can’t deny my right to know if I possess abilities,” said Athee, her long stride resonating annoyance as her boots struck the ground.
“ This whole business of mental powers is unnatural,” Orellen scoffed. The prefect came to an abrupt halt and grasped her elbow. “Not to mention preposterous! Tgrens speak with their mouths, not their minds.”
“ It’s not preposterous!” Athee retorted, pulling her arm free. “What if our people possess such abilities? Think of the implications, of what it might mean in our advancement. Imagine if we could expand our lines of communication and maintain contact with every plane, every city. This might be our answer.”
“ And it might be nothing at all.”
Athee placed her hands on her hips and stared at her uncle. The man scowled, his lips set in a thin line. This did not seem to deter the young woman. Byron remained at the foot of the ramp, unwilling to get involved. He lowered his shields just a little, listening for stray thoughts and emotions. As expected, determination poured forth from Athee. He also sensed her influence of persuasion working on the prefect. Athee might not understand her powers, but she already knew how to manipulate. Once she gained full control and comprehension of her psychic abilities, that trait could very easily become dangerous.
“ If only your father were here...” began Orellen, his voice low.
“ Well, he’s not! So this is my decision.”
“ Your leaving the surface of this planet is my decision, young woman,” the prefect countered, assuming an authoritative stance. “Your safety is also my responsibility.”
Athee shot Byron a desperate look. “I’m sure Officer Byron will keep me safe.”
He responded, compelled to validate her statement. “Nothing will happen to Athee while she is in my care,” Byron told the prefect. “You have my word.”
“ The word of a Cassan,” Orellen replied.
Angered by the man’s insult, Byron stood to his full height and clenched his fists. The prefect’s words indicated he doubted Byron’s promise held any merit. In a position of power or not, Orellen had no right to speak to him that way.
“ Uncle!” exclaimed Athee.
Byron held his ground, fighting the impulse to strike the look of contempt off the Tgren’s face. The prefect turned to face Byron, his nose wrinkled with disdain. Squaring his shoulders, he raised one finger in a threatening manner.
“ If anything happens to her, there will be severe repercussions,” he asserted. “You started this nonsense and I’ll hold you personally responsible for any harm that befalls my niece.”
Turning to Athee, he threw his hands in the air. “Go!” Orellen cried. Before she could respond, he stormed away from the shuttle.
Athee shook her head. She met Byron’s eyes in passing as she strode up the ramp and into the shuttle. Byron made certain the man was on his way to the hanger before closing the hatch. When the panel indicated a perfect seal, his shoulders sagged in relief.
Aware he needed to assist Athee with her harness, Byron stepped away from the door. Unable to locate her, he frowned. The other two passengers were secure in their seats and gave no indication as to her whereabouts. Alarmed, Byron peered into the cockpit. Athee now sat in the co-pilot’s seat, her harness in place and eyes scanning the control panel. Concerned, he entered the cockpit. She looked up and smiled.
“ Your controls still amaze me,” she said, her eyes reflecting childish wonder. “So much information to process.”
Hesitating, Byron grasped the back of her seat. “You’ve been in a shuttle before?”
“ Of course. The previous shuttle pilot even gave me a ride over the valley.”
I bet he did! Byron thought, staring at the attractive young woman. “Well, you need to go take a seat with the other passengers.”
Athee tossed her hair aside and eyed him expectantly. “I thought I’d ride in the cockpit with you.”
“ That’s
“ This whole business of mental powers is unnatural,” Orellen scoffed. The prefect came to an abrupt halt and grasped her elbow. “Not to mention preposterous! Tgrens speak with their mouths, not their minds.”
“ It’s not preposterous!” Athee retorted, pulling her arm free. “What if our people possess such abilities? Think of the implications, of what it might mean in our advancement. Imagine if we could expand our lines of communication and maintain contact with every plane, every city. This might be our answer.”
“ And it might be nothing at all.”
Athee placed her hands on her hips and stared at her uncle. The man scowled, his lips set in a thin line. This did not seem to deter the young woman. Byron remained at the foot of the ramp, unwilling to get involved. He lowered his shields just a little, listening for stray thoughts and emotions. As expected, determination poured forth from Athee. He also sensed her influence of persuasion working on the prefect. Athee might not understand her powers, but she already knew how to manipulate. Once she gained full control and comprehension of her psychic abilities, that trait could very easily become dangerous.
“ If only your father were here...” began Orellen, his voice low.
“ Well, he’s not! So this is my decision.”
“ Your leaving the surface of this planet is my decision, young woman,” the prefect countered, assuming an authoritative stance. “Your safety is also my responsibility.”
Athee shot Byron a desperate look. “I’m sure Officer Byron will keep me safe.”
He responded, compelled to validate her statement. “Nothing will happen to Athee while she is in my care,” Byron told the prefect. “You have my word.”
“ The word of a Cassan,” Orellen replied.
Angered by the man’s insult, Byron stood to his full height and clenched his fists. The prefect’s words indicated he doubted Byron’s promise held any merit. In a position of power or not, Orellen had no right to speak to him that way.
“ Uncle!” exclaimed Athee.
Byron held his ground, fighting the impulse to strike the look of contempt off the Tgren’s face. The prefect turned to face Byron, his nose wrinkled with disdain. Squaring his shoulders, he raised one finger in a threatening manner.
“ If anything happens to her, there will be severe repercussions,” he asserted. “You started this nonsense and I’ll hold you personally responsible for any harm that befalls my niece.”
Turning to Athee, he threw his hands in the air. “Go!” Orellen cried. Before she could respond, he stormed away from the shuttle.
Athee shook her head. She met Byron’s eyes in passing as she strode up the ramp and into the shuttle. Byron made certain the man was on his way to the hanger before closing the hatch. When the panel indicated a perfect seal, his shoulders sagged in relief.
Aware he needed to assist Athee with her harness, Byron stepped away from the door. Unable to locate her, he frowned. The other two passengers were secure in their seats and gave no indication as to her whereabouts. Alarmed, Byron peered into the cockpit. Athee now sat in the co-pilot’s seat, her harness in place and eyes scanning the control panel. Concerned, he entered the cockpit. She looked up and smiled.
“ Your controls still amaze me,” she said, her eyes reflecting childish wonder. “So much information to process.”
Hesitating, Byron grasped the back of her seat. “You’ve been in a shuttle before?”
“ Of course. The previous shuttle pilot even gave me a ride over the valley.”
I bet he did! Byron thought, staring at the attractive young woman. “Well, you need to go take a seat with the other passengers.”
Athee tossed her hair aside and eyed him expectantly. “I thought I’d ride in the cockpit with you.”
“ That’s
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