They made a path for her, and she set her tray down without incident.
Veera smiled and set down a tea tray. On the tray were a tea set and a set of cups carrying a dark brew with an entrancing scent.
“What is that?”
Veera handed her a cup. “Caf. Well, a similar brew to caf. One of the Terran horticultural talents has been working on it. It smells better than it tastes, but it tastes pretty good.”
Salika took the cup and sipped it, smiling happily. “It’s good.”
“I am glad you are enjoying it.”
Salika took a few pieces off her plate and fed it to Saluk.
Veera cocked her head. “You feed him first?”
“Always. He doesn’t ask, but he expends more energy than I do, so he eats first.”
“You do realize that he is a sentient being?”
Salika smiled. “I know that he thinks and reasons the same way that I do. His body is different, but he is a reasoning being. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. Many folks will assume he is subservient to you.”
“He can correct them if he chooses. His mind is exceptionally strong.” Salika handed him some more pieces of meat and a bun.
He ate neatly from her fingers and huffed. With a grin, Salika took a bun and held it for Saber. She ate with her other hand while Veera watched in amusement.
“You are going to have your hands full with those two.”
Salika chuckled. “Saber and Saluk can keep eyes on each other.”
Saber had pecked the bread to nothing, so Salika stroked his head, and she returned to her own meal.
Veera sat and sipped at her tea with a welcoming smile. Every now and then, she waved at one of the other diners.
Salika looked around, and she smiled. “The Yaluthu mingle with everyone?”
“They do. There is a food station that will dispense food for them, and all bonding pairs are given Yaluthu rations regularly. They are pretty good about only eating what they can digest, so don’t worry about the roll Saber consumed.”
Saber flapped his wings at Veera, causing Fixit to growl a little.
Salika smiled and sent a soothing thought to her rebellious new companion.
Veera poured her tea and raised her brows. “Better?”
“I do feel stronger. Now, may I ask some questions?”
“Of course.”
“Why does the Citadel send recruiters out? Don’t get me wrong, but it seems that you have more than enough folks here to do what you like.”
Veera smiled and reached up to stroke Fixit. “You are thinking on a global scale. For one world, this is indeed plenty, but for the hundreds and thousands of worlds out there that have populations that grow talents, we are a hint of mist that disappears at dawn. There are not enough of us to make a difference.”
“So, what could I do?”
“It depends on what you can do. From Demnan’s description, you are either an elemental or a telekinetic. We will find out, and then, you will receive the necessary training to do what makes you feel happy and fulfilled.”
“What do I owe for it?”
Veera sipped at her tea and then held the cup between her palms. “You are the first Luthan that has been seen off their home world in three hundred years. We would like to study and monitor you if you will allow it, and that will pay for your education and lodging. If you gain enough skill to go off world, the bonuses incurred will spur your personal funds.”
“So, you wish to examine me and keep track of me, and in return, I can live here and study, as well as train?”
“Of course. If you have any skills to teach, there are also instructor payments available.”
Salika stroked Saluk and pulled Saber onto her lap. “Tell me more.”
Veera smiled, set her cup down and told Salika more.
Salika and her entourage arrived early for her first class. Her biology was stable, her eating habits were more regular than they ever had been in her life and her companions were enjoying her new health by making her go for scheduled workouts.
The hand-to-hand combat course was the one that appealed to her as a starter class. She had afternoon tutorials to determine the exact nature of her talent, but the mornings were all for learning how to fight against those who would try and make her go somewhere she didn’t want to be, like a pit.
The instructor was the only person in the section of the exercise area.
“Imron?”
“Instructor Imron. You are...”
“Salika.”
He nodded and checked a tablet. “What is your rank?”
“I don’t have one.”
He nodded again and set the tablet aside. “Well, the others aren’t here yet, so let’s get an idea of your skills.”
She didn’t know what he meant. “What do you need me to do?”
“Have your beasts remain on the side of the room and meet me on the mat.” He turned and walked away from her.
She asked Saluk to wait, and Saber flapped his wings. She hoped that they would remain on the side of the room.
Imron was standing in the centre of the mat, his deep-blue skin glowing with his black hair in a tidy braid that slid around his back. His black suit fit him very nicely, and she had to admit that the bodysuits were definitely a step up from the loose, gauzy clothing in her city.
Salika stood and faced him.
“I am going to take your measure, so defend yourself in any way that you are comfortable with.”
“Got it.”
Salika watched him move, and his grace was impressive. She ducked and kicked out at his leg while punching upward. He stumbled, and she hooked her heel back, pulling him to the ground.
She jumped onto his chest and put her knee on his throat. His midnight eyes were surprised. He tapped her thigh twice, and she rolled out of his way. She was in a low crouch as he sat up.
“You have had some training.”
“No. I am self-taught.” She slowly stood as he did. “What can you teach me?”
“Not much that you don’t already know. Perhaps some strength and technique. You already have speed and precision. I believe your time would be better spent with weapons training.”
She made a face. “I don’t really need weapons.”
“It is still your best choice. For today, we can spar until the others come in.” He smiled, and she could see surprisingly sharp teeth.
It was all the warning she got. His fist flew toward her, and she had to duck. She punched upward, but he wasn’t there anymore.
He struck at her again, and this time, she wasn’t quite fast enough; he struck her and spun her around.
His arms came around her, and he whispered in her ear. “As I stated, you need to work on your speed.”
She tightened her arms and kicked back at his knee while she raised her fists to the sky.
Saluk charged forward and put himself between her and Imron. Saluk’s scales were up and his eyes were glowing.
“I thought you were telling your beasts to remain to the side.”
To her astonishment, Saber was next to Saluk, bristling with pink and crimson fluff.
“They were reacting to me. I think I will leave the fighting for another day. Please excuse me.”
She left the exercise space, and Saluk leaned against her, with Saber riding him. Both were sending her waves of calm.
Salika headed for the med centre, and she found Medic Trel.
“Trel? May I speak with you?”
“Of course. Come this way.” Trel led the way into an office and gestured for Salika to sit. “I noticed an adrenalin spike a few minutes ago.”
Salika twisted her lips before blurting, “How do I go about meeting with a minder or therapist?”
“Oh, I can make the arrangements. Is there a reason?”
“I have some issues in my past that are best dealt with before they become triggers to unwanted reactions.”
Trel nodded and picked up a handset. She spoke softly to someone checking their schedule and smiled when she got the answer she wanted.
“Room nine twelve. Hroma is waiting.”
“She has time?”
“She does. There is always a willingness to arrange schedules for those who need it.”
“Well, thank you. How is the tracking going?”
“The results are promising. Our understanding of your species is growing by leaps and bounds.”
“I am glad. I hope you can share some of the insights with me, because I am curious to find out what I am made of.” Salika smiled her thanks and headed out the door and to the main building in search of room nine twelve.
Her two companions were next to her every step of the way.
She touched the alert on the side of the door, and a smiling woman made of pale-yellow colours right down to her beak answered.
“You must be Trel’s friend. I am Hroma, one of the minders of Balen.”
“Salika, of an unnamed world. This is Saluk, and this is Saber.”
Hroma inclined her head to all of them. “Pleased to meet you. Now, what can I do for you?”
Hroma offered a seat to her with a smooth gesture, and Salika settled in a comfortable chair with Saluk at her feet and Saber perched on his head.
“I feel that I have a panicked response to physical contact and that the reaction will get in the way as time goes on.”
“And you came to this realization yourself?”
“I did. I was trying to go for some combat training, and when the instructor touched me, I had a strong reaction to the touch. Saluk tried to intervene, and Saber joined him, so it was a bit of a riot just because I had been touched.”
Hroma got close to her and asked, “May I touch your mind?”
“Please.”
The first brush of Hroma’s mind was gentle, but it became a firmer intrusion as she worked further in.
Salika breathed evenly as her memories were turned over, one by one.
Hroma quietly pulled her mind free of Salika, and she smiled. “I think we can work this out. It will not be quick. The progress will depend on you, but I will caution you to avoid contact classes. Stick to distance weaponry if you must engage in a violent classes.”
“I think I will engage in a dance class or something.”
Hroma nodded. “Very wise. I will send you a schedule of appointments, and we can begin easing some of that conflict.”
“Thank you.”
“Just one thing, Salika, could you take Saber out and let me have a moment with Saluk?”
“Oh. Sure. Saluk, I will be out in the hall.” Salika smiled and stroked his head.
* * * *
The moment Salika was outside, Hroma knelt and spoke to Saluk.
You know she is going to seek out one of her own species as mate, right?
Saluk gave her a calm look.
He will have to be worthy of her. I will not settle for anything less.
Yes, but you will have to let him near her for her to determine if she is interested.
Saluk huffed.
She is my soul’s mate. Our bodies are not compatible but our minds are.
And yet, she will need more than just a mind’s mate after some time.
I have been enough for her for a decade.
But now, she is with her people. Other talents. She can meet them on an equal footing. The social barrier is not in place here. Those around her will defend her to the death, simply by her presence here. She does not need protection.
If she does not need protection, I shall remain her companion. I can and will protect her and remain at her side. We are linked, she and I.
Hroma nodded.
I am aware of your bond. I am just making sure you understand that she is about to begin an evolution. This will be a time of change for all of you.
I understand, but my people live for centuries in packs that roam the sands. I was willing to leave with her and roam new worlds. She is my pack, and I will remain at her side, but I will not allow a lesser male to bond with her. He will be worthy or he will be meat.
Hroma knew that that was all she could say. She rose to her feet and walked to the door, opening it to let Saluk out to rejoin his pack.
So much shared pain was going to have to be pulled to the surface and dealt with before Salika could become her true self. Hroma was going to have her work cut out for her.
* * * *
After a quick lunch, Salika went for her talent assessment.
The man with four arms was polite, but he had a devastatingly focused gaze. She felt he had peeled her back to the skin when he glanced at her.
“Please, apply the monitors, and we will go through the basics of displaying your talent.”
She smiled slightly. “Certainly.”
The monitors were attached to a schematic that showed her where to put the small units.
It took her a few minutes to finish aligning them. She turned to the assessment officer with a smile. “Ready.”
“Please, come this way.”
What followed was an hour’s worth of her moving sand and working her way into different materials and larger granulations.
When she was exhausted and had no idea what the officer was looking for, he smiled and dismissed her. “You can take off the monitors and get yourself something to drink. I will send my report to the administrator.”
“So, what do I do now?”
“Get something to drink, get something to eat and rest.”
His lower arms were typing, and his upper arms were working on a scanning mechanism that must have been what recorded her brainwaves.
Saluk got up from his napping spot by the door with Saber riding along proudly. They left the room and headed down the hall toward the dining area.
She got a cup of the caf and walked across the room to sit in a corner with her beasts, watching the groups, couples and even children course through the room.
Everyone met and spoke to each other no matter what colour the robes that folks were wearing, or if they were just wearing standard street clothing, all were equal.
She was equal as well. It was odd. She was in a place where everyone was learning and growing, but some had already gotten to their pinnacle and were now helping others up to control and power.
No priests, no guards and no angry merchants were around. It was a whole new world, and she didn’t know where she was supposed to start. Her first two attempts had not been successful.
What would happen next?