LightofBattle (2 page)

Deskin nodded. “That would be true, so the Citadel requires a contract that supersedes the original agreement. This is something you must agree to on your own. The Urgat government cannot recall you after this, but they can request your services.”

She scrolled through the contract, absorbing all the legal speak and nodding at the provisions for income as well as exchange of service for room and board. “It’s a fair contract.”

He chuckled. “Good. Make your mark.”

“What is this about being on loan to the Sector Guard as required?”

Deskin smiled, “Citadel Lowel will eventually be a training centre for battle-oriented talents. Sector Guard Base Udell specializes in battle as required. We will be working with them primarily and living at Udell base until Lowel is completed.”

“It is still under construction?”

“It is.”

She reread the document, but she could feel a tension in Deskin’s body. The moment that she signed it and pressed her thumb to the pad, he exhaled in relief.

He opened the com. “Stellar Storm, we are under attack by ships and warheads from the planet. Please be advised that we have five minutes before first impact.”

Jiska looked at the screens and noted that his left arm was casually hiding a monitor that she couldn’t see. “We are under attack?”

“We are. Apparently, someone on your world does not want you getting away.”

She shrugged. “It is likely. The Neccial tell their children that I will take them in their sleep, and the Urgat children are told I will judge them. I can only imagine what the parents think.”

He chuckled. “So, I am flying with a boogie man?”

She nodded. “Woman, but the principle is the same.”

He stopped hiding the screen, and a flick of his fingers put their pursuit up on the display. Jiska analyzed the attack pattern. “Neccial. Are we getting help?”

A starburst in front of them sent a sigh of relief through Deskin. “Yes, we are.”

The ball streaked past their shuttle, and the icons of the missiles began to pop one by one.

“Thank you, Stellar Storm.”

“You are most welcome, Negotiator. See you at Udell.” The woman’s voice laughed through the com system.

Jiska looked at the devastation wreaked on the missiles with envy. “I wish I could do that.”

Deskin looked at her with surprise. “Why?”

“It would be easier than the current scope of my talent. I can only disable living tissue.”

“Oh.” He blinked and piloted them to the point where Stellar Storm had appeared. It seemed they were flying toward darkness, but in a sudden shift, a warship was looming in front of them.

Jiska admired the lines of the ship. “Azon design?”

Deskin nodded. “They like to use the Sector Guard for shakedowns of their new equipment. If anyone can test it to destruction, it is the Guard.”

Jiska felt a slow smile cross her lips as they entered the dock of the enormous ship. She could work with this new group. It would take some adjustment, but there was definite potential in the lines of the warship.

Deskin locked their shuttle in a berth and clamps came up to hold the small ship in place.

Jiska reached for her harness, and he held up his hand. “We will be jumping as soon as Stellar Storm returns.”

“Oh. I have never jumped before.”

“Have you been involved in off-world activities?”

“A little orbital manoeuvring. Nothing exceptional.” She shrugged. “I look forward to learning how to competently pilot a craft like this one.”

Deskin nodded and then turned to face her. “Do you mean the shuttle or the warship?”

Jiska smiled slowly and winked, not answering.

Chapter Three

The moment that the warship began to move, Jiska’s senses went on alert. The experience of a jump was something that she wanted to analyze from all angles, and being inside it was the perfect vantage point.

Her anticipation fell flat when the alarm went off and she felt a slight tug at her body. “That is it?”

Deskin quirked a brow at her. “What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know. Nausea. A violent shudder. Someone jumping out and yelling
boo!”

He grinned. “They had to stop the jumping guy. Budget cuts.”

She snickered.

The warship approached a world, and the monitors in the shuttle showed them the glowing ball of life. Jiska’s gaze caught nine armed orbital satellites. “That is Udell, I am assuming?”

“Yes.” He checked a message that bleeped at him. “Tech and Phase have requested that they be allowed to help shape your uniform. Citadel robes are pretty standard, so it is what you wear under it and how it fits that will be your concern.”

Jiska nodded. “I can accept that. So, we are here at Udell?”

“Yes. When they let the shuttle out, we will be on our way to the sealed base.”

“Sealed?”

“The atmosphere of Udell does not allow for most standard breathers to inhale comfortably for very long.” He chuckled.

“Where is Citadel Lowel?”

He pointed out a nearby world. “It is there. A zip transport has been designed for commuting between the two places, but only Starborn and Comet are currently living there.”

“Why only the two?”

“They don’t need to breathe. Both have been touched by stellar consciousness.”

Jiska whistled softly. “I have heard of such things but have never met one.”

“The sentient worlds are fairly random in their placement, as are the stars with souls. Both Comet and Starborn were touched by the same star. He was the final avatar and she was the daughter of the star itself centuries earlier.”

Jiska’s eyes widened. “That sounds complicated.”

Deskin smiled. “It is exceedingly complicated, but it does involve the life of a star, after all.”

She watched their approach to the world of Udell through the view screen. It was so surreal to have been dismissed one day and offered a whole new life the next.

Deskin piloted their shuttle out of the warship and down to Udell. The bright light of Stellar Storm kept pace with them as they parted the atmosphere and settled in position against the base.

The umbilicus attached to the hull and sealed with a thud. Jiska uncoupled her harness and got to her feet. Her legs were stiff from the prolonged immobility, but she managed to grab her duffel and wait for her soon-to-be charge.

He keyed open the shuttle, and Jiska idly memorized the code. It was a habit that she was in no hurry to break.

They exited the vehicle, and he escorted her through the halls. If she guessed correctly, they were headed toward the commander’s offices.

She patted herself on the back mentally when Deskin said. “Guardian is our Base Commander. He is waiting to interview you before Tech and Phase get a hold of you.”

“That sounds ominous.”

Deskin chuckled. “I have never seen these women in action, but I have heard that they are merciless.”

Curiosity perked Jiska up. The company of merciless women always made her feel at home.

Guardian was a peculiar species to Jiska’s eyes. He had silvery skin and marked head ridges. His smile was filled with delight as he rose to his considerable height. “General Irthano. I am overjoyed that you have become available. I am Guardian.”

She stepped forward and shook the extended hand, forearm to forearm. “Available is a funny way to put it, but I am happy to be useful to someone.”

He nodded and gestured for her to have a seat.

She sat, and Deskin took the position next to her.

Guardian folded his hands on his desk and leaned forward. “Deskin tends to get into trouble. He needs a bodyguard, and given the type of trouble he gets in, I believe that your skills on the battlefield will be invaluable in keeping him alive.”

Deskin leaned back and smiled, his arms crossed over his chest. He seemed proud of the assessment.

“How has he remained alive this long?” She raised her eyebrows.

Guardian scowled. “He has had good luck and a heavily armed detachment. We feel he will be more effective in hostage negotiations if he comes in more lightly armed.”

“So, I will be considered the weapon?”

Guardian shrugged. “The reports of your talent are well known to those who have access to coded dispatches. Relay speaks very highly of you.”

Jiska shook her head. “I don’t know who that is, but my talent was not supposed to be mentioned off world.”

Deskin grinned, “Relay has ways beyond most beings when it comes to gathering information.”

Guardian cleared his throat. “Right, well, General Irthano, do you think you will be able to manage keeping this one male alive to negotiate another day?”

Jiska nodded. “I can keep him alive, no matter the situation. Give me an assignment, and I will do it.”

A woman drifted in from the doorway. “But what do you want, Jiska Irthano? What does your life hold?”

The woman was pale from head to toe. She didn’t move, but rather glided across the floor to stand next to Guardian.

Guardian did the introductions. “General Irthano, this is my wife, Pax.”

“Pleased to meet you, but I am no longer a general. Call me Jiska.”

Pax smiled. “Jiska, what do you want from life?”

Jiska thought about it and cocked her head. “Service and duty.”

Guardian blinked. “That’s it?”

She smiled. “What else is there?”

Pax exhaled and slumped against her mate’s shoulder. “Wow. This is going to take some time. It’s a good thing that no one here is in a hurry, but she might need a girls’ night on Morganti.”

Guardian patted Pax’s hand. “Down, girl. Let her get settled in here first.”

Pax sighed. “Fine. Are you done with the meet and greet? She needs to get her armour sorted out.”

Guardian snorted. “Fine. Take her to the others and set her up. You know you won’t be happy until you do.”

Pax walked to the door. “Jiska, please come with me. The boys have to discuss Deskin’s next assignment, and if we get you set up fast enough, you may find out the details before you arrive on some foreign planet.”

Jiska nodded to Guardian and Deskin before she followed Pax. If armour was in her future, she was definitely interested in the job.

Chapter Four

The two women waiting for them had enthusiasm that took Jiska aback. It was a rare thing to see that kind of joy in work in any job, let alone one that saw them to military duty.

Pax did the introductions, and Phase quickly held swatch after swatch of fabric against her face. “Jiska, I think something vibrant will suit you. The standard bodysuit isn’t really your style. I believe that I have just the thing. Most couldn’t pull it off, but it will set a tone that won’t be mistaken.”

Jiska watched as the Guardsman went to a series of drawers and pulled out one folded bit of cloth after another. When she had everything she wanted, she returned to Jiska and held up one article for size. “This will work. You can try them on behind that screen. I will help you with the bodice when you get back out here.”

She took the folded cloth and went behind the screen. She removed her civilian wear and slipped into the tight trousers with purple side panels and the black shirt that had built-in support.

Barefoot, she pattered out to meet Tech and Phase. “How does it look?”

“Well, first you need some Masuo. Try these.” Tech handed over a pair of boots.

Jiska tugged on the boots, one at a time, and she inhaled sharply as they shifted and formed around her feet and hugged her calves. “What is happening?”

Tech grinned. “The Masuo are a living organism that bond to a host. The Udell Masuo can be trained to become clothing after a while, but we just gave it the basics for boots. You need more body armour than they can manage.”

“My boots are alive?” Jiska looked down in fascination, and as she watched, the boots lengthened and crept up to mid-thigh.

Tech chuckled and Phase opened a length of fabric, wrapping it around Jiska’s ribs several times before buckling the piece in place. It smoothed into a hard surface the moment the final buckle was in place.

“A covering for your neck and shoulders and that will complete the outfit.” Phase smiled, black and purple were in this article as well.

Jiska looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror and turned from side to side. “Just a moment.”

She let her hair down and swiftly wove two warrior braids, one on either side of her face. “Better.”

Tech and Phase raised their palms up and slapped them together.

Tech grinned, “I can make a final fitting for you if you like. The fabric is woven with wires and sensors. I can ask it to take any shape you wish.”

“Can you lengthen the sleeves?”

Tech caressed the arms of the suit, and the sleeves obeyed her. “Anything else?”

The fabric was snug but not confining, so she nodded her acceptance. “It will do. What is the armour rating?”

Phase smiled, “It will withstand blades and projectiles, as well as disperse energy weapons at close range. It won’t take the entire hit, but it will save your life.”

Jiska twisted her lips. “If Deskin is as capable as I think he is, I am guessing that I will be testing it fairly soon.”

Tech grinned. “Do you want to do a test of your talent to make sure that it will work in the confines of the suit?”

“May I test it here?”

Tech looked around. “Of course.”

Jiska sent a mental pulse and caught Tech as she slumped over. Phase seemed shocked, but Jiska just chuckled. “Yes, it works.”

She slapped Tech lightly, and the woman woke. Pax moved from her post in the doorway. “All right, it is time to get you back in action. After a day of retirement, I am sure you are eager to resume your duties.”

Grinning, Jiska helped Tech completely upright and inclined her head to both women who had clothed her. “Thank you for the assistance.”

Pax placed a hand on her shoulder as they walked through the halls. “Did you have to knock her out?”

Jiska pondered her answer, and when she spoke, Pax burst out laughing. “No, I didn’t have to knock her out.”

When they arrived, Deskin got to his feet and eyed her from head to toe. “Excellent. You will simply appear to be my secretary. No one will be the wiser. If you are ready, we have an assignment to ransom the daughter of an Alkenor trader from an Enjel colony.”