Shattered Light Read Online Free Page A

on the floor and flinching at the sounds of weapons fire. It was time to give them the briefing that no one wanted to hear.
    Makki pranced ahead of her and Cabbi turned to the man from the door. “Set up the microphone.”
    Col waved her hand. “I don’t need it. My suit can do it for me.”
    Her boot heels rang on the lacquered wood. Her robes flared dramatically around her and while she had lowered her gun she had not put it away. She knew that she depicted a frightening figure and she was going to use that to her advantage.
    With a few light steps she flew to the stage at the edge of the gym. The murmurs became silent as folk realized they were in the room with a physical talent, someone they had all been taught to fear.
    She touched the nodules on her suit and spoke through the speakers mounted on the walls. “Good afternoon citizens of Resicor. My name is Colah Geering and I am one of your kind, more or less.”
    Murmurs resumed. She held up her hands. “You can all hate me later. I am here to tell you what is going on.”
    Someone in the crowd shouted, “You are invading!”
    “No, we are not invading. After the fight is over I have an actual home to go back to. We are here to defend the citizens of Resicor against predation by the Raiders and Vorwings who have been nurturing the increase of talents and harvesting the most useful for genetic blending.”
    The murmur got louder.
    “Quiet! What I am telling you is that Resicor herself has sent for help and we have come to render the assistance she wants.”
    A wise child stood up and scowled. “Planets can’t talk.”
    Col smiled. “Yes they can. I have met six Avatars who carry a piece of the planet inside them. They literally speak for the world.
    “Resicor planted power inside us to help us and make us extraordinary. That goal was subverted when the Raiders offered the psychics freedom if the physical talents would be turned over to them. Think about it. When does the memory of hate toward the talents begin? It didn’t occur naturally, there are entire buildings full of psychics who have been building that hate and distrust in order to keep their own freedoms. That is over. The psychics are being turned off by the very planet who gave them the talent they have abused.”
    More muttering and murmurs.
    Col held up her free hand. “That doesn’t matter. It will be proven later. You have already seen the Avatar. She produced the vid that enables you to speak Alliance Common. I have been speaking an alien language and you have all understood perfectly.”
    The stunned silence made her smile. “Fine. Now, we don’t want to move you if we don’t have to but I need to know if there are any talents among you. I will try and defend this area but I am just one woman and there are more landing craft outside. If anyone who isn’t Resicoran comes and tries to move you or tries to herd you in any way, run.”
    She looked around. “Now, does anyone have any talents? Healing? Ability to flip dice?”
    No one moved but several people looked around nervously.
    “There is no longer a restriction on talents. You won’t be arrested for using what this world has given you. Do what you can if they come in here, but know that it means I cannot help you. If they get in, I am not able to defend anyone anymore.”
    She bowed. “Thank you for your attention.”
    She floated over to Makki and gave her a proper hug. “Be good and stay with the others.”
    Cabbi hugged her hard. “I never thought to see you again. You look good.”
    Col laughed. “I am well. My husband is in the middle of the landing parties.”
    “Husband?”
    “Yes, if a man walks through the walls looking for me, point him in the right direction.” She winked and crouched to face Makki at eye level. “Thank you for writing that letter.”
    Makki’s eyes shone with tears. “Be careful, Aunty Col.”
    “I will. Keep safe.”
    Cabbi looked around and ignited her hands. “I will keep them