“Yeah, well, it’s all fucking Greek to me. I’m not a doctor. Or a Kusharian.”
“I understand that, but I wanted you to have the information. The results of the assessment are now in your brain comp system. I assumed you would prefer to have control and access to the information.” Ipeshe smiled. “Your brain computer integration is just over fifty percent complete. Your brain waves are running high for a human. There is a trend toward a more coherent pattern. The cellular activity is still erratic as the cell membranes work to create new receptor and effector proteins to support the increased energy needs, all the while maintaining the appropriate membrane potential to keep the cell structure intact. As your brain makes these adjustments, cellular waste products tend to build up and create damage to surrounding cells and tissue. The brain comp and your nanotech work together to dissipate the toxins. All of the activity requires substantially more energy in the form of nutritional intake.”
“Whoa… that’s enough medical mumbo jumbo,” Bree said. “Can you just give me the bottom line?”
“Bree, your brain is going through a lot of changes from the Monk Brain Generator and the assault on your brain in Kozeb’s lab. The brain comp is helping to repair the damage. However, until it is fully integrated and working at full capacity, your brain is struggling to find a healthy balance. You will need to maintain the increased nutritional input - including the Lhox - to give your brain the energy it needs to do all this work. In the meantime, your vital signs are excellent, and I see that your body is healing very quickly.”
“Yeah, about that.” Bree shifted in her chair. “I had some very deep cuts on my feet. They’re gone today. Like nothing ever happened. The wounds on my arm from the mountain lion are nearly healed as well. How does that even work?”
Jason peeked around the corner. “Can I come in? I really want to hear this. Please, Bree?”
Fuck. So much for privacy. “Ok. You guys can come back in, but keep the superhero comments to a minimum, and by minimum, I mean don’t fucking say it at all.”
“She said we can go back in,” Jason called back over his shoulder to Max.
Both guys plopped down at the table, Max with his poker face and Jase grinning from ear to ear.
“Humans have very little understanding of DNA and its function or the role of cellular membranes. As your technologies evolve, humans have gained a better understanding of your physiology. However, your scientists have been limited by their third-dimensional instruments and have no understanding of the multidimensionality of DNA. We know of twelve dimensional aspects, or layers, of human DNA. Due to your exposure to the MBG and Kozeb’s experiments, combined with the treatments we used to save your life, your personal evolution has been accelerated. We are not sure to what extent yet. It is unlikely that all of your layers will be activated.”
“What does that mean?” Max asked.
“The advanced healing comes from the activation of one of the multidimensional aspects of your DNA,” Ipeshe explained. “This kind of healing has happened on a very limited scale throughout human history. Some of your spiritual masters have had the ability to heal themselves and others at a rapid pace. All humans have this potential.”
Jason’s arms flew up in the air and he came forward in his chair. “You mean, I can heal like that too? How?”
“The potential is there. However, certain things need to happen to activate this potential. Humans are currently functioning in a primarily three-dimensional world and are thus limited to three-dimensional understanding and functioning. As your species gains more understanding about energy medicine and multidimensional realities, these potentials will be awakened. Humans are on the verge of awakening a greater awareness of their true nature and their full potential.”
“I don’t understand.” Jason looked like someone sucked the wind from his sails. “What can I do so that I can be like Bree?”
Max patted Jase on the shoulder. “I think one superhuman in the family is plenty right now.”
Bree’s skin prickled with a faint buzzing sensation, then Iziqa popped into the kitchen with two KGs. Had she sensed the incoming KGs before their arrival? If so, that could come in very handy. It could have been a coincidence though. She’d keep this to herself for now and see if it happened again.
“Good morning.” Iziqa smiled. “How are you doing?” She directed this question to Bree.
“Uh, good. I guess.” Bree’s shoulders tightened. “I’ll be even better if you have information for us.”
“She is healing rather quickly. Vitals are excellent. Integration is fifty-three percent,” Ipeshe reported to Iziqa and ignored Bree’s intense glare. “We have not yet run any aptitude tests, though Jason reported that she is able to run at a much faster speed than normal for her.”
“That’s enough, Ipeshe.” Bree turned her attention onto Iziqa. “You’re here for a reason and I’m guessing it’s not to hear about my stupid vitals. What do you know?”
“You’re right. I do have information. I spoke with General Shiruvu. She interrogated one of our security personnel - the one who attempted access to Kozeb’s unit. He has since been deported back to Kushari. Unfortunately, the General has also learned about Bree’s procedure yesterday and she would like to meet with you.”
“Wait. Weren’t we keeping this a secret, as in nobody but us would know about this?” Bree’s heart raced. The readout of her heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse spiked in her brain comp display.
“I thought I had erased all the digital records.” Ipeshe’s eye swirls slowed down, indicating her stress. “How did she find this information?”
“I don’t know,” Iziqa said. “I do know that she sent us here to collect you for a meeting.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you right now,” Max interjected. “What does this General even want with her?”
“She’ll be safe. General Shiruvu simply wants to assess Bree for herself and make sure that she’s healthy and discuss future plans.” Iziqa kept her eyes focused on Max.
“And what happens if she refuses?”
“Hello! She is sitting right fucking here. And she can ask her own questions. Got it?” Bree’s nostrils flared. Anger coursed through her body like a double shot of espresso. Oh, that sounded good right about now. She needed some coffee.
Max pushed his chair back from the table and crossed his arms over his chest.
Bree couldn’t remember seeing him so angry. She hadn’t meant to piss him off. Especially since he’d been so nice to her this morning.
Iziqa looked directly at Bree. “I do not suggest refusing the General. That wouldn’t be wise.”
“What’re you saying?” Bree asked. “Am I being arrested? Or forced to go?”
“No. It’s not an arrest. However, refusing the General would likely cause problems for you. She simply wants to talk with you.”
“Christ. I don’t have a good feeling about this at all,” Max said. “Can I go with her?”
“No. The General wants to meet with Bree at the Kusharian Headquarters. Access is very restricted.” Iziqa rubbered her forehead. “Besides, she doesn’t need your protection. On my mother’s honor, I promise to bring her back unharmed. I promise to bring you back unharmed.”
Sensing the tension rolling off Ipeshe, Bree looked at the healer, who’d been very quiet. “Do you agree?”
Ipeshe fidgeted in her chair. She looked at Iziqa - likely engaging in a mind sync conversation. She then turned to Bree and said, “it seems to be true.”
Bree snorted. “Well, shit. That’s not really very comforting. Is that the best you’ve got?”
Silence.
Again, it was clear that Iziqa and Ipeshe were silently communicating. Part of Bree wished she was still stuck in a mind sync with Iziqa so she could hear what she said.
“If the General wants to talk to me so fucking bad, tell her to make an appointment. Right now, I need some coffee.” Bree stood up. No matter how delicious Lhox tasted, not
hing would ever replace her beloved coffee. “Anyone else want some?”
She didn’t make it far from the table before one of the KGs grabbed her arm and transported her out of Max’s kitchen.
Fucking asshole!
When they landed… or rematerialized… or whatever - Bree had not yet figured out the finer details of how the transportation worked - they were in an office. A Kusharian stood beside a desk. Her sapphire eyes and markings were stunning. Her tribal markings spread down the side of her face and neck and reached her finger tips. Someday she’d ask Ipeshe more about these patterns.
“Welcome, Ms. Jackson. I am glad you could come. I’m General Shiruvu.” The Kusharian reached her hand out toward Bree.
“Pfft! Like I had a fucking choice. Your goon here just kidnapped me.” Bree refused the General’s hand and tried to shake off the Guard, but he clamped down harder on her arm. Damn it! She was caught without her guns again. At least she had her pocket knife - not that it’d do her much good.
“I apologize. That was not my intention,” Shiruvu said. “I simply asked the Guards to bring you here at my invitation. You’ve not been kidnapped. I assure you of that.”
Bree looked down at the tight grip the KG had on her arm and then back up to Shiruvu. “Evidence suggests otherwise. What the fuck do you want with me anyway?”
“Your hostility and language are neither appropriate nor appreciated.”
“And I could say the same about being taken from my home without my damn permission,” Bree fired back. “Huh, you know that sounds a lot like a fucking kidnapping to me.”
More buzzing and prickling on her skin, then the KG disappeared. Once again, she felt something before a KG transportation. That could prove very useful. Relieved to be free from the Guard’s big hand, she looked around the room. Obviously a Kusharian building, but she had no way to know which one. It had the same floating chairs and the desk had a computer display on the etched glass surface like in the Scottsdale HQ.
There were no windows in the office to give her a clue to her location. Their rooms appeared doorless until a Kusharian’s brain comp sent the correct signals and a section of the wall either slid up or dematerialized, producing a door-sized opening.
Despite sporting a brain comp, Bree didn’t know the secret to opening the doors.
Open Sesame.
No magic doors opened. She imagined a door opening. Again nothing happened.
“You are not being held here, Ms. Jackson. Please have a seat so that we can have a conversation. Would you like something to drink?” Shiruvu sat and indicated the chair across from her. The chair floated closer to Bree.
What the hell? Why was Shiruvu playing nicey nice?
Curious, Bree sat in the chair. “Are you going to tell me what the hell you want with me?”
Shiruvu’s chair floated toward the wall where a small opening appeared, revealing two steaming mugs. The General brought the tray over to the table. The smell of coffee and Lhox filled the air. Shiruvu placed a mug in front of Bree.
“It’s a double shot of organic espresso in an organic light roast with a dash of cinnamon on top. I’m told that’s what you like to drink.” The General smiled and took a sip from her mug.
For fuck’s sake, how does this creep know what I drink? Did she pull that out of my brain? Is she reading my mind right now? Suspicion and dread gave Bree a case of the heebie-jeebies. Bree decided that refusing the coffee wouldn’t get her out of there any faster. Plus, it smelled heavenly and she really needed some caffeine. She took a sip and almost did a happy dance. Lost in the epicurean delight of the best cup of coffee she’d ever experienced, she startled a bit when the General spoke.
“I understand that you’ve experienced great difficulties and personal injuries in your efforts to stop the Monk Brain Generator experiments and those who were sabotaging those experiments. I’m truly grateful for your assistance and I’m sorry for your injuries.” Shiruvu’s head bobbled and she smiled at Bree.
Bree resisted filling the silence with her own words, a tactic to force the General to continue talking and hopefully reveal her intentions. A simple ‘thank you’ didn’t require kidnapping someone. She needed to figure out what the General was up to.
“Please understand that we are here to help humans, not harm you. Kozeb’s behavior was unacceptable, unsanctioned, and completely perpendicular to our mission here. I apologize on behalf of all Kusharians for his involvement in harming humans, especially you. He was clearly misguided.”
Bree processed the General’s words as she sipped her delicious coffee. Aside from the odd use of the word perpendicular, she didn’t detect anything unusual. What the hell did the General really want?
“You say he’s misguided. I say he’s a dickless fuck-faced asshat and a dangerous one at that.”
The General’s lips twitched, or maybe she fought a smile. “Despite our different word selection, I do agree with the basic sentiment of what you say.”
This conversation didn’t make sense. Bree activated her mind sync with Ipeshe and Iziqa. Why is this General working so hard to win me over? What the fuck is her game?
Bree! Where are you? Are you well? Ipeshe sent back.
Bree sensed Ipeshe’s genuine surprise and concern, confirming that the healer hadn’t been in on this kidnapping mission. Good to know.
I wasn’t aware that the General would simply take you without your permission either. I was told to invite you to a meeting. I’m sorry.
Bree recognized the truth from Iziqa as well. Fine, so neither of you were involved. What the hell is going on? Should I be concerned? How do I get out of here?
Bree didn’t want the General to suspect the mind syncing, so she continued talking to her, surprised at the ease of carrying on two different conversations at the same time. Score one for improved multi-tasking. “Ok, so we agree that Kozeb’s an ass. Now what?”
33
Do you know where you are? Ipeshe asked.
I think I’m in the General’s office. Beyond that I don’t have a fucking clue. I’m in an office, in a Kusharian building so I can’t see the door. I’ve tried opening it with my thoughts, but it’s not working. Any suggestions about how to get the hell out of here? Bree responded.
I’m sure General Shiruvu will allow you to leave if you ask. She is Tzich Gahnek, Iziqa sent through the mind sync conference call.
Bree had no idea what sheek gannek meant, but she detected admiration in Zuhl’s thoughts.
It means a leader of great integrity who is honor bound to the Kusharian Code of Conduct and Primary Protocol, Ipeshe explained.
“I assure you we are aware of Kozeb’s egregious conduct and we won’t allow him to harm anyone else.” Shiruvu’s sapphire eyes swirled fast like Ipeshe’s and Iziqa’s eyes, supposedly indicating honesty and integrity.
When Kusharians lied or were stressed, their eye swirls slowed down. Habitual liars were said to be in Moghefe. However, Kozeb had used helium to hide the signs of Moghefe, so Bree couldn’t assume anything from the General’s eyes.
“What exactly are you doing? How can you be sure that he won’t do it again? Or find some other way to harm humans?” Bree drilled, hoping to keep the General from discovering the mind sync conversation. “Do you have any idea why he did it? Who was he working for?”
She says that I am free to leave, but she hasn’t shown me the door so I don’t have a way to leave. For now she is being polite and claiming that she only wants to thank me for my help and apologize for what Kozeb did. I don’t buy it though. Something’s up but I don’t know what. Bree sent this thought to her two Kusharian cohorts.
I’m on my way to our HQ building and I’ll find you. I trust the General so I don’t believe you’re in any danger. However, I’m not able to open a mind sync with Shiruvu. That’s unusual.
Despite Iziqa’s insistence that the General was a good person, Bree’s gut feeling screamed danger.
“I understand you have many question
s. We do too. We have Kozeb in our custody. He’s suffering something similar to global cerebral ischemia - his brain is not receiving adequate blood flow to function. As a result, he’s incapacitated and unable to harm anyone. We discovered he was lured into a scheme to create an increase in human aggression and violence in order to attract the T’Lalz to Earth. We’re still exposing the layers of this deplorable situation. As you know, Kusharians are honor-bound to help and protect humans. Kozeb’s behavior is an anomaly.”
Bree turned her head when the doorway opened behind her and a Kusharian entered the room. At least now she knew the location of the damn door.
“Thank you for coming, Alrishiel. Please escort Ms. Jackson to see Kozeb.” Shiruvu looked back at Bree and said, “to display my truth, I’m granting you the opportunity to observe Kozeb so you can be assured that he’s wholly debilitated and unable to harm anyone. Due to the abhorrent nature of this situation, I’m granting you temporary access to a highly restricted area. I do require that you eschew disclosing sensitive details.”
“Why are you doing this?” Bree maintained a stoic expression, while her mind churned to clear the confusion and regain her mental footing.
What the hell is Shiruvu up to? Why is she giving me access to the restricted area? Does she know that I’ve already been to the holding units?
Shit, too many questions. She needed to stay focused.
“I aspire to procure your trust. When you return, we’ll continue our discourse. It would please me to offer assistance to you as you adjust to your new…” The General’s eyes darted to Alrishiel and then back to Bree as she gave what looked like a conspiratorial smile, “your new condition.” Shiruvu stood. “Alrishiel will now escort you to see Kozeb.”
Bree’s body tingled with impending danger. She could make a break for it and get the hell out of the building. Of course, she probably wouldn’t get far before a KG grabbed her. She couldn’t ignore her deep desire to see the dickless fuckwad’s sorry ass to be sure he couldn’t hurt anyone else. Plus, if she stayed she could gather more intel about the General.
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