Liquid Compassion Read Online Free

taught all the permutations of Alliance Common, you took a census of all the minds on Morganti. It is no wonder you were overwhelmed.”
    Bits shrugged. She had no idea what happened when the light flashed, but when her brain was working again, she knew things she hadn’t known before. Languages, customs, traditions and memories had swamped her. It had taken two days to fight her way out of other people’s memories. If it was part of her empathy talent, it sucked. She liked the headset. It made everything quiet, and you couldn’t see it if you didn’t know it was there.
    The nanny entered the workshop with the baby girl, the little boy and a serious announcement. “Mala, it is time for lunch.”
    The little girls flung their arms in the air and cheered, taking possession of their little brother and heading into the base to take over their table in the commissary. The nanny offered Mala the infant, and Fixer began breastfeeding as she walked through the halls. Bits and the nanny brought up the rear. Family meal times were serious. If Isabi was in town, he was there for every meal, but he had left the night before on his way to a political mission.
    Their regular table was ready. The girls had created place mats and had shaped cutlery out of a nearby chair. Nanny and Mala went to fill the small cart full of dishes; Bits trailed behind and got her own food, heading to the table to sit with the girls and their brother.
    The little boy crawled into her lap, and she offered him a vegetable that he grabbed with a chubby fist. His teeth were coming in, and he made short work of it. She handed him another veg stick, and he ate and snorted as he consumed it.
    Mala grinned as she pushed the cart up and loaded the table. “It’s wonderful to see him eating veggies.”
    “You got to see it? He moved so quick, I almost mistook him for Nanny.”
    Radin chuckled brightly and got another veg stick in his pudgy hand.
    She was his favourite perch for mealtimes since she had started joining them. Bits’ believe that it was because of her body’s current resemblance to a chair.
    Bits ate with the family and grinned as the girls changed their food into dessert and their mother changed it back while still holding their sister to her breast.
    “So, will you miss us when you go?” Mala grinned and managed her food with one hand.
    The sharp wail from her lap made Bits wince. She peeled off her glove and looked at Mala, “May I?”
    Mala nodded.
    Bits touched her small companion’s forehead, and his crying stopped, turned into sniffles, and soon, he was giggling again.
    The table relaxed, and they finished their meal with laughter and smiles.
    Nanny took the kids away, and Mala looked to Bits. “Whew. That was a close one.”
    “Yes. Sorry about the touch, it was all I could think of.”
    “No, it wasn’t a problem. I just hadn’t realized how attached Radin was to you already.”
    Bits snickered. “I am his favourite chair.”
    “More than that. The kids feel safe with you. It is a blessing to have you around.”
    “I like them as well. I am kind of depressed that I am moving to the Citadel, but I guess it is time to get some actual training for this silly talent.”
    Mala laughed. “It is generally a good idea. Isabi used to follow me around with a bandolier of ration bars. I would always use more energy than I had access to.”
    “Sounds unpleasant.”
    “It was, but I learned via practice. You will have to practice to gain any skills worth leaving the Citadel for.”
    “You really think I can be useful elsewhere?”
    Mala smiled. “I know you can. It is definitely something in your future. You will walk other worlds.”
    Bits chuckled. “Glad you are so confident. Perhaps that is an emotion that I can copy.”
    Mala patted her on the shoulder, and they headed to the workshop to put a few finishing touches on the armour.
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Her escort to Citadel Morganti was polite and careful to keep distance