"I'm not picking up anything either," Bauleel confirmed. She and Rilte looked exhausted, but then, Graeber expected he did as well. They'd ridden hard, and the horses looked ready to collapse.
"Somehow, and I'm not complaining, but I'd expected Sebaiya to be, well, larger." Rilte took a long pull from his canteen. This city was in the higher reaches, and they were all feeling the thinner air and associated need for more water intake.
Looking around, Graeber tried to see Sebaiya with new eyes. The buildings were old colonial functional style, which meant no beauty, just small boxes built of sheet metal scrapped from ship parts. The roads were all straight and narrow, and the city sat next to a large stable cave complex where the colonists stored supplies and vehicles. After 600 years, many of the buildings had suffered some wear and tear, and yet some still stood tall and proud, a testament to the building materials.
"We're just making a simple pickup, and then we're heading out on a shuttle before anyone can catch up to us."
"Graeber..." Bauleel held her head in her hands. Her horse trailed behind his own.
"This isn't up for discussion. I'm not leaving it here."
Rilte looked back and forth between the two of them. "Leaving what here?"
"Nothing!" Bauleel snarled. She refused to look at either of them. "Just make it fast. I feel like something is on our trail. I don't care what the scans say."
His gut instinct agreed with Bauleel, and it didn't matter what it was, they needed to be gone before it arrived. Graeber picked up speed and threaded his way through the cobwebs of the city. He hadn't been back here since he'd left the device, but now he felt like an archeologist hunting a relic on an ancient, dead planet. He might as well have been; no one had been through this city in generations.
Soon enough he found the tumbled down shack just as he'd left it. He handed off his horse's reins to Rilte. Graeber pulled out the tracking device he'd carried with him these many years and confirmed he was at the right place. Then he deactivated all of the fail safes and alarms. It wouldn't do to have the package blow up in his face just as he retrieved it. Throwing away the tracker, he pulled apart the shack, displaying his inordinate strength with no care to who saw the rubble heap after he was done. It had served its purpose.
"I had no idea you were this strong," Rilte exclaimed.
Graeber shot Bauleel a sidelong look. "And here I thought you were going to explain to your friend all about our differences."
"I described the Methuselah treatments," Bauleel replied. Her flushed cheeks told Graeber what he needed to know. She hadn't told Rilte everything.
"You know, before Rilte goes on this joy ride with us, you might want to make sure he understands the full impact those had on us after we colonized."
Bauleel narrowed her eyes at him. "I thought you were against me sharing all of that."
"Things have changed. He's got a right to know before he throws in with us. He might want to turn back if he knows the full truth."
"I doubt that," Rilte had sidled his horse up against hers, and rubbed her leg with his hand. "If the Juggernaut have their way here, there won't be much left anyway. I know what I need to know." The affection in his expression was mirrored in his scent, a cloud of hope and caring.
Graeber laughed bitterly. "You'll regret those words." He'd reached the bottom of the structure and wiped clear the surface, revealing a metal door lock. He wiped his hand clean, well clean enough, on his worn leathers, and activated the lock. A small cavity slid open, and within it laid a box, which he scooped up. Graeber returned to and mounted his horse.
"Let's keep moving." Bauleel and Rilte brooked no argument.
As they threaded their way to the caves, and escape, Graeber opened the metal box, which was only a half meter square and fifteen centimeters thick. Graeber pulled out the contents and tossed the box to the ground.
"What is that?" Rilte asked. "It like one of the of mass storage devices we used in the lab. Why would you be hiding something like that?"
"You're a bright man, Rilte. I can see why Bauleel likes you. And, I'm not going to discuss my belongings. This is mine alone to care take."
His tone of voice brooked no argument, and so they rode on in silence, reaching a clearing with a couple broken down land transports stripped of all available parts and left to rot. The storage caves laid just beyond the clearing.
The winds turned, and Graeber caught a familiar scent on the air. He wasn't the only one.
"Terem!' Bauleel called out. "Show yourself!"
Terem emerged from behind one of the broken-down transports, on foot and travel-worn. Despite his continued plague-ridden state, he appeared relatively stable. Relatively.
"Why did you follow us?" Bauleel demanded.
Terem approached a short distance but didn't come too close. Whether that was to appease the voices in his own head or to not frighten them, Graeber couldn't be sure.
Terem rubbed his arms and shuffled his feet. "The others came after me, just as you said they would. I hid from them, and then when I heard what they planned to do to you, I followed. I had to warn you. You warned me.
"Go on, Terem," Graeber replied.
"I hid out, and listened." He smiled. Considering Terrors could take any shape, Terem could have heard the most private of conversations. "They said they were going to 'skin interrogate you to find out the truth,' and then 'execute you if need be.' I didn't like the sound of that. Thought you deserved to know."
Bauleel had turned milk-white. "Thank you, Terem, for coming to warn us."
"What's a 'skin interrogation, Bau?" Rilte asked, his brows furrowed.
"We in the Core, we have the ability to read thoughts through touch. Especially when many of us work together to overwhelm another's mind. It's not at all pleasant, but very useful. They can rip whatever they want from your mind." A violent shiver ran through Bauleel as she finished describing the process.
"It's not going to happen," Graeber declared. "How far are they behind us?" he asked Terem.
"Hours, perhaps less. I hurried as fast as I could, but they are fast too."
Graeber nodded. He urged his horse towards the caverns.
"Wait! I'm coming with you! That's my price!" Terem yelled.
All three stared at him in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me," Rilte replied. "You tried to kill Bauleel."
Terem shrugged. "I'm sorry about that, ma'am. I'm different now. I swear I am. And if I stay, the Guardians will find me. You know they will."
"They will pursue you," Graeber replied. "However, they also have the Juggernaut to deal with right now. You're resourceful, go to ground while they are distracted."
"No, I don't want to wait and see what the Juggernaut do either. I've heard them talking. How fearful they are. I'm coming along." He began to shake, beads of sweat dripping from his brow, his firm control hanging by a thread. "Please, have mercy on me. I don't know what I'll do if you say no."
"It's statements like that, Terem, which aren't encouraging to us." Bauleel shook her head. She turned to Graeber. "Do we have any options here?"
Graeber's lips formed a hard line. He hadn't fought Terem, but he'd read all of the reports, knew the instability, and also knew the traditional Guardian weapons were mere insect stings compared to the Terror's constitution. Could they slow him down long enough to slip away? That was the real question. Perhaps subterfuge was the better method? Tell him yes, and then give him the slip at the last minute? It wasn't Graeber's style, he preferred outright combat any day, but he preferred living overall.
"I see only one. Terem comes with us," Graeber said. Rilte and Bauleel looked incredulous, but both thought better of it after he cast them a hard look.
Terem fumed. "You're lying. I can see it layered all over you. Thinking you can give me the slip later?" Terem grew claws and his teeth became razor sharp.
Well, wasn't that unexpected? Mind-reading had been left out of the reports, much to Graeber's chagrin. Of course, there hadn'
t been many survivors to make reports, had there? Graeber dismounted and prepared for Terem's attack. His horse backed off, smelling the change of tension in the air.
"You two, head for the Andromeda shuttle. I prepped it fully when I was last here. It's fueled and in working order. The coordinates programmed into the system will take you to the colony ship, and from there you can take the time to make your plans."
"We're not leaving without you," Bauleel replied. "I can fight."
"But Rilte can't pilot worth a damn, and you can."
"Not leaving. Not without you." Bauleel's jaw was set firm. Damn her and her sister, neither could be swayed once they'd made up their minds!
"If I kill you, they'll take me with them," Terem said, a wide, terrifying grin revealed rows of sharpened teeth he'd manufactured for the fight. "They don't have the will to resist me."
"You willing to bet on that?" Graeber replied, only to set Terem further off his calm. Graeber palmed the strongest tranquilizers he had, the ones he'd brought along just in case Terem had followed. They could at least give them a few precious minutes.
Terem didn't bother to answer. He lunged and shifted to all fours, leaping towards the Guardian. Graeber moved in a semi-circular pattern away from the others, flanking Terem and throwing the tranq darts as he went. Each one struck exposed skin, driving home a full dose. Terem didn't bother to shake them off; he kept coming at full speed, undeterred. When Graeber ran out of darts, he pulled out two medical-grade laser scalpels he'd been saving. He'd overridden the internal safety protocols, and now they each cut a thin but deadly eight-inch blue swath of light through the air. They weren't quite a match for Terem's nasty claws, but hopefully, they'd give Graeber a chance. Assuming he didn't manage to slice himself with one first.
As they neared each other, two things became apparent. The sedatives had minimal effect, and Terem wasn't in the least intimidated by the scalpels if his deep laughter was any clue. Terem looked the part of a lion, wild hair, on all fours with sharp claws, and serrated teeth. And now, as the two clashed together, Graeber had his first surprise for Terem.
The two clashed together, and the laser scalpels did their job, slicing into one of Terem's arms and the other into his midsection, but he didn't appear to feel any pain. Then again, neither did Graeber as Terem's claws ripped apart his shirt, but couldn't manage to pierce his toughened skin. Terem also bit down, hard, on Graeber's shoulder with his massive jaws, but again, couldn't break the surface. The sound of teeth cracking rang through the air.
The two rolled, and blood flowed, but it was all Terem's. After a few moments, Terem withdrew and licked his wounds. The skin knit back together in seconds, no trace of a scar remained, just smears of blood stuck to the skin.
"How's Graeber able to do that?" Rilte asked Bau.
"This is another of our...special talents," Bauleel replied.
"But in the Technicians wing, Terem almost killed you."
"He caught me by surprise that day, and I was out of practice. Graeber does this daily. He never got soft like me. It takes constant training to be an expert."
Terem screamed a guttural, beastly sound. "You will not win!" He shifted more, the claws retreated, as did the giant maw of a mouth and sharp teeth. He looked more like himself again, but thicker, stockier. He went at Graeber again, swinging wide. The first few blows the Guardian dodged but suddenly Terem moved and rained blows down upon him like a thunderstorm, and he was tripped up in the intensity of the tempest.
Stunned, Graeber recovered and swept Terem's legs out from under him. Terem hit the ground with a sizable shudder. Graeber was bruised, despite his 'talents' and the brevity of the attack. Nonetheless, he managed to pull himself up to deliver some strikes with the laser scalpels, but they were now useless. Terem had turned his skin to stone as well, so the blows glanced off. Thinking quickly, Graeber made a jab to Terem's left eye and rolled away.
Terem howled. At least that method had been effectual, but as both of them worked their way to their feet, it was evident this would be no quick battle.
Then, Graeber became aware of another person approaching them at speed. He heard a scanner alarm go off a moment later. From the confused look on Terem's face, he felt it too. But what?
He looked to Bauleel, who already had a scanner out. "What is it?"
Her face displayed her confusion and fear. "I've no clue, but it's moving fast, it'll be on us any..."
Like a shock wave, both he and Terem were knocked back flat on their asses. When Graeber looked up, there was a creature, no that wasn't right, it was a woman crouching over Terem, gently stroking his face. Comforting him. She had him pinned to the ground. Nice trick.
Graeber scrambled to his feet and approached, unable to keep away, despite the warning bells going off inside his head. Whatever, whoever this was, he instinctually knew this threat far surpassed Terem.
"Shh, Terem. Be still now. Be at peace." Her voice was disconcertingly familiar, but when she spoke, the air trembled around her. He'd never heard anything like it. Every cell in his body heard her words, and it calmed him too.
He couldn't see her face from this angle due to the hooded robes she wore, much like a Guardian's but shinier and more iridescent, as she was perched over Terem. His gaze flickered up to Bauleel and Rilte; they had the full view. Rilte was fascinated in awe of this new arrival. Bauleel's face was one of horror, and she shook her head in disbelief.
Bauleel's look nagged at Graeber, reminding him of something, but he shoved it aside for now.
Graeber watched as Terem transformed back into his normal, teenage self. Tears poured out of the boy even as he healed. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt him. I didn't know." Terem sat up, pleading his case.
"That's all right. You had your directive. You did well. I will quiet your voices. Make it easier for you." Again, her voice was melodic, full of song, and Graeber felt it in his bones, in his mind, and in his skin.
She slid her hand down to his chest, and Terem sighed in relief. Right before he turned inside out and fell into a puddle of gore on the ground. Bauleel screamed, hiding her face for a moment, but unable to turn away. Rilte turned pale as a moon flower.
No, whatever this was, it was certainly going to be far worse for them than Terem had been. Graeber checked the distance to the caves where their transport of escape awaited. Yet he understood due to the creature's speed, there wasn't much hope for them to reach the caves.
And yet it had killed Terem, which, in turn, helped them. Was that a coincidence? Graeber blew out a slow breath and did his best not to think too far ahead. Over planning a response to an unknown entity could remove you from fighting the present beast. He had to stay in the present.
The creature stood, still facing Bauleel and Rilte, and dropped the hood of her cape. At the sight of her auburn hair, Graeber's breath caught in his throat. No.
"Sister, yes? I'm glad to see you well." This time, her voice lacked that melodic ring, and he recognized it all too well. When she turned to him, Graeber still didn't believe it, but he drank up the sight of her. She appeared as Rai Durmah all over again. "By the moons, he beat you bloody." She walked closer to him, and Graeber took equivalent steps backward. Rai got a stricken look on her face and stopped her approach.
"Who are you?" Graeber demanded, not allowing her displayed emotions to sway him. This creature looked like Rai, but her abilities spoke volumes to the contrary. "I know who you look like, but who are you, really?"
"I'm Rai. I'm still who I used to be." Her gaze met his, and he saw something there, something alien he couldn't name. "Whatever else I have become, I am still here."
"So I gathered." Graeber glanced over to the remains of Terem, which had quickly decomposed from blood and bones into a dirty looking heap of organic matter, and then back at Rai. Whatever she'd done, it was a quick reformative process. "Why are you here?"
The look of pain in her eyes humanized her, despite her actions. "I just saved you from Terem, and you
think I'm going to hurt you?"
"The thought had occurred to me, yes." Graeber saw no reason to lie her and suspected she would know if he was.
Rai's eyes glistened, but no tears fell. "I came for my memories, which you're holding now." She held out a hand. "I'm ready to be whole again."
"How did you know?" But no, whatever she'd become, that something extra, must have scanned it off of him. What was she now? How dangerous? How much more dangerous would she become if he handed over the data block? Kilawren knew all the colony history, all of the history of the Core. "No. You're not Kilawren anymore," Graeber shook his head. "And I will not hand over her memories to whatever alien force resides within you."
Chapter 25
“I can see more now, beyond what the eyes see." Rai took a few steps forward. Graeber held his ground. "I will be her again. Myself again."
"No, I'll destroy it first," Graeber replied. Resolutely, he moved his hand towards the data cube, meaning to trigger the internal-destruct mechanism, which would render the internal components useless.
In less than a heartbeat, Rai was on him, hand placed gently on the crease where his neck met shoulder in an intimate gesture. The pressure was minute, yet Graeber was rendered immobile from the neck down.
Direct skin contact evoked the feelings he'd tried to avoid since he'd taken Rai's memories, however willingly, from her. He steeled his system as her emotions slipped under his skin and shocked him worse than he'd care to admit. His long-suppressed cravings for everything Kilawren had surfaced. By the look of recognition in her eyes, she knew it.
"You do want me back," Rai pressed, her words expressed through the skin link into his mind.
However, as their thoughts slid against each other, entwined together in a most pleasurable way after so long denied, Graeber couldn't help but notice they weren't alone. Whatever shared this space in Rai's mind, it was a hulking behemoth barely contained, just waiting to step back into the foreground. Graeber kept a wide berth and marveled at Rai's mental fortitude.
Dreams Manifest (The Depths of Memory Book 2) Page 19