“I’m not talking about the old Alpha Prime – the one who stayed away most of your life – or even the one who’s been taking baby steps in getting to know you. I’m talking about the Alpha Prime of the last few days. The one who’s made constant overtures to bond with you. Going to breakfast, playing board games, eating pizza… You can have the father you always wanted.”
“None of that was real. It’s you controlling him.”
“It was real,” Alpha Prime countered. “I have access to his memories; I know his feelings for you and can manifest them, and much more. Plus, he’s not gone – he’s still in here. It’s like he’s asleep, for lack of a better term. Moreover, all of the bonding we’ve done lately are things he wanted to do but didn’t know how to initiate. I took those steps for him, and now you see the kind of relationship the two of you can have.”
“You mean the three of us,” I shot back.
“Perhaps. But again, the emotions being reflected are truly your father’s – just like Electra’s emotions were at the fore when you were with her.”
“What?!” I practically screeched.
“Think about it. In addition to Alpha Prime, you can also have the ideal girlfriend. One who showers you with affection, willing to wait on you hand and foot.”
“That’s not Electra,” I said. “It never will be.”
“Does that matter? Like your father, the Electra you knew is still in there. And again, the affection she feels for you is sincere and that’s what would be broadcast and displayed. Wouldn’t that be worth it?”
“Not in a million years,” I stated flatly. “Keep talking all you want, but all you’re doing is convincing me that you belong locked up in the Construct.”
There was silence for a moment, then Alpha Prime said, “All right, you’ve forced my hand. Look up – almost directly above you.”
My gut instinct was to ignore him, but somehow I found myself doing as he instructed. I looked up, but initially didn’t see anything. Bearing in mind that I still couldn’t detect anyone nearby, I telescoped my vision and then I saw him, maybe half a mile up in the air.
I also saw what he held: Cat.
Chapter 63
My mind blanked for a moment.
Cat? I thought. How..? Why…?
I couldn’t form a coherent thought. I had no idea she was involved in this – couldn’t imagine why it had happened or how it had come about.
Although still trying to get a handle on the situation, I noticed that Alpha Prime was holding her aloft by one wrist, letting the rest of her body dangle. She appeared to be unconscious (which was probably a blessing, because otherwise she’d surely be screaming her head off).
“I didn’t want it to come to this,” Alpha Prime declared. “We’re not a violent species by nature.”
“No, you just take over other beings who don’t have the means to resist,” I countered. “You’re like a mugger robbing someone at gunpoint, then claiming you’re nonviolent because your victim didn’t fight back.”
“Be that as it may, we Busuigno are fighting for our lives.”
“No you’re not,” I shot back. “Being imprisoned in the Construct isn’t a death sentence. Maybe a life sentence, but not death.”
“For the Busuigno, there’s no distinction. We can only experience the universe – and life, as you know it – through others. Take that from us, and you may as well kill us. So as far as we’re concerned, this is a fight for survival, and there are trillions of us still imprisoned in the Construct.”
“And with good reason.”
Alpha Prime suddenly looked angry. “Enough talk. Stop what you’re doing, or I drop her.”
He shook Cat by the wrist slightly for emphasis. It would have given his gesture greater effect if she’d been awake and wailing in terror, but the message still came through loud and clear.
“No comment?” he stated a moment later. “So be it.” He released his grip and Cat dropped like a stone.
Of course, I’d been expecting this and had kept my eye on her. Within a second or two of Alpha Prime letting go, I got a lock on her with my power and teleported her into my arms. At the same time, I teleported Alpha Prime, sending him back to the middle of the ocean where he’d had his sneezing fit.
Thankfully, Cat hadn’t fallen far enough to build up a lot of momentum, so catching her was a lot like catching a cheerleader jumping off a pyramid. I then brought my vision back to normal and gave her a once-over, trying to get a sense as to whether she was okay. To my surprise, however, she opened her eyes.
“Easy,” I said to her. “I’ve got you.”
“And I’ve got you,” she replied, pressing a hand to my cheek.
Almost instantly, I began screaming in pain.
Chapter 64
It was a lot like when Mouse’s device had knocked all the air from my body, except this time, it felt like far more was wrenched out – and things that went well beyond the physical: vitality, energy, verve… It was all violently wrung from my body. (Later, I would say that it was like a thousand tiny bombs exploded inside me simultaneously, forcing everything out.)
Wailing in anguish, I dropped to my knees as my bones turned to jelly. My grip on Cat loosened as my arms flopped uselessly to my side; she rolled away for a second before scrambling to her feet.
“Thanks, cutie,” she said, giving me a wink. “We knew we could count on you to do the right thing.”
We? I thought as I managed to stop screaming. Of course – Cat was under the control of the Busuigno.
“Wow,” she murmured, opening and closing her fists as if squeezing a couple of imaginary balls. “This is incredible.”
Suddenly she vanished, reappearing a few feet away, then returned to her original position. She had either teleported or moved at super speed, I didn’t know which. Then I understood: Cat
