The storm raged on through the night as Jack built his maze. The silence and cold helped to clear his head. He understood why they didn’t fit with these metas but he wanted to fit in. Normals were so much easier; they didn’t have the same attitudes. Everyone here had a different story but it all started at a much older age letting them experience a normal life even if it was short lived. He had never had that till Ben. They were misfits among misfits. He returned to the Lodge after he finished the battle maze. He tried once more to lighten the storm before going to bed. So many things he wanted to try and test, he knew there was more to his powers. Ben had chilled the room with an open window. He laid in the bed listening to the silence as Snowy dreamed her dreams.
Morning came all too soon. The sounds of people in the hall passing and chatting as they made their way down stairs woke them. Ben and Jack went to Icy’s room to escort the ladies down. Snowy carried her parka as they headed down, she couldn’t wait to escape to the maze.
Breakfast was a buffet with two omelet stations and a waffle/pancake station. Ben headed for the food. Jack and Snowy seeing the selection turned away and walked to the main living area, to wait for Ben.
Slater came down the stairs, looking around the breakfast crowd. Alicia right beside him, her new kitten clutched to her chest. He spotted the trio and said something to Alicia. Leaving her side he approached Jack, offering his hand.
Jack took his hand looking confused.
“I apologize for over-reacting.” Slater shook hands.
“I accept, though I know I was in the wrong now.” Jack said hoping he hadn’t over spoke, “If Nat allows would you like to play with us today?”
“We are family now and like all good families, we don’t hold grudges and admit when we are wrong, I was wrong to threaten you.”
Snowy just stood there. Within in the link she spoke to Jack, “It still does not change the fact he did it, what if Nat had not been there?”
Jack shot her a look, he replied in the link, “Drop it, I forgive him.” He then spoke to Slater, “Than we are square right? Tight to the right like Ben says?”
With a smile Slater nodded, “Yeah, we are.”
“Do you think Nat will let us play?” Jack asked
“It is more a case of will the weather let us play. It’s the worst snow to hit Tahoe in 50 years but, since I am not ice proof, I get Kena on my team.”
“We can blow the castle clear, if people don’t mind the cold. Wish there was some food to eat.” Jack looked at the buffet, “Nothing in there we can eat.”
“So, you don’t like pancakes or waffles, or omelets, or sausage, or BACON, or fruit, or oatmeal? What do you eat from breakfast?”
Jack felt uncomfortable with the question, “Think they have left over shrimp from last night?”
Mal strolled over with a plate heaped with golden crispy hash browns, handing it off to Snowy and offering a fork. “Or if you prefer there is cottage fries.”
Snowy looked at it, accepting the plate, laying the fork across the food, “Thank you.” She looked to Jack and he shook his head no.
Mal looked down at her. “Jack, she loves fries, why don’t you see that?”
“They give her gas and I don’t want to hear about it all night long.” Jack stated
Snowy sat the plate down and punched Jack’s arm.
Mal folded her arms looking at the ice boy, “Bull shit and too much shrimp will give her gout and they have high mercury content.”
“Well we usually have a lot more fish than shrimp.”
“Mercury.”
“Shark?” he offered
“Oh, don’t let Ern hear you.”
“Whale? Seal?” he shrugged
Mal’s hand hovered over the golden hash browns. “I need practice; let’s see if I can disintegrate the potatoes and not the plate. And REALLY don’t let Ern OR Alicia hear that.” The potatoes disappear, leaving a tiny pile of what looked like ash.
Snowy chuckled while within the link she spoke, “You know she won’t give up and she gets a vote.”
“Eat what you want but when you get sick I won’t be there.” Jack walked away from the three. He headed for the fruit taking as much as he could and sat in a corner.
Mal frowned, “Hold on…did you just give her permission to eat something?”
“Yes he did, you kind of asked him to.” she grinned, “Perk of bbf’s”
“If he pulled that on me and he was my cousin, he’d be talking in a high register, about two octaves.”
Snowy stated. “It is okay, I owe him more than his spat of temper. He is just trying to protect me.”
“From potatoes,” Mal retorted, “Only dangerous potato around here is one Josh has cooked.”
“Our parents crafted our diet so we didn’t get the other one sick.”
“You have a mind link, how does the transfer sickness?” Mal raised an eyebrow.
“If we have pain we both do, the other is lesser. Unless we are in distress than we can’t hear each other but a moment last night…”she looked confused,
“Wait, if you are in distress you CAN’T hear each other?”
“Things are still changing inside as we adjust.” she tried to explain, “I could hear Jack right up till the time he was dying. When I need you to get him ice, I do not hear him he is in need of ice.”
“So, if I …” She stopped, “Ok, I can’t do much that will just hurt you without fear of actually killing you. So if Q came over and punched you in the mouth, would Jack actually FEEL it without seeing it happen?”
“No he would feel my pain and run to defend the queen and freeze Q. Ben might do worse. We feel it, we are not hurt by it and it’s in the link.”
Mal waved a hand, “No, does he bleed if you do?”
Snowy stated. “No, he is physically unharmed.”
“Okay… that was beginning to look like a bad situation. What about threats?”
“If I feel threaten, they both come to defend the Queen of course. My Dad drilled it into them. Ben not so much, he is the knight that guards the path.”
“What about you going to defend Jack?”
Snowy looked confused, “With what? I was only allowed to use the images.”
“What about the headache you threatened? What about that Command thing you did at the accident?”
“That happens when I get touched. It was only allowed on accident. I was not allowed to use them any other time. My father felt it safest if I only used our links and my images. The boys, he taught to defend me. I am able to do all my gifts, I am just not allowed. Now I am allowed, it should be interesting to learn them.” Snowy glanced toward Jack.
Jack got up walking by her, tossing her a piece of fruit. He made it to the window, looking out the window at the snow.
Nat walked up next to him looking out the window, “Planning on going out?”
“Yes,” Jack said, “I built a battle ground for us to play in. We have never had any one play the game with us. I thought it would be fun for all”
“Last night?”
“Yes.”
Nat walked over to the front door, pulling it open. There was a flat wall of snow all the way to the top of the door. “Whatever it was last night, this morning it is flat.” Nat closed the door before there was an avalanche.
“No, I can blast it clean for play. Storms are the best time to build them, they become hard. Ever been in an igloo?”
“In that cold, most of us wouldn’t last five minutes.”
Jack sighed, “I wanted to share, guess I messed up again.”
“A couple of us can take it, me, Kena, Ave, Mark.”
Jack perked up, “The game is defend the queen. We use our powers to keep her safe.”
“You know the rules then.” Nat grinned.
“If you have different rules, you want we can do that, since I don’t want any one hurt.”
“Me, Kena and Mark, against you three, who gets set up first?”
“OH, that would be a great twist.” Jack was excited about the idea, “We haven’t ever used them to actually defend her. We need Snowy to fill in with her images. I am not that artistic with the ice yet, still working on it. I’ll go clean it up. I can blast the snow out of the doorway.”
“Don’t bother … Kena?”
Kena was short, with soot black hair…as she walked to Nat, the hair burst into flame. She grinned at Jack, her eyes flaming. With a gesture, she melted a path thru the snow as Jack led her to the battle grounds.
Jack requested. “You will have to tone down the flame as not to melt the battle fields. Please.”
Nat called back into the room, “What’s the first rule of combat, Minutemen?”
From the room was a roar of voices, “THERE ARE NO RULES!”
Snowy relayed the scene to Jack as Kena rocketed into the air. Jack sighed, “Another bad idea.”
Snowy felt a pain on her chest as a blood red spot appeared. She looked at the dress. At first a wave of panic filled her till she realized it was just a paintball spat. She was not amused and anger replaced her panic.
Ben chuckled as Snowy looked at her dress. Jack frosted up, heading back to the lodge at the feel of her panic. He stopped realizing there was no danger and headed back to the battleground prepping it for future failure, adding a few extras as he went. He felt betrayed by the ones who claimed he could trust them.
Nat waved an arm and Kena landed.
Kena exclaimed, “Man, thanks for the fireproof panties and bra!”
Snowy fumed within as she head back upstairs to change. Ben dashed after her. He knew the slight changes to her expressions and what it meant.
Mark dropped out of the sky, a sniper marker slung over his shoulder.
Nat said, “You should have at least waited for her to come out.”
Mark half grinned, “No rules.”
Snowy shouted from the top of the stairs, “THE GAME HAS NOT STARTED!” She huffed and disappeared into the upper hallway.
Ben came back down to Nat. “So you want us full out power on you?”
Nat declared. “Your queen is dead.”
“Game has not started.”
“Wait, the war hasn’t started yet.” Nat shook his head. “The moment we accepted it was game on. Now if you want just a snowball fight, that’s different.”
Ben shrugged, “Okay, I’ll have her tell Jack. Jack didn’t know that. Okay we lost.”
“Point is Ben that could have been a .50 cal slug. Sure it was cheap not to tell you it started instantly but the real thing isn’t fair.”
Ben shook his head, “Not what Jack wanted to show you, since you want all that trust. We thought we were safe, guess not.”
“Well, Jack needs to come out and blast me, so I can see what he can do.” Nat informed, “I’m going to be moving to see what kind of accuracy he has. Then after he gets to try, you get to try it to.”
Ben stated dryly. “Game over, you said it.”
“No, that was combat training; this is all about powers now.”
Ben chuckled, “Not how we play.”
“Well, it is how the bad guys play. “ Nat pointed out, “All of us have powers that you haven’t ever seen. I try to introduce everyone to all the powers I can because that next Meta that tries to kill someone…we would not know his powers.”
Ben’s phone began ringing but he ignored it.
Nat suggested, “You might want to get up there and calm her down or… “
Ben shook his head as he interrupted, “Nah, I think I will go talk to Jack.” Ben headed toward the door as Nat started up the stairs.
Bell came up to Ben, “You gotta freeze your bell off…”
Ben grinned, “Nah, I like it cool like Jack but not as cold.”
“Why you goin’ out der?”
Ben frowned, “Nothing fun anymore, Nat made sure of that.” Ben headed out to the battle ground. Jack and Ben began playing in the grounds, all armored up and flying on the snow and music. Jack smile returned with the normalcy of their practice.
Nat knocked on Snowy’s door.
“Come on in Ben, the dress is on the floor.”
Nat spoke through the door, “Not Ben.”
Taking a deep breath, trying not to be upset Snowy opened the door.
First words that came from Nat’s mouth was, “I’m sorry.”
She grabbed the dress and threw it at him, “You can get the dress cleaned too.”
“It is my job to make sure you live thru anything that might happen.”
Nat caught the dress continuing, “Including an ambush.”
She went back in the room wielding her hairbrush; she brushed her already perfect hair.
“Hit me with it! Come on, use your power!” Nat demanded, “If I was coming in here to rape you or kill you, what would you do?”
“Why? So I can look foolish?”
“Come on Snowy, defend yourself! What if Ben and Jack are down? Are you mad because I embarrassed you or because I got paint on your dress?”
“I am mad at you because you destroyed the gift he was trying to make,” she spoke going quieter and quieter as her anger rose, “So you would understand us.”
“Kena destroyed some snow. I destroyed a moment. But you are destroying a chance to learn to protect yourself!” Nat demanded again, “Come on, hit me with it!”
“LEAVE!” she commanded, giving into him. Snowy started crying, throwing herself on the bed.
Nat didn’t say a word, just turned and went back down the stairs still holding the dress.
Jack and Ben stopped playing in the maze outside. Jack explained to Ben what Nat had just done.
Ben shook his head pissed, “Damn it, I should have gone to her, Sorry Jack.”
Nat got to the bottom of the stairs then grinned, turning around he ran back up the steps to the open door. “Snowy! It worked!” Nat went into her room. “You told me to leave and I couldn’t NOT leave. All I could think of was walking home. Come on; tell me to cluck like a chicken or something!”
She sat to the edge of bed, her eyes red from crying.
“Anything you can think of! Don’t tell me, just do it.”
She stared at him formulating her thoughts, “Apologize to Jack.” she commanded.
Jack rubbed his head and relayed to Ben what Snowy had done. Ben shook his head.
“Excuse me; I need to go find Jack.” Nat, still carrying the dress, bounced down the stairs again stopping to ask, “Alicia, where’s Jack?”
Alicia pointed, “About fifty meters that way.”
Nat said, “Thanks.” Nat plowed, literally through the snow.
Snowy wiped her tears and put on her parka, heading down the steps. Nat kept going straight in the direction Alicia pointed him, breaking into Jack’s maze.
Jack sighed. “Great I have to fix a wall now. Hi Nat.”
Reaching Jack, Nat dropped to his knees, “Please, please forgive me, Jack, I am so sorry.”
Ben stifled his laugh as Jack drew a deep breath, “Accepted and I apologize that she did this.”
Snowy entered the maze near them. The maze was now a frozen ruin of the once beautiful ice castle.
Nat said, “No, it was all my fault, it was a terrible, terrible thing that I did. I’ll get Mark to apologize for shooting her. Please, forgive me!”
Snowy looked around, “Wrong set up, I wanted the pit of traps.”
Jack took Nat’s hand helping him to his feet, “All is forgiven.”
“You want me to hit it for you? Will that help? Point to it! If I missed your trap, I’ll hit the next, I promise…please forgive me!”
Jack looked at Snowy glaring at her.
“Nat be yourself,” she commanded.
Nat looked up at Snowy, “You don’t understand….I am sorry…”
Snowy turned the grounds into a cavern with stone iced bridges. She moved through the maze disappearing calling out. “Let’s play.” Jack frosted up, Ben rocked out.
Nat called after them, “I’m SORRY!!”
The boys traveled on their flight paths. Snowy’s voice echoed through the field. “Apology accepted. Game on. Defend the Queen 2.0 No rules.” The castle rocked in sounds of heavy metal music. Images appeared of enemies as snow and music blasted them away.
Wren, wearing a thick parka, came up to Nat and put a hand on his shoulder,
“Snap out of it” She leaned over and kissed him.
Nat blinked “Wren?” He came to his feet as he asked, “How long?”
“About 20 minutes.”
Nat surmised. “Well, she can do more then she thought.”
Wren tucked her arm in his “I would advise her to never do that again.”
“I kind of goaded her into it.”
Wren nodded, “Yes, you did, so this time, no floor paint.”
Nat asked, “Where is she?”
Images of the queen ran through the maze as the boys blasted the enemy images chasing them.
Wren and Nat begin to float above the maze watching.
Nat observed, “So, she’s the clay pigeon.”
Wren agreed, “Like the Com Sim…”
Jack and Ben hopped up and over attacking the same target together, always positioning so the attacks never hit each other with the blasts.
Wren stared at Nat, “Your mind is running in overdrive.”
Nat commented, “And your nose is getting cold.”
The cave turned back to the castle, the ice rock pillars now columns with stone cross ways covered in ice. Jack and Ben fought a bigger monster, this one not going away as they hit it.
Nat noted, “They don’t take the Z into account.”
Wren remarked, “Maybe a rule for playing.”
Nat concluded, “Jack’s gotta do all this, means it has to be cold.”
Wren pointed out, “Look, they are having trouble with that one.”
Jack threw icicles at the thing, the monster crumbling into ice chips. He landed laughing as Ben slide in next to him grinning. Snowy appeared from nowhere next to them. The castle faded leaving the battle ground in broken ice blocks of the battle maze. Snowy waved at the two floating above as Jack began making an ice cube freezing it to another till the cubes formed an ice pillar.
The couple dropped back to the snow approaching the three.
Snowy smiled as she spoke, “This is how we play.”
“First off, Snowy that was fantastic! You effectively took me out of combat for twenty minutes.” Nat complemented her, “Twenty minutes! That is better than knocking someone out. Don’t you ever say your powers are useless again. Next, this maze thing, is a marvelous training aid! But you have to have cold for it, right?”
“No, I just have to build the obstacles, she can do it anytime.” Jack said feeling good about himself.
Nat asked. “How long can you keep it up?”
“We have played for hours, never timed it.” Jack looked at the other two both of them shrugged.
“We are testing our new powers to, so it could affect it.” Jack smiled, “Can’t wait to get them all controlled. I think I have my ice shot thing, pretty good. Should be safe to go to school.” he added with a chuckle, “Still don’t have targeting right yet.”
“Well, that’s TWO powers that are not useless, Miss King.” Nat pointed out, “What other useless powers are you hiding?”
Snowy looked confused.
Wren shivered, “I think she is turning blue.”
“You don’t want the headache.” she said.
The boys chuckled.
Nat looked at Ben, “Don’t tell me, you are used to it.”
Ben grinned, “She can try, just I am too thick headed.”
Nat “And all you ate was a little fruit. Hit me, Snowy, go ahead.”
“There was nothing else eatable.” She sighed, “I apologize in advance.” She gave him an evil stare, sent off the headache.
Nat cocked his head, “Well, I certainly feel something, on a scale of 1 to 10, ten being the worst, maybe a three or four.” Nat shrugged, “It just stuns people? I’m … um…pretty hard to stun.”
Wren smiled, “I’ve managed a time or two…”
Snowy stated. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Nat suggested, “You need to try it on someone not as…sturdy. See, now it’s all gone.”
Jack asked, “Did anyone else here get to play as children like we have?”
“The rest of us only have a few years with powers” Wren stated.
Nat added, “Only Paige comes close.”
Snowy and Jack looked at each other.
“I need to get Wren inside before she turns the rest of the way blue,” Nat said, “and Snowy, you come in and have some cocoa too.”
Ben nodded, “I got them all at once with her parents tending four years ago.”
“Ben sorry dude, you better come in too.” Nat ordered, “Maybe if I set Kena out here beside Snowy and set her on low. She could keep her warm.”
Ben didn’t question Nat, He just took position behind Snowy with Jack following suit to her front.
“You know Mark is out again,” Nat informed, “with his sniper marker.”
Wren warned, “If he gets paint on my new coat, I’ll paint him…”
Snowy disappeared. Jack laughed and the boys ran in pursuit toward the lodge
Nat held up a finger “Now that’s a great power too! We need to find out if anyone can see her like that. Thing is, Snowy, you leave foot prints.”
Jack frosted up swooping down on the prints and lifting air. Nat and Wren followed back to the lodge. Jack danced on the snowflakes to the door and landed, releasing the nothingness in his arms.
“Don’t turn visible…Snowy,” Nat said letting Wren enter first, “Okay, test time, who can see Snowy?”
Jack peeked inside, stepping in with Ben. Snowy took in count for the ones she knew were there and headed to the stairs.
One by one as Nat looked at them; they shook their head or said “No” until Alicia.
Alicia pointed right at Snowy. “She’s there.”
Snowy appeared on the staircase.
Q said, “Yes, I could see you too.” He was looking at what looked like, a game pad.
“She wasn’t a threat, so I don’t know if I could pick her up.” Rachel requested, “Could you go invisible again and try to sneak up on me and slap me?”
Carlos sounded off, “So that is how you do it?”
Snowy now took all in account, not liking it, she did as requested.
“Yes, Charlie, I can sense you coming…or at least breathing hard.” Rachel blocked her slap, “Well…then…guess my ass is safe from you too.”
The touch triggered Snowy, her mind sending forth a headache. Rachel collapsed to the floor.
Snowy reappeared as she ran. “I am sorry!”
Mari swept Snowy’s legs, Snowy landing on the couch, sending off another headache to Mari. Jack frosted up with the cold spreading out from him as he flew to Snowy grabbing her and hovered above.
Nat shouted, “STOP IT! Mari? She okay?” Mari was on the floor from her sweep, out cold. Nat grumbled, “Crap.”
Snowy was crying in Jack’s chest as he hovered.
Rachel sat up, rubbing her head “What the fuck was that? Mari?” Rachel crawled over to Mari and checked her.
Jack called down, “She doesn’t liked to be touched, or you get a headache.”
“What happened to her?” Rachel patted her on the cheek “C’mon, baby, wake up.”
Nat stepped between Rachel and Snowy, “Back down, Rachel, she’s just knocked out.”
Rachel pointed at Snowy, “Don’t you EVER do that to her again or I WILL pound you into dog meat!”
Jack landed behind Nat. “I warned you. She told Mal too. We are very sorry to hurt you. Please do not touch her without permission or she does this.”
Nat said “Rachel, she’d knock you out without you even seeing it coming, mentalist.”
Mari grabbed Rachel’s arm, “Forget it, you knocked me out harder than that, and I attacked her.”
Ben went to Jack’s side taking the crying Snowy from him. He cradled her, softly humming as he headed up the stairs with Snowy.
Rachel said, “I didn’t, a block is not an attack or Carlos would be in a full body cast.”
Nat pointed at Mari and Rachel “Room please. Everybody, disperse.” Nat gave a look as he spoke and tilted his head, “Mal.”
Jack looked like a lost puppy. He headed to the kitchen to see if they could serve their needs for lunch.
Mal followed Jack, “Powers, reflexes…scary, huh?”
“Yes, that is why one of us has to be her body guard at shoots.” He hit the wall with his fist, “It won’t happen to her again.”
“Of course she needs a bodyguard, any girl in a photo shoot should have one, even those that aren’t minors.”
“Yeah fuck closed sets.” Jack was visibly distraught, “One of us not allowed, no deal she walks.”
“This is all a misunderstanding.” Mal reassured him, “Rachel should have warned Snowy she’d block, Snowy should have warned Rachel what might happen and Mari should have held off on the leg sweep until the dust settled.”
“It was our first manifestation. She cried for my help and I had to get through that door, but he was already on the floor.” Jack was pained at the recall, “Uncle John made her promise never hurt anyone with her powers.”
Mal stated. “She hasn’t, no blood.”
“Tell that to her. She thinks everyone hates us. She won’t listen to either of us. It was an accident; she didn’t mean to do it.”
She asked. “She a telepath now?”
“No, Ben is in the room with her and I am always linked.”
Mal shook her head, “Not what I mean. How does she know everyone hates her?”
“She doesn’t and I told her you don’t. They will forgive her.”
Mal nodded, “Just like Slater.”
“That is what I told her and I really messed up. Do you know Slater can touch her? She told him about the touch.”
“Slater has a resistance to mental attacks, like Wren, Deb and Chris, I told you that.” Mal reminded him.
“But she didn’t even turn it on.” He added.
“She WAS unconscious. And Slater is not a threat to any girl…not with Alicia around.” Mal pointed out, “Like Nat … he’s so in love with Wren, he’d turn anyone down.”
“I only knew one guy, now two that can touch her.”
“You mean besides you but no girls?” she asked.
“Yeah, only Ben and Slater. Ben doesn’t have no mental stuff I know of.” he stated.
“And Rachel was a threat?” Mal considered, “Or did she just catch Snowy off guard?”
“Caught her off guard, she didn’t expect a touch. If she knew she could have controlled it. If she knows there will be a touch, she can control herself.” Jack looked at Mal, “What should I do?”
“Nat is talking to the girls, you need to assure Snowy that they aren’t going to hunt her down and kill her, or anything else stupid.” Mal continued, “Nat, had the same kind of trouble when Deb first joined. Deb’s a telepath and a sneaky one. She automatically looked into people’s minds when she met them. She doesn’t trust anyone that she doesn’t do that too. She scanned Nat then tried Wren. Wren reacted like Mari just now. And Deb was pinned to the floor by a thousand pounds of extra gravity. Everyone worked it out.”
“You think everyone knows. Was there any one missing?”
“Yeah, there were a few in their rooms.”
“Can Nat announce, not to touch her?” he asked
“I didn’t see Ern and Shannon. No, I don’t think he can.” Mal explained, “She passed out, Slater carried her without thought. What if something like that happens again and no one will; pick her up and get her to safety because they are afraid she’ll knock them out too? And if it DOES happen again, you could have two dead on your hands, her and whoever touched her.”
“We have only had the three of us, one of us was always with her.”
She pointed out. “You can’t know that for certain. What if you are both down? As close as you three stick, they only need one grenade.”
“We need to learn more than what Uncle John taught us. I understand that now. So does Snowy. But can we at least have a little fun doing it?”
“Depends on what your idea of fun is and stop trying to surprise people.”
“Nat and Wren liked it once they saw us play in it.”
“Then EXPLAIN it, otherwise Nat is going to turn it into a combat thing.”
“I just wanted to share how we grew up. No one was a child with powers.” He felt discouraged, “We played defend the queen.”
Mal pointed out, “We all weren’t as young as you but you don’t think we have some idea of what being a Meta is all about?”
“I am not sure WE know what that means. Snowy says hi.” he relayed her message and continued, “Uncle John and my parents wanted us to be able to defend our self but not hurt anyone, just escape.”
“You are training for a real battle, because someone is not going to let you escape.”
“WE will try.” Jack rolled his eyes, “Always remember if you say something to me and she’s awake, more than likely she hears it. Our link works both ways, we keep the link up always.”
“Your future girl friends are gonna hate that. So are her future boy friends.”
“Yeah they didn’t.” Jack agreed, “She’s never had one. You are her first bf.”
Nat walked up to Jack, “You feel like experimenting?”
Jack looked away from Mal, “Sure thing! I just have to see if they could get us some real food to eat for lunch. But I have ideas I wasn’t allow to try!”
Mal said, “You keep talking real food. That IS real food. What kind of diet do you need?”
Jack listed off, “No processed food, no chemical additives, No commercial bread or flour, no fried foods, no dairy, no red meats, fresh fruits and veggies, and anything caught in water, extra virgin olive oil is allowed if no additives.”
Mal smiled, “Well, sounds pretty dull on a date. I’ll have the rice cakes and a tomato.”
Jack chuckled, “No they ordered what they wanted. I don’t mind others eating what they want, just our parents thought it best to be careful. Why change what works?”
Mal started to say something but changed her mind.
“Snowy called them my dates. Mal can you order some lunch for us special, I really want to go with Nat. Snowy is studying, so she won’t bother me.”
Mal looked at him and started to say something again but instead turned walking off.
“What did I say wrong this time?” Jack looked confused.
“Mal can you order some lunch for us special. She CAN do that, doesn’t mean she will, and I didn’t hear a please.” Nat stated, “That sounded like an order given to a waitress.”
“That’s not how I meant it. I know shut up and do it myself. Don’t talk, don’t ask, just do it myself.” he entered the kitchen to make his request, hoping he could get it right.
Nat commented, “Your social skills seem to be geared more toward two other people. Do you automatically obey each other’s demands like that?”
“Yes.” he looked for hat would be the chef.
Nat shook his head, “Get ready for a few rude comments in the future.”
Jack looked confused.
Nat called to a man “Chief?”
Chief responded, “Ya, whatcha need.”
Nat pointed at Jack.
Jack smiled, “I was wondering if you could cater to mine and my cousin’s dietary needs for lunch.”
Chief nodded, “What you need, kid?” The man pulled a pad and pencil out of his shirt pocket, “Write it down.”
Jack wrote the restrictions down and what they were allowed. He handed it back to the man. “If it is possible of course and Thanks in advance.” Jack looked at Nat hoping that was polite enough.
“So what do you want me to try?” he asked Nat. Jack thought, “I guess I should apologize to Mal to.”
Chief looked over the list then at Jack “Sorry, kiddo, but any fish is going to be frozen, the storm killed out fresh deliveries and we bake our own bread but we use regular flour. On a gig like this with this kitchen, nothing is out of a can. So the only thing processed is bacon.”
“That’s okay we will survive, thank you anyways.” Jack tried not to make a face. “I am sure we can survive on what is available till we get home. Thank you again for the information.”
Nat sighed, “Thanks chief.”
Jack stepped out of the kitchen he shook his head mumbling, “Shut up, I tried.”
Nat put a hand on Jack’s shoulder and steered him out of the kitchen, “So, you like spit in your food?”
“We’ll survive on what’s available?” Jack rubbed his forehead, “He said he didn’t have anything we could eat. Okay Snowy gets her way.”
“Why don’t you just slap him and get it over with?” Nat asked.
“I will leave it to Ben next time. I shouldn’t try to do his job.”
“You say ‘thanks Chief, for anything you can do, I am sure it will be wonderful’ not ‘we’ll survive’. You’re gonna get squirrel stew, you know, ROAD kill squirrel.”
Jack shrugged, “I can’t eat squirrel.”
“All you’re gonna get. Just saying. He might stuff it with a few pine nuts, probably with the pine cone still on it.” Nat teased, “Melted snow…maybe leftover bear… Hey! Maybe some nice beaver tail, I hear that’s really good… Sliced thin, fried, in a pita pocket. Heard you like whale.”
Jack face was blank as he started to walk away.
“God, you have no sense of humor, do you? Fine, Ave what to have a war with you.”
“I’ll get snowy.” he started heading for the front door.
“Just you,” Nat said, “She wants to test her powers against yours.”
Jack half asked. “She is the water girl?”
“Yes, Moana, means Ocean.”
“I have never battled against anyone. It should be interesting, can I bring Ben?”
“Only as an observer, Snowy too.”
Jack passed Ben still without a smile. Ben chased after him, seeing he was upset. Snowy started down the stairs with her Parka on, equally upset.
As they pass through the common room, Ave popped to her feet and joined them
“I never thought much about snow and stuff, no snow in Samoa. Hey I gonna try something…”
Jack just walked outside, Snowy following him.
Ben sighed, “Well this is not going to be the play we do.”
Ave hopped off the porch and as soon as her bare feet hit the snow in rose up in a wave. “Cool!!” She rode the snow wave around the parking area.
Snowy stated to Nat. “At least let us have fun with this!”
Nat answered, “Ave wants to see how her powers work with Jack.”
Jack stopped and looked at Snowy crossed. Ave landed in front of them grinning. The two took on faceless expressions. Ben eyed the two, trying to figure out what was wrong. Ave ran further out into the parking area.
“Come on, Jack! Surf the ice!” Ave spun around, arms wide. She gestured like she was throwing something, a ball of snow popped up and flew at Jack.
Jack ignored her, till they reach the grounds. Ave gestured again and a snowball hurled at him from behind.
Snowy asked. “So you want him to attack her right?”
The sky started to darken as snow fall as Jack made the weather change. He frosted up and slid into the maze away from them all.
Ave made a wide sweeping gesture with her hands and the snow swirled into a huge snowflake. She laughed, “Snow is cool!!”
Snowy stated under her breath, “This is ruining my maze.”
Ben whispered to her, “Yeah they don’t understand the fun.”
Jack hit her with an entangle forming an ice block on her feet, as he came up from an ice pillar, than ducked back down and moved through the maze.
“I wanted to see if my water powers affected snow, it seems that it does. I wanted to see what kind of things Jack can do, to give me ideas of how to use my powers.” Ave said, “I was hoping that maybe, I might be able to show him something he can use. If you think I’m going to chase him thru a maze he designed, you wrong. You ready for this, Jack? What the objective in your game?”
Snowy said, “All of us have one mission. Attack the monsters and protect the Queen. We have never had any real people to fight. It was a way we learned to control our powers, and we had a blast doing it. This!” she pointed at the field. “This is not fun. It ruined it.”
Ave looked confused “What ruined it?”
Ben rocked out as Snowy stared at the ruined Ice castle.
“What is this?” Ave asked.
“This is our battlefield. You want to be a monster or defend the queen?” she asked. “No attacks that can kill and no more them 30 feet up.”
“All I wanted to do was test my powers on snow, that doesn’t include playing tag in someone else’s maze.” Ave was disappointed, “Are the walls of your maze nice and solid? Frozen hard?”
“With your powers, probably not.” Snowy said, “They are frozen hard.”
There was a rumble up the slope and a cascade of snow hurled down at them, as it got closer it funneled its way into the entrance of the maze. Inside the maze the snow filled up every corner, popping Jack up. Jack started to freeze the snow reinforcing his design. Ben swooped down grabbing Icy lifting her into the air.
The snow reversed, flowing back out and up the hill. The maze was still intact.
“I found him, what do I win?” Ave said with a smile.
Jack presented her with an ice rose. Ave held up a hand and a miniature waterspout formed. Jack tried to freeze the flowing water.
“You want to play games?” Ave spun it down into a puddle at her feet. Jack entangled her feet in a block of ice.
“Ice is water, water can be ice but water is my element in any form.” Ave proclaimed, “You can freeze it, but I still tell it what to do.”
Nat said, “Ave.”
Ave looked at him, “Yeah?”
“How big was the snow wave you made?”
Ave shrugged, “I dunno, a couple kilometers.”
Nat responded, “I think we had better go up there and see how much stuff you just destroyed. ON ALL, Alicia, scan up slope for anything in distress. Kena, you and Shannon got to dig out whatever Alicia finds out. Deb, quick scan up slope, look for building, that kind of stuff. Ern, you get in the air to. Fuji, give us some clear air, anything coming?”
Fuji spoke over the comm, “The upper air is still from the north but the ground is calm for now.
Nat ordered over the comm, “Okay, everyone else, stay warm.”
Ben looked at Jack as Snowy whispered to Ben, “Take me back.”
Nat explained, “We are going to go look for trapped and injured people or animals, Jack, you can help since you are like me and immune to the cold.”
Jack replied his voice flat, “Yes sir.” He lifted straight up and danced out towards where the snow had came.
Alicia was reeling off a list, range, direction, and of animals caught in the snow. Kena and Shannon were flying from spot to spot with Ern helping.
Deb reported, “No people in the area stupid enough to be out in this cold. Got one cabin? Got wiped.”
Ave snow surfed up the slope to where Shannon was trying to dig up a deer. “Just point me, Alicia.” Ave parted the snow, freeing the deer.
Shannon smiled, “Thanks, Ave.”
Jack searched the drifts as he heard Alicia on the earwig, “To your left, Jack, about ten meters.” Jack speed to the area. “Watch out, it’s a bobcat and he’s pissed. Kena, left about 30 meters, Squirrel. Jack entangled the cat and pulled it out setting it on top of the snow than releasing it. “Jack, deer, a buck, about 200 meters north of you.” Jack headed to the deer.
Deb informed “I see it! I’ll hover over it!”
Alicia responded, “He can’t see you, Deb.”
Deb asked, “His mind link doesn’t let him see me?”
Alicia spoke to Jack, “There, you are right under her and on top the deer. Jack, this one’s down about 20 feet.”
Jack circled behind the deer blowing a path clear before it. He landed in the 20 feet deep path, hand digging the deer out.
Ave came to help him and parting the snow. “I guess I’ll stay out of snow.”
They spent about an hour bouncing around the area pulling up everything from squirrels to a moose.
Nat sounded over the earwig, “Main room EVERYONE”
Jack flew back with the rest.
Ave was the last to come in, “Sorry guys, snow doesn’t work the same as water…the animals in the ocean can swim. I didn’t think about that.”
Jack stood bodyguard style next to Snowy. Ben chatted with those around him.
Everyone was assembled when Nat started to talk, “Everyone look around. Jack look around, you, Ben and Snowy won’t recognize what I am talking about.” He began to point at people “Red, red, red, red, red, red, red … white, white white, white … teams,” Nat pointed at Jack then Snowy, then Ben, then Ave. “Not a team, officially. Ave come up here.”
Wren added, “We are naturally segregating ourselves.”
Nat put his arm around her shoulder, she was looking like she was on the verge of tears, “No one got hurt and nothing died. So this was a learning opportunity. It also let us work as a single team. You, and Jack, no team, Alicia, Kena, White, Ern, Shannon, Red. No more practice, no more tests, no more powers for the rest of the time we are here. Those of you who can, keep them off. Snowball fights, sledding, skiing, cards, movies, books, talking, BOARD games… Fuji.”
Fuji grumbled and turned off her PSP.
“You too Q.” Nat looked at him.
Jack glanced back across to where Snowy sat with her book in her lap.
“No powers, Oh…and NO hiding in your rooms,” Nat caught Jack’s look then added to Snowy “No teaching him through your link, turn it off if you can.”
Neither said a word. Snowy spoke to Jack in his link, “That will never happen.”
Q got up and crossed the room to a chess table’ “Who’s up for a game?”
Fuji piped up, “Me!
Wren suggested, “Pulp fiction anyone?”
Josh rolled his eyes, “That’s so old!”
Zach added, “But look at all the blood!”
Jack went to Mal handing her an ice rose and said, “Sorry for not saying please, forgive me.”
Mal accepted the rose, “You know these make a puddle.”
“Great for stirring drinks with.” Jack smiled looking into her eyes.
Bell went over to Ben and almost dragged him off into a corner, where she had her guitar. She ran through a number of pieces of music, asking his opinion of each. Ben grinned and talked away to the ebony princess.
Ave approached Snowy, “Would you like to play something? Monopoly?”
Snowy shook her head no, she didn’t want to admit she had no idea what she wanted to play. Ave looked dejected but walked off.
Wren went to Snowy and took a seat, “What are you reading?”
“Bio-chemistry second year, I need to refresh my memory on it,” she stated, her fear rising. She tried to focus on the book but it all within her to control herself.
“Sounds, scintillating.” Wren commented.
“It is fascinating.” she turned a page, not actually able to focus on the words.
“Where are you hoping to go with your modeling?”
“Where ever the dream takes me, till the dream changes.” Snowy said, avoiding eye contact seemed to help her with her fear.
“Not very precise. Runway, print, video, acting?”
“I have done runway, pageants, talent shows, never thought about acting but no video’s till the band is reformed.” she stated, she felt rather proud of herself with holding this conversation and not calling for Jack’s aid. “Did a lot of clothing ads too.”
Wren asked, “You like travel?”
“We use to travel all over the world with our parents.” Snowy said, “There are some places we will never go back because of the company.”
“Europe is the place to go, but Warren will help you get coverage for now.
You wear clothes very well.”
“Thank you for the number, but if my body guards are not let in, I leave.” Snowy tried to look up but fear kept her eyes on the book, “I hope you understand.”
“And you have a sweet look several photographers I know are looking for.”
Wren’s eyes grew hard, “If anyone tells you that you cannot have someone with you, you had better walk! Pierre, right?’
Snowy said. “We have learned that already.”
Wren shook her head, “He has been after me for a year now. I may have to make floor pain of him.” Wren sighed, “But I am not allowed.”
“NO Jack, No Ben, I don’t go. Rule 12.”
Wren suggested, “You take Nathaniel one time, they’ll think a few times about doing anything that annoys you in the least. He can look most menacing if required.”
Snowy turned the page.
“I see you are busy, perhaps a discussion of you future modeling plans can wait for another time.”
“It is not that I am busy,” she closed the book. “I am uncomfortable.”
Wren asked, “Why? Other than a totally bizarre set of people throwing weird powers about.”
Jack returned to Snowy summons. Snowy replied, “That is one of the many.”
“Explain,” Wren said.
Snowy looked to Jack and he shook his head no to her.
Wren reminded, “No powers”
Snowy stood up handing Jack her book, “If you would excuse me I need the ladies room.”
Wren stood, “Of course. I believe the movie is about to start. Excuse me.”
Snowy headed to the stairs as Jack found a corner to sit in.
Mal came over to Jack, sitting next to him. Jack placed his hand on top of Mal’s squeezing it.
Mal asked. “So what’s wrong?”
“It’s over whelming.” he sat with his stone face looking over the room.
“Which one?’
He looked at her, “Take your pick.”
“Well, that sure clears up the mud.”
“No, it doesn’t.” He wanted to say more and she could tell it but he said, “You know the only time wasting thing we ever did was when me and Ben played video games.”
“God, I thought Chris was bad.”
“I think the TV did work but we never turned it on except for the video games.”
Jack scanned the room watching the people.
“Can’t fix something if we don’t know what’s wrong.”
“I should have brought my guitar too. Probably would have forgotten it.”
Mal commented. “Music is just an escape.”
“No music is the dream,” he took a shallow breath, “My only dream.”
“Has to suck having such a narrow vision.”
“I’m not as smart as Snowy, definitely not as attractive. I hated doing shoots with her. I had to find my passion. I don’t see it as narrow, just like you have the passion of your art. It is amazing gift.” he wished she could understand but it was obvious none of them did. “Would you give your passion up, just because some else didn’t understand?”
“Where was it mention to give up anything?” Mal asked.
“No where, just looking down the road.” he shook his head. No they did not mention it but expected it was his thought. “Would you please come with me to get Snowy, before they miss her?”
Mal informed him. “They already do. At least ten are waiting for her to come back, curious if she will bother.”
“She will be more sociable now. She had to paint her fake on.”
“So, time for the show, huh?”
“In a manor, yes. We were trying to let you see the real.” Jack hurt inside but did not let it show, “Another bad idea I had.”
Mal quoted. “So, inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking but my smile still stays on.”
“Yes. She will play to the room now.”
“And they will see right through it. Kena, Bell, Wren, especially Kena and Bell, act like they don’t care… Wren’s all ice queen … they’ll recognize the likes.”
Jack nodded as he informed Snowy and spoke to Mal, “Plan B then.”
“There are too many people for you to cope with.” Mal was starting to understand.
“Unless, we are singing.” He stated, “Crowds don’t bother us than.”
“Yeah, that’s because you don’t have to interact with individuals. Why did Snowy virtually ignore Wren when she was trying to get her to talk about modeling? That’s Snowy’s dream, right? No one in this room can relate to that like Wren but Snowy read her book instead.”
“You ever seen how models, back stab each other to climb over each other?” Jack could not betray Snowy’s secret though he wanted to.
Mal leaned close, “Wren will NEVER be a model, her mother was Saundra, a supermodel that was murdered. So if anyone knows how models are, it’s her. Her mother ignored her because Wren beat her on the FHM top 100 two years in a row.
Ask her about catty, backstabbing models or in her case, mothers.”
“She does appreciate the clothes and the number and the lawyer but is waiting for the catch.” he furrowed his brow, “She is trying. I told her to be real.”
“Wren will not approach her again. You don’t know Wren, there isn’t a damn thing in the world she will ever want from Snowy, or you or Ben.” Mal became defensive.
“I mess everything up.” Jack placed his head into his hand elbows on his knees.
“Not a damn thing.” Mal stood, “Me either, nobody in this room is trying to get anything from you, except maybe a chance to get to know you but after a while, people will give up on even that.”
Jack nodded as he stood up, before he could get anywhere Snowy came down, in a different outfit.
Mal advised him. “Fucking go watch a movie. Eat popcorn without telling everyone you can’t, have a coke, roast a marshmallow. Lighten the fuck up!”
“I will try.” Jack headed off, stopping to look at what each were doing and entered the movie area and sat.
As he sat, the movie began, followed quickly by a muttered “I’ll flatten you, Josh” from Wren….the movie is Sirocco, not Pulp Fiction. Jack leaned back, watching the flashes but his mind a million miles away, forcing himself to stay.
Josh provided a running commentary on the movie, announcing every time the male star came on the screen. Someone passed a bowl of popcorn to Jack. Josh threw popcorn at the villain.
“This is NOT Rocky Horror,” Wren observed.
Jack passed the bowl on.
Josh grinned, “Nope, worst, it took itself serious!”
Wren smiled back, “And made five hundred million dollars.”
Snowy entered the lobby, heading toward Ben.
Bell watched Snowy approach “Whatchu lookin’ so fine fo?”
“One must do what is expected of you,” Snowy said sounding unusually sweet.
Bell snorted, “You so fulla shit, girl! Don’t do nuffin’ people ‘spect of you!”
“Well if they don’t like the real me, what else am I suppose to do?” she asked Bell.
“Only ting people spect on me is attitude…so I gives them plenty…cuz its fun,”
Bell lowered her voice, “Fuck ’em and don’t think twice about what anyone else thinks of you.”
“Well than if I am to fun!” She smiled, “Ben girls just wanna have fun.”
Ben started playing. Jack heard the summons and quickly exited the boring movie, joining the two with a smile. Snowy started singing the song with Ben, Jack sliding to her side in a duet. The two danced around the whole room singing in pure joy and passion.
Bell shook her head “You really gotta pick sumpin from this generation…”
Paige turned her head, “What’s that?” She started to watch them.
Mari leaned over to Paige, “A really old rock song, before I was born.” She jumped up and grabbed Rachel’s hand. “Dance, woman!” The pair of them join in and singing along. Mari grinned, changing form into Cyndi Lauper.
Ben laughed and started playing celebration.
The words rang out through the lodge, “CELEBRATION TIME COME ON!” Snowy bumped hips with the dancing girls as she sang, Ben and Jack the back up. Snowy danced up and down the stairs as her voice rang out. Bell picked up her guitar and took up the tune. Jack started dancing with Snowy with Snowy at the base of the stair case, twirling her as they sang, never missing a word or a note.
Paige joined in with the dance struggling to keep up. Jack slide up to Paige dancing with her, twirling her around.
Wren walked from the movies with Nat and looked to him, “Nathaniel…I believe it is time to dance.” The giant surfer took her to the dance area and they joined them.
Carin dragged Mark out to dance. He looked a lot like a broke white guy trying to dance. Josh ran around the room playing popcorn fairy, tossing it everywhere.
Nat grinned, “At least it isn’t jelly beans this time.”
Next Snowy sang Beyoncé’s Naughty girl.
Cyndi Lauper grabbed Carlos, “Girls just wanna have FUN!”
Bell remarked “too late, Girls just wanna have fun!
Jack paused, “We take requests!”
Snowy turned to a slow dance while Ben headed to his room leaving his guitar with Jack.
“It’s amazing how you can speak right to my heart without saying a word you can light up the dark. Try as I may I could never explain what I hear when you don’t say a thing.” Snowy sang with her invisible band accompanying her. “The smile on your face lets me know that you need me. There’s a truth in your eyes saying you’ll never leave me. A touch of your hand says you’ll catch me if ever I fall. Now you say it best when you say nothing at all.”
Ben came back with a horn as the Macarena started. Snowy sang on, full of life, “Dale a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena Que tu cuerpo es pa’ darle alegria y cosa buena Dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena Hey, Macarena.”
The two sung and danced about ten lively songs before taking a rest. Ben headed out for fruit. Ben goes to Nat with oranges and two empty glasses.
“Nat, If you would so kindly, with that mighty grip would mind squeezing the life out these. Be appreciated.”
“Ben, if that was a chunk of coal it would end up a diamond. Since it isn’t, you aren’t going to get juice just pulp besides you need at least four oranges per glass.”
“Just wanted to give them a quick pick me up. We got to get back to the music before the room goes cold.”
“I warned you.” Nat took an orange, “Hold the glass unless you want that broke too.”
Ben held the glass under the orange.
The orange acted just like a submarine a mile below crush depth. It merely collapsed, juice squirting out from between Nat’s fingers like 1200 PSI steam. The glass’s bottom goes ‘plink’ and shattered.
Nat groaned, “Crap, I hit anyone?” Wren pointed up at the moose head, one of the eyes is missing. “Okay, no more orange squeezing for me.”
“Thank you for trying.” He looked back at Snowy and Jack drinking water.
Josh was laughing, “He warned you.”
Nat went off to rinse his hands.
Carlos appeared holding two tall, iced glasses of orange juice.
“Thanks bro,” Ben accepted them and took them to Jack and Snowy.
Bell called out, “Hey Ben.”
“What’s up Bell?” he asks as he walked to the piano where she sat.
“You guys know Zoot Suit Riot from Cherry Poppin’ Daddies?” Bell softly played the tune.
“Ooooh Yeah,” Ben smiled at her.
“I got piano but it needs sax, drums and a guitar. Need you ta sing, Ben, ain’t no girl song.”
Snowy and Jack put the glasses down. Jack picked up the guitar, while Snowy without thought made all the other instruments play to back up Bell.
Ben put down his horn down and started bellowing out the song as he took center in front of the cousins.
Nat went back to where was Wren waiting for him, arms crossed and tapping her foot. He grabbed Wren’s hand they take off swing dancing. As they dance, Nat crooked a finger to Alicia…she joined in with Nat dancing with both. Slater watched Alicia with a dopey grin. Nat ended with a girl under each arm. “That’s dancing.” he commented.
“We take requests,” Jack says again,
Bell went picking up a guitar and started playing Sultans of swing. Snowy sat down sipping the juice as Nat went back to dancing with both girls but Alicia pulled Slater out. Carlos pulled Mari out.
“Come on Ben, you go the bass, give us Disturbed’s Sounds of Silence,” Bell called as she went back to the piano and picks up the tune, this time the music coming from her to accompany.
Ben began, “Hello darkness, my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains. Within the sound of silence.”
All the right instruments faded in.
Bell complained “Why ain’t I got a guys voice!”
“You balls didn’t drop!” crowed Carlos.
Bell threw a pick at him, “Mind me punch you later.” She held up her hand “Okay, ya ain’t gonna believe this shit!” She slapped Carlos in the chest with her guitar, “Play it, Streak”
Carlos, the terror of female asses all over the world, blushed, “I can’t do that.”
Bell leaned over and kissed him VERY lightly, “Bet you can.”
Carlos’ eyes grew huge and his sat, his fingers plucking the strings slowly,
Bell looked around the room stating, “Y’all shut up now.”
Slowly Carlos picked out a line or two, and after the last note, began a hard strumming Spanish Flamenco. Snowy and Jack started dancing to it. The group stood in a surprised shocked.
Nat whispered to Wren “Shall we?”
Wren grinned “Are you asking me if I wish to dance? Silly boy.”
“ACK!! FOOD!!” Josh called out as the wait staff started bringing in lunch.
Jack and Snowy turned their heads looking and hoping as they eyed what was there. One table was laid out with the types of food Jack asked for. Snowy rushed that table like she hadn’t seen food in weeks. Jack took a plate taking a sampling of all. Snowy loaded her plate.
Mal sighed in relief, “Thank god, her stomach growling keeps me awake!”
Nat commented, “Maybe we should get her a scoop shovel.”
Wren teased, “Nathaniel that was very unkind. We only have snow shovels.”
Ben loaded up on the beef and chicken as Snowy went back for seconds, on her seafood selection.
Mal joined Jack and Snowy asking, “Better?”
Snowy nodded trying not to talk with her mouth full.
“Very much so, thank you.” Jack cooled the food as he ate it.
Chief looked down the list “No dairy.”
Snowy suggested, “Maybe we can take a plate up to my room for later.”
Mal agreed, “If it shuts your stomach up, I’ll bring two.”
Jack chuckled, “Better make it three.” Snowy finished her second helping and patting the napkin on her lips.
“Have you … never mind. Jack, you like sorbet?” questioned Mal.
“I have never had it. It is not on the okay list. Does it have sugar in it?” he queried.
“Only whatever is natural in fruit, in this case, strawberries or orange. Some sweetener is added if the fruit is sour, like lemon, but that would be honey, not refined sugar.”
Snowy said out loud, “One bite couldn’t hurt much.”
Jack considered, “If it’s just frozen fruit. I guess I can try it.”
The wait staff wheeled out an ice cream bar filled with ice cream and sorbet flavors of strawberry, orange, lemon, key lime, and banana. Jack picked out strawberry to try as the rest of the teams lined out picking out theirs.
Snowy studied the kitchen crew carefully. She bypassed the cart and approached one of the wait staff.
The soldier looked at the hot young girl just standing by him staring and said politely, “Ma’am?”
“Could you please tell the chief that the food he prepared us was beyond wonderful and say thank you, for us.” Snowy smiled at the guy
“Yes, ma’am, you are very welcome.” He beamed a smile back. “What would you like?”
“I just want the message sent. My dad served in the Army. He always wanted us to thank those who serve. I’m Snowy.” she offered him her hand.
He was slightly flustered but took her hand not quite knowing what to do with it or say. They had their orders but the orders didn’t cover this.
“Thank you for your service. What’s your name?” she asked
“Jeremy,” he managed to say.
“I’ll see you around Jeremy, after all we are all stuck here till it thaws.”
“Um, yeah…sure!”
Snowy went to the food table by passing the ice cream, once again. She took a few more pieces of the seafood from the table and sat back down. Snowy stated, “He is interesting.”
Jack just glared at her. Snowy ate her food, unaffected by his glare or the words he spoke in her head.
Mal asked, “What do you think, Jack?”
Jack took another bite grinning, “Tastes good.”
Snowy added, “Eat all I promise. If he gets ill it’s off the list for both of us. I will try it tomorrow, if he is fine.” She watched the wait staff looking to see if Jeremy was around.
Her eyes followed him as he was clearing. He caught her watching him but pretended not to.
Jack finished the dish. “I think we need to get ready for our next set, Snowy.” Snowy looking at him and huffed, standing up heading to the staircase and ascending up.
“Wish she would stop doing this,” Jack said to Mal.
Mal stated, “Next set? Full bellies and all that dancing before, even meta humans have limits, Jack.”
“We have to plan what we want in it. Bell and Ben should know the crowd by now.” he said. Jack looked at Jeremy, “What makes him special Mal?”
“Who?”
“That guy over there, Snowy has shown interest.” he says, “She only bothers with what she finds interesting.”
Mal looked the guy over, “Not bad, except for the hair cut and maybe a little too old for her. Has she shown an interest in a guy before?”
“No.”
Mal shook her head, “I could ask Deb about him but that would be wrong.”
“But you are the first female she trusted and became bf’s, that’s why you our bbf. She is trying out so many things, it’s hard to pick up after her. She had numbers from you that I didn’t know about. She’s changing way more, way to fast. I don’t understand.” he looked confused.
“Mentalists are hard to define. We are still setting up ground rules.
Jack…”
“Yes?”
Mal could see his confusion, “She is growing up, girls do that. You’ll reach a point where nothing she does makes any sense to you.”
He shook his head, “This last changing, did just that.”
“Only way you’ll figure it out is to talk to her…and then…you’ll still be lost.”
Jack eyed the guy again, sighing, “So what should we do till they decide on the music?”
“Well, usually about now, I would go over there, or someplace like it and read, with Shannon and Ern.” Mal pointed to a quiet little nook in the corner.
“Well let me escort you there,” He stood up offering her his arm.
“Actually, I need to visit the room right now.”
He bowed his head in understanding and watched her head up the stairs. His heart saddened as she turned the corner.
Jack wandered into the main room. He shouted out, “NON power SNOWBALL FIGHT IN THE MAZE anyone who wants to.” He ran to the door, and then flew to the maze. Moving through the maze he piled stacks of snowballs every few feet and even made them on the arches and atop the columns. Josh, Zach, Carlos, Mark and Q hustled after coats and gloves.
Mari asked, “What do you think?”
Rachel was reluctant, “Pretty cold out there.”
“Cocoa after,” coaxed Mari.
Rachel hesitated, “I don’t know.”
Mari stated, “Come on, no one is gonna ever come close to hitting you!”
Rachel shrugged, “True, until my nose starts running then I’ll be in for the day.” The two headed off for their coats.
Nat started to push his way up from the couch he was sharing with Wren. She put her feet in his lap. “I refuse to get frost bite.”
Jack turned the ear wig on to all. “Not sure how to just get the snowball players, can everyone else please turn this thing off?”
“You kidding? How else am I gonna tell you how lame you are? Besides girls like to talk!” Mari remarked over the comm.
“First time using this thing, Mal said you just say ‘off’. I only wish to bother the players.” Jack explained.
Mari explained, “Ya gotta COMMAND in, homes. Yeah, saying off doesn’t’ work.”
Rachel ordered. “No super speed, Charlie!”
“Screw that!” Carlos replied.
Mark added. “Then I can fly, right?”
Jack informed, “Map to maze is at the entrance, carved in the wall, field has ammo all over. Game on. Gee Mark, what’s the first rule of the minute men?”
The snowball perused, snow flying and hitting everywhere till every snowball was spent. Rachel was untouched throughout the whole thing. Mark took more hits than Jack. Mari spent the whole game stalking and taking shots at Rachel. Everyone but Jack was cold.
Jack sat down laughing. “Now that is how to play.”
Mari commented, “I think a nipple snapped off…” She pulled open her coat and looks. “I think it got caught in my bellybutton!”
Rachel remarked, “You have an outie and my nose is running”
Carin warned, “Mark you had best warm up your hands before you come near me!”
Jack stayed behind watching them leave. Making new snowball piles, he felt good about his self being in his element of the snow and cold. Though he was happy, he wondered how long it would last. This place and these people kept sending him on an emotional rollercoaster. He longed for home and the stable happiness they had enjoyed their whole life.
Nat instructed as the group returned, “Bell, get with Ben, talk, share. Deb, Slater, Snowy, talk, share, figure out the laws of the mentalist. You guys ARE the mentalist experts.”
Slater laughed, “We are the only ones.”
Nat pointed out, “So far! Jack, Ave, can I talk to you two?” he looked around than noticed Jack was not in the group coming back. “Alicia, where’s Jack now?”
“He is still at the maze,” she informed him.
“ON JACK “Nat roared, “You going to sleep out there? Need a pillow or something?”
“I am just replenishing the ammo at the moment. I ‘m coming.” Jack headed back to the lodge, looking back at his maze wishing for just a little more time.
Ben kept talking music with Bell and with a few changes to pieces to extend her solos.
Snowy followed Slater and Deb, she was scared to death of this female but Slater was there and it put her slightly at ease.
Deb spoke up as they walked, “I finally get to met y’all up close, I’m Deb, Seer”
“Nice to meet you.” Snowy said with no expression on her face, “Are you the one who is a telepath?”
Deb confirmed, “Yes.”
“Can you teach me how?” she asked.
“Ah, I really don’t know. I can try I guess. Nat didn’t tell you about me, did he?”
Snowy said matter of factly. “I have been told so much. My head wants to explode.”
Deb laughed, “Ya, they were pretty overwhelming when I came. I met ’em all in one day too. Took time. Let me show ya a couple things or not show you in this case.”
“I had to deal with that the first day of public school this year.” Snowy grew more uncomfortable as she forced herself to speak, “I did not like it than either.”
Deb offered Slater her hand and he took it, the two vanished. A second later they were back. Snowy disappeared.
“Saw you disappear too. “ Deb said, “Can you take someone with you?”
Snowy reappeared, “I don’t know.”
Slater offered her a hand “try.” Snowy paused before she touched his hand, trying to take him too. Slater didn’t disappear but he said, “I can’t even feel her hand. I know I am holding it.” Snowy reappeared letting his hand go and stepping back. Slater suggested, “Let’s sit, this could take a while.” He gestured to a couch and arm chair, allowing them to take their choices first.
Deb waited for Snowy to decide. Snowy took the chair, adjusting her dress to lay photo perfect.
Slater sat on the couch close to Snowy and Deb sat at the other end, tucking her socked feet up under her.
“Show her the Link, Deb.”
Deb nodded, “Okay, see you on the other side, Slater.” Deb looked at Snowy, “This is a huge trust thing. If you close your eyes or not, you will see a small light coming toward you, that’s me.”
Snowy’s fear rose in an instant as she declined, “No.” She jumped up, heading for the door.
“When it gets close…” Deb was taken aback by the action, “No?”
Slater shouted, “IT IS NOT TELEPATHY! Let her finish…son of a bitch.”
Deb commented, “Worse them me …”
Slater remarked, “You never quite ran …”
Snowy’s hand was on the knob when she looked back, “I can’t let you.” She opened the door.
Deb yelled, “IT IS A MIND LINK! Jesus, who the fuck messed with this girl?”
“But what if you hurt Jack!” Snowy concern was easy to read.
Slater raised an eyebrow.
Deb spoke agitated. “Everyone but Alicia has been in the link, not one was hurt and Jack can come in too.”
“He will be because we are always linked.” Snowy was afraid the link could hurt him or damage the link Jack shared but they didn’t seem to care.
“My link might not even notice yours,” Deb hissed, “For fuck sake.”
“Deb, give her a break” Slater said.
Deb commanded, “Slater, come in”
Slater agreed, “Ok, in.”
Deb asked, “Did it hurt? Can I read your thoughts?”
Slater answered, speaking out loud, “No and no, I know you can’t read me. I bet you can’t read Snowy either…
Snowy mind was somewhere else as the two talked to her. She spoke to Jack in the link, trying not to run. She held her position at the door to run.
“Fuck!” Deb leaned back in the couch and closed her eyes.
Snowy took a deep breath and stated, “I am not ready for anyone to touch my mind. Nat said we didn’t have to allow it.” She sat back down in the chair.
Deb opened her eyes, “I am the Seer, you know why? Because I can project my point of view out of my body, WAY out. And through MY link, show you what I see and hear. In MY link you can talk to as many as eight at once, so far. In MY link EVERYTHING has to be verbalized, like talking on a radio but without the radio. I can invite Jack in, I can invite the dog in. When I send it to you, it appears as a light, you go to it and open it like a door, then you are in. If you want out, leave. I can’t hold you or deter you.”
“Nat said I do not have to let you in. I am uncomfortable with it at this time.” Snowy held her voice even, “Please forgive me for upsetting you.”
“Wren trusted me after I invaded Nat’s mind and she tried to crush me.” Deb gruffly pointed out, “Without this link, you won’t see my other power and I haven’t gotten to telepathy yet. So, I got nothing for you. I can’t teach you shit unless you are willing to try things.”
“I am sorry. I do wish to see but not till I am comfortable with it. Surely you can understand my fears.” she asked.
Deb stared at her, “How about I invade your mind right now?”
Jack jumped up. “Deb is going to hurt SNOWY!!” He frosted up to fly to her side. Nat snagged Jack in his arms, holding him back as he struggled to get free.
Snowy stare became evil as her angry rose, all she wanted to do was blast her for trying to force her to do what she did not wish to do.
Deb sat back, “Because I can’t. You’re like Slater, or Wren, or Chris, a blank wall. I can’t befuddle you, or blind you or mind lock you, nothing. I guess I could slap the shit out of you but I’d miss. I got nothing to give out a headache. My job is scout and coordination. I can go into a fuckin’ volcano and show everyone. No one gets hurt, not even warm but without the link, it does no good.”
“I am not going to be bullied into letting you in my mind.” The stare left as Snowy calmed, “I am uncomfortable with it at this point.”
Deb shrugged, “Your choice, like I said, I can’t force shit on you. Deb looked at her “You try mister, give me one of those commands you hit Nat with or a headache, doesn’t matter.”
“If there is nothing else, beside me becoming more uncomfortable in this room, I will leave.”
“How can you hope to discover your powers and limits if you don’t explore them?”
Deb stood, “I’ll be in my room, watching.”
“Not in my mind. I am not comfortable with that.” she struggled to stay calm.
Slater watched Deb go. “You’ll never get another chance with her. She doesn’t come in to your mind, don’t you see, you go into hers.”
Snowy didn’t care what chance she got as she stated, “I just meet her, and I am suppose to have unconditional trust in her, just because you do. She has no idea if she could sense my link, how is she so sure she wouldn’t hurt it.” She paused for a moment adding, “I am uncomfortable with it. I was told I could go at my pace. Is it true or a lie? I’m scared, you big dummy!”
Slater had no response to give her, “Okay, I think we should discuss laws then. Thou shalt not invade the mind of a teammate. Thou shalt not attack in any way, the mind of a teammate. Thou shalt not use your powers to deceive, trick, coerce or confuse a teammate. Thou shalt not use your powers to SPY on your teammates. Deb, if you are going to spy, carry your ass down here and do it in person. See, she can’t kick me out once I join the link…so I can see you thru her POV. She’s about a foot in front of you and she can’t hurt you or even talk to you, just watch. Okay, she’s back in her own body. You know we, me and Deb, are the least able to do ANYTHING to you, unless like she says, we slap you. We just can’t. Ok, she’s gone outside and up the mountain I think she’s heading for San Francisco. God, she MOVES!”
“I am barely comfortable with you, why would you even think I would allow that so soon?” she asked
“You heard of the speed of thought?” Slater snapped, “We have both offered you a chance to test us. Nat would have let you turn him into a chuckling idiot as it was, he begged Jack for twenty minutes to forgive him. Josh, he’d come over right now and let you tell him to strip and do a hula. We’d all get a good laugh, he’d get revenge and cook for you.”
“He demanded it. I shouldn’t have done it.” Snowy’s heart sank to a new low, they did not understand and she didn’t know how to explain.
“Did he get mad at you? Did he threaten you? He is a BIG boy, he knew what he was doing. Hell, he let ME stick this into him.” Slater formed the blade on his hand. “Just so he would know what will happen if I do it for real. He bled for a bit…if you are wondering. This is the guy that took an anti-tank shell. He bled he didn’t with the tank shell. How do you think I feel about making my best friend bleed?”
Snowy started crying.
Slater knelt in front of Snowy, “Sucks growing up, doesn’t it. I wish you could be a normal beautiful girl, with no powers. We don’t get that wish or I think none of us would be here but then I wouldn’t have met Alicia.”
“I just miss my Dad. He would know what to do.”
“How about nothing, we don’t do anything. I’ll not bring up a thing until you approach me.” Slater spoke softer to her, “Deb agrees too. We are the mentalists, we agree not to talk shop until Snowy is ready.”
“I do want to learn,” Snowy felt conflicted, just it was too much too fast, “I am not comfortable with anyone in my head or going in there’s.”
“Then why do you want telepathy?” Slater asked, “Scares the shit out of Deb when she sees terrible things. She read a guy once that was planning to rape and kill Wren, that’s pretty hard to take, that what you want?”
“I don’t, I only want Ben to be able to talk with me, like Jack.” She explained, “You can’t learn a link you are born with. That doesn’t make logical sense.”
“Deb can link with Ben and link you with him,” Slater offered, “but it doesn’t let you read each other’s minds.”
Snowy queried, “Can we learn something else till I am ready?”
“You want Chris to teach you how to kick vampire ass?” he said with a smile.
“Don’t think that’s a good idea. I was told I was perfect vampire bait.”
Snowy sighed, “Okay I guess I have to learn something. Vampires it is.”
“I was kidding, Chris would turn you into a massive bruise. You need how to use your powers, only you can do that. But I said no work talk.” Slater stopped himself.
“I know my powers, I just don’t know how strong or have full control, like I do with my images.”
“Never know without testing them, like Nat told you. Why do you think he let you humiliate him?”
“I wasn’t trying to humiliate him.” she looked confused.
Slater grinned, “Nice side effect, right?”
“I agreed to the targets. I will still do that. I am not ready for…” she seemed very lost, “He made me do it,” she cried, “I didn’t want to.”
“Unless you tell someone to jump into a volcano, hard for you to hurt someone, plus you already know that headaches will not take Nat down but will take out Rachel and Mari.” Slater pointed out, “He’s seriously Abnormal, and they are only a little abnormal. Of course he made you! That’s his job, to test a Meta’s powers.”
“Set up my targets and I will do them, but I am not trying to humiliate any one.” she finger wiped a tear.
“He needs to know if you can handle pressure. If you fold in the face of danger are you going to run away and,” Slater looked over at Nat holding Jack back, “Who is going to sacrifice anyone to protect you.”
“Guess I failed,” Snowy looked down.
“If you’d crumbled into a crying jag, still not a failure. Failure is learning not to do it that way. A ‘failure’ is a learning thing, not to do it that way.”
Snowy closed her eyes. Jack stopped fighting to get to her. Nat released Jack.
“I think I need to rest. Set up your targets I will announce what I have labeled my powers when I use them.”
He nodded, “Tomorrow,”
“If you wish.”
Slater asked. “You speak Japanese already, right?”
“Of course and I suggest no minute men go there, they are one of the bad places.”
“We all speak Japanese, It is our combat language.”
Snowy mentioned, “Ben doesn’t.”
“He will learn then. The rest of us have been taking lessons from Fuji…you should hear her curs in Japanese, it is so cute.”
She tried to smile at the private joke but she was exhausted from pushing herself to be around so many she feared. “So is Ben a plus one or a minuteman. Does he get paid to now?”
“His choice, ask Nat.”
“I was just curious. Ben doesn’t share in a timely fashion.” she stated, “No I just got Jack in trouble. I think I will wait to speak with him till I must.”
“No, Nat didn’t want Jack to jump to your defense if you aren’t in danger.”
“I felt in danger.” she admitted “I need my nap. Can we continue this later?”
“Whenever you are ready, Snowy,” Slater veered from her side in search of Alicia.
Snowy started to her room, spotting Jeremy on her way. Boldly she walked up to him and stood staring at him.
Jeremy looked at her slightly unsure, “Can I help you?”
“Yes, please,” she stated.
He waited a moment and asked, “How can I help you?”
“I know I am not supposed to have them but could you sneak some French fries to my room?” she looked side to side, “Has to be hush, hush so Jack don’t know.”
“Yes ma’am, I’ll get right on it.”
“It’s Snowy. I want you to call me Snowy.”
“Okay Snowy,” he could still see the red in her eyes. His felt for the lonely young girl. “I’ll get them up to you as quick as I can.”
“Thank you Jeremy, you are a good friend.” She turned and walked away.
“I’ll be up soon Snowy,” Jeremy watched the lonely little figure head to the stairs, his heart melting. Fifteen minutes later he delivered, fresh and hot fries.
“Thank you Jeremy.” she smiled, “Could you please show me how to text?”
… MEAN WHILE …
Ben was still talking away with Bell.
Bell stated, “Look like me n you gonna have a battle of the bands.”
“How about we do something special for the boys, in the kitchen?” Ben suggested.
“I tink we go outside, try not ta freeze yo balls off and see what we can do ta each other.” Bell grabbed her coat heading for the door. “Nat, we gonna go tear up some shit!”
Nat called out, “Make sure it’s just snow !”
Ben chuckled zipping up his jacket. His guitar still hung on his back, “Cold don’t bother me none.”
“Bother me plenty but it jus another winter in Philly. How tough you think you are?” Bell asked with the sound of tiny bells surrounding her. The bells stopped once she reached a point about ten meters from one of Jack’s maze walls.
Ben rocked out carrying his guitar and riding his music stream to the maze.
Bell pointed at the wall and there was a very high pitched ping of a bell, a hole the size of a fist appeared in the wall. Bell beckon for him to look in the hole. “You NEED a guitar?! Oh, you up the shit now.”
“No, but I like the feel.” Ben smiled, putting it back over his shoulder.
She pointed again at the hole. Ben hovered over and examined the hole. The four inch diameter hole just kept going through wall after wall until it disappeared into the snow field beyond.
“Piercin’ Note,” Bell explained, “Kill people wid dat shit. Make the same hole in a side of beef.” She gestured to the wall, next to it “Go for it”
Ben circled up and sounded off a cone of music around the top of a pillar. The pillar cracked and slammed across the maze into a wall as the rest collapsed to the ground. Ben landed, “This just isn’t fun without Snowy.” Ben looked at the maze
“You should see the shit she does with this.”
“I don’t want no light show, I want you breakin’ shit, blownin’ shit up.”
“Fine, what you want me to destroy for you?” he asked.
A bell rung. The tone was a deeper sound causing bigger hole to appear in the wall, “Jack can make more walls, right?”
“Yes, if he has the mind to.” Ben rode back up and away, finding another useless column. With his sound the pillar split in half, the top part tumbling away. He rode back down to her.
Bell looked at a new section of wall and a note began to build as the wall shook. She held the note for several seconds until the wall just crumbled under the sonic wave.
Ben watched the wall crumble and he adjusted his glasses, noting the more diverse control she had.
Bell said, “Tell me NOW when you fire your next one!”
“Yah got me beat.” Ben bowed his head.
“I din beat shit. I beat ice I ain’t challengin’ you, you ass. I wanna know what you can fuckin’ do. I want you to know what I can do, I wanna TEACH you things that I can do.”
“‘Nothing more without hurting you and I don’t want to do that.” he said.
There’s was cluster of discordant notes and Ben felt a wave of dizziness. Bell caught his arm as he started to fall. The discord quieted. “I can make people in an area dizzy as shit. Not you want that note. Don’t you want a sustaining note to knock down walls?” Bell stepped back from him and a wall of sound rose between them, almost visible but very noisy, “Try and walk thru that!
Ben canceled all sound. The wall was still there but the noise was gone. Bell mouthed something as Ben lifted up on his stream of music, returning sound.
Bell let the wall fall. “Like you fly, how you do that? I don’t fly.”
“If I tell you, you would make me fall.” he chuckled
“Wait a sec, do that silence thing again.”
Ben made it quiet as he rode to the wall top to stand.
Bell stood still for a moment then something happen and the silence ended. “That wasn’t easy.” Bell said, “Can’t hear the Harmonic, so I just played it up and down in my head until it broke. Guess you got one of these.” A loud gong sounded that deafen just about everyone in the lodge but Ben listened immune.
“Yep, got that one too.” he nodded strumming his guitar, directing the sound into the maze not to harm anyone. A large boom sounded.
“Dat you make the music with the band?” She filled the air with Beethoven’s Fifth, than snapped it off.
“Pick a car any car and let’s get in trouble.” he grinned. Only a few cars buried under the snow were in the lot.
“How bout this?” A ping sounded from her. Bell closed her eyes, another ping sounded. “I can hear the echoes. It paints a picture in sound but I ain’t real good at it yet.”
“Nope, but I can stop your heart.” he said.
Bell opened her eyes, “Lets skip dat one. I can hear ultrasonic fields in a jewelry store. I’ve got a high pitch hearing, guess ya would call it. Dog whistles drive me crazy.”
“Works great to know peoples positions are, though.” Ben commented, “Snowy blows one for me when we are in play.”
“Dat all you do? Play?”
“I never had a need to fight. I will if I had to, but I am not looking for one.” he stated to her.
“I guess you ain’t never had no gang banger unload sixty rounds a 9 mm bullet into yo house.”
“Nope after the Bloods killed my dad, I ended up with the King’s.” He frowned, “Pretty quiet in Gaylord.”
“Feet cold…I am going inside.” Bell started heading back to the lodge.
“John said we need to defend, not kill. Protect not destroy. He was such a stoner.” Ben chuckled as he caught up to her side.
“Ya? Well you get three guys grab your ass and tell you they gonna rape you, you get killer damn fast.”
“Yeah, trust me we know that, especially Snowy.”
Bell eyed him, “So, you been threatened with rape?”
“Nah, she almost and I would kill any one that would try again.” He opened the door for Bell.
“Chicken an the pig,” Bell made a bee line for cocoa.
Ben headed for a corner practicing a song, deep in thought. Placing his head phones on as he strummed along to the tune.
Nat went to Jack’s side and sat with him, “No one is going to hurt her Jack.”
Jack held his head. “She was so scared.”
“You have a link to her, what is she afraid of, Deb reading her mind?”
“No, she was afraid, she would lose me. Deb said too many unsure, she didn’t want to risk it.” he said “Plus she just met her, she don’t trust her yet.” Jack went on without being asked “She trusts Slater but not her. I don’t understand what the hell she is doing any more.”
Nat asked, “You think any of us trusted Deb right off the bat? And back then all she had was Miller to recommend her.”
“It’s not just that. SHE is interested in a guy! How the hell does that happen overnight?” Jack blurted.
“Let’s see, why don’t you ask Slater? It took him about ten seconds to fall in love with Alicia.”
“We are talking Snowy. She said every date I had was boring and beneath me. She never had a friend till Mal.” he pointed out, “A female, she liked a female.”
“What’s the problem with that?” Nat looked at Jack.
“Only females she had to pretend to get along with were the other models. They were ugly, hateful, back biting gossips. She took no interest in any. The shell was pretty but the eyes to dark.” he added, “Mal is a first B, the first bf, and now is her bbf. I wish she would just go back to being herself. She is getting to hard to take care of.”
Nat nodded, “Mal’s very approachable. That’s why everybody goes to her.”
“Have you seen her eyes? It was her eyes that let me to trust her, in our hour of need the changing was starting.” he sighed. “Ben was shocked on good looking she was. I don’t notice that part right away’ he added, “Snowy wants to know if Ben is in or a plus one.”
“Up to Ben, he hasn’t said if he wants in.”
Jack sighed as he received more questions, “Snowy wants to know if we could do the military themes songs to the kitchen staff to thank them for the wonderful lunch.”
Nat informed him. “They are actually under pretty strict orders, they aren’t supposed to fraternize with us.”
Jack held his head, “See another problem, for me to handle.”
“What can I do?”
“Make it so she doesn’t get the guy in trouble. No idea why, she is interested.” he sighed again, “She has all the gifted and she picks him. I don’t get it.”
“I don’t know.”
“I like it better before the change. We all knew what to do, we had our tasks, than we had to do the other job. Now she’s a runaway train.” Jack shook his head, “I am confused.”
“Your vague comments don’t help.” Nat pointed out, “If we don’t know what’s wrong we can’t help.”
“She is doing too much stuff for me and Ben to clean up after, double check on. She took her cell phone from me, she never used one because she never had any one to call. She wants to call someone. ”
“So?” Nat furrowed his brows.
“Who? Why? What’s she up to?”
“It is none of your business, is it? She is growing up.” Nat said.
“Of course it is. I am the man of the house I have to protect her.” he stated.
“Oh, my god, never let Wren hear you say that. Where did you get that 1950’s bullshit?” questioned Nat.
“Uncle John raised us that we must protect her, all my life and Ben since he was eleven. He said if anything happen to him I was the man of the house and made her promise to listen to me. You made her break a different promise.” he sighed, “Sorry I am such a screw up, just it is hard to adjust.”
“What promise did she break, the one to never use her powers?”
“She promised never to use her powers against any one, unless she was going to be hurt. Uncle John said in emergencies. You were not an emergency I think Uncle John was afraid of what she could do after what we did to the photographer.” he added.
Nat asked, “Did you rip his shoulder out of its socket?”
“I was six, first manifestation. I blew the door off its hinging to get to her. She had him out cold on the floor. We had to leave Italy real fast.” Jack recounted the memory, “It’s my job now to make sure she is okay. Uncle John made it my job if anything happened to him. I don’t know what to do any more. How do you get Wren to behave?”
Stunned for a moment Nat spoke, “Hold on a sec, you are asking me how to get Wren to do what?”
“I never had a ‘girlfriend’ for more than a few months.” Jack shrugged but how do you get your sister to listen to you, I guess is a more reasonable question.”
“I was beginning to wonder where you hid your time machine back to the fifty’s. Only thing I can suggest is exactly what Mal or Wren would say, just talk to her and LISTEN to what she has to say.”
“We were raised by Uncle John it was the three of us till Ben came when we were eight, home schooled till this year.” he stated. “I only know what was taught.”
Curious Nat asked, “How did Snowy take to Ben?”
“She hurt him on accident a couple of times at first, she was scared, till he saved our lives.” Jack revealed to Nat, “Ben never told Uncle John, said it wasn’t right. She didn’t mean to.”
Nat commented, “I haven’t seen any power that can really hurt someone from her.”
“WE were taught not to use them to hurt only defend, to escape. But like WE were told might not be an escape.” Jack rolled his eyes. “She’s listening again. Whatever distracted her is gone.” Jack shrugged
“Deb stopped terrorizing her?” Nat joked.
“I make a good spy for her. No she went to her room to study Uncle John’s research. The stuff she wants to finish. But sometimes we can put up like a wall but still know each other is okay, Not sure what you would label it. So when she is distracted, I get time to think, without her input.” Jack said, “But the fear she was in, when they were picking on her. I couldn’t help myself I had to go. I tried to tell her it would be fine. She did go back and stand up for herself.”
“Quickest way I can think of to destroy a relationship.”
Jack informed him. “She still wants to learn. She’s just not ready for any one in her head or her to go in theirs. All she wants is a link to Ben like mine.”
“No one goes inside her head.”
“She says thank you.” Jack stood quiet rolling his eyes, “Okay, she says she will leave us alone.”
Nat raised a hand and gestures for Deb to come over. “Ben? Can you come over here a minute?”
Ben hopped up, “Yes, sir.” He spoke as he joined them, leaving his instrument behind unguarded.
Deb went over to him, “What’s up?”
Nat requested, “Link me and Wren.” The three closed their eyes for a couple seconds. “Okay, we are linked. Deb, link Ben in.”
Jack watched
“Ben, Deb looked at him, “Close your eyes. You will see a white light, imagine you are moving toward it. Just keep getting closer until you fly into it.”
Ben closed his eyes, letting his mind be pulled into the light. He could sense Wren, Deb and Nat, like they if they were all in a dark room but without actually seeing them.
Deb instructed, “You have to speak for us to hear it.”
Ben could hear her talk in his head and asked, “In my mind, or with my voice?”
“With your voice.” Deb’s eyes remained close as she spoke.
Nat added, “We will show you how it really works after Jack comes in.”
“Same thing, Jack, close your eyes. Look for the light and just imagine flying into it.” Deb instructed.
Jack took a step back as Snowy panicked in the link. Taking a deep breath he said, “Okay, it is my choice, I’m the man. Link me.” Jack closed his eyes.
Deb confirmed, “Okay, you hear me in your head as well as with your ear right now. Jack, go outside to the maze if you would please. Ben can you go up to Snowy’s room? Nat, you go outside through the back.”
Jack frosted up and headed out on his snowflakes to the maze
Wren offered, “I’ll go into the library.”
Deb spoke to them in their minds, “See, now we are far enough apart that we can’t actually hear each other directly. Ben, Jack, can you hear me okay?”
Jack confirmed, “This is much different than the link.”
“You have to speak, remember but even a faint whisper is enough.” Deb reminded them.
Ben transmitted, “Loud and clear.”
Wren informed, “I am barely even whispering right now.
Nat added, “I hear you like we are in the same room and speaking in a normal voice.”
Deb continued, “Now, the fun stuff. Jack, Ben, I suggest you both sit down. And I suggest you keep your eyes closed. In a minute you will understand why.”
“No Snowy, just watch” Jack said in both links as he sat down. “We will be fine, they won’t hurt us.”
Ben grabbed a chair and sat.
The dark room they were in became the common room from somewhere over Deb’s head. Their view panned around the room and it was like they were actually there. Suddenly the view flashed right at the wall and out, in about a second they were looking down at the lodge, with Jack clearly in view in the maze Again the view blurred and they were in Snowy’s room.
“Yeah it is! See I told you.” Jack said as those in the mind share heard him.
The view moved close to Snowy, focusing on her eyes. Snowy was on the bed with several log journals before her. The view shifted down to Snowy’s book and Deb began to read it aloud. Snowy slammed the book shut.
Deb stated, “I can take this up.” The view blurred until they were thousands of feet over the mountains. “Or down.” The view changed into a free fall, the ground growing rapidly. They hit the snow, sinking into it. “I can go thru everything but if there is no light, like underground, I can’t see.”
Nat commented, “This is why she is Seer, she can go anywhere and nobody except a mentalist can spot her.”
Deb added, “But they have to know where to look.” The view returned to Snowy’s room.
Jack asked Snowy, “Yeah, Scared now?”
The scene was now about two feet in front of Snowy at eye level. “Ask Snowy if she can spot me and tell her where to look.” Deb instructed. There was a very faint pair of heterochromatic eyes hovering in front of Snowy. “Tell her it is a mentalist thing.”
“You are in front of her.” Jack stated, “Nice eyes too.”
“Now, you are both still sitting so, open your eyes.”
They complied, now seeing in their normal vision but with an overlay of what Deb was seeing.
“We can all see with our own eyes but also Deb’s. First time you do that while walking or even standing, pretty funny.” Nat spoke, “Deb is a secret that Miller doesn’t know about, got it?”
“No, I don’t think they can hear us.” Jack said to Snowy, the grouping still hearing his side.
“He just thinks I am a telepath.” Deb added, “No, we could hear her if I leave that part on but having five different sound groups coming in can give you a headache.”
Jack told Snowy. “Guess they can hear me. Sorry.”
Nat explained, “It’s like listening Bell’s music, while a movie is playing and a cocktail party is involved.”
Deb spoke up, “It gets hard to pick out what you need to hear.”
“That’s, why we made every one sit for the song.” Jack added, “There is this one maze you feel like you are falling forever.”
Deb instructed, “Jack, Ben, all you have to do to leave is just imagine backing out.”
Ben announced as he left the link, “On my way out.”
Jack took a deep breath and backed out of the link. Wren and Nat left and Deb returned her positive in the common room.
Jack paused looking at the damage done to his maze, patching it a little before flying back in. He entered the lodge addressing Ben, “No playing Jericho in the maze Ben.”
Ben chuckled, “I didn’t have my horn. Belle did it.” Jack gave Ben a side glance.
Bell snorted, “Dats it blame the black chick.”
Ben teased, “Yeah but the pig is commented, oink oink.”
Jack smiled, “Nat so how much does he make?”
Nat asked, “Does who make?”
“Ben, he just said yes.” Jack said, “Does Miller have to know about him?”
“Only if he wants to be paid.” Nat mentioned, “Kena made the same choice, she went with the money.”
Ben said to Nat, “Isn’t it better to have an ace in the hole, he don’t know? Have a surprise back up on the team?”
Nat considered, “Depends on the reason you don’t want to join outright. Kena was a street kid, no family, nothing, she needed someplace to go that was safe. White took her in but we didn’t force her to join up, she decided on her own.”
“I’ll leave it up to you. They have enough for us all.” Ben added, “Just want you to have the option, if you want it, else turn my black ass in.”
“Nope, you have to decide, I can’t and won’t do it for you. Have a talk with Jack and Snowy.” Nat shook his head, “Do you really think I’d turn you in?”
“I already know what they will say. I want to join, with or without pay. With or without Miller.” Ben stated, “No you would not, but I am saying it’s cool. How else would you do it if you want Miller to know?”
“You’d be in Red’s class, but, you’d still be Blue.” Nat informed him.
“I need to be close to them. And I am in college already. You think we can get me back in high School.” Ben looked at Jack, “I’ll do it.”
“You are not past the age limits, do you have a diploma?”
“I got a GED. John said I was too smart to wait for college.” Ben explained, “I take online courses right now.”
“Well, you know the deal, college of your choice, provided you have the grades. And your choice of study what are you interested in?” inquired Nat.
“Bomb disposal.” Ben said firmly.
“Shouldn’t you join the Army then?”
“Nah, I couldn’t be with them if I did that. I want to disarm bombs like my dad did in Detroit.” Ben stated, “I don’t want to blow up anything, I want to stop the explosion.”
“We could probably get you into the Army training program.” Nat thought, “Though, maybe the FBI bomb squad is more what you have in mind?”
“I have two dreams to live and it that gets me going on one. I am in.” Ben repeated. “I am still working on my other dream, just prepping this one. The band might only be a one year wonder. I need a job after.”
Jack sighed at the thought of band ever ending.
Snowy called Jeremy, “Hi, I was wondering if you could sneak me some chocolate.”
Jeremy smiled as he spoke, “What kind?”
“I don’t know, I usually get chocolate cherries, but if that’s too hard to find, any would do.
“I’ll see what I can dig up.”
“Thank you, See you soon.” She hung up the phone.
Jeremy searched the kitchen, finding what he needed to make some strawberries dipped in chocolate. No one seemed to notice him slip out with the tray. He knocked on Snowy’s door.
Beaming a smile at him as she opened it she asked, “Could you teach me how to turn on the television and use the remote?”