My head spins, but not like when Brand repeats. I wipe my hands again and swallow hard. Maybe a glass of water will help me feel better. I stand to walk toward the kitchen and feel faint. Before I can access my healing power, Chris is instantly by my side, putting an arm behind me and grabbing onto my elbow with the other hand.
“Sit down, Calli. I’ll get you that glass of water.”
My eyes follow him. I thought I had blocked my thoughts effectively. How did he know I was heading for water? If he was Brand, I’d know he’d repeated. Can Chris repeat? Maybe he has one of the quartz prisms.
Chris approaches with a glass of water in his hand. I try to read his mind but can’t. I scan his body to see if I can detect a crystal or anything. Nope.
“Here you go. You look a lot better now. You were so pale, I thought you might pass out or something. Good thing I looked over when I did, right?”
“Yeah.” I accept the water and down the whole glass. I probably over-analyzed the situation. I guess Chris was simply paying close attention to my needs.
Crimson must have opened the door while I was having my mini-crisis because a short, husky man now stands by her side. She extends her hand to me and says, “Calli, come with me.”
I take her offered hand and stand, giving Chris my empty glass.
She’s infusing my body with healing strength, I can tell. She guides me past the dining room table, picking up a box as she goes. Then she directs me to my room. Once inside she says, “Sit down on the bed and try to relax.”
I do as she orders.
“I apologize for not being able to help you understand more about this task right now. The healing power isn’t able to make you comprehend because lack of comprehension isn’t an illness or injury, unfortunately.” She reaches in the box and pulls out a flash drive, then sets the box down on the floor by the night stand. I’ll bring in the laptop so you can look over the files on this.”
She hands me the drive.
“Try to get your mind off what we just discussed. Put your focus elsewhere for now, please.”
I nod my head. She leaves and returns shortly with the computer, then leaves the room, closing my door behind her. My eyes drop to the small stick that holds government secrets. Beyond it, I see the box on the floor. Inside are the prisms from the machine. I bend forward and grab the bundle and count them. Twelve. It was silly of me to think Chris had repeated, I conclude.
I take the laptop and reposition myself on the bed. After inserting the flash drive into the USB slot, I start opening files. Right away I realize how big of a job this will be. Some files have at least ten levels of files within files. Others are encrypted.
My mind wanders while I stare blankly at the screen. The thought of being the leader during the upcoming cosmic blast is so overwhelming. How am I going to get the other Diamond Bearers to listen to me? Will Crimson have to follow me around, thumping her fists on the table, ordering everyone to do as I say? She doesn’t have time for that. Besides, she probably knows that’s not going to work. The Bearers need to respect me before they’ll decide to follow my orders. Based on at least four of their opinions, that’s not going to be happening soon.
I return my focus to the screen. I open a file named “Power Generator” and find a few saved website pages of different kinds of rapid-speed generators. I remember that General Harding brought in one of these generators to be able to recharge the power-removing machine faster. I pause to think. This was probably one of the last files General Harding worked on before his death.
A file named “Vorherrschaft” within the power generator file catches my eye. I click on it and find a receipt for a generator. The date is recent. Vorherrschaft and an address are written in the top left corner. Switzerland.
I open the internet browser and search for Vorherrschaft. Several translation sites for German to English are listed and I click on one. Words like domination, supremacy, force majeure, and superiority show up. Well, I think to myself, anyone who would choose this word as their company title should probably be taken seriously.
I try to view the future of the upcoming blast by imagining myself in Portland. Nothing comes to mind. I look for strange powers emerging, but get nowhere. How do other Bearers search the future? I decide to look for my death. Again, nothing. Well, that’s kind of cool, I suppose. I look for Chris’s death and see myself slamming the diamond into his bare chest. Ironically, I’ll have to kill him so he can live forever.
Using my intense hearing, I eavesdrop on the conversations in the front room. Of course, it’s not like I’m spying. I could be in there, hearing everything along with them.
I hear Chris say, “I don’t want any of it, except the money, and that’s only so I can help my mother get out of debt and so I can provide for Calli and me.”
“You don’t want the house in your name?”
“No. Or the car, . . . or the ashes. You can take them with you.”
Crimson says, “Chris, you should hold onto his ashes for when you’re ready to deal with his death.”
“I already have.”
“No, you haven’t.
“What do you know?” Chris’s tone is full of anger and resentfulness.
“Chris,” Crimson’s voice drops a level, “have you forgotten I was there the day your powers emerged, Chris? I was there for you when you voiced your sadness for being written off by your father. I’ve helped you all along the way and not once have I seen you properly cope with the destroyed relationship between you and your father. Not that you could―you didn’t know how. Now that he’s dead, you need to let go of the unfulfilled desire to earn back his love.”
“That’s easier said than done.” Chris’s tone has quieted, and he sounds calmer. “I wouldn’t have made it all those years without you, Crimson. You were my rock. But I don’t need to grieve like you think I do.”
I hear some footsteps, then Chris’s voice saying, “I’ll keep this urn right here next to his rock collection.”
“I think that’s a good idea, Chris,” Crimson compliments. “Melvin, have we finished with the details?”
“I’ll draw up the papers and use the power of attorney form to process the death certificate for the life insurance policy. This will take a little time, but I’ll let you know when everything is switched over in ownership or if I run into any snags.”
“Thank you, Melvin,” Crimson says. The sounds of the front door opening and closing tell me Melvin has left.
My thoughts turn to Chris. What must he be feeling right now? This must be difficult for him to be in his father’s home, now complete with his ashes, having to deal with final arrangements. He’s in need of comforting. Yet, so am I. My mind is still reeling from learning about my mission. How will I be able to help him when I need help too?
The bedroom door opens, and Crimson and Chris enter the room.
“How are you feeling, Calli?” she asks.
“Better,” I say as Chris sits beside me and takes my hand in his. “How are you?” I ask Chris.
“Fine.” His one-word, brusque answer says otherwise.
Crimson takes a seat on the floor next to the box, sitting cross-legged. “Good. Let’s talk a little more about the upcoming mission. Our quantum entanglement allows me access to your thoughts, Calli. However, I cannot tell you exactly what to do or how to do it. I won’t be intervening with your life, except on occasion when it’s called for. I know you worry about being taken seriously by both the Bearers and the clans.” She points to the box beside her. “Those prisms and the quartz stones in the other room will be the key to pulling the clans together. I don’t quite know how you’ll do that, but I’m not too concerned. You’ll figure it out. The Bearers, on the other hand, will take a bit more finessing. I will be having you and Chris meet with the Bearers where you will inform them of the upcoming blast. They need to choose to help you, not be strong-armed into it. As you already know, some of them may not choose wisely. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“You said while we were at Lake Patoka I should go back to college. How can I do that and pull this whole thing together? And, more importantly, does it even matter now that the world might end?”
“Yes, I want you to go back to college. You can get another year of classes completed and still meet with the different groups during your time off. Staying abreast of medical advancements is vital, Calli. As for the world ending, or possibly ending, I want you to consider something.” She pauses and looks as though she’s trying to formulate an explanation I’ll understand. If I was in her position, that’s what I’d be doing.
Chris sits up a little straighter, obviously curious.
“Consider the Cold War. For about forty-five years, following the end of World War Two, the U.S. lived in fear of being bombed with nuclear warheads from the Russians. At any time, the world could have ended—and believe me, it almost did on more than one occasion. In fact, I began to wonder if I needed to be concerned with the coming Elemental blast at all. Many individuals simply gave up and stopped trying to better their lives with the attitude of ‘what’s the point?’ ” She reaches out and lays her hand on my hand. “Let me add that I think it’s a normal human trait to feel this way from time to time, so don’t feel like I’m scolding you for voicing the same words.” She removes her hand from mine. “Even though some people were giving up, my spirits were buoyed by the tenacity of many people who were determined to survive a nuclear blast. They built bomb shelters and stocked them with food and supplies. Their desire to continue living beyond a cataclysmic event gave me hope for humanity. I assigned Maetha to the task of infiltrating the United Nations to find a way to put a halt to the Cold War. But that’s a story for another day. My point is, if everyone had given up and given in to what seemed to be the looming end of the world, humanity wouldn’t have continued to progress through the decades. Think about the advancements that occurred between the 1940s and 1980s. Those who pressed forward created the life you are now living.
“Calli, the future is difficult to discern at this point. There are too many variables that muddle what I see. The important thing to note is that I do see a future for humanity. Having you spearhead the organization of the clans and unification of the Bearers is the answer. Try not to let the enormity of it go to your head. Just tackle one obstacle at a time, one day at a time. Keep an open mind to possible solutions, staying in line with nature’s will, and I guess more than anything, just be yourself. What I don’t want you to do is feel like there’s no point in moving forward in your life.”
I’m feeling much better about the task at hand. I say, “That makes a lot of sense. I have a question though. Why can’t I view the future concerning the blast?”
“What exactly are you looking for?”
“Um, the blast,” I say, instantly feeling foolish for wording it that way. “I mean, I know I can’t see the cosmic energy ray, but I’m looking for the moment when it hits.”
“I think as you become more vested in this project, the future will begin to open up to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“This mission has just been introduced to you. I don’t think you have accepted it yet, therefore, you cannot envision yourself in Portland at the time of the blast. You have to accept your role before you’ll be able to see the future.”
“Okay.”
My phone rings. I reach over to the table by the bed and pick up the phone. The caller ID shows my mother. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hello, Calli. I got your message. I wanted to let you know a journalist called yesterday, asking about your diamond.”
“Hang on, Mom, I want to put you on speaker so the others here with me can hear.” I press the speaker button. “Go ahead Mom.”
“Well, as I told Calli, a journalist called about Calli’s diamond. I thought you’d want to know about the call.”
“What did you tell them?” I ask.
“Nothing, of course,” —her voice holds alarm— “not even when he asked detailed questions.”
Chris and I exchange worried glances.
I ask, “What did the journalist want to know?”
“He asked if your diamond was a danger to your health or to others around you. I said I didn’t know what he was talking about.”
Crimson’s concern melds with mine. Ask her for more details, Calli.
I nod. “Did he tell you his name, Mom?”
“No. After I hung up I realized he didn’t even mention a newspaper or magazine.”
“What else did he ask you?” I press.
“He asked the same questions a couple times, but in different ways. I think he thought I’d slip up, but he didn’t know who he was dealing with. It’s my profession to keep patient confidentiality, as you know. So, I pretended he was talking about a diamond engagement ring. I said, ‘Wait, are you telling me my daughter is engaged? Why hasn’t she told me yet? Why would a ring be a danger to anyone?’ He hung up on me after that, which was a relief because my heart was racing, like it is right now just relaying the call.”
“You handled it well, Mom.”
“Who else knows about your diamond, Calli?”
“A relatively small amount of people, none of whom would call to ask questions.”
“Are we going to have to go stay at the cabin again?” my mother worries aloud.
Crimson’s voice enters my mind. No. They will be safe where they are.
I say, “No, I don’t think so. I don’t see anything negative in your futures.”
“When will you be able to come home for a visit? We miss you, Calli.”
“In a couple days. I’ll let you know. I love you. Tell Dad I love him.”
“We love you, too. Be safe and take care.”
Chapter 6 – Created Quartz
After hanging up the phone with my mother, Crimson says, “This is what I was afraid of when we dismantled the compound. Too many individuals knew too much. Even though we stripped the building of evidence, we couldn’t strip the minds of all involved. One or more people will need to be dealt with. That’s what I have Brand and Beth working on.”
“Did you already know this when you assigned them to the task?”
“No. I figured something like this would pop up, though, and we’d need to identify the troublesome individuals. But, I also knew that with the coming cosmic blast, the world of superpowers will be exposed like never before. We won’t be able to hide forever. I only hope we can keep Diamond Bearers under the radar.”
Chris points out the obvious. “Looks like from that phone call we’re not going to be so lucky.”
“This is an excellent example of taking issues as they present themselves and finding a way to deal with them. Whoever called your mother knows about the diamonds. That means they are probably from the compound. They are most likely aware of the machine and its capabilities. In addition to learning who called your mother, we need to figure out more of the details concerning the machine and the quartz prisms. While Brand and Beth investigate the employees, I want you and Chris to take the prisms to Don in Miami. Perhaps he’ll know more about where these types of quartz are found. I want to learn about the technology used by the machine and why these quartz prisms are integral to how it works.” She pauses, then speaks directly to Chris, “Your Uncle Don needs to be told about his brother’s death.”
The air in the room thickens with tension. Or maybe it’s just my own uneasiness, knowing how Crimson feels about Chris’s reluctance to grieve.
Chris responds in an upbeat tone. “It will be nice to talk to someone who shares the same feelings as I do toward my father.”
“That too,” Crimson agrees, and doesn’t dwell on the topic. “I will be joining you at Uncle Don’s.” She turns to me. “I’ll let you know when I arrive. Take the flash drive and continue to research the files. Oh, and I don’t want you two playing around with those quartz prisms. Got it?”
“Okay,” I say with a heavy sigh.
“Chris?” She
prods for a response.
“Okay.” He sounds like he’s guilty of already planning on using one.
“I’ll get in touch with Rodger and find out how soon a flight plan can be cleared.” She stands. “Pack up, and Calli, turn off your phone.”
* * *
We don’t have to wait long before being able to start the four-hour flight to Miami. Once we’re in our seats, Chris says, “What’s on your mind?”
A satisfying smile spreads across my face. “I guess that means I’ve mastered mind-blocking.”
“Yes, you have.”
I take a deep breath and say, “Things feel surreal to me. Like I’m living a dream. So much new information keeps surfacing. I can’t digest the first thing before the next is piled on my plate. Does that make sense?”
“More than you know.”
“What’s on your mind?” I lean toward him and lay my head on his shoulder.
“Everything. Like you said, before I can grasp a concept, another is added to the stack. The only thing I know for certain is I want to be by your side through it all.”
“Good answer, sir!” I kid around, then become a bit more serious. “I feel the same. But, I also know that’s not possible in the literal sense. At least when we’re apart we can communicate telepathically with each other. Plus, once we learn to bi-locate, the distance between us won’t feel so bad.”
“Except I won’t be able to touch you in your bi-located state . . . but maybe that’s for the best.”
I lift my head and turn in my seat to face him. “Why?”
“I already told you. I don’t want to scare you away by moving too fast.”
I rub the back of my neck, trying to squeeze the tension out, wishing I could read his mind to figure out the real reason. “You make it sound like you’re a monster or something and you don’t want me to find out. If you’re so worried about my sexual maturity, why don’t we just have sex and get it out of the way?”
“No, that would cause more problems.” He clenches his jaw, rippling muscles along his jawbone I wasn’t aware could ripple.
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