Crisis Management Read online

  Ilsa was waiting with a scowling man, his hair in a myriad of braids, some tipped with metal cuffs, others beads.

  “Devani, good morning. This is my mate, Kennan. He is assisting me today.”

  Dev nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Kennan.”

  “It is good to meet you, Devani.” His words were muttered as if he had rehearsed them.

  She grinned. “Ilsa, where do you want me?”

  Ilsa pointed. “That twenty-by-twenty outline is the combat area. My machine generates a sparring partner out of holograms and heavy particles. You should be able to hit it and not cause any damage, but from the data that Helsin sent, your initial practice needs to be on ceasing your attack arc before you completely shatter something. This should be perfect, and once you have mastered that control, I have a bot you can spar with.”

  Kennan snorted, and Dev arched a brow.

  Ilsa explained, “Kennan doesn’t believe that your strength is as intense as Helsin reported.”

  Dev stretched and twisted a little. “Let’s find out.” Taking a deep breath, she walked onto the combat area and waited.

  Ilsa was standing at one side and smiling proudly, her creation was doing what it was meant to do.

  In front of Dev, a column rose and shaped into a faceless shape of an extremely large bipedal form.

  It approached Dev and clumsily took a swing at her. She ducked and delivered a shattering blow to its ribs. The mass dissolved, moved back and reformed.

  Ilsa spoke, “It will get faster as it learns your patterns.”

  Dev nodded and waited, hunched forward.

  Kennan muttered, “Oh, for the sake of the ship.”

  The opponent moved faster, striking her and sending her back a few steps, but Dev reached out and punched clumsily with as much power as she could manage, and it dissipated again.

  Kennan barked, “Come here.”

  Dev stood straight and walked up to him. He moved around her, changing her stance with kicks to her feet and hands on her shoulders. “You want to meet your opponent head on. You don’t need to worry about impact, so go forward and keep going forward. Your body doesn’t suffer damage, so don’t hunch over. You don’t need to hide. Wade in like the warrior you are.”

  He worked with her, perfecting her technique until he grudgingly admitted that she didn’t move like a drunken beast.

  Ilsa smiled and puttered with her machine.

  When Dev returned to the combat area, she stood tall and waited. The opponent came at her and delivered blows that rocked her slightly, but her new stance took the hits and left her upright. When it had delivered enough blows to make her comfortable with feeling the impact, she arched both fists up and into the abdomen, kissing the edge of the opponent with as much force as she could muster. He went up and dissipated on the way down.

  Ilsa shrieked and clapped, Kennan gave a reluctant grin. Dev waited for the opponent to come again. Training was underway.

  Chapter Five

  “Nine days of intensive combat, three days of weapons training and two of needlepoint…”

  Helsin looked up from his checklist with a frown. “Who taught you that?”

  “Nich. He’s really quite good.” Dev chuckled. “I had to find something to do when everyone was deployed on assignment and since Nich-Udell is rather attached to this location, he was happy to babysit.”

  Helsin looked tired. He had been dispatched with the others, and they had all returned looking like hammered hell. “Well, I would have to say that you are ready to be tested in a battle situation. How do you feel?”

  Dev was sitting and kicking her legs idly as they dangled over the edge of the medical bed. “Good. Ready to do something somewhere else.”

  “I think there is something coming up. Guardian will brief you, but you should be perfect for this assignment. Now, that said, do you mind being coloured purple?”

  She was lost to giggles for a full minute before she realized he was serious. “Um, no. I am fine with purple.”

  He laughed. “You are perfect for this if we change the skin tone. It can be done with sub-dermal implants. They will run their course in a few days, but until then, you will be a charming shade of lavender.”

  “So, this will depend on Guardian?”

  “Yes, he has gotten a request for a nanny for a Yagoth high prefect’s daughter while a treaty is in the works.”

  “A nanny?”

  “It isn’t a normal job. With the treaty in process, she needs to be protected from both her people and the Plenai. Come on.”

  She hopped off the table and got into step with him as they walked to Guardian’s office. He placed his hand at the small of her back, and she welcomed the warmth. He was the only one who touched her, and it shut up the tiny voice in her that was always saying she would be alone.

  Helsin would not have been an option back on Bahi, but the rules of life were different in the Guard, that much was certain. The Guard paired up, and even though Devani was meant for the Citadel right now, she was living by the Guard’s rules, so she was going to use them to her advantage.

  She took a seat in Guardian’s office and smiled at the base commander.

  He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “You seem to be adapting well.”

  “I try.”

  “Have you contacted Counsel?”

  “Yes, I have had two sessions with her. She says I am doing well, though my interpersonal life still sucks.”

  Guardian checked his notes. “Yes, those do seem to be her exact words in her description of your emotional state.”

  Dev chuckled. “We were very frank. It saved time.”

  The first time the psychic counselling session had occurred, Dev had been eating and her food was cold by the time they finished. The second time, Dev was in the hallway and had to spend her session with people passing by.

  “Counsel pronounces you stable and mentally ready for action. Speaking of which, I have an assignment.”

  “I am listening.”

  “What do you think about the colour lavender?”

  She smiled. “I think it will go well with my outfit.”

  Guardian blinked at the enthusiasm. “Well then. There is a sensitive situation on Yagoth. The high prefect is under threat from both sides as he prepares to sign a treaty. His daughter is in danger, and he has requested our help.”

  “So, I am to guard her?”

  “That is your ultimate goal, but you are to act as her nanny and tutor since both of those have already been killed by assassins.”

  Dev blinked. “Is there information on her studies that I can access?”

  Guardian smirked. His black eyes sparkled in amusement. “Yes, we have documents for you. You will be able to study on your way. So, you are up for this?”

  Devani shrugged. “How long will I be there?”

  “The vote will be finalized within ten days. If you can get her through it, her father is set to retire and he will leave Yagoth with her.”

  “So, his signature will be binding?”

  “It will. As high prefect, everything he officiates is bound for ten decades. The Yagoth instituted this system to slow down the assassination of their high prefects. It works, but Yagoth is going to arm themselves against their enemies whether the population wants them to or not.”

  Dev frowned. “What?”

  “The Yagoth are pacifists, but those who manipulate their system are satisfied with their constant influx of conquerors. The assassins that have been sighted are all off-worlders and Plenai. The Plenai have been raiding the Yagoth for centuries, and finally, the high prefect is putting a stop to it. They are hiring an army to not only guard them but to train young Yagoth who wish to defend their home. It is a world of farms and farmers, but they can’t continue to lose the fruits of their labours.”

  Dev took the data pad that he handed her and started to scroll through the file. “When do I leave?”

  “There is a shuttle standing by right now. Helsin will put the
colour change implants under your skin and you will be off to your first assignment.” Guardian inclined his head. “I will see you when you get back.”

  Dev looked up at Helsin. “That’s it?”

  He smiled wearily. “That’s it. Come along. You have a pilot waiting for you.”

  Devani looked around as they returned to medical. “I was sure I was ready for this, but now, I am wavering.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. You won’t be alone for long. I have two days of paperwork and medical checks from this last assignment, but I will come to Yagoth after that to check on you.”

  She blinked and watched him prepare a hypo. “You will?”

  He looked at her, “Of course. The Sector Guard does not throw you in and cut you loose. You are a valued member of our base. I intend to keep you safe.”

  He slowly pressed the hypo against her arm. The Masuo moved out of the way, exposing her skin. “I had to turn the speed of the hypo down to compensate, so this might be something that registers on your senses.”

  Helsin pulled the trigger, and the hiss was low and slow. Dev winced as the object pushed itself under the skin of her arm. It did not hurt, but it was uncomfortable.

  He repeated the procedure on each of her legs and her other arm. “Just a moment and I will activate the implants.”

  Devani sat up and flexed her arms. The peculiar feelings of the implants were fading.

  “Did you want to watch your transformation? The implants will make you look like a small Yagoth.”

  She nodded, so he followed her to the mirrored panel, and as she stared at herself, he keyed something in on his pad. “You should see the change…now.”

  He was right—lavender was creeping up her neckline and spreading across her face and hands.

  “Is my hair colour all right?”

  “It is fine. The Yagoth have hair in shades of yellow and brown. The implants are on automatic and after ten days you will return to normal when your body breaks them down.”

  She nodded. “Good. I think I am going to jump when I see my reflection for a few days.”

  Helsin nodded and stepped toward her. “Devani, I know you are basically impervious to damage, but be careful.”

  Dev turned and looked up into his face, and she went up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips. Her eyes widened in surprise when he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.

  Her senses were overwhelmed, and she pressed against him until he pulled away.

  Helsin’s teeth had sharpened, his ears were more pointed and a dark frenzy was in his eyes. “We will discuss this again when I join you on Yagoth.”

  She pressed her fingers to her lips and nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Dev gathered her data pad and walked down the hall to the shuttle umbilicus. Her lips were tingling and her body hummed happily. She had felt a connection to Helsin when she met him and had met several dozen males in the meantime, but he had formed the criteria by which she measured all of the men she met.

  As she settled in the shuttle and lifted the data pad, she idly caressed her lips with her thumb.

  “Agent Jarix, are you ready?”

  Jarred out of her memory, she smiled weakly at her pilot. It was one of the Azon troop members. “Yes, thank you. I am ready.”

  He nodded, filed for clearance and under his expert piloting, they lifted off and moved toward the first jump point.

  Dev looked through the data she had been given and smiled at the image of her charge. Leothanak Rasco was the young woman she would tutor, and as the vote grew closer, she would watch her every moment.

  As a first assignment, it might even be pleasant if no one died.

  Chapter Six

  There was a representative of the High Prefect Rasco’s household waiting for her at the shuttle port. He was nine feet tall and looked highly disgusted with his assignment.

  “Agent Jarix?”

  “Yes.”

  He looked her up and down, disapproval in his eyes. “Your clothing is inappropriate.”

  “Ah hell. Sorry.” She concentrated and the Masuo reshaped into a drab grey bodysuit with a long belted tabard that hung to her ankles. “Is that better?”

  He blinked. “Yes. Much more appropriate. I am Yalio Regas, manager of High Prefect Rasco’s household. Please come with me.”

  They stepped onto a conveyance that her research identified as a skimmer. With her hands on the rail, she watched the world of giants fly past.

  They moved through the city, and Yalio parked them in the enclosed park near the house of the high prefect.

  Dev watched the guards that had weapons trained on her lower their arms. The guards were all from off Yagoth. None of them were lavender and none over seven feet tall.

  They all seemed calm and competent as they resumed their normal guard duties.

  Dev followed Yalio into the home of the high prefect and submitted to a weapon’s scan.

  When she came up clear, the guard running the scanner asked, “How do you intend to protect our girl if you don’t have a weapon?”

  Dev cleared her throat. “I will manage.”

  The man scowled. “You had better. She has nine public appearances this week.”

  A noise at the top of the stairs drew Dev’s attention, and she inclined her head politely as the high prefect came toward her with his daughter trailing in his wake.

  “You are what Sector Guard Udell has sent to us?” The prefect was not impressed. He glared down at her from his height of nine feet and tried to intimidate her with his presence.

  “I am the best option available. If I am with your daughter, nothing will pass through me to injure her.”

  “You are so small.” The girl peeked out from behind her parent and also looked down at Devani.

  “I am the proper size for my species, but I believe that the idea that Guardian had was to have you guarded by someone who would not stand out.”

  Leothanak frowned. “I suppose you wouldn’t stand out.”

  High Prefect Rasco asked, “May we test your effectiveness?”

  Before Devani could answer, one of the nearby alien guards pulled his weapon and fired it. Dev moved to step between Leothanak and the blast with reflexes honed by Kennan and Ilsa.

  Two sharp impacts landed mid-chest and the guard backed up rapidly when she moved toward him to disarm him.

  “Enough! You are on the job. Daughter, show the woman where she will be sleeping.”

  Leothanak frowned but gestured for Devani to follow her. As they climbed the stairs, the young woman said, “This is the high prefect’s mansion. The position my father holds is an elected post, and when he resigns, we will leave and go elsewhere.”

  Dev spoke, “Will you miss it?”

  Leothanak looked at her. “Of course I will. Don’t be stupid.”

  Devani smiled. Leothanak was a typical teenager even if she was close to seven feet tall.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “You verbally tried to put me in my place. It was cute. Feel free to try again.” Devani chuckled.

  They reached the room that was to be Devani’s and her charge opened the door. “This is where you will sleep. My room is down the hall.”

  Dev shook her head. “I am afraid that will not do. I will sleep on a cot in your room. You may be comforted in knowing that it will only be for a week or so.”

  Leothanak scowled. “What? I am not sharing my room with you.”

  “I am not offering you a choice. Either allow me in or submit to a monitoring device to be planted in your room and the receiver will be with me.”

  The girl glared down at her. “I am not going to submit to interference in my privacy.”

  “You will until this is over. When it is done, I will be on my way and you will finish growing up. How old are you anyway?”

  Dev knew the answer, but she was trying to get the girl to participate in the conversation.

  “I am almost an adult.”

&
nbsp; Dev shook her head. “Not for another decade. Nice try though.”

  Leothanak stomped down the hall and slipped into her room locking the door quickly.

  Dev made a fist and punched through the door, unlocking it by removing the lock and handle with one strike. The moment that Dev opened the door, she noted that the young girl trying to crawl out the window.

  Sighing, she walked to her charge, grabbed the back of her dress and tugged her back inside. “Now, we are going to go over what is and is not acceptable. Crawling out of windows is not acceptable. Locking me out is not acceptable, nor will it work.”

  The girl looked over at the door with the fist-sized hole in it. “You…you…”

  “I am a little stronger than I look. Now, what is your current field of study?”

  “The history of the Alliance.” Leothanak looked at the window, then Dev and finally to her console.

  “Perhaps you should work on your assignments seeing as how you will soon be in the very place you are studying.” Dev watched as the girl walked to the console and sat down, bringing up her assignments.

  Yagoth matured slowly, she wouldn’t reach full height or maturity for a decade, but age-wise, she was more than ready for most species. “Were you meeting a boy?”

  “No. I was going to meet friends in the local shopping centre.”

  “Do you still want to go?”

  Leothanak blinked, “You would let me go?”

  “I would come with you. Now, do one hour of study, and if you make progress, I will accompany you to the shopping centre.”

  Leo frowned. “I don’t need to go. It was just a test for you.”

  “I am not here to stop you from living your life. I am here to stand between you and danger, Leo.” Dev spoke softly, and it made more of an impression than if she had shouted.

  “Only my friends call me Leo.”

  “I will not call you Miss, I need to use something you will answer to. You seem like a Leo. You can call me Dev if you like, or Agent Jarix if you don’t.”

  “Dev? What is it short for?”

  “Devani.” She smiled as Leo visibly relaxed.

  “That is a nice name. Did your mother name you or your father?”