Mindspace - Complete Series

by A. K. DuBoff

  “You said you no longer have plans to kill me. Does that remain the case?”

  “Knowing what I know now, I would protect your life by giving my own,” she replied.

  “Then what could have been never was, and so shall never be.”

  Her face screwed up for a moment while processing the words, then smiled. “Need anything else today?”

  “No, take the evening for yourself. I suspect we’ll be at it bright and early tomorrow. If you’re up for it, I’d like you to lead the team that’s compiling the statement about reintegration and its benefits.”

  Ellen inclined her head. “I’d be honored, sir.”

  “Excellent. Have a good night.” He waved farewell.

  Joris returned to his office for one final task before he could rest easy for the night. The conversation with the Mysaran chancellor still had him on edge.

  He knew Colonel Kaen was likely still on Valta dealing with cleanup, so he sent a secure email communication for him to address once he was back at Guard Headquarters.

  He kept the message concise: >>Chancellor Hale may not be herself. Possible connection to the subversions within the Guard. Investigate immediately.<<

  Elusia may now have the Guard’s protection, but they weren’t out of danger yet.

  — — —

  Kira hopped off the medical exam bed. “So, nothing anomalous?”

  “All clear,” Doctor Elric replied. “Have you been feeling okay?”

  “Great, aside from being unusually hungry.”

  “That’s not surprising after the amount of activity you’ve had.” The Guard doctor opened the door. “Rest up. Your stress indicators were higher than I’d like.”

  “You should know by now that’s normal for me.”

  “Doesn’t mean it should be that way,” the doctor chastised. “Rest.”

  With Leon being here, I’m not sure how much sleep I’ll be getting in the near future, but releasing tension I can do. She hid her smirk. “Yes, Doctor.”

  Kira wound her way through the station’s corridors, taking a leisurely pace to her quarters. It was more of a home to her than Valta had been since she was a teenager, but she now had the most important piece from her former home here, as well—and even the relationship with her parents was on the mend. While perhaps not a perfect arrangement, things were the best they’d been in years.

  She found Leon leaning against the wall outside her quarters. “How’d it go?”

  “Healthy as can be. Though, I am under strict medical orders for some stress relief.”

  He grinned. “Say no more.”

  Indeed, few words were spoken over the next half hour. As she basked in the afterglow of the lovemaking, it was clear that the doctor’s prescription for stress relief had been filled.

  “I missed you,” Kira murmured into the crook of Leon’s arm.

  “I missed you, too.” He kissed her forehead.

  Kira traced her finger down his bare, toned chest. “I don’t really know how to do relationships, but I want to try.”

  “I’m out of practice myself. I think the fact that we’ve been missing each other after a decade apart indicates things will be just fine.”

  “Won’t argue with that.” She nestled closer to him.

  They lay together for a while longer until Leon dozed off. Kira eventually dragged herself out of bed and wandered into the bathroom.

  She cupped her hands under the cool water and leaned over the sink to splash her face. As she wiped the water away, Kira gazed into the wall mirror. Her heart skipped a beat. Gone were the hazel eyes she’d had her whole life—her irises were glowing orange.

  “Well, shite.”

  This is the end of Mindspace Book 1

  THE STORY CONTINUES IN CONSPIRACY…

  CONSPIRACY

  MINDSPACE: BOOK 2

  CHAPTER 1

  Eyes weren’t supposed to glow orange. Captain Kira Elsar was positive about that fact, and she was especially sure that her eyes should be nothing other than hazel.

  She backed away from the bathroom mirror. What the fok happened?

  Kira’s mind pored over the events from the last several days—her infiltration of the MTech research facility, her struggle with the mad scientist, Monica, and… the prick on her wrist.

  “Oh, fok,” she whispered.

  Her medical exam had come back clear. Everything had seemed fine until this moment. But Monica must have given her the treatment that she had been working on in her secret lab—an experimental strain of nanites.

  But Kira didn’t want to be anything other than herself, let alone some freakish alien hybrid Robus with fifteen-centimeter claws, enhanced strength, super speed, and stars knew what else. Well, admittedly, the speed and strength would be perks, but that was beside the point.

  Leon! With sudden panic, she remembered her ex-boyfriend turned second chance lover waiting in her bed. Her hopes to rekindle the relationship would most certainly meet a premature end if she slashed his face off.

  She slammed the door to the bathroom and locked it.

  “Everything okay in there?” Leon called from the next room, having roused to the sound.

  “Uh… we might have a problem,” Kira replied.

  “What is it?”

  “Um….” She thought about what to say. Well, can’t exactly hide foking orange glowy eyes. She swallowed. “So, remember when you thought you saw Monica slip me a shot while we were fighting in the lab?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, looks like I was dosed after all.”

  Running footfalls sounded in the other room. “Kira, what’s happening?” His voice was just on the other side of the door.

  Kira looked in the mirror. “My eyes are orange.”

  “Kira! What…?”

  “Nothing else seems off, though,” she added. “But I saw what those things did in the lab. If I transform completely, I don’t know if I’d be myself. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Well, a tiny bathroom isn’t the best place for you to be right now. We need to get you somewhere where we can run tests and figure out what’s going on.”

  “Leon, you are being entirely too calm and rational right now, considering I just told you I might be infected with alien nanotech!”

  “Losing my shite won’t help you.”

  Stars, she wished she could kiss him through the door. I am never letting this guy go again. She took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  “Now, if I recall, Melissa didn’t shift as long as she was calm,” Leon continued. “I know you’re freaking out right now, but take slow, steady breaths and clear your mind.”

  Kira did as she was instructed. Her heartrate slowed, and she felt she was in control.

  After a minute, she looked in the mirror and saw the orange was fading from her eyes.

  “That worked! Fok, why is this happening?” She unlocked the door and slid it open.

  Leon was waiting for her on the other side. His brow was furrowed, and his violet eyes searched hers. “Looks normal now.”

  “I don’t want to be a Robus.” Kira wrapped her arms around him, and he held her close.

  “It’s all technology. We can find a way to fix this, or at least to keep you from turning against your will.”

  “Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep.” She pulled away. “Let’s get me into a holding cell while I’m myself. No telling what might happen next.”

  “Right.” Leon took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m here for you no matter what, okay?”

  Kira placed a hand on the side of his face. “Thanks. Nice job talking me down.”

  “I have a gift.” He gave her a quick kiss.

  She ran her fingers through his hair, relishing the contact. There was no telling when they might be alone and close together again.

  “We should get dressed,” she murmured as their lips parted.

  They put on their shipsuits in silence. Thoughts of her future flashed through Kira�
�s head. As much as she wanted to think that Leon’s advanced training in genetics would help save her from this apparent affliction, she had little hope there would be a treatment for her. To the best of her knowledge, once someone had nanites in their body, it was almost impossible to eradicate the tech. Whatever she was becoming, might be the new normal.

  When they were dressed, Leon extended his hand. “I’m with you. It’s going to be fine.”

  She entwined her fingers in his. “I hope so.”

  They hurried from the lower left arm of the star-shaped Orion Station—the Tararian Guard base Kira called home—to the medical facilities in the center of the structure.

  Upon reaching the reception area, Kira released Leon’s hand and stepped forward. “I’m submitting myself for placement into quarantine.”

  The intake nurse’s eyes widened. “What for? Have you been exposed to a contagion?”

  “No, nothing like that.”

  “Then why do you suggest quarantine?” the nurse asked.

  “Because a few minutes ago I had orange, glowing eyes, and I might turn into an alien monster in any second.”

  The nurse took a step back. “I’ll get the doctor.” She ran across the room.

  “It’s just my foking luck.” Kira sighed.

  “On the positive side, now we know what Monica gave you, at least,” Leon pointed out. “I was worried it might be some sort of sleeper attack thing where we’d forget there was ever a problem, and then ten years from now someone would say just the right words to activate you, and you’d go on a murder spree.”

  “Still might go on a murder spree with this whole deal.” Kira circled her face with her index finger.

  “You won’t lose touch with yourself.” Leon looked her in the eyes. “We’ll get through this, Kira.”

  She was about to respond when the nurse ran back across the infirmary with the doctor who’d given Kira a medical all-clear not an hour prior.

  “What seems to be the problem now?” Doctor Elric asked.

  “Well, Doctor, I looked in the mirror and my eyes were glowing orange.”

  He frowned. “They’re not now.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that,” Kira replied. “I think I was injected with Robus nanites.”

  The doctor stared at her blankly.

  “Did you not read the mission report?” Kira took a calming breath. “You know what, just lock me up and call Colonel Kaen.”

  “Wh—” the doctor began.

  Kira set off across the infirmary toward the isolation chambers she’d seen on her previous visits. “I’ll just see myself in.”

  Leon and the doctor followed her.

  “I can’t say I’ve ever had a patient so insistent to be quarantined,” Doctor Elric said.

  “It’s best not to argue with her when she’s made up her mind,” Leon advised.

  “And you are?” Elric asked.

  Leon hesitated and looked to Kira. They hadn’t placed a title on their relationship status yet.

  “Leon Calleti, the Guard’s newest civilian consultant—genetics research,” Kira replied for him. “And he’s with me.”

  “As in, to be locked up, as well?” the doctor prompted.

  Kira sighed. “No, as in a partner—someone with vested interest in my wellbeing. If I’m not myself, I give permission for him to speak on my behalf.”

  Leon met her gaze, his mouth parted with surprise.

  She gave him a smile of affirmation as she reached the quarantine chamber’s entrance. The plexiglass box was on par with the facilities Kira had seen in the MTech research labs, and she was confident it would be able to hold her even if she lost control in Robus form.

  Doctor Elric made an entry on the keypad next to the chamber, and a transparent door slid open with a hiss.

  Kira stepped into the entry tunnel, which ran the depth of the room parallel to the main space. “We’ll talk this through with Colonel Kaen.”

  She pressed the button inside to cycle the chamber. The exterior door closed and an interior panel in the side of the tunnel slid open. Though the setup was equipped with bolts, no security lock protocols were presently engaged.

  Kira stepped into the room and walked up to the front window next to the entry tunnel. She placed her hand on the plexiglass.

  Leon touched his fingertips to hers on the other side of the barrier. “I’ll meet with my new team. We’ll figure this out.” His voice sounded hollow through the filter of the comm system.

  “You need to talk to Jared,” Kira told him.

  Leon scowled. “I want nothing to do with that piece of shite.”

  “He helped Monica do whatever was done to me. If it can be undone, he may know how.”

  He nodded. “All right, I’ll make the arrangements to interview him.”

  “No, not interview,” Kira shook her head. “Interrogate. And if he doesn’t want to talk, I’ll pull the answers straight out his head myself.”

  “Oh, fok!” Leon jumped back from the glass.

  “What?”

  “Your eyes…”

  Kira turned away and retreated into the room, willing herself to calm. You’re still you. You’re in control.

  She placed a hand on her stomach and took slow, steady breaths with her eyes closed. Nothing in the outside universe mattered. She was alive, and she was happy.

  The tension released from her body.

  When she turned back around to face Leon, he smiled and nodded.

  “Back to normal,” he confirmed. “I believed you, of course, but seeing it for myself…”

  She smirked. “You mean, you don’t like the glow of Fury in my eyes?”

  “It’s, uh, a bit disconcerting.”

  “You’re tellin’ me.” Kira sighed. “Has the doctor called Kaen?”

  “I can go check,” Leon offered.

  “Please stay. You can talk me down again if I start to turn. I don’t think any of us want to find out what would happen if I do.”

  Leon’s face paled, but he stepped up to the window. “You’re not like those other people they experimented on. You’ve been trained, and conditioned—”

  “I might have my telepathic abilities, but that’s not the same thing. No amount of Guard training could have prepared me for this.”

  “Regardless, I’d wager that you’re at least twice as stubborn as any other soldier. You won’t lose yourself as easily as you seem to think.”

  “Yeah, I’ll show them how it’s done.” Kira forced a smile, but she had her doubts. I should have known some foking shite like this would happen. Everything was going too perfectly. She released a long breath and suppressed the negative thoughts. No, I’ll beat this.

  As she returned to a more rational state, Kira spotted Colonel Kaen and Doctor Elric approaching from the direction of the infirmary’s entry.

  Leon stepped back from the glass, giving a nod of deference to the colonel.

  “Kira, what seems to be the trouble?” Kaen asked.

  “I believe Monica gave me a dose of the Robus nanites,” she replied. “I don’t know why it didn’t show up in my medical exam.”

  The colonel seemed surprisingly calm. “You said your eyes have changed? They seem normal now.”

  “I saw it, sir,” Leon interjected. “They seem to change when she’s distressed.”

  Except I wasn’t upset when they changed the first time, Kira realized. “Aroused might be a better characterization” she said. “And no, I don’t mean ‘turned on’. I was happy the first time it happened. It could be tied to any strong emotion.”

  “That’s possible,” Doctor Elric mused.

  Kira frowned. “Unfortunately, suppressing my emotions isn’t exactly my strong suit.”

  “We’ll research the nanites and determine if there’s a way to reverse the effects. Even if there isn’t, you can certainly gain control of the new abilities,” Kaen jumped in.

  He sounded awfully confident, considering what Kira had just told him.

>   Kira didn’t care for that perspective. “Sir, it’s one thing to be born a certain way—or to make a conscious choice to be modified—but I didn’t sign up for this.” Her skin tingled as anger about what MTech had done to her swelled inside her.

  “Huh. Well that is fascinating,” Kaen said while Doctor Elric’s jaw dropped.

  “My eyes have changed again, haven’t they?” Kira’s voice sounded wrong to her ears. In fact, all her senses were off. She suddenly had a more acute awareness of her surroundings—from the breathing of those on the other side of the glass, to the air scrubbers filtering the air within the chamber.

  Leon swallowed and took a step back. “It’s not just your eyes this time.”

  Fok me. Kira looked down at her hands, which were now coated in seemingly metallic scales above her normal skin, covering her entire body. Her fingers ended in long, silvery claws, and her exposed hands and arms were now augmented with what looked like bands of muscle beneath the scaly second-skin.

  Her shipsuit was nowhere to be seen. Startled, she realized that part of the decking where she’d been standing was also gone.

  “What the…?” She sensed a coating in her mouth that had reshaped her teeth to sharp points.

  “You’re still… you?” Leon questioned.

  Kira stepped out of the shallow hole in the deck. “I don’t understand.”

  “Perhaps the nanites needed material to replicate,” Doctor Elric mused. “How do you feel?”

  “Okay, I guess. Can’t say I have murdery impulses. Well, no more than I would after Ari has uploaded a new one of his videos,” Kira replied. Her voice still sounded strange.

  She turned from the window to see if there was a reflective surface somewhere in the chamber.

  At the back, she found a door into a compact washroom. Above the sink there was a mirror, but she didn’t recognize the face staring back at her.

  The metallic scales extended up her neck and covered most of her face. The appearance of enhanced muscle mass on her arms was present over the rest of her body, most notably her shoulders, chest, and thighs. The orange glow of her eyes was now overshadowed by a scaled plating wrapping from her brow, over the top of her head, and down her back. She still couldn’t tell if she had transformed or if the nanites had activated some sort of armor around her that was also somehow a part of her. She’d expected to be horrified by the transformation, but there was something striking about it—beautiful in its raw power.