Mission by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

but then, so was Jewel’s ability to numb the emotions of those around her.
    She was pacing out on the cliff when Beryl came to meet her, waddling a little. “Hello, Beryl.”
    “Why are you so fidgety today, Jewel?”
    Jewel looked at the other woman and sighed. “I need to find a way to send a present home, but I don’t have any money or credits or whatever.”
    “That isn’t an issue. You have made money for your efforts as a Guardian.” Beryl smiled. “I like to shop. What are you looking for?”
    “I promised to send my sister Amanda something for Christmas, and if I send it now, it might just make it. I am looking for something that can’t be found on Terra.”
    Beryl grinned. “Send her one of the W’lyn.”
    The mental imaged made Jewel gasp. “Oh, that would be something, but where would I put the stamp?”
    They giggled together and Beryl smiled. “I am serious. We can go shopping right now. Wren and Drovin are having a telekinetic food fight and that is just too weird for me right now.”
    They headed for the skimmers and Jewel ducked inside, “Beryl’s taking me shopping.”
    Wren called out, “Have her back by three.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Beryl settled in and Jewel took the controls. “Where are we going?”
    Beryl rattled off coordinates and they took off.
    Jewel flew across the water, over the city and into the wilderness. “Where are we going, Beryl?”
    “Oh, just a place where you can find something that you can’t get on Earth. Trust me.”
    They cruised for an hour or more, and when Jewel was going to ask again, a house appeared at the designated coordinates.
    “Where are we?”
    The ground was green and lush trees, meadows and rocky terrain were all together in this spot.
    “We are at a green preserve. It is a designated protected wilderness area.”
    “Why is there a house here?”
    “Oh, he must be the forest ranger.” Beryl smiled. “Come on. Let’s go meet him.”
    “What can I find here that I can’t find at home?”
    The sound of chopping wood was familiar, and she wandered around until she could find the source. Her knees wobbled when a shirtless Stormyo was standing there with an axe, chopping deadfall into burnable pieces.
    Beryl cleared her throat. “Hello, Ranger. We are your local Guardians and we thought we should come by and say hello.”
    Stormyo paused with the axe in the air and turned around, his skin gleaming with sweat. “It is an honour to get a personal visit from a Guardian.”
    Jewel took one step toward him then another, and he met her halfway. She kissed him with all the pent-up longing of the last six weeks. When she had reacquainted herself with the taste of him, she cleared her throat. “Stormyo, this is Beryl.”
    Beryl was grinning. “We have corresponded. I helped him get the immigration paperwork for W’lyn. It was tricky. I basically had to say that he was the only one of his kind.”
    “Because I am.”
    “The facts helped.” She chuckled.
    Jewel didn’t want to let him go, but she had to if she was going to get Beryl back in time. “We have to get back to the base. Beryl needs her snack.”
    He sighed and stroked her spine. “So this was just a tease?”
    “I didn’t know you were here. I am here on a weird sort of lend-lease agreement. I am allowed to be a Guardian but not a peacekeeper. I help out when they are called for crowd situations.”
    “I knew you would be suited for more than just waiting for me to injure myself.” He kissed her swiftly. “Well, you know where to find me.”
    Jewel smiled. “I do, and I can use a riot runner next time.”
    Beryl chuckled. “I did not put you two together to rip you apart. I will hit the auto return and get my considerable ass back to base. I will send your riot runner out here in case you are needed. Your new mission is to have a private reunion.”
    Jewel pressed her head to Stormyo’s sweaty chest. “Thank you, Beryl. My com link is still in. Call me if you need