Hybrid Zone Recognition (25 page)

“Hello, Beautiful.”

My eyes flew across the room, zeroing in on the voice. Strutting across the tent was a free and unbloodied Pike. That was not quite correct. He was wiping blood from his hands with Juarez’s shirt. Olivia and Juarez’s blood.

I was thrust from the surreal distance into the very real present. Rage filled my entire being. I now understood the phrase, I saw red. It seemed like my vision had been shrouded in red. All I could think was, he’s dead.

Adam’s concern penetrated the haze, and I answered him before he could ask.
They’ve got Olivia and Juarez. Pike, however, is amazingly free and unharmed.

Adam’s anger joined mine, adding yet another layer. With his boost, I felt stronger and even more eager to fight.

Pike stopped in front of me, and everything faded from my vision except him. He was within easy reach. A swipe of my claws across his neck was all it would take. I would have to make sure I hit hard and deep enough so that he wouldn’t be able to heal from it. But it would be so easy.

Adam must have picked up on what I was contemplating. I recognized the effort it took for him to rein in his anger.

Macy,
he said with his voice tinted with fear.
Don’t do anything that’s going to get you killed.

They hurt them! Pike hurt them!
I screamed at him.
He betrayed them!

I know, Macy. I know. We’ll get them out, and Pike will pay for his betrayal. I’ll see to it.

I could see to it right now. Focusing on Pike, I let all the anger, all the rage I felt fill my eyes. My head tilted to the side as I located the pulse in his neck and measured the force I would need.

Sensing his mistake, Pike scowled and stepped back out of my reach.

“Now, now, play nice, you two,” chided Millsap as he observed the exchange.

I felt anything but nice. Did he not realize how close to death he was?

You can’t give in to the leopard right now,
I heard Adam say as if from a distance
.

But I could. I could give in to the rage. I could end them both. I thought it would even feel good. Every muscle in my body burned with the need to attack.

Macy, please,
Adam pleaded
. You have to pull it back.

It was the please that did it. I didn’t understand his reasoning, but I’d learned to trust him.

Swallowing my anger was physically painful, but I forced it away, allowing the shift to go with it. Letting go of the rage left me feeling empty and numb. It also left me clear headed for the first time since I had awakened.

“That’s better, don’t you think?” Millsap said, as he acknowledged my down shift. “More civilized, hmm?”

This from the man who wanted everyone to be more animalistic. I turned my face to him and watched his amused grin fade. I knew if I held his stare much longer he would be forced to look away, thus blowing my submissive cover. It felt like I was moving through concrete as I looked down at the ground.

Does Pike know I can talk to you?
I asked Adam.

Once again, I was awash in relief that wasn’t my own. But it felt good this time. It strengthened me rather than making me feel drunk, and I soaked it in.

Not to my knowledge. Prior to recently, it’s only happened one other time in our history. And that was at the very beginning.
Adam paused.
Cedars didn’t tell him anything either. At the most, he would merely suspect a connection.

I looked at Olivia and Juarez again. Obviously Millsap wanted me to observe the scene in front of me. The question was, why? As an implied threat if I didn’t cooperate? Or to expose Pike’s role in the torture? Maybe both.

“Were you always working for them, or did you just recently switch teams,” I sneered at Pike.

He seemed truly confused by my anger. But feeling he was no longer in danger, the playful demeanor that had been his returned.

“This is the best way. You’ll see,” he assured me, complete with a waggle of his eyebrows. Then he reached as if to brush my cheek with his fingers.

I growled a warning, and he abruptly dropped his hand.

Millsap chuckled at Pike’s embarrassment. Something that Pike clearly didn’t like. The two studied each other with malice in their eyes. I knew they were working together, but they appeared to hate each other.

Regardless of their relationship, Pike wasn’t the greatest threat in the tent. I turned my attention from him and focused on Millsap.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what is your interest in me?” I asked Millsap.

“You, my dear Dr. Greer, are going to make our dream a reality.”

Not if I could help it.

He held the tent flap aside, indicating it was time to leave. I exited under his uplifted arm without looking back. He smelled like a garbage dump, which was fitting for a roach.

I didn’t know where he intended to go, so I stopped and waited for him to catch up. Was he bouncing?

“The fact that you are now a hybrid only makes it sweeter.” He did a single pirouette and leapt over a tree root, landing squarely in front of me. He raised his eyebrows at me, daring me to comment, and then walked calmly away as if he had done nothing strange.

Well, that just added a whole new level of crazy. I stared at his retreating form, struggling to find a diagnosis that fit him. He was both evil pyscho and completely nuts. And, apparently, also a ballerina. He was a pyschonuterina.

Why would anyone willingly choose to let him be their leader? They’d have to be crazy or under a threat of some kind. Or programmed against their will?

I scanned the camp again, looking for any weak links. The guards were all blank faced which gave me no clue as to how they felt about his leadership.

As far as the camp went, it was a simple configuration. Two rows of tents formed a right angle with a single row of jeeps completing the triangle. Not much of a headquarters for a president.

I could tell by his fidgeting that he was eager to say more about his plan. It would probably be best if I played along.

“If you’re counting on me to come up with a plan to enact this worldwide hybridization, you are going to have to send me to school. I have a lot of catching up to do.”

He laughed derisively. That wasn’t a good sign.

“My dear, Dr. Greer,” he said smugly.

I really wished he would stop calling me dear.

“I am not interested in your brain,” he said, looking at me like I was the dumbest person in the world for not knowing what he was thinking.

He wasn’t interested in my brain? If he didn’t want me to craft a plan, then what did he want me for?

He giggled at the puzzled expression on my face. “Well, not in the way that you think. It’s your DNA that I want.”

That was unexpected enough for me to be intrigued. “You’re going to clone me?”

“You are too cute, Dr. Greer. I am not going to clone you. Clones are poor replications of the original. We both know that on the inside they are fraught with DNA mutations which over the space of a few years lead to the failure of the specimen.”

Was everyone in this new world a molecular biology expert?

If he noticed my consternation with his level of knowledge, he gave no outward sign. He was too consumed with whatever juicy secret was concealed behind his shining eyes.

I still didn’t see the connection between my DNA and his interest in my brain. He didn’t want me to form a plan, and he wasn’t cloning me. Then what did he need my DNA for?

“No, no,” he continued, snickering and tossing his head from side to side. “We aren’t going to clone you, we are going to make offspring from you.”

My steps faltered, and I stumbled over a protruding root. Offspring? As in babies?

“That’s right, Dr. Greer,” he said. “Beautiful bouncing baby boys and girls. I will make a whole army of Dr. Greers. Then no one will ever be able to stop me again.”

It was too much.
Adam!
I cried.
Where are you?

We’ve reached the edge of the camp. There are more guards than I had hoped. Too many for just me and Cedars to handle—

I cut across Adam’s thoughts.
He wants to make babies using my DNA.

Adam’s shock reverberated through the bond.
He what?

Babies. He wants to make me into a supply house for a baby factory.
I barely registered Adam’s emotions through the fear that threatened to overtake me.

I will never let that happen!
Adam roared.

His fury was unmistakable, and I swayed a little under the force of it. I quickly grabbed the nearest tent to steady myself and hoped Millsap didn’t notice.

“Here we go, Dr. Greer,” Millsap said, eyeing me intently. “Your home away from home while you are with us.” He watched me with interest until I stood up unaided by the tent.

I surmised his intentions were not to let me merrily go on my way when he was finished with me. All of my instincts were telling me to fight or run, but I knew that would just lead to more darts and a return trip to La La Land. If I wanted to escape, then I had to enter the tent. Those few steps into the tent were some of the hardest I’d ever taken.

“You are, of course, free to roam about the complex when not in use,” he said.

Complex? It barely ranked as a decent campsite. He was delusional on so many fronts.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll try to escape?” I asked.

The smile that crept across his face hinted at all kinds of evil. “Where could you possibly go that I couldn’t find you?”

Once again, I fought the need to shift. I knew it was best to let him think I was still the submissive female and not fighting the urge to tear his head off. It would keep me alive and unbound longer and give Adam the best chance to forge a rescue attempt. I owed that much to Olivia and Juarez.

Unaware of my struggle, he let the flap fall. It slapped loudly against the tent. “Enjoy your evening, Dr. Greer,” he called as he walked away.

I turned my back to the opening and waited until my eyes adjusted to the darkened interior of the tent. The accommodations weren’t much. A cot stood against one side. A table with a tray of food was opposite that. I walked slowly to the cot and sat down, dropping my head into my hands.

There were moments in life that let you know what kind of person you were—what exactly you were capable of. Without any doubt in my mind, I knew when the opportunity arose, I was going to do everything possible to kill Millsap. In fact, I was intent on not leaving here until Millsap was dead.

No one was taking my babies from me. No one.

Peace descended over me as I accepted, even anticipated my new role. Strange how a little leopard DNA made killing my enemies totally acceptable. Or maybe it wasn’t just the added DNA. People like Millsap didn’t deserve to live. I just never figured myself as the executioner. But there was no gray with me on this issue. He was a danger not only to me, but to every other being on the earth. He had to die.

This must have been what Olivia was trying to get me to understand. If I had the ability to stop people like Millsap, then I had a responsibility to. I hoped I got the chance to tell her that I now understood what she meant.

Adam.

I’m here.

I think I’d like to join the superhero mutant team now.

The joy he felt accompanied his words to me.
Welcome aboard,
he said quietly
.

I stretched out on the cot and laid one arm across my eyes.
When does Operation Get My Butt out of Here commence?

As soon as reinforcements arrive. Should be a couple hours still.

Won’t they be able to spot you?
I didn’t think my captors would miss a small army gathering around their camp.

Shouldn’t. They’ll come bearing mobile optic shield generators large enough to cover us. Until dark.

What happens at dark?

We glow blue or rather, the shields do. Sort of give us away.

You’d look good in blue.

Our bond was becoming stronger. I both heard and felt him snort in response. I’d never sensed so many emotions coming from him. In fact, before the transfusion, I thought he was rather cold and unfeeling. I was wrong.

Rolling onto my side, I put one arm underneath my head and tucked the opposite hand between my knees.
Adam, this rage thing...
I felt him still, waiting for me to continue.
I wanted to kill him with my bare hands. I wanted so badly to give in to the rage and rip out his throat.
I sighed, recalling the rage that had almost overpowered me.
It would have been so easy.

But you didn’t
, he replied carefully.

Is it always like this? This—
what was the word—
consuming?
Again, I felt him pause as he searched for the right words. If I closed my eyes, I could almost see him.

It will consume you, if you let it. Then you may do things that you will regret later. Once you start down the path of giving in to the urge to kill, it’s a hard road back. But you don’t have to let it consume you. Just like earlier, you can master it and use it strategically.

I thought of the many times over these last few days that I’d seen him visibly force down his anger. It could be done.

You’ve mastered it,
I told him.

His response was very solemn.
Not without a few regrets. But you’re better than me, Macy. You’ve already mastered it several times just today.

Didn’t feel like it. I rolled onto my back, pillowing my head in my hands.
You’ve suspected Pike all along, haven’t you?

Yeah
, he said, his anger seething just below the surface.
But I had no proof. Considering his position, eliminating him based on a judgment call from me was not acceptable.

His words were logical, but I could sense the regret that he now had regarding his decision not to act.

I hate him
, I said.

I know, Macy.

Given the bond that we now shared, I knew he did.
He has to die.

I know.

The tent flap suddenly flew aside, and Pike sauntered in, looking entirely too relaxed and happy. Before I knew what was happening, I had rolled to a standing crouch in the center of the tent.

Pike’s bravado faded a little, and his forward motion stopped as he observed me. “How’s it going?” he asked casually.

Seriously?

He ran his hand through his hair while mumbling, “Dumb question.”

What’s happening
, Adam asked.

I rudely shushed him while I focused all my attention on Pike. Everything in his demeanor, his movements, his voice, the expression on his face, projected non-threatening. Everything except his eyes. They were intense, cold and calculating. And they were intently watching me. I guessed he was planning his actions based on my responses. It seemed Pike was the consummate actor.