The Awakening
Page 30
“Yeah.Theback.Theneck.Ifyoudon’tkillit,you’llatleastparalyzeit.”
“I’dratherkillit,”Jasongrumbled.
Armaanlookedbackandforthbetweenhisnewcomradesandhisspecimen.
“Well, you get the idea. You know the three kill zones. Same as humans, just differentlocations.And,well—”Hepausedandraisedonelong,sharpfang.
“Booby-trapped.Bewaretheteeth,andbewarethebone.”
“Isthereanythingelse?”Eveasked.“Anythingweshouldknow?”
“NotthatIcansee.”Hefiddledwithhistray,scoopingupahandfulofmetallic
shardsandasinglebluebutton.“Ifoundthisattachedtothebackofthe
Interloper ’s head, toward the neck. It looks like it was some kind of mechanism
atonepoint.It’scompletelydestroyed,smashedtopieces.Couldbenothing.”
AsEvesurveyedthedismemberedspecimenlyinginfrontofher,an
overwhelmingsenseofownershipcoursedthroughher.TheInterloperswere
notindestructible—theirfighthadproventhat,andArmaan’sexaminationhad further solidified the fact. They could be defeated. They had kill zones. Her bodytingledatthethoughtofviablevictory,howeverfarfetcheditappearedto
be,becausesheatleastknewthatitwastheslightestbitpossible.
Arustlingatthesideoftheroomcaughtherattention.Jasonwaspacingback
andforthbythewall,hishandsballedintofists.Shewatchedhimforamoment
—hewasraw,exposedlikeareopenedwound—andshefeltasharp
stabdeepinthecenterofherchest.
Armaanchuckled.“Iknewyoulikedhim.”
Eveplayfullysluggedhiminthearm.
“Youknow,you’restrongerthanyouthink.Thosepuncheshurt.”
“Youbenicetome.Ibroughtyouanalien,remember?”
EvemadeherwaytoJason’ssideandlightlyrestedherhandonhisback—
shecouldfeelthetightnessofhismusclesbeneathherfingertips.
“How’syourhand?”
Hetuckedhisbandagedfistunderhisarm.“It’sfine.How’syourhead?”
“Probablyalotmore finethanyourhand.”
Jasondidn’trespond;hejuststaredblanklyatthewall.
“Tellmewhat’swrong,Jason.”
Heclenchedhisjaw.“Histalons.Theywereallthere.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Theywereallthere.Theywere…perfect.”
“Jason,I—”Shestoppedherself,suddenlyveryawareofwhathewas
gettingat.“Thatwasn’thim.Theonewho…”
“Theonewhocutmeopenhadabrokentalononhislefthand.Thisone…”
Jason’svoicetrailedoff,andhiseyesbecamedistant.“It’snothim.”
“Wereyouhoping…?”
“Idon’tknow.Idon’tknowwhatIwasthinking.”
EvelookedatJason,buthedidn’tmeethergaze.Therewasnothingforher
tosay,soshegrabbedhisunscathedhandandsqueezedittightly.
“That thingknewI’dbehere,”Jasongrumbled.“That thing wantedtokillus.”
“Thatthingisdead,Jason,”Evesaid,firmly.“Becauseofus.”
Jasonshookhishead.“Seeinghimrippedopenandlyingonthattable,just
like… just like me. I hate them, Eve. God, I hate them more than I can even explain.”Hefidgetedanxiously.“Ifwe’regoingtodothis—ifwe’regoingto
fightthem—wehavetobesmart.Today,wewerecaughtoffguard.Thatcan’t
happenagain.”
“Iknow.”
Hefinallyturnedtofaceher.“Icouldn’tlivewithmyselfifwemadeastupid
mistakeandsomethinghappenedtoyou.”
“Thenwewon’tmakemistakes.We’llbeprepared.We’llfindouteverything
weneedtoknowabouttheInterlopersbeforewemakeamove.”
“Idon’tevenknowwheretostart.”
“Ido.”
Jasontiltedhishead,perplexed,andEvesmirked.
“Iknowsomeonewhohasaccesstothekindofinformationweneed.
Someonewhocouldpointusintherightdirection.”
“Andwhatmakesyouthinkthispersonwillactuallybewillingtohelpus?”
Eveglancedbackattheothers.Thewholescenewaspracticallycomedic:
fivemisfitstudentsdissectingamurderousalien,attemptingtosolvesomeof
thegreatestmysteriesthehumanracelongedtouncover.Shelookedatthe
Interloper’sonce terrifyingbody,now patheticandlifeless, thenturnedback toJason.
“Becausewehavesomethinghewants.”
***
“Youcan’tkeepshowinguplikethis!”thereceptionistcried.
Eveignoredher;sheburstthroughtheofficedoorandbrazenlyapproached
themahoganydeskbeforeher.
“Thistime,you’regoingtotellme everything,”shegrowled.
Furstremovedhisglasses,seeming,asalways,unruffledbyherpresence.
Henoddedathisfrazzledreceptionist.“Youmaygo.”
Thewomanexhaledloudlyandstompedoff,mutteringtoherselfassheshot
onelastglareinEve’sdirection.Furstcleanedhislenses,hisdemeanorpoised
andatease.Histone,however,waslacedwithaggravation.
“MissKingston,areyougoingtomakethisahabit?DoIneedtostationsome
patrolmenoutsideofmyoffice?”
Evefoldedherarms,raisedherchin,andhopedtoGodthatshelookedthe
slightest bit formidable. “You can be as patronizing as you want, but I’m not leavinguntilyougivemesomeanswers.”
“MissKingston,Iwillnotplaythisgamewithyou.”
“You willtellmeeverythingyouknowabouttheInterlopers,Furst.”
“Andwhyisthat?WhydoIneedtoobligeyourrequest,letalonegiveyou
anounceofmyattention?”
“BecauseIknowhowtheInterlopersareinvadingthecampus.Iknowhow they’reabductingstudents,rightunderneathournoses.”
Thedeansmirked.“Ataleoffiction,I’msure—”
“Fiction?WhywouldI lietoyou?”
“It’shumannaturetolie.Especiallyinordertogetsomethingyouwant.”
“Thenit’sagoodthingI’mnothuman,”shescoffed.
Furstsighed,unimpressedwithhersarcasm.“MissKingston,I’mnotgoing
to continue having this conversation with you. You will not be getting any assistance from me in this regard. There is absolutely nothing you can do or say—”
“Ihaveabody,”sheinterrupted.“AnInterloper.”
Furst stopped; he stared at Eve, his lips parted as if searching for the right wordstosay.Afterabriefmomentofstillness,headjustedhistienonchalantly.
“Youhaveabody?Inyourpossession?”
“Yes.Doyou?”
“Ofcoursenot.NoteventhegovernmenthasaccesstoanInterloper
specimen.”Hestoppedshort.“Iprobablyshouldn’thavetoldyouthat.”
“Well,you’dbettergetusedtotalking.You’regoingtobedoingalotofthat
reallysoon.”
“It’simpossible.They’relikecockroaches,theInterlopers.They’re
extremelydifficulttokill.”
“Yeah,I’venoticed.ButIcantellyoufromexperiencethatthey’renot
invincible.AndIcantellyouevenmore, ifyouagreetohelpme.”
Furststaredathisdesk,refusingtolookherintheeye.Eachsecondofsilence
creptbyataglacialpace,andEve’sthoughtsscreamedforhimtospeak.
Finally,helookedup.“MissKingston,what exactlyareyouproposing?”
“I’lltellyoutheirmethods.I’lltellyouhowthey’resneakingintoBillington
undetected.I’lleventellyouhowtokillthem.Andyoucankeepthebody—do
whatyouwantwithit.”
“Andinreturn?”
“Iwanttoknow everything.Everythingyouknow.”
Fursttookinadeepbreathandstareddownatthepenhetwirledbetweenhis
fingers.Hewasponderingtheoffer—sheknewit—andshecouldhardlystand
theanticipation.Ithadtowork.Therewasnootheroption.
“Idon’tbelieveyou.There’snoevidence—noproof.”
Beforehecouldfinishhisthought,Jasonchargedintotheoffice,hissudden
presenceasurpriseonlytothedean.
“Here’syourevidence,”hesaid,tossingaslimygreyobjectontoFurst’s
desk.
Furstlookeddownatthestrangeiteminfrontofhim.ItwasanInterloperclaw,
severedatthewrist,itsfingerscurledandstiffwithrigormortis.
Furstscannedthetalons,hisnostrilsflaringfromthestench,andthen
glancedatJasonandEve,whohoveredabovehim,anxiouslyawaitinghis
response.
“Well,Iwasn’tawarethat youwereinvolvedinallofthis,Mr.Valentine,”
Furstrepliedwithahintofannoyance.Hepeeredatthetwochimerasabovehis
glasses.“Ipresumeyourmanysessionstogetherbroughtyouawfully…
close.”
“Ishouldprobablythankyouforthat.Itwasreallygenerousofyoutoallow
meatutorduringmymonth-longsolitaryconfinement,”Jasonquipped.
Furststareddownattheclaw,completelyunderwhelmedbyJason’sretort.
“And you cut off its hand. Good God, I can only imagine how badly you’ve mangledtherestofit.Iexpectit’sbeyondrecognizableatthispoint.”
“Atthisrate,you’llneverknow,”Evesnapped,herpatiencewaning.“Not
unlessyougiveussomeanswers.”
Furstglancedbackandforthbetweenthehandandthetwostudents,hisface
droopingtoamiserableglower.Hehadlostthebattle,hisauthoritysuddenly
reducedtoanemptytitle.Reluctantly,hestoodfromhisdeskandapproached
his younger, much taller collaborators, his face pointed at the floor as if he knewthat,atthatmoment,he’dbeforcedtosacrificeafractionofhis
commandtothem.
“Followme,”hemuttered,makinghiswayoutofhisoffice.
JasonandEvelookedatoneanother,theireyeswidewithshock.
“Holyshit,”Evewhispered.“Ithinkthatactuallyworked.”
Theyscurriedbehindthedean,followinghimtoanearbyelevatorand
hurryinginside.Asthedoorsclosedinfrontofthem,Furstpressedthe
basementbutton,sendingtheelevatorglidingslowlydownward.Secondslater, hestrucktheredemergencybutton,bringingtheirvesseltoasuddenhalt.
JasonglancednervouslyatEve.“Yousurewecantrusthim?”
“Relax,Mr.Valentine,”Furstresponded.“Youwantedanswers,didyou
not?”
Furstcheckedhiswatchandthenpressedtheemergencybuttononcemore,
thistimeholdingitdownatthesametimeasthebasementbutton.Theelevator
shook slightly, coming to life for just a moment, and Furst ran his fingers acrossthebuttonpanel,pressingavarietyofnumbersasifcompletinga
complexcode.Suddenlyabluestreamoflightsweptthroughthecreviceofthe
elevatordoors,scanningFurst’sface,thenmovingontoJason’sandEve’s.An
intercombuzzedoverhead.
“Stateyournames,”amalevoiceboomed.
“It’sDr.Furst,andI’vebroughttwoguests.”
“Underwhatsecurityclearance?”
“I amclearingthemforentry.”
Thevoicepaused,theroomsilentasidefromthehummingoftheintercom.
“IamnotpermittedtoacceptvisitorsintotheShelter.”
“Andwhocreatedthatrule,Cadet?”
Thevoicehesitated.“Youdid,sir.”
Furstsmiled.“Hewhoforgesitcanmostcertainlybreakit.”
“Istherefoulplay?”
“You’regoodtoask,butno,theiraccompanimentisofmyownchoosing.”
Hepausedandlookedbackatthetwochimeras.“Moreorless.”
“PreppingforthreebodiestoentertheShelter.Sendingyoudown.”
Theelevatorlurchedoncemore,sendingEvestumblingintoJason’sside.
Furstchuckledslightly,keepinghiseyesinfrontofhimastheelevator
continued past the basement level. The drop felt endless, and the air in the roombecamedenseandstiflingastheyplungeddeeperanddeeperbeneaththe
surface.
Thedoorsfinallyopenedbeforethem,andEve’seyeslitupwithawe.They
hadreachedalarge,openspacewithbrightwhitewallsandsilvertables,filled
tothebrimwithuniformedpatrolmenandwomen.Theroom—thisShelter,as
the intercom voice had called it—stretched far into the distance, the entire location rounded like a giant circle. Technicians huddled around holo-monitors,debatingtacticalproceduresandwarfareapproaches,andpatrolmen
analyzedholographicInterlopers,studyingtheiranatomyanddebatingcombat
strategies. To the right was a line of offices and conference rooms, each one stuffedtotheseamswithprominentcommanders.
“WelcometotheShelter,”Furstsaid,thoughhistonewaslessthaninviting.
“Conceptualizedanddevelopedwhentheattacksfirstbegan.Theschool
officialsrealizedweneededasecureplacetostrategize—tomeetincomplete
seclusion,awayfromthepryingeyesofstudentssuchasyourself.”Heglared
at his unwanted comrades and continued. “If it’s answers you want, you will
findthemhere.”
Furstledthetwosometotheconferencerooms,theireverystepmetwitha
string of curious stares. They stopped at a sizable office in the back of the Shelter,andEvecouldtellbytherichconditionsandcopiousawardsthatthe
spacemustbereservedforwhoevercommandedtheShelter.Behindthedesk
stoodavaguelyfamiliarfigure:atall,fair-skinnedmanwithlightblondhair.
Heturnedtofacehiscompany,andEveimmediatelyrecognizedtheweathered
scarthatlinedhisjaw.Thiswasthemanshe’dseenarguingwithFurstinthe
medicalward.
“ColonelEriksen,I’dlikeyoutomeettwoofourmostnotoriousstudents.”
Furstnoddedatthetwosome.“EvelynKingstonandJasonValentine.”
Thecolonelglancedbackandforthbetweenthetwostudents,hisbrow
furrowed,firstwithuncertaintyandthen,undoubtedly,withanger.
“Whyaretheyhere?”hegrowled.
“Wearegoingtoshowthemaround.Aguidedtour,ifyouwill.”
“Areyou crazy?”
“Itisanorder.”
“Furst, I will not allow you to destroy this operation over what I can only assumeisatemporarymomentof insanity—”
“TheyhaveanInterloperbody,”Furstinterrupted,calmlyfoldinghishands
together.“Theyknowhowthey’reoccupyingthecampus,andtheyagreedto
cooperatewithusifweprovidethemwithsome…insight.”
The colonel froze, taken aback by Furst’s statement. He glared at Eve and Jason,hislipscurledwithaversion.
“Howthe helldidyoutwogetanInterloperbody?”
“Wekilledone?”Jasonanswered.
“It’sasimplebusinesstransaction,really,”Furstinterrupted.“Wetrade
information,andthenwegoourseparatepaths.Now,Colonel,pleaseshow
thisyoungmanandyoungladyaroundourfacilities.”Heleanedintoward
Eriksen,restinghishandontheman’sback.“Again,thatisanorder.”
Thecolonelgrumbledunderhisbreathandtrudgedfromhisoffice,cocking
hisheadasifinstructingthetwosometofollowhim.Theymadetheirwaypast
theconferenceroomsandheadedbacktothehustleandbustleoftheShelter.
“We’llmakethisquick.Getyourquestionsready,becausethisisaone-time
deal,”hegroused,keepinghiseyesstraightaheadofhim.
Thecolonelledthemtoarowoftabledisplayssurroundedbystudious
technicians in white lab coats. They slid their fingers across the screens, generatingholographicdiagramsofInterlopers,weapons,andotherthings—
oddmechanisms,mostlikelywarfare-related,thatEvewasunfamiliarwith.
Theystudiedtheimages,murmuringtooneanotherastheyjottednoteson
theirscratchpads.
“Thisisourstrategysector,wherewegatherpertinentdataregardingthe
Interlopers’ tactics and motivations. It’s important in any warlike setting to studyyourenemy—howtheythink,howtheyfeel,howtheyoperate.”The
colonel slid his fingers along one of the monitors, pulling up a holographic imageofachimerawithmarksnotingcommondissectionlocations:chest,
back,throat.Heturnedtohisguests.“Theirobjectiveisclear:theywantyou—
chimeras.Weassumethey’reinterestedinabsorbingyourgift.”
“Wait,you assume?”Jasoninterrupted.“Soyoudon’tknowforsure.”
“It’s not like we can just ask them,” Eriksen growled. “Logic dictates that the giftistheirprimefocus.Andforwhateverreason,theythinktheycanfindthe
keytoyourpowerbytearingyouguysapart.”
Evescowled.“That’sridiculous.Noscientisthaseverfoundanysortof
chimeragene,ortrigger,orwhateverelse.Itdoesn’texist.”
Thecolonelshrugged.“Maybe.Maybetheydon’ttrustourscience.Or
maybetheyknowsomethingwedon’t.”
HisominoustonesentEve’sheartracing,thoughshetriedtoappear