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  She bit her lip and smiled, “By the way, what call sign would you like, Collective or Assembly? I am going with Summoner, personally.”

  Renn smiled. “Fitting. I will go with Assembly.”

  She grinned. “Good, now, we just need to get Rhassoul in on this and we will have our third. That creates a Guardian world and that means that anyone requesting mining rights has to go through the local government first.”

  She could see the astonished respect in Renn’s eyes.

  “You are drowning them in technicalities. What is a Rhassoul?”

  “A Guardian who cannot manage tech worlds. His work name is Pulse, and he is currently in an induced coma. I promised him that if I ever heard of a world where he could do his thing on a daily basis, I would have him shipped there.”

  Renn cocked his head. “How could you have had that power?”

  “I am a bureaucrat, Renn. I know what paperwork to fill out. It is the skill that got me into the Volunteer program back on Terra, and it had me transferred out of the Alliance to the Nyal Imperium when my skills were requested here.” The com unit lit up and Ambassador Cannaught’s features filled the screen.

  The ambassador was the coordinator for the Guardian registry, and if this was going to work, she was going to have to listen and agree to Cera’s plan.

  “Dispatcher Morrissy. To what do I owe the pleasure of your features?”

  “You received the list from Bloom?”

  “I did. But I don’t know why you think I should care?”

  Cera talked fast. She explained the unique nature of Haloth and the minds that it held. It was a natural repository of lost histories, planets and cultures. A unique world in all the imperium.

  “You don’t have the necessary Guardians to make this happen.”

  “There are two who would guard this world with their lives and close to a hundred more with a unique talent for transportation.”

  “Name the Guardians.”

  “They are new to the program and have not been registered. Summoner and Assembly.”

  Ambassador Cannaught tented her fingers and her crimson and ebony skin flexed in a terrifying smile. “What are their skills?”

  “Summoner can bring the minds of Haloth together into one single coalesced being. Assembly is a being made of a core of intelligence bolstered by the minds of Haloth. Both these Guardians are Haloth specific and would be of no use on any other world.”

  “I see. Let us think it over for a moment.” The ambassador closed her eyes, and her lids flicked rapidly as she engaged in silent conversation with her parasite.

  Her eyes opened again, and they glowed with a fierce electric blue. “Done. Who will your third be?”

  “Rhassoul. If you will have him freed, I will have him brought here immediately.”

  The ambassador jerked in surprise. “Really? That low tech, huh? All right. I will authorize his release, and you will have three hours to collect him.”

  Orvi bowed. “More time than we need.”

  Cera inclined her head. “Thank you for your help, Ambassador. When will you—”

  “I will file the stop orders immediately and get the protection status filed as well as some psychics who are willing to rough it. Haloth will have tentative protection within the next six hours and, hopefully, will be a protected world within the week.”

  Cera exhaled. “Excellent. As long as we have authorization to destroy the equipment of trespassers, I am good. I do have a plan B, by the way.”

  The ambassador inclined her head. “I would expect nothing less. Now, go and get some rest, you look exhausted.”

  Cera made a face at her friend and disconnected the call. She leaned back and exhaled, “Whew.”

  Renn shook his head. “You are a quick talker.”

  “I have to be. But, why are there so many voices in my head?”

  Renn was going to speak, but Orvi asked her. “Where do you need us to be, lady?”

  Cera shook her head. “It is…can I just give you the image?”

  Orvi came forward, and she reached up to touch his hidden face under the hood. She gave him the image of the tank, the orbital station and the unconscious Rhassoul.

  “I have it, lady. What shall we tell him?”

  She took her hand back and smiled, “Tell him that Cera said to get off his ass. She has work for him and a place for him to do it. You might have to wait until they decant him though.”

  Orvi nodded and gestured for four of the brotherhood to come with him. They stood in a circle, shoulder to shoulder and disappeared.

  Cera sat back down at the dining room table and rested her head in her hands. Machinations were always rough on her mind, but with the whispers in her thoughts, it was very difficult.

  “Why aren’t you looking at me?” Renn sat next to her, and he put his hand on her arm.

  “Because you are beautiful, gorgeous. I can’t stop looking once I start, and I feel guilty that I inflicted that shape on you to suit my own preferences.”

  “Why? This is the shape I chose to be with you so that it would please you to see me.” His hand stroked her arm slowly, enticing her to look toward him.

  “It does please me. Too much.” She rubbed her forehead again. “Why won’t the voices stop?”

  “Let them in. Open your mind and let them in. You are here because the frequency of your mind matches Haloth. All the bits and pieces of other worlds are trying to speak to you, to learn you. Let them come.”

  She looked into the gold eyes that were so concerned for her. “I am going to try. Stay close in case I need you.”

  The brotherhood filed out quietly. They did everything quietly.

  Cera sat back in her chair and breathed in and out slowly. The minds pushed in on her, and she reflexively pushed back.

  Renn sighed and took her in his arms, pulling her into his lap. “Let them go through me.”

  She was blushing, but with the focus shifted from her very raw brain, she was able to let the thoughts move through her in a narrow beam, like turning down the noise on a stereo.

  The truth of the situation came to her so suddenly that she sat up and left Renn’s lap. She walked to the nearest open balcony and looked up and saw what she had looked past before. Huge rings of shattered worlds circled Haloth. Haloth had rings of minds that had managed to move in harmony to give themselves more time in this universe.

  There was a reason that she was surrounded by psychic noise. They resonated on the same frequency that made Cera the ideal summoner for Lord Renn.

  She looked up at the stars and smiled at the ring made of shattered worlds and expired star stuff. They were singing to her, and because she hadn’t accepted the rhythm, it had caused her pain.

  Renn stood behind her, his body bracketing her against the railing and supporting her against the minds around her. “Now that you can feel them, call them.”

  She called them and psychic light streamed toward her, gathering on her skin. It was joy, bubbling laughter and welcome that ran over her and pooled on her surface. Cera extended her hand, and the energy formed a ball on her palm.

  She added her own joy to the ball and lifted her hand sharply, sending the energy cascading skyward. It soared up and up before exploding in a bright burst and a million motes of light.

  Dizziness swamped her and buckled her knees.

  Renn caught her. “That is enough for tonight.”

  She shook her head. “I have to be here when Rhassoul arrives.”

  “You won’t have to wait long. They are returning now. Can you feel them?” He held her tight against his chest and whispered in her ear.

  She blinked as she felt a shift in the song of power around her. “I think I can. How do the brotherhood come here, and if they are on your frequency, why couldn’t they call you?”

  He chuckled, and she could feel it in his chest as well as in the link they shared. “They may be able to listen, but they cannot send out a signal. They are part of the noise, not the o
rigin point. They can receive and use the energy fibres of Haloth but not create it.”

  “Fibres? Good term.”

  He carried her back into the dining room and sat in the large chair that was reserved for the summoned Lord of Haloth. “You don’t see them as fibres?”

  She yawned and rested her cheek against his chest. “I hear songs. Thousands of songs merging into one orchestration that has now lodged firmly in my mind.”

  “Well, isn’t this cozy?” A raspy voice that was very familiar brought Cera out of her comfortable doze.

  She sat up with a smile. “Rhassoul!”

  She tried to jump out of Renn’s arms, but he held her tight. She squirmed in his arms, but it seemed that he had no interest in letting her run to her naked, well-formed and very wet friend.

  “Did the strangely attractive fellows speak truthfully, Cera? Am I free to be Pulse here on Haloth?”

  Cera grinned. “We have incoming unfriendlies. You are more than welcome. We are asking you politely. You have a home, freedom and if you can make a new friend within the brotherhood, you are welcome to it.”

  Rhassoul had long green hair, gold skin, solid black eyes and a fascination with the male form that rivalled Cera’s. He immediately began to look around at the hooded men surrounding him. “You are serious?”

  “No hang-ups, but abide by the personal preferences of your choice. If they don’t want you, move on.”

  “Am I in heaven?”

  Cera laughed and shifted on Renn’s lap. “No, we are about to be under fire. You need to have a shower, get dressed, get some sleep and prepare for battle. Are you up for it?”

  “If you will introduce me to your chair, I will be only too happy to get to work.” Rhassoul winked.

  Cera looked up at Renn and smiled, “Lord Renn, this is my friend Rhassoul, also known as Pulse. He can deactivate any piece of tech within a five-mile radius of his person. That is going to be very handy when it comes to deactivating mining machines. Rhassoul, this is Lord Renn, coalesced mind of all the beings of Haloth.”

  Rhassoul bowed gracefully, not a mean feat considering his current state of undress. “Thank you for my new home, Lord Renn. If you tire of Cera, I would be willing to thank you in person.”

  Renn’s arms immediately tightened when Cera tried to lunge to her feet to smack Rhassoul. Her friend chuckled with delight. “Cera, I never thought to see the day you would fall for a man prettier than me.”

  She crossed her arms and nestled back against Renn, “Fine. Play your games. I am too tired for this. I need a little more sleep before I am up for fencing with you.”

  Rhassoul’s face softened. “Get some sleep, Cera. I have had enough for a lifetime. I will be ready when you need me.”

  Lord Renn got to his feet and carried her out of the room. He inclined his head to her friend as he passed. “It is good to meet you, Rhassoul. Orvi, arrange for quarters for our new Guardian.”

  Cera dozed as Renn walked up the steps to her room. She woke as he settled her between cool sheets and stroked her hair with his hand. She looked into his eyes and was about to speak when he pressed his lips to hers. The orchestra in her mind swelled and soared, but her body gave out and sleep claimed her.

  Chapter Five

  A hand shook her awake. “Cera, they are landing.”

  Cera took the water she was handed and gulped it down before staggering to the lav. Waking up in the middle of a REM cycle was never a good idea.

  Once she had splashed water on her face and tidied her hair, she was ready for work.

  Lord Renn was waiting for her, and he offered her his hand. “We have created a lined room for you to use as your office. Rhassoul told us what we needed to do to make sure that any tech we have would remain safe.”

  “He’s good that way.” She smiled and blinked at the four members of the brotherhood who surrounded them as they left her room. Apparently, an honour guard was called for.

  The room was two doors down. She slipped inside, and her jaw dropped as all the equipment she had requested from Bloom sat and hummed happily, wired to power crystals that glowed softly.

  She checked the scanners that were giving readouts as to the current whereabouts of the incoming mining vehicles. “I am going to start giving orders very quickly. I will need you to take Pulse to the landing sites and then transport the personnel to a safe zone where we can keep them restrained. I will try to arrange a deportation dock with Weshkinin or Yacaro.”

  Renn leaned against the wall and grinned. “You are really very good at this. They didn’t need to bring me out at all.”

  She snorted and sent a broadcast to all the orbiting vessels. “This is Guardian Base Haloth. You are in violation of the Guardian treatise, and all landing vessels will be subject to seizure and defence measures. All efforts will be engaged in to maintain the life of your personnel, but no mining operations will be allowed within this system. Withdraw or have your materials and personnel forfeit.”

  She shut down the mic and looked over to Renn. “We won’t have to wait long.”

  He nodded. “Good. I will enjoy having something to do. Why haven’t they replied?”

  “They are checking the registries. It is one thing for me to claim that we are a Guardian base, another thing for them to have it registered with the imperial household.”

  Renn smiled, and Cera’s heart skipped a beat.

  “You have protected all of us, Summoner.”

  She blushed. “I did what I could. We have no idea what it will do, but we are now able to act on the interlopers with impunity. They have no basis for drilling or collecting any parts of the system.”

  “You have done well. Have I mentioned that you are lovely in those clothes?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Thank you, but lovely is a stretch. I am passable in the right light.”

  “I would also enjoy seeing your beauty out of those clothes, but that will have to wait until after our uninvited guests are seen on their way.” He stroked her cheek.

  She watched the screens, and four large vessels began their descent to the surface. “It looks like they are trying to pretend they didn’t hear anything. Very well. You go to the first one, and I will work on getting a drop site for their personnel.”

  He scowled. “How do we find the landing sites?”

  Cera snorted. “Feel the disturbance in the energy of Haloth, and barring that, send me one of the brotherhood so I can put the locations in their head.”

  Renn crouched next to her chair. “You can see them?”

  Cera closed her eyes and nodded. “Bright trails in the atmosphere, small outrider ships around them. The first will touch down in thirty minutes.”

  She touched his cheek, but she couldn’t put the image in his head the way she had with the brother the day before. “I can’t push something into your mind.”

  He sighed. “We haven’t bonded as we should yet.”

  A blush worked its way across all her exposed skin. “You mean sex.”

  Renn grinned, “Sex would be nice, but even sleeping in the same bed would help our bond.” He trailed his fingers down her neck, past her collarbone, between her breasts and he flattened his palm against her ribcage. He kissed her, using his tongue to part her lips and slide inside.

  She shivered and moved closer to him, caressing his jaw and sliding her hands into the wealth of his hair. Cera wanted nothing more than to crawl over him and work on the nice part of their bonding, but she felt another ship enter the atmosphere, and it was time for her to send the boys off to work.

  She pulled back with a soft sigh and shivered as she tried to pull her senses back together. That one kiss shattered her self-control, and whatever had been done to her, when her self-control went, so did her ability to concentrate on the world around her.

  “Go, send in one of the brothers. I will give him what I see. Shoo. I can’t concentrate with you around.”

  Renn grinned and got to his feet. “Just what a man needs to hear
.”

  He had a definite swagger to his gait as he left, and a moment later, one of the brothers came in and knelt at her side.

  She placed her hand inside his hood and showed him the first landing site then the rest.

  “Thank you, Lady. I will share the sites. Might I compliment you on your clarity?”

  Cera grinned. “Thank you. I am working hard to keep my focus. Take care of Lord Renn. He might have lived thousands of lifetimes, but he is new to this time, this world.”

  He rose to his feet. “I thought you would tell me to take care of your friend.”

  “Rhassoul can take care of himself. He just needs the free rein to do it. This is a first for him, and he will tread carefully.” Cera smiled as she got a wave of interest from the brother. “If you are interested in him socially, let him know. He merely wants a mate who wants him in return.”

  The brother’s mind heated.

  Cera laughed. “It can be dealt with at another time. Go. Take them to the first site, and as I have linked to you, I will send you a message when I have an alternate holding area for them.”

  He bowed and left her alone in the control centre.

  Cera straightened and focussed on her monitors. Calming her mind, she watched, calculated and worked at the best place to put the invaders.

  Both of her obvious choices were not suitable, nor was the orbital station. Alathos was the best bet.

  She took a deep breath and made the call.

  Lash gave her a surprised look. “The dispatcher of Weshkinin, what a surprise.”

  “No longer dispatcher. Now, I am Summoner of Haloth, and I have a problem.”

  Lash raised one scaly brow and grinned, showing pointed teeth that could rip a grown being limb from limb. “Do tell. How can I help?”

  “We have a large quantity of invaders, and I need a place to put them. Alathos sprang to mind as a safe storage area until they could arrange rides home.”