Secret Conversations

Time unfroze with a snap. The men in black raised their guns, ready to shoot. But before they could pull the triggers, a beam of silver light shot down from Kael's people's ship.

"What's happening?" Marcus shouted, covering his eyes.

Everything froze again. The beam of light disappeared. The ship disappeared.

And Eli found himself back in his room, sitting on his bed with Kael standing by the window.

"How... how did we get here?" Eli gasped, touching his body to make sure he was real.

I borrowed energy from my people's ship, Kael's voice flowed into Eli's mind. We teleported.

"Teleported?" Eli repeated, trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. "Like in science fiction movies?"

Kael smiled. Your movies are not so fake as you think.

Eli stood up on shaky legs and peeked through the curtains. The street looked normal. No black cars. No men in clothes. For now, they were safe.

"Your ship—why didn't we go with them?" Eli asked.

Kael's face darkened. They were not my people. The ship was... wrong.

"Wrong? What do you mean?"

Someone trying to trick us. The real relief will come, but not like that.

A chill ran down Eli's spine. "So who was that?"

I don't know, Kael revealed. But they wanted to catch me, not save me.

Eli sat back down, his mind racing. "We need to hide. The institute will be looking for us everywhere."

Yes, but first I need to recover my strength. Teleporting drained me.

Kael sat beside Eli, his silver skin looking duller than before. Eli couldn't help but stare at him—an real alien prince, sitting on his bed. It seemed impossible.

"Can you tell me about your home?" Eli asked softly. "Your real home?"

Kael's eyes brightened. I can show you.

He put his hand gently on Eli's forehead, and suddenly, Eli wasn't in his apartment anymore. He was standing on a balcony viewing a city made of crystal and silver. Two suns hung in a purple sky, and strange flying animals soared between tall towers.

This is Astoria, Kael's voice explained. My place.

Eli saw people with silver skin walking below, their bodies sparkling with inner light. Some had violet eyes like Kael's, others had eyes in shades of blue and green.

My people are called the Lumari. We are connected to the stars.

The scene changed, and Eli saw a huge room with seven thrones. On one sat a tall Lumari with a crown of light.

My father, the High King. And those are my six brothers and sisters.

Eli noticed that one chair was empty.

Mine, Kael explained. I am the seventh kid, the Peacekeeper.

The vision faded, and Eli was back in his room, gasping in wonder.

"It's beautiful," he whispered. "Your home, your family... why did you leave?"

To make peace with other places. I was on a mission when my ship was damaged near your world. Your government found me before I could fix it.

"And they brought you to the institute," Eli finished. "To study you."

Yes. They didn't understand who I was. To them, I was just an example.

Eli's heart ached for Kael. "I'm sorry. Humans can be... cruel."

Not all humans, Kael said, his eyes meeting Eli's. You saved me.

Something warm flowed between them, a link deeper than words. Eli felt his face grow hot.

"We need a plan," he said, trying to focus. "We can't stay here. It's the first place they'll look."

I need to call my real people, Kael said. But to do that, I need to build a device using parts from your technology.

"What kind of parts?"

Simple things. A radio. A machine. Some metal. With these, I can make a beacon that will reach my home.

Eli nodded. "I can get those things. But we should move somewhere safer first."

As they talked, neither spotted the tiny camera hidden in the smoke detector of Eli's apartment.

In her study, Dr. Kane watched Eli and Kael on her computer screen. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could see them sitting close, looking at each other with faith.

"Interesting," she murmured, tapping her fingers on the desk. "The specimen appears to be communicating with Dr. Carter."

She picked up her phone and called a number. "Sir, I have visual on the target and Dr. Carter. They're at his apartment."

A deep voice answered. "Good. Do not engage yet. We need to know more about their connection."

"What about the fake ship? Did it work?" Kane asked.

"Partially. We confirmed the specimen has teleportation abilities, but he saw through our disguise. We'll need to be more careful next time."

Kane zoomed in on Kael's face. "Sir, I think they're talking without speaking. Some kind of... telepathy."

"Even better. Continue monitoring. I want to know everything they say, everything they do. The alien's abilities could change everything."

Kane hung up and leaned closer to the screen, her eyes cold and calculating.

Back in the apartment, Eli and Kael continued their mental chat, unaware they were being watched.

Your world is so different from mine, Kael said, looking around the small flat. So strong, so... separate.

"What do you mean?" Eli asked.

On my world, everything is linked. We feel each other's thoughts, each other's feelings. Being alone like people are... it must be very lonely.

Eli smiled sadly. "It is. I've always felt... different. Like I didn't quite fit in."

Perhaps that is why you can hear me, Kael offered. Your mind was already reaching out.

Their eyes met, and that strange warmth flowed between them again.

Can I show you something else? Kael asked.

"Of course."

Kael touched Eli's hand, and a new image appeared. Eli saw the star pattern they had both drawn, but now it was moving, shifting and changing like a live thing.

This is the Royal Seal of my family, but it's also a map.

"A map? To where?"

To a hidden place on your planet. A place where something of mine is hidden.

The vision zoomed in on a mountain range that looked familiar to Eli.

"That's only a few hours from here," Eli said, shocked. "What's buried there?"

A piece of my ship. It includes technology that can help us contact my people. It also has guns.

"Weapons?" Eli pulled back, suddenly wary.

Defensive only, Kael told him. But we may need them. Your Dr. Kane is not working alone. There are others, more dangerous than her.

Eli shivered. "Who?"

I don't know their names. But they have been hunting my kind for decades. They built the fake ship. They want our technology... and they will kill to get it.

Eli stood up, purpose replacing his fear. "Then we need to get to the mountains before they do. I have a friend with a cabin not far from there. We can hide there while we find your ship piece."

They quickly packed a bag with clothes, food, and Eli's laptop. As Eli grabbed his car keys, Kael suddenly froze.

Someone is watching us, he whispered in Eli's thoughts.

Eli looked around furiously. "Where? How do you know?"

I can feel their thoughts. Cold, calculating...

Kael's eyes landed on the smoke alarm. In one swift action, he reached up and crushed it in his hand, revealing the tiny camera inside.

"Dr. Kane," Eli whispered in horror.

We need to leave. Now.

They rushed out the door and down the stairs. Eli's old blue car was parked on the street. They jumped inside and Eli started the engine.

"The mountains are about three hours away," Eli said as they pulled into traffic. "If we're lucky, we can—"

Stop the car! Kael's thought voice was sharp with fear.

Eli slammed on the brakes. "What? What is it?"

Look.

Ahead of them, closing the road, was a line of black SUVs. Men in tactical gear stood with guns ready. And in front of them all was Marcus, Eli's former friend, carrying what looked like a strange silver gun.

"That's not a normal weapon," Eli said, his voice shaking.

No, Kael agreed. It's meant to disable my kind. They've been planning this for a long time.

Eli put the car in reverse, but looking in the mirror, he saw more black SUVs blocking the road behind them. They were stuck.

Eli, Kael's voice was calm in his mind. There is something I haven't told you. Something important.

"What?" Eli asked, his heart pounding as the guys began to approach the car.

The reason I can connect with your mind so easily is because...

Suddenly, the ground beneath them started to shake. The men stopped, looking around in confusion. The shaking grew stronger, and a crack opened in the street.

Because you're not totally human, Eli. You're one of us.