She bit her lip. "Only when I get digitized across the galaxy without permission. I'm funny that way. If you could suck me through space and into your Virtu-whosit, then why didn't you just shoot yourself off this rock?"

"I'm not leaving Reene behind," he said with finality.

"It's only a machine," she argued.

He looked at her pointedly. "And your cat is only an animal. Reene is more than my computer or my ship. He's my assistant and a good friend. I'm not going leave him to die on some forsaken planet all alone."

She blinked, his logic and unexpected loyalty momentarily stunning her. His steady gaze told her that he meant every word. He wasn't going to leave his computerized ship any more than she would desert her pet. Bob's pet. Maybe the alien was more human than she'd thought.

"But it's still just a machine. A computer. If it shuts down, you can bring it back up. If it breaks, you can fix it."

He shook his head. "Reene is more complicated than that. If the power cells drain completely, he loses most of his working memory."

"He loses his mind?" she asked.

"A good percentage of it. I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen." After a few seconds, he returned his attention to her foot. "The cuts aren't serious. No sutures, but I want to kill any bacteria you may have picked up," he told her.

He swabbed her foot, down the arch, around the heel and back up the side. The solution soothed the pain immediately and his warm hands took care of the rest. He finished the left foot and lifted the right one. She sat, mesmerized by her foot resting in his thick thigh and what he was doing to it. This must be real because not even in her wildest imagination could she conjure up such disturbingly sensual care. Then he stopped and she just stared at his large hands on her skin.

Her eyes met his and he said, "Are you going to help me or not?"

The reality of the situation returned, and she glared at the man responsible for ruining a perfectly good resolutions list. "Why me? Can't you just call Galactic Triple A for help or something? Don't you have any little alien friends that can give you a lift?"

He scowled. "Any ship landing near here will be destroyed. The only reason I survived was because of Reene's integrated navigational systems. Until we shut down those weapons, I can't risk bringing anyone else in."

"You didn't have any problem stranding me here," she observed.

"I only brought you because you seemed to recognize those drawings. You could have gone home if you hadn't argued with me about the damn cat," he snapped.

Anger and indignation surged through her as she nailed him with a glare. "Don't you dare blame this on me, Zain. I was sitting at home minding my own business when you sucked me through space and time and God knows what else. The only crime I committed was taking a look at those stupid images."

After a few seconds, his expression softened. He set the box aside and leaned back in his chair. "You are right. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of choices." He crossed his arms and watched her. "So what will it be?"

She looked out the window at the strange world he'd dragged her into. If she wanted to get back to Earth, she was going to have to help the alien. But dammit, she wanted some ground rules. "I won't be a silent spectator."

He gave a short laugh. "Believe me, that never even crossed my mind as a possibility."

"Is there anything else on this planet that I should worry about?" she asked.

He hesitated just long enough to make her worry. "Your Bobzilla seems to be our biggest threat."

She narrowed her eyes. "I assume you have a plan. Preferably one where we don't die."

He nodded. "Since the VirtuWav is inoperable, we'll have to visit the actual dome." He cast a quick glance out the window at the darkening sky and frowned. "First thing tomorrow."

Sitting in the dark with only his console casting light on the forward cabin, Zain checked Reene's vital signs again. Nominal energy cell change in the past two hours. Not good. He'd hoped the ship would recover faster.

Zain leaned back in his chair and fought the need for sleep. Not yet, not until he was sure they had enough power to protect the ship all night. The short-range proximity alarm didn't need much juice. Another half-hour recharge should do it.

"How are we doing, Reene?" he whispered.

The computer responded. "Do you want the truth, or do you want to sleep tonight?"

Zain gave a short laugh. "It doesn't matter, I still won't sleep well. Give me the truth."

"Recovery rates have slowed by ten percent. I expect that trend to continue or worsen in a relatively short amount of time."

"So, what would you have told me if I didn't want the truth?"

"That things are dandy."

Zain chuckled at his longtime companion's newfound terminology. "Where did you get that from?" "It is American cowboy lingo. I noted that Lacey has a marked interest in the Cowboy Era on her home planet. Therefore, I downloaded that historical period and am attempting to ease her fears by communicating in Old West dialect."

Zain shook his head in wonder at Reene's capabilities. His computer had better people skills than he did.

"Would you care to review those files, sir? They are most interesting."

"I suppose it can't hurt," Zain admitted. He stared out into the shadows, looking for nocturnal wildlife.

"Any sign of Bobzilla?"

"Negative."

"Can you tell if it's the same creature from yesterday?"

"I do not have enough data to give an effective response. However, it is highly unlikely that only one such creature would exist on the entire planet."

Zain nodded and crossed his arms. He couldn't help but wonder why was he still alive. Not that he was complaining, but that laser fire was deadly accurate. Whoever was shooting did not want company. If it weren't for Reene's superior reflexes, they'd be in a crumpled heap-like several downed spacecraft he'd discovered.

He eyed the communications controls, and for the hundredth time, considered contacting two old friends he knew he could trust-Cohl and Rayce. He would, as soon as he figured out how to deactivate the laser fire. He knew if he told them his current predicament, they would be here in days, whether or not it was safe to attempt a rescue. He wouldn't drag anyone elseinto this death trap until it was safe. It was bad enough he'd trapped Lacey.

He glanced back at his bunk to where she slept. It was a terrible feeling when he realized he couldn't send her back. A sickening and all too familiar realization that he'd doomed her. Five long years ago in another place in his life, he'd tasted failure and he didn't like it any more now than he had then.

But she'd handled it well, through all that sting and sass she hid behind. He'd seen the way she protected her cat, and the fear that clouded her blue eyes when she felt lost. She couldn't fool him; behind that wall was a woman who cared, maybe too much. Compassionate. Soft. Vulnerable. He scowled. And she was damn stubborn.

Up until a few days ago, all he'd had to worry about was charting this system and staying one step ahead of InterGlax and the bounty hunters. Every minute he stayed in one place was a minute closer to danger for him and anyone in the vicinity. The good news was that no one would land on this planet except in a flaming ball. Not a bad fate for his enemies. Of course, the challenge was leaving it-alive and quietly. A hunted fugitive could never be too careful.

"You have just received an encrypted and secured holo message from Rayce Coburne. Would you like me to play it?"

Zain nodded. "Please."

Rayce's brash face and shoulders appeared clearly atop the control panel. Black hair, blue eyes-he could have been Lacey's brother.

"Zain, where the hell are you? I've been trying to hail you for days. What happened? Find yourself a nice soft woman to settle down with?" Rayce grinned.

Not quite, Zain thought.

Rayce cast a quick look over his shoulder and came back with an uncharacteristically serious look. "Your sister Torrie was here. She said it's urgent that she locate you." He paused. "She made me promise not to say anything, so you owe me for this. Apparently, your father is very ill. I don't know how bad or with what, but your sister seems in a damn hurry to find you."

Zain froze. His father?

Rayce shook his head. "I know you want to protect your family and you aren't exactly on a first-name basis with your father, but I have to tell you that sister of yours is stubborn and downright determined. The family resemblance is uncanny.

Sooner or later, she is going to track you down." He took a breath. "Personally, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of all that red-headed wrath." He raised a hand. "No, I didn't tell her where you are, because hell, I don't even know that. But if you need a place to meet up with her, you'll be safe here or on Yre Gault with Cohl." He leaned back in his chair. "Just think about it. Send a message when you can. Out."

The image vanished and Zain was left in the darkness alone. His father was ill. It was hard to believe that stubborn man would ever allow a microbe to penetrate his rough exterior. Galloway Masters didn't take kindly to being put off his work schedule, not even for family-a family Zain didn't even know anymore. He needed to protect them from his past, and Torrie knew better than to endanger them all by contacting him. It had to be serious for her to sneak out unescorted for a sprint across the galaxy looking for him. Well, she wouldn't find him here. At least, he hoped not-for her sake.

"Would you like to reply, sir?" Reene asked.

He could send a secured message back to Rayce, but he'd already transmitted too many communications from this location and teleported Lacey in. He couldn't take any more chances. Someone might be homing in on him.

"No thank you, Reene."

The power levels flashed into the black for the first time in hours. With relief, Zain switched on the proximity alarm. At least he'd have some warning when someone or something entered their vicinity.

"I'm going to get some sleep," he said.

"Yes, sir. You are below your minimum quotient of rest."

When wasn't he? He stood up, stretched and noted his occupied bunk. The ship had originally had double bunks but he'd removed the second. Why would he need it? It wasn't like he was ever going to have another partner. He could sleep on the corridor floor, but not with Lacey right above him. Much too close for his comfort. The rear cabin would have to do.

He walked by her, catching a glimpse of her sweet face turned toward him, deep in sleep. He stopped, mesmerized by thick black eyelashes, soft lips, fair skin. She looked so .. . demure.

He had to smile. She was anything but demure. Fierce, outspoken, obstinate maybe. Demure was pretty low on the list. Sexy, however, was right near the top.

Lying across Lacey's chest, Oliver spared him a lazy look. Zain stroked its head. His fingers stilled in the cat's thick fur, feeling its body vibrate accompanied by a throaty purring. Must be nice to have no cares, no worries, no regrets. To rest in such peace and contentment. To be able to forget.

He scratched the cat's throat and realized his fingers were centimeters away from Lacey's breast. He held his breath as she gave a great sigh and shifted. Slowly, he withdrew his hand, feeling like an intruder.

Oliver nestled into Lacey's warmth.

"No wonder you're so happy," Zain whispered. Then he shook his head. He was envious of a cat. Now, there was a first.

He walked down the corridor and through the door to the cargo area and the VirtuWav banks. As it closed behind him, he said, "Reene, lock the door. Open it only on my command."

The ship's computer chimed. "Accepted. Door locked."

"Secure the rest of the ship. Feed the proximity alarm through the ship's external sound system. Unlock the door and ready all weapons if the alarm triggers." He could be in the cockpit in a few seconds. That would have to be enough. He paused and thenadded, "And if Bobzilla returns, set to Kill and start firing."

"Accepted," Reene responded. "Good night, sir." Zain grabbed a mat from a wall bin and spread it on the floor. He pulled off his shirt and pants, leaving on a pair of shorts. Normally he didn't wear even this much but then again, he usually didn't have company. From the rack, he retrieved his laser rifle, laid it next to him, and stretched out on the mat. For a long time, he stared at the ceiling, battling the memories that always haunted him when sleep drew near. Then he closed his eyes and accepted the inevitable. If this was Lacey's nightmare, at least she had a way out. There was no escape for him.

Chapter Five.

Lacey awoke with a start, followed closely by paralyzing panic. Oliver purred on her chest, his little face inches from hers. Above, a dark ceiling loomed like a coffin lid. She'd just had the most bizarre dream of her life, about an alien and a spaceship and ...

She turned her head. Instruments and panels flashed silently amid all the metal and windows. A long, despondent groan escaped her. No dream. Here she was, stranded in a spaceship on an alien planet with Bobzilla and an extraterrestrial. Now there was a scenario that didn't happen every day.

She wondered how her life back on Earth was faring without her. It occurred to her, quite pathetically, that no one would miss her until at least next Sunday when her mother would make her weekly call. One of her three sisters might call, but they wouldn't worry if she didn't pick up; they were used to her ignoring phonemessages and E-mails when she was in project mode.

And her friends ... She pursed her lips. She'd forsaken most of her friends for Robert's friends, who had promptly vanished when he'd left. He hadn't approved of any of her friends therefore, he'd shut them out. For her own good, of course. Everything he did was for her own good. And it was her fault that she'd let him.

And then there was her database, waiting to be finished and delivered by the end of the week. If she missed that deadline, she'd never recover professionally. And Robert would succeed in ruining her. She clenched her teeth, fresh humiliation rolling over her. She had to get back home, no matter what it took. As much as she hated to admit it, she would have to help the alien.

A loud thump at the back of the ship surprised her, and she sat up a little, much to Oliver's disapproval. What was that? She looked around the empty cabin. Zain told her he'd stay nearby while she slept. So where was he?

"Zain?" she said into the night. No answer.

Another hard thump. She glanced toward the closed door to the back room and the Virtu-thingies. Then she remembered she wasn't entirely alone. "Reene?"

The computer answered promptly. "Yes, Lacey."

She frowned at its unnerving likeness to HAL. "Where is Zain?"

"He is in the rear cabin."

With the Virtu-thingies? Alarm set in. Was he leaving? Had he found enough power to send himself somewhere and leave her behind? She moved Oliver aside and hopped off the bunk. A pained groan came from the rear of the ship.

"Zain?" she called, making her way down the dark corridor.

As she stepped up to the back door there came a flurry of activity on the other side-banging, thumping, thrashing noises. She heard Zain's grunts and growls. What was happening to him?

"Are you okay? Is someone in there with you?"

One final loud bang and then terminal silence. Her heart beat in her ears as she shoved at the door desperately, but it wouldn't open.

"Zain, answer me!"she yelled.

There was a faint rustle and then he rasped, "Go back to sleep, Lacey. I'm fine."

She stared at the door in disbelief. He sounded awful. Why wouldn't he let her in?

"You don't sound fine. Open the door."

"No."

"Well, I'm not, moving from this spot until you open this damn door." She crossed her arms and planted herself.

Seconds passed. On the other side, she heard Zain mumble something. The door slid aside.

She gasped. His eyes were bloodshot and swollen, his face drawn and damp, his expression grim. There was a sadness in his eyes, a total devastation that rocked her to her soul. It was like she'd yanked him directly out of Hell.

"Happy? Now, go back to sleep," he said as he brushed by her. Walking to the front of the ship, he dropped into the chair and activated the main panel in the darkness.