ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) (10 page)

Her stomach clenched at the thought of what would happen to the foundation now. Aster had never gotten around to writing a will after her grandmother's death, nor had she left proxy instructions for her vote in the event of her absence. She had had no intention of ever being absent. She had battled to turn the foundation away from advancing technology and certain private interests and toward environmental and humanitarian concerns. Now, without her presence, her opponents on the board had a better than fifty percent chance of swinging it back again. There had to be something she could do to prevent that from happening.

When she returned to her cot, Aster reopened the notebook. The words on the inside front cover jumped out at her—"Compiled by Romulus Locke". Her heart did a little double step. She wished it would quit doing that. At least now she knew Romulus was his first name.

The first page was an itinerary covering the next several days, but Karl had apparently changed the schedule. She wondered how long they would be kept here.

A quick read through the Clothing section did not answer her question about the different colored uniforms. So Aster went to the bookshelf Cherry had mentioned and found a manual entitled Clothing. It was well-organized, like the notebook and it was easy to verify her assumptions. Turquoise denoted a caretaker, gray was assigned to low-level functionaries and dark green was reserved for top administrative positions. There was no category for dark blue. Oona had indeed made up a uniform to match Aster's eye color.

She started to close the book when the same four words on the inside cover caught her attention. Aster returned the book to the shelf and opened the covers on several more. The name Romulus Locke shouted at her from the pages. Obviously, Outerworlders were his personal domain.
That
had to be the reason he had observed her so closely. Some sparks! In his eyes, she was just a specimen or more likely, as Karl had suggested, a lower life form.

Aster shoved the books back on the shelf and returned to the bed. Her eyes closed but her mind would not go to sleep. She was tired and irritable and she was angry with Cherry for talking her into the cruise and angry with herself for accepting the invitation.

Cherry had decided it was her duty to break Aster's mundane routine of working, eating and sleeping. The little nag had fretted about her being a workaholic, had harassed her about being devoted to a dead man and had threatened her with the dangers of celibacy. Aster had declined every social invitation Cherry had issued. Recently, Cherry had gotten desperate enough to resort to deceit and trickery by setting Aster up with several
coincidental
meetings with nice, eligible men.

To put an end to Cherry's good-intentioned harassment, Aster had finally agreed to go along on the Feinsteins' four-day fishing trip. She had even tolerated the flight from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale. Between battling her own fear of flying and tolerating Cherry's garrulous companion, Harold, Aster had started regretting her decision before they ever boarded the ill-fated yacht.

How ironic that she had made Cherry swear that the long, quiet weekend was not another elaborate ploy to introduce her to yet another perfect playmate. Aster had thought being stuck on a private yacht with a strange man was the most unwelcome thing that could happen. If only it had been that simple.

She had not wanted to get out and socialize. Her life had been fine just the way it was.

Her relationship with Dennis hadn't been based on the kind of intense physical attraction that was glorified in romance novels, but she had loved him—as much as she was capable. The important thing was that she had felt safe and comfortable with him, not frightened as she was now. None of this would have happened if Dennis had not gotten himself killed.

Ah, Dennis, how could you abandon me too? She cried inwardly and for the thousandth time she repeated that she could count on no one but herself. If Aster had been alone in that room, she might have given in to the urge to have a good sob session. Instead, she pictured Dennis's face and willed herself to dream of him.

Several hours of deep sleep passed before her will was manifested but no sooner was she dreaming of her lost love than the other dream took over. Dennis's crooked grin straightened. The face was no longer Dennis's but the
other
man's. She could feel his strong arms encircling her, as they had so many times before in this dream world. Her heart beat faster, knowing that she would awaken in another moment, unfulfilled and confused because it always ended abruptly before his lips touched hers. His body heat scorched her as he lowered his head. For the first time in this recurring dream, Aster slid her arms around his neck and rose up on her tiptoes to accept his caress. And for the first time, she whispered the name she had waited a lifetime to learn.
"Romulus."

Aster's body jerked awake, damp with perspiration. Frantically, her gaze searched the darkened room. Everyone was asleep.

Feeling disoriented, she glanced at her wrist to see the time before remembering she no longer owned a watch. She wasn't even sure time had any relevance in this place with a fake sun.

Deciding to freshen up before anyone else stirred, she thought she'd try out the facilities manager and supply station in the kitchen. She knew there must be instructions in one of the manuals but didn't want to disturb anyone by turning on a light in the main room. Though it wasn't like her to simply take a stab at something, the circumstances she found herself in were hardly normal.

She stood in the kitchen, took a calming breath and did what Cherry had done earlier. "Hello?"

"How may I help you?" a friendly voice responded.

"I'd like a dress."

"Specify style."

Aster thought of one of the outfits she'd packed for the cruise. "A sundress. Do you know what that is?"

"Translating. Ready. Touch the image when you see the preferred style."

Instantly, the front of one cabinet became a monitor and a dozen sundresses flashed on the screen.

Aster touched one with a fitted bodice, wide straps and slightly flared skirt. "Can you take that one and make the neckline higher and rounded instead of a vee?"

"Complying." The modified design appeared the next moment. "Advise color and material."

Aster was almost enjoying herself. "Turquoise and polished cotton."

"Translating. Scanning for size." A light strobe shot out from the screen and outlined Aster's body from head to toe then vanished. About a minute later, the manager spoke again. "Completed. Your apparel is in bin three."

When Aster held the dress out in front of her, she had to admit, the process was pretty cool. She requested panties and low-heeled sandals. She learned jewelry of any kind had to be purchased.

The bathroom was as well-equipped as any of the better hotels she had stayed in, including grooming supplies and a selection of makeup. Telling herself she would feel even better if she pretended she was getting ready to go to work, she put on a little lipstick and mascara.

She could not find any hairpins, so she let her unruly waves hang loose. Just like her grandmother, her hair was thick and had gone completely gray when she was twenty. When she tucked it into a tight bun, she looked older and much less conspicuous. At five foot ten with silver hair, that was no small accomplishment.

By the time she was finished, the rest of the group was awake, getting cleaned up or having breakfast. Feeling more appropriately attired, she managed to smile and greet the others pleasantly. Everyone gave a sigh of relief when three of the caretakers appeared and announced they would be taken on a tour of the city and moved into their new residences without further delay.

Nick's caretaker addressed Aster and Cherry. "Oona and Perd have been delayed. It is requested that you stay here awhile longer." The android did not wait for a reply before leaving to catch up with the departing group.

The two women shrugged their shoulders and sat back down, neither caring to speculate what the delay meant.

* * *

"Good morning, ladies," Romulus said pleasantly as he entered the room. He managed to smile, but his insides were in turmoil. One look at Aster negated a night of convincing himself she was nothing special.

"Good morning, Chief Romulus," Aster finally said in a strained voice. "We were told to wait here."

"Yes, I know. Your caretakers were needed for other duties. I'll be taking the two of you on your tour and they will meet you at your apartments later." It was not a lie. He had given them another assignment. He had considered testing his responses by being alone with Aster but, from his experience with other new arrivals, guessed she might be more comfortable if her friend accompanied them.

Cherry jumped to her feet. "Hey, now that's what I call getting the royal treatment, huh, Aster!"

Rom saw Aster narrow her eyes at her friend and wondered what it meant... until she spoke directly to him.

"Thank you for stepping in, Chief Romulus, but I would have thought you would be much too busy writing manuals about Outerworlders and manipulating the lives of us wretchedly inferior beings. Certainly there must be another android you could assign to us."

Cherry's eyes widened. "Aster Mackenzie! He has offered us his personal hospitality and we're going to accept...
gratefully
."

Romulus shook his head. "After what happened last evening, I'm sure you're wondering who to believe." He caught Aster's telltale gasp. "No, I have not been reading your mind. But that's what I would have been thinking. I want the chance to show you that our colony is quite safe for you to enter and enjoy. Karl worked for me for years. Someone put him up to his actions yesterday and we have not yet determined who it was or the reason for it. We are convinced, though, that no one means to do you any harm.

"There are Innerworlders who have not yet accepted Terrans, er Outerworlders, as equals. They still remember another time and the violence Terrans are prone to. To put it into perspective, remember the Italian or Irish immigrants who entered your America in the late 1800s. They were treated unfairly, even hated by some, but they persevered and eventually blended into the population.

"In a relatively short time we have made great progress in integrating your people into our society and most of my people have accepted them as their friends and neighbors. I was not trying to hide any of this from you yesterday. I just believe it's too much information to bring up on a new arrival's first day."

Cherry punched Aster's arm. "See? Isn't that what I said?"

Aster was only giving his explanation one ear. Her mind was busy formulating a plan in which he would be a key player. But she would have to be cordial to him to make it work. "And how do
you
feel about
Terrans
?"

She saw a flash of heat in his eyes but he quickly quashed whatever his first reply would have been. Instead, he simply said, "We are all human beings, Miss Mackenzie. Now, if you will accept my company, I will endeavor not to
manipulate
you."

The look he was giving her was not that of a superior being looking down on a lesser one. If anything, his eyes were... pleading with her. She nodded and rose. The smile returned to his face as he showed them the way.

On the ground floor they approached a moving walkway and Romulus explained, "My commuter is in the rear of the building. This mover runs through the entire complex."

When Aster saw him support Cherry's elbow to assist her onto the track, she tried to avoid his touch by stepping on before he had a chance to help her. The walkway moved fairly slowly, but in her rush she lost her balance. Before she could grab the handrail to right herself, he stepped on behind her, supporting each of her elbows with a firm grasp.

The effect of the sudden contact shocked Aster into immobility. His supportive hold became a caress as his palms eased along her forearms. The flexed muscles of his chest pressed against her back and the warmth of his arms around her made tiny hairline fractures in her shield of ice.

Aster's subconscious quickly sent out the alert that her defenses had been breached and she abruptly jerked out of his hold. "Thank you for your help but I can manage on my own if you don't mind."

She was appalled by her momentary weakness but worse, she knew Cherry had witnessed the incident by the way her shoulders shook with silent laughter. Cherry, the little matchmaker, would make the most of this situation.

Romulus coughed, cleared his throat and took a step backward. He had only meant to be of assistance, but the feel of her in his arms again had been intoxicating. His palms burned from the contact. His entire being responded to her presence, shattering his innocent intentions. It was almost as if—

No! It could not be time.

He began doubting his good sense at wanting to spend the morning with her. He had no business becoming personally acquainted with new arrivals as the complications were sometimes insurmountable. That's why android caretakers were used.

Romulus cleared his throat again and dove into his role as their escort. "This complex contains medical, financial and counseling offices for employment, housing and education. I believe you'll both be visiting career counselors tomorrow morning. Here's where we get off." This time Aster accepted his assistance without a fuss.