Your Truth is Out There (Find Your Truth Book 1) (32 page)

“Okay, Gsefx, if you say so.”

“Thank you. I’m not sure when or if I’ll see you again, so please understand how much I appreciate all of your help and support and friendship. You have always been my best friend. I will be forever in your debt.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Planvc, his confusion evident. “Of course we’ll see each other again. But hey, you’re my best friend, too. Take care of yourself, Gsefx. I mean it.”

“You too.”

Without another word or a second glance, Gsefx turned and walked out of the office, and went straight to the lift. When he reached the lobby, he found Henry waiting for him.

“Whoa, you look grim,” said Henry.

“The time has come to face the one who has been pulling our strings,” said Gsefx.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

Henry turned toward the door.

“Not that way,” said Gsefx. “Our enemy waits for us above.”

Lhvunsa stood staring at the scene in front of her, watching it all unfold as if she were seeing it through someone else’s eyes. It seemed as though she were outside of her own body taking it all in, but paying very little attention to the events that should have been of utmost importance to her, as if she had been transported into someone else’s surreal dream—or nightmare. The only thing she was certain of was that the vulgar Earthling, named Alcorn, was going on about something he seemed rather passionate about.

“Would someone explain to me what in the hell just happened?” he was saying in what she had come to recognize as his typical loud and obnoxious voice. “They were supposed to be knocked out! All of ‘em, even Ricnor. And then, out of nowhere, boom! Not only is he up and running around, here comes another one of ‘em busting through the damn wall to rescue him. How in the hell does that happen?”

He continued on like that, but Lhvunsa had no interest in his inane babbling. Nothing that was happening around her seemed important any longer. Everything she once held dear, her husband, her home, and her career was now lost, as was she. Her knees buckled and she dropped to the ground.

As her body hit the floor, a memory flashed through her mind. It was a memory of her career. It seemed odd that at this moment, when all was lost, her mind should go to this and not her beloved Gsefx, but the mind isn’t always a predictable thing. She knew that she had once had a career, an important one, or at least a highly respectable one, but what was it? It had something to do with buildings. Perhaps she had been an engineer. No, that wasn’t it. An architect? Yes, that was it. She had once been an architect, and a highly respected one at that. Moreover, she had recently been awarded a very prestigious contract, but the nature of it eluded her. She fought to remember the contract because it somehow seemed important that she try, but even as she did so, she observed, seemingly from a distance, her friend Qilzar approach her.

“Lhvunsa?” he was saying. “Lhvunsa, are you okay? Talk to me, Lhvunsa!”

When she wouldn’t respond, he began shaking her and talking louder.

“Lhvunsa, snap out of it! We need to get moving. Lhvunsa! Come back to me, Lhvunsa!”

She pitied him, really. Qilzar was a good-hearted soul and she actually cared for him in her own way, but she wasn’t going back. There was no reason to go back now.

Then Qilzar stopped. The Earthling, Alcorn, had approached and quietly asked him to move aside.
This is an interesting development,
she thought, as she distantly wondered what this beastly primitive would do.
Perhaps he will hit me or throw me up against the wall until I respond.

“Lhvunsa,” she heard him say in a voice so gentle and soft, she wasn’t sure it was the same being that had been ranting just a few ebyts before. “Lhvunsa, I know what you must be thinking. You must believe that all is lost, even though we’re free from our prison cell and the authorities are on their way. Ricnor has escaped and your husband, who isn’t here, has left your fate in the hands of some obnoxious lout, who has done very little except make a lot of noise since he arrived.

Very true,
thought Lhvunsa, drifting in a little closer.

“Lhvunsa,” said Alcorn, “I know that’s what you’re thinking, but here’s what you don’t know. Among my people, in my profession I am a very high-ranking man. I don’t say that as a matter of pride but only to make the point that there are very few people I take orders from, and then only because I’m required to, not because it’s something I choose.”

“I don’t doubt that.” She heard Qilzar say, in a voice that was none too polite. “So far, you haven’t struck me as the type to take orders from anyone.”

Alcorn didn’t move, not even the slightest flicker, but kept his eyes locked on Lhvunsa.

“That’s right,” he said, “I don’t take orders well, not unless they come from someone I respect, someone who I believe has the intellectual capacity and mental fortitude to give orders on my level, or better yet, on a level higher than my own. Call it hubris, simple arrogance, or whatever you want, but when lives are on the line, the one giving the orders has to know what they’re doing. Until a few hours ago, I’d yet to meet anyone who I believed worthy of that respect.”

Lhvunsa didn’t know what the Earthling was trying to tell her, and though she was not ready to rejoin the waking world just yet, she remained intrigued and listened as Alcorn continued.

“From what I’ve gathered in my limited conversations with your husband, Gsefx spends his days, or whatever you call them out here, working as an accountant, but he is so much more than that, Lhvunsa. I’m not exactly sure how to put it, but he is perhaps the most brilliant individual I’ve ever met. It’s not just intelligence either. I mean, clearly, by Earth standards, all of you are much more advanced than we are. It’s his innate grasp of tactics and strategy that caught my attention. When we were talking and mapping out a rescue plan, I would barely begin a sentence before he not only knew what I was going to say, but then had a plan to address the situation.”

Alcorn was talking about her Gsefx, but not about how much danger he was in. He was telling her how much he admired him.

This is unexpected.

Without realizing how or when it happened, Lhvunsa had reassumed her own body and was hanging on every word this vulgar creature was saying.

“Gsefx didn’t ask me to come on this mission, Lhvunsa, I insisted. I’ve always dreamed of being a leader like him. But, after just a few minutes, it was clear to me I could never achieve his level, so I decided the next best thing was to serve under him.”

He sighed and took her hand in his and she looked down at it.

“Lhvunsa, even the most perfectly run mission experiences some bumps along the way. And while I may yell and scream and jump up and down, all is not lost. I will also tell you that while Gsefx is by no means out of danger, he’s far from helpless, nor is he alone. As for us, we’re not out of danger yet either and we need you to come back to us now.”

“The Klarock,” said Lhvunsa with a slight shake of her head. “It was the Klarock Museum.”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” asked Alcorn.

Lhvunsa smiled and squeezed the Earthling’s hand gently with one hand, patted it with another, and reached up to caress his cheek with her third.

“Nothing important, just something I had been trying to remember. Thank you, General Alcorn. I believe I’ve misjudged you, and perhaps the whole situation. It seems you have things more under control than I gave you credit. I’m sorry. Everything just became a little overwhelming.”

“Please, no need for apologies. I understand, ma’am, I truly do.”

He started to get up, but Lhvunsa stopped him.

“Did you really mean all of that? The things you said about Gsefx?”

Alcorn smiled at her.

“Ma’am, I’m not above lying if I think it will give me a tactical advantage,” said Alcorn. “However, in this regard, I’ll let your friend, Qilzar, who I deem to be an outstanding judge of character, be my judge and jury. I am indeed an arrogant man, who not only finds it difficult to humble himself in front of others, but finds it just as difficult to lie about doing so, regardless of the tactical advantage. I would never willingly admit to serving under the leadership of an inferior.”

Alcorn got to his feet and reached down to help Lhvunsa up.

“And if Qilzar’s testimony isn’t enough,” he continued, “I’ll offer my son’s. He’s known me a lot longer and knows exactly what a son-of-a-bitch I can be.”

Lhvunsa smiled.

“I don’t know if all that will be necessary,” she said. “I’d hate to stir up any family trouble in the midst of everything else we’re dealing with.”

“Well, I have no problem testifying to his arrogance,” said Qilzar, who, from what Lhvunsa could see, appeared to be trying to maintain his dislike for the Earthling, even through his gratefulness at seeing her come back to herself.

“Theo, anything to add?” asked Alcorn.

“No comment,” said Theo with a weak smile.

“There you go,” said Alcorn. “Guilty on all counts.”

“Okay, okay,” said Lhvunsa, who, inconceivably, actually found herself trying not to laugh. “I thought we were in some kind of hurry or something. So what’s next?”

“I don’t know if it’s possible,” said Alcorn, “but we need to stop Ricnor from leaving. It would also be great if we can find the paintings before the police get here and collect them as evidence. They belong to Henry, and Gsefx would like to ensure they are returned to him.”

“That was a short-range vehicle Ricnor and his companion were using,” said Qilzar. “They won’t be able to get off-planet with it. They’ll have to find another ship. If we can get to their main bay before they’re able to leave, we might be able to catch them.”

“Great,” said Alcorn. “I can get us to the main bay, let’s just hope it’s in time.”

“This place is a maze of twists and turns,” said Lhvunsa. “What makes you think you can get us there?”

“I’ve been mapping out the place since we first arrived. I have it all in my head. It may not be the most direct route, but I know how to get back to every place we’ve been.”

“It’s good they didn’t drug you when they brought you in,” she said, trying not to seem impressed by the increasingly more impressive Earthling. “Ricnor’s thugs hid inside my home, then ambushed me before I had a chance to react. After Ricnor held his spike to my throat in order to get Gsefx to do his bidding, they knocked me out. I was unconscious when I arrived and I simply woke up in my cell.”

“As did I,” said Qilzar, who also seemed to be trying not to look impressed, but was failing miserably.

“I think I know the way pretty well, too,” said Theo.

“Good,” said Alcorn. “Theo, you and Lhvunsa look for the paintings. If you find them, bring them to the main bay. Qilzar and I will go there and try to stop Ricnor. While we’re there, we’ll see if we can secure a vehicle for ourselves. We’ll meet back in the Grand Chamber.”

“Wait,” said Qilzar. “I’m not sure splitting up is the best plan. For one thing, we only have one weapon. What if we run into someone else who wasn’t knocked out?”

“Good point,” said Alcorn, while Lhvunsa and he made eye contact. He took the primitive Earth weapon from his belt and handed it to his son. “You only have three shots left, Theo, so use them carefully.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Any other objections?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact,” said Qilzar, “a rather important one. We have to remain together if we want to continue communicating. You have the only translator.”

“Huh, another good point,” said Alcorn. “Well, I suppose we could …”

“I speak your language,” said Lhvunsa, in near-perfect English. “Gsefx believed he was being secretive when he was learning English. I believe that’s what you call it. I let him keep his secret but thought it might be a good idea to learn it for myself. It appears I was right.”

“Well, I guess that takes care of that,” said Alcorn with a smile. “Anything else?”

“You’re missing the point,” said Qilzar, “I don’t …”

Lhvunsa reached over and put a slim green finger over Qilzar’s mouth.

“Qilzar, my dear friend, we need to trust, if not in them, then in Gsefx, who sent them.”

Qilzar started to object again, but Lhvunsa shook her head.

“No more,” she said. “We’re wasting time.” She kissed the Dremin on the forehead. “Take care of the General, and take care of yourself. We'll be together again soon enough. Come, Theo, let’s go.”

She gave Alcorn one last look, then turned abruptly and walked away.

Alcorn watched Lhvunsa walk away, his expression never betraying the emotion he felt inside. In all his years with Janny, no woman had ever so much as turned his head, but then again, he’d never left planet Earth before, either. Marital statuses aside, both his and hers, it wasn’t that he was interested in Lhvunsa in any kind of romantic sense, though she was strikingly beautiful. It was something else about her, something that was more intriguing than anything else. With every thought she expressed aloud, he knew there were at least a dozen others she kept hidden. She and Gsefx were alike in that regard.

Probably why they’re such a good match for one another.

Gsefx seemed to be more of an extrovert, preferring to lay all of his cards on the table, whereas Lhvunsa was more introverted, more mysterious than her husband. At least that was the impression he’d gotten so far. But aside from that difference, which was more complimentary than anything else, they seemed to be very much alike in the way they were several steps ahead of everyone else around them. In any case, Alcorn liked her as much as he liked Gsefx, and swore to himself he would go to whatever lengths necessary to protect and serve both of them.

Theo turned to follow Lhvunsa, and Alcorn snapped out of his reverie to reach out and touch his son on the shoulder.

“Theo …”

Theo turned and locked eyes with his father. Alcorn’s throat closed up unexpectedly and, without warning, he found that no words could escape. He gave his son the best smile he could muster and nodded, hoping that would be enough to show Theo how proud he was of him. He also hoped that he would get the chance to actually tell him someday. Theo smiled weakly, and then went on to catch up with Lhvunsa.