Crisis Management Read Online Free PDF

data pad and walked down the hall to the shuttle umbilicus. Her lips were tingling and her body hummed happily. She had felt a connection to Helsin when she met him and had met several dozen males in the meantime, but he had formed the criteria by which she measured all of the men she met.
    As she settled in the shuttle and lifted the data pad, she idly caressed her lips with her thumb.
    “Agent Jarix, are you ready?”
    Jarred out of her memory, she smiled weakly at her pilot. It was one of the Azon troop members. “Yes, thank you. I am ready.”
    He nodded, filed for clearance and under his expert piloting, they lifted off and moved toward the first jump point.
    Dev looked through the data she had been given and smiled at the image of her charge. Leothanak Rasco was the young woman she would tutor, and as the vote grew closer, she would watch her every moment.
    As a first assignment, it might even be pleasant if no one died.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    There was a representative of the High Prefect Rasco’s household waiting for her at the shuttle port. He was nine feet tall and looked highly disgusted with his assignment.
    “Agent Jarix?”
    “Yes.”
    He looked her up and down, disapproval in his eyes. “Your clothing is inappropriate.”
    “Ah hell. Sorry.” She concentrated and the Masuo reshaped into a drab grey bodysuit with a long belted tabard that hung to her ankles. “Is that better?”
    He blinked. “Yes. Much more appropriate. I am Yalio Regas, manager of High Prefect Rasco’s household. Please come with me.”
    They stepped onto a conveyance that her research identified as a skimmer. With her hands on the rail, she watched the world of giants fly past.
    They moved through the city, and Yalio parked them in the enclosed park near the house of the high prefect.
    Dev watched the guards that had weapons trained on her lower their arms. The guards were all from off Yagoth. None of them were lavender and none over seven feet tall.
    They all seemed calm and competent as they resumed their normal guard duties.
    Dev followed Yalio into the home of the high prefect and submitted to a weapon’s scan.
    When she came up clear, the guard running the scanner asked, “How do you intend to protect our girl if you don’t have a weapon?”
    Dev cleared her throat. “I will manage.”
    The man scowled. “You had better. She has nine public appearances this week.”
    A noise at the top of the stairs drew Dev’s attention, and she inclined her head politely as the high prefect came toward her with his daughter trailing in his wake.
    “You are what Sector Guard Udell has sent to us?” The prefect was not impressed. He glared down at her from his height of nine feet and tried to intimidate her with his presence.
    “I am the best option available. If I am with your daughter, nothing will pass through me to injure her.”
    “You are so small.” The girl peeked out from behind her parent and also looked down at Devani.
    “I am the proper size for my species, but I believe that the idea that Guardian had was to have you guarded by someone who would not stand out.”
    Leothanak frowned. “I suppose you wouldn’t stand out.”
    High Prefect Rasco asked, “May we test your effectiveness?”
    Before Devani could answer, one of the nearby alien guards pulled his weapon and fired it. Dev moved to step between Leothanak and the blast with reflexes honed by Kennan and Ilsa.
    Two sharp impacts landed mid-chest and the guard backed up rapidly when she moved toward him to disarm him.
    “Enough! You are on the job. Daughter, show the woman where she will be sleeping.”
    Leothanak frowned but gestured for Devani to follow her. As they climbed the stairs, the young woman said, “This is the high prefect’s mansion. The position my father holds is an elected post, and when he resigns, we will leave and go elsewhere.”
    Dev spoke, “Will you miss it?”
    Leothanak looked at her. “Of course I will. Don’t be