A Mage appeared, bent over, clutching at his side. Jason was gaping in surprise but Kira didn't hesitate. She pivoted on one foot, bringing her leg up again and whipping a kick at the Mage's jaw. It connected, sending him sprawling in the street among people who were staring and backing away.

Beyond, the people pushing through the crowd were getting closer.

Kira grabbed Jason's hand to help him stand. "Can you run? Because we have to run."

"I can run."

Kira dodged along the streets, ignoring the cries of people and shouts that sounded like they could be police. Threading her way between groups and dodging down alleys, she finally reached the edge of a crowded square and came up against the wall of a building just outside of it, breathing heavily from the run.

Jason stood next to her, also gasping for breath.

"Are you all right?" Kira asked.

"Got a headache," Jason got out between breaths. "You can really run, you know that? What happened back there?"

"There was a trap at the gate. You were right that I was right. There was a Mage close to us who was hiding, and he attacked you."

"Why couldn't I see him?"

"He was bending light around himself. Creating the illusion he was doing that. Nobody can see a Mage who's using that spell."

Jason spread his hands at her. "How did you know where he was?"

"I…" Kira covered her face with her hand. "I could sense it."

He lowered his voice. "That's another Mage thing, right?"

"Yes. Jason, I've never been able to do things like that."

"You're under a lot of stress. That can trigger latent conditions," Jason said.

It was her turn to stare. "Latent conditions?"

"Um, yeah. I think that's the medical term."

"Medical term? Like I'm sick?"

"No, not like that," Jason protested. "And not like the…the freak thing. There must be a genetic component. You got that from your dad. If it's a dominant gene. It's possible the gene is recessive, which would mean your mom carries it, too, and you got it from them both. Wow, that would mean a lot of people on this world might be carrying a recessive Mage gene. Unless it doesn't breed true. That happens sometimes and—"

"Stop talking like that!" Kira demanded.

"What?" Jason seemed stunned by her reaction. "Why?"

"I'm not some farm animal! You called me a 'hybrid' the first day we met. How dare you talk about me 'breeding'!"

Jason looked at her uncomprehending. "It's…it's genetics."

"So? Does that word make it all right to talk about people as if we're just animals?"

"But when it comes to different forms of genes and expression and evolution and reproduction, we are," Jason said. "We're just a different form of life. Me, too."

"Is that how they think of it on Urth?" Kira asked.

"Sure it is. That's just science."