Read Vall's Will for Free Online Page B

To hear him tell his
story.
    To hear him.
    She felt a
twinge of regret go through her. In spite of the short amount of time they’d
shared, she knew she was going to miss Vall, although she couldn’t explain why.
Hopefully, sometime in the near future, their paths might cross again. Will
stared at the doorway as her thoughts focused on the young man reveling in the
shower two levels down. What would he look like over time? Finally free of the
Objurian prison, Vall would be able to develop and grow. What kind of man would
he become? Will made a mental note to leave orders that she be kept notified of
Vall’s progress.
    Furthermore,
maybe it was time she found a new fekk companion. Otherwise, there was no
telling how possessive Plymon could become if their current arrangement was
allowed to remain as it was.
    Will stretched,
lifting her arms over her head as a smile formed on her lips. For the first
time in a very long time, she felt refreshed and awake, and ready to tackle
whatever the day had in store. Keeping the smile on her face, she exited the
office and notified the bridge of her pending location as she passed through.
    Plymon
never glanced her way.

Chapter Six
    Precorut
     
     
    The outpost was as
old as old could be, and still remain functional. The reason for its longevity
was due to the fact that the Temporum galaxy lay in almost direct center of
nearly a dozen shipping lanes. Traffic was heavy and constant. Merchant ships,
as well as passenger cruise ships, always stopped at Precorut to load and
unload.
    Many species
were delighted by the wide and varied accommodations allowed at the outpost.
The place, Will had to admit, had its own ambience that she enjoyed. No alien
races threatened Precorut’s stance in the galaxy, which meant the outpost was
as close to being a vacationer’s heaven as was possible. Maybe it was because
of that, or the fact that the people there were a highly superstitious race,
afraid that any change to the outpost would result in a change of celestial
luck. They refused to do any sort of update or renovation, other than what was
absolutely necessary to maintain minimum safety requirements and please the
status quo.
    By the time the Trinity docked, Plymon was acting as if their morning spat hadn’t taken place. Will
mentally rolled her eyes. In the short time that she’d known him, Plymon never
let his feelings override his professionalism. This side of him was one she’d
never seen, and one she didn’t like it.
    “Captain
Tayte.” It was Gayt.
    Will answered
from the command chair on the bridge as Magnus guided the ship into the docking
bay. “Tayte here.”
    “The
Anglites are ready.”
    “Any word
on their escort back to their home world?”
    “Already
arrived and waiting to greet them.”
    “Good. What
about Vall?”
    “I think
you might want to come down here before we disembark.” There was a hint of
laughter in the scientist’s voice.
    “All right.
I’m on my way. Plymon, you have the helm.”
    She took the
tube down to the bottom level of the ship, where mobile cargo was loaded and
unloaded via a lowered gangplank. Gayt was there, as well as Felderen, who was
in charge of freight and supplies, and the three Anglites. With them was
Killjorn, who would remain with the alien family until they were safely handed over
to their escorts. There was also another man, dressed in the long gray robes of
a Regent diplomat. His back was to her, leaving her to wonder who had already
boarded the ship. Confused at first, Will walked up to him just as he turned
around.
    The effect was
stunning.
    He was clean.
His jet black hair had been trimmed close to his skull. Stylish tufted spikes
on top of his head gave him a rather rakish look. Golden-brown eyes smiled at
her to see her surprised by his new appearance. What she had thought were
Regent robes were actually plain and unadorned, yet on him, they looked as if
he was meant to wear the otherwise embossed finery. Literally taken