Awakening: The First Tale of the Trine (Trine Series Book 1) (16 page)

Oraki had been returned to the containment cell after being apprehended. The pair appeared to be resting on the bed when Director Spencer entered the observation room. “Has anything happened since they were brought back?” he asked the new technician on duty.

“No, sir, they’ve been resting the last few hours. The Elv, Orak, seemed tired and lay down immediately once they were found.”

“I need to speak to them,” Director Spencer said. “Have some food and drink brought in, and activate the recording software.”

“Yes, sir, right away,” the technician replied as Director Spencer strode from the room.

Orak was lying on the bed when the airlock cycled open to admit the Director, while Aki sat by the table with a deck of cards spread out in front of him. “Good morning you two,” Director Spencer said, as he took a seat at the table.

The cards Aki had been playing with shuffled themselves into a neat pile, slid back into their box, and disappeared into one of the pockets on Aki’s harness. “Good morning, Director,” Aki said. “And sorry about any misunderstandings last night.”

“We’re going to need the help of people like Delmont and Tyler before this is all over,” Orak said in a rough voice, moving to join them at the table. “And we needed to see them before you let Zion get close, in case he is the one somehow manipulating your humans. We didn’t think you would let us see them willingly, but letting them suffer or die was not acceptable.”

“I understand,” Director Spencer told them. “And while I don’t approve of your methods, your results were quite impressive. So much so, in fact, that I first wanted to ask if you might be able to do the same thing for other injured individuals.”

Aki snorted, and Orak shook his head. “I can only bond those souls who possess an innate connection with the aether, and are able to manipulate it to some degree. The ability is rare in your people, and the bonding process has...side effects. We were actually hoping you might bring Delmont and Tyler here this morning, so that we could all discuss this in more detail.”

“That was my thinking, too,” Director Spencer confirmed. “One thing I did want to ask, though, is how you managed to black out this floor of the building so completely?”

Aki’s ears lay back and his lips curled to reveal his multiple rows of teeth. He was clearly angered by the question, but then he chuffed out his wheezing laugh, seeming to calm quickly. “I have to remind myself that you don’t mean to be so condescending. I suppose I’m being overly sensitive about the food your guards keep leaving on the floor for me,” Aki said. “Director, despite my appearance, you must remember I am not a house pet. I’m an engineer. I helped build and maintain a machine that runs on aether and opens portals spanning galaxies. Your lights run on electricity carried through wires. You want to know how I turned them all off? I unplugged them.”

“You start to act like me when you get tired,” Orak observed dryly.

“At least I have exhaustion as an excuse to be grumpy,” Aki retorted. “You’re just a…” Aki grumbled something the Director didn’t understand, but which caused Orak to snicker quietly.

Not being in on the joke, the Director smiled politely and rose to excuse himself. “I’m going to go ask Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Morrison to join us. I have also asked that some refreshments be sent in. I will return shortly.”

Orak and Aki sat at the table together, only moving briefly when an agent came in with a tray loaded with fruits, mixed nuts, and juices. A few minutes later, Director Spencer ushered Delmont and Tyler into the room, waving an arm in invitation for them to have a seat. Both men were freshly showered, and had been provided clean hospital gowns.

“I wanted to bring you all together so that we could discuss in more detail what occurred last night. Delmont, Tyler, I understand that after having a chance to rest, you have some questions for Oraki that you would like answered,” Director Spencer said.

Delmont nodded, and spoke first, “We wanted to let you know how much we appreciate what you did for us. I feel better this morning than I have in years. See this?” Delmont pointed to the stubble growing on his head. “I’ve been shaving my head since my hair started receding twenty years ago. It’s growing back. All of it. I don’t know why I find that more amazing than you fixing my eyes, or my hand, but there it is. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“Having said that,” Tyler interjected. “We did have a few questions about exactly what you did to us. We feel great, but…odd.”

“Tell me what you feel, exactly,” said Orak.

Tyler looked thoughtful for a moment, then said “It’s hard to explain. At first I thought it was grief. I mean, my Pops just passed, I don’t even know if my brother is alive, and you woke me up moments later with some sort of living nightmare…” Tyler waved a hand at Oraki. “I thought what I was feeling was just some sort of shock, or mourning. I feel heavy, in my stomach and heart if that makes sense, and I have this nagging sensation of…hell, I don’t know! If I had to put a finger on it, I’d say I feel
guilty
, horribly guilty about something…but I don’t know what?”

Delmont listened to Tyler try to articulate the emotions he was experiencing. “I’ve had some odd feelings too, since last night. I’ve had this weird giggly feeling, like someone just tickled me. I feel it constantly, flitting around in my head, a little laughing butterfly. Do you think it’s related to what you did to heal us?” he asked Orak directly.

“I’m sure it is. Each of you is feeling a resonance from the other’s soul. At its most basic, in order to heal you I performed the Elvahn ritual of soul bonding. Each of you had a powerful connection to the aether, the energy where souls reside when not fused with the flesh. I combined your connections, which pulled enough energy into your bodies to heal the wounds you had suffered.” Orak looked at the two men expectantly, awaiting their questions.

Tyler spoke up first, saying, “The Elvahn ritual of soul bonding? So this is something your kind do all the time, you tie your souls to each other? Why?”

“It’s not something we do ‘all the time.’ The ritual is usually reserved for long-term relationships, like your marriage,” Orak replied.

“
You married us?
” Tyler exclaimed indignantly, as Delmont’s mouth fell open. Tyler looked over at Delmont and said, “And we just slept our honeymoon away.”

“That’s not funny,” Delmont replied to Tyler. “Your soul bonding thing is to bring lovers closer together?” he asked Orak.

“Not always. Parents bond their children, siblings bond each other. If you find the concept of ‘marriage’ troubling for some reason, think of it as a bond of brotherhood. As to what you two have been feeling, well…” Orak paused for a moment, staring at the two men intently. “You are each feeling a powerful resonance of the other person’s soul. Tyler, what you are feeling is the regret that Delmont has wrapped around his consciousness. This regret comes through most powerfully as it apparently affects him most keenly, and overshadows his other traits.”

Orak let that sink in a moment, before turning to Delmont. “Delmont, the ‘tickle’ or ‘laughter’ you described is Tyler’s cynicism. His soul is armored in it, and it pervades his every thought. Usually, when two Elvahn are bonded, they are already very close to each other. Knowing each other well, the connection is…smoother. With the two of you, we will first have to work on breaking down the barriers between you formed by these emotions before you can learn more about your abilities. Director, if you are willing to allow it, we can all begin working on that now.”

Director Spencer looked to Delmont and Tyler. “What do you say gentlemen? Do you want to proceed?”

Both men nodded their assent. “It’s what we agreed to,” Tyler added. “You kept your end of the bargain, and I intend to keep mine. What do you want us to do?” he asked.

Orak motioned to Aki, who had been sitting with his front paws up on the table. Aki moved out of the way, and Orak guided Tyler to sit down across the table from Delmont. “When two souls are bonded the connection formed allows them to communicate telepathically. It’s actually quite easy, if you can remember certain things. Each individual thinks differently. We don’t just think in clearly defined sentences. Our thoughts are a combination of words, images, emotions…all sorts of things. In order to communicate telepathically, you have to direct a clear, fully formed coherent thought towards the other’s consciousness that you feel on the outskirts of your own awareness. In your case Delmont, you will want to try to direct a thought at that ‘giggly feeling’ in your mind. Tyler, you will want to try to direct a thought towards this ‘guilt’ that you feel. Those feelings are the other person’s soul.”

Director Spencer moved away from the table, going to stand near the entrance to the room. Aki hopped up on the bed in the corner, a cheerful canine grin stretching across his snout. For the next several minutes, Orak sat looking back and forth between the two men expectantly.

Tyler finally turned to Orak and said, “I’m not entirely sure if I’m doing anything right now, other than just staring at him,” motioning to Delmont. “It feels like the guilty sensation is getting stronger, but…that’s all there is.”

Delmont exhaled heavily, saying, “He’s right. All I’m getting is that annoying laughing sensation. It’s aggravating, it feels…mean, like it’s laughing
at
me.”

“Cynicism is mean,” Orak agreed. “But it is also weak. Guilt and regret are more powerful emotions, and can be much harder to push through.” Orak leaned back from the table and said, “This process is easier for lovers, because heightened emotions break down the barriers. Love, lust, even hatred or rage are useful at this stage. I think it will be easier as you get to know each other a bit better. Tell each other about yourselves, and keep pushing at that other consciousness you each feel.”

“Oh, we’re about to have a full blown therapy session in here,” Tyler quipped. “This Mega Man looking bastard is going to bust open our deepest secrets!”

“You think I
want
to do this?” Orak growled, eyes narrowing over his mask. “I need your help, and even with your bodies healed, a rancid turd would do me more good in a fight than you two. Broadcasting your own thoughts through your own soul...telepathy, you call it, is the equivalent of teaching a child to wipe their own ass!”

Delmont looked back over at Tyler, who had opened a can of mixed nuts and was staring back at him with a small smile playing around the corners of his lips. Delmont sighed as Orak continued to glower at them, then said, “I guess I’ll start. Ok, so…my name is Delmont Jeffries, and I was born and raised out in Stone Mountain, Georgia…” Delmont trailed off, as he felt the sensation of mocking laughter grow stronger in his head.

“Stop,” Orak said. “Tell him something meaningful. Tell him where the guilt comes from, the regret.”

Delmont nodded slowly, then placed his hands flat on the table. The newly regrown fingers on his left hand were still a bit paler than the rest of his skin, and he stared at them as he began speaking. “I’ve thought about that a lot…maybe too much. I’ve got a lot of regrets. The VA doc I saw told me I was suffering with ‘survivor’s guilt,’ because of the friends I saw get killed. He told me it was irrational, and that there was nothing I could have done for them. That men die in war. He was right, for some of them. Peterson got lit up by an IED, and Gregory got his skull shattered by an RPG. But then there was Riley, Stewart, and Johnson…I could list dozens. I ordered each of them to follow me. To cover me. Me, a man who can’t die. I led each of those boys, and when the bullets stopped flying, and I was standing over the broken bodies of enemies and friends…I was so proud of myself. I felt like the biggest bull in the pasture, and it filled me with so much joy…every time the dust cleared and I was still breathing felt like I was born again, and I loved it.”

Delmont paused, staring wide-eyed at his trembling hands. He could feel the mocking laughter flickering all around him. It was so out of place in his mind, so irreverent to the memory of the men he had served beside…it was infuriating. Delmont tried to swallow his anger, and continue. “I didn’t have all these feelings during the war. While I was there…it was the best time of my life. I mean, marrying my wife, the birth of my daughter, those are my greatest
moments
, but out there fighting, living on the edge every second…I’ve never had so much fun. I didn’t realize at the time there was anything unusual about me, and I fought the way I was trained. It was only later that the guilt came, when I realized that I was different, and that so many of those boys could have come home if I had only known. The regrets…the regrets are the same, I guess. Every night those battles play again in my head. The deaths that I could have prevented. The things I could have done differently…”

The laughter echoing in the back of his mind seemed to swell as he spoke, while Tyler sat across from him with the faintest flicker of a smile still playing across his lips. It was too much, too disrespectful, and Delmont finally snapped. “WHAT THE HELL IS SO GODDAMNED FUNNY?” he roared, pounding his fists on the table.

“I didn’t say anything,” Tyler replied innocently. While Delmont had been speaking, Tyler had been separating the mixed nuts into small piles in front of him. “It’s a cool story, bro,” Tyler continued. “Want to hear one of mine?”

Pushing the pile of Brazil nuts he had made towards Delmont, Tyler said “My Pa-Paw used to say that these were dark and stinky, and you never wanted to put them in your mouth. He called them ‘nigger toes.’ You’ve probably had some in your mouth though, right?”