“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have any special talents. Nothing different from Stanley and Sarah,” Corona bluffed. Where is Flora? I need her.
“If that’s how you want it then the plan will proceed. Sleep well, pathetic Korsa. This is the last you’ll see of each other.” She chuckled and emitted a throaty laugh.
Raney and Sondo glided forth from the shadows. Both wanted to kill the friends now with extraordinary new devices they perfected. A bag of items with things moving about inside, hung over Raney’s arm. She put them on the floor and tapped them as if deciding which one she’d use.
Golden denied them their fun with hand signals stressing their obedience to her wishes.
The killers were disappointed, but knew it was just a matter of time until they could use their toys.
Without leaving the captives food or water they were gone, their scent lingering for a few minutes then trailing away after them.
“What was she talking about Corona? What talents do you have?” Stanley asked.
“I don’t know,” Corona said, fearful their conversations were being recorded. She looked out from the front opening and noted outlines of sparkles which held mesh observation devices, floating around the building. They were the same units Flora had said could see around corners and over rooftops. Sparkles moved about periodically, which Corona guessed were being manipulated by their captors. In addition to worrying about their safety, one of her greatest concerns was where any family of hers was being kept. If Golden didn’t know, who did?
“And what did she mean when she told Stanley and me she saw more ‘Arabian Desert sand?’ ” Sarah said. “I’m frightened, Corona. My parents will be scared when they find me gone in the morning. And, Stanley, your parents will be upset, too.”
“Don’t worry, Flora will find us,” Stanley said with false bravado. “She’ll get us out of here and make it all okay.”
The potential for Sarah having an emotional breakdown was real. She had seen more than she could handle.
“Are you two okay after what we witnessed at the Ward? All that was tough to process,” Corona said.
“What are you talking about?” Stanley said. “Since I woke up, I don’t remember a thing about what happened to us there. I remember going in and after that it’s all a blank. What don’t I remember? Was it important?”
“Me, too,” Sarah said. “I feel as if something horrible was there, but I don’t remember anything that happened after we went into the building except waking up here. Tell us Corona. What did we see?”
Corona was happy that her friends didn’t retain the memories of the Ward. It perplexed her as she had full memories of it all. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. We have to think about getting out of here. I don’t know how to do that, but we have to come up with something. I hope Fancy and the Homelings haven’t harmed Flora.”
In the darkened corner, the creature with the orange eyeband was softening even more toward the one they call Corona. She possessed a strength and brilliance to be admired. And he was sure she was a kind one. Maybe she’ll like me. Maybe she’ll even smile at me and not be scared of my the way I look. He declared Corona Bond to be the Hybrid he would introduce himself to. Out of character for him, he sent a redeeming message about her through a communication board.
Chapter Twenty Six
“Where can they be? Do you know?” Marva asked of Flora. “Have you seen the rogue posting on the board stating the Homelings had captured Corona and her friends and are going to destroy them? Who would send that? The board recognized it as a legitimate posting. And who was the author of that bizarre message which presented Corona as being intelligent and kind? Can’t any of you track down the source of these unlawful writings? The accounts should be easy for you to find. You’re allowed to get any communications from anyone and read them and listen to them. Now get on it.”
“I didn’t see the posting and I don’t know where the Hybrids can be,” Flora said. She was troubled the message had been sent. And, she was troubled to see Jocka standing so close to Marva. They looked too cozy together for her purposes. Jocka was a devoted and good being, loyal to leadership of the All, but Flora would have liked him to be loyal to her. I don’t have a mate now and neither does he. He and I could be a strong team together, she thought.
“I don’t know whom to trust now,” Flora said, giving Jocka a side-glance. “I think Fancy has gone over to the Homeling side. I saw her going to their meeting at Golden’s house and haven’t seen her since. She was friendly with those lowlife Travelers, too.” Flora tried to discipline her behaviors to reveal only what she wanted known. She was glad In Situs couldn’t read each other’s minds.
Marva was closely monitoring Flora’s thoughts and reactions when she could. She found it interesting that Flora was jealous of Jocka being in attendance here. “Maybe Fancy was just there to watch them. Since she was assigned to that duty she was going to get all of the surveillance materials, analyze them, and report back to me. And, maybe the posting isn’t true since some board-savvy monitors have been able to bypass the factual filter and imbed lies in some messages. Do you think Fancy might have gone independently to see the Hybrids in their dimension?”
“I don’t know,” Flora said.
Marva turned to give some orders to aides who waited patiently for her attention. Two of them left the room. The remaining attendants sat stiffly near their leader. Some of the young Corps members stood at attention close by.
“Fancy wouldn’t have gone on an official visit without me,” Flora said. “We’re a team. Now that I think about it, that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t have done it for a reason of her own. None of the Homelings have the ability to pass over to get the Hybrids. Just the Passers. Fancy, Helper, Bob Boy, and Darker. And me of course. We’re the only ones who’re permitted to do it. I know the male Passers weren’t involved in this because they’ve been working with me and are obedient. That leaves Fancy to be accounted for. As for the Hybrids, I’ve tried contacting Corona with communicating thoughts but something’s interrupting that.” Her eyeband narrowed into a slit. She ruminated on what could be interfering with her connection to Corona. She was alarmed the girl was veiling her deeper thoughts. Maybe she’s too smart for her own good.
Marva thought it was an interesting tidbit that Corona was gifted in veiling her deepest thoughts from others while still communicating through thoughts as In Situs do. She settled into her cushiony chair which had floated under her, unwrapped a treat retrieved from her pocket and popped it onto her thready tongue.
Flora recognized it as the snack item chocolate, which the humans enjoy - a food forbidden to everyone here with the exception of the leader and her closest confidantes.
One of Marva’s aides brought in a selection of elaborate trays containing seafood, gourmet cheese varieties, selections of exotic treats from other dimensions and sauces and dips.
Marva freely served herself and motioned for Flora to do the same.
Flora greedily loaded a plate with the forbidden delicacies. The ones which moved about were gobbled up first.
“We’ve got to help the humans,” Marva said, savoring the snacks as she spoke. “We’re at fault for getting them into this with our meddling in their DNA and bringing them here. I was never in agreement with that. Before the All came into power the Hybrid program got started at the suggestion of the Valers and the previous rulers. I’ve always distrusted everything about it. Especially since Wheeler made that huge mistake with his amateur attempt at creating a little one for his own use. The mistake that got away.”
“No one knows if the mistake is real and if he is, no one knows what he’s doing. Or even if he’s alive,” Flora said, licking sauce off her fingers “Some believe that Wheeler may have created more than one, but only the orange eyeband has been talked about. Once in awhile we hear the mistake’s been seen. I’m not sure if the sightings are legitimate because those who report it seem to be unsure of what they
saw. When I hear about him sneaking around somewhere, I pretend I don’t know anything about it. Wherever he is, if he truly is real, we hear he’s causing some sort of trouble. He’s said to be evil, trying to influence others to his ways. I wonder if he’s involved in what happened at the Human Camp.”
Flora spied seafood and helped herself to some shrimp. She pointed at a tray of soft white steaks. “Is that shark meat?” she asked Marva. “Oh, and some delicious Coona from the Valers. Ooooh. Lilies, too. Lovely.”
Marva nodded her head.
“Oh he’s real alright,” Marva said. “But, I doubt the mistake is behind the Human Camp deaths because of his background and what he went through,” Marva said. “I know all about him. He was accidentally given an overdose of growth hormone when his cells were grown in the Ward. And who knows what else Wheeler put with his DNA that caused the mistake to grow into an adult inside the small membrane before he was taken off the line. His body, though matured, was little and misshapen. When an attempt was made to grab him for crushing and disposal, he was developed enough to get away. Imagine how he must feel. He’s probably bitter from all of that. He was never even given a name. They just call him the mistake. Wheeler shouldn’t have done that. He didn’t know what he was doing, creating something from a human, an In Situ, and who knows what else. He claims he used cells from one of the other dimensions in it, too. That was stupid of him. And, Wheeler never told me about it. That was a bigger mistake of his. A big one.”
“I didn’t know that. I thought maybe it wasn’t real since I never saw it. If Wheeler did it he was just trying to do something good. It was an error, that’s all,” Flora said. “It could’ve happened to any of us. I don’t think he should be held responsible for it.”
“I can’t defend what he did and neither should you. It was wrong,” Marva said. “All of this has caused me to rethink the Hybrid program.” She wiped drippings from her thin lips.
I didn’t know you were feeling that way about the program again,” Flora said. “You don’t speak about it much.”
“It’s not personal against you and the Passers,” Marva said. “After all the conflicts we’ve had amongst ourselves here, I’d hoped our connection with the advanced Valers would help us progress away from warfare. We’ve done much to improve our way of life. We’ve taken weapons away from In Situs, except us of course. We rid our dimension of lower forms of life such as animals and birds. We’re all almost identical. We have the same prescribed dietary foods which we believe are best for us. We take in the same amount of the same fluids.”
Flora glanced at the repast spread on the table before them. She let the last two statements pass, knowing that maybe the In Situ general population has the same boring, rigid diet, but the leaders seem to get nice extras when they desire them. She gulped more treats down. Marva’s a hypocrite. She lives like a queen. I want to live like this, too, getting special items for myself. This is the life for me.
Marva bristled at being labeled a hypocrite. She recognized more jealousy in Flora’s thoughts and stored it for future use. Marva picked chocolate wrappers off her desk and tossed them to the ceiling toward the disposal filter which pulled them in. Out of the corner of her eyeband, she saw movement and shrieked when a large, waxy cockroach raced across the floor. It’s antennae tested the environment.
“How’d that thing get here? They’re not permitted,” Flora said. “Someone get it out of here.”
Before any of the Corps could respond, Jocka got between Marva and the cockroach.
The disposal unit sucked the cockroach up and into its tube.
Marva smiled in appreciation of Jocka’s chivalry. “Thank you, Jocka,” She touched his arm.
“As I was saying,” Marva continued, “I envisioned our governing body improving life for our own and then sharing what we know with others until everywhere, peace and advancement would be the norm.” She gracefully draped herself onto her waiting chair bit after first checking for anything crawling about. She intercepted more of Flora’s thoughts and feelings.
Flora was surprised at how deep Marva held those convictions. Fool. The struggle of one to rise above another is classic and eternal. We all identify with some ideal or group. And, we all use warfare against those of whom we’re jealous. If I’m to save the Hybrid program and the Passers’ activities to get what I want, I’ll have to be very careful. And if this leadership has to be eliminated for me to achieve that, so be it.
Marva, though peeved at the threats Flora was thinking, showed no notice of her understanding Flora’s intentions.
“I’m very glad you came here today,” Marva said. “Very glad. It’s been enlightening. If you hear anything at all from Corona or anything further about the Hybrids, tell me right away. If Fancy contacts me, I’ll send you a board message. And now,” Marva said, rising from her chair, “I’ve more unfinished business that needs my attention.” She waved an arm at Jocka to inform other waiting In Situs, they could come in.
Flora chose a few extra shrimp, some Coona and a shark steak from the platter as she glided by. She tossed some decaying lilies onto her tongue.
“I understand,” Flora said. “I, too, am concerned about Corona and her friends. I’ve become close to them and worry for their safety.” After chomping on shrimp, she said, “And I’m concerned about what Fancy is up to.”
Marva took Flora by the arm and moved toward the door opening. “I’ve so much to do,” the leader said, gently nudging her forward. “Being with you today was most informative.” She offered Flora some chocolates on her way out.
Marva made certain Flora was out of the building before she began meeting with her confidantes. “We’ll work until we learn everything concerning the Hybrids and the camp deaths. As the leadership, we must rescue the Hybrids if it isn’t too late already. There’s much that could go terribly wrong if they’re murdered, too.”
To further encourage her followers, Marva opened one of the closets to show her aides some new housing luxuries and food items she’d gotten for herself and them. “Fruits of our labors,” she said.
Her aides agreed.
The Corps remained at attention. They received nothing.
“Now, back to work.” Marva tapped the air sparkle of her personal board, which opened. She showed her companions what she had for them. “It’s my plan and must be carried out soon before any traitors learn of it. Understand?”
The team showed surprise at the direction in which their leader was taking them.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do? I’ll support you all the way, if you do,” Jocka said.
“I’m sure,” Marva said. “I got this leadership position because of my influence and my abilities. And I’m not afraid to make the hard choices when I have to. I have ways of knowing more than I should. Ways I don’t speak about. I’m not going to discuss them now. Just know that they’ve brought me to this place where I’ve been able to discern what’s really going on behind the scenes with the Passers and the rest of them.” She gazed coldly at the gathering through a deep-purple, dancing eyeband.
Holding their boxes of luxurious home and food items with which Marva had gifted them, her companions indicated they were in agreement with whatever she wanted. They were especially pleased with her promises of their own personal transport devices and larger dwellings in a neighborhood more to their liking.
Their compliance softened Marva’s demeanor.
“Now, no more questions. I shouldn’t have to tell you that this is in the strictest confidence.” Satisfied they were loyal, Marva assigned each one their duties according to their strengths and connections. “This will be a long process,” she said. “But we’ll get there, taking one step at a time.” Glancing at the boxes of goodies they were clutching, Marva added, “There’s more where that came from.”
Back at the cell pods
“Stanley,” Sarah whispered through the mesh. “Tell Corona another pod has been pushed forward next to mine. I think someone
or something is in it. What should I do?” She pressed her cheek as close to the opening as possible.
“Okay, I’ll tell her. You just sit quietly,” Stanley answered in a low voice. He edged his face forward to the mesh of his pod and whispered. “Corona. Sarah says another cell pod has been placed next to hers and something or someone is in it.” He listened for his friend.
“Ask her if she can see who it is.”
Stanley repeated the message.
“The pod’s lined up with ours. I can’t see over into it. I can’t hear anything coming from there, either,” Sarah replied.
“Call over and ask who’s there,” Corona instructed. “It’s important to know who’s considered as big a threat as we are.”
“Okay. Who’s there?” Sarah called to the cell. She called out louder, “Who’s there?”
“Sarah,” a weak, raspy In Situ voice said. “Is that you? Are Corona and Stanley here, too?”
“Yes, they are,” Sarah answered. “Who are you?” She realized she couldn’t recognize the In Situ’s voice without seeing the face. “Flora, is that you?”
A snore escaped the prisoner’s lips and then silence. Whoever it was had fallen back onto their cot into a deep, drug-induced sleep.
Sarah interpreted the snoring sound as confirmation of Flora’s identity.
“Stanley,” Sarah said. “I think Flora’s in the cell. She asked about you and Corona I think she’s sleeping now.”
Stanley told Corona it was Flora in the other cell.
Corona tried to intercept Flora’s thoughts but was getting no information. As this was one of her greatest gifts, Corona was scared it may be gone. Or blocked. Or could it be something else keeping me from exercising my gifts to their fullest again?
The Korsa whispered back and forth about what to do and agreed they should continue to rest in case there’s a chance to escape.
WATCHING CORONA: From Our Dimension to Yours Page 21