CassaFire (13 page)

Athee hesitated. Her uncle wanted her to speak using her mind, but she had no idea what to say, or if her words would be heard by untrained minds.

Start with your name and rank
, Korden suggested.

Meeting the commander’s gaze, she nodded.
I am Athee, daughter of Abemnent, and First Pilot of Ktren.

There were gasps of astonishment across the room. Athee sensed a mixture of curiosity and fear among the visiting dignitaries. Several men began talking at once, demanding a full explanation. The prefect to her right expressed indignation, pointing at her in a threatening manner. Athee edged closer to the exit, the guard at her side. It was a moment before Orellen brought order to the room.

She was asked to speak several more times. Commander Korden’s voice joined hers as he explained the advantages of telepathy, which silenced some of the protests. Listening to the exchange of words, Athee realized it was a continuation of an earlier discussion. As the conversation drew to a close, she hoped the other prefects had a better understanding of mental abilities after witnessing one of their own use the power. It would take more than one pilot’s mental voice to convince them, though.

Orellen asked his niece to wait in his office. Relieved for an excuse to escape the negative energy permeating the room, Athee retreated to the other side of the building. Commander Korden’s parting thoughts of encouragement raised her spirits a notch.

Her uncle’s office sat in a rare state of organization. Even his desk was free of papers. She often busied herself with straightening Orellen’s workspace; however, today that was not an option, as the task had already been completed.

Feeling restless, Athee wandered to the window, which offered a splendid view of the valley. She stared at the city and the landscape beyond the river. To her left, the mountain curved out of sight, eventually leading to the alien ruins. Ktren resided in a beautiful location, but Athee realized she’d outgrown the scenery and the narrow views of those inhabiting the city. After witnessing the reactions of those in the main council chamber, it was obvious those views were even more restricted outside of Ktren’s boundaries.

“
Fools,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

With a loud creak, the door opened. Athee spun to face her uncle. He strode to his desk and dropped a large stack of papers on its surface. Resting one hand on his chair, Orellen rubbed his forehead. Straightening his shoulders, he turned to face his niece, his expression grim. Athee’s fury renewed.

“
Those men are idiots!” she declared, her arms dropping to her sides.

“
They are also prefects,” he reminded Athee.

“
Why can’t they see the value of telepathy?”

Orellen sighed and leaned against the desk, his hands gripping the edge with force. “Because telepathy is only one of many issues. The appearance of the Cassans has presented numerous difficulties. Add the potential threat of this alien technology and our own psychic ability, and it’s simply too much for those men to handle.”

“
But it’s the answer to communication problems,” Athee cried, stepping closer.

Shaking his head, the prefect pulled aside his chair and sank to his seat. He pulled the stack of papers closer, his fingers pulling on the corner. “If only more of our people possessed your ability,” Orellen stated, looking up at his niece.

“
Officer Illenth continues to find others with traces of psychic ability,” she offered, feeling hopeful. “He’s working to entice telepathy from at least three men, and I’m sure there are more who possess that trait.”

Her uncle leaned back in his chair. “Unfortunately, I can’t pin all of our hopes on a possibility. Not when I am caught in the middle of a power struggle.”

Concerned by the weight of those words, Athee approached her uncle. She rested a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort the man. Orellen patted her hand and offered a weak smile.

“
I still harbor doubts regarding these psychic abilities,” he began, holding up a finger when Athee opened her mouth to protest. “They threaten to tear us apart even as the potential for unification appears.”

Athee rested her hip on his desk as she swung around to face her uncle. “What do you mean?”

“
The Cassans are superior to us in every fashion, no matter how hard we deny it. We’ve craved catching up to their technology even as they’ve denied us the opportunity. Tgren may possess compounds for their teleportation machines, but they do not consider us equal partners in any sense of the word.

“
Until now,” he declared, squeezing her hand. “You’ve proven that we can function on the same level as the Cassans, at least in terms of mental abilities. You are vital to the improvement of our alliance with their race. And, I get the impression from Commander Korden that you are important to the Cassans as well.”

She cocked her head. “Because I can teleport?”

“
Yes. You are valuable to both sides. If we can improve relations with the Cassans–which means all Tgren territories must be in agreement–I think there is great potential in such an alliance.

“
In the meantime, I’m caught in the crossfire, with a potentially dangerous piece of alien technology residing in our mountain…”

“
Then we need to try harder on all accounts,” Athee declared, cutting off his digression.

Orellen smiled and pulled Athee’s hands into his own. “You never give up, do you my dear?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

She grinned, aware of the source of her determination. Her uncle never admitted defeat under any circumstance. When he was alive, Athee’s father never gave up either.

“
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a lot of work to do before dinner,” the prefect announced, releasing her hands.

Athee leaned forward and gave her uncle a kiss on the cheek. Strolling toward the exit, she paused in the doorframe.

“
You’re not canceling the Hlerre Festival tomorrow night, are you?” she asked. The semi-annual event, held to give thanks for another season of prosperity, was one of her favorites.

“
No,” Orellen announced. “In fact, I’ve invited Commander Korden and his crew to join us for the celebration. Relations always seem to improve over food and spirits.”

“
And dancing!”

Her uncle’s expression exhibited astonishment and Orellen set down the papers in his hand. “You don’t intend to dance with the Cassan officers, do you?”

Athee winked. “Just one,” she said, closing the door before her uncle could voice a protest.

The Hlerre Festival wasn’t the largest of their celebrations, but it presented the most relaxed atmosphere. The formalities were brief, which meant more time for revelry. With good food and a variety of local spirits, inhibitions would lower as the evening progressed. Athee intended to take advantage of the situation and seek Byron’s company. Surely, he couldn’t maintain an air of professional detachment all night.

Maybe I’ll finally see past that confounded shield of his, she thought.

Chapter Seven

Jump!

Outside, the stars vanished. Athee maintained her lock on the teleporter and their destination. The device hummed in her mind, charged by psychic energy of her own creation. On cue, the sky over Tgren appeared. Clutching the throttle tighter, Athee confirmed the shuttle’s steady flight before glancing at Byron.

“
Did I do it all?” she gasped, doubting what she’d just experienced.

“
Yes, that was all you.”

Athee let loose a jubilant cry. She confirmed their flight pattern before her gaze returned to her instructor. To her surprise, Byron grinned. His genuine pride in Athee’s successful solo jump displayed not only in his eyes, but in his thoughts as well. It was a rare moment the reserved Cassan allowed any emotion to escape his mind. Athee felt privileged.

I felt your presence though,
she thought, turning the shuttle on a gradual arc.

Just as a precaution. I am still responsible for your safety,
Byron reminded her.
You had control of the ship and the teleporter, though.

Was that the correct amount of power?

Yes.

She smiled, pleased with his assessment. Byron was the expert on the transference of mental energy into the teleporter; she was fortunate she shared his unique ability.

Who trained you?
Athee thought, curious if his teacher also shared that trait.

My Cosbolt instructor and navigator.

A stray thought flickered through his mind, one Athee had caught during previous exchanges.
Bassa?
she asked, hoping she’d interpreted the name correctly. As if on cue, Byron’s mind closed.

“
Yes,” he answered, shifting in his seat. “Now, let me guide you in landing this ship. It requires a smooth touch.”

Together, they brought the ship down on the runway. Concentrating hard, Athee mimicked his moves. She observed with interest as he shut off the engines and essential system controls. Her plane boasted only a handful of gauges and switches, while the shuttle’s entire control panel glowed with buttons, dials, and screens. It was a complex vessel, but Athee thought she could fly it in a pinch. Perhaps next time he would allow her to take off as well.

Byron released his harness, but made no move to rise from his seat. Athee realized his energy was waning and knew this was her window of opportunity.

“
You’re not missing the festival tonight, are you?” she asked, removing her harness and turning to face him.

He ran his fingers through his hair, frowning with annoyance as he pulled at the strands. “I’ll be there,” Byron answered, shaking his head. “Damn, one of these days I need to make time for a haircut.”

The locks fell back into place. Parted in the middle, the tips touched the top of his cheekbones. In Athee’s opinion, the thick strands framed his face well.

“
I think you look fine for the festival,” she assured Byron, rising to her feet. “Better get some rest, though.”

“
Why?”

“
You’ll need energy for dancing.”

Leaning forward, Byron slowly rose to his feet. “Sorry, I’ve no experience with Tgren dance moves.”

“
I’ll teach you.”

He met her eyes, his expression reluctant. Athee funneled her energy into persuading Byron to dance with her tonight. He was aware of her manipulative powers and was likely to balk at her efforts. Athee had learned subtlety, though. She could mask her mental persuasions and move the wills of others without detection. In his exhausted state, Byron’s mind was no match for hers.

“
All right, one dance,” he declared, his eyes narrowing. “I refuse to make a fool of myself, though.”

“
Would I allow you to look foolish?”

Athee exited the craft with an extra spring in her step. Persuading him to dance with her was a small victory. Tonight, she planned to accomplish even more.

Byron made a trip to the Rennather before the evening’s festivities commenced. Several scientists accompanied him, including Mevine. Commander Korden had ordered everyone on Tgren to take a night off from their duties. The science officers had worked nonstop since their arrival, and the men were due for a break. Proper casual attire was required, as the men were to blend with the natives while still maintaining a certain level of professionalism. Judging from the prevailing odor in the shuttle’s main cabin, Byron hoped that included a shower. No one would approach the science officers in their current condition.

Upon his return to the surface, Byron retreated to his quarters to change. Dressed in his finest tunic and pants, he emerged from the Cassan facility. The night air felt comfortable; devoid of the customary stifling heat. He took several deep breaths to clear his head. He had to remain in control tonight.

Following two junior officers to the festival, Byron entered Ktren’s primary courtyard. The Tgrens had gone to great lengths decorating for the event. Flowers were strung on wires across the court, the thin cords twining around the light poles that dotted the main square. Vendors occupied the edges of the yard, taking advantage of the gathering crowd. Tables filled with local cuisine occupied the inner row of booths, free and available for consumption. Byron hoped the accompanying spirits were also free of charge. He wondered if he possessed anything of value to trade should he find payment was required.

Music filled the air and he noticed a group of musicians near the center of the square. At the moment, no dancers moved in rhythm to the beat. Hearing the complexity of the piece, Byron cringed. Why had he promised Athee a dance? He couldn’t keep pace with the music, let alone manage un known dance steps. His mind began to scheme ways in which to break their agreement.

The smell of food diverted Byron’s attention. He approached the nearest table, laden with exotic fruit and vegetable dishes. An older woman beckoned him to try a bite. He sampled the dish with hesitation. The vegetables were sweet and he licked the spoon clean. Nodding to the woman, he waited while she filled a bowl. Thanking her for the food, he scanned the square for refreshments. Catching sight of Officer Illenth with a drink in his hand, he approached the man.

“
Byron!” the psych officer called in greeting. “Glad you decided to join the festivities.”