Sang the Stray (Completed)

14. A Green Knight

We didn't wait long, and when the Fourth Squad member came in I started to wonder if being incredibly handsome was a Setari prerequisite. I was pretty sure Tsee Blackbourne and Ista Green were a few Earth years older than me, but this newcomer looked younger, like he might be the same age as me. His hair was light brown, styled and combed as neatly as Tsee Blackbourne's. However, his emerald green eyes were friendlier; framed by thin eyebrows that angled slightly, making him look curious and constantly interested, and his countenance far less severe than the Squad captain's.

"Sang Sorenson, this is Tsen Dakota Lee," Tsee Blackbourne introduced, then asked, "How is your sister doing?" I realized right away that this must be Jessica's half-brother.

"I so sorry!" I blurt out, feeling terrible.

"It's okay, Sang. She's recovering really well. My family and I know there is no possible way anyone could have guessed that would happen. It is not your fault, just a shocking accident," he tried to assure me with a smile. And I could tell it was genuine. I just couldn't believe he was being so nice. I had hurt his little sister very badly. He must have read that disbelief on my face. "Really, Sang. I hope it doesn't ruin your impression of me actually."

"What you mean?" I wonder how he believes I could possibly think badly of him, when really it was my fault.

"I mean, my step-father was sponsoring you, and now my squad has taken over sponsorship; but I've been so busy, I haven't been able to come and introduce myself at MedBay, let alone ask how you are doing. A broken clavicle is painful, I know from experience." He gave a sympathetic grimace. I didn't know how to respond to this either, so I just nodded. It warmed me that he had even considered coming to visit me.

"Well, the two of you can discuss the matter later. Shall we begin?" Tsee Blackbourne interjected. I was glad for the interruption, covering for my awkwardness. Tsee Blackbourne explained,"Tsen Lee has several psychic talents, but we have decided to just test telekinesis today, since we do not have to be in the Ena to use it. Tsen Lee, please demonstrate the max weight you can lift."

The younger Setari complied, lifting the white blocks in order from smallest to largest. He was able to lift individual blocks to about two-thirds of the way through the blocks. Then Tsee Blackbourne directed me to stand next to Lee, and asked me to do exactly what I did when Jessica jumped us.

"I do nothing," I say pressing my finger to my lips. I think for a moment before adding, "I just stand and..." I drifted off and blushed.

Ista Green tilted his head and smiled encouragingly, asking, "Well, what? You've remembered something."

I glance up to Tsen Lee, who was about a half-head taller, standing so close next to me, I could feel his warmth. I felt my breath escape me. His eyes were gorgeous. I knew I was supposed to say something, but the way he was looking at me made my heart skip and my mind go blank. Why was I feeling this way? I broke the contact and shook it off, trying to refocus. Oh, that's right. Cue blush, again.

"She hold my hand," I say. Tsen Lee gains a slight blush of his own, but doesn't hesitate and gently takes my hand in his. Ista Green grins and Tsee Blackbourne merely lifts a brow.

"Very well, and now lift the blocks again," Tsee Blackbourne directs.

This time, Tsen Lee is able to lift all of the individual blocks, even one the size of shipping container. His eyes growing wider with each increasingly heavy block. Then he starts lifting them all simultaneously, and everyone's, even stoic Tsee Blackbourne's, eyes are wide with amazement. They quickly recover and start firing questions overhead. Meanwhile, Tsen Lee's grip on my hand has tightened, but I don't complain. And surprisingly, I don't tense and try pulling away. In fact, it feels kind of nice. I look at our joined hands and notice the three green stripes on his sleeves. Green-suits were the scientist types that were with Fourth Squad at Muina. Does Tsen Lee have some sort of science specialty, like Ista Green is Setari and a medical doctor? My musings are set aside when Tsee Blackbourne has decided on a new course of action. So then we try endless variations of hand-holding and block-lifting. Through these trials we find that whatever I am doing keeps working for a little while, even when Tsen Lee releases my hand.

"What do you think they will call this ability?" Tsen Lee asks.

Ista Green replies, "Perhaps, 'amplifier' or 'magnifier'?"

Tsee Blackbourne considers this for a moment then states, "Those sound like accurate designations, but Isten Rose's research may still reveal something."

The three Setari all clearly seem excited about it.

"I think you should probably take Sang to get something to eat, Kota," Ista Green says, eyes sparkling with mirth, as my stomach grumbles. "I would take her myself, but there are some pesky reports I need to write and send. This guy, too," he adds with a nod to Tsee Blackbourne.

"Yes, we will let you know when a decision is made on your monitoring status. Ista Green will continue watching your medical stats remotely. I believe you should still use a containment room for sleeping, since we have several other talent sets to test. I will see if we can at least get you dismissed from the medical wing. There are plenty of apartments in the residential wing that are outfitted with the dampening technology," Tsee Blackbourne informs me.

They leave and I turn to Tsen Lee, then ask, "Kota?"

"Yeah, only my mother calls me Dakota. KOTIS requires us to use last names while on missions, but even then only Tsee Blackbourne includes the rank. He is very proper that way, and we respect it. But please, call me Kota. May I call you Sang?"

I nod in answer, my eyes darting down to avoid his perceptive gaze. He wasn't letting me evade him though. Bending a bit at the waist, his face came close and regained my attention. "I make a pretty good friend, if you give me a chance." His warm smile and heartfelt words, tugged at me in some inexplicable way. Jessica had been nice, but in the Lents family, I had still felt like a curiosity, or some shiny, new bauble to show off. Kota's offer of friendship seemed like a promise of so much more.

"I like that," I tell him. He pulled back then, crinkles forming at the corners of those beautiful emerald eyes as his grin grew. My stomach fluttered, and I returned his smile.

"Good," he replied. "Now, let's get you fed." And we made our way to the Setari dining hall.