Neal James is a space station navigator whose lover, Dylan Teague, left him for a starmapping mission. But when Dylan radios in a distant signal one night, Neal discovers that he hasn't managed to put the relationship behind him in the two months they've been apart. When he's one of the crew members sent to investigate the signal, he finds that his ex-lover feels the same.<br><br>The source of the signal is a lost colony ship. Only a handful of the original colonists remain, survivors of a deadly disease that killed most of their fellow shipmates twenty years ago. To keep the threat of disease to a minimum, the colony adheres to strict laws, including the prohibition of same-sex relationships.<br><br>When the same fatal virus seems to appear again, Neal and Dylan find themselves in the midst of an irrational panic and hate that threatens to destroy everything the colonists have worked so hard to attain.

Operation Starseed

Damn you.And if I were a stronger man, I would say that, but I


don’t—instead I just look at the tiles beneath my feet, a few drops


of water from the fountain beading by my boots, reflecting the low


lights, and I murmur an apology, I’m not even quite sure what I


Before he can say anything, though, Conlan’s


voice carries over to us from where he waits by Maclin. “You know,


I think I should check on Marie.” Ellington turns and Dylan’s hands


find my waist again, a tentative touch that makes me angry, he


shouldn’t have to feel unsure and awkward with me, we


shouldn’t be made to feel like this, like we’re doing something


evil and wrong. Conlan points towards the corridor that leads to


the med lab and shrugs halfheartedly. “Just to say goodnight, you


know. Tell her to hold on. They’ll be back soon, right?”


He looks at me and for the first time I


realize what he’s doing. Distracting Ellington, he hasto be


Chapter 64