She laughs and I swear if we put her and Kate in a room the guys would split fifty/fifty. “More than you know. But not quite. He needs someone to impress and at the same time, validation for the work he has done.”
Validation in the form of Jessica Rabbit telling him he’s a stud… okay, whatever gets them going but this isn’t what I’m here for.
“You wish to know if you’ve changed anything?”
I try not to snarl. I need to develop telepathic powers so I can constantly ask and answer people’s questions before they have them. “Kate was hurt, badly. It’s my fault, I don’t know if she’ll live.” I hold up my hand, “I don’t want you to tell me that, it isn’t why I’m here.” Now it’s her turn to be surprised.
“You don’t want to know if your friend lives or dies?”
I shake my head. “No. I just want to know if you still can’t see the future. You told me that if I continued on my crusade mankind’s future ended. Well, clearly I continued.” I shrug.
“It isn’t that simple. Last time you were here I told you I’m somewhat omnipotent. I can see possible futures, the most likely outcomes of actions, that sort of thing.” I nod. “That isn’t entirely true. Let me ask you a question. If you boil water at what temperature will you convert it to gas?”
I’m taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. “Uh, that depends on the altitude.”
“But I bet you can tell me what temperature at any altitude, am I correct?”
I nod.
“The future is like that. I can see where it’s going. People make decisions like throwing stones in a river. Sometimes those ripples change the course, sometimes they don’t. After the alien probe hit Seattle I discovered why I couldn’t see past a certain point. Now I can.”
“How?”
“Once it landed on Earth the aliens became the domain of Apollo, exposing them to my power.”
I smile, “This is great. How do we win?”
“I don’t think you can.” She shakes her head with a sad smile.
“No. There has to be a way. A piece of tech, a weapon, what about your new Protector?”
She looks to the waterfall for a moment her eyes glistening with the onset of tears, or did they always look like that?
“It isn’t as simple as me saying, ‘build this or shoot that’. People make their own decisions. Often people make decisions that affect their lives the most when they aren’t even paying attention. I can’t change the future by telling you to shoot something. Only you can change the future by changing you.”
Anger and frustration bubble up inside of me. I’m so sick of vague warnings and cryptic messages. Can’t someone just say, ‘Point a missile at these coordinates and fire.’ “Fine, tell me what to change on who and I will.”
She shakes her head, reaching out to rest a hand on the armor. “You’ve built something magnificent. If you were alive two thousand years ago I think Apollo would have taken you to wed. You’re smart, clever, but just like everyone else, Amelia. You won’t change. You don’t think you need to. No one ever does.” She says the last part with a sigh like this isn’t the first time she’s had this conversation.
Everyone changes, it is the universal constant. I’m 21 I will be an entirely different person by the time I’m 40. I know that.
She shakes her head again, “Change because of time is different than change because of need. Tell me, Amelia. Why did you build your armor?”
“To find my parents,” I answer automatically.
“And if you had never lost your parents…”
“I guess I wouldn’t have built it.”
“Probably, but you would’ve invented other great things. That is just how your mind works. The loss of your parents forced change upon you, but tell me, when is the last time you found yourself insufficient and decided to change?”
I opened my mouth to answer but I can’t think of a time. Surely, there has been some point in my life where I decided I wasn’t good enough at something and changed it? Somehow I don’t think ‘becoming a better chemist’ is what she means.
“I can answer for you, never. Like virtually everyone you think who you are is all you can be. You should be appreciated for that and forgiven your mistakes because you ‘tried your best.’ It doesn’t work that way. A crux is coming, Amelia, one your armor and brilliance cannot solve. One, no superpower in the world can solve. A problem that will only be overcome by you not being you.”
I bite my tongue trying to not to raise my voice, “How the hell am I supposed to not be me? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Not everything has to. Hence why human history is so full of the same tragedies over and over. Only you can change who you are, Amelia. Dig deep and when you think all hope is lost, remember, humans can choose to be different. They just don’t.”
I sigh. “I hate all this destiny crud.”
“Fate’s a fickle bitch.” I look up sharply at her surprising turn of phrase. Her mouth quirks upward and I can’t help but smile.
“Anything else you can tell me?”
She shakes her head, “I fear I’ve told you too much already. Doubt and fear of making a decision are just as bad as making the wrong one.”
“When your new Protector is ready, send him my way.”
Her eyes shine like she is smiling inside, “Amelia, one thing I can tell you. While the fate of mankind is in the balance... there is always hope.”
“Did Apollo teach you that?” I close the faceplate in prep for take-off.
“No. You did.”
17
All the events of the last few days have left me reeling. Mentally and physically. Despite Teddy’s best efforts my ribs still hurt, though he assures me they would hurt much less if I would spend some time in bed.
I stay in the armor for the trip home and go sub-orbital, giving me a nice view of the world as it turns slowly away from me. Instead of zooming down I turn the heat up to max and float in the cold silence of space.
Kate, Luke, the team, aliens, fate of the world… seriously what more could I put on my shoulders? Oh yeah, my parents. I sigh.
One problem at a time. I tap into the nearest satellite and have Epic pull up the feed from Kate’s room. A little more than a day has passed since her injuries and she is looking considerably better. Teddy is still there at her side. As long as he is she’ll heal faster. He’s got to be exhausted. Her vitals though, they’re looking up. The pit of worry filling my stomach lessens somewhat, but only a little.
Epic switches me to the waiting room. Luke is there with his sleeves rolled up and his cowboy hat down over his head as he sleeps. I know he’s worried about her. I forget they were friends long before I came into the picture.
Luke…
Why didn’t I want to leave that day? I know I was tired but the panic that gripped my heart when he pushed me toward the exit was just totally unreasonable. I’ve left my suite before… but now that I think about it only as Arsenal or… or with Kate.
“If not today, then one day I will show up and you will be bound in your chair and on that day you will lose. For I will become you.”
I can hear Ericsson’s voice echo in my memories. It has haunted my dreams on more than one occasion and until this moment I hadn’t realized why I haven’t left my lab without my armor or Kate. What if he’s still here? I look out in the direction I sent him, floating off toward the sun. What if…
What if he managed to make it back somehow? All his identities were burned. He’d have to become someone new. With no telepath school to recruit from, he’d have to go after someone else. Someone like me. Oh god. I shiver all over at just the thought. If he were me… I hate being afraid. Afraid of leaving my own room. But I’d rather stay in my room where I’m perfectly happy than take the chance of him winning.
No. No, I can’t let that happen.
“Epic, open a channel to Luke and plot me a course home.”
Channel open.
“Luke?”
/> He snorts and I see him startle awake on the screen.
“Amelia? Where?”
“I’m in orbit heading back. I… I figured some things out and I need to tell you something. One, I’m really sorry. I panicked and I didn’t know why so I got angry and I took it out on you.”
I can hear the smile in his voice and it warms my heart. I allow myself the illusion that it will be all right. Because I know deep down in my heart we’re about to be over.
“I’m sorry too. You see I had a really big evening planned.” On the monitor he reaches into his pocket and pulls something out, rolling it between his fingers. I can’t quite see what it is.
Amelia, I strongly advise you to have this conversation face-to-face.
I can’t, I have to have it now. I need him to know now. I need to know.
“There was something I didn’t tell you, something that happened with Ericsson.”
“Hon, that jackass is either dead or a million miles away. He can’t hurt you.” I shake my head, I know he means well but I’m just guessing the Van Allen belt will keep him out. I don’t know, I can’t know.
“No, I can’t assume he’s gone. Only that he’s not an immediate threat. I’m sorry Luke, I just can’t. He told me he would find me and one day I would be in my chair and then he would win. He would win because he would be me. Do you understand?”
He shakes his head, taking off his hat and running his free hand through his hair. He drops the object from his hand into his hat.
“Amelia, wow, I can only imagine how terrifying that had to be. I wish you had told me sooner. We don’t have to go out at all. In time you’ll get over this and—”
I desperately don’t want to cry. But I don’t get what I want every time. “No. Not over time. Not ever. Luke, through me he would wield terrible power. I can safeguard everything. I can safeguard my tech, Epic, even you and Kate, but I can’t safeguard my own mind. What if he takes me over and he knows everything I know? Everything I’ve fought for, everything I’ve sacrificed for… it would be for nothing.”
“Amelia, you’re over—”
“Don’t you dare say I’m overreacting,” I snarl.
“No, no, just over thinking. You do that, you know?”
I do, I know I do, but this is endgame level stuff. One mistake and I’m done. “Luke, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything, babe.”
I close my eyes because I know he will say no. “If we go out one day and someone dies next to me, in my arms or on my chair. You have to kill me. You can’t let him win, Luke, you can’t. I will gladly trade my life if it means he loses. Promise me that and I will leave my lab without Kate or my suit, but that is the only way I could ever feel safe.”
I can see him, it isn’t fair that I can see him and he can’t see me. I’m just barely holding back the tears.
“God, Amelia, how can you ask that of me? I love you. What if you’re wrong? What if an accident happens? Not only would you be asking me to kill you… you would be asking me to kill myself. I’d go to jail and… Oh.”
He’s not dumb he just plays one on TV.
“That’s the point then, keep him in jail. Kill you and he becomes me. He couldn’t just transfer to someone else because of my power.” He collapses his face into his hands, dropping the cowboy hat to the floor. I see what he had in his pocket. A velvet box, just large enough for a single ring, bounces out and clatters against the floor.
My heart catches in my throat and I suddenly understand why that date was so important. He was going to ask me to marry him.
“I can’t Amelia,” he says with a thick voice, “Ask me anything but this.”
“It is the only thing I need, Luke, and if you can’t give it to me, I can’t continue. I’m sorry.” I cut the line before the full-on sobs take over. Epic usurps control of the suit and guides us down from orbit.
I am sorry Amelia.
“I still don’t have a way to dry my tears, dammit.” I try to focus on that as we return home, and not the sea of despair experiencing a high tide in my heart.
18
I watch her progress on the monitor. It’s surreal seeing her in a wheelchair. Epic had a camera on her from the moment she woke up. I have to hand it to Teddy, he’s a miracle worker. Kate has pink skin as fresh as if she stepped out of the shower after a microdermabrasion. Her hair is even growing back. Right now she just has a short black scalp cap, but considering three days ago the doctors could see her skull bone… that’s pretty good.
I’m excited to have my friend back. Especially since I’ve spent the last three days making her a present. And it had nothing at all to do with me trying to keep my mind off Luke. I gave the team the week off, they earned it. Currently, I have every satellite we have access to scanning space looking for the next wave, no luck yet. Space is really freaking big.
She’s in the elevator now, making her way down her. Teddy went upstairs to visit his wife. The poor guy, I told him he could visit her every day and he hasn’t seen her in a week. No change of her status, she’s still in a coma. I consulted with a few specialists and they tell me there’s nothing to be done. Traumatic brain injury is tricky, then add in her level of invulnerability they can’t go in and do anything without using a laser and that would do more harm than good. If she’s going to wake up, she’ll have to do it on her own.
You have a message from Monica. Would you like it on screen?
“Sure.” I wheel around to face the elevator, resting my head in my hands.
Mom and Dad say you’re one of the family now. Nothing to be done about it. You’re invited to every Holiday ever and even a few they want to make up just for you. Thank you for giving me my life back.
My throat tightens from the sudden rush of emotion flooding me. I’m glad her parents are happy. Since she got her body back her demeanor has changed too. She’s a lot more cheerful than when we first met. I take a second to wipe my eyes.
The doors open and Kate stands there, empty wheelchair in front of her and a big smile on her face.
“No fair,” I yell.
“Get used to it, Amelia, you’re the only person who gets special treatment around here.” She leaves the chair behind her as she comes in. She’s thinner than I remember, a little haggard, but she’s walking and isn’t wearing any bandages I can see. Even in this state, she’s stunning. Her clothes are a little big, though.
“What’s with heroin chic?”
She glances down and gives me a weak smile. “I’m still recovering. Can I sit?”
I point to the large captain’s chair I have in the corner for when Luke… I wince. She glances at me, one delicate eyebrow going high.
“You’ve got a lot to tell me, I see. Four days in the hospital and everything changes.”
“Not everything. I still have no idea how to beat the bad guys.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“I have something for you!” I roll over to the vault where I keep her present. Inside I pull out two blades, just eighteen inches long, short swords really. They have leather sheathes because she can’t have a naked blade dangling on her back. It was tricky, making a ZPFM small enough to fit in the hilt of these swords, but I did it. Each one is a miniature of mine. Monomolecular edge and near indestructible. The kinetic field emitters in them only increase their weight about tenfold. I made the sheaves of leather but lined the cutting edge with my special metal in small sections so they would stay somewhat flexible.
“Amelia…” she takes them from me, unsheathing them with a few practice swings. “They’re beautiful.”
“You do so well with mine, I figured you needed some of your own. However, my sword is too long for you to carry normally. These you can fasten on your thigh, or back, and draw them when you need them.”
“You do know how to buy a girl bling,” she says, ending with a whistle. “Thank you.”
“You’re going to need them if we go up against any more drones. Now—”
“Amelia. Spill.”
I freeze. It is eerie how she can do that. “Fine,” I mutter. I grab a pair of Cokes from the fridge and hand her one and open the other. She looks like she could use the calories. I take a long pull, a deep breath and I tell her. Everything. From the first argument, to what happened with Pythia, to me… breaking up with him. It all comes out in one giant sentence and when I’m done I can barely breathe.
She shakes her head. “Amelia, there is a place somewhere between never leaving your lab and Luke murdering you. You know that right? You’re a smart girl I’m sure you can figure something out.”
I shake my head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few days it’s that I can’t account for everything. I… I just can’t risk it.” A new tear rolls down my cheek. While I spoke Kate finished off her soda and knelt in front of me, hand on my chin. Her touch always lifted my spirits, she has that affect on everyone.
“Amelia. Luke loves you; he was going to ask you to marry him. Clear your head and go talk to him. Before it really is too late.”
I nod.
“I will, I just… we need to tie up these loose ends and then I will.”
“What loose ends?”
“You remember the chief scientist of Cat-7, Pedric Matahal?” She does a full body shiver just thinking about him. I break contact with her and roll over to my computer, punching a few keys to pull up the video from the day of the attack. I’m glad for the excuse to change the subject.
“Yeah, emotionless, cold. It wasn’t that I couldn’t read him, what I got back was just hate.”
“I’m surprised you could read him at all, considering he’s an alien.”
Kate’s eyes go wide for a moment. “No way.”
I nod, “Yes way. Epic, play the footage from the crowd, start when I first see him.”
After she finishes watching the whole thing she shakes her head, “That doesn’t prove he’s an alien. Just that he knew about the attack. Not enough for us to arrest him, but at least we know.”
“I’m not planning on arresting him.”
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