Sang the Setari

41. Bubble

"North," I complained, "This is ridiculous." I tried lifting my arm from my side, but was hindered by the extremely thick layering of my nanosuit. He had modified the setting to give me 'adequate armor'.

He ignored my comment and started muttering something about a helmet.

"Really, considering the Voltzach aversion to water, you should just have Silas put her a bubble. At least, she'd have free range of motion," Victor joked.

North glanced over at Silas as if he was considering it. Silas just smiled.

Oh Mylanta!

I bumped North with my shoulder since I couldn't move my arm up high enough to smack him and said, "Make it go back to normal."

His jaw tightened and eyes hardened. He was digging in his heels.

I sighed. "Look, I know this is a risky mission, and you want me protected as much as possible, but I will be surrounded by Setari. Besides, as long as I can move properly, then all those lessons with Nathan have certainly not been in vain."

Nathan, who had been the most vocal in his disagreement with using me to access the platform to Kalasa, nodded and said, "She's prepared to defend herself.  You don't want to be in the way of her roundhouse kicks. And she's quick, even without the benefit of Speed talent."

"I just want to protect you," North confessed.

"You will...you all will," I confidently assured him. I leaned in closely to whisper in his ear, "Do you still like me?"

He huffed softly, but whispered back, "Yes, do you still like me?"

"Yes. Always," I replied, putting as much conviction and love as I could into that declaration. Then I leaned back and firmly ordered, "Now, fix my nanosuit, Tsen Taylor."

That earned me a grunt, but at least the tension had eased from his frame and the bulkiest sections of my nanosuit smoothed out as the nanocytes receded.

Half of Fourth Squad had headed out earlier this morning to prepare for today's mission. I was glad that I'd gotten to sleep in after arriving on the planet at Muina's equivalent of midnight. Kota's return had set the local dhura, dubbed Max, into such effusive joy that he ended up 'taking it for a walk' through the nearby Gate to save me from the headache of its excited bellows. It was so unfair that I was still the only one who could hear it in Real Space. Owen had been cloistered with Tsur Buble and the other Squad Captains ironing out the logistics of the mission. I had not seen any of them since departing the tanz that brought us through Deep Space.

Nathan checked my combat pack and we made our way to the amphitheater where the Camelot Platform was located. Since being discovered as transportation devices, everyone had stopped referring to 'the communication platforms' and now used 'Platforms', a capitalized, proper noun.  As more of the ancient Muinian settlements were discovered, all those that could be considered  major cities seemed to have a Platform, and though KOTIS had not found these at every small village, there appeared to be global access to the Kalasa hub of Platforms that Gabriel and I had found. 

Tsur Buble began speaking as soon as everyone was assembled outside the doorway to the Platform room, "Squad Captains Tsee Blackbourne and Tsee Newton will lead the first wave through the Camelot Platform to Kalasa.  As you know, Tsen Sorenson is the only individual capable of accessing the transport feature. We fully expect that the Platform operates on a one-to-one location ratio, meaning the Camelot Platform only connects to Kalasa and back again. All personnel are being tracked through locators and beacons have been placed at all known settlements in the unlikely case that transport goes to an alternate location. Upon arrival Fourth and Seventh Squads will vacate the Platform and secure the site. Then Tsen Sorenson will return to retrieve the next two Squads. The Platform will be a tight fit for so many persons, but while safety is paramount we also want reinforcements to transport in with all speed. Tsee Blackbourne," he concluded with a nod for Owen to speak.

Owen said, "From the Intel gathered by Tset Coleman and Tsen Sorenson, we believe Kalasa may be free of Ionoth other than the Voltzach. There also appeared to be no Dhura present in the city, however we are going in ready for defense against any threat.  Please refer to the Rotation schedule distributed earlier by Tsen Lee for talent enhancement from Tsen Sorenson.  We don't want her to linger overly long on the Kalasa side, but we also must use precautions to prevent overwhelming her ability by having too many Setari enhance too quickly in succession. Once all Setari Squads assigned to the mission have reached Kalasa, we will determine which assault plan to follow.  You should all have been briefed by your Squad Captains on the alternate plans of action."  He looked around briefly, as everyone nodded assent and then turned to Karen, saying, "Tsee Newton, you may begin."

At that signal, Karen started issuing orders on how to assemble upon the Platform. The others would all fit atop the tabletop as tightly as possible while leaving a small space in the middle for Gabriel to drop down while carrying me to activate the Platform. There was quite a bit of shuffling and adjustments with tension and the expectation of battle crackling in air. When the Setari were all in place, Karen gave Gabiel a nod and we lifted up.

I took a deep breath trying to sooth my nerves.  Gabriel squeezed me and whispered into my ear, "Don't worry, Trouble. We made it through this with just each other last time. I'm not letting go of you." He snuck a kiss on my cheek and descended.  As soon as Gabriel's feet touched down, we all immediately found ourselves in the flooded Platform room at Kalasa.