"Psion, didn't you hear the chime? You have to leave the Circle now."
Kaara turned with a start to look into the hazel eyes of an Enforcer. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear it. I was thinking." She frowned, as he looked steadily down at her. His eyes took on a strange light. There was something familiar about those eyes---in his essence. Then she knew. "Gray?"
"Yes." He smiled slowly. "Kaara, it is you." He moved without thinking, as if to enfold her in an impulsive hug then he stopped. "I knew you were here in Salla, but I didn't com because---I didn't know if you'd want to see me. You look well."
"Gray--it's so good to see you. You should have commed. I do want to see you---to talk."
"Me, too. But, we can't talk here, now. You have to go. Can I see you after shift at twenty-three hundred? Your flat Tower forty-six, flat six-o-three?"
Kaara nodded. Then she bolted from the circle, her heart pounding as she stepped onto the beltway. Gray was a Salla Enforcer. In the hours that followed their chance meeting, she even began to doubt it had been real.
He was real enough when she opened her door to him seven hours later. He was no longer in the impressive regalia of an enforcer. He wore a simple pullover and pants. This time he did fold her into an enthusiastic hug. "Kaara, I've missed you so. I tried to contact you after you came out of isolation, but Father found out and punished me. He disconnected my personal vid-com and only let me use his when he was present. He sent me to Enforcer training two years later. They wouldn't let me contact you, either. I wanted to."
He let her go and stood back to look at her. She sensed a mixture of affection and physical attraction from him. "You've grown up beautiful." He grinned.
"And you have grown tall." Kaara smiled back. He was tall and powerfully built, like most typical enforcers. But he was still Gray with darker hair and rugged features. She was nervous, happy and afraid all at the same time.
"Come in, Gray. Would you like to have some jern with me?" Her hand shook a little as she gestured for him to come inside. She sensed that he was nervous as well.
"I'd like that. I want to know everything that's happened to you since they sent you away."
"That could take all night."
"Not if you think to me."
"You would still trust me to do that after all these years?" Even before he said so, she sensed that he did. The realization was elating.
"Yes," he said softly. "I got the truth before the government propaganda, love. I got it from you."
"But you still became an Enforcer." Kaara pressed for the autocart to bring a pot of hot jern.
"I had this crazy idea that I could make a difference by treating everyone fairly. . .. Maybe get some of the other enforcers to do it, too."
"Have you?" She handed him a mug of hot jern and took one for herself.
"I've got a couple of buddies thinking. I have to be careful, though. If I am branded a psi-lover, I could lose my commission."
"Then you shouldn't be here."
"It doesn't seem so important anymore. I've never met anyone else like, you Kaara. I've never had a better friend. Will you share memories with me?"
She took a sip from her mug and nodded.
The worst thing about conditioning for me was being taken from my home---from my best friend---and put in a tiny cell all alone. I was so desperately alone and scared. But I didn't reach out like some of the others, so I wasn't punished in the neuro chamber. I had our memories and dreams for the future to sustain me and keep me sane. I was released in 5 days.
I learned quickly how to avoid punishment by conforming. I did well in learning to touch Normals because of our rapport. It wasn't as hard for me as for many of them, but it was hard to learn the low place I hold in society as a psion. I hated it, but I did as I was told. When I finish my studies, I'm joining the Explorations just like we dreamed. I'm going to be free.
"Without me?" Gray wondered when she finished.
"But you have a commission. If your father knew you were here, he would disown you. If your commander knew you were here, he might demote you."
"My father and I have not been close since he barred me from contact with you. I may not publicly associate with you on duty. Off duty, I am free to see who I please." he told her. "If I'm not welcome, I'll go. I won't harass you. It's not what I want, but I would never deliberately do anything to hurt you, Kaara. We shared too much for that."
"What do you want?" she asked softly as she sensed his inner turmoil.
"I want my best friend back," he said. "I want to hold you close and touch you---make love with you."
Kaara withdrew from Chelle's mind and blushed as she came back to herself. She didn't mind Chelle knowing that she and Gray were lovers, but she didn't wish to share the intimate details of their first mating. Politely, Chelle didn't press. When she had finished, the two women hugged and began chatting like old friends---all in a matter of minutes.
"So, are you and Gray going to join the explorations?"
"Yes. His commission ends in another year. Then we will enlist at the Federation Starbase in South T`lleadd. How long will you and Hankura, stay here? This is no place for people like us."
"That's for sure. But Hankura has his reasons. I will miss you when you leave."
"And I will miss you," Kaara replied. "I've seen you here several times. I knew your need, but I've met with rejection so many times. I was afraid to ask for your friendship. Your need seemed so much greater today, I decided to take the chance."
"I am glad. I thought I sensed your longing before, but when I sought you before you withdrew so quickly, I was sure I imagined it. It's good to finally have a female friend. I have not had one since I left Farringay. It's been a long time."
"For me, too." Kaara agreed. "Do you think our mates could be friends as well? Then we could recreate together sometimes?"
"I think they might. Gray seems like a man with an open mind."
"He is," Kaara assured her in complete prejudice.
Chelle smiled. It was worth a try. She sensed Hankura was willing.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Come on, Hankura. When are we going to meet your wife?" asked Sharlel. "We've been working together for months now, and we haven't seen her once."
"Yeah," Mikal put in. "I'm beginning to wonder if she's a figment of your imagination." He chuckled. "How does she like the University?"
"As well as any Psion likes the University," Hankura said. “She’s been openly shunned or hindered at every class. She almost assaulted her lab partner last month. He's treated her so badly. But, she's made it to Level Three."
"So, she'll be rotating through our department pretty soon," said Nathan. "Maybe the only student who won't give us a hard time."
"Don't bet on it," Hankura snickered. "Chelle is good at giving people a hard time."
"Well, at least she won't resent working with us like the last batch," Sharlel murmured. "They treated us worse than they treat you because we're Normals and we like working with you."
Hankura stared into his steamy mug of jern, wearing a glazed look. "It only seemed that way. They don't usually verbalize their insults to me. I don't know why they even bother coming to this department. They won't believe anything I've tried to teach them."
"I suppose Marcus blamed you because most of them didn't learn to work en rapport." There was a look of tenderness in Sharlel's eyes as she rested her gaze on Hankura's face. She hated that he was treated so badly by both the students and his peers. All three of his techs were very protective of him and fond of him.
"No," Hankura brightened. "Marcus has watched us work, and he knows our record. He knows how bigoted the Normals are against psions, and he's disgusted with the whole system. I sensed he was considering resignation at the end of his contract."
"Are you?" Sharlel asked and took a sip of jern.
"I've optioned for another year," Hankura said. "Chelle wants to finish Level Three before we leave Aledus. I may as well stay on here at the Center until
then. We don't get many patients here, but we've helped them all."
"I just wish there weren't so many patients that are deliberately injured psions," Nathan added. "Like Davonne. The poor kid has been back three times, beaten up worse each time."
"I know." Hankura shook his head. "His free mates brother did it the last time. Olia's family doesn't want her free-mating with a minder. Olia thinks she can make them change their minds about Davonne because she loves him."
"Idiot!" Mikal muttered. "What's wrong with him? Why doesn't he just take her and get off Aledus?"
"He's claustrophobic. Isolation during conditioning does that to a lot of them. He couldn't stand to be enclosed in a small shuttle long enough to get off world," Hankura explained. "And Olia has convinced him that her brother won't hurt him again. Because Olia believes her brother's promise, Davonne believes her. He doesn't want to believe anything else."
"It's a shame." Sharlel murmured. “DaVonne's a nice kid. Olia's family shouldn't judge him without knowing him."
"They don't want to know him," Hankura said in disgust. "And they don't want to know about psi. Normals have chosen psions as their scapegoats. If they get to know us, they might like us, and they would have to stop punishing us for a war that happened a thousand years ago. They would have to treat us like real people."
"You mean like we got to know you?" Sharlel grinned. "We didn't like it much when Mikal maneuvered us into working with a---minder. That is until we got to know you."
Nathan nodded. "I figured I didn't have much left to lose. Fargo gave me such a poor performance evaluation that no one on Aledus would have given me a contract. My work for him wasn't that good, but that self-righteous tyrant always made me feel stupid if I so much as asked him to explain something. I kept botching things, trying to second guess him. You never made me do that, Hankura. You know when I need something explained, and you just do it."
"And I'll give you a good recommendation---even though it won't do you much good on Aledus," Hankura told him. "Fargo is an arrogant nache."
"Thank you, Hankura," said Nathan. "Estus will probably take your recommendation. They need Techs, and there's land to be had at a good price. I'm thinking of settling there when you and Mikal leave."
"When Hankura leaves, I'm leaving, too," Sharlel agreed.
"How about coming to Estus with me?" Nathan looked at her hopefully. That was as close as he had ever come to telling her how he felt about her.
Hankura glanced from one to the other unnoticed. They both made such a simple thing so difficult. Despite her open flirtation with him, Hankura knew she loved Nathan, and Nathan loved her. But neither could seem to tell the other. Sometimes, he was tempted to take each aside and try to open their eyes, but he didn't want to interfere.
"Go to Estus with you? I just might take you up on that," Sharlel grinned, glad that Nathan had suggested it. Now she couldn't have to find an excuse to go to Estus after him.
Hank, you busy? Chelle's question whispered itself in Hankura's mind. He could sense her close.
He smiled slightly. Oh, sure. I'm drinking jern and talking with my techs about the injustices of the world. Only four patients today. Anything wrong?
Yeah, but something's right, too. I made a friend, today. Are you sure you're not too busy for me now?
You know, I'm not busy. Come in here. He sent patiently. It was different that other time. I was in surgery, and I couldn't stop and break concentration. He wrinkled his brows in a puzzled expression, sensing her hesitation.
He stood and set his mug on the desk. "Excuse me for a minute," he murmured and went out into the corridor. Chelle was just outside his study, standing beside the doorway out of sight.
"What is it?" he asked in a soothing tone. There is something bothering you, and it's not that I shut you out of my mind during surgery the other day.
Bad day, today. She gave him a bleak look. The mood I'm in, I don't think your techs would find me very likable.
Kaara likes you.
Yeah, but we shared memories. Marcus stuck me with a worse lab partner than Landis--if that's possible. This Theron is a real manipulator. He broke my lecture disk, then cornered me in the lab cell, second session. When I didn't cooperate, he ruined the whole experiment, and I now have two experiments to repeat. . ..
And you were disciplined by Marcus again. He pursed his lips and let out his breath in a disgusted hiss.
Landis is mad because I advanced to Level Three, and Marcus stuck him with a nine-five who won't take his refuse. He blames me for that, too.
Hankura leaned against the wall beside the doorway and put his hands lightly on her shoulders. You know they want you to quit.
Perhaps the others feel that way, but not Marcus. He simply reacts to what he sees. He's no mind reader, and sometimes he misinterprets things. Usually, he's fair and supportive. But Theron is more devious than Landis. Marcus hasn't figured that out, yet.
At least Theron didn't hurt you. Hankura's grip tightened on her shoulders. This time.
Chelle shook her head and sighed. Just my feelings. I'll survive his nastiness. I just needed my mate to cheering me up. A wry smile played on her lips as she held his gaze. You can always make me feel better.
We can leave Aledus, Chelle. You can finish the program someplace else.
You're not ready to leave. And you know I've only got one more year to finish Level Three--maybe less with your help . . .. Besides, Natar still needs you.
Hankura shrugged. He didn't want to think about Natar. Her attentions were becoming oppressive, and he couldn't bring himself to consider why. He grimaced and pushed it out of his mind. For the moment, Chelle let him.
Come on inside. They're accusing me of making you up.
Chelle laughed. "I bet Sharlel wishes you were."
"You'd win the bet." He grinned. "Another half hour and I'll take you home. You suggested there is something more I can do for you---some way I can cheer you up . . .."
She looked up at him through her lashes and gave him a seductive smile. The best offer I've had all day.
But not the only one. He scowled.
The others don't count. You've spoiled me for that. Are you sure you can't leave now?
He laughed as they walked into the study. Love, don't tempt me like that when we're not alone or my thoughts won't be secret from anyone.
Chelle stole a glance and grinned, crossing discreetly in front of him as they entered his office.
"I'll be damned," Mikal murmured with a friendly grin. "She's real all right. I wouldn't let her loose in Salla."
"Welcome to the sludge tank," Sharlel greeted. "I'm glad the boss is keeping you out of free-mating. It's hard enough to find a good lover." The little tech colored at her own audacity and dropped her glance. She loved Nathan, but she still wanted to bed Hankura as well. She'd had neither man.
"Maybe you're not looking in the right place," Nathan suggested and gazed longingly at Sharlel.
So tell her you want her. Nathan's head jerked up, and he looked at Chelle in surprise. Well, she's no mind reader, you know. Chelle grinned wickedly.
Hankura tried to look stern but he couldn't. Someone needed to urge Nathan to act. I swear you're incorrigible.
But you love it. Chelle grinned. "Do you think I could get a mug of jern around here?
"Kaara has shared some of your background with me," Gray told Hankura after dinner a week later. He and Kaara had dined with Chelle and Hankura and were conversing in their sitting room following the meal. "It took a lot of courage for you to come back here."
"I'd been away from my family for a long time," Hankura told him. "It takes courage to sever ties with your family to be with Kaara."
"Not courage." Gray shook his head. "Anger. There was no reason for my father to force me to shun Kaara like that. There is no reason that psions should be treated as lower life forms here. You all have so much you teach us about ourselves and each other. This whole system is crazy."
"Do y
ou really think you can change it?" Hankura asked.
"Perhaps in some small way." Gray shrugged. "I have to try. Would you share memories with me, Hankura? Maybe then you will understand."
Hankura did. Gray's severance from his family was not unlike Hankura's separation from his family. He understood, and he cared. He was glad to know Gray as a friend.
A fine mist swirled around Chelle from the nearby pool as she stood watching the water rise in Narcaza fountain. Why? Why does he make it so hard? I'm not trying to take anything from him. He thinks I'm a freak, but he's attracted to me, and he's ashamed of his feelings. If he touches me one more time . . .
Chelle should have been working in the lab with Theron, but he had been so abrasive that she had left him to figure out their new assignment by himself. She shouldn't have come to Narcaza Circle alone either, but she needed to be alone for a while. Kaara was coming soon, anyway. Just let anyone dare harass her. She was in the mood for a fight. But no one bothered her.
Watching the rising water relaxed her and gave her time to harden her resolve to go back to the lab and face Theron again. Anyway, all psions would be barred from the park in twenty minutes. It was time to go, but Kaara . . .anguish, fear, pain--Chelle stopped mid-step. Kaara! Once Chelle let go of her own concerns she could feel Kaara nearby, but she didn't know where to look. There were so many paths in the gardens, so may sheltered places. Chelle turned slowly, looking and listening.
"Kaara!" she called. "Where are you?"
Her friend screamed in pain, which gave Chelle a fix on her location. Chelle ran in the direction of the sound. "Kaara!"
Kaara shrieked in pain again. Chelle ran toward some bushes near one of the smaller fountains. Two youths were struggling with Kaara on the ground. "Leave her alone!" Chelle screamed and charged them without thinking of the possible danger. She only knew they were hurting Kaara, and she wanted them to stop.
One boy jumped up as Chelle ran toward them, and the other kicked Kaara in the abdomen before they both fled. "Kess, why did you do that? Are you crazy?" The other boy shouted as they ran. "That other minder had a red and blue patch. She's unconditioned." She saw us real good.
The Aledan PSION: The Aledan Series Book 1 Page 16