by Ben Hale
"The hat is anti-magic, and I got it from a friend of mine in the unknowable school. The threads on the back break the hat's shielding, and allow me to choose when I want to connect to the nets. It's not perfect yet, but it helps me have a conversation without distractions." A frown creased her features. "It also dampens my magic—but sometimes that's a good thing, right? So what's up?"
Tess grinned in relief. She desperately needed someone to talk to, but abruptly decided that it couldn't be Kate. She couldn't imagine saying, Hey Mom, I'm sorry I told you that you aren't my real mother, but hey, I just met my real mother. Even in her mind it sounded like a slap in the face.
"I need to talk about Alice," Tess said.
Iris nodded. "What do you want to know?"
"Can you keep a secret?" Tess asked.
Iris frowned. "When I need to, although I don't like to."
"From here on out anything we talk about stays between us," Tess said. As an afterthought, she added, "Or Rox and Derek."
They were her other good friends at Tryton's. One was Iris's brother, the other was a water mage that had proved her trust.
"Do you want me to call them?" Iris asked. "They are at the Guild now."
Tess hesitated, but felt a flash of gratitude that Iris had not already done so. In the past Iris had demonstrated a willingness to act before asking. She had even gone so far as cancel a class, just so Rox could meet up with them. Granted it had been important, but this time Tess decided against it.
"It's late," Tess said, "Let them sleep."
Iris stabbed a finger at Tess. "Does this have to do with Hawk's conversation with you outside the Guild?"
Startled, Tess laughed in chagrin. Of course Iris had seen it. She hesitated as her uncertain parentage assailed her, and then jerked her head in the negative. Perhaps she wasn't ready to talk about Alice. She needed to figure out her own feelings first. She relented with a sigh.
"Maybe we should talk about Alice later," Tess said. "And speaking of Hawk, there is something else we need to figure out."
"So then what's the secret?" Iris asked. Her eyes sparkled with interest.
"Hawk wants me to find four objects. Apparently they are supposed to help us." She shared what Hawk had said regarding the artifacts, and then added his suggestion to focus on the Oracle's Crest first.
Iris's eyes widened in surprise, and Tess felt a flash of triumph. It was probably the first time she had succeeded in telling her something she didn't already know.
"That's it?" Iris asked.
All the suppressed anger, helplessness, and confusion boiled over in an instant, causing Tess to snap.
"I just watched my house blow up—told my parents what I am—and that they weren't my parents—and then told them I had to leave. After all of that, I find out my mother is alive and my dad is a Harbinger. What do you mean, that's it?"
"Feel better?" Iris asked, unfazed by the heat in Tess's tone.
Tess issued a bark of laughter at the absurdity of everything that had occurred in a single day. Iris just stared at her with a quizzical expression. Then Tess sighed. "Let's just get started."
"What exactly do you want to know?" Iris said, and the purple line in her clothing flickered.
"Everything," Tess said. "But let's start with the records at school. Let's figure out of if there is any connection to Crest there. Do you think you can get to them?"
Iris laughed.
"Oh, and Iris?" Tess asked. Iris's expression momentarily cleared. "If you find anything about my birth parents in there, let me know, would you?"
For once serious, Iris nodded.
"I'll get started now," she said.
Tess sighed, "Thanks Iris—but don't hack any secure files just yet, alright?"
Iris shrugged apologetically. "Too late."
Chapter 6: Guarded
Jack felt a numbing rage as he left the ice-cream shop. He kept his hand intertwined with Kate’s. Despite all his training in weapons, tactics, and human behavior, her touch kept him grounded more than anything else. The moment they stepped into the night, a man moved to join them.
"I'm Breaker. Come with me," he grunted, and then gestured for them to follow him.
As he silently fell into step behind the man, Jack's mind went into motion. First, he examined the interchange with their guide. The man was short and stocky, and bore an odd tattoo of a brown knot near his right shoulder. He did not move with grace, but rather with a halting step, as if he preferred another means of travel. The movement was in direct contrast to his eyes, which displayed wariness and caution. Directed outward, they were constantly scanning for possible threats. The evidence that the man had military training was unmistakable, yet Jack couldn't discern a pattern that would reveal where.
He analyzed the previous conversation next, and sifted through Hawk's and Tess's faces for manipulation or deceit. As before, he saw no hint of guile or deception in either one of them. There was no sign of psychological manipulation of any kind. A slight frown creased his features, but his mind was satisfied so he moved on to the real issue.
His daughter was a mage—and perhaps not his daughter at all. So far, she had displayed an ability over heat, water, and telekinesis, but Hawk had implied that she could do a great deal more. During the contact with the hooded assailants Jack had witnessed men control fire and earth. To his recollection he had seen no conventional weaponry of any kind.
Despite that, their tactics had revealed a great deal. They had breached the house simultaneously from two sides, indicating superior training and communication. They had entered with the obvious intent to harm and damage, which suggested a chilling familiarity with violence. Last, they had withdrawn upon encountering resistance, and subsequently sought to destroy the house. It was obvious they had meant to kill Kate and him as well, not just Tess.
His lips tightened, but he suppressed his burst of anger. At this stage the emotion would not be helpful. Instead he reviewed the conflict a second time, and realized that despite their obvious power, conventional weapons had hurt them. He had no way of knowing if they had been killed, but he could clearly recall the spray of blood as his rounds had struck their targets.
Filing away the information he'd gleaned, he turned his focus on their guide. "Where are you taking us?" he asked.
"To an apartment near where you work." Breaker’s voice was gruff as he replied, and he kept his attention on the dark street.
"How do you know where I work?" Jack asked.
Breaker didn't smile. "Because Hawk has been watching Tess since she was born. Get in."
He gestured to an older car and withdrew a key from his pocket. Unlocking the vehicle, he slid inside and started the ignition. Jack took the passenger seat while Kate slid into the back. The moment they were inside Jack sought to engage him in conversation.
"Hawk said you're in the military?"
"Yes."
"What specialty?"
"Suppression."
"Suppression of what?"
"Conflicts."
"Why aren't we using an invisible flying car? Or don't you use them?"
"No."
The answers were too curt for Jack to read into. He couldn't tell if it was Breaker's training that caused him to answer that way, or his personality. In spite of Breaker’s reluctance to speak, Jack had noticed two additional things from the interchange. First, he suspected that Breaker had been ordered to answer, probably by Hawk, and second, humor had no effect on him. Switching tactics, Jack tried a more direct approach.
"Will you answer everything I ask?"
Breaker's lips tightened. "Yes."
Kate jumped into the conversation. "Where is Hawk taking Tess?"
"Tryton's."
"And where is that?" Kate asked.
"It varies."
Kate flushed in anger, but Jack glanced back and she bit back an angry retort. "Breaker," Jack said. "Please keep in mind that everything we know has been upended in a matter of hours, and we aren'
t the type to go to sleep until we understand the situation. Our daughter is not who we thought, and she is gone without the ability to help us understand, which leaves us with you. Also, if you don't stop being so vague, I'm fairly certain my wife will put a bullet into your brain. She will not think twice about finding out on her own, I assure you."
He allowed just a fraction of the strain he felt to seep into his voice, just enough for Breaker to feel a sense of empathy. Then there was a loud click as Kate racked the slide of her pistol, chambering a round into the gun and adding a note of agreement to Jack's statement.
Breaker looked into the rearview mirror, his gaze as hard as stone. Jack had no doubt who would win. Kate had always had an uncanny ability to show her unyielding spirit in a single look. After a moment of tense silence Breaker grunted an ascent and began to speak, his eyes returning to the road.
"Tess is going to Tryton's Academy of Magic, which is located in the mage city of Auroraq. As the capitol of our world, Auroraq floats at twenty thousand feet and is in constant motion over North America."
Jack struggled to digest that information. Then he asked, "Will she be safe there?"
"As safe as is possible," Breaker said. "But right now the Harbingers control much of our government. We don't believe they will harm her there. If they did, it would be counterproductive to their aims."
Worry for his daughter dumped into Jack’s veins, and he paused to gain control of it. The dark streets of Richmond slid by as he looked out the window. None of his extensive training had ever taught him how to handle such a shift in reality.
"Aren't you afraid I will pass all this information to my agency?" Jack finally asked.
Breaker glanced at him, his eyes appraising. "No."
"Why not?" Kate asked.
"Because they would want to know the source of the information, and I don't think you are ready to turn your daughter over to them."
Breaker had them, and his raised eyebrow showed that he knew it. Jack settled into his seat and fell silent. He had no intention of revealing his knowledge to the CIA, but that left him with a different question. What was he going to do? He couldn't just return to working his active case files like nothing had occurred.
He issued a grunt of irritation. The agency would know that his house had been destroyed, and would no doubt want an explanation for how he had survived, not to mention who had done it.
"What am I supposed to tell my superiors about my home?"
"One of our people altered your address within the agency database," he replied. "They will hear about a gas leak that ruptured in the suburbs, but will not connect it back to you. To my understanding you have never had someone from your work visit your home?"
Jack shook his head, and he looked back at Kate. Both were stunned at the tactic. It was plausible, and would no doubt be successful. Still, it suggested that someone within the agency worked directly with Hawk. The word traitor came to mind, but for some reason it didn't linger. In just the last few minutes Jack had come to believe that the mages—or at least this group—held interests similar to the American government.
Throughout the conversation a part of Jack's mind had tracked their route through the city, and true to Breaker's word they came to a stop next to an apartment building around the corner from Jack's office.
They disembarked and Breaker led them through a back entrance and up a flight of stairs. He stepped into a shadowed alcove that appeared like any other section of wall and withdrew a rusted bolt from the surface. In his hands the bolt morphed into a key. Then he led them up the back stairs to the highest apartment. Reaching the top, Breaker flicked the key into the hole and touched the door. There was a click, and then the door swung open to reveal a surprisingly spacious apartment.
He stepped in, but waited until the others had followed before flicking on the light. Then he closed the door behind them. Without a word he strode to the kitchen and pulled an amber bottle from the fridge. Grabbing three glasses, he stepped into the living room and placed them on the table. Sinking onto the couch, he poured a drink for each of them and took one for himself.
"We don't drink," Kate said.
"Neither do most of us," Breaker said, and took a swig. Noticing their hesitation, he added, "It doesn't have alcohol, if that's what you're worried about."
Jack shrugged at Kate, and then picked up the glass. He hesitated, and then took a sip. The liquid was rich and thick, almost the texture of an ice-cream shake, and it changed flavor as he swallowed. Starting out with an unidentifiable fruit, it quickly altered into a tangy, almost strawberry-like taste, and then shifted to a lingering sweetness. In seconds it rejuvenated Jack from the weariness he'd pointedly ignored for the last hour.
Resisting the urge to fill his glass a second time, he placed it on the table. The glass hitting the wood sounded loud in his ears as he settled into a seat. He stared at Breaker for a full minute while he considered which of the thousand questions he should start with. Since Kate had already asked the most important, he settled on the second most.
"What can we do to help our daughter?"
Breaker's grizzled face almost split into a smile. Almost. "Our government, the Magtherian, has always hovered in the background of auren affairs," he said. "To that end we have strategically placed technology mages throughout the governments of earth. Their primary role is to maintain the secrecy of our people.
"Hawk takes that a step further. We have a few of our own techno mages placed where they can help prevent conflicts, and maintain the peace."
"What are techno mages?" Jack pounced on the term at the same time Kate spoke.
"So you work for the mages? Or Hawk?"
"To be honest, both," Breaker said, addressing Kate's question first, "but the mage government does not know that." He shifted to Jack. "Technology mages can manipulate any live signal, such as phone, internet, radio, satellite, etc. They can also craft their own, and can manipulate various items using a diminished form of electricity."
Jack's eyes widened as he realized the implication of that one statement. Every form of communication, especially encrypted, could theoretically be hacked in seconds—without a computer. He felt a chill course down his spine. All the security that he relied on within his profession could be stripped away with barely a thought. Breaker must have read his thoughts in his expression.
"Don't start thinking that mages are unstoppable," Breaker said with a grunt. "Mages vary in skill as much as aurens do. There are only a handful in the world that can crack your agency’s computer network. There are plenty more that spend their time playing online games."
His statement helped assuage Jack's concerns, but not by much. "Do you have a techno mage in your family?" he asked.
Breaker growled. "Hawk may be willing to risk everything on your trust, but I am not. Don't ask about my family."
Jack frowned, but nodded. If anything, the warning sounded like a father protecting his children. Sidestepping the conversation, he swept his hand to Breaker, "So what can I do if you have people within the my agency?"
Breaker regarded him for a long moment, and Jack felt like he was seeing him for the first time. Then he shrugged and released a rough breath. "The Harbingers that came for Tess have infiltrated nearly every level of the Magtherian, and we still do not know the extent to which they have control. Limiting their influence would be invaluable."
"You want him to spy on your people?" Kate's eyes flashed. "Right after you tell us they can control the digital sphere. They will kill him if they find out."
"I won't say it's not dangerous," Breaker said.
"What about me?" Kate asked, and flashed a challenging look at Jack. "Don't think I am going to go back to teaching if our daughter is in trouble."
Breaker issued a gruff laugh. "Even if she isn't of your blood, she certainly has your grit."
Jack caught Kate's arm, but addressed Breaker. "We'll talk more in the morning. Nothing needs to be decided right now."
Kate seemed about to protest, but a warning look kept her silent. Breaker drained his glass and pointed down the hall. "Take the largest bedroom at the end." With that he rose and strode from the room.
Kate rounded on Jack, but he motioned her to silence. Rising to his feet he led her to the room Breaker had indicated. Once inside he closed the door and turned to his wife.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Kate's features were as hard as he had ever seen. "If our daughter needs help, we help her."
Staring into her unflinching gaze Jack knew there would be no convincing her. Sighing in exasperation, he relented. "What do you suggest?"
"Let's start with you getting into the Mage Investigation Office. We can figure out where I can go from there."
Pride in his wife warred with his rising worry for her safety. It seemed inconceivable that his family could emerge unscathed from what he suspected was coming. "Fine," he said quietly. "What are you going to do until I find you a way in?"
"Train," Kate said, her eyebrows pulling together. "Magic or not, I'm not going to let my daughter be taken away from me. I'm confident Breaker can help me prepare to fight his kind."
Jack did not envy Breaker. "I will do what I can," Jack whispered.
Abruptly she hugged him. The tightness of the embrace caused a well of emotion to tighten in Jack's throat.
"I'm afraid too," he murmured.
And he was. He already knew the exact place where Kate would fit best. He'd seen a message on his desk just a couple of days ago from the MIO. It was putting together a task force, one that would need someone with Kate's skill set. But did he really want to tell her? He knew without asking that she would leap at the opportunity—but he also knew it would put her in harm's way.
And likely get her killed.
Chapter 7: Reunion
Tess and Iris didn't make it very far. Between the late hour and the day's events, Tess succumbed to sleep soon after Iris had delved into Tryton's files. She awoke stiff and on the floor. Rubbing her eyes, she groaned and sat up.