Alpha One - Chris Burton [135]
Hoskins stood up and left the room immediately. He was angry and worried. He felt a pulling force as Winterburn entered his mind and tried to extract his thoughts. He convinced himself he had not allowed Winterburn to delve too; deeply. He doubted whether everyone in the ship could hold off Winterburn’s advances so easily.
* * * *
Jake was grounded by his CAG the moment he arrived back at the ship. He was confined to his quarters while Carla and her fellow compatriots were taken somewhere else in the ship. Jake didn’t know where, but he was determined to see her again. He had not come all this way only for her to be taken away so soon after he had her back. He was not angry; he reasoned his CAG had every right to detain him. He was not particularly concerned that he was grounded, either. His brief experience of the Kryl had been unpleasant. All he wanted was to get him and Carla back safely home. He was concerned, however, about the Kryl fleet gathering on the horizon. He doubted whether the Halo 7 had the capability to hold them off. The only recourse was to exit the Kryl galaxy as quickly as possible. He persuaded himself the ship’s commander had the same intentions.
* * * *
Carla was confused. She felt the compulsion again. She felt pulled towards Winterburn and a connection had once again been made. She could do nothing however, as her guest accommodation, although pleasant enough, was time-lock secured, a necessary precaution, according to the Alpha commanders, to ensure Winterburn didn’t once again try to manipulate his former captives. She was stronger this time and understood what Winterburn tried to do. She was also less convinced of her sister’s resolve. The two sisters requested accommodation together, and at first they enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time together. Now it looked as if Joely’s deeper connection to Winterburn unsettled her.
“Why won’t they let us out? I need to get to Winterburn. I need to see that he is okay.”
“Why do you want to see him, Joely? He was your captor for over six years and his ultimate intention was to consume you.”
“He would never have consumed me. He loves me. I have to find a way out of here. Carla, you are part of Alpha. You must know how to get us out of here?”
“No.” Carla was firm. “Winterburn is an alien, whose sole intention is the destruction of the human race. He doesn’t love you. He deceived you all this time and once again he is trying to connect with us. You must try to shut him off.”
“I can’t, Carla. He is too powerful. I must go to him.”
Like a possessed and enraged caged animal she rushed for the door at full force. She fell to the ground exhausted and deflated.
“Help me Carla,” she said. “Help me.”
* * * *
Hoskins took the ship to maximum thrust as he tried to outrun the Kryl fleet. He briefed the whole crew by comm link that Winterburn had tried to exert pressure on them, and they were to resist under all circumstances. So far, it had seemed to work. Winterburn could not get to his former captives, either; they were in time-locked quarters. He just needed a bit more time to get as close to the blue wormhole fissure as possible.
Hoskins decided he needed to know more about Winterburn and the effect he had on people. He would speak to the rescued prisoners, but first he would speak to Jake Carter. He headed for the hangar deck and his CAG.
* * * *
Lieutenant Obeya Temsouri was in the CAG operations room when Hoskins entered. She was alone so he went to her and they embraced. He reminded himself, as always, that this was wrong, that he had a wife at home expecting his child and to whom he had promised his infidelity would cease. He persuaded himself, as every other time, that this was not the time to cease his relationship with Obeya. He composed himself, however; this was a time for action and not passion.
“You should not have allowed Enson Carter to board the AUSWAS ship. What happened?”
Obeya was professional enough to know there was a time and place for their relationship. She