Time of Treason

by Susan M. MacDonald

  “There will be another opportunity. Darius has discovered a stronger one.”

  Martje glanced up briefly. “Stronger than himself?” She sounded impressed but skeptical.

  “I have not run a thorough scan. When we find him and transport him here, you will have ample opportunity to evaluate his potential. I am assured it will more than suffice for our purpose.”

  Alec bit his lower lip as an uncomfortable shiver ran down his spine. Was it possible they were talking about him? And what purpose were they talking about? Defeating the Others or, he wondered with a sinking feeling, something else? He silently straightened up and took a step backwards. For reasons he couldn’t explain to himself, he suddenly didn’t want Anna to see him.

  He turned and started to walk away, keeping his head down so it wouldn’t be seen over the top of the divider wall. Two Operatives passed him as they headed towards Med Ops. Both gave him a curious look but said nothing. He avoided their eyes and kept going. He couldn’t risk confirming who was lying on that bed.

  “Potential, what are you doing here?”

  Alec stumbled to a halt. The Operative looked vaguely familiar, although Alec couldn’t put a name to his face. He was imposingly tall, with granite features, pale grey eyes and a demeanor that brooked no arguments. Alec had a chemistry teacher just like him in grade ten. Best class he’d ever taken.

  “I’m waiting for Commander Kholar,” Alec responded, remembering just in time to add Kholar’s rank in a deferential tone. “He’s taking me with him.”

  “Why are you near Med Ops?” the man demanded. “Are you ill?”

  “No,” Alec shook his head. “I was just wandering around.”

  “Tyrell, accompany this Potential to Med Ops.” Anna’s sharp voice cut across the distance. Alec turned. She was standing at the entrance to Med Ops and staring directly at him. She must have heard his voice.

  Tyrell’s hand came down on Alec’s shoulder with the weight of the world behind it. There was no choice but to turn around with the man’s slight push and retrace his steps. Tyrell shadowed behind him. Anna didn’t take her eyes off him as he passed her and entered the small area designated for medical care. The minute he was within arm’s length of Anna, Tyrell turned and left. Alec’s eyes were immediately drawn to the figure laying on one of the raised medical beds.

  Darius’s skin was deathly white and his eyes were closed. Only the rapid rise and fall of his chest and a rattling grunt with each breath indicated he was still living. Two medical personnel approached from behind a divider wall and after a nod of Martje’s head, held out their orbs over his forehead. Both closed their eyes in concentration.

  “Is it true he’s going to die?” the female on Darius’s right asked Martje.

  The older woman was peering at a monitor screen and didn’t turn around. “Likely but not certain.”

  Alec found himself gripping the edge of the bed. What had Darius been doing?

  “And the Potential he saved?” the woman continued.

  “In a state of dis-derridement.” Anna responded. She caught Alec’s eye for a moment but nothing in her expression gave away that she already knew him. “I have sent an officer to retrieve him.”

  “Dis-derridement is very nasty,” Martje murmured. She seemed mildly distracted with something that had just rolled across the screen.

  At that moment another Operative entered behind Alec. He jumped slightly at her voice. “There was a message from the Council,” she said to Anna. “Kholar instructed me to hold it until you returned.”

  Anna focused her attention on the woman, who took a nervous step backwards and clasped her hands behind her back. “What was the content of the message, Bryn?”

  “Location of time shift verified and coordinates attached,” Bryn stated as if reading aloud. “Tyon signature confirmed but no previous match reported. Investigation to focus on new Operatives and Potentials. The coordinates are encrypted and in your personal file.”

  Martje straightened and gave Anna a sharp look. Anna nodded towards the messenger and refocused her attention to Darius. Bryn ducked her head and backed out. Alec watched her leave.

  “A time shifter?” the medic with the strident voice spoke up. “Here? On this miserable planet? Are they sure?”

  Martje spoke when Anna didn’t respond. “It seems so, Leezl. The Council is on the hunt for him or her. All of us should review the skills of our companions and the newest among us. The shifter must be found and stopped.”

  Leezl wrinkled her nose. “How much damage have they done? Does anyone know?”

  Anna shook her head. “There is little information as to the results and influences this particular individual has made. We have no data that multiple shifts have taken place or that the current shift was significant.”

  “They are all significant.” Even with the limited emotional responses, the air crackled between the two women. Leezl continued, “Even the smallest change can have wide-ranging consequences. That’s the reason shifters are banned. Everyone knows this.”

  Alec chewed the inside of his lip. It wasn’t going to take long before they figured it out. Despite his sudden concern for Darius, there was no way he could stay. Any second someone was going to notice him, realize he was very new, and put two and two together and come up with five. If they forced themselves into his head, they’d know.

  He inched himself backwards, keeping his face expressionless, almost willing himself to take up less room and be unnoticeable. Anna was staring into the depths of her orb and Martje had resumed staring at her screens. Both medics had their eyes closed in concentration again. Alec took another two steps and turned around.

  “Potential,” Martje barked from the head of the bed. All eyes turned towards him. Alec froze. “Return to the bedside.”

  32

  Riley’s stomach dropped in terror as the Councilor’s words penetrated her mind. The Council had access to everything she thought. How would she keep her mind off Alec’s gift? One errant memory or thought would sign his death warrant. Worse still was the threat that they could make her do what they wanted. How would they? And perhaps more importantly, what exactly did they want her to do?

  “I didn’t ask for this and you have no right to force me. Take it out. Now,” she cried.

  The Councilor’s expression didn’t change. “You have no say.”

  “I didn’t give you permission to touch my brain,” Riley said angrily. “I’m telling you now, take it out.”

  “We of the Council have determined that the Tyon Collective has been infiltrated by enemies intent on subverting its purpose,” the Councilor began, seemingly oblivious to her retort. “This cannot happen. While the Collective is a secretive agency, created by the Council some time ago, it has gained strength and has outgrown its initial confines. To destroy it would lead to awareness and consequently our duplicity. However, a series of counterstrikes within the Collective will return it to our control. My partner suggests that you become an agent of my plan.”

  Nervously Riley bit the inside of her lip. What partner?

  “You will return to the Collective and be assimilated into their training program. They will have no idea that you will, upon our signal, perform the cleansing so required.”

  “What do you mean by cleansing?” Riley found her voice but was disturbed to hear it sound so wobbly. She cleared her throat. “Just what is it you think I’m going to do for you?”

  “Cleansing of the Collective can be interpreted as removal of the infective agents,” the Councilor said.

  Riley frowned. This wasn’t making much sense. “What infective agents?” she asked again.

  “This,” said the Councilor. He raised his hand. A brilliant flash of light travelled from his palm to Riley’s face. She recoiled as it hit her. For a moment nothing seemed to happen. Then a series of images and thoughts crowded through her mind with the speed of a locomotive. They moved too quickly to fully grasp but the gist became increasingly clear. She ste
pped back in horror.

  “You want me to track down the traitors,” she gasped. “Find them and turn them in.”

  “No,” replied the Councilor. “Find them and destroy them.”

  For a moment Riley reeled as his words sunk in. “I can’t kill someone,” she cried. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “I do not jest, nor request a thing and merely hope it will be done to my specifications. This is an order. You have no choice.”

  Riley backed away. There was no way. “Why me?”

  “The best enemy is the one no one suspects.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  “My partner suggests that Terrans often require motivation,” the Councilor said. “Let me be clear as to the consequences of your refusal.” He waved his left hand in a curt gesture. The ground to the left of Riley’s feet rippled in a most unpleasant way. She felt a surge of warmth, as if the air itself was boiling. The heat cleared and the rippling stopped. As it did, Kerry appeared on the floor. He didn’t move.

  “Your Terran companion was quite correct. He is of use to us. His value lies in your feelings towards him and your wish to spare him from harm.”

  A queasy feeling rose in the back of Riley’s throat. She knew why they’d transported Kerry with her now and she didn’t like it one bit.

  “Wake,” the Councilor said. The light flashed from his palm to envelope Kerry in a sickly bluish hue.

  Kerry’s eyes fluttered open. He raised his head off the ground and peered around but his eyes were unfocused and the frown marring his even features indicated that he wasn’t fully aware of what was going on around him. “Riley,” he croaked when he finally caught sight of her. “What’s happening? Are you okay?”

  “Your companion has a caring soul,” the Councilor pointed out unnecessarily. “For his sake, I hope you are as endowed.”

  Riley clenched her jaw. They knew damn well what would get to her and what wouldn’t, courtesy of their listening device inside her head, the creepy alien thugs. To pretend she didn’t care at all would likely result in Kerry’s immediate death but to indicate she cared for him made him a temporary hostage and tied her hands when it came to obeying the Council’s directives. The best she could hope for was that if she complied and carried out their plans, the Council would let Kerry go when it was all over. Or better yet, he’d escape. Though that seemed pretty unlikely.

  “I’m fine, Kerry,” she said slowly. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Kerry was slurring his words and slightly weaving, even though he hadn’t made it to his feet. He slumped at her response and stopped the effort to stand.

  “To ensure your compliance, we will employ further incentives,” the Councilor said. He waved his hand again. Instantly, Kerry’s face screwed up in distress and he doubled over, clutching his abdomen. He cried out with pain, the sound echoing over and over in the massive chamber.

  “Leave him alone,” Riley shouted. “I’m going to do it. Stop hurting him.”

  The Councilor smiled. “I see we have chosen well.” With that, he raised his hand, palm outward, in Riley’s direction. There was a very bright flash of light, which momentarily blinded her. She heard Kerry’s pain laden cry. Without warning, the unpleasant sensation of teleportation began and Kerry’s voice was cut off.

  33

  Run or turn around? One second under Martje’s scanner and the secret in his head would be out. Alec turned slowly and caught Anna’s eye. “Potential, you are scheduled to leave with Kholar, are you not?” Anna’s expression didn’t give anything away.

  “Yeah,” he answered. He avoided Martje’s gaze.

  “Kholar has specific plans for this Terran.” Anna addressed her comments to the chief medic. “I will ensure that he is processed on board Kholar’s vessel.”

  “Commander Kholar said to be ready to leave any minute,” Alec added.

  “Kholar will wait while I scan you.” Martje’s stern expression allowed no refusal. She locked eyes with Anna. “Leezl, inform Kholar that his Potential is here.”

  Leezl left with the Tyon equivalent of a flounce. Anna’s lips tightened slightly and her hand rose to clasp something at her neck. “A full scan and insertion of the translation device will take hours. It is not reasonable to delay Kholar in this manner, when the same procedure can be performed during travel.”

  Martje was obviously not in the habit of having her orders countermanded and while her expression didn’t change to any great degree, Alec felt her annoyance building. Who had the final say in the Tyon hierarchy? Anna or the chief medic? Alec kept his gaze on Darius, unwilling to let either woman see the worry in his eyes.

  “Martje, respirations increasing.” One of the junior colleagues had raised her orb off Darius’s forehead and was frowning. “Core temperature rising.”

  “All medical personal to Med Ops,” Martje said into her orb as she crossed to Darius’s side and peered closely at him. The words broadcast themselves across the wide expanse of cavern, echoing slightly. Alec startled with the loudness of the sound. He caught Anna’s eye. She gave a curt nod indicating that he should leave while Martje’s interest was focused elsewhere. He didn’t need any encouragement. As he turned to leave, several Operatives, orbs already in hand, ran into the area, quickly moving to Darius’s side. They held their orbs out over his chest. The orbs began to glow in synchrony.

  “The infection is advancing. He weakens,” Martje said to no one in particular.

  Kholar strode in. He surveyed the group and his gaze lingered for a moment on Alec’s face. “Report,” he ordered.

  “Guardian Finn is seriously ill,” Martje barely gave Kholar a glance. “Despite our treatment the lung infection continues to advance.”

  “Will he survive?” Kholar stepped closer to the bed and leaned over Darius’s feet for a better view.

  Martje gave a slight shrug. “Unknown. We shall continue our treatments until we determine futility or return to health. Your Potential is unscanned and has not been processed. This is advised before any interstellar travel. He could harbor contagion.”

  “Noted,” Kholar gave her a sharp incline of his head. He turned to Anna. “I am leaving immediately for our next assignment. I have no one in my company who has knowledge or experience with Terran Potentials. You have trained Finn highly successfully. You will accompany me to train this new one.”

  Anna nodded and her face remained impassive, but Alec had the distinct impression that Kholar was speaking more for the other Tyons’ benefit than Anna’s.

  Kholar glanced in his direction. “Report to transport immediately. Anna will show you the location.”

  Alec gave a nod and avoided Anna’s eyes, aware she might pick up on his annoyance. The last time she had been in charge of him hadn’t worked out so well for either of them. The only good thing was that she’d promised Darius not to reveal Alec’s status as a time shifter. But could she be trusted? Obviously Kholar wielded a great deal of power over her. If he demanded that she tell everything she knew, would she lie?

  Darius might not live, Anna was coming with them, and Alec was under the thumb of Kholar, a man he knew almost nothing about but already feared. He should have taken his chance with Riley, he decided ruefully. She was probably having the time of her life somewhere.

  34

  Riley woke up sluggishly. The first thing she noticed was the smell. A potpourri of cement, garbage, and ammonia. Eww. The air was cool and laced with cigarette smoke. She grimaced and slapped a hand over her nose and mouth. She was lying on the cold hard ground and something wet was soaking into her left knee. She forced herself to open her eyes.

  She was in an alley between two large, rusting dumpsters. If she raised her head she could make out the street at the end of the alley and the pedestrians walking past the entrance. Groggily she sat up, pulling her leg out of the oily puddle. For several minutes she did nothing but allow the vertigo to settle. This teleportation stuff was getting worse each t
ime she moved.

  For a moment it was difficult to remember why she was there and what had happened. Then it came back in a rush. The Council had kidnapped her. They were forcing her to do their dirty work and had inserted a device into her head so they could monitor her success. Kerry was still in their clutches and Heaven only knew what they might do to him.

  She forced the panic away. If she was going to get Kerry out of this predicament she had to have a clear mind and a plan. She dragged herself to her feet and looked around closely. Why had the Councilor sent her here? There must be a reason.

  She pulled her orb into her hand and tightened her fingers around it. Instantly the soothing sensation calmed her. The alley could have been anywhere in the world but the proliferation of English on the various pieces of garbage indicated she was likely in one of the Commonwealth countries or the States. The alley wasn’t very long but several business establishments had access to it, including a restaurant. Riley wrinkled her nose. The dumpster next to her was incredibly fragrant.

  She carefully sidestepped a rotting clump of what likely had been food long ago and eased her way through the piles of filth. Probably when she saw the street beyond she’d have a decent idea of where she’d been sent, she reasoned. As she passed the last dumpster at the very edge of the alley, the reason she’d landed there became painfully clear.

  She halted abruptly and clasped her orb tighter. A familiar and totally unpleasant sensation fluttered along her skin. She looked around for the rip. Darius had told her that the danger wasn’t over, merely delayed and it looked like he’d been right. Biting her lower lip, Riley moved closer to the hovering mass of sparkles. It was small. About the size of a baseball and floating above the dumpster, almost at eye level. She gripped her orb tightly. Some poor slob was going to come out of one of the surrounding buildings, his arms filled with garbage, and touch it. She wouldn’t wish that horrible sensation of nothingness on anyone.