Levi looked at Talon, thankful he had found out before they had been intimate. He crossed the room and gave her a hug.
“How do you feel?” Talon asked.
Levi was still a bit in shock and couldn’t completely express how he felt. The truth was he didn’t give a lick whether he was human or a Sydces. What he cared about was that his past was a lie. “I don’t know,” he admitted, not wanting to talk about it at the moment. “So this was going to be an intervention for me, huh?” he queried looking at all the bodies in the room.
“Maybe a little bit for everyone. I think we all have heard a whole lot of truth today. That’s why they wanted a blood sample from you today, Levi,” Bale explained. “They are going to prove that you are half-Sydces and test Mantys’ blood to confirm your mother’s story. It’s a good thing you didn’t do that lie detector today. Shay was probably itching to break the news herself. I really do despise that woman.”
“So you told the police everything?” Levi asked his mother.
“Yes. They know. They still didn’t drop the new charges, but they lowered bail to $250,000; I think to make the public happy. You certainly created quite the stir this afternoon.”
“Good. So you still have to go to preliminary trial? What about the Inde Riders? Didn’t the underground tunnel from the convention center lead to their headquarters? Didn’t I read a headline that Jivine was seen entering their underground lot the day before the bombing?” Levi asked.
“I have no doubt your mother’s preliminary trial will result in the case not going to trial. Not only does she have an alibi for all the bombings, but we have witnesses, Kierra and Vernean, proving she was drunk. We can argue she probably just touched the powder on the wall when she went to the bathroom. Once she’s cleared of suspicion for terrorism and conspiracy, there is no motive or evidence connecting her to Jivine’s murder. As for the Inde Riders, they are denying that Jivine was a member at all. In fact, no one there claims to have ever met her. They also deny that they knew anything about the tunnel and have been taking polygraphs all day to prove it.”
“So what now then?” Levi asked.
“It looks like there isn’t really much we can do. You did a good thing today with the speech. Honestly, I think you should take the next couple of days and practice for the surfing competition. The conference is continuing tomorrow and I know you’re invited, but I think you will better serve your mother by catering to the public.”
“Okay. I will do that,” Levi replied. Mantys had also made the suggestion.
Axella looked at Talon and Levi in their couples embrace. “I am very happy for you two. Levi, are you coming home with me or staying here?”
“If it’s okay with Bale, I would like to stay with Talon,” he answered. As happy as he was that his mother was more or less in the clear, he couldn’t help but be a little disappointed in her for lying all these years. Levi pictured a scenario ten years ago – his father was looking at a younger Levi, loving him and wanting him to know the truth. He imagined Kaylan sitting Axella down and revealing the truth to her first, insisting that he wanted everything to be out in the open. He then imagined Axella kicking him out and exiling him from the family for lying to her for so long. Hadn’t she done the same thing to him? Suddenly, the hate and confusion Levi felt for his father was lifting. He wanted to find him…just talk to him and find out his side of the story. Butterflies started dancing in his stomach at the thought of seeing his father again. He would talk to Bale later and find out how they could locate his whereabouts.
Kierra and Axella took their leave to go back to the Stellar Grand together and Levi was again left with Bale and Talon in the living room. He surprised himself when his jaw opened wide and a mass of air was sucked into his lungs only to be exhaled as his whole body shuddered. It was a yawn to beat all other yawns.
“You must be exhausted,” Talon brushed a stray lock back against his hairline.
“I am. I think I’m just going to go to bed,” Levi said. In all honesty, he didn’t know if falling asleep was even a possibility. His body was definitely bone-tired but his mind was racing. Laying down, even without the guarantee of sleep, sounded like heaven.
“I think that’s a good idea. You have had a trying day to put it lightly. I’m ready for sleep too. Good night,” Bale announced, walking away. Levi noticed a hint of melancholy in Bale’s tone.
“Did you pick up on that?” Talon asked.
“You mean the note of sadness? Yeah.” Levi remembered that same face when Bockie had mentioned a baby. “Are you going to bed too?”
“I think I may stay up for a bit longer. My head is swimming,” she said.
“Well…could you come tuck me in then? You are older than me.” Levi cajoled, winking at her.
Talon bit her lip. “I’m not sure if Bale…or Marion would approve.” She looked up at him with a spark in her eye. “Ten minutes.”
A few minutes later the two of them were lying in bed together in the dark. There was no better feeling than being next to her, Levi thought. He brushed her hair behind her ear. Like everything about her, it was soft and feminine.
“How are you feeling?” Levi asked. Their relationship today had centered way too much on him.
“Happy…and sad. I’m happy to find out you’re like me and that your mother is probably not going to jail. I’m sad to find out that my mother ran away from Dedrake after testifying against a bad guy. She spent her whole life hiding out. It had to have been this person that murdered her. He found her.” Her voice grew quiet in thought.
Levi could only imagine the torture of not knowing. His girlfriend deserved closure. “Perhaps. Or she could have been found out spying up here on Ohmani.”
“Even up here she sat behind a computer all day. I just can’t stop thinking about it. I want it to be solved.”
“I’m so sorry Tal. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Just be here with me. Love me.”
Levi took her face and brushed his lips against hers. “I love you, Talon Terry,” he said in the most meaningful way possible. His chest swelled with love for this woman. She was resilient and fearless.
“I love you too, Levi Avondale.”
He rolled her onto her back and supported himself above her on his elbows. “I will never leave you and I will always be here for you,” he breathed the vow into her. They may have both been the product of broken families, but theirs would not be.
He then kissed her as deeply as the love he felt. When his tongue swept against hers, she made a sound of pleasure in the back of her throat and lifted her chin towards him, begging for more. Her hands explored the hard muscles in his back while his did the same along her side. Her skin felt like the softest silk, and her curves were intoxicating. He found himself cupping her breast and her own fingers curiously explored him. He moaned with pleasure, wanting nothing more than to take their love-making to the ultimate conclusion. Instead he rolled off of her.
“I know,” she said, breathing heavily.
“You know what will happen if we do this.”
“Yes, I will be forever obsessed with you,” she laughed. “I am glad we stopped.”
“We should probably talk about this, because it’s going to get harder and harder to resist each other.”
“I know. I thought about it a lot this evening after Kierra told me. I want to wait.” She was silent then for several heartbeats. “Even though I know this is real, I want you to make a commitment to me before I make my commitment to you.”
He understood. “You want to wait until after we are married?”
“Yes.”
It was not what he was expecting, but he couldn’t blame her. Her consequences were not reciprocated. “We could use protection, you know.”
“I don’t want to take the chance. All it takes is one runaway.”
Runaway? He found himself chuckling at her choice of words. What an interesting analogy to describe his man seed. But he also kn
ew how easy it was to get carried away in the heat of the moment.
“I understand, Talon. I think that’s a very wise decision and I would be happy to honor it. It will be hard though.”
“Yes, it appears…and feels that way,” she giggled at her play on words.
Ten minutes turned into an hour of talking as they lay in bed in each other’s arms. Their conversations jumped from playful and fun to serious and deep, but always they were there for each other’s thoughts and feelings. Finally, exhaustion overtook them and they began drifting off. Right before Levi was about to say goodbye to that day, Talon said something into the dark that left him unsettled.
“I know what I want to do with my life, Levi. I’m going to become a spy like my mother and avenge her death. Any and everyone who played a part will be found.” Her voice had become icy with revenge.
Levi simply squeezed her hand, hoping her statement was a product of shock and exhaustion. She quickly stood and exited the room, seeming to remember that ten minutes had long passed.
.
16 snake in the grass
Levi awoke the next morning to a text. It was his mother.
Mantys’ crew knocked on the door this morning to get you started practicing. Gave them Bale’s address. Good luck!
Levi reached over to feel for Talon, but remembered there were only empty sheets beside him. He hopped out of bed and walked towards the muffled voices coming from the kitchen. Talon and Fletch were sitting at the dining room table, chowing down on scrambled eggs and…ham?
“Why am I always the last to get up?” Levi wondered, rubbing his eyes.
“Because Ohmani’s new dreamboat needs his beauty rest,” Fletch teased.
“I came to pick you up for the conference, but Talon told me you’re going to forgo it to practice surfing in the Life5000. I wasn’t going to turn down breakfast though,” Fletch flashed his pointed teeth.
“Yeah. Speaking of Extensions, are the conference members still using them today?” Levi asked.
“Yes, they are not allowing any in-person attendees today at all. After I leave here, I’m supposed to report to the Office of Extension Affairs with my conference badge. All the students are just going to extend from there,” Fletch explained
“Does that mean you will see Mantys today?” Suddenly Levi was glad he wouldn’t have to look…Ro-Mantys in the eye. He shuddered at the memory.
“Not in person. The OSP is working with Extension Affairs to set up all the conference members in secret locations. The conference security guy announced in his speech yesterday that all members would be spread throughout the city…no one knows where any of them are.”
“If it’s alright with you, Levi,” Talon cut in, “I wanted to take your place at the conference. I’m kind of cooped up in here. Plus, I’ve never used an Extension either and it sounds really fun.”
“Absolutely! I think that’s a great idea,” Levi agreed. “Let me grab my pass.”
“Thanks,” Talon said when he returned to the table. “I hope you don’t mind that I filled Fletch in on last night.”
“No, I don’t mind. Actually, I was looking forward to telling you that your sense of smell failed you finally,” Levi laughed, remembering how Fletch bragged about being able to smell race.
“No, you have a smell. I just thought it was some weird provincial cologne.”
The three of them enjoyed each other’s company over breakfast until a knock sounded at the door. Levi walked over to answer it and came face to face with five men that could make Bale seem like an average Joe. They were standing stoically in business attire and sunglasses, their faces unwavering.
“Uh, hello?” Levi greeted.
“Excuse me,” a voice spoke. A small man stood to the side of the group, who Levi had not noticed over the intimidating presence of the other men. He was several heads shorter than they, wearing slacks and a polo. Levi also noticed an attractive woman standing behind the short man. She had a head of chocolate-colored dreadlocks that flowed down to her waist and a nose ring. She was looking rather bored.
“My name is Brit Mashnee, and I am here representing ExCorp. I have been contracted to coach you through using our company’s Life5000. Are you ready to become the face of our new Extension?”
Levi shook the hand Brit was holding out. “Yes, thank you for coming.”
“It’s a short trip through the wormhole. Mantys Ti has informed us that you have been made aware that the donation is from him, but that is to remain between us. Mantys is a much respected leader who has donated a lot of money to make our company the top competitor in the Extension market. We are happy to pay it forward to our investors. Let me introduce Cathave Joy,” Brit said, pointing to the woman behind him. She gave him a quick nod.
“Nice to meet you.”
“She will be your…”
“Cathave Joy!” Fletch came running to the door from the kitchen. He pushed his way around Levi and grabbed her hand, shaking it fervently. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Okay, that’s enough. Back away,” one of the mysterious giants said. For a second Levi had thought they were statues.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m just a huge fan,” Fletch enthused, backing away. “She is famous back on Dedrake. How many surfing titles do you hold? Like 50?”
“Nine,” she announced, the sides of her mouth finally curving to reveal a little emotion.
“And let me introduce our security guards, Keffra, Taloon, and Shak; and Ms. Joy’s personal guards, Nikola, and Hik.” Brit introduced them, but there was no way Levi would be able to tell them apart once they changed their order.
“We need security guards?” Levi asked surprised.
“You’re an American human, right?” Brit asked.
Half. “Yes.”
“Well, you will be extending in a machine that will be equivalent to two million American dollars when it finally reaches market. That, combined with the fact that you are with Cathave on an asteroid that has witnessed five bombings in the last couple of weeks is enough to warrant such measures. Are you ready to start? We will be going to the Waterdrome for our training.”
“The Waterdrome? I don’t need a special Extension cube?” Levi asked.
“No. Like we said, this Extension is revolutionary. It will change the face of the whole industry.”
“Yes, I am ready to go.”
An hour later they were in Hall I of the Waterdrome, which had been completely sealed off just for them. As he was getting dressed into the bodysuit, his phone continued to ding in his bag. He frustratingly turned it off, tired of the high-pitched noise. He stood in the mirror and assessed his appearance, which was thankfully less shocking then it had been the first time. The unitard was black in color instead of white. Running up the right thigh of the suit in bold silver letters was the company logo along with the words ‘Life5000.’
When he made his way to Hall I, several other men were already there setting up what looked like two big black mattresses that were about the size of a living room, but he could not see the Extension itself. As Levi stood by and watched, Cathave came to stand beside him in the same suit he was wearing.
“Do you know why I’m here?” she asked him but focused her gaze toward the ocean. Levi knew the look in her eyes. She hungered to jump in the water.
“Because you were forced to?” Levi answered.
She laughed then. “Is it that obvious? I am here to give you more hype…like a sponsor or something. No offense, but there are other places I’d rather be instead of being flown a hundred solar systems over to be used as some sort of sidekick for a kid I’ve never even heard of.”
“Well, when you put it that way. So why are you here?” Levi asked. No one was holding her in chains.
“Money makes the world go round,” she stared. “My prime is over, I’m afraid, and so I’m stuck doing appearances like this one. I do have to admit, you’re not a fame-seeker like I thought you would be; extending for a sporting competit
ion is, after all, a universe-breaking event. The other Extensions so far have not been good enough to even think about making this a reality. I should feel lucky to be making history with you.”
Levi could sympathize. Time was not a friend to a career in athletics, but this woman could not be a day over forty.
“How old are you?” Levi asked, not caring for social etiquette.
“Fifty-seven,” she replied and then laughed at Levi’s shocked expression. “Humans always have that look on their face. I’m a Sydces…we live longer than any species.”
A thought popped into Levi’s head. “This is kind of off topic, but if a human woman slept with a Sydces man when she was young would she live longer? You know with the whole DNA integration thing?”
She gave him a confused expression. “That is a strange question. I do not know, no one has lived that long yet to find out…but I suppose it’s possible.”
He knew someone who had lived that long. Bockie. Suddenly, her general physical health and ability to beat cancer did not seem so much like a miracle. She wasn’t ninety in human years anymore. Fascinating. He wondered if he would live longer now too. Wait until Hollywood got ahold of that one, Levi thought. He changed the subject.
“My grandmother was a surfer, you know. She holds a few regional titles in South Carolina…taught me everything I know while standing on the beach. People like you have the ability to keep making history through your knowledge and experience.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I’ve been watching the videos on your website”
“I have a website?” Levi asked surprised.
“Oh yes...it’s filled with lots of shirtless pictures of you. I can tell by your videos that you have good instinct and body awareness. You stand up in one stage instead of two, which sets you up for getting good speed. I can tell that you’re not used to dropping so deep…you’re putting too much weight on your back heel. You want to keep the inside rail on the edge.” She pulled out her phone and played a video of Levi surfing for a competition he had participated in last fall. “Do you see that? You need to close the air between your board and the water and put all your weight over your shoulders.”
Journey to Ohmani (Across the Infinite Void Book 1) Page 24