GABRIEL (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 4) Page 5

  Retrieving a small mercury-filled sphere from his satchel, he determined to get her out of her room and into his... for purposes of communication.

  * * *

  Bonk!

  Shara bolted off her bunk and stared at the wall she had been using as a back support while she was reading.

  Bonk!

  The second thud sounded close to the same spot.

  Bonk!

  The thuds continued to come, spaced about five seconds apart, as if someone were playing screwball in the next sleeper. And she knew who that someone had to be. She put up with it for several minutes, vowing not to let him get to her. Ignoring him for the past three days had been one of the most difficult tasks she had ever assigned herself. Every time she saw him, she could sense him wanting to talk to her, and her terrible weakness had her wanting to let him. Added to that, the boredom of staying in her cramped quarters was definitely playing havoc with her nerves. Perhaps, she thought, scolding the professor would be just what she needed to break up the tedium.

  Before she could give it a second thought, she was knocking on his door.

  "Shara!" Gabriel greeted her with a smile that lit up his angel eyes. "What a nice surprise. I was just thinking how much better double screwball is than solitaire. Care to join me?" He stepped back and waved his arm to invite her inside.

  She remained in the passageway, reminding herself she had not come over to play a game with him, especially not inside that tiny room. "No. I, uh, only wanted to check on you. I heard the thumps on my wall and thought—"

  "Oh, drek, I am sorry. I guess the rooms aren't soundproof. If you don't care to come in, would you like to get some fresh air with me? The biodrome on board is small compared to one you'd find on a regular passenger ship but it's still a change of scenery."

  Shara's boredom won a brief skirmish with her caution. "Yes, that sounds fine."

  "One moment then." He tossed the screwball onto the bunk and picked up a small white bag. On their way below deck, Gabriel was careful not to touch her, in spite of an irrational, overwhelming urge to do just that.

  As soon as they entered the biodrome, Shara inhaled the humid air and smiled.

  Gabriel nodded at her appreciation. "Did you know that only sixty years ago, tropical rain forests like this one had almost been obliterated on Outerworld Terra? It's incredible what progress they made out there once they finally realized what danger they were in."

  Shara took another breath of oxygen-rich air provided by the carefully cultivated plants and trees. Sounds of a rushing waterfall and native jungle creatures had been realistically simulated to enhance visitors' sensual pleasure. "Yes, as a matter of fact, Professor, I do know a bit of the environmental history of Outerworld."

  "Oh, of course. For a moment I forgot who your mother is. Aster Mackenzie's contributions to the planet will be legendary."

  She laughed. "At least that's what Lantana told us, but my mother found it hard to believe. She's really a very modest person."

  "Would you care for a Caress?" Gabriel offered, holding open the bag he had brought from his room.

  Shara peeked inside to make sure she understood precisely what he was offering. Recognizing the red shimmer-wrapped hearts, she dipped her hand in and brought out one of the dark chocoberry treats. "Thank you. Where did you find these?"

  "I always bring a supply with me. They're my only bad habit."

  She didn't buy that for a minute. Gabriel unwrapped a sweet as if it were a rare treasure then placed it in his mouth. His expression left no doubt about his extreme enjoyment as he savored the chocoberry slowly melting in the heat of his mouth. Shara felt a bit like a voyeur as he performed the blatantly sensual act. Dragging her gaze away from him, she ate the piece she had chosen for herself. It was good but not that good.

  "I'm glad you decided to end the silent treatment," Gabriel said when he finished his chocoberry. "We do need to go over your plans."

  Shara started to correct him about why she had shown up at his door but realized her desire to have a confrontation with him had melted along with the chocoberry. For a few minutes at least, she wanted to continue the peaceful mood he was attempting to establish. Discussing her specific plans was a sure way of destroying that mood, particularly since she had no intention of including him in them. Yet she was aware that any information she could glean from him could be helpful. She decided to see if she could get him talking instead of the other way around.

  "From what I've read about the time of the rebellion, the insurgents were scattered over the planet, but at the end, the leaders all gathered in First Province to rise against the Ruling Tribunal. Obviously, I'm hoping to hit that time period."

  "Hoping?" Gabriel asked, carefully watching Shara's eyes for clues.

  "Yes, hoping. Lantana had not perfected the tempometer. I can program it for the year I want, but, according to his notes, I may end up as much as a century off. I'm counting on the theory that there are eddies and flows in time, and certain events—those with historical significance—have a stronger pull than other times."

  "If you're right, there shouldn't be a problem. Nothing in that time period was as significant as the rebellion and colonization of Innerworld Terra."

  They came to a small pond and sat down on two smooth boulders. Shara tested the temperature of the water with her fingers and smiled when a group of tiny fish rushed to the surface. "Sorry, guys, all we have is sweets." After a moment, she returned her attention to Gabriel. "I've been reading about that era but I'd appreciate anything you could tell me that might help prepare me."

  Ferrine had told Shara that Gabriel spent very little time lecturing but it was immediately apparent that he enjoyed it. With no further encouragement on Shara's part, he shared his knowledge and love for the past. Rather than the sort of dry dissertation she remembered from some of the professors of history she had had in the academy, Gabriel made the past come alive for her.

  He described the fears of the Noronian leaders as the shortage of energy began to threaten their way of life and the renewed hopes for a glowing future after the discovery of volterrin in Terra's core. Likewise, he gave her an insight into the motivations of the rebels. The fuel crisis had given them a golden opportunity to spread their views and gather followers, despite the fact that they had previously been considered fanatics.

  "The leaders of the movement called themselves Friends and preached a return to the old ways, before technology removed the challenge of survival from their lives. In their minds, this also meant a return to the time when there was no Ruling Tribunal or central planetary government. They wanted to give the people more freedom by putting the power back into the individual provinces. Naturally those leaders were ready to take control of the new local governments to ensure harmony.

  "By the time the crisis ended, the Friends had gone from dreaming of change to believing they could force their wishes on the population. Despite the fact that peace and love were supposed to be the basis of their movement, legal protests gave way to attacks on government-owned property. A large portion of the administrative center of First Province was destroyed before the rebels were brought under control."

  Shara found herself so fascinated with his tales that the afternoon sped by. On the way back to their rooms, she didn't hesitate to accept his suggestion that they dine together. Several of the crew members joined them shortly after they arrived in the dining area and the evening turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable.

  The next two days followed a similar pattern. All Shara had to do was ask a few questions and Gabriel was pleased to educate her. When he had covered every aspect of the rebellion and ancient Noronian history, she urged him to tell her about his journeys.

  The day before they were due to arrive on Norona, Gabriel was determined to bring their discussion back to the present. They were once again in the biodrome, sitting by the fish pond and sharing his stash of Caresses. "I think we should make some contingency plans, in case we get separated,
" he began.

  While he outlined a procedure that he thought would be workable, Shara's mind wandered. Although she had come to appreciate his company and his vast knowledge, she hadn't lost sight of the fact that they had opposing goals. As far as she was concerned, it was still in her best interest to make the time-hop without him. For the past several days, she had successfully sidetracked him. Surely she could manage it a little longer. The moment he concluded his idea for regrouping, she asked, "Tell me about yourself. You know everything there is to know about me and all I know about you is your work."

  Gabriel narrowed his brows in confusion. He could not comprehend the connection between their plans and his background. Thus far, none of their discussions had veered into personal areas. Under the circumstances, there didn't seem to be a need for an exchange of trivial information. On the other hand, Ferrine had assured him that shared confidences could put Shara into a more cooperative mood. "What do you want to know?"

  She figured some basic questions could get him started talking about himself and then, as he had with other subjects, he'd carry on from there. "Where were you born? Do you have siblings? What do your parents do?"

  He was automatically suspicious about what prompted this line of questioning. He had stopped revealing any information about his origins long ago, after he realized how uncomfortable it made most people. And yet, what greater confidence could he share? "Parson's Colony, one older sister, diplomatic councilors."

  Shara hadn't expected him to be so forthright.

  He noted her surprised expression and nodded. "My parents were two of the original twelve."

  "That must have been an incredible experience," she said with sincere fascination. Though the possibility of him having superior mental powers frightened her, she also had the desire to know more about it, from both a professional and personal standpoint. "If I remember correctly, for a short time Parson's Colony was considered one of the greatest brain trusts in the galaxy, then it abruptly dissolved. Several reasons were officially cited—personality and control conflicts and something about a problem with the offspring." She scrutinized his head of soft golden curls, past his beautiful blue eyes and down over his well-developed form, and said the opposite of what she was really thinking. "You seem fairly normal to me, Professor."

  He shrugged his shoulders. "Normal is a very relative term. Our parents thought open mental communication was perfectly normal, even healthy. As children we never had to be warned of dangers because our parents' eyes were on us whether they were with us or not. If I was about to trip over something, that item would vanish or I would be caught by invisible hands in midair and gently set on my feet.

  "We never had to go to academy because all of their joint knowledge was automatically imparted to us. They had expected the offspring to have even greater mental abilities than the parents but only a few did. My sister, Janna, was one of them. Others inherited talents equal to their parents. Some acquired none at all."

  Shara asked the question that had been on her mind since Ferrine first mentioned his birthplace. "And what abilities did you inherit?"

  Gabriel gave her a sly smile. If he truly wanted to gain the upper hand with her, he could let her wonder indefinitely—worrying that he could hear her every thought whether she directed it at him or not, fearing that he could send thoughts or suggestions without ever touching her and she'd never be the wiser. Reminding himself that he wanted to gain her cooperation, he revealed the truth.

  "Some of the skills developed within Parson's Colony were so powerful that outsiders began to fear that the colonists might misuse their power. The group finally broke up due to the pressure of those frightened outsiders. I could see your reaction to where I was raised was one of intellectual curiosity but I assure you it is much more common for someone to become immediately distrustful of what I might be capable of doing to them.

  "Just so you know you have nothing to fear from me, I'm going to tell you something I usually keep secret. I didn't inherit any of my parents' extraordinary extrasensory perception. Unlike most Noronians, I can't even direct specific thoughts to you if I touch your temple. Unfortunately, I also lack the ability to block out other people's thoughts. I'm what they call an open receiver."

  "Are you telling me that you hear what I'm thinking all the time?" Shara's stomach knotted at the possibility and his laughter did little to calm her.

  "No, your privacy is intact." She didn't need to know that once he figured out the color key to her moods, her eyes would tell him all he needed to know without hearing her thoughts. "You mentioned that the offspring had problems. Imagine what it would be like to have twenty-three other people in your head at all times. That's how many open minds there were after each couple had two children.

  "There were other open receivers like myself, who could never block anyone or sort out the individual voices. As children, we never knew a moment of quiet, let alone privacy. Before the group disbanded, they invented a jammer for the less fortunate minds." He pointed to the plain gold cuff on his left earlobe. "With this on, my reception is effectively jammed and I'm protected against any unscrupulous person trying to invade my mind without my knowledge or permission."

  The last he added as a warning, in case she should get the idea that she could manipulate him. Already having broken at least two laws that he knew of, she could be capable of more.

  Though she still didn't trust him and would rather not have to deal with him professionally, Shara felt deep sympathy for him and those other children. It was impossible for her to imagine growing up without ever having time to herself, the chance to dream private dreams or to keep special secrets that only one or two dear friends shared. No wonder Gabriel spent most of his adult life alone and journeying to civilizations where they had no telepathic abilities. He was making up for lost years.

  "Any other questions?" he asked without looking at her.

  She had plenty but if the answer to a simple question about his birthplace could cause her to want to reach out to him, she was afraid of what might happen to her good sense if she learned anything else. "Not at the moment."

  She wasn't sure he was being completely truthful about his lack of skills. After all, it would be to his advantage to keep her in the dark about that. At least she now knew why she hadn't been able to get through to him back in her lab.

  If he was being honest about his background, however, she realized, he'd be even more distrustful of her if he discovered the extent of the extrasensory abilities she possessed. She wondered whether it was her or Gabriel who really had the upper hand.

  "All right," he said after a moment. "It's your turn. I already know your parents are the Co-Governors, you were born in Innerworld and you haven't ventured far from the cocoon."

  "There's nothing wrong with that," she said in a tone that let him know she was ready to defend her way of life.

  "I didn't say there was but you must admit you've had a fairly charmed existence so far." He realized he was baiting her but he couldn't seem to help himself.

  She stopped dead in her tracks, with her hands fisted on her hips. "Charmed? Do you think you're the only child in the universe who had a difficult time growing up? You don't understand anything about my life. Yes, my parents are important people and wonderful to me. I love them very much, but—as with you—because of what my parents wanted out of life, I have had to live with the consequences."

  Gabriel stepped closer, wanting to confirm the color her eyes took on in anger, even though he didn't understand the cause. The hazel was now sparked with yellow. He pushed a little harder. "I'm sure being the center of attention all the time would make life simply unbearable."

  Rather than rage at him, her voice quieted as she turned away. "There is a vast difference between being the center of loving attention and the focus of hatred."

  His hand raised and stroked her hair before he remembered his promise not to touch. When she didn't pull away, he did it again. "I shared a confidence with you,
Shara. I can't read your thoughts but I can tell I've said something to offend you again. Why would you think you were the focus of hatred?" His fingers slipped through the dark, silky strands at the nape of her neck, and the way her head tilted suggested she liked what he was doing. "Why?" he repeated.

  She turned to meet his gaze but his fingers remained tangled in her hair, gently kneading the back of her neck. If it hadn't felt so good, she would have stopped him. "I assumed you knew all important data about me, Professor. My mother is a Terran."

  His hand stilled. "And?"

  Studying his face, she decided he was not being obtuse on purpose. "And that makes me a mixed-breed, an oddity... a freak."

  He was well aware of the prejudice she referred to but had not connected it with her. How could anyone call this exquisite creature a freak? "It also makes you rare, like a black orchid-rose." With the slightest tug on her hair, her head tipped back, and his free hand came up to touch her cheek. He watched, totally fascinated, as her eye color softened to the shade of rich, dark chocoberry.

  And, oh, how he did love the taste of chocoberry.

  Shara held her breath, knowing he was going to kiss her, knowing she shouldn't allow it, yet knowing she didn't have the willpower to resist something she suddenly wanted so badly. As his lips brushed hers, a tingling sensation caused her to gasp. She inhaled his Caress-tinged breath, her eyes closed and her arms snaked their way around his neck.

  His tongue teased hers until she shivered with the pleasure he was giving all her senses at one time. Taste, touch and smell blended together in his kiss. The sound of need coming from deep in his chest spurred her passion in return.

  He deepened the kiss and she felt his hands easing down her back, bringing her closer. The pressure of his splayed fingers on her bottom held her firmly against him and she gave in to the temptation to rise on tiptoes to better fit their bodies together. Her hands roamed impatiently over his back, relaying her own wish for more.