Jaci's Experiment Read online

  “That’s a tough break, because we like having you around. If it weren’t for the children, we’d ask you to stay, regardless of the risk.”

  Sinclair turned to look at him, surprised by the statement. He could see that Mick meant it too, though he was still learning to read facial expressions.

  “I am deeply honored.” Sinclair felt a lump rise in his throat that he didn’t understand. He swallowed around it. “I will continue my watch from above, with your indulgence.” He bowed his head in a very Alvian show of respect.

  “I like that idea and I know Justin approves, but Jane worries for you living in such cold environs. She wants to send along some provisions for you—blankets and such. She also wants to arrange to stock you with food and perishables. Maybe set up a regular check-in. Justin thought it was a good idea too, and he sent along this.” Mick reached into his pocket and pulled out a very small crystal. It looked like a short-range communication device.

  But of course. They had access to Chief Engineer Davin’s talent. This family had more resources than his people gave them credit for. Mick flipped the glittering crystal through the air to Sinclair.

  “Completely untraceable and short-range. In fact, it can only communicate with our devices. Not that we don’t trust you, but we don’t want anyone getting a message out if you should lose it somehow.”

  “A wise precaution. I will report in when I see anything amiss.”

  Mick waved his comment away. “You can straighten that stuff out with Justin before you leave. What I wanted to know is if you’ll take Sam with you?”

  “What?”

  “Well, Sam’s an escaped prisoner. Just like you. If he’s seen here, it’ll bring down the Alvians, same as seeing you. We need to stash him somewhere and he’s not entirely well enough to live on his own yet. I thought maybe you could take him with you up into the mountains, maybe show him how to survive up there, if he needs any advice.”

  “I…” Sinclair didn’t know what to say. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good.” Mick stood and began walking toward his office. Sinclair had taken night shift while Sam was so sick, with Mick sleeping in his office, away from the possibility of contaminating anyone in his family. They’d keep it up until they were certain all risk was gone. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “So what’s your deal? I know you’re not a telepath ’cause you don’t even twitch when I send you a mental scream.” Sam asked as he ate lunch the next day. Sinclair had been dreading this line of questioning, knowing his lack of psychic ability marked him as alien, like nothing else. “I’m telepathic and a touch telekinetic myself.”

  Sinclair suspected from his tone that Sam wasn’t telling him everything, but that was his prerogative, after all. Sinclair shrugged. He’d known this moment was coming since Sam had woken up and still didn’t know quite how to deal with it. “I have no special abilities.”

  “No?” Sam chewed, looking at him oddly as Sinclair shifted uncomfortably. “Not even a little foresight? A lot of folks have that. It’s what saved their lives.” Sam swallowed and stared some more. “So what did you do in the old world?”

  Again, Sinclair hesitated, but didn’t know what to say. “Nothing.”

  Sam put down his sandwich and set the plate aside. “You one of them, aren’t you? Son of a bitch.”

  Sinclair sighed with regret. “I was born Alvian, but I’m not like them anymore.”

  “Like hell you aren’t.” Sam seemed to study him. “What the fuck are you doing way out here, living like a hermit? Are you a fucking mole?”

  “I don’t know what that means, but I live out here because I’m a fugitive, like you. If the Alvian patrols find me, I’ll be shot on sight.” Sinclair stood, pacing the small room in frustration.

  “Why?”

  Sinclair turned to him, surprised to see he really wanted to know.

  “Because I feel.” Sinclair slumped into a chair against the wall. “I volunteered for an experiment and they made me…feel. I’m not Alvian anymore. I’m more like you.”

  “You’ll never be human, pal.”

  “I know. And I regret that more than you’ll ever know.”

  Sam swore and looked away. “Why did you help me?”

  “Why?” Sinclair surged to his feet and picked up the small book he’d found with Sam, opening it to a page he’d looked at over and over again. He handed it to the other man. “Because of her.”

  When Sinclair left the ranch a few days later, Sam went with him. The men had reached an understanding in the days since their confrontation and an uneasy sort of friendship. Both were fugitives, hiding from the Alvian patrols. They found they had more in common than either one was comfortable with, but were smart enough to realize they had a better chance of survival together than apart.

  Jane O’Hara sent them off with all kinds of food and supplies and when they made camp, for the first time in months, both were reasonably warm and well fed because of the supplies Jane had provided. The cave Sinclair had found was big enough for two and Sam shared in the chores, though he was still weak from the illness. After a few days, they fell into a routine and after a while, they even became friends.

  Chapter Nine

  Jaci was despondent after two weeks with no word from David or Michael. Not even dreams. She missed them more than she’d ever thought possible and trudged through her daily chores with no danger of smiling. She was simply too sad.

  She had to be careful to school her expression. Sadness was easier to channel into the usual apathetic Alvian mask than happiness had been, but it still required effort. So far, she’d been able to avoid detection, but there had been a few close calls. Lita 498 questioned her about her sluggishness and Jaci had to fabricate a digestive disorder that kept her awake in order to explain her condition. A trip to the infirmary for mediation she didn’t need had made her aware of how difficult it was becoming to keep up her charade.

  She fell asleep with a heavy heart, having given up hope of Michael reaching her from such a long distance. And just when she’d given up, he appeared.

  Michael sauntered through her dream as if he belonged there, sweeping her into his arms in a strong, reassuring hug.

  “Jaci, my love. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to figure out how to reach you.” He showered her face with kisses as she laughed with pure joy.

  “Michael! Oh, Michael!” She hugged him hard, as happy as she’d ever been just to see him, even if it was only in a dream. “How did you do it? Can you stay for a while? Where are you? Are you nearby?”

  He soothed her with gentle hands on her shoulders, guiding her to sit on a stone bench he’d conjured in the garden of her dream. “I’m in Davin’s engineering facility. We’ve been working for two weeks on using raw crystals to boost my natural dreamwalking ability. I finally figured out how to tap into the crystal earlier today and was waiting for you to dream so I could come check on you. Barring any complications—which I don’t think are likely—I should be able to reach you every night now.”

  “How is David?”

  “Jealous as hell that I couldn’t take him along tonight, but I wanted to be sure I reached you so you wouldn’t worry. I’ll try to bring him tomorrow. Now that I’ve got the hang of it, I don’t think it’ll be too difficult.”

  “Is Davin treating you well? How are you both doing?” She couldn’t stop touching him, wanting to know everything all at once.

  “We’re good. Great, in fact. We live above ground in a beautiful apartment with windows overlooking the rainforest and no locks on the doors. Davin’s a great guy. He’s teaching us all kinds of stuff about the crystals and Rick and Callie are really nice folks. They send their greetings, by the way. They knew I was going to try to reach you tonight. Damn, baby, it’s so good to see you!”

  He pulled her in for a kiss and Jaci felt his love, deep and true, resonating in her heart. When he pulled back, tears were in her eyes on the dreamplane as she did her best to memorize his b
eloved face.

  “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you too.” He kissed her again, and for a moment they were both lost in sensation, but there was much to be said and precious little time in which to say it. Michael pulled back. “Look, I’m still learning how to boost my natural abilities using crystal power, so I’m not sure how long I can maintain this dreamwalk yet. If I disappear suddenly, don’t worry. We’re safe with Davin. I mean that. Really safe. He’s got more power than even Mara 12. This crystallography program is sanctioned by the High Council itself. Davin’s got a lot of clout with those guys.”

  “Mara 12 took some of her assistants with her to the last Council session at which he appeared and news of those goings on filtered down through the staff. I heard about how he outmaneuvered Mara 12 to get approval for his expansion of the crystallography program and other concessions. It was all over the news feeds too, though not in as much detail. That man seems to have nerves of steel and his assistant is supposed to be some kind of miracle worker for what he did to repair the Council Crystal.”

  “Rick?” Michael nodded. “Yeah, he’s pretty amazing. He’s been working with David privately because they both have a similar kind of ability. Rick’s a healer tooof the body, not the mind. David is making amazing progress with this crystal stuff, working with Rick. Apparently the healing talents give them both some really neat abilities to work with fractured crystal. Ruth’s doing well too. She’s got another kind of special crystal talent. She asked me to say hello to you, Jaci. She missed you, but she’s happier than I’ve ever seen her. Callie helps Ruth with the baby. She says she’s practicing for when her baby is born.”

  “I didn’t think of that, but it must be nice for Callie to have the baby around. Little Samantha was always a good-tempered child. I liked her.”

  Michael tugged her into his arms again. “Maybe one day, we’ll have children of our own, Jaci. Ever thought of that?”

  She hadn’t and the shock must’ve shown in her expression as Michael chuckled. “I never considered reproduction. I’m not high-level enough to merit sample collection in the normal course of things. And now…well, there’s no way they can know how my DNA has been altered. I would never be allowed to reproduce.”

  “Maybe not the Alvian way, but you can certainly do it the old-fashioned way with me and Dave. Wouldn’t you like to have a baby? I don’t mean right away, but sometime in the future, maybe?”

  Shock warred with wonder inside her. “I’ve never even considered it, but…I think I like the idea. It would have to be in secret though. The Maras would never let me pass on the changes in my DNA randomly. I fear we will not be free to pursue this idea for many years.” She was surprised at the depth of grief that thought caused her.

  “That’s okay, sweetheart.” Michael squeezed her in comfort. “We have many years ahead of us yet to deal with all of this. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Things could change drastically for us all in less time than you think.”

  She grew suspicious at the hint of knowledge in his tone. “Why do you say that?”

  “Let’s just say I know a few precogs and they seem to think that change—big change—is coming for your people and mine.”

  “I’m afraid, Michael.” The feeling of fear was nearly overwhelming.

  “Don’t be, sweetheart.” His arms felt safe when nothing else did. “Change is hard, but these changes will work out for the better according to the Oracle.”

  “Who is the Oracle?”

  “Can’t you guess?”

  “Caleb O’Hara? Is that what they’re calling him?”

  “It started as sort of a code name to keep his identity protected should the book of prophecies he gave us be discovered by your people. We didn’t know it would stick, but that’s what folks are calling him now. At least, that’s how they’re referring to his prophecies. Just a few of us know who the Oracle really is. It’s our small way of protecting him.” Michael shrugged. “I have to say, he’s the most powerful foreseer I’ve ever heard about. He wrote things into that book of visions he gave us that are amazingly detailed and incredibly accurate.”

  “He has a near perfect record of accuracy according to the visions he’s given us to study. Ninety-five percent with a five percent error margin.”

  “I believe it. Some of what he wrote has already come to pass and he’s spot on. Some of what he’s foreseen for our immediate futures is…difficult, but we can get through it, Jaci. Be sure of that. We humans have a saying—after the darkness comes the dawn. Remember that. When things seem bleakest, remember, they will get better. Believe in that and believe in our love.”

  “Did Caleb…” She gathered her courage. “Did he say anything about me in that book?”

  Michael looked uncomfortable. “Not directly, which is what makes this so hard. He wrote down a vision that may or may not pertain to you. Dave and I have studied it and we can’t be sure.”

  “What did it say?”

  “‘An alien girl will discover her heart’s desire, but will go down in flames and be reborn like the phoenix. An angel and hermit will come to her aid and by so doing, will rekindle the embers of revolution. Together, they will begin something bigger than the sum of its parts. Out of the fires of fear will the flame of liberty be reborn.’”

  Jaci tried to understand the words, but didn’t comprehend most of the references. “It sounds dangerous.”

  Michael hugged her again. “It could be, but the good part is that in the end, something important will be reborn. If this alien girl is you, you’re destined to have hard times ahead, but we’ll all come out of it stronger and ready to reclaim some of what we humans have lost. Our society before the cataclysm—or at least the country in which Dave and I lived—was founded on the idea of liberty for all people. The imagery Caleb used sounds a lot like the imagery of the founding of our country, the United States. Our anthem talked of ‘the rocket’s red glare, bombs bursting in air’—fire and flames preceding a great victory over oppression and tyranny that lasted for hundreds of years and spawned the most successful democratic republic in our planet’s history.”

  “I have much to learn of your people’s past, Michael.” Suddenly she felt very ignorant. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling.

  He stroked her hair. “We have years to tell you about the way we used to live and hopefully, we’ll have a chance to rebuild some of what we lost. If Caleb’s to be believed, wheels have already been set in motion that might bring about promising things for our future. But we all have our parts to play. His words are cautionary. He instructs us to bide our time and watch for the signs. Revolution is coming. We have to be ready for it. And if you’re the alien girl he prophesied, you might be the start of it.”

  “That’s a lot of responsibility, Michael.” Her words shivered through hesitant lips. “I don’t think I can handle that kind of thing.”

  “And no one is asking you to, Jaci, my love. Things will happen as they must. You may not be the alien girl Caleb wrote about. It may be some other girl in another city somewhere. But if things do turn out to be difficult in the near future, I want you to remember that prophecy and know that after the dark comes the dawn. Remember that, Jaci. And remember that no matter what, Dave and I will always love you and come to you if you’re in trouble.”

  “Oh, Michael.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the fear and desperation that had built up at hearing his dire words. “I love you so much.” Tears fell from her eyes on the dreamplane as Michael held her close, crooning in her ear and trying to still her sobs of fear.

  His image flickered a bit when she finally drew away and she could see he was growing tired. She’d never questioned what his dreamwalking ability might cost him in the way of energy, but the thought crossed her mind now.

  “Come on, Jaci, no more tears. We’re together now, and tomorrow night, I’ll bring Dave along too.”

  She clutched at his shirt. “Only if it doesn’t tire
you too much. I don’t want you risking your health just to visit my dreams. It’s enough to know that you haven’t forgotten me. Enough to hope that you’ll come to my dreams again, when it won’t weaken you.”

  “I love that you’re concerned for me, Jaci, but don’t worry. The crystal gives me a big energy boost, focusing my natural abilities so they’re stronger than ever before. And we’ve missed you as much as you’ve missed us. Probably more. We want to be with you, Jaci, to hold you for real, but for now…if this is all we have, we’re going to treasure our dreams. I can’t deny myself the pleasure of holding you, even if it isn’t real. Nor can I deny Dave the same. He’s closer to me than a brother and he loves you as much as I do.”

  “You’re a good man, Michael. Tell David I miss him and love him…as much as I love you.” She reached upward then, sealing her words with a tender kiss that soon turned passionate.

  Michael’s hands roamed down her body, one cupping a breast, the other insinuating itself between her legs. In the dream, she was suddenly bare. In the blink of an eye he had her naked in his arms. Jaci didn’t object. The only thing she could have objected to—if she’d been coherent enough to speak after his drugging kisses—was that he still had his pants on.

  She ran her hands over his chest, tangling in the sparse covering of hair, so different from Alvian males. She felt the delicious dips and valleys of muscle that spoke of his solid strength, his steadfastness and his sureness. There was nothing remotely soft about Michael and she loved everything about him, from his hard, muscular chest to his calloused hands and thick, pulsating cock. She’d felt it in person just the one time, but she would never forget how broad and hard he was, how ready he was to pleasure her.

  She reached between them to cup him through the soft slacks he still wore in the dream. But Michael had other ideas.

  His hand between her legs stroked and enflamed as he sank into her, urging her legs apart with a gentle nudge of his foot. She spread for him, allowing greater access to his roaming fingers as they began to fill her, stroking in and out.