Colonel North crossed his arms and sighed. When at last he spoke, his tone sounded calm and detached. "You have an unusual way of showing you want peace, Miss Brown. I guess exposure to this violent culture has turned you into the hardened criminal your colleague apparently is."
Annara twisted the soldier's arm again. He cried out in pain. She moved her knife closer to his jugular. "I'm no criminal. I am a fighter of the Resistance. We liberated our people from the bondage of the Pure Bloods, and now we will liberate all our people from the tyranny of the Earthers."
"You would sacrifice your life for such as these?" North gestured toward Dradix and another Pure Blood scientist. He lowered his voice and leveled his stare at Annara, his blue-gray eyes locked onto her dark brown ones. "These are your former oppressors. You have much more in common with your fellow human beings from Earth than you do with these... aliens... who kidnapped you and your mother. They took you away from your family and your village. Your mother didn't survive here long, did she?"
Olivia watched the conflicting emotions play across Annara's face. The colonel’s verbal dagger had hit home, and he knew it. He appeared to know a lot about Annara—about all of them. Olivia wondered how much spying had been going on in the past year since official contact between Earth and BloodDark was made—it appeared a lot more than she or anyone on BloodDark had assumed.
What should she do? Olivia glanced at Hernando. It was becoming more and more difficult for him to keep his eyes open. He nodded at her, but he was tiring. The drug they had given him made him groggy, but it didn't appear to have had the same effect on the Pure Bloods. Perhaps their physiology shielded them from the sedative effect? Dradix and the others looked alert enough to help if they could disarm the soldiers. Still, Olivia thought, it would be better to avoid bloodshed....
Her mind made up, she lowered her knife and pushed the young solider away.
"All right, you have our people hostage, but we will keep this one." She gestured to Annara to pull the soldier away from the table toward the ladder. "We will keep him until you provide us with the whereabouts of our people. If you don't..." Olivia exhaled a long held breath. "If you don't, you might not enjoy what will happen next."
"Corporal Tennant knows the risks involved in covert operations and accepts that he is expendable." North kept his outward cool, but Olivia sensed he wanted to be done with this operation. He wanted to return to Earth a hero, but it would be next to impossible to claim hero status if any of his soldiers came home in a body bag.
"Oh, I didn't make myself clear." Olivia raised her knife before anyone else got the idea she was easy pickings. The aides gave her a wide space as she, Annara and their hostage made their way to the ladder. "Corporal Tennant won't be harmed... at least, not in the way you think. I know, Colonel, you understand some of the psychic abilities of the Pure Bloods and others from this world, but you don't realize their full potential. It's why you're still searching for High Priestess Valori."
A small tic developed along the left side of Colonel North's mouth. "What about Valori?"
Olivia cackled, hoping she sounded like one of the maniacal villains in the James Bond movies her dad loved to watch. "Valori did more than just read your intentions earlier. She implanted a suggestion into your deep subconscious, one you will act out when I give her the word."
"Impossible. You're not leaving here." North nodded toward a corner. A group of soldiers entered the chamber carrying Tasers and rifles.
Olivia grinned and continued walking backward toward the ladder. "You're forgetting something, Colonel. I've lived on this world, and I've been bonded in a Pure Blood household. I also have telepathic abilities. She already knows, and she's not happy at all. What she did to Grundfest's thugs will be child's play compared to this."
North stood, speechless. Olivia reached the ladder and turned to Annara. "Let me go up first and then you follow with our new buddy," she said between her teeth. "Okay?"
"Okay." Annara hid her concern behind a scowl and twisted Tennant's arm again for show, or so it appeared to Olivia.
She made double time on the climb upward, reaching the top in half the time it took to descend. Running through the command center, she headed straight toward the exit and dashed up the passageway. Once outside, she took a deep breath and cleared her mind.
Concentrating hard, she focused her thoughts, imagining herself as a transmitter broadcasting a message.
Valori? Can you hear me? Are you all right? We need your help.
I am near. What do you need me to do?
Olivia clapped her hands with joy. I'm glad to know you're okay. We need a show of force to put the fear of God into Colonel North. I told him you had implanted a suggestion in his mind, and you'd make him do something he wouldn't want to do. I hope you can manage it.
It will be difficult if he remains underground. I will draw him out of his command bunker first.
Annara and their hostage appeared at the command center door. Olivia noticed Annara had sheathed her knife and was no longer twisting the corporal's arm. Instead, it appeared they were holding hands. "Shall we get in the transport?" she asked.
"Good idea." Olivia looked askance as Annara helped Corporal Tennant into the vehicle in a polite fashion. The good-looking soldier cooperated without a hint of trying to escape. Could it be instant Stockholm Syndrome? She lowered her voice. "I see our hostage is cooperative. However did you manage it?"
Annara winked. "He told me on the ladder he respected my position, and he said I was an awesome warrior, and he found me very attractive. He wanted to know if I had bonded with anyone. If not, he asked if we could we go out on a... date? Date. Yes, I think it's the word he used."
"I think a date is exactly what he asked for." Olivia laughed. She followed Annara into the vehicle and closed the door behind them. Corporal Tennant grinned as Annara sat next to him on the bench.
"Did you make contact with Valori?" Annara asked, taking the corporal's hand in hers.
Olivia smiled at the two and nodded. "I did. She's going to do something to draw them out of the bunker. I told her about—"
A low roar interrupted her. Olivia crossed to the far side of the vehicle and stared in disbelief. "The ground in the distance is moving. It's rolling and growing like a wave—like a tsunami... It's coming this way!"
Annara left the Corporal and ran over to look. "It's not the ground—it's the locusts – they’re moving and piling on top of one another." She frowned. "Brace yourselves!" she yelled above the din of clanking metal.
The tsunami of nanobots grew to an enormous height, a coruscating smear of colors like an oil slick glinting on its surface. Everything in its path was swept aside or crushed under its weight. A reek like hot metal filled the air. The transport rattled and shook violently for a few seconds, ending up leaning to one side at a slight angle as the ground beneath them shifted. They were fortunate to suffer nothing more than a few minor bumps and bruises. Olivia estimated the pile of nanobots to be the height of a skyscraper by the time it came to a halt within mere yards of their vehicle.
"What just happened?" Corporal Tennant's big brown eyes glistened with fear and his thin face was pale. Annara helped him to his feet.
Olivia extricated herself from under a bench seat where she toppled. "Valori happened. Let's get out and see if we can put this contraption to rights again."
They exited the tilted transport just as the command center door swung open. A concerned-looking Colonel North, accompanied by several of his personnel appeared, staring in shock at the new nanobot structure.
"It's good of you to come out and talk to me, Colonel," Valori's disembodied voice said. "Now, if you would be so kind as to release my friends and fellow kinsmen, we'll be on our way."
"You know I can't do that," North called out, searching the horizon for the invisible priestess. "I explained our position to you before. I'm under orders. Since you wouldn't cooperate, and you told the others not to cooperate as well, we had to
take more aggressive measures."
"Yes, the drugs."
Valori's all-encompassing voice sounded like a bored nanny speaking with a toddler. Olivia spun about, searching for hints of where she might be located, but she spied none.
"Interesting how humans from Earth have developed a vaccine against some forms of telepathy," Valori said. "You surprised us, Colonel. Unfortunately, you haven't developed anything against telekinesis, have you?"
North's eyes widened. "Tele—what?"
A twisting tentacle of metal budded from the nanobot structure and grabbed North by the collar of his jumpsuit. His soldiers shouted but could do nothing but stand and point, their expressions at once helpless and horrified. The tentacle yanked their commanding office a hundred feet into the air, dangling him like a fish on a line.
"Telekinesis," Valori explained, "Moving objects through the power of the mind. Like this." The tentacle swung back and forth in a wild arc. The colonel flailed about like a ragdoll. "Now do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I understand!" North shouted. "Put me down, please."
"Not until my people are released. Give the order, Colonel."
"Bring the hostages out here now—on the double," he commanded. His personnel obeyed without question.
Olivia ran to Hernando's arms as he exited the bunker.
"How are you feeling?" She put an arm around his shoulders so he could lean on her.
"Much better. The drug is wearing off." He blinked and stared at the surreal vision. "What's going on here? Am I dreaming, or is there a tower of mechanical locusts standing in front of me?"
"Yeah, it's Valori's doing." Olivia lowered her voice. "Do you know where she is?"
Hernando shook his head. "No, I don't. She disappeared soon after the majority of our people left on foot or transport. North didn't want too many hostages, so he reactivated the robots to chase you all away."
"I thought so." Olivia gazed up at Colonel North's kicking legs high above the ground. "Wherever Valori's got to, she's using her powers—for good, I hope."
The last of the hostages exited the command center. The more able-bodied helped Annara and her new admirer to rock the transport back into an upright position. Exhausted by their traumatic experience, the hostages filled the benches, many demanding to be taken back to Penumbra City at once.
"The driver must have gone on in another transport to the mountains," Annara announced as the last seat was taken. "You want to drive these unhappy persons to the mesa to meet the others, Olivia?"
Olivia scanned the remaining hostages. Caveman and several councilors conversed with the Earth soldiers while Dradix, Moreau, and some Pure Blood scientists held an intense discussion with the Earth technicians. She gave Hernando's shoulders a squeeze.
"It appears we can't all fit into the steam-powered transport. I guess we'll wait here until one of the airships comes for us. Can anyone else drive the thing?" Olivia asked. "It should be easier now the nanobots are out of the way."
"If you stay here, I will stay as well to make certain our ruling council is safe." Annara glanced over at Corporal Tennant and blushed as they made eye contact. "Let me check if anyone else is willing to drive."
There were plenty of volunteers.
Annara chose a driver, gave him a quick pep talk, and waved as the transport sped away. "Less heads to keep track of... So, what now?”
"We're going to ask Drucinda if she has any idea where Valori is."
Annara nodded. "I'm going to ask the corporal about our date."
Olivia winked at Hernando, and they both laughed. Taking his hand, they crossed to the Clan Alpha matriarch, who was sitting on a supplies crate near the command center door. The priestess appeared lost in thought.
"Maybe we shouldn't disturb her," Hernando advised. "I have a very strong feeling..."
"Valori is already here?" Drucinda's voice sounded peculiar, and Olivia realized it sounded like Valori's. Drucinda raised a jet-black eyebrow and smirked. "Perhaps Valori is everywhere?"
Chapter Fifteen
A shiver of nervous anticipation tingled down Olivia's spine. She looked Drucinda straight in the eyes.
"If Valori is here, tell her it's time she lowered the poor Colonel to the ground. It's impolite to keep him dangling for so long."
"Very well." Drucinda nodded to the nanobot structure. "It is done."
The tentacle retracted and shifted shape until it became more of an elevator than a rope-like arm. North was still confined within a web of interlocking nanobots, but Olivia thought he looked relieved to have something under his feet again.
The colonel's relief turned to anger, however, once he realized the nanobots weren't going to free him.
"The hostages have been released. Let me go," he barked.
Drucinda stood and strolled toward the captive North, straight-backed and with a regal tilt to her head. Olivia watched with awe as Drucinda's form blurred into the form of two women walking side by side, one tall and dark, one petite and silver-haired.
"It's like Valori and Drucinda are one person," she whispered.
Hernando nodded. "They are, or at least they have been. Look."
The two high priestesses divided into their two separate selves—albeit still fuzzy around their edges—upon reaching North's position. "Tell your soldiers to put down their arms and stand where all can see them." The unison voice held hints of both Drucinda's and Valori's personalities.
North furrowed his brow. "Am I speaking to one or two individuals?"
"You are speaking to many. Do as we ask. No one will be harmed."
Annara and the two remaining security personnel disarmed the soldiers and lined them up with their fellow technicians.
"Good," Drucinda-Valori said, nodding and smiling. "We will separate fully now, as we can tell our present joining causes you much confusion."
"You can say that again," Olivia murmured. Just when she thought she understood the people of BloodDark, yet another fantastical surprise unfolded in front of her. I'll never grow bored living here.
Hernando squeezed her hand. I'm glad BloodDark intrigues you. I wish to retire here after my days as ambassador are completed.
And you want me by your side? Olivia felt her heart skip a beat. Always?
He pulled her into his arms and gazed deep into her eyes. Always.
A shocked gasp rose from the crowd and a cry of "What is it?" interrupted their romantic moment. Olivia clung to Hernando as she turned her head to see what had caused the commotion.
Standing beside Valori and Drucinda was another creature, grayish and bipedal, long-armed and flat featured. Its shortened torso and legs bespoke of a very different evolutionary process. Its clothing consisted of a sleeveless robe made from a shimmering black material. The three figures appeared separate and unique now with no blurriness to their images. When the creature spoke, its voice sounded raspy and strained.
"I am of old. My race came to this world many of your centuries ago. We survived our enemies, and we survived this harsh environment, adapting as we could, from interaction with other sentient life forms from Earth. I was placed into a stasis chamber as I grew older so my knowledge of the old ways would not die. The priests and priestesses were instructed only to awaken me in dire times. Those times have arrived."
Olivia gulped. "Did you know about any of this?" she whispered to Hernando.
"No, I don't think anyone outside of the priesthood did." He scanned the assembly. "Notice the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, Pure Blood, mixed blood and human."
"We don't mean to alarm you, sir?" Colonel North cut in. "However, BloodDark is under threat from a belligerent invader, the Kloog. Our space agencies have detected some movement in a not-too-distant planetary system, and we believe it to be—"
"Silence!" Drucinda commanded. "The Ancestor speaks and decides our actions."
"The Ancestor knows of what Earthmen think is happening in the heavens," Valori said in a kind tone, "and sees a differe
nt explanation. Our enemy is no more. The signs you've witnessed through your space telescope aren't the beginnings of an invading force, but the signs of a decaying civilization. It takes so long for the light from their worlds to travel to ours, that what you are seeing is not truly the present. They have been gone many, many time cycles."
"But my mission... I was told..." North sounded flabbergasted. Olivia almost felt sorry for him.
"This dire time does not require that we deal with an old enemy but a new one—one which can be full of trickery and deceit, but also simple ignorance." The Ancestor turned to the colonel and adopted the posture of an adult speaking to a young child. "Men from Earth have always been feared for their aggression, and yet your genetic material holds the secrets to our adaptation to this type of world, because it is similar in many ways to Earth. It is why we kept our presence a mystery, but we knew that eventually our world, and our kind, would be discovered."
The Ancestor looked upon Drucinda and Valori and smiled, then turned to observe the dozen or so councilors, scientists and security personnel who remained. "Our outward appearance has changed greatly, but I sense we are still one people in our heart."
The Ancestor's gaze rested upon Hernando and Olivia. It smiled. "There is love. Even when there is fear, there is love and goodness. Humankind shall not be allowed to destroy the good which has been planted here."
With a sweep of its long arm, the Ancestor turned and cried out, "Be gone, all which destroys the goodness of this land!"
A violent gust of wind came out of nowhere, knocking Olivia and the others to the ground. "Where did this gale come from?" she shouted.
"Cover your head!" Hernando pulled her closer, shielding her from the flying dust and debris. "It's a BloodDark tornado!"
The sky flashed lightning and the heavens turned an ugly red as black dust spun and whirled about into a gigantic twister, ripping buildings from their footings and shredding them into tiny pieces. The tornado winds tossed the robots, both large and small, high into its vortex and out into space.
Olivia's Decision Page 14