I lay in my bed, grinning from ear to ear over his compliment. When Gaige’s breathing turned to the slow, rhythmic pattern of deep sleep, I quietly eased out of bed. An invisible rope pulled me toward him. He wanted me. Even as he slept, his body summoned me and I couldn’t deny him. Dragging my comforter with me, I crawled up next to him on the floor. I lay down as carefully as I could so as not to wake him. I had to be with him on so many levels. But lying there still and silent as he slept, so close I could feel his body heat, was all I would allow that night. I’d given him my word—we were on pause—and I’d keep it.
CHAPTER 76 -
LOME
Surrounded by nothing but wasted open fields, I pressed the gas pedal to the floor. My effort gained only a negligible increase in speed. Typical for such a primitive vehicle. Cruck, now in a human form that he despised, sat beside me, seething with impatience over the trip, though he dare not voice it. The inefficient mode of transport was cause for frustration. More than Cruck could even fully comprehend, being too young to remember the Tamanacke in our glory days when we had unprecedented technologies these Earthlings couldn’t even imagine. He’d seen enough of what we’d recovered, though, to understand that an automobile was a ridiculous method of getting anywhere. Thus, the reason I brought him. We could alternate driving the inadequate hunk of metal in order to make better time.
For a moment, I had rethought my decision to drive to this Ohio. But, no. A plane would have been too risky. The general was not a pilot and my intolerance of humans would not have allowed for any of those imbeciles to shuttle me in one of their flying cans.
“How much longer?” Cruck asked, shifting in his seat.
“We’ve barely started, Cruck. Be patient!”
“Are you sure we couldn’t use the transition pod? We’d be there in seconds. It would be helpful with keeping our equipment tested, too.”
I gritted the flat excuses for teeth together, annoyed. “We cannot expose our presence on Earth. Especially now. We’ve managed to stay hidden from the Anuan science teams all these years, but after the Anuan’s less than flawless escape with the girl, they’ll be watching Earth closely. They’ll understand the Earth-humans could never have managed to track them the way we did. Unless we get lazy and do things like exposing ourselves by using Tamanacke transport technology for this incidental retribution, they’ll have no reason to suspect us—an extinct race. Or so they think.”
“Whatever you think is best, Lome.” Cruck leaned his head against the door and closed his thin, single eyelids.
Better he sleep than annoy me. Whether either of us liked it or not, things had to be this way. We had to remain patient, something the Tamanacke inherently lacked. Even with my guidance, they still struggled to endure anything short of immediate action. I’d be vigilant about keeping them on track, though. The element of surprise was crucial for our ultimate plan.
CHAPTER 77 -
VICTORIA
I screamed and sat bolt upright from the floor, where I’d fallen asleep next to Gaige. The snake eyes faded and my room came into focus.
Gaige was on his feet in a split second. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
A thin layer of sweat covered my body. I balled my hands into fists to steady their uncontrollable shaking. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Gaige knelt down beside me. “You’re scared. I can feel it. What is it? Another dream?”
“I’m okay.”
“What was it about?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I drew my legs up against my body and rested my forehead on my knees, wanting more than anything not to remember those eyes. “I don’t. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay.” Gaige ran his hand up and down my back. “You don’t have to talk about it. If it’s too traumatic, maybe it’s best you not, until you’re ready.”
I raised my head and saw Gaige’s worried look etched into his brow. “Gaige, your face is going to freeze like that. Stop worrying. It was only a dream. I’ll be fine.”
He brushed his fingers across my check so gently it was hard to believe the same hand had torn open a cage back at the lab. I leaned into his touch. He pulled his hand back, like the exchange was more than his willpower could withstand. I didn’t realize how much I needed his comfort until he pulled it away. I remembered how my father used to rock me in his arms after these kinds of dreams. I needed that connection and missed it now more than ever.
“Gaige, I miss them.”
“Who?”
“My parents. My biological ones. It’s been years. Why do I miss them so much now?”
“I’m sorry, Victoria.”
Gaige slid his arms around the back of my neck and pulled me against him. He rocked me back and forth in that familiar way. I rested my head on his shoulder, remembering my father. Memories of my adoptive parents—my aunt and uncle—came to me as well. They’d always protected me, kissed the boo-boos, and made me feel better. Just like my father—and mother—had done. Just like Gaige was doing now.
“I miss my aunt and uncle, too. What if they realize I’m gone and they’re worried sick?” Could I leave them behind like they meant nothing to me? I felt as if the two worlds might tear me apart—Gaige and this place or my family and my home. How could I come out of this experience whole regardless of which side I chose?
“Would you like to talk to them?” he said.
I raised my head from Gaige’s shoulder. “I could talk to them right now?”
“I think I could make that happen.”
“Yes! I’d love to.”
Gaige released me and started a link conversation with someone named Pags. I could only hear Gaige's side of the conversation, of course, but after a moment he nodded to me and smiled. “Pags is connecting to them now. It will look like they’re receiving a call from your cell phone.”
The familiar sound of a ringing phone came into the room and then the sound of my mother’s sweet voice. “Tori! It’s so good to hear from you.”
“Hi, Mom!”
“Dad’s on, too.”
“Hi, Honey,” Dad said.
“Hi, Dad. How are you two?”
“We’re good,” Mom answered first. “How’s . . . Ohio?”
“Ohio’s, uh.” I glanced at the window. Since I was still sitting on the floor with Gaige, I couldn’t see out, but knew how to answer. “Ohio’s cold.”
We chatted for a while about nothing particularly important. Just hearing their voices and knowing they weren’t on a nationwide manhunt to find me made me feel better.
After I’d finished talking to them, I had the strangest feeling.
“What’s wrong?” Gaige asked. “I thought you’d be too excited to sit still after talking with your parents.”
“Oh, I am. I feel so much better knowing they don’t think I’ve been kidnapped or something. It’s just . . . I don’t know. Maybe it’s that they weren’t worried at all. That’s the first time I’ve spoken to my dad since I left for college that he hasn’t given me some kind of warning or precaution to take. Keep your doors locked, don’t go out after dark, don’t drive on icy roads. You know.”
Gaige nodded. He did know. He was just like him.
“Reminds me of you, as a matter of fact.”
“People who care for you are allowed to worry about you.” Gaige stood up and scooped the blankets off the floor. He deposited them in the constructor and sent them away. “I think now is a good time for your surprise.”
“Another one?” I said, standing up.
“People who care about you can also surprise you as many times and as often as they want.” He returned from the constructor. “So are you ready?”
“Sure. Let’s have it.”
“Say, ‘Access Victoria’s personal files.’ It has to be your voice.”
“Access Victoria’s personal files,” I said.
“Accessing,” the computer voice responded.
“Now say, ‘Photos,’ ” Gaige told m
e.
“Photos,” I said.
“Specify,” the computer replied.
I looked at Gaige. “What now?”
“I had all your phone information uploaded to the ship. All your pictures are here. Which one would you like to see? Just describe it—the people, the date, anything to start narrowing it down. The computer will find what you’re looking for.”
“My pictures? Are here?”
“Yes. Which one would you like to see?” Gaige asked.
“All of them! I want to see all photos!” I told the computer.
Hundreds of photos materialized in the air, filling my entire room with projected images. I ran through the scenes of my life, touching my families’ faces in scene after scene. I stopped in front of one of the many old pictures I’d scanned and uploaded before I left for college. It was of me as a toddler with my birth parents. I looked into the face of my mother and my emotions started to crumble.
Gaige stepped up behind me. “Breathe,” he said.
“What?”
“Balance yourself, like I showed you.”
I sat down on the floor where I could be more relaxed. Gaige sat next to me.
“Go ahead. Breathe,” he said.
With all my pictures hanging over my head, I inhaled deeply several times. My mind cleared. My nerves calmed. I drifted away. I could feel the energies of all the beings of the universe, including my parents. “I can feel them, Gaige.”
“They’ll always be with you. Death is not an end. It’s just a transition.”
“Then I can always have them with me?”
“Yes, always.”
“Thank you, Gaige.” I scooted as close to him as I could and laid my head on his shoulder. “I love you.”
He put his arms around me and tilted his head down against mine. “And I love you.”
We were as close to each other as we could possibly be without crossing any boundaries. We sat. And we held each other. And we loved. No bonding was necessary for that.
CHAPTER 78 -
GAIGE
Sitting in front of my space-view window, waiting on Victoria to get ready for the day, I wondered about the dreams she was having. She’d had them around the time of her parents’ deaths and now during another upheaval in her life. The timing and the level of her abilities told me they may be more than mere dreams.
“Link request from Pags,” the computer said.
“Allow. Go ahead, Pags.”
“The general, the one they call Ash, left the desert complex. He’s heading in the direction of where they have the scientist incarcerated. Right now, it’s only speculation that that’s where he’s going. Nobody has been able to get a read on his intentions, but Kians can be difficult sometimes. If that is where he’s going, he shouldn’t arrive until well after your mission.”
“Okay, thanks, Pags. Sounds like we’ll have Brian someplace safe before the general gets to him, but keep me posted. Link out.”
On my way back to Victoria’s quarters, she filled my thoughts—her smile, the fresh, floral scent of her hair, the softness of her lips. I didn’t like being away from her now and didn’t look forward to being away from her during my mission to see Brian.
Midstep, a darkness fell on me. It wrapped itself around my gut and squeezed it hard, stopping me in the middle of the corridor. I didn’t know where the feeling belonged—with the mission, with Victoria, or somewhere else entirely? I broke into a run, as fast as I could go, to Victoria’s door. The few seconds it took her to allow me in seemed like forever. I wanted to break the door down. When it opened, she stood smiling, looking perfectly safe and well in another pink ship suit. The brighter shade of this one brought out the blush of her cheeks.
Still catching my breath, I hugged her, opening myself to anything that might be going on with her. I felt nothing but happiness and excitement. My eyes searched the room for anything that could cause her harm. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. “Are you okay?” I asked, releasing her.
Victoria put her hands on her hips. “Gaige, I may not be an Anuan empath, but with you, I don’t need to be.”
She took me by the hand and led me to her bed. “Sit down.”
I sat. Victoria placed her hands on the sides of my face and planted her thumbs squarely in the center of my forehead. She pushed her thumbs across my brow, away from each other, toward my temples. The muscles relaxed and so did my worry.
“I told you what would happen if you don’t stop making that face. It was only a dream. I’m fine now.” She tilted her head, examining my brow. “That’s better.” She dropped her hands to her sides. “And, I’m not going to have any more overload episodes. I feel strong and settled.”
Her tenacious attitude made me smile. Everything about her made me smile. “You might just be right,” I said.
She seemed fine. The troubled feeling I’d had must not have been connected to her.
“I am.” She sat down next to me. “So, what do you have planned for us today?”
I rattled off some of the places we’d go and things we’d do. I included taking her to get her physical so she could begin her gravity acclimation. I knew that was something she wanted to do. We’d decided, even if she didn’t end up staying, it would be good exercise. It would also keep her mind occupied while we figured out why things had gone so wrong on Earth and whether it would be safe for her to go back. If she chose to.
She had leaned into every word I’d said, her smile getting bigger each time I named another stop. With her mood being so solid, I wondered . . . Zada seemed to think it was okay to let her be more involved with the people here—
“Gaige, did you hear me?” She patted my arm to get my attention. “Do you have anything else planned?”
“Well.” I paused, not wanting her to take on too much. Since Zada said to let Victoria set her own pace, I’d leave it up to her this time. “You met my father and I was wondering if you might be comfortable meeting my mother today.”
“Your mother?” The enthusiasm in her voice waned and her shoulders slumped.
“She’s very kind,” I said. “You’ll like her.”
“But will she like me?”
“She’ll love you. Remember where you are. Anuans are open-minded, loving beings.”
She paused, but only for a moment. “You’re right, Gaige. Yes, I would like to meet your mother.”
I felt no nervousness at all from Victoria. A good sign. Her emotions were settling. Her system would soon level out completely. I would once again have my strong-willed, kind-hearted, loving, selfless Victoria, without the nervous fears and insecurities, the quick anger, and the easy tears. And Victoria would have peace from her struggle.
CHAPTER 79 -
VICTORIA
We arrived at the spaceship’s park to meet Gaige’s mother and Bec for a walk. With real dirt under our feet and a virtual, blue sky overhead—complete with puffy, white clouds—nothing gave away the true nature of the place in which we stood. The gently rolling park stretched out for acres. Children played and couples picnicked, just like in any Earth park. It took a person zipping by above our heads on what looked to be an airborne Jet Ski to remind me that this wasn’t Earth.
A breeze blew past, rustling the leaves of some nearby trees. The colors of the leaves and trunks varied slightly from those on Earth. But all had the same majestic feel, towering tall and strong.
I leaned into Gaige. “Is this what Anu looks like?”
“It’s exactly what Anu looks like. Some parts of it, anyway.”
I squatted down and ran my hand across the grass, only to find it wasn’t like Earth grass after all, but a blue-green ground covering bursting forth with tiny flowers of the same color. My touch released a floral scent so sweet I wanted to bathe myself in it.
Gaige knelt down next me. “It’s called asper.” He plucked a bloom no bigger than my pinky nail and handed it to me.
I twirled it between my fingers where it left a green smudge. “Grass
stain.”
“Yes, it will stain, just like grass, though our clothing is resistant to that. But Asper is tough. It won’t easily wear thin.”
Another sky skier completed a sideways loop over some elaborate play equipment not far from us. We stood to watch. I couldn’t wait to join in on some of the Anuan recreational activities myself. But today I was there for another reason.
“Are your mother and Bec here yet?”
“They’re here.” Gaige nodded.
“Are you going to link to them?”
“No, let’s enjoy the trails. We’ll run into them soon enough.”
As we walked to the edge of the woods, the simple, everyday things that surrounded us—things that tended to be ignored in the shuffle of life—became so apparent to me. The simulated sun shone on my skin. I tilted my face to the sky, soaking in the warm rays. The smaller, flowering trees at the wood’s edge and the wild flowers sprinkled among them bloomed with so many vivid colors they put my childhood box of crayons to shame. Carried on a breeze, the fresh fragrances of the flora around us wafted by, smelling sweeter than any I’d ever noticed before. A couple passed us. I smiled at them, and they smiled back. Life was good and I was aware of every precious morsel of it. The balancing exercise the Anuans believed in so strongly really did help put things in a better perspective. It kept the bad from overshadowing all else and helped me see even the simple, everyday things for the blessings they were.
It made me sad that so many times, I could have appreciated the sunshine, and recognized the beauty of nature, and smiled at another human being, but I hadn’t. Such opportunities had been well within my power to grasp, yet I’d wasted them. I wished all Earthlings could spend time with the Anuans and learn to see things as they did, with balance and perspective. I was vowing to myself never to be so wasteful again with these kinds of simple gifts when I saw them—Bec and another woman with dark hair, porcelain skin, and full red lips, who walked with the grace of a gazelle.
The Anuan Legacy: Book 1 of The Anuan Legacy Series Page 21
