GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: Marilyn Campbell
questions were asked at the time, so no one was ever able to tell us where we had come from. If it was not for the captain—"
"I believe you asked me for an explanation, Cherry," Gallant said, effectively cutting off Dot's story.
The fact that he didn't want her to hear whatever Dot was going to say automatically made Cherry more curious. But first there was the matter of her abduction. "I'm all ears. Why don't you start by telling me what the hell gives you the right to knock me out and kidnap me? Then work your way up to how you got me on this ship and out of Innerworld without a travel visa."
"I'm an agent for hire, currently on assignment for the Consociation of Planets, of which Norona is a primary member. My mission grants me... certain privileges."
Cherry narrowed her eyes at him. She still couldn't decide if he was the good guy or the bad guy in this scenario and she was determined not to let his swashbuckling appearance influence her one way or the other. "I've lived among Noronians for ten years and there is no way they would condone what you've done to me for any reason. When Aster and Romulus hear about this, they'll cart you off for reprogramming so fast you won't know what hit you."
"I've already sent them a message. Romulus knew of my presence in Innerworld and by now he knows I've taken you into my protective custody."
Chapter 2
"Your what?" Cherry demanded, taking a threatening step toward him again.
Gallant stood his ground, but looked prepared to move out of her way in a heartbeat. "Protective custody. That's when—"
"I know what it means. I also know the only thing I've needed protection from lately is you."
"Wrong," he answered. "The moment the Weebort spoke to you, he put your life in danger."
"That's ridiculous. I don't even know what he said."
Gallant shook his head. "Irrelevant. If Frezlo got wind of it, he'd be back for you. And believe me, he wouldn't settle for tuning into your subconscious—which is all I asked of you—he'd simply incinerate you on sight. His goal was to make sure the Weebort didn't pass on something he knew, not to find out what that was."
Cherry frowned, trying to come up with a way to debate what he was telling her. "But you were the only one who saw the Weebort say anything to me."
Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Would you be willing to risk your life on that?"
"All right, let's say there's a slim possibility my life could be in danger. There are plenty of ways I could have been protected in Innerworld. I could have hired a tracker to watch over me." Immediately Cherry thought of her friend, Falcon, the empathic man whose unusual psychic abilities had helped Aster and Romulus out of several crises in the past. Although Falcon now lived in Outerworld, she was certain another similarly talented detective could be found in Innerworld to help her.
Before Gallant could refute her logic, she pushed further. "And another thing, if you were so anxious to tap into my subconscious, why didn't you just do it yourself then take off?"
"I don't have any telepathic ability. Mar-Dot does. I told you I couldn't afford to waste the time. It was imperative I pick up Frezlo's trail before it dissipated. If you had cooperated with me to begin with, none of this would have been necessary. I would have left you in Innerworld after I found out what the Weebort said, if that had been your wish, but Mar-Dot had a problem with your untrained Terran mind." He shot them a glance that suggested he held them accountable.
Dot raised her chin defensively. "If you had not stunned the poor woman into oblivion, there would not have been a problem."
The he-she revolved a quick half-circle and Mar countered, "Your action was entirely justified, Captain."
"At any rate," Gallant continued, without responding to either comment. "Mar-Dot couldn't find out what I needed to know without your conscious participation. There was no way of telling how long it would take for you to come
"I believe you asked me for an explanation, Cherry," Gallant said, effectively cutting off Dot's story.
The fact that he didn't want her to hear whatever Dot was going to say automatically made Cherry more curious. But first there was the matter of her abduction. "I'm all ears. Why don't you start by telling me what the hell gives you the right to knock me out and kidnap me? Then work your way up to how you got me on this ship and out of Innerworld without a travel visa."
"I'm an agent for hire, currently on assignment for the Consociation of Planets, of which Norona is a primary member. My mission grants me... certain privileges."
Cherry narrowed her eyes at him. She still couldn't decide if he was the good guy or the bad guy in this scenario and she was determined not to let his swashbuckling appearance influence her one way or the other. "I've lived among Noronians for ten years and there is no way they would condone what you've done to me for any reason. When Aster and Romulus hear about this, they'll cart you off for reprogramming so fast you won't know what hit you."
"I've already sent them a message. Romulus knew of my presence in Innerworld and by now he knows I've taken you into my protective custody."
Chapter 2
"Your what?" Cherry demanded, taking a threatening step toward him again.
Gallant stood his ground, but looked prepared to move out of her way in a heartbeat. "Protective custody. That's when—"
"I know what it means. I also know the only thing I've needed protection from lately is you."
"Wrong," he answered. "The moment the Weebort spoke to you, he put your life in danger."
"That's ridiculous. I don't even know what he said."
Gallant shook his head. "Irrelevant. If Frezlo got wind of it, he'd be back for you. And believe me, he wouldn't settle for tuning into your subconscious—which is all I asked of you—he'd simply incinerate you on sight. His goal was to make sure the Weebort didn't pass on something he knew, not to find out what that was."
Cherry frowned, trying to come up with a way to debate what he was telling her. "But you were the only one who saw the Weebort say anything to me."
Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Would you be willing to risk your life on that?"
"All right, let's say there's a slim possibility my life could be in danger. There are plenty of ways I could have been protected in Innerworld. I could have hired a tracker to watch over me." Immediately Cherry thought of her friend, Falcon, the empathic man whose unusual psychic abilities had helped Aster and Romulus out of several crises in the past. Although Falcon now lived in Outerworld, she was certain another similarly talented detective could be found in Innerworld to help her.
Before Gallant could refute her logic, she pushed further. "And another thing, if you were so anxious to tap into my subconscious, why didn't you just do it yourself then take off?"
"I don't have any telepathic ability. Mar-Dot does. I told you I couldn't afford to waste the time. It was imperative I pick up Frezlo's trail before it dissipated. If you had cooperated with me to begin with, none of this would have been necessary. I would have left you in Innerworld after I found out what the Weebort said, if that had been your wish, but Mar-Dot had a problem with your untrained Terran mind." He shot them a glance that suggested he held them accountable.
Dot raised her chin defensively. "If you had not stunned the poor woman into oblivion, there would not have been a problem."
The he-she revolved a quick half-circle and Mar countered, "Your action was entirely justified, Captain."
"At any rate," Gallant continued, without responding to either comment. "Mar-Dot couldn't find out what I needed to know without your conscious participation. There was no way of telling how long it would take for you to come
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