The End Again, page 16
“Nick Feddy, as well? He was the one who called people in to help with that flooding earlier. We can get a recommendation for a third person, to round things out? Al might know more about this than I do.” Unless Tess had a plan that way. It was, as she’d mentioned, where she lived.
She simply nodded at the words though, since, clearly, Al Benoist was kind of incredible.
Pulling her handheld, Sara found and tapped the correct name, which was simply listed as Albert, and settled in to wait. The man answered inside ten seconds.
“Is there an emergency?” He looked at her directly, and there was a sign of recognition, he also got it when Tim pushed in alongside of her, an arm over her shoulder.
“Al? Tess just contacted the Infection, from the IPB world? She begged it to release all of those afflicted with emotional distress, and it rather openly agreed. It’s a long story, and we were planning to fake that, but it actually took place. So, we need to present a device provided to the President of Sara’s land, for him to activate or not, for his people, and thought that having some of the Council from the Moon do it would be correct? The event happened here, on the surface, and Tess lives in Harmony, so that’s more appropriate than having some other government do it. We want Feddy and Book for it, and need at least one more?”
The handsomely homely man, his face unlined, but lean and a bit lopsided, in a way that was slightly goofy, rather than sinister, nodded after a moment.
“Lenora Burgess? She’s in charge of construction for the council here, which wouldn’t seem to fit, but she presents well enough, and I don’t like her enough to feel poorly about handing her a learning stone for English, without warning.”
Several of the others there grinned at the idea.
Sara simply nodded.
“Understood. I’ll contact people now, then? This is... Actually, a real emergency, and not, at the same time. We need to move as fast, and as carefully, as possible, on this side of things. The plan is to present the device in about two weeks, our time here? Do I call this in, or should the Ancients here do it?”
Which was less than two days in her own world.
Which Albert understood, having lived there for a long while at one point, while she’d been off trying to free some slaves in the incoming fleet.
The man, knowing firsthand what problems first modes could create, gave her a sharp, single nod and went slightly wide eyed.
Then blew out a gust of air.
“Everything we do is going to be both wrong and correct, at the same time, as strange as it seems. You should connect with the individuals needed, for your people, and I need to do it, for all of us here, at the same time. We need some learning stones...”
Tess grunted then, if not without a pretense of politeness.
“We can take them to Noram for that? Terlee will host them and we can see to the proper lessons that way. We’re doing it via ambush, you think?”
She seemed willing enough, but Albert shook his head, after a rather wistful moment.
“No. Not really. We can’t do that to world leaders. From any world. It’s too risky. Still... Should I call first?”
Sara wanted that, herself, being shy, but she understood that allowing herself to be that weak wasn’t going to work, not in the long run.
“I have that part. Let me... One moment here. If they’ll take my calls, that is.” If not, she was going to have to get with Comp and have the artificial woman force their lines open, of course. That or do it herself. She could, she thought. It might take a few hours of focus and building a way to splice into the handheld system, but she got the basic idea of how to do that.
It would require matching the feeling of the person who had done the work on the device, then including a new set of directions that would let her break in where she wanted. So far it had never come up, but it was kind of obvious as to how it would work. Just like messing with anyone’s magic did. Most magic users there didn’t do that kind of thing, but manipulating others’ abilities was basically Sara’s actual power, so it made innate sense to her.
Al nodded and winked at her, in a charming enough fashion.
“Let me know when that’s done, so I can do the follow up with each of them? This is amazing. Tess is sure that this isn’t over reaching?” That last part was pure teasing of the woman, but Sara smiled with Timon still pressed up against her in a cozy fashion.
“Oh, it’s not at all. She simply asked the only being who could do this to make it happen. Also, it will mainly impact another world, and in a positive fashion, and the control of it being done is going to the local authorities there. Well, one of them, for the whole world, but he can share that out if he wants. This is just right, that way. Perfect, really.”
Sobering a bit, Al lit up again.
“Good. I’ll do my portion for this. I know how important this really is, after all. In part, at least.”
The line broke, and everyone stood there, watching her expectantly, as she tapped the first name she wanted. Book.
The woman who answered looked to be in her early twenties, and had a cross on a simple hemp string around her neck. Directly next to at least three magical tiles. One of them was a truth amulet, which also looked a bit like a cross, only in glowing pink. Another was the same shield that everyone on the Moon wore, constantly. Most kept those under their clothing, but Sara thought she got the idea. This woman was letting any who cared to see know that she was a woman of her faith, the All High, as well as a woman of the Moon.
Her voice was pleasant, and came with a smile, which was mainly going to Timon, who was still directly next to Sara.
“Master Timon! How nice to hear from you, is all well?”
The man nodded.
“It is. We have... Really, amazing news. Tess Baker asked the Infection itself, using magic and humble supplication, to release all of the people of the IPB world who are afflicted by the emotional curse, and it agreed, in a rather dramatic show. This happened on the surface of the Moon, so we’re enlisting the council from here to go to that other world to aid her in delivering the needed magic signal. It won’t take much, but we need to drop a few lesson stones in some hands. We’re taking three of you. You, Feddy and Burgess? Those are the names mentioned so far, at least.”
There was a rather stilted nod, but the woman didn't frown.
“They aren’t the worst of the lot, by any means, but... Well, we should do it. I’m in, even if not in any official capacity. If these people are in need, and we have a way of aiding them, then we must do it. No matter what the cost is. Even if it means personal discomfort or pain.”
Sara nodded.
“Thank you, Councilor Book. In this case, the cost will be learning some new languages, and possibly making a speech or two. Oh, I’m Sara Chambers. That’s my world. I was also here to see the... miracle, that happened. I’ll be going with you all, if that’s allowed?” If not... Well, Sara didn’t need to be in the room for the whole thing to work and honestly, avoiding the spotlight was the whole reason for having others go along in the first place. The best way to really do that was to not be there at all.
Maeve nodded, however.
“That sounds correct, to me. You’re Sara Chambers... There was a report, a few years back? About the agent we had out in the fleet, to return people from our system and aid them in changing their ways in regards to enslavement? Some of that was rather dire, what happened to that asset.”
Tim nodded.
“The very same person. Good. We need to travel in two weeks. That’s less than two days, their time, so we aren’t making them wait too long for relief. It will take time to get everything in motion, or it would be sooner than that. This is... Rather large, over there. Truly on a level that we can’t truly imagine here, at all.”
That was an understatement, but Sara just nodded. Then complimented the woman, her works, the All High, since clearly he’d had a major role in what had taken place that day and even the council, who hadn’t really done much yet.
For a moment, Sara scoffed at the idea of the All High. Then it occurred to her that reaction might be short sighted on her part. After all, there were beings of power in existence, who hid themselves from view almost totally. Perhaps a being several levels up from that, or more, might well do the same. It was hard to have free will with something like God hanging over you in a realistic fashion, after all.
To that end, she decided not to dismiss the idea out of hand.
When they tapped off, she made the other calls. Those didn’t go as smoothly, but when Timon explained that being selected for a bit of free travel and easy work was an honor, they, Feddy and Burgess, both fell into line easily enough. Even when it became clear they needed to take some painful lessons.
Not that Burgess didn’t whine about that portion of things before finally agreeing that seeming learned and being understood was more valuable than her own personal comfort. At the same time, it was really clear that the woman didn't actually mean it at all.
Sara didn’t care about that. It honestly would be fine for her to stand back, clueless and not understanding the events, if it was needed. Especially if the others there understood English fluently.
Still after an hour of calling, not just those three, but Countess Thomson, and then Tiera, as the Ancient of the Moon, who in turn contacted Marcia Turner directly, with the good news. Sara and Tess were able to drop the boys off inside, and form a plan for where they were meeting up with everyone, for the show. Which was, of course, at the house she’d set up along the river in Noram.
There was only one small flaw in her plans that way, as it turned out.
The show itself went very well, since it wasn’t as much about ghost hunting in Od Cerra as it was about actually interviewing ghosts. Ones who were see-through and hard to hear, but also very personable, at the same time, having been performers in life. After that as well. It was part of their job.
They even sang, in an eerie and uncomfortable fashion and actually seemed like real spirits, which they were. That the world they were in for that was slightly different in some innate property and allowed such beings to be seen was explained clearly, early on. There were also interviews with some of the locals and an explanation that the tour of the castle, a popular attraction, wasn’t crass or gaudy at all.
Which took some skill to pull off, since showing the corn dog stands, and drink stations, as well as the cheap souvenirs really would have spoiled the whole effect they were going for.
Tess, as always for the show, was right out front, with Becky, their own ghost friend, being visible there, without her fake energy body being needed at all. That part was interesting, since she actually showed up like the other dead people did there. At least right around the castle. When they got too far away, she had to use the magical amulet she had again, to give her a body.
The others did their jobs, with Parker and Fox managing to be rather professional, considering their young age. Sara did that as well, mainly pressed into it by them, since they were giving her such a good example.
No, the miscalculation was in the time difference. She’d set everything up on her side of things for Monday, but the time they’d spent in Lar’s world, which seemed like two complete weeks, was less than a day in Noram and something less than half an hour in her own world. So, when they stepped back through, after weeks of work, they still had a lot of time left over, with nothing much to really do. Not for her, at least.
Sighing, she nodded to herself, and looked at everyone else as they got back to the place along the river.
“We should go and set up, getting ready in our world?”
Tara Strong, who was the one person there she hadn’t actually been speaking too, nodded.
“This is going to be vast, back home. You need me and Chris to make some announcements with the press?” The short woman moved in alongside her friend then, nodding as if to get Sara to agree with her that it was a real plan, at all.
Rather than say no, she let her head play side to side for a moment. Her lips quirked in a fashion she hoped was considering instead of rude.
“Honestly? We might need to keep Christian behind the scenes on this. Having this come from the IPB, well, in part, and certainly along with them... but having you do those announcements for the people here, since you personally know Tess? That could play well. Not that you’ll get much publicity out of it, but being the native guide will get you some. A smidge.” She held her fingers very close to get her and narrowed her eyes, hoping the woman wouldn’t be upset by the idea. For that matter, hoping that Christian Pours wasn’t going to be upset over being excluded.
On that part, Sara wasn’t joking at all. Having the release from the torment of first modes, from the danger of that, come from the IPB could seem like a punishment or even a threat, to a lot of people. It coming from the pretty woman who had literally begged for it, well, that wasn’t too freaky at all.
Not until people realized that the Infection had always been an intelligence, not just a disease. Most still didn’t know that, of course.
Christian, tall, cool and attractive, even being in her forties, smiled at her old friend.
“That sounds good, Tara. Not so deep we can’t pull you out if this goes sideways on us, but up front enough that no one will miss you. We should do something about your face though, if you’re going to be pushed onto the A-list this hard.”
The words were a bit mean sounding, but Sara got the idea, first thing. Tara was attractive, in an overly made-up way, but in her forties. So, still decently attractive, but not exactly in her prime, as far as star quality went, any longer.
Tess actually tensed, seeming to think a real fight was about to take place. Before it could, Parker spoke, seeming thoughtful.
“We have some time... We could get you in for some life change work? Really, all of us should do that. I know that the mages here have to be freaking out, thinking that they won’t have anyone to practice on, after the first modes are gone. If we can bring in some extra people for a bit, that might help them relax on the issue. You should get some powers, too, Tara. Something useful, but fun and hard for the mages to do.”
The woman made a face, then nodded.
“How do we do that?”
It wasn’t hard. Sara didn’t even have to ask after it herself. Tess did that, Calling Terlee, who contacted Erath, who arranged for ten of his new students to be at the River School, ready to work, before they could even walk the near mile down the street to find the place.
It was interesting, but Yarrow Ull was both in charge, and with only a little waving on Sara’s part, the one selected to work on Tara. She fixed the man with a rather firm smile, acting commanding, when she wasn’t really feeling that at all.
“We need youth and health, but not immortality for anyone here. If they want in on that kind of thing, they have to earn it. Good works and helping others. That kind of thing. Still, leave her looking like herself, just a bit younger and a little cuter? Not too much. She’s already attractive. Then, powers...” She had a plan for that, but simply dropped everything she was holding at the moment, invented a new ability that she’d never even heard of before, and showed it off to Ull, by wearing it herself, along with the face she intended for Tara. Yarrow, after a few moments, nodded.
His deep voice was polite, as he smiled at Tara Strong.
“This way, miss? I think I have it now. This will be interesting.”
Tara walked, but spoke as they went into the school, to find the needed work space.
“What will be interesting? You’re turning me into a squid, aren’t you? I just know it... I hate squid... So... Squishy! I at least want to be pretty colors...”
It wasn’t that at all, simply being the ability to assume a made-up character on a level that even the best actors and actresses couldn’t match. When the work was done, if all went well, Tara would gain the power of becoming another person on a level that would fool many, even without shape shifting being involved.
It sounded simple, and like it wasn’t a real power. It was actually complex to a point of being nearly brutal. For the mage doing the work at least. Then, Yarrow wasn’t there to learn to be an average builder or even life changer. Sara was certain of that on a level that stung for a moment. Mainly because, in him, she recognized not herself, but the Infection.
As in, Yarrow Ull, was, for some reason, a man who could, or might at least, change worlds.
She let that go almost instantly, not considering the idea much at all. It may be true or may not. For the time being, it wasn’t her business at all. No, her only business there was in pushing her friends, including Ull, Parker and Fox, without breaking them.
As well, of course, as figuring out what was up with Lara Zimmerman.
She thought about that when she noticed that the River School had a Food Unit as well. She got a burger and fries, as well as a milkshake and sat at an outdoor table to think about what that fact might mean, while the others had bits of work being done to them. Fox and Parker had both opted for more upgrades that way, over what they already had, she’d noticed. Even though Sara was nearly certain they both could have done that work on themselves already.
Which meant they needed to have a little talk, sooner rather than later.
The trick there, was that she wasn’t certain what she was supposed to say to them.
Chapter eleven
“Hey, Grandpa... There’s a thing.” The President wasn’t her grandfather, but the man had used that idea once as a way to manipulate her. After all, she was the little orphan or possibly abandoned kid who everyone had always left.
Claiming to be more than that, to be different, her family if adopted, was a pretty good way to control Sara, she had to agree. So, she was running with the whole thing. Pretending the man had meant it, even if it was kind of clear that he was afraid of her. More than just a little, though he hid from the idea, pretty hard.
Even at the moment, sitting across the country, in the oval office, the man winced at the sound of her voice. Inside his mind, he covered that up, however. Even from himself. Trying to be kind and wise, in case that would, or even could, influence the young lady who was the biggest danger that the world had ever seen. One, to his mind, who was just waiting for her first real breakup to throw a fit and kill a few billion people in her anger.
She simply nodded at the words though, since, clearly, Al Benoist was kind of incredible.
Pulling her handheld, Sara found and tapped the correct name, which was simply listed as Albert, and settled in to wait. The man answered inside ten seconds.
“Is there an emergency?” He looked at her directly, and there was a sign of recognition, he also got it when Tim pushed in alongside of her, an arm over her shoulder.
“Al? Tess just contacted the Infection, from the IPB world? She begged it to release all of those afflicted with emotional distress, and it rather openly agreed. It’s a long story, and we were planning to fake that, but it actually took place. So, we need to present a device provided to the President of Sara’s land, for him to activate or not, for his people, and thought that having some of the Council from the Moon do it would be correct? The event happened here, on the surface, and Tess lives in Harmony, so that’s more appropriate than having some other government do it. We want Feddy and Book for it, and need at least one more?”
The handsomely homely man, his face unlined, but lean and a bit lopsided, in a way that was slightly goofy, rather than sinister, nodded after a moment.
“Lenora Burgess? She’s in charge of construction for the council here, which wouldn’t seem to fit, but she presents well enough, and I don’t like her enough to feel poorly about handing her a learning stone for English, without warning.”
Several of the others there grinned at the idea.
Sara simply nodded.
“Understood. I’ll contact people now, then? This is... Actually, a real emergency, and not, at the same time. We need to move as fast, and as carefully, as possible, on this side of things. The plan is to present the device in about two weeks, our time here? Do I call this in, or should the Ancients here do it?”
Which was less than two days in her own world.
Which Albert understood, having lived there for a long while at one point, while she’d been off trying to free some slaves in the incoming fleet.
The man, knowing firsthand what problems first modes could create, gave her a sharp, single nod and went slightly wide eyed.
Then blew out a gust of air.
“Everything we do is going to be both wrong and correct, at the same time, as strange as it seems. You should connect with the individuals needed, for your people, and I need to do it, for all of us here, at the same time. We need some learning stones...”
Tess grunted then, if not without a pretense of politeness.
“We can take them to Noram for that? Terlee will host them and we can see to the proper lessons that way. We’re doing it via ambush, you think?”
She seemed willing enough, but Albert shook his head, after a rather wistful moment.
“No. Not really. We can’t do that to world leaders. From any world. It’s too risky. Still... Should I call first?”
Sara wanted that, herself, being shy, but she understood that allowing herself to be that weak wasn’t going to work, not in the long run.
“I have that part. Let me... One moment here. If they’ll take my calls, that is.” If not, she was going to have to get with Comp and have the artificial woman force their lines open, of course. That or do it herself. She could, she thought. It might take a few hours of focus and building a way to splice into the handheld system, but she got the basic idea of how to do that.
It would require matching the feeling of the person who had done the work on the device, then including a new set of directions that would let her break in where she wanted. So far it had never come up, but it was kind of obvious as to how it would work. Just like messing with anyone’s magic did. Most magic users there didn’t do that kind of thing, but manipulating others’ abilities was basically Sara’s actual power, so it made innate sense to her.
Al nodded and winked at her, in a charming enough fashion.
“Let me know when that’s done, so I can do the follow up with each of them? This is amazing. Tess is sure that this isn’t over reaching?” That last part was pure teasing of the woman, but Sara smiled with Timon still pressed up against her in a cozy fashion.
“Oh, it’s not at all. She simply asked the only being who could do this to make it happen. Also, it will mainly impact another world, and in a positive fashion, and the control of it being done is going to the local authorities there. Well, one of them, for the whole world, but he can share that out if he wants. This is just right, that way. Perfect, really.”
Sobering a bit, Al lit up again.
“Good. I’ll do my portion for this. I know how important this really is, after all. In part, at least.”
The line broke, and everyone stood there, watching her expectantly, as she tapped the first name she wanted. Book.
The woman who answered looked to be in her early twenties, and had a cross on a simple hemp string around her neck. Directly next to at least three magical tiles. One of them was a truth amulet, which also looked a bit like a cross, only in glowing pink. Another was the same shield that everyone on the Moon wore, constantly. Most kept those under their clothing, but Sara thought she got the idea. This woman was letting any who cared to see know that she was a woman of her faith, the All High, as well as a woman of the Moon.
Her voice was pleasant, and came with a smile, which was mainly going to Timon, who was still directly next to Sara.
“Master Timon! How nice to hear from you, is all well?”
The man nodded.
“It is. We have... Really, amazing news. Tess Baker asked the Infection itself, using magic and humble supplication, to release all of the people of the IPB world who are afflicted by the emotional curse, and it agreed, in a rather dramatic show. This happened on the surface of the Moon, so we’re enlisting the council from here to go to that other world to aid her in delivering the needed magic signal. It won’t take much, but we need to drop a few lesson stones in some hands. We’re taking three of you. You, Feddy and Burgess? Those are the names mentioned so far, at least.”
There was a rather stilted nod, but the woman didn't frown.
“They aren’t the worst of the lot, by any means, but... Well, we should do it. I’m in, even if not in any official capacity. If these people are in need, and we have a way of aiding them, then we must do it. No matter what the cost is. Even if it means personal discomfort or pain.”
Sara nodded.
“Thank you, Councilor Book. In this case, the cost will be learning some new languages, and possibly making a speech or two. Oh, I’m Sara Chambers. That’s my world. I was also here to see the... miracle, that happened. I’ll be going with you all, if that’s allowed?” If not... Well, Sara didn’t need to be in the room for the whole thing to work and honestly, avoiding the spotlight was the whole reason for having others go along in the first place. The best way to really do that was to not be there at all.
Maeve nodded, however.
“That sounds correct, to me. You’re Sara Chambers... There was a report, a few years back? About the agent we had out in the fleet, to return people from our system and aid them in changing their ways in regards to enslavement? Some of that was rather dire, what happened to that asset.”
Tim nodded.
“The very same person. Good. We need to travel in two weeks. That’s less than two days, their time, so we aren’t making them wait too long for relief. It will take time to get everything in motion, or it would be sooner than that. This is... Rather large, over there. Truly on a level that we can’t truly imagine here, at all.”
That was an understatement, but Sara just nodded. Then complimented the woman, her works, the All High, since clearly he’d had a major role in what had taken place that day and even the council, who hadn’t really done much yet.
For a moment, Sara scoffed at the idea of the All High. Then it occurred to her that reaction might be short sighted on her part. After all, there were beings of power in existence, who hid themselves from view almost totally. Perhaps a being several levels up from that, or more, might well do the same. It was hard to have free will with something like God hanging over you in a realistic fashion, after all.
To that end, she decided not to dismiss the idea out of hand.
When they tapped off, she made the other calls. Those didn’t go as smoothly, but when Timon explained that being selected for a bit of free travel and easy work was an honor, they, Feddy and Burgess, both fell into line easily enough. Even when it became clear they needed to take some painful lessons.
Not that Burgess didn’t whine about that portion of things before finally agreeing that seeming learned and being understood was more valuable than her own personal comfort. At the same time, it was really clear that the woman didn't actually mean it at all.
Sara didn’t care about that. It honestly would be fine for her to stand back, clueless and not understanding the events, if it was needed. Especially if the others there understood English fluently.
Still after an hour of calling, not just those three, but Countess Thomson, and then Tiera, as the Ancient of the Moon, who in turn contacted Marcia Turner directly, with the good news. Sara and Tess were able to drop the boys off inside, and form a plan for where they were meeting up with everyone, for the show. Which was, of course, at the house she’d set up along the river in Noram.
There was only one small flaw in her plans that way, as it turned out.
The show itself went very well, since it wasn’t as much about ghost hunting in Od Cerra as it was about actually interviewing ghosts. Ones who were see-through and hard to hear, but also very personable, at the same time, having been performers in life. After that as well. It was part of their job.
They even sang, in an eerie and uncomfortable fashion and actually seemed like real spirits, which they were. That the world they were in for that was slightly different in some innate property and allowed such beings to be seen was explained clearly, early on. There were also interviews with some of the locals and an explanation that the tour of the castle, a popular attraction, wasn’t crass or gaudy at all.
Which took some skill to pull off, since showing the corn dog stands, and drink stations, as well as the cheap souvenirs really would have spoiled the whole effect they were going for.
Tess, as always for the show, was right out front, with Becky, their own ghost friend, being visible there, without her fake energy body being needed at all. That part was interesting, since she actually showed up like the other dead people did there. At least right around the castle. When they got too far away, she had to use the magical amulet she had again, to give her a body.
The others did their jobs, with Parker and Fox managing to be rather professional, considering their young age. Sara did that as well, mainly pressed into it by them, since they were giving her such a good example.
No, the miscalculation was in the time difference. She’d set everything up on her side of things for Monday, but the time they’d spent in Lar’s world, which seemed like two complete weeks, was less than a day in Noram and something less than half an hour in her own world. So, when they stepped back through, after weeks of work, they still had a lot of time left over, with nothing much to really do. Not for her, at least.
Sighing, she nodded to herself, and looked at everyone else as they got back to the place along the river.
“We should go and set up, getting ready in our world?”
Tara Strong, who was the one person there she hadn’t actually been speaking too, nodded.
“This is going to be vast, back home. You need me and Chris to make some announcements with the press?” The short woman moved in alongside her friend then, nodding as if to get Sara to agree with her that it was a real plan, at all.
Rather than say no, she let her head play side to side for a moment. Her lips quirked in a fashion she hoped was considering instead of rude.
“Honestly? We might need to keep Christian behind the scenes on this. Having this come from the IPB, well, in part, and certainly along with them... but having you do those announcements for the people here, since you personally know Tess? That could play well. Not that you’ll get much publicity out of it, but being the native guide will get you some. A smidge.” She held her fingers very close to get her and narrowed her eyes, hoping the woman wouldn’t be upset by the idea. For that matter, hoping that Christian Pours wasn’t going to be upset over being excluded.
On that part, Sara wasn’t joking at all. Having the release from the torment of first modes, from the danger of that, come from the IPB could seem like a punishment or even a threat, to a lot of people. It coming from the pretty woman who had literally begged for it, well, that wasn’t too freaky at all.
Not until people realized that the Infection had always been an intelligence, not just a disease. Most still didn’t know that, of course.
Christian, tall, cool and attractive, even being in her forties, smiled at her old friend.
“That sounds good, Tara. Not so deep we can’t pull you out if this goes sideways on us, but up front enough that no one will miss you. We should do something about your face though, if you’re going to be pushed onto the A-list this hard.”
The words were a bit mean sounding, but Sara got the idea, first thing. Tara was attractive, in an overly made-up way, but in her forties. So, still decently attractive, but not exactly in her prime, as far as star quality went, any longer.
Tess actually tensed, seeming to think a real fight was about to take place. Before it could, Parker spoke, seeming thoughtful.
“We have some time... We could get you in for some life change work? Really, all of us should do that. I know that the mages here have to be freaking out, thinking that they won’t have anyone to practice on, after the first modes are gone. If we can bring in some extra people for a bit, that might help them relax on the issue. You should get some powers, too, Tara. Something useful, but fun and hard for the mages to do.”
The woman made a face, then nodded.
“How do we do that?”
It wasn’t hard. Sara didn’t even have to ask after it herself. Tess did that, Calling Terlee, who contacted Erath, who arranged for ten of his new students to be at the River School, ready to work, before they could even walk the near mile down the street to find the place.
It was interesting, but Yarrow Ull was both in charge, and with only a little waving on Sara’s part, the one selected to work on Tara. She fixed the man with a rather firm smile, acting commanding, when she wasn’t really feeling that at all.
“We need youth and health, but not immortality for anyone here. If they want in on that kind of thing, they have to earn it. Good works and helping others. That kind of thing. Still, leave her looking like herself, just a bit younger and a little cuter? Not too much. She’s already attractive. Then, powers...” She had a plan for that, but simply dropped everything she was holding at the moment, invented a new ability that she’d never even heard of before, and showed it off to Ull, by wearing it herself, along with the face she intended for Tara. Yarrow, after a few moments, nodded.
His deep voice was polite, as he smiled at Tara Strong.
“This way, miss? I think I have it now. This will be interesting.”
Tara walked, but spoke as they went into the school, to find the needed work space.
“What will be interesting? You’re turning me into a squid, aren’t you? I just know it... I hate squid... So... Squishy! I at least want to be pretty colors...”
It wasn’t that at all, simply being the ability to assume a made-up character on a level that even the best actors and actresses couldn’t match. When the work was done, if all went well, Tara would gain the power of becoming another person on a level that would fool many, even without shape shifting being involved.
It sounded simple, and like it wasn’t a real power. It was actually complex to a point of being nearly brutal. For the mage doing the work at least. Then, Yarrow wasn’t there to learn to be an average builder or even life changer. Sara was certain of that on a level that stung for a moment. Mainly because, in him, she recognized not herself, but the Infection.
As in, Yarrow Ull, was, for some reason, a man who could, or might at least, change worlds.
She let that go almost instantly, not considering the idea much at all. It may be true or may not. For the time being, it wasn’t her business at all. No, her only business there was in pushing her friends, including Ull, Parker and Fox, without breaking them.
As well, of course, as figuring out what was up with Lara Zimmerman.
She thought about that when she noticed that the River School had a Food Unit as well. She got a burger and fries, as well as a milkshake and sat at an outdoor table to think about what that fact might mean, while the others had bits of work being done to them. Fox and Parker had both opted for more upgrades that way, over what they already had, she’d noticed. Even though Sara was nearly certain they both could have done that work on themselves already.
Which meant they needed to have a little talk, sooner rather than later.
The trick there, was that she wasn’t certain what she was supposed to say to them.
Chapter eleven
“Hey, Grandpa... There’s a thing.” The President wasn’t her grandfather, but the man had used that idea once as a way to manipulate her. After all, she was the little orphan or possibly abandoned kid who everyone had always left.
Claiming to be more than that, to be different, her family if adopted, was a pretty good way to control Sara, she had to agree. So, she was running with the whole thing. Pretending the man had meant it, even if it was kind of clear that he was afraid of her. More than just a little, though he hid from the idea, pretty hard.
Even at the moment, sitting across the country, in the oval office, the man winced at the sound of her voice. Inside his mind, he covered that up, however. Even from himself. Trying to be kind and wise, in case that would, or even could, influence the young lady who was the biggest danger that the world had ever seen. One, to his mind, who was just waiting for her first real breakup to throw a fit and kill a few billion people in her anger.
