Hybrid Zone Recognition (37 page)

The last section of the report was devoted to me.

I looked up and found the rest of the group staring at me with blank expressions. Adam nudged me, and I leaned into him, grateful for the support. Taking a deep breath as I turned the page, I resumed reading. Adam placed his head on my shoulder and continued to read with me.

Unwilling to let go of their aspirations, they embarked on their final attempt in 1945. In an effort to subvert the complications they’d encountered in previous subjects, they subsidized the initial embryo hybridization with additional injections of nanobots at critical developmental stages. Their aggressiveness led my body to hibernate for three separate time periods with the longest lasting approximately twelve years. It was an unexpected and unknown variable in their experimentation.

Each time, I had gradually emerged from stasis and resumed a normal human growth pattern into pre-adolescence. It seemed the hibernation periods were preceded by the injection of the nanobots. I had no memory of this. Maybe because I was so young at the time, but either way it was frightening.

I was placed with a family—my family in Texas, which I did remember. The family had no knowledge of the composition of their daughter. They were told only that she had some mysterious disease and required extensive medical examinations every few years, which the “adoption agency” was happy to supply free of charge.

The last annotation regarding myself was handwritten and stated that I had developed beyond all their expectations and was now ready to be drafted into the service of the Organization. I felt Adam cringe as he read the last statement. It was dated April 1st, 2011. It was quite the April Fool’s joke.

I felt completely numb. Even Adam’s arms around me were no longer a source of comfort. Maybe numb wasn’t the right word. I was in shock, yes, but I was angry too. Angry that I’d been played with? Created for the Organization’s purposes? But wasn’t everybody created for a purpose one way or the other?

“Can I?” Miranda held her hand out for the file, interrupting my thoughts.

I gave it to her and leaned back into Adam, letting my head rest on his shoulder.

Even if I was created in a test tube in 1945, I was not going to freak out about this. I’d already had enough drama to last a lifetime. The only thing that had changed in the last five minutes was what I knew about where I came from. I was a hybrid before I was a hybrid.

So I’d been given DNA from some of the smartest men and women to walk the face of the earth. It was mine now. I was still me and whatever I made myself into.

“What are you thinking?” Adam whispered in my ear.

“Too fast?”

“Little bit,” he snorted softly.

What was I thinking? That knowing this, didn’t change who I was now. Also, Adam now had verifiable evidence and could feel justified in his assessment of me. I’d have to acknowledge his rightness in the matter. Eventually.

“I’m thinking this doesn’t really change anything. How I came into being doesn’t affect the direction my future will take.” Then I barked a laugh at the irony in that. “Other than it already has. Hey,” I said suddenly, “that must be why we could sort of communicate telepathically in the beginning, before I was your kind of hybrid. I mean re-hybrided? Whatever, you know what I mean.”

“Because you already had nanobots.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.

Adam rested his cheek against my neck. His worry radiated through our bond.

“I’m okay, Adam. Really,” I assured him.

I could feel him push against me, searching for anything I was shielding.

“I’m not hiding anything from you,” I said sarcastically, mentally swatting him.

“You’re really alright?”

“Mm huh.”

He began to nuzzle my neck with his nose. “I couldn’t offer you any comfort?” he asked, his lips replacing his nose.

I smiled at his playfulness. “You’re pretty spry for an old timer.”

“You’re pretty hot for a seasoned citizen. You’re what, sixty-seven?”

“You’re still older than me.”

“And, wiser,” he agreed.

Walked right in to that one.

A loud slap of the report being closed interrupted Adam’s progress down my neck. I felt him snarl in frustration as he eyed the offender.

“Hmm,” Miranda said loudly. “So, you’re like a geezer or geezette.”

Adam laughed behind me. Leave it to Miranda to state the obvious most unimportant fact.

I rolled my head to face her. “You learn that I possess possibly the greatest mind of all time, and that is your comment?”

She tossed the report onto the lab table and walked towards me. “I already knew you were smart. Starting college at sixteen and earning your doctorate by twenty-one sort of clued me in. The why of it doesn’t make you any less a force to be reckoned with.”

Cedars picked up the report and looked at me with the question in his eyes. I nodded and he and Juarez started reading.

“I do pack a considerable wallop,” I allowed with mock thoughtfulness.

“No sense denying it,” she agreed.

“Couldn’t if I wanted to. It’s all there in black and white.”

We both looked at the report held between Cedars and Juarez.

“One thing, though,” she said thoughtfully.

“What’s that?”

“They gave no explanation for your unquenchable desire for Tex-Mex.”

I started giggling. She’d long bemoaned my penchant to use any excuse to have nachos, and flautas, and deep fried chimichangas for dinner. Neither did she agree with my assessment that chips and salsa went well with anything.

“Well, considering the incredible strength of mind behind my unquenchable desire, I’m going to let the ruling stand.”

A disgusted look crossed her face. “Does that mean nacho night is reinstated?”

This was her one failing. How could anyone not like nachos? “How about we replace it with fajitas?” I knew she liked those.

Her face brightened with a smile. “Deal,” she agreed, then added in a suggestive tone. “But we’ll need to tone it down with the onions.”

“Here, here,” said Adam and Cedars together.

Chapter 21

“S
o, this really doesn’t explain
Julia’s exit. And, it doesn’t necessarily condemn her either,” I said to their disbelieving faces.

“It does mean the Organization, or at least Julia, was willing to do fetal experimentation,” Cedars said harshly.

The look of disgust on his face was unexpected. I mean, I didn’t like it either, but his reaction seemed visceral. I was beginning to worry that he was ready to bolt from the Organization.

I slid from Adam’s arms and started pacing around the room. I couldn’t have Cedars running away with my best friend in tow.

“It also confirms that splicing together DNA from separate individuals is possible,” Adam said, regarding me like he would a specimen.

Not helping
, I growled.

But such a cute specimen.

I purposefully ignored Adam and focused on the other two men in the room. “Look, I know that it appears Julia made or was making the Organization into something it was created to fight against.”

“We thought it was created to fight against,” Juarez countered, waving the report at me.

I looked back and forth between Cedars and Juarez. I had to get a handle on this soon. “Okay, you were all deceived,” I admitted. “But now, you have an opportunity.”

“To clean up her mess?” Cedars asked angrily.

“To make the Organization what you thought it was, what you want it to be,” I said softly.

Miranda walked up and draped herself against Cedars. Her presence had an immediate calming effect. I flashed her a look of thanks, and she smiled at me over Cedars’ shoulder.

“The video footage alone may not incriminate Julia, but this does,” I heard Adam say.

I turned to find that he had moved from the lab table and was now standing in front of an open fridge. I walked over and took the vial from his hand. The label read, Growth Nanobot Revision 3. The initials next to it were Julia’s, and the date was relatively recent.

I handed the vial to the others to inspect and began to examine the rest of the vials in the fridge. There was all kind of stuff in here. Julia had been busy.

“That means she’s guilty of working with the Consortium, right?” Miranda asked. She looked from individual to individual as no one seemed willing to speak into the heaviness that had settled over the room.

“It does,” Adam finally answered. He closed the fridge and turned towards us. “Let’s go examine Renard’s office.” His steps, fueled by his desire to leave, carried him quickly across the room.

Jogging to catch up with him, I asked, “What are you hoping to find?”

“It’s more what I’m hoping not to find,” he said stiffly.

When we reached the foyer, Juarez began working his magic on the lock again. Adam and Cedars flanked Juarez on either side. They all had their faces set like men ready for battle.

“I don’t think Renard would be a party to this. Julia was always a little…distant, aloof,” Adam said.

“She was flat out uncaring,” Cedars argued.

Adam tilted his head in acknowledgment. “But Renard was the polar opposite. I often wondered how those two were together.” Adam shook his head just as Juarez unlocked the door.

I saw Juarez look up and nod at both of them. “Ready?” he asked.

Adam pulled the door open and froze. I turned aside as the smell swept passed me, which made me a witness to Miranda’s dash to the trash can under the receptionist’s desk. She’d made me watch enough cop shows to know what was waiting for us.

“This is what you were afraid of?” I whispered, squeezing Adam’s arm.

He gave a quick nod of his head and then entered the office. Juarez followed Adam, and Cedars did too after Miranda waved him away.

“Are you staying here?” I asked Miranda.

She had claimed the receptionist’s chair and had her head cradled in her hands on the desk. “Yes,” she moaned, unable to say anything further.

I patted her back a few times and then left her for the office. I found them grouped together over the body of Renard. He’d been shot point blank in the neck and heart. His nanobots never had a chance of saving him.

“That answers the question of his involvement,” Juarez said as he reached over and closed Renard’s eyes.

It didn’t really. It just meant that he was murdered.

“You didn’t happen to install a camera in here?” I asked Juarez.

“No,” he replied softly.

Cedars stood up and looked steadily at Adam. “We have to institute a new board. You have to formally take the lead now. And, we have to inform everyone else of what’s going on.”

There was great force behind Cedars’ words. I sort of got the feeling that this wasn’t the first time he’d talked to Adam about this. He looked like he was trying to force Adam to take the job.

Looking at Adam, I wasn’t sure how he would respond. The emotions churning through him were conflicting and loud, like a room full of people with everyone trying to talk at once. But as he regarded Cedars, I knew the future of the Organization was being decided. It all hinged on Adam’s response.

“It’s what Olivia and I want also,” Juarez said as he too watched Adam.

I didn’t want to unduly influence Adam’s decision, but he was going to hear me anyway. Might as well make it count. I sent all the confidence and faith I had in him through our bond.

He slowly looked up at me.

You are the right man for the job.

Adam looked back down at the body of Renard. “Schedule an assembly for after our return,” he said.

A very relieved looking Cedars nodded and left the office.

Straightening from his crouch, Adam picked up the desk phone. I was a little unsure of how to respond to the emotions he was telegraphing. There was sadness, of course, but also pain and anger, and an urge to get away from everyone.

“Margaret,” he said, “I need you to come to Renard’s office.”

He hung up and held out his hand to me. When I reached him, he pulled me into a hug. “Not you, the situation,” he whispered.

“Juarez,” Adam called.

Juarez looked up at Adam.

“Margaret’s on her way. Can you assist her with the disposal?”

Juarez grimaced at the description of the task presented to him but gave a quick jerk of his head in acceptance.

“She should be able to handle the cleanup on her own,” Adam continued as he led us to the exit. Pausing in the doorway, he trained his eyes on Juarez. “And Juarez, after cleanup, the only people I want in Julia’s office are you, Cedars, and Olivia, if she’s up to it. Understood?” He waited for Juarez’s affirmative before leading us out.

We returned to his suite of rooms where he insisted that I change. He informed me that he would not tolerate me standing out in any way and that I would wear what everyone else wore.

He prodded me into a nearby room where he began pulling clothes from a mobile hanging rack. “I had Margaret bring these in while we examined the offices. I don’t know your exact size, so you’ll have to find what fits best.”

He held up a shirt and scrunched his face, looking back and forth between me and the piece.

“Thanks. I got it,” I laughed as I snatched it from him. I knew his emotions were running in high gear right now, so I cut him a little slack with the bossiness.

He showed me what pieces I would need and then left me to it. I had to choose a black long sleeve tee with a black projectile proof vest—Adam had corrected me on my assumption of only bullet proof. The pants were also black and lined with pockets. He returned long enough to stuff them with various gadgets I hoped I wouldn’t need.

Left to finish on my own, I added the final piece to the ensemble, a pair of black military style lace-up boots. It took a few steps to adjust to their weight.

He walked out of his room at the same time I vacated mine. He was dressed identically to me.

“Has it come to this already?” I said, hanging my head. “We’re twinkies.”

He barely acknowledged my comment. He was already starting to adopt the all business attitude. From this point on, I knew there would be no joking, or teasing, or silliness of any kind. Which was why he was currently glaring at me with the raised eyebrow as I stood there with a big goofy grin stretched across my lips.

I did that thing where you pull your hand down in front of your face and the smile disappears. But it was back the moment he turned his back.

Macy
, he growled.

Oh, alright
. I was just strangely happy, maybe elated even. We were going to rescue the kids. Finally, I was getting to be the one doing the rescuing rather than being the one needing it.

Adam led the way and in seemingly no time, we were crossing the floor of a bay lined with aircraft I knew I’d never seen before, and yet, they looked familiar.

“Were these in a movie or something?” I asked Adam.

“Where do you think they got the idea?”

“You, the Organization, consulted on a movie?” There was a profitable income stream.

“Exactly,” he answered my silent observation.

“Are you leaving Cedars in charge?”

“Yes.”

I thought as much. “Is the founder’s assistant accounted for?”

He shot me a quick look. I wasn’t trying to start anything, though I wouldn’t deny that I was curious about the woman that at one time he had called his.

“You’ve been keeping her away from me?” I asked amused.

“I thought it best. After our…altercation on the plane, I wasn’t sure you had enough control over your new DNA to contain certain urges.”

Now it was my turn to glare at him. What’d he think? I was going to attack her for her past involvement with him? More likely, I’d take a swat at him for even daring to be with someone else. Anger was beginning to breathe through me as I contemplated the idea.

“See,” was Adam’s only comment.

Oh. Guess I did have a few control issues. I forced myself to breathe normally and focused on the situation at hand.

At the end of the very long bay, I could see a group of people waiting by some sort of jet. The closer we got the more I could tell that they were all dressed exactly like us. We were the whole box of twinkies. They quieted as Adam walked into their midst.

I stopped at the outside edge of the crowd and listened to him begin his instructions concerning the operation. Watching the others as he dictated to them, it seemed they all accepted his leadership easily. I didn’t know what I was looking for as I studied them, but I felt the need to gauge their reactions.

I zeroed in on their faces, looking for the slightest tightening around the eyes or downturn of lips, indicating displeasure. I suddenly realized I was looking for rebellion against Adam. Then the next question had to be, why?

I became very still as I searched inside myself for the reason. Something didn’t feel right. It was an oily sort of slippery feeling. Much like what I had felt around Millsap.

Alarmed by the potential for danger, I began to search the crowd more earnestly. My head swiveled back and forth between the operatives. Without warning, my normal senses fell away. Everyone took on a strange watery appearance. I could see colors radiating from them. Most were tinged with blues or soft greens. But one, a female, was encased in black with red streaks swirling through it.

I began to push my way through the crowd towards her. I noted Adam’s position. He had his back to her and was talking with another guy about contingencies should anything go wrong. He turned his head in my direction as I approached, but I wasn’t looking for him.

Macy?

I saw her reach inside her vest, but too many people were between us to see what she pulled out. I shoved aside a much larger cadet in order to clear my line of view. He started to protest, but shut his mouth when I quickly looked at him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a quick flash of silver, but I still couldn’t tell if it was a gun or a knife. It wasn’t until I was about twenty feet away that I made that determination. Pressed tightly against her leg was a serrated blade about eight inches long.

Macy, what’s wrong?

She raised her arm, and I started running. Time slowed down, and people scattered as I ran. I didn’t understand how no one else was aware of her actions. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide.

Do you not see the crazy woman with the knife?

No.
I felt him pause, searching for what I was seeing.
I don’t see anything wrong.

She paused as Adam turned around. She went hazy for a moment, and I stopped running.

Turn back around!
I shouted at Adam.
Act like nothing’s wrong.

He turned back around and started talking again, but I could feel his confusion.

It’s okay, Adam. Everything’s okay,
I assured him.

She must have some kind of ability to alter what people around her were seeing. That was an extremely dangerous trait to have in the wrong person. Case in point, Exhibit Lady Stalking with Knife. I had no idea why it wasn’t affecting me, but I was grateful for it.

I also realized that I was on my own. If I drew attention to her again, she might send out another wave that overpowered me before I could stop her.

Fortunately, she was so focused on Adam that she hadn’t yet realized I was coming. She was probably confident that everyone was under her spell. What was the saying…Pride comes before a fall? Just call me Pride.

My heart skipped a beat as she quickened her pace. I wasn’t sure I would get there in time to intercept her. That might mean I would take the knife instead of Adam. That was a sacrifice I was willing to make, for both Adam and my hybrids. Adam was well able to bring them home without me present.

With my final step, I launched myself at her. Her eyes widened when she saw me. By the time she switched the direction of her attack to me, she was too late. Her surprise had cost her time, and I was already there.

Planting my feet in her chest, I rode her to the ground. On impact, my feet slipped to either side of her, and my knees now penned her down. I had one fully clawed hand poised to strike, and the other was locked around her throat. The knife I had ripped from her hand was still skidding loudly across the concrete of the bay floor. Everything snapped back into real time, and I felt Adam spin towards us.

“Macy!” Adam said sharply.

I would not take my eyes off her. She had tried to kill Adam. She deserved death.