Frost Fire

by Emma Layne

  “According to official records, they are here on an officially sanctioned salvage mission.”

  Molly mentioned something about her mother being a celebrated scientist. In other words, just the sort of person The Intellective was looking for. Perhaps Molly had been right all along, and her mother was no longer in control of her own body.

  “Any idea how the Intellective controls a person?”

  “I am not privy to their technology, but the host no longer regulates motor functions, higher reasoning, and they shut off emotional responses as well, which is a wise decision. Their declaration of intent references delta brain waves.”

  At least now, he had a starting point. “Any idea how we’d find out if an earthly human has been possessed?” Blaze couldn’t think of a better term.

  “Perhaps you could detect an excess of delta waves, using a neural scanner.”

  “Excellent suggestion.”

  “What are your intentions, Blaze?”

  “If Molly’s mother has been taken, I’ll free her from their influence.”

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “It is an unwise course of action.”

  “I know, but I’m going to do it anyway. Will you tell Mydon?”

  Link pressed a palm to his forehead. “If you’d asked me prior to my emotional awakening, the answer would have been yes.”

  “And now?”

  “I would feel…guilty for betraying your confidence.” His lips pinched together.

  “Guilt is an excellent motivator.” Blaze stopped by the shuttle doors. “Where would I find a scanner?”

  “In the medical bay, but I strongly advise against it.” Link turned to face him. “The Intellective could approach the Parliament about your interference. What if you compromise our mission?”

  “Then so be it.” Although, Blaze doubted it would come to that. Surely, he could handle this matter discretely.

  “I do not understand you Knights. You make rash, risky decisions.”

  “If you keep your emotions on, you’ll understand soon enough.”

  ***

  “Do you have a moment?” Faro asked.

  “No.”

  Blaze wanted to take a hot shower before he spoke with Molly. He’d just finished working. Blaze planned on going to her mother’s house this evening with the scanner to get to the bottom of their mystery, and he didn’t have time for his brother’s tomfoolery.

  “Too bad, you’ll talk to me anyway.” Faro grasped his arm, and towed Blaze in the direction of the tavern. “Come along, brother, it’s time we had a chat.”

  “I have other plans.”

  “You can delay them.” His tone brooked no argument.

  “Fine, but make haste.”

  “What’s this all about?” Blaze asked after they’d arrived.

  They’d taken a table in the corner so their conversation wouldn’t be overheard. Blaze already knew he wasn’t going to like it. Faro had a somber expression, which didn’t bode well. At his brother’s request, a waitress brought them a pitcher of ale and two frosted mugs.

  Faro had blond hair and blue eyes. And up until he’d found his mate, Amy, the two of them had many a wild night with fair maidens on Iradia. Yet, Blaze didn’t feel nostalgic about their exploits.

  “I’m not one for dawdling, so I’ll make my point straightaway—Molly.”

  He gritted his teeth. “What about her?”

  “Crispin spoke with me yesterday, and—”

  “Why doesn’t he mind his own bloody business? I ought to run him through.”

  Blaze pictured spearing Crispin’s shoulder with a shiny sword, and it made him smile. The busybody had been prodding him to use his powers and now he was interfering with Blaze’s relationships.

  “Nevertheless, as the only mated Drakeborne Knight, I feel obligated to offer you some advice.”

  “Molly isn’t my mate.”

  “So you’ve said, but we both know she is.”

  “I’m not interested in discussing this with you.” He’d had enough of his brothers’ interference. Blaze would live his life any way he saw fit.

  “Fine, I’ll talk and you listen. Amy is the best thing that ever happened to me. Molly is a woman of worth too, and you’d be lucky to have her at your side. If fate or luck or chance, put her in your path, be grateful for the generosity and take her as your mate.”

  “I don’t disagree, but I’d make a poor mate. The problem is me, not her.”

  “I don’t share your opinion. You have many faults, however—”

  “Thanks.”

  “You didn’t let me finish. I’m flawed, too, but the mate bond transcends all of those. Together, you’ll be stronger than on your own. You’ll be made one—heart, head, and spirit.”

  Blaze didn’t know what to make of his impassioned plea. He’d never seen Faro so zealous about anything.

  “And what about my power? What if I get angry with her and lose control?”

  The last time he’d cared for someone so much, he almost hadn’t survived the loss. Blaze was afraid to take Molly as a mate, and unleash all of those uncontrollable drake emotions.

  Faro laid a hand on his shoulder. “Brother, you need to conquer your fear, accept your responsibility, and go forth. Don’t stay mired in the past.”

  “That’s the third time someone’s offered me the same advice.”

  “Then you’d best take it.” Faro stood. “I’ll allow you to pay for my ale, since I gave you such wise counsel.” He slapped Blaze on the back. “I’d best be getting home to Amy.”

  And then Faro took off for the inn.

  Blaze drank the rest of his beer and contemplated Faro’s words.

  What if it really was time to leave his past behind? He’d be foolish not to accept a second chance.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Are you nervous?” Blaze asked.

  Molly nodded, trying her best to calm her jangled nerves.

  Hours later, they were at her mother’s place, a small blue house on the far end of a suburban road. They stood on the doorstep, while Molly gathered her courage.

  “Did you tell her we were coming?”

  “No, I thought she’d talk me out of it.”

  Blaze nodded. “A wise decision, the element of surprise is important in an ambush attack.”

  “This isn’t an attack. We’re simply gathering data, and then we’ll decide on a course of action.”

  “Spoken like a true scientist, but a soldier feels differently. I’m always on the lookout for threats.”

  “Are you sure the scanner thing is going to work?” He’d shown her the contraption earlier, a handheld metal device, no larger than her cell phone.

  “Positive.”

  “Then let’s do this.” She sucked in a deep breath and knocked on the door.

  Moments later, it swung open, and her mother stood in the doorway, or a member of the Intellective if Blaze was right, and Molly strongly suspected he was.

  This person wasn’t her mom. She knew it.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  Her brow knitted. “I’m sorry, Molly, I’m very busy with—”

  “It won’t take a minute.” Blaze set a foot in the door before she could shut them out. “Pleasure to meet you, madam.” He held out a hand, which she ignored. “I’m Blaze Smith, Molly’s…” he trailed off, with a frown.

  Evidently, charming mothers wasn’t in his skill set, and Blaze obviously didn’t know how to classify their relationship. Good, because neither did she.

  “Friend,” Molly supplied, although it was such a tepid word.

  Especially after you went to third base with his leg last night in the middle of the living room.

  Ugh. Shut it, negative Nancy.

  “Yes, I’m Molly’s friend, and your daughter’s told me all about you, Leslie.” In a matter of seconds, they stood in the foyer.

  Blaze reached into his pocket, and Molly bet he’d turned the scanner on. Now all they had to do was wait for it to finish. Accord
ing to Link, if they found a high concentration of delta waves, they’d know she’d been infected or possessed, or whatever you call it.

  She tapped her foot. “Will this take long?”

  “I shouldn’t think so.” There was an edge to his tone.

  “Fine, let’s have a seat in the living room.”

  The two of them sat across from Leslie on the leather sofa. This person didn’t even dress like her mother. While at home, Leslie preferred jeans and sweatshirts, and now she wore a pair of corduroys, and a cardigan over a turtleneck.

  Molly had never even seen the clothes before. Maybe she’d found them at the back of the closet? Or purchased them? And once more, Leslie wore those ugly spherical earrings.

  She’s sitting in the wrong chair, too. It was a simple thing, but her mother preferred the overstuffed chair in the corner, not the wingback one. It was the little things.

  “I understand you just returned from a trip to Europe?”

  Molly was grateful he filled the silence because she couldn’t bring herself to make small talk at the moment. She felt dizzy, and her stomach rolled.

  With a snarl, a fuzzy white streak went barreling down the hall. Evidently, Lucifer was giving the fake Leslie wide berth. She might not like the animal, but Molly was grateful he was okay. When her mother got back, she’d be upset if something happened to her cat.

  “Yes, I’ve only been back a few days, which is why I’ve been so busy.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “I see, well, Molly’s glad you returned.”

  “I know what you’re up to.” Leslie leaned forward.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Shall we dispense with the pretenses?”

  I was right, oh God, I was right. Molly clutched the arm of the sofa for support, too afraid to reply.

  “You’re scanning me for delta waves, aren’t you, Iradian?” Leslie pinned Blaze with a withering glance.

  “What if I am?”

  “I can sense them, you know. I’m a member of the Intellective, leading experts in humanoid brain waves.” She relaxed, sitting back in the chair.

  “Who are you?” Molly asked.

  “Not your mother.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know, lady.”

  “As you like. I’m Rona, from Utrillo 6, and what’s your name, Iradian?” Her head swiveled to Blaze.

  “Blaze, I’m a Knight, one of the King’s finest, but how do you know I’m from Iradia?”

  “Before we begin harvesting minds, we do a scan of the area. Your ship and its cloaking field has been noted.”

  “Your technology must be advanced.”

  “It is. We have a lot of brainpower behind our operation.”

  Molly didn’t know what to say or do, so she sat there, and listened, as the enormity of the situation sunk in.

  He nodded. “And what are you doing with Leslie?”

  “She is our newest asset, a leader in genetics on this planet.”

  “And you’re what? Squatting inside her?” Molly asked.

  “Think of me as a farmer instead. I’m merely carrying her to market. Once we’re finished here, her mind will join the cloud consciousness. And when she’s acclimated to her new life, we might give her some semblance of control once more.” She turned to Molly. “Are you familiar with the brain drain?”

  “Yes.” Her throat ached.

  “Please explain for Blaze’s benefit, not mine. I’m privy to all your mother’s thoughts.”

  Molly winced. “You mean the loss of human capital, when highly educated, skilled workers flee a war zone to settle somewhere else.”

  “Yes, on your world, a famous example was Albert Einstein leaving Nazi Germany, and immigrating to the United States. This is a similar situation.”

  What did she mean? Sure, there were parts of Earth considered a war zone, but not Alaska.

  “So you’re here to recruit people?” Blaze asked.

  “Indeed, and we offered Leslie the opportunity to join us.”

  “And what did she say?” Molly already knew her mother hadn’t agreed, but she wanted to see how Rona would reply.

  Her lips thinned. “She declined, and I have no idea why.”

  “I do. She values independent thought and free will.” Her mother didn’t even like politics getting involved in scientific inquiry.

  “How could she turn down such a tremendous opportunity?”

  “Because she didn’t want to be a mindless drone?” The alien was advocating for a hive mind mentality, a complete lack of individuality.

  Blaze nudged her arm.

  She couldn’t help it. Molly was getting angrier by the second. On the trip over here, she told herself that she’d be calm, reasonable, and try to negotiate for her mother’s release. But she couldn’t stand it, watching this being using her body, controlling it like a puppeteer with a marionette.

  What they’d done to Leslie was the mental equivalent of rape.

  “Hardly mindless. I think you misunderstand our program. It's crowdsourcing, we’re working on the biggest problems facing the universe. One of those is the ability to shed our physical bodies, but it isn’t the only priority. To solve these issues, we need the best, and brightest minds, your mother’s included. We are all networked together. Imagine it—working, thinking, and moving as one.”

  “And what about freedom?”

  “Overrated, if you ask me. How can it compare to perfection? Pure intellect.” Rona steepled her hands. “Humanoids like to categorize other people, shoving them into groups. On your world, there are stereotypes based on race, class, gender. We remove all of those sociological constructs. Surely, you can appreciate those ideals.”

  How could Rona make it sound so reasonable?

  “It’s the ethics I’m concerned about.” Funny that she should be arguing for morals, after what she’d done to Blaze. “You can’t go around hijacking people’s brains. You took my mother’s brain against her will.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” She sneered. “We prefer willing participants to mindless think tanks, but we needed her contributions, and we couldn’t allow such raw talent to go to waste.”

  Waste? What did she mean?

  “And you’re using delta waves to what…?” Blaze asked, changing the subject. “Keep her calm, push her consciousness into the background?”

  “Essentially, although the process is complicated. How familiar are you with brain activity, Molly?”

  “I know a bit.”

  She’d read some research. Apparently, brain waves could be manipulated, inducing different states through music, and binaural beats. For example, if a person wanted to increase the flow of creative ideas, they’d stimulate theta waves, while delta waves were associated with sleep.

  “We simply put her to rest with an extremely potent delta wave. I assure you, your mother will come to no harm.”

  Great, so larva wouldn’t be chowing down on her, but Leslie was still incapacitated while this chick pranced around in her body.

  “Well, your presentation was thought-provoking, but we’ve arrived at the negotiation portion of this meeting, you will release her, at once.” Blaze said it with a quiet menace.

  She raised an eyebrow. “No.”

  “Do as I ask, or I’ll have to insist.”

  Rona smirked. “I’d like to see you try, now be quiet. You are of no interest to me.” She turned her attention to Molly. “However, you are remarkable. While you don’t have as much accumulated knowledge as your mother, I sense a great deal of potential. You could also be an asset to our organization. While you aren’t on my priority harvest list, I’d like to offer you the opportunity, all the same.”

  To be a brainy zombie in an interstellar think tank?

  “No, thanks.”

  “Your loss.”

  She clenched her fists. “Okay, enough of this insanity. Give me my mother back.” Molly refused to leave here without Leslie.

  “I’ve already told
you releasing her isn’t a possibility.”

  “And what if I told someone?” It was an idle threat, but she couldn’t think of another tactic.

  “Sure. Why not?” She pulled a cell phone from her pocket and tossed it to Molly. “By all means, call your authorities, and tell them an alien from another world has psychic control over your mother.”

  Molly pitched the phone on the table.

  “I thought as much.” She held up a finger. “Fair warning, I’ll do anything to protect this project, so don’t push me. You won’t enjoy what happens.”

  “Why are you telling us any of this?” Blaze asked. “Aren’t you afraid we’ll stop you?”

  “If I were you, I’d be more worried about my own mission. If you don’t cease-and-desist, I’ll be forced to call the Parliament, and let them know you’re interfering with our plans.”

  Blaze went silent. Molly was definitely missing something, and she’d follow up on it later when they were alone.

  “And to answer your other question, no, I’m not because there’s nothing you can do. You can’t force me out. And this isn’t my body, even though I’m in control of it, so if you hurt me, you’d only be harming Leslie.” She placed a hand on her chest. “This flesh belongs to me. Accept it.”

  “She’s not flesh, Leslie’s my mother,” Molly whispered, trying hard to hold tears back. She felt helpless, outmatched. This is hopeless.

  “And if you attempt to rescue her, as your white knight put it earlier, I would be forced to do something unseemly.”

  “Like what?” Molly asked hoarsely.

  “Well, let’s just say it would be a shame to institutionalize another family member of yours.”

  Tears stung her eyes. “Please give her back to me? Please? I’m begging you.”

  “No.”

  “Molly….” Blaze laid a hand on her arm, and she squeezed it, needing something to hold onto. It felt like the world was giving way beneath her feet.

  “Besides you have bigger concerns.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, if I were you, I’d be more worried about my own planet.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “He didn’t tell you, did he?” Rona sneered at Blaze.

  “This world’s coming to an end. Soon.”