“Bill here.”

  “Hannah de Peyser. We have Superion in with us on the project. His wife, too. I want five million for each of them, for the season. Neary Kant is heading this up on the Ryhhian side of things and has been pulling out the stops. This is... A lot bigger than I was talking about last night. The access that we’re potentially being provided is... amazing. We need to make sure they get that going the other way. They didn't ask for that, but we’d be fools not to make it worth their while. Neary and Lara are dating, at least for the show, so we have that one as well. Oh, Superion and Megan are going to co-host this? Meg is his wife. A human from Earth. Also, kind of hot, so no worries that way. She can act, too.” If not then Neary could probably program her to do it, if it came to that.

  “Seriously? I didn’t even know that Superion had a wife. An Earth gal, too? Nice. That alone could sell this whole thing. Can we get a meeting, say Monday? I’ll have contracts drawn up. You’re in this as well, talent side?”

  She shrugged then.

  “If I’m needed? The truth is, I probably won’t be for this one. I can do background things with Terry and Kate, if it comes up. I mean, we actually hang with Megan, so we won’t have to fake that part of things.” Which was mainly about working out, several days a week. Only that had been changed to the mornings suddenly, without inviting her at all. She was Reese’s mother, which might make that part uncomfortable for the kid.

  At the same time, if she was part of the crew, she could get in on telepathy powers. Then, if she was ever in trouble, she could call for help. That and some good shielding, and maybe a way to run away quickly should help protect her pretty well. The woman wasn’t much of a fighter. She was in fact, kind of docile and soft.

  Which was probably what Chris liked about her. The woman was nearly as close to being one of his own people as an Earth woman could be.

  Bill made a sound that seemed placating, which seemed aimed at her.

  “We can get you a production credit? A little piece of the action, net? Nothing much, but you’re doing the work and it’s your baby, so it seems fitting.”

  She snorted.

  “Gross, not net. Also, remember what you promised if I pulled this off? I expect you to pay off on that, as well.”

  The man laughed then, as if she wasn’t serious.

  “Sure thing, sure thing. I won’t even me-too you, later. So, Monday, call it... Ten in the morning? My office here?”

  Hannah had been there, but she had practice at ten and didn't know if anyone else was working. For that matter she didn't know if Neary was even going to be on the planet.

  So, there were details to work out, which took making some other calls, and then resetting for one in the afternoon. Still on Monday though. Bill was good with the idea.

  “Can you write up the basics on this, so we can run it past some directors? We’ll want someone good, for this, even if it’s shaping up to be more of a documentary.”

  “I can do that. Probably not to industry standards, but it will have the needed information?”

  “Good enough. Call if anything changes? Otherwise, I’ll see you all then.”

  All of them included Kate, who was being promoted from background lackey with Hannah and Terry, to second presenter, with Chris and Megan being counted as one for that, even if it wouldn’t really work that way. If they could get Katherine Sinclair for that at all.

  They hadn’t gotten in touch with her for that part of things yet, since, when Hannah tried, dropping into a trance, it was clear the woman was out on a job. Fighting crime. Saving lives in a bridge collapse, in a rural area, where there was no other help coming.

  Wisp had it though, and while the bridge wasn’t safe any longer to drive on, the two cars that had almost fallen into the river some seventy feet below hadn’t, and the occupants were all safe. One of them had a broken arm, which Wisp couldn’t heal, of course.

  Focusing, Hannah thought at her best friend.

  ~Use the new system and get with Linear for the arm?~

  Then she shut up, since it wasn’t her place to do superhero work like that.

  Instead, she helped Lara get back to her place, teleporting there with her and back, not bothering Mol with the task, since it wasn’t a good idea for her to get lazy, just because someone else was doing the heavy lifting that day. She came back, planning to pass out hugs, but as soon as she was there, Neary stopped her.

  “Wait? Contact Kyron.” He spoke in Ceanna, which flowed out.

  “Nereus?”

  “Kyron, can you attend us at your home, as soon as practical? There’s a... Well, a minor emergency, I believe? I don’t know if it’s pressing at all, but this will probably have the council involved.”

  “Coming directly.”

  The man was, too. There was no sonic boom, thankfully, but for a man who couldn’t teleport, Superion could cover some serious distance, fast. He walked into the room, thirty seconds later, dressed in a button up white shirt, black slacks and a tie, with wire rimmed glasses on his face. Things he didn't need at all.

  “Are you all doing well?”

  The conversation had been in his language, and clearly, Megan spoke that too, now. A thing that had probably happened about ten minutes after Hannah had learned it, when her brain hadn’t exploded. It was good to know, really.

  Neary explained.

  “It’s... We had some people in, Alistair Marks, who aided in the new education program as a subject. Then Candice and Doty... I have the names in English, Hannah?”

  She nodded.

  “Right.” They had last names too, but that probably wasn’t important to whatever was happening. Hannah wasn’t getting it at all, herself.

  Luckily, Neary went on before the suspense killed her.

  “There was also a young female, Molly. Alistair suggested she get an education as well, since the current conflict here will make it too difficult for them to attend their regular schooling for the time being. A sensible response. She agreed. Only, the program I have didn’t work. I had to reformat and use a different template for her. A standard one.”

  Hannah didn’t understand.

  Chris, however, did.

  “No... There are only three of us authorized to come here, yet. Even if someone wanted to not go through the council, they’d be coming here...”

  That had the thinner, less muscular man, nodding.

  “Still, it’s right there. She’s one of our people. More, she’s openly using forbidden technology, that has been banned by the system council. I read her and... She doesn’t know, Kyron. Somehow, one of our people is here, and doesn’t know she isn’t an Earth Human, at all.”

  Chapter nineteen

  ~Hey, Hannah?~

  The voice wasn’t familiar to her at all, not being Al or even Aliza. It was very clear, however, and the words seemed polite, instead of demanding, so she tried to act the same way in return.

  ~Hello! This is Hannah. How may I help you today?~

  She was pretending to be answer the phone, since it was, even if in her head, more like that than reading a mind.

  ~This is Kelsey? I collected a bunch of listings last night, that I think might work for you, and was about to get showings for four of them? Is Saturday good for that? We can do all of them on the same day, as long as we can find them? Oh, also, can I get a ride to The Society in a bit? A jump? Logan took the first shift, but Portia has work today at the Starbucks. I just quit at McDonald’s, myself. If they aren’t loyal to me, which they proved during the Tri-D shutdowns, there’s no reason for me to give them two weeks’ notice, is there?~

  Hannah wondered what betrayal the fast-food franchise had foisted upon her new assistant, but figured that making what she was now, doing other things, it probably wasn’t worth her time, unless they were pretty sweet to her. Port was probably in the same boat, but too nice to tell the evil empire to fudge off into the night.

  ~Saturday works. As for the jump, I can do that. Really... I need to get with some people about a time schedule, when do you need to be there?~

  ~At five? I can go earlier, I guess?~

  That was good, since Hannah had no clue what the plan for the evening was. Not her going on a date, most likely. Even if it was Wednesday and she was supposed to have one set up for seven that night. Brian hadn’t called to cancel yet, but, if he did, Hannah was pretty much planning to break up with him. A thing that wouldn’t hurt either of them too much, she had to assume. The man, while nice to her, and good in bed, clearly wasn’t that into her as a person.

  Part of her wanted to blame her looks, or even her size, being skinny and short, but the truth was that Brian Warburton was just a bit of a fanatic. He fought crime, wearing fetish gear and pretending to be a bat. It was the central portion of his being. More than anyone else she’d ever met that did that kind of thing. Most of The Society had powers and wanted to be of service to the world, while making a decent living.

  The Requiem was far more focused on saving the world from dark magic, but even they went on picnics and occasionally had dinner parties.

  Brian only tolerated his real life as a means of covering what he was doing the rest of the time.

  It was a shame, too, since he honestly wasn’t a bad guy. She could have even excused him not making most of their dates, if he was actually present for the ones he did show up for, most of the time. None of this passed to Kelsey, thankfully.

  ~Let me check on some things? Tell Logan that I’m his ride home, too? We need to get you a room there, for the night shift, so that whoever is doing that can just sleep, unless they’re needed. I don’t know if that will be allowed. Check with June on that part?~

  There was a section of time where nothing had happened, making Hannah think that the call, or whatever they decided to call it, was over. Until two minutes later, when she jumped, the crystal-clear voice in her head again.

  ~That works for her. The room is already being set up. Next to Fast Kid? I don’t know why that is.~

  She didn't either, unless it was just where an empty room was. Except, of course, that Greg lived there and had the same link to the telepathic system as the four adults did.

  ~The junior person in your work group? Remember, he isn’t really being paid to do your work, so if you want him to fill in, you have to make it worth his time.~

  How that would happen, well, Hannah doubted there was a good way of doing that at all.

  ~Got it. He’s fourteen? Pushing fifteen, I think. I have that... Yes, his b-day is on the twelfth of next month. That isn’t the next one... Um, Kata is next, in three days. Are we getting him a present?~

  Hannah barely knew the man, but nodded.

  ~Yes. It will be from The Trainees, as a group, so find out what he wants or can use? Don’t go too big with it, since I don’t think any of us actually knows him yet. Jam of the month or something? Only, one that works for him, personally.~

  There was another pause.

  ~I’m going to get out of your head now, unless you need me for something? I can check in every hour, if you want?~

  It showed work ethic, if nothing else.

  ~No need for that. I can get in touch with you if it’s needed, and as long as stuff is getting done, you’re doing your job. Also, you’re on salary, so be ready to work odd hours.~

  There was a giddy sounding laugh then.

  ~We were up last night, talking about that. I, um, spoke with the guys? Logan wasn’t really planning to take any money from Port, but Peter was. I think he might still be planning to get with her, and use her instead of me, even if, well, if he does his job, he’ll be making bank, so why, right? Also, I look hot right now. Even better than Portia, and he flat out said that he’ll drop me if I tell her what his plan is. He might anyway.~

  No emotion was carried on the thoughts and the words sounded calm and blank. That was how the system worked, on purpose. Hannah had to figure that it was a more emotional issue than it seemed like, given that factor.

  ~Then fuck him? Not literally. Just break up with him and find someone better. Logan is looking pretty good. Once his depression breaks, I bet he remembers to shower daily and everything.~

  ~God no. I’m still having nightmares about the group thing we did the other day, because he was there. Not that... I mean, he’s doing a lot better, if it holds, but I’ve known him for way too long and... Yeah, I’m sort of set that way, even if he’s suddenly hot. Which, I guess, means I’m not a very good person. A worse friend. The man literally worked forty hours in a row when the rest of us were laid off, to make sure we could cover rent, once.~

  Hannah sort of thought that might be the case, but riding her about how she felt, when a breakup was logically in the offing wasn’t a good idea. Not her business, either.

  ~We’ll talk later? Let me see what the plans are?~

  Then, since she was free again, she got in touch with Larina, and Richard, at the same time. It was a trick that really did get easier, with practice.

  ~Hello! This is Hannah, speaking in your head. I have Null standing by and can come in as soon as you’re ready, if that’s needed? Or we can do it whenever you want, of course. Or not, if the government is going to look the other way and allow murder and rape to happen.~

  There was a wash of emotion, from both of the other parties, all at one time. Excitement and dread, mainly, combined. It was similar from each of them, without being in lock step. Rich felt a certain horror that a respected team of heroes wasn’t that at all. Larina was bloodier about the whole thing, having more personal experience. It felt like more of a personal stake, as well. Why that was, Hannah couldn’t pick up at the moment. It was there, but not being consciously considered at the moment.

  It was her aunt who replied.

  ~We can go at five?~

  Hannah could do that, but let her head tilt to the side a bit.

  ~Would five-ten work for you? I have some people to transfer around. I can do it from there and use it as my warm up? It’s the new telepathic team for The Society.~

  Rich, Agent Two, made a sound then.

  ~Oh, right! I’m going to be mentoring someone? We have Agent Seven arranged for that as well, and Maverick? We can also help with training and logistics, if there aren’t enough kids in need of tutelage. ~

  Hannah grinned. It would work, after all, to get them hooked into the new system.

  ~We meet in the mornings, at seven. I’ll have Molly come and pick you up? Not Devya, of course. So, be ready for her to contact you, mentally. Maverick, too. It’s a light day for us tomorrow, physically, but most of the time it’s going to be exercise, not weapons training and working on life balance. Everyone is just sore, since it’s the first week.~

  Not everyone, of course, but most of them were having to deal with some limping that way.

  Larina thought at her then.

  ~We can do that, if you work from here. A warm up even makes sense, given everything. You can bring in Null?~

  That made the most sense to her, of course.

  ~I can. We can also have Merge or Portal move people around. They’ll need to work with a telepath to go new places, so far, but that works really well. Get in touch with Alistair Marks or Aliza, um, Hyper Gamma? Get with one of them if you need people moved in an emergency. Really, Portal is pretty much the master of large-scale troop movements right now. Merge can manage something a bit like that, too. They aren’t as fast as Agent Seven is, of course.”

  Larina made a mental noise.

  ~Merge?~

  Hannah stopped for a moment, then cleared her throat.

  ~Oh... Did I not mention that part? Okay, well, your sister, Marina, a different version of my mom, from another reality, came back in time and married my dad, pretending to be a different woman. Karen. She’s sweet. You’ll like her. Anyway, she has a daughter, so, basically my full sister, Cynthia. You remember her from when you got your wind powers?~

  ~Right! I didn't know we were related. Not even that she was your sister in any way. She can do mass teleportation? I know that she was blending two different places, but I thought that didn't stick, as far as moving people around?~

  That had been her thought as well, but Neary had been the one to design the power and while he had orders to keep the teleportation down, it was like that, without being a threat to his people.

  ~She and Al worked out how to get around that. It’s actually kind of a useful power, sort of like portaling, without the danger of a massive explosion?~

  That seemed to be noted, from the feeling of it, but then they both had to run and check on something, which felt like an emergency situation. She let them go, since a voice in their head who had less of a clue what was needed than they did wouldn’t be a net benefit to them that day. Instead, she finally bit the bullet and called Brian, using the phone.

  Cheating, she dropped into a trance first, to find out if he was busy, or, she realized, thinking of her at all. Which, it turned out he was. She had to dive deep into his mind as he worked through his plan, which was to get her to go to dinner with him, so he could break up with her in a public place. Not that he really thought she was going to make a scene.

  He just couldn’t stand the idea of sleeping with her, even one more time again. Not because she was ugly, either, which was her go-to reaction to the implied rejection. It wasn’t being too busy, bad in bed or anything like that. She was just too experienced for him, and he kind of thought of her as tainted goods, since she’d had a lot more partners than he’d had. Not that he was going to say that to her.

  He knew for a fact that she didn't have any diseases. He also trusted that she was honest with him about who she was sleeping with, which was another issue for him. Brian was well aware that she occasionally did things with Veronica and that Veronica was almost constantly having relations with other men, women and possibly less savory individuals than that.

  She snorted and tried to feel bemused, rather than hurt.

  “Jerk.” The harsh aspect of it was that she really had been with a lot of people. Men and women.

  In the past, but that clearly wasn’t going to be a thing she could fix for the man. Also, it was kind of a shame that, each time they’d had sex, he’d had to bury disgust about her that way. Everything else had been fine, it seemed, but her body count, as he was thinking of it, was a lot higher than he’d assumed at first.

 

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