A Question of Will (29 page)

Will found a small tree amid the giants in this forest grove as well. He sat down on the soft earth and watched the tree, the leaves rustling in the light breeze, the branches swaying. The canopy wasn’t as developed here; this tree managed to receive significantly more sunshine that did his tree back at the previous camp. He smiled at the possessive thought. The tree belonged to no one; it merely did what it was born to do, grow to its greatest possible height, competing against other entities for sunlight and air and nutrients in the soil. To fail was to perish; to succeed was to live. The tree did not care what other trees did; it simply made whatever effort necessary to get sufficient resources to grow. Will smiled. Sometimes, though, an extra helping hand could make all the difference.

He wondered about the tree. Had it continued to grow, stretching high above the others to reach greater quantities of sunlight and air? Or had it stagnated without his efforts? Or worse, had the attack by the Hunters damaged it, perhaps beyond repair? He wished he were there. Will pictured the tree, seeing himself standing near it, hands on the tree’s trunk. In his reverie, his focus lapsed and he felt a surge of Energy. There was a flash...and then he was there, with his hands on the burned-out trunk of the tree he’d nurtured and been nurtured by, a simple link and a reminder of the basics of life. He felt the warm rush of Energy from the tree, though weaker than he’d remembered due to the attacks. He instinctively fed his own Energy back, feeling the synergy and symbiosis as each living thing reprocessed the gifted Energy and fed it back, better and more powerful than before. The tree was healing, and Will’s Energy was growing. It was like old times, before the Hunters found them, before...

Will backed away again, moving a dozen yards away from his tree. The surge in Energy was noticeable, even for him, new to the experience. It was like a powerful, sweet smell, overwhelming all else. He was worried now. Had he triggered the Hunters’ warning signals again with that burst? It was with some relief that he realized that the camp was some distance away; if they came here now, they’d find no one to capture or kill besides Will. Still, he slapped on his Shield, hoping it wasn’t too late. Again.

He heard a soft popping noise. A man had materialized where Will had stood only a moment earlier. The man had long, brown hair and wore a dark cloak. It was Porthos, the Tracker Hunter, and the man had found him yet again. Porthos turned around, searching, and finally faced Will.

A sneer curled on Porthos’ face. “Well, Stark, you managed to escape and hide for some time. But you’re getting a bit sloppy in your old age. You let us find you twice now in, what, a week? A rather poor showing. What’s the matter, lonely from hanging out with all of those losers that call themselves the Alliance? At least you’ve got your Energy levels back to more Stark-like levels.” He chuckled at his own joke.

Will folded his arms. “Why are you here?”

Porthos blinked. “Is that a trick question? I’m here to capture you, you fool, or at least slow you down until my friends arrive. Fear not, they’re a bit out of range right now, and they’ll need a few more teleportation hops to get here. But they’ll be here soon enough. I’m sure Aramis would love to see you again. Probably invented a few more crimes to charge you with at this point.” He took a step toward Will. “Or you could just come quietly, and save me and the rest of your old friends the trouble of subduing you.”

Will frowned. “My old friends? I think not. My friends are the members of the Alliance. Not Athos, Not Aramis. And certainly not you.”

Porthos put a hand over his heart, covering up the golden Aliomenti symbol, in mock pain. “Truly, my feelings shatter at your harsh words. But I must confess, I don’t understand you, Stark. You lure us to your home. You escape. You hide for a very long time. Now you’re luring us again. Tell me, what’s the purpose of this game of cat and mouse? Has your life lost its meaning, and you’ve become bored enough to risk us killing you? Or is there truly some Will Stark master plan you’re building toward?”

Will snorted. “Life is never dull. But I prefer to live it under my own terms, without the threat of someone taking my freedom away. I can’t rest, because while you operate under those rules, the threat is there.”

“As you said, Stark, life is never dull. Perhaps it is the threat of loss of any type that motivates you. Tell me, how motivated were you after we destroyed your home?” The man’s eyes glinted, and a sinister grin covered his face.

Will took two steps toward Porthos, and then stopped. “My motivations are of my own choosing, not driven by someone else’s actions. But I’ll never forget that moment, or forgive you for your part in it.”

Porthos chuckled. “Again, my feelings are truly crushed.” He paused, and then smiled. “Ah, I see the rest of the guests have arrived for our little party.” He glanced behind Will, who suddenly felt the presence of another man. Aramis. The shadow with the top hat gave away the identity, and before Will could react, Aramis grabbed him by the arm. He felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him, as if someone had started crushing his lungs and prevented him from breathing. It was Aramis’ unique gift, known as the Damper, and it was erasing his Energy. The power it provided the Hunter in thwarting those Hunted was immense, and Will knew he needed to free himself and escape. He rammed his elbow into the Hunter’s stomach, and Aramis let go, gasping, trying to refill his suddenly-empty lungs.

Will darted away, trying to distance himself from both Hunters, but then sensed a third man behind him. Athos reached around him and put Will into a bear hug, and Aramis and Porthos both advanced, with the former ready to slap on the Damper, and the latter prepared to help escort Will back to the Aliomenti prison. Will stomped down on Athos’ foot and slammed his head back in to Athos’ face, snapping a bone in the Hunter’s foot and breaking the man’s nose. Athos let go, screaming, his hands flying to his face and the gushing blood. Will dipped under Porthos’ arms and darted from the tree. He’d wanted so desperately to get to the tree; now, he wanted to get back to the camp, safely, without the Hunters. He remembered the new tree he’d been looking at earlier, and...

Will reached his tree, which was still healing from the blasts of the Aliomenti fighting craft, and he felt a huge surge of Energy into him. The Energy pulsed, and then Will felt a sense of displacement. Then he was back at the tree outside the new camp. He immediately Shielded his Energy and sprinted back to the clearing. He found Fil and Adam having a hushed conversation, but both of their faces relaxed upon seeing Will.

“Where have you been?” Adam asked. “I was going to restart your lessons, because Angel said you were probably ready, but I couldn’t sense your Energy at all. I’m sure that your Shielding skills have improved, but I should be able to find you in camp at this short distance regardless.”

“I teleported. Back to the old camp. Listen, though—”

“You did
what
?” Fil asked, his voice venomous. “Who taught you how to teleport? And how did you travel so far in your first effort?”

“Nobody taught me, it just happened, and I don’t know how. There was a spot in the forest there where I liked to go, and I pictured it and thought about how nice it would be to be there again, and there I was.”

Fil was shaking his head. “You’re out of control. You must learn to discipline your use of Energy.”

“Right, I know, but understand this. I think...I think I surged some Energy while I was there, because...well...”

“Because one of the Hunters showed up?” Adam asked. Will nodded. “I noticed the intensity of the Energy there right before they discovered our previous campsite. We’ll get back to that point, but right now, it’s more urgent that we understand what happened with the Hunters. Tell us.”

“Porthos showed up first.” Based on the facial reactions, this was no surprise. “He taunted me about losing my touch and him finding me so quickly again. Aramis showed up and put his hands on me, and I felt my Energy waning rapidly, but I elbowed him hard in the stomach and got away. Then Athos showed up and tried to restrain me so Aramis could get me again; I head-butted him, broke loose, wished I was back, and here I stand. My Shield went up the instant I arrived.”

“You
idiot
!” Fil seethed. “If you only Shielded when you arrived here, they may be able to track you here because your Energy signal was so strong. We’re going to need to move camp
again
! And so help me, if Angel or anyone else suffers an injury again due to your carelessness, I will knock you out cold and deliver you to the Hunters myself!”

Adam glared at Fil, and Will was taken aback. “I...I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry. I’m trying to learn everything, but...maybe it’s all happening too fast.”

“No excuses,” Fil snapped. “You’ve been putting us in jeopardy since you got here, not to mention the severe risk we took in rescuing you to begin with. I...”

“Why rescue me, then?” Will asked, fuming. “I’ve always wondered that. The Hunters thought I was somebody I wasn’t; maybe I’m better able to pull off the act of being that man now with the Energy training I’ve had. But they seem to think I’m some super criminal, breaking all of their rules. I’m not that guy. I’m
nobody
. Why rescue me?”

Fil’s teeth clenched. “Everybody makes mistakes.” He turned and left.

Adam watched him leave. “You must understand. In our world, Will Stark is basically a god. He was exceptionally powerful, drove many of our innovations, and in many ways formed us into what we are today. Others abused his ideas; the concept of not marrying wasn’t one done as an excuse to murder innocent humans, for example. It was meant to ensure that such an important commitment wasn’t made without ensuring that the new spouse was capable of handling the truth of what we are, and integrating in some fashion with our society without exposing our existence, and possibly endangering our lives. Think of the men and women you consider heroes, Will. If you thought they were in danger...wouldn’t you go rescue them if you had the ability to do so?”

Will let out a deep breath. “I wish I knew what that guy has against me.”

“Who? Fil?”

“Yes. You seem friendly enough. Angel treats me far better than I — or anyone else, for that matter — actually deserve. Fil seems to feel a genuine hatred for me. Is it because I’m not this superhero legend, and he’s blaming me for only being who I truly am?”

“He doesn’t hate you, Will. Your presence, though, reminds him of several of the most painful experiences in his life, and he’ll need to be the one to explain. I will tell you, though, that he, too, lost a wife and young child — a daughter — to an Aliomenti Assassin. He had to watch them die, Will. Your experience...well, it was a bit too close to his experience, and triggered memories he’s tried to bury.”

Will lowered his head. “I had no idea. It certainly proves those men are evil, though.”

Adam raised a hand. “You didn’t know, and I request that you seem astonished anew when Fil decides to let you know about that painful part of his life, even though I doubt he ever will. As you might imagine, he doesn’t like to think about it or discuss it.”

Will glanced up. “Did they somehow damage his eyes?”

Adam frowned. “His eyes? No, I don’t think they did. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering why he always wears those sunglasses.”

Adam smiled. “He’ll tell you that particular story when he’s ready. But it’s something that only he can choose to share.” He turned to leave. “I was thinking of doing a lesson, but it was to be about teleportation and it would appear you’ve got the basics down. Perhaps we can pick up in the morning?”

Will nodded. Adam walked away.

Will moved away from the buildings and headed into the woods. His foolishness and lack of concentration had nearly gotten Angel killed and uprooted the community once, and might well do so again. His presence caused Fil great pain. Adam was uncomfortable working with him, a fact Will had pieced together with his telepathic and empathic skills during several of their lessons. Adam simply was not certain how to deal with someone like Will, who tried to cram years of training and growth into days or hours, and who spontaneously started practicing new and different skills without guidance or consultation.

And he might bring the Hunters down on them again. He wouldn’t let that happen, and risk the possibility that this time, someone like Angel would be hurt — and not survive the injuries.

He’d fought the Hunters to regain his freedom, but he wouldn’t keep if it meant others would lose theirs. The Alliance members — Angel, Adam, and even Fil, surly though the man could be — were his family now. He’d lost one family through his own failure, and he wasn’t about to have another be lost for the same reason.

Will made it back to his spot in the woods, and once again pictured his tree with its burned-out limbs, struggling to work its way back to health. He pictured himself being by his tree, and unlocked his Shield enough to power the teleportation effort. He was not surprised this time to find himself back outside their old camp. Nor was he much surprised to see Porthos still there, trying to piece together the Energy patterns that would tell him where Will had gone after teleporting away.

“Miss me?”

Porthos whirled. “No, you aren’t around long enough for me to miss. And I expect you to stay in our prison for a very long time when I finally capture you; I won’t miss you then, either. I don’t really like you running off like that, however, because it makes it so difficult to track you effectively when you keep moving so quickly.”