Beyond the Stars: INEO (21 page)

“Not that I can see,” he answered as his eyes continued to study the small screen. “Do you remember what you were thinking when these events occurred?”

I dropped myself back in the chair to think. “I can recall wishing that Jack was there to help me on Dalinova, and when I went to bed, but I’m sure I wasn’t wishing for Hyril to appear.”

Urit returned his tool to his desk and came back to sit next to me. “You mentioned a baby.”

“Yes, Hyril had a baby with him. It was strange. It felt like she wanted me to see her.”

“You think it was a girl.” The line in his forehead deepened. “It could be … no, it’s a reach.”

“Could be
what?
Do you think she was mine?” I said, desperate for answers.

“Most likely,” he hesitated when he answered. “They take samples at every opportunity. There have been some documented cases of Katarians forming a psychic link to the Dreon offspring they have helped produce. It has been explained as some sort of telepathic entanglement of the parent and offspring’s cells. You become aware of it, if it becomes aware of you,” he deduced. “Although, no mention of visual exchanges between the two have ever been reported.”

He described some sort of quantum entanglement, as though our cells were entwined with one another by a mysterious bond. Was I really communicating with the Dreon infant this way? I felt queasy. I didn’t want those freaks to have any part of me.
That baby better not be mine. What right do they have?

“Can you make me stop feeling this way? I feel like I’m dreaming, while I’m awake.”

I hopped to my feet and starting pacing the room. Urit stopped me by the arm and looked at me solemnly. “Sam, the Dreons have highly evolved mental capabilities. They can speak with their minds, corrupt your thinking, and manipulate you with ease. Let’s say there is a baby or hybrid child that is half you and half Dreon, perhaps you and the infant may be registering each other’s experiences through some sort of bond. The best treatment would be to sever the connection by putting them out of your mind. I know that may seem impossible when we are actively hunting them down. But as soon as we find Nia, you can forget about them forever. Your ties with the child should weaken over time, and, hopefully, you will lose the ability to sense one another. I wish I had a quick or brilliant solution because I hate to disappoint you. And remember, tuning your mind in with Dreon intelligence is scary, nothing more—they won’t be able to harm you. They are only in your mind.”

“Urit, what about Jack? He was a solid form. I even touched his hand.”

“So you said. Really?” He looked perplexed.

“He was standing there, just as real as you are to me right now,” I said in a rattled voice.

“I don’t know. I’d try to relax about that. I think it’s just your subconscious protecting you from all of the stress you’ve been encountering. Believing you are surrounded by the familiar people you love is probably your mind’s way of protecting you from having a mental breakdown. Even I had moments when I thought my wife Nadia came back to help me solve a difficult problem. One time, I could have even sworn I smelled her perfume. It’s one of those unanswered occurrences that no one can explain. If anything, I think it’s probably a good thing.”

“You really don’t think I’m crazy?”

“No,” he answered without emotion.

I leaned forward and hugged him. I appreciated his insight. “Thank you.”

He smiled gently. “I’m here if you need to talk.”

I left Urit’s office and thought about his words as I walked away. I pictured the baby. She did resemble me. It made me sick to see her in the Dreons’ custody. They will control her, manipulate her, and force her to carry out their unscrupulous work. I looked down at my watch feeling depressed. I wanted this day to end.
Oh no, I’m twenty minutes late.
I was supposed to meet Maric for flight training in the Sim lab.

CHAPTER 14

ADMISSIONS

I entered the common room on deck nine, home to the Katarian cadets. Gaelan had told me that they had commandeered use of the entire deck for training purposes. I wondered if it was a poor excuse to keep the teens rounded up when I saw the dorm-like appearance of their lounge. It was in such disarray, it reminded me of my room back in college. There were over two dozen coffee mugs labeled with names hanging on hooks by the drink dispenser, and several bags of snacks covering the mini-bar.
Snacks!
I considered raiding them for a moment since there was no one around. No, ignore it. I ate enough today. Their acrylic table was littered with papers and hand-sized gadgets. I still couldn’t believe they used paper. I glanced at the drawing board floating above their table and saw complicated mathematical equations written along the border of a star map. What in the … what had I gotten myself into? Although I was curious to learn, I felt intimidated and worried about being able to comprehend their lessons. I went into the next room to look for Maric, and was unavoidably intercepted by Loic.

“Samantha, you again? Are you following me?” he insinuated as he swaggered up to me.

“Hardly,” I groaned.

“Hey, I feel bad about interrupting
that thing
between you and the doc earlier.”

“You weren’t,” I snapped back.

“Whatever,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me you were from Earth?”

“You didn’t ask,” I replied shortly. “Have you seen Maric?” I wanted to avoid speaking with him.

“Ooh, you like them young, too, don’t you?” Loic teased.

I gave him a disturbed glare and started to walk away.

“Forget the child,” he said, blocking my step with his body when I tried to get past him.

I looked at him and was ready to tell him to get out of my way when I suddenly noticed how he had changed since I last time I saw him.

“Wow, Loic, you’re a blonde!” I couldn’t help commenting. “Were you just dirty? And you smell good, too,” slipped out of my mouth after getting a whiff of his freshly washed hair. “I mean better,” I quickly clarified.

He gave me a smug grin and stepped closer so he could lean his face forward and sniff my neck, catching me completely off guard. “So do you,” he said, allowing his warm breath to hit against my skin.

My lips fell open while I decided if I was more shocked or offended that he would smell me.

Loic had cleaned himself up, and he looked rather nice, even cute, when he wasn’t a filthy mess. I was so distraught earlier, I hadn’t noticed whether his transformation had already occurred or not. But, after being this close, it was difficult to ignore. Not only had he showered and changed his clothes, he even shaved. All of the nasty snarls in his hair were removed and his freshly trimmed mane now fell squarely at his shoulders.

Loic smiled at my frozen expression. “And you peak my curiosity. Tell me, what is Earth like? Are all the women on Earth as pretty as you? It’s nice to know you’re open to having relations with our kind. Maybe you could dump G and let me show you what Katarian men are really like. I can sense the charge you get when you’re near me. I understand. I can feel it, too. You’re whole body seems to radiate with,
Mmm,
I don’t know. There’s something electric about you. It’s different—arousing. I think you secretly want me. Perhaps you wish you’d met me first. I’m willing to forget your past mistakes if you are,” he said, looming in closer to me before he put his hand on my lower back and pulled my body swiftly into his.

I sighed out of frustration and took a huge step back while I pressed his chest with my hand to push him away. “What’s wrong with you? The slightest bit of friendliness and you act like a dog in heat.” I couldn’t believe he misinterpreted my weak compliment as a come on. Yes, he was attractive, in a bad boy kind of way, but I would never be tempted to act on it—
ever.

Loic shrugged. “You know, I have been living in isolation for months, and I really like feisty women.”

“Ugh,
God no. Don’t say another word. I’m with Gaelan. Why don’t you go pick on someone who’s available?” I said, holding up my arm with Gaelan’s band on my wrist to give him a visual reminder to leave me alone. I was starting to believe that one of the drawbacks of Space travel wasn’t just isolation, but severe loneliness.

“Phish,
people pass those things around all the time. I’ve been linked to more women than I care to remember. The last one took off with my band even though she went through the trouble of having it removed. It’s nearly impossible to find someone to take them off. I still can’t believe she didn’t even have the courtesy to give it back—that stupid, wretched witch.

“Gee, why would she ever leave?”

“Oh bloody hell, forget I mentioned her. I don’t want to get into a bad mood. I’d rather talk about you. I’m guessing you were totally smitten by G being a big starship commander with all of his power and prestige.”

“Jealous?”

“No way. Admit it, being surrounded by the lackeys working under the Council’s directives isn’t exactly what I’d call thrilling.” He yawned.
“It’s boring,”
he said, rolling his eyes. “I just think you were probably hoping to spice up your life and thought G could deliver, only to be disappointed. I could change all that for you. After my work here is done, I would love to have you accompany me on my next venture.”

I could barely believe my ears. Loic’s proposition was so absurd I couldn’t tell if he was serious or just trying to taunt me.

“Loic, let me be clear. You and I will
never
happen. And Gaelan, he’s almost too exciting for me.”

“He’s too much for you, huh? All of his taking off to faraway places. The Council probably has him sniffing around in search of the next best technological breakthrough. Perhaps, Earth is the latest target. The Council has its Discovery Fleet doing its dirty work.
Did you know
they keep journals on you? You might want to check G’s desk to find out why he really wanted to get close to you. You must be someone important.”

“Loic, please. I know about the journals.”

“Humph.”

I tried to walk past him, but he stepped in my path … again.

“Seriously, what is Earth like? Are there any appealing markets for a businessman like myself? I would like to come and visit after I complete this assignment. I enjoy going to new places—
you
could show me around, just as a friend, of course.”

I gave him a repulsed look and blatantly ignored his last comment by not answering. He was probably trying to charm me in his own sick way.

“Sure, reject my offer, I’m used to it.”

I felt queasy. My internal reaction to his mentioning Earth was gut-wrenching. I never thought much about my loyalty towards my planet until now. He made me feel protective of it, even selfish. In no way did I want him on Earth.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t like Earth. It’s regulated and orderly. You seem much happier living out here where you can do what you want.”

“Do I sense a tone of sarcasm in your voice? I’m very adaptable,” he said with a raised brow.

“Not going to happen. Plus, I’m sure Gaelan would never let me show you around.”

“Whoa.
Do you do everything he says? I thought I was asking you, not Gaelan.”

I could feel my upper lip start to disappear in anger. “I didn’t say that. Stop twisting my words.”

“Oh, but you did,” he sneered. “You only want to please Gaelan. I see how your relationship works. I knew it the moment I saw the two of you together on the Grulanti ship. He was completely distraught when he was separated from you. The man lost his cool. What are you, glued to his hip? And you, you looked
devastated when
you shot that Grulanti drone, and not because you killed it, but because you thought G would think less of you. It’s as though you can’t function without the other.”

I couldn’t deny his remarks. His interpretation was uncomfortably accurate.

Loic leaned closer to me and lowered his voice, “Trust me, killing is a big no-no for Katarians. The Council would condemn you for it—even Gaelan doesn’t believe in it. He was probably really upset with you.”

“You’re wrong,” I said, unsure. “Wait … how did you know I shot the drone?” I asked with alarm.

He looked at me awkwardly, and didn’t answer.