Sidekick Returns

by Auralee Wallace

  He nodded. ‘I see, Brianna the Truth Teller. It has a certain ring.’

  I dug my fingernails into my palms. God, every time I saw him now, I felt floored, stunned, like I was on some TV talk show for an ambush reunion with my attempted murderer. Every single time.

  I dug my nails in deeper. My fingers ached with the strain. My father may have had his reasons for wanting me here, but I had my own. I didn’t get into the car just because Jenny asked me to, not entirely. I had another agenda. ‘Where’s Ryder?’

  ‘All business and no play?’ my father asked, making a quiet tut tut sound through his teeth. ‘That’s not like you, Brianna.’

  ‘You know nothing about me,’ I snapped.

  ‘Brianna—’

  ‘Father stop,’ Jenny said.

  He raised an eyebrow at my sister.

  She held his gaze. ‘You know she hates it when you call her that.’

  A moment passed. ‘You’re right, my dear,’ he said, moving to pat her hand. ‘You’re right. It’s time for new beginnings for all of us.’ He looked back to me. ‘That’s why I will answer your question.’

  I kept my mouth shut, and waited.

  ‘Ryder is here. She is alive and well, although currently in a medically induced coma.’

  I took a step towards him before I was able to catch myself. ‘What is it you want from her?’

  He shook a finger at me and smiled. I waited again. It was clear we’d have this conversation on his terms. ‘I don’t think you realise the esteem I hold for your beloved Ryder,’ he said. ‘That’s why I brought her here. You see, I want to know what makes Ryder so very special. After all, she certainly succeeded in one area where I have failed. She earned your loyalty.’ The word hung heavily between us. ‘So I brought her here to find out.’

  ‘What exactly does that mean?’

  ‘Tests. DNA sequencing.’ He brought his hands together and leaned back against a desk. ‘We tried a few times to observe her fighting techniques in a controlled setting, but she went through sparring partners rather quickly, and then there was the issue of her escape. For now, we’ve found her to be most useful in a vegetative state.’

  I nodded, resisting the urge to lunge for his throat. ‘But that’s not all you did to her, is it?’ He raised his eyebrow again in question.

  ‘That wasn’t Ryder I saw at the float.’

  My father smiled with something genuine in it—I almost want to say warmth, but his temperature rarely went much above frigid. ‘Very good, Brianna.’

  Blood rushed from my body. ‘I’m right? You …’ I looked to my sister. She looked away. ‘What have you done?’

  My father walked over to a desk, pressed a button on a phone and said. ‘Bring me Test Subject 824.’

  Tense moments passed as we waited. I knew what was coming, but a big part of me couldn’t believe it. Just then I spotted her, dressed in a white hospital gown, walking down the corridor between labs, men in white coats on either side. Ryder … but not Ryder.

  The trio entered the room.

  ‘Impressive, don’t you think?’ my father asked me.

  I couldn’t speak. My eyes trailed over the woman before me. Saying doppelganger was one thing, seeing it was quite another. She looked exactly like Ryder, right down to the scarring on the side of her face. Her neon blue eyes were vacant though. ‘Did … did you chip her?’

  I felt my father tense. ‘We have temporarily suspended our brain chip technology program. I’m sure you can imagine why, Brianna.’

  I swallowed. Bart had found a way to hack the technology of the chip, making it possible for us to override the program’s commands. ‘She is medicated, not chipped,’ he offered. ‘We’ve had some problems with her compliance. She’s been exhibiting some bizarre behaviours. We wanted to sow the seed that Ryder was becoming incompetent, not crazed. She’s served her purpose though. The city is ready to accept alternatives.’

  ‘Jenny,’ I murmured.

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Thank you,’ my father said to the men. ‘You can take her back to her room.’

  ‘How did you do it?’

  ‘Surgery. Gene influence,’ my father said with a dismissive wave. ‘She already looked quite a bit like your Ryder, but we were able to direct the sequence of her DNA expression using Ryder as a map to further the process. The scarring on her face, however, well, the technology behind that was a little more rudimentary.’

  I rubbed my forehead. ‘Just when I think you can’t get worse …’

  ‘Enough of this,’ my father said. ‘Jenny, my dear, would you mind leaving us for a moment?’

  I could see the struggle on my sister’s face, but eventually she gave a single nod. ‘I’ll be right outside.’

  We watched her leave before turning back to one another. I guess we were ignoring all of the scientists still in the lab. They were just the help, after all.

  ‘Now, Brianna,’ my father said. ‘No more pretence. Let’s discuss why you are here.’

  ‘How ‘bout we discuss why I’m leaving?’ I said, trying to control the anger making me shake. ‘Basically it’s because I need to get home and devise a strategy to destroy your evil ass.’

  My father chuckled softly.

  ‘Later,’ I said, spinning on my heel headed for the door.

  ‘You’re not leaving.’

  And there it was. My eyes darted around, trying to spot the scientist with the special Bremy cocktail syringe.

  ‘You’re not leaving because your sister needs you.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Simply put,’ he said coldly, ‘without you, Jenny will lose everything.’

  Chapter 45

  Centuries of warfare passed as my father and I stared at one another. ‘Everything you are about to say right now,’ I said, barely able to get the words through my teeth, ‘everything had better be the truth.’

  ‘Of course,’ he said, spreading his arms wide. ‘Of course.’ He walked over to a desk and tapped its surface lightly, before looking back at me. ‘As you know, your sister has gone through extensive experimental treatments to get her functioning at the level she is today. The gains she has made have been tremendous. She has pushed her body and mind to a degree we didn’t think possible. She is faster, stronger, and able to tolerate pain at levels that are simply inconceivable for the average human.’ He paused, and shook his head. ‘But it didn’t come without a cost. Her bone marrow is damaged, and she has suffered some impairment to her nervous system.’

  ‘You son of a—’

  He raised a hand. ‘We can fix her.’

  ‘She’s not a broken toy!’ I clenched my fist, trying to quell the impulse to tear the flesh from his face.

  ‘She needs gene therapy, and stem cells … from you. Her sister. Her twin.’ He let that sit with me a moment. ‘Right now we have her functioning through an electrical conduction system, a simulated control centre in her brain that can help her nerves fire at appropriate times.’ He slid a thin piece of metal out from his jacket pocket and waved it in the air. ‘A highly sophisticated piece of machinery. If we were to turn this system off … well, Jenny would regress to pre-treatment levels, possibly worse. The system cannot last forever, though. It’s not sustainable. But if you help us, she cannot only stay at the level she has attained, but make further gains.’

  I let out a shaky breath. ‘Why do you have that?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ my father asked, his expression feigning innocence.

  ‘The electrical system allowing Jenny to function,’ I said. ‘That device in your hand. Why do you have it?’

  ‘Oh Brianna, in some ways you are so much more like me than your sister,’ he said with an exhale. ‘Another person would have asked about Jenny’s condition. Maybe what the surgery would entail. But you went right to the crux. It is such a shame, really.’

  ‘Why … do … you … have … that … device?’

  His eyes flashed to mine and hardened. ‘I ha
ve it as a reminder. To you. Of who has the power.’

  The room spun. I bit the inside of cheek, hoping the pain would keep me grounded.

  ‘Aw, there, there, Brianna. This is nothing you can’t handle. You’re made of stronger stuff.’ He nodded. ‘You know, my dear, had the circumstances been different—’ He cut himself short, and shook his head.

  ‘What?’

  He wagged a finger in the air. ‘Had the circumstances been different, I would have liked to have told you the story of my childhood. I always meant to—’

  ‘Seriously? Your childhood? What makes you think I’d even—’ I clutched my head. ‘And what? You just never found the time?’

  He chuckled. ‘Something like that.’

  I let the breath I had been holding out with a hiss. ‘I’ll just count myself lucky.’

  ‘Right,’ he said, straightening a chair. ‘Now, on to more pleasant matters. I am prepared to offer you everything you have ever wanted.’ His back was now to me, his hands clutched behind him. ‘Those gains you see in your sister? They can be yours too.’

  I scoffed.

  He wheeled around. ‘It’s time to come back to the family, Brianna. It’s time for you to be a St. James.’

  I didn’t answer.

  ‘What?’ he asked. ‘Nothing to say?’

  ‘Oh, I’m waiting.’

  He raised an eyebrow in question.

  ‘For the catch? You know … the thing that will reduce me to a weeping mass on the floor?’ My voice was rising again. ‘God! Why do you always have to be this way! Just say what you mean! Tell me what you want!’

  ‘I want my family!’ he roared. ‘At home! With me!’

  Chapter 46

  I startled. I wasn’t used to this side of my father, but I caught myself quickly. ‘Sorry Dad. I’m not buying. This doesn’t make sense. You don’t need my permission. You can take me anytime. Take my stem cells!’ I threw my hands wide. ‘You don’t need my cooperation.’

  ‘But I want it!’ He slammed his fist down on a desk. Most of scientists had already backed away, staring at us nervously, unsure if they should leave. My father inhaled deeply then said more carefully, ‘I want it.’

  Work slowly resumed around us.

  ‘And if I don’t give it to you, what then?’ I asked. ‘You’ll just destroy Jenny?’

  ‘No,’ he said, looking down and shaking his head, ‘that would go against my interests. I would only do that in the most extreme of circumstances. Ryder, however …’

  ‘You bastard.’

  ‘Control yourself, Brianna,’ he said, tightly. ‘I am still your father.’

  I rubbed my hands roughly over my face, trying with everything I had in me not to scream. ‘So let me get this straight. I give you my cooperation, you’ll heal Jenny, and then you just let Ryder go?’

  ‘And I will make you into what you have been trying so desperately to be.’

  I laughed loudly at that one. ‘A hero? Oh my God! Don’t you realise just how messed up that is? For what purpose? For Jenny and I to fight crime together?’

  He shrugged. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because we would be fighting you!’ I stared at him, trying to see if any of the crazy was registering. ‘Oh, but wait, you’d probably have a remote control for me too.’

  A sad smile touched the corner of his mouth. ‘You have never understood my vision. You call me evil,’ he said. ‘I consider myself an architect. I am pushing human evolution to the next level. You and your sister could be the first step forward. Do with that power what you will. In fact, I insist upon it. Show the world what St. James Industries is capable of—’

  ‘So it can tremble in fear of displeasing you? So that your interests are always met first? So that, oh, I don’t know, you somehow end up ruling all the world!’

  The muscles at his jaw flexed. ‘Are you through?’

  Again, every conversation … every single conversation I had with my father left me feeling like I had gone insane … no, that the entire world had gone insane.

  ‘Good,’ he said briskly. ‘I think we have covered enough ground for this one meeting.’

  I threw up my hands and looked around the room. ‘So that’s it? You’re keeping my mentor prisoner, my sister could die if I don’t submit to your experiments, and if I agree to all your demands, you’ll make me into a superhero in your remade world. Meeting over?’

  ‘For now.’ He pivoted on his heel to walk away, but then stopped. ‘But there is one more thing. I would like you to attend a fashion show on Friday.’

  Laughter burbled up once again from my chest and exploded out my mouth.

  ‘Your sister is having her formal debut. I would like you to attend.’

  I stopped laughing, but the tears it had caused rolled down my cheeks.

  ‘I can see you have your doubts. To sweeten the deal, perhaps I could let Ryder go after the event.’

  I inhaled a shaky breath. ‘Stop … just stop whatever it is you have planned, and let Ryder go.’ My hands dropped to my sides. ‘I’ll stay. I’ll help Jenny. Of course I’ll help Jenny.’

  He sighed. ‘Do you ever tire of your displays of melodrama?’

  I squeezed my eyes shut.

  ‘I’ll expect you at the show, Brianna.’

  ‘And you’ll let Ryder go. Just like that?’

  ‘I have no reason not to. She isn’t a threat. Her skills have been dwarfed by your sister’s, and she has served her purpose.’

  I tried to form more words, but I couldn’t put anything together.

  ‘You may go now, Brianna. I will have someone drive you home. I wouldn’t want your sister to take you on any more detours.’ He strode towards the door at the back of the laboratory.

  ‘Wait.’

  He stopped and raised an eyebrow in question.

  I knew in my gut I had to ask my father something, but it didn’t make me any less scared to hear the answer. ‘How did you manage to take Ryder prisoner?’

  ‘So little faith in St. James Industries?’

  I didn’t answer.

  He sighed. ‘It seems Ryder has a soft spot for you, my dear. And now that Jenny has completed her transformation,’ he said, adjusting his sleeve, ‘well, her resemblance to you is quite remarkable.’

  He turned again and walked out the door.

  Jenny. How could she? I wrapped my arms around my waist. No. It was my fault. I had left Jenny to fight my father on her own and had told her nothing. Ryder had been captured because of me.

  It took me a moment to remember how to work my legs. Finally I turned quickly, bumping into a young man in a lab coat.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he began. ‘I—’

  ‘Did you hear all that?’ I asked, my eyes snapping to his.

  The mild-mannered looking scientist stared back at me a moment, then nodded quickly.

  I lowered my voice to a whisper. ‘Then why aren’t you running?’ His eyes widened as he moved out of the way for me to pass.

  I pushed the heavy glass door of the lab open and headed straight for Jenny, who stood leaning against a wall. I almost made it to her when a large man in a business suit stepped in front of me. ‘I’ll take you home, Miss St. James.’

  ‘I need to talk to my sister,’ I said, moving to step around him.

  He mirrored my steps. ‘I’m sorry, Miss. That’s not possible.’

  I lunged and tried to run around him again, but before I knew it, he had my arm twisted behind my back and was leading me to the exit.

  I craned my face back to look at Jenny. Pain etched her features, but she didn’t try to follow. ‘I’ll help you, Jenny,’ I shouted. ‘I promise. Nothing else matters anymore. I’ll help you.’

  A confused look came over her face as she shot a glance back at the lab.

  Oh God, she didn’t know. She didn’t know anything was wrong with her!

  I jerked against the man leading me away, trying to keep eye contact.

  ‘Everything will be fine, Jenny! I promise
you! Whatever you need …’

  ***

  I asked the driver to drop me off a couple of blocks from my apartment. I knew he already had the address to my place, but it still felt like a violation to have anyone associated with my father nearby. I hustled over the sidewalk and steam grates, hurrying my way home to freshen up. I had to at least splash some water on my face. Everything about that facility had left me feeling contaminated. Part of me was amazed that I could even put one foot in front of the other. It was all too much. Way too much. But I also knew I had to keep moving. If I stopped … I didn’t know what would happen if I stopped. Maybe it would all become real, and that, that would be the end of me.

  Once I got to my building, I hobbled up the stairs, my feet stupid mad with pain from the heels I was wearing, and I limped my way towards my apartment. I wanted nothing more than to go to bed and sleep for a month, but I couldn’t. I needed to see Ricky. I wasn’t sure if I had gotten across to him just how bad the situation was … the situation he had gotten himself into because of me. I didn’t have anything to change into, but I gave myself a quick sink shower, smoothed out my hair then headed once again for the door. Just as I stepped out of my apartment, Queenie’s door swung open, making me jump. ‘Kevin!’

  ‘Hello,’ the pale giant answered.

  ‘Um, hi.’

  ‘I thought you might be Queenie,’ he said, pyramiding his eyebrows. ‘Have you seen Queenie?’

  I studied his face. ‘When was the last time you saw her?’

  ‘When she was throwing the doll heads from the roof of the building like a Goth Amazon Queen,’ he said, eyes slightly unfocused, lost in the memory.

  I took a step towards him. ‘Have you been waiting here ever since?’

  He nodded. ‘She said she’d be back.’

  ‘Oh, Kevin.’ I patted his arm. It was the best I could do. I was tapped—no matter how sad and gianty he looked.

  ‘Does she love the mime, Brenda?’

  I sighed. ‘That I don’t know. But no good can come of you waiting around here to find out. You should go home.’