Page 68 of Black Star

“Stars above, I need to come, Darian.” His presence in her mind was a constant thing. She knew he was with her. The memory had been his. She had seen the events from his vantage point.

Then stick your hand down your pants and fuck your clit!

She did. Leaning against the wall of her room, she fingered her clit. It only took a couple of seconds for the contractions to start. When they did, her knees buckled and she slid, screaming and panting, to the floor.

“I -- I need you, Darian.” Tears welled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “I can’t do this alone.”

You won’t have to, my love. Darian will be successful this time.

“I hope so.”

It wouldn’t matter, anyway. You’re strong enough to do this without me.

“Part of it, maybe. But in order to bring both empires together, I’ll need you. Besides, I’ve lived without you long enough. The fates couldn’t possibly expect me to be this close to having you back only to lose you again.”

She felt his comforting touch almost as if he were sitting next to her.It will be OK. Go now. Talk to Dr. Zabin. I know you don’t like it -- I can’t say that I do, either, though after the conversation with Tyrelle Amos I feel better -- but we don’t have much choice.

“You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “Time to go.”

Chapter Seven

“What else do you think is on the chips?” Dr. Zabin looked alarmed. This wasn’t good.

“I’m not sure,” Nani said, watching him carefully. “I’m hoping something that will prove Samair’s a foul swine in such a way that my return from the dead won’t be held in suspicion.”

“Nani.” He took a step toward her. “In order to extract the DNA from that chip, I’m going to have to destroy it. That’s why I only get one shot. It will be permanently damaged. I was getting ready to start the extraction process when you came in.” He looked angry and frustrated. “Do you want me to do this or not?”

“You can’t get what you need without harming the rest of the chip?”

“No! Dammit, woman! I’m under enough pressure as it is. Do you want me to do this or not? I can’t be worried about what’s happening to the chip. It’s either your lover, or any data that may be with his DNA. Pick one!”

Nani was shocked. This was not like the doctor. “Are you OK?”

“No. I’m not OK. One wrong move and I could destroy any chance you have of getting Darian back.”

“Is the chip that fragile?”

“It was made twenty years ago, Nani. The technology just isn’t there. If there’s anything else on this fucking chip, you need to figure it out now. And I mean right now. Darian has been in stasis far too long. I need to get him in a body before he starts to decay.”

“Sweet Stars.”

“Exactly. You’ve got another hour before I take the decision from you. I’m not going to fail on this, Nani.” His drive and sense of urgency was infectious. Nani wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. She had been through one crisis after another.

All she wanted to do was rest. She wanted Darian with her, and they’d just disappear. They’d take a shuttle fromBlack Star’s hangar and find a little planet where no one knew who they were. They’d get a job and raise a family, and be left alone.

Darian’s soft chuckle tickled her mind. He didn’t need to say anything for her to know he knew she’d never be happy with that. They both had responsibilities. Whatever happened once the work was done, once the nasty evil bad guy was deposed, then they could be happy slinking off to nowhere. Until then, neither of them had much of a choice other than to move forward. It was part of who they were.

“Will intensive analysis harm the DNA sample?” Nani needed as much information as she could get at this point. She didn’t have much time, and she refused to wait any longer if Dr. Zabin said doing so would put Darian in danger.

“It shouldn’t. But I’d stay away from chemicals and anything other than computer scans. No ultraviolet or chemical scans. I don’t know how these samples were protected.”

“Understood.” Nani activated her internal comm.Damon. Does Admiral Amos have Grimm?

He’s on the way here now.

Good. Dr. Zabin has given us less than an hour to see what we can extract. After that, he has to extract the DNA, and the chip will be gone.

Not a problem. He should dock in ten minutes.

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