Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
She did her best to ignore it as she and Sirex made their way to Commander Sylvan’s office to present him with The Finger of the Goddess.
“You’ve returned so soon?” Sylvan looked surprised to see them when they knocked on his door. “Was there a problem?” he asked as they settled themselves in the chairs opposite his desk.
“No problem unless you count nearly being killed,” Phoebe said, trying to smile. “But of course, that’s part of the job,” she added quickly.
“Are you all right?” Commander Sylvan asked, looking concerned.
“Perfectly fine, Commander,” Sirex said firmly. “Things got a little dicey towards the end of the mission, but we completed it without any major incidents. I can also say that Agent Jenkins is ready to work on her own from now on—she performed admirably and she’s also the one who secured The Goddess’s Finger.”
He nodded at Phoebe who unwrapped the towel and offered the shimmering opalescent crystal to their boss.
“Well! It is a beauty,” Commander Sylvan murmured, reaching across his desk to take the towel from her and admire the crystal. “Very good work, Agent Jenkins! I know the Head Priestess of First World personally—in fact, she’s my cousin. I’ll call her at once to let her know The Goddess’s Finger is going to be returned to her. I’m sure she’ll be very happy—she has several couples already lined up for fertility treatments.”
“We were more than happy to retrieve it,” Sirex said, nodding and Phoebe agreed.
“Well, you did excellent work,” Sylvan told them. “From now on I’ll be sending you both on solo missions, since you did so well. But I’d like to thank you again for working together on this one.”
“It was my pleasure,” Sirex rumbled, casting a look at Phoebe that she couldn’t read.
“Yes, it was mine as well,” she agreed politely. “Thank you, Commander Sylvan.”
“Thank you both,” he replied. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing both of you again soon. For now, though—dismissed.”
They rose from their chairs to leave but Phoebe suddenly felt wobbly and wrong. The tingling that had been concentrated in her core suddenly seemed to sweep over her entire body in a wave. A wave of dizziness followed it, leaving her seeing stars flashing before her eyes.
She gave a little gasp and grasped the edge of Commander Sylvan’s desk with both hands to keep from falling.
“Phoebe? Are you all right?” Sirex gave her a concerned look.
“I’m fine.” She tried to smile as she straightened up. “I just felt dizzy for a minute, that’s all.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Commander Sylvan asked, frowning.
“Yes, perfectly sure.” Phoebe gave her boss a smile as she let go of the desk and straightened up. She turned to leave his office…and promptly fainted on the carpet at his feet.
34
PHOEBE
She woke up to see a woman with gray eyes and blonde hair leaning over her.
“Hi there, I’m Doctor Olivia but you can call me Liv,” she said as Phoebe blinked up at her.
“Uh…what? Where am I?” Phoebe looked around uncertainly.
“In the main Med Center. Commander Sylvan and your coworker brought you in—you fainted in Sylvan’s office,” Liv told her.
“I what?” Phoebe tried to sit up and moaned as the world started spinning again.
“Hey, just relax for now—okay?” The blonde doctor pressed her shoulder, easing her gently back down onto the exam bed.
“Why am I so dizzy?” Phoebe moaned. “And so tingly?”
Because the persistent tingling that she’d been feeling ever since she removed The Finger of the Goddess was back and stronger than ever. Also, the feeling of emptiness inside her had grown—she felt like she had a black hole at her center—a yawning void that longed to be filled! But filled with what? She didn’t know.
“Well, that’s what we’re trying to find out,” Liv told her. “Now tell me what’s going on—I understand you just got back from an interstellar mission. Did you eat or drink something questionable while you were away from the Mother Ship?”
“I don’t think so,” Phoebe murmured. In fact, she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything on Salacious Prime but the can of Sparkler that had made her act like a sex starved lunatic and then forget everything the next morning. She ought to be hungry but right now all she felt was empty inside—like she needed to be filled, only not with food.
“Okay, let’s talk about it. What else might have happened while you were away?” Liv persisted.
“I—” Phoebe began.
“I’ll tell you what happened—she touched The Finger of the Goddess with her bare hands.”
The new voice was familiar. Phoebe turned her head and saw that Sirex was standing in the doorway of the exam room, a worried look on his face.
“She what? Pardon me, Commander Sirex, but I asked you to wait outside.” Liv sounded slightly exasperated.
“I said, she touched it with her bare hand,” Sirex repeated. “It’s a rare and ancient artifact that’s dangerous to women.” Ignoring the frown Liv was giving him, he came into the room and looked down at Phoebe. “Are you all right?” he asked, looking at her anxiously.