Logan looks perplexed. “Are you saying your government pays people to sign their own death warrant? Why would they do that? I thought they needed workers?”
“They do, but they only want them healthy and young. Older workers succumb more easily to illness and disease, they are less productive, and they’re basically considered a drain on precious resources. Or that’s what they’d like us to believe.”
I shake my head in exasperation. “The overpopulation crisis is deemed strictly a lower-class issue—apparently there are far too many of us hence why they’ve curtailed our ability to marry and start families. They choose ten percent each year for exemption, but that’s only to ensure the flow of future workers is to the level of their estimated demand. They’ve been trialing solutions to deal with the overpopulation issue the last few years and they introduced the ‘Good Death’ policy as part of their efforts. Anyone in the Outer Circle can apply once they reach age fifty-five. If you agree to voluntary death, then your family receives a currency lump sum. It’s a disgustingly attractive incentive, designed specifically to prey on our weakness. Most of the Outer Circle residents are poor so they really couldn’t offer anything more enticing. Of course, they present it as the best way you can support society into the future, but we all know that’s bull. It’s a cheaper way of dealing with the issues that plague our society, but it’s so wrong! It’s sick.”
I hold my face in my hands and concentrate on breathing in and out.
“Your father did this for his family?” Logan asks quietly.
“Yes. He thinks he let us down,” I acknowledge, recalling his words the last time we spoke. “And even if he did, no amount of currency is worth a life. I know Mom didn’t want him to do this. They really loved each other once upon a time …” Sadness consumes me. I crush my lips between my teeth, breaking the skin. Logan reaches out, releasing my mouth. His fingers brush my lips sparking a delicious shivery feeling. I close my eyes and immerse myself in the sensation.
“Angel?”
“I’m okay,” I whisper. “Honestly, I am.” I dab my lip, blotting the tiny slick of red. I walk to the bathroom and grab some tissues.
Logan stands hesitantly in the center of the living room.
“I don’t want to be late for my appointment. Let’s go.” I extend my hand to him.
“I can rearrange things. We can stay here,” he suggests.
“No.” I shake my head emphatically. “Let’s stick with our plans. I need the distraction.”
“Are you sure?” He pulls me to him and cups my face.
“Yeah. Come on.”
We stop by Jarod’s apartment on the way to my weekly doctor’s appointment. I need to ensure he’s okay. He opens the door with a yawn. Still in his pajamas, he looks exhausted. Dismissing my concern, he makes me promise to drop by later for a “chat.” He glances circumspectly at Logan.
I want to call in on Jenna too, but Logan doesn’t want to see Dante yet. He’s fearful things could get out of hand before he’s had a chance to explain, so I concur.
The doctor conducts the usual tests before fixing my injured wrist. She peers strangely at the medical chip on my other wrist. “How long have you had that rash?”
“A few days,” I admit, scratching the reddish skin circling the black chip. It’s as if the itch has reappeared to remind me. “Is it some kind of allergic reaction?”
“I’m not sure. Apply this morning and night and see if it helps.” She hands me a long silver tube. I pocket it and head out to the waiting area to collect Logan, and then we’re on our way.
Logan appears nervous on the journey to the waterfall. I’ve never known him to fidget but he can’t sit still. “Relax.” I bring his hand to my mouth. “I told you I’d keep an open mind.” I sweep my lips over his hand and he trembles. I can’t help smiling. I love that my touch affects him as much as his touch affects me.
Perhaps there’s something wrong with me, but I feel oddly calm. Though I’ve received shocking news and I know without a shadow of a doubt that today is going to be a game-changer, I don’t feel sad, anxious, or scared. I’m excited.
I’m ready for the truth.
When we arrive at the cave, Logan switches on the lights and grabs two bottles of water. Tossing one to me, he says, “I probably should’ve brought something stronger.”
With the memory of my drunken humiliation fresh in my mind, I fervently disagree. “Nuh-uh. Alcohol and Sadie aren’t a good mix, remember?” He grins and I’m pleased that I’ve managed to bring a smile to his face.
“So, um, how do you want to do this?” He sits on the beanbag in front of me, fretfully fisting tufts of his hair.
“Why don’t we start with some of the basic stuff first? You’re really an alien?”
“Yes,” he confirms.
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from Saven. It’s a terrestrial planet located just outside your solar system. We share many similar qualities with your world, although we are three times your size, further away from the sun, and time works slightly differently there.”
I add a few questions to my mental checklist for later. “How did you get here?”
“I teleported.”
I stare at him open-mouthed, and he laughs. “You should see the look on your face!” Becoming serious again, he continues. “We also have an advanced form of transportation based on hyperdrive technology, which enables us to journey quickly through space without losing time. Individuals usually teleport when traveling alone or in small groups, and larger teams tend to use the SSTS.”
My mind reels and I try to organize my scattered thoughts. “How old are you really?” I ask, continuing my rapid-fire questioning.
“I’m eighteen. Though our developmental process is slightly different.”
I lean toward him, intrigued. “In what way?”
“We mature, both physically and mentally, at a relatively young age. I’ve been in this form”—he gestures with his hands—“since I was ten.”
My eyes are out on stalks. Then another question pops into my mind. “How come you look human? Is that your true form?”
He shakes his head. “Our true form is a lot less mobile than the human form. We are multicellular organisms with an electrochemical structure that enables us to communicate through our minds. Also, we, um, float instead of walking. However, we’ve the ability to take on any form we choose, and because lack of mobility was deemed a barrier to evolution of our race, successive rulers spent considerable time researching options. They experimented with different life forms over the years until they discovered the human race. The human body gives us the greatest degree of freedom, and it’s why we’ve adopted this form for the last one hundred years. However, it has its drawbacks too.” His brow puckers.
I sense that last statement is an attempt to deflect from his deliberate evasiveness, but I don’t push it. For now. “What do you mean?” I lightly stroke his arm.
He closes his eyes momentarily. “Your touch feels so good.”
I smile.
“Let’s park that one for now. What else do you want to know?”
I smother a sigh and resist arguing. He’s willing to answer most of my questions, and I don’t want to do or say anything to disrupt the flow.
“How long have you been on Earth?”
“I spent a couple of months in Seattle, and a little bit of time in New York, and then I transferred to the Mock-Up Facility. I arrived there a couple of days before you did. Prior to that, I’d only been on Earth a few times over the course of the last year with my father on business.”
A profound sense of unease sweeps over me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to confront him with the information Jarod gave me before I remember I can’t let on about that. Instead, I attempt to tease the information from him. “What business does your father have here?”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “Your government is concerned at the depletion of natural resources on Earth, and with the ongo
ing population crisis, they needed to identify a new energy source. We have an abundance of naturally renewable sustainable fuel on Saven, so my father negotiated a deal which provides your government with access to those resources.”
He uncaps his bottle and guzzles water. I sense he’s afraid to tell me the next bit, so I help him out. “What do the Saven get in exchange?”
He licks his lips and I possessively follow the motion. “The initial agreement was to allow us to secretly live among you to study your mannerisms and ways.”
I sit up straighter, surprised. “Why?”
“I wasn’t going to get into this yet, but …” He scrubs a hand over his prickly jaw.
“You promised you’d tell me everything,” I remind him.
“And I will. But I’m terrified that you’re gonna freak out.” He scans my face for any evidence that I’m about to lose it.
“I’m handling it well so far, aren’t I?” I cock my head to the side.
“Yes. Amazingly so.”
“Well, then. Tell me the rest. I need to know.” I clasp his soft hands and his fingers wrap around mine.
“When we take on other life forms, we acquire certain traits of that race.”
I wonder briefly if that’s why he’s so good at playing human. I quickly add it to my list for later.
“It’s changed us in ways we couldn’t have predicted. At first, the changes were subtle, less altering, but then they became more pronounced. Before we took on the human form, we had taken the form of a different alien race. They were more advanced than us in a lot of ways, and they looked almost human, so it seemed like a natural fit. But we didn’t realize how cold-hearted and aggressive they were. It changed our people. And not in a good way.” He winces and looks away.
“Logan.” I reach up and cup his face. “I won’t judge.”
“You say that now …” His words die out, and I wait patiently for him to continue. “This other race had no conscience, no sense of right or wrong, no moral compass whatsoever. They did what they wanted to do no matter the consequences. They vastly outnumbered us, so it didn’t matter that they were killing each other over trivial things, petty arguments, et cetera. But, for our people, it’s been catastrophic.”
My heart seizes as what he’s said sinks in. “Wait?” I hold up a hand. “Are you saying you—your race, has no conscience?”
“Yes. That was the trait we inherited from that alien race and it’s destroying our future. People on my planet flare up at the slightest thing, and they don’t hesitate to react violently or aggressively. Manipulation, murder, and mayhem are commonplace on Saven.” He climbs to his feet and starts pacing the floor. “It’s like second nature. There’s no thought process involved. Our numbers are being rapidly depleted, and if we don’t stop the downward spiral, then we’ll cease to exist altogether. It’s been the main concern of our ruling family for the last one hundred years. Striking this deal is our last chance.”
Goose bumps rise all over my skin. “What exactly did our government promise?”
He plops down in front of me, dropping his head into his hands. I try to prepare myself. After a few minutes, he refocuses on me. “At first, the agreement was that we would covertly infiltrate society and learn to live among you. This would give us the opportunity to study human nature up close and understand human thought processes and human cognizance. It was hoped we could use this knowledge to train ourselves to act appropriately and to support the development of a serum that could be administered to our people to help with the creation of conscience. But—”
“Back up there a second,” I interject. “Was that what ‘The Experimento’ was really about? To allow aliens to mingle with humans for study purposes?”
“Yes and no.”
“Can you elaborate?” I tuck my knees up under my chin.
“My father provided resources to your government to accelerate the building of Thalassic City so that we could move our alien-human project along. And yes, the idea was that we would slot in here and identify if aliens and humans could coexist peacefully. That’s essentially why the cameras were installed. So your government could monitor progress, and if it was successful, they would grant us permission to move more freely around the Sovereign Northern States of America and we could come here in greater numbers.”
I fidget with the laces on my sneakers, quietly contemplative. “Was that their only agenda? Or were they always planning on building those worker colonies for the lower classes?”
“I believe that was always part of the plan.” He clenches and unclenches his fists.
“You believe?” I’m skeptical.
“I’m not privy to all that’s discussed between my father and your government. Far from it,” he snaps. I’ve definitely hit a nerve.
“But aren’t you a prince or something?” He looks amused and that irritates me. “Don’t mock me. I know nothing of royalty let alone alien royalty.”
He looks suitably reprimanded. “I wasn’t teasing. It’s just … refreshing to hear you speak so casually about my status. I’m used to everyone on my planet being so damned stiff and serious around me. It’s a welcome change.”
While I’m wondering about his title and what exactly it means, I’m far more inquisitive about the whole lack of conscience thing, and he hasn’t properly explained what it is that our government has promised his father. “Tell me what our government has done. I already know from your reaction that it’s not good. And I recall snippets of the conversation between your dad, our VP, and the commissioner last night. What have they done?”
“The scientists on our planet are confident they can create a serum to resolve the issue, but even with our intelligence and superior technological and medical prowess, it will take years and years to develop it. In the meantime, how many more of our kind will be killed? My father—in his wisdom—asked his advisors for alternative options. And they found a viable one.” He pauses to take a drink and I swallow a few timid sips from my own bottle. “There’s no way I can describe this that’ll make it sound any better.” He looks pleadingly at me.
Reaching out, I rub his cheek and he holds my hand to his face.
“I don’t agree with it, but I’ve had no choice. My father has discovered a much faster way to create a conscience in our race.”
He stops and steadies himself. I wait with bated breath.
“We have discovered how to remove a human’s conscience and take it for ourselves.”
My throat pinches. “What?” I’m certain my face betrays the revulsion I feel.
He removes my hand from his face. “It has to happen on a one-to-one basis, but it can be done. It’s being done, as we speak.” A shard of pain blazes across his face. “It’s the real reason why we are here. We were all instructed to identify a human of our choice for this purpose; to form a bond with that human with that end goal in sight.”
“You can’t be serious?” I’m pretty sure I’m rocking the whole deer-in-the-headlights look right about now.
“Unfortunately, I am. It’s part of the reason why I was trying to keep my distance from you.”
My head is spinning with the implications of his previous statement. All my thoughts are consumed with Jenna. About how much she has changed. Immense fear for her wellbeing negates all other concerns. “When the alien removes the conscience, what happens to the human?”
The way he looks at me terrifies me. “This is the worst part.”
I brace myself.
“If the conscience transfer is completed correctly, then the human loses their freewill and they become docile, servile.”
That statement is abhorrent to me. But not as much as what he’s left out. “And if it isn’t completed correctly? What then, Logan?” The words fly out of my mouth like a battering ram.
He stares pointedly at me. “Then the human dies.”
CHAPTER 25
“No!” I shriek, jumping to my feet. “No, no, no, no, no!” I pace back and forth, gnawing on
my fingernails. Logan stands uncertainly in front of me. “That’s what he’s done to Jen, isn’t it?” My eyes silently plead for denial but Logan nods despondently. “You knew! And you let it happen! How could you?!” Tears leak out of my eyes.
“There was little I could do without drawing attention. I wish I could’ve been more direct, but with the cameras and Dante’s constant spying, I couldn’t risk telling you out straight. When I advised you to tell her not to sleep with him, I’d hoped it would be enough. But she was too weak-willed. I didn’t want this to happen to her, but I won’t apologize, Sadie, because keeping you safe is my number one priority.”
I shove him and he lets me. “Can we stop it?” Tears course down my face.
“No. You can’t undo the deed. They’ve already slept together. ”
I stop crying long enough to pose the question. “What’s sex got to do with it?”
“Everything.”
I tense and sniffle at the same time.
“Here,” he says, digging a tissue out of his pocket and handing it to me. “Sit back down and I’ll explain.”
Gently placing his arm around my waist, he guides me down alongside him. While I’m still furious, I lean into him for much-needed strength. This is all too much.
“Father stumbled across it by chance. And they’ve been experimenting with human females for months now to try and ascertain exactly how it works.”
The image of Commissioner Williams that last night at home springs to mind. “That’s why they’re abducting those girls from the Outer Circle?” All the pieces suddenly click into place.
He holds me at arm’s length. “How do you know about that?”
I can’t let him know anything about Jarod’s true identity. “I was late home one night after work and I saw Commissioner Williams kidnap a couple of girls. I later found out that it was a regular nightly occurrence. I didn’t know why until now.”
Saven Deception Page 30
