Whisper Independence

By T.J. Patterson

Adora's fierce independence makes her a target for the self-proclaimed Guardians, who are but one group of Humiens--aliens genetically engineered to look like humans. Now able to hide their identities and live among humans on Adora's planet, the Guardians in government are capturing humans as test subjects for their genetic engineering experiments to convert humans into their own breed of citizens. Adora's only protection from the Guardians must come from Zane, whose unnatural magnetism she can't deny, and who, unknown to Adora, is also a Humien. As a member of the Luxurs, whose enemies are the Guardians. Zane must reveal his identity as a Humien and must convince independent Adora to put herself under his protection. Amid her reluctance to believe that she may be living among aliens, Adora resists Zane's protection because it would mean relinquishing her freedom, even in order to save it. Yet Adora struggles between her insatiable quest for knowledge about the history of the Guardians and the strategies they use and her own vulnerability if she fails to keep her independent nature under the radar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.J. Patterson
• Release date: Apr 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310131202

T.J. Patterson

T.J. Patterson is the author of the sci-fi dystopian trilogy, which includes Whisper Independence, Edge of Liberty (Book Two of Whisper Independence), and Embers of Freedom (Book Three of the Whisper Independence Trilogy). These novels combine her interests in philosophy and politics, as well as a passion for home improvement projects.All 3 books in the Whisper Independence trilogy are available for sale at your favorite retailers.Readers can contact me via email at [e-mail] or visit my website at WordPress.Whisper Independence:“....thus truly begins the fantastic story that is, “Whisper Independence;”“Once the mystery is unfurled, the action begins and doesn’t slow down until the very end of the story;”“I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, owing to the wonderful writing, exciting storyline, and realistic characters;”“....took my apprehensions and brought them to light in a mysterious and terrifying manner” (Jennifer Boyce,official OnlineBookClub.org review: Whisper Independence by T.J. Patterson).Edge of Liberty (Book Two of Whisper Independence):“....the author has come up with something out-of-the-box in this series...”“It is a well written, engrossing novel which deserves a 4 out of 4 stars rating.” (Ananya92, official OnlineBookClub.org review: Edge of Liberty by T.J. Patterson).Embers of Freedom (Book Three of the Whisper Independence Trilogy):“....an engrossing plot...”“I loved the depth of the characters.”“....keeps readers enthralled. I recommend this to all science fiction lovers.”“....great read! I have to rate it 4 out of 4 stars.” (Kelebogile Mbangi, official OnlineBookClub.org review: Embers of Freedom by T.J. Patterson).

Book preview

Whisper Independence

By T.J. Patterson

Copyright 2014 T.J. Patterson

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Impressions

Chapter 2 - Apology

Chapter 3 - Agenda

Chapter 4 - Lost

Chapter 5 - Recovery

Chapter 6 - Pretense

Chapter 7 - Journey

Chapter 8 - The Chronology

Chapter 9 - Taken

Chapter 10 - The Patient

Chapter 11 - The Guardians

Chapter 12 - Betrayals

Chapter 13 - Aliens

Chapter 14 - Deliberation

About TJ Patterson

Connect with TJ Patterson

Chapter 1: Impressions

Black wind whirled around Adora and threw cold rain sideways as she teetered two stories high on the ladder. She held onto the ladder with one gloved hand, and she used the back of her other hand to wipe the rain from her eyes. Her foot slipped on one rung, and she gripped the sides of the ladder with both hands before making her next move. She continued her ascent, carefully, as her feet connected with each slippery step until she reached the last one.

Below her, the apartment manager, Mr. Jacobs, pulled his raincoat around his large, round body and shouted through the howling night wind.

Miss Jensen! I said that's way too high! He paced back and forth.

Adora ignored him as she scooped up decayed debris out of the spouting by handfuls and flung it onto the ground, barely missing Mr. Jacobs.

Stubborn, independent girl can never wait for anybody to do anything, he grumbled. But a smile crossed his lips as he went over and held the ladder steady for her.

Finally, Adora made her way down the ladder. Her hair was plastered to her head, and her teeth chattered.

Why can't you let anyone do that kind of work, Miss Jensen? He asked.

Better me up there than you, Mr. Jacobs, she said, as she glanced at his large, aging frame and hunched posture. He would no doubt soon need to start using a cane.

Well, at least I'll clean up the mess you left there on the ground, he said as he nodded towards the piles of rotting leaf debris that were scattered on the pavement. I need to feel as if I'm still of some use. Anyway, you're lucky it's a cooler day, or else we could've had thunder and lightning.

No, you're lucky. I may be 'stubborn and independent,' but I won't be climbing ladders during thunderstorms. She winked at him through wet eyelashes. She had heard what he said about her before. She started walking back towards the entrance door to the apartment building.

Goodnight, Mr. Jacobs, she said.

The weather is supposed to get worse before it gets better. Are you sure you'll be alright in your apartment alone?

I'll be fine.

Okay, then. Goodnight, Miss Jensen, and then he said, You're sure?

I'm used to being alone, she said. Then in a whisper as she kept walking, It's the lonely I don't like sometimes. She scoffed at the irony of her own words.

Adora went back inside to her apartment on the second floor and began to mop up the water that had come in the bathroom window and overflowed onto the floor earlier. Afterwards she sat at her computer desk and resumed her paperwork. The rain subsided sometime well past midnight. Adora's hair had long since dried, and she continued to work through the night.

A most offensive, grating sound buzzed over and over until Adora lifted her eyes from her work at her desk. She then slammed her hand onto her phone alarm to silence it. As often happened, twenty-six-year-old Adora awoke, still wearing the previous day's clothes. She opened the blinds of her apartment window and looked between the slats to the barely sunlit city below. After sitting in the dark all night with only a computer screen for light, her aqua-colored eyes squinted, still too sensitive to the sun yet this morning, as she looked outside. Her tangled, long honey-brown hair swept over one eye as she looked down to the street below.

Adora crossed back over to her desk. A scribbled note on a scratch pad read: Masterson Demo. Today was demolition day at the Masterson's house. Her eyes flicked to the clock on the wall, and in an instant, she bounded towards her bedroom and grabbed the clothing that she had left out the night before. She showered, dressed, and pulled her hair back into a low ponytail in the back so that it would be out of her way while she worked.

Adora drove towards her job site and stopped at her favorite coffeehouse near the university campus and parked next to the building. As she opened the glass door to the coffeehouse, she inhaled the rich, aromatic fragrance of the freshly brewed coffee that always reminded her of a farmer's field just after it was plowed.

Welcome! the female barista said with a smile.

Good morning. Can I get the usual? Adora asked as she smiled back at the barista.

The coffeehouse was designed for all seasons, with a warm, dim yet cozy feel, perfect for relaxing on colder days, including a lounging area with a large fireplace. Also, at the back of the café, there was an outside area with seating in the shade or sun for the warmer seasons. Adora preferred the indoors in the morning, which was the usual time of day for her visits to the coffeehouse before going to work. On those cooler, rainy days, she found herself next to the fireplace, sipping a hot cup of coffee. Maybe she was a creature of habit in some ways. But it was a routine that grounded her, especially when her work kept her busy and productive all day and often into the evenings.

Be careful, I just brewed it and it's very hot, the barista said, as she handed the coffee to Adora.

I sure hope so. Thanks. She took the coffee cup and grabbed a napkin and wrapped it around the cup. She walked across the room and took a seat near the window. She drew out her clipboard and pen and began scribbling notes about the current project for the Mastersons. Her to-do list was becoming quite long, as she added the latest entry reminding herself to pick up the hardware for the cabinets and drawers so that the Mastersons could make a decision.

At once, the chair across from her screeched loudly across the tiled floor, as she looked up and saw her brother Stephen standing there with a wide smile. He was medium of height and build, with light brown hair, cut short for convenience for his job in construction. His brown eyes were the same color as their father's. Stephen was a lot like their father, even down to his rough hands from hard physical work, but also the intelligence required of a former contractor in home renovations. When Stephen and Adora were grown and had established their remodeling business, their parents moved to a warmer climate to retire. Now the two siblings were on their own, and they were turning the business into a success. The two of them had spent years working with their father on numerous home improvement projects, and Adora complemented this training by putting herself through home remodeling and design school.

Maybe it had something to do with not having much of a social life these days, but right now, all Adora wanted to do was work. Create. Design. Produce. She marveled at the sheer joy of walking onto clients' properties and into their homes, telling them how she could envision the space anew, tearing out this wall and reconfiguring that space. Now she and her brother had enough clients to keep them steadily busy on various projects.

Ready to knock down a wall, Addie?

That was his pet name for her, which she tolerated only from him. He sat down on a chair next to her and looked over her shoulder, as if trying to see what she had written.

Sure. Anyway, someone's gotta do it. Of course, you'll have to do the heavy lifting, as usual, she said with a smile. She kept her head down and scribbled more notes on the pad.

Stephen reminded her, as he took a drink of his coffee, The owners are going to be out of town for the week, so let's plan on burning the midnight oil while we can.

Yes, that's the plan. Her eyes never left her writing as she reached her hand out to feel for her coffee cup and then took a drink and put the cup back down.

Stephen stuck his face close to hers, apparently to try to distract her from her writing.

Besides, it's not like you have anything else to do these days. It's been months since you broke up with what's-his-name. You need to get a life. Stephen smirked at Adora, and she looked up at him. If she heard him say that once, she heard it a thousand times.

I don't have time for a boyfriend anyway.

You didn't have time for the last one either, Stephen remarked.

Yeah, well, the last one needed me to need him more. I couldn't breathe, Stephen. That's when the relationship lost its value.

Well, I'm not complaining. One good thing about you not having a boyfriend is that you're available to help with the demos like the one we're doing today. He winked at her.

Right. But after today, you're on your own with that for a while. After we demo, I've gotta get these designs worked out in my head.

Then let's get to it, Stephen headed for the door, with his gloves tucked into his back pocket. He tossed his empty cup into the trash receptacle.

Okay, I'm right behind you, Adora said as she took her last sip of coffee and tossed her cup after his.

They each walked to their vehicles. As she got into her car, she thought to herself, indeed, work was all she had these days. She followed Stephen's truck along the 20-lane highway leading out of the city, and they continued on that stretch of highway for about 15 minutes. It was rush hour, but the plentiful lanes allowed Stephen and Adora to breeze along beside the other motorists. At times, other drivers sped past Adora in the 125-mile-per-hour superspeed lane. Stephen turned off of the highway and onto a 10-lane road leading to the job site, and Adora followed. Within a few minutes they pulled into the driveway of the job site and parked their cars.

Stephen got out of his car and walked behind it. He opened the trunk and pulled out some equipment.

I've got the tool cart and the paint and primer, if you can grab the lighter tools. He tipped his head back towards the trunk of his car where the tools were located.

Got it. I brought more paint samples too, Adora responded. She went behind Stephen's car and pulled out the cases that contained his power tools.

Great, Stephen complained with a sarcastic smile, That's what I said to myself this morning: I need more painting projects. Then my life will be complete.

Adora shot back, You'd better hope we get more renovation projects, so that you can have more painting projects, so that you can pay for all your toys that you men like to have.

Hey, don't hate my toys. A lot of them are tools anyway, Stephen argued.

Adora approved, Yeah, you can definitely keep buying those tools. It's good for our business. She started to put on her gloves and safety glasses.

Naw, you're not single-minded at all, Addie. Is work all you think about?

Only when I think about not having the important things I need or want, she declared.

Come on, Addie. What do you want that you couldn't already have?

Adora thought about it for a moment. It's not that I'm worried about the things I don't have yet. I'll get them as long as I keep working. I guess I just don't want to lose what I do have.

We're living in a world where just about everybody who wants a job has one—I mean, unemployment is so low that they rarely even talk about it on the news. Granted, you and I are certainly making decent enough money with our renovations. Nobody's gonna take anything away from you. Why would they?

I know, I know, and crime is fairly low in most areas, Adora admitted. But it is in man's nature to want to dominate others, you know? True, our citizens are bound to laws that protect our lives, our property, and our freedoms, but are these things vulnerable, when you really think of it? Couldn't any of these things be taken from us?

It was only recently that she started wondering about this. Was she getting too serious with each year? It's not that she really distrusted people as a whole. Perhaps she had been spending too much time alone thinking of such possibilities.

Stephen twisted his mouth to one side as he said, Yeah! Somebody could come in here right now, tie us up, take our tools, or even kill us—hit all three in one fell swoop! Then I wouldn't even get to eat my lunch!

It could happen. It is possible, Adora reasoned. She really didn't think it would happen. But it wasn't long ago that she was certain it would never happen.

Yeah, but it's not probable, Stephen argued. Anyway, when did you start thinking so seriously like that?

Adora had started to question it around the same time she learned that the sun would someday fail to rise.

Adora said, Stephen, the sun rises every day, doesn't it?

I guess so. Sometimes it's cloudy, but I guess the sun still rises. So what?

Well, someday it'll grow dimmer and much larger. I read somewhere that it'll become a red giant. It could eventually consume and destroy any planets nearby, including ours.

Stephen said, Not in my lifetime, I hope!

But that's just it. You count on it. Everyone does. I guess I've just been wondering what else we take for granted.

Lately, she had started to question whether she could lose that other thing she thought was guaranteed. It was just a faint, but recurring, question, and it usually went away almost as fast as it came on.

Like what? Stephen asked.

Well, I don't know. It sneaks up on me at times. She hesitated. "For starters, people believe a lot of things that aren't true. They say they want the truth, but they often deceive others. They say they want freedom, but they sometimes trade it for something else, such as security or relationships.

Stephen said, But not you. You'll be single forever at the rate you're going, telling men that they're smothering you and you need your space. He softly punched Adora's shoulder. It was a mutual decision. I didn't dump him. We broke up because I was too independent, even for him.

Stephen asked, But what does any of this have to do with taking things for granted?

I don't know. I think we deceive ourselves sometimes. I mean, what if we take other things for granted, like our freedom?

This was the first time she ever uttered the question aloud. It had been such a vague concern that it surprised her to hear herself say it to someone. Yet, in those occasional, fleeting moments, it nagged at her: Was it possible that she could lose her fundamental freedom? Surely, not ever. Not here. It was guaranteed for people. Would it rise every day…or not? Then, just like that, the moment--and the question--would pass.

Stephen asked, How'd we get on this topic anyway? He stood up and searched his toolbox and then pulled a measuring tape out of it.

Nevermind. Adora said. Let's get back to work.

Stephen and Adora set themselves to work and only talked for a moment or two during the rest of the day and late into the night. They stopped a few times here and there to grab something to eat, and then went back to work. Late into the night, they each went home to their own apartments to get a few hours of sleep before getting up again and going back to the job site.

***

After several days of working from morning until night at the Masterson's house, Adora decided to sleep in a little this time so that she could be recharged for a full day's work. She didn't set the alarm but awoke only a little later than her usual time, and there was little point in trying to go back to sleep. She grabbed her clothing that she had laid out for the day. The style of clothing that she had chosen served as a reminder to her that today was a shopping day for the project. Instead of rugged work clothes, Adora had selected a casual outfit including a simple, lightweight floral sleeveless dress with a scoop neck, along with a pair of and sandals. Even after showering and shampooing her honey-brown hair and drying it, her hair was wavy with the humidity in the summer air. She clipped it into a partial upsweep, and a few pieces fell free, creating a frame for her face, even better than if she had tried to do it on purpose. On the way to the home improvement store, she stopped by the coffeehouse. By the time she arrived and parked her car, it was pouring. Raindrops pelted her as she dashed in through the glass doors.

Despite the rainy weather, the coffeehouse was bustling, as it always was this time of morning. Patrons were beginning to crowd together in the lines, and they scurried to find seating. It seemed perhaps even a bit more crowded than usual. Probably anyone who worked outdoors was waiting for the rain to pass. Adora remembered that she was a little later than usual and so she had to wait in line for her order this time. Adora looked at the time on her cell phone and chided herself for having arrived a little late today, which was unusual for her. But she could only work day and night for so long before she needed to catch up on her rest. She looked around the coffeehouse and could see people chatting already, catching up with old friends, or maybe making new ones. Once again, here she was alone. Not that she minded, but it was just an observation. It seemed darker inside the café than usual at this time, due to the rain and clouds. Adora saw people shaking off the rain as they entered through the glass doors. She looked down at herself and could see beads of water on her arms and her floral dress and her long hair. She turned around to shake off the raindrops and to check the time on her phone again, but just as she shook and turned, she caught a glimpse of a man who was trying to cut through the line to get to the other side of the room. He had a large cup of coffee in his hand.

It was too late. Adora and the man collided, and, in what seemed to be slow motion, the man tried to contain the scalding hot coffee, but his hand crushed the cup, causing the lid to burst away, spilling hot coffee all over his hand and arm, all the way up to the rolled up sleeves of his shirt.

Adora gasped, Oh, no! Are you alright? Let me get you some ice! I'm so sorry, I…

At first she looked at his hand and arm as they began to turn dark red immediately. She realized that she may have caused him to have severe burns. Then she looked up at him and was suddenly paralyzed. He was glaring at her with the most intense, burning hazel eyes she had ever seen. She wasn't sure if he was angry, disgusted, or in pain--or all of the above--but all she knew was that she was prevented from looking away from him. With her peripheral vision, she could see everyone around them watching for what seemed liked minutes. The staring people were there only feet away from her, but they seemed to fall far into the distance. She wanted to run away, and at the same time she wanted to look again at his hand and arm to see if she could help him get some ice to put on it, but she couldn't look away from his gaze. Had she breathed since she first looked into those embers disguised as eyes? She couldn't comprehend how his eyes could be so bright and blazing in the surroundings of the dimly lit coffeehouse coupled with the darkness of the gloomy, rainy day. Finally, he blinked once and her eyes were released from his. Adora reached for the stranger's hand without thinking and turned it over to inspect what she was sure would be severely burned skin. But the redness had disappeared completely from his hand and arm. Adora put her hand to her face.

Wha--?

In an instant, he leaned down closer to her and spoke in a low, angry voice.

Do you know what you almost… then stopped himself. He looked at her again, and a long lock of his thick, dark hair fell out of place and spilled onto his forehead.

Oh! H-How can I make this right--? I'm so sorry. she said. She glanced down at his hand and arm again, and then she looked back up to his face.

For a moment, he looked puzzled. His eyes softened a bit, It's nothing. His hazel eyes were not blazing now, but they were still staring at her.

Adora could see now that he was younger than he had seemed at first. Or was he? Before, his glaring eyes had been so forceful that it seemed to give him a sense of maturity and command. But, now, he surely couldn't be more than his mid- to late-twenties. Now that he wasn't holding her captive with his powerful eyes, she could also see that he was unrealistically, even illegally good-looking. His appearance broke some kind of laws, whether they were laws set forth by a government, or by nature itself. It was as if every handsome man she had ever seen had been dissected, keeping only the most attractive features, and then reassembled into the one perfect specimen before her. He almost had an inherent right to be arrogant. If she hadn't been so afraid of him, she might have gushed like a silly teenage girl. She wasn't usually the type to go around crushing on handsome guys. Usually, she found that a handsome man was only handsome until he began to speak, demonstrating his ignorance and arrogance. She had never agreed with other women about which man was attractive and which one was not. She had always made up her own mind, and for her, what was attractive wasn't just physical, but it was some fundamental part of the man. It was almost as if it were a direct correlation between a man's looks and how he thought, except that the more she liked his mind, the more attractive he became—not necessarily that he was so attractive naturally. She decided that a man who was as severely handsome as this particular man was must be a colossal jerk, as were so many others only half as pleasing to the eye. That was the defining moment in which