Aegis: Catalyst Grove (39 page)

“It will take a few more sessions to get you back to normal, but your pain levels should decrease with each one.
 
No-one should be able to sustain that much energy flowing through them.
 
You are lucky to be alive.”
 
Cavaness leaned in closer so only Graham could hear him.
 
“You should not have any further reason to doubt yourself.
 
You did it.
 
You broke free.
 
Well done.”
 
Cavaness gave Graham’s shoulder a squeeze of approval and stood to his feet.
 
“Now, let’s get you downstairs.
 
Everyone is eager to know how you are doing.”

At that, Cavaness walked out the room.
 

“Not much of a talker, is he,” said Damien.

“No.
 
No he isn’t,” replied Graham.
 
“But I kind of like that about him.”

This was the third time Graham had seen a more caring side to Cavaness, even though one of those times happened to be just after Cavaness had almost beaten him to death.

Graham twisted his torso around, then tilted his head side to side.
 
He felt like a new person.
 
He still hurt, but not nearly as bad as he did when he woke up.
 
He sprang from the bed and ran through the bedroom door.
 

“Hey!
 
Wait for me, would ya,” said Damien, chasing after him.
 

Graham felt the smoothness of the wooden handrail slide beneath his hand as he made his way down the staircase, jumping from the stairs down to the landing at the bottom of the living room.
 
Graham looked around at the strange new place.
 
It looked like a mountain lodge because of the large wooden beams lining the ceiling.
 
The posts that held the floor system in place looked like huge tree trunks.
 

“Whoa, what is this place?” Graham asked.

“Welcome to Falcon.
 
It is our Regional Aegis Headquarters,” replied Alex, who was walking in from the other room.
 

“Alex!
 
You are back!”

Graham never was a very outwardly affectionate person, but he found himself running to Alex without hesitation.
 
Alex bent down and gave Graham a big squeeze.
 

“Yes, I am here.
 
I am only sorry that I was not with you earlier,” he said in a tender voice.

The world of emotions were new to Graham.
 
He had been so used to keeping others at a distance that he had a hard time controlling the new things he was beginning to feel.
 
Focusing on these new emotions went against his natural instinct, but he was learning to embrace them.
 
He didn’t know why he felt so safe around Alex.
 
Logic would have told him to keep Alex at a safe distance until he could figure it out.
 
Now, he was able to accept the fact that things don’t make sense sometimes, and he would enjoy the comfort until it did.

Graham pulled away enough to look at Alex.
 
“Did everyone make it out of the Manor alive?”

Alex smiled, though it was not entirely filled with joy like it usually was.
 
Graham could detect a mixture of concern.
 
“Yes, they all made it out alive.
 
Once I felt the quaking and heard the rumbling, I returned in time to help.”

Graham breathed a sigh of relief.
 
“What about the Manor?”

“Portfield Manor is gone, along with the entire training facility.
 
It has all been laid to waste.”
 
It was evident that Alex was holding back some heavy emotions.
 
“But never you mind about all that.
 
You are all safe and alive, and that is all that matters right now.”
 
Alex stood up and gave Graham a few light pats on the shoulder.
 
“Come. I know of a few eager people who would like to see you.”

Alex draped his arm around Graham’s shoulders, ushering him into a large living room area.
 
Kel and Ailey were sitting on a grand leather couch positioned beside a massive stone fireplace.
 
They were in the middle of a board game until they heard Graham and Alex walk into the room.
 
They both sprang from their seats, spilling the board and game pieces all over the floor.
 
They ran to Graham, throwing their arms around him.

“You’re okay!
 
Thank God you are okay!” said Kel.
 

Graham squeezed them tight.
 
“Yes, I’m okay.
 
Better than ever, actually.”
 
He bent down and kissed Ailey on the top of the head, then looked Kel in the eye.
 
“You took some pretty hard hits yourself.
 
Are
you
okay?”

“I am now,” she said.
 
“You have been out for a while.
 
You had us all worried.
 
We were starting to think you were in a coma or something.”

“How long is a
while
?
 
Was I out all day?”

“Try three. You never moved a muscle unless someone was trying to give you water or soup, and even then it was only a flinch or a moan,” said Kel.

“Three days?
 
Holy cow.
 
No wonder I feel like a million bucks.
 
I’ve never slept more than seven hours at a time.
 
We never even got to wake up on our own at Greenwood.
 
Anyway, I am glad to see that you are both okay.
 
When I saw you both slumped over Cavaness’ shoulder, I thought the worst.”

“We were pretty beat up when we first got here, but Alex fixed us up.
 
Remind me not to get on your bad side from now on.
 
What was that, anyway?
 
I thought you had exploded.”

Graham shrugged his shoulders.
 
“I don’t know.
 
Everything pinned up inside just broke loose.
 
That is about the only way I can describe it.”

“That is as good of an explanation as any,” said Alex.
 
“…except for one small detail.”
 
Alex picked up Graham’s arm with both hands and rotated it, so that his forearm was facing the ceiling.
 
Two small ripples of light flowed from Alex’s hands into Graham’s arm, causing his band to illuminate.
 
Everyone gathered around, staring at the Aegis sun emblem filling the perviously empty circle in the catalyst band.
 

Alex held Graham’s arm up a little higher so that everyone could see the emblem.
 
“Congratulations, Graham.
 
Your catalyst is finally complete.”

Graham’s entire body began to tingle.
 
He had finally come through for once.
 
He stared at the sun in the circle for a few seconds until his excitement began to turn into curiosity.
 
Looking back to Alex, Graham traced the outline of the sun with his finger.

“What does it mean?
 
This is the same emblem that is on the other side.
 
It is the Aegis Sun.”

“It means that within you lies the full measure of the Aegis Power.
 
It means that once you are trained to use and control what you have, you will be without limit.
 
It also means that you will have a very different life than what you are accustomed to.
 
Silas saw what you are, and now, they will stop at nothing to get you back.
 
Your life is no longer your own.
 
It will now be lived in the service of your fellow teammates and the battle with the opposing side that is now sure to come.
 
It is a lot to ask of a fifteen year old boy.
 
Is this something you are prepared to accept?”

Graham weighed Alex’s words carefully.
 
He did not really know what hardship looked like.
 
He was always sheltered at the Orphanage, though he knew perfectly well what meaninglessness felt like.
 
If this meant being a part of something bigger, something worthwhile, then he was willing to accept the danger that it came with.
 
He may regret it later, but right now, as he looked into the eyes of his new family members, he was willing do anything for them.

“Yes, I am - or at least I think I am,” said Graham.
 
“Not that there is much chance of going back now anyway,” he said with a grin.

Alex returned the smile.
 
“You don’t know how glad I am to hear it.
 
We are all here to help you carry the weight of this new responsibility.”
 

“I do have one question,” said Graham.
 
“We were lucky last night that everyone did not get buried after the explosion.
 
How long will it take me to control this?”

“Believe it or not, you already are, though I think it is on a subconscious level.”

“How?
 
I almost killed everyone?”

“You did more to protect them than you realize.
 
When you let loose, the magnitude of your transformation should have extended out in every direction, but it didn’t.
 
Somehow you were able to channel the power upwards, only destroying the ceiling of the cavern instead of everything around you.
 
You have great instincts, Graham.
 
It will not be an easy or quick process, but give it some time.”

Detecting Alex’s desire to speak with Graham alone, Cavaness herded the others back into the living room.

Alex’s tone turned more serious as the smile faded from his expression.
 
“From what I gather, Silas has made clear the degree of your importance.”
 
He picked Graham’s arm up once more and ran two fingers over the length of the glowing band.
 
The lines holding the circle in place had changed positions.
 
The two lines above the circle widened into a triangle shape, while the two lines below merged together into a point.

“This does not happen to everyone.
 
It is the mark of someone truly unique,” said Alex.
 
“You are an exceptional young man, Graham.
 
You may not believe it now, but this gifting would not have been given to you unless you had the physical and moral capacity to wield it.
 
You mustn’t allow an open door for corruption.
 
A power of this magnitude will sway entire armies at the proper time.
 
Part of your responsibility to this power will be to keep yourself and motives pure.
 
Do you understand what I am telling you?”

“Yes and no.”

“Pure devotion is the force behind the power.
 
It is the degree of loyalty to the cause that will keep you strong.
 
You don’t have to fully understand it now, but keep it tucked away in your mind.
 
It may prove useful in the near future.”
 
Alex stood, his typical smile returning to his face.
 
“Now.
 
Enough serious talk.
 
Let’s celebrate your return to the land of the living before I take you and Damien back to Greenwood.

Graham had forgotten all about having to go back to the Orphanage.
 
He had almost forgotten about the destruction of the Manor as well.
 
Graham looked all around him, at the timber framed architecture and the grand fireplace.

“Where are we anyway?”

“It is called ‘Falcon.’
 
It is our headquarters for the eastern region of the United States,” said Alex. “We have facilities like this all over the world, each named after a bird of great valor and skill.
 
We never know who is listening in on our conversations, so we use these coded descriptions to protect our outposts.
 
Plus, birds are such majestic creatures.
 
I like to see it as a simple reminder of what we should all hold inside.”

“Is it safe?
 
Is it part of Catalyst Grove?” asked Graham.

“No.
 
It is never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket.
 
This is a secretive, secluded facility.
 
Well out of reach of Silas or any of his friends,” said Alex.
 
“Why don’t you have a look for yourself.”

Alex walked Graham through a few rooms, until they came to a fourteen foot tall arched doorway.
 
Alex grabbed the thick metal handle and opened the front door.
 
Graham walked outside to find himself surrounded by a forest.
 
Looking to his left, he saw that the entryway of the building was made of stone.
 
It looked oddly familiar.
 
He ran his hand along the cultured stone, inspecting the shape of the rock and the moss that covered it.
 

Alex smiled at Graham, enjoying his curiosity.
 
Staying inside, he closed the door in front of him, leaving Graham to inspect the exterior.
 
As the door shut, Graham turned back around to see that the door was gone.
 
All he could see were trees and undergrowth.
 
He took a few steps back, and to his amazement, he realized where he was.
 
It was the stone arch in the woods beyond Greenwood.
 
It was his place of solace, where he had taken shelter when he got lost years ago.