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  Mayden Morningside is a Reader who works with contracts and lives a quiet life until her old recruiter from Terra comes asking her to join the Sector Guard. She will have her body changed to match her partner's, a strange but necessary practice when one's partner is a dragon. Harusk is a sleeper, a dragon who chose to preserve his genes through a prolonged hibernation. Waking to find out his perfect match needs a little tinkering is surprising, but his first meetings with her captivate him beyond all of his preconceptions. Not bad for a woman in a tank who can't even curse at the pain of the transformation process.

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  Past Tense

  Copyright © 2011 Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-55487-782-9

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Devine Destinies Books

  An imprint of eXtasy Books

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  Past Tense

  Sector Guard Book 16

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  Mayden Morningside blinked in astonishment at the figure sitting across from her. "You want me to what?"

  The Ontex recruiter for the Sector Guard blinked his large black eyes, his silvery skin and domed head gleaming in the light of the Nodak station. He swallowed and looked her in the eyes. "We would like you to consider joining the Sector Guard out of Teklan base. The investigation arm of the Sector Guard."

  She couldn't help it, she laughed in his face. "You want me to become an investigator for the Sector Guard? I work on authenticating documents. This is way beyond my skills as a reader."

  "We have reason to believe that in the right environment, you could learn to harness and focus your talent into a more…versatile skill." He was nervous, even for an Ontex.

  "They sent you because you were my recruiter, didn't they, Sorhil?" She cocked her head and assessed the situation.

  Sorhil was the same Ontex that had met her back on Earth, convincing her to join the Terran Volunteers. They were not supposed to convince, but Sorhil had seen something in her that had pushed him into encouraging her beyond his standard duties.

  "You remember that?"

  "Memory is a skill that I focussed on, Recruiter Sorhil. It helped me to learn my trade and the variety of races that are represented in the Alliance. It is amazing how many of those races have requested my particular skills in the last few years."

  "That is the reason that the Sector Guard needs you. You have an attention to detail that is shared by Finder. Her focus has been instrumental in solving several cases."

  "Finder, that's Roxanne, isn't it?"

  He blinked in surprise. "How do you know that?"

  "I read everything. That includes the Sector Guard notices and contracts to confirm their veracity."

  "Oh. So, what are your thoughts?"

  Mayden tapped her fingertips together, "I think it is one of the most ridiculous ideas I have ever heard."

  His expression fell.

  She took a deep breath and sealed her fate. "I'll do it. Get the contract before I change my mind."

  He scuttled away while Mayden called herself seventeen types of fool.

  The contract was straightforward. She agreed to have her body altered to be compatible with her probable partner, would get an astronomical payment per assignment, successful or not. She agreed to wear the uniform of the Sector Guard and live on Teklan base or on the surface nearby for no less than ten years.

  "Ten years? The original Citadel contract was for five years. Why is this ten?"

  "The Sector Guard is a growing branch of the Alliance, but they will still take over ten years to fully outfit all of the theoretical bases. To promote health, they have been given the best medical treatment and have full support staff at all times."

  "Unless on assignment and then they were on their own." She snorted but returned to the first requirement. "What is this about getting modified?"

  Sorhil turned dark pewter and that gave Mayden the clue that it was sex related. Ontex were horrible prudes. "The Sector Guardsmen are assigned in pairs. Since you have not yet found a mate, you were matched with another candidate for the Guard. His race requires that your physiology be altered to match his to gain his cooperation."

  "So, if I don't sign this, Teklan will be short two Guardsmen, not just one."

  Sorhil nodded. "That's correct. Out of the available Terrans, you were the only one that matched his specifications. Will you still do it?"

  She tapped her fingers together, a habit that she had developed at the Citadel. As a reader, sometimes the only safe thing to touch was herself.

  The Citadel had been fielding requests for her over the last two years, ever since Terrans had become the new trendy genome to put in their bloodlines.

  "Who is he?"

  "A Drai Sleeper. One of those who went into hibernation until their mate became available." Sorhil was still dark pewter. Even the term mate was enough to make him embarrassed.

  "I see. So, I will be made suitable for a dragon. Interesting." She kept her fingers tapping together as she pondered the ramifications of that procedure. "What if I do not find him acceptable?"

  "He will make every effort to make himself acceptable, but barring that, he will be transferred to another base. Is that agreeable?"

  She quickly signed, pressed her thumb and gave the ocular scan before she could change her mind. "Yes."

  He signed as a witness and nodded in satisfaction and relief. "Congratulation, Past Tense, you are now a member of the Sector Guard."

  Past Tense, she nodded. It was as accurate a description of her talent as anything. "When do I go to medical?"

  He darkened again. "The medical bay on the warship Uak is standing by. They will take a slow path to Teklan and your transformation will be complete by the time you arrive."

  She stood and bowed from the waist, her hands hidden in her sleeves, the formal reader greeting. "Will you be on the Uak?"

  "No, I have to file this with the Alliance archive immediately and then begin the next recruitment. There is a set of twins on Shorliss that their government is willing to part with. I need to be on my way."

  She smiled. He had wanted to check in on her, the pen had told her as much. His job was his way of separating himself from her emotionally. "Then be on your way. I will report to the Uak."

  He reached out and patted her arm through her robes. "Keep in touch, Reader Morningside."

  "You as well, Recruiter Sorhil. Peace of starlight be with you."

  "Also with you." He left before he could get emotional.

  Shaking her head, she looked around the small rented room with its nine cameras and wondered idly if her soon-to-be partner was watching through the monitors. She stuck her tongue out and grimaced. May as well give them something to look at.

  Laughing to herse
lf, she left the room and returned to her quarters on the station. Time to pack up her meagre belongings and contact the Uak for transport from the station.

  Her life was about to shift dramatically, so she may as well get it over with.

  Chapter Two

  "Welcome to the Uak, Reader Morningside." The shuttle pilot carefully did not touch her as he escorted her out of the small ship.

  "Thank you, Nef. Where to next?"

  "You are expected in medical. Please follow me." He didn't offer to carry her bag, so she knew immediately that the young Azon had met a reader or two before.

  Medical was bustling but organized. A physician met her at the door, showed her where to stow her baggage and her clothing, then led her to a series of injections that left her dopey for the insertion into a tank to allow for the remainder of the treatment to take place. It would take weeks for her transformation to conclude and the IV of fluids to deliver their altered genetic payload.

  Mayden was well aware of the reason they put her in the tank, not only was she insulated from contact, but they couldn't hear her screaming as the pain of her organs realigning took her over. The sedatives kept flowing, but she went through a world of blackouts and agony.

  Time ceased to have meaning, but the waves of pain finally receded and Mayden became aware of the steady throb of the engines as it matched her heartbeat. The visitors in front of her took on a steady wave. The doctors, medical assistants and a variety of attendants gave way to military personnel and a woman with rainbow hair who used a scanner on her from head to toe.

  The woman was wearing a bodysuit with a tool belt attached and had a concerned expression on her face until the doctor spoke to her in depth. The man beside her seemed to be a male Selna, but Mayden had never seen one before.

  There was another visitor in the shadows just beyond her range of vision. She could feel him more than see him, but she knew he was there. He came to visit every night when the crew was at the lightest population. A strange sort of music played in her head whenever he was near, but she was peculiarly grateful for the company.

  Even when she couldn't see him, the faint song rang through her mind, lulling her into a relaxed state as she hung in the oxygenated fluid.

  Decanting day came on her in a rush. A full set of staff was on hand and a carefully folded selection of clothing was on a small tray next to a set of needles that she was pretty sure had her name on them. Let the joy commence.

  Her shadow came into the light and approached the doctor preparing to climb the ladder to her tank. A few short words and the doctor stood aside with a wild look in his eyes.

  Her watcher came to stand in front of the tank, then when she met his dark gold eyes, he nodded and climbed up to the platform above her tank, the huge deep blue wings gave every clue as to his identity.

  The room exploded into activity, a group of techs and the sheepish doctor surged up as she was being hoisted out of the water by the cables and tubes in her body. Mayden held her arms up and when they were gripped, she let herself be hauled out.

  Vomiting the fluid out of her lungs was a part of the process she had heard about but had never experienced. Hands held her firmly but gently as she was unplugged and her choking and coughing subsided to a rasping gurgle of air in and out.

  Hands were smoothing her hair out of her face and the crooning song was playing in her mind again. She jerked in surprise. Her talent wasn't working properly. She should have been reading him from where he was pressed against her. The techs were causing flickers of awareness with their casual contact, much of which was uneasiness directed toward the man who was cradling her in his arms.

  When the last of the tubes had been removed and her wounds sealed, he lifted her and carried her down to the exam bed.

  Shivering, she flinched as the techs and doctors touched her while they dried the fluid from her limbs while taking a wide berth around her golden-eyed companion.

  She coughed into the oxygen mask and looked around her with eyes that saw everything in a slightly clearer manner. "What happened to my eyes?"

  Mayden repeated herself as she pulled the mask off with a weak hand.

  The stranger smiled down at her, exposing wickedly sharp teeth in the process. "The transformation you just underwent contained a few enhancements. Keener vision and hearing are two of the ways."

  "Who the hell are you anyway?"

  He blinked and his smile turned to an evil grin. "Harusk Koven. Your new partner."

  "I thought you might be. You had that proprietary gleam in your eye." She coughed violently and put the mask back on with a snap.

  The doctor was hovering off to one side and she waved him closer, lifting the mask again. "So, how did I take to it?"

  "Reader Morningside, you have come through the procedure wonderfully well. All of the requested alterations have been completed and your system is recovering rapidly. You will be weak until your muscles regain their activity level, but all in all, you are free to go the moment we finish the final scans."

  "Fabulous. Get cracking on those scans." She slapped the mask back on and lay back to wait. Harusk was watching her with a wary admiration.

  The doctor swung the scanner toward her and stopped.

  "Harusk, shift your ass. I want to get out of here and the medical staff finds you intimidating. Go get my clothing so we can get out of here. Doc, how close are we to Teklan?"

  "We will be within shuttle distance within the hour."

  "Great. Let's get shaking." She ignored Harusk's insulted demeanour and waited for the doctor to do the scans.

  Ten minutes later, samples had been taken and Mayden was ready to pull on her bodysuit. When Harusk handed her the gold and blue suit, she felt a shiver of information cross between their hands.

  He was hers. There was no doubt of that. He wasn't too keen on the Sector Guard idea, but for a chance at a mate, at her specifically, he would enlist and pretend to like it.

  She fought a laugh and put her feet into the legs of the bodysuit. She tugged, lifted and when she got it to her thighs, she jumped down to pull the suit higher. Her knees wobbled but held as she worked herself into the beautifully coloured suit and sealed it. He brought her boots and knelt at her feet to assist her into them, his wings sweeping back like a cloak.

  The base of the uniform included stocking feet, making the outfit a skin-tight onesie. Mayden put her hands on Harusk's shoulders as he laced her into knee-high boots. The tingle in her hands gave her impressions of age and waiting. Both raised questions for another day. For now, she needed to get off this ship. There were too many people, too many scents and she had no means of dealing with her new senses in this environment.

  With her boots in place, she wobbled over to the last article of clothing and put on the open reader's robes that denoted her status and her inability for casual contact. A set of gloves fell to the floor. Harusk lifted them up and offered them to her.

  "Thank you."

  "You are welcome, Mayden. Our shuttle is standing by."

  She nodded and slowly made her way to the cubby where her clothing and bag was stored. Harusk let out a noise similar to a snarl and took the items from her, swinging it over his shoulder and then without asking, he lifted her off her feet and carried her to the shuttle bay.

  He stowed her bag and reader uniform while she leaned against the bulkhead and then he supported her shaking limbs until she sat in the navigator seat.

  "I am a little out of practice, Mayden, bear with me." He flipped the toggles, checked the settings and lifted off the floor of the warship shuttle bay.

  They rocked a little as he turned them toward the entrance to the bay and as he plunged them into the blackness of space, they did a slow spiral. He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat and his wings twisted in discomfort.

  "Do you want me to fly?" Mayden was clenching her fingers into the armrests of the seat. Several members of Teklan base had used this shuttle. The details of their successes and failures flowed over
her as she sat where they had been.

  "Do you know how?"

  "Yes."

  "Then please. I need a refresher course." He stood and waited until she swung into the pilot's seat before he took the navigator station. His wings fit on the narrow-backed chair much more easily than on the pilot's seat.

  She took a deep breath and gripped the controls, "Can you set the course?"

  He quietly keyed in the coordinates and the moment he finished, she hit the thrusters. Their speed increased exponentially and Mayden grinned. "I love flying. I don't get to do it nearly enough."

  He chuckled. "You can fly to all our missions as far as I am concerned. The only flying I look forward to is on the surface. You have no idea what I had to go through to negotiate surface space with Esur. He considers the entire planet his personal purview."

  "Drai politics are not my problem. If you hadn't needed a match, I wouldn't be here and certainly wouldn't be weak as a kitten." She snorted and increased their speed. The shuttle was amazing. Fixer's design and Tech's construction, it was one of the newest of the rapidly growing fleet of the Sector Guard.

  She absorbed everything she could about the shuttle in an effort to keep herself awake. Despite her inactivity, she was tired to the bone.

  They flew in silence and after a few hours, the singing started in her head again. It energized her, which embarrassed her a little, but he wasn't commenting so she accepted the song as her due.

  "This is Sector Guard base Teklan. Incoming shuttlecraft, please identify."

  "Teklan base, this is Reader Mayden Morningside and Harusk Koven, new recruits to the guard base requesting beacon for landing."

  "Guardsmen identifier, please, Reader Morningside."

  What was it Sorhil had called her? "Guardsman Past Tense."

  A smile was now in the voice of the com officer. "Thank you, Past Tense. Welcome to Teklan base. The beacon is on and dinner is waiting."

  Harusk chuckled and sat back, his wings shifting restlessly. "Excellent. I am a little peckish after my subsistence on ship rations."