CassaFire (12 page)

“
He was closer than a brother,” he admitted.

“
I’m sorry, sir,” offered Mevine.

Sensing sympathy from the scientist, Byron cut off his thoughts and raised his personal shields. “Shall we go?” he said, gesturing toward the door.

The other shuttle returned as Byron was preparing to depart. He exchanged greetings with Garnce, but refrained from mentioning the passenger aboard his ship. The pilot complained that demanding science officers were cutting into his meals and Byron chuckled. Garnce deserved the aggravation.

In the co-pilot’s seat, Mevine sighed. “Thank you again, sir,” he said, brushing aside his unkempt hair.

“
No problem,” Byron replied, increasing speed as the ship left the hanger.

The lad sank further into his seat. “I wish I was closer to my brother,” he said, fidgeting with his harness. “We don’t have anything in common though.”

“
Is your brother military?”

“
Oh no! He’s a resident councilor, following in our father’s footsteps.”

Byron frowned. “Who’s your father?”

“
Chancellor Dentex.”

Startled, he glanced at Mevine. “I didn’t know you came from such a prestigious family,” he said, surprised by Mevine’s background. The boy didn’t act like the son of a chancellor.

The young man shrugged. “I’m pretty much an outcast, so it doesn’t do me a lot of good.”

Byron pondered that thought as he tapped into the teleporter. A moment later, the blue skies of Tgren filled their view.

“
Do you have any family?” Mevine asked, his eyes on Byron.

“
Older sister. Haven’t spoken to her in years,” he answered curtly.

“
No mate?’

“
No time.”

Mevine’s head dropped against the seat. “I want a mate someday. Be nice to share my experiences with someone who cared.”

Unable to respond to Mevine’s candid admission, Byron guided the ship to the alien site in silence. Mevine thanked him for the ride before bounding out of the shuttle. Byron secured the hatch and returned to his seat. He stared at the controls, his mind replaying their exchange.

He’d never shared his experiences with anyone. Only his former navigator knew any of his inner thoughts. For six short months, Byron had enjoyed friendship with a man who believed in him to the very end. Like everyone else in his life who mattered, that person had vanished from his world.

Shaking his head, Byron reached for his harness. Annoyance rose in his chest for allowing Mevine’s words to trigger such thoughts.

This is why I’m better off without friends, he thought as the shuttle left the ground.

One more jump.

Athee nodded, her hands curling around the armrests. She aligned her powers with Byron as they connected with the teleporter. Locking on to their destination, she waited for his signal.

Jump!

The stars vanished. Outside of the cockpit, clouds obscured their view. A moment later, the shuttle dropped and the ground became visible. Athee flashed him a triumphant grin.

“
Yeah, you’re getting good at this,” Byron admitted.

Compliments from the Cassan pilot were rare and she beamed with pride. “Bet I could fly this thing, too.”

Byron emitted a bark of laughter. “You think so?” he taunted.

“
Yes, I do,” she declared. “I’ve watched your actions every time we’ve flown. I can master the controls.”

“
Takes more than that to fly a shuttle.”

Annoyed by his lack of confidence, Athee grabbed the throttle in front of her. “Let me try.”

Glancing in her direction, Byron shook his head. “If you think I’m turning over my shuttle to an inexperienced pilot…”

“
The master controls are right there in front of you.”

“
Yes, but…”

“
And you can jump us out of trouble in the blink of an eye,” she countered. “Unless you doubt your own abilities.”

She perceived indignation in his thoughts and knew she’d struck a nerve. Confident to a fault, Byron resented any implication that he lacked skill as a pilot. He cast an irritated scowl Athee’s direction.

“
Damn you’re annoying sometimes.”

“
Are you going to let me try?”

“
And stubborn!” he added, shifting in his seat. “Fine, I’ll let you fly the ship, but only for a moment.”

Flying high above the mountains, Byron drilled her on control functions. She answered without hesitation, recalling the purpose of each gauge and button with accuracy. However, her precision frustrated him further. Athee couldn’t understand why he was so irritated. Did he want his protégé to fail? Or was there another reason?

Before she could question his attitude, Byron instructed her to take the throttle. “Remember, it responds faster than your planes. Use a gentle touch and don’t overcorrect.”

Athee wrapped her fingers around the control, her hand barely large enough to grasp it in a proper manner. Feeling her adrenaline rise, she waited for his signal.

“
We’re level and steady,” he announced. “Turning it over…now.”

Byron tapped a button. The shuttle wobbled for a moment before Athee found her center. She leaned forward, eager to see the view outside the cockpit now that she controlled their direction.

“
No, stay in your seat,” he ordered. “A sharp bank and you’ll be tossed, even with the harness on.”

Nodding, she relaxed her posture. Athee grinned, delighting in the feel of the craft. Smooth as glass, the shuttle was the gentlest ship she’d ever flown. There was no rushing wind or rattling of bolts. The vessel glided with ease through the sky.

“
Is it all right if I alter our course?” she asked.

“
Remember, gentle touch.”

Pulling the throttle a hair to the right, Athee felt the difference at once. The shuttle began banking to the right in a slow arc.

“
She’s so responsive!” Athee cried.

“
This thing is sluggish compared to my Darten,” Byron said, his tone no longer severe.

“
I’d love to fly in one of your fighters,” she mused, straightening the shuttle.

“
One step at a time.”

He allowed her several minutes of indulgence. Athee wanted to send the vessel into a tailspin, just to see how she’d respond, but refrained from such a reckless maneuver. Byron would never grant her permission to fly the shuttle again. As much as she enjoyed the experience, Athee wanted to repeat it again in the very near future.

The Cassan resumed full control, landing the shuttle with precision. His reaction to her desire to fly and her accurate recall of cockpit functions still puzzled Athee. She wanted to know why it seemed to annoy him. In truth, there were many questions she wanted to ask, both about the Cassans in general and about Byron in particular.

“
So was my performance satisfactory?” she asked as he powered down the engines.

“
For someone who’s never flown a Cassan vessel?” he exclaimed, pressing a few more buttons before leaning back in his seat. “Yeah, you did all right.”

Athee unfastened her harness and stretched her arms. It felt good to be free of the restrictive straps. Turning to Byron, she decided to seek the answers to her questions.

“
Why did it bother you I knew the controls so well?” she demanded.

His gaze flicked her direction for a moment before his attention returned to the control panel. “It didn’t bother me.”

“
Yes it did. I sensed your irritation loud and clear.”

Her words elicited a concerned glance from the Cassan. “You shouldn’t be able to pick up on this so quickly,” he offered, checking the readout on the ship’s screen.

“
Because I’m a woman?”

“
No, because you’re a...”

“
A Tgren? You really think so little of us?” she demanded.

Byron leaned back in his seat. “No, I just…” his voice trailed off, and the pilot raised a hand to his forehead. “I didn’t expect to find anyone with your capabilities on this planet.”

His last admission rang true in Athee’s mind. Byron had answered honestly, and his reply made Athee feel better.

Something else had nagged at her thoughts ever since her first encounter with the Cassans, though. She decided now was a good time to ask.

“
Why aren’t there more women in your fleet?” she inquired, pivoting her chair to face Byron.

“
Because Cassan women can’t fold space.”

His direct answer caught her off guard. “That’s it?”

“
Men possess the ability to teleport, women the ability to bond,” he explained, unfastening his harness. “Space travel is hindered when one can’t teleport, as many ships only use telepods for internal movement.”

“
Oh.” The explanation was anticlimactic, but he’d offered a new snippet of information that intrigued her. “So, what does it mean to bond?”

Swiveling in his chair, Byron leaned forward. “When a man and woman make the decision to become mates, it is the woman who binds their minds together. Once bonded, they are mentally connected forever.”

Athee’s chest tightened with excitement. The idea of connecting with someone for life appealed to her. Now that she could communicate with her mind, the thought of a permanent link with another person was enchanting beyond words. What was it like? Was it as fulfilling as she imagined?

Did her instructor have the answers?

“
Do you have a mate?” she said.

Despite his shielded mind, she interpreted surprise. “No, I don’t,” he answered, his eyes dropping to the floor.

“
Is bonding one of my abilities?”

Byron raised his head at once, his mouth slightly ajar. She found it was moments like this, when he lacked restraint or control, that were the most revealing with regard to his personality. Athee liked Byron, but his cold indifference was a difficult obstacle to surmount.

“
Yes, it is,” he answered, his tone wary.

“
So I possess both male and female abilities?” she said, her question more of a statement. “Is that what annoys you about me?”

Her question caught his attention. Byron locked his shields into place. “The strength of your powers doesn’t bother me,” he asserted.

Athee suspected that wasn’t entirely true, but doubted she could force Byron to admit it. She decided on a new approach.

“
Something makes you uncomfortable in my presence, though,” she asserted. “I know I intimidate a lot of men, but someone of your status and ability shouldn’t feel threatened.”

Byron leaned back in his chair, his brows pulled together. “You ask too many questions.”

“
How can I learn if I don’t ask?”

Rising to his feet, Byron stared down at Athee. “I like my privacy,” he announced before retreating from the cockpit.

His statement left an icy chill in the air. Confounded by his refusal to talk, Athee rose to her feet. She stepped into the main hold, pausing to listen. Sound emanated from the rear of the ship. Aware she would get no further answers today from her Cassan trainer, she opened the hatch and exited the craft.

Numerous aircraft dotted the runway. Athee knew every plane by sight, and these were not familiar. Curious about their visitors, she entered the hanger. One of her uncle’s guards approached and greeted Athee.

“
The prefect has requested your presence,” the man announced.

Athee followed the guard to his cart. She rode in silence, her mind mulling over her conversation with Byron. His final words still rang in her ears. At first she’d believed he was avoiding her question, but the more she pondered, Athee realized that was indeed his answer. It had nothing to do with her on a personal level. He just didn’t enjoy sharing his time and personal space with another person.

He resents opening his mind more than anything, she thought, adjusting her position in the seat.

Arriving at the state building, the guard ushered her inside. He led Athee to the largest meeting room and several voices assaulted her senses. Stepping into the open doorway, she scanned those present. A dozen men, most dressed in fine clothing, stood around the oval table. Each deep in conversation with his closest neighbor, the men failed to notice her entrance. Peering around the nearest man, Athee caught sight of the prefect speaking with Commander Korden.

Uncle Orellen, you sent for me?

His head snapped around, causing his chin to jiggle. The prefect’s eyes fell on Athee. His surprise gave way to a more serious expression and he called for order.

“
Gentlemen! Before you depart, you must witness a demonstration of our potential future communications.”

The prefect gestured toward Athee. Her muscles tightened as every head turned in her direction. Recognizing one of the men, she realized the prefects from the surrounding cities had gathered here today. The small crowd drew still and the dignitaries eyed her with expectancy. Feeling self-conscious, she placed her hands behind her back. Holding her breath, Athee waited for further instruction.

“
My niece tested high for psychic ability and has been training with one of the Cassan officers,” Orellen stated. “I want you all to bear witness to what may very well solve our communications dilemma.”