Skylar Mars and the Stolen Egg Read online

“WHY IS he here?” asked a quiet, mellow voice.

  “I don’t know,” an equally peaceful voice replied. “Maybe he came to feed us. But feeding time isn’t for a little while yet, and he doesn’t have any food.”

  Skylar’s head pounded. People still shouted in the distance. He didn’t want to open his eyes, and kept his hands clamped over his ears. In the back of his mind, he knew that eventually, the shouting would go away, but the cacophony overpowered him. It was like the entire academy had picked that moment to scream at him. It hurt, and he wanted it to stop.

  “Skylar.” A soft voice intruded on the overwhelming noise, almost like the tweeting of a bird trying to compete with the sound of a celestial rock band set on overload. The softness startled him. He struggled to focus on the voice.

  “Who are you?” The training he’d been undergoing came back, and it felt right to answer with a thought. He might not have much luck shielding, but sending wasn’t a problem.

  “I’m a friend. Skylar, just relax.” The voice carried a soothing feeling. It reminded him of the gentle rhythm of the ocean he and his mother had visited on Hummassa the previous summer.

  “I’ll try. Will it make everyone stop shouting?” He took a deep breath, trying to relax the way his psi-trainers had been showing him. It still felt clumsy and strange to do it that way. Nothing made sense.

  “Pay attention to my voice. Focus on me. It will help block everyone else out.” The voice grew more prominent amidst the background noise.

  “Keep talking to me,” Skylar said. “It’s helping. Everyone else is getting quieter.” For a moment, as his concentration on the voice wavered and his hope jumped, the shouting tried to reassert itself. He panicked. The gentle rhythm of his breathing faltered. He struggled to find the voice again.

  “Deep breaths, Skylar. Just focus on me. Don’t let anything disrupt your focus on me.”

  Skylar took another deep breath. “Okay, so what do I do to keep focusing on you?”

  “We’ll just keep talking, how’s that? And as we talk, tell me about what you like here at Stars’ End. There’ve got to be things you like.”

  “I’m making friends. They’re nice. Del and Solaria are really cool, even if Del is a bit of a brain, and Solaria can be moody.”

  The voice chuckled. “Yes, that is true on both counts. It’s good that you’re finding friends here. That’s not always easy in a new place. So, what else do you like? What about the farm? A lot of the kids from less-developed worlds like the farm. I think it reminds them of home.”

  Skylar took another deep breath and was surprised that the musky, sweet smell of the cow barn filled his nose. “Yeah, I like the farm. The animals are cool. I’ve always liked animals.” The shouting receded further, as if the angry mob was moving away from him.

  “Good, focus on that. Focus on the animals.”

  “Do you think he might feed us soon?” the soft pleasant voice asked, counter to what the other voice was saying. “It really is rude to come visit us and not bring us food.”

  Skylar slowly opened his eyes and pulled his hands away from his ears. He looked up into the face of an elder Tursiops. Behind the gray face and white hair stood Ms. Grissom, Del, and Solaria. Beyond them, a couple of cows looked over their short stall walls.

  The elder Tursiops smiled. “It seems that you’ve come back to us, young Mr. Mars.”

  “What happened?” Skylar tried to remember how he got from the counselor’s office to the cow barn. It was just a haze, running through the station trying to get away from the voices.

  “What do you remember?” the Tursiops asked.

  Skylar looked up at Ms. Grissom. His throat tightened with regret. He felt like he’d disappointed her in some way. He’d never gotten so angry at an adult before. “I was shouting at Ms. Grissom after she played the message from my father. Then everyone started shouting back at me.” He shook his head. “It was like the whole school was yelling and screaming at me.”

  The Tursiops nodded, then frowned. “I think you may be stronger than any of us realized. I don’t normally ask this of new psychics, but I’d like to put a dampening bracelet on you for a while.”

  “A dampening bracelet?” Skylar remembered Solaria or Del saying something about them recently, but couldn’t remember what. It was still hard to put thoughts together. He was tired and hoped things would clear after a few minutes.

  “Yes. Until you get control of your abilities, you’re going to be a danger to yourself and anyone around you of lower level.”

  “Which apparently is a good portion of the school,” Solaria muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

  The man looked over his shoulder at her. “While I appreciate your assistance in finding young Mr. Mars, your presence may no longer be needed, Ms. Uncia, if you cannot hold your tongue.”

  “She’ll be quiet, Grandfather,” Del said, then looked at Solaria. “Won’t you?”

  She bowed her head as Skylar realized who he was talking to—Del’s grandfather. Then Professor Aduncus turned back to him. “I don’t want you to have to wear the bracelet very long. At this point in your training, it could be detrimental to your development. I just want to be sure that you master shielding both your thoughts and emotions from others. You have to find your center. If you can’t do that, you’ll lose control every time your emotions run rampant.”

  Skylar shook his head, trying to understand what Del’s grandfather was saying. “But I thought I was just able to pick up emotions. Emotions shouldn’t sound like people shouting at me, should they?”

  “Skylar, my boy, you’re far more than a feeler, although a feeler you are. You’re also a reader, and from the explosive way your reader powers have come to light, I’m going to say that you’re a fairly powerful one too. If you thought that the whole academy was shouting at you, that means you were tapping into the minds of a large portion of the station.” He paused and sighed. “That would be a major feat for me, and I’m a level ten reader. You also shared your fears with those around you. Luckily, your projection skills are going to take some strengthening, or we might have had a good portion of the school incapacitated. Can you understand why I think we need to put a dampening bracelet on you for a while?”

  “I think so.” Skylar nodded. “But how long will I have to wear it?” He was becoming a danger, just like his mother had said all psychics were. But he didn’t want to be a danger—he wanted to learn to control his skills.

  Professor Aduncus shrugged. “That’s entirely up to you. If you can master your abilities, you won’t have to wear it long. I understand that you’re already in class to learn shielding.” He stood up from the straw-covered floor and stretched. “I think it would be best if, for the time being, I took over your training. I am the head of the reader's department and the strongest reader in this part of space.” He looked at Skylar as he offered him a hand up. “Or so I thought.”

  “That’s a very good idea,” Ms. Grissom said, sounding relieved.

  Skylar dusted the dirt and hay off his gray synth pants. “Ms. Grissom, I want to say that I’m sorry for what happened. I didn’t mean to get so upset.” His stomach knotted as he got the words out. He didn’t like having to apologize for his actions, and losing control like he’d just done made it worse.

  She smiled. “Remember that in the future. You can’t let your emotions get the better of you. But that’s okay. You’ve been through a lot, more than most of us ever go through in a whole life. I accept your apology.”

  “Thank you.” He nodded.

  “Now, Mr. Mars, before you go wandering off, let’s put this on you.” Professor Aduncus held up a small black band. It looked a bit like a leather bracelet.

  “Does it matter which arm?” Skylar asked, trying to decide which one it would look better on. He hoped he’d be able to pull the sleeve of his shirt over it, since he didn’t doubt that everyone on the station knew what the band was. He didn’t want to give them more reasons to look down on him beyond
the fact that he was still the new kid.

  Professor Aduncus shook his head. “Whichever you prefer. Remember, it will come off when we’re training.”

  Skylar held out his right arm. “Will I be able to take it off if I want?”

  “Yes. Well, you’ll need help, but it won’t be locked on if that’s what has you worried. Due to safety protocols, it takes two hands.” Professor Aduncus closed the band over Skylar’s wrist. “So, you’ll need someone to help you get it off and on.”

  The effect was almost instantaneous: a strange quiet settled over him. His mind was almost crystal clear. Skylar stood perfectly still for a moment. He looked past his friends, teacher, and counselor at the cows. The two bovines stared at him with big brown eyes. He almost expected them to ask about dinner, but they were silent.

  “Are you okay, Skylar?” Del asked.

  “Yeah. It’s just so quiet. I never realized things could be so quiet.” Skylar looked at the bracelet. Upon closer inspection, there was a series of fine wires and circuits running through the leather-like material. He ran his fingers over it. It felt like the native clothes Teir and the other Hummassans used to wear, but had enough of a plastic feel that he knew it wasn’t.

  “You’ve been picking up on more than you realized for a while,” said the professor. “It’s not uncommon for budding psychics to perceive background emotions and thoughts for years before their powers actively manifest. I’d say you found your way to Stars’ End just in time. I’m amazed this talent didn’t show up in your testing. Now, why don’t you three take the rest of the afternoon off? We’re in the farm area, so go find a tree to relax under, or run off some energy. I’ll let your teachers know you’ll be missing the rest of your classes for the day. Mr. Mars, I know tomorrow is a rest day, but we need to get that bracelet off you as quickly as possible. You’ll report to my office after breakfast. If you don’t know where it is, Mr. Aduncus can show you.”

  Skylar nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Professor Aduncus smiled. “Good, now off with all of you. Relax and have some fun.”

  11

  Field Trip

  “COME ON, Skylar!” Del pounded on the bathroom door. “If you make us late, I’m going to be really angry.”

  “Just a minute.” Skylar ran a brush through his brown hair and finally nodded at his reflection in the mirror. It was his first field trip and chance to get off the station. He wanted to look decent.

  He opened the door and Del nearly ran him over to get into the bathroom. “I thought you didn’t take a shower in the morning?” Skylar shouted at the already-closed door. There was so much about the other species he shared Stars’ End with that he was still learning. Sometimes he felt like he was never going to learn the ins and outs of living out here.

  “This isn’t about the shower,” Del shouted back.

  Skylar turned to Fin, who was busy tucking in the coverlet on his bunk. “Okay, so what’s his deal? This is just a field trip to some museum, right? Why’s he getting so excited?”

  Fin turned and looked at Skylar. “You have to understand Del. This is a chance to discover stuff he might not learn here at the academy. He wants to look his best in hopes of making an impression on someone at the museum who might be able to help him get a position when we graduate.”

  “What?” Skylar frowned, trying to understand. They still had a few years before they graduated. It didn’t make any sense. “He’s only fifteen. Why is he already thinking about making contacts for a future job?”

  “He’s a low-level feeler. Most of the Tursiops who don’t find jobs as psychics end up going into aquaculture back on Tursipia. It’s what our race evolved for. Del’s too smart for that, so he’s already on the lookout for opportunity he can use his brains to get ahead. A museum would be a perfect place for him. It’s filled with knowledge, and there would always be something new to learn.”

  Skylar pursed his lips and thought about it. “Okay, that makes sense. He’s probably thinking first impressions and stuff like that.” The only first impression Skylar really thought about making was with the Boarisk raiders when he caught up to them and instilled fear in their entire race. He hadn’t made much progress on things, other than starting a diary of where they struck and what kind of methods they used in their attacks on various planets. The problem he kept running into was there didn’t seem to be a pattern he could detect.

  Fin nodded. “Exactly.”

  Connor burst into the room. “Are you guys ready yet or not? The line’s already forming at the airlock.”

  “We’re just waiting for Del,” Fin replied. He picked up his small pack from his bunk. “We’re all packed and ready to go.”

  “Me too.” Skylar shouldered his own pack. They’d all been told to carry a day and a half’s worth of clothes and necessities to cover them through the trip. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough for them to get by. Apparently, everything else they were going to need would be provided at the museum.

  “Mars.” Connor frowned. “I still don’t understand why they’re letting you go. After your outburst last week, the last thing we need is you losing it in a public place.”

  Skylar held up his right arm with the dampening bracelet on easy display. The only time it had been off his skin in a week had been during his training sessions with Professor Aduncus, which were coming along agonizingly slowly. He really hoped he’d get the hang of psi skills quickly, but even the little stuff seemed beyond him. “I don’t think I’m a danger to anyone right now.”

  Connor’s frown deepened, then he smiled. “Unless they get a good look at your face.” He snatched his bag off his bunk and ran for the hall.

  “Yeah, well, your face is worse!” Skylar shouted after him.

  Del emerged from the bathroom with his bluish hair perfectly groomed. “What is with you humans and having to comment on each other’s faces?”

  Skylar shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t start it. It wasn’t something that we did on Hummassa. Connor started the whole thing a few days ago.” It didn’t make much sense and Skylar had wondered, but not bothered to ask, if the comments on how bad someone’s face looked was some kind of hazing ritual.

  Fin sighed as Del grabbed his pack and the three walked toward the hall. “Yeah, we all know when it started. It’s getting old already. We may have to put an end to it before it gets out of hand.”

  “That would be nice.” As he agreed, Skylar silently wondered how Fin and Del, since Fin said “we” would put an end to Connor’s face comments. He was ready for Connor to move on to something that at least sounded a bit more mature.

  Just like Connor said, there was a line forming in the entrance hall. There were already several people behind Connor as Skylar, Del, and Fin joined them.

  The broad shoulders and torso with long gray-dabbled white hair cascading down in front of him looked familiar. Skylar touched the shoulder. “Hey, Solaria.”

  The Pantherian spun around with a growl. The eyes looking at him were a deep brown, not his friend’s crystal blue. “I am not who you think, human.” The last word came out as a snarl.

  Not expecting the harsh reply from an unfriendly face, Skylar stumbled backward a pace. “Sorry. I thought you were Solaria.”

  “Oh, did you?” The Pantherian’s frown deepened. “Do I look remotely female to you? Or are you one of those humans who think that all the other species look the same, regardless of sex?”

  “Hey, it was an honest mistake.” Skylar squared his shoulders and stared up into the guy’s eyes. He knew the guy could shred him without much trouble, but he didn’t like getting pushed around for a something he didn’t exactly understand. With a lot of species, it was hard to tell one sex from the other when faced with a person’s back. His hair did look a lot like Solaria’s, and he had the same build. From behind, they could’ve been twins.

  “Oh, will you stop posturing, Mutanio?” Solaria said from behind Skylar. “So, he still gets confused. That’s no reason to go after Skylar. He
’s a nice guy.” She moved so she stood between them. “Now back down, before I have to put you on the floor.” She growled slightly. “You don’t want me to do that in front of nearly a quarter of the school, do you?”

  Mutanio fell two steps back from her. “I’m not afraid of you, Solaria. I didn’t know you had a thing for humans.”

  She sighed and flexed her claws. “You know, you’re really starting to tick me off. Oh, and most of the people around here saw you back up from me just now. Do you think they don’t realize that means you’re at least a little bit afraid of me?”

  “Alright, we’re going to begin boarding now!” Mr. Corda’s voice rang out, amplified by the school’s public address system. “Please behave yourselves. We cannot have any incidents this time.”

  Solaria cast a last glare at Mutanio. “Leave my friends alone or we will have trouble.” She turned her back on him and looked at Skylar. “So, you ready for your first field trip? These things are always a lot of fun.”

  “Nearly a day and a half in close quarters with the likes of Connor and Mutanio?” Skylar sighed. “Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun.” He hoped nothing would go wrong, but with so many kids along, it was a distinct possibility. At least he had Solaria and Del with him. Having friends helped him feel more confident in everything. He just hoped wherever he was, Teir was okay. He missed Teir almost as much as he missed his mother, and there was still no word from Hummassa about him.

  “I WANT you to take a deep breath and relax,” Del told Skylar.

  Skylar frowned. “If I still have the dampening bracelet on, how will this help? It’s not like I can use my powers now, even if I wanted to.” Not that he could do much with them if he tried. Everything else in school had come easily; even if he wasn’t great at any one thing, the building blocks seemed simple.

  Del shook his head. “I still think you’d be so much better off if you’d actually been trained several years ago in the basics. Using your psi powers is like using your body. It’s a matter of getting used to doing things. I really doubt you crawled out of your mother, stood up and walked out of the hospital room.”