by Viola Grace
He blinked. “Am I your secretary?”
Riasa grinned. “No, you are my bodyguard and partner. Make yourself useful. I am going to do a floor-by-floor assessment. We need to lock all coms on this Citadel and re-encode them. No signal goes out that isn’t routed through a secure satellite to a preapproved location.”
To her amusement, he grabbed a tablet and made notes. She got to her feet and walked around the desk. “We are going to go floor by floor.”
The receptionists’ office got a once over, and she found nothing unusual. It was obvious that no business had been engaged in. Clovid had moved in and begun to craft a fiefdom under the nose of the Alliance.
The residue of the spy was everywhere. Riasa got madder with every level. The fifty occupants were confused and unsure of what to do next. Riasa calmed them and pointed out the counsellors on duty. They could speak to them while she talked to Might.
The new Citadel was coming down.
Chapter Six
“I don’t understand. It was just put up.” Might sat at his desk and scowled.
“If you could see what I could see…every inch of that place is steeped in confusion and depression.” She was calm enough merely to snarl at him.
“So?”
“The psychics cannot function there. They need something clean and joyful to learn in. It isn’t a facility that can give them that as it stands, and I don’t know of any psychic scrub that can take away that much pain.”
“What do you want me to do with the members of the Citadel?”
Riasa sat back and looked at Natu. “Bring them to the base and blow the Citadel. I will talk to whoever is in charge of Citadel matters and explain the situation. Any way you slice it, the men and women of this Citadel need therapy and plenty of it. They were betrayed on the most basic level. They need to be somewhere where they can start over. Somewhere safe with those who can be trusted in power.”
Might cocked his head. “When I asked if you wanted to be in charge, you said only on an interim basis.”
“This isn’t what I meant, but it will do.”
“You are sure it has to come down?” He looked reluctant.
“Send in any sensitives that can pick up on residue. They will sense what I can see. Everyone was simply existing there. It was a place to sleep and pursue education; they didn’t live there. They took up as small an area as possible in their own quarters. That isn’t normal if they are planning to live in a place. It is natural to spread out. We can’t help it. We make our homes our own. None of the occupants from masters to janitors did more than eat, sleep and attend classes. We need to design a new Citadel Teklan built for function, not form. There is a designer in the Citadel’s ranks that would probably have some insight for the job. Taboth Quehanik. He was an architect and engineer before he woke to his talent of emitting light through his skin. It happened after a workplace accident.”
Might cocked his head. “I will give you full authorization to the com centre. Talk to anyone you like, and if you can get Taboth to agree, I will get Esur to authorize demolition.”
“Esur?”
“He owns Teklan. He gave planning permission, and he will have to authorize the final structure.”
She nodded. “Well, I had better find Taboth then. He has work to do.”
Natu had been at her side, silent, during the whole conversation. He winked and took her hand as she got to her feet. With her mission clear, she set out to find the man who was unsure of his future and his place in it.
Taboth was delighted. “I can design anything?”
“You are designing a Citadel. The old one will be gone and a tower should be incorporated somehow to maintain continuity with the other buildings.”
Taboth rubbed his hands. “Can I get started right away?”
“Of course. I am going to work on the authorization and demolition of the old building. The barracks here are going to be at our disposal once demolition commences.”
She looked to Natu.
He nodded, “I will find him a workroom and he can begin.”
“I will head to the com centre and figure out who to talk to.”
“I will meet you there after Taboth is settled.”
She nodded and headed for the com room. They gave her a private space and showed her how to stand on the projection platform. Once the com officer closed the door, a woman appeared on one of the platforms on the other side of the room.
“Hello, Riasa. I am Relay. What are you doing and how can I help?”
Riasa explained the situation, and the woman stretched out her hands, wove her fingers together and cracked her knuckles. “Let’s get this party started.”
Relay took charge, and soon, there was a roomful of Citadel administrators learning the situation on Teklan and making notes as to the physiology to look for in their own outposts. Authorization, supplies and personnel were offered by the Sector Guard, seven Citadels and the Alliance.
Riasa smiled and inclined her head. “If there are any talents who can work stone, this could speed things up considerably.”
Relay smiled. “That can be arranged.”
“Thank you all for your cooperation. I know that Teklan Citadel was just completed, but someone seeking to worm their way in to acquire those that managed to escape their clutches ruined it. Guard those survivors.”
The strange faces that had become so familiar in such a short time smiled, and one by one, they winked out.
“Well done, Riasa. You are very impressive.” Relay smiled.
“Thank you. My mom taught me how to organize large events, so I am using those skills.”
“Well, you are a credit to her teachings. How are you doing? Might is worried about the situation you suddenly find yourself in.”
Riasa sighed. “I need to do things, to be active. I want to be an agent of the Citadel or a Guardsman. I want to be out meeting new races and seeing new things.”
“I will let Might know. While he trusts Alara’s sight, he hates risking ladies. It is the Dhemon upbringing. It is just a good thing that he has found a mate. He was getting a little cranky.” Relay looked to one side and smiled. “Speaking of cranky, my husband just came in. I will speak to you again soon, Riasa. Keep your chin up.”
“Good day, Relay.”
“Good day.”
Relay disappeared and Riasa exhaled. That had been quite the event. Well, she was now officially free. Guardianship of the Citadel occupants had been dumped on Might, and there was nothing else to fuss with.
She left the com room, and Natu was waiting for her. “Hello.”
He offered her his arm. “How did it go?”
She walked with him toward the dining hall. “I think it went well. They all seemed to listen to what I had to say, and I got full authorization for everything Might and I discussed, so, yup, it went well.”
“Good. We are going to eat, and then, we have an assignment.”
She perked up. “Really?”
“Really. It is a low-tech world, and they need to determine the best spot for a new settlement. With your piercing gaze, I am sure you can locate a spot in short order.” He steered her into the dining hall.
“I am sure I can as well. Well, it isn’t exciting, but it is interesting.”
“Just like me.” He grinned. “I am steady but fascinating.”
She laughed and headed for the food. She hadn’t realised it until that moment but she was exceedingly hungry.
With her tray filled with appetizing options, she took a seat and noted several other folks around in Guard uniforms, as well as many in the Citadel robes. The Citadel folk looked a little stressed but hopeful.
Natu sat across from her and smiled. “Not feeling social?”
“Not feeling like I belong in either group. In one day, I took out a Citadel administrator and ripped its people out of the home that is going down. Then, I arranged for it to be rebuilt in a more meaningful shape and sent other bases on spy hunts. I feel weird.” Sh
e made a face and ate her meal.
“Don’t forget Clovid trying to blow you up.”
“I didn’t, but he did that, not me.” She blinked. “Did they fix the barracks?”
“They did. One of the Citadel talents has scrubbing in their repertoire. The bunks were easily replaced from storage, and since you are already in Guard-grade uniforms, you don’t need to pack.”
“And the tablet is just as easily replaced. Right. Good. You have no idea how happy I am that I was the only one staying there. Did my robes survive?”
He had a mouthful of soup and shook his head before he swallowed. “Nope. They exploded as well.”
“Damn. I was going to have a bad day all around. Thank you for taking me out last night.”
Natu smiled. “Thank you for coming with me. The feeling of you in my arms was intoxicating.”
She blushed and coughed. “I will take that as a good thing.”
“It is; it is a very good thing.”
“Was it just me or did you change texture when we touched?”
It was his turn to cough. “Ah, yes, I did. Since I did not need to defend against you, it seemed safer than abrading you.”
“You did it on purpose?”
He shook his head. “Out of reflex. The moment I touched you, my body altered to make sure that no harm came to you.”
“I am going to file that under nice things.”
“Good. How are the meals here treating you?”
“The cooks here at the base are excellent. At the Citadel, not so much. They didn’t get the labelling quite right as my lav could attest.”
He winced. “Not good.”
“That is a nice way to say it.”
He waved the topic away. “When we return, since the Citadel population will be in the barracks, would you stay at my home?”
“Do you have a guest room?”
He shook his head. “No. It is a single-bedroom dwelling. I could take the couch.”
She laughed. “If you repeat the invitation after the mission, I will consider it as long as I take the couch. You need a little more space than I do.”
“Deal. Now, if you are finished, we should get going. The locals are using this as a trust exercise.”
Riasa laughed. “No pressure.”
“None at all. Future generations dealing with the locals will have this moment to look back on, and they will use it to judge all strangers.”
She made a face and threw a piece of garnish at him. “You are not helping.”
He got up and collected their trays. “I save my helping for when it is needed. I am off duty until we arrive on Geelaw.”
She got to her feet, and they elbowed and bickered with each other all the way to the tarmac. Instead of the ship she had arrived in, a sleek silver vehicle was in its place.
“Esur is letting me use his vehicle. It is arranged for a couple as well as for someone with wings.”
Riasa got on board. “I have already been in it. It is a very nice ship, but for some reason, Finder looked queasy for almost the entire journey.”
“She gets space sick. It is a joke among the Guard.” He smiled and settled her in the navigator station with a tablet.
With her information access point in her lap, she started researching Geelaw before they arrived. It always made a better impression if one knew what they were talking about.
Chapter Seven
Geelaw was serious about the tech thing. Their ship had to hover off the ground before they could exit it. Fortunately, Stone was equipped for it, and Vision went along with his orders.
He held her in his arms, and they landed near the gathered folk who were staring at the ship above their surface.
He walked toward them, still holding her. He released her so that her feet could touch the ground and the native inhabitants approached them with caution.
“Hello. We have been sent by the Sector Guard to assist you with selection of your new habitation site. I am Stone; this is Vision. Tell her what you need, and it will be located if it is available.”
The two locals at the front of the gathering came forward and looked at Vision hopefully.
She stepped toward them and straightened her shoulders. “Tell me what you need, and I will try to find it.”
They held up a scroll and smiled. They spoke as one. “We have a list.”
The pale yellow skin was rough in texture, the bone spurs over their eyes were intimidating and the moss green eyes showed kindness. The spikes trailed down their arms, and Vision had to admit that they were intimidating. She had gotten used to Natu’s height, but eight feet of pale yellow alien did take some nerve to deal with.
They showed her the list, described their ideal living conditions as well as the reasons for needing a new place. There were several reasons on the list, but the major one was the alteration of the course of the nearby river. It encroached on their living quarters and on the fields that supported their people.
They needed a clean source of water, room to plant and a safe stone-based plateau to move their settlement to. The speakers looked at her hopefully. “Do you think you can find us something?”
Vision smiled. “I have a few places in mind, three days walk from here. Stone can fly me there and back in a few hours. I should have an answer for you this afternoon.”
They smiled and a strange purring murmur went through the community gathered around the platform where they were holding their discussion.
“Go and seek with our blessing. Thank you.”
She inclined her head and got to her feet. Climbing up from the floor took some getting used to, but she managed to get upright in time for Stone to take her in his arms and lift off.
Once in the air, she tucked her head against his so she could talk. “They are a community consciousness.”
He replied, “Yes. They need a world of their own as their minds expand.”
“Right. Head north. There are a few sites there that are likely based on what I saw from the planetary scans.”
He nodded against her ear, and she shivered.
She turned in his arms and focussed on her job. She had to seek out something that met the specific requirements of the Geelaw citizens.
She focussed on the approaching ridge of hills. Deeper sight showed her the water table and the substrata. It felt good to be using her vision for something beyond seeing semen stains on the walls and furnishings of the Citadel.
“How long can you fly?”
“How long do you need me to?” He chuckled as he climbed and then glided down, over and over until they reached the spot she pointed to. He landed, and she put her hands on her hips and scanned the area.
“There is a substrata of stone for stability. Hills for shelter, the open plain for the fields and a plentiful water supply just beyond those rocks.”
“And it is close enough to their current location that the weather patterns will not be a traumatic shift. They can begin the transition for their settlement immediately.”
“Do you wish to check out the other sites?”
She nodded. “Yes. That ridge over there is the second candidate. The third is on the other side of that ridge.”
“Shall we?” he raised his eyebrows and stepped toward her.
“Why are you so eager for extra flying?”
He laughed and picked her up. “It isn’t the flying; it is the very soft and charming burden that I have the privilege of carrying.”
She blushed and turned her mind to the task at hand, finding a space for the settlement that could hold the current five thousand with room to double.
The second spot wasn’t quite as pleasant as the first. There was less shelter from the surrounding hills, but the water was still nearby. She kept in mind that they would be digging through the rock with picks and shovels.
“This spot is good, but the first one was better. Better drainage and soil content.”
“Then, I suppose that it is time to seek out the next one.”
He wrapped himself around her, and with a strong shove of his legs, they were in the air with his wings beating heavily to gain altitude over the hills.
She whispered in his ear, “So, are we physically compatible?”
They dropped a hundred feet before he caught his balance and propelled them up once again. He growled, “You are asking that now?”
“I am working, you are working, there is no better time.” She chuckled.
He took them over the hills without answering her.
The third site was nearly better than the first. It even had a heavy treeline to reduce soil erosion. The problem was in the extra week that it would take to walk the citizens over the hills.
She gave a steady assessment and scowled. “Damn.”
“What?”
“This is a better site. There is going to be some walking.” She put her hands on her hips.
“They will not mind. They have an old map but live in dread of the wrong site being selected. Does this one have all that they asked for?”
“And more. It also provides immediate shelter in the form of caverns extending behind and into the hills.”
He stood next to her and looked out at the empty field. “They won’t use them. They can’t communicate underground. That is the reason for the tech restriction. Technology is scrambled by their signals, and they are scrambled by it.”
“I guessed as much when their leaders spoke as one. Linked minds with an open share. I read about it on the way here.” Vision grinned.
Stone grumbled and crossed his arms. “You were uncharacteristically not giving me orders.”
She nudged him. “How much do you mind?”
“I don’t. I am glad to see you coming into your own. Watching you in action has been an education as to why the talents of Resicor are so feared. I have met a few of the others, and they all bloom the moment they can use their talent fully. You have gone above and beyond what was expected of you, what was hoped for you.”
She blushed. “And nothing would have happened if you had not snatched me out of my farm that night.”