Tosha wanted a nice day off with her cousin, but a homicidal bug wave forces her to expose her talent to the others on her tour. Before her government can lock her up, she is swept off by a tornado and whisked into the stars. Joining the Sector Guard had never been an option, but now it was her only choice. Her name is changed to Shake and her first assignment is a doozy. With Vortex at her side, she accepts the emergency assignment and finds herself facing a proven killer who has no problem adding her to the roster.
Tosha knew that she was not the only talent in the family, but for Alara to go on a limb for her was touching. She would be questioned, but she was ready for it, the surety blazed in her eyes.
The moment she was clear of the crowd, the mysterious whirlwind started moving. Tosha closed her eyes as the wind threw grit and dirt into the air. She lost her breath for a moment before two strong arms lifted her in the air. She opened her eyes in surprise to see a man in the centre of the storm.
“Hello.” It was silly, but there was nothing else to say as his solid blue eyes smiled down at her.
“Greetings. Hold tight, we are going airborne.”
She held perfectly still as the whirling surrounded them. With her eyes focussed on her rescuer, she kept herself calm as they passed above the shuttle and into the hills beyond. When they touched down, she was able to breathe again.
Tosha was trembling uncontrollably. “That was…”
He chuckled. “You get used to it. I am Vortex. May I confirm your name?”
“Tosha C’sar. Thank you, but where are you taking me?”
He let out a sharp whistle and a ship appeared in front of them. A shuttle with sleek and graceful lines gleaming in the daylight.
“I am taking you to safety. Your cousin sent an urgent message to the Sector Guard requesting that someone be here today. She was vague, but our own seers confirmed that something would happen here to benefit Teklan base. Here you are.”
The shuttle opened at Vortex’s approach. She was a little surprised to find herself enjoying the novel sensation of being carried. He placed her gently in the nav station and she buckled in out of reflex.
“Not that I am not grateful, but what the hell is going on here?” She turned and faced him.
He laughed as he struck a few keys to start the atmospheric action of the shuttle. They lifted off with no sound and he filled her in. “You are being invited to join the Sector Guard. But, given the Dalpha propensity for caging its talents, we thought to get to you before they did.”
“What of my cousin?” Their height was now such that she could see the tour shuttle on the ground. One lone figure staring up at the sky with patience.
“She will be seen to but through other channels.” Vortex banked sharply and struck a few toggles. “We are going to stealth now. It makes the ship rather twitchy, but she can handle it.”
Tosha scowled, “What do you mean other channels?”
“I don’t know. It is what I was told. You don’t need to worry about her. She will be alive and well in no time. You simply need to have a little trust.”
Her frown increased in severity. “How am I supposed to trust someone I just met?”
“I suppose you will just have to take it on faith.” He hit the thrusters and they shot past the incoming law enforcement.
Her ire died in that moment, fear of the labs in the forefront. She held her breath as they passed those who wanted to shackle her in a cell.
As she watched the stream of ships coursing from the planet to the moon, she made a decision. “Faith is good. I will take this on faith.”
Vortex chuckled and slammed the thrusters into high gear. “I will take it.”
