Hathor Legacy: Outcast Page 11

  Desperate for contact, he braved the shocks and satisfied himself with leaning his head against hers on the pillow.

  "I've never felt anything like that," he said, his voice sounding like it was coming from far away.

  "Neither have I," she whispered.

  "We've broken all the rules, haven't we?"

  She turned to him, her forehead touching his. "There are no rules, Jon. Not any more."

  16 No Going Back

  When Nadira woke, sunshine was pouring through the windows, lighting up the room in a bright golden glow. She leaned on her elbows, straining to look out at the sapphire sea. Foamy white caps bubbled up, then dissolved with the movement of the waves.

  Jonathan was still asleep, his back to her. Resisting the urge to touch him, she slid out of bed and padded into the adjoining shower area. There was one long shower, tiled in sapphire and emerald that sparkled in the sunlight. At the end, a clear glass wall gave her a view of the gardens at the rear of the house.

  Drops of water hit the top of her head as soon as she stepped into the shower enclosure. She pressed the temperature indicator on the wall, setting it for a hot shower. The water washed over her, sending rivulets down her body, mixing with a creamy soap that filled the room with the smell of spicy flowers.

  As she rubbed it over her skin, she thought of Jon touching her, pleasuring her in a way that she'd never experienced before.

  Zina had discouraged her from forging relationships with anyone who wasn't a Guardian. No doubt her mentor wanted to keep her from doing the same thing her mother had done.

  But intimacy with other Guardians had never sated her. They were always too focused on shielding themselves, reluctant to let anyone else in, even for sex.

  She turned off the water and activated the body dryer. The warm air flowed over her, enveloping her in a slightly moist cocoon. After she finished preparing herself for the day, she returned to the bedroom to get dressed.

  Jon was still asleep, so she quietly slipped out of the room and headed downstairs. Jason was sitting at the dining table reading something on his tablet while he drank his coffee.

  "I haven't smelled coffee like that in years," she said, sitting down across from him. "Could I have some?"

  "Ah yes. Smells good, doesn't it?" He pushed his chair back and walked into the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a cup. "The beans are grown a few kilometers from here."

  "Grasi." Nadira took the cup from him and sipped the steaming hot beverage. She rarely drank coffee at home. But it was hard to resist something that reminded her of her childhood.

  Jason rested his arms on the tabletop. "I've had very few Guardians visit this house. When they do come, they don't use our language. They think it's beneath them. Who taught you those words?"

  She was taken aback by his directness. "My mother taught me."

  "She was from the North?" He rubbed his balding head, his large hand pausing to scratch the tip of his ear. "Your pardon, I'm sure I'm asking too much. But when you mentioned the house by the kiosk, it raised questions in my mind."

  "Yes. We left the city when I was eight years old and stayed in the North for a while." Not sure how much to reveal to him, she chose her words carefully. "I had family here."

  "So that is when your gift developed?" He nodded, taking a sip of coffee. "People in the North have the strongest abilities. That's why Guardians come here most often when they are looking for people to train."

  "Why is that true, Jason? I've never heard that before."

  "This planet is still a work in progress, even after generations. When Hathor was being terraformed, the people from Earth settled in the North. Then Novacorp came, and the West became populated. The people here in the North Country are the true descendants of the First Families. That is why this gift came to us."

  He paused to take another sip before continuing. "For Novacorp, the value of the Guardians is that they have a ready-made security force with extraordinary powers. Once the company recognized that, our people accepted that this was not something to be feared."

  "Jason, when they discovered my abilities, the Guardians wanted my mother to give me to them for training. That's why she left Nova City and came here."

  Even as she said it, Nadira felt discomfort. Never had she heard anyone call her power a gift. If it was, why hadn't her mother embraced it?

  "Ah, I see. Not every parent is pleased to have a child with abilities." A frown passed over his face, then quickly disappeared. "I also have abilities, though they were never strong enough to be developed. Would you show me your hand again?"

  Nadira thrust her hands out, palms up. "I'm sorry. I should've done this as soon as we were introduced."

  "No bother. That's an old custom. It's of little consequence these days." Jason examined her hands, running his finger over the half-moon line in her palm. "How strong are you? This line is very deep."

  "I'm a Sentry."

  He looked up at her, his mouth open. "Are you really? There have not been many. Maybe three or four are born in a generation. You are favored."

  Was she? It was hard to feel that way considering what it had cost her.

  "The custom of showing your palms came from the days when people misunderstood what the powers were. It was done to show that you didn't have the markings and were not a threat." He released her hands.

  "I wasn't taught that during my training, Jason."

  "That is because the history you were taught is according to Novacorp. When they took over, they took all our historical records into their possession." He sighed, his eyes downcast. "Perhaps I should not say this, but the house you asked about was destroyed by Guardians.

  "They destroyed it? Why?"

  "At times people had hidden from the Guardians in that house. I suppose when it was discovered, they were angry." He cradled the cup in his hands.

  "Why are you telling me this, Jason?"

  "If you were like the other Guardians I've met, I would not have said anything." Jason's fingers tensed as he gripped his cup. "But I wanted to give you the truth. Perhaps you can look for your family while you are here."

  "That's in the past now. I can't go back." Nadira felt her hand trembling as she finished her coffee. This wasn't what she wanted to talk about right now.

  "Well, you are back, aren't you? This may be an opportunity."

  "You said the houses by the shore were built by Novacorp," she remarked.

  "Yes. About 10 years ago. I was working on my family's farm and I found that it was not for me." He chuckled. "Here I can live near the sea, maintain the house and entertain visitors when they come. I have no complaints."

  "Is there anywhere that isn't controlled by Novacorp, Jason? Wouldn't you like to experience that?"

  He looked off to the side, thinking of an answer. It came quicker than Nadira expected. "Is there such a place? Neither of us can leave Hathor, so it's best to accept what we can't change." Jason pointed to her cup. "Do you want more?"

  "No, thank you."

  "That coffee smells good!" Jonathan padded across the floor in his bare feet, his shirt open and half tucked into his pants.

  "Perhaps you should finish dressing," Nadira smirked.

  "I'm sure you're both hungry," Jason said, as he got up from the table. "My assistants have not arrived yet. I'll go prepare food." With a quick nod to Nadira, he picked up his tablet and headed into the kitchen.

  After he sat down next to her, he leaned over to plant a kiss on her mouth. "I'm still knocked out from last night."

  She motioned towards the kitchen. "We're not alone."

  "He knows we slept in the same bed," Jonathan said. "What did he think we were doing up there, discussing speed of light travel?'

  "Jon, we have to focus."

  "That's what I'm doing." This time he moved in for a lingering kiss that left her breathless.

  "Jonathan!" Pulling away from him wasn't as easy as she'd hoped, especially not with her heart racing.

&nbs
p; "It's a bit late to play hard to get." He grinned at her. "Hey, where's Jason's tablet?"

  "He took it with him."

  "Why?" Jon paused, his attention on the dividing wall. "Wait--I hear him talking to someone."

  Nadira heard it too, but it sounded like a woman's voice. No, he wouldn't betray them. Or had she misjudged?

  "I'd better go check." Jon headed over and almost bumped into Jason as he rushed out of the kitchen.

  "You have to see this!" He rushed over and handed the tablet to Nadira. "There's an alert."

  Taking it from him, she stared at the still image on the screen.

  Two faces were displayed side-by-side. On the left was a man with short, curly brown hair, strewn with strands of grey. His features were familiar: squared face, rough-hewn with a hint of stubble. It was an older version of Jonathan except with brown eyes.

  Underneath his picture flashed the words, "Demeter CEO Presumed Dead" in bright red. On the right was a picture of Jonathan.

  "There is a security alert for the apprehension of Jonathan Keel for questioning in this matter. Do not approach. Contact security if this individual IDs himself in your vicinity. This has been a message from Novacorp Security," the computerized voice intoned.

  "What the hell?" Jon reached over and snatched the tablet out of Nadira's hands.

  "Jonathan, we knew this was going to happen--" Nadira began.

  "But you didn't mention the 'Demeter CEO presumed dead' part!"

  Nadira tensed. "Jon, I'm sure it's a mistake. They just haven't found him yet, that's all."

  If Jonathan found out that she'd known about the remains, what would he think of her?

  "They claim Mr. Keel escaped from the city because he is purposely withholding information from the authorities," Jason said, as he studied Jonathan. "But I know that a Guardian would not protect anyone who was a criminal."

  His words reassured her, though it was surprising that he trusted her judgment with so little knowledge of her motives. "If someone wanted to travel in the North and maintain their privacy, how difficult would that be?" she asked.

  "Not difficult, though it would be wise to travel by private transport, rather than to use the public vehicles."

  Sure it would be a lot better. But they didn't have one. There had to be a quick way to find out where Matt's house was located.

  "Jason, is there a public com nearby?" Jonathan asked.

  "Yes. It's about thirty minutes away by transport. When my assistants arrive, I'll have one of them take you over there. They'll be here very soon."

  "We can go there to access the directory and find Matt's house," Nadira said.

  "I know. I'll take care of it. You wait here."

  "Jon, I don't think we should separate. If security finds you, they'll take you to detention."

  "If I'm detained, I don't want you to get stopped with me. Just tell them you didn't have a choice. I forced you into helping me escape."

  She almost laughed at his suggestion. "I didn't have a choice?"

  "No, you didn't," he said. "We're connected now, and there's no going back."

  *****

  As soon as Jason's assistant, Lora arrived at the house, Jason had her drive Jon to the com station. Taller than Jason, she had dark blue eyes and matching hair that she wore in thin, long braids.

  Most importantly she was friendly enough, and she didn't ask too many questions.

  As far as he was concerned, the view from the road was just as uninteresting as the beachfront. One sand dune looked just like another, and the boxy, rectangular houses all had the same drab, grey or brown exterior.

  "Is it always this quiet?" Jon asked, as he watched the scenery go by.

  "The season hasn't started yet. When it does, there will be more visitors," Lora replied, not taking her attention from the road.

  "You do a lot of different jobs, don't you?"

  "Yes, I'm learning from Jason. I hope to manage a house when I've learned enough."

  "That's good," he said, not sure how else to respond. Managing a house by the shore was not his idea of an exciting profession, but Lora seemed happy with it.

  What if Nadira had never been discovered by the Guardians? Would she have been satisfied with this type of life? Working in a guest house or in a manufacturing complex? He doubted it.

  Thirty minutes later, Lora steered the transport into a large, open area where several other vehicles and cycles were parked.

  "Here we are," she said.

  "I'll be right back." Jon climbed out and strode over to the L-shaped, stone building in front of them.

  The public communications center was also a transport terminal, in addition to a food market and a gathering place. A sign pointed him to his first destination: the directory. It was a long wall of frosted glass right across from the food stalls.

  As soon as he walked up, a woman's face appeared on the surface, her purple eyes shimmering.

  "Hello, my name is Sila. How may I help you?"

  "I need a location search for properties owned by Matt Bento in the North Country." Jason had already done this search the night before. But Jonathan had to be sure.

  "There is no known location for that individual in the North Country," she said, flashing a set of extremely white teeth.

  Maybe there was a way to narrow things down. "Give me a list of the private houses in the North, excluding farms."

  "I'm sorry. I'll need an additional cross reference. Those results will create an overflow."

  "Sila, how large is the North Country?

  "The North Country, also known as Sector 3, covers approximately 321,868.2 kilometers and contains the largest concentration of farm land, manufacturing plants, and developed shoreline than any other area on the Novacorp HQ planet. The planet, also known as, Hathor was discovered by astronomers at the Space Administration in the solar year 2234 and--"

  "Stop! That's enough." There was no way they were going to find Matt's house without a definitive location.

  "How would I find somebody if I didn't know where to look?"

  "Are they lost?"

  At first he thought she was joking. "I'm lost."

  "Oh! Well, in that case, please inform me where you are now."

  "That's what I'm asking you!"

  Sila's eyes rolled back and forth. She was either thinking or on the verge of a system failure. "You are in the 7th District, Public Communications Station Four. Where would you like to be?"

  "Wait. The North is divided into districts?"

  "Of course, isn't everything?"

  Now he was sure she was joking. Just what he needed, a computer with a sense of humor.

  A search by district would be a hell of a lot easier. Jon was about to make another request when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a woman in a dark uniform heading towards the food stalls. Shit. It was time to break this off.

  "End the query, Sila."

  "Query ended. Have a wonderful day!" She flashed one last smile before her image disappeared.

  Keeping an eye out for the security officer, Jon headed to the com booths. Located away from the busy food stalls, the coms were tucked away in a corner of the building.

  Following the instructions on the screen, he requested his connection. At least his ID wasn't required on the public com. That would keep security from tracking him.

  It took several moments to route the call to Cat's com ID. Interplanetary communication wasn't always quick or efficient. He knew he was taking a chance by waiting, especially with the officer just steps away.

  "Please wait" continued to scroll across the screen. What if she didn't answer?

  Just when he was about to break off the call, Cat's face appeared. Unfortunately the layer of finger smudges on the screen made her image look like it was out of focus.

  "Jonathan!"

  "Hello, Cat," he said.

  "Where the hell are you, you little shit? You disobeyed me and you took that woman with you!"

  So much had happ
ened; he'd forgotten that Cat would still be angry at him for leaving. "There's no time to talk about that now. Did you know there's an alert out saying--"

  "When I saw Ilana Travac's name on the shuttle passenger list, I knew you were responsible. Jonathan, what were you thinking to take up with that slag?"

  "I get it! I was wrong. Look, there's an alert out about my father. What the hell is going on?"

  She paused, a strained look on her face. "We found remains. I'm sorry, Jonathan. It's not confirmed, but…but we have to accept that Brandon was probably killed in the explosion."

  Her words jolted him. "No. That can't be true. "How long have you known?"

  "I was required to report it to headquarters. Brandon has a partial ownership in the mine. I made a report to company security the day after your shuttle arrived."

  Jonathan slumped in his chair. That was the day he'd been in Nadira's apartment recovering. The same day she'd talked to the Guardian Sentry Leader. So she had to have known.

  "How about my mother and sisters?"

  "Your family is worried about you, Jonathan. You have to come home now. Don't wait for the company shuttle. I can have a private one ready to bring you to Astarte. Just tell me where you are."

  She was right. But if he left, Ilana would get away.

  "I know who's responsible. If I leave now, they'll never find her."

  "Look, I'm trying to protect you."

  "I already have the protection I need, Cat."

  "Do you mean that Guardian you're running around with?" She scowled at him. "First Ilana, and now this woman. You've been manipulated and you don't even know it."

  "Wait a minute--how do you know I'm with a Guardian?"

  "I've taken enough of your crap. I'll have you picked up and detained."

  "Answer me!" Jon demanded.

  Cat shot him a look of contempt. "When you get back, you'll never leave Astarte again without my permission. And after this stupid shit you've pulled, you'll never get it."

  The screen blanked out.

  "Damn it!" He brought his fist down so hard he thought the screen would break. Jon glanced around, luckily the booths nearby were empty.