Page 54 of Fire's Storm
I watch his fascination with quiet pride. Our bond has proven stronger, more resilient, than theory ever allowed.
This is why cross-species bonding matters, I realize—not just for us, but for both peoples.
“Can you expand it?” Vulcan asks suddenly, his mind already racing ahead. “Not just a single point, but a field—an area of sustained energy.”
I pause, considering. The concept makes intuitive sense. “Yes. Like weaving a grid instead of a single line.”
“Try.”
I close my eyes and let the energy flow, not just from my hands but from my whole body—shoulders, chest, back, legs. The current spreads outward in all directions, forming a hemisphere of crackling blue-white light that envelops us both.
When I open my eyes, we are standing inside a dome of electricity—stable, coherent, impossibly strong.
Vulcan reaches out and touches the field. Instead of sparking against him, it bends, shifting to accept him. The energy incorporates him seamlessly, maintaining perfect integrity.
“It knows you,” I say, astonished. “The field recognizes you and lets you through.”
“Bond recognition,” Vulcan breathes, awe in his voice. “The pattern carries your signature—and because we’re bonded, it includes me.”
Excitement surges through me. “We could build shields. Barriers that allow only authorized individuals through, based on bond signatures.”
Vulcan’s eyes gleam with possibility. “Sanctuary-wide defenses. Security systems that maintain themselves—stable even after deployment.”
“Like the ancient systems Kellamir described,” I whisper. “The ones the traditionalists feared we might bring back.”
Vulcan’s smile turns sharp, predatory. “Exactly like those.”
Together we dismiss the standard training program. Standing side by side in the cleared chamber, we establish our mental connection with practiced ease.
What should we create?Vulcan's question fills my mind, his mental voice carrying genuine consultation rather than rhetorical inquiry.
I consider possibilities, evaluate options, consider alternatives.
Something beautiful but functional for public demonstration, I answer, balancing aesthetic appreciation with strategic necessity.
His agreement resonates within me. Together we extend our hands upward, reaching toward the chamber's high ceiling. I establish the mathematical framework while Vulcan provides the power implementation.
Above us, the air begins to shimmer. Colors swirl into existence—blues and silvers dominating initial formation, whites and purples joining developing manifestation, cyans and indigos completing emerging creation as miniature aurora forms beneath the ceiling.
But unlike our previous attempts, this creation contains unprecedented structural integrity—internal consistency maintaining formation stability, coherent organization ensuring manifestation durability.
"It's beautiful," I murmur, watching the aurora's graceful movements.
"And completely controlled," Vulcan adds, satisfaction evident in his voice. "Perfect frequency harmony. Stable energy distribution. Complete structural integrity."
The miniature aurora rotates slowly above us, containing precisely calculated energy levels.
"Let's expand the experiment," I suggest, seeing opportunity for further development.
We could create protective barriers using contained electromagnetic fields, my thoughts reach him, identifying defensive potential.
We develop a synchronized approach—me providing precise electromagnetic configuration, him supplying necessary energy magnitude, our combined abilities establishing operational parameters for practical demonstration with unprecedented integration following disruption recovery.
Together we extend our hands outward. I establish an electromagnetic field structure while Vulcan provides power implementation.
Between our extended hands, a shimmering barrier forms—a translucent wall visibly separating chamber space, a transparent barrier physically dividing the training area.
"Test it," I suggest, curiosity outweighing protocol considerations.
