Sacrifice:The Shenkar War by Seth Libby Read Free Book Online Page B

lost you, but it seems your body fought through it. As for the others, it seems that their brain patterns weren’t as strong as they needed to be.”
                  “ Does this mean my brain pattern wasn’t as strong as the others?” Liam asked the closest scientist.
                  “ No, that would be incorrect. Actually, your brain-wave pattern registered off the scale. Why your body reacted in that way, we are not sure of, although preliminary tests indicate that your body’s integration percentage is the highest of all the test subjects.”
                  Liam just stared, clearly not understanding what all that meant. I am sure I will eventually find out , he thought to himself. He had the strangest feeling he still had something he needed to do, someone he needed to talk to. But for the life of him, he couldn’t remember what or who.
                  The examination finished, he was given a black jumpsuit to wear with black combat boots. The jumpsuit somehow looked familiar with his name and a sunburst on it. He had some difficulty dressing, as his muscles didn’t seem to want to respond at first, but after ten minutes of trying, he finally got the suit on. The scientists had left by the time he had finished, but the Meshtrell stayed behind and was just standing there, watching him.
                  “ Is there something I can help you with?” Liam asked as he finished tying his boots.
                  The alien looked around, clearly surprised that it was being addressed. Liam had to think of the alien as an “it” because he didn’t know if it was male, female, or even if they had a sex. After finally deciding that it was the subject Liam had addressed, the Meshtrell turned to Liam and spoke in its metallic voice.
                  “ Oh . . . yes . . . fascinating, very fascinating!” the Meshtrell said excitedly. Then, seeming to realize by the look on Liam’s face that it didn’t answer the question, the Meshtrell spoke again as it extended a four-fingered hand as if to shake hands. “Hello, I am known as Reeta. I will be training you on how to manipulate your body’s natural defenses as well as personal combat training.”
                  Liam shook the proffered hand as he spoke. “Natural defenses?” He looked down at his body skeptically, searching for something different but clearly finding nothing out of the ordinary.
                  “ Now I must take you to your fellow pilots. Please follow me, Lieutenant.” Reeta turned and walked off.
                  Liam looked down at himself again to make sure nothing had changed, and then followed after Reeta.

July 1, 2012, 8:10 a.m. EST
    Hanscom Air Force Base
     
                  Reeta led Liam to a large auditorium where several men and women stood about conversing. As Liam looked about, he spotted a tall man speaking to a short blond woman. The woman didn’t look familiar at all, but something about the man he seemed to recognize. As he walked toward the man, something gnawed at him, as if he should know him somehow. The man and woman broke off the conversation and turned to Liam as he came up to them.
                  “ Hello,” spoke the tall man. “My name is Evan Maxis, and this pretty lady is Crystal McKenna.”
                  As he introduced the woman, she smiled and nodded toward Liam.
                  “ Nice to meet you. I am Liam Brennan . . .” Pausing, Liam tilted his head to the side before saying, “You know, you look awfully familiar. I know we lost all our memories with the enhancements, but I feel like I knew you.”
                  “ You know, I have the very same feeling--odd isn’t it?” Evan said.
                  Before they could delve deeper into the lost memory, a man spoke from a stage at one end of the