Starcrossed

Chapter 8c: omni (part 3)

Chapter 8 (part 3)

omni: a small, multifunctional device developed on Mars

It was only as Sean opened the front door that I noticed he didn't have an umbrella.

"Um, there's really no point in both of us getting wet," I said, peering out at the rain falling in sheets just past the porch overhang.

"No worries. We'll stay dry as dust. Come on."

Puzzled, I walked with him to the top of the porch stairs. A gust of wind blew a flurry of drops into our faces. "Dry as dust?"

"One sec." He pulled something about the size of a pack of gum—or a flash drive—out of his pocket. Suddenly a glowing screen, about six inches square, appeared in midair. It looked like some kind of control panel.

"Is that a hologram?" I gasped.

"Basically." He flashed me a mischievous grin, then touched a spot on the screen, which made a different screen appear. He made his selection on that one, then stuck the device back in his pocket. The screen disappeared.

"Okay, let's go," he said, taking my backpack from me.

I was briefly reminded of Rigel taking my gear bag this afternoon, but then my attention went back to the rain, which was coming down harder than ever.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." He grinned again and held out the crook of his arm for me to take.

I hesitated but decided it would be rude to refuse. When I touched his arm I felt that jolt again, though his coat muted it somewhat. He escorted me down the first step and I squinted against the onslaught of wet on my face—except my face stayed dry. All of me stayed dry. I took another step down and so did he. Still dry.

"How—?"

"Call it an invisible umbrella," he said, watching my face with undisguised amusement. "It's a sort of force shield that keeps the rain off us."

I stuck my hand out and watched as the rain sheered away from my skin about an inch before it touched me.

"Cool! And it's generated by that thing in your pocket?"

He nodded. "My omni, yeah."

"Omni," I repeated. "So it does other stuff, too?"

"Loads of other stuff. I'll show you sometime."

Though I was dying for a demonstration right now, I just said, "Okay."

"Let's get you home. I got the impression last night your aunt isn't someone to mess with."

I laughed. "You got that right. But she seems to like you guys, so I probably won't get in trouble. This time."

"Glad to hear it."

He smiled down at me so warmly I was reminded again of Rigel's suspicions. I dropped my hand from his arm—and got a face full of rain.

"Watch out," Sean said, holding his arm back out to me. He was laughing! "It only works if we're touching. Sorry, I should have told you."

I wiped my face with my sleeve and put my hand back on his arm. "Yeah, that might have been nice."

"I really am sorry." But I thought he still looked amused. "I'm so used to everyone knowing this stuff, I didn't think to explain it."

"That's okay." I was starting to feel kind of silly now. "A little water won't kill me."

"Maybe not, but we can't take chances with our Princess, now, can we? Here." He pulled out his omni again, the screen appeared, he pushed a couple more holographic buttons, too quickly for me to see what he was doing, and suddenly I was totally dry.

"Holy crap! How did you do that?" I asked, the last of my irritation swallowed by amazement.

Again he was laughing at me, but not maliciously. "Just another function, the instavap."

"But how does it work? How does it dry just the water on the surface—and in my clothes—but not suck it out of my body?"

His eyebrows rose. "I guess your science education isn't as primitive as I thought. It works from the outside in. Because it only lasts a second, it doesn't have time to dessicate you, though your mouth might feel a little dry."

I checked and it did. But only a little, and only for a few seconds. Very cool.

"So what other, um, apps do you have in there?" I asked, even more curious than before.

He shook his head. "If I tell you now, how do I know you'll let me walk you home again? Anyway, we're here." He walked up the porch steps with me and handed me my backpack. I took my hand off his arm the moment we were under the overhang and the tingling stopped, making me realize I'd felt it this whole time without noticing.

"Thanks," I said, ignoring his question and being very careful not to touch his hand as I took the bag from him. "Guess I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"And at our house next time you, um, tutor us?"

"That, too. G'night."

He smiled down at me but didn't try to get too close—to my relief. "Good night . . . Emileia," he said softly, then turned and left.

I frowned after him for a moment, not sure what to think, then shook my head as I opened the front door. There was no point imagining motives where none might exist. And though I knew Rigel wouldn't approve, I couldn't help liking the O'Garas. Already, I found myself looking forward to my next visit to their house.

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