My eyes widened and I fought the urge to freeze in place. In a hostile situation, the levcart could instantly become projectile, shield, or battering ram. Telekinetics were battlefield specters for a reason.
Still, I couldn’t quite help my curiosity. I’d never met a telekinetic before—which was one of the reasons I’d survived the war. “How long could you hold the levcart in the air?”
Torran’s gaze flickered over my face. “It depends on the circumstances,” he said slowly. “But in the easiest case, I could hold it long enough that sleep would become the bigger concern. I have to be awake to maintain the hold.”
Goose bumps rose on my arms as a shiver worked its way down my spine. Not only was he a telekinetic, he was a powerful telekinetic. If he ever turned on me, I would have a split second to act, then I would be dead.
Torran watched me, expression unreadable. “Would you prefer it if I didn’t use my ability while aboard Starlight?”
“No. I would prefer it if you didn’t attack while you’re on board, of course, but otherwise you’re free to do as you like.” My eyes narrowed. After the footstool prank, I’d barely seen him use his ability. As powerful as he was, using it would be a habit—one he must be fighting. “You’ve already been limiting yourself.”
He nodded once. “It tends to make humans uncomfortable.”
He wasn’t wrong. Still, my sense of fairness made me offer, “Maybe don’t fling around a tornado of knives or something equally terrifying, but you don’t have to hobble yourself. We’ll get used to it.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “‘A tornado of knives’?”
“You could, right?” When he shrugged noncommittally, I continued, “Once Kee gets used to you, she’ll have you juggling full glasses of water while she tosses random things at you, just to see if you can catch them.”
The grin bloomed, softening the harsh planes of his face. “She would’ve liked my childhood tutor.”
It was hard to imagine Torran as a child. I wondered if he’d always been so quiet and serious or if something had happened to spark the transformation. I bit down on the questions I wanted to ask. Torran was a payday and nothing else. Anything more was far too dangerous.
I pushed the levcart out of the ship and down the ramp without another word.
Chapter Twelve
During the war, Bastion had been the Fed’s main operating base. It was two wormhole traversals from Valovia itself, but only one from the edge of inhabited Valovian space. Late in the war, FHP troops had eked out a forward operating base on the other side of the first wormhole, but Bastion had remained the stronghold.
Today, the forward base was gone while Bastion continued to grow. It was now one of the largest stations in human space, with the civilian population nearly matching the number of full-time military personnel. The nearest habitable planet—one of the reasons FHP forces had fought so hard for this sector—was over a day away.
The landing bay was full to nearly overcrowded. Ships were squeezed together with the bare minimum safety clearances, leading to tight, winding walkways. We joined the steady stream of people heading into the station.
Torran’s armor got us more than a few dirty looks. By the time we made it to the main airlock into the station, a two-meter gap of clear space separated us from the rest of the crowd. If Torran noticed—and how could he not—I couldn’t tell from his expression, which remained cool and distant.
We had docked in an older part of the station that had been repurposed for civilian use after the war. It was smaller and grimier than the newer sections, but it also offered better prices. Here, the original military design was evident: everything was arranged for maximum efficiency and minimal aesthetics—functional but ugly.
“Turn right,” Kee said over the comm. “I figured you’d want the ship parts first. The best prices I found are two levels down, but you can skip the first elevator. I’m sending the info to your comm.”
“Thank you,” I said subvocally.
“I’m looking at food prices next. I’ll let you know what I find. Yell if you need anything else.”
“Will do.”
I turned right and bypassed the line for the first elevator. The crowd thinned as we moved away from the landing bay door. By the time we made it to the second elevator, the line was only a few people deep. I pulled out my comm and checked Kee’s directions while we waited.
I was used to monitoring my surroundings no matter what I was doing, so I saw the moment the man in front of us decided to become a problem. His leer at me turned into a scowl as he caught sight of Torran.
He stared at me. “Dirty Valoff fucker,” he muttered, loud enough that he wanted to be heard.
He had dark hair and naturally pale skin made even paler by years in the black. He was thickly muscled, likely either a soldier or mercenary. When he caught me looking, his lip curled up.
I deliberately looked back down at my comm, dismissing him completely.
“Didn’t you hear me, Valoff fucker?” he persisted.
The few people around us edged back. I sighed and put my comm away. This was another reason I hadn’t wanted Torran to accompany me. His presence created as many problems as it solved.
“If you’re trying to insult me, you’re going to have to do better than that. It’s good you have all those muscles, because clearly no one is hiring you for your brainpower.”
The man’s mouth opened, then clicked shut. I could see the mouse wheel of his mind slowly turning, then his cheeks flushed red with outrage. Bullies didn’t like it when the tables were turned and insults started flying back toward them.
“You stupid little c—”
The man’s mouth clicked shut again, but by the way his eyes widened, he wasn’t the one responsible. When the elevator opened, he slid two meters to the left, terror plain on his face. With his removal, space opened for me to push the levcart into the lift.
Torran’s expression never changed.
One brave lady who had been in front of us ducked into the elevator, but everyone else suddenly decided they didn’t need to change levels after all.
After the doors swished closed, the lady warily eyed Torran. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I know you didn’t do it for me, but that creep was harassing me before you showed up.” She gave him a shy grin. “It was nice to see someone shut him up.”
Torran inclined his head. “You’re welcome.”
We exited the elevator without causing any more potential interstellar incidents. As soon as we were alone, I turned to Torran. “If he reports you, then we’re going to have bigger problems than an asshole who likes to run his mouth.”
“There is nothing to report.”
“You used your ability on a human who wasn’t a threat. That breaks at least a half dozen laws.”
“He was a threat, I did not injure him, and I have diplomatic immunity.” Torran’s narrowed eyes and icy tone told me that he would do the exact same thing again, given the opportunity.