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signature.  This is exactly what I need to know about.
Both men shook their heads.
 Well, she said.  That settles it. I m helping.
Krys begrudgingly went shopping alone. After he left, Dena looked at Jaret.  Do you have Artificial Intelligence
components within the Nav?
 How did you hear about that?
 It s just something I overheard on Absolute Zero. I was wondering if that would be one way you ve managed to stay
one step ahead of the Sarza Command for so many years. Do you have--
 I should have sent you with Krys.
Krys returned a few hours later, crabby when she wouldn t leave Jaret s side. But he was easily appeased later that
evening when she modeled all of the clothing he d purchased for her.
* * * *
As the days slipped slowly past, Dena spent hours each morning on the Nav under Jaret s calm guidance. She d
worked at perfecting her ability to control the computer. But remembering how disturbed Jaret had been the few times
she d mentally controlled the Nav, she continued to hide those  glitches from him.
Unfortunately, talking with Jill about AI circuitry had only produced more questions in Dena s mind. There was little
that she could ask Jaret without raising his suspicion. So, in the end, she had to be thankful that he left her alone
enough so that she could practice on her own. She slowly taught herself to operate the Nav s main functions without a
manual interface.
file:///D|/Pub%20Folders/NCP%20Publishing/Text%20an%20HTML%20bks/AnnaleeBlysse%20StarlitDestiny%20NCP.htm[2/5/2009 4:21:20 PM]
Starlit Destiny
The only drawback was that most of what she was learning, she was reproducing by rote. She didn t have years of
practical use that would have helped her see in her own mind the way the computer operated. At least not like Jaret.
What she really wanted to do was connect with Jaret while he was using the Nav. But that was out of the question. He
hated the thought she could read his mind. She didn t understand why. Jaret seemed more perceptive than most people.
She wondered if part of the reason he was so adept at using computers was because of abilities that he didn t
acknowledge in himself.
Other than her morning lessons, Jaret pretty much left her and Krys alone. For that she was thankful, because here on
Zaatlahn, Krys proved himself to be ... smitten. One evening he d drawn her a bath, then climbed in with her and
washed her hair. One morning he d cooked her breakfast, then served it to her in bed. Neither had eaten much. Most
days he picked her a fresh bouquet of flowers. He d even worn an incredibly revealing bathing suit she d bought him--
in front of Jaret, no less.
Still, he had an arrogance about him that drove her mad. But he was so gentle and tender that he kept her heart floating
in the clouds, kept her hoping. Yet there was always the unspoken knowledge that this would end. He d take her home.
He wouldn t keep her with him. Until that changed, she was still keeping her pregnancy from him. That didn t sit well
with her, but she didn t feel as if she had a choice. If Krys changed his mind, she wanted it to be for her. Dena knew
that was selfish, but it was how she felt.
The day she started target practice, Krys tendency toward arrogance was displayed as strong as ever. He didn t want
her to learn how to shoot. Surely there was nothing dangerous about practicing with a blaster. So why was he so
protective? Dena came to the conclusion that it was because he wasn t used to so much inactivity. When he was bored,
he was cranky.  Instead of complaining, teach me yourself.
He studied her, one brow lifted.  Jaret has much more patience than I do. Trust me, it would be in my best interest if
you let him teach you.
Dena wasn t impressed with his answer. But, rather than argue, she threw herself into the exercises Jaret devised to
improve her aim, and then her reaction time when the target was moving. After an hour of Jaret tossing sticks into the
air, an awkward looking bird flew along the shoreline. Jaret nodded at it.  They are good roasted. I ll cook it for
dinner.
She shook her head.
 Dena, if you can t shoot your own dinner, there is no sense continuing these exercises.
She sat in the sand and considered that. She closed her eyes and imagined the vision of a war-torn Lyask. Would she
be able to fight back? Could she take another life? By the time she d made up her mind, the bird was gone. She started
down the beach, gathering her resolve to find them dinner.
Not long after she was out of sight from the bungalow, a small craft came into view. Having spent most of her life
hiding from Sarza Command, she instinctively ducked into the jungle. When the hovercraft came to a stop nearby,
Dena slunk farther into the trees.
Within a few minutes, they were sweeping through the jungle looking for her. Dena watched in horror as laser blasts
streaked through the trees behind her, hitting one of the men looking for her in the shoulder. He slumped to the
ground, taking cover.
As another round of fire hit the tree above her, the sickening realization struck her. She was a target as well.
Both men continued to shoot at their unknown assailant. With laser beams singing the foliage around her, Dena
hugged the ground. But those men weren t getting anywhere. It was from her angle that the sniper could be stopped.
She rose to her knees, hiding behind a tree. She balanced her weapon in the palm of her hand and aimed at the blaster [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]