SHIAM Conspiracy- Book 1

by Joseph Heck

  “Is there any truth to them?”

  “I will not even grace that question with an answer!”

  “What’s your connection to the Dhoraz sect?” Zak knew it was a long shot that he would find a connection, but asked anyway. “You were implicated in the bombing in Kornia. The Orks later took credit for. ASID must have seen a connection there.”

  “I think you are confused,” Tetherstrol said. “The Dhoraz are Orks and terrorists. Elves are not particularly fond of either.”

  “That’s not what ASID claims.”

  “ASID?” the Elf snickered with contempt. “The Aragne Special Intelligence Department has its own agenda to champion. You do not seriously expect the truth of things to be a part of that agenda!”

  “So, you’re saying that EAST Group is not connected to the Dhoraz in any way?”

  “The EAST Group and the Dhoraz, as difficult as it may be to believe, happen to share a common concern about the future life on our planet. That does not necessarily mean that we agree upon the methodology of resolving those concerns. And it certainly does not mean that we tend to associate with one another!”

  “Does any of that sharing happen to include covert operations?”

  “Look, I just told you...” the doctor stopped and smiled ruefully. “What are you, a cop? Keep in mind that virtual profiling is not admissible in court.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard something along those lines.”

  Zak concluded that further questioning would net him very little that would be helpful. Beyond the dogma of his belief in racial purity, Tetherstrol’s words had been as measured as those of his real world counterpart had been in the news clips Zak had viewed.

  He unplugged himself from the virtual world to find Ke’aira sitting next to his chair watching him intently. When she saw that he had removed the headset she jumped up, her large paws balancing her weight on his arm, her tail going spastic. It was time to play!

  9

  Zak woke to a pair of big brown eyes staring back at him from only inches away. Ke’aira looked quite comfortable lying next to him with her large head resting upon his pillow.

  “Don’t you have anything better to do?” Zak said to her.

  Ke’aira rolled over on her back, swivelling her head in order to keep her eyes on her master, her tongue hanging from the side of her mouth. As Zak watched her, he noticed a subtle edginess about her. A roll of thunder caused her body to tense. The Thunder and a steady hammering of rain upon the roof and windows told Zak that the storm was still going strong. He reached over and rubbed Ke’aira’s belly, a sign of affection that the dog never grew tired of.

  Her body twitched at each roll of thunder then relaxed again as she fought against her own reactions. Ke’aira’s nervousness continued to bother Zak. He thought back to last night’s news cast. Dr. Raghnall had said that there was a disturbance within the ethereal layer of the planet. Could Ke’aira be sensing that disturbance?

  It was as good of explanation as any for her unusual behavior.

  Suddenly the notion that the storm was somehow related to the Grimrok theft came back to him. The thought seemed just as unlikely now as it had the night before. What possible connection could there be?

  He decided that chasing a wild theory would be a waste of his time. The sorcerer Zak had requested from the Institute would be arriving soon. Better to let matters of the paranormal in the hands of an expert. If there was a connection of some kind, the wizard would find it sooner than Zak ever could.

  “Computer, windows; day setting two,” he said as he rolled out of bed.

  The window setting allowed Zak and Ke’aira to see out, while still maintaining privacy by preventing anyone outside from seeing in. It wasn’t as though he needed the privacy, being on the fourth floor. The only way to see into the loft would be to climb one of the trees that separated his backyard from the adjoining lot. In spite of that, caution and security was so ingrained in him that Zak took precautions in his daily routine that others would deem unnecessary, or even paranoid. The glass of the windows cleared to another dark, stormy day. Violent flashes of lightning tore through a dismal sky, while bloated black clouds hung low above the city.

  “Computer, news...audio only,” Zak said as he headed toward the bathroom. He had wired the comm system so both video and audio could be accessed from any area within the loft and calling up the news had become a long standing part of his morning routine.

  “Channel Four News now playing.” The computer voice was then replaced with the voice of a male news commentator.

  “...the violence was limited to the Kelthar Pass.

  “As a result of the events last night, Darkkon Corporation announced this morning that all mining operations within the Akkasson Mountain Range have been suspended until further notice. Shortly after, all other mining companies operating in the region made similar announcements.

  “Mr. Karl Redcliffe, chief representative for the Aragne Miners Guild, told reporters that the threat of violence along the Akkasson Mountains is just too great to allow workers to continue with business as usual. ‘Arganite ore is highly volatile even under normal mining operations,’ Mr. Redcliffe said. ‘The added threat of an Orkensha attack on mining operations could have devastating results.’

  “Deputy Minister of Defense for the Orkensha Nations, Hagg Kroll, announced that the Orkensha mines have also gone on a similar shut down. Mr. Kroll went on to state that the Orkensha military has been placed in a state of high alert and any act of aggression from the Aragne Commonwealth will be considered an act of war.

  “In response, Prime Minister Sarte has called for calm on both sides of the border. In a statement released today, the Prime Minister cautioned both his own troops and the Orkensha military to use restraint during this tense situation in order to prevent any possibility of the situation escalating out of control. He assured the Orkensha government that he has no intentions of sending Aragne troops into the Orkensha territories at this time and said that he remained confident that a diplomatic solution could still be reached.

  “While the Prime Minister’s words were welcomed by those who hope to avoid military action, there are still many on both sides of the border who maintain that military action is the only sure way to resolve the border issues.

  “In the meantime, world energy prices continue to skyrocket out of control. The combined production by Aragne and Orkensha mining operations within the Akkasson Mountains supplies over fifty-five percent of the world’s arganite supply. Any long term disruption of this supply will not only hurt both Aragne and Orkensha economies, but it would also have a serious affect upon the world’s energy supply.

  “Critics of our current administration point out that the Prime Minister’s soft approach toward the Orkensha Nations is doing nothing to resolve the current stalemate. They go on to warn that rather than preventing all-out war, as the Prime Minister claims he is doing, these on-going tensions between the two nations will ultimately bring us to a point where war is the only inevitable solution. Spokesman for...”

  Any newscast concerning the Orkensha nations inevitably soured Zak’s mood. As he looked at his reflection in the mirror, he considered whether he was still in good enough physical condition to be able to take on a combat roll after all these years.

  “...Senator Jayme Donovan condemned the Prime Minister’s lack of action over last night’s violence as a dereliction of duty. Donovan went on to say that, if elected he intends to put an end to this border dispute once and for all...”

  “Computer, music.” Zak had no interest in what that idiot, Donovan, had to say about anything. It was easy to raise the call to arms from the comfort of home, but it was quite another thing to live through the ugliness of war. Since Donovan had never served in the military, Zak doubted that he truly understood just how ugly it could be.

  “Please state your preference,”

  “We go through this everyday...why do you keep asking me? Classical!”

&nb
sp; The loft was immediately filled with soothing sounds of a symphony orchestra. Zak enjoyed a variety of music, but found classical music particularly soothing in the morning. After finishing his hygienic duties, Zak wandered into the kitchen still only dressed in his boxer shorts and t-shirt.

  Ke’aira had finished her own morning ritual as well. When Zak had gotten out of bed and headed for the bathroom, the dog had gone to the private access door Zak had built for her at the rear of the loft. The door allowed her access to the yard at the back of the building, which Zak had turned into a garden area surpassing even the indoor garden he’d created. The dog door was tied into the rest of the security system in the building. The lock on the door was keyed to the dog’s DNA, a sensor ball on each side of the door controlling the lock. It hadn’t taken Ke’aira long to figure out that she could come and go as she pleased by simply licking the ball on either side of the door.

  Returning to the loft just as Zak left the bathroom; Ke’aira followed him into the kitchen area, completely unconcerned that she was dripping a trail of rain water across the floor as she went.

  Freshly brewed coffee from the auto-brewer awaited Zak as he entered the kitchen. Coffee was one thing he made sure he never ran out of. He poured himself a cup, took a couple sips of the vanilla hazelnut brew, and put the mug down on the white marble counter top. The kitchen was completely computerized and the auto-timer had also activated the food processor for Ke’aira’s morning meal. Fortunately, there was still a sufficient supply of the specially blended dog meal left for a few more meals. Zak fed Ke’aira processed food in the morning and gave her a mixture of fresh meat and vegetables for her evening meal. When he put the bowl of meal down for her, she devoured it enthusiastically.

  After serving Ke’aira her breakfast, he punched in an order of eggs, bacon and toast for himself. Unfortunately he was out of bacon and only a single egg was left.

  “Computer, check mail,” he said and a slim computer screen slid neatly up from the counter top. He settled on the toast for breakfast and sat down to his electronic mail.

  In spite of all the advances in computer technology, no one had come up with a way of beating the spammers completely. He deleted a long list of these without even looking at them. There were also a couple of bills, one from Star Comm for his comm services, and another from Sol Kappur Power for his power supply. He didn’t open either. The last email was from his Aunt Jenna; his mother’s sister, who lived in the city of Pevnost in the Astalderea Province where Zak had been raised. She wanted to let him know his cousin Lanna was pregnant again, she wrote. He received these updates from back home on a regular basis. They were his Aunt’s way of telling him he was well behind schedule in regards to settling down and starting a family. All his cousins were married with an assortment of kids. Lanna was the youngest of his cousins and had been the last to be married. He was the only member or the family remaining single.

  Zak ignored his Aunt’s unspoken accusations and closed the mail program. He took another drink from his coffee mug as the security buzzer sounded. Someone was in the first floor lobby buzzing up. He answered from the kitchen terminal.

  “Hi, I am Megan, from the Institute of Occult and Paranormal Sciences.”

  Even through the speaker her soft voice possessed a warmth that was just shy of sultry. The security camera revealed a female dressed in a brown cloak and hood. The cloak and hood were dry in spite of the weather. Either the cloak was magical or the woman wearing it had used a spell to keep herself dry. From beneath the hood, the only features Zak could make out were a delicately shaped nose and mouth. Not just a mouth, but a very full and inviting mouth with lips painted a luscious red. He found himself instantly transfixed on the natural pout of those mysterious lips. It made him want to see more, to validate the suspected beauty hidden beneath the cloak.

  “Um, Hello?” the woman called out when she received no answer, her voice now uncertain.

  “Yes, come up.”

  It wasn’t until he’d buzzed her in that he realized he was still in his underwear. He rushed back to his sleeping area to dress. Ke’aira followed along, watching him with curiosity as he pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Under the dog’s scrutiny, he suddenly felt foolish. He was behaving like a high school kid with more hormones than brains. Was this sorceress from the Institute using more than just a weather protection spell?

  He didn’t feel anything magical, only his own sudden giddiness after a mere glimpse of this woman.

  Was he really that desperate for a relationship?

  Apparently, a part of him was. It seemed like forever since Karreth had walked out of his life.

  10

  She had already raised the gate and was stepping off the freight elevator next to the kitchen by the time Zak and Ke’aira returned.

  “Hello, I’m Zak Harris,” he said to her as he offered her his hand. In spite of feeling foolish, he couldn’t seem to shake the allure of this mysterious woman. The cloak and hood still hid all but the briefest hint of her features. She was short, but not quite petite from what he could tell from beneath the cloak.

  “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Harris.” She said formally, reaching out and shaking his hand. “I am Megan Teranika.”

  Any meaning that her introduction might have had was lost to him as she swept back her hood and removed her cloak. Zak felt suddenly blindsided by her unveiling.

  Her makeup was dark and exotic, her style of dress rebellious and unconventional. The black jeans and t-shirt she wore clung to her, emphasising a body that would provoke lust in the most pious of men. Her military style boots, scuffed black leather with thin silver chains around the ankles, put a hard edge to her sexuality.

  Her complexion was pale compared to most Humans and her ears were slightly larger, with delicately pointed tips. Her t-shirt proclaimed ‘Elves Do It Better!’ in bold dark red script and Zak had no doubts about the validity of the statement, as he took in her appearance.

  She was Elf.

  That fact threatened to extinguish the sexual tension he’d felt, as he struggled with the conflict created by her alluring, yet radical, appearance. In spite of his heritage - or more accurately, because of it - Zak had a long-standing aversion toward Elves. It was not that he was a racist. It was personal and it had to do with family. In any case, he had a strict policy of avoiding any associations with Elves, both socially and professionally, when at all possible.

  Ke’aira seemed not to have any doubt concerning her feelings for this visitor. She went to the Elf girl and jumped up, placing a paw on each of the girl’s shoulders. She then began welcoming her with kisses, her tongue quickly lapping at the girl’s cheeks.

  Megan giggled in delight and briskly rubbed the dog’s coat. As she returned Ke’aira’s affection, she looked beyond where Zak stood to gain a peek at the rest of the loft. “Wow, this is quite a place you have!”

  She spoke with almost no accent, although now it seemed very distinctive to Zak.

  “Yes, we like it,” he managed. She was not what Zak would call your typical Elf. Her raven black hair, cut to shoulder length and highlighted with streaks of blonde, defied Elvish tradition as much as the rest of her appearance. But it was her eyes that seemed to refuse his rejection. They were the deepest emerald green, with a scattering of golden flecks that seemed to drift upon subtle currents, threatening to pull him into their extraordinary depths.

  “You said, we. You are married?”

  “No. No, not at all,” Zak stammered, realizing his attention had refocused on her perfect mouth, those sensually pouty lips enticing him as they had before her unveiling. “There’s just me and Ke’aira. She’s the one trying to lick the skin off your face.”

  Ke’aira’s affection to this woman put Zak further off balance. She did not take to strangers. In fact, the dog was usually downright disagreeable with strangers!

  “Ke’aira,” Megan repeated the dog’s name and giggled again. The sound was deligh
tful to Zak. She then leaned close to Ke’aira’s ear and whispered.

  The dog gave her an affectionate whine, licked the side of her face once more and dropped to the floor. Zak watched in disbelief as Ke’aira assumed a protective stance next to the young Elf, leaning her body into the girl’s leg.

  “You gave her an Elvish name,” Megan said, stroking the top of Ke’aira’s head. “Very cool. But little dark one?”

  “Yeah well, she was a lot smaller when I got her.” The Elf’s actions were annoying. She had no right to display such familiarity with his dog. Or was it jealousy he felt over Ke’aira’s quick acceptance of the girl. Could Megan have used a spell on the dog to sway her to her side?

  “So, may I come in?” Megan asked after a couple of awkward moments of silence.

  “Oh, sure.” He attempted to push his attraction toward her aside as he considered what to do about her. She was beautiful in spite of her rebellious look, but she was an Elf. And that was a major problem. “Come in.”

  Megan followed him through the kitchen to the living area. Her movements were lithe and confident, and suggestively sensual. Ke’aira followed closely at her side.

  “I take it you have a thing for plants,” Megan said as they passed through the kitchen on the way to the living area.

  “Yes. With my work, I don’t get much of a chance to get away from the city. So I figured if I can’t get out into nature, I’d just bring nature to me.”

  “Umm, and basketball?” she observed, staring back towards the large empty space at the rear of the loft. The basketball hoops were just visible through the vegetation.

  “Yeah, I like to shoot some hoops once in a while,” he said. “Although, I much prefer football over other sports.”

  Why was he even telling her these things? He didn’t work with Elves. And he certainly didn’t socialize with Elves. It was that simple.

  “Really? I love football, too!”

  Zak couldn’t help wonder if this girl was actually for real. He was expecting a level one sorcerer from the Institute...a professional...a Human. Instead he gets a circuit head Elf girl. And yet, in spite of her bizarre appearance, he found her mysterious and provocative. He tried to reach out and sense any magic that she might be using, but got nothing.