Close Encounters (23 page)

Silence reigned for several seconds as we all contemplated this phenomenon, and then a pleased rumble erupted from Thor’s chest before he spoke.

“You are indeed the true Shushanna. The pathways are opening.”

Fear like I’d never known inundated me. Fear that immediately transformed to anger as I leaped to my feet, hands clenched with the effort not to physically lash out. “What do you mean, ‘the pathways are opening’? What have you done to me?”

Thor’s eyes narrowed as he took in my stance, but when he spoke, all I heard was Buri. A look of frustration crossed his face before he turned on his heel and walked stiffly away, the sound of his footsteps fading as he left the ship.

“Max? What just happened? I couldn’t understand him.”

“The probability is strong that anger blocks the bond. Please calm down, Kiera. Your blood pressure is reaching dangerous levels.”

“You haven’t seen dangerous yet,” I ground out through clenched teeth as I faced the boss. “I want this marriage broken. The sooner the better.”

Dr. Daniels had his hands in his pockets again and was rocking from heel to toe, a sure sign that he was thinking furiously. “Very well. I’ll see what needs to be done.”

Just like that, the anger drained away. “Aren’t you going to try and talk me out of it?”

“It’s your life, my dear. If a divorce is what you really want, I’ll do my best to help you obtain one.”

I stared at him for a second while I chewed on my bottom lip, then took a deep breath. “Thor says the only way to break the mind bond is if one of us dies.”

“Ah.” He smiled. “Then you’ll have to kill him, of course. That will also save us the necessity of going through legal channels.”

I crossed my arms and glared at him. “You’re using reverse psychology aren’t you? I hate it when you do that.”

His smile turned into a low chuckle. “You needed time to calm down. Now that you have, you can think about this rationally.”

Okay, I could do rational. Most of the time.

Closing my eyes, I forced each muscle to relax and took a few more deep breaths. When I opened my eyes again, the boss was watching me closely. “Well?”

“You’re right. Getting a divorce won’t help as long the mind bond exists. And I obviously can’t kill him. So, I’ll use the bond to find out what I need to know to complete my job, and worry about the rest later.”

“Excellent!” Dr. Daniels beamed approval at me. “And by then, you may discover that you rather like being mated with your Buri.”

It didn’t matter what I liked, I thought glumly. It would have to end. All I could do was make the best of the situation until it did. And pray to all the gods that I’d find a way to sever the bond without hurting Thor or myself.

I
hesitated at the bottom of Max’s steps, wondering what to do. Now that I’d calmed down a bit, I could literally
feel
Thor at the Buri village, and knew he was also aware of me, but I wasn’t ready to face him yet. Those damn glimmers of light at the periphery of my internal vision were getting stronger too. I needed a distraction.

“Max, is Quilla Dorn at the Dynatec camp?”

“Yes, she returned thirty minutes ago, with a full knapsack.”

“And I bet I know what it was full of. Crystals. Max, I want you to run every test known to man on those crystals, right down to the molecular level. We’ve established they aren’t surge crystals like the one you run off of, but they do enhance psi ability. There’s something important going on with them, even if it’s not apparent on a cursory scan.”

“I’ll get started right away. And don’t forget, I need a sample of the Buri’s plants for DNA comparison.”

“You got the DNA for the Ashwani plants?”

“Yes, it came in while you were asleep.”

I started toward the Dynatec camp, strolling as if I were merely out enjoying the day. “Okay, I’ll get the plants to you later today.”

As I rounded the end of the lake, a thought occurred to me. “
Thor, if you can hear me, I’m going to the Dynatec camp. I’d rather not have a Buri in attendance. I don’t want Dorn distracted.”

“The Crigo will be there?”

His voice was so clear, he could have been standing beside me, and I smiled at his wording. “
His
name
is Crigo. His species is rock cat. And yes, I’m sure he’ll be there.”

“He would protect you if necessary?”

“In a flash. But I’m quite capable of protecting myself.”

“As you wish.”

I was starting to get the hang of this mind-bond thing, I decided. All I had to do was relax and pretend we were in the same room, talking. Nothing to it.

“We also feel each other’s emotions, and always know where the other is,”
Thor commented.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I rolled my eyes, and then jumped when he did something to the bond that felt distinctly like a yank. “Hey, how did you do that?”

“Do not believe you have mastered all aspects of the bond, mate. You still have much to learn.”

Well, guess that put me in my place. I ignored him and focused my attention on the Dynatec camp. There were several people in sight, moving around, doing the routine tasks required in any camp. As I headed for a stocky woman working on a piece of machinery, Crigo stood, stretched and moved out of the jungle to intersect my path, a flock of dragon birds keeping him company. Even from a distance of twenty or so yards I could feel his anticipation.

Wonder what he thought I was going to do? For that matter,
I
wondered what I’d do. I had no plan except to follow where my instincts were leading me.

The woman was aware of our approach, although she wasn’t obvious about it. She didn’t look up until we reached her, and paid no attention to Crigo.

“Agent Smith.” Her head dipped in a nod of greeting.

“Something I can help you with?”

“I’m here to see Quilla Dorn.”

“She’s on the other side of the Quonset hut.”

“Thanks.” I knew Dorn was expecting us now because I’d seen another crew member slide around the hut in question when I stopped. Crigo stayed close as I followed the man’s path.

Apparently, life was good at the camp. I found Dorn and Frisk on a plascrete patio complete with an awning, table and chairs. From the sides, fans stirred the air, and the table was laden with fruit, cheese and thinly sliced meat. A bottle of wine was nestled in a bucket of ice.

Frisk was sitting like someone had strapped a rod to his back, but Dorn was the picture of languid repletion. With her booted feet propped on the edge of the table, she lazed in her chair, a crystal flute of wine in her hand.

“Agent Smith. This is a surprise.” She waved a hand at the table. “We just finished lunch, but feel free to help yourself.”

“Thanks. I already ate.” I pulled out a chair and sat down. Crigo positioned himself where he could stare intently at Frisk, his muscles tensed.

“What’s wrong with your cat?” Frisk asked, glancing nervously at Crigo.

“Oh, don’t mind him.” I bared my teeth at Frisk in a grin.

“He just takes exception to people who try to poison me. It’s been all I can do to keep him from turning you into dinner. Since I’m not always around, better watch your back in the jungle, Frisk.”

His level of tension increased as he kept his attention on Crigo, but from Dorn all I got was amusement.

“Jon, what have you been up to? Didn’t I tell you Agent Smith isn’t your run-of-the-mill GEP?”

I blinked in surprise. Was it possible she knew the truth about me? How could she? Only the boss and I knew, and neither of us was talking.

“I didn’t try to poison her.” Frisk was pouting like an overindulged child chastised by his mother.

Still a bit uneasy over Dorn’s remark, I forced myself to reply to Frisk. “Unfortunately, Crigo can be rather stubborn. He doesn’t believe you.”

Dorn swirled the wine in her glass, obviously dismissing Frisk’s attempt to do me in. “So what prompted this visit to our humble home, Agent Smith?”

Elbows propped on the arms of the chair, I laced my fingers together and tapped them on my chin as if I were thinking. “I guess you could call it curiosity.”

“Curiosity?”

“Yes.” I gave her one of the grins I normally reserved for Frisk. “I’m wondering what it’s like to own a company the size of Dynatec.”

Her full lips curved in a smile, and she took a delicate sip of wine before answering. “It has its ups and downs, just like any business. But it’s much better to be the boss than an employee, don’t you think?”

“I wouldn’t know. It is odd, however, that you bought the company right after the exploration team returned from Orpheus Two.”

Her direct gaze met mine. “There’s nothing odd about it. I was…acquainted with one of the team members, and he raved about Orpheus Two, until my interest was piqued. After I acquired the team’s official reports and Dynatec’s financial statements, I realized it was the investment I’d been looking for.”

“Too bad about the exploration team, huh?” I kept my gaze locked with hers and my barriers completely down. She gave away nothing, not by so much as a flicker of emotion.

“Yes, tragic accidents all. It’s almost as if they were cursed.”

I arched a brow at her. “I didn’t know clones were superstitious. Is it only you, or are all of them the same way?”

Her gaze darkened and her smile faded. She tried to hide it, but I caught a whiff of anger. Bingo. Definitely hit a nerve that time. Maybe if I got her mad enough, she’d slip and give me some information I hadn’t uncovered on my own.

I finally got Frisk’s attention too. He jerked away from his nervous perusal of Crigo to stare at Dorn. “A clone? Is she lying?”

“What I am is none of your business,” she snapped. “It has nothing to do with why we’re here.”

“Why, exactly,
are
you here?” I casually lifted a piece of fruit from the bowl, examined it, and put it back. “Most company owners stay in their nice, tidy offices and leave the grunt work to the help. Don’t trust your pal Frisk, Dorn?”

“Of course I trust him. I’m—” Suddenly she leaned forward, eyes narrowing to slits. “Where did you get that earring?”

“This?” I touched the black stone dangling from my lobe.

“One of the Buri gave it to me. It’s so unusual, I’m thinking about letting Max run some tests on it.”

“I see.” She stood abruptly. “If you’ll excuse us, Agent Smith, we need to get back to work.”

“Sure thing.” I pushed my chair away from the table and rose. “It’s been an enlightening visit. We should get together and chat more often.”

I sauntered away as though I didn’t have a care in the world. After one wistful, lip-licking look in Frisk’s direction, Crigo followed me.

Still not ready to face the Buri, I headed for Max, thinking furiously. Had I made a mistake letting Dorn know we were investigating the crystals? I didn’t think so. It may have pushed her into acting sooner than she’d planned, but I’d much rather she act hastily and make mistakes than wait and be better prepared. And while I believed she’d already planned to wipe out the Buri, I didn’t think it had occurred to her that I might figure out the true nature of the crystals.

If not for my night in the cave, she might have been right.

Maybe there really is a reason for everything.

But that would imply I was meant to bond with Thor.

Shaking my head at that melancholy bit of logic, I climbed Max’s steps, noting as I did that Crigo was heading back to the jungle, where he could keep an eye on the Dynatec camp.

“Max, increase the security level. I think Dynatec may try something soon.”

“Yes, Kiera. Do you have any idea what to expect?”

“Expect anything. And if there’s information you haven’t sent to the archives yet, do it now, even if it’s speculation. I don’t want to take chances.”

“Sending.”

Good. That made me feel a little better. Come to think about it, raising my own security level would make me feel better still. I took out a weapon, checked the charge, and strapped it on. “Oh, and Max, I really need you to put a rush on those crystal tests. Whatever you find, send it to archives even before you tell me. Same with the Buri plant DNA. I’m heading out to collect the samples now.”

“I’ll start on them as soon as you return.”

Grabbing some sample pouches from a storage compartment, I packed them in a spare knapsack and left the ship, headed in a half circle that would bring me to the fields while bypassing the village.

Only a few Buri were present when I reached the cultivated acres, clearing an irrigation channel. They looked up and smiled when I arrived, but kept on working.

Ignoring them, I collected samples from the species of plants that seemed to be the Buri’s main crops, and then moved to the smaller fields. The plants here were compact and more pungent. Medicinal? Herbal? Possibly both. I filled my pouches with a leaf or two from each and headed back to Max. Once there, I busied myself sorting them into containers in the lab so Max could access them, but I was running out of excuses for avoiding the village.

With a sigh, I finished the last specimen, brushed my hands off, and walked back to the control room.

Thor was lounging in an antigrav chair, gazing at the control panel as though memorizing it.

Surprised, I came to a screeching halt. “What are you doing here?”

He swung the chair around to face me. “The day grows long. Food is prepared. It is time to return to the village.”

“I was on my way.”

Gracefully, he rose from the chair. “I will walk with you.”

I nodded and started down the steps, Thor behind me. “It wasn’t necessary for you to come after me, you know.”

“I know.” He moved up to walk beside me and took my hand. “But we were only mated last night and have been apart many hours today. Is it so surprising that I wanted to see you?”

Ah, man. Talk about playing dirty. I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. “I’m sorry I got upset earlier.”

He tilted his head down to look at me. “And I wish you could have been given a choice. But without the bond there was no way to offer one, no way to explain. Nor did we understand that there was even a choice to be considered. Among my people, Shushannas are born, not made. They grow up knowing what they are, where their duty and destiny will lead. None would consider denying what they are.”

“Thor.” I looked at him entreatingly. “I don’t even know what a Shushanna is. All I know is that you somehow changed me, and it scares me to death. There’s so much Dr. Gertz did to me that we don’t understand. I’m not sure I can tolerate even more surprises.”

We walked in silence for a moment before he answered, as if he were trying to think the explanation through. “We did not change you.”

He held a hand up when I started to protest. “We did not change you. As I said, a Shushanna is born, not made. Regardless of whatever else this man did, you were created with the capacity to be a Shushanna. Somehow the ability was blocked in you, but it
was
there. We merely unblocked it.”

“How?”

“Through the
Demantti
. They knew what you were and what was wrong. They fixed the problem.”

When he said
Demantti
, I heard the word
crystals
. “Do you know how the crystals work?”

“No. Only that they do. The how doesn’t matter so much to us.”

So much for a quick answer. But we were nearing the village and there was one more question I needed out of the way before we got there. “At least tell me what a Shushanna is.”

His brow furrowed. “It is not easy to tell.”

“Try.”

He took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly. “A Shushanna is the lifeblood of my people, our heart, the very air we breathe. Without a Shushanna we die.”

Well, that certainly cleared that right up. That was sarcasm, in case you’re wondering. If anything, I was even more confused, and since we’d reached the village, we were out of time to talk.

And suddenly I had something else to worry about.
What
in the thirteen hells were those damn gossamer strands that kept floating on the edges of my mind’s eye? They were like a single thread from a spider web, drifting on the breeze, only visible when they passed through a beam of sunlight. But the closer we got to the village, the brighter they became, and I had to resist the urge to rub my physical eyes to see if they’d go away.

Thor tried to tug me toward the communal kitchen, but I barely noticed, all my attention suddenly focused on Poe as I stopped.

He was walking toward us, a spear over his shoulder, heading in the same direction we’d been going. Nothing abnormal about that. Except one of the shining strands was moving with him.

The closer he came, the brighter the strand grew. Then, when he reached me and kept going, the strand shifted from the right side of my internal vision to the left, and gradually dimmed as he moved farther away.