The Guardian's Wildchild (6 page)

“Already tried him, or should I say, looked for him. He’s apparently unavailable. People with your … talents are extremely rare. Ryan says you’re the best of the Guardians at manipulating electrical currents and telekinesis.”

Sidney shrugged her shoulders. “There are occasions when I fail, you know. I’m just as human as you.”

“It’s your choice. It’s down to the last strokes. If you refuse, well, I hope you have a nice place to hide. Most of humanity doesn’t. I’ll contact you tomorrow for your answer. Good evening.”

Sitting on the mountain ledge, Sidney tried to hang on to her connection with what had been her world — one she knew had its dark side, but not the insanity that Badger had spoken of. His prediction of a world gone mad was real. Birthstone had foretold that humanity would suffer a cataclysmic event that was of their own doing. She had taken Sidney forward in time to when Earth had become a lifeless planet. Sidney had assumed it would be due to greed and hatred. Now it was clearer — the Earth’s demise would be caused by an all-consuming fear.

She had believed that price would be paid by a future generation — not that it would be now, and not for a novice Guardian to quell.

Just when her vision of the planet’s fate was at its darkest, she felt the presence of her spirit guide, Seamus. Light surrounded her as his gentle energy permeated her physical space. She felt his ethereal hands resting on her shoulders, providing her with a depth of love that physical hands couldn’t.

Most often it was Sidney who’d initiate the connection with her spiritual guide. It was almost a golden rule among spiritual entities to touch the three-dimensional world only upon receiving a beckoning call from their charges. Seamus occasionally broke that rule. Continuously aware of Sidney’s energy, he was drawn to heal her troubled heart. Understanding her need before it was spoken, Seamus spoke.

“My sweet child, fear clouds your wisdom. Fear draws Darkness to you.”

“Seamus, I’m concerned for humanity and the Earth. And yet it may be wrong for me to interfere with the admiral’s business.”

“Sidney, there’s no action which is wrong when done with the higher good in your heart. The truth of your intention is the key. Know too, there’s a natural rhythm to all life as there is to the oceans and the seasons. When the winter comes to your land, you discover unique beauty and purpose in the snow and ice. The winter presents special challenges. You grow. In life, you need to explore both summer and winter experiences. Move forward, Sidney, in the Light of the Creator. Know that I’m with you always, even if you fail. I’ll be there when you return to me. There’s nothing to fear.”

Then he was gone.

5. Stepping Into the Darkness

Tuesday, July 2, 2041

After two weeks and several debriefings from Badger’s staff, Sidney and Danik arrived at the New Seattle Naval Base on Tuesday morning. Security checks at the first gate took only minutes. Badger’s attention to the details of their alias identification proved authentic enough to satisfy the armed guards. At the administration building, Danik grabbed Sidney’s arm. He looked into her pale green eyes, which revealed determination to see the mission succeed.

“It’s not too late, Sid. We can turn around and head back home.” He held her hand firmly in both of his. She looked beautiful in the pale blue business suit. The sun shone in the curls of her warm brown hair resting on her shoulders. Her lips were painted a pale tangerine, something she normally did only for her singing performances.

“Come on, Dan. Walk me up the steps to the door.” She grinned and patted his hand.

The heat of the sun encouraged Sidney to remove her blazer. The gentle breeze tugged at her revealing, white silk blouse.

“Maybe you should keep the blazer on, Sid.”

“I’m going to be fine, Danik. I’ll be out by the deadline, tomorrow noon, and meet you at the café. I’m ready.”

“Yeah, so why are you shaking?”

“Hey, wouldn’t you be nervous if you were applying for a job here?” She grabbed the flight bag he held. “You’d better have a few dollars when I get to the café tomorrow morning. I’ll be quite hungry. See you later.” She kissed his cheek and pushed her way through the doors.

On Wednesday morning, Danik arrived at the café long before the morning customers arrived. He’d resisted the temptation to telepathically connect with Sidney. She didn’t need the distraction. As the morning sun inched closer to its noon place in the sky, Danik finally had enough of waiting. Sitting up straight in his patio chair, he breathed deeply and visualized his chest open wide to release his energy to the universe and to Sidney. On the waves of this energy, he could sense the physical presence of whatever he focused his mind on. He brought Sidney into his consciousness as gently as the mist envelops the sails of a ship.

He recognized her physical signature. But her Guardian energy was evaporating. He was losing her to a Dark force. She was mute, unable to telepathically communicate with him until the very last moment of his contact. Her message was brief and frightening.

Seated on the cold cement floor of her small cell, Sidney tried to meditate. Her mind’s chatter refused to be silenced. Never before had she failed at such an easy Guardian gift. Her Guardian powers were evaporating. Her entire body was trembling, not from the cold, but from fear. And it wasn’t fear of punishment; it was the gradual loss of her Guardian nature that was beginning to paralyze her mind.

She’d completed her mission. The memory rod with the file was safely hidden, and the missiles had been disabled. So far, the security personnel were only concerned that she’d been trespassing. If she could convince them that she was simply there because of a dare, she’d be set free — if no one checked the missiles. With each passing minute, she was certain someone would discover the missiles had been sabotaged. It was nearly eleven. She’d considered escaping from her cell using telekinesis, but that option was no longer possible. Her mind wouldn’t be silenced enough to focus, and she couldn’t understand how she’d lost control.

Suddenly, a guard shouted. “Move to the back wall and put your hands on your head!”

She was handcuffed and escorted to a room where an officer sat rigid in his chair behind a table. The officer’s snug navy blue uniform was covered with gold braid and badges. Sidney guessed he was forty, though it was hard to tell. His head was shaved clean, as was his face. His most remarkable features were his large, blue eyes and long, dark eyelashes. The man could have been considered handsome if he smiled.

Something stirred within Sidney. Her most basic gift of seeing into a person’s aura was intact. Most times she had to switch that ability off because it was distracting. But even just glancing at this man, she saw it — his body’s battle with an imbalance.

She took another step closer to the officer’s table and cleared her throat. “I … I’m really sorry, truly sorry about all this trouble.” Her voice trembled. “I meant no harm. Just wanted to — ”

The officer interrupted her. “Miss, you’ll speak only when asked a question. Understood?”

Sidney quickly and obediently responded. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m Captain Frank Butchart, Chief of Internal Affairs and Security.”

Butchart continued to instruct her on the rules of the interrogation. She didn’t hear a word. When he’d said his name, Sidney felt like she’d been struck on the back of her head. Butchart was the name of two Guardian brothers who’d lived on the island, brothers who’d left on a mission twenty years ago and never returned. Greystone had told her Giles Butchart had been murdered, but whenever she asked him about Frank, he’d become silent. It was understood but not discussed. Frank was now a fallen Guardian using his powers for his own purposes, regardless of the Dark consequences.

Sidney wondered if Captain Butchart was the same Guardian her mentor had spoken of. Perhaps Badger’s worst fears were founded. Perhaps Admiral Garland did have a Guardian in his back pocket. Butchart glared at Sidney.

“Miss Peters,” he said, using the fictitious name on her application form. He spoke slowly as if he knew the name was false. “Normally I’d obtain a statement from you.” He rose from his chair. “However, I refuse to waste my time on a liar.” Butchart walked around the table and stood in front of Sidney. He towered over her. “Your employment application form is full of lies.”

Sidney smiled nervously. “I can explain, sir. This was all just, you know, a dare.” It was truthful enough.

“And what was entailed in this dare?”

“Nothing much. Get on the base and stay overnight without getting caught, then get off the base before ten.”

Butchart grinned and stepped closer. “It’s past ten now. What was your prize supposed to be, Miss Peters?”

He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. “No prize, Captain. It was just an initiation exercise. You know, to prove I’d fit in with the gang.”

Butchart sighed. His time was being wasted on this prankster. “Explain how you bypassed the gate security check on Tuesday evening and remained unseen until Wednesday morning.”

Sidney felt the captain invade her ethereal body, searching for a disturbance in her energy’s web, for traces of lies. At that point, it was clear to her that he was indeed the same fallen Guardian, one who’d been trusted by her people.

She had to be careful. If she used her Guardian powers, he’d recognize that she wasn’t an ordinary prisoner. Her chances for survival would be gone. He’d not allow another Guardian to survive, nor anyone else who had the power to stop him.

She made no attempt to put up barriers to his probing. She had to avoid lies. More lies would only raise more suspicion. More suspicion would create more questions. Every second that went by was another second for someone to discover the sabotaged missiles.

She told Butchart the truth. That she’d never left the base Tuesday afternoon, that another woman had been disguised to make it look like she’d left the base after the interview with Admiral Garland’s staff. She admitted to finding the storage room and hiding out there. She told them she’d planned to talk to the security officer, Lieutenant Weir, in hopes he’d help her get past the security gate.

Butchart leaned forward. “And why would Lieutenant Weir help you get off the base?”

Sidney shrugged. “Well, guess ’cause he seems really nice and ’cause no harm was done, and well, probably he likes to have a good time.”

She felt her face warm when she realized the implication. Her innocence may have saved her — Butchart snickered. Returning to his chair, he took a deep breath and released it slowly. Sidney sensed he was attempting to establish a telepathic link. Soon, he became frustrated and returned to the manuscript in front of him.