by S. E. Weir
Todd remained silent, watching her. When her laughter subsided, she looked up to see his assessing gaze on her and looked at him questioningly. He nodded and began speaking thoughtfully. “That gives me an idea. You are pretty strong and fast now, but you will still be smaller than many of the opponents you will have. Your daggers are useful, but they require you to get within arm’s length of your opponent, which would give them an advantage. What do you think about adding a different weapon to your practice? One that would give you a longer reach?”
Phina brightened, feeling excited for the first time since Alina told her she and Maxim were getting married. That made Phina feel down again because she hadn’t seen Alina much since then. Their schedules had been busy, and Alina spent much of her free time with Maxim. Phina had been practicing on her own since she didn’t think she had anyone assigned to her now. She looked up and realized Todd was waiting for a response.
“I think that sounds logical and practical. It’s a good idea.”
He nodded in acknowledgment before asking, “Do you have anyone training you right now?”
She shook her head simply. A pang hit her, and she realized she tried to appear as if she hadn’t been shunted to the side by other people. Or so it felt like lately. Everyone showed her they were happy to have her back, but they seemed to forget that since she had been gone, many things had fallen to the side, and they hadn't been picked up again once she had returned.
“I'll do it,” he offered.
Phina looked up, startled. “You will?” She squinted her eyes and looked at him in confusion. “Why would you do that? You must be busy as the leader of the Marine Corps.”
He nodded but grinned at her and gestured for her to take a seat. As there was a lack of chairs in the room, they ended up next to each other on her balance beam, which wasn’t a bad perch for Phina.
Todd looked somewhat uncomfortable with his seat as he continued, “Yes, but not so busy that I can't take time to train you for a while. If I'm deployed, I'll arrange for someone else to take over. For now, I will train you.”
Phina slowly nodded but remained hesitant. “You are certain my…changes don't bother you?” She gestured toward herself.
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “You mean that you are faster than me, stronger, more flexible, and can do amazing things like reading minds?”
At her wordless nod, he smiled. “No, they don't bother me. I'm used to hanging around with people exactly like that.”
Ah… right. Empress Bethany Anne, her inner circle fondly called the Empress’ Bitches, and his best friend Peter, an Alpha Wechselbalg who turned into a wolfman. Her body relaxed, releasing tension she hadn't realized she was holding.
Todd shifted, then straddled the beam and leaned forward. “I'll tell you a secret that I've learned while observing them over the last three decades.” Phina’s interest was piqued, and she leaned forward as well without realizing. “It's not what powers you have, but what you can do with them and for what reason that makes the difference. There have been many enemies we have fought, some of which had greater powers or numbers, but while we have lost some battles over the years, we have won every war.”
His eyes warmed as he continued speaking, becoming more animated. “We fight for Justice and the right to live. We fight so that those who are weaker have protection against those stronger who would take advantage. We fight not just for the Empire as a whole but for every individual person. They all matter. Most of all, we fight so that those Kurtherian bastards from the seven clans the Empress has been chasing won’t continue to use the universe as their socio-science experiment!”
Todd shook his head, with his lip curled up in disgust. “You should see the things they’ve done to some of the worlds the Marines have been sent to. It’s a sad display of what happens when a race develops a god complex. It would probably sicken you as it does myself. Some are relatively harmless, with minimal adjustments of DNA and core attributes.” He paused and pressed his lips together. “Some are so far gone there is little trace of their previous existence. They have erased entire cultures and species. It’s…”
“Barbaric and arrogant.” Phina finished quietly. Todd glanced up upon hearing her. He swallowed and nodded, his expression stark.
She hesitantly gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry for what you’ve lost in protecting us, but I thank you as well. You and your Marines hold the line and keep us safe. It’s easy to lose sight of that when flashier things are happening, but that doesn’t make your actions less worthy.”
“Thank you.” His eyes warmed as he smiled and squeezed her hand before releasing it and swinging his leg over the beam to stand. “Ready to go again?”
Phina jumped up and nodded, a small smirk growing on her face. “Yup, I’m ready to kick your ass.”
“Oh.” He grinned and set himself in a ready position. “The student thinks she’s overtaken the master already?”
“I guess we’ll see,” Phina lightly replied as she stepped into her position. She ran a couple of steps, jumping up into a flying takedown that mostly succeeded. Todd managed to turn it into a deflection that almost took her down at the same time. She twisted and broke the hold he had on her before whirling to meet the next attack.
When she saw his grin, she paused and laughed. To think, almost two and a half years ago when she first started, she hadn’t wanted to learn to fight, and she had badly but surprisingly defended herself in a fight with this same man. She shook her head.
Life had taken a strange turn, but she had begun to realize just how much she enjoyed it.
Chapter Eleven
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Docking Area
Phina entered the docks to wait for the ship bringing Braeden, Sis’tael, Drk-vaen, and Ryan Wagner home. ADAM had contacted her and relayed that the ship would be docking within the hour. She had been excited to hear the news and hurried so she would be here before the ship arrived.
When she walked farther inside, she heard loud yowls and meows mixed with words in her head.
Get your paws off me, you mangy mutt! I’m here looking for my human! I’m sure you fall far short in comparison with your stuffy shirt and scratchy vest. A cage!? You dare to put me, Sundancer of the 9th Preeminent Family of Previdia in a cage?! I’ve never been more insulted in all my 127 years of life! You have never been paired with a Previdian, you rabid beast! When my human gets here, she will tear you new holes to breathe from!
As Phina moved closer out of curiosity, she could see a poor immigration employee struggling to close a latch to a cage. The employee finally got it shut, then straightened and sighed in relief. Her shirt and vest had been shredded around the arms and chest, although no blood was visible. A definite relief.
She turned to see Phina watching her curiously and blinked before stammering. “Ca-can I h-help you?”
Phina walked over to the desk and eyed the cage before turning to the beleaguered woman. “I wondered what was going on. He’s telling you he’s looking for a human, so why is he in a cage?”
My human! You’re my human! It’s about time you showed up.
The woman opened her mouth as she glanced at the cage. Phina heard the words in her head from the creature, her eyebrows rising in surprise as she turned to look as well. She responded in her head before the woman spoke. Wait, you say I’m your human? I don’t think I know you.
“Is th-that what he’s b-been s-saying? I n-never g-got the implant update for animals.”
Of course you are my human, you silly girl! Why would I have traveled almost a whole solar year to find you if you weren’t my reason for being here?
Two conversations at once. Again. If she didn’t have this cocktail of nanocytes in her body, she would be developing a headache.
I see... Well, you could have been traveling for fun. How would I know the difference? How do you know I’m your human and not someone else? Are you sure you aren’t just trying to get out of your jail sentence in there?
Affronted silence permeated her thoughts.
She responded to the woman quickly. “Well, that’s what I’m hearing. He says I’m his human. I’ve never seen him before, so it’s something of a surprise to hear.”
I’m greatly disappointed you haven’t gotten me out of here yet, or torn her new breathing holes as I told her you would, so we all have our burdens to bear.
Phina ignored the caustic comment to focus on the woman who was looking at the cage in dread as she asked her next question. “Is there a problem with him being here? I can translate if you need.”
Priscilla, Phina had belatedly noticed the name tag, sighed, and glanced at the cage glumly but voiced no objections.
“I need his p-papers t-t-to travel. The c-captain of the sh-ship who b-brought him s-said he was a st-stowaway.”
A stowaway! The rotten liar! I paid that dirty captain two good rats for passage. I laid them on his desk neatly and everything. The creature sniffed in her head.
Trying not to smile or laugh, Phina relayed the information to Priscilla who blinked and queried, “And th-the p-papers?”
Silence greeted the question.
>>Phina?<<
Her AI friend’s voice greeting her through her implant was a relief. ADAM?
>>I am seeing what’s happening. This creature is saying he belongs with you?<<
Are you always watching the docking platforms? Yes, that’s what he says.
>>Reynolds and I get pinged whenever there’s an altercation of any kind so we know how to respond if we are needed. We can waive the lack of papers if you take over supervision and responsibility for him and fill new ones out now. What species is he? He was squirming too much to tell.<<
I don’t know, ADAM. I haven’t seen him yet.
She reached out to speak to the creature who had claimed her. Could you step forward so we can see you better?
I am always happy to show myself to be admired.
The small being stepped forward to the door of the cage, revealing the body of a hairless cat with wrinkled pink skin and overly large eyes and ears. He seemed both adorable and somewhat vain.
>>Phina, this creature matches the entries I have for the Sphinx cat on Earth.<<
That’s why he looks familiar. I’ve seen a picture before. I did have the thought that they looked like little aliens.
A tutting sound filled her head. Please, I am Sundancer, a magnificent specimen of Previdia. You are my human, and you are failing to do your duties to worship me.
Phina froze, her eyes moving as she blinked in disbelief. Are you serious?
He looked affronted. I am always serious about worship! Where is my food? Where is my soft, comfortable bed near your head so I can give you advice and tell you when your life is going wrong? You are my human, and you have duties you are failing at! Such as, why am I still in this cage?
Phina was too stunned to speak for a moment, her mouth flapping open as she tried to respond.
“Are y-you okay?”
Phina blinked and turned to stare at Priscilla, who gave her a sympathetic glance. “He’s y-yowling. He must b-be saying something b-bad.”
“He wants to be let out of the cage.”
Priscilla’s shoulders dropped as she turned to glance at the cage before looking down at her shredded clothing. “Oh, damn.”
Phina found herself holding the pink hairless creature in her arms as she continued to where the ship was docking. She had used up her extra time handling the cat’s paperwork.
I have a name, you numpty.
“I’m still not sure I’m not dreaming this up in my head.”
I’m still not sure you’re my human. Surely my human would treat me better by giving me a pillow to travel on and tasty nibbles of fish.
“All right, I’ll put you down and let you go on your way.”
No, the hairless cat yowled as Phina bent over to carry through on her words. His claws held onto her sleeves so she couldn’t put him down. Previdians are honor-bound to stay with their charges. If you put me down, I’ll just follow you. I’ll make your life miserable until you take me with you.
Phina raised an eyebrow as she stared down at him. “Seriously? You have no idea what I’ve been through in the past couple of years. This is nothing.”
He looked up at her gravely and nodded with seriousness. I do know, actually. Well, parts of it. That is why I am here.
Both eyebrows rose in surprise. “Say that again?”
The cat frowned at her repressively but looked adorable. You are not growing hard of hearing. You know perfectly well what I am saying.
“I’m not growing hard of hearing,” Phina responded impatiently as she resumed walking, the creature still in her arms. Passersby gave her odd looks and hurried past her. She ignored them. “I don’t understand what you mean by ‘that’s why I’m here.’”
I heard your call into the universe almost a galactic year ago. Are you saying you have no idea what I’m talking about? He sounded personally affronted as he squirmed around in her arms so he could see ahead. A Previdian who is paired hears the call and answers by traveling to find their charge and make certain they succeed in their endeavors, including their connection to the Etheric. I have traveled in two small ships, a cruiser, a merchant vessel, two military vessels, and a shuttle to get here. I endured aliens with tentacles, inadequate food supplies, dozens of rough soldiers, hyper-controlling captains, a steward with garlic breath, and an abominable female who shrieked and clutched me to her chest while speaking to me as if I were a simpleton. I knew my charge was human, but I don’t hold that against you. I knew my charge was youngish, but I don’t hold that against you either. It’s the lack of fish and other tasty nibbles and comforts I find disturbing.
She stopped and looked down as the bright blue eyes of the Previdian turned up in question. “Wow...okay. First, taking galactic and solar years into account, that would have been around the time I had an increase in my abilities. I had issues on a dying planet and then went into a coma. I can’t think of anything else relevant that happened around that time. But I certainly didn’t purposely put out a call for someone. I don’t know the first thing about Previdians, lovely though you sound,” Phina added hastily when he looked at her indignantly. She looked around for the correct dock as she continued walking.
Phina frowned as she recalled the time in the cave that she had woken up in pain after passing through the barrier and had thoughts of a cat in her head. Could that be when Sundancer had heard the call? It was odd but too coincidental to dismiss. “Who paired you with me? How did you know I was human and young? And lastly, I just found you. Give me some time here. I need to meet my friends off their ship before we can do anything about food. I’m hungry too.”
Sundancer looked mollified at the information. Yes, it was when your connection to the Etheric grew stronger. As I said, I heard your call. It flared suddenly, and I knew you were in desperate need of my advice, so I graciously decided to come immediately. After I caught enough victuals for the journey, of course, he added stiffly, as if he thought she might disapprove.
She frowned as she processed that.
Previdians are only connected to those who have strong minds and can connect to the Etheric realm, Sundancer continued. That makes the pairing possible. The universe, fate, higher power, or whatever else you want to call it, paired you with me. Previdians say the ancestors. It is your privilege to have my advice and instruction on connecting to the Etheric. He regarded her gravely. I wouldn’t have heard you on Previdia if we hadn’t been paired. That’s how it works. I heard the call and got a sense of who and where you were so I could find you. It has worked that way for generations of Previdians.
Phina stopped in shock and surprise and held Sundancer up so his eyes were level with hers. “Hang on. You are saying that not only do I have to deal with losing a year and a half of my life and all the emotions and issues that brings, and learning or proving I know everything I need to pass the Diploma
tic Institute, and help with Alina and Maxim’s wedding, and all the super-secret things I can’t talk about in front of other people like the ones currently staring at me like I’m crazy, but now I also have to train to use energy from the Etheric realm?”
I’m not certain yet if you are bright or slow. I’m leaning toward slow.
Phina shot him a look. “Sundancer.”
He waved a paw. Yes, yes, that’s what it means. I train you to use the energy from the Etheric. You could drop some of those other things if you want less to do. You need more time for training.
Lost in thought, Phina tried to wrap her head around this new reality. “So, if Previdians come to those who have strong minds that are connected to the Etheric, how come I haven’t heard of your species before? We have several people who fit that description here, including the Empress.”
Sundancer gave an imperious glare. Do those persons already have mentally connected companions of their own?
Phina squinted, then remembered that Ashur, a dog who had been enhanced to the size of a small pony, had become Bethany Anne’s companion long before they had entered space. She listed others that might qualify in her head and realized that those people either had companions in the form of one of Ashur’s children or had been established adults by the time they had reached space, having long come into their abilities. “Huh.”
The cat sniffed disparagingly. Precisely. Those overgrown mutts had connections with those persons. The ancestors don’t send us where we aren’t needed.
Phina wanted to scratch her head, but her hands were full. “So, saying all those who have Previdian companions are connected to the Etheric is like saying all Previdians are like cats, but not all cats are like Previdians?”
Sundancer’s eyes narrowed dangerously. I. Am. Not. A. Cat.
She scowled at him. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing. I’m not going to drop everything in my life for this training.”
Yes, you are, he immediately responded.
