The Quantum Objective (13 page)

‘Thank you. It’s amazing. Will you help me?’ She gave him the necklace and lifted the hair from her nape.
‘Cool. My turn! I don’t think he can wait any longer.’ Galen dove for his container.
‘Hey, it’s supposed to be a surprise. So much for sound proofing the material.’ Khoen’s eyes never left Beth’s face. She pulled on a smile, but under his gaze it felt translucent.
Galen lifted the lid on his gift and a ball of grey fur filled the air with frantic yaps.
‘It’s a Husky. I thought you might enjoy a friend.’ Khoen smiled then froze as Galen flung small arms around his waist. Confusion crunched into awkward pats on Galen’s slight shoulders. Beth clamped her fingers over her mouth to crush back tears.
Galen withdrew, nearly falling backwards over the frantic puppy. He placed his palms over its snout and it instantly stilled, ears pricked. It growled and crouched on his haunches. Galen laughed and rolled him onto his back tickling his stomach. Khoen looked down at them. Beth’s hand slipped of its own volition into his, relief running up her arm as his warm palm pressed into hers. She tried not to look at him, fixing her gaze on Galen.
I must resist him. Her side pressed against his.
How am I ever going to get away if my body won’t let me? Why can’t anything in my life be simple? Just once. One time. Is that so much to ask, really? What the…
Beth was jerked backward. Khoen had a vice grip on her arm as he pushed her behind him. The yelps of delight had changed into choking grunts.
‘Galen!’ Beth’s heart pounded as the room echoed squeals of pain. ‘Let me go!’
She instantly fell to the floor with a painful thump and whipped round to see Galen holding down an enormous mound of thrashing grey fur. The snarls rattled through her soul as they grew in savagery.
What the hell are you doing, Galen?
The noise stopped. Now only heavy panting filled the space around them. Beth, still at Khoen’s feet watched Galen raise flushed cheeks, eyes closed. He stood with care and put his hand out to the motionless form before him. Silently, it rolled and stood. Beth’s mouth hung open.
A massive wolf stood before them. Golden eyes, level with Galen’s, took in the group with a steady gaze. Galen gestured for Khoen to approach. Beth clung to his leg, squeezing in silent protest. He lifted Beth to her feet and for a moment their eyes locked. She sensed shock still coursing through him. He took three slow steps towards the duo. Galen caught his strong hand with slender fingers and brought it to the wolf’s muzzle. He held the pose with eerie stillness till Beth’s eyelid started to twitch. Her tongue itched for reassurance.
What’s happening, boys?
The wolf moved, stretching into a crouching posture with a curled-down rump, tail tucked. A pale pink tongue darted out to lick Khoen’s hand a few times, and then the long tail began to fan the air.
‘You’ll need to find a way to tell him what you want, but he’s yours now.’ Galen stroked the wolf’s head absently as he smiled at Khoen, keen for his reaction.
‘Mine?’ Khoen frowned.
‘Yes. I thought you might need a friend too.’
Khoen stared at Galen, myriad expressions flitting across his face. With a deep breath he knelt and cupped a large palm gently over Galen’s face. Beth wasn’t sure if he was trying to block out emotion or connect. His palm slipped to Galen’s shoulder.
‘Gracias, pequeño.’ Khoen’s lips pulled into a weak smile. ‘You are the first person to do me a kindness in a very long time.’ Galen frowned up at him and raised a hand to Khoen’s shoulder. Linked together, the melancholy emanating from them closed Beth’s throat. Khoen stood, ruffled Galen’s hair. He turned to meet the glimmering golden eyes and clicked his fingers.
‘Solo. ¡Vamos.’
Without a backward glance, he walked out, Solo at his heels.
*
A deeper shade of dark moved in the shadows. Bazir slipped through a side door, back into the bowels of the ship. He stumbled against the narrow steel walls and steadied himself against a hot pipe. He spat and gagged against the fear and fury that threatened to overwhelm his ability to think.
Only one more day – they’ll be gone. Dead or gone. Keep calm or the little bastard will feel it. He drew in a shaky breath and pushed himself straight. He’d have to run to beat Khoen back to the living quarters. One more day, and then we’re back. I’m back. Just one day. A surge of anticipation fuelled his sprint.

The screech pierced every part of her body; slitting her dream, it plunged her into wakefulness. Khoen was jerking the sash around his robe as he tore to the bedroom door. He turned at the last second.
‘Stay here.’ His tone brooked no argument and shivers scuttled over Beth’s skin at his stony expression. Then he was gone. Her heart rate slowed to a run as she took in the flashing lights in the hall and metallic tone of the screaming alarm.
Jesus wept! What kind of noise is that? Is the ship sinking? The thought propelled her out of bed and into clothes. Her feet flew over soft carpet and she burst into Galen’s room. Fully dressed, he sat straight-backed. Her relief was dashed when she noticed his body was not still, but stiff, locked in a desperate effort not to succumb to violent juddering. His eyes, wide and unfocused, looked straight through her.
‘Darling, it’s ok. I’m here now. Khoen’s gone to fix the problem. He’ll be able to mend whatever’s wrong with the ship.’ She wrapped her arms tight around him. The trembling vibrated through her, spiking her heart rate and rattling her bones. It was like hugging a hammer drill.
‘Galen, calm down. What’s wrong?’
He sprang to his feet, knocking Beth to the floor. His head whipped to the door, which burst open, letting in the full blare of the alarm. In with the noise came a man. A man she never expected to see again in her life. Not in a million years. Certainly not here. His shocking beauty had deepened with the years. It could never be mistaken.
‘Liam?’ Her choke was drowned out. He turned to close the door, but Solo burst through before it could shut. Beth screamed with fright and leaped to her feet. In one bound the wolf crouched in front of Galen and Beth. His hackles rose, inflating his enormous size. Saliva glossed the row of teeth exposed as his lip drew back. Guttural snarls filled the air between Galen and his father. Liam’s emerald gaze barely brushed over the animal. Instead it locked on Beth.
‘We need to move. Now. Only minutes remain.’
The growls rose. Liam flicked his hand; Solo slumped to the floor, silent and docile.
‘What?’ Beth scowled disbelievingly at the mountain of fur. ‘Wait till Khoen hears about this, you useless…’
‘Beth!’ His voice slapped across her face. ‘He will catch us and it’ll be the end. Escape is now or never.’
Neither Beth nor Galen moved.
‘What’s wrong with you? Do you think he’s going to let you live? Share power?’ Liam’s pitch rose to a scream. ‘He will kill you. I won’t let that happen to my son!’ He lunged for Galen, hurling his slim frame over a shoulder in one easy move. Before Beth could draw a breath, he was at the door.
‘You coming?’
No! The word ran shrill through Beth’s mind. It was a moment before she realised she hadn’t shouted out. There was no air to shout with. The depth of her dilemma crushed her lungs. It was her impossible decision, come too soon. I’m not ready. I can’t leave him. It’ll kill me, this thing that binds us. Or if it doesn’t, maybe he will. Could he? After what we’ve shared? Denial rang deep in her bones. He wouldn’t hurt me. It would hurt him too much. He’s as much a victim of this bond as I am. But what about Galen? Is that a risk I can take? Just because I’m not afraid, doesn't mean I shouldn't be. Maybe Galen should go without me. His father will protect him. A cold wash of terror rushed over her.
‘Mummy! Don’t leave me.’
Beth raised horrified eyes. That is why he was so stiff. The fear was not his, it was mine. Her torment was reflected loud in his eyes. God, please help me. I can’t keep letting him down. Look at what I’ve got him into. I can’t abandon him, no matter what. Of course, I’ll take him away from here, away from the crazy. Even if it does kill me.
Beth took a deep breath and rushed ahead of any more thoughts, like a pedestrian who refuses to look at the oncoming truck. Perhaps ignoring the wall of pain rushing down on her would stop her being crushed.
‘Now or never,’ she gritted.
Galen reached for her face, but Liam leaped away down the corridor before he made contact. Beth pumped her legs as hard and fast as she could to keep up. A black cloud of dread chased her all the way, howling in her ears louder than the incessant alarm. Khoen, Khoen, Khoen. Each step beat his name like a hammer between her eyes. Where is he? What’s he doing? Why isn’t he here to stop my escape, save me from it? Then she was out, plunged into cool quiet. Wind whipped her long hair into a blinding cloud as a strong hand grabbed her arm, yanking her across the deck.
She pinned her hair back with her arm and squinted through the headache that blurred her vision. She did a double take. A helicopter was hovering silently next to the ship. The dawn light was sucked in by its matt black surface, sharp face and flat belly - a shark waiting to consume them. Beth watched Liam throw Galen the short distance into the open side. An armoured soldier caught him. Beth looked at the hand gripping her arm, its protective shell glistened and this second soldier thrust her towards the chopper.
Liam gripped her waist, readied to hoist her up when the doors crashed open behind them. Khoen, Bazir and armed guards stumbled to a halt on the open deck. Khoen’s gaze locked on Beth’s. Unimagined all-embracing anguish jerked her rigid. His face twisted into a mask of grief. Her mind screamed a denial, but her body was frozen. She couldn’t move or speak as every muscle in her body locked in spasm.
‘She’s seizing!’ Liam thrust her upwards. Beth’s hair was pulled from its roots as the soldier grappled to haul her inside.
‘Out of my way…’ Galen shoved himself on top of Beth as she hit the floor, but she couldn’t feel his weight. She felt nothing but pain that came from every direction, inside and out. Galen’s hands began to sizzle against her chest and head, the muscles in her body unlocked, releasing her. She could feel his fire burning her pain away.
With the loud gasp of a near drowning, she sat up, nearly launching Galen back out of the open hatch. Liam yanked him into a seat as Beth crawled forward. The blades accelerated; the helicopter began to pull away. Khoen’s agony, which she could feel in her own bones, morphed into rage.
‘No! She’s mine. She belongs to me!’ His eyes bulged and veins etched wrath across his face. The groaning ship echoed his cry. The screech of twisting metal carried over the whoosh of the blades and Bazir sprang towards Khoen. He was screaming and pointing, hatred loud in every jab.
Bullets crackled and popped around the chopper as the gunmen broke out of their shock. Khoen spun to Bazir, but Beth couldn’t hear what he was saying. Bazir staggered back, turned and ran directly into a pole propelled from across the deck. It ripped through his body like a skewer, but didn’t fall. It floated for a second, holding its bloodied victim, then with a flick of Khoen’s wrist, Bazir was tossed high in the air and over the side of the ship.
Beth screamed. Khoen turned to check she’d seen the beast and she understood. Her betrayal had stripped him of hope. Hope that maybe he wasn’t a monster, that he could be normal, loved not feared. She reeled away from the deluge of guilt that threatened to engulf her.
This isn’t my fault! What the hell is wrong with him? Anger pushed over her horror. She felt the rush of it through her blood, bringing order to her disintegrating sanity.
‘Asshole!’ She screamed into the wind. He raised his arm as though waving goodbye and the chopper began to rattle. Beth’s terror returned full force as Galen and Liam grappled for a hold against the juddering cabin. The pilot yelled unintelligibly as the aircraft lost altitude, dropping to the hungry ocean waves.
‘No…’ He’s going to crash it. ‘Khoen, stop it!’ She screamed with no hope he would hear.
The chopper steadied and pulled rapidly away. Beth turned disbelieving eyes towards the dwindling ship. Its skin was bent and buckled, but it lay quiet.
Then the pain returned, bigger and better than before. It shoved her flat against the floor, her legs trapped awkwardly beneath her. Her body was blistering from the inside, each cell desperate to tear off and fly back to him. The seizure froze her screams within her, no breath, no movement. Just a gaping yawn, eyes wide.

Commander Decker had witnessed a lot of pain, but this looked like it would break new ground. Was it electrocution? Would she survive? The boy and Perun sprang from their buckles to press their hands on her. Were they healing her? They sure looked busy. He grabbed a headset.
‘Is she bent?’ His question was greeted by crackling buzz. ‘Come in, Driver. Are we going to make it to base?’
‘Affirm…she took a beating, but she’s holding.’
‘ETA?’
‘Zero eight fifty.’
‘Report any changes.’
‘Copy, Out.’
He checked his watch, tapped a message to base, and then glanced back at the woman. Her son helped her into a seat, her skin ghastly grey. She drew shaking legs up to her chest and her head drooped slowly onto her knees, shrouding her body in a curtain of red hair. She didn’t seem much more than a kid herself. Guess she’ll make it. Perun hit the button to shut the door. The heavy thump ushered in a deep hush as everyone sat unmoving.
I have to hand it to the kid, he looks pretty calm considering the shit storm he just went through. Perun seemed more agitated. His heel bounced rapidly against the floor. He twisted in his seat irritably and reached across to the other soldier. He clamped a hand onto his shoulder, and Soke jerked back, but didn’t break the grip.
‘I’ll stop the bleeding, just stay still.’
‘Status?’ Decker frowned. How’d I miss the bleed?
‘They almost blew my freakin’ arm off.’ Soke’s face split into a grin.
Perun released him and Soke rolled his shoulder back and forth, before giving Perun a long look. ‘Well, he’s a hell of a band-aid, Chief.’
Perun spun back to Beth. Staring at her huddled form, he seemed ready for a fight and was pissed that she wasn’t. He glanced down at the kid, who raised knowing eyes to his father. Perun looked away and rubbed his forehead.
‘Well at least the extraction was a success,’ he said to no one in particular. He glanced at Decker, ‘At least the information was good. The source must have ranked high to get to their radar. We wouldn’t have stood a chance with less time.’
Beth slowly raised her head, as though any sudden move might send it rolling across the cabin. ‘Bazir. The slimy bastard…no wonder.’ She whispered into the middle distance.
‘You’re defending him? Beth, how could…’ Perun looked at Decker, at the kid, back at Beth. ‘I don’t understand what happened between you. Clearly it was something genetic, but you don’t know what you’ve done. He’s going to hunt us down. He doesn’t stop.’
‘Genetic,’ Beth repeated dumbly. She tilted her head a fraction, ‘Genetic?’ she quizzed the empty seat in front of her.
‘Yes, of course genetic. The separation was tearing your cells, the DNA, apart. Not sure I’d have been able to hold you together on my own.’ Perun glanced at the kid. ‘You did an amazing job. How did you know what to do? I’ve never felt that sort of tearing before.’
The kid shrugged and with a long sigh sat back in his seat. ‘At least she’s safe. The development should be back on track.’
Decker frowned. Did I miss something?
‘Development? What development?’ He peered at Beth. Was she going to change?
‘You know…grow.’
‘Grow? Your mother is going to grow? Into what?’ He straightened.
Perun and Galen turned irritated frowns on Decker so identical he nearly laughed.
‘Not Beth. The baby.’ Perun explained.
‘Baby?’ Surprise pushed Decker back into his seat.
Beth slowly turned an inscrutable gaze on Perun.
‘What…baby?’ She whispered.
All eyes flew to her.
At their silence her body straightened and she dropped her legs. She grabbed the kid by the shoulders.
‘What baby?’ Her voice, calm and soft, didn’t match the rest of her. Oh, oh. Looks like trouble.
‘You don’t know there’s a baby inside you?’ The kid wriggled.
Beth staggered back, crashing into the seat opposite like she’d been shot. She stared open-mouthed from the kid to Perun and back.
‘It’s not possible. It’s impossible. It’s a lie. Why would you tell such a lie?’ Horror crept over her delicate features. Decker wasn’t sure if she was going to faint or fight.
‘What do you mean impossible? You had sex with Khoen, didn’t you?’ Perun frowned at her.
‘He always took precautions. We were very careful. And it’s only been a couple of weeks…’
‘Two weeks?’ Perun looked at the kid. ‘The foetus is more than that. I’d say closer to a month.’ He turned back to Beth, as if expecting her to explain the anomaly.
She shook her head, ‘It’s a mistake. You’re wrong. You can be wrong, you know. This can’t happen to me again. I won’t let it.’ Decker listened as her voice crept away from shock to anger, her face flushed pink. It seemed fight would win out.
‘I noticed it after my finger surgery,’ the kid offered. ‘That was about four weeks wasn’t it mum?’
‘What?’
Beth staggered and braced her legs to balance like a drunken marionette. ‘What!’ Her voice had jumped ten decibels. The kid raised his palms defensively.
‘You noticed a baby inside me and you didn’t mention it?’ She looked torn between laughter and murder.
‘I thought you knew. I…I thought you were keeping it a surprise for me.’ Galen finished lamely, eyes on the floor.
‘A surprise? What are you talking about, Galen? A surprise is a box of chocolates, a new toy, a trip to Disneyland – not a baby!’ Beth’s yell choked off.
‘Stop shouting at him. He’s just a lonely little boy who was hoping for a sibling. Can’t you see that?’ Perun growled at her. ‘Anyway, how did you get pregnant four weeks ago? Any visiting angels in the night?’
‘What? Don’t be stupid.’ Beth clutched her forehead, squeezing her eyes tight shut. ‘When they took Galen for his surgery, they must have drugged me and done some sort of artificial insemination. It’s the only way. Khoen must have ordered it, after Galen’s powers were confirmed. He wanted to see what would happen if he had a child too.’ Beth covered her face with trembling hand. ‘God, I’m such a fool. Why me? He could have chosen anyone. Why does this keep happening to me? It’s not normal is it?’ She turned desperate eyes to Perun.
He dropped his gaze. ‘Well, no. I mean yes, of course pregnancy is a possibility every time there’s an opportunity, but…I have to confess I think there’s more to it. When we first…um, met…I felt it. I didn’t understand it fully at the time, but I knew there was something about you and me. Something in you attracted me very strongly. Later, when I found out you were pregnant, I wasn’t surprised. I think Khoen felt it too; also, why would he change the formula? What if he had a baby with another woman and the child had no powers? It makes sense to use your genes. Perhaps you have a genetic signature or key.’
Beth squinted at Perun like he was hard to see. Is her vision failing? She looks like she should be lying down. Decker stood up and stepped towards her.
‘Ma’am, I suggest you sit down before you fall down. You’ve suffered a colossal shock physically and emotionally in the last thirty minutes. Can we agree to sit down for this chat?’
She spun at him like a cat spitting bullets, ‘And who, the fuck, are you?’ She jabbed a shaking finger at his nose.
‘Commander Decker. We were assigned to extract you and the boy after the intel came in of your location. You must have friends in high places; the order came from high up. A Major Milne, I believe.’
Beth jerked back like she’d been burned. ‘Milne? Mimi’s dad.’ She slumped deflated into a seat. ‘Shit. Wait till she hears about this…’
Beth covered her face with clenched fists. A low groan spun Decker round to the kid. He was clutching his chest. Now what? Jesus, we land in a few minutes.
‘What’s wrong with him?’ he snapped at Perun who wrapped his arms around the boy.
‘Galen! It’s ok, Galen.’ Beth pushed past Decker like a bull. ‘I’m sorry I yelled. Calm down.’ She turned panicked eyes to Perun. ‘Help him. What’s wrong with him?’
‘That’s what I said.’ Decker quipped under his breath.
‘I don’t know. He’s in fear…terror.’ Perun rubbed his own chest with a wince. He looked about the cabin, clearly confused. He lay the kid down and stumbled to the window. His head flicked left, then right. He whipped round and jumped to the opposite window. ‘It’s below. Something’s happening.’ Decker pushed in next to him. He saw islands flashing past, they were skirting the Indonesian shoreline. He saw nothing.
‘The animals. They’re running. Fast. Something’s coming. Look! What’s happening?’
Then Decker saw it. The water was retreating over freshly exposed rocks and sand, stretching back like a big yawn. What the hell? He grabbed the headset.
‘Driver, see below. The sea. What’s happening?’
‘Roger the visual, chief. No idea, out.’
‘Tsunami.’ Soke interjected flatly from over Decker’s shoulder. ‘Any minute now.’ He sat back down.
‘Oh no. No, no, no, no!’ Perun banged his head against the glass as they watched a surge of water swell towards the shore. He froze and then spun towards the kid. ‘It’s the fear - the animals. When it hits the people…we have to get him out of here now!’ He sprang back to where Beth was cradling the kid’s head in her lap. Decker grabbed the headset.
‘Driver, let’s get our feet wet, Warp One. Over.’
‘Roger that. Out.’
The chopper banked sharply sending its passengers sliding to one side as it head out to sea. The kid was foaming at the mouth, his eyes fixed wide on the ceiling.
‘Oh my God, Liam, do something!’ Beth sobbed, pressing her crumpled face to the kid’s. Liam? Decker mentally flicked through the files. Oh yeah. He sat watching closely. Perun pressed his hands on the kid’s chest, but not much seemed to change.
‘I can’t control the fear. It’s not mine or his to control. It’s too much, too many people. I feel it, but for him it’s much, much worse. All I can do is control his symptoms a little - heart rate, breathing. I can’t take away the pain.’ For a second Decker thought Perun was going to cry, but then his pretty face smoothed out, like he’d hit the calm switch. Decker’s gaze flicked out of the window to the receding shore. Those poor bastards.
‘I’m going to kill him for this. Just so you know - I’m going to kill him.’ Decker turned back to Perun. He seemed to be talking to the kid.
‘Who exactly are you going to kill?’ Decker said.
‘Who do you think?’ He snapped. ‘Khoen. This is beyond anything I could imagine.’
‘Khoen? You think he did this? That’s ridiculous!’ Beth hissed under her breath.
‘Of course he did this. What, you think it’s a coincidence? We snatch you and his baby out from under his nose and minutes later there is a massive tsunami in the vicinity? Are you joking?’
‘Look. I know he’s…mental, but that makes no sense. We’re in a helicopter. Not on the land and if we were, a tsunami would kill us - which he doesn’t want. If he’d wanted to kill us, he’d have crashed the helicopter. Do you think he couldn’t have done that? And how would he make a tsunami? He controls metal, Liam. Not water.’
‘Tsunamis come from earthquakes. The plates are full of metals. Maybe he can shift them.’
‘Oh, purleese. Give me a break. You’re determined to make everything his fault! He might be the bad guy, but it doesn’t make him responsible for every shitty thing that happens. Hold on to logic Liam. It’s the only way we’re going to make it through this madness. ’
With a slice of her palm she made it clear the conversation was over. She wiped at her wet cheeks and looked down at the kid. He seemed to be easing off the torture train. She stroked his dark hair back off his face and his eyes drifted shut. Decker heard a crackle in his ear.
‘Zero two from Mother, over.’
‘Roger that. Out.’
This was going to be interesting. He still couldn’t get a handle on these people. They had superpowers, but were fragile as flesh. He took in the huddle; the strange little family. He touched the tattoo in the crook of his elbow. They were down, but he knew this game was just getting started.