by DuBoff, Amy
Half a dozen crew writhed on the ground with serious injuries, and another was dead a few meters from Richards. The air was gray with smoke and stank of burned metal and flesh. Laecy’s stomach turned over.
“Foking Bakzen,” the Agent pilot said from behind Laecy. “I never should have led us back here. Shite.”
If you hadn’t, he’d still be alive! Laecy swallowed the bile rising from her stomach. No one could possibly know what the loss meant to her. But making it any more than a fallen friend wouldn’t do service to his memory. She fought to maintain composure, fighting every instinct to drop to her knees and hold Richards one last time.
“What triggered the explosion?” Laecy stammered.
The pilot shook her head. “All the other jets that were hit detonated right away. I thought it was automatic. I don’t know why this one waited to go off.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The dead can’t be brought back. I never thought the war would come inside these walls…
“We need to get you to Medical,” the medic said to Laecy, pulling her from her thoughts.
“I’m fine. Get everyone else to safety.”
“You’re bleeding out,” the medic stated. “Get to Medical.” He ran to help one of the crew members laying on the floor clutching her bleeding leg.
Laecy looked down and realized that a pool of blood had formed beneath her injured arm. “Shite.” Her head felt woozy.
“Let me cauterize that,” the pilot offered. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I—”
Before Laecy could finish her protest, the Agent had cupped her hands around the wound. Laecy felt a searing heat followed by numbness. She examined her arm and saw that it had been completely burned, but the bleeding had stopped.
“Old battlefield trick,” the Agent explained. “I know it looks terrible now, but you needed a complete graft anyway.”
“Thanks,” Laecy muttered and stumbled toward the central elevator. With her nerves burned and bleeding quelled, she was finding it hard to acknowledge that the attack had just taken place. She would be healed in a matter of hours, but there was no bringing back her fallen friends. Jack… Some people were completely irreplaceable, and he was one of them. And how many others?
The end of the war couldn’t come soon enough.
* * *
“They have something new,” Taelis informed Banks over the viewscreen.
Banks gritted his teeth. Another Bakzen innovation. We can’t keep up. “What is it?”
“A new kind of explosive charge,” Taelis explained. He hung his head. “We had an attack here at H2.”
“Is everyone okay?” Banks asked, but the answer was already clear from Taelis’ grim expression.
“I don’t have the final casualty reports yet, but it looks like the engineering team was hit pretty hard.”
Banks let out a slow breath. “What about the new warship?”
“This attack may mean a setback in the design, but we have the materials now to proceed with the neural interface. We’ll get it built.”
I still don’t like the idea of going behind Wil’s back. I know why he scrapped the idea—I wouldn’t want to wield that kind of power, either. “Maybe we should refocus our resources under the circumstances.”
“No, this attack is precisely why we need the ship. And why we need Wil. We have to end this.”
Banks nodded his understanding, even though he would never fully agree with the approach. “I’ll keep him focused on training his officers.”
“And I’ll make sure he’ll have the fleet he needs,” Taelis replied. He swallowed, drooping slightly. “Watch your back. We’re never safe, even at home.”
“I know.” All too well.
Taelis eyed him. “Any more word from the Aesir since that night?”
Banks shook his head. “But I have no doubt that they’re watching us.”
“Fok, all of our preparations could be for nothing if…”
Wil will pass their test. But will he still be on our side once he learns the truth? “We’re going to see this through to the end, Erik. Don’t lose hope.”
The other High Commander nodded. “I never do.”
CHAPTER 16
Calls to the High Commander’s office always put Wil on guard. Either big news was coming or there was a problem. Hopefully not both.
His father was waiting in the guest chair across the desk from Banks.
Banks gestured Wil toward the other open guest chair. “Take a seat.”
“We were discussing the training progress of the Junior Agents,” Cris commented as Wil got situated. “Saera came up, of course.”
Wil nodded. “She’s progressing nicely.”
“So much so,” said Banks, “that it’s time we prepare for graduation.”
That seems premature. “She hasn’t hit a telekinetic ability limit yet.”
“That’s what the CR exam is for. Are there any other shortcomings?” Banks asked.
Wil thought through their years of training together. “She has all the attributes we’d hope for in an Agent. I can’t think of any typical skill where she’s deficient.”
Banks eyed him. “Yet you seen unsure about her graduating. What’s giving you pause?”
“That’s more about the prospect of her getting involved in the war,” Wil countered.
“Still, there has to be something that would make her hesitate,” Banks pressed.
“By that measure, even graduated Agents have issues,” Wil pointed out.
“Fair,” conceded Banks, “but what’s her biggest hang-up? We should focus on that.”
There is one thing. “That couldn’t be addressed with a traditional internship. And trying to certainly wouldn’t be worth missing those months of training with the Primus Elites.”
“Maybe we should forego an internship,” Cris suggested. “We have the authority.”
“Wil, is there any alternate assignment that comes to mind?” asked Banks.
“Would you be able to cover Primus Elite training for a few days?” Wil asked his father.
Cris nodded. “Sure.”
“Then I’ll make the internship arrangements,” Wil stated.
“You’ll need an objective third-party observer,” Banks reminded him.
I hate the idea of someone intruding on Saera’s private life. “It’ll have to be someone who’s proven to be trustworthy.”
“Scott?” Cris suggested.
“I’ll abide it,” Banks agreed. “Make the preparations, Wil. I look forward to your report.”
* * *
The spatial awareness chamber felt like a second home after nearly two years of almost daily training. Michael floated at the center of the chamber along with the other Primus Elites.
They were chatting amongst themselves, waiting for Wil to return so they could resume the practice session.
Michael didn’t like being left in the center of the chamber without an Agent. What minimal telekinetic abilities had manifested for him weren’t enough to make it back to a wall. He was trapped. Why aren’t the others concerned about getting stuck here?
He did recognize that he was more pessimistic than most in the group. Wil had commented on it, but in his usual fashion had made light of the personality quirk—saying that it was an important skill to anticipate and prepare for a worst case scenario. While that was true, it also meant that Michael worried, and with that came extra stress. He was envious of people like Ian who could live in the moment when everything was calm but immediately focus when necessary. Always being on guard was draining.
Michael’s predisposition to anticipate a terrible outcome did him no favors the moment the portal to the spatial awareness chamber reopened. Wil emerged, followed by Saera.
He bit his lip. It was only a matter of time before she began training with us.
The others knew nothing of his past relationship with her, and it was best it stayed that way. However, it would be difficult to m
ask when the primary purpose of the training exercises was to achieve openness between each other’s minds to facilitate faster telepathic communication. Wil had helped each of them learn how to compartmentalize private information that might cloud communications, and Michael’s relationship with Saera was one of those items. But, it was always more difficult to bury shared experiences. Hopefully she was more adept at maintaining mental guards.
“Saera will be joining us for a few sessions each week,” Wil announced. “She’s been training with me as a Second on the side, but it’s time we bring it full circle.”
“So much for the boys club,” Curtis quipped.
Ethan chuckled. “I guess we’ll have to be on our best behavior.”
Michael glared at them. “Show some respect,” he chastised telepathically. Captains should set a better example.
“I’m in Primus,” Saera replied to the side conversation. “I’ve been training alongside men far raunchier than you since the beginning.”
“And no,” Wil cut in, “that wasn’t meant as a challenge.”
Ethan feigned disappointment, slumping his shoulders.
“Now,” Wil continued, “we’re going to try some new things. With the independent jump drive now in commission, I need to focus on simultaneous observation.”
“Where do we come in?” Curtis asked.
“That’s for us to figure out,” replied Wil. “The entire point is for me to observe the events on both planes and relay orders. And that needs to be done faster and more efficiently than electronic systems allow. In fact, that’s the whole point. We need a telepathic communication network, of sorts.”
“So, a communication hub suspended in subspace?” Michael questioned.
“Not just in subspace—oscillating between the planes,” Wil clarified. “At least, I think that’s how it will work. Really, there’s no guarantee any of this is even possible.”
“I’ve practiced serving as a Second—a grounding point for Wil, like an anchor,” Saera chimed in. “But we haven’t pushed it very far.”
Wil nodded. “And I’ll need to extend myself a lot farther than we’ve attempted.” He paused, glancing at Saera. “Michael, as the lead Captain, I’d like you to be the first to train as an additional Second.”
There it is. “Okay, “ Michael acknowledged.
Wil scanned down the line of his trainees. “I want all of you to know how to serve as a Second eventually, but we’ll add one at a time until we’ve figured out a good system.”
“Tell me what to do,” Michael said.
Wil and Saera pushed off the wall toward the center of the room and slowed themselves in the middle of the Primus Elites.
Michael felt the air congeal around him as he was pulled toward Wil. The other men were rearranged into a ring. He found himself approximately a meter from Wil and Saera with the three of them in a triangular configuration.
“Relax,” Wil instructed.
Letting out a slow breath, Michael opened his mind.
A moment later, he sensed a presence in his consciousness, and then another.
“You already know me. Trust in that past,” one of the voices said. Saera—he could feel the steady confidence of her power, calm and grounded.
“Focus on Saera,” the other voice said. The energy from Wil was far stronger, but seemed distant.
“I thought I was training as your Second?” Michael questioned.
“You’re the most advanced of the group, but I need to hold back around you for now,” Wil replied. “Unshielded exposure would overwhelm you.”
Michael wasn’t in a hurry to test that theory. “Okay.” He closed his eyes and focused on Saera’s presence, as instructed. She drew him in, guiding him without words or vision. Yet, he knew what he was supposed to do. He aligned with her energy, backing her up as she reached out to Wil.
An electrified wave washed over Michael’s consciousness as he felt Wil extending toward the dimensional veil. Subspace was beyond—out of reach to Michael, but within Wil’s grasp.
Michael could feel Saera extending herself as Wil contacted the dimensional veil, tearing his way through. A surge of energy rippled through the tether between them as Wil reached subspace—but he paused, searching. Subspace lay between normal space and the rift, but both were clouded while fully in the subspace plane.
Frustration filled Michael’s mind, emanating from Wil. The tie to Saera began to slip as she stretched further to keep the tether on Wil while he delved deeper into subspace in his quest to observe both the rift and normal space.
“Wait!” Michael pleaded, beginning to drift. His heart raced somewhere in the distance, away from himself. Dark emptiness enveloped him—alone, helpless.
In an instant, he felt the support of the two minds return to him. His panic subsided.
“Now we have a sense of limits,” Wil said. The presence of his mind vanished.
Michael opened his eyes.
Saera’s eyes fluttered open next to him. She smiled. “Not bad for a first attempt.”
“Not bad at all,” Wil said. “I wonder how many we can chain together.”
“I don’t think I’m up for that,” Saera replied. “The tether didn’t feel entirely secure.”
Michael shook his head. “It wasn’t. I slipped.”
“You weren’t completely grounded,” Wil told him. “Admittedly, I skipped over a few steps.”
“Then how am I supposed to know what to do?” There was more bite to Michael’s tone than he intended.
“You followed my lead,” Saera responded. “That was the right thing to do. But you followed too far. We need to elongate the tether—with me following Wil and you keeping a tie here for us to follow back.”
“And we can keep adding to that chain?” Ian cut in.
Wil nodded. “Potentially. Or, with multiple grounding points, the tether to me can be longer and shared. We’ll have to work up to that, but I think that’s ultimately what we need to strive for. I’m having to hold back because it’s too much for one person to take on as a conduit—even for Saera with our bond. But if you can share it among multiple people, maybe I can be free enough to push.”
“So we’re stuck for now,” Saera said, sullen.
“Not completely,” Wil countered. “We still need to strengthen the telepathic bonds within the group. Once those are set, it should be easier and more fluid to change the tethering structures.”
Michael crossed his arms. If I’m the most advanced and this doesn’t feel secure, how is it going to be for the others? “We need to start with something more basic.”
“Like what?” Wil asked.
Michael uncrossed his arms and shrugged. “I don’t know. Like a telepathic game of telephone—just something to make sure we’re communicating clearly.”
Wil looked confused.
“It’s a children’s game on Earth,” Saera clarified. “Lining up and whispering a message in your neighbor’s ear, and they repeat the message as best they can to their neighbor, and so on. Generally, by the time the message gets to the end of the line, the phrase has completely changed.”
“Hmm.” Wil paused in thought. “That’s actually not a bad idea. Let’s try.”
* * *
It was strange to be able to walk in public together. Wil glanced to his right and saw that Saera kept watching the passersby like they were about to call her out for being with an Agent. “We’ll get used to it.”
“Hmm? Oh. Yeah.” She sighed. “I thought it would be easier once we didn’t have to hide anymore.”
“It will be,” he assured her. “It’s just new. We have a lot of ingrained habits to override.”
“Yes, we do.”
At the entrance to the Agents’ wing, Saera hesitated. “You can come over,” Wil said.
She eyed him, skeptical. “Walking down the hall together is strange enough, but going in your front door?”
“You’ve come over lots of times.”
“But always all
stealthy-like.”
Wil chuckled and put his arm around her. “Come on.”
She tensed under his touch.
“So what if people see us? They know we’re together.”
Saera relaxed a little and followed his lead down to the Agents’ wing. “I know. You’re right.”
As they approached Wil’s quarters, Scott was walking in the opposite direction. He perked up with surprise when he saw Wil and Saera behaving so openly as a couple.
Wil ignored him and unlocked the door. He let Saera through the door first. When he glanced back at Scott as he passed, Scott smiled and held up his index finger—a universal sign of approval or job well done.
No doubt what that was referencing. Wil was quite familiar with the antics of Scott’s youth, courtesy of his father.
Wil closed the door to the hall. “Alone at last.”
“Back to the familiar.” Saera put her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. “I don’t know about you, but after all those telepathy exercises I’m looking forward to just being near one other mind for a while.”
“I agree completely.” Wil kissed her back, following her lead toward the couch.
“And after all that work today—I need a distraction.” She laid back on the couch, pulling Wil with her.
He kissed down her neck as her back arched in response to his touch. “Is this a suitable distraction?”
“That’s a good start.”
They spent some time decompressing from the day, forgetting the burdens of the outside world. Those intimate moments were the one escape Wil afforded himself. And Saera always knew just what he needed to temporarily take his mind off his problems.
The distraction never lasted, but it was a reprieve.
Afterward, with some clarity restored, Wil reclined on the couch. It didn’t take long for his mind to wander back to the practice session earlier in the afternoon. He sat in silent reflection for a few minutes before turning to Saera. “How do you think things went with the group?”
She slipped her shirt back over her head. The break was over. “Better than I expected. They’re strong for Initiates.”