by Bryan Cohen
Ted laughed. "That's not what I meant. I'm just glad you two are getting along."
Erica tightened her grip around Ted. "She loves to win. She also likes keeping her secrets."
Ted's tongue slid along his upper lip. "What do you know?"
Erica tousled the back of his hair. "We're BFFs now. I couldn't possibly divulge that information."
Ted spun around and caught Erica by the waist. "I swear, I'll kiss you until you tell me everything."
Erica could feel the anticipation grow in her chest. She couldn't believe how great it was to have him back. She put on a fake stern look. "I will never submit."
With that, Ted used his grip to roll Erica onto the grass beside the pond. She squealed and pretended to fight back against his hold. If she'd really wanted to escape, a few well-placed blows to the stomach and groin would get her out in an instant – but there was nothing she wanted to do less. After a few rotations, Ted lay on top of Erica and pressed his lips onto her cheek and neck. The tickling layer of hair on his face forced the laughter right out of her.
He pulled away for a split second. "Tell me!"
She could barely speak through her heaving belly laughs. "Holy crap. You... need a shave... so bad."
Ted went back to his kissing game and Erica's chest burned from too much laughter. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so happy, in this life or any of the others.
Ted rested his hips on hers and straightened his arms beside her to look straight down into her eyes. "This is your last warning. If you don't tell me all the rumors, I'm going to kiss you on the lips."
Erica felt twitchy with sensitivity, as if any part of his skin touching her would send her into another giggle attack. She took in a deep breath and let it out with a half-chuckle. "Do your worst."
As he pressed his lips into hers, Erica let everything go. Thoughts about training Ted, killing the gatekeeper and thwarting evil with Yoshi all fluttered away. There was only Ted and his mouth against hers. Erica closed her eyes and kissed him deeper. For all she cared, they could've been the only two people in the world as the sun began to set.
The sky was much darker an hour later when they lay beside each other and looked toward the stars. Erica felt light inside, as if the only things tethering her to the ground were her fingers intertwined with Ted's.
Ted broke the endless silence. "If I weren't a hero, would it be like this all the time?"
Erica almost couldn't bear Ted's cuteness. "A few things might be different."
"I know." Ted bit his lip. "You wouldn't be here. I might still be a dork."
Erica tickled Ted's thigh. "You are still a dork."
Ted re-gripped her hand. "I'm just staying, sometimes I wish... we could have fewer nights training and fighting evil, and more like this."
Erica shifted onto her side to face Ted and he did the same toward her. She spied the pain in Ted's eyes and locked his other hand in hers.
"You're back. That's what's important. I'm going to teach you your other powers. If the gatekeeper comes back, we'll find a way to stop her together." Erica leaned her neck in and kissed Ted on the cheek. "And after we do, we can celebrate with another night like this."
Most of the pain left Ted's look as he reached around Erica and pulled her close. Erica didn't want to tell him, but she wished she could take a break, too. Feeling his warm body pressed against hers almost made her forget they were in the middle of a war.
The pair walked back to Ted's house, arm-in-arm. The motion-sensing lights kicked in, which brought a black SUV into view in the Finley's driveway.
Erica's lightness gave way to a sense of dread. Her stomach squeezed. "Your friends are here."
Ted let out a deep breath. "I guess the government doesn't call ahead."
As they approached the vehicle, the door closest to them opened up. Erica recognized Vott and Harding right away.
"You two should come with us." Vott motioned the two of them forward. "We think we may be able to predict the next attack."
Chapter 15
Senator Kable sat at the head of a long table as his campaign manager prepared a series of slides on his laptop. There'd been hints of good news online, but Kable would only trust the hard evidence Terry presented to his staffers. His fingers tapped against the table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've got some great numbers today." Terry's grin boosted the mood in the room. "Let's take a look at Florida."
Kable clamped his hands together and leaned forward. Terry displayed a slide of polling numbers in the Sunshine State.
"Two weeks ago, Blake had a five-point lead." He pressed the button in his hand to shift to a new slide. "As of yesterday, the state is a complete toss up."
Joy filled the room. The state of Florida had been close in previous elections, but Blake's pull among the older population was set to make it a lock. Kable wondered if the polling would've been even more in his favor if he'd taken down the hospital with the patients still inside. He pushed aside the thought and clapped loudly.
"It's all because of you." Kable conjured a few tears. "I'm absolutely blessed to have all of you on board. You've made me a very happy man."
Kable watched as two staffers held each other while watching the tender moment he was faking. He wondered how often President Blake had fake-cried behind closed doors to rally the troops.
"Mr. Senator." Terry's grin had doubled in size. "We've got a surprise for you, too."
"Terry, if you make me happier than I am in this very moment, my heart might burst."
The staffers in the room laughed at that.
"We're just going to have to risk that, sir. Do you remember when you took pictures with patients a couple of days before the storm?"
Kable did his best to seem like he didn't understand. "Sure. I remember."
Terry clicked forward.
The next slide displayed Kable with his arm around a little girl – Sophie Kent. Two of the staffers gasped.
"We didn't know this at the time, but one of those pictures was with Sophie Kent. After it picked up some social traffic, we refashioned it into an ad." Terry pressed the button once again.
The picture now displayed text that read, "Because He Cares. Vote Kable to Keep Your Children Safe."
Kable nodded. "How much traffic has it gotten?"
Terry beamed. "It's been shared 250,000 times and counting."
The ovations in the room grew so loud that Kable could barely hear his phone when it rang. The caller ID told him it was his wife.
The senator held up his hand. "Please, don't stop celebrating on my part! Marriage calls."
Kable received a thumbs-up before he stepped out of the room. "Hello, dear."
"Are you at a bar? If so, I'm jealous."
Kable laughed. Even through the door it sounded as if he'd already won the election, despite the reality of being several states short.
"Just some happy news, darling. Can't wait to share it with you tonight."
Mrs. Kable let out a girlish giggle. His staffers had questioned him marrying a younger woman so close to the election, but he told them they'd made it work for the campaign.
"I'm so glad to hear that. I wanted to tell you I've got something special for tonight. You'll be home for dinner?"
Kable knew he finally had the life he deserved. "Of course. Anything for you."
"Good, then I'll see your sexy face later."
Kable laughed as a warm feeling came over him. "Until then, love."
The room had settled a bit when Kable re-entered. All the big news of Terry's presentation had been given at the top. Kable let himself daydream a bit and think about what his wife might have in store. As Terry's talk ended, he left the floor open for questions. Kable let several staffers have their moment in the sun before he put the next step of his plan into motion.
"Terry, how would you describe our bases of operation in Ohio and North Carolina?"
Terry's smile faded. "I'm not going to lie to you, sir. They
could be way better."
Kable had predicted that would be the answer. "That's fine, Terry. Let's take a few folks out of our lock states and move them there. I want twice as many people on the ground as Blake."
The people beside him at the table seemed confused. They had good reason to be. While Ohio and North Carolina were two other so-called purple states, swinging either red or blue depending on the year, both were headed in Blake's direction.
"Sir, if you don't mind my asking–"
Kable gave a flashy smile. "Your questions make me a better man, Terry. Go ahead."
The compliment seemed to settle Terry's nerves. "Don't you think our resources could be allocated better elsewhere?"
Kable stood up. "Terry, you've got a good point, but I have a gut feeling about this." He looked around the room, addressing different staffers at the end of each phrase. "We've got Blake on the ropes in Florida, but that alone isn't going to win this election. We've got to trust ourselves and trust that we can pull this thing out. There are a lot of long nights ahead, everybody, but I promise you, if we work together on this and go with our gut, we're bound to find ourselves in the White House in January."
After a moment of silence, Terry began clapping. The rest of the room joined in with several hollers and whistles accompanying the applause. A chant of "Kable! Kable!" effectively ended the meeting.
As Kable got in his car to drive home, he noticed a shimmer of blue in the backseat. By the time he glanced in his rear-view mirror, a pale woman with jet-black hair appeared and stared right back into his eyes. The gatekeeper looked sullen.
"Sela, my dear." Kable started the car and pulled out onto the road. "We'll have to make this quick – my wife is expecting me any minute."
Kable watched as Sela nursed a wound on her shoulder.
"I wasn't able to get the sword. Or the books."
Kable's loud laugh startled Sela, causing her to jump a few inches in her seat.
"My poor gatekeeper. It was never my intention for you to succeed."
Sela's confusion amused Kable. It was almost as fun as hearing about his rising poll numbers.
"You wanted me to fail."
"It's all part of the plan. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."
Sela seethed with anger. He watched as her chest began to heave faster and faster.
"Do you know how easy it would be to put a portal right under your car? I could send you to a world that's deeper and darker than anything you've ever seen. You would burn. Forever."
Kable liked the confrontation. It allowed him to feel something he hadn't felt for quite a while: the hint of a real battle.
"Sela, you can't know every part of the plan. It's just how it is. You'll still have the role we discussed when everything falls into place."
The statement seemed to pacify the backseat passenger for a moment. She dragged her nails across the leather. "I don't see why we can't just lead an army in and take the place over."
Kable nodded. "I know it seems like that would be the best plan, but there's an easier way. If we go about it diplomatically, we may be able to take this world without losing a single soldier."
Sela laughed. Kable found the sound creepy coming from such a serious warrior.
"I wasn't aware of your deep desire to preserve life."
Kable pulled into his driveway and parked the car. He turned around to view the gatekeeper head on.
"Just our own lives, Ms. Fortbright. Just our own. I'll contact you soon about the next step. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a dinner date."
Sela assented and disappeared from the back in a flash of blue light.
The aroma of savory meat and spices hit Kable as soon as he walked in. He glanced the delicious-looking spread on the table and noticed two open bottles of wine on the kitchen counter. In the midst of it all was his wife. Her long black hair couldn't have been more different-looking from when he'd met her, and she also wore makeup that made her look more mature than her actual age. Her hair and makeup weren't what caught the bulk of his attention, though. The low-cut black dress with an apron tied around the waist made him feel like he'd just walked into heaven.
"Honey, I'm home."
Mrs. Kable moved across the room as if she were gliding. She wrapped her hands around his midsection and kissed him on the lips.
"I can see that." She gestured back to the food and wine. "What do you think of this spread?"
Kable smiled and shook his head. "You've outdone yourself. It's a good thing I married someone who knows her way around a kitchen."
She undid the apron and let it fall to the ground. Her dress was stunning as it hugged every curve on her body.
"And I'm glad I married a man who likes to eat." She patted his stomach.
Before she could pull her hand away, Kable took hold over her wrist. He rubbed his fingers on the top of her hand and felt the thin layer of makeup. She smiled devilishly at him as he scratched through the concealer to reveal one wing of a rainbow-colored butterfly tattoo.
She used her free hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Do you miss the old me?"
Kable took his attention off her hand and brought it back to her eyes. "Nothing in the world will ever change who you are on the inside, Sandra."
Chapter 16
Agents Vott and Harding took Ted and Erica just outside of town. They drove past Wayne Park, a popular place for the area's teens to park, and came upon what looked like an abandoned power station. The car stopped and the agents ushered the high schoolers out. Ted gripped Erica's hand as they passed through an open gate of a fenced-off area. The warning signs on the outside looked as though they'd been posted at least 50 years ago.
An elevator dropped them down for several minutes until the unassuming location gave way to a secret underground facility. The doors opened to reveal a massive compound. Ted felt like he was in some kind of spy movie. The main area was all shiny metal with touch screens, computers and panels in every direction. It reminded him of the GHA headquarters, though this was much more impressive.
Vott interrupted Ted's self-guided tour with a pat on the back. "We're sorry we interrupted your date."
Erica coughed. "That's okay. It's always been my dream to end a date by going into a creepy unmarked vehicle."
Harding sported a crooked grin. "If it's any consolation, I missed the end of a really great Nats game on TV."
Ted and Erica shared a glance. "It's not," they said in unison.
Vott and Harding led them through the compound. Of the 50 people Ted saw working there, only one or two seemed to notice them.
What are they doing? And why are they doing it here?
Agent Vott opened a door and gestured for them to sit down in a conference room not much larger than Sheriff Norris' detention cell. They took two chairs next to each other and Ted looked up at his former handlers.
"So. What's this about, guys?"
Harding switched off a light and flipped on the controls for a holographic interface. It took Ted's eyes a moment to adjust to the display, but once they did, he could see a green map of the United States. There were red dots in certain parts of the map. Most of them were concentrated in Treasure, but there were others in Colorado, California, Florida and some of the other places Ted had visited during the summer.
Vott paced the length of the room, his loafers tapping with each step. "While we appreciated your service with the government this summer, we must admit, having you save lives wasn't the only reason we brought you to work with us."
Erica let out a huff. "What? The government keeping secrets? I thought you had a 100% transparency policy."
Harding leaned forward. "Actually, the government doesn't have an official position on–"
Vott squeezed his partner's shoulder. "She's kidding, Harding." He focused back on Ted and Erica. "Our scientists have been working overtime to learn more about your powers. In the process, we've developed a system that tracks when you've accessed them."
Ted unders
tood the map even better now. It wasn't just a collection of all the places he'd visited. It was measuring all the otherworldly energy present in the U.S. Ted heard Erica's breath quicken beside him. He placed his hand on her leg and she gripped it.
"We detected several traces of this kind of energy while Ted was out of town." Vott locked eyes with Erica. "And we've traced that power back to you, Ms. LaPlante."
Harding pointed in her direction. "If that's who you really are!"
Vott rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Harding."
Harding pouted. "I thought... I mean, we don't really know who she is."
Ted felt his heartbeat speed up. The world had more or less embraced him, but it was more difficult to explain who Erica was and why she was there. What would the government think if they knew she was part of a war that placed Earth right in the middle?
Vott turned the light back on and sat across from Ted and Erica. He pulled out a notepad and a pencil. "We know you disappeared for about a month and you returned on the day Ted fought Nigel and the other... beings. We also know that Stucky Crane died two days later and seemingly came back from the dead with enhanced abilities." Vott took the pencil in his hands and placed the point on the notebook. "This picture is half-painted, Ms. LaPlante. Paint the rest of it for me."
Ted's eyes grew wide as he looked at Erica once again. He'd known her long enough to guess the two options she was playing over in her head. One possibility was to fight off Vott and Harding before escaping the facility and living in hiding the rest of her mission. The other would be to share part, but not all, of the story. When she let out a breath of relief, Ted assumed she'd take the later path.
"I was sent here to protect Ted by the same people who gave him his powers."
Vott took down a note or two and leaned forward in his chair. "Are these the same people who gave Nigel his powers? Or Albert Redican?"
Ted knew that Erica was the one on the spot here, but he couldn't help but feel the anxiety coursing through his body as well. The heel of his foot bounced up and down against the floor.
