Soul(s) by Vera West

Twenty-nine, are you
willing to help? Even though you have just awakened, you are one of
us and helping our race now will help everyone in the
future.”
    “ It sounds like this first
stage is just getting information on the attacks?”
    “ Yes, Sariah.”
    “ Then I wouldn’t mind
being a part of it. But, I don’t like violence if it comes to
that—
    “ There are other ways you
can help. Regardless of what you choose, I will train you on how
your powers work. Only you can decide how you use them.”
    “ I might eventually have
to fight then?” I asked.
    “ I’ll be honest,” Iris
answered back evenly, “You will need to fight, but you don’t have
to kill. But for
right now don’t worry about that. Let me explain your powers. There
are two types of Aura: Telekinetic and Cheetah. Telekinetic powers
tend to be more intellectual. Most Auras with this power can read
minds or move objects. The Cheetah power is very physical. Like the
First-Plane animal its name after, any Aura with this power is
fast, has good vision—both during the day and night— and has
abnormal strength and reflexes. Bem told me that you, Sariah, are
very least telepathic, is that right?”
    “ Yes, when we were
attacked, I was able to ender the mind of the beasts and for a
moment, their leader.”
    “ At the end of your
training we’ll match you up with a like powered aura, more than
likely Ajani, he is the strongest telekinetic aura in the
city.
    “ What kind of Aura are
you?” I questioned.
    “ Cheetah. Now, normally,”
Iris continued, “Venku are opposite each other. So Keegan should
then have the Cheetah powers. Which ones that I mentioned have
submerged already? Sometimes you don’t get everything at
first.”
    “ All of the above,” Keegan
said smiling smugly.
    I rolled my eyes, but I was amused. He was
like the Second-Plane version of a jock. A smart, sensitive, sexy
jock—but none the less, still an overconfident alpha male.
     
     
     
    I was exhausted from all the training. The
sun was setting on our seventh day. Our bodies were unbelievably
strong. It was exhilarating to be able to do the things we could
and strange to remember a time when we couldn’t. Tomorrow was our
evaluation a finally no-bars test between the team members we’d
been assigned to for additional mentoring: Ajani and Bem.
    With the Banguri-conflict getting worse by
the day, we’d reached the limit of our time to learn within the
safety of Paramount. Now our education would continue live in the
field. I hoped we were ready. I was nervous, but I knew Keegan and
I were strong together. We could handle just about anything, and
anything we couldn’t, well that’s why we were teamed up with
experienced fighters.
    Keegan and I were walking back from the
roof-top training area and he was jogging in playful circles around
me, clearly he wasn’t tired.
    “ Bet you wish you could
trade telekinesis for cheetah skills right about now,” he taunted
as he playfully jabbed at my ribs. He was still circling around me
as we walked, popping my body with little playful pats. Side,
thighs, stomach, hip, derriere—
    “ Hey!” I said, surprised
by his last childish love-tap target.
    Keegan laughed jogging backwards in front of
me.
    “ Couldn’t resist,” he
halfheartedly apologized. His eyes were mischievously taunting me.
He picked up his pace and I had to break into a jog to keep up with
him. I reach out placing a hand on his chest and he slowed down
beneath my touch letting me get closer to him. In a swift movement
I cupped my hand and pinched his nipple through the
suit.
    He yelped in surprise and started cackling
like a tween.
    I was really starting to care for him. We
were quickly becoming more than venku, we were friends.
    “ Weren’t expecting that
little pinch?” I chirped back.
    “ You want to play, huh?”
Keegan said. He stopped moving abruptly, causing me to smash into
him.
    We stood there for a moment smiling at each
other. He linked his