by Shae Mills
Reaching the small store, she stepped through the front doors and headed straight for the refrigeration units at the back. She glanced at the selection of soft drinks and suddenly, she smiled. She wanted to try them all, their taste a faint yet fond memory. She looked at her old favorites and finally made her selection. Root beer it was.
She closed the door and took out her wallet. She selected a fifty-dollar bill, out of sight of anyone, and returned the wallet to her pants. She started for the counter, then froze.
There she was confronted by the faces of three smiling young men, their scruffy, grimy looks making her skin crawl. She recognized them right away as the men in the truck, and she winced. The man behind the counter moved over to them and looked her up and down. Then one of the trio spoke to the cashier. “Look what we found, Smitty. Pretty nice, hey?” And all four men chuckled.
Chelan walked toward the group and they parted for her. She handed the money to the older man. The driver leaned over close to her. “Oh, and big bucks to match.”
Chelan glared at the man, his eyes clearly directed down her top. The clerk returned her change. “Thank you,” she uttered. Then she turned away and headed for the door.
As she exited, her heart was pounding. On the RIBUS, no matter what had happened, no matter what was thought or said, and no matter what she wore or did, she had been safe. Iceanean men did not violate women—not with their thoughts, their words, or their bodies. “Korba, Fremma,” she whispered, “I love you both.”
She walked down the street, trying to focus on her family, and then cringed at the sound of the voices back at the store.
“See ya, Smitty. We got things to attend to.”
Chelan controlled herself very carefully but walked quickly. Then one of them called out to her.
“Hey, darlin’! Where you headed to so fast?”
Chelan ground her teeth, wishing with every fiber of her being that she had a lazgun. Just a low setting… just enough of a jolt to drop them where they stood. That would be perfect.
So deep within her fantasy was she that she was startled when someone grabbed her arm and spun her around. She looked into the half-shaven face of the driver, his matted, greasy hair hanging in gobs about his sallow face. His mouth was formed into a sneer, his unkempt teeth torturing a gnarled toothpick.
“Hey, sweetheart. You’re not bein’ very friendly.”
Chelan looked down at the grease-covered hand that held her arm and then glowered up at him. “Excuse me. Let go of me.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” he said, and released her. His friends all chuckled. “Anyway, my buddies here were headin’ for a dip in the lake up yonder. Thought you might want to come for a ride with us.”
Chelan remained silent as she studied the being before her. Fremma’s knives were her next thought. He had been prudent to take them with him. Who knew that she would be placed in a situation so quickly where she could have put them to good use. But now was not the time to escalate the confrontation. As calmly as she could, she answered: “No, thank you.”
She turned and started down the sidewalk, but the man sprang in front of her, impeding her way once again. “Look, sugar. You’re not from around these parts, and we’d really like to give you a tour. So how’s about a little truck ride?”
Chelan looked to her side and saw an opening to escape. But flashes of her Warlords, all triggered to pursue by her bids to flee, arrested that thought. Indeed, the men around her were far less predictable predators. Standing her ground, she looked the man firmly in the eye. “I said, no, thank you. I am not interested. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to continue on my way.”
The driver straightened and then spat at her feet. “All right, baby. Just tryin’ to show you a good time,” he said, and he stepped to the side.
Chelan resumed her journey as composedly as she could.
“Bitch,” one of them shot at her back.
She exhaled sharply. Now more than ever she wanted to return to the protective arms of her men. But none of them were near. And none of them would be for a very long time.
As she walked, she glanced about her, paying particular attention to the shadows. Fremma had indicated she was on her own among her kind, but she also knew he had planted warriors all over the planet. Their main directive was to look for alien threats, but in addition, they had to keep track of her—to what extent, Fremma had never divulged.
Chelan felt a tremor run through her. It was probably wise that he had chosen not to tell her too much. Ultimately, not only would the warriors remain completely covert, wherever they were, they would be unrecognizable, right?
Suddenly, a disturbing thought occurred to her. If she did spot someone familiar, would they be friend or foe? After all, the ROPE colonies were also genetically manipulated specimens of fine quality. And it was not beyond the realm of possibility that they could find her here. Nothing was an absolute. Another shiver crawled up her spine.
Chelan cleared away the troublesome thoughts quickly. Fremma had taken care of everything. He had assured her of that. It was now time to concentrate on her family and their imminent reunion, and that was what she did.
She wasted no time making her way down the streets and alleys to the small home her parents used to rent in the summers. Once there, she stood outside on the sidewalk, chewing at her lip. Her stomach turned. Reuniting with her family was not going to be as easy as she had once thought. But she was here, and there was no turning back. Taking a deep breath, she started toward the door of the modest bungalow.
Chelan knocked. The door opened and an elderly woman stared over her spectacles at her. “Yes, what can I do for you?”
Chelan opened her mouth, but for a moment no sound came out. “Uh, I’m sorry. I know this is the right house. B-but,” she stammered, “I… I’m looking for the MacKays.”
The woman smiled. “Oh. I’m sorry, young lady. The MacKays have not lived here for a long time now.”
Chelan was confused. “Uh, do you know where they have moved to?”
“Oh, sorry, dear. No idea. I suppose some townfolk might know. I’d go downtown and check if I were you. Maybe someone at the main diner would be able to tell you.”
Chelan forced a smile. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Sorry to have bothered you.”
The old woman smiled and shut the door. Chelan suddenly felt completely lost. She had to get out of this town. She could not run around asking questions and take the chance of being recognized. And she certainly didn’t want to have to answer any questions.
She hustled down the block and to the old corner coffee shop, where she sat outside on a stone planter. She dug for her cellphone and called Information. “I need a number in New York, please.”
“Name?”
“William MacKay… um… on 49th.”
“Just a moment.”
Chelan listened to the number and memorized it. She entered in the digits quickly and then waited, the time between each ring an eternity. Finally, a woman answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is William there, please?”
“No, he’s still at work. Could I ask who is calling, please?”
Chelan thought fast. “My name is Jessica Collins, and I’m a colleague of his. I’m calling from the West Coast, and I seem to have misplaced his work number. Could I impose upon you to give it to me, please?”
The woman hesitated. “Okay,” she finally said, and she rattled off a number.
“Thank you so very much,” said Chelan, and hung up quickly. She stilled her beating heart and then entered the number into her phone.
A receptionist answered. “MacKay, Maddison, and Wells, how may I help you?”
Chelan was temporarily thrown, and pleasantly so by the fact that her brother was a named partner. “Mr. William MacKay, please.”
“Who may I tell him is calling?”
Chelan squeezed her eyes tight trying to think of William’s old girlfriend’s name. “It’s Susan Day.”
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“Thank you, just a moment. I will see if he is available.”
Chelan wiped the perspiration from her brow. Time seemed to stand still, and she felt like she was in suspended animation.
“Hello,” came a male voice.
A lump formed in her throat instantly. “William,” she breathed, her voice barely audible.
There was silence. “Susan?”
Chelan collected herself quickly. “William, it’s me, Chelan.” She waited, but there was no response. She became anxious. “It’s me, William. Please believe me. I’m back and I need to talk to you.”
“Uh, look, whoever you are, my sister died years ago.”
“No! Will, I went missing. But I’m very much alive. Please, I need to see you.”
Chelan waited nervously, but there was only silence on the other end. “William, I’m home, in Oregon, but Mom and Dad have moved. If you don’t want to talk to me, I will more than understand, but please tell me where they are.”
There was a long pause, but finally William spoke. “Uh, how do I know that it’s really you?”
Chelan sighed. “Oh, Will. You know me so well. You are my brother and my best friend. You are my confidant and my rock. Ask me anything.”
There was more silence, and Chelan felt her heart sinking. Then finally…
“Oh, Jesus, it is you.”
Joy suddenly infused her. “Can you take some time off? I need to see you.”
“Christ, Chelan… Where have you been?”
“I don’t want to discuss any of this on the phone, Will. Can you take time off and meet me?”
“I… Ah, yes, I think so. Where?”
Chelan rubbed at her forehead. “The Marriott, in Bothell, Washington, just north of Seattle? You should be able to fly in soon. I’ll take the bus there and wait for you.”
“Chelan, why don’t you come here? Stay at my place—”
“No! No, I can’t. Listen. I phoned your place and got a woman. She thought I was a colleague of yours.”
“That’s Marion, from university. She’s my wife.”
Chelan smiled. “That’s wonderful, Will! But look, can you come this way without her knowing?”
“Why?”
“Please. I can’t explain right now. Just make some excuse. Tell her you have to meet an important client or something.”
“Chelan, I don’t understand.”
“Look. Take a few days off. Meet me in Bothell. I’ll explain everything then. But please don’t betray me to anyone.”
“Okay, okay. Umm, hold on a sec while I look… Okay, I’ll leave in the early morning. I should be there late afternoon if I can get a flight. Give me your number in case something goes awry.”
Chelan hesitated. “I actually don’t know my number. You still have your old email? I will email it to you once I hang up.”
There was a pause. “You don’t know your number?”
Chelan almost laughed. “Um, no. The phone was rather a sudden acquisition.”
“Okay, you can explain that one to me also. So, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“And you won’t say a word?”
“Not a word.”
Chelan slumped forward in relief. “Thanks, Will. I love you.”
“I love you too, little sister,” he said, and hung up.
Chelan closed her eyes for a moment while she regrouped. She needed to get to the bus station right away. Then she needed to rest and clear her thoughts. The coming days were going to be a trial, but she looked forward to them with all her heart. She needed company. And she needed her family now more than ever.
Chapter 13
It was late at night when Chelan arrived at the hotel. She wasted no time in having a hot shower and a bite to eat. More Earth food, she mused, and coffee, the real thing. Finally, she emptied the backpack and sorted through her limited wardrobe. She selected an oversized white T-shirt and slipped into it, its hem just hitting mid-thigh.
She walked through the French doors that separated the living area from the bedroom and pounced onto the king-sized bed. Sleep came instantly, her troubled mind finally at rest.
*****
Chelan was jarred from her slumber. She sat bolt upright and then clutched at her aching head. She looked around, totally disoriented. Suddenly, she remembered where she was. Then it came again, the hard, determined knocking. Chelan winced at the pain in her temples and struggled to free herself from the blankets. She shuffled to the door, her head throbbing. “Who is it?” she croaked.
“It’s William. Open up.”
Chelan opened the door, and their eyes locked.
“Oh, Jesus!” he gasped. “It’s really you!” And he scooped her up, squeezing her so tight she could barely breathe. William finally set her down and shook his head. He held her arms out and looked over her. “God, you look good, Chelan. Where have you been?”
Chelan peered up into his warm brown eyes. “It’s been a while, sweet brother, and I’ve been far away.”
William shook his head in disbelief. “Where? Why?”
Chelan smiled. “I’ll get to all that, but first I just want to look at you.” She studied him—his slender six-foot, one-inch frame, his light brown hair so meticulously styled. His black suit was covered by a light gray London Fog overcoat, all just as scrupulously cared for. He was a perfectionist, as was she. “I hope your business has gone well, Will, and judging by the name of your firm, I would say it has.”
William’s eyes widened in astonishment as he closed the door behind him. “Yes, my business is fine, Chelan, but what I want to know about is you.” He stepped back from her. “Look at you. You’ve been transformed. You’re beautiful—well, not that you weren’t before… but…”
Chelan blushed. “I know what you mean. I used to be a tad heavy, and now I’m not.”
William chuckled. “I guess that’s what I meant. You were just… pleasantly plump.”
Chelan gave him a wily look. “Just ‘plump,’ you say. Well, anyway, this new me took a lot of hard work.”
“I’ll say, obviously. And wherever you were, you came to no harm.”
Chelan instinctively reached for her neck, instantly relieved that the shirt hid her faded scars. “I have come to no harm,” she whispered.
William took her by the hand and led her to the couch. Then he stopped and turned her away from him. “Wow! Look at your hair.”
Chelan swayed it out of her way as she sat. “It’s never been cut except for a few trims.”
William chuckled. “How do you sleep at night without getting all tangled up in it?”
Chelan kept her smile, but suddenly her heart stumbled. All the nights she had spent with her men suddenly flooded in on her. She could feel Korba’s hands upon her, his fingers running the length of her hair. And she could picture Fremma wrapping it up and securing it for her as only he could do so well. The braids she had woven to save Shan the arduous task of detangling it in the caverns almost made her tear up. And Dar… Her throat constricted. “Ah, I manage,” she uttered feebly. A muted tremor escaped, running the length of her body, and she stilled herself quickly. But then she realized that her brother did not have the Warlords’ eye for body language, and she relaxed.
Needing a change of topic, she focused on her fingers as they aimlessly traced circles in the fabric of the couch. “Where’s Mom and Dad?”
Will stiffened. He sat back and exhaled sharply. “Oh god, Chelan. I don’t know where to begin.”
Chelan had only to glance at him and she knew the truth. Will was so easy to read, just like she had once been. “They’re gone, aren’t they?” she stated sorrowfully.
Will looked at her, his eyes heavy. “Yes.”
Chelan looked down again. “As soon as I knocked on the door of our cabin, I knew somehow. They loved that area. I knew they would never have moved.”
William reached for her hand. “They were doing well, Chelan. Your disappearance was a shock to them, as it was to all of us. But they ha
ndled it okay. Mom was always sure you would come back someday, and she never gave up hope.”
Chelan felt her tears coming, and she didn’t try to stop them.
“After a couple of years, Dad finally decided to spend some of all the damn money they had been hoarding, and they bought a huge rig for touring—a truck and trailer. They sold the house back east and moved to Oregon.” William smiled. “Using that as home base, they toured constantly, covering most of the States and much of Canada. But then there was an accident. No one’s quite sure what happened. Maybe Dad fell asleep at the wheel, or maybe some winds jackknifed the trailer. But either way, they ran off the road.” Will watched his sister carefully. “They died instantly, Chelan. They didn’t suffer.”
Chelan squeezed her eyes tight and finally succumb to her sobs. She slumped into William. “I should have been there,” she cried. “I should have told them I was okay.” And she convulsed.
William held her to his chest and stroked her slender back. “They died happy, Chelan. Their only other wish would have been to still have you in their life. But Mom always maintained that you were well somewhere, despite the dismal outcomes of all the searches. She and Dad held on to that. It was their way of surviving.”
Chelan continued to cry. “I wanted to tell them how much I loved them.”
William hugged her closer. “They knew that, Chel. They always knew.”
Chelan cried for a long time, and then finally collapsed down into his lap. She lay there silently while William rubbed her arm. Chelan squinted at the ceiling, her mind flipping back and forth between her parents and the Empire. She had lost Dar years ago, his alien heart unable to share her with Korba and Fremma. Then she had lost Shan and his baby. Now, with her parents dead, she felt as though she floated in a sea of hopelessness. RIBUS 7 was her sanctuary, but right now, the mighty ship seemed but a figment of her harried mind.
William watched her for a long time. Then he dared to speak. “Are you ready to talk?”