Read Online Harry's Sacrifice by Bianca D'Arc - Free Book Online
Authors: Bianca D'Arc
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in my studies but found them unsubstantiated.”
“What of the test subjects who’ve taken the gene-altering substance you cooked up? What of the Alvians now blessed with emotion? Haven’t their successes made you curious?”
“That study is inconclusive.”
“Oh, I think it’s more that you refuse to see the truth right before your eyes. The data is there. It’s irrefutable, if you know how to interpret it.” He considered her as he walked around the desk, stalking her. “Or perhaps you are unable to comprehend the meaning of your observations. Perhaps it takes emotion to truly understand what you’re looking at here, Mother. Tell me, did you ever think to try the gene-altering therapy yourself? I believe you’d learn more than you ever dared imagine.”
“It is unwise for the researcher to also be the experimental subject. There is the risk that any observations would not be objective.”
“But maybe objectivity is the problem. Maybe you need to be a little more subjective. A little more personally involved. How can you accurately record the impact of renewed emotion when you do not understand emotion at all yourself?”
“A good point I have wrestled with, Hara.” She nodded in acknowledgment of his logic.
He stood before her. “I know.”
Mara’s eyes widened as he knelt before her. “How do you know? Have you been accessing my personal logs? There’s no way—”
“Relax, Mother. I’m psychic, remember? This is one of the things I have foreseen most strongly. You must become one with your experiment before you will truly understand the impact of emotion on the Alvian people and the impact your people—and your experiments—have had on humanity. I wait for the day you can return the love I have for you as my mother.” He silenced her with one finger across her lips when she would have objected. “Yes, I do love you, Mother, though you’ve never given me much reason to do so. Still, it’s some kind of biological imperative that cannot be denied. I love you and I pity you at the same time, because you just don’t know what you’re missing without feeling the things I feel. You will never understand the things you seek to analyze until you embrace the emotions your predecessors denied your race.” Harry sat back, lowering his hand.
“You know this for a fact? You’ve foreseen it?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Harry nodded. “As surely as any vision I’ve ever received, and it only backs up what Uncle Caleb has been seeing for many years. The salvation of the Alvian race rests with humanity, but if you are too blind to see it, both races will fail utterly and all civilization on this planet will die.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.” Harry looped one finger under the collar of her tunic, under her ear, seeking the chain he knew lay just beneath. “Which is why I need this.”
Inch by inch, the silver chain slipped out from under the high collar to finally reveal a glittering, inch-long crystal. It was pointed on both ends, bowing out in the center with fine cuts along its faceted face. Set in precious white metal that gleamed though the piece was centuries old, the glimmering crystal held a brightness that was nearly blinding and altogether mesmerizing.
Refracted light bounced over the walls of the room, brightening it with a happy light. The crystal Hummed as Harry’s fingers brushed it, sounding a delightful, chiming tone. Harry smiled, and he could see even Mara was enchanted by the sound. The crystal had never responded to her that way. Only to him—even as a baby.
“The crystal recognizes me, Mother. It is mine to command. Mine to control. Mine to partner with as we move forward on this new planet. My home planet. Only I can bridge the gap between Alvia and Earth. Even you must realize this.”
Mara unclipped the chain and allowed the pendant to fall into his hands as she stood and put space between them. “I fear it.”
“Fear?” Harry pocketed the
“What of the test subjects who’ve taken the gene-altering substance you cooked up? What of the Alvians now blessed with emotion? Haven’t their successes made you curious?”
“That study is inconclusive.”
“Oh, I think it’s more that you refuse to see the truth right before your eyes. The data is there. It’s irrefutable, if you know how to interpret it.” He considered her as he walked around the desk, stalking her. “Or perhaps you are unable to comprehend the meaning of your observations. Perhaps it takes emotion to truly understand what you’re looking at here, Mother. Tell me, did you ever think to try the gene-altering therapy yourself? I believe you’d learn more than you ever dared imagine.”
“It is unwise for the researcher to also be the experimental subject. There is the risk that any observations would not be objective.”
“But maybe objectivity is the problem. Maybe you need to be a little more subjective. A little more personally involved. How can you accurately record the impact of renewed emotion when you do not understand emotion at all yourself?”
“A good point I have wrestled with, Hara.” She nodded in acknowledgment of his logic.
He stood before her. “I know.”
Mara’s eyes widened as he knelt before her. “How do you know? Have you been accessing my personal logs? There’s no way—”
“Relax, Mother. I’m psychic, remember? This is one of the things I have foreseen most strongly. You must become one with your experiment before you will truly understand the impact of emotion on the Alvian people and the impact your people—and your experiments—have had on humanity. I wait for the day you can return the love I have for you as my mother.” He silenced her with one finger across her lips when she would have objected. “Yes, I do love you, Mother, though you’ve never given me much reason to do so. Still, it’s some kind of biological imperative that cannot be denied. I love you and I pity you at the same time, because you just don’t know what you’re missing without feeling the things I feel. You will never understand the things you seek to analyze until you embrace the emotions your predecessors denied your race.” Harry sat back, lowering his hand.
“You know this for a fact? You’ve foreseen it?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Harry nodded. “As surely as any vision I’ve ever received, and it only backs up what Uncle Caleb has been seeing for many years. The salvation of the Alvian race rests with humanity, but if you are too blind to see it, both races will fail utterly and all civilization on this planet will die.”
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.” Harry looped one finger under the collar of her tunic, under her ear, seeking the chain he knew lay just beneath. “Which is why I need this.”
Inch by inch, the silver chain slipped out from under the high collar to finally reveal a glittering, inch-long crystal. It was pointed on both ends, bowing out in the center with fine cuts along its faceted face. Set in precious white metal that gleamed though the piece was centuries old, the glimmering crystal held a brightness that was nearly blinding and altogether mesmerizing.
Refracted light bounced over the walls of the room, brightening it with a happy light. The crystal Hummed as Harry’s fingers brushed it, sounding a delightful, chiming tone. Harry smiled, and he could see even Mara was enchanted by the sound. The crystal had never responded to her that way. Only to him—even as a baby.
“The crystal recognizes me, Mother. It is mine to command. Mine to control. Mine to partner with as we move forward on this new planet. My home planet. Only I can bridge the gap between Alvia and Earth. Even you must realize this.”
Mara unclipped the chain and allowed the pendant to fall into his hands as she stood and put space between them. “I fear it.”
“Fear?” Harry pocketed the
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