Chapter 2 Deceptions

As Howlyn woke from his forced slumber he stayed very still. He was sure to keep his breathing slow as well as shallow while he took his time to think. He clearly remembered the second of his Brethren faking a hit at his stomach and then taking the open shot at his face. It was slightly annoying to think that the pounding hollow spot on his chin was because he had been unable to defend himself.

Howlyn sniffed the air checking to see if any of the medical staff were near by. Not smelling anyone he tried to open his eyes. Blinding yellow light scorched his eyes forcing Howlyn to spin onto his side burying his head in the pillows. He sighed softly into the light fabric letting his body relax again almost laughing at his reaction.

Howlyn froze suddenly as it hit him. The light he had seen was a burning yellow color. None of the lights on the Mothership were that shade. He was lying on a soft bed instead of the flat boards used in the medical bay. So the only place he could be was on Earth.

Howlyn bolted up right on the bed, his eyes wildly seeking out an enemy. He shot backwards so that his back was pressed safely against the backboard of the bed. He quickly pulled his legs up towards him ready to fend off an attacker.

Renee Palmer sat perfectly calm in a chair at the foot of his bed. She watched him with a bored type of interest making no moved to attack him. Her arms stayed relaxed on her thighs making no sign of reaching for the phase pistol at her side. Her golden hair was slung back in a single ponytail letting the long ringlets hang down her back with a few hairs escaping from the tie. She looked almost.carefree.

"So you're awake then." She said. A slight smiled pulled at her lips as she studied his wound up form.

Very slowly Howlyn tore his gaze form Renee to look at the room around him. The wall behind him seemed to be made of solid rock while the other 3 seemed to be a type of oriental paper walls. The wall on his left held a sliding paper door that was standing wide open. The only problem with that escape route was that Renee was sitting on the left side of the bed blocking his path. He tried looking for something to use as a weapon but only found two lamps on either side of the bed that would work.

He looked back at Renee suspiciously. As far as he could tell he was not being restrained, imprisoned, or watched by any armed guards. Howlyn had no idea what was going on.

"What am I doing here?" Howlyn asked sitting up just a bit straighter. He checked the room once more looking for any other people that he might have missed on first glance.

"My team and I attacked the ship you were on." Renee explained to him, "We were leaving when we can upon you fighting unarmed with those two Atavus. We killed the one that knocked you out and rescued you from the ship. I wasn't even aware that there were any free human still left on board or I would have come for you."

//She thinks I was a prisoner! She doesn't recognize me in this human form. That's why I'm not being restrained she thinks I'm the victim. // Howlyn thought amazed.

"Thank you very much for arriving when you did. I was starting to believe I would never make it out of there." Howlyn said thinking fast. He relaxed his legs letting them spread out before him on the bed. He also let his back lean into the headboard giving the impression of a tired state.

"How long were you held prisoner?" Renee asked leaning back in her chair apparently content with his reaction

"Almost two years." Howlyn answered falling easily into his new role. Now that this game had started he couldn't leave in the middle of it. "I was one of the first humans that the Atavus tried to make into a hybrid. But all that changed was my outward appearance and my memories. Most of them are gone and with out a face to go on I have no idea who I am. I was kept on the ship doing small tasks, but all that time I was learning. The first year or so I was trying so hard to find out who I was that I had no wish to be free. But finally I got the big picture and thanks to you I'm a free man now."

"It was no big deal." Renee said waving off the praise. Howlyn moved closer to her letting his strong legs hang over the side of the bed as he watched her.

//She doesn't like praise for her actions. A good sign in a leader. // Howlyn thought approvingly. He stared at the perfect face remembering every inch that he had so missed just hours before hand.

"I'm Renee Palmer by the way." She said raising from her seat and her hand out to him. Howlyn stared at her hand for a second before extending his own. He wasn't sure if anyone had shaken his hand before. He had had people so scared of him that they were afraid to touch him but had anyone shook his hand as if the were both equals? He wasn't sure.

"You know you still haven't told me your name." Renee said still holding onto his hand. Howlyn looked up form the handshake to Renee a bit dazed.

"Jared.Jared Suvata." He answered. Renee smiled slightly returning back to her chair. Only as she sat back down she maneuvered her arms so they rested on the armrest of the chair allowing her hand to hang just above her holster.

"Suvata, isn't that Atavus spelt backwards?" She asked politely. Howlyn forced himself to look at her instead of the hand hovering inches form his own certain death.

"When you don't know who you are you make something up." Howlyn said grinning slightly as he spoke. Renee smiled too moving her hands back to rest on her thighs.

"So what are you going to do from here?" Renee asked.

"I guess I will need some money and real clothes to get started. And I'll go from there." Howlyn said Shrugging. Out of the corner of his eye he watched her as she thought it through.

"Listen, you were on that ship for awhile. So it figures that you would know things that we don't. And because of that information the Atavus will be looking for you. So I think it would be best if you stayed at my place for a while." Howlyn stared blankly at her. "Only for a little while. Till I can arrange another identity for you." She explained quickly.

"That sounds wonderful." Howlyn said slipping just a touch of charm into his words. Renee smiled slightly, looking down towards the ground.

Howlyn had to smile. //If I had known it was this easy to fool you Renee I would be ruling the world by now. // He thought to himself amused.

Renee rose from her seat motioning for him to do also. He pushed himself off the bed quietly following her across the room. She reached under her coat pulling out a small portal. She pressed some unseen button as she set it down. The metal thing grew to full size activating immediately.

Howlyn stepped in after her stopping as she paused waiting for the thing to activate. Howlyn ducked his head closer to her so that his face was inches from her hair. He pulled in rushes of air trying to find her sent. He really wasn't sure what made him do it but the wild impulse was well repaid. The clean crisp sent of the ocean seemed to float off of her. //Just as I remember. //He though closing his eyes so he could wallow in the sent.

Even as he stood there Howlyn could feel the portal sending them away across some unknown distance. And for a have short time he didn't care. He sighed in disappointment as the sent moved forward and away from him. With the muffled seance of smell it was impossible to keep the sent at a longer range. When his eyes open his mouth fell open in awe.

Huge windows spanned the side wall giving an enhanced view of the surrounding buildings. Wood furniture was mixed in with more modern bits of the time peeking through. Four small Chinese style pictures hung one on each wall. Even several bonsai trees were growing around the room on tables and stands. Howlyn was struck by the simplicity and style of the room.

"Jared, are you coming?" Renee asked noticing that he hadn't moved away from the portal.

"Hmmm? Oh sorry, I just haven't been on earth in awhile." Howlyn said stepping out of the device and into the room.

//Not exactly a lie. // Howlyn thought looking more closely at a computer near by resting on a desk.

"Understandable, I do the same thing when I've been away to long. Ok listen up, your room is down the hall on the left. The kitchen is fully stocked and the bathroom is the last door on the right." Renee said while pointing to different parts of the house. Howlyn saw the open kitchen complete with an island on the left and a hall opening up on the right.

"This will be fine. Thank you very much Renee Palmer." Howlyn replied not really paying much attention. Renee's head snapped towards him suddenly. Her eyes were opened in wide surprise as she stared at him. Howlyn froze starring back at her.

"What?" He asked cautiously. Inside he was thinking franticly on what he had done wrong. He really couldn't think of what he had done to get such a reaction out of her.

"Oh nothing. Just call me Renee for now on." She said waving it off.

//Shit that was it! I called her by Renee Palmer. She's gotten used to me calling her that in Atavus form. And with my voice sounding so close to normal it must have sounded like Howlyn was standing right here talking to her. One more slip up like that and I'm screwed. //

"I'm going to go out for a bit ok? Just to get you some normal clothes and things. You have nothing to worry about, it will take me about a half an hour and then I'll be right back." She grabbed her wallet and keys off a table by the door and was out the door before he could speak. Howlyn waited where he was till he was sure she was gone.

He rushed for the kitchen throwing open cabinets and draws. Two minutes later he found what he was looking for. He crouched down on the floor of the kitchen before the lower doors of cabinets net to the sink. He reached slowly inside and drawing it out with care took a careful look.

He held a four-inched blade had flicked open on a black plastic handle. Howlyn examined the blade with care touching his thumb to the edge of the knife. Feeling the sharpened blade against skin Howlyn unlocked the mechanism and snapped it close. He slipped the knife inside his right sleeve adjusting it so it was easy to reach but concealed from notice.

Howlyn rose from his place on the floor checking the room to see if anything was out of place. Seeing nothing he kicked the cabinet close and left the room. Howlyn checked the locks on the door then walked over to the desk behind the couch. He pushed one of the buttons on the monitor turning it on. He sat down in the rolling seat in front of the computer. He carefully read each of the icons till he found the one labeled Internet. He quickly clicked on the picture and waited for it to log on. He clicked on the e-mail icon and started writing as fast as his new human figures could. Ag. Sandoval:

I have infiltrated the home of Renee Palmer. She is unaware of who I am. Start circulating news of a missing prisoner named Jared. Also start rumors among the humans that I have gone missing. I will contact you shortly.

HOWLYN

He pressed send after typing in a routing address through one of the web pages his people operated. He knew that his people would hind all traces of the message. Without another thought he signed off and shut down the computer.

Only problem was he had nothing to do now. He looked around the room in thought. He had learned early on that the human device known as the TV was more confusing than helpful to understanding the race. Some things had interesting ideas of the human nature but the shows were few and hard to find.

Howlyn glanced at the stereo system with some interest. On the home world there had been instrumental music that heated your blood and scorched your soul. Howlyn had yet to find anything like it since his arrival on Earth. He walked over to the set examining it for a power button.

He pressed it. He jumping straight into the air when the set roared to life letting lose the bone crunching music from the speakers. Howlyn dived for the button again shutting it off once again. He sighed in relief as the sounds died in the set. He rested his arm on the self above closing hie eyes against it.

//Ok so maybe the radio is not a good idea at this time. But there's nothing else to do. I've done everything that I can to prepare myself but what now? Maybe it's just my warrior nature but I can't seem to relax. // Howlyn looked up again.

He pushed himself away from the entertainment center and started for his room. It was not by far the best place he had stayed in. There was one window with access to a fire escape. The lock was to frail to keep out anyone not afraid to be noticed. The bed was secure against two walls, one on the same side as the window. A closet, a dresser, and desk seemed to be all that was in the room. The closet was full of empty hangers. The desk had a few supplies in it but nothing of value.

Howlyn dropped down on the bed. Thinking of ways to keep safe didn't take up all his thoughts but it seemed to be in the back of his mind. As an Atavus he was always aware of the things around him but as a human it was taking up every other thought he had. If he didn't find a way to get turned back soon he was going to be driven mad.

//Not that this isn't fun, living with my greatest enemy and former mate and all. Maybe next my brother will show up and we all can have a great little talk about politics. // Howlyn stopped suddenly. His brother, he hadn't thought about him in years.

"Damn you Jielyn!" Howlyn yelled slamming his fist into the nearest wall. Howlyn stared at his hands letting the pain in them take up his thoughts. "I guess it doesn't matter now. He's been dead for over three millions years. Too bad really, he never got to see the colony I built."

He pulled his hands away from the wall. There was no dent in the wall but a dull throbbing in his knuckles. He stretched out his fingers watching as the muscles moved and strained. He laughed quietly as he looked at his hands.

"Jielyn, what would you say now if you could saw me?" Howlyn whispered lightly to himself.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

Howlyn shot up from the bed. His fist tightening painfully in surprise as he stood.

//Who could that be? // Howlyn thought walking towards the door. He stopped in front of the front door listening. He heard nothing, but in this form he couldn't be sure of what was out there. Howlyn unlocked the door and flung it open. Howlyn blinked in shock at who was at the door.

Street stood just outside the doorway holding a baby. But the woman was not what Howlyn was looking at. The baby saw staring at him. The child's eyes were small blue orbs watching him with an almost ancient knowledge, like she knew him. The girl had a mop of black curly hair that made a striking contrast to her pale skin. The baby could only be 5 months old or so but she seemed far smarter than that.

"Who are?" Street said taking a step back. Howlyn looked at her.

"Jared." He said looking back at the baby again. The baby hadn't moved it was still staring at him.

"What are you doing here?" Street asked.

"Renee rescued me from the Mothership. I'm staying here till it's safe." This time Howlyn didn't look away from the kid. She seemed to smile like she knew something. Only her face didn't move.

//What is it with that kid? What is she looking at? // The kid seemed to smile wider.

"Well, I'm Street. I was just dropping off Renee's kid." Howlyn's head snapped to Street.

"What!" Howlyn cried. Street took a surprised step back.

"She didn't tell you then. I was taking care of Justina while Renee went on the mission. It probably slipped her mind that I was coming over to drop her off right now. Do you think you could take her? It would be doing me a big favor." Street bounced the baby up higher on her hip as she sifted her weight onto one leg. Howlyn blinked as he thought about what she was saying.

"Sure, I'd love to take the kid." Howlyn said sticking his arms straight out in front of him. Street carefully glided the kid into his arms pressing for him to cradle her. He did staring blankly down at her. She was watching him with the same look.

"Well say hi to Renee for me." Street said waving as she headed down the hall.

"Yeah sure." Howlyn said not looking up from the kid. He turned into the apartment closing the door with his foot. He slowly walked into the living room still cradling the child.

//Impossible, Renee a mother. Sure the hybrid process cured her of being sterile but this? She was his mate still and she had given birth to someone else's baby? No, not this, it can't be. But she did mate with LT. Michele, could this baby be theirs? // Howlyn was destroyed. He looked up towards the living room windows. He quickly walked to the widow and wrenched it open.

"This can not be allowed." Howlyn said to the calm infant. "You can not be allowed to live."

(AN: Review or no more.)