Chapter 3 #2
He nodded stiffly then gave the Enforcer one last suspicious look before heading out the door, the rest of the band filing out in his wake.
The Director repressed an amused smile. His emotions were quite fascinating.
They combined the strangest mix of curiosity, anticipation, suspicion, and something I couldn’t quite define.
Nefarious wouldn’t be appropriate as I didn’t sense any threat from him or actual ill intentions.
But I also got a strong sense that he had set goals that he planned on seeing through no matter how I felt about them.
I gestured towards one of the couches as soon as the door closed behind my friends.
“Please have a seat, Director Wilson. Would you like something to drink?” I asked as he settled in the large sectional couch made of dark brown leather.
He shook his head. “No, thank you. I won’t hog too much of your time. I’m certain you have far more interesting places to be than talking with me. And please, call me Colin. I’m rather informal.”
“Good, so am I. So you can call me Kayog,” I replied as I sat on the cushioned stool across from him, which was a lot more comfortable for my broad wings.
“Kayog it is then! You have amazing talent! Your voice is exquisite,” he said in a flattering tone that left me completely indifferent.
He was testing my responses to assess my personality, including if I could be bought or manipulated with compliments.
I shrugged. “All Temerns can sing. Compared to others of my peers, I would deem myself average, in no way exceptional.”
“I don’t know about average, but your charisma certainly isn’t. You had the crowd eating out the palm of your hand.”
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a stiff smile. “You’re not wrong. People seemed to respond well to me in general. But what can I do for you? What did you wish to see me about?”
“I came here to get a better understanding of an ongoing investigation regarding potential terrorist attacks and a growing number of Good Samaritan incidents taking place in the area lately,” Colin said in a matter-of-factly manner.
This time, both my brows shot up. “Do you believe me a terrorist?!”
He burst out laughing. “No, not at all.”
“A Good Samaritan then?” I insisted.
He smiled, although his eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. “Are you?”
“I don’t know. As much as possible, I try to be helpful when needed. Why? Is being good a crime?” I asked in the same nonchalant fashion he questioned me.
He shrugged. “Obviously not, except if being a Good Samaritan turns into becoming a vigilante. Then it’s a bit more problematic.”
“I can see that,” I replied in a noncommittal fashion. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“Nothing directly,” he said in a mysterious fashion.
“I was merely saying that I came to this planet to look into these two matters and figured I would seize the opportunity to pay you a visit while at it. You see, we always keep an eye out for potential Enforcer recruits. And we feel that you could be a perfect candidate.”
I gaped at him, genuinely stunned. Of all the things he could have said, that one never featured anywhere in the list of possibilities.
“Me? An Enforcer?! Why would you want to recruit a singer?” I asked, baffled.
He gave me a ‘don’t be silly’ look. “You’re far more than a singer, Kayog.
At only 27 years old, you already possess two master’s and are on the way to finish a third one in just a few months.
You’re a very popular singer and performer, participate in pro level athletic competitions—including combat—and you speak five languages fluently without the assistance of a translator.
You’re single, charismatic, empathic, self-made, and with both a flawless record and immaculate reputation.
You could be anything from an Agent to an Ambassador, and everything else in-between. ”
My mind raced as a billion thoughts pushed and shoved at each other. This wasn’t some impromptu chat on the spur of the moment. Granted, he mentioned I wasn’t easy to get in touch with, but this man had thoroughly investigated me in order to so confidently list this many of my achievements.
What else does he know?
By who knew what miracle, I managed to keep a nonchalant expression on my face.
“You flatter me, but I’m not really into galactic politics.”
He huffed as if I’d said something to insult his intelligence.
“Really? You’re doing a master’s specifically in that field.
Your first master’s was in xenobiology. The second one was in galactic history with a focus on primitive and developing species.
And right now, you’re doing one in intergalactic politics with your thesis debating the pros and cons of the Prime Directive.
If that’s not being into galactic politics, I don’t know what is. ”
I waved a dismissive hand. “There is such a thing as simply pursuing knowledge for its own sake. That I love understanding things thoroughly doesn’t mean I want to partake in the process.”
“Right,” Colin said in a voice dripping with doubt.
“Well, I thank you for your interest. But if there’s nothing else, I will be heading out,” I said, repressing the urge to rub my temples and my nape to lessen the pressure that sent increasing stabbing pain at the back of my head.
“Out to the party?” he asked with curiosity.
“No, I’m leaving.”
He recoiled in genuine surprise. “Leaving? Why?”
“I don’t do crowds,” I said, my voice a little clipped by the growing pain his persistence forced me to endure.
“A performer and captain of two sport teams who doesn’t do crowds?” he exclaimed disbelievingly.
“That’s correct,” I said, standing up with an expression that made it clear further insistence would now be flat out rude.
He stood up as well, his eyes narrowing as another wave of suspicion surged within him.
“What are you running away from?” Colin asked, the Enforcer in him seeping through.
“Absolutely nothing,” I replied in a cool voice. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”
Without waiting for his response, I headed towards the door.
“Wait! Please take my card,” he said, catching up to me and extending it towards me.
I glanced at the card and swallowed back the urge to tell him to keep it. Not wanting to give him another excuse to shackle me here any further, I simply took it.
“You truly are a fascinating candidate, Kayog Voln,” Colin said pensively.
“I’m not a candidate,” I said sternly.
“The UPO and the Enforcers can open the kind of doors for you that no one else can,” he said in a strange tone that was both commanding and meant to be coaxing. “Call me whenever you want to know more about any possibilities for you within our ranks.”
“Sure,” I said absentmindedly before all but running out.
My stomach roiled with the nauseous feeling that preceded a monster headache. The horrible pressure behind my eyes nearly made me want to claw them right out of my head. I all but burst out of the back door and took flight.
Through the windows that had resumed their normal opacity, I could see the crowd happily mingling within.
My chest constricted with envy at the thought of all these people, be they friends, lovers, acquaintances, and even random strangers who got to hang out in a common space, have fun, and simply enjoy their mutual company without a care in the world.
I both loved and hated my loneliness.
I actually liked people a lot. Given the choice, I would be the heart of the party. Sadly, I dreaded their emotions and how they wrecked me.
Why the fuck am I such a broken Temern?
Flapping my wings as hard as I could, I soared high into the sky and away from the populated areas towards the water.
The farther I got from people, the more the brain-melting pressure torturing me decreased.
The most painful part was losing the mesmerizing song of my beautiful dove.
But the rest of the noise was too much for me to handle.
Memories of the breathtaking female filled my mind, dampening the enduring discomfort clawing at my brain.
Watching me perform had aroused her. Every wave of her delectable emotions had set my blood ablaze, making me dance in an even sexier fashion.
Her desire had fanned my own. A part of me felt embarrassed by the way I behaved on stage.
I always made it a point to entertain without using sex or sending out the wrong signals to the fans, especially those who might be drawn to me in a romantic fashion.
But my dove changed everything.
I had wanted her to ache for me as much as I ached for her.
A sadistic side of me I never realized lurked deep within actually took great pleasure in the fact that she couldn’t decide if she liked or distrusted me.
My competitive side enjoyed the prospect of breaking down her walls and making her fall madly in love with me.
However, this was a challenge I shouldn’t… couldn’t take on.
She was my soulmate, an impossible dream I never thought could come true. But I meant every word of this song I wrote for her. I was crazy.
She could be my peace…
Unfortunately, as proven tonight, even my dove wouldn’t be enough.
The foul noises from the crowd almost buried her.
As I completed the flight back home, the dark shadow that always seemed to hover above me swallowed me whole, casting me into a deep well of despair.
I couldn’t live on campus. In fact, I couldn’t live anywhere that was remotely populated.
Even the forest presented its own set of challenges.
As I landed on the small island far in the river running past the campus, I silently thanked the powers that be for its existence.
It had required a lot of sweet talking and convincing to get the mayor to allow me to settle here, isolated from everyone.
My cabin, custom made for my needs, had been a blessing.
I rushed inside, closing the door. The noise immediately diminished by half.
Wings spread wide, I leaned against the door, the back of my head resting on the special padding designed to block most forms of communication signals, from radio frequencies to psychic waves. A shuddering breath escaped me. I couldn’t tell if relief, sorrow, or a mix of both prompted it.
I slipped down the length of the door and sat on the floor.
My legs folded against my chest, I wrapped my arms around them and rested my forehead on my knees.
A dull ache stabbed my heart as the beautiful face of my dove danced before my mind’s eye.
As I waited for the debilitating pain in my head to fade, I hummed to myself the enchanting song of her soul.
I could dream safely of her, here in my home, my sanctuary… my prison.