Yes, in a lead box in the trunk. When we’re in a safer situation, we’ll pull it out and let you do your experiments.
She has apparently read my mind.
Brand’s demeanor has changed completely. He isn’t dropping puns or jokes anymore, and it is obvious he’s behaving this way for Beth’s sake. The biggest change of all is that he isn’t repeating. How do I know this? I can finally read his mind.
Even though he isn’t repeating, his mind still doesn’t look or feel like anyone else’s. It’s as if his brain is built differently. Normal mind-reads, like Beth’s for example, consist of immediate thoughts and emotions up front and center. Brand’s mind contains regrets and wishes that he could have brought about different results with different repeats. I actually have to dig deeper to find out what he’s thinking about Beth. I find he is genuinely concerned about her and cares for her. He hopes nature will step up and make sure General Harding pays for what he has done to wreck the lives of so many.
I view some of Brand’s memories after I figure out how to do so. His relationship with his father was exactly as he had portrayed: distant and uncaring. So much about Brand’s personality makes sense after viewing different altercations he had with his father. Brand’s memories about his mother are similar to his memories of his father. She was distant and constantly nervous around Brand.
The memory of the day his mother found Brand and Suz together is strange to view through a mind-read. The scene is an alternate universe kind of thing, because technically nothing ever happened. Brand’s mind holds the memory of her words and the revelation concerning Suz, but I know if I could look into his mother’s mind I wouldn’t find any indication the conversation ever took place.
The whole thing makes me immensely grateful that I have parents who want the best for me and who support me.
I search Brand’s mind for the day he caught me looking at him across the high school cafeteria. Several memories line up like tabs in a file cabinet. They are repeats . . . with me! Each one begins with him catching my eye and then walking over to me.
“Hey, it’s Calli, right?” he says. “I haven’t had the opportunity to get to know you.”
My response—which I have no memory of ever saying—is, “What makes you think that will happen now?”
His mind zips back to the beginning, or what I realize was a split second later than the beginning. The next approach is quite lame. He comes to my table and says, “When did they let you out?”
“Huh?”
“Out of heaven, because you are absolutely perfect!”
I stand and throw a nasty glare at him and walk away.
His mind zips again, and this time he says, “Hey, Calli, wanna come sit with us?”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. You look kind of lonely all by yourself.”
“I don’t feel lonely, and besides, I don’t think your admirers would approve.” I motion over at his table. He looks over to find frowns on the girls’ faces.
His mind zips back. “Hey Calli, could I sit with you?”
“Why?”
“You look lonely.”
“I don’t feel lonely.”
His mind zips again. “Hey Calli, mind if I sit here?”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve got the perfect table. Secluded, private, and perfectly alone . . . just the way I like it.”
“I doubt that. I’ve never seen you sitting all by yourself.”
“That’s because the girls never leave me alone.”
“You don’t seem to mind.”
“Well, I just want to get to know you a little better.”
I roll my eyes and stand. “You can have the table.” I walk away with my lunch tray, and he lets out a frustrated grunt.
His mind zips again and again and again. Each time his results are that I brush him off or act disinterested. I note the distinct difference of what Brand feels for me as a person compared to what Chris feels for me. To Brand I am nothing more than a contest. The more he tries to win me, the further away he ends up. Finally, his mind zips back to where our eyes meet across the room, and he lets the time play out without coming in my direction. From his perspective, I quickly look away, embarrassed, and take my tray to dump it. Then I walk to my locker. Brand jumps up and follows me with new ideas of how to win me over.
Knowing that Brand loses a tenth of a second with each repeat, I am now able to see and understand the process firsthand. From my perspective, the small amount of time that our eyes locked across the cafeteria lasted a second and a half. What I actually observed was his many repeats, all causing him to lose a tenth of a second, which made it appear he was stationary in his seat. From Brand’s perspective, however, he was trying frantically to figure out how to get me to smile and soften my tough-girl exterior. If I had fallen for his charms, I would now have a different memory. The reality of just how powerful Brand really is hits me hard.
I remember going to my locker after the awkward moment at lunch and getting my books. When I shut the door, Brand surprised me with his presence. He was ready to pick right up where he had left off, but he only tried once, which I shot down effortlessly. That frustrated him to no end. His patience worn thin, he had exclaimed, “Why doesn’t it work on you?”
Through it all, though, I was proud of myself for never caving in to his charms. I kept my strong will even though I was being manipulated. I couldn’t say the same for the other girls.
Now, here in the present, Brand is no longer ma-nipulating Beth. He shows respect, true concern, and compassion . . . which borders on love. In my matchmaking college escapades, I looked for the futures of couples to determine if they would be good matches. In this case, I decide not to look for Beth’s future to see if they will end up together. They are both my friends, and I don’t want to be in the position of knowing the future and having to watch them struggle. If I knew they weren’t going to make it, I might be inclined to tell Brand to just give up on her, or the other way around with Beth. On the flip side, if they were struggling and I knew they would make it in the end, I might feel inclined to help them through their battles. No, I feel it’s best not to look for their future at this time. We all have too much on our plates at the moment.
Beth is trying her hardest to be strong. I feel so sorry for her. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to hear the news she received. Deep down, I know someday I’ll be in her shoes dealing with the death of my parents. Hopefully, it won’t be the same type of situation and will happen many years down the road after they have lived long, happy lives.
* * *
Around noon, Chris informs Crimson, “It’s time I called my father.”
Crimson pulls the car off the road into the parking lot of an abandoned business. Weeds grow through the cracks in the pavement. “Chris, I’m getting out here. Drive the car up the road to the gas station on the right. When you’re finished with the call, drive the car further up the road and pull over. If you’re captured on surveillance cameras, you shouldn’t be seen with me.”
“Okay,” Chris responds and opens his door to get out.
Crimson activates her invisibility first, then opens her door.
Brand and Beth let out gasps of amazement. Brand blurts out, “How does that power work, and where do I get some? Can you charge a topaz with it?”
Chris hurries around to the driver’s side, closes the door, and straps his seatbelt in place. He follows Crimson’s instructions, pulls out onto the street, and drives to the next gas station. He parks by the payphone and turns off the car.
He catches my eye in the rearview mirror, and I read his mind. He feels nervous about communicating with his father, afraid he will mess things up and expose the team to danger. I send him my thoughts. Your feelings are completely normal, Chris. I’m nervous for you too, however you’ve done a great job maintaining your dual positions. You’ll continue to perform well.
He nods a thank you in my direction and climbs out
of the car.
My eyes follow Chris as he walks to the payphone and inserts a credit card before punching in the phone number. I study Chris again. He stands tall and confident, one hand jammed into his pant pocket, the other holding the receiver to his ear. His broad shoulders carry more emotional stress and pressure than any ordinary guy, but he handles it well. His blond hair flies about, ruffled by the gentle breeze that blows in my direction, bringing his scent to my nose. Mmm, he smells really good!
Chris turns his head and meets my eyes with a sultry gaze. You smell better, Calli. Almost can’t help myself, he thinks, speaking to my mind.
Wow, I really need to work on not projecting my thoughts.
Chris looks away and speaks into the receiver. “Sir, it’s me.”
I focus my hearing beyond the nearby conversation between Brand and Beth and listen to General Harding’s voice. “Where are you now?” Harding asks.
“Kearney, Nebraska. I’m headed back to the compound. We had to execute Plan B because Deus Ex wasn’t able to touch the diamond.”
“I already know the details, Chris. Deus is on her way back as well. Are you alone?”
“No, I’m traveling with Calli and her friends. I’m alone right now, though. They still believe I was kidnapped by Deus Ex, and they rescued me. Now they’re helping me travel back to you to ‘spy’ for them. I told them I needed to touch base or you might grow suspicious.”
“Excellent. Keep up the appearance that you’re their spy. I told Deus Ex to come back here and help me with my next project. The two of you have demonstrated your loyalties.”
“Thank you, sir. Deus Ex is quite determined to collect a diamond for you. She tried to shoot Calli, but the male Repeater prevented a successful hit. Deus won’t be able to kill Calli, as long as he is nearby to repeat the situation.”
“I’m not concerned with the other Repeater. In fact, soon neither of them will be a threat to us anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Chris. You just bring Calli to me. All you need to do is get her in the vicinity of our snipers and we’ll do the rest.”
“All right. I’ll contact you when we’re in Denver.”
They end the call, and Chris walks back to the car with a troubled expression. He climbs in the driver seat and maneuvers the car out into traffic and heads west. After a couple of blocks, Chris pulls off the road and waits for Crimson. He surrenders the driver’s seat to Crimson after she reappears beside the car.
Once back on the road, Crimson asks, “What was your father talking about? He said, ‘You know what I mean.’ Does he have a new weapon?”
“I don’t know for sure. At least Deus isn’t following us anymore.”
Crimson turns the wheel and accelerates onto the road. She only drives a short time before slowing down and pulling into a restaurant parking lot. “Let’s go in and eat. I need to meet with Maetha.”
We climb out of the car and walk to the front door. Crimson instructs the waiter that we need two separate tables. She and I will sit apart from the others. The waiter seats us and hands us menus. Crimson quickly orders tea and a garden salad. I need a bit longer to decide what I want to eat. I am starved, and I want to fill up.
Maetha walks into the restaurant and heads straight to our table. She sits down by me. I know she is bi-located, but I doubt the waiter will be able to tell.
Maetha and Crimson hold a private non-verbal conversation while I peruse the menu. I can’t decide between the homestyle pot roast sandwich and the spaghetti platter. I ask Chris’s mind what he is going to choose. He replies, The broiled salmon and house salad.
Just like at the Runners compound, huh? Did you ask for some nuts too?
Hey, I happen to like fish, thank you very much.
Well, I’m going to have the spaghetti platter. It comes with a side salad, so I’ll get my veggies.
The waiter comes over and asks Maetha what she’d like to drink, she tells him she doesn’t want anything. He takes my order for the spaghetti platter, then heads to Chris’s table to get their orders.
Maetha speaks aloud, bringing me into the conversation. “We’ve interviewed Travis thoroughly and learned of a new weapon at General Harding’s compound, only it’s unclear what he intends to use it for.”
Crimson asks, “Should we bring Chris over? Perhaps he knows.”
“Yes, I believe he may know something about it.”
“Calli, ask him to join us,” Crimson says.
Chris, would you come over here for a minute?
Beth and Brand, seated beside each other, watch curiously as Chris gets up and comes to our table. He sits in the empty chair across from me, next to Crimson.
Maetha says, “Chris, we’ve obtained some information about a machine your father has that removes powers from people. Do you know anything about it?”
“I know about it, yes. I wasn’t aware it was a threat, though.”
“Travis told us something that’s given rise to concern. He says the machine creates power-infused crystals.”
“Yeah, it does. The machine removes a person’s power and stores it in quartz. It doesn’t kill anyone, not like when a person is strapped up with quartz and fed to the Demons. I didn’t think it was of any significance because it wasn’t hurting anyone.”
“Travis’s information leads us to believe the machine creates Unaltereds,” Maetha states.
“I don’t know about that. How do you tell if someone’s DNA is completely unaltered? Is there a test or diagnosis?”
“They would have an Unaltered’s aura,” I say, “and the Shadow Demons wouldn’t be interested in them anymore.”
“I don’t understand why you feel the machine is a threat.”
“If your father is able to create many Unaltereds at a time, he could then assemble an army even faster than the time it takes to grow them naturally like Freedom was doing. Couple this with the vests, and you have an indestructible soldier with the ability to sneak up on unsuspecting Readers, Seers, Runners, Hunters, and Healers. Add in the fact that General Harding has a Diamond Bearer working for him, and we’ve got an even bigger dilemma.”
I ask, “Do you really think if people were put into a machine that took their powers away and made them Unaltered, they would then go out and kill other people with powers? Would the new soldier be loyal? Or would they need to be threatened and coerced? I don’t see how the machine would be used to create a controllable army. The logistics are just not in favor of that happening.”
Crimson agrees. “That’s a good point, Calli.”
I ask Chris, “Do you know how long the machine has been operational?”
“I don’t know for sure, but it’s been in the compound ever since I can remember. It hasn’t always been operational, though. Long stretches of time would go by when the machine was covered with a plastic sheet. I do know it uses an extreme amount of power and has to recharge between uses.”
“How much time between uses?”
“I don’t know exactly, maybe a day or two. Ask Travis. He might know. I can always find out when I return, though.”
My belly sinks with dread at the mention of Chris’s return to the compound. I worry about his safety. I don’t know how long it will take to hear from him once he enters the facility. With no way to connect to his mind, I will just be waiting blindly like everyone else.
Crimson takes charge of the conversation. “We’ll reach Denver tonight. Tomorrow, Chris will re-enter the compound and begin collecting the information we need. Maetha, you will travel to us for the purpose I discussed with you earlier. Merlin is moving forward with his efforts in the Senate Budget Committee. He thinks he can have the whole program shut down in a month and have General Harding charged with several felonies. If nothing else, we need to prevent the progress within the compound so a shutdown will be justified.”
“Understood.” Maetha bows her head and leaves the building before vanishing.
&
nbsp; The waiter arrives with Crimson’s tea and our salads. He lets out an unprofessional huff at the sight of Chris sitting at our table. “Will you be eating at this table or that one?” he asks with one of those tones.
Crimson sighs. “Chris, why don’t you return to your table? Your presence is stressing out the waiter.”
I suppress a smile, and Chris stands, his shoulders nearly bumping those of the waiter’s. I watch Chris straighten his spine as much as possible to overemphasize his superior height to the average-sized waiter, who instinctively steps back to let Chris pass.
The waiter leaves our table, and Crimson speaks to my mind. I’m with you on the idea that the general isn’t trying to create an army, per se. However, he has something up his sleeve.
No doubt.
Crimson sips on her tea and takes small bites of her salad.
I ask, “Crimson, do you actually have to eat, or are you self-sustaining?”
“I have to eat, just like you, only I choose to eat fresh, healthy food whenever possible. I find my energy levels are maintained by the energy of the earth and anything that grows naturally.”
I know she isn’t talking about the same kind of energy I am thinking of, the kind that when it drains, you have to take a nap. No, she’s talking about her energy powers. I realize I’ll have to change my dietary habits if I want to be in touch with the earth’s energy. For now, though, I will enjoy what might be my last plate of spaghetti.
Chapter 9 - Repeating with Demons
We arrive in Denver at eight o’clock in the evening. Crimson secures a couple of motel rooms close to each other. She invites Chris and me into one room and hands the keycard to Brand for the other. Just as Brand is about to take the card, Crimson pulls it back and eyes him with her “mother knows best” glare.
“Fine, I’ll behave,” Brand concedes.
I can only figure Brand had either repeated or Crimson had spoken to his mind.
We enter the room, and Crimson instructs Chris and me to sit down on the edge of the bed. She pulls a chair in front of us and says, “Chris, I’m going to alter your vision to include basic auras. We need to know if your father’s machine is creating Unaltereds.”
The Diamond Bearers' Destiny Page 15