Past Tense

by Viola Grace

  "Try living out of tubes for a few weeks," she muttered as she decelerated to follow the landing beacon.

  Teklan was a study in gold, blue, lavender and green. It was a pretty planet and that was a good thing, Mayden had just agreed to live there.

  Chapter Three

  The dragon that greeted them inside the base had to be Esur. The scowl that he gave to Harusk only faded when Mayden's partner put his arm around the small human.

  He really was quite tall, but she appreciated the support his grip gave her. She nodded to the ice dragon with polite formality. "Esur or Frost? Which do you prefer?"

  He blinked a little and nodded with a smile. "Esur, please. Roxy is this way, I am sure that she will enjoy meeting another of her kind."

  Esur led them down the hall, his wings out at battle size, flared to intimidate Harusk. Harusk was taller, darker and had eyes a shade that reminded Mayden of molten gold. There was really no contest between the two dragons.

  "Is there a commanding officer here?" She spoke to the other dragon's back and he stopped to speak to her face, as she knew he would. Drai were all about manners.

  "General Brodin or Might if you wish. Finder is in at her debriefing for her last assignment."

  Ah, that did explain it. Esur wanted to get back to his mate. Harusk still had his arm around her shoulders and his claim was unmistakable. "Thank you for your hospitality, Esur. I appreciate it, as does the Alliance."

  "I am supposing that I can share my home for a few years, as long as I know your true nest is elsewhere."

  "Kesnil is my home. It guarded me while I slept and is the home of my nest." Harusk's voice was deep and resonant, ringing with truth.

  A flicker of ease came into Esur's eyes. "Good enough. I accept you as a brother in my territory."

  She was witness to the forearm-to-forearm handshake that they engaged in, without her dragon losing his grip on her. They were truly a talented species.

  They entered the offices of the general without his assistant looking up, they merely passed him silently, but Mayden knew he was watching. There was a slight twitch to his hand as they passed, the only indicator that he had seen them.

  The Dhemon sitting behind the desk had a surprisingly pleasant expression on his face that morphed into a friendly greeting when Esur stepped aside to give him a full view of them. "Mayden, Harusk, you made it."

  "We did. I don't mean to insist, but Mayden has just exited a tank, so she needs to rest." His tone was solicitous, but Mayden wanted to elbow him in the side. He hadn't been so attentive when they were in the shuttle and he didn't want to fly.

  The wily dragon released her for a moment and she wobbled obligingly.

  "There is a private dining room to the left. They were told to expect you and should have a meal underway." General Brodin stood and waved for them to precede him out the door.

  Harusk shepherded her back through the door and to the left. The scents of a full meal were enough to make her mouth water. She knew that she should stick to liquids, but if it looked as good as it smelled, she was lost.

  A large dining room contained a huge table, which was populated with five chairs. The surface of the table was covered with platters, plates and tureens. When she was ensconced in a chair, Harusk leaned forward and served her a bowl of rich broth, severing her plotting to make inroads on the platter of meats.

  "That isn't fair, Harusk."

  "You are recovering from your time in the tank. You will be back on your feet in a few days, for now, humour me." He placed a spoon firmly in her hand and took one of the seats with the narrow backs for those with wings.

  Brodin, Esur and Roxy were staring at them with amused grins on their faces. "Hello again, Roxy."

  "Mayden, I thought that was you. You were sent to the Citadel?" Roxy was still smiling as she spoke and took her own seat across from the other Terran in the room.

  "I was. Now I have been sent here. Strange that they would need two Terrans at this base." She turned her head and lifted a brow at Brodin.

  "Blame the Drai you are sitting with, ladies. I was a late addition to this gathering." General Brodin held his hands up in defence as they glared at him.

  Mayden looked at Roxy and saw the same acknowledgement in her eyes that she knew was in her own. They had come to grips with being wanted for their genes. Sure, Mayden may get irritated now and then, but he was going to have to deal with it. The pain of her change was still far too recent for her simply to forget it.

  Esur was silent and sullen until Roxy elbowed him in the ribs. "Harusk, how long have you been awake?"

  "Six months. I have been waiting for the Alliance to find my match. I knew she was nearby but had no idea who she would be." He forked some meats onto his plate and set some rolls and salad onto it as well.

  Disgruntled but knowing that her body would rebel if she snuck some of the roasts, she sipped at the soup. The delicate flavours surprised her and she slurped the soup down eagerly. When she finished her first course, the next tureen yielded a rich yellow broth that carried a scent reminiscent of saffron.

  Silence fell over the table as they all ate and occupied their mouths. There were three courses of soup and a whipped pudding for Mayden and she made a note to thank the cooks herself. She was full but not in pain when she finished her meal and sat back with a happy sigh.

  "Did you get enough?" Harusk's breath caressed her shoulder and she tried not to flinch as her skin pebbled under the whisper of air.

  "I did. Thank you. Did you?" She smacked her forehead mentally.

  "I am content for now." The double entendre hung in the air between them.

  She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he settled his wings more comfortably. His dark hair rippled in waves off his forehead, tumbling around his pointed ears and coursing to hang between his shoulders. The golden eyes that could hypnotize her were focussed on Brodin as the General asked him questions about his journey.

  "Mayden is quite the pilot. I have not yet adapted to these technologies, so she was generous enough to fly."

  "Reader? You are a pilot? That isn't in your record."

  "It was a hobby. I struck a deal with a new shuttle developer to test all of his new products and managed to find some corporate espionage at the same time. So there was always something for me to fly if I needed it." She folded her hands onto her lap and noted that no one had sat in her chair before.

  "How sensitive is your reading?"

  "Throw me your fork and we will find out." She grinned and caught the object that came flying to her hand.

  "You were not hungry but you ate anyway, Finder's report wasn't finished so you are a little irritated with our timing and when you put your suit on this morning, you were tired and put it on backward." There were hours of data that she skimmed over, but Brodin looked suitably impressed.

  "How were you dealing with Harusk's contact? I noted that he was in close contact with you."

  Harusk stiffened and leaned toward the Dhemon, but Mayden put her hand on his arm and pushed him back into his seat. "Easy. General Brodin, I don't have any reading problem with Harusk. It is probably due to the rewiring that I just went through, but he hasn't caused any of the standard debilitating symptoms that normally occur when a stranger touches me."

  Harusk crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at the Dhemon.

  "Why don't you go and engage in an aerial survey or something? You are far too tense from being cooped up on the warship."

  Roxy nodded, "Esur, go and show him around. Mayden and I have some catching up to do and we need to explain a few things to Brodin. So, go. Shoo!" She slapped her dragon on the arm and when he leaned down for a kiss, she leaned up to meet him halfway.

  A lump formed in Mayden's throat as she watched the obviously happy Roxy kiss her partner. As a reader, casual contact was not an option. She hadn't had even the simple comfort of a kiss in over five years.

  Harusk placed his hand over both of hers. The look in his
eyes told her he knew what she was thinking. She accepted his touch and nodded as he stood to leave. She needed a little time alone. It was imperative that she have her personal time.

  With the dragons out of the room, the dining room felt bigger and Mayden turned to her new commanding officer. "Brodin, there was something else on that fork."

  He raised an eyebrow and grinned at her. "And what would that be?"

  She sat back and tapped her fingers together. "There is an assignment for me already and you want me to leave as soon as dinner is over."

  Chapter Four

  "You are really quite good at reading, Mayden." General Brodin pushed his plate aside and pressed a button.

  Staffers swarmed in and removed the remains of the meal, wiped down the table and disappeared.

  Brodin pressed some keys at the head of the table and a hologram filled the centre of the room as the windows dimmed. "This is Finiar Twelve. Their royal family has suffered several sudden deaths in the far recesses of the inheriting line, but they have begun to creep closer to the crown and the king has become concerned."

  Images of small dead bodies flicked on the hologram. The people of Finiar Twelve were small, lavender and had four arms to their two legs. The victims had peaceful faces, but they were all splayed in unusual positions.

  "The deaths were only linked after the eleventh death. It happened to occur at a public event, so an inquiry was launched. By the fifteenth death, they contacted the Alliance to ask for help. Seventeen deaths have now been recorded, with the final one occurring this week. There are one dozen beings in line for the throne and we want to find out what is going on before there ceases to be possible heirs. Do you think you can help?"

  Mayden looked at the creatures and tapped her fingers together in thought. "Do you have anything from any of the crime scenes?"

  Brodin looked hopeful. "You think your talent can be applied?"

  "Oh, it can be applied, but I think that Finder and Past Tense would be a good team on this. If I understand her talent properly, she will be able to see what is missing in the crime scene photos versus the actual recent scenes."

  Roxy nodded. "I could do that. It is right up my alley."

  Brodin looked relieved. "I will call in your companions. You can take my shuttle, it has more room."

  "How long is the trip?"

  "It's six hours with a jump." He keyed the information into a data pad.

  She looked to Roxy, "Does Esur fly?"

  "You mean a shuttlecraft? When he has to. We have been going on assignments with Brodin mostly. This last one was a quick trip for some missing data spools, so there was minimal danger level."

  "Good, because I really need a nap and Harusk's flying would keep me awake and clinging to the edge of the seat."

  "I can take a shift if I have to. Despite what Brodin thinks, I have gotten more than enough practice behind the controls." Roxy was scowling at him and when he made a face, she returned it, sticking her tongue out at him.

  The light giggle did Mayden a world of good.

  His responding grin eased things as well.

  "You are seriously the most cheerful Dhemon I have ever seen." Mayden shook her head in amazement.

  "It's an occupational hazard. When my talent showed later in life, I was politely requested to leave my home and join the Sector Guard. My family stayed in contact with me and visits when they can. Why shouldn't I be cheerful?" He cocked his head and grinned. "Here I am surrounded by two lovely Terrans as opposed to at home where my cousin keeps his wife from my clutches with fanatical devotion. I get the best of both worlds, literally."

  "His cousin's wife is Samantha Vorning. The ex-hunter turned entertainer, turned housewife and socialite. She gets around." Roxy smirked.

  "And she has an adorable son who will be twice the man his father is. He has a sense of humour even now." Brodin straightened, "Now back to matters at hand. The Finiar are desperate. Their king is more than a head of state. He is the arbitrator of all global issues. The person in that position needs to be one that the people stand behind."

  "Understood. How long should we give the boys to finish their figurative pissing contest?" Roxy was scrolling through the data files and absorbing the photos into her remarkable mind.

  "An hour should be enough time. Harusk has been practically vibrating with energy the whole flight over." Mayden looked toward the window when she saw a shadow flicker past. "Holy heck. They really are dragons."

  Roxy snorted. "Yes, they really are. However, you don't have to do anything of a romantic nature with him until you approve of his home. Since his home is on another world, he will have to build one on Teklan for you. That may take some time."

  Finder kept her gaze on the display as the images flicked faster but kept up her conversation. "The Drai culture is intensely formal at times. If you want to put off any romantic entanglements, just tell him you need to make an introduction gown. Then stand back while his head blows off."

  "Okay, what is an introduction gown?"

  "Just what it sounds like--the gown that the female Drai wear during their introduction to the males. It is a long, straight tunic covered with embroidery and gemstones, usually provided by the female's family. While some of the Champions have been using their positions to act as family for us, they can't be everywhere at the same time, though they do try. Anyway, that could buy you some time to get used to him."

  "Thanks. That's helpful. I am not quite sure how I feel about the whole thing at the moment."

  "I know. It's why I thought to give you the insight of my experience."

  "I thank you very much. How did you find out?"

  "Esur told me bits and pieces when he thought of them."

  Her tone was almost absent, but Mayden grinned at the implication that Esur had only parted with what he had to. It was nice to know that a Drai would pursue his mate, working around his own rules to do it.

  It put Harusk's actions into a whole new light.

  Suddenly, Mayden realized that Brodin had listened to their whole conversation and hadn't said a word. He was being a very wise and circumspect leader.

  "Okay, Finder, start on the pre-flights. I will send the signal to recall your companions and you can explain the details of the inquiry that we are taking on during the flight to Finiar Twelve. You have your orders and special rations are being prepped for you, Past Tense. Don't try for solids until our doctor gives you the once over when you return."

  "Aye, aye, Commander."

  "Might." Roxy grinned. "Brodin's name is Might when he's on assignment. Enough power in his limbs to hold Esur and Harusk back if he has to."

  Mayden looked at the grinning Dhemon with a new understanding. He could be cocky, but he was not aggressive and that was a good combination in a leader. Calm and cool with enough power to back up anything he ordered.

  Brodin left the room. Roxy sealed the files and transferred them to her data pad. "I will show them to you on the way. There are some objects that seem wrong."

  "Excellent. Which way are we going?"

  "Down the hall and to the right. Aim for the large open space with the shuttles inside it. We will be flying on the larger of the two to a jump ship that will take us the rest of the way."

  "Is that standard for the Sector Guard?"

  Roxy grinned. "No, but I think we both know that being at the helm during a jump is not really an option if we want to fly straight."

  Mayden snorted, "I usually do just fine, but it can be rather touch and go on occasion."

  "Most Drai are fine flying without a ship, I know Esur does not care for the controls of a spacecraft."

  "Better safe than sorry. Roxy, I have to ask, how do you stand this suit?" She turned and flexed with her loose robes swirling around her.

  "You will have to take a visit to Fixer. She can make it fit like a second skin."

  "She already did. I just wondered how you felt about going around almost naked. The robes of a Reader are designed to keep us fr
om accidental contact with the outside world while picking up traces of our environment and feeding it to us through our senses. With this suit, even with the long vest, I have to get closer to things to be able to sense them."

  Roxy started to wind her hair into a long braid. "Is that a problem?"

  "No. It just makes me feel vulnerable."

  "That is why Harusk is a good choice for you. As Midnight, he can surround you without touching and protect you from whatever comes after you."

  She looked at the other Terran in surprise as they started on the external inspection of the shuttle. "Harusk hasn't mentioned that he has a skill beyond the wings."

  "Frost didn't mention it either, but when he gets riled, things get chilly."

  "So…Midnight?"

  New footfalls joined them in the hangar. "I would have told you when it was time, PT."

  Back in their bipedal forms, the two dragons were moving with a relaxed companionship that had to have been formed in the sky.

  "Just call me Pete, Midnight."

  Roxy started laughing. "Pete? Classic."

  "Shorter than Past Tense. Call me, Pete." She let the tiny thrill of triumph ripple through her as she enforced her will on the designation. This one thing, this tiny moment was hers alone.

  The men looked at the shuttle curiously. Esur wrapped his arms around Roxy and asked, "Do we have an assignment?"

  "We do. We are off to solve the dissolving of the royal line on Finiar." She nodded and jerked her head toward the ship. "Everybody on board. The Sector Guards of Teklan are going on a road trip."

  Mayden grinned as she heard Esur murmur, "Road trip?"

  Roxy whispered back. "A Terran thing, I will tell you later."

  Smiling and enjoying having another human nearby, Mayden took the navigator's station and Roxy the pilot's seat and the moment that the dragons had settled their wings, they were rolling out into the open air of Teklan and preparing for take-off.

  Time to use her talents for the Sector Guard and not the Citadel. Past Tense was on her maiden voyage.