Free Mind Over Mind by Karina L. Fabian

enviably comfortable.
    “It’s just for a few minutes. We need to talk.” He tossed Joshua the ball and backed up.
    “Why can’t we talk inside under the air conditioning?”
    “Because they’re monitoring us.”
    What is this? Theme du jour? “Well, let them monitor this.” He tossed the ball as hard as he could, so that Ydrel had to jump for it—and even then, it slipped through his fingers. He landed, stumbling, then retrieved the ball.
    He moved closer and gave Joshua a dirty look before throwing the ball. “I’m not talking about Carter’s fantasies. I mean that Malachai has turned on the surveillance equipment in my room. We can’t talk there anymore. And if you’re going to be so cranky, I’d suggest you lay off the double lattes.”
    “How’d you—?”
    Ydrel just rolled his eyes. “Malachai is not going to let you really help me get out of here. He’s going to keep you—and me—under observation to make sure you get back safe to ‘dry heat’ Colorado and I stay trapped here.”
    “And there’s surveillance equipment in your room?” Joshua couldn’t keep the skepticism from his voice.
    “Don’t believe me. Ask Sachiko. It’ll give you an excuse to talk to her. Alone, even.”
    “Speaking of,” Joshua again tossed the ball, this time an easy throw that kept them within conversation distance. “Dr. Malachai showed us your sketches. I take it you talked to the Miscria last night. By the way, what’s TASMAE mean?”
    “That’s her name. The Miscria is like a job title or something.” Ydrel caught the ball and tossed it back. “Yeah, we talked. That’s why Malachai is so mad at you. You managed to do in one hour what he couldn’t accomplish in five years.”
    “Really? So she’s going to leave you alone from now on?”
    Ydrel caught Joshua’s return, then held the ball between both hands, studying the laces. “She, well, she promised to knock first.”
    “Knock.”
    “Yeah, so to speak. Sort of a psionic check to see if I’m asleep or busy or whatever. It was kind of funny, actually. All this time, she’s thought I was some kind of cross between angel and supercomputer. She was awfully surprised to discover I’m flesh and blood like her.”
    “‘Flesh and blood,’ huh? So, what else did you do?” Joshua asked with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
    Now it was Ydrel’s turn to scowl and throw the ball hard—at Joshua’s stomach. “Things don’t work that way for me, so just put it out of your analysis. Got it?”
    “Hey, easy! Now who’s uptight?”
    “Why is it psychiatrists always think there’s a sexual motivation to everything?”
    “Oh, and you didn’t make a similar if less pointed suggestion to me a few minutes ago? Besides, if your sketch is accurate, she’s kind of attractive, if you like muscle-bound Xena types.”
    “You mean xeno, like xenophile.”
    “I mean Xena, like Xena, Warrior Princess.” He paused to study Ydrel’s blank expression before throwing the ball. “You don’t know Xena?”
    Ydrel caught the ball. “No.” Toss.
    Catch. “You don’t know about Star Trek?” Toss.
    Catch. “No.” Toss.
    Catch. “Piers Anthony? Harry Potter? Sherlock Holmes? Really, you’ve got a library here. Don’t you ever cruise the fiction section?” Toss.
    Catch. “Why?” Toss.
    Catch. He stopped to wipe the sweat from his eyes. “Brother, we’ve got to broaden your education. Listen, you may be cool, but I’m not dressed for this. Can we get back in under the A/C?” Catching Ydrel’s disappointed look, he added, “I’ll bring some shorts, and next time we can even schedule it in. I think Edith would approve. And we’ll find a way to talk away from prying ears.”
    “Yeah, OK.”
    “Cool.” Joshua tossed the ball sideways to him. Ydrel winced as he caught it. “You all right?”
    “Uh, yeah. I must have slept wrong or something. Let’s go.”
    They headed back to where his jacket and tie waited, with Ydrel walking so slowly