by Pearl Tate
Ignoring Teresa, I don’t let her dramatics bother me. She’ll be fine. All she has to do is wedge her body in between the tight space between the crates, and she can stop her descent, right? Now me … not so much. I know I’m taking a chance on the aisle side like this, but I don’t even feel nervous. The drone of the forklift going back and forth in the distance drowns out my endeavors, while I pull up the lid with my pry bar far enough that the fasteners are only sitting there instead of holding it securely closed.
By the time I get done and work my way back, Teresa is watching me with wide eyes, waiting for instruction. “Okay. Use a hand and lift with me.”
Putting my thumbs in the crack between the lid and the box, I reach down to pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight while I push up on the edge. The lid barely moves until it gives off a deep cracking moan, and I manage about six inches of clearance between the lid and the box. Just enough to shine my light.
Bam!
The entire box—no, the entire rack—rocks toward me, shifting the contents closer just as I’m reaching in. My hand wraps around one of the clear cylinder containers right as the entire rack is knocked again. What the hell!
I’ve lost sight of Teresa, but she’s between the racks on the side farthest from me, and I’m tossed to the right, gripping the corner and wrapping a leg on each side. If I can just get in between …
It’s then I see down below—not one, but two pieces of warehouse equipment. One is a manlift and the other is just a forklift, and they’re slamming against the side of the rack I’m on. Could they be doing this on purpose?
Watching them back up at an angle, they cross over the foot-wide gap, giving me a moment to put the cylinder in my pants, but my phone is long gone. I don’t think it’s going to be salvageable from this height either. Right now though, I need to concentrate on getting around the side like Teresa is …
Bang!
This time, my fingers are crushed by the lid slamming down as the entire racking structure groans around me. Shrieking at the pain, my fingers scrape at the opening, trying to grab ahold of anything. But in my shock and with nothing to hold on to, I tumble backwards into a free fall.
Oh, shit.
CHAPTER NINE
- Desin
“I feel … nothing.” Scratching my head, I turn to Payak, wondering if what I’m experiencing is normal. Has he felt this way about Lana all along? As far as I know, I’m the only one in our squad who managed to let things emotionally accelerate enough with a Personal Assistant to the point where actual feelings became involved.
Payak spins around in his chair at the display station in front to look at me. “This is new?” Leaning forward, he rests his forearms on his knees as he stares me questioningly in the eyes. “Did you still have an illogical emotional attachment to Lana when we arrived on Earth?”
I know Payak doesn’t understand the emotional connection that I believed Lana and I had previously. I mean we did have … before. Didn’t we?
I’m so confused. Shaking off his stare, I stand and bring my hands to my face, rubbing my eyes that feel exhausted from working too long. I need a break and know that Payak went out last night with Teresa to what he said the Earth humans call a “date.” Of course, I’ve heard of cultures using such meetings between the sexes to test compatibility between the males and females before coming together to procreate. I just didn’t realize that Payak would stoop to engaging in the local species’ games.
Obviously, Lana didn’t either. She left earlier in the day, and it was clear she wasn’t happy. Payak asked me what was going on with her, and since I want to hear about his interaction with Teresa—because I’m curious about her roommate, Jade—I’m trying to be as honest as possible.
“Yes.” I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it, but feeling nothing with Lana? That’s definitely new.
I mean … at one time, I wanted to have Lana completely to myself and not have to share her. I was even mulling over something considered taboo in our culture …
“Is this only since you’ve met Jade?” Looking at Payak, I squint my eyes, trying to gauge if he’s being serious.
Taking a deep breath, I try not to overanalyze what he’s asking and instead concentrate on what the question is. I did want his feedback and advice. “Yes … I guess it’s only since then. I mean … I did just meet Jade the night before last. You know? When we went to The Pit together on the way back from our Ashen quarantine.”
Payak nods, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs at the ankles. “Well, I can’t totally explain the change that came over me when I met Teresa. I was attracted to her on a physical level, of course … but it was more than that. More than just arousal and lust. There was surprise and excitement and a clear physical pull between us. My heart raced. When we touched for the first time—and still now actually—there’s a physical vibration that ricochets between us. I can’t explain it …”
His voice trails off, and I’ve quit my pacing as he speaks to look at him. Payak’s eyes are unfocused, looking out one of the many windows sprinkled around the sides of this building, showcasing the surrounding green forests. Everything he says, I can relate to. That’s exactly how it was when I saw and met Jade too.
I mean … the first shock was realizing she could see me at all. I was partially phased just like Payak, watching all the Earth-dwellers enjoy their loud music by moving their bodies to the beat in enticing and provocative ways. Jade caught my attention instantly! It’s hard to imagine that every man there didn’t notice her.
That must have been what Payak was having a meltdown about. “Did you feel jealous when you saw Teresa dancing the other night? With all the other Earth men there watching her?” Payak’s eyes snap to mine, his face hardening into a stony expression that tells me I’ve hit a nerve.
Taking a deep breath, he huffs out, “Yes.” I can’t help smiling at his petulant tone of voice.
“Have you ever felt that way before?”
“No.” Payak closes his eyes at his clipped answer. When he opens them again, he holds his hands up in a surprised motion. This is new for him. The only difference with me is I have felt that way before. With Lana.
I know it makes no sense, and I was wrong to let my feelings for a Personal Assistant develop to that degree. It was immature and inappropriate because I knew better. But I wasn’t only young when I began to feel that way, I was lonely.
It all happened after joining Payak’s squad. He was my first assignment, and even though it’s been quite a long time, I’m still considered young for the position and circumstances. We all cycle through our educational assignments. It’s part of our updating education to keep our species engaged and interested in living.
All Sinth are considered Guardians, working through the structured tiers we use as education. Compared to other species, there aren’t many of us. Especially when you look at Earth’s human population across their planet. There are billions. It’s astronomical.
“Well, when I saw Jade at The Pit, dancing while every Earth male was able to watch her in that tiny, red dress, I was jealous too,” I tell him. “And I knew immediately what the feeling was. Of course, I know how to suppress it, so the expression didn’t show on my face. It seems that my past experiences with Lana have been good for something.”
Payak laughs, standing to clap me on the back. “But you’re past that? You’ve been moving past it for some time, correct?”
Feeling chagrined, I purse my lips thoughtfully. “I believed I was. Honestly, I just realized that I’d never be able to compete with you.”
Shrugging, Payak moves away, heading for the food prep area where he opens the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of water. “She has been with me for an extremely long time. Almost since I was first assigned and maybe that has something to do with her behavior now …?”
His voice drifts off as a ringing comes from below at the work stations. Payak’s already sprinting past me, telling me over his shoulder, “Tha
t’s the communication device I was assigned by Cameron when I questioned him on keeping in touch …” He pauses, holding up the device in front of him. Turning the screen to me, he announces, “It looks like it’s him.”
Payak turns the screen back to him, looking down at the small rectangular device with a puzzled look on his face. “I was expecting Teresa after she was done with her work today.” Shrugging, he presses a button that’s displayed on the screen before holding the device up to his head. I’ve seen all the Earth-dwellers carrying those. From the sounds of it, they tie in all their communication and socializing to it, including from the rudimentary desktop devices they call computers.
“What do you mean?” Payak sounds furious as he yells, his face hardening into the mask I’m familiar with on a regular basis. He’s stressed and already heading for the door as I trail after him. “Don’t let anything happen to her. I’ll be there in a moment.”
“What?” He’s about to phase out, but he pauses as I ask, his jaw clenching as he explains.
“It’s Teresa and Jade. Cameron says he’s been notified on their interoffice communication that Teresa penetrated a restricted warehouse facility with Jade. He said the message was only cursory. Basically, there isn’t anything he needs to do. But he was told so he knows not to look for her. Taxin security is handling it and can’t guarantee either woman’s safety or that they’ll be back in their job positions any time soon. Cameron said the last time he was sent a notification like that, the person survived despite the aggressive way he was dealt with. But when he was released from the hospital on the base, he was immediately released from his job here and even discharged from the military, Cameron believes.”
My mouth’s hanging open in shock and horror by the time he finishes. “What’re they doing? What could be that bad?”
Shaking his head sharply, Payak looks at the Earth communication device as if it will give him the answer he needs. “Just in a restricted warehouse—so they’re compromised. We have to go now. Phase to behind The Pit.”
Payak’s gone almost as soon as he finishes speaking, and I quickly follow. Instantly, we move from our dimension to the area where we parked our golf cart two nights ago. He’s turning in a slow circle, assessing the buildings around us. “It’s supposed to be the warehouse closest to the mountain? Built into it …”
He phases away, and I see him reappear next to a warehouse that’s wider and shorter looking than the others, but clearly backs into the mountainside. Following him automatically, I’m annoyed to see there aren’t any windows to make it easier. But at least phasing through walls is child’s play. We shift partially into our dimension and step inside.
Even partially phased, the loud booming and crashing sounds draw our attention to the opposite side of the building. Luckily, we phased into a long, wide path. One where we can see almost across the building as we phase from one side to another. Once across, both of us freeze as we take in what’s going on.
They’re intentionally banging against the side of the racks with two different types of equipment! I don’t see Teresa, but as I move closer, I can clearly see between the aisles of large boxes stacked one on top of the other. Phasing to the top of the rocking crates, I see Jade clinging to a corner of the top crate!
Just as I begin to phase fully into the Earth dimension, her eyes shift to me a moment before she cries out and loses her grip. She’s already falling toward the floor far below as I reach for her. I can’t let her hit the hard ground!
There’s no real choice at this point. I’m working on instinct, streaking through the air and following her while we free-fall, I know that when she’s in my arms I need to immediately phase, regardless of the consequences. The floor here is concrete, and she won’t survive the impact.
We’re all taught at an early age not to phase with any other living entities. And we all have a horror story from our youth of creatures we’ve accidentally killed, turning them to dust—even if we phase back as soon as we realize they’re there. It’s why sleeping with someone or something is almost a death sentence for them. If we accidentally phase—we’ll render them to dust.
But I don’t have a choice! If she hits the hard surface, she’s sure to be killed or close to it. And there’s something deep inside me … some knowing … that senses, like Payak, that she’s different. That she can see me in my dimension, and she is my mate. I know that’s what he’s been working up to ever since he mentioned that he gave her a pelay at their date yesterday evening.
The pelay, a necklace, is one of our original historical mating gifts, and I’m impressed he owns one. I know what he has in mind for Teresa. And I’ve been toying with the same thoughts the last couple days as my need to see Jade again has intensified, making work almost impossible. Right now, we’re about to find out if what we’ve suspected is true because I can’t let her die this way.
CHAPTER TEN
- Jade
As my grip slips, and I drop back into a free-fall, I’m shocked to see a man standing on top of the container, looming over me and reaching out with one arm. It takes a moment to recognize Desin, the man I met a couple of nights ago at The Pit. Sure, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve fantasized about him over the last couple days, but this is a bit weird.
I’m actually kind of surprised I haven’t seen him around, considering how into me he seemed. I’ve imagined that bathroom orgasm on his hand more than once—playing with myself both in the shower and my bed over the last couple days. I’m disappointed he didn’t look me up. Not that I’ve gone out much, but usually you see the new people wandering around, getting the lay of the land on base. It isn’t a huge post but sizable enough that it takes time to figure out where everything is located.
Of course, by the time I think to respond and actually reach out for him, I’m already falling, and I’m well on my way to the ground. Fuck! I can just imagine how much this is going to hurt, if I even make it alive.
My eyes are squeezed shut in terror, so I stiffen in shock when I feel strong arms around me, cradling my body against a hard chest. Whoa! Splattering my brains all over the concrete must not have hurt because I have to be dead. It’s quiet around me as I slowly open my eyes, and my breath catches in my throat as I see swirling lights … and I’m being held … by Desin? Is he dead too?
Less than a second later, we’re surrounded by the chaos and noise of the warehouse, but my attention is still focused on Desin and his chiseled jawline above me. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. His arms tighten around me, before he drops to his knees, leaning down to lower me to the hard floor. His embrace was cool, something I remember now from the other night when we were in The Pit bathroom, but the frigid floor feels like ice soaking through my thin leggings and on my ass.
“Are you alright?” Desin’s touch continues to vibrate through me as his hands trail down my arms, turning my palms up and down in his grasp.
What the hell? Glancing up, I see racks piled up next to us, but farther down the row are the ones I was on earlier. They’re tilting slowly, the rack bracing just beginning to crumple before they totally collapse as he speaks. The crash of the containers tilting all the way across the aisle and colliding with the next row drowns out his question. Thankfully, we’re far enough away that the exploding debris, slamming and crunching across the aisle, doesn’t hit us. But if I’d fallen there on the floor—and survived, which is another thing that’s pretty sketchy—those would have just landed on me.
Fuck! My brain seems to shut off as I consider the possibilities. My mouth opens and shuts before I swallow hard, wondering if I’m imagining all this. Everything is so catastrophic behind him, and he hasn’t even turned around. Desin’s focus is centered completely on me which causes me to believe that yes, I’m really still alive.
“I think I’m alright,” I finally manage to whisper, although my voice is so low, I’m not even sure he hears it. I blink slowly before yanking my hands from his. “Teresa!”
Flipping
to my hands and knees, I try to climb to my feet, but Desin’s hands settle on my shoulders, holding me in place as his forehead settles against mine, “Teresa’s fine.”
“Wha—” Flailing slightly, I realize my legs are weak—with exhaustion or the aftermath of the adrenaline, I’m not sure—but he can’t possibly know that. “How … I mean, are you sure? Where is she?”
Desin looks over his shoulder where my eyes are still glued to the remains of the containers, and I can’t help tapping my side pocket, assuring myself that this wasn’t all in vain. The small vial with the compound being put into the food supply is still there. How? I don’t really know. This whole event is really baffling.
“I don’t know exactly where she is right this second.” As he states this, his gaze turns back to me. “Oh! There they are.” Pointing over my shoulder, I realize I’m going to be hurting as muscle pain flares to life in my side and back when I swivel quickly to look where he’s pointing.
Sure enough, Payak is there with Teresa in his arms. They aren’t facing us, but I can see they’re watching Cameron walking up from the side of the warehouse. Before I realize it, we have company rushing up in a golf cart behind him. Two higher-ups, whom I recognize but don’t know the names of, hop out along with a younger medic I do know named Tyler.
The two older officers step over to Desin, immediately firing off questions. He just rises to his knees slowly, holding his hands out palms up. Dramatic much? Holy shit! It’s clear he doesn’t have a weapon, but I guess he’s not supposed to be in here either. It looks like we have something in common.
“I’ll speak with you with my superior Payak Tardain.” Desin tells them, lifting his arm out toward Payak who has lowered Teresa to the ground where she’s now standing. I let out a sigh of relief knowing that she wasn’t hurt either. I mean, this was all my idea, and now looking back at the carnage of the containers behind me, we’re super lucky to even be alive.
