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Reah.
    A tiny part of Corry understood the
temptation. Meredith had exchanged Borrelly for Halley Prime. Given
the same choice… Corry let out a disgusted snort. Given the same
choice, Corry would have remained loyal to her family and friends.
She would have loved her daughter enough to fight for a secure
future.
    Corry entered Meredith’s access code and
activated Ashton’s professional portfolio. He’d been educated on
d’Arrest. No surprise there. d’Arrest was the only outpost with
universities. He spent four years in the coalition’s armed forces
but accepted an honorable discharge after the initial term. His
interests varied widely, but he consistently excelled at whatever
he set out to do. She scrolled down to his current assignment and
her mouth went dry. Director of the Comet Coalition’s Negotiations
Team.
    No wonder he talked circles around her. He
talked for a living. He solved problems and formulated compromises,
defused situations and facilitated heated arguments. He was an
extensively trained diplomat and likely telepathic as well. She’d
heard rumors that the Negotiations Team recruited people with
psychic abilities. She’d always laughed away the outlandish tales,
but there was definitely something unique about Ashton.
    Returning to her research, Corry found
nothing out of the ordinary on Palmer or Danette. But what she
uncovered about Elaine VinDerley left Corry spellbound. The file
made Ashton’s mother sound part crusader and part saint, a champion
of outcasts, defender of the powerless.
    “Does she come complete with a cape and
invisibility boots?” Corry muttered as she logged off the database
and navigated the communications grid. “Person-to-person, Korbin
Reah.” She leaned back in her chair, waiting for the call to
connect. Korbin’s face came on-screen. “I just heard from Dr.
Hollinds. You won’t believe the news.”
    “Can I call you right back?”
    “Sure.”
    It was a well-rehearsed routine. Whenever
“Dr. Hollinds” called, Korbin would scramble their signal and
return Corry’s call on a secure frequency. She quickly filled him
in on everything she’d learned, ending with Ashton’s
occupation.
    “This changes everything,” Korbin said when
she paused for breath. “I don’t want you near him.”
    “If I don’t go near him, he’ll starve.”
    “That’s an excuse and you know it. Switch
VinDerley and the college boy. Take Larz with you and—”
    “You’re being ridiculous. There’s no reason
to overreact. I know what VinDerley is now. That will protect
me.”
    “Bullshit. I want him in the new complex. He
has to be supervised. No one speaks with him alone, no one!”
    Corry glanced away from the vidscreen,
praying her panic didn’t show. She’d never admit it to her
pigheaded brother, but she enjoyed her time with Ashton. He
fascinated her, challenged her. She anticipated their verbal
sparring, not to mention the desire still smoldering from their
tussle two nights before.
    “I’m not bending on this one.” Korbin leaned
forward, his expression unrelenting. “Get Larz and bring VinDerley
to the new complex.”

Chapter Three
     
    Ashton sat on the bunk, leaning against the
back wall of the cell, his long legs spread out in front of him.
He’d wrapped one of the blankets around his shoulders and the other
rested across his legs. Judging from his mutinous expression, they
had their work cut out for them.
    “Have you contacted my father?” His dark
gaze darted to Larz then returned to Corry.
    “Get the restraints out from under the
bunk.” She tried to sound assertive despite the trepidation
gripping her stomach like a fist.
    He glared at her. “Why? Where are we
going?”
    “Do as you’re told. Now. ”
    Easing to the floor, Ashton retrieved the
wrist restraints.
    “Get the ankle restraints too.”
    “You took away my shoes. Where the hell am I
going to go?”
    The sedative dart couldn’t penetrate the
energy barrier, but once it did hit, it