“I didn’t know anything about that until recently.” His expression darkens. “They’ve been taking girls and bringing them to Sector Twenty to conduct experiments.”
I shiver uncontrollably. “What type of experiments?” I ask the question though I’m positive I won’t like the reply.
“At first they were forced into sex with alien males.”
“Oh my God.” I clamp my hands over my face as nausea whips through me. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Sex is the key to the conscience transfer,” Logan continues, purposely ignoring my abject horror. I don’t think he knows how to handle me like this. “But all the girls were dying, and the transfer either didn’t happen or the Saven only retained the conscience for the first few days. By experimentation, they’ve discovered that the sex has to be consensual for the conscience transfer to hold. So now they let the girls develop proper relationships with Saven males, and when they cross the bridge into a sexual relationship, it’s by choice.”
I’m sickened to the pit of my stomach, and it’s hard to look at him. While I understand this wasn’t his decision, and there was much he was apparently kept in the dark about, he knew enough, and he’s done nothing to stop this.
“I want to be sure I’ve got this straight,” I say in a colorless tone. “If the sex is consensual, and there’s a proper bond, the human becomes submissive and the conscience transfers to the alien, and where the sex is non-consensual, the human dies and the conscience doesn’t transfer permanently, or at all. Is that correct?”
My eyes saturate his. At least he has the decency to look guilty. “That’s correct.”
“And our government knows this? This is their agenda for the underwater colonies?” If the VP and commissioner were at the meeting last night, then they’re clearly in collusion on this plan.
“They were somewhat appalled at first, but once my father sold it to them, they were happily on board.”
My stomach lurches to my toes.
“Your government has said these new subservient humans will make the perfect worker of the future. As they won’t have any free will of their own, they will follow orders and do as they are instructed without any protest. That’s why they’ve accelerated construction of the other underwater cities. Once this latest round of testing has been completed, and the scientists have confirmed that the process works, they intend to send all residents of the Outer Circle to Sector Twenty for processing, and from there, they’ll be transferred to one of the new underwater colonies. My father is ecstatic because it means aliens will absorb human conscience in their thousands, and it should stop the killing on our planet.” His tone is clipped.
He risks a glance at me. “Everyone wins,” he adds bitterly.
Everyone except people like me and my family, my fellow Medi-Tech workers, Jenna, Fern, Jarod, and every other star who has been duped into participating in the sham of “The Experimento.”
I can’t believe our government has sold us out like this. That they are preparing to herald in a new era of modern-day slavery, aligned to a despicable alien deal.
I’m not so sure their conscience hasn’t somehow been sucked dry.
My fear for Jenna has a new ally: fear for myself.
This is what lies in store for me, the sum of my future. If things were bleak before, it isn’t a patch on the hideousness of my fate now.
I hop up and dart to the corner of the cave. Bending over, I expel the contents of my stomach.
Logan rubs a hand up and down my spine, but I wave him off. I straighten up and face him. “I’d rather die than accept that fate.” Stepping around him, I make toward the exit.
“Sadie, no!” He spins me around.
I attempt to brush him off but his hold is firm. “Let me go, Logan.”
“That’s not going to be your fate! I told you I’d take care of you and I meant it. You won’t be forced into that.”
“No?” I gesture between us. “Then what’s going on with us?”
“That’s something else entirely. Come back in and I’ll explain the rest.”
My head is throbbing, as if a flock of angry birds is pecking at my skull. I can’t stomach anymore. I need time to digest what I’ve learned so far before I can consider dealing with anything else. “I can’t listen anymore.” I shake my head. “I … there are no words.” Horror-stricken, I look up at him. His face shows a mixture of emotion, but I don’t want his concern, or his pity, or the futility of his guilt and shame. “I want to be alone right now.”
I expect him to argue but he relents without question. “I understand. But I’m taking you home. I don’t trust Dante and I won’t leave you unsupervised.”
“Whatever.” With zero energy left in me to fight, I allow him take me home. But I draw the line at letting him into my apartment. I’ve no clue how I feel about him now. I’m both numb and hypersensitive in equal measures, and I don’t know whether to push him away or pull him closer.
He isn’t happy to leave me alone, but I’m insistent that I need head space to work out how I feel about all this stuff. Reluctantly, he obliges.
Lying on my bed a little while later, I stare at the pristine white ceiling praying for some kind of heavenly intervention. Some signal to prompt me on the right path. I’d try a tarot reading, but I’m way too emotional right now. Everything’s so messed up. When I volunteered for “The Experimento,” I’d felt it was my only chance at improving my lot in life. Although Vin hasn’t updated me on my application for the available government positions, I’m not so sure now that I actually want it.
How can I work for the very authorities who wish to enslave my neighbors, my co-workers, my friends? And how can I work for a government who thinks human morality and integrity is something that can be sold? And at such a high price?
But we are expendable. The lower classes always have been. Having an army of obedient slaves means much more to them than protecting the very essence of mankind. They put us in Thalassic City with a butt load of aliens, for God’s sake, not caring whether they obliterated us overnight.
However, the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. I shudder as I visualize losing my conscience, and my free will, and try to picture a lifetime as an indentured servant to a government I’ve come to despise. I didn’t lie when I told Logan earlier I’d rather die than let that transpire. I meant it. If that’s what fate has in store for me, then I’ll find some way to take myself out of this world.
My thoughts twist dark as despair cloaks me in a shroud of helplessness.
I would do it. Kill myself. If it comes down to that.
The revelations that Logan is an actual real, living, and breathing alien and aliens exist among us, pales in comparison to the other truths. That says it all really. Out of everything I’ve learned, it’s actually the easiest truth to accept.
Far easier than accepting the horrendous betrayal of humanity at the hands of other humans. Especially those humans charged with running our country, those who have sworn an oath to always act in our best interests.
Jarod is right.
The rebels are right.
This government has to be stopped. Sooner rather than later.
I bolt upright. Perhaps the rebels can do something to halt this! I haven’t heard the rest of what Jarod intended to tell me. If the rebels are aware of the alliance—and the existence of the aliens—then maybe they already have something in mind. I need to find out what they have planned.
***
I’m knocking on Jarod’s door in vain. He’s clearly not there, and I rushed out without my comm-clip. Pushing my palms into my forehead, I grunt in frustration.
“Sadie?” a voice asks behind me. “Are you okay?”
It’s Vin. What I want to tell him is, “No, Vin. I’m not okay. The world has gone to shit in the blink of an eye. Aliens walk among us, but they’re the least of our worries because our corrupt government has sold us all out. Handed the very essence of what it means to be human
to a bunch of highly intelligent alien freaks masquerading as humans.”
But of course, I don’t say that. “Yeah, I’m fine. I was looking for Jarod but he’s not in. I’ll come back later.” I try a one-shouldered shrug but my muscles are corded so tight, it comes off as if I’ve some kind of deformity.
“I was actually hoping to catch up with you. Do you have time to talk?” He thrusts his hands in his pants pockets and rocks back on his heels.
“Sure.”
We walk silently to Vin’s apartment. Once he unlocks the door, he ushers me in, pointing silently toward the table. I plop down while he messes about in the kitchen. Five minutes later, he sits across from me, placing two cups, a pot of coffee, and a plate of cookies between us.
He watches me carefully as he pours the steaming hot liquid into my cup.
“What?” I shift uncomfortably on my chair.
“Have you been feeling okay today?”
“Mm. Why do you ask?”
“I spoke with Jarod earlier and he was acting a little strange.”
I try to remain outwardly calm. “How so?” I pour a dollop of cream into my coffee and swirl it with a spoon.
His stare is probing and I squirm under his inspection. “I was of the opinion that Jarod and you were going on an … adventure of sorts last night.” He takes a sugar cube from the bowl and drops it into his cup. His eyes never waver from mine. “Funny thing is, he’s no memory of what he was doing last night though he clearly recalls the conversation we had two nights previous regarding his plan.”
He knows where we were last night! If Jarod confided in him, then that means he’s also connected with the rebel movement. Logan warned me not to say anything to anyone, but can I trust him? After all, he does appear to have a black belt in deception.
Trust the alien or the human?
Who is a friend and who is a foe?
My head physically hurts from mental contemplation, but I am adept at keeping things close to my chest, and that’s the tactic I decide on until I know more.
“What did he say he had planned?” I dangle the carrot. If he gives me something, then I’ll give him something in return.
Vin looks contemplative as he pierces me with a serious look. “I’d like to speak candidly with you. Jarod says you are trustworthy, and I know he intended to bring you into his confidence last night. Can I trust you?” He breaks off a piece of cookie and pops it into his mouth.
My eyes dart around the room. “Perhaps it’s not wise to speak candidly here.”
“I can assure you that it’s safe to freely talk.”
I carefully choose my words. “Are you a member of the same organization as Jarod?” I sit up straighter in my chair.
“I am. So, Jarod did tell you about that.”
I nod.
“Do you know why he can’t remember that?”
I nod again.
“Tell me what happened last night.”
I tug my lower lip between my teeth. To tell or not to tell? That’s the million-dollar question.
Vin clearly senses my inner turmoil. “Is this to do with Logan?” His eyes hold steady on mine.
I’ve an odd feeling that my actions now will somehow decide my fate. The burden of responsibility weighs heavy on me.
Do I trust Logan, or do I trust Vin?
My head wars with my heart.
Common sense fights against emotion.
Until I know more, I figure I’m best acting cagey. There isn’t much harm in telling Vin about last night provided I don’t divulge details of what we overheard or the things Logan confided in me today. At least that way, I haven’t betrayed his faith in me.
Knowledge is power, and in the wrong hands, power can be destructive. I can’t repeat what I’ve learned until I’m positive I’m delivering it into the right hands, for the right reasons, and in support of the right motivations and goals. Too many lives are at stake for me to make a wrong move. To trust the wrong person. While I’ve always respected and liked Vin, I don’t know him well enough to share what I’m privy to. Not until I’ve at least had time to talk more to Logan and bring Jarod up to speed.
Vin is quietly surveying me while my inner battle wages on. Summarizing quickly, I fill him in on what happened last night, leaving out any mention of Haydn or Logan being present and omitting the snippets of conversation we overheard.
“If you were administered the serum too, how come you remember?”
“It didn’t work on me.”
He looks intrigued. “What about their mind manipulation? Can you deflect that too?” I assume he means the foreign thoughts that sometimes land in my mind out of thin air. It’s another aspect I need to be briefed on. I add it to the growing mental checklist in my head.
“I think so. I hear the thoughts but I don’t act on them. I’m able to discern that they aren’t my own.” Vin stares at me with something akin to awe. “How do you know about that?”
“I figured it out,” he admits. “Dante manipulated me a couple of times. You remember?”
“Yeah.” I easily recall the uncomfortable moment in the Mock-Up Facility when Vin all but came on to me.
“Once my head was clear, I was immediately suspicious, and I made a conscious decision to watch myself around him. The next time he tried it, I was aware of the thought flying into my brain though I couldn’t resist acting on it. Since then, I’ve been repelling the intrusion and it’s working. I think with a strong enough will, and the right motivation, humans can resist the alien mind trickery.”
Logan’s earlier words float back to me. He said Jenna was weak-willed. Vin has definitely hit the nail on the head. “I think you’re right.”
Vin looks visibly excited. “We need you with us.” Reaching out, he wraps his hand around my wrist. “Will you join the movement? I can ensure your application for a government position is approved, and you can work alongside Jarod to feed us intelligence. Collectively, we can stop them. What do you say?”
Can I do it? Work for the same people who wish to enslave me? Even if it’s to gather vital information for the rebels?
If I don’t do this, then I’m at Logan’s mercy, and if he fails, or changes his mind, or if he’s misleading me, then I’ll become a mindless drone, of no use to anyone. While I don’t want to believe he’s lying to me, I can’t be naïve. At least this way, I can assist the rebels in stopping the government before they destroy mankind, and actively work to take back control of our lives and our destiny.
When I put it like that, there’s no other choice. “I’m in.”
Vin hops up and claps me on the back. “You’ll be a valuable asset. I’ll process the paperwork and ensure all the loose ends are tied up.”
“Fine.” I step out of his embrace. “When will I know?”
“I’ll confirm it in the next few days. Don’t worry, our contacts are far-reaching. This is only a formality. Consider it a done deal.”
“Good.” I smile tightly. Why does it feel like I’ve just made a deal with the devil?
“One more thing, Sadie. You and Logan appear to be close. Is that the case?”
Trust him to ask the one question I don’t have the answer to. “I’m not sure. Things are kinda complicated between us right now.” I shuffle from foot to foot.
He tilts his head and scrutinizes me. “Is that on his side or yours?”
“Mine,” I freely admit.
“We need you to stay close to him. His father is the main negotiator for the alien race, and Logan could be a valuable source of information. Do whatever you need to do to get him to trust you. To confide in you.”
Nausea makes an unwelcome appearance. Though I’m confused over my feelings for Logan, and I’m still angry with him, I’m not comfortable spying on him, or developing a relationship with him purely to bleed him for information. But I don’t think Vin would appreciate those sentiments. And I need that job because it’s looking like my only way out. Composing my features, I nod my assent.
I walk to Dante’s apartment like a zombie, barely conscious of my feet moving. My mind grapples to adjust to this latest development.
I can’t decide if things have gotten more, or less, complicated. If I’ve gone from one snake-infested cesspit to another.
I rap on Dante’s door and he opens it before my hand has even returned to my side. He stretches his arms out on top of the doorframe. “Changed your mind, sweetheart? Decided to test-drive a real man for a change?”
“Cut the crap, Dante.” I duck under his arm into the room. “I wouldn’t be with you if my life depended on it.”
“Interesting choice of words.” He smirks.
“I’m here to speak to Jen. Where is she?”
I want to get down and dirty with him. The thought plops into my mind.
“Nice try.” I conceal my smug grin. No sense in totally riling him up. I can’t forget that he could crush me in a split second.
“I wonder if my father knows the extent of your ability to deflect our influence?” Dante ponders, lounging comfortably against the kitchen counter. “I think that’d definitely pique his interest.”
Dammit. I should’ve said nothing. “Logan?” I call out silently, but there’s no reply. I guess we need to be in the same room to converse telepathically. Something else for my list. I’m sorry now that I didn’t stick around earlier to find out the rest of what he had to say.
Deciding that casual indifference is my best weapon, I school my features into a disinterested look. “Whatever, Dante. Knock yourself out.”
Dante pushes off the counter and saunters toward me. I reject my fear and straighten my spine. “Jen!” I call out.
“She’s resting.” He clasps my wrist firmly. “And you’re leaving.” He starts dragging me back toward the door.
“Let go of me.”
“Sadie?” Jenna materializes in the bedroom door. I’m shocked at her appearance. Her red shirt and black sweats hang off her skeletal frame, and sunken cheekbones rise to meet ghoulish dark circles under her eyes. Greasy hair falls to her bony shoulders in matted clumps. She sways unsteadily and clasps the doorframe for support.
Saven Deception Page 31
