Page 77 of Xefe
“It thinks I’m an Aavvee?
“No.” Veras swirled his hands, and the low lighting flared to life, highlighting holograms of the universe, the stars above, even the tornadoes that roamed the planet. All in miniature and floating around us. Several other sections of the planets looked so life-like that I could touch them. One looked like an alien zoo. Another, a brothel. The racing arenas. It went on.
“What is this place?”
“It iseverything.”
“That tells me nothing.”
“Does it not? Oh! Before I forget, I was given strict instructions to say,” his chipper voice dropped, “I will destroy you if you mention this location. Toanyone.” He focused on one of the holograms and expanded it. “Butthisinformation, youmay share with the humans, your teammates, and any of the warriors you trust.”
His voice… I heard itinsidemy brain, not just through my ears. I nodded, too disoriented to ask about it. He manipulated the hologram, expanding it until we were engulfed and standing in another lab with rows and rows of large, grey-tinted tubing. The equipment looked like giant aquariums. But it was cold, abandoned, and very creepy. A mist surrounded the structures. “Fear not. This is only a projection. We are not really inside this facility.”
I took a step back, instinctively knowing there was nothing good inside this place. “You better start explaining, Veras. This place is… wrong.” I shivered, completely spooked. With so little visibility, I wasn’t sure what might jump out at me.
“It is the true path of this planet. The pleasure zones and fighting arenas are all diversions.” The eerie echo of Veras’ voice penetrated my mind.
Okay.Not super weird, or spooky, at all. I fisted my hands, willing myself to go and take a look. Each pod had a window, wet with a liquid sheen.Suck it up, buttercup.
“Everything in here represents failure. This place is the physical manifestation of the Aavvee. They are thieves, usurpers. They are destructive and blunt and don’t know what to do with the sophisticated equipment they stole.”
“Who did they steal it from?” I wiped off the moisture and looked in one of the pods. Doublediablo! It was horrific. Body parts, legs, arms…parts of a spiked spine. These were warriors. One of them was headless, but his body was intact. It looked like Sunny. Same build—I could see the beginning of spikes above the elbow.
Veras droned on, either too wrapped up in his story or choosing to ignore my horror. I’m sure he felt it because he seemed to be able to speak telepathically. “The original people ofthis planet. The Nozarocans. They became so dependent on the Oro that they were convinced no one could breach the portals and the Guardians. Sadly, they were wrong, and it cost them their lives.”
“Are these…warriors?” I ripped my gaze from the gruesome scene.
“Of a sort.” Veras looked at me, and his big eyes went wide. “Forgive me, human. You are upset. I can only feel or read you when I’m looking at you.” He took my hand and patted it.
I tried not to wince. He reminded me too much of Freckles. Immediately, he dropped my hand.
“Apologies.”
I went to another pod. This one was much larger, and it appeared as if three bodies were attached to a single tube. Their coloring was much different, teal and gold, and I thought I spied wings. Similar to the supreme’s guards.Aw hell.“Are these clones?”
He tipped up his chin, the universal alien gesture for yes. “We call them Dupes.”
First thought:Who is we?Second:Guess I know where Sunny’s donations are going.I looked up and up and up. There must have been thousands of cubes above and below me, fanning out like rolling hills. I crept to the ledge and realized it wasn’t as abandoned as I thought. “Why do they need so many?”
“Genetic tourism. And protection.”
“What?”
“Imagine, the Aavvee manage to steal one of the most powerful substances in the universe that can heal the body, transform the mind… and what do they do with it? Plastic surgery. Ways to improve their appearance!” Veras was getting worked up, swinging his arms around. “Superficial operations to lookyounger. An abomination.”
What he was saying was important, but the way he delivered it was fascinating. He was so different from any alien I’d met. An over-emoter, for sure. I was into it.
“But they soon discovered their folly. The Oro cannot survive off this planet. For example, if by a miracle you kill Freckles,somehowmanage to survive the process, and I send you back to Earth…”
Ouch.
“You will lose all of your enhancements. Speed. Language. All of your injuries would return as the Oro died.” He spun around and looked at me, as if he just remembered I was there. “By the way, why do you think you developed these particular abilities with the Oro?”
I shrugged. “I asked.”
One blink. Two. “Asked?”
“Sure. It’s alive. I needed help with a few things.” Kill freckles. Save Valentina. “It decided I was worthy. Or whatever.” I placed a hand on my hip and winked.
