by Amy DuBoff
Dominic placed his arm along the back of the sofa and crossed his legs. “That plan was undone when Alucia joined the Federation.”
“Thus realizing the threat we’ve feared for the sake of the Alaxar Trinary. If we wish to keep the dream of independence alive, this is the time we must act.” Karen mirrored his position on the couch, looking the older man in the eyes. “I’ve come to aid in those efforts. The question is, do you still hold those same convictions?”
“The Nezaran government has never thought otherwise. It’s Alucia that abandoned us.”
“Circumstances beyond my control, as you well know,” Karen replied.
“What do you propose now?” Dominic asked.
“Well, for starters, we need to make sure the Federation leaves us alone.”
“And how do you suggest we do that?”
Karen smiled as she prepared to tell the lie that was sure to get her back in the Nezarans’ favor. “By finally taking out Alucia and claiming this entire system for ourselves.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ava set down her travel bag on her bunk. Her team’s cabin on the Raven felt different now that she was leaving Luke behind at FDG headquarters. She’d been on so many missions recently that the small ship was beginning to feel more like home than her actual cabin, but now someone was waiting for her elsewhere.
The shift didn’t alter how she perceived her team or her commitment to the FDG—they would always be her extended family—yet, she now had a new sense of grounding. Someone beyond the people she fought alongside cared for her, and that would make her fight even harder to make sure she made it back home.
Samantha entered the cabin, interrupting Ava’s thoughts. The Were cast her a wary glance as she swung her bag onto her bunk above Ava’s. “Out of quarantine for good?”
“Who knows? But I hope so.”
“How are you feeling?”
“No different than before Coraxa. That’s why this is so frustrating.”
Samantha nodded. “It’s weird transforming for the first time.”
“The one time it happened, it was so fast I didn’t even feel it. But then… I don’t know, something wasn’t right. It hurt.” Ava sat down on her bunk.
“It doesn’t for us. Then again, you’re not exactly a Were.”
“No, I’m not.” Ava gazed up at the warrior. “I need the three of you to keep an eye on me.”
“We always do.”
“This is different. It’s a risk for me to come with you. Take care of yourselves first and foremost.”
“No one gets left behind, Ava,” Samantha stated.
“Just…” Ava looked down and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t bear it if I inadvertently hurt any of you. You’ll use those sedatives if—”
Her friend bent her head to catch Ava’s gaze. “It won’t come to that. We’re all going to get through this mission, just like we always do.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I know I’m worrying about nothing.”
“Hey, if your worrying keeps us safe, I have no complaints.” Samantha smiled. “The guys already headed to the gym. Care to join us?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I need.” Ava rose from her bunk, and the two women stepped into the hall.
“I have to admit I’m curious,” Samantha said while they walked. “You said you don’t feel any different right now, but have your new nanocytes impacted you in other ways?”
“You mean like strength and speed augments?”
The warrior nodded.
Ava shrugged. “I did notice a change when I went to the gym earlier, but I don’t know to what extent. I guess you’ll have to test me.”
“I believe that can be arranged.” Samantha got a devious glint in her eyes.
They descended the ladder to the recreation deck below.
“Are you kidding me?” Nick was saying to Edwin as the two women approached.
“I shit you not,” Edwin replied.
“What’s this, now?” Ava asked.
Nick gave a dismissive wave. “Edwin was just saying that the video of you dancing down the hall has reached Number One video in three different categories.”
Ava raised an eyebrow. “Really, guys? We’re worried about the entire system—or sector—getting overrun with bodysnatching aliens, and you’re talking about that video?” She rose to her full height. “Which contains classified footage, need I remind you.”
“The video was scrubbed of anything identifiable, don’t worry,” Edwin replied. “And besides, it’s not like we have a lot else to do for the next day while we’re in transit.”
“Oh, nothing like, say, reviewing the mission brief?” Ava asked.
“It was three paragraphs long. Already read,” Nick said.
“Or memorizing the facility layout,” Ava continued.
Edwin cast her a sidelong glance. “We don’t have one.”
Ava crossed her arms. “Fine, then checking over your weapons and armor.”
“Done and done.” Edwin folded his hands in his lap. “I think the real issue is you don’t want us talking about the video.”
The rest of the team looked at her questioningly.
“We’re overdue for a workout. Move!” Ava ordered to change the subject.
“That would be a yes,” Nick whispered to Edwin intentionally loud enough for her to overhear.
She ignored them and walked straight ahead to the weight machine. Oh, revenge is going to be so, so sweet.
“Back to dodging our questions, Ava?” Edwin asked with a glint in his eyes.
“Oh, don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten about all of your teasing. Your time will come.” Ava set the weight machine at slightly above her standard setting and took the bench.
“I’m ready for anything,” Edwin replied.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Ava grabbed the bar on the weight machine and pulled. There may as well have been no resistance at all. “Oh, great.”
“Whoa, did you just…?” Nick commented, catching notice of Ava’s attempted workout.
“Okay, so when I said I noticed a change earlier, that may have been an understatement,” she admitted.
“Shit, I’ll say. It’s like there was nothing there.” Edwin crossed his arms. “How much do you think you can do?”
“I dunno.”
Edwin and Nick each grabbed a weight to add to the machine while Samantha watched with her arms crossed.
Ava didn’t blame her being a little apprehensive. The Weres were used to Ava barely keeping up with them, not being on the same physical level—or even more.
When the new weights were in place, Ava gave the machine a cautious test pull. She felt more resistance than before, but the bar still rose easily.
“Okay, so not a fluke,” she muttered.
“That’s fifty percent over your previous personal record,” Nick observed.
“And I’m confident I could double it,” Ava replied. “But, I’m not sure I want to. There’s no telling when these new nanocytes might freak out. Maybe it’s best to leave well enough alone.”
“Let’s see if you can match my PR, at least,” Samantha suggested.
Ava nodded her consent.
The two men added additional weights to the machine. Such quantities had always struck Ava as comical when she viewed it as an outside observer, but now she was struck with a mixture of excitement and apprehension at the thought of mastering those weights herself.
If I can do this, then I’ll no longer be the weakest one on the team. But is that power worth the uncertain future? Ava gripped the handholds and pulled.
Nothing happened. Or, it didn’t feel like it.
“Uh, Ava…” Nick backed away from her along with the other members of the team.
“Ah, shit.” Her mouth felt strange to her.
Then, the pain hit.
Ava’s limbs burned, and her fingers felt like they were splitting apart. Her pulse pounded in her ears, blocking out everything except
for the burning throughout her body.
At the edge of her consciousness, she felt herself collapse to the floor on her hands and knees. She gaped at the claws extending from her fingertips, and the hair that now ran up her arms underneath her shipsuit.
She glanced behind her and saw that Edwin had a syringe in his hand. He was inching toward her while Nick and Samantha came around her other side.
“No, don’t,” Ava managed through labored breaths. “I need to control it.”
She still had her mental faculties about her, there was that. If she could think like herself, then there had to be a way to control the transformation, at least to an extent. But the pain… Is it getting worse?
The previous time, she hadn’t even realized she’d transformed until after it happened. Now, even seemingly after the transformation was complete, the pain persisted. Something was most definitely wrong.
“Argh!” Ava forced herself back onto her haunches, willing her heartrate and breathing to normalize. She pictured the peaceful forests of Coraxa, serene spacescapes, a delicate flower—rotating through the images that helped her center her mind when she needed to concentrate.
Slowly, the pain receded. She watched her hands as she continued to sit on the floor, waiting for them to return to her normal human flesh. You have this. You’re in control, she kept repeating to herself. You’re still you.
The hair on her hands disappeared into her skin, and the claws retracted. She marveled at how the augmentations seemingly merged back inside her, even though the transformation drew on Etheric energy that extended beyond the visible plane. Experiencing a physical transformation like that made for a much more powerful experience than just drawing on that energy for her telepathic abilities.
She hadn’t been able to appreciate the wonder before due to her fear and anger over the unbidden changes. But taking a moment to process the experience now, she felt as though she’d just witnessed something special that demanded her respect, even if it was still terrifying.
“Well, shit.” Edwin whistled through his teeth. “You weren’t exaggerating before.”
Samantha swallowed. “Those orange eyes are really unnerving.”
Ava rose to her feet. “Sorry about that.”
Nick worked his mouth for a moment. “You were still yourself. You didn’t lose control. We have nothing to worry about.”
Just because I haven’t doesn’t mean that I won’t. Ava kept the thought to herself, knowing it wouldn’t do anyone any good to dwell on negative scenarios. She needed to maintain a positive outlook. To that end, she elected to also keep the discomfort she’d experienced during the transformation to herself.
“Edwin, thank you for being ready to do what needed to be done,” Ava told the private.
He nodded. “I’m glad it wasn’t necessary.”
“Me, too.” She looked over the other members of her team. They still looked understandably nervous, but they were decidedly less tense in appearance than they had been a minute prior.
“Well, I think I’ll pass on the rest of that workout,” she said with a slight smile.
Samantha eyed her. “Yeah, I was thinking that might be the case.”
“You go ahead and finish yours,” Ava told her team. “I’ll—”
“Nonsense,” Nick interrupted. “We all got in a good set earlier today. We should do something else together. It’s been days since we’ve been able to have some fun as a team.”
“What about cards?” Edwin suggested.
Nick and Samantha both groaned loudly.
“You’re only suggesting that because you weren’t horribly beaten,” Samantha said.
Ava caught on. “Oh, you played with Luke, didn’t you?”
Nick glared at her. “He’s a menace to civilized society.”
“Told us he was an amateur,” Samantha grumbled.
“Yeah, he’s one of the best,” Ava said with a chuckle. “I’d say I should have warned you, but Edwin’s video channel on the Net is a bit too populated with footage of me to have much sympathy for you enduring an embarrassing defeat.”
“At least we have a fighting chance against you,” Nick told her.
Ava cracked a smile. “We’ll see about that.”
* * *
The specifics of Karen’s plan for how to take out Alucia were vague at best. But for the purposes of her conversation with Dominic, details didn’t matter. It was the spirit of her words that carried the heft, and it was precisely the message Dominic wanted to hear, tailor-made just for him.
He nodded with satisfaction as Karen finished her explanation, just as she’d hoped he would.
“I have to say, I was unsure of where your allegiance landed after how the last couple of weeks have played out,” he told her.
“I understand your reservations,” she replied. “This was the soonest I could make it back here. I thought it was prudent to maintain my position on Alucia to further our long-term objectives.”
“Foresightful, indeed.” Dominic nodded.
“As I indicated, this next phase will take some careful maneuvering so as not to draw the Etheric Federation’s wrath.”
“That might be an overly melodramatic characterization.” Dominic leaned back in the couch. “The Federation can’t feel that much loyalty to such a new vassal.”
“Or they’d feel even more,” Karen countered in order to support her larger arguments. “They spent resources bringing us into the fold, and I can only imagine they’d be upset to have anything happen to Alucia before they had the chance to get a return on their investment.”
“Alucia has so few resources compared to the Federation as a whole.”
“That’s precisely what I’ve been saying,” Karen replied with a smile. “We both know this has never been about Alucia. It always comes back to Coraxa.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I’d hoped that we could come to a peaceable solution where Alucia could survive, but you’re right. This is the only way.” Dominic rose from the couch. “We’ll need to present the plan to the chancellor for approval.”
“Would you like me to write a brief?” Karen offered.
“No need. Come with me and you can present it yourself.”
Karen’s pulse spiked. “I wasn’t expecting to meet with the chancellor directly.” Shit! That’s probably the most powerful telepath of them all. How are my mental guards supposed to stand up to that?
If she was to be honest with herself, she knew they wouldn’t. She also recognized that she’d made a huge error in her assumptions about how events would proceed on Nezar. Her plan had always been to use Dominic as an intermediary. To be asked to communicate directly with the chancellor was an honor, but it also exponentially increased her personal risk.
“You’ve put a lot of thought into this. You deserve some facetime with the top decision-maker,” Dominic told her.
“Thank you, that means a lot,” Karen lied. I should have anticipated this possibility. This is what I get for rushing in.
Chastising herself wouldn’t change the present situation, though, so she set the thought aside.
“Come with me.” Dominic led her out of his office.
The location of the chancellor’s council chambers were well known to Karen from her previous time working in the Nezar government building, but the location seemed much more confined within the structure now that she wasn’t confident she’d have a clear path out.
She and Dominic took the elevator up to Level 2 above the surface, and then passed through several administrative wings within the squat government building before they arrived at the outer entrance to the chancellor’s chambers. Guards waited outside the doors—the only armed guards Karen had seen beyond those posted at the outer entrance—and they stiffened when she approached.
“Name and appointment?” the guard on the right asked.
“Dominic Thoreau. I don’t need an appointment,” he replied.
The guard conferred with a screen mounted next to the
door. “Go ahead.”
The second guard swung the entry door open so Karen and Dominic could enter.
Inside, a spacious anteroom was furnished with two couches facing one another, a coffee table between them, and artwork around the walls. The most notable feature of the room, however, was a bank of broad windows along the right wall. Due to Nezar’s harsh climate, transparent windows needed to be thick enough to withstand temperature fluctuations and impacts from debris blown during high-wind storms.
Such materials were expensive—especially for such large windows—so the use of reinforced viewing glass was often reserved only for spacecraft. However, there was something to be said about the government making a show of its people’s supposed prosperity, so few expenses were spared while designing the main reception room for visitors.
Karen looked upon the furnishings with a suitable level of admiration without gawking, to which Dominic responded with a knowing smile.
“This is your chance to enter the Nezaran elite, Karen. Loyal civil servants can go far.”
The loyalty part was where she was going to run into trouble, at least when it came to which master she pledged to. She nodded. “I’m here to serve.”
Dominic took a seat on the couch with a view out the window, and Karen sat down beside him.
As soon as they were settled, a door on the back wall, to Karen’s left, opened, and the Nezaran chancellor emerged.
Cynthia Heizberg had a strong presence about her, even from a distance. Knowing what she did now, Karen wondered if that stemmed from the alien controlling her or if it was that spark that had attracted the alien to Heizberg as a host in the first place.
Karen and Dominic rose out of respect when the chancellor entered, and she gave them a nod.
“Chancellor, thank you for taking a meeting without notice,” Dominic said. “I just had a rather intriguing conversation with Karen here, and I think you’d be interested in what she has to say.”
Heizberg’s gaze turned to Karen as she gracefully lowered herself to the couch across from the two visitors.
Karen could feel the chancellor skim her mind. I serve Nezar. Alucia stands in our way, she thought to herself as a cover for her inner thoughts. She wasn’t sure her mental guards would hold up to intense scrutiny, but she may as well put up the best show she could.