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R aek walked into the living space where the others were waiting.

He smiled politely. Before I say anything else, I want to make one thing clear.

No one is to engage in any schemes or plans involving Cadence.

She is discomfited by contact with her sister, so minimize it.

Her activation is not yet stable, and it needs time to develop.

That can only happen when she is at ease.

She tried to reach for her sister once and was left unacknowledged.

Arcady will now have to wait until Cadence is ready.

Her scars will also have to be dealt with.

Im-bar sat up. I did not notice any on her.

You were looking at her hips and thighs. Her back and upper arms are knotted with damage. Old damage.

Im-bar looked at her files. I don t see it.

You can feel it. We need to find a healing method before she can use her harmonic skills. Raek nodded. She is not to be recruited into any of the defenders, guardians, or peacekeepers. She requires peace. I do not think she has ever had it.

He paused and looked at the group. She also doesn t leave here until after the child is born unless I am with her.

Salmet blinked. So, you will come back to active duty?

I will. But after years of waiting, I have my partner, and I want to see her whole.

Im-bar smiled.

Salmet paused. Khytten, Salat, and the littles are just down the road. Perhaps Khytten could offer an organic assist for the healing of old damage?

Raek nodded. That would be welcome.

Kritz frowned. You are keeping her here?

No. I am offering her refuge. Her pattern indicates she is living on the edge of her nerves. I want to see what she is when she is completely relaxed. He looked at the amused expression on his sibling s face.

Kritz blinked. I accept that need.

Zera nodded. There was no specific location stated in the contract.

Salmet said, I will keep our recruiters to ourselves.

Im-bar smiled. I will keep her safe and work with her to create a schedule. Did you know she writes music?

Kritz blinked. Arcady is not musically inclined. So, they are very different people.

Zera nodded. I will look for textiles that may be suitable for her. Litha is a master of her craft. She might have to visit, though. I think she would need to see the issue.

Raek nodded. We can give you a sample of a suitable composition. Im-bar?

Im-bar got up. Just a moment. She left.

Raek nodded. Zera, I will make something clear. To engage in work as an escort would either kill Cadence or the patron she was servicing. She would disrupt the harmony, hers or his. I presume it would be a he.

Zera shrugged. Demand has skyrocketed. It is difficult to keep telling more exotic patrons that there is no match because their previous escort has gotten married.

He snorted. She will be too dangerous for anyone to deal with but me to deal with. As far as my senses tell me, we are the only pair of harmonics in the world.

Salmet blinked. In that case, a number of things are now clear.

Raek snorted. I am glad you have figured it out.

Im-bar returned, smiling. It s about fucking time.

Raek floated into Cadence s room and smiled. She was draped over Max, and he opened his eyes to watch Raek move around the space. He got a blanket and draped it over her, stroking her cheek. Another harmonic. Against all odds, fate had finally decided that he didn t have to be alone anymore.

* * * *

I n the drone on the way home, Zera said, I don t remember much about Raek.

He was classified. He could stop a war in under a minute, and that freaked a lot of people out. Salmet chuckled. He didn t get a lot of publicity. One pulse from him and all the equipment failed. Another and all the munitions exploded. If they persisted, the personnel were the next to go.

Kritz whistled. That much power.

Salmet chuckled. That is why he will not let her away from the manor until she has control over it. Once she has control, she will be impervious to anything modern tech can do, but until then, she is terribly vulnerable.

Zera pursed her lips. Perhaps her friend is due a paid leave of absence when Raek returns to do his qualifiers.

Kritz chuckled. Not until I ask for a voluntary audit of my department. I want to know what a human is doing working at Z-Corp.

Zera nodded. You think she s a null active as well, huh?

Kritz chuckled. Yes.

Well, suck it. I am going to test her first for delayed activation. I have been checking my tablet and looking for her genetics, but there aren t any. Zera snorted. Of course. We don t test the humans.

Kritz murmured, Maybe we should.

Since I specialize in bio-manipulation, I will be going first unless something more invasive is required.

Well, I will be eager to hear your findings.

Salmet chuckled. I don t suppose I can get a copy of those findings. I am always surprised by the evolutions our population is engaging in.

Kritz asked, When are you going to tell him that he s been asleep for twice as long as he thinks?

Zera murmured, I will leave that to Im-bar. She s his sibling. She might not mention that we missed the deadline.

Salmet asked, What if she does?

Zera sighed. We hope that the delayed fulfillment will be forgiven.

Kritz didn t say anything.

* * * *

L eska chuckled as she got a message from Zera and was asked to head to medical for a workup. She returned the call. Hello, Madame Zera. Why? Physicals are not required for human personnel beyond the annual insurance compliance.

Zera sighed. Please come to my office. I have things to discuss with you.

Yes, ma am. Leska got to her feet, secured her terminal, and grabbed her ident card.

She went to the lift and headed up to the top of the building.

The boss s office was the only thing on the floor aside from the reception desk that was currently unattended.

She walked toward the office door, and the door opened. That wasn t creepy at all.

Leska walked into the office and smiled at the owner of the company. Hello, boss.

Zera made a face. So, why won t you go for the physical?

Why do I need one?

The woman s face tightened. We would like to change your job designation from accountant to companion so that your friend Cadence doesn t have to be by herself when Raek returns to duty.

So, I need a medical check to have a friend? Or to be one?

Zera winced. No. We want her to remember that she s Aksallan over all.

Oh, you don t want her leaving.

Yes.

Even if her breeding partner asks her to go.

Yes.

Which is why you contracted her through the BDC. You wanted to control her movements.

Zera paused, her long, dark hair looking shiny, and her age was impossible to see. How do you know all of this?

I am always in the background. Folks talk freely around me.

Are you sure you aren t an active?

Leska laughed. I am sure that I have no registry. As for my true origins, they are dark and mysterious and landed me in the same group home as Cadence.

Zera cocked her head. You were assessed when you were a teen?

I think so. Pretty sure. There was an incursion at our school during assessment day, so I am pretty sure it happened.

Zera looked at the screen on her desk. You are human presenting. That is frustrating.

You seem sure something else is going on.

I have an instinct for these things, and you have all the attitude I associate with actives.

Naw, I am just cocky. Leska smiled.

Why?

Survival. It makes me smug. I also know that Cadence will be fine and that she has a lot to work out.

Will your being there help or hinder?

I think that I can stay with her when she wants me to. And the occasional slumber party with her partner s authorization.

Her pregnancy has been advanced to the fourteenth week.

Oh. Wow. Unexpected.

Yes, and as the hormones begin to shift, I believe she might need a friend.

Ah, or a designated punching bag. Got you.

Well, the prefect s son and daughter-in-law live down the road. You would be encouraged to take her for careful visits.

So, babysitter, court jester, transporter, and buddy. Huh. Doable. Leska smiled. Just one question, what does the male harmonic think about this?

A large projection flickered to life. Hello, Leska.

Hello.

I am Raek, and I asked Zera to gain your cooperation to become Cadence s companion.

Oh, interesting. I thought I would be in the way.

He smiled. There is a guesthouse on the property. Well, two. My sister is in one of them, and you are welcome to the other.

Oh. Well, that is less annoying for you than I thought.

I have also arranged to have a rig for your pole and ribbon dancing installed. Cadence loves watching you, and I think it would be fun for her to try to learn.

Leska smiled. Well, if you don t mind, I would like to be her companion.

You will have to go through the medical scans and a genetic workup. Harmonics can bring out a lot of latent skills in those around them. She will subconsciously be trying to fix your genes, so that is a risk you will take.

She will mutate me?

She will bring harmony to your body.

That sounds like an ad for a massage studio. Well, I am going to try and keep my genes under my control. I like them.

He grinned. So, you will come?

Sure. Do you have transport?

The BDC will arrange transport for you. Once here, I have some vehicles that you can use to drive Cadence around.

Nice. Okay. When would you like to see my charming features?

He nodded. Clothing and food will be provided. What else do you need?

Are you averse to a robotic cat? Cadence has one, and while he won t suffer long-term from her absence, it might be nice for her to have him with her. His name s Mortimer.

Please bring it along. I hope it gets along with large dogs. We will expect you for dinner. Welcome to the harmony, Leska.

Zera smiled. I guess you will be getting that physical.

I guess so. Where am I going?

We want to keep any results confidential, so we are asking you to head down to the research lab.

Okay. I have clearance?

Zera tapped at her screen. Now you do.