Dream Unchained (11 page)

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Authors: Kate Douglas

BOOK: Dream Unchained
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“I figured you'd probably guessed something was up.” He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Smells awfully good in here.”
Meg surprised him with a big smile. “Of course it does. Don't change the subject.” She checked the pan filled with sizzling pieces of chicken and covered them with a mesh lid to catch the spattering grease. “I take it those satellite dishes worked, then? We all figured you were using them to talk to aliens, just like that SETI project down in Hat Creek. Except yours worked and his didn't. Am I right?”
Mac just nodded his head. He knew there'd been a lot of conjecture going on among the staff members, and they were all intelligent enough to figure out something weird was taking place. “That you are. And, yes, all of those new faces belong to people called Nyrians. They're peaceful, obviously intelligent, and we're helping them escape from some aliens who aren't. Have you had the news on at all today?”
Meg just shook her head, but he could feel her excitement even though she wasn't the least bit telepathic.
“Well, if you had, you'd know that astronomers have spotted a large spaceship headed this way. They don't know what we know, so right now everyone is really excited about meeting aliens. Unfortunately, these particular aliens intend to steal just about everything that keeps our planet and everyone on it alive.”
Meg gasped, but Mac shook his head. “Don't worry. I'm telling you this so you'll understand why we're not planning to greet them with open arms. Our goal is to stop them from getting close to us. They've held the Nyrians captive as slaves for a long time, but we think we know a way to stop them.”
“Does Ralph know what's going on?”
“Your husband's pretty sharp, Meg. I think he has a good idea. He's working with a team of security guys he just met today—they're all Nyrians. I'm headed down to the fence line so I can officially let everyone know all the details. There will be reporters showing up before too long, and hopefully the rest of the Nyrians.”
“That little squirrel is special. She's not really a squirrel, is she? Is she one of them?”
Mac bowed his head and closed his eyes for a moment. Damn. So much could go wrong. “Yes, Meg. She's one of them, and she really is a squirrel, but the squirrel's hosting the consciousness and energy of one of the Nyrians. She's growing weaker by the hour. In fact, she's dying, but she's the whole reason I built this array, the entire reason we're all here. Say a prayer for her, Meg. I'm not sure how I'll handle it if we save everyone but the woman I love.”
He turned away but Meg stepped up and grabbed his arm. “I'll fix a lot of extra food for tonight, Mac. You'll want to feed all these folks once you get 'em off that ship. And you will get them all off. I have faith in you. And you'll save your girl, too.”
“Thanks, Meg. I hope you're right.”
“What's her name?” She looked at him with twinkling eyes.
“Zianne. Her name's Zianne.”
“I like that. I sure hope she knows what a treasure she's getting with you, Mac Dugan.” She patted his cheek.
Meg was only about fifteen years older than he was, but she'd been trying to mother Mac since the day he'd hired Ralph and this wife of his who could cook like a five-star chef and keep everything running like clockwork. At first it had really bugged him. Right now he welcomed her easy warmth and honest concern.
“Thanks, Meg. I'll have to tell Zianne you said that.” He grabbed her hand, kissed her fingertips, and headed back to the dining room.
Exhaustion beat at him from all directions, but there was no time to sleep. Not even to think about sleeping. He wondered how Corin and Satza were doing, if they'd been able to help Zianne, but there was no one else right now and he had to trust them.
He walked through the dining area. Dink was on the phone, speaking quietly but with obvious intent, and Mac had no doubt he'd have his news crew sooner rather than later. Rodie and Liz and the two Nyrian women sat on the couch beside him, all of them sipping iced tea. Rodie and Liz looked wound tight, but the two Nyrians appeared to be relaxed and ready to talk. He hoped like hell Dink got the information he needed to make this story work.
He waved at them on his way outside, then paused on the deck, blinking against the glare of the afternoon sun. He checked his watch, shocked to discover it was almost two. In just about three more hours, if all worked according to plan, Finn, Morgan, Bolt, and Duran would all be on the Gar ship.
He wished he didn't have this damned knot in his gut. Wished it was already tomorrow and the job was done, the soulstones recovered, and all the Nyrians safe. He wanted Zianne in his arms, Dink curled up beside them, and his world back in order again.
Sounded great. Sounded fucking impossible.
He climbed into one of the little four-wheeler ATVs and pointed the thing due east to the fence line where Bart Roberts was creating just one more problem for them to deal with. At least Roberts was something solid and familiar. Something Mac could focus his anger on.
Maybe, if he was lucky, he'd even get in a punch or two.
6
F
inn went deep inside his mind, found the switch, and flipped it. His body disappeared and he was suddenly nothing more than a swirl of energy and spinning molecules. Morgan made the change as well. Once again they tried to move about without their Nyrian hosts. They needed the ability to travel under their own power in case anything happened to either Duran or Bolt, but so far, they'd had trouble directing their molecular parts in any particular direction without help from the Nyrians.
Morgan had managed a short move across the room the first time he disassembled, but he had no idea how he'd done it, couldn't seem to repeat it, or explain it to Finn. Duran and Bolt—even Tara—had been unable to describe the process. They couldn't find the right words in a language still new to them, but that was the only language Finn and Morgan understood. As irritated as Finn was over his inability to learn something that, when compared to turning himself into a cloud of molecules without a corporate body seemed so damned simple, he had to keep reminding himself that the Nyrians were doing an amazing job just to be able to function as humans and speak a language they were still learning.
Still, there had to be a way. Somehow . . .
This is so damned frustrating.
Obviously, Morgan agreed with Finn's take on the matter.
I know. I can hover in one spot, but I can't go anywhere.
Finn watched the three Nyrians, sitting together on the couch—Tara and Duran holding hands, Bolt beside them, all staring at the spot where the two humans now spun in what seemed to be nothing more than molecular disarray.
What's even more frustrating is that we can't communicate with them when we're like this and they're solid.
Morgan's thoughts slipped easily into Finn's mind.
Bolt said it's the time element. We're moving so much faster that our thoughts don't register in their human minds.
It shouldn't be this hard, Morgan. I thought shifting would be tough. It's simple compared to trying to move! Duran said I should be able to think myself somewhere, and just go there.
I've been trying. Obviously it's not working.
That was definitely a mental snort from Morgan.
Try someplace you've been already.
Made sense to Finn. So why wasn't he going into the bedroom? Maybe somewhere he'd been in this form?
The fence line?
That's pretty ambitious. Maybe you should . . .
Morgan's suggestion disappeared as the ground sped by beneath Finn. Holy shit! He was moving, zipping over the ground so damned fast that everything was a complete blur beneath him until he came to an abrupt stop. The fence line. Go figure. He looked ahead and saw men standing guard at the edge of the plateau.
Now that he'd done it, moving wasn't nearly as complicated as he'd been trying to make it, so he moved a bit closer and stopped instantly when he thought of stopping. He felt like an idiot, but that's what happened when you tried to overthink the simple stuff. Think of a place, go there. Think of stopping, stop. What could be easier?
Curious, he flashed beyond the fence and slipped through the heavy undergrowth along the steep hillside.
He hadn't been here before but he was going where he wanted to go. How? He had no idea, but that didn't really matter as long as it worked, because they were supposed to be heading for the Gar ship in about three more hours.
He stopped and hovered over a level spot behind a wall of boulders and brush. The small clearing was filled with heavily armed men dressed in camo gear, at least a dozen of them sitting around as if they were waiting for something to happen. A few guards were posted, but they weren't going anywhere. Just waiting.
But why? What were they planning? He couldn't hear them like this, so he slipped behind a large boulder and regained his human form.
Shit, yes!
He was dressed! At least he'd gotten that part of the training right.
Moving quietly, Finn crept as close as he could. The men's voices were still hard to understand, but he pressed close against the warm boulder and listened. They were talking about the number of new guards, the fact that their leader had said the site would be poorly defended but had a lot more guards than any of them had been led to believe.
That meant the Nyrians in human form had these idiots fooled, which was a good thing. Maybe it would keep them on their side of the fence until he and Morgan finished tonight's mission.
For a brief moment, Finn actually began to relax.
“Hey! Who the hell are you?”
Shit! Finn spun around as two men burst through the brush about ten yards away with weapons drawn. Big weapons—automatic rifles of some kind—and they were pointed right at him. He dove into the thick tangle of bitterbrush growing beside the boulder as the camp erupted into action. Bullets cut through the leaves, bounced off rocks, and shattered a thick branch on a juniper tree next to his face. Shards of splintered bark sprayed him as he frantically reached for that mental switch.
Something punched into his left leg and spun him around. Before he hit the ground, a bolt of pure fire crossed over his shoulders. Adrenaline poured into his system and Finn managed to find the damned switch in his brain and flip the blasted thing.
He was aware of blood spraying in a fine mist, swirling around him as everything else went totally still. He didn't take time to see what else was going on. Instead, he pictured the peace and quiet of his cabin and thought himself home.
 
Morgan shifted back to his human self. Where the hell was Finn? One minute they'd been communicating just fine and then the damned guy just disappeared. He hoped like hell Finn was out there traveling around and could tell him how it was done.
“Where's Finn?” Duran leapt to his feet and headed for the door with Bolt and Tara right behind him.
“I was hoping you'd know.” Morgan caught his bearings and stepped outside with the three Nyrians. The afternoon was warm, the air redolent with the aromatic scent of sage and sun-warmed rock. The sky shimmered clear and blue and, other than a couple of turkey vultures circling high, was totally empty.
There was absolutely no sign of Finnegan O'Toole.
“You both made the shift perfectly.” Duran glanced over at Morgan. “Were you able to move this time?”
“I didn't but I have a feeling that Finn might have figured it out.” Where the hell was he?
Gunshots echoed off the surrounding hills. The distant sound of men shouting. More gunshots. Duran flashed out of sight. Tara screamed. Bolt grabbed Morgan's arm. “What is that?”
“Gunshots. Weapons. The idiots on the down side of the plateau must be shooting at someone.” Good lord, he hoped Rodie was okay. He couldn't recall if she'd planned to go down to the fence line or not, but damn it all, that was the last thing Finn had said.
Fence line.
He heard a soft moan inside the cabin. Finn! Morgan shoved past Bolt and reached Finn as the man toppled to the ground. Blood soaked the denim covering his left leg and was already staining the wood floor. He was bleeding just as heavily from a long, narrow slice across his shoulders.
“What the hell happened to you?” Kneeling beside Finn, Morgan checked his injuries. Scratches on his face and neck, probably from brush or possibly ricochets, a deep furrow across his shoulders where it looked as if he'd been grazed by a bullet, and what appeared to be a serious gunshot wound in his left calf, just below the back of his knee.
There was no sign the bullet had gone through.
“Fuck. Fuck this. Damn it all to hell, Morgan.” Finn raised his head and stared at Morgan, and there were tears in his eyes. “I didn't intend to get shot. We need to get this taken care of. We're scheduled to leave in . . .”
Morgan shook his head. “You're not going anywhere, Finn. Not with injuries like this. We need to deal with that wound in your leg. It's bleeding like crazy. You need a doctor.”
“I can help.” Bolt knelt beside Finn and gently placed his hand on Finn's forehead. “Lie back. Be still. I'll heal what I can.”
He shimmered into pure energy and disappeared inside Finn, who lay back with his eyes shut. Duran suddenly appeared next to Morgan. “Is he badly hurt?”
Morgan shook his head. “He's been shot. Bolt went in to fix things. I know Zianne did this for that news guy a long time ago, though I don't think there was a bullet involved.”
Duran smiled and shook his head. “No, but a knife wound isn't an easy fix, either.”
Tara knelt beside Duran and held Finn's hand. The two of them seemed to be praying, and Morgan wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. He heard footsteps behind him and glanced over his shoulder as Rodie raced into the room. Her wild-eyed gaze flew to Morgan.
“You just popped into my head. I wasn't sure what was going on—just a strong sense that you needed me. What happened to Finn?”
Morgan shook his head. “I don't know for sure. We were practicing moving around while in energy form and he took off. Next thing I know, I'm hearing gunshots, and he shows up bleeding like a stuck pig.”
“Where's Bolt?” She sat beside Finn with her legs crossed and took his limp hand in hers.
“Bolt's inside Finn. He's repairing damage from the inside.”
“Oh.”
They all heard a soft
plop
as a bullet landed on the floor beside Finn's leg. Duran reached for the slug and handed it to Morgan. “It's good that Bolt has gotten the projectile out. That will help Finnegan heal.”
Morgan turned the bloody lump of metal over in his fingers. “That's a damned big shell. It should have gone clear through, unless it lodged in the bone.”
Finn moaned. His body stiffened, and then relaxed. Morgan immediately placed his fingers against the big artery in Finn's neck. His pulse was rapid, but strong and steady. Sighing with relief, Morgan glanced at Rodie. “Shit. I thought something worse had happened.”
Duran stroked Finn's forehead. “I imagine Bolt is repairing the bones in his leg. The bullet might have shattered them. He has probably passed out from the pain. Healing serious injuries in corporeal bodies this quickly is not a painless process.”
Tara held tightly to Finn's other hand. She'd not said a word, but tears ran slowly down her cheeks. “He is in much pain. I'm in his mind and doing my best to take him away from what Bolt is doing for him.” She stared at Duran for a long moment and then focused on Rodie. “He may still be able to help with the rescue, but in case he isn't strong enough, would you be able to go?”
“Me?” Rodie squeaked, and stared at Tara.
Tara nodded. “I know it's asking a lot, but we can't expect Morgan to do this on his own, and we need another human. The Gar weapons can disrupt our Nyrian energy fields, no matter what form we take.”
“Rodie's not going on that ship.” Morgan glared at Tara. “We'll get Mac. Or Cameron. Anyone else but Rodie. It's too dangerous.”
“Excuse me?”
Rodie stared at Morgan like she might want to take his head off. “Did I actually hear you answering for me?” She shook her head and smiled at Tara. “All I need is for someone to show me what to do. I'm perfectly willing to go.” Turning back to Morgan, she gave him a look that should have left him dodging daggers. “I will admit I was surprised when you asked me, Tara, but I'm more than capable, and I'm sure Morgan can teach me how to make the shift.”
Finn moaned, his eyes flickered and slowly opened. Morgan realized that somehow, during the time he'd been sticking his foot in his mouth, Bolt had reappeared beside Finn and there was no longer any sign of blood on either Finn's shoulders or his leg.
Morgan raised his head and stared at Bolt. “How the hell did you do that?”
“I go inside and draw the blood back in, remove impurities so it can be replaced, and also repair and replace the tissue and bone cells so I can put them back where they belong. Because I'm in my energy form, what would normally take hours is done fairly quickly, at least in your perception. That's all.” Bolt shrugged.
That's all. Crap.
And that simple shrug. Such a human gesture from someone so obviously not human, but whatever he'd done must have worked. Finn was blinking his eyes and looking around at everyone staring back at him. He focused on Morgan. “What the shit just happened?”
Morgan shook his head. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
Finn struggled to sit up. Before Morgan could move to help him, both Tara and Duran were supporting his back and then standing with him. Leaning heavily on the Nyrians, Finn stood there a minute and stared at his leg, at the neat hole in the denim just beneath the back of his knee. He raised his head and stared at Duran. “Did you . . . ?”

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