“Bree, you need to relax for this to work.” Ipeshe’s voice came through the tank’s intercom letting Bree know the healer was back in the room with her.
“If you want me to relax, maybe you should tell your friend, Captain Intrusive, to get the fuck out of my head.” Bree’s voice echoed in the floatation tank. “And to put a permanent block on my family’s trackers.”
“She cannot permanently block the trackers.” Ipeshe’s voice held an edge. “However, trackers will be the least of your concerns if you do not relax and allow this treatment to work.”
“Well, that’s not helping,” Bree quipped.
“I apologize. Would you like me to help you relax?”
“Between the pain, the obnoxious intruder in my head, and the fact that you can block our trackers, I don’t think I’m going to relax anytime soon.”
“Are you giving me permission to help?” Ipeshe asked.
“Whatever. Yes. I don’t know. I guess.” Bree’s stomach dropped.
What the hell did I just agree to? Wait, don’t anyone answer that.
19
Inside the dark tank, Bree’s muscles relaxed as the warm salty water kept her afloat. Her breathing evened out. With her eyes closed, images drifted in and out of her mind. “Whoa… this… is… seriously trippy. What was that shit you put in the water? Peyote?”
“No. It is not peyote. Please relax, Bree,” Ipeshe answered through the intercom.
More images flooded in. Too fast to understand. Just glimpses.
Jason and a beautiful girl holding hands. Yay, Jason. Kusharians fighting with long sticks. A preying mantis - a giant preying mantis. A swirl of beautiful colors. Kusharian eyes - the purple ones. Sedona’s red rocks. Humans in cocoons. Alien ships, hovering above earth. People training and fighting at Max’s place. Lots of images of Bree and Iziqa together.
What the hell is going on? Clearly my brain is warped. Are you seeing this shit too? Bree sent the thought to Captain Intrusive.
The bombardment of strange images and visions continued.
An apartment. Brightly colored floating chairs. Aliens - not Kusharian or Karma goons. Outer space. Bree and Zuhl on a space ship.
Yes. I see these flashes too, but I do not know why. Trust me when I tell you that I am no happier about some of them than you are. Ipeshe, are you seeing these as well? Zuhl sent back.
After a few moments, Ipeshe’s voice came through the intercom. “Bree, you still seem to be mind synced with Iziqa but not me. Please continue to relax and let the treatment work.”
“Am I supposed to see all these crazy images?” Bree asked.
“Because this is the first time we have tried this treatment with a human, I do not have a definitive answer. However, your frontal lobes are showing less activity than normal while your temporal and occipital areas are still showing increased activity levels. Those frequencies are beginning to slow; however, I still detect gamma waves which are fast for humans. Gamma waves are associated with insight, intuition, and advanced cognitive processes.”
“Blah, blah, blah.” Bree allowed the images to overtake her again.
Outer space. Strange planets. Dinner with Dr. Nina. Yay, me. Scarecrow and Rachel at Ayer’s Rock in Australia. That’s so cool! She’d always wanted to explore Ayer’s Rock. No time for jealousy, the images continued flickering in and out.
Did these visions represent the future, the past, or just random things? The high-speed slide show continued to bombard her mind’s eye, similar to the peyote-induced vision quest she’d taken years ago. She tried to go with the flow of images and not fight the process like she’d been taught in the vision quest. However, it’d been easier back then because she’d trusted her guide on the peyote journey.
After a few minutes, or a few hours, or a few seconds - she couldn’t tell due to her sense of time being distorted - the flashing images slowed and one scene came into focus. Unfortunately, the scene involved Zuhl. Well, shit. Of all the images to see in detail, it had to be the fucking Intrusive One? Can’t I change the channel or something?
The Commander sat in a cool floating blue hammock-like chair. Across from Zuhl sat another Kusharian in a bright green hover chair. He had purple eyes also.
As the vision unfolded, the two Kusharians drank a pinkish liquid from clear containers that looked like a cross between a gravy boat and a genie lamp.
Lhox ale. Zuhl sent to her.
Bree’s jaw tensed. You’re still here?
A more accurate question is, why are you here?
I’m in the floatation tank, trying to get you the hell out of my head.
Physically, yes. However, part of your consciousness is now with me in the present moment in my living quarters. And if you aren’t quiet, my Second might discover our mind sync.
I really don’t know what the fuck you just said, but I have no problem with NOT talking to you.
Eyes scrunched, Bree willed the random slide show of images to come back; anything to get out of Zuhl’s living room for fuck’s sake.
Wait a fucking minute! If this vision is real-time, where the hell are Max and Kozeb?
You need to leave. Now, Zuhl’s mental voice was a hiss.
“Iziqa. You need to be careful. You are a commanding officer of the Karma Council. If you get caught intervening for these humans, it could destroy everything.” The male Kusharian across from Zuhl spoke, drawing Bree’s attention.
I think I’ll stick around a bit after all.
“I know my role and I know what I risk. Tazh, something’s wrong,” Iziqa said. “I believe that Sabrina Jackson has uncovered important information. These brain wave transducers aren’t commissioned by the Council. I don’t know who Kozeb is working for, but it’s not the Council.”
“Then tell General Shiruvu and let her deal with this Moghefent one.” The male, Tazh, did that weird bobble-head movement like Ipeshe did. His eye swirls slowed down.
Bree tried to remember what Ipeshe had said about slowing eye swirls. Lies, fear? Her stomach knotted and her heart raced. Fear. She was flooded with fear.
No, wait, not her own fear. Could she be sensing Tazh’s fear?
“No. I cannot do that. I have given Ipeshe my honor and I will not break that by reporting this to General Shiruvu. Tazh, you will not break honor by telling her either.” Zuhl flashed an angry look at her second-in-command.
Some facial expressions translate across species. Either that, or being in a mind sync allowed her to understand Zuhl’s emotions.
“No. I won’t tell anyone. I gave you my honor, and I will not tarnish that. However, I am not willing to help you. I will not risk my family or our entire species for a few humans.” Tazh moved in his chair, causing it to swing.
I want a floating hammock chair. Those look awesome.
“I was hoping you would talk to the General’s assistant to see if he knows anything about the transducer boxes around northern Arizona. I know your mothers are deeply connected.”
Silence.
If Zuhl was asking this guy to find out about the boxes, did that mean she’d been telling the truth? Or was she putting on a show, knowing Bree could hear everything?
Whoosh!
Lights flashed and swirled. Dizzying swirls. The roar of a freight train.
What the fuck?
The light show eased. Flashing images returned.
Kozeb and Nicky Knuckle Head.
Kozeb and another Kusharian Bree couldn’t identify from the back; however, the alien wore a Karma Council uniform and left with a Karma Guard.
Kozeb, getting some type of medical treatment by another Kusharian.
More flashing images. Too fast to take in.
Bree’s stomach flip-flopped.
The images slowed again. Three Kusharians, sitting behind a desk in a plush room. She recognized Zuhl and Tazh (her second-in-command), but not the third one. Before she could hear anything they said, the crazy mental images changed again.
In this scene, she sparred with Max
and Jason. She was kicking both their asses, at the same time. Without breaking a sweat.
Now, that’s a vision I’d like to see more of.
Bree moved impossibly fast and with great precision and strength, using moves she’d never seen before. The guys didn’t stand a chance.
Next up came scenes of Bree fighting Kusharians and Karma Guards.
Oh, hell, yeah! Now we’re talking. I could watch this scenario all damn day.
She faced off with a sapphire-eyed Kusharian. They each held one of the Kusharian fighting sticks. The sticks had intricate designs carved into the wood and were about four feet long and an inch and a half in diameter.
Bree and the Kusharian circled each other, then the Kusharian lunged with a quick swing of her stick, trying to land a blow to Bree’s side.
The super-bad-ass version of herself ducked the incoming blow by leaning to the left, and swinging her own stick to land a blow to the Kusharian’s right side.
Hot damn, that felt good. She’d been wanting to kick some Kusharian ass since IKS began.
The Kusharian winced from the impact, then planted one end of the stick on the ground and swung her body out and around, aiming a kick to Bree’s chest. Again, Bree moved with lightning speed, jumped out of reach, and brought her own stick down with great force on the Kusharian’s back as she whizzed by.
Somehow, the Kusharian landed and kept her footing. Bree swung the stick and landed a third blow to her target.
She anticipated the Kusharian’s moves and countered them with superior skills. Exhilarated, Bree fought with everything she had and it felt awesome!
Bree! You need to wake up. Zuhl’s mental voice broke into the scene.
What? Com’on, I’m kicking some alien ass. Go away, you intrusive bitch. Bree searched for the vision in her mind’s eye. Now look what you did. You made it go away.
Instead, she was stuck in a deep crevasse trying to find a way out. She tried free-climbing one of the canyon walls, but fell back down. After three failed attempts, she realized she needed to find another way out.
Sabrina Jackson! Wake up now!
Listen, you mind-fucking karmic bitch, I told you to go the fuck away. I’m enjoying my trippy float. Bree sent back to Zuhl.
You’re in danger! Karma Guards have taken you. Your corpus callosum is showing too much activity. Your pulse and body temperature are too high. You must wake up now! Zuhl’s mental voice insisted.
That didn’t sound good. Wait, what the fuck did she just say?
What do you mean the Karma goons have taken me?
They transported into the healing center and transported you out.
What in the holy hell is going on? You’re just fucking with me. I think I’d know if I’d been k-snagged.
You’re unconscious, Bree, and you must wake up, Zuhl implored.
Hmm… Bree sensed Zuhl’s fear. How exactly do I wake myself up?
Wait, this is just part of the drug-induced experience. I’m fine. I just need to wait for this to pass.
No, this is real. You’re in real danger!
Prove it.
Your father wants to know ‘what do families do when things get bad?’
A shock of fear rippled through Bree. Zuhl wouldn’t know to ask that question. It had to be a message from her dad.
Families stick together no matter what.
After her mother’s murder, Bree’s dad would say ‘No matter how hard things get, families stick together. Families are forever. We will get through this.’
Now do you believe me that this is real and you are currently in danger?
I’m thinking about it. Unfortunately, Bree had no idea how to wake up from this bizarre trance-state.
You must hurry. Wake up now!
An electric jolt rushed through her head and continued all the way down to her toes. Whoa… what the hell was that?
I am trying to help you wake up. I stimulated your central nervous system. Zuhl sent.
Shit! A little warning would be nice. More importantly, I didn’t give you permission to do that, you alien freak.
She sensed something cold and hard at her back. Something not at all like the warm water in the floatation tank. Where was she?
Fucking frick-frack. Had the KG really kidnapped her? She needed to do some recon.
Stay where you are. We’re going to find you.
Tiny movements of her fingertips confirmed a solid substance underneath her. Cold, smooth, hard; probably metal. She inhaled. An odd odor; maybe a cleaning agent. The air was still and slightly cool.
Muffled voices. They weren’t in the room with her. She risked peering out of a slitted eye. Definitely not the float tank, not her parents’ healing center at all. She peered at a plain grey wall. There was nothing in the four feet between her and the wall.
Bree, can you sill hear me? Zuhl’s thought rattled through her head.
Yes. I’m trying to figure out where the hell I am and you’re making my head hurt, so please go away.
A few deep breaths eased the pain. Bree peeked to her other side. Another grey wall, but this one had a big window in the center. She couldn’t see much from her horizontal position. The window looked into another room, not outside.
There were several overhead light fixtures, and two Karma Guards. Oh, shit!
Bree slammed her eyes closed and concentrated on the voices. She recognized one of them.
Kozeb.
Mother dick. Son of a fucking pig. Shit.
Breathe.
Think.
20
Zuhl! What the hell is Kozeb doing here? I trusted you to lock him the fuck up!
Bree’s gut knotted. She would’ve kicked herself for trusting the Kusharian bitch, except she needed to stay still and not draw attention from the other room where Kozeb and two Karma goons were talking. White hot anger flooded her body. She bit the inside of her lip in an attempt to keep from jumping out of her skin.
Kozeb and Zuhl. Working together. How could she have missed it? Damn it all to hell. She’d find a way to make them pay for what they’d done, and then kick their asses all the way back to Kushari.
I am not responsible for your kidnapping. Nor am I working with Kozeb. He apparently has some Karma Guards working for him. Shortly after we got to our headquarters, two Guards appeared and transported him out.
Right! You think I’m gonna believe you? You traitorous. Fucking. Pig. Bitch.
I am NOT working with Kozeb. I am honor-bound to serve the Karma Council and help Earth avoid the T’Lalz invasion. I don’t deserve your hostility. I’ve done nothing but help you and your family with this problem. I won’t put up with your disrespect any longer. If you want to be on your own, then I am happy to oblige. Commander Mind Fuck sent back with force.
Halle-fucking-lujah! I never asked for your fucking help. And you’ll finally get the hell out of my head? Bree concentrated and used extra force to slam her thoughts back, hoping to cause an equally excruciating pain in the traitor’s head.
Unfortunately for both of us, that answer remains the same. I don’t have control of this mind sync. If I did, it would have ended long before this. Being synced with a human is not something I enjoy.
In addition to Zuhl’s anger, Bree picked up on something else - disgust? Like human were some lowly life form not worth her precious mind sync.
Fuck her and the god damned space ship she flew in on. Bree bit down on her lip again. Instead of doing anything that might put herself in more danger, she sent the intrusive mind-fucker an image of her raised middle finger.
The stabbing pains of the mental argument abated; however, a burning sensation remained in her head. Unfortunately, the heat didn’t extend below her neck and Bree shivered as goosebumps sprang up all over her body.
Back to assessing the current kerfuckle:
She lay naked, on a cold metal table, in a cold room, in a lab somewhere. At least one alien thug and two Karma Guards stood between her and freedom. She had no weapons
. Wounds on her arm from the mountain lion. Her head close to spontaneous combustion because she’d been hit by the brain zapper. Zuhl had either betrayed her or was totally incompetent. Either way, Bree couldn’t trust her any longer.
Basically, she was fucked.
Fortunately, Bree thrived on difficult situations. She’d come out of scenarios that looked worse - especially when working for Max’s black ops unit. Okay, maybe not worse, but she’d had a few missions where things went wrong and she’d had to improvise. Of course, back then she had clothes, weapons, gear, and a team.
Fuck all that! She didn’t need any of those things.
She could do this.
Her inner strength solidified. Her resolve steeled.
She would do this.
“Let’s see if she is awake,” Kozeb said as the door to her little room opened.
So Zuhl hadn’t ratted her out and told Kozeb she was awake? Huh, maybe the bitch had been telling the truth.
More than anything, Bree wanted to leap up and fight her way out right then, but she decided on a more cautious approach. She’d continue to play unconscious for a little longer and gather some intel to make a plan for escape.
“She’s still out. What’re you gonna do with her?” A deep voice said.
Bree didn’t recognize the voice, but it sounded human. No hint of the stilted and often formal speech pattern that many Kusharians had.
Damn it! Why were humans working with the enemy?
Despite her increasing anger, and more goosebumps popping up, Bree stayed motionless. Instead of throwing a sheet on her cold naked body, she sensed the human ogling her body.
Fucking slimy pig!
God help him, if he tried to cop a feel she’d rip his head off; the one between his legs first, then the one on his shoulders.
“We’ll use her for some experiments, then she will be neutralized,” Kozeb answered.
“What about the others? She wasn’t working alone,” the human dickhead said.
Bree’s insides twisted at the mention of her family. She hoped they didn’t notice the reaction.
“If we are successful with this device, then we won’t have to worry about them. In fact, we won’t need to be concerned with any humans,” Kozeb said.
Mind Sync Page 15