“Report,” barked an older man Alec hadn’t noticed. He stepped out from behind the others and gave Alec a long curious look. He was quite broad shouldered and stocky, which was an unusual deviation from the typical tall and thin Tyon. Moreover, he had a closely shaven goatee, which would have marked him as different even if his body type hadn’t. He glanced at Alec’s captor with sharp, assessing eyes. “What is this Potential doing inside the Base, Kellin?”
“This Potential’s readings are exceptionally strong and he was in the direct proximity of a rip,” Kellin said. “Logan wishes to begin his analysis as soon as possible.”
Alec scuffed his toe and tried to look scared and helpless. Which was depressingly easy.
The older Operative murmured, “I did not give any such order.”
Alec felt Kellin’s shrug. “No, sir. Logan sent the message to myself and Irik, directly.”
“Where is Irik?”
“At the location of the rip, Commander Kholar, sir. There is a serious anomaly with this particular rip and Logan wants a full scan and report. They are conducting it presently.”
Kholar rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He turned his attention to Alec. “What is your name, Terran?”
His tone maintained Logan’s air of authority but there wasn’t the cold, condescension Alec was used to hearing from a commander of the Tyon Collective. Thinking quickly, he said his middle name. “William.”
“Where are you from?”
“Toronto.” Alec looked about him and let a distinct tremor enter his voice along with the most subservient tone he could muster. “I don’t know where I am or how I got here. I want to go home. Please.”
“How did you get to Ireland with my second in command? Did you see the rip?”
Taking a deep breath, Alec launched into a tale as close to truth as possible. “I found this big marble in a tube station in London. I got short of cash and tried to use an ATM. You know, a cash machine. But it wouldn’t take my card. I got really angry and suddenly the machine just spat out all this money. It took me a while to figure out that when I held the marble, machines would give me money. It was the coolest thing. Then this big guy shows up, demands the marble back and, before I could give it to him, grabs me. I must have blacked out or something coz the next thing I knew we were in some field and this big guy is yelling at me and there’s a cloud of dust coming at us.”
Alec didn’t need to fake the shiver. “I was totally freaked. Then this guy shows up,” he nodded in Kellin’s direction, “and the next thing I know I’m here. I wanna go home.” He looked from one Tyon to another, pasting the pleading look on his face that had worked so often with his mother.
“I am Commander Kohlar. The man you met in London is Logan. He is my second in command and in charge of this particular mission. You will obey him, as you will me, in the future.”
Alec whimpered. “Please, I don’t know who you are and I don’t belong here.”
“You are a Potential,” Kohlar continued. “One of the very few humans on this planet with the special ability to protect themselves from the influence of the Others, an enemy that invades worlds such as yours. You must learn to protect yourself from the Others’ attack. If you are strong enough, you may protect your planet from destruction. It is a noble cause. You must accept this and train for it.” Kohlar seemed to finish his speech. He turned to Kellin and gave a curt nod. “Since the boy is already here, we will begin the training process. Who is the Guardian of Potentials here?”
“Dean, sir. I’ll have him prepared to begin his training.” Kellin didn’t wait for any further instructions. Grabbing Alec’s arm in an unbreakable grip, he tugged him out of central command before Alec could think of an argument to stay. Kellin led him through the maze of divider walls until they arrived at a long line of metal bunk beds placed up against the rock-hewn wall of the cavern. There were small metal cupboards between each bunk and a large metal room protruding out from the wall that Alec remembered was a bathroom. A familiar young man was sitting at a table reading something. He looked up as Alec and Kellin approached.
Dean was around Darius’s age but slightly taller and wider across the shoulders. His eyes were a pale, almost colourless blue, but had none of Logan’s coldness. The last time Alec had seen him, he was trying to kill Riley, Darius, and himself. There was none of the hatred in his expression as Dean half rose from his seat and waved his computer screen into nothingness.
“Your first Potential. Logan found him and ordered him here. Kohlar wants him trained,” Kellin said as a way of introduction. “He calls himself William.”
Dean reached forward to shake hands. He had an almost crushing grip and his hand had multiple calluses. Alec tried not to shake the blood back into his fingers once Dean let go, grateful it hadn’t been his aching wrist Dean shook.
“I thought the retrieval phase hadn’t started yet?” Dean said.
“Are you questioning Logan’s decision?”
Dean gave a slight grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course not. What the Commander wants is fine with me.”
Kellin seemed to accept this statement at face value and let go of Alec’s shoulder. Without another word he turned and left. There was a long pause. Alec kept his mouth shut and waited for Dean’s next move.
“Well, let’s get you kitted out,” Dean said with a definite shade of warmth in his voice and a hint of a smile on his face. “As you can see, you’re the first of the Terran trainees so you get the choice of bunks.” Dean got up and crossed to a small locker behind Alec, opened the lid and pulled out a grey one-piece coverall. Alec couldn’t help the grimace. “There’ll be lots of things here you find different from home. The faster you give up the memories of your previous life the faster you’ll assimilate to our ways. In the long run, it’ll be easier.”
“How do you know?” Alec asked. He took the offered coverall and held it at arm’s length. “I didn’t ask for this. I just want to go home.”
“I’m afraid that it isn’t an option. Potentials never return to their previous lives after their training. They always continue with the Collective after completion, even if their world is rendered resistant.”
“Resistant to what?” Alec tried to ask the questions he was sure he’d ask if this was the first time he’d been here.
“The Others. Pan-dimensional beings with a thirst for domination.” Dean began rummaging in another locker, this time for shoes. He pulled out several pairs, eyed them critically before dropping them back. “Those of us in the Tyon Collective, which by the way now includes you, have an important mission. We disseminate the resistance gene to humanoid populations throughout this galaxy, which reduces the chance of the Others decimating a world. It’s important work.” Dean looked up and froze.
Alec didn’t need to turn around.
“Place this boy in confinement immediately,” Logan barked from only a step behind. “I must interrogate him.”
24
Riley closed her eyes and wished herself a million miles away. Why did Anna have to constantly follow her around and pick holes in everything she did?
“Riley, I’m speaking to you.”
Riley wrinkled her nose. Time for the high and mighty Ice Queen to melt the attitude. Riley raised her hand and extended her middle finger. Then she burst into giggles.
“Ah, who are you and how did you get into my apartment?” Kerry sounded far away and excited. Riley cracked open an eye just in time to see Anna’s face stiffen into severe annoyance. She was holding onto something, but the sofa was blocking Riley’s view. Riley rested her head back on the chair and closed both eyes. That felt better. Too much sunlight was giving her a bit of a headache and she felt so tired and comfortable where she was.
“Riley!”
“Gimme a break,” Riley muttered, not bothering to open her eyes again. Honestly, did that woman ever give up? She felt rather than heard Anna’s approach after something heavy slid to the floor. A painful grip latched on to both her
upper arms and she was roughly pulled upward, right off the chair. She could feel Anna’s breath on her forehead.
“Whoa,” Riley muttered, “I’m, like, so not into you.”
“What have you done to Riley?” Anna’s words were directed over her shoulder.
“I just gave her a lemonade.” Kerry’s tone was more amused than worried.
“She’s drugged,” Anna’s sharp tone cut the air. Riley was dropped back into the chair unceremoniously. She cracked open her eyes as she heard Anna’s steps across the wide expanse of wooden floor. Anna stopped directly in front of Kerry and held out her hand. “You drugged her and took her orb. Return it to me.”
“Hey, that’s mine,” Riley protested weakly.
“She’s just a bit sleepy.” Kerry handed back the orb and Anna pocketed it without comment. “And who’s on the carpet?”
Riley squinted in the direction Kerry was pointing. There was indeed someone lying on the throw rug at the top of the stairs. A pool of water had formed around the crumpled figure.
“What’s wrong with Darius?” Riley tried to get out of the chair but the slippery leather defeated her.
“Why is everyone from the future unconscious?” Kerry added.
Anna didn’t respond. She walked over to Darius’s side and leaned over. “Have you somewhere more comfortable for him to rest?” she asked.
“Ah, yeah.” Kerry launched himself away from the windows and stepped neatly over the soggy form on the floor. He opened the middle door along the wall opposite the windows and gestured inside with a sweep of his arm. “He can use my room.”
Anna didn’t request any help picking Darius up off the floor and carrying him in her arms several steps to the bedroom where she momentarily disappeared with him. Kerry stood at the doorway watching intently. He turned to give Riley a would you look at that type of glance before facing Anna who exited the bedroom and strode purposefully towards Peter. She wordlessly pulled Peter into her arms. His head lolled back and forth as she carried him into the bedroom.
“Riley,” she called.
Riley strongly considered not even answering, never mind getting up out of the comfortable seat and trekking all the way across the open living room to the bedroom, just to do Anna’s bidding. But she wasn’t holding her orb and the Tyon power pulled her relentlessly out of the slippery chair and onto her feet. Muttering under her breath, she shuffled across the smooth floor to stop at the doorway.
The bedroom ceiling sloped downward into two dormered windows, the lower sill of each rested directly on the floor next to several multicoloured potted flowers. There was a huge king-size bed with a black-on-black patterned spread and a pile of yellow and red cushions piled against the iron bedstead. There wasn’t an errant sock or piece of dirty underwear anywhere in sight. A young man who didn’t live like a pig, Riley thought fuzzily; wonders never cease.
Darius and Peter were laying side by side and both were very pale and clearly unconscious. Riley instinctively went to Darius’s side. She leaned over to peer closely at him.
“What happened to him?” she asked.
“Drowned,” Anna replied.
“Why aren’t you doing something, you idiot?” Riley gasped. Her fuzzy thinking seemed to clear rapidly. She climbed onto the bed beside Darius and urgently palpated for a pulse in his neck. He hadn’t shaved recently, her mind noted abstractly as her fingers fumbled in desperation to find the right spot under his ear. He couldn’t die unshaven.
It took nearly forever before her shaky fingers discovered the steady heaving of his carotid artery. Once the relief set in, Riley examined Darius more closely. His skin was warm, almost hot, and there was a definite rasp to his breathing if she listened. Pneumonia. If the salt water hadn’t done the job immediately it would have another go in the long term.
“He needs a hospital,” Riley pronounced.
“We are unable to utilize the medical facilities of this planet,” Anna said from the doorway.
“Why not?” Kerry spoke up. He had crossed over to the other side of the bed and was standing, hands deep in the pockets of his tour company overalls, staring at Anna in rapt fascination. “I mean, do you have cybernetics or a completely different physiology that would give you away?”
“I am unfamiliar with the term cybernetics,” Anna said. Her gaze never left Darius. “But we do have implants that would show up on your investigative medical technology and must remain secret.”
“Ah yeah,” Kerry breathed with wide-eyed excitement. “The government would be right on ya the second anything showed up on a CT scan. Area fifty-four and all that.”
“I don’t care what the government would do,” Riley lashed out. This was so stupid. Darius could die. “He needs to see a doctor and get on some antibiotics right away. I mean it.”
“We cannot take the chance of being discovered,” Anna said.
“Bring us to Home Base,” Riley said. It was the only thing she could think of. There was a top-notch medical facility inside the dreaded Tyon stronghold, and even though it was the last place on earth Riley wanted to visit again, it was Darius’s only hope if Anna refused to take him to an emergency room. “Please.”
“I am unable to transport at the present time,” Anna replied. She didn’t look happy to make that admission. “I must regen. There must be at least another Operative to take two of you with us, and Darius cannot help. Transporting three is impossible. Particularly after reorganizing Peter and bringing Darius here. I cannot leave you and Peter here alone.”
“Why not?” Riley stroked a lock of damp hair off Darius’s forehead. “I’m perfectly safe here with Kerry, aren’t I?” She gave the Australian a pleading look. “Darius could transport two of us at the same time. You can take Peter and him back to Home Base. Get them fixed up. Pick me up when you’re done.” Of course, she’d be long gone by then, Riley thought. As long as she could get her orb back, she was a free agent.
“Can I help transport you?” Kerry had his helpful face on. His eyes were bright with eagerness. “Just tell me where you want to go. I have a car. Or actually, my sister has one, but she’d let me borrow it.” He turned to Riley. “Where’s home base?”
Riley opened her mouth to answer but Anna interrupted with a sharp glance in her direction. “Using a gas-powered vehicle from this location would be impossible.”
Kerry looked crestfallen only for a second. “Riley can stay with me. You can come back and get her, after your mates are looked after. Don’t worry. I’d take good care of her.”
“As you have already?” Anna asked. “You hoped she would be pliable and willing to give you information about us, were she inebriated.” Riley glanced from her to Kerry and back again. The faint blush told her all she needed to know.
“Creep,” Riley spat.
“Ah, come on, it was just one drink.” Kerry shrugged at her before he turned to Anna. “I do want to know as much about you as possible. That’s true. I’m not denying it. I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet people like you.”
“People like us,” Anna echoed as she turned her attention back to Riley. “Darius needs medical attention. We are unable to take him to a facility here and Home Base is not an option until I have regenned enough to manage the trip. I will call for assistance then. In the meantime, you must begin the healing process. Darius indicated that you have the gift. I advise you to begin the process as quickly as possible.”
Riley snatched up the crystal Anna tossed onto the bed as she turned and left the doorway.
“She’s a right piece of work.” The corner of the bed depressed with Kerry’s weight as he sat down on the edge beside Peter and stared in fascination at her orb.
“Yeah, and you’re not,” Riley muttered.
“I wasn’t going to do anything.” He sounded a bit sulky. “You don’t have to be so pissed.”
“I thought you were a decent guy, Kerry.”
“How was I to know you’re underage?” Kerry nodded in Darius’s di
rection and changed the topic. “He’ll definitely catch pneumonia if he doesn’t get out of his wet clothes.”
Kerry did the honours. Within minutes Darius was wearing a pair of Kerry’s track pants. Riley clambered up onto the bed and placed the orb on Darius’s chest.
“You can heal him with your orb?” Kerry asked.
“Yup.”
“Cool,” Kerry said as he climbed up on the bed beside Peter and watched her intently. He eased a few cushions under his back and appeared to be settling in for the duration.
“If you really want to help,” Riley said without looking at him, “get me some antibiotics. He’s burning up so he probably has an infection and if we don’t get this under control as soon as possible he’ll die.” She tightened her grip and closed her eyes. The faster she got going the better. Her head was spinning a bit and it was harder to concentrate than usual.
“How’s it work?”
“Shhh,” she hissed. She did not need an audience. “And some acetaminophen,” she ordered as her previous first-aid training meandered into her brain. “A large bottle of liquid, instead of pills. So I can dump it in his mouth.” She opened her eyes and gave Kerry a hard glance. “Are you still here?”
“I’m going,” Kerry said. Riley felt his weight lift off the bed and a minute later the door closed with a quiet snick. There were murmured voices in the living room but she paid no attention. Darius needed her, urgently, and she couldn’t let herself get distracted, either by their newfound confidante, her swimming head, or Darius’s warm skin under her fingertips.
25
Despite Riley’s best efforts, several doses of acetaminophen, and an antibiotic with an unpronounceable name—courtesy of Kerry’s sister’s boyfriend’s next door neighbour, who was a pharmacist—Darius had steadily worsened.
Time of Treason Page 15