Tales of the Citadel # 32 - Core Charge Read Online Free Page A

wishing her good night and disappearing behind the closing door.

    Sighing, Gwiette stripped out of her new suit and headed for the closed door in her chambers. It was indeed a bathroom, and trial and error saw her through the evening procedure.

    The shower was a little more complicated, but she managed it as well before heading to the bed with a grateful groan.

    Her suit was just as comfortable the next morning. She tugged it into position and stretched before working her hair into a loose knot at the back of her head. Dawn had just crept in through the skylight, so she wanted to get in some work on her ability to summon the power, hold it and then send it off. When it coursed through her the night before, she had felt the potential for control, and she wanted to make it a reality.

    She walked through Fixer’s workshop, expecting to find it empty. Fixer was sitting and whistling as she worked on a bodysuit over a dummy.

    “Morning, Gwiette.”

    “Um, morning, Fixer.”

    “Heading for a workout?”

    “Yes.”

    “What were you planning on trying?”

    Gwiette blushed. “Bolts from my hands and fingers.”

    Fixer grinned. “Come here for a moment. I can help with that. Your suit is non-conductive unless the contacts are exposed, but you need something on your hands if you are going to try and actively blast bolts.”

    A series of wires were measured and laid along the outside of her gloves. By the time Fixer was finished, the suit didn’t feel different but Gwiette had seen the metal go in.

    “Let me know how that works.” Fixer returned to the suit.

    “You don’t want to monitor me?”

    Fixer shook her head. “Whatever you need to work out, you need to do it yourself. I am not your instructor. I have no basis for judgement on what is going on.”

    Gwiette nodded and waved as she turned to leave. The hangar opened at her approach and closed behind her.

    Gwiette stood on the central dot and focused, sending a bolt out of her fingers and into the first pylon. It was thin and nothing more than a tickle of power, but she had done it. With focus, she managed to fire stronger bolts until the crack of power had the tower humming.

    Her stomach growled, and she flexed her fingers. She had been working for over an hour and she was ready for breakfast.

    “Well done, Gwiette.”

    She jumped and looked at the cage where Stop was emerging. “When did you get in here?”

    “Five minutes after you started. I stopped time and slipped into the safety of the cage. From there, I watched your progress. Come on, you need to eat. I can hear your stomach from over here.”

    She took a few steps out of the circle before she turned and fired at the furthest tower. The crackle and snap of power rang through the air.

    Stop paused for a moment and then resumed his approach. “Are you done now?”

    “I am.” She watched the suit seal around the conductive bands, and she smiled brightly at him.

    “You are looking better today.”

    They walked to the hangar door and it rolled back at their approach.

    “I am feeling a bit better. The idea that I can control what rolls and rages inside me is a refreshing one.”

    They walked through Fixer’s workshop, but she wasn’t there.

    “She is having breakfast with her family. It is a lengthy process from what I have observed.”

    Gwiette left that alone for a moment before she asked. “Why is that?”

    “Their youngest can insert objects into others, including his least favourite foods into his sisters’ meals. The fights are legendary around here.”

    “How does their mother manage it?”

    “She sets them all to the same food, but some of the staff provides their favourites with treats inside the meal. The girls never know if it is a present from friend or foe.”

    They were in the halls when she asked, “Why do the staff provide the treats if they know there is going to be a fight?”

    Stop laughed and waved for her to precede him into the dining hall.