(eng) Natalie Wright - H.A.L.F. 01 by The Deep Beneath

Author:The Deep Beneath [Beneath, The Deep]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

PART II

A.H.D.N.A.

“The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ nor ‘Can they talk? but ‘Can they Suffer?”

– Jeremy Bentham

15

DROWNED

Flanked by soldiers on each side of the copter’s bench seat, Tex clutched the blanket close to his naked body and stared down at his lap. In that moment, he hated the human part of himself. It was the human in him that thrust pesky emotions up to his consciousness. Emotions like fear followed quickly by anger. And above all the feeling of defeat. He had failed himself and put the humans that had helped him in danger. He had not intended that. And he loathed that he felt remorse for it.

Dr. Randall was the only human he had ever held positive thoughts about. But now he felt something new. It was strange and uncomfortable. Tex had a vision in his mind of Erika Holt with guns pointed toward her. The thought made a bit of bile rise in Tex’s gullet and he was nauseous. But he managed to keep the contents of his stomach within him and not embarrass himself further than he already had.

As he sat and stewed, the sun rose and flooded the copter with warmth. While on Bell Rock, he’d taken off the sunglasses that Erika had bought for him. His eyes were exposed to the bright sun for the first time. He had longed to see the sun and feel its warmth on his body. It was the photographs of the Earth during the day that had most made him ache to escape the confines of A.H.D.N.A. But as the sun shone in the copter, it hurt his eyes, so he closed them. I do not belong in the light. At least with his eyes shut he could not see Commander Sturgis’ accusing glare.

They had wrapped him in an already damp wool blanket that had sopped up the water they’d doused him in. The cold wetness made him shiver. As the moisture seeped into him through his pores, it was as if his lungs and brain were drowning. Tex was almost impressed with Commander Sturgis’ strategy to keep him in check. If only Ian had driven faster or he’d thrown himself into the portal sooner.

The soaking had dampened his senses, and the wet blanket had put his abilities into near total lockdown. But the arid air counteracted some of the effects of the moisture. At least he had the ability to reach out with his senses to the world immediately around him. He could sense a change in the air as Sergeant Freeman shifted in the seat across from him. And as he concentrated, he could hear Commander Sturgis’ thoughts.

It was not like a voice speaking in his head as it had been with the greys and Alecto. It was more like seeing a slide show of photographs that he had to piece together. He saw a vision of Erika, Ian and Jack. It was how Sturgis saw them. They were huddled together, crying and looking afraid. Then an image of the three lying lifeless on the ground.

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