by Pam Uphoff
At the far reaches of the room, Chief Huul pointed at cubical 165. "This is all yours. On the desk you will find three reports on completed projects. Study them, give me your opinions of them. In the other stack, there are three proposed projects. Give me what you would consider a reasonable scheduling, equipage, and supply for those projects."
She smiled, or at any rate showed a whole lot of teeth. "I'll be back at seventeen hundred to see how you are doing."
Ebsa opened his mouth to ask a few questions, but shut it as she'd already turned away. He braced his shoulders and stepped into his new job. A couple of hundred people to do paperwork? I . . . suppose that's not actually excessive. Considering the traffic through the gates.
A quick glance through the three reports. Each split into sections for a Project Overview, personnel, expendables—food, water, and fuel, mostly—equipment—vehicles, testing laboratories, mining equipment, kitchens—gate schedules.
This could actually be useful to know . . . when I'm on the other end of things, organizing a project across.
He fired up his comp and started taking notes.
***
"Ysqu Withione. Call me Square. You're about to become Flat, Wqlw."
Ra'd eyed his new teammate. "Call me Ra'd."
Square showed his teeth. "I've seen your records. You were never in first place."
"I had the privilege of going through the school with a better man."
"Not a good attitude for a Teamer. You should never admit that anyone is better than you. So you want to have a nickname other than Flat? Beat me." The man's eyes flashed and his voice deepened to a growl as he fired up—deliberately let his temper loose to trigger his Speed ability.
Ra'd sank his awareness into his center, bowed and reached for Speed as Square bowed and Elbow slapped the timer. Sounds deepened and everyone slowed around them. He sidestepped a kick, got a hand under Square's left leg long enough to step in and kick, a carefully controlled tap to the back of Square's right knee.
Square landed on his butt, rolled to his feet. No doubt about the lost temper now. He was a good solid three, or possibly a low level four. Fast enough to be a threat, but not nearly as fast as Ebsa or Paer. And much less ruthless than Isakson.
Ra'd kept his speed up, hitting the man as opportunity offered, blocking everything coming at him. The bell rang and he stepped back, and further back as Square fought to get his temper under control and finally stopped, breathing deeply between clenched teeth.
Team Leader Olli eyed Ra'd narrowly. Looked over at Elbow. "We'd better let Pixy have him. Can't have a newbie not break a sweat."
The grinning Pixy was huge, and moved like a dancer.
I'm in trouble.
But after three minutes of hit and run, the panting Pixy bowed to him. He bowed back. It had been a very near thing. He might be fast enough to be a Warrior. Pity that nasty twist. But as long as there aren't any women in sight, he'll be easy enough to get along with.
Then Elbow called out Ape, and Ra'd eased over to the Team. He hadn't actually been invited, but . . . it was time to act like he was one of them.
Cold thoughtful gazes, muttering to each other . . . Or maybe not.
He turned and watched Ape get put in his place. That was pleasant enough to make up for a lot.
Until Wrdo—Weirdo—clapped him on the shoulder and suggested they go next.
Good thing there's only seven of them.
***
"I see you have the bare minimum for your Medic Certificate. So, President's daughter or not, you'll start under strict supervision." The head nurse scowled down at her. "Sanitizing rooms between patients."
Paer opened her mouth to say she wanted Teams, wanted to go across . . . Shut her mouth, swallowed, and nodded. First I will show that I'm an asset, then I'll figure out how to get across.
She scooped up the pile of scrubs and headed for the locker room.
She hadn't grown up too spoiled, and had always rather admired the sheer energetic efficiency of professional cleaners. She braced her shoulders and applied herself. Fast and thorough. She asked, when she wasn't sure how to proceed, and by the end of the day had her mentor's approval.
And was allowed to clean mud off a live, cursing patient, so the doctor could see the actual injury.
Paer hesitated . . . and went back to swabbing.
A snort from the doctor. "Not bad, but why the hesitation?"
Paer gulped. "I've learned a lot of things treating horses . . . that may not be what you want me to do to Osso here."
"Oh?" The doctor eyed the swearing Teamer. "I suspect a horse doctor would slap this fellow to make him behave. So what can you do? Show me."
"Debriding wounds." Paer held her hand over a bleeding semi-clean knee. Everything that wasn't Osso leapt up and stuck to her glove.
"Yoww!"
"One, now that's nice! Doesn't even need a saline rinse." The doctor pulled the magnifier over and studied the scrapes. "Clean as can be. Going to need a couple of stitches."
The experienced nurse had sutures ready to hand.
"Keep going, Miss . . . Paer? One! I ought to have recognized you. Umm, keep going, debride everything."
Osso switched his attention back to her as she pulled all the dirt and sand out of a long scrape down his shin. "Owwowowowow!"
The doctor grinned. "No painkiller spells?"
"Oh, sorry, may I use them as well?"
"Show me what you've got . . . yes, you may use that one."
Osso escaped with only four stitches total, and Paer got to exhibit her anti-inflammatory and anti-infection spells, as well as use the standard reinforce and speed up healing spell.
It was a good day. And long. Dark by the time she walked out of the med center and was hauled off by her bodyguards.
She hauled out her comm and checked messages.
Ebsa and Ra'd must still be working. She sent a brief message and flopped across the back seat. "Take me home, feed me." Ug. Hotel. At least they'll have room service.
***
After Martial Arts, a brief break to change back into their street clothes and eat lunch.
Then on full stomachs, they ran to the rifle range, three kilometers away.
But firing a wide variety of weapons was a pleasure, not a chore. Ra'd was even good with the high tech aiming and recoil suppression rifles. Not as accurate as he was with either iron sights or scopes.
He ignored the grumbled "I told you so" from Idjit, who had more common sense than the rest of the grads altogether.
At least Team Twenty-nine was looking thoughtful, rather than universally angry.
I can do this. I will do this.
Then he met Elbow's cold stare.
If I survive the break-in period.
***
"This is actually a very good summary." Chief Huul showed her teeth. "But these project plans . . . I note that you've front-loaded a lot of expendables and minimized the number of gates, to save the projects money. ARE YOU INSANE! WE NEED TO KEEP THE FUNDING FOR THE GATES!" Glare. "What do you think the powered gates are good for, anymore? When we can just pay Disco to open permanent gates?"
Ebsa swallowed. "Exploration. Without powered gates, we can't explore at will. We can only ask Disco for access, and then if we want the world, buy it from them."
"Very good. I'm glad you understand that. Now rewrite these schedules to reflect our need for funds."
"Yes, Chief."
She stalked away, and Ebsa turned back to his beautiful schedules. So much for meeting Paer for dinner.
Three hours later Ebsa was so tired he had to force himself to eat. A message from Paer had come in while he was working. Looked like she'd worked late too, but had a good day. Nothing from Ra'd. Hopefully he hadn't killed anyone yet.
Ebsa tapped in a brief message of his survival and sent it to both of them. Was too tired to add hugs and kisses to the one to Paer. How can I get this tired just sitting and reading and writing. And rewriting. And rew
riting. He dumped his tray and staggered across the street to the barracks. Crawled into bed.
***
"Just because you're good in the Dojo, and at the rifle range, doesn't mean you city boys are any good in the field." Elbow sneered at them.
Ra'd glanced at the other newbies. They looked exhausted. Softies. I refuse to slump. Especially in front of her.
Senior Administrator Kael Withione wore her hair in the short cut women on Teams favored. Tall, and muscular. She'd obviously kept up the exercise since retiring from field work. The older teamers had been wary, told the newbies all of the rumors about one of the few ever women Action Team Leaders.
She served on Target Forty-two. Comet Fall. Rumored to be wanted by the Karista Police for murdering three policemen. Lost most of her team while she was on maternity leave, the new leader got them all killed, including, luckily for him, himself.
"Until you've been across, until you've responded well under pressure, you're still little kiddies. So. You will rise at five every day and join the real Teamers for the morning run and exercises. Tomorrow, run, eat, report to building fifty-nine for team practice. After we've seen how you work in your assigned group, we'll release most of you to your Teams. A couple of the Leaders may request that you get additional training in specific areas." Elbow eyed them all contemptuously. Ra'd got a narrowed-eyed glare. "Dismissed."
He ate at the employees' cafeteria across the street from the barracks. His room had been searched. Carefully, but he'd placed a couple of hairs where they'd be disturbed by anyone opening the closet or bottom drawer of the tiny desk.
I'm glad I decided to leave so many things in Ebsa's car. Especially Father's Bag. Speaking of which, I really need to find out who, or what, Ebsa's father was. That car has five hidden compartments that we've found so far. Ballistic panels, bulletproof glass. Drug King, maybe? Good thing Ebsa barely knew him. A criminal with a resource like Ebsa would be a very bad thing.
Now, hopefully, the Directorate will realize what a resource they've bagged. And the same with Paer. Me? Hopeless case. They want to break me, and then reform me in their image. All I can do is survive long enough to . . . something. Gain some level of acceptance. Get out of Action and into Exploration, at best. Kicked out at worst.
He thought that over.
No. I got the Director fired. For that, if they can't tame me, they'll kill me.
He crawled into bed and dreamed about the battle for Fort Rangpur. Only this time the attackers looked more like the Action Teamers than the Imperial Chinese Soldiers he'd fought, lost to, and hidden from, so very long ago. Kael was a natural, as General Chen.
Chapter Three
19 Rajab 1404 yp
Gate City, North American Region, One World
Day two. Form a compass with your teammates. An unadorned building, metal. A line of bright daylight all around the tops of the walls where there was a gap between walls and roof. Several large bay doors, wide open.
How often do they have power explosions?
All five of the action teams with incoming members were present, spread well apart. Ra'd eyed his team as they formed up, and stepped into the open southwest position. Grasped hands. Pixy was South and took his right hand. Evlu—Evil—in the West position took his left.
He forced himself to lower his outer mental shields, tightening up the inner shields as he did. He felt the thoughts and feelings of his teammates, heard their mental voices as they started blending. Still held that inner barrier.
:: That won't work. You have to join all the way. ::
He could feel the twist infecting the whole. :: Missed the bioattack, didn't you? ::
:: We were across for six months . . . and stayed away for another six when we heard what was going on. ::
:: Lucky. Pity. :: it was all starting to blend, and he was blending as well.
:: Stupid. Sane. Limited. Ha! He's One Damned strong. He's strange. Still young . . . but experienced. How old were you . . . thirteen when I first killed a man, two soldiers who saw through my disguise. ::
That roiled the merge badly.
"Soldiers? What soldiers?" Olli's physical voice jarred on his ears.
A woman's voice answered. "It's classified. Mystery boy here has a shady past to go with his questionable loyalty."
Ra'd looked around, and spotted Admin Kael. Obviously "listening in" to the merge. Then the merge sucked him down again. These weren't school boys, these were experienced Teamers. Men who knew what they were doing, and who had been doing it well for years. Decades in some cases. Ra'd relaxed further.
:: What the One hell are you? ::
:: Priest castrated no Fallen spells. ::
:: You must We must I must trust . . . ::
Olli gather power from the heat in the air and passed it around the compass. Ra'd accepted it from Pixy, handed it to Evil, who handed it on, it came around again, strengthened and smeared, less of a packet, more of a wave.
The power circled, leaping diving in a torrent of glowing fire.
Ra'd collected power and poured it into the tail, and as it came around again sent power ahead, passed on the accumulation, added power again to the tail, pulled power and added it as the packet became a spinning ring of power. Less dive and splash. Smoothing out as it sped and grew.
:: Enough power. ::
They spun power, a single mind focused on spinning the ring. Burning irresistible power. Dangerous. Very very dangerous.
:: We can do anything. ::
:: Not today. ::
:: Today we I dissipate it slowly. ::
Warming the air, warming the ground underfoot. The thinning ring needed careful handling. Ra'd relaxed into it, spinning it as it thinned, wobbled, softened to a faint ghost, cushioning the last faint breath of power as it finally broke.
He dropped his hands, and shivered, feeling his head stuffed with ideas and attitudes not his own. Not that he wasn't used to arrogance. He knew he had an overdose of that. But this new arrogance was different, full of a drive to rule and control others. Not his own Lone Wolf arrogance that desired to be left alone and free. He shoved the foreign thoughts out of his mind and closed his shields. The concrete floor was warm under his feet . . . He eyed a few odd marks . . . scorched? Did we do that?
"Now that was an excellent first Compass." Admin Kael nodded her approval and turned to watch the limping performance of a team with three new members. Shaking her head.
Pixy gave Ra'd a clout on his shoulder. "Good job. You just need a little more practice taking down those last shields and we'll kick ass all over the Multiverse."
Olli grinned and stretched. "Damn you're strong. Booster all around, then we'll do a few more exercises. That was a good start."
Ra'd swallowed. Some of the images . . . I don't want to know more about them. I don't want to see clearly, to know for sure their corruptness . . . but a full compass of powerful Oners was a spectacular thing. Glorious.
We can do anything.
But I don't want them in my head.
Do I?
***
"You are still front-loading a lot of stuff. Excesses of high quality foods."
"Yes Chief. I've been in the field. Good food is a very welcome break from long hard days." Ebsa tried to look professional, not wistful. Failed, apparently.
"And you want to go back, don't you? I know the look." Huul rolled her eyes. "At least you caught on fast. These are the final schedules the office approved. Now compare them to yours and at fourteen hundred I'll be back to see what you have to say about the differences between them."
"Yes, Chief." Oh dear One. This is only the second day and I already want to run away, not screaming, so they can't track me by sound and drag me back.
***
"How I'm supposed to get three teams out of you lot, I haven't a clue."
Ra'd glanced over to where Admin Kael was swapping Idjit to a completely different team. "So, they're short on teams?"
"Frantically. They've pull
ed and assigned eight teams to special projects—something to do with the Cannibal World, we figure." Pixy shrugged.
Evil nodded. "It's all hush hush, but what else could it be?"
"We're limited by law to fifty teams, right? And I heard that there are forty?"
"More or less. Once we get these four teams worked up we'll have, umm . . . Twenty-four Action, eight Exploration, and nine Info." Icko stepped over to watch a different team. Winced. "Mind you, Director Ajki has combined Action and Exploration."
"Tried to calm us down, diluting the action teamers. Damned Disco interference." Olli stopped and listened to Kael's blistering critique. Shook his head. "This is going to go on all week."
"So with eight teams on special assignments and us four just working up, half the Action Teams are off regular duty?"
"Yep, the rest are picking up the slack. And there's a lot of slack."
"I'm surprised they're so bad. I know adding three new people can be tough but . . . " Ra'd blinked as Kael hauled the whole bad team over to another and started mixing them up. "Are all the teams completely new?"
"Those are. The Senior Admin kicked a bunch of former teamers out of their cushy desk jobs a couple of months ago. These are the ones that haven't fit in with any other teams. She thought the new blood from the school might help." Olli shuddered at a limping performance.
Ra'd eyed them. Closed his eyes and studied them. Some of them were putting too much energy in, some speeding it up to much, too soon, some let the spinning power sag.
Good thing they aren't drawing much power yet, the way it's wobbling they'd blow the roof off.
He pushed away from the wall and walked closer. The first reformed compass was just starting to gather power. Two pushers together, two saggers together.
