Free Crisis Management by Viola Grace Page A

for those who can work in concert with Udell base. The nearest moon has a new Citadel outpost and having additional members available to help in a pinch is always useful.”
    She nodded as if his words made sense to her. They didn’t.
    He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I am taking you for some medical testing to determine the extent of your talent. Most of those applying today are weak talents, at best. To find someone who has your skills is remarkable.”
    She spoke, “Don’t be too impressed. The press put it all out of proportion.”
    He smiled and his bright yellow eyes sparkled. “And yet you mentioned being impervious to projectile weapons in your initial statement. That shows some pride.”
    “It shows desperation. I have no social life here, my friends keep their distance, the requests for interviews are constant and I have no inclination to live my life as a law giver when it has to be a life alone.”
    “Why must it be alone?”
    “No male of my acquaintance was comfortable with me after I moved the bus to free the passengers. I am regarded as a freak in my daily life, and I am tired of the stares and whispers.”
    He paused, “So what is it that you seek at the Citadel?”
    “I seek to be with exceptional beings who know what it means to be alone in a room full of their own kind. That’s all. Just the company of equals instead of being looked down on.”
    Helsin smiled. “That we can do, ah, here we are.”
    He opened a door, and she stepped into a large space that held a number of medical stations. The one he led her to held a large standing press that was designed to have a living being inside it.
    “May I take baseline readings?”
    She blinked. “You are a medical tech?”
    “No, I am base physician for the Sector Guard Base Udell.” He smiled and flipped the navy blue braid of hair over one shoulder.
    Dev hopped up on the scanning table and followed his small touches to place her limbs in the proper position.
    “Excellent. Hold still please.” He started the scanner and a beam of light caressed her, coasting from her head to her toes.
    She waited until he shut off the scan and asked, “It can read through my clothing?”
    Helsin smiled. “This scanner was designed by Fixer and assembled by Tech. It can probably read through time if I find the proper setting.”
    Dev chuckled and accepted his help in sitting up.
    “Are you willing to test your strength?”
    She blinked. “Oh, yes. Of course.”
    She removed her shoes and walked to the press, allowing him to set the weight on her shoulders.
    “Does removing your shoes help your talent?” He asked the question as the weight increased pressure.
    “No, but it keeps them from being crushed under the pressure. Each time I used my talent in public, my outfit was ruined, and I need those shoes to get home tonight.”
    He chuckled and the weight continued to press on her.
    She felt the pressure, but it didn’t buckle her. Her limbs hummed as her talent surged to the fore, and she stood straighter than she had when the test began.
    “Remarkable. You are generating a cellular compression field. Your body will not be crushed and if you tried, I imagine that you could lift the weight from your shoulders.”
    She blinked. “Would you like me to?”
    “Please, if you can without injur…whoa.”
    Dev lifted the pressure plate straight up and stepped aside, lowering it to the ground. “Anything else?”
    Helsin quickly moved to shut off the machine. “Um, no. That is quite enough. May I do a puncture test?”
    She blinked. “Do you mean a needle?”
    He fidgeted. “I have never asked a woman this before, but may I stab you?”
    Dev laughed and she nodded. With a swift move, he brought his arm down, and whatever object he had in his hand shattered on impact with her skin. Unfortunately for Dev, it also cut a hole in her blouse.
    “Well, that settles that. I was going to ask for a blood test, but it seems unlikely.”
    Devani looked at him. “Move