Free Hero Born: Project Solaris by Chris Fox Page B

interesting. They'd adopted an offensive posture, right in the proverbial lions' den.
    "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. My name is Doctor Usir," he said, rising shakily to his feet and offering Jillian his hand. She eyed it for a moment, then took it. "And you are?"
    "Jillian," she answered. She nodded at her companion. "That's Kali. Listen, we don't have time for pleasantries. David has been kidnapped."
    "Has he?" Usir asked, sinking back into his chair. He steepled his fingers under his chin. "By whom?"
    "We don't know, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't your people or I wouldn't be here." Jillian bristled, almost daring him to get angry.  
    "You're correct on that front, I'm afraid," Usir said. He relaxed into his chair, refusing to mirror Jillian's animosity. "To answer your first question, Summers and Marcus attempted to bring David in for his own protection. We wanted to prevent just the kind of kidnapping you're here to report. I can understand why the two of you ran; I'd likely have done the same. Summers mishandled that situation, and I apologize for it."
    "I mishandled it?" Summers snapped. She took a step toward Usir. "You weren't there. She was phasic, and I didn't know what faction she was affiliated with. If she'd been working for the grey men--"
    "She wasn't," Usir snapped, meeting Summers' glare. "And now David is, presumably, in their hands. He is the first telemechanic we've seen since Melinda Waters. Do you have any idea how catastrophic it will be if the grey men are able to use him to achieve their agenda?"
    Summers didn't answer, instead stalking to stand next to Marcus near the door. Usir allowed the insubordination, but filed it away to be dealt with later. Summers had one of the rarest lineages, nearly as rare as David's, or David's mother. Yet even that might not make her worth the effort. She was becoming a liability, and the day was fast approaching when Usir would mete out the fate she seemed to crave.
    "How do we get him back, and exactly what is that going to cost me?" Jillian asked.  
    "What are you prepared to offer?" Usir asked, raising an eyebrow.
    That took the girl aback. Her eyes smoldered, but she contained her anger. A good sign, that. She was young, but already possessed self-control. Probably from her martial arts training. She'd make a formidable agent, if she could be recruited.
    "It doesn't work that way. Name your price, and I'll consider whether it's worth paying." Jillian's eyes hardened, less fire and more steel now. Yes, a very formidable agent--with the right molding, of course.
    "There's no cost, because I don't believe I can do what you're asking." Usir gave a helpless shrug, a calculated gesture.
    "What do you mean? David is important to you, or you wouldn't have gone after him. So how do we get him back?"
    Usir sighed, this one quite genuine. "We pray, child. If his captors make a mistake, then we will find them. If David finds a way to contact us, we'll act instantly. Otherwise? There's nothing we can do."
    "What about us?" Kali asked, speaking for the first time.  
    Usir turned his attention to her, eyes widening when he realized he'd missed something. One of his many talents allowed him to examine helixes with little more than a glance. The pattern in Kali's DNA was familiar. Her powers hadn't fully manifested, but Kali was a pyrokinetic. That might prove useful in the days to come. "About you? I'm not sure what you mean."
    "Are you going to lock us up?" Kali asked, her eyes wide as dinner plates.
    "Of course not," Usir said, smiling as warmly as he could. "It's up to you what you do from here. If you wish, I can put you up in a local hotel, or you can go your own way. What the grey men want, we seek to prevent. They want David, not you."
    "We'll be on our way, then," Jillian said, stalking toward the door. Kali followed a moment later, and the pair stalked from the room. Jillian paused at the entrance, meeting his gaze. "We will get him back, and when