Creating Harmony Read Online Free PDF Page A

time blurred as she dampened hostilities and made logic shine through without the burning need for advancement. They were politicians doing what was best for their people without thought for themselves. The negotiations began to make headway and Iara remained on alert.
     
    Three days later, she felt the relief and joy as everyone in the room ratified the agreements. A flicker of relief entered her as well. She was only going to be on duty until the Naktu left, and with luck, that would be two days in the future.
    Two incursions had occurred during the negotiations and Lock had stopped them both. He had also rested and she envied that particular luxury.
    The negotiations had occurred in waves. Four hours on, three hours off. This allowed both parties to sleep and confer with their planetary representatives. It had slowly inched the talks along until they had finally created the first treaty that not only contained non-aggression, but also beneficial trade agreements with heavy penalties for either party if they reneged on the deal.
    Iara listened to everything around her. No one asked if she was really there; they could feel her. Their minds were slightly different than others she had touched before, but they were still susceptible to her talent. She kept them serene and kept the process marching on.
    The celebration began that evening, and she stayed on duty. When the Naktu made their way back to their world and they had cleared her influence, she sent out a locking wave into the city and started to move.
    Lock was on the other side of the screen the moment she let out a soft cough.
    “General, lower the screen.”
    It receded with glacial slowness, leaving Iara looking at Lock in exhaustion. “They are gone. We are done here.”
    “Right.” He shifted from foot to foot.
    Iara smiled and carefully levered herself to her feet. She extended her hand, and he took it, bracing her with a hand on her elbow. Together, they walked slowly out of the council chamber and into the deep midnight of night on Deran.
    Iara looked up and saw Naktu dancing in its endless rounds with Deran, progressing like two stones on a bolo, tied by a string that neither could see. They swung around each other, around and around.
    “It is very pretty. Not too surprising that two races so close to each other would succumb to either love or hate. You can’t see something all the time and not feel strongly about it.” Her words were a whisper. Her throat was as tired as the rest of her.
    Lock gave her a look of understanding, and he supported her to their transport and along the ride to their vessel.
    When they stepped into the shuttle, she gave a long shudder. “Medical kit, please.”
    He folded the med bed out of the wall and helped her have a seat.
    She smiled brightly and prepped a hypo with shaking hands. She pressed it to her inner arm and waited for the effect. The moment she could feel the steadying effect of adrenaline, she moved quickly to put in an IV drip with a vitamin and hydrating solution. “Can you get me three ration bags of water, please?”
    Lock moved swiftly and returned with the bags. She opened one and bit down on the mouthpiece, holding it between her teeth so that only a trickle of moisture made it in.
    Sitting up, she threaded her arms through the takeoff straps and checked her connection to the IV. “I am ready for launch when you are. As soon as I rehydrate, I will sleep for a few hours. By then, we will be back at Zakaru.”
    He gave her a narrow-eyed grin, “You knew you would be out for the trip back.”
    “I suspected as much.”
    “Specialist Iara, I never imagined that you were a cheater.”
    She sighed as he headed to seal the ship. “Iara Hanikada.”
    He paused, nodded and resumed his preflight prep.
    He passed her on his way to the command deck and he whispered, “Rion Welnikat.”
    She blushed at the moment that was almost more intimate than a kiss.
    His lineage explained a lot. The Welnikat clan were