Mystic abilities.”
Saebin slipped her fingers out from under his and rubbed her temples. Unshed tears shone in her crystal blue eyes. “My entire life has been one long experiment. I’ve been manipulated and — modified. And the experiments didn’t end when I came home .”
“It’s over. You’re safe now.” Lyrik felt foolish uttering the hollow reassurance, but he didn’t know what else to say.
“Hydran is dead, and we’re on to your father —” She dragged in an unsteady breath. “— but my handler is still out there.”
He stood and offered her an encouraging smile. “I just happen to have the current locations of all the refugees still on Ontariese.”
“How did you manage that?” Dro Tar sounded skeptical.
“The overlord has given me two days to hunt down D-159.” He looked at Saebin, wishing he knew how to ease her anxiety, soothe her pain. “I convinced him you are searching for someone who can provide you with an acceptable objective, and another refugee is your most likely target. He also confirmed that you are untraceable even without your suit. They injected you with a micryte, but your implants disintegrated it.”
“Nice work, Commander.” Dro Tar winked at him.
* * * * *
With one guard in front of her and one behind, Ensley made her way to the laboratory. Her pulse had yet to recover from her interaction with Pern Keire. He was younger than she’d expected, yet he wore his power with effortless ease. Did Rodytes groom their leaders from birth for the roles they would assume? Her research hadn’t indicated how their rulers were chosen. Conquest? Hereditary ascension? Somehow she doubted free elections had anything to do with the process.
Neither guard spoke as they marched her through the pristine corridors. Questions bombarded her mind. How long would it take to reach the compound? Would she be assigned private quarters? She hesitated to upset the fragile balance established by the Stirate, so she silently followed the guard.
A lift delivered them to a different level, and the lead guard scanned open an unmarked door. He had triggered the door in Pern’s office with a scanner as well. She suspected she would need an escort to go anywhere on the ship.
The guards remained in the corridor as the door slid closed behind her. Compact, yet functional, the laboratory was well organized and ergonomic. She strolled along the narrow workspace, her gaze sweeping the supplies secured behind transparent doors and in wire bins.
“I wasn’t told your name.”
Ensley gasped and turned toward the male voice. She had thought the laboratory empty. “You surprised me.” Pressing her hand over her pounding heart, she quickly assessed the newcomer before lowering her gaze to the floor. With the same wiry build and sharp features, this man bore a striking resemblance to the Stirate. “My name is Ensley.”
“Jaden.” His warm fingers touched her chin, raising her face. The blue ring in his eyes glowed as he openly assessed her from head to toe. It was hard to judge accurately, but she estimated he was ten years younger than Pern. “The misdirection in your design was clever. Given enough time, I could resolve it, but you’re here now. Come. I’d just begun to work through the solution.”
He motioned her toward the back of the room. A panel in the wall opened soundlessly, revealing a small office. The same confident grace she’d noticed in Pern accompanied Jaden’s movements. Were they related? Brothers, perhaps? Was it possible they were father and son?
Our fathers were brothers. I can’t recall the Ontarian term for such a connection .
“If your fathers were brothers, you’re the Stirate’s cousin.”
He faced her suddenly, his gaze narrowed and cold. “What made you speak those words?”
“You said —”
“I said nothing.”
He’d slipped into her mind with such skill, she hadn’t realized he’d spoken telepathically. “You look very much like Stirate
Saebin slipped her fingers out from under his and rubbed her temples. Unshed tears shone in her crystal blue eyes. “My entire life has been one long experiment. I’ve been manipulated and — modified. And the experiments didn’t end when I came home .”
“It’s over. You’re safe now.” Lyrik felt foolish uttering the hollow reassurance, but he didn’t know what else to say.
“Hydran is dead, and we’re on to your father —” She dragged in an unsteady breath. “— but my handler is still out there.”
He stood and offered her an encouraging smile. “I just happen to have the current locations of all the refugees still on Ontariese.”
“How did you manage that?” Dro Tar sounded skeptical.
“The overlord has given me two days to hunt down D-159.” He looked at Saebin, wishing he knew how to ease her anxiety, soothe her pain. “I convinced him you are searching for someone who can provide you with an acceptable objective, and another refugee is your most likely target. He also confirmed that you are untraceable even without your suit. They injected you with a micryte, but your implants disintegrated it.”
“Nice work, Commander.” Dro Tar winked at him.
* * * * *
With one guard in front of her and one behind, Ensley made her way to the laboratory. Her pulse had yet to recover from her interaction with Pern Keire. He was younger than she’d expected, yet he wore his power with effortless ease. Did Rodytes groom their leaders from birth for the roles they would assume? Her research hadn’t indicated how their rulers were chosen. Conquest? Hereditary ascension? Somehow she doubted free elections had anything to do with the process.
Neither guard spoke as they marched her through the pristine corridors. Questions bombarded her mind. How long would it take to reach the compound? Would she be assigned private quarters? She hesitated to upset the fragile balance established by the Stirate, so she silently followed the guard.
A lift delivered them to a different level, and the lead guard scanned open an unmarked door. He had triggered the door in Pern’s office with a scanner as well. She suspected she would need an escort to go anywhere on the ship.
The guards remained in the corridor as the door slid closed behind her. Compact, yet functional, the laboratory was well organized and ergonomic. She strolled along the narrow workspace, her gaze sweeping the supplies secured behind transparent doors and in wire bins.
“I wasn’t told your name.”
Ensley gasped and turned toward the male voice. She had thought the laboratory empty. “You surprised me.” Pressing her hand over her pounding heart, she quickly assessed the newcomer before lowering her gaze to the floor. With the same wiry build and sharp features, this man bore a striking resemblance to the Stirate. “My name is Ensley.”
“Jaden.” His warm fingers touched her chin, raising her face. The blue ring in his eyes glowed as he openly assessed her from head to toe. It was hard to judge accurately, but she estimated he was ten years younger than Pern. “The misdirection in your design was clever. Given enough time, I could resolve it, but you’re here now. Come. I’d just begun to work through the solution.”
He motioned her toward the back of the room. A panel in the wall opened soundlessly, revealing a small office. The same confident grace she’d noticed in Pern accompanied Jaden’s movements. Were they related? Brothers, perhaps? Was it possible they were father and son?
Our fathers were brothers. I can’t recall the Ontarian term for such a connection .
“If your fathers were brothers, you’re the Stirate’s cousin.”
He faced her suddenly, his gaze narrowed and cold. “What made you speak those words?”
“You said —”
“I said nothing.”
He’d slipped into her mind with such skill, she hadn’t realized he’d spoken telepathically. “You look very much like Stirate
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