Test Subjects

by R S Penney

  “I want to stay with you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Staring up at him with a thin-lipped frown, Claire nodded. “I'm sure,” she replied. “Mom's okay, but I never knew her the way Melissa did. You were the one who tucked me in, who read me stories, who put band-aids on my skinned knees.”

  Claire took a few steps backward, shivering as she forced out her next words. “And you were doing dangerous things way before the Leyrians showed up,” she said. “I was just too young to understand.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So,” she said. “I want to stay with you.”

  Harry sniffled as one tear slid over his cheek. “Okay,” he said hoarsely. “Then it's settled. But what about the N'Jal?”

  To his surprise, Claire took his hands and gave them both a squeeze. “Keep it.” She slipped her arms around him, leaning her cheek against Harry's stomach, and he returned the embrace. “Like you said, the bad guys are gonna come anyway. So, whenever they do, kick their asses.”

  Harry was unable to fight off the grin or the fit of laughter that escaped him. “It's a deal, kiddo.”

  And then Claire went out to see her friends as if this was a normal sunny afternoon, and they hadn't just been talking about the prospect of one of Slade's minions showing up at their front door. Hell, it had already happened once. Just a few short months ago, Leo had thought to ambush Harry at home.

  At the time, Claire had been very unhappy about having to stay in hotels and spend multiple nights at her friend's house. Maybe she was adapting…Or maybe Sora was right, and no kid should have to adapt to any of this.

  Sora…

  Now, there was a subject Harry would prefer to avoid, and that was made worse by the fact that he could not stop thinking about her. The memory of that kiss lingered with him. It wasn't guilt over moving on from Jena; he had thought long and hard about that. No, it was the fact that his by-the-book code of ethics told him that he had no business making out with his kid's teacher, and yet…He really couldn't get her off his mind.

  Trying to mute those thoughts to a harmless buzz, Harry decided to do a little bit of yard work. The flowers needed watering. That damn serving bot kept asking if he would like to make an adjustment to the yard maintenance schedule – the house took care of its own yard, you see – but he wanted the distraction.

  An hour later, Harry was on one knee in front of the flowerbed, shaking his head as he inspected the tulips. “Get your head out of the clouds, Carlson,” he muttered softly to himself. “It's not gonna happen.”

  He was cut off by the sound of footsteps in the grass. Cop instincts didn't fade just because you were off the force. He still paid attention to his surroundings, and someone was coming around the side of the house.

  “Back here!” he shouted.

  It wasn't long before Sora entered Harry's backyard in black pants and a sleeveless white shirt, a maroon headband in her dark brown hair. “I thought we should talk,” she said. “I owe you an apology.”

  On his knees, in the grass, Harry looked over his shoulder and blinked. “You don't owe me any apologies,” he said. “I appreciate all the help you've given me with Claire.”

  Her cheeks coloured, and she lowered her eyes to examine the tops of her shoes. “I meant for the kiss,” she mumbled. “That was inappropriate.”

  “Think nothing of it.”

  The awkward silence that lasted maybe twenty seconds told Harry that might not have been the right thing to say. When he looked up, Sora was scrutinizing him. In fact, she almost seemed disappointed by his curt dismissal of what she clearly thought was a major faux pas.

  Harry stood up, dropping his trowel and shuffling over to her. “Really, it's all right,” he said. “You don't have to apologize for-”

  “Was it really nothing?”

  Pursing his lips, Harry felt wrinkles lining his brow. “The kiss?” he asked. “Well, I mean…it didn't offend me. There was…It was a good kiss, but you're Claire's teacher, and we both know that means-”

  “Forget I asked,” Sora broke in. “It's fine.”

  “Well, I don't want to offend you-”

  “You haven't.”

  “I enjoyed it.”

  Her slow smile melted away tension that Harry didn't even know was there until it faded. “I enjoyed it too,” Sora whispered. It bothered him to note the relief he felt after hearing that.

  Covering his mouth with a closed fist, Harry shut his eyes and cleared his throat. “I would gladly pursue this,” he began. “Under other circumstances…But for the time being, we should maintain a professional relationship.”

  She offered a quick bob of her head in response. “I wholeheartedly agree,” she said. “The Board of Education would have a lot to say about a teacher who started dating one of her student's parents.”

  “No doubt.”

  “So, we're agreed then.”

  Harry clasped his hands together behind himself and bowed his head to her. “Yes, we are,” he said, trying to sound firm. “Claire will only be your student for a few months longer; we can figure out what we want to do after that.”

  Sora looked disappointed, but she nodded resolutely. “Even then, it might be best to avoid jumping into anything,” she cautioned. “Some people might find it suspicious if we started dating right after Claire moves on to the next grade.”

  “Right,” Harry agreed. “That makes sense.” Though he had to admit he was pretty unhappy with this latest turn of events. He could wait three months, if he had to, but now Sora was talking about holding off for some indefinite amount of time. “How…How long would it be, exactly?”

  “Well, there's no rule that specifies a time limit,” Sora explained. “But the generally agreed upon convention is that you should wait at least six months before you start dating the parent of one of your former students.”

  “So, nine months then?”

  “About that.”

  Shivering as he drew in a breath, Harry shook his head. “And let's face it,” he said. “You'll have probably met someone else by then.”

  “Or you will.”

  He looked up at her, blinking slowly. “So, um…” Forcing these words out was way too difficult. “Maybe we just shouldn't do this.”

  “I guess not,” she said, pacing to the edge of the yard. Watching her go was like a knife in Harry's gut. “But thank you…You were very brave the other day.”

  “Sora.”

  Reluctantly, she turned back to him and raised one eyebrow. Harry was closing the distance before his better judgment could dissuade him. Wrapping his arms around Sora, he kissed her and dipped her backwards.

  Walking through a corridor in a white dress and high heels that clicked on the floor, Keli paused when she felt a familiar presence behind her. It was getting to a point where she could sense the unique flavour of each Nassai, and with that knowledge, Keli could usually tell who was nearby.

  Her face lit up with a smile, and she shook her head ruefully. “Still keeping an eye on me?” she asked, turning around. “Honestly, I don't know why you bother. You've had far more trouble from other two-souls than you could ever expect from me.”

  Rajel Aydrius stood in the corner in black pants and a blue jacket, light reflecting off the lenses of his glasses. “Actually, I came to find you,” he said. “And to tell you that Operative Lenai has returned from her mission.”

  “Has she now?”

  “Yes, your services are requested.”

  Keli spread her arms wide and then let them drop again. “It occurs to me,” she said, striding forward, putting herself right in front of the man. “That with all the services that I provide, a little recompense might be in order. I should at least have my own office.”

  “You'll get no argument from me.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  Blushing and clearing his throat, Rajel took a step back and replied with a sheepish grin. “I'm wise enough to admit when I'm wrong,” he explained. “I saw you risk your l
ife to stop Adren, and then I saw you endure some kind of psychic attack when you went to interrogate him.”

  Keli almost shivered. Remembering what she saw in the other telepaths mind was something she tried to avoid at all costs. How she wished she could pierce the fog Nassai created around their hosts.

  The symbionts themselves were too alien for her to make much sense of what they might be thinking. She could pick up their “emotional flavour,” but specific thoughts? So, far that had eluded her. It was difficult to be certain of Rajel's sincerity with the ability to read his thoughts. Was this how normal people went about their daily lives? How did they avoid collapsing into puddles of anxiety?

  “Thank you,” she said simply.

  “Will you come with me to Agent Hunter's office?”

  She nodded.

  It was a quick ride by elevator to the sixth floor, and then a quick walk down a long corridor with glass doors that looked into offices. Most were empty. She was getting used to all the mental chatter. Oddly enough, being surrounded by Nassai actually made things easier. It dampened the noise somewhat.

  Jack Hunter's office had all the silly knickknacks from his life on Earth. Posters of cartoonish characters she did not know. She saw a young woman with a wooden stake, a blonde man in white robes with a glowing stick of some kind. The warm sunlight through the back window provided a soothing atmosphere.

  Hunter was seated on his desk with hands gripping the edge. In blue jeans and an old brown coat, he looked a little too pale, a little too worn. She could practically feel the fatigue radiating off him.

  It was the newcomer that interested her.

  A tall and muscular man with tanned skin and facial features similar to those of Tanaben sat in a chair with his hands folded neatly in his lap. She felt a pang of sadness at the sight of his broken nose. This one was afraid – Keli could almost taste it – but Jack's presence seemed to soothe him.

  Hunter looked up with a weary smile and jerked his head toward the stranger. “This is Novol,” he said. “He's Ragnosian. We were hoping that you might be able to translate, if you don't mind.”

  Keli started forward.

  The Ragnosian man recoiled from her.

  She stopped herself about three paces from his chair, folded her hands demurely behind herself and put on a smile. “Don't be frightened,” she said in the mildest tone she could manage. “I'm here to help.”

  With a delicate touch, she opened herself to the man's thoughts. His eyes widened when he felt her presence. “He's afraid,” she said. “But you knew that. He thinks that you will treat him as a prisoner of war.”

  Behind her, Rajel was in the doorway, and she could almost feel his amusement. “I have some experience with that,” he said. “You'd be surprised how friendly the Leyrians can be to people who had once been their enemies.”

  Keli couldn't argue with that.

  “No one's gonna hurt you, Novol,” Jack said.

  She relayed that information to the Ragnosian man, and his relief was palpable. He sat forward, one elbow on his thigh as he massaged his tired eyes. “I won't divulge any of my people's secrets,” Novol said. “What they did to the Justice Keeper was wrong, but I am not a traitor.”

  She translated for Hunter.

  “We don't want your secrets,” he said, getting off the desk. “I intend to seek refugee status for you.”

  Keli shared that with Novol.

  “How is she doing that?” he asked, pointing at her.

  Touching his mind, Keli shared her surprise that he had never heard of telepaths. Granted, the Ragnosian Confederacy was on the other side of the galaxy, but their two peoples had been communicating over the SlipGate Network for centuries. And Antaur loved nothing more than reminding everyone else that they were the only world to have developed telepaths.

  However, when she touched Novol's mind, she sensed that there were many bits of common knowledge of which he was ignorant. She sensed a keen intellect, but it seemed Ragnos kept its citizens ignorant of many things.

  Jack approached his new friend from behind and laid a hand on Novol's shoulder. His expression was one of guilt and sadness. “If you're willing,” he began, “our doctors can reverse some of the damage I did to your nose.”

  Keli translated.

  “How much will it cost?” Novol inquired.

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  Crouching down next to the other man, Jack smiled and let his head hang. “Things work a little differently here, Novol,” he explained. “The Leyrians have created a society of material abundance, and they share it equally.”

  Novol frowned and squinted at the wall. “I have always been told that the Leyrians impose a kind of economic slavery on their people.” He seemed to regret those words as soon as they were out of his mouth, but Keli translated anyway. “I was told that people here are forced into menial jobs by a totalitarian state.”

  “It's not like that,” Jack assured him.

  “I attacked you,” Novol said, staring in wide-eyed wonder at Jack. “And yet you fed me and tended my wounds. I cannot imagine that a totalitarian state would produce a man of such generosity.”

  His sincerity almost brought a tear to Keli's eye. She spent the better part of an hour translating, helping to make plans to get the man settled in. Jack intended to register the man as refugee tomorrow, and from there, they would find housing for Novol. Keli could recall going through the process herself.

  When it was over, a tired Keli walked through the corridor. “They should at least give me my own office,” she muttered. “One with a view.”

  She saw Rajel leaning against the wall with one foot propped up on it. He grinned when he saw her…or sensed her. “Would you like to get some dinner tonight?”

  Keli stopped, folding her arms and tilting her head to one side as she blinked. “You are aware that I have no sexual appetite, yes?” she inquired. “Because while I appreciate your advances…Actually, no I don't. But the point is that I recognize your attempt to build bridges, a date is not the best-”

  “Keli,” Rajel cut in.

  Her mouth clamped shut with the click of teeth.

  “I'm not asking you on a date,” Rajel clarified. “I just thought that maybe we could get to know one another.”

  “Very well, two-soul,” she said. “I appreciate a challenge.”

  The ceremony in which a new Justice Keeper received their symbiont was usually a private one, but the potential host could request the presence of their friends and family if they were so inclined. Some people wanted their loved ones nearby to celebrate if the Nassai accepted them or to provide emotional support if it did not. Melissa was the only one that Aiden had asked for, and that made her feel a little strange. The uneasiness she felt from Ilia wasn't helping matters.

  Her symbiont had been anxious all day long, but whenever Melissa asked her what was up, stony silence was Ilia's only response. On the bus ride over here, she had slipped into a trance to commune directly with her Nassai, but Ilia kept insisting that there were some things Melissa would have to figure out on her own.

  The ceremony took place in a small room on the first floor of Justice Keeper HQ. Windows along one wall looked out on the training yard behind the skyscraper, and she saw a few cadets in gym shorts running laps out there.

  Melissa had taken a chair in the corner. She was almost as eager as Aiden must have been. She had never seen this up close. Experiencing the Bonding yourself was a bit too surreal to get a good picture of what happened.

  Aiden stood in the middle of the room with his back to her, but she could see that he was breathing hard. There were days when Melissa was grateful she had been spared the suspense of waiting to find out if a Nassai would take her.

  The room was bare except for one small pedestal that supported one of those disk-shaped containment units that were used to transport Nassai. Right now, the LED on top of it was green, indicating a proper seal.

  Tall and well-mus
cled, looking sharp in a dark blue jacket, Operative Sarl Venson stood behind the pedestal with a smile on his face. His blonde hair was gelled into spikes, and his strong chin had a dimple. “It's always a joyous occasion when a new Keeper joins our ranks,” he said. “Cadet Aiden Tenalo, present yourself.”

  Aiden bowed low and then straightened.

  “Do you swear to protect the innocent,” Sarl said, “to shelter the weak, even at the cost of your own life?”

  “I do.”

  “Do you swear to use your power wisely and with temperance,” Sarl went on, “to never do harm except in cases where your enemy leaves you with no alternative?”

  “I do.”

  A small smile blossomed on Sarl's face, and he nodded as if there was never any doubt. “Do you swear to embrace this Nassai as a partner,” he asked, “to grow together in strength and wisdom?”

  “I do.”

  Lifting the containment unit in both hands, Sarl offered it to Aiden. “Step forward now, Aiden Tenalo,” he said. “extend your hand and accept the judgment of the Nassai.”

  Aiden approached the pedestal almost hesitantly, then reached out and laid his hand on top of the containment unit. Melissa could feel her excitement peaking. This was the moment she had been waiting for.

  Why was Ilia so nervous?

  Aiden stood with one arm extended, his hand resting on the containment unit while Sarl entered a code that released the Nassai. Any moment now…Melissa remembered her father telling her that she had started glowing when Ilia Bonded her.

  “Something's wrong,” Aiden said. “Nothing's happening.”

  Sarl looked crestfallen.

  His mouth hung open as he stared in disbelief. Then he shut his eyes and breathed in slowly. “I am sorry, Aiden,” he said. “The Nassai has decided not to join with you.”

  “What?” Aiden protested. “No! Try it again!”

  Shaking his head as he pulled the containment unit away from Aiden's outstretched hand, Sarl tapped in another code to seal the Nassai inside. “I'm sorry,” he said. “There is nothing I can do.”

  Melissa felt tightness in her chest.

  This couldn't be right. Surely, the Nassai must have made a mistake. But deep down inside, she knew there was no mistake. This was why Ilia had been so nervous. Because Ilia herself would have rejected Aiden if given the choice.