CHAPTER 10
Leila didn’t know how to feel about Grayson.
After her less-than-positive experience with the opposite sex—those treating women as chattel with no rights and arranging a marriage for her with someone decades older, which led to her fleeing—she’d never expected to find herself interested in the company of a man, let alone a warrior.
Yet, since meeting Grayson, she’d discovered enjoyment in his company.
He didn’t make untoward comments or advances.
He admired her work. Also proved very nice to look at—stirring feelings she’d not experienced since college, the place where she’d first tasted freedom.
While abroad studying, she’d discovered a culture where women could make their own choices.
Could take lovers. Could chart their own path.
Returning home had been jarring, as her newfound independence got torn away.
Rebelling resulted in beatings. Speaking out led to more bruises and restriction in her movement. The diploma she’d worked hard for didn’t matter because it was decided that, as a woman, her only purpose was to wed and bear children.
Tower offered her a way out. A chance for freedom. Yet, she never shook the fear it would be torn away. She kept herself apart from everyone. After all, if her own family could betray her, then who could she trust?
But everything changed when Grayson came along.
His smiles and presence roused the woman in her.
Their interactions made her recognize her loneliness, and she suddenly craved companionship.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to share her day with?
A person who made her feel special and protected? A lover to satisfy her neglected needs?
It hadn’t been until after her dinner with Grayson, a decision made on the spur of the moment, that she’d realized she might be ready to allow someone into her life.
Not just anyone, though. Grayson. However, that didn’t mean he wanted the same thing.
He’d been nothing but a gentleman. Could it be the attraction was only one-sided?
After all, there’d been a moment after he’d walked her to the door where he could have attempted a good-night kiss, but he didn’t even lean in close.
However, he’d readily agreed to meet for breakfast.
It only occurred to her later that she’d not asked what time, not that time always had meaning in Tower, a place that seemed to abide by its own clock. The next morning, while she showered and dressed, she debated what to do. Brazenly show up at his door? Wait and see if he knocked at hers?
Rather than choose, she decided to check on her lab, only upon opening her door, who lay across the front of it? The object of her thoughts.
“Grayson, don’t tell me you slept here all night?” He obviously had, judging by the cot and the tousled hair, not to mention the same clothes he’d worn the night before.
“Wanted to make sure I wasn’t late for our breakfast date.” Said with an impish grin.
“I didn’t need you to stand guard,” she chided, even as she couldn’t help a spurt of pleasure.
“Wasn’t comfortable leaving you alone on this floor, knowing how unpredictable those aliens are.”
“Speaking of which, I should take a peek and see if they behaved overnight.”
Upon entering the lab, everything seemed in order, nothing broken and the door to the secure chamber remained sealed. However, a peek through the window had her gasping.
“It escaped the cage.”
“Did it cut through the bars with its teeth?” Grayson queried.
“Seems most likely.” The bars had definitely been cut somehow and then bent, allowing it to squeeze out. “It ate my other samples.” Small ones, at least, meaning Blue only grew a fraction. As if sensing her stare, it glared at her from the rear corner.
“Think it can chew its way through the walls or door?”
She bit her lower lip. “I would have said no before seeing it could gnaw through metal.”
“We’re going to need a different containment unit,” he murmured. “Tower, can you provide us with a bullet-proof glass box? And since you can’t see Blue, you’ll want it to go from mid room to ceiling, wall to wall, and even the floor.”
In the blink of an eye, the busted cage disappeared, replaced with a new container that filled the rear half of the room, and despite Tower not detecting Blue, the alien ended up inside it.
The critter lost its mind and battered against the clear surface before attempting to claw and even drag its teeth, to no avail. It didn’t even leave a scratch.
“That’s brilliant,” she exclaimed.
“You’ll need Tower to provide an access hatch when you need to take more samples, or feed it, but I wouldn’t recommend leaving it in place when done.”
“Obviously.” It emerged a tad tart, so she added, “Working with live specimens is new for me. I wouldn’t have thought of doing that.”
“I’m just glad Tower could provide what I asked for. Does it have any limitations?”
“Not many. Complex machines like computers and electronics that have chips seem to be the only things it can’t simply produce on demand.”
“Are you sure about that? Your lab is full of equipment.”
“Which Tower has to acquire from the outside world, and while quick, it isn’t instantaneous. Despite how it seems, all of the goods aren’t actually made out of thin air.”
“Tower steals the stuff?” He sounded aghast. No surprise a warrior wouldn’t approve of theft.
“My understanding is that Tower somehow purchases them and then they’re transported here. But don’t ask me who does the buying or where the money comes from. Or even how it’s possible to source our demands in mere seconds.”
“Maybe he sends secret shoppers back in time to get the stuff,” he joked.
“A likely scenario. After all, as I said, time runs differently here.”
“Since Blue is secured, shall we go eat?”
“Yes.” Which then led to her wondering if she should bring him to her dining room or the Zodiac one. Hers might be closer, but she could just imagine the consternation—and curiosity—if she showed up with a Zodiac Warrior. Best she dine with him on the lower level. “Will you lead the way?”
“With pleasure. Although I don’t suppose I can splash my face and use your washroom first?”
“Of course.”
It didn’t take him long to freshen up, and Tower provided a change of clothes. They headed down the stairs to the dining room, although she balked at the entrance upon seeing people.
Aquarius, whom she’d met, Aries, whom she knew of but hadn’t actually ever seen in person, and the petite woman by his side, cradling a baby, had to be his wife, Sage, the seer.
“There you are,” Sage chirped. “Right on time.”
“You expected us?” The scientist in Leila might not struggle too hard anymore with the magic of the Zodiacs or Tower, but someone who could see the future? It bothered because it raised questions about free will and choice versus predestined events.
“Even if Sage hadn’t seen it, I would have sought you out. Libra, you’ll be excited to know you’re needed for a mission,” Aries stated before taking a sip from a mug.
Grayson stiffened before exclaiming, “I thought I wasn’t ready.”
“You aren’t, but this one shouldn’t be too dangerous, I hope.” Aries grimaced. “Sage hasn’t been able to see much where these aliens are concerned.”
“I seem to have difficulty with discerning them directly, but I’m getting glimpses of the aftermath of their actions.” Sage shrugged. “Apparently, my ability is more linked to the Astraeus than we realized.”
“What do you need me to do?” Grayson asked as he and Leila sat down. Plates with food already waited for them.
“First, Aquarius, can you bring them up to speed on what you discovered?” Aries glanced at the other man, who looked up from his tablet.
“So, the boss asked me to pinpoint the landing locations of all the asteroid pieces that hit Earth. Thirteen in total, with the largest chunk hitting Lake Ontario.”
“Which borders Toronto, the place that’s had the largest number of aliens attacking,” Aries added.
“How many of the meteorites were recovered?” Leila asked.
“None.” A surprising answer from Aquarius.
“Hold on a second. What do you mean none?” Grayson paused eating to ask.
“Blame a lack of interest.” Aquarius shrugged.
“Our planet gets smacked by thousands of meteorites a year, way more than people realize. What’s one more boring space rock?
No one had a clue it was an alien vessel.
Although an attempt was made to retrieve the one that landed in Toronto.
However, the search got called off when they lost a diver. ”
“I wonder if the diver found it,” Leila murmured. “It would explain how the aliens might have escaped the lake since they wouldn’t have fed on the aquatic life.”
“Tell them what you discovered,” Aries prodded, aiming his fork at Aquarius.
“When I cross-referenced the appearances of the creatures against the areas the meteors hit, I discovered something odd. We had active scenarios in twelve of the thirteen locations.”
“Perhaps one of the fragments didn’t contain any of the alien organism or got burned up in the atmospheric entry,” Leila theorized.
“A possibility,” Aries agreed with a nod, “but we need to know for sure because the area where it landed is actually quite unique.” He glanced at Aquarius, who took over again.
“By all indications, that meteor landed in or around Tanzania’s Lake Natron.
For those who’ve never heard of it, its waters are deadly to most animals, as they are heavily saturated with salt, soda, and magnesite deposits.
It’s often known as the lake that turns the living to stone, not actually true, of course.
What happens is the waters calcify animals that come in contact with it, preserving them so that they appear as statues.
It’s possible this toxic combination is why no aliens developed from that asteroid chunk. ”
“Or it could be that the waters lack the life needed for the alien microbes to feed, thus basically acting as a prison, or a stasis tank, if you prefer,” Leila opined.
“We need you to find out for sure.” A statement that appeared not only directed at Grayson, but also her.
“I’ll be glad to run tests on the water once Grayson returns.”
“You’re going with him.”
The unexpected announcement led Leila to exclaim, “Why would I have to go?”
“Because it could be something other than the water that stunted their development. While Libra wouldn’t necessarily recognize it, you might.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t go on missions. My work is here at Tower.”
“Not today, it isn’t. You’re being called upon to aid in the fight. Although, in your case, it will be more research than physical violence. The area isn’t known to have any predators, just flamingoes, right, Aquarius?” Aries glanced at the other man.
“Yeah, they love that lake and actually flourish, which is wild considering how deadly it is to pretty much everything else.”
Grayson cleared his throat. “If I might ask a question… You say the area hasn’t reported any aliens, but by the sounds of it, the inhospitable nature of this lake might mean no one’s noticed them. They could be growing at a slower rate due to a lack of the proper meat protein.”
“A possibility, which is why you will, of course, arm yourself before leaving. Should the area in actuality be compromised, you’ll be able to quickly return with the doctor by calling upon your constellation.”
“The beaming thing?” Grayson clarified.
“Yes.”
“Which I’ve never done on my own before.”
“It’s actually rather simple. Just concentrate and the Astraeus will do the rest.”
“And how will we get there?” Leila interjected. “As Grayson pointed out, he’s rather new, and knowing the complexity of the calculations required to land in a specific location, I am not risking my well-being.” Leila couldn’t help the tart retort.
“I agree, he’s not ready for a precise location beam, hence why you’ll be flying from Baghdad airport to Arusha, Tanzania. The city is about seventy miles from the lake. A rental with supplies will be awaiting you.”
“Um, you told me to bring weapons, but not sure how I’m supposed to pass security with them,” Grayson pointed out.
“You won’t be going on a regular flight or via the main terminal. A charter jet will be waiting.”
Everything had been planned, and Leila couldn’t help a spurt of panic. “I can’t leave. What of the alien I’m studying in my lab?” What of the fact she never wanted to leave Tower? Never wanted to accidentally run into someone from her past?
“It will be there when you return. Asterion has agreed to keep watch over it. This mission is more important. If those lake waters really are poisonous to the aliens, then this could mark the difference between another massacre or eliminating the threat.”
Despite her trepidation, she could not refuse the plea. After all, she’d become a scientist to discover and maybe help humanity.
“Very well. I’ll go.” To which Sage, her eyes turning cloudy, stated, “Beware the thunder that brings peril.”
Apparently, the baby didn’t like the premonition, for she woke and began to screech, ending breakfast.
“I’m sorry.” Grayson followed her from the dining room.
“This isn’t your fault. Guess I finally need to earn my place.”
“If you want, I’ll head to this lake by myself and bring back all kinds of samples. Water. Dirt. Maybe I’ll even find the meteor.”
She blew out a breath. “While I appreciate the offer, I’ll be joining you on this journey.”
“I’m confused. You made it clear you’d prefer to stay behind.”
“Only because I’ve gotten used to being insulated and am feeling a touch of panic at the thought of leaving my safe bubble.
But Aries has a point. You won’t necessarily know what to look for.
I do. He’s also right that if there is something there that’s toxic to the aliens, then the faster we find it, the quicker we can hopefully put an end to the attacks. ”
“Isn’t that lake water dangerous for humans, too?”
“Yes, which means we couldn’t blanket an area, but an individual with a squirt bottle, heck, even a water gun, could spray a target and let the water do its work, assuming it works on contact and quickly enough.”
“Didn’t you say that might not work with the omega-3 stuff because it might not penetrate past the skin?”
“Omega-3 isn’t acidic by nature. Natron is, meaning it is much more feasible for a chemical attack. Even better, it can likely be mass-produced, unlike the harvesting required for the omega.”
“Guess that means we’re going on an adventure then.”
“We are.”
The two of them alone for at least the next few days.
It excited her more than expected.