. "Maybe you should go home. The rules of this particular game have just changed. I can't allow you to be hurt in this."

"I think that would be my decision not yours, Trooper."

"No, I forbid this."

"You forbid? Just who the hell do you think you are? My mother?"

Did Asher know whom she was speaking to?

"In this matter, yes," Tarris said. "I'm not going to be responsible for whatever might happen to you. I'm going to need all my wits about me to protect myself, without worrying about you."

"You would worry about me?"

"As I would about anyone else in your situation."

"Oh." Asher sounded disappointed. "But that still doesn't change my decision. I'm staying. It's got to be a hell of a lot safer with you than without you."

Tarris looked at her and saw that Asher had made her decision. For better or for worse, they were in this together. "All right. Don't say I didn't warn you. We've got two choices. We either use it or lose it."

"Huh?"

"We either use the camera to our advantage, and it means carrying on this stupid plan of yours, or we dig it out and wait for the consequences."

"You mean we carry on this romance thing for real?" Asher's voice nearly squeaked.

Tarris watched Asher's breathing hitch. Pretending they were lovers outside was one thing, but doing that in bed was another. Could she stop herself from getting involved? Somehow she doubted that. That fine line between make-believe and reality could be stepped over very easily.

"Errr... yeah." Though she had voiced it, Tarris had serious doubts about being able to do this. This would surely uncover a particular facet lacking in her life. She could handle being a fool in front of Asher, but what about those who watched them? No doubt Corman and his cohorts would have a good laugh at her expense. It galled her to think of him having this piece of information over her.

Now why did that come to mind? Actually, he seemed to know a lot about her personal life. Was he in on this conspiracy? Could she trust no one?

Could she trust Asher? She looked at her. Rich blue eyes returned her gaze and studied her in silence. Tarris was drawn into those depths and held there, bathed in a warming glow emanating from within. Trust was fleeting, or so she thought. Time would tell who was on her side.

Asher seemed to hesitate.

"Are you having second thoughts about this?" Tarris said.

"I... I..."

"We can go back in there and have a fight, and you can return home. I'll call for a taxi."

Asher lifted her chin. "No. No. I can do this."

Tarris could hear the resolve in her voice. "I'm not some charity case here. If it's going to be a chore, then don't worry about it. I've survived very well up to now without help-"

"Hey! Hey. Slow down." Asher placed her hand on Tarris's arm. "I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's just... I'm not the sort of person who jumps into bed with someone I've just met."

"Me, either." Tarris chuckled. What an understatement that was. Asher joined in the levity.

She looked shyly at Tarris. "So, what do we do?"

"I don't know. I really don't know." Tarris looked inside to Rya for help. What do I do? "If we do this, it won't be a matter of slowly easing into it. They think we're already lovers."

"I know. All right. Let's do this."

What Tarris wanted to do right now was shuffle her feet, but the frame couldn't perform such refined movements as that. "Err... one other thing. I... I've never done this before."

"I already know that."

"You do?"

"You already told me, remember?" Tarris stared at her blankly. "Don't worry about it, Tarris." Asher smiled. "I'll lead you." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I won't let you fall."

"Are we doing it on the edge of a cliff or something?"

"No, silly." Asher leaned in closer, as if to reveal a secret. "I'll make you look good."

Tarris just nodded. They re-entered the apartment and sidled along the wall toward the bathroom. Tarris spoke softly at first, getting louder and louder as if coming out of one of the other rooms. "So, that's it. I'll have to make some space for your things."

They moved into the center of the room, into the sight of the camera. Asher grabbed Tarris and pulled her toward her. "Come here. I don't bite," she whispered.

Tarris tried to watch as Asher kissed her, but the sensation drew her in and her eyes closed. Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around the source of the warmth that filled her. She pulled Asher closer so that their bodies touched. Oh, what she made her feel. A moist tongue touched her lips. She drew back, and her pale eyes widened with surprise.

"It looks like it won't be so hard after all," Asher murmured, just before she drew in Tarris once more. This time there was no resistance. A tentative touch from Tarris elicited a moan that rumbled in Asher's throat. Tarris explored further, emboldened by Asher's frantic movements.

Asher pulled back. "Whoa there, tiger. Let's save something for tonight." Tarris felt disappointed, and Asher chuckled.

"Is... is it always like that?" Tarris asked.

Asher smiled sweetly. "Better."

"Will..." Tarris paused. Her naivete showed, she knew that, but the anticipation of what she could feel was killing her. "Will I feel anything?" Her whisper was urgent.

"Maybe not here..." Asher said and slipped her hand down toward Tarris's crotch momentarily before she lifted it to rest on her forehead. "But you'll feel it here"-she tapped the skin with her fingers and then dropped them to Tarris's chest-"and here."

"And... and..." She just had to know.

"Shhh. You'll find out tonight, all right?" Asher stepped backwards and put some space between the two of them. Her voice rose for the benefit of the spy camera. "So what are we going to do this afternoon?"