OCTOBER 7TH, 1516 HOURS (1416 HOURS MOUNTAIN TIME)
Walking the full length of the Southern hallway was taking too long. General Tauring looked at Hakan; it certainly wouldn’t hurt the Indian to get some extra exercise, however. “Are you absolutely positive your life force transfer ability is gone?”
“Yes, I am certain. But at least I was able to help. I am happy with this.”
“You certainly did. And quite well, at that. I’m very impressed. Didn’t think that Maplen guy knew squat. But of course he had to turn out to be a religious zealot nutcase.”
Hakan grunted out his nose. “He was only spewing his God talking points because they refuse to accept aliens exist.”
“No joke there!” General Tauring spoke a little too loudly and made a mental note to keep it down. “Can you recover your ability?”
“I’ll have to practice, but I think it’s been destroyed.”
“Well, like I said. I’ll find out about getting help for you.” An important thought entered General Tauring’s mind. He stopped walking. Hakan did too. “If true, that the hull destroyed your ability, then we’ve found another weakness. Doesn’t like life force transfers, for some damn reason.”
“You should bring this up in your next meeting.”
“I will.” General Tauring started walking again and Hakan followed along.
“General, have you thought about what Maplen said, about God?”
“I do believe I know what you’re referring to. Johanson and his babbling.”
“Yes. That is it exactly.”
“Didn’t even give it a second thought. Both of them, simply the ramblings of fools.”
“True, I suppose.” Hakan let out a rush of his breath, and then shook his head. “This is going to be hard for me.”
Something felt wrong. “Why? What are you talking about?”
Hakan stopped in his steps and gave a dead in the eye stare. “Rumor has it…the Van Meir girl committed suicide, or at least had a rather suspicious fatal crash.”
“Who told you this?”
“I’m not at liberty to say. And like I said, it is only a rumor. True or false?”
Bursts of crippling, black emotions suddenly seized General Tauring. He lost control and grabbed the upper open flaps of Hakan’s cammie shirt. “Tell me now, Hakan.” He pressed his fists into Hakan’s chest, ignoring the Indian’s solid frame and dark, deadly stare. “I’m in no mood.”
Several nearby DFRs, fortunately alert, moved in fast and swarmed around them. They drew their hidden nine millimeters quick as wild west shooters. “General. Sir! Do you need our assistance?”
General Tauring let his anger pour forth from his eyes. He flung his hands off Hakan’s shirt. “No. Stand down.” He relaxed his arms by his side, trying to calm himself. Comfort streamed through him; he could erase this entire incident, and the DFRs wouldn’t dare rat on him. Nor would Hakan. “We were just ending a pointless discussion. Am I correct, Dr. Hakan?”
“You are, General. No need to discuss this any further. Your reaction was sufficient enough.”