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approximately four and a half months away from Drakan.”
    So far so good, she thought. “Drakan?”
    “Our home planet.”
    “How far are we from Earth?”
    “Earth?”
    Brianna controlled her impatience. “Earth is the name of my planet.”
    “What an unassuming name,” the doctor mused. “To be exact, again, you’d have to ask an expert. We’ve been traveling about a week, so it’s undoubtedly several million light years.”
    Brianna felt the blood drain from her face. Several million light years! “But…how do I get home?”
    “I’m afraid it will be a while,” Lorilana said gently.
    Brianna swallowed and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. “A while? How long is a while?”
    The doctor patted her shoulder, but Brianna shrugged it off.
    Forcing the feeling of helplessness and the uncertainty out of her mind, she blinked rapidly and struggled to swallow her tears.
    Crying wasn’t going to do any good. She had to get a hold of herself. And she definitely couldn’t let these aliens know she was scared! The first thing she had to find out was what they were going to do with her.
    Taking a deep breath, she hugged herself tightly and gathered her scattered wits. “Are Miklan and Cindar all right?”
    Surprise obvious on her face, the doctor simply stared for a moment.
    “They are okay, aren’t they?”
    “They’re fine. I’m surprised you were able to learn their names. They, of course, have translators, so understood everything you said.”
    “It’s not hard to understand someone pointing at himself and saying one word.”
    The doctor smiled. “Wonderful, you have a sense of humor.”
    “It’s either that or give in to hysterics, and I don’t think the gentleman in the other room would appreciate those.”
    Lorilana smiled at the younger woman. What a sly girl, introducing Char into the conversation so innocently. She was more interested in him than she wanted to admit. “You’re right.
    Your name is Brianna?”
    Brianna nodded. If she was going to survive this trip with her sanity intact, she needed information. “Yes, Brianna Claire O’Shea. Who is that man? Is this part of his cabin? Why am I here? I’ve been wounded. How come I’m not in the medical section of the ship?”
    Lorilana sighed. Brianna certainly got right to the point. “He’s Captain Alalakan don al’ Chardadon. His family owns this and numerous other ships. And, yes, this room is part of the captain’s quarters, and as to why you’re here instead of in Medical… Well, there are complications with your presence.”
    Slumping, Brianna sighed. “The people on this ship hold me responsible for what almost happened to Miklan and Cindar. It would have been better if Miklan had left me behind.”
    Placing her fingers under Brianna’s chin, Lorilana lifted the younger woman’s head until their eyes locked. “Every member of this crew owes you a debt of gratitude for saving Miklan and Cinder’s lives, and they will not hesitate to tell you so, I especially, since Miklan is my nephew. No, not one member of the crew feels anything but gratitude towards you, Brianna. It’s the passengers who are causing the problem, one in particular, Dr. Rodak don al’ Bakom.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    She jerked her chin free of Lorilana’s grasp. “I’m not going anywhere, and I deserve to know what’s going on.”
    Lorilana rose then sighed. “You do deserve a full explanation. I hope you’re comfortable.”
    “Just a second and I will be,” Brianna said as she moved from the chair to the corner of the bunk and braced herself against the wall. “Tell me.”
    Lorilana slid down onto the chair. “Founded even before the scientists of Drakan discovered the power that allows us to roam freely about the galaxy, the Academy of Science was created to serve humankind. Its members concentrated on finding cures for diseases, discovering new strains of seeds to ensure larger harvests, and other ways