“Only if you are willing to tell us what we need to know.” Ipeshe tilted her head to one side, then the other while maintaining the eye contact.
“I will talk. Please stop.” Kozeb slumped over with his head in his hands.
Bree exchanged a puzzled look with Max. Bizarre. She’d never seen a guy break so fast.
“Kozeb. You are in Moghefe!” Ipeshe raised her voice and her eyes flashed.
“I am not. Look at my eyes,” demanded Kozeb.
“I do not know how, but your eyes betray the truth. I looked at your mind, Kozeb, I can see you are in Moghefe. What could be so important that you would risk breaking the Primary Protocol and shaming your mother, Ezho Teq of the Reiokel?” Ipeshe’s arms fell to her side, but she kept a hold of the gun in her left hand.
“Zhe dugai! Please stop!” Kozeb had his hands on his head and rocked in the chair.
“You disgust me. Are you ready to talk?” Ipeshe’s voice was sharp.
“Yes. Yes.” Kozeb’s voice cracked. “Just stop torturing me.”
Bree couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “I don’t know what the hell you guys are talking about, but nobody’s touching you, you stupid fucking idiot.”
“She was!” Kozeb pointed to Ipeshe who nodded in confirmation.
“I activated a Bijzhuet on him. You could think of it like putting great pressure on the brain. It is rather painful. It is not sanctioned for general use, but I needed to get him to talk.” Ipeshe looked at Bree and her head did that bird-like movement again.
“Hmm… good to know.” Bree added, sotto voce, “note to self: try to avoid getting beeshitted by a Kusharian.”
Max chuckled.
“B.I.J.Z.H.U.E.T. Beej-schu-wet. Maybe mind clamp would be a way for you to say it.” Ipeshe looked back at Kozeb. “Tell us what you are doing with these.” Ipeshe picked up the xeno-doohickey from the coffee table.
“I was trying to shut the pulsing boxes down.” Kozeb glanced over to Nicky-boy, who looked like he might shit his pants or throw up.
“You are lying. Try again. And what have you done to mask your Moghefe?”
“What is Moghefe?” Max interrupted.
“Our health is partly dependent on being honest and living with integrity and our eye swirls indicate health status. Certain emotions, like anxiety or fear, will cause our eye swirls to alter briefly, but when a Kusharian is out of integrity and lying on a consistent basis, their eye swirls slow down and lose luster - we call this Moghefe. Kozeb has found some way to keep his eyes healthy even though he is clearly in Moghefe.” Ipeshe returned her attention to fucker in front of her. “I need the truth. Now, Kozeb. I can increase the Bijzhuet. I am very skilled at it.”
Kozeb’s body spasmed and he grunted in pain. “Okay.” He took a couple of breaths and with slow, jerky movements sat up straight. “Helium. The element they call helium causes a faster eye swirl.”
Bloody hell! Bree shook her head. Things had gone from bizarre to down right alien-shit-crazy.
“I need the truth about what you paid Mr. Farino to do with the silver boxes.” Ipeshe pointed to Nicky without looking at him.
Kozeb fixed his eyes on Bree. “You are asking the wrong questions of the wrong being. You ought to be asking the makers of the boxes what their intentions are. I did not make them. I wanted to shut them down.”
“Okay, assface, I’ll play along. Who is the maker of the zappers? And what the hell are they?” Bree’s patience had waned. “And don’t think that you’re off the fucking hook. You’ve still got a lot to answer for.”
“A group of human scientists is working with a Kusharian. They’re trying to change human brains and are running unauthorized experiments.”
“Names. We need names,” Max demanded.
“I can’t help you there. I don’t know their identities.”
“What can you tell us?” Ipeshe demanded.
“What type of experiments?” Bree cut in.
“She’s a smart one.” Kozeb nodded in Bree’s direction. “They’re trying to alter human brain waves, in a pitiful attempt to induce more peaceful beings.”
“Who sanctioned this?” Ipeshe asked.
“Not the Council and not the Kusharians. It was a human decision. Though, not one authorized by their government.” Kozeb looked around at each of his captors. “I was simply trying to help. I paid Mr. Nick Farino to shut them down so no one would get hurt.”
“You need to stop lying, Kozeb.” Ipeshe must have tightened the mind clamp again because Kozeb winced.
Ipeshe stiffened and nodded.
An electric jolt pierced through Bree’s head. Her eyes crossed and she slammed her eyelids down to avoid seeing double. What in the holy, bloody, fucking Universe was that? Bree leaned against the wall before she lost her balance.
I’m coming up, a smooth, disembodied voice said.
“Who’s coming up? Who the hell said that?” Bree looked around the room. She hadn’t recognized that voice.
“What are you talking about, Bree? I didn’t hear anyone. Are you ok?” Max grabbed her arm to support her, but was too late.
Bree doubled over and grabbed her head. White hot pain seared through her brain. “Ooph!”
Max pointed his gun at Kozeb. “What are you doing to her? You better stop right now, or I will shoot. I don’t give a flying fig what happens to me.”
“What did you hear?” Ipeshe asked.
“Someone said they were coming up. Please tell me you heard that too.” Bree braced her hands on her thighs and looked up at Max with wide eyes. She wasn’t wearing a com, so where the hell had that voice come from?
“I didn’t hear anything.” Max kept his gun pointed at Kozeb. “Someone better explain what’s happening. Fast!”
“I’m not responsible,” Kozeb blurted out.
“I am not sure what is going on.” Ipeshe turned to look at Bree. “Are you still feeling the tingling in your head?”
“What tingling? What’s she talking about?” Max’s eyebrows soared up.
“She started feeling some tingling-”
“Shut up!” Bree yelled, cutting Ipeshe off. “Everybody just shut the fuck up!”
Despite the blinding pain in her head, Bree stood back up. Anger pulsed through her body. Everyone in the room stared at her. She looked back and forth between the two aliens in the room, then launched toward Kozeb and took him in a headlock. He must have brought someone with him as back up. “You better start talking, asswipe, or I will rip your mother-fucking head off with my bare hands.”
“Jesus, Bree! Stop it!” Max moved to grab her, but Ipeshe got to her first.
“Bree, please let go of him. Let me help you. I need to scan your brain again.”
Kozeb laughed, which made Bree tighten her grip, nearly cutting off his airway completely. She hated pricks who laughed at her.
“Bree! You have to let go, or you’ll get k-snagged,” Max pleaded, his voice almost an octave higher than normal.
Bree closed her eyes and tried to ignore the desperation in his voice.
Nicky had bolted out of the apartment during the chaos. Bree could hardly blame him. Since they didn’t need him anymore, no one had followed him. She just hoped that Jason wouldn’t try to stop him.
Ipeshe! You have lost control of the situation. I am taking over.
There it was again. The mystery voice had addressed Ipeshe. Bree dropped her hold on Kozeb and turned to look at Ipeshe. “What the fuck is going on? You told someone about this op.” Bree’s nostrils flared. She stood ready to pounce the betrayer. “Who and why?”
“I will explain, but please let me scan you first,” Ipeshe’s voice was soft. “I am worried.”
Ipeshe, are you telling me that this human can hear us mind sync?
“What the holy fuck is she talking about?” Bree looked at Ipeshe.
Ipeshe looked at the floor.
Max looked lost.
Kozeb smirked.
Bree winced, looked over at Max, and spoke t
hrough clenched teeth. “Max, someone’s coming. This little betraying bitch brought someone with her.”
17
The door to Nicky-boy’s apartment flew open. Max aimed his gun at the Kusharian entering the apartment. Bree drew hers, aiming at Ipeshe.
The striking female Kusharian’s presence filled the room. She wore a Karma Council uniform: white body suit with a vibrant orange stripe going from the left shoulder down to the right hip and a flowing cape-like robe over the top. She had stunning purple eyes and markings.
Oh shit! Bree forced her focus onto Ipeshe and Kozeb. Max had the newcomer covered.
Bree clenched her teeth against the pain searing through her brain. Perhaps, when her head exploded, she’d take them all out. Of course, she wouldn’t be around to revel in the satisfaction of taking out three Kusharians, but the corner of her mouth slid up at the thought.
“I order you to put your guns down now!” The newcomer tilted her head and looked at Bree. “Your head will not blow up.”
“Who the fuck are you? Wait. I didn’t say that bit about my exploding head out loud. Did I?” Bree looked at Max, her eyes wide.
Max shook his head.
Fuckety fuck.
“I am Iziqa Oje Zuhl. Teolh Siq of the ChaTudech. Daughter of Elhakalh Zuhl. Commanding officer of the Karma Council.”
How the fuck is this invader reading my thoughts? What is happening to me?
“I do not know what is happening to you. However, I suggest you put your weapons away immediately. Ipeshe has endorsed you, but I have very little tolerance for guns pointed at me.” Despite her short stature and melodic voice, this Kusharian was clearly in charge - of the Kusharians; certainly not in charge of Bree.
“Ipeshe.” The Commander turned her attention to the medical consultant. “Explain yourself.”
“Bree, Max, please put your weapons away. You can trust Commander Zuhl. I invited her here.”
“I gathered that, but you weren’t supposed to tell anyone.” Bree kept her eyes on Ipeshe, despite the odd pull from the latest arrival who oozed power.
“Everyone take a breath and settle down, for crying out loud.” Slowly, Max lowered his gun. “Look, I’m putting my gun away.” He tucked it in the back of his pants rather than returning it to his ankle holster, then looked at Bree and nodded toward her gun. “She’s going to do the same thing. We can talk this through. No one needs to get hurt or k-snagged.”
Bree rubbed her head and holstered her gun with her other hand. She almost wished for the tingles. Those were a hell of a lot better than piercing jolts of pain in her brain. Is this the freaky Kusharian mind clamp?
“Ipeshe, how does this human know about the Bijzhuet?”
Damn it! Was this bitch reading her mind?
Kozeb laughed. “This is really quite fascinating. I am enjoying myself.” He smiled and looked at Ipeshe.
“Shut up!” Bree, Max, and Ipeshe shouted at the same time.
Bree looked right at Zuhl, narrowed her eyes, then thought as loudly as she could, Get the fuck out of my head! Now!
Gladly, Ms. Jackson. Zuhl’s voice filled her head. Just as soon as I figure out how we are sharing a mind sync. Believe me, I am no happier than you about this connection. However, first things first.
“This needs to be first.” Bree snapped. “I don’t give a shit why it’s happening. I just need you out of my head now or I’ll blow yours right off.”
“Bree, calm down. You’re not making sense.” Max grabbed a chair, slid it behind Bree, and gently pushed her into it.
She is mind synced with me… I do not know the reason… is she in danger? Commander Intrusive seemed to be having a mental conversation with someone. Bree could only hear Zuhl’s voice in her head, though.
“What do you mean ‘is she in danger’?” Another jolt of pain racked her brain. Bree slumped over in her chair, elbows on her knees and head in her hands.
Max knelt down beside her and Ipeshe moved to her other side.
Out of the corner of Bree’s eye, Kozeb got up and lunged for the Commander.
Zuhl ducked the attack, spun around, and landed a kick right to Kozeb’s chest.
With a loud ‘umph’ the guy went down. Hard.
Sweet… nice move! Bree thought.
Thank you, Zuhl replied with her mental voice.
“Come on! Someone needs to fix this fast and get this alien freak out of my head!” Bree ordered.
“Mr. Weaver, I am going to take Kozeb to the bedroom so you three can speak in private.” Zuhl lifted Kozeb up by the arm to usher him to the bedroom and shut the door.
“Start talking now.” Max looked back and forth between Ipeshe and Bree.
“Bree is somehow in a mind sync with Commander Zuhl and it might be dangerous for her.”
“What are you talking about? How’d that happen? What kind of danger?” Max’s face looked like stone, and his voice carried a sharp edge.
“I am sorry, I do not know how this happened. Kusharians mind sync with each other, but never with humans. We have the ability to access your brain waves and thoughts, but to my knowledge a human has never accessed a Kusharian’s mind. It requires training and an extraordinary amount of energy to mind sync. Our species have the physiology, metabolism, and nutrients to handle this, but we have no way to know how this will impact Bree’s brain, or any human brain.” Ipeshe sunk down on the couch. Max remained standing next to Bree.
“Hello! I’m here. Quit talking about me like I’m not even here.” Bree glared at Ipeshe. “Just fucking fix it!”
“I am not sure how to do that,” Ipeshe said. Her eye swirls stuttered. “I will need to start by scanning your brain again. I request your permission.”
“Bree, what does she mean scan your brain again?”
Damn it. Max never missed a beat. “Let it go, Max,” Bree grumbled. “You are not messing with my head again because right now you are going to explain why you betrayed us and invited that Commander here.” She pointed with her thumb to the bedroom.
“I asked Iziqa to be here because she has the authority to deal with a Kusharian who is not following protocol. I am a healer and not on the Council. I apologize that I did not inform you about the Commander, but I have complete trust with her. I hope you will forgive me and allow me to help you.” Ipeshe kept her eyes on Bree, all but ignoring Max.
“And how do you know she’s not going to get us all k-snagged?” Bree spit the words out.
“Iziqa is my friend, and she is trustworthy. Our mothers are friends and colleagues.”
“I don’t really give a shit about your mothers. I hardly trust you, so you vouching for that one doesn’t mean much to me.” Bree’s stomach roiled from the pain in her head. She scanned the room looking for a trash can or something she could puke in.
“Kusharians are a matrifocal species. Our behavior directly reflects upon our mothers’ status. If we commit a crime, or do not follow protocol, then we dishonor our mothers and risk being shunned from our tribe. My mother and Iziqa’s mother are leaders of the ChaTudech tribe. If Iziqa betrays me, it would not only damage our relationship, but it would also bring shame to her mother. That is one of the reasons I trust her.”
Max patted Bree on the shoulder. “Bree, think about it. We’ve both done things here that should’ve drawn the KGs. I had my gun pointed at the Commander, for God’s sake, and we’re both still here. I think we need to consider what Ipeshe is saying.” He turned his focus onto Ipeshe. “Please tell me what kind of danger my niece is in and what you can do to help her.”
“Shut up, Max!” Bree shouted. “I can speak for myself.”
“I wish I could tell you; however, until I scan her brain, I simply do not have any answers.” Ipeshe looked at Bree and small wrinkles appeared around her eyes. “I will not do the scan without your permission. I give you my honor on that.” The Kusharian bowed her head.
Do you need me to try? The intrusive asked.
You shut up and stay out of m
y fucking head! Bree thought as loudly as she could at the Kusharian mind invader.
That question was for Ipeshe, not you.
Holy piss! Blinding pain. Bree’s stomach revolted. She grabbed an empty pizza box from under the coffee table in time to catch the contents of her stomach.
“Jesus, Bree. Let her help you. This is ridiculous.” Max knelt down and put his hand on Bree’s back.
With a groan, Bree shook her head as she closed the lid and slid the puke-filled pizza box onto the table. The smell of vomit didn’t help the stench in the apartment. She tried breathing through her mouth. Holy hell. The taste in her mouth nearly caused another round of puking.
Bree grabbed her coffee, poured the last bit in her mouth, and swished before swallowing and slamming the empty mug on the table.
“What the hell is happening to me?” Bree put her head in her hands. Could it be an aneurism? There had to be a way to stop the stabbing pain. Not to mention to get the damn alien out of her head. “Max, check for something stiff to drink. Or some pain meds. Or weed.” When Max didn’t budge Bree changed her tactic. “Okay, let’s get the hell out of here. Maybe if I get away from Commander Mind Fuck, it’ll sever the link.”
And I can get home and take something to knock my ass out.
“I am sorry, Bree, but that will not work. mind sync can happen over any distance. It is a quantum nonlocal phenomenon,” Ipeshe said, her voice sharper. “In addition, Iziqa is not doing this intentionally so she cannot stop it either. I am your best hope to make this stop.”
Bree looked at Max with wide questioning eyes, hoping he’d get her the fuck out of here or figure out how to fix this crazy shit.
He responded with a nod and spoke in a soft voice, “I don’t know what else to do, Bree. I don’t think this is something our medical people can deal with.”
“Would you feel better if Nina came back up?” Ipeshe asked.
“Oh for piss sake, just do it and get it over with,” Bree ordered.
A tense silence filled the room.
“Bree, your brain is showing more high frequency waves than before, and in more areas of your brain. I am detecting consistent upper gamma frequencies and spikes of lambda, kappa, and tau waves,” Ipeshe explained.
Mind Sync Page 13