Eyes in the Sky Read online

  “It was a job that turned into a great adventure.” He smiled and wrapped one arm around her.

  “What happened after the adventure was over?” She gave him a sidelong glance.

  “I will let you know. It hasn’t stopped yet.”

  To her relief, he kissed her and saved her the embarrassment of having to make the first move. She slid her hand to his shoulder and his skin changed under her fingers. He went from slightly abrasive to skin that was hot and smooth, hard and yielding at the same time.

  She felt his lips curve in a smile.

  “Yes, we care compatible.”

  She felt her skin heat to scarlet, and she leaned back as far as his arms would allow. “Now? You tell me that now?”

  He grinned, bundled her against him and launched them back to the settlement. “Back to work now; how did they manage to call the Sector Guard for assistance in this matter?”

  “The Geelaw, once assembled, form a living computer. They simply gathered and called for help.” His lips moved against her ear, and he nipped her lightly.

  She jumped a little in his grasp and held on tightly. It was a long way back to the settlement, and she knew she was going to regret asking him that one question for a very long time. Vision was about to be courted by inches.

  The map that they had been perusing earlier was once again laid out. Vision pointed out the pros and cons of the two areas, including the worn paths of beasts that she had noted from above.

  The speakers for the settlement asked them to dinner, but Stone declined. “Vision’s species has delicate digestion. The mineral content is too high for her. We thank you very much for the offer, but we must return to base.”

  Vision smiled. “The same sentiment applies.”

  The speakers smiled and inclined their heads. “Thank you for your assistance in the selection. It will save much time and effort, as well as false starts if we know where we are heading.”

  Vision smiled. “It was my pleasure. Your world is beautiful and you are lucky to have it. It was wonderful to meet you all. Thank you for your offer of hospitality.”

  The entire gathering inclined their heads in response.

  Vision got to her feet and Stone did the same, taking her in his arms and taking off, back to the ship that had been making slow and lazy circles above them.

  He built up speed and aimed at the hatch opening at their approach. Matching speed for speed, his wings worked furiously until they propelled them both into the ship, skidding against the deck plates once again.

  He got up with her in his arms and headed for the command deck. “That went very well for a first partnership event.”

  Vision chuckled and belted in. “Technically, second if you count the first night, snatch and grab.”

  “We were not partners then. You were my assignment and a Citadel recruit.” He turned them toward Teklan, and they set off for home.

  She grinned, and as they twisted in the sky for a moment, she saw Geelaw and the webbing of communication that crossed it, with the large glowing spot for the settlement. She hadn’t bothered looking for that kind of pattern when they had first arrived, but now, she nodded as her vision took in the lines and glows of power on the surface.

  Riasa made a mental note of the frequency of light needed to see the energy and sat back in her seat. It was exactly the type of learning that she had hoped for.

  Chapter Eight

  Upon arriving at Teklan once again, they were treated to the sight of the rubble where the Citadel used to stand. Two huge winged lizards were pulling the buildings down to nothing and then freezing and smashing the remains with shadows in turn.

  “Darn, I would have liked to have seen that.” Natu’s voice was wistful.

  “I am sure someone took a recording of it.” She mentioned in a conciliatory manner.

  “I hope so. It is so rare to see Frost and Midnight in their beast forms, let alone watching them tear an outpost apart.”

  She sighed and realised that even in Natu’s giant, stony form, the eight-year-old boy lurked close beneath the surface.

  A circle of ex-Citadel occupants were standing near the wreckage drinking wine and toasting the death of the building.

  Natu set them down and powered off the engines.

  Riasa released her harness but found herself pinned into her chair with Natu looming over her.

  He kissed her softly and whispered, “Welcome home.”

  “We are still in the ship. We aren’t home yet.” She whispered it in return.

  Natu stroked her cheek and reached to help her up. “Good point. I should show you where you will be staying.”

  She snorted. “Fine, but don’t we have to go and debrief with General Brodin?”

  “You were reading the manual, weren’t you?”

  Riasa smiled. “I needed something to do while you were sleeping.”

  She preceded him out of the ship and skipped across the tarmac. She heard laughter but she didn’t care. Her talent had finally found its purpose. She was delighted.

  Natu followed closely, and when they were in Brodin’s office, he gave the report. He was her senior officer, so paperwork was his responsibility.

  Brodin nodded. “Good. The Geelaw need to increase their numbers. They are constantly on the edge of extinction. The larger settlement will assist them in increasing food supplies and that will help their population.”

  Riasa sat and nodded. “How is the new design coming along?”

  The commander blinked at the change in subject. “He worked on it until it was complete. With the raw materials in place, we have an option that we didn’t have the first time. The Avari are sending a builder to us. The canister should be here later today. It was sent via express courier.”

  “Canister?” Riasa raised her eyebrows.

  He grinned. “You will see when it gets here.”

  She couldn’t wait.

  Natu smiled, “I suppose we should be on our way to dinner then.”

  Brodin grinned, “Dismissed.”

  Sighing, Riasa got to her feet and took Natu’s hand. They walked together to the dining hall, and when she looked around, Roxy waved her over.

  “Riasa, this is Mayden. Mayden, this is Riasa.”

  The woman smiled slightly and inclined her head. “It is good to see another female face in the Sector Guard. The guys beat us to the signup, and we have been catching up ever since.”

  “Mayden?”

  She made a face. “Yes, my husband always gets a kick out of that. Dragons and maidens have a fine tradition in both our histories.”

  “Your husband is Midnight?”

  “Harusk, yes. He had to get Esur to agree to let him build a home here, all because of little ol’ me.”

  “Your house is the large, wooden structure.” Riasa smiled at the answer to that nagging fact.

  “It is. Your eyesight is really good.” Mayden seemed surprised.

  Roxy chuckled as Natu joined them. “Talents are always doubted until they prove themselves. Mayden is an easy convert.”

  Mayden made a face and elbowed Roxy.

  “You two are the same species.” There was no doubt. The cellular patterns were so similar, it was obvious.

  Roxy grinned. “We are. The Drai have found that Terrans turn into suitable Drai mates with only a little tampering.”

  “Tampering?”

  Mayden laughed, “DNA renovation. Mild internal alteration. Nothing that is too onerous. We make our mates pay in the long run, and they don’t seem to mind.”

  Natu snorted and gave his attention to his soup.

  They passed the rest of the meal in affable conversation, and when she had returned her tray to the rack, Riasa started yawning. It had been over a day since she had slept. It didn’t seem right to nap while Natu was stuck at the helm, and she wouldn’t nap while he was resting. He had done all that flying after all. He had to be more tired than she was.

  Natu came up and took care of his own dishes. “
And with that yawn, you are going to be my guest. Come on, Riasa. You need some rest.”

  He put his arm around her waist and bustled her through the facility and out a double door that opened as they approached.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Over that way. There are homes built for the Guardsmen and women. Not all beings enjoy crafting a home with their own hands.” He chuckled.

  The houses were neat, and as they walked down the lane, they got larger. Natu’s home was the pale grey of his eyes and the doors were obviously designed for his wingspan.

  The interior furnishings were built along the same large scale. There wouldn’t be a problem sleeping on the couch; it was the same width as a twin bed.

  “Just get me a blanket and pillow and I will be fine.” She swayed as she leaned on the arm of the couch.

  He paused, sighed and stomped off to the second floor. When he came back, she had opened the neckline of her suit and had to wait while he set up her bed for her. The moment he turned back the blanket, she shifted from foot to foot.

  “If you need the lav, it is off the kitchen on the left.”

  She poked him in the shoulder. “No, I am just waiting for you to leave so I can get out of this suit. I know it gets cleaned when I take a solar or sonic, but I like to sleep with just the sheets against my skin. So, shoo.”

  He opened and closed his mouth before kissing her on the cheek and leaving her for the night. She sighed in relief and peeled out of the bodysuit, folding it carefully and draping it over the arm of the couch.

  She was asleep the moment that she was covered by the blanket.

  * * * *

  Natu waited five minutes and carried Riasa to his bed, tucking the blanket around her and crawling in with a few layers of fabric between them. Their first night sleeping next to each other had proved that she was a heavy sleeper. There was no reason for her to stay on the couch when his bed had plenty of room.

  He smiled as she snuffled and curled toward him as she slept. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t want her downstairs because he wanted her with him.

  Linking himself with an alien would lock his world from him forever, but he was prepared for that. The laws of his people were strict and designed to keep the population safe and separated from other races. The genetic stability that they had finally achieved was a delicate balance of bloodlines and alteration. To introduce a new genome would wreck centuries of careful design. If he and Riasa had children, they would not be able to claim any world as their own. Resicor wouldn’t have them and Urtannin would kill them on sight.

  He pushed the dark thoughts away and enjoyed the feel of his partner in his bed. This was nice. He should have them make alterations to the bed in the ship so that sleeping together became possible rather than a defiance of physics.

  Smiling, he matched his breathing to hers and let the rhythm ease him into sleep.

  * * * *

  Riasa woke when dawn came in through the window and poked her in the eyes. She made a face and turned over, coming face to face with Natu. Blinking, she looked around and saw that she was not where she had fallen asleep.

  “You are a heavy sleeper.” He grinned.

  She punched him and winced as her hand struck him before his body could react. “Ow.”

  “It serves you right. Breakfast is at the base. Your bodysuit is at the foot of the bed. I will see you downstairs.” He kissed the tip of her nose and left the room.

  Grumbling, she went in search of an upstairs lav and was delighted to find one. Even she couldn’t go that long without seeking relief.

  Once she had grabbed a quick shower and finger combed her hair, she grabbed her suit and struggled into the heavy fabric.

  Dressed and a little dazed, she made her way down the stairs and let the annoyingly alert Natu lead her to the base again.

  The dining hall was filled with Citadel staffers that smiled and waved at her in greeting. It seemed that recovering was not an issue. Just the eradication of the old building had done wonders for morale.

  Reset was having her meal with Mist, and when Riasa looked around, she waved her over.

  Natu nodded and they both joined the healers.

  “You need to come in for a post-assignment check. It needs to become a habit.”

  “Yes, Reset.”

  “Call me Gray, call him Canil. You are on the Sector Guard roster now, so you have the security clearance, plus you are in our weird little club.” Gray smiled.

  Riasa was halfway through her breakfast when there was a weird pinging noise coming from somewhere. She looked around, but her companions just grinned at her.

  Gray laughed. “It is your suit. You are being summoned to the com centre.”

  Riasa sighed. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. Just go, we will take care of your meal.” Canil smiled and covered her tray with mist. The food disappeared.

  Riasa headed to the com centre, and she was immediately bustled into the chamber she had occupied before.

  Relay appeared the moment that Riasa settled on the platform.

  “Hello, Vision.”

  “Relay. Good morning.”

  Relay smiled and waved. “Morning. Right. The courier is on its way down, and it has instructions to bring the canister to you and you alone. When the design is final, take the design crystal and put it in the canister, place the canister on the ruins, and press the needle on the top of the container. It is going to open for you and you alone.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the Avari didn’t want it available to just anyone, and a person from Resicor has a distinct energy pattern within their blood. You were the easiest option. Now, once the canister is activated, you have three minutes to get out of the construction site. This isn’t something that the Avari have done on another world and the nanites are going to die the moment the design is complete, but if this works, bases will be far easier to come by and far more secure.”

  “Why did you need to tell me this in person…so to speak?”

  “Because this is so highly classified that only you, I, Brodin and the Avari are aware of what is about to make a base out of rubble. It is an experiment on a grand scale.”

  Riasa nodded. “Right. I will wait here for the courier. Can I go finish breakfast now?”

  Relay laughed. “Yes. It will probably need heating up.”

  Riasa twisted her lips. “No, I will need new stuff. Mist ate everything else.”

  “Then, go and enjoy breakfast. Remember three minutes from the blood drop. Only do it when the design is complete.”

  Riasa saluted and Relay dimmed the projection.

  Her stomach rumbled, so she returned to the dining hall and tried to think of what to tell her companions if they asked her.

  When she got a new tray and sat down, no one asked her a thing, but Mist stole another one of her breakfast rolls. Stabbing him with a fork just had no effect, but she was really trying.

  Chapter Nine

  “You are a little tired but otherwise fine. Congratulations on taking to being a Guardsman.” Gray finished the scans and smiled.

  “Have you dealt with a lot of folk from Resicor?”

  Gray rubbed her neck. “You could say that. We had to find a way to hack through the restrictor suits used at the dome. Our first patient was incredibly brave.”

  Riasa got queasy the moment she heard restrictor suit. “You got it off?”

  “We did, and she is now fine and flying. It was a joint effort between Teklan and Morganti, but we managed to create a system to take the suits off without too much damage, and then, I reset them to genetic specifications.”

  “Wow. That’s…wow.”

  “Your people are very impressive and the talents we have seen hunger for freedom with a ravenous determination.”

  “Good description. Am I done?”

  “You are clear. Where to next?”

  “I am going to check on Taboth. I have heard his design is rather nice.”<
br />
  Gray smiled. “Can I come? I have seen it but only in the beginning stages. I hear it is incredible now.”

  “Sure. Come on.”

  Natu had told her where Taboth was plying his original trade, and when Riasa entered the room, she gasped.

  Taboth looked at her and smiled. “Just the person I wanted to see. Riasa, when do you think construction can commence?”

  Riasa was walking through a semi-transparent holographic projection of a base that would be the envy of anyone who saw it. The central spire marked it as a Citadel but the rest of the graceful spires, observatories, auditoriums and accommodations were stunning in detail.

  “I think they will be able to begin shortly. Is it completed?”

  Taboth nodded. “I have missed it so much, I went a little overboard. It is too ornate?”

  She looked around her at the crystalline structures and smiled. “I believe it is just right. May I have a copy of the blueprints?”

  He handed her a crystal. “I am guessing you want to read them over, to see what you can see.”

  “From what I can see, you have even put in com lines, sewage treatment and water lines.”

  He blushed. “You can see that?”

  “That is my job. What do you think, Reset?”

  Reset was smiling as she looked around. “I want to live here. Can I take a job at the Citadel when this is done?”

  “Ask General Brodin.” She chuckled at the sheer admiration in Reset’s face.

  Riasa lifted the crystal and stared into it, reading the data and relieved that there was a scale registry in the design. She was having a waking nightmare of setting off the canister and having a tiny building appearing.

  Grounding and shielding was also included. “Taboth, did you check the other Citadel constructions?”

  He shrugged. “Of course. All psychics need shielded areas. I thought it good to do not only a few classrooms but an entire tower dormitory.” He paused. “You can see that?”

  She winked. “If it can be depicted in a visual format, I can read it.”

  The entire design was well thought out and proof that Taboth knew what he was doing.