Colliding Worlds Trilogy 01 - Collision (27 page)

“As do I, General. The perimeter has been secured by both your and my people. I believe you will find security up to your standards.”

The general nodded and then motioned to the men standing at his side. “Commanders, I’d like to introduce Senator Dane Sokolowski of the U.S. Senate and General Geoffrey Bryant of the British Army.”

After a flurry of introductions, Sienna opened the door. “Shall we go inside where it is more comfortable, gentlemen?” They filtered into the cabin, and she squeezed Jax’s shoulder. He gave her a slight tilt of the head and continued into the room, stoic.

The group filled the living room. Apolo and she stood side by side. Legian, Nalea, and Jax stepped in on her right while Apolo’s newly restored trinity positioned on his left. She wanted to grab Legian’s hand for support, but she knew it would be seen as a sign of weakness. This was something she had to do on her own.

“It’s clear the Draeken were the aggressors at the club.” The general spoke as he sat down on the sofa. Evidently not one to mince words, he got right down to business. “We believe is it in the best interest of both our countries to prepare for the Draeken threat. To do that, we feel an arrangement would be beneficial between our people and yours.”

Apolo and Sienna shared a look, and he smiled with a slight nod. Then she spoke. “That is what we want, too. I know we’re asking you to take a leap of faith, gentlemen. But this is for the protection of our way of life. By combining forces, we can more quickly mobilize against the Draeken when they attack.”

“Ideally,” General Bryant spoke in a smooth British accent. “By working together we can prevent any attack altogether. While Great Britain has no desire in becoming embroiled in a costly war, make no mistake. We will not stand idly by as the Draeken attacks our allies and attempts to build an empire across the ocean.”

Apolo spoke slowly and warmly. “Then our goals are common. I believe a partnership can be devised to secure our common interests.”

General Jerrick leaned forward. “And I’m most curious about what some of those interests may be, Commander.”

Apolo gave a slight tilt of his head. “I see you appreciate candor, General. So I’ll lay it on the line. We exhausted our power supplies when we followed the Draeken to your world. We cannot return to Sephia. We offer our knowledge and technology in return for amnesty and full citizenship.”

General Jerrick rubbed his chin while the room sat in silence, considering Apolo’s words. The senator Sienna recognized from Arkansas spoke first. “A treaty like that would need to be formalized by both the President and Prime Minister. Then it must be communicated to the public in the right way and the right time. It won’t be easy introducing your race to the general population. We would expect riots, from the human rights fronts and the religious fronts as well as the racist fronts, and that’s just for starters.”

Sienna nodded. “It will change the way we’ve looked at ourselves. We’re no longer alone in the universe. We’re no longer God’s ‘big’ creation, and we can no longer carry that selfish attitude. We have to learn to accept that there are other races as intelligent as us. It won’t be easy. We never said it would be. It would be the biggest change ever to be announced to the world.

“But — ” She held up a finger. “As leaders, you have the choice to embrace the opportunity and announce us to the world in your own way and at a time of your choosing, or the Draeken will do it for you. So what are you going to do? Bring on a new age of enlightenment? Or stumble over the opportunity, pick yourselves back up, and continue living life with blinders on?”

“Sienna speaks the truth,” Apolo added. “We are not forcing your decision. The decision is yours. We will maintain a covert base as long as the Draeken threat permits. However, the Draeken have made no such promises. And from what we saw at the club, the Draeken will quickly become much more than urban legends. What have you learned from the Draeken prisoners you attained at the club?”

“Unfortunately, very little,” Sommers replied. “We had no proof of their existence until last week. We have begun to study the Draeken we captured. They haven’t spoken yet, but biologically speaking, they have been a goldmine of information so far.”

Sienna cringed inwardly at the implication of his words. A vision of mice in cages surrounded by white lab coats came to mind. No one, not even the cruel Draeken deserved to be lab experiments. A warm hand touched her back, and she glanced up at her
tahren
. He could read her emotions better than she could read his. She was still learning, but his support felt good. She meant it earlier when she called him her rock. Because that was exactly what he was.

She picked up a small briefcase. “I had promised Major Sommers a Sephian vaccine that their computer systems designed within weeks of landing on our world. Their knowledge and technology is generations ahead of ours. This case contains several pre-made vaccines and memory sticks with the formula and all the medical data you need to prove that it works with no negative side effects. To show the depth of Sephian intent and goodwill, we would like you to accept this token as a gift. No strings attached.” She opened the case and walked it around the men in the room.

General Jerrick accepted the case, snapped it shut, and handed it to the soldier at his right. “I believe our intentions are aligned. I have the authority to formalize a temporary arrangement with the Sephians from a military perspective. We will work together to neutralize the Draeken threat.”

With that, he held out a hand, which she shook, followed by Apolo.

It was the senator’s turn next. “While we cannot commit to a formal treaty today, I give you my word that the proposal will be brought to the President. Your act of good faith will go far in earning our trust. I’ll be in touch to discuss a treaty in more detail.”

Senator Sokolowski held out his hand, and again Apolo and Sienna accepted.

“General Bryant,” Apolo spoke, and the British general turned his attention to the Sephian leader. “I have a proposal for you.”

“Go ahead,” the general replied.

“Having the entire Sephian force in one location is a risk that has plagued me since we came to your world. A risk that became a reality when the Draeken attacked our base. I propose we will split the Sephian force, with half staying in North America under Sienna and her trinity, and half relocating to Great Britain under me and my trinity. You would select the location, of course. You may also station key personnel at the location to learn from us. It would provide the opportunity for us to work alongside one another while better protecting the Sephian people and our knowledge of the Draeken. What say you to this?”

General Bryant sat quiet for a moment, and then came to his feet abruptly. “Since there’s plenty of hand shaking going on today, why not some more.” He smiled. “I came here to propose the same. So I accept your proposal, and I believe we will learn much from one another.”

The two men shook hands. When Bryant reached his hand out to meet hers, she shook it numbly, still in shock from Apolo’s words. She could feel Legian’s shock thrum through her body, multiplying hers. It was obvious Apolo had planned this all along. That was why he’d needed a second leader. She was a chess piece on a board he controlled. She wanted to wring his neck for not mentioning this sooner.

One of the soldiers stepped forward, holding something in his hand. She jumped at the movement.

The senator gestured to the soldier. “We’d like some photographs of this momentous occasion.”

“Sure. No problem.” The men came to stand near Apolo and Sienna. She stood with a practiced smile, oblivious to the flashes of the camera. She had bigger things on her mind.

She alone led a fractured Sephian force on Earth.

What if she failed?

Sienna’s day began with an envelope. A small, discreet manila envelope slid under her bedroom door.

She lifted Legian’s arm and slid out from under him. She climbed out of bed, wearing her birthday suit (Legian’s favorite). A large hand reached out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her toward him.

“Come back to bed,” he mumbled dreamily.

She twirled out of his arm, and he grumbled. Ignoring him, she pulled on the old terry cloth robe she’d stolen from a hotel years ago. It had been hanging on the hook by the old wrought iron bed, exactly where she’d left it.

“Why do you always wear that thing?” he asked, nodding toward the black bandana with pink skulls she’d grabbed off the nightstand and was now wrapping around her hair.

“It’s got a thousand and one uses. Never leave home without it. Besides, it’s adorable.” She finished tying it behind her head. “See? Use number six hundred and twenty three. Keeps bedhead hair out of eyes.”

Not in the mood to put her brace on, she reached for the walking stick that was propped in the corner against the wall. Using it for support, she limped over to the door and picked up the envelope and turned it over. It was sealed shut. An intricate design decorated the front. No writing.

Legian pulled himself up to an elbow. “What is it?”

“Don’t know. The envelope only has a symbol on it. Do you recognize it?” She held it up, and his face visibly paled.

In a burst, he jumped out of bed, grabbed her wrist and pulled the envelope from her hand. He became hard as a statue holding it.

“I take it you recognize the symbol?”

Legian grimaced. She could feel his fear down to her toes.

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “What is it?”

“It’s the imperial symbol of the Draeken.”

She suddenly had a hard time swallowing. “How’d it get here? We have twenty-four hour security and surveillance on the cabin. There’s no way in hell a Draeken got in here.”

“Nevertheless, you are holding a letter with the Draeken imperial symbol on it. I will go over the video from the past several hours.”

She nodded mutely before looking from it to him and back again. “We’ve got to open it.”

Legian nodded tightly.

She gently tugged the envelope from his grip. She tore off the end, held the open end down, and a small piece of paper slid out onto her palm.

“What’s it say?” he asked while she examined both sides of the paper.

“It says
God’s-eye. Noon. Today
.”

Legian frowned. “Do you have any idea what this God’s-eye is?”

She stared out the window. “It’s a place. I hung a large God’s-eye in a spooky cave in the woods. It’s not far from where your plane crashed. That’s the only place it could be.”

He gave her a look like she was a barbarian. “You hung the eyes of some creature in the woods?”

“What do you mean? Oh, wait. It’s not what you think. Geez. Gross, Legian. I can’t believe you think … anyway, I made the God’s-eye. Out of yarn and sticks. It’s a Native American thing. You make them to scare off bad spirits. Believe me. That cave needed it. It’s always given me the creeps.”

Neither spoke for what seemed like eternity. Finally, she was the one to break the silence. “So I’m thinking we should go, to see what’s up.”

“Never. It is a trap.”

“If they wanted to ambush us, why not do it at the cabin while we slept? Besides, if it were a trap, why would they be so obvious about it? Invite us to a trap? That’s so cliché.”

Legian started to pace. Like Apolo, he did that whenever he thought. She swore he’d worn a path into the floor in their room back at the base. He stopped before she expected him to. “We’ll set up troops around the area. I’ll go in at noon to draw them out.”

She put her hands on her hips and glared. The fuzzy robe didn’t complement her badass look. “No effing way. This letter was meant for me. I’m the only one who’d know about the God’s-eye. No, I’m coming.”

“No you aren’t. We can’t risk it.”

She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn’t want to do it, but she had to. “Are you going to make me pull the trump card?”

His lack of response was answer enough.

“Fine,” she continued. “Consider the trump card on the table. You’re my
tahren
and on my trinity. Both means I want and respect your advice. But the decision is still mine. The letter is meant for me. I’m going.”

“That is not practical,” Legian gritted out through clenched teeth.

“And I hope you decide to come, too. What if the Draeken are splintering? It’s safe to say they know about last night’s meeting if they know we’re at the cabin. What if they are ready to make some kind of peace offering?”

“You don’t know the Draeken like I do.”

“I know. That’s why I trust your guidance. But you’re not being objective. You want me to stay back for my protection, not for the good of our people.”

“That’s not true.”

“Would you advise Apolo to reject this letter?”

“That’s different.”

“You’re wrong,” she snapped. “Apolo and I may be different, but we’re equals. I’m charged with doing what’s best for the Sephians here, and if putting myself in harm’s way to do it is what I’ve got to do, then that’s the way it is. I’m going. End of discussion. The video should show us who delivered it. We can ask more questions then. In the meantime, I trust you and Jax to make sure the perimeter is safe so we’re not walking into a trap.”

He glared at her for a moment. “As you wish,” he muttered before handing her back the note and stomping off to the bathroom.

She stared at the closed bathroom door for a moment. She knew Legian only had her safety in mind. But she couldn’t be respected as a leader if she let him coddle her. After all, he was her
tahren,
too. Didn’t he realize she couldn’t handle seeing him hurt, any more than he did her?

She didn’t bother getting dressed. She stepped out into the hall and hobbled to the living room. Jax and Risa sat on the couch, eating egg sandwiches. Nalea sat across from them, holding her knees to her chest, with a look of nausea.

Sienna collapsed into a seat. “Morning.”

“Good morning,” Risa said before taking a bite out of her sandwich.

Nalea cringed. “Sick. Gross. How can you eat the egg of an animal? That is so wrong.”