staring. Or grinning, when she saw that the doctor was staring, too.
"I am Doctor Corda," he said. "Forgive me for staring, but you are the first earthling I have observed up close. I had been told our people were very similar, but this is the first chance I have had to see for myself."
"Am I going to be all right?"
"I believe so." He brushed the hair from her brow, frowning thoughtfully as he bent down to look at her left ear more closely. "Do you mind?" he asked politely, and then he lifted her hands, first one, then another, turning them over carefully. "Interesting," he murmured. "Most interesting."
He smiled apologetically. "Forgive me. You need to rest. Zermicazyne will no doubt return shortly."
With a brief nod, the doctor left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Lainey stared after him, wondering if she was home in bed dreaming the wildest dream of her life.
"If this is a dream, Lainey St. John," she muttered with a shake of her head, "you've outdone yourself this time."
Suddenly overcome with weariness, she closed her eyes and tumbled down, down, into darkness.
"Have you lost your sanity?" Pergith demanded. "Bringing an earthling on board my ship?"
"I could not let her die."
"Her fate is not your concern. You should have contacted us immediately after your ship crashed. What have you been doing down there for so long?''
Micah stared up at his friend. He had grown up with Pergith. They had been raised in the same nursery home. Gone to the same school. Trained together. But now Pergith was like a stranger. Had he always been so rigid, so disciplined, so devoted to obeying every nuance of the law?
Micah gave himself a mental shake. Pergith hadn't changed. He had.
"My transmitter was not working. I could not contact you, and I did not signal you because there were earthlings who knew a ship had crashed in the area. These people know of us, Pergith. They have captured some of us, studied us."
"How do you know this?"
"I know," Micah replied wearily. Feeling as though he hadn't slept for years, he stood up, swaying slightly. "I am going to go check on Lainey, and then I am going to get something to eat and go to bed."
"I will have Stacha bring you a tray."
"Thank you."
"Rest well, my friend."
Micah nodded, then left the commander's quarters.
He went immediately to check on Lainey. She was sleeping soundly, one hand tucked beneath her cheek, her lashes making dark crescents against her skin.
Suddenly overcome by weariness, Micah sank down in the chair beside the examining table and closed his eyes.
Lainey was going to be all right, and that was all that mattered.
Part One Chapter Nineteen
Pergith stared at his friend, unable to believe what he was hearing. Zermicazyne had fallen in love with an earthling, and if that wasn't bad enough, he wanted to return to Earth and live with the woman.
"Live with her?" Pergith queried. "Cohabitate? In the same dwelling? Together?"
"Yes."
"You cannot be serious. Do you mean to sacrifice your career and leave Xanthia forever for this female, this Earth woman?" Pergith shook his head. "Think what you would be giving up. Earth is a primitive planet. What would you do there?"
"I have made up my mind, Pergith. When you take Lainey back to Earth, I am going with her."
"I think not."
Micah stood up. Bracing his hands on the commander's desk, he leaned forward. "I am going with her. You may be the commander of this vessel, but you are not in command of my life."
"You cannot walk away from the Fleet, or from your responsibilities," Pergith said, his voice suddenly cold. "You have an obligation. To our people. ToAdana . To yourself. If you cannot think rationally enough to realize that what you're doing is wrong, then I shall take whatever steps I deem necessary for your own good."
Micah's eyes narrowed ominously. "That sounds dangerously like a threat."
"It is, in fact, a promise," Pergith retorted. "Being on Earth so long has warped your thinking. Even your manner of speech is altered."
Without taking his gaze off Micah, Pergith switched on the intercom on his desk. "Security, report to the commander's cabin."
Micah stared at Pergith in disbelief. "Are you having me arrested?"
"Of course not. I simply intend to have you confined until the Earth woman has been returned to her own planet."
"No! Damn you, Pergith, you cannot do this!"
"I can." Pergith glanced past Micah as the door to his cabin swung open. Pergith signaled for Jerva, the chief