Once she was certain the situation was temporarily put on hold, she placed a call to Parisia's private line.
"Hello?"
It sounded like Parisia but Iris had to be certain. "Security precautions please." In the blink of an eye, she had a visual of Parisia on her monitor then the palm of the Prefect's hand was flattened on the screen. Iris's computer verified that it was indeed the Imperial Prefect but she and Parisia had devised one other fail-safe. She asked, "What happened on the twelfth day of the sixth month twenty-four years ago?"
Parisia moved her hand away from the screen. That question had made her smile when they'd chosen it. Now, knowing that it signified a critical security breach, it filled her with anxiety. "My daughter, Brianne, cut her first tooth."
Iris gave an audible sigh of relief. "I apologize for disturbing you but we have a problem." She relayed as much as she knew so far and what actions had been taken. "Obviously, they have not captured you but somehow they know your name. What makes it doubly confusing is that the woman referred to you as a representative rather than the Imperial Prefect."
"There's something else that's not quite right," Parisia said, rubbing her eyes. "From what we know of these people, doesn't it seem rather odd that they would choose women, rather than men, to confront us?"
Iris nodded slowly. She had been too concerned about Parisia to fully analyze the situation. "It does seem unlikely that they would send women to negotiate with captors. Unless they knew something about the structure of our society."
"It can only mean one thing, Iris. They have captured one of our people and convinced that person to reveal certain information about us. But who? And how?"
"I will have the four women taken to the sanatorium and isolated. If you'll meet me there, we can question them together."
* * *
Nadia glared at the silly girls who had been assigned to guard her. She had tried being friendly, demanding and threatening. She had offered every bribe she could think of to entice them to help her escape. Obviously, the scarred man had chosen them to guard her knowing they were immovable.
At least she had been allowed to dress properly and, though her hands and feet were still bound, she was somewhat more comfortable. She laid on the cot and turned toward the side of the tent. There had to be a way to save herself. Escape appeared unlikely for the moment but she was certain that eventually an opportunity would avail itself. If she couldn't get the controller back, she could always go through the transfer room. If her timing was right, Simone would be the tech on duty and she could be convinced to keep a secret... for the right reward.
She recalled Simone telling her she would be working nights now and it was already nearing dawn. The best thing to do was pretend to be docile long enough for her guards to give her a little freedom, then by nightfall she could make her break.
But what if the men who captured her figured out how to use the controller in the meantime? What if they escaped from the commune and told someone about her presence? It wouldn't be long before her absence was connected with the escape in spite of her using Parisia's name.
She laughed at the route her thoughts had taken. Earth men didn't have the intelligence to analyze the controller or manage a successful escape. There was no real reason to fret. Just in case, however, she started to create a credible excuse for why she had ventured into the commune.
A short while later, she was satisfied that she was prepared for every possibility and allowed herself to go to sleep.
* * *
Logan flopped onto his stomach and punched his pillow one more time. Years in the service had accustomed him to grabbing an hour of sleep whenever and wherever he could. He was an ace at shutting out distractions and ignoring uncomfortable surroundings to get the most out of a catnap.
So why was he having so much trouble taking advantage of the rest time he'd been granted and badly needed?
He knew the answer, he just didn't like admitting it, even to himself. His quixotic instincts had him wanting to protect Tarla regardless of the fact that she didn't want his protection and probably didn't need it.
As long as he had kept her classified as an unattainable fantasy, thoughts of her never kept him from sleeping. But now, after having held her, touched her, tasted her and discovered exactly how she looked when she was filled with wanting him, the reality and the fantasy were all mixed together.
He couldn't help but wonder what it might have been like if he and Tarla had met before—His thought stopped there. Before what? Before he was born maybe? There had never been a time in this life when he would have belonged in the same world as Tarla.
What if she didn't come back? What if the people on the other side of the wall decided to hold onto her and the other women and leave Parisia here? He shifted to his side to consider that possibility. He doubted that would happen, but if it did, he felt certain either Geoffrey would figure out how to use the device that got Parisia through the wall or Parisia herself would eventually break down and help them escape.
One way or the other, Logan was betting their present circumstances would soon be changing. He just wished he had a crystal ball to see whether that change would be for better or for worse. The only thing he knew for certain was that even life in paradise would be torture if Tarla was within reach, yet untouchable. And as long as she believed he was a low-life, murdering, drug-smuggling traitor, she would remain untouchable.
Of course, he could always tell her the truth, but since there was no one here to back up his story, why waste the breath? It would be his word against everyone else's—just like it had been at his court martial.
* * *
Tarla, Robin, Lee and Alicia awoke on the carpeted floor of a very large unfurnished room. There were no windows, only a closed door in the wall across from them. Tarla rose and walked toward it but was stopped halfway there by an invisible barrier.
"Well," she said turning back to the others, "I don't know if we've made progress or not. We've gone from a walled-in farm to a cell."
Robin stood up and stretched. "I wonder how long we were out. I feel like I had a really good night's sleep."
"That's how Logan and Wilkes described their experiences too," Tarla reminded her. "But in actuality, they were only gone a few hours. At least we didn't wake up still in the tack room. Hopefully this means they're going to talk to us."
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the door opened and two women dressed in long white robes entered. Lee and Alicia were on their feet in an instant.
One of their visitors appeared to be middle-aged and was so pale and slender, it seemed as though a light breeze would blow her away. Tarla thought she looked friendly but troubled. The other was shorter, plumper and much older. Her worried frown appeared to be a fixed expression.
"Good day," the younger woman said with a near-smile. "We understand that you wish to speak with us."
Tarla took a step forward and repeated her earlier statement. "I am Captain Tarla Yan of the United States of America. We have captured one of your people, Parisia, Representative of Acameir. We wish to open negotiations regarding her release."
"That is most intriguing, particularly since I am Parisia of Acameir, and my title is not representative but Imperial Prefect of Heart. This is my Domestic Affairs Advisor, Iris of Mergany."
Tarla had been mentally prepared for the unexpected but she'd hoped to get past the introductions before feeling bewildered. "The woman we are holding hostage claims that she is Parisia and that Nadia of Hinac is Imperial Prefect."
"Nadia?" the older woman asked skeptically. "What does this woman look like?"
Tarla shot a glance at Robin. Someone was lying but who? "She is tall, full-figured, has very long black hair and a rather large nose."
The two women exchanged whispers then the Advisor said to Tarla, "Your description matches that of the woman we know as Nadia but it is difficult for us to believe you have captured her. Tell us how this happened."
Ta
rla straightened her shoulders, met the older woman's penetrating gaze then related the facts as if she were delivering a report to a superior officer. She could tell her straightforward delivery was appreciated but the content of her report was beyond belief for the Heart leaders.
"Impossible," the woman who claimed to be the real Parisia murmured. "That is too much, even for Nadia."
"I have no reason to lie to you," Tarla protested. "And how else would I have learned the names Parisia and Nadia, or known about the gateway, the drug in the water, or that your planet is called Heart?"
"We are not accusing you of lying about having captured one of our women," Parisia said, "but the circumstances are simply too unlikely. Our entire society has been structured to prevent the sort of male aggression you have described. It is impossible to believe that one of our women would not only permit, but welcome an invasion of her body."
"All I can tell you is she said she was conducting an experiment and it was not for breeding purposes."
As the pair whispered to one another again, Tarla had the distinct impression they might not want Parisia/Nadia back. She remembered how that woman had tried to play on their sisterhood and thought that angle was worth a try here. "Excuse me?" She waited until she had their full attention. "Surely you wouldn't consider leaving one of your own among all those primitive men."
"What is it you wish in exchange for her freedom?" Iris asked.
"It's very simple," Tarla replied. "Send us all home."
"That may sound simple to you," Parisia said with a sigh. "But it is a request we could not fill no matter how desperate we were to make a trade."
Tarla had anticipated that response. "We know you have something called a near-term memory depleter. You could use that on us so that we'd have no recollection of Heart at all."
Parisia shook her head. "I'm afraid you misunderstood. We can't send you back because we don't know how."
"How can that be? You're able to heal critically ill people and build invisible force fields, yet you can't figure out how to make the gateway work in reverse?"
"It's never been considered a priority."
"Well it damn well should be," Robin interjected, unable to remain silent a moment longer. "How would you like to be stranded a zillion miles away from your home, turned into zombies and treated like lab rats?"
Tarla held up a hand to stop her from continuing. It was important that these women thought of them as equals, and she was fairly sure the way to accomplish that was through intellectual rather than emotional channels. "If you truly do not have the ability to send us home, at least release us from the farm and give us access to your technology. We have men and women with a wide variety of talents and skills. Given the chance, we may be able to solve the problem for ourselves. Besides that, we need a more stimulating life than what you had planned for us. We don't know what your society is like but it has to be closer to what we're used to than the farm."
"Anything else?" Parisia asked.
Tarla ran down her checklist. "There may be some minor details as we go along but there's only one more major request. No more drugs or using any other methods you have to control or alter our behavior. We want our freedom in every way. Our hostage said you are human, so you must know how important individual freedom is. We're asking no more of you than we believe you would ask of us if the situation were reversed."
Parisia slowly nodded. "This is a very grave matter. One that I must discuss with others before taking any action. I cannot make you any promises but I assure you that I empathize with your position and will try to come up with an acceptable compromise for everyone concerned. It may be some time before I am able to meet with you again, so I will have you moved to a more comfortable room to wait. Your cooperation and patience will be appreciated."
Parisia and Iris weren't gone more than ten minutes when Iris returned. "Come along," she said, holding the door open.
Tarla stepped forward but the invisible barrier stopped her progress.
"Oh my, forgive me," Iris said, then took something out of her pocket. It looked like the small box that had been taken from their hostage. "If you will all stand back and off to the side, I'll have this out of your way in a moment."
They did as she directed, then watched her point the box at the center of the barrier. A white beam shot out from the box and with two sweeps of her arm, she drew a large "X" across the wall then put the device back in her pocket. "You can pass through now."
Since she couldn't see any change with her eyes, Tarla tested the space in front of her with her hand to confirm that the barrier really had disappeared then motioned for the others to follow. Iris led them down one corridor then another, with barely a glance behind her.
Tarla was a little surprised that they had gained so much trust so quickly. It was almost as if... "Advisor Iris? May I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
Tarla ordered herself to block the multitude of questions lined up in her mind and focus on just one with her intuitive ability amped to its highest level. "Are you telepathic?"
Iris raised her eyebrows. "No. Why do you ask?"
"You don't seem at all afraid of us now. I thought perhaps you'd read my mind to know that you're safe and we wouldn't attempt an escape."
Iris angled her head at Tarla. "I'm not telepathic, nor are any of our citizens that I know of. But my intuition is usually quite good and it says, despite your willingness to commit violence, you are all intelligent, logical women. Harming me or attempting an escape would not serve any purpose at this time. Therefore, I'm perfectly safe with you at the moment. Here we are." She opened a door and waved them inside. "Full illumination please." Immediately the room was flooded with light.
"Very nice," Robin said, scanning the large room. "We finally found civilization."
Tarla smiled as she took in the red, white, and blue color scheme. The furnishings were all combinations of geometric-shaped cushions and pieces of what appeared to be stone but were practically weightless. Apparently they could all be mixed and matched to serve different functions. Iris pointed out the bathroom then slid back a panel on one wall to reveal a kitchenette.
"Lighting and temperature are voice activated. If you are hungry or thirsty, the cooler and cabinets are stocked with a variety of items. If you wish to heat something, place the entire tray or container inside the laser oven." She opened a door to demonstrate. "The unit will automatically read the instructions and cook it accordingly."
Iris closed up the kitchenette and moved across the room to a low table surrounded by cushions. "This room is normally used as a waiting area for family or friends of a patient. It is equipped with an entertainment center for your distraction." She touched the edge of the table and a directory listing of options appeared on its surface. "It is touch sensitive and self-explanatory. For instance, if you would like to hear some music..."
She passed her finger over that word and the room was suddenly filled with the sounds of a symphony orchestra. The tabletop now offered a means of changing the volume, tone and musical selection. Iris gave a quick demonstration of how to use those features then touched the edge of the tabletop again to turn the system off.
"It is capable of running as many as a dozen programs simultaneously, though I've never figured out why anyone would want to do that."
"I have another question, if you don't mind," Tarla said. Iris nodded her willingness to listen. "We were told that when a person from Earth lands here, he is interviewed and that is how you know so much about our planet."
"That is correct."
Tarla took a breath and forced herself to speak as though she wasn't personally concerned about the answer to her question. "Were we each interviewed then?"
Iris met her gaze steadily. "No. There were too many of you and not enough trained interrogators. Besides, a good number of your group required medical attention. That was the first priority."
"But as I understand it, even if you had interviewed us, we
would have no recollection of it because of your memory depleter."
"Also correct," Iris replied evenly. "But, as I said, we did not conduct the standard interviews... and I have no reason to prevaricate about that."
Tarla stared into the older woman's eyes and decided she had told the truth. Relief flooded through her. If she needed to reveal her secret, she wanted it to be on her own terms. Thinking of her Innerworld ring, she asked, "What happened to all of our belongings?"
Iris angled her head. "Your weapons were destroyed, if that's what you are curious about."
Tarla couldn't think of any way to find out what she really wanted to know without asking directly. "I... we were wondering about more personal items, like family photos and jewelry."
Iris walked to the door and opened it. "I am sorry to say, everything was discarded since it was assumed you would not have need for such items again. As Parisia advised, it may be a while before we can get back to you regarding your demands, so please be patient and make yourselves comfortable." A second later, she was gone.
Lee went to the door and tried to turn the knob. "It's locked."
"So much for trusting us not to make an escape," Robin said with a laugh. "But at least they're no longer trying to bore us to death. Anybody else curious about what they call entertainment?"
Tarla shut out the other women's voices and turned her focus toward what was bothering her about the room. It only took a quick scan of the colorful space. There were no windows or timepieces. Not knowing whether one hour or one day had passed since they'd entered the tack room, added to her already tense state.
She was a little envious of Robin. She was free to enjoy the moment since she had complete faith that Tarla would take care of any strategic problem that arose and Lee and Alicia would take care of any physical threat. Determined to take advantage of the calm, regardless of how long it lasted, she joined the group at the entertainment center.
LOGAN (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 5) Page 15
