by Sarah Carter
“She wants to know if she is going to stay blind,” Mason asks.
“No, actually not at all. We just need to stimulate nerve growth. Have her come out of Shima.” Trinity disappears and the stirs in the scanner. “Xander get her to the table and have her lay down.”
He does exactly that. Dr. Galliger opens and closes a few drawers and puts things on a tray. “What are you going to do?” Trinity asks.
“Show you we are an advanced species,” Dr. Galliger replies. He brings the tray over to Trinity. Everyone crowds around them. “I’m going to put drops in your eyes to dilate them. Okay?”
“Like what they do to humans?” Trinity suggests.
“No, this literally opens up the cells of your eyes. It’s hard to explain. Just hold very still while I do all of this. Alright?”
“Will it hurt?” She asks.
Dr. Galliger gently puts his hand on her. “No, it won’t. Just hold still okay? Would you like Xander to hold your hand?”
“Yes, please,” Trinity whispers. Xander takes her hand, as Dr. Galliger goes to the end of the table. Mason comes up on the other side and takes Trinity’s empty hand. “Who?” Trinity asks.
“It’s me,” Mason replies. “Just hold still so that they can help you.”
Reaching over, Dr. Galliger pulls Trinity’s eyelids open a little more and puts some drops in each of them. “Whoa!” She gasps. “I saw light. What was that?”
“Not quite done yet,” Dr. Galliger laughs. “But we are starting.” He takes a metal cylinder and turns on a purple light at the end of it. “I have to shine this in each of your eyes, okay? Try to not move.” Trinity holds still and Dr. Galliger holds the light directly over her eye. He holds in there for a few minutes and then does the other eye. “Okay, now to put more drops in.” He puts a few drops in each eye. “We may have to do this a few times. You have to wear these dark glasses while you are awake. We need to try and keep the light away from your eyes. What this will do is stimulate that nerve to grow to that eye. Once the nerves are there. Then I go through and make sure everything is attached. And then I put a pulse through your eye to jump start it, so to speak.”
“How long will this take?” Trinity asks.
“Roughly two weeks,” Dr. Galliger says. “Depending on how fast the nerve grows and how many times I have to stimulate it. You should be able to see.” He gently puts on a set of dark glasses. “Make sure to keep those on, or if you have to take them off, keep your eyes closed. If you have to take them off for sleeping, make sure it’s a very dim light in the room.”
Xander says, “We got it. I will make sure that happens.”
“Very good,” Dr. Galliger
“Lexi!” Lexi giggles.
“Yes honey?” Damien replies.
“Different Lexi?” She inquires.
Damien looks up at Dr. Galliger. “Any idea on how she’s different?”
“She’s almost fully Kenga, with a hint of Neturu. Lexi can obviously go to Shima but I don’t know if she will every shift. With how little she has of the Neturu make-up, I doubt she will be able to shift. Her body is formed differently than ours. There are some parts that are similar to Neturu, but mostly she is something we’ve never seen before. The energy currents through her brain seem to ebb and flow with each power she uses. The energy is centered around different parts of her brain. I would have to assume that’s where her powers lay.”
“Will she get additional powers?” Claire asks.
“We have no way of knowing,” Dr. Galliger answers. “I wish I could give you a better answer. Actually, I wish we had more answers, but we have no idea how she was created. Mr. Paulson is going through the hard drives. There may be some information there to aid us in understanding her better. All the kids actually. This is so foreign to us.”
“Our number one priority was to save them,” Damien says. “If anything, that is what our goal was. If we can understand them better, than good, but mostly because I want to be prepared if anything were to happen to them. They are safe and we will give them good homes.”
Xander states, “Dr. Galliger told us we would be put into homes for the time being, until we get acclimated.”
“Yes,” Damien replies.
“I said it would be like host families,” Dr. Galliger adds in. “We would get the younger kids into families but the older kids would be treated like the adults that they are.”
“You just don’t know much about the outside world,” Damien says. “We can’t just throw you out there by yourselves.”
“It makes sense,” Aurora says. “I would be scared to be on our own. We’ve been on the run this entire time. That is way different than having money, school, a place to call home. I just want to be able to choose who I’m with. I want Ariel to be with me and obviously Mason.”
Damien nods. “We will take it one step at a time. For now, let’s relax. No more tests for a while. We can see what we came up with, with the tests that were already done. Plus, if we can get anything from the hard drives. Until then, enjoy being with each other without restraints. Help teach the kids that they are free. Claire and I have to take a crash course in how to be parents to a two-year-old.”
“Lexi!” She exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.
“We can help you with that part,” Ariel says. “We took care of a lot of two-year-olds. You won’t be alone.”
“Special!” Lexi yells. She goes running across the room and disappears through a wall.
Claire and Damien look at each other. “Ugh,” Claire grunts.
“She’s not going to listen at all at two,” Ariel says. “I would chase after her.”
“Come on, let’s go,” Damien sighs, heading towards the doorway.
*****
3 weeks later…
“Okay,” Claire says. “What are we going to do today?” She ties Lexi’s shoe lace.
“Meet Grandma and Grandpa Hendrickson. And Uncle Alex and Uncle Ben,” Lexi replies, watching Claire.
“No powers,” Claire states, giving her daughter a look.
Lexi gets big eyes. “Lexi show Lexi special.”
“They know you are special. This is a lot for them. Take it easy. Okay?” Claire says, patting her laces down. “Alright, let’s go.”
She grabs Claire’s hand and jumps down from the bed. They make their way through the ship. Finally, they make it to a meeting room. Lexi smiles and yells, “Grandma. Grandpa!”
Claire’s parents look startled. Her mom puts her hand to her chest. “She is part Kenga.”
“Mostly Kenga,” Claire says, picking her up. “She is a remarkable little girl. A handful. Especially with her powers. She doesn’t get her way and she runs through the ship and I mean through the ship. At least she’s potty trained.”
Her Dad comes around the table. “Hi. You’re so little.”
“Lexi two,” Lexi states. “Grandpa hug?” She stretches out her arms and wiggles her fingers.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Claire’s Dad says.
“Just do it and you’ll understand,” Damien says, coming into the room. “Trust me. My father held her. It’s fine.”
“Grandpa Dake,” Lexi giggles. “He the boss.”
Damien laughs. “He is the boss.”
“Alright, give her to me,” Claire’s Dad says. Claire hands Lexi over. Lexi giggles again and hugs him tightly around the neck. His eyes widen and jaw drops. “That’s incredible. It’s like…it’s like I’ve known her since she was a baby. As if I held her. Hi honey,” he whispers to Lexi.
“Grandpa!” Lexi exclaims.
“Dear, are you sure about this?” Claire’s mom says.
Her husband smiles. “Just hold her. I can’t even describe it.”
Claire’s mom hesitantly comes around the table. Lexi beams at her. Her mom softens a little. “Well, hello Lexi.”
“Grandma,” Lexi replies. “Grandma teach Lexi. Lexi no go to school. Grandma teach Lexi Neturu. Lot to learn, but Lexi know so muc
h. Grandma gives Lexi candy when she do good on test. Mommy no want Lexi to have candy. Grandma no care.”
“Did you tell her?” Claire’s mom asks Claire.
Shaking her head, Claire says, “Nope. She just knows everything about everybody. She probably knows more about you than I do.”
“Grandma no hisoreen. Grandma want to sing.”
Claire laughs, “What?”
“Grandma used to sing,” Lexi states. “She hurt throat. No sing anymore.”
She looks up at her mother. “What is she talking about?”
Her mom’s jaw is down. “When I was seventeen, I sang. I wanted to get into professional singing, but I tore some muscles in my neck screaming at a pep rally.”
“My mom…at a pep rally?” Claire snorts.
“Yes, they fixed my throat but it wasn’t the same anymore. So, I did what I was good at and enjoyed. I became a historian.” Claire’s mom looks at Lexi. “What…how…how would you know that?”
“Lexi see all,” Lexi replies. “Grandma hug?”
Smiling, Claire’s mom goes, “Sure.” Lexi leaps into her arms. Claire’s mom just holds her for a little while. Everyone quietly watches her.
“Mom?” Claire says.
“Shhhh,” she hushes her. “I haven’t gotten to hold a little girl since you were two. Let me enjoy this.”
“Cuddles!” Lexi squeals.
“Yes, cuddles,” Claire’s mom says. “So, now Mommy said no but Grandma wants to see. What can you do besides see the future and past?” Suddenly, every piece of furniture is up in the air. Suspended into place. Her mom spins around. “Oh my gosh.” Then it all drops back to the ground.
Claire looks at her daughter. “Lexi Rose.”
“Sorry Mommy.”
“Rose?” Claire’s mom says.
“It’s Damien’s grandmother’s name. Lexi told us that was her middle name.”
“How beautiful,” she whispers, staring at her granddaughter.
Lexi suddenly looks up Claire with wide eyes. “Mommy go with Daddy.”
“Where are we going?” Claire laughs.
“Lexi stay and see Uncle Ben and Uncle Alex.”
“They should be here any minute,” Claire’s mom says.
Her green eyes turn to Claire. “Mommy go with Daddy. Right now.”
“Where are we going?” Claire asks again.
Suddenly, “Master Damien, you are needed immediately in the weapons room.”
“What’s going on?”
“Mr. Hardrick needs you sir. He would not tell us why.”
“Collector Mommy,” Lexi exclaims. “Collector Mommy!”
Claire looks at her mom. “Can you be with her?”
“We should be fine. I’ve done it twice before,” Claire’s mom laughs.
“No Mommy,” Lexi yells. She wiggles until she’s put down. “NO MOMMY!” She takes off through the wall.
“Lexi!” Claire cries out. Damien and her run out into the hallway. “Lexi!” There is nothing. Frantically, Claire turns to Damien. “She said something about The Collector.”
The overhead speaker says, “Master Damien. Weapons room. Now.”
“You find Lexi,” Damien says. “I’m going to see what’s wrong.”
Mommy go with Daddy!!
“Lexi Rose, where are you?” Claire snaps.
Mommy go with Daddy! Get kids together. Safe. Lexi be okay. Lexi hide. Mommy now! Collector here!
“The Collector…” Claire gasps.
“Is here. I heard her,” Damien replies. “Let’s go find out what’s going on.”
Claire presses under her ear. “Alex, get all the kids together. Every single one of them. With my family. Put them all in the same room. Don’t let anyone in until I get there.”
“Got it,” she hears back.
They quickly make it to the weapons room. Mr. Hardrick is standing there with the members of the red squadron. “What’s going on?” Damien asks.
“Someone was able to access the weapons room. A wide array of weapons is gone. Someone had the codes Master Damien.”
Damien looks at him. “We changed them.”
“There still must be someone on the inside,” Claire states. She walks over the wall.
“What are you doing?” Damien asks.
“I’m the only one who can go after her,” Claire says. “Suit me up.”
He walks up behind her. “Claire, no.”
“We have no idea who is good and who is bad. Have the red squadron secure the kids. Suit me up. I will talk to Lexi.”
Suddenly, the lights start to dim and then all the screens blank. “Sir!” Someone yells over the speakers. “Computer systems are down. Repeat. Computer systems are down!”
“Suit me up damn it,” Claire yells.
“Ummmm,” Mr. Hardrick says, turning around.
Claire starts to strip her clothes off. The red squadron members start to take weapons off the walls. Quickly, pulling on a jumpsuit, Claire turns around to Damien. “What do you have that takes me down?”
“What?”
“She knows Damien. I have to know. What’s the safety measure you have to stop me?”
He looks at her and sighs. “It’s a taser. It will knock you out and keep you out. We know because of your energy signature.”
“You know this will work for sure,” Claire snaps.
“Well, we haven’t tried it but we’re pretty sure it will work. Look at Mason. It proves it’s right,” Damien states.
The red squadron members start attaching weapons all over her body. “Where is this damn taser?”
“Secured in a hidden panel behind you,” Damien says.
Claire waits until everything’s secure before she turns around. “How do I get in there to see if it’s even still there.”
Mr. Hardrick turns around. “I’m the only one with the access code.” He walks to the wall and opens the panel. There is a key pad. Mr. Hardrick punches in eight number. There’s a beep and then the door’s open. The case is empty. Mr. Hardrick jumps back. “That’s impossible. I’m the only one who knows the access code.”
“She had to have figured it out some way,” Claire says. “Alright, I’m taking my sword. I have to behead her. It’s the only way. No capture. Straight kill. She is obviously way too smart to keep captive.”
“Claire,” Damien sighs.
She spins on him so fast. “She is NOT getting near MY DAUGHTER. I will kill her!!!”
“She is my daughter too,” Damien snaps.
“There is no bond like a mother has with her child. I may not have given birth to her. And only known her for a month, but so help me GOD, no one will lay a hand on my baby girl without LOSING IT!”
He puts his hands up. “I give whatever permission you need to do what you need to do.”
“Full control,” Claire replies.
“Full control.”
“Send the red squadron to protect everyone. Go with them,” she states. She turns on red squadron members. “If I find out a single one of you sneezes out of place, I will drain you until you are barely conscious and then I will dismember you while you can still feel it. Got it?” She screams. They all pale and nod. Claire turns to Mr. Hardrick. “We are a team. I will keep my communications open. Keep me up to date.”
“How are you even going to find her?” Damien asks. “All our systems are down.”
Claire turns to him. “I guess I’m going to have to go old school and out think her.”
“You have no idea what her plan is.”
“She wants Lexi. I have to make sure she doesn’t get to her,” Claire declares.
“You don’t know where Lexi is,” he says, throwing his hands up.
She puts a hand to her chest. “I can feel her. I will find her. I need to find her. She can’t see her own future. Now, be quiet.” Claire closes her eyes. “Lexi,” she whispers.
Mommy, Lexi hiding.
“I have to find you. Tell me where you are.”
The Collector! Lexi no go.
“I’m not going to let her get to you,” Claire promises.
Lexi scared. No see where collector is.
“I know. That’s why I need to find you. Where are you?”
Lexi no know.
What do you see?” Claire asks.
“Machines! Loud. Lexi no like loud. Hide here.
“The engine room.”
Engine Mommy!
“I’m going to come to you,” Claire says.
Collector know how to find Lexi. Lexi move now.
“Where are you going to go?”
Meet Mommy in memical room.
“One of the medical rooms?” Claire replies.
Yeah Mommy.
Claire instructs, “Be careful and stay quiet. Don’t let anyone see you. No one. Don’t talk to anyone.”
Okay, Mommy.
“Go, honey.”
Damien grabs Claire as she turns to leave. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t say. I will have Lexi tell you when we meet up.”
He nods. “Alright, find our daughter. I love you. Be careful.”
Mr. Hardrick interjects, “I will communicate if we find anything.”
The head of the red squadron says, “A lot of weapons were taken. Are you sure you don’t want to take some of us?”
“I can only trust the people closest to me. I will just have to put all my training to good use,” Claire states.
“Be careful,” Damien urges.
She kisses him and says, “I will. Bye.” With that Claire turns and leaves. She draws out a gun. Carefully, she makes it through the hallways. She comes around the corner to two guard members. Everyone freezes and stares at each other. One of them reaches for their gun. Claire is faster. She shoots each of them with the disabling dart. “Don’t know if you are a good guy or a bad guy, but you will sleep for a day now.” Claire makes her way to the medical wing. “Lexi, where are you?”
Hiding in cabinet. Mommy coming?
“Yes, Mommy’s coming. Can you see if there are more bad guys?”
Outside room M..1..3..4. Right by Lexi. They no know Lexi here. Lexi no see anymore. Mommy close.
“Stay there and stay quiet. Don’t make any noise,” Claire states, as she starts to creep further down the hallway.