Looking at Trouble by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

“Why?”
    She drummed her nails against the table and glared at him. “Why is it that you all know so much about it?”
    Reaht smiled. “Ryamash IV is a l’nal world. They regularly come and visit for trading purposes, l’nal body language is taught to all children near the spaceport.”
    That explained it.
    They finished their meal with exchanges about where the men had come from. She had spoken about her origin, and they were sharing theirs.
    After the food was gone and the table was cleared, Kimda looked at her, “Where was your father?”
    She chuckled. “I don’t know. Amdor does not screen for parentage unless it is requested, and whoever my father was, he was long gone before I was born. Men have the advantage of the escape, never knowing or caring what they have left behind.”
    The four men stared at her in silence. None could refute it. They had a biological advantage that a female just didn’t have.
    Bilro finally asked, “Did you know what species he was?”
    “No. Mother never met him. If she had, she probably would have eaten him for what he did to Niada.”
    The men shuddered in response.
    She chuckled. “I have agreed to be present during l’nal negotiations as part of my contract.”
    Oldeck smiled in amazement. “You don’t need a translator module?”
    “No. It isn’t easy for one of our kind to learn their language, but it is a handy thing. It carries over miles.” She shrugged and checked her data pad. “Well, news reports are coming in about how efficient our team is. So far, all of the reports are glowing for you guys.”
    Bilro scowled. “What do you mean?”
    “They feel I am reckless and dangerous, with a death wish.” She shrugged. “It isn’t the worst that I have heard.”
    “Why did you attack the man escaping the institution?” Oldeck was curious.
    “He was about to grab a woman, she would trip, he had his finger on the trigger and three would be dead before he ran out of projectiles. When I stepped between them, I knew what I could do, and I could act when the moment changed. Mother made me this clothing to withstand blaster and projectile hits. It is also fireproof.”
    They looked at her silk clothing in surprise. Kimda reached out to touch it, and Bilro sat up, scowling in disapproval.
    “It feels like air.”
    She grinned. “It is very comfortable and easy to clean. I love it. I just wish I had more than one.”
    “Do all l’nal weave fabric like this?”
    Reaht and Oldeck took the excuse to come up and grope her clothing.
    Reeda grimaced. “No, not all l’nal weave fabric like this; in fact, I have never heard of silk being flame retardant.”
    The guys sighed, and she could see their minds working. “I will ask Mother and see if she can offer advice for trading for suits for you guys.”
    The faces around her beamed, and she found out what they wanted but would not ask for, comfort and protection.
    She would see what she could do.
     
    She mentioned the suit in her letter to Mother and tucked herself into her bed with the com still on and on alert in her ear.
    She slept for a few hours before a chime went off inside her head, and she opened the com to the other Guardians. “Wake up and let’s go. Tidal wave on the eastern shoreline. One hour’s travel and we will be on survival and rescue duty.”
    As she spoke, she pulled on her clothing and stomped into her boots. She met the guys near the doorway to the landing pad and got onto her riot runner. She was in the air before they had finished loading into the skimmer. She sent the coordinates to the skimmer, accelerated up and zipped down the coastline into increasingly violent weather.
    The ocean roared and bucked against the stone of the shore. It clawed at the sand and buffeted the marshlands. The surf was angry today, and this was just the end of it. The wave had been sudden, and there was probably a talent as the cause.
    She wasn’t concerned with causation right now; she was consumed with the