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research has been an inspiration to many of us here.’
    Oh, shit! Not only is she beautiful, but she’s a lovely person , Taren thought, feeling jealous. Lucian was the perfect man; it just figured that he was already married to the perfect woman. ‘The pleasure is all mine, Dr Gervaise.’ Taren shook her hand, trying to think of something nice to say in return. ‘Please, call me Taren.’
    ‘Amie,’ she concurred, then turned to address her husband. ‘I’ve just notified Zeven that my team want to be picked up and the storm has cleared. We’d best grab them while conditions are good. We’ve got an hour of daylight left.’
    ‘Very good.’ Lucian smiled and squeezed her hand as she moved past him. ‘I shall meet you at the flight deck presently.’
    ‘Aye, aye, Captain,’ she replied in a playful manner.
    Taren might have been imagining things, but their dialogue sounded like code for ‘Meet you in the bedroom in five minutes’.
    ‘We’ll speak soon, Taren.’ Amie gave a wave as she departed.
    ‘’Bye.’ Taren managed to keep a straight face and waited for Lucian to excuse himself.
    ‘Unfortunately, I’ll have to cut the tour short,’ Lucian began, ‘as I have to prepare for the pick-up of Module E.’
    ‘I understand,’ Taren replied, trying to hide a smile. She just knew he was fibbing.
    ‘What?’ Lucian was intrigued by her amusement.
    ‘Nothing,’ Taren insisted. ‘I’m fine, really. You do what you must.’ Taren struggled to suppress her laughter. Maybe she had space-lag and was overtired?
    Lucian cocked an eyebrow, suspecting that somehow Taren knew he wasn’t being entirely honest about where he was going. ‘You really are psychic, I think.’
    ‘No,’ Taren regained her composure. ‘I’m not, truly.’
    Lucian didn’t look convinced and now he too was suppressing a smile. ‘Feel free to explore, the locals are very friendly.’
    ‘So I’ve noticed.’ Taren nodded in agreement and baide him farewell.
    Lucian, exiting the work cubicle, glanced back at Taren with a look of delighted query on his face.
    ‘I’m not!’ Taren insisted and waved him on.
    The couple left a lovely ambience in their wake. That’s what true love felt like, Taren considered, and even though the man of her dreams was not available, it was kind of comforting to know that there was such a thing as a perfect marriage, especially where science and a relationship were concerned.
    One of the glass tubes on Ringbalin’s desk was holding Taren’s attention. Atop a little mossy mound was a miniature tree. The amazing detail demanded a closer look, and that was how Taren came to be so close to the glass when the light suddenly shut down and it beganto rain inside the tube. The shock made Taren squeal and chuckle with delight. ‘That’s amazing!’
    ‘ Allocasuarina torulosa ,’ said a voice. Taren looked around to see a small-framed man with fine fair hair that was pulled back from his face in a ponytail.
    ‘Pardon?’ Taren hadn’t quite caught what he’d said.
    ‘Forest oak.’ He pushed his reading glasses up to rest on the bridge of his nose and pointed to the tree inside the tube.
    ‘Oh,’ she said, enlightened. ‘You must be—’
    ‘Ringbalin Malachi.’ He held out a hand to shake hers. ‘Looks like we’re roommates, Dr Lennox.’
    ‘Taren,’ she corrected as she shook his hand.
    For some reason, she’d envisioned a big, broadly-built fellow. In reality, the scientist was around her height and had more of the physique of a boy than a man. Taren figured he was probably a bit younger than she was, but he had that quiet unassuming boy-genius thing happening.
    ‘Sorry.’ Taren felt she had to explain the grin on her face. ‘I’d thought Ringbalin was your second name.’
    ‘I know, it’s a mouthful.’ He sat down on his chair, which was built onto a track running the length of the desk. ‘Most people here just call me Balin.’
    With a nod of approval, Taren tried out her