Aurora Rising (7 page)

“I’m not sure about that,” Rori said hesitantly.

“There is nothing to be worried about. It’s painless and will in no way affect your talent. You’ll find it very easy to use and useful in emergency situations. Just think of it as your own personal information link that you can access at any time, but no one else can see. You can be trying to handle an emergency and pull up relevant information or ask another team member or the control center a question, and no one else will know you’re talking to someone.”

“When do I get to meet the others on the team?” Rori stretched, looking at him.

“In the morning. We’ve had a couple days down time, so they went to visit their families.”

“Why didn’t you go?”

“I don’t have a family,” he said it so plainly, and his face showed no emotion but the pain deep within him blasted her.

“I’m sorry.” Rori felt the need to reach for him but held back, his body demeanor said he didn’t want her sympathy.

“It was a long time ago.”

His attempt to brush it away got to her. She laid a hand on his arm. “It doesn’t make me any less sorry.”

“Are you reading me?” Anger flared in him.

“No, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t need to. It has to be hard not to have anyone.”

“I have the Guardians, all the people here. They are my family.”

Rori knew what he said was true. Keyen had made the team and everyone around him his family. They were in him, a part of him. Still, she hurt for him and the loss he suffered.

“Are you trying to comfort me now?” The demand in his voice wasn’t so sharp.

“What? No!” Rori started to object then realized that was exactly what she was doing. A groan escaped her as she buried her face in her hands. “I wasn’t, I didn’t mean to. It just came out.”

Keyen took her hands, drawing them away from her face. “It’s all right. It’s part of who you are.” The understanding was back in his voice.

“I never have liked anger and hurt. Even as a child,” she tried to explain, needing him to understand.

“You could sense the discord.”

“Yes.”

“And you naturally try to fix it.” Keyen brushed back a lock of her hair which had come free from its tie.

“I really didn’t know.”

“It’s all right, though I can see it might be tough trying to stay angry at you. Come on, we’d better get cleaned up.”

Rori hated to have the time end. It felt good to sit and talk with him. She felt lighter inside since she’d gotten some of her concerns out. Still, there was much to think about, so much to figure out. She was afraid she hadn’t even come close to terms with her talent. Rori almost wondered if she wanted to. The possibilities were intimidating at the least, terrifying at the most. The question was still there. Could she really do what they expected of her?

Rori became aware of a hand in front of her face and realized Keyen was waiting for her. Reaching up, she caught the hand then almost dropped it as fire seemed to ignite within her. Her gaze shot to Keyen’s, the same fire seemed to blaze there. She wanted to let go, but a glint of challenge sparked in the amber fire in his eyes, and Rori couldn’t back away from it. With a grin, he pulled her to her feet. As soon as she was up, she released his hand. When she looked back at him again, everything was back to normal but for her pounding heart.

Twenty-five minutes later, showered and changed, Keyen and Rori entered the dining room where she’d eaten the night before. It seemed impossible it was only the night before, so much had happened.

“We commonly eat here,” Keyen told her. “It’s fast and good. We have an advantage. We never have to wait in lines because we never know when we’ll be called away. You learn fast not to eat too much. There’s nothing worse than just finishing a large meal then finding yourself in a situation where you have to maneuver in a tricky area when you feel like you can hardly waddle. Most of us eat three moderately light meals with two large snacks a day.”

“That makes sense.”

“Believe me it does. It’s also not fun being empty and on a drawn out rescue. A lot of times, there’s no time for a break to eat until it’s done.”

“How often do we get sent out?” Rori focused on Keyen, shifting her attention away from the crowded room as she got the uncomfortable feeling people were watching them.

“It depends. Sometimes we’ll go a couple days without a mission then we’ll have them back to back, and you go a couple days with almost no sleep. That’s why they try not to give us assignments that can be handled easily by a regular rescue team.”

Rori glanced around the room, a tingling sensation ran up and down her spine. “Keyen,” she whispered. “Do people always stare at you.”

A smile crested his lips. “Not me, you.”

“What? Why? They don’t even know me.” She gaped.

“Exactly. Most everyone here knows all the Guardians and the trainees. They don’t recognize you though, and you’re dressed as a Guardian.” Rori glanced down at the outfit she wore. It had been one of many that had been left for her. It was not so different from her rescue uniform. Trim fitting with numerous pockets in which, out of habit, she’d already packed the normal basics. The gray-blue material was sturdy but soft, comfortable with plenty of give for freedom of movement. Rori honed in on the small emblems on her sleeve and over her pocket. She knew it was the insignia of the Guardians. She just hadn’t thought much about it until then.

“You’re going to create quite a stir for a while until everyone gets used to seeing you,” Keyen explained, picking up a plate.

“I think I’ll go back to my room. Can I order something from there?”

He laughed and took her arm before she could turn away. “Come on, oh brave Guardian, let’s get this over with.”

“I don’t like attention.” Rori felt like pleading for escape as she was buffeted by the curiosity of the people in the room.

“Well, you better get over that.”

“Rori, Rori!” A child’s high pitched voice drew her attention. The small figure darted around people like a miniature missile toward her

“And here comes your first admirer.”

Rori heard Keyen say in her ear as she watched Tad cut through the room. She barely leaned down and got her arms out in time to catch the boy as he thrust himself at her. His arms went around her neck squeezing her tight.

“You didn’t let me fall. You saved me.”

She hugged him a moment than eased him away. “I see you’re all right today.”

His head bobbed up and down. “You saved me. I was going to fall. My room collapsed. It was scary but you rescued me.”

There was no keeping back her smile. He was so delightful she forgot about everyone watching.

Tad leaned back in her arms and looked at her, his eyes going wide. “You’re a Guardian.” His voice was full of awe. His face alight with amazement.

“Yes. I am.” Rori felt the words as she said them. Holding the boy she could still easily picture hanging out on debris, now safe in her arms. Rori knew whatever she faced, she was where she was meant to be.

A second later, Dena reached them followed by a medium height man with the same brown hair and eyes as his son.

“Tad.” There was gentle admonishment in Dena’s voice.

“It’s all right. He was just saying hello.” Rori turned to her with a smile.

“Thank you. And for last night, thank you. I never told you but I can never thank you enough.” Tears came to the mother’s eyes.

“You just did. I’m happy I was there to help.”

Dena smiled. “Oh, you haven’t met my husband, Harvus.”

Rori turned to him. “Hello.”

“Welcome and thank you.” The man opened his arms and Tad went to him. “You’re the new Guardian?” The man looked to her and then to Keyen who nodded and added a greeting.

“Yes, I just arrived here. I’ve been at an Ag-unit.”

“I will say welcome again and thank you for my son. I’m on the tech-team so will see you in the future. For now, we’ll let you get to your dinner.” After a brief good-bye, the man led his family away with Tad waving over his father’s shoulder.

Rori was still watching them walk away when Keyen leaned close to her ear. “And when you’re bone-deep tired, in pain, and you wonder why you are doing this, if it could possibly be worth it, just remember this and the answer will always be…”

“Yes,” she finished for him.

A few minutes later they sat down to eat. Rori was again conscious of the attention she was getting. Knowing it wasn’t going to change, she decided to experiment with it. Opening up her mind, she reached out immediately the feelings intensified. She could almost hear their words. “Who is she? She’s dressed like a Guardian. Never seen her before.” There were even a few telltale flashes of envy. She glanced at Keyen.

“Do you know several women in the room have a…” she paused to come up with the right term, “have an ardent desire for you?”

“Really.” He glanced around quickly then back to her. “Which ones?” He grinned back teasingly before shifting to serious. “You’ll learn fast that there are those who will seek you out because you’re a Guardian, some pressured from their families because they want such a strong talent in their family.”

Rori knew what he was saying was true, even though her parents were only mid-range talents. She knew from her grandfather many people sought out higher talents. Her mother’s parents had been ecstatic that her father was from a high talent. It was common that offspring from strong talents were usually at least mid-talents, though it all just came back to genetics and luck.

“You want me to point them out?” she returned teasingly.

“No, I like the company I’m with tonight.”

Rori felt a wave of heat. Silence dropped over them. Keyen finally broke it. “I take it you’re readings people?”

She nodded.

“Tell me.”

“It kind of feels overwhelming but I can handle it. Mostly what I’m getting is curiosity, but I knew that all ready. It’s just a whole lot stronger now that I’m focusing on it.”

“You ready to try an experiment then?”

“You mean on these people, the whole room?” She couldn’t hold back her disbelief in what he suggested.

“Why not? There probably won’t be a better chance, and it’s a whole lot better than a dry run on panicked people.”

Rori understood what he was saying. Still, she’d never knowingly tried anything like that on one person, and Keyen was suggesting a crowd. She looked around the room and back to him. Unconsciously, she leaned forward and whispered. “Do you really think I dare?”

“Why not? Make it simple. Just press out with the will to ease their curiosity in you. That will do nothing to hurt them.”

Rori felt her stomach tighten with nervousness, and gazed around the room again before she nodded. “Okay.” Taking a steadying breath, she cleared her thoughts before concentrating on damping the curiosity bouncing at her from all directions. She firmed in her mind what she wanted then pushed out gently. Almost immediately the waves of energy eased, but they didn’t stop. It was more like they were buffeted, but the feelings definitely decreased.

“Well?”

Rori raised her gaze to Keyen’s expectant look and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s scarier, the attention or that it actually worked.”

“Rori.”

She shook her head, a feeling of tightness settled in her. “I actually manipulated these people.”

“I wouldn’t say manipulated.” He tried to comfort her.

“Oh, really, what would you say?” she challenged. She could see him thinking of an answer for her but there was none.

Still, he tried. “You’re not controlling them. You just siphoned off or dampened what they were feeling. You didn’t change it did you? They are still curious about you, aren’t they?”

Rori nodded, letting the words sink in, mostly because she wanted to.

“You can’t take over anyone’s mind.” Keyen voiced the fear that had started to settle in her. “No one can.”

“I don’t know if I want this.” The words escaped her.

Keyen’s hand reached out and settled over hers bringing with it a charge of reassurance. “Rori, I might not have known you long, but I know one thing. You can’t use your talents against people, so it makes what you can do all right. You’re an empath. Your need to help will make it impossible to harm. Do you understand? It’s part of the make-up of your talent and who you are.”

Rori understood all he was saying and knew from being a lower level empath it was true, but still, she couldn’t look around the room without a fissure of fear at what she was able to do.

“Come on, don’t think about it. It’s time to head up and meet Areathea.”

Rori stood with him, no longer worried about the implant as her thoughts remained locked on the ability to sway so many people’s emotions.

Two hours later, the door to her room slid closed behind her, and Rori let out a sigh. She didn’t have to be told the room was shielded for talents. Immediately, the ‘buzz’ she realized were tendrils of emotions she was picking up from other people, ended.

Funny, as soon as it was gone, she knew what it was. It had always been there, even before her talent was boosted, just stronger now and undeniable. She wondered if that was the reason she had always partially distanced herself from people. She wasn’t quite a loner, not in the least. She just never seemed to be able to develop a close, intimate bond with anyone. The moment the thought went through her head, the image of Keyen came to her mind.