Freddy Anderson’s Home: Book 1 (19 page)

Chapter 31
Morals

I
was half awake when I heard the master chief exclaim, “The boy can heal with his mind? That’s incredible! No wonder the government wants him protected.”

“The government is interested in his healing ability as well as his ability to read minds—extremely interested, but they don’t want him walking around Washington reading minds,” said the lieutenant. “He solved a case the Supreme Court was working on for three years. They were winning, but new evidence presented by the defense attorneys caused them to lose ground. With just a few simple questions, Freddy found out that the new evidence was false and how and where they did it—enough to put them all away for life. You can imagine what Congress would think of him on the floor of the House of Representatives. One more thing—the inventions that he’s working on could throw us into a technically advanced lead that will be impossible for the rest of the world powers to overcome. Analysts say that he is working on things that are used mostly in space. They think he wants to build some sort of spacecraft, and they want first bid on the technology. They don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.”

“You were called away to see the president?” the master chief asked.

“Yes, and she’s worried. She gave me new orders—written orders that she signed. We are now a presidential detachment with complete control over everything we do. Now, even the Pentagon can’t touch us. She authorized us to set up our own base at Freddy’s home, and the order gives us complete choice of personnel, equipment, and a very generous budget, along with presidential promotions for everyone. The only persons from whom we are to take orders are Dr. Anderson and the president. Ladies, the president made it very clear that Freddy’s orders override hers.”

“That makes Freddy our boss?” the master chief asked.

“Yes, it does. We only have one thing to overcome.”

“That Freddy doesn’t want us at his home?”

“That’s right,” I called out, slowly sitting up. “I’m sorry, but I was listening to the last four or five sentences. What did I miss?”

“Nothing much, you little sneak.” Lieutenant James messed my hair while saying, “If you were listening, then you know what’s going on in Washington.”

“Lieutenant, if you had my abilities, then you’d know much more. For instance, the government wants to build a base on the moon, then Mars, and then other planets. In less than one hundred years, this planet is going to be full of people—very full. If they don’t do something now, their children’s children will have no place to live. We’re not talking a space issue as much as what this planet can handle with oxygen and resources. The president took every chance she could to talk in front of me about going into space and what was needed that hasn’t been invented yet. She was so obvious that I nearly laughed myself sick. They want my healing and mind-reading abilities, but you’re right. I’m dangerous to them and their affiliations. Besides, being this close to so many people at once gives me a headache. I can’t shut out their thoughts, and I can’t think. What did she say about my staying put?”

“We are to persuade you to stay right where you are,” Lt. James said. “They like your being away from everyone, but at the same time, they want us to help you as much as possible. It was made very clear that if anything happens to you, we would be held fully responsible.”

“Lieutenant—or should I say Lt. Commander?”

“It’s still lieutenant, sir.”

“Stop the ‘sir’ stuff,” I snapped at her. “I’m not going to run this show; you are. All orders come from you as far as I am concerned. I don’t want the responsibility. For goodness’ sake, I’m just a kid. You have it, Lieutenant, so take the ball and run with it. And oh yes, you’re correct, you do still have that problem.”

The speaker came on, and the pilot said, “Everyone strap in. We’ll be landing in approximately five minutes. The transportation requested is waiting for you and will take you directly to the construction site.”

I said, “Thank you, pilot.”

“He can’t hear you from back here,” Lt. James said, but the pilot came back and said, “You’re welcome, Dr. Anderson.”

I said, “It’s a matter of making the mind think that it heard it from the outside.”

“Freddy, how often are you in our heads?” she asked.

“Seldom, Lieutenant. I rely on your outward emotions and don’t need to delve any deeper. Your emotions are readable enough for me to ask questions and determine if the answer is the truth. I actually have not read any of you any deeper than your surface thoughts, except Katie.”

“Why Katie?”

“She’s telepathic.” This surprised even Katie. “When she started guarding me, I found her reactions to things very interesting and realized she had abilities that were above normal, so I looked deeper with her. Sorry, Katie, but I needed to protect myself.”

“I understand,” Katie responded, “but what did you find that makes you say I’m telepathic? I’ve never read minds.”

“You just are. It’s very minor, and you haven’t developed it as much as you could, but you have the potential to send as well as receive. Watch.”
Katie, I’m sorry, but I saw your life when I went deep into your mind. I know what you’ve been through, and I cried when I found out. I love you girls, and I won’t betray
you.

Tears formed in Katie’s eyes, which was not her norm. “That’s all right.”

No, don’t say it out loud. Just say it to me in your
mind.

I love you too, Freddy. You make a great little brother. You’re forgiven, but don’t do it a
gain.

Okay.

“You and I can talk to each other,” I said to Katie, “probably from a great distance. Your abilities are weak compared to mine but stronger than any other I’ve met. If you practice your ability, it will increase in power, and you may start picking up others. Think about that. If you want to do this, I can help you develop more, but it’s a real pain sometimes.”

“Freddy, why haven’t you deep-scanned the rest of us?” asked the lieutenant.

I sat a little taller and said with just a little indignation, “It’s not polite.”

She smiled and gave me a big hug. “Freddy, I already think very highly of you. You’re kind, nice, and easy to get along with, and you don’t demand much, but my estimation and love for you just went way up.”

“Why?” I asked with surprise.

“Because you have a moral side that I wish others had, and because you have all this power and know better than to use it.”

“Power, yuck. Don’t want it. Daddy always told me, ‘the more power you have, the more you have to work to keep it. Takes up too much time.’ I like to invent, and I like to build. Trying to acquire power too would take away all my inventing and building time. I couldn’t care less about having power. I patent everything because I need the money to allow me to invent and build and do some nice things, but that’s the only reason I need it.”

“Freddy, is inventing and building your top priority?” Lt. James asked.

I said with all seriousness, “No, I’d put making friends, helping people, and things like that as my first priority, because those things make me feel really good. Don’t you feel really good when you help people? I get a high from that almost as much as seeing one of my inventions work. Inventing and building are close to the top, though, and I build all my plans around that.”

The Blue said, “Stop there.”

Everything went black.

“Sire?”

“If this creature were of our species, he would be a Red.”

Green stood proud and said, “Yes, sire. He would have started out Green, but he would be Red now.”

“Few Greens ever make it to Red, but this one would have. Categorize and send to the Body System that this child is Red.”

“Sire, if I do that, the Yellows may become involved.”

“For the child’s sake, let’s hope not. Send it, and continue.”

Chapter 32
When It Finally Hits Home, Who’s Guarding You

T
he plane landed, and everyone became busy. I grabbed my bags and started to leave the plane, but the Lieutenant stopped me and asked the master chief, “What’s the matter?”

The master chief said, “This scanner shows twenty armed men standing at the ready on the other side of that building.” She pointed out the window to a two-story building.

The lieutenant asked, “Freddy, can you read them from here?”

I closed my eyes and reached out. “Yes, they’re waiting for us to get off the plane. They think they can prove to me and to the president that they would be better at guarding me than your team. Those are their surface thoughts anyway. They’re here to make you look bad, Lieutenant.” This irritated me, and it showed on my face. I reached into my bag and pulled out another gadget. I again started out of the plane, but the lieutenant put her hand on my shoulder.

“Freddy, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going to detach the cohesiveness of their molecular DNA.”

“You mean, ‘disintegrate’ them?”

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

The master chief quickly and deftly removed the toy from my hand and put it away. “This is our job, Freddy. Let us handle it. Twenty men, probably the army’s finest.” The master chief pointed at petty officers Smith and Potter and made a quick signal. The two left silently out the rear emergency exit. I pulled out my scanner and watched as they ran around the building.

“Lieutenant, they left their scanners behind,” I said, somewhat alarmed.

“Don’t worry, Freddy. They were ordered not to take them into a compromising situation.”

“Initial Team to home base, we’re in place. Any sign that we were seen?”

The master chief answered. “IT, this is home base. Negative. Proceed.”

I watched the energy readings on the screen as the two SEALs walked up behind the troops and tore into them. It happened so quickly that most of it was a blur on the screen. In less than fifteen seconds, only three were standing—petty officers Smith and Potter and one man. They sent him on his way, and he ran quickly.

We all disembarked. The two SEALs rejoined us, and they weren’t even breathing hard. The limousines pulled up after they saw that everything was okay. I scanned and questioned the drivers, and then we drove to the construction site. The lieutenant noticed that I was shaking.

“What’s wrong, Freddy?”

I looked up at her with fear in my eyes. Petty Officer McMasters saw right away what was wrong. She pulled me to her, holding me very close. “Freddy, don’t be afraid of us. We won’t hurt you.”

Hardly able to say anything, I choked out, “What … what … what if the president … or the next one … decides … decides I’m too big a risk … too big a risk to have around?”

“In that case, Freddy,” Lt. James said simply, “you’d be dead.” Petty Officer McMasters glared at the lieutenant, but Lt. James continued. “Look, I’m not going to lie to you, Freddy. You’d know I was lying anyway, wouldn’t you?”

I nodded my head.

“So I’m going to lay it right on the line. Our orders are to keep you alive and well and working at all cost. The president pulled no punches when she said that the life of the planet depends on our following those orders, and if you get taken, then we had better all be dead from trying to protect you.”

“The president seems very interested in letting me put in as much time on my toys as possible.”

“
Toys
. Freddy, your toys could save this planet! Every person in this group would gladly die to save your life.”

“Really?”

Colleen interjected, “Yes, sweetheart, we would, and not just because those are our orders but because we like you.”

“That’s true, kid,” said the master chief. “I don’t think there’s even one of us who wouldn’t give her life just to save yours.”

The lieutenant finished. “That’s what it may be. If the order came down, it would be the hardest thing we ever did, but every one of the girls would carry out her duty. You understand?”

“Yes. It would be like asking you to kill your friend. You don’t want to, but your duty to country requires that you do. Will you do me a favor and let me know if I’m doing something that may worry the president? I’d stop, you know, or at least explain what I’m doing so she wouldn’t be worried.”

The lieutenant said, “Sure, I’d be glad to help you keep the president from getting worried. That’s a great idea. If you’re willing to do that, then I’m sure that no bad orders will ever come down.” Then she added, smiling, “Isn’t it good to know that you’re protected by people who can do what they just did?”

“They were so fast!”

Petty Officer Smith asked, “Want to learn?”

I perked up and said, “You bet!”

Lt. James said, “Another great idea. Do you do much exercising, Freddy?”

“No.”

“Well, exercise would be good for you, and since you put me in charge, I’m ordering one hour of exercise every day, starting when you get home. It can be in the form of training in the martial arts. You won’t get a belt, but in a few years, it will be very hard for anyone to pick on you again.”

I didn’t want to tell her that it would be hard for anyone to pick on me now. I could use telekinesis, but I couldn’t stop all of them. If they wanted me dead, then I’d be dead. I was genuinely afraid, and that bothered me. I stayed in Colleen’s arms for the rest of the way, just letting her hold me and trying to calm down before I met with the construction crew. When we were almost there, I tried harder to stop shaking and was calmer but not yet recovered, so the lieutenant ordered the driver to continue on for a few miles and then ordered the team in the other limo to do recon. That gave me enough time to calm down and get the red out of my eyes and face.

I smiled gratefully at the lieutenant. “Thank you, Susan.”

“You’re welcome, Freddy. Ready to meet with the builders?”

I sat up straight, pulled back from Colleen, and in a strong voice said, “Ready.”

The Gray said, “What a crybaby!”

Everything went black.

The Blue said, “And what if I sent you to see a Yellow? Would you not cry?”

The Gray radiated instant fear. “I have done nothing to deserve that!”

The Blue quietly and with conviction said, “Raise your voice at me again and see. Green, continue, please.”