by HC Playa
Coran pulled one from the kit-belt around his waist and brought it over. "She's right to be terrified, Zane. I don't need a medscanner to figure that out. At least one of you is realistic."
Zane shot a glare in his direction. "You aren't helping. I know that, but I realized I need to make sure her physicians won't run into biology they can't explain."
"Huh?"
Zane pressed the scanner to his hand and activated the DNA extraction mechanism. He repeated the process on Katarina. Coran peered over his shoulder. "Holy supernova. What does that mean?"
Katarina stared at him with wide, fearful eyes. He shrugged one shoulder and offered a smile. He turned the scanner so she could see. "It means that I'm not the only one who isn't entirely human. However, we are genetically compatible."
She took the scanner from his hand and stared at it for a long minute. "I was always too afraid to run my DNA." She counted the number of chromosomes. "Definitely will be using a midwife rather than a doctor." She tilted the scanner toward him. "I have no clue how it's possible, but I have three more chromosomes than a human should have. If a doctor ran blood tests on me I'm not sure they'd read normal."
Zane shook his head and took the scanner. "Most of my blood chemistry does. If it was too different from human, you wouldn't be alive. Whoever your father was, his species' DNA isn't in the database." He aimed the scanner at her abdomen. Read it. Repeated. Read it again.
"What's wrong?"
Zane stared at the scanner. "Twins." He looked up and met Katarina's shocked gaze.
"I'm having twins?"
"She's pregnant?" Coran blurted. "Excuse me while I go find that bottle of Numabar wine my mom sent me. I need a drink. You have five minutes then I'm teleporting you up to the ship." Coran hit a button on his computer, the teleport activated, and he disappeared in a swirl of light.
"I think we traumatized him." Zane offered her a grin.
"Him? I was panicked at the idea of one baby."
Zane set the scanner aside and pulled her into his lap. "We'll make this work. I promise."
She grabbed a fistful of his shirt as she nestled against him. "I love you."
He buried his face in her hair as tears swam in his eyes and emotion choked him. Three words never once said to him before filled him with more joy than he ever imagined. He opened his mind to her and she did the same. Neither spoke.
***
She materialized in her living room, her belongings appearing a moment later. She supposed she should appreciate not having to take the shuttle back home, but the instantaneous mode of travel made the whole thing feel like a dream. She left the lights off as she listened to the silence. Katarina stood for a long time, feeling Zane grow farther away. When will I no longer sense him? Today? Tomorrow? A clock struck ten, echoing through the apartment. The utter stillness that once offered peace, if not contentment, pressed in on her. She fled her empty apartment.
Outside, she ran down the vacant sidewalk. Warm rain fell in a soft mist so that by the time she covered the mile and half to Naia's house, her blouse stuck to her skin and her sneakers squish-squashed with every step. She stumbled through the yard and onto the porch. She pounded on the door with her fist.
Robert's muffled voice answered through the door. "I'm coming. I'm coming." He opened the door a minute later and Katarina rushed inside.
"Where's Naia?"
Behind her the door shut and Robert muttered, "Good to see you too."
"Naia!"
"Oh, for fuck sake, woman, you're dripping all over the hardwood floor. Naia will have a hissy fit if this floor warps. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get real wood?"
Katarina turned around. "Naia isn't here?"
Robert pointed to the safety goggles on his head and the solder iron in his hand. "I would not be playing with these at this time of night if she were, so no, she isn't here. I thought you were out of town."
Katarina rubbed her arms as the chill of the air conditioning registered. "I got back early. Where is she?"
"It's Friday night," Robert said as he dashed into the kitchen. Katarina frowned and turned to follow him, but he came right back out holding a kitchen towel. He dropped it on the floor and mopped up the trail of water. He stopped when he reached her and sighed. "I guess you need a towel too." He turned and disappeared before she could stop him.
She huffed out a breath and waited for him to come back, which he did about a minute later. Robert tossed her a large, fluffy, green towel. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"What's special about Friday?" She blotted at the water dripping from her pants.
"Girls' night. She goes out every Friday."
Katarina paused in her attempt to squeeze the water from her slacks. It sank in how very isolated she had become. She didn’t even know Naia had a social life and friends outside the lab. She handed back the towel. "I totally forget. Sorry to bother you. I'll go."
She headed to the door and Robert's voice followed her. "You didn't know. Did you?"
Katarina considered lying, but what was the point? "No, I didn't. Let Naia know I stopped by."
Robert said nothing more as she went back out into the rainy night. Could she blame him? Not really. She made it a point to say as little as possible to him and kept him at a distance. It came off as downright rude. She treated everyone that way before Zane showed her she had more control than she realized. The past two months with Zane allowed her to experience a taste of normalcy. It spoiled her. Without him she realized how well she isolated herself, even from the people she cared about. She looked up and let the rain mingle with her tears as she stepped off Naia's porch. How could she face the future without fear when a huge portion of her past kept her locked in her prison of isolation? Now she had new secrets, and saw no end to the self-imposed isolation.
She walked home far slower than the brisk run she used earlier. The warm rain felt cleansing. She didn’t see a single soul but could hear the whine of aircars farther away. She splashed through a large puddle which covered several sections of sidewalk. Each step sent waves washing through. It mirrored her thoughts. A handful of events continued to ripple through her life. Katarina stopped at the edge of yet another large puddle as one of the quieter ripples in her mind surged forward.
***
2015, Ireland
Peace. Isolation. She needed it more than she needed the air she sucked in large gulps as she ran. With every step the pounding pressure in her head faded. So what if her mom and dad said she wasn't supposed to go off by herself? She couldn't take one more minute of people's emotions pressing in on her.
Katarina slowed to a walk when the last echo in her mind shrank to nothing more than a distant buzz. She let her head fall back and gazed at the crystal blue sky through the branches of ancient oaks. Sunlight dappled her face and she breathed deeply. She got better every day at blocking, but sometimes, like today, it was just too much. Here in the forest there was only green vibrant life. Katarina lowered her head and spotted a bright yellow butterfly. She grinned and followed its erratic path from flower to flower. As usual, a part of her mind called up every fact she knew, starting with the life cycle of a butterfly, which her class studied way back in first grade, to tidbits of information no fellow student in her grade would understand. All the while, she followed it, overlaying the simple appreciation of nature's beauty on the facts in her head.
When the butterfly took to the sky and she could no longer follow it, she walked, heedless of direction or time. She reveled in the novelty of such freedom and relaxing quiet. Katarina sighed as she thought of her upcoming departure. The dread of the trip back to the States loomed and tainted the perfection of her last day in Ireland. Daddy didn't say why he had to go back, but he didn't have to. Even in this quiet corner of the world the echoes of violence reached out to her.
Katarina kicked at a stone and hopped over a mud puddle. She hung her head, her light mood evaporating like morning fog under a warm sun. She plod
ded on, picturing the return flight home. Flying on the military aircraft would be little better than a commercial flight. Her parents knew crowds bothered her, but she didn't let them know how sick it made her. If Mom, an empath, can block even in crowds, then so can I. I'm an O'Brian, and O'Brians do what has to be done and don't whine about it. Katarina squared her shoulders and lifted her chin in response to her internal pep talk. In doing so, she looked up and drew a deep breath. There was a man sitting with his back to a moss covered tree. He was dressed in a shimmery shirt as blue as a clear summer sky and black pants that looked as dark as midnight but as soft and light as a cloud. His long, pale blond hair stirred in the light breeze while one black boot beat an impatient, almost angry tattoo on the ground. Why hadn't she sensed him?
Katarina glanced around seeking the path to make a discreet exit, but none was in sight. I don't know the way back to the cabin! Her eyes zeroed in on the man again and her stomach jumped about as if a hundred butterflies took flight inside. He stared at the ground in front of him and a deep scowl carved his brow, which seemed both at odds with the perfection of his features and yet somehow suited him. Curiosity, the driving force in her life, prompted her to stretch her empathic abilities and focus on the man. Her mind hit an invisible wall. Ahh! He's blocking. That's why I didn't sense him. Even with his blocks, now that she concentrated on him, his seething cauldron of emotions fascinated her. They tangled and boiled inside, but what drew her most was the pain. She stepped closer. "Hello."
The man snapped his head in her direction and she fought the instinctive urge to gasp. The man's eyes glowed and shifted colors like a vibrant rainbow. Power burned in those eyes. Faster than she could blink a haze distorted her vision, and he blurred as if trying to disappear behind sheer curtains. She concentrated not on the haze, but on looking through it, and once more he came into focus.
Her mother read ancient myths and stories to her at times, explaining that sometimes parts of them were true. Katarina's gut feeling told her the man belonged to those hidden worlds of magic and mystery; the kind science couldn't explain. Perhaps she should be afraid, but she could no more walk away from the opportunity to speak with him than stop breathing.
"The forest is beautiful isn't it? I was out walking and I hate to admit it, but I'm a little lost. Can you point me in the direction of the Connley Cabin Retreats?"
The man's scowl disappeared and one eyebrow shot up when she addressed him. A smile transformed his face and the pain she sensed abated. The joy that flowed from him overshadowed all his other emotions, making it difficult to read the many other nuances she sensed, but could not quite untangle. His joy infected her, making her feel happier than she could ever recall.
"I'll do better than that, little one. I'll walk you to the edge of the woods." His deep lyrical voice carried a foreign accent she couldn't place.
Katarina scowled. "I'm not little. I'm nine years old."
The man's face took on a look her mother often wore when she looked at old pictures or scrapbooks. "No, not so little I suppose," he said in a low voice as he rose. He towered above her, taller than her dad, or any man she ever met. He stepped forward and executed a bow. "Miss, would you grant me the honor of your company?"
Katarina wanted to giggle at the way he spoke, but thought that might hurt his feelings. With as much seriousness as the man, she replied, "Yes, thank you."
They walked side by side while she chattered about everything from the butterfly's life cycle to her current obsession, DNA and genetics. She was aware the kids thought her odd, called her a freak behind her back. Even her parents grew impatient with her endless questions, but there was just so much to learn! This strange man listened, and not in that annoying patronizing way adults had of half-listening and throwing in the occasional "mmhmm". He conversed with her, asking questions and suggesting books she might find interesting.
As the woods thinned and cabins appeared through the trees, the press of other minds on hers increased. Talking became a chore and her words faded into silence. It took a minute for her to realize they were standing still and had been for a while.
The tall blond man with the iridescent eyes squatted down beside her so his face was even with hers. She didn't mean to cry, but moisture slipped down her cheeks nonetheless. The man brushed them away with a gentle thumb. "What's wrong, Kat?"
"I don't want to go back. There are too many people. I'll never learn how to keep all of them out of my head."
The man's mouth pressed into a thin line before his face softened once again. He looked her square in the eyes. She flinched when she felt him reach out with his mind, but his touch was light, non-intrusive. "That single solid block simply won't do. It isn't strong enough. You'd think your mother would have figured that out by now." His mouth thinned into a taut line again and his eyes blazed with a hint of red.
Katarina laid a cautious hand on his arm. "It isn't Mom's fault. I'm just not very good at it yet."
"No, iníon. Your mind block is perfectly executed. Such skill in one so young is remarkable."
"Then why doesn't it work?"
"Were you with me, I would shield for you until you could do it yourself, but your mother does not have that capability, and I cannot be your shield."
The sadness in his eyes seemed bottomless and she wanted to tell him not to be sad, but she was caught up in his explanation.
"Your block does not work well because your power is greater than your mother's. She senses only emotions. Already you sense impressions of thoughts, do you not? One day, you will be a powerful telepath capable of many things."
Katarina gawked at him in wonder.
"You must learn to layer your blocks. Concentrate hard and imagine building them brick by magic brick. Nothing can penetrate them. Build walls that surround a fortress with gates and doors so that you can manipulate the level of security you desire. The imagery will help you. Practice. It will get easier with time." He placed his hand on the top of her head and whispered words she didn't understand. "My charm should keep the pain away until you get home."
He was right. The press of minds was gone. She smiled, displaying two gaps where her baby teeth had yet to be replaced by permanent teeth. On impulse, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Thanks!"
A large gentle hand caressed her hair once. She rarely hugged anyone but her mom and dad because touching people intensified her headaches. Her stomach lurched when he hugged her back and she felt security and a sense of peace that made her want to cling forever.
"Katarina?" her father's voice echoed through the trees.
The stranger jolted and tightened his arm around her. He hissed, almost like a snake.
"It's just my dad. I snuck out of the cabin. He's mad. He didn't want to come here, but Mom insisted. She had an important lead on something she's researching."
The stranger released her and stood up. "Go now, sweet. It'll only anger him more to find you in my company. He hates my kind."
Her stomach turned a somersault. He smiled at her and winked one eye. He knew she was aware of what he was and trusted her not to say anything. She squared her shoulders, feeling much older than her years. She could sense her father getting closer, although he made little noise. His military training ingrained a level of stealth she would have found alarming if not for her other senses. So many questions tumbled through her head, but there was no time to ask any of them.
"Goodbye," she said.
"Slan, iníon."
She wished she understood Gaelic so she would know what he said, but languages were an area she had yet to explore. She lingered a moment longer. There was such grief in the man's eyes she hated to leave.
"Go," he whispered in her mind. That one word spurred her on. His "charm," as he put it, made it difficult for her to sense his emotions, but she suspected he would sink back into angry despair after she was gone. It didn't make sense, but there was nothing she could do. While her mother might be thrilled to meet a faerie, she agreed with
her supernatural acquaintance. Her father would go ballistic. She turned and jogged, timing it so she would intercept her father on the outskirts of the woods. That way, he wouldn't know how far she wandered. She took a handful of steps when she felt the absence of the faerie. The thrill of excitement at meeting a being few believed existed was tempered with a sense of loss and confusion. She hated unanswered questions, and now she had a million of them.
***
Katarina shook her head as she came back to the present and took off at a run again. Could it be true? Did I have the answer all along? The truth hit her just as hard as realizing that even Naia did little more than orbit Katarina's solitary life. She felt safe and treasured in the faerie's company. Thanks to her parents she had forgotten how to trust that feeling. If not for Zane's stubborn refusal to let her believe otherwise, tonight could have played out very differently. Somehow he managed to break through that fear and convince her to trust. He also made her face the truth. She wasn't completely human.
The minute she got home she raced through the door, stripped off her sopping wet clothes and called out, "Lights on. Comm on." She reached for a piece of candy while waiting for the comm to power up, and then reconsidered her choice. She sighed and headed to the pantry. Peanut butter sat on the first shelf. She grabbed the jar, a package of dried veggies, and a spoon. Not exactly fine dining, but it worked for now. Still in nothing but her bra and panties, she sat down at the comm. "Search 'slan' and 'Gaelic'".
The third hit provided a translation: Goodbye.
"That's what I thought," she said. Katarina took a deep breath. "Comm. Search 'inion' and Gaelic."
She scowled when the hits showed that it searched for 'onion' instead. "Not onion, you stupid hunk of circuits." She set her bag of veggie chips to the side, dusted the salt from her fingers, and typed the search.