Surfacing the Rim (Piercing The Fold) (19 page)

Sebastian continues, “I must remind you that each of these elements already flows naturally through our bodies in very minute amounts. We are simply increasing the levels to protect ourselves.”

Balthazar says, “The team chose those elements for specific reasons. Titanium, which is a stimulant in plants, helps with chemical energy production in humans. Boron increases mental alertness, and Zinc—”

Xander interrupts, “And the Zinc?”

Balthazar answers, “The introduced copper increase can have side effects, like mental disabilities. The zinc counteracts those side effects.”

Sebastian continues, “Can you imagine if we could protect humanity from illness and disease with this modification? Leukemia could be combated with geranium. Aluminum could prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Selenium…well, the uses for that are endless.”

It’s a lot to absorb, but I got the gist of it. We would be advancing the human race for survival.

Ezra’s brows furrow. “Monica Leal. I didn’t know Joan had a daughter.”

Sebastian says, “Monica has been a very instrumental part in our fellowship. After her mother died, she engrossed herself in her work.”

Nate adds, “Joan Leal. She was part of the Japan team you told us about when we were still in the facility, right?”

In the facility, Ezra told us about a woman, Joan Leal, who led a mission into a huge Sondian cell in Japan. The mission went badly, and Joan destroyed the lab and safe house, taking her down with it.

Balthazar leans his head back in the seat. “There’s no point in doing any experimental modifications before the intersection. We have too much at stake right now, and time is of the essence.”

I know he’s right. We have to try and save as many lives as we can by controlling this invasion first. We have to bring an end to Sam and all of the executives that are controlling the Sondian fellowship’s decisions.

I nod with understanding and turn to stare out my window, watching the primal fear in the eyes of each passing civilian.

* * *

After a slow crawl in downtown traffic, Balthazar cuts into an alley. We drive down the narrow passage, and then we take a left into a parking garage. There are a few sparse cars on the lower level, but Balthazar passes up all of the open spaces.

I see a single garage door ahead of us. It isn’t marked to indicate a passageway through, but we are heading straight for it with the intent to enter.

Balthazar stops in front of the passage. Sebastian pulls out his phone and dials a phone number. I hear a beeping sound on the other end of the line. He pulls the phone away from his ear and dials four numbers. The garage door opens, and Sebastian hangs up.

Balthazar doesn’t move the car forward into the darkened passage. “Where are they? They knew we were in route.”

Ezra questions, “Who are the other guardians on our team?”

Concerned, Sebastian ignores Ezra’s comment for the moment. “I can’t get a read on any of them.” He looks at all of us now. “Can any of you sense anyone?”

I notice the silence in my mind. There are no humming sounds, or vibrations, or thoughts other than my own. I answer, “No, I can’t.”

Nate, Xander, and Ezra give the same answer as me.

Balthazar puts the truck into gear, and the truck begins to roll forward into the passage. He whispers, “It’s too quiet.”

Sebastian warns all of us to keep our block up. The area within the garage door is dark. The small parking area could fit maybe three or four cars.

Balthazar pulls into one of the spots, and we get out of the truck. Staying close to one another, we quickly make our way through a metal door into what appears to be an entryway into an apartment.

We don’t say anything as we enter the main living space. The place is eerily silent, except for the sound of a coffee machine percolating from being left on too long.

I think, Someone is still here.

Xander walks over to the coffee machine and turns it off.

I sense movement. I think, They are above us.

Ezra drops low to the ground. Only now am I aware of the large duffle bag he is toting. We hover around him.

Ezra pulls out a handgun and a magazine of ammunition. He passes it to Nate. Nate grabs it, pops the magazine in, and holds the gun close to him.

Ezra pulls out another gun along with more ammunition and hands them to me. He whispers, “You remember what to do?”

I shiver a little when the cold metal of the gun and magazine touch my palms. I nod frantically, remembering Ezra’s instruction during the target practice Nate and I had become accustomed to over the past two months in Miami.

Ezra continues to pass out metal and ammunition to the others.

I can’t deny that I’m scared to death to use it on anything other than a paper target. I close my eyes, remembering the Sondian police officers from earlier. My breath quickens, anticipating a battle.

All of a sudden, I hear my name in my mind.

Jesca?

It’s a voice that I haven’t heard in months, but it’s one I can never forget. Without warning, a door within the apartment flies open.

That same voice from within my head calls aloud, “It’s them!”

Elisha Montgomery! Recognizing my best friend’s voice, I quickly click the gun’s safety on and turn toward the light that has been flipped on behind me. When I turn, I am engulfed by Elisha’s embrace. Almost falling backward, I laugh excitedly and choke a little on the cry of joy that is building from deep within me. I pull back to look at her. It’s really her.

I took all of her in. My heart tightens realizing that it has been months since I last saw her. The day I left Marietta, Georgia with Ezra for the facility.

With both excitement and confusion, I ask, “What are you doing here?”

Elisha smiles from ear to ear and holds onto my hands. “Did you really think I would miss out on all this action?”

A light flips on in the top-level loft of the apartment. Luke Walker
, one of the mentors and Ms. Olivia’s son, leans over the balcony with a gun hanging casually from one of his hands.

Luke calls out to us jokingly, “It’s about time!”

Jake Tanner comes up to us while turning on the safety of his gun. Jake was a fellow mentor back in the facility. He mentored Nick Getty. Nate tucks his gun in his jeans and meets Jake halfway, pulling him into a guy hug.

Nate says, “Looks like you were prepared for someone else.”

Jake snickers and tucks his gun in the back of his jeans. “Things have been getting too close for comfort here in the city.”

Sebastian knowingly says, “Sondians.”

Nick Getty walks out from a nearby bedroom with aviator goggles on top of his head. He has the biggest semiautomatic rifle I’ve ever seen. It figures that Nick would have the biggest gun. Back in the facility, Nick was consistently amped about getting into combat mode as quickly as possible.

Tossing his rifle over his shoulder, he saunters over to Elisha and me. I watch as Elisha’s cheeks flush a little at the sight of him. Then, she backs away as Nick wraps me into a hug.

Nick says, “Hey, baby girl!”

I roll my eyes and hug him back quickly. “Hi, Nick.”

Nick pulls back to see Nate approaching us. His volume instantly increases when he hugs Nate. “Nate! Buddy! I’ve missed you!”

Nate smiles and hugs him back.

I hear Angela Turner’s lighthearted laugh as she jumps from her perch on the crossbeams above us.

Angela was another fellow guardian from the facility. My heart warmed when I saw her smiling face.

She jogs over to me and hugs me. When she pulls away, she hooks her thumb over her shoulder toward Elisha. “You know, you have the coolest best friend in the world!”

I smile with pride. “She is pretty awesome!”

After making his way down the metal spiral staircase, Luke apprehensively walks toward Balthazar and Xander. They are standing away from the rest of us.

Wondering how much Sebastian has told them about Balthazar and Xander, I move away from the crowd and stand between them. “Everyone, this is Alexander Sera and Balthazar Onoch.”

Luke and Jake walk over to where the three of us are standing. I reach for Xander’s hand that’s hanging down by his side. My fingers graze the inside of his palm, and then I intertwine our fingers, letting him know that I’m here for him.

Jake is the first to extend his hand to Balthazar. His eyes are full of sincerity. “Glad to have you on board with us, man.”

Balthazar shakes Jake’s hand with both of his and nods with appreciation.

I loosen my tight grip on Xander’s hand now, sensing that they know Balthazar and Xander are not a threat. Xander tucks his gun into the front of his jeans when Luke extends his hand to him. Releasing a deep breath, Xander extends his hand to shake Luke’s.

Luke says to Xander, “Welcome aboard.”

When we were back in the facility, I remember that Luke had a way with making those around him feel accepted.

Everyone else begins to close in to shake hands with Balthazar and Xander. After shaking Xander’s hand, Elisha pulls me aside.

Her voice is full of curiosity when she whispers, “Xander, huh?”

I look at her, and she winks at me. I grab a hold of her hand, pulling her closer to me to hush her.

A smile pulls on the corner of my mouth as I whisper, “We’ll talk later.”

She tugs on my hand. Her voice is low and sultry. “Oh, yes, we will talk later.”

Everyone begins to notice our secretive conversation, so I change the subject.

“You said that things have been getting too close for comfort.”

Jake responds, “It’s been a couple of days since we left the safe house.” Jake looks at Sebastian cautiously. “Civilians have started to lose it since the press conference.”

Xander speaks up. “Press conference? What was said?”

Luke leans against the back of the sofa. “The president held a press conference three days ago.”

Elisha grunts with frustration. “He proceeded in telling everyone that the United States was taking proper measures to protect the American people.” She puts her head down, shaking her head. Elisha knows as well as I do that the proper measures mean nothing at this point.

Luke continues, “The president didn’t answer many questions. A slew of scientists, generals, and higher-ups fielded the heavy questions from the reporters.”

Angela speaks up. “Many of our guardians were there. They told the public the basics—avoid leaving the house; stockpile water, batteries, and nonperishable food items; listen for local, state, and national updates.”

Ezra asks, “And, what did the others say?”

I know he’s referring to the Sondian guardians that might have been peppered with ours at the press conference.

Jake adds, “They played devil’s advocate, of course. They denied that the government has any solid evidence of a galactic intersection and that their counterparts were overreacting and creating unnecessary panic. As soon as our guardians began arguing and defending the theories, the conference feed went dead. That was the last time we heard any updates. The only updates I’ve received so far come from chatter in other cells.”

Nate asks, “What about the news stations? Are they updating the public with anything?”

Sebastian chimes in. “I wouldn’t expect them to say anything.”

Balthazar adds, “Sondians are involved in every aspect of this, just like Dobrians. They’re not going to air anything that could thwart their cause without having consequences.”

Sebastian says, “And, we’re not going to let them air anything that would be detrimental to the public or our cause without our own consequences.”

A small smile crosses Nick’s mouth, and he scoffs, “Like say-anything-and-I-will-whack-you type consequence.”

Sebastian’s lack of response is enough to wipe the smile off of Nick’s face.

Raising the rifle up over his shoulder, Nick says, “Good to know.” He walks over to the sofa and flops down.

Ezra told us that the involvement of the Sondian and Dobrian fellowships went deep and worldwide, but I didn’t completely comprehend the depths of the involvement and the lengths the guardians would go to until now.

Xander steps up to Ezra, Sebastian, and Balthazar. Addressing them directly, he says, “So, let me get this clear. The Sondian and Dobrian fellowships have spies all over the world. Their hands are involved in everything, including the local, state, and national government, in order to carry out their purpose involving this intersection and invasion. One, for the Sondians to provoke the invasion, and two, for the Dobrians to revoke it.”

Sebastian, Balthazar, and Ezra all respond, “Yes.”

Sensing the tension in the room, Sebastian continues talking to all of us now. “We have just as many guardians against them as they do against us. When this intersection happens, more guardians will surface on both sides.”

Sebastian looks at me now. With intensity, he thinks only to me, What will be our plan then, Jesca?

I look away, avoiding his gaze. “I think we need to get settled.”