Page 62 of Guiding Reason
“Thanks for fixing it.” Hyran’s pupils were wide, drowning out the green, and his lips were pink and inviting.
“I have to go talk to an insurrectionist now. Best you look good for that.”
The mood left Hyran, and his frown and mouth let slip both his fury and frustration.
“Coldis.”
“It will be fine.”
The judiciary agent caved quickly while the AIs were less eager to let Col speak with Alesa. So he pulled rank and given he had brought his Guardian for all the emotional support he might need, the AIs let them through.
“I was hoping they’d not allow you access,” Hyran said, pouting in the waiting room just outside the psionomancer interview office. Refreshments sat on a round table in the center of the room, drinks and plain crackers, and the surveillance tech fed everything into a wall of screens. Hyran had pulled out a chair from the table and glanced at the screens that showed only the interview room, empty for now.
Col took off his blouse to drape it over the back of a chair, revealing a tight-fitting vest below. “Everyone always forgets that fifth rank operatives and up outrank them. Maybe don’ttell my little brother just yet. He wanted to chat with an insurrectionist as well.”
“Is that also something that is normal for the Conduits of Argentea’s Team Three? Talking to violent insurrectionists? Please tell me if yes. I might have to keep you away from insurrectionist activity and focus on med drops and urban agriculture. You should put your blouse back on.”
“After, Hyran. Trust me.”
Col watched Hyran’s face closely, traced the emotions battling along the grooves of the Guardian’s features.The protective instinct alone is riling him, probably also the fear Alesa gets a chance to touch me and force channeling on me. Then the irrational fear that I want Alesa more than I want him.
Col did the only thing he could think to do. He stepped between Hyran’s legs, put his arms around Hyran’s shoulders, pulled him close. Hyran submitted easily, following Col’s demands. Col lifted his Guardian’s head and cupped his cheeks, locking eyes. When Col channeled him actively, Hyran let out a gasp of surprise.
“That man in there is nothing more than a source of information for me. And we need that information. I want to know why they attacked psionomancers and what they are planning to do next.”
“Yes, of course. I know that. If he attacks you, I will be in there in less than a second. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Col was. He didn’t say it. If he did, Hyran would never let him speak with Alesa.
“Thank you, Hyran.”
The observation room, apart from showing the interview room from all angles, was also equipped with excellent sound and recording functionality on multiple wavelengths, even thermal sensors so that nothing at all could be missed. Col steered Hyran to a chair in front of the surveillance wall. The Judiciary-AIswere watching as a matter of cause even though Col doubted anything he got out of Alesa was going to be used by them.Then again, his guilt is clear. Col wished he could stop Hyran from watching, but that was futile.
“Follow my words, Hyran. I never liked Alesa. I might tell him differently to get him to tell me things. Don’t come in there for things he says to me or about me. He’s always had a knack for forcing reactions out of people, but that isn’t what we came here for.”
Hyran’s hands balled into fists on the console. “Uh-huh.”
“I’ll wait for him in there.” Col pointed at a screen.
“Right.”
“He can’t take me away from you, Hyran.”
Hyran looked up at Col with those striking green eyes. “As I said, in my head—fuck. He’s an insurrectionist. All he wants is to take.”
Col leaned forward to kiss his Guardian. “I know. He can’t do that now. Stay here. I know you can do that for me.”
Hyran breathed heavily, and Col felt guilty leaving him there, even if it had to happen. The door to the interview room wanted both his hand scans and an iris scan on top of that.The people in there are dangerous. Of course the Judiciary wants to make sure they stay in there and have no contact with people they shouldn’t. Like me.
The door slid open with barely a noise. Col stepped through, doing his best to calm his heartbeat on the other side.
The interrogation room was bright without being blinding. There were no tables but various seating options in the form of light yellow and blue moldables that Col suspected were set to deflate if a captive threatened violence.
Because the place was meant to be used by psionomancers, it smelled nice, a flowery, calming scent that could be adjusted as the psionomancer needed to make use of their skill easier.Almost fading into the background of the room, a security bot hovered. It adjusted its position when Col walked into the center of his room.These bots are highly effective. I’m safe here.
A flickering of the light announced they were bringing in the captive. Col intentionally didn’t turn to look at the door opposite the one he’d walked in through.
It hummed open. He watched from his periphery as two security bots, those capable of restraining a Guardian, led Alesa inside.
