Project: MI
Chapter 18

Self-destructing… Kira ran the thought through hermind, uncertain what to make of it. When pressed, her mother explained it alittle bit—that bleeding through the nose was a sign of the intense stress thata heroi’s body was undergoing when their powers had a negative impact on it.

“I could be wrong but…just in case, stay away fromhim,”Amanda admitted, but she was adamant, elaborating no further beyond ‘what sheread in school’ about heroi. Kira scowled.

And of course she won’t call the hospital oranything. She’s just going to leave him alone like that. Kira drew hermouth up in a look of self-loathing. She left him alone as well, not botheringto defy her mother.

How much of that was because of…today? She shook herhead fiercely. Stupid… It’s probably justlike he said. He tripped. He sure looks like he can’t keep his feet under him,and…

Closing hereyes, Kira exhaled. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

“Are you okay?”Amanda asked next to her, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m fine,” thegirl replied coldly. Amanda’s lips tightened slightly at the response.

“He’ll be fine,”she told her daughter, guessing what was on her mind. “He has his Companion. Ifthere is anything wrong, the CHC willhelp him. There’s nothing we can do for him that they can’t.”

“I wasn’t thinking about the twerp,” Kira saidvehemently. “Just drop it already, will you?”

“Young lady,”Amanda began, the sky seemingly darkening above them as she narrowed her eyesangrily, “I would appreciate it if you didn’t adopt that tone with me.”

“I just wasn’tthinking about that kid,” the girl replied, her tone hard, but with an honesteffort to at least disguise it. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Amanda sighed,deciding to at least settle for this. “Fine. If that’s how you want it to be.”

They drew to ahalt at the bus stop, neither saying a word. The air was thick with tensionbetween them.

Kira wasrelieved when the buzzing of her cell phone caught her attention, andpleasantly surprised, as well as scared due to her mother’s presence next toher, when she saw Malcolm Maher’s number show up on her caller ID. Flipping itopen she brought the phone to her face.

“Hey,” shebegan, adopting as normal a tone as she could that wouldn’t arouse her mother’ssuspicions. “What’s up? I thought you said you couldn’t…?”

“There’s not enough time to say this, so justlisten,”Malcolm interrupted sharply. “Romana Paxhas turned on their transmitters again and they’re zeroing in on their target.I’ve pinged the kid’s Companion. He’s located at…” He paused for half asecond before giving her the address. “…Adonisstreet, apartment 136. I need your proximity to the broadcast to backtrack itto its source. How quickly can you get there?”

“Slowly right now,”Kira scowled. What with being under theradar, she added mentally, glancing at her mother, who was looking at herout of the corner of her eye. There was another pause on her phone beforeMalcolm resumed speaking.

“All right,” he said. “Give me about five minutes to blind the CHC and then be ready getthere as quickly as you can. This is it. This is the moment you need if youwant to replace your sister.”

“Okay,” Kiranodded. “I’ll be there.”

“I’ll call you back and let you know when to getmoving.”With that, the line went dead, leaving Kira alone again with her mother.

“Who was that?”she asked a bit warily, as though afraid that this would start another argumentbetween them.

“Monique,” Kirareplied without missing a beat. “I told you she’s back, right? She wants tohang out.”

Amanda’sexpression softened and a small smile drew across her face. “By all means…”

Kira had torepress her eagerness to prevent her Q-Field from activating. At last… At last! She was going to do what hermother should have all those months ago…

I’m coming Ran…

Jamie arrived atJustin’s house and took a deep breath. He still was not convinced that this wasa good idea, but lacking anything better he raised his hand and pressed thedoorbell, hearing the distinctive ringing from inside and the inevitable soundof feet plodding toward the door. Next to him, Monster pressed against himaffectionately and he returned the gesture.

The door openedand at once Jamie found himself straightening himself out, fighting down thefearsome blush that suddenly erupted on his face. Standing in the doorway was atall, lithe girl wearing a black tank top with a white skull emblazoned uponher chest and dark hair tied back into a long pony tail. Erin Page, Justin’solder, newly college-bound sister. She grinned upon seeing him.

“Hey Beanie,”she greeted, invoking her nickname for him. Jamie felt his ears start to burnand he looked away, his fingers fidgeting against his palms. He resisted theurge to curse under his breath for his bad luck. In the past year she hadunexpectedly become nearly impossible to talk to or even look in the eye. Hedidn’t know why; just that he felt horribly self-conscious around her.

“Here to seeJustin?” she asked, still grinning. Was there a hint of mischievousness in it?He couldn’t tell. His damnable eyes kept darting away almost as soon as theyflitted up toward her face. Erin tilted her head to one side. “What? No hello?”

“Hey,” Jamiemuttered, his voice barely audible. “Is…” He cleared his throat as his voicecroaked. Oh gods, why is it so hard totalk? “Is Justin in?”

“Upstairs!” heheard his friend call from the aforementioned floor as he appeared at the topof the stairwell behind Erin. The older girl stepped to the side, allowingJamie entry, to which he acquiesced by dashing inside and up the stairs,leaving her to smirk at his back before closing the door.

“Jeez, thatsounds freakishly crazy,” Justin said, breathing a heavy sigh as Jamie and Bethfinished relaying yesterday’s events to him.

“You’re tellingme,” Jamie replied, head in his hands. “I don’t know anything about…Monique orwhoever she really is. And all that stuff she said about my pills not workingor anything…”

“I thoughtsomething looked weird yesterday when we got attacked. I could have sworn thatyou shot something out of your eyes at the guy but…” He rubbed the back of hishead in confusion before shrugging, dismissing the thought. “Anyway, Beth, yousaid that she’s on the up and up?”

“That’s how it appears,” Beth repliedfrom Jamie’s side. “At this point, I amunable to determine who to trust…”

“Hmmm…” Justinglanced at Jamie’s bottle of pills sitting on his computer’s desk, frowning atthem. “Pretty sure you could do better than me. I mean, I know first aid andhow to get on the net, but…”

“As I stated, this is only a security check thatwill go through no one except you. You won’t even have to open the file. We canthen cross it over with the official report and compare them. If there aredifferences, then I believe we can ‘trust’ our visitor. To some degree anyway.”

“If she’stelling the truth, why shouldn’t we trust her?”

“Do we know anything about her? Or why she’s here?As a metamorph, she could be in the employ of a foreign nation. Cooperatingwith her would be the same as committing treason.”

“Can’t arguewith that,” Justin said, looking disconcerted. “What about you, Jamie? What doyou think?”

Looking up,Jamie opened his mouth at first to respond and then closed it, thinking hardabout the question for a moment before answering.

“I…don’t know,”he said finally, one hand going to his Cerberus’ back and giving it a goodscratch. One of the two heads rose, trying to sniff at his arm but failing dueto the angle. “I mean, it’s like you said. If she’s telling the truth then…”His brow furrowed, he thought back to when he woke up. He had been scared then.She could have kidnapped him from the moment he fell unconscious, or killedhim. But in spite of himself, he couldn’t help but remember how her amber eyeslooked when he awoke, radiating an odd concern for him. They didn’t seem likethe kind of eyes belonging to someone who meant to betray him or lie to him,but he couldn’t disregard Beth’s words. What did he know about her?

The fact thatshe so casually broke into his house and assaulted him in the bathroom atschool didn’t exactly win her any points either. She may have had ‘goodreasons’ for doing those things, but at the same time he was left with a senseof increasing vulnerability not helped by the other recent attacks on hisperson and…

Monster suddenlyyipped and gave a light snap at Jamie with his heads. The boy snatched hishands back and stared at them for a second. His fingers had curled themselvestightly around Monster’s fur.

“Dude…” Justinsaid, his voice full of concern as he raised a hand toward him. “You’reshaking.”

“I’m fine,”Jamie replied, rubbing his hands together and licking his lips nervously. “Canwe just get this over with? I’m going to catch Hel from my parents if I’m outtoo late.”

“Like theyactually care,” Justin snorted under his breath, covering his concern out ofrespect for his friend’s privacy. Still, he had to make one last effort. “Maybeit would be a good idea to see if you could spend the night, just in case thischick tries sneaking back in or something. My mom won’t mind having companyother than me and my sister for a change.”

Jamie pausedagain before glancing away. “What if she gets mad and hurts my folks because Iflaked out on her?”

“Then what if Ispent the night at your place? Just so you have someone to watch your back?”

Jamie looked athis friend with raised eyebrows, not sure what to make of his friend’s offer.

I don’t want him getting involved, he thought tohimself. Well… Not anymore than he isalready.

“I’ll thinkabout it,” he replied neutrally. Justin bit his tongue and held his hand outfor him.

“Suit yourself.Anyway, I’m going to need to plug Beth into my computer so we can get this showon the road. Is this going to take a while?”

“I don’t think it will in this case,” she replied. “All I need to do is come up with a reportthat will seem natural for his progression, but cause Romana Pax to edit thematerial. I imagine all I will need to do is mention his Q-Field…

“All right,”Justin nodded as Jamie unclipped Beth from his side and handed her over. “Inthat case, while we work on this, think away, bud.”

Justin turnedaway, leaving Jamie alone with his thoughts. The boy sighed despondently andlooked down at his hands, now clasped together.

Why’d this happen to me? he wondered. Why is it still happening to me? What did I do to deserve this mess?

He thought backto that fateful day in the park when that man…did something to him. He knewnext to nothing about him or why he did what he did. The man was just…gone fromthe moment the CHC took him into custody. So far as he could recall there hadbeen a brief report in the news about a criminal—a subversive—being apprehended, but beyond that the media was silenton the matter. Eventually he just gave up on the issue and went on with hislife in the hopes that he could live as normally as possible in spite of beinga heroi.

Beth can’t help me dig up any information on him.She only knows whatever her bosses tell her, and she can only tell me whateverthey’ll let her. Arealization came to mind just then. Thatmetamorph… Does she know somethingabout why I’m like this?

The thoughtseemed to fire something inside him that began to burn away at his fears. Theyremained, but with this there was a chance that he could get to the bottom ofeverything. There was a big ‘maybe’ in this, that he knew, but it was betterthan the nothing he knew up to this point.

Parting hishands, he turned one over so that the palm was facing him and he flexed hisfingers. He focused on it for what felt like an eternity, one long seconddrawing into two, and then three.

He shook hishead and dropped his hand. This is crazy.I don’t know the first thing about my powers and I’m trying to make somethinghappen after I took my pills. Maybe that girl was lying to me about the wholething being a whatchamacallit. A placebo…

Beth’s electriceye swung over to him just then.

“Jamie? I just got a message in your inbox fromMonique. It seems she’s looking for you at the house.”

“Crazy stalker,”Justin said, twirling a finger around one ear. “She even knows your numbernow.”

“What’s shewant?” asked Jamie, feeling rather disturbed by this.

“She says that she wants to see you and that she hassomeone who can…help.”

“That’s great,”said Justin. “Does she say anything about who they are or are we supposed tojust believe that we’re not catching any flack from this?”

“We?” asked Beth.

“We?” echoedJamie. Justin scowled at the pair.

“What? I’m notletting you keep me out of this. Heck, I’m kind of for calling the cops andnabbing her, but since we can’t trust her and can’t just forget about her…”

“I don’t want you to be in this mess!” Jamiesaid, suddenly standing up.

“Are you kiddingme?!” Justin asked sarcastically. “You just got me involved with this!”Ignoring Jamie’s horrified expression, he gestured to the computer where Bethwas still downloading her ‘report’. “Don’t forget that we’re friends too. I’vegot your back through thick and thin, remember?”

Jamie’sshoulders sagged and he glanced away. Isaid that once, he thought. “I know that, but…”

“What? You don’ttrust me?”

“What if you get hurt orkilled because of this?”

“Let me worryabout that.” Justin leaned back in his chair and threaded his hands behind hishead. “I said I’ve got your back, so I’ve got your back. What kind of friend amI if I just let you deal with this without me?”

“You’re not aheroi…”

“I’ve been yourfriend since you became a heroi. Do you really think I give a rats crap in Helabout that?”

“Uh…” beganJamie, a bit dumbfounded. Justin leaned back in his chair, looking carefully athim.

“You’d betternot,” he warned. “Do you have any idea how much that stinks?”

Jamie blinked,befuddled by his statement. “Bu-wha…?”

Justin pinchedhis nose for emphasis and grinned.

“This is not funny.”

“Excuse me fortrying to be your friend,” Justin shrugged, still grinning. “So what’s theplan? Are we going to meet with this chick?”

“There is no we in this!”

“How are yougoing to stop me, just out of curiosity?”

“I…” Jamienearly balked at that. “I’m a heroi! I’ll...”

Justin raised aneyebrow. “You’ll…what?” he prompted. “Last I checked you don’t have controlover your powers. Until then, you know I can outwrestle you any day of theweek, sick or blindfolded.”

“Will you cut itout? You’re not making this easy!”

“Hey.” Leaningforward, Justin clapped his friend on the shoulder companionably. “All you needto do to make this easy is to include me in on this. Do you really have to belike all those heroi from the old Ages? Acting like you’re carrying the worldon your shoulders on your own? We’re buds, right?” He frowned as a thoughtoccurred to him. “You’re thinking about your brother aren’t you?”

“I’m not,” Jamiesaid, but the redness that now began to burn his face told a different story.He pushed Justin’s hand off his shoulder. It was pretty clear that nothingwould sway him now. His friend’s conviction had all the certainty andunreasonableness of an avalanche. “All right. I guess I can’t tell youotherwise until I can tie you to a chair or something.”

“I’d be prettypeeved if you did that,” Justin said. “But whatever. What’s our first move?”

“Let Beth finishmaking her report first,” Jamie said, turning to the Companion Device, stillnot liking this development. “How close are you to finishing?”

“All I need is another minute to finish composingand then I’ll save it before sending out a copy,” Beth replied.

“How will you beable to see the changes?” asked Justin. “Aren’t those files supposed to beclassified or something?”

“There are certainly layers of security to gothrough, but I can request to view filed reports. As long as it’s not marked byhigher ups it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Well that’s arelief,” breathed Jamie. “Then I guess afterward we can go meet Monique.”

Justin leanedback in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “I wonder what her real name is.It’d be interesting to see her real form too. I’ve never met a metamorphbefore. What’s she like?”

Jamie shruggedand placed a hand back on Monster’s back, stroking his soft, purple fur gently.“No weirder than you I guess, except she can literally make whatever face shewants.”

The Cerberus’tail thumped against the floor in response, causing the boy to smile.

“Bet her parentsused to tell her a lot about how her face would freeze then, huh?”

Jamie rolled his eyes at hisfriend. “Oh gods…”

Kira came to alanding on top of the roof of her destination and took a look around her. Shefrowned slightly. The skies around and above were clear, save for the odd bird.Pulling out her phone she flipped it open and dialed Malcolm’s number, hopingthat he would answer it. One ring. Then two. Finally, at three, she gave up anddropped the call.

No doubt he’s trying to maintain a low profile untilhe gets Ran’s location. She panned her head around and looked down at thestreets below. Reopening the phone she checked her maps to make sure she was inthe right location. Everything looksquiet enough. If Romana Pax is trying to trigger the Grey kid, they’re notdoing a good job of it.

Stepping off theside of the roof, she levitated down, getting a view of the inside of the houseto see if there was anything going on inside. So far the place appeared equallyquiet.

Is he asleep or something? Trying to influence himthrough his dreams?There was a thought, but she rather doubted it given what Malcolm said abouther sister and what she knew of her abilities. Now that she thought about it,why wouldn’t it be possible for them to make her illusions more powerful?

Mal would probably have his own opinion on that.Probably something like “Why don’t they just use hard light holograms” instead?He’d probably also say something else involving a dumb chessboard

She touched downon the ground and peered into the final window. She spotted Jamie and one ofhis friends sitting at the far end of the room in front of a computer. Theother boy was smiling and talking. Kira quickly ducked away so as to avoidbeing seen.

Guess that answers that question. So…if Romana Paxis broadcasting something…then what is it? Mal said that there was somethinginvolving Q-Fields and Ran’s powers so… Wait!

She thought backto the attack at school, or more accurately the attacker.

Is thatwhat they’re transmitting? Using my sister’s powers? They’re creating a…fakeheroi and attacking this kid? Kira’s stomach churned as he seethed withanger. She barely knew the kid, but she knew her sister well enough to knowthat he was absolutely the last sortof person Ran would do this sort of thing to. What are they doing to her to make her do this? Why are they even doingthis in the first place?

She pulled herhands into tight fists. Right now she wanted nothing more than to tear down thewalls of Romana Pax. Their plan, whatever it was, and their methods sickenedher. Grinding her teeth together she raised her phone and prepared to dialMalcolm again in the hopes of reaching him. As she did so, a shadow fell overher. Hesitating with her thumb over the call button, she turned to replace a tall,shadowy figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a tattered long trench coat.Instantly recognizing the figure as the attacker on her school her Q-Fieldinstantly enveloped her, flaring brightly.

“All right!” sheexclaimed, dropping into a defensive stance. “You’re going to tell me who youare and what…” she began, only to stop as the figure spoke but a single word ina voice that she knew all too well.

“Kira?” Ran’svoice asked from behind the darkness, raising a shriveled, mummified hand andpointing at the girl. Kira’s voice choked in her throat and died. Rememberingthe incident in the bathroom, she was suddenly filled with the certainty thatthis was her sister communicating with her.

Only she could control her puppets, she remembered,her fists lowering and her Q-Field dying back a bit.

“Yeah Ran…” shewhispered, nodding her head. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she ran her armacross her face to clear them. “It’s me. I’m your sister…”

Lowering her armshe staggered back in surprise to replace the shadowy figure suddenly standing directlyin front of her, eyes blazing red with horrendous fire. The shriveled,mummified arm came up and snatched her around the throat. It didn’t hurt by along shot—it would take a lot to get past her invulnerability—but she wassurprised nonetheless.

Did this freak just trick me? she wondered,somewhat stunned as she took hold of the figure’s arm.

The figuretilted its head to one side and a moon-lit smile spread across its face like aCheshire cat grin.

“Play with me,Kira,” the figure laughed before electrical blasts snaked up its arms andsurged along Kira’s body. Clothing sizzled and burned as Kira deftly rippedherself free. The figure’s arm shattered into a thousand sparkling shards uponher breaking loose, but didn’t seem in the least bit inconvenienced by this.Indeed, as Kira watched, the arm began to regenerate.

What the Hel…? Kira thought, her eyes wide withhorrified amazement as shadows began to spill forth from the figure’s clothingand spread across the ground like oil.

“Play with me, Kira,”the figure repeated, its mouth now bloody crimson. “Play with me!”