by C. C. Bolick
“My daughter is now a philosopher.”
“Dad fell apart when you died. All I’m saying is, what’s wrong with a second chance? Doesn’t he deserve it? Don’t you both?”
“Maybe.”
“There’s still time to get him asleep. The world isn’t scheduled to end until tomorrow.”
She smiled. “Yes, I think I’ll take your advice.”
* * * * *
Travis
The thought of spending three hours training with my dad didn’t thrill me, even after I’d spent thirteen years trying to prove he was alive.
“You’ve got to use all of your powers,” he insisted. “Part of training is learning control.”
How could I tell him I didn’t need his training to achieve control? I was ready for the queen’s plan.
Except he still hadn’t told us what this master plan involved. Why was me being there when the star collapsed so important? Every time I mentioned Rena stopping the destruction, he talked as if I was there at her side.
How could I be at her side if she was flying through space? I thought of the bright light that radiated from her form while she stopped the warheads. From Dad’s ship, her body glowed like a mini-star compared to the sun, until the last blast and she absorbed the two warheads. Her light expanded as she absorbed the power. I never told her how terrified that made me. The whole episode felt like years ago when it had been less than two hours. Dad had pointed out which flash of light was Rena and which was her mother.
He chose an empty training room with beige walls and a tiled floor. No chairs, no weapons. Just me and him.
So, I did his quack meditation sessions that he insisted would put me in touch with my power to see the future. Why that mattered I didn’t bother asking.
The only problem was I felt out of practice. I’d lived for years with Rena and didn’t have a second thought about reading anyone’s future. Now I had to read someone’s future on his command. Not only that, I’d also have to burn that person’s skin.
About an hour into the training, he asked me to use power number one—the ability to teleport. It seemed silly to me, but I had no problem with providing his amusement for the day.
I teleported out long enough to grab a bottle of water and guzzle it down. My stomach rumbled. Until that point, I hadn’t realized I’d eaten nothing all day. I checked my watch. 3:05 p.m.
When I teleported back to the room, Tyler leaned against one of the walls, along with Angel and Skip.
Dad remained in his meditation position. “Looks as if we’ll have an audience.”
“We’re here for moral support,” Tyler said.
I laughed. “You’re the last person I’d call for moral support.”
Instead of glaring at me, Tyler laughed. “It’s great to have you back.”
“What happened in that room with Rena?” Angel asked. “I’m hoping you guys worked out your issues.”
“We did some catching up. Years of catching up.”
“Wow,” she said. “Later you’ll have to explain what you mean by years.”
Skip put an arm around her. “There is such a thing as too much information.”
“Nah,” she said with a grin.
“Show us power number two,” Dad said.
I made fists and shoved them together. With a look of surprise, Angel grabbed Skip as the room began to shake.
“That wasn’t what I had in mind.” When the shaking stopped, Dad stood. “I wanted you to use your power to see the future.”
I shook my head. “Using that power means I must also use number four. I don’t want to burn anyone.”
“Two powers for the price of one,” Tyler said. “Who gets to be the guinea pig? I know you’ve probably still got it in for me.”
The door opened and Erin stuck her head inside. “What is going on in here?”
“Just showing off my powers,” I said. “Sorry about the shaking. It wasn’t enough to cause any damage to the base.”
“That felt like a real earthquake,” she said.
Tyler flashed her a smile. “You should know by now he’s a real showoff. Can’t help himself.”
I ran toward him and slapped at his face.
He ducked away from my hand, laughing. “I didn’t say you could try your powers out on me.”
Angel held out a hand. “You can use me as the guinea pig.”
Erin closed the door and approached us. “You’re going to read her future?”
“Try to read her future.” I touched Angel’s outstretched hand for two seconds and a huge red welt appeared. Within a minute, the welt began to fade.
“That’s cool,” Erin said. “Can your healing power be re-created for use in a hospital? The applications would be endless.”
Angel shrugged. “I don’t think there’s a way to copy it, but if you’ve got any ideas, I’m open to trying.”
Tyler inched closer to Erin. Either she didn’t notice him moving her way or no longer cared if he entered her personal space. “Does the fact she heals so quickly scare you?”
She shook her head. “I’ve seen enough since I arrived…” Erin locked her eyes with Tyler’s. “I’m not the same person I was at seventeen.”
“I understand,” he said. “This agency has studied hundreds of special abilities, many more powerful than mine.”
For a long moment, she watched him. “I’m sorry. I never should have—”
Tyler held up his hands. “We don’t have time for water under the bridge, not when it’s enough to drown us both.”
She nodded. “When this is over…”
“We’ll all have a drink.” He frowned as he turned to me. “Well, maybe everyone but Rena. Do you think she’d freak if I took you out for a beer one night?” Tyler glanced around. “She’s not here, is she?”
I shook my head. “I think we’ve made peace on that subject.”
“There’s something different about you…” Tyler started.
“I don’t like where this could be going,” I said.
Skip laughed. “I’ve always wanted to see the two of you fight. Can you go back to hating each other long enough to show us who’d win?”
“I want a piece of that bet,” Angel said.
“You’d put your money on me, right?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
“Sorry, man,” Skip said. “She wouldn’t.”
I put a hand over my chest in mock disappointment and laughed. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed hanging out with Tyler and his brother. Not doing agent duties, but just having fun.
“Want to fight me with the gloves on or off?” I asked.
“You’d keep the gloves on for me?” Tyler wiped a fake tear from his eye. “I thought you didn’t care.”
“That’s not funny,” I said.
He grinned. “Then why are you laughing?”
I swung around to Erin. “Rena told me the nickname you gave me when I was in the coma.”
“Nickname?” Tyler asked with interest.
She nodded. “You really want me to say it out loud?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Since you were in the coma, I called you sleeping beauty. Rena thought it was funny. I asked if she could wake you with a kiss.”
Tyler and Skip burst into laughter.
“That’s hilarious,” Angel said. “And perfect for him.”
“Are you ready for a beating?” I asked Tyler. “Even with the gloves on, I’ll still kick your ass.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Tyler said. “Ever since I went to Golvern, training is all I’ve done. I’ve never been in this kind of shape.” He held up his arms and flexed his muscles.
Before I could respond, he dropped the act and jumped at me, fists flying. I ducked and shoved a fist into his stomach. He shoved an elbow into the back of my neck and then locked me in a choke-hold.
Erin put her hands over her mouth as Tyler brought me to my knees. He laughed at first, but I knew the exact moment he launched i
nto power mode. I’d known him long enough the clues were obvious.
Fast moves without speaking. Super-strength and speed. No show of pain when I punched him. No talking; only a complete control of the situation as all of his brainpower focused on winning the fight.
“Enough,” Dad said. “Save your strength for tomorrow.” Even he couldn’t hide a grin as Tyler released me and I straightened my shirt.
I caught my breath as Tyler became aware of his surroundings. Within seconds, the usual fog faded as he came out of power mode.
“That was fast,” I said. “It used to take you ten minutes sometimes.”
He grinned. “I told you I’ve been working out.” When he noticed the look on Erin’s face, his grin faded.
Tyler had to be thinking the same as me—Erin ran out on him years ago when she saw his power in action. It terrified her and now she would face that old fear again.
Skip rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess you get to see how we really are,” he said to Erin. “I have the same power as my brother. So does Sylvia.”
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” Except her voice sounded anything but okay. “You know what? I’ve got to check on… a meeting.” Before anyone could speak, she ran out of the door.
“That went well,” Angel said.
Tyler sighed. “She seemed like she was having fun. What happened?”
I shrugged. “Maybe she lost her bet on who would win.”
“Do you think she’ll go back to Chicago?” he asked.
“If she does, it’s her problem. You never got over her, did you?”
“Not even close. When she walked into the conference room this morning, I thought someone had kicked me in the ribs. How could Sylvia bring her here?”
“Who knows why Sylvia does anything?” I asked.
“She raised you,” he said. “You understand her better than most of us.”
“Yeah right,” I said.
“Now for the fun part,” Dad said. “You still have two powers to test.”
Tyler shook his hand. “Only one now. It feels like my arm is on fire.”
“Did you see anything?” Dad asked.
“No,” I said. “Didn’t get anything from Angel either. Maybe my power to see the future isn’t working. Why does it matter? If you want to see my powers, we can train more after we save the world.”
Dad narrowed his eyes. “When is the last time you used this power?”
I thought back to the last time I read someone’s future. “It worked on Rena before she left the base and Sylvia put me in the coma.”
“Before that?”
“I think it was Van. I read his future and that’s how I knew Tyler would leave the agency.”
“Let’s start there,” he said. “I don’t think Van will be worried about you burning him.”
* * * * *
We found Van in the op-center. He sat in a corner watching the people rush around the room. Anyone who didn’t know who he was might think Van harmless. More like a snake with two-inch fangs about to strike at any moment.
I’d never liked him and before this was over with, I’d find a way to let him know what I thought of him shooting Rena. Maybe being asked to burn his skin wasn’t such a bad idea.
Dad approached and spoke to Van in a low voice. Van looked my way and nodded. He rose and walked to where I stood with Tyler.
Van held out a hand. “Go ahead.”
I touched his hand and held on for at least two seconds. Like Angel, his skin warped with an ugly red welt.
When I released him, I felt as if the air had been knocked from my lungs. I saw only a few seconds through Van’s eyes. His hands were on a control panel, his eyes on a screen. Before him, a sun like ours.
Then a blinding light. Death. Destruction. The light consumed everything in its path.
Including Van. I tried to yell a warning, right before pain shot through my head and I hit the floor.
* * * * *
I woke up on the floor in the op-center with Rena staring down at me. Rena in Rachelle’s body. Next to her, the queen watched with concern.
“Are you okay?” Rena asked.
“Yeah.” I sat up and rubbed the back of my head. “What happened?”
“You passed out,” Rena said. “What did you see in Van’s future?” When I didn’t respond she asked, “Was it bad?”
Although I couldn’t lie to her, the words wouldn’t come. Instead I nodded.
“So, all of your powers are working?” asked the queen.
I turned to her. “Maybe it’s time we go over your plan. I want to know what Van’s doing at ground zero.”
Rena looked at her. “He’s right. I want to know what happens when I get out there and face the star. What will I do?”
“Same thing you did when you calmed the solar flares,” Dad said from behind me. “You and your mother will use your power to stop the star from collapsing. You’ll push against the burst of power and smooth the rising edge until the energy levels go back to normal.”
“We calmed the sun,” she said. “It wasn’t collapsing. There’s a huge difference.”
“You weren’t as powerful then either,” he said. “This star is one of Golvern’s suns. No different from your task with the flares.”
“How long have they known this sun would collapse?” I asked. ‘With all that technology—”
“Energy readings have fluctuated for years,” the queen said. “Our government knew this day would come, but they also believed there was no way to stop the destruction. They’d never heard of Rena and only your father knew her power existed.”
Even technology a thousand years more advanced couldn’t save them. I gripped Rena’s hand as I looked at Dad. “By the way, Rena, meet my dad. Dad, this is Rena.”
“You want to do introductions now?” She shot my father an uncomfortable look. “I think you’re stalling.”
“Stalling?” The look on her face stopped me from making a joke that wouldn’t have been funny to anyone else.
“I’m still not sure how this is going to work,” Rena said.
“You can’t go into this with doubts,” the queen said. “Everyone you care about could die if you’re not successful. Everyone I care about could die.”
Rena crossed her arms. “You’re not making me feel better. I thought this training would be a confidence boost.”
“You have all the confidence you need.” I pulled her to me. “Be the person I know you are inside. Show them you can do this.”
She watched me with surprise. “How did I get so lucky to find someone to believe in me when I couldn’t believe in myself?”
I shrugged. “You had doubts about us and look what happened.”
“There were days I wished I’d never climbed into your car at the school’s office. If I’d never let you bring me back to the agency…”
“I don’t want to hear any ifs. We were meant to be.”
With a glance at all of the people watching, she asked, “Can an agent get away with saying that?”
“I can if I mean it.”
“Good,” the queen said. “If everyone’s ready, I think it’s time we go over the details of our plan for tomorrow.”
I climbed to my feet and noticed several members of her team had joined the circle of agents who surrounded the desk where she stood. Not two sides anymore. We were coming together as one team.
“Skip?” she asked. “Do you have the graphics ready?”
“Sure do.” He sat at the computer and brought up a screen that showed the layout of a blue planet and the two suns it revolved around, one to each side. Golvern looked exactly how I remembered. The outline of two spaceships approached the sun on the right.
“Our fleet will leave tomorrow morning and return to Golvern. Upon arrival, two ships will approach the sun. Rena and Travis will be on one ship. Rosanna and Noah will be on the other.” She motioned to Skip. “These graphics illustrate the path of destruction I’ve seen.”
As we watched the screen, the sun on the right became brighter than the other before fading and dropped in orders of magnitude. The light had almost disappeared when a white ring formed around the sun and grew until it had engulfed the planet and the other sun. Then it expanded into their gateway. On the other side, the wave of light expanded into our solar system and shot toward Earth. A timescale in the left corner showed only minutes elapsing before the blast wiped out Earth.
She looked at Rena. “Using your power, you’ll stop the sun from collapsing. Like you calmed the solar flares, you will calm the waves of energy and stabilize our sun before it destroys our planet, thus saving Earth.”
“Wow,” Rena said.
The queen turned to me. “Rena’s instincts are good, but she’ll need a little more to work with. You’ll touch her and read her future. The window to communicate what you see will be small unless you understand time can be manipulated.”
When I said nothing, she continued. “You’ll call the shots and Rena will make moves based on what you see in her future. Noah will do the same for Rena’s mother.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Rena said.
I shook my head. “She was joking. This doesn’t sound easy at all.”
“You do your job and see the future. Everyone does their job and we all survive. What’s so hard about that?”
“If I touch Rena, I’ll burn her.”
The queen nodded. “You don’t need to touch her long to use your power. You’ll be brief and when this is over, we’ll heal her skin with the re-generator wand.”
“What if I make the wrong choice?” I asked.
She smiled. “When in doubt, trust yourself.”
* * * * *
What did Rena ask to do immediately after the meeting in the op-center? Eat dinner.
One more reason to love her.
Since I hadn’t eaten all day, I didn’t argue. Neither did Angel nor Skip, who insisted on coming along. Tyler followed, stopping only to check on Erin, who’d managed to compose herself and stood at the back of the room.
“Where are you going?” she asked Rena.