Weight of Gravity

by Sheron Wood McCartha

  “That’s my last option.” He shrugged. “But it’s still an option we might be forced to face.”

  Merek’s head jerked up. “Something’s moving in there.” He pointed at rustling leaves.

  Elise squinted into the trees. “I don’t see anything.”

  “You’re enhanced, aren’t you?” Elija asked.

  Elise put a hand on her guard’s arm. “A Dr. John Luttrell special operative,” she affirmed.

  Merek nodded. Staring intently into the dark brush, her guard rose. “Something’s in there.” His hand grabbed his gun. “Let’s head out.”

  “We need to pack up.” Elija stood up just as a large shaggy shape burst from the trees and headed for them.

  “Get in the flitter,” Merek yelled as he fumbled with his stun gun and stepped toward their attacker.

  The beast roared. Teeth and claws attacked Merek as Elise scrambled to her feet. She heard several shots and then realized her gun was in her hand pumping charges out.

  Next to her, Elija’s stunner fired until it also lost its charge.

  The marmot howled in fury, swiveled towards them, and tossed Merek onto the ground, unconscious. It took one step toward her while Elise gaped in frozen fright.

  “Run for the flitter!” Elija screamed.

  She stood, riveted to the ground, staring into the feral eyes of an original indigenes that resented her encroachment. Abruptly, as iut took a second step, a glazed expression formed in the beast’s eyes, and it collapsed heavily to the ground at her feet.

  Elija pulled out his comm. “Homestead One. There’s been an accident. Activate a trauma unit and meet us. We’re on our way.” He turned to her. “Get into the flitter before the marmot’s mother shows up.”

  “Mother?” Elise blinked at the enormous mound of fur and could only imagine what its mother might look like.

  Grunting, Elija yanked Merek out from beneath a thick hairy leg. “This is an adolescent. The mother’s most likely nearby, and we are out of ammunition.”

  She grabbed Merek’s shoulder. Blood smeared on her top and pants. “Careful,” she warned. “There’s a large gash across his chest.”

  “Damn,” Elija muttered.

  A roar sounded from the trees.

  “Get in the flitter,” he ordered. “I’ll need your help to lift him in.”

  “You need my help to carry him there.”

  “Get in, now!”

  She dashed to the craft, helplessly watching.

  Elija planted himself and gingerly wrapped his arms around Merek’s chest. “Come on, big fellow. Help me.”

  Merek moaned; his feet slipped and jerked.

  “Good. Push more,” Elija wheezed.

  Another roar came from the trees as a nightmare shape emerged and lumbered toward them.

  From inside the flitter, Elise reached to grab an arm, then a belt buckle. Merek’s eyes opened and his arms flailed as Elija shoved him in. The guard slumped onto the floorboards, splattering blood all over, making it slick.

  “Strap both of you in and make it tight. Get ready.”

  Fumbling for the straps, Elise tied one around Merek’s waist. She crouched down next to him, bracing her legs against the seat, belted in, and began to tear strips from her jacket’s lining to create a bandage to cover the gash.

  The flitter rose violently as a roaring marmot headed toward them, screaming in outage. Sharp claws swiped at the flitter’s undercarriage, leaving shallow gashes.

  Elise ignored the noise; she ignored the wild twists and turns that rocked and tossed her about. All she concentrated on was locating the injury and stopping the flow of blood that now coated her chest and arms.

  She devised a makeshift bandage, holding it tightly in place until the flitter landed hard, throwing her against the back of the front seat. Merek groaned.

  Voices yelled in her ear, and a white-coated person came to take over, applying pressure while another lifted her hand and pulled her gently from the craft. Bloodied and dazed, she followed the cart with the body of Merek, tubes and electronics now sprouting from his unconscious form.

  Focused on Merek, she didn’t watch where they headed until the cart stopped. More people came and surrounded him. Hands tugged her out of the room and into a hall. She raised her head and noticed she was in an enormous facility. Glass walls separated labs and offices with a central carpeted corridor. Suddenly aware of her surroundings, she saw sophisticated equipment jammed into numerous glass cubicles. At the end, shut doors indicated other facilities, extending farther in.

  Elija closed the door on the frenzy inside. “Elise, you shouldn’t be in here,” he said.

  “What is this place? Where is this place?” She felt disoriented. She scanned the area, bewildered.

  He grabbed her arm. “You need to go.”

  Behind her, a voice said, “It's her.”

  Panic covered Elija’s face. His eyes widened. He put up a hand. “No! Get out. You can’t be here.”

  “Logic dictates that we would meet eventually,” said a female voice behind her.

  Elise swung around and stared into violet eyes, short auburn hair, and a face she saw every morning in the mirror.

  A cold hand touched her arm. A smile emerged on the face that wasn’t quite right. Something was … too unnatural, too stiff… Not alive.

  Commander Elise Fujeint Steele, once battle commander of the Terran Fleet, survivor of hostile aliens, and first-time mother had finally reached her limit. Voices shouted, lights swirled. Then, all went dark.

  Chapter 12

  Recruiting a spy

  The room shifted into focus as Elise squinted her eyes open. “Where am I?” she croaked.

  Next to her, Alexa patted her shoulder and said to someone, “She’s conscious. Go inform Elija.”

  She recognized the room as the bedroom in the Homestead that had been assigned to her. Nearby in a crib, Tempest mewled in an attempt to get her attention.

  Levering upright, she asked, “What happened?”

  The cries from the crib grew more demanding.

  “Elija took you and Merek on a tour, but a marmot attacked you and badly injured Merek. Let me bring Tempest over. She hasn’t seen you in a while. Also, Angel insists on a visit as soon as you’re able.”

  She was feeding Tempest a bottle in a corner, sitting in a rocking chair, when Elija burst into the room.

  “How are you?”

  “A bit woozy.”

  Elija brushed a hand through his hair, causing it to stand on end. “We had quite the encounter, but it appears everyone survived.” Smiling down at Tempest, his eyes softened. “Your daughter is quite a gift. I’m glad you brought her, so I could see her, but Richard wants you back home. He’s upset over the attack.”

  Elise shifted the child and her brows wrinkled together. “I can’t seem to remember. I have a vague recollection …”

  “They gave you drugs to calm you down,” he said.

  “More to make you forget,” Alexa muttered.

  An angry glare shot out from Elija to Alexa. “You want to go back with them?”

  She jerked away. “No, but …”

  The bottle now empty, Elise placed it on a table next to her, wondering at Alexa’s remark and Elija’s response.

  Elija glowered at Alexa. “The kid needs fresh milk. Would you go get some, please?”

  Alexa glanced from Elise to Elija, and then at the empty bottle. Clenching her fists, she grabbed the bottle. “Fine. I’ll be back soon.” She stormed out.

  “Tempest doesn’t need more,” Elise protested.

  A smile emerged on Elija’s face as he fingered a coverlet and sat on the bed next to her. “I wanted to have a private talk with you.” He gazed around the room.

  She narrowed her eyebrows. “About what?”

  “You’re in a unique position to hear or learn vital information on what the Alysians plan.” He leaned forward. “If we are to survive in this world, we need to know what we’re up against, p
articularly from the Alysians.”

  “You want me to spy for you?”

  Elija squirmed on the bed and raised a warding hand. “Just pass on information you think is important. I can set up a code word that you can use to alert me. I’ll arrange an intercept to pick up a micro disc where you can encode information. There’s a shop in Tygel that will accept merchandise you hand them--a tech shop.”

  He slanted his head to one side and gazed steadily at her. An eyebrow rose in question.

  She closed her eyes. That would make her a double agent, who was totally confused as to which side she should be on. “Elija… I can’t promise anything. He’s my husband, and Tempest is my child, who is both Alysian and Terran.”

  “It’s her future that I’m thinking about,” Elija responded as he glanced at the now sleeping child.

  “I’ll give it some thought.”

  “Let me know.” Elija eased off the bed. “Angel’s outside, impatient to see you.” He leaned over to kiss Tempest’s smooth brow. “Come talk when you decide, but don’t forget your Terran allegiance. Don’t forget you were our Commander, and you still are my clone. We need to lead the fight together.”

  As Elija left, Angel entered. “Are you all right?”

  “I only have vague memories of what happened.”

  Angel paced over to a window and peered out. He rubbed an arm. “They wanted to run tests, which involved drugs, apparently.” He turned to her. “I knew you were in trouble, but I couldn’t move. I was trapped by their machine, and they were ignorant of the danger you faced.”

  He gazed over at Tempest. “But father said he watched over you, and you were shaken up but unharmed.”

  “He was right and I’m fine…except my memory of the ordeal is a bit hazy.” She fingered her blouse and frowned. “Do you know where the clothes I wore are?”

  “I can find out.”

  “I need the pin and my comm. They’re important.”

  “I’ll see to it.” Angel hesitated.

  She wanted to assure him she was all right. “Thank you for checking on me. I’ll be fine now. Please locate that blouse and look in on Merek. Make sure he’s well-cared for. After I get dressed, I’ll check in on him myself.”

  At the door, he tossed her a troubled look and left.

  She slipped Tempest back into the crib and scrutinized the room. She was head deep, rummaging through the closet when there was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” she shouted over her shoulder.

  From the doorway, a voice said, “Laundry said someone insisted that we deliver your clothes right now, but we need to clean them first. They’re covered in blood.”

  Noticing the bloodstained cream blouse and tan pants, Elise wrinkled her nose. “You have a point.” She lifted out the blouse for a closer inspection. “I just didn’t want my pin ruined in the wash. It’s very sentimental.”

  She checked the pockets of her pants and pulled out her comm. “I didn’t want this ruined either.”

  The girl stepped back. “Oh, we always check, and if anything is found, we return it intact.”

  Elise undid the large sunburst style broach and handed the wretched blouse back. She calmly placed the pin on the dresser. “I’m sure you do a fine job. In fact, I have a few more pieces for you. Thank you for taking care of this.”

  “It’s my job.” The girl gathered up the laundry, accepted the additional soiled pieces of clothing and left.

  Elise spun around and picked up the pin. What should I do with this camera? Working the camera out from the frame of the pin, she popped out the recorded microchip and put in a fresh one. At that moment, Tempest let out a loud sneeze. Over in the crib, Elise noticed an appliqué on the front of the baby’s jumper. It was a brightly colored lollipop. Elise fingered the flat miniature camera and placed it over the decoration. It appeared small enough to fit underneath. She searched around her baggage and pulled out her nail scissors. Snipping a few of the threads, she slid the camera behind the appliqué. She tugged at the unraveling thread and poked it back through the original hole, tying a tight knot to secure it. As Tempest’s wide eyes watched, she cut a small pinhole at the decoration’s center and positioned the camera.

  With a shake of her head, she said, “Welcome to the world of spying, my dear daughter.”

  Chapter 13

  A Startling Debrief

  Angel insisted she return with him in the helio, but Merek would have to stay until his wounds healed. Fortunately, that would not take long due to the nanites rapidly repairing his body. Elise patted an inside slit in her bra, which held two microchips. She had passed Tempest around before dinner, and after, so now she was curious to see what the miniature camera had recorded. Also, the camera may have recorded events that were missing from her memory. The accident had changed Elija’s behavior. Shaken by events, he acted jumpy. She needed to know why. He wanted her to leave, even though he never said so openly, and she didn’t think it was because of the attack. Something else.

  Their helio lifted off, and the ground fell away beneath them. Tempest slept blissfully in the back. Angel also appeared unusually quiet, but then she hadn’t spent much time alone with the Enjelise. Maybe they were a race more of action than words. With Richard, there were usually a lot of words before crazy action took place. However, she was never bored when he was around. She had to admit that.

  Abruptly, Angel pounded the dashboard of the helio, breaking into her thoughts. “You could have been killed. It will not happen again.”

  Surprised at his reaction, she reassured him, “I’m fine. There’s no way you could have predicted that attack.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m your guardian angel. It’s my job to protect you, even against the unexpected. We, Enjelise, are fierce protectors of our wards. I should have gone.”

  She patted his arm. “Merek was with me, so you thought me safe. No one can blame you for what happened.”

  “I am responsible. Each Enjelise gets a mission, and if they fulfill it properly, they move another ring toward the pure light. Right now, my future is dimming,” he mourned.

  She gazed out the window, confused by his words. Below, the planet’s landscape distracted her. The thick forest diminished to become a few straggly trees and stick-like shrubs; mountains fell away, turning into rounded hills. Small towns popped up to be replaced by flat farmland. She watched the ever-changing scenery and said, “I don’t understand.”

  He continued to explain, “Our belief obligates us to take on a series of missions. As each one is completed, we move closer to pure energy … what you Terrans call God.”

  “And if you fail?” She gazed over at him.

  He looked away. “No Enjelise wants that to happen … But sometimes it does.”

  “Not reassuring.”

  “My family has watched over humans for a millennium. It has been our overarching mission. My people brought the first humans here from Earth.”

  “I heard rumors of the sort. Just thought it was myth and made-up stories.”

  “Humans often act stupidly, which makes the job impossibly difficult. But negligence is no excuse.”

  She sighed. His eyes looked serious, his words fraught with emotion. Humans must pose a considerable challenge. She leaned back and acknowledged, “Humans are never easy. We’re … complex and difficult.”

  He snorted.

  A thought occurred to her. “You said ‘your people.’ Where are they now?”

  His smooth brow wrinkled. “When the Fallen attacked our planet, most transcended to a higher dimension where they would be safer.”

  Her eyes, which had grown heavy due to the drone of the helio’s engine, blinked open. “A higher dimension?” She sat up. “There’s another dimension?”

  He nodded. “There are many.”

  That gave her pause. She wondered if Richard knew.

  “They teleported to a different dimension? What else can the Enjelise do?”

  His eyes widened. “It depends on t
he power bestowed on each one. Because of my mission, I’m able to travel in time if the need arises, but unlike others, I can only teleport with assistance.” He shifted uncomfortably. “Sometimes I get it.” Glancing over at her, he said, “You must be tired. Rest your eyes while I fly us home.”

  “No, no. I want to hear more. But she found her eyes closing, and the engine’s soothing purr put her to sleep … or perhaps, subliminal suggestion was another Enjelise ability.

  ***

  She woke up as the helio touched down. Preparing to disembark, she felt conflicted over giving Richard the microchips. What they might reveal made her uneasy. Elija was her clone, as near as she could get to family, but she didn’t feel close to him. He’d grown up on the Valiant, and she on the New Found Hope. They hadn’t met until they were almost adults, although they had been aware of each other their entire lives.

  He was a regendered version while she was Elise’s true clone. Still, she hesitated to betray him. After all, he was a Terran, who was committed to living on Alysia, a goal they both shared. Unfortunately, most current natives resisted the idea. She paused. With all their indignation of the Terrans invading Alysia, hadn’t the native humans done the same to the original indigenous species? Marmots, krells, gebbits all across the planet had gotten pushed into the mountains, swamps, deserts-- hardscrabble places where survival was never assured. The Alysians might fear her people would do the same to them. The marmot had only been defending her young, much the same as she did, but without the sharp claws.

  “There’s Richard waiting at the helipad.” Angel pointed to a waving figure. “He looks happy to see you.”

  Guilt washed over her. She had chosen to make Alysia her home and not return to space. She had married the man and sworn vows in a solemn ceremony. Her allegiance should lie with him, but still, she hesitated.

  A cry came from the back seat. She gathered up her child and exited the helio, feeling Angel’s eyes upon her.

  “You’re both safe.” Richard gazed at Tempest who clutched at his finger. A smile wreathed the child’s face.

  When the expression of love lit up in his eyes, Elise reprimanded herself for having doubts about him.