Minder Rising: Central Galactic Concordance Book 2

by Carol Van Natta

  Lièrén looked at his CPS percomp for the time. “Where should I meet her?”

  Rayle gave him the coordinates of a restaurant near the offsite location where Derrit was being held.

  “Please tell her I’ll be there in forty minutes.”

  “You’re a nova-class star. I owe you one. Thanks!” Rayle ended the call.

  Lièrén hated to leave the Testing Center hub, where he had access to their digital ecosystem, but it couldn’t be helped… or could it? He eyed his CPS-issued percomp. That crafty húlí Fiyon had controlled—and shattered—the entire security network from a percomp.

  Lièrén quickly created a new hub account, then through a quick series of associations, gave it the virtual keys to the kingdom, and locked it with his percomp’s unique ID. He tested it a couple of times, and it seemed to work. He pinged for a secure cab, left the hub station powered but secure, grabbed his gym bag, and told the man at the front desk he was going out to a restaurant, then for a workout, and would be back later.

  The cab glided to a stop. Lièrén got in and shut the door before transmitting the coordinates from his prepaid percomp. Once the cab went airborne, he darkened the canopy and changed into flexible boots, loose pants with multiple pockets, a knit shirt and vest, and slash-layered, waterproof jacket with a deep hood, because as usual, rain was in the forecast. He hesitated, then put the shockstick he’d taken from the mugger into one of his thigh pockets. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  * * * * *

  Imara walked with Lièrén hand-in-hand down the walkway, like a couple out for a stroll. She knew she should have been upset with Rayle for involving Lièrén yet again, and upset that Lièrén was jeopardizing his career, but all she could feel right now was relief. She’d examine her other, more complex feelings for him later.

  She tilted her head toward the bland-looking office condo at the end of the row. It was mostly a small-business commercial neighborhood in Half Spires, with cookie-cutter buildings carved up into narrow cookie-cutter spaces. “That’s the one,” she murmured. “There’s a balcony and collapsible stairs in back. Air pad up top, inside lift to get there. Biometric lock.”

  “How did Ghisolfi enter?” His voice was equally quiet.

  “Roof, with the pilot.”

  She’d been up there scouting, so thank Neptune the warning ping from her friend in traffic control had given her time to hide when the flitter was cleared to land.

  Then things went from manageable to farked. The flitter had taken up the entire pad, leaving no room for anything more than an airsled. The pilot and that oily jerk, Ghisolfi, had entered the lift and hadn’t come out. Imara hadn’t liked the feelings coming off of Ghisolfi. His body language and her talents said he was dangerous. She’d thought she was totally farked when Rayle said he couldn’t come early, but would try to find a substitute.

  When Lièrén had walked into the diner, she’d just about cried. Instead, she paid her bill, slid her hand into his, and led him out the door.

  She explained her original plan as they walked. Once the TSAC march came streaming by, she’d pound on the door and tell the guard that someone was trying to break into their condo from above. Meanwhile, Rayle would land a borrowed aircar and try to get in the lift, making the guard think it was an attack. While the guard ran upstairs, she’d take Derrit out the front door and melt into the marching TSAC crowd. Rayle would take off in the aircar and return it to the city’s hangar.

  “That CPS flitter is the problem. If Ghisolfi even smells me, the flitter is their ticket to blue skies, and Derrit will be gone.” She realized she was squeezing Lièrén’s hand like a vice and let go. “Sorry.”

  He caught her hand again. “You didn’t hurt me.” She felt a distortion in his aura.

  “Liar.”

  He smiled faintly and ducked his head. “Much.”

  She smiled back. “Truth.” She couldn’t do the sifter’s trick with everybody, but it worked with her friends. She’d been practicing.

  His eyes widened for a moment before his expression smoothed again. “I have… Let me try something.” He moved her hand to just above the crook of his elbow, then bent his arm so he could rest it across his waist and use the corporate-style percomp on his wrist. As they continued walking, she smiled contentedly, in case anyone was looking, and pretended he was looking up some nice, touristy show to take her to. She hadn’t been to a show in years.

  Focus, she ordered herself. Even though Lièrén had twice come back after saying goodbye, he was still a transient.

  If she couldn’t remove the flitter, maybe she could disable it. She had enough tools in her backpack to do it. That only left the street as an exit point, unless they had a secret way into the adjacent condo. It would be harder to elude two men on foot, but not impossible. The trick would be in luring them both away from Derrit. She had some ideas for that.

  Sensing that Lièrén was on autopilot as he walked, and not paying attention to his feet, she gently steered him around the walkway corner, out of sight of the condo, and toward the nearest bench. She gave a silent nod of appreciation to the city planners who’d taken pedestrians into consideration, even in the more industrial parts of Spires.

  She sat him down on its textured glass surface, then sat next to him and stared at the sky, as if looking for the rainbows Spires was famous for. She had plans for staying under the CPS’s radar, but it wouldn’t hurt to have alternatives.

  “I can’t do anything about Ghisolfi, but when would you like the flitter to leave?” Lièrén’s voice was calm, as if he’d asked if she wanted a cup of tea.

  She couldn’t help but look at him in startled surprise. “How can you… Forget I asked. The sooner the better. I want Derrit away from Ghisolfi. He… doesn’t feel right.”

  Lièrén went back to his percomp for a few more moments, then closed the display. “The flitter and pilot should be leaving in about five minutes. They’ve been ordered to report to the Rim to assist with crowd control.”

  “You’re the best!” she said, patting him on the thigh. “Remind me to kiss you later.” She pulled out her brand new percomp, the one she’d emptied her solstice presents fund to buy. She pinged Rackkar Horis and told him to execute Plan B. As Lièrén’ stood to leave, she gave him a sunny smile. “I love a good parade, don’t you?”

  Channeling the TSAC march in the west had forced it to spread north. The leading edge of the TSAC march was finally coming, so she pinged Lièrén’s local percomp. A few very long minutes later, he pinged her back. She got up from the bench and walked purposefully to the condo’s front door, which opened as soon as she approached. She stepped inside, and Lièrén quickly sealed the door behind her. From what she could see, the ground floor was decorated like a corporate office. In the main area, Agent Ghisolfi was slumped over a desk, as if he’d fallen asleep. Lièrén had told her he could neutralize the man, and she’d believed him, but it was nice to see it for herself.

  He pointed toward the curving stairway. “Second door on the left.”

  She took the stairs two at a time.

  She found her son asleep on a narrow cot, and her talents said he was all right. Relief swamped her so strongly that she had to hang onto the door frame for a second before she could cross to him.

  “Derrit,” she said softly, touching his shoulder.

  He woke, groggily. “What time is it?” He always asked that if she woke him, because it usually meant he was late for school.

  “About four. Come on, let’s go.” She ruffled his hair.

  He sat up and looked around, then frowned. “Agent Ghisolfi said you couldn’t come.”

  She bit back a curse as she took Derrit’s hand. “Of course I can. I’ll always come for you. It’s time to go home.”

  Watching him closely, she led her sleepy son down the stairs. He smiled when he saw Lièrén, but faltered when he saw Ghisolfi on the desk beside him.

  Derrit’s eyes filled with tears, and he pulled his hand away. “I
can’t go.”

  “Why not, bata?” She tried to focus all her talents on him, but his shielding made him a black hole.

  He backed away toward the corner of the desk. “I’m untrained. I’ll hurt someone.” A tear leaked down his cheek. “I already did.”

  She stilled. “Who did you hurt?” she asked carefully.

  “One of the testers at the center, Recruiter Yiu… Yoo. He wanted me to show Agent Ghisolfi what I could do, and I told them I didn’t want to, but he said it was okay. I thought I did it right, just like Agent Sòng taught me, but he passed out. They said I slated him.” He was openly crying now. “I don’t want to hurt people, awake or asleep. I need to be at the Academy, where they’ll teach me not to be a monster.”

  Imara closed the distance between them to gather him into her arms. “You will never be a monster,” she said fiercely. She gave Lièrén a desperate look.

  “Derrit,” asked Lièrén, “did they tell you that you could unintentionally use your talents while you were asleep?”

  Derrit looked up toward Lièrén and nodded.

  “I… heard the same thing when I was young, but it’s a spacer’s tale.” Lièrén shook his head. “Your brain makes chemicals that keep you from sleepwalking, or wrestling alligators in your sleep. Those same chemicals prevent your talent from operating while you’re dreaming. Did they also tell you that when you’re mad, you could lose control, and become a danger to anyone nearby?”

  “Yes, but it’s true! I was mad at that tester, just like with that guy from the bar, because he said I was faking it. I hurt him.”

  Lièrén shook his head. “No, you didn’t. He was perfectly fine when I talked with him this morning. It takes more than a momentary push to blank-slate someone.”

  “But he…” Derrit looked at Ghisolfi, still slumped on the desk, then up at Imara. The despair on his young face nearly cratered her. “He said one of them had to be with me at all times, ‘cause otherwise I might hurt you.”

  “Derrit,” said Lièrén, “have you ever hit your mother when you’ve been mad at her?”

  “No,” he said, then looked down and added in a small voice, “but I’ve thought about it.”

  “Remember what we talked about with the guy at the bar? Thinking isn’t doing. If you don’t hit her, why do you think you’d use your talent to hurt her?” She was grateful for how patient Lièrén sounded.

  She felt Derrit relax a little in her arms. She stroked his back and tried to project her love to him.

  Derrit looked at Lièrén. “You said my shielding bottled up Nanay because I didn’t know what I was doing…”

  Lièrén nodded. “That’s true, but you were keeping your promise to your father. You can learn to do better, but it doesn’t have to be at the Academy.”

  The distant sound of a police warning horn startled them all. She looked to Lièrén. “Could you see if the marchers are here yet? They should be coming from the north.”

  He nodded and moved quickly toward the side window to peer up the street.

  She loosened her hold on Derrit, but kept her hands on his shoulders.

  “They were lying to me, weren’t they?” The heartbreak on his face nearly made her cry.

  “Yes, binata. They’re like used aircar sellers. They’ll tell you anything to get you to buy their camel shit.” She brushed moisture off his chin with her thumb. “Where’s your coat?”

  He nodded and pointed with his chin. “They put it in the closet.”

  She turned to look and was startled by a loud crash. She spun back around to see Ghisolfi surging toward them. He grabbed Derrit’s shirt and yanked him back. Before she could reach him, Ghisolfi put a needler to her son’s temple.

  “Freeze!” he snarled, dragging Derrit away from the desk and fallen chair. “One twitch from either of you, and I’ll lobotomize the kid.” He glared at Lièrén, who’d stepped in from the window. “Your career is flatlined, compagno. I hope you got laid first, or you’ll have thrown it away for nothing. Shift change will be here any minute.”

  Lièrén’s face gave nothing away, but she could feel his anger coming in waves.

  “Derrit can’t go to the Academy if you shoot him. You won’t get your commission, or whatever it is you get out of this.” She put as much challenge in her tone as she could muster, willing him to make eye contact with her. He did, and his expression hardened at the disdainful look on her face.

  “Better that than let him go. You think I’m doing this for money? Tu femminile ignorante. Non lo sai che è un mostro?”

  “Hey. Stronzo.” She glared at the asshole as she took a deep breath and tightened her hands into fists. “I’m not ignorant, and my son is not a monster.” She channeled all her anger and fear into the telekinetic push that forced the tip of the needler toward his own face.

  The astonishment on his face was gratifying, but not as gratifying as seeing a thunderingly enraged Lièrén grab the man’s throat and make him drop like he’d been poleaxed. She lunged forward and pulled Derrit away so he wouldn’t be taken down, too.

  Lièrén stayed crouched a few seconds longer, then looked up at her. “We have to go. He wasn’t lying about the shift change. I can twist away our little visit, but I don’t have time to do anything more.”

  “Do it. Derrit, get your coat.” She gave him a quick squeeze, then nudged him toward the closet. She stepped around Lièrén to look out the window. The previously empty street and walkways were filled with people walking, some carrying flags and signs, and some banging on drums, although the condo’s soundproofing made it look like silent newstrend footage. At least that part of her plan had worked.

  The condo’s wallcomp started blinking with a message announcing the approach of an air vehicle. She touched Lièrén’s shoulder. “Company coming.” She bent to pick up the fallen needler, and started to pocket it, but hesitated. Maybe it would give them a few extra minutes if Ghisolfi didn’t notice it was missing. That didn’t mean she had to leave it functional, however. Needlers were finicky little weapons that often jammed, especially if their delicate tips were bent.

  Lièrén stood up. “Help me get him into the chair, like he was before. He’ll think he’s sleepy, maybe coming down with something.” They wrestled him into the chair and draped his upper body across the desk, with his arms for a pillow. She put the disabled needler in his left pocket.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t think to check that he had a weapon,” Lièrén said, looking abashed.

  “Me, neither.” She patted his hand. “We lived, so we learn.”

  A double-thump on the roof told her they were out of time. She grinned when she saw her clever son had raided the tiny kitchen, and was carrying flatbreads, a package of sliced meat, and three pouches of juice. Thank Neptune for resilient boys who were ruled by their stomachs.

  They quickly exited through the front door, making sure to seal it behind them, then went out to join the march.

  CHAPTER 21

  * Planet: Concordance Prime * GDAT 3238.221 *

  Lièrén smiled as Derrit, still holding his mother’s hand, talked animatedly with the slightly taller boy who was walking with his parents. Lièrén had tucked Imara’s other hand into the crook of his arm, as a cover for him using his percomp to monitor the Testing Center’s communications. He’d seen lots of other people using their percomps from time to time, so his behavior wasn’t remarkable. It was distracting to have her so tantalizingly close, but he didn’t want to chance getting separated. The news from the Testing Center wasn’t so good.

  He tightened his arm muscle twice to get Imara’s attention, then took a chance and sent her a thought. The proximity made it easy. Imara, can you hear me?

  Yes.

  The bad news first. They’ve discovered Derrit is missing and figured he has to be in the march. They’re launching a swarm of camera drones. It was a delicate balance, watching where he was going, reading the percomp, and connecting with Imara. The good news is they’re looking for a boy al
one, not with parents, but all it will take is one face-match, and they’ll have him located.

  Imara digested the information, but still appeared confident. I’ve got transpo waiting for us in the next sector block. It was stupid of me not to bring a hat to hide Derrit’s hair, though.

  She was the most resourceful woman he’d ever known, and she was kicking herself over little things like that. He looked to the sky, which was still overcast and cloudy.

  “Looks like rain,” he said to Imara, as if he’d just noticed. “Want to borrow my rain hat for the kiddo?”

  She met his gaze with amusement. “Sure.”

  He fished it out of his gym bag and handed it to her. She made a game of putting it on her son, pretending his hair would lose all its curl if it got wet. It gave him a distinctly piratical look.

  They couldn’t walk any faster without drawing attention to themselves, so he concentrated on the percomp and watching for the flare of nearby talents. He’d been more than a little surprised at how many non-minders were in the crowd. Friends and family, probably.

  “Stupid frickin’ adbots ought to be outlawed!” a woman’s voice from behind them declared. Her comment brought a chorus of vocal agreement. The surveillance swarm of camera eyes had caught up with them.

  Imara must have heard the comment, too, because she let go of his arm to pulled a bandanna out of her pocket and turn Derrit to face her. “You’ve got sandwich spread all over you,” she said, using the bandanna to effectively cover his face. She pulled him closer and whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened, but he kept the bandanna up, as if scrubbing a sticky spot.

  Lièrén felt a flare of mid-level teke to his right, and the swarm of people was pushed out and aside like they’d been caught in a stiff breeze. It was the mother of the taller boy who Derrit had befriended. It took superb control to be able to handle so many small targets. Lièrén met her glance and gave her a small nod of thanks, then went back to his percomp.

  “I hate to say this, but I’ll need a fresher pretty soon” said Imara apologetically to Lièrén, louder than was strictly necessary. “Have you seen any?”