Born to master mechanics, she fights her way into the Guardians and finds a path to glory when she gears up.

Niad has controlled herself since returning from the Citadel. She has kept out of the public eye and kept off the Guardian’s radar. Her talent is not encouraged by her people and she is not legally allowed to participate in a rescue, a natural disaster, or any law enforcement actions.

She keeps her head down and continues her work as a vehicle repair specialist until the day that her careful actions mix with a disaster. She finds a fire where a repair job is supposed to be and takes steps to do the best she can for those trapped inside.

That one act is observed by one of the Guardians and evolves into an arrest, a charge, freedom and a change in position. She is ready to gear up.

Excerpt:

Niad Wyfirth could feel the heat beating against her skin. Only a thin layer of metal was situated between her and the cascade of fire below. The smelting plant was under siege by fire and she was their only chance.

Niad crept forward inch by inch, her yellow and red thermal suit protected her skin from the glowing metal of the crawlspace. Breathing was accomplished via the pack on her back and the mask over her mouth.

She wanted to mutter to herself as she positioned herself over the hatch above the slipped gearing system. One lost connection and the heavy, metal transport cauldrons dislodged and the plant caught fire.

Getting the conveyer arm into working order was the only way to get the fire suppression systems online. It was currently blocking the vents that would cool the molten metal.

Niad wasn’t a climber by nature, but the necessity for her to learn was there. She descended out of the vent and used clips and cables to keep herself above the chaos below.

This was not really what she was good at, but she lined up facing the broken mechanism and reached out to begin tucking it back into working order.

Mechanical alignment was the best description of her talent and she lived up to it in the minutes while she swung above the molten metal and fire. When she got the pieces back together she had to winch the cauldron back into alignment. Sweat made her hands slip as she ratcheted the unit into the track. She prepared to swing free.

She activated her com. “Try to retract the unit.”

“Got it. Swing clear.”

Niad pulled herself back on her cables and held on while the machine shuddered back to life and the mechanism tilted the cauldron back into an upright position. The moment it was up and out of the way, the sprinkler system came to life and rain pelted down at a furious pace, bringing the conflagration under control.

Niad hung onto the cable and watched the fire dwindle and the ash begin to run in the gutters.

She looked up, into the water streaming from the suppression system. “Can someone get me down now?”

Laughter ran through the com system and the exercise was complete.

“Niad Wyfirth, you are now a qualified Specialist.”

She grinned into the artificial rain.