by Gini Koch
Melanie looked at the results and nodded. “Some of this is standard for A-C babies. But I agree. Her brain functions are still much higher than normal.”
I opened my mouth, but Emily beat me to it. “Yes, Kitty, she’s fine. So are you. Though neither one of your mutations has stabilized.”
“So, what does that mean, exactly? I’m still having trouble controlling the hyperspeed. Will Jamie have that issue?”
“So far, not that we can tell,” Melanie said. “Jamie’s progressing normally in terms of physical abilities. A little faster in some areas, as we said, but still nothing out of the ordinary.”
Emily snorted. “We saw you in Paris, Kitty. You had no trouble at all controlling your speed.”
I thought about it. “I was really revved up. ACE said I was under control because I was so enraged. But I thought that was because I was a new mother.”
“You’re still a new mother,” Melanie said with a laugh. “And the maternal instinct doesn’t fade away as your child grows.”
“It tends to get stronger,” Emily added.
Tito looked thoughtful. “The drug works on the id, and our limited knowledge of it shows that it’s very rage-related. Every time you’re really angry, does your control increase?”
“It’s only happened a few times, but yeah. But I don’t want to have to be furious twenty-four-seven in order to actually hit what I’m aiming at and not hit all the walls.”
“Your control may stabilize when your mutation does,” Melanie suggested.
“If I’m still mutating, does that mean instead of crashing into walls I’ll go through them?”
Tito shrugged. “We don’t know what it means yet, Kitty.”
“I know. I’d just like to have better control over my own body.”
He looked thoughtful again. “When you were rescuing us in Paris, were you thinking about controlling your powers?”
“No. I was thinking about saving all of you and killing the bad guys.”
“When you’re having control issues, are you thinking about controlling your powers?”
“I see where you’re going with this, and yes, I am.” I heaved a sigh. “So, let me guess what you’re going to tell me. Unlike what Frankie Goes to Hollywood would suggest, I should relax and just do it, right?”
“Right. So far, it’s not hurting you, so I think you’re better off allowing your body to react instinctively. Don’t dwell on what you can or can’t do, don’t worry about your control, just let your body and your reflexes do whatever comes naturally.”
ACE had said there was a tradeoff to the power real rage gave me, and it was exhaustion. That had been proved true, though I hadn’t really talked to anyone else about it, not even Jeff. I decided not to share this tidbit with my medical staff at this precise time. “Okay, whatever you say. And maybe it’s just something that’s an issue for me.”
“I have no idea. We’ll question the others about their control, though they’re all A-Cs, so it’s probably not something they pay attention to the way you have. The five of you are our only test cases for what the Surcenthumain does to A-Cs, humans, or hybrids. The Gowers are our only other living hybrids, and you know we and the C.I.A are studying them closely.”
“Naomi and Abigail in particular, yeah, I know. And I also know that five isn’t a good test sample.”
“No, but it’s more than anyone on our side wanted,” Melanie said.
“And five is all only as long as no one else ingests it,” Emily added. She didn’t say, “As Christopher did willingly,” but she didn’t have to. He appeared to be over both the addiction and withdrawal symptoms, but we had no guess who might still have access to the drug. Chuckie had done his best to round up all there was, but he found new stashes all the time, usually in a raid of some kind.
“We don’t know what the five of you can or will do,” Melanie added. “Based on the Gowers, those having girls will have babies with stronger powers, but we don’t know if that will be true in every case.”
“As long as all the babies are healthy and happy, I’ll be good with whatever happens.”
Jamie and I were ushered out, and Jeff went in next. Serene was on a call, looking worried, so I didn’t bother her. From what I picked up, she wasn’t happy about whatever she was hearing.
Dad was also on the phone. “Yes, I understand. I’ll be there right away.” He hung up, came over, and gave me and Jamie both a hug and kiss. “Your mother needs me to take care of something with our new apartment, since she can’t get away. You’ll be okay, kitten?”
“Sure, Dad. Just routine stuff.” I hugged him. “I’ll see you later.” Dad gave Serene and Christopher both hugs, then he headed off.
Christopher sat down, looking impatient, but not glaring. “You two check out okay?”
“Yep. Tito says I’m still reflexively human.”
“Good.” He sighed. “In light of what’s going on, I think we should postpone our next workout.”
I still worked out and trained with Jeff, though my Kung Fu classes were on hold until Jamie was a little older. But Christopher and I did a weekly class in dealing with the effects of becoming mutants, or as I called it in Jeff’s hearing, working on our boundaries. I needed someone who could teach me how to be an A-C, or at least cover the parts of it I was now privy to, and Christopher needed someone who didn’t make him feel guilty for having willingly shot up.
“No argument here. I’m sure the next two days will be practice enough.”
Melanie came out, making the Doctor Frowny Face. “Christopher, we need you.”
He and I exchanged the worried glance, but he went in without argument. I tried not to worry about Jeff.
Serene finished her phone call. She gave me a bright smile and opened her mouth as Emily came out, sporting the team look for our medical professionals. “Serene, need you, please.”
Serene closed her mouth, nodded, and trotted in. I decided I wasn’t going to have good luck against the worry.
I cuddled Jamie, leaned back, and closed my eyes. It was time to go straight to the source.
ACE, are you there?
CHAPTER 24
Y
ES, KITTY, ACE IS HERE.
What’s going on?
Many things,
Kitty, ACE said politely.
I realized that, as per my usual, I hadn’t phrased the question correctly. ACE did its best to remain out of the picture unless things were dire and we were unable to handle them. Until that point, questions needed to be specific and pointed, with little weasel room, because if they were vague, ACE got uncomfortable and stressed, which was never good, for Gower if no one else.
I tried again.
Why are Jeff, Christopher and Serene in with Tito and the others? I mean aside from routine checkup reasons.
Tito wishes to ensure everyone is healthy and safe.
Is everyone healthy and safe?
Yes. The way ACE said this, there was clearly more to it.
I tried a guess.
Is there something new that affects the three of them but doesn’t affect me and Jamie?
Yes. ACE sounded pleased by this guess. Score one for me.
Tito has identified something that Jeff, Christopher, and Serene have that Kitty does not have.
He’d pointedly left Jamie out of that statement. ACE was always ready and willing to leave big breadcrumbs for me to find, because as long as I guessed right, ACE felt okay confirming. So I did what our benevolent superconsciousness wanted and pondered.
There were any variety of reasons Tito could single out the three of them. But if they were easy, obvious reasons, I’d already know them. I focused on what kinds of tests Tito was running—not what they were, but what they were trying to determine. Genetic mutation.
Did Tito isolate something specific about their genes?
Yes, Kitty.
I resisted asking if I’d pissed ACE off in some way. This was hard for him, and the last thing we wanted was
a stressed out superconsciousness that could destroy the world, either on purpose or inadvertently.
Clearly, I needed more specificity. Okay, I might not be up to Chuckie’s standards on the math and sciences, and I didn’t have a prayer against even the slowest Dazzler out there, but when it came to genetics, I was a Gregor Mendel fangirl of the highest order.
So, what would Tito care about in regard to Jeff, Christopher, and Serene, specifically? That Jamie had whatever seemed likely, since she was Jeff’s daughter. But ACE had plainly stated I didn’t have this.
I was coming up with nothing, so I opened my eyes and looked at Jamie. She smiled and grabbed my nose. “Oh, you have Mommy’s nose! Just like everyone says,” I added as Jamie giggled.
“I’m going to take your nose, ’cause it looks just like mine,” I said, doing the old “steal your nose” trick that every baby in the world seemed to think was the coolest game on the planet. I pretended to put her nose on my face. “There. Now Mommy has Jamie’s nose and Jamie has Mommy’s nose.”
Jamie gurgled at me and leaned into my chest for a snuggle. I kissed her head. Everyone said she looked just like me, but I still didn’t see it. Of course, in hybrid children, human genetics were dominant for external aspects, and A-C genetics dominated the internal workings. The Gowers were a good example, since they all had their mother’s beautiful dark skin and Dazzler-worthy good looks. But I could see their father in there, too, in some ways. And, presumably, their grandparents, not that I’d known them.
I jerked. I had indeed known at least one of them, so to speak. I wasn’t sure where Ronald Yates, aka Mephistopheles, fit into the overall family tree for the Gowers, but they were Jeff’s cousins, and Yates was Jeff and Christopher’s grandfather. And, as we’d discovered, Serene’s father. And they were the most powerful A-Cs we had. The Gower girls were potentially stronger, per Chuckie, but they were hybrid women. Jeff, Christopher, and Serene were pure A-C.
I closed my eyes again.
ACE, has Tito isolated a gene related to Ronald Yates?
Yes, Kitty. ACE sounded so proud of me, I almost blushed.
ACE knew Kitty would realize. Kitty thinks right.
Can you tell me more about it?
Some. Tito has identified what makes Jeff, Christopher, and Serene…different…from other A-Cs.
You mean what makes them stronger in their talents?
Yes. Jamie will have this, too, but it is different for Jamie.
Because I’m her mother?
In a way. ACE sounded evasive again.
Because Jeff was drugged with the Surcenthumain?
Yes. But Jamie is not in danger.
Good to know. Thank you. I knew when to let a dicey topic for ACE die, and, since I could feel ACE being slightly uncomfortable, now was the time. I figured, though, that it couldn’t hurt to go for it and see if I could get anything else helpful.
I know it’s wrong to ask, but can you give me any hint about what’s coming at the President’s Ball tomorrow night?
Things Kitty is prepared for, as well as things Kitty is not prepared for.
Is there anything I can do to be prepared for whatever it is I’m not prepared for?
ACE was quiet for a few long moments. I almost thought he’d signed off when he spoke again.
Kitty should not trust.
Not trust who?
The ones who are not really Kitty’s friends.
I rarely trust people who don’t like me.
Even Kitty can be fooled. This was true, of course.
But Kitty also must trust.
Who should I be trusting?
Those who wish to help Kitty.
Are you saying they aren’t the people I think they are, whoever the different theys are you’re talking about?
In some cases. Before I could ask for more specifics, ACE spoke again, this time with a lot more urgency.
ACE must go. Lorraine and Claudia need ACE’s help. With that I felt my mind’s connection to ACE evaporate.
CHAPTER 25
MY EYES SNAPPED OPEN. I looked around. Still alone in the infirmary. I got up. “Let’s get Daddy and everyone else, Jamie-Kat. I think your fairy godfather ACE needs us to at least provide an assist.” She cooed.
I tried to open the door to the examining room. It was locked. This was weird, but I decided I could ponder this or merely knock to gain entry. I knocked.
Tito opened the door. “Kitty, we’re in the middle of something.”
“Yeah, I realize that. However, the Yates Gene Experiment needs to be put on at least a short hold.”
He jerked. “How did you—”
“I’m a good guesser. Look, I think Lorraine and Claudia need us.”
He stared at me. “Why? Have they called you?”
“Um, no. But even if they had, I don’t have my purse with me.” As I thought about it, the last time I’d seen my purse was right before I’d taken a dip in the Potomac. Tried not to worry about its whereabouts. Failed. However, bigger worries were pressing.
“You don’t? You feeling all right?”
“Yes, just had a lot going on. Like right now, for instance.”
Tito’s eyes narrowed. “Did you just talk to ACE?”
“Yes. How’d you guess?”
“I know you by now.”
I could see the others starting to crowd around the door. “Look, unless there’s an orgy going on—and if so, I want to know why I wasn’t invited—I think everyone in the room is going to be better used being wherever the girls are.”
Tito opened the door. Everyone was clothed. Jeff and Christopher both were shooting me dirty looks, so I assumed they’d heard my orgy comment. “No one’s called us on the com,” Christopher said pointedly.
Tito shook his head. “I have the infirmary on lockdown when we do these tests, and that includes incoming and outgoing alerts. That’s why I had you turn your cell phones off.”
“They’re not due to deliver for a couple more weeks,” Melanie said, sounding just a little worried. Everyone else looked confused and suspicious.
I couldn’t blame them. Of the three of them, I’d really expected Doreen to deliver first. Apparently her baby wanted to go to the President’s Ball in warmth, comfort, and style. I looked at Jamie in my arms. She looked back, expectantly, if I was any judge. “I know, but babies come when they want to.”
“Kitty’s right,” Tito said briskly. “Let’s get this shut down. We need to save the information, but we can finish later.” He, Melanie, and Emily started bustling about, the women at hyperspeed.
“Baby, what’s going on?” Jeff’s eyes were closed. “I’m not picking up anything from the girls or the flyboys.”
I thought about it some more. ACE had sounded stressed. “Jeff, we didn’t talk about what…happened with me and Jamie during delivery.”
Per everyone I’d died on the table and come back. I still didn’t remember. However, per ACE, that had happened because Jamie had misunderstood Jeff’s fears about my dying in childbirth.
“Right,” he said, as he opened his eyes and gave me a stern look. “And we still shouldn’t.”
“No, I think we should. Because while no one’s babies have…acted like Jamie did in the womb, that doesn’t mean they aren’t talented in some way.”
“So?” Jeff asked. “You’re worried about them handling their powers? We’ll take care of that.”
I looked around the room. No one here didn’t know, except possibly Serene, and she should, all things considered. “Yes, I know you and Christopher can, and should, put blocks in if the babies need them. And, if you’re able, you should teach Serene how to do it, too. But that’s not what I mean.”
Jeff looked confused. So did everyone else. I sighed. “Look, Jamie heard her daddy worrying, and she did something she thought was right that wasn’t. All the flyboys were there, and so were the girls. And we haven’t told them not to worry about dying in childbirth,” I stressed. “And I guarantee you, the hum
an guys are worried about it.”
I saw the light dawn in Jeff’s eyes. “Oh.” He nodded. “Tito, when can you take the infirmary out of lockdown?” He had his Commander voice on.
“It’s on a timer,” Tito said as he closed things up. “It’ll be faster to leave than take it off.”
“Then let’s go. Oh, and Tito, bring whatever medical supplies make you happy.”
He, Melanie, and Emily were all carrying med cases. “You think they aren’t in the Science Center?” Emily asked.
“I have no idea where the girls are. I just know that they need an assist from ACE, meaning they likely need the assist from all of us, too.”
We took the elevator to the first floor. The gate was actually in the basement, where the elevators didn’t go. Aliens were weird. However, taking the elevator instead of the stairs meant Tito wouldn’t be barfing his guts out.
We reached the first floor, and, as we were walking past the big kitchen area, I spotted White, rummaging in the refrigerator. “Richard, you doing anything?”
He turned around holding sandwich fixings. “I was going to prepare a snack.”
“How’d you like to come along and help us, just in case?”
White stared at me for a long moment, nodded, put the food away, and joined us. “What’s going on, Missus Martini? Is it catsuit time?”
“Not that I know of, but never rule it out, Mister White. I think the miracle of birth is on today’s docket, but I could be wrong. Whatever it is, however, I think Lorraine and Claudia need us.”
“Say no more. Jeffrey, please stop glaring at me. She is my partner, after all.”
“Huh. I think you want her in a catsuit a little too much.”