Courage (Mark of Nexus) (22 page)

My determination wore off thirty miles ago. It took two venti lattes, a photo of Rena on my phone, and an out loud pep talk to keep myself on target.

I couldn't believe this was going to happen—for me, of all people. How insane was it to happen across super classified information like that? I had to think of today as an opportunity, not something scary. I mean, if things went well, I was going to end up with enhanced abilities and heightened senses. The next best thing to superpowers!

The way I figured it, I'd have to give the techs some indication I knew what was going on. Otherwise, they'd probably blow me off as another random candidate. Maybe a subtle gesture or a mumbled codeword would do the trick. Heck, I could probably just ask to speak to a supervisor.

I glanced at the clock.
Six fifty-six.
If my GPS was right, the place was just around the corner. In fact…yep, a giant sign stood by the road. PAID STUDY TODAY. INQUIRE WITHIN.

I grinned at nothing in particular. “Don't mind if I do.”

After securing a spot a few rows from the entrance, I made my way to the door. Now that I was actually here, my insides were doing summersaults. Anxiety wrestled with excitement, and I almost peed myself.
Shouldn't have had that second coffee…

“Welcome to the RSTL free clinic!” some guy called, waving me in from behind the counter. “Are you here for the study?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. You’re early.” He clasped his hands together, and then gestured down the hall. “Okay, you're going to want the third room on the right. There'll be signs.”

“Thanks.” I tried to smile, but the nerves were back. And the pee. Why didn't I ask where the restroom was? I turned around, but someone else was already coming in. A girl. I couldn't ask in front of a stinkin' girl!

So, off I went, wandering down a strange hallway. People in lab coats and fancy identification badges buzzed past without noticing me, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was a men's sign and an under-glorified porcelain hole. In fact, that was my last wish before I became Aiden 2.0—the new and improved version of myself.

“Lost?” A girl with frizzy hair paused mid-stride.

“Me? No, I—”

“You're here for the study, right?” She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “It’s in there.”

“Oh, uh…thank you.” Another smile attempt. Now she was going to stand there and watch to make sure I went in, and I'd never get a chance to relieve my bladder. It was just going to slosh around in there forever and—

“Are you all right?” She peered over her glasses as if I were a prisoner plotting escape. “The whole process is quite painless, I assure you.”

“That’s not it.” I glanced over at the area she’d pointed out. The chairs were arranged like a typical waiting room, not the plush accommodations you'd expect for this type of study. “It’s just…”

“Yes?”

I squirmed. “Is there someone in charge I can talk to?”

“Me.” She didn't hesitate, offering her hand. “Gail Fraiser, Assistant Director of Laboratory Research.”

“Oh.” I blinked and gave her a quick, sweaty shake. “I’m Aiden Ross.”

“It’s a
pleasure
, Mr. Ross,” she stressed, impatience straining her tone. “Now what can I do for you?”

Crap. This was it. She was expecting a reason I wasn't ready to give yet. What happened to the cool hints I was going to drop? I'd totally blown the whole thing already. “Um…”

“Are you sure you’re all right?” She looked me over. “If you're sick, you really shouldn't be participating. We have a free clinic in the other wing. You cou—”

“I know about the stuff,” I blurted out, feeling red from the neck up. “The
secret
stuff.”

Her brows lowered, and then raised in what I could only assume to be shock.

“Yeah,” I continued, lowering my voice. “But don't worry. I won't tell anyone. I'm actually here to volunteer.”

“Volunteer?” Her face hardened, and she grabbed my arm. “Perhaps we should discuss this in private, Mr. Ross.”

I knew we’d ended up downstairs, but I’d lost track of the way back. The whole place was like a maze, and the workers were like mice. Scurrying around, twitching, trying to get to their cheese. At first, I thought it was funny, but now that I was hidden from them—set up in an exam room with three women prodding me—the comparison had lost some of its humor.

The two I didn't know introduced themselves as Faye and Elise. Apparently, they ran the show, and they were pretty interested in how I had found out about their experiment. I didn't want to get Rena in trouble, so I fibbed…

I said I’d overheard my friends
weeks ago
, that they didn't know I was eavesdropping, and that I'd drawn most of the conclusions myself. Obviously, Rena had met Wallace in secret for a reason, so I wasn't going to blab and say it was last night. Nobody needed to know they'd gotten back together—especially since the situation was temporary.

Instead, I claimed to be fascinated by the subject of experimentation and insisted I should not be considered a threat. As far as these women were concerned, I, too, was a student of the human condition. And it must've worked.

They had me fill out thirty-two pages of paperwork and whispered to each other the whole time they waited. After a while, they started asking more in-depth questions about my medical history, and things seemed to progress from there. I even got to pee.

Faye looked up from the stack of papers Elise had handed her. “Okay, it looks like we’re going to do some of the procedures today, some tomorrow, and then we'll need you to come back for a few follow-ups. That all right with you, kid?”

I nodded. She seemed cool, like some tough old bird who spent her winters hiking in Canada. I wondered what her superpower was. Rena and Wallace had mentioned her at some point, but they didn't get too specific. Maybe it was something awesome, like flying. Or being invisible. Man, I couldn’t wait to get started!

Rena was going to be so excited. No more having to hide things from me, no more having to live in secret. I could only imagine what a relief this would be for her. We'd have to clue Gabby in, of course, but we'd swear her to secrecy. Then we could all hang out and—I don't know—fight crime or something. Maybe ERA could help Gabby, too.

“You're imagining it, aren't you?” Faye wheeled over on her stool and looked up at me. “What life's going to be like after the procedure?”

“Y-Yeah.”

She offered me a grimaced smile. “You are the first of a new trial. The first of a legacy. You will become the new brand of human, and soon, everyone will be lining up to follow in your footsteps. The same abilities, the same senses. Everyone left standing will be doing so on a level playing field.”

Wallace and I will be on a level playing field…

“And after that,” she went on, waving her hand between us. “We'll work on neutralizing aggression. It won't matter what you look like, or what social class you fall into, because no one will feel motivated to act unjustly. Everyone will share the same beautifully balanced world.”

And in that world, Rena will have no choice but to see me.

“Are you ready to take this step, Aiden?”

I gave her a curt nod, worried my voice might crack with excitement.

“Good. Because we're going to go ahead and take you down the hall.” She motioned to Gail, who unfolded a wheelchair from the corner. “It’s time to get started.”

This is it. In a few days, I'll be a new man.
I hopped down from the table, adjusted the strings on my gown, and took the first steps toward my future.
Wait for me, Rena…
 

“So, you want to check out that house after finals?” I asked, glancing over at Rena in the driver’s seat. “Zack said his grandma would let us look around.”

Small talk wasn't my strong suit, but I'd do whatever it took to keep her from dwelling on this mess. We were only a few minutes away from ERA HQ, and she didn't need to psyche herself out before we busted in.

“Sure.” She slowed for the exit.

“Sure?” I cocked my head to the side. “Don't sound too excited.”

“Wallace…”

“He's fine,” I assured her. “Try to think about something else.”

She fidgeted with her free hand. “Did he say what the house is like?”

“Old, yellow, a few blocks from campus. I think it's up on that hill behind The Rec. He said it's got a little yard and—”

“A yard?”

My arms tensed up. Did she hate yards or something? “Yeah…?”

“We could have cookouts!”

I had to admit, the thought was appealing. Me grilling, her trying to cook. No sneaking around, no stealing time to see each other. Just us, living like a normal couple. “We could,” I agreed.

“And play Frisbee.”

“Probably not.” I had a tendency to throw things into the next county.

“And catch lightning bugs.”

“What are you—twelve?”

“Shut up.”

Distraction accomplished.

We pulled into the parking lot and wasted no time getting out. Aiden had already been here for at least an hour. There was no telling what they'd done to him once they’d figured out his affiliation.

The way I saw it, we could either charge through the front or call Cole and ask how to get in from the back. From there, things could get dicey. I reached for Rena's hand, but she jerked away.

“We can't let them see us on good terms,” she whispered, nodding toward the building. “Just follow my lead.”

Famous last words.

We made our way through the front and were greeted by the same guy as last time. “Welcome to the RSTL free—oh, hey!”

“Hey,” Rena echoed, sounding bored. “Remember us?”

“Sure do.” He winked and typed something into his computer. “I never forget faces. Are you here for the study, or is it time for your monthly?”

Her period?
I started to say something, but then it hit me. Rena had a standing appointment with ERA. It was part of their agreement. If we used that, we wouldn't have to fight our way in. “We're—”

“—a little early.” She flashed me a dirty look and yanked me by the sleeve. “For my appointment, that is.
Someone
has other places to be this afternoon. Probably writing a poem for that stupid whore who works here.”

The guy quirked an eyebrow. “Okay, well, I'll just let Elise know you're h—”

“Don't bother.” Rena waved him off. “I know she's busy. We'll just head down there and let the receptionist know we can be seen whenever there's a free moment.”

He shrugged. “If you're sure. You remember how to get down there, right?”

“Take the gold elevator down to the lower level, swing right, and follow the hallway until we reach the reception area.”

“Exactly.”

She tapped her head and winked. “I don't forget things, either.”

God, I loved this girl.

Thirty seconds later, we were in the elevator and headed down. There was no telling which parts of the building were bugged, so I tried to keep my voice low. “What now?”

Rena stayed close, pressed to my side. “Now we follow through.”

“So, I'm here out of obligation?” I asked as the doors chimed open. “Because I didn't feel right making you come here alone, even though we broke up?”

“Right. You're a classy guy.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face as we turned to trek down the next hallway. “And now we have…what? A receptionist and two guards? Then a couple of locked doors to contend with.”

“Uh huh.”

“Okay.” I blew out a breath. “Let's do this.”

Without breaking stride, I waved at the desk attendant. “We know where we're headed, thanks.” Five more steps brought me to the security checkpoint and the two goons manning the scanner. One waved us forward with a baton, and the other stood by on search duty—neither looked familiar. “Excuse us.”

“Just a second, pal,” the first one said, taking what I could only assume was meant to be a menacing step forward.

“I don't have a second,” I spat, hoping the attitude would be enough like last time.

“You'd better find one.” He reached back on his belt and produced a Tazer, sizing me up. “Because nobody goes beyond this point that ain't on the list.”

Great.
Unless it was a homicidal ‘to do’ list, I doubted we were on it.
Now what?

Rena latched onto my forearm, right over the Nexus, and smirked—a mischievous, out-of-place expression that made me want to take her right there in the hallway. A second later, I felt the pull. Each time, it became more and more familiar. I didn't even have to concentrate. She tugged, and my power was hers—a blue glow these humans would never hope to see.

“Is that a Tazer?” she asked the first guard, breaking the silence as she sidled up beside him. Her fingers brushed his hand and trailed up the plastic. “Wow. It's bigger than I thought.”

The guard went from nervous to aroused in two seconds. Not that I could blame him. I probably clocked in under one.

“Y-Yeah. They won't let us have guns, so—”

“Dan,” the other one said. “Zip it.”

“You don't strike me as a hired thug,” Rena went on, unbothered by the intrusion. “What do you normally do for a living?”

“I was a physical trainer.” He looked down, his sharp cheeks red with embarrassment. “But this gig pays better, and we don't see much traffic down here. Ms. Fraiser said it was more about the image than the—”

“Can I hold it?

“What?”

“Your Tazer.” Rena tightened her fingers around the grip. “I want to see if it's heavy.”

“Oh, um…”

“Dan,” the other guard warned again.

“Come on.” She pouted her bottom lip, and I winced, instantly sorry for the guy. Another few seconds, and I'd probably rip it out of his hands to give to her. That look had a power all its own.

“You can leave the safety on,” she assured him. “I'm not going to do anything with it.”

Her new friend gave her the once-over. “Maybe just for a second…”

She took the Tazer with both hands and smiled. “Of course, neither are you.”

“What do y—”

The weapon cracked beneath her tensed grip as she twisted her wrists, and—
SNAP!

I snorted. I didn't mean to. I mean, I knew she was having a badass moment, but the look on his face was hilarious. There'd be skid marks in his boxers.

“H-How…but you're…isn't he the…?”

“Here.” She handed both pieces of plastic back to him, frayed wires sticking out in every direction. “I just wanted to make sure you didn't get trigger happy when we ignored your warnings.”

“What warnings?”

“Way to go,” the other guard jeered, throwing his hands in the air.

“I didn't know she was going to do that!”

Rena patted his arm and smiled. “Don't worry. I have an appointment. No one is going to question you about us.”

I took that as my cue to lead her through the scanner. A hand grasped my shoulder, but I shrugged it off. Carefully. The last thing we needed was some guy crashing through the wall and getting everyone's attention.

“Thanks,” she said, grinning up at me. A second later, a flux of power slipped back inside me, and I shot her a sideways look.

“You don't want to hold onto it until we're out of here?”

She shook her head. “I'd prefer to stay conscious.”

“Oh, right.”

We got to the safe door in Gail's office, and I didn't even bother trying to guess the code. I gave the handle a heavy tug, and…

Shit.

“Nice one, Herc.” Rena rolled her eyes at the piece of metal that came off in my hand. The door had stayed put. “Now what?”

“Uh…” I looked around the room and hefted my shoulders. The goons had probably reported us by now. There wasn't much time to screw around. “We could try this.”

I planted my foot in the center of the giant circular door and gave it a kick. The steel bunched inward, tore off its hinges, and slid halfway down the stairs with a groan—wedging between the walls at an odd angle.

She clicked her tongue a few times. “Resourceful.”

I loved that nothing fazed her anymore.

We carefully climbed our way down to The Underground and tried to follow the blue lights. The place smelled like a mix of earth and metal, and it—

“Wallace Blake and Rena Collins?”

I hesitated before turning around. “Yeah?”

An official-looking guy in a black suit jacket stepped forward. “I have orders to escort you both to a waiting area. Please follow me.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Rena cut in. “Waiting area for what? Who gave these orders?”

To his credit, the man didn’t let his annoyance show on his face. “Dr. Lawrence. I was told to inform you that your friend is in surgery, and it would be ill advised to interrupt them. So, if you’ll follow me…”

Her eyes widened. “They’ve already started? Where is he? They can’t—”

“Miss Collins, I’m going to have to ask you to remain calm. Access down here is a privilege, and we do reserve the right to remove you from this facility.”

Before she could go for his nuts, I angled between them. “Is there any way we could at least see him? Maybe observe from a gallery of some kind?”

He shook his head and his lips formed an apologetic line. “I’m afraid not. The best we can offer is a comfortable space to wait in.”

“We’ll take it,” I answered for both of us. Rena shot me a glare, but I wasn’t going to cave. This guy wasn’t exhibiting any of the emotions associated with lying. If we barged back there, and they were in the middle of the procedure, it would endanger Aiden’s life.

“Very well.” The man nodded and pivoted on his heel. “Please follow me.”

Like we have a choice.