Vulcan's Woman (17 page)

The commander cleared his throat. “You’re right. I
apologize.”

Wisteria poked the screen directly over Sumner’s nose.

Vulcan grinned while cupping her shoulders and leaning her
back in the chair.

Again Sumner cleared his throat. “I can only attest to the
dinosaurs and possibly the mutants. The rest are planetary fixtures.”

“I’m listening,” Vulcan goaded.

“An alien species is stealing the eggs and placing them
close to areas occupied by humans.”

“The chameleon species?”

“Unfortunately not. Like I previously told you, the horde
you’d encountered completely blindsided us. We knew nothing of their existence.
The ones I’m referring to have invaded Earth and other planets on numerous
occasions.”

“And now they’re invading Helixis,” Vulcan said dismally
with a sigh. “This is why our departure home has been postponed,” he stated
rather than asked.

Sumner nodded. “In a sense they’re temporarily using Helixis,
and they are causing a huge threat.”

“So what’s the plan? Give me some instructions.”

“Destroy the eggs,” the commander stated without hesitation.

“Why? If the aliens are the problem, why not destroy them?”

“That would be the ideal solution. Unfortunately it’s not
possible. Our only option at this point is to remove the source to prevent DNA
extraction.”

“They’re extracting DNA from the eggs?”

“Yes, to combine with human DNA.”

“How is that―”

“Listen,” the commander said, lifting his hands, palms facing
outward. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but it’s extremely important. They are
creating shifters as their weapons of mass destruction.”

“Shifters?”

“Dinosaur shifters. They’ll arrive at their destination
looking as human as you or I.”

“Well, the T-Rex is lying dead in our camp. It looked pretty
normal.” Ah, now he understood Tyran’s attempt to take it down with an arrow.
He still couldn’t believe it. A T-Rex. A damn T-Rex. How fucking unbelievable.
Thank God for the Barrett. Without it they could have lost a lot, if not all
of, the people.

“Gather blood samples, skin samples, bone fragments. We may
be able to produce an antidote to counteract―”

“Tyran is already on it. Will you please explain why our
government is dabbling where it doesn’t belong?”

“Vulcan,” Sumner said sternly. “It is our business. We’re
doing it for the safety of our people.”

“It appears the lives in jeopardy are the people on Helixis,
not Earth.”

“In a manner of speaking, both planets are in danger.
Helixis is an all-inclusive, open laboratory. The species are no longer
performing live experiments on themselves because they’re losing too many to
failure, so they are utilizing the people on Helixis. Whether the species fails
or prevails, Helixis’ population will be wiped out. The species will then move
on to the next planet and so on until the entire solar system is under their
command and prepared to devastate Earth.”

“Dinosaur shifters.” Vulcan rolled his eyes. “Where is this
coming from?”

“Evidence.”

“Well, they’ve failed.”

“You’re wrong. They’ve only just begun. They’ll master the
experiment. It’s just a matter of time. Then,” he glanced at Wisteria, “excuse
my language,” he shifted his attention back to Vulcan, “we’re fucked.”

“If that happens, no way will they survive our military.”

“You’re missing the point. I said shifters
.”

“So, we blast them to pieces.”

“Focus on the word shifter, Vulcan. They’ll arrive as normal
humans, and then they’ll shift into dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. If they
arrive in droves of hundreds at a time, imagine the magnitude of destruction
those monsters can cause in a very short time. Our military cannot just
blast
them without causing further devastation.”

Vulcan rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger.
“Should I check the T-Rex to see if it reverted back to human form?”

Sumner stiffened in his chair and his expression turned
anxious. “How long ago did you kill it?”

“Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes.”

“No. We believe they revert immediately upon death.”

In other words it was a pissed-off stray searching for its
eggs. “Believe?”

“Since they’re still in the experimental stages, we’re
relying on our analysis of other shifter types.”

Vulcan glanced at Wisteria then focused on the commander.
“Are you sure this isn’t the prior species we’ve encountered? They fit the
experiment. How else can you explain their characteristics? Maybe we hadn’t
destroyed them all as we thought, or perhaps they were the failures.”

“All I can say is, without human DNA, the species have
nothing to experiment with, so be careful,” Sumner said.

“Why haven’t we seen these aliens?”

“Like I mentioned, it isn’t possible.” He placed a fist over
his mouth and cleared his throat. “They look more human than alien except for
their green coloring and black, straggly hair. Their limbs are like rubber and
can stretch ten to fifteen feet.”

“If it’s impossible to see them, where’s this description
coming from?”

“They haven’t always avoided the dangers of being seen. I
guess you can lay the blame for that on the government’s shoulders.”

“In other words, the species have discovered ways to conceal
themselves while planning revenge on Earth?”

“Something like that.”

Are you kidding me?
Vulcan shook his head in disbelief.
“What exactly did we do to piss them off?”

Sumner shifted nervously in his seat. “It’s not so much what
we’ve done, but how we’ve done it.”

“Great.” Not only had they fallen prey to a bunch of aliens
but to a bunch of
pissed-off
aliens.

“We captured as many as we could for our own experimental
purposes. When they sent in ships to rescue the infants, we blew them out of
the sky.”

Vulcan’s shoulders snapped to attention. “Infants! You
captured infants!”

“No. No,” Sumner replied in urgency, holding up his hands.
“It’s nothing like that. They’re hybrids. Little humanoid aliens. I’ll admit, I
was mortified myself and could not believe the level we’ve dropped to. I
refused to participate in their antics but, Vulcan, you won’t believe the
outcome.”

“Dear God,” Vulcan mumbled. “Why would we perform such sick
experiments?”

“Revolutionary discovery. The babies look like normal
humans, but if they’re inbred with the scientific skills and capabilities of
the aliens, imagine the power we’ll inherit for our future.”

“In other words, the species want to reclaim what they feel
is rightfully theirs.”

Sumner placed his index fingers together and tapped them
against his lips, seemingly ignoring Vulcan’s comment. “I wonder,” Sumner said,
“if the aliens currently invading Helixis are, in fact, the chameleon species.
If so, they’ve tampered with multiple genetics and it would explain their
characteristics. It could also explain why they’re seeking humans and are no
longer performing the experiments on themselves. The chameleons might very well
have been another type of failure.”

Isn’t that what I’d already said?
“Quick learner,”
Vulcan mumbled sarcastically under his breath. “It’s a logical assumption,
however, I’d rather deal with the shifters.”

“This isn’t good,” the commander continued, his expression
turning grim. “If it is the same species, they’ve already shifted at least once
into chameleons. In that case, Vulcan, the people on Helixis are in a whole lot
of shit.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“Yeah, so do I, but let’s think about this for a moment.”
Sumner leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles on the desk. “They’re
trying to create dinosaur shifters, right?”

“That’s what you keep telling me.”

“Well,” the commander said, again tapping his lips, “I
wonder if they’re transforming into multiple animals or whatnot. This could be
their approach to capturing their victims. If this is what’s happening, they’ve
already perfected the ability to shift, which means they’ve figured out a major
component. It’s only a matter of time before they master the DNA splicing. We
need to stop them
now
.”

Vulcan rubbed the back of his neck, studied Wisteria for a
moment then returned his attention to the commander. “Theoretically, if we can
somehow identify the species and obliterate them, we won’t need to destroy the
eggs.”

Wisteria laid her fingers on Vulcan’s arm. “What does that
mean?” she asked, studying his eyes.

He smiled and patted her hand. “To get rid of them for
good.”

“Your theory is correct,” Sumner replied. “But unlikely as I
previously explained.”

Vulcan glared at the commander. If the species were one and
the same, he and his unit would find them. Eventually. Hopefully. “Can the
mutants be actual clones?”

“No, not according to Tyran. The DNA would need to be
identical. In this case, it’s not.”

Vulcan gazed at Wisteria and patted her hand once more. “Two
of her missing clan members reappeared today, both in a mutant state.”

Sumner’s brows furrowed. “I’m sorry to hear that, Wisteria,”
he said, sounding genuinely concerned. “What became of them, Vulcan?”

“Destroyed,” he replied, gazing into Wisteria’s eyes.

She squeezed his arm. “Does that mean Boar is dead?”

Vulcan looked at the commander for an explanation.

“I’m afraid he is,” Sumner offered.

She bit on her bottom lip and batted her lashes at ensuing
tears.

It was not what Vulcan wanted to hear. He’d hoped he’d
killed a mutant replica, not her actual brother. What if the mutation was a
temporary state? What if it could’ve been reversed by an antidote as Wisteria
mentioned days ago? Damn it. He didn’t want to feel responsible for Boar’s
demise if he was repairable. “Sumner, you’re sure about this? There’s no way
these mutants can return to normal?”

“None,” Sumner stated quite confidently. “The species
completely drain the victim’s blood to mix with the mammal’s. They are
completely lifeless,” he added, glancing at Wisteria uncomfortably as if
regretting what he was about to say, “before it’s transfused back into their
bodies.”

Jesus!
What a gruesome brood. Chalk one up to the
aliens, who’d outdone the government on brutality.

Vulcan stood and pulled Wisteria into his arms. He rested
his chin on the top of her head and lowered his gaze to the computer. “What do
you suggest we do, Commander?”

“If you destroy all dinosaur eggs, you’ll defuse the
situation. The mission on Helixis will reach a conclusion.”

“We’ll do what we can.”

“Vulcan, it has been a long two years, but soon you’ll
finally be heading home.”

“Yeah, it looks that way.” He reached forward and shut off
the computer. A few months ago he would’ve been happy to hear an ending to this
mission was in sight but not anymore. Everything of importance resided right
here on Helixis. He knew what he wanted and the only way to hold on to
her
was to stay back while his unit boarded the shuttle. Not only had his feelings
grown beyond lust but she’d given him something she could never give to another
man. Investing in him to that degree was beyond words.

He’d fallen in and out of love, he’d even decided to give
marriage a try, but he broke the disastrous engagement before his life fell
into hell. Materialistic things had supported that relationship. His fiancé
gave him gifts, gave him grief, but never gave of herself. Wisteria had nothing
to
give
but
herself. She trusted him with her life. Trusted him,
period. More importantly she set her fears aside and accepted him for who he
was.

Last night, having told him to stay with those big tears in
her eyes had pretty much etched his decision in stone. No way in hell could he
leave her now. Even if they destroyed the entire species and removed the
threat. Not if but when. Inevitably the lives of the people on Helixis depended
on his unit.

During the next session with Sumner he’d talk feelings and
imminent plans for his future.

“Now what?” Wisteria asked.

“I’ve got some unfinished work to do down here. Why don’t
you get some sleep? I’ll wake you when I’m done.”

She nodded and sat back down.

“Not here, sweetheart. In my hut where it’s more
comfortable.” He stepped back, removing his holster. “I found these near the
mountains,” he said, pouring the stones into his hand. “I thought you’d like
them.”

Her eyes brightened. “Vulcan,” she gasped softly as she
placed one hand beneath his and sifted through his palm with the other. “They
are the most beautiful stones I’ve ever seen.” She glanced in his eyes then
returned her gaze to his hand. She lifted a dark- pink, clear rock the size of
her thumbnail and studied it closely. “They will make beautiful jewelry,” she
stated as if mentally designing her next piece. “Thank you. I love them.”

Witnessing her excitement made the long trek to the
mountains worth the trip. He thought she’d like the stones but never expected
how much. The smile she flashed touched him so deeply his heart swelled.

He walked across the shelter and dug through numerous supply
boxes for a small satchel. Carefully he poured the stones inside the pouch then
handed it to her.

She clutched it against her breast and sauntered to the
stairs. “Will you be long?”

“No. I’ll be there before you know it.” He followed her up
the steps and escorted her to his hut, tucked beneath his arm. In truth he’d
rather snuggle under the furs alongside her and hold her all night but he
needed to document the current issues first.

To cut the time in half he’d grab Bronto to help. That way
Vulcan could return for a decent night’s sleep while embracing Wisteria in his
arms.

She lay down near the fire, her gaze focused on his eyes. He
tucked the hide around her shoulders then placed his lips softly against her
brow. “I’ll return soon,” he said. “I promise.”