Thunder Struck Read Online Free Page A

agreed to the contract?”
    “Yes. Your father and I will be delighted to move here to Iskan. I believe Lira will remain at Thoola until she has completed her training.”
    Ked looked at her mother and was amused by how similar they looked. Her mother did not look old enough to have her eldest child thirty-five years old.
    “When do you think you will make the move?”
    Keeba Kencort grinned. “When will our facilities be ready?”
    “The research domes are on their way. They should be ready in the next sixty days. We also have to lay in commuter vehicles and temporary housing near the research points.”
    Her father, Weller, came in to the library. “Is this where you do your research?”
    Kedna smiled at the familiar and worn features of the Master Healer that she had been lucky enough to be born to. “Homework. This is my library. Iskan is insistent that every moment of every day be spent doing something useful or informative. I have a number of degrees in everything from cooking to jump engine design.”
    Weller frowned. “You didn’t mention that on your visits.”
    She sighed. “I was still getting used to being around other people, even my family. Here I am with Halwis-Iskan and no one else.”
    Keeba had a peculiar expression on her features. “I hear that you have been doing missions for the Citadel.”
    Ked shook her head. “No, I have been doing them for the Sector Guard.”
    Weller paled. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
    She shrugged. “They send me out with a Minder for ballast while I am working. It used to be a Minder-Healer combo, but I gained control over my power-supply issues.”
    Halwis came in, robes swinging. “Please pardon my intrusion but I need to speak with Kedna.”
    Ked excused herself and followed Halwis out to the fountain square. “What is it?”
    “There is a Sector Guard ship on its way here. They need your assistance sorting a planet with a chronic drought issue. I will entertain your family until you get back.”
    Kedna wanted to say no, she wanted to flatly refuse, but this was the reason for her training and the pains Iskan had taken with her education.
    “I know you wanted to spend this time with your family, but I promise you can have them back anytime you wish. They all have clearance. That said, I am hoping you are back quickly.”
    Ked wasn’t optimistic. Changing weather patterns was difficult and time consuming. Her birthday was going to be spent with her mind in a foreign planet’s sky.
    “I will go and tell them that I have to leave.” She sent her mind skyward and felt the ripple in the atmosphere. “And I will be quick.”
    The ship would be down in minutes, so she had to get ready. She gave Halwis a quick hug and headed back to her quarters.
    Lira was in her room, looking around. “Excuse me, Lira. You can rifle through my stuff when I am gone.”
    “Gone? Where are you going?”
    “I don’t know. A Guard ship is coming in to take me to my assignment.”
    Lira cocked her head and then snorted. “Must be nice being chauffeured around.”
    As she stuffed bodysuits and robes into her bag, she snorted. “Not hardly. I can fly myself but I am not allowed.”
    “Why not?”
    “Two reasons. The first is that I am too large an asset to risk me being captured or killed on assignment. The second is that since using my talent repetitively comes close to killing me, I can land but taking off is a little dodgy.”
    Lira paused. “Kills you?”
    “Sure. That is why Dad had to fit me with the bio-bracelet. Since I was the only one without mental shielding, you made me into a toy and kept using me to entertain you. Dad thought I was doing it out of my own will, so he came running when the alarm went off telling him that I was nearly dead.”
    She closed her bag and went past her stunned sister. “You can resume pillaging.”
    Her parents were understanding, as were Niiko and Keeza. Lira was quiet and in the background.
    With everyone briefed, she stayed with them