I used the technique I knew for absorbing and moving Presence through my body, and Aphatoris moaned as I eased some of it through my lips and into her. She put her arms around me and kissed me back. We stayed that way for several minutes, to everyone's surprise, then her flow of Presence started to falter. I guessed that she was regretting letting me get this close to her, so I stopped kissing her and let her go. She held onto me for only a moment longer and let me go as well.

I stepped back and gave her a deep bow, just like the three eyed and bald Meaglesnarn had when he entered the room. “Great Aphatoris, I humbly greet thee and ask for your help in my time of need.”

It took Aphatoris almost a full minute to compose herself. While she did, I looked at her. She had brown hair down to the middle of her back, dark blue eyes, and a body that would be stunning if she didn't hide it under several layers of clothing.

Aphatoris gave her body a slight shake and then glanced at the sides of the room. “Release my people.”

I did better than that and pulled them back over to where they had been before and let them go as I absorbed the Presence Hands. “In my haste to meet someone as prominent as you, I may have overreacted a little.” I said and smiled crookedly.

Aphatoris started to smile back, then stopped herself as she looked at the people around her. “Are you all right?”

“What hit us?” One of them asked and rubbed his head. “One second I was here, then I was over there on the wall, and now I'm back here again.”

I guessed that Aphatoris didn't really have an explanation for that, because she probably hadn't seen anyone do something like that, either. Then she turned to me and squinted her eyes.

“I should be very angry at you.” Aphatoris said.

“I shouldn't be drawn to you like metal to a magnet, either.” I said with a smile. “I've never been around someone with such a bright and blinding Presence before.”

“How can you even see me?” Aphatoris asked. “That blast shield looks like it's embedded in your skull.”

So, she can see Presence to some extent herself. I thought. “I don't need my eyes to see your magnificence.”

“You have a silver tongue.” Aphatoris said as her face flushed slightly red. “I won't be swayed with just pretty words.”

The unspoken 'again' hung in the air between us.

“Then let me tell you a tale with a lot of harsh and ugly words instead.” I said. “Perhaps that may sway you.”

I told her my tale from when I was born, right up to when I left The Order's home planet. By the time I was done, the number of people in the room had doubled and some of them were crying. Aphatoris had a couple of tears on her cheeks and she wiped them off. Everyone else was clearly angry.

“I knew The Order was crooked in some way; but, I could never prove it.” One of the aliens said. “They are always holding themselves in high regard and expects everyone to worship them and their powers.” Another alien said. “Sanctimonious jerks.”

“When (Undecipherable) came through here and wanted a shipment of focusing crystals, we couldn't refuse.” A man in a uniform said and stepped out from behind a couple of others, and it was the man that had tried to arrest me earlier.

“Hey, did you get me that appointment with the section manager?” I asked, and several people and aliens chuckled.

“I apparently didn't have to.” The man said. “This is the one that killed on your property.”

“Actually, it was before I entered this section of the station.” I corrected. “I thought they were thieves trying to rob me when they asked me to pay a toll.”

“What did you do?” Aphatoris asked.

“I asked them if the toll was one of their lives, or both.” I said. “They responded with saying it was fifty credits, and I asked them if their lives were that cheap.”

A couple of aliens laughed out loud.

“Then one of them pulled this out of their belt.” I said and unhooked the long knife from my belt and held it out to Aphatoris, hilt first. “They asked for money again and waved it at me, so I took it as a direct threat of violence, disarmed him, then stabbed him with it.”

“Then what?” Aphatoris asked and took the long knife.

“I asked the other alien if the toll was one life or two. He said one and picked up the body and left.” I said. “Then I walked over to the large security door with the bar across the handle and came inside.”

“There's a bar across the handle?” One of the aliens asked, then he ran from the room.

“How did you get in if the door was blocked?” The man in the uniform asked.

“I moved the bar, obviously.” I said to him without making fun of him for asking a stupid question, then turned my head back to look at Aphatoris. She nodded slightly and waved at everyone to relax.

“Meaglesnarn.” Aphatoris said. “What do you say?”

“He's been completely truthful, except for his name.” Meaglesnarn said.

“I detected that as well.” Aphatoris said and looked at me. “Hunter, why lie about your name?”

“In case (Undecipherable) has people here, or is here himself, or gets word that I'm looking for him.” I responded. “If he knew my name, he could run, hide, or come after me and put the people around me in danger.”

Aphatoris nodded. “Yes, he could do all of those things... or do nothing.”

“What?”

“He could sit and wait for you to come to him, to see how you've progressed over the years since he's seen you.” Aphatoris said. “I doubt that would happen; but, it's possible that he's waiting for you.”

“If he is, then he'll be ready for me whenever I show up.” I said.

“Are you prepared to face him this soon?” Aphatoris asked.

“I honestly don't know.” I said. “I have no information about his capabilities or even how strong he is, only that he was one of The Order's best operatives before he went rogue a year ago.”

Aphatoris didn't say anything until the alien came back with the bar in his hand. He told her they used the bio-scanner and it had been held by the alien I had killed. She nodded to the alien and looked at me.

“Even if you were defending yourself, you took the life of another sentient being.” Aphatoris said. “As the section manager, I hereby judge you guilty.”

I held in my sigh and waited for her to pass judgment.

“You will be held in a private cell for the length of one week.” Aphatoris said, then she frowned at me. “If you had done the crime inside my section and not in the connection to the rest of the station, I would have sentenced you to a month of isolation and intense mental conditioning.”

“Would you be the one doing the conditioning?” I asked.

“No.” Aphatoris said without any inflection in her tone of voice.

“Then I'm glad it didn't happen in your section.” I said, and I couldn't read the reaction on her face.

“Now that you know the penalty, would you do it again?” The man in the uniform asked.

“Yes.” I said honestly, and several of the people and aliens gasped. “I won't weaken myself or my defenses for anyone's benefit.”

“You would kill so callously again?” Aphatoris asked.

“They would have hurt or killed me for my credits.” I said. “Why does me defending myself surprise you so much? It's not like other people haven't killed others before, right?” I looked around at their faces. “Or were you all smart enough to hide the bodies and make them look like accidents?”

There were a lot of uncomfortable beings in the room from my words, and I smiled.

“I didn't kill the other robber because I had hoped it would be a life lesson for him.” I said. “Robbing people, especially me, is a very dangerous business.”

No one at all talked after hearing that statement.

“When does my sentence start?” I asked.

“Immediately.” Aphatoris said. “Hand over your...”

“No.” I said.

“Excuse me?”

“What part of not robbing me didn't you understand?” I asked. “I'm not handing anything over to you or anyone else.”

“I cannot let you enter a holding cell with all of your weapons and personal items.” Aphatoris said. “You could easily use them to escape.”

“Considering I can easily escape right now without using them, I don't see why I need to hand them over.” I said.

Everyone stayed quiet, probably because they didn't see any of the people that detected lies flinch at all.

“I escaped from The Order's council chamber while it was in session.” I chuckled. “Do you really think I can't just walk out of here whenever I want to?”

“Then why don't you?” Aphatoris asked, slightly angry.

“I told you before that I needed your help. The trail to (Undecipherable) led me here, so this is where I am.” I said. “I knew he would want focusing crystals, so I came here to see how many he bought and where he went.”

Aphatoris sighed. “He gave us a useless promissory note for payment from The Order.”

I barked a laugh and she glared at me. I held my hands up and apologized. “I'm sorry, that was rude.” I said. “I was told that I should dress as a member of The Order to make things easier for myself, and I thought that was a stupid reason to degrade myself, and I honestly didn't think it would work.”

“It could have.” The man in the uniform said. “No one wants to cross The Order.”

“I do.” I said, to their surprise. “If I hadn't given my word that I would let them go if they told me what I wanted to know, I would have killed the council before I left.”

Complete silence filled the room at my words and no one moved.

“Before you start thinking I'm crazy, killing them wouldn't have destroyed The Order. There's too many of them spread out all over god's creation for a few deaths to take the whole thing down.”

Several aliens caught their breath at my declaration and the man in the uniform stared at me.

“Look. Just like I did for the newest council member when she wanted to punish me for what I didn't think was a crime, I'll take your punishment this time without retribution.” I said. “But, this is the only time. After this, I won't be answering to you for any crimes that you think I've committed.”

“You dare dictate to me?” Aphatoris said, clearly angry now.

“Yes.” I said, and she raised her eyebrows at me. “If I didn't have to come here for your help, I wouldn't be here at all... so, that alien's death is partially your fault.”

“Excuse me?” Aphatoris nearly yelled.

“You're not even going to punish the other alien for attempted robbery.” I said and looked at the other people's faces and back at hers. “It happens so often that you all look the other way, until something like this happens. You have to notice it now and you have to ignore that it's your fault it's gotten to this state in the first place.”

Aphatoris made her hands into fists. “You will be put into isolation for a week!” She exclaimed, changing the 'held in a cell' verdict to isolation. “One meal a day of basic rations!”

“I'm keeping my things and my clothes.” I said, before she could order them taken from me. I really didn't want to fight them, because I would never get the help that I needed if I hurt or killed them.

“Take him away!” Aphatoris waved angrily at the man with the uniform and then at me.

“Come with me.” The man said and I followed him out the door of the room and to a lift. He hit a button that was hidden unless you pressed it, then the lift dropped down several floors. “You know she could have had you killed.”

“No, she couldn't.” I said, and he looked at me. “Her moral outrage at taking sentient life would mitigate any death penalty to incarceration and maybe hard labour.”

“You seem to be taking this really well.” The man in the uniform said and the lift door opened. The place looked clean and like it hadn't been used in a while. “Isolation is the harshest punishment she's ever given to anyone.” He said. “One meal a day of rations is barely enough to live on.”

“Is there any way I can insure that it gets delivered and not stolen?” I asked, and he looked at me with wide eyes. “You're right. I'll need it to live. It would be bad if I missed one or two and went hungry, wouldn't it?”

“You don't have a high opinion of us, do you?” The man said and opened a solid metal cell with a small sliding opening at about face height.

“I don't have a high opinion of anyone.” I said and stepped into the completely empty cell. “That way, I can't be disappointed when people meet those expectations.” I smiled. “I've only been surprised a couple of times in the last sixteen years when someone has exceeded them.”

The man closed and locked the cell, then opened the sliding metal slot. “But... you're only sixteen years old.”

“Yeah.” I said.

He just looked at me for a few moments, then sighed. “I'll be back tomorrow with your supper.”

“Make it a late supper.” I said. “It'll throw people off if you skip when you should bring it.”

“Why would... oh, right. You expect someone to steal it.”

“Don't you?” I asked.

The man didn't respond and closed the slot opening. I watched him through the walls as he walked back up the hallway and stepped into the lift, then I was left all alone.

“Finally!” I exclaimed and sat down in the middle of the room. “I'm finally alone.”

I was a bit disturbed that it looked eerily similar to the cell I had been held in during my previous life when I was tortured and then killed. I was very thankful for having access to Presence and my Detect Presence technique that let me see all around through the walls, ceilings, and floor. No one was within my detection range, so I relaxed. I did several mental techniques to let me stay calm and to feel the flow of Presence in more intricate detail.

I couldn't get Aphatoris out of my head, though. I felt like I was a moth that was drawn to her flame. Her Presence was so bright and powerful that even now, as I thought about her, it felt like I could still feel it. I concentrated on her flow of Presence and like a beacon, I looked up and saw her.

I can feel it. I thought, surprised.

*

How can he be so casual about killing people? Aphatoris asked herself as the very handsome Hunter was led from what her people called her throne room. It was just a meeting room with a simple chair for her to sit in, though. Other chairs were at the sides of the room for people to sit on; but, they were barely used because they always stood to report to her.

“Can we really keep someone like him here?” One of the aliens near her asked.

“He said he would take the punishment this time.” Another responded.

“Does he even have that choice?” A man asked. “Why would he try to defy the Great Aphatoris?”

I really hate that title. Aphatoris thought. “He said he came here with someone and didn't want them in danger.” She said. “Find them for me, without them knowing about it, and report back.”

“Yes, Great Aphatoris.” Meaglesnarn said and bowed to her, then he and Mogglesnark left the room at a fast walk. Three other bald aliens that looked like them left as well.

“Their network of shops was the best investment I ever made.” Aphatoris said and smiled. “Having three eyes to appraise things helps, too.”

No one responded to her, and she held in her sigh. Her people revered her a bit too much for her liking and she couldn't do anything about it without losing their respect. She couldn't even have a normal conversation without them calling her 'great' every few minutes. She walked over to her chair and sat down, and her people formed a kind of protective ring around her. She thought about telling them to back off to the sides of the room, because she was in a bad mood, then decided not to and sat quietly.

Aphatoris felt a tingle at the back of her skull and held in her gasp. What was that? She asked herself, and inexplicably, she leaned forward and looked down at the floor. She wasn't sure why she wanted to do that, then she saw a flicker of something. She bent over farther and reached down to touch the floor where the flicker of light was.

It's not there? Aphatoris thought in bewilderment, then moved her head to the side and saw that the flicker wasn't on the floor at all. I can see it down past the floor! She thought excitedly. She wondered why, after all these years, she hadn't developed any new abilities besides boosting others with her Presence and detecting lies, and now she could see something through the floor. I need to find that flicker!

Aphatoris stood up and walked over to the door of the meeting room. Her people separated and stepped out of her way, then several of them followed her to protect her. She didn't say anything to them as she followed the flicker down to the next floor, and the next, then she reached the bottom floor of the section she was in and walked over to where the flicker was.

It was right below her in an isolation cell.

*

I felt the glow of Presence as it came closer and closer, then it entered my detection range. My eyes had followed its progress and I watched as the humanoid shape of bright light came closer and closer, down the last two floors, then it moved over to the spot right above my cell. I stood up and reached my hand out and put it into the edge of the brightness.

The waves of Presence flowed around my hand and I could feel it want to mix with mine. I thought that was a little odd, since usually it was the person that would give me that impression. This time, I knew the person wasn't happy with me and yet her Presence didn't have a problem with me at all. I smiled and let some of my considerable mental barriers down and gladly accepted it.

*

Aphatoris gasped as she felt something open up below her and her Presence flowed down through the floor. She trembled at the sensations she felt and slowly lowered herself to the floor.

“Great Aphatoris, what is it?” One of the beings with her asked.

Aphatoris waved her hand to tell them to be quiet, and she hugged herself as her Presence gave itself over to someone she personally thought was reprehensible. She hadn't had it do that before, since she had to willingly want to boost someone else for the transfer to work. Her body shivered as more Presence than she had ever given anyone before, easily flowed out of her.

S-s-stop. Aphatoris thought and concentrated on her flow of Presence. Please, stop.

*

I felt the flow of Presence falter, like it had when I was kissing Aphatoris, so I gently closed my mental barriers. Thank you for choosing me. I thought at the flow of Presence and not at Aphatoris, and I felt a tingle go down my spine. It was nice meeting you, too. I thought in amusement, then the flow changed and I couldn't feel it anymore, despite the bright glow being right there above my head.