He had contacted his superior earlier and told Phaedrig the incredible news. He had asked Phaedrig to investigate the matter, to find her if possible, and to hold her for his interrogation. Yet, when a response had come only preons ago, it had revealed that only her Starla Vedris record was retrieved when all data bases were accessed. That seemed impossible unless she had told him and Tochar the truth . . . He was relieved that Phaedrig had put his men on alert to watch for her and her ship, especially at Karteal, but he couldn't relax until the enigma was solved.
At least his identity and assignment were safe and he would be sent on further raids where he might gather evidence to defeat the nefariant. He would concentrate on that,
as there was nothing he could do about Starla until she reappeared. He hoped that she wasn't on Noy and within Tochar's reach. If so, there was no way he or her side could rescue her, not with him being outnumbered by villites and not with those Destructoids preventing an attack by her friends.
The next morning, Starla teleported to Yana's dwelling and gave the place a more lived-in appearance in case she had visitors while using that identity on a frequent basis. Afterward, Yana strolled around in the busiest area of the settlement and went to the Skull's Den to observe the continued search for Starla Vedris. She saw the old-time "wanted posters" and heard Radu and others talking about the threats against anyone who befriended her. She chatted with the rotund alien from Mu so she would be familiar with the alleged facts about her treachery and escape. She hoped Dagan would arrive soon so she could witness how he was reacting to the shocking news. She wanted to see if Dagan would turn to Yana or another woman to ease his anguish and to pretend to others he wasn't hurting deeply from her betrayal.
When she was left alone with Radu for a short time, Yana asked in a whisper, "How is Dagan taking such a terrible situation?"
The speckle-faced alien with rippled forehead was aware of the Asisan beauty's interest in Dagan and also knew Dagan had seemed to stop seeing Yana after he became close with Starla. "He was in here last night, drinking heavily and brooding. He sat alone in a comer for horas. I think he is as confused by the incredible event as others are. I have known Starla for malees and believed her to be trustworthy. Tochar has not revealed the charges against her, but they must be serious for him to order her death."
She noted a gleam of concern in his gray eyes, one seem-
ingly mixed with disbelief and affection, and his reaction touched her heart. "I wonder why Tochar does not want her captured and questioned. Papers hanging around the colony say she can be slain on sight, or stunned and captured."
"If I were Starla, I would prefer death to capture and torture. It is said that Tochar is strict and harsh where enemies are concerned." He leaned closer across the bar and warned, "Never provoke him to anger."
Yana nodded understanding. "I have seen Starla many times, but we have never spoken; yet, from watching her at a distance, I cannot imagine what horrid deeds she committed to so enrage her leader. It is known she was one of Tochar's special team members, one of his elite spacekis. Do you think Dagan would imperil himself to help her if she's captured?"
Radu shook his head. "Dagan Latu is not a fool. To an adventurer and rogue like him, survival and honor come first."
Yana daintily took a sip of her drink before she murmured, "I wonder if he would resent my approaching him to offer comfort and friendship. Perhaps he will trust no female after being shamed and hurt."
Radu grinned. "A ravishing and interesting woman like you is just what he needs to help him forget Starla."
Yana smiled as if that opinion pleased her and to imply she still found the Kalfan desirable. "Thank you, Radu; you give good advice, my friend. I am fortunate to know you during my stay on Noy." Fortunate to have a source of information like you and a safe place to conduct observations.
"How much longer will you be here?"
"Perhaps one make; I doubt more than two. Matters are slowly resolving themselves at home, so I hope to return there soon. But I shall miss you after my departure, and I will not leave without saying farewell."
Radu smiled before he left her to serve several men who entered.
In her Yana guise, Starla felt safe and confident against discovery; and Cypher was on standby to rescue her at the first sign of peril. Yet, tension and remorse nibbled at her nerves as she planned her next move, the difficult task of confronting her lost lover without letting her true emotions show.
Dagan opened the door to his chamber, stared at the Asisan beauty standing there, and asked, "What are you doing here, Yana?"
"I wanted to make certain you aren't suffering too badly."
He noticed the look of empathy in her crystal-blue eyes and heard it in her voice, but he wasn't in the mood to talk with her or to accept such seemingly authentic kindness. For a wild moment he had hoped it was Starla in his chamber, but knew it was too dangerous for her to visit him. "Suffering over what?" he asked, irritable from lack of sleep and worry, and from unaccustomed libation of too much strong drink last night.
Yana studied his annoyed reaction at seeing her. She had reftised to use the pheromone to weaken him, at least this time. "The betrayal and loss of Starla Vedris."
Dagan grabbed her arm, yanked her inside, and demanded, "What do you know about Starla and me?"
She ignored his firm grip on her arm, one with pale-blue skin in this form. She softened her startled blue gaze and in a gentle tone—a voice so different from Starla's—replied, "It isn't a secret, Dagan. Everyone has been warned not to give her help or to conceal her; anyone caught doing so will be terminated, thrown to the Skalds for food. Talk spread fast about her alleged perfidy and disappearance. I was visiting with Radu and heard plenty from him and others in the Skull's Den. I'm sorry she hurt you."
Dagan caught the use of her word "alleged" and wondered why she had used it, but didn't ask. "I'm not in tor-
ment, Yana; I've survived worse incidents. It isn't fatal to lose one's relationship partner. I'll find another woman when I'm ready for diversion or sexual gratification."
"You don't have to lie to me, Dagan; you loved her; you told me so."
Dagan narrowed his gaze and asked in a gruff tone, "Did someone send you here to examine me or to give me comfort?"
"No, I came because I am concerned about you. This incident is strange, and many are whispering about it. Those who knew her are . . . mystified and dismayed by what sounds like ... an incomprehensible occurrence. Our paths have not crossed, but her reputation and my sightings of her do not match what this situation implies."
Dagan was intrigued by her pauses and word choices, and amazed by her revelations. "That's dangerous talk, Yana, if it's reported to Tochar."
"I know, but I thought you should know how others feel. I do not believe you are the kind of man who would imperil me for telling you. What will you do if she comes to you for help?"
Dagan backed Yana against the wall and pinned her voluptuous body there with his. "I don't want to discuss Starla Vedris with you or anyone; not ever, understand? She was beautiful and satisfying, but she duped us; she wasn't for real, and I detest pretenders and despise being used. If we ever meet again, she'll be sorry she pulled me into her little scheme. If she expected to turn Tochar and others against me and get me killed, she failed, because he trusts me completely, and is right to do so. I don't want to hear anything else about your suspicions or those of anyone else or I'll be forced to report them to Tochar." Tell the fiendal that, if he's the one who sent you!
"I'm sorry if I've angered or offended you, Dagan; that was not my intention. I can help you forget her, if you'll allow me to do so. I swear to you I am a loyal friend."
Dagan released her and stepped backward. "Thanks for the generous and kind offer, Yana, but I'm not in the mood for this kind of talk right now. Please leave before I say or do something I'll regret."
"May I return in a few deegas to visit with you? As friends, if that's all you want. You hel
ped me in a time of trouble, so I would like to help you."
Dagan reasoned he might need Yana as a cover against being implicated as Starla's accomplice or as a source of information, so he replied, "You can come see me again, but give me a few deegas alone."
She sent him a glowing smile and nodded. At least he hadn't turned to the alluring creature yet, and he did give her the impression he was hurting inside. Twinges of guilt chewed at her and desire blazed within her as she returned to Yana's dwelling.
That same evening, Dagan was warned by a message from Phaedrig that somebody in Seri and in Maffei had retrieved data from Dagan Latu's file by accessing the official network using an untraceable frequency and the correct password again, which meant the encroachers were in positions of power. His superior had been alerted by the cue Phaedrig had inserted to call his attention to any time an undercover I-GAF agent was checked out, but the procedures were carried out and terminated too fast for him to reach a terminal to determine their origins. Phaedrig was concerned about the intruders' motives and Dagan's safety. He asked Dagan if he should be extracted via a fake trading vessel or if he wanted to stay and bluff it out; the resolute agent said he would complete his assignment.
Dagan wondered if one check was done by Tochar's accomplice in Seri and the second by another contact in Maffei. Tochar had asked during his Thorin test if he knew Acharius from Caguas, so Dagan had asked Phaedrig to run
a surreptitious probe on the Maifeian. It was possible that Acharius and/or Tochar had an additional conspirator in that same galaxy. Since he had been subjected to truth serum again, he was surprised they would remain suspicious of him, though he'd had an intimate and close connection to Starla. Perhaps they were simply making certain he was loyal before drawing him deeper into their band.
Perhaps Starla was an agent of some type or the hireling of a rival. He was aware her ship had cloaking ability but she couldn't linger nearby for very long without supplies and surely wouldn't be so reckless as to make an appearance to get them. But if she had lingered, he mused, would she come to him? If so, what would her story be? If she had deluded Tochar several times, she was immune to Thorin. . . . Then his speculations took a wild turn: What if the same was true of Yana? What if Starla and Yana were confederates? That would explain why Yana had backed away from him without causing trouble and why Yana seemingly had defended Starla to him. ... Or perhaps the two women were working for the same person without each other's awareness. That would be a cunning and unsuspected ruse: two females assigned to defeat Tochar.
"Who, where, and what are you, Starla?" he murmured. "And you, Yana, there's no info available on you. Perhaps I should draw you closer, my seductive Asisan, and see what I can extract from you."
Cypher summoned Starla to her ship that night to communicate with Raz Yakir, galactic ruler of Seri, the man who had initiated this mission, one of two men who had selected her for this critical and perilous task, the man who had gifted her with the transmutation ability and chemical.
Starla listened to his astonishing words, then asked, "What do you mean, there's another agent working on this
assignment, one from I-GAF? Why wasn't I informed about such an important fact? Who is he?"
"I do not know who the I-GAF agent is," Raz Yakir's voice wavered not at all in indecision, "their identities and missions records are inaccessible to me, to everyone except members of that force. I do not know if it is a male or a female. I do not know if the agent has been in To-char's band for a long time, or if one arrived after you did and joined it, or if one has yet to infiltrate it. I was away resting when Supreme Commander Sanger tried to contact me, and he could not reach me until I returned late this deega. When Thaine related what had occurred there, I knew I should reveal this fact to you. There is no reason for you to further endanger yourself, Bree-Kayah; return home and allow the I-GAF agent to handle the mission from henceforth."
"I don't want to quit and leave, sir," Starla said in an emotion-choked voice, "this mission is too crucial to both of our worlds. I can still observe and gather facts in my Yana disguise."
"Do so only if your life and safety are not imperiled. You have done a superior job for us so far and I do not want to see you harmed. I have great respect and affection for you and I trust you without question or hesitation."
"Thank you, sir, but why didn't you tell me about the other agent?"
"I had selected you and planned your mission before the ruler of Kalfa asked for an I-GAF agent to be assigned to defeating Tochar and recovering the stolen crystals and weapons. I know the I-GAF is in charge of solving inter-galactic crimes and pursuing intergalactic villites, but I wanted someone working solely for me on this vital matter. It is obvious there is a traitor high in my rulership and I—with the help of my agent—must be the one to expose and punish him. I also believe there is a better chance of success if separate agents are on the job, and without each
other's knowledge so they cannot influence each other's findings or jeopardize each other's role. I want a fast resolution to this problem because of the value, power, and danger of moonbeams in the wrong hands and to prevent a flood of them across the nearest galaxies."
Yakir took a deep breath before he continued. "I believe a second agent—mine—can gather clues their agent misses or ignores. After I was informed of the other agent's assignment, mine was already on the case. I feared if I extracted you when you were already in place and the I-GAF agent was either exposed or killed, all progress would be lost; and that despicable fiendal would be on alert to an investigation and would anticipate the agent's replacement and make it impossible. I chose you because I think a woman might make discoveries a man cannot, because a gentle female would attract less suspicion. And, my pride is involved, Bree-Kayah. I feel a loss of control in my own responsibilities if I allow an I-GAF agent to be in total charge when it is my world and rulership being attacked and weakened. My pride urges me to be the one to solve the crimes committed against Seri because the villites dared to steal from us and because one of my subjects has betrayed me and my people. I ask your forgiveness for withholding this secret from you."
"I understand your motives, sir, and I agree with them. Does Thaine know of this other agent's existence?"
"He was informed at the same time I was, but I requested he keep that news to himself and he obeyed. When we spoke earlier, I told him I would reveal the secret to you. I considered asking Dauld Phaedrig to let his agent contact Yana and allow you two to work together. That way he would know I have one there and will learn about our shapeshifting secret. Since we do not know the identities of all traitors but we do know they are men in elite positions, I fear what might happen to you if the wrong person intercepted my message to him and learned
of Yana's existence and location. I am certain Commander Phaedrig will be annoyed with me for taking the action I have and for failing to inform him about it, but, after all, I am the ruler of Seri and it is my right, my duty. There is also the possibility that Commander Phaedrig will want you off the mission and away ft-om Noy; he could order his agent to expose Yana to force you to leave and let I-GAF handle the case. What action do you think I should take, Bree-Kayah?"
"In my opinion, sir, we should keep Phaedrig unenlightened for the time being, and I should continue to work here as Yana. Perhaps I can uncover his agent's identity and decide if it would be productive for us to work as a team. I already suspect who the agent might be, but I will not approach him to join forces until I am certain. I will keep you and Thaine informed of my progress."
"That is acceptable to me, Bree-Kayah, and I will inform your superior of our decision. Be careful, and withdraw any time you feel your Yana identity has been imperiled. I also have great admiration and esteem for your parents and I do not want to be the cause of their daughter's death; even this monumental mission's success is not worth the cost of your life."
"I will be careful, sir, and thank you for confiding in me and for your kind words about me a
nd my parents. Both spoke highly of you when I was approached about taking this assignment. Bree-Kayah Saar out."
Starla and Cypher discussed the ruler's revelations and her plans for the following deega before she returned to Yana's dwelling on Noy. She got little sleep that night as she speculated on the I-GAF agent's identity. She hoped and prayed it was Dagan Latu and that was how he had passed his Thorin tests, but that could be wishftil thinking.
Tomorrow she would test her wild theory, after she in-
spected the cave where she had slain Acharius and escaped Tochar's revenge. Surely by now, it had been searched and eliminated and deserted.
jiftzs.n
Cypher transported Starla to Yana's dwelling after a rapid examination of the cave where she found nothing unusual among the stolen items stored there. After shapeshifting into her Yana guise, she prepared herself for a momentous visit with Dagan Latu, She attired herself in a multicolored garment that ended just above her knees and bared her shoulders, arms, and chest. The skirt had a slight flare below her hips, a fitted waist, and ftxll bodice. A stretchy band at the neckline and thin straps held the top in place. Her feet were clad in sandals with ties which overlapped several times before they were secured above her calves. The cosmetics she selected enhanced the shade of Yana's eyes and the pale-blue tint to Yana's flesh. Thick and wavy golden hair with a faint blue tinge flowed midway down her back. She splashed on a fragrant scent but avoided using the phero-mone, as there was no intent to dupe or entice Dagan on this occasion. She fastened the neck ring at the base of her throat, one of its "gems" a miniaturized transmitter to keep her in touch with the android in case of an emergency.
Starla gazed at her Asisan image and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes for a moment to pray her perceptions about Dagan were right, as that would put her lover within her reach, then contacted her android. "I'm ready. Cypher, and leaving for his chamber. Stay alert but do not interfere unless I signal you by saying, 'This is futile and I want to leave,' then beam me out without delay." She knew her long-
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