Wrapped in Starlight Read online

  The woman had pleasant features, and her greeting was genuine.

  Kiiki inclined her head politely. “I am pleased to meet you as well. It is not every day that a woman gets rescued by a ship she designed when she was twelve.”

  Yfana was surprised. “You designed this? I knew it was one of the Waythorps of Resicor, but no one mentioned that it was you.”

  Kiiki laughed again. “It wasn’t really me. It was the child who had not yet suffered the full force of her talent. I always looked up at the stars and wanted to be with them, but the only way to travel would have been by ship, so I designed the ship. It was lovely and sleek, with engines that hummed a calming musical tone that my mother used to sing to me to keep me calm and balanced. Just being inside it I feel like she is with me.”

  Tlia blinked. “I wondered about the sound. It is very pleasant but quite unusual.”

  Kiiki was lost in giggles. She could only imagine the reactions of the engineering crew that had to find a way to make the ship sing.

  Tabr looked back occasionally, but until they left Resicor space, he was stuck to the helm, taking the humming ship out into the darkness of the void.

  It finally dawned on her that the shuttle would have a name. “What is she called?”

  Tabr turned his head, “We are aboard the Starlight.”

  She laughed brightly. “Of course we are.” Kiiki looked down at her hands, and with a sigh of relief, she allowed the light to be reflected by her skin. It was a subtle glow, but it felt so natural.

  Tlia tried to make small talk. “Your hair, is that natural?”

  Kiiki laughed, “I am a natural blue. It is thought to be a physical aberration, a sign of my talent. I just think it is because my grandmother had blue hair, and no one talks about it. So, what kind of assessments am I facing?”

  Tlia grinned, “You are already accepted. I can see your power and the control you have over it. You will be an excellent candidate for a Citadel operative. Balen is perfectly situated to dispatch you, as well as house you, with the Sector Guard base to help with emergency combat training. Everything you could want.”

  She perked up. “Combat training? There is an application for energy in a self-defence manoeuvre? Nice.”

  Tabr chuckled. “I don’t think she will need much training, Tlia.”

  Yfana grinned. “Good. We need to prove our facility as quickly as possible, and I think you are just the woman to bring the Balen Citadel into the light of the Alliance.”

  Smiling softly as darkness enfolded the ship and they began a jump, Kiiki whispered, “I have always enjoyed the light.”

  They were three jumps out when Tlia said, “You can sit up front in the navigator station if you like.”

  Kiiki shook her head and sipped at the drink she had been given. “No, I would rather not blind our pilot. With all this ambient radiation around me, I can’t help but release a little bit of energy. I think staying back here for now will do until I can get out and up into a place where I can release some power.”

  Yfana grinned, “In just under an hour. We are approaching Balen now. Look, you can see Station 13 from here.”

  Kiiki glanced at the view screen and smiled at the bright, silvery object slowly rotating over the planet with the bright and new surface. “The planet looks so…alive.”

  “Balen just renewed its surface. Now that he has an Avatar, he is looking forward to a new and prosperous existence with his thoughts heard once again. Zenina is a lovely woman, and her mate is the Avatar of the sun around which Balen orbits.”

  “Suns have Avatars?”

  “Like planets, they are few and far between, but some can and do take a compatible being to use as their method of communication.” Yfana seemed eager to share the information.

  “Will I be dealing with the Avatar frequently?”

  “If you are using Saru’s light to power yourself, you will definitely meet Saru-Rolland. He has been most curious about a creature that uses light as an energy source without a mechanism to translate it.”

  Kiiki laughed, “Has he seen a plant recently?”

  “He has, but plants do not generate enough energy to power a city in a matter of seconds.”

  “You are very proud of my talent.” It was amusing to Kiiki. Someone she didn’t even know was proud of her.

  “It is the first time we have someone with your power at our disposal. The Citadel does wonderful work training talents, but we hire our agents out to support our efforts. Having a mobile power source that is self-regenerating is an amazing offering to planets that need it.”

  Kiiki cocked her head. “If the planets are in distress, how can they pay for the services?”

  Yfana smiled, “The Sector Guard picks up the tab, and they, in turn, claim it from the Alliance. You will, in effect, be a contract employee to the Alliance.”

  “As far as I know, Resicor is not a member of the Alliance. Their treatment of the physical talents precludes their inclusion. How can I work for them if I am not one of them?”

  Yfana patted her hand. “There is a contract waiting for you on Balen. Once you sign it, you are legally an employee and student of the Citadel with all of the rights and protections therein. Housing, clothing, education in any field you wish is available to you.”

  Kiiki blinked. “You are serious. I have full access to whatever I want—education, communication…anything?”

  “If the Citadel has access to it, you will have access to it.” Tlia smiled brightly.

  The shift in the ship’s harmonies changed its tune as it moved down into the atmosphere of Balen.

  Kiiki smiled at the memories of her mother as the ship sang to her. “Can I learn how to fly this ship?”

  Tabr’s voice boomed from the front of the shuttle. “Of course you can, it’s yours after all.”

  “What?” She wasn’t sure that she understood what he meant.

  “There is a message waiting for you in your new quarters. It will clarify things for you.” Tlia nodded and gripped the arms of her chair as they began their descent for landing.

  Kiiki sat in the warm glow of knowing that her parents were still looking out for her in their very different ways.

  Chapter Four

  The air of Balen was a surprise. There was no trace of industrial vapours or any type of development, and yet, not only was Kiiki standing next to a huge, squat tower, but also in the distance, there was another complex still under construction, including a wide tarmac for large ships.

  As Kiiki stared at the other facility, she noted two figures—one, a spot of light, and the other had an electric aura that she found simply fascinating. Yfana stood next to her. “Here come the Avatars. You should address them with respect, for they are the world beneath your feet and the sun above you.”

  “That is understood.” Kiiki pulled herself upright and held in the urge to take flight. She was vibrating with tension and power. The sun above her pounded her with energy that she hadn’t felt in years.

  The figures landed in front of their small group. The male, with lavender skin, white hair and red eyes, was standing next to a woman with chalky skin, dark hair and black eyes.

  “Welcome to Balen, Kiiki of Resicor.” The man bowed.

  Kiiki stepped forward and bowed as well, her hands straight at her sides and her back stiff. It was the bow she had used for every formal interaction she had ever had while her parents had government members over for dinner. “Thank you for your hospitality, Avatars. It is a relief to be out where the wind can touch me once again.”

  The woman smiled, “I understand the weight of power. Would you like to take a pass through the skies above Balen and get a feel for your new home base?”

  Kiiki lunged forward and hugged her before letting the overflow of power carry her up and into the sky.

  To be able to climb as high as she wished was so freeing that she hovered in the air above the outpost and flung her arms wide, sending bolts of electric energy through the atmosphere in
all directions.

  She kept the power away from the bases but let it rip through the clouds with impunity. Thunder followed, but by the time she finished flexing her talent, Kiiki was ready to re-join the group on the ground.

  She exhaled happily. “Thank you. I have been holding that in for hours.”

  The female laughed. “I know the feeling. I am Zenina, by the way, Balen’s Avatar. This is my husband, Rolland, new Avatar of Saru.”

  “Very pleased to meet you both.” She grinned.

  Yfana diffidently cleared her throat. “I believe a meal has been prepared for your arrival, Kiiki. Please enter the Citadel so that we can get the contract out of the way. Avatars, you are welcome as always.”

  Zenina smiled, and a bright light came to her eyes. Her voice changed, and in that moment, Kiiki saw the planet take over the woman’s body.

  “I am glad to know it, Intake Officer. It is always good to be welcome in one’s own home.” There was an amused twist to Zenina’s lips, but the chiding was unmistakable. “I need no invitation, nor does Saru-Rolland.”

  Yfana paled dramatically, and Kiiki stepped in between her and the Avatars. “Yfana meant no harm. She was just educating me on showing the Avatars proper respect, and I think her manners got stuck on hospitality.”

  Rolland put his arm around his mate and inclined his head. “I am sure that it was the case. Zenina, please join us for dinner.”

  Balen faded and Zenina shrugged. “I think a stiff cup of tea and some good conversation is just what I need.”

  Kiiki let out a soft sigh of relief and gestured for the Avatars to lead the way. Yfana grabbed her hand and gave it a grateful squeeze as they walked toward the large doors that marked the entrance to the Citadel.

  “How do I go about communicating with Resicor? I want to tell my parents that I am all right.” Kiiki spoke softly to Yfana.

  “There is a coded com unit in the quarters set aside for you. They are on the upper level so that you will have full access to all the light you need.”

  The thought of unlimited light made Kiiki giddy. She entered the Citadel with a glad heart and a spring in her step.

  The walls and floors had no traces of anything aside from the world they stood on. It was truly a new facility, but it had been grown out of stone. Balen had left its energy in the walls, but no living being had marred it with an imprint of its own.

  “Oh my.”

  Zenina-Balen turned with the brightest smile of pride. “We did a very good job with it, did we not? They sent a basic design, but it was up to us to execute, and Zenina had a good deal of fun creating the rooms and the study spaces. No two are the same.”

  “It is beyond good. The design is amazing, and it repels psychic imprint. That is not a bad feat.” She smiled and continued to examine the entry hall, turning in place to take it all in. “Redirected daylight is a lovely touch, as is the ventilation.”

  Saru-Rolland looked at her with a smile, “Are you an architect, Kiiki?”

  She shook her head. “No, I went into the Dome when I was a teenager, but I always wanted to be someone who could design a space this graceful.”

  The Avatars literally glowed with pleasure, and the other three Citadel members looked at each other ruefully. Kiiki was going to get to the bottom of that look eventually, but for the time being, Balen-Zenina wanted to take her on a tour.

  Two hours later, Kiiki was as well acquainted with Citadel Balen as she was with the planet that spawned it. Kiiki’s room was on the upper floor and had a ceiling made of focussing crystal and walls designed to reflect light.

  “Thank you for the tour. It is always good to swiftly become familiar with one’s new home.” Kiiki sipped at the tea that Yfana had prepared.

  Tabr and Tlia were elsewhere in the building.

  When Kiiki returned with the Avatars, Yfana had been a little peculiar. Apparently, the other two were no longer required.

  “It was my pleasure, Kiiki. It is nice to meet with someone who appreciates the effort Balen and I put into the design.” Zenina smiled and winked. “The other members of the Citadel seem a little caught up in the throes of administration.”

  Yfana blushed. “Well, there is paperwork to be done.”

  Rolland sat back, “So, Kiiki. Have you given any thought to your partner? What are you looking for?”

  Kiiki blinked. “Partner? I haven’t heard anything about a partner. Do I need one?”

  Rolland and Zenina looked at Yfana with a frown. He said, “You didn’t tell her?”

  Yfana rubbed the back of her neck. “Tabr won’t do. We thought he would be a solid match, but she is more than we thought. He will not do.”

  Kiiki blinked. “I am more what?”

  Zenina laughed and patted her arm. “Just more. Take it as a compliment.”

  Rolland sat up with a smile. “Harken would do.”

  Yfana frowned. “Are you sure? I mean, he is a Nishan.”

  He nodded. “He will do. His talent is similar to mine, and his nature makes him suitable to guard her while she is on assignment.”

  “But he is a member of the Sector Guard.”

  “So? He lives just across the valley. It is no distance for him or for her. She owns the shuttle, so there is no issue with inappropriately using Sector Guard resources. Speak with Olaris, and see what he thinks. I do not see an issue.” Rolland sat back with a smile.

  Kiiki leaned forward. “What is a Nishan?”

  Zenina answered, “The Nishans are a species who are gaseous in their natural state, but they can and do take on physical forms. There are now two within the Sector Guard—Mist and Harken. Mist is mated to Reset, but Harken is single. I think he is male, well most of the time anyway.” She shrugged.

  “Oh. Good. It sounds confusing.” Kiiki frowned.

  Zenina smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Harken will find a body that you don’t find objectionable.”

  “That just sounds weird.”

  “It is, but that is the Nishan way, from what we can determine. They choose a body to match their task.”

  Kiiki sipped at the tea and ate a small sandwich. Her body had begun fine tremors of fatigue, but she didn’t want to be rude. She had been awake for thirty-two standard hours, and her body was tired, but insulting the Avatars was out of the question.

  This was no worse than the teas she had sat through when her parents had their co-workers and local politicians over for luncheons. Who could ever have guessed that her early life of being bored stiff would have given her patience to deal with very dangerous creatures?

  Rolland cleared his throat. “Well, Kiiki, as you are going to pass out on us any minute now, we will be on our way back to the base. Feel free to come there and request us anytime. You are company worth keeping.”

  Zenina stood, pulled Kiiki to her feet and hugged her. “You will have to come by the base for a medical exam, so feel free to call for me then. I want to discuss some designs for a research-and-repair hangar. It will be good to have someone to bounce ideas with.”

  Kiiki returned the hug, noting the power in the woman but unable to absorb her particular brand of radiation. It was different with Rolland, but she was not about to start hugging this woman’s mate right in front of her. Kiiki wanted to live.

  Rolland took her hand in a light grip as he left, and her skin glowed immediately. Solar power transformed to electric energy in less time than the speed of thought. He laughed and inclined his head. “You had best get that under control.”

  “Now that I am free to experience the full range of my talent, I will get right on that.” She inclined her head in return.

  The Avatars left her, and she turned to Yfana. “Is it all right if I go to my room now?”

  Yfana must have seen her exhaustion. “Of course. We will talk in the morning. I will get the request for personnel in to the Guard. We will know if Harken is willing to partner with you on assignments when you wake.”

  “Zenina mentioned a physical?”


  “We will discuss it in the morning. Go to bed, your eyes look hollow.” Yfana waved her off.

  Kiiki was so tired that she used the power to carry her through the Citadel base. It was so much easier than running up nine flights of stairs. She passed the classrooms, the library, the fitness centre and every chamber that Balen-Zenina had sculpted from stone.

  Kiiki’s own room occupied the upper floor and the size was amazing in comparison to that of the other rooms. The light was amazing as well. Even with an overcast sky, there was still a glow from the stars above.

  Her lav was lovely, and Zenina had helped her set the temperature for the water. With her hands quivering with eagerness, she peeled off the restrictor suit and left it in a heap on the marble floor.

  The water relaxed her. She let her hair loose and scrubbed it with her fingers. Three rounds of washing it and it finally felt clean. Ten years of the restrictor suit and no need for soap in the ration kits sent in made Kiiki’s situation unpleasant. She could use her energy to repel dirt, but her skin still generated oils on her scalp and face. Finding means and methods to take a bath when there were few places in the Dome to have privacy meant that she did what she could when she could.

  The Citadel had given her the option to keep her body the way she wanted it and that, in itself, was a gift that she owed them for. She would partner with the person they assigned her to and do what she could to help those who had requested her talent.

  When she got back to Balen, her time and the energy of the sun and stars would be hers to enjoy.

  Chapter Five

  Harken took shape and stood facing Olaris. He was new to Balen Base but meeting with the Base Commander was to be expected on occasion. “Yes, Commander?”

  “Would you have an objection to riding as escort and bodyguard for a Citadel member?” Olaris still had the aura of a stellar avatar even though the power no longer rippled through him every moment of every day. Saru had left his mark on Olaris, that much was certain. Harken cocked his head. “No, of course not. How long is the assignment?”