by Elin Wyn
We both looked up at Sk’lar, who was standing in the aisle as the shuttle raised into the air. His implants let him keep his balance, the damn show off. “Not only that, but you’re being attached to Maki as her escort until further notice. Just try not to let yourself get too…distracted.”
Maki blushed, and I stumbled over my affirmative.
The shuttle ride passed by in a flash. Maki and I spoke the entire time, comparing notes about our scientific fields.
There’s a lot more overlap than you might figure. Sooner or later damn near every living thing in the galaxy needs water, so my hydrology knowledge applies more often than not.
Maki was a real pleasure, funny and smart and warm all at the same time. Now that we’d slept together, there was less tension between us.
It was easy to relax and talk to her. The rest of the team cut us some slack and left us alone. Jalok, in particular, was magnanimous, which was way out of character for him. I guess he liked the fact that he was no longer the only one on the team with a human girlfriend.
Well, other than Sk’lar himself, but you don’t joke with Sk’lar. You try and do your best not to give him an excuse to bust your balls.
The shuttle settled to the ground, and Maki prepared to disembark.
“Hey, big guy, would you walk a gal to her job?”
“I’d be delighted.”
We walked from the airfield to her lab, all the while enduring a lot of stares directed our way.
I know that Maki was self conscious about how weird we look together, with me being nearly two feet and two hundred pounds taller.
“He’s my personal bodyguard,” Maki told one of the more curious staffers.
I had to laugh at the notion, since we’d both pulled each other’s asses out of the fire multiple times in the jungle.
The two of us headed into her building, and I wound up cooling my heels out in the hall while she talked to her boss.
I couldn’t hear much of what they were talking about, but I did get the general gist of the beginning of their conversation.
She was explaining what had happened out in the jungle and how she had been called in for debriefings back in Nyheim.
They kept talking about things for a few as I sat outside the office, people giving me looks but generally leaving me alone as they walked by.
Even the ones that fit me with evil, angry, or even ‘deadly’ stares left me alone.
Then, the conversation inside changed. I wasn’t sure why I was able to hear them more, then I saw Maki’s shadow pass by the doorway and realized that it was opened a little more than it had been when she first went in.
She had opened it for me to hear.
“We had another resignation,” her boss, a short human she had called Dr. Band with affection, said.
“Who?”
“Maura,” came the answer. “She just up and quit. I had to chase her down in the parking lot to figure out why?”
“Wait, Maura? Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? What reason did she give?”
“She said something about how alien interaction is messing things up around here and how it’s against the human way.”
I heard Maki snort. “Against the human way,” she repeated. “What kind of bullshit is that?”
“I don’t know,” her boss responded. I imagined him shrugging as he answered, his face showing just how lost she felt in this entire situation.
I felt just as lost.
Keith had been one of my best friends since arriving on the planet and dealing with everything. He had been one of my closest confidants, someone that I trusted, so when he suddenly turned on me, it was gut-wrenching.
Hearing the pain in Band’s voice—was that really her name or her surname—just reminded me of how bad it felt.
“So, did she say anything specific about the ‘interactions’?” I heard Maki ask, her voice oozing sarcasm on the final word.
“No. Which makes no sense because she wasn’t known to be an alien hater before all of this. No signs of anything, just suddenly walked in, said she quit, and walks out.”
That immediately made me think of the Ancient Enemies and the sudden changes in people. If she was yet another person that suddenly changed attitudes and allegiances, then things were still progressing, and we still had no idea how to stop it.
“So, what are we going to do?” Maki said.
“I don’t know. I currently have most of Maura’s work on hold, but, before you get all hot and bothered, I said ‘most.’ Her experiments that require constant supervision have been reassigned already. And that leads me to what I need you to do. There are several samples in the vault that I need you to take a look at.”
“What? No. I’m not a tech.”
“I know that, but with Maura gone, we’re short handed and I’ve had to assign some of the techs to dealing with her work. I’m just glad that Maura was so open about her work and kept copious, highly detailed notes about everything.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
As they continued to discuss things, I let my thoughts return to my relationship with Maki and how it was progressing.
I smiled at how it got started, running from the possessed, sleeping and hiding in trees, avoiding death. Not the typical way to begin a relationship.
If you paid any attention to so-called ‘relationship experts,’ a relationship built on heightened adrenaline levels don’t generally last long, but I wasn’t planning on letting whatever this was with Maki fail.
“Tyehn.”
I looked around, trying to figure out who it was that had spoken my name before realizing that what I had heard was in my mind.
“Puppet Master,” I said with my own mind.
“We must speak, my friend.”
“Are you sure you want to talk to me? Wouldn’t speaking with a team leader or General Rouhr be a better choice?”
“I am sorry, my friend. But the information that I must present is meant for you and Maki, not for the others.”
“Wait, me and Maki? Why Maki?”
“I wish to tell the two of you together. Please, come speak to me as soon as possible. Go to the park at the end of the street and I will speak to the both of you there.” Then, the connection was gone. It was like something in my head just stopped working.
It was extremely disconcerting and a highly awkward feeling. I shook my head quickly to clear it and stood up. I peeked my head into the office, a small knock on the door to announce myself. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s okay, we were finishing up anyway,” Band responded.
“That’s good,” I smiled, then looked at Maki. “Someone wants to speak to us, now. Our new friend,” I said, hoping that she got the meaning.
I didn’t want to say out loud that it was the Puppet Master. If people were weirded out about human-alien interactions, then the Puppet Master was a whole new level of strange.
Her eyes widened a little, then she turned to Band. “Sorry.”
Band waved her off and we left.
But towards what, I wasn’t sure.
Maki
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“I told you already,” Tyehn replied. “We’re going to see the Puppet Master. Weren’t you listening?”
“I was. Have you forgotten all of the navigational skills I’ve taught you?” I teased in response. “We met the Puppet Master north of here. Not east. This road takes us deeper into the city.”
“You haven’t taught me anything,” he laughed. “Unless you count speeding ahead and hoping I keep up teaching.”
“I do.”
“Ah. Well, in that case, you’ve taught me a fair amount,” he shrugged. “And the Puppet Master chose the location of the meeting.”
“He wants to meet in the city? I thought there was some kind of rule about that?”
“Ordinarily, the Puppet Master isn’t supposed to surface within a city,” he explained, “not after the dome aroun
d Nyheim. However, he says he’s found a perfect location.”
“How convenient.”
“Want to know something else that’s convenient?”
“No. I like everything confusing and overly complicated,” I snorted.
“You phrase that like it’s a joke, but I don’t think you realize how confusing and complicated you are,” he teased.
“I’m not complicated!” I gasped. “I’m an adrenaline junkie who doesn’t like bullshit. What’s complicated about that?” I playfully swatted at his arm.
“Everything! The only way to keep you content is to make sure you’re on the verge of a near-death experience at every moment.”
“That doesn’t sound complicated to me,” I shrugged.
“You’re going to send me to an early grave,” he groaned.
“That’s why you need to make use of all the survival skills I teach you.”
“You’re an exhausting individual.”
“Work on your cardio.”
Tyehn tipped his head back and let out a bellowing laugh. Everyone around us stopped to stare at the giant green alien.
For all they knew, he was demonstrating some kind of war cry. I laughed along to make it clear that the Valorni titan wasn’t doing anything sketchy.
I didn’t follow the anti-alien movement on the news outlets, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a faction was hiding out here.
Sauma would be a good place to hide.
“How much time do we have before the Puppet Master’s expecting us?” I asked.
“At the rate you walk, we’re going to get there early. Why?”
“It’s not my fault I have to practically jog to keep up with you,” I said. “And, I’m starving. We’re about to pass through the market.”
“I could always carry you on my back if your little legs can’t take it,” he teased.
“These little legs can still crack your bones no matter how dense you say they are.”
“Go get some food.” He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t you want anything?” As we entered the marketplace, I gestured to the rows of stands selling every type of food imaginable.
“I’m fine.”
I didn’t believe him but I shrugged and walked off toward a stall. Tyehn followed with a curious expression on his face.
“You all right?” I asked.
“Just taking in the strange foods,” he explained.
“Don’t tell me you’re a picky eater.”
“I prefer to say that I have a refined palate.”
“Follow me.” I grabbed his hand and led him to a stall with a red and white striped awning. A woman with skin like tree bark who was as wide as she was tall grinned a toothless grin as I approached.
“Haven’t seen you around lately,” she said.
“Very funny, Mae.” I leaned closer to Tyehn. “She’s blind as a sunbat. She hasn’t seen anyone lately.”
“I’m blind. Not deaf.” She swatted me with a dried frond. I dodged with a giggle.
“Eight fried dough balls please, Mae.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a single coin. Mae took the coin and bit it to test for authenticity. “Mae, that only works if you have teeth.”
“Hush,” she scolded me. “I can taste the difference.”
“Whatever you say.” I lifted my hands in defeat. Whatever Mae tasted, she liked. She took the coin and handed me a bag filled with freshly fried dough.
“I added cinnamon just for you.” She winked at me.
“I didn’t even know I was coming by today.”
“I know you didn’t. But Mae knows.” She tapped a finger against her temple and gave me a wink. “Come back soon. And bring your handsome friend with you.”
“I thought you said she was blind,” Tyehn murmured to me.
“Mae knows,” the old woman insisted.
“I want to be just like her when I grow up,” I said between bites of fried dough. We walked out of the market and deeper into the city.
“Aren’t you grown up?”
“Only physically,” I shrugged. “Try one.” I offered him the bag.
“No, thank you.”
“Try one.”
“I’m fine.”
“Try one.”
“Maki!”
“Tyehn! I’m just going to keep bothering you until we get to where we’re going. Then I’m going to bother you afterward.”
“Fine,” he groaned and shoved his hand into the bag. He pushed the fried dough ball into his mouth and chewed viciously. “Happy?”
“What do you think?”
“It’s okay, I suppose,” he said once he’d swallowed.
“Liar. You loved it.”
“Fine. It’s delicious.”
“Want another?” I shook the bag at him.
He ate three more.
“We’re going in here.” He turned me off the main path through a wrought-iron archway.
“The park? We’re meeting the Puppet Master here?” I asked. “Genius!”
Tyehn and I strolled through the manicured lawns and gardens that could do with some touching up.
Sauma’s priorities had been in places other than landscaping since the Xathi invasion.
“What’s that?” I muttered more to myself than to Tyehn. I picked up the pace. In the far corner of the park was a cluster of white. As I approached, I realized it was the same snow that coated the Sika Jungle.
“What’s this doing here?” I frowned. I wished I had my pack with me. I’d love to test this snow against the jungle snow to see if it’s the same.
The snow in the center of the pile began to shift. I took a few steps back, expecting the worst. Tyehn stepped up to stand beside me.
The snow shifted to reveal the bulb of a massive flower. It was tall enough to come up to my shoulder. I looked up at Tyehn to see if he was excited as I was. He grinned down at me and waggled his brows.
Once the bulb broke through the snow, its petals opened one by one. The underside of the petals were a young green, almost white towards the base of the flower. They opened to reveal the richest, most vibrant magenta I’d ever seen.
The petals were shot through with pale pink veins and mottled with deep violet.
“Wow,” I gasped. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. In the center of the flower was a red beak. It opened and closed a few times, making a clicking sound with each movement.
“Greetings.” A voice flew through my head. I jumped back in surprise, much to Tyehn’s amusement.
“What the hell?” I sputtered.
“Hello, Puppet Master,” Tyehn said to the beak. “What’s so important?”
“Wait up,” I said slowly. “I’m loving this new look.” Before I could stop myself, I lifted my hands and gave the bulb the finger guns.
“What in the seven suns was that?” Tyehn snorted.
“Don’t judge me. I’m trying to make a good impression.”
“Oh, I’m judging you.”
“You are wondering why I called you here.” The Puppet Master declared in my brain. “I have spent some time meditating on my past and the collective history of our species. I believe I’ve unlocked a memory, for lack of a better word, in regards to the Ancient Enemies.”
The smile vanished from my face.
“Tell us everything you remembered,” Tyehn urged.
“I will try to explain in a way that will make sense to your kind.” The Puppet Master’s vibrant petals moved slightly as he spoke through our thoughts.
“The Ancient Enemies have no corporeal form, at least not one that I can recall. They are like a virus of the consciousness. These memories are painful for me to recount.”
“Take your time,” I said softly. I reached out and touched the edge of a petal. Beneath my hand, I felt the Puppet Master relax.
“They attack the mind and drive it to the point of madness.”
“What is the first sign that the Ancient Enemies have targeted a planet?” Tyehn asked.
“If they are present, they will immediately look for lifeforms to host them,” the Puppet Master explained. “If they are a virus, they need carriers.”
Tyehn and I exchanged a glance. A chill crept down my spine as I thought of the possessed in the jungle.
“Thank you for your information. It will be valuable to us,” Tyehn nodded.
“I am glad to be of assistance. I will alert you if I remember anything else.” The Puppet Master started to fold up its petals but Tyehn stopped it.
“I have one more question,” he said. “Why did you request a meeting with us, specifically? Why not General Rouhr or the Mayor of Nyheim?”
The Puppet Master unfolded a petal and rested it on top of my hand.
“Because of her.”
Tyehn
I turned an incredulous gaze toward Maki, and reflexively took a step away from her.
“What is the Puppet Master talking about? What makes you so special?”
“I don’t know.” Maki shook her head in confusion. “I really don’t. There’s nothing special about me at all.”
“I disagree.” I flashed her a smile, which she weakly returned.
We turned back to the bizarre talking flower and addressed it, as silly as it seemed.
“Puppet Master, what do you mean by that? Why tell Maki instead of our leaders?”
“Maki was once a host for the Xathi virus, which turned her into a crystalline hybrid. However, unlike anyone else from the sapient immigrant species, her auto immune response was able to hold off the virus.”
I gaped at Maki, unable to comprehend what I was hearing. Maki had been infected by the Xathi?
And turned into a hybrid?
I wasn’t sure how I felt about all of that, other than being quite uneasy.
“Maki, is this true?”
Maki sighed, and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“It’s true. I don’t know why, no one really does, but for some reason I never fully transformed into a hybrid. When they gave me Mariella and Evie’s serum, I responded immediately.”