Mind Sync

by Kirsten Harrell

  “I believe that you are the one with inflated confidence here. Your ignorance of the situation is humorous. If you believe humans are capable of peace or that Instant Karma can save you, you’re foolish.” Kozeb danced around, waiting to make a move on Bree.

  “I’m not one of the idiots who believes IK is a good thing. I want to get you freaks off my planet for good.” Bree landed a quick jab to his mouth. His head snapped to the side. When he turned back, his lip was bleeding.

  Bree sprung forward with a series of kicks and punches, but he countered all but a few strikes. And, unfortunately, he continued to land most of his punches - including one to Bree’s mouth.

  Umpf!

  A metallic taste filled her mouth. Bree spat blood on the ground.

  As Kozeb wiped the mixture of blood and sweat from his face, Bree launched forward and rammed him with enough force to make an NFL player proud. He fell backward and she landed on top of him. She used the opportunity to bash him in the face multiple times with her left hand before wrapping both hands around his neck.

  He grabbed her right arm and applied pressure at the fracture line. “I’m not working alone. If you kill me now, your brother will not survive the night.” His voice distorted due to the pressure from Bree’s strangle hold.

  “Nice try.” Bree continued to squeeze.

  Again, the evil nutless fucker applied pressure to her forearm, causing enough pain that Bree’s hold on his neck faltered.

  “You must know that I didn’t mastermind this. I’m simply following the plan. I’ve already transmitted instructions to those I work for that if I don’t make it out of here alive, your brother will be terminated.”

  “There’s no way to get any communications out of this building.” At least she hoped not. Bree let go of Kozeb’s neck and pinned his hands to the ground.

  “Ah, yes. I have disabled the methods of communication that you are aware of, but I maintain the ability to contact the mastermind of this plan.” Kozeb no longer struggled. “You’d be naive to believe there are no other species involved here. The universe is larger than you can imagine and with more intelligent life than you could dream of.”

  “I know that Wythul was the brains behind this and she has left the planet. I know you’re working for the T’Lalz,” Bree said.

  “Again, I recommend you open your mind, human. It’s not only the T’Lalz you should fear. You have limited information.”

  “Bree! We are here!” Iziqa called.

  She turned to see the Commander and General Shiruvu entering through the doorway.

  “Is Jason safe?” Bree asked. The sight of Shiruvu gave her some relief; Ipeshe must have been able to call out for help.

  “Ipeshe took him to the healing unit.” Iziqa moved into the room with the General right behind her. “His lung collapsed and he’ll need extensive work to repair the damage inside his abdomen and chest. Jason is a strong young man and Ipeshe is very skilled,” Iziqa said.

  “The rest of the team? Cheveyo? Rick?” Bree asked from her position on top of Kozeb.

  “All those with injuries have been evacuated.” Iziqa stood next to Bree and Kozeb. She placed her hand on Bree’s shoulder. “Let’s deal with this situation before we discuss any more details.”

  “I have this situation under control.” Bree tilted her head to indicate Kozeb. “He’s not going to be escaping anymore or hurting any more people. You can stay and watch or get the hell out while I do the entire Universe a favor and end this evil schmuck.”

  “Bree! You can’t kill him. I understand that he must be stopped, but our code doesn’t allow us to kill each other.” Izzi squeezed Bree’s shoulder as she spoke. “I promise that we’ll rehabilitate him.”

  “Oh, hell no! We’ve played by your rules and he’s escaped twice. I’m not gonna let that happen again. A human jail certainly won’t hold him. And your stupid code doesn’t apply to me. I repeat - you can stay or go, but I’m doing what needs to be done.” Bree pulled Kozeb’s arms down and kneeled on them before returning to the chokehold. He wasn’t fighting her. Very odd.

  “And I will repeat to you: if you kill me, your brother will die,” Kozeb squeaked out.

  “Shut the fuck up! I call your bluff, assface.”

  The General finally joined the conversation. “What is he talking about?”

  “It’s just some bullshit story about contacting someone with an order to kill Jason if I kill him. But we all know coms are down and you guys can’t even mind sync further than a few feet away from each other. And, you assured me that his ringleader was extradited. He’s just desperate.”

  “Kozeb, who are you communicating with? Is it Alrishiel?” Shiruvu demanded.

  Bree loosened her grip enough for Kozeb to speak.

  Eyes on Shiruvu, Kozeb smiled. “Yes, General, I’m sure you would be interested in this information. Sabrina, the General knows much more than she has shared with you or the EUC. In fact, she has personal knowledge of the species I am referring to. The ones that do not depend on technology to communicate. She can verify the veracity of my statement.”

  “Enough!” The General yelled.

  Bree didn’t changed the pressure of her grip, but Kozeb’s face contorted and his eyes slowed to a nearly imperceptible swirl.

  “Damn it! Who’s doing the mind clamp?” Bree demanded.

  Iziqa shook her head and looked at the General.

  What the fuck is she doing? Make her stop! Bree sent quickly through the mind sync connection with Iziqa.

  “What the hell is going on?” Bree yelled out and released her grip on Kozeb’s neck. As much as she wanted to stop him, she also needed to find out why the General suddenly wanted to fry his brain.

  Could Kozeb be telling the truth? Damn it! If so, Jason might be in more danger than she thought.

  “Secrets. She has secrets,” Kozeb strained to get the words out.

  “Iziqa, stop her!” Bree shouted. “I thought your people didn’t kill each other. She’s trying to kill him. We need to know why!”

  Iziqa didn’t move.

  Bree pleaded with her eyes. If you won’t stop her, I will, but you’ll need to hold Kozeb down.

  You can’t attack the General. She would enact Instant Karma and send you to the stasis chambers, Iziqa replied to Bree as she plowed into the General.

  Shiruvu recovered quickly and the two Kusharian females fought.

  Bree forced herself to stay focused on Kozeb versus watching the fight. “You better talk fast, asshole. I want answers. Right fucking now,” Bree hissed.

  Distracted by the fight, the General couldn’t hold a strong Bizhuet on Kozeb. The asshole’s face softened, but his eyes looked empty. The General had done a lot of damage already.

  Bree shook Kozeb’s shoulders. “Come on. Talk, you bastard.” She kept her voice low, hoping Shiruvu wouldn’t hear.

  “They control it all. Nothing is what it seems. Secrets. Ancient shifters. It’s all about the experiments. My mate, please tell them to help her. They can help her. That’s all I ever wanted.” Kozeb’s eyes opened and closed. His face contorted.

  “What the hell are you mumbling about? Who’s in control? The T’Lalz? What experiments?” Bree worried Kozeb was delirious.

  “We’re all pawns. Even the Kusharians and the T’Lalz.” Kozeb’s head rolled to the side.

  Bree grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. “You’re not making sense. Just tell me who’s in control.”

  “The-”

  The deafening report of gunfire rang through the room. Blood and brain matter splattered out the side of Kozeb’s head. His body went limp beneath her.

  Who the fuck fired the gun?

  Shit! Bree whipped her head to the left to see Iziqa lifeless on the ground. And, the General holding a gun - Bree’s gun. Double shit!

  “What the fuck? Why’d you shoot him?” Bree looked at Iziqa on the ground and yelled, “Zuhl, you okay?”

  “She’s not dead.” Shiruvu said
, pointing the gun at Bree’s head now.

  “Well, he is! Not that I’ll miss him, but now my brother might be in more danger because this rat fuck is dead.” Bree held her hands up in surrender. She wanted off of Kozeb’s dead body, but didn’t want to make any movements that might cause the General to shoot her. “I thought killing each other was against your damn code.”

  Izzi, can you hear me? What’s going on? I could use a little help here.

  “Your brother is in one of our facilities and will be protected. And we found Alrishiel dead,” Shiruvu retorted.

  I don’t know. This is highly irregular. I don’t understand her behavior, Iziqa sent back to Bree.

  Zuhl was still in a heap on the ground and looked like she was still out cold.

  I’m conscious; however, I’m not sure I want the General to know that yet.

  Okay, but I’d appreciate if you’d move before she kills me. You know… if that’s not too much trouble.

  Eh, I suppose I could manage that. Iziqa’s response not only confirmed that snark translated across mental conversations, but that the Commander had a sense of humor as well.

  “He was too corrupted to be of benefit to our species and, yet, remained a danger to so many.” Shiruvu kept the gun pointed at Bree. “You were right that he needed to be permanently stopped. I made the calculation that killing him offered the most definitive way to stop him from harming anyone else. However, I couldn’t allow you to risk your own safety or freedom, so I chose to terminate his life.”

  “Right, and you’re pointing my own gun at my head, because you want to help me?” Bree kept her hands in the air as she lifted her left leg up and over dead dickhead’s body and turned to face the General.

  Shiruvu lowered the gun, no longer aiming at Bree’s head, but kept it out in front of her. “I apologize if I frightened you. Sabrina, I mean you no harm. I’m simply protecting myself and Iziqa because I wasn’t clear how you would react. Again, I assure you that we’re on the same side.”

  “Not according to Kozeb.” Bree cocked her head to the side, but kept her eyes locked on the gun in Shiruvu’s hand.

  “Please, you can’t believe his absurd deception after all he’s done to you, your family, and your fellow humans. That would be misguided. Kozeb lost his honor and integrity. Certainly someone with your training and background could detect his attempts to manipulate you,” Shiruvu said.

  Iziqa rolled over and sat up. “The General makes a good point, Bree. We know that Kozeb was in Moghefe and a practicing liar.” The Commander stood up, moved next to Shiruvu, and held out her hand for the gun. “Bree won’t harm either of us. I trust her. Please, give me the gun.”

  “Iziqa Oje Zuhl! I will not turn over the weapon to you. You committed an act of treason by attacking me, your commanding officer. I don’t understand what has happened to you. Perhaps you have been corrupted by your time with the humans.” Shiruvu waved the gun at Bree. She likely meant Bree specifically and not humans in general.

  “General Shiruvu, I stand before you and humbly ask for your favorable consideration. I give you my honor that I will not repeat the offensive behavior. I hope you will find mercy in your wizened soul and offer your forgiveness to me and to Sabrina Jackson. Kozeb was the true and rightful cause of this apparent treason.” Iziqa fisted her left hand, brought it up to her chest just under her right shoulder, then dropped to one knee in front of the General. “May the flow of universal energy support you and your descendants for all eternity. I offer my honor and the honor of my blood line as proof of my loyalty to you, our mission, and the Kusharian Protocol.”

  “Whoa! Why’re you groveling? Get up, Zuhl! You didn’t do anything wrong. The General’s the one who fucked this up. I needed more information from that bastard before we disposed of him.” Bree stood.

  Shiruvu raised the gun, aiming at Bree’s head again.

  “Don’t come any closer. We’ve much to sort out. I agreed to let Commander Zuhl disable your trackers for this mission; however, you don’t have free reign to act in any manner you choose. You’re still bound by the Instant Karma System. You need to consider your next words and actions accordingly.”

  Bree, can you hear me? Ipeshe’s mind sync message sounded frantic.

  Ipeshe? How’s Jason? Where are you? I thought all coms were blocked, Bree answered.

  I am in our healing facility with Jason. They have disabled Kozeb’s signal blockers. Are you injured? Help is on the way. Please, come here immediately.

  The strange tingling that indicated incoming KG rushed through Bree, and a fraction of a second later, three Guards appeared. One took Shiruvu by the arm. Before they disappeared, she said, “bring Commander Zuhl to my office. The two of you will escort Ms. Jackson to see her brother and remain by her side until I decide how to proceed.”

  Iziqa and Shiruvu vanished with one of the KGs.

  The remaining Guards grabbed Bree and transported her out of the building.

  Bree and her two-goon escort popped into the healing unit of the Kusharian Headquarters in Scottsdale. Her concern for her brother overrode her desire to figure out what the hell had just happened, at least for the moment.

  “How is he? I want to see him!” The words burst out of Bree’s mouth.

  “Bree, please. Calm yourself. I will take you to him but please drink this.” Ipeshe held out a cup of hot Lhox.

  “Get your big-ass hands off me.” Bree tried in vain to shake out of the KG’s tight grip.

  “I take responsibility of her from here.” Ipeshe handed the Lhox to Nina and reached for Bree’s hand. “You are dismissed.”

  “We have orders to stay with her until we hear directly from General Shiruvu,” one of the goons said in his deep electronic voice.

  “Whatever. Just take me to see my brother. Now!” Bree couldn’t focus on anything but Jase. Her stomach knotted at the thought of losing him. One of the Guards released her arm and moved behind her.

  “Come on, Bree.” Nina handed her the Lhox and walked down the hallway, presumably toward Jason.

  Bree gulped from the cup, thankful it wasn’t scalding hot, and followed Doc Nina. One Guard stayed beside her and one trailed behind her. They clearly didn’t know her very well. She had no plans of escaping this facility - at least not until she saw Jason and he was well enough to leave with her - but if they wanted to waste two KGs on this task, so be it.

  About a third of the way down the hall, Ipeshe turned and the hidden door opened at the signal from her brain comp. Once they were all in the room, the opening disappeared, locking them inside the healing suite. Bree’s heart stopped for a moment when her gaze landed on Jason. Hundreds of wire-like tentacles sprouted from the sides of the bed and arched up over him, meeting at the midline of his body. “Baby bro.” The words slipped out with Bree’s exhale.

  She wanted to run to him but instead she found herself inching toward him like she would approach a rattlesnake, afraid to disturb the Kusharian machinery. Holy hell. He looked so fragile. How could she have let this happen? He shouldn’t have been there.

  “Tell me.” The giant lump in her throat prevented any other words from escaping.

  “The injuries were very serious, Bree. Without the Kusharian technology, we might not’ve been able to save him.” Nina’s eyes narrowed, her expression serious. Probably the same look she used to deliver bad news to patients’ families in the ER.

  “But you saved him, right? He’s going to be ok.” The last was more statement than question. She wouldn’t accept anything but confirmation that her little brother would be fine.

  Oh my god. He had to be okay. She couldn’t imagine life without him.

  “He will live. We created new tissue to repair the internal damage. He is currently in a medical coma to give his body the opportunity to incorporate the new tissue and complete the healing process.” Ipeshe gave a small smile to Bree.

  “With the Kusharian technology we were able to use Jason’s stem cells to create new tissue
in order to repair the damage to his liver, part of his bowel, and his lung. Honestly, Ipeshe was amazing. I’m not sure we could’ve repaired enough of the damage to save him in one of our hospitals. Even if we saved his life, he’d have required a colostomy and had a very long road to recovery.” Nina looked at Ipeshe like she was a God who’d descended from the heavens into the room.

  “Is this like the 3-D printing I’ve heard about?” The tentacle cage blocked Bree from most of Jason’s body, but she wrapped her hands around his left foot.

  “It’s similar to what we’ve explored with with the help of 3-D printers, but it’s much more advanced. It’s revolutionary and amazing.” Nina put her hand on Bree’s shoulder. “He’s in excellent hands here, Bree. He’s gonna be able to return to his normal life.”

  Relief washed over her. The heavy weight she’d carried since hearing of Jason’s injury lightened. She kept her hands on his foot, never wanting to let go of him.

  42

  “It is time now.”

  Bree opened her eyes to Iziqa, standing in the healing suite. She’d fallen asleep beside her brother while waiting to meet with Iziqa and the General. Running her fingers through her hair, she slowly stood up. She looked at Jason’s still comatose body with all the tubes and alien tech. He looked peaceful now, like he was sleeping, not trying to heal from nearly mortal wounds. Ipeshe had told her that it would be another day or so before they’d wake him, but Bree didn’t want to leave his side.

  “He’ll be fine. He’s being well cared for. Come with me now.” Iziqa’s calm voice softened the command.

  Bree let out a heavy sigh, then moved to the door. At some point while she slept, one of her KGs must’ve been pulled because only one remained in the room. He followed closely behind as Iziqa led them through the building to the General’s office. Bree still didn’t know the location of the office because the transporters could go to another floor, another section of the building, or an entirely different building. She’d have to figure out a way to connect with the system so she could discern her location. Then again, she didn’t plan on spending much more time in the Kusharian network of buildings.