Tales of the Citadel # 32 - Core Charge Read Online Free PDF Page A

toward the child and Gwiette. He smiled, his manner relaxed and easy. “Well, Junior. Are you ready to head out to greet Mommy? She is on her way down.”

    Junior jumped up, kissed Gwiette’s cheek and patted her shoulder. “I will see you later. You feel good.”

    Junior jumped into Gant’s arms.

    He turned to Gwiette and extended his hand. “I am Kale and you have already met my singular brood. Welcome to Morganti. We are glad to have you here. Learn and grow, we will help where we can.”

    With his child tucked in his arms, he walked out of the dining hall.

    She looked to Stop. “There are two minds in that one body?”

    “There is the mind of Kale and the touch of Gant. A body can only hold a fraction of a world, but they can be a voice when it is necessary. A thinking world without an Avatar is helpless. They can and do steal a body to speak, but the result is rarely favourable.”

    “How do you know that?”

    “Because my parents were Avatar candidates who fled their positions. They ran from their worlds, and it cost them their lives.” He finished his tea and raised his eyebrows. “Care to practice again? I have another exercise for you.”

    “Lead on. I am curious to see what you think I can do.” She smiled, and he grew flustered for a moment before he offered her his hand.

    He didn’t stop anyone in the room; he simply held her hand as they returned to the hangar designed with her talent in mind.
     

Chapter Five

    Stop smiled and wheeled out a peculiar device. It had four sides sloping upward to a large globe at chest height.

    She walked around it and poked at it a little. “What is it?”

    “It is a transformer. It will turn your biological energy into useable power. You can recharge a transport battery, light a hospital in a blackout, whatever you like.”

    “Will it hold me in place?”

    “No. You can supply as much or as little power as you wish. I will stand back, but do whatever you wish.”

    He took a few steps back and left her alone with the ball.

    Flares of aggression had driven the bolts. What would it take to bring static to her hands and use the touch to tap into more?

    She touched the cool metal and scowled. Direct contact wasn’t going to work. She needed to see the power.

    She stroked the surface and felt the cold radiating up into her skin. That was what she needed, the air in between. The suit shifted, and she heard the light crackling as power exited her palms and entered the small obelisk.

    The globe under her grip began to glow softly, increasing in brightness as she worked the charge into something useable.

    Stop watched her the entire time. “How are you feeling?”

    Gwiette looked at him and kept the power flowing. “Fine. I could increase the charge, but it seems to be doing well as it is.”

    She began to pass her hands over each other, enjoying the crackle of energy over her skin. The suit was lined with the silver streaks, the sub-webbing that let her energy go from soul to skin without hesitation. Fixer had done an amazing job.

    When the orb glowed bright white, she pulled her hands away. “I am guessing it is fully charged.”

    He chuckled. “Yes, it is. Would you care to continue?”

    She rubbed her hands on her thighs. “Sure. What is next?”

    “Take the power back and hold it.”

    Gwiette blinked. “What?”

    “Your body is designed to work with energy. You can exude it, now take it in.”

    “I don’t know if I can do that.” She bit her lip.

    “Try. Put your hands back on the orb, recognise your power and pull it back inside.”

    She swallowed and flexed her hands. “Are you sure I can do this?”

    “I am. Look for your power and your power only. You will know how to pull it when you find it.”

    She placed her hands on the orb with the same hovering touch, and she tried to seek out her energy. Gwiette jerked as power seared her skin through the suit. “That isn’t me.”

    She settled her shoulders and tried