Shine_Infected_Mirror Man

by P. S. Power

  Looking down, he noticed that there was also a cat at his feet. Following along behind them. Sara looked at Tabitha, but didn’t grab at her or anything. There wasn’t even an attempt to pet her. Not yet.

  “Brian! Howard was just going to get me a room, then everyone is supposed to go running. I have clothes for it. Will we be having fighting practice, too?”

  The man leaned in a bit, and gave her a gentle hug. It wasn’t that it lacked in fellow feeling as much as he’d probably just watched far more hours of children being abused and killed than anyone should ever have to.

  “Um… Howard?”

  “That’s me. My real name. I’m going by Richard right now though.” He wanted to coach the kid to use that, but didn’t want to be insulting. That she’d gotten his old fake name was kind of impressive, to be honest. Some kind of telepathy, he didn’t doubt. She could also teleport, by copying Mary’s powers. The way she’d said that meant something. Brian’s were considered too dangerous…

  A thing he could see, as well as getting what she was talking about. Going off to fight at almost no notice wasn’t a great idea for a young girl. Honestly, it was pretty horrible for a grown man. Not doing that kind of thing made a lot of sense to him.

  There was a look from the young girl then.

  “I have a copy of Trivia’s powers. That’s Katie. I’m not supposed to, but no one wants to tell me that, because they’re all afraid that I might get mad and be a brat about it.”

  The others both looked away, clearly caught out. Howard just chuckled a little bit.

  “Well, if it’s against the rules, stop it. You need to save that kind of thing, breaking rules and laws, for when it’s important.” There was a stern look for her then. One that promised a scolding if she didn’t hop-to and follow her rules. Even if he didn’t get why she had them in the first place. Probably so that her head wouldn’t be filled with the crud that most people likely had going on inside their minds all the time.

  There was a bit of pouting then, but also a sigh. It seemed put upon and forlorn.

  “Fine. I could do Cindy’s powers, but I don’t read too well yet.”

  That got a little bit of a nod from Brian, and no reaction from Kate.

  She waved her right hand though, just enough to get his attention, as he leaned down to pick up Tabby. The kitten purred as he cradled her in his arms.

  “I have to go and do some things. We were gone about half the night already. Brian needs to sleep soon. I should too, but… The information we got…” She looked away.

  From the kid. Brian did the same.

  There was a wide-eyed look from the girl, her hair being pushed back over her shoulder.

  “See, if I don’t know what they’re thinking all the time they start hiding things from me. They didn’t even wait ten seconds this time.” She crossed her arms, as if it were an actual issue.

  It kind of was, but the kid had powers. Apparently, all of them. Lying to her or hiding things seemed like a foolish plan, given that.

  “Right. We had an operation last night and stole a lot of really damaging data about some famous people. I don’t know who, really, myself. It’s… They were raping little kids and killing them. Other things, as well. Worse ones. We also kidnapped a boy. He’s Infected, so it was legal, but we can’t talk about it. Really, we can’t mention this again. Got it?”

  Brian tensed then, but interestingly, Brie held out her right hand.

  “Exactly, Sara. We can trust you with this, but even on the base, we can’t let this out. Especially there. This place functionally can’t be bugged. There, everything you say will be heard, all the time.”

  Her eyes big, the girl just nodded. Finally, she spoke.

  “Okay. I won’t say anything.”

  Howard just nodded.

  “Now, we need a room for you and to get the others around. I can go and knock on some doors?” He didn’t know if anyone would be willing to go out. It wasn’t that early, but it was still before nine. Some people didn’t bother to get out of bed before noon, if they could help it.

  Katie waved at them.

  “The room next to yours is free, Richard. The others are awake, they just haven’t gotten out for the day. I think Tobin is still here, in with Kerry? They both need to go back to the base though, in a few minutes. Really, you all should. To head over to Tim’s world. I think your name came up as a translator, Sara. We have a new program and don’t need you here right now.” She winked at the girl then. “And no, not in a get rid of the kid way. Brian can get you all back, except I need him… So… Sara, why don’t you handle that. You’ve teleported with a bunch of people before, right?”

  “No. I can do it. I’ve been practicing. I could take them to see Timmy?”

  The idea was a bit heady, from the sound of it. No one was even suggesting that the girl couldn’t get the job done, either. So he nodded.

  “Part of the time, to practice. Today I think we have Tor coming to get us in a space ship? I’ve teleported to another world before, but I’ve never been in a space ship, so I wouldn’t want to miss that. Have you?” It was possible that she had.

  “Never. That could be fun, if I’m really allowed to go. I can’t go anywhere without a responsible adult with me. Do you count as one of those?” The girl stared at him then. For a long time as if trying to guess his age.

  He nodded though.

  “I’m an adult, at least. Nearly a hundred years old, so it should count that way. I just don’t look my age.” He wasn’t going into how that worked, if no one asked. He still wasn’t totally certain, himself.

  The girl started walking, following Howard. Brian didn’t move, and Kate just laughed softly.

  “Oh? I don’t look my age either. I’m eight. I have a little form, not just this one. I can look like anything, if I want. What do you do? You have a power, right? It… Let’s you walk into your subconscious mind? You can do more with it than you have. You need to learn to bring points together. It still won’t be real teleportation, but it will let you kind of speed up, going places, if they aren’t too far apart. Um…” She stopped, then shook her head. “Okay, I cheated. Brie didn’t tell you the truth. You aren’t part cat. That was a joke. You’re just strong. Tabby was just in your head, so is connected to you that way. She shouldn’t have said that. I wouldn’t have told you, but you were honest with me... That’s right, isn’t it?”

  Tabby was still in his arms, so meowed softly. The idea coming off of her was that the kid was correct. The little girl. Not that it changed much for him, except to explain why she didn't read well yet.

  “Right. At least with me, for now. You’ll want to check in on that kind of thing first, in the future. I mean, just in case, right?” He waved at Denis’s door, before going on. “Who does that for you? I mean, who are you supposed to check in with on things like that?”

  Walking forward, looking a bit too old now that he knew the truth about her, Sara knocked, with her left hand. Her big duffle was in her right. It didn’t take long at all for the door to be answered.

  “Hey! What’s up?” There was a look at the familiar person, then at Howard. The man tensed up a bit, seeing the bag in her hand.

  As if he thought that Howard was going to run away with the young lady. Which was correct of him to think. Not that it would ever happen. Adults were supposed to watch out for children though. Even if they weren’t theirs.

  “We’re heading back to the base, to meet up with Tor and the people there. Change of plans, but I think that Brie wants us out of here for now. I’m sure we’ll be called back in for the next job. That or to collect our share of the take.” He didn't make a big point of that part.

  You didn’t get someone not to talk about things, then talk about them right in front of them. Even adults would get confused if you did that kind of thing.

  The curly haired man, his face bare and decently lean seeming, stifled a yawn.

  “Is Brian getting us back?” The words spoke of a
person that knew that what they’d said was the answer. People did it when they were making small talk.

  “We’ve got Sara in for that. We should get the others and get back, since we don’t really know when Tor is going to show up. I doubt he’ll wait for us.”

  That got a nod from the man.

  “I need to grab my gear then. Um… Five minutes?” He didn’t wait, closing the door on them, without finding out where they were going to meet.

  Rolling his eyes, he knocked on Kerry’s door. There was no sound coming from inside the space. At least not anything that sounded like people having relations.

  Thinking of that got him to recall the night before. Eve had been nearly perfect. She’d even gotten herself out, with a polite goodbye, so that she could take her friends home. That meant there had been no awkward morning after to worry about. She’d headed out, giving him a kiss first, then he’d gotten a good six hours of sleep. The woman hadn’t left him feeling bad or anything, even if he hadn’t done perfectly in bed. Not the first time.

  A face appeared in the door, with enough shoulder showing that it was clear that Tobin had clothing on. The same things that he’d been in the day before, naturally. Unlike Sara, he hadn’t come in prepared to spend the night.

  “Good morning! Sara came to take us back to the base. We’re leaving in about five minutes? Or whenever everyone is packed up. We have someone coming in today, I think.”

  He didn't explain the whole thing. The man nodded and repeated the idea, a bit more loudly, which had Kerry there about thirty seconds later. Carrying her packed bags. Howard smiled.

  “See? Now Denis is going to look bad, isn’t he? Taking five whole minutes to get his things together like that.” The woman had a duffle bag with her, that was a lot like what Sara was carrying. The only difference was that it was red and made of softer seeming material. Clearly a thing that she’d made to carry her things. He got the concept, when Den walked out, with his clothing in his arms. It was a bit awkward seeming, but not that bad, since he didn't have everything he owned or anything like that.

  Howard was good that way, having only the toiletries that he’d been given by Kate. Those could be left there, since he was planning to come back, later that day. It was a bit pushy of him, but until he got his cut of the take from the day before, he simply didn't have a way to get a place to live. Besides, he was leaving his cat there. He would be coming back for her.

  It was interesting, seeing how Sara transported them. Unlike Brian she didn't insist they hold hands, just moving them, as soon as they got close enough to her. The world changed color, but it was a blue flash. A slightly different color than what had happened with Brian, but similar enough that it was probably not a huge issue. No one screamed that they were in the wrong place or anything, at least.

  Where they were… Well, that was a bit military seeming, being a place that had a lot of fences around the compound, as well as tan buildings in almost every direction. A lot of space between them, as well. Sara smiled, clearly feeling pleased with her ability to not kill them all.

  Howard nodded. It was impressive.

  “I have to admit, that was good work. Sharp. What now?” There were people out and about. Most of them in tan fatigues that seemed popular there, if nothing else.

  The sun was overhead, beating down on them enough to indicate it was going to be a nice day out. Warm, probably. Kerry made a soft sound, which was considering, more than anything else. Tobin seemed to be at a loss for what to do, as did Den.

  The kid on the other hand, was locked on to her current mission.

  “He has to check in. The office is this way. We… Um… Everyone can get cleaned up, and then we can eat while we wait? I’m a bit hungry.”

  Looking down, realizing that he was in a t-shirt and sweats, Howard tried not to feel embarrassed. Even his jeans would have been better for that kind of thing. Still, awkward or no, he was going to the office, it looked like. At least the young brown-haired lady was expecting him to follow her. No one else did, but Tobin called out after them.

  “We’ll wait for you in the mess hall?”

  That got a casual wave, over her shoulder at the man. At the door, when everyone else was gone, she whispered, so that only Howard could hear her.

  “Tobin is nice. He sings really good.”

  “Well. He sings very well.” He winked at her then. “I’m correcting you, because I’m old and can get away with things like that. It’s a rule that some old person made up once. That’s a good idea, don’t you think?”

  Rather than laugh or even scowl at him, there was a slow nod as they got inside. It was air conditioned, but just cool, instead of freezing. There was a decently tall young woman behind the desk just to the left of the door, as they stood in the thing. She took in the scene, then smiled, sunnily.

  “Hey! So, Sara, you finally got a boyfriend? We need to hide that from Marcia, or she’ll bury him alive.”

  Those words got a scowl from his new friend. She didn't say why though.

  “Hi, Sinclair. This is Richard. He’s new here. He came to check in?”

  The talking got several people to come into the room. All of them women. It was a bit different, for a military style base. There was another blonde, and Patricia Baker. Except that this one was too short to be her. Lighter in skin tone as well. Just as cute, even given all of that.

  From the left there was a red-haired woman, who had another one of those with her. It was the new blonde that waved at him.

  “It’s the first modes. A bitchy woman gets cut a lot more slack by the world than a pissy man. So, a lot of Infected just end up dead if they’re men. Especially the powerful ones. I’m Cindy, by the way. We’ve met, of course. At least inside your mind. Sorry about that. The intrusion? Not that I really care, but I want you to feel like I do.” She smiled about it, as if it were funny.

  Which it sort of was.

  “Good to know. That you’ll pretend to feel bad later, after you read my mind. Um, I’m Richard Drake. The new man here, if I have that right?” He looked at the curly haired brunette, since her door said Director on it and there was no one else in the office behind her. Not that he could hear.

  That seemed to be correct.

  “Come in then. We should cover some things. Just light stuff. I…”

  The stopping wasn’t about anything he did, but rather because both Sara and Cindy seemed to think they were invited as well. Only the younger one got glared at. Even that softened after a moment.

  “I’m not certain that we should have you in on this…”

  The other one, who closed the door behind them rather firmly, shook her head.

  “It isn’t a big issue. Rich here already got everyone back. Sara did the transport on that. It was solid work. You both came to go with the team we have selected for today?”

  He nodded then, his head coming up.

  “Even if I’m not dressed for it. It sounds right to me at any rate. That way if things go wrong they can blame me for it. Sara is on for translation work. I don’t know who else is going, but Peggy and Kerry both seem to have been volunteered to go and have some work done. I was thinking I’d see about having my first mode taken out? This… You know, you hear about things like this. Where they talk about the pressure of it all the time, but… I can’t imagine living like this. It’s horrible. We should open this up, to the public, if it works out.”

  Moving behind her desk, the Director of the whole shebang stared at him a bit, then seemed to think for a moment.

  “Okay. That sounds like a good use of resources. So, you’re going to be in charge of this for us? We weren’t sure. We have enough people for a few days, then we’ll need to get folks that are a little reluctant to give it a try. This is… Brilliant. It hadn’t even occurred to any of us to have people go there for students to practice on. Sure, some of us may die, but that’s the risk of things like this. The cost to have our people handle first modes, and nothing else, is about two hundred th
ousand per person. Really, it’s more than that, but some rich people are pouring money in to subsidize things, just to help get a handle on the worst part of the problem. If we can add seventy a week to that… Well, it will triple what we have going on. It isn’t enough, but it’s more than anyone has ever managed before.”

  Which was probably just the truth. Though, he had a feeling that the people there were going to be more careful than that. Not that he had proof. It was a good enough reason for him to go along, given everything.

  “We should set up some other ways of doing things, too. Meditation and things like that? It won’t work for everyone, but I’ve heard that it might for some. I… Probably could do that, too. I mean, so far, I’ve only stolen about… What, ten things I shouldn’t have?”

  No answer should have been forthcoming, but Cindy, her eyes tracking back and forth like she was reading, smiled at him.

  “Really, it isn’t that bad at all. You managed to fight it each time it was important and didn't burgle Trivia’s house. She’s got some nifty things there though, so we should totally do that later, if we can work out how to get away with it.” Suddenly, the woman turned to Sara. “I’m joking, by the way. We shouldn’t steal from her, even if we could get away with it. We should just find out what she has and see if we can copy any of the cool stuff for ourselves.”

  That sounded fair, though he really wanted to take it all now. Which was why he needed to get that part of him calmed back down. So that he could do his real job, stealing things, properly. Rather than shake though, he just tried to set that aside, since it was clear that he was being given his marching orders.

  “We have you on the books, so that’s legal now. It has been for days. We also have a report, on those old people you saved? They’re doing all right, for the time being. Howard from there is missing. I take it that isn’t a problem for you?” She looked at him as if leaving the worst part of his old life behind was going to be an issue for him, for real.