“His voice was disguised as well,” Drex added.
“I’m sensing a punchline,” Sedrik said. “My agenda is impossible today. Can we skip to the end?”
Drex obliged. “One of the RF leaders had a device attached to his laptop. It had Evonti writing on it and similar devices were found on the Evonti ship you confiscated from Solar Warden. I’m relatively certain it was a transceiver.”
“Damn it. The last thing this conflict needs is the Evonti. The human military is more or less a nuisance. Evonti technology rivals our own.” He looked at Jenna as he asked, “Is this an alliance or are RF leaders being played?”
She shook her head and frustration swirled into his mind. “It’s impossible to know without further investigation.”
“Are you volunteering?” The question held equal parts challenge and curiosity. “I’ll check into it also, but your contacts might be more helpful in this situation.
She hesitated, then much to Drex’s surprise, she nodded. “I’ll see what I can find out and let you know.” She’d certainly come a long way from mistrusting all Rodytes.
Sedrik offered her another rare smile. Drex tensed, but felt nothing inappropriate radiating across their link. “If you need anything from us, don’t hesitate to ask.” Apparently pleased with the progress, Sedrik turned back to Drex. “Now tell me about this ‘negative reaction’.”
He chose his words carefully, determined to protect Jenna’s need for privacy. “I created a transfer link to help stabilize the vision and the exposure to Jenna’s unique physiology rendered me unconscious.”
“He didn’t just pass out,” Jenna clarified. “He was completely unresponsive for fourteen hours. Dr. Mintell was working with a human geneticist, Lily Something.”
“Fontenot,” Sedrik supplied. “She’s brilliant. We’re lucky to have her.”
The obvious interest in Sedrik’s expression made Drex look at Jenna. She smiled, clearly catching the overly serious general’s reaction.
When neither of them continued, Sedrik asked, “Are you comfortable explaining the details, or would you prefer I read the report?”
“He’s already familiar with my background,” Drex told Jenna. “It’s your call.”
Jenna shrugged, but Drex felt her anxiety. “My father was Rodyte, but he was one of the Tandori. I’m not battle born.”
“I see.” Sedrik scooted to the edge of his chair, clearly intrigued by the development.
Now that Jenna had broached the issue, Drex went a little deeper. “We’re both hybrids and the combination triggered a minor mutation in my DNA. Dr. Mintell, with Lily’s help, was able to reverse the reaction, but it has given them a glimpse into the sorts of complications they can expect in the future.”
“I’m a soldier not a scientist. Let me make sure I understand.” Sedrik was one of the most brilliant beings Drex had ever encountered, so the disclaimer was almost comical. Still, genetic mutation was far outside his field of expertise. “A Rodyte/Bilarrian hybrid interacted with a human/Rodyte hybrid and the result was spontaneous mutation. The current situation was successfully resolved, but the event created an interesting opportunity. Rodyte, Bilarrian and human is also the combination involved in the transformation project. The proportions are a bit different than what we’ll see in the couples’ offspring but…I’m surprised Dr. Mintell let you out of the clinic without running every possible test. As you said, this is a glimpse into our future.”
“I’ve agreed to further testing,” Drex told him. “Preventing potential complications is always better than correcting them. Jenna is still deciding if she’s willing to be a lab rat.”
Sedrik looked at Jenna and stressed, “And it is entirely up to you. Don’t let Mintell pressure you into anything. Contrary to human propaganda, we do not force medical procedures on females.”
“No one is pressuring me,” she assured. “They’ve explained what could be gained if I cooperate, but I haven’t felt pressured.”
“Good.” Sedrik rose, his expression distant again. “Was there anything else? My next appointment just arrived.”
Drex and Jenna stood as well.
“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice,” Drex said.
Sedrik just nodded and made a beeline for his desk.
As they left the office, Sedrik’s assistant drew their attention. “Dr. Fermont. You’re mother has been trying to contact you. She’s been quite persistent. She said it wasn’t an emergency, but it was very important. I was to tell you it involves someone named Thea.”
“Thank you.” She looked at Drex as they returned to the main corridor. “My cell’s a little out of range. How do I phone home?”
Chapter Eight
Lenore pulled Jenna into an enthusiastic hug and Jenna felt tears burn in the back of her throat. She’d only been gone one night, but so much had happened. She felt like an entirely different person. The shuttle had landed in Central Park and Drex looked around curiously as they walked the nine blocks to the brownstone Jenna shared with her mother. She had no idea how the Upper Westside of Manhattan compared to the city where he’d grown up, but he certainly seemed interested in her neighborhood.
“And who is this?” Lenore asked as she released Jenna.
Her mother knew damn well who Drex was, but Jenna obliged her. “This is Drexel Kaen, though he prefers Drex to Drexel.” She motioned toward her mother. “Drex, this is my mother, Lenore.”
Drex set down his overnight bag. They hadn’t been sure how long the visit would last, so Drex brought a couple spare outfits and toiletries just in case. He shook Lenore’s hand as he said, “It’s nice to meet you. Your home is lovely.” He looked around the elegant foyer and sunlight accented his angular features and the brilliant blue phitons in his eyes. He looked strong and handsome, but the power suit didn’t disguise the fact that he was Rodyte. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to update your security team on some of the more recent developments.” He motioned toward the small bag. “What should I do with this?”
Jenna held out her hand. “I’ll take care of it.”
After handing Jenna the bag, he shifted his gaze to Lenore. “Who heads the security team?”
“Just ask for Foster. He’s out there somewhere.”
“I won’t be long.” He started to bend down and kiss Jenna, then apparently thought better of it. The more cautious approach was probably wise. Jenna wasn’t at all sure how her mother was going to react to the new romance.
The front door had barely closed behind Drex when Lenore blurted, “Did he claim you last night?”
“No.” Jenna cringed at the defensiveness in her own tone.
“But you slept with him.” It wasn’t really a question. Her mother knew her too well not to see the change in her demeanor.
Jenna paused, trying to better control her inflexions. She didn’t bother with denial. “It’s not really any of your business.”
Too agitated to remain still, Lenore walked into the sunny front room. Jenna set down the overnight bag by the main stairs then followed her mother.
“I knew this would happen,” Lenore said as Jenna entered the room. “As soon as you told me how much you disliked him, I knew you were doomed.”
“And if I don’t feel ‘doomed’?” Jenna lightly challenged. “Will you be able to accept my relationship, if he makes me happy?”
“Oh, I was ecstatic with your father during our first few months. He was passionate and attentive, flattered me in ways I still can’t believe. He was the perfect lover, the perfect companion, until it was time to breed.”
Jenna had expected this reaction. Given her mother’s past, it would have been shocking if she’d responded any other way, but foreknowledge didn’t make Lenore’s misgivings any easier to overcome. “Drex is not battle born. He already has access to his abilities.”
Lenore liked to internalize conflicts, creating outward calm. Her emotions didn’t subside. She just appeared to be over it, so others relaxed and became le
ss defensive. Lenore used the strategy so often, Jenna found herself emulating it.
“Your father wasn’t battle born either,” Lenore pointed out. “Drex is a Rodyte male. He wants to claim you, bond with you, bind you to him forever.”
Jenna licked her lips, not sure she was ready to admit her true feelings to herself, much less her mother. “Maybe that’s what I want too.”
Lenore closed her eyes, likely counting to ten in her mind. “You’re drunk on his pheromones.” Her eyes opened again, compassion and worry now burning in her gaze. “You don’t know what you want.”
The thought had crossed Jenna’s mind more than once, which was one of the reasons she hadn’t allowed Drex to claim her. If this was all some hormonal high, would she still love him once the pull subsided? All of this had happened so quickly. It seemed impossible. And yet, what they shared was so perfect, so real, she refused to dismiss it entirely. “He created a transfer link. I can sense his emotions, even some of his thoughts. His affection is genuine. He is not like my father.”
With a dramatic harrumph, Lenore sat in her favorite chair. “I’ve tried very hard not to judge their entire race by the actions of a few. Even among the Tandori there are honest, honorable people. But this situation isn’t helping my objectivity.”
“Spend some time with him.” Jenna sat, also in her favorite chair. “Get to know him before you reject him. He’s really very sweet.”
Lenore narrowed her gaze, but all she said was, “You haven’t left me a lot of choice, now have you?”
“I suppose not.” Jenna sighed. Lenore hadn’t thrown her out or refused to allow Drex past the front door, so Jenna would call that a win. Still, they had a long way to go if they hoped to win Lenore’s approval. The news was out. It was probably better to give her mother some time to process the development. “So what’s this about Thea Cline? Why couldn’t you just explain it over the phone or audio-com, whatever Drex used to call you?”
“She’s here and I want you to meet her, but I thought I’d fill you in before I bring her down.”
“Thea is here, now? In this house?” Why had Foster allowed a RF member into their house, for the second time? The answer was obvious. Her mother must have insisted.
Lenore quickly filled her in on Thea’s apparent change of heart. “She’s really torn up, and I don’t think it’s an act to gain my sympathy. She’s completely alone. Everyone she knew and loved was wiped out by that damn ship.”
“That’s how the RF leaders got their claws in her.” Still, Jenna was wary. “This could also be a clever trap, set by a skilled operative.”
Lenore shook her head. “Thea’s passionate about what she believes in, but she’s not slick and manipulative like a professional spy. I think she was just searching for meaning after a devastating loss and the Resistance Force gave that to her.”
“Has she let anyone know about her change of heart?” If Thea could still set up a meeting with Abaddon, it might be the perfect opportunity for the battle born to spring a trap.
“I don’t think so, but asking to see her cell phone will probably not help us earn her trust.”
“Her cell phone?” Jenna cried. “You left her alone in one of the guest rooms with her cell phone?”
“They clearly know where we live.” A bit of an edge crept into Lenore’s tone. “What are you afraid she’ll tell them even if she does call? Which I don’t think she will.”
Jenna just shook her head. There was no reason to fight over details. She needed to stay focused on the endgame. “This could be an amazing opportunity if Thea’s conversion is real, but that’s one gigantic if.”
“You can’t always sense when someone is lying. Can Drex? You said he has access to his abilities. What are they?”
Jenna thought back on what he’d told her about his abilities. “He’s empathic, but I don’t know how well he can interpret the emotions he senses. I’ll ask.”
“Before we plan our next few steps around anything Thea does or says, we need to know if we can trust her.”
Jenna nodded. “I agree.”
Drex was escorted back into the house a few minutes later by Foster. The two males chatted and laughed together, clearly enjoying each other’s company. Foster nodded to each of the females, then returned to his post. Drex moved to one of the open chairs and sat, his expression relaxed yet watchful.
Never one to mince words, Jenna came right to the point. “Can you use your empathic abilities to determine if someone is lying?”
He tensed, and Jenna felt his anxiety spike. “It requires scanning a person’s mind without their knowledge or permission. I prefer not to cross that line.”
Jenna glanced at her mother. Lenore was deep in thought, so Jenna tried to find a compromise with Drex. “What if I tell her you’re going to do it? Many government agencies require polygraph tests for all new hires. This is basically the same thing.”
“I presume we’re talking about Thea.” Jenna nodded. “If she’s aware and has no objection, I have no problem performing the scan.”
“And if she objects?” Challenge put an even sharper edge on Lenore’s tone. Apparently, she’d been following the conversation after all. “Do we toss her out into the street?”
“Most humans broadcast their emotions when they’re anxious or upset. Detecting these pulses doesn’t require an invasive scan. I should be able to learn enough from the emotions she broadcasts to determine if she’s a threat. Whether or not we can trust her to help us is a much more complicated question. I’ll only scan her mind if she agrees to help.”
“Did she indicate that she wants to help us, or was she just done with the Resistance Force?” Jenna asked her mother.
Lenore fiddled with the hem of her blouse, looking less comfortable with each new question. “I pointed out the holes in their story, but that’s about as far as the conversion went before she broke down. The poor girl hasn’t begun to deal with the loss of her family. She lost her husband and children, her mother and sister. I’m not sure she’s emotionally stable enough to do anything but grieve.”
Jenna nodded. Five weeks wasn’t a lot of time to process something so devastating. Still, Lenore had set this scene in motion, and she didn’t generally act without considering all the possible outcomes. “Thea must have some sort of potential or you wouldn’t have suggested we meet.”
“Oh, she’s brimming with potential. I just feel guilty for wanting to exploit it.” With an audible sigh, Lenore pushed to her feet. “I suppose there’s only one way to find out how she’ll react to any of this. I’ll go see if she’s ready for visitors.”
Lenore left the room and Jenna turned to Drex. “When my mother sees anyone in need, be they a vagabond or stray animal, she can’t help wanting to save them. She’s always been that way.”
“It’s a wonderful quality. I just hope she isn’t hurt by her heroic instincts. Crawling out on a limb for a stray kitten can put the rescuer in a precarious situation.”
When Lenore returned a short time later, Thea trailed a step behind. She looked younger than Jenna remembered, more little girl lost than rebellious radical. Her long blonde hair was clean, though tousled, and she wore jeans and a blouse Jenna was pretty sure she recognized. Lenore motioned toward the last empty chair before returning to her seat. Thea sat and looked at Jenna, then Drex, uncertainty clear in her big, dark eyes.
“Before you say anything,” Jenna began, not nearly as convinced by Thea’s demeanor as Lenore. “I feel it’s only fair to warn you that Drex is empathic. He can tell if you’re lying or manipulating the facts. We won’t lie to you, but we expect honesty in return.”
Thea’s gaze shot to Drex as fear and mistrust reshaped her expression. “I didn’t realize a Rodyte would be here. I wouldn’t have come down if I’d known.”
“Fair enough.” Jenna crossed her legs and pressed back into her chair. “You’re free to leave whenever you like, but I think we can help each other.”
“How? RF lead
ers want to use me. Now the battle born want the same. How are you any different from Abaddon and his minions?”
Jenna smiled, tempted to drop the bombshell right from the start.
Don’t push too hard, Drex warned. You’ll scare her off.
She glanced at him, acknowledging his suggestion without agreeing to accept it. “One last order of business before we chat. Did you make any calls while you were upstairs?” She avoided looking at her mother, knowing she’d be angry.
“Seriously?” Thea pulled her cell out of her pocket and held it out with an indignant look. “Go on, check the call log. I called my grandmother’s apartment twice and the front desk at her complex once. That’s it.”
“Why did you call the front desk?” Lenore wanted to know. “Is everything all right?”
Thea looked at the older woman and her resentment eased just a little. “I called to find out where the hell my grandmother is because she’s never gone this long unless she has a doctor’s appointment or something.”
“And did she?” Jenna asked, hoping beyond hope that it was a false alarm. The last thing Thea needed was more loss in her life.
“They’re ‘not sure’ where she is, but they’re ‘confident’ nothing has happened to her.” She used finger quotes to accent the receptionist’s excuses. “One of the attendants remembers seeing her at breakfast, but whoever took her out of the building neglected to sign her out. There are several offsite activities running today and they ‘believe’ she’s participating in one of them.”
“Is that unusual for your grandmother?” Lenore’s tone and expression were compassionate, but worry shadowed her eyes. So much for calming Thea down.
“You don’t think… They couldn’t have,” Thea said firmly, yet it was obvious she didn’t believe it. “None of the RF leaders know about my grandmother. I’ve made sure of it.”
Interesting. Thea couldn’t trust her comrades completely if she was keeping secrets from them.
Defiant (Battle Born Book 13) Page 14
