Astral Read Free

That he chose.
    When he came back from the dispenser, her eyes widened. He had found her dessert selections. His tray held a sundae, brownies and what looked like apple crumble.
    “Wow. Sweet tooth. I would never have guessed.” Dina continued eating, tiny bites that her body would be able to break down quickly.
    She watched him discover the Terran treats and had a hard time keeping the smile from her face. If they had been in a group of people, ignoring him would still have been difficult, but she would have managed it. Here, in a one-on-one situation, she couldn’t ignore the charm of his joy of discovery.
    He was working on the sundae when he asked her, “How did you get into distance mediation?”
    Dina cocked her head. “Leaving my body was something that I had always done. Every time I closed my eyes, it seemed that I was in another country or another world. When the Alliance called for Volunteers, I was standing in line to apply with thousands of other Terrans. I wanted to know if my talent was real or I just had an active dream life.”
    Zakkar paused with a spoon full of ice cream. “And?”
    “They sedated me and quickly proved that I was not mad and not simply enamoured with my imagination. I woke out of my body in the facility and scared the bejeezus out of the applicants in the waiting room. I was offered one of the positions immediately and then I had to break the news to my family.”
    “They were not in favour of you leaving?”
    She laughed and almost choked on a mouthful of food. “My mother didn’t want me to even work more than fifty kilometres from her. Leaving the planet had her weeping for days.”
    “You don’t regret leaving them?”
    She sighed and propped her head on her hands. “Sometimes. I really do regret it sometimes, but mostly, I am enjoying be out here meeting new races and making myself useful.”
    “I understand. I missed my family when Arci tapped me, but they were proud and since they were happy, I could embrace my new life with more ease. Change is always difficult, but if we pay attention, we can find things in our life that we didn’t even know were missing.”
    She chuckled. “Big talk from a man wearing ice cream on his chin.” Out of a perverse reflex, she reached out and thumbed the white fluff off his chin before licking the thumb she had used.
    He was watching her in astonishment. Zakkar tilted his head. “You touched me casually, but we have only just met. That isn’t in keeping with your traditions.”
    Her lips twitched. “Then you didn’t read very carefully. Terran women get up to all kinds of shenanigans if there are no other witnesses beyond her and the male she is with.”
    Zakkar looked at her and Dina felt her cheeks warm with a blush. There was a wealth of speculation in that look and she wondered how far she would let him take it.
    Chapter Three
    “Well, Zakkar. We have met and we are getting along just fine. What happens next?”
    He blinked at her in surprise. “I have no idea. Would you like to take a tour of this star system?”
    She laughed. “I am still on duty for the next four days. I can’t leave the station.”
    “Then we will have to continue our courtship here. Do you need sleep?”
    Dina blinked at how thoughtful he was. “Yes, I believe I do. Do you want me to ask the station to find you a spare room?”
    Zakkar inclined his head gracefully. “That would be most welcome.”
    Fish appeared at her mental summons and she asked to find space for Zakkar.
    Fish agreed and swam in front of Zakkar’s eyes.
    “What is this, exactly?”
    Dina smiled. “He is an avatar between the ship and me. He keeps me company.”
    “What is he based on?”
    “Oh, a fish from my home world that I had as a beloved pet. He was with me then, so they built a way for him to be with me now. He monitors the station as well as my stats. He can bring me out of a coma if it is necessary.”
    She chucked as Fish did flips in the air in front of them. He