Pair of US customs agents boarded the bus, a woman in the lead. She paused at the driver and asks him to turn on the buses lights. The woman is small, neatly groomed and while she looked intent, she does not look angry or hostile. The man behind her is a bit run down, as if he’s been on duty for a while, his attitude seem a little more hostile, like someone is making him stay late to do something stupid.
Jonathan noted to himself, “Okay they could be looking for someone else, just because a light is on no biggy.” The two pull up the parka hoods.
Again the woman spoke briefly with the driver, presenting him with what is obviously a composite drawing. The driver turned, pointing back at the two sharing a seat near the back of the bus, hoods pulled up over their heads. The woman says something to the male agent, who nodded and step back down into the well of the buses steps. As she moved up the aisle the woman folded the paper and tucked it into the breast pocket of her uniform. She stops just before the pair, resting her hand on the seat backs just in front of them.
“Would you please lower your hoods?”
Jonathan squeezed Snowy hand, “Go ahead, do it as they ask .” They both pulled the hoods down.
The woman smiled. “Thank you” She paused then says. “I’m sorry but would you be so kind as to come with me?” It looked like she was doing everything she could not to scare them.
“Only if we stay together.” Was Jonathan’s only remark.
“That’s no problem. This way please.” She turned, moving back down the aisle to a number of comments from the other passengers. At one point a woman stoped her and asked rather loudly “What did they do?”
“That does not concern you ma’am.” the agent replied.
All eyes were on them as they followed the woman off the bus.
Jonathan stood first grabbing their bags with one hand and Snowy with the other. Snowy hugged his arm with one and held his hand with the other. He tried to keep her fear from over taking them.
Outside, the man was waiting, arms crossed. He looked down at the bags Jon was carrying. “I’ll take those,” he said.
“NO!” Jonathan voice rung out strong and chilled as the air around them.
The woman said “It is just standard procedure, you will get them back. We have to check for weapons and drugs. Just like any border crossing”
“But you are not going to let us cross.” He pointed out.
“Ya got something you tryin’ ta hide, kid?” The man reached for the bags.
The woman stopped him “You can keep them,” she says.
Snowy stayed quiet watching Jonathan’s face waiting for a signal, as he spoke, keeping the bags from the man, “They are ours and you have no right to them.”
“Yeah, we do,” says the male guard, tapping his badge.
“Ferguson, shut up.” the woman snapped. “They are NOT suspects”
“Tell the bus driver he can go.” she added.
Ferguson grumbled under his breath but stepped up into the bus. Snowy looked at the bus than to him, he shook his head no.
The woman turned to the kids. “My name is Jill,” she said. “If you’d please come inside.” she gestured to the doors,
Jonathan pulled Snowy close to him with his one arm still carrying the bags as they complied. His head swam in the pain Snowy sent through the mind link. It wasn’t her fault, it was just the warning of the change to come.
Jill showed them into a standard ‘interrogation’ room, a table, three chairs, a mirrored wall.
“I’m sorry, this isn’t the most comfortable of rooms,” she said, “Can I get you anything?”
“A pass for over the border.” he jested with a smile.
“I was thinking a soda, something to eat?”
The door was open when another agent stepped up to her “Phone, ma’am.”
Snowy looked hopeful at his words but again he shook his head no. “We don’t need anything” he said, moving them to the mirror and putting their backs to it.
She looked at the kids “I’ll be right back.” Though she left. The door stayed open, no guard was posted outside it. Out it the office they could hear normal activity going on.
Snowy whispered in his ear, “Do you have a plan?”
“Working on it, just don’t let them separate us.” Jon struggled to clear his head, the room temp seemed unbearably hot.
Jill came back. “Okay, I have someplace a bit more comfortable for you, if you’ll come this way.”
The two followed, turning sideways in order to keep a hold on each other to pass through the door.
She led them down a side hall to door marked ‘Captain’ and pushed it open. It was pretty much what one would expect of a captain’s office, a desk, huge chair, even a couch, pictures on the walls, books on shelves, carpeted, coffee maker.
“There is a bathroom through that door.” She pointed at a door behind the desk.
“We don’t need anything.” he spoke for both of them.
“Make yourselves comfortable then but if you do, just come out to the desk and let someone know.”
She paused on the way out. “I’m sorry but I don’t know how long this will take, so if you get sleepy, feel free to use the couch.” She closed the door.
Snowy spoke, “How much trouble do you think we are in?”
“None there is no law against us being special. Just wish Uncle John was here.
We just have to buy some time. Just stay quiet. If they try and separate us, than make it not happen. I will get us out of here if they force it.” They stood holding each other with bags in hand.
About half an hour later the door opened. Jill came in holding a McDonalds bag and a couple of drinks. “Didn’t know what you’d prefer so, Big Macs, fires and a coke.” She sets it on the desk.
Snowy looked to him, he nodded and she accepted the fries.
“If you’d like more or something else, tell the desk.” She turned to leave.
“So are you going to call my Uncle, her dad,? He knows we are traveling together.”
He tossed the rest of the food in the trash.
She stopped at the door. “I have been told that someone is on their way but I have no idea how long is it going to take for them to get here. And if you didn’t like McD’s… ” she retrieved the bag from the wastepaper basket.”I am sure the desk can find someone who’ll eat it. Like I said, if you want something else, let us know,” She left.
“We will.” He stated as she left the room. “Snowy do you want to sit, I will still hold on to you.” His concern growing as they struggled to keep control.
“Not yet.” She replied staying at his side, ready to bolt at moment notice.
He pulled out his phone dialing his Uncle, still voice mail. “No luck with your dad yet”
Another half an hour pasted, than another hour, after the total of three and half hours Snowy coincided, “Okay Jack let’s sit.” They moved as if tied to the hip sitting down his hand still holding their bags.
Another hour and a half pasted. Jonathan let Snowy sleep on his shoulder as he watched the window; it frosting up as he tried to paint a picture, at the same time trying to cool the room, bored of the waiting.
About three in the morning the whine and wop of a helicopter gradually filled the silent night. It got closer and closer until the landing lights begin to flash across the office window.
It settled onto the parking lot and the engines began to spool down to a stop.
“Snowy wake up” Jack shook her lightly.
She looked up at him, “Is dad here?”
“Don’t know but someone is.”
A moment later the door swung open and a man in a black suit, folders in hand. He walked around behind the desk, taking a seat in the chair, dropping the folders on the desk. Before he can speak a girl just a couple years older than them, came in and gently closes the door. She turned to the two on the couch and smiled, “Hi, I’m Malin Tronquist, you can call me Mal”
“MISS Tronquist, if you please,” the man in the suit snaped.
The girl gave him a sour look. “You are scaring them, Agent Miller.”:
Jonathan smiled looking into Mal’s eyes, “Hard to scare me”
Agent Miller glared at her a moment, then opened the folder.
Mal giggled “Me too, but he keeps trying.”
“Look, let’s get this over with.” Miller growled.
“Look we need you to call John King.” Jonathan started
“Snowy King and Jonathan Vargo,” he said.
“He is our guardian, we have done nothing wrong.”
He glared at Jon, “We are aware of that.”
Mal closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “I should have let Wren handle this.”
“Then why are we being held.” He said almost in a demand. The heat was getting to him, to many people in this small office.
Miller’s reaction was instant, the hostile went way up.
Snowy held his hand tighter, not liking this man.
Mal turned to Miller and stared him down. “You know what the president told you.” she warned. “Why don’t you let me take it from here?”
Miller audibly ground his teeth. “Fine,” he snapped and rose. “WE’LL be right outside!” He slamed the door on the way out.
“Nice friend you got there.” Sarcastically Jonathan stated.
Mal shook her head. “I don’t think he is ever going to change. Oh, and trust me, he’s not a friend, even to his dog. If he had one!” She giggled, “More like if one would have him!”
“So why are we being delayed?”
“Okay, I know, tons of questions.”She picked through the papers in the folder and come up with a picture. Mal crossed the room and handed the picture to Jon. He looked at it showing it to Snowy. It shows a blast of snow coming OUT of a car as the door is flying off. Jon can be seen clearly inside.”It is how they catch us all,” Mal said.
“It was an emergency.”
“They don’t have a picture of me, just a lot of witnesses. “She smiled “Was with me too, there was a school bus coming at me.”
“So are you arresting us or what?” he asked
“No, no arrest. This is an offer.”
Mal took a seat on the couch next to Snowy. “Snowy .” Snowy moved away from Mal nearly sitting on Jon. Mal had tears in her eyes.”I’m afraid your father … didn’t make it to the hospital in time.”
It took a moment to sink into her mind, “NO, my dad is fine he will come and get us.”
She looked Jon in the eyes “I am so very sorry…”
He sighed watching Snowy crying on his shoulder, “It will be okay, I will take care of us.” he comforted her not a tear did he shed. “So what’s this offer?”
“Miller is the agent in charge of a recruiting program and pretty much a total dick but our director thought it was better if I came too. I’m a meta human, like you, Jonathan.”She held up a hand then passed it through the cushion of the couch.
“Nice trick” he said with a half smile, still comforting Snowy.
“So is the ice blast that rips off car doors.”
“Not the only trick up our sleeves.”Snowy stopped crying and looked at him cross at his words.
Mal chuckled. “I am sure. Looks I don’t do the Miller crap, all the bullshit, so I’ll be honest. We are a group formed by the government o fight others like us. People like the guy that knocked over the Washington Monuments on July 4th. They give use a place to live, a school to go to with others like us, they give us college if we want, pay us. They train us to work together
“This is for both of us right?”
“You are the meta, Jon, you make any deal you want. We already have others with family getting the same deal for their family.”
Jonathan busted out in laughter “and don’t call me Jon.”
Mal looked taken aback.
“It’s Jonathan or Jack, please.”
“Jack then”
He couldn’t stop his laughing, “So I’m the one they are targeting.”
“It is not ‘targeting’ and if by what you are saying, are you the only one … that depends on what powers she has.”
“Well that is for her to say not me.” He turned to look at Snowy, “We would be together. We could form a new band.”
Snowy spoke, “I don’t trust the suit, why should I trust her? They came together.”
“God, I hope your music is better than Belle’s!”
“Trust me we have a killer act.” He just looked softly in Snowy’s eyes, “Whatever you want, Snowy.”
Mal leaned closer in a almost whisper, “Miller is in this for Miller and the government. It is like the chicken and the pig at breakfast. Miller’s the chicken, we are the pigs. Mark told Belle when they first met that we needed her, because she had experience the rest of us didn’t have, she a minority…we, you and me, and Snowy, are a smaller minority, we need to stick together and to hell with Miller.”
Snowy spoke, “I am no pig.”
Jack jumped in, “Not what she meant, stay calm.”
“I won’t be insulted.” Snowy huffed, her head pounding.
Mal smiled. “For breakfast, the chicken has just an interest, the egg, but we’re the pigs, bacon is commitment. That’s why we are more important to each other then Miller.”
Snowy stood up and walked to window looking at the frosted pane of glass in silence.
Jack sighed again, “She is temperamental at times.”
Mal smiled, “You haven’t met Belle…. I think it is the musical artist thing.”
“Getting down to business what does this gig pay and is there an escape clause if we don’t like it?” asked Jack.
“The government pretty much treats up like … well, not set, but we could be paid more. But everything is provided, housing, any tuitions, all your bills like utilities… you can even eat at the cafeteria, if you can stomach it. Several of us are…more well off then the rest.”
“Doubt the food is worth eating.” He stated
Mal giggled. “Salads in San Diego are hard to screw up.”
“Like in California? All that sun and heat?” Jack allowed the fear to show over his face.
“Yup, just north of Mexico.” Mal shrugged, “I’m from Maine.”
“Summer gets warm, but not oppressive. Most of the time, in the seventies.”
Jack shivered. Snowy grunted.
“I do miss the snow sometimes though. That’s when we road trip to the sierras. Its kind a nice having a plane practically on call.”
Snowy spouted off, “We don’t need a plane.”
“Snowy, quiet” Jack hushed her.
Mal laughed “Not everyone can fly.”
“It’s not actually flying.” He tried to shrug it off.
“I’m really slow at it.” Mal stood up, sort of stepping up into the air. “I can move at a running speed is all.”
Jack formed an ice rose and presents it to Mal, “I don’t do well in heat.”
“Oh, that is just lovely!” Mal took the rose and stared at it then grined. “Something new for Miller! I think we will have to have a refrigerated room added! You know, serious AC!”
“Look, if Uncle John is dead, than we need to stay together we are a team. She gets everything I get. If she wants to share her powers, you let her on her own time.” The offer a chilled room sounded so good to him at that moment.
Mal laughed. “We do love presenting Miller with our demands. Make that a stipulation then. You stay together with the full package for her too.
“Yes, Year to year, no long term deal.” He stated not wanting to be stuck.
“You know how the military academies work?” Mal asked
“No, I never had to be sent to one.”
“You get four years of school for four years of service… Pretty much the same deal here but. There isn’t an actual contract you sign. The director made sure of that.”
He eyed snowy, seeing her becoming more agitated, “What if we don’t like it? Four years is a hell of long time.”
“AND before you get worried, no, you don’t have to go beat up evil meta humans if you can’t handle it. Look, any service does not start until after you graduate from college.”
“So it’s now 12 years you are talking?”
“You aren’t expected to do anything meta at all until then, and with the new policy the director forced thru, not even then. You’re sophomores, right? So the rest of high school.”
“We are 14.” He whispered.
“College is your choice, 2 year degree, 4 years, masters, PhD. your choice. Any field YOU chose.”
“WE are in 8th grade.” Jack said for Snowy
Mal’s eyebrows shoot up. “Freshmen! well…we do have Paige, she’s only 11 and Q is almost 13…but he’s a genius.”
“We will try it out if we can be together for two years, that way we won’t have to worry about CPS trying foster care with us. We hit sixteen, than we will talk again about continuing.” He could see snowy relax some to his offer, “Nothing to make us stay.”
“Like I said, no contract…since most of us are too young to sign one.”
“You got to keep that Miller , away from Snowy.” His eyes stayed on Snowy as he talked.
“I’d keep Miller away from a vampires…on second thought, maybe not.”
“We will need to talk to our lawyers to make sure our parents stuff is taken care of till we are old enough to handle it.” He added.
“Can I give you some advice? Ask about emancipation.” Was the suggestion, “If you need a lawyer that is already read into this whole thing, we have a very good one. Does yours know about you…meta human status?”
“No, We hide our talents till now.” He spoke again for Snowy.
“You might want to keep it that way. We don’t advertise ours either. We also don’t always let Miller know about All of our powers.”
He chuckled as he stood up, moving to Snowy. “We need to do this till I get a better deal. You okay with it.”
“Oh, since you are family, demand a house of your own rather than staying in the dorm! and make sure you BOTH get a stipend, don’t let Miller try to lump you into one package
“Yeah we couldn’t share a dorm room.” He said as Snowy looked into his eyes, she nodded. “She doesn’t get paid we don’t join. Hey If you think I can pass for older I wouldn’t mind skipping a few grades.” He agreed hoping to end this soon.
“If you have the brains, that’s not going to be a problem.”
He repeated her again, “We both do.”
“Like I said, Q is just 13, he’ll graduate with the seniors. Mal giggles. “He’s still pissed the Paige joined; now she’s the youngest!”
“What is age but a number.” Jack commented. He wrapped his arms around Snowy from behind, humming to her.
Mal shrugged “Say that the next time you want to see an R rated movie OH!! This is IMPORTANT with big hairy capital letters. DON”T let Miller tell you that you’ve got to see ‘doctors’! That’s bullshit, they just want to experiment on you.”
He chuckled, “No worries there.”
“There will be a point of show and tell, though, you know that?”
“So do I have to talk to the suit or you going to handle it, we need some fresh air, and enjoy the cold while we still can. Like I said she only shows what she wants to.” He said as they both stood at the window.
“But that is only between US, no Miller allowed.” Mal nodded, “The director was VERY specific about that, we are allowed to have secrets, no explanation required but he does ask for at least an idea of what we can do.”
“Let us go, while you set things up. I promise we will not run.”
“Is there anything you need picked up anywhere in the world?” she asked.
“I just need out of this hot ass building. Just our instruments from the house, I didn’t want them damaged on this trip.”
“Anywhere to land a chopper in the area?” she asked
“The back yard. Uncle John has….had acres.” He felt his heart breaking but held the calm exterior. He had to be strong for Snowy.
“Cool! Oh .” Mal stepped over to the window and placed a hand on it. “You can go out this way if you want. Its okay, you can just step through. The wall is a little thinner right now.”
He scooped up Snowy in his arms, snowflakes lifting them as he danced through the window and into the lot setting her down to her feet. She turned, crying in to his chest as the snow fell harder over them.
Mal stepped through “I’ll give you guys some time. Just come over to the chopper when you are ready.” She stepped back inside and the wall goes solid.
“Agent Miller” Mal said as she came out of the office. “We will need to stop at their home and pick up a few things. Well need one of the houses installed with a good AC unit. And a lawyer will be contacting you.”
Miller scowled at her “They agreed?”
Mal smiled “With provisos.”
Miller growled. “What this time?”
She laid it all out to him with a certain degree of smug satisfaction then stepped away and outside. “Hey boss … yeah, miller was all set to eat them … of course NOT, I chased his ass out! …. About fourteen, girl and boy, they are cousins but as close as twins.”
Two voices in perfect hominy sang as one, the words of let it be.
“I told Miller to set them up in a house, extra AC … no, the guy, Jack, doesn’t like heat much … Yeah, he’s the one that talks from them … I dunno, like the rest of us, a little lost in all this. Hear that? Yeah, that’s them singing … Nat … they are even more lost then usual … their only family was killed last night … I know … that’s my job, no way am I going to leave them alone with him.” She laughed, “ I can threaten him with her if I have to! … Oh, I guess five or six hours. Yeah … I want to make sure everything goes the way they want … they deserve it … I know … okay, see you then.”
Miller came out of the building and crossed to the helicopter making a winding gesture with his finger.
Mal snorted “God, Reg, you are such a dick…”
Jack looked different than in the building, his skin paler, icicles hung off his skin , his clothes hung as if he had lost weight. Snowy whispered to him and he was back to normal as they moved to the chopper.
Miller turned around and called back “You say something?”
“No, just talking to myself!” Mal meet them on their approach “You guys okay?”
“We will be fine, we will need her dads ashes sent to us.”
“You give me a list, it will get done.”
Snowy spoke, “He needs a safe place to sleep soon.”
She stopped before they get too deep into the noise “Can you sleep on a plane? It’s private.” Mal smiled “And Miller is not invited.”
He seemed unnerved. Snowy spoke up again, “He was in a plane crash last year. I doubt he can sleep on one.”
Mal nodded, “Would you rather we drive? Or take a train? We can get an RV.”
He shook his head, “She worries too much. I have her if anything happens.”
“If you are sure, I mean really sure, don’t do this because you think you have to impress me. The director said anything you need.” She assured him.
“It’s just a new fear. I will have to get over, no big deal.” Jack commented.
Mal nodded “That’s good. You can have the cabin in back … it’s even got a real bed.”
“Escape hatch back there?” he half joked.
She gestured to the chopper. Jack helped snowy in the chopper putting the bags on her lap, taking a deep breath he forced himself inside. Mal took a seat next to Jack and offered heat sets to each. Jack climbed over Snowy so he could sit by the door, snowy in the middle as they accepted the headsets. Snowy strapped in
Miller climbed into the co-pilot seat, strapping in.
Mal turned a couple of knobs then said “Okay, private line, no Miller and if you want, I’ll get out too.”
“No need.” Jack said.
Miller turned back, looking at Mal, who just grined.
Jack spoke again, ”You I will trust but not him.”
The chopper lifted off slowly, rotates and climbs.
Mal said “Yeah, that’s pretty much the par for the course with Reggie.”
Jack squeezed Snowy’s hand as if he cling on for life itself as they ascend in the bubble.
“None of us like him much, but they offered to replace him. The director told them it is better the devil you know than the devil you don’t so he stays. Pissed him off, of course, knowing a meta saved his job. But that’s just a bonus!”
Snowy looked at her, “So you Identify as Meta, do all them identify as such?”
“Yes, we do … we all figure it is what we are, so we own it. After all, it is why we are in the program…”
Jack unzipped his coat taking it off, he had never strapped in, the sweat beaded on him.
Mal pointed at the window slide. “Go ahead and open it. I’m from Maine and the pilot don’t care.”
Snowy shrugged her shoulders, leaning over Jack to open the window for him. Miller looked back over the seat, scowling.
“And then there’s that!” Mal laughed
Snowy stated,” I am who I am and will not allow others to label me.”
Jack tried to smile, hating every second of this flight.
“That’s fine, we really just look at each other as unique individuals.
“Mind if I sit outside for this,” Jack requested.
“I don’t mind but you might spook the pilot, just a sec.” Mal twisted a knob, speaking into the mic. The pilot looked back at Jack the shrugged. Mal returned to the circuit “Go ahead.”
Jack opened the door, without his coat on. As he slipped to the landing board, his skin paled more, body thinned out. He found his perch in the freezing cold. Snowy closed the door most of the way. “Since the crash he prefers not to fly in a normal fashion. He blames himself for the crash.”
“I can understand that…but with a plane that might be a problem…you sure he wouldn’t rather take an RV?
“He is stubborn, he will force himself.”
“You sure he can take hours of it?” Mal was considered.
“The snow and cold is where we are comfortable. He survived days in it before he was rescued. He can take a lot more cold than I can.” Snowy eyes stayed on Jack.
“Doesn’t sound like San Diego is going to be a joy for him.”
“No he does it for me.” Sadly she stated.
“What can we do to help him? I mean, is there anything that will help?” asked Mal.
“WE are still adjusting, he will find a way. He is very good at finding a path for us. You ever need an ice cold drink, he’s the man to chill you up one. He likes you. If he trusts you so will I,” concluded Snowy.
“Thank you and I hope I never do anything to make you change your mind.”
She looked at Mal, “Just never try and come between us.”
“Now, I gotta warn you about one thing then, Carlos. He has tried it on ever girl in the teams and he’s got a serious macho thing going on. Even Wren suspending him all day in the middle of the entry didn’t change him but he does leave her alone.”
Snowy understood and spoke, “A pair of frozen balls might cool his heels.”
“Well, it would be a different approach. Rachel’s nearly broke his wrist a half dozen times and Brit, well, she’s actually faster than him.”
“Jack will not put up with unwanted advances on me. I will not put up with a female trying to destroy us.”
“Carlos is incorrigible… I’ll get Wren to … adjust him.”
“No need, Jonathan is more than capable of handling it.”
“I don’t think you understand…Carlos is FAST. I mean REALLY fast. He can grab your ass and be gone before you feel it.” Mal warned.
“It might not be needed. Who knows? I might take pity on him and grace him with my acknowledgement. He touches me he will have a great headache for a long time and then Jonathan will have his fun after.”
“OH GOD, please don’t encourage him! His head is too big already!” Mal grinned “Ah … yeah, Deb already blinded him when he grabbed her…hasn’t done it since…Hehe, he ran into the wall he didn’t see….three times. Miller was pissed at the repair work it took to fix it.”
The helicopter slows and goes into a hover above the family house.
Jack climbed back in smiling, “Thought it safer for all if I either jumped or came back in.”
Chopper settled onto the field behind the house.
“I’ll be back in a jiffy.” He jump out of the machining heading for the tiny farm house
“How long do you need?” asked Mal
“He is only going for our guitars and amps and more likely our mics.”
“Will it all fit in here?” she looked at the small space inside.
“I had packed him but he insisted we travel with only one bag each.” Snowy suggested, “We could leave Miller behind,”
“Sadly, this IS his chopper, more or less.”
“We could bail the chopper and get a taxi to the airport.” Snowy offered another solution. “I think it would be a more pleasant ride for Jonathan.”
“Now THAT we can do!” Mal switched over to speak with Miller.
Pulling their bags with her, Snowy left the chopper heading to the house.
Mal climbed out of the chopper and waves at Miller…after a few second, the chopper lifts off. She watched it go, hands on her hips. “God that guy is a dick!
Leaving the back door open for Mal, the two gathered the cases. Snowy pulled two photos from the wall adding them to her bag
Mal tapped on the backdoor.
Jonathan called out, “Come on in beautiful.”
The back door entered the kitchen with a Dining table to one side, with six chairs. The living room was off the kitchen, the front door centered on the wall. Jack was in the attached garage. Opposite the garage door was a hall with four bedrooms and one bath at the end.
“I got a car on the way and the plane will be at the Gaylord airport in ten minutes.”
“Snowy do you know where our summer clothes are?” Jack asked
She thought and stated, “I think they are in the attic.”
“Well we packed for the cold not the sun.”
Mal wandered around “Anything I can do to help?”
He smiled at her with his killer grin, “You could drag her upstairs to the attic to find some summer clothes. I need to hit the safe.”
Snowy shook her head as she headed down the hall, pulling the attic stairs from the ceiling
“Lead on, Snowy” Mal said
He went to his parent’s room, opening the safe, swapping out the Canadian money for a few hundred American.
“Can I ask, Snowy? That’s kind of an unusual name and very pretty…”
Snowy lead her up into a dust attic barely tall enough for her to stand. “It was a snowy night when I was born and we lost my mom.”
“Oh … I am sorry, but your name is lovely.” Mal hunched over “What can I grab?
“I need to find the trunk with the summer clothes in it. I think we should just by new.”
She started opening boxes and trunks.
Mal shrugged. “That easy enough, Tons of stuff at the beach.”
“Tell skin flint that.” Snowy said, though she understood, they had to conserve the money they had.
Mal laughed “That’s not a problem. Deb showed up with the clothes on her back, Miller again, White had her outfitted in an hour.”
Jonathan headed to the kitchen empty the fridge, putting all the food down the disposal except the fixing for some sandwiches. Jonathan placed John’s Lions baseball cap on.
“Let’s tell him we couldn’t find it, these are so last year.”
Mal grinned “Looks like a shopping trip will be in order!”
“And if it’s on the suit’s dime all the better.” She really didn’t care for the government man.
Mal laughed “Well, the house, the AC and all will be, that’s for sure. Better be one hell of an AC.
“Maybe we could just get a walking fridge for his room.” Snowy suggested “He would never leave it.” She warned
“We can do that. Oh, Ava will try to get him on a board the first day, she’s as bad as Nat.” she commented.
Off handily Snowy spoke, “Now if you were talking snowboarding maybe, but water dream.”
Mal stopped and listen a minute then says “Car’s almost here.”
“Should I get our transcripts from my father’s safe?” Snowy asked.
“Snowboarding can be arranged too. Take whatever you want or need Car’s big and the plane is bigger.”
Confusion covered Snowy’s face, “I don’t know what we need, he takes care of that. He always has.”
Mal raised her voice “Car’s COMING in Five and we can’t find the trunk!! She winked at Snowy.
“DOES ANY ONE PLAY THE DRUMS OR SHOULD I LEAVE THEM?” he shouted
“Wow, Ave plays drums..sort of…She calls it Pate Looks like a log to me.”
Snowy smiled, “Dad just got us all the instruments for our band. We will need a new drummer and I will need a new modeling agent.” She said than shouted, “BRING IT SHE SAID THERE IS ROOM.” She headed down the stairs without the clothes.
“I … We’ll find whatever you want.” Mal followed, the closing the stairs for her.
Mal noted the four bedrooms all doors open, two adult rooms, Snowy’s room with all the normal teen stuff and his with nothing personal in it.
Mal dusted off, “We can have everything moved for you if you’d like.”
“No, someday I will move back here and he will move back to his parents house.”she looked sad at the thought.
“I’ll get a security company in to wire the place.”
“Best do them both.” Snowy suggested
Mal nodded
“And lawn care and house repairs, sounds like we will be gone a long time.” Snowy added to the list. Snowy fingered the many photos hanging on the wall of their travels
“No problem,” assured Mal.
Jonathan poked his head around the corner, “Better eat up. Did you find the clothes?”
He offered them sandwiches but did not take one.
Mal takes one “Thanks!”
“No clothes but she knows where we can get some”
The mound in the living room is just band equipment and the bags they had packed.
A car rolled up outside and a moment later, there is a knock on the front door.
Jonathan sprang to the door, opening it “Stuffs in the living room.”
“Yes sir,” the driver said as he entered.
Jonathan grabbed two cases helping the man load the suv. They manage to fit everything into the back by putting down the rear set of seats, leaving the middle row for them to sit. After locking the house doors Snowy climbed into the back seat.
Mal stopped the driver “Where’d Miller get off to?”
“I think he is looking for the jet” the driver chuckled.
“Let’s hurry then so he doesn’t find it!”
Jonathan slide next to Snowy, he leaned his head on her shoulder for a cat nap. Mal took shotgun and they are at the airport within a few minutes. The SUV rolled out onto the tarmac and up to a black jet with red, white and blue numbers on the fuselage. The steps were down with a woman waiting at the bottom.
Snow nudged Jonathan awake. “Don’t worry I will help you sleep through this,” she whispered to him. They exited the suv, Jonathan going to help unpack the gear.
The pilot stuck his head out of the door. “Miller says he is ten minutes out, Miss.”
Mal grinned. “Wheels up in nine then.” she replied, “ Better make it five, Miller might be lying.” Mal and the woman help pack everything into the cargo hold below the plane.
“Miss, car coming…” the pilot says.
“Lyin shit.. Come on, guys, let’s get going unless you want a couple hours of HIM.”
Snowy led Jonathan to the back of the plane having him lay down. She opened her mind and softly touched his, “Sleep” she commanded as she sang a lullaby that filled the plane.
The interior of the plane was not Government Issue, with six seats, a couch along one side and a door opened to the rear with a bed about the size of a twin. Everything is in burled wood and creams. The plane rolled out onto the taxi way a minute later, leaving Miller staring after it as it crosses the marker.
Mal, swiveled her chair and winked at Snowy “How’s he doing?”
“He will rest till we land.”
Mal nodded “I’m glad .. you helped him sleep, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did I am gifted.” She looked at Mal, “How old are you Mal?”
“Seventeen.”
“Do you like him?” she looked at Jack.
She shrugged, “He’s very dedicated to you and that shows that he has a good heart.”
“We have always taken care of each other. Our parents where always so busy.”
“That’s what family does. I hope you realize that’s what we will do too.”
“He will fit in then. He is very loyal to his band members, his team members, but always me first. His last girlfriend tried to tear us apart. He dumped her like a hot potato.”
“You are more important whatever Miller and the government might want. At least to us and I mean all the Minutemen.” she smiled. “Even Carlos. We might have to puncture his balloon once in a while, but…he’s part of us.”
“We will see.” she watched the sleeping man/boy through the door.
“Well…the director works hard to minimize the drama… and if you don’t like a teammate, he’ll switch things up, if you just tell him.”
“That will be up to … Jack. We played with hero names when we got our powers. He is my Jack Frost.”
“And you?”
“Ice Queen, I’ll grow into the name.”
Mal laughed “Someone beat you too it, at least that’s what a few of the team call her, but it isn’t her real code name, just her personality but don’t grow into it too much.”
“We will see.”
“You have problems when you started getting your powers?” Mal asked
“Only reason I am being open with you is he trusts you. Yes I have headaches at first and my head hurts really bad when a new one opens.”
“Ouch, I usually just scared the crap out of someone. My code name is Spirit.”
“I guess I can have him pick me a new name.”
“Honestly, you like Ice Queen, it will be Ice Queen. Not like Wren knows about what some call her. You got any questions for me?”
“I don’t care, I do not like labels placed on me but he wanted ice princess but that was to childish. So I became his ice Queen. Should I? What does one normally ask when their life has just had the curtain fall and a new stage to perform on?” she asked not knowing what to ask.
Mal shrugged “Ask about San Diego, or tacos, or the vampires.” Mal watched her closely.
“San Diego is hot and sandy, we don’t eat tacos and vampires never meet one.”
“Yes, you will and you might.”
“We will see.” She wondered about Mal comment.
Mal reached out to touch her hand but doesn’t quite. “Honey…vampires are real.”
“Anything is possible.”
“Good, you just remember that.” Mal lean back in the chair.
“Do you date younger men?”
Mal opened one eye. “Are you trying to set me up with your cousin?”
“It would be preferable than having to deal with a string of one night dates.”
“I’m not exactly looking for a guy but doesn’t that always depend on the guy? What happens, happens but I don’t do one night stands.”
“Not one night stands, one night dates, there is a difference.”
“I should hope so but you might want to warn him about a couple of the team. Slater and Alicia are a couple, and Nat and Wren, then Mari and Rachel got a thing too. Belle’s got it for Carlos, but god, don’t tell him.”
“All paired up but you.”
“Zach is hot for Fuji, but she’s holding him off with a ten foot pole… Mark and Carine will get married after graduation… Shannon and Ern are a thing.”
Snowy jumped to the movement in the bed, she closed her eyes and whispered “sleep peaceful.”
“No, me, Chris, Ave, Deb, Kena, Brit and Paige are all still solo but Paige is only 11.
Ave is very sweet, Chris will scare the shit out of a guy…does it all the time … Deb is a little….distrustful of men in general, well, everyone…Kena’s a hot head… And Brit is super nice.”
“Sounds interesting,” her words didn’t match her tone, the list of names meant nothing to her. “How much free time is there?”
“If you aren’t in class, most of it. A few training things now and then but a lot of our stuff is kinda….hard to describe…team building? The director only calls a meeting if he has to, which means if the school is on fire. We do a lot of things together, just as friends.”
“That won’t happen Jack would put it out.”
Mal laughed, “Ave would beat him to it … she a water spirit, not literally, but close enough.
“We only need two to finish the band.”
Ave does play drums and Belle…well she plays about anything
“No, to many females.”
Mal grinned, “I hear Carlos plays guitar.”
“I could put an ad in the school paper, how we got them before.”
“I can’t say much about the Left wingers…we don’t … fraternize with them much.”
“Know any good modeling companies in San Diego. Left wingers??” Snowy didn’t like the sound of that.
“Our dorm is in the right wing of the building Left wingers don’t have meta.”
“We will not be in a dorm and I am sad for you. I guess you will label us the no wingers? I think I like that label. Sad we are a race that has to subdivide our self into us and them, left or right. My dad said if there was no labels put on people there would be no hate, envy or war. We are all just one people.”
“You sound like the director, one race, human.”
“Think of why they fear us, they put a label, they envy us when we are equals.”
“No, assholes like the guy that knocked down the Washington monument is why they fear us.”
“You don’t hang with them, only your kind.”
“Not strictly true. Slater is the football QB, Chris is a cheerleader. But like Alicia, they label her as the goth bag lady. As much as we might want to someone is going to label you as something.”
“It will be interesting like studying the people of south Africa.”
“We just prefer a label that is true. I am a meta human, a human with unusual powers. BTW, that has become the official scientific name for us, the world has agreed.”
“I do not so I am not.”
“Of course the Russians wanted to use the Russian term they coined when Red Guard was introduced. ARE you comfortable with another label? Female?”
“Of course i am.”
“Or Caucasian?”
“Just like I am comfortable with Snowy. Not really comfortable with me being defined by my skin tone.”
“Homo Saipan? God, you need to avoid Belle like the plague.”
“I know that some labels are in place for identifying difference but they take them to far. It is how they bully, cause friction, cause hate. One day I believe we will evolve to what is called Meta.” Using the label left a bad taste in her mouth.
“There are a lot of people studying that exact thing…where will we be in a thousand years?”
“A race adopts and evolves. My dad taught me all about evolution.”
“Shh…don’t tell Chris.”
“I need a drink. What’s on board?”
Mal pushed a button on the arm of the chair and the woman that was at the stairs appeared from the front of the cab.
“Yes, miss?”
“Damnit, stop calling me ‘Miss”, Abby!
Abby give her a hand shrug. “I am supposed to, part of the service. What can I get you?”
“What do you have to drink?” Snowy politely asked
“Orange juice, apple juice, pineapple juice, bottled water, tea, sweet or unsweeted, Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Grape soda, Root beer, Cream soda, orange soda, coffee, Red bull, Mountain Dew, 7up …Oh, and most of the diet versions as well.
“You have coco?”asked Snowy.
“Yes,” replied Abby
“Do you have strong coffee?”
“A stipulation, an Espresso machine and strong coffee Marshmallow or whipping cream?
“Okay 2 shots espresso in a cup of coco.”
“I’ll be right back with it, how about you, Mal?”
“Orange juice, Abby.”
The woman moved back up to the front of the plane, into the galley
“Does your school have a descent chemistry teacher?” Snowy asked
“Not sure what’s on the menu but she’ll probably have a snack for us if you’d like.”
“What kind of snack?”
“The government has sorta overloaded us with the best teachers they could get their hands on…I heard that all of them are PhD.” Mal thinks a minute, “Knowing Wren, something with a lot of fruit and veggies but Abby always has the usual chips and dip and cheese and sweets good.”
“I need better teachers I was getting bored.” Snowy commented.
Mal laughed “Oh, you are going to regret saying that! Chemistry, huh?”
“Actually I plan on being the top bio chemist in the world.”
“I’m Art history. Let me think… Nat’s probably the closest, marine bio.”
“After all my good looks won’t last forever, I need to think of when I am too old to model, that’s 2 to 4 years top, after 18 they are looking for younger more exotic.”
Mal smiled “So I am already nearly over the hill
“You are not a model.”She did consider Mal good looking but she didn’t pick the same path so it was mute.
Mal laughed, “No, I am not quite that fond of cameras! And I know Wren hates paparazzi with a passion.”
“That’s way the band, we could do that till our 30’s.”
“You seen Mick Jagger lately? He’s in his 70’s!”
“Yes but men are not judged as much on their looks like women.”
“I dunno, there are a lot of men that still think Sophia Loren is hot as hell.”
“Well we will see, anything is possible. I have no idea how I will age.”
“Why you worried about it? You’re 14 Wait until you hit 17, then worry!”
“You have to learn a lot about the real world young in modeling. They have you making adult decisions, pushing you to grew up faster. Jack stood by my side and took them all on, even at six.”
“You’ve been doing pageants or runway or what?”
“A lot of model waste there cash or their parents do.”
“I dunno, Wren’s didn’t waste hers.”
“All of it and talent shows. Nothing big.”
“Heard you guys singing, pretty amazing.”
“Thank you, we had gigs lined up at a bunch of events.”
“So, music, modeling, until the old age hits at 20 then biochem?”
“If We hit big in music, we should be able to fund our own lab one day. I use to help my dad with his experiments when he had to work.”
“Like Alicia’s grandmother only I think hers was physics.”
Abby returned with their drinks and an assortment of shacks, fruit, cheese, chips, dips, crackers, cocktail shrimp, and a bowl of M&Ms.
Snowy took some shrimp, waiting for her drink to cool. Mal went to work on the fruit, strawberries, pineapple and banana.
Abby says “Anything for the young man?”
Snowy takes her drink and heads to the bedroom. She placed her cup in his hand and whisper something. She comes back drinking her drink, “No he is asleep.”
“Very well, Luncheon will be in one hour.” Abby announced.
“What is it? What are you serving ?
“An assortment of tea sandwiches, Shaved cucumber and pear with dill cream cheese, roasted turkey with dried cranberry cream cheese on carrot cake, black forest ham, on whole grain with mustard cream cheese and pequillo peppers, a classic egg salad with herbed mayonnaise and watercress, smoked salmon with shallots and crème franche.”
Mal raised an eyebrow. “No, really, what do you have?”
Abby grinned and shrugged. “I didn’t make the menu.”
“Is it pre fab?”
“Oh, and the tea of course. Oh, never! Everything is freshly made and loaded just before take off.”
“Okay make a dish for Jack, I will wake him to eat.”
“Wren would have a shit fit and fall into the middle of it.” Mal says
Abby leaned over “I’ve got a few things I could toss together if you like something simpler.” Abby gestured at the shrimp “another round?”
“He will eat just about anything but fast food. I’m the picky one. Yes please I would enjoy that.”
Abby smiled, “Back in a moment.”
“There seems to be a disconnect here between this plane and the cottage…”
“A what?” she ate the shrimp.
“There is all like beach food and cooked on an open fire, but here…gourmet. Oh, ah … A couple of the White own a cottage down on the beach. They pretty much have a revolving door policy and the food is usually pretty simple.”
“We will see.” The more she talked, the less she liked this plan.
“Bring what you can afford and eat whatever you want and if you can’t afford, catch it next time. Not like anyone keeps track.”
She downed the rest of her cold drink, “Not sure how much beach, we will endure. Jack will decide.”
“Another? Or something else?” Mal laughs, “You sound like Fuji and Alicia…going to the beach for them is like walking on hot coals. If you want to find Fuji, look under some umbrella And Alicia is the one in the sweater.”
“Sounds like she might need a bigger one, for us to join her.”
Mal laughed, “I am sure that will appear out of nowhere like everything else.”
“How much longer?”
“You know, we could get one of this huge galvanized steel tubs…like a shallow hot tube….fill it with ice and instead of beer, drop Jack into it!”
Abby returned with more shrimp. “Just over two hours.”
“Okay three red bulls and another espresso coffee please.”
“Yeesh girl! You’re as bad as Fuji!”
“No I just haven’t had much sleep. I have to stay awake to watch over Jack.”
“In the can or would you prefer a frost glass?” Abby asked
“Frosted.”
Abby disappeared back up the aisle.
“You know if you need a nap, I’ll be awake, I can wake you if he needs you.”
Abby returned with a frosted mug, a can of Red bull and the espresso. “I’ll bring you another as soon as I see that one is nearing the bottom.”
“I have done it before”, she took a long draw on the red bull, “It’s only a few hours more.” Snowy dumped the espresso into the mug to cool. She rubbed her forehead, trying to maintain the pain.
Abby came up the aisle “We are starting down into San Diego, it is time for the young man to strap in.”
Snowy headed to the bed strapping him in than took a seat near him and buckling herself in.