Coalescence (Camden Investigations Book 1) (25 page)

B
ILL
NODDED
from side to side. “No, I don’t think it’s farfetched.”
His voice barked above the copter’s engine. “I never think hope is farfetched.”
He arched an eyebrow at Iris who rode shotgun.

Dan and Tawa
shared the backseat.

“Enjoying
the view, Mr. Camden?” Bill asked.

“Oh, yes.”
He whisked dog hair off his pants. “I got the best seat in the house.”

Iris
suppressed a laugh. She was well aware Dan wasn’t enjoying the view although
the rocky terrain below was awe inspiring if not breathtaking. Dan was too busy
thwarting the romantic advances of Tawa.

Bill
chuckled. His laugh still had enough volume to rumble above the engine’s whine
and the rotor’s whir. “She likes to lick your face, Mr. Camden. She’s a good
girl.”

“I can
tell.” Dan scowled at Iris. He mouthed a sarcastic “thank-you.”

She read his
mind. His appreciation dripped of sarcasm.

“I take it
you met Rusty. How about that boy, huh? Coming out here to save our
civilization . . . and to think . . .” He pointed
an index finger at his temple. “I was foolish enough to push him to it. You
know, Mr. Camden, we
elders
need to respect our youth more. In turn,
they will become more respectful of us. Don’t you think?”

Dan sat
hunched. “Oh yes. Rusty is a good boy. Quite a good boy, in fact.”

Iris rolled
her eyes and redirected her gaze to the scenery. Thanks to Bill and his chopper
they still had a slight chance to retrieve Ron from his Colorado home before
time became their disadvantage.

A
S
THEY WALKED
up Ron’s drive, Iris pinched her father’s arm.

“Remember,
Dad. You’re the one who asked if there was any way you could help. And now, you
will.”

“I know. I
know. I will try.”

Iris
sneered. “You will do more than try. You will convince Ron what he’s seeing is
not illusion. And furthermore, that he can save us all. But more importantly,
that he still has a chance to save himself. Because,
Dad,
unlike your
organization, people like me still value the individual.”

As they
entered the foyer, Iris excused herself. “Sorry to bring all this company
without notice. Uh, this here is Bill and his dog, Tawa.”

Ron shrugged
his shoulders as if noncommittal.

“I know,
Ron. It’s a lot to take in. Truth is I just met Bill and his dog.”

Tawa yipped
and danced, her claws produced ticking sounds on Ron’s tiled floor.

“But they
came here to help
you.
And, so did my father.” She pointed to her left.
“Dad, say hello to Ron.”

Dan grabbed
Ron’s hand. Ron arched an eyebrow at Iris.

“Yes, Ron.
It’s my Dad. We’re sort of having a reunion.”

Iris
rambled, feeling a necessity to fill in empty air space. “Ron knows all about
our stormy family relationship . . .”

Ron blurted
out. “I know he never believed in what we did. That’s what I know.”

“But life is
change. Ron, you know that more than anyone.” Her eyes fell to the floor. After
a moment, she shook her head. “I won’t let your alteration remain negative.
Ron, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can use your change for the benefit of
us all.”

Ron pursed
his lips. Iris feared he was about to throw them out of his home.

Iris slipped
her arm around Ron and escorted him to a chair. She positioned herself before
him, knees on the floor. It was a pleading gesture. Yet it also ensured Ron
would remain seated.

“Take a
seat, Ron. Everyone, please take a seat.”

Bill fell
onto a velour couch and Tawa pounced onto his lap.

Dan remained
standing. “Dad, go on.” She motioned toward the sofa. “It’s safe.” She turned
her face away from Ron and gritted her teeth. “I promise.” Dan begrudgingly
sat.

“Are you
here to talk about the ships?” Ron closed his eyes for a moment. “I already told
you about them. I see them for no purpose. They haunt me. How can this be
anything but negative?” He opened his eyes. “They’ve taken what they want from
me, for whatever purpose.”

Iris grabbed
his hand. “But that’s the good news. We’ve learned their purpose. It may not
coincide with their original plan.” She stopped to consider that plan. If
Galloway was correct, Ron would be turned into a sleeper agent or some kind of
on the spot general engineered to lead a re-engineered humanity down a very
oppressive path. “How would you like to take revenge?” Her eyes grew bigger.
“How would you like it?”

Tawa yipped.

“I wouldn’t
know how.”

“We will
help you, of course.” She encircled the room with a finger. “All of us are here
to help. Not to mention my team. They’re in Arizona waiting for us. They’re
cooped up in some hot camper. But it’s not only their discomfort I worry about.
We’re on a schedule. It’s all going to come down to one thing: time. But the
good news is that we still have some of that time in our favor.”

“Is your
boyfriend there?”

“Yes. He is.
I think he would like to meet you. He’s an investigator. Like you
were . . .”

“Oh.” Ron’s
eyes fell to the floor.

“I have some
good people on my team. There’s Kassidy and Rachel. They’re really good
friends, and they can be your friends as well.” She lifted his chin so his eyes
would meet hers. “There are a lot of nice people out there who need your help.
I don’t want to speak for you. But I think you need them as well.”

“I haven’t
really left my yard. How am I supposed to go to Arizona?” He rocked in his
chair. Iris imagined the rocking paranormally propelling him upwards.

Bill jabbed
a thumb at the window. “Didn’t you hear my whirlybird? She soars above the most
ferocious winds. She will take us there without a hitch.”

“No,” Ron
responded. “I didn’t mean it literally. I am not equipped . . .”
He pointed at his skull. “I am not fit. I could hurt some of those nice
people.”

Iris cocked
her head at Dan.
“Help me.”

Dan fumbled
his way off his seat. “Sorry, just some pain kicking in.” He groaned and placed
a hand at his lower back. “I can tell you I spent my entire life in
exploitation, when it should have been in exploration. Like you were doing,
Ron. I admire what you’ve done. You’ve inspired my daughter.” He shrugged his
shoulders. “I wish I was in the position to help like you, but I’m not.

“I’m not
going to sugarcoat this. There
are
aliens among us. You are
not
crazy.
They manipulated you. What you see, those ships . . .” He
pointed a finger upward. “They’re real, my friend. Some of my colleagues died
because of it. And trust me, those types of colleagues would not risk dying
over an illusion. I apologize for my line of work and those who employed me. I
let myself be a pawn. I come here, humbly, begging your assistance. Ron, I
can’t allow my daughters to die or become some tool. This evolution that’s
coming, it’s going to kill about six out of seven people if what my daughter
heard is correct. You can’t just sit by—”

Ron barked,
covering his ears with his hands. “Yes, I have acknowledged my affliction is
real. The aliens are real. Of course they are! But who, except for this small
circle of people, would ever believe what you’re saying? I know you haven’t,
not in the past. I’ve had conversations with your daughter. She said you denied
alien existence. Why are you changing your tune? How can I believe you aren’t
spewing some alien propaganda that will only cause things to get worse?”

Dan placed a
hand on top of his head. “I am not a good man. I believed my intentions were
good. But they were for my benefit. I wanted to be special, to escape a mundane
life. You can be sure as sunshine that I am not here to spew alien propaganda.
I hate those bastards. I hate how they use us as resources. How they used you!
Ah! What more can I say? Ron, it’s selfish of me, but I need you to correct my
mistakes. My fucking asshole mistakes that cost me my
family . . .” Dan slid his hand onto his forehead and paced.

Iris
grimaced. “Okay, Dad. Thanks for the melodrama. You can sit down now.”

Dan waved an
angry hand at the couch.

Bill and
Tawa cocked their heads toward him in unison.

Dan slumped
onto the couch. “I’m sorry, everyone. I’m sorry.” Tawa licked his outstretched
hand.

Iris
explained her plan, hoping that its logic would force the investigator inside
of Ron to reveal himself.

“You can
help us locate their ship. And we can stop the plague.”

He leaned
back and let his head slide back so he viewed the ceiling.

Iris sighed.
She was desperate and out of tactics. Almost . . .

“Ron, do you
want to save me? I wanted to save you. I should have. I’m sorry I failed you. I
am selfish to ask this. But can you do this for me?”

Ron
grumbled. His rocking subsided. “That is selfish, Iris. You should be thinking
of DJ, someone else besides yourself. You know, maybe that’s why I got mind
fucked in that hotel. Maybe you were slacking off . . .” Ron
rocked back and forth on his seat.

Iris
welcomed the anger. At the very least it was communication. And then it dawned
on her. She had to tell him about DJ.

“Ron, what
if I told you my sister is an alien?” She paused to absorb his stare. “Yes,
that’s right.”

“How can
that be?” Ron scoffed. “You’re her sister.”

“Remember,
I’m her
half
sister. But you see, not all aliens are against us. DJ is
Reptilian. They fought for us against the Greys. But the Greys have one final
chance to take our planet. We not only owe humanity, we owe the Reptilians for
trying to save us. Most of these aliens have died to defend us.”

“Well, they
did their best then. Kudos to them . . .”

Iris bowed
her head. It was all but over.

Bill snapped
his fingers and Tawa pounced off his lap.

She all but
leapt toward Ron.

“Ooh, down,
girl. Down, Tawa,” Iris reprimanded.

“No. It’s
all right.” Iris caught a flicker of a smile in Ron’s eyes.

He cupped a
hand around her muzzle. “You resemble that famous dog, you know.”

Iris crossed
fingers out of Ron’s view.

“She’s very
beautiful, isn’t she?” Bill asked Ron.

“Yes, sir,
she is.” Ron nestled closer to Tawa, and she nuzzled his chin.

Bill crossed
his arms and pontificated. “She’s nature’s beauty.”

Iris smiled.
She hoped she knew where this conversation was leading. She offered a lead. “I
should be more thankful for all the beautiful creatures. I feel bad that I
haven’t.”

“Don’t
worry,” Ron said. “We get busy, wrapped up in ourselves. Damn, I wanted to
learn the mysteries of the universe. But when you devote yourself to that
cause, you fail to see the beauty all around you.”

“That’s
right. We should all take a lesson. We should appreciate what we have before
it’s gone.”

Iris
searched Ron’s face, but he ignored her barb. Or maybe he hadn’t. He continued
to stare into Tawa’s eyes.

“Excuse me.”
He swiped at a tear rolling down his cheek. “I haven’t allowed myself to ‘see’
beauty for a long, long time. Oh . . .” He choked back a sob.

“Beauty
makes all efforts worthwhile,” Dan chimed in. Tawa yipped.

“On that
point, I cannot argue.” Ron tickled Tawa behind her ear. He bit his lip. “I
want to live again. I want to see again. Tell me how I can achieve this? How
can I help?”

Iris blinked away tears. She gave Ron her hand and lifted
him off of his recliner.

T
HE
NEXT FEW
days were all about meditation, relaxation, and
purification. Bill, holed up with Ron in the backroom of the camper, chanted
and played soothing ethereal new age music. Flutes and rapid staccato beats of
moccasin drums permeated the cramped living quarters. As expected, the musical
styles clashed, and as a consequence so did the attitudes of a captive
audience.

Whether Ron
was responding to Bill’s efforts was debatable. Yet all agreed the immediacy of
converting Ron from a frightened mouse to a soaring hawk necessitated 24/7 hand
holding, meaning there wasn’t much opportunity for uninterrupted slumber. If
musical beats could contain Ron’s excitable, neurotic thoughts, not only the
group, but the entire world stood a much better chance of withstanding the
impending attack. The drawback: Everyone would lose sleep. The benefit: Ron
would become their eyes and ears in outer space. Gavin equated it to an alien
spy novel. Iris was uncertain if this was a vote of confidence or a jab of
mockery. Surprising Iris, Evan supported Bill’s tactics. Chanting wasn’t just
mumbo jumbo; it was a means to control the chatter between two brain regions,
he claimed. Synchronization of brain rhythms was proven in peer-reviewed
studies to give humans peace from undesirable inner voices. Kassidy argued if
this peer reviewed science had tested their theories on people altered by
aliens. Mimicking Kassidy’s tone and facial expression, Evan answered, “it just
might keep him totally chilled. But we can always resort to alcohol, I guess.”
An ensuing long and uncomfortable staring match between the two served to clear
the camper, except for Bill, Ron, and Tawa. Ron’s tether to Tawa, Iris
concluded, was just as strong as any meditational exercise Bill could muster.
Iris observed that Ron stopped his incessant rocking motion whenever he petted
the collie.

The group
convened for a few minutes of welcome silence in the desert heat. Iris mopped
her brow with a towel and then proceeded to wrap it bandana style around her
head. The muffled pulse of a beat felt as if it were miles away instead of
contained mere yards in a camper. As the noise grew tinier and distant, a flood
of emotions competed for Iris’s attention. For a moment, she wished she had
stayed inside. At least the constant noise kept her mind from focusing on a
myriad of problems including the impending plague, her sister’s varied genetic
coding and the strained relationship with her Dad.

Mitchell
cupped a hand around her forearm. “Hey, it can’t be that bad. At least we
haven’t been zapped yet.”
There he’d said it. It’s what everyone’s been
thinking. The consequences of failing
 . . .

Iris clasped
a hand over Mitchell’s. She attempted a smile. She hoped it thanked Mitchell.
Words had become cumbersome in the past days. With the threat of rapid
evolution, Iris seriously considered a world where humans no longer
communicated verbally. Maybe everyone, at least those that survived, would
commune telepathically. She mimicked Mitchell, who seemed to release stress by
tracing lines in the sand with his feet while pondering. She placed the point
of her shoe in the sand and squiggled tiny marks resembling roadways. Funny
thing was, the roads always came forked.
Which direction to take?
The
age-old philosophical conundrum had become a lot more ominous in the past
weeks.

“At least I
know the tradition will continue,” Mitchell remarked, eyeing Iris’s art.

“I can’t be
expected to do all your toe art. It’s a lot of work in the heat.”

Mitchell
hushed his voice. “You will continue for me. Won’t you?”

Iris shook
her head. With her head capped in the towel, she felt as if she were the living
embodiment of the stereotypical specter. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He pointed
to Evan. “He can help you. He should survive. He can help you continue my
work.”

Iris blinked
rapidly. “It’s more important to you than your life, isn’t it?”

Mitchell
cocked his head. “I never had a choice. It’s my calling. And I entrust you to
carry on.”

“But Evan is
educated in these matters.”

“You’re a
better investigator.”

“It’s going
to be pretty hard to investigate matters of science without
knowing
science.”

“Stop making
excuses. It’s important that you tell me you’ll do this. It’s my way of always
being with you.”

She nodded.
“In that case, how can I refuse?”

They
embraced and kissed. Iris hid her face in his shoulder to conceal her tears.

When
Mitchell broke the kiss, Iris frowned. “What’s the matter? You hear something?”
She paused. “I mean something other than drums and flutes?”

“No. It’s
just that . . . I always feel your father is watching.”

“He’s out
walking. You know he’s been doing that a lot. Doesn’t feel too great about what
he’s done. It’s his penance.”

Mitchell smiled
with his eyes. “You say that as if you’re enjoying it.”

“I know it’s
sadistic. But I do. He needs to make amends.” Iris nodded her head as if she
had to convince herself.

“You would
think DJ’s condition would be—” Mitchell stopped. “Oh, I’m sorry. That
was beyond callous.”

“Ah. I don’t
know how to talk about it, either. I mean, what do you call it? It’s not a
really a condition if you consider her mother was probably in love with an
alien. She is kind of cross species. Yes. I think that’s politically correct.
Anyway, it shows how DNA can be changed. I am beginning to believe that
everything and everyone can be changed. I just hope somebody doesn’t change my
love for you.”

Mitchell
cupped a hand over her forehead. “You sure the heat’s not getting to you? You
just sounded way too rational to be Iris Camden.”

“The
scientific approach must be getting to me.” She watched DJ and Darian re-enter
the camper. Moments later, Kassidy and Rachel retreated. Finally, Evan, Gavin,
and Rusty sauntered over to within conversational distance.

Evan spoke
for his group. “We’re going to make a supply run. Gavin is concerned our
beverage options are decreasing.”

Mitchell
scratched his chin. “How you going to get to a store, fly?”

Evan nodded.
“I found out Rusty can fly Bill’s helicopter. It should be an experience. But
don’t worry we’ll be back soon before Ron gets a vision. I can feel these
things.”

“You
shouldn’t let Kassidy hear you say something like that,” Mitchell responded.
“You’re Mr. Empirical Data as far as she’s concerned.”

“Yes, that
reminds me. We’re going to need vodka.” He pretended to jot a note on his palm.

“We’ll hold
down the fort. If we’re not here when you get back—”

“I know,
Mitch,” Evan responded. “It means you’ve taken the dial back to the pueblo.”

“It also
means I might never see you again.” Mitchell embraced Evan. “Just make sure you
keep Iris on the scientific path for me, okay?”

“Anything
for you, but this is just worst case scenario banter. The kind you hear people
say in disaster movies. We’re not going to have a disaster. We’re prepared.
Remember, amigo?” Evan clapped Mitchell on the back.

“Oops.
Didn’t mean to disturb your moment—”

“Dad!” Iris
hush screamed at her father’s intrusion.

“Sorry, but
I can’t walk around the pueblo forever. I just need some water and use of
facilities, and I’ll be back on track, so to speak.” He squinted from the sun
glare. “I know you’re all not very fond of me. Especially my daughter,
here . . . but what I want to say is that when it comes to
reconnecting the artifact, I’m the man for the job. That’s going to be my
purpose. At least I can go out knowing I tried to save my daughters and their
friends from the evil bug bastards.”

Iris pursed
her lips. “Damn, you always know what to say. Okay, I can’t stay mad at
you . . . for right now.” She waggled a finger at him. “Consider
this a grace period.”

Dan nodded
and paced toward the camper. “I assume that means I have permission to board.”
He eyed the home away from home and groaned. “Ah, that music; will it ever
cease?”

“Wait until
you see the light show again,” Evan commented. “That will be a
real
concert.”

Dan spun
around. His eyebrows were knotted. “What light show?”

“You
couldn’t have forgotten about it so soon,” Iris said to her father. “When I
reconnected the object,” she made zigzag lines in the air with her index
fingers, “it produced some pretty slamming colors, Aurora Borealis kind of
slamming colors.”

Dan shook
his head. “Look, I know I’m getting older. But I didn’t see any lights out
here.”

Evan cupped
his chin with his hand. “Mr. Camden, you’re not crazy. I’m pretty sure you
didn’t see the colors. And I think I know why. It’s just that . . .”

Iris glared
at Evan. “It’s just that . . . what?”

“It might
mean the dial has intelligence. It’s not just a complex machine. It may even be
considered alive. And it all makes perfect sense. It probably instructs the
OBOLs with a kind of communication.” He scratched his cheek. “It’s fascinating.
Because it means we’ve communicated with the dial only we don’t know it. It has
to be integrated with our brains.”

Mitchell
interrupted. “You mean with brain waves?”

“Exactly and
I think it bonded with us because it sees us as allies or maybe even
protectors. It would explain why it would exclude Mr. Camden. He would surely
pose a threat to its mission, its existence.”

Dan nodded.
“I must correct you.
Did
pose a threat, past tense.”

Iris slapped
Mitchell on the back. “It does make sense. It’s why the cavalry hasn’t been
called. I mean what else explains the total apathy. And even if the police
chose to ignore this area because of space kooks, don’t you think at least one
space kook would have been poking around here by now.” She waved a hand.
“Sorry, no offense to space kooks.”

Mitchell
folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow Spock-style. “Oh, none
taken.”

Gavin tugged
at his ear lobe. “So, that means this city lights up and no one notices. Ships
come and go, and no one notices. This probably was some kind of optical
illusion used eons ago to protect the canyon. It explains a lot. Why a culture,
a city, or even an alien race goes unnoticed . . . because it
never
was noticed.”

Rusty
nodded. “It sounds like the star people I’ve heard about. They traveled in
secrecy, only allowing a few to know of their presence.”

“But even
today,” Evan interjected, “it explains why only some of us see UFOs. It would
seem that this technology or ability allows the aliens to disengage the senses.
It would be akin to using some sort of cloaking device. They are essentially
hiding in plain sight.”

“Oh, man.”
Mitchell paced a few steps away and shielded his eyes. “That might also mean
the enemy shares the same kind of technology. If so, they . . .”

“Could be
watching us right now.” Iris finished his sentence. “But how?” She slammed a
palm against her forehead. “I don’t feel like my brain regions are being
separated.” The words came out full of sarcasm and bitterness.

Mitchell
raised a hand toward Iris and addressed the group. “Let’s all get back inside.
Evan, guys, I’m sorry about the beverage run but maybe it should wait.”

The sound of
something slamming against a wall interrupted.

“Is that
what I think it is?” Evan asked.

“It must be
Ron. Let’s get inside!” Iris commanded.

Dan shook his head. “At least the guy is doing something
other than rocking back and forth like some flower child.”