by Jessica Gunn
Captain Marks nodded solemnly. “He’s as confused as the rest of us about why you showed up here to attack the station.”
Mara looked to Josh, her cousin, with disgust masking her features. “I don’t get it. Why would we attack him? Why are we not under the General’s control now?”
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen him,” Eric said, as if it explained everything. “Maybe his control wears off over time.”
“Were you under his control during this takeover attempt?” Captain Marks asked.
Mara shook her head. “No. Not really. But we had to play the part until you guys had a chance to help us.”
“It’s honestly kind of a blur,” Josh said. He sat pin-straight in his chair as though he stood at attention.
“What is?” I asked him.
He met my eyes and it was like that time outside Chelsea’s quarters all over again. “All of it. Before we came with the General’s men, what we were doing—our mission—it was all so clear. And now…”
“Now it’s a blur,” Eric concluded.
Because that made sense. “Like you can’t remember, or it’s a blur because it happened so fast?”
“Can’t remember,” Josh said. He finally shifted, relaxing enough to not look like a statue. “The last thing I remember clearly is rescuing SeaSat5. Chelsea, is she okay?”
My gut twisted. I knew exactly what it was like to watch Chelsea be severely injured on the Bridge. But most of this was his fault, so the feeling was fleeting. “She had a good concussion and a superficial bullet wound. She’s fine.”
Except I didn’t know that for sure. I hadn’t talked to her since she left to see Logan after his brother’s accident. I called and called. She never picked up.
“Good,” he said, despite the frown on his face.
“The point is, this attack and rescuing SeaSat5 are the only things any of us remembers,” Eric said.
Mara, Josh, and Eric exchanged nods, though confusion wracked their features. Silently, they seemed to come to some conclusion.
“It’s like our memory is gone,” Josh continued, his eyes meeting the Captain’s. “I can’t explain it. I don’t even know how it’s possible. It’s like our memories have been altered or deleted.”
“We know the Atlanteans and Lemurians have powers,” Mara said. She squinted her eyes as though thinking through something impossibly complicated. “And we’ve been considering memory loss as the culprit for a few weeks now. Some days everything’s clear and others it’s like the last few months haven’t happened at all.”
“Even worse, my head’s a mess of things I know happened,” Josh said. “And then there’s also things I can’t be sure of. At the back of my head there’s this nagging…”
Eric cleared his throat. “It’s happening a lot. To all of us.”
Captain Marks let that sit for a moment before turning to me like I had all the answers. “What do you think?”
I wanted to shrug, to blow it off, but the seriousness in his eyes held me in place. “I believe them.”
“You do?” Josh asked.
I nodded. “I don’t know how I feel about memory alteration, though. I’ve never heard of that before, at least not within the realm of the Atlantean-Lemurian war.” Then again, I’d never known much about either side’s abilities. Not until Chelsea.
“General Allen was using us,” Mara said. “He screwed with our memories to make us compliant, made us do things—terrible things—we half-remember, and then forced us to follow through with this last mission.”
“Which was fine because we wanted to be in on it, anyway,” Josh said. His fists balled. “I wasn’t going to let that end badly.”
Mara reached over with both of her cuffed wrists and placed her hands on top of Josh’s. “None of us were.”
“What were you hoping to accomplish?” Captain Marks asked. “Why did you think being on the mission would have changed its outcome?”
Eric lifted his wrists. “We were able to keep an eye on the General’s people.”
“Except some could teleport and it wasn’t blue,” Josh added.
Yeah, about that. “We think they’re representatives from the White City,” I said. “Which makes sense given that General Allen is supposedly one of them. Or at least he’s someone who believes in their cause, whatever that cause is.”
“Okay, so there you go,” Josh said. “He’s had this planned for months, setting it up and using us to carry out the mission.”
“Oh, I think he’s been planning it for years,” Captain Marks cut in. “In fact, we’re pretty sure he has.”
The truth rang clear across their faces. Eric was the first to speak, a look of offense crossing his features. “You’ve thought us innocent this whole time?”
“It’s clear you’ve been used, assuming your story is true,” Captain Marks said. “We’re not certain on how much, though.”
“Enough to have our memories screwed with,” said Mara. “All we have to do is prove it to you.”
“Indeed,” said Captain Marks as he stood. “Therein lies the conflict. I want to believe you, I do. But this is war, and in war, I can’t afford to trust the same people who helped attack my station. I can’t take that chance.”
“So, don’t take our word at face value,” Josh said, lifting his eyes to us. “Find a way to prove we’re telling the truth.”
Captain Marks made for the door and I followed suit. “I’m hoping to.”
We stepped outside and he shut the door. I turned to head back into the office on the other side of the glass window, assuming that was where we were going. Captain Marks grabbed my arm. “Wait.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve never heard of the ability to change people’s memories?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “No, never. But Captain, I don’t know as much about powers as you think I do. I never had any, so my parents never taught me. I only know what Chelsea and Dr. Gordon have discovered.”
“Is it possible, though?” he asked.
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” the Captain said, “but I need you to look into this. I need you to ask Valerie if she’s heard anything, too.”
My jaw dropped. Captain Marks hated Valerie for what she’d done. “Sir?”
“Find out what the hell is going on. I’m tired of this station being the bull’s-eye on a massive target. We’ve cleared out as many super soldiers and people with powers as we can. There’s nothing left on board that’s worth anything.”
“Except the station itself.” Or had Captain Marks forgotten SeaSat5 was a Link Piece?
“Exactly,” he said. “Talk to Valerie.”
I nodded, anxious to learn just how many answers Valerie had about all that was playing out. “Okay.”
“Good. Thank you.”
Then he was off, and I was left alone in the hallway.
23
Chelsea
Lexi, while upset we didn’t get the girls’ night out she wanted, departed on good terms. I still couldn’t believe we’d reconciled, but I was willing to ride it out and see where it led. The truth was, we used to be best friends. I’d confided in her like I had no one else. If she was extending an olive branch across all the crap we’d done to each other, the least I could do was reach out and meet her halfway.
Valerie led me down a few blocks to a T stop, checking over her shoulder the entire time. This couldn’t be safe. If she was this paranoid about people seeing us use our powers or about being tracked, taking one of the most traveled public transportation systems in the world wasn’t exactly the smartest idea.
“Are you sure?” I asked as we descended on the broken escalator. The scents of garbage and stale air followed us into a dimly lit station.
Valerie nodded, an arm wrapped around her middle. “Yes. It’s not that far away.”
“Right now, I’m more concerned with you dropping dead.”
&
nbsp; Valerie didn’t even blink. “I have three cracked ribs. I’m fine otherwise. We need to keep moving.”
She went to walk away, but I tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey.”
“What?” she snapped.
“I’m not the enemy, remember?”
She nodded, a soft sigh on her lips, and met my eyes. “I know. They are. Doesn’t change the fact that we need to move, and that I can’t do anything for my injuries until you’re with your parents. They’re not safe in this city, either.”
Another wave of shock rocked me like a tiny boat on the Atlantic. “They’ve been here all along?” If they’ve been this close for my entire life, why not show up and tell me who they were? Had they? Oh, my god. Had they seen Phoenix and Lobster’s shows? Were they proud of me?
Stop. Why did I care so much? They didn’t raise me. They didn’t teach me to talk or walk or how to be a good person. They didn’t take me on family vacations across New England or help me buy my first guitar. They didn’t tell me to keep playing in the band when everyone else in the world said it was a waste of time.
If whoever Valerie was taking me to see were really my parents, they may have given birth to me… but they weren’t my parents. I shouldn’t give a damn what they thought.
“No,” Valerie said, pressing on ahead toward a row of turnstiles. “I brought them to my safe house in the city earlier today. I didn’t expect to see you at all, but you’re easy to find.”
I side-eyed her as I raced ahead and slid my Charlie Card through the turnstile twice, paying for both of us. We continued on toward the train. “How am I easy to find?”
Valerie dug around in her pocket, producing her phone. She pulled up a Phoenix and Lobster fan page—more like stalking page—and a post that read: “Phoenix and Lobster’s lead singer unwinds days after poorly played show.” It’d been posted with a picture of me at the bar.
“Well, it’s from behind so at least there’s that.” I couldn’t believe it. I knew this stuff kept happening now that we were bigger, but damn. I was recognizable, something that did not mesh well with secret military organizations. General Allen had been right on that one.
“Lucky for you only the good guys know what you really are,” Valerie said. “With the one glaring exception, of course.”
Screw General Allen. “I’ll take him out one day, you watch.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” Valerie said as we stepped onto the train and found a spot near the door. “In fact, I’m counting on it. That man can burn in hell.”
The fire in Valerie’s eyes—not literal fire, although I didn’t doubt that was something she could do—scared the crap out of me. She was pissed. About what in particular, I didn’t know.
All I knew was I hadn’t ever seen her that angry.
Fifteen minutes and some amount of subway tracks later, we emerged from underground and approached a three-story brick apartment building squished between two others. Did Valerie live here? Trevor had said she’d been living at the outpost for a while, but she’d called this a safe house.
“Here?” I asked as we marched up the steps.
Valerie nodded and unlocked the door, holding it open for me. The slimy green tile beneath our shoes did nothing to help the creepy old-building vibe going on in this place. The musty-smelling walls were lit with a single hanging row of dim fluorescents.
“Hurry inside,” Valerie said. “I know it doesn’t look like much. It’s not supposed to. We’re going to make this quick—go up, meet and greet, then go somewhere. Anywhere. SeaSatellite5, even. I don’t care and I’m pretty sure your parents won’t either. All I know is that the city isn’t safe for Atlanteans anymore.”
Ironic, because Boston was the only place I’d ever felt safe.
We used the stairs, climbing up several flights and exiting at the top. I turned on my phone and it immediately rang again as Valerie paused outside a door to fish around her pockets for keys. I glanced down and cringed.
“Who is it?” Valerie asked, her eyebrow cocked.
I grimaced. “Trevor. I haven’t exactly been returning his calls.”
“That’s not good,” she said. “What’s going on?”
“We got hijacked again.” It seemed like the easiest thing to say.
Her lips pressed into a hard line. “So I heard. You guys really ought to stay berthed.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m starting to think that’s the best idea.”
She pointed to my phone. “Why aren’t you answering?”
“I’ve had a lot going on. That’s why I’m out here in Boston, not on SeaSat5.” I looked down at the screen. Trevor didn’t deserve my cold shoulder. And now that I’d been dragged back into war-related things anyway, I might as well pick up now. I swiped my finger across the green icon to answer the call. “Hello?”
“Chelsea!” Trevor said as soon as the call connected. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Valerie tapped the door. “We got things to do, girlie.”
I held up a finger. “One second, Valerie.”
“Valerie?” Trevor asked. “I thought you were with Logan.”
“I was,” I told him. “Then I needed a break from the hospital.” Thankfully, Valerie had the grace not to ask about that one. “Valerie found my family, Trevor.”
A long pause filled the phone. “Your parents?”
I nodded although I knew he couldn’t see it. “Yeah. Supposedly, anyway. I’m about to find out for sure.”
“When do you think you’ll be back?” he asked. “Things are a little… crazy here.”
Ice ran through my veins. The way he’d said it, with hesitation and worry lacing every syllable, had me almost not wanting to know at all. “What do you mean?”
“We’re pretty sure we’ve uncovered what happened with the TruGates team,” Trevor said.
I waved Valerie over and put the call on speaker. “You should hear this, since you tipped us off.”
“I needed to tell Valerie anyway,” Trevor said. “They think their memories have been wiped and altered. Repeatedly. We can’t figure out how that’s possible, though. I don’t think anyone actually believes them.”
“But you do?” I asked him. Altered memories. Mind control. Was it actually possible? And if so, when had it all started? What was real and what wasn’t? My thoughts raced, swirling around my head like a tornado, punctuated by the thought of meeting my biological parents. Could they hear this? What would they think?
“I don’t know, Chelsea. My gut says Josh is telling the truth, but…” Trevor trailed off, quiet long enough that I thought the line must have died. Then he said, “How can you even verify something like that? Their story is based entirely on their recollection of having their memories altered.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” I said, confusion pressing down upon my mind. I glanced at Valerie. She had her bottom lip sucked between her teeth, a serious mask on her face. “You know, don’t you?”
She nodded slowly. “I’ve never seen it done first-hand, but yeah. Supposedly Lemurians can change memories. Make new ones. Hide the old.” She took the phone out of my hand. “I don’t think it was us. General Allen hates Lemuria almost as much as he hates Atlantean super soldiers.”
“We were sent to kill Lemurians,” I agreed.
“Some of our powers overlap, though, right?” Valerie asked me. “You and I, we can both teleport. We can both produce the elements our ancestors used to worship.”
“You think if our powers can overlap then they could with the White City?” I asked. “You think the White City can change memories too?” Fantastic. General Allen wins again. “If Lemurians can do it too, do you think you can give them their memories back?”
“Not all Lemurians can,” Valerie said. “It’s like you and the other Atlanteans. Different powers to different people. But someone did teach me, yes. They found out how to alter memories and I learned.” She pointed to the door. “But you meetin
g your parents absolutely needs to come first. How about this: I introduce you to your parents then I’ll head to SeaSatellite5. You follow with them as soon as you can.”
“Sounds like as good a plan as any,” I said. Assuming they really were my parents and they weren’t playing both Valerie and me.
“Hurry, whatever you do,” said Trevor. “It’s like Josh and them know something important but can’t remember. It’s covered up by fake memories. Chelsea, I think they did something big. I can’t figure out what it might have been, but it could be everything.”
I gulped. I’d figured as much when Weyland had shown up. General Allen wouldn’t have suddenly kicked Weyland out on a whim. He must have found something out, made his allegiances known by standing up to the General, and then—wham—attacked and exiled.
“Give me an hour and I’ll be there,” I told him. “Valerie, you leave when you feel it’s right.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“See you soon,” I said, and then hung up the call. I pointed to the door. “Shall we?”
Walking through the door knowing that my biological parents were on the other side nearly tore me apart. On the one hand, these people gave birth to me. They were Atlantean like me. They could answer my questions and teach me things only another Atlantean could teach. I could learn about our heritage and maybe more about the city itself, if anything has been passed down through the generations.
But on the other hand—a very large, glaring other hand—I already had parents. And I already had two Atlanteans to learn from. I knew about the city from myth and lore, and the artifacts and Link Pieces the Atlanteans had left behind.
Years ago, when all of this started, I’d questioned how I could have these Atlantean powers when Sarah and my parents didn’t, but I guess until now I’d never really wanted to know. I still wasn’t sure I did.
Valerie shut and locked the door behind us. We walked down the small hallway into a living room where they sat. A man and a woman. His hair was the same honey blond as mine, and her eyes the same hazel. She had darker skin than me but seemed to be built leaner. I must have gotten my body from her and not my stocky father. Father.