Interlude

Chapter 9

Lila

Ifeel fucking amazing as we walk from our suite to the teleporter room. I kissed Saxon goodbye and patted him on his cute little butt as he climbed into his bed.

“Be safe, my blood rose,” he called as we walked out the door. “You too, warlock.” Aww, look at my husbands playing nice with one another. He’s going to nap while we travel to Husadavia. It’s a two day trip from Z68, and the galaxy ship will tail the harvesters’ transport, cloaked so they don’t know they are being followed. Then, Saxon and Silac will be on call if shit hits the fan and we need them on the surface.

We don’t take the sideslip elevator because I wanted to take the ten minute walk to get my mind on the next job. I’ve spent plenty of time working out with Xavier and Saxon, trying to get my powers under control, and I think I mostly have a handle on the earth elemental form, but I’m still nervous for what’s to come. Our plan is weak at best.

We arrive at the teleporter room and find Brannock waiting for us as well as Bubby and my grandpas.

Eric studies me closely before turning his attention to Xavier and nodding his head. “You both look pretty powered up. Good.”

Bubby presses his fingers to the touch screen. “I’ve programmed this to deposit you in the docking port of the station. From there, you are going to have to find your way to wherever you need to be.”

“The creature we captured told me recruitment happens at the same bar we originally met at. I pulled all the information I needed out of his head, so no one should suspect that I’m not him,” Xavier tells him as his body shimmers ever so slightly and he appears in front of me as the corn man. I blink, trying to get my brain to catch up with my eyes. I reach out and poke at his corn kernel chest and marvel at how real it feels.

“Wow, it’s almost like it’s not even a glamour, like you’ve mimicked him.”

Xavier’s mouth drops open, and he runs his own hands over his body.

“It’s still a glamour, but it’s almost impossible to see through.” Brannock steps up and narrows his eyes before poking like I did. “It’s practically seamless. I don’t even think the most powerful of beings will know. I can only just see a glimmer of what’s real.”

“Is that one of your powers?” William asks before I can do the same. “We don’t know much about Aaz’axians except you are killing machines when in berserker mode.”

Brannock gives him a quick nod. “Yes, as well as having our own abilities to glamour.” His body shimmers, and he takes on the human form I remember him wearing in the cell on Earth. “We have the ability to see through other glamours, and like Vilaxians, we have enhanced speed, strength, and senses. Unfortunately, we can’t fly like them though,” he grumbles adorably.

“Well, you did get glamour powers,” I remind him. “I’m sure they wish they had those.”

He nods before continuing. “I can mesmerize or compel, I guess, and I can launch my spikes as weapons, and they contain a paralyzing toxin.” He points to the spikes on his back, joined by the whisper thin membranes. When I look closer, I see they have claws at the end of each long protrusion. Maybe that’s what gets launched. “In berserker mode, I can project thorns out of my skin.” I watch with fascination as his whole body shimmers, and Xavier grabs my arm, dragging me out of the way as my grandpas also take a step back. Bubby is the only one who doesn’t move, and from the way he’s smirking at us, I’m guessing he’s seen this already.

Brannock’s entire body changes shape. The spines on his back and shoulders recede into his body as his skin changes from its blue opal sheen to a bright red and green. The spikes coming out of his head remain, but they are red, and so do the ridges and spines all over his body. He’s also gotten way taller and wider.

“Easy,” William cautions with his hands up.

“I’m fine,” Brannock rasps, his voice slightly different, and when I look closer, I see he has fangs now. “I’m not going to slaughter you, that’s a rumor we didn’t discourage. Berserker mode is just an alternative form which allows us to do this.” He turns and faces one of the smooth walls of the transporter room, and I watch as projectiles launch from various surfaces on his body and thud into the metal walls.

I push past him, careful not to touch his body, and check out what he just did. They are large, two inch thorns which have sunk deep into the side of the room, going through like it was rubber instead of solid metal.

“Instead of just being able to project through the spines on my back, I can now do it through my whole body.” He holds out both hands, and again, thorns launch out of them before hitting the wall next to me.

I screech and leap out of the way. The rest of the guys laugh when I glare at Brannock.

“Whoops, sorry,” he says a little sheepishly, running a hand over the spikes on top of his head. I’m curious how they feel. They seem to bend when he touches them, but I’m not curious enough to reach out and have a go myself… yet.

“Aren’t we worried that if you go like that, they will be too scared to hire you?” John is looking a little better today, but he’s still a little too pale for my liking.

Xavier shakes his head. “I don’t think they will. In fact, I got the feeling they would probably hire him on the spot, even if it’s for protection. They lost too many harvesters on the last trip and are feeling a little jumpy.”

“The shrouded figure isn’t instilling much confidence in his workers. That’s not good for business,” Eric points out.

“I get the feeling he isn’t actually the boss, just someone else who is being paid to be there. He never speaks or interacts with any of the crew, nor does he help harvest. There is no sign of them ever seeing what he looks like either—or at least this guy didn’t anyway.” He points to his glamoured form. “It’s only assumed he’s there to keep the inhabitants of the planet away. I hate not having all the information. If someone had only seen what he looks like under the cowl, we’d have a better idea. For all we know, he’s a Seiomann, and we’re all going to be screwed.”

That sounds familiar, but I can’t quite remember what it is. “What’s a Seiomann?” I ask, and it’s Brannock who replies.

“A race of aliens that can make it so a being can’t access their powers. They also have the ability to freeze a person in stasis.”

“Ugly fuckers,” Eric chimes in. “They appear like they are floating, draped in a dark cloak, with their only discernible features being three red eyes.”

I shiver, but Xavier shakes his head. “No, this being doesn’t float, and there is no sign of red eyes, so I’m hoping we will be okay.”

“Do you think one of them was used to put Grandma in stasis?” I ask, and William nods.

“Probably. They aren’t exactly the most welcomed race, so people tend to avoid them, worried their own powers will be nullified. Though I’m under the impression that being in their vicinity doesn’t do it. They have to actively use their powers to nullify, but it’s made them pariahs and, in turn, bitter. They will do anything if the price is right.”

“And without any visible cues, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the overseer might be. I may be able to feel more when we are within his vicinity.” Xavier sounds frustrated, and I know it’s mostly because he’s worried about me.

“Okay, Lila, we need you to take your elemental form, and then you are good to go,” Bubby announces as the teleporter hums its readiness.

I nod. “Okay, turn around, because I’m about to get naked,” I announce, untying the belt to my robe as the men in the room whirl around. The only one left looking at me is Xavier, and I raise an eyebrow at him, nodding toward his new form.

“You aren’t going to explode into kernels of popcorn if I get naked, are you?” I ask, and he chuckles, shaking his head.

“I may look like the corn man, but it is still a glamour. I don’t have his abilities or anything.”

I drop my robe, the fabric pooling at my feet, and wink at my corncob husband before picturing the earth elemental form in my mind. My mimic powers sparkle with excitement, and I’m enveloped in the shimmery haze. I feel my body start to change, getting smaller and lighter, as I try to hold onto my personality, allowing it to meld with the elemental nature that attempts to take over. I’ve gotten better at it, but it’s still a struggle sometimes. Thankfully, the earth elemental is less volatile than the fire one, so the fight isn’t as difficult.

The haze clears, and I find myself looking up at the corn man, but the smirk on his face is so Xavier. I’m about waist height, and I know whatever is about to come out of his mouth is going to be dirty.

“Look at you, so tiny and dainty and the perfect height for me to?—”

“Xavier!” William snaps, cutting my dirty warlock off. He doesn’t look repentant at all as he hands me a little elemental dress to pull on over my naked form.

I flutter my wings and lift into the air. Thankfully I managed to master flying in both elemental forms, but I don’t get very high before my body starts to feel heavy, and I sink to the ground, groaning as a wave of nausea washes over my new body. I wrap my arms around myself and squeeze my eyes closed, laying my cheek on the cold floor as my head starts to throb.

“Lila!” Xavier reaches for me, but in the form he’s in, he can’t bend over. Brannock scoops me up into his arms as everyone else gathers around me.

“What’s wrong with her?” I hate the worry I hear in John’s voice, but I’m in too much pain to reassure him.

“Rick, call Link to get his ass here,” Eric demands, but before Bubby can react, Xavier reaches out to stop him, groaning and rubbing a hand across his own head.

“Don’t, I can feel what’s wrong. She’s an earth elemental who hasn’t had any contact with her element in a long time.”

“But isn’t metal an earth element?” William argues. My eyes are squeezed closed against the light, so I can’t see anybody. I only listen to them discuss me. Brannock’s body is soothing against mine, his skin slightly cold, and surprisingly, none of his ridges or spikes hurt me. It’s like everything smoothed out when he held me against his body.

“It is, but it’s been sustaining her for so long that it’s starting to become ineffective. I scanned both elementals’ minds before I let them go so I would have all the knowledge I needed to train Lila. The earth elemental she mimicked had been in space for an extended period of time and was waiting for a transport to a planet so they could refuel their power stores.”

“But they were radiating off her when you guys walked in,” John argues. “Where did it all go?”

I almost feel Xavier shrug. “That power fuels her mimic abilities, allowing her to change and hold this form, but she will still be susceptible to the form’s weaknesses, like her need for blood like a Vilaxian or emotions like a warlock.”

“But that’s different, she’s mated to both of you, which essentially changed her DNA. This isn’t like that,” Eric protests.

“It kind of is.” I feel Brannock’s chest rumble as he gets involved. “Lila becomes a new species every time she mimics someone. I bet if the cyborg ran her DNA now, she would be a mixture of every species she’s mated to or mimicked. It’s no surprise she has their weaknesses too. We need to get her in contact with a different earth element, or she’s no good to us at all.”

“There’s the horticulture level, with plants and soil up there. It isn’t exactly the same, but it might help,” Bubby suggests.

“Yes, it will boost her power until we can get to Husadavia at least. Once there, she should have no problems rejuvenating,” Xavier agrees with him. “Wait here, we won’t be long.” I feel him put his cobby hands on Brannock and me, and that disorienting feeling of teleporting washes over me, not helping how I feel one little bit. I groan, and my head flops back.

“Easy, little one,” Brannock murmurs as we arrive at our destination. I want to snort with amusement, but I don’t have the energy. No one has ever accused me of being little.

“Put her down here,” Xavier tells the Aaz’axian, who seems reluctant to let me go, but he places me gently on the ground. I groan as I feel grass below me, and I roll over, my hands turning to claws I instinctively burrow into the soil. My headache starts to ease up, as does the rolling nausea in my stomach. The aches and pains in my limbs melt away, and I can open my eyes and look around.

I feel my mouth drop open in shock. I haven’t been to this level before, even though I had been told about it. It looks like a massive community garden. It takes up the entirety of this level of the ship. I see people tending rows of crops, watering, deadheading, and pruning different plants and bushes. There is a grove of fruit trees on the far side of the space, my elemental eyesight making it easy for me to see despite the distance.

I turn my attention to the area closer to me and find myself in a small park. There is a little pond with a bench next to it. Beyond it, there’s an open grassy space with a soccer ball lying abandoned on it.

“Wow.” I roll over into a seated position, my wings fluttering behind me as I continue to soak up the energy from the soil below me. “I had no idea this was here,” I tell the two males who are watching me carefully. My gaze lifts, and I watch clouds drift across the sky as I feel warmth on my face. “How is it doing that?” I ask, nodding toward the clouds.

“Same way we control the climate in the Aquilian level and the Iceen tundra,” Xavier says, and when I look at him, he still seems worried, his little corncob mouth all pursed with tension. “How are you feeling?”

“A little better. The headache and nausea are disappearing, and I don’t feel so heavy.” I pull my hands out of the soil and look around in shock. The grass around me has all died, like I pulled out all of its life force. “Is that normal?” I ask, and I see the two of them exchange a glance.

“I don’t know if it’s a result of you being so low or not. I would assume that most elementals don’t kill the things that help them survive. I didn’t pick up on anything like that in the mind of the one you mimicked. We’ll have to do some research.” Xavier sounds a little worried.

I struggle to my feet, and I waver a little. Brannock’s hand shoots out to steady me, and I smile up at him. The two of them tower over me, so I flutter my wings and feel myself rise up so I’m now head height with them. “Okay, I think I’m good to go,” I reassure them when they both look at me with concern still evident in their eyes.

I see them exchange a glance. “Maybe you should stay behind,” Brannock suggests bravely, and when I look at my warlock husband, I see he agrees, but he is happy for Brannock to deal with my wrath.

“Absolutely not.” I cross my arms stubbornly and glare at them. “I’m fine and will be even better when we get to the planet, where I can soak up all it has to offer. I mean, poisonous, venomous, man-eating plants have to have some major power boost properties, don’t you think?”

They still look unconvinced, but neither of them argue with me, which I appreciate more than I can express. “Fine, Lila, but don’t get too far away from either of us,” Xavier says, pointing between me and Brannock. “I’m not going to be much help in this glamour. It’s cumbersome and awkward,” he says as he steps up next to us, and I have to smother the chortle of laughter that wants to escape. He’s not wrong, he kind of waddles. “If I have to, I’ll drop the glamour, but I don’t want to until we can ascertain whether you can mimic the creature that repels all the danger. We want to stay under the radar as much as possible.”

“Okay, I’ll stay close. Let’s get this show on the road.” They still look unconvinced, but Xavier puts his hands on us again, and we shift back to the transport room.

“Oh good, you’re back.” John heaves out a sigh of relief, which is echoed by William and Eric.

“And you look much better.” William scans my form and looks relieved.

“Yup, feeling pretty good,” I reply, although it’s not the complete truth, but I know if I admit I’m still feeling weak, then the mission will be aborted, and I won’t do that. I’m sure once I get to Husadavia, I’ll be at full power in no time. I wonder if, as an earth elemental, I’ll be able to control the plant life on the planet. I’m sure they’ve probably tried that, though, so probably not.

“Are you ready to go now?” Bubby asks, looking between the three of us.

I don’t wait for any of the questions or arguments, marching up to the platform with Xavier and Brannock following behind. “Let’s do this. Engage!” I shout and see Bubby press a button, and as we disappear, at least Eric has a smile on his face at my antics.