Read Online Hakusan Angel by Alex Powell - Free Book Online Page A

those same words. She watched in fascination as the orange-haired pilot manned the bar and started passing out drinks. Someone passed her a glass of wine and she took it automatically.
    "This is a problem for all of us," Sae said as everyone settled again, this time with drink in hand. "For a long time now, there has been a rift between source and pilot. It would be in our best interest to reconcile, and yet, we remain cautious of each other."
    "When did it start?" Mariko's orange-haired friend spoke up.
    "Matsura's right," Mariko said. "I don't remember a time when we've not been at odds."
    "It's as if it's a part of military culture. It seems like it's an ingrained habit," Kaede said into the ensuing silence as everyone thought on the oddity of their rift.
    "Is it like this everywhere? Is it like this in Morwe?" Matsura asked, prickly brows drawn down.
    "What's more, why hasn't High Command tried to intervene?" Mariko added, looking around the room for support. "You would think that it would be best for everyone to be on the same page. It would be a more efficient environment, not to mention an easier one to exist in."
    "Okay, let's try to sort this out then," Sae spread her arms, gesturing, like a conductor leading an orchestra. "Why do pilots dislike sources so much?"
    The rush of answers was sudden, and they were nothing that Kaede hadn't heard before. She heard all the stereotypes repeated, and they came easily to the pilots' mouths. They said that sources were cold, aloof, and that all that mattered to a source was money and benefits. Sources were manipulative and condescending, but the only thing that was valuable about them was what they were and not anything under their control. The list was seemingly endless.
    "Stop!" Kaede's voice rang out more loudly than it ever had before. "What I want to know is, how many of you wanted to be pilots when you were choosing a career? Did you want to join the military? Come on, raise your hands."
    Confused, the majority of the pilots did so, looking between each other questioningly.
    Kaede turned back to her fellow sources and said, more quietly, "Now you. How many of you wanted to be sources?"
    Two girls calmly raised their hands, seemingly not at all disturbed over the lack of response from their comrades.
    "I wanted to be an artist," Sae volunteered the information.
    "A scientist."
    "A teacher."
    "A lawyer."
    Kaede held up her hands again. "All right. What age were you when you were first approached by the military to be recruited?"
    "Sixteen," Sae answered, and everyone nodded in agreement.
    "What did they offer you to finally make you agree to the terms?" Kaede continued the questioning.
    "My grandfather needed medical treatment."
    "My sister's education."
    "My family was in debt."
    "My father's rival company was about to take us over."
    "How many of you are scared of what the consequences of leaving the military would be?" Kaede closed her eyes, remembering her own family, who were barely in contact with her.
    "Ever since the conflict with Morwe, any high level source not with the military has had an impossible time finding a job anywhere else," Sae replied, her voice tired. "My aunt was a source, too. No one wanted to hire her, not when she was in the database as a known Level 3."
    "Why don't you like pilots?"
    Thus followed another barrage, this time filled with pilot stereotypes. Kaede looked across the floor to Mariko and Matsura and raised her eyebrows. The ball was in their court now. She was willing to concede that if the pilots had misconceptions about sources, the same could be true in reverse. Kaede waited anxiously, and hoped that somehow they could all reach an agreement.
    *~*~*
    Mari caught on to Kaede's tactic right away, watching with interest as she poked holes in all of the stereotypes aimed against her. She and Matsura shared a glance between them, and Matsura pointedly raised an eyebrow. She knew what he was saying. It was all right, though, Mari had no