by V. E. Lemp
“I know.” Karen lifted one hand and placed it over his heart. “I do love you, Alex. I always have and I always will. I don’t want you to ever question that.”
Alex covered her hand with his own. “I never have.” He leaned over and kissed her, a gentle kiss that still held a hint of passion. “Now sleep, my sweet. I’ll keep watch until Mark gets home.” He stood and swiftly left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Karen pulled the bedding tightly about her. She was shaking slightly. All the events of the day, and Myron so badly hurt, and her illness and Alex, always Alex, and the impossibility of their lives. What I want, she thought, is some calm, some light. What I want, she realized, is the one person who makes it more complicated and yet makes it all so clear. Then she clutched her pillow to her chest and thought of Mark as she fell asleep.
Dream Journal, October 7th:
Smoke enveloped me. I covered my face with the tail of my long flannel shirt. I spied nothing but gray clouds of ash. They billowed up from a landscape that glowed as if it were heaped with burning coals. I stood on a small circle of mosaic tile—the only spot unaffected by fire.
“What is this?” I asked, casting about for anything to identify my location.
“My home,” replied a familiar voice. “Or what remains of it.”
Alice walked toward me through the smoke, her feet not touching the ground.
“What happened?” I shaded my eyes with my hand. Alice was unaffected by the ash and flames. Of course, she was no more here than I was. I straightened and took a deep breath. I could still see the smoke clouds, but they didn’t touch me.
“What I expected,” Alice said, “yet hoped I’d never see. Those who align themselves with Ian Vance and Exocorp have decided to take drastic action. They sent a warning. A message meant to silence me and those that follow me.”
“Some kind of bomb?” I stared into Alice’s odd, dark eyes.
“Yes, a simple one. Not intended to cause complete destruction, although it killed many of my kind, nonetheless.” Alice touched me on the arm. “Look and see, Karen. Tell me what you see.”
I waved my hand before my face, and the smoke cleared. I was standing on a hill, overlooking what had once been a small city. Now it was nothing but a blackened crater, with only a few pieces of twisted metal rising from the ash blanketing the ground.
“You showed me this city before. This was your home?”
Alice bowed her head. “It still is. No devastation can change that.” She turned to gaze at me, a film of pain dulling her dark eyes. “You see what we have come to, Karen. My people, so old, so wise—yet still some seek to impose their will through force.”
“But why? Why does the freedom to experiment on humans matter so much to them? Surely there are much more interesting things in the universe to study.”
Alice shook her head. “That is not the issue. Those who caused this disaster are insane with power. They believe they must exert control or be seen as weak. This is something their vanity cannot allow.”
“We are very much alike, then. Humans and Oneiroi, I mean.”
“In some ways.” Alice stared out over the smoldering ruins of her home.
I laid my fingers on her arm. “Did you lose anyone close to you?”
“Yes, but fortunately the one I would mourn the most was on a ship, far from here.”
“Sarah,” I said.
Alice turned to me, not shaking off my hand. “Yes, that is her avatar’s name.” Those dark eyes swept over my face like a beacon. “I see Alex Wythe has been speaking of things that perhaps he should not.”
“He didn’t intend to do so, I think. But you did send Sarah to warn my husband. Alex was surprised.”
“Ah yes, I had forgotten that.” Alice appraised me. “She was the only one available. That I could trust, you understand.”
“I appreciate you risking so much for Mark.” I tightened my fingers on her arm.
“He is worth great risk, would you not agree? Yes, I see in your eyes you would wager everything for him. Yet…” Alice examined me carefully. “You would leave him.”
I turned my face away. In the distance, a solitary spear of metal wavered and fell. “Not willingly.”
“There may be options,” Alice said, laying her hand over mine. “If you will consider outside help.”
“Tell me, Alice,” I replied, as the metal spire sank below waves of ash, “just how safe would it be on one of your ships, in the midst of an Oneiroi civil war?”
Alice dropped her hand to her side. “It would be dangerous. Not so much, perhaps, simply being on a ship. We can hide them well, even from our own. But given that one could be transported there safely—getting home, if the fighting became entrenched, might prove more difficult.”
“Or impossible?”
“There is that chance.” Alice met my steady gaze. “But your world may be placed in equal danger if such a war occurs. Staying on Earth is no guarantee of safety.”
“But I would be where I belong, with those I love. My home. No matter what happens, I want to be home. I think you might have chosen that, despite the results, if it had been in your power.”
A faint smile illuminated Alice’s pale face. “Yes, I would have chosen that.” She held out her hand to me. “I must leave you now. Both of us must wake. We have much work to do.”
“And I’ll do all I can, for as long as I can,” I replied, clasping her hand just as she faded away.
I heard her words resonate inside my head as the scene spun away like clouds of smoke. “That is all that anyone can ask. Humans and my kind alike.”
I woke then, to the sun.
TWENTY-ONE
Sunlight was spilling across the bed when Karen woke. She glanced over at the nightstand and realized it was ten o’clock in the morning. She jumped out of bed, dislodging a sleeping Kate, who meowed in protest while Karen threw on a robe.
She heard voices and paused to catch her breath before she entered the kitchen. “Hello,” she said. Mark and Alex were seated at the table. Karen surveyed the half-empty coffee cups and remains of a coffee cake littering the oak tabletop, then met Alex’s brilliant blue stare and Mark’s serious gaze. “Well, this is a bit disconcerting.”
Mark rose to his feet. “How are you?” He crossed the room and took her in his arms. “Sorry I didn’t let you know when I got in, but it was late and I didn’t want to wake you.”
“So what’ve you two been discussing?” Karen tilted her head back to look up into Mark’s face. His eyes were very dark and still behind his glasses.
“You, of course,” Alex said.
“Among other things. Come, have a seat.” Mark kept his arm about her as they walked to the table.
“How’s Myron?” Karen selected a chair across the table from Alex.
“Still holding on.” Mark sat in the chair next to her. “But not doing too well, I’m afraid. He’s in a coma.”
“Oh.” Karen dropped her head into her hands for a moment. “And Ariel?” She lifted her eyes to meet Alex’s concerned gaze.
Mark laid his hand across her clenched fingers. “I arranged for Ariel to stay with Claire and Amy and my mom for now. I didn’t want Social Services involved, so I pulled a few strings. She’s actually been placed in my custody.”
Karen shot a sharp glance at her husband. “As an asset?”
Mark leaned back in his chair. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“It’s for the best,” Alex said. “The government seems to have developed quite an interest in Ariel. For her psychic abilities, of course. No doubt they were tipped off by one of Vance’s flunkies. I’m surprised they actually agreed to allow Mark temporary custody, but thank God he was able to arrange it.” Alex’s eyes darkened. “I’d hate to think what would’ve become of her otherwise.”
“There’s no family?” Karen’s fingers relaxed under Mark’s caress. “I remember Myron telling us Ariel’s mother died years ago, but I wasn’t sure about othe
r relatives.”
“None that can be located,” Mark said. “At least none Ariel knows. It’s just been the two of them for as long as she can remember.” He turned to meet Karen’s steady gaze. “I have someone looking into what it might take for us to keep her with us permanently, if the worst were to happen. I didn’t think you’d object.”
“No, but...” Karen glanced from Mark to Alex. “Would that be wise, in my condition?”
“Another thing we’ve been discussing,” Alex said.
“No doubt.” Karen sighed. “And what have you two decided for me?” She straightened in her chair, pulling her hand from Mark’s fingers.
Alex met her stare without flinching. “I made contact with Alice after you went to bed.”
“Of course you did.” Karen lifted her chin. “I saw that look on your face last night. I knew you were up to something.”
“You should hear him out,” Mark said.
Karen looked Mark up and down. “So you’re aiding and abetting now?”
“If it will benefit you, yes, I am.” Mark’s tone was unapologetic.
Karen sat back and stared at Alex. “And what, exactly, has Alice offered to do for me?”
“She claims the Oneiroi can cure you,” Alex said. “Cure, not treat. Not a remission, which is all our earthly medicine can offer. The Oneiroi can make you entirely well, with no possibility of a relapse.”
“But, I can tell by your faces there’s some catch to this munificent offer.”
Alex picked up a coffee cup, stared into its depths for a moment, and set it back down. “You’d have to travel to one of their ships. They can’t provide this treatment on Earth.”
“Oh, is that all?” Karen scraped her chair back across the weathered wooden floor, stood, and crossed to the counter, where a coffeemaker held half a carafe of the dark liquid. “So, you’re okay with this, then?” She poured coffee into a white ceramic mug and stirred in cream before turning to face her husband.
“I’m okay with anything that saves your life,” Mark said.
Karen leaned against the soapstone counter and surveyed the faces of her husband and former lover. “But, you see, I had a dream last night about this very topic. And I was told in no uncertain terms that while I may travel safely to one of the Oneiroi ships my return might be rather more difficult.”
“Yes, Alice did warn me of that possibility,” Alex said.
Mark’s dark eyes slid from Alex to Karen. “What’s this?”
“Oh, Alex didn’t mention that little wrinkle?” Karen sipped her coffee and locked eyes with her husband’s concerned gaze. “You see, my dear, Alice warned me the Oneiroi’s current conflict is likely to explode into something more violent. Which means if I travel to one of their ships under Alice’s supervision I may be stuck there indefinitely. In other words, they cannot guarantee my safe return, at least in the near future.”
Mark turned to stare at Alex. “You forgot to mention that part.”
Alex shrugged. “Does it matter?” His gaze swept over both Mark and Karen. “If Karen can be assured of a cure, surely everything else is insignificant.”
“I would like to know whether I might expect to see my wife again. I trust you can understand my interest in that information.”
Alex sat back in his chair. “I can, but I assumed Karen’s survival would trump every other concern.”
“You see, I might be guaranteed a cure, but I am not promised a return to Earth.” Karen set down her coffee cup and pressed her palms against the counter to steady her trembling legs. “Alex seems to think this a reasonable transaction. But I’m not sure I wish to participate in such a bargain.”
Mark stood, crossed to Karen, and took her in his arms. “I can understand your hesitation. With no promise of a safe return, you could be left alone on some alien ship forever.”
“Yes.” Karen laid her head on his shoulder. “And I don’t know if I’d wish to live under such circumstances.”
“This is ridiculous.” Alex stood and faced them, his tall, slender figure rigid. “Karen’s life is more important than our personal preferences.”
She lifted her head and turned to face Alex. “Life is more than just existing. I’m not sure living alone on some alien ship is actually more valuable than living my life on Earth with those I love, no matter how short that life may be.”
“I don’t agree,” Alex said. “You may be required to stay away for some time. But in the end, you’ll survive. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Karen wrapped her arms around Mark. “I’m not convinced. Living’s all very well. But survival’s not necessarily the best alternative in these circumstances.”
“You say this now. When death’s not at your doorstep.”
“Alex, you have no right to tell me what to do.” Karen tightened her arms about her husband. “I won’t leave this planet, regardless of what’s promised. I’m human, and I’ll accept the treatments available to humans, nothing more. If the Oneiroi can’t promise a cure to all humanity, why should I be given a special dispensation? I’ll live or die as a human being, whatever that entails. Don’t ask for more—I don’t.”
Alex’s response was drowned out by the sound of a ringing phone. Karen pulled away from Mark and went to the side table in the front room. She lifted the receiver with a sense of relief—she didn’t want to fight Alex or Mark anymore. She answered the phone with a tentative hello that morphed into a heartfelt welcome when she realized she was speaking with Max McCormick, one of the original Morpheus Project subjects.
Max was calling to talk about his concerns over Myron’s video, which he assured Karen was now complete. “But since Myron is in the hospital,” he said, “there’s no one I trust to watch the entire thing and make sure it conveys the correct information. I wondered if perhaps you or Mark, or both of you, might be able to take a look.”
“And I don’t suppose you want to send it to us.” Karen motioned Mark over.
“No,” Max said. “I’d be worried about it leaking, even with Elena’s encryption. Myron apparently warned her not to let the files leave the studio in any format until they’re officially released.”
“Well, I suppose we could drive up later today.” Karen mouthed the word Max to Mark.
Mark raised his eyebrows. “Drive to New York? After the night we’ve had?”
Karen held her hand over the phone receiver. “Max needs us to review the video. For Myron.”
Mark sighed. “Very well. For Myron.”
Karen assured Max they would make the trip, but as she told him goodbye and hung up she heard Alex protesting over her going anywhere. “What about Mark?” she asked, turning away from the phone. “He’s the one who’s been up all night.”
“Mark isn’t ill.” Alex leaned against the tall sideboard, his eyes fixed on Karen’s face.
“And I’m not taking to my bed yet.” Karen crossed the room to Mark. “I promise to call the doctors and reschedule my appointments from the road.” She gazed up into her husband’s calm face. “I don’t want you to make that trip alone, tired as you are.”
Mark smiled. “I’d argue with you if I thought it’d do any good.” He looked over at Alex. “It won’t, you know.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Alex drew up to his full height, his golden head held high. “But we haven’t actually settled the issue of Karen’s treatment …”
“We have,” Karen said firmly. “You just haven’t accepted it yet. Now—I’m traveling with Mark to see about reviewing Myron’s work.” She pulled away from Mark to face Alex, her feet planted solidly on the wooden floor. “Why don’t you go home and call some of our other colleagues and let them know what’s going on?”
“I’m not giving up the fight.” Striding across the room, Alex gazed down at her, his blue eyes blazing. “So don’t think I’m acceding to your foolish decision, my sweet.”
“We should go.” Mark’s face was expressionless. Not a good sign. Karen sighed and turned to wrap h
er arms about his rigid form.
“Listen, maybe you should give Claire a quick call? She’ll want to know where we are, and I’d like to know how Ariel’s holding up.” She brushed Mark’s cheek with her fingers.
“Yes, of course,” he replied, catching her hand and planting a kiss in her palm. “I’ll do that before I pack a bag.” Mark kissed her again, this time a lingering, passionate kiss that left no question as to the intimacy of their relationship. When he lifted his head he looked over her shoulder.
Karen traced his gaze back to Alex. “You go ahead.” She tapped Mark’s lips with her finger. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
When Mark left the room, Alex turned to Karen and held out his hand. “Come. At least give me a proper goodbye before you leave.”
Karen stepped closer and took hold of his proffered fingers. “In last night’s dream Alice showed me a terrible thing. Her home’s been destroyed.”
“I know. She relayed that to me as well. And warned me the same might happen on Earth, if this conflict escalates.” Alex released Karen’s fingers and walked over to stand in front of one of her paintings. “The same hands can create beauty or destruction.” He turned, and Karen took two steps back, shocked by the fire flashing in his blue eyes. “What are we? Humans.” He shook his head. “Willing to sacrifice our own for what? Money and power. And yet it all means nothing, in the end.”
“Not all humans,” Karen said. “Not all the Oneiroi, either. Never forget that. If there’s one being left who cares for others, we can’t condemn either race.”
A smile lit Alex’s face. “And you wonder why I can’t stop loving you?” He strode forward and took Karen into a tight embrace. “I’ve decided to ask the Oneiroi if they’ve perfected cloning so I may have one of you for myself.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Karen cast a sidelong look at the bedroom door. “Now, let go before Mark walks back into the room. I don’t want to distress him further.”
“Mark knows he has nothing to worry about,” Alex said. “Sadly enough. This is you we are talking about. The girl whose loyalty is above reproach.”
