Klaxon at the Core by Talya Andor

Author:Talya Andor [Andor, Talya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: M/M romance, sci-fi, Psionic Frequency
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2014-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

CH:11

The seat of the Federated Planetary Organization's governmental body resided within a low-slung building with two wings extending outward from a shining dome made of glass. The dome shimmered when light touched it. Rather than being at the heart of the city, the building was situated across from the waterfront, sprawling along the sweeping view of the ocean.

Bastian stepped out of the skimmer and tugged at his shirt. He missed Gwynne Rath keenly; she would have been able to guide him and Theo through all of the details of meeting with such a high-ranking body of people. From clothing to the protocol they had scoffed at, Gwynne had always been quick to help them with whatever they needed.

He reached up a hand to flip his hair back, realized it was no longer there, and scratched his neck. He shared a self-conscious grin with Theo.

You look professional, Theo told him. They were wearing suits again, not the same ones they had worn to the meeting at Pangalactic, but similar. When they had gone out with Sung and Gia the night before, Bastian had mentioned the need to suit up appropriately, and Gia had offered her help. He wasn't entirely confident because she was a private in the Armed Elite, and Gwynne had been a special operative at the Institute and was—would have been—more accustomed to dealing with high-level government officials.

You like it? Bastian inquired, though he wasn't particularly hanging on the answer. His hairstyle change went beyond his desire to be taken seriously. He'd been growing his hair out for three years. Everything else in their lives was new; it had been high time to chop it off.

It'll take some getting used to, Theo replied.

Bastian wrinkled his nose and followed Admiral Olmos and Lieutenant Bane up the flight of wide, shallow marble steps that led up to the main Capitol building. A raised relief was directly over the door, detailed in gold: the figure of a robed woman, blindfolded, scythe in one hand and scroll in the other.

"Knowledge and the tools to use it are neutral." Admiral Olmos paused at the top of the steps, watching Bastian and Theo as they caught up. "They are blind to morals. It's the people who use them that make all the difference."

"A warning?" Bastian wondered, gesturing to the golden relief.

"A reminder."

The immediate space inside the doors was a wide, domed chamber with tile underfoot and a display ceiling overhead. Bastian had never seen anything quite like it. At first, it appeared to be a blue sky with drifts of wisping clouds, and a flock of birds chasing across the sky. In the next instant, it rippled and a mural took its place, displaying prominent figures from the Pantheon.

"Whoa," Bastian breathed, grabbing Theo's arm and pointing upward. "How do they do that?"

"Electronic tiles," Bane answered. When Bastian glanced over, Bane had his arms folded but he was giving them an indulgent smile.

They remained in the domed antechamber long enough for Bastian to watch the Pantheon

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