Maetha says, “Calli, I can see a piece of shrapnel in your leg.
“I pulled it out.”
“You still have a piece just below the entry wound of the other. Brace yourself. I’m going to remove it.”
I look away and flinch when I feel her fingers dig into my flesh, reminding me of the pain I endured only a few days ago when Marketa did the same thing. I squeeze the edges of the mat, breathe in sharply, and hold back the yelp that wants to escape my lips.
“There,” she says. I look over and see her holding a jagged piece about one-inch long. She examines it closely, then puts it down. “Are you able to use your powers now?”
I focus on the healing ability and feel myself access the diamond. The strength is muted a bit but seems to be coming back into my control. I nod my head.
“Great,” she says. “Help me with the others.”
“Okay.” I remove the quartz blanket and focus my power. Soon I’m able to stand up with no pain. In the far corner, I see Crimson. I didn’t see her before Maetha removed the second piece. She’s obviously invisible to everyone else. I ask her with my mind, How long have you been there?
The whole time.
So, the confusion substance doesn’t affect your ability to use powers on people? I mean, that’s why they can’t see you, right?
That’s correct. This substance is not as disabling as obsidian. Now that your power is restored, you’ll be able to heal others like Maetha did with you. It seems this substance would be effective to disable an opponent long enough to kill them either with a power or with traditional means. Now, go help the others.
I hurry over to Chuang, figuring his injuries seem to be the worst. Plus, he’s a Bearer. If he’s healed, he can help with the others.
Chuang waves his hand in the air as if he’s shooing me away. “Get away from me. I’ll wait for Maetha.”
Jie Wen also declines my help, although not as rudely.
I move on to Duncan.
Duncan says, “Don’t waste your time on me, Calli. Help them.” He motions to the scientists.
I don’t argue with him and move to Tod and Mishell. Tod points to Sarangerel and says, “Help her first.”
Is everybody going to decline my help? I glance over to Maetha. In the time I’ve tried to help someone, Maetha has removed the glass from Brand’s leg. However, I do understand why Sarangerel’s parents would want their child helped first. My parents would do the same thing.
Positioning myself in front of Sarangerel, I remove the Healer blanket and scan her body. She has three wounds, none of which are deep. I give instructions for her to lift her sleeve to her shoulder. As she does so, I overhear Bearers’ voices in what they think is a private conversation.
This is her fault. She shouldn’t have tried to run the show.
She can’t help herself. She knows she’s Crimson’s pet.
I don’t like that we have to listen to her or else we risk Marketa’s fate.
Sarangerel cries out as I pull out the first piece. I issue pain relief and stop the bleeding with my diamond, then move onto the other two injuries. Some of her clothing has to be moved aside or ripped to gain access.
Look at her. She thinks she’s a doctor.
I resist the intense urge to fire back a retort and stay focused on what I’m doing. Maetha has moved onto Jonas’s injuries. I become aware of what’s going on. Maetha, probably under Crimson’s direction, is healing in the order of importance, not urgency. The younger Bearers are apparently more important. Even though Brand isn’t a Bearer, his power is definitely important. After what he declared about having his quartz inserted, I think he’s getting closer to accepting a diamond.
Maetha moves to Jie Wen after finishing up with Jonas. Interesting she chooses him over Chuang, or Duncan for that matter.
I help Tod and Mishell. While doing so, I read their minds. Collectively, they wonder how Maetha and I are doing what we’re doing, but they know better than to question at this time. Clearly, they don’t know about the diamonds.
I overhear Maetha and Jie Wen talking. Maetha says, “You should have your power back. Try again.”
“It’s still muddled.”
“Keep the blanket on until you gain control of your powers.” Maetha then moves to Chuang. She says, “You have shrapnel and a bullet wound. I’m going to remove the bullet from your side first.”
I finish with Tod and Mishell and move back over to Duncan to begin working on him. His injuries are flesh wounds, minor, with no remaining shards of confusion glass. Yet, his powers are still jumbled for some reason. I delve deeper with my mind into his wounds, searching on the cellular level. The small specks of glass are easily identifiable to me. No bigger than grains of salt, and some being the size of a grain of powder, I try to determine the best way to clear out his body. Should I use my greater Healing power? Or should I tell Maetha’s mind, alerting her to the presence of the tiny fragments and let her remove them. I have to imagine this is also the reason Jie Wen doesn’t have his powers back yet.
I decide to ask Crimson. I describe what I see to her then ask, What should I do in this situation?
She replies, The health of those three Bearers does not change the outcome of the overall future. Revealing the fact that you have the greater Healing power, however, does. The choice is yours. If you feel the time is right to let them know the extent of your powers, then go ahead.
Is there anything I can do for him without exposing my greater Healing power?
No. With enough time, Duncan’s body will push the substance out like a splinter.
I overhear Maetha’s words to Chuang. “The bullet was full of powder, which is now inside your belly. I can’t get it out.”
I move over to Maetha and say, “If he was operated on, the powder could be removed with the same tool they use to suction excess blood.”
“Get her away from me. I don’t want to hear any of her nonsense.”
I walk over to Chris by the other two guys and sit down.
Brand says, loud enough for Chuang to hear, “Well, that’s a fine insult. She’s just trying to help your sorry butt.”
“She’s the reason I’m hurt like this.”
“No, she’s not. I am,” Brand defends.
“What do you mean?” Chuang turns his head and looks at Brand.
Brand says, “I positioned you to be a shield to protect Sarangerel from being killed. It was the last repeat I performed—the one where everyone lived. You’re just a whiner because you probably haven’t felt real pain for a long time and you want to blame Calli for it.”
Chuang, offended good and well, says, “If we’d followed Jie Wen’s plan and used weapons first—”
“Ha! Jie Wen’s plan,” Brand scoffs. He speaks to Jie Wen, “Do you want to tell him how well that worked out for us?”
Jie Wen doesn’t respond. He only narrows his eyes and crosses his arms.
Brand looks back at me with an irritated expression and shakes his head a moment. Then he speaks in a more serious tone. “So, you’re going to be like that? Well, Jie Wen, you asked specifically for me to be on this mission. I took you on several repeats to show you what was going to go wrong. And now you’re going to sit there and support Chuang in his bull-headed stupidity? You know what? Don’t bother asking for my help again.”
The air crackles with tension. I want to look behind me to see if Crimson is still there hearing this but decide not to.
Brand adds, “I completed what you asked for: safe entrance into the bunker, safe retrieval of the family, computer files extracted, quartz blankets acquired, keep everyone alive upon exiting. What I want to know is what was so damned important?”
Tod speaks up. “Young man, the importance lies in the computer files. They detail all the studies and tests that have taken place over decades, manipulating DNA, creating strange powers, removing powers, etc.”
I pick up on the Bearers speaking with their thoughts. Why don’t you have your powers
back, Jie Wen?
Why don’t you?
The question you two need to be asking yourself is why does she?
The hair prickles on the back of my neck. The last comment made had a new energy to it, one I haven’t detected before when the dissenters talk to each other. Could it be Maetha’s thoughts?
You’re right. Jonas’s powers aren’t restored yet, like ours. Why her?
Brand and Tod’s discussion goes on in the background as the Bearers conspire. When Tod talks about the quartz Healing blankets, I think to myself how one of these blankets would have been useful on New Year’s Eve.
I turn my thoughts to Chris and speak to his mind. Guess I’m not invincible yet. Or indestructible.
His expression softens and his lips pinch at one corner. I wish you weren’t determined to find out if you are or not.
I didn’t get injured on purpose, Chris.
I know. Calli, I have to go now. I need to get ready for work.
What time is it there?
Twelve hours behind you. I’ll come see you as soon as I can. He winks at me and vanishes. I use the opportunity to look around the room only to find Crimson is gone, too.
I reflect on the events and decide I should never knowingly put myself in a situation where I can be killed again. I have a responsibility to keep humanity alive, and I must survive. I’m only virtually indestructible. I can’t bank on that keeping me alive.
In the background, I listen as the Bearers and scientists and Brand discuss the goings on at the bunker. With the exception of the quartz blankets and confusion glass, it sounds like an identical setup as General Harding’s facility.
I absentmindedly say, “We need to find the source, the manufacturer, of the machine.”
All heads turn my way.
Chuang protests, “How? We don’t even know if there is one.”
“There was a company listed in the files from the Denver compound. Vor-hair, Vor-something. Anyway, I’ll bet they’re in the files from the bunker, too.”
Maetha says, “We’ll have to examine the files. For now, we need to get back to Bermuda.”
Jie Wen sits taller and says, “I’m staying here.”
“That’s your choice. Capt. Rutherfield has alerted me the flight plans are in place. Chuang, I suggest you come with me so I can help you through your healing process.” She turns to Tod and Mishell. “Your family will be safest on my private island. We have a fully functional lab where you can continue your work, plus we are in the process of building our own power-removing machine.”
“What?” I interject. “Why are you building one?”
Jonas turns to me. “Calli, we’re in an arms race. If they’ve already figured out how to disable us, we need to know how to counter it.”
Brand jumps in. “Hey, I want my quartz inserted before I go anywhere.”
Maetha looks Brand up and down. “I don’t think that’s a good idea at this time. You’ll need time to heal and an appropriate place to do so. The island would be perfect, not 30,000 feet in the sky.”
Brand grumbles loudly but concedes.
* * *
I can’t believe how quickly we’re up in the air again and on our way back to Bermuda. One thing’s for sure: everything goes smoother when you’re leaving Chinese airspace than entering.
For the first many hours, I listen to Chuang and Duncan speak Mandarin to Tod, Mishell, and Sarangerel. Even though I can’t understand them, I know they are being educated about cosmic powers, clans, governments, and the little that we know to date, based on their hand gestures. The exhaustively long stretch of hours that lay ahead of us is not fun to think about. However, with the newly acquired files and information, at least it won’t be boring.
Brand and Jonas sit by me, Jonas on his laptop computer, Brand on his phone texting Beth. I send a few texts back and forth with my parents, then I settle back and take a nap.
I am awaked to Brand complaining. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”
Maetha shrugs her shoulders. “I won’t have time to help you for a few weeks. There’s no point in you living on the island for that long without a purpose.”
“Huh?” Brand sounds dejected.
“Every soul on the island has to be cared for. From food and extra electricity usage down to toilet paper. If you don’t have a purpose for being on the island, I’d rather you not be there. I’ll let you know when I have the time to devote to inserting the quartz. Until then, don’t lose your head.”
* * *
We arrive in Bermuda and drop off Maetha, Chuang, Jonas, Sarangerel, and her parents. Duncan, Brand and I begin our flight to the U.S., with a quick stop in Washington D.C. to drop off Duncan.
Brand and I don’t talk much for the rest of the way to Denver. He sits by Captain Rutherfield, asking unending questions about flying. My mind swims with topics, including the upcoming cosmic blast to hit Portland. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with the knowledge the enemy has confusion quartz glass and can’t decide which is worse: the confusion glass or obsidian. Both stop the use of powers, but confusion glass is easily created with an unending supply where obsidian has a finite amount. Of course, without the power-removing machine, the quartz cannot be charged with any power.
All of this information needs to be shared with the clans and they need to join together to help one another defend against our common foe. I don’t know what I can say to convince them how serious this is. I don’t know if they’ll even listen to me. More pressing is I need them to unite to help with the Portland blast.
I let out a deep exhale and lay my head back on the seat, closing my eyes. To say I feel overwhelmed is quite the understatement.
* * *
Our taxi comes to a stop outside Chris’s father’s house in Denver. I pay the driver and Brand pulls our luggage out of the trunk. The freezing temperature and layer of snow and ice is a stark contrast to what we left in China.
Chris’s voice enters my head as soon as we get inside.
Calli, you’re not going to believe this. Max called me.
He did?
Are you in a secure location that I can bi-locate to you?
Yes.
Chris’s form materializes next to me in the living room. He looks around. “You should bring everyone in here so they can all hear.”
“I think it’s just me and Brand.”
“Where’s Maetha?”
“She stayed in Bermuda to help Chuang.”
Brand comes out from his room with a note in his hand. “Oh, hi Chris.” He waves the note. “Beth and Anika are on a task and should be back tomorrow.”
Chris looks at me. “I wish I could be there with you.”
“You are,” I say with a smile, trying to calm his worry. I know he’s uncomfortable with Brand and I being alone after what he divulged before we left for China. “What did Max say when he called?”
Brand’s attention comes to full stop and his eyes widen.
Chris says, “He called to ask for money. He said he had to flee the country because the Diamond people knew who he was. I was surprised he admitted he ran the blog. I asked him why he lied to me about it and he said he didn’t know for sure which side I was on. He warned me about ‘their’ plan to take over the world. He said people with powers want to rise up and take over governments, countries, and everything and we must fight back. I asked him what he thought I should do. He told me to get some obsidian from my father’s compound and stick close to the government. Only they could save us now.”
I ask, “Did you ask where he was?”
“Yes. He said overseas, then apologized, saying he couldn’t risk giving that information over phone lines.”
Brand says, “Didn’t he say anything about shooting Calli?”
“He didn’t, but I did. I was careful not to let on that I personally knew what happened. I said the news showed cell phone footage of him holding a gun aimed at Calli. He had already shot her in the arm. His reply was, ‘Yeah, I did that.�
�”
Brand grunts insults.
Chris continues. “I pressed him further, saying he’s a better shot than that. With that close of range he should have been able to hit her right between the eyes.” Chris pauses, looks at me, “Sorry, Calli.” He continues. “Max said he wasn’t trying to kill you, just as you suspected, Calli. He wanted to test out the bullets he stole.”
I ask, “If he stole the bullets, he would have a limited supply. What about his connection with Marketa? Did he mention that?”
“Only that he wondered if the news reported what happened to you and the other woman. I said only that you reported to the police station to give your side of the story. The other woman wasn’t with you. He didn’t like that answer.”
“Do you think he’s waiting to hear from Marketa? I mean, they were in this together. Maybe they had a place chosen to run and he’s frustrated she hasn’t joined him.”
Chris says, “Anything is possible. He still seemed to treat me with suspicion.”
Brand adds, “It sounds to me like he’s suspicious of everyone. He can’t tell who has a superpower and who doesn’t. He’s threatened by anyone and everyone.”
I say, “He did this to himself.”
“I have to go now, Calli,” Chris says apologetically. “Would you relay my news to the other Bearers?”
“Yes.”
We say our goodbyes and Chris’s form disappears from view.
Brand stands and paces back and forth. “I wouldn’t be able to keep my cool like Chris if I was in the same situation with Max.”
“Yes, he’s extremely level-headed in tense situations.”
“I wasn’t when we were in China. You didn’t see it, but I lost it several times. Most of them because you had just died and it was my fault.”
I don’t know what to say. My memories of the bunker are vivid enough without knowing the might-have-beens. I look into Brand’s eyes. “Hey, you were successful. No one died. You did great!”
“Thanks.” He sways his shoulders back and forth and looks to the floor. “I wish Beth was here. I need a hug.”
I know what he’s trying to do. I think for a second that a hug would be appropriate right now, as a thank you for saving my life. But is that how Brand would interpret it? Or Chris, for that matter. What about Beth? Instead I say, “I wish Beth was here too. Be sure to give her an extra big hug when you see her next. I’m going to make some tea. Would you like some?”
The Diamond Bearers' Rising Page 10
