by Gini Koch
Naomi’s talents were like her big brother’s—dream and memory reading. But she could also manipulate and change those memories. The girls worked as a team more often than not, though they’d never done any real fieldwork, unless you counted my wedding, which was an A-C talent boot camp all by itself.
Naomi kissed Jamie’s head, and her eyes went wide. She looked at me. “You know she didn’t understand.” She sounded just like ACE had when I’d asked him if Jamie had almost killed me, and I knew she’d seen something in Jamie’s mind.
“I know. ACE is watching over her, just like he did for you two and Serene.”
Naomi relaxed. “Yeah. It was nice to find out who our ‘voice in the sky’ was.”
Abigail nodded. “Should have guessed, especially after ACE went into Paul. But I think he didn’t want us to know.”
“ACE was afraid we’d hate him for taking care of you.”
Both girls shook their heads. “I can’t imagine what we would have been like if ACE hadn’t helped,” Naomi said softly.
“I know. We’re extremely lucky ACE is our loving observer.”
Abigail stroked Jamie’s head. “Interesting.” She looked at me. “She’s really processing things well.”
“I’ve just been told that her brain functions are advanced.” Melanie and Emily both nodded their confirmation.
“Yes, but that’s not what I mean. There’s a lot of emotions going on and she seems very . . . calm.” Abigail cocked her head, and Naomi leaned hers against Jamie’s. “She’s definitely empathic,” Abigail said slowly.
“There’s imageering ability in there, too,” Naomi added. “More talents, too, at least possibly. I think she’s going to be more advanced talent-wise than any of us so far.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be incredibly proud or worried. Settled for both. “Is she having trouble handling everyone’s emotions or whatever it is imageers have trouble handling?”
“Imageers have to stop themselves from touching pictures before they can handle the feedback,” Melanie said. “So just keep her away from pictures and she’ll be fine.”
“If she’s as advanced as Christopher, she might make pictures in the air,” Emily added. “But those are usually nothing to worry about. And they can be helpful.”
Naomi nodded. “She’s very well controlled.” She looked as if she were going to say something else, but Abigail nudged her, and Naomi quickly nuzzled Jamie instead. I got the impression the Gower girls had spotted the blocks Jeff had installed somehow and were also fully aware of how much watching over ACE was actually doing. I also got the impression they didn’t want to talk about it here, for whatever reason.
“Speaking of which, we weren’t joking,” Abigail said briskly. “Christopher needs someone in there with him. He asked Richard and Paul both to leave him alone.”
“And they did?”
Abigail snorted. “Look, as a race we don’t have a lot of experience with addiction. But spending time with Chuck has taught the two of us a lot.”
CHAPTER 38
MY WHOLE BODY WENT TENSE, and Jamie started to cry again. “Is Chuckie addicted to something?”
Abigail shook her head. “No. Relax, really. He’s like the cleanest guy out there. I’ve seen him take one drink in the entire time we’ve known him. He could be an A-C, he’s that clean. Well,” she looked into Christopher’s chamber, “that’s a bad example, but you know what I mean.”
“He taught us about addictions because we had a lot of issues when we hit minds addled by alcohol or drugs.” Naomi was rocking Jamie and got her quieted down. They both seemed very happy. “It helped a lot. I know Jeff and Christopher resent him, but he’s the best friend Abby and I have ever had.”
“Abby?” Not that I minded, but only Jeff used a nickname, since the A-Cs lived for certain formalities.
Abigail grinned. “Chuck calls me Abby and Sis here Mimi.”
Naomi shrugged. “We both like it. He treats us like normal adults.”
“Everyone thought you were normal before.”
“Yeah, but we’re the babies. You know, I’m twenty-four and Mimi’s twenty-five, but we’re infants to the others. Besides, I think Jeff’s right. We need to adapt to humans because we’re never going back to Alpha Four.”
“I don’t know, the current monarchy is very pro Earth and Earth A-Cs.” The king had been in our wedding party, after all.
Abigail shrugged now. “Don’t know, don’t care. We belong here. I wish more of the old folks would catch on and stop pretending it’s the same here as the home world.”
“Your parents aren’t like that.”
“No, thank God.” Naomi said with a laugh.
Abigail jerked. “You need to get in there, Kitty.”
“I didn’t think emotions could get in or out of these things.”
“They can’t, really. But I’m very close, and the drug’s not out of Christopher’s system. I think that’s why Jamie’s been crying.”
“Really, not my reactions to things?”
“No,” Naomi said quietly. “I’m sure she’s picking up some of what Christopher’s going through, like Abby is.”
“Everything is heightened by the drug, as far as we can tell, including what’s sent out, not just what comes in, if you know what I mean,” Abigail said.
“Yeah, I think I do.” Which meant my emotions were likely broadcasting on a stronger frequency now than they had been before. Lucky Jeff.
“I can just pick him up,” Abigail went on. “Trust me, he needs someone who’s not afraid of him or willing to put up with his crap.”
I managed a laugh, kissed Jamie’s head, and then Melanie opened the chamber door. Christopher was strapped down on a large medical table that rested on a pedestal, so that the table could move in pretty much any way and rest at any angle. It was slanted so his feet were just slightly lower than his head. He was tied down, had tubes and needles in his arms, and what I knew was a feeding tube in his mouth. If he’d looked hideous, I’d have been staring at Frankenstein’s monster before the electric shock treatment.
As it was, seeing him like this just reminded me of how often I saw Jeff like this. Not as much as I was willing to, because my reactions when I saw him in isolation were very similar to my reactions right now. I wanted to rip all this stuff out of him, get him out of the restraints, and drag him off to safety.
Only this was safety. I’d have lost Jeff in the first two days I’d known him if it weren’t for isolation. I knew my baby would have to spend time in here, too. Maybe I would also, now. The idea terrified me.
I went to Christopher. His eyes looked tortured and angry. I took the feeding tube out of his mouth, and gave him some water from the pitcher on one of the tables. I held his head while I helped him drink from the specially designed cup. I’d gotten good at this with Jeff, the few times I could calm down enough to be in here with him.
Done with the water, I kissed Christopher’s forehead. “How’re you doing?”
“It’s hell. Get me out of here.”
I looked at his eyes. They looked better, a lot less bloodshot. But they also looked wild. “I can’t.”
“Please. Kitty, I can’t stand it.” I could hear the pain in his voice.
I stroked his hair. “I know. It’s horrible. But we have to get the drug out of you.”
Christopher shook his head. “It’ll never be out of me. I know what’s happened to you because of what this did to Jeff.”
“How?” Who would have been stupid enough to tell him against Chuckie’s direct order, which Jeff had agreed with?
“I can see it. I can see what’s happening inside you. I can see your cells rearranging.”
“Umm . . . Christopher? Managing not to have hysterics here, but only just.”
He took a deep breath. “Remember I told you I could see the people I cared about if I concentrated?” I nodded. “Well, I can. It’s so awful in here—I’ve never understood how Jeff could stand it. He’s br
aver than me, I guess.”
I kissed his head again. “He wouldn’t agree. Now, please, before the hysterics start, finish up the scary explanation that probably won’t make me feel any better.”
“I was . . . scared,” he said in a low voice. “So I tried to see you and the baby, just to pretend things were normal. I concentrated so hard, I could see you, and then I could really see you. It’s never happened before, but I’ve practiced while I’ve been in here, and if I want to, I can see what’s happening in your body.”
“Desperately focusing on the positive here. So you’re about to become the king of the brain surgeons or something, but what’s going on with me?”
“You’re a superhuman. I know you’ve already figured it out, but your cells have altered to the point where I don’t think you’re going to go back to the old you.”
“Is it going to kill me?” Wow, asked that without my voice shaking too much. So proud of myself.
“I don’t think so. Your body’s adapted to it really well. I think it’s because the drug was originally based on what our people were working on for both human and A-C suspended animation. I think it’s a combination of both, and that’s why it’s not hurting you. I mean, if you consider becoming superhuman not being hurt.”
“Dude, I consider it the most awesome thing ever, as long as I’m not gonna die from it in like a month or something and as long as it’s not hurting my baby.”
“I looked at her, too. Jamie’s fine. She looks like Jeff inside, same cellular changes.”
“Christopher, this is both the most interesting and most gross conversation I’ve had since Tito described how this happened to me. Where is my snarkmeister? I’d love a snarky comeback instead of Doctor McSteamy.”
He managed a grin. “Too tired to snark. I just want out of here, so badly.”
“I know, honey.” I stroked his head some more, and he closed his eyes.
“That feels so nice.”
A thought occurred. “Christopher, can you see the makeup of things that aren’t human? Like, can you tell if what you injected was pure or synthetic?”
“Haven’t tried.” His eyes were still closed. “Where’s Jeff?”
“Um . . . out.”
Christopher’s eyes stayed shut. “Is he going to help Tim?”
“Yeah. How did you know about that?”
“Tim came to see me yesterday. Kind of following up on whatever I might have let slide because of being locked in here like an animal. He was upset that Alicia still wasn’t home, happy we still had a team at Saguaro International, that sort of thing. So I’ve been watching him. He’s okay, at least he was the last time I checked.”
Made sure my voice was really casual. “Honey? How far is your range?”
He opened his eyes. “Alexander and Councillor Leonidas are having some trouble, but not with each other. Otherwise, they and Victoria are doing okay. Jareen and Neeraj are expecting, but they don’t know it yet.”
CHAPTER 39
“OH, MY GOD. YOU’RE SEEING people in the Alpha Centauri system?” I managed not to shriek. Good, good. I was calm, cool, and collected.
“Yeah.” He swallowed. “Is this the part where I make that horrible laugh and turn evil and then try to kill everyone I love, right before you and Jeff kill me to save the world?” He was serious, and trying not to cry.
“Oh, honey, no.” I hugged him as best I could, stroked his hair, and kissed his forehead. “Having power is one thing. Using it unwisely is another. Honey, you’ve always been powerful. And all you and Jeff have done with that power is protect people and worlds, and you both could have taken over without even trying hard. Chuckie thinks you and Jeff were already genetic evolutionary steps.”
“You mean mutations.”
“I was trying for the positive, comforting spin. Besides, I’m a mutant, now, too.” I kissed his head. “I’m totally jazzed about it, by the way, especially since you said I’m not going to die from it and that Jamie’s safe.”
He managed a weak chuckle. “Glad one of us is.”
“Honey, this is why you were shooting up, remember?”
Christopher heaved a sigh. “Yeah. Oh, and I don’t need you to mention what an idiot I was. I’m clear on that.” He was quiet for a few moments. “Kitty . . . I’m terrified.”
“I know.” Stroked his hair while I tried to figure out how to say what I needed to without making him feel belittled. “Jeff was scared, too, when this happened to him. I know Serene was also. But they both got past it and learned to deal with new powers. You will, too.” I kissed his head. “How did you get the Surcenthumain?”
“The what?”
“That’s the drug’s official name.”
“Never heard it before.”
“How did you get it?”
“I . . . don’t remember.” He sounded confused. “I remember watching Reynolds do some work with Abigail and Naomi. James was there, and he made a joke about how those two could probably shift galaxies if they had that Club Fifty-One drug. Reynolds got pissed and went into his antidrug rant. I thought it could be a good thing if we did it right . . . and then, I can remember the second time I injected myself.”
“The second time?”
“Yeah. Not the first. I remember being really pissed at Reynolds for something—I think he’d made some comment about Jeff getting to you in time because of the drug and that being the only reason he didn’t just order it wiped off the face of the Earth.” He sighed. “Can’t wait to have to deal with him after this.”
“He’ll be fine.” I kissed his head. “Chuckie’s really freaked that you did this, Christopher, but that’s because he respects you. If he didn’t respect you and Jeff, he never would have let Centaurion leave ETD control.” Or let me marry Jeff, but I didn’t figure that was relevant to this conversation.
“If you say so.”
“Known him half my life. I say so.”
“I don’t think he’s ever going to get over you.”
Great, how had this moved from important things to my love life? “We’ll always love each other, Christopher. It’s not really important now.”
“Why does he hate Amy so much?”
I found myself wondering if Christopher had lost his mind. “Because he never liked her, and she never liked him. She thought he was a drag on me socially, and he thought she exemplified everything wrong with wealth.”
“Who was right?”
“Neither. I met more interesting people because of Chuckie than anyone else in my life, at least until that superbeing formed. I tried things I never would have because of him and learned things that have helped me survive in my second career. Amy’s not nearly as stuck up as Chuckie’s always thought, and she’s worked for everything she’s gotten, though most people assume her parents paved the way. But she went to college on a full merit scholarship, worked like a dog to pay for law school, and then got her job based on skill, not connections.”
“So they fought over you?”
“Geez, dude, you make it sound like Amy’s my special girlfriend. She’s straight. For what it’s worth, she thought Brian was a great boyfriend and was upset with me for breaking up with him. Everyone but me thought Chuckie was nuts . . . you know, because he believed you and your family were living on Earth.”
Christopher actually laughed. “Yeah. Wonder if he’s going to rub that in to her.”
“Dude, they are not hanging out reminiscing and bonding over newly found shared interests. He wants to arrest her as a mole and lock her away. He can’t stand her, and nothing she’s said or done since you and Jeff brought her in from Paris has changed that mind-set. She still can’t stand him, either. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them act like we were all still in high school, but I’m not looking forward to putting the three of us along with Brian and Sheila in a room together.”
Thought about how I hadn’t seen Sheila yet. Got the “worst friend in the world” feeling. Decided saving the world might make up
for it. Never had yet, but maybe I’d be lucky.
“Is that because it’ll be all of them against Reynolds?”
“Insightful. Yes.”
“How many years did you spend defending him?”
“Dude, I’ve never stopped. I have to defend him every damn day to Jeff.”
“Jeff’s never going to have the jealousy chat with Reynolds.”
I snorted. “They have it all the time. Not like his jealousy chat with you and James, more like a constant stag fight.”
“Do you like it?”
I thought about it. “It doesn’t bother me the way it did when you and Jeff were fighting over me. That freaked me out.”
“Why?”
I kissed his head. “Because you mean so much to Jeff, and vice versa. I was afraid I was going to ruin your relationship, and then you’d both hate me.”
“Lissa said the same thing.” He sounded despondent. “She was almost right. If Jeff hadn’t put up with me treating him like my worst enemy, she would have been right.”
“She was murdered before she could tell you she was going to marry you and while she was with Jeff. I can understand why you took it out on him.”
“I can’t. Not any more.”
“You’re a bigger boy now.” I leaned my head against his. “I guess asking for my old Christopher back’s kind of impossible, huh?”
“Can’t have my old Kitty back, either.”
I moved and looked into his eyes. “I want you to promise me something.”
He sighed. “I’m not going to shoot up again, no matter how tempting it is.” He sounded like he’d been saying this to people for days.
“Great, not the promise I’m looking for.” He raised an eyebrow. “Recovering from addiction’s one step at a time. Sometimes it’s not even one day at a time, sometimes it’s like one minute at a time. You can’t promise that you’ll never do it again. You can only promise that each minute you’ll do your best to not give in to the demon.”