"But…how…" Robert's breath escaped him and his shoulders fell slack. A smile crept onto his face. "I…me too."

It was Connelly's turn to smile. "I knew you did."

"But—"

"Robert," Connelly pulled him close so that their bodies were flush against each other and hugged him tight.

Wrapping her arms around Robert made her trip home complete. The crew had escaped with no permanent damage. No one remembered what had happened or what they had discovered. The human race would have no idea the Europhids existed and both species would be better off because of it.

As Connelly felt her muscles loosen within Robert's embrace, she thought about how she had grown, how her opinions had been so radically challenged and changed by their voyage. In all her years exploring for new life forms—in Earth's oceans, in Antarctica, and now on Europa, she always believed her quest for understanding and knowledge was the right course of action, the right thing to do. She had never considered whether the life she uncovered would want to be found. They had lifted the proverbial stone concealing the angry snake and it was only the mercy of the blue Europhids that saved them. But now she knew better…and would teach humanity to know better. After all, how would humans have reacted if the tides were turned, if it was the Europhids who came to Earth?

Robert broke from their embrace and said, "Have I ever told you how beautiful your blue eyes are?"

Connelly smiled. "Not once."

###

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JEREMY ROBINSON is the author of six previous thrillers including Pulse and Instinct, the first two books in his exciting Chess Team series. His novels have been translated into eight languages. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.

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