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suspected psions were
executed without trial, forcing her into a life of hardship. Psion
hunters tracked her from place to place, emboldened by their sense
of righteousness and duty. Only through serendipity did she manage
to survive.
    Today, psionic genocide still plagued most of
Astra. Planets had harsh laws against using psionics: the only
crime punishable by the death penalty. While murdering a psion was
against the law, juries rarely convicted perpetrators of the crime.
Many psions chose to hide their abilities in order to be perceived
as normals. But for the rest, the power intoxicated like a drug,
and after many years, they couldn't face a life without it. So they
fed off the gammamine of others, stoking fear and desperation among
humans.
    Aliane's exploits became infamous over a
century ago. The AF wanted her dead, and her prospects in the UE
weren't much better. Years of persecution meant she hated normals
as much as they despised her, but on Superbia she tried to put all
of it behind her.
    "I had a dream last night," she told him. "I
was on my way to Chara when I got captured by the Allied Fleet.
Soldiers dragged me through the streets of Northampton. The crowd
threw rocks at me as I was led to an electric chair on the steps of
the Capitol Building. When I felt the President throw the switch, I
woke up screaming…"
    He rubbed her back. "It was just a
dream."
    She closed her eyes and tried to vanquish her
emotions. "I've always had an irrational fear of dying. You know
that. Not existing terrifies me. The emptiness, the uncertainty of
not knowing if anything lies ahead. Most are easily coddled by the
notion of heaven. All it does is deceive people."
    "There's no such thing as heaven," Zingeri
said like he had all the answers of the universe at his fingertips.
"I'm certain reincarnation will be proven someday."
    "You and your theories…well, evolution was
once a theory. Still, it's hard to believe scientists are looking
to prove reincarnation as a universal truth." She shook her head.
"I've officially become a dinosaur."
    He put his hand on her chin and lifted her
head up. "You're my dinosaur. I'll do whatever it takes to
keep you safe. Never forget that." Zingeri tucked her long, unkempt
hair behind her ears and stroked his hand against her cheek.
    "Good evening, Mistress."
    She hadn't seen the sliding door open until
the gentleman spoke. "Ah, Tiyuri," Aliane cooed as a grin spread
across her face. "Thank you for coming."
    She'd never laid eyes on a prime specimen of
manhood until she met Tiyuri. His dark brown skin glistened in the
warm sunlight and muscles bulged everywhere. He was bald by choice,
as though one unsightly hair anywhere on his body might detract
from his visual presence. A simple black tunic accentuated his
definition.
    Among psions, Tiyuri was one-of-a-kind. His
mind and body had been honed by years of hand-to-hand combat on the
streets of Vilacabamba, Meru where he grew up. As a former assassin
for the Pan-Asian Union, he'd been trained to seek and destroy.
There was no reason to kill normal humans with his array of psionic
skills; feeding on them was much more worthwhile. But when it came
to seeking out other psions, particularly the more powerful ones,
his skills were necessary and invaluable.
    He hadn't come alone. Behind him, a young
woman struggled to free her bound wrists and feet. He hauled her
over to Aliane before returning to his place at the door.
    Aliane gestured to a chair across from her,
and the woman sat down with a labored sigh. "You know why you're
here, Kimber. Why don't you just tell me what I want to know and
I'll make this easy on you."
    She rolled her gray eyes. "I have no idea
what you're talking about."
    "I don't have time for these games." Aliane
settled into her chair and closed her eyes, channeling her mind
into a concussive thought. <is.>> Like a million stinging nettles, she assaulted Kim, who
put her hands on her head and buckled over before