by Biance D'Arc
Callie brushed past him and though he wanted to pull her back into his arms, he let her go. A pang of conscience hit him when she reached for Davin’s hand and let the alien sweep her into a hug. It was so clear to Rick that Davin and Callie loved each other deeply. As much as Rick loved her, he still didn’t feel worthy. But that was another battle for another day. Right now, they had even bigger fish to fry.
The three of them stared at each other as the ground trembled. The craft had set down. Close by.
“Harry’s mother usually lands in the pasture,” Callie whispered.
“I doubt Mara 12 would have any interest in our problems,” Davin said.
“Now there, you might be surprised.” A man’s voice spoke from the other side of the barn door. “Callie, are you in there?”
Rick wanted to stop her when Callie straightened out of Davin’s arms and headed for the door. She squared her shoulders and spoke, but didn’t open the latch.
“I’m here, Grady. Davin and Rick are with me.”
“All right then,” came the strange male voice, with an almost friendly edge, if such a thing were possible from an Alvian. “Open up, little one. I’m not here to fight. Mara 12 wants to talk with the Chief Engineer.”
Callie opened the door and allowed a huge Alvian warrior into the barn. His weapons were holstered, but Rick knew that didn’t mean much. The man was obviously prepared for just about anything.
“Greetings, Chief Engineer.” The stranger nodded toward Davin.
“Grady Prime. It’s…troubling, to see you here,” Davin responded.
“I’ve accompanied Mara 12 on many of her visits to the O’Haras over the years. I have known Callie since she was a newborn.” The soldier had a curious expression on his face as he looked at Callie. Rick stepped forward to protect her. Hell if he knew what he could do against a bruiser like this Grady Prime guy, but something about him woke all of Rick’s protective instincts.
But Callie actually smiled at the alien. “All my siblings think of Grady as a sort of uncle. We used to see him a lot when we were younger. Mara 12 used to come out here a few times a year to check our progress and Grady was almost always with her.”
“Protecting those in authority is one of my duties,” Grady agreed, then turned back to Davin. “Chief Engineer, Mara 12 requests your presence.”
“Of course.” Davin would have left with the alien soldier, but Callie followed right behind. Davin stopped her, taking her by the shoulders.
“I want you to stay here,” Davin said, a sense of urgency clear in the tone of his voice.
“I’m going with you. I know Mara.” Rick could see the stubborn set of her jaw and feared this was one argument Davin would not win, though Rick had to agree with Davin’s plan. Callie might be a little safer here, away from the aliens. Sometimes the old adage was true¾out of sight, out of mind.
“Which is all the more reason you should stay in the barn. She’s not to be trusted, Callie. I know what she’s done to your family in the past. She doesn’t understand us.” Davin’s voice held a pleading note.
“Please, Davin, don’t ask me to stay behind. Whatever happens, we should be together.” She clutched his arms, the tension thick in the air.
Rick saw Grady shift his stance, almost as if he were uncomfortable as he watched Davin and Callie, but why should their obvious feelings for each other affect this Alvian? Grady couldn’t possibly understand the emotional upheaval going on here. Or could he?
Davin lowered his head so his forehead rested against Callie’s. “All right. You’re my resonance mate. We’ll do this together.” Davin raised his head and sought Rick’s eyes. “You should come too.”
Rick was shocked by the inclusion, but glad of it. He wanted to see what this new development would bring as much as they did. Davin let go of Callie’s arms and let her precede him, pulling Rick aside before they left the barn.
“If anything goes wrong,” Davin said in a low tone for Rick’s ears only, “I want you to get her to safety. It’s me they want. You might have a chance to get clear if I put up a fight.”
Rick didn’t have a chance to reply before they were out in the sunlight, facing a tall Alvian woman. She was beautiful, in that Alvian way, but her expression was cold.
“Chief Engineer.” Mara 12 had a musical voice, like most Alvians.
Davin strode forward to meet her, taking the lead. Rick noticed that Grady hung back near Callie, watching all. Rick brought up the rear, his eyes wide and senses alert. He saw Mick off to one side. He’d been standing with Mara when they came out, but was quickly forgotten by the alien woman when her true quarry came into sight. Justin was nowhere to be seen, but Rick suspected he was watching from cover, a little extra insurance against things going bad, and Jane was most likely watching over the other children.
“Mara 12,” Davin greeted the scientist. “What brings you here?”
“We must talk. The power situation is unacceptable.” Demanding and cold, Mara was like most Alvians.
“Your inconvenience is unfortunate.” Davin didn’t give an inch and Rick admired his cool.
“You must return to your duties, Chief Engineer,” Mara insisted.
“I cannot,” Davin replied. “As you may know, an attempt was made on my life. I cannot return to work until that matter is cleared up.”
Mick moved closer. “Might I suggest we discuss this inside? I have a few chairs in my office and it’s warmer in there.”
Rick saw the wisdom in herding the aliens to Mick’s outbuilding. It was closer to the barn than the big house, but on the other side, drawing the possible threat away from Jane and the other O’Haras.
The group started walking toward the outbuilding, Mick acting as escort with Mara and Davin. Callie and Grady followed behind and Rick walked a pace behind them, though he could tell Grady kept a wary eye on him over the scant twenty yards to the building.
They all trooped into Mick’s small office, but there was enough room for them to sit. In short order, they were as comfortable as possible under the circumstances and ready to parley. Davin hadn’t expected Mara 12 at all, but he would hear her out. He had precious few options left.
“Since you left, the power grid has been fluctuating. The power losses have interfered with my experiments in a very negative way.” Davin could see Mara was as close to being annoyed as one like her could be.
“Unfortunate, but inevitable given the lack of skilled crystallographers. My reports to the Council over the past few decades detail the decline in crystal gift among new generations. It’s not something I have control over, but something that troubles me greatly.” Davin knew the woman didn’t really understand what it meant to be troubled, but the wording was neutral enough not to remind her of his throwback status too much. He always had to tiptoe when conversing with Alvians—particularly scientists. They tended to analyze every little thing about him.
“I am trying to do something about that, Chief Engineer, which is why this disruption is so difficult.”
“I understand the inconvenience it must pose, but I cannot help you at this time. I will not risk the safety of my resonance mate by returning to work.” Davin looked at Callie and felt warmed by her smile. She was magic to him and he would never put her in danger.
“Things have changed,” Mara broke into his thoughts. “By going after you, certain factions on the Council have brought their actions into question. I could help you expose those who ordered your death. Many of our people have been following your case with interest. It was thought that we could no longer mate as you have, with a true resonance match. Much research is now being conducted to correlate the loss of resonance mating with other losses, such as the crystal gift. Your case has reenergized the discussion of where we’ve been and where we wish to go with our genetic selection program.”
“That’s a good result, but not one I intentionally sought.” Davin was at a loss. He had no idea this kind of interest had been generated by his and Callie�
�s mating. He’d been too busy setting up his new programs and enjoying his mate to really take notice. This could work out in their favor, but he wasn’t sure quite how to utilize it…yet.
“I am aware of that,” Mara said. “The fact remains, there is great interest in you and your mate on many fronts. Whoever ordered your death was acting without sanction from the full Council.”
“How can you be certain of this?” Davin fired back, angered still by the attempt that had been made on his life.
“I have spoken to three of the Councilors, with whom I communicate regularly. Each claimed no knowledge of the events leading up to your flight from the engineering facility. They were concerned that some of their number were going around the Council to order something as serious as the death of a highly ranked engineer, crucial to our success on this planet.”
Davin was surprised and suspicious. “Why would you want to help me?”
“I want reliable power restored so I can move forward with my work unimpeded. You are the means to do so.” She folded her hands in her lap, as if resting her case.
“There’s got to be more in it for you than that. With all due respect.” Davin didn’t quite laugh in her face, but he came close.
“Very well.” Her shoulders sagged the tiniest bit. “The operative they sent after you was part of my newest experiment, and as a result of his failure, is lost to me now. The member or members of the Council who activated him knew full well that he was part of my study, and therefore retired from fieldwork. Blatant disregard for scientific precedence must be confronted.”
That sounded more like it to Davin, though he was surprised she didn’t seem to realize Sinclair was here at the ranch. Still, Davin wouldn’t give up Sinclair to this woman. Davin knew firsthand how it felt to live among Alvians like her. Being the only Alvian with emotions among so many who wanted to study you was a living hell. Davin would not willingly subject Sinclair to that—even if the man had been sent to kill him. Mara would just have to find another lab rat. And then maybe Davin would rescue that one too—if he were still alive after all the machinations of the Council.
“All right.” Davin sat back, catching Callie’s eye. She winked at him and he knew all was well. A warm feeling swept through him as he felt her approval and love in the small gesture. “What do you want me to do? I assume you have some sort of plan.”
Surprisingly, Grady stepped forward. He had refused to sit, instead taking up a guard position by the door.
“I have been looking into this matter. I believe I could provide security to get you safely to the Council chambers. Mara 12 is correct in stating that many people are avidly following your progress with your resonance mating.” Grady included Callie as he addressed Davin. “When you appeared before the Council to declare your mated status, everyone was watching, and those who didn’t see it as it happened, watched it later in rebroadcasts on the news feeds. If we can get the two of you in front of the Council again, you will be guaranteed a hearing. No Councilor wants to be seen as unwilling to listen to you speak, and many people are wondering what has gone wrong with the power grid. Few know that you were forced to flee. If you are seen before the Council, all will watch to see what you report.”
“So you think public exposure is the way to handle this?”
Grady nodded. “Mara 12 and I have narrowed the suspects down to three. Troyan, Gildereth, and Hearn. I will continue to make inquiries. Once we have something to confront them with, we can arrange to get you to the Council chambers.”
Davin stood. “Give me time to discuss this privately with my resonance mate.”
“Of course,” Grady acknowledged.
Mara 12 stood. “We will leave you to discuss your options. Grady Prime will give you a secure comm crystal—Davin, you can check it to be certain it is untraceable—so you can contact us with your decision. I suggest you communicate directly with Grady Prime on this matter, since he will be arranging security and gathering further information. I’d also remind you that the reason you’re safe here at the ranch is because of my intervention. The Council will probably not dare act against you here, where they risk incurring displeasure from the entire scientific community should harm befall any of the O’Haras.” Davin didn’t like the way she saved this sinister reminder for her parting shot. “You’re safe here, but I cannot vouch for your continued good health should you venture off this property. Either way, it is in the best interests of all concerned to settle this matter quickly.”
Mara 12 and Grady Prime left the office and headed for their ship. Everybody else followed with varying degrees of relief and consternation. Mick, Justin and Jane escorted Mara, while Davin and Callie walked next to Grady, and Rick brought up the rear. Davin stopped next to Grady to one side of the ship’s ramp as Mara boarded without looking back. Jane, Mick and Justin were on the other side of the wide ramp.
“I understand Mara’s reasons, but why are you helping us, Grady Prime?” Davin asked, confused by the elite soldier’s actions.
Grady surprised him, looking to Callie with what could almost be termed fondness—for an Alvian. “I’ve watched Callie grow along with her siblings. I don’t understand it, but I…care…what happens to her.” It was clear the warrior had trouble relating his astounding feelings. “They say soldiers carry more primitive DNA than the rest. They claim we can sometimes feel echoes of things our ancestors felt. If so, I feel those things when I’m here, with the O’Haras. It’s the main reason I always took escort duty myself, instead of relegating it to one of my subordinates, when I knew Mara 12 was coming out here.”
Callie stepped forward and put her hand on Grady’s shoulder. “It’s faint, but I do feel your protective feelings toward me and my siblings. We’ve always looked on you as a sort of uncle.” Davin saw tears fill her eyes. “I wish you could understand.”
Grady surprised them both by taking her hand in his. “I wish I could too, sometimes. And I’m honored that you would think kindly on me at all, Callie.”
She reached up and pecked his cheek, clearly shocking everyone, including Grady himself. He looked at her oddly before he turned to go, while Rick bristled and the elder O’Haras watched everything with silent interest.
The humans moved away from the ship as Grady boarded and sealed the hatch. With a purr of its engines, the ship lifted off vertically and shot out across the blue sky.
“Well what do you make of that, Janie?” Justin asked as they all headed toward the main house.
“She’s always been hard to read, but I think she’s sincere,” Jane replied, her brow furrowed.
“I believe she is on the level,” Davin put in, surprising Callie. She wasn’t used to anyone else offering opinions or insight where her family was concerned. For so long it had always been her mother offering insight while her fathers made the decisions. But she was an adult now and Davin was her mate. Heck, he was probably older than any of her fathers, though Alvians aged differently. If anyone had insight into the motivations of an Alvian mind, it would be him.
“Do you trust her? She might be telling the truth about her goals, but who’s to say she won’t change the plan to suit her own needs? Mara has changed the terms of our agreements before.” Mick’s voice held ominous tones and Callie shivered as they reached the kitchen door.
“I think we should contact Harry and see what he knows,” Callie said.
“Good idea.” Mick agreed. He went silent as his gaze took on a faraway cast, even as he moved with the group. Callie knew he was communicating telepathically with her brother. Both of them were incredibly strong telepaths.
Davin tucked Callie close to his side as the group entered the cozy house, releasing her only long enough for them both to enter and walk through to the living room. Once there, he claimed her hand, guiding her to the overstuffed couch and settling her at his side, one arm around her shoulders. She felt warm and safe next to him, but noted Rick’s closed expression as he followed behind to settle on a nearby chair.
/> Mick shook his head as he sat down. “Harry didn’t know about her trip here, but he says she’s been more secretive than usual of late. He’ll do a little investigating, poke into the files he can hack and see what he can come up with.”
“Good.” Davin nodded. “I think I can trust her to a point. She is sincere in her wish to both restore power and discomfit the Council who deprived her of one of her special test subjects. She wants to remind them of her power. By guaranteeing our safety here on the ranch, she’s begun that process, but a more dramatic show—such as getting me in front of the Council—will drive home the point.”
“Is she really that powerful in your society?” Callie asked, curious.
“Not so much Mara 12 as an individual, but more the power she wields as leader of a good portion of our most important scientists. They follow her lead. She’s strong and ambitious, willing to take risks and challenge those in authority. The scientists like their autonomy and look to her as their unofficial leader. The Council knows this and tread lightly around her pet projects. It’s a wonder to me that whoever activated Sinclair Prime didn’t take into account her reaction.”
“And did you notice, she seems to have no clue you brought Sinclair here with you,” Mick pointed out.
“Yeah.” Callie turned to Davin. “Why didn’t she think we had him? There had to be some kind of record of us taking him with us. Isn’t there?”
Davin grinned. “Actually, there are no recordings of any kind still viable from my facility. I trashed them all when we left. As for the guardsmen, they know only that I requested to speak to Sinclair Prime before we took off. It wouldn’t occur to them that we would bring my would-be assassin with us.”
