Chapter 4

FOUR

Q uinn stared at the card, her scientist’s mind warring with the part of her that desperately wanted a change. “This is insane, right? Aliens? Other planets? It sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi movie.”

“Sometimes insane is exactly what we need.” Lydia grabbed Quinn’s phone and placed it in her hand. “Think about it—no more James stealing your work, no more Andrew talking over you in meetings, no more being stuck in this basement office while less qualified men take credit for your discoveries.”

“But aliens, Lyd.”

“If she’s lying, then we’ll find out in a few hours. Then we’ll move on. But why would she? That makes no sense.” Lydia arched an eyebrow. “Besides, Gerri said they specifically need your expertise. When was the last time anyone on Earth actually valued what you can do?”

Quinn’s finger hovered over her phone. “What if it’s some elaborate scam?”

“A scam on what? Your published papers and geological theories?” Lydia shook her head. “Come on, Quinn. Where’s your sense of scientific curiosity?”

“I think I left it upstairs along with my career prospects.”

But Quinn was already dialing, her heart pounding as the phone rang. Gerri answered on the first ring as if she’d been expecting the call.

“Dr. Quinn,” her warm voice came through clearly. “I was wondering when I’d hear from you.”

“How did you—never mind.” Quinn took a deep breath. “That opportunity you mentioned. Is it still available?”

“Of course. Though I should mention that I’m already aware of what happened in the board meeting.” There was a note of approval in Gerri’s voice. “Well done, by the way. James Foster has needed someone to stand up to him for years.”

Quinn exchanged startled looks with Lydia. “How could you possibly know about that? It happened less than an hour ago.”

“I have my ways,” Gerri said mysteriously. “Now, shall we discuss your future? I have a proposition that might interest both you and Ms. Marlowe.”

“I’m listening.”

“There’s a planet called Nova Aurora. Technologically advanced, beautiful landscape, fascinating geological formations unlike anything on Earth. They’re experiencing some concerning seismic activity that their own experts can’t explain. They need someone with fresh eyes and unconventional thinking.”

Quinn’s scientific curiosity was piqued despite her skepticism. “What kind of seismic activity?”

“Patterns that defy Earth’s geological principles. Tremors that seem to follow magical rather than physical laws. Energy signatures that your equipment might be able to track, but the dragons’ traditional methods can’t explain.”

“ Magic ?” Quinn’s voice dripped with doubt. “You’re talking about actual magic ?”

“I’m talking about forces that Earth science hasn’t discovered yet.” Gerri’s voice held a smile. “Isn’t that exactly the kind of challenge you’ve been looking for? A chance to expand the boundaries of geological understanding?”

Quinn pressed the speaker button so Lydia could hear. “And this has nothing to do with your dating agency?”

“As I mentioned before, the Paranormal Dating Agency facilitates all kinds of connections, Dr. Quinn. Professional, personal, magical... we help people find what they need, even if it’s not what they think they’re looking for.”

“I’m not looking for?—”

“A relationship. Yes, you’ve mentioned that.” Gerri chuckled. “All I ask is that you keep an open mind. Sometimes the heart finds what it needs when we’re busy making other plans. Can you promise me that? That you won’t close yourself off to possibilities just because they don’t fit your current worldview?”

Lydia leaned closer to the phone. “Yes, she promises.”

Quinn rolled her eyes, but didn’t object.

“Wonderful!” Gerri’s enthusiasm was contagious. “And Ms. Marlowe? Are you interested in joining this adventure? Nova Aurora could use someone with your expertise in ground-penetrating radar technology.”

Lydia practically bounced in place. “Absolutely! When do we start?”

“How does tomorrow morning sound?”

“Tomorrow?” Quinn sat up straighter. “That’s... that’s very soon.”

“Is there anything holding you here?” Gerri asked pointedly.

Quinn looked around her basement office—at the years of work that had been repeatedly stolen and dismissed, at the career that had become more prison than passion. “No. No, there isn’t.”

“Excellent. Pack for an extended stay in a climate-controlled environment. And Dr. Quinn,” Gerri paused, “sometimes the biggest discoveries come from taking unexpected paths.”

After hanging up, Quinn stared at her phone in disbelief. “What did I just agree to?”

“Adventure!” Lydia was already pulling boxes from the supply closet. “Come on, let’s pack up your office. I don’t want to leave anything behind for James to steal.”

As they packed, Quinn’s mind raced with questions. “What do you even pack for another planet? Should we take our equipment? What’s their power source? Will our technology even work there?”

“Now that sounds more like the Quinn I know.” Lydia grinned as she wrapped Quinn’s favorite rock samples in bubble wrap. “Already thinking about the practical problems to solve.”

“Someone has to think practically when you’re busy dreaming about alien princes.”

“Dragon shifters,” Lydia corrected with a wink. “Gerri specifically mentioned dragons. Much hotter than princes.”

“Literally,” Quinn muttered, but she was smiling as she carefully packed her laptops and external drives. “This is crazy, right? We’re actually going to another planet?”

“Crazier than staying here and watching more men take credit for your work?”

“Point taken.”

They spent the next few hours methodically packing Quinn’s office, a decade of research and discoveries carefully sorted and stored. Each item brought back memories—both good and bad. And not one person came by to try to talk her out of leaving. Decision made.

“Remember this?” Lydia held up a battered field journal. “Iceland, three years ago. When you predicted that volcanic formation and no one believed you until?—”

“Until it erupted exactly where I said it would.” Quinn took the journal, running her fingers over its worn cover. “Fat lot of good it did my career. Thompson took credit for that prediction too.”

“Well, he won’t be taking credit for anything on Nova Aurora.” Lydia tossed another stack of papers into a box. “God, how many men have stolen your work over the years?”

Quinn started counting on her fingers. “Thompson, Foster, Richards in grad school, that post-doc who tried to claim my thesis research...” She grimaced. “Should I keep going?”

“Please don’t. It’s making me want to commit several felonies.” Lydia paused in her packing to study Quinn. “Why did you stay so long?”

Quinn sank into her chair, absently fiddling with her favorite rock specimen—a piece of metamorphic rock with perfectly preserved fold patterns. “I guess I thought if I just worked harder, proved myself enough times, they’d have to acknowledge my contributions eventually.”

“Instead they just got better at stealing them.”

“Pretty much.” Quinn set the rock carefully in a box. “You know what the worst part is? I love this work. I love understanding how the Earth moves, predicting patterns, solving geological puzzles. I just hate what the industry has become.”

“Then maybe this is exactly what you need.” Lydia perched on the edge of the desk. “A fresh start. New world, new rules, new chances to make discoveries without some entitled man claiming them as his own.”

“Assuming aliens are less sexist than humans.”

“If they’re not, you can always sic a dragon on them.” Lydia waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Will you stop with the dragon thing?”

“Never. Now come on, this is depressing. Let’s get your stuff packed and then grab dinner. One last Earth meal before our grand adventure.”