Mutant Star

by Karen Haber

  “Leporello, I’d like to change this page. In case of my death, the head trustee shall be Rick Akimura.”

  “Very good, Colonel. Shall I alter the copies in the vaults as well?”

  “Please.”

  “Will there be anything else?”

  “Yes. I’d like you to transfer some funds.”

  ***

  “I told you he was unreliable,” Julian said. Inwardly, he shuddered. Rick really could t-jump. T-jump! No other mutant could do that. The possibility had been debated for years that one day a powerful telekinetic would be able to teleport himself. What else was Rick capable of?

  Eva nodded. “I should have listened to you. Your brother is a will-o’-the-wisp, isn’t he? I’ve never seen a mutant do that before.”

  “That’s putting it nicely.” Julian gripped the wall railing. He was shaking with exhaustion. As a precaution, he had tapped in telepathically to monitor his brother’s ride. He still couldn’t believe what he’d seen. His mother in that strange episode at the bar. And later, himself as a Book Keeper while Rick presided over Aria Corp.

  What did it mean?

  How would Rick take over Hawkins’s holdings?

  Julian sat down on the edge of the observation platform. Although he doubted the likelihood of much that he had seen in those visions, Julian was convinced that Rick intended to steal everything Hawkins owned. And if the colonel objected, Rick would probably kill him. Cover it up, make it look like an accident. Julian shuddered. Abominable. It was unthinkable. Rick had to be stopped. But how?

  Eva touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  Julian hesitated. If he told Eva and she believed him, she would be in considerable danger. No. Better to protect her. “I feel dizzy. Weird. Maybe I’m getting a touch of flu. That last flare ride must have taken more out of me than I thought.”

  “Do you want me to call the infirmary?”

  “No. I’ll go lie down for a while.” He forced a smile and hurried out of the room. The trip up to his quarters took fifteen minutes and felt like half a lifetime. The middle of Julian’s back tingled as though a target had been drawn between his shoulder blades.

  He locked the door behind him, turned on the screen, rang Hawkins’s private line. No answer.

  Damn!

  A small voice in his head piped up: Why are you in such a rush to save Hawkins? Isn’t he your rival? Didn’t he win Eva from you? If you just let Rick have his way, Eva will come back to you.

  Julian’s hand wavered over the keypad. But if he did nothing, Hawkins would lose his company. His life. No, Julian thought. Not that way. I don’t want to win because Hawkins dies.

  How noble.

  Rick!

  You guessed right, Julian. I can see you’ve figured me out. That old twinsense never fails. So why not relax? Once I own Aria, you can have your own lab, and that lady scientist, to play with.

  Get out of my head.

  Don’t be rude, little brother.

  You’re planning murder, Rick. Doesn’t that trouble you?

  Who said anything about murder? Hawkins won’t get hurt unless he makes trouble.

  Do you think he’s just going to roll over and say, sure, Rick, here’s the keys to the space station and bank accounts?

  Maybe. If it’s presented to him properly. But I guess you have a point there.

  Julian’s wallscreen chittered and beeped. Rick’s image emerged onscreen through a hail of green and violet light. He was sitting in Hawkins’s office, in Hawkins’s desk chair.

  “What have you done to Hawkins?” Julian said. “To Leporello?”

  “Nothing,” Rick said.

  “What are you doing in Hawkins’s office? Where is he?”

  “I was in the neighborhood, and how should I know? Stop asking so many questions, Julian. You’ll live longer.”

  Julian’s pulse jumped. “Are you threatening me?”

  Rick laughed once, sharply. “Don’t be so melodramatic, Julian. I don’t want to hurt you, or anybody. “ Even Hawkins. So I’ll give you a choice: either play along with me or leave the Pavilion. That way you’ll stay healthy.”

  “I can’t leave,” Julian said. “You know I’ve got to finish my dissertation. And I can’t let you commit a crime like this.”

  “What crime?” Rick’s eyes were guileless.

  “Stealing Hawkins’s holdings, for one.”

  Rick shook his head. “I’m not really stealing. The good colonel would exploit every hair on my head if he could. I’m just making sure I get ample compensation.”

  “Call it what you want. I can’t let you do it,” Julian said.

  “Let me?” Rick’s smile was condescending. “How are you going to stop me?”

  Julian took a deep breath. “I’m going to warn—”

  “You’re not going to warn anybody about anything. As of now, you’re quarantined. Eva will hear that you’re down with a bug and unavailable for the time being. And I wouldn’t try using the screen to call out, Julian. It’s temporarily out of order.” The image dissolved into a blinding pattern of gray and red particles. “But don’t worry. Your food mechs have a two-week supply. After that, you might try eating the bedsheet. Or I might decide to let you out. If you’re nice.”

  “Rick! Wait, don’t go.”

  There was no response.

  Julian tried the door to his room. The lock wouldn’t budge. He used a telepathic probe but it bounced back at him. Rick, he thought. You bastard. Julian sank down on the bed. Was his brother really trying to kill him? And if so, was there any way to stop him?

  ***

  Ethan Hawkins began the afternoon with a quick survey of his lunar gem farms’ output. The industrial diamonds were up. He would tell the foreman to switch two fields over from rubies.

  “Jasper Saladin calling, Colonel.”

  Quickly Hawkins switched screens. “Jasper, what’s up?”

  “Interesting news.” The holo effect sent a wash of rainbow color across Saladin’s craggy face. “Yes. Very curious. A friend who does research at Johns Hopkins came across something peculiar in the bio deep freeze. Ova. Human ova. Unlabeled. Nobody has claimed them. Nobody knows how they got there. They’ve been in the fridge for at least a decade. Maybe more. But still viable. And they test positive for mutancy.”

  Hawkins felt his heart beating faster. If he could get the genetic material from Rick and insert some of it into a fertilized egg …

  “Can you get a sample?”

  “I can do better than that. The entire batch is on its way in a special courier pouch. And my friend in Baltimore is about to take a sabbatical.”

  “Excellent,” Hawkins said. “Send me the bill.”

  “Of course.”

  “Colonel Hawkins?” Leporello’s face appeared on the other deskscreen. “Rick Akimura wants to see you.”

  “Got to go, Jasper. I’ll let you know when your special delivery arrives.”

  Rick strode into Hawkins’s office and sat down in a thickly cushioned webbed sofa. “Ethan.” He gave the glossy bronze leather a proprietary caress.

  “What have you got for me, Rick?”

  “I think you ought to consider heavier support of biological engineering. Looks like there’ll be a boom in it by the turn of the century.”

  “Fine, fine.” Hawkins leaned forward. “Actually, I was thinking of doing something along those very lines, Rick. Remember my proposal?”

  “The gene splicing?”

  “Yes. My scientists tell me it’s worth trying. Are you game?” He kept his voice casual but watched the young mutant closely.

  Rick shrugged. “As long as there’s profit in it.”

  “Splendid. Getting a tissue sample won’t take long.” Hawkins turned in his chair. “Leporello, send a mech medic in—”

  Jasper Saladin’s face reappeared above the holoscreen. “Ethan? We’ve got trouble.”

  “What now?”

  “The repair you did ruptured.”

  “Bu
t I thought you replaced the entire thruster casing.”

  Saladin grimaced. “The damned replacement was no good. I can rig a stasis field generator, which should work until the second casing gets here. But I’m afraid I’ll need your strength again to put the generator in place.”

  “For God’s sake,” Hawkins muttered. “Can’t you use a couple of telekinetics with a mech? Maybe Alanna …”

  “I can’t guarantee their accuracy. Yours, I can.”

  Hawkins frowned. “I don’t have time for this, Jasper.”

  “Best to make time now,” Saladin said. “Save time later.”

  “All right, dammit. Have that generator by airlock three in ten minutes, Jasper. Ten minutes.”

  Saladin nodded. His image vanished, and in his place Leporello appeared.

  “Colonel, the med mech is here.”

  “Cancel it.” Hawkins shut down his screen. “Coming, Rick?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll see you by airlock three in eight minutes.”

  ***

  As Rick put on his pressure suit, he realized that this spacewalk might be the moment to suggest to Hawkins that they become business partners. Yes, once they were out in space, he would do just that.

  He probed the structure of Hawkins’s tensor cord looking for potential flaws. Ah, there. Minute, but it could be expanded. A little nick here and here to weaken the molecules. Perfect.

  Carefully, he used telekinesis to cut partway through the cord. So much easier for him to snap Hawkins’s leash once they were out the door. It was important, after all, to have the appropriate negotiating tools. And should Hawkins balk at Rick’s proposal, well, the colonel’s jetpack fuel might detonate in a strange and tragic accident.

  Of course, in that event, Rick thought, I’ll have to make certain I’m far enough away so that the explosion doesn’t catch me, too. A t-field would be a better shield, but maybe too obvious. Hope I don’t have to use it. I’d really hate to do it. Maybe Hawkins will cooperate.

  The colonel strode into the room, pressure suit and wrap in place. He eyed the bulky field generator with displeasure. “That thing is larger than I thought.”

  “I can manage it.”

  “With telekinesis? Fine. Let’s go.”

  With a grand flourish, Rick levitated the generator. “After you, Colonel.”

  Hawkins reached for the airlock controls.

  The roomscreen beeped and Leporello appeared.

  “Colonel?”

  “Hold all calls, Leporello.”

  “But, Colonel, this isn’t a call.”

  Hawkins’s brow furrowed with irritation. “What then?”

  “Colonel, it’s for Rick Akimura.”

  Rick stepped forward impatiently. “Can’t it wait? What’s so urgent?”

  Leporello gave him a suave smile. “Rick, your father is here. He would like to see you. Right away.” The simulacrum paused. “I believe that Alanna is on her way to meet him now, as we speak.”

  Skerry here? Was that who the sim meant? Now? Rick dropped the generator with a crash that set the floor vibrating. “Where is he?” he demanded.

  “Level five lounge.”

  “Rick,” Hawkins said. “Hold on, I’ll—”

  Rick t-jumped, materializing in the blue-walled lounge just as Alanna came into the room. She was wearing a padded steel welder’s apron and goggles.

  Skerry stood by the window, arms crossed. His eyes glittered with an unreadable emotion as he glanced first at Rick, then at Alanna.

  “Dad!” Alanna shoved her safety glasses into the holder around her neck. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call me?” Shaking her head, she threw her arms around him.

  Skerry held her close for a moment, then gently stepped back. “Honey,” he said. “Pack your bags.”

  .

  ******************

  15

  For a moment no one moved. Rick froze in place, his thoughts in turmoil. How could Skerry have arrived without his knowing it? This was a disaster. He should have foreseen this. Should have known, somehow. And now, what to do? Grab Alanna and t-jump away? Wait and see what Skerry would do? If he did run, how long would it take Skerry to catch them? He couldn’t spend his entire life hiding from his own father.

  Alanna was staring at Skerry in confusion. “Pack my things?” she said. “Daddy, what are you talking about? I’m not leaving.”

  Skerry nodded. “You might want to after you hear what I’ve got to say.”

  Rick made a quick probe and read Skerry’s intention.

  He was going to tell Alanna. Take her away.

  “No!” Without stopping to think Rick threw a potent mindblock at the older man, one that would have stunned anybody half his age.

  Skerry looked up, even smiled slightly, and deflected the attack without a sound. Then he mindspoke to Rick.

  Don’t waste your time, Rick. I know I’m an old dog, but I still have a few tricks left. Besides, that block could have killed me. And I don’t think you want to commit patricide. At least, not just yet.

  “Stop,” Rick cried. “I won’t let you …”

  You don’t have any say here. I understand how you feel—at least I think I do. But you’re not being fair to Alanna. And I can’t have that.

  Alanna pulled at Skerry’s arm like a petulant child. “Daddy, don’t play around with Rick. He’s only just developed mutant powers and …”

  “I know all about it, Teenie,” Skerry said tenderly. “But Rick won’t hurt me. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m gonna hurt him. And you.” His voice grew sharper. “Alanna, I hope you can handle this. If not, I’m sorry. But you have to know, and I seem to be the only one willing to tell you.” He took a deep breath. “Rick is more than your cousin. He’s your half brother. Along with Julian. They’re both my sons. By artificial insemination.”

  Alanna said nothing. When she spoke, her eyes flashed with irritation. “Come on, Dad. You can do better than that.” She shook her head. “I know you don’t want me to live with him, but this is ridiculous. My brother? How can that be?” She turned to Rick to share the joke. Her eyes met his. The laughter died in her voice.

  “Rick.” She reached out, almost touched him. “What is this all about? He’s kidding, isn’t he?” Her eyes were huge now. “Rick, tell me he’s joking, please. Please.”

  Rick wet his lips, started to speak. “Yeah. He’s crazy. He—”

  “Go ahead, Rick. You tell her.” Skerry stared at him.

  Rick faltered. That implacable golden gaze contained determination, anger, even outrage. But most of all, Rick saw in it a challenge. His father—his actual father, his biological father—was daring him to lie to Alanna. To betray her. He couldn’t do it. And Skerry knew that. Rick dropped his hands, palms opened toward her. Helpless. “I’m sorry, Alanna.”

  She gazed at him and there was desperation, even terror in her eyes.

  He turned away. “He’s telling you the truth.”

  “Oh, God, I don’t believe it.”

  Rick could hear her thoughts as she looked from one man to the other and noticed for the first time the similarity of stance, the broad shoulders, the proud—even arrogant—jut of the jaw. And he heard her think: No. No. No. No.

  “Alanna,” he said. His voice cracked over her name. “I love you. No one but you.”

  She recoiled with an anguished cry. “You knew it, didn’t you? And Julian knew, too. He wanted to tell me and that’s why you tried to keep him away from me.”

  “Alanna, let me explain.”

  He reached for her but she scrambled past him, weeping.

  Skerry stepped in his path. “Leave her alone, Rick.”

  “Get out of my way.”

  “No.”

  It’s your fault, Rick thought. Your fault for all of this. “Why couldn’t you leave us alone?” he cried. “Why did you have to come here and destroy everything? All I cared about.”

  “You’ve got to think about more than just
what you want,” Skerry said. “More than just what you care about.” He shook his head. “I feel sorrier for you than I do for her,” he said. “You’ve got a lot to learn.” He turned away toward Alanna.

  “So do you,” Rick said. “Father.” The word was acid in his mouth.

  He unleashed a bolt of blistering energy and sent it whistling toward Skerry. At the sound, the older man turned. His eyes met Rick’s calmly. A second bolt of blazing force formed over Skerry’s head and met the first, sizzling and hissing like something alive. For a moment the two forces contended. Then the energy dissipated. Faded.

  This is kiddie stuff, Rick.

  That’s what you think, old man.

  Rick reached for the edge of his talents. Summoned all his energy, all his strength. The next bolt shot toward Skerry with a sound like a thunderclap.

  Skerry’s shields held. I don’t want to fight you, son.

  Rick made no answer. He unleashed another bolt. And another.

  Alanna screamed. “Rick, stop!”

  The wild electrical storm broke over Skerry. He clenched his fists and leaned forward into it, throwing up every defense he had. But it wasn’t enough. Howling with demonic force, Rick’s onslaught broke through his mental armor, shattered his shields, knocked him across the room and into the wall like a rag doll.

  Alanna whispered, “Daddy.”

  The storm pulsed briefly, flickered, and vanished.

  Alanna rushed to her father and knelt at his side. “Can you hear me? Don’t move. We’ll get a healer.”

  Skerry reached up and touched his daughter’s face. “Teenie.” His voice was a husky whisper.

  She held his palm against her cheek. “Daddy, I love you. Love you so much.”

  His lips curved upward in a brief smile. Skerry opened his mouth to say something else. Shuddered. Closed his eyes. Rick caught his breath. What was happening? His eyes focused on that smile of Skerry’s, and nothing but that smile. And the smile remained even after Skerry had stopped breathing.

  “Daddy? Daddy, answer me.” Alanna raised her head. “Rick, what have you done? Save him. Save him!”