Knaleg: A Terraneu Novel (Book 3) (3 page)

“I know it’s hard to believe.” Callum McPherson
moved over to stand next to Mairi, “When they came to me with their story, I
had to decide if I believed or not. Since it was my land that Amber had
disappeared from.”

It just hit her, Catherine gasped and broke in,
“Amber? Amber Anderson. The one who went missing a year before the first
‘vacation’ McPherson Match Making offered. You are that Amber?” Now she just
felt plain slow! How could she not have remembered? Although in her defense
this Amber looked nothing like the one in the picture!

“Yes. The port pad only works every six months, and
then only for ten hours of that day.”

Catherine was getting faster with picking up the
details, “So why didn’t women go missing six months after you? Why the gap?”

Mairi spoke up, “I was the one that came here after
the six months. They used me as leverage to get my grandfather to agree to
help. I was dying of cancer, and quite literally was on my deathbed.” Her mate
Knollig pulled her close, “In order to use the land he owned which the port pad
happened to be sitting on, they offered to bring me here and cure me. They also
needed someone to help Kneus fit in on Earth.”

Callum McPherson put his hand on his granddaughter’s
shoulder, “It was the best decision I ever made. Even if I hadn’t been able to
make it here to see the results, it was worth every moment that you be happy
and healthy again.”

Catherine quickly asked, “I was put through this
medical fix after I came through, because I had a bullet wound?”

“Yes.” Kniam stated quite firmly.

“What exactly does that mean?” Catherine choked out.

“I can answer this one.” The doctor named Gwen
stated, “The medical unit takes a genetic snap shot, then makes you the perfect
copy of that blueprint. All the damage done on Earth is repaired. Resulting in
longer hair, no cavities, etc…it goes further though. It fixes anything
physically wrong with you. It cannot replace something missing…say if you
donated a kidney, or had a hysterectomy. It can only repair what is there to be
repaired.” Gwen shrugged, “There is also the fact that it changes the human
body from consuming food, to using the suns for energy. We are kind of like
solar panels, or batteries. We use the sun now…oh, and water for the absorption
of minerals and nutrients that is added to it.” She looked around, “Did I
forget anything?”

Catherine eyebrows shot up, “I had this done too?”
She was close to shrieking, “I am a ‘solar’ person now?”

The others just looked around at each other, the big
one named Knaleg answered her, “Yes Catherine, this was done to save your life.
There is no going back to Earth, even if we could reverse the process, which we
can’t. There is no going back for any of the females that are here.”

“Why is that?” Catherine asked in a shocked whisper.

“Because we shut down the port pad.” Knaleg stated
matter of factly.

Knaleg was watching the little female they had in
medical closely. She wasn’t taking the fact that the port pad was deactivated
very well. She was turning a vibrant shade of red at the news that they had not
only changed her body chemistry, but had also left her with no way back to
Earth.

“Why did you do that?” She tried to keep the censure out of her voice,
but he heard it anyway.

“Kneus sent Callum through first with the information that there was an
investigation going on by the Earth authorities. He warned us to deactivate the
port pad, and we knew enough about the ways of the leaders of your planet to
agree. We realized that it was too dangerous to leave the port pad active. Not
even for the possibility of more females.” He replied.

“Who are you that you get to decide that?” She snapped out.

“We are the council of Terraneu.” Knaleg snapped back, standing at his
full height and shooting daggers at the tiny female. She glared back, not the
least bit intimidated by him. Not many people would stand up to him when he was
angered. “We were using the port pad to bring women here to live willingly with
our males. They choose to come here to see if they were compatible as mates!”

“So you say!” Catherine shrugged, “All I was investigating was their
disappearance. I was working with the facts at hand, and those showed ninety
women vanishing without a trace. For all we knew, you were harvesting them for
their organs or selling them to work in the sex trade.”

Knaleg pounced, “This is the planet you would have us stay connected to?
When women go missing they are being sold for sex or their body parts are being
harvested?” He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “We have no regrets in
deactivating the port pad. It was necessary to protect what we are building
here on Terraneu.”

“Knaleg…” Amber started but he cut her off.

“No Amber…she needs to hear this.” His furious gaze swept to Catherine
again, “For thousands of years this council has stood strong. My brothers:
Kniam, Knollig, Kneus, along with Thian, Asteen and Ailech.” His arms swept the
room, “We fought to give our men some hope on this planet. We survived by sheer
will and the rule of law and honor. Now you are going to question our decision
to sever contact with your violent planet?” Knaleg laughed, this time with
humor, “You come from a race of people that will be lucky to survive a fraction
of the time we have.” By the end of his speech they were practically butting
chests.

“That may be true, that Earth is a tad violent…” Catherine refused to
back down.

“A tad violent? How can you say that with a straight face?” He broke in,
still towering over her. “My brother searched your Internet when he was there,
and told us of what he saw of Earth. Every news article that was available was
commenting on the violence, the destruction, and the disease. You commit
horrible acts against each other on a daily basis, which on Terraneu would not
be tolerated. You can’t even treat minor illness or feed all the people of your
planet.”

“There are a lot of good things about Earth too you know.” Catherine shot
back her finger poking into his chest.

“Name one thing?” Knaleg scoffed, thinking he had her beat.

“Women…” Catherine looked around and when she eyed Amber’s belly she
added, “And babies! Those are two things for you!” She raised her eyebrow,
daring him to dispute her.

Knaleg’s mouth opened, and then snapped closed. He just stood there
scowling at the tiny female trying to intimidate her, and failing miserably he
realized with shock.

Knollig had waited patiently for Knaleg and Catherine to stop arguing,
“Can’t we just ask the female why she shot Kneus?” At his brother’s voice,
Knaleg jumped back.

“I didn’t shoot anyone!” Catherine spoke up in her defense. “At least not
intentionally.”

Knaleg gazed at the little spitfire, “How did you both get wounded, if
you didn’t shoot the weapon?”

“It’s true that I had confronted Kneus on the port pad. It was my job to
find out what happened to the women that disappeared six months ago.” She was
looking around the room, “I fit the profile of the missing females and was
given the assignment of investigating Mr. McPherson and your brother.” Knaleg
could see Catherine stiffen her back and sit up straighter. He silently admired
her spirit. She was a feisty one!

“After I woke up from being drugged, I found my way to the port pad. I
saw what I thought were injured women. I confronted Kneus and he said they
would wake up soon. I checked the pulse of one of them and found a strong
heartbeat. So that part could have been true.” The female was stating facts,
not trying to make herself appear any less guilty or innocent. He liked that
she wasn’t making excuses, just stating what she felt had happened.

“Kneus asked me to step off the port pad. He was trying to keep me from
getting pulled through when he pushed the button. I didn’t know any of this was
going to transpire.” She was winding down and he could see the strain on her
face. “When Kneus activated the port pad, the gravity pulled at my arms and my
weapon discharged. The bullet might have hit him before it lodged in me, I
don’t know.” She put her hands up and shrugged. “I wasn’t going to shoot him,
but it was my gun that caused the damage. I take full responsibility for what
happened.”

“There you see it was an accident.” Amber broke the silence.

Knollig sighed, “I would like to go check on Kneus, then return to the
dance. The rains will have stopped by now, and I would like to spend what’s
left of the night with Mairi.” He paused, “The female seems to be of sound
mind.” His brother’s critical gaze swept over Catherine, “We can wait to decide
what is to be done after we hear Kneus’ side of the story.”

“That sounds good to me.” Mairi grabbed Knollig’s hand and they moved
toward the door. “Are you coming to the dance grandfather?”

“It sounds like fun, what do you say Doc? Are you up for some dancing?”
Callum McPherson held his arm out for Gwen.

“Sure.” She looked over her shoulder at Amber, “Call me if you need
anything! Remember, tomorrow I insist you go on bed rest!”

When the door opened Knaleg could hear the music playing loudly in the
square. He wished for a moment that he was out there having fun, maybe meeting
some of the new arrivals. Then his eyes swept back to Catherine. She was
certainly intriguing this tiny female. Her black hair and flashing deep blue
eyes were a strange combination. He found them to be an attractive mix with her
fair skin. She was very petite, but packaged nicely. She would make a fine
mate. If she could adjust to life on Terraneu he supposed.

He looked to his brother, “What do you want done with her Kniam?” He
looked back at Catherine, “We have the incarceration dome if you don’t feel
comfortable with her wandering Terraneu.”

“Incarceration? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not the one who
blasted you to a strange world, then changed you to eat solid food! Then to top
it off accuse you of a violent act you didn’t commit!” Catherine shot back
hotly, “If anyone is in the wrong here, it is you!”

“You would not be alive if we had not changed you,” Kniam’s cold voice
cut in, “and putting you in the incarceration dome will not cause me to lose
any sleep.”

“Think again on that.” Amber wasn’t going to be left out, “Catherine was
doing her job when she confronted Kneus and she said that she didn’t shoot him
on purpose.”
 
Catherine watched as she
struggled to get her legs over the side of the medical bed. “I know you are
being overly cautious because of the babies, and wanting to keep them safe.”
She looked at her mate, “Try to picture this from Catherine’s point of view.
The women we have here from Earth didn’t have any family, but imagine what you
would do if it were our daughter missing like they were.”

Catherine watched as Kniam moved to place his hand on Amber’s stomach. “I
would kill anyone that threatened our babies.” His voice made the hair on her
neck stand on end. “I would hunt them down…”

“Kniam…” Amber grabbed his face and they locked eyes. “That is what
Catherine’s job was. To find and protect the women we were trying to take. She
didn’t know the women that were missing had come here of their own free will.”
Amber held out her arms, “Please help me down.” Kniam gently moved her off the
bed, to stand next to him on the floor. Amber slowly made her way over to
Catherine.

“I know this hasn’t the best of welcomes. We usually do a lot better at
greeting the women that come here.” Amber smiled warmly, “Would you like a
tour? There is a celebration going on in the park to the east…you may know some
of the women from your stay in Scotland. That might help you to realize that we
are telling the truth.” Amber took her arm…then looked again at her medical
robes.

“Oh, we need to get you something to wear.” She turned to her mate,
“Kniam can you please get a dress for Catherine. I can never get these drawers
to work properly.”

Kniam nodded stiffly, then turned and got something from a drawer in the
wall. He turned with a scrape of material in his hand, and handed it to her.

The material was soft against her skin, almost like silk. She eyed it
with concern, not sure how she was supposed to wrap it around herself and keep
her modesty at the same time. Amber must have sensed her dilemma because she
put one arm into her mates, and the other arm through the male, Knaleg’s.
 
Moving both men with her to the door.

“We will give you a few minutes to get dressed.” Both men were muttering,
and trying to argue, but in the end she got them out the door.

Catherine didn’t waste any time. She took off the medical gown covering
her, which turned out to be two of them. One was on forward and one was on
backward. She left them across the medical bed she had been on earlier, and
started to wrap herself in the “dress” Kniam had given her. It was a deep blue,
and was pretty simple to get into. She had tucked it just so, when the door
opened again. She spun around to see the large male, Knaleg in the doorway.

“When you are ready, I am to give you the tour.” He stated gruffly,
“Amber has grown weary and Kniam is taking her to their home.” He gestured for
her to leave through the doorway, and follow him.

Catherine stepped outside and her shocked mind tried to take in her
surroundings. After a few feet of walking they passed a wall, then were out in
the open. All around her were lights, and streamers floating on the wind. As
she followed Knaleg she saw fountains ahead, and benches. Both covered in more
lights. The music was playing loudly so she didn’t expect conversation. She was
a bit surprised when Knaleg yelled, “The area we just left was the Square of
Four. It holds the four original domes built many thousands of years ago. They
are the technical, medical, caging and porting domes.”

He stopped on the path, “Would you like to see the celebration in the
park or the industrial and living domes?”

Catherine thought for a minute. She wasn’t in the mood for dancing, or
partying. What she would really like was more answers. So she said, “I would
prefer it if we could go away from the music, I have a few questions if you
don’t mind answering some of them.”

Knaleg frowned at her before turning around and heading away from the
celebration. Which as far as Catherine could tell was going on to the east of
them as Amber had said.

“Terraneu is built around the Square of Four that we
just left. All of the buildings in the compound have eight walls, twelve feet
long to make a perfect octagonal shape with about 700 sq. ft. of useable space
inside. The walls can be removed, doors widened, computer consoles added or
removed.” Knaleg was yelling since the music was still pretty loud.

“Why exactly eight walls, twelve feet long?”
Catherine asked.

Knaleg stopped on the path to look at her, “It is
just the way it has always been done.” He turned and started walking again.
“New Haven is the community just to the south for family units. When a female
has chosen the male she wants for her mate, they can move to New Haven. There
are over fifteen mated pairs currently living there. Among those are my
brothers and their mates who you have met tonight. Also living there are
council member Thian and his mate Jen.”

Knaleg continued walking, gesturing with his hands
at the area to the south of them. “New Haven living units are all on individual
solar power. We can have one, two or one hundred units running independently it
doesn’t matter. We are hoping soon that New Haven will be full with mated
couples. There is also construction going on to the north, that area is called
McPhersonville. Mairi was allowed to choose the name, and that is what she
selected in honor of her grandfather.”

Knaleg pointed to the area around him. “As for here
in Terraneu, the rest of the living quarters and industrial domes are all
spaced out in “rings” radiating out from the Square. We left space in between
each ring to allow for personal balconies and landscaping. There are also four
larger, twenty-foot wide travel paths going from the center of each wall.
Walking paths were placed, five feet wide in front of each ring, and behind
each ring to make an interconnected space. The domes are broken into “zones”.
They are NW, SW, SE, and NE. The first ring has five living pods or domes in
each zone. The second ring has nine, the third has thirteen, and the fourth has
seventeen and so on. We have turned multiple living units into industrial
workspace for the females. They seem to enjoy the jobs they have created for
themselves here.” He didn’t have to talk as loudly, they were moving deeper
into the “rings” as he called them. There were a few people around, walking in
pairs or just hurrying this way and that.

Catherine noticed some benches placed strategically,
along with old fashioned looking post lanterns. “Can we sit on a bench for a
moment please?”

He shrugged and chose a spot not far from where they
had been walking. He sat board straight with is hands on his knees. His body
language was screaming “unfriendly”. She sighed and sat facing him so she could
see his face as they talked.

“I don’t want to bring up an uncomfortable subject,
but could you please tell me why I would be considered for incarceration?”
Catherine decided to get to the heart of the matter. She knew the males that
she had met so far were angry with her for what happened to Kneus. So she
patiently waited for Knaleg to answer.

He stiffened at her question, then in a harsh voice
she still found oddly appealing answered. “You were…are…might be considered
dangerous because of the way you and Kneus arrived on Antilles.” His purple
eyes swept over her, “For such a small female, you seem to have brought a lot
of trouble with you.”

His gaze narrowed, “We were expecting Kneus to be
the last through the portal. What we got were two unconscious bodies covered in
blood, both injured from some type of projectile weapon.” He started drumming
his fingers against his knees in agitation, “Kneus had a head wound, which at
first seemed slight. He had lost blood, but we brought him directly to the
medical unit on Antilles. He was repaired, but either the loss of energy on
Earth has depleted his ability to heal, or he has greater damage than we can
find. The doctor said he is stuck in his own mind, she called it a ‘coma’.”

His fingers were drumming faster, “You had a chest
would that also required immediate attention, so you were stabilized and
brought to Terraneu since Kneus was in the Antillies unit. Without the ability
to get answers from Kneus as to what happened on Earth, we had to assume that
you were dangerous.” His fingers slowed to a stop, telling Catherine that he
had calmed. He obviously cared a great deal for his brother and she didn’t have
any illusions that her situation was dire. If Kneus didn’t wake up to verify
that she hadn’t shot him on purpose…?
 
She was just going to have to hope that he recovered soon.

Catherine unconsciously reached for Knaleg’s hand.
When he flinched away from her touch, she was unreasonably hurt by the move.
What was wrong with her? She didn’t get hurt feelings! She needed to get it
together and toughen up already. Her life was at stake! With that personal face
slap she stiffened her spine.

“Do you believe that I shot your brother on
purpose?” Catherine whispered the question, half afraid of the answer. So much
for not caring what he thought! She had lasted all of what, two seconds?

Knaleg just shrugged and again raked her with his
gaze. “I have found all the women that were brought here to be very friendly. I
don’t find any of them to be violent in nature. You however are obviously
trained for deception and weaponry. I don’t know how violent you are.”

The green-eyed monster suddenly jumped up in
Catherine and she hurried to push back her feelings! Sitting next to Knaleg on
the bench was worse than her first experiences with teen-age hormones. He
appealed to her on every level and she found her pulse racing. The heat coming
off him was soothing and exciting at the same time. He smelled like the forest
after a good rain, she could almost taste the drops of moisture on her tongue.
His face was half in the shadows and when his mouth moved she could just see
the flash of white teeth behind full lips. She hurriedly tired to pull herself
together. Never in her life had she lost control of herself in a tense
situation. She wasn’t about to let her mind wander now.

“That didn’t really answer my question. I guess it
doesn’t matter anyway.”
 
Catherine asked
before she lost the nerve, “What will happen to me if Kneus doesn’t recover?”

Knaleg’s face darkened, “That is not a possibility
that anyone is thinking about.” When she made to push for more details he
forestalled her with, “We will have to face that day if and when it comes.”

Catherine sighed and stood up, “I would like to be
shown where I will be staying. I am going to assume there will be a guard
assigned to me?” Her eyes swung around to find him standing also.

He opened his mouth to say something, and then
obviously decided against it. He got a strange look on his face then answered,
“I have the location of where you will be staying. Please follow me.” He turned
around and headed back down a path. Catherine’s thoughts were bouncing around
in her mind. She needed to work on what she was going to do if Kneus didn’t
wake up. Her options were very limited. She was on a strange planet, surrounded
by males that radiated hatred. All of it started because she had taken an
assignment to find females that didn’t need or want her to find them. It was
almost laughable.

She had been following Knaleg absentmindedly when he
suddenly stopped. They were almost back to the original Square of Four.

“This is to be your domicile.” He put his hand on a
console and with a beeping noise a door opened for them. He held his arm out
for her to enter, so she stepped into the darkness.

“I can’t see anything…” Catherine started to ask how
to turn on the lights.

“Illumination fifty percent.” He was right behind
her! If she pressed back she would be able to feel his chest behind her.

At his words the ceiling above them seemed to glow.
She could see they were in a room with some type of chaise couch and chairs.
She turned to find Knaleg and saw that he was moving off. Through what looked
like a sheer curtain he called out to her.

“This is the bedroom and there is a bathroom around
the corner from this room. You can set the consoles to illuminate a room by
either voice, or touch of the console or both. The ceilings are made of a solar
luminescent material. They absorb the suns rays by day and can illuminate
through the night if needed. We found that with Amber and Mairi we did not
explain enough about their living quarters. If there is something you do not
understand or aren’t told please ask. We do not leave things out on purpose, we
just never have had a reason to explain their use before.”

Catherine had walked through the material and saw
that she was in a bedroom. There was a balcony to the right so the bathroom
must be to the left. Knaleg was standing by her balcony console and she heard
some beeping and a clicking noise then he turned around.

“You were correct that there would be a guard posted
outside of your domicile. Until we can ascertain the level of threat you pose,
if any...you will have a guard assigned to you. ” Knaleg paused on the way out
of her bedroom. “I have locked the balcony door. You will be given access to
the outdoors for the sunlight you require. There are glasses in your bathroom
along with water. You will need to drink some tonight.” He moved past the
chaise back to her front door. Just before leaving he turned to face her, “As
to the question you asked me earlier. I do not want to think that you shot
Kneus on purpose.” Before she could respond he had put his hand on the console
and left her quarters.