Essentially Human Page 8

  “I wish I knew. Show me the laptops that have been found, I can do research and hopefully uncover more. Are you alright?”

  “No. Yes. I don’t know. I can show you where they keep the devices they don’t use.” She staggered slightly as he rose, keeping her hand in his.

  “T’talin, you did well. I understand lying is difficult for you, but he is insane and isn’t to be trusted with the truth. I don’t know how your ship works or anything about this weapon he is threatening you with. As a defense contractor, he has access to details I don’t. But I will help you however I can. For one thing, I will find a way for you to release the cure for the Shakes, somehow. Without betraying yourself.” He force her fingers apart as he spoke and interlace his with hers. He squeezed her hand and she reacted by squeezing back.

  “I…I have a right… to be angry.” She took a deep breath through her nose and let it out through her pursed lips.

  “Yes, Ria, you do. Let’s go.”

  She nodded and led him from the room. Pausing at the exit, she gathered herself before making a left turn and taking him to a ramp that led downward. They walked for nearly twenty minutes. She said nothing, but continued to tighten the grip of her fingers.

  Her mind wrestled with the visions of the city she’d once called home, deserted, covered with poisonous clouds, the water coated with oily scum. They’d put an actual oil platform in the bay? That obscenity filled her mouth with bile. Her body knew the anger, her mind wouldn’t hold it. She could hear a humming. Or was it a buzzing? Inside her head.

  A drop of sweat ran down her back.

  As she and Sam entered the reclamation room, she gestured toward the huge receptacle set in one corner of the massive chamber. “They pulled a container from the Pacific more than a decade ago and used it for things they couldn’t understand. I could identify them as computer parts, but my knowledge is limited.”

  He nodded and slowly released his grip. “Come with me.”

  “Of course. You may be surprised at the state of the equipment. They can restore almost anything.”

  “I hope so.”

  He stepped to the end of the container. “Light?”

  She waved a hand inside the entrance, signaling the sensors to switch on. Watching his reaction provided a distraction she needed. As his grin widened, she stepped forward with him. He surveyed the stacks of laptops, or what she assumed were laptops. As he dug into the piles, she leaned on a wall and watched him. In less than an hour, they’d been joined by a dozen Aleena who Sam directed in sorting and gathering.

  Ria found it fascinating to watch the man in action. The baggy shorts he wore did nothing to detract from his take charge aura. The Aleena listened intently, three were technicians who very quickly absorbed the bare bones instruction he gave them regarding what the separate elements did and how they worked. Another three hurried away to set up a power source. Sam showed them what memory storage looked like and another three were dispatched to search out others.

  With a shake of her head, she went looking for T’talin, Sam would be busy for hours.

  She found him in a viewing room. He patted the seat next to him.

  “You were going to take me home?” She had no reason to avoid the question.

  “Milaar’s concern that her abilities could not sufficiently aid you, led me to the attempt. I thought you were going to die, finally. As did she. Only after he made it impossible to follow that path did she redouble her efforts and we reconciled to experimentation. She did not want to hurt you further. Many things we tried clearly caused you distress, but we had no choice. He insisted we let you die, I told him you had.”

  She heard him take a breath and noticed his hand clench. He did so well at mimicry. She examined her palm, noticing the crescent indentations she’d left there earlier. One actually beaded with blood.

  “Did we do wrong, N’sila?”

  “I don’t know, T’talin. You did what you thought best and I can’t argue with it. Hammer is insane, to murder so many…” Her breath caught and she stopped, took a deep breath in through an open mouth and then out, as Sam had.

  And it helped.

  “How do we release the cure for this disease without his knowing and following through with his threat?”

  “Agent Montgomery has uncovered items he believes will assist. He must have an idea, I don’t believe he would put all of you at risk. He is right to insist a way be found. Too many are dying to do anything else.”

  He cocked his head then stood up. “My attendance is needed.”

  “I….”

  “Ah, there you are!” Sam strode into the room. “T’talin, I spoke with Testa and was informed that you are aware of the transatlantic cable.”

  “Yes, Ria identified it for us but said it had been all but abandoned.”

  “That is true for most applications, when satellites took over the bulk of communications. But not all.”

  Ria could see the excitement in Sam. He grinned, all but bouncing on his heels. “I believe we can tap in and slip right under the radar. I can contact my team, find a way to release the cure without compromising all of you. Hermione and Harold can do it. Drum will know the best places to use.”

  “But if those cables aren’t used, how can they employ them without detection?” Ria peered at him, worried about her friends.

  “They are used, for massive file transfers, given much lower priority. Spam and sales brochures, old fashioned bulletin boards and the like, use them. They will provide a perfect cover, we will be a grain of sand to the massive data the rest of the internet carries. An ideal place to slide in unnoticed. It’s going to take days to find what is needed to make this work. How fast can we get to the cables?” Sam transferred his attention to the Aleena.

  “Less than your week. Let me see to it.” He nodded at Ria and hurried from the room.

  Sam sat and took her hand. “We’re going to beat him, Ria.”

  “I hope so, Sam. Part of me would like to see him suffer.”

  Did she really say that?

  He lifted her hand and pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles, then turning it to stroke the injuries. “You should tend to these.”

  What a courtly gesture. She felt flattered by his concern. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, I have tough hands.”

  “You lead a team of investigators. You know computer technology. Are all Navy Officers so knowledgeable?” His touch on her palms soothed the little bit of pain she’d barely noticed. How odd.

  “I’m not a Navy officer. I never served in the Navy. What gave you that idea?”

  “Weren’t we at a Navy base?” His statement confused her.

  “Yes, but I work for the Homeland Research and Security Department. The disappearance of the sailors from the Ballard called for more than a Navy investigator. I have a doctorate degree in psychology and a minor as a computer engineer. I hold my position from the psychology degree.”

  “You’re a profiler?”

  “Not exactly, but close.”

  “You were so concerned for the sailors, I guess I assumed you served.” She shrugged.

  He chuckled. “I take my duties very seriously. I feared a weapon that saw them jump overboard. A drug or gas, perhaps.”

  “Oh, god. That would be terrible.” With a pat on his leg, she stood up. “I will ask Milaar how to treat these.” She lifted her hand and studied her palm. “I do wish I’d realized the transatlantic cable could be useful.”

  “If they’d just cut into it without a plan, it could have been disastrous. They know because this is when they needed to know. I’m going back to the reclamation bay. Take care of yourself, Ria.”

  Of course, she’d take care of herself. What else would she do?

  T’talin listened to the report from the engineer. With Agent Montgomery’s simple explanations they were already extrapolating a great deal. So much became clear. And the window into the human world opened wider as they sped toward the cable. They would be ready.


  If only he knew how to help N’sila. Milaar reported to him her conversation with Agent Montgomery, or Sam, as Ria called him. In their ignorance, they may have done her great harm. He only hoped Sam came into her life in time to see her fully healed. The depth of human emotional response astounded him. The Aleena would never fit in on the surface, but perhaps they could find enough common ground to help each other survive the changes this fragile planet would soon suffer. According to his scientists, they had less than fifty years to see adjustments put into place. They humans had no idea how close they were to catastrophe.

  He lifted his hand and studied it. The scent of N’sila’s blood as she injured herself, reacting to the news, unsettled him. Agent Montgomery didn’t seem so volatile and he prayed the rest of humanity were more balanced than Ria.

  Though perhaps her lack of balance had to do with their meddling and not a propensity for it? He considered the crew from the Ballard. They questioned a dozen, using a mild sedative to keep them from panic, observing the rest for hours. It had been impressive. They didn’t react with violence, but sought a way out. Several protected and calmed those who showed fear. Those who he assumed were in charge, kept order. Four were scientists and deduced a great deal from their surroundings and speaking to those who were directly questioned.

  Humans were much more complex than Hammer had led them to believe.

  This internet would open so much for them, good and bad. They’d collected enough reading materials over the last few decades to understand the information available if they could tap into it. They had studied the few books and even a few functioning electronic devices, extracted data and had a more than basic understanding of the system. But without the engineering details and ability to connect, it did them no good.

  Ria’s knowledge limited them. She taught them a great deal, but not enough to take the step safely. Hammer’s coldness in destroying his own people wounded the Aleena deeply. They did what they could to restore the environment and were ready to provide more, but that would take the cooperation of the humans.

  The excitement of Agent Montgomery was contagious; he could feel the energy throughout the ship as they hurried to the cable. His time of service as commander of this vessel would be worth every sacrifice if he could make that connection.

  7

  Agent Bales ran her fingers through her hair as she studied the report from Harold. Three weeks since Monty disappeared and they’d discovered so little regarding him. The stack on Hammer was impressive and she’d found her new underground contacts invaluable at uncovering the man’s insidious touch.

  His grandfather had been a simple capitalist. Took advantage of circumstances to see his company grow, stayed within the law and wielded a great deal of influence in shaping the politics of the later part of the twentieth century. Not a pleasant man, but not a criminal.

  The father crossed that line a great deal. Nothing prosecutable or proven, but the dirty tricks attributed to him were impressive. And they found a connection to the author. Alfred Jr. married a woman who read romance authors. Her favorite author was Rachel Aster. Had the man tried to win his wife back by funding an illegal cloning attempt to bring the author back to life? Didn’t seem to be enough love lost between her and her ex that he would do so, but love wasn’t something she had a great deal of experience with.

  It seemed farfetched, but it proved the one connection they could find. The wife held a nice fortune herself but not enough to make the effort on her own. Looking over her will, she’d left her money to the Save the Seas Foundation, working tirelessly for that cause the last few decades of her life. She’d also left behind a huge collection of the author’s books to her local print depository.

  A good thing to know. More paper proof that her son had perpetuated a fraud on the government by meddling with the files. Though she had no proof he instigated that fraud. He could simply plead he’d been manipulated.

  She yawned and glanced around her apartment. She’d be spending a great deal of time here once the suspension came through. She had no doubt her position at HRSD would soon be gone. She and Harold had been on administrative leave, pending investigation into Agent Montgomery’s act of treason, for the last week.

  They kept Dr. Drummond, despite his connection to the team, due to his expertise. But even his privileges were under review. He had a new lab assistant who reported directly to internal affairs. And no doubt to Hammer. The defense contractor had been a constant presence at headquarters, claiming the need to personally oversee the security structure.

  She and Harold took their private search totally off the grid.

  Her workmate had applied for emergency leave. The Shakes had been found just across the Arizona border in New Mexico and his family lived in Arizona. Quarantine would be expanded and he needed to help them move. He’d already apologized for abandoning her, but she totally understood. They’d watched Monty’s face as the crisis in Texas took his sisters. She doubted the agency would be so understanding and Harold prepared to abandon everything he’d built in Virginia.

  He had false identification and prepared to sever his old life, if denied leave. She and Drum would do what they could to find Monty and Harold would help out when the opportunity rose. The system Jermaine set up worked brilliantly, though the young man’s personal foray into Hammer Industry hadn’t been so rewarding. Jermaine worked on date entry and couldn’t get past the filing. So far.

  With a groan, she pushed away from the desk and walked to her bathroom, splashing water on her face. When she returned to her laptop a blinking light signaled a personal massage from Ringsearch. She stared at the light. Red.

  Sam?

  Her breath caught as she opened the message.

  Gimlad the Greater requests assistance in subduing the forces from the marsh.

  Her hand shook as she clicked on the message, signaling her readiness, opened the game and waited.

  The curser pulsed and she felt sweat run down her back.

  Where have you been, Gimlad?

  I did not betray the kingdom.

  I know. You’re the scapegoat. Where are you?

  You won’t believe me. But I’m safe and working with allies. I read the headlines. How is the team?

  H. and I suspended, D’s duties curtailed. Tell me!

  I was abducted by aliens. Ria is with me. Hammer is the villain.

  She stared at her monitor. Aliens? When she didn’t respond, he messaged again.

  See? Said you wouldn’t believe me. I need contact with D. I have the cure for the Shakes. He knows who to leak it to without it being traced back.

  Hang on, I’ll get him.

  Great, Monty must be injured, or under duress, or insane. But…what if it was true? She couldn’t take the chance. What the hell, she’d already dropped down the rabbit hole months ago, what were aliens after discovering the fraud society had been subjected to the last fifty years?

  She sent an IM to Drum, requesting his help with a battle.

  Soon, he’d joined them in the chat room. The file with the cure sped to him and for thirty minutes, she and Sam waged a campaign on the marsh monsters as the doctor looked it over before interrupting the battle.

  God. This is elegant and should work. Where did you get this, Gimlad?

  Aliens, based underwater. Just see it gets distributed and credited to a logical source. Fast, before the Hammer tries to block it or claim it.

  I will. Aliens? WTF, makes some sense. I couldn’t find an earth source for her DNA sequence.

  She smiled, Drum would see it more clearly than her.

  H. is preparing to visit the underworld, to protect his family from the Shakes. It’s spreading into Arizona.

  Understood. Tell him to go, now. Don’t wait. Just go. Give him a copy of the file.

  Will do. We need to meet.

  Yes!

  Damn, she needed to see him and understand. With Drum tagging along, hopefully. He’d be able to ascertain if Sam were under the
influence of a drug or mind control.

  I’m trying to work something. Tell me who allies with the orcs and who side with the elves.

  She leaned back and prepared to make the biggest report of her life.

  Hours later, she closed her laptop lid and pushed away from the table. A glance at the window showed dawn’s light rising in the east. She didn’t need to get to the office, but some semblance of normality would set those who watch her at ease. And she desperately needed coffee.

  She showered, dressed and headed for her corner Starbucks. She sat with her morning treat and brought up the news on her electronic sheet reader. Last thing she wanted to do was actually read the propaganda, but routine called for her to do so.

  Another bomb overseas. An aid mission in South America kidnapped by insurgents. Civil war in China, unrest in what remained of the Middle East. She sighed and closed her eyes. A tear threatened to fall from her right eye. She quickly blinked and refocused on the stories. A small article about San Diego caught her attention. Sam’s query that Hammer had something to do with it made her stomach clench.

  She’d known several classmates at the Marine Base there. Two died, one suffered a miscarriage and would likely never be able to carry a child.

  She clicked to expand the story and saw something no one thought would ever be seen in Mission Bay again. Three dolphin. Alive and evidently unharmed. The photo came from a satellite, as the area still represented a health hazard so dire no one actually ventured there.

  A sign of hope?

  She saved the photo and sent it to Drum, then continued through the black mood inducing headlines. Walking back to her apartment, she raised her head to the morning light and wondered if things could change. She wanted to believe in something again.

  As her door opened, she glanced down to see an envelope on the carpet. She quickly shut the door before retrieving it. Inside, she found a note from her one ally on the review board.

  I’m being forced out, Agent Bales. Blackmailed quite effectively and I have no recourse but to resign. I’ll return to my home in Maine and leave public service. Guard your team and yourself well, he has no moral compass and will look to do you harm.