Page 48 of Spark Transform

Central Galactic Concordance law required all citizens to be tested for minder talents at ages twelve and seventeen at a CPS Testing Center. His unique talent hadn’t registered at all, but that was because he’d glitched their equipment during the tests. Even back then, the CPS scared him.

Fish frowned. “Yah. They said I’m null.” Resentment threaded through her tone.

“Good. Stay null next time, too. The CPS sucks slime.” He thought back to the various sifters Davidro had acquired. “Read up on human neurochem. That’s how the Academy trains sifters for the Minder Corps.”

He put his earwire back on and motioned to Fish to do the same. “Your rrōpu will worry.” In Ridderth slang, it meant unrelated people who looked after each other like family.

A moment later, Soleil’s tone demanded attention. “A window just opened, and we’re taking it. Crew just sent two for breakfast. Fourth is headed to the hauler to get warm. Gamma team is green-go for the south exit.”

The edge of his talent said someone was moving steadily toward them. Too slow to be anything but on foot. And familiar. Shukra, the conspirator who had first endorsed Be’un’s plan.

He stood up and caught Fish’s eye. “Jet now. Trouble coming.” He pointed up the street to the north. “Trained sifter and empath. She’ll feel you if you can’t contain.”

Fish’s narrow-eyed look said he was in for probing questions later, but she did as he ordered and took off toward the south and disappeared.

His hope that Shukra would walk on by was dashed when she crossed the street directly toward his location. Her only powered weapon was a shockstick.

She slowed as she approached his doorway. “Chalio. I know you’re there. Let’s talk.”

“About what?” He stayed where he was and delicately flicked the power off in her percomp, and for good measure, in her earwire. Flatlining them would be too obvious.

She edged closer to the recess. “Be’un hoped you’d come back.”

The problem with being telepath-immune was that he couldn’t feel it when minders tried to assault him. But it was even odds that’s what was putting the sound of effort in Shukra’s voice.

“We all hoped, actually.” Her voice definitely sounded strained.

He was about to tell her to sod off when Soleil’s tone sounded in his earwire. “Keep her talking for a minute.”

“Yeah. Right.” He stretched the moment, trying to think of what to say. “Why does Be’un want me?”

Shukra eased into view. “Your fire. Your talent, whatever it is. I’ve never come across anything like it.” The expensive snow hood kept her head and face dry, but couldn’t improve the obscuring weather. “Can I come under?”

He shrugged one shoulder.

She stepped forward, only to slip and stumble into him. She grabbed onto his shoulder.

He shrugged her off, then crossed his arms and glared at her. Telepaths thought they were so fucking clever.

She backed away with a jerk. “Bee was right. You’re dangerous.”

A flash of insight hit him, and the rage monster stirred in his core. “You used Lunesti as bait to get me.”

A flush arose in her face. “You didn’t tell us you work for journalists.” She huffed with righteous condemnation.

“So?”

When she didn’t answer, he nearly gave himself a headache trying not to roll his eyes. “If that’s a sample of your crew’s competence, I’m lucky to be out.”

“We are not a crew!” Outrage twisted her face.

How did Charrascos have the patience to talk with people like this every day? “Fine. Tell your charity or láng qún society or whatever you’re calling yourselves that no means no. That goes for both Lunesti and me.”

“I didn’t want to have to do it this way.” She tapped her earwire and subvocalized a few words. Before she realized it wasn’t working, he punched her jaw with a fast uppercut. Her head thumped hard on the wall, and her eyes fluttered. He lunged forward to catch her before she fell.

Soleil spoke in his earwire. “Chatting isn’t your ace, I see.”

“No.” He subvocalized because he could. Another skill he’d regained after getting free of the motherfucking collar and the hideous layers of scars it created. “If we’re done, I’m leaving her here. She won’t freeze.”