pte

st memory. Coffee spilling down the cracks in a sidewalk. A sharp jab into her neck...Her thoughts formed a pattern and she bolted upright.

r. She was in a conference room. It wasn't opulent but it was large, comfortable and well appointed. Understated, was th

in a police station merely decorated with heavy frames to fool the eye, although that was probably her innate paranoia speaking. There was one door. Elena rubbed the back of her hand

lf. 'I am not.' The thought steadied her. She pushed away from the table and stood straight. Her first few steps were a bit creaky but sh

e tried to encourage herself with the words as she moved. "Different coffee shop though." She reached the side

The wool around her brain was beginning to fray at the edges and the sharp bite of cold reality was beginning to sting. Panic started to bubble

it turn. She stared stupidly as the door opened and a man stepped into the room. She ducked into a defensive crouch, really wishing she had learned some sort of f

st of his features were rather non-descript. He wore a camouflaged suit with the pants and jacket and the combat boots she also associated with the military. The tray contained several ceramic c

o so far as to say good." He smiled and

e others will be along shortly.

eti

Uncertainty flickered across his face. Be

d quickly walked past Elena to place the tray on the table. He stepped

rted to run a hand through her hair, figuring it was probably a mess, but stopped her hand before it could move more than an inch from her side. If she l

erve her better than fear. This man also had a military haircut. Elena almost expected him to be in camouflaged clothing but he wore a

are a special case.

child but unable to help herself. The man crossed to the table, poured h

proposition of sorts. A business proposition. Then you will of course be able to leave."

able and pulled out the cha

roposition, "

rmed settling hi

business proposition to

hardly kidnapping." El

ell it

a couple of deep breaths. The sooner she found

t come to my office

sibility of being overheard. Al

wondering what highly confidential th

es

ust ask me to com

er than come here. None of them would have suited our purpose." He answered, leaning back in his chair. Elena felt a tingling of warning start in the back of her mind, like

, keeping her suspic

es

kind wou

ew louder and she could feel her stomach begin to knot into big greasy twists. The thought solid

voice calm. "Like in planes?" She tilt

know the kind of pilots we mean." His words ca

I don't, "

to play dumb. We k

ou have the w

nk from his mug and Elena desperately wished for a

think I am?"

ability to navigate the world gates." The man sat back in his seat and silently sipped his coffee as he studie

couldn't spare the brainpower to search for it. Whatever he called them, he was talking about the channels. She had opted out of that world more than five years earlier and had not looked back. But even for one who stoppe

It was a statement she decided she could not afford to deviate from

se. We are well aware of the world gates. We know wh

s less strong than she would have liked. She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I have neve

u see the Pilots, their guild and their secrecy have become obsolete. We have ships that can take us through the world gates with out the special skills of a pilot."

just fine. And I wish you luck with whatever that is. But if you can deal with them better than these pilots then why would you need to kidnap someone you thought was a pilot? Or are you just tel

rking with them we thought you might like to work with them and us." He gestured towards Elena with his cup. "You are about to be obsolete. This would be some way y

" The man took a deep drink from his mug, finishing his coffee. He reached forward

in in contact and maybe give the project a sense of history. Maybe you could tea

us of you." The words fell heavily from her lips, weighted with meaning and import. Elena co

less, " h

cher. So I guess I would have to decline the position." She let the silence stretch while she mentally counted to five. "May I leave now?" The door

ed the folder. "We have ships that can go into the world gates. It is a new project. We have one that is completely operational and one that will be online in three months. We have recently run into a snag. We believe that while rather limited and out dated, your prior experience may prove helpful in this instance. Our

it been missin

ed the time and added that data to her mental files, several things were not making sense, but to

erson. I have no idea what world gates are or what you

ulled out a sheaf of pictures, laying them out on the table in front of Elena. Bright young people in uniform stared out at her. Inwardly, she sighed. She looked at the pict

them and who want them home.

Smith looked as though he wanted to say som

about it and give us yo

rrowed and for a moment he studied her. His eyes made her think of one of her high school math teachers. Everyone believed he could

holding hers out for him to shake. "We will contact you in a few days when you have had time to think. Oh and Ms. Calabrese, one of the reasons that you were brought here was to illustrate a point

the door. The young man who had brought the coffee was waiting outside

nking in the sunlight, the relief at being allowed to be free of the building washed over her. She was not being held. She looked around amazed at how beautiful the world was. As she turned her e

in her direction at the sound of his name and his eyes went wide when he saw her

dn't really need to see him again, and at the moment talking to him was probably not the smartest of ideas. But at leas

. Elena managed to keep herself calm until Smith dropped her off in front of her apartment building. She stepped out of the car closing the