Geared Up by Viola Grace

“Grandmother, are you all right?”
    Tears were in Niada’s eyes. “It is one of Mlina’s designs, isn’t it?”
    Niad nodded. “She did it for me on my first day. I thought it would be nice to wear it daily.”
    “She always had such a lovely style with the designs. It always stood out.”
    “Well, is any part of me showing that shouldn’t?” She turned slowly.
    “No, you look lovely. Am I wrong in thinking that you and Guardian Tauron have something between you?”
    “Grandmother, I have known him for a week, and we primarily talk when he is hauling me out of a situation after I overexert myself.”
    “You didn’t answer my question.”
    She wrinkled her nose as the face that so resembled hers looked at her wryly.
    “Fine, we believe we have a mutual interest, but we won’t explore it on duty.” She admitted, “We are waiting until we have a coinciding day off. It is not likely to happen.”
    She thickened the heels of the suit so the change was more obvious, and she put her fists on her hips. “How does it look?”
    Her grandmother responded by stabbing her in the abdomen with pruning shears.
    As the blades snapped, Niada grinned. “I would say that you are protected now, Niad. I won’t light you on fire, but I believe that the suit should stand the test.”
    Niad blinked. “Right. I think we should get back to the others before you decide to stab me with anything else.”
    Niada grinned. “Can you turn it into a gown?”
    “Let’s walk and find out. I am going to have to learn what constitutes a gown, and I believe you might know the answer.”
    They locked up the greenhouse, made their way back to the initial atrium where the magistrates were no longer in attendance and her parents and teammate were deeply in conversation.
    As she crossed the room, she turned the gown she was wearing into a bodysuit again, and she grinned. “What do you think?”
    Her mother was staring at her in wonder, her father grinned and her partner asked, “But is it stab proof?”
    Niada cackled. “Yes!”
    It was a peculiar moment to share, but it was their first as a united family. The tale of her grandmother’s stabbing attempt was now part of Skarrow history. Niad hoped she got a brother or sister to share the story with.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Guardian Wyfirth pulled herself free of the aircraft and gave the signal to Tauron.
    She flexed her arms, and her suit expanded with the web-like wings between her arms and legs. It had taken some practice, but she was now able to glide free of the aircraft and drop down to where Tauron was waiting with the riot runner modified for high altitude.
    He was breathing just fine, which made her wonder what kind of modifications had been made to him.
    She glided free, wind roaring past her and her suit providing goggles.
    Tauron matched her speed, and she grabbed his shoulders, pulling herself down behind him. The suit shifted for a more comfortable ride, and she wrapped her arms around him. They rode the runner down to the flight centre and settled down to check on the crew of the craft that had nearly crashed in the city.
    Tauron was better at this stuff than she was. She let him go first.
    The passengers and crew disembarked, and Tauron was speaking with them while Niad went and checked her handiwork on the engines.
    A tap on her leg got her attention. A small voice said, “Excuse me.”
    Niad looked down. “Oh, hello. Were you on the aircraft?”
    The little girl was clutching a dolly in her hand, and Niad was very nervous when she noted the very specific pattern on the suit.
    “Yes, Guardian. Are you Guardian Wyfirth?”
    Niad crouched down and smiled at the child. “I am.”
    The girl clutched her dolly harder. “My mom says that you are a mechanical talent.”
    “Those are big words, but yes. I am.”
    The girl grinned. “So are my mom and dad. They say I can be a Guardian now, and it is thanks to you.”
    Niad smiled. “It is because of my mom and dad. They