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taught to respect power since birth.”
    Solos was standing in a corner of the booth, watching with a slight smile on his face.
    Brigs sighed. “I am not powerful.”
    The matriarch put a hand on her arm. “You sought and found her. No one has ever put the weather together with her before.”
    Brigs didn’t know what to say. The connection had been obvious to her, but now, there was something happening in the centre of the barn.
    Deniali was standing under a rapidly forming cloud and the weather system caressed her but didn’t touch her as she called wind and rain from the interior to whip around the barn.
    When lightning struck out, Brigs jumped. Deniali could definitely be an asset, but when the storm ended, she slumped in exhaustion.
    Brigs left the safety chamber and ran to Deniali’s side. “Are you all right?”
    The young woman smiled. “I am great. Did you see it?”
    “I did. Are the weak spells getting shorter?”
    Deniali blinked. “How did you know?”
    “Do you feel yourself getting the urge to use your talent, like a power surge is starting under your skin?”
    The young talent nodded. “That is why this barn was set up. It is for me to burn off power without having an effect on the local systems.”
    Brigs smiled and helped her to her feet. “I will add a practice dome to the schematics of the base if you choose to join. Water tanks would ease your generation, right?”
    “They would. Pulling water out of the air is tiring.”
    Brigs was making mental notes as she and Deniali walked across the barn and out into the bright sunny light of day. They were standing in the front yard when the matriarch and Solos joined them.
    Brigs nodded respectfully to the matriarch. “She has a decision to make and I am sure that you will help her reach a conclusion that is right for her. You have my contact information. I will be waiting for your call.”
    Deniali lunged for her and gave her a hug. “Thank you, Recruiter Brigeet.”
    “It is your choice, your chance. Think it over.”
    Solos caught her tone. “You may be in touch with the recruiter anytime. Our suits have com implants. We will never be out of com range.”
    The talent reached out and held her matriarch’s hand as Solos and Brigs left.
    Brigs could feel the excitement in Deniali, but she wanted her to come to the project calm and determined, not desperate and enthusiastic.
    She settled into the skimmer and Solos directed their vehicle to the next location ninety minutes away.
    “It seems you have your first recruit.”
    Brigs smiled at him, “I don’t know that. All I know is that I have contacted and confirmed the first theoretical talent on my list. Now, on to number two.”
    Solos inclined his head. “As you like. Second destination is eighty-eight minutes away.”
    Brigs settled into her seat and closed her eyes. The next candidate was going to be a handful.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    The cheering and shouting led her to her next candidate. Solos was at her side as she eased through the crowd until she had a full view of her candidate.
    Brigs grimaced as she watched the candidate shatter rock by clapping his hands and directing the wave. The crowd was putting bets on the quantity of rock shattered.
    He was not an ideal candidate, but he was powerful. He needed to focus his energy and not just try to make the biggest hole.
    Brigs was gaining looks from the surrounding crowd, and when her target had finished his exercises, she approached him.
    He leaned back and draped a towel around his neck, smiling at her in a suggestive manner. Brigs could feel Solos stiffening up beside her.
    “Kardu Nehal, I am a recruiter from the Nyal Imperium. You have been identified as a possible candidate for the Guardian project.”
    He rose to his feet and swaggered. “Of course, you would come to me first.”
    Solos chuckled. “Oh, you were not first, Kardu.”
    That comment made her target jerk with shock. Brigs kept her expression calm but inside she was