Seeker
Ellen laid out the tray perfectly, her long, dexterous fingers putting each item of her evening snack into aligned perfection. The bowl of tomato soup with exactly one ladle full, three square crackers –no more, no less- and the cup of green tea which had cooled to just the right temperature.
Picking up the tray from the kitchen counter she moved into the lounge of her apartment and sat on her sofa.
Reaching for the remote control she glanced at the ticking wall clock and smiled contentedly…she HAD earned the right to moments like this, the Comforter had told her so and Souls never lied (except for Seekers, of course, but Ellen like many of her gentle kind thought that there was just something innately WRONG with Seekers).
She clicked the remote control, starting the Brady Bunch DVD. Just exciting enough.
She dipped her wide spoon into her soup and was bringing it to her lips when the phone rang loudly.
She hissed in frustration, her eyes widening in alarm at herself.
Breathing…a deep breath and slow exhale and she could put the tray on the coffee table, turn off the TV and walk to the phone, smiling broadly before she clicked the talk button.
"Ellen here!"
"This is Ralph."
She didn't know a Ralph and wondered what possible reason he could have for disturbing her on TV night! The answer arrived shortly.
"I'm a Seeker."
"Yes…" She leaned back into the wall and slid to the floor, hand reflexively clutching her chest. They had found them…no, they were both dead. She had seen him showing Clemie how to use that dreadful thing -She could still hear his voice 'just pull the pin Clemie, let the handle go and then hold it close.'
"I need your help."
"Help?" She asked, voice pitch rising, "Why are you calling me?"
He paused, possibly her rudeness startled him, "There have been incidents…"
"I can't help you." Her voice was cracking up now, in danger of becoming hysterical.
"You could be useful. We-I- believe your…insights might be of use."
"I CANT help you."
The line was silent for a long time, when he spoke his voice was confused "Are you refusing to help?"
"Uhh…No…I mean, I was just…my Healers say that my recovery…" She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth tightly. In a firmer voice now, "I mean...how can I be of use?"
"I want you to fly out to L.A.- can you take a leave of absence for three weeks without disrupting you work too much?"
She wanted to say no, wanted to but didn't. Teaching Three World's Poetry didn't qualify as vital compared with Seeker work.
She made herself beam a huge smile, "Of course I can."
….
Ralph was waiting for her at the airport, a man of medium build whose body was in its early thirties and wearing a dark suit.
"I'm pleased to meet you." His handshake was firm and his gaze steady, "We've booked you a suit at the Hyperion."
"Thanks." He took her bags and asked about her trip on the way to the Seekers offices in the large black SUV he had brought. It was a disappointingly bland commercial building.
"I was expecting something grander." She remarked as they entered the lobby. A burly Seeker watched her enter and only stopped staring when Ralph nodded to him and made a strange motion with his hand.
"What's that?" She asked, indicating his hand.
"Oh...Nothing." He reddened a little.
She was impressed by how smoothly he lied…smiling a little she felt a little flush of blood in her own cheeks.
"If you'll come this way." He led her too an elevator which took them up to a third floor office somewhat less grand then her own at the university, hers also had nicer furniture and the coffee she was offered lacked any flavor except bitter.
"Sit down…do you want a Doughnut? Some other kind of pastry?"
"No, I'm fine thanks." Ellen looked at the maps and folders piled less the tidily on Ralph's desk, noticing for the first time the dark lines under his eyes. She wondered how many hours he sat at this desk, drinking foul coffee and hunched over his work.
"Is it about Clementine? And…Leo?"
"We are conducting investigations into their crimes…" Ralph made a face that looked almost angry, "They have proved difficult to detain."
Ellen felt a surge of…what? She wasn't sure, just that her heart fluttered.
"What exactly do you need me for?"
"Insight." Ralph laid a hand on the table, "Insight into Humans." He made a slight puckering motion with his lips, like he's bitten into something sour.
"You're a Seeker-I'll bet you dealt with more humans then me."
"Yes, but I have yet to give birth to one." He actually shuddered which made her want to snort- if he thought childbirth per se was bad he should try giving birth in a dark cave without analgesia.
"Some one has to do it for the greater good." She said in a pious voice.
"Your making fun of me."
"Uhh…" Seekers really weren't like normal people.
She reddened but he waved a hand, "No, no its quite alright. That's why we need you on this…issue. You have a different perspective."
"Your Focus determines your reality."
"Is that a poem?" he frowned, "I like poetry, but my duties give me little leisure time."
"Its from a movie…an old movie." Leo had been fond of saying it.
"Excellent!" he looked into her eyes for a moment longer then was normal, "I would like to see it some time."
They both blushed red and looked away.
"So, what can I do for you?"
"It's the babies…"
….
Stands Strong In The Wind was a woman in her early adult years who wore her silver blond hair in a long braid wound around the top of her head. She answered the door in a simple housedress, smiling broadly.
"Hi again, Ralph! And you brought a friend…?"
"Ellen." The other woman had a firm but controlled handshake.
"Ellen is here to consult and observe on your case."
"Well, come on in! I was just about to make cookies, Jamie's still at work but Little J just woke up." In the hallway Ellen heard sounds coming from the lounge and when Stands Strong brought them into that room she saw a three-year-old building blocks up and smashing them down. "Goes Bom!" He informed his mother.
Involuntarily a big smile plastered itself over Ellen's face and she knelt down beside the child, "Hi…what's your name little boy?"
The child considered her for a moment then said 'Lit'le J! But I big!"
"Your sure…Uhh," She stood up, embarrassed at the pointed look Ralph was giving her, "You sure are."
"He's SOO cute isn't he?" Enthused Stands Strong in the Wind, "Have you had one yet?"
"Uhh…" Ellen coughed, "Uhh…could I have a drink of water please?"
"We should talk where the Tiny Human cannot hear us." Ralph looked at Little J suspiciously, "They learn rapidly."
"He sure does! He can do most of his Alphabet!" Stands Strong gushed, "And count up to 10! Yay Little J!" she made an air punching motion and the Child chimed in.
"Seven nine ten!"
Ellen and Stands Strong looked at each other and giggled which made Ralph almost scowl as they moved to the kitchen.
"You guys want Coffee? Tea?"
"Just water, thanks." Ellen sipped that tall iced glass as they sat around the table.
"Stands Strong In The Wind has refused to surrender the child for Implantation." Ralph began, "Denying the use of a perfectly good Host to a fellow Soul."
"I am his MOTHER." Stands Strong pointed out, her eyes flashing briefly, "And I think that he is just fine the way he is."
"Ellen…" Ralph said, raising an eyebrow to get her attention before turning suddenly to face Stands Strong, "I MUST take the child for implantation RIGHT NOW!"
The young face was suddenly twisted into an angry scowl, teeth showing and eyes huge. She regained control a second later and smiled uneasily, looking shaken by her outburst "Sorry…you made me feel sad. But I'm not gonna let you take him, I'm a MOTHER and I have the right." Her lips pursed firmly despite the smile and her eyes were hard.
"Yes, that's true. But Ellen, you saw the change in her facial expression?"
"Uhh…" Ellen nodded, having been held captive for so many years by Leo the look on the other woman's face did not disturb her much at all…which was itself highly disturbing.
"Ellen has also borne a child which escaped implantation." The Seeker said slowly, "And which has been implicated in the deaths of several souls."
"How awful for you!" Stands Strong reached across the table and squeezed Ellen's hand supportively, "How did that happen?"
"It was…the father. He's disagreeable and violent, even for a human." She managed to say it without screaming he was a crazy monster and running around in circles pulling her hair out.
Only Just.
"Stands Strong In The Wind is a very recent arrival to this planet." Ralph said shortly, "I believe that you came after the last large pockets of human insurgents had been moped up."
"Oh…I never saw a wild human." She shivered with revulsion.
"Except for the one you are rearing." Ralph said, an edge in his voice.
"Oh Little J would never do something like that! He's very tame! My host body had great parenting skills and we've been reading all about child rearing."
"I fear you have let your…hormonal imbalances…cloud your judgment." Even for a Seeker this was an extremely rude thing to say.
"Thank you SO much for coming!" Stands Strong In The Wind rose and took his hand, shaking it vigorously as she almost pulled him out of his seat, almost pushing her guests down the hallway "Next time we'll bake cookies! You'll love my cookies-Choc chip!" She winked, opening the door and almost pushing Ralph outside.
"That was…strange." Ellen raised her eyebrows in amusement while Ralph looked almost grumpy for a moment before his expression softened.
"Strange but not unique…there are over a dozen semi-tame humans in California presently."
They walked in companionable silence back to the sleek two-seat sports car he had drawn from the pool today. They had visited three mothers of un-implanted children over the last few days, going over case notes and reports.
"Nice car…you don't drive this all the time?"
"No." He frowned momentarily, "It just seamed appropriate today."
"I like it." She told him, sliding into the passenger seat, pursing her lips she gave Ralph a look that caused his Hosts body to increase blood pressure and heart rate and broke him out in a sweat, "It is most…appropriate."
"Ttthank you…" His vocal cords were malfunctioning and he searched his Hosts memories for a similar occasion. Since his Host, the original Ralph, had lived on a remote farm in Idaho with a puritanical religious sect from birth to implantation its memories were not helpful. He got in and began to drive.
"What do you think of Stands Strong In The Wind and her hormonal bond with the Child?"
"I think it's…understandable." She looked at the houses passing them by-her memories, or rather Host Ellen's memories, told her that this had been a run down part of the city before the occupation. The host, had been here once before visiting relatives.
"Did you arrive here during the very early phases of occupation?" She asked, slipping sunglasses on.
"I did not have that Honor." He said stiffly. His eyes kept leaving the road momentarily and fixing on the line where her skirt ceased to cover her legs.
"Me neither…I got here when things were starting to heat up and people were dieing at the hands of the humans. Planet wide, dozens or more in a day."
"It must have been traumatic."
"Humans were willing to kill…blow themselves up to escape implantation, throw themselves off of buildings…they…"
"I've read the reports." He looked at her, concern on his face, "If this is too much…too stressful…"
She made a dismissive motion with her hand "Human's aren't like anything we been before-they had emotions that could… can destroy them."
"This has been a concern of mine." He pulled over, putting the gearshift on Park so that he could face her, putting both hands over hers.
"But what concerns me more is can they Destroy US?" He was breathing faster for some emotional reason.
She smiled a little, reaching up to take her sun glasses off, he was shocked to see that she had tears, actual tears in her eyes. "Are you…alright?"
"Your very sweet, you know that?" she reached up and rested a hand on his cheek.
"You are very…useful." He stumbled over the words, "Helpful…stimulating…I mean I find you… your company enjoyable."
She laughed, leaning closer until their faces were almost touching, "I enjoy your company too."
He was about to pull back when she leaned suddenly forwards and brought her lips against his.
"Uhh…" when she pulled back he was breathing like he'd run a mile.
"I think this body likes you." She laughed softly, studying his eyes, "I like you too."
"Ughh…" he leaned forwards trying to bring their lips together but she slipped easily out of range, holding a gentle hand on his chest.
"Seeker, I have just given you a taste of the hormonal imbalances maternal Souls are feeling." She said in a very formal tone, "The mating urge is very strong is it not?"
"Very strong..." he pushed a little against her hand "Requires study…"
She gave a soft laugh, but not an unfriendly one, "Perhaps, Seeker, but currently we are in a no long term parking Zone and public view."
"Why do you do that?" he asked, composing himself with effort, feeling a flush of irritation, perhaps even anger.
"Do what?"
"You are…toying with me." He knocked the car out of park and pulled out with excessive speed, "doing something to my hormones."
"Ralph." She rested a hand on his arm, "I DO like you. Now, Stop acting like a teenager-we've only just met for goodness sake."
"You are more in control of you hormonal balance then I am currently." He made a somewhat pathetic face and asked, "Will I improve?"
"Males don't usually." She smirked at him, sticking her tongue between her lips and blowing a raspberry.
"Perhaps I will be implanted in a female next time."
"Then you'd have a baby and be you'd be cooing over it every time it wet its diaper…" The mental picture gave her an alarmingly warm fuzzy feeling, "besides, I like you like this."
"Hormonally unbalanced." He said gloomily, looking down at what his body was doing of its own accord.
"That's one term for it…" she raised an eyebrow and he scowled.
"So…I would like your opinion on the babies-do you think that they are a danger to Soul-kind?"
"Being HERE, in these Hosts, is a danger." She shrugged, "We didn't evolve to deal with the range of emotions and complex urges these Hosts are built for."
"That is…" he looked aghast at the shocking statement even though he had been thinking much the same for a weeks, to admit even the possibility that there was a species who's infection might be beyond Soul's capabilities was humiliating.
"If that were true what would you suggest? That we abandon earth?"
"Abandon?" he eyes widened at the thought, "is that even possible?"
"Such a thing has never been done-it goes against our very nature- but Souls are nothing if not adaptable." He smiled thinly with his own irony.
"The waste…"
"Do you think that these emotions are a danger to us?" he asked, looking plaintive, "I value your opinion."
"I bet someone out of the first wave would know more-the Seekers…"
"I have questioned many of them, their perspective is…" he gave an angry snort, "colored."
"Colored?"
"I believe so." He looked most uncomfortable, "I believe their sacrifice renders them…They refuse to acknowledge any of our difficulties here."
"A few babies are hardly 'difficulties'" she snorted, "Just like a few wild…" Ellen's eyes narrowed, "But there's more isn't there? What aren't you telling me?"
"There have been other…" he scowled, "Other incidents."
"Incidents?"
"Injuries and even…deaths."
"From wild humans?"
"At first we thought so…but these incidents were in long pacified areas. I know of two… MURDERS." He whispered the hateful word, knuckles whitening on the wheel.
"MMMURDERS!" she croaked, "You mean Souls…Souls Ki…" she couldn't even finish the word.
He nodded, "Souls killing other Souls…The perpetrator in both cases chose the final death before we were able to…" he swallowed, "to apprehend them."
"Apprehend…?" Souls running from Authority, the thought made her sick.
"WHY? How could they…" She brushed tears from her eyes for the second time in as many minuets. She feared that she knew the answer.
"We also found cases of…compatibility issues. The Host bodies of two Souls had been paired before insertion, but one party found the other…tiresome. The other found this…unbearable and struck the other several blows with her fist."
Ellen shook her head, "I thought it was me."
"You?"
"Emotional issues…I have difficulty being…balanced." She didn't go into details and he was too polite to ask.
"Your captivity-"
Ellen exhaled sharply "I had them right off, from the beginning!"
"What are we to do?" he asked, sounding desperate, "Abandon this world? The waste…but if we STAY then we could change very nature." Change was not a good word, not in that context.
"I don't think we could just uproot the Souls who've made lives here-its such a beautiful place."
"Unique, so I'm told."
"I guess we got our wish- we CAME to experience…" her laugh was weak "I was a Bat- where did you come from?"
"I was born here." Ralph blurted.
She looked at him in surprise.
"I am an accomplished Seeker." He said pompously, blushing furiously all the while.
"I'm sure." She tried not to giggle.
They on drove in silence, pulling into the parking lot of the Headquarters building as the sun was sinking. There was not much activity; Ellen suspected Seekers kept office hours like everyone else most of the time.
For some reason her eye was drawn to a blue sedan that was parked in the spot two down from the one they pulled into, the driver was just getting out-a nondescript young woman with dark hair down to the nape of her neck wearing a conservative skirt suit.
Ellen opened the car door with fumbling fingers, leaping out as the figure walked rapidly away.
"Miss…" She called.
The other woman ignored her walking rapidly on feet that Ellen now saw wore gray track shoes, her own heals clicked as she ran up behind, "Miss!"
The other spun as Ellen's hand touched her shoulder and heavily made up eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh…"
"Is there a problem?" Ralph was curious but not alarmed as he got out the other side of the car.
"Hi mom."
"Clemie…" Ellen whispered, glancing at her, then Ralph then back at the daughter she had borne.
"Hi Mom!" She smiled widely, her eyes flashing silver in the dieing sunlight, "Who's your friend?"
"Oh…I didn't realize that the Seekers had…found you."
"Oh well…I'll drop you a line." She turned and walked rapidly away.
"A friend?" Ralph asked, stepping up beside her.
"Someone I used to know." Ellen felt mournful suddenly, not at all what she SHOULD be feeling but she was beginning to see that should be feeling and are feeling were not as clear cut as they once had been for her kind.
Ralph took her arm and they walked into the lobby of the building.
They were about to enter the elevator when the blue sedan exploded.