personal disclosure and he did not feel like engaging in a lengthy conversation. The cart hit a bump, sending a jolt through his spine. His bag shifted, providing a diversion. Pressing his lips in a thin line, Byron shook his head and reached down to secure the pack.
“ Officer Byron, have I offended you?”
He raised his head, his mouth open to deny the accusation. Athee’s chin rested on her forearm and in his bent position, their faces were only inches apart. Jade-green eyes, wide with concern, met his. Her smile was gone, further compounding her forlorn expression. With his shields locked into place, Athee was not controlling him in any manner. A twinge of regret for his indifferent attitude toward the young woman pricked at Byron’s conscience.
Byron leaned back in his seat. “You’ve not offended me, Athee. What would you like to talk about?”
“ Can you really sense powers in others? We were told a machine was required to detect psychic ability.”
“ The machine is more accurate,” he explained, noting they were passing a market area. Exotic colors vied for his attention and an assortment of smells attacked his nose.
“ But you can still sense powers?”
“ Yes.”
“ How?”
Byron met her gaze and shrugged. “A gift I suppose.”
“ What else can you do?” she asked sitting up straight in her seat.
The cart rounded a corner, jostling its passengers. The market square was left behind, replaced by the white stone of plain buildings. Without visual distraction, Byron’s attention returned to Athee. He contemplated his answer, as disclosure meant he was revealing a secret known only by a select few. On an alien planet resting beyond the boundaries of Cassan space, discretion hardly seemed necessary.
“ I can power our ship’s teleporters.”
Athee’s brows came together and she shook her head. Byron licked his lips and leaned closer.
“ Our teleporters allow us to jump from one point in space to another. They’re fueled by a complex energy compound. One of the required elements is found here on your planet. I won’t bore you with the details, but most ships drain the teleporter’s energy after two jumps in close succession,” he explained, tapping his fingers together. “I can funnel my own mental energy into the teleporter and perform multiple jumps.”
“ Oh,” she said. “You mean you can create that compound with your mind?”
“ My powers stimulate the elements that create the energy, providing a quick burst that is enough to fuel a jump.”
“ Is that an unusual power?”
Byron nodded. “Only one in 800,000 Cassans possess the ability.”
“ Guess that makes you really special then.”
Grasping the seat as the cart lurched to the right, Byron’s nerves jolted. Shields still in place, he could not sense her emotions or thoughts and wondered the true meaning behind her words. A cloud of smoke billowed from the cart’s engine and the wind blew the offending soot in their direction. Byron coughed, thankful for the diversion. As if on cue, the engine also emitted a sick cough and spluttered into silence. They had reached their destination, none too soon for Byron.
Without further words, Byron ushered Athee inside. He located Officer Illenth and introduced the young woman, repeating Commander Anceptor’s request for a full testing.
“ My machine only covers the basics, but let’s see what it detects,” he said, brushing aside strands of hair that were many months past a regulation haircut.
Byron observed while Illenth performed the test. The device was small and designed only to measure overall mental strength. Athee sat motionless as Illenth attached electrodes to her temples, his long fingers moving rapidly. Once satisfied with the connection, the man returned to the machine and pressed several buttons.
The information that flashed across the screen was foreign to Byron. However, he noted Illenth’s change of expression as data continued to compile. The
“ Officer Byron, have I offended you?”
He raised his head, his mouth open to deny the accusation. Athee’s chin rested on her forearm and in his bent position, their faces were only inches apart. Jade-green eyes, wide with concern, met his. Her smile was gone, further compounding her forlorn expression. With his shields locked into place, Athee was not controlling him in any manner. A twinge of regret for his indifferent attitude toward the young woman pricked at Byron’s conscience.
Byron leaned back in his seat. “You’ve not offended me, Athee. What would you like to talk about?”
“ Can you really sense powers in others? We were told a machine was required to detect psychic ability.”
“ The machine is more accurate,” he explained, noting they were passing a market area. Exotic colors vied for his attention and an assortment of smells attacked his nose.
“ But you can still sense powers?”
“ Yes.”
“ How?”
Byron met her gaze and shrugged. “A gift I suppose.”
“ What else can you do?” she asked sitting up straight in her seat.
The cart rounded a corner, jostling its passengers. The market square was left behind, replaced by the white stone of plain buildings. Without visual distraction, Byron’s attention returned to Athee. He contemplated his answer, as disclosure meant he was revealing a secret known only by a select few. On an alien planet resting beyond the boundaries of Cassan space, discretion hardly seemed necessary.
“ I can power our ship’s teleporters.”
Athee’s brows came together and she shook her head. Byron licked his lips and leaned closer.
“ Our teleporters allow us to jump from one point in space to another. They’re fueled by a complex energy compound. One of the required elements is found here on your planet. I won’t bore you with the details, but most ships drain the teleporter’s energy after two jumps in close succession,” he explained, tapping his fingers together. “I can funnel my own mental energy into the teleporter and perform multiple jumps.”
“ Oh,” she said. “You mean you can create that compound with your mind?”
“ My powers stimulate the elements that create the energy, providing a quick burst that is enough to fuel a jump.”
“ Is that an unusual power?”
Byron nodded. “Only one in 800,000 Cassans possess the ability.”
“ Guess that makes you really special then.”
Grasping the seat as the cart lurched to the right, Byron’s nerves jolted. Shields still in place, he could not sense her emotions or thoughts and wondered the true meaning behind her words. A cloud of smoke billowed from the cart’s engine and the wind blew the offending soot in their direction. Byron coughed, thankful for the diversion. As if on cue, the engine also emitted a sick cough and spluttered into silence. They had reached their destination, none too soon for Byron.
Without further words, Byron ushered Athee inside. He located Officer Illenth and introduced the young woman, repeating Commander Anceptor’s request for a full testing.
“ My machine only covers the basics, but let’s see what it detects,” he said, brushing aside strands of hair that were many months past a regulation haircut.
Byron observed while Illenth performed the test. The device was small and designed only to measure overall mental strength. Athee sat motionless as Illenth attached electrodes to her temples, his long fingers moving rapidly. Once satisfied with the connection, the man returned to the machine and pressed several buttons.
The information that flashed across the screen was foreign to Byron. However, he noted Illenth’s change of expression as data continued to compile. The
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