THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

guys want to get rid of you and have all of earth for themselves?”
    Jaxxson nodded. “Currently they control the ten cities, but that’s not enough for them.”
    “Your whole world is limited to only ten cities?”
    “Yes. Our records indicate that once there were many more, but now…” He shrugged and glanced away.
    “What happened?”
    “The K’ryan Syndrome wiped out populated areas around the world, including North America, leaving small groups of people in isolated areas. As the survivors joined up, they made their way to ten cities that were still physically intact and capable of sustaining a sizable population.”
    Unfreakingbelievable. Gabby couldn’t form a thought, but Jaxxson didn’t seem to notice and kept talking.
    “The great TecKnati minds came from those sequestered in isolated research areas and labs. Powerful MystiKs developed from those who had chosen a more simplistic way of life, living in areas away from any civilization. Each of the cities in the new world is encircled by an energy field that is controlled by the TecKnatis, as is all travel between cities.”
    “Why do you need an energy field?”
    “For protection. The virus didn’t kill everyone. One particular group became rabid and, even though they were destroyed, there is fear that other infected humans might come to the cities. I admit the energy field keeps us safe, but there is a price to pay for giving TecKnati that power over us.”
    “So that’s what’s going on in the future.” She didn’t want to tell him his world sounded like it sucked, big time, but she had another burning question. “How did we end up here? In this Sphere place?” she wondered aloud.
    “Wait a moment.” Jaxxson walked away and lifted a stump that had been cut from the middle of a tree trunk and brought it over to place next to her.
    Gabby enjoyed the rare opportunity of admiring a male up close while he was unaware that she checked him out. Jaxxson’s lean body flexed with hidden strength. She’d never spent time with someone who looked like him.
    Get real . She’d never spent time up close with any guys.
    He sat down, now on eye level with her, which she appreciated. He admitted, “I don’t understand how or why the three of you arrived...if you are not TecKnati.”
    “There’s not much else I can say other than we’re not. At some point, you have to decide to believe me or not.”  She hoped he took that in the spirit it was offered.
    He nodded. “Until I see differently, I accept that you were not sent by SEOH. As for your being here, I can only think that the TecKnati made some error to bring someone into this Sphere from the past. V’ru says there is evidence of TeK time-travel research, but every confirmed report indicates that as yet they can only send a person into the past, not bring one forward.”
    She was so going to blow Tony’s mind when she told him all this. If she told him. “You said the TecKnati never send someone like you back. What did you mean?”
    “TecKnati would never send a MystiK into the past and risk MystiKs alerting the world to the strategies of TecKnati in the future, otherwise MystiKs would become even more powerful over time. A bigger threat to TeKs. TeKs send only their own kind into the past.”
    “Time travel,” she whispered, marveling at what was going on in the future one minute and still in shock the next.
    “But we’ve no report of this being successful so they may have killed everyone they experimented on. They don’t value life as we do so we think they are only sending those they consider disposable on missions to the past.”  
    “How would they know if they were successful?”
    “I don’t know for sure. Our reports confirm that the TecKnati have not found a way to communicate with someone once that person enters their time travel portal. And since the TecKnati are very good about shouting their accomplishments to all the cities, I trust we would’ve heard if they’d succeeded in teleporting to the past and returning. At least, that’s our most recent news.”
    “How would you know in this place?”
    “MystiK children are dropped here fairly regularly. The older ones arriving bring reports from home.”
    “Wow, this is over-the-top crazy,” she murmured. “And people think I’m a freak.”
    “Why?” 
    She gave him her best duh look. “Because I hear thoughts. Where I come from that brands you as strange, a sideshow act, to be avoided at all