‘Well.’ Zeven licked his fingers, having stuffed himself. ‘Seeing as there are no women around here to offend …’ he stripped off his shirt to expose his muscle-bound torso, ‘… I’m going for a swim.’ He removed his boots and stood.
‘Do you think that is wise, after what you just ate?’ Ringbalin posed, as Zeven took a running jump up onto the diving block, and did a somersault and perfect dive into the water. ‘Show-off,’ he commented, while Zeven was still submerged.
‘Always was,’ said Telmo.
Ringbalin’s attention shifted to their newest team member, curious about these memories he was having about them. ‘So you know of our past in this universe?’
Telmo nodded. ‘And I think I have glimpsed some of our future in the next.’
‘What?’ Zeven caught the comment and Balin was stunned as well.
‘That implies that we get back,’ Ringbalin probed further.
Telmo could not say for sure. ‘Perhaps.’
‘Maladaan too?’ Zeven was so interested that he crawled out of the pool and took a seat.
‘Could be.’ He nodded.
‘But how do we do it?’ Ringbalin quizzed.
‘I don’t know,’ Telmo said surely.
‘Then how do you know that we do do it?’ Zeven was getting a little exasperated and a little cold.
‘Because I saw a vision of myself meeting with Dr Lennox back on Maladaan, and it is not a memory from my past,’ he explained a little guardedly. ‘But what was really strange was that in the vision I had never met her before — I stated I knew her by reputation only.’
‘But you’ve met Taren,’ Zeven was bemused.
‘Yes, exactly,’ Telmo agreed. ‘So am I brainwashed into forgetting her? Or is it another reality altogether that I see? It felt to me like it was the latter and that I was back on Maladaan working just as I had been before the displacement.’
‘Wow.’ Ringbalin raised both brows. ‘Your mind is a really amazing place, Mr Dacre.’
‘It’s freaking me out,’ the scientist agreed.
‘I don’t get it,’ Zeven complained at having got out of the pool for nothing, and got up to return to the water. ‘What did Taren want with you, exactly?’
Telmo appeared a little discomforted by the query. ‘She wanted to wake me up.’ He eyed his two new comrades, wondering if he should confide in them; he felt like he knew them and that they would never betray him, but did they feel that way? ‘Truly. That’s the only way I can explain it, without seeming disrespectful to Dr Lennox and the captain.’
Zeven’s eyes narrowed as he sensed controversy. ‘How about I beat you grievously until you tell me exactly what you saw?’
Telmo held up his hands to calm the short hulk of a bloke. ‘I’ll tell you, on the condition that it does not get back to Dr Lennox,’ the lad plea-bargained.
‘Deal.’ Zeven took a seat again.
‘Agreed,’ Ringbalin concurred and stared intently at Telmo, eager to know what the contention was.
Telmo was not very eager to be out with it. ‘I saw Dr Lennox in my room and I recognised her from pictures I’d seen. She apologised for being in a rush and then she —’
‘Yes?’ Both the men listening leant in closer.
‘She kissed me,’ Telmo confessed at last, whereby Zeven gave a laugh.
‘You’ve had a wet dream.’ Zeven blew him off.
‘It wasn’t a sexual kind of kiss,’ Telmo tried to explain and Zeven laughed again.
‘That proves my theory!’ he exclaimed. ‘Because there is no way a kiss from Taren Lennox cannot be considered sexual!’
Telmo looked to Ringbalin who was more open to hearing him out. ‘It was more like a huge transference of energy —’
‘You got that right,’ Zeven concurred and fell back into the water.
‘And I felt it stir whatever it was that awoke in me when Maladaan shifted universes,’ he concluded his case to Ringbalin, who sat frozen with a contemplative look on his face. ‘What do you think it means?’
‘I’m a botanist, not a quantum metaphysician … Dr Lennox is the one you need to speak to.’
‘I wouldn’t tell her about your little fantasy, if I were you.’ Zeven had surfaced and was treading water. ‘Lucian is the jealous type.’
‘It wasn’t like that.’ The younger man became frustrated and stood to defend himself.
‘Don’t listen to him.’ Ringbalin placed a hand on the arm of the lad and he immediately calmed and felt good again. ‘To Zeven the whole of creation was made so that people could have sex.’
‘Absolutely right,’ Zeven cheered his theory, and then curled into a ball, moaning as his stomach began to cramp.
‘Is he all right?’ Telmo was concerned as he saw Zeven disappearing under the surface of the water.
‘He’ll be fine.’ Ringbalin didn’t bat an eyelid.
Telmo watched the water for a few moments and when Zeven didn’t surface, he approached the edge and prepared to dive in, but Zeven was no longer in the water.
Zeven materialised right behind the young scientist. ‘Dacre?’
Telmo was startled right into the water, and surfaced to find Zeven smiling down at him, most amused. ‘Welcome to the crew,’ he said, his expression hardening. ‘I cannot warn her as I made a vow not to repeat what you told me, but stay away from Taren Lennox.’ Zeven glared at the lad in warning and then took his leave.
Telmo was left shocked by Zeven’s reaction. ‘He knows he was her brother, doesn’t he?’
‘It’s … it’s complicated.’ Ringbalin declined to explain.
‘I know.’ Telmo floated up onto his back, looking up at the night sky. ‘Nothing really changes,’ he concluded with a smile, feeling like he’d finally found his family. Despite the sibling rivalry, he felt more at home at this moment, in a parallel universe, on a foreign planet, with a bunch of people he’d never met before, than he had in his entire life! ‘How wonderful.’
It had been a truly romantic evening — the first time in ages that Taren had had Lucian to herself for any amount of time. So, to celebrate, they locked themselves in Taren’s room all night and made love until their muscles failed. Even with all that physical exertion, Taren still couldn’t get to sleep.
Once she felt Lucian had drifted off, she slid out of bed and moved to a large window at the other end of her chamber — attracted by the moonlight streaming through it. Kila had several moons and tonight the largest of these was full and glistening on the water of the canal, beyond the garden courtyard entrance.
Taren might have been gazing at the most idyllic view, but her mind and her heart were in turmoil. What would she learn about herself on the morrow? Would she find the Maladaan solution she was looking for? Would she still feel and think about things the way she did now, with many extra years of experience in her knowledge bank?
‘Anxious about tomorrow?’
Taren looked back over her shoulder, and although she could not see Lucian in the darkness beyond the moonlight she was standing in, she nodded to confirm. ‘Sorry if I woke you.’
‘You didn’t.’ He came into the light and hugged her from behind.
‘Will I still be as I am now, or someone else altogether?’ She voiced her concern.
‘I don’t care, as long as you still love me.’ Lucian kissed her head.
‘That’s a given.’ She turned, kissed his lips and then held his face between her hands to assure him. ‘We share the same soul-mind, I doubt we have much chance of escaping each other.’
‘So why worry?’ Lucian urged her to relax with a squeeze.
‘Why worry?’ Taren wriggled out of his embrace. ‘Only the MSS knows what I did in those missing years, or what I’m capable of, or what prejudice or passion I might hold?’
‘But worrying about it isn’t going to change the truth,’ Lucian pointed out gently, as Taren was clearly beginning to freak out. ‘We can only hope that the truth and the future hold promise.’
Fortunately Taren recognised her own logic in his words and took a deep breath. ‘I just can’t stop thinking about it.’
‘Well, we’ll just have to find something more important for you to focus on.’ Lucian came over and took hold of her again.
‘Like what?’ Taren couldn’t imagine.
‘Like what we hope to achieve for enduring this current debacle?’ he suggested and Taren was stunned to consider that was indeed far more important.
‘We want Maladaan back where it should be.’ Taren stated.
‘We want AMIE back where she should be?’ Lucian suggested something more personal.
‘Yes,’ Taren agreed, wrapping both arms about his neck. ‘And a huge grant so that we can get our crew back.’
‘Now you’re on the right wavelength.’ Lucian kissed her neck repeatedly. ‘Perhaps we could even finally get married?’
‘Yes, yes, yes,’ Taren revelled, as his kisses made her neck tingle. ‘That would make me the happiest being in any universe.’
‘Then that is what we shall do,’ he vowed quite seriously. ‘We just have a few minor hurdles to negotiate before we get there, which will be better handled after sleep.’
Taren nodded, feeling a little better.
‘Just focus on our target,’ he urged her, ‘I’ve got a lot of faith in us … we will get there.’
Taren’s nod was more decisive this time.
When she curled up with Lucian once again, Taren’s mind was focused on positive outcomes and fantasies of the future life they would have together — no matter what happened on the morrow. It took no time at all to fall into a deep sleep.
13
THE TRUTH HITS EVERYBODY
The team for the Maladaan mission assembled poolside at dawn, and none were tardy — everyone was eager to see the mission accomplished by breakfast.
‘So why I am going again?’ Telmo queried his role, none too eager to return to Maladaan now it came right down to it.
‘You know the computer systems, codes, the way around the building,’ Lucian listed the many reasons why Telmo might be needed.
‘But the MSS may have blocked my access,’ Telmo said.
‘That’s a chance we may have to take,’ Lucian replied.
‘A bit of action might toughen you up a bit.’ Zeven punched the scientist’s shoulder and he winced with pain.
‘I’m a lover, not a fighter,’ he replied.
‘Hear, hear, brother,’ Ringbalin seconded, as he had the same philosophy. ‘But sometimes you just have to get involved, because you’re the only one who can. We’ll have your back.’ He winked at the lad.
Jazmay assumed the form of Chief Ronan, but there was a slight delay in the proceedings.
Rhun had realised that performing the telepathic transferences of the target sites from Chief Ronan’s genetic memory to Taren and Zeven would expose his genetic makeup and memory to Jazmay. Although he trusted her, the security risk was too great and so he had called in some outside help.
‘When were you going to tell me?’ Rhiannon stood at a distance, staring at her long-gone parents. ‘You weren’t going to tell me, were you?’
Rhun shook his head. ‘But I need your cooperation, no questions.’
Rhiannon seemed a little affronted by the request. ‘I heard Avery was hurt, what is going on?’
‘All hell is breaking loose … and all I need from you is —’
‘— my cooperation, no questions,’ Rhiannon chimed in and threw her hands in the air. ‘What do you want me to do?’
Rhun introduced his sister to everyone — Jazmay she already knew, but it was Taren Lennox who was left with her mouth gaping open upon being introduced to Rhiannon.
‘I’m sorry.’ Taren knew she was staring. ‘I know this is going to sound a little odd, but you are the spitting image of my mother.’
Rhiannon was shocked but not sceptical of her claim. ‘And you mine,’ she concurred with a smile.
‘I know.’ Taren was smiling too. ‘I have watched some of Noah’s chronicles but it’s only now, meeting you in person, that I made the connection.’
‘It’s comforting to know that we never really part.’ Rhiannon became rather sentimental.
‘It is.’ Taren had never really known her mother, but hoped to, one day in the not-too-distant future.
‘Makes you wonder if Cadwallon is Taren’s father back in that other universal scheme?’ Rhun commented out loud, whereupon both women looked to him, bemused.
‘Cadwallon,’ Taren uttered the name and she recalled his many incarnations as seen in Noah’s chronicles. ‘Yes,’ Taren conceded, ‘could be.’
The incarnations of the Grigori did not always appear exactly the same in each existence, Taren recognised them more by their energy than their appearance, which was why only meeting Rhiannon in person had triggered Taren’s recognition of her.
‘I hate to break up the family reunion, but we are on a bit of a tight schedule.’ Zeven shifted the focus of the group back to their objective.
Rhiannon did not need to be touching her subject to read their thoughts, nor to project her own thoughts into the minds of others. She performed the task of transferring the images of their target sites from Chief Ronan’s genetic memory to Taren and Zeven, but when she had done this, Rhiannon took Rhun aside once more.
‘You’re sending these people on a mission to Maladaan? Have you lost your mind?’ She didn’t beat about the bush.
‘Ages ago.’ Rhun forced a smile. ‘I have no choice, I’m all out of ideas … this needs to happen.’
‘Why not send our people?’ Rhiannon couldn’t understand why he’d put these mortals in harm’s way.
‘Trust me on this one,’ he urged her, ‘and if you can’t, go see Avery while you are here, he’ll explain. Right now I need to see these people on their way; as you can understand, they are eager to get this over and done with.’
Clearly, Rhiannon wanted to query him further, but she didn’t bother wasting her breath. ‘I’ll go see Avery.’ She let her frustration go. ‘If you need me —’
‘I’ll come and find you later.’ Rhun gave her a squeeze for reassurance. ‘And hopefully by then I’ll have some answers.’
As they were standing about waiting, Lucian approached Jazmay, who had resumed her own form to sit about in. ‘Take good care of my girl, won’t you?’ He lowered his voice to add, ‘She’s not much of a fighter.’
‘That I will, Commander.’ Jazmay smiled warmly at the captain, who’d been given charge of their mission. ‘I realise everything depends on her survival. I know exactly what I have to do, so don’t sweat it. You just worry about keeping the MSS off our backs long enough for us to do the download.’
Lucian gave a decided nod, although truth be known he was not much of a fighter either; he, like Taren, usually used intellect to win his battles. Still, he felt his ability to see spirits, and through walls, gave him some advantage over the trained killers they were taking on.
Rhun returned alone to give them leave. ‘Ready, all?’
A round of sure responses saw the two teams on their feet and ready to leave.
‘Be quick, be quiet, and be safe,’ Rhun requested. ‘Good luck.’ He looked at Taren in particular.
Taren was pulling on some of the gloves that the entire team were wearing to avoid leaving prints; this also put a barrier between Taren and Jazmay as Taren didn’t need skin contact in order to teleport her team mate.
‘May the Goddess go with you,’ said Rhun, for this had long been his family’s way of saying goodbye before a mission or battle.
‘Every time I get a goddess to accompany me anywhere I get in trouble,’ retorted Zeven dryly. ‘But thanks for the sentiment, Governor.’ The maverick vanished with his team.
‘Governor.’ Jazmay nodded in respect to Rhun, as Taren closed her eyes to focus and they sped to their designated destination.
In the locked security room at the Maladaan Secret Service Base, deep beneath the city o
f Esponisa, the agent monitoring the memory bank complex noted two people had gained access to a memory chamber. ‘I think I have a breach,’ he informed the rest of the surveillance crew in the room, but only his supervisor made a move to investigate.
‘Chief Ronan?’ The agent squinted, not believing his eyes.
‘It can’t be, the man died last week!’ his supervisor objected before he saw the image for himself. ‘We’ll I’ll be.’ He grinned as he saw the deceased chief on the monitor. ‘Time to play with our new toy —’
‘Sleep.’ No sooner had the suggestion left Zeven’s lips than the entire surveillance team collapsed where they were and fell into a fitful slumber.
‘Whoa.’ Telmo was impressed. ‘Now that’s a Power! Why didn’t I get that talent?’
‘Shhh,’ Zeven urged, ‘I have only put them to sleep.’
‘Oh, sorry.’ Telmo placed a finger to his lips to caution himself.
Lucian was already at the monitoring station that had spotted Taren and Jazmay. He motioned to the man asleep at the desk; Zeven held out a hand towards the sleeping agent and made a snatching motion, whereupon the fellow vanished.
Telmo muffled his own gasp with his hand and watched spellbound as Zeven then held his other hand out towards an empty chair and the agent reappeared in the new location, still deep in slumber. The supervisor on the floor beside the station was deposited in the same fashion, then they all huddled around the monitor to watch the women’s progress.
As Taren was strapped into the chair that housed the headset for the MSS memory bank, she was having a strange sense of déjà vu. Her instinct was to resist being restrained in the chair and it was making her anxious.
‘It’s okay, I know what I am doing.’ Jazmay obviously sensed her stress, but as the shape-shifter was wearing Chief Ronan’s form, Taren did not find her assurances very reassuring. ‘I know this must seem like a waking nightmare to you right now, but just try and remember that Jazmay is under here.’
As the headset was lowered down onto her head, its cold metal extension arms coming to rest upon her temples, Taren repeated over and over, ‘This is a good move, this is a good move …’