Cursing

by Lynne Murray

  “You seem to be okay with it.”

  “I had a weird upbringing.

  The door opened and Star sailed in on her floating basket.

  “Hey, Star, over here,” Mia yelled. Looking over my glasses, I saw a girl who might have been Mia’s sister, only with flyaway hair in pale blond rather than Mia’s purple.

  Star headed for a kind of stand alone boot set against the wall near the buffet line. She slipped inside. A transparent shield snapped shut over the entrance and filled with a mist so that the blue creature vanished from view. When the mist cleared, the shield vanished and she backed out of the bay carrying a triangular container. Her myriad of eyes glistened with some kind of moisture but it didn’t seem to be dripping on the floor as Star floated over to the table where Mia and I sat.

  When Star settled in next to Mia at the table, a few people looked up from their conversations or reading material, smiled at the nearly identical teenagers and went back to ignoring them. The way they reacted reinforced the reality that most of the staff was older than Mia, but everyone seemed to know her.

  Star put the container on the table and dipped several tendrils into the container. “Ah, nutrients!”

  ‘How often do you ingest nutrients, Star?” Mia asked. “I only see you over here every few days and I’m here all the time. The food is one of the best things about this place.”

  “I fully recharge every few days. I have a basic needs unit in my quarters. Having quarters beyond my minimum requirements is a luxury. Most assignments simply provide rows of recharging and resting bays. I come here to enjoy observing other life forms in this gathering space.”

  “The other diners, seem to enjoy seeing you two together, like twins”

  “Most astute,” Star said. “Humans here like Mia. Taking on a similar appearance appeals to them, which makes things go more smoothly.”

  “I’m blushing,” Mia said. She wasn’t, but Star waved her tendrils at her and they seemed to understand one another.

  “But you didn’t wear a disguise in the Observation Room, why not?” I asked.

  “All the sentient creatures in my work area are accustomed to my natural form,” Star said. “Humans from outside this station appear in this nutritional gathering place, so I minimize their alarm by looking like Mia. This assignment offers many extra benefits other than larger living quarters and pleasant company. This room is filled with beings from many planets coexisting peaceably. It is most refreshing and I want to remember Earth and her people in a peaceful mode one more time in case the Rutban or the Death Dealers destroy our facility. In which case I will miss you all.”

  “What?” Mia and I both exclaimed in horror.

  “They’re attacking the facility?” Mia asked. “I thought we were safe here.”

  “Safe is a relative term. The facility is under constant attack, but the most recent attempts were more sophisticated.” The blue creature’s nearest eyes fastened on me and her tendrils waved in my direction. “The Death Dealers seem to have found you. I’m not sure the Galactic Council can protect you.” Star let out a high-pitched squeak. “There. Guardians are coming through the door.”

  Chapter 14

  Mr. Kirby walked into the room flanked by three tall men clad in armor that mimicked the tines of feathers. The shielding continued on wings folded behind them. They must all have been at least seven feet tall with dangerously beautiful faces. They looked like birds of prey.

  The red-lettered feed popped up on my glasses:

  Guardians – Access Restricted.

  The room grew silent.

  “They look like angels,” I said instinctively.

  “Dangerous angels,” Star said, her tendrils vibrating with what looked like alarm.

  Mia let out a snort of laughter, then looked around to see if anyone noticed. No one had. All eyes were on the three, devastatingly attractive winged men. “Never let them hear you say that. I’ve only seen men. I don’t know where they keep the women, but they aren’t friendly with humans. All the ones I’ve seen are super hot guys. They are like the most requested security forces in the known galaxy, and the most expensive. They used to only visit Earth to escort important visitors. They were so impressive that our ancestors called them gods and tried to worship them. Guardians got so angry that they refused to communicate until the humans amended it to Angels and messengers of the gods.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “Thousands of years ago. Oops! They’re coming over here,” Mia said.

  Without a word, Star rose a little higher in her basket and sailed away from the table and out of the room.

  “She seems to be immune to their charm,” I remarked.

  Mia kept staring silently at the Guardians.

  The most impressive-looking Guardian left his companions standing together and walked with Mr. Kirby to our table. He was tall. He radiated strength. He towered over Kirby and he was also blond, but the Guardian’s golden hair was twisted back behind his head where it disappeared into a halo-like gold metallic helmet that was retracted close to his head.

  “Sariel, this is Angie Faust.”

  The Guardian bowed solemnly, a brief acknowledgment.

  “Angie, can you please come with us,” Kirby said quietly.

  Everyone was staring at us.

  I sighed, stood and followed, torn between curiosity and reluctance to leave Mia. This wasn’t going to be nearly as much fun. But any one of the Guardians could have easily picked me up and carried me if I refused.

  Sariel motioned the two other Guardians over. He indicated me with a jut of the chin. “This is Angie,” he said to them. “My fellow guards are Jeduthun and Humiel,” he noted as he fell in beside me.

  One of the other Guardians stepped to the other side, while the other followed us.

  Kirby led the way to a large room with no windows and an elevated pedestal with a chair and a podium. The place looked like a lecture hall except for the total lack of seating. The Guardians fanned out, around the room at the entrance and monitoring the few of us in the room.

  A rangy man with black hair cut very short and a long, lantern-jawed face stood next to Wade. The newcomer must have been at least six feet five inches, taller than Wade but not as tall as the Guardian.

  Kirby walked past them without a word. He stepped up onto the pedestal. He didn’t gesture for anyone to join him. “I am John Kirby, Manager of the West Coast Extraterrestrial Protective Agency beginning a formal negotiation with a representative of the Death Dealer Planet. May I have your name, sir?”

  “I am Instructor Vole. You may call me Vole for efficiency’s sake. I am qualified to represent my planet as regards to the hybrid Death Dealer female known as Evangelina Faust.”

  He knew my legal name. Most people guessed it was Angela.

  “We are not going to surrender her to you,” Kirby said firmly.

  “We’re not asking you to. We have no place in our society for her, but we cannot stand by and watch her considerable talents go to waste. She has powers you don’t know exist. You have neither the skill nor the training to teach her properly. For your own safety and hers, I would urge you to accept this instruction. With your permission, I will instruct her in the basic ways of her father’s people. I can teach her the skills she needs and the exercises she will need to continue on her own to develop safely.”

  “Why should we trust you?”

  “I will only give her instructions in a safe room with a null field around it. You may record the interaction. I do not mind having your representative present. In fact, I prefer it.” He turned to Wade and examined him for several seconds. “That man would be acceptable to us if you can spare him. This will give you information about Death Dealers that you could get in no other way.”

  “No killing,” I surprised myself by speaking up in a very clear, firm voice. “I won’t kill anything on command in order to learn. Also, no torture of me or anyone else.”

  “Ah, I see you remember
some of your early instruction despite the suppression procedures imposed on your brain.”

  “What do you mean, suppression procedures?” I asked.

  “You have gaps in your early memories, do you not?” Vole gave dismissive wave of his large, narrow hand. “We’ll know more as training progresses.” He paused. “We have heard of your reluctance to kill higher life forms. Possibly this weakness comes from your mother’s influence.”

  I desperately wanted to ask about my mother, but his smug expression suggested that he wanted me to do that and it would give him the upper hand. I didn’t take the bait.

  Vole inclined his head as if I had said something. “Your demands were controversial at the time, Evangelina. But advances in simulation make live practice unnecessary.”

  “We’re okay with you taking this training if you are, Angie,” Kirby said. “It would help us protect you better to learn more about Death Dealers to maximize your power.”

  “First, I need to know,” I let my harsh tone reinforce the words. “Did your people break into my apartment three days ago?”

  “No,” Vole said immediately. “We only became aware of your location and contacted the Agency when you killed the Harvesters. We noted the energy spike.”

  Kirby and Wade exchanged a glance. No mention the killing of my boss. Either they hadn’t noticed or they just didn’t care about one human more or less.

  Vole continued to stare at me with peculiar intensity. “Harvesters are hard to kill. That amount of energy being discharged here on Earth by a hybrid human is rare.” He turned to Kirby, “Do you have a suitable null room. If so, we can begin immediately.”

  An hour later I found myself standing in a room with a soft floor and featureless, bulging walls that bore a disconcerting resemblance to a grayish white bouncy castle.

  Sariel told me, “Jeduthun will stay in the room during the session. He gestured to the other Guardian. “Humiel, come with me and Mr. Kirby.”

  Wade settled into a corner and Vole squared off at me briefly. “You should take those glasses and the pendant off,” he said.

  I raised an eyebrow at Wade. “No,” I said.

  “The pendant stays on,” Wade told Vole. “It’s okay to take off the glasses, Angie, I’ll hold them for you.” He stepped between me and Vole. I peeled off the glasses case Grandmother had woven for me off of my jacket pocket and put my glasses in it. I handed it to Wade. He smiled and pressed it against his own sleeve, where it stuck. Wade stood back.

  The minute Wade moved out of the way I saw a buzz of black dots around Vole. He launched himself at me so fast that I didn’t see him move, he just instantly appeared in front of me with one hand behind my neck and the other on my forehead as if he was about to twist my head off.

  I lashed my hand out and smashed at his midsection, feeling the energy leave me and hit him in the midsection[DP2]. Vole staggered backward. He didn’t fall. He found his footing and leaned forward with his hands on his knees catching his breath. He started to laugh.

  “So you do remember some of your early lessons, or at least your muscle memory is intact.”

  I looked over at Wade. His arms were crossed. His face was expressionless.

  “Is this how you’re going to train me?” I demanded.

  “That was to get a baseline on your skills and your memory of early training. If I’m reading your brain pathways correctly you endured a mental block rather than a memory eraser. There’s no evidence of trauma, just areas that are not accessible.”

  Again a black haze of dots streamed around his head. I saw him tense an instant before he leaped at me. A kind of tunnel seemed to be opening just behind him and fear ignited in my chest. In desperation, I threw my arm out toward him a massive surge of energy smashed into his chest, aiming at his heart. He flew backward and fell to the floor. The tunnel just behind him flickered out.

  Wade approached carefully.

  “He’s not breathing.”

  The door flew open. Sariel and Humiel charged in followed by Kirby.

  Jeduthun knelt down by Vole. He looked up, shaking his head.

  Sariel put a huge hand on my shoulder and pushed me close enough to stand over Vole.

  “Do that again,” he growled at me.

  “Do what?” I stared at Vole’s still body.

  “What you just did to him. Do it again.”

  I tried to throw energy down at Vole, but nothing happened. The Guardian shoved me down to my knees. “Try hitting him.”

  “Damn it, you’re hurting me.” I drew back my hand and smashed my fist into Vole’s chest. He heaved a hoarse breath. Sariel pulled me up and away.

  Wade came over and put his hand over the Sariel’s. “Let go of her,” he said.

  Sariel gave Wade a curious look and let go of me. He stayed close enough to grab me again. Wade stayed equally close.

  Vole sat up and shook his head. “She knocked me unconscious,” he said, “I didn’t think it was possible.”

  Sariel spoke to him in a language I didn’t know. The translator in my glasses didn’t seem to know it either.

  “They say you stopped my heart,” Vole said in a wondering tone. “And then you started it again.”

  Sariel nodded solemnly. “She is not only a Death Dealer, Vole. She has other non-human DNA as well.”

  “He was opening a portal,” Wade said. “That shouldn’t be possible in a null room.”

  Vole’s voice held a tinge of contempt. “If you think I can’t open a portal anywhere I wish—” He let out a disgusted hiss of air. “Your ignorance makes you incapable of fostering even a half-breed death dealer[DP3].”

  He flung himself to his feet grasping at me. The tunnel snapped open again behind him. Wade pulled me out of Vole’s grip and Jeduthun, the Guardian nearest Vole, backhanded him, throwing him across the room like a child’s stuffed toy. When Vole hit the wall, the portal closed.

  Ignoring Wade’s glare, the three Guardians moved between us and Vole.

  “You’re a kidnapper, not a teacher,” Kirby said. It was not a question. He took a moment to glare at Sariel. “It serves us right for trusting a Death Dealer. Didn’t you know enough to warn us?”

  “We had guarantees of safety.” Sariel had the grace to look embarrassed. “We were wrong to trust this Death Dealer would honor an agreement. You are not alone in your anger.”

  “No one of my skill level could be spared for the amount of time it would take to teach this half-breed pup on your sorry excuse for a planet.” Vole’s mouth twisted in an ugly sneer.

  “You violated your agreement,” Kirby said, glancing at the Guardians for back up.

  Vole snorted and shook his head. “Incorrect. I only agreed she would be taught the basics. I never specified where that would take place. Now I need to conclude my assignment by taking her to our world, where a lesser teacher can restore her memory and complete as much training as she’s capable of retaining.”

  “You didn’t expect her to be strong enough to kill you, did you Vole?” the Guardian standing over him asked.

  “I’m still not so sure she did. It was a lucky shot,” Vole didn’t sound convinced.

  “No,” Sariel said. “She stopped your heart. If she hadn’t been able to start it again, you’d still be dead. I now regret asking her to revive you. We had no instructions to restore life if you were killed in action. We would, of course, have returned your body to your homeworld complete with recorded evidence of the incident in the report to your commanding officer.”

  Vole flinched at that last part. I got a strong feeling that being killed by a half-breed was a humiliating way to go. “How could she revive me?” he asked in a hesitant tone. “I detected no such power when I touched her, and my sensory implants are excellent.”

  “You are not entitled to that information. You’ve violated the terms of the license you used to travel to Earth,” Sariel said. He nodded to Kirby. “We’ll remove him from your premises. The magistrate for this sector will judge th
is Death Dealer’s fate.”

  “He’s not welcome in future[DP4],” Kirby said.

  “Understood,” Sariel said. “It’s true that we could open a small portal even in this null space, but it’s also counter[DP5] to the rules of our employment, so we will leave by the way we came.” He gestured to Jeduthun and Humiel, who closed in on either side of Vole. Each grasped an arm. “I will meet you at the main portal. I need to have a few words with the humans. Keep hold of your prisoner, this one clearly got his name by being slippery.” The two Guardians marched Vole out of the room.

  “So you can open a portal from anywhere?” Kirby rounded on Sariel. I realized he was the kind of person who got quieter when he got angry.

  “We don’t advertise those skills and neither do the Death Dealers,” Sariel said. “Frankly, there’s never been anything known to be on Earth that would attract either professional assassins or those like ourselves who guard against them. We will immediately update your security systems to warn of anyone with such skills from entering. I’ll instruct you and your security team on how to monitor for that. Protect yourself by being alert.”

  “Did you know Angie could revive Vole once she killed him?” Wade asked.

  The Guardian was silent for a moment. “Her DNA is shielded, so we had to allow for the possibility that she has Guardian blood.”

  Wade and Kirby both looked at him in surprise.

  “Our genetic screening didn’t pick it up,” Kirby said.

  “Our genes are hidden for security reasons,” Sariel said. “I couldn’t read her genetic makeup until I touched her. I suspected she had some Guardian DNA. She does not.” He reached out and lightly touched Wade’s chest. “You do. But you knew that.”

  “Yes,” Wade said, looking at the floor as if embarrassed.

  “You did?” Kirby’s voice was still ominously quiet. “And you didn’t tell us?”

  “It’s complicated,” Wade said, still looking at the floor.

  Sariel allowed himself a faint smile. “It always is. What I learned from touching Angie here is that she had no Guardian ancestry, but a surprising percentage of Seeker genetics. That may explain how her genes could be masked. Seekers are known for masking technologies. They may have been responsible for sealing her memories. They are expert at sealing memories without destroying brain functions.”