Closing my eyes, I sift through sensory data until stopping abruptly, my eyes widening in wonder, before holding the stalks to my nose and sniffing again. They smell faintly like my mother I realize. What did she used to call that smell? It was like bedtime and pillows and warm hugs, and a small box containing a delicate pendant and dried leaves, hidden in the closet.
Searching the Venusian database, I can’t find any photos of the flower in the section on native plants and herbs. Clearly, I need to cast a wider net. Well, the likelihood of them giving me something outside this star system is probably small, so I set a metacrawler to search data for every plant in the Sedonian system and move on to examine the root.
A dull, brown amorphous shape fits in my palm. Dense, but not overly weighty, the covering has the texture of dry parchment. Taking out a lancet, I scratch lightly at the surface to reveal a fibrous, golden flesh below. Interesting. The air in the room is tinged with the aroma of the flowers, and now a sharper scent from the root in front of me. Cutting off a small knob of the flesh, I peel the coating away to uncover more of the interior. Moist, but not wet, the sharp scent wakes up my neurosensors.
I have a hunch that wherever my purple flower is from, I’m going to find the native home of the root as well, so I start with the same data search. Setting the parameters, I watch the processors chew through metastreams, and get up to stretch my muscles. It’s the one real challenge of working in a lab all day. Too often we forget to periodically take a break and oxygenate our muscles with movement. Not only is it bad for the physical structure, it fogs the brain.
The small pot in the corner calls to me as I realize how tired and stressed I am. Filtering through the array of ingredients, I realize there are some coarse mixtures of herbs I don’t recognize. Amet always was a connoisseur of native roots and tinctures, and often blended his own remedies. Spending nights working late in the lab, he would often drop by, make me a tincture, and settle in for a hot drink and some company.
Searching through the containers, I find one with a handwritten label in his spidery scrawl - Advanced Mental Clarity. Huh. Really? If that’s the case, I’m taking advantage of it, and drop a few shakes of the herbal mix into a cup before pouring hot water from a steamport over it. Immediately, warm steam begins to emanate from the cup, inviting me to lift it to my lips. A heady scent that mixes the purple flower and the brown root invades my senses through the steam, and I realize that both items are ingestible if Amet made them into an elixir.
Taking a hesitant sip, I find the mixture both comforting and warming, the taste relaxing my tense muscles, as I head back to my table where I hear a light chime, indicating that the metacrawlers have found a datalink.
Sure enough, a profile of both items appear on the screen before me; Lavender and Ginger Root, source planet: Earth, usage: food enhancement and pharmacological remedies, availability: unlimited, based upon climate and terrain.
Intrigued, I dig further and pull more data that discusses the organic uses for each item, while I sip on what is obviously a tincture of the items in a dried state. Glancing at the clock, I realize only a tempus has passed. I should signal for Marin, but instead I decide to sit back, enjoy my elixir and wait. As eager as I am to get back home, I have a funny suspicion that it’s not a good idea to look too eager, or to let them know exactly how long it took me to find an answer. For now, I’ll continue to sip and wait while time passes.
Titan
“What is she doing?” I ask Marin curiously, as she sits and stares into space over a cup of elixir, while we observe on the monitor.
“I’m not certain, Senator. She seems to be waiting for something. From what I can tell by the search data, she must have already reached a conclusion.”
Eyeing her shrewdly, I find myself wondering if maybe she actually took my warning to heart. Perhaps my little Gemma is not as naive as she appears. She looks relaxed, as if she isn’t worried about being tested to take her place among the power players of our world. I’m not certain that she has fully grasped what’s at stake here, or what her role will be if she passes - or how much power is up for grabs in the yarns to come.
As the door slides open, I glance behind me to find Jasper slipping in silently, eyes locked on the screen.
“What is she doing?” he asks looking perplexed.
“Apparently, she’s enjoying an herbal elixir,” I say dryly, shaking my head as he frowns.
“But why isn’t she trying to solve the tests?”
“I believe she has already completed them,” Marin speaks up from where he stands across the room, tapping away at his computer.
“But…”
“Jasper,” I say softly in exasperation, “clearly our girl has her own agenda. Look at her. I need you to go in there and figure out what she’s up to.”
“Me! Why I do need to enter? These are your games; I’m just here to make sure no one alters the playing field.” He protests quietly with a side glance at Marin, making sure we’re not overheard.
“Exactly, and that’s what she’s doing. Why are you being such a geode? Are you mooning after her again?”
The dark look Jasper gives me would probably scare anyone who didn’t know him well, but we’ve been friends for much too long.
“Come on, take that pretty face of yours in there and give her vibration something to spark at.” I can’t help teasing him, even though I know it’s cruel, considering the obsession he’s had with her for so long. We’re not usually competitive, but it would be hard to stand by now and watch her bond with Jasper when I can’t have her myself.
Growling low in his throat, Jasper gives me a disgusted look before turning toward the door and stopping abruptly again.
“What is the goal?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I wave him on. “Just find out what’s she’s up to. Either get her to finish, or find out why she’s hesitating. We need to end this charade so we can move on.”
Rolling his eyes, Jasper punches the door release before heading down the hall. Facing the screens again, I watch Tanzy lounge on her stool, feet swinging as she hums to herself. I can’t help but smile at her unaffected sense of serenity as she waits… for what, I can’t imagine.
At the hissing of the door lock, she suddenly straightens and turns toward the computer as if she’s been studiously researching all this time. Her docile smile freezes for a moment when she sees Jasper; clearly she was expecting Marin. But she recovers quickly, eyes darting back down to her page before acknowledging his presence.
“Are you finished?” Jasper asks her as he stops at the edge of her table, feet planted and arms crossed over his broad chest.
“Almost. I just need to cross-check this one result,” she says slowly, drawing out the words and squinting at the screen, making a good show of being engrossed in what she’s doing. “There,” she says satisfaction evident in her face, “that should do it.”
Turning her gaze back to Jasper she stares at him innocently. “What are you doing here? Is Marin on his way, or do I need to call him? I thought there wasn’t a time limit.”
She throws question after question at Jasper to keep him from asking questions of his own. I have to admit, it’s a good tactic, but she doesn’t know my friend. He’s like a boulder - silent, massive, and impenetrable.
Finally discomfited by the silent, unyielding expression on his face, she starts to fidget, twisting the cup in her hand awkwardly, as she waits for him to speak. Peeping up under her bangs at him as if assessing his mood, I find myself watching her carefully, wondering what’s going through her mind. If I hadn’t been watching so closely, I probably would have missed it; the small arc of energy that sparked from her hand toward Jasper as she raised it to push away from the table. Leaning heavily on the console, I push my face closer to the observation screen, searching for another sign.
I’m convinced I imagined it until I see Jasper’s hand flex involuntarily, both of them looking at each other as if waiting for some sense of affirm
ation, before she looks away again, confusion evident. The standoff is broken as Marin enters the room, and I realize that I never heard him leave the observation room.
“Well, Tanzy, I see you’ve been successful.” Marin says easily, crossing the room to assess her work. Grabbing the crystal tablet, he runs his finger down the lines of metadata, nodding to himself as he reads.
“Excellent, yes, excellent… quite right. Congratulations, Tanzy. Why don’t you have Jasper lead you back to your chambers while we set up for the next round. I’m sure you would be happy for a meal.”
Smiling charmingly at Marin, she nods and turns back to Jasper a slight frown marring her features once more.
“Looks like you’re becoming my personal guide,” she says lightly, laughing as he just turns his back and begins leading the way to her suite, while I figure out how to stack the next test in our favor.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tanzy
“So, Jasper, what do I have to look forward to next?” I ask wryly, as I chase his long strides yet again down corridors toward my suite, before finally planting my feet and stopping where I am.
I watch his broad back disappear around the next corner, and lean against the wall with my arms crossed, counting backwards to myself. 10….9...8.. when his large body suddenly appears back in view.
“What are you doing?” he rumbles from down the corridor.
Righting myself, I walk slowly toward him, taking my time and grinning inwardly as I see his frustration mount, while he waits for me to get closer.
“Well, since you were so determined to outpace me, I thought I’d wait for the next guide to come along. But look! Here you are again.” I can’t help the teasing tone of my voice as he watches me come closer, his eyes assessing me as if trying to gauge whether I am mocking him.
It’s obvious he would rather be anywhere but here with me at this moment, and I decide to take pity on him. He is a warlord after all; being asked to chaperone a young and naive healer can’t be at the top of his priority list of things to do.
In a more placating voice, I apologize. “Really Jasper, not that I’m not flattered at the honor of having you lead me, but surely there is someone else better suited to the role of guide.”
A grunt of agreement is all I get as we finally head down the corridor together again, his pace slowing to match my own. His gaze travels everywhere but in my direction, and I’m curious why he’s so determined to avoid talking to me.
My thoughts turn inward as I wonder what Laz is doing right now, and how quickly I can return home. Surely they won’t keep me another full moonsphase I ponder, worrying at my lip with my teeth. Sighing to myself, I suddenly realize we’re back at my, or rather Amet’s, suite again.
“Would you like to come in?” I ask politely, certain that he will refuse and leave me to my own devices, except he stalks silently past me instead, and now I’m unsure what to do with him.
“Are you joining me for the meal, or is this another interrogation? Perhaps a lecture this time?” I don’t know why I find it so difficult to speak to him without trying to get him riled up, it’s really out of character for me.
Now that Jasper has deposited himself in a chair, I decide that I’m not going to allow him to continue to intimidate me. The entire room and sleeping platform have already been straightened by the porters, but I find myself flopping backward on the platform anyway, grabbing a pillow from the top and lounging comfortably as I wait.
The red of Jasper’s irises deepen as he watches me, and I feel a phantom vibration shiver briefly across my silica before fading. We continue to just stare at one another silently, each waiting for the other to speak, until I finally fall onto my back and stare at the ceiling, blowing out a breath of frustration.
“Fine. You don’t want to talk—then perhaps you’d like to answer my questions in code—one grunt for yes, two grunts for no?” I wave my hand toward him, startled when the slightest spark flies from my fingertips and is absorbed by his silica, making him straighten in the chair in surprise.
Dragging myself upright, my eyes widen as I watch him in wonder. While complementary beings resonate and vibrate in frequency with a potential bond, it is truly rare to manifest that energy with a visible spark. The fact that my energy was drawn to his, and more surprisingly, absorbed, is something I’ve never experienced—even with Laz. It’s rare enough that I’ve only seen it happen in learning holograms, never in person, and yet that’s what my energy just did.
My empath senses open wide and a swift flood of warm energy coats my vibration before retreating and leaving me empty again. For just a moment, I could feel his hunger and… desire?… like a physical presence that leaves me completely unnerved. I’ve never felt that type of energy before except with Laz, but even that is different.
Laz’s frequency just hums in harmony with mine now. It’s like a tune playing in the background that just becomes second nature. You only notice when it’s gone, because suddenly, it’s as if you’re hearing only the melody, without the complexity of the harmonic notes that complement the tune.
If possible, Jasper’s look becomes even darker as his hand clenches and unclenches, as if trying to shake off the energy he just absorbed from me. As a scientist, I’m fascinated. As a being bonded to another, I’m in completely uncharted territory.
“Jasper,” I ask calmly trying to keep all emotion out of my voice, “were you testing my vibration?”
A sharp grunt shakes his chest as he looks at me scathingly. “Healer, if I were tasting your vibration you’d know it.” But I can clearly see the shadow of doubt hidden in his expression. I’m not certain why he would try to deny it, unless I’m really mistaken; but, I know what I saw—I think.
I continue to stare at him meditatively, trying to feel his emotions which he has tightly closed against my probing. It’s true that empaths can feel emotions, but emotions can be hard to read when they’re as guarded as his have consciously become, and I’m strongest at reading energy and emotions during the course of healing.
Sighing, I let go of my concentration and rub circles on my temples, trying to relieve the sudden tension suffocating me. I really just want to get away from this place and its confusing energy, back to Laz, where I don’t have to guess anyone’s motives or what’s coming at me next. It’s messing with my mind.
“So, what’s after today’s midday meal?” I ask mildly, trying to break the stare-off, and bring things back to a more easygoing atmosphere.
“I imagine they’ll ask you to do some hands-on healing,” Jasper shrugs. “I’m sure they’ll test for all the basic skills you acquired while working with Amet.”
“But then what? Anyone can do all of that. If that’s all they need, they could have asked anyone here. I’m certain Marin can successfully accomplish all of that. Why am I here?”
“Because Amet wanted you here, Tanzy. He was working on some special projects where he felt you could be useful. Now, you may be the only one who can continue those projects,” Jasper says reasonably as if talking to an offshoot.
“You’re not that ancient, Jasper, stop talking to me like an offshoot that hasn’t learned to harness their vibration yet,” I say irritably. “How many yarns are you anyway?” I question, pinning him with my stare.
“If you had as many centons as Amet I might be more inclined to listen, but it’s not like you’re an elder for Vishna’s sake! Why don’t you find some nice Marzzian femme to stroke your vibration for you?” I stop abruptly, horrified by my rude tones, as his look gets even darker.
“I’ve told you, I haven’t matched vibration, and at this point it’s become unlikely that I will—on this world anyway. Besides, my appetites run to more corporeal tastes.” Eyeing me assessingly, Jasper raises an eyebrow as if daring me to challenge his words.
“You’ve never been off Krysalis, have you, Tanzy?”
“No, I’ve never had any reason to leave, but what does that have to do with anything?” I ask irritate
d now by his attitude.
“Zirc! For someone so educated, you really have no idea how we’ve gotten to where we are, do you?” Jasper’s voice is caustic, causing me to roll my eyes and regard him with a challenging look of my own.
“Please, do illuminate me! I’m fascinated to see what my education has failed to teach me.”
“Tell me, Tanzy, why was your mother and the rest of your quarry killed?” Jasper demands harshly. I suddenly realize the sharp intake of air that punctures the silence came from me, as I stare at him now in horror.
“What do you mean?” I whisper my confusion evident in my voice. “We were targeted in a raid by pirates from another solar system, who were looking for easy riches. They mistakenly thought we had access to a large mineral deposit. The Spectrum had them hunted down and executed for their crimes,” I finish strongly, although I realize I’ve framed the entire thought more as a question than as a fact.
I’m struck by the pitying look on his face, as Jasper stands and towers over me once more, his broad chest expanding as he takes a deep breath, before exhaling in a huff and turning back to the doorway. Still facing the door, his voice drifts back to me.
“Diamond Girl, I wish I could live in your world.” His braids sway with the shake of his head as he punches the door release harder than necessary.
“But you need to wake up or you’re going to find yourself mired in the depths of the coal mine, just like the rest of us, and you can’t afford that kind of stain on your soul.”
I’m frozen in place as he walks away, ignoring my plea. “Jasper, wait!”
Stunned, my eyes follow his retreating back as he disappears down the corridor leaving me staring after him in dismay.
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