by Amy DuBoff
She finished up and ran for the door in the low heels she’d paired with slacks and a long-sleeve blouse. Luke isn’t supposed to be here for another five minutes!
Except it wasn’t Luke at the door.
“Mom, Dad? How did you—”
“Ava!” her mother exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming back to visit?”
Yet another complication I don’t need. “This isn’t a vacation.”
“I don’t care why you’re here,” her father said. “We haven’t seen you for ages. We’ve missed you.”
Ava deflated. “Luke told you I was here, didn’t he?”
“We’re still good friends with his parents. They mentioned it to us,” her mother confirmed.
That little… Way to keep things undercover, Luke! Ava took a step back into the living room and left the door open for her parents to enter. There was no way they would leave without getting some semblance of an explanation. “I know I should call more often. The Force keeps me busy.”
Her father closed the front door behind him. “Such a waste of your gifts.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed. “No, Dad, a waste would have been staying here and playing games with tourists. I am out there helping the rest of the galaxy.”
“Come on, Harold, arguing won’t get us anywhere,” Ava’s mother soothed, placing a hand on her husband’s arm.
“Don’t pretend you haven’t thought the same things, Ruth.”
“I’m just happy to be back in the same room with our daughter now,” she said and held out her arms to Ava. “Truce.”
A smile broke through on Ava’s face. “Yeah, truce.” She stepped forward and embraced her mother.
Ruth rocked Ava back and forth. “Whatever brought you back here, I’m glad to see you doing well.” She pulled back from the hug and brushed her fingers along Ava’s short hair at her temple.
“No long braids in the Force,” Ava replied to the unspoken question.
Her mother nodded and silently admired her.
“Don’t keep her all to yourself.” Harold wrapped Ava in a bear hug.
“It’s good to see you too, Dad,” she mumbled into his shoulder. He released her after twenty seconds. “I’m sorry I haven’t stayed in touch. So much of what I’m working on is classified.”
“You’re okay. That’s the important thing,” her mother said. “Let us take you out to lunch. We can catch up.”
“I’d love to, but—”
“Oh, sorry to interrupt.”
Ava turned to see Luke standing in the doorway. “…we have to get over to the NTech lab,” Ava finished her statement.
Harold frowned. “What are you doing over there?”
“Working on a special project,” Ava replied.
Luke shifted on his feet and held up a white paper bag. “I got you a scone for the road.”
“Thanks.” She took one of each of her parents’ hands. “I need to take care of some business, but once I’m done with this mission, we can spend some time together. I promise.”
Ruth pulled her in for another hug. “We’ll look forward to it.”
She parted ways from her parents, feeling simultaneously relieved that the overdue reunion was out of the way and also nervous for how she’d answer their inevitable questions about what she’d been up to for the last decade. There was no easy way to explain that she’d been trained as a killer and had been involved in pivotal events that had impacted thousands of lives. Even if they professed to be proud of her—which she wasn’t sure they would—she knew their perception of their little girl would be forever changed.
They said their goodbyes, and her parents climbed into their vehicle, waving while they backed out.
Once the car was down the driveway, Ava sighed and fixed Luke with dagger eyes. “You shouldn’t have told anyone I was here.”
“Don’t pull that ‘undercover op’ shit, Ava. Your cover is you returning home. It’d be suspicious if you didn’t see your parents while you were back here reconnecting with your roots. I put the word out there because I knew you wouldn’t do it yourself.”
Ava huffed. “Give me that scone, Puppetmaster.”
He chuckled and handed over the bag. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of controlling your life or pretending I know what’s best for you. I just know NTech and how they think. That’s why I’m here to help.”
“I know, thanks. Most of my recent missions have involved fucking shit up with Were warriors and plasma rifles, so I’m still remembering how to do this whole subtle infiltration thing.”
“Remember faster, because we have to get to the lab.”
She scowled playfully. “What do you take me for?”
“Yes, your majesty, I know you’re a pro. Come on, you can eat in the car.”
Ava grinned. “Good, because I was going to anyway.”
She had devoured the scone by the time the car had made it out of the housing complex to the main road. While she licked the orange frosting from her fingers, she gazed out the window at the surrounding hills and the wispy clouds drifting through the sky.
Sky. It had been years since she’d spent any appreciable time on a planet. Space had become her home. Yet, being back on Coraxa and feeling real gravity underfoot, breathing fresh air, she realized that she did miss being planetside. Perhaps future assignments would afford more time on the ground.
They arrived at the NTech parking lot and then got out and walked the short path to the facility’s entrance.
Once inside, Ava approached the reception desk. “Good morning.”
“Hello, Ava,” Martha greeted. “I have your visitor badge for you.” She handed it over the counter. “I’ll let Dr. Mason know you’re here.”
“No need to bother her,” Luke said. “I can get Ava oriented to whatever assignment Dr. Mason wanted her to work on.”
“I was given specific instructions.” Martha made entries on the desktop in front of her. “You can get to your duties, Dr. Carter. I’ll keep Ava company while she waits.”
Ava gave her friend a nod to let him know it was all right.
He acquiesced. “Very well. Maybe I’ll see you at lunch?”
“I’ll let you know,” Ava said. “If not, dinner.”
He smiled. “Have a good day.” He headed for the security arch into A Wing.
“Any more to these orders Dr. Mason left?” Ava asked the receptionist.
“No, but your badge now has access to C Wing.”
“What’s in there?” Ava already had a rough idea based on Luke’s orientation, but she was curious how Martha would reply.
“It’s some of our most exciting technology. You’re in for a treat.”
“Looking forward to it.”
When Martha didn’t say anything more, Ava began milling around the lobby, making note of the security details and points for entry or emergency egress. While sleek and architecturally stunning, the place was built like a fortress. But every fortress had its vulnerabilities.
“Enjoying the view?” Andrea said from behind Ava.
She turned to greet her. “I was admiring those pendant lights. Were they made by our local glass craftsmen at Trileo Studio?”
“Good eye. They were,” Andrea confirmed. “We tried to bring as much local flavor to the facility as possible. NTech is grateful to have been welcomed to Coraxa with such open arms.”
Like anyone had a choice, I’m sure. Ava smiled. “That’s great to see. So, what did you want to meet with me about?”
“Come. We’ll talk in private.”
Andrea led her to the security arch on the left. Rather than leading to a door-lined corridor, like in A Wing, this wing entrance was a featureless hallway that led to an elevator door.
“Your secret lair?” Ava asked.
“Hardly.” Andrea pressed the call button. “Due to the nature of the research in this division, we constructed the lab four stories underground to minimize external interference.”
The logi
c was sound, but the hairs on the back of Ava’s neck stood up when the elevator door opened. If I don’t go with her now, I’m out for good. She steeled her nerves and stepped into the elevator car.
Only a single button, for ‘Sublevel 4’, was on the control panel.
They rode down the four floors in silence. When the doors opened, the temperature was a couple degrees cooler than on the surface, even though Ava detected the telltale signs of environmental controls.
“I have a lab set aside for us to chat in,” Andrea said as she stepped into the corridor.
This area more closely resembled A Wing, but Ava was still on edge. She didn’t like being in a place with only one way out.
“Dr. Mason—er, Andrea—may I ask why you’ve taken an interest in me rather than any of the Readers here on Coraxa? I’m hardly the only telepath around here.”
“Oh, I have spoken with others. I’m curious to see how an extended time away from Coraxa has impacted your abilities.”
A slight pitch in her tone gave her away. She’s lying.
Ava had been given complete authority to use any means necessary for investigation, so she may as well take advantage of that freedom. She prepared for an assessment of Andrea’s inner thoughts.
Invading someone’s mind turned her stomach, especially for someone who hadn’t actually done anything to wrong her—yet. Still, the NTech lab was up to something, and there wouldn’t be an easier way to find out what that was other than to read the lab director’s thoughts.
However, when she reached out toward Andrea’s mind, Ava was met with only a blank wall.
The fuck? She tried to push through, but the barrier was impenetrable, even for her advanced skills.
“That’s not polite,” Andrea said without breaking stride.
“Oh, shit.” The words slipped out before Ava could stop herself.
She’d only heard of one group aside from the Readers on Coraxa capable of such thorough mental blocks, due to their own telepathic abilities. But that meant Andrea had to be a vampire, and almost none existed. Certainly none with Andrea’s disregard for human life. That meant one thing: Andrea had left Earth before Bethany Anne’s departure, and that meant her conversion had never been corrected. She’d still be the blood-sucking vampire of lore.
“You’re…” Ava began.
“Yes, a vampire,” Andrea completed. “And no, I don’t burst into flames in sunlight. You shouldn’t be so surprised—I’m not that different from the Weres you’ve no doubt encountered during your time in the FDG.”
“So you’ve read my file.”
“Of course I have. Why else do you think I was so eager to chat with you? You are quite a fascinating individual, Ava Landyn.”
Ava’s pulse spiked. She tried to settle it, knowing the vampire would be able to pick up on the slightest changes to her breathing or heart rate. Shit! Did I tip her off during our last meeting? She couldn’t remember if she’d tensed or hesitated while responding to any questions.
Holy fuck, this is not a good place to be! She was down four stories with no way to get in touch with anyone. Luke knew where she was, but if they suspected he’d betrayed NTech by bringing Ava here… Or was he working with NTech and had betrayed her?
Her hands curled into fists, ready to fight for her life if she needed to.
“Are you all right?” Andrea asked, pausing in the middle of the hall.
“What are you going to do to me?” Ava demanded.
Andrea stared at her for five seconds then broke into a musical laugh. “What, do you think I brought you down here to lock you up like a lab animal?” She placed a hand on Ava’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes. “Ava, I just want to learn more about your abilities. You needn’t worry.”
The words were genuine, as far as Ava could tell, but it was all way too suspicious. This woman was hiding something, and Ava could tell she somehow fit into a larger plan. But there was no way she could take on a vampire single-handedly. She needed to play along.
“Sorry, I just get a bit claustrophobic underground.”
“Even after all your time in space?”
“We have windows. It’s a weird psychological quirk, what can I say?”
Andrea smiled. “One of the great things that makes us human.”
Says the vampire. Ava held out her hand. “Lead the way.”
They traversed another fifteen meters of hall and then turned to the left. Andrea opened the second door on the right. It was to a stark white five-by-five meter room with a table and two chairs in the center and a computer panel along the back wall.
“Have a seat.” Andrea walked to the computer and began navigating through a menu.
Ava selected the chair with the better view of the door. “You’re not big on color around here.”
“The white brings some brightness to the space, though, don’t you think?”
“I guess it does.”
Andrea stopped her entries on the touchscreen and turned to face Ava. “Have I done something wrong by inviting you here?”
All right, time to try a straight approach. Ava shrugged. “I know you’re busy and must have a lot of other, better things to do than talk with some FDG officer visiting Coraxa on leave. I’m curious what you’re working on that would make me a priority.”
The director glided toward the table and took the seat across from Ava. “NTech selected Coraxa for our research because of the unique properties of this planet. People have dedicated decades of their lives to cracking its secrets, but no one has been successful. I want to do what no one else has done.
“You are an anomaly among your people—no other Reader has left. We know babies born offworld do not inherit their parents’ abilities, so why are you able to live offworld and retain them? As a scientist, that’s one of the most intriguing case studies I’ve ever come across.”
Ava had to admit that she had always been curious about that phenomenon herself. While she didn’t like the idea of being dissected in a lab, if Andrea could offer some answers while Ava conducted her own investigation, she’d love to know.
“How did you get involved in genetics research?” Ava asked.
Andrea rose from the table and resumed her entries on the computer. “I began as a nanoscientist, actually. I was always fascinated by the interplay between technology and biology.”
“Was that before or after you were turned?”
“After. Carrying nanocytes in my own blood, I wanted to learn more about how they worked.”
“They draw energy from the Etheric, right?”
The doctor nodded. “And each… strain, if you will, produces different properties for the individual. I’ve dedicated my life to learning how that differentiation happens.”
That certainly sounds like the mission brief from Kurtz. If NTech does have a new strain of nanocytes for the Hochste, this woman is behind it. She leaned back in her chair. “What have you learned?”
“That the Kurtherians were far smarter than any of us.”
“They had it going on, didn’t they? But they weren’t smarter, just more advanced. Surely you’ve learned something about the nanotech.”
“Oh, of course.” Andrea flashed her a smile. “It’s all very technical, though. I won’t bore you.”
Pressing any more would sound suspicious, so Ava switched gears. “How does Coraxa fit in?”
“I’m interested in the connection to the Etheric,” Andrea replied. “If we can understand what about Coraxa results in such Etheric sensitivity, then we can, by extension, get that much closer to isolating those properties within the nanocytes.”
“That’d probably be the discovery of the century—if not the millennia.”
“Perhaps now you’ll understand why I’ll go down any research path available to crack that code. I hope you’ll lend a hand.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Thank you, Ava.” Andrea walked to a cabinet on the right wall and pulled out a cylindrical contraption an
d a transparent box filled with what appeared to be medical electrodes.
“This equipment is designed to measure Etheric energy. I’d like to expose you to some stimuli and test your response,” the doctor explained. She placed the cylinder on the table. “Would that be all right?”
I’m committed to the course now. “Of course, go right ahead.”
Ava sat rigidly while Andrea affixed the electrodes around Ava’s head, on the upper part of her chest, and to her wrists.
“Excellent. We’ll begin in a moment.” Andrea disconnected one of the monitors on the computer to use as a tablet.
Taking a deep breath, Ava nodded. She trusted in her own mental blocks and would only reveal whatever would get her toward her desired ends with Andrea.
The lights dimmed to half-brightness when Andrea slid her hand along the edge of the tablet screen. A holographic representation of Tribeca appeared above the cylinder.
“Do you recognize this location?” Andrea asked.
“Yes, of course. It’s this city.”
“And what is your connection to this place?”
“It was my home. I grew up here.”
“And now?”
Ava thought for a second. “It’s still the place where I spent my childhood, but it’s no longer my home.”
“How do you feel looking at this image?”
“Nostalgic, I guess.”
Andrea tilted her head. “Why is that?”
“Answers were a lot clearer when I was young.”
The doctor made a note on her tablet. “Physically, how does it feel to be back here?”
Ah, now we’re getting down to it. Ava folded her hands on the tabletop. “It was energizing when I stepped off the shuttle, if that’s what you mean.”
“Can you recall how it compared to when you lived here?”
Honestly, Ava couldn’t. It had been so long since Coraxa was her home, now she was only a few steps removed from being a tourist herself. “This place has been a part of me since I was conceived. Leaving didn’t change that, but I feel… fuller here than I do anywhere else.”
Andrea nodded and set down her tablet. “With many subjects, I can easily talk around my real questions. That’s not the case with you.”
Ava smiled. “It is my job, after all. My guess is that you’re trying to gauge how my connection with the Etheric changes based on where I am?”