Edge of Time (6 page)

A
lec landed with a brain-jarring thud. Darius nearly flattened him as he winked into existence immediately after, and Riley, who was still holding his hand so tightly he'd lost all feeling in his fingers, landed farther away, nearly pulling his arm from its socket.

“Ow!” he screeched as he yanked his hand from Riley's.

Darius heaved himself off Alec and looked around with a darkening frown. He glanced up at the sky then back at Alec. “Did you mean to bring us here?”

“Err?” Alec tried to sit up but was immediately overcome by a very unpleasant wooziness. This was far worse than the teleporting from the subway station. The world tilted alarmingly to one side, then spun for a moment before righting itself. His stomach decided to move to a new location. Off to his left, Riley groaned.

Darius held his orb out in the palm of his hand like a water diviner. He bit his lip for a moment and then shoved the orb back into his pocket. Thunderclouds amassed across his face. At Riley's second groan he stepped over a pile of refuse and yanked her to her feet.

“Nice spot you've brought us to,” he said sharply to Alec as he held onto Riley's shoulder with one hand and knocked a flattened cigarette box from her knee, along with other, unidentifiable rubbish. “Ten out of ten for getting us out of a tricky situation, but minus several million for moving us in time.”

Alec blinked several times, trying to clear the fuzziness from his vision, while the world heaved itself to the left again. “
What
?”

“Time,” Darius snapped. “The past, the present, the future. It's changed.” He angrily pulled out his orb again.

“Alec can move time?” Riley wiped a shaky hand over her pale face and gave Alec a dark look. “That's stupid. No one can–”

“No.” Darius grimaced. “Time doesn't move around. We did. He transported us back by several hours, if I calculated it correctly. And it's a serious problem.”

Alec gave his head a shake to clear it but it didn't help. Darius wasn't making much sense and the sick feeling churning inside wasn't making paying attention any easier.

“Serious? Why?” Riley pulled her hand from Darius' grip. She warily took a step away from him and nearly toppled over.

“Reliving time you've already spent goes against all the laws of nature. You start all sorts of paths that go nowhere. It's a fundamental rule that cannot be broken. Ever.” Darius turned to face Alec. The knuckles that gripped his orb were white. “I don't care how you did it, or why, Alec. But you can never do it again. There are rules that
cannot
be broken. The consequences are unimaginable. Promise me, never again.”

Alec shrugged. He felt so awful that it didn't much matter what Darius was yakking on about. He'd just panicked in the bunker and for an instant desperately prayed to go anywhere, before this had all started. He hadn't actually
done
anything.

“Alec,” Darius cut into his thoughts, “promise me.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Alec swallowed the bile at the back of his throat. He tried to take a deep breath but the alley's foul odour made him gag.

“We're in trouble, in case you need a reminder,” Darius continued. “The bunker was infiltrated, several of your fellow Potentials are probably dead, Anna is out of reach and Peter has been taken.”

“Huh?” Alec raised his head. “Whaddya mean? Who's dead?”

“Jake and Mohammed.”

“What about Mary Beth and the other girl?” Riley rubbed her hands over her arms and shivered as she took stock of their surroundings.

“Gone with Anna. I hope. Gino too.” Darius walked down the alleyway, looking closely at the walls, the doors and the fire escape.

Alec thought back over the last harrowing moments in the bunker. Darius and Anna's increasing desperation. His feeling of uninformed helplessness. The glittering air that winked into existence right in front of him and his growing dread as it reached closer and closer. Peter had put his arm right through it.

“Where'd Peter go?” Alec gasped.

“Rhozan has him,” Darius called from the farthest end of the alley.

The air whooshed out of Alec's lungs. “How?”

Darius strode back. “Rips are openings in the time/space continuum. A portal of some kind between our dimension and theirs. The Others can sense them. They wait for one to open and either empty their life force through into your world, manipulating the people they contact for their own pleasure, or they pull someone through. One opened up inside the bunker and Peter fell into it. Or was pulled.”

Where on earth was a different dimension? How was he going to tell his mom? “How'll we get him back?”

“Good question.” Darius ran his fingers through his hair. “No one's ever come back. I mean, we can sense them in there, we've just got no idea how to reach them.”

Alec slowly pulled himself to his feet, careful not to meet anyone's eyes. He leaned over, bracing his hands on his knees, and waited for the vertigo to pass, while Darius headed towards the street.

There was nothing else to do. Whatever idiocy Darius was saying would probably sort itself later. Right now he had to figure out where they were and get back home. Alec followed Darius' footsteps to the alley entrance. The road in front of him was completely unfamiliar. They were downtown somewhere, but the buildings were lower than those of inner-city Toronto and Alec had the impression that the ground was sloping away from him. A bike messenger whizzed by and two women, both pulling heavy carryalls, slowly meandered past. There was an unfamiliar tang in the air.

“No matter how far you run, you can never quite leave home,” Riley said to no one in particular.

Darius sighed. “We're going to have to get something to eat and think about transportation.”

“A bus is cheapest,” Alec said before thinking. He blushed. Only losers took the bus.

“Do either of you have any money?” Darius asked.

Alec didn't have to check his pockets. “Five bucks. That's it.”

Riley didn't answer.

“Riley?” Darius asked.

“You're the one who's organizing this picnic. You pay.”

Darius gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Fine. Come on.” He turned left and led them down to the end of the block. A blinking traffic light warned non-existent traffic. Darius stopped, looked both ways and stepped off the curb. Riley was already halfway across. Alec, still feeling muddled, trudged behind them. The road they crossed headed downward at a steep angle. There were several more streets parallel to the one he was walking along, a traffic light at each, and at the bottom, several blocks away, the tantalizing glimpse of water.

This was not Toronto.

Riley was speaking. Alec hurried to catch up with her but it was difficult on such wobbling legs.

“The airport is really far out of town. About forty kilometres from here. A taxi will cost a bomb.”

“And the bus station?” asked Darius.

“Have no idea. I never take the bus. You can get the train, but it's pricey and will take awhile,” Riley said.

“Airfare is out of the question,” Darius sighed. “Guardians don't have unlimited monetary funds. And even if I did, I doubt Alec has identification on him sufficient for air travel. Wasn't there a tightening of restrictions several years ago? I had a memo on it.”

“A memo.” Riley smirked. “Alien invaders hand out memos. Puh-lease.”

“Blending seamlessly into the surrounding environment is essential, hence the use of simulations and extensive investigation. Field agents are constantly updating cultural information.”

“You have field agents here. In Halifax,” Riley snorted, without breaking her stride.

“Well, not here exactly. But several in Canada. Wherever there's a Tyon training centre, there are field agents, gathering information, keeping our records up to date.”

Alec startled.
Halifax
? That meant the water was the ocean. Cool. He loved the Pacific.

“Atlantic Ocean, Alec,” Darius said, before turning his attention back to Riley. “Once a planet is deemed possible, the Collective establishes bases and operatives to collect information, introduce the resistor and monitor the situation.”

“What's a resistor? What are you guys monitoring here, anyway?” Riley stopped walking and stood, feet wide apart. Her hands went to her hips. “Just what are you introducing to my planet?”

“We're monitoring for the Others.”

“Uh-huh.” Riley's eyes narrowed. “Right. You're here as protectors, keeping the intergalactic peace.”

Darius beamed. “You catch on quick. Most struggle with this concept for several weeks.”

Riley gave Darius a quick shove. “That was sarcasm, idiot.”

Darius frowned. “I have trouble with sarcasm.”

Alec was trying to follow the conversation, but there were so many questions. Did the Tyon Collective really travel around the galaxy and hide on unsuspecting worlds, keeping an eye out for trouble? Was that what Darius was going to train them for? And why wasn't Riley even a bit concerned that his brother had just been sucked into the enemy's whatever-it-was? He rubbed at a rapidly building ache across his forehead and prayed not to throw up.

“The resistor. What's that?” Riley called over her shoulder as she strode down the hill.

Darius set off behind her but he didn't answer the question immediately. Alec wasn't sure if he looked embarrassed or merely reluctant.

“The resistor is the genetic mutation that allows humans and humanoids to resist the mind control the Others employ. It's a natural genetic aberration on some planets, and has to be introduced into the humans on others.”

Riley stopped again abruptly. Darius nearly walked into her. For a moment she looked puzzled, then her eyes blazed. “And just
how
is it introduced?”

Alec took a step backwards. Riley might be small, but the look she gave Darius could slice concrete into ribbons. Darius didn't seem to notice. Either that or he was completely oblivious for his personal safety. “Interbreeding,” he said blithely.

Riley's nostrils flared. “Are you telling me that you aliens have bred with humans on this planet, just to insert some kind of
thing
into our genes?”

Darius nodded. “It takes several generations to dis-seminate and strengthen. We didn't know if we'd have enough time for maximum genetic penetration before the Others arrived. We figured they'd be interested in this world; it was only a matter of time. We'd hoped for enough time to protect you but it seems we miscalculated. It's too late.”

R
iley's heart was pounding so hard she could barely hear herself think. Of all the arrogant, high-handed, infuriatingly condescending things she'd ever heard, that one took the cake.

And now Darius had brought them back to Halifax, a city she'd only just escaped a few days ago. Alec of course hadn't done it. He was just a kid. A lanky, scruffy, kind of good-looking kid. That she did
not
find attractive.

Infuriated, she whirled on her heel, crossing the street without looking. This was
ridiculous
. She wouldn't believe a word of it. She was heading for the bookstore at the bottom of the road and she was going to walk in and bully Bjorn into letting her sit in the storeroom until her father came to get her. Darius and Alec could take a long walk off a short pier.

“You appear annoyed, and I grant that you may have reason, but–” Darius started. Riley didn't let him finish.

“Reason? I might have reason?” Her voice got higher with every word. “Look, buddy boy, you might think that you're God's gift to this planet, you and your alien friends, but I do not, I repeat, do not, like having my DNA fooled around with. Especially without my permission.”

“What's he done with your DNA?” asked Alec, who was half-running to keep up with them.

“You'd be one of them, if we hadn't,” Darius retorted. “And, I'm not an alien.”

“Them?”

“Look around you, Riley. They're sheep, ready to be slaughtered. They can't stop him; they can't even put up a fight. You can. Is that what you want, to lie down and die, without even having a chance?”

Riley stomped around the corner onto the main street and headed straight for the first shop door, set back between two huge plate-glass windows filled to the brim with books. The door didn't budge when Riley grasped the brass door handle and yanked hard. She kicked the bottom of the door in frustration, but other than bruising her toe, nothing happened. She banged on the wooden rim of the door with her fist.

“It's closed,” Alec offered.

“Yeah, good one, Sherlock,” Riley snapped. She cupped her hands together on the glass and leaned in for a closer look.

Darius leaned against the doorjamb, one eyebrow raised and his arms crossed. He nodded towards the window display. “Got an overwhelming need to read about lighthouses?”

“I have a friend here,” Riley muttered, her voice muted from speaking against the glass.

The heavy door suddenly opened.

“I thought you'd left for Deborah's place?” The tall, bushy-eyebrowed man looked at Riley with mild interest. He had a clipped accent, bony wrists that protruded inches from the sleeves of his shirt and the fair, ruddy skin of someone from a very northern climate.

“I did.” Riley barged into the warm, musty interior of the bookstore. The overpoweringly familiar scent nearly brought her to tears. “Can I use your phone, Bjorn?”

“Ya. If you can get the damn thing working. Nadine has done something with the answering machine again.” Bjorn turned to her companions. “Aren't you going to introduce your friends?”

Riley had half a mind to tell her former boss that neither Darius nor Alec were friends in any way, shape or form, but the words never left her lips. Darius was staring at her, one eyebrow sardonically raised, almost daring her to denounce him, and Alec was still shuffling awkwardly on the sidewalk.

“Darius Finn and Alec Somebody-or-other. Just met them,” Riley muttered. She took in a deep breath and plunked herself down on a small wooden chair sandwiched between two towering stacks of hard-covers.

Darius and Bjorn shook hands briefly. Alec slouched into the store and gave Bjorn a brief nod. Riley rolled her eyes.

“Want me to look at the answering machine?” she asked.

Bjorn shook his head. He sat down on the edge of a high wooden stool, his long legs crossed in front of him. He placed a pipe between his lips and surveyed his company with mild interest. “I took you to the train station. Changed your mind and want to go to the wedding after all?”

Riley shuddered. “Not in this lifetime.”

“Then what happened?”

The words rushed into Riley's mouth but oddly she couldn't say them. She'd known Bjorn for years, ever since he'd hired her to stack shelves and answer the phone. Bjorn had been the silent, dependable rock in her stormy waters and she'd grown more fond of him than perhaps she'd thought. Still, would he believe a word about alien invasions and her new “special status”? Would anyone?

A high-pitched whine emanated from the back of the shop. Bjorn slid off his stool. “Got to get that fax. Be right back.” He headed down an aisle of cluttered shelving.

Darius appeared at Riley's elbow. “So, you spent all your spare time in a bookstore. A life-changing pastime.”

Riley bristled. “If there's anything more important in this world than books, I haven't heard about it.”

“World peace?” Darius grinned. “Global warming?”

“Shut up,” said Riley.

Darius meandered a short distance away, chuckling under his breath. Bjorn returned with several papers in hand. He dropped them onto the counter by the cash register before strolling over to Darius' side.

“Interested in sailing?” Bjorn asked politely, eyeing the glossy coffee-table book, which Darius was slowly flipping through.

“You own a boat?” Darius asked casually.

“Motor,” said Bjorn. “Gave up sailing years ago.” He raised his shoulders in a fatalistic shrug. “Arthritis. Runs in the family. Still, gets me out on the water, ya?”

Darius put the book down. He reached into his jacket pocket with one hand and laid the other on Bjorn's long arm. “I would love to go out on your boat,” he said.

Bjorn smiled. “I'd be happy to take you. Now if you wish.”

Goosebumps sprang to life up and down Riley's neck. Bjorn
never
invited
anyone
onto his boat.

“Right now would be good. Maybe,” Darius glanced over at Alec, “we could pick up some food. Have a picnic on board.”

Bjorn headed back to the small office at the back of his store. His voice was muffled as he partially closed the door to reach his windbreaker. “There's a convenience store on the way.”

Without another word he left the store. Alec fell in behind without a look at either at them.

Darius waited at the door. “Coming, Riley?”

“No, I'm not. I don't know how you managed to make him agree to take you on his boat, but I'm not going.”

“Afraid, are you? I can easily use the same, er, influence on you as I did on him.” His eyes narrowed. “Want to try it?”

“Go ahead.” Riley crossed her arms. She was
so
not going.

Darius pulled out the orb from his jacket pocket and cradled it in the palm of his hand. Sunlight caught the inner refractions and danced within. Grinning, he held it out towards her. Riley's heart thudded but she didn't move an inch from the counter. Those glass balls had no power over her, no matter what he might think.

“Riley,” Darius crooned, “come with us.”

The words wrapped themselves around her. Stroked, caressed, tugged.

“You will come with us, Riley,” Darius said, a bit louder, his smile more feral than pleasant.

Invisible coils tightened themselves around her, pulling her towards him. She tried to shake off the feeling, actually shaking physically to do it. It wouldn't budge. In fact, it was getting stronger.

“You want to.” Darius took a step closer. The orb seemed to pulse with a faint radiance.

“I don't,” Riley muttered. The glow got stronger. She couldn't tear her eyes away. This couldn't be happening.

“Oh, you do.” Another step closer. “You will. The more you resist me, the stronger I'll make the command. Do you know what that means, Riley?” Another step. “Do you? You'll do everything I say. The control will be absolute.”

Riley tried to pull her eyes from the unearthly light that enveloped her, mesmerizing her into inactivity. “Stop it, Darius,” she whispered.

“Want to be under my complete and absolute power, sweet?” Darius was now close enough for her to count the freckles flung across his nose. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Tell me to stop, Riley. Go on. I dare you.”

It took all she had, but she managed to croak, “Stop.”

Darius gave a cold little laugh. He stepped back and dropped the orb into his pocket. Riley's legs began to shake.

“The orb permits me to expand the scope of my desires,” he said conversationally, as if the last few moments hadn't happened. “My will, subjugating yours. It's a neat trick. I can teach it to you if you want.”

Riley shoved past him, darting out the door into the sun, where the world still spun on its normal axis and non-alien people were now wandering up and down a totally normal, non-alien street. She walked as fast as her legs would go. The heavy glass door shut firmly behind her and she knew that it was Darius' footsteps that were quickly catching up behind her, but she didn't turn to check. When Darius arrived at her side, she ignored him.

That had been truly frightening. She'd barely managed to hold onto her control. If he tried it again, could she resist him?

Most shops were still not open, but more cars had appeared, and delivery trucks, diesel engines belching fumes, idled here and there. She glanced at her watch, grimacing in annoyance. The digital readout was blank. She yanked her cellphone from her pocket and thumbed the on switch. Nothing.

“Electric things don't teleport well,” Darius said.

She frowned but kept silent. He might think he'd won, the smug alien creep, but he hadn't. She was not going to get on Bjorn's boat. She was going to go home. She just needed change for a public telephone, if there were any anymore.

She ducked into the convenience store on the corner. It was more of a mini market than anything, she remembered, selling fruit and vegetables and cans of single-serving prepared foods for people who couldn't cook. Bjorn was already piling a hand-held basket with bread and cheese and fruit. Alec was loading up his arms with several jumbo bags of potato chips. He gave a sharp “hey” as Darius plucked all but one from him.

“Healthy food equals a healthy body,” Darius said, dropping the chip bags onto a shelf before sweeping over to the dairy case.

Within minutes they were leaving, a veritable feast divided into three white plastic bags swinging from Alec's hands. Darius was holding his orb, Riley noted, as they turned towards the ocean and proceeded along the wooden boardwalk, away from the historic section of town. Just seeing him holding it made her uncomfortable.

She hadn't gotten change for the phone while in the store. She just couldn't seem to make herself go up to the counter and speak to the cashier. The female clerk watched Darius hungrily from the moment they entered the little store to the moment they left. She hadn't even noticed Alec swiping a chocolate bar. Darius, the swine, had encouraged her, grinning winsomely, winking and giving her the kind of long smoldering looks found in romance novels. Riley stalked out of the store, infuriated.

She still had her wallet, and there were a couple of credit cards her father had arranged for her, just before she left, as well as a few twenties and at least one loonie. She could grab a taxi, if she saw one, and get home. The housekeeper would let her in.

Darius was walking directly beside her, within arm's length, rolling his orb around carelessly in his hand, and staring with unabashed interest at the harbour. But his lack of attention towards her was a ruse. When she tripped slightly over an uneven boardwalk slat, his hand was at her elbow, gripping her almost before she'd even noticed she'd stumbled. And they both knew he was waiting for her to bolt.

Around them, seabirds cried and wheeled overhead. Joggers sweated past and a constant parade of mothers, babes in strollers, trundled by. The day was already warming, despite the early hour. It would be blisteringly hot in a few hours.

In front of her, Bjorn and Alec were chatting away about motors as if they'd known each other for years. She tuned the conversation out, concentrating instead on her plan. If she couldn't talk to anyone and get money for the phone because Darius had put some kind of weird voodoo hex on her, well then, she'd have to think of something else.

And soon. The marina was only a block away.