�Of course,� Ran replied, sliding the card out of his wallet.
Seeing his mage license to the guard nodded and stepped aside. �We�ll be closing in a few hours,� he called, as the redhead went inside.
Ran nodded his thanks and paused at the doors to scan the library. It took him a few moments to locate the section that would hold the books he was looking for. Walking over to the shelves he perused them something that might be helpful.
�Everything you�d want to know about�� he read aloud. There were several books in the series and he knew that the authors were so thorough that the resource was practically indispensable to people who studied the different types of magic in the worlds. He noted that the series jumped from Alchemist to Conjurors and scowled. Turning around, he saw a librarian re-shelving books nearby. �Excuse me?� he called.
The young woman turned to face him and smiled. �Yes? How can I help you?� she asked.
Ran smiled slightly. �I�m having trouble finding something. Do you know if they have a book on Channels?�
The librarian frowned. �Well,� she started. �Channels aren�t mages, per se,� she explained. �The books on channels would be over there,� she added pointing at another set of shelves. �Unless you mean Star channels,� she added thoughtfully.
Ran nodded. �Yes,� he said. �Do they have a book on Star channels?� He frowned a little, he hadn�t realized that there was that much of a difference between Star channels and regular channels.
The girl nodded and knelt down in front of the shelves. �Here you go,� she said, sliding a book off the shelf and handing it too him. �Everything You�d Want To Know About Star Channels.�
�Thank you,� Ran said, taking the book and heading over to a table to begin reading though it. Looking over the first page, he noticed that the book was divided into sections. Nodding to himself, he turned to the chapter explaining how to distinguish Star Channels from other mages.
�First, and foremost, a star channel would sense to mages as if it were another mage, although they would not seem to use any magic,� it read. �They also tend to warp or change any spells used in their general vicinity, even when they aren�t aware of spells being used.�
Ran sat back and frowned. Then skipped ahead in the chapter. �Physically, they are of average height and build with hair that is neither dark nor light� The shade of their hair might seem to change from day to day, as might its length. Their eyes change with their emotions, often without any control from the channel��
Ran�s frown deepened as he processed what he was reading. Both the physical description and the information on how a Star channel would effect magic and feel towards a mage reminded him of something that had happened a couple years ago � back when he�d first met the other members of his team.
**
�So,� Ran asked. �What type of mage are you?�
Ken blinked in surprise and then blushed. �I � I�m not a mage,� he countered, shaking his head.
Ran frowned and Omi smiled. �We�ve been working with Ken for several months now, Ran-kun,� he said. �If he were a mage, he�d have used magic be now and� he hasn�t.�
�Okay,� Ran said uncertainly. What Omi said was true, but Ran was confused by it. If Ken weren�t a mage, why did he feel like one?
**
�Now it makes sense,� Ran mumbled under his breath. �But why didn�t he tell us?� Shaking his head to clear it, Ran stood and headed over to the circulation desk, with the book in hand. �I�d like to check this out?� he said softly.
�Of course, sir,� the librarian at the desk said, nodding. He took Ran�s license and the book and scanned both into the computer. �There you are,� he said, handing both items back to Ran. �The due date is on the card in the front pocket.�
�Thank you,� Ran replied. Turning on his heel, he stalked out of the building. He needed some answers from Ken and he was determined to get them.
**
Meanwhile, Omi sat at his computer and frowned at the information on the screen. After searching through several different databases, he found out that the previous Darkstar had worked in an orphanage � one he recognized the name of.
He stood and headed upstairs, wanting to be wrong for once, but positive that he wasn�t. He only hoped Ken had an explanation. His large feathered wings carried him swiftly to the door of his teammate�s apartment. Knocking gently at the door, he called, �Ken-kun?�
A moment later, a tired-looking Ken opened the door. �Hey, Omi,� he said softly.
�Why didn�t you tell us?� Omi asked immediately.
�Huh?�
Omi sighed. �I found out that the previous Darkstar channel worked in an orphanage,� he explained, hovering so that he was eye-to-eye with his taller friend. �The same one you grew up in.�
Ken shook his head. �So what?� he asked. �That doesn�t mean I�m the Star channel.�
Omi frowned and glided into Ken�s room. �Ken-kun,� he said gently. �You�re always tripping over things in the shop.�
�I do not.�
�And your eyes change color,� he persisted.
Ken paused and blinked in surprise. Sighing deeply, he flopped down on the sofa. �I try to keep them from doing that, but it�s no good,� he admitted.
�Why didn�t you tell us?� Omi asked again, finally lighting.
Ken looked up at him. �I don�t want to go into a safe house,� he replied, shaking his head.
Omi chuckled. �Ken-kun!� he said, poking him. �That was only if the person was normal. You�re an enforcer. Manx won�t make you go into a safe house.�
�She won�t?� Ken asked uncertainly.
�No,� Omi stated. �We�ll just have to make sure that we�re the only ones who figure it out and hope that whomever Takatori has working for him hasn�t already put the pieces together.�
Ken sighed and nodded. �Sorry, Omi,� he said softly.
�It�s okay,� Omi stated. �Let�s go tell the others.�
Ken nodded and followed Omi out of the room. They met Ran at the top of the steps and the redhead locked eyes with Ken, studying him closely.
Ken blinked and then blushed under the close scrutiny. �Um, Ran?� he prompted.
�Your eyes just changed color,� the redhead said softly. Turning to Omi, he said, �Shinta knew this before he even left and neither of them told us.�
�I don�t know why Shinta didn�t say anything,� Ken stated firmly. �But I had my reasons.�
Ran sighed and shook his head. Turning to Omi, he said, �Let�s call Youji and Ayemi and see if they found anything.�
�Right,� Omi agreed.
**
Youji entered the basement with Ayemi only a few steps behind him. He was rubbing the side of his face, but grinning mischievously. Ayemi was scowling darkly at the back of his head, body tense and ready to strike.
�What happened?� Omi asked, dreading the answer.
�She slapped me,� Youji replied, still grinning.
Ayemi glared and sat down on the couch beside Ken. �I thought you were going to sit this one out?� she asked, trying to change the subject.
�You slapped Youji?� Ken asked, grinning slightly.
The woman glared. �He was being fresh,� she stated. �I did warn him.�
�True,� Ran agreed. Shaking his head, he sat down in a chair and said, �Ken doesn�t have the option to sit this mission out.�
�Does this have to do with what you said on the phone?� Youji asked, growing serious. �That you and Omi had found the Channel?�
The three men nodded.
�Why would that preclude Ken from opting out?� Ayemi asked suspiciously.
�He can�t sit this mission out,� Omi started, lighting beside Youji.
�Because he is this mission,� Ran completed, standing. He walked over to stand just behind Ken and set his hands on the younger man�s shoulders. �He is the Darkstar Channel.�
�Hi,� Ken said weakly.
Youji gaped and Ayemi scowled. �Why didn�t you tell us?� she asked crossly.
Ken sighed tiredly and covered his eyes with his hands, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. �There�s a reason why there aren�t any channels left,� he said softly. �A couple actually.�
�They are?� Omi prompted gently.
�Well,� Ken started, still not looking up. �For one thing, mages overused the ones they had, causing them to� die.� Finally looking at them, he said, �It�s draining to be used as a channel, much more so than using our magic on our own.�
�What would be the benefit then?� Ran asked. �If it�s more effective for you to use the magic than it is for another mage to use it through you, why would anyone seek to use a Star channel at all?�
Ken shrugged. �My abilities are limited,� he said. �A Darkstar can only use spells of illusion or conjuring.� Locking eyes with Ran, he went on. �However, if you linked with me and tapped into my portion of the weave, you could do far more powerful spells than normal, for a far greater amount of time and without the limitations that I have.�
Youji let out a whistle of awe. �No wonder mages want to use them,� he breathed.
Hidaka nodded. �That also leads me to the reason why I�m the only one left,� he said softly.
�Yeah?� Ayemi prompted.
Nodding again, Ken leaned back against the couch. �There�s a� faction of wizards who think that no mage should have such unlimited access to the portions of the weave controlled by Star channels. They feel the power is too great for anyone to have,� he explained. Chuckling, he added, �I�d tend to agree with the idea, but not their solution to the problem.�
�Why?� Omi asked, his voice of whisper. Part of him knew what Ken was going to say, but he needed to hear it anyway. His wings fluttered nervously as he waited for the older boy to answer.
After a moment, Hidaka finally spoke. �Rather than protecting the Star channels from people who�d exploit them,� he said quietly. �They have systematically wiped them out. The few remaining have gone into hiding.�
�You mean there are others?� Youji asked.
Ken shook his head sadly. �I don�t know,� he replied sadly. �As far as I know, I am the only Star channel, but there may be others who are hidden so well that even I don�t know of their existence.� Smirking, he added, �My powers only came out a few years ago, after all.�
�When the previous Darkstar died,� Omi stated, gliding over to hover beside his friend.
Sighing deeply, Ken closed his eyes and nodded. �It was those wizards I told you about that killed her,� he related sadly. �The reason that the Agency knew about me was because those same wizards told her that they wouldn�t allow her to choose a successor.� He chuckled mirthlessly. �She told them that she already had.�
�I�m sorry, Ken,� Omi said softly.
The brunette offered his friend a slightly smile. �It�s alright, Omi,� he said. �A part of Marielle is always with me. Here,� he stated, pointing to his chest.
Omi smiled warmly and then turned to the others. �Did you find anything on Takatori or the people working for him?� he asked, lighting again and sitting down beside Ken.
�Not on the people working for him,� Ayemi admitted.
�But we think we know what he wants the Star channel for,� Youji stated. �He�s been trying to buy out Gateway Enterprises for some time now,� he explained.
�Then, a few weeks ago,� Ayemi went on. �He suddenly repealed his latest offer.�
The others scowled slightly. Gateway Enterprises ran a lucrative business, having sole access to several magical portals that connected Shynia with the other Kenzian countries, as well as their off-world allies. The only spell capable of making long distance portals of that type was too powerful for most mages to perform. As a consequence, no one knew how the portals had been made in the first place.
Ran turned to Ken and asked, �If Takatori used you, would he be able to make more portals?�
Ken paled significantly and nodded. �That�s where they came from,� he breathed, visibly shaken.
�How many could he make using you?� Youji asked, somewhat stunned.
Swallowing, Ken shook his head. �If he let me rest enough,� he answered weakly. �I could make as many as he wished.� The others gasped as the realization hit them. With a competitor, especially one like Takatori, Gateway Enterprises would lose business to the other and, eventually, it would probably go out of business altogether. That would put the other businesses that counted on the portals to transport goods and raw materials under Takatori�s power. It could easily put the economy of the entire area under his control as well.
Ran scowled darkly and knelt in front of Ken. �Then we have to make sure he doesn�t get you,� he stated, squeezing his shoulder gently.
Ken nodded weakly and said, �And you�ll have to make sure that no one finds out that I�m the Channel.�
The other nodded in agreement. The fewer people that knew about this, the easier it would be to protect Ken, both from the wizards seeking his life and from Takatori�s people.
