Free Prophecy by Paula Bradley Page A

biologically-engineered complexity and the living entity on Earth is dicit - I, originating on Izorach.” Grinning delightedly at their open-mouthed stares, the geneticist had still more.
    “The other find was microorganisms from bone cells, the DNA code proving them to be from sentient beings. All our records indicate that Anorasians were the only species with space travel sixty-five million years past. Therefore, we are certain Izorach and Earth were both inhabited by Anorasians.”
    The facts were staggering. Sixty-five million years ago, the Min’yel’os had sent a bombardment of meteorites that would annihilate millions in an attempt to destroy not only the planet of Izorach (along with Ashtawr and Noreptal, its sister planets in the Zubeln Star System), but also Earth. All for the sake of a moss-like entity that could regenerate cells.
    Breathing heavily, Sateron said, “Here, follow our conclusions. The Min’yel’os desired to demolish Izorach, the only known natural source of dicit without it seeming to be what it was: the extermination of a planet teeming with life, just to keep control of a cell regenerator. Thus did they need to create rumors of sedition on several planets to justify sending punishment in the form of meteorites, a warning to those who would defy their authority.
    “Previously, Izorachian scientists had need to implant dicit on another planet to see if its capabilities would change. Consequently did they discover that Earth was a planet of similar environment and conducive to growth of the entity. Obviously, they could not have known it was coincidentally slated for destruction.” His chest heaved as if he exerted physically.
    “So they teleported dicit -I to the scientists on Earth. The Eocene dicit’ledoni thrived. And eventually mutated, probably due to a virus.
    “It has nearly the same properties as the dicit - Iprime. Notice, I say ‘nearly.’ We theorized initially its dissimilarities to dicit - H and dicit - Iof no consequence, as you three have shown no uniqueness. However, the teleportation of dicit - E into the human female, Mariah Carpenter, has proven our assumptions incorrect.”
    Sateron stopped speaking, throwing back his head and laughing in that deep bass which made the ground tremble. With the light waning, his skin seemed to darken as his silver eyes gleamed intensely. In the silence, Emmanuel spoke in a voice barely above a whisper. “And is this the whole story?”
    The alien’s smile broadened, his pointed teeth white against his dark skin. His voice was soft, yet still rang clear and strong.
    “To borrow an expression I found on one of your digital media transmissions—not by a long shot.”

Chapter 13
    He had no more finished his cell phone conversation when his door flew open, banging against the wall behind it.
    It was Raphael, his eyes wide, his body tight with fear. Winters didn’t need to ask what was wrong: he was on his feet, pushing the boyfriend back out of the office. The only thing that would cause the man this kind of agitation was Mariah Carpenter.
    Raphael headed toward the kitchen, Winters breathing down his neck. As they entered the room, Winters stepped around Raphael who had come to an abrupt halt, the object of his anxiety standing in the middle of the room.
    Winters walked around the still form. He didn’t know his eyes widened imperceptibly as he stared at Carpenter’s face.
    She appeared to be relaxed; however, she was too still. Her hands dangled at her sides as she stared straight ahead, the pupils of her eyes to some point beyond them. Before making a comment, Winters also noticed that she was barely breathing. No, that wasn’t it: she took oxygen in but didn’t take another breath for sixty seconds.
    “Ms. Carpenter,” he said quietly but firmly. Nothing. No reaction. “Ms. Carpenter.” This time his voice was authoritative, tight and expressionless, the voice she always hated.
    Zilch. No change in her unblinking eyes, the