“No, you don’t, but we’ll work on that. I have Empaths here who can bring you along.” He waves her away. “You, Curly, what’s your ability?”
“The name’s Wheeler and I’m a Thermokin,” Wheeler says, disgruntled by Rafe’s nickname.
If Wheeler uses his ability, I don’t sense it. I’ve felt Wheeler warm the air around me before, but I was in close contact with him.
Rafe looks around perplexed. “Is that it? Do you plan on luring the enemy into a false sense of security with a cosy climate before you boil him alive, or is the cosy climate the extent of it? I take it you can do the reverse, cooler?” Wheeler crosses his arms, offering a brisk nod. “You’re underachieving, but I’m yet to train a Thermokin. I’m intrigued to work with you, Wheeler.”
After thirty minutes of judging everyone’s ability strength, Rafe finally gets to Yana. She has been purposely avoiding Crow’s intense gaze and seems a little restless.
“Yana, is it? Ability?”
Yana points to the vat of water in the corner of the room. “Hydrokin.” The vat starts to roll over the rubber flooring, the wheels squeaking as it moves. She holds a hand toward the vat and a large orb of water rises from within, much larger than the one she used on me at Facility One. The look of concentration on her face is laced with determination. The orb of water moves passed Rafe and heads for the mannequin target just a few metres away from him. The orb encases the mannequin’s upper body and head.
“Drowning?” Rafe asks. “Good, but not enough. It takes about two to three minutes to drown someone, give or take. It’ll take them a split second to shoot you dead.”
“I’m not finished,” Yana snaps.
Rafe’s lips turn down in surprise, but he allows her to continue.
The water orb stretches from a fat circle to an oval that covers the mannequin right to the hips. The water ripples for a moment before turning to a solid block of ice. The mannequin is frozen solid, and Yana lowers her hands, staggering away a little.
“More!” Rafe orders.
The water vat tips as the water inside rises like a wave. The wave curls toward Rafe, and a splintering, glassy sound cuts through the silence as the wave turns to ice and fractures into jagged fragments that fly toward Rafe at speed.
Rafe raises his arm, throwing out his telekinesis to shield himself from the onslaught. The ice shards smash against the force and drop to the floor in glittering pieces. The rest of us look on astonished. Yana was unable to do such feats before. What she managed to do was not only impressive, it was brutal. She is magnificent.
“Brilliant!” Rafe exclaims. “So much potential. Only practised Hydrokins can effectively change the elemental state of the water.”
I whistle my praise, and Yana flashes me a victorious grin. “Where did you learn to do that?” I gasp.
“Jude has been teaching me.”
Rafe’s stunned look isn’t missed by me or Jude. I shouldn’t be surprised by Jude. The first night I met him, he had me lifting a car. The whole grades are bullshit speech he gave me is Rafe’s tried and tested line. He may not like to believe it, but they are more similar than either of them would have us believe.
Rafe turns to Jude. “If Adam doesn’t mind, I would like you involved in training lessons.”
Adam gives his approval, and a small smile graces Jude’s lips. If this isn’t an olive branch on Rafe’s part, I don’t know what is.
“Adam, if you send your squad down in groups, I can assess their abilities and separate them into ability groups for further training. I have EVO who can spare some time to train others in their field.” He then turns to us. “Crow, you’ll train the Pyrokins.”
“Yes, Guv, but I believe that I could also aid the Hydrokins. Elemental abilities are—”
Rafe holds up his hand. “Jude shall take Telekins and Hydrokins.”
Crow’s eyes flit to Yana, but she has already set to gathering her things. Jude whispers something to her and gives her an affectionate shake.
“It’s a plan,” Adam agrees, “as long as perimeter rotas are not affected. I’m due back at camp, so I need to wrap this up, Rafe.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rafe waves the room away. “Return to your posts. Adam, Teddie, can I have a private word?” The Tomb empties until only the three of us remain. “You two need to train extensively together. Aid each other in the new abilities, and I’ll help where I can. Teddie has only just regained her electrokinesis after realising that I was blocking the link. Psychological- see?”
“Right,” Adam narrows his eyes at Rafe. “And what is it you really need to talk about?”
Rafe sticks his head out of the door, and then closes it tight. “Celeste returned a couple of hours ago. She relayed something of interest to me. I have told her to keep it to herself, for now.”
Adam stiffens beside me. “Is there a reason why you are not discussing this with your Firsts?” There is accusation in his tone and a little anxiety.
“I am discussing this with leadership only, and I expect you to keep this to your chest too,” Rafe whispers. Adam raises an eyebrow. “I have it on good authority that there are EVO present on Towley’s cabinet. Two to be exact: Minister Fred De’Laney and Minister Alaina Cox. They cheated their way through testing somehow. There may also be EVO sympathisers, but as of yet, we are not certain on that fact.”
“And?” Adam’s abrupt in his replies.
Rafe’s lips thin. “And I want to make contact. Celeste has an in, and I think we need to exploit it. When this is all finished, we need politicians on side to start a new regime, not to mention the advantage of the inside knowledge it would bring.”
“There is more to it than that,” Adam presses. “What are you holding back?”
“The Prime Minister was not killed by EVO. Rumours say he was found with a self- inflicted bullet wound to his temple.”
“Why would he do that?” Adam asks. “Conscience?”
“I said rumours. He was found with a bullet in his brain and a gun in his right hand. The man’s left-handed, and before he died, he sent his family into hiding.”
“Someone staged his murder to look like suicide?” I ask. “Towley?”
Rafe nods. “Get the PM out of the way by making it look like suicide, decide with the cabinet to blame EVO for the death of the country’s top dog, and put yourself forward as his replacement.”
“And this is all from Celeste’s source? How do we know we can trust him- her?” Adam tilts his head back and sighs. “Contacting the ministers leaves a lot of loose ends. It could potentially leave us all exposed.”
“That’s why I have brought this to you and not acted upon it myself. I want your opinion.” Rafe is sincere. Adam knows it as well as I do. “Celeste’s source is Ethan De’Laney, Minister De’Laney’s Non-EVO son. Yesterday, another sweep was announced within London. Celeste’s registration is outdated, and she had no way of passing the swab test. Ethan discovered who she actually is and helped her flee the city. It appears the man is in love with her.”
I scoff. “Why am I not surprised?”
Rafe ignores my snipe. “Before she escaped, Ethan passed on information from his father that might help the rebellion. They are desperate and clutching at straws. I have to give Celeste her dues, she has not revealed us as an organisation, only that an organisation exists.”
“I understand why you’re discussing this with Adam, but why are you including me and not the others?”
“Because I’ve lied to you enough. I promised no more secrets. Besides, the Face of the Rebellion should hold all of the information, right?”
I groan. “I wish you would stop calling me that.”
“I hate to admit it, but Rafe’s right. You are the cord that is going to tie us all together. Your name rallies people, Teddie. I’ve seen it. Shift, Syndicate, E.N.C, and TORO Squad will rally behind Theyda Leason.”
“That’s a responsibility that I don’t want.”
His fingers lin
k through mine. “It’s a responsibility you’re going to have to shoulder. It is what it is, but I promise to help you. You’re not doing it alone.”
“Do you remember the morning when I fully unmanipulated my telepathy?” I ask him.
“Of course, you had a seizure—”
I shake my head. “Do you remember what you said to me? You told me that you would take me away from everything if that was what I wanted. I wish I had said yes.”
Adam pulls me close, pressing his lips to my forehead. “That kills me to hear.”
“But you said no,” Rafe interrupts. “That says a lot more than you think, Kiddo. I’ve told you that you and I are alike and we don’t shy away from standing up for what is right, no matter how many years or how much effort it takes to do it. Running is not a choice that you’ll be able to live with. It would eat at you.”
“I know that. I do. It doesn’t mean I’m not scared,” I admit. Adam’s hold tightens on me.
“If you weren’t, I’d be worried,” Rafe soothes. “So, what do you both think about the situation as it stands?”
“The potential for inside information and aid outweighs the risk,” says Adam.
Rafe looks to me again.
“Agreed,” I say.
Adam checks his watch. “I’m due back at camp. Give me some time to sleep, and then we can discuss the ministers and Syndicate. I want to hear this all from Celeste and get a feel for it myself.”
As I watch Rafe leave, my apprehension grows. This is getting bigger and bigger, and we’re getting deeper and deeper. It’s not like I didn’t know what Rafe was planning, but this makes it seem all the more real. Teaming up with government ministers on Towley’s cabinet is a whole, new kettle of fish.
“Can I come back to the base with you?” I ask Adam.
“Sure, I want to show you around and introduce you to the squad. They’re dying to meet you.”
“No, I mean to stay at the base. Do you have a tent or something?”
Adam leads me from The Tomb. “Rafe won’t like that. He wants you with Shift.”
“Rafe doesn’t have a say. I just need a break from here. I need to be… above ground. Doesn’t this place remind you of Facility One?”
He sighs, sliding his hand against my cheek. “Yeah, it does. Pack your things.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I meander around the tents and vehicles, marvelling at the set-up they have already got going here. Outposts have a continuous guard of Cloakers, Illusionists, and Technokins. Adam introduces me to different people; all faces and names that blur into one. A couple of people declare their allegiance to me, which I politely redirect toward Adam and Rafe. They’re the ones holding all of this together. If they can account for all these lives, then I can play my part. I am not a natural leader, and I don’t plan to hold any title in this world if we win this fight.
Adam disappears into the food tent to grab us something to eat, and I slip away from the crowds to explore a little more. Darcy has darted off to sniff out his new territory. Being outside is freeing for the both of us after being cooped up in The Hive. It’s cold, and my skin goosepimples under my sweater, but I feel like I can breathe properly.
We haven’t been alone since Adam arrived and I just want him to myself for a little bit. He’s nowhere to be seen, and as I turn around to explore further, a pair of arms wrap around my waist, dragging me back into a tent.
“Looking for me?” Adam asks from the shadows.
His lips press to my neck, working up to my mouth. The warmth of his breath against my cool skin sends heat to my chest and cheeks.
I run my hands up his forearms and onto his chest, grasping the fabric of his uniform. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay?”
Adam pulls me closer. “As if I’d say no.”
“But you’ve got a lot on you plate being the big chief and all.”
He chuckles a little. “Can I tell you a secret? I don’t know what the hell I am doing. I just wing it from hour to hour, day to day. It’s nice to have my rock back.” He holds my arms steady as if using me as an anchor.
“You’re doing great,” I insist. “Your squad respects you. Jude respects you, and that’s not something to be sniffed at. And believe it or not, you have surprised Rafe. I think he thought he could use you how he pleased. You’re not his subordinate, but his ally.”
Adam leaves me standing alone in the darkness to turn on a lantern in the corner of the tent. “Mi Casa,” he says, gesturing around.
There is a camp bed and a trunk that appears to be doubling as a desk, but that is the extent of the furnishings. I pick up his TORO helmet from the bottom of his bed and turn it over in my fingers.
“Does the VIDI screen still work?” I ask.
Adam steps up behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Yes, our techs have programmed them to our own systems. We only have a limited number, but we make it work. Some TORO no longer want to wear them and that’s understandable.”
“You address yourselves as TORO. I used to hate it when people called you that.” Turning into his embrace, I run my fingers over the letters on his uniform. TORO 61 has been stencilled on in black lettering.
“It was used as an insult. Now, it’s our badge of honour. Fearing something only gives it power. I’m Adam, but I’m also TORO 61. I’m okay with that.”
“I suppose it is like Theyda, Teddie, and Cub. Cub belongs to Shift, Teddie belongs to me, and Theyda belongs to everyone else.”
“We can only stretch ourselves so far,” Adam whispers.
“I’m okay with that too. I used to think of this fight as me and them, and I felt sorry for myself because of it. It’s us and them, and if I have to play my part for us, then I will.”
“You never stop amazing me,” Adam says, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “But you’ve got one part wrong.” I tilt my head, unsure what he means. “Teddie belongs to me.” He laughs like a maniacal villain and lifts me from my feet, plastering my face and neck in kisses.
My laugh rings out like an unfamiliar jingle of bells. It has been so long since I have laughed. Adam chases me around the camp bed, and I lift the pillow, smacking him with it. He wrestles it from my grip and restrains both my wrists in one large hand. “I love you- I love you- I love you,” he says into my mind, splaying his fingers over my heart.
“I love you- I love you- I love you,” I reply, shoving him down onto the bed.
He slips out of his t-shirt and drags me down on top of him. “I take it you’ve missed me,” he says, answering my kisses with his own.
I giggle again, just as a freezing breeze whistles through the tent. The fabric door is flung open and two TORO rush inside. When they see what they have stumbled upon, neither man can hide their embarrassment.
“Sorry, Chief,” one man says, rubbing at his neck nervously. He offers me a polite nod. “Excuse us, Ma’am, we heard a disturbance.”
The other man looks to his feet, his eyes not straying from the ground for a moment.
“That you did, but I think I can handle this one on my own,” Adam jokes. “Back to your positions. You’re responsible for Darcy, let him explore, but keep him out of the food tent.”
“Aye, Chief,” they both call, saluting Adam, and then scurrying away.
As soon as the door flaps close, we both burst into hysterics. “You, Miss Leason, are a bad influence on me.”
***
For the first time in a long time, I manage to drift into a deep sleep. I’m unsure of the time when I’m cast out of the bed with force, and Adam’s moans and shouts cut through the silence. He thrashes as if acting out a nightmare.
“Adam,” I call, shaking his arm a little. He doesn’t respond, if anything, his anguish worsens. “Adam, wake up,” I say, telepathically.
He jerks awake, sitting bolt upright in a mess of blankets. His skin is drenched in sweat, and although he feels hot, he shivers uncontrollably.
Taking him in my arms, I allow him to curl
into me until his panic resides. “I’ve got you,” I soothe. “It was just a dream.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was a memory.” Finally, composing himself enough to release me, he wipes his forehead in his t-shirt and lies beside me. “Just a memory.”
“Your conditioning memories?” I ask. He doesn’t reply. “Please, let Leoni take them away.”
He shakes his head, running his hands over his shaved scalp. “They’re part of me, Teds. They’re part of my story. I remember everything and it makes me determined to fight. Besides, it’s getting better. I used to have the dreams every night, but now it’s more sporadic. I woke up hovering above a shaking camp bed a month ago, so tonight was nothing in comparison. I need to process this, and then I can move on.”
“If you’re sure,” I say, pulling him back to me.
“I am.” He traces his fingers over my scarring, and then pushing himself up on his elbow, he leans down and kisses my back.
“I don’t hate them,” I say, as his lips brush the largest lash scar.
“You wouldn’t want them taken away, then?”
Understanding where he is going with the question, I smile and shake my head. “I guess not. We’re a right pair, aren’t we?”
“This is us.” As his hand brushes over my cheek, I turn my face and kiss his fingers. “This is the final stretch, Baby. We’ve got this,” he whispers.
Someone calls ‘chief’ from outside the tent, and Adam gets up, almost falling flat on his face. “Sorry, Darcy, I didn’t see you there, buddy,” he says, scruffing at Darcy’s head. He steps outside for a moment to talk with the TORO, and then returns with a deflated look on his face. “I’ve got to get back to work. Rafe’s expecting me for the meeting with Celeste. You look exhausted, so stay here and sleep. I will fill you in later.”
I watch him dress in his uniform and tuck a gun into his waist band. After a few minutes, he picks up a t-shirt from the floor and throws it onto the bed.
“Something for you to sleep in.”
Opening up the t-shirt, I see a familiar design. It’s almost identical to the Iron Maiden t-shirt Adam had in Italy. “Where did you find this?” I ask, mouth agape.
EVO Nation Series Trilogy Box Set Page 67