Page 36 of Guiding Reason
“I don’t see how…are those cam drones?”
Thanks to their new and strange connection, Orrey could tell Senlas wasReachingfor the little drones he’d seen floating above their heads.
“Yeah.” HeSeizedthem, forcing them to stop in midair, and turned.
Orrey spotted the Conduit coming up behind them. He recognized the hairstyle first, short on the sides, long on top, fringe hanging into his eyes.
“Conduit Ama?” he asked. Orrey wasn’t sure it was this particular ChannelPulse documentarian’s name, but he was glad to remember at least one of the names.
The Conduit beamed. “It’s Sinta, Conduit Orrey. Ama is my colleague. I’m so glad you remember me. I happened to see you leaving the Grounds and talking to the regulars and the protectors outside. You are daring. I’d think you’d be scared, especially after having been outside the walls. Does anything scare you, Conduit?”
“Documentarians sneaking up on him do,” Senlas said.
His power tightened around Orrey. He’d be lifted off his feet within seconds if anything happened.
The documentarian raised his hands. “Please, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you! I didn’t want to shout your names and attract unwanted attention, but people have seen the footage of the Battle at Starlit Stage, and they have seen what you did. Now there are protectors here in the Grounds, and the auto-drives seem to be failing.” He put on a smile not dissimilar to how Toso and Lapatea had always smiled and came closer. The memory of Toso brought Orrey back to the hurt all around them. “Will you not take a moment to tell the Grounds that everything is fine? That you are here, watching over Ferrea like Wilan watched over us all in his day?”
“I’m no Wilan,” Senlas said.
Orrey did the new thing he’d learned where he could reach out and touch Senlas’s power, only he was doing it with his thoughts. Senlas looked back over his shoulder, eyes meeting Orrey’s.
“We could say something, right? There’s no reason to be afraid right now. Yes, there are many things that still need to be done, and people died at the insurrectionists’ hands, but the citywill stand together. Everyone should know that. Pain and loss touched us all, and as a city—as cities—we will heal together.”
Senlas looked at the documentarian. “Did you get that?”
Sinta pointed at the cam bot. “It’s recording. I may use what you said, Conduit Orrey?”
Orrey shrugged. “If it helps.”
“I’ll mention you and your Guardian are out on the streets. Some are afraid to leave their buildings, and some building AIs have cautioned against it too.” He motioned. “At this time of day, this street would be busy, and everything would be open. Look at it now. It’s scary. It’s like a scene from a drama. That place over there? The one with the storm shutters down? Best spiced noodles in the city, and even I’d be pressed to get a serving at this time of day. And now it’s all closed because people are scared.”
Orrey looked at the restaurant, the Slurping Spoon. It looked abandoned.That’s a shame. Senlas likes noodles.
He made himself smile at Sinta. “The protectors are just trying to help. They are helping. Without them, believe me, the situation would be much worse.”
SenlasPulledOrrey toward him and closed him in his arms. “You brought them here, Orrey. Without you, the situation would be much worse.”
Orrey heard the excited intake of breath from the other Conduit. The insecurity was still there, feeling as if he didn’t belong, but Orrey had proof now that he did, that he and Senlas were connected beyond anything he—and maybe Senlas too—had ever thought possible.
And so he decided to ignore the pang of insecurity that made him want to hide and stood on his toes, cupping Senlas’s cheek.
The invitation was clear, and Senlas followed, leaning in so they could kiss.
TherAI would be so proud of me right now,Orrey thought when they pulled apart.
“The streets are safe because my Conduit acted when he had to,” Senlas said. “They are so safe I can kiss him here. Like my Conduit said, everyone should be compassionate but not afraid.”
Sinta nodded eagerly. “I will pass that along. ChannelPulse will. And maybe—I know the situation is much changed, but we would still like to follow you and maybe get a few more comments—”
“No,” Senlas said.
Orrey watched the documentarian’s face fall.
“What Sen means is we are just very busy at the moment.”
“Of course, Conduit Orrey.” Sinta nodded. “Maybe I could approach you every now and then? I expect to be out documenting as much of this as possible. And we will put in another formal request as well. I have no idea how all of that will get handled with the Op-AI dead, but…” He sighed, forced a smile. “I will do what you said, Conduit. Let’s help the city heal together.”
“Wonderful. Also, please heal elsewhere,” Senlas said.
