The Tracker's Dilemma: (A Mandrake Company Science Fiction Romance) by Ruby Lionsdrake Read Free Book Online Page A

arguments.” She sounded annoyed by the fact, which he took as a warning that he had better not try to make arguments. Besides, he didn’t know her well enough—or know science well enough—to make arguments that would likely persuade her. Still, it was very hard not to suggest that he, being rather fit and practiced in matters of sex, might be a more appealing partner than some stuffy professor.
    “Well, if you ever change your mind or just want a massage, let me know. If I don’t turn into a crazy freak, I’d be happy to help out.” He wriggled his fingers in an approximation of a shoulder rub. “Probably even if I do turn into a crazy freak.” He offered a self-deprecating smirk, then turned his attention back to her display, figuring he better drop the topic if he didn’t want her to start avoiding him altogether.
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” she murmured, then glanced at the clock in the corner of her holodisplay. “I’m tempted to pull up some ESP tests for you, but your captain has requested that I attend this meeting with Hailey, as if I have anything to do with her ludicrous plans.”
    “Do you know what her plans are ?” Tick asked. Given the strange things that were happening in his head, he wasn’t ready to dismiss anyone who studied ESP as ludicrous, not now.
    “Not exactly, but she mentioned finding Grenavinians of her own, and she wants some of my microflora to implant, assuming she finds willing participants.” Lauren snorted. “Perhaps even if she finds unwilling participants. My sister has never let ethics get in the way of her research needs. I can’t even start to count how many people she’s slept with to improve her odds of receiving funding.”
    “That’s surprising.”
    “If you think that, it’s just because you don’t know her well.”
    “I meant that I’d expect her to share your disinterest in… well, I guess I don’t know if such things are genetic.” What he did know was that he was out of his element when it came to science and should shut up. She had spoken bluntly to him about her interests—or disinterests—and probably wouldn’t appreciate him continuing to bring up sex.
    “I don’t know that she doesn’t share my disinterest. She’s very manipulative. It could all just be a means to an end for her.”
    Tick remembered that Ms. Keys had flirted with him and apparently kissed Frog, two people who couldn’t do anything for her, as far as he knew. Unless she’d already known that he and Frog had both participated in Lauren’s experiments? Was there a reason that would matter to her? She hadn’t flirted with Mandrake, though that could have been because Ankari had been leaning on his arm. Frog wasn’t Grenavinian, but what would Tick do if Keys came up to him and wanted to run some experiments?
    “She seems very different from you,” Tick said.
    “Good.”
    “Did you get along as children?”
    “Until we were teenagers, yes. We didn’t have anyone else.” Lauren frowned and poked at the brain scan, enlarging the image.
    “No other siblings?”
    “No other anybody. We grew up in an orphanage.”
    “Oh. What happened to your...” He hesitated. Would she think he was prying? He was interested, but it might be a painful point for her.
    “They died on Galamoor 7, when a virus they had gone in to help with mutated into something extremely deadly to humans. The entire continent was quarantined, with some of the villages being outright destroyed by airstrikes to keep the virus from spreading. The government was terrified that it would get out and infect the entire system. My mom died early on—she was a doctor trying to treat people and got infected herself somehow. My dad was a research scientist. He died in the airstrikes. The government wouldn’t let anyone out. From what I later learned, the airstrikes were a cruel surprise to those on the ground. My dad and some others were still working on a solution. They weren’t told...” She shook