Broken Wings (3 page)

He offered her his arm and she took it, his kindly features reminded her of an image of her great grandfather.

Kibor chatted to her as they walked through the courts, and she learned of the tradition of the Citadel Ohkhan, the history of the designs in the robes that the students and instructors wore, as well as the variety of species that were quartered on the grounds.

Her room was on the ninth floor of the Specialist building, and she looked out of her window at the view of open spaces with a soft sigh.

She swallowed and Master Kibor extended his hand. “Come with me. We have much to discuss. This is your future at stake.”

Minerva made a face. “Shouldn’t I check in with Medical or something?”

“In good time. For now, you look a little pale. How was your journey?”

She paused. She had cried, screamed and wailed to the stars.

“It was fine.”

He nodded. “Of course.”

They travelled down the lift to the main floor and across the grounds to the food court.

Kibor directed her to food suitable for her species, and they rejoined each other, finding a table away from the groups of folks in laughing conversation.

“Being at a Citadel is a social experience, and you will have your share of classes with other Specialists and Novices.”

She looked around and then at herself. “I am not wearing a robe.”

He chuckled. “No, you are not. The clothing that Fixer designed for you are distinctive enough that we won’t soon forget who you are or what you are.”

She sipped at her tea and prodded at her plate. “Does everyone know?”

“That you are a wingless Enjel? Yes. Only myself and the administrator know why. Everyone else will simply assume you were born that way.”

She swallowed. “Good. How about the metal corset I have to wear?”

“You were injured in the attack on your people. No other details are needed.”

Minerva nodded. “Right.”

Kibor ate and chatted, “What do you want to learn?”

“Languages, medical treatment, battle tactics, how to use any and all grades of weaponry. I don’t want to be clueless in the face of the enemy again.”

Kibor nodded. “I see.”

She let out a weak chuckle. “You must have seen many things in all your years.”

“I don’t have as many as you would think. Unlike your species, mine ages rapidly. I have one decade more than you do. I will reach our maximum age in the next five years. I could pop off at any moment.”

Minerva blinked. She was facing a life span of two hundred years. To be cut off at less than five decades was unthinkable. “I am so sorry.”

He tilted his head back and laughed. A few of the other diners looked at him and smiled, but no one interrupted his mirth.

He reached out and took her hand. “Despite your misery, you could still feel sorry for me. That leads me to believe that you are not as numb as you pretend to be.”

She smiled and finished her meal. “You mean I am not so far gone that I can’t be saved?”

“Something like that.”

He handed her a data cuff from a fold inside his robe. “We normally use data pads, but Fixer warned us that your biology might not blend well with the direct contact of working technology. She sent this on ahead for your use.”

Minerva inclined her head and fastened the cuff on her arm. She used her right hand to touch the screen, and it came to life at her light caress.

“Huh. We have been trying to get it to work. It was being stubborn.”

She smiled. “I am powering it. Part of my talent. Fixer had me flicking devices on and off for over a week.”

“Well, that leads me to the next question. Are you tired or are you able to give a demonstration? We have arranged a series of devices for you to demonstrate your talent on.”

“Oh. All right.” She finished her tea and smiled. “Ready when you are.”

He finished his meal and drank his tea. “Let us be on our way. There may be a few folk who want to watch, but the crowd shouldn’t get in the way.”

“That will be fine. My talent doesn’t involve me getting naked, so that will be fine.”

She got to her feet, took care of their trays and followed her instructor to the testing ground.

Mechanisms were arranged around the wide chamber, and each and every one was powerless, right down to the lights.

Kibor waited until the last viewer filed in and took a position against the wall before he stated, “The goal here is to operate as many of these devices as you can, and keep them running, if possible.”

Minerva nodded. “When do I start?”

He flicked off the only illumination in the room. “Now.”

She stepped toward the first light stand, and she started the light. The next machine seemed to have farming application and had never been designed to move on its own, but she got it huffing and churning. A saw blade whirred as she caressed the cutting unit; another grinding unit began to thud and crunch as she touched it. She moved around and around the room, keeping all the objects doing whatever they had been designed to do.

“Thank you, Specialist Minerva. It was an excellent display.”

The objects went quiet.

The title he was addressing her by proved that she had mastered her talent, even if she wasn’t quite sure what it was.

Mala had guessed that it was an energy projection, but Carella had called her a poltergeist or the ghost in the machine. It was an amusing idea that she could be in two places at once. Astral possession was another theory. Hopefully, Kibor could sort it out.

She swayed but her suit kept her upright. It was another gift from the Fixer. She could be exhausted and still have amazing posture.

“Do you have a diagnosis, Master Kibor?”

“Yes, get some sleep. I will call on you in the morning with the plan for your continuing education.”

She couldn’t fight his assessment of her fatigue. “Good afternoon, Master Kibor. I will see you tomorrow.”

Minerva staggered back to her quarters, and she leaned on the wall of the lift as it headed up to the ninth floor. She was drained, but her soul was exhilarated. She had performed in front of a crowd of spectators. It was not something that she could have imagined being able to do.

When the lift arrived and she stumbled down the hall to her quarters, there was a message light on the door. She ignored it and entered the room, removing her gloves and settling in at the com station to pull off her boots.

A small squeak got her attention, and the small grey figure that barreled toward her stopped when it reached her leg, rubbing its small head along her calf.

“What are you? Some kind of weird rat?”

The com light was flashing. She flicked the machine and a voice filled the room. “Hello, by now you have met the Yaluthu provided to you at its insistence. It is an empathic healer. It will be your constant companion from now on, and if you listen, it will tell you its name. They communicate through images and sound. The full care and feeding manual is attached to this file. Enjoy its presence in your life. If it has demanded to be with you, there is a reason for it.”

The message ended.

The creature was looking up at her with huge grey-blue eyes, and its hair was a scruffy blend of greys. When she leaned over and picked it up, the body wriggled in her hands.

Enjel didn’t have this kind of pet. It just wasn’t done.

The inquisitive chirp came again, and this time, when Minerva met its wide-eyed gaze, she fell into those eyes as the small beast took her measure. The warmth and affection that poured through her took her by surprise. Poppy was doing a full assessment of her emotional and physical state.

When the Yaluthu was done with her, Minerva lifted her and set her on the bed, removing her clothing for sleep. She was unsurprised that Poppy climbed up next to her and cuddled in. They settled in for a bonding sleep.

Waking to a pair of huge eyes staring at her jolted her back with a shout. Poppy blinked, chortled happily and waddled up to her, unperturbed by her vocalization.

“What are you so happy about?”

Poppy wiggled her body against Minerva until Minerva was forced to hold her. The softness of the little body made her smile despite her grim mood. The covering of the beast was a strange combination of feathers and fur. Enthusiasm rippled through every muscle of the small body. It was hard to stay grumpy when Poppy just wanted her to begin her day.

She got up with the cheerful ball of fluff in her arms. Images of a seed packet glowed in her mind. “Right. Your breakfast first.”

With the creature in her embrace, she crossed her quarters and looked into the supplies that had come with Poppy. The seed packets were plentiful and very small.

A small chest in her entertainment area had enough packets in it for a year. A travel pack was set next to it with a note that said,
place in your shuttle.

“So, you are going to travel with me?”

Poppy chortled and pecked at the food packet.

“Breakfast first. Got it.”

Unsure of what else to do, Minerva put Poppy on the table and put the seeds in her hand, lifting it up to the rounded beak.

Poppy ate quickly and chuckled happily the entire time. Her request for water was direct as well, so Minerva fetched her a cup and held it while the beak dipped delicately in and out of the glass vessel.

Once Poppy was settled, Minerva used the in-room dispenser for a quick breakfast. Poppy stayed within arm’s reach the whole time and followed her into the lav after the meal.

“No, Poppy. You are not waiting in here with me.”

She turned from brushing her teeth and Poppy was up on the dressing table. “You heard me. Out.”

To Minerva’s amazement, Poppy dug her claws into the thick plexi she was sitting on and narrowed her eyes as she chirped her insistence at remaining where she was.

“Whoa.”

Blinking, Minerva stepped into the solar shower and got herself clean. When she emerged, Poppy followed her into the main room.

She got dressed and strapped the wide metal cuff around her belly, feeling the rise of it up her back. Poppy hopped over and pecked at the corset, apparently liking the noise it made when she smacked her beak against it.

“I am not a toy, Poppy.”

Poppy chirped in disagreement and pinged her again.

It was a relief when there was a knock at her door. She scooped Poppy up in a weird reflex and set her on her shoulder. The display next to the door showed Kibor smiling at her.

She opened the door and greeted her instructor. “Did I miss your call?”

He blinked in surprise. “You are awake and dressed? I had not thought that you would manage it on your first day.”

“I had help. Poppy, this is Master Kibor. Master Kibor, this is Poppy.”

Master Kibor smiled and inclined his head. “I knew it had arrived, but I was not sure that they would bring her to you.”

An image of Poppy pecking her way through a door and hopping down hallways came to Minerva.

“I think they didn’t have a choice. She is tremendously stubborn.” Minerva stroked the soft, fluffy fur and smiled. She felt calm and relaxed.

Waking up relaxed and continuing that way for an hour made her jolt.

“This pet is very cute and all, but why did she come to me?”

“Come downstairs and we can have tea. I will explain the purpose of the Yaluthu to you.”

“She does something beyond cuddling with me?”

He offered her his arm. “They do. One person to one Yaluthu.”

They walked the hall and entered the lift.

In the reflective surface, Minerva saw Poppy extend her stubby wings as they descended. It reminded her of flying with her parents. They would hold her tight and she extended her wings as they descended, catching air and working her muscles. The memory made her smile.

“Yaluthu were a natural species that were modified to increase in size and intelligence. They are natural empaths. They are also healers. They go to those who need help and bond to them, their minds linking to those they choose. A Yaluthu can still heal someone else, but it will always seek out its chosen partner.”

Poppy chirped in agreement then chortled and snuggled against the side of Minerva’s head.

“She is very chatty.”

“They don’t really have genders. They are asexual and are born pregnant. When Poppy decides that you can be a good grandmother, it will mature and turn into a raptor-style creature. She will have her wings.”

That struck deep. “Wings?”

“When she is ready, she will sprout wings. First, she will shed her fluff, then she will sprout her wings and have her babies. The going theory is that they use the wings for greater foraging and finding their own territories. Then, they fly their little ones to their new home. In the Citadel, they mature rapidly, but in the wild, they wait ten years or so to go from the little fluff ball into something more dangerous and far more powerful.”

Poppy nuzzled her again, and the idea of something more powerful sitting on her shoulder made Minerva uneasy. Poppy chuckled again, and the sound eased Minerva’s nerves.

They went to the common room, and Minerva had a seat while Kibor went to get them some tea.

Minerva sat in a comfortable chair and Poppy climbed down to her lap using her beak and stubby toes.

Kibor brought the tray in and settled it on the small table between the chairs. He poured and handed her her cup.

“You have a fair grasp of your talent, Minerva, so I am going to encourage you to seek out whatever interests you. You have had very little entertainment recently, and some crafting courses or musical classes might suit you for the afternoons after I run your mind through its paces.”

She blinked. “I thought I needed combat instruction.”

“Oh, you do, but I think you will need to adapt to your new companion first. Give it a few weeks and you will be worked off your feet.” His smile was considering.

“That doesn’t sound right. I should be exercising daily.”

Kibor looked like he was debating something, and finally, he said, “You are not cleared for physical duty. Psychic duty, yes. Physical, no. You cannot go out on your own quite yet. The stability in your back has not been confirmed.”