Jonathan couldn't believe what he was hearing. This had to be a story his father was making up. "I don't get it. Why didn't you tell us?"
"We didn't want to take the chance the company would find out. It was best if you and the girls didn't know anything."
What else didn't he know? Were there any other secrets? "Does she still have those powers?"
"No, Jon." He looked at Nadira. "I know Novacorp tells you that you'll die if you leave here. It's not true. Once you leave Hathor, your abilities will fade over time. But that's it."
"I know," Nadira said, her voice shaky. "Ilana already told me."
"She did? What did she say?" Jonathan asked.
"What happened when the Guardians came to get Estrella?" Nadira asked, ignoring Jon's question. "Did they detain her family?"
"No," Brandon replied. "Her mother told them Estrella had been killed in a mining accident."
"And they believed it?" she asked.
Brandon looked down at the floor. "She wasn't on Hathor and they couldn't track her. I wasn't with Novacorp back then, so once I left no one was looking for me. I was just another miner who came and went. But she can't ever come back here, or see her family or communicate with them. She had to disappear. That's why we're not contracted. Neither she or my daughters are listed in the company records."
"But why am I listed as your son?" Jon asked. "Why me and not the girls?" Remembering the anxiety in his mother's eyes when he'd talked about coming to Hathor, he realized now why she'd been so upset.
"I accessed the company database to add you when I took over as CEO of the mine. I'd hoped one day you'd want to work with me and possibly take over the management. That's why I added your name to the records. Novacorp doesn't recognize unions unless there's a company-validated contract. That's why I wasn't required to add your mother's name."
His mother had escaped from Hathor and could've become a Guardian. Within minutes, Jon's entire world had shifted.
"I would've lost everything if they'd taken her away," Brandon said. "After I took over the mine, I got word from Estrella's mother. There were others who wanted to leave Hathor. I helped them. No one should be forced into a life they don't want. I don't care if they think having abilities is a gift. It's not."
Jon continued to watch Nadira for any signs of what she was feeling about this. Her expression was unreadable, and her emotions were locked down. She just stood there, refusing to meet his eyes.
Across the room Matt was drinking out of the decanter now, the empty glass on the table next to him. Had he helped out of loyalty to an old friend?
But Jonathan didn't get the chance to dwell on it because in the next instant, the world around him exploded. The window shattered, sending glass flying in every direction. Jon dropped to the floor, pulling Nadira down with him.
"There's an aircar out there on the transport road! It's firing on the house!" Cat screamed from the foyer. "Get out here now!"
23 Payback
Jonathan scrambled to his feet, pulling Nadira up with him. Jagged shards of glass were sticking out of the window frame. Outside he could make out movement as guards scrambled across the grounds.
"Let's go," Brandon said as he hustled them out of the room.
Cat dodged three guards as they ran past her, heading out the front door. "Brandon. We waited too long. We have to get out of here now."
"What the hell is going on?" Matt bellowed, still clutching the liquor decanter. "They have no right to do this."
"Zina must've had a security detail with her," Nadira said.
"Son, take Nadira and go out the back. There's a path leading to the shuttle station down the road."
"No, Dad. I'm not leaving without you."
"Jonathan!" He clutched his son's shoulder. "It doesn't matter. When they come here, they'll find out what I've done. I can't run away from it."
"Brandon, the Guardians don't know that you and Chief Mantee are here. If you leave now, I can protect you," Nadira said. "They won't be able to track you."
"What can you do?" Cat asked, her tone skeptical.
"When Ilana tells them what I've done, it won't matter."
"I'll make sure that Ilana's not a threat. Think of your family. If you're detained, everything will be revealed. They'll force Estrella back here," Nadira argued. "You have to go now."
Jonathan gazed into his father's eyes. He saw the worry and the pain. If there was a chance, his father had to take it. "Dad, you have to trust Nadira."
"All right," Brandon agreed.
"We'll go out the back. Come on!" Cat grabbed Brandon's arm and led him to the rear of the foyer.
"What about Ilana? Are you going to be able to stop her?" Jon asked.
Nadira nodded. "I'm going to try."
"What are they doing out there? Get away from my house!" Matt rushed out the front door.
"Matt!" Jonathan grabbed at him, but missed.
"Never mind him, Jon. Come with me." Nadira led him to the room across from the office. This one also had large windows, and gold furnishings. It was a mirror image of the office, except without the oversized desk. Nadira sat on the nearest couch.
Jonathan sat beside her. "What now?"
She grasped his hands. "I'm going to shield your father and Chief Mantee. But I'll need your help."
"You've got it."
It was just as he'd felt when she'd protected him before. The familiar tingling spread across his body as her energy flowed through him. He allowed his own energy to flow into it, creating the foundation, constructing the shield that would keep his father and Cat from Zina's detection.
*****
Nadira willed herself to tune out the noises that surrounded her. Footsteps thumped across the marble foyer, accompanied with shouted orders from Matt's guards. Jon's energy supported her as she shielded Brandon and Chief Mantee.
"Where are you? This is all your fault!"
The window behind Nadira shattered into thousands of fragments, spewing shards of glass across the room.
"What the hell?" Jonathan threw himself across her. His body protecting her as another window blew out. Stunner fire echoed across the grounds, followed by the sound of a scream.
"Jon, what's going on?" Nadira sat up, but found that Jonathan was refusing to let her sit up.
"Stay down. Someone's firing into the house." He lowered his head as a stunner discharge lit up the room. "We've got to get clear."
He pulled her to her feet and rushed her towards the door. But just as they got there, she saw Ilana speeding down the stairs. Clutching the case, she was heading for the front door.
"You're not going anywhere!" Nadira sent out a blast that hit Ilana and knocked her into the wall. The case flew out of her hand, landing in the middle of the foyer. Ilana slid down on the floor.
Jon dashed over and grabbed the case. "I'll take that."
Ilana narrowed her eyes at Nadira. "You don't learn do you?" Struggling to her feet, she fell back against the wall again, her chest heaving.
"Where are you going?" Nadira asked. By not using her full strength, she'd avoided the rebound of energy. She'd have to hold on for a little while longer. Maintain her shields and keep from draining herself.
Matt staggered back into the house, his scraggly grey hair hanging across his face. "J--Jon what are you doing with that?" He pointed to the case.
"What's wrong with you? You're an idiot!" Ilana rushed towards Matt, her arms outstretched.
Matt dodged her and ran into his office, followed by Ilana right on his heels.
"Come on!" Nadira followed them. Jonathan right behind her.
"No! Don't! Stop it!" Matt cried out as Ilana reached up and grasped Matt by the throat. They both fell back on the floor. Ilana straddled him, gripping Matt's neck as she banged his head against the carpet.
"Matt!" Jonathan lunched for her, grabbing her shoulders, trying to pull her off the older man. ""You'll kill him!"
Jon pried Ilana's fingers off and the force sent
him on his back, his hands gripping her wrists. They rolled across the carpet, and against the side of the couch.
The influx of emotions hit Nadira, making her head spin so much that she could barely stay on her feet. Her adrenaline pumping, she fell back against the door and braced herself. Ilana was regaining her strength and Nadira had to stop her before she could focus her energy.
Matt was on his hands and knees, coughing so much that he sounded like he was about to vomit. His body heaved as he grabbed a chair and pulled himself up.
Another stunner blast shot through the open window, illuminating the shards of glass that still hung from the frame. Wincing as the whine of the discharge cut through the air, Nadira ran over to where Jon and Ilana were wrestling. Ilana working to free herself from his grip, and Jon refusing to let go.
"Jonathan! Let her go!" Nadira called out. "Let her go!"
But he wasn't focused on her and he continued to struggle as Ilana kicked him.
"Stay back, Nadira! Damn it!" Jonathan rolled her onto her stomach, pressing her into the carpet as she continued to buck.
"Jon, let her go!"
"What?" Jon asked, glaring at her.
The distraction was enough to give Ilana the advantage. Wrenching one of her hands free, she reached back and touched Jonathan's leg.
"Yes, Jon, let me go!" Ilana mocked.
"AAAAGG!" Jonathan released her and fell back on the floor, his body trembling.
Ilana fell back and braced herself against the couch, kicking him as he writhed in pain.
Nadira's emotions surged through her as she focused her energy and threw out a blast.
Ilana screamed as it hit her hard enough to send her somersaulting over. Gripping her fingers into the carpet, she wrenched herself up.
Nadira felt her preparing for another energy blast. If she could get Nadira to spend her own energy, Ilana could overwhelm her.
Several of Matt's guards ran through the foyer, their boots tramping against the hard marble floor. Nadira jumped back as the discharge from one of their weapons ricocheted.
In that instant, Ilana ran past her and out of the office.
"We have to get out of here!" Jonathan got to his feet, and joined Nadira at the door. "Zina must've called an entire security team."
"I know." Nadira's struggled to catch her breath. "Jon, we can't let Ilana go."
"Then let's get her."
"No, stay here with Matt." He was leaning against the couch, his eyes closed. "I'll get her."
She ran out into the foyer, avoiding three more guards who shoved past her on their way through.
Crunching on bits of glass and splintered wood, Nadira followed them out the back. The glass double doors leading outside were now just empty frames.
Outside overturned tables and chairs littered the stone patio. In front of her, a gravel path led through a grove of trees similar to the ones out front. She couldn't see what was back there, but she could make out lights in the distance.
"You haven't had enough!" Ilana screamed, running towards her. She reached out her hand and sent out an energy blast.
Where had she been hiding? Nadira dodged out of the way, rolling against the stone floor. As she came to a stop, she sent out a blast in return.
It hit Ilana in the chest and sent her smashing against the doorframe. She slid down to the floor with a groan.
As Nadira came to her feet, she heard more stunner fire and the sound of heavy footsteps inside the house. It sounded like several people were running up the stairs.
Just as she reached the doorway, two people walked out onto the patio.
"Jon!" She ran over to him, then stopped when she saw who was behind him holding a stunner.
"You have betrayed us, Nadira." Zina walked out, her weapon pointed at Jonathan. "And now you will pay for your mistake."
*****
Every nerve ending in Jonathan's body was tingling, and every instinct called for him to grab Zina's weapon and tear it out of her hands. He knew that was a crazy idea--suicidal even--but he couldn't let her hurt Nadira anymore. Whatever she was planning, he had to stop her.
Nadira's eyes were locked with his. Too bad he couldn't tell what she was thinking right now.
"Ilana, that is a fitting place for you," Zina said.
With a slight turn of his head he was able to see Ilana on the floor. She eased herself up, leaning against the wall for support. "You've always looked down on me. But when you wanted to use me, it was different, wasn't it?"
"She told me what you did," Nadira advanced. "It was a violation to use Ilana without going through the Elders. You'll be punished."
Jonathan felt movement behind him. Was Zina about to blast him? If he could turn around and grab her before she realized what he was going to do…
"I suggest you don't try it, Mr. Keel," Zina said.
She'd read him. Damn it. His thoughts were exposed to her. He had to be careful in case he put Nadira in danger.
Nadira darted her eyes to the right. It was a small movement, and he barely caught it. Clearing his mind, he took a deep breath and hit the floor, rolling to the right and away from Zina's line of fire.
When he looked up, Nadira was raising her arms towards her mentor, her body rigid.
The energy blast hit Zina and sent her back against the broken door. She fell against it, grabbing hold of the frame to stay on her feet. Her weapon flew across the patio. Before Jon could react, Ilana scrambled over, picked up the stunner and aimed it at Zina.
"I should've done this long ago." Ilana aimed the weapon, her finger pressing against the firing button.
Zina lunged at her and grabbed Ilana's wrist. They fell against one of the overturned tables, and the weapon fell from Ilana's grasp. Zina grabbed it, pointed it at Ilana, and fired.
"Zina!" Nadira cried out.
A blast of bluish-white light, hit Ilana in the chest. There was no scream, or even a sound from her. Instead she rolled down on the floor as the discharge reverberated through the air.
Jonathan ran towards her and stopped. Ilana was lying at Zina's feet, her eyes open, a sizzling hole in her chest. Jon fought back the urge to vomit as the smell of smoldering flesh filled his nostrils.
When Zina faced him, she was breathing hard, her mouth half open.
"You killed her!" Nadira screamed.
"The Guardians must be protected, Nadira." Zina lowered the weapon, her hand shaking.
"You did it to protect yourself! She told me everything!"
"You've never understood the danger we face! If we show any weakness, Novacorp will use it to destroy us. Ilana was a thief and a killer. I had to do it."
"And you're no different than she was," Jonathan said, unable to take his eyes from the dead woman lying on the floor next to him.
"Enough! Mr. Keel you're coming with me," Zina said.
"Now I know why you were looking for Jonathan. You wanted to know if Ilana had told him about your plan. You were afraid that if he knew, he might tell Matt Bento that you'd sent Ilana to investigate him. You had no authorization from the Elders or Novacorp and you didn't want that to come out. You put out the alerts and chased us here to cover up your wrongdoing."
"Where did you hear such a story? From that slag?" She motioned to Ilana's body. "You believe her over me?"
"Zina, all you've ever wanted was power. That's why you destroyed our family and killed Ilana. No wonder you're an empath. You suck the life out of everything you touch!"
"How dare you address me in that way." Zina raised her weapon again. "I trained you! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be a Sentry. Obey me or accept the consequences."
Jonathan moved in between Zina and Nadira. "Put that weapon down," he ordered.
He felt Nadira's grip on his arm, but he wasn't going to move out of the way. Zina would not get the chance to do to Nadira what she'd done to Ilana. She'd have to go through him first.
She laughed. "And what will you do about it?"
"This," Nadira r
eplied.
"Noooo!" Zina's scream pierced the air.
Dropping the weapon on the floor, she staggered back. Groaning like an animal trying to free itself from a trap, she pressed her hands against her head.
Next to him Nadira's breathing was rough and her hand shook as she continued to grasp his arm. She wasn't blasting Zina as he'd seen her do to others, but she was sending out a lot of energy. Grunting, he shuddered as the rebound sent a shower of pinpricks through his body.
By now, Zina was clinging to the doorframe, her body heaving.
"Guardian, I--" A security officer walked out and froze when he saw Zina slumped against the door. He pulled out his weapon. "You attacked her!"
"Escort her back to the aircar," Nadira said, showing him her palm. "Do it now."
"Guardian! Yes, I--I will." Reluctant to touch her, he stood back as Zina straightened up. Without a backward glance, she staggered inside, the officer a few steps behind.
"What the hell did you do?" Jonathan asked as he took Nadira into his arms.
She sagged against him. "I flooded her with my emotions. That's why you felt the rebound."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Nadira said. "She knows that if she tries to go against me, I'll tell the Elders what she did to Ilana. She'll either be forced to leave Hathor forever or sent to detention. Sending her to solitary would destroy her. She needs to feed off the emotions of others."
"She'll leave us alone then."
"Ilana was apprehended. The company will be satisfied with that. They won't care how it happened or why. Where's the case?"
"Back in Matt's office. When Zina walked in, she asked where you were. Then she pointed that stunner at me. She didn't even notice the case."
"Then we can return it to your father."
"Were you able to keep your protection around them?"
"They've left Hathor, Jon. No Guardian can track them now."
"Does that mean it's over?" he asked.
"Yes, Jon. It's over."
24 Epilogue
Three Days Later
Nadira sat at the counter in the dining area of her apartment. She stared into her half-finished cup of tea as she reviewed the events of the past few days.
Hathor Legacy: Outcast Page 15