Nigel huffed.“The twins are thirty-four.The law is her activation.”
Jienne asked, “How did they meet Ava?”
“They helped break her out of the lab with me.Imagine two six-year-olds looking around a facility full of folks who tear the lab subjects apart with regularity, and they were calling around to see if anyone could find their friend.”
Nigel sighed.“I was the bonus.Keska disabled the security system, and we were on our way.”
Klauz asked, “Lab?”
“Uraddan splicing lab.They had to separate their operations to keep them from being wiped out.Did you know that Keska can make bombs that only activate with the pressure of specific weights?Like, within a pound.”
Jienne looked at Keska, who was measuring the height from Drin’s collarbone to forehead.She looked like she was in her early twenties and not ten years older.Her fingers were moving constantly, and when she was done, she pressed a small object to her forehead, and it framed her face.She said, “Fire, fire, fire.”
The small item unfolded, turned into an armature, and folded her into a seated position before it cruised around the yard.
She sat and said, “Water, water, water.”
Jienne watched as the surround folded in and dropped into a small charm in Keska’s hand.Keska grinned.She opened her com.“Cabree, I got my part done.”
There was a lot of laughing and cursing on the other end of the line, and then Keska put the small item into her pouch.
Jienne looked at her, and Keska winked.“Jienne, what are you doing today?”
“Why?”
“I thought you might want to experiment with other occupations.I can show you what it looks like behind the scenes at the live ranges.”
“I think I am borrowing your clothes right now, so I don’t have anything to change into unless I go home.”
“I have more stuff for you.You interested?”
Jienne nodded.“Yes, please.”
“Excellent.Nigel, you are off duty.Go romp.”
Nigel got to his feet and bolted toward the woods.
Keska nodded.“He is trying to unionize the local squirrels to put all of the nuts in Ekron’s pool.”
Jienne laughed and grinned when Ekron heard it and stomped over to Keska.“Is that why those little bastards are constantly in my yard?”
“They don’t like being called little bastards, and Nigel is a tremendous leader.Very charismatic.”Keska looked up at him.“You two should chat.”
Ekron looked down at her.“I know you from somewhere.”
“Probably.I have been around.”Keska grinned.
He frowned.“Can you get them to stop?”
“Ask Nigel.”
“He isn’t here?”
“Make an appointment.”She smiled brightly.
“For Nigel?”
“Absolutely.He’s a registered occupant of the household.He’s a non-standard active by classification.”
