Tangents & Tachyons by J. Scott Coatsworth

Author:J. Scott Coatsworth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. Scott Coatsworth

Simon woke in a daze, the room fuzzy around him.

The world came into focus. Next to him, Jace lay on the bed, still fully clothed.

Simon felt spent, content. That after-sex feeling where you don't want to think or move, just exist in the afterglow.

Jace turned over and looked up at him. "Hey."

Simon laughed. It was so… human. "What the hell was that?"

"Scylall."

Simon shivered. "I think I could scylall with you all night long." All of that, without sex. --What would it be like if we…-

Jace grinned. "We'll find out, later." He got up and held out a hand to Simon. "Come on. We've kept the others waiting long enough."

"Okay." They were ready—it didn't need saying aloud.

They found Candace with the others still gathered around the imager, talking softly.

Candace looked up, eyebrow raised. "You okay?"

Coryn snickered, but quieted when Todd shot him a dirty look.

Simon nodded. "Jace talked me down." He felt the heat under his collar at the thought of what they'd just done, far more intimate than simple human sex. "I’ll do it."

She met his gaze." Are you sure?"

He nodded. Jace came up beside him and took his hand, and that by-now familiar jolt of energy ran up his arm. "We are."

Tawny and Dorry fist bumped. "Woo hoo!"

In his ear, his phone buzzed. -Ally, send it to voicemail.-

-Yes, Simon.-

"What do I need to do?" He felt a growing excitement. Imnyl's memories were sharper now, as bright and recent as his own. He longed to see the Ayri racing through the sky across Dymmen Bay again, to see the beautiful lacy skyline of Amryn Tryl.

Todd cleared his throat, looking up at him. "You’re the pattern twister. Just lay your hands on the Egg and twist it into what you want. Do you remember the pattern for the beacon?"

Simon closed his eyes. It shone there in the darkness, a complex pattern of reds and golds, with spikes like the tines of a fork along its back. "Yes. I can see it."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Coryn hugged him and took his hand, dragging him unceremoniously toward the door at the back of the room. "No time like the present!"

"Coryn, be careful on the stairs. Don't break the pattern twister!" Candace sounded exasperated. "I swear, it's like herding cats with you travelers sometimes!"

The others followed, laughing and talking animatedly. Coryn led him back down the stairs, which seemed much longer this time.

The elymm practically fell over each other on the way down the stairs in their excitement.

"Slow down!" Candace shouted after them.

Simon's pattern touched Coryn's, and they flashed with laughter.

At last, they all gathered around the Egg. The six travelers made a circle, holding hands. Simon felt each of their patterns join the circuit.

As he stared at the Egg, its surface twisted and shifted like mercury.

Simon waited for the flash like last time, the blow that would knock him back against the wall, but nothing happened. He glanced at Jace, doubtfully. "Should I…?"

Jace brushed his fingers along Simon’s neck, eliciting a shiver.

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