AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She doubled the sleeping bag over and sat on it. Her aching muscles needed the cushioning right now just as much as the warmth. After wrapping the other blanket around her shoulders, she dug through the pack and found a random meal pack. She didn’t care which flavor she ended up eating. They were all pretty awful. Apparently, field rations were nasty on any planet.
As she drew the zipper closed, securing the top compartment, she spotted the quilted pouch Neeva had given her. Guarding the device in that pouch was now her purpose in life.
According to Neeva, the device contained data crystals imprinted with detailed information on second-level conduits. The founders had decided that destroying the information outright endangered Ansley and the other residents. They were engineered beings, unique in all the known universe. What was happening to Jodi was a good example of why the data was still important.
On the other hand, it was imperative that the data not fall into the hands of anyone interested in creating more second-level conduits. So Ansley was supposed to disappear into humanity and wait until the crisis passed. The founders would send someone back to Earth to retrieve her, but it would likely take months or even years for the danger to resolve.
In the meantime, Ansley had been given American and Canadian IDs, cash, and the access information for a bank account with enough money for housing and food. She would need to find a job and a place to live, but the funds would give her time to determine her best situation. She had never lived on her own. Still, she was better prepared for the adventure than any of the other conduits. Most of her friends only just found out that they were aliens.
Relaxing back against the cave wall, Ansley opened the meal pack and poured in a small amount of water. The envelope grew warm as the exothermic reaction reconstituted the stew. She cradled the pouch between her hands and absorbed the heat into her cold fingers. She would put on her gloves after she ate, but damn, that felt good.
The food smelled better than it tasted. Still, it was hot, and she was hungry. After washing down the instant meal with plenty of water, she pulled on her gloves. Moonlight spilled into the cave, shimmering across the water that was rapidly filling the entrance. High tide was at ten-thirty tonight, so she figured it had to be around nine forty-five. All things considered, the day had gone remarkably fast.
She watched the gently surging water and wondered what was happening to Eden and the other residents. Were they still on Earth or had the hunters loaded everyone onto a ship or ships and flown them back to the Citadel?
Loneliness and self-pity panged through Ansley. She knew her task was vital. Neeva had made sure Ansley understood. Still, she really wanted to see the Citadel in person. She wanted to interact with other conduits and learn how to—it was pointless to think about any of that now. She had vowed to safeguard the data and she intended to keep her promise.
Dr. Lorish wanted to ensure that nothing gave Ansley away while she was gone, so he’d injected her with a booster of the suppressant. Like most of the residents, Ansley had been having erotic dreams for weeks now. In fact, she was the first to be so concerned about the phenomenon that she’d mentioned it to Neeva.
Ansley thought about sex constantly and was seldom able to sleep unless she brought herself to climax. The thought made her smile. Masturbating in an open dormitory with eleven other women nearby was easier said than done. But her need for sex had become so demanding lately that she no longer cared if the others realized what she was doing.
She tucked her trash into one of many compartments on the backpack. She might be imagining a faraway star system, but she still loved this island. Dawn broke early this far north, so she spread out the sleeping bag and snuggled down inside its warmth. It felt odd to sleep fully dressed, but she couldn’t afford to take any chances.
Lying on her back with her hands tucked behind her head, Ansley stared up at the ceiling of the cave. Moonlight reflected off the water creating an ever-changing kaleidoscope of rippling shapes. She was physically exhausted, yet her mind whirred with thoughts and speculation. The men she’d seen in the videos appeared large compared to their females. Most had been muscular with rugged features and fierce eyes. What would it be like to have sex with someone so virile? What would it be like to have two lovers at the same time? Hell, what would it be like to have sex at all?
Information about sex was readily available on the island. Ansley wasn’t sure if the founders had arranged it that way or if technology simply made it impossible to regulate. Either way, her imagination had more than enough fuel, but her actual experience was minimal. She had more freedom than most because of the solo trips she made into Sitka. To augment the money the farm generated, they also sold arts and crafts in several local gift shops. One of Ansley’s inherited tasks was to deliver the handmade goods to a store owner every couple of weeks. From Sitka the store owner shipped the items to Skagway and Juno where she also owned gift shops.
While in town one afternoon, Ansley had stopped into a corner pub. The bartender’s name was Liam and he was an outrageous flirt. They talked and shared a plate of French fries. It was lighthearted and fun, so she had returned nearly every time she visited Sitka. A couple of weeks ago, Liam convinced her to sit in his car where they could enjoy some privacy. She wasn’t surprised when he kissed her. She’d suspected that their flirtation would eventually lead to sex, but kissing him felt wrong, unnatural. She wanted sex badly, just not with Liam.
Too many people knew her in Sitka. She would have to go somewhere else. She’d find a job and blend with humans. The founders had trained the residents well. They’d been taught to be ordinary, common, not to draw attention. Ansley would use her upbringing now. She would melt into the crowd, ensuring that she was utterly forgettable.
Tears escaped the corners of her eyes. She allowed the release, but ignored the wave of hopelessness threatening to overwhelm her. Living an unremarkable life as a human was what the founders had intended for all of the residents. The only problem was that now Ansley knew she was meant for so much more. She rolled onto her side and sobbed helplessly, squeezing her eyes shut.
Long moments later, she drew in a deep breath and forced herself to focus. Crying had been cathartic. She’d needed to release the emotions so they wouldn’t control her, but that was over now. She must stay sharp and alert. She must elude the hunters and escape the island. This mission was important. There would be no more self-pity, no more doubt until she knew her friends were safe and the data was protected.
CHAPTER2
Jobek stood up and stretched out his back. He couldn’t remember the last time he spent the night in the forest or slept on the ground. Eight years as a command-level officer was making him soft. “Are you sure she’s in there?”
“Absolutely,” Tandor stressed. “There are three people left on this island. You, me, and Ansley.”
Tandor was the strongest empath Jobek had ever met, so he had no reason to doubt what he was saying. “Let’s wade in. The water doesn’t look that deep now.” The pool blocking the entrance appeared to be about calf high, but it could be deeper inside the cave. That might be why Ansley had yet to emerge.
Tandor shook his head. “Let her come to us. She has no idea we’ve found her. Let’s keep it that way until it’s much too late.”
Reluctantly Jobek nodded. He was anxious to learn how she was blocking their scanners. If it weren’t for Tandor’s empathic abilities, it was unlikely they would have located her this quickly.
“As soon as we can visually confirm her position, we need to stream her onto our shuttle,” Tandor advised. “I would much rather have her in custody when Commander Cylex arrives.”
“Having better control over the situation is always a good idea, but I’m not in a hurry to deliver her to the ship.”
Tandor looked at him, speculation clear in his red-tinted eyes. “Meaning?”
“Meaning it might be in our best interest to spend some time with her.”
Facing him, Tandor studied Jobek carefully. “You want to claim her?”
“Don’t you?” Jobek let challenge sharpen his tone. Opportunities were few and far between for those not fortunate enough to be born elite. And only the best of the best would be considered worthy mates for a second-level conduit. Hunter teams from three different planets had been searching for these females. TheMadellehad just been lucky enough to find them.
