Essentially Human (11 page)

He studied a picture on the mantel. The male looked like Agent Montgomery. At each side stood a woman. He had arms around their shoulders. One looked up at him with a smile while the other grinned at the camera. Other photos included the women with children and two other men. He assumed they were family.

Examining the photo carefully, he noted similarities between the three adults and thought they were siblings. He hoped, for Ria’s sake, that Sam Montgomery had no mate. From what he’d read of human interactions, sharing a male wasn’t common. The thought of his ship without the humans caused him to frown, but he wanted what was best for N’sila. Montgomery brought her a sense of connection she’d been missing. Milaar had spoken to him about the changes in the woman. They viewed them as positive.

Humans didn’t belong in the ocean and he knew this. But their presence had sparked such a sense of life and because of Ria, they had reached past more than a century of passive existence to take an active part in the life of this planet. He hoped the more settled Aleena in the caverns would accept the things he’d done. Not to mention those he planned.

Even if they didn’t, the information they’d uncovered of Alfred Hammer the Third and how he, and a handful of other powerful people, had led human society to the brink of disaster, would be released. T’talin felt pride in his people and all they’d accomplished in the last few weeks. He had no doubt that given a chance, they could save this planet and its inhabitants. All of them.

He took a seat, pulling a book from a shelf and began to read. He’d promised to wait for Sam’s return and he would. The scout ship floated, safe from human eyes, at the end of the dock.

As she entered the dark cabin, Hermione wanted to jump at every shadow, worried at what waited. What if nothing were here? She’d have to find a way to talk Sam into finding psychiatric help. As impossible as the thought of underwater aliens seemed, she preferred that to Sam being crazy.

“T’talin?” Sam softly called out.

“I am here, reading.”

“In the dark?”

“It isn’t dark for me.”

Great. Someone with a sense of humor. But he didn’t sound alien. Wait, what did an alien sound like?

Sam struck a match and lit a kerosene lantern. As it flared to life, she saw a figure standing near the mantel. He moved forward and Hermione took a breath. This was just a man. Her hand slid back to her holster, only to find Sam had anticipated her move. “Just wait. Trust me.”

She let her hand drop.

Ria rushed forward to embrace the figure. “Don’t abandon me, please. Can’t you leave me with a scout until you get back?”

He pushed her away, but with tenderness, and looked into her face. “No. It wouldn’t be safe for the scout or for you. He’ll know what to look for. I trust Sam. You can do this. You are strong and brave.”

“I don’t feel strong and brave.” Ria sighed, still radiating uncertainty, and slid onto a chair, to the side of this T’talin.

He held a hand out to her. “I assume you’re Agent Montgomery’s associate. I believe it is customary to shake hands?”

She reached out and clasped his hand, then the odd texture of the hand registered. “I’m Agent Hermione Bales.” She restrained herself from jerking her arm back. Instead, she raised their joined hands to her face and looked carefully. A shadow moved beneath the skin, a hint of sinews and odd colored veins.

Her face rose and she saw him watching her as closely.

Sam stood at her side. “Show her, T’talin. Just enough to convince her.”

Show her what?

That face softened, as if the skin slumped. Eye sockets widened and the iris shifted from round to that of a manta ray she’d once seen in an aquarium. The lips thinned and ears receded as the nose sank to a bare bump.

She blinked and dropped his…its…hand.

“T’talin is a gifted mimic, but it’s mostly a visual thing. He still moves too smooth for a two legged walk and if agitated the segments of his body that make up the limbs are obvious. What you feel under his fingers are tendrils, or small tentacles if you like.” Sam put a hand at her back. “You going to be okay?”

“The first creatures they saw were cephalopods and the form was close enough to their natural form, they adapted it.” Ria leaned forward and rested her head on his…its…thigh.

“It is important that you believe I am what I say I am. Do you need more proof?” T’talin asked her directly.

She nodded, not entirely convinced she wasn’t simply hallucinating in the poor light. He pulled the loose shirt he was wearing off and handed it to Ria. “Save this for yourself.”

He dropped the pants he was wearing and she took a step backward as two thighs merged into a single limb with multiple tentacles below that. She’s seen a pouch where genitals would be for a human but it disappeared under shifting skin. She felt faint. Sam eased her back to a chair. T’talin turned his back on her and she watched a ridge of smaller tentacles rise from his spine.

“You believe me now?” Sam squatted to meet her eyes.

She swallowed, then blinked several times. With a nod, she agreed. This was an alien.

“Where did you come from?”

“A planet very far away. We were part of a fleet, seeking a new home. Our ship was old and we drifted too close to your moon. The gravity caught us and we managed to land with enough damage to see us marooned in the Atlantic Ocean. We sank and survived. The rest of the fleet continued on, considering us lost. We’ve been here over two centuries.”

“Damn it, Sam. He’s an alien life form.”

“What was your first clue?” Sam chuckled.

Ria stood and with a deep sigh touched T’talin’s arm.
Arm?
“I’ll walk you to the scout.”

“Thank you. Agent Hermione Bales, I entrust to you and Agent Montgomery the care of this woman, Ria. She is special. Guard her well.” He nodded and moved toward the back of the cabin. Ria walked with him.

Hermione took a deep breath and met Sam’s eyes. “Got something to drink?”

He smiled. “It’s really very exciting.”

“Yeah, it is. I have so many questions, I just don’t know where to begin. Why is he leaving?”

“Needs to get his ship to a safe place. This sonar tool Hammer wants to test must be the device he’s threatening them with. Let’s look through the stuff you brought. I have some gold and silver I’d like you to convert into funds and deposit in the credit line you established for Ria. What name is on the ID?”

“Sam, get me a drink.”

“Oh, sure. I think Jake left some scotch.”

“That would be good.” She picked up the backpack and began to pull stuff from it. She set a small purse aside and waited for her drink. “She is Rita Ash. You are William Ash. Figured making you man and wife would be easiest.”

Aliens. Real aliens. Drum would be so jealous!

Ria watched T’talin slip into the water and sighed. A tear ran down her face and for a few minutes she allowed herself to just feel the upwelling of being abandoned. At least it felt real. And human. She looked up at the sky and found the Big Dipper. Such a big cosmos and she was so very, very small. Her momentary panic in the cabin disturbed her. She trusted Sam, but the immensity of finding herself again on land overwhelmed her.

Finally, she wrapped arms around herself and turned back to the cabin. Inside, she found Sam and Agent Hermione discussing the next step. She stood listening for a moment before interrupting. “If T’talin has enough information to bury him, why not release it immediately and be done with all of this?”

Sam held up a hand. “Please, sit down.”

Her suspicious aroused, she shook her head. “No. Explain.”

He took a deep breath. “T’talin said you knew J’jas and Gado.”

Her heart began to beat faster. “Yes, the lost scout ship. What about it?”

He turned to Hermione. “Three years ago, the Aleena sent one of the small scout ships to the shore, to meet Hammer. He wanted them to work on a new communication system for the Navy. He claimed the pair sent never arrived and the window of opportunity to test the device closed. T’talin and the rest mourned the loss of the two young Aleena and put it behind them.”

“But?” Ria set her hands at the back of the chair next to Hermione.

“They broke through a computer firewall a few days ago that alluded to an experiment on alien DNA. Tissues, blood. They are still searching through his records for more information. They need time to escape this new weapon and find out more. We have to remain free and keep him looking. Hermione is going to drop just enough clues to interest him. We’re also going to visit the marine research facilities he’s involved with.”

At the words
tissue, blood
, she felt her energy soar into a bright anger and fury. Her head sagged. “I. Don’t want. To sleep.”

Sam stood and quickly moved to her side. “Don’t fight it right now. You can’t just turn this sort of programming around overnight. I will help you, Ria.”

She sagged and Hermione turned to catch her as the strength in her legs failed. Her head sagged and rested on the blonde’s lap. “I knew them!” A sob tore through her. “He killed them?”

“Or worse.” He squatted and stroked her hair. “Ria. I swear, I will help you learn how to deal with your anger. Together. But right now isn’t the time. It’s all right, sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“What is going on?” Hermione touched her. Ria found the comfort being offered sweet, but she still couldn’t fight off the sudden need to sleep.

She battled the sense of exhaustion, not wanting to succumb, no matter what Sam said. She listened to him explain to Hermione.

“It took them seven years to repair the physical damage she did herself when she jumped. The emotional trauma wasn’t something they knew how to deal with. So they set triggers in her. Before they found a way to damper them, the fear, anger, rage, and sadness drove her to self-destructive behavior. They did the only thing they could think of. When facing strong emotions, she sleeps and wakes with them gone.”

With a final sob, she sank into the fog Sam spoke of. She understood why they did it, but feared she’d never be able to leave it behind.

He picked her up and she managed a last mutter. “You’ll help…me?”

“Yes. Ria, I promise.”

“Kay…” She surrendered and let go.

Hermione watched Sam return to the table, the few candles he’d lit provided a softer illumination than the larger kerosene lantern he’d snuffed. He sighed as he took a chair. She’d known him for years, but this was the first time she’d seen him look preoccupied with a woman. For a long time, she’d thought he was gay, or perhaps very religious.

But it appeared Sam’s crust had cracked. And by a woman who might not be fully human. Great. She spread her hands on wooden surface and smiled crookedly at him. “She draws out the therapist in you. Which is a degree I didn’t realize you had until Drum mentioned it. You’re a PhD?”

“Yes, but that was a long time ago. Another life. I was recruited out of private practice and never looked back.”

“Until now.”

“Okay, you got me. But that isn’t important right now. Did anyone attempt to follow you?”

Nice that he assumed it was an attempt. She nodded. “I covered my tracks. Not to worry, no one stayed on my tail. I’m not in my car, used some contacts to cover my back.”

“I know.” He eyed her and she saw a bare smile at the corner of his lips. “Professor, I know you have resources in the deep underground. So does Drum. I don’t. And I need them. I’m not sure when I’ll be heading north. I want to make sure Ria is ready to enter the modern world.”

“Right. How are you going to prepare her for that?” Hermione pulled a tablet out of her bag and began to make a list. “I don’t have names, but I have a process to get help. I…I already made mention of new evidence coming to light. Put out an alert that the source of the Shakes cure would need some help. I’m sure the network is ready. You knew?”

“Of course.” He held up a hand as she began to speak again. “No, there is no evidence. I’m observant. So is Drum.”

“Okay. First is a number from Admiral Jenkins. He said it would be good once. He also suggested the estate of Celeste Prichard. I don’t know if you plan on going that far north.”

“Unlikely, but I may eventually need somewhere to stash Ria.” He took the paper she handed him, glanced at it, then folded and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

They watched each other for nearly a minute, comfortable with the silence. She studied him, liking the look of the longer hair. It softened his features. She could imagine he noticed how much weight she’d lost and how tired she appeared. It had been a rough time.

Finally, he broke the silence. “You must have questions.”

“Of course. How did you react to the aliens? You’d written that you were injured, but what did you think initially?”

“That is was quite an elaborate bit of play acting. But it didn’t take long for me to realize I simply wasn’t important enough to stage something so involved. They are real. And quite remarkable, H. I believe this planet is going to change drastically once they feel safe to reveal themselves.” He leaned back. “Their learning curve is virtually non-existent. Shown something once, they are able to extrapolate at a pace I’ve never seen before.”

“And you are certain they have no mercenary interest in humanity?” That had always been the greatest debate when it came to alien species. She could remember discussions when she’d been at university. After decades of working for Homeland Security, she assumed everyone had avaricious motives. But she also trusted Sam. He’d been her mentor when she’d joined the team. If he believed in the Aleena, she would.

He nodded. “I do. It’s difficult to explain…but you’ve seen him. Imagine a civilization that has existed in our oceans for two centuries and never been detected. Never came forth to meddle. And they were terribly innocent and trusting. Three generations of Hammer’s have taken advantage of that aspect of their species.”

“What is next?” She’d examine her personal reactions to T’talin on her drive home. Right now she needed to talk strategy with her boss. Period.

“A few days here, then we begin checking out the marine research facilities that Hammer has an interest in.”

“How can you check them out without breaking in?” She didn’t want to see him in more trouble than he was at present.

“T’talin gave me a tool to ascertain if there were any Aleena present. He also intimated that Ria would be helpful, but I didn’t have the chance to ask the particulars. I assume her years with them left her with some sensitivity.” He tapped his ear. “I also have a filter that homes my hearing a great deal. If I focus.”

She sighed. “All right. I assume you’ll use public access to the internet for contact? In the game chat room?”

“When available. They also upgraded my cell phone to a degree I barely comprehend. It won’t register on the security registry, but I’ll be circumspect with using it. I don’t want to risk any tags on your computer.”

“Good idea. I scan it regularly, but we try to stay off the network to be safe. We meet at Drum’s for a weekly card game.”

“Get his son out of Hammer’s grasp, H. It isn’t safe.” He frowned. “Jermaine is brilliant but he’d never dealt with a sociopath like this.”

“Sociopath? Really?”

“I believe so. Narcissistic to a degree I’ve seldom encountered. And probably paranoid. If Jermaine pokes around, he’ll be discovered and hurt. Or killed at the drop of a hat. I don’t want Drum to face that.”

“I’ll see to it, ASAP.” She drew a deep breath. “What about this woman, you’re going to play spy while holding her hand?”

“I promised T’talin to keep her close. She’s very intelligent and we’re not going anywhere undercover work is needed. And I need…I want…” He seemed uncertain of what he wanted to say.

She could read the writing on the wall, even if he couldn’t.  “Uh huh. Be careful, boss. Sentiment could trip you up.”

He pushed his chair away. “I think I need to keep her close. Not just for her sake. She sharpens my thinking with her questions. It’s like she turned the switch and reinvigorated the therapist in me. I’d like to deposit her with Dr. Jarveski for analysis. Perhaps when this is over.”

“From what you said, that could be a long time. Jarveski retired and is living in Boston. I need to get back on the road, Sam.” She stood. He walked with her to the door then paused.

“Let me make certain Ria is settled and I’ll get you back to your car.”

“You said she is programmed to sleep.” H. tilted her head at him.

“Yes, but she can sleep walk. I’ll secure the door and window and we’ll be quick.” He hurried into the darkened hallways.

When he returned she noted his shaking head. “What?”

“I found her crumpled in the hallway. Probably tried to get close enough to hear our discussion. She is desperate to not be kept out of things.” He snorted. “Her determination is noteworthy considering she spent over fifteen years oblivious to the comings and goings of the surface world.” He kept talking as they walked. “She didn’t know about San Diego. Or the continual state of emergency America has lived under. She didn’t understand what the Shakes had caused. The Aleena, concerned for her emotional equilibrium, kept her ignorant.”

Hermione listened, hearing what her boss didn’t acknowledge. Ria was a major risk to his staying free. She left him at the edge of the street after trying one more time to convince him to leave her with someone else.

But he refused. “She’s my responsibility, H. I know how to keep both of us safe. Make sure Harold stays undercover and Jermaine gets his ass home. In fact, Drum’s wife and son should get out of the country. Go visit his daughter in France.”

The look on his face, shadowed by the one working streetlight near them, chilled her. And she left convinced he knew more about the dark core of Hammer then she did. Returning to the tiny town, already closed up tight for the night, reminded her of why she joined the service. To keep places like this secure.

Instead, that concern had been used to command blind obedience from her for the sake of men like Hammer. She wondered how the population of small town America would react to aliens living in the oceans. With a sigh, she admitted there was no way to tell. Might simply shrug and not care, and they might demand they be rooted out. So much depended on how paranoid her country had been turned by the machinations of fifty years.

Her parents still clung to the hope for peace and acceptance. She smiled to herself, they probably shared the idealism of Rachel Aster and would understand the despair that saw her jump from that ship. She’d remember to ask them next time they visited.

Sam returned to the cabin to find Ria struggling with a hard dream, her fists clenched, her jaw muscles rigid and the lines on her face etched deep. He closed the house down, made certain locks were in place, then joined her. There were other rooms, but he wouldn’t rest unless he could soothe her and keep her calmed.

He pulled the covers over her and lay down, drawing her into his arms. He ran a finger down the crease between her eyes. “Let it go, Ria. It will get better. Let it go. It’s all right…” He murmured words he wasn’t entirely certain of until she relaxed, growing limp against him.

Sleep took it’s time in allowing him entry.

The light shone through the small window, high up on the wall when he woke up. Ria wasn’t in the room. He climbed from the bed and went in search, still wearing the baggy shorts from the ship. The door facing the bay was open, letting the chilling morning air into the cabin. He grabbed his jacket from the nearby chair and stepped outside. The trail led down to the small wooden pier they’d arrived at. And there he found Ria. She wore the oversized shirt T’talin had left her and stood motionless, staring out at the sun, a huge orange ball breaking through bands of clouds. It was a spectacular sunrise. He watched her raise her hands out to her sides then slowly upward until they met above her head. For a moment, he though she prepared to dive into the icy cold water, but instead, she lifted one foot, posed it on the inside of the opposite thigh and he recognized a tai chi pose.

She moved from one position to another, carefully lifting her feet instead of risking them on the rough wood. He held the jacket, finding her movements mesmerizing. The sounds of the water, softly lapping at the pier, the waking birds and the rustling of leaves harmonized with her.

He swallowed. She was a beautiful woman. He’d thought her facial features striking when he’d watched the video, but hadn’t acknowledged her attractiveness until now. Certainly, his body responded to her generous curves and he knew an empathetic connection had been forged between them. But now, he watched her as an artist might study a model. He inhaled deeply, setting this moment of peace into his memory. And he’d make certain she remembered it.

The next step on this adventure could carry so much horror and sorrow—if T’talin’s people had truly discovered the fate of the two young Aleena.

She bowed her head, going still again before turning away from the sunrise. She started, seeing him standing on the shore. Then smiled and walked to him.

He held out the jacket to her and she took it, slipping it on with a nod. He filled the awkward silence. “I never observed you doing tai chi back on the ship.”

“I didn’t remember I could do that. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? But until I stood there and saw the sun rise…suddenly, I knew the steps. I think I used to do it regularly.” She shivered. “I’m sorry if my sleep last night disturbed you. Did you have to hold me all night?”

“No, just in the beginning until you settled down. But you are awake, and it was only for a few hours. Perhaps the conditioning is wearing off?”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel rested, but some distance was gained from the news you spoke of last night.” She pushed the hair off her face. “Can we go back to the hamburger place for breakfast?”

He chuckled. “How about some real bacon and eggs?”

He put his arm around her shoulders and urged her back to the cabin. “We’ll go back to Smiley’s later, I promise.”

The routine helped her settle down. He spent a good deal of time tinkering on the tablet computer Hermione had brought him while Ria wandered the shore, growing more comfortable with the feel of shoes on her feet again after so long.

He showed her several magazines on the tablet and she studied the photos, read articles and would question him about social trends. She found the music clubs in the larger cities fascinating.  “Are these venues only for recorded music? Not live?”

“Very few performances are live. The threat to such crowds…” He stopped and sighed. “There are very few concert arenas that are willing to risk the exposure of the public. There are perhaps a dozen across the country. The recorded clubs help to fill the gap. The acoustics and experience rivals that of live music.”

She snorted. “I doubt it. Live music contains the potential for unique moments and human interaction.”

She’d still like to visit them.

One in particular appealed to her. Music from the early part of the century. The music she’d always found easiest to write to. Ria didn’t concern herself with the thought of writing again, but she did want to remember what it felt like to immerse herself in the emotions of the music, using it to write. Details of her books remained distant, but the sensation and connections rose when she lay down, trying to sleep.

After several nights, she gave up insisting Sam take the other bedroom. If he weren’t there, she couldn’t fall asleep.

She enjoyed spending time outdoors and most days she sat on the large logs along the shore. She sometimes stared out at the water and the sky, but often as not, she’d sit with her back to the water and study the trees. Familiarizing herself with green and growing things again proved enjoyable. She’d watch birds flit from branch to branch. Or squirrels, which made her laugh. Once or twice she saw deer and sat, mesmerized by their beauty.