There was a pause, and then she said, “He was a teen getting training.No, I didn’t do anything creepy.Stop laughing, you purple moron!”
Diena nodded.“Torun.”
Jenaki laughed.“He will be over here soon.”
Diena got to her feet, walked to the wall next to the front door, and smacked the bug zapper.A knock at the door made her wrinkle her nose.She opened it and saw the excitement then confusion on the silver male’s face.His hair was silver, his suit was silver, and he looked to be in his mid-forties.
Diena looked over her shoulder.“Mom.You have a gentleman caller.”
Alody cursed.“Who is it?”
“Based on newsreels, the Silver Storm.”She grinned.“Come on in.Oh, and I just caught Torun in the bug zapper.”
Alody grinned as she approached the door.“Well, there is a bright spot.How long does it hold him?”
“Five minutes.If you want to let him go, that panel by the wall is the activator.”
Alody edged around Silver Storm and went outside to look up.She aimed her com and took a picture.
Diena called out, “Can you send that to me?Keska is collecting a scrapbook of the fliers getting stuck in it.She thinks it’s a selling point.”
Alody chortled as she came back inside and hit the release.There was a thud, and then the purple menace was in the doorway, his chest heaving.
Diena powered up her hand.“Calm down or fuck off, Torun.You came to my house.Have some fucking manners.”
He looked at the energy around her fingers.“What can you do with that?”
“Whatever is needed.”
He looked at Alody and said, “Your daughter?”
“In every way.”
Silver Storm smiled.“It is good to see you.”
Alody blushed.“You seem to have finished growing.”
He grinned.“Thank you for noticing.”
Ithal walked out with his hands covered with slaughtered strawberry juice and looked at the defender.“Mister, can you work in Aksalla?”
“I am on the training team.I can work anywhere.Why?”
Ithal smiled.“Just checking.”
He was grinning as he headed back to the kitchen, where Jenaki had taken over the fruit prep.He got back on the step stool, and Ithal took over.He was chortling.
Diena looked at him.“What did you see?”
“If I tell you, Mom is going to make me do everybody’s homework.”
Diena walked over and crouched.“Whisper it in my ear.”
She listened and belted out a “Hah!”
Alody whipped around the corner.“What was that?”
Diena straightened.“Saw a funny-looking strawberry, but it’s dead now.”
