Rex Easly--The Wilde Side

[Garrett Jax]

Chapter Three

Days passed, and Rex saw no sight of Lorelei. Of course, his access to the base was restricted to the medical facilities with guards placed outside the door to assure he remain there.
Every morning, a physical therapist would come to help strengthen his arm. His recovery was remarkable. What normally took weeks or months, he was accomplishing in days. He could actually move his left arm now, his bruises had faded and he was walking without pain. He still didn’t know what they wanted from him, but he had to admit they were caring for his physical needs quite well. This was the best he felt in years.

He couldn’t escape the feeling however, that they were ‘fattening him up’ in order to slaughter him later. Lorelei claimed that they needed him for something, but she didn’t say what they needed him for. As the days passed, he found that he wanted to believe her story of self-defense. The more he thought it out, the more plausible her explanation seemed. But what use could they possibly have for an old retired constable? Whatever it was, he hoped he would discover it soon, because anything was better than being stuffed in a room bored out of his mind. This was not what he envisioned for his early retirement.

After the sixth day passed, Lorelei finally came to visit. Rex tried not to appear excited as she glided into the facility
.
She approached him and inspected his left arm. “Well, this is looking much better, Mr. Easly. How are you feeling?”

Rex tried not to blush at her touch. “Um…remarkably well. Please, call me Rex.”

She smiled at his response. “Ok, Rex.”

She examined him carefully, head to toe. This time, he did blush. How was she able to affect him in such a strong way? He briefly entertained the thought of holding her in his arms, but dismissed it immediately. He found it difficult to resist her.

After her inspection of him, she offered him a chair and reached for one herself. He sat down, expectantly, waiting for whatever words she would offer him, knowing in his heart that they would alter his life forever. His work as Deputy Commissioner of the Bretonia Police Authority was filled with more struggles than rewards. It aged him prematurely, drove him to heavy drinking and eventually, an early retirement. However, here was an opportunity at a new life.

She reached across and took both of his hands in hers. “It appears you are now ready to hear what I have to say to you, Rex Easly.”

His head began to swim. Good Lord, what was she doing to him? It was as if he were a young boy again with pent up emotions and unrestrained tension. His attraction to her was irrational. He sat up a little straighter, determined to be strong and swallowed down his boyish hormones.

With effort he finally spoke. “I am ready. Who are you people and where am I?”

Her eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment. “Before I answer that, allow me to tell you what we know of you. Twenty years ago, you volunteered to undergo an experimental procedure at Sunderland Research Facility in Newcastle.”

Rex Easly stood up immediately, eyes blazing with anger. “How could you possibly have known that?” He jerked his hands away. “That was kept under the strictest of confidence. Only a handful of people have knowledge of those events.”

“We make it our business to know,” she said, wryly. “We also know what those experimental procedures entailed. We know the results were promising, were they not?”

Rex glared at her, suspiciously. “Listen to me, young lady. You are treading on dangerous ground here. I’m not speaking a word. If my government knew that you had even a hint of knowledge of those experiments, you’d disappear quite conveniently.”

Lorelei laughed. She didn’t appear frightened in the least. “We also know that shortly after your stay there, the project was sabotaged and discontinued.”

Rex was dumbfounded. He remembered those events clearly. Nomad encounters and infestations were at a record high. A secret branch of the Bretonian government decided to sponsor an esteemed nomad researcher, Dr. Skelter, on the hopes of developing a neural inhibitor preventing nomadic control of humans. It was very promising research and Rex volunteered to undergo treatments in order to assure himself a high position in the police force. Any government would value those who could withstand infestation. As a result of those successful treatments, he quickly rose in the ranks of the BPA and eventually became the Deputy Commissioner, the highest position. Unfortunately, the research was destroyed and Dr. Skelter was murdered shortly after he left Sunderland. Nobody was capable of picking up and continuing what Skelter had started, so the project was abandoned. Nevertheless, what did any of this have to do with him now?

A thought occurred to him. “So, you want to pick up and continue that project?” He looked skeptical. “If so, I have to tell you, I’m going to be of little help.”

Lorelei laughed scornfully. “No, we do not wish to continue this project. Quite the opposite, in fact.”

Rex appeared confused. “Opposite? I guess I don’t follow you?”

Lorelei stood up. She seemed taller, more imposing than before. “We now know that Sunderland Research Facility holds a nomad researcher who apprenticed under the former scientist of twenty years ago. He is endeavoring to continue the same research.”

Rex failed to see the problem. “Well, if what you say is true, then that’s great.”

Lorelei approached. She pulled his hand to hers and spoke softly. “No Rex. That is not great. That research must be stopped at all costs.”

“But why?”

For the first time since he met her, Lorelei appeared tentative. “Rex,” she said. “Do you remember the experiments that were performed on you?”

“No,” he replied. “We were unconscious during much of it. They would constantly ask how we felt and take note of our every move.”

“There was a specific reason for that.”

“What reason?”

Her eyes narrowed. “It’s because they introduced in you a nomad incubus.”

“Like hell, they did.” He tried to pull away, repulsed at the thought.

She pulled his hand tighter. Her grip was strong. “Listen carefully, Rex. How else were they going to test your resolve against nomad influence? The only way was to implant a nomad seed within you.”

Rex was sickened. He could barely stand up at hearing her words. “What are you saying, Lorelei?”

“I’m telling you, you are one of us.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

Lorelei smiled. Her eyes emitted a purple glow. “We are the Wilde.”

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