by R. D. Brady
And first for this subject was establishing a pain threshold. He didn’t think the creature’s threshold would be too high. After all, he’d hardly been exposed to hardships in his life. But how much pain could he tolerate for himself and how much would he tolerate for someone else? Now that was an interesting question.
He frowned, thinking of the restraints placed on the experiments at Wright-Pat. They’d have no such problems here. He’d chosen his scientists because of their interest in expanding the boundaries of science and because they were not hampered by the restrictions of conscience.
His director of the department, Belinda Piatto, looked up from her microscope as Martin stepped through the sliding doors. Fifty-seven, with degrees from Harvard and Princeton in medicine and zoology, she was a tall, stately woman with an impressively no-nonsense attitude to life. She nodded as he made his way over to her. “You’re just in time. We were about to unbox the subject.”
“Where is the Orion1?”
“In a holding cell.” She gestured toward the door at the back right-hand corner of the room. When subjects were not being used, they were held back there in a long line of cells. There were currently thirty-eight subjects in their custody. Most had been transferred from Area 51 before Project Vault had been conducted. Martin glanced at the two subjects that were being held in containers along the walls. They were both hybrids of the Gray species.
“Before we unbox the subject, have Orion1 brought in. And make sure his control collar is fully charged.” He had reviewed the recordings from Area 51 and had seen the big Gray demonstrate what Martin thought might be protectiveness toward Subject One. First in the hallway and second, outside, when Orion1 had distracted the guards to allow Leander, Subject One, and the triplets to escape. He could be reading too much into it, but the latter act had shown uncharacteristic behavior on the Gray’s part. It simply did not ‘throw fits’ like it did in that instance. And he wanted see if he was correct in his interpretation. The large Gray had been in what could only be described as an unemotional countenance since he’d been in custody.
Belinda arched an eyebrow at the unusual request. “May I ask why?”
Normally Martin did not like people questioning his orders, but he knew Belinda wasn’t asking to be disrespectful. She was looking for the scientific angle of the request. “I believe there may be a connection between Orion1 and this subject. I would like his responses observed and recorded.”
“Interesting. Very well.” Belinda waved over her assistant, who had been standing back awaiting her orders. “Have the big Gray brought in.” She paused. “Have him put in Cage 3.”
Martin nodded in approval. Cage 3 would provide the Gray with a perfect view of the subject. Martin rubbed his hands in anticipation.
It looks like Christmas has come early for me.
A few minutes later, Orion1 was led into the lab. The Gray was six feet tall, with a large, wide head. Two black eyes dominated its face while the nose, really just two small holes, was overlooked unless you were looking for it. The face was almost triangular, coming to a dull point at the chin.
Its mouth was small, and talking was not possible due to the anatomy of the creature’s throat and mouth. But it was intelligent. It just communicated another way, although it had refused to communicate with them since it had been taken into captivity. Every once in a while, though, Martin would sense the Gray probing his mind.
It had long, thin arms and a thin body, but it was, like Subject One, surprisingly strong. Two security officers led it in, but Martin knew it could easily overpower them if he wished. Apparently it did not wish to. Even now, it made no effort to resist its captors. Truth was, it had always been a model prisoner.
But Martin had never let any of his people let their guard down around it. The Gray was biding its time. Even now, it glanced around the room, taking in exits, personnel, weapons. Martin did not know what profession the Gray held in its own society, but Martin would not be surprised to learn it involved security. Martin could see the cool calculation in its eyes as it was led from the holding cell. The same look it had every time it was taken out.
And one day, Martin knew it would make its move. But so far it had shown no indications of trying to leave. The Gray was smart. It knew this room was only one of many. There were five other levels it would need to get through to reach the surface. And then it would have open ground to contend with. No, the Gray wouldn’t move until it knew exactly what it was doing, how it was getting there, and where it was headed.
Not that there hadn’t been attempts to rescue it. There’d been a few over the years, although they never resulted in more than increased sightings over the locations the Gray had been held. But those sightings had made them wonder how those crafts were finding the regal-looking Gray.
That was when Belinda had realized that the Gray emitted a small electromagnetic signal. Unless you were looking for it, you would never find it. Protocols had been put in place to make sure the Gray’s signal was blocked. After that, it had been moved and there’d been no more sightings, no more rescue attempts.
The Gray glanced at the other two creatures along the walls. They each bowed their heads slightly toward it. Martin always marveled at that. They all bowed to the Gray, even the ones created in the labs. Somehow they knew it was more.
Martin knew there was a hierarchy within the alien species. Different ones were held in more regard. Some, like the Maldek, were little more than pets. But if the other creatures’ attitudes were an indicator, the Gray here was alien royalty. Catching him had been a coup, one the United States government did not truly appreciate. So Martin had overseen his captivity. He’d even had to remove a few individuals who argued the Gray should never have been held to begin with.
But the Gray had revealed little about itself. It had never communicated anything beyond pain. Its most common emotion seemed to be disinterest.
But Martin had a feeling all of that was about to change. He knew the second the Gray realized Subject One was in the lab. The Gray was halfway across the room when it stopped, its small nostrils sniffing, its large eyes going even wider. Its gaze zeroed in on the container holding Subject One.
The Gray swung at the two men holding it, knocking them down while pain lanced through Martin’s brain. Next to him, Belinda screamed as well. Martin dropped to the ground, barely able to think beyond the pain. It just hurt so much—as if his very brain was screaming to get out. From his peripheral vision, he saw the Gray move with shocking swiftness across the room, straight for Subject One.
Spots danced in front of Martin’s eyes, and he felt the trickle of blood from his nose and ears. He reached for the control in his pocket, his hand feeling so very heavy. His breaths stuttered, pain beginning to spread from his head down through his chest.
Desperately, Martin’s finger felt the edge of the control. He slid his hand down and pressed the button. The pain stopped immediately as the Gray let out a scream. Martin kept his finger on the button, letting the Gray scream and scream until the remote slid from his hands and Martin slipped into darkness.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
WALSENBURG, COLORADO
The introduction of Penny and Nadine to the triplets went surprisingly well. The triplets were sitting with Tilda on the couch, waiting for them. They smiled at Maeve and jumped to their feet, but Maeve waved them back down, thinking less enthusiastic hybrids would be easier for the Johnsons to accept.
Nadine and Penny walked slowly into the room. Nadine’s eyes were huge; her hand flew to her mouth. “They’re—oh my God.”
Penny had no expression on her face. She simply studied them in silence.
“Penny?” Nadine asked.
“They’re bigger than the last time I saw them,” she said before walking out of the room. She headed to the dining-room table, pulling out her tablet.
“Uh, so that went well?” Greg said.
Tilda stood up. “So it appears. Adam dropped off the food, so let’s
eat.”
The triplets looked at Maeve, who smiled before kneeling down and throwing open her arms. They sprinted over to her. Maeve hugged them tight, even as she saw Nadine stumble into a club chair with a gasp.
Greg patted Nadine on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. You get used to the cuteness. Now, how about some dinner? I know I can eat.”
Penny had had no trouble with the triplets’ existence, but as Maeve watched Nadine, she knew her mother was a different story entirely.
Nadine sat at the dining-room table, not touching her food as everyone else dug in. She just couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the triplets. But then Chris had entered with Hope. The triplets ran to Chris, who flipped each of them in the air, and a smile broke across Nadine’s face before she turned her attention to the food in front of her.
A half hour later, the food was eaten and the dining room tidied up.
Tilda turned to Nadine. “I think we need to have a chat with your daughter.”
Nadine shook her head. “No, she has nothing to do with this.”
Maeve kept her tone non-threatening. “I think the time for denying her role in this is past. And there are lives on the line here. We need to know what she knows.”
Nadine pursed her lips.
Chris stood up. “Well, I’m going to give these rug rats a bath and put them to bed. Greg, how about you help me?”
“Uh, sure.” Greg got awkwardly to his feet, scooping up Crackle. “I call dibs on this one.”
Crackle happily scrambled onto Greg’s shoulders. Snap and Pop sprinted for the stairs, Chris right behind him along with Hope. Maeve smiled as she watched them go before turning to Nadine.
“The triplets are really cute,” Nadine said, turning her gaze from the stairs.
“Yeah, they are,” Maeve said. “And I need your daughter’s help to keep them safe.”
Nadine looked at her daughter, who seemed to be ignoring them. She bit her lip, and Maeve wasn’t sure if she should try a different tack to convince her. She turned to Tilda, who shook her head, warning Maeve to stay quiet.
Okay. Maeve crossed her arms over her chest and waited. The minutes stretched on as Nadine weighed the situation in her mind.
Every once in a while her gaze would shift to the stairs. Finally, she nodded. “Okay. But I’m staying in the room.”
“Sure, no problem.” Maeve took a seat back at the table and Tilda sat down next to her.
Nadine hovered for a moment before she sat next to Penny. “Honey, Maeve and Tilda need to ask you some questions.”
Adam slipped in quietly behind them, staying by the open doorway behind Penny and her mother. Adam reached up and took off his sunglasses. His eyes were a striking blue. She had never seen eyes so bright.
No wonder he keeps on those glasses. Those eyes are damned distracting. Without the glasses he looked younger, more vulnerable.
Penny looked at Tilda and then Maeve before she fixed her gaze on the tabletop. “Okay.”
Maeve let out a breath. “Why did you warn Tilda that Greg and I were in danger?”
“Agaren would want me to,” Penny said.
Tilda gasped, turning a few shades paler.
Maeve turned to her. “Who’s Agaren?”
“He’s a Gray.” Tilda leaned forward. “How do you know Agaren?”
“He’s my friend.” She turned to Maeve. “And he’s locked in Dulce with your friend.”
Maeve frowned. “What do you mean he’s your—”
Penny’s head whipped up and she turned to her mother. “It’s bedtime. I need to go to bed.”
“Of course, honey.” Nadine’s tone was calm, but Maeve could read the unease on her face.
Tilda shook her head. “We just have a few more—”
Nadine stood. “No. Penny’s bedtime is 9:30. We stick to that schedule.”
Tilda frowned, but Maeve stood, beginning to understand the unusual girl a little more. And she knew that getting to bed was very important for both mother and daughter at this time.
“There’s a bedroom down the hall. I’ll show you,” Adam said.
Nadine jumped, and Maeve realized she hadn’t known he was there. Penny turned as well, staring into Adam’s eyes. Neither of them spoke, but something passed between them.
Penny nodded. “Okay.”
Adam headed down the hallway, stopping to pick up Penny’s suitcase by the front door before continuing to the bedroom.
Maeve watched them go, not sure what had just happened and too tired to figure it out. Adam headed back down the hallway, nodding at Maeve, his sunglasses back on as he headed back outside.
Maeve turned to Tilda. “Who’s Agaren?”
Tilda looked shaken. “He’s a large Gray,” she said again. “I never imagined—”
“Can’t sleep, can’t sleep.” Penny’s loud, anxious words reached Maeve. She looked at Tilda for a moment before the two of them hustled toward the bedroom.
Penny paced across the room, her arms moving in agitation. “Can’t sleep. Can’t sleep.”
“What’s wrong?” Maeve asked.
Nadine looked on, helpless. “This room. I knew this was going to be a problem. At home, she has a white noise machine that she sleeps with. It calms her. And she has these star stickers all over her ceiling. She needs that consistency. I can download an app for the sounds on my phone, but the stars, I don’t know how to make that happen.”
The front door slammed and Maeve jumped as Adam walked in, carrying a navy-blue nylon bag. He ignored Penny, who watched him with big eyes, her hands flailing. Adam pulled a bed tent from the bag. There was something glowing inside. Maeve inched forward and realized stickers had been applied to the top of the tent.
He waved Penny over and she moved slowly toward him. She looked inside and then shook her head. Adam pointed at one star and Penny nodded. He unpeeled it and placed it in a different position.
Penny’s shoulders dropped, and then she scampered into the tent. She reached up and started rearranging them. Adam pulled a sheet of stickers from his back pocket and stood, patiently waiting for her to finish. She reached out a hand and he placed the stickers in it.
Nadine stood watching, her face shifting from shock to relief, and then tears appeared in her eyes.
Tilda walked up to her. “Adam will superglue the stickers in place in the morning so they stay where they’re supposed to be.”
“How did he know she would need this?” Nadine asked.
“He must have seen her room. He’s”—she paused—”sensitive to things like this.”
Maeve watched the strong man patiently wait as the tween rearranged the stars to her satisfaction and she realized he must have peeked in the house to get the layout before she had gone to the front door. And somehow, he’d known this was important. Maeve tugged on Tilda’s sleeve. “We should go.”
“Yes. Nadine, do you need anything?”
She shook her head, her attention on her daughter. “No, actually, I think we’re good.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“Good night,” Nadine said, and then turned back. “And thank you for saving us today.”
Maeve nodded and headed out of the room. Tilda started for the stairs. “Well, I think I’ll call it a—”
“Oh, no,” Maeve said. “I’m going to help the boys put the triplets down and then we are going to talk. I want to know what you know about the big Gray.”
“Agaren,” Tilda said softly. “His name is Agaren. Do what you need to do. I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
DULCE, NEW MEXICO
The Gray had knocked Martin and the rest of the lab staff out for two hours. Martin awoke swinging at the doctor leaning over him. The doctor managed to leap back just in time.
Martin growled, sitting up. “What the hell happened?”
“Sir, you’ve had what can only be described as a psychic attack. We will need to run some tests to determine—”
“Run
them on someone else.” Martin stood, swaying for a moment.
The doctor grabbed his arm, steadying him. “Sir, you really need to lie down and let us finish examining you.”
Martin looked down at the man’s hand still wrapped around his upper arm. Slowly the doctor removed his hand, taking a step back.
Martin nodded to where Belinda lay a few cots away. “Make sure Dr. Piatto is all right. I need her in the lab.”
“But, sir—”
Martin ignored him, heading for the door. The Gray had attacked him. While on the one hand he was annoyed at how quickly and how completely he’d been taken down, the other part of him was ecstatic.
Now that ability could be useful. If he could figure out how to manipulate it, recreate it, it would be a weapon worth something. Today was turning out to be more rewarding than he’d planned.
He headed to his office and downed a handful of painkillers while calling for the report on the Gray. Martin pulled his chair over to the large picture window overlooking the lab. He took a seat, its legs creaking. His head still felt woozy.
He scanned the lab, looking for the big Gray. It had been placed in a cell along the wall.
To Martin’s annoyance, it was sitting with its back straight, looking no worse for wear. It met Martin’s gaze and Martin could feel the challenge in it. Martin tried to maintain contact, but his vision began to darken.
Damn it.
He pushed himself back from the window, out of the Gray’s view. He leaned his head back as the room began to spin. And the twin feelings of fear and powerlessness rolled through him. A cold sweat broke out across his body.
No, I am in charge now. He fought off the dizziness, but it was too much, and the darkness claimed him again.