Deadly Designs

by Dale Mayer

  At Eric’s last words, some of the rigidity in Paxton’s spine and his shoulders relaxed slightly. Thank heavens for that. Paxton wasn’t the boss here, but he held a lot of power.

  “Thank you for understanding.” Storey did appreciate it. As she’d already found out, having Paxton on her side was huge.

  Paxton said, “You’re going to take her home?” It wasn’t a question as much as statement of fact.

  “Well—”

  But Storey cut Eric off in midsentence. “Yes. I’m going to take her back to her family.”

  Paxton nodded once as if he’d expected no less. “What do you need?”

  Storey explained, “My stylus went into some kind of power saver mode while we were separated over in the Louer dimension, but it’s taking a long time to recharge. I want to make sure it’s fully functioning before traveling again. Also, because it was having trouble communicating, the stylus switched the codex to using Toranee code, or something.” Storey turned to Eric. “Right?”

  “The stylus can’t reverse the change until it’s back to full power.”

  “We’ll need to reset the function panel.” Paxton latched onto the one thing he could do something about. “Give it to me.” Eric took off both machines and handed them over. Paxton bent his head, muttering to himself. “Yes. Interesting. Haven’t seen this in decades. Hmmm.” He walked over to one of the desks and pulled out a series of wires and odd black rubber attachments.

  “Ah Eric, I think we need to tell Paxton about the rodent, too. Before he finds out the hard way.”

  Eric rolled his eyes. “Smart.” He walked over to where Paxton worked. “Paxton, we forgot to mention that Tammy has her pet with her. That’s the reason she missed the move to the other dimension, so we figured we’d better bring it too.”

  “Pet? What pet?” His gaze turned from Eric to Storey before latching onto Tammy’s face. The rodent sat on Tammy’s shoulder, his cheerful harness and leash looking bizarre against his dark fur. “Oh dear. Yes. Yes, please keep it on that leash at all times. Oh dear.” He shook his head once and turned back to the table and the codexes in front of him.

  Eric walked back to Storey. “See? Easy.”

  “We’ll see about that. So far, nothing has been easy,” he retorted, his wry grin belying the sharpness of his words. “How do we find out what the stylus needs to return to full health?”

  Storey didn’t need to think about that. “We ask it. But the more we ask of it right now, the less it can rejuvenate.”

  “What then?” Eric raised an eyebrow in question.

  “Then we ask Paxton’s stylus what it needs.”

  Eric sat back, a frown on his face. “Oh. That makes sense.”

  “Can we sit somewhere? I’d like to grab a sketchbook and see how the stylus is doing.”

  Eric pointed to the table where she’d sat toward the end of the celebration they’d had the night before. She stopped. Night before? Surely it had been longer. And it might have been. Time had become beyond screwy.

  Leading Tammy over, she pulled out chairs for both of them and showed Tammy how to use one. Tammy grinned and bounced on the chair several times. Only stilling her antics long enough to watch curiously as Storey opened her bag to remove a sketchbook. Tammy grabbed it and tried to bite the end.

  “No. This isn’t food.” Storey dove back into her bag and pulled out a red apple. She handed it to Tammy who looked at it and frowned. Storey took a bite, showed Tammy the inside. Tammy immediately bit into the apple. Her eyes grew rounder and she bounced several more times.

  “I think she likes it,” murmured Eric.

  “Good thing. We know what happens when there’s something she doesn’t like.” She hurriedly looked away as the skorl took a bite from the other side of Tammy’s apple. Shudders rippled across her back. She so didn’t want to share her meal with that thing.

  Opening her sketchbook, she pulled out her stylus and studied the markings on the side. Now if only she knew what they meant. Something she’d have to ask her stylus about later.

  “Stylus, we need information.” She held her hand over the corner of a blank page of her sketchbook. “What do you need to get to full power?”

  Time.

  “Why is it taking so long?”

  Damaged.

  “Damaged?” Eric and Storey both bent to study the pencil. Twisting and turning it, neither could see any damage. “What kind of damage?”

  Souls. We are getting older. Will need a new soul soon.

  “Soon? As in how soon?” Storey frowned at Eric.

  Within the next decade.

  Storey and Eric both relaxed. “Good. That gives us a little time to figure that part out. Somehow. So it takes longer for you to recharge once we’ve been separated. Do the other styluses need new souls too?

  Yes.

  “Are the ones in there still alive?” Storey couldn’t imagine their existence.

  We are always in stasis. New souls will blend and all will be well.

  Eric looked at Storey and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  Storey studied his features. “Don’t think what?”

  “It’s not all going to be well. We don’t know how to blend souls into the stylus anymore, and even if we did, it would be against our laws to force someone to do so.”

  “What about volunteers? Chances are someone would be interested in living forever.”

  He scrunched his face in disgust. “Not me.”

  Storey frowned. “If my life was almost over, it would be a heck of a way to extend it. To help out my people.”

  “Go for it. You’re not locking me inside a pencil forever.”

  Storey had to laugh at the way he said it. It might not be right for him, but if her people were involved she could see a long line forming almost instantly. Especially those with a terminal illness. To live forever was a much sought after goal with her people. The novelty alone would peak interest around the globe. She could see riots happening as people vied for the dozen odd positions.

  Eric glanced over at Paxton working away on his codex. “It’s not an issue right now, anyway. We need to find the correct codes to take Tammy home. Can the stylus help us do that?”

  “Probably.”

  The longer Tammy was with her, the less she looked like a Louer and the more she resembled a normal child. Speaking of which…

  “I haven’t seen many children in your dimension?” Eric’s face twisted curiously. “Don’t you guys believe in families?” she said.

  The faintest pink color washed over his face. “We do, but not large ones and many people are choosing to have no children.”

  She didn’t know what more to say to that. Paxton worked at his desk on the codexes How much had he heard? He’d stayed out of it so far, but they knew so much more about her world and she knew so little about theirs. “Sounds like both of our systems need overhauling. Not that I know much about your world.”

  Paxton came over, the codexes in his hand. “And that might be for the best. If you are ever captured by your government and tortured for information, you won’t have any to give them.”

  Stilling, Storey sucked her cheeks in. Was Paxton kidding? Not that she’d ever heard him do so before. Still the thought of her government trying to get information out of her made her skin crawl.

  Her feelings must have shown on her face because Eric reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “That’s not going to happen.” He smiled reassuringly at her.

  But what did he know?

  A small hand crept under hers. Tammy. Storey put on a happy face for her. Keeping her voice light and soothing, she said, “It’s okay. Everything will be fine.”

  “Hmpph. Says you,” Paxton grumped, “You need to take her home before anyone else finds out she’s here.”

  “I’d like to. The longer she’s away, the harder it is on her, too.” Storey pulled off her sweater and set it on the chair. She picked up the codexes. “So Eric will be able t
o use these now? Easily?”

  Paxton went to speak then stopped. Storey stared at him but he silently pointed at the marks on her arm. She shrugged. “I don’t know how, where, or when I got them.”

  Luckily Paxton stayed quiet, thinking heavily if his furrowed brow and distant gaze was anything to go by. Storey exchanged looks with Eric. He raised one brow but stayed quiet.

  After a moment, Paxton continued as if the subject of her new honor marks had never been brought up. “Yes. I’ve recalibrated their functions. Everything is normal.”

  “Perfect.” She watched as Eric picked up the closest codex, his fingers checking the systems until he was satisfied they were working properly. “Are you good now?”

  “Yes.” He clipped the first one on his wrist. Pushing the second one her way, he added, “Put that one on.”

  As instructed, she clipped hers on. Tammy made ooing sounds at the shiny look of it. Together the two girls admired the flashy armband. Tammy held out her arm. Paxton shook his head hard enough for his hair to fly off in all directions again.

  Tammy’s face puckered up.

  Eric’s voice cut through the room. “Storey, look out.”

  Just in time, Storey pulled a granola bar from her pocket. The shiny, brightly colored wrapper instantly caught Tammy’s attention. Her eyes lit up and she grabbed it from Storey’s hand. Turning it over and around, she admired all the colors.

  “I don’t think she knows she can eat it.”

  “You mean eat what’s in it. We don’t want her eating the wrap—”

  Tammy shoved one end of the bar, wrapper and all in her mouth and bit down.

  “Oh shit.” Storey tried to take the bar away from her, but Tammy’s eyes widened and her teeth clamped down even harder.

  Storey dug into her bag and dragged out a second bar. Sitting back in front of Tammy again, she ripped open one end and took the flat bars out. Tammy blinked, watching Storey’s every move. Then Storey took a bite of one of the two bars, and put the bright wrapper on the table.

  In the sudden silence she realized several things. The first was that Tammy appeared to understand the concept of wrappers as she removed the packaged bar from her mouth and worked at ripping the end off like she’d seen Storey do; and two, the two men were staring at the spare half of the granola bar in her hand.

  Her gaze widened as Eric swallowed. With a big sigh, and realizing that males appeared to be the same whether in her dimension or Eric’s, she held out the unbitten piece to Paxton and the half with the bite taken out of it to Eric.

  Both men accepted and bit into the treat; Eric, with obvious relish, and Paxton, with great interest but also trepidation. Eric had already eaten food at her house, whereas Paxton had very little experience with anything human – just her.

  “It’s okay Paxton. It might be different to you but it’s perfectly edible.”

  He raised his gaze to her as he bit hard and the honey and almond flavor filled his mouth. He reared back slightly and blinked. “What is it?”

  “We call it a granola bar. It’s food that we use for traveling, snacks and even kids’ lunches.”

  Eric hadn’t wasted time on words, having finished his half in a few bites. “If you don’t like it, that’s fine. I’ll eat it.”

  Paxton frowned at him. “It’s good.”

  A small hand came to rest on Storey’s shoulder. She turned to face Tammy to see her holding out the second half of her granola bar for Storey to share.

  Storey’s heart melted a little more. “Thank you, Tammy.” As much as she didn’t care to eat the granola bar, Tammy was clearly expecting her to have some. Deviating from that was likely to upset her. Storey reached out to accept it. She took a small bite then offered it back to her. Tammy’s eyes lit up and her face beamed. She took the bar back and finished it in several bites.

  “Whew. Good thing you packed a mess of food. That girl can eat.” Eric’s voice was an awed whisper that reminded Storey of the boys in her school back home. The more time she spent with Eric and Tammy, the more she realized that, regardless of their dimension, people were all essentially the same.

  And saying that aloud wouldn’t make her popular at all.

  Storey considered just how much she’d changed over this last week. No longer was her mother an oddity, or her ex-boyfriend a devastating loss. High school was no longer something to get through, but an opportunity to learn. She wondered if her school taught classes in outdoor living, astronomy, or navigation. All things she’d love to explore. Doubtful they’d have courses in alternative dimensions, travel by codex or Toran and Louer history.

  She grinned at the thought. They’d be awesome classes though. Although the only human in a position to teach would be her – and her education in these areas was sadly lacking.

  Maybe she could persuade Eric to come back and teach her people. Not likely.

  “What are you snickering about?”

  Storey dropped her smile. “Sorry. I was just thinking how hard it’s going to be to go back to school. The courses I want to take won’t be offered.”

  “It does make one consider how different reality can be.” Eric nodded to Tammy.

  Storey understood. “And like my stylus. That’s so far beyond anything I’d have been able to imagine.”

  “Yet dimensions were totally believable.”

  Holding up the splayed fingers of her right hand, she counted off all the movies she’d seen with different realities and dimensions, “Star Trek, Inception, Harry Potter, Army of Darkness, Dinotopia.” At the blank look on everyone’s faces, she laughed. “They’re all movies I’ve watched about different dimensions. We’ve been exploring the idea of you guys for decades. We have books and shows dedicated to such concepts.”

  “And how does reality match up?” Eric’s eyes lit with humor.

  Paxton stepped in. “I would like to know what shows and movies are?”

  Storey opened her mouth to explain when the door opened to the lab and someone she’d met on her last trip raced inside. Memories flashed through Storey’s mind of the cute young Toran fighting in the war against the Louers. She stood and grinned at him. “Hi, Jendron.”

  He came to a complete stop and stared at her in surprise. His face lit up. “Hi. You’re back already?”

  “I didn’t get a chance to go home yet.”

  Confusion clouded Jendron’s face as he tried to work that out.

  Paxton didn’t give him a chance. “Jendron. Why have you come?”

  His face cleared. “The Councilman hasn’t shown up for the meeting. The other council members haven’t been able to locate him. I’ve been sent to ask you for your help.”

  Eric stood up. “Paxton, is my father still missing?”

  Paxton frowned, walking over to the control center. “Apparently.”

  Storey worked hard to keep her mouth shut. Inside she wanted to jump up and down for joy. Maybe the Councilman would stay missing. Lord knows, the Torans would be better off. Then she remembered that although nasty and mean, he was still Eric’s father.

  Paxton started working a series of keys. She wanted to go over and see what he was doing, but she suddenly became aware of Jendron’s horrified stare.

  “Eric.”

  Eric turned from Paxton’s side to look at her, a question on his face. She nodded toward Jendron. Eric glanced over, then followed the direction of Jendron’s gaze.

  He sighed. “Jendron. Report to the Council that we are searching for the Councilman. As we are currently involved in a separate issue of the State, it is imperative that you speak of nothing you have seen here. That includes Storey’s return at this time.”

  Jendron tore his gaze away from Tammy and her pet. His mouth opened as if to speak but Paxton glowered at him, effectively silencing any comments.

  In a quiet voice, but one that brooked no arguments, Paxton said, “If you are unable to follow these orders, you will state so now, and work in another part of the government will be found for you
. Do you understand?”

  The huge Adams’ apple in his long throat bobbed repeatedly. Finally, Jendron nodded. “Yes. I understand. My apologies.”

  He backed out of the room. As he went to close the door again, Storey called out, “Thanks, Jendron. It’s good to see you again.”

  His grin flashed her way before the door shut.

  *

  Eric walked over. “You shouldn’t encourage him. He won’t understand.”

  Storey looked at him in apparent surprise. “Is letting him know that I’m happy to see him encouraging him? I was just being friendly.”

  The clacking of keys came to a dead stop. Paxton turned in surprise. “What are you discussing?”

  “Eric was just warning me not to be too friendly to Jendron.” Her cheeky grin widened at Paxton’s expression. “Guess you really wouldn’t like that either, huh? No permanent residence here for me.”

  Weird noises came from Paxton as he continued to stare at her in dawning dismay.

  Eric frowned. “Paxton are you all right?”

  But Paxton’s eyes were wide with shock. “It can never be. You know that, right?”

  Walking closer, Eric reached out to his old friend. “It’s okay, Paxton. Jendron knows the score. I just don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression of Storey. She’s unique. Brilliant actually. Of course the males are going to be interested.”

  He shot Storey a warning look as her snicker reached him. It was Paxton he was worried about. Obviously the fact that Storey was an attractive, dynamic female hadn’t occurred to him or the potential problems that could arise. Eric didn’t know what role he wanted her to play in his life; he just knew that he wanted her there. Only time would tell how strong the feelings were.

  Life with Storey could never be boring. The relationships he’d seen between Toran mates were so peaceful and quiet that he didn’t understand what kept them going. Did people talk together? Did they do anything outside of meal times? He didn’t know. Paxton lived alone. His father lived alone. His peers were all like him. Young and single. The few married couples he’d met were on Council.