Invaded (Alienated, #2)(16)
But just as Alona drew a breath to make the announcement, a deafening whistle sounded from above. The entire group turned their gazes skyward, where a tiny ball of flame—a meteorite, perhaps—streaked the beige clouds. Quickly, the flame drew nearer and the shrieking became so loud it stung her ears. It didn’t take long for the assembly to realize that the object was headed right for them, and bodies scattered in all directions while voices screamed and shouted commands Cara couldn’t understand. She clutched her blanket and bolted for the protection of the Aegis wall, barely reaching it when a crash boomed from behind.
Once she’d reached a safe distance, she turned and surveyed the damage, surprised to discover that the only casualty of the fiery impact was the steaming vat of mud. Orange valeem lay in puddles around broken bits of metal, and in the heart of the debris rested a softball-size orb. From where Cara stood, it didn’t look like a meteorite. She could swear she saw colored lights twinkle from its surface, but before she could get a better look, Jaxen removed his cloak and draped it over the sphere. The Elders glanced nervously at one another and then commanded the students to go inside.
From all around her, the clones murmured in confusion but did as they were told. Cara filed inside with them, casting occasional glances over her shoulder at the lump beneath Jaxen’s cloak.
What was that thing? And why was he trying to hide it?
Chapter Five
“Look, more L’annabes. They’re lined up around the block.” David pointed out the rear passenger window at the Omaha convention center, where Aelyx had spent the last several hours guest lecturing to university students about the physics of space travel. “You have more groupies than the Rolling Stones ever did, you lucky bastard.”
The armored SUV hit a bump in the road, sending a dozen rifles clanking against their owners. If Aelyx wanted to venture beyond the hotel, this was his only option. He hated living like this, in constant fear of attack. “It’s not as glamorous as you think,” Aelyx said, shielding his eyes from the setting sun. “The attention gets annoying after a while.”
“Yeah, you poor baby.” David rolled his eyes. “Annoying doesn’t describe that model I busted trying to sneak into your room last night.” His lips curved in an appreciative grin. “Flexible, maybe. Can’t have been easy to squeeze inside the maid’s cart like that.”
Aelyx laughed. “You’re more human than I gave you credit for.”
“Oh, come on,” David said with a light elbow nudge. “Tell me you wouldn’t have been a little bit stoked if she’d jumped out of your closet.”
“Not in the least,” he assured David. “Cara’s the only one I want.”
“Mmm.” David nodded at Aelyx as if they were members of a secret club. “Once you go human, you never go back, huh? I’ll bet our girls are firecrackers compared to L’eihr chicks. I mean, no offense, but they seem kind of frigid with that empty stare. Not like Earth girls—especially redheads. Man, I love me some gingersnap action.”
Aelyx thought he’d mastered English slang, but he had no clue what David was saying. However, he got the distinct impression that his new friend was much more experienced than he was when it came to women. Aside from what Aelyx had gleaned from the Internet, he didn’t know much about the mechanics of intimacy. Of course, he couldn’t admit that to a human male. Eron would have understood, but not David.
David must have misinterpreted Aelyx’s silence as anger. “Did I go too far with that ‘frigid’ comment? Sorry, man. I’m an idiot. Sometimes I can’t shut up.”
“No, I’m not offended. You’ve got it wrong, though.” In the years since The Way had weaned his generation off the hormone regulators, the clones had wasted no time in pairing off and doing what came naturally. Caught off guard, the medics had rushed to ensure that each student was outfitted with a contraceptive implant before any unauthorized breeding occurred, an offense punishable by death. “Our females are willing.”
David glanced at his comrades to ensure they weren’t listening, then leaned in close. “So, what’s the difference?” he whispered. “You know, between Earth girls and L’eihr girls? Does everything work the same?”
Aelyx tried to think of an answer that wouldn’t betray his limited knowledge of either race. He’d never gone further with a clone than an occasional sh’ellam, their equivalent of a kiss. He told David a deceptively innocent truth. “L’eihrs and humans are biologically identical.”
“Well, sure,” David said over the whirring of the tires. “But there must be something…”
“No,” Aelyx lied, then immediately changed his mind. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it before. “Actually, there is a difference. If L’eihrs are using Silent Speech, we can share each other’s sensations.”
“No way,” David breathed out in awe. “Feeling yours and hers at the same time? That must be awesome.”
Yes, Aelyx imagined it would be. With any luck, Cara would feel ready someday, and he’d actually get to find out.
After that, David gazed silently out the window, no doubt wishing his brain were capable of Silent Speech, while Aelyx wondered how he’d survive until the spring. He wished The Way would allow him to tell humans some measure of the truth. That would accomplish their goal of finding support for the alliance and allow him to return to Cara. But the request he’d submitted to his leaders had gone unanswered, leaving him bound to silence.