The Pocket Rift - Episode 98
A CrossXworlds story
© 2025 - Kevin W. Burke
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Aiani looked between the two of them, arms folded, studying the two sharply. Finally, she softened.
“Fine. I’ll bring this to the Council.” She turned, pointing at Sinacori. “But know this: If your ‘aid’ turns into rule by extortion or fear, we will end it.”
Spark’s eyebrows shot up at Aiani’s direct words. Flint smirked.
Sinacori smiled wider, spreading his hands. “Then we understand each other. I’ll help. You’ll watch. Everyone wins.”
Aiani and Mr. Sinacori inspected each other. Davin looked between them, anxious, but not interrupting.
Vaness broke the silence with a dramatic sigh, flexing her foot in the planter soil.
“All this talk of suffering, while I’m the only one actually enduring it.”
Flint muttered, “Tell that to the marigolds.”
Spark hid a grin. Aiani and Mr. Sinacori’s eye contact finally broke with a nod to each other. Sinacori’s face brightened, looking over at Vaness.
“Speaking of suffering, I think we’ve kept these good folks from lending a hand for far too long, Vaness. Let’s carry on to our next stop.”
Vaness looked at Davin, then back to her father, protesting loudly.
“You want me to walk? I can’t get up! I need the medlift!”
Sinacori sighed, shaking his head.
“There are plenty of people who need the medlift more than you, Vaness.”
She folded her arms. “Then I’ll just have to wait here until it’s my turn.”
Sinacori looked to Davin, once again looking as apologetic as a mob boss could.
“My boy, would it trouble your team too much if I…?” He gestured to Vaness on the chair.
“No trouble at all…” Davin said.
Aiani looked over Davin, eyes widening in disbelief.
“Spark here has been running out of people to run his medical experiments on,” Davin finished, pointing Spark’s way.
Vaness looked up at him, her turn for disbelief.
Sinacori laughed. “Fine, fine.” He nodded at Spark. “Don’t be afraid to use some heavy anesthetic if she gets to be too much.”
“Father!” Vaness protested, disbelief verging into outrage.
The rest of the group stood to escort Mr. Sinacori as he went back to his stretch lift. As they neared it, Sinacori nodded to his bodyguard, who opened the front passenger door and fetched a device.
The guard brought it to Davin. As he did, Sinacori told Davin, “This radio will give you encrypted communication with my team. It’s got a range covering most of the valley. They’ll let me know if there’s something you need to address to me directly. Otherwise, they’ll help you with whatever you need, and I hope you’ll give them the same courtesy.”
“Thank you, sir,” Davin said.
“Don’t let Vaness walk over you like she does me, but keep her safe.”
Davin nodded.
Sinacori clapped Davin on the shoulders, smiling at him for a moment. Then he turned, and as he did, his face shifted serious, a harder edge returning to it as he nodded to his men.
The lift closed up as they climbed back into it, then it pulled up and away from the roof. Flint and Aiani stood behind Davin as he watched the luxury lift take off and join the rest of the caravan, receding from the apartment complex.
Davin turned and looked at Aiani, a bit of uncertainty showing as he faced her.
“Well?” he said.
Aiani sighed. “Well, I guess I need to talk to the Council,” she conceded.
A smile of relief flashed across his face.
Aiani’s eyes narrowed at him.
“But before I do, you and I need to talk.”
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