The Atropi Effect: Maggie Gray Trilogy, #3

By Milissa L. Story

Maggie Gray was the Federation's most deadly assassin until they betrayed her. Now with a threat to human civilization, Maggie must choose between the Federation and twelve rogue aliens from her mother's home planet of Atropia.

There are two types of Guardians in the galaxy, those that guard an ideal, a way of life or some other abstract facet of life, and those that guard individuals; very important individuals who have a destiny to be fulfilled. Jack Wagner is assigned to guard Maggie Gray, a woman who has no use for guardians, is more than capable of taking care of herself, and the one woman who has broken his heart.

Together, they must save Earth from the Atropi Effect.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Milissa L. Story
• Release date: Nov 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393485377

Milissa L. Story

Milissa has worked as a technical writer creating software manuals and instructions. She has published articles on the use of technology in local government and has created course content for the role of planning in local government and its citizens. She even once had a job with a placement agency re-writing people’s resume's. Today she enjoys writing science fiction with interesting and complex characters.

Book preview

For Larry, with love.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank William Heavey at Bold Fox Designs for his wonderful creativity and artistic talents in designing the cover of this book. Thank you to my husband, Larry, for his inspiration and countless hours of consultation and editing.

Although you may spend your life killing, you will not exhaust all your foes. But if you quell your own anger, your real enemy will be slain.  — Nagarjuna

Chapter One

The flags of the world’s nations lining the walls were the only color in the room. The stench of fear permeated the air. The fear was something that Federation President William Bill Calder associated with this place. He could smell it, sense it, even taste it.

Even the harshest dictator had no power here, any attempts to do anything other than blindly obey was met with an iron fist. More than one world leader met with a bad end after offending a member of the council.

The Council General spoke, from the raised dais Mr. President, can you give us a report on the status of the border with the United States of Western America? Have you gained any control of those areas where your citizens are fleeing The Federation? 

Calder cleared his throat and began speaking struggling to keep his voice level. We have almost completed our border fence, which is being patrolled constantly by The Federation Guard.

The Council General sneered and spoke in a tone that sounded as if she were speaking to an insolent child, I see and have you any statistics to offer on the effectiveness of the area where the fence is complete?

He tried to modulate his voice, to appear as anything but humble before the council could get you killed or worse.  Yes, ma’am. The numbers in those areas of citizens defecting have decreased by ninety-five percent.

And the areas were the fence is still under construction? She asked impatiently. Calder could hear the rustling of pages being turned. 

This was the question he had hoped to avoid, he got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach and he stalled by pretending to refer to his notes, even though, he knew the numbers as well as he knew his own birthday. In that area it would appear the numbers have increased. He couldn’t keep his voice from faltering. The fence had only served to push people north to the Montana district.

Have you increased the patrols in that area?

Yes, we have.

The Council General glared at him. Well then, I should think it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

He nodded. Yes, ma’am. He wasn’t as cold hearted as his predecessor and he didn’t like the idea of killing citizens in cold blood. He prepared to retake his seat having provided his official report. But the Council General wasn’t done with him yet.

I also understand that you recently lost two high ranking members of your intelligence department. The tone of her voice would lead a less experienced person to believe she didn’t already have all the details. In actuality, she probably knew more about it than he did. At a high-profile diplomatic function, no less.

Yes, ma’am. Calder nodded. Frankly, someone had done him a favor as both men were pains in the ass. Clancy had been the one that scared him more than he was willing to admit. He had wondered who had been brave enough and clever enough to breach the level of security of the function honoring an off-world guest He was even more impressed that they seemed to have gotten away with it. He wondered for the first time since receiving the news about the fiasco if either of those men had a connection to the Council. Otherwise, why would the Council General even know or care about the deaths? He made a mental note to request the investigation file.

The Council General held his gaze longer than he would have liked. It felt as if she were looking into him and examining his conscience, and his soul.

I hope your Federation Guard is more effective at the border than it was at the museum. She didn’t wait for a response from Calder she blessedly moved on to the next member without any further questions, but the message had been received, they were very aware of everything that happened in the Federation. He was being monitored. It made his skin crawl.

The meeting broke for the evening and Calder didn’t waste any time heading back to his hotel room. His aide, Michael Donavan,  following close behind him, reading him updates and alerts from home.

Michael, I’m not going to work late tonight. I’m tired and I’m going to bed.

Michael didn’t try to hide his surprise, for the three years he had worked for Calder his workday never ended before eleven at night.

But there is something I need you to do.

Yes, Mr. President?

I need you to look into those two deaths at the museum; find out who killed Keeley and Clancy and why. I want the full report.

Yes, Mr. President.

Finally, he was alone. Calder sank down onto his bed. He hoped that today’s meeting was the worst of it. Tomorrow would begin the budget talks and he was already prepared to raise The Federation contribution by ten percent. He ran his hand through his hair. He thought about the fence project and how they were having a difficult time getting the last pieces into place. They had met with surprisingly strong resistance in the Montana district. There was a report, or rather more of a rumor that two Watchers had gone missing in the area. That rattled him almost as much as the Council General. It isn’t easy to take out a Watcher and whoever had managed it was either extremely lucky or the resistance was more sophisticated than he had previously thought. Two intelligence officer’s dead, two Watchers that had disappeared, and the resistance in the Montana district; he hoped he made it through the rest of the council meetings alive.

DNA

What are you doing out here? Jack’s voice snapped Maggie back to the present. She had been sitting in the chill of the morning air with her eyes closed.

Listening to the silence. She glared at him from the corner of her eye.

It’s freezing, you need to come back inside. Jack tried to reason with her.

In a minute.

Maggie, please.

She looked him up and down. He was wearing a skin-tight black t-shirt, that helped accentuate his tanned bare arms.

If you are cold return to the house. You can make a fresh pot of coffee. She dismissed him. Please give me five more minutes.

Jack Wagner, Guardian, scowled down at Maggie Gray, one curly brown lock falling over his left eye. His youthful good looks masking his eight hundred years. Jack knew there was no point in arguing so he left her sitting in the cold under a clear blue sky. 

As a Federation assassin Maggie had spent most of her adult life working and living alone. Suddenly, she had a full time Guardian and a roommate. This new arrangement made it very difficult to find some peace and quiet. Today her only recourse was to sit outside in the freezing January sun.

Dr. Richard Doc Price was waiting for Jack to return, having watched the exchange through the kitchen window.

She coming in? Doc asked Jack.

Give her a few more minutes. Jack rubbed his bare arms.

Cold?

Yeah, I don’t know how she does it.

Well she is better dressed for it than you. A t-shirt and jeans are no match for those temperatures.

Yeah, but still. Jack ran hot water over his hands.

Coffee? Doc offered.

Yeah, that’ll help.

The two men sat down at the kitchen table. Jack and Doc’s friendship was still new and had been awkward at first.  It was however, forged in a shared need to try and protect Maggie. She had managed to make quite a few enemies while employed by The Federation Intelligence Division and her recent assassination of her former boss, Director Gideon Keeley, had likely put her in further danger. The fact that Jack had been there and shot Clancy, her former handler and his former friend to death didn’t help. It was hard to believe that The Federation would let slide the assassination of two of their own. But, so far, no men in dark suits had come knocking at their door looking for either of them.

The door opened and the air stirred bringing a chill into the townhouse.

Ready for fresh coffee? Jack asked standing up to take her cup without waiting for an answer.

Maggie let him refill it while she sat down across from Doc.

Morning. She greeted Doc.

Morning. Doc replied hiding a smile in his coffee cup.

Doc, you need a refill?

No thanks, Jack. I’m fine.

Using their shared telepathic ability Maggie silently spoke to Doc.

"If he doesn’t stop watching me like a hawk, I swear I’m going to kill him."

You can’t. Doc answered.

Why not?

Two reasons, the first, Guardians are notoriously hard to kill. Which makes them so good at their jobs and second, you love him.

"The first, I think I could find a way around and the second I think I could get over."

Maggie, have patience. He loves you and this is hard for him too. Imagine how he feels. Doc tried to reason with her.

And how is that?

Imagine, one day you are a retired Guardian, living your life on your own terms and the next day you are told you have to live in a certain place and protect a particular person, who by the way has no interest in being protected. And if that wasn’t enough this unwilling person is the woman who broke your heart.

"You’re making that last part up." Maggie protested.

I am not.

He told you that? Maggie asked doubtful of Doc’s opinion of the situation.

Not exactly.

What do you mean not exactly?

I peeked. Doc said referring to his ability to read minds in addition to being able to communicate telepathically. Both were a side effect from an illegal genetic experiment he had undergone at the hands of The Federation Military.

Jack scowled at the two of them. Are you two talking silently in front of me again? You know that is rude, right?

We are not. Maggie lied.

Doc cocked an eyebrow at her but didn’t give away their secret.

Well, I think it is my turn to watch the bookstore this morning. Doc stood up and stretched.

Where’s Derek this morning? Maggie asked referring to the college student that worked part time in the bookstore she had acquired along with the townhouse, both the store and the house were a gift from her friend and former landlord Hugo Martinson.

I think he has an exam or something this morning. Doc left Maggie to deal with Jack.

We’ll finish this conversation later.  Maggie silently called after him. All she got was the closing of the front door as a reply.

She looked over at Jack who was leaning causally against the kitchen counter, his muscular arms crossed over is equally muscular chest.

Want breakfast? He asked.

Sure, Maggie sighed, you know I don’t know much about Guardians, but I don’t think it requires that you have to cook for me.

It doesn’t, but I enjoy cooking, so it works out. He replied as he began moving around the kitchen which afforded her the freedom to return to her thoughts while enjoying the view of his backside. 

Maggie sat wondering about what was she supposed to do with the rest of her life? Clearly, she was meant to be tortured by the sins of her past, but did she have to be under house arrest in order to do it? She was bored out of her mind and needed a change of scenery. She was used to traveling and adrenaline rushes, not sitting around the house with two men in some macabre version of ‘This is Your Life’.

DNA

Doc opened the bookstore promptly at nine o’clock. The store had regular customers who enjoyed their morning coffee surrounded by the smell of antique printed books.

In a time when anything you could ever want was available digitally at the press of a button, these old books gave him comfort. And by the number of customers that visited the store, he wasn’t alone. There was a big market for printed books. The older the better and Hugo was quite the collector. His private collection in the townhouse was extraordinary. Doc and Maggie spent hours reading through those tomes; enjoying the feel of the weight, the smell, and the magic of a printed book. Sitting in the library of the townhouse surrounded by the warmth and comfort of those leatherbound books was something he cherished.

Doc was straightening the shelves and tidying up waiting for the first customers. A man entered the store nodded to Doc and began browsing the shelves. Doc retreated to his space behind the counter and busied himself there giving the customer plenty of room to shop.

The customer began speaking telepathically to Doc without first asking permission or introducing himself. "Good morning, I wonder if you can help me find a specific title?"

Doc turned to meet the man’s gaze.

"I’m sorry if I surprised you." The man said apologetically, "I got the sense you were one of us when I came in."

One of who? Doc asked aloud.

You know, telepaths. Haven’t you ever met any others? Now it was the customer’s turn to look surprised.

How can I help you today? Doc asked avoiding his questions and now suspicious of the man.

I am looking for a particular book. The customer answered in kind.

Okay, let me see what I can do. Doc turned to the computer behind the counter.  Do you have the title or the author’s name. 

Yes. The title is The Diary of a Lonely Man.

Doc typed the title into the search bar. Here it is. He walked over to the shelf and removed the book and showed it to the man. Despite its age the spine was still stiff, and the leather only showed a little wear from age rather than repeated use.

Yes, that’s it. I’ll take it.

Doc nodded and returned to the computer to complete the sale.

Thank you. Doc said as he sent the man his electronic receipt.

Thank you, for helping me find it. The man held out his hand to Doc. My name is Perry Singer.

Doc accepted the man’s hand.

Richard. He couldn’t bring himself to give his full name, he was too paranoid to allow himself to be that open with someone he didn’t know.

Richard, do you mind if I speak to you privately?

Doc nodded slowly now that the man was asking for permission to speak with him telepathically.

Thank you, I trust you know Hugo?

I’ve not met him personally; he is a friend of a friend.

And that friend is Maggie Gray, I presume?

Doc had a very bad feeling about this man.

Yes.

Good, then I have a message for her, would you be so kind as to pass it on?

Certainly,

Tell her Hugo says, that they are coming for you. You need to run.

Who is coming for Maggie?

I’m sorry Hugo didn’t tell me. All he said was to get a message to Maggie that ‘they’ are coming for her and she needs to run. He said it would be hard to get close to her and that I should try the bookstore.

Thank you, I will deliver the message.

The man smiled and left.

Doc slumped against the counter. He was shaken by the experience; he was afraid to silently contact Maggie. He tapped the monitor and clicked the button that would connect him to the townhouse.

Maggie’s face appeared.

Hello?

Maggie. His voice was shaky.

Doc what’s wrong you look terrible.

Can you come to the shop?

I’m on my way.

He found he was breathless like he had been running a great distance, as he sat down to wait.

Maggie burst through the back door with Jack on her heels.

What is it? What’s happened? Maggie asked while Jack walked out to the front of the store and looked around.

There was a man, Doc gasped for air He was looking for a book.

Maggie nodded and waited for him to go on.

Jack looked at Doc, worried, I think he is going into shock, maybe we should get him home and let him lay down.

In a minute. Doc held up his hand to prevent Jack from lifting him out of the chair.

He came in and asked telepathically if I was one of ‘them’. He said he could tell I was telepathic and didn’t mean to startle me. Doc looked around wildly. How could he tell?

I don’t know, did you get his name?

Yes, his name was Perry Singer.

Okay, well that is a start, why don’t you go back to the townhouse and lay down. Jack will go with you. I’m going to check the cameras here.

No, there’s more, Doc reached out and touched Maggie’s arm, he was bringing a message from Hugo.

Maggie froze, What was the message?

They are coming for you and you need to run. Doc gasped for more air. 

Jack’s eyes went wide and he stared at Maggie. I think we can guess who he is referring to so come on let’s get you home, Doc.

Doc nodded and stood up. He allowed Jack to guide him out the back door.

Maggie walked out to the front of the store and looked around; there were no other customers at the moment which was odd for this time of the morning. She stepped into the doorway leading out to the sidewalk. She looked up and down the street for anything suspicious then went back inside.

She went into the office to look at the security monitors. She wanted to see what the man looked like. She wanted to know if he looked familiar.

It only took her a minute to find the correct time sequence and downloaded it to her portable comm device.

The man wasn’t anyone she recognized, and he didn’t act suspiciously. He didn’t seem to pay any special attention to the cameras or the computer. It appeared he came in to deliver the message. She wondered if there were any clues in the book he bought and looked to see if there was another copy in the store.

Jack came back an hour later to check on her.

How’s he doing?

Jack shook his head. He’s calmed down a little, but he was pretty shaken up.

Maggie sighed, I don’t blame him. He’s been through a lot.

Any chance it is some kind of prank?

No, Hugo wouldn’t do something like that.

Do you trust Hugo? Do you think the message is valid?

I trust Hugo. She snapped back at him.

Jack held up his hands in defense, I’m just asking, you don’t trust people easily.

There are people I trust. And what about you? Are you naturally trusting? Do you meet a stranger and trust them until they give you a reason not to? Maggie wanted to know.

Jack was silent for a moment. Yeah, I think deep down I am.

Is that a good idea for a guardian?

Jack bristled at the remark. If you remember I didn’t want this gig. He sniped.

Yes, I am aware of that.

I don’t mean I don’t want to guard you; I just don’t trust myself.

Maggie sighed. Jack, what if you weren’t a guardian but we were a couple? Would you still guard me anyway?

Well, yes.

Then how is this ‘gig’ any different? She crossed her arms and stared at him.

Jack blinked at her. I guess it isn’t.

You guess? Do you have feelings for me?

Jack looked slightly uncomfortable for a minute. You know I do.

Then what’s the problem? Maggie asked.

The problem is I don’t know how you feel about me.

Really? Maggie was curious.

Yeah, really. He argued.

Doc, hasn’t been reading my thoughts and telling you all my secrets? She asked smiling at him. 

No, I don’t believe Doc would do that and if he did, why would he tell me? Jack wanted to know.

I know he wouldn’t. Can we talk more about this tonight? Jack was still looking uncomfortable with the conversation.  Yeah, we’ll talk later.

Jack left and went back across the courtyard to the townhouse. He didn’t have telepathic abilities like Doc and Maggie, but he was able to sense when Maggie was in trouble through visions especially, at such a short distance. He didn’t allow her to get any further away from him than the bookstore or The Beacon, a local bar frequented by more aliens than humans and came with two Guardians of its own.

Jack checked on Doc who was still locked away in his room. He returned to the kitchen and started cleaning up the dishes from their interrupted breakfast. He let his mind drift back to darker times in his life. A time when he had failed as a guardian and allowed his protected to be killed. He had refused to guard anyone again until now. He was determined not to repeat his past mistakes and allow harm to come to Maggie.

Jack? Maggie’s voice broke the silence in the house.

Hey, who’s watching the shop? Jack asked meeting her at the door.

No one, I closed early, I wanted to get some things done around here.

Okay, good. Listen, since you’re here I’m going to go down to The Beacon, do you think you’ll be okay for a little while?

I’ll be fine. Go. Maggie said reassuringly.

Doc is in his room meditating or something.

Okay.

Maggie, I know there is probably no point in asking this but please be careful around Doc. I know he wouldn’t do anything to intentionally put you in danger, but if someone stronger than he is has the ability to manipulate his mind, I don’t know if he will be able to stop them.

We don’t know that is even possible. All we know is that a stranger was able to recognize Doc for what he is. Maggie defended. And supposedly had a message from Hugo. While you’re at The Beacon can you ask Alex if she has heard from Hugo lately?

Yes. And remember Doc isn’t a telepath naturally, so how did the other person recognize him? There are too many things we don’t know or understand at the moment. All I ask is that you be careful.

Okay, yes. I’ll be careful.