Ghosting the Hero by Viola Grace Page B

divine hint. Flying a shuttle at low altitude while walking was a trick she was not going to keep in her repertoire. Once was more than enough.
    The path was clear, and around the nearest hill was a flat plain where the shuttle could land for a moment.
    “What is wrong with you, Simry?” Minel whispered it softly.
    “I am multitasking. I am not very good at it.”
    The pressure wave of the ship passed over them and around the hill.
    The moment the ship was down, Simry started moving faster. “Around the hill to Drebon-Hek’s field. Look for a series of wedges in the grain.”
    They made it to the field, and Simry ran for the ship. She opened the door at their approach and boosted Minel into the shuttle before the steps descended.
    Hero reached down and hauled her in. She took off a moment later, the ship rising with the reflective shields still on.
    “I don’t know what you are doing, but the ship controls won’t respond to me.”
    She locked the doors, pressurized the ship and took them into the cloud layer before dropping the shields and making her way to the front of the ship. “Sorry, Teemya.”
    The recruiter was sitting in a jump seat with Minel next to her. They were holding hands with a death grip.
    She slid into the command chair and pulled the ship up and out of the atmosphere by force of will. It felt weird to be driving and flying at the same time, but she wasn’t able to pull out of the ship just yet. She didn’t want to stress the systems.
    By law, she couldn’t let the ship be seen, so she waited until they were behind the moon before she returned to her body completely.
    The ship turned idly on its trajectory. The heading remained straight.
    “ Now the ship will respond to you. Sorry. I was driving.” She shivered as her body went into short muscle spasms.
    “Are you all right?” Hero was concerned.
    “I am fine or as fine as I can get. I need to lie down. Can you get us to Thoola?”
    “I can. Are you sure you are all right?”
    “Check on me in a few hours. That was not something I would like to do again, but it is nice to know that I can do it if I have to. Ah, I am conflicted.” She made a face.
    “Stop being conflicted and get some rest. I will man things from here. Who is the young woman?”
    “That is my sister, Minel. She is going to Thoola, and my new status as Guardsman is going to pay her way.” She chuckled. “It is her first time away from home. Make sure she is safe.”
    “I think you have already done that. Get some rest.”
    She nodded and staggered past Teemya and Minel. “See you later, behave. Both of you. Hero is spoken for.”
    Teemya chuckled and Minel smiled weakly. “See you later, Simry.”
    The custom bed felt like heaven when Simry managed to get herself settled. Her muscle groups were tightening, one by one. The suit pulsed against her limbs, and it helped, but only rest would manage to loosen her completely. Well, that or a rubdown, but it seemed that N’kad was busy being a hero.
     
    * * * *
     
    N’kad checked the display that kept tabs on Simry’s body. It showed that she was slowly being wracked with knotted muscles and probably a lot of pain.
    “Teemya!”
    “Yes, Hero?”
    “Can you take the controls?”
    “Sure. Where are we heading?”
    “Citadel Education Center, Thoola.”
    “Got it. When is the next jump site?”
    “Two hours. It is on automatic, just keep me posted if anything flashes, beeps or belches.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I am taking care of my partner.”
    Simry’s sister looked up at him. “Is she all right?”
    “She is in pain. The more she uses her mind, the more her body suffers. I am going to help her relax. You can come and keep her company if you like.”
    Minel blinked and cautiously got to her feet. “Lead the way.”
    N’kad smiled and led the way to where Simry was struggling to find comfort. “Minel is here to help keep you calm.”
    Simry whispered. “Don’t let her touch me.”
    Minel