Designing Read Free Page A

it. They can turn on you before you know it.”
    Ula rubbed the back of her neck and looked at the sky. A tiny speck appeared, and as they continued to walk down the path to the plateau, it grew larger in the sky until she was being pummelled by the blasts of air that it gave off in its effort to land.
    Deniir stood between her and the landing shuttle and opened his wings, creating a windbreak.
    She spit out a few bits of grit. “Thank you.”
    “It is a hazard on loose soil like this. How is it that you live in a dormant volcano?”
    “Oh, it was the hardest place to get to; so after a while, the politicians stopped sending parties up here to negotiate with me.” She kept her eyes closed and waited until the jets of air stopped trying to knock her over.
    “Please come with me. We are about to leave for the mother ship.” He lowered and snugged down his wings again, covering them with his cloak.
    She nodded and dusted her features as she headed to the ship. Her leathers creaked slightly as she walked up the steps, and a voice spoke in peculiar, liquid tones.
    Deniir responded and then translated. “Our pilot is Lenur of the Water People, and he has apologised for the landing. He was not expecting the sediment.”
    “Tell him it is fine. If I couldn’t handle dirt, I wouldn’t have gone into my current line of work.”
    The pilot spoke rapidly again, and there was no mistaking the amusement.
    “He says thank you for your graciousness, pretty lady; now, take a seat before take off breaks your nose.”
    Blinking, she followed Deniir’s lead. When they were settled in seats and strapped in, the ship rumbled under them, and Ula felt the peculiarity of take off.
    Her hands gripped the arms of her chair, and she occupied her mind by looking around the cabin for materials and design flaws.
    She found seven design flaws and thirty-two pieces that she could remove and use in her workshop. By the time she finished calculating where to place the items she had located, they were on their way to the mother ship through empty space.
    Ula could see Gaia beneath her, and she had to admit, it was a beautiful planet.
    “How are you taking to spaceflight?”
    She jumped at Deniir’s voice as his breath heated her cheek. He was peering out the window beside her.
    She studiously pointed her face toward the window and kept it there. “I think I am adjusting fine. I have found any number of things to occupy my attention.”
    “Like what?”
    “I have identified seven improvements in this space that would make it more efficient and comfortable.” She chuckled.
    “Can you make me a list?”
    She blinked. “Are you serious?”
    “Of course. The Nine are always seeking means by which we can change and improve. We would welcome a few new designs.”
    “That is refreshing. Can I choose what changes to include?”
    “Of course. It is your design.” He smiled and directed her to look away from Gaia toward the huge ship surrounded by tiny buzzing shuttles. “Welcome to the mother ship of the Nine.”
    She looked forward, and her talent kicked in. There were enough tiny changes to be made to keep her designing for a lifetime.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    “You have guest quarters assigned to you. Would you care to see them first?” Deniir watched her carefully as she disembarked from the shuttle.
    “Yes, please. I can drop my bag and wash my face and centre myself. It should only take three minutes or so.” She smiled hopefully.
    “Of course. This way.” Deniir bowed slightly and gestured for her to accompany him.
    They walked through the halls, and several men bowed as they passed. Deniir inclined his head but didn’t stop to talk.
    She asked, “You have a rank here?”
    “I am a master engineer, second only to my father, Darthuun. You will meet him when we go to the research and development department.”
    “I am guessing that you have a rank beyond that.”
    He grinned and shrugged. “The ranks of my people do not matter