"She stopped the men who attacked me at the Emerald Club."
"Is she a security officer?"
The sound of heels clicking against the stone floor interrupted Jon before he could reply.
Ilana entered the room, aiming a stunner in his direction. She wore a dark blue jacket and pants. Her outfit was so severely fitted and sedate, it could've been a Novacorp-issued suit.
"Jonathan, I've missed you." She flicked her long, dark blue hair off her shoulders.
"Ilana!" Jon moved towards her, but froze when she pointed the weapon at his head.
"Are you insane? You can't discharge a weapon in here!" Matt yelled.
"You're responsible for bringing him here with a Guardian, you idiot. Don't give me orders."
"A Guardian? Shit--I can't believe this," Matt muttered, as he rubbed his hands over his face.
Next to him, Jonathan felt Nadira tense. If she could make a move before Ilana could use her weapon…
"Don't do anything you will regret," Ilana snarled, turning her attention to Nadira.
"Leave her alone!" Jon ordered.
"Always rescuing someone, aren't you? Did Matt tell you that your father planned the entire robbery and made us help him?"
"Liar!" Jon lunged forward. But before he could reach her, he heard a piercing scream.
Nadira fell to the floor, her head just missing the edge of a thick, glass table.
Racing towards her, he buckled as blasts of energy overwhelmed him. Each hit was like being zapped by bolts of electricity. Pounding him up and down his body, sending him to his knees as he searched for a way to shield himself. The room spun around him as he choked back bile.
"Ilana, stop it!" Matt cried out.
"Be quiet, you fool. It's your fault for bringing him here."
Finally the blows stopped. What did she do to him? He'd thought she'd used the stunner. Slowly, he dragged himself over to where Nadira was lying. Her eyes were closed, but she was still breathing.
"I warned her. She didn't listen," Ilana said. "Get over by the couch, Jon."
He staggered to his feet, keeping his attention on the unconscious woman on the floor. How had Ilana been able to overpower her? That shouldn't have been possible unless…unless she had the same abilities as Nadira.
"J-Jon is coming with us," Matt said, his voice shaking.
"No, he's not. We're going to your place in the North, and he's staying here. I already told you, I'm leaving in three days. When that shuttle comes in, she'd better be on it with my payment," Ilana spat. "By the way, Jon, did you know that security is looking for you? When they find you here with her, they'll punish you for attacking a Guardian."
"You're not going anywhere," Jonathan snapped. It didn't matter what she did to him at this point. He wasn't going to let her get away again.
"That's brave of you. Neither of you have any power here. I didn't even need this stunner." She shoved the weapon into her jacket pocket.
He tensed as Ilana sauntered over. She gripped his face between her hands and smashed her lips against his. Her touch was like ice. A couple of days before, he would've reacted differently. Now he was disgusted.
Grasping her arms, he tried to pull her off. But she held on, forcing her tongue between his lips.
"Get off me!" Jon thrust her away. She fell back against the couch, where she bounced down on the cushions.
In an instant Ilana was on her feet. With the wave of her hand she sent a blast of energy at him, twisting him around and sending him over a table. He landed centimeters away from the glass wall. It wouldn't take much more force to send him flying through.
"Stop it! Are you trying to kill him?" Matt's voice was a mix of anguish and anger.
With effort Jon rolled away from the wall. His body felt as heavy as the stone floor he was lying on.
"I'm done with him. Let's go," Ilana barked. "We'll call security from your aircar. They can come and get these two."
Jonathan's body was aching so much that he could barely move, much less go after them. Rolling his head over to the side, he watched the front door close behind them.
Then it was quiet.
13 Flight
Nadira opened her eyes. Above her, the cream-colored ceiling swam into view. Shifting herself, she braced her hands against a nearby table and lifted her head. Bad idea. She leaned her face against the cool, glass surface of the table, and hung on, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
It was a violation for Guardians to use their powers against each other. The charge was serious enough to incur banishment--something that hadn't happened in recent memory.
Ilana couldn't have the same abilities as a Guardian. There had to be another explanation.
"Are you all right?" With a groan, Jon dragged himself over and crouched beside her. "How the hell did she do that?"
Nadira eased herself into a sitting position, resting her back against the edge of the table. "She must've used some kind of weapon or had a chemical enhancement." She'd have to wait until her head was clear before she could sort it all out.
"She didn't use a weapon," he said, his grey eyes searching hers. "It came from her--the same way you blasted those attackers."
"Her abilities aren't as strong as mine…and she hasn't been properly trained, so she's reckless. She uses all her power in her blasts." Nadira rubbed her forehead. "I tried to read her, but I couldn't get through her shields."
"If she's weaker, how could she blast you?"
"She used my abilities against me. People who are weaker can undermine someone who has stronger energy."
Jonathan helped her to her feet. Her legs were wobbly, but after a moment she was able to stand on her own.
"We have to get out of here now. They're calling security," he said.
Supported by Jon's firm arm around her shoulders, she walked out into the corridor. Within the shield she'd put around them, Jon's energy surged with anger over their encounter with Ilana.
She was glad she'd thought to put up a protection between them; otherwise his heightened emotions would be overwhelming.
"Ilana's leaving in three days. A woman's coming in on the shuttle with her payment. I don't get it. If she stole crystal from the mine, what's the payment for?"
"It's probably for robbing the mine. Maybe she stole the crystal for someone else," Nadira observed.
"They're going to Matt's house in the North. He told me he bought it from Novacorp. How far is that from here?"
"The North? A few hours. We'll have to take the boat. The autodriven transports don't go beyond the city," Nadira replied.
"An aircar will be faster. That's what they're taking."
"We'll be tracked if we hire a driver. I've never flown one," she said.
"I've never flown one either. Does that matter?" Jonathan asked, as he pushed a button for the lift.
Of course that was his answer for everything. Take the chance and figure it out later. "Yes it does matter. We could crash. We're taking the boat."
The lift doors opened. It was empty. Nadira had expected to see security officers inside.
"We won't get stopped at the boat?" Jonathan asked.
"There's less security at the ferry."
She had a clear view of the lobby through the glass doors. But there was no way to tell what was waiting for them outside the building.
"So we'll hope a boat is there when we get to the dock?" Jonathan didn't try to hide his skepticism.
"They leave regularly. Even if we have to wait, it'll be all right. Trust me."
As the lift set down at the main floor, she continued to scan the lobby for anything that seemed out of place. The tower residents were moving about as usual, and no one gave her and Jonathan a second glance.
But as they approached the glass walled entrance, she saw two officers standing outside, their faces partially covered by shiny black helmets.
"What now?" Jon asked, dropping his arm from her shoulders.
"Don't say anything," she whispere
d.
The entrance doors slid open, and Nadira walked out first. Composing herself, she lifted her hand and identified herself to the officers.
"Guardian," one of the officers said. "We were not aware that you had been called."
"Why are you here?" Nadira asked.
The officer held up a clear tablet in front of Jon's face. It glowed blue and flashed as his ID scrolled across the screen. "We received a report that Jonathan Keel was here. The Sentry Leader instructed us to bring him in for questioning."
"I am taking charge of him from here." Nadira summoned all her strength to put authority in her voice.
"Yes…of course, Guardian," the officer replied, sounding unsure.
At the bottom of the stairs, Nadira entered a waiting transport. She slid over and Jon climbed in.
"Take us to the ferry dock. Hurry," she instructed the autodriver.
"How far to the ferry?" Jon asked, glancing behind them.
"Approximately 15 minutes."
"They'll tell the Sentry Leader, won't they?" he asked.
"Yes. But they'll be looking for you here in the city. We'll have time before they start to search elsewhere."
How long would it take for the security officers to let the Brant know a Guardian had taken Jonathan? Staying on the transport would only make it easier for them to be stopped.
"We probably need to get off this thing," Jon suggested, as though he'd been reading her thoughts.
"You're right," Nadira said. "Autodriver, pull over to the curb and let us out."
The vehicle came to a stop in front of a busy clothing shop. Nadira climbed out first, weaving her way through the throngs of shoppers. Glancing behind her, she saw Jon darting through the crowd.
When they got to the corner, she motioned for him to follow her down the side street. "It'll be quicker if we go this way."
Keeping her awareness open, she picked up conversations, thoughts and emotions from the people she passed. Reading everyone around her was the only way to ensure they wouldn't be caught unaware by security.
If they could get to the boat without being apprehended, at least then she could rest and regain her strength.
The street fed into a tree-lined stone walkway that ran parallel to the sea. Landscaped with flowers and greenery, the waterfront stood in sharp contrast to the glass, metal and marble that dominated the city center.
"What's that over there?" Jon pointed to a long, flat white building jutting out over the water.
"It's the boat dock. That's where we're going."
"Are you sure this is a good idea? If we use our credits to get the passes, we'll be tracked," Jon said.
"I know." There was very little that could be done in Nova City that wouldn't leave a trail that someone else could follow.
Inside the terminal was calm and quiet, compared to the busy streets they'd travelled. Lit by natural light that flooded the clear ceiling, it sparkled when the sunlight hit the crystals embedded in the walls.
A holographic display showed the departures and the docks. Nadira led the way to Dock 3 where the North Country ferry was boarding.
As she'd expected, a human attendant was waiting by the entrance. Motioning for Jon to stay back, she approached the woman and smiled.
The attendant, a short woman with curly brown hair and bluish-green eyes, smiled in return. "May I help you?" she asked.
"Saludar. Par a nort? Katu?" Nadira asked as she held out her hands, palms up. Greeting her using the local dialect, with palms out as custom dictated, would let the woman know she wasn't travelling on company business. Hopefully she'd gotten the pronunciations right.
The attendant didn't answer right away. Instead she examined Nadira's hands, pausing as she noted the half-moon shaped line. If she chose to alert security, it would be easy. Just one press on the com button attached to her uniform would do it.
After a moment, the woman nodded. "Katu."
She understood. "We have to get to the North Country on the next boat and our funds are unavailable."
Reading the attendant's reactions, Nadira knew the woman was open to helping them. Guardians weren't required to provide IDs in order to travel. All she'd ever had to do was show the markings on her hand to gain admittance anywhere she wanted to go.
Unfortunately, Jonathan was another matter. Security would be alerted if he ID'd himself.
"Both of you?" she asked.
"Yes."
"The boat is in. Go up the ramp. When you get on, head to the stern. Now I have to go take care of an issue, if you'll excuse me." She walked past Nadira and headed towards the terminal entrance.
"Come on." Nadira waved at Jonathan to join her.
"What was that all about?" he asked, as they hurried up the ramp.
"I'll tell you later. Now let's get on before anyone shows up."
At the end of the ramp, they emerged into the bright sunshine. The boat was gently moving, but not enough to make her feel off balance. She sat on one of the empty benches at the stern.
"What did you say back there?" Jon asked, as he sat next to her. "Damn, these seats are hard."
"It's a language that evolved after the First Families settled here. I told her it was urgent that we get to the North. That's why she helped us." Nadira settled against the hard bench and tried to get comfortable.
"Still doesn't make sense she'd let us get on without paying." Jon stretched his legs out. "You told her we didn't have funds. We have them, we just can't access them."
"Exactly. It was my way of telling her we couldn't use an ID--without saying it directly."
"She had to figure out what you meant? Why not just say it?" Jonathan countered.
"That's not how things are done in the North. If you're too direct, people will think you're uncouth."
Jon grunted. "I'll try not to take that personally."
"You'll be fine. Just follow my lead."
"Hmmm."
"Does that mean you agree?"
"Hmmm." He leaned his head back and folded his arms across his chest.
At least she'd remembered some of the words her mother had taught her. The descendents of the First Families predated Novacorp's takeover of Hathor.
Over the generations, they'd developed ways to go around company directives when the situation called for it. That's why her mother had been assured of help when she'd left Nova City. And it was why when faced with following company rules, or helping someone with North Country roots, the attendant chose the latter.
Jon patted her knee. "You know, I'd rather sit where we can see who's getting on this boat."
Shivering, she tried to ignore the pings of energy that radiated from his touch. Even though she'd put up a barrier between them, Jonathan's energy wasn't being contained.
"The attendant won't tell anyone," she replied. "As long as you're with me, you're safe."
What was she doing? Out here on a boat, escaping the city with a fugitive? This was insane. And what made it worse, her energy, her very life force was slowly being integrated into the energy of a man she'd just met.
How long would it take before the connection between them became permanent?
14 The North
Jonathan hoped they'd get to their destination before dark. The sun was starting to set, and the two moons, Isis and Osiris were already visible in the purplish sky.
Nadira was asleep, her head on his shoulder. Shivering in the damp air, he wished he'd brought a warmer jacket. But he hadn't expected to leave the climate-controlled city.
What the hell would they do now? All they had were the clothes they were wearing. They couldn't access their credits without giving away their location.
A strange unsettled feeling came over him as saliva filled his mouth. Jonathan leaned his head back and swallowed. He'd only been on a boat once in his life, and that had been a much shorter trip than this one. He felt like he couldn't get his balance, and with each dip his stomach pitched along with the boat.
BEEEEEP
> He winced at the shrill sound of a horn. Could things get any worse on this ride?
Nadira stirred against him. "Where are we?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
"I don't know. It feels like we've been out here for hours."
BEEEEEP
Another blast of the horn. Did that thing ever stop?
"That's the signal. We'll be docking soon."
He was glad they'd managed to escape the city, but he never wanted to ride on a boat again. The only consolation was that they were closer to finding Matt and Ilana.
"You don't look so good," Nadira said, examining him with concern. "Are you all right?'
Nodding, he clamped his lips together. If he could hang on for a while longer, maybe he could make it without throwing up.
*****
After the boat docked, they stood by the railing waiting for the other passengers to disembark. Though the boat was secured, the sound of water splashing against the hull made him to grip the rails tighter, his stomach roiling.
"Are you sure you are all right?" Nadira asked.
"I'm fine. Let's get off this thing." He hated being on boats. Desperate to get back on solid ground, he plodded towards the gangway.
He'd hoped by the time his feet touched the stone tiled walkway, he'd feel better. But with each step, it felt like the ground was moving.
"Now we have to find Matt's house," she said.
"We could ask someone. There were a lot of people on the boat." Even as he said it, he knew it wasn't likely. The passengers filing past them, in green and blue coveralls, were most likely mine workers. Some of them had travel bags slung across their bodies; perhaps they were returning from R&R in the city.
She pointed to the kiosk at the end of the walkway. "We'll check the public directory."
"If he's hiding Ilana there, I doubt it's a place he wants a lot of people to know about," Jon said.
The kiosk wasn't online and no holo greeted them when they approached. It figured that there wouldn't be any conveniences out in the middle of nowhere.
"Can't you track Matt?" Jonathan asked.
"I've been trying. I thought something would look familiar." She indicated an empty patch of sand to the left of the kiosk. "There used to be a big house there."
Hathor Legacy: Outcast Page 9