The Light-Field by Traci Harding Read Free Book Online

president in the company of a man he recognised immediately.
    â€˜Rhun?’ Zeven was startled to see him. ‘How did you get here?’ It seemed odd that the man had aged so much since last he’d seen him. Perhaps it was a disguise.
    â€˜Sorry?’ said the fellow in question.
    â€˜This is Agent Zeon.’ The president cleared up any confusion.
    â€˜My bad …’ Zeven suddenly realised this could not possibly be the man he thought it was. Wrong universe, he thought.
    â€˜Zeon is the man the Timekeeper recommended to watch your back,’ Anselm advised. ‘He’s a strategist, which ought to come in handy. Agent Zeon, this is Starman, my new —’
    â€˜â€” crash test dummy.’ Zeven held out a hand to Zeon, and his handshake felt like a bolt of positive energy. Zeven wasn’t the only one who noticed the energy transfer; Zeon also had an inquisitive look on his face.
    â€˜There is a transport waiting outside the office to take you both to the facility.’ Anselm got straight down to business. ‘As the test site is some distance from Heavensgate proper, you’ll be staying for two weeks and then returning to the city for a week of R&R.’
    â€˜Sounds good.’ Starman had got his wish. ‘But when I get back I’m getting my own apartment, and car.’
    Anselm was bemused by his decision. ‘If that’s what you want?’
    â€˜That’s what I want,’ Zeven replied surely, noting that Agent Zeon didn’t look very impressed. ‘Is there anything you’d like?’ he asked Zeon wondering about his new partner’s discontent.
    â€˜I’d like last week back,’ came the curt reply.
    â€˜Get over it, soldier.’ Anselm’s reply was equally curt. ‘Don’t make me doubt the Timekeeper’s faith in you.’
    Zeon’s jaw tensed a moment, but then he nodded and seemingly accepted his assignment. ‘The Timekeeper is never wrong, is she?’ The agent sounded like he was reassuring himself on that count. Anselm nodded his head in agreement, in case there was any doubt.
    Â 
    When the brief was completed, Zeven accompanied Agent Zeon to the transport that would fly them out to the facility. Zeon was walking very fast and seemed pissed off about something. Hence Zeven waited until they were seated alone in the back of their cross-desert transporter before saying anything to his new partner. ‘So what did the boss drag you away from to come baby-sit me?’
    Zeon was pacified by the way the question was phrased. ‘A beach on Frujia … my first real holiday in ten years!’
    â€˜That sucks!’
    â€˜You bet it does.’ Zeon clearly felt uncomfortable having the cause of his angst on his side.
    â€˜We could find someone else if you’d prefer?’ Zeven suggested, politely — offering the man an out now, before they fell out over the assignment.
    â€˜Why are you so special?’ The agent wanted to know before answering. ‘Who are you, Starman?’
    â€˜A pilot with a death wish.’ He shrugged.
    The agent leant forward in his seat to query in a whisper: ‘But how do you know the boss ? We’ve been working with each other for years and I never got wind of you?’
    â€˜Well, I’ve known the boss for some time too and you were never mentioned to me either, Zeon,’ Zeven reasoned, using neither Taren’s code name nor her real one; if indeed Taren even knew what her real name was? ‘Do you have a first name, because I’m not calling you Agent Zeon all the time … I’ll feel like I’m under surveillance.’
    â€˜Mythric.’
    â€˜Mythric Zeon?’ Zeven consulted his memory. ‘Nope … the name is not ringing any bells for me.’
    This man and Zeven had ruled a planet together in another life, another universe, and had been the staunchest allies and friends — why not here