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certain members of the
executive council.”
    “Unbelievable.” The privileged citizens of
Halley Prime had never felt obligated to play by the rules. Well,
actually they played by their own set of rules, rules that didn’t
apply to non-citizens.
    “Why does this bother you?”
    “Why wouldn’t that bother me?” she countered
sharply. “Your father can come and go as he pleases with no
accountability.”
    “It’s not a matter of accountability. It’s a
matter of safety. If Father’s off-world agenda were public
knowledge, it would subject him to any number of hazards.” He
paused, his dark eyes narrowed. “That reminds me of another
miraculous feat. How did you do it?”
    “How did I do what?” She fought back a smile
as their conversation rewound.
    “How did you snatch us from the gala without
setting off every alarm on Halley Prime?”
    “Maybe there’s more to our little band of
rebels than you suppose.”
    “Oh come on. I told you my secret. Surely
you can tell me yours.”
    His voice was playfully coaxing, but his
dark eyes settled squarely on her face. Their gazes locked, his
stare drifting to her mouth. Her lips tingled. Was he remembering
their frantic kiss in the corridor, the sensual promise as yet
unexplored? She hadn’t forgotten how he felt, how he tasted. He’d
ignited feelings she’d never dreamed existed with little more than
a kiss.
    “We’ve been experimenting with molecular
transportation.” She needed something to distract her wayward
thoughts.
    “Experimenting? It seems to me the project
has moved beyond experimentation. How much does the coalition
know?”
    “You tell me. You’re the one who knows all
their secrets.”
    “Technology is not my father’s field of
expertise, nor is it mine.”
    Her chin came up a notch. “No, you excel at
head games and mind control.”
    “And you hide behind your anger. You shield
your fascination with a wall of disdain.”
    “I hide my fascination from no one. I’m
intrigued by the unknown. Everyone is. My interest in your culture
doesn’t in any way negate my disdain for that same culture.”
    “Oh really?” His mouth curved in a mocking
smile.
    He knew. Somehow he knew just how enthralled
she was with his culture, with the privileges of citizenship.
“Fascination with something doesn’t always indicate approval. You
can be fascinated with a mass murderer without approving of the
actions.”
    His smile vanished. “That’s a rather odd
parallel.”
    “Is it? What’s so abhorrent about murder?”
He just stared at her in bewilderment, so Corry answered. “Murder
is a senseless waste of life. It can also destroy the lives of
those closest to the victim.”
    “Are you going somewhere with this
delightful analogy?”
    “The best description of the culture on
Halley Prime is a senseless squandering of all life has to
offer.”
    He laughed uproariously and Corry wanted to
smack him. “Have you even been to Halley Prime?”
    Clenching her fists, she refused to respond.
All her visits had been brief and specific, allowing her little
time to explore the lavish outpost. Staring straight ahead, she
finished her explanation. “Each extravagance you enjoy is paid for
by the occupants of the other outposts. Countless lives have been
destroyed by the coalition’s quest for power and pleasure. You
stroll through life without a care in the world while the rest of
the coalition starves. That’s a high price to pay for your
luxury.”
    “Where do you get these wild ideas?” He
raked a careless hand through his hair, his eyes sparkling
merrily.
    His amusement fueled her indignation. “Have
you been to Wirtanen or Chiron? There’s nothing wild about my
ideas. We smuggle them food and medical supplies every chance we
get, but—” She bit off her words before she revealed too much. The
rebels were faithful, but they were few. “I’ve personally paid an
enormous price that directly benefited the coalition.”
    “What price? How have you