Passionate Desire (29 page)

“You two always this quiet?”

“When we’re focused, yes.” Kuarto looked up from his computer, waiting for his readings to come back. How was he going to be able to stall with Storm here? His DNA would fertilize the egg before they could escape with it.

“And your mail-order bride seems a little uncomfortable with our guest.” His intense gaze rested on her.

“Well, he’s naked and the cloth isn’t really covering anything properly.” She pointed to the table. “Wouldn’t you be a little uncomfortable? The only naked body I’ve seen has been Kuarto’s and I don’t want to compare.”

Kuarto tried not to choke on his laughter. “You can look if you wish. I’m sure I’ll do okay.”

“Really? So you’ve already done the math?” She arched a brow at him.

“I’m just saying I should be able to measure up.” The computer made a slight ping sound. He went to the screen to see what the data said. The information made him frown. “This can’t be right.”

He walked to Storm’s side, pulled another sample, and ran it again.

“Something wrong?”

“Um, no. I think the sample got contaminated so I want to run it again.”

“How?” Al walked to his station and looked over his shoulder. “This is all new equipment.”

“I’ve had it happen before. Just being cautious.” He ran the same test as before, and got the same readings. Now Storm’s readings were changing. He had read about Heather’s device, how her DNA started to change when she met Storm, and the device began its disintegration.

Everything was off the chart and he had no idea what to do about it. “I’m not going to be able to find out why he was able to get her pregnant.”

“Why not?”

“Look for yourself.”

Al looked at the readings on the screen showing constant changes to his DNA sequence. His changes were happening a lot faster than Heather’s did. There was no evidence of any sort of inhibiter, so why wasn’t this detected before? And why was it happening now? What set it off?

He looked at the small machine sitting on Storm’s forehead. It was what kept him under without pumping chemicals into his system so his DNA wouldn’t get contaminated. Could it? “How is that keeping him under? Could it be what was causing all of this?”

****

Heather rested in the command chair, slipping into slumber without planning it.

“Heather.”

She heard Storm’s voice so clear in her head. She spun to see where it came from. He stood behind her looking very confused. “What happened?”

“You never came home, my heart.”

“So where am I?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m assuming you’re with Kuarto and Toki.” She tried to move toward him but found herself rooted to the spot. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get closer. “We’re following you through your computer insert, but Al used the scrambler so we have to get closer before we can pinpoint your exact location. Don’t you know where you are?” She didn’t like this at all.

“No. I was in the main security area and it was empty so I knew I was in trouble. I don’t remember anything since then.”

“Could you be unconscious?”

“I am able to join you in your dreams so I’d say no. Maybe kept under by something so I can’t cause trouble.”

“Okay. I can check with the computer to see what Al might be using. Maybe there is a way to beat it.”

“Don’t leave. Not yet. I don’t know if I can come back again.”

“I will find you, my heart.”

“No.” Anger laced his words. “You need to protect you and our children.”

“My mate is in trouble and needs me. He would do the same thing for me. He has done the same thing for me.”

“Yes, but he isn’t carrying our children.” He watched the determination on her face and knew she wouldn’t back down. “At least tell me you didn’t come alone, and that you have a plan.”

“Our team is with me. You know they are the best.”

“And the plan?”

“I was trained by the best. I would never disappoint my trainer. He is everything to me.”

He tried to reach for her and found he couldn’t move either. “Why can’t I touch you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the dream state we’re in. I haven’t been able to move here either.” She wished she could. “I have tried to touch your mind several times before, but you didn’t respond. If you hadn’t contacted me I’d probably be frantic soon.”

“In other words, you were already frantic, and this helped.”

“Yes,” she smiled at him. “A lot. At least I know you’re safe for the moment.”

“Have you tried contacting your brother? See if he knows what is going on?”

“And what if Al didn’t take you to where he’s been keeping them? Didn’t want to give our link away until I was sure. I have to assume Al is watching them like a hawk.”

“Have you asked the computer for updates from the recordings? You might find what you need there.”

“I’ve been so worried about you I didn’t even think about checking on that. Besides, the team is with me now, and I know you don’t want them to know that much about the computer.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

She knew he wasn’t going to like what she said next, “I brought it with me. Before you get too mad understand the computer suggested it. The only way to track you with Al using that scrambler was to bring the underground computer’s tracking device with us. It had a portable unit I could tie into the main computer of your ship.”

“So you’re flying my ship as well?”

“Yes. I also took off without clearance.”

“Do you know the consequences for that?”

“I do. I have spent time in the brig before. I had to rescue you and time was of the essence. I’m willing to pay for my crimes when I get back if it’s going to save my family.” She felt someone touch her shoulder which made her image shift a little.

“You’re going to go now, aren’t you?”

“You will see me soon, my heart, and you can yell at me all you want for everything I’ve done wrong. If I could touch you, my hand would be on your heart, letting you know I want my mate back in one piece, anger and all.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.” Heather opened her eyes and sat up. Fridon knelt next to her. “Your computer is asking for you.”

Heather nodded and swung her feet to the floor. “Computer?”

“I have some new data that you need to see.”

“Not now.” She knew she couldn’t allow any of her team members to see what the computer was capable of. No one had technology like that. It would raise too many questions.

“I can send the data to your link.” Seconds later, she found herself staring at the data Kuarto had been looking at, but it was inside her head so no one else could see it.

“This doesn’t make any sense. His DNA can’t be changing.” She could hear her brother’s voice in her head.

Storm’s DNA was changing? Heather could see the information Kuarto was looking at like she was the one reading it. Why would it start changing now? Then she realized this wasn’t something she needed to worry about now. She needed to know where her mate was, bring him home. Once that was done they could find out what was going on with him.

The problem was she couldn’t get a visual on the room. Her brother kept staring at the screen instead of looking around the room. Finally Kuarto looked up at the table and Heather saw the prone form covered with the cloth. Her heart stopped for just a moment. She’d know that body anywhere. The image stopped and she found several set of eyes watching her.

“You okay?”

“Yes.” Heather smiled, happy to know she had what she wanted. “We have three to bring home.”

****

Kuarto stared at the data. This just didn’t make any sense. He took another sample, this time setting the tests to see what caused his DNA to start changing.

Toki sensed his frustration. She moved to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

Al had left the room in anger when he saw the information on Storm.

“I don’t understand.” Kuarto stared at the screen until the heat of her hand penetrated his concentration. He placed his hand on top of hers when he looked at her concerned face. “I’m fine. It’s just a bit strange, that’s all.”

“What is going on?”

“I’m not real sure. Storm’s DNA is changing and it shouldn’t be.”

“What is he changing into?”

“Have no idea.” He looked back at the screen. “I also don’t know how long this has been going on. Could this be why he and Heather were able to produce? Because their DNA changed?”

“Is Storm sterile now?”

“That came back inconclusive. He’s changing too quickly for the readings to settle.” He leaned back in his chair. “One minute it will show him sterile then the next fertile. Is that what happened? A shift in their DNA made them go from sterile to fertile? I wish I had an old sample to compare this to.” He did, the one he took when they first met. He didn’t remember anything like this going on when he first looked at their DNA but he couldn’t let Al know he had that with him. He needed to keep the egg unfertilized as long as he could. Give Heather time to find them.

He knew she was probably the only one who would be looking for them.

“Or you could ask Al to wake him and ask Storm yourself.” She looked at her brother’s unconscious form.

“Al would never do that. You know how intimidating the man is when he is awake.” He wasn’t sure why she suggested it since she knew Ialog wouldn’t go along with it either.

“Just thought I’d suggest it.”

He pulled up the new changes in Storm’s DNA and studied them. What he wanted to do was get moment by moment readings to see what he was going through every second. Storm wouldn’t want to go along with it but he knew Heather would. She had been through the same thing and had allowed those readings to be recorded.

The doctor in him wanted to compare the sample he had with the ones he just took, but he made a promise to Heather and he would keep it. He looked at the reading again. There had to be a pattern to this. And Storm might be able to shed a light on what was going on.

Al came back into the room and glared at him. Kuarto wondered what he did to get such a look. Al walked over to Storm’s unconscious figure, snapped on some restraining straps around his wrists and ankles, then ripped off the device on his forehead.

“Wish you wouldn’t do that.” Kuarto stood and crossed to Storm, checking the nasty gash on his forehead before sealing it and accelerating the healing process.

“Why should I be kind to the one man who has done me wrong?”

“How did he do you wrong?” Kuarto checked Storm’s eyes as they fluttered open.

“He stole what was mine.”

“Are you talking about Heather?” Kuarto stood between him and Storm. The angry look on Al’s face had him wondering if he would cause bodily harm to Storm.

“Of course I am.” He slammed his hand against the wall. “I created her for me, not him. She was to be my companion. But his parents decided I was a menace and took her from me. They turned my creation against me. Changed her so she would be his, not mine.”

“Changed her? How?”

“They inserted her with some of his DNA and vice versa so they would have each other’s markers.” He pointed to Storm. “It was so they would find each other no matter what.”

Storm was now fully alert and listening intently to the conversation.

“I’d say it worked.”

“Yet it took my threat to get the ruling families to force them together. If it hadn’t been for me they never would have met.”

“Why did you want that? You probably knew where Heather was. Why not go after her then? Before they could meet.”

“Tried that. She had no interest in anyone.” He paused for a moment. “I knew the only way to get my companion was to make them meet.”

“How would that make her your companion?”

“Because I had planned on killing him off. I thought once they met and her device had disintegrated I could take her away and kill him when he tried to rescue her. It would break the bond. That would leave her free to be my companion.” He started to pace. “I didn’t expect their relationship would become deep rooted so fast. Their bond with each other was too strong. That’s when I knew killing him wouldn’t help me get her back. That’s when I decided to settle for her daughter.”

“But she tricked you into taking the wrong egg.”

“Yes, that was very skillful of her. Hadn’t thought she’d be that mentally strong so soon after getting her powers.”

“It sounds like you underestimated them at every turn.” Kuarto got a hateful glare for that comment. “I’m just saying each time you have tried to get the best of them you have failed.”

“Kuarto, please don’t make the man mad.” Toki crossed to his side and placed her hands on his arm. “He might try to hurt us.”

“I’m only being honest.”

“I did underestimate them, but not because I wasn’t smart enough to figure out these things. I made them. They were supposed to be as brilliant as I am, but I knew they hadn’t been trained by me. Never thought the inherent abilities would be the thing to make them best me.” He was proud of what they did, even though they beat him at almost every turn. “Now I have the chance of fertilizing the egg I do have to create another companion, and the one person who could have helped us is no good to me anymore.” He turned to Storm. “I knew you had been altered just like she had been, but you should have already been through any changes that could have happened. Your mate had that inhibitor, you didn’t.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your DNA is changing.” Kuarto spoke this time before pointing to a screen near Storm.

He read the data there but kept his thoughts to himself. “So this is stopping you from using my DNA to fertilize the egg?”

“The egg is sterile. You and Heather were sterile, yet she’s with child. Can you explain it?”

“No.” He looked at his sister, then Heather’s brother. “But he’s the doctor, not me.”

****

Heather felt it the moment he regained consciousness. “He’s with us again.”

“Are you sure this is the best way to get them out?”

“No, but Al’s not going to just let them walk out. We’ll have to get into the compound and take out the guards one by one.”