The Theron Residency (Brides of Theron Book 4) (24 page)

“Are you alright?” questioned a small, spritely nurse.

“Yes, it’s my first day. I’m a little nervous,” Araime gave her a weak smile and tried to play the part.

The nurse touched her shoulder and said, “There is no need to be worried, this is the safest place to work in the city. We take care of our own. My name is Misty, and I work on the second floor in the Nursery. Come and meet me on your break if you want.”

“Thank you, Misty. I’m Angeline.” She swallowed hard after saying the baby’s name. The nurse didn’t seem alarmed by her behavior as she smiled sweetly and took a step to the second floor. “It was nice to meet you Angeline. I’ll see you around.”

Floor by floor the elevator emptied and she was the only one left going up. The doors opened and she pushed the chair out of the elevator and into the hall. She was getting her bearings. The maps she studied at the home base with invisible walls didn’t compare to the obstructing reality of real walls and doors that made up the halls. She checked the signage to get a grasp on the direction she should take. “Take the third door on the left. Then, walk past the nurses’ station and take a right. Ava’s room will be the last one on the right.” She heard Rog say. “You can do this, but if you think you can’t, tell me now and we can abort.”

“I can do this.” She said aloud as a nurse crossed her path.

“Excuse me?” the nurse said.

“It’s my first day. I am just trying to get my bearings.” Araime nodded.

“Don’t worry, it will be easier to navigate by the week's end. See you around.” She said and continued to push her cart with assorted supplies down the hallway.

Araime fumbled for her key card as she approached the door and placed it to the panel. The doors swung wide slowly and she walked through. She could hear the noises of machinery and patients calling out for help. She was told in advance that this was the mental health ward, so she should have expected what she found here. She walked past the nurses’ station giving the workers behind the desk a smile and a nod as she passed by. She turned right and followed the hallway until she got to the room guarded by two armed men.

“Hi boys, is this Ava Langston’s room?” Araime asked.

“What business do you have here?” the guard said gruffly.

“Apparently, Dr. Flaban wants the patient taken down for testing. Something about abnormal results from a device monitoring her ankle.” She took the chart from the spot by the door and showed the guard on the left. “She must suspect something is wrong?”

“The patient is not supposed to leave this room. General’s orders.” The guard looked up from the orders on Ava’s chart and handed it back to her. “They will have to do the test here.”

“I am afraid that they can’t do the test here. The equipment involved in completing this test is massive and takes up a lot of space. They can’t just bring it down the hallways. She will have to be transported downstairs to the first floor.”

“There is no way that I will let you take her from this room without my commanding officer’s approval. So go on about your business.” He resumed his guard duty crossing his arms over his chest.

Araime started to turn away when she heard Rog say, “Tell them to call their commanding officer. Tell them that if it is a clot, it may dislodge and cause death to the patient.”

She put on a stern facial expression. “Look, would it be possible for you to contact your commanding officer to see if an exception can be made. If the doctor thinks that this abnormal result is because of a clot, it is possible that the clot may dislodge and cause death to the patient. You wouldn’t be guarding this woman if she weren't important. Don’t you think they would want her to stay alive?”

The guards looked at each other. The guard on the right said to the guard on the left, “The nurse has a point Solan.”

Then the guard on the left stomped off down the hall out of earshot and contacted the general. She stood outside the door quietly until the Solan returned. “The general said we will have to accompany the patient if the test is required.”

“The testing room is small. There is only enough room for the patient and the nurse. After I put her on the table, I can’t remain in the room because the equipment sweeps across the room. Are you sure that you both have to go? Maybe, one of you can go and the other could wait here? I am sure she won’t be any trouble.”

“Our orders stand. Both Visal and I will go.” Solan said resolutely.

“Alright. Well, let’s go get the patient, shall we?”             

She put the chart in the pocket of the chair and followed the guards inside. There she saw Ava wincing as if she were in pain. I will need to put her in this chair. Visal picked the small woman up off the bed and deposited her into the chair. Araime carefully put her feet on the footrests and secured everything. She draped a blanket over Ava and explained that they would be going down to do a scan of her leg. The moment Ava saw Araime’s name tag, she started to wail. Araime thought that whoever had the bright idea of putting her dead child’s name on her name tag would get an earful from her when she got back. “Are you all right miss?” Araime said, but Ava continued to cry.

“Be quiet woman!” Solan yelled out in frustration. She could tell which of the men was in charge when Visal flinched.

“It’s alright. You are going to be just fine. All will be well.” Ava looked up at her as if in recognition of her voice, but then shook her head wiping the tears from her face. If Rog and Dr. Langston did a double take when seeing her, Ava would not recognize her in this disguise. They gave her a few minutes to regain her composure and when she stopped crying, Araime pushed her out into the hallway. She had stay sharp at this point. At the end and to the left of this ward was a service elevator that she intended to bring Ava down in. This elevator did not have the mirrored panels like the others did. The walls were covered with quilted material to prevent scratching of beds and other equipment.

“Where are you going nurse?” said Solan, “The elevators are this way.”

“I was directed to take her down the service elevator. It is the closest to the testing lab and just like you, I have to follow orders.” Araime said with confidence even though she was feeling less than confident at the moment.

The guard turned on a heel and said to her surprise, “Lead the way.”

She led them down the hallway to where the elevator was supposed to be, keeping her eyes peeled for the buttons that would mark it as being different from an ordinary door. As soon as they came to it she pushed the button and waited. The guards were quietly talking amongst themselves as the elevator doors opened. Guard Visal held the door open for Araime as she wheeled Ava into the elevator and then joined Solan inside. “Visal, would you please press the button for the first floor?” He turned his attention to the panel of buttons. The doors closed and Araime pressed the square button of the badge holder firmly against Solan’s back. He fell down to the ground jerking. She called out to the other guard and said, “Something is wrong with your man here. He just fainted.” Visal alarmed, bent over to check on Solan. Araime stepped behind him and hooked the bend of her elbow at his throat grabbing her shoulder. She then tucked her other hand behind his head and squeezed tightly. He was asleep in seconds. She looked over to a shocked Ava and said, “Ava, are you alright? It’s Araime.”

Ava blinked a couple of times and looked confused, “Araime?”

“Yes, Araime. I have come to rescue you. We’re going to get you out of here.” She worked fast to drag the sleeping guards out of the way so she would have a clear path out of the elevator. They reached the first floor and the doors opened and she checked both sides to see that the coast was clear. She pushed Ava out into the hallway. “Which way do I go?” She said louder than she intended.

“Go left.” She turned left and walked fast down the hallway into a small linen closet and pushed her inside. “We need to make sure that she doesn’t have any tracking devices on her once we get her into the van. Now, put her in the basket and meet Naten in the back of the hospital.”

“Alright, Ava. We need to get you into that basket. Can you lean over me so I can pick you up?” Ava nodded and Araime bent over draping Ava over her shoulder and tossing her into the basket. Ava hit her ankle and started to scream. “Shhhh, be quiet! We can’t draw any attention.” Ava covered her mouth. Araime covered Ava with a sheet and opened the door. She looked both ways to see if anyone was in the hallway. The coast was clear, or so it seemed. The minute she had turned her back to push the basket down the corridor in the direction of the loading dock, she heard a man shout. She turned to see who it was and saw a disheveled Visal shouting, “She is over here!”

Araime started to run fast pushing the basket along when she heard Rog say, “Use the necklace Araime!” She let go of the basket and it hit the wall. When it hit the wall, she heard Ava scream. She yanked down hard on the necklace and threw it down the hall. When the beads hit the ground, they scattered in all directions. The hospital guards that were running down the hall fell backward as they slipped on the beads. She heard Rog again, “Activate them now, Araime!” She pressed the red stone and the beads started to rise up from the ground and link together with laser lights. As the guards touched the beams of light, they were stunned. “Run!” Rog yelled. They just needed to turn the corner to get to the back double doors. The large door button was now in reach as she stopped the basket and slid to the side punching it with a closed fist.

Naten was waiting with his ramp down and swooped to retrieve Ava, wheeling the basket up the ramp. “Come on. We have to get out of here,” he said as he reached for Araime’s hand and pulled her into the truck and secured the door. He shoved a metal baton into her hands. “Scan her for tracking devices and throw them out the window if you find any.”

As they pulled out, another one of Naten’s laundry trucks pulled in. She passed the scanner over Ava and they heard an alarm when the wand passed over the hospital bracelet. Ava grabbed at it and tugged as hard as she could. Her fingers were turning blue as she forced the bracelet over her palm. Finally, she managed to slip it free of her hand and shoved it at Araime, who industriously threw it out the back window only to watch it fall down a drain that lined the street. Araime passed the wand one more time for good measure and the result was silent.

Araime could hear the breath of relief that Rog just let out followed by, “Tell Naten that I turned off the cameras during the whole thing. They won’t know he was at the hospital today.”

“Rog took care of the cameras Naten. They aren’t going to know that you had anything to do with this.” She turned to look inside the basket and asked, “Ava, are you alright?”

“I’m okay. Where’s Garrett?” She asked.

“He is back at home base. We will have several more transfers until we can get there.”

They stopped at the laundry facility where they were moved to another transport vehicle for laundry soaps and supplies. After that, they snuck into the car of a woman employee that would transport them to as close as she could to the warehouse. Then, Dr. Langston would pick them up from where they hid in a small dilapidated shelter and bring them home.

It took several hours, and while they hid, Araime consoled the teary eyed bereaved mother and they talked about the girl who died just two days before. Araime shared some of her own heartbreak and they cried together in that cold shack waiting for Ava’s father-in-law to get to them. Poor Ava had been through so much, that when Dr. Langston arrived she ran into his arms and cried until not a tear was left. Araime wanted to see Rog desperately, but she would wait until Ava was able to continue.

They drove to the loading dock and Rog ran out to the car to get Araime. He carried her out of the car to the screams of triumph coming from the other residents of the warehouse. Garrett ran and kissed his wife with tears streaming down his face. Probably because he was afraid that he would never see her again. She knew that he would have died to get her back and was glad that they were successful. To lose Garrett would be a blow to the rebellion. Dr. Langston handed Araime the medicine he promised. Today’s mission wasn’t the typical one as of late. Everyone involved came back alive.

Ceran was transported to Zeb’s office on the Eternity mothership. He looked over to his former commander and the man with his back turned to him in the corner with curiosity. “How can I help you, Sir?”

The man in the corner turned around. He was blue with what seemed to be a layer of scales that almost looked like small, downy feathers. His eyes were large and round with bright green irises and he had a black stubby beak. He had never seen a being quite like this before. He had a black hood over his long black hair that was tucked behind his ears. Curious, Ceran thought. He had never seen a being in any of his travels that resembled one like this man. “This is Zion. He is a warrior from Eldoret in the Ivaldi System. He has been working closely with Ashtar command. He is here to instruct you on alternative fighting methods.”

Ceran nodded to the bird man. “Will I be gone long? I want to be able to participate in the offensive against Drylon. If this will interfere, then I must ask that we postpone this training until we have retrieved our enslaved warriors.” Ceran’s thoughts were really not on the recovery mission, but instead on Laura. He wanted to be here when she returned. Already, the distance that separated them was making it hard for him to breathe. Zion, meanwhile, said nothing and stood in the corner eyeing him up and down as if to measure his abilities.

“You will go with him regardless, he has assured me that you will be back before we leave for the Mithuna System.” Zeb looked at Zion and they exchanged nods. “You will not need to get your things. You will both leave immediately.” Zion nodded again to Zeb and started to walk over to the door. He looked back at Ceran expectantly. Ceran gave one last glance at Zeb, who prodded him along with jut of his chin. “It will be alright. I have been assured that he is one of the most highly trained warriors in the universe.”

Ceran walked over to Zion, opened the door and said, “After you.” Zion walked out without a word in the direction of the electronportation room. “I’m just going to go out on a limb here and ask. Do you speak?”

“
In good time. We have much to do. I will have much to say once we get to our destination. Once there, our time constraints will no longer be an issue. For now, I will remain silent,
” came a loud, booming voice inside his head. Telepathy, Ceran realized.

Ceran watched as he walked down the hall. Zion had a spring in his step. He was muscular and tall but really not much to look at physically. He would describe him as wiry if he had to choose a word. His body type almost made it impossible to believe that this man would be a more skilled warrior than the ones he had spent years training with at the academy. He knew that looks could be deceiving and was hoping that this was the case with Zion. Overall, he sensed Zion’s overwhelming control of his features. His expression had not changed from the stern, concentrated, unemotional countenance that he had when he first entered Zeb’s office.

When they materialized from the electronportation room into a cavern deep inside the planet. Ceran was confused. “Where are we going?” He looked around the large open area. It was damp and humid in this place, and was lit by several crystalline sconces on the wall. About 10 feet from him he saw an arch that seemed to be built into the rock wall. The type of rock in the frame was not the same as the rock inside of it. He walked over to it and touched the symbols that were carved into it. “Wait. I think I know what this is. Is this a stargate?”

“Yes,”
Zion said apparently not wishing to elaborate. He closed his eyes in concentration and several symbols appeared in the rock wall all at once. Ceran recognized one of the symbols of the Sirius star system and the one for Theron, but none of the others.

“I have only heard about stargates mentioned in books. I have never seen one in person. I thought that they were all destroyed. Is this a gate on Theron? Are we going to the Sirian Star system? Because, if we are, from what I have read, when Sirius C went dead, that was supposedly the end of that system.”

“Boy, you ask a lot of questions. They didn’t tell me that you would be this talkative.”
His voice echoed inside of Ceran’s consciousness.
“We are going to the planet Xylanthia in the Sirius star system. The reason you learned that we didn’t exist is because we made you believe that was true. The planet I have been calling home for more than half my life is hidden behind a Dyson Sphere to cloak our presence and to keep away anyone with intent of doing us harm. You see, just like you I am a transplant. I was born on Eldoret in the Ivaldi System. I am seeking the men that murdered my sister. The Ashtar Command happens to think that maybe our missions are not so different. They believe that the Emperor of Drylon is the man I seek.”

As he spoke, the rock within the gate started to ripple like water. This was amazing to imagine that he would be in a system that was 10 light years from Theron in an instant. Stargates had to be the fastest way to travel the Universe and to think, he was about to experience it for himself.

“Wait a second, I’m a transplant? Is that what you said?” Ceran did a double take.

“That is a story for later. Well, come on boy. We have much to do.”
He took a big step into the fluid and started to disappear little by little. Ceran was hesitant but followed him inside. The liquid was thick and viscous as he walked through. He was expecting to be wet when he came out, but he was dry and just as he was before he entered. He took a look around where he stood. He was inside a colorful garden that surrounded the compliment gate at its center. A circle of hedgerows surrounded them and the moss was soft and springy under his feet. The sky was filled with swirls of glorious colors reflected through mystic clouds and vapors. As the skies dimmed and the temperature dropped slightly. Just when he thought the sun would go down, another star started to rise in the opposite direction.

“We really do not have the dark cover of night. The planet travels a path between two suns. When we are not illuminated by one, we are illuminated by the other, Sirius A and B.”
He pointed out to a dark circle suspended in the sky.
“That is Sirius C. Come now, follow me.”

They walked a circular path for a while that led into a city. The layout of the city followed the circular patterns that he saw in the garden. Zion crossed several streets and brought him into a tall building that must have been a hundred stories high. They were utilitarian in style, white, and all of the windows were covered with white curtains. The people they passed on the street seemed to notice them but paid them no mind. They were dressed in all white or pale blue clothing that showed off the color of their pale blue skin. They had no observable hair on their heads or face, but were clearly hominid, sharing similar facial characteristics, but their eyes were much larger than his or Laura’s. One thing was clear, none of these people looked anything like Zion. Ceran started to wonder how he came to be here in the first place.

Zion stopped in front of the third tall building. All of them were the same and were indistinguishable to his eyes, Ceran wondered just how Zion knew that this building was the right one. Zion opened the door and Ceran walked in. Zion led him to a bank of elevators. The elevators were odd as they didn’t have buttons. They were like the transportation tubes in the ship you spoke where you wanted to go, but Zion said nothing and the elevator took off smoothly. There was a slight jolt when the elevator stopped and the doors opened. There was only one doorway in this hall. Zion must have the whole floor to himself.

Zion stepped out and led him to a door that seemed to open on its own. When Ceran entered, he noticed that the room was very plain. Grass woven mats covered the floor and a hammock was strung in the corner. It looked as if a bed was brought in for him along the other wall because it didn’t match anything else in the apartment. Off to the side was a large room. He looked at the open door and saw that it was completely empty of furniture or decoration except for the metal riveted walls. Just next to the door frame was a box of square flat crystals of varying colors. He looked up to see the slots in the wall that the crystals would fit into. “Is this a holographic chamber?” he said excitedly.

“Yes, you are a very bright kid. That will be where most of our training will take place. You must be hungry.”
Ceran explored the room. It was clear that Zion was a minimalist. On the wall next to the hammock hung many different weapons, mostly long knives like the one that was strapped to his back protruding from long black hooded trench coat he wore. There were daggers and a couple of guns. Zion slid the long knives out of the holsters from his back and hung them on the wall. He took off his jacket and hung it on a hook by his bed. His muscular limbs could now be seen underneath the black sleeveless shirt and snug leather pants. The black composite scabbard crossed over his back and had straps like a backpack. He walked over to a small kitchenette area and pressed several buttons.
“I’ve ordered dinner. Maybe we can talk about why you are here now.”

Ceran went to sit on one of the white metal stools that lined the bar opposite Zion. “Why am I here?”

“You are here because origins dictate it,”
Zion said cryptically.

“What are you talking about?”

“Have you ever wondered why your grandparents settled in a community so far away from civilization? Your grandparents were a part of a great experiment. They were trying to see if they could jump start the evolution of your people. This has been done on other planets, you see. The problem was that they could not live a life completely on their own. You know this because it is one of the reasons that you left the compound. You see, there was talk of you by the Oracle. One of Animsin’s line would be born aware, and that was you.”
Zion paused and examined his fingernails,
“You had to know that you were different.”

“I have never heard of Animsin. You must be mistaken. While it is true that I am able to master subjects and topics with minimal effort, I really don’t think that sets me that far apart from any of my fellow Theron people.” Ceran ran a hand over his face and shook his head trying to understand.

“Animsin was your Great-Grandfather. He was a highly ranked commander in our fleet that has spent eons policing the universe. His son Iain Moor, your grandfather, found me on Eldoret. He taught me the knowledge of the ancients so that it may be passed on to others. You are descended from a very ancient line of noble and wise people. Although your blood has been diluted by those of the Theron race, it has had no ill effects. I can smell it on you. You are in the ranks of those wise beings in your ancestry. If I can teach you and you succeed, I will reunite you with those of your family that remain. I will help you fulfill the prophecy.”

“My family is dead,” Ceran said harshly as if to end the topic. “How long will we be here?”

“I tell you that there is a prophecy that might pertain to you, and the only question you ask is, how long you will be here? Is that what you really want to know?”
Zion looked over to Ceran who nodded, “
You will be here as long as it takes. On this planet, we know how to bend time so I will return you to the time that is shortly after you left your ship.”
Zion shook his head in disbelief.

“I just wanted to be sure that I will be back in time…in time for…”

“You want to back in time for your mate. I know Anora and have worked with her many times. She is in good hands. She is in the hands of her family. Anora wouldn’t do anything to hurt her daughter.”

Her daughter? Ceran thought back to the stories told to him by Laura. Not once did she mention anyone named Anora. He let that thought bide for a moment, “Back to my grandparents and this experiment. What were they supposed to achieve by participating in it?” Ceran asked.

“They set up a colony and were supposed to live off the land. It is a bit harder to do this on Theron because all the people were used to the conveniences of modern technology. They couldn’t completely break the ties. But, we found out that maybe the effort to keep you isolated weren’t necessary. That enlightened child would need information to help develop the bridge to the collective consciousness. That is why we sent your Uncle Samael back to you.”

“Did my father know about this?” Ceran wondered. If his father had known about this, he wouldn’t have been so angry with him for leaving, right?

“Your father had no idea. Your mother didn’t either. Only a select few had knowledge of the experiment. Your grandparents were scientist with the Federation. They wanted to set up an experiment to test the adaptability non-native beings to new environments. A team of 8 scientists were sent down to the surface to interbreed with the native populations. After several generations were born, the offspring would be visited and collected. After the attacks, you are the only one of the direct descendants of that experiment that remains.”

“It was time to come and get you anyway. To understand more fully, you should know that I am a transplant as well. I was given the opportunity to find the bastards that possessed my sister and took her away from us. The Galactic Federation of Free Worlds scouts out planets that are advanced enough to participate in trade with other planets in the universe. That is how they found my planet, Eldoret. Eldoret wasn’t advanced enough at the time, but Iain Moor found me and saw potential in me. The fact of the matter is that, our goals are aligned. I was sent to collect you and train you to reach your full potential in order to bring an end to Gatton.”