Free Geared Up by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    Niad Wyfirth could feel the heat beating against her skin. Only a thin layer of metal was situated between her and the cascade of fire below. The smelting plant was under siege by fire, and she was their only chance.
    Niad crept forward inch by inch; her yellow and red thermal suit protected her skin from the glowing metal of the crawlspace. Breathing was accomplished via the pack on her back and the mask over her mouth.
    She wanted to mutter to herself as she positioned herself over the hatch above the slipped gearing system. One lost connection and the heavy, metal transport cauldrons dislodged and the plant caught fire.
    Getting the conveyer arm into working order was the only way to get the fire-suppression systems online. It was currently blocking the vents that would cool the molten metal.
    Niad wasn’t a climber by nature, but the necessity for her to learn was there. She descended out of the vent and used clips and cables to keep herself above the chaos below.
    This was not really what she was good at, but she lined up facing the broken mechanism and reached out to begin tucking it back into working order.
    Mechanical alignment was the best description of her talent, and she lived up to it in the minutes while she swung above the molten metal and fire. When she got the pieces back together, she had to winch the cauldron back into alignment. Sweat made her hands slip as she ratcheted the unit into the track. She prepared to swing free.
    She activated her com. “Try to retract the unit.”
    “Got it. Swing clear.”
    Niad pulled herself back on her cables and held on while the machine shuddered back to life and the mechanism tilted the cauldron back into an upright position. The moment it was up and out of the way, the sprinkler system came to life and rain pelted down at a furious pace, bringing the conflagration under control.
    Niad hung onto the cable and watched the fire dwindle and the ash begin to run in the gutters.
    She looked up, into the water streaming from the suppression system. “Can someone get me down now?”
    Laughter ran through the com system, and the exercise was complete.
    “Niad Wyfirth, you are now a qualified Specialist.”
    She grinned into the artificial rain.
     
    * * * *
     
    Niad wiped her hands on a greasy rag and headed into the main office. “Mom, the Diniaric skimmer is fixed.”
    Her mom looked up from the monitor and smiled. “Good. I will let them know. Do you have time to do that coolant change?”
    Niad wrinkled her nose. “I promised to check out the cooling system at the school. Can it wait until I get back?”
    “Yes. They just brought it in, and I told them it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow.” Mlina Skarrow smiled. “Where is your father?”
    “Under the riot runner. He can’t get the propulsion system to stop belching, and he doesn’t want help.”
    Her mother grinned. “I will get his meal ready.”
    Niad chuckled and grabbed her tool kit. “See you in a few hours. I will get lunch before I come back.”
    “Great. Take care out there. I have heard alarms going off all morning.”
    “I will be careful.”
    Niad slipped the strap of her bag over her shoulder and left the shop.
    The lights and sirens were blocks away. She could see the riot runners and flying forms of the local Guardians. Whatever was going on was none of her business.
    She headed for the school, and when she rounded the corner, horror filled her. The school was engulfed in flames.
    The Guardians were clustered at the edge of the safe zone, but there were children’s faces in the window on the second floor, trapped by the approaching flames.
    Niad didn’t try to argue or convince the officers; she ran to the underground access and dropped through, with her tools with her. She caught the gaze of one of the masked Guardians as she disappeared, but he didn’t shout at her to stop.
    Underground, she grabbed for her flashlight, and then, she ran.
    The fire-suppression