"Why do you think I went into thescouts? Vlad, I'll be all right in time."He regarded me. "You're not doing so good now. You shouldn't work for awhile...until you can relax."I glared at him. "I know my limits. Vlad, you're making me regrettelling you."Vlad glared right back. "I wasn't kidding about the risk. I don't wantyou dead. I've seen it before; you are too distracted to be safe." Is that the consensus; do the others think I'm losing it?" I askedevenly."There's been talk about it. Can you. There were so many tales about Ghost Shipscoming out of the Black Holes scattered around the known universes. Nowthose stories made sense. I suddenly felt sad for her crew, they had noway of knowing."I tried to warn Callie and the Admiral. That is why Callie commanded meto stay behind, I didn't want her to try the jump, or even get close tothe Black Hole. I could feel something was wrong. Why I gave her thejumper for Allie, but she wouldn't take the other one for herself, Icould have saved her. "Welcome home, Brother," he said in a deep baritone voice filled with happiness, before his gaze fell on me and his demeanor changed."Who is this with you?" he demanded in that deep voice."Brother, this is Margie O'Connell," Robert answered before turning to me."Margie, this is my older Brother, Makhpia—Luta. In English that translates as Red Cloud, but he is most often addressed as Jason. You may call him either," he finished."How do you do?" I asked, "I'm pleased to meet you." Jason did not. She felt those vile arms closed around her, pinning her arms to her side, wheezing from the pressure when he lifted her off the ground in a horrific embrace. She thrashed her head side to side in denial, sobbing while kicking out at the air before her. His hands casually reached under her bucking thighs, long fingers curling into her toned muscle, gouging her skin with his claws. He pried her open slowly, spreading her out like a pinup model, putting everything on display. He nuzzled his.