“You think this will make her less safe, sir?” Rigel asked before Cormac could respond.
“If your memory has in fact returned, you surely recall what happened in Nuath when evidence of that relationship became public. There is still likely to be widespread opposition among our people. While most will be content to express their displeasure verbally, some may not. With so many Nuathans now on Earth, it is conceivable that some, perhaps many, will feel betrayed by this news, once it spreads beyond the school—as it surely will, if no effort is made to prevent that.”
It was the longest speech I could ever remember hearing from Cormac.
“They might not like it, but why should that make them dangerous?” I asked.
“In my experience, people can react…unpleasantly when their cherished ideals are overthrown or their heroes tarnished. Faxon used that unfortunate aspect of human nature to his advantage on multiple occasions to undermine support for the Sovereign and the Royal fine. If you insist on spending time together, it would be safest not to do so publicly.”
I sensed worry from Rigel now, but I refused to share it. “No. We tried hiding our relationship to keep me safe when Faxon’s people were actively trying to hunt me down and kill me. But our bond turned out to be the very thing that kept them from succeeding. We’re not staying apart again because of some hypothetical threat that will probably never even materialize. Besides, with Rigel’s memory back, I now have two Bodyguards, so I should be twice as safe.”
“Very well, Excellency.” Cormac bowed. “It was my duty to warn you, just as it will now be my duty to keep an even more vigilant watch.”
“I’ll be vigilant too, sir.” Rigel sounded determined now rather than worried. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe.”
“I appreciate the assistance,” Cormac said gravely. “However, your safety could be at issue as well.”
Rigel lifted his chin. “Do you let fear for your own safety keep you from protecting her?”
“Point taken.” Cormac bowed slightly in Rigel’s directly—which surprised me nearly as much as it did Rigel. “Ah, there’s the bell. You two had best get to your next class.”
* * *
For the rest of the day, Rigel and I tested our extra-enhanced senses whenever we got the chance. By sixth period, when I was in Economics and Rigel was in Weight Training, we’d figured out that even when we weren’t together, our hearing was still more acute than it had been as recently as this morning. I wasn’t bombarded by sounds now, but if I focused I could hear conversations in the next room.
Same here, Rigel told me when I shared my discovery. Maybe you should let Mr. Cormac know. He might not worry so much.
It’ll only help if somebody actually talks about anything they’re plotting, I pointed out. It’s not like we can read minds—except for each other’s.
But that gave me an idea.
Staring with mock attention at the teacher’s budget calculations on the board, I concentrated on picking up emotions. First from the teacher—she was tired and bored—then from a student or two on the far side of the room. And the more I honed in, the more I was able to sense.
Gary very much had the hots for Amber, sitting in front of him. I wondered if his girlfriend, Heather, knew about that? Meanwhile, Amber was pissed about something, though I had no idea what.
I pushed farther, into the next room, where I could hear Bri’s dad, Mr. Morrison, droning about computer keyboarding. When I brought my newly-strengthened emotion-sensing ability to bear, I could tell he was hiding eagerness and a bit of anxiety—probably about tonight’s football game, since he was the defensive coach.
For the rest of the class, I probed the emotions of everyone I could “recognize” (from whispered conversations) in the next room. It got easier and easier. Just before the bell, I tried picking up sounds, then emotions from two rooms away, but that didn’t work nearly as well. Would it, if I were touching Rigel?
Let’s find out, he said as soon as I told him about my most recent experiment, on the way to last period.
Unfortunately, the newsroom wasn’t so laid-back today. Angela, apparently unable to function without stress, announced she was assigning everyone online articles to fill the gap between official monthly newspaper blogs. Not only was there no chance of running off to the cornfield again, Rigel and I didn’t even have a chance to touch each other, since she sent him to the computer to do some design updates on the website while I was stuck at the long table searching for story ideas in hard copy issues of a couple bigger schools’ newspapers.
Picking up on my frustration, Rigel tried to soothe me. Don’t worry. After class we’ll get a chance. Maybe we can meet at the arboretum again tomorrow? Safer than ticking off Angela while she’s in dragon-editor mode.
She and Ms. Raymond had both been clear, on the very first day of school, that if anyone had any personal issues—good or bad—with any other staff member, we were to keep it strictly out of the newsroom. So I impatiently waited until Rigel and I were out in the hallway after the final bell to grab his hand, for the first time since lunch. He felt wonderful.
So do you. He smiled down at me. But the noise level…
I know. Let’s try focusing farther away, like out by the buses.
Walking slowly, hand in hand, we both directed our insanely-enhanced hearing toward the side parking lot. It took a few minutes, but soon I was able to pick out Bri’s voice, talking to Deb.
“—with us at the game tonight? Is she getting a ride with the O’Garas again, do you know?”
Crap. She was talking about me. Super uncomfortable at the idea of eavesdropping, I shifted my focus to the left, to another group of students I couldn’t see. A boy—Will?—stammered slightly as he asked someone if they wanted to go out after the game. Belatedly remembering to use my emotion-sensing ability, I picked up Will’s intense nervousness, as well as that of the boy—boy?—he was talking to.
Huh. I never knew Will was gay, I commented to Rigel.
Really? After having him as your partner in Science all last year? But this is cool. Holding your hand, I can sense the same emotions you do. That’s new. Wonder if it’s your ability or our bond that’s gotten so much stronger?
I think it’s our bond making my ability stronger. I can’t pick up emotions from nearly this far away when we’re not touching. I tried in Econ.
Walking faster, since the buses would be leaving soon, we continued to test and analyze this interesting new power—which also helped to quiet the cacophony of voices around us to a bearable level. As soon as we stopped focusing, though, the volume crept back up.
Still, it’s good we can turn it down when we concentrate. Maybe we’ll get to where we can do it automatically.
Hope so.
Outside the school, Rigel kissed me—way too briefly—then we had to hurry to our separate buses.
“I was wondering if you were going to make it,” Bri greeted me. Luckily, Molly had saved me a seat. “So, is Rigel taking you to the game tonight, or what?”
“Oh. Um…” What do you think? I quickly sent to him as the bus pulled away.
Didn’t think to ask my folks. But if you get a ride there, we can definitely take you home after.
“He’s giving me a ride home after.” I hoped my hesitation hadn’t been too noticeable. “He, uh, has to be there really early.”
“Mom’s letting me borrow the car tonight, so I can pick you up,” Deb offered eagerly. “You really should sign up for the next Driver’s Ed class they offer, since you missed it last spring.
I shrugged. “I can’t see Aunt Theresa ever letting me drive her car and it’s not like I can afford my own. But yeah, I probably should.”
Again, Rigel and I kept mentally touching base as we headed home, whenever gaps in conversations on our buses allowed it. His emotions came through even more clearly than yesterday, and we were able to keep contact a little longer. Either we were getting better with practice, or our bond wa
s still getting stronger. Which was totally fine with me.
25
Synchronous compensator
Unlike most of last week’s game, Rigel was throwing the ball like a pro tonight. As usual, Bri couldn’t stop gushing about it.
“That last series of downs, the whole team was playing better than last year. Way better than last week. When Rigel’s on his game, he brings up the level for all of them. Look, even our defense is playing better. We’re on fire tonight!”
Watching Rigel in his tight-fitting uniform certainly set me on fire. I couldn’t help remembering the start of last year’s football season, ogling Rigel from the stands and agonizing over whether or not he’d talk to me after the game. Shoot, I’d even done that this year, before he got his memory back.
Tonight, thank goodness, I didn’t need to agonize—though I was doing just as much ogling.
At halftime, when the team sprinted off to the locker room, Bri and Deb went for snacks from the concession stand and I headed up three rows to talk with Rigel’s parents again. When they saw me approaching, they looked every bit as wary as they had when I’d approached them two weeks ago.
“Um, hi,” I said, weirdly more nervous now than I’d been then. Because Rigel and I were back together? “I guess Rigel told you what happened yesterday?”
“He did.” Dr. Stuart’s wariness edged into actual anxiety. “We’re, ah, very happy for him. For you both.”
I sat down next to her. “No, I don’t think you are.” In fact, I was positive. “Last year, even last spring, you both seemed okay with us being together, even when we had to hide it. What’s different now?”
“Quite a lot.” Mr. Stuart’s anxiety didn’t quite match his wife’s, but it was still noticeable. “Your position, for one thing.”
“We…don’t want Rigel hurt. Again.” Dr. Stuart’s hazel eyes, so much like Rigel’s, were wide and pleading.
“Neither do I! That’s the very last thing I want. I thought you both understood that by now?”
They exchanged a glance. “Of course we do.” Rigel’s mother was still palpably uncomfortable. “But try to see it from our perspective, Ex—er, M. Over the past year, he has been hurt—physically, emotionally and mentally.”
“Because of me.” I guess they had a point.
“Not that we hold you responsible for any of those incidents,” Mr. Stuart quickly assured me. “You have our total allegiance, as always.”
I couldn’t excuse my part so quickly, though. I was the one who’d convinced Rigel to run away last December, nearly getting him killed. And if I hadn’t pounced on him our first night on the Quintessence in full view of those stupid cameras, then told him about the Grentl, he never would have had his memory erased. Maybe they were right. Rigel probably would be safer if I—
Forget it, came Rigel’s thought from the locker room. You said yourself we’re not letting anyone keep us apart from now on. Right?
I didn’t know you were listening! But you’re right, I did. I turned my attention back to his parents.
“I can’t promise there won’t still be…challenges. But I’m in a better position now to keep Rigel safe, to keep all of you safe, than I was before.”
Dr. Stuart shared another glance with her husband, then turned to pin me with her direct gaze. “What about Sean O’Gara?”
“We’re friends. That’s all we’ve ever been and it’s all we’ll ever be. He knows that. So do his parents. They’re not totally happy about it, but…” I shrugged.
Mr. Stuart was still frowning. “Surely, the greater good demands—”
“No. Tradition demands. But lots of traditions are going to be changing now. Including that one.”
“Rigel said we might be giving you a ride home after the game?” Dr. Stuart managed a tentative smile.
I nodded. “If that’s okay?”
“Of course! I was simply going to suggest that might be a better opportunity to, ah, discuss this further.”
The stands around us were filling back up now that halftime was nearly over, making our sub-whispered conversation more conspicuous.
“Good idea. See you after.” With a parting smile, I headed down to join Bri and Deb for the second half.
* * *
With the whole team playing so much better than last week, Jewel ended up beating Elm Grove by three touchdowns and a field goal—24 points. Bri, of course, was ecstatic, along with all the rest of our fans.
“Are you sure you can’t come to the after-party?” she pleaded as we joined the throng surging toward the field to congratulate the team. “You can call your aunt, tell her you’re spending the night at Deb’s house, like I told my mom and dad. Which we really will, after the party!”
I shook my head, trying to look regretful. “I don’t have my toothbrush or pajamas or anything. Besides, Rigel and his folks are giving me a ride home. He hasn’t said anything about going, so he’s probably not.” Right? I sent quickly to Rigel.
Nope. I’d way rather be with you.
“Maybe next game?” I suggested. “If we plan ahead?”
Deb nodded. “You totally should, M. These parties are super fun, and you’ve never been to one.”
I almost made a comment about how she and Bri should be careful but stopped myself in time. “Yeah, one of these times I need to find out what I’m missing. Have fun, but not too much fun.” I added a wink so they’d think I was kidding. “You can tell me about it Monday.”
After that, it took me several minutes to work my way through the crowd surrounding Rigel so he could greet me with a hug and a kiss I wished could have lasted longer.
Maybe tomorrow? he suggested as he released me. Arboretum again?
Absolutely!
When his parents came up I took a step back, since they weren’t comfortable with us as a couple yet. I hoped I could change that during the car ride home. Meanwhile, I shared their glow of pride at all the praise people were heaping on Rigel. He really was perfection itself, both on and off the football field.
Another ten minutes passed before Rigel could diplomatically excuse himself to go shower. As I walked to the parking lot with his parents, I wondered if they were also reminded of the first time they’d driven me home from a football game last year—before I had any clue who I was, or even that there were Martians living on Earth (or Mars, for that matter).
Apparently so, judging by Dr. Stuart’s first words once we were away from the crowd. “A lot certainly has happened in a year, hasn’t it?”
“I was just thinking that.” My sigh was mostly happy. “I’ve…missed you guys.”
Her smile was sympathetic. “I suppose you’ve had rather a lonely time of it lately. Though I’m sure the O’Garas have done their best to—”
“Sean and Molly have been great. But their parents, well, we don’t exactly see eye to eye these days. Especially after what happened to Rigel—what they allowed to happen.”
Mr. Stuart seemed uncomfortable with my criticism. “I’m sure they felt they had good reason—”
“BS!” I snapped. “Sorry, that was rude. But I don’t buy it. I didn’t then and I don’t now. Nothing justified what they did. I hope they haven’t tried to convince you any of this was ever Rigel’s fault, because it wasn’t.”
They exchanged a long, speaking glance—literally, since they also had the ability to communicate telepathically with each other. Though maybe not at the range Rigel and I could these days.
“Lili O’Gara never said in so many words that Rigel was guilty of anything, no,” his father finally admitted. “But she made it clear he had, ah, learned things or perhaps been somewhere he shouldn’t have. That he could have been a threat to Nuathan security. Also that it would be best for all concerned if he not regain certain memories.”
“Has he?” Dr. Stuart asked me point blank. “He didn’t tell us exactly what he has remembered so far.”
Even though Rigel and I had agreed it might be safest to fudge on that, I couldn’
t lie to his mother’s face. “He remembers everything—but I haven’t told the Council or the O’Garas that. Just that he’s remembered me and our bond, and that we’re not planning to hide our relationship anymore.”
At the spike of alarm I felt from both of them, I rushed on. “I promise, I won’t let anyone do anything to Rigel, no matter what they learn or suspect about what he’s remembered. Why are you so afraid they might? Has the Council, or someone else, actually threatened you?”
After a long, tense silence, Mr. Stuart nodded. “An anonymous message was left in Ariel’s briefcase at the hospital. It reiterated what Lili told us, but in much stronger terms—that it would be dangerous for Rigel to remember too much or…to be seen with you, Excellency. I’m sorry. We should have told you at once, but we assumed it was sent or sanctioned by the Council.”
Rigel came running up to us just then, after what had to have been the fastest shower on record. Despite my anger over what his dad had just told me, the delicious, clean-Rigel scent of him nearly made me lightheaded.
“What was that?” he asked, reaching out to lace his fingers through mine. “An anonymous message? How come you never told me?”
“Let’s get in the car,” his mother suggested, since a few stragglers were still passing us. “Then we can talk.”
Rigel and I got in back—his body felt amazing, touching mine from knee to shoulder.
“Somebody actually threatened you?” he repeated as soon as the doors were shut. Though we’d both wondered, it was disturbing to have it confirmed.
“The threat was directed more toward you,” Dr. Stuart told him. “At the time, you hadn’t yet recalled anything about the past year, so there seemed no point in telling you about it. It would have required explanations it seemed safer not to make.”
My jaw jutted out, I was so pissed. “I can’t believe anyone on the Council would stoop that low, though maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.”
I’d definitely get the truth out of them at tomorrow night’s meeting. Meanwhile… “Speaking of the Council, now that Shim is off it, there’s something I wanted to ask you, Mr. Stuart.”
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