by Crystal Dawn
Maybe she was just a kid, but she wasn’t a stupid one. Something was going on at that place her mom worked and she thought they might be the cause behind her mom’s pregnancy and the unusual growth of the baby. The least they could do was care for her mom, but they weren’t doing that either. Paige felt frustrated and she didn’t know what to do now. All she could do was wait for the gods and hope they’d keep their word. If they didn’t, there wasn’t much she could do.
They made it down the road and to the house her grandma had owned. She supposed it was theirs now, but she wasn’t too sure that was true. It was a three bedroom house and because it was old and they’d never had the money to remodel it, it had only one bathroom and the washer and dryer were on the back porch. Two bedrooms were upstairs, in what her grandma had called the dormer. The roof came down and made part of the upstairs rooms barely usable. They were small anyway, not that the downstairs bedroom was big, but at least it had a closet.
Because the house was old, her mom said it was held together with spit and baling wire. Aunt Ritzy always said thank goodness for duct tape and they’d laugh. Paige didn’t think it was funny and she always worried that the roof would cave in. It never did, but that didn’t mean it never would. She got her mom home and into bed. The young girl pulled an apple out of her pocket and set it on the nightstand for her mom to find. Mom needed it more than anyone she knew, besides Paige ate her fill in the employee break room. Paige was just happy to be able to bring something home that was healthy for her mom to eat. While her mom slept she went to the library a block down from their house to see if she could make some more money. Just in case the gods took their own sweet time getting here.
Chapter 4
Mission On
Tycho woke up happy and relaxed. Things were going to turn around now and his natural luck was back. He wouldn’t question why or how, he’d just accept that it was so. This god hurried to get ready and then he moved down the hall, he’d put on his headpiece for missions, and now he was hearing all the pre mission chatter. Hermes and Cherish would head up this mission which was unusual. It made him wonder if maybe Cherish wanted to visit friends and this was a good excuse to go.
Even though she was good at this stuff, she’d just had a baby recently and was nursing. It didn’t look like she was going to let that slow her down. Plutus was on the list as was Adonis, Zelus, and Dione, short for Dionysius. Dione wasn’t usually included on missions, but he’d asked to go so he could get away from the snow and the cold. All gods were given basic training to go on missions, so there was no reason not to include him. They were due to leave in an hour and would be briefed on board. Tycho had his go bag and was ready now.
He was walking down the hall to the conference room where he knew the others were gathered when he felt arms like bands of steel surround him after a cuff upside his head. Oh, hell! He knew without looking that Hades had slipped up on him.
“Got you now, Tycho!” Hades thundered. Tycho stood still, no point in alienating Hades now that he was so close to being free. “You’d better do exactly as you’re told or you may never get another chance at redemption. Am I clear?” Hades whispered into his ear.
“Y-yes,” Tycho stuttered and cursed himself for showing weakness.
“Leave him alone, Hades, before you find yourself on my bad list,” an amused feminine voice suggested. It was Doc.
“Yes, Sweetheart,” Hades agreed as he shot one last glaring look at Tycho.
What an asshole! Tycho might think it, but he was smart enough to never say it. He continued on to the conference room where breakfast had been brought in for them, while options and possibilities were discussed. He quickly grabbed the last two of Cherish’s homemade cinnamon buns, mentally patting himself on the back for getting to them in time. He added a few more things, got a drink, and found an empty seat not really too particular about who he sat by.
Zeus led the discussion from the head of the table. As soon as Tycho took a big bite out of his delicious bun, Zeus addressed him with a question. It was done purposefully, he’d wager. He chewed quickly and swallowed instead of enjoying the morsel as he’d intended.
Zeus repeated his question. “Do you think the mother might carry a god?”
Tycho had heard rumors about females being inseminated with god seed. He’d had his doubts about it, but now he knew it to be true. “It’s possible since she became pregnant while working there and the child didn’t mention a male in their life.”
It was something he’d noticed, but he hadn’t asked afraid of upsetting the young female. What if her mother was carrying a god? That meant she would be the mate to one of his brothers. There would be not just one more child in the form of the young girl he’d spoken to, but two. It would be a cause to celebrate more than just the freeing of their brother. Gods were finding their mates, but the rate was slow enough that each mating was cause for celebration. He didn’t expect to find his mate any time soon, he was still young, but more of the older gods that found their mates, the easier the process would be for his generation.
He looked around and saw they had all realized what this might mean. It could be one more mated pair to make their world stronger. So far every mate had come to them with her own special talents and abilities. All of them had fit into their community perfectly and become a worthy addition. Eventually, they would be a force to be reckoned with and Origin would be forced to leave them be. Peace to live out their lives and safety for their families was all they wanted. Right now it seemed an impossible dream but someday they would claim it.
Tycho finished eating his savory food while the others talked in the background. He would hear it all several times before they landed in Texas. Hermes stood up and looked around the room.
“It’s time to move out team,” he said. Tycho saw it was a bit early but he was all for it. Sooner was better for saving Paige and her mother Mitzy.
They all geared up and hiked through the bitter cold and along the cleared path to the plane. The area around the plane and the runaway had been cleared with a huge snow blower. Gods fought to be the one to use it and he’d gotten the privilege once or twice. The lights were on along the runway and they put out enough heat to melt the falling snow, but before long, the snow would overwhelm the heat. They all loaded up and Hermes instructed them to sit near him, until he was through going over the plan.
Once he went through it, he would let them sleep, eat, or play games for a while, until he called them together for another run through. Their leaders had decided that rather than run the plan through nonstop, taking breaks and then reinforcing the information was more effective. This was not only a matter of life and death, but a matter of freedom for all. A new baby god might even be brought home because of this. Tycho wasn’t sure why, but he decided to sit near his twin. He and Plutus didn’t think they looked so much alike, not that they could argue that they didn’t look a little bit alike. His eyes were blue and Plutus’ were green. Sure their hair was the same color and they wore it the same way.
They both had the same build only his was more muscular, because he worked out more. Plutus said the same thing, but clearly he was wrong. Their height matched except he was certain he was nearly an inch taller. That was no big deal since most gods were around their height. Oh, yeah, he was the smarter one too. Everyone knew it, they just hesitated to hurt Plutus’ feelings that was all. Everyone knew that someone had to be the superior brother and it was just Plutus’ bad luck that Tycho was it.
Everyone strapped in and the plane zipped down the runway, lifting off, until it soared high above the clouds. Once they leveled off Hermes went over the plan and then everyone got out of their harnesses and spread out around the cabin. Those preferring to sleep headed toward the back. Hermes and Cherish claimed the only separate room and it just happened to have a bed and a full bath. Those playing their games tended to stay in the seats they’d originally been in and those wanting to watch movies moved to the front seats near the screen. Ad
onis grabbed a work area and set up his computer. He would probably get ahead on some of his usual work so when he got back he could take time with his mate.
Tycho wondered if Adonis’ decision might not be best, but Tycho had little computer work to do. He kicked back relaxing, and thinking of the little girl and her mom. Paige was an exceptional young lady, thinking of her mom and not herself. It had also sounded to him as if she had made friends with Jason. She risked a great deal to bring him food and drinks. He intended to see that both mother and daughter were well taken care of. The child had impressed him with bravery and loyalty, two attributes gods greatly admired.
The trip was long and they went over the plan repeatedly, although Tycho suspected it would be adjusted it once they got more information. They landed at D.C. and stayed the night before reloading and flying south to Texas. The stop was more a matter of comfort since they had already been in the air for such a long time. Tycho thrummed with energy and excitement. He loved the missions, being out among humans, he had missed this so much, and he once again felt that everything was right with the world. His excitement level ratcheted up when they landed in Texas. Things would start happening now. Hades had accused him of being an adrenaline junkie but he just thrived on excitement and adventure. He was a born soldier and that wasn’t a bad thing, especially in the world they lived in.
They unloaded and two SUVs waited for them. They would drive to the small town of Brumfeld and check in to the hotel. Once that was accomplished, he would contact Paige, hopefully without her mom knowing. They would have to play it by ear. He slid into the second row seat behind Hermes who was driving. Cherish sat up front with him and Plutus sat behind her. The rest of their team was in the other SUV. The team headed further south to the town Paige resided in that held the Origin facility.
When they finally made it there, Tycho examined everything closely. The place was small, far smaller than the towns Origin usually set up in. Maybe they hoped the town’s obscurity would cause it to be overlooked. Until a girl had discovered their secrets, they had been right. Who would ever look for them in this one horse town? The team drove right past Haywood Fertility Clinic which boasted a hard to read sign with faded lettering. They weren’t trying to call any attention to themselves. The colors were muted and the building seemed to disappear into the background. They only thing remarkable was its undeniable commonality.
The hotel looked like it had seen better days and it was the only one in town. It had a sign advertising monthly, weekly, or daily rates and Tycho was surprised hourly wasn’t included. It was set up like the old motor lodges so each room was accessed from the parking lot. They were spread out in a U-shape. They pulled up to the office and Hermes and Cherish went in. The cover story was they were on their way to a job in Mexico but had a couple days to kill. He doubted the desk clerk would care, unless it was a young female and she saw all the gods in the vehicles waiting. If she was smart she wouldn’t drool on Hermes, because Cherish could be hazardous to her health.
Hermes and Cherish came out with a handful of keys. They would be staying in rooms with two beds so they would double up, except for Dione who got his own room, because he was a mad partier. Cherish figured he’d end up with a female and she didn’t think the other guys would want to be in a room with him. She was probably right but he didn’t want to be stuck with Plutus either, but he was. They would just sit and stare at each other in an uncomfortable silence.
They all grabbed the keys Cherish tossed them and took their bags to their rooms. The local diner, nothing much to look at, sat directly across from the hotel and looked about the same age. It was just past the lunch rush so it was a good time to go and get a meal. The place smelled great, even if a quick peak through to the kitchen showed an older guy with tattoos and piercings that looked like a mountain, a big one, cooking. He wouldn’t intimidate a god but he would intimidate almost anyone else. He wore a chef’s hat that looked a bit silly on him. Even though business seemed slow, he was busy.
They all sat down at one table and an older lady rushed over with menus. She took the drink orders and came back with a tray of drinks. The woman took the orders, appetizers and everyone wanted steak, turned them in, and brought back the rest of the drinks. Everyone was relaxed now that they’d made it here. The appetizers came out and everyone talked and laughed. The only things not discussed was what they were and why they were here. That wouldn’t be discussed, except when they were assured of complete privacy.
They finished eating and paid, but Tycho ordered some food to go. He had picked up on Paige’s concerns about basic needs and he worried about her and her mother even though he didn’t know them. He knew where they lived and even though they didn’t have a phone, it had been shut off because they couldn’t afford the bill, and so he would knock on the door. Paige said she usually answered since her mother was tired from her pregnancy. The rest of his team headed to the hotel and he headed down the street. He would record their conversation and get all the information he could from Paige.
While he was busy there, Cherish would be tapping into the computer systems and the security of the Haywood Fertility Clinic. Between the two of them, they would get everything they needed. He walked by the house examining it carefully, but looking nonchalant. He wanted to be sure that no one was watching Paige and her mom. The house was old and had seen better days, but it was clean and the yard was well kept. Someone must help them because Paige was too young and her mother too weak to do heavy yard work.
He walked on past the house and then circled around. Nothing was out of the ordinary so he went back and walked up to the door. Tycho knocked lightly so as not to disturb her mom if she was sleeping. He waited a couple minutes before knocking again. He was about to knock a third time when the door opened. Paige was not what he expected. She was small and short, that was in keeping with what he’d expected but she had huge blue eyes and the brightest flame red hair he’d ever seen. The young girl had a huge smile, friendly and relieved as she launched herself at him.
“Tycho, it’s you isn’t it?” she asked with tears in her eyes and her lips quivered.
“Yes, it’s me. I don’t think anyone has ever been so happy to see me before,” he observed.
“It’s my mom. She won’t wake up and I’m scared for her.”
“Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “Here,” he added as he handed her the food he’d brought. “Take me to her.”
He followed her into the house and watched as she set the food on the coffee table. She led him to the bedroom where her mom lay on the bed sleeping soundly, or so he hoped. When he sat on the bed, he picked up her hand. The young god touched her wrist feeling her pulse. It was a little slow, but not alarming.
“I think she’s exhausted. Have you tried to wake her from naps before?” he asked.
“No, but she doesn’t usually go to sleep the second we get home. She’s been getting weaker as the baby gets bigger.”
Tycho examined the small female on the bed. She was about the size of her daughter except for her large stomach. The baby looked like it was due soon and Paige’s mom was underweight for her circumstances. She needed better care to go through the hardships of labor. He wasn’t really sure what to do for her so he called Cherish. The young god waited with Paige, until they heard a knock on the door. Paige ran out to let them in.
He felt bad for her, because she was obviously terrified for her mom’s sake and with good reason and he was worried about her too. This god felt a kinship to them both that he didn’t understand so he stood around feeling helpless as Cherish used a medical kit to check Mitzy out. She was talking to Doc and Hermes was filming Mitzy and the reactions Cherish was getting and the results of various tests. Finally, Cherish called Paige over.
“I know you’re worried about your mom, but we think she’ll be alright if she gets proper care. We’re going to move our plan up so she can get the care she’ll need sooner. She’s undernourished, dehydrated, her blood pressure
is a bit higher than we like to see at this stage of her pregnancy, and she is suffering from exhaustion. Do you understand?” Cherish asked.
“She’s hungry, thirsty, stressed out, and tired,” Paige affirmed. “It doesn’t take a doctor to figure that out.”
Cherish laughed. “You’re right about that kiddo. We’ll get her taken care of once we get out of here.”
“The guys have just gotten in to where Jason is. They’re loading him so why don’t we pack up and get out of here?” Hermes said.
It looked like this was going to be the smoothest recovery of all time. Tycho picked up Mitzy and carried her out to the SUV which Hermes had driven over and parked in her driveway. Paige packed a couple bags for them while Cherish walked over and checked out of the hotel. Apparently, they’d been prepared for this before they left the hotel and just kept the rooms as a precaution. Now they were no longer needed.
The guys that had gotten Jason also took the computer, hard drive, and anything else that might have value to them. They left the laboratory with the embryos, not sure if they were being grown or more likely being preserved. They were headed to the plane and the rest would be heading there soon too. Paige was sitting behind the seat Cherish got in and Mitzy was partly on the seat next to him and partly across his lap. Hermes backed out of the driveway and they took off for the airport. Relief filled him that they had freed Jason and would get Mitzy the help she desperately needed. Once they were back at Olympus, they would report the clinic to the government. There was no need to risk any of their people or innocents to take this clinic out.