In Enemy Hands Read Free

that was less stale than what she left behind.
    When the captain of the Differential , the pips of his rank gleaming, stepped forward with a smile and offered his hand, she tried not to look surprised.
    Moon considered herself slightly taller than average, but this man towered over her by a full head. His short, corn-coloured hair gleamed warmly, even under the ship’s artificial lighting. He wore it slightly longer than most military men, enough to give him a spiky fringe. It looked thick and soft.
    His shoulders stretched the material of his dark blue uniform, following the contours of his body, exposing muscular leanness with not a gram of excess fat. His eyes were a lighter blue, like a summer’s day on humanity’s fabled home planet of Earth. When he smiled, two deep dimples scored his cheeks.
    For now, there was no warmth in his eyes or his smile, just professional welcome and courtesy, but Moon wasn’t expecting anything more. As far as she was concerned, the captain was a means to an end. She was sure he saw her the same way. Possible promotion, meet possible scientific breakthrough.
    “Dr. Thadin,” he greeted her. His voice was low and soothing. “My name is Drue Jeen. I’m captain of the Differential . Welcome aboard.”
    She took his hand and held it for the requisite two seconds before allowing it to slip from her fingers. She enjoyed the feeling of his warmth against her coolness, and wondered if she would ever be warm again.
    “Thank you, Captain.”
    The small group of disembarking passengers and crew flowed around them silently. Moon noticed the surreptitious glances at Jeen as they moved off. They were probably in awe of him, careful not to do anything that would get them noticed, even if that meant delaying a casual conversation in his vicinity. Republic Space Fleet captains held the power of life or death over their crews, a fact she would do well to remember.
    She remained silent, letting her gaze rest lightly on him. The fact that he was an attractive man would make her time on the ship easier. It was always easier being nice, or appropriately communicative, to someone who was handsome or beautiful. Supposedly it didn’t matter; she had been extensively briefed on how often she was to keep the captain of the Differential informed of her work. That was the way of the Republic—looks weren’t supposed to matter, but they didn’t hurt. Moon didn’t consider herself beautiful, only moderately attractive, but had the feeling that fact had saved her from the worst excesses during the past three years. How much worse it could have been if she was ugly. Or male.
    “Would you like to tour your lab first, or be escorted to your quarters?” he asked politely.
    “The lab first, please.” A rare smile curved her lips. That was where she felt most comfortable, among the equations and equipment that were like friends to her.
    His gaze darted down to the bag she still held in her left hand, then farther down to the floor. “Did you bring any luggage?”
    She hefted the bag once. “Just this.”
    “Oh. That’s…highly unusual.”
    “The Directorate said the lab on board the Differential was fully equipped, Captain Jeen.” There was a hint of ice in her voice. “Were they mistaken?”
    “No, they weren’t mistaken,” he replied easily. “It’s just unusual to see anybody travel halfway across the Republic so, er, lightly.”
    He said “anybody,” but he meant “a woman.” Moon knew that well enough. She wasn’t sure what annoyed her more—the rampant sexism throughout Republic space, or the guilt-laden fact that she had been allowed to return to her research only because she was a woman. The Republic considered her a negligible threat.
    Jeen made a move, obviously indicating that he was happy to carry her bag for her, but Moon kept a firm hold on the handle and waited patiently for him to show the way. After a slight hesitation, he walked down the corridor away from the shuttle dock