The sight blinked away as Alyssa jerked up in her seat. Valel led the Karans down the aisle, but one of them stared back at her with copper eyes as he marched away. She watched him as he turned to face the front, his off-white skin gleaming under the fluorescent lights.
Until now, she hadn’t looked closely enough to realize the Karans all wore the same uniforms of dark gray button-up shirts and heavy denim pants with black boots and belts. Walking together in a tight formation, they reminded Alyssa of a small army. An army that will only get bigger. I hope they stay on our side.
With the Karans’ arrival, Ian and Sebastian got the meeting underway. Ian conceded most of the meeting to Sebastian, covering the events of the night and reiterating the No-Kill policy. They didn’t outright condemn the Karans for their cold-blooded slaughter, but everyone knew.
With her suspicions confirmed, Alyssa couldn’t focus on the meeting. Her thoughts raced as she compared the shared visions she’d experienced. Did he touch me on purpose? It looked like I saw his memories, not some wishful vision like Valel’s. Maybe that’s all that’ll happen with the other Karans. It’s not great, but it beats sharing a metaphysical attraction to all of them. Still, what’s that mean? Am I attracted to him? Was he right? And what was that look the other Karan gave me? Ugh! Why is this happening to me?
Letting out a loud sigh, Alyssa blushed and looked around to see if anyone noticed. As her eyes fell on the Karans, she gasped, gripping the arms of her seat. All the Karans stared back at her from their front row seats, their large eyes piercing, their faces unexpressive. She blinked and they turned back to the front. Chills ran up and down her spine.
Alyssa turned her head slowly, wondering if she’d imagined what she saw, but when her eyes met Sebastian’s worried look, she knew. Goosebumps rose on her arms, and anxiety tightened her throat until she couldn’t take anymore.
Turning her gaze to the floor, not wanting to see anyone else staring at her, Alyssa rushed out of the double doors and raced home through the night’s cool mist.
Chapter 24
“It was freaky!”
Alyssa sat on the matching loveseat across from Jess and Lorn in their living room. A steaming cup of tea sat on an end table beside her. Jess had convinced Alyssa to sit and calm down, retrieving a blanket to wrap around her shivering body.
“Why are they being so creepy?” Jess shuddered, leaning into Lorn under his arm. “I thought you said they were going to chill out.”
“They agreed to stay out of Aly’s head. I did not know they would act so inappropriately. I do not know why they are so interested in her.”
“They didn’t tell you when you spoke to them this morning?” Jess grasped Lorn’s shirt, scrunching it in her fist.
“No, they were not forthcoming. I will speak to them again. We will need to get this under control before more arrive, but I do not know if they will open up to me. They have been oppressed by Szu’Kara all their lives. I am sorry to say this, Aly, but you may need to speak with them yourself to get any clear answers.”
“Sebastian won’t like that.” She shook her head. “Hell, I don’t like that. It was so eerie the way they all looked at me, like they knew I was thinking about them.”
“Are you scared they might hurt you?” Jess asked.
“No. I don’t know. It’s weird. I didn’t feel anything from that Karan tonight. Either I only got a visual or he didn’t have any feelings about killing, which is kind of scary in itself.”
“No doubt.” Jess visibly cringed, screwing her face up like she’d bitten into something bitter. “They sure didn’t seem bothered by killing all those Zooks. I’d think they were blood-thirsty and after revenge, but they show almost less emotion than Zooks.”
“I assume that is the result of their upbringing. My people are not like humans. We are raised in groups by professionals, and I imagine the Karans were not treated kindly by their keepers.”
“You’d think they would’ve treated them better since Kayn seems to be trying to create some super-species. If he wanted our baby to bring him more power as the commander, why would he send us to the Nursery to be abused in captivity?” Alyssa looked at Lorn with watery eyes. “What’s the damn point?”
Lorn shook his head slowly. “I do not know.”
***
Sitting in the same spot, Alyssa savored the quiet, staring out at the dark street. Lorn and Jess had offered to wait with her, but she sent them to bed knowing it could be hours before Sebastian made it home. After the strange day, she just wanted to sit alone for a while.
From her vantage point, Alyssa could see almost to the corner of their block, just past Ian and Vi’s house. When she spotted Sebastian walking with Ian, both with their heads down, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. They stopped a moment in front of Ian’s house before separating.
“Hey, darlin’.” Sebastian opened and closed the front door quietly, slipping off his boots at the door. “How’re you doing?”
Alyssa gave a half-shrug. “Fine, I guess. You want some dinner?”
“No thanks. Ian had some food brought in.” He plopped down on the loveseat beside her, draping an arm over the back and resting his hand on her shoulder.
“Did you get things sorted out?”
“Uh, yeah, I think so. They said they understood, but damn if it wasn’t hard to tell if they really did or not.”
“I bet,” Alyssa said with a half-hearted laugh.
“So, Ian saw what happened.”
“Huh?”
Sebastian leaned his head against hers. “The way they were staring at you. Ian saw it too.”
“Oh.” She took a sip of her cold tea, not sure what to say.
“We talked to them after the meeting about it.”
Double sigh. “What did you say?”
“Well, I brought up all the stuff that’s been happening between them and you. Told them how humans don’t appreciate that kind of attention or contact.”
“And?”
“They apologized and promised to stay out of your head as much as possible. Apparently, some of this—” he stuck his hand up and moved it in little circles “—whatever it is, it happens involuntarily, like instinct. They didn’t say it in so many words, but I think they’re just curious about you. Lyssa too, but since she’s a baby, they are more careful.”
“I see. What about Valel?”
“He kept quiet. I’ll be keeping an eye on him. So will Ian.”
Alyssa’s head shot up, heat rushing to her cheeks. “You told Ian?”
“And Cecily. They need to know about any possible threats—”
“You think he’s a threat?” She stared at him with big eyes.
“I think we need to watch him. Like I said, the rest of the Karans just seem curious, but Valel… I don’t like how focused he is on you.”
“I… I don’t either.” Alyssa shivered. She laid her head on Sebastian’s shoulder and snuggled in close. “So, what about the new Karans we’re supposed to get in the next couple weeks?”
“I’ll contact David in the morning. He can warn off the Karans he plans to send over here. I expect some will still try to connect with you, but I wouldn’t worry too much. Just block them out. Probably best if you don’t join the crowds when the shuttle comes. That’ll give us a chance to warn them off.”
“Thanks, babe. The only person I want in my head is me.”
Chapter 25
Over the next couple weeks, the shuttle arrived three times, bringing a total of forty-two Karans. Alyssa and Jess stayed with Kora and Lyssa during each arrival, drinking tea and talking about anything to keep Alyssa’s mind off the new arrivals.
Jordan and Kora agreed to let Alyssa practice “sharing Ru’Sae,” as the Karans called it. Each time Alyssa reached out to the baby she encountered a fuzzy wall, getting giggling echoes and a faint sense of whatever emotion the child seemed to have at the time. Exploring Lyssa’s wall, Alyssa tried to emulate it in her own head, hopin
g it might be better than the first one she’d clumsily built.
For the most part, Alyssa avoided the Karans, especially Valel, as much as possible. Interactions were minimal at first, only seeing them from a safe distance during raids. As time went by, and the Karans began integrating with the coalition teams, Alyssa felt less frightened of them, and less worried they might invade her mind, although she still avoided Valel at all costs.
Standing beside a black van, Alyssa and Jess huddled together, sharing each other’s body heat. They’d dressed warm for the raid, but neither had adjusted to the climate of the Pacific Northwest. They wore gloves, but the material was thin so they could better handle their guns.
Sebastian, Cecily, and Ian were discussing strategy a few feet away. Just over the foothills, half a mile away, another slave camp had popped up. The rain of the last two hours had been coming down in buckets, flooding their planned routes of ingress.
After lots of pointing, nods, and headshakes, Sebastian came over while Cecily and Ian went to the other waiting groups. Alyssa thought about wrapping her arms around his waist and letting him encircle her in his warm embrace, but this was neither the time nor place to get lovey-dovey. Instead, she straightened up and shoved her hands in her coat pockets.
As he approached, he waved his hands, gesturing for the others to gather around. “Looks like we’ll have to take the long way in, guys. The flooding is extensive. We’re going to have to go over the hills, picking our way through the trees and around any streams that have developed from the rain. Cecily, Ian, and I will lead the Alpha teams, Valel and Zula will take the Bravo teams to flank the camp, and Mivy will lead the Charlie team—you guys—in behind us to provide cover and watch the perimeter for any reinforcements that might show up.”
A tall stick of an alien joined the group as Sebastian explained the plan. Mivy’Rom stood a head above Sebastian, but her spindly body was unusual, even for a Szu’Kara. Even her chest seemed too narrow to hold her two hearts and large lungs.
Mivy had been at the Seattle settlement for several years, working her way through the ranks of the coalition until she became one of Ian’s top fighters. Alyssa had watched her during the raids. She always led a team, and she effectively used non-lethal force to take down the enemy in an efficient manner. Her midnight blue skin and black eyes let her blend into the shadows easily, something that had creeped Alyssa out at first.
As far as the Karan teams went, Valel and Zula seemed to garner the most respect from their fellow hybrids. While Sebastian didn’t trust Valel with Alyssa, he’d grudgingly agreed the Karan performed well leading the others, and though the Karans did fine in mixed groups, they seemed to do even better when together, often assigned as strike teams.
“Once we are near the camp,” Mivy said in her deep, almost masculine voice, “we spread out in a line at the top of the nearest hill to provide proper coverage. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouths shut. Watch for any Zooks that might approach from the outskirts, in case our scouts missed any of theirs.”
Sebastian looked up at her. “You got this?”
“I got this, boss.”
They mock-saluted each other. Sebastian gave Alyssa a peck on the cheek before trotting off to join his team. Mivy smirked at her in a very human way. Alyssa made a mental note to invite Mivy to dinner soon.
“Anyone have any questions?” Mivy peered at the twelve team members gathered before her. No one spoke up. “Good. Alyssa, Jess, I want you on my right. Jack and Daniel, on my left. Do not run in until they call for a medic, Jack.” She looked at him with one raised, hairless brow. “You almost got shot last time.”
Jack blushed bright enough to see in the dim moonlight. “Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. Instinct got the better of me. Won’t happen again.”
“Fine. Everyone else spread out when we get there. Watch for my signals. I will not have any casualties on my team. Understood?”
Everyone nodded or muttered their agreement. Mivy led them to the bottom of the nearest foothill where all the teams were gathering. The chatter had died down, but the energy of the large group practically crackled. Alyssa could sense the Karans’ barely contained excitement, like the pressure of loud bass music, but without the sound.
On cue, the Alpha teams moved forward and vanished in the trees. A chill born of thrill and the cold rain crept across Alyssa’s skin. Seconds passed as they waited for Mivy to drop her hand. They watched the Bravo teams fade into the forest, and time seemed to hold its breath.
With her eye on Mivy’s raised hand and the forest beyond, Alyssa clenched the rough grip of her rifle, the stippling like Velcro against her glove. She searched and found the weight of her handgun hanging in its holster at her side, comforted by its presence.
Barely visible in the night, Mivy’s hand waved forward before falling to the grip of her own rifle. Charlie team melded into the trees, each person wearing night-vision goggles. They followed their leader closely, lest they lose sight of her in the trees shadows.
The half-mile jog through the forest took about twenty minutes. Most of the way they slogged through mud and thick undergrowth with fat drops of rain falling through the canopy and running down the pine and fir branches.
When they finally reached the edge of the forest overlooking the camp, Mivy signaled them to a halt. She dropped to the ground and crept forward on her elbows, the wet earth squelching softly under her body.
After a peek over the top of the hill, Mivy gestured for everyone to get down and line up along the hilltop. Alyssa scooted up to perch five feet away with Jess the same distance to her left. As far as she could tell, the team had the entire hilltop covered, each person with their rifles positioned to scope out the camp below.
Through her rifle’s scope, Alyssa saw a familiar setup. Rows of grungy tents sagged under the weight of the rainwater with canopies raised to protect the small fires that provided insufficient warmth to the sleeping captives. Szu’Kara guards in navy blue uniforms with the alien eye symbol marking the back and the front pocket patrolled the perimeter and the walkways between the tents.
From their elevated position, Charlie team could see the Alpha and Bravo teams approach the camp. Alpha team waited for the Karans to strike first before attacking. The Karans worked on the back half of the camp while the others moved through each row, incapacitating the guards as they went.
As the coalition clashed with the Szu’Kara slavers, Alyssa and her teammates shot any guards that tried to cut out to the perimeter and attack the coalition teams from behind. Alyssa spotted a Zook crawling through the grass and weeds surrounding the camp. She waited for him to stop and position his weapon before shooting him in the shoulder he’d prepared to aim from.
Watching him long enough to see he no longer moved, Alyssa readjusted her aim, scanning the camp. Finding the head of black hair with its white streak that she loved so much, she scanned the area around Sebastian. A guard crouched behind a tent, taking aim at the man she loved.
Oh, no you don’t, you sonofabitch!
With a racing heart and a chilling silence filling her mind, she centered the crosshairs on her target and exhaled. As she squeezed the trigger, Alyssa gave in to her anger and need to protect Sebastian, moving the sight just enough for the bullet to pierce the guard’s head instead of his shoulder.
The alien fell forward onto the tent side, knocking it down onto the people inside. Alyssa lay there frozen, rain drizzling down her neck, staring through the rifle scope at the body. Fuck! I killed him. I actually killed him. Oh, God. I’ve never… Shit, get it together, girl. This is not the time to fall apart. You saved your man. You did what you had to do. Focus!
Shaking her head clear, Alyssa searched for Sebastian again to ease her mind that he hadn’t been shot, that she’d actually saved him. She needed that kill to be worth it. These intense, overwhelming emotions were foreign to her, confirming that her love for Sebastian was true and deep, unlike what she’d thought she’d felt for Kayn.
<
br /> Before she could find him, a whistle went up, calling Charlie team down. Alyssa glanced at Mivy, who signaled the team to move in.
“Watch yourselves,” she said as they started down the hill.
Alyssa rushed forward, desperate to find Sebastian. Jogging in a crouch, she headed to the alien in the grass to check he was still incapacitated. As she got closer, she slowed to a guarded walk. Her mind raced with worry about Sebastian’s safety.
A root caught her foot, sending Alyssa stumbling forward. A loud crack sounded through the air, echoing over the surrounding field. Her forward motion reversed as she flew backward, a searing pain radiating from her shoulder, just missing her tactical vest. She screamed in agony.
“Aly!”
Spots floated in Alyssa’s vision as the dark blue sky faded in and out with each stabbing pain. She tried to lift her arm to feel for the wound, but couldn’t find the strength to move against the agony weighing her down in the wet grass. As her vision came and went, she saw Jess kneeling over her, then Mivy, then Valel. Sebastian. Where’s Sebastian? Blackness enveloped her, pulling her mind away from the terrible pain.
***
Voices bounced down a long tunnel, sounding closer by the second.
Stop fighting. Why are you fighting? My head hurts…
The voices funneled out of the tunnel and right into Alyssa’s pounding head. Snippets of an argument filtered through each throb. Sebastian!
As the fog began to clear from Alyssa’s head, she focused on his voice, his words. They sounded… furious.
“Get off her now!” Sebastian.
“Stay away! She needs my help!” Valel? What the…?
“Valel,” Mivy said carefully, “please step away. I can take it from here.”
Alyssa became aware of her body a little at a time. Hands pressed down on her shoulder, encircling a throbbing pain. Legs straddled her hips. Soothing heat flowed from the hands on her chest, but the weight of the body pressing down on her made it hard to breathe.
Unchained: The Discordant Earth Series Book Two Page 18
