Hunting a Soul Read Free Page B

agreed to accept some children of Repsak, which is my world. It is a cross-training program for talents.”
    “Is Zeeba one of your species?”
    He rocked a hand from side to side. “It is too early to tell. She bears the physical characteristics of one of ours, and children like her are the reason I am here. If there is a development of any additional cues, they wanted three or four of us here to keep an eye on them.”
    “Were they all fathered by someone from your world?”
    He tilted his head and made a face. “It is hard to say. The women were implanted with the altered material. They never saw the male from whom the material was taken.”
    Leadra blinked at the very sterile manner in which he had described a form of torture on the part of both the male and the female.
    “Was he recovered?”
    N’ran sighed. “His body was. He was an excellent warrior and a stellar peacekeeper.”
    “Did you know him?”
    He nodded. “I did, and for the chance that one of these children will be one one-thousandth of the talent that he was, I am here and watching over them.”
    “Is Repsak also a living world?”
    He smiled brightly. “It is.”
    “Resicor recently developed an Avatar, so I am familiar with the concept.”
    “How are your people handling it?”
    She sighed. “With talents finally willing to expose themselves without fear, the normal population is realising that there is no profit in hate and paranoia. They don’t benefit from turning in their family members anymore. There is a wave of change that Trala is dealing with, and it is good that she has folks around her who will help her hold onto the hearts and minds of Resicor through trust and good works, not brainwashing.”
    She touched the tiny drop of the pendant under her suit. It was like having the touch of a guarding parent with her at all times. That was what she felt it was anyway.
    Krix hopped up and down at her feet, chirping. She grinned and hoisted him onto the table. She cupped seeds in her hand and held it out while he nibbled.
    “He is a vocal one.” N’ran smiled.
    “He matches your eyes.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she could have kicked herself.
    “He does, doesn’t he? Too bad he didn’t pick me. I would have made an excellent partner.”
    “How do they pick their companions? I see a bunch of them running around with no particular direction or purpose but everyone can play with them.”
    “No one knows. Some folks think it is need on the part of the chosen companion, but others think it is a synchronicity between the two.”
    “Huh. Fixit knew that I would be the right one for Krix the moment that we touched. I saw Krix, but I didn’t realise that it was the same species as Fixit until Veera explained it.”
    He chuckled and reached out to stroke Krix. “Yes, they are cute at this stage and fearsome at their adult form. The baldness in the middle is rather amusing, but the little ones that appear make the awkwardness worth it.”
    “How many little ones?”
    “As few as three, as many as eight. They are now registered as an indigenous species of Balen.”
    “How is that possible?”
    “Balen recently resurfaced itself. It woke from an ice age and welcomed a new Avatar and the Sector Guard and Citadel.”
    “And the Yaluthu?”
    “Veera came to Citadel Balen, and she and her partner went on one of the missions, returning with not only Fixit but others of his kind. She was offered the position as administrator here, and thus, Fixit and the Yaluthu got a new home.”
    A familiar voice laughed, “And we all lived happily ever after.”
    Veera sat with them and Fixit chirped hello.
    “When you are done, I would like to go over your schedule if that is all right?” Veera smiled politely at Leadra.
    “Of course.”
    N’ran picked up her empty tray and then his own. “I will leave you to it, and tomorrow, I will take you to your appointment again.”
    “Thank you, N’ran. You were…it was nice having