Embraced: Em and Yves, #3

By Darlene Jones

Controlled by an Alien, Abby must decide if he's real before she loses her sanity.

When school principal, Abby Davies, hears clickings in the fillings of her teeth she doesn't understand why she believes they are messages from aliens.

Changing the world was never part of her career plan … but, letters she didn't send bearing her signature are showing up in newspapers around the world. The things asked for in the letters are coming true.

To complicate matters even more, the alien controlling Abby has fallen in love with her. Is this her one chance for true love?

EMBRACED – Book three of the Em and Yves sci-fi series brings the alien down to Earth.

Buy EMBRACED to see if Abby survives alien intervention in her life and finds love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darlene Jones
• Release date: Aug 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476412511

Darlene Jones

Darlene Jones is a retired educator and writer. A graduate of the University of Alberta she was a teacher, principal, second language consultant, and staffing officer with Edmonton Public schools. Her multiple roles included second language curriculum development for secondary students. After retiring she continued to provide educational workshops for teachers in the province of Alberta. Her career began as a volunteer with Canadian University Services Overseas. She taught school in Mali and it was the plight of the Malians that inspired her to write her first novel—science fiction—described by readers as a "think piece." She continues to write fiction that incorporates topics such as world affairs, aging, and Alzheimer's, with the added mix of adventure, romance and humor.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Abby propped the microphone above the bowl of Rice Krispies, turned the recorder on, and poured milk over the cereal. She listened to the resulting recording a dozen times. Yes, the snap and crackle resembled what she heard in her teeth, or rather in her fillings, every night. The pop not so much. But, so what? She slapped her forehead. God, I’m stupid. Whatever made me think Rice Krispies would lead me to an answer? She sighed. Yet another failed attempt to identify the sounds. She dumped out the cereal, rinsed the bowl, and left it on the counter for morning. 

What the hell were they anyway—these snaps and crackles that jumped from one side of her jaw to the other like soggy Morse code? Stupid teeth. If she didn’t have so many fillings to carry the signals ...

Signals? Why did that particular word keep coming to mind? Because she believed something out there was trying to contact her? "Jeez, girl, get a grip. But, what if aliens really did exist? Like they’d be trying to contact me of all people." It could be possible. Couldn’t it? The universe was a damn big chunk of stuff; suns and planets and moons and whatnot all swirling about out there. Earth couldn’t be the only inhabited bit of rock. But ..., if the clickings were signals from some alien, shouldn’t she be scared out of her wits? Get real, Abby girl. Aliens are not trying to contact you.

She sighed and crawled into bed. As always, the clickings started the minute her head hit the pillow. She tossed and turned for a couple of hours before giving up on sleep. She threw the covers off and stomped to her desk, opened the balcony door to catch the breeze, hit the spacebar, and waited for the password screen to come up. Why did she bother with the computer? She’d researched codes endlessly. Nothing matched the signals in her teeth.

Take a look at that.

Holy shit. Can you believe it? The words were highlighted by hoots of laughter.

Damn! Damn! Damn! Abby dropped to her knees and reached across her desk to turn off the light. She’d been back lit by the lamp. Had the kids seen her naked? Recognized her? She crawled to the balcony, grabbed the afghan, and wrapped herself in it. She sank to the settee, took a deep breath and held it. Silence descended once more. She peered over the railing, but couldn’t see anyone. They would’ve stuck around for another look if they’d seen me. She exhaled in a great rush of relief. Whew!

The play of clouds and moonlight over the water and mountains beyond calmed her. She licked her lips and tasted salt. From the heavily laden sea air or from tears? A few notes of music echoing across the water caught her attention. A bagpipe of all things. 

Music! That’s it! If she could capture the little clickings on paper somehow, that might help decipher them. She knew nothing about musical notation, but perhaps she could sketch the sound pattern the clicks made.

Back in bed with a pad of paper and a pencil, she rolled onto her side, closed her eyes, and tried to draw the clickings. She frowned at the jumble of scribbles that resulted and tried again with her eyes open only to produce the same mess. She dropped the pad and pencil on the floor. Useless!

Take a deep breath. Okay, now another. And another. Count to ten. Calmer, Abby put on her bathrobe, retrieved the pad, headed for her desk, and opened her email.

What do you make of this Trav? You know those clickings I told you about? I want you to see the drawings I tried to make of them. I hope my stupid scanner worked. 

I don’t know why I think they’re messages from outer space. I mean, that’s just way too fantastical. To answer your question, no, I haven’t told Val. Why not tell her? I hear you asking as you read this. Yes, I do know you that well.

I can’t explain why, but I want to keep this to myself except for telling you of course. Anyway, you know how she is. Remember all those sci-fi movies she dragged us to? I liked them about as much as you did. She’d be all over this one and never let up.

Trav, do you think I should be afraid? Maybe I’m losing my mind? Things are good at school. I’m not particularly stressed, but... I’ve thought of going to see someone, a psychiatrist maybe, but what would I say? More to the point, what would he or she say????

And, you know, I’m not really afraid. I feel very calm when I hear the clickings. So maybe it’s benign beings up there? Oh, man, listen to me. I am nuts!!!!

I hate that you’re so far away. Email soon, please. Tell me what you think.

Hugs, Abby

PS Everyone is great. Zach keeps us laughing, but school is not the same without you.

PPS Do you really get to take kids on safari? I’m green!!!!!!!

*

Yves paced furiously. He stopped in front of Paul, whose impish grin further enraged him. The little twerp should have been quaking. Yves clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. What do you think you’re doing down there?

My job. Paul’s grin widened. I had no idea it would be so much fun.

Fun?!

Yeah. I didn’t want this assignment. I wanted to work on Zee-on but Mom said I had to take Earth and you know what a hard case she can be. Usually I can wrap her around my little finger, but not this time.

You’re playing with that poor human. Your little games are confusing her. Clickings in her teeth. What a stupid thing to do. It seemed that each new generation of trainees was worse than the last. If you’re not careful she’ll have a breakdown. And by Guardian, if that happens, it won’t matter who your mother is. Hurt my love and I’ll take you down.

Paul rolled his eyes. Oh, the drama! He snickered. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. She’s only a human.

Only a human!? Yves felt himself getting hot. He’d wipe that smirk off the little runt’s face. He raised his hand as if to strike, caught himself, and spun away from Paul. Yves looked down at his trembling hands. What’s happening to me? I’ve never—

Hey, what’s the big deal?

What’s the big deal? Oh Guardian, had that screech come out of his mouth? Yves took deep breath. Let me tell you a thing or two.

Careful, man. Only Mentor can tell me what to do now that I’m a Power. Even Mom has to back off.

Yves ground his teeth and watched helplessly as Paul sauntered over to the bar. A whole lot of bad Earth words swam in his head. Clickings! Clickings? What the hell does he think he’s doing? Yves sputtered and stamped his foot. Childish behavior by any standards, but it made him feel a little better.

Hell? Oh sky, where had she come from? Snuck up on me—again. Mentor scowled. And I’ve managed to offend her—again. Yves groaned. Had she overheard it all? What was he thinking? Of course she had. Always eavesdropped. Nosy old bat. He stopped. He was pretty sure she could read his mind too.

Sorry. Yves shuffled and hung his head. A bad Earth word.

It’s been an age since you worked with the female human. Yves closed his eyes and let his mind drift away from Mentor’s voice. His first assignment as a Power had taken him to Earth and there he’d found love.

Mentor snapped her fingers. Yves, are you with me?

Yes. Yes. Sorry. I was just thinking.

About your little human no doubt. Mentor shook her head. I’ll never understand your attachment to her or why you wouldn’t give her up. Even in her reincarnated life that ‘attachment’ was almost the end of you. She stopped talking, scanned the sky, blinked a few planets into view and out again. Always watching. Was there anything that escaped her scrutiny?

After a time, she spoke again. I thought you’d left Earth far behind.

I had. Mentor undoubtedly knew that was a lie, but what else could he say? Yves cleared his throat. I had. But now, seeing this trainee working down there ... Well, he’s such an idiot. I thought I’d better check up on him. The look on Mentor’s face baffled him; somewhere between a frown of aggravation and a grin of satisfaction.

You shouldn’t be doing this, Yves. You’re no longer a Power. Your duties lie elsewhere. I thought you understood that when you were promoted. Your obligation is no longer to me, but to your new superior.

My boss? Paul’s mother. Isn’t that just ducky? Mentor’s tone was mild enough, her expression neutral, but he’d learned from experience that trying to read any of the signals Mentor sent out was futile. I know, but ...

She blinked Earth into view, but kept her eyes on him. You can’t help yourself when it comes to that little planet, can you? she asked.

No. A very long time ago, he’d picked one woman from among all the humans to work with him and fallen madly in love with her. If only he could be down there with her now. He shook his head wearily. He’d never stop loving her. He’d known that from the beginning.

Mentor blinked and zoomed in on Earth for a closer look.

Who is she? Oh, good grief. Don’t tell me. It’s her. That little human you’ve been so fond of. Back yet again. Mentor sounded weary, but sparks of something akin to amusement glinted in her eyes.

Yes. Yves had the grace to sound humble before Mentor. She was old, but he couldn’t imagine her retiring. Her responsibilities were weighty, supervising the Powers, including the trainees, but still she looked out for him. Even though their relationship had always been prickly, she had helped him through the toughest of tests. Saved him.

You think you can do this? Mentor crossed her arms, tapped a foot, and looked at him with a deep furrow between her eyes. Yves expected her to be enraged. If she was, she kept it under control.

Yes. He tensed and waited for the dreaded recriminations. He’d brought his soulmate, the lovely, lovely Em, back himself. Reliving was at the sole discretion of the Guardians, but somehow he’d done it. There she was—his Em—as beautiful as ever.

Just because you’ve been promoted to an exalted position doesn’t mean—

Well, actually ... It does. Apparently. Guardian only knows how. No way in the universe should he have been able to bring Em back. Maybe it was in the wishing? He snorted. How gullible to believe in wishes. They were worth diddly-squat here, or on Earth, or anywhere else in the universe. Maybe it was the strength of love. From what he’d seen on Earth, it was a powerful emotion, moved proverbial mountains in some cases. Too bad they also had all that hate.

Yves! Mentor snapped. I don’t have time for this. You have to follow the rules.

I know. But Em is back and I’m glad. He struggled to keep the satisfaction out of his voice.

She sighed heavily. Almost as if the burdens of her job had become insupportable. He waited for admonitions, for her to announce abruptly that she’d take Em away from him. He steeled himself for the argument. He wouldn’t lose her again. Never again.

How will you distance yourself? Mentor asked. The first time almost got you executed. The second time you managed by using a watcher. What will you do this time?

She was going to let him have his love? She was! Yves sagged with relief. He reached out as if to hug her, thought better of it and let his arms drop limply. I requested a Power and they gave me a beginner, on his first assignment.  

Let me guess. Another Drone, like yourself.

I wish! But, no such luck. I’ve been forced to accept Paul for the assignment. He grimaced when he heard Mentor’s hearty laugh ring out. It was a good sound. You should laugh more often, he thought. Words he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud.

About Paul, he said. You’ve got to do something. Please! He’s a nightmare. Botches everything he does. Mentor grinned and nodded. Good grief, she’s enjoying this. Watching me watching Paul is her reward for putting up with my rookie mistakes?

For all the stress I went through with you? Yes. Mentor said. Yves’ shoulders slumped and he groaned. She could read his mind. Big surprise. How many of his thoughts had she taken the time to scan? How many things would have offended her? How many—?

Not that many, she said. Now to business. You’re worried about your little love down there on Earth, aren’t you?

With that nincompoop on the job, Guardian only knows what will happen to my darling Em.

Now known as Abby.  

Chapter 2

Jeez, you look like hell, Zach said as Abby entered the staffroom the next morning. Her hand automatically flew to her hair. Had she remembered to comb it this morning after her shower? Felt like it. As for the dark circles under her eyes, couldn’t do much about that. She’d tried various products that promised to miraculously hide them, but never succeeded in erasing the damn things and there’d been too many sleepless nights lately. No wonder Zach thought she looked terrible. Still, rude of the young upstart. If she didn’t like him so much—

He reached out and put a hand on her arm. You okay?

Abby nodded, put her lunch bag in the fridge, and straightened her suit jacket. Yeah. Fine. God, she’d become such a liar. Thanks for the concern. You’d look as good as me if you’d been awake most of the night. She grinned to ease the reproach of her words.

Job stress keeping you awake? I thought you liked being the boss. Zach cocked an eyebrow at her. The look on his face made her laugh. He could always make her laugh. A wonderful young family man, Zach was a great role model for the kids. Diffused tense situations in staff meetings, too. When Nancy had been particularly cranky and demanding, Zach had asked, God, Nance, does your husband ever get to be right? Everyone laughed, even Nancy, and she’d been in a good mood for a long time after. Abby had hired Zach after a brief interview, sensing his good nature and innate teaching abilities, and almost daily, she thanked her lucky stars for having found him.

Earth to Abby. Zach waved a hand in front of her face. Job? Like it? Or not?

Sorry. Abby chuckled. I do. Well, maybe not all the time.

What? You don’t like being sworn at by crazy parents? Don’t like death threats? Go figure.

Actually, it’s the sassy teachers who really get—

Moi? Zach held his hands over his heart and raised his eyebrows. But, seriously, you’ve been away a lot lately. That’s not like you. You’re not really sick or something, are you?

No, no. I’m fine. Had a series of dental appointments, that’s all.

Ugh! I hate going to the dentist.

Me too.

And, by now, Abby was guessing that Dr. Kay didn’t much like her either. Acidic saliva? Abby had asked the question hopefully. Dr. Kay shook her head no. She promised Abby she’d consult with colleagues, but told her she held little hope of finding an answer. Abby was sure that Dr. Kay questioned her sanity. And, she was the joke of the office, judging by the darting glances exchanged by the dental assistants and receptionist as they greeted her. Abby huffed. I’m intelligent, highly educated, I hold down a responsible job, and I’m damn good at it. She held her head high and smiled hello as she was ushered to Dr. Kay’s chair.

Zach patted her shoulder. Grateful for his sympathy, Abby said, It’s okay. The visits are done now. I’ll tell her the clickings have stopped. I’ll find a logical explanation for them. I will. I’m smart enough to figure this out on my own. Trav will help.

Root canals? Zach asked. They’re brutal, aren’t they? And take so long.

Yeah, it’s been a long time, she said. How long had it been since the clickings started? A month? Two? No, more than that. Hadn’t they started before the end of the last school year? She didn’t remember exactly when she first became aware of them. Now they were just there. Stupid annoying clickings. Damn aliens didn’t give up easily. Why did she think they were messages anyway? And from aliens, of all the stupid things. Some idiotic romantic notion? Grow up girl. Life isn’t like the movies.

In her office, she opened email first, scrolled down and found one from Trav.

God, Trav, I love you.

Hey girl, got your message. And the drawings. Not sure what to think.

Just be careful. Don’t let your imagination take over. Probably just a satellite malfunction or something.

She hoped Trav was wrong.

I’m planning to be home for Christmas break. We’ll talk then.

Meanwhile – TELL Val. She’ll help.

Tell Val? Not bloody likely. Why not? They’d been friends forever, told each other everything. Val wouldn’t scoff exactly, but, for all that she was a sci-fi fan, she would have a sensible explanation. Abby could hear her friend now. God, Ab, remember that dive we lived in a block from the off ramp? Our old stereo picked up the PA system of that car dealership a couple of streets over. Now your teeth are doing the same thing. What a hoot.

Abby didn’t want a radio signal explanation. But, did she really want the clickings to be coming from aliens? She shivered and her stomach muscles tensed. What’s wrong with me? I have a great job, great friends. What more do I want? The answer to that was easy. She wanted to be like the heroine in a luscious romantic novel—well written, of course. She wanted a life of adventure, excitement, drama—and a wild passionate love affair. Careful what you wish for. Her mother’s words echoed in her head. How often had she heard them as a child? For sure she’d hear them again if her mother knew what she was thinking now, what she was hoping for from the clickings.

Zach poked his head in her office door. Supervision, Boss Lady, and we’re it.

Good. The kids would take her mind off her ... what should she call it? Her dilemma? Her predicament? Her opportunity? To do what? The clickings intrigued her, drew her into a world beyond this one—a world she desperately wanted to know. She had to figure them out. 

She walked the halls, weaving between kids gathered at their lockers, at the benches, and in classroom doorways. Some of the teachers sat at their desks with students clustered around them. Such great people. Abby’s heart swelled with pride. She’d inherited a great crew when she’d first come here and she’d made some wise picks for newcomers. Students came first with her staff and these kids were so needy. Her school was in one of the toughest neighborhoods. Most of her principal friends thought she was nuts not to ask for a transfer, but she’d once told the superintendent that if he sent her to a ritzy school she’d know he was pissed off with her.

It took a while to win the toughest cases over, but she and her staff seldom failed. She shook her head thinking of Ashley who had been one of the truant cases they’d lost. Ashley’s mom had brought her to school one day just before lunch hour. I couldn’t get her up. I finally threw water on her and she bit me. Ashley had gone with friends for lunch and Abby had never seen her again. She shook her head. Can’t win ’em all, but it’s not for lack of trying. She didn’t think she wanted to know what happened to the Ashleys—the ones they lost.

Abby watched a group of little grade seven gaffers swagger in, playing brave when they were scared to death of the transition from elementary school. They left junior high three years later, confident young adults about to relive all their insecurities as they entered high school.

’S up, Ms D? James asked.

Hey, Miss Davies, how’s it going?

Yo, Brad, the weekend?

Amy, did you hear...?

Hey, Miss D, cool outfit. Where do you shop?

She’s my first best friend.

Slut!

Abby shook her head at the last speaker who had the grace to look embarrassed. Foul words were such a big deal to kids their age. She’d long ago learned that low key responses were best. Maybe she could be a teen whisperer she thought; have her own television show. She liked the kids. They liked her. She eavesdropped on more chatter as she made her way back to the office.

Miss D, where’s my hug?

Abby spun and held her arms wide. Leah! You’re here! They hugged fiercely. This waif of a girl who’d held herself ramrod stiff the first time Abby had put an arm around her two years ago, now didn’t let go. I was worried. School started a week ago. I was afraid that you’d moved and I’d never see you again.

Leah shook her head. Her eyes glowed. Ask me where I was.

Where?

The mountains. Dad took us to the mountains. For three whole days.

And, it was awesome?

Awesome! Leah chattered on about her first ever holiday.

How’s your brother? And your sisters? Leah was a triplet. The only one of the four siblings not in a special needs class. She was bright, had a high IQ, but performed poorly. Too busy being mom to the family; the kids lived in a tiny apartment with their mom, saw their dad rarely. Abby had never met him and only saw Leah’s mother when the woman came in with handfuls of change to buy Leah’s bus pass. A couple of the staff had seen her busking downtown. How the family survived was a mystery, but Leah was here and Abby was so glad.

Where did you go this summer? Leah asked.

Come. Abby led her to the world map outside her office door.

Leah studied it briefly and pointed to the new map dots. Belize! Was it cool? 

It was.

Leah! The girl turned to the voice of her friend. Gotta go. She hugged Abby briefly and ran.

Abby followed more slowly. Good morning, Curtis. She sighed at the sight of the poor boy—overweight, horrible acne, computer geek. Blame Trav for that last bit. He’d encouraged Curtis and two other lost souls to research stars and novas and whatever else was out there. Ostracized by the student body, the three spent all their free time in the computer lab. What are you working on now? she asked in passing.

A new game.

Futuristic?

Of course. He grinned. Maybe her interest made his day a little brighter. We’re trying to figure out a code for it.

Her head snapped up. She spun around and stared at his back as he walked away. A code? A code! She had a code for him. Curtis, she called. He didn’t hear and the first bell rang. She’d catch him later. She had to go do the morning announcements.

Chapter 3

Yves stood behind a park bench, hovering over Paul’s shoulder and, once again, fretting. Coupled with the worry, the overpowering aroma of the flowers, usually so pleasant, now made him feel slightly nauseated. He closed his eyes, swallowed the bile in his throat, and let