Free The Witches of Ne'arth (The Star Wizards Trilogy Book 2) by Joseph Schembrie Page B

does?”
    “Here is a comparison.”  Ivan provided a pop-up window in Matt's field of vision, displaying images of the two women.  Hair styles were slightly different, but yes, the eyes – the same intensity.
    Matt willed the window shut.  “The Star Seed Project membership genome files were used to create the planetary gene pool.  There's even that woman at Fish Lake who looks like Mom.  So I suppose it had to happen that I'd meet someone on this planet who looked like Synth.”
    “You are nonetheless troubled by the coincidence.”
    “She's looks like Synth, she's smart too, and her personality is like Synth, in that she's so . . . . “
    “Bossy?”
    “What?  No!  Where did you get the idea that Synth was 'bossy?'”
    “Several mutual acquaintances have made that or similar comments to you. 'Bossy' was the term your friend Random used in reference to Synesthesia.”
    “Synth wasn't bossy.  She didn't try to force you to do what you didn't want to do.  She just was really smart, so she'd figure out what you wanted to do and tell you before you had time to think of it yourself.”
    “That explanation resembles a passage from an entry that she posted on her blog.  Would you like the exact wording?”
    “No thanks, but I agree with her.  Kind of.  Anyway, what troubles me is that you'd think that after centuries of genetic mixing, the genes for her looks would detach from the genes for her brains and personality and they would all go separate ways and it would be statistically unlikely for them to reunite again in the same person – and even more unlikely that I would ever meet that person.  I realize I'm basing this on just one meeting, but for Savora to be so much like Synth – well, it's improbable.”
    “Matt, do you suppose it is possible that Savora is in fact your friend Synesthesia?”
    Matt had considered the possibility, but he shook his head.  “Ivan, by now, Synth is a cloud of pure energy – or whatever it was Ascenders were trying to be.  And since she quit the Star Seed Project, how would she even get to Ne'arth?”
    “We have been gone many centuries from Earth.  Perhaps there have been improvements in interstellar transportation.  Perhaps she traveled by wormhole stargate or hyperdrive starship.”
    “Let's not get into fantasy.  Besides, you would have informed me if there was a scent match, right?”
    “It is possible that Synesthesia could have altered her scent for purposes of disguise.”
    “If Synth came to this planet and wanted me to know it was her, she would tell me, and if she didn't want me to know, she would have taken a completely different form so that we'd never guess.”
    “Matt, as your neural implant matrix, I am obliged to ask personal questions about your emotional state in order to better serve.”
    “You're going to ask whether I still have romantic feelings toward Synth.”
    “Yes, Matt.”
    Matt grinned. “Well, she's smart and pushy – but I've met someone who's smarter and pushier.”
    “Noted.  Matt, do you wish to resume your search for Carrot this afternoon?”
    Even while talking about Savora, in the back of his mind Matt had been thinking about Carrot; indeed, he realized, it was almost as if he had talked so much about Savora in order to avoid thinking so much about Carrot.  He wasn't quite sure, however, as to why. 
    “I don't know what to say to her yet,” Matt concluded.  “It's like I want to see her so badly, that I'm afraid to see her.  Does that make sense?”
    “According to my psycho-therapeutic application, your feelings are confused about the nature of your relationship and the confusion is resulting in fear of saying or doing something wrong, and your response to the fear is procrastination and avoidance.”
    “Your psycho-therapeutic app is wise.  Anyhow, it's getting dark.  I can see Carrot tomorrow and maybe then I'll know what to do.  Let's grab some food and sleep, okay?”
    As he ate a meal at the meal