Read Aurora Rising for Free Online Page A
Authors: Alysia S Knight
while the driver of the hover lift moved expertly under it. Once in position, Keyen lowered the section of debris carefully letting the lift adjust to the weight. Two men on the back of the lift hurried to secure the piece as Keyen released it from his mind.
“You want me to break the cable?” Keyen asked the building specialist.
“If you can that’d be great.”
Keyen concentrated again, this time focusing in on the braided cable. Using the thought of what could have happened to little Tad to fuel his mental torch, he directed intense heat on the spot, pulling it from deep within him. A second later, the end of the cable snapped releasing the chunk.
“Wow.” One of the men beside him exclaimed.
Keyen turned, experiencing a second of lightheadedness, he pushed it way and smiled. He understood the reaction. As far as he knew, he was the only one who could do that. There were pyro-talents, able to make fire, but even they had limitations. Being able to melt through something like that was a whole different thing and took a lot of power and control.
“Thanks,” Macey reached out to shake his hand. “You saved us the rest of the night trying to get that secure, plus a considerable amount of risk.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Still....”
Keyen accepted the thanks with a nod. “Anything else you need?”
Macey surveyed the rough edges. “Everything else looks good. We’ll wait for morning to handle the rest of the clean up and start reconstruction.”
“All right.” Keyen turned his attention to the security chief. “Caph, have you been able to figure out what happened here?”
“It wasn’t hard. There were at least two attackers on sleds. The first one came in, without setting off alarms,” he added pointedly. “He got close to the building then sent the explosive device over to the balcony. Telekinetically, I would say.”
“A talent.”
“That’s what it looks like on the monitor that caught it.” When the explosion went off, we stayed focused on that person, afraid he might plant more, but the person just kept moving around.”
“Keeping your attention.” Keyen understood where he was going.
“Yes, it was just lucky we saw the other sled. Jayes stopped in to see if one of the others could change shifts with him so we had an extra person in the control center. He hopped right on a monitor to check the damage and saw the other sled maneuvering toward the opening. He opened fire on it, driving it back, but it came in again. Jayes said it was like they were after something. He kept up firing and it peeled off and the other with it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t track them.”
Keyen studied the hole in the wall. “So what were they after?” he said more to himself but Caph answered.
“I don’t know, unless they thought it would be easier to get in down here than up on one of the secured floors but that doesn’t make sense because this was hardly subtle.”
“You’re right. They wanted something here. And as much effort as they put into the attack, it seems unlikely they hit the wrong place.” Keyen was still thinking to himself.
“Maybe a visiting dignitary?” Caph suggested.
“They’re in the visitor area.” Keyen waved it away.
“I think someone was here. Tasc ordered up a guard on this floor for the night.”
That got Keyen’s attention. He turned to face the man straight on. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. He called me directly. He said it was just for the night and only people living on this level and with a top security level clearance were allowed. You think it’s related?”
“It’s a big coincidence. I’ll get a hold of Tasc and Manning in the morning.”
“Actually, you’re supposed to meet with Manning at nine o’clock in the morning. He gave me the message because you were out helping get the boy and he didn’t want to distract you just then by opening up your link.”
Keyen nodded, his attention returning to the other room and the
“You want me to break the cable?” Keyen asked the building specialist.
“If you can that’d be great.”
Keyen concentrated again, this time focusing in on the braided cable. Using the thought of what could have happened to little Tad to fuel his mental torch, he directed intense heat on the spot, pulling it from deep within him. A second later, the end of the cable snapped releasing the chunk.
“Wow.” One of the men beside him exclaimed.
Keyen turned, experiencing a second of lightheadedness, he pushed it way and smiled. He understood the reaction. As far as he knew, he was the only one who could do that. There were pyro-talents, able to make fire, but even they had limitations. Being able to melt through something like that was a whole different thing and took a lot of power and control.
“Thanks,” Macey reached out to shake his hand. “You saved us the rest of the night trying to get that secure, plus a considerable amount of risk.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Still....”
Keyen accepted the thanks with a nod. “Anything else you need?”
Macey surveyed the rough edges. “Everything else looks good. We’ll wait for morning to handle the rest of the clean up and start reconstruction.”
“All right.” Keyen turned his attention to the security chief. “Caph, have you been able to figure out what happened here?”
“It wasn’t hard. There were at least two attackers on sleds. The first one came in, without setting off alarms,” he added pointedly. “He got close to the building then sent the explosive device over to the balcony. Telekinetically, I would say.”
“A talent.”
“That’s what it looks like on the monitor that caught it.” When the explosion went off, we stayed focused on that person, afraid he might plant more, but the person just kept moving around.”
“Keeping your attention.” Keyen understood where he was going.
“Yes, it was just lucky we saw the other sled. Jayes stopped in to see if one of the others could change shifts with him so we had an extra person in the control center. He hopped right on a monitor to check the damage and saw the other sled maneuvering toward the opening. He opened fire on it, driving it back, but it came in again. Jayes said it was like they were after something. He kept up firing and it peeled off and the other with it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t track them.”
Keyen studied the hole in the wall. “So what were they after?” he said more to himself but Caph answered.
“I don’t know, unless they thought it would be easier to get in down here than up on one of the secured floors but that doesn’t make sense because this was hardly subtle.”
“You’re right. They wanted something here. And as much effort as they put into the attack, it seems unlikely they hit the wrong place.” Keyen was still thinking to himself.
“Maybe a visiting dignitary?” Caph suggested.
“They’re in the visitor area.” Keyen waved it away.
“I think someone was here. Tasc ordered up a guard on this floor for the night.”
That got Keyen’s attention. He turned to face the man straight on. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. He called me directly. He said it was just for the night and only people living on this level and with a top security level clearance were allowed. You think it’s related?”
“It’s a big coincidence. I’ll get a hold of Tasc and Manning in the morning.”
“Actually, you’re supposed to meet with Manning at nine o’clock in the morning. He gave me the message because you were out helping get the boy and he didn’t want to distract you just then by opening up your link.”
Keyen nodded, his attention returning to the other room and the