Broken Wings (4 page)

She scowled. “In that case, I had better get to Medical and have them clear me. I need to be doing something.”

Kibor sipped at his tea. “Then, take a course.”

Poppy chortled in agreement.

Sighing with her brows drawn together, she set her tea down and started her wrist unit up. The schedule for classes displayed, and she flicked through them until she found an afternoon class that was to her liking. Psychic clay shaping followed by making the mundane useful. They looked like interesting classes, and she made the indication that she would attend, linking them to her calendar.

“May I ask what you chose?”

She picked up her cup and tickled Poppy under the chin. “Some sort of clay class and another on household improvisation.”

Kibor smiled and nodded. “Good. Today, we will have you scanned in Medical and begin to work on expanding your talent.”

“What kind of expansion?”

“I am here to tax you to your limits, to see what you can withstand. Making sure that you are physically stable is the first step, and working you to exhaustion is the second. Your afternoon events should help you decompress.”

She finished her tea and set the cup down on the tray. “It sounds like a plan. Ready when you are.”

He smiled. “You are a glutton for punishment.”

“I am eager to do something. Fixer understood it.”

“Of course she did. Her own father was taken in an act of violence and she had to hide her mother from those who would have sought them out and killed them.”

“Is that common knowledge?”

“No, but I have met Fixer before, and her husband is a bit of a talker when he is bragging about his wife. That is the only point in which Shadow is a little chatty.” He chuckled.

“His wife?”

“And his children, but only with authorized Citadel or Sector Guard personnel.”

She chuckled. “He is sensible and very pretty.”

“Indeed. He is a rare one.”

Kibor finished his tea and rose to his feet. “Shall we?”

She stood and tucked Poppy back on her shoulder. Minerva picked up the tray and brought it back to the dispenser.

After a clear scan at Medical, Kibor took her through the public pathways to a workshop where an arrangement of wires was all she could see.

“What is this?”

“A test. Around the facility, machines have been stationed. I wish to see if you can set them off without seeing them.”

Poppy chirped enthusiastically.

“Oh no. Not with you on me. I don’t want to take anything from you while I do this, Poppy.”

She lifted her little buddy and put her down on a chair in the corner of the workshop.

“So, what do I do?”

“Whatever you can to figure out the machine and set it off.”

The challenge was down, and she picked up the first cable.

One hour later, she finally figured out how to send a signal down and have it bounce back again. Once she could feel what she was aiming at, she pulled the pin, loosened the cog and set a windmill spinning.

Poppy chirped in triumph, and Minerva made her way through the collection of cables, idly watching the lights on the wall turn on.

“What are those?”

“Acknowledgements. Anyone who sees the machine operating is to push the button that activates the light.”

She nodded and kept working. When all twelve had been activated, she just had to wait.

Kibor was feeding a cookie to Poppy when the last light flicked on.

“Bravo, Minerva. I am impressed. I have never seen anyone try to lick the power into anything.”

She sighed and walked to crouch next to the chair where Poppy was delicately munching away. “It was harder than it looked.”

“And yet, you managed it. Tomorrow, we will begin speed drills.”

“Why not today?”

“Because I have checked your schedule and you have enough time to eat and no more before you head off to your clay class.”

“Oh.” She smirked. “Am I dismissed?”

“You are. This will be your classroom while you are here at the base. Come in to practice anytime you wish.”

“Just for me?” she looked around.

“Yes. The tech talents will resituate the machines this afternoon. You should have a new challenge every day.”

She blinked. “That sounds like you are amusing yourself at my expense.”

“Nothing of the kind. I am simply trying to keep your talent limber and ready for action.”

Minerva snorted, stood and put Poppy back on her shoulder. “Sure you are.”

He grinned. “Go to lunch, Specialist Minerva. You have earned some peace and quiet.”

She bowed, one hand going up to steady Poppy, and she left the workroom.

The sun of Ohkhan was bright on her skin. Poppy lifted her head up and they walked off in the sunlight in search of lunch.

Several members of the Citadel came over to meet Poppy, and it was a busy lunch until her wrist link chimed and she had to attend her class.

The map on her wrist took her out of the commissary and to another satellite building around the huge tower.

She introduced herself to the only other person in the room, and when Poppy chortled, she threw in that introduction as well.

“Hello, I am Minerva. This is Poppy.”

The man standing in the shadows stepped forward, and she stifled a gasp. He was her fantasy and nightmare come to life.

“I am Astien Akhiera. I will be instructing you on psychic sculpture.” His wings rustled as he approached, and he smiled.

She couldn’t stop staring at the black wings and midnight skin. He had the skin tone of a Selna and the wings of an Enjel. It was not a common blend. The sapphire blue eyes added to the magical nature of his appearance.

“Is there anyone else?”

He chuckled. “No. You are my only pupil for this class. It is simply something that I like to play with and enjoy teaching others how to do. This is my third time with a pupil. It is best taught one on one or the clay gets a little crazy.”

To her surprise, he inclined his head. “I am pleased to meet you, Poppy.”

Minerva laughed as her new friend fluffed herself and posed for Astien. She caught images of focus on the silky black feathers of his wings.

“Oh goodness. She is coveting your wings, Instructor Astien.”

“Just Astien. I will have to help direct your mind and that doesn’t leave much space for formality.”

He beckoned her to follow him further into the room where a large box was on the centre of the table and a halo was waiting for her.

“Put on the halo and reach out for the clay, carving, squeezing and twisting it in any way you want. This isn’t about a reasonable product; this is about experimentation and stress relief.”

A ring of chairs surrounded the table so that is where Poppy was settled.

Once her friend was set, Minerva put the halo on and it sprang to life.

“Wow. That is fast. I usually have to turn them on.”

She sighed. “Apparently, things turn on when they touch me.”

He grinned and came up behind her to help her focus. “I would have to agree with that statement.”

Minerva concentrated and tried to take a strip of clay off the block. A minute curl twisted away and fell to the table.

“May I touch your head?”

She blinked and nodded.

He leaned in close and he murmured. “Focus on the image you want to pull out of the clay. Picture it and stare at the clay to see what needs to be removed or added to the structure.”

She could smell the warm, spicy scent of his wings and his skin. She tried to focus on the clay, but it was difficult.

To her surprise, the clay took shape, twisting upward into an image of an Enjel woman in a long gown holding a laughing baby with stubby wings.

Astien removed his hands from her head, and he stepped back as she filled in the details of her mother’s smile.

“You have a natural knack for this. It is a beautiful sculpture.”

She stared at the clay as her mind filled in the details. “Yes, she was very beautiful.”

Tears streaked down her face as she watched her memories sculpt her mother. She whispered, “Can I have another block of clay, please?”

Astien moved around and he shifted another block of clay next to the statue. Without his help, she carved and pulled it into the strong and caring figure of her father. His wings swept out to protect both his wife and child. He got more and more handsome the more she worked on his face until, finally, he was the image of the man she remembered and her family was complete.

“That is amazing for your first time. Did you know them?”

She nodded and swallowed, removing the halo. “I did. They died on Decla.”

“I am sorry for your loss.”

She got the feeling that he meant it. “Thank you. They were amazing people, and they could have had so much more life ahead of them if not for that mining consortium.”

She wiped at her cheeks and smiled weakly. “What happens to it now?”

He looked from her to the sculpture and back again. “If you like, I can have it altered to a more solid form and delivered to your quarters.”

The statues were four feet tall. “Can you make them smaller?”

Astien smiled. “Yes; yes, I can.”

He reached out and touched the base of the clay. The statues shrank and formed into a glittering white gathering.

“Is that your talent?” She was surprised.

“One of them. I just shrank the statues and increased the density. They are still the same weight, but they are much smaller.” He chuckled. “I have never seen someone take to psychic sculpture as well as you have.”

She wrinkled her nose and lifted Poppy onto her shoulder. “I used to be good at finger painting.”

He brushed his hands off and smiled. “Well, I hate to rush you, but I have another class I have to teach.”

Minerva blinked. “Oh. Well, thank you. That was very refreshing. My mind feels clearer, cleaner.”

“Good. That is the purpose of this sort of artwork. You think of what you want to create and you keep working on it until you see what is in your mind.”

She nodded and hesitated. “Can I do this again?”

“You don’t need me to be here, but yes. This is an art space. A quick check on the schedule can tell you if it is available.”

Poppy chirped and her wrist com pinged. Minerva was flustered. “Well, thank you, Astien. It was a good experience.”

She nodded and followed the map’s instructions on how to find her next class.

Poppy was surprisingly quiet as they travelled through the base. When Minerva checked on her, her mind was humming happily and enjoying the sun.

The second course was in a small auditorium, and there were six other students in the class. All female.

The women waved at her to come down and sit closer to them, so she did. Introductions were made and everyone was excited to see Poppy.

One of the other women commented. “It isn’t like him to be late. The instructor is normally very prompt.”

Another one sighed. “And fun to look at.”

A shadow emerged from one side of the small stage with some small bots trundling along with a variety of targets. This was going to get interesting.

“Good afternoon, class. I see we have a new face in the…hello, Minerva.” Master Astien inclined his head.

She blinked. “I am sorry. I didn’t know that you were teaching this course as well.”

He waved it away, and the other women looked from her to him and back again.

“Now, I am here to teach you how to use everyday objects for self-defence. On many worlds, you are restricted in the type of weapons that are allowed on the streets as well as on your person. Being a Citadel Specialist will get you some preferential treatment, but you still have to be able to defend yourself using what is around you.”

He began the demonstration, taking small objects out of a case and expanding them to normal size. He demonstrated attacks with a rolling pin, a rasp, a saw and the devastation of a hammer.

“Now, I would like a volunteer to demonstrate some of these attacks.”

Three of the women raised their hands, but Poppy chirped frantically with her little wings flapping to get Astien’s attention.

He smiled. “Minerva, I believe you have been volunteered.”

She sighed and got to her feet, walking to the stage and putting Poppy safely out of the way on a countertop. Her little feet crunched into the marble and she crouched with her eyes wide.

Minerva stood in front of Astien with the other women watching. “What would you like me to demonstrate?”

“Pick a weapon and attack the target.”

She nodded and lifted a thin skewer and a hammer. With her left hand, she pinned the target, and with her right, she destroyed the place where the head had been.

One hard swing snapped the target and broke the hammer.

She dropped the broken handle and turned to Astien, bowing slightly. “Anything else?”

He gave her a considering look. “What would you use on an opponent you wanted to disable but not kill?”

“Frying pan.”

His lips twitched. “What about binding? Tying up an opponent.”

“They would have to buy me dinner first.”

The group laughed.

“I would use that tape and twist it into a rope instead of using it flat. From there, I would tie up whatever I needed to tie.”

He smiled. “So, what I am guessing is that you don’t need this class.”

She shrugged. “Apparently, my education was more thorough than I thought.”

He grinned, “Your parents must be very proud.”

Her polite smile froze. “I hope so. Excuse me.”

Poppy rubbed against her hand as she lifted her to her shoulder. Her wrist com chirped, and she excused herself again to take the call.

Kibor’s face was on the screen, and he scowled at her, but the look in his eyes said it wasn’t directed at her. “Specialist Minerva, I have had a request for your ship, and since you are the registered pilot, you will need to go with it.”

“My ship?”

“It was given to you by Fixer. You are the only authorized pilot for that equipment. Get your gear and get to your ship. You have a mission to go on.”

“You are not in favour of this?”