"No." He dragged me slowly toward the truck. "Your body will eventually adapt but you need to eat more. Store up some reserves."
"I thought I had enough of that." I patted my butt.
He glanced behind me. "Just the right amount, but not any extra."
I shook my head. The guy could be downright sweet when he wasn't threatening to kill me or make me suck information off dead guys. I glanced down at my arm. The odd blue symbol marred the white skin of my forearm. "Are you sure you can get this information out of me?"
That blue knot was so not my style.
"It might come out once I reconstruct your datapad."
"Might?" I didn't like the sound of that. I wanted that information out of me and in the hands of the right people. "Are you—"
"Shh!"
I stilled. Now what? My ears strained to listen above my pounding heart. Then I heard it. A soft yelp swelled in the darkness.
Chapter Thirteen
I fisted Tobias's shirt front. A yelp meant people. How could this have happened? We had scanned the airport's tarmac and hangars. Only in the houses located behind the airport buildings had the infrared camera screen glowed with the bright yellow glow of people.
"Do we hit the deck, run for the truck or...?” Or just take a Scrambler hit in the chest. My muscles twitched with indecision while fear toweled the moisture from my mouth.
"None of the above." Tobias set his hands on mine. They felt hot against my chilled skin.
"None?" Calmness seeped into me from the steady beat of his heart against my palms.
"If whoever out there wanted us dead, we'd be dead already." He gently pried my hands off his chest.
Right. Out here in the open, we were as exposed as a filet in a butcher's case. I shook the tension from my hands. We're safe, safe, safe. Maybe if I repeated the mantra enough, I'd believe it. "So what do we do?"
"I don't suppose you'd stay in the truck?" Tobias shrugged and stepped back. Even thought his hands hung loosely at his side, tension radiated off his stiff shoulders.
I glanced at the vehicle, a ghostly white rectangle twenty feet away.
"Not going to happen." I inched closer to him and felt my heart slow in his presence. Even if the truck were armor-plated, I would have stayed by his side. "You picked a hell of a time to give up your weapons."
I'd give my first born for his key fob right about now or even a cell phone I could chuck at someone.
He straightened. "We're not defenseless."
"Speak for yourself." He was a trained soldier and I was raised by parents who thought I'd get a lifetime of bad Karma for stepping on a cockroach. My best shot at survival lay with being nearby when he unleashed his warrior mojo on whoever waited in the darkness. "I don't know hand-to-hand, mind-melding or the Vulcan death grip."
Although he tucked a lock of my hair behind my ears, his attention seemed drawn to the darkness behind me.
The skin on the back of my neck prickled. I knew exactly where he looked. The lights were out on the last three hangars and blackness crept in the spaces between.
What did he see?
Did I really want to know?
"Come on." He turned me about, until I faced the darkness, and then casually maneuvered his body between me and whatever waited. "But—"
"But stay close. Trust me. I plan to." I'd crawl under his skin and hide if I could. Clearing my throat, I gathered the ribbons of my courage. I could do this. I had to do this. My life and Tobias's were at stake.
"You're catching on."
I licked my dry lips. Yeah, danger and I were becoming old friends. Too bad I couldn't get a restraining order against it.
With measured steps, he strolled toward the last hangar.
Looping my finger through his belt, I kept pace. The closer to the building we crept the more sweat pooled under my arms and trickled down my spine. My lungs labored to draw in the humid air and my eyes strained to pick out something, anything in the darkness.
When we reached the closed hangar doors, he stopped.
I barely registered his upheld fist, before I plowed into his back. Tingles radiated from my nose and I blinked back the tears. Son of a monkey's butt! The man's muscles had muscles.
He sighed, his frustration loud in the stillness.
Holy Toledo, it was quiet. Not even a scorpion stirred.
A moan rasped against the night. Low and soft, it sliced the blanket of night.
Good God, what if it wasn't human? I shivered and rubbed my bare arms. When had it gotten so cold?
After a moment, Tobias crept forward along the front of the building.
Step by step, I followed behind him. Tension knotted my stomach and I had to form fists to keep my hands from shaking. I counted footfalls to the edge of the building then heartbeats when it angled back toward the infinite nothingness. My eye twitched. Just how big was this building? Weren't we almost there?
As much as I dreaded the encounter, I wanted it over and done with.
Tobias paused on the edge of the pitch black wedge between the hangars.
"Don't kill me." The voice was soft and quiet, not quite a sob but definitely tear-filled and female.
My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. She sounded so small and scared, more frightened than me. A second ago, I wouldn't have believed that possible. My fear dissipated, leaving my knees shaky and legs rubbery. I had to help her.
Tobias reached behind and laid a hand on my hip. "Identify yourself."
Right. No rushing forward. She could still be the enemy.
"Ulla." The woman sniffled. "Ulla Torunn." Her last word ended in a hiccough.
"Oh, thank God." Again I tried to step forward but Tobias dug his fingers into my hip and held me in place. I sensed more than saw him shake his head.
"How did you survive the Scrambler?"
Gravel crunched in the darkness and I thought I detected an inky shadow move in the blackness. Could my eyes have adjusted to the lack of light?
"Rudd. He always insisted I wear an energy cloak. It must have protected me." Her voice pitched low and throaty, no doubt from her crying.
I would have been hysterical had I seen my husband dissolve in front of me and not been able to help. I plucked at Tobias's fingers. "Let me go to her."
His grip relaxed but didn't release me. "Are you hurt?
"I—I don't know. Are you going to kill me?"
"We're here to help you." Tobias dropped his hand.
Finally free, I darted into the murky darkness aiming for the blackest lump. The faint scent of flowers filled the space and I slowed. Reaching to her side, I extended my hand in her direction. "Take my hand and I'll help you up."
A sliver of black emerged from the lump. Energy sparked between my arm and hers. Crap on a cracker! I yelped and tried to retreat but my legs wouldn't move. When little starbursts of blue and white lit up the night, I had an impression of blond hair and pale skin before she pulled back.
Tobias's hands closed around my shoulders and his thumbs eased the knots dotting my neck. "Ulla, can you deactivate the suit?"
"I—I think it was damaged in the blast." Silk whispered in the stillness then a flame flared pushing back the darkness. A yellow aura surrounded the woman on the ground, gilding her lithe arms and long, slender legs. A curtain of honey blond hair shielded her face as she leaned forward and worked at the glittering broach on her teal tunic.
Everything about her screamed money, privilege and beauty. I tried to ignore the spurt of jealousy shooting through me but my attention whipped to Tobias.
His eyes narrowed as he watched her.
At least, he didn't have that intense look men wore in the throes of lust. Maybe every extraterrestrial human was gorgeous. Tobias and Victor weren't exactly chopped bologna.
Ulla's tapered fingers flew over the red gems ringing a thumb-sized green stone. "Rudd told me there was another way around the switch."
"He would know." Tobias removed his hands from my shoulders. "He
invented the suit, correct?"
"Yes." Ulla pressed two small jewels before turning the center one. A soft humming filled the air. "It was one of his favorite inventions."
"It saved many a fourth worlder from assassination." Tobias leaned against the side of the building and crossed his legs at the ankles.
What was he up to? I certainly wasn't buying the whole nonchalance act. Maybe he saw something I didn't? Then again, I doubt he trusted anyone.
"Our friends, you mean." Ulla spat. "They were quick enough to desert us, when we needed a little support... a little help." Pain shone through the contempt. "If just one had stood by us..."
Friends made even the worst situations bearable or good situations intolerable if they deserted you. Been there, experienced that. Tobias the douche could keep his suspicions. I wouldn't allow anyone to think they're alone, without friends. I crouched on the blacktop next to Ulla. "Do you know where you are?"
"Earth." Ulla stopped fiddling with her broach. The humming faded as she glanced up at me. Her crystal blue eyes shattered into a mosaic of emotion before she blinked it away.
"That's right and I'm Rae." I stopped myself from holding out my hand. God knows I didn't want to get shocked again. "I'm going to help you adjust to life here."
Her pink tongue skimmed over her full lips and her eyes widened. "You're not going to send me back? I know it was Rudd you wanted..."
She sighed deeply and her gaze skittered away. The lights overhead chose that moment to hum to life.
Tobias squinted up. "The power outage must be a result of the dampening field."
So much for reliable UED technology. Raising my hand, I shielded my eyes against the brightness. "No, of course we're not going to send you back."
I glared at Tobias. What kind of place was the universe? And this UED? Obviously, she and her husband had risked a lot to get here. Surely the UED wouldn't throw her back. I scratched my tattoo. Especially since we got the information.
Tobias brushed my fingers aside and wrapped his hand around my forearm, hiding the tattoo. He tugged me to my feet. "We need to get you someplace safe, Mrs. Torunn."
"Yes, of course." Ulla brushed at the wrinkles in her tunic before rising gracefully to her feet. "How silly of me. I've neutralized the suit."
I glanced up and up. Crap on a cracker! Ulla was tall, at least an inch over six feet. And her legs... She twitched her skirt and the slit on the side gaped open revealing legs that stopped somewhere near her shoulders. Next to her, I felt about as sexy as the traveling gnome.
Not that I was thinking about sex, but a woman had her pride.
She held out her hand to Tobias, wiggled her fingers. Her manicured nails glistened like diamonds in the overhead lights. "I had forgotten how heavy Earth gravity could be."
"I'm sure you'll adjust in no time." After squeezing my fingers, he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and guided her across the tarmac.
I was certain there'd be any number of gentlemen willing to carry her highness on their backs so she never had to be bothered by gravity. I shut down the catty thoughts and trudged after Tobias. Ulla had been through a lot, things I couldn't even imagine. I needed to be nice to Mrs. Perfect. After all she was my responsibility. I picked up the pace. Maybe the douche bag at her side needed a reminder to keep his mitts to himself.
Tobias guided her to the passenger door and opened it. "What can you tell us of the attack?"
Her top lip curled back as she surveyed the truck's interior.
I peeked inside. Okay it was a little dusty, smelled like wet shoes and had luggage and a garbage bag crammed in the back, but it wasn't too bad. I'd certainly traveled in worse. Of course, I didn't live in outer space.
"Mrs. Torunn?" Tobias opened the back door of the extended cab, reached inside and dragged out the luggage and garbage bag.
Ulla shuddered and wrapped one arm around her waist while the other pressed against her throat. "The attack? It—it seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere. We saw the lights of the city then the pilot slumped over his seat and Rudd…" She covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes closed. "Rudd…"
The poor woman. I gently stroked her back, offering comfort yet not intruding on her grief. I wanted to tell her she didn't have to be strong for us or to be ashamed to cry, but I held my peace. People grieved on their own terms. All I could do was be ready when she finally faced her losses. "Let me help you inside."
Rubbing her nose on the back of her hand, she nodded and shuffled closer to the backseat. "You're very kind."
"Can you tell me which direction you were heading when the attack came?" Tobias the douche had the sensitivity of a rock. He tossed the bags into the bed where they landed with a loud thump.
"Does it matter? Rudd is gone…" Climbing into the back, Ulla swiped at eyes. "He promised we would be safe on Earth."
I accidently stepped on Tobias's toe as I crawled in after Ulla. Sure, it was his job to find out what happened but he could wait until we were someplace safe. Between the grief and fear, Ulla had all she could do to hold it together.
God knew, my sanity seemed to be unraveling and I hadn't experienced nearly as much. I patted her hand. It was warm and damp under my palm. "Don't worry. Tobias will keep you safe."
Ulla stiffened. "Tobias?" Her brow furrowed as she scooted across the bench seat. "Colonel Tobias Werner?"
Her blue eyes turned glacial while her fingers danced over her broach.
Silently, Tobias reached under the bench seat and pulled out a fleece throw. His face was carefully blank when he handed it to me and shut the doors.
A fissure of unease appeared in my concern. I hoped she didn't brunt her grief on Tobias. The failure was mine, not his. "Yes. If you've heard of him then I'm sure you know how resourceful and capable he is."
At least, I hoped he was resourceful and capable. I shook out the blanket and laid it over Ulla's lap. Despite the heat outside, I knew she would be cold. Grief stricken people usually were.
Tobias didn't meet my eye as he climbed behind the wheel and started the engine.
"But if First World's Special Forces are involved, they might trade me for the information my husband was supposed to provide." Ulla frowned at the blanket before bunching it under her hands. "My enemies have already killed my children. That's why…That's..."
She drew in a ragged breath and stared out the window at the airport's hangars.
Humid air streamed from the vents as Tobias turned the trunk on the gravel road leading to the main street.
I stroked Ulla's hand before tucking the blanket around her legs. The cold air wouldn't help her shock. "I promise you won't be traded to your enemies. And don't worry about the information."
"Did you find it?" Ulla kicked off the blanket and clasped her hands together. "The information, I mean."
Bracing one hand against the seat back, I reached for the throw. How could she not be cold? People in shock were always cold.
"Not yet." Tobias answered before I did. "Your husband was supposed to have sent it ahead of time and tell us where he'd hidden it when he arrived."
That was a bald-faced lie. I carefully folded the blanket and set in on the seat between us. Had he picked up on something that I had missed?
"I see." Ulla rubbed her forehead before shivering. Kicking off her sandals, she pulled her legs close to her chest and hugged them tight. "You think he told me where he stashed this information."
My new tattoo itched. What exactly was going on here? Why was Tobias lying and why wasn't Ulla behaving like a typical grief-stricken wife? Could humans have changed so much between incarnations?
Tobias braked at the end of the road and waited for two cars to zoom past on Lake Pleasant Parkway. "Fourth Worlders are responsible for the Lights over Phoenix, aren't they?"
I bit my lip. The lights over Phoenix were real alien encounters? My brain refused to wrap around the thought. Did that mean Roswell and Area 51 actually had something to do with extraterrestrials too
?
Ulla nodded before setting her chin on her knees and rocking slightly.
Tobias turned the car onto the parkway before merging onto Carefree Highway. "Since Torunn was responsible for the phantom ships the Arizonans have spotted and he chose this spot to arrive, the UED is betting he sent the information on a light flash, buried under an official communiqué."
Ulla inhaled sharply then closed her eyes and shook her head. "He never mentioned having access to a Greastacean tube, but it makes perfect sense. I wonder which facility he sent it to."
I sat on my hands, tucking the tattoo next to my body. Why would Tobias lie about the information in one breath then practically tell her in the next? "I'm sure if you think about it, the answer will come to you. Since you were closest to him, you probably know, but don't know that you know."
Ulla opened her eyes. For a moment she said nothing then she picked up the blanket and ran her hand over the folds. "That is very odd logic. How did you qualify for this job?"
"Just lucky I guess." Or monumentally unlucky in my case. But I would do my job. I owed her that much. "Why don't we talk about your expectation of your new life on Earth?"
Ulla yawned and leaned against the door. "Didn't you get the file? I'm sure Rudd made our requirements very clear."
"We often think of one thing when we're a couple and another when we're single." More than one ex-boyfriend had accused me of being pigheaded and inflexible. "Perhaps you want something that your husband might not have thought of or… liked very much."
Like dogs... Or red meat... Or monogamy. I wanted to share a life not the latest antibiotic resistant STD.
"Oh. Yes. I see." Ulla drew the blanket up to her shoulders. "Rudd and I saw eye-to-eye on so many details."
Oh no, Ulla and Rudd had been one of those couples—the happy, smiley, we're-so-in-love kind that held hands in public. Envy licked at my objectivity. Right. Change the subject. "Perhaps you'd like to discuss the kind of work you'd like to do?"
In the front seat, Tobias choked on a cough.
Ulla straightened in her seat. "Work? You expect me to work?"
Blue Maneuver-Urban SciFi/Fantasy (Extraterrestrial security program) Page 16
