was before Elder Dakar's father became leader of the Guardians." Mikal shoved his hands into his pants pockets. "Around the time of the Corporate Wars."
"What was that about?"
"There were other companies here that were mining and terr aforming Hathor. Novacorp wanted the resources, and all the mining rights. They sent troops here to secure them." Mikal leaned back against the mirrored siding, his hands still deep in his pockets. "That's when the people with abilities connected their powers for the first time, supposedly with the help of Dakar's father."
"But why do they think I can do the same thing?"
"I don't believe in old stories, Nadira. Whatever they think they can accomplish, it won't work. But I mustn't criticize Elder Dakar even if I feel that some of his actions are questionable," Mikal said.
"Are you going to tell me what you mean by that?" Nadira asked. "What has he done?"
Mikal looked off in the distance. "Your transport is coming."
"You're not going to answer me, are you?"
"I'm his assistant and it's not my place to say anything against the Elder," Mikal said, as he glanced back down the street. "But I know he'll do everything in his power to force you to comply with him."
"Force me? None of them can force me to open myself up to them. That would be a violation."
The transport trundled up the street and pulled over to the curb. It stopped and the door swung back with a hiss.
"Yes, it would be, Nadira. But they're desperate and afraid of what Novacorp may do to us. And desperate people can do violent things." He reached out and ran his hand along her cheek.
His touch was like fire against her skin, searing her with his open desire. Startled she jumped back and stumbled as she tried to stay on her feet. "Mikal, don't. I have to go." Brushing past him, she climbed into the vehicle and moved to the opposite side of the seat. Sitting there huddled in the corner, she felt vulnerable, like cornered prey.
"I'm sorry if I was too forward, Nadira," he said, leaning into the cabin. "My emotions overpowered me. These past months I've been under a strain working with the Elder. It's been difficult to see what he's doing and not be able to speak out. Thank you for liste ning."
"Good night, Mikal," she said.
"Good night, Nadira." He stepped back and the metal door slid closed.
She placed her palm on the ID plate. "Take me to my apar tment." All she wanted to do was get as far away from him and this house as she could. Something about the way he'd looked at her made her feel like all her protections had been ripped away. Maybe spending so much time with him had been a bad idea.
"Affirmative. ID accepted, Guardian Sentry Nadira," the co mputerized voice replied.
For once she regretted the 360-degree view that the clear glass windows gave her. Mikal was still standing at the curb, watching as the transport pulled away.
"Tint windows," she ordered, not wanting to remain on display.
The windows went from clear to grey, giving her a view out and blocking anyone from seeing in. But she couldn't help glancing back just in time to see Mikal walk inside the house.
7 Keeping Secrets
Even after the half-hour ride back to her apartment building, she still felt like she was being watched. And not just by the ne twork of city cams that observed the activity on the streets of Nova City.
As the transport pulled out of the traffic lanes, she scanned the street. The heavy door slid back, and Nadira climbed out of the vehicle. Other than two men coming out of the building across the street, there was no one else around.
Shivering, she hurried to the front door. Hopefully, Jonathan was inside. She was desperate to feel his arms around her.
She was about to press the fingerpad to open the door when a shiny, ruby red transport pulled up and stopped at the curb. The door slid back and Jon climbed out. When he saw her, he rushed over.
"Just getting back?" he asked. "That's Lani Zakry's transport. It's the
"What was that about?"
"There were other companies here that were mining and terr aforming Hathor. Novacorp wanted the resources, and all the mining rights. They sent troops here to secure them." Mikal leaned back against the mirrored siding, his hands still deep in his pockets. "That's when the people with abilities connected their powers for the first time, supposedly with the help of Dakar's father."
"But why do they think I can do the same thing?"
"I don't believe in old stories, Nadira. Whatever they think they can accomplish, it won't work. But I mustn't criticize Elder Dakar even if I feel that some of his actions are questionable," Mikal said.
"Are you going to tell me what you mean by that?" Nadira asked. "What has he done?"
Mikal looked off in the distance. "Your transport is coming."
"You're not going to answer me, are you?"
"I'm his assistant and it's not my place to say anything against the Elder," Mikal said, as he glanced back down the street. "But I know he'll do everything in his power to force you to comply with him."
"Force me? None of them can force me to open myself up to them. That would be a violation."
The transport trundled up the street and pulled over to the curb. It stopped and the door swung back with a hiss.
"Yes, it would be, Nadira. But they're desperate and afraid of what Novacorp may do to us. And desperate people can do violent things." He reached out and ran his hand along her cheek.
His touch was like fire against her skin, searing her with his open desire. Startled she jumped back and stumbled as she tried to stay on her feet. "Mikal, don't. I have to go." Brushing past him, she climbed into the vehicle and moved to the opposite side of the seat. Sitting there huddled in the corner, she felt vulnerable, like cornered prey.
"I'm sorry if I was too forward, Nadira," he said, leaning into the cabin. "My emotions overpowered me. These past months I've been under a strain working with the Elder. It's been difficult to see what he's doing and not be able to speak out. Thank you for liste ning."
"Good night, Mikal," she said.
"Good night, Nadira." He stepped back and the metal door slid closed.
She placed her palm on the ID plate. "Take me to my apar tment." All she wanted to do was get as far away from him and this house as she could. Something about the way he'd looked at her made her feel like all her protections had been ripped away. Maybe spending so much time with him had been a bad idea.
"Affirmative. ID accepted, Guardian Sentry Nadira," the co mputerized voice replied.
For once she regretted the 360-degree view that the clear glass windows gave her. Mikal was still standing at the curb, watching as the transport pulled away.
"Tint windows," she ordered, not wanting to remain on display.
The windows went from clear to grey, giving her a view out and blocking anyone from seeing in. But she couldn't help glancing back just in time to see Mikal walk inside the house.
7 Keeping Secrets
Even after the half-hour ride back to her apartment building, she still felt like she was being watched. And not just by the ne twork of city cams that observed the activity on the streets of Nova City.
As the transport pulled out of the traffic lanes, she scanned the street. The heavy door slid back, and Nadira climbed out of the vehicle. Other than two men coming out of the building across the street, there was no one else around.
Shivering, she hurried to the front door. Hopefully, Jonathan was inside. She was desperate to feel his arms around her.
She was about to press the fingerpad to open the door when a shiny, ruby red transport pulled up and stopped at the curb. The door slid back and Jon climbed out. When he saw her, he rushed over.
"Just getting back?" he asked. "That's Lani Zakry's transport. It's the
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