“They allow you to have it forpersonal use as well? This retreat can’t be part of an assignmentfrom them.” She realized there was still a lot she didn’t knowabout her new husband.
“This spiritual retreat is inline with their goals. I need specialized training to fight Condor’sblack magic.”
The hair’s rose on the back ofToemeka’s neck. “You’re being trained to fight Samrat Condorand you didn’t think to mention this earlier!”
“Hopefully not him directly buthis power.”
“We’re not through discussingthis, but I need to get some sleep. I still feel light-headed.” Sheclosed her eyes.
Some time later, Michio woke herwhen they neared the Coalition base. Through the windshield, she sawthe vast Nommi Desert. She contacted the base on a Coalition radiofrequency and identified herself and the aircraft. Ground controlgave her exact coordinates and clearance to land.
When they reached the location, alarge metal door in the ground slid open. Michio flew the Viperinside and landed in a small landing bay near other ships. When theydisembarked, six uniformed guards surrounded them.
Toemeka’s whole body tensed—shehadn’t expected this reception.
2
Trouble at the Feniod Outpost
Planet Ritlan
Toemeka immediately recognizedthe guards were of the Feniod race, a warrior race with a strict codeof conduct who admire honor and courage above all else. The short,solidly-built men had broad, flat faces and black hair. Toemeka wasas tall as most of the men and Michio towered over them. She knewthey’d be hard to deal with from working with Hendora Radmeer onher last mission.
“Let’s see youridentification,” the nearest guard said, speaking the universaltongue. Toemeka pulled out a small ID card and pressed her thumbagainst it. It turned the desired green color proving it was hercard.
“So you areaCoalition field agent.” He tipped his head toward Michio. “Who isthe man with you?”
“My husband, Michio Kimes.”
“Why did you bring him?”
“Toemeka isn’t feeling well,so I flew here with her,” Michio interjected before she could thinkof a better response. Toemeka frowned in annoyance. She didn’t wantthe guards to know her weakness. She prided herself on being tough inthe male-dominated, Coalition military world.
“I’m an Ahimsa warrior andhave worked with the Coalition many times,” Michio continued.
“Where’s youridentification?”
Michio handed him a picture ID.“It gives a fake name. I don’t carry my real ID. It’s toodangerous. I work in places where I could get carded by a Raptorsoldier—Samrat Condor has a bounty on my head.”
Toemeka stared at Michio insurprise. She wished he’d told her that beforeshe’d agreed to let him fly with her.
The head guard’s eyes narrowed.“We’ll confirm your identity with an eye scan. He turned back toToemeka. “What brings you here?”
“I have information about theaerial assault on Jelmur.”
Two of the guards pulled blastersand they all moved closer.
“How do you know about that?”the guard asked.
Toemeka glanced anxiously at theguards with blasters. “I saw it. I have . . . psychic abilities.”
Michio rolled his eyes. Idon’t think that’s the best answer,he said telepathically.
“Search them,” the head guardsaid. A man patted Toemeka’s sides as another began searchingMichio.
“We aren’t carrying anyweapons,” Michio said.
The guard discovered Toemeka’sJuggernaut 50. “Is that so? Do you have any other weapons?”
“No,” Toemeka said.
“You’re a field agent. Youmust be carrying other weapons. Turn them over.”
“Is this necessary? I’venever been required to turn in weapons before.”
His voice deepened to a morethreatening tone. “Cooperate or you’ll be in even more troublethan you’re already in. You’ve violated two regulations alreadyby coming here when you’re on inactive duty and revealing thelocation of this base.”
Deciding it was best to surrenderall her weapons, Toemeka pulled the laser-pen out of her hair and thethick tresses tumbled down her back. “It’s a powerful laser,”she said, handing it to him.
Michio cocked one eyebrow and sheshrugged.
“Is that all?” the guardasked.
“Yeah,” Toemeka snapped. “Ididn’t think I’d need an arsenal to come to a Coalition base.”
He ignored her quip. “Comeinside.”
As they walked across the landingbay toward an open doorway, Michio put his hand on the small of herback and said softly, “I thought you resigned from the Coalition.”
“No, I just went on inactiveduty.”
By the door, Toemeka and Michiosubmitted to an eye-scanner. Once cleared, they entered the building.
A guard stepped behind Toemekaand grabbed her arm. She spun around, suppressing the urge to smashher booted foot into his knee as he clamped a humming handcuff on herwrist. It tightened automatically.
“What are you doing?” sheexclaimed.
Michio sprang forward to help herand several guards converged on him. Michio slammed one of the guardsinto the wall. Another guard drew his blaster.
“No! Don’t fire!” Toemekayelled, terrified the guard would kill Michio. In her mind flashed animage of her brother Baymond being killed when he tried to defendher. “Michio, cooperate. We’ll get this straightened out.”
Michio’s eyes blazed angrily,but he allowed the guards to handcuff him.
She turned back to her guard.“Why are you handcuffing us? We passed the eye scans.”
“We’re following normalprocedures for infiltrators.” He pulled her arms behind her backand clamped the handcuff to her other wrist.
“Infiltrators! We’re notinfiltrators!” She pulled at the handcuffs and felt them bite intoher wrists.
“Then you have nothing to worryabout. Our commanding officer wants a few answers. Come with me.”He grabbed her upper arm.
“Let her go!” Michio growled.
She glanced back at her agitatedhusband. Don’tworry. Once they’ve read my file, they’ll give us clearance,she said telepathically with more confidence than she felt.
Two guards took her to a smallinterrogation room with metal walls and led her to a platform.Vibrating beams of light dropped in a tight circle around her. Theyhummed and a current of energy radiated off them.
An officer walked into the room.His guarded, dark eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts. “Who areyou?”
“I’m a Coalition field agent.My name is Toemeka Kimes, though my records probably still have melisted by my maiden name, Toemeka Ganti. I worked out of CoalitionHeadquarters in Talmiria, Jelmur. We’re wasting valuable time. Iknow information about Samrat Condor’s intended targets.”
Her head had started poundingfrom the electrical field created by the vibrating beams of light.She ignored the pain the best she could. “You’ve identified me.Why are you still suspicious?”
“We suspect you’re a doublespy.”
“A double spy!” She jerkedback and hit
