by P. S. Power
“The people in this place, some of them, have a condition which distorts their physical appearance in some way. Different for each. They also tend to have mental and emotional issues. Part of what Timon has been helping with has been aiding them in correcting what he can in those regards. You may actually be able to blend on the base a bit more smoothly if you look distinctive.”
He didn’t want to use his disguise amulet for that if possible, but his relatives seemed to find him having bright purple hair and eyes to be sufficient. Timon even smiled at him.
“That works. People won’t even know for certain that you have the Infection. So you can go around in public that way, as well as integrate with those on the base. So, if you have what you need?”
It took him two trips, since taking more than one person with him at a time was a foolish thing to try. Hartley had instructed him on that several times. It could be done, but was difficult enough to avoid outside of an emergency. Tim went first, standing in the rain as Taman was brought through. Outside of a red transport hut. The thing wasn’t just like what he was used to from his own world either. It was identical.
Not that he wasn’t going around the rules of the thing, using it as a weak spot to pry his way into the strange place he ended up. It was, truly, very different. As Timon led them around the side of a building, he noticed that right away. It was made of tan brick and only one story high, having a flat roof on the top. The front of it was made of windows, but you couldn’t see through them, the daylight showing a reflection of the cloudy day behind them.
There weren’t a lot of people outside, since no one wanted to be wet, most likely. The few people he saw off in the distance were, much as had been promised, rather different seeming. Not all of them however. About half, at a guess. Some were tall, or smaller than he was by a good bit, but there were only about six of them walking quickly between buildings on a gray path that wasn’t focus stone, but seemed similar. That part wasn’t glossy at all. Behind him and above, as they moved toward the door of the building, there was a large metal pole, with a colorful standard above them. It was red and white stripes, with a blue square that had stylized white stars in it.
When they got in they were a bit damp, but not enough to make a fuss over. The trip around the building hadn’t been a long one. There was only one person in sight, who was behind a desk. There was a computer screen on her side of a dividing barrier. She was a small seeming person, with black hair and nice features. Her skin was a bit darker than his was. A soft golden color.
If that part was going to give them away, she didn’t seem to be instantly violent about it.
“Hey! I didn’t know that you two were coming in today. I…” She tapped on the computer then, which Will only knew about from his work with Hartley’s Lisa, since she used one of them for work. It appeared to be a very similar concept if not exactly the same. “We don’t have anyone scheduled for you right now. Though I bet we can find a volunteer or two, if you want? For instance, if you could tone down Karen’s first mode, I bet that would help a lot.”
The woman, who looked younger than he was by a few years, smiled at him. That part lingered for a bit, though she glanced at the others as well. She explained some things at least, which was helpful of her. A bit too much so, if the organization there was secret at all. The woman was in a mottled tan uniform that seemed official enough. Still, her eyes lingered on him, purple hair and eyes or not.
“I’m Lydia. Karen is Lady Glory, her first mode is compassion, but you know how that is, she’s dialed up so high on that kind of thing that it’s a problem for her. Suggest that you need a friend and she’ll cancel her plans to move in with you. That kind of thing?”
Taman had just mentioned that sort of idea, so he nodded. The people there, some of them, had emotional problems like that. He’d been thinking of it like combat rage, but even good things like compassion would be an issue if it were too much.
“I got lucky that way, I guess?” He worked to sound more like Troy, which wasn’t that far off from the girl behind the desk. “My emotions are all muted a lot, and I forget them after a bit, but that’s all. So, like, if I were annoyed an hour ago, it would be gone by now. The same with being embarrassed and that kind of thing?” He didn’t know if that would count, but Lydia smiled at him warmly.
“That really isn’t bad then. So, should I set Karen Young up with you Taman?” She focused directly on the woman herself, who winced a bit.
Due to the fact that Will wasn’t supposed to understand that she could make that kind of change to people yet. Which he did, since it had come up several days prior. For him. Nothing had been mentioned out loud about it.
He just winked at Lydia, which got her to smile but look down.
“That sounds reasonable. I’m here to sign up? Will Baker. Do I do that with you?” She seemed to be the one with the computer, but the young woman shook her head.
It was clear to her that Will was Infected, but so was she. Though her first mode was gone now, thanks to Taman. She also looked better. How exactly didn’t come across in the ideas she was holding at the moment, but that she liked herself more now was pretty clear.
“We need to get you in with Ms. Turner. Let me see if she has some time? Things have been busy, more terror attacks, you know.” She said that as if it made sense, so he nodded.
There wasn’t going to be a test on it after all. Not just then. She got up and went to a door about twenty feet away. The thing was open, but she knocked on the door frame before entering, meaning it wasn’t strictly a public space. After a moment a familiar voice spoke up from inside.
“Come! What’s up, Lydia?”
“Timon and Taman Baker are here? Along with a new guy. Will Baker? He’s Infected, but…” A wave of bafflement came off of her then, since it was really clear she understood that both of the incredible looking people came from a different reality. One where the Infection wasn’t a thing at all. They had magic instead, which was incredible, but not the same thing.
Rather than call for them, which seemed very reasonable, a woman in a tan outfit that was very similar to the one that Lydia was wearing, walked out of the office, smiling. She didn't totally mean it, since she flashed into concern about things suddenly. Her mind worked fast, trying to understand what was going on. The two aliens were standing with a boy who was far too good looking, even with his punk rock purple hair and eyes. He wasn’t tall, being about five-eight or so, but his clothing looked to be pretty much North American standard.
To her that meant he was a spy. Sent to get at all their information and data. Except that she was nearly certain that Tim and Tam didn’t need that kind of thing at all. So it might just be them making certain they weren’t being used for immoral reasons. That wasn’t all that came from her, since about ten different scenarios flowed out of her, beating Will’s brain solidly, almost all at once.
She was a shorter version of Patricia Baker, which was interesting. Also Kaitlyn the Alede. Except that, interestingly enough, that other version was prettier than this one. Ms. Turner here actually could have passed herself off as Trice however, if she stood on something to make her half a foot taller.
It took her a moment to make out what to say, which was made harder by the fact that she kind of thought that this was the day that the aliens betrayed her. She couldn’t help that kind of thing, it seemed.
“Hello! Did you bring a new friend, or…” She was trying to fish for information, but Taman bowed, getting Timon and Will to do the same.
In accented English, she spoke quickly.
“This is our nephew, Willum Baker. Tim asked your weapons master, Hobbs, to see to his training as far as fighting goes. He has other skills and abilities.”
The woman who looked like his other aunt, regarded him a bit coolly, then glanced skeptically over at Timon.
“Explain that? I can see working with Hobbs. The man is brilliant, but what other skills and abilities. Also, why have him come here, s
pecifically? Surely your world has good fighters that can train him.”
The tall man grinned then, being charming. There was a soft sense that he wanted to lean in and kiss the woman in front of him, though he resisted it. Also the hug that seemed to be building up. This wasn’t his wife after all. He did speak to her in a friendly voice however. A casual one.
“He’s been altered. His physical strength and speed are similar to that of Bridget from here. His resistance to harm is more like yours. He has better senses as well. As for skills, he’s learned to be a line walker already.”
Will smiled then, and shrugged.
“Already, he says… It took about three thousand years. Not a joke. It was in the eternal and timeless void, but still, it counts. So I can do that as well.” Then he looked around, recalling that he wasn’t there to try and fool the top people or his new masters. “I’m learning to blend in to different situations, if I can. To work against The Adversaries? So part of my lessons here are in that. Seeming like I belong. I have some magic with me as well.” He always carried that kind of thing. It could have been annoying, but at the moment he had a small brown back pack with him that was carried in his left hand. Most of the time he affixed it to his sides, but the items were simply part of him now.
Ms. Turner stared at him for a long time, then nodded.
“I can see the value in that. All right. So, you’re Infected. First mode?” She spoke about that like he wouldn’t understand it. That part wasn’t a trick though. She was just running with the idea that she was training a spy suddenly. It wasn’t the first time for her after all.
“Muted emotional responses. They fade really quickly, too. I can feel a bit upset or embarrassed, but in an hour or two that’s totally gone.”
“Really? That’s useful. So, you’re signing on as an IPB Operative. That means constant training and real work, if it comes up. Possibly fighting or killing. Is that an issue for you?”
“Not really. It’s the first mode, you know. I can’t really have problems like that.” Which was more or less true, even if he were lying about the reason.
Lydia was right there, watching him closely. She was smart enough to put it together, but it was still hard for her to believe that he wasn’t from there. A lot of that had to do with the clothing and his use of English.
The woman in charge stared at him for a while, looking for flaws in his act. Finally, she just nodded.
“We need to get you in for initial testing then. Also get you a room. From the sound of it you’re probably a class five or better. Which never means much to the new kids. Lydia, would you call… Hmm… Get with Bridget on this one? She works with Hobbs regularly.” There was more to that selection than was being said.
After all, if he were a threat, and was actually a mixture of Impulse and her own abilities, they might not have anyone that could take him out. Even if he didn’t know how to fight well, yet. If he wasn’t a problem, then it wouldn’t hurt the woman being called for to have the extra responsibility. Also, they could work well as training partners.
The secretary, and he knew that was Lydia’s title, since there was a sign on her desk that had her name as well as that word, used something that seemed similar to a handheld to get in touch with a very high pitched voiced, young sounding lady. There was no mention of him at all, just being asked to come to the front office. Then there was a call put in for Karen Young. Ms. Turner seemed a bit like she wanted to either lock him in a small room for questioning, or to get rid of the others, so that she could ask him various secret things, but she held her tongue.
Instead she called for someone else. Cindy. Again, he knew that, since she walked over, pounded on the door frame of the room with an open door and got a thin, but otherwise attractive blonde woman to come out. One who, from the idea coming off of her was his Uncle Timon. Which was fascinating to work out. She walked out, trying to seem innocent, as if she hadn’t been researching all of them from inside her work space.
The data between them flowed quickly enough that it was difficult to track, but after a bit she bounced over, seeming energetic and happy. She wasn’t really. The woman was hungry, enough so that she was looking forward to getting out for dinner in an hour or so. She smiled at him anyway, and brushed at her own hair, indicating his.
“Not bad. So, you can change your hair and eye color on command? Also, you read minds?”
It was different than that, but her words were, more or less, a warning to the others, since that hadn’t been mentioned yet. A thing that Cin clearly understood.
So he nodded. He wasn’t there to lie to these people. Just the rest of them, if he could.
“Right. Most of the line walkers and wizards like Timon or Tam here can probably do similar things. They didn’t mention it, because I haven’t made a big thing of it yet. I can’t really help it, but it might aid me, so it isn’t a bad thing.”
Interestingly, it was Lydia who was worried then. Not over anything normal, either. Her first mode had been a compulsion to eat worms and at times bugs. That was gross, but not anything that he hadn’t done himself. Cin looked at the girl behind her desk and snorted a bit through her nose.
“Not even an issue for him. I doubt that will keep him from wanting to date you even. Just, Will, she’s only fifteen, so sex with her would be illegal here. The age for that is fourteen where you come from?”
The master of the place, Ms. Turner, looked at him then, waiting for something. As if he might have been caught out in his nefarious plan to seduce their secretary. Which might not be that poor of a plan, if he could pull it off. Except that now it would be.
So he just nodded at the tiny girl version of his uncle. They really looked nothing alike, but he could tell it was him anyway.
“Thanks for the warning. Well, if I have to practice that kind of thing I’ll take my orders from Ms. Turner? Or Master Hobbs?” It was funny, after a fashion, since everyone in the room kind of understood what he meant, but had different ideas about it anyway.
The woman in command of the base smiled, actually meaning it.
“Good plan. I’ll see about working that kind of thing up. Now, Bridget and Karen are coming in. Any time now, I’m certain.” She looked at the door, but nothing happened.
Cin looked away, then nodded after a bit.
“Kare is on her way. She stopped to put on makeup, since she isn’t certain what’s going on. It could come up.” She glanced at Will directly then, since he had need of that kind of information. “Part of her job is acting as one of our public faces for the outside world. Bridget is…” She waved at the door then, as an absolutely tiny being walked in. At first he thought it was Zack’s wife, Merri, but this one was a bit taller. About four-six or so.
She was bone thin, much like Cindy was. Also, there was a sense of constant hunger coming off of her. All of the people there were trim, including himself, but she was delicate seeming about it. Nervous and twitching all the time as well. After a moment, she settled however, then moved in and started passing out hugs. Timon had his behind squeezed in a friendly fashion that would have been an invitation to a beating in Pine Creek. For the man. Possible shunning for the girl as well. Probably even, given that she kind of rubbed herself all over his front.
“Timon! I knew that you were going to come back for me. It’s my delightful personality, isn’t it? It’s all right, we all understand. Well, we need to go back to my room now…” She played at taking his hand, getting the man to smile.
Aunt Taman actually covered her mouth, looking away to hide her laughter at the scene, even though that was what the small red haired and very light skinned woman was going for. In part. She also clearly wanted to take the man away with her for other reasons. Given that he was youthful seeming, it didn’t even seem to be that big of an issue. She looked young, but was older than the thirteen he would have guessed for her by several years. Three or four even.
Turner straightened the front of her tan, heavy seeming shirt.
>
“Not this time. Besides, he’s married. I have a new hire for you to show the ropes. Will Baker. Physical, like a combination of you and me. Also a telepath. I don’t know what level. Some other abilities. He’s with you on Team Three. His main focus right now is going to be on learning to fight, with Hobbs. You’re his partner, until told otherwise. I want close eyes. Introduce yourselves. Karen has an appointment with Taman here in a few minutes. Tim, you had something?”
The tall man shook his head, making his black hair move a bit.
“Not other than what we’ve done already. I can get out of here. Will can get me back.”
It was giving a lot away, that hadn’t been shared with Bridget, but Cin looked at him and caught Willum’s hand, giving it a squeeze.
“She’s the third in command here. Don’t let the good looks fool you.”
It was helpful, which was the point the blonde lady had. She was trying to ingratiate herself with him, so that she could get free line travel from him on demand. It would probably work well enough, so he nodded, not saying all of that out loud.
Instead he tried to seem positive.
“Neat. We can do that now? Bridget… I’m Will, like Ms. Turner said. New here.”
They were waved toward the door, since Ms. Turner actually wanted to get them out of her hair for the time being. That was curly and brown, but not a literal thing either. She was suspicious of everything, but things directly around her were harder for her to deal with, so the goal was to tidy things up, by pushing them off on Bridget. Even if she didn’t know enough to understand her part in things there yet.
She knew what the booth around the side of the building did, since they didn’t have a transport network hooked up there. All that happened was that people went into it and vanished, or walked out, claiming they were from other worlds. When Tim opened the front of it, she stood outside, in the rain, her hands behind her back, and feet shoulder width apart.
It didn’t take long to deliver Timon to Harmony, since he lived there, and get back to the girl. About a minute. After all, he had to say goodbye and all that. Otherwise it would be rude. She was still there, a tiny bit wet, when he made the front wall of the hut vanish again.