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set into a tonsure-style cut of
ancient monks. The next, his face was hidden behind a hood, his
features concealed, save for the lower portions. The man suddenly
appeared thinner, dressed in an unusual purple and white garb. Ursula
blinked. The hood was gone, the man’s original clothes restored.
Odd. One moment one way; the next, another. She was sure she hadn’t
imagined it. It was like something had ... gone wrong.
    Almost like a glitch.
    A letter drifted through her mind.
M.
    “Who is that man?” Ursula found
herself asking.
    “That is Erik Overlook, my main go
to man,” Skillman said. He leaned closer to Ursula then. “Just
between you and me, he can be a bit of a weasel sometimes. Just
ignore him.”
    Ursula did so, returning to her
study of the other guests. One woman who caught her attention turned
and began clapping daintily, looking very pleased.
    “My wife is quite taken with you,”
Skillman said.
    “I beg your pardon?” Ursula
said.
    “She finds you fascinating –
your past and your goals for the future. You are interested in
xenobiology, are you not?”
    “I am, yes.”
    Skillman nodded. “My wife studied
it for quite some time before we met. Sadly she didn’t have the
head for some of the chemistry, though. She sees you as being the
person whom she always aspired to be – with a lifetime ahead to
study and focus, and gain greater insight into the origins of the
galaxy; possessing a youthful mind, an information sponge, open to
new ideas and concepts.”
    “She gave up?” Ursula asked,
looking the woman over. “That is sad.”
    “She has ... taken a step back,”
Skillman said.
    Skillman danced them closer to his
wife, smiling to her himself as he did so. Ursula studied her. She
was young-looking, far younger than Skillman. She could well have
been half his age. Her eyes were bright, her figure trim, her face
wrinkle-free, the skin nearly flawless. She might actually only be a
few years older than Ursula herself.
    “She is no trophy,” Skillman
said, once again seeming to read Ursula’s thoughts.
    Are you sure he isn’t? Don’t
think of Phoebe. Talk about something else .
    The thought once again entered her
head, as though someone were whispering them into her ear. Ursula
heeded.
    “She is very beautiful,” Ursula
told the man she danced with.
    “Good genes,” Skillman said. He
removed his hand from Ursula’s waist but still held her hand,
gently. “Please, allow me to introduce you.” He didn’t wait for
Ursula to answer, already walking her over to meet the woman. “Jane,
this is Ursula Lexx, the xenobiologist in training. Ursula, this is
my wife, Jane.”
    “Lovely to meet you, Ursula,”
Jane said, reaching out a white-gloved hand for Ursula to shake.
    “Darling, I have to speak with
Erik and the commander. Could you look after Ursula until I return?”
Skillman asked. Then he departed, moving over to the table at which
Overlook was seated, drawing up a chair and sitting down, beckoning
Kethlan over to join him.
    “It’s a little hot in here,
don’t you think?” Jane began, rising from her seat.
    “It is a little,” Ursula said.
    “Let’s take a walk in the fresh
air,” Jane suggested, plucking two glasses of orange juice from a
waiter-held tray, linking arms with Ursula and walking them onto the
terrace.
    It was cooler outside, though still
quite warm. It was clearly summer here. Wherever ‘here’ was. Out
here, there were couples speaking softly to one another, as well as
the odd guest standing around by themselves, admiring the view. This
ballroom appeared to be situated within a cliff-side mansion. Or
perhaps it was a hotel. A sea stretched out beyond; Ursula could hear
the sound of waves crashing at the base of the cliff, far below.
Moonlight glittered across the water.
    “Come,” Jane said. “I’m in
the mood for a little walk.”
    “Where am I?” Ursula asked.
    Jane chuckled. “Whatever do you
mean? You’re at the Skillman Residence, of course.