Chapter Three
L itha was thirty minutes from landing when she got a call from Zera. Hey, Zera.
What are you doing, Litha? You are way out of allowed space.
I am going on a radiation cleanup mission. File it under humanitarian work.
You can t just fly off. You know that. Zera sounded worried.
I don t give a fuck. I am done caring about the rules and moods of everyone around me, Litha muttered.
Zera said, We will find someone for you.
Fuck that. I am not waiting anymore. I have done my work for the capitol and Aksalla, hell, even Z-Tech. You have all taken what you needed, and I got nothing.
Litha, you don t sound like yourself. Stay where you are, and we will track you.
If Torun is one of the ones to come or any of your lovers, you will be getting a bag of ash and my regrets when I return. I have smiled, I have laughed, and I have tried to therapy the loneliness out of me, but all I have left is the same burn that the male actives have. The mate compulsion is driving me nuts.
Zera paused. Wait. What?
In non-actives, it is called a biological clock. I want a partner, I want a family, and I haven t even been allowed to go looking for it because of those stupid regulations.
Shit. I didn t notice.
Of course not. Too many happy little employees getting their happily ever after.
Litha-
Dropping altitude. Don t send anyone happy. I will fucking turn them to ash. She ended the call.
Litha could see the empty black circle on the landscape and dove for the epicentre. She pulled up and settled near the origin point.
Burned. There was no other description. There was ash and dust charged with radiation all around her and the remains of a very large device in the middle of the space. It looked like a standard crater with a nine-foot tube in the middle of it. The radiation was coming from the tube.
A short examination later showed her that the metal itself was the infected source. She nodded. Good place to start.
Litha put her hands on the metal and practiced something she rarely had a chance to do. She ate the radiation.
It wasn t something she mentioned to most folks, but she could pull it in and hold it until she was in a spot that was safe to let it go. Litha smiled. That was just what she needed.
This was the one moment in her life when she didn t want anyone around her. When she was working, she loved being alone. Less issues with folks getting hurt.
She continued draining the radiation for hours before the metal was inert, and there was no more wavelength coming from what appeared to have been the bomb.
Dmitri s voice came through her com. Litha. Please proceed northward and meet your liaison. He is agitated.
Fine. I took care of the source. Now, I have to work on cleanup.
The source?
Giant canister in the middle of the area.
There was a pause. I will get back to you.
She snorted and floated toward the north end of the scorch wave. If it had been ten years, they must have shielding around it, or the entire mess would blow all over the continent.
There was someone waiting for her in the distance, and she moved, standing straight with her feet inches above the ground. It looked creepy as hell, but it got her from place to place.
When she thudded into the barrier, she congratulated herself on being right as she rubbed her nose from the impact.
The person on the other side stood in front of her. You were supposed to report to me. He looked similar to Dmitri but with brilliant green eyes and black hair.
I was agitated and thought to see the detonation site. I have nullified the bomb casing, so that was most of what I needed to do. I can clean up the rest in a few hours. What are your restoration plans for the soil?
Biologically active materials and a row of farmers with radiation resistance and plows.
Good. So, why did you want to chat?
We have been notified that there is a team from the capitol coming for you.
Litha smirked. They will have to wait. I am busy.
Why are they after you?
I am supposed to ask for permission before leaving. I did not. They have panicked.
The man smiled. Why?
Oh, they consider me dangerous. Silly. She shrugged. I am going to get back to work. Now that I took out the centre, I can work from the edges in.
Do you need food... or rest?
No, I will be fine. When I shoot skyward, I will be done. This is easier than I thought. The radiation is very consumable.
He smiled. Good to know it. My name is Petrov.
Litha. I would shake your hand, but it might melt skin right now. I will chat more when I am done.
He nodded. I will be here when you are finished. Probably holding off a team of agents.
She smiled and turned her back to him, moving slowly and pulling the contamination from the soil. The marathon had begun.
She worked through the night and into the following day. When she couldn t detect any more harmful wavelengths, she looked around, nodded, and shot skyward. She passed the team member who had been watching, and he let her go. In her jeans and tee, she didn t look like she was carrying enough power to melt an active simply by proximity. She climbed higher and higher until she had freed herself from gravity. Since she could survive on sunlight, she didn t need to breathe, and then, she let the confined power go in a steady wave.
It was warm, it was relaxing, and she fell asleep.
Re-entry woke her. Damn. I always forget about this part. She fell, and the world turned to fire around her.
She fell, and the moment she hit the atmosphere, she returned to the site. Petrov was sitting with the team members, and she looked at him. Can you run a final sweep and make sure that I didn t miss anything?
The drones already went out and came back. Petrov smiled. We are clear, and we can t thank you enough.
She nodded, and then, she turned to the team as they got up and stepped toward her. She snorted. Fuck all, ya ll.
She kicked off and flew home as fast as she could. They had no chance to catch her, but she really needed to get some sleep. Finally, the sadness was gone, and she just felt numb. She could sleep with numb.
A polite knock at her door got her out of a heavy sleep. She jerked up and staggered to the door, wearing only a tee. She was rubbing her face as she opened the door to Zera and the Aksallan prefect.
Titanium. How nice to see you. Please come in and read me the arrest warrant. It should put me right to sleep. She nodded to her boss. Zera.
Litha... you look fine.
Thanks. I am still tired. She yawned. I haven t done an absorption like that in years.
Zera lifted a small object. You are clear.
Yeah. I know. Sorry. You woke me.
Zera sighed. Please have a seat.
Litha walked to her couch and sat, propping her head on her fist. So, what brings you here, Madame Prefect?
We have had an offer for you. She grimaced.
Oh, that sounds intriguing. Do tell.
Zera snorted. It is a job offer... of sorts.
Curiouser and curiouser. Litha yawned.
The Erradians are impressed with your skills, and they want you on standby when they open the object in the zone. They don t trust it not to be as radioactive as the outer hull was.
Litha nodded. Sure. I just want to get some more sleep.
They are offering you accommodations there. A transporter will bring you over. You just need to get dressed first. Do you agree? The prefect was looking at her.
Litha shrugged. Sure.
Miss, what happened? You used to be so cheerful. The prefect was staring.
Oh, that was when I had hope. Hope has since been flushed. I don t get to be like everybody else, so now, I don t give a fuck.
The prefect asked, Have you tried the BDC? They found a match for Salat, and if they can find that, they can find anyone.
Litha turned to Zera. You tell her. I will get my suit.
By the time she was dressed in her armoured bodysuit, the prefect was looking so sad. Zera was looking depressed.
Litha yawned again. Right. Where is my ride?
Zera said, You don t want to think about it?
Nothing changes for me except my location. I am still dangerous, I am still alone, and I am still mad about it. So, while I contemplate my options, I am just going to keep busy.
Zera said, What about your lab?
I can do a lot of the textile designing anywhere and send it to my machines. Right now, I am less than inspired.
Zera swallowed and nodded. Fair.
We will talk again if I ever calm down. Right now, the unfairness of life is hitting me like a toddler deprived of candy. It is either keep busy or head to the sun. I am not much in the mood for anything else.
Zera looked sad. Got it. Petrov is waiting.
Petrov? I thought he was a botanist.
He is, and he also has the transporter activation.
Oh. Okay. See yah. She walked out and saw the Erradian in her garden, checking on the dormant plants.
She watched as he stroked the plants and then turned his head to her. They are radiation-resistant.
Well spotted.
Would you let me bring samples?
Why don t you come back and raid my garden after we finish clearing that canister?
He stood straight and nodded. Fair enough, ready?
Yeah.
He walked out of the black and green rows and said, I will have to hold you to pull you with me.
Sure. I am keeping everything under wraps, so you should be safe.
Petrov nodded. I am not worried. Ready to go?
Litha smiled slightly. Yup.
He wrapped her in his arms, and she remained stiff and straight while he laughed. This won t hurt.
I know. I am just trying to prove I am paying attention to control. She looked toward her house and saw Zera staring. She called out, Lock up, would you?
A dark green mist wrapped around them, and when it dissipated, they were back in Erradia.
She smiled. Right. When do we crack open the canister?
I thought you needed to rest first.
I can get this over with and then go home afterward.
I am only able to transport once per day.
She looked up at him. That s a lie.
He shrugged. Perhaps. The local villages are relieved that the site has been neutralized. They would like to throw you a party.
She stepped back. A party?
Yes. Music, dancing, a variety of dumplings that will make your head spin. He chuckled. Oh, and pickles. Lots of pickles.
Litha cocked her head. Tempting.
Well, it is part of the agreement that got you here.
She blinked. There was an agreement?
Yes. There are treaties in the work between Aksalla and Erradia, and you are one of them.
I am on loan? Like a vehicle rental? That struck her as funny, so she giggled.
He smiled. Nice sound. Well, the local village has set up an empty house for you to rest in. We don t want you facing whatever is in that canister if you are sleepy.
Fine. Lead the way.
Can you fly me? It is that way. He gestured to the west.
She laughed. Why didn t you transport us there?
I wanted to talk to you first.
Oh. Okay. Here we go. She lifted off and grabbed him from the back, easing him into the air and flying at a speed that wouldn t suffocate him.
When they arrived at the village, a crowd had gathered. She set Petrov down carefully and landed beside him.
He chuckled. That was very smooth.
Thank you. I have done it a time or two.
He offered her his arm, and she placed her hand on his wrist. They walked forward, and she was introduced to Havil, the headman of the village, and Veru, his wife. She looked at Litha and touched her cheek. Such a pretty little girl.
Litha laughed. The woman was in her late twenties. Thank you for the compliment, but I am just short, not young. I am entering my late thirties.
The woman snatched her hand back. What?
Yes. You are lovely, though.
I thought you were barely an adult.
No, I have been working for the capitol and Aksalla for two decades and a bit after I finished my secondary education.
Veru blinked. Well, then, ma am. We have a place for you to rest until you are able to assist again.
Great. They pulled me out of a solid sleep to come here.
The woman took her hand and pulled her along. Litha s mind was spinning. She had been touched more in the last hour than she had in the last year. It was nice. She hadn t been dangerous to others in casual settings for twenty years, but those who read her early files hadn t let her forget the early days... and that she had killed her parents. She had watched the radiation exposure and its effects, and her parents never blamed her.
She smiled and just enjoyed human contact. She had forgotten how touchy the ladies were. She hadn t been casually touched since she was thirteen.
This way. It is a new building, so you won t have issues with any previous articles left behind.
Anywhere to just rest for a while. I have a place way out of town where I rejuvenate myself. It is helpful for my mental outlook.
Oh. Good. There is some food and a bed and water and a bathroom. Is that enough?
That is fine.
They were walking to a low circular building that looked adorable to Litha. When they were inside, the room was sparse, and everything was visible except for a small cupboard-styled protrusion that had to be the restroom.
This will be fine. Thank you, Veru.
No problem. It is exciting to get that region back. Thank you for helping us. She paused. Why did you?
Because a friend s husband asked. No one asks anymore. Everyone just assumes I do other things, like work.
Oh. Well, I will leave you to your rest.
It could take twelve hours. I am still working off the exertion from the dead zone.
Veru nodded. I understand. No one will disturb you.
Thank you. Good night. She looked out the window. Day. Erm. Whatever.
See you when you rise.
Thank you.
Litha walked to the bed and sank into the blankets and pillows. It was so fluffy.
She settled and kept her suit on but was out in under a minute.
There was nothing like being away from the demands of home like being in a strange yurt in the middle of nowhere.