Special Talents (3 page)

"I appreciate that, Madam Secretary. I should have an answer for you very soon." He turned to Scarborough. "Richard, let's get together soon. Regardless of what I decide I'd like to catch up with things."

"I'd like that, Jeremy. And again, I'm sorry for breaking my promise to you. You know I would never have done it if I didn't feel it was vitally important."

"I have no doubt. All things considered, I don't suppose it's a major problem. And you did keep the promise for more than 20 years. I guess that counts for something." He turned back to Napolitano. "Madam Secretary, I'll see you in two days. General."

Jeremy turned and left the office. As he did, the three people watched him go.

"What do you think?" Secretary Napolitano asked. "You think he'll agree to join us?"

"I don't know," replied Porter. "He didn't seem very convinced to me. I think we have to plan that he'll refuse."

"He might surprise you," said Scarborough. "He always told me he wanted to become a psychiatrist because he wanted to help people. He has to realize that by accepting your proposal he can help a lot of people. I think he might just go for it."

"I hope so," said Napolitano. "If he doesn't I'm not sure what we're going to do. Moser is becoming more of a problem every day. If we don't do something very soon, we might miss our opportunity."

"Well," said Scarborough, "we should have our answer in two days."

"I'll start on a plan in case he refuses," said Porter. "We should be ready with a contingency plan in that event. If you'll excuse me, Madam Secretary, I think I have a lot of work to do."

"Certainly, General," said Napolitano.

As the General and Scarborough left the office, Secretary Napolitano found herself silently hoping that Dr. Sloan would accept her offer. At the moment, he seemed their best option for what was coming in the very near future.

"So, I guess the question is, do you trust these people? You think they were being straight with you?"

Janet Liu was a first generation Chinese-American whose parents had immigrated to the United States before she was born. She had been born in San Francisco and was an only child. A one-time patient of Jeremy's, they had formed a bond that had lasted long after their doctor-patient relationship had ended. She was usually the one Jeremy would talk to when he had an important decision to make.

"Well, they weren't lying to me, I can tell you that much."

"And you would know," said Janet, smiling at him. "But that doesn't answer the question. Do you trust them?"

"Well, as I said," said Jeremy, "I can't really give you a lot of specifics. But, yeah, I guess I do. What they have in mind is a very worthwhile endeavor. But it's also going to mean leaving my teaching position and ending my practice. And I think I've helped a lot of people in my practice."

"What about if you take this offer you mentioned? Would it help people, too?"

"Oh, absolutely. In fact, it might help a lot more people than I can one-on-one. But it will help in a different way. I wish I could tell you more than I've received a very tempting offer from a specific group of individuals. But I promised them I wouldn't say anything about it. I'm sure if you knew the whole story you'd understand."

"Jeremy," said Janet, "when I first came to you, it took me a long time to open up to you. I felt like a freak because of what I could do. You helped me understand that I wasn't a freak. And not only because you told me of your gift. You showed me that just because I'm different doesn't mean I'm freakish. You've been a good friend and you've helped a lot of people.

"But you also told me that people like us: people who are different: were different for a reason. You taught me that if someone has a special ability they should use it to help better mankind. It sounds to me that this is exactly what you've been telling me about. A way to help better mankind and use the gifts we were born with."

"Well, it would definitely help better mankind, I can't deny that. And I've always believed there were others out there like us. Others with gifts, as you call them. And I know you're more than a little interested in finding out why we're different. After all, you became a biologist to see if you could discover what makes us different."

"All true. You said they wanted you to find others like us. People with unique abilities. Have they told you what they plan to do with these people once you've found them?"

"Yes, they have," said Jeremy hesitantly. "And it is a very worthwhile endeavor. But you know as well as I do that even the best intentions can often be twisted and subverted. It scares me to think what someone could do with a group of people with gifts like ours. A group like that could be a formidable weapon in the wrong hands."

"Or a great benefit to mankind in the right hands. Like the atomic bomb. It was developed to help put an end to World War II. It's a terrible weapon that can do unimaginable destruction. But it's also proved to be a great source of nearly unlimited power. As long as all proper safety protocols are observed, the benefits it gives to mankind are limitless.

"It will be the same thing with these people, if you find them. As long as someone is in charge that is trying to harness their abilities for good, that person can help minimize the damage an unscrupulous person might try to do with them. And I can think of no one better suited or qualified to be that person than you."

"Well, I wouldn't exactly be in charge. I'd be sort of a team leader, you might say. I'd have superiors I'd have to answer to. And I can't speak to how those superiors might try to use the group."

"No one can speak for another. You taught me that. We are each responsible for ourselves and no one else. All you can do is the best you can and hope that others will do the same. You also have to consider that if you say no they'll probably just find someone else. And that person may not have the ethical or moral code you have to guide them."

"I have thought of that. And to be honest, that's one of the strongest arguments for me accepting their offer. But like I said, it will mean leaving my teaching position and ending my practice."

"So you have to ask yourself which is more important. The hour or so you spend each week with each of your patients or this offer that you've all ready told me would help a great many people at one time."

Jeremy thought for a moment. Most of his patients didn't have any real problems. He wasn't treating any schizophrenics or sociopaths. They were simply ordinary people who needed someone to talk with to help sort out their problems. Compare to helping to fight terrorism, those problems seemed almost inconsequential.

"What about you?" he finally asked Janet.

"What about me?"

"Well, I said these people are looking for others with special abilities. Special talents, as they put it. You're one of those people. You could help me make sure that this group is used for the right purposes."

"I have my work here," Janet responded. "And it keeps me very busy."

"Work which can only go so far without test subjects. You've told me so yourself. There's only so much you can learn from yourself and me. You've often told me how beneficial it would be if you could have some more test subjects. Imagine a whole group of people with special abilities. I imagine there's no end to what you might learn from that."

"Which means I'd probably have to leave the research center, just as you have to leave your teaching position. Some of the equipment I use in my research is very sophisticated. A lot of research centers can't afford it. I've been lucky enough to be at one that can. I'm not sure these people who have offered you this position could afford that equipment. And without the equipment, it doesn't matter how many test subjects I have. I wouldn't be able to run the tests I need to find the answers I'm looking for."

"Oh, I think I can guarantee you that you'll have access to whatever equipment you might need."

"Really? These people have that kind of money? We're talking about equipment that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for one piece of equipment."

"I don't think that's going to be much of a hindrance."

"Well," said Janet considering the offer, "I'd have to know more than what you've all ready told me. You taught me never to go into anything blind. I'd have to know what group this is and what their goals are. And I'd want to see a financial statement to be sure they could deliver on any promises they might make."

"I understand that. All I'm asking is would you be interested?"

"If it will help further my research, of course I'd be interested. To be honest, the going here is pretty slow. Like you said, without test subjects I'm limited to what I can learn. But if I had access to more people, it could advance my research considerably. Except you've promised them not to say anything to anyone else."

"Well, if I decide to accept their offer, I'll mention you. It may involve telling them some things you've told me in confidence. They're going to want to know what kind of help you're going to be."

"I trust your judgment, Jeremy. After all, I guess technically I'm still a patient of yours. Kind of like an attorney-client relationship. Once you've done business together you're kind of stuck with each other."

"I'm not sure I'd phrase it quite that way, but you're right. And I promise not to tell them anymore than I absolutely have to. I'm meeting with them again in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes."

"Good or bad," said Janet. "And let's have dinner again soon. I've been so busy with my research I haven't had a chance to get out of the lab much lately. I could use a night away from my test tubes and Bunsen burners."

"I'd like that. Well, I'd better get going. I have a lot of thinking to do. I'll see you in a day or two."

At 10:00 a.m. the next morning Jeremy was sitting in Secretary Napolitano's office again. She was there, of course. As were General Porter and Scarborough. There was also another young woman in the office. She appeared to be about 30 years old, and unlike the others was dressed in what appeared to be a work uniform. Over one pocket on the shirt was a patch that read "Maintenance". Over the other pocket was a patch that read "Kamalene".

"Madam Secretary, I'd like a little more information if that's okay."

"Certainly, doctor. Anything I can do to help make up your mind."

"What exactly is the procedure for what you're asking me to do?"

"Well," said Napolitano, "as I said at our last meeting, your job is to help locate people with special talents. My agency will be looking through a variety of records and reports in the hope of identifying these individuals. When we've identified a potential candidate, your job will be to go to the candidate and evaluate them. If you find they are suitable, you'll need to do your best to convince them to join us. If they agree, they'll come back to Homeland Security headquarters where we will evaluate them."

"There will have to be a background check on all individuals," said Porter. "Once we've identified potential candidates we'll do a standard background check to weed out the undesirables. You'll be informed of the ones that pass the background check. Once they've agreed to join us, they'll be given instruction in proper police procedure, applicable laws, that sort of thing. It'll be sort of a crash course. Nothing like what a regular agent goes through but enough to familiarize them with the necessary protocols."

"They'll also need to have a physical examination. To make sure they're healthy and fit enough to work as field operatives. And there will be a psychological test as well. To identify any with mental or emotional disorders that could be a problem. I'm sure you could help in that respect when you go to evaluate them."

"I've also suggested they receive training in unarmed defense and rudimentary weapons training," interjected Scarborough. "Just as any agent would receive. The type of work they'll be doing can be quite dangerous. They'll need to be able to protect themselves."

"I do want to stress that they won't be authorized to carry any weapons," said Napolitano. "In all fairness, these individuals shouldn't need weapons. But they won't be receiving the rigorous training that 'normal' agents receive. We can't risk any of them getting nervous and firing a weapon when it's not appropriate."

"I understand," said Jeremy. "So they won't be going after what might be called 'normal' terrorists."

"No," said Napolitano. "Their mandate is to seek out and either capture or subdue terrorists that have been identified with special talents. We have individuals very capable of dealing with the more mundane type of terrorists."

"What if I know of or identify someone with a special talent who isn't on your list?"

"Then by all means let me know who they are," said Porter. "I can run a background check and see if they're suitable. Do you have someone specific in mind, doctor?"

"I might," said Jeremy. "I also want to make it perfectly clear that I have no intentions of training any assassins for you. I'm not going to locate these individuals for you so you can send them out to murder people."