Quake Chapter Eight

When we returned to the familial homestead, Mom had spread the table with coffee, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and board games. Of course Simon couldn’t play but he had a good time laughing at our poker faces. He did compliment me on mine but then again I was trained and tended to wear my poker face more often than not.

“Mom,” Dirk said when they had left for the hotel. “Would you like to know who Simon and Robin really are?”

My Mother went ridged. “What do you mean son?”

“The deli has only been a cover to keep an eye on us. They really belong to a secret military operation called the Special Intelligence Division. Shia accidentally discovered who they really were.”

Mother sighed and looked into her son’s eyes. “How much do you know?”

“We met with Uncle Strep today. He told us a bit about Dad.”

She nodded. “I have signed the official secrecy act. I can not tell you as much as you would like to know but I can tell you all about your father now that doesn’t involve SID. I am sure you both mean to join them?”

“Yes.” Dirk said immediately.

“I’m not sure.” I told her.

“Well let me tell you both this. Before you go jumping into anything remember your father. SID is not all fun and games. Your life and those of your future families may be at risk.”

We nodded.

After a moment Mom smiled at us. “I had hoped you would never find out. I thought I would be angry or sad if you did but now that it has happened…..I don’t feel either of those things.” She said as she sat down on the couch.

Dirk sat next to her and asked. “How do you feel about it? I don’t want to join if you are totally against it.”

“I’m not sure. I think I feel somewhat relieved. Now we can talk about things we never have before and I feel like a barrier has been removed from between us now that I do not have to keep so many secrets. ”

I sat on her other side. “So tell us then. About Dad.”


****

It was daylight before we went to sleep and Dirk was already gone when I got up. I dressed quickly and went downstairs. Mom was still home and she sat with a to go cup of coffee next to her at the kitchen table. She held it out to me.

“Do you think Dad would be disappointed with us?” I asked her.

“Yes. I think he would understand though. He has kept you safe for this long. Now it is time to make your own decisions about your future.”
****

It was fifteen minutes after ten when I pulled mom’s car into the hotel’s parking lot. I hesitated only a moment before I walked into the conference room. I had expected to see Robin, Simon, James, Strep and Dirk but there were also three other men there I didn’t recognize and Robin was absent. When I walked in Strep looked up at me not at all surprised to see me. Simon flashed a huge grin on me like he was surprised to see me. Dirk jumped up out of his seat and hugged me. It took me a second to register that a stereo was playing in the corner of the room. Classical music was playing on a very low setting. It made the atmosphere calm and soothing.

“So what did I miss?” I asked sitting down.

Robin walked in at that moment and smiled at me delightedly.

“Robin it looks like you will have to add one more to the lunch list.” Strep informed her.

“Ok. Be right back.” She said brightly and bounded out of the room.

“To answer your question Shia we haven’t gotten much past introductions which we will make again. You already know Simon, James and Robin. This is Milo Hall,” He said gesturing to an elderly black man with a thin frame and kind face. “This is Brian Stewart who is assigned to Maebell protection,” here he gestured to a man who seemed the same age as me or maybe a little younger. “and lastly this is Dale Stewart who is the head of our recruiting department.” The two Stewarts, both red headed with blocky features were definitely related. Either Father and son or Uncle and nephew, I guessed.

I told them all it was nice to meet them though I wondered at Strep’s omission of what Milo’s role in this meeting was.

The meeting lasted about an hour with more Q&A over lunch. I paid close attention to everything that was said but couldn’t help but watch Milo out of the corner of my eye. He had a legal pad in front of him that he wrote in every so often during our discussion.

After lunch was eaten and the table cleared Stewart senior passed Dirk and I huge pamphlets to look through and sign. Dirk tackled them immediately but I hesitated.

“Could I take a walk?”

Strep nodded.

I left the hotel and walked aimlessly around the grounds. I did not want to take this decision lightly. Not that I thought Dirk was, I just take longer to stew than he does.

“Shia.” An unfamiliar voice called to me from behind. I turned to see Milo walking slowly towards me. “Can I help you in any way?”

I shrugged. “You couldn’t hurt me.”

Milo was stick thin and walked just a little hunched. I startled him a little by looping my arm through his and walking with him.

“Phishaw. Your in the south now. This is standard practice here.”

“I’m from upstate New York so forgive me if I am unused to this kind of treatment. Where I come from if a stranger touches you it is never for a friendly reason.”

I smiled at him. “I have to say I am very glad I am from the south.”

He smiled back at me. “Now for the important matters. What is causing you this distress I feel? I don’t think it is at the prospect of joining SID. I feel fairly confident your mind is already made up in that department.”

I looked at him quizzically. “So is that what you do? You feel my emotions?”

“Well that could be a figure of speech but since it comes from a member of SID I could see why you would be suspicious. And you are correct. I can feel what you feel as you feel it and can associate it with what is going on around you.”

“So you have been writing down our emotions through the whole meeting?”

He nodded.

“Why not have Simon write down what our emotions are and what we are thinking?”

“Simon can not feel your emotions and there are ways to combat his gift. There is no way to hide your feelings on the inside. Even someone that can mask their mind, body language and facial expressions” he looked at me slyly. “can not lie to me.”

“Well that sure is disturbing.”

“And useful.”

“Are there many like you?”

“None exactly like me. There are some with the gift to feel one or two emotions. And you are avoiding the topic. I have answered your questions now answer mine. What makes you reluctant to join?”

“I am not really sure myself Milo. You have to think I have only just learned of this and about my father. It is a lot to process and I am sure you can tell, a lot of emotional turmoil as well. I am sure I won’t regret joining but I guess I am afraid I won’t do well.” I hesitated. “I have never been good at anything.” I confessed.

He squeezed my arm. “Trust me, you will find what you are good at. SID has a way of training the untrainable and polishing rough stones to glitter like jewels. Take Simon. He was a hard case but we never gave up on him and now he is one of the best men in the division.”

My eyebrows rose. “Hum.” I mused trying to picture Simon younger and wild. I could picture it pretty easily. I am sure the young girls didn’t stand a chance around him.

Milo looked at me. “What are you thinking Simon was like when he was younger?”

“How do you know I am thinking about that?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “I know how you feel when Simon is mentioned or near so since we are speaking of his troubled past I deduce you are imagining him in all the wrong ways.”

I stifled a blush before it could go much farther than my neck. Though I am not sure why I bothered. Must be a reflex.

“I assure you that was never the case. It was his abilities that were hard to control. I know it is hard to believe but Simon has never been one for chased women and getting rowdy. Oh sure plenty have sought him but imagine if you could hear your prospective date’s every thought. Not just about you but about other people. It has helped him weed out many a fake flower.”

I said nothing. I felt foolish. I could see where what Milo said made sense but it was still hard to believe. Simon was a man after all.

“Robin too had her difficulties. We thought she would never get past stage one with her wind working. Even now her strongest talent is not her wind working ability. She is super fast and very smart.”

“You are probably right but I feel like I am going into a dark tunnel without knowing what is on the other side.”

“Well Shia, that’s half the fun of it.” He smiled at me and I chuckled at him.

Our meanderings had led us back to the double glass doors of the hotel. My heart gave a jerk when I looked through them and saw Simon in the foyer, arms crossed looking out at me. I also cursed that Milo had felt my heart flip flop as well. “I know how you feel when Simon is mentioned or near.” he had said. Ugh. I did know one thing that would be on the other side of the tunnel. No privacy for my mind or my emotions. I wondered if there was someone who could look through walls too. Wouldn’t that be just great.

Milo unlocked his arm from mine and opened the door for me. I didn’t look at Simon as I passed him and went into the conference room but I felt his eyes on my back. I sat at the table where my stack still sat undisturbed and picked up the pen.

“Alright.” I said. “Let’s do this.”