Rex Easly--The Wilde Side

[Garrett Jax]

Chapter Five

Rex released a heavy sigh when Lorelei left. Once he realized who she was and what she was doing, it took all his mental energy to resist her. He harbored no delusions he could withstand the nomad incubus inside him for long. He needed to find some way to suppress or delay the incubus until he reached Dr. Skelter’s assistant.

As promised, they set course for Sunderland aboard a renovated Luxury Liner. Their crew compliment was small. Aside from himself, the liner carried Lorelei, a flight crew and a dozen security personnel. They were all nomad infected.

Rex was given free reign aboard the ship. Apparently, these Wilde either didn’t fear him, or assumed the incubus held enough influence over him to prevent him from being a threat. Whatever the case, he was relieved to have a little freedom to develop a plan. He reflected on his conversation with Lorelei. What did she mean by saying he was a bad host? It probably wasn’t the inhibitor itself, but something more specific to what he was doing. Something which created problems for the incubus.

A thought occurred to him. Alcohol. To be specific, his rather heavy drinking of alcohol. He chuckled to himself when he thought about what strong alcohol might do to a blue jelly. The lack of control from being drunk was evident on his part, but for the nomad, it might be the same, or worse. He drank heavily while acting as Deputy Commissioner of the Bretonia Police. It might have inadvertently suppressed the efforts of the nomad to control him.

He realized he hadn’t had a drink in a long time, not since he chose to retire. Without the stress of the job, he found he had no need for the relief alcohol provided. Maybe it was time to change that. He headed toward the mess hall, to see what kind of drink might be available.

The mess hall was abandoned. The Wilde, he discovered, took care of their bodily needs in a perfunctory way, doing only what was necessary in order to assure their host bodies remained fit. Social interaction was nonexistent, at least from what he could discern. They had communication amongst themselves, verbal and mental, however chit chat and common niceties were forsaken. They discarded everything that was unique to humanity.

A quick search around the mess hall revealed nothing of use. These Wilde had no appreciation for the finer things, such as a short glass of whiskey and soda after a hard day’s work. Frustrated, he headed back to his room. At the door of the mess, he noticed a hand sanitizer dispenser hanging on the wall near the threshold. It seemed ironic to him how meticulously these Wilde took care of the their human hosts, when their goals involved the eradication of humans from Sirius.

He paused. Hand sanitizer sometimes has alcohol in it. He pushed the button to dispense some disinfectant upon his hands and took a short sniff. He was in luck. There was a strong alcohol smell. With a little effort, he could create a potent drink of ethyl alcohol to fight the nomadic influence on his mind. He dispensed enough to fill both hands and quickly returned to his quarters.

Upon arriving, he found Lorelei sitting at his desk awaiting him. Quickly, he folded his hands together to rub away the sanitizer.

She appeared not to notice. “It’s time to debrief you on your mission, human.” She no longer referred to him by his first name anymore. Apparently, that ship had sailed when he was able to resist her charms. She gestured for him to sit on his bed and handed him an electronic tablet.

Rex looked the tablet over briefly. It contained schematics of the Sunderland facility, a picture of Dr. Skelter’s assistant, Geoff Larkin as well as instructions on how to handle an incendiary device of some nature. He put the tablet down. “So how exactly do you expect to reach Sunderland?” he asked. “That facility is highly guarded. I sincerely doubt even the Wilde could breach its defenses.”

Lorelei smirked. “You are correct, human. We cannot. You however, can.”

Rex understood now why he specifically was needed by the Wilde. He was one of only a handful of people who could enter Sunderland uncontested. Not only because of his capacity as Deputy Commissioner, but more importantly, because he was a prototype of Dr. Skelter’s research. This Dr. Larkin would not resist the opportunity to see one of his predecessor’s test patients. He continued rubbing his hands and now his arms. There was too much sanitizer to absorb.

The motion quickly grabbed Lorelei’s attention. “What is wrong with you human?” she asked. “Are you ill?”

Rex panicked. “Nothing, I’m fine.” Instinctively, he pulled his hands away.

Lorelei grabbed his arms. Her grip slipped away easily. “What is this substance?”

Rex had a thought. “I don’t know what it is, Lorelei,” he lied. “Whatever it is, it smells very good.”

Lorelei brought his hands up to her face and sniffed deeply. Her nose wrinkled in disgust and she pulled away. “Hand sanitizer?” she asked.

Rex pressed his advantage over the confused Wilde. He quickly pressed his hands over her mouth and forced her to inhale more of the alcoholic fumes. He didn’t know what effect this might have, but she possessed a small frame so he hoped whatever might happen, would happen quickly. Sure enough, after a few minutes her eyes rolled around wildly and she relaxed.

He let go of her mouth and waited to see her reaction.

She tried to focus her eyes on him, blinking several times to shake away the fog. “Whatcha doooing, human,” she slurred. A goofy smile found the corner of her mouth.

Rex struggled not to laugh. He got her drunk, that’s for certain. Now, what to do with her? “You’re going to take me to an escape pod and get me out of here.”

“Silly hooman,” she stammered. “We are the Wi…the Wi…Who are we again?” She tried to stand up, and fell backwards into the chair.

He rushed forward to grab her before she crashed to the floor. So much for escape. She couldn’t even walk in her condition. He held her in his arms and carried her to his bed. He laid her down gently. What was he going to do? She was going to sober up and probably kill him. Maybe he could kill her first. She was in no capacity to resist.

He grabbed a pillow to put over her face.

She moaned softly, eyes still rolling around carelessly. “Help me,” she cried. Her voice no longer was the nomad, but the human. “Rex, help me.”

Rex quickly put away the pillow. “Lorelei?” he asked. “Who am I speaking to, the nomad or the human?”

She tried to sit up. Rex put the pillow behind her back to support her.

“It’s me, Lorelei,” she whispered. “How did you reach me?”

Rex cleared his throat. “Um, I got you drunk.”

“That explains why I feel like I’m spinning around,” she said. Her brow furrowed. “Rex, I don’t have much time. This nomad’s grip on me is strong. You must listen to me.”

It was strange to see Lorelei in a weakened condition. For the first time, she appeared vulnerable. It pained him to see the woman suffering. “I’m listening.”

“I hear their thoughts,” she said. She struggled to speak under the influence of alcohol. “They fear you.”

Rex was taken aback. “They fear me?”

“Shhhh,” she said. Her finger mashed her lips tightly as she shushed him. “Listen. Dr. Larkin has discovered a way to rid us of this…this thing that’s inside us.”

Rex’s hopes were raised. “That’s wonderful,” he exclaimed, quietly. “Do you know how I can reach him without the nomad’s knowledge?”

Lorelei shrugged. “I don’t know how, but you must find a way.”

Rex’s shoulders sagged. “Is there anything you can tell me that can help me?”

“The only thing I can say is that when the nomad exerts itself, it needs to rest,” she said. She appeared to be struggling anew. “In those moments, I return, but only briefly.”

Rex watched her twist and writhe about. “Are you okay?” he asked. The alcohol shouldn’t be having this effect on her.

She screamed. “It’s coming back. Rex help me, please.” Her back arched up. “Leave me alone!”

Rex grabbed her shoulders to hold her still. “I’ll help you, Lorelei. Somehow, I’ll help you.”

Just as suddenly, she became motionless. Her eyes closed momentarily and then reopened. When they opened, Rex knew it was the nomad speaking.

“Why am I lying in your bed, human?” she asked, calmly.

Rex wondered if she remembered anything. “You passed out.” He didn’t want to volunteer any information.

Lorelei appeared unconcerned. She stood up and regained her arrogant demeanor. “It happens sometimes with us. It is of no concern.” Her gaze found the tablet, now lying on the floor. “Study the mission, human. We will test your knowledge tomorrow.”

With that she walked out the door.

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