Thwart Hog:
I twirled the mask in my hands and then dropped my head back onto my pillow.
Damn…still can’t believe it.
But it was bloody true. Three days ago that teenage rabbit had been lost in a teleport and there was Buckleys chance of him making it back even if he did survive.
Not like I was feeling the least bit clucky towards the bloke, but a wholesome kid like that deserved…I dunno…just better than dying on his first summoning due to some freak accident.
My charge had taken off early the day after the big fancy Artonan party, so I was in the gym using some of the special equipment for strength brutes when a message came for all the human Avowed.
We were all assembled in the same place as orientation. The wankers were all questioning their puppet master and consoling the woman with a leg injury. Bti-qwol, looking quite pale for Artonan complexions, and another Leafsong official strode in rather stoically.
The student gulped and then straightened, her tablet gripped tightly,
Bti-qwol looked down at her tablet and then abruptly turned to leave the room. The other official watched her with a slightly disappointed frown until she hurriedly passed through the exit. Then his attention turned back to the wide-eyed audience.
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The others were all shocked into silence. As a low-ranked Brute, I had not been summoned to many high-risk locations but had seen and heard of my share of Avowed deaths. Still…a B-rank Rabbit…dying on THIS cush assignment. Crickey, I was a little shocked too. These pampered Aneshitorans …Boaters, Alden had called them?....had never seen one of their mates die on assignment. Gasps were followed by whispers and mumbles. The official held up his hand for silence.
His voice softened as he continued, < I understand that Ryeh-b’t Alden was a last minute summon and not part of the usual staff hired from Earth for Leafsong’s exams, but his work on the medical team and participation in the serving staff for the Gala, may have brought opportunities for some of you to form bonds with him. My studies on human cultural practices were rather superficial regarding mourning, but let a Leafsong representative know if we can accommodate any of your needs.> He finished with < If Ryeh-b’t Alden’s status changes, we will inform you as soon as possible,> and made his own, less hasty exit.
The others erupted into a mix of reactions. All were expressive in some manner, except for the one individual I focused my attention on. In contrast to the others, she seemed frozen…completely devoid of expression. I remembered Alden’s suspicions about her skill. I remembered what I had told him.
“Look. I won’t deny that she could probably have her minions set you up for some kind of major screw-up. Especially since you’re working lab and medical. But she seems savvy and emotionally stable, so she’s not likely to throw something serious at you here. Just don’t poke the situation. Leave it alone. Do nothing.”
Had I been wrong to tell him that? Had the spider been so worried about her web, she’d had a part in this ‘accident’? There was little I could do here on assignment and even less back on Earth…But….but I would watch. And I certainly knew Others in the unregistered community who might find all any of this information about Manon quite interesting.
The alarm rang and I could no longer delay leaving my sleeping capsule. I slipped on the custom-made fencing helmet and sent a command for the privacy shield to open. As I headed for the shower with cargo pants and sports bra in hand, I briefly wished I could remember the kid’s wordchain for peace of mind. And I hoped that wherever he was….the Void…an Afterlife….or wherever he was supposed to teleport to….well, I hoped that he was at peace of some kind.