Read Factor for Free Online

probably a little nasty.” She lifted the crystal out of the scanner. “Is there a sealed-system reader around here anywhere?”
    Twist stepped forward with his hand extended. “I will take it. I have a system that will do the job.”
    She set the crystal into his palm, and he whisked off with it. Jianne looked around at the opulent bedroom and blinked, “Well, this is an improvement over my little underground hole.”
    Cowl laughed. “This was originally supposed to be the Guardian base, but it wasn’t done in time, so the first teams took up residence at the more utilitarian base while this one was quietly finished and used as a resort for Guardians in the vicinity.”
    Jianne blinked. “I thought that was a myth.”
    Roil chuckled. “No. This was designed by the Cadar government to thank us for our protection.”
    Flare grinned, “Even the Cadar aren’t sure where this base actually is. We have a shield that extends down the coastline. Nothing gets in or out without authorization.”
    Roil stepped forward, knelt in front of her and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “We are very glad that you came out of the skirmish none the worse for wear. Cowl was worried, and he is a bit of a bear when he is upset.”
    Flare executed a graceful bow, and he and Roil followed Twist out of Cowl’s bedroom.
    Jianne got to her feet and started exploring while Cowl watched from his own desk on one side of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed a lovely view of the bay, the white sand and the brilliant blue water.
    A deck outside connected all of the bedrooms, and Jianne itched to put on a sundress and feel the breezes, but she was on duty. She was always on duty.
    “Why do you look so depressed?” His hood was back, and he was looking down at her with concern.
    “I was just thinking about how nice it would be to have a day off.”
    Sarnvil caressed her cheek. “You are officially off duty until we get to the bottom of who is trying to sabotage you.”
    Her mind grappled with the idea of having time to have a vacation. “So, I can really just run around the base with nothing to do?”
    He grinned. “If that is what you want, by all means. When was the last time you had a day with nothing to do?”
    Jianne thought back to a time before part-time jobs, full-time jobs and the endless training of the Alliance. “I think it was eighteen years ago.”
    “Then, you are overdue. Enjoy yourself. We are taking turns on dispatching the Guardians. My shift is later this evening if nothing else goes wrong. Would you care to join me for dinner?”
    She smiled shyly and went up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “I would like that. When would that be?”
    “You have five hours. Have fun and call if you need anything.” He pressed a light kiss to her lips and caressed her neck before he left her alone.
    With a silent squeal, she ran over to the wardrobe and found her clothing. A Cadar sundress was more fitted than what she would wear at home, but it was definitely breezier than a bodysuit.
    She left her feet bare, and the dress swirled around her calves as she exited the door to the deck and sprinted for the beach.
    The dress was made of gold mesh folded over itself in a crisscross pattern over her torso. The skirt was a matching fabric, and the gauzy stuff caught the breeze, flipping up as she walked and cavorted out in the bright daylight.
     
    * * * *
     
    Cowl stared at the woman who had come so close to death just a few hours earlier. She was running around in the sand like an exuberant child.
    “Twist, what have you found?”
    “They meant to incapacitate her as well as boosting her signal so that she would be easily tracked. She would have been locked in place with no ability to move her own body.” Twist was irritated by the situation. “The code was incredibly complex. If Cyber did create this, then she has been compromised.”
    Cowl nodded. “I will take care of that. Damn! I had hoped that he wouldn’t