MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2)

by Pohring, Linda; Dewberry, Anne

  Sis, Oddily and I are near Gray Rock. Will you check the monitor’s to see what…?

  Maxim…Run!

  A surge of energy shot through him as he grabbed Oddily’s hand and began to flee.

  “Maxim, let go—I can’t run that fast!” Oddily became frightened and tried to break free from his grasp. “What are we running from?”

  “A bear is right behind us!” He told a lie because he needed Oddily to run faster, and she did.

  Nexa, what’s happening? Are you all right?

  I’m fine, but someone broke into the control room and hacked into the data base for Tinley. No matter how hard I try to override the intruder, I’m denied access. Maxim…from what I can decipher, Tinley has been reprogrammed to destroy Oddily!

  How close is he to us?

  Very close. He has access to the surveillance cameras and knows exactly where you two are.

  Can you try to block him from the camera’s feedback?

  I don’t know—give me a minute. Yes, I did it! The connection has been broken, but now there’s a new problem. I have no way of keeping track of his whereabouts.

  That’s okay, I can work with that. I’m going to take a detour and head for the bridge.

  You’re not thinking of crossing over to the other side are you?

  We may not have a choice, sis.

  But some of the ropes are rotten! Nexa broke out in tears. None of this would be happening if you hadn’t brought Oddily into our world.

  You are probably right. Listen, Oddily is out of breath…I love you.

  Maxim swept Oddily up in his arms and carried her as he made a sharp detour, heading up a steep embankment to a higher elevation.

  By then, Oddily had caught her breath, and began to wiggle until Maxim had no choice but to set her on her feet. “Do you think we outran the bear?”

  Maxim’s brows knotted together with worry while answering her question with one of his own. “Have you ever walked across a rope bridge before?”

  “No…have you?”

  “Yes, it’s a weird sensation. You don’t think the ropes will be sturdy enough to hold your weight, but they’re stronger than they look.”

  Oddily followed his gaze and caught sight of a bridge suspended between two trees on opposite sides of a crevice. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, and we don’t have much time to waste.”

  “But it’s so narrow,” Oddily’s green eyes widened with renewed fear as she followed Maxim to one end of the bridge. “Are you sure about this?”

  After Maxim grabbed one side of the rope and shook it, the bridge swung but remained firm. “It will be okay. Hurry…we must cross over now!”

  After tentatively gripping the ropes on both sides, Oddily stepped onto the swaying bridge. She felt Maxim step on behind her, and then glanced down at the one hundred foot drop below, eyeing all the jagged rocks jutting out.

  Maxim noticed Oddily stiffen and grow pale, so he calmly began to give her instructions. “Oddily, lift your head and look straight ahead. I’m right here, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Oddily had absolutely no intentions of looking down a second time, or of looking anywhere else except for the end of the bridge where she could step on firm ground. Moving on such an unsteady surface made her sick to her stomach; but once they made it halfway across, she began to relax. Then it happened. The ropes at the far end of the bridge began to unravel.

  Maxim let out a shout as he spun Oddily around and circled her arms around his waist. “Hang on to me, and no matter what happens…don’t let go!”

  The ropes snapped and the next thing Oddily knew, they were falling. Holding onto Maxim with all her strength, all she could think of was that they were going to die. But they never hit bottom. Maxim’s arms were clinging to the heavy rope that blocked their fall while his powerful legs kept them from smashing into the rock walls. They ended up dangling high above the ground.

  Oddily felt a tug on the rope and glanced up to see a bald headed male hoisting them up. Whoever it was had to be incredibly strong to lift two dead weight bodies, not to mention the heaviness of the rope; and then she spotted Nexa peering over the ledge.

  After the rescue, Maxim collapsed in a heap, his arms bloody and raw from rope burns.

  “You’re hurt!” Oddily crawled over to his side and placed her delicate fingers on his cheek.

  Maxim took her hand in his and squeezed it. “I’ll be fine…I promise.”

  “But your arms…!” Tears began to sting her eyes.

  So this is Oddily, Nero stared at the redhead with keen interest, watching her fuss over his son.

  Father, how did you know Maxim was in danger? Nero’s nonchalant attitude began to annoy her. And why would your android be on a mission to hurt Oddily?

  Nero’s head snapped in Nexa’s direction. I have already defused the situation concerning Tinley. From now on, anyone who tampers with his data will be in for a surprise.

  Nexa gave Maxim a sideways glance. Will you at least tell us what would happen if we did?

  No. I have warned you. That is enough.

  Oddily finally looked up at the formidable presence who had pulled them to safety and shuddered. He was so tall and charismatic, and he was curiously staring at her.

  “Allow me to introduce myself,” a smile suddenly lit up his handsome face. “I am Nero, the bloodline of Maxim and Nexa.”

  From the moment Oddily heard his deep melodic voice, she became mesmerized by him. ”Hi, I’m Oddily.”

  “Your eyes…they are a rare shade of hazel. Beautiful!”

  “Thank you.” Oddily lowered her lashes and began to blush under his intense scrutiny. “We should get out of here before the ferocious bear finds us.”

  Nero gave Maxim a quick look before he spoke. ”We sure wouldn’t want that to happen, would we Maxim?”

  Maxim quickly got to his feet bringing Oddily with him. He was annoyed by Nero’s amusement, and didn’t trust what he would do next. “I’m taking Oddily home. Are you coming, sis?”

  Nexa walked over to Maxim and turned to her father. Will you join us?

  No, but you know where I am if you need me.

  But father, someone is watching us and…Nexa’s voice trailed off when the air began to change around them and Nero’s body started to deconstruct right in front of Oddily. Nexa jumped in front of her to block the view just as Maxim spun Oddily around, and pressed his forehead to hers.

  “What are you doing?” Oddily’s eyes searched his.

  “This.” Maxim kissed the tip of her nose.

  Is that the best you can do?

  Be quiet, sis. Is Nero gone?

  Yes, and now…so am I.

  Maxim didn’t see the two curious eyes gazing at him with yearning and infatuation blazing in their depths—the one who tampered with the ropes

  .

  9

  The sore and dirty couple had finally arrived home, entering Maxim’s bedroom.

  “You go ahead and bathe,” Maxim volunteered. “I’ll take my shower after you’re done.”

  “I…I’m not really all that dirty.” Oddily was ill at ease with showering first. The very idea of her undressing with Maxim waiting in the next room was too awkward to consider. Suppose he accidentally saw her naked!

  “I’ve got a better idea,” he said after reading her mind. “I’ll have you shower in Nexa’s room while I get cleaned up here. Does that sound better?”

  A rush of air escaped Oddily’s lungs before she nodded with relief. ”I’ll get a change of clothes.”

  Maxim tried to contact his sister to let her know that Oddily was going to be using her shower, but Nexa deliberately wouldn’t respond to him. Hoping she wouldn’t mind, Maxim went ahead as planned.

  After Maxim left, Oddily was alone inside Nexa’s bedroom and she had to do a double take at her surroundings. Just like Maxim’s room, there was nothing but a simplistic bed in the middle of the floor. Geeez, did they have something again
st decorating?

  It wasn’t until Oddily had undressed and stepped into the shower that she noticed her reflection in the mirror covering one wall. A few bruises where beginning to show up after the near fatal fall, and she was still shaken by the whole experience. Other than that, she appeared to be in good shape. Then she checked out her boobs. She stared at them for a long moment, and then said, “Come on you two…grow!”

  “Are you all right?” Maxim’s voice echoed from down the hall.

  “I’m fine! Please don’t come in here!” Oddily became frantic, barely allowing the time it took to dry off and get dressed. She feared that Maxim would show up anyway.

  But he didn’t, so she lifted her shirt to take another peek at her chest. Maybe she had missed something. Nope. They looked the same as two minutes ago.

  All of a sudden, the bathroom went dark. So dark Oddily feared to move. She stretched out her hands until she felt the wall, and followed it to the opening of Nexa’s bedroom that was also pitch black. “Maxim?”

  Oddily overheard a sudden movement, and then the room brightened with Nexa standing by her bed. She was holding a weird looking remote control in her hand.

  “What are you doing in here?” Nexa sounded startled.

  “Umm…Maxim said it would be okay if I showered in your room, but then it got so dark! How could that happen when it’s still daylight?”

  Nexa paused before holding up the electronic device to Oddily. “This room is set up to project images onto the surrounding walls, Oddily. I needed to rest after today’s ordeal, so I replicated nighttime.”

  Oddily glanced outside the window that overlooked the forest. “Even the windows?”

  “Yes. I would explain how it’s done, but the technology would be too confusing for you to grasp.”

  “Is Maxim’s room the same way?”

  “All the rooms have this feature.”

  “Wow!”

  “What’s going on in here?” Maxim joined them, glancing first at Oddily, and then to Nexa.

  “Oddily has had a surprising glimpse at what our home can do.” Nexa showed Maxim the remote control.

  Maxim smiled with his mouth only. What did she see, sis?

  I had the remote set on nighttime, Nexa smiled back in the same way. She saw nothing but darkness.

  “You guys are so weird.” Oddily had stepped between them. “Why do you both constantly stare at each other without saying anything?”

  Oddily’s comment stunned both Maxim and Nexa. It had never occurred to them how strange their telepathic connection appeared to an outsider. Maxim was the first to bust out in laugher—followed by Nexa.

  “What’s so funny?” Oddily glanced from one to the other.

  “Go ahead, brother. She’s all yours!”

  “Maxim?” Oddily walked over to him and stared up into his face. “What is she talking about?”

  Maxim became serious. “Have you ever heard of telepathy before?”

  “Umm, I watched a science fiction movie once that showcased people who could talk to each other without words. Actually, it was kind of weird and creepy.”

  Nexa raised her eyebrows at her brother and grinned. Now what are you going to say, genius?

  Maxim ignored her and focused on Oddily. “Being twins, we have our own way of communicating. I guess you could call it a sixth sense that we share with one another.”

  Oddily desperately wanted to show Maxim that she was smart enough to understand what he was saying. “So you guys know what the other is thinking without speaking.”

  “Yes, something to that effect. We…!”

  “Goodnight!” Suddenly, Nexa’s room returned to darkness. That was Maxim’s cue to take Oddily and leave so his sister wouldn’t have to listen to his explanation.

  Back at Maxim’s room, Oddily climbed onto the bed and collapsed against the pillows. “What else can you do with this room besides making it dark?”

  Maxim retrieved the remote control from a compartment built into the bed frame and sat down next to her. “What would you like to view?”

  “I don’t know—how about you surprise me?”

  When Oddily found herself surrounded by the desert filled with pyramids, she scampered off the bed and ran over to the wall for a closer look. Then she began to walk the perimeter of the room. “This is fantastic, Maxim. It looks so real!”

  All of a sudden, the walls changed to snow-drifted mountains.

  “Wow,” Oddily’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’m actually starting to feel cold just by looking at this winter wonderland!”

  “Then allow me to warm you up,” Maxim decided to enhance Oddily’s imagination. A breathtaking beach scene appeared, showing a vast ocean with seagulls flying across the ceiling.

  Maxim watched Oddily’s movements, and listened to every sound that escaped her lips while his body responded. He was pleased with her reaction towards the hologram, so he decided to take it a step further by introducing sound effects.

  “I love it!” Oddily smiled with delight when the sudden sound of the ocean and squawking seagulls filled the room.

  After awhile, Maxim was drawn into Oddily’s world of fanciful thoughts and jumped up to grab her into his arms, but cried out in pain when he did.

  “Maxim, you need to be careful with your arms!” A sudden wave of concern came over Oddily when she realized that Maxim had forgotten about his rope burns.

  The next comment from Oddily caught Maxim off guard.

  “I have a good idea. Why don’t we curl up on the bed together and pick out pet names for one another?”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Maxim became defensive and stepped away from her. “Is that how you think of me—a common animal like a dog or cat?”

  “No, you don’t understand,” Oddily began to fidget with her top. “I just thought it would be fun to…oh, never mind!”

  “Don’t want you to clam up on me…please.”

  Oddily remained silent, fearing she would put her foot in her mouth and upset Maxim even more. She recalled the words from one of her foster families when she was thirteen. They were an elderly couple and had said that teenagers needed to keep their trap shut until they became more educated and learn how to communicate properly. They said that the language teens used in today’s world made them sound foolish and ignorant.

  “I’m sorry,” Oddily’s voice was barely above a whisper as she turned to walk away.

  “Wait!” Maxim stepped forward to stop her. “What just happened?”

  “As much as I try not to, I guess I’m still ignorant.”

  “Says who?”

  Oddily shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Oddily, I need to resolve this conflict between us before I go crazy.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I don’t understand why you’re offended by the idea of pet names. All couples have them, and I thought it would be fun if we did too.”

  “You don’t like the name, Maxim?”

  “See! There you go again. I love your name, but it has nothing to do with what I’m talking about.”

  In Maxim’s moment of frustration, he called out to Nexa. Sis, have you been listening?

  How could I not? It sounds to me like Oddily is finally finding her voice.

  Yes, but I don’t understand the way her mind works.

  Settle down. Now that I attend school, I know exactly what she’s referring to, and she did not intend to disrespect you.

  So fill me in!

  I would rather you come to school with us tomorrow, and observe the way couples interact with one another.

  So you understand what Oddily meant when she said she wanted to give me a pet name—why are you laughing?

  It’s because you are going to kick yourself in the butt when you find out what she was talking about.

  Please tell me now!

  Maxim, if you are going to be with Oddily, you truly need to become more familiar with her world. Tomorrow, you will understand.

  1
0

  Sis, are you still awake?

  Yes, come here.

  Maxim entered Nexa’s bedroom and began to pace back and forth while Nexa sat curled up on her bed watching him. Did you two make up?

  Maxim nodded, but didn’t slow his step.

  When are you going to sit down and talk with me? She asked. You have some explaining to do.

  What do you mean? He ran his hand through his hair.

  What was this unexpected visit father spoke of between you two?

  Maxim stared at Nexa for a long time before filling her in on how he almost died after she had forced him to travel back into time. He gave details on how his molecular system hadn’t been mature enough to withstand the transformation; and, how he needed to be transfused with components of this father’s blood to stabilize his body.

  So that’s why you’re acting different…more powerful!

  Maxim nodded while remaining glum.

  That explains a lot!

  There’s something else I think you should know.

  Nexa winched. I’m listening.

  I found Nero’s secret laboratory.

  Then it is true. Nexa gasped. The place actually does exist!

  I found Willa there.

  Nexa’s eyes lit up. I want to get her and bring her home.

  We can’t! Maxim’s head drooped. The memory device holding her DNA data is missing from the android body we remember as our nanny. I found it discarded in a heap along with other scrap metals.

  Nexa began to think hard. Willa’s data still has to be stored somewhere in the lab.

  Yes, I agree; but before we go and look for her, let me tell you about the most extraordinary thing that happened to me.

  Nexa crawled over to her brother’s side and eagerly waited for the details.

  Do you recall all that sophisticated equipment we saw when we found out what happened to Oddily’s mother?

  Yes, I remember.

  Well…I believe the contents of that lab are now inside a giant cavern.

  Nexa jumped up excitedly. What are we waiting for? I want to go and check it out!