Support Team, page 16
part #6 of Damsel Series
The girl went wide eyed, and seemed rather innocent, suddenly.
“I did not know that. We’ve met, and she was nice to me, but not any more than anyone else. She seems so young... Also like she’s kind of into Don.”
Hannah just shrugged, keeping things light.
“Who’s she supposed to date? Don’s a great guy and she really does look about eighteen or so.”
Marina shifted again, back into Karen, looking a tiny bit plump, dark haired and not exactly as cute as she did in her natural form.
“She’s immortal, but doesn’t have the shifting gift. Dad was a pure shifter lineage male, and my sister and brother both have both gifts. Shifters aren’t exactly immortal, but being able to change shape means that you can shift out of wounds, disease and other disorders, instantly. So they tend to live a really long time. They can still drown, have their heads removed, be burned fast enough or disintegrated. Starved or asphyxiated, too. None of that works on the true immortals. It’s a bit of a curse, really. When everyone else was gone, all of us who were old enough were left. Just standing there. Fine and dandy, as if nothing had happened at all. A lot of the shifters died, with about one in three of them making it. Everyone left had a power or ability of some kind. The others... It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”
There was no speaking for a long time. When it happened, it was Hannah, again. Which probably meant she was the loud mouth of the group. A thing, she realized, that while mean, was probably simply the truth.
“Okay, so you hid your real powers, and got the solar ones, to sell the act. To hide that from your own family? Your dad went into hiding, for the same reason. Is that Lewis?”
There was a nod then.
“There are two by that name in our family. Larina’s older boy was named after my father. He, your cousin Lewis, is immortal, but not a shifter. Richard has both traits, he’s also your cousin.” She looked at the kids then. Ending on Hannah.
For her part she looked at everyone else.
“Richard is Agent Two, with the High Command, down in Texas. Rick. Aunt Larina is Agent One. Um, Max Welerd is Mom’s older brother. I don’t know what powers he has. Shape Shifting?”
That got a nod, from Karen.
“Not immortality, though. Technically, he’s my half-brother, but we’re close. Lindy is my full brother. Max... He helped raise me and Larina, when there were troubles, after the attack. He taught us shape shifting, but I had to hide my powers, for the long plan. After Hannah brought me back, and saved Patty, Reese and Kara Kant made father and me swear to do our part. June, my mother, she knows the whole plan, at least as much as we did. We had to hide, and wait. Which... It’s clear that’s because of at least part of the plan you’re talking about, Charles. The one we have to stop. We never located who it was, exactly, either.”
She tightened her jaw and then growled a bit. Things that didn't sound like her sweet step-mother at all.
“Larina and Rick were cleared. June as well. Of course. We were never certain about Lewis, Larina’s older boy. For whatever reason, about half of all the true immortals have learned to block telepathy, over the millennia. After a while they do it as second nature, so that isn’t even a sign that they’re trying to hide anything. The extended family was always suspect because of that. We couldn’t be certain, and it was too risky to guess and hope, so we didn’t bring them in on things. No one admitted to anything at the end, either.”
It sounded pretty dismal, to Hannah.
“Wait. I survived? I’m not exactly immortal like that.”
Her mother rolled her eyes.
“Not exactly, but you used magic to do it. Or will? It was enough to let you survive. Only, I think that you might have actually have the trait as well. I mean, I think you do here, too. I’ve seen some things, over the years from you... When you were little, before the kidnappings. No one else who had the same magic on them lived. We couldn’t really test anything by the time it was clear that other things were going on with you. Not that it matters that much. I mean, it’s interesting, but the truth is, you lived, and didn’t want to. None of us did. So, I came back. A few of us managed it. Some a lot further back than this, attempting to make changes, so that we can win this time. It isn’t working. Not that I can see.”
Nate made a face then, which was tight, sour and seemed to be constraining anger.
“You left me with that monster...”
Karen, Marina, teared up then.
“I did. I had to. It’s what happened, and...” She looked away then and actually cried, tears running down her face. Not smearing her makeup, even if it looked like she had a good bit on. “When things got dark, you were one of the only people who managed to really do anything. There were about a hundred or so. You had to kill... So very many of the enemy. It was decided, before I left, that you had to be able to do that again, in case we failed. So, I won’t lie to you. I knew what was going on, could have protected Hannah and taken out Zero Six, but didn’t. Because the world will need an insane, almost unstoppable warrior more than I need my son.”
She went still then, still crying.
Hannah half expected Nate to storm out. She was going to follow him, if he did. The things he’d endured were so awful that she, hearing her own mother’s words, kind of hated her, in that moment. This version of her, at least.
Instead, her brother, who had taken rape, torture, and even become a monster himself to save her life, suffering for years, simply... Closed his eyes. Then when he spoke, he sounded hard, but not that upset.
“I get it. I don’t love it, but some things are bigger than one person. Hannah and June took care of Carter anyway. Along with Neary Kant.”
Karen looked quizzical.
“Who? I mean, I recall Carter. Zero Six. He dies, but not for a while yet. Kidney failure, I think? There was a power struggle, trying to take his holdings, in the collective.”
Hannah grinned.
“So, we have some differences already? Johan Carter had all of the evil removed from him, by Nereas Kantas, Superion X’s brother? An alien. We didn’t even kill him, Carter, for what he did. It was close though. John came, I teleported him in, and he gave his blessing for it.”
She looked at the others.
“I don’t know his real name. John Booth is the only one I was given. Zero One, of the criminal organization known as the Kahn Collective. Our grandfather’s brother, on Mom’s side. So, our great-uncle. A shifter, at the very least.”
Karen snorted, very softly.
“A freedom fighter, not a criminal mob boss. Though, that gets murky. It always does. We needed funds, for the revolution, so stole them, as often as not. It was what I was doing here, originally. A long con, to get millions from you, Charles. Only, like an idiot, I went and fell in love, instead. Eventually I had to do it anyway. The movement needed me, and I couldn’t risk you being implicated in what we were doing, so I left, taking the money with me, like a common thief.” She held up her left hand, staring only at her husband. “Before you say it, yes, I know that you would have given it to me. Even more than I took, if I’d only asked and told you the truth. I knew that even then. I did it that way so you wouldn’t be linked to what I had going on. I believed in the cause, back then. I still do, except that, of course, now I know that it’s futile. At least if we don’t win this time.”
Hannah was going to question her some more, when something strange took place.
Cynthia stood up and left the room. She wasn’t running, and didn't seem upset, so it was odd. Until she came back, several minutes later, holding a school note pad and a pen, which were settled in front of her mother.
“Write down all the names you know or suspect. Everyone who is in the clear, as well. We’ll still have to check it all, but that might speed things up for us. I nearly grabbed my computer, but we can’t risk that, can we?” She looked at Hannah then, as if she were the one to know that kind of thing.
Which, of course, she did.
“True. From now on, if we have to communicate, use telepathy for it. You two are both in lessons for that now. I’ll try to check in every day or two, with each of you. You all know Alistair Marks, too?” She said that without thinking, but her father shook his head.
Nate gave a nod then.
“The world’s strongest telepath. Not by a small amount, either. He’s probably listening in right now, since this is kind of fascinating and Hannah got his attention earlier. Um, Al, this man is my father, Charles de Peyser. Dad, say you don’t mind him speaking in your head? He already knows all your secrets, so, you know, don’t worry about that. He’s pretty good about not squealing on people.”
There was a nod, from both Cynthia and Karen. It was still almost impossible for Hannah to think of her as anything other than her step-mother, even if she was also her mother.
Charles spoke, his words even.
“I give my permission for you to speak to me then, Alistair.”
~Pleased to meet you, sir. Again. We’ve met a few times. Um, I’m kind of dating your daughter?~
Charles sat up a bit then, and looked directly at Hannah.
“Ah, this is the Al that you have living with you for the summer? I didn’t know you were involved. He’s a bit young for you, isn’t he? Not that I can’t see it. He seems to be a sturdy young man, and apparently was more than merely intelligent and attractive, the whole time.” To his credit, the man seemed a little scandalized, even as he pretended to accept the idea.
Hannah laughed. Then, playfully, pointed at Cynthia.
“Wrong daughter. They’re the same age even. You aren’t wrong about him. He’s pretty cool. I, on the other hand barely have even a couple of booty calls going on. I need to get more serious that way, but haven’t found anyone yet.”
She nearly didn’t say anything, but then went on, in case it was important at some point.
“I’m sort of half dating Brian Warburton. That’s...” She tightened her face, then went ahead. “You’re sworn to secrecy on this? For real? All of you?” Her family all nodded, at least.
Which was, she understood, a thing she could actually trust. They all had secrets, after all. They kept them, too.
“He’s also Chiropter, the superhero. He’s nice, but we get to see each other about twice per month, and even then, I think he’s not taking it seriously. I’m pretty much his current beard, as far as the tabloids go. I’m also seeing Kate Sinclair’s sister, Veronica, occasionally.”
Out of everyone at the table, only Cynthia went wide eyed. Hannah honestly couldn’t tell why, until she spoke.
“Um, you have sex with women?”
Hannah grinned.
“When I can. You should try it, too. Not to mess with your relationship with Al, but girls are fun, or can be. Being bi-sexual runs in the family, just so you don’t have to live in terror when you figure out that you find some girl pretty, too.”
Her father laughed.
“That is pretty much true. I don’t run that way, myself, but about half of our relatives honestly do. That doesn’t get you out of producing heirs, however.” He glanced at everyone at the table. “Though, Cynthia, be careful that way, for the time being? An early pregnancy might not have the impact on you that it would another young woman, given your resources, but it seems that there are things about to happen, and we should strive to deal with that first.”
That one just made sense to Hannah.
“True. At the same time, life can’t just stop. We don’t know what’s really going on at all. Get those names for us, and I’ll... Try to put together a team of people we can trust on this. I’m not really involved, in anything big, not being that kind of person, but I’m doing support work for some people, so have a few contacts that might help.”
One of those was her brother, and his boyfriend.
“Oh, hey, you need to have dinner soon with Jaime.” She grinned. “He’s also incredible, by the way. I was going to make a play for him, but Nate got to him first, if you can buy that? Linear, the superhero, with The Underdogs. He has healing powers, as in for himself and others, and I think that they’re getting serious, as in marriage might be in the works. I don’t know how the heir thing works with that. Maybe get Cousin Jannette to act as a surrogate, with Jaime’s DNA? That way the baby will be a full family member, without any creepy incest? Not that I know if she’d do that. I really need to get in touch with her soon, even if that plan isn’t a real thing.” Having kids ruined the figure, after all, and...
Hannah stopped for a second and then nodded. She could fix that for her, if it was needed, to make a deal work. A trip to the Never would work for it. Fixing a waistline, some stretch marks and tightening a cooter back to factory specs wasn’t giving her a power, so it wouldn’t be needed for the alien committee to sign off on it even.
Probably.
She sort of needed to ask about that kind of thing, since, one way or another, she was suddenly far more powerful than she had been before. Taking liberties that way, outside of an emergency was a good way to start going rogue. A thing she felt already trying to creep into her mind, as she thought about some very boring and regular situations. It would be so easy to fix it all, using magic.
A thing she didn’t even need help in setting up any longer.
Nate half choked, but grinned. Before he could speak, Cynthia did.
“From the exercise class, earlier? He’s hot. Nice seeming, too.” She looked around then, and, rather adroitly, changed the subject. “Hannah got me into this club. Um, with Liberty and The Society? I sort of have a superpower. It isn’t much, really. I can merge two places together? People can walk through that way. I have to have been to them both, before, for it to work. It’s not a big thing. Anyway, part of that means I also have to do training things. Running and fighting? Learning to use guns and knives, too.”
Hannah nodded.
“Once she gets trained up, she’s going to be running that part of the training in the future, with Kara.” She ignored what the girl being called Kara Kant in the future meant.
For one thing, she didn't really know. It could be a lot of things. It wasn’t, of course. Hannah understood, on a deep level that, one day, Kara was going to marry Reese. Then, from the sound of it, die or be badly hurt, because she didn’t know how to fight well enough. Though, that might happen first. It could even just be nothing, other than Reese setting something odd in motion, that had happened in the first place, and making it seem different, for some reason.
Charles frowned.
“Why is that, exactly? Why have Cynthia slated for that position, I mean?”
Hannah shrugged, then made up a line of bullshit.
“Her powers, for the time being at least, are mainly best used for support purposes. The same is true of Kara. She can make vast quantities of food appear. A really good array of things, too, but even though that’s important, it isn’t exactly great in a fight. So, this gets them both to practice and at the same time, will help keep them safe. Plus, it’s great for networking. I mean, already, Cynthia could call up Linear or Chameleon from The Underdogs and invite them over for dinner. The same with a lot of people from The Society. Doing this kind of training is great for that. Oh, we should, if they’re really cleared, get with Larina and Rick. Rick first. Larina is under cover at the moment. That... I can’t share that. There are powers involved. I shouldn’t even be thinking of her, for the moment.”
So, she didn’t. Stopping that rather efficiently.
Nathanial, her blond, good looking, kind of jacked, brother, gave her a nod. Then did the same toward Cynthia.
“Not a bad plan. Your friend Carl is working with them on that?”
She tilted her head.
“In part. You’ll both need to step up your game to earn that kind of training, sis. Oh, hey, do you want to get in on moving out of here?”
She covered what she meant, moving to a building that she owned, at a superhero base, if there was any room left. Her sister thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I go off to school in the fall. College. If I’m still doing that? If the world is coming apart...”
Nate nodded, but his words were different than Hannah would have figured, even if they matched nearly word for word what she’d been about to say.
“You need to do that. Still, you can get in on the apartment, too. We have, like, four floors that are totally empty there. It’s decently safe, too. The area isn’t crime free, but it’s close. We run patrols constantly, after all, so no one wants to risk doing anything near there. At the same time, it isn’t... Well, here. I mean, no offense, but it’s so much nicer trying to get laid when your parents aren’t about to walk into the room, you know?”
Karen choked a bit, then laughed.
“I can see that. Well, it’s up to you, honey. It sounds like you know what you’re doing and that everyone around you has some good ideas. Just don’t get into drugs and keep to safe sex?”
It was the kind of thing that was good advice, and was always going to be awkward, coming from a parent, or even a sibling. Cynthia took it that way and blushed, but didn’t insist that she had been keeping to those rules already.
Which was fine.
They were still family, after all.
Thinking of that, and how it was clear that her dad was already planning to pay for Cynthia’s rent, which wasn’t a horrible thing, considering everything, Hannah clapped her hands.
“Right. I was thinking that I should move soon. Also, that my parents shouldn’t be paying my rent. If I’m actually an adult, or something a bit like one. I even have my own income streams, so it isn’t that one stopping me. I kind of need to start standing on my own two feet. I was thinking I’d get someplace a bit more remote? With some acreage, so we can run the daily training there? I can teleport, so, you know, the commute isn’t bad for me that way, if I need to do things in other locations.”
Instead of assuring her that he was happy to pay for her, her father smiled. He even teared up a little, for the first time that night. Even if he was reeling from the big news of the day, which, of course, was going to be that Karen had always been his first wife, who, even after running away, really hadn’t, in a form that involved massive trickery and deceit. Oddly, some loyalty as well, even if that seemed to be hard to keep in mind, at the moment.
