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this?”
    “Yes. When we leave, another contingent will come and occupy this facility for six months. We all try and leave a little something. I added the gym and Tangle arranged the gardens.” His chest was puffed out with pride.
    “What did Breaker contribute?”
    The woman in question came forward, no mask, no uniform, only a soft dress and slippers with her dark hair flowing down her back.
    “Breaker kept her mouth shut, which is very hard for her to do. Welcome to Guardian Island, Hydra.”
    “Thank you, you look very nice today. Casual suits you.” She smiled, and Warp urged her up into the building with a hand on her back.
    “Warp is in a hurry to get into more comfortable clothing as well. Those suits are impressive, but they are heavy.” Breaker came with them, her skirt swaying with every step. “So, did Liskey ask about me?”
    “Today? I haven’t seen her, but she seems to think she is just a rest stop for you, so she isn’t pinning her hopes and dreams on being swept away.”
    “You are direct, aren’t you? I read it in your mind and it is the same thing that came out of your mouth. You still haven’t done research on the Guardians, though you did want to. You are holding to your personal business being separate from ours. Admirable. Futile but admirable.” Breaker skipped along ahead of them.
    Hydra looked around at the huge vaulted ceilings, the giant kitchen, large dining room and huge social pit. Outside, she could see a stone deck and the beginnings of an amazing yard and garden.
    “This way. All of our private quarters are arranged by our rank. Starburn’s is this way.” She nodded and followed to the room that had Starburn’s name on a plaque.
    “The doors here don’t lock. Just go on in, be there when he wakes up. You offer more than you know.” Warp’s solemn words were stated before he turned and left her in front of Starburn’s room.
    She reached for the handle and eased the door open as quietly as she could. Wishing that she were wearing something pretty for once and not her uniform, she slipped inside.

Chapter Four
    S tarburn had a very nice room. It was huge, with the same vaulted ceiling as the main areas. It took a bit of searching to find the invalid that she had come to see, but when she found him, she sat at his side, holding a gasp of pain inside. She could smell the burn before her eyes were willing to fix on him.
    Starburn’s features were scorched, his skin was hot to the touch and he was wearing nothing but a sheet. He was lying on his back and was completely motionless.
    Not knowing what else to do, she took his hand. His palm was one part of his body that wasn’t scorched.
    He shifted as she touched him, a slight twist from one side to the other that she would have missed if she hadn’t been staring at him.
    Looking down at the hand she was holding, a wave of healed flesh was working its way up his arm. She blinked and wondered if her eyes were playing tricks, but the smooth skin worked up over his elbow, to his bicep and up over his shoulder.
    She tried to see if she was giving him any of her energy, but she felt fine. Her concern for him swamped her senses as the wave of healing crept up his neck and worked its way over his dark mocha skin.
    She sat in the room with its curtains drawn and watched him with what little light was available.
    Hydra was so busy watching the cascade of healing that she missed it when his eyes opened.
    “What are you doing here?” Without his mask, he was striking, all hard planes and angles.
    “Warp came to get me. He seemed to think I would be useful.” She continued to hold his hand as the wave of healing crept down his other arm.
    She could feel his gaze on her features. “How far does the burn go?”
    A sly look came to his eyes. “Take a look.” She pursed her lips, reached out and yanked the sheet up to check his feet. There was some scorching on his calves, so she held onto him until that was healed as