“Okay,” Whatever … I just want this old bat off the phone!
“Smooches!” Nadia hung up.
Heather smashed her phone together and all her attention focused on Brandon. Everything in her world popped into place. Her stomach stopped lurching, and the images subsided.
Finally, she could focus on her one true love.
Chapter 29
“Once a GEP has found his or her purpose, CAGE had better watch out!”
—Dorothy Kates-Patterson, Revolutionary Conference
XJ moped around after Brandon left. She actually missed him. She picked up items around the house and then slumped onto the couch.
She began to twirl the ring around her finger. Thank God that Brandon had completely rerouted all of CAGE’s internal cameras into a continuous loop. They wouldn’t be snooping around her anymore.
XJ had accepted that her situation was unusual, but she wasn’t ready to call herself a revolutionary. Once she’d saved her mom she would simply put all of this behind her.
Suddenly something deep inside her, compelled her to get up and walk over to the lab’s entrance. The door swooshed open.
Are those voices?
She marched into the heart of her Granddad’s lab.
“Granddad … who’s here?”
XJ froze and then her smile grew. “Dad, I’ve missed you!” She ran over to her father and hugged him deep. He did come to take care of everything!
White dust swirled about the room.
“Hi, honey! I’m so glad to see you!” Xavier rubbed her hair back into place.
“Do you know what happened to Mom?”
“I do—I do. Gary and I were just discussing it.” XJ could see her dad’s distaste for her grandfather.
Her father’s form shimmered. Was he holographic, too?
“Dad, what’s going on?” She moved closer to him. He’d hugged her so he had to be real.
“It’s my teleportation ability. I can’t seem to hold it when my physical body is so far away. I’m still in South America.” She could tell that the words hurt him.
“Oh….” XJ’s face dropped. “So I’m alone after all.”
Her father’s form shimmered again, as he rubbed her chin. “I love you. I’ll try to make it back to you as soon as I can.”
XJ tried not to cry, but the tears spilled over and ran down her face. “How am I supposed to take care of all this! I’m just a kid!”
“I know, honey … I know. Your grandfather and I have talked about this. I—I want you safe and away from here, but he wants you to fight.” Xavier’s voice cracked. She could tell he was concerned and mad at the same time.
Dr. Kates cleared his throat. “She comes from a long line of leaders. She’s got to pick up the fight, Xavier! You know as well as I do that—!”
“She’s a child, Gary! She’s a baby. My baby.” Xavier grabbed XJ and hugged her closer, but his body began to shake.
“Dorothy won’t survive if she doesn’t try!” Her grandfather sounded sure.
Her father began to shake harder and to sweat. He pulled back and forced his eyes to meet his daughter’s. He was a full foot taller than her.
“XJ, I can set something up so you can be with me in South….” Her dad’s legs crumbled and he screamed.
“Dad!” XJ yelled. “Dad, how can I help? Granddad do something!”
Gary looked sad. “You’re the only one who can help your parents, doll. He needs Dorothy’s ability to keep him together.”
Xavier’s long form shook and convulsed. XJ fell to her knees, and put his head in her lap. “What are you talking about? They haven’t been together in years!”
Her dad smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I just can’t hold my form on this side. I’ll come back. I promise….”
He disappeared. “Dad, dad! Where are you?” XJ screamed at the top of her lungs until they burned. She slumped down.
“Are you telling me that now I have to save both of my parents?” XJ shouted looking horrified.
“It would appear so.” Gary sounded sad. “But you must save your mother, first.”
“Look, Granddad, I’m not like Mom! I don’t enjoy being a revolutionary! I don’t want to be like her. I’m not interested in this for the long term.”
She could see his face measuring her. “Doll, this isn’t a path one likes. Your mother and I chose this because it’s what we had to do.”
“I—I know. It’s just that Mom gets off on this. I can’t be like that. I just want to be a normal girl. You know?”
“I know. I know.” She could feel true emotions coming from a holographic image. How freaky is this?
She continued. “You were right. I can’t save my mom using conventional methods. They just don’t work. What’s worse, I was tortured.”
“Oh, XJ! I wish I could’ve taken this on for you! I wish I wasn’t holographic.” He seemed earnest, sincere.
“Well, what do I have to do? Mom’s out there alone. CAGE is probably torturing her. I’ve got to do something to stop them from swiping her mind or killing her. How can I do this alone?”
Her Grandfather turned toward his wall of computers, and began working from the inside. The keys tapped like a piano that played alone.
“I’ve figured out a little more about your two cousins. But some of my memory is degraded. So there’s a lot that I still don’t know—like names—but I do have DNA signatures.”
“You’re saying Mom has other siblings out there, and you don’t remember them?”
Dr. Kates hesitated and then nodded. “Exactly. I’m not sure why that is either. Dorothy probably knows or knew. But in order to protect us all, I believe I gave everyone a very specific mind swipe. You probably would’ve remembered your cousins, if I hadn’t have done that.”
XJ sat back. This piece of information slammed her in the gut. “So you mean to tell me that I had memories that were swiped away—of a real family, and cousins that could’ve been like sisters to me!”
Gary sighed. “Yes, it would appear so. I can only say I did it for everyone’s protection. But now it’s a huge inconvenience.”
“No kidding!” XJ leaped from the floor, and began to pace. She wanted to smash something. That wouldn’t help. “So tell me what you do have.”
“Well, it appears I had images of all of you as children; as well as DNA samples.”
“Had?”
He cleared his throat. “Well, I still have the clear DNA patterns but not the names and images. I have a name, Ector Rodriguez, or the Bibliotecario.”
“What kinda name is that? The Biblio-te-cario?”
“He’s the leader of a human information repository hive,” Gary shot back quickly.
“What? So this dude is some sort of GEP librarian and has all of our information stored inside his hive?”
“I believe so.” he continued. “It looks like your mother found his location, and set-up a time to extract the information brain-to-brain before her abduction.”
“How am I going to convince this Biblio-dude, err, hive to give me the information now that mom is gone?”
“Well, he wasn’t actually giving them to her, but to her alter identity, Joanne Chesimard, the social worker.”
“This just keeps getting better and better!” XJ slapped a table. “My mom had a secret identity?”
“Yes.” Her grandfather’s holographic image looked concerned. “But I don’t know all the particulars.”
“Hold on a sec.” XJ tore out of her grandfather’s lab and into the house.
She remembered some of her mother’s papers that had some dates and times. She almost fell apart inside her mom’s room. It was so hard for her to keep it together. She found what she was looking for and bolted back to her grandfather. The lab doors slammed shut.
She spread out an agenda, paperwork, and sticky notes on the nearby table “I came across these when I was looking for something that might free mom.”
“Indeed.” Her grandfather
touched his holographic forehead.
“I thought they were worthless, but now I’m thinking that these were actual dates that she made with this info Biblio-teca dude.” XJ sat on the couch, and stretched her arms over her head.
Her grandfather studied the paper trail. “Yes. This looks like the appointment here. It’s for tomorrow morning.”
Her grandfather rubbed his beard while he studied. “I believe you’re right, doll. Your mom was on her way to figuring out about your cousins before she was caught.”
“What should I do granddad? Should I go?” XJ wished he were real and could do this for her.
“I can’t answer that for you XJ,” his face looked grave. “That’s something you’ve got to decide for yourself. But if you don’t find your cousins and reconnect with them, I can’t see how you’ll free your mom.”
Was she ready to follow in her mother’s revolutionary footsteps? Could she do this? She wanted to cry, to scream—to moan. This impossible situation called for an insufferable solution. It called for her to give up her idea of being normal. And become something that she despised.
“I’ll have to do this granddad. Will you help me?” XJ’s voice sounded insecure.
“I will, doll. I will.”
The tears flowed slow at first and then picked up momentum. She wanted to be like other GEP teens, oblivious and living their lives. Instead she was stuck trying to stop CAGE from harming her mother, and taking over the world.
Her grandfather tried to soothe her as best as he could. But ultimately, she had to pull herself together. She needed a plan but what?
“Tell me about the Bibliotecario, and my mom’s alter ego Joanne Chesimard.”
Chapter 30
“It’s hard to be somebody else.”
—XJ Patterson
XJ needed Brandon’s help to find out more about the Bibliotecario. Gary knew the function of a GEP with the information repository ability. But the particulars were missing.
She needed Brandon to hack into CAGE’s files to find out any strengths or weaknesses that she could exploit. She texted him. Dude, I thought you wanted in on this story? He didn’t answer.
She was worried. Did CAGE have him in custody? Her heart beat faster. I have to put this behind me. One of Mom’s first rules was to assume the worst and go on with the mission regardless.
XJ pushed her worry aside and focused on the information that she did have: Joanne Chesimard. “OK, granddad. Now, how are you going to turn me into Joanne Chesimard?” She squirmed.
“Well, doll, it’s a simple process of manipulating your DNA in order to simulate the facial structure of Joanne Chesimard. I helped your mother create a completely, different persona. So no one would suspect her for snooping.”
“Sick, but cool!” XJ sat back in the chair. “Will this hurt?”
“You will feel some uneasiness … I’ve had to make some adjustments since you obviously are missing some, well, fully mature female parts.” Gary chuckled and cleared his throat.
“Granddad, are you laughing at me?” XJ laughed with him.
“Just making some observations.” He studied his computer screen while his keyboard continued to type. After a few minutes, he went to a receptacle door and motioned to XJ to open it.
“Now, take out the hyperspray, and release the contents into your system. But I need you to lay down on the gurney, so I can use my metal hands, if needed.”
XJ got everything and hopped up on the lab table. “How long with this last?”
“Slow down, doll. You have a million questions. You’re going to feel a lot going on … it shouldn’t really hurt; just feel a little uncomfortable. But once you’re done, the effects will last about two hours. This is just a trial run.”
She relaxed and let the hyperspray release. The metal arms clicked. At first she didn’t feel anything. Then, suddenly her breasts became sore and her behind swelled. She started having hot sweats and then she felt cold.
What was that? “Granddad are you sure this is okay? I feel hot and cold at the same time.”
“It’s the hormones. We’re adding things that a forty year old woman would have, and hot flashes are treacherous.”
“I don’t like this!” XJ’s body bowed and she shrieked. “My butt feels like oozing jelly!”
Her body’s molecular structure broke down as XJ convulsed and shook. Her body filled with water and things … began to push out. With a spinning head, she let out another squeal, as the hot flashes took her under.
Is this what mom felt? She never wanted to experience this again.
Her body stopped convulsing. Her head felt like someone had pimp punched her.
“Beautiful, beautiful!” Her grandfather sounded like a mad scientist. “Go look in the mirror.”
The metal hands released and she rolled off the table onto unfamiliar legs. Her body felt weird. She found her image.
“Ah!” She yelled and shrieked, “Who is that?”
“Well, it’s a much fatter version of your mother, with a few additional DNA enhancements. Since you and your mom have similar DNA structure, you can easily look like this version of her someday.”
XJ twisted her body around in front of the mirror. “I look like one of my fat teachers at school! What’s with this big butt?”
“We had to pick someone opposite of your mom physically so we just let nature free.”
“You mean mom had to deal with this, and go back to herself?”
“Yup.”
“God … she deserved a medal for enduring. Anything to be a revolutionary.” XJ continued to study her face in the mirror. “What next?”
“Now, we need to test out your disguise. You need to take a short trip.” Gary wrung his holographic hands. “I need you to take a trip to the mall.”
XJ awkwardly dressed and left the safety of the lab. Her body felt different but she pushed on. She left the house, and found the white government vehicle that her mother had stashed in the back.
It was right where her grandfather said it would be. She was certainly on her own and afraid. But she had to test out her new disguise, and what better way than at the mall?
She’d drop in and purchase a small briefcase as well as withdraw $500 from the ATM. Apparently her mother had been paying the information broker on a payment plan. Tomorrow would be the last payment.
Thank God Mom took such good notes … and I was able to figure out what to do.
She backed out of the little shed and down the back driveway. She felt awkward driving in her new body. But, she didn’t feel uncomfortable driving. Dorothy hadn’t allowed XJ to get a real license because she’d thought CAGE would trace her. So she made XJ stay under the radar.
It was the story of her life. Her mother never sent her to driver’s training like other teens, because she’d already learned to drive from the age of ten. XJ could drive any type, size, or shape vehicle—just in case she had to escape—but she would have loved to have a real license.
XJ headed for the mall. Her mind filled with thoughts of Brandon. She was surprised that he hadn’t texted her back. Something must have happened and now she was really worried. He wouldn’t have left her like this without trying to contact her. She sped up. The mall would be closing soon and she wanted to test her new face.
She mashed the accelerator.
Chapter 31
“Sometimes GEPs have to cut deals with the devil, in order to learn the truth.”
—Dorothy Kates-Patterson
This is like the sixth tuxedo that I’ve tried on. Brandon didn’t want to be bothered with Heather. He wanted to be rid of her.
He stomped off to the dressing room again and slammed the door. She was driving him to homicide.
“Brandon, don’t be upset with me. I just want you to look good.” Heather crooned outside the door.
He raked his hands through his hair. He actually liked this tux. He stood tall in the mirror and posed. He liked it better, if he were wearing it to take XJ to th
e pageant.
“Try this one. Heather slid another tux over the door. “You’ll look sensational in it.”
Brandon huffed, but took off the one he liked. When would this end? If he took forever maybe she would go away. He took his time. God, I miss XJ.
He heard Heather talking to the sales guy. “Yes. Isn’t my boyfriend cute? I just love picking his outfits.”
Another female voice said. “Well, aren’t you lucky?”
Heather said, “Luck? I think not! He’s my soul mate. We’ll be together forever and ever and ever.”
Brandon finished putting this tux on, and shoved the dressing room door open. “Can we hurry this up? I’ve got something to do.”
He made a quick dash to the dressing stage before Heather could change her mind.
“Silly. What’s more important than getting ready for me?” Heather sauntered over to him and adjusted the collar. She pulled his face down and tried to snuggle his nose. He turned his head and looked in the mirror. He hated this one. His shoulders slumped.
Heather cleared her throat. “Um … I love this one. We’ll take it.”
Brandon felt the room spinning with the hands of salespeople and alterations. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Heather beaming with joy. She kept rattling on about being soul mates and getting married. His mind wandered to XJ.
“Darling, don’t you just love this one? It brings out your eyes and it’ll match my dress.”
Brandon grumbled.
“He’s just a little sensitive,” Heather continued. “He knows how important this is to me.”
Was she batting her eyes? Yuck! I can’t wait to get out of here. How could he get away from her?
This tux made him feel irritated and uncomfortable just like Heather. Finally, they finished the alterations. He could see that she was distracted. He moved quick.
He got his clothes off, gave the tux to the seamstress and was out the door in a flash. He heard her in the background telling the sales guy how they were meant to be together as he slid out the door. He’d done what the deal required but he wasn’t hanging around to be verbally stalked.
Breaking Free Page 12