Aurora Rising (5 page)

Abruptly, the woman’s gaze shifted her gaze to Rori’s face. “I don’t know you.” There was surety in the woman’s words but a crease line formed between the medic’s eyes as she looked at her.

“I just arrived.” Rori found herself stumbling over the words, wondering if she had overstepped the bounds of courtesy.

“You’re a healer?” The woman looked questioningly.

“An empath,” Rori stuttered, surprised.

The medic studied her a minute more than nodded. “You’re very strong,” she said sagely.

“I don’t know.” Again Rori stumbled over the words, wondering why she felt so self-conscious when she usually was quite self-assured. She just didn’t know what to make of the woman, but it was like she disturbed something sleeping deep within her.

“You’re the special test in the morning.”

Her announcement caught Rori by surprise. “I don’t know. I am to have some testing in the morning.” Rori remembered what Hiymm Manning had said.

“Well, what a welcoming.”

This time Rori didn’t need her talent to feel the warm comforting impulse the woman sent out. “You look familiar to me. Are you sure we haven’t met?”

“I don’t think so.” Rori felt steadier now.

“What is your name?”

“Rori, Aurora Straye.”

“Jattin’s granddaughter,” the woman said firmly. “You don’t look anything like him but except the eyes. You have his eyes and something inside. I am also an empath besides being a healer. You say you’re an empath but not a healer?”

“Yes, I’ve never shown any ability to heal, just comfort.”

The woman nodded accepting her answer. “By the way, I’m Areathea Adue, Chief Medic for the Guardians. So you might hope not to get to know me well, but you will. I will be conducting all your physical exams and observing on your tests tomorrow with Narrasa, he’s our Chief Talent Reader. It should be most interesting.”

The whole time Areathea talked a soothing calm flowed around her. “Well, let’s finish healing this so you can be on it tomorrow. If I know Hiymm, and I do, even after the night you’ve had, he’ll still be anxious to put you through all the hoops as fast as he can. I believe he has special things planned for you. So let’s fine tune this so you don’t have any discomfort.”

The communications link in the medic’s pocket sounded. “If I’m not missing my guess, that’s Hiymm now checking up on you.” She answered the device. “Yes, I have her.” There was a pause. “She’s fine, just a cut on her foot. I’m seeing to it personally. She will be as good as new tomorrow. Yes. All right, I’ll take care of it. You can tell Jattin I’m taking good care of his granddaughter.”

A second later, she closed the link, looking down at Rori.

“Well, from the sounds of it, your room is pretty much destroyed, so if it’s all right with you, you’ll bed down here for the rest of the night in one of the recovery rooms? Don’t worry, we’re on a high security floor, and your stuff will be retrieved and waiting when you wake up.”

“That’s fine,” Rori managed to say.

“Good. Then let’s finish healing your foot before we get any other interruptions.”

Rori felt the sensation stir her awareness and, without thinking, followed it back. She could almost see the healing waves as they ran over her foot, delving in, pulling together layer after layer of torn skin, working their way back out.

When finished, Areathea shifted to meet her look. “Well, that was interesting,” she said cryptically. “Now let’s see you to a room so you can get some sleep.”

“I doubt−”

Areathea raised her hand, cutting off Rori. “Don’t worry I’ll take care of that.”

Rori felt the nudges of relaxation the medic had been giving off increase, along with the urge to sleep. Rori covered her mouth as a yawn slipped free.

“That’s good. Now come this way.”

Rori slid off the table barely noticing there was no pain at all from her foot when it connected with the floor.

“We were very lucky.” Areathea talked as she guided her out into the hall. “I heard a boy almost fell. I know the boy. He’s the son of one of the system techs. Cute little guy, he knows just where I keep my treats when he comes to see me.”

Rori’s thoughts went to Tad and was hardly aware of entering the room and lying down. “I’ll see you in the morning. Well done. Thank you.” Areathea pulled the blankets up around her. “Sleep.” The word took her the rest of the way under.

An older man hurried in through the open doorway. “All right now, let’s see what we have.” Thin hair rimmed his head with a dull brown ring. Annoyance radiated from him that Rori had trouble reading. He looked at the computer link and snorted. “They have you classed as a level four searcher and two empathic.”

“Yes,” Rori answered, feeling the nervousness she’d been experiencing since she’d awaken rise.

He rolled his eyes. “And what do they expect me to find.” He stopped, looked at her and froze. After a moment, he blinked. A thoughtful look crossed his face. “Well,” he drew the word out. “I think we can safely say you’re a lot higher than that.” Curiosity from him filled the air. “Let’s get started. You’ve done this before, but this time it will be more detailed.”

He touched the controls and the door slid closed. “Oh, I guess I should introduce myself I’m Med Narrasa, if you hadn’t guessed, and you are,” he paused obviously stopping to read it on the screen. “Aurora Straye.” He glanced back again. “Any connection to Jattin Straye?”

“He’s my grandfather.”

“Really, then how did they ever misdiagnosis you so badly?” Now there was a demanding quality in his voice.

Rori wasn’t sure how to answer. “It’s complicated.”

“Well, we’ll look into that later. Now, this room is set to amplify your talents, making them easier to read, categorize and evaluate. When the lights go out, I want you to focus on the red light. Ignore everything around you, just listen to my voice and follow my instructions.” He hardly finished speaking when the lights went out, leaving the room pitch black.

A small glow appeared on the edge of her peripheral vision. Rori knew it was from Narrasa’s computer screen. Before she could look toward it, a bright red light appeared above her, circled by several rows of small yellow lights that seemed to pull her attention in.

“All right, Aurora, I want you to focus. Don’t hold back. I want you to open your mind fully, then your talent.”

Rori pushed out with her mind and felt like the air stirred around her−like it was charged with electricity.

“Good, but let it flow. You’re fighting it. You don’t have to worry about keeping it in check. There’s no chance of hurting anything in here. This room is designed to absorb the talent, not letting it out. Not even the strongest talent, no matter the type can escape. It’s the same technology used in dampening restraints and holding cells for talented prisoners but on a more complex scale. It doesn’t dampen, just keeps the talents focused in the machine.” The words came out of the darkness and she tried to follow them.

“Good, relax, let it flow. We’re going to try something easy. Find me with your mind.”

Rori reached out, feeling for the impulse that she had picked up from the man. She felt him there. She locked on then things shifted, and she knew it was the machine causing the distortion. Still, she had no problem following it back to him and felt a wave of satisfaction from him.

“Good. We are going to move on. I’m going to show you some images. Let your natural impulses flow from what you see.

The red light faded and pictures came in rapid succession, beautiful and peaceful intermingled with accidents and destruction. She cringed and held onto the image of the mudslide bearing down on the transport. Inside, her every cell in her body tightened before the image switched to a soft beautiful sunset, then the images faded and the red light reappeared.

“Aurora, I want you to think back to last night. I heard you helped save the little boy.”

The picture of Tad came so vividly to her mind Rori almost slid off the table. The small body hung out over the abyss and the chunk of debris coming toward him. She started to reach out though she knew it was just a memory and Tad was safe.

“That’s good.” The words seemed to come from far off, and Tad faded from her mind. She was staring again into the red light, then it too faded and the main lights came on brightening gradually, letting her eyes adjust. Still Rori closed them, taking long deep breaths. She was exhausted.

“Interesting.”

She heard the word muttered by Narrasa and opened her eyes to see him still concentrating on the computer screen. She waited several minutes but he just kept muttering to himself as if she wasn’t there. Finally, she gave up waiting. “Med Narrasa?”

“Hmm.” He looked up. “Oh, Aurora, I’m sorry. I forgot you were still here. You must be starving. Areathea had some food brought up. You can eat and rest while I go over this one more time.”

***

“Keyen, come in.” Manning Hiymm greeted him at the opening, ushering him in, in his normal, affable manner. Hiymm’s small frame barely came to Keyen’s shoulder, but there was no doubting the strong talent. It radiated off the sharp featured man.

Keyen waited until they were both seated. “Director, I’m certain it was a strong talent involved in the attack last night. I checked over the security recording this morning. A talent placed the explosive on the balcony. He was powerful, with a great amount of control, sailing it over easily. True, it wasn’t very big, but there wasn’t even a bobble, and he was still controlling his hoversled.” Keyen was ready for a denial that didn’t come.

“I concur. I just viewed the recording and talked to Caph.”

Keyen thought of the messed bed inside the room where the bomb had been set. He also thought of the woman who had rescued Tad. He had trouble not thinking about her. He’d felt a connection to her that didn’t seem to fade, and he didn’t even know her name.

This morning he’d called to the medic facility, but Med Areathea was busy and he couldn’t get any answers. So he’d gone down to security and viewed the recording. He’d seen the woman come to the opening, amid the destruction. He clenched his fist at the thought of her standing there, the wind whipping at her, then her perilous climb to reach Tad. One misstep and she could’ve fallen to her death.

“Sir, I was wondering if you could tell me about the woman in that room?”

“That’s what we’re getting to. To start, there is something else you should be made aware of. Yesterday there was another attack involving high level talents. A pyro and a hypno for certain and possibly two others, we are not sure what they were.”

Keyen felt his stomach muscles tighten. “You’re saying there are four high level talents that have gone rogue.” He couldn’t keep back his shock.

“Not just turned rogue, but apparently have created an assault squad.” A flash of anger crossed the man’s face before his calm demeanor could tamp it down.

“But how can that be?” Keyen’s thoughts shifted from the woman to the absurdity of the possibility. “High levels are brought in for training and screened very carefully.”

“Yes, and believe me, we’re trying to figure it out. So far, we just don’t understand how we’ve missed them. There are no records of these talents, but given these two latest incidents and what Ty’s team encountered thirteen days ago, there’s no denying the facts.”

Keyen understood what Hiymm was getting at. He’d talked with Ty after his team returned from a rescue, where Ty was certain at least three talents were responsible for a power grid exploding and injuring several people, causing a lot of damage. His thoughts were so locked on what had happened that he almost missed what Director Hiymm said next.

“I want you to warn your team to take extra precautions when you go out on calls. Though that, and the attack last night, was not why I wanted to see you today. What I wanted to talk to you about is that I am adding a new member to your team.”

Keyen stared back in shock. “A new member?” They were pretty set in their group. They got along well. Sure they missed Carin, but he really couldn’t picture anyone from the other team members being shifted in. Well, maybe Roedy but he knew he was happy where he was. Then the thought hit him. “You’re switching me out as team leader?”

“No, I’m afraid you’re there to stay. Like I told you when I placed you there, you’re a natural leader. Others look to you. No, you’re getting a brand new guardian.”

“New, sir? No one is ready to move up. I know we’re pressed, but I’ve spend time in the training arena with them.”

Hiymm raised his hand, forestalling him. “I’m aware of that, and you’re right, there are none ready. Rori is new to the Guardian program. You’re going to be training her as you go.”

“What?” Keyen came out of his seat, agitation coursing through his body.

Hiymm waited patiently until he settled back down. “You heard me right. And I don’t think it’s as bad as you think. I believe Rori will be an asset to the team. She is rescue trained and a strong talent. Narrasa is testing her now.”

“She hasn’t been tested?” It was all Keyen could do to remain in his seat once more. He couldn’t believe the director was putting an untested, untrained talent on a Guardian team; his team. His refusal must have been written on his face because the director reacted before he could form an objection.

“I know it sounds odd. But as I started to say, Rori is rescue trained. She has been working at an Ag unit for three years and helped out for a couple before that. Due to some unusual circumstances, she was misread and her true potential has just come to light. Narrasa will have his full evaluation soon, and we will know what we’re looking at or what to expect. Until then I can tell you, she is a strong empath, which will be useful to your team as you don’t have anyone with empathic abilities. Also, I am quite certain she can also shield.” He leaned back, interlocking his fingers on the desk in front of him.

“I wanted to give you a heads up, so you can prepare your team and also let you know I’d like you personally to train and mentor her. I’m aware it will take a lot of extra time to bring her up to level, and I’m afraid we might not have a lot of time.”

Keyen couldn’t believe what he was saying, but trusting him he could do nothing but nod as his mind switched back to the attack. “You think the rogue talents have teamed up to commit criminal attacks?”

“I’m afraid it’s more than that. Something bad is brewing, Keyen. I just don’t know what to make of it, but the signs are there. You know one of the members of the governing council was killed in an accident recently. I’m beginning to think it wasn’t an accident. I’m rechecking it, but I do know for certain about last night, and as I said yesterday there was another attack. I believe it was an attempt to kidnap Rori before she reached here.”

“Rori.” He picked up the name Hiymm had mentioned earlier. “The new Guardian?” He felt a stirring in him.

“Yes. The thing is, very few people knew of her and that she was on her way here. But someone managed to gain access to our system and change her arrival plans. There were four people waiting to pick her up, at least two were talents, but I’m guessing they all were. I want you to watch this recording.” Hiymm activated the monitor and the transport dock came into view. Hiymm then focused in tighter.

“The man and woman?” Keyen studied the images. A fire erupted in a garbage can. “He’s a pyro.”

“Yes,” Hiymm affirmed.

“What’s she doing?” Keyen glanced quickly to Hiymm and back to the screen.

“Rori said it felt like she was being urged to sleep or she was trying to put her out.”

“She actually felt it?” Keyen reacted in surprise.

“Yes, she felt it and blocked it.”

Keyen could tell by the reaction of the woman on the screen just when it happened. Keyen didn’t know which was more amazing. To detect and block a mental attack like that or that the woman thought she might have been strong enough to put someone out. He’d never heard of anyone being able to do that, comfort, calm and urge to sleep but to totally takeover and knock out someone. It made him uneasy to think of it but he’d bet anything that was what the woman was actually trying to do.

Keyen switched his attention to the edge of the screen to where the pair were focused, but before he had a chance to see who was there, the image on the screen changed and he was looking at two men on the dock. Hiymm enlarged the image.

“These two were also involved. Rori felt power,” he paused a beat, “and evil coming off them. That was what alarmed her originally. The tall one chased her, but she lost him and called me.”

Keyen leaned forward, studying the two men. “He might be the telekinetic from last night who planted the bomb.”

“I concur. I am having images of all of them sent out to the other teams. I want everyone to be able to identify them on sight.” Before the director could say anything more his communicator chimed and he turned his attention to it. “Oh, good. Narrasa is done and Rori is on her way up. So let’s switch back to her. Her name is Aurora Straye. You know her grandfather.”

Keyen’s mind had already gone to the man that had mentored him when he first came into the program. Jattin really had become like a father to him since his entire family had been killed when their apartment building collapsed in an earthquake that had brought out his talent. It was hard to believe it had been almost ten years ago. He’d just turned thirteen, all long limbs and gangly, with too much anger and new talent to be easy to handle. But Jattin had the understanding and patience to do it.

Keyen remembered Jattin telling him about losing his wife. Not being there to save her. Well, Keyen had been there. He’d moved debris with his hands and mind until he passed out due to his own injuries. He’d been credited with saving dozens but his mother, father and brother had not been among them. The pain still lingered deep within him. Jattin had told him it always would, that you couldn’t save everyone no matter how hard you tried, you just had to use your talents as best you could.