Logic Read Free

They were perfect specimens of the W’lyn bloodlines. Each male had long hair in a variety of shades from scarlet to metallic gold. Their skin tones were the standard mix of pale to dark grey and their ears were pointed. Aside from that, they were far from normal.
    The idea that power lurked under their skin was amusing to the Terran woman in her, but the teenager that was under her more adult mind was swooning at the thought of superheroes just a few hundred feet from her.
    With effort, she turned her attention back to the music and the light show.
     
    * * * *
     
    Toyo whispered, “Did you find her?”
    Loesh nodded slightly. “I recognize some of those she is with.”
    Drovin whispered, “Well?”
    “Analysts. She is with the analysts.”
    Rand smiled. “Excellent. I feel the urge to do a facility inspection. What about you?”
    Their nearest neighbour shushed them, but the four of them spent the rest of the concert grinning like fools.
    Toyo could feel it. If tomorrow didn’t bring a disaster, they were going to the Analysis Centre.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bebe said good night to Tamra and entered her apartment. Two blissful days of nothing but catching up on biology vids and eating food that came as close to Terran as she could manage.
    She set her alarm for just after dawn so she could get to the market for the freshest options and remove her suit in the one place it was safe to do so, her own apartment.
    She had known what living amongst predators would mean, or she thought she had. With a groan, she headed for the shower and let the water touch her skin.
    After her first month on W’lyn, she had tried to wear a cloak and robes and walk amongst the people during the day. The gazes had tracked her, and after less than three blocks, she had a following.
    She had circled and used the emergency spray she had been given for such an occasion. Her groupies had faded in confusion, and she had returned home as quickly as she could to put on a suit.
    Three years on W’lyn was going to be all she could stand. She needed to be able to walk amongst people and not feel like a travelling steak.
    Two and a half years to go.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    Toyo watched Drovin pinch the bridge of his nose when he asked the manager if there were any analysts not on duty for the day. The gesture cloaked frustration.
    Drovin returned to the Guardians and muttered, “She isn’t on duty today. She is off on a free day. She has pulled a lot of shifts lately and they ordered her to take the time.”
    Toyo inclined his head. “Did you get her name?”
    “I did, and you will find this interesting, she is a Terran by the name of Beryl Wilkinson.”
    Toyo and the other two straightened in surprise. Rand was about to speak, but Loesh held up his hand.
    “This is not something to be discussed here.”
    They looked at each other and nodded, completed their tour and headed back to the ship.
    They had just lifted off when a disturbance in the marketplace came over the com. They were closer than the peacekeepers, so Toyo called in that they were responding to the robbery and attack.
    They swung toward the marketplace, and he launched himself from the skimmer, circling the cowering locals until he had a good view of what was going on. Robbery in a jewellery store and hostages.
    He used his com to call it in and landed in front of the shop. It wasn’t going to take long.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bebe sat on the floor with the others, glaring at the nearest man with the weapon who didn’t like the way she spoke to him. She had only explained that only a moron wouldn’t go out the back, and he had used the butt of the weapon on her face, fortunately, the skin didn’t break.
    Her analysis of the situation was that the robbers didn’t know what they were doing and what they wanted. That made them dangerous. No suggestion was going to penetrate under their level of stress and that meant she may as well sit down and wait for the blasting to start.