Chapter Thirteen
Tim was getting impatient. He was told to stay in the vehicle, but couldn’t take it anymore, so he got out and stretched his legs. The earlier rainstorm had left the sky cloudy and overcast, but the morning was warm, mountain breeze fragrant and refreshing. Leaning his back against the hood, he looked at the cabin. It was hidden within an isolated crop of woods very high up the mountain, but this place was not unfamiliar to him. He really did know every inch of these mountains and knew this cabin had been empty for a long time after the elderly couple who used it as a vacation home no longer made trips up.
What he didn’t know was that apparently it no longer belonged to that elderly couple. Now it was a meeting house for Baz to stay in contact with the group. Tim tried to imagine how an alien-human hybrid had managed to procure property, then realized Ogden had probably handled it. There were six lanterns on the porch, each a different color, and Brett explained on arrival that the lanterns represented different members of the team, including Myles. Whoever needed to speak with Baz at a given time would light their own lantern so the hybrid would be alerted.
Would Tim ever get his own Baz-lantern? Did he want one? He wasn’t sure, but what he did know was he was curious as to what the fuck was going on inside right now. And he was irritated no one had come to get him yet. Tyler, Nolan, Brett, Elliot, and JT had gone in twenty minutes ago, with promises that Tyler would be out to retrieve him once he assessed the safety of the situation. If this was just a ploy to keep Tim out of the meeting altogether he was going to be really, really pissed at Tyler.
Hearing the door squeak open, he stepped away from the truck. Tyler trotted off the porch and walked toward him, expression unreadable, but he’d taken his jacket off, which was probably a good sign. He appeared on-alert as always, but his gait was relaxed as he strolled across the lawn. “Hey. Ready to take you in now.”
“Well, you look less worried than when you went in.” Tim examined him, looking for the gun he’d gone inside with, but saw no evidence of it. Only a tight black tee shirt and jeans on Tyler’s perfect body. “Where’s your...stun thing?”
“Baz made me and Brett lock our guns up in one of the bedrooms. They were making the twins nervous.”
“The twins?”
“Yes, they’re twins. Two hybrids, a boy and a girl.”
“What are they like?”
“Weird.”
“What do they look like?”
“Weird.”
“Tyler. Use your big boy words.”
“They look a little like Baz I guess. They’re over six feet tall, but according to Baz, they’re adolescents. And they remind me a little of human teenagers, kind of sulky with a lot of sighing and eye-rolling. But they’re dressed real freaky and they’ve got...weird hair.”
“Are they...nice?”
“I don’t know, but they don’t seem dangerous. Baz is acting like a disappointed parent with them so they’ve got the spanked-puppy vibe going on. Pretty sure they don’t want to be here, so let’s get this over with. They’re ready to talk.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s go.” Tyler did an about-face and Tim followed him to the cabin.
“What are their names?”
Tyler opened the door and glanced back. “Baz said we can call them Fi and Fo. Hybrids and Whites don’t like to give us their real names, so I assume those are either nicknames or fake, but I don’t know.”
“But...isn’t Baz’s name Baz?”
“No. Baz is short for Ambassador. No one knows Baz’s real name either.”
“Okay.” Tim blew a breath out. “Then let’s go meet...Fi and Fo.”
The front room was empty, just a few worn throw-rugs, and that wet-wood smell of old cottages. But Baz appeared in the doorway to the next room. “Hello, Tim Patterson.”
Baz was not wearing human attire today. His long white hair was a stark contrast to the one-piece black jumpsuit. Form-fitted and shiny, the jumpsuit made Baz appear even taller, his skin whiter, eyes weirder. Tim was startled for a moment, because Baz definitely looked more alien dressed like this. “Oh, hello, Baz. Wow. Look at you.”
“Yes, okay,” Baz said. “I need to be in uniform today for this.”
The hybrid seemed tense, white brows pinching as his long fingers fidgeted, clasping and unclasping. “You look good,” Tim said.
“Thank to you, Tim Patterson.”
“You can just call me Tim.”
“Okay. Tim. Tyler, is okay?”
“Yeah,” Tyler said. “The twins ready to talk?”
“Yes. Okay. Twins have good English from work with me and study. But if communicate get difficult, you say to me and I tell in their language. Okay Tim?”
“Yeah, sure. Sounds good.”
“Okay. This way.”
Tyler motioned for Tim to go ahead of him, so he followed Baz down the hallway. The height was still jarring, but Baz seemed familiar with the cabin, ducking low here and there so his head didn’t whack into hanging light fixtures, then ducking again as they turned into a big room with a television and a high, sloped wooden ceiling.
“There he is,” Nolan said. “Come on in, Tim. You can sit here.”
Tim paused as he stepped into the room. Nolan patted the cushion beside him on a loveseat. Next to him, Elliot sat in an old-looking puffy chair, JT resting on the floor at his feet. Brett leaned against the far wall, an amused smirk on his face as he watched Tim, who stared at the empty couch against the wall. “Can’t you see them?” Brett said. “The hybrids are invisible.”
“What?”
“He’s screwing with you,” Elliot said. “We wanted you to get settled before we bring them in.”
“Oh. Okay. Sure.”
“It’s all right,” Tyler said softly. “Go sit down.”
Tim walked around a coffee table and sat next to Nolan on the loveseat. Tyler took up position against the wall next to Brett as Baz held his hands up and said, “I bring you here to speak with two who work at base, because I find evidence on them. I question, and they say they visit with one who build gator-worms many times. They spend time with. Is okay for you to ask question to them now too. Okay?”
“Yeah, if they know something we’d like to talk to them,” Brett said.
“Okay, to start now?”
“Yeah, go ahead,” Brett said. “Bring them in.”
Baz shouted something over his shoulder in another language, short, choppy syllables with a lilt at the end. Then two tall white figures strode into the room.
Tim couldn’t stop his sharp inhale, and he knew Nolan heard it, because he placed a hand on his shoulder. The twins were tall and even thinner than Baz. Their faces were nearly identical, but it was obvious which was the female, she had very tiny breasts and a slight curve to her hips below a long stretch of waist. They strolled on long legs through the room and sat beside each other on the couch, immediately crossing their arms over their bony chests, looking bored.
And now he knew what Tyler mean when he’d said they were weird. Their one-piece jumpsuits had a white background, but colors appeared airbrushed onto the fabric as decoration. The girl’s jumpsuit had soft pastel shapes like tear drops, and the boy’s jumpsuit was slashed with bright colors like tiger stripes. His hair was brushed straight up and crafted into a point, a high white flame atop his head. The girl’s white hair was arranged in an array of small twisted spirals across her scalp.
Odd flattened ears fully visible, Tim’s mind had trouble reconciling that the twins were real, actual living beings. They looked more like costumed aliens from a low budget science fiction film. He shuddered, remembering the nightmare that woke him up last night.
“This you can call Fi.” Baz pointed to the girl. “And this Fo.” He pointed to the boy.
The boy’s large, colorful eyes shifted up to Baz, long white lashes blinking rapidly.
“Do not give me this look!” Baz said to the boy. “You the one who did wrong.”
“Okaaay. I just looking!” The boy’s voice was soft, raspy like Baz’s, but a little higher-pitched.
“Baz,” Brett said. “Give us the big picture here. What’s going on?”
Baz’s head bobbed and he looked around the room, his large eyes finally falling on Tim. “The one who sent things to spy on you? Twins say is gone. Has left base.”
“Gone?” Tim let a breath out. “Gone is good. Are they sure?”
“Gone,” the female hybrid said. “Fly away.”
Brett stepped away from the wall. “Can you confirm that, Baz?”
Baz’s shoulders slumped. “No. I cannot. Because these two say he was prisoner aboard hybrid craft that leave base this morning. Is not possible. Many craft leave base this morning, but no with register of transport prisoner. So I do not know what is true.”
“So how do you know they’re not just making it up?” Tim said, and both hybrids on the couch shot their gazes his way. He shrank on the loveseat, those double-irises making him uncomfortable. “Sorry. Just asking.”
“We no to lie,” the boy said. “They lie. The ones who keep him lock up. Keep him lock in hidden part of craft. Alone.”
“If prisoner was on craft sensors would have found,” Baz said. “No extra passengers on any craft that leave base!”
The female hybrid made a sound, like a groan of frustration, then her skinny arms were flailing as she chattered at Baz in another language.
Sighing, Baz said, “She say two hybrids had prisoner locked in chamber with shield so no to detect. She say this is why he make robots that can go to surface, so he can see the humans with eyes, with camera. Because not allow to leave craft, even to wander base, and no signals.”
“A prisoner?” Tim scowled. “I’ve had a prisoner spying on me? What did this...person do to be locked up?”
“Nothing!” Fi shouted, and they all jumped.
“He say to us that he do nothing,” Fo said. “No crimes. Just they hate because his face.”
“What about his face?” Tim asked.
“Is complicate,” Fi said. “His face.”
“Okay, slow down,” Tyler said. “If whoever this is was a prisoner, locked away, how did he have access those highly sophisticated drones? Pretty fancy toys for someone in prison transport.”
“Craft...” Fi looked up at Baz. “Ship?”
“Either is good,” Baz said.
“Okay, craft?” She looked at Tyler. “Stay at base to rest craft. He? Not allow to leave craft. No nothing to do. They let him have to play with. Technology. He build himself. Build things to pass time.”
“They let a prisoner have advanced technology to make drones that can manipulate matter to travel to the planet’s surface,” Nolan said. “That doesn’t sound likely.”
“The ones hold him prisoner do not know what he can do with these things they give him,” Fo said. “Not to know he send to surface. Intelligent more than they know. He is genus.”
“Genius,” Baz corrected.
“Genius. He is so intelligent and they do not know when they give him.”
“I’m confused, Baz,” Nolan said. “How do these two know all of this? Are they saying they hung out with this prisoner?”
“They say they were let onto craft to visit him,” Baz said. “But that he could not leave. That he was kept there against his will.”
“Who is he?” Tim asked. “Does he have a name?”
“George,” the female hybrid said.
“George,” Fo concurred.
Elliot laughed. “George? Baz, you know any aliens called George?”
“No,” Baz said. “This is human name.”
Elliot looked at the twins. “Is George human?”
“Is no human,” Fo said. “Just very interest in humans for long time. Take human name probably? He tell us George.”
“Is he a hybrid?” Tyler asked.
The twins looked at each other. The boy shrugged, then looked at Tyler. “Complicate.”
“Why is it so complicated? Either he is or he isn’t.”
“Is hybrid but not like hybrid,” Fi said.
“Great,” Tyler said. “George the hybrid who is not like a hybrid. That’s helpful.”
“And are you two also very interest in humans?” Brett asked.
Both hybrids slumped down a bit on the sofa, then crossed their legs, their movements in sync like they were one organism. “We learn from him. From Baz,” Fi said to Brett. “He teach us about being ambassador to you.”
“And it doesn’t go beyond that?” Brett said. “Because you say this George is very interested in humans, but George expresses this in an unhealthy way. Spying on Tim up at the ranger station? Stealing and putting hidden cameras on his clothing? Did you two know this was happening?”
“Yes but...” Fi’s shoulders hunched. “We did not do, we only listen when George tell.”
“And watch camera sometimes,” Fo said.
“So...you spied on me too,” Tim said.
Fi shrugged. “Only when we visit George. We see...humans in the forest and kill George invention! Shoot with gun!”
“You were watching that day, huh?” Brett said. “And you didn’t report George’s activities to anyone?”
The twins tightened their arms in front of their chests, shaking their heads.
“They know they do wrong,” Baz said.
“We maybe interest in humans but not interest like George,” Fo said. “George so very interest in humans. More than we.”
“So why is George so interested then?” Tyler asked. “What’s his interest in humans?”
“He learn about on his own, want to see his whole life. Those who keep him prisoner know this. So when need to stop at Earth in travel, they lock him up. His only chance to see real humans and they lock him in craft, no to let even see television signals! So he find way to see first human.” She pointed to Tim. “See first human with eyes of his creation that he made.”
“The drone you mean,” Tyler said.
“He make. Send up. See human in house on sticks.”
“Handsome and brave,” Fo said.
“Yes, handsome and brave.” Fi pointed at Tim. “Human in house on sticks.”
“So you knew this. That George was spying on Tim at the ranger station.” Tyler looked at Baz. “Are you certain they actually spoke to this person? And they’re not making it up?”
“Fi?” Baz said. “Stand up and show.”
The girl sighed and stood. She was about six-foot-three and rail-thin, but her long body was perfectly proportioned, and despite the weird jumpsuit and Dr. Seuss hair, she was a lovely, delicate creature. She turned around and gave them her back.
“See on her suit?” Baz said. “This I find on her this morning.”
At first all Tim saw were more swirling colors on her jumpsuit, but then his eyes honed in on a circle-pattern drawn between her sharp shoulder blades. “That’s...that’s the forest service emblem.”
“Yes,” Baz said. “Was on you jacket, yes?”
“Yeah, that symbol is on my ranger jacket. Where did she see it? Fi, did you see my jacket at the base?”
“No.” She turned around and sat back down. “George. He paint it on me.”
Tim shook his head. “Why?”
“So I can play to be you. Make stories about you.”
“Me?”
She pointed at Tim. “You. George likes you. First human he see. Special.”
Tim looked to Tyler, who raised his eyebrows. “Could be worse,” Tyler said. “Least he liked you. Maybe there was no bad intent.”
“Yeah, lucky me.”
“Does not like you,” Fo said, and pointed to Tyler. “George does not like gun man.”
“I’m crushed,” Tyler said.
Fi looked up at Baz. “What this mean? Crushed?”
“Never mind,” Baz said. “Human sarcasm. Okay. So, evidence. Twins also have these in their room at base. I find.” Baz picked up a black sack beside the couch and emptied its contents onto the coffee table.
Everyone leaned forward. “Are those...ears?” Elliot said.
“Oh my God,” JT said. “Please tell me those are not severed human ears, Baz.”
“No, is fake!” Baz picked one of the ears up, drew his hair back and stuck it to the side of his head. “See? Stick on. Is fake.” Baz removed the ear and handed it to JT. “You can touch.”
JT examined it with a wrinkled nose. “Okay, it’s fake.” He looked over at the hybrids. “These are yours?”
“George make them,” the boy, Fo said. “Give some to us to wear.”
Nolan grabbed one of the ears off the coffee table, and he and Tim examined it. “This ear has dark skin,” Tim said. “Like a human.” He glanced at the pile on the table. There were different colors ranging from peach to dark brown. “None of these ears are a hybrid’s skin-tone.”
“Because is not hybrid ears!” Fi said. “Is for being humans.”
“Being humans.” Tim picked up one of the ears. It was thin and soft, like rubber but silkier. “Have you been...wearing them?”
“Yes, like human.” Fi patted her own, flattened ears. “Put on look like human.”
“But...” Tim shook his head. “Why? And why are you wearing the design from my forest ranger jacket on your back?”
“George like to play,” the boy said. “Play human. We do for George.”
Tim let out a shuddering breath. “Okay, I’m officially freaked out. This George had these hybrids dress up as me?”
“No, is okay!” Fi said. “Not always you. George likes many humans.”
“Many humans,” Fo said.
Fi picked up a pair of ears and slapped them on. “See? Wear human ears. Wear long hair for George and make breasts bigger, I am !” She shimmied her bony shoulders. “Dance, dance, dance, !”
“Oh my God,” Nolan whispered.
“Okay, now I’m creeped out too,” Elliot said.
“Fi!” Baz said. “Take those ears off.”
“No to yell at me!” Fi removed the ears and threw them forcefully on the coffee table, her long chin jutting out in a kind of pout. “George like. Say is beautiful. .”
Tyler cleared his throat. “Was George creeping on any other celebrities?”
“No creep!” Fo said. “George like music. He watch the sing and dance.”
“Hang on,” JT said. “I thought you said this prisoner had no access to outside feeds. TV signals and such.”
“No signals,” Fi and Fo said at the same time.
“You just said ‘He watch the sing and dance.’ You just basically said he likes to watch music videos,” JT said. “If he wasn’t tapping into Earth signals then how was he watching ?”
Fi’s shoulders hunched.
“What is it?” Baz said. “You tell now!”
Fi looked up at Baz. “George not allow to access any signals on planet. Make him sad. So we...we bring our signals to him. Give him music to watch.”
Baz, in a rare show of emotion, slapped the wall, making everyone jump. “How many time you visit this George? How many time and not tell anyone?”
“He had nothing!” Fi said. “He so bored. No harm! We just play!”
“This was deceitful,” Baz said. “He could be a danger! You should have tell you were visiting with. You know you do wrong thing!”
“Stop yelling!” Fi squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears.
The lights in the room flickered.
“Fi. Be calm.” Baz walked over and knelt down before her, taking her hand and speaking softly in his own language, his tone soothing.
“Apology,” Fi said. “Do not tell.”
“I will not. But to be calm.” Baz got up and looked around the room. “Apology. I get angry because worry. The twins should not have visit whoever was on this craft. They work at dock and Baz is responsible for twins. Parents are not happy. With them, or with Baz.”
“Um, what just happened with the lights?” Tyler asked.
“Is my fault,” Baz said. “I get angry and upset her. Fi and Fo at age where hormones make difficult to control things inside.”
“Don’t tell,” Fi repeated.
Baz sighed. “She worry I will tell her parents she lose control. I will not. Was my fault for get angry. Apology.”
“It’s okay, Baz,” Brett said, glancing at the light fixture over his head, which swung back and forth like someone had hit it. “But maybe we should speed this up. Fi, Fo? Can you tell us more about what George is? And please, no more double-talk. Is he a hybrid or not?”
The two hybrids shrugged their bony shoulders in sync. “Hybrid but not like us,” Fo said.
“How so?”
“Deformed.” Fi touched her face. “Face is not right.”
“Okay,” Brett said. “But he is a hybrid.”
“By birth he is hybrid,” Fi said. “But bad birth.”
Tyler was playing with one of the ears, but now he flicked it across the room, where it bounced off JT’s head. “Told you.”
“Hey!” JT threw the ear back at Tyler. “You can have your ‘Tyler was right’ party later. Are you two twins sure this George has left the base now?”
“Yes.” Fo made an upward motion with his hand. “Fly away. Gone. Because him.” He pointed at Tyler. “Gun man.”
“Because of me?” Tyler stepped away from the wall and knelt down by the coffee table. “George left because of me?”
“Yes, you break his Tutti Frutti,” Fi said. “You break.”
Elliot chuckled. “His Tutti Frutti?”
“His invention,” Fo said. “That go to surface and crawl in woods.”
“The gator-worm,” Nolan said.
“You kill it.” Fi pointed at Tyler. “His Tutti Frutti. He name Tutti Frutti. Like song.”
“Like song,” Fo said. “Awop-bop-a-loo-mop.”
“Oh, Christ.” Elliot rubbed his temples. “These kids are tripping me out.”
“Ah ah ah I do not trip you!” Fi said. “I sit right here!”
“Yeah, I know, Fi,” Elliot said. “So George left because Tyler shot his robot and we took it from the woods.”
“The keepers who hide him,” Fo said. “They find out what he do when he lose Tutti Frutti. They be scared base find out they hid George. That they be trouble. So they leave. Fly away.”
“Fly away,” Fi repeated. “Gone.”
“Baz,” Tyler said. “Do you think this is legit? A hybrid with a fucked-up face being hidden aboard a craft somewhere?”
“I do not know,” Baz said. “Only that they tell me same thing. That George is hybrid with deformity.”
“What kind of deformity,” Tyler asked. “Fo?”
“Strange shape. Strange face. Strange hair. Strange.”
“What’s strange about it?” Tyler asked. “Can you be more specific?”
“Is just strange!” Fo said. “Do not know how to explain.”
“Bad birth,” Fi said.
“This is all they will say about how George look,” Baz said. “I think they lie to protect.”
Both twins sighed and rolled their eyes.
“Is that a common thing?” Tim asked. “A hybrid born with a deformity?”
“It happens,” Baz said. “Hybrid babies can come out...different sometime.”
“Different,” Fi said. “Look different so they lock him. Lock him away so no to see.”
“Hybrids do not do this,” Baz said. “Do not lock others away because of deformity. Is unlikely this is truth.”
“Aaayyyyyy....” Fo threw his arms up. “I tell you this what he say! What you want? We tell truth!”
Baz pointed at the boy. “Maybe you tell truth. But if you do, then George lie to you. No hybrids to make prisoner because of different look. Is not the way things are done.”
“Is what George said,” Fi rasped. “He say they lock him because of strange.”
“Okay, we’re getting off-track,” JT said. “Baz, is this the crux of it? Anything else? Any more evidence about this alleged prisoner? And if he is in fact gone now?”
“This is all I know.” Baz leaned his butt against the sofa arm and looked at JT. “I check all craft that leave base this morning, all detail. Nothing unusual. None list holding prisoner. This all I can tell. I do not know how much truth is here, because I do not trust the twins tell all.”
A peach blushed stained both hybrids’ cheeks. “They’re blushing,” Tim said.
“Yes.” Baz nodded. “Because they know they lie. Lie to protect. They say they do not remember which craft George was on. This is unlikely as they work at dock where all craft are. Is their job. They would remember.”
Fi and Fo remained silent, arms crossed, staring at the floor.
“Long as he’s gone, I’m tempted not to give a shit,” Tim said.
“Yes! He go!” Fi said. “No to bother anymore. Mean no harm and have to cry now because gun man kill Tutti Frutti.”
“Yes.” Baz rolled his eyes. “Seems Tutti Frutti was tragic loss.”
“He only have three and humans take one!”
“He have only two now,” Fo said. “And Elvis. Spider. Big spider name Elvis. George build himself. Genius.”
“Okay.” Tim chuckled. “So in addition to the gator-worms, the ones like Tutti Frutti, George also has a big spider called Elvis.”
“Make himself,” Fi said. “Elvis. George make spider. Genius.”
“I think someone here is a genius,” Nolan said. “But I’m not sure it’s George. I think you twins have one hell of an imagination.”
“George does not like,” Fo said. “Does not like swollen man. Swollen man with angry face.”
“Does not like,” Fi concurred. “Swollen man.”
Tyler shook his head. “Wait...I’m confused. Who is swollen man?”
Fo pointed to Nolan. “Swollen man.” Both hybrids laughed. “Ah ah ah!”
“Excuse me?” Nolan said.
Fi clapped her hands. “George call you swollen man because human body swollen. We say swollen Nolan. Ah ah ah!”
“Oh, wow,” Elliot said. “Someone’s got a new nickname.”
“No, someone does not,” Nolan said. “And I’m not swollen. These are called muscles.”
“I never see them before like this.” Fo pointed to Nolan. “So round human body.”
“I’m not round!”
“Nolan,” Brett said. “Let it go.”
A vibration rumbled through the floor and everyone jumped. Fi looked up at Baz. “I do not do this. Was not me.”
“I know,” Baz said. “That was craft calling. They want you back now.” He pointed to the ceiling. “Parents up there.”
Fi and Fo both stood.
“You to say goodbye to humans?”
“No,” the twins said in unison.
Baz shrugged. “I be back,” he said and then led the twins out of the room.
Once they’d gone, JT laughed. “No goodbye for us. I think Team Teen Q-Tip just basically told us to fuck off.”
Elliot chuckled. “Well. We pissed off their good friend George.”
“If George even exists,” Nolan said. “I’m still not sure I’m buying that crazy story.”
“Same,” Brett said. “They definitely know something about the drones. But they’ve clearly been indulging in human entertainment media, and George sounds more like a dark fairytale character than a real person. Poor deformed misunderstood prince locked away in a tower with only the rats to keep him company.”
“But they’d be mechanical rats,” Elliot said. “That he built himself, because he’s like, the smartest ever.”
Brett laughed. “Yes, poor, poor George, with only his genius brain and scraps of superior alien technology to play with.”
“And videos,” Elliot said. “Don’t forget that.”
“Yeah.” JT chuckled. “George definitely scored one of those cushy white-collar prisons.”
“I agree it’s funny,” Tim said. “But we know someone spied on me with those drones. That’s not a fairytale, it happened. I just hope whoever it was will stop screwing with me now, whether they’re gone or not.”
“Agreed,” Brett said. “I’m sure we’ll know soon enough if the activity has ceased. But I do think it’s a valid theory that ‘George’ is actually the twins themselves.”
“I agree,” JT said. “And like when we first met Baz, we have to remember not to get distracted by the baby-talk and remember these beings have far superior intelligence to ours. I’m sure those twins are crazy brilliant. They admitted Baz has been teaching them about being our ambassador and about human culture. is one of the biggest popstars on the planet, it’s reasonable they might have stumbled upon her videos.”
“Right,” Elliot said. “But what I think is even more telling is the two separate things mentioned from the dawn of rock and roll. Elvis, plus the song Tutti Frutti by Little Richard? Things one might learn studying music history. Even if the twins have been sneaking off and creeping around some genius drone-builder, I tend to think they might have been the ones using the drones to spy on Tim. Fi did have the forest service emblem on the back of her jumpsuit.”
“But she claims she never saw the jacket, that ‘George’ drew it on her,” Brett said. “If caught and cornered, blame the imaginary friend.”
“Right,” Tyler said. “And their English is great, yet they claimed they didn’t know how to describe the details of George’s deformity.”
“And that they couldn’t remember what ship he was on,” Brett said. “Even Baz called bullshit on that one.”
“Well...that actually would be kind of a relief if I knew for sure it was them,” Tim said. “The twins were weird but they certainly seemed innocent. Not malicious at all.”
“They called me swollen Nolan.”
Elliot snorted. “But even that is a child’s taunt. They’re just...precocious.”
“Okay let’s not go that far,” Tyler said. “We’re still dealing with advanced beings here, and they seem a bit reckless. They could have caused harm with their antics. Those drones did have us running around the forest with guns out, after all. I’ll give them a pass as long as it stops, but I’m stopping short at calling them cutesy names like ‘precocious’.”
“Ah, there’s the buzzkill we all know and love,” Elliot said. “Welcome back, Tyler.”
“I never went anywhere.”
Baz stepped back into the room, his silky white hair somewhat disheveled. “Ugh.”
“You okay, Baz?” Brett said.
“Yes. They gone now. Drive me crazy.”
“So that’s it,” Tyler said. “That story. It’s all we’ve got to go on.”
“Yes. Apology. Will continue to look into.”
“Yeah, so, we were just talking,” Brett said. “We’re really wondering if this George is an imaginary friend those twins made up from studying too many ‘Earth signals’ in their spare time.”
“They obviously have an interest in us,” Tyler said. “Speak the language, study our culture. Could this ‘George loves humans’ thing be them projecting?”
“I do not know,” Baz said. “You are correct that twins enjoy human culture, language. Much of this they learn from me. Want to know about me being ambassador to you, so I share with them. But still someone made gator-worms, and I do not know who yet, and Whites very unhappy about this.”
“Baz,” Tyler said. “Could Fi and Fo have made the drones themselves? They seemed kind of childish and goofy but I know hybrids are way more intellectually advanced than we are.”
“Is true, childhood different for hybrids than human,” Baz said. “Very advanced. Fi and Fo make chaos but both very smart. Do good work for me at base, learn fast for five-year-old. But this? Gator-worms? I do not think they could have made something like this.”
“Wait, what?” Tim said. “Those twins are only five?”
“Five year.” Baz held his hand up. “Five.”
“You’re shitting me,” JT said.
“No fucking with,” Baz said. “They five year.”
“Cut the shit,” Elliot said. “Those were teenagers at least!”
“No,” Baz said. “I remember when they were born. Five years ago. I know they parents, they work at base.”
“Damn,” Nolan said. “Shit, Baz. Your kind grows fast.”
“Yes. Faster than human.”
Tim shook his head, stunned. “Seriously, you’re not screwing with the new guy here? Those twins are really only five-years-old?”
“Yes.” Baz took a seat on the sofa. “And this is very turbulent age for hybrids. Very difficult.”
“Jesus,” JT said. “I mean...there were moments when they acted like little kids but they look about nineteen!”
“Very dangerous age,” Baz said. “For hybrids, the puberty start at age of Fi and Fo. Four to seven-years-old they go through this. Get that from Whites. Whites grow fast and get mature in brain quick. But hybrids? Half-human. Part inside is still child at this age. So hybrids in the puberty much different than Whites in the puberty. Can be troubled. Do strange things. Break rules. Behave...reckless. Have trouble controlling new abilities. Need supervise. If seemed I was unkind to them, is only because they must learn not to do such reckless things.”
“Wow.” Tyler tapped his fingers on the coffee table. “So their genetic split means they start turning into adults at four or five but some part of them are still little kids because of their human side. Shit, the hormones alone must be chaos.”
“Is can be difficult, yes,” Baz said. “Baz...I did some not smart things when five years.”
“You were a rebel, Baz?” Tim chuckled.
“Ah ah. Okay yes. But the twins? This is why I wish I can tell you all they say is true. But am not sure. I can only say I check whole base and dock many times, and no to find inventions, robot spider, gator-worms, or any who know about these things.”
“I wish we knew for certain.” JT shook his head. “If George isn’t fictional, it’s a good thing for all concerned if he’s gone. And not just for our human faction. Because if he is real, those hybrid kids seemed a bit...obsessed.”
“I had the same thought,” Brett said. “Fi wanting to look like for him and whatnot. It’s creepy, especially now, knowing they’re only five-years-old.”
“So what’s the deal then?” Tim said. “We accepting that the threat is gone? I just go back to work and hope this is over?”
“Good question.” Tyler stood. “I’m going to go outside and call Ogden.”
“Yeah, check in with the man,” JT said.
“I’m here if he wants to speak with me,” Brett said.
“Okay, I’ll be back.”
Tim watched Tyler leave the room, then was distracted by the sound of Baz groaning. The hybrid sat on the sofa, hunched over and rubbing his forehead. “You okay, Baz?”
“Apology. I am frustrated this day. Not good day. Get yelled at a lot.”
“Oh.” Nolan chuckled. “By who?”
“The twins’ parents for one. So angry with Baz in the now. I supervise Fi and Fo when work. I am responsible. Parents say, ‘how you feel if find out young children been playing with prisoner without you know?’”
“Ooh, yeah,” Tim said. “Talk about stranger-danger.”
“I take it Mom and Dad were not pleased,” Elliot said.
“Not happy and blame me. Blame Baz. Say ‘Oh, to supposed to be guiding to learn! Oh, is this what you teach them?’ Make me feel...not good.”
“It’s not your fault,” Elliot said. “Even human adolescents live to break rules and do shit adults don’t know about. These twins are a third-generation genetic experiment that wasn’t supposed to happen, no offense, Baz.”
“No. I say this myself. Problems. Problems with hybrids at this age.”
“Well yeah, I mean Christ,” Nolan said. “The intelligence of a White and the hormones of a human teenager?”
“And throw in the whimsical innocence of a human five-year-old that just wants to play,” Elliot said. “Shit, what a combo.”
Nolan snorted. “Yeah. Shit, Baz. You’re lucky they haven’t blown up the base or something.”
“Ah ah ah. Funny, Nolan. You make me to feel better.”
“Good. Don’t sweat it, you did the best you could. What about the Whites? Did they weigh in on this?”
“Yes.” Baz went quiet for a moment. “They not happy that Hoggin have gator-worm. I say maybe I can ask for back and they say Hoggin will bark like dog and say ‘no, you are on my planet for free so I take’ so don’t bother even ask.”
“Yeah, Ogden is definitely a finders-keepers kind of guy when it comes to alien tech,” JT said. “I hope you’re not in too much trouble with the Whites.”
“Are the Whites going to keep an eye out in the future for odd phase-shifting toys?” Brett said. “They’ve got to be equally concerned as us that someone was sending alien droids to the surface.”
“Yes. They concern. And angry. Everyone angry at Baz in the now.”
“Well, we’re not,” Elliot said. “Why don’t you and Joff come over to the house for drinks tonight?”
“Thank to you, Ellytot. Cannot in the now. Too much shit to clean up at base after this.”
Tim snickered. Baz’s language skills were amusing, shifting back and forth between sounding like a child just learning to speak, and cursing like he was just one of the guys. Baz swiped his long white hair off his face and stood. “Apology, must go now.”
“Thanks for meeting with us,” JT said. “And for bringing the twins.”
“Apology for no certainty in answers,” Baz said.
Tyler stepped into the room holding his phone. “You leaving, Baz?”
“Yes. Okay. Must go back to base.”
“All right. Ogden’s got us on basically a watch and wait for the next couple weeks, to see if there’s any more activity. But he wants a report from Brett today, and even if the threat really is gone, he wants any information you and yours discover, Baz.”
“Yes, okay. Tell Hoggin I keep him in hoop.”
“In the loop,” Elliot corrected. “Keep him in the loop.”
“Yes. Okay. In the loop. Goodbye.”
“Bye, Baz,” Tim said. He walked to the doorway and tentatively stuck his head out of the room, watching Baz cross the hall, step into a bathroom, and close the door. “What the hell is he doing? He need to pee?”
“He needs to mist-out,” Nolan said. “It’s how he transports and it’s pretty freaky, so he likely went in the bathroom to do it so you wouldn’t see.”
“Me?” Tim glanced around. “I’m the only one who’s never seen him mist-out?”
“Yep,” Elliot said. “Baz is very considerate. I’m sure he didn’t want to freak you out.”
“Okay guys, show’s over for now,” Brett said. “I know there’s a lot to talk about. But is everyone all right if we meet up tomorrow? I need to go start that report for Ogden while it’s still fresh.”
“Yeah, I’ll help you with that report,” Tyler said.
“Thanks, Ty.”
“I’m good with the night off to absorb everything,” Nolan said. “So Tyler, you’ll be sticking around for a bit?”
“Yeah, for another couple weeks probably. Just to make sure this is resolved.”
“Great. Let’s get out of here.”
Everyone trailed out of the cabin. As they approached the vehicle, Tim leaned in to Tyler. “You still coming over for dinner tonight?”
“Yeah. Gonna help Brett out this afternoon. But I’ll be by later.”
“Good. So can I say I told you so? I handled the hybrid twins just fine, right?”
Rolling his eyes, Tyler stopped walking and smirked up at him. “Are you gloating?”
“Yes.”
“Just because this worked out well doesn’t mean you can ignore my authority in the future. I still know best when it comes to dangerous situations.”
“I want to get into a dangerous situation. With you. Tonight. Naked.”
Tyler’s brows pinched and a hardness fell over his expression, like he’d thrown up a shield. But just before he did, there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. Not the response Tim was hoping for when he made the flirty comment.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Tyler smiled, but it looked forced. “Let’s go, they’re waiting.”
Tyler went and got in the car. After a moment, Tim followed. Suddenly, he thought he knew what was bothering Tyler. And how to fix it. It would take the afternoon to plan, but if he was right? Hopefully it would pay off.
Tim had anxiety about their date tonight. Not just because of Tyler’s sudden mood-shift. He’d sworn to accept him as-is after all. But despite their gushy talk at Nolan’s this morning, there were things unresolved. Questions unanswered. Words yet unspoken.
A desperation welled in Tim’s chest.
Because they were closing in on the end of Tyler’s mission in Singing Bear Village. Tim should have been hopeful and relieved about what he’d just learned in the cabin, that things might be going back to normal for him soon. But that word—normal—did not have the same appeal it once did. And he felt like he was running against a clock. The simple fact that Tyler would be leaving the village again soon meant the time had come for Tim to ask the heavy questions. Would Tyler continue working at headquarters indefinitely? Tim didn’t even know where the fuck this elusive headquarters was. Was it close enough that they’d still see each other? Did Tyler even see a way for them to move forward? Together?
Tonight. One way or another, he’d find out tonight. And now their roles were reversed. Because while Tim had been brave facing aliens today, the potential outcome of this personal relationship had him terrified.