Metawars: The Complete Series: Trance, Changeling, Tempest, Chimera (131 page)

Dahlia was gone.

So why had Switch given me a video meant for her?

•  •  •

Communication with our people in the field was mysteriously restored while we were helping Noah back into bed. Sasha reported that no one in Virginia was dead and they were working swiftly toward managing the blaze. She didn’t tell them what had happened to us. She said that was my job.

Nice kid.

I called Teresa back while Sasha watched her video gift from Uncle. Teresa didn’t sound like she had the energy to flip out, and she went really quiet when I told her about Dahlia.

“He hasn’t felt her since he woke up,” I said.

“I don’t understand,” Teresa said, her voice rough with emotion (and probably smoke inhalation).

“Kinsey’s theory is that Switch was somehow protecting the hybrid-Changeling project. Nancy Bennett’s name was on some of the initial project research, and they worked together during its development. She must have known Noah and Aaron were the only two surviving Changelings.”

“And then we send her information saying that Dahlia’s absorption is killing both her and Noah.”

“So she sets up her chance to get over here and separate them, saving Ace the Changeling and killing Dahlia.”

“She went through a lot of trouble just to get on to the island.”

“Maybe this was her way of quitting her job?”

Teresa snorted hard, and I heard the tears in her voice. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“I know, T. Listen, Switch left us two videos before she blew her brains out. Maybe I’ll get some more answers from those.”

“Let me know what you find.”

“Duh.”

“How’s Andrew?”

“Resilient. Simon wants to take him home, but Andrew insists on waiting until Ethan and Aaron get back.”

“He’s a tough kid.”

“Yeah. Be safe, T.”

The conversation had gone better than expected, but Teresa was probably in shock. So much had happened in the last week, and she was still dealing with the ongoing crisis in Virginia. I wandered into the rec room, to see the Junior Meta Squad in a circle around one of the computers, whispering and wiping away tears. I stood by the door until Sasha waved me over. She reset the video.

I planted myself behind them, five brave teenagers, and watched as an image of Uncle came to life on-screen.

“I cannot ever express to you children how much I regret what has happened these last few months,” he said. “One of the greatest joys of my life was watching each of you grow, teaching you and training you for what was to come. I know you’re all strong and capable, and you will thrive in this strange new world you’ve been thrust into. You’re home now, with others like you. Like us.

“I regret also that I never told you I was Meta, or about my double life. I was forbidden from telling you certain things by my supervisor. I did not always agree with the orders given to me, and I did what I could to protect you. I will never ask your forgiveness for Louis and Summer, or what was done to Landon and Bethany. I don’t deserve forgiveness. But I cannot be ordered to hurt you children again.

“I’m so sorry for everything. I love you all. No matter what else happens, please never doubt that. Take care of each other.”

The screen went black.

I watched it three more times, memorizing the words. Searching for hidden messages or meanings and finding none. Uncle had been following orders when he sent the clones after Bethany and Landon. He’d been following orders when he killed Louis and Summer. Orders very likely sent from the mysterious Overseer that Switch was unable to betray, even at the very end. Uncle had loved those kids and, in their tears, I knew they’d loved him, too.

The second video I watched with Dr. Kinsey, in his office. Noah said he didn’t want to see it, although I knew he’d change his mind at some point. Digesting the video’s contents took me and his dad a while, anyway, because it was totally not what I was expecting. Not even close. But some of the things that Switch said in that video didn’t track with forcing Dahlia out of Noah—in essence, killing her to save him.

The biggest surprise, though, came at the end, and we both agreed Teresa could decide what to do with that bundle of a bombshell.

Our people began to trickle home around one a.m. The first two waves were of the wounded and two people suffering chemical smoke inhalation—one of whom was Derek. He wore an oxygen mask and could walk with help, but his skin was sallow and he looked like a stiff wind could blow him over. He proved the theory by passing out before he even made it to the infirmary.

I checked on him when I could, in between welcoming others back, listening to stories of the rescue, and trying to field questions about our own local drama. All I wanted to do was curl up in a chair next to Derek and hold his hand—I finally understood how Teresa felt when Gage was injured. How helpless you feel, unable to offer comfort to someone you love because you need to do your job.

Ethan and Aaron were both filthy, but unhurt. Noah had left the infirmary a while ago for the seclusion of his room upstairs, and the pair went up to stay with him and avoid lending more chaos to the storm downstairs. Sebastian had a deep gash on his neck and Lacey’s wings had been burned. Rick and Marco were fine, and the former was whisked off quickly to watch the video that all of his “siblings” had already seen.

Teresa and Gage were in the last wave. We moved into the empty conference room, and Gage winced his way through my summary of events so far, including everything I’d seen on both videos, until finally excusing himself to go get some painkillers.

“He took a blow to his collarbone,” Teresa said after he left.

“Ouch.”

“So it sounds like we did get answers to some of our questions.”

“Some, but not all.”

“For example, if Dahlia was so important, why sacrifice her for the Changeling? And why leave a video for her?”

“Exactly.”

Teresa gave me a hard look. “Well, since we can’t ask Uncle anymore, I guess we’ll just have to ask the Overseer when we see him.”

“If we ever see him.”

“We will, Renee. Trust me, all of this is far from over.”

“As long as it’s over for today. Maybe the rest of the week. We need a vacation.”

She snorted laughter. “Yes, we do.” She rubbed her hands over her soot-streaked face. “I need to check in with Sasha. Why don’t you go see how Derek is doing?”

“Yeah, okay.”

We headed for the door together, a pair of battered, weary souls. Just outside, she touched my arm and we stopped. “If it means anything,” she said, “I would have done everything exactly the same way. With Switch, I mean.”

“You’d have orb-blasted those Robo-people into next week.”

“Take the compliment, Renee.”

I smiled, and I didn’t have to force it. “Thanks.”

“He was pretty awesome today, too, you know.”

“Who?”

“Thatcher. You two may not think of yourselves as heroes, but you are. Both of you.”

My eyes stung, and I hugged her to give myself a moment. She held me tight, and I was insanely grateful for my best friend.

•  •  •

A gentle hand stroking my hair startled me awake. Falling asleep with my butt in a hard chair and my head on the side of a bed wasn’t conducive to good posture, and a bolt of pain shot through my neck as I straightened. My folded arms, which had pillowed my head, came back alive with pins and needles.

Derek smiled at me from his hospital bed. He was off the oxygen, still receiving IV fluids, and had gone from yellowish to normally colored as the toxins were flushed out of his system. He still needed a shave, but I kept that to myself.

“Hey.” I hauled my aching body out of the chair and perched on the edge of the bed. He curled his hands around mine, and I squeezed tight. Grateful to have him here. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you breathing in chemicals is unhealthy?”

“It is definitely on my list of things to avoid in the future,” he said. “I heard you had some drama while we were gone.”

I didn’t know how much he’d heard on the trip home from Richmond, so I kept it simple. “
Drama
is one way to put it. You mind if I retell the story some other time?”

“Of course. You look exhausted.”

“I am exhausted.” Mentally and physically exhausted, and then some. “Was it bad out there?”

“Pretty bad, but Teresa is an amazing leader. So is Gage.”

“They make a good team.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “So do you think my assistance will help fast-track me for an actual pardon? Because right now I have two very good reasons for not wanting to go back to Manhattan.”

“Two reasons?”

“I have a son I’m just beginning to get to know, and I’d like to be part of his life. And not from the visitation room at the tower.”

“I get the feeling Landon would like that. What’s the second reason?”

He untangled one of his hands and stroked my cheek. “I’d like to get to know you better, too, Renee Duvall.”

“I’d like that.”

“Good. After you go, get at least twelve hours of sleep.”

I laughed at his deadpan delivery. “Yes, sir.” I brushed my lips across the knuckles of his free hand. “I’ll do everything I can to help you with that pardon. I promise.”

“I bet you never thought you’d say that a week ago.”

“No bet.”

We sat together a while longer before fatigue began pushing on my eyelids. Derek had already dozed off, so I got up and left his room as quietly as I could.

A commotion of voices down the hall drew my attention. Rick poked his head out of Bethany’s room, eyes wild. “She’s waking up,” he said to no one in particular. “Get the doc!”

I rushed into Bethany’s room with Jessica on my heels. Rick was holding Bethany’s right hand and whispering her name over and over. Her eyes rolled behind the lids, and her lips twitched. I stared, shocked.

“I thought she was brain-dead,” I said. Had Dr. Kinsey’s tests been wrong?

“She can’t be,” Rick said. “Look at her.”

He had a point. Bethany continued fighting her way toward consciousness. Her face was still a Picasso of bruises and cuts, with her body just as battered, but she was trying. Dr. Kinsey rushed in and helped Jessica check Bethany’s vitals, as perplexed as I’d ever seen him.

Bethany’s eyelids slit apart enough for a hint of color to peek through. She blinked hard several times, and then she opened her eyes completely. She looked at the faces watching her, awareness sharpening her gaze even as confusion settled in. Her swollen lips tried to say something.

“You’re okay, Beth,” Rick said. “You scared us all to death.”

She ignored him, those startling eyes fixing on me. Startling in that they were bright blue, and I could have sworn they hadn’t been blue before. She swallowed and tried again, this time croaking out, “Noah?”

Everything around me grayed out except for the woman in the bed, whose simple inquiry drove home a realization with the force of a bullet to the brain. It all made perfect sense now. Switch had come here to free Double Trouble of each other, but not the way we’d assumed.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered. I looked into those familiar blue eyes, and I knew.

“What is it?” Rick asked. “What’s wrong with her?”

I glanced at Dr. Kinsey, whose ashen face told me he’d connected the dots, too. He met my gaze and nodded, expression filled with wonder and shock.

“We’ll go get Noah,” I said to her. “He’s fine, I promise.”

She tried to smile, then closed her eyes and drifted off.

“Why does she want to see Noah?” Rick asked. “I don’t get it.”

“Because Dr. Kinsey wasn’t wrong. Bethany didn’t wake up. She’s gone, Rick.”

He blanched. “Then what is this? Who was that?”

“That,” I said, throat clogging with relieved tears, “was Dahlia Perkins.”

Epilogue:

Two Weeks Later

A
n early autumn dusting of snow didn’t stop today’s training session from taking place on the back lawn. It had been unseasonably cold for the first of October, and today’s flurry was the second in less than three days. I’d bundled up and parked my butt on my favorite bench in order to enjoy it while I could. Living in Las Vegas for so many years meant a lot of winters without snow. I wouldn’t have that problem in the Mid-Atlantic.

The training session was the first of what was sure to be many as Dahlia learned how to use two different sets of powers at once. After spending a week going in and out of consciousness, she’d finally recovered enough to discuss what had happened to her and how. She now had both her fire absorption ability and Bethany’s heat blasts. Getting those powers to work together would take a lot of training, but she’d had a little practice already with Noah.

Only this time, she was alone in her own head.

Dahlia was in the field with Aaron, Marco, and Sasha. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but I imagined it was variations on
Don’t overexert yourself
and
Take your time
. Her body was healing quickly. Her mind would take a little longer, and we all knew it. Everyone else also needed time to adjust to Dahlia walking around in Bethany’s body, especially Landon and Noah.

Noah, who was nowhere to be seen most days, the jerk.

A shadow fell over my bench as Teresa settled down on the seat next to me. She was tucked into a winter coat, which only accentuated how pale she was and had been for the last couple of days. We watched the quartet on the lawn in silence for a while.

“Has she said anything to you about James?” I asked.

“No,” Teresa replied. “I think she’s afraid of making him a target.”

“It’s a possibility.”

“I know. Maybe it’s better she never contacts him.”

Switch’s video for Dahlia had been jam-packed with life-changing revelations. In June, at the height of the Changeling debacle, Dahlia had discovered that she wasn’t a born Meta. She was a Recombinant experiment, created in a lab just like the Changelings. In the last few months, we’d had no leads in discovering her past or the truth of her origin.

Switch confirmed it in her recording. She never explained her reasons for leaving the Rangers and joining the minds behind the Recombinant projects, only that she truly believed in the research—at the beginning. She developed a project that was supposed to produce babies who could absorb massive amounts of radiation, going so far as to donate her own DNA to the experiment. Twins were created, a boy and a girl. Those babies, however, showed no signs of an absorption ability.

“I couldn’t terminate my own flesh and blood,” Switch had said. “So I smuggled you and your brother out and gave you to women who would love you. And as of the recording of this message, your brother James is still alive and well. If you ever want to meet him, he’s a mechanic in a little town called Franklin, North Carolina. To my knowledge, he’s never developed powers. He knows nothing about his origin. Telling him is up to you.”

She went on to apologize for what happened to Bethany and the other children. When she lost her powers at the end of the War, she was stuck in her other persona—becoming Uncle and refocusing on those kids was her way of coping with the loss. She was furious when the Overseer discovered Dahlia was alive and demanded her execution this past June. She was equally furious when the mission resulted in the deaths of three of the five hybrid-Changelings. Everything was spiraling out of control.

“I could no longer blindly follow the Overseer’s orders,” Switch had said at the end of the video. “And I have no place in your world. I hope you can accept this gift, Dahlia. I’ve seen enough of my children die. Good luck.”

So poor Dahlia was Switch’s biological offspring, and she had a twin brother out there in the backwoods of North Carolina, blissfully unaware that he was a science experiment gone wrong. Or right, depending on your point of view. I doubted she would contact James until the Overseer was neutralized as a threat. Dahlia would never purposely make him a target of the Overseer and his wrath. If the Overseer didn’t know where he was, all the better for everyone.

“Is Sasha still squawking about feeling trapped here?” I asked.

“Yes, and honestly, I don’t think it’s a terrible idea for her and her team to leave. We have the resources, and more than enough people.”

Sasha reminded me of Teresa in more ways than one, including her stubborn independence. She wanted her people to learn and to train, but she also didn’t want to stay here permanently. Teresa was floating the idea of returning a team presence to the West Coast, maybe in the Pacific Northwest area. Sasha jumped at the suggestion. I admitted that it had merit.

I missed the West Coast.

Two figures crossed the far side of the lawn, hunched against the chilly air, deep in conversation. I grinned at the sight of them together, both ambulatory and smiling. Landon had been officially released from the infirmary a few days ago, and he was healing well. And Derek had returned just yesterday, after being officially and fully pardoned by the United States government for all past crimes.

We’d had quite the reunion and celebration last night.

I’d briefly floated the West Coast idea to Derek, and he’d been intrigued. Getting Landon away from here for a while was a good idea, he’d said, because of Bethany. Seeing her body walking around with someone else inside was hell on him. I didn’t relish the notion of leaving my friends for the other side of the country, but going with Derek wouldn’t be so bad.

“I take it you two are doing fine,” Teresa said, tilting her chin in Derek’s direction.

“More than fine.” My cheeks warmed. “I have to admit, T, never in a million years did I think I’d fall for an ex-Bane.” And I was falling hard.

“I never thought a lot of things would happen. It’s been a hell of a year.”

“Amen. And we haven’t even made it through the election yet.”

She snorted harshly through her nose. “Don’t remind me.”

Gage walked across the snow-dusted field and stopped to talk with Derek and Landon. Next to me, Teresa tensed enough that I noticed. Gage turned to go and spotted us. He froze. The look he and Teresa shared was indecipherable—like the momentary glance of two perfect strangers wondering if they happened to know each other. And like strangers who realize they aren’t acquainted, they both looked away.

“What was that about?” I asked.

Teresa sagged against the bench. “Gage and I had a pretty big fight last night.”

Oh, crap.
“About what? Splitting the teams?”

“I wish it was that simple.”

“Then what is it?”

She looked at me, so uncertain and confused it broke my heart a little even before she spoke two words that changed everything: “I’m pregnant.”