by S. J. Delos
“Well, you’re taking forever to get this done,” I said. “I should have known with the way you poked and prodded me while I was in the decontamination chamber that you were some kind of scientific sadist.”
“The longer you stand half out of the unit to argue with me, the longer you’re going to be naked. Now, hold still so I can get a good read.” She shook her head. “Getting an image of your insides is tough enough without you bouncing all over the place.”
“Just hurry, okay?”
I stepped back inside the chamber, closed the door, and returned to the platform. The last time I stood on the raised metal dais, it was while getting fitted for a new uniform by Power Brain. Sonya recently made a few adjustments to the device. Now, supposedly, it could actually scan through Enhanced durability.
The lights overhead flared into life. I stood as still as I could manage, arms slightly held away from my body. The hum of the machinery grew louder as the metal ring descended on a trio of thick cables, stopping right above my head.
“Don’t move this time,” Sonya’s voice ordered from the speaker on the wall. “Please.”
I drew in my breath, holding it as the ring lowered down past my head, then my neck and torso with a slowness that was agonizing. The more my mind yelled at my body to remain motionless, the more my body tried to rebel. First, my nose itched like something fierce. Right after that, my chest felt like it was going to sneeze.
My teeth captured my lower lip, biting down as the scanners lowered past my hips to glide down my legs. The moment I heard the clang of metal on metal, signaling the end of the torture, I jumped off the platform and grabbed my robe from the hook just inside the door.
“Well?” I asked Sonya as I tied the belt around my waist. “What’s the verdict?”
She tapped a few buttons on the console before looking up at me. “It’s going to take a little time for the readings to be analyzed by the computer. This isn’t like a Norm popping into a clinic for an MRI, you know. I had to merge about ten different types of wavelengths just to get a look inside.”
“I can’t help the invulnerability, you know. It doesn’t turn on and off.”
She nodded, then went back to looking at the screen for a moment. “Your blood test is showing residual traces of diazepam, or at least something that looks like it.”
“Wait,” I said as I came around the console to stand beside her to view the results myself. It had taken her almost an hour to break through deep enough to extract a few drops of blood. Two durasteel needles gave their lives in the process. “Valium?”
She shook her head, touching the rotating molecular image on the screen. “Not exactly. It’s close, but it doesn’t seem to be something you’d find in a pharmacy. Hell, it looks like it’s got an ethylene component as well.”
I glanced at her. “So my drink was drugged?” I tried to remember if I had taken my eyes off the beverage at any point in the encounter with Martin. Unless the bartender was guilty of slipping me a roofie. Given how terrified she’d been at my reaction at just being handed the drink—I doubted she possessed the mettle for such a conspiracy.
“Maybe. Hopefully, the scans will tell us more.”
“So, until then, are you declaring me fit for duty?”
Sonya nodded. “I don’t see anything wrong with you that would prevent you from patrolling or fighting.”
“Good,” I said with a grin. “Thanks.”
I went back to my quarters to shower and get dressed in something more than a bathrobe. When I emerged from the steam-clouded room, rubbing at my head with a towel, I noticed a piece of paper sitting in the middle of my bed. I threw a quick glance at the door, confirming that the lock was still engaged.
I draped the towel around my shoulders, then picked up the note. Alexis’ large curling letters adorned the center of the page.
I’m sorry for yesterday I hate fighting with you.
Love, A.
I read the short note twice, the second time having to wipe at my eyes afterward. Sighing softly, I put the letter face-down on the nightstand. I dressed quickly so I could find Alexis to do my own apologizing.
The hunt began in the teen’s quarters, continued through the kitchen and dining rooms, then and ended with me standing in the doorway of the entertainment room.
Alexis was curled up in one of the sectional sofa’s corners, a blanket draped over her legs, with a bowl of popcorn perched rather precariously on her lap. Her attention remained fixated on the television’s screen, her arm working like an automaton’s to shovel handful after handful of butter-coated kernels into her mouth.
Whatever she was watching on the screen involved a young girl in a black leather catsuit and red trench coat on a motorcycle chasing a limousine through a city at night. I didn’t recognize the movie, but from the way my friend barely blinked, I assumed it was probably a good one.
I walked over, plopping down on the other end of the sofa. She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes, as a bit of tension flowed into her pose. I wondered if she thought I was going to pick up where I’d left off the previous day.
“Hey, Lexi-chan, can we talk for a moment?”
“Okay.” There was a resigned note in her voice, as if she expected another argument. She picked up the remote, pausing the action on the screen.
“I got your note,” I said. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry, too.”
“You are?” The surprised look on her face bothered me somewhat.
“Yeah. I was out of line yesterday, Alexis. You’re an adult, capable of making adult decisions. You came to me wanting my support. The support of a friend. Instead, I treated you like a child. Like I was better than you.” I ran my fingers through my still-damp hair. “That wasn’t cool of me. So, I’m sorry for saying the things I said and for treating you as something other than my best friend.”
She picked the bowl off her lap, placing it on the side table before she launched herself across the space between us to hug me. I wasn’t prepared for the impromptu affection and flinched when it felt like she’d hit harder than she intended. However, if it hurt her, the teen didn’t show it.
“I’m sorry,” she said into my chest. “I’m sorry I said those horrible things about Harmony. I was just mad. I knew that it would hurt you.”
I hugged her back, careful not to squeeze too tightly. “It’s okay, Alexis. Yesterday was a bad day for both of us. I don’t know what I would do if my best friend never wanted to talk to me again.”
“Not going to happen,” she replied.
I released my hold on her to lean back a bit, looking into her eyes. “I’m not going to pry, but if you want to talk about… uh, last night, I promise to listen and not be all Judgey McJudgey.”
She looked down at her lap. “It’s okay. Nothing happened last night.”
I couldn’t tell if she were sad or relieved. “What do you mean?” I asked.
Alexis sighed. “So, Carl picked me up for our date. He got this funny look on his face when he saw I was pulling a suitcase, so I told him that it was part of a surprise I had for him. We went to dinner and everything was awesome. Like, we were surrounded by other adults.”
I couldn’t help but grin at Alexis’ teenage excitement at presenting herself like a grown-up. I was willing to bet she nearly burst out of her skin during the whole meal.
“Then, while we were having dessert, he gave me my present.” She scooped her hair off her neck and shoulders with her hands, revealing a gorgeous pair of sapphire and white gold earrings.
“Wow,” I said with a whistle. “Those are beautiful. The boy’s got good taste, that’s for sure.”
She nodded. “So we talked for a bit, then I told him I had made after-dinner plans. We get in his car, and I navigate him across town to the hotel. When we pulled up in front, he looked up at the place, then asked me what we were doing there.”
I arched a brow. “Okay, great taste in picking jewelry, horrible at catching a hint.”
> She shrugged. “Anyway, I told him that I didn’t want the evening to end, that there was a special surprise for him. We parked, went inside, and up to the room.”
I felt a bit of a knot form in my stomach, dreading the conclusion to this little tale I feared was coming.
“We got in the room and were, you know, kissing and stuff. Then I phased off my dress and climbed onto the bed, posing and trying to be, you know, alluring.” She frowned, shrugging again. “After a few moments, Carl sat down on the edge of the bed. He told me I was beautiful, told me that he loved me, but he wasn’t ready to be physical yet. He wanted to wait until we were both ready… and a little older.” She sniffled loudly.
I nodded, taking one of her hands into mine. “It sounds like he wanted to make sure you didn’t feel pressured or rushed into anything. There’s nothing wrong with waiting a little longer, Lexi-chan. Until both of you are ready.”
She looked at me, pouting exaggeratedly. “I don’t want to wait any longer, dammit. I’m a woman now, Karen.” She stared into my eyes. “A woman with needs.”
I smirked. “You just became a woman about a day ago. However, if you’re really that… needy, I can take you shopping for an extra birthday present. I think there’s a little boutique off Harris Boulevard that sells devices to scratch that particular itch.” I wiggled my brows at her and made a buzzing noise with my lips.
She slapped at my arm with her hand, giggling. “Oh, you’re so naughty.” Then she sighed, leaning against me. “Are you sure Carl didn’t turn me down because he doesn’t desire me? I know I’m not the most beautiful girl in the world—”
“Alexis, you are very beautiful. Beautiful, smart, funny, and brave. I’m sure it was exactly what Carl said it was. The boy is crazy about you, he’s just being a little reserved, that’s all. Okay?”
“Okay.” She snuggled closer to me. “I’m glad we’re not fighting anymore. I hated it.”
“Me too, girl. Me too.” I kissed the top of her head. At least I could take the problem between us off the long list of crap I was currently dealing with.
Alexis gave me another squeeze before settling back against the sofa, looking at me. There were still some traces of wetness on her rosy cheeks, and in the corners of her eyes, but the huge smile on her face told me that everything between us was better. It might not be exactly where it had been a few days ago, but I had no doubt the bond that we would end up with after this would be even stronger than before.
Wiping at the dampness from my own eyes, I nodded my head at the screen. “Now, I just have to ask… what are you watching?”
She turned back to the television. “Oh. It’s called Dance Along the Edge. It’s about this ex-assassin vampire who’s become a cat burglar.”
I smirked slightly, watching the intensity in my friend grow. “A vampire cat burglar?”
She nodded, glancing at me for just a second before returning her gaze to the frozen image of the black leather-clad teen brandishing a pistol in each hand.
“Yeah. She’s dating this knight who works for the fairy queen, but her ex-boyfriend, the former Archangel of Death, keeps trying to win her back. Of course, she’s only interested in doing her job.”
I frowned, chewing on my lower lip. “Sounds busy and complicated.”
“It’s not, really.” She looked back at me. “I can turn it off if you want to watch something else.”
I shook my head, giving her a tiny smile. “No, it’s fine. I just want to hang out with you. I don’t care what we do. Watching this movie included.” I stood up, walking toward the kitchen. “However, complicated or not, I don’t do cornage without drinkage. You need a refill while I’m at it?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.” She picked up the remote. “I’m going to start this over, okay? You really need to start the story at the beginning or you’ll be lost in who’s who and what’s what.”
I laughed and nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back.” I stepped into the kitchen on the hunt for a beverage.
I grabbed a soda from the fridge and a cup from the cabinet. As I was getting ice, I heard Alexis call out from the adjoining room.
“K, your phone is ringing. It’s your mom.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Can you answer it? Tell her I’m busy. Like, in the bathroom or something?”
“Okay!” She said with a conspiratory glee. “Hey, Mrs. Hashimoto. It’s Alexis.”
Turning back to the task at hand, I ignored the conversation taking place in the other room in favor popping open the can to fill out the glass. I was humming softly to myself, a happy warmness in my chest. Dark clouds might still be circling overhead, but at least there were a few peeks of the sun glimmering through.
“Karen?”
That single word, said from the doorway behind me in a voice that sounded as if it were having to support the weight of a tank, jerked my attention away from the beverage in my hands to the teen standing just inside the room.
She held my phone in both hands out toward me, like she was passing me a fragile piece of art. Her tears had returned, running down her face in steady rivers. However, this time the happy expression that accompanied the last set was nowhere to be seen. Instead, my friend’s face carried a look of shock, from the trembling lower lip to the paleness of her skin.
I looked from her to the phone in her hand, unable to move or react. I didn’t want to reach for the phone being held out to me. I didn’t need to hear the voice on the other side to know it wasn’t my mother who’d called. Or that something was wrong. Just looking at my friend’s face told me everything I needed to know.
As much as I didn’t want to hear what was to be said, I couldn’t stop myself from taking it from her shaking hands with my trembling own.
Swallowing the thick ball of terror lodged in my throat, I put the phone to my ear.
“Yes?” I said in a croaking whisper as my stomach dropped all the way through the building’s floors straight to the lobby.
“Kaori.” My father’s voice was hollow and distant. “You need to come home. Now.”
CHAPTER 17:
A FUNERAL
When people talk about cemeteries, one thing they never mention is the utter silence that descends after the funeral.
It’s like some sort of mystical dampening field forms around the perimeter, preventing the everyday sounds from the world outside—the still-living world—from intruding into the solemn environment. This quiet was so pervasive even sounds from inside were softer as well.
A busy thoroughfare ran just on the other side of the high stone wall less than fifty feet away, yet I couldn’t hear a single vehicle passing by. The groundskeeper five rows over, blowing leaves with the jet-engine backpack, might as well have been doing his job underwater. In Georgia.
The stillness only seemed to exacerbate the numbness of the past three days.
That single sentence from my father sent me rushing out of the kitchen, up to the hangar level, sprinting as if I somehow regained my former super speed. I nearly knocked Richard over as I rounded one corner, taking the steps three at a time.
Fortunately, the roof access was open in anticipation of Sonya taking the completed hovercraft for a test flight. I think she might have said something as I burst into the room. I didn’t slow down to response, immediately going airborne. I shot up at an angle and hurtled toward the clouds, my father’s soft voice echoing in my mind.
Less than five minutes after departing headquarters, I landed on the back patio of my parents’ house. I nearly tore off the door as I rushed inside.
My mother lay in her bed, covers pulled up to her chest. The bandana was gone, revealing the dark purple veins running beneath the surface of the thin skin over her skull. Her eyes were sunken, surrounded underneath with thick circles.
She looked worse than when she was in the hospital, going through chemo. Only this time, the look on my father’s face, as he stood next to his wife, told me the last bits of sand in her hourglass were trickling d
own.
I knelt down beside the bed, placing my hand lightly on her arm.
“Mom?” I said, swallowing the chunk of anguish sticking in my throat. “I’m here, Mother.”
For a second, I thought I was too late. That I wasn’t going to get a response. Then, her eyelids fluttered, slipping open. She turned her head to look at me, and a tiny smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
“Kaori,” she said. Her voice was tiny, weak. If not for the silence in the room around us, I might not have heard her. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked. Already the world before me was unfocused, swimmy from my tears.
“For being here. For being my daughter.”
She slowly pulled her arm free from my hand, placing the back of her hand on my cheek. Her fingers lightly stroked my skin as the smile on her face widened.
“I’m sorry we don’t have more time, Kaori. I horribly wasted so many years, years that we could have enjoyed… could have healed our pain.” She sighed, dropping her hand went back down to the top of the comforter. “I’m so proud of you. I’ve always been so proud, Kaori.”
I picked up her hand, holding it between mine, pressing her fingertips against my lips.
“Mother, don’t. I’m here now. I’m here and I love you. Please don’t leave me.”
She smiled again. “You’ve always been so strong. Since you were little. Now, you’re going to have to be stronger.”
Her eyes fluttered closed as I sat there weeping and sobbing and holding her hand. My father remained standing just behind me saying nothing.
I don’t know how long I stayed there beside her bed. Time lost all sense of meaning as I held her hand, rolling through the flood of memories that surged across my thoughts.
There were the good times, like the mother/daughter camping adventure that ended with both of us covered in poison ivy, but winning the trophy for catching the biggest fish.