Disclaimer: I do not claim to own anything that Anne McCaffrey has written. I own my own ideas and my own characters.

Crystal Calling

Chapter 4

By: Ethril Dragon

The world was blurred for Angie; just a swirling and moving mass of colors and sounds. Every now and then she would have a moment of clarity and she might be able to make out some medical equipment or a face hovering over her. Other times it was just safer for her to keep her eyes closed. She didn't know how long life was like that for her, only that it was continuous. She lost track of time and the space around her, floating on the swirling colors, feelings, and sounds that infiltrated her senses.

"It's strange, but it's not a Milkey transition." Angie could hear hesitation in the voice that was in the room with her. Finally Angie was able to make sense of something. It must have been days since her collapse, otherwise she wouldn't have felt as starved as she did. "But I can confirm that her senses will remain intact."

Angie opened her eyes slowly. The objects that had been blurred and moving in her delirious state became clear and she found that she was indeed in a medical room. She let out a groan as she slowly attempted to sit up. Her weak attempts led her discover that she was strapped down on a rather comfortable bed.

"Welcome back to the waking world." A male voice commented as the straps were removed from her.

Angie groaned again and with some assistance she was able to sit up in the bed. She let out an exhausted sigh when she was finally up and leaning against the head rest of her bed. "How long?" She coughed out before she was handed a glass of water.

"You've been out for a little less than a day." Lars Dahl replied as he sat down in a seat next to Angelique's bed. "Your transition was rather quick compared to most people's you know."

Angie stared at Lars in disbelief. Whatever it was that had happened to her, it had felt like days, weeks even, not a single day. "That can't be right!"

Lars smiled a bit and he let out a chuckle. "I've been told that people lose track of time during their transition." Lars nodded as he watched the teen.

Angie closed her amber eyes and tried to really think about how long she'd been out of it. "What's a Milkey Transition?" She asked suddenly after a few minutes of silence.

Lars sat back in his seat from the sudden question. "It's the rarest and quickest of the transitions." His words were automatic. "Usually with a Transition there are several discomforts, such as those that you experienced. With a Milkey, there are no such discomforts. It is a very smooth transition."

Angie let out an annoyed sigh. "The worst is over then?" She asked as she opened her eyes and looked at the guildmaster. "No more swirling colors and strange tones?"

Lars nodded. "After a few days to recover, you'll be at full strength again and you can start your training."

Angie sighed and closed her eyes. This was it; she was stuck with this life now. She would never see her family again or become a stellar. Her dream of opening her music school would never come true.

"It'll be alright," Angie jumped a bit when she felt fabric pressed to her cheek. She winced and took the small handkerchief from Lars's hand so she could wipe her cheek. When had she started crying?

Her misery turned to anger as she scrubbed her cheeks. "It won't be alright!" She said as she glared at the man that was now her guild master. "I'm trapped here! My life, my future, is gone! I might as well have died." She gripped the square of fabric between her hands so tightly that it started to rip. "All the years I spent training are worthless now!"

Lars was silent as he listened to the teenage girl rant. "I won't sugar coat it. Your situation is not ideal." He agreed when Angie finally stopped yelling long enough for him to speak. "None of this was your choice so the guild will do everything it can to help you."

Angie turned her rage filled eyes onto Lars. She was so angry she couldn't even speak.

"Lars." A voice from the doorway distracted Angie and she looked over sharply. A dark haired woman with a sharp gaze stood there. She didn't look at Angie; her eyes were focused on Lars Dahl.

Lars sighed. "What is it Killa?"

Killashandra leaned against the doorframe. "There's a call for you. Sounded urgent."

When Lars was gone Killashandra moved into the room and took his vacated seat. She leaned back in the chair and just sat there for a few minutes without saying anything.

Angie watched the woman as she silently watched her. "What?" Angie didn't know what was disturbing her more; the woman sitting there staring at her or the silence.

"You're not the only who's had her life thrown upside down." Killashandra's words were blunt and to the point. "Granted most people have already had their lives ruined by the time they come to the guild."

Angie was at a loss for words. She gaped at the woman as she tried to find her words again.

Killashandra leaned forward in her seat. "Don't let your situation hold you back. You can still make your life what you want it to be; it'll just be harder now."

With that said Killashandra stood up and left the room. She didn't even look back to see what Angie was doing when she pressed the hand plate to close the door to Angie's room.

As much as Angie wanted to stay mad what Killashandra had told her had really deflated her. Still though it was difficult for Angie to even try and think of a way for her to do the things she wanted to do now that her life was changed so much.

A minute passed and then another before Angie slowly scooted back down on the bed so she could slowly curl up and cover her head with the blanket. For the first time since she was a little girl she closed her eyes and pretended like everything was just a bad dream and that as long as she was under her blanket the outside world wouldn't exist.

"So what did the president want?" Killashandra asked as she wandered back up to Lars's office. He had his elbows on his desk and his hands were pressed against his forehead. He looked so tired and miserable.

Lars moved just enough to look at Killahsandra through his fingers. "He wanted another update on his daughter." His voice was hoarse. "Damnit Killa…she's just a kid."

Killashandra went around his desk and wrapped her arms around Lars's shoulders. "Not much we can do about it now."

"Other than the first miners that came to Ballybran there's never been someone as young as Angelique in the guild." Lars said with a wince. "Technically her father is still her legal guardian even though she's a member of the guild now." He let out a groan and covered his eyes. "We won't even be able to discuss any training with Angelique without her father's permission."

The laws the FSP had in place to protect minors were extensive; they had never expected someone underage to ever join the guild so none of the previous guild masters had even written rules for minors.

"This is such a mess." Lars said into his hands so that his voice was muffled.

Killashandra sighed and reached over to tap out a command on his keyboard. The screen in front of him changed to the camera view in Angelique's room.

"It's not as bad as it could be." Killa said as the lump under the blankets on the bed moved. "We just need to find out what kind of person Angelique really is."

Lars set his hands down on his desk and then opened up another screen. On the screen were all the records and official documents on Angelique that Lars could access without breaking any privacy laws. Most of her school records were private, but he was able to see some of the assessments and concert reports that were public.

"There's even a recommendation for the stellars here." Lars said with a sigh as he and Killashandra scrolled through the records. "And here's another one…"

There was no denying that the girl had either talent or really good connections. Angelique's future had been bright before everything had happened.

Killashandra frowned as she read through each document carefully. "She's got all of her senses and the doctors are encouraging," She said slowly. "So it's obvious Miss McRune could be a Singer." The guild could always use more Crystal Singers.

Lars nodded as he leaned back in his seat. "Too bad she's not a Milkey. We could use more black crystals." Like always the black crystal was one of the toughest crystals to get ahold of.

Killashandra rolled her eyes a bit and smacked Lars on top of his head. "Anyone can mine black crystal. Being a Milkey just makes it easier."

The screens flashed as another incoming call came in and Lars groaned when the president's name flashed across. "It'd be easier if she wasn't the President's only daughter." Lars cancelled the call which earned a huff from Killashandra.

"No one ever said life was easy." Killashandra commented. Silently the two of them watched the screen with the scared teenage girl curled up under her blankets.

It took Angie a few hours, possibly more, before she was willing to talk to anyone. The doctors came by a few times whenever her mental stats spiked, but she ignored them. Her being a minor was a good thing in this case; it kept the doctors from giving her any drugs without her or her guardian's permission. Then again Angie had no idea how the Heptite Guild really worked.

It took the guild master returning and asking her to come out from under her blankets for Angie to do so.

"The doctors have given you a clean bill of health Angelique. Wouldn't you rather be in your own apartment and spend time with people closer to your age?" Lars asked with a smile when Angie gave him her attention.

Angie gave him a rather sour look. "I've read up on the requirements to join the guild. Everyone is at least a decade older than me…if not more." She'd been curious after the party with Reggie.

Lars looked a little sad before forcing a smile. "Better than nothing right?"

Slowly Angie nodded. She hadn't been the most social person back at the academy, but she'd at least had a lot of friends she could talk to and spend time with.

"So…what then?" Angie asked seriously. "I'm under age. Technically I'm not supposed to be able to join a guild until I'm 20. Where does that leave me?"

The forced smile that Lars had adopted relaxed some. "Your father has graciously found several loopholes for us to work with just in case lawyers make trouble for the guild. You can start your training within the guild as soon as you feel up to it." With that Lars picked up a tablet to hand to Angie. "Seeing as how you are underage though any charges made out to you are being sent to your legal guardian. If you wish to become financially independent of your family it would be best if you start your training soon."

Angie took a look at the tablet offered to her. Since the shuttle ride down she'd been racking up medical charges. Sure they weren't horrible, but they were still there.

"My belongings-" Angie started to say.

"Have already been brought down and transferred over to your new apartment. Your father has also notified us that he is rerouting the possessions that were being shipped to Earth for you."

Angie thought about the guild master's quick response for a moment. Her father had always been a few steps ahead of her and that didn't seem to have changed with her new status.

Lars cleared his throat to get Angie's attention again. "Your father would like you to contact him after you've settled into your new apartment." Lars had finally answered one of the many calls from the man.

"You are more than welcome to stay here in the medical room until you're comfortable." Lars suggested when Angie seemed conflicted.

Lars was a bit worried the longer Angie continued to think silently to herself. He opened his mouth to speak only to snap it shut when a question of hers threw him for a loop.

"Can I be a stellar as well as a Heptite guild member?" Angie looked up at the guild master sharply with all seriousness.

Angie glared at the guild master as he gaped at her. It was a serious question damn it and she'd put a lot of thought into it the last few hours. She still wanted to be a stellar and if she could be both a guild member and a stellar then by all the gods she was going to do it.

"I…I honestly don't know." Lars answered truthfully. Already his mind was going through the possibilities of having a stellar amongst their ranks; if it was at all possible. He would need to look into the ramifications of it. "I'll look into it though."

Angie nodded at that. As long as he looked into it she'd be fine with it. "Then I guess I'll go to my apartments and start my training as soon as I can."

When Lars didn't move at first Angie gave him a very pointed look. She was only wearing her hospital gown and she wanted to change in peace.

Once the man was gone, after a very embarrassed apology, Angie was able to change out of the gown she'd been wearing into one of the outfits she'd bought up on the moon base.

For the rest of the day Lars Dahl escorted her around the main guild installation; showing Angie where most of the relevant accommodations were.

Angie was most surprised to find that the guild building, where the majority of the guild members lived, happened to be under ground. The lowest floors were reserved for the medical ward and the apartments for the crystal singers.

"Why for the crystal singers?" Angie asked as she and Lars descended in one of the many elevators.

Lars sighed softly to himself. He had to remind himself that Angelique had not had the full discloser that other recruits were given; nor was she in a training class. She had no idea what Ballybran was like and that meant for her.

"Ballybran storms are exceptionally dangerous," He started off explaining. "The storms create subsonic resonance with the crystal veins in the ranges. In essence a storm can scramble the mind of anyone caught out in it."

Lars wished Killashandra was with them. She'd been the one to rewrite the discloser presentation and she was able to explain things better than he was.

"The deeper down a person is the safer they are from the subsonics."

Angie frowned at the man as she waited for more of an explanation.

"Crystal singers are particularly susceptible to the storms and the subsonics they create." Lars finished off.

The teen nodded in understanding and let out a small sigh. At least she knew why she was being given a room on one of the lowest floors now.

"For the time being you are being assigned living quarters suitable for a single occupant," The elevator finally reached the desired floor and Lars led Angie forward. "If, in the future, you decide to partner with someone you can request for a larger apartment."

At a particular doorway Lars stopped and handed Angie a card key that was giving off a gentle green glow that matched the glow coming from the doorframe.

With a word Angie took the key and then slid it over the digital plate next to the door. She then pressed her hand to the plate to make the apartment her own.

What Angie was expecting and what Angie found on the other side of the door were two very different things. She'd been expecting a smallish studio apartment with a catering unit and a bathroom with maybe a small soak tub. In reality it was a decently sized apartment. The common room was already furnished with a simple table, a couple chairs around said table, a comfortable couch across from a large vidscreen, and a few simple shelving units. Attached to the common room was a small dining area with, shockingly enough, an actual kitchen. There was a catering unit installed in the kitchen, but it was obviously there for the people that did not know how to cook.

Angie ventured into the apartment and looked around with interest. On the opposite side of the common room from the kitchen and dining area were two doors. The first swooshed open to reveal a comfortable bedroom with a double bed that was covered in soft looking blankets and comfortable pillows. There was a single nightstand and along one wall was a vanity. Angie could guess that one of the doors within the bedroom led to a closet while the other must be attached to the bathroom. When she took a look through the second door from the common room her guess turned out to be correct.

"Will these accommodations work for you Miss McRune?" Lars asked after Angie finished her initial inspection.

Angie tucked her hands behind her back as she stood in the common room. "They're a lot bigger than what I'm used to." She admitted sheepishly. "My academy was…old fashioned. I'm used to having a roommate."

Lars chuckled softly and shook his head. "Your transition went well and the doctors are clearing you for possible crystal singer work." He looked at her with a soft smile. "I assumed since you want to be a stellar that you would accept the position of a crystal singer?"

For a moment Angie felt angry that such a choice had been made for her, but then she remembered the fact that only crystal singers left the planet. It'd be hard for her to try to be a stellar if she was stuck on Ballybran.

"Right…of course." Angie mumbled as she brought her arms around to cross them over her chest.

Lars motioned for Angie to take a seat. "So. A couple things we need to discuss before moving forward."

The guild master continued only when Angie was seated at the table. "Normally recruits are placed into a class with at least 30 others to be given a general education of Ballybran and the guild." Lars took the seat across from Angie and he slid a tablet over to her. "Recruits remain in the class until everyone has finished transitioning. During this time recruits are trained in some of the more basic positions found within the Guild Complex."

Angie flicked a finger across the screen to scroll through the list there. At the top of the list of careers available for recruits was the Crystal Singer position and the last being a caterer's assistant.

"Recruits are also trained in various survival skills as well as ground vehicle use."

Angie nodded as she listened. "So what does that mean for me?" She asked as she slid the tablet back to Lars. She was a quick reader and had taken in most of the information there. Angie disliked the fact that the guild was charging her for things, but she had enough credits to not have to worry about the expenses.

"You have two options now," Lars told her. "We can integrate you into the current class where you will learn how to pilot the various vehicles found on Ballybran, learn how to pack crystal cuttings properly, maintain equipment that you will interact with around the complex, learn the various survival skills necessary for anyone on Ballybran, and learn about the history, geology, and organization of the guild."

Angie let out a small sound. "And the other option?"

Lars grinned at her. "Jump right in and see if you float." He laughed and shook his head at her. "We find someone suitable to give you private lessons until you're ready to go out into the field."

There were aspects of both options that Angie liked and disliked. On one hand joining up with the current class meant she'd get to see Reggie and the others again, but there was the chance that they'd be distant with her since she'd arrived so late. On the other having a private tutor meant she'd get to control the pace of how much she learned and she could take control of her life a lot sooner, but it also meant she'd be distancing herself from the people she had the highest chance of befriending.

Lars was silent as he watched Angie consider her options. For a teenager the girl was smart and a lot more mature then Lars remembered himself being at that age. Her life had been turned upside down and she was taking it a lot better than the psychologists had predicted.

"What else did you need to talk about?" Angie asked as she set her options aside for the time being.

Lars tapped something out on his tablet and then handed it back to Angie silently.

It took a moment for Angie to realize what it was she was looking at.

"These are-"

"By signing and placing your print on those documents you will transfer your guardianship from your parents to the guild."

A frown crossed Angie's face as she glanced at Lars from the tablet screen. "Doesn't the guild already own me?" She was only half joking.

Lars smirked a little and shook his head. "You're still underage. Technically you shouldn't even be in a guild, but your father pulled strings and found loopholes for us." He tapped his fingers against the table. "Normally the guild takes full control of your medical care, accommodations, and basic living expenses, but since you're a minor your legal guardians still control all that." To say that Lars wasn't happy with the situation was an understatement. "We can't even start your training until your father gives his permission."

"But…the medical treatment…"

"Was given because your father had agreed to it." Lars reached up and ran a hand through his hair. "You don't have to sign over guardianship, you could look into becoming an emancipated minor, but that would take close to a year to finalize while this will only take a few days."

In that day and age a person wasn't considered a legal adult until they were at least 20. The age of consent was 16 on most planets, drinking and legal drug use started at 18, but for things like medical care, housing, and living allowances the legal guardian had control until a person was 20.

"The pros?" Lars shrugged a bit. "You'd get to start your full training sooner, you'd possibly be able to get off planet within the year, and the guild will give you full control of your finances. The cons; you'd have to have a guild representative with you when you go off planet until you're 20."

"And if I don't turn over guardianship?" Angie asked cautiously.

"Your training would be delayed, you wouldn't be able to leave the planet unless your father permits it, and your finances would be in his control." Lars leaned forward a little. "Just so you know, no matter what you choose when you do go out in the field you'll be required to have an adult with you until you've reached your majority." The legal department had come up with that little stipulation.

"Why?"

Lars chuckled. "Child labor laws."

That silenced the other questions Angie had. "So I have two choices I have to make." She whispered as she considered her options.

"You can take your time with this one," He reached out to tap the tablet. "You can start general training and education right away without consent since it's considered mandatory for every member of the guild."

Angelique and the guild leader spoke with each other for some time after that, going over all the options and what each meant for her. Lars even ordered up some food for them at one point, on his tab of course, while they discussed things.

"I think I'll join the class." Angie said after a few hours of talking.

"What?" The two of them had been talking about her time at her academy so her decision had come a bit out of nowhere.

"My training," Angie extrapolated. "I'll join the current class for my training."

Lars smiled broadly at Angie which made her blush a bit. "Then you'll start tomorrow morning."

A/N Chapter 4 is done. Got inspired. Working on chapter 5.

You know what I would love? For this to actually get published. My dream would be to get together with Todd McCaffrey, show him what I've got, and then publish it in honor of the great Dragon Lady herself. But that's just a dream and this is just a fanfiction.