by S. E. Weir
Phina shook her head emphatically. “Hell, no, but I needed it anyway.”
Todd turned to face her. “Oh? How so?”
She opened her mouth, but he answered his own question. “Oh. To remind you not to take everything seriously and that you’re loved and appreciated.”
Phina nodded slowly. “Yes. And to remember the people I love. To remind myself I’m not alone, no matter how I feel sometimes.”
Todd smiled warmly and was opening his mouth to respond when Will sat down on the other side next to her and leaned forward with a smile to Todd as he extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Will.”
“Todd.” He returned the smile with curious eyes as he shook Will’s hand.
They chatted for a while before Will turned to Phina, his face worried and tone anxious. “Phina? I’m having one of my feelings, and it’s a bad one.”
Todd leaned forward to hear more. Phina frowned and put down her cup of sweet, frothy beverage. “I thought your feelings had more to do with who you might be friends with?”
He nodded with his eyebrows furrowed in concern and a hint of fear. “Normally, yes. The last time I had a bad one like this, my dad almost died.”
Phina’s eyes widened and glanced at his dad, who was speaking to Anna Elizabeth, then looked at Will in concern. “Wow, but he seems okay now?”
He gave her a lopsided smile though his eyes still showed concern. “Yeah, it was several years ago. He took a couple of months off to heal up and have a break. He’s good now.”
Todd leaned forward with a small smile. “I know your dad. He’s a good guy.”
Will nodded with a small smile of appreciation as he picked up Phina’s cup and moved it around in his hands. “He is. We wish we could see him more, but Mom’s been amazing at keeping everything steady. He makes up for it when he’s home.”
Phina frowned and shifted in her seat, feeling brushing sensations on her leg. She glanced down but didn’t see anything. She shook her head, her thoughts processing Will’s information. “So, you think someone here might be in danger?”
He nodded, though he looked hesitant. “The feelings I get about becoming friends with people vary in strength depending on how close the relationship will be. With you, it was strong, so I knew we would be close friends.” He glanced at Todd and shook his head. “Not like that, more like family.”
Phina looked between the two men warily as Todd nodded, scrutinizing Will. They seemed to understand each other. She mentally rolled her eyes and waved it away, moving on. “The bad feeling?”
Will lifted a shoulder and continued to look anxious. “It was only the one time, so I can’t be sure, but this feeling is stronger than the one I had about my dad. Which probably means the danger is greater and to someone close to me. I can’t see it happening to my family since there is no threat to them. My dad is currently stationed here, so it’s not likely to be for him.”
He put the cup down and turned to face her, his eyes and whole body expressing seriousness. It looked wrong for the usual playfulness in his eyes to be gone. “The only person I have a relationship with that has had a death threat is you, Phina.”
Sundancer stalked around the room, listening to everyone at the party. They all chatted about one of three topics: Phina, speculation on how the Empress would handle the Leath, and the upcoming wedding.
No one could see him at the moment since he had combined his natural stealth with a mental “don’t see me” projection. It had taken Sundancer almost a full hundred years to learn as it took a lot of control, particularly in rooms full of people. As he paused under a table to listen to Phina’s conversation, he wondered how long it would take her to learn. She had learned the basics of shielding a lot faster than he thought she would. It had given him a lot to think about.
His attention was pulled to Will’s concern as the conversation progressed. Intriguing. He absently swished his tail against Phina’s leg as he considered the situation. His human was a trouble magnet. This was not something he had anticipated when he had first heard the call.
Before the call, he had expected his pair to be a lot more like himself, perhaps a scholar or a priest. Someone oratory and persuasive. Calm and collected. Dignified.
He snorted at that thought when Phina reached down to rub her bare leg. Oops. He turned so he could still be close to Phina but wouldn’t be touching her with his tail and resumed his thoughts.
Phina was far younger than he had expected and not a priest or an orator. She could be persuasive, though, and that would grow with time. She did project a calm and collected demeanor, but he had yet to see her be very dignified.
She also had the admirable and yet irritating trait of throwing herself between danger and those she considered friends and family. How was he going to be able to help her if he couldn’t anticipate what she would need?
He stewed on that as Phina assured Will that she would be careful and the party continued.
It still permeated his thoughts as the party broke up and people began to leave.
Phina crouched to presumably check on her shoe and whispered, “Sundancer, I know you are here.”
I should hope so since we are paired. Pairings always know where the other one is and can find each other even across long distances.
She frowned, then stood and continued the conversation mentally. That’s how you found me?
If you continue to ask questions you already know the answer to, this teaching process will grow to become tedious.
His human sighed and said goodbye to the last few people before turning to walk out.
The big man who had an interest in his human stopped them.
“Phina, let me walk you home.”
She frowned and protested. “Todd, I’m perfectly fine walking home on my own. ADAM will let me know if there’s a problem.”
Sundancer was miffed, sniffing as he responded. Or I will. I’m not invisible here.
Well, never mind. He was invisible. His human ignored him as she listened to Todd’s response. Sundancer grumbled, Well, I’m not chump change at any rate. I can warn you when there’s a problem and help protect you.
Phina finally agreed to the escort, which would have been fine with Sundancer if he wasn’t being ignored. He sighed and followed his human as she left, his thoughts occupied with his earlier musings.
His understanding was beginning to take shape. He would have to train Phina as quickly as possible and teach her what he knew about the Etheric. In the meantime, he could warn her of dangers coming. And better than that brain in a tin can, he pouted in thought.
A moment later, he felt massive fluctuations in the Etheric.
Phina!
Chapter Eighteen
QBBS Meredith Reynolds
“Phina, let me walk you home.” Todd requested quietly but insistently.
Phina frowned and protested that she could protect herself, but Todd just looked at her and said, “Indulge me.”
She finally agreed while Sundancer grumbled his complaints.
Todd seemed preoccupied as they walked, although he remained aware, his eyes scanning the corridors. After a few moments, he asked, “Why didn’t you mention that you had been marked for death by assassins?”
She sighed and shook her head. She also scanned their route as they walked, but so far, nothing had popped out as a problem. “Part of me knew it was a legitimate threat, and the rest of me didn’t want to treat it as such and make it real. If I talked to anyone further about it, that makes it serious. I didn’t want to think about it.”
He nodded and glanced at her. “I can understand that. At the same time, you can’t be prepared for a problem if you aren’t anticipating it, and you can’t anticipate if you aren’t aware of it.”
Phina took a sharp intake of breath at the gentle admonishment but let it out with a nod. “That’s fair. I shouldn’t have stuck my head in the sand about it. I wanted some time to feel normal and not like the strange being I’ve become. That’s what Qart
an finds so objectionable about me.”
Todd raised his eyebrows as they turned a corner, pausing briefly to make sure it was clear before proceeding. “Now, that’s where I need to disagree with you. No, you aren’t abnormal, but what you aren’t seeing or realizing is that what isn’t ‘normal’ about you is extraordinary. A normal life would be quieter and more peaceful, but from what I’ve observed that would bore you to no end.”
“Huh.” Phina thought that over and nodded. “You aren’t wrong about that. I guess I still have a hard time accepting that what makes me different is a good thing. I was told for years that I should behave a certain way, or I was wrong in some way. I didn’t realize how much it had affected me.”
Todd gave her a sympathetic glance as they passed a small group of people. “Another issue affected by your aunt? Sounds like she has a lot to account for.”
Phina pressed her lips together briefly as she remembered her visit to her aunt weeks before. “Yes.”
Just as Todd opened his mouth to respond, Phina felt Etheric fluctuations coming toward her on a trajectory that would converge behind her.
Phina!
She ducked at Sundancer’s warning and crouched as a large Qendrok appeared, stabbing knives where her neck would have been if she hadn’t moved.
Phina felt very aware of her lack of protective clothing and weapons. Since all she had was her hands, she punched the Qendrok in his nethers with as much force as she could muster.
Unfortunately, while it startled the assassin—Phina recognized the red medallion with a black band that was on his neck—the Qendrok didn’t react as badly as a human male would have done. Grimacing, Phina slid back to get more space and stood up, her violet and yellow skirts swishing around her.
The dark eyes of the assassin met hers as he hissed in disgust and determination before he moved forward. “Death to the abomination!”
Phina didn’t know whether to laugh or to make a sarcastic comment. She knew she wasn’t normal, and so did they. Todd told her that what was abnormal about her made her extraordinary. She wasn’t sure about that yet, but she did know that if she had been sent as an assassin, keeping her mouth shut would have been her choice.
Todd had brought weapons with him, including his knives. He pulled a black rod out of a side pocket and tossed it to her without looking as he moved in to use one to help fend off the assassin.
“Phina, catch!”
She grabbed it out of the air with her quick reflexes and was happily surprised to see that it was a duplicate of the rod that Todd had gotten her. She pressed the button to extend the telescopic staff and moved forward to engage the assassin.
Other humans and aliens passing by stayed out of the way while Phina and Todd worked together to fight the Qendrok. It was different fighting someone with four arms instead of two since there were two sets of arms to watch and only the top set had any physical tell as to his movements.
Phina tried to read the alien’s mind, but she met the same resistance that she had the first time she met them. She still tried as she could occasionally get an intention or focused thought.
With that small advantage, she renewed her determination and speed, recalling and enacting moves she had seen Braeden do when fighting. She didn’t think she had the moves quite right, but they were still effective enough combined with her speed and flexibility. Todd had drawn another knife after giving her the rod and fought with both hands.
Between the two of them, and with occasional ankle swipes from Sundancer, they were gaining ground, inflicting more damage on the Qendrok than they were receiving from him. His body had several slices and growing bruises, while Phina hadn’t yet gotten any cuts from the assassin’s knives. Todd had one on his arm that he had gotten when he threw the staff to her, and that was almost healed.
The expression on the alien’s face gradually changed from fierce and determined to dawning desperation.
Just as Phina saw an opening and thrust the butt of her staff at his throat, the Qendrok stepped back with panicked eyes and grasped one of his wrists with another hand. He disappeared before her eyes, much the way the Empress did. However, unlike when Bethany Anne stepped into the Etheric, Phina felt a disturbance around her that quickly moved away.
The corridor was still and quiet until a growing buzz of excited conversation and clapping came from the bystanders.
Phina shook her head and turned to Todd, who was still catching his breath. “So, I guess that was one of the assassins I needed to worry about.”
He flashed her a grin and wiped his knives on a cloth before sheathing them. I guess so.” He pulled out a wipe from a pocket and used it to clean up the blood residue from the healed wound on his arm. He shrugged at her raised eyebrows and merely said, “Always be prepared.”
“Hmm.” Phina glanced down and was surprised to notice that her dress was perfectly intact. Something to ask Alina about later. She hefted the staff once then pressed the button to withdraw the telescopic ends. “Pretty handy that you had this with you.”
Todd nodded and took the rod as she handed it back to him, sliding it in a pocket in his pants. “I got a second one so I could spar with you and learn how to use it better. Looks like you weren’t doing too badly for a beginner.” He gave her a questioning smile.
Phina dusted herself off and looked around to make sure there was no other trouble, though she shrugged in answer to his question. “I just did what I’ve seen Braeden do.”
“Ah.” He looked around, then gestured to ask if she wanted to continue walking. “The Gleek representative? Is that the person you know who uses a staff?”
She nodded to both questions, and they began walking back to her apartment suite with Sundancer trailing behind. The Previdian was both visible and uncharacteristically quiet. “Yes. He has used one for over a century, so he’s pretty good with it.”
Todd nodded, and after a brief moment asked a little too casually, “Are you two close?”
Phina almost tripped when she realized that Alina was right and he was interested in her romantically. Something to think about later. She gave him a small smile. “Like brother and sister. He’s been a big help with working through the mental changes.”
She could practically feel Sundancer’s ire directed at her from behind, so she added, “Sundancer too, of course. He’s taught me some useful techniques since he got here.”
Todd returned her smile with a touch of amusement as she got a ping from ADAM through her implant.
>>Phina, you are okay?<<
“Yes, ADAM. I’m fine.” She spoke out loud so Todd would know, but she continued the rest of the conversation privately. He nodded his understanding as they turned to head to the nearby tram. There were several seconds of delay before ADAM responded.
>>Meredith informed me that there was an assassination attempt. You appear to not have any wounds from the visuals she is feeding me.<<
Yes, it was an assassination attempt by the Qendrok, and yes, I’m fine. No wounds to speak of. Your wording makes it sound like you aren’t on the station.
>>Keep it to yourself, but no. I am not.<<
Phina had a couple of seconds to process that if ADAM was not on the station, then neither was Bethany Anne since his computer processor currently resided in her head. No wonder he didn’t want her to share that news. People might start panicking if they knew the Empress had gone walkabout.
>>Bethany Anne, and TOM, and I, are relieved that you are all right, but she is far from happy that the Qendrok attacked the station, and particularly that they are targeting you. She said to tell you that the gloves have to come off.<<
Phina felt a surprising warmth. Thank you all for being concerned about me. Should the response be more of a slap or a punch in the face?
>>The latter.<<
I think I understand. I’ll let Link know. Should we still wait until after the wedding, or prepare to leave immediately?
They exited the tram and began walking to her apartment
as she waited for the answer.
>>Bethany Anne says that family comes first. Then they get the fist. If that’s not enough, she will come personally and give them her size-seven boot.<<
Phina’s eyes widened. Is that really what she said?
>>No, that’s a heavily edited version of what she said, without all the creative cursing, name-calling, and body parts mentioned. Would you like me to repeat her full response?<<
Phina laughed and shook her head. No, thank you, ADAM. I got it.
>>Be safe, Phina. We would be upset if something happened to you.<<
Thank you, ADAM. Please thank TOM and the Empress, too.
>>You’re welcome, Phina. Bethany Anne told me to remind you to call her by her name and stop Empressing her to death.<<
Phina smiled as they turned into her corridor. “Thank you. I’ll try to remember in private. In public, I’m still going to be very respectful.”
>>Understood.<<
They said goodbye, and Phina looked up as they approached her door. She took out her keycard and turned to smile at Todd. “Thank you for walking me home.”
He nodded and stood nearby as she opened the door.
Phina waited for him to walk away, but he stayed there. “Goodnight, Todd.”
He crossed his arms and squared his shoulders as if he expected a rebuke. “I took the liberty of contacting Greyson Wells, Maxim, and Braeden while you were speaking with ADAM. With this attempt, the assassin popped out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly. We don’t know how he did that yet. You need guards. We are going to take a rotation where one of us will be with you at all times. That way, you have a backup in case another one pops up without warning.”
Eyebrows raised to their fullest extent, Phina closed her eyes briefly as she tried to keep her temper, then gestured as she stepped into the apartment suite. Sundancer followed, grumbling about milk and fish before disappearing into the shadows of the room. “Come in. I’m not having this conversation where other people can hear.”
Todd glanced at her warily but with concern as he passed by to enter. It was the latter that allowed Phina’s anger to cool. She was bothered at their high-handedness and making decisions for her, but she had to remember that they cared about her, and she couldn’t keep them out of things entirely.
