Astral Read Free Page A

loved being the topic of conversation.
    “Does he speak?” Zakkar was examining the hologram on all sides, not so easy when Fish was insisting on swimming around his head.
    Dina started walking to her quarters. “No. He is modeled after a pet I had on Terra. Fish was my companion for his whole lifespan and I missed him when he was gone, so when my dispatcher wanted me to select an interface, he was the obvious choice.”
    “How do you know what he wants to tell you?”
    “We have worked out a set of signals. Colour changes and such.”
    The doorway on her left lit brightly with a blue glow.
    Dina was slightly relieved. “The computer has assigned you to this room. The atmosphere is set to your species specifications, so have a good night’s sleep.”
    Zakkar took her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. Her heartbeat sped up dramatically, but she tried to keep a bland expression on her face. His knowing gaze set the blush in her body to full bloom.
    “Thank you for your hospitality, Dina. I realize that you were not expecting company and you have been a gracious hostess.” He opened the door to his quarters and left her standing alone in the hallway.
    Her body tingled and she rubbed lightly at the spot where he had pressed his lips. Dazed and a little off balance, she headed down the hall toward her own quarters.
    Once inside her sleeping quarters, she quickly went to the com unit and brought up the Arci system.
    Zakkar had indeed been the avatar for Arci for several thousand years. His people were known for their analytical abilities, but with the tunnel vision of many races, they had not been able to interest any of their people in mating when they accepted the danger of their declining population.
    They had simply struck out to create as much intellectual property as they could before their civilization wound to a close.
    Arci had tried to intervene as Zakkar’s people had slowly disappeared, but they were determined to leave nothing but their wisdom behind.
    Arci’s avatar had mourned his people’s loss, but two hundred years later, he was seen again and active in communicating with the Alliance.
    Dina read about Zakkar’s involvement in intersystem negotiations as well as his participation on stellar councils around the system. He really was Arci’s avatar and he really was on the hunt.
    She groaned and leaned back in her chair. He was a nice-enough guy, but she wasn’t sure that she wanted him to pursue her.
    Dina looked to Fish and he flicked toward her to hover near her nose. “What should I do? He’s a nice guy and there is certainly an element of attraction on both our parts.”
    Fish flicked from side to side before doing quick loops and disappearing.
    Dina snorted. “Coward! I listen when you have issues, you little twit!”
    After it was obvious that Fish was not returning for the night, she took her suit off and slipped between her sheets to get some rest.
    Dina groaned as she realized her astral form was flying through space. She hated it when her dreams took her places she had no business going.
    A light started glowing off to her left and when she looked over, a figure was flying toward her.
    “Hello, Dina. Pardon my taking over your dreams, but I wanted to speak with you.” The form was Zakkar’s, but the voice was not.
    “Am I speaking to Arci?”
    He stopped their flight as they were conversing face to face on the astral plane, but controlled by Arci, it was the blackness of space. Environments were selected by comfort levels and if she was truly talking to a star, then it was no wonder their location was highlighted by the darkness of the star’s home.
    “You are. I have been worried about my avatar.” He floated next to her and took her hand.
    The hot tingle that she had felt through Zakkar was a thousand times stronger with Arci’s contact.
    “That was you. You were planting the seeds for contact when Zakkar and I touched.” She wasn’t accusing, merely