Metamorphosis 2
By Sazzy
Posted February 2009
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Codes: uber J/7
Rating: NC-17
Setting: Various locations in the
Timeframe: November 2005 - March 2006
Thanks: To
Disclaimer: This is fan fiction, but some of the
characters bear a striking resemblance to those that are copyright of Paramount
Pictures. No infringement on their copyright is intended by the author in any
way, shape or form - this is just a bit of fun. This story includes an all female relationship, so if you
don’t like that then look away now.
Synopsis: It’s the end of a difficult year in the life of Andrea Hallstrom, but if she thought things were going to be easy from now on, she’s in for more than one surprise. Picking up a few months after the end of Metamorphosis, Andrea and her partner Major Kate Jarvis face a whole new set of challenges as the Superhuman Research Unit becomes embroiled in a power struggle where not everyone is what they seem. Following the trail of a mysterious organisation responsible for mutant disappearances and experimentation, they are unaware the terrible truth lying in wait, ready to ambush them and stretch loyalties to the limit. Each woman must decide who they trust as the past comes back to haunt them both.
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Chapter 1
It was a street like any other in the city of
No sound indicated her arrival, the woman gliding down through the cold night air like an angel from above, blonde hair flapping in the breeze. Her measured descent shouldn’t have been possible. No one could defy the laws of gravity. Yet this woman dared to. It appeared effortless as her booted feet finally touched down onto the solid concrete of the road.
If there had been anyone to see the sight they might have gasped in awe, or rubbed their eyes, or maybe even wondered what on earth had been in that last drink they’d had in the pub. But the street was deserted; the young woman had no company as she ran to the fast buckling bridge at the end of it.
The metal girders groaned in protest as she forced them back into some semblance of shape, twisting and rending the steel with her bare hands. Again she opposed all the laws of nature with her actions, and yet she did it as if it was perfectly normal everyday occurrence, which it was when you were a genetic mutant; when you were Andrea Hallstrom.
If someone had told Andrea a year ago that she would soon be capable of such things, she would have laughed in their face. Then she would have been swiftly calling for the men in white coats. However, that was before she discovered she had repressed superhuman abilities. Now it seemed entirely natural to be moulding metal like it was nothing more than soft clay.
Once she was satisfied the bridge stanchion would hold, at least for a short time, she braced herself against it to lend some extra support.
“I’ve secured the bridge as best I can,” she said into the small earpiece and radio attached to her black uniform. “You’re good to go.”
“Understood, keep us posted of any changes.”
The conversation was brief and to the point, yet Andrea couldn’t help the small flutter of excitement she got from hearing the voice of Major Kate Jarvis on the end of the line. The other woman was the commanding officer of the Superhuman Research Unit where they were both stationed, and also a superhuman herself. Neither of those facts were what caused the tiny skip of Andrea’s heart though. That was due to them not only being colleagues but also lovers.
As she grimly held onto the bridge, Andrea’s mind drifted over her memories from the nine months since they’d first met. It hadn’t exactly been what might have been called love at first sight, more like mutual antagonism. But, as was often the case, there was a fine line between that and love. They had beaten around the non-literal bush for a few months before finally succumbing to what was a blindingly obvious attraction. Not that everything had been plain sailing since then, what with secrets, organised crime and kidnappings getting in the way, but they’d worked it all out in the end. Kate still had a tendency to work too hard and Andrea for letting her temper run away with her, but she was working on it. Things had actually been reasonably quiet for the last three months, two of which had been spent back in full operational mode at the base. Andrea tried to stop her thoughts wandering to that old adage about the calm before the storm.
“Everything still all right down there?”
Andrea smiled to herself at the call to check up on her. No doubt Kate would maintain she’d do the same for any of her operatives, but really they both knew better.
“Yes, fine, though you might want to hurry that evacuation up, this thing’s not light.”
As if to prove her point a fresh grinding noise came from
the support. Andrea tightened her hold on it. Luckily she and Kate had been on
a visit to the Intelligence Corps headquarters at Chicksands when the call had
come in about the railway accident – a lorry hitting the bridge she was now
supporting at the same moment a train was passing overhead. Their location
meant they were much closer to the crash site in North-West London than they
would have been if they’d been back at their normal base of operations on the
A sudden crunching from above brought Andrea back to the present, and her eyes shot upwards to the train tracks some hundred feet above. She could see a train carriage illuminated against the dark winter sky by the lights that still flickered in its windows. It was teetering precariously over the edge, held up only by its weakening connection to the rest of the train. Then it wasn’t teetering any longer, it was falling.
Fuck!
Andrea had a split second to make a decision. Then she was up, leaping from the ground and sweeping towards the plunging carriage. As with her superhuman strength, flying was entirely normal to her now, no different to walking down the street. The power just filled her naturally, carrying her up through the air.
The weighty object thumped into Andrea’s outstretched hands about halfway through its rapid descent. She grunted at the impact. Luckily her bones were much denser than any normal human’s, else they would easily have shattered with such an action. However, she was now plunging downwards; the force of gravity was still carrying the train towards the street. She attempted to use her powers to slow its inexorable plummet. The faint tingling in her muscles indicated the conversion of energy within her. Glancing back she saw the ground rushing up fast. She gritted her teeth and made one last almighty effort.
Then suddenly they were still, woman and carriage hovering about a foot off the ground. Andrea allowed her feet to touch down onto the concrete, still holding the massive carriage aloft. She carefully lowered that too. The crash as its wheels landed on the tarmac reverberated around the suburban street, which had fortunately been evacuated.
“Andrea? Are you all right?”
Kate’s voice was more urgent now, the concern in it evident.
“Apart from having several tonnes of train dropped on my head, I’m fine,” replied Andrea. “How are things up there?”
Andrea thought she detected a barely audible sigh of relief before Kate’s answer came. “We’ve just got to get the last few people out, it shouldn’t take long.”
“I’ll check if anyone was left on this one, shall I?”
“Do it,” agreed Kate. “I’ll be with you shortly.”
Andrea made her way round the side of the carriage, which looked odd perched in the middle of the road without a train track in sight. Its windows were dark now, cut off from the power of the line high above. Andrea was halfway along one side when suddenly a wave of dizziness washed over her. She staggered, reaching out to place a hand on the cold metal of one of the carriage wheels, bracing herself against it. For a second she thought she might actually faint. Even though it was near freezing, a few beads of sweat broke out on her brow as she continued to strain to breathe. Each intake of air was taken with shuddering difficulty, Andrea just thankful to see the puffs of white were still issuing from her mouth.
She was just about to call for help when all of a sudden it was gone, the feeling quickly subsiding as if it had never been. Andrea took a couple of deeper breaths to steady herself.
What the hell was that?
Whatever it was, it had never happened before. Andrea supposed that arresting the carriage’s fall had taken more out of her than she’d realised. Also since it was evening and dark, her body’s natural ability to absorb light and fuel her powers was reduced. It would have to be completely pitch black for her to gain nothing from the ambient light, but it would take longer to recharge than normal.
That must be it, she told herself perhaps a touch too confidently, Just a few problems recharging, nothing to worry about.
Trying to forget the odd dizzy spell, she finished up ascertaining the carriage was indeed empty. Some flashing blue lights caught her attention as she came back round the carriage. They indicated she was being joined by some other emergency services; no doubt they’d seen the falling object from back at the edge of the safety cordon. Thinking she may as well leave them to mop up, she inconspicuously made her way to the side of the road, hoping no one had actually witnessed her efforts. With any luck they would think it was a piece of massive good fortune the carriage had landed on its wheels without damaging a single thing underneath the bridge. If not, then it would be time to call in the Corps’ cover-up team again. They certainly had their work cut out for them these days. It was getting harder and harder to hide the existence of superhumans from the general population.
“Andrea? Andrea Hallstrom?”
Hiding was even harder when people recognised you, considered Andrea, seeing the single policeman heading towards her as the rest busied themselves round the carriage. He had his collar turned up against the cold, shoulders hunched as far as possible to bury his head further into his fluorescent yellow coat, but Andrea couldn’t fail to recognise his craggy face. “Hello, Frank,” she replied, identifying the man. He had been stationed at the neighbouring police station to Andrea’s own when she’d worked for the Met.
“I thought that was you,” he said, fixing her with a beaming smile. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thanks, and you? How are things at Barton Hill?”
“Same as ever,” he replied, still smiling. “Martin still
barking the orders,
Andrea laughed at the comments. “Nothing changes then,” she noted wryly. She knew that in actuality he was being self-deprecating, since Sergeant Frank Mitchell was one of the most reliable and hard-working coppers you could hope to meet.
“Well, some things do,” he pointed out. “I heard you’d finally tendered your resignation after your extended leave. Though no one seemed to know what you were doing now. Talking of which what are you doing now?” He gave her black uniform a curious once over. It had no badges of any kind indicating to which unit she was attached. The Superhuman Research Unit didn’t like to advertise its existence. “Are you in the army or something?”
“Not exactly,” she replied evasively, the policeman merely waiting for her to elaborate. “It’s a bit difficult, I’m not really meant to discuss it.”
“Something secret is it?” he pressed.
This was the problem when you had friends who were in the police - they were far too inquisitive for their own good. “Sort of,” she allowed.
Frank’s eyes narrowed with suspicion beneath his peaked hat. “I could get out the spotlight and grill you.”
“Even if you resorted to the thumbscrews I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything!”
Frank laughed, a low rumbling sound. “At least I can put some of the unsavoury rumours to rest now I’ve seen you.”
“Such as?”
Frank looked immediately sorry he had mentioned it. “Ah, you shouldn’t pay any attention, you know how people like to gossip.”
Andrea did know. She’d never quite fit in with some of her colleagues, seen variously as too posh, intelligent or downright arrogant compared to them. “You may as well tell me, it can’t be much worse than some of the things they used to say to my face.”
“Hah! Like you cared about that!” Frank leant in and gave her a wink. “Way I heard it you gave as good as you got.”
Andrea smiled; she had enjoyed the challenge. “So go on, what has the rumour mill been circulating?”
Frank still looked unsure, but after a few more seconds of her staring at him felt obliged to carry on. “There were a few people reckoned as you’d done a bunk, been paid off if you know what I mean.”
Andrea sighed and shook her head. She supposed it was partly her own fault. There had always been some behind-hands whispers as to how she could afford a flat in Islington on police sergeant’s wages, with speculation rife she was on the take in some way. She hadn’t seen fit to correct any such erroneous assumptions – she would rather be seen as bent than rich. Now it seemed her silence had only fuelled their suspicions.
Seeing her contemplative look, Frank continued. “Course no one with any sense believed such things! Anyone who’d actually worked with you would have known it was total bollocks.”
Andrea was touched by the implied compliment. “Thanks, Frank.”
“I’m just glad to see you’re doing well. You deserve some
good fortune after that nasty business at the warehouse in docklands. MacKenzie,
Andrea’s face fell as she recalled her ex-colleagues who had been callously murdered by Adam Dixon. “Yes, they were,” was all she said in reply.
She saw Frank looking uneasy that he had brought it up and was about to say something reassuring when she was beaten to the punch by a third voice joining the conversation.
“Are you something to do with the rescue effort?”
Andrea turned to study the interloper. It was a woman, a few inches shorter than Andrea herself though probably of a similar age in her late twenties. She had shortish, slightly unkempt, dark hair. In fact she gave off a general dishevelled impression in her oversized coat, long scarf and large bag that she kept having to yank up to keep on her shoulder.
Andrea didn’t think it likely the woman was with the emergency services. “And who might you be?” she asked.
The woman swiftly removed her right hand from where it had been buried deep within a pocket and extended it in Andrea’s direction. “Christine Ferguson, pleased to meet you.”
Andrea took the hand, still watching the other woman. Her slightly rounded face had a warm smile on it, and though she appeared generally amiable, Andrea sensed from her dark eyes that she was more alert then she was letting on. “You’re a reporter aren’t you?” deduced Andrea eventually.
“Damn,” said the other woman, her face still displaying a wry smile. “How did you know?”
“The way you’re sniffing round a crime scene like a dog on heat is quite a clue,” remarked Andrea. She didn’t really have much time for reporters, since the police often seemed to be one of their targets. She was even less inclined to be amicable now that she had the added secret of the Superhuman Research Unit to protect.
“Nice analogy,” remarked the other woman whose genial demeanour was unshaken by Andrea’s frostiness, “though I prefer cats myself.” She proceeded to delve around in her bag, eventually producing a notebook and pen after a good few seconds searching. “So any comments?” she asked, flipping over to a fresh page.
“No.”
Christine took Andrea’s arm, turning her away from the perplexed Sergeant Mitchell. “Come on,” whispered Christine. “Not even one tiny hint as to what happened?” she asked. “For a fellow sister,” she added with a wink.
Andrea was too stunned to reply immediately. Obviously her gaydar needed a bit of tuning after having been off the scene for a while.
“I believe she told you there was no comment.”
Andrea quickly shook off Christine’s hand, swinging round to see Kate approaching.
Andrea’s gaydar was now blaring loudly and doing a merry dance in her head, joining forces with her arousal at seeing Kate looking her commanding best – hands on hips giving the reporter a glare that would melt steel.
Christine appeared unfazed by the look. “You must be in charge,” she deduced, looking over Kate’s uniform, “Major…?”
“No comment.”
“Interesting name.” Christine took up her pen to write it down. “Is it hyphenated?”
Andrea barely held back her snigger, having to put a sly hand over her mouth. The action didn’t go unnoticed by Kate who shot her a quick reproachful glance. Andrea took a deep breath to try and bury her amusement.
“Sergeant,” said Kate, turning to the policeman who looked like he was having similar trouble, “maybe you could escort our uninvited guest to a safer distance?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied. “It would be a pleasure. I don’t know how these people get here so quickly.” He took Christine’s arm, “Come on now, Miss, let’s be having you.”
As she was about to be guided away by the policeman, Christine shot out a hand in Andrea’s direction, offering her a card which Andrea automatically took. “Nice meeting you, hope to see you again!” said Christine quickly as the policeman’s grip got more insistent.
Andrea could still hear the other woman grumbling about police brutality as the sergeant took her back past the cordon. Eventually Andrea turned back to Kate who stood regarding her keenly with her arms crossed.
“Made a new friend?” she asked, arching her eyebrows ever so slightly and indicating the business card.
Andrea smiled, unable to resist giving the answer she did. “No comment.”
Andrea turned and started running for the transport before Kate got the chance to slap her arse.
………
Callum Chadwick let out a low moan as another jolt of pain shot through him. Desperately he counted the seconds, knowing it would only be another twenty before the next fiery spike. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take. Yet there was no alternative, not unless you considered death a viable option. At times like this he came close to.
He scrunched his eyes shut, not for the first time cursing Adam Dixon and his stupid plans. His supposed friend had landed him in this mess. Chadwick realised he should have known better than to trust a mutant. He was still laughing manically to himself at the irony of that when the next wave came.
It was bitterly ironic because that was what all this agony
was for – to turn him into one of them. He wasn’t sure what the mechanics of it
were – all the scientific speak was way over his head – but in one more week
his transformation from normal human to superhuman would be complete. It had
been a long and painful process, starting not long after the debacle in
At first the pain had been almost constant, day after day of searing agony. At least now it was down to lasting only a couple of hours after the injections, the last one having been approximately two hours ago. After the final bolt of pain jabbed through him he laid back on his bed, panting heavily with his eyes tightly shut.
“How are you feeling?”
Chadwick’s eyes struggled open, seeing his tormentor standing above him. Despite the question, he knew she wasn’t concerned in the slightest about his welfare. “I’m in pain,” he replied grimly.
The woman smiled. Chadwick thought she got a perverse satisfaction on hearing his response. “You should count yourself lucky, Mr Chadwick,” she noted in her even tone that carried a hidden sense of threat and power. “I could have done much worse to you after what you did to my daughter.”
“That was all
He knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as he felt the tightness round his throat. It felt like a steely hand was crushing his windpipe, yet the woman was still several feet away, not touching him. “Do not make excuses to me, Mr Chadwick,” she said, sliding closer as her voice dropped to a more menacing level. “Not when you almost killed her.”
In his anxiety Chadwick tried to gulp, but the invisible grip of Dr Hallstrom’s telekinetic power was so strong it got caught in his throat. If he thought for a single second that he could get away alive, he would have run for the hills long ago. Yet he knew Dr Hallstrom would catch him and then, if he were lucky, she would kill him. The Organisation had eyes and ears everywhere, even in the most unlikely of places. So he had resigned himself to his fate, deciding his only option was to go through the pain and hope that he could get back in her good books again eventually.
“And in case you are in any doubt,” she added, now so close as for him to be able to feel her breath on his sweaty face, “no harm is to befall her in the future, not unless you want to find yourself meeting a similar fate to Mr Dixon.”
“No, no, I understand completely,” he said in a feeble whisper. Chadwick offered up all the prayers he had that Dr Hallstrom would never find out how he had tried to attack Andrea when they were on the base at Duransay. If she did uncover the truth then he was certain he would be joining his former friend six feet under.
Dr Hallstrom finally released her hold on him, seemingly placated for now. “Good. It’s true we may not have been close, but that was before I knew what she really was. Now I just have to find a way back into her life. That annoying idiot Meg gave me an opening, but I need something else to give Andrea that extra shove. Talking of which, how are things progressing with our latest recruit?”
“Good, everything’s almost ready to get them where we want them.”
“Excellent. I can foresee the Superhuman Research Unit causing us more problems in the future if their progress goes on unchecked. We need to monitor what they’re doing more closely and nip them in the bud before they become too much of a threat. And what better way than having someone right there manipulating things for us?”
…………
Andrea pushed open the door to her quarters and flicked on the light. For a moment she wished she hadn’t. Instead of the normal order, there were boxes and bags strewn everywhere in the open plan lounge and kitchen, some of them with their contents half out on the floor or table. She wasn’t entirely sure where the items were going to go even if she was in the mood to tidy them up – the bookcase was already overflowing, as was her wardrobe in the bedroom.
Ignoring the mess for now she went straight to the kitchen and popped open a can of coke. The cool drink and caffeine hit felt good after a long day of debriefings. Even though it was a Saturday, they’d spent the entire day analysing everything from the angle of descent of the train carriage to what the driver had for breakfast, or at least that’s how it seemed to Andrea. Taking her drink with her, she crossed to the sofa and managed to find a seat amongst the clutter. Removing a journal from under her bottom, she pondered that she had way too many belongings and that perhaps it was time for a clear out. She did hate to get rid of anything though – you never knew when you might need to look up something in September 2002’s edition of Genetics Monthly after all.
Dismissing a tidying session for now, she decided on a quick
shower instead to try and wash away the last remnants of the day. Heading into
the bedroom she started to peel off her uniform. She considered it was funny
how she’d gone from one uniform to another, though of course she’d ended up in
plain clothes back in
She turned on the shower which immediately started pumping
out its pounding spray and steaming up the room. Andrea removed the last item
of “clothing” from her body – the power regulator that she always wore strapped
round her left arm. The regulator was waterproof, but she liked to take it off
every once in a while at times when she wasn’t going to need to use her powers.
Wearing the armband had become second nature to Andrea, the small device
required to ensure she didn’t have any painful seizures if she attempted to
access her superhuman abilities. In extreme cases it was possible such an event
could prove fatal. She just wished they could make it a little less
conspicuous. There had already been one unfortunate incident when the former
Lieutenant Chadwick had been able to rip it from her arm. Andrea had to wonder
how the scientists at the Unit could make their tracking devices so tiny that
they could be implanted under the skin without leaving a visible trace, yet
they couldn’t make something less obvious to regulate her powers. Reluctantly
she had agreed to being refitted with a tracker, thinking it best after what
had happened in
Once she had stepped into the cubicle, the hot spray of the
shower pounded on Andrea’s shoulders, the young woman tipping her hand back
into the welcome warmth so the water could drench her long blonde hair. Closing
her eyes, she allowed the stream to envelop her, washing away thoughts of work
so she could enjoy her evening. She ran her fingers languidly through her hair
before reaching for the shower gel perched in one corner of the cubicle. As she
rubbed it over her body her fingers brushed over the small, scarred area on her
upper right arm. It was an unwelcome reminder of a difficult time in her life
and her relationship with Kate, though she knew she only had herself to blame
for its presence. The scar marked where she’d forcefully ripped the army’s
tracking device from inside her own arm, shortly before telling Kate she never
wanted to see her again. Fortunately Kate had stubbornly refused to accept
that, else she might still be at the mercy of
An involuntary shiver rippled through her at the thought of the two men, and she decided she’d better get on and finish her shower. Having massaged the shampoo into her hair, the rivulets of water carried the soapy bubbles into her eyes. Andrea let out a small curse at the stinging, trying to rub it away as she considered that surely she ought to be somehow be immune to such things.
She might have been able to rip the shower off the wall in one easy yank or pulverise the cubicle with a few well placed punches, but that still wouldn’t help her current predicament. No amount of super powers could protect her from the small annoyances of every day life. She still got worried about finding grey hairs, or the state of her love life or what was happening in her job, just like every other twenty-eight year old in the country. Though she doubted many of them had a job quite like hers.
She’d finally managed to wash the last of the shampoo away when a pair of hands made her jump. They made her jump because they were slowly sliding round her wet waist and up through the droplets cascading down her chest. A naked body quickly followed the hands, pressing up against Andrea’s back, melding its curves to her own. Andrea considered that she didn’t really care if she had to hide things publicly if this was what happened when she and Kate were in private.
A small groan of arousal issued from her lips as Kate’s now wet breasts pushed gently into her back.
“I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in,” whispered Kate by Andrea’s ear.
Andrea considered it for a moment. “Let me think…”
Kate’s right hand cupped one of Andrea’s breasts before giving the nipple a tantalising tweak.
Andrea bit her lip at the arousing contact. “Yes, I think I can forgive you,” she managed.
Kate’s other hand was on her left breast now, softly kneading that too under the running water. “Are you sure you don’t want to think about it some more?” she offered. “Maybe I need to persuade you of my good intentions.”
As Kate’s right hand started to slip back down her body, Andrea had to extend her own to brace herself against the tiles. “True, it’s never a bad time for such displays,” she managed to say, pressing back into the curves of the body behind her when the fingers reached her pubic hair. “And come to think of it, you have been working much too hard again, I barely see you from one day to the next. I think you need to convince me you still love me as much as your job.”
Kate’s hand paused where it was, tantalisingly close to descending further. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
Andrea craned her head round, staring incredulously at Kate. The look she saw there quickly banished the flutters of fear that had erupted in her stomach.
“Because I love you much more than my job,” Kate clarified with a sly smile.
Andrea carefully moved round, wet arms slipping easily around Kate’s waist. The shower poured over both their heads as she pulled Kate forwards. Andrea paused for a moment, blinking the water from her eyes so she could watch the droplets cascading over Kate’s upturned face. Kate’s eyes were closed, savouring the feel of the water over her skin. As she did her lips parted tantalisingly. Andrea could resist their lure no longer. She pressed her mouth to Kate’s, water mingling with their tongues as she probed between soft lips.
Their bodies slithered against one another in the warm stream from above, and Andrea had to hold on tight lest Kate slipped over as she pressed forwards.
A wet thigh slid between two equally lubricated ones. Kate groaned loudly as Andrea rubbed higher. The water continued to slip through Andrea’s fingers as they travelled wantonly over Kate’s body. The heat was pounding in Andrea’s head now, caused by a mixture of the steamy room and fire inside her. Her desire for Kate never ceased to amaze her. Sometimes its intensity scared her.
Her fingers were inside Kate now, Andrea’s own groans loud in the enclosed space as she felt the muscles tighten against her probing. No one else got to feel this, no one else got to see or touch Kate in this way. All they saw was the unflappable army officer. This was for her only. It was arousing and humbling at the same time.
Kate’s legs were starting to quiver and Andrea tried her best to hold the other woman up against the side of the cubicle. It was like trying to hold onto a bar of soap, each time she thought she had hold, Kate was sliding from her grasp again as she jerked and trembled. Then suddenly she was still.
“Fuck!”
Andrea loved it when Kate swore. Especially when it was at the point of orgasm.
“Oh God! Fuck!”
Kate’s eyes were screwed shut as her head banged back against the wall. Andrea thought it must have hurt, but Kate didn’t seem to care at that point. Kate’s brow finally flopped onto Andrea’s shoulder, the water from above spilling across her bare back as she leaned heavily against the firm body.
Andrea merely clung on, allowing the water to wash over both of them again. Eventually she reached over and shut off the shower. Kate’s head immediately shot up. “Hey! I was enjoying that!”
“Any more and I’m going to turn into one big prune!” said Andrea, holding up her hand to show her shrivelled fingertips. She made to open the door, but a hand shot out to stall her.
“Don’t think you’re getting away that easily.”
Kate was grinning. A seductive grin accompanied by equally seductive eyes. Andrea knew there was no resisting. She allowed Kate to push her back against the wall, the older woman carrying on forwards to kiss her. Andrea automatically pulled her closer as their lips met, still wet bodies sliding together again.
A small shiver rippled through Andrea. She didn’t know if it was due to the suddenly cooler air now the shower was off, or the feelings of arousal skittering through her. Either way her nipples were rock hard, jabbing into the soft flesh of Kate’s own chest.
They were freed into the cold air momentarily as Kate moved back, before a hot mouth closed over one. Andrea desperately sought out something to grip onto as Kate’s teeth grazed over her skin. Her fingers finally closed round the metal upright below the shower unit. It wasn’t a moment too soon as Kate started to slip further down her body.
She halted when she was on her knees before Andrea. Her head hovered for a moment, almost like she was praying. Andrea could feel each hot breath on her skin. She bowed her head slightly so she could see the top of Kate’s head, wet auburn hair lying flat against it. God, what is she waiting for?
Kate must have sensed the perusal, eyes flicking up for a moment, a mischievous glint in their blue depths. Andrea thought there was probably desperation in her own, an unremitting need for Kate to touch her. Then Kate was touching her. Suddenly all the waiting was worthwhile. Andrea gasped as the tongue slipped inside, her hold on the metal pole tightening.
When Kate flicked her tongue up and over the tender, hard flesh at the top of her sex, the sound of creaking from the metal was noticeable. Kate was sliding a stiff tongue back and forth across it. It was all too much for Andrea.
“Oh God, Kate…yes…”
The sound of wrenching metal sounded over her orgasmic cries. Andrea’s fingers tore clean trough the pole that was supporting her. She stumbled, Kate quickly coming up to catch her before she hit the frosted glass.
Kate looked at the shredded metal in Andrea’s hand as the younger woman recovered her senses. “I think you can explain to maintenance how that one happened,” she said, “though a slight deviation from the truth might be in order.”
“Maybe we should get out before I damage anything else,” suggested Andrea before raising a single eyebrow for her next comment. “Though perhaps we could continue elsewhere?”
Kate’s lips curved into a sly smile. “Now that sounds like an offer too good to refuse.”
Not needing any further invite, Andrea suddenly swept the smaller woman up into her arms. Kate gave a small yelp of surprise at being hefted off the floor, but quickly recovered to hook her arms around Andrea’s neck. Then her lips were on Andrea’s again, hungry to continue what had barely started in the shower. Andrea completely forgot that they hadn’t even stopped to dry themselves off as they stumbled through into the bedroom.
……….
Some time later Andrea had gathered her senses enough to wander back out into the lounge area. She had been dozing and woken to find herself alone in the mussed sheets. On entering the main room, she found Kate was already making herself at home in the kitchen. Andrea detected the faint smell of coffee brewing and smiled to herself at Kate’s inability to go more than about five minutes without making one when the opportunity presented itself. Andrea knew she didn’t have to mention that she’d rather have a tea, Kate long since having given up on trying to convert her to the dark side of coffee. Instead she settled down on the sofa, where she was quickly joined by the third occupant of the room, who started happily kneading the soft cloth of her robe.
Andrea was still ruffling the ears of her cat, Gerry, when Kate brought the drinks over. She was also wearing a robe, one that was loose enough so that when she bent to put the drinks down, Andrea got a fantastic view right down it. “I see my place has been usurped again,” noted Kate, casting a faintly disapproving glance at the tabby and white cat.
Andrea stopped her study of the way Kate’s nipple was grazing the cloth of her robe to answer. “I still feel bad about abandoning him to Tom’s tender mercies back in the summer – I think he was more traumatised by that whole affair than I was.”
Though Andrea liked to joke about it, she knew that was far from the truth. The physical injuries may have healed, but she still bore some of the mental scars of those dark days. Kate knew it as well – she’d had to deal with the nightmares that woke Andrea in a cold sweat too. She placed a lightly comforting hand on Andrea’s arm now as if instinctually sensing Andrea’s thoughts, and Andrea offered her a small smile of acknowledgement. The only good thing about what had happened was that it had replaced the warehouse accident as the main cause of her disturbed sleep. Those particular nightmares had faded now she had received some resolution to that incident. It also helped that she had Kate to confide in now, unlike when she had first arrived at the base unsure of whom she could trust.
However, she didn’t really want to talk about nightmares and bad memories at this point in time, instead picking up her tea and taking a sip. “Expertly made as usual,” she said lightly.
Watching Kate drinking contentedly from her cup as Gerry wandered over and rubbed against her thigh caused a small chuckle to bubble up in Andrea’s throat.
Kate’s brow crinkled slightly at the sudden merriment. “What?”
“I was just laughing at how domesticated we seem to have become,” said Andrea, “How long is it now? Five months?”
“Five months…six days and twenty-two hours.”
Andrea studied the convincing expression on Kate’s face for a moment. “You made that up,” she finally deduced, seeing beyond the outward show of confidence.
Kate laughed. “Ok,” she allowed, “maybe the bit about the hours. But there’s nothing wrong with domesticated is there?”
Andrea’s hand was already stroking over Gerry’s coat, so it seemed only natural to let it slip down onto Kate’s thigh instead. “Nothing at all,” she agreed, her fingers trailing slowly down over the silken robe. “Though it might be nice to be able to share our bliss with others.”
Andrea immediately felt the tensing in the muscles under her hand.
“It’s just an idea,” Andrea quickly added. “I’m getting a bit tired of having to try and hide my feelings when we’re in public. It’s not as if half the base doesn’t know anyway.”
Kate looked genuinely surprised by the revelation. “I sincerely hope that’s not true.”
Andrea shrugged, thinking it couldn’t come as that much of a shock. “Tom and Bel definitely know,” she pointed out, “and they probably told Harry. Plus I’m sure Doc suspects something and even Colonel Parsons has cottoned onto something if what you’ve said is true.” Andrea saw Kate’s brow furrow further with each word, but she ploughed on nonetheless. “Not to mention the highly suspicious way both of us were off the base at the same time in the summer. You know how everyone loves to gossip and I can tell you there is some choice gossip about us.”
“Such as what?”
Seeing that she was really starting to cause some concern now, Andrea decided to lighten the tone of her argument. “Such as us having a torrid lesbian affair…” she said softly, raising her eyebrows suggestively as she trailed off.
The change in tack had the desired effect, a smile creeping onto Kate’s face too. “How could anyone ever think that?” she wondered innocently.
Andrea pretended to think for a minute, tapping her fingers on her mouth. “Maybe something to do with the way you constantly stare at my chest while we’re on duty,” she finally suggested.
“I do not!” cried an affronted Kate.
“Or my eyes…”
Kate’s indignation was now manifesting itself in a pout. Andrea supposed it was meant to indicate displeasure, but she couldn’t help finding it incredibly sexy. She slipped closer on the sofa. “Or my lips…” she added, mere centimetres away now.
“Can you blame me when all those things are so irresistible?”
Kate closed the remaining distance, tenderly kissing the young woman.
Andrea had to remind herself that there had originally been a point to this conversation. With no small effort she pulled back. “Seriously though, are we going to be able to tell anyone about us any time soon?” she asked. “Surely you’re back in the army’s good books by now, especially since Kaminski’s off the scene and not stirring things up. Or is it the gay thing?”
Kate looked confused. “The gay thing?”
“Yes, being afraid of coming out of the closet,” clarified Andrea. “It’s not like you’ve even told your family yet.”
The stiff body language was in evidence again as Kate shifted away from Andrea, her shoulders squaring defensively. “It’s difficult,” Kate tried to explain. “I’m waiting for the right time - it’s not like I can just phone up and go…’hi, Mum, how’s things. Oh, by the way, I’m gay’”
It all sounded like convenient excuses to Andrea. “And why not?”
“Because she’ll have a bloody heart attack!” cried Kate in exasperation. She lowered her voice again as she continued. “I need to tell her in person,” she said more rationally. “So I can explain things properly.”
Andrea still wasn’t quite buying it. “You shouldn’t have to ‘explain things’,” she noted. “It’s not like there’s anything wrong with it.”
Kate was starting to look annoyed by Andrea’s persistence, a long exhalation of air sliding past her lips before she spoke again. “I know that,” she agreed, “but my mother’s from a different generation, they have a different way of thinking. I’m not saying she’s going to be against it; it might just take a bit of getting used to for her. Surely you can appreciate that after what happened with your family?”
The painful twinge in Andrea’s chest was immediate and unwelcome. No matter how often she told herself she didn’t care, it still hurt.
Kate saw the comment had hit home, quickly backtracking. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories,” she said, a hand reaching across to Andrea’s arm at the same time. “And anyway, your mother did come to see you a few months ago, isn’t that a good sign?”
“Yeah right,” Andrea scoffed, recalling the brief visit she had received while she was staying at her ex-girlfriend’s flat. “I’m sure she was after something, I’m just not sure what.”
“Maybe she was merely after a reconciliation?” reasoned Kate. “Maybe she realised she was wrong?”
Andrea laughed. It wasn’t a laugh of happiness though. Instead it covered up the bitter truth. “You really don’t know my mother - she would never admit to being wrong about anything.” The short, sharp answer was meant to indicate the topic was closed. Andrea didn’t want to think about her mother anymore, let alone talk about her. Her visit several months ago had brought the other woman painfully back into Andrea’s thoughts. Even after everything that had happened, and knowing her mother as she did, Andrea still had a hard time banishing stupid ideas of making up. It certainly didn’t help when she cropped up in conversation.
“So anyway,” she said, hoping to switch the focus back to Kate, “that excuses why you haven’t told your family, what about here on the base?”
Kate paused, realising what Andrea had done. “I guess I’m just a little wary of the reaction we might get from the troops for a variety of reasons,” she eventually answered. “Part of that is the ‘gay thing’ as you so aptly put it, but there’s also the fact that I’m the commander of the base and there could be questions of favouritism, especially after my previous errors in judgement.”
Kate didn’t need to mention what those were; they were both fully aware she was talking about her relationship with Adam Dixon. “But you learnt from that,” pointed out Andrea. “It’s not like you treat me differently than anyone else while we’re on duty.”
“I suppose not,” concurred Kate without much conviction. “Though sometimes I wonder if I’m completely objective where you’re concerned.”
Andrea knew Kate struggled with this on a regular basis – questioning whether she could sufficiently separate her professional and personal life. Seeing the contemplative look on Kate’s face, Andrea decided to cut her some slack for now. “Ok, I’m not going to bang on about it,” she said. “I’m beginning to sound like one of those activist man-hating lesbian types. Honestly, I’m not that bothered, it would just be nice not to have to keep it a secret. What really makes me happy is just being with you, and if I can’t tell anyone about it, then so be it.”
Kate made the small rueful smile that only ever touched one corner of her mouth. “Don’t worry,” she said softly, “I will tell everyone soon – I have a plan.”
“Should I be worried?”
Kate laughed. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Andrea was intrigued, but knew there would be no more details coming from Kate if she’d set her mind to keeping it secret for now. Kate still had an amused look on her face as she picked her coffee back up, her eyes lazily scanning the room as she drank. Andrea suddenly felt very conscious of how messy it was. She didn’t normally like to leave her quarters in the state they were in.
“You got the last remnants of your belongings all right then?” noted Kate, taking in the disorder.
“Yes,” said Andrea, “I’ve finally completed the sale of my flat in Islington so all my worldly goods are here or in storage.” She considered that maybe she should have put a few more in storage. “I guess that makes this my home.”
Kate’s smile was different this time. This time it was the one that was reflected in her eyes, the one that always caused a tiny flip of excitement in Andrea’s heart. “I like the sound of that,” Kate said, her voice soft and husky.
“Me too.”
Andrea cupped Kate’s face in her hand, drawing her forward into a kiss. When they parted both of them were smiling, soft contented smiles.
“Talking of things coming to completion,” said Kate, resting back on the sofa once more, “I’ve finished the first draft of my book, so I guess that means I can finally let you have a look at it.”
Andrea didn’t think it was a good idea to confess that she’d already had a peek at it some months earlier. “That would be great,” she said instead. “So what’s it about?” she asked with interest, though she knew the answer already.
“You have to promise not to laugh,” Kate warned.
“I promise, not even a titter will pass these lips,” replied Andrea, thankful that she’d had the forewarning of prior knowledge to help her. Not that the subject was particularly comical, but it could be considered a little…geeky.
“It’s a sci-fi novel, set in the future,” Kate explained. “I used my own command experiences to write about the female captain of a starship and her trials and tribulations while trying to protect her crew in a hostile region of space. It’s meant to be quite a gritty depiction of what it might be like, none of this sterile, perfect future.”
“It sounds…interesting.” Andrea knew the pause had been far too marked.
Kate didn’t seem particularly offended though, chuckling to herself instead. “It’s all right, I realise it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Why don’t you just read it and then you can tell me what you think?”
“Ok,” agreed Andrea, “though I’m surprised you’ve had time to finish it with all the work you’ve been doing recently.” She hadn’t meant the comment to slip out with quite such an admonishing edge to it. She was starting to sound like a nagging housewife – why are you always at work, where have you been… and so on and so forth.
Andrea could tell Kate had caught the tone, but she let it slide for now. “We could always find you something else to do if you’re getting bored,” she said, surprising Andrea by turning the discussion back on her. “I can see how your current duties might not be the most intellectually stimulating,” she added, her eyes taking in the pile of scientific journals on the corner of the coffee table. “Maybe you could get more involved with Dr Todd’s work, if you’d like?”
Andrea wasn’t sure if she would like that or not.
Kate studied her face as she thought. “Too close to your university days or parents’ work for comfort?”
Kate did have a habit of hitting the nail right on the head. Andrea nodded. “I thought I’d left all that behind. But you’re right, as interesting as training and learning about my powers is, it might be nice to have something a little more mentally challenging to do.”
“Well, think about it,” offered Kate. “Alternatively there are actually some ‘mentally challenging’ aspects of the Corps work you could explore if you’d rather.”
“Ok, though right now I have to say mental stimulation isn’t foremost on my mind.”
Kate laughed out loud. “Is it ever when we’re alone?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2
A snowball crashed into the side of Andrea’s face, shocking her out of her distracted thoughts. Those had been centred on the events of two evenings previously in her quarters. Wiping the remnants of the ice away, she looked balefully at the thrower.
Belinda Tardelli was currently weighing a second projectile in her hand, having formed it from thin air using her own superhuman power. She grinned at Andrea. “What?” she asked innocently. “Is it my fault you were daydreaming again? Good night was it?”
“Yes, thank you,” replied Andrea coolly.
The frosty answer didn’t discourage the woman though. Instead she nudged Tom in the arm as he stood next to her. “That’s the sort of look you sometimes get on your face too, just after I’ve caught you staring at various parts of my anatomy.”
Tom didn’t seem in the least bit embarrassed by her candid talk. “Hey, who wouldn’t want to stare? I’m sure Andrea would agree?”
Both of them looked at her now. “I wouldn’t dare comment,” she said diplomatically.
Tom laughed, knowing all about Bel’s fiery temperament as well as Andrea. “A wise decision,” he agreed.
“Anyway, I’m sure she’ll be concentrating in a moment,” continued Bel, “once the Major gets here.”
Tom nodded, joining in the teasing. “And quite possibly staring too.”
The doors opened at that moment and the subject of their conversation entered the underground training room. Kate was in military training gear like them and flanked by the remainder of their usual training group – Harry and the doctors Whitman and Todd.
“Just shut up, both of you!” Andrea quickly hissed to the still sniggering Tom and Bel.
Kate greeted them all, her eyes lingering ever so slightly when she reached Andrea. It was a Monday morning, so Kate suggested that they’d be taking it reasonably easy in training. Andrea knew her far too well to put much credence in those words though. Training was always serious and intense when Kate was involved, which wasn’t always. Often her other duties would keep her occupied and one of her lieutenants or one of the doctors would be in charge. However, she liked to come and join them whenever she could. Not that she really needed to learn how to use or control her own powers since she had absolute control over them already, but she liked to show solidarity with the other super humans.
The two doctors disappeared to the monitoring room and the exercises started. Andrea was so used to them now she could have done them in her sleep, soaring round the room with ease. She had almost completed her required course when she caught sight of Bel and Tom, trying to add a bit of spice to proceedings and catch her out. Andrea pretended she hadn’t noticed, though she knew she would need some fine judgement to avoid the speedy Tom. She took her time at the last target, waiting on the ground. The whoosh of the air indicated the impending man. At the last possible moment Andrea shot straight up. Tom looked surprised as he swept past where she had been standing and crashed straight into Bel who’d been coming from the opposite direction.
Andrea hovered high in the air, feeling decidedly smug as Bel and Tom tried to disentangle themselves from one another below her.
Suddenly something cannoned into Andrea’s side. It threw her across the room, slamming her into the wall. The force of the impact made a few cracks in the concrete. Then she tumbled to the floor, landing in a heap. She was still on her knees as a pair of boots paced into view before her.
“Don’t get too cocky,” came Kate’s voice. “You never know what surprises might be in store on a mission.”
Andrea glanced up at the other woman. She was standing with her hands on her hips, her stance the very epitome of cockiness if ever Andrea had seen it. Andrea made a show of rubbing her elbow where it had banged into the wall. “You could have seriously hurt me, you know.” In fact it didn’t hurt at all, her dense bones had seen to that.
“If I’d wanted to hurt you, you’d know it.”
Andrea knew it wasn’t an idle threat. The concussion blast that had shot her across the room was a mere fraction of the power Kate was capable of wielding. Still, Andrea thought Kate might be taking the ‘no favouritism’ adage a bit too far. If so, two could play at that game.
Kate had already turned round to face the others. “Remember to…”
Her sentence was cut off as Andrea took Kate’s legs from beneath her with a well-judged foot sweep. Kate crashed to the floor and Andrea was on her in a flash, pinning her wrists above her head so her hands couldn’t be directed in Andrea’s direction. Kate struggled for a moment as Andrea held her fast, straddling her across the chest.
Andrea dipped her head. Fear flashed in Kate’s eyes, like she thought Andrea was about to kiss her in front of everyone. Instead Andrea put her mouth by Kate’s ear.
“I’ve got a piece of advice for you too,” she whispered haughtily. “Never turn your back on an opponent.”
Kate favoured her with a sardonic smile as Andrea pulled back, still keeping hold of Kate’s wrists. “Have we finished training now?” asked Andrea innocently.
“Yes,” replied Kate, a slight edge to her tone. Andrea could tell she would be paying for her show of defiance later, but that was half the fun. “You can let me up now.”
Andrea released her hold, clambering up off Kate who also got to her feet. Kate’s eyes were still narrowed warningly, though Andrea could sense she was also trying to hide her enjoyment of the playful sparring behind the look. Since her back was to everyone else, Andrea risked a small wink and Kate’s lips thinned as she fought to hold back a smile.
The sound of the door relieved her of the need to try and keep her amusement hidden further. All eyes automatically swung to the soldier hurrying in towards them.
“Major!” she said, coming to a halt in front of Kate and making a quick but unnecessary salute. “We’ve just received word, the Colonel’s on his way.”
“The Colonel?” said Kate incredulously. “Coming here, now?”
The soldier nodded furiously.
“What’s his ETA?”
“He’s about twenty minutes out.”
“Shit!”
Andrea supposed the curse was meant to be under Kate’s breath, but she was sure she wasn’t the only one who had heard it.
Kate was already halfway to the door as she turned to call back to them. “I’ll see you all for training tomorrow.” Then she was gone, hurrying off to meet her commanding officer. Andrea wondered what the sudden visit was in aid of – it wasn’t like the Colonel to just randomly turn up.
Still mulling it over, Andrea went over to pick her towel up, finding Tom by her side as she reached down for it. “I’m sure she’ll be seeing some of us before tomorrow,” he whispered suggestively, “especially if that little performance on the floor was anything to go by. I was getting quite turned on myself actually. All you needed was a bit of mud and you two could’ve had a full-on wrestling match.”
Andrea shot him a look, but before she could actually say anything a sudden, sharp pain shot through her chest. She gasped as it tightened, her breathing coming in short, painful bursts. She had to lean against the wall, it being the only thing keeping her up at that moment.
“Andrea? Are you all right?”
Andrea’s head was swimming alarmingly, preventing her from answering Tom’s question. The feeling was like the one she’d had three days ago, after catching the train carriage. Only this time she had no excuse of darkness to reason away the lapse.
“Andrea?” Tom was in front of her now, worried by her lack of response.
Then as suddenly as it had come the feeling was gone, the pressure on her chest disappearing as quickly as it had struck. “Yes, I’m fine,” Andrea managed, catching her breath. She straightened up, brushing away his concerned hand.
“Are you sure? You look awfully pale.”
“Yes, I’m all right,” she stated more forcefully. “It’s nothing.”
“Maybe you should go see Doc anyway?”
“I said it’s nothing!”
Andrea turned and strode from the room, leaving behind a bewildered Tom. She was sure he was as unconvinced by her words as she was.
……………..
Kate hurried out onto the helipad, wondering why the Colonel was dropping in unannounced. Such visits usually only meant one of two things – there was trouble or there was about to be. She subconsciously straightened her tie as she saw the helicopter approaching beneath the low, grey clouds. She’d had to make a swift change of clothes before coming outside, since it wouldn’t be proper to be meeting her superior officer in her sweaty training gear. Not that he would probably mind, since they were good friends, but she didn’t know if anyone else was accompanying him. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had time to shower and the material of her starched shirt stuck uncomfortably to her back under her uniform jacket.
The wind whipped harshly in off the
Swaying slightly in the stiff breeze, the vehicle finally touched down safely with a solid thump. The door was quickly open, three people clambering out onto the tarmac. First was the Colonel, holding fast onto his own peaked hat that covered his white hair. Behind him came another person Kate recognised immediately, also in uniform. It was her long-time friend, Sophie McAllister. Then Kate caught sight of the final diminutive figure and her heart sank. She forced an even expression onto her face as all three of them approached. Kate made the customary salute to her superior officer.
“Morning, Major,” he said, returning the salute. “Sorry to
drop in unannounced like this, but we have some urgent business. You already
know Lieutenant McAllister, I believe,” Kate made a quick nod to Sophie who
smiled back, “and of course
Kate looked to the other woman, receiving a frosty stare for
her trouble. “How could I forget?” said Kate with a steely edge to her voice. The
government bureaucrat had been a thorn in Kate’s side for several months
earlier in the year. Kate had hoped that she’d seen the last of the officious
woman after the debacle in
“I’m fine thank you, and yourself?”
Kate could tell Kaminski really wasn’t interested in her well-being either, despite the overly polite tone. It was all part of the verbal dance they were required to perform around one another. If they didn’t do it this way, then they might just come to blows instead. Kate didn’t care one bit for the woman, and she knew the feeling was mutual.
“Couldn’t be better,” answered Kate. “I suggest we go inside,” she said, turning back to the Colonel. “Then you can tell me what this is all about.”
They exchanged small talk about journeys and the weather as they made their way to the second floor conference room, just down the hall from Kate’s office. Every now and then Kate would glance at Kaminski, who wasn’t joining in the conversation, trying to discern anything from the inscrutable expression on her face. The official strode confidently beside the three army officers, looking as smart as ever in a plain grey suit. Kate considered it remarkable that she looked so neat and tidy; there wasn’t a hair out of place on her blonde head, despite the inclement weather outside.
When they reached the conference room the Colonel automatically took up Kate’s usual place at the head of the large table that sat in its centre. Kate removed her hat and ran a swift hand through her flattened bobbed hair, taking the opportunity to delay and wait to see where the others sat. Once she had, she took up a seat on the opposite side from Kaminski. After a bit of preamble and drinks ordering from the private who had been waiting for them, the Colonel got down to the real business of the day.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what we’re doing here,” he began, “and I just want to say before I start that this isn’t any kind of reflection on you, or how you’re performing. We’re very happy with your work here ever since you took charge again.”
He paused for a moment. Everyone’s eyes automatically tracked to Kaminski since it had been she who’d had a brief, unsuccessful attempt at running the Unit during Kate’s enforced absence earlier that year. Kaminski met the stares without shame.
The Colonel cleared his throat, drawing the focus back to him. “However, it has come to our attention that there might still be a few…problems.”
“Problems?” queried Kate, getting ready to defend her personnel.
“With information finding it’s way off the base.”
“I assure you we don’t have any leaks here, sir,” Kate stated emphatically. “We’ve been very thorough with security ever since Chadwick was uncovered as a mole.”
“Nevertheless, the government has some concerns about leaks,” the Colonel continued. Kate guessed what he was telling her had come from above, that he had no choice but to go along with it. “Miss Kaminski is here to do a security audit on the unit.”
“Why is she doing it?” asked Kate, trying to keep her personal feelings out of it. “Surely someone from inside the Corps…?”
“My superiors felt that would be like asking the police to police themselves,” interjected Kaminski. “In case you’d forgotten, though the Superhuman Research Unit is managed by the military, it is meant to be a government operation. As such, I think it’s only appropriate that we’d like to check up on our investment.”
Kate ground her teeth together to suppress a wholly inappropriate retort. The condescending tone was truly maddening. “And they deemed you were best for job did they?” she asked instead.
Kate wondered whom exactly Kaminski had been cosying up to in order to get the posting. Last Kate had heard the woman had been disgraced, shipped off to push papers in some backwater of the Home Office. Yet here she was back again like a bad smell. Whoever her friends were, they must hold a fair degree of power to swing this. Then again Kaminski had always been ambitious, it would have been too much to ask that she disappear for good.
“The reasons for my appointment are no concern of yours,” stated Kaminski haughtily. “The fact is I’m here to carry out this audit and I will be expecting your full co-operation. Can I count on that, Major?”
Kate didn’t reply immediately, catching the eye of the Colonel again. She saw him give a small shrug of apology. It seemed she would be getting no help from his direction.
“Major?” prompted Kaminski.
“Of course, we will help the government in any investigation it sees fit to undertake,” answered Kate evenly. “Is it just you, or will you be bringing in other staff to help carry out this review?”
“I will be running a small team, including Lieutenant McAllister.”
Kate glanced at Sophie in surprise. She’d wondered what her friend was doing there, assuming she was accompanying the Colonel for some reason. It hadn’t occurred to her that Sophie was with Kaminski.
The Colonel spoke up again. “It was our one caveat in agreeing to the audit – that there be at least one member of military personnel on the investigation team. Lieutenant McAllister kindly volunteered.”
Sophie had volunteered to work with Kaminski? Kate really needed to talk to her later and check she hadn’t gone insane.
As she tried to digest the prospect of being spied on by Kaminski, something else occurred to Kate. “Why the sudden urgency about this, surely you could have scheduled a proper visit?”
“There have been a couple of incidents that lead us to believe this matter requires urgent investigation,” the Colonel said.
Kate looked at him curiously, waiting for him to elaborate, while Kaminski opened her briefcase. She brought out two files and slid them across the table in Kate’s direction. Kate opened them, finding they were personnel files after a fashion. Kate didn’t recognise either of the mugshots on the first page, nor the names underneath them. It was obvious both people were civilians though.
“Who are these people?” she asked, eyes flicking up to Kaminski.
“To save you from reading, I’ll summarise shall I?”
Kate wished she could blast the patronising Kaminski out of her chair. One small concussion wave would surely be enough to do it. Unfortunately it wouldn’t really be an appropriate use of her power.
“If you would,” said Kate, keeping the even expression pasted on her face with some effort.
“The files relate to Richard Carlton and Melanie Martin. Both of them were identified as being of interest to the unit.”
“They’re superhumans,” deduced Kate.
“That’s correct. As you know, we like to accumulate background information on these sort of people, watch them for a while and then approach them with an offer to join the unit or be fitted with a monitoring device.”
“Because we can’t have superhumans running around unchecked of course.”
Kaminski ignored the sarcastic edge to Kate’s tone. “Precisely.”
“So these are potential new candidates for the Unit?”
“They were,” said Kaminski, “but they went missing.”
“Missing? Weren’t you watching them? Where did they go?”
“That’s the question isn’t it,” said Kaminski solemnly, “along with who knew about them and how?”
“You think they were kidnapped…or worse?” queried Kate,
perturbed by the thought. “Is this anything to do with what happened to Andrea
Hallstrom?” she asked, remembering to add Andrea’s surname on the end since it
was an official discussion. She certainly didn’t want Kaminski to know about
her and Andrea’s relationship. No doubt it would be used as ammunition against
her. Thankfully, it seemed Kaminski hadn’t made any connection so far, despite
the events of the summer. “Do you think it’s the same organisation, that
Chadwick and
“I don’t want to make any assumptions at this stage.”
As always with Kaminski, Kate got the distinct impression she had a hidden agenda of some sort. Maybe it was just the fact that Kaminski was a pen-pushing bureaucrat that raised Kate’s hackles. She was the sort who was more interested in numbers and money than real people. If she couldn’t assign a monetary value to something, then to her it was worthless.
“But you do have some idea?” pressed Kate. “If there’s any sort of danger to my operatives then I should know about it.”
“We don’t think there’s any immediate danger,” said Kaminski evasively.
“But?”
Kaminski didn’t answer, obviously not liking having to tell Kate more than she deemed necessary. It was the Colonel who stepped in instead.
“I think the Major has the right to be kept informed.”
Kaminski glanced at him, but still seemed reluctant to divulge anything. “We don’t know what the source of the leak is yet,” she pointed out, “what level it came from. In those circumstances it’s best to keep information restricted.”
The implication was clear to everyone – that Kaminski suspected it could be Kate herself who was leaking the information.
“I don’t think I like what you’re suggesting, Miss Kaminski,” said Kate in a low voice.
“And do you deny that you were…’close’ to Adam Dixon? Who’s to say how…’close’ you remained.”
Kate silently fumed at the obvious insinuation in the other woman’s deliberately chosen words. Under the table her hands balled into fists on her thighs. “I can assure you, we are most definitely not ‘close’ anymore,” she said in a voice so icy it could have frozen the water in the jug before her. She would hardly have remained friends or anything else with the man who betrayed her and then later tortured Andrea. In fact part of her wished she had killed him on that rooftop back in August.
“I think the Major has proved her loyalty to the unit and the Corps,” said the Colonel to Kaminski. He turned to Kate. “The government does believe it may be the same organisation that’s responsible for these disappearances,” he said, taking the initiative since Kaminski seemed so tight-lipped, “which is why Miss Kaminski will be investigating them too as part of this audit. As you know, we’ve suspected for a while that there may be private groups interested in superhumans and what happened to Miss Hallstrom along with these latest developments make that seem all the more likely.”
Kate caught the brief look of annoyance on Kaminski’s face at the way the Colonel had overridden her, taking a perverse delight in seeing it. “You realise you may need our help if you do get close to these people,” Kate pointed out. “Adam Dixon has powers himself. Maybe more of the people in this organisation do too.”
Kaminski didn’t look like she relished the prospect of needing Kate’s help in any way. “I’m sure we’ll call upon you if and when we need you,” she noted with an air of disdain.
“And we’ll be glad to help,” said Kate, enjoying having Kaminski on the spot for once.
The meeting descended into talk of logistics and personnel, Kate keeping a watchful eye on the devious Kaminski the entire time. It was settled that Kaminski and her team would requisition one of the teaching rooms located in the underground part of the base. From there they would run their security audit and investigation. All anyone else was to be told was that Kaminski and her team were there to carry out a review of procedures. Kate wasn’t entirely happy with having to keep anything hidden, but if there was a leak then she had to concede it was necessary. She didn’t want to think security could be breached, but it was a possibility. Callum Chadwick had successfully managed to ship information off the base, so it was best not to be complacent, no matter how tight they thought their security might be.
Eventually the meeting broke up, with Kaminski heading off to survey her new domain, accompanied by Sophie. Kate herself remained behind in the room with the Colonel. She waited a few seconds after the door had closed before she swung round to her superior officer.
He held up his hands before she had a chance to speak. “Before you say anything, this came from over my head.”
Kate sighed. “Who the hell does Kaminski know? I thought we’d seen the last of her.”
“I wish I knew,” he said ruefully. “But don’t worry, I’ll be
keeping a close eye on her. The first sign of anything untoward, we’ll have her
back in
Kate’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, wondering exactly how the Colonel was intending to police Kaminski.
“I was thinking I’d probably be needing to have a closer involvement in the unit in the next few months,” he added, answering her unasked question, “increase the frequency of my visits.”
Kate groaned internally. She supposed he was only trying to be helpful, but having to deal with Kaminski, as well as having her superior officer breathing down her neck made it sound like she was in for a difficult time ahead.
…………
The doors slid open, but it took Andrea a moment to realise and exit the lift. She had been lost in thoughts of what might be causing the disconcerting lapses in her power. She knew that the sensible thing would be to mention it to someone, yet that would be admitting she had a problem – not something she was keen to do. It was bad enough that she couldn’t control her abilities as it was without the help of the regulator. She could feel it now, pressing up against the skin of her left arm where it was always wrapped, taunting her with her inadequacies.
Andrea took the right turn out of the lift towards her quarters, deciding on those rather than the tempting left route to Kate’s office. Andrea wasn’t sure she would be there anyway; she might still be in her meeting with the Colonel. No doubt Kate would fill her in on the details of that later, as long as they hadn’t been discussing anything too sensitive. Andrea had learnt that there were some things Kate just wasn’t at liberty to discuss with her. She knew it was part of Kate’s job, and she wouldn’t be the person she was if she just went blabbing such things at the drop of a hat. Yet it was always slightly galling to be cut out nonetheless, even if the things Andrea was being cut out of were most likely boring army issues.
Before Andrea got to the retina scanner that marked the
entrance to the superhuman quarters, she was surprised to see two people
approaching from that direction, and even more startled when she recognised
both of them. The people had spotted her too. One of them offered a smile while
the other gave her what could only be classed as a look of feigned
indifference. By the time they reached her, Andrea was still trying to take in
the incongruous sight of Kate’s friend Sophie McAllister and
Sophie was still smiling amiably. “Andrea, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Sophie,” acknowledged Andrea. She wasn’t quick to return the greeting in kind since it wouldn’t have been entirely true. Andrea got the distinct impression that Sophie harboured more than friendly feelings towards Kate, despite what either of them might say. The two of them had shared a brief fling years ago, but Andrea thought it still burned brightly in at least one person’s mind. With those reservations in mind, her interaction with Sophie tended to be slightly stilted and forced.
Andrea turned to the second, smaller woman, who she was even less pleased to see. She wondered if the day could get any worse. Maybe if she got back to her quarters and found Gerry had been tearing up her clothes again. “Miss Kaminski,” she said frostily, “to what do we owe this pleasure?” Her tone made it clear there was nothing pleasant about it.
“I’m sure the Major will have a full briefing for all of you later.”
Andrea didn’t like the sound of that. If Kate needed to brief them it was more than just a casual visit by Kaminski. “Can I take that to mean we might be seeing more of you? I’m surprised you wanted to return after your…” she pretended to be tactfully searching for a way to describe it, “…success last time,” she finished sarcastically.
Kaminski paused for a moment before answering Andrea in Swedish, a language Andrea had been surprised to discover the other woman could talk earlier that year. “I could see that my services were needed again to rein you people in. You seem to think it makes you untouchable, having these powers. Like you’re better than the rest of us, and this is your own private playground where you can do what you like.” Andrea guessed the lapse into the foreign language was so Sophie wouldn’t understand the disparaging content of Kaminski’s remarks. “Well, I’m here to make sure the government’s interests are still foremost in everyone’s minds.”
“And what might those interests be?” asked Andrea in fluent Swedish too. She was willing to play along for now. Plus the look of bemusement on Sophie’s face was worth it alone.
“Whatever we see fit,” replied Kaminski cryptically. “You are all merely our employees after all.”
Andrea let out a derisive laugh. “Are you sure you don’t mean servants, or maybe lab rats?”
“Those are your words not mine.”
“But they’re what you think aren’t they?” Andrea was getting annoyed with Kaminski’s nonchalance. She knew it was all part of her act, designed to make others uneasy, but she couldn’t help rising to it. “You think we’re all some expendable resource that you can just leave to anyone’s tender mercies if it gets too expensive to rescue them?”
They both knew she was referring to the incident when Andrea
had been kidnapped by
“I…regret what happened earlier this year.” If Kaminski was trying to be sincere, Andrea didn’t think she pulled it off very well. “Whatever you might think, I am interested in protecting the Unit and seeing it prospers.”
“As long as you’re the one in charge, right?” asked Andrea pointedly. “And you only regret what happened because you got your arse busted because of it. How did you manage to worm your way out of that one and back here anyway?”
“It required no ‘worming’ as you so colourfully put it. Some people value my expertise.”
“You actually have some?”
“Ok, ok, time out!” Sophie had finally stepped in, perhaps sensing that an argument was brewing. “As much fun as it is listening to this Abba reunion, we should be getting downstairs.”
“Thank you, lieutenant,” answered Kaminski for both of them, before switching her eyes back to Andrea. “I’m sure I shall be seeing you around again, Miss Hallstrom.”
The remark would have been an offhand farewell coming from anyone else, but from Kaminski the loading almost crushed it. Obviously Kaminski had plans. Who and what they involved Andrea was yet to determine. After Kaminski and Sophie had disappeared in the direction of the lift Andrea contemplated continuing on to her quarters before turning and heading back in the opposite direction.
……..
Kate’s fingers slid over the top of her coffee cup. The
drink had long since gone cold but she hadn’t noticed. Her mind was elsewhere,
raking over the words of her earlier meeting with Colonel Parsons and
A knock at her office door roused her from her quiet musings on the potential ways for disposing of annoying bureaucrats. She’d gotten as far as an unfortunate accident on the firing range.
Kate contemplated not answering the knock. It was most likely just Kaminski come to gloat some more or the Colonel to tell her of some other important piece of information he’d neglected to mention. If she ignored it maybe they’d just go away and she could pretend the day had never happened. That was if she was the type to shy away from a challenge.
“Come.”
When the door opened she was glad she had called out admittance after all. Seeing the familiar blue eyes that waited in the doorway always managed to lift her spirits.
“Is that an invite or an order?” asked Andrea as she started crossing the carpet towards the desk.
Kate was so caught up in her thoughts that it took her a moment to get the joke. She made a wry smile, but she wasn’t really in the mood for humour. Andrea took up the seat opposite her. “I’m guessing your meeting didn’t go well?” she surmised from Kate’s expression, “nothing to do with a certain government official?”
Kate leant back in her chair and raised her eyebrows. “You’ve seen our guests?”
“Yes, I just bumped into Sophie and
Andrea appeared remarkably calm given the identity of the visitors. Maybe she had changed more than Kate had realised. Once upon a time the young woman would have been charging into the office and demanding to know what they were doing on the base. On the other hand that might have been her intention before she witnessed Kate’s morose mood. Either way it was a welcome change.
“So what are they here for?” asked Andrea when Kate failed to add anything.
Kate pursed her lips for a moment. “Miss Kaminski is here to do a security audit.”
Andrea’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “And really?”
Kate sighed; it was hard getting anything past Andrea. She rose from her chair and crossed over to the more relaxed couch by the expansive window. It took up most of one side of the room and at the moment offered a view of rain driving down onto the windswept island. Andrea followed Kate over, waiting for an answer once they were both seated.
Kate looked out at the rain for a few seconds, deliberating on how much to reveal. “The security audit is the official line, and it is partly true,” she turned back to Andrea, “but there are…other things she’ll be investigating while she’s here.”
“Other things?” repeated Andrea. Her blue eyes scanned
Kate’s face, trying to discern what it was she wasn’t saying. “This isn’t
anything to do with
“Not directly.”
“But indirectly?”
Kate didn’t answer. Sometimes she hated her job. Who would know if she did tell Andrea everything they had discussed in the meeting anyway? It wasn’t like Andrea was the mole. Yet she couldn’t quite bring herself to disobey orders in this instance. It was hardly a matter of life or death.
Andrea made her own assumptions from the extended silence. “This is one of those cases where I shouldn’t press for more details isn’t it? It’s all right, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea anyway. My guess is it’s something to do with investigating this secret ‘organisation’ that Chadwick and Dixon were part of, am I getting warm?”
“I couldn’t possibly comment,” replied Kate evenly. She couldn’t help it if Andrea guessed correctly, could she?
“And I’m also thinking Kaminski is suspicious of pretty much everyone which is why there’s this ‘security audit’ to hide behind,” continued Andrea. “She’s not sure which of us might be in league with them, since we’re all on the same side in her eyes, being mutants. Actually I’m surprised you were allowed to know – you’re hardly top of her Christmas card list.”
“Believe me, if she could have got away without telling me, she would have done,” noted Kate ruefully. “Not that I’m either confirming or denying your suppositions,” she quickly added.
Andrea made a tiny wink. “No, of course not, you never said a word. I have to say I actually hope she catches those bastards if that’s what she’s doing here. Then again you never know what the hidden agenda is with that woman. Who’s to say that’s really what she’s here for either?”
Kate nodded. “Precisely. Which is why I shall be keeping a very close eye on our government ‘friend’. Unfortunately I won’t be the only one.”
Andrea looked intrigued by the cryptic comment.
“The Colonel has decided he needs to spend more time here,” clarified Kate.
“You don’t think he has an ulterior motive too? Maybe he’s checking up on you?”
Kate sighed as she leant back on the sofa, tipping her head to rest on the top of the cushions as she gazed at the ceiling. “The thought had crossed my mind,” she agreed.
Kate felt a gentle stroking up her left arm. “I’m sure you can handle both of them with your usual diplomatic touch.”
Kate’s head flopped to the side so she could see Andrea also offering a supportive smile. “And you? You managed to speak to Kaminski without punching her through a wall?”
“Oh, it was tempting, believe me. One thing holding me back was that I’m sure she’d secretly love it, and take it as a sign she’d managed to press all the wrong buttons.” Andrea paused for a moment before introducing the next subject. “So what’s Sophie doing here too? They seemed awfully chummy when I saw them in the corridor.”
Kate sat up straight again, noting the sly dig against Sophie in Andrea’s words. “I’m not entirely sure myself, I haven’t had the chance to speak to her privately but I intend to find out. It might actually be useful – she could give us an insight into Miss Kaminski for a change rather than us always having the impression she’s spying on us.”
“That is true,” agreed Andrea, “a mole in the enemy camp.”
Kate rubbed at her face thinking that sometimes it would just be easier if everyone just came out and said what their intentions were without this need to constantly spy on one another. Yet she had chosen this life of secrets and subterfuge, even if it was partly an accident of fate.
“Anyway, enough worrying about Kaminski for now – we could always be completely wrong and she’s just here to do her job.”
All Andrea needed to do was raise her eyebrows to show what she thought of that suggestion.
Kate put up her hands. “I know, I know, it’s ridiculously unlikely but it’s what I’m going to go with until proved otherwise.” She got up from the sofa and held out her hand. “Now, how about lunch?”
Andrea grinned as she took the warm fingers. “Your place or mine?”
…..……
A couple of days had passed without incident when Kate found herself down on the firing range. The butt of the L85 rifle recoiled into Kate’s shoulder as she resolutely gripped it and fired a round at the target. Several more followed before she stopped to inspect her accuracy. She noted with some satisfaction that the faceless target displayed a nice concentration of marks about the centre.
Kate reloaded and hunkered down once more against the wind. There were a few spots of rain hitting the brim of her cap too as she released a fresh volley of fire. The repetitive rat-a-tat echoed over the hills of the island, carrying faintly all the way to the mainland on the strong winter breeze.
She realised she could just do away with the gun completely, and blast the target to smithereens with a focused concussion wave from her hand, but that would hardly be sporting. Whatever other powers she might have, she liked to keep grounded in the day to day world of army life. That included joining some of her troops for target practice. However, whereas everyone else had long since disappeared out of the inclement weather, she remained outside shooting round after round. If she squinted she could pretend the amorphous blob at the end of the range was Kaminski.
Stopping for a moment she supposed that was slightly uncharitable. Since her arrival two days previously, Kate hadn’t even seen the other woman. Though Kate wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. The sound of feet on the loose gravel of the range drew her attention and she turned to find out who else was crazy enough to be outside late on a chilly winter’s day. Kate was somewhat surprised to discover it was her friend Sophie McAllister, wrapped up in thick camouflage gear like Kate herself and also carrying a gun.
Kate rose to meet her, wiping the rain out of her eyes under her hat. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” she noted.
Sophie made a shrug of her broad shoulders. “Not at all,” she replied in her thick Scottish accent.
“Only you got here two days ago,” continued Kate, “and this is the first time I’ve managed to grab you for more than a minute.”
Sophie shifted uneasily on her booted feet before answering. The action was odd because normally the other woman was the epitome of confidence, sometimes verging on cocky over-confidence. “I wasn’t entirely sure if you would want me impinging on your time…”
Kate looked at her bemusedly as she trailed off. “What are you talking about?”
“I got a rather frosty reception from Andrea,” explained Sophie. “It was practically arctic conditions in that corridor in fact. Though I suppose that might have been more to do with Kaminski than me, given that they launched into a tirade of Swedish right in front of me. I felt like a right spare part. I can only assume the conversation contained a few choice words.”
“More than likely,” agreed Kate, “they’re hardly best of friends. I’m sure Andrea doesn’t have a problem with you.”
“Are you certain? After what happened back in August…”
Sophie trailed off, not having to spell it out. When Kate thought she’d lost Andrea for good, Sophie had come to see Kate on her boat. Kate had been drunk and in a moment of stupidity had kissed Sophie. Kate had known it was a mistake immediately.
“We both know that was a silly misunderstanding though,” she re-iterated now, “right?”
Sophie made a rather unconvincing nod. “Of course, I wouldn’t have even mentioned it again, but after the way Andrea was…well, I don’t want to make things difficult; we do all have to work together.”
“As I said, I’m sure that’s not why she was a bit off with you.” Kate was sure because she’d never actually told Andrea about what had happened back on the Dorset Flyer with Sophie. There hadn’t really been an opportune moment immediately after she had rescued Andrea and the young woman was recuperating. Then as time went on there seemed less and less reason to mention it. It hadn’t meant anything, so why bring it up? At least it hadn’t meant anything to Kate. However, now she was getting the distinct impression that the memory was a bit more vivid in Sophie’s mind. Kate wondered if she should mention the incident to Andrea before she found out some other way. However, she couldn’t see it going down particularly well, what with the time gap and the fact that Sophie was now on the base. It would all sound a bit too suspicious and convenient.
Sophie broke her out of her inner deliberations. “All right, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt this time,” said the Scottish woman.
“Well, you know, if you’d rather spend all your time with Miss Kaminski…?”
Sophie laughed at the gentle teasing. “God, don’t! I’m not sure why I volunteered to be her army liaison in the first place!”
“So why did you?”
Sophie paused for a second. “It seemed like a good idea at the time, for various reasons.”
Kate could tell Sophie was skirting around something. Normally she was completely open and honest. Is she avoiding something to do with our past, or is there something else she isn’t telling me? Considering it could well be the former, Kate didn’t press.
“Well, I’m glad to have you here, especially if you’re going to help me keep an eye on the devious Miss Kaminski.” Kate made a small nod to the gun that was still in Sophie’s hands. “Come to fire off a few rounds then?”
“Yes, I didn’t expect to find anyone else out here this late, but I should have known you might be. Cadet Jarvis never knew when to quit and it looks like Major Jarvis isn’t any different.”
“Which is why I’m the Major and you’re still the lieutenant.”
“Ouch!” Sophie made a play at clutching at her chest as if
wounded. “But I don’t mind admitting it, you were always more dedicated even
back at
It was Kate’s turn to look at Sophie indignantly. “That’s fighting talk. Care to put your money where your mouth is?”
Sophie arched a dark eyebrow. “A little spot of competitive shooting?”
Kate nodded. “Though I hope you have plenty of money, because you’re going to be losing…a lot.”
“You’ve got no chance,” scoffed Sophie in return as they both prepared their weapons. “You’re too busy using those fancy powers of yours these days.”
“I still know my way round a gun a darn sight better than you, McAllister.” Kate shouldered the rifle. “Now let’s shut up and shoot.”
………….
Andrea paused at the door, as she did every time she had to keep this appointment. She knew the weekly Friday morning meeting was for her own good, and deep down she could see the benefits, but every time she arrived, she just got the urge to turn round and make up some excuse rather than enter. As always she pushed down her irrational anxiety and walked into the office.
The single occupant immediately met her eyes and gave a warm smile. “Andrea, come in, have a seat.”
The owner of the smiling face was Dr Shalini Shah,
consultant psychologist to the Unit. She visited once a week to attend to any mental
health issues of those stationed at the base. Andrea had been a reluctant
patient herself, but Kate had eventually persuaded her that after all that had
happened with the warehouse accident and then being captured by
The doctor swivelled her chair to face Andrea as she took up a seat opposite. She was at least a few years older than Andrea, though her smooth asian complexion made it hard to assess exactly how old she was. Dr Shah’s soft brown eyes fixed on Andrea. “So how have you been?”
“Fine.”
Dr Shah pursed her lips, though they held a hint of a smile too. “I thought we’d moved past the monosyllabic answers? And while you’re at it you can relax you know. If you were sitting any more straight and upright I might suspect you had a broom handle down the back of your shirt.”
“It’s called keeping a good posture.”
“Or a defensive one,” countered Dr Shah. “Is there something wrong? I know you hate coming here and only do it because Major Jarvis wants you to, but you’re not normally quite this closed.”
Andrea sighed. She supposed Dr Shah was as good a person to tell what was bothering her as anyone. At least she wouldn’t be able to tell anyone else about it. Dr Shah merely waited patiently in her practiced quiet way, not giving the sense that she was rushing or pressing Andrea into anything.
“There is something…”
Dr Shah leant forward slightly to show interest. “Go on.”
Andrea licked her lips nervously before taking the plunge. “I’ve been having these…dizzy spells.”
Dr Shah’s black eyebrows immediately creased in concern. “What sort of dizzy spells?”
“Just…dizzy spells,” replied Andrea with mild frustration at her own lack of knowledge, “A couple of times after using my powers I’ve suddenly found it hard to breathe, my chest gets tight and I almost pass out. Then it just goes away again.”
“I’m guessing you’ve not told anyone about this.”
“No.”
“You should.”
“Oh great, that’s your advice?”
“What exactly did you expect me to say - ‘oh, that’s nice, Andrea, but I’m sure it’s nothing even though you’re a super powered person with a history of medical issues with those powers’?”
Andrea didn’t answer, crossing her arms in annoyance instead. She knew the doctor was right. She had come to the same conclusion herself already. It still didn’t make it any easier to stomach.
“Look, I know you don’t like admitting you might need someone’s help, but it’s not necessarily a sign of weakness. In this case I think it would be more a sign of good judgement, don’t you? Unless you’re just going to ignore it and hope it goes away?”
Andrea still remained obstinantly silent.
“Why don’t you tell the Major? Unless there’s some reason you’re keeping it from her particularly?”
Dr Shah left that one hanging. In an uncharacteristically candid moment in one of their previous sessions, Andrea had confided in the doctor about her relationship with Kate. Again she supposed it was the safety of knowing the doctor wouldn’t be able to mention it to anyone else that had led her to. The doctor also had an uncanny ability to extract information, but then it was her job and she had many years practice at dealing with even the most tight-lipped of patients. Andrea sometimes wished she hadn’t let it slip, since the doctor seemed to think every small issue was related to it.
“No, there’s no particular reason I haven’t spoken to her. She’s been busy what with Miss Kaminski arriving and I just didn’t want to bother her with something insignificant.”
“I’m sure she won’t think it’s insignificant.”
Andrea sighed. “All right, I’ll tell her, next time I get the chance.”
…….
Next time Andrea got the chance proved to be later that same day. She found herself summoned to the large lecture room on the fifth underground level of the base. A good deal of the base lay hidden beneath the ground with only two floors visible to any prying eyes above it. Anyone sailing past outside the exclusion zone that surrounded the rugged island would be totally unaware of the labyrinth of meeting and training rooms under the surface.
The rest of the superhumans were also present as Andrea entered, as were several of the medical and scientific staff. From the hubbub of chatter that filled the room, Andrea deduced that whatever the meeting was for, it hadn’t started yet. Andrea’s eyes homed in on the figure standing at the front of the room and currently talking to Dr Todd.
Kate was wearing her number two uniform of olive shirt and crested tie, under a dark green jacket, all pressed and starched to oblivion. Andrea guessed that meant official visitors were on the way. The timing probably wasn’t brilliant, but Andrea supposed she might as well attempt to speak to Kate.
Andrea edged closer, drawing Kate’s attention away from the doctor. “Major, have you got a moment?”
Kate’s eyes automatically swung to the door before they fixed on Andrea. “Not really,” she said apologetically. “The Colonel will be here any minute. Can it wait?”
Andrea shrugged. “Sure, no problem.” She was faintly disappointed but also relieved she didn’t have to bring it up yet. Normally procrastinating wasn’t in her nature, but this time she was willing to make an exception.
Kate’s assessment of the Colonel’s imminent arrival proved
accurate as he marched into the room seconds later. He was flanked by
The room had hushed at the new arrivals and Andrea quickly took up one of the many spare seats in the room.
“Good afternoon everyone,” began Kate, silencing any remaining talk with her commanding tone. “Thank you for joining us at such short notice.”
Andrea couldn’t fail to notice Kate’s quick sideways glance at the Colonel and Kaminski – had they been springing things on her again? While Andrea pondered, Kate continued on addressing the room.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering who the new face among us is, so I won’t delay in introducing Nisha Tendulkar. She’s joining us as a new operative.”
“You mean she’s a superhuman,” piped up Tom.
Kate shot him a brief reproachful look for the interruption. “Thank you, Mr Parsons. Yes, Miss Tendulkar was indeed picked up by the governments monitoring program and agreed to join us here at the unit. There’ll be time for proper introductions later, but I’m sure you’ll all join me in extending her a warm welcome.”
There were a few murmurs from around the room as they young woman stepped forward. She certainly didn’t seem to lack confidence in front of strangers. “Thank you, Major,” Nisha smiled at Kate before turning to everyone else. “I look forward to meeting and working with you all.”
As soon as Nisha spoke her broad northern accent was
obvious. Andrea couldn’t pin it down exactly; she guessed Nisha was probably
from somewhere in
“Oh, Andrea, did you have something you wanted to speak to me about?”
Andrea noticed both Kaminski and Nisha hovering close by. The young woman was practically bouncing up and down in her barely contained excitement. Every once in a while she would glance expectantly at Kate.
Andrea shook her head. “Never mind, it’ll keep.”
Kate caught her eye and held the look for a second, checking Andrea really meant it.
“Go on,” insisted Andrea, adding more quietly. “You have an eager new pupil to attend to.”
“I’ll see you later,” whispered Kate before she turned to Nisha who beamed enthusiastically as they exited together.
Andrea remembered how once upon a time she had been the new one at the unit, the one who Kate had to devote more of her time and attention to. Though she ruefully considered most of that time had been required to castigate or discipline her. Hopefully the latest new addition wouldn’t be quite so troublesome. The initial indications were she wouldn’t, in fact she was just a touch over keen if anything. Perhaps that was just to make a good first impression, particularly with Kate. Andrea hadn’t failed to notice how Nisha could barely keep her eyes off the older woman during the briefing. Of course Andrea was the first person to acknowledge the magnetic allure of Kate’s presence, yet at the same time she resolved that she would need to keep her own eye on the new operative.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3
Andrea didn’t see Kate or the new arrival for the rest of the afternoon, and come evening she found herself walking alone into the recreation room on the ground floor. It was used by all of those stationed on the base as somewhere to relax and socialise in their off hours. The room was surprisingly busy, a good deal of people crowded round the large screened television at one side of the room. Andrea herself crossed to the bar where she was quickly spotted by Tom.
He sidled over to the stool next to her as she sat down. “On your own, Sherlock?”
Andrea frowned at Tom’s insistence on using the nickname he had taken it upon himself to give her soon after she had arrived on the base. “Is there any reason I shouldn’t be?”
“No, of course not, I wouldn’t expect to see the Major with you at all,” he said sarcastically, “apart from the fact you’re normally joined at the hip at this sort of thing.”
Andrea glanced at the crowd round the television and ignored his comments about Kate. “What sort of thing is that?”
“You mean you don’t know?” He rolled his eyes in disbelief. “It’s
the World Cup draw isn’t it. I thought you’d be doubly interested since you
kind of have two countries to root for. By the way, who would you support if
“
“But I bet you won’t be saying that if
Andrea made a wry smile, knowing that
“So where is the Major?” asked Tom. “I thought she might be
interested too, being a footy fan, even if it is that bunch of donkeys at
Andrea shrugged, trying to be dismissive. “I guess she’s still busy with our new arrival.”
Tom didn’t appear to buy into the outward show of disinterest. “Uh-huh.”
“What?”
Tom held up his hands as Andrea pinned him in place with a stern look. “Nothing, nothing. No green eyed monster there at all.”
Andrea scowled at him. “Just shut up and get me a drink.”
Tom smiled to himself, realising he had hit a nerve, but thinking better of continuing with the teasing. Instead he attracted Lister’s attention behind the bar and ordered them a couple of beers. Andrea swigged silently on hers as she distractedly watched the football draw on the television. Having resolved to tell Kate about her dizzy spells, it now seemed as if things were conspiring against her. She might lose her nerve at this rate. The programme was part way through when someone else entered the room. Andrea was disappointed to see it was Nisha and not Kate. The young woman immediately saw them, beamed, and walked over to join the pair of them at the bar as if they were old friends.
“Hi, we met briefly earlier, you must be Tom and Andrea, right?”
“That’s right,” replied Tom, hopping off his stool to offer his hand. “Nice to meet you properly, Nisha.”
“Thanks.” Nisha stuck out her own hand in Andrea’s direction. “And you too, Andrea.”
Andrea took it and resisted the temptation to squeeze tightly. Something about Nisha just raised her hackles. She was too upbeat, too cheery - almost as if it were an act.
Tom didn’t appear to share Andrea’s reservations, though, being his normal extrovert self. Andrea supposed that might also have had something to do with the fact that Nisha was rather attractive. Not that she was really Andrea’s type – she was far too brash and cocky by half – but she could see the superficial attraction.
“So has the Major being saying bad things about us then?” Tom asked of Nisha. “Since you know who we are?”
Nisha laughed. “Not at all, she was bigging all of you up.”
Andrea couldn’t help glancing behind the young woman at the mention of Kate. “Is the Major not with you?”
Nisha looked slightly bemused by the rather abrupt question but answered anyway. “No, she had some work to do apparently.”
Perhaps sensing the chill in the air, Tom jumped in again. “So how did your first day go?”
“Good thanks, but it would be better with one of those.” She indicated their beers.
Tom grinned. “Anything for a pretty lady.”
Nisha laughed at the unsubtle flirting. “Does that line actually work?”
“Not often,” admitted Tom. “I have a few others if you don’t like that one?”
Nisha smiled, sizing Tom up at the same time. “I just bet you do,” she said, getting his measure, “but I think I’d prefer the drink for now, cheers.”
Once Tom had procured the drink for her, the conversation turned to idle chit chat about Nisha’s first day. Andrea joined in at intervals, though she wasn’t particularly interested. Every now and then she would glance at the door, but there were no new arrivals in the room. Instead Andrea turned to studying Nisha’s interaction with Tom. He was being his usual friendly self and she appeared equally gregarious and chatty. Several times they burst out laughing as they shared a joke. She noted that Nisha wasn’t overly forthcoming with details about what she did prior to joining the unit and Andrea made a mental note to ask Kate about it when she got the chance. Unfortunately, that was looking like it might be some time. Meanwhile, Andrea noted that every time Tom touched on something maybe a little too personal, Nisha steered the conversation onto something else. It was all done smoothly and if Andrea had been participating in the discussion a bit more she probably wouldn’t have noticed.
Nisha was also evasive when Tom got on to asking about her powers, though Andrea thought that was just part of the flirty teasing they were engaging in rather than anything more sinister. Everyone was going to find out what her powers were pretty soon one way or another. The conversation then worked its way back onto Nisha’s impressions of the base.
“So is it what you expected?” asked Tom.
“I wasn’t keen when those suits turned up on my doorstep, all hoity-toity big words and shit,” confessed Nisha. “And then there was the army thing - I was expecting being woken up at the crack of dawn by some numbskull sergeant and everything, but it’s not too bad. And the Major’s been really nice.”
Andrea seized on the last comment, especially as it had been said in a faintly suggestive way. “Oh yes?”
Nisha swivelled back to her, taking the interruption as a sign Andrea was interested again. “If I’d known army officers were like that I might have shown a bit more interest in them before,” she added conversationally. “I just thought they were all morons with muscles for brains. But I might have to change my mind, especially as the whole uniform thing is a big turn on, don’t you think?” Nisha followed up the remark with a small wink.
“I suppose so.” Andrea kept her answer short. She wasn’t sure she could trust herself to utter anything longer without appending some choice words. The sheer arrogance of the young woman was irritating in the extreme.
Nisha turned to the fair-haired young man since she wasn’t getting far with Andrea. “Come on, Tom, you must agree with me at least, since you’re a red-blooded male – the Major’s a bit of a hottie isn’t she?”
Tom gagged for a moment as he cast an uneasy glance at Andrea. “Er, yes, I guess she is, though…er…we don’t tend to think of her that way, you know, what with her being our commanding officer and everything.”
“Oh, give me a break!” exclaimed Nisha. Andrea wished she could, preferably several to various limbs. “You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it?”
Tom looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
Eventually Nisha gave up waiting for an answer with a roll of the eyes. “And here I thought you were one of the boys – or is it just that I’m a bit too close to the truth for comfort? The Major certainly likes to get close doesn’t she, wandering hands an’ all.” She was leaning close to Tom now, showing him what she meant. “Or is that just me - maybe she just finds me irresistable?”
Nisha laughed at her own words, not noticing that no one else was joining in. Tom’s eyes flicked to Andrea again, able to see the fury written all over her face. He quickly stepped in before the oblivious young woman found herself knocked into the middle of next week. He took hold of Nisha’s arm and directed her away. “Perhaps I should introduce you to some of the others?”
Nisha still appeared ignorant of the reaction she had stirred in Andrea as Tom guided her over to a group of soldiers. Andrea stood silently seething for a moment as she watched the young woman laughing and joking with them too. It appeared she was a hit with everyone. Obviously they couldn’t see her crass immaturity like Andrea could. Andrea told herself that it was ridiculous to even contemplate that Kate would be interested in someone like that, whatever the deluded Nisha might think. Kate was just doing her job of welcoming the new operative. Sometimes Andrea just wished she wasn’t quite so good at her job.
Andrea waited a few more minutes to see if Kate would make
an appearance, in which time she decided that she would have to add Nisha to
the list of people to watch after Sophie and
…………
The following day was a Saturday, which would normally have meant a break for the superhuman operatives, but instead a special introductory training session had been scheduled for Nisha. Andrea had risen early and joined Tom, Bel and Harry for breakfast in the canteen. The others were buzzing with speculation about what Nisha’s powers might be, but Andrea’s thoughts were more on her own and the fact that she still hadn’t had the chance to speak to Kate about her dizzy spells.
After the World Cup draw had finished the night before, she’d gone back to her quarters to find those empty save an expectant Gerry. She had been secretly hoping Kate might be waiting to surprise her, but it seemed work commitments meant otherwise. Andrea had lain in bed hoping for the telltale sound of the door for a while, but it hadn’t come before she’d finally drifted off to sleep. She was alone when she woke too, Andrea supposing Kate must have gone back to her own quarters since it was late.
After breakfast, they made their way downstairs to find Kate and Nisha already waiting in the underground training room, along with Kaminski, Sophie, Colonel Parsons and several of the scientific staff. Andrea couldn’t quite remember getting that much attention when she had first arrived at the base.
As Andrea scanned all those present, she finally reached Kate who was staring right back at her. Kate gave a small smile of acknowledgement that Andrea automatically returned despite her troubled thoughts. She resolved that she would grab Kate afterwards, one way or another.
It was Kate who took the lead role in the session, despite the Colonel’s presence as a superior officer. He appeared to be observing only as Kate described what they’d be doing. Amongst her instructions was a note that they were supposed to take it fairly easy since it was Nisha’s first time, though Andrea considered that she really ought to get a proper taste of things, especially since that was what had happened to Andrea herself. In fact she recalled Bel had almost killed her in one of their first training sessions. From the way Nisha was acting and talking it seemed like she thought she could handle anything, and Andrea saw it as her duty to take her down a peg or two. Never mind that she was still smarting from some of the young woman’s comments from the night before. The nasty little jealous demon raised its head again as Nisha asked some question that garnered a laugh from Kate.
Eventually the scientists disappeared off to the safety of the monitoring booth leaving just the superhuman operatives on the training room floor. Still Nisha was staying close to Kate as the countdown begun and they took up their starting positions. The final bleep sounded but it took a moment to register in Andrea’s mind. She started when she realised Tom had already gone and she belated sprung up into the air. The ceiling was a good fifty feet up in the cavernous room and she had plenty of room to soar. Not that anything could beat being outside in the open air, but she didn’t often get to do that since the risk of being spotted was high.
Andrea knew where all the obstacles or projectiles might fly out at her as made her first pass along the wall. She avoided each danger spot with some deft twists and turns. Then suddenly the wall sprang out at her unexpectedly and careened into her side. It didn’t particularly hurt, but the shock was enough to bounce her off course and send her pin-balling between the next several obstacles before she managed an ungraceful, skidding landing on the floor. An indignant Andrea was quickly on her feet and dusting herself down. She turned back to see Nisha with a hand on the wall. She was grinning at Andrea.
“What the hell was that?” demanded Andrea.
Nisha took her hand off the wall and shrugged nonchalantly. “I just warped the molecules of the wall slightly to change its shape. At least that’s what the boffs tell me it is I do. Between you and me I just stick my hand on there and it kind of happens!”
“And it ‘kind of happened’ right into my path,” noted Andrea frostily. She walked up to the younger woman imposing herself over her, but Nisha appeared unapologetic.
“I thought that was the object, to stop you getting to the end?”
Andrea realised she had a point but wasn’t about to concede it. “It is, though we’re not meant to actually hurt one another.”
“Oh right, did it hurt then?”
Andrea could tell the young woman was deliberately goading her. It was done with an air of feigned innocence, but it was definitely done on purpose. Why she was doing it, or what she hoped to achieve was a mystery to Andrea, though. The arrival of Kate at the young woman’s side prevented the conversation descending further into bickering.
“Is everything all right?” she asked both of them, before turning to Andrea in particular. Kate’s arm twitched slightly, as if she was going to raise it to touch Andrea but though better of it. “Are you ok?” she asked instead, keeping her hands resolutely at her sides.
Andrea saw Kaminski and the others watching intently from the booth and understood Kate’s holding back. From where she stood, it looked like Kaminski appeared just a little too pleased that Andrea had come a cropper.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Andrea reassured Kate, “just a little surprised,” she added indicating the wall that was now back to its normal shape.
“It’s good to have something a little unexpected in these sessions, once in a while,” reasoned Kate. “We don’t want you getting too complacent after all. That’s why I didn’t tell you what Miss Tendulkar’s powers were before we started.”
The other woman was quickly in, correcting Kate. “Please, it’s Nisha.”
Andrea gritted her teeth. She had the strongest urge to punch those in Nisha’s currently grinning mouth in. It was obvious Kate had spotted Andrea’s annoyance too, but she didn’t question it at that point.
Andrea managed her own question through tight lips. “So what else can you do that we might not know about?”
“That was basically it,” replied Nisha. “I can do the warping thing with pretty much anything that ain’t living, as long as I’m in contact with it.”
“And animate objects?” queried Andrea.
“You mean something alive?” asked Nisha, seeking clarification of the long word. Andrea nodded. “I’ve never really tried,” confessed Nisha. “We wouldn’t want anyone ending up with one arm about two feet longer than the other would we?”
“Or worse,” remarked Andrea grimly.
“Which is why M…Nisha is here,” stepped in Kate, “to learn how to use her powers to the best advantage, just like the rest of us.”
“Though I think I’ve got a pretty good idea already,” mentioned the cocky young woman.
Kate glanced at Nisha, but didn’t comment. Perhaps she was waiting to see if it were true or not. Andrea was determined to show it wasn’t. The room was reset and everyone returned to their positions, but this time Andrea made sure she kept a close eye on what their precocious new arrival was doing.
Once past her, Andrea made a tight turn and swept back towards the other woman. Nisha had no time to react as Andrea flew past and upended her with an outstretched arm. The younger woman was dumped resoundingly and satisfyingly on her backside. Andrea briefly caught the look of annoyance directed her way. Then she couldn’t see much at all; she was in too much pain.
This time was worse than any of the others. The tightness shooting across her chest was so intense as to be unbearable. She clutched futilely at it as she cried out. Her breath came in ever decreasing bursts until she couldn’t catch one at all. Then she was falling as the spots clouded her vision. She had passed out long before her body whacked into the floor.
………..
The horrified gasp from Kate’s lips echoed round the room. It was quickly followed by the sickening thud of Andrea’s body as it crashed hard into the floor. Kate was too shocked to move for an instant. Andrea was very still; frighteningly so. Then Kate was running across the training room, desperate to reach Andrea.
The knees of her trousers slid across the smooth floor as she flung herself down by Andrea’s side. Kate hardly dared touch her though, in case she was injured in some way, and her hand merely hovered by Andrea’s arm as Kate tried to control her surging emotions. The relief on hearing the Andrea’s quiet breaths was overwhelming, and Kate rested her other hand on the floor as she inhaled deeply herself. Her fingers brushed over a couple of cracks in the floor under Andrea’s left shoulder which had impacted first. The damage to the floor was evidence of her dense bone structure. Kate was more thankful than ever for that, else Andrea certainly wouldn’t have been lying there now without an apparent mark on her.
Kate leant down. “Andrea, can you hear me?”
There was no sign of response and Kate sensed the others crowding round too. They had all come into the room from outside – Kaminski, the Colonel, Sophie. Doc was crouching down by her and several other bodies were leaning in close as well. Too close. Oppressively close.
“Give her some bloody space!”
Looking rather stunned by the sudden outburst, the others stepped back a few paces so it was just Doc and Kate knelt by Andrea’s side. Kate was aware of some of the bemused looks, but ignored them for now - she could deal with that later when she didn’t have something much more important to worry about. Andrea’s eyelids fluttered a couple of times before struggling open. Confusion sullied their blue depths as she scanned around her, finally settling on the anxious Kate.
“Andrea, are you all right?” The question was utterly ridiculous – it was obvious something was seriously wrong. Yet Kate couldn’t think of anything better to say right now. She could barely think coherently at all.
Andrea closed her eyes again for a second, composing herself before answering. “I’m ok,” she said, though the hoarseness of her voice suggested otherwise. She struggled up into a sitting position, cross-legged on the floor. “Really, I’m fine.”
“I think I’ll be the judge of that,” interjected Doc. “Is this the first time anything like this has happened?”
From Andrea’s sheepish look, Kate could tell it wasn’t. “Andrea?”
“I’m sorry, I was going to say something, I just didn’t get the chance.”
“How many times has this happened before? When?” Kate’s tone was verging somewhere between frustration and frantic concern.
“Only a couple of times – once in
“In
Andrea’s eyes met hers but she didn’t answer. Most likely because she knew as well as Kate how stupid and dangerous it had been not to say something. Kate sensed Andrea wanted to say something along those lines, but was perhaps wary of their rather large audience, several of whom were unaware of their relationship.
The doctor saved them both. “Look, we can deliberate over who should have said what and when later, right now I think we should get Andrea to the medical bay.”
“I’m all right, really.” Andrea went to get up, only to wobble as she reached a standing position.
Kate caught her arm before she fell. “Of course you are,” she admonished. “You’re going with Doc, that’s an order!”
A sudden bleep from Kate’s communicator cut off any
objection from Andrea. A brief interchange gave Kate the details of the call. When
she had finished she pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment – why do
these things always happen at the same time? She wanted to stay, find out
what was going on with Andrea, but she knew where her duty lay. She turned to
address them all. “Right everyone, change of plan, you’re with me - we’re
needed at an oil depot fire in
Andrea automatically fell in with the others as they started for the door, but Kate put a staying arm on her shoulder and hung back for a second to speak to her. Unfortunately several others were still in earshot so she had to keep her tone formal.
“Not you, Andrea,” she said, “not until we know what’s wrong with you.”
“But you might need me,” Andrea attempted.
“We’ll manage,” insisted Kate. “Your health is more important than joining us on this mission.” She tried to impart the fact that it was of concern to her in particular by holding eye contact more than was necessary. “Go with Doc, I’ll see you when I get back,” she added in a softer tone.
Andrea looked crestfallen, but didn’t argue in front of everyone else, something else that had changed over the course of the year. Part of Kate almost wished she would; give her some reason to stay that bit longer. Instead she could only give a final reassuring nod before she departed the room.
………..
Andrea closed her book and placed it down on her bedside table, giving a small sigh of exasperation as she did. She was bored. She’d been stuck in the sickbay ever since her public collapse with only a fussing Doc for company. He’d obstinately refused to let her go before he’d completed his tests, despite her protestations that she was fine. He’d also insisted they wait for Kate’s return from the oil depot fire, so he could get her approval on any decision. Obviously he was more scared of her reaction if he let a sick Andrea out of his sight, than he was of Andrea’s bad mood.
Andrea supposed there was a small upside to embarrassingly passing out in front of everyone - she didn’t have to worry about how to tell Kate anymore. However, all things considered she would have preferred not to have ended up looking like an idiot in front of everyone, and particularly Kaminski and Nisha. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she wondered how much longer Kate might be. Andrea hoped the mission was going all right. She hated having to sit it out, especially when she considered how dangerous it might be. She realised Kate was more than capable of handling herself, yet Andrea couldn’t help the fluttering anxiety in her chest or the visions of what might be happening in her absence.
As the hours and minutes ticked by she became more and more impatient. Eventually Doc gave up trying to prod and poke her further and disappeared to the far side of the room to study his computer screen from behind his glasses. Andrea watched him intently, hoping he might eventually nod off and allow her to sneak out, but he remained frustratingly alert.
Finally a movement at the door drew Andrea’s eyes, only for her to see Dr Todd entering and not Kate as she had hoped. He went over to Doc and started talking in hushed tones with him. Andrea flopped back down on her bed, but she didn’t have to wait long before the door opened again.
This time it was Kate, stepping wearily into the room. Her face was blackened with soot and dirt as was her normally bright auburn hair. Her blue eyes stood out even more against the grime as they met Andrea’s across the room. The two doctors had also noticed Kate’s arrival and quickly joined her before she’d gotten a chance to approach and say anything to Andrea alone.
Instead she had to ask her question with them hovering. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” replied Andrea in equally even tones.
The silent communication passing between them said so much more than the staid words. Kate looked tired and Andrea just wanted to get out of the sterile sickbay and back to either of their quarters where she could run a nice hot bath for them both. “But what about you?” she asked. “You look like shit!”
Kate made a small chuckling laugh. “That good, eh? It was hard work,” she added by means of explanation as she ran a hand through her hair. A shower of soot and dirt was dislodged and fell onto the white floor. “But we got it under control in the end. Anyway, that’s not what I’m here to talk about.” She turned to Doc who was looking aghast at the mess on his formerly pristine floor. “I’m hoping you have some good news for me about what caused Andrea’s sudden collapse.”
“Not exactly,” he admitted.
Kate pinned her eyes on him in a forceful stare, not having time for the evasive answer. “Some news then?” Her hands were on her hips as she pressed him. “Like what caused it or at least what we might do to stop it happening again?”
“I wish I could tell you, but I’m in the dark at the moment.”
Kate didn’t seem impressed by the answer, and Andrea shared those feelings. “Is it anything to do with my power regulator?” prompted Andrea. “Maybe the dosage is wrong or something?”
“No, I’ve checked that, it’s working fine. I have noted a slight imbalance in your blood chemistry, but what’s causing it or why that would make a difference or cause this sort of reaction I don’t know.”
Kate was in again, demanding answers even though it was becoming increasingly obvious Doc didn’t have them. “Then what do you suggest?”
“All we can do for now is continue to monitor her condition.”
Andrea threw her hands up in exasperation. “Oh great! I sincerely hope that doesn’t mean you expect me to sit around here all bloody day!”
Andrea made to move off the bed in a show of just exactly what she thought of that idea. However, a gentle hand from Kate on the shoulder prevented too much progress.
“Can I have a private word with Andrea please gentlemen?”
Neither of them argued, though Doc looked rather put out at being dismissed. Once they were both out of earshot Kate turned her attention to Andrea once more. Only now her expression was much different. Now she didn’t have to put on any pretence or show for anyone else, the concern etched into her features was obvious.
Andrea felt a corresponding pain in her chest, knowing she was the one who had caused the extra worry lines. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” she began. “I really was going to, but then Nisha turned up and I didn’t really get the chance to catch you alone.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Kate said softly. She risked a small touch of Andrea’s arm. Her fingers were warm as they slid gently over the bare skin. “All that matters is making sure you’re all right.”
Andrea gave a wan smile. “It’s just so frustrating now knowing what’s wrong. Sometimes I feel like these powers are controlling me rather than the other way round. First the seizures and now this! It would have been better if they’d never been bloody activated – I was quite happy before without them.”
“But then we would never have met,” pointed out Kate.
“True. I guess some pain is a small price to pay for that blessing.”
Kate dipped her head as a knowing smile touched her lips. When she raised it again and fixed her eyes on Andrea, the young woman knew her previous words had been absolutely true. In fact she would gladly run through the gates of hell if it meant she could spend just a moment with this woman. Needing to reach out and show it in some way, she merely took the hand that was still resting on her arm. Kate’s fingers were covered in soot too, Andrea realising the other woman must have come straight to the sickbay on returning from the fire.
“You managed all right without me on the mission then?” It wasn’t what she really wanted to say right now, but it was too public a place.
“I would have preferred to have you there, of course,” replied Kate, “but we did fine.”
“And no doubt Nisha did well,” added Andrea.
Kate paused, sensing the edge to the words. “She wasn’t there. You really think I would take a new operative out on her first full day?”
Andrea shrugged. “She is the new golden girl after all.”
Kate’s eyes scanned Andrea’s face, studying her intently. “Do I detect a faint hint of something?”
“No.”
Kate laughed out loud and Andrea spotted that Doc and Dr Todd had glanced over in their direction at the sudden outburst. The two men quickly turned back to studying their computer readouts when they realised both women were staring back at them. Kate turned back to Andrea when she was satisfied they weren’t listening in. “You can’t stand her can you? I saw the way you were looking at her during the training session.”
“She had just knocked me for a burton, if you recall.”
Kate nodded, though her expression showed she didn’t believe a word of the genuinely offended act. “Maybe, but I don’t think that was all it was, was it?”
Andrea sighed. “I don’t know, there’s just something about her I don’t like. She’s just too…keen to please.”
“Makes a nice change…”
Andrea merely narrowed her eyes, causing Kate to chuckle again. Andrea was most perturbed – it was meant to be her “you’re not funny” look and yet Kate was still laughing.
Eventually she controlled her mirth. “All right, sorry for teasing you. It’s just funny the way you take an instant dislike to some people.”
“My gut instincts are usually right though – you had to be able to develop a quick assessment of someone in the police, and most of the time I was right.”
“You mean you were actually wrong on some occasions?” queried Kate in mock surprise. “Surely not?”
Andrea gave her the look again, but it was obviously defective that day because Kate still appeared amused. Her lips were turned up at one end in the half smile that Andrea found unbearable cute.
Andrea exhaled slowly. “Ok, I admit it might be just a personal clash of personalities, but I’m not sure. I got the sense that she was hiding something too.”
“Such as what?”
“I don’t know, something about her past maybe.” Andrea wasn’t really sure what it was that was tickling her curiosity bone. “How much do you actually know about her?” she asked Kate, “She was a bit of a sudden arrival wasn’t she?”
“Yes, first I knew about it was yesterday morning when Kaminski sprung her on me.”
“And that’s not how it’s normally done when you have a new operative?”
“There isn’t exactly a blueprint,” admitted Kate. “You were a sudden arrival too, remember. But with all the others we had a couple of months of watching them and gathering information before we approached them, all of which I was in on.”
“You think they’ve been watching Nisha for a while and just haven’t told you?”
“Maybe. It’s strange Kaminski didn’t mention Nisha in our meeting the other day if that was the case, she was quick enough to tell me about the other ones that got away.”
Andrea waited for Kate to elaborate on the new bit of information.
“I suppose there’s no reason not to tell you that at least,” Kate continued. “Apparently there were a couple of other superhumans the government had been watching who subsequently went missing.”
“Perhaps Kaminski thought you had a hand in their disappearance and didn’t want to tell you about Nisha until she’d safely got her here,” reasoned Andrea.
“In which case the fact that she did get her here safely only adds weight to her suspicion of me.”
Andrea nodded as she considered the assessment could be correct. It was obvious Kaminski didn’t trust either of them; Andrea doubted she trusted anyone. “Though of course we know it’s not you behind any leaks,” she said to Kate. “Which begs the question - how did Nisha manage to avoid the same fate as the other two?”
“I presume because whoever is leaking information didn’t know either.”
Andrea sucked in a thoughtful breath. “Possibly.”
Kate noted the air of doubt. “You have a different theory?”
“No, not really,” confessed Andrea, “just some unfounded suspicions. I’d definitely like to know more about our new arrival before I come to any conclusions.”
“Just don’t go judging her too quickly,” requested Kate. “At least give her a chance. I’ve got enough to deal with at the moment without two of my operatives fighting amongst themselves.”
Andrea considered it for a moment – be nice to Nisha? She supposed she could give it a go, since she was already forcing herself to do so for Sophie’s benefit.
Kate had noticed the hesitation. “Andrea?” she prompted.
“All right, I’ll give her a chance,” she conceded. “Anyway, enough about her, when do I get out of here?” She asked with an imploring look over at the scientists. “Can’t you talk to Doc, I mean surely I can sit around in my quarters just as easily as I can here?”
Kate chuckled again at Andrea’s impatience. “I can imagine he’ll be glad to see the back of you too,” she commented, reading between the lines. “Let me go speak to him, I’ll be back in a minute. I can trust you not to sneak out while our backs are turned?”
Andrea gave her withering look one final try. “Yes, I’ll still be here.”
………..
Kate turned from Andrea’s bed to head over to the two men who were still chatting on the far side of the room. She didn’t like the situation any more than Andrea did, particularly the uncertainty. All the playful banter regarding Andrea’s opinions of Nisha was a way to disguise and dampen her anxiety over what had happened the day before. Even now she could still replay the moment Andrea crashed into the floor with sickening clarity.
Doc was the first to notice Kate’s approach, raising his bespectacled eyes from the computer.
“Did you have any luck, Major?”
“Sorry?” asked Kate, caught off-guard by the question.
“Persuading our obstinate patient it would be in her best interests to stay here?”
“Actually I was going to ask if you would consider releasing her to her quarters.” Kate quickly held up a hand to stop his objection. “I know it’s not what you would prefer, but do you also really want a bored and restless Andrea hanging around here for the next God knows how many days? I’m sure you can monitor her if she’s still on the base?”
Doc made a few grumbling noises to himself. “I suppose it should be safe enough to release her to her quarters as long as she doesn’t do anything silly like going for one of those off island jaunts she seems so keen on.”
Kate couldn’t be bothered to pull him up for his sarcastic tone. It had been a long day. “Thank you,” she simply said instead.
“I’ll just go and run a few final checks and she’ll be free to go,” added Doc.
As he did so, Kate realised that Dr Todd was still loitering in the room, as if he had been waiting for something. That suspicion was confirmed once Doc had disappeared over to Andrea’s bedside and Dr Todd took the opportunity to speak to her.
“Major, can I have a word, about Miss Hallstrom’s treatment?”
Kate thought it slightly odd that he wanted to discuss it with her rather than with Andrea and Doc too, especially as she didn’t believe Theo was aware of her and Andrea’s relationship. Then again, she and Theo had always been close confidants, at least in terms of work related matters, so perhaps he wanted to sound her out about something. “Go ahead.”
He glanced over at the other two, seeing they were safely out of earshot before he continued. “I have a suggestion for a possible course of action.”
She immediately wondered why he hadn’t said anything before in front of the others, but wasn’t going to look a potential gift horse in the mouth. “Great, let’s hear it.”
“Though there might be a slight problem,” he added cryptically.
Kate rubbed roughly at her temple. “Why don’t you tell me what it is, then I can decide about how much of a problem something is?”
“All right,” he agreed. “I know someone that might be able to help, a specialist in this specific area of genetics, but they’re an external consultant.”
Kate shrugged – they had other outside contractors who consulted with them from time to time. As long as they passed the security checks there wasn’t usually a problem. “If that’s all it is…”
“There’s something else, to do with who they are.”
Kate was getting annoyed by Theo’s continued evasion, especially as he wasn’t normally one to beat around the bush so. “And who might they be?” Kate didn’t really care if they were Saddam Hussain, as long as they could help Andrea.
When Theo promptly told her the person’s identity she contemplated that Saddam Hussain might have actually been better.
Theo noticed her furrowed brow. “I was right to think it might be a problem?”
“Yes,” agreed Kate, “but I’m not going to let anyone’s personal feelings put me off, not if this person can help. Can you arrange a meeting?”
Dr Todd looked surprised she was proceeding so rapidly, but didn’t question her decision. “I’ll get onto it right away.”
Kate called him back momentarily. “Theo - let’s just keep it between us for now. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary trouble if it turns out they’re not appropriate anyway.”
Dr Todd nodded his understanding and left the room. She knew she could rely on him not to mention it to anyone. Part of Kate hoped the person wasn’t appropriate, it might be easier that way. However, if there was a chance they could help Andrea then she was willing to make a pact with the devil himself.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4
Andrea scuffed a boot through the loose earth as she paced back and forth. Why she had to hang around out in the cold, watching while the others engaged in their training exercise was beyond her. She was all for team building, as long as it didn’t involve her freezing her butt off as she kicked her heels on the sidelines. She hadn’t had any more problems with her powers in the last couple of days, and really didn’t see why she couldn’t join in. It just wasn’t right to be forced to stay on the ground. She maintained the urge to join in was nothing to do with her huge competitive streak; one that couldn’t bear to see Nisha giving an impressive display of her own capabilities much to everyone else’s congratulation.
“You know if you stare at her long enough like that you might develop some laser eye power and fry her.”
Andrea turned to her colleague Belinda Tardelli who had taken a break to come over and make the flippant remark. “Do you think so?” Andrea asked with hopeful sarcasm.
Bel laughed at Andrea’s obvious hostility. “And I thought I was the one who was meant to give all newcomers a frosty reception?” she remarked. “No pun intended,” she added as she coalesced some moisture from the air into a shard of ice in her hand.
Andrea shook her head. “I don’t know what it is,” she pondered. “I’m not normally quite this judgemental with someone I’ve only just met, but her…” She trailed off. In reality she knew exactly why she didn’t like the other woman.
“And it’s nothing to do with Nisha’s … how shall I put it tactfully?” Bel thought for a second before giving up, “…slutty tendencies,” she finished.
Now it was Andrea’s turn to laugh at the cutting remark. “So I’m not the only one that noticed then?”
“You could hardly not, she’s been flirting with pretty much everyone. A few times I’ve had to slap Tom for ogling. You would think they’ve never seen a woman in their life, the way some of them have been fawning over her. Though I’m guessing it’s not her way with men that’s bothering you?”
Andrea sighed heavily. “I know it’s stupid. Kate’s not interested in her in the slightest, but I would just be happier if I could come out and let everyone know we’re together. Instead I have to put up with Miss Tendulkar’s crass comments on how ‘hot’ the Major is.”
“You could always just let it slip ‘accidentally’?” suggested Bel.
“I could, but I don’t want to get Kate into trouble. I hardly think it’s the sort of thing our big-mouthed friend would keep to herself, do you?”
“No,” agreed Bel, “and I should know - it’s been a nightmare for me to have to keep it secret. Do you think Nisha’s a bit of a cat flap then, that she really is interested in the Major?”
Andrea looked perplexed at the terminology.
“You know,” clarified Bel, “she swings both ways?”
Andrea considered it for a moment. “She certainly seems to if her indiscriminate sexual comments are anything to go by.”
“Well, as long as she keeps her cat-flappy hands off my man I guess I can let her live,” remarked Bel half-jokingly. “I suppose I ought to get back to it, before the Major notices me gassing,” she added.
Once Bel had rejoined the action, Andrea was left to her lonely vigil again. She couldn’t even properly see what was going on from her position on the ground, with part of the training area being obscured by a grassy hill. A monitoring truck was parked close by where she could have watched, but Andrea got the impression some of the less gracious squaddies were laughing at her predicament behind her back, and she preferred to avoid them where possible. Another ten minutes went by without a sign of anyone else, and Andrea finally decided that it wouldn’t hurt to take a little peek at what was happening over the rise. She told herself that she would just hover and watch; she wouldn’t actually engage in the session. Having made her resolution, she delved into the pockets of her thick jacket and pulled out the protective goggles she’d bought along, just in case. Once she’d placed them over her eyes, she effortlessly pushed off from the ground and drifted up into the sky.
As soon as she got a few feet off the ground the blustery wind really hit her, knocking her momentarily off course. She adjusted her flight path accordingly and continued climbing above the island landscape. The overwhelming rush of flying never ceased to amaze her. She just felt so free and alive, like nothing could touch her up there. How could they expect her to remain grounded and miss out on this?
Once at a suitable height she levelled off at a hover. Andrea
could see all the way back to the mainland, the clouds having lifted for once
to give a good view of the rocky coastline with the
For a moment she forgot why she had flown up there, until the distant, thumping sound of something being launched came from below. The projectile shot up in her direction, though was in no danger of it hitting her. It was one of the powered ones, intended for someone to chase down and catch. Andrea had always wondered if the designer had been reading too much Harry Potter, since the small objects had a tendency towards erratic random courses. She thought they might as well have coloured it gold and have been done with it. There was no sign of anyone being after this one, though – the only other person it could possibly be for was Kate, unless Nisha had some flying power that she had been concealing. The object started to level off at the apex of its ascent. It was so close that Andrea just couldn’t resist.
She darted for it and immediately it responded to the motion and shot off at an angle itself. Andrea sped after it, feeling the familiar rush as her velocity increased. The wind whipped past her face as she kept a close watch on the small object ahead. Suddenly it took a downward turn and Andrea quickly followed, gunning directly towards the ground at high speed. She was slowly catching it, but the ground was also fast approaching. For a second she thought it was just going to whack straight into the earth, when all of a sudden it took a sharp turn to run parallel to the surface. Andrea barely had time to pull herself up from her rapid descent. She felt the toe of one of her boots just catch the topsoil as she levelled off too.
Ahead the object was still going, whizzing out over the sea now, barely a foot above the choppy waves. Andrea dug deep and forged on into the wind. Her hand was outstretched as she got closer, closer…
Then with one final push she had it. She arced up, climbing away from the salty spray before finally coming to hover high above dry ground once more. She pushed her goggles up onto her forehead and viewed the now placid object in her hands with no small satisfaction.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Andrea almost lost control and started falling at the sudden question. She glanced down to see Kate was floating a few feet below her and looking mightily pissed off. Her blue-grey eyes held a steely edge where normally they were warm and welcoming.
“I would have thought that was obvious, I’m flying,” said Andrea unrepentantly.
Kate didn’t seem in the mood for the sarcastic retort. “No, you’re taking an unnecessary risk is what you’re doing. What would you do if you had a dizzy spell and passed out up here?”
“I might hope you’d catch me before I made a nasty mess on the ground.”
“And if I wasn’t here?”
“But you are, aren’t you?” pointed out Andrea. “And anyway, I’m fine.”
“For now!” cried Kate in exasperation. “Look, I understand your frustration about not being able to join in, not being able to use your powers, but can we please just land?”
Andrea realised that underneath the annoyance, Kate was genuinely worried. “All right,” she conceded, “but I hope Doc comes up with something soon.”
Kate’s final remark was almost lost on the wind, Andrea not entirely sure she had been meant to here it at all. “Especially if he has some help.”
………..
Come the evening Andrea was back in the warmth of her quarters, a cosy haven after a day spent out in the field. She knelt down by the oven, pulling open the door so she could check the progress of dinner. Another ten minutes or so. As she straightened up she found a pair of arms encircling her from behind.
“Nearly ready?” came a husky voice by her ear.
Andrea leant back into the embrace, closing her eyes as she felt the soft curves press into her back. “Yes,” she said, adding with a touch of admonishment, “though you only just made it in time tonight.”
“I had a few things to clear up from the exercise earlier.”
The small catch in Kate’s voice at the end caught Andrea’s attention and she turned in the other woman’s arms, seeing the troubled look in the blue-grey eyes. “What is it?”
Kate’s answer was said so softly as to be barely audible. “You scared me out there today.”
Andrea frowned. “Really? You seemed more pissed off at the time.”
Kate just pulled her closer, wrapping her arms tightly round Andrea’s body. Her auburn hair brushed at Andrea’s neck as she rested her head on the young woman’s shoulder. “I don’t think you realise just how much I need you,” said Kate. “Maybe I can’t always show it in front of everyone else, but don’t ever doubt it.”
Andrea rested her own head against Kate’s, drawing in her scent, happy just to be held. It was only after a moment that she realised her neck was getting damp. She pulled back to see Kate quickly wiping some tears away.
“Hey, what’s the matter?”
Shaking her head, Kate sighed. “Nothing, it’s just this thing with your powers, it’s so frustrating not being able to do anything. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you…”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” interrupted Andrea with more confidence than she felt. However, Kate was the one who needed reassurance now and if Andrea could give it to her she would. “I’ll be fine. You’ll see; the docs will work it out. If not I’ll just never use my powers again.”
“You’d do that?” asked Kate doubtfully.
“If it will stop you worrying.”
Kate gave a faint smile, reaching up to brush her hand lightly over Andrea’s cheek. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying about you.”
Catching the fingers, Andrea brought them round to her mouth and softly kissed them. “I love you.” A loud ping from the oven broke the romantic moment. “Now, I hope you’re hungry.”
Once Andrea pulled away, Kate brushed down her uniform shirt, taking a deep breath to compose herself and bring her emotions back under control. Andrea was reminded how blessed she was to see those rare glimpses of vulnerability and how humbled she felt to be trusted to see them.
“What are we having?” asked Kate while Andrea grabbed her oven gloves.
“Salmon gratin, a recipe of my grandmother’s.”
Kate gave an appreciative sniff as Andrea swung round holding it. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten any authentic Swedish dishes, unless you count the meatballs from Ikea.”
“You mean Dykea?” Seeing Kate’s quizzical look, Andrea thought it best to elaborate. “You must have noticed Ikea is a gay mecca? All lesbians love a nice bit of flat-pack.”
Kate laughed. “I can’t say as I noticed before, I shall have to pay more attention next time I’m there to buy a bookcase and instead finding myself leaving with a throw, three raspberry scented candles and a frame that doesn’t fit anything I own.”
Andrea set the dinner down on the small dining table, the two of them taking up their seats either side. They ate while sharing companionable conversation about nothing in particular, avoiding any work topics as they usually tried to do in their off hours alone. Eventually Kate placed her cutlery together, giving an appreciative sigh.
“That was gorgeous, thank you.”
“You haven’t had pudding yet.”
Leaning back in her chair, Kate rubbed at her stomach. “There’s pudding too? I’m not sure I can cope.”
“It’s pancakes and whipped cream.”
“Maybe just a couple then.”
Andrea laughed at how easily she was persuaded. Picking up the plates from the table she took them to the kitchen. Kate called out after her.
“You spoil me, you know, I could get used to it.” The warmth in the tone tickled Andrea’s insides and she allowed herself a smile before she turned back with the pancakes. “Though maybe next time it’s my turn to cook,” added Kate.
The plate with the pancakes hit the table a little heavier than Andrea intended as she let out a small snort.
“What?” asked Kate. “I can cook.”
“Of course you can, darling,” teased Andrea, “though maybe for both our health’s sake you should leave it to me.”
Kate’s hand was hovering by the bowl of whipped cream. “Are you casting aspersion over my cooking ability?”
Andrea grinned. “Yes.”
The blob of cream hit her directly on the cheek, before slowly sliding down it. “You’re going to pay for that.”
Before Kate could grab any more, Andrea scooped up a handful and landed it directly on Kate’s nose. Kate’s eyes crossed as she stared at it, only causing Andrea to laugh harder. Eventually the blue eyes met Andrea’s, the challenge evident in them, along with the undercurrent of desire. Andrea felt the corresponding heat pooling between her legs. Suddenly they both darted for the bowl, cream flying round the room as they chased each other, laughing all the way.
…………
The following day Kate tidied away the last of the papers on her desk, placing them in the filing cabinet behind her. She had just slid the metal drawer shut when the knock came at her door. It had been three days since her conversation with Dr Todd and she had been wondering if she had acted correctly ever since. However, if she had any doubts about the wisdom of procuring outside help in investigating Andrea’s condition, that had been quashed the day before.
When she’d seen Andrea glibly flying around over the island, she’d almost had a heart attack. Sometimes the young woman was just too reckless for her own good. Kate had thought Andrea’s experiences earlier that year might have dampened such tendencies to rash behaviour. She was generally more cautious and sensible when it came to using her powers, but on this occasion it seemed resisting the urge to use them at all was proving difficult. Kate could understand that to some extent – their powers were as much a part of them as any other aspect of their body or senses. Asking Andrea not to use them was akin to asking her not to walk, or not to smell. Kate knew she too would be champing at the bit if someone told her not to use her own. It had been bad enough having to conceal them for so long when she had first taken charge of the unit over a year ago.
Smoothing down the few creases in her uniform shirt until it was immaculate as normal, she crossed the room, wanting to greet her visitor herself. As she pulled open the door she couldn’t help the small involuntary intake of air at the amazing similarities between the figure standing before her and Andrea.
The blond hair was the same hue and texture, if much shorter, the high cheekbones almost identical and the tall slender body held in a confident stance so reminiscent of the young woman. But it was the piercing blue eyes that were the dead giveaway to the family connection.
“Dr Hallstrom,” said Kate, realising she had been impolitely staring. “Please, come in, take a seat.”
The man before her laughed. “Please, Major, call me Marcus,” he said amiably as he went to sit in the chair she had indicated. “Being addressed as Dr Hallstrom always makes me think of my mother.”
Kate automatically smiled in return while wondering what it was Andrea didn’t like about her brother. Her first impression of him was that he was charming enough, though she supposed she could be allowing the outward similarity to Andrea cloud her judgement. Not that he was an identical copy by any means. He was a man after all, so his face was more ruggedly handsome where Andrea’s was smoothly beautiful - his jawline slightly squarer and masculine, his cheekbones more angular.
Kate had to shake herself out of her study once more, taking her own seat again. “I understand Dr Todd has given you some indication of what it is we do here and why we’re interested in acquiring your services,” she began.
“Yes,” agreed Marcus, “though he was very secretive about it, which only made me more interested. I have to say that the fact this is a military operation did give me pause for thought, but Theo said I wouldn’t be disappointed by either the subject matter of the research or the facilities here.”
“I think that is most likely true; our facilities are second to none. We have substantial backing from the government.”
“That’ll make a nice change from scraping around the private sector for funding,” noted Marcus with wry sarcasm.
Kate realised that even the way he talked was like Andrea – with every word precisely spoken in a cut-glass English accent. His voice held no nervousness, no uncertainty. He came across as a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it.
She proceeded with the formalities of making him sign the Official Secrets’ Act before explaining to him the basics of what the unit was about. As she spoke she couldn’t help studying him, looking for more similarities with Andrea. By the time she had finished he looked rather stunned, but then again it wasn’t every day you found out there were such things as superhumans running around the country.
Marcus shook his head in disbelief. “Theo wasn’t joking when he said this would be research unlike any other I’ve done before was he? Superhumans…it’s staggering.”
“It certainly is,” agreed Kate. “I do have to ask at this point if that causes any problems for you?”
“Problems?”
“Some people have been known to have an adverse reaction on discovering such information and have not taken too kindly to our superhuman operatives, considering them somehow unnatural or freakish.”
“I can assure you I hold no such views,” stated Marcus. “It sounds absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to meet your superhumans.”
“You already have met one,” Kate informed him nonchalantly.
Marcus looked bemusedly at her, Kate almost able to see the realisation dawning across his features as she held his gaze. “You?”
Kate decided now was as good a time as any to find out if he really had no aversion to mutants. With great care she pointed her finger at the corner of her desk and directed a concussion wave at the desk tidy that sat there. The object spiralled off the surface, spilling its contents onto the red carpet. Kate watched for Marcus’ reaction the whole time, seeing that he did jump slightly when she actually fired the beam.
“My God,” he said in wonder, reaching down to pick up the plastic tidy, turning it over a couple of times before he looked back to her. “It really is true.”
“Yes it is.”
He glanced between the object and Kate a couple of more times. “Fascinating!”
Kate supposed that was good enough for now – at least he hadn’t recoiled in horror. “There is one final thing,” she mentioned. “I’m not sure how much Theo told you about exactly why we need your help?”
“He said it was something to do with the relationship between genetic mutations and the possible breakdown of genetic bonds and chemical balances in the blood stream as a result.”
“Right,” nodded Kate. She didn’t entirely understand what he had just said, but she trusted Theo wouldn’t have recommended Marcus without reason.
Marcus continued having finally placed her tidy back on the top of the desk now he had stopped intricately studying it. “I’m not sure what I thought he might have been referring to, some theoretical research I guess. Now it becomes clear he must have been talking about an actual person.”
“That’s correct,” confirmed Kate. “One of our operatives is having a few problems with their powers. They’ve had some other problems in the past that have proved near fatal, so it’s quite urgent we find a solution. It’s got our doctors baffled enough to seek your help.”
“That’s fine,” he said. “Obviously I’ve had no direct experience in terms of superhumans, but I’ll be happy to see what I can do.”
Kate took a deep breath, wondering how best to put it. “Your lack of direct knowledge wasn’t really my main concern though,” she noted. “The operative with a problem has an…association with you,” she continued slowly.
Marcus’ brow furrowed. “I know them?”
“It’s your sister.”
“Andrea? Andrea is here?” Finally something had disturbed Marcus’ calm exterior. “Andrea has super powers?”
“Yes.”
Marcus looked utterly shocked, much more so than when Kate
had knocked the item off her desk with her power or told him about the
existence of superhumans. “I..I thought she was in
“How long is it since you last spoke to your sister, Doctor?”
He thought about that for a moment. “It’s been a while,” he allowed. “I don’t know how much you know, but there have been a few…differences of opinion in our family.”
Kate thought that was a tactful way of putting it. According to Andrea her parents had driven her until she got to the point where she couldn’t take it any more, dropping out of her Phd studies to join the police instead. That and the fact she had also revealed she was gay at about the same time meant she had barely spoken to her family in five years.
“I have heard some details, yes,” was all Kate said out loud.
“Right. But those problems aren’t really between Andrea and myself,” he insisted. “I don’t know if you’ve met our mother, but she can be an imposing woman. So when she and Andrea fell out it was difficult for me to be caught in the middle, especially given my close working relationship with my mother. We’ve worked on a number of studies together and she’s an influential woman in the scientific community.”
Kate took that to mean he couldn’t afford to offend her. She had to wonder at just how imposing and powerful this woman must be, if she could exert that sort of power over the otherwise self-assured man, and over Andrea to some extent. Though Andrea had hardly seen her mother over the last five years, and maintained she didn’t care about that, Kate sensed a part of Andrea would like a reconciliation. Maybe the arrival of Andrea’s brother might go some way to facilitating that process.
“I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting your mother,” Kate replied, not entirely sure she wanted to either. From what little she’d heard already it sounded like she could be the classic troublesome mother-in-law. “Does that mean you won’t be accepting the job offer?”
“No, I accept your offer.”
Kate was surprised with the quick answer. She would have thought he would at least have asked to go away and give it some thought, especially given the circumstances.
“Good,” she said with a small nod, willing to accept the immediate answer. “Now all I have to do is convince Andrea this is a good idea.”
“How is Andrea?”
The question arrived completely out of the blue, taking Kate aback for a second. “She’s fine,” she answered non-committally, finding herself uncomfortable discussing Andrea on a more personal level with her brother.
“I mean it must have come as quite a shock to her,” he added, “to find out something like this.”
“I’m sure you can ask her yourself once you start work,” Kate noted, wanting to avoid having to say anything further on the subject, “which will be as soon as possible I hope.”
“Yes, I just need to clear up a few things on my last project,” he confirmed, “but I should be able to give you my undivided attention by the end of the week.”
Kate rose from her chair and offered her thanks for his attendance, along with the customary handshake. Thinking it only polite, she escorted him back to the door. He had just gotten over the threshold when someone barrelled into him, sending him crashing to the carpet.
…….
Andrea strode towards Kate’s office, glancing around to look for the secretary who appeared to be absent. Heading straight for the door instead, her mind registered the sound of the door opening, but not quick enough to stop her body’s forward momentum. She cannoned straight into whoever had been coming out, the person sprawling on the carpet at her feet.
“Sorry…” began Andrea, glancing down, ready to offer a hand. Her fingers stopped suddenly on their downward course, her mouth dropping open when she saw who was looking back at her. “Marcus?” she asked incredulously.
“Hello, Andrea,” he replied, getting up and dusting himself down. “It’s good to see you.”
Andrea couldn’t think of anything sensible to say in response, the sight of her brother there at the base having shocked her into silence for a moment. “What…what are you doing here?” she finally managed, unable to take her eyes off him.
“Accepting a job offer.” He gave her one of his characteristic smiles. Andrea had always found them just a bit too self-satisfied.
“Accepting a job offer?” she repeated, her eyes now drifting to the other person present. The tiny flutter of anxiety in her stomach was noticeable as she locked eyes with Kate. Has she been keeping things from me again?
“You offered him a job?” she asked, trying to keep her tone even. “And when exactly were you going to tell me this?”
“Dr Todd recommended him and I wanted to see if he was right for the job before I brought it to your attention.”
Andrea merely held her jaw firmly shut at the officious answer, not trusting herself to keep her cool if she spoke. She knew Kate had to retain an air of detached professionalism when they were in public, to avoid any hints at favouritism or give any clues to their relationship, and Andrea had learnt to be similarly placid when other people were around. That was no mean feat given her normally fiery personality. Andrea reconciled herself with the fact that she would just have to wait until they were alone before she gave vent to her simmering anger.
“Could I have a word with my sister in private?”
Marcus’ question broke both women out of the staring match they were having.
“What makes you think I want to talk to you?” asked Andrea scornfully. Though she had to be quiet around Kate, she had no such problem with displaying her hostility openly to Marcus. She couldn’t believe he was there, the bane of her childhood and an unwelcome reminder of her whole family.
“Please?” he asked again. “I’d like to try and explain a few things, perhaps clear the air. We are going to be working together after all.”
Andrea glanced between Kate and her brother, not sure who she was angrier with at that moment. “Fine,” she finally said.
“You can use my office,” indicated Kate. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Andrea merely gave Kate a cursory nod as she went in. She paced over to the window and kept her back to Marcus until she heard the sound of the door closing. Then she swiftly rounded on him.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
He looked unrepentant. It was a smug, satisfied look she had seen far too many times before. “I said before, accepting a job offer, and a good one at that.”
“There must be hundreds of other good job offers, all of them far away from me!”
“But none of them involve superhuman research.”
Andrea was taken aback, blinking stupidly a couple of time before speaking. “You know?”
“Of course I know, it’s why I took the job,” he explained. “This is a fantastic opportunity. The Major also told me about you being a superhuman. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Andrea looked at him incredulously. “Why the hell should I have done? It’s not like you’ve been rushing to stay in contact the last five years or so. Now you discover there’s something about me that might interest you, and you expect to be friends? This is just like you. I have something for myself for once and you have to try and get in on it.”
“It’s not like that, I came here for the interview before I knew you were anything to do with it. And I’m not trying to take anything away from you, I want to try and help you.”
“Well you can forget that!” stated Andrea firmly. “I’ll take my chances with Doc!”
“Now you’re just being pig-headed!” shot back Marcus. “You’d rather die than let me help you?”
“Yes!”
Andrea held her jaw shut with such fierce determination that her teeth started to hurt. Marcus was shooting her back an equally intransigent look. It was like being seven all over again. For once it was Marcus who caved in, dropping his eyes and going to sit on the couch by the window.
“Did I really wrong you so badly when we were children?”
Andrea rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “You really have to ask? Surely you must have noticed how you were always the golden child, the one that got all the attention, all the plaudits? It always seemed to be that you could do no wrong, whereas I couldn’t do anything right no matter how hard I tried. I bet mother would love to know what you’re doing now, another great piece of research in your glittering career. A shame you can’t tell her really.”
Marcus digested her words for a couple of moments before surprising her with his answer. “I guess you’re right in a way,” he conceded, “but that wasn’t exactly my fault was it?”
“Yeah, like you hated being the one they fawned all over!”
“Don’t you think it was hard for me too?” he attempted. “Trying to live up to their expectations, burying myself in work. And do you know what, a lot of the time what I did wasn’t good enough either.”
Again Andrea was surprised. “What do you mean? They were always singing your praises.”
“To you maybe, perhaps to make you feel you had to try harder to match me. But when it was just us…well, you know mother and what she could be like.”
“Could be like?” scoffed Andrea. “I hope you’re not suggesting she’s changed, because I have five years of rejection that says otherwise, from all of you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry about that, I really am.”
Andrea plonked herself down on the sofa next to him. She didn’t know whether to believe in the sincerity of his apology or not.
“She wants to see you, you know,” added Marcus. “She was hoping that you might call, after she visited you a few months ago.”
Andrea made a rueful laugh. “Don’t tell me she was actually disappointed, because then I’ll have to really start doubting your sanity.”
“I think she was. She didn’t say as much and you know how hard she is to read, but I think there was something genuine there.”
“Well good! It’s about time she felt some rejection too.”
Marcus sighed at her continued obstinate attitude. “We could all go on like this forever, remaining angry at one another, or we could try and make this work,” he suggested. “I’ve changed from that arse-kissing suck-up I was as a child. I know you’re right to some extent with what you said - I can see that they did perhaps dote on me more than you, that maybe you got the rough end of the deal. But that wasn’t my doing. I wanted their attention just as much as you did. I’m sorry if I got that at your expense, but I’d like to think that maybe we could try and re-build some sort of relationship. I’ve missed you Andrea.”
“Missed having someone to pick on you mean?”
Marcus made a small laugh. “Well maybe that too, but we did have some good times, didn’t we? We weren’t always at each other’s throats, there were some times we had a laugh together, especially if it was at mother’s expense. Do you remember how mad she used to get when we used to sneak out and hide in the garden? Then she’d have to come searching and we’d nip back past her into the house and pretend we’d been there all the time?”
Andrea couldn’t help laughing too at the recollection. Her mother’s temper had been a sight to behold. Not that she ever needed to raise her voice or anything as demonstrative as that. Instead she just had to employ her icy stare and deceptively calm voice as she doled out her punishment. Together they had the power to strike much more fear into Andrea than a hundred angry outbursts. It was the sense of having done something so awful as to have profoundly disappointed her that made you wish you had never committed whatever indiscretion it was.
Andrea exhaled slowly and brought herself back to the present. “All right, take the job and I’ll try to be at least civil to you.”
Marcus dipped his head. “That’s all I can ask for now, hopefully in time I can show you I’ve changed.”
Andrea couldn’t help the doubtful scoffing noise that passed her lips. “And will you be telling mother that you saw me?”
“If she asks, yes,” he quickly replied, “though obviously I won’t disclose any details of where.”
“And father?”
“Father?” Marcus looked confused.
“Will you be saying anything to him?” clarified Andrea.
“I thought you knew…”
Now it was Andrea who was confused. “About what?”
“I suppose you wouldn’t,” he said more to himself than her,
before turning his full attention to her once more. “He and mother separated –
he’s back in
“They split up?” repeated Andrea incredulously. “After thirty years of marriage?”
“I don’t think they’d been getting on for a while. Mother was far too ambitious whereas I think he would rather have kept cooped up in his lab. Sometimes I wonder if she treated him in the same over-bearing manner as she did us when they were together.”
“No wonder he left then!” cried Andrea. Now she thought about it, she was surprised her father had stuck around as long as he had. “I wonder why he hasn’t tried to contact me since?”
“Don’t take it personally,” Marcus consoled her. “I’ve not spoken to him either for a few months.”
Andrea supposed just because they had split up didn’t mean her father’s opinions had changed. He had been just as much the one to reject her as her mother. Dismissing thoughts of him for now, Andrea escorted Marcus to the door and found that Kate’s secretary had now returned. He led Marcus away and she was left on her own, trying to let the disorientation slip away, but she couldn’t quite shake it. It was just too strange seeing Marcus there after all this time. Was he being genuine or was there some ulterior motive in his presence? That was the big question on Andrea’s mind. A lifetime of memories made it hard for her to trust him and believe the former. As she deliberated, she wondered where Kate had disappeared to. Probably somewhere at a safe distance, considered Andrea. She was still angry with the other woman for keeping her interview with Marcus a secret, but the talk with her brother had gone some way to calming her down from her initial fury. Still, Kate had a bit of explaining to do. Andrea noticed the slightly ajar door off to the side of the office, giving a good indication of exactly where Kate was.
Andrea climbed the steps beyond the door that eventually led
her out onto the roof of the base. It was another blustery day and the wind
immediately whipped loose strands of blond hair into her face. Andrea pulled
them back out the way so she could see. Kate was standing on the far side of
the roof, gazing out into the wind in the direction of the
Kate’s back was to her and she hadn’t heard Andrea’s arrival, the harsh wind drowning out any other noise as it battered the exposed rooftop. In calmer conditions Kate would often go up there to stargaze, a pastime Andrea had joined her in on a few occasions. Andrea managed to get within a couple of feet before Kate finally sensed her presence. She didn’t look surprised to find Andrea there as she swivelled round. Kate reflexively put a hand up to push back her own auburn hair, which had swept about her cheeks now her back was to the wind.
It was Andrea who asked the first question, having to raise her voice over the squall. “Wanted to be out in the open in case I started hurling heavy objects at you?”
A wry smile crept across Kate’s face as she got the reference to another argument they’d had where that very thing had happened. “Something like that,” she remarked, “and away from prying eyes and ears.”
“Where no one can hear you scream,” added Andrea with a tiny hint of malevolence.
“Am I going to be then?”
Andrea sighed; she found it harder and harder to stay annoyed at Kate these days. “No, I’m just pissed off that you kept this from me. You know what my relationship with my family is like, and yet you go and arrange for my brother to come here and then offer him a job?”
“He was the best person for it,” reasoned Kate. “I understand how you feel,” she added more sympathetically. “I was hardly ecstatic when Dr Todd recommended him knowing about your past. Not that I’m placing the blame on him, it was still my decision.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you didn’t mention it before I ended up tripping over him.”
Kate paused, pursing her lips in contemplation. “I guess it was partly that I was worried about your reaction,” she admitted. “I thought that I’d meet him first to see if he was appropriate and then find a way to break it to you.”
“Break it to me that you had employed him, you mean? Not ask what I thought about it, whether I agreed?”
“And what would you have said if I gave you the option of vetoing his appointment?”
“I would have said no!”
“Exactly!” cried Kate, as if that proved her point. “Andrea, there’s something wrong with you, and we need to find out what it is. I don’t care who it is that can help you, as long as they can.”
“But does it have to be him?” Andrea understood Kate’s reasons were valid, yet she had a hard time conceding. “I can just see it now, he’ll be so God damn smug if he does work it out.”
“You almost sound like you want him to fail,” noted Kate.
“An irrational part of me does. I can understand what you’re saying about him being the right man for the job, I know he’s brilliant, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“That’s fine, no one said you did,” allowed Kate. “Hopefully he can help us out and then if you never want to see him again it’s your prerogative. Though he didn’t seem all that bad to me…”
“Ha! Already won you over with the charm offensive has he?”
“No, I’m just not going to pre-judge him. All I’m interested in is whether he can do his job. I know you two don’t see eye to eye, but maybe you could give him another chance or at least not make things difficult for him. It is in your own best interests after all.”
“Bloody hell, what with Kaminski, Nisha and now Marcus, it’s turning into a right week for being nice to people I don’t like.” Andrea had managed to catch ‘Sophie’ before it slipped out of her mouth, and Kate’s friend had been added to the list, though she certainly had a firm place in it.
“I’m sure you can manage to be the perfect diplomat,” noted Kate. “And as I said once he’s finished here, which will hopefully be soon, he’ll be onto another project anyway.”
“And you trust him do you?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
Andrea shrugged. “No specific one, but obviously there are concerns about security given Kaminski’s presence for her ‘audit’.”
“I hardly think your brother can have been involved in any prior leaks, he wasn’t even aware of the existence of superhumans before today.”
“Or maybe that’s what he wanted you to think.”
The pointed observation hung in the air for a moment before Kate dismissed it. “Now you’re just being paranoid. I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character, and he looked genuinely shocked when I told him.”
“If you say so,” conceded Andrea grudgingly, “but Marcus has a sly way of winning people round to his way of thinking, something he learnt off my mother.”
“Don’t worry, we’re not going to be giving him carte blanche to wander around spilling secrets to whoever he likes. Of course we’ll be monitoring him and his communications, just as we do everyone else on the base.”
“Just make sure you do.”
Kate stood to attention and made a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
“All right, no need to take the piss.”
Kate offered a small grin. “Sorry. Look shall we get back inside, presuming I’m safe now?”
“There aren’t any rocks to hurl even if I wanted to,” noted Andrea, not directly answering the question.
Leaving Kate to stew on that one, she dipped back into the warmth of the base, Kate quickly following on as they made their way back into the office. Andrea sat on the couch while she rubbed some life back into her chilled fingers – it didn’t take long out in the December wind to numb them. Kate was warming her own fingers in her usual way – by preparing a cup of coffee to wrap them around. When it had brewed she came to sit with Andrea, setting down a tea on the table too.
“Thinking about family got me wondering,” began Kate, “and I had something to ask you.”
“Oh God, don’t tell me you’ve also lined my mother up for a job here?”
Kate laughed. “No, nothing like that. Not even I have that much of a death wish. No, this is to do with my family.”
“Go on.”
“I was thinking that what with Christmas coming up, it might be nice if we could spend it together, and since mother will be expecting me at home, I thought perhaps you might like to come too?”
Andrea was glad she hadn’t started drinking her tea, else she might have choked on it. “You want me to meet your family?” Something else occurred to Andrea. “In what capacity would I be accompanying you? As one of your colleagues, as a friend…?”
“No, as my partner, if you have no objections.”
Andrea didn’t have objections as such, more like blaring warning claxons. “You’re going to turn up with me on Christmas day, with no prior warning and introduce me as your girlfriend?”
“Well, I thought we might get there the day before.”
“Don’t be smart!” Andrea gave Kate a withering look. “Don’t you think you should maybe give your mother a call beforehand to check it’s all right?”
“I thought you wanted me to tell her?”
“I do, but there are ways!”
Kate waved a hand in the air. “She’ll be fine.”
“Then why don’t you tell her beforehand?” asked Andrea pointedly.
“Do you want to come or not?”
Andrea gave up. “All right, she’s your mother. If you think she’s not going to keel over with shock on the spot, straight into her turkey and ruin everyone’s Christmas then it’s up to you.”
“Good, that’s settled then.”
Andrea prayed that Kate’s confidence was well placed. After the reaction she’d received from her own mother she found it hard to contemplate that there were some parents who really wouldn’t mind their child turning round and declaring they were gay.
……………
Callum Chadwick walked down the plain corridor, listening to the sounds of his own shoes echoing along it. He was convinced that Dr Hallstrom knew of a secret way to suck any form of life out of a space, in order to create just the right atmosphere of dread. He hated coming to see her, though at least she’d stopped taking glee in his pain for now. The treatment was finally finished, but the odd thing was he didn’t feel any different. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting – a sudden eureka moment where he took to the skies or flames shot from his eyes or something. Yet instead he was still just the same normal guy, nothing special. A few times when he’d been on his own he’d strained to make something happen, but he wasn’t sure how it was supposed to work. How did those freaks use their powers?
As if on cue, he reached Dr Hallstrom’s office only to find that he wasn’t the only one waiting to see her that day. Hovering by the door was Ingrid, another of the doctor’s mutant lackeys. Chadwick considered that ‘hovering’ might have been too charitable a term for the way she was standing there. A description such as ‘lurching’ might have been more appropriate. The thickset woman towered over Chadwick as he reached her, her large forearms crossed over her wide chest. She looked like she could crush his skull in her huge hands, and probably would given half the chance. She stared down her round nose at him, not speaking. Her huge form blocked the doorway, and as he went to move around her, she stepped across to continue to bar his path.
“Excuse me,” he said, with more confidence than he felt, “but Dr Hallstrom is expecting me.”
She didn’t bat an eyelid. It was as if she hadn’t heard, or
maybe didn’t understand. For all Chadwick knew she couldn’t even speak English.
He’d never heard her speak a single word – all he knew was that she was called
Ingrid, came from
“I said excuse me,” he repeated. He placed a hand on her arm to try and encourage her out of the way. She immediately seized it and squeezed his fingers in a vice-like grip.
“Let go, you freak!” he demanded, trying desperately to ignore the pain.
He could swear she was enjoying seeing him squirm behind the implacable expression that remained on her square-jawed face.
“Ingrid, stop scaring the poor man.”
Ingrid immediately released Chadwick’s hand, and he took it back while shooting Ingrid an indignant glance. He then turned to Dr Hallstrom who had just arrived and interrupted. “Your stupid lummox wouldn’t let me in.”
Chadwick instantly regretted his tone. Dr Hallstrom’s expression was like ice and it pierced right through him and gripped his heart in a grip much tighter than the one Ingrid had previously had on his hand. He quickly backtracked as she continued to simply stare at him. “Though obviously you weren’t in, which was probably why,” he mumbled.
Dr Hallstrom cast her eyes away from him, as if he wasn’t even worth bothering about, focusing on the giant of a woman instead. “Thank you, Ingrid. That will be all.”
Ingrid merely dipped her head and left, though not before giving Chadwick a final dark look. Dr Hallstrom then gestured Chadwick inside her office. Chadwick always found the interior deceptively bright and cheery. Then again, Dr Hallstrom hardly needed any external help in creating an atmosphere of menace. Her presence was enough. He took up a seat in front of her desk, while she busied herself watering one of the many plants that dotted the room. He’d sat there for a good couple of minutes growing increasingly nervous, before she finally sat down opposite him.
“You have something to report?”
“Just that we had our first communication from Tertiary One,” he informed her.
“They are in place?”
Chadwick noted the non-specific pronoun. He had no idea who their informant was, all communication reaching him in encrypted form. It seemed Dr Hallstrom wasn’t about to give him any clues. “Yes, everything is proceeding as planned.”
Dr Hallstrom nodded. In moments like this, when she was
pleased she almost appeared attractive. Outwardly she was a beautiful woman,
but anyone that knew her would find it hard to get past the dark heart that
lurked beneath the charming veneer. “Good, the sooner we stop Major Jarvis and
her Superhuman Research Unit the better. I’ve already had word that there’s
still some sort of investigation being carried out into your activities with
Chadwick also hoped that more than anything in the world. If he had incriminated Dr Hallstrom in anyway, he was sure he would be meeting a slow and painful death.
“That unit started as a minor annoyance,” she continued, “but now it’s starting to attract the attention. We need to prevent them expanding any further and jeopardising our own work.”
Chadwick wasn’t really sure what that ‘work’ was. He’d learnt a long time ago that it didn’t pay to ask too many questions, especially not of Dr Hallstrom. As long as it seemed he was on the winning side he didn’t really care either. And he was convinced he was on that side. With Dr Hallstrom in charge he couldn’t see it ending up any other way than in a victory for their organisation. He allowed himself a moment of silent smugness, thinking that then all the pain he’d had to endure would be worth it. He’d certainly enjoy being able to gloat as Jarvis and the younger Hallstrom found their world crashing down around them.
Dr Hallstrom’s voice broke him from his inner plotting. “Talking of work, have you had any results from your treatment yet?”
“No, nothing so far.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “It can take time. Either way you should consider yourself fortunate; at present it only works in about 1% of subjects.”
“And in the other 99%?”
“Those cases have a less favourable outcome,” she started diplomatically before hitting him with the harsh reality. “The lucky ones die, the others…if they’re lucky we put them out of their misery.”
Chadwick gulped, more thankful than ever the fates had smiled on him and placed him in the 1%. “Why are the results so poor?”
He regretted his choice of adjective as soon as her cold eyes pinned him in place. “Unfortunately even after years of research we still haven’t managed to identify the key genetic marker that will let us control the mutation,” she explained. “Without it results are unpredictable at best.”
Chadwick could see that would be galling, given Dr Hallstrom’s penchant for control and order. He made no further comment and she continued.
“And we won’t get anywhere closer to discovering it without more research subjects,” she remarked, “which is why I have a task for you…”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5
A tiny bead of sweat trickled across Andrea’s brow and down the side of her face, nestling into her hair. She would have wiped it away if her hands weren’t otherwise occupied. Instead she pushed upwards with them, forcing up the bar they tightly gripped. It really was far too easy, despite the fact that at each end were weights totalling 500kg. That was small fry for her, but all she was allowed to pump at the moment due to the doctors’ restrictions. She was surprised she had broken a sweat at all, supposing it may be something to do with the heat in the gym. The army seemed to have taken it upon themselves to negate the cold winter’s day outside by ramping up the heating to full inside the base. That or the thermostat was just broken.
Glancing about her, Andrea saw that the few other people in the gym were feeling it too. There were a couple of squaddies on other weights machines, the back of their green vests dark with sweat, plus another one on one of the rowing machines. He’d actually stopped, breathing heavily and wiping his brow with a towel. The only person seemingly unaffected was Tom, who was on a running machine, ambling along at about twenty miles an hour – a mere trifle for him. He grinned back at Andrea, reaching forward to deactivate the machine and sliding off the back of it.
“You taking it easy too?” he asked as he walked over to her.
Andrea lowered the bar, which thumped onto the metal supports with a resounding clang. “Not by choice,” she grumbled as she sat up.
“Doc still keeping a close eye on you is he?” wondered Tom.
“Unfortunately yes,” she confirmed. She knew it was only going to get worse when her brother finished up his other project and arrived at the base the following week. Fending off Doc’s attentions would seem easy when compared to having to be civil to him.
“I’m sure they’ll work out what’s wrong soon,” said Tom supportively, mistaking the dark look that had come across her face for something else.
Andrea gave him a wan smile, knowing he was just trying to cheer her up. She wasn’t really in a conversational mood, though. Tom sensed he wasn’t getting very far and left her to it, going off in search of some refreshment instead. Andrea had just lain back down when someone else came in. Seeing who it was, Andrea immediately took great interest in the weights she was lifting. Unfortunately, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Nisha already making a beeline for her. It appeared that no matter how frosty Andrea was, the young woman just didn’t quite get the message. Either she was stupid, up for a challenge or took some perverse satisfaction in winding Andrea up.
“Morning, Andrea,” she said cheerily.
Andrea focussed on the bar in front of her, pumping it up and down. “Good morning.”
As usual Nisha completely ignored the reception and plonked herself down on the neighbouring bench. She removed the towel from around her neck and lay down. Andrea couldn’t help smiling to herself as Nisha struggled to push up the lowly weights on that particular set. Obviously the younger woman was no competition in that area. Eventually Nisha sat up again and started to examine the circular objects on each end of the pole.
“These must be labelled wrong,” she noted.
Andrea quickly hid her smile. “Of course.”
Nisha leaned over to peer at Andrea’s set that was still hurtling up and down. “How much is on yours?” Her eyes went up and down a few times before she caught sight of the raised numbers. “Fuck me!” she exclaimed. “Is that right? 500 flipping kilos? You want to watch you don’t drop that and do some damage to those babies.”
Andrea could only assume Nisha was referring to her breasts, especially given the way she staring at them. Not really liking the perusal, Andrea stopped pressing the weights and sat back up.
Nisha managed to tear her eyes away at last. “Perhaps I should try the running machine instead,” she pondered.
“Yes, that might be easier.” Andrea was trying hard to keep the condescension from her tone. At least Nisha hadn’t noticed it.
However, the other woman wasn’t exactly quick to move, instead staying sitting on the bench and attempting to engage Andrea in idle chat about the various members of staff. Having heard Nisha’s opinion of Doc (‘does he ever stop talking?’), Lister (‘what does he put in that food?’), Bel (‘frosty in more ways the one’), Harry (‘geeky, but nice’) and Tom (‘a funny guy’), Andrea decided she’d heard enough.
Fearing what the answer might be, Andrea asked the question on her mind. “So is there anyone in particular you like working with?”
Nisha answered immediately. “It’s got to be the Major hasn’t it.”
“Has it?”
“Well, I don’t know how she is with you,” explained Nisha, “but she’s been really helpful, and you have to admit she’s a pretty awesome woman.”
Andrea didn’t need to be told, certainly not by a young upstart like Nisha. “If you say so,” she said evenly.
Nisha scrunched up her dark eyebrows in consternation. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you two get on or something?”
“We get on just fine,” said Andrea flatly. In fact so fine that we spend a good deal of our free time shagging like rabbits, she was tempted to add to see the look on Nisha’s face.
“Ah, you think I’m being a bit of an arse-licker?” continued Nisha. “Cosying up to the boss, is that it?”
Andrea certainly hoped Nisha wasn’t getting too cosy with Kate’s arse, else the young woman might soon find herself getting even more cosy with Andrea’s fist.
“Don’t worry, I’m no suck up,” added Nisha. “I just like the Major, I think she’s pretty cool for an army type, and pretty hot.”
Andrea gritted her teeth. Could the conversation get any worse? As always Nisha seemed oblivious to the tight-lipped reaction to her words, continuing on unabated. “Anyway, I can’t stand around chatting all day, I’ve got an appointment with the Major in half an hour.” Nisha started for the door, stopping to swing back and make a show of running her hands through her long black hair. “I need to go and get ready, so I can make a good impression.” Nisha offered Andrea a final smile and wink before she left.
Andrea clenched her fists and wondered just how good an impression Nisha might make with her front teeth missing.
………
A couple of hours later Andrea found herself kicking her heels in Kate’s office. The other woman was absent and it had taken some persuasion of the obstinate secretary to let her wait inside rather than having to hang around in the corridor like a lemon. Andrea absently flicked through the papers on Kate’s desk, unable to resist the temptation to her old investigator’s instincts. There was nothing particularly interesting, just a few memos from Kaminski and the Colonel. At the bottom was a larger file and Andrea opened it to find it was a dossier on another potential recruit. It looked like they had been trailing ‘Pete Barnes’ for a couple of months. Andrea hoped he wasn’t as annoying as Nisha if they did persuade him to join the unit.
A sound from the door made her jump and she quickly closed the file and rearranged the papers as they had been. Kate was there holding a tray with the somewhat incompatible foodstuffs of a banana, a yoghurt and a cup of coffee on it. Andrea didn’t comment, knowing Kate was terrible for eating properly in the daytime when she was working. In fact she was surprised she had stopped to pick up lunch at all.
“How did your meeting go?” asked Andrea as Kate placed the tray down on her coffee table and took a seat by the window.
“Which meeting?”
“With Nisha,” clarified Andrea. “She was in the gym this morning, going on about how she had to go and get ready in order to make a good impression.”
Kate shrugged. “It was fine, we went over some standard procedures; nothing particularly interesting.”
Kate was already chewing on a chunk of banana when she noticed that Andrea wasn’t continuing, merely staring at her. Kate swallowed her mouthful. “What?”
Andrea leant across the table to speak in lower tones. “It’s obvious isn’t it – she fancies you!”
Kate let out a loud laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous!” she said. “She’s just keen.”
Andrea gave her a doubtful look. “Is that why she described you as ‘hot’ this morning?”
That fact surprised Kate. “She did?” She sounded faintly appreciative of the compliment. “Still, that could just be a descriptive term from her, her terminology can be rather …”
As Kate struggled for an appropriate word, Andrea helped her out with a few suggestions. “Common? Tarty? Slutty?”
Kate frowned. “I was looking more for something like ‘colloquial’.”
“Whatever way you want to dress it up, she still likes you,” insisted Andrea. “I’ve not heard her describing anyone else like that.”
Kate shrugged. “I’ll keep an eye on it, but I think you’re blowing it out of all proportion.”
Andrea didn’t think she was exaggerating, but she wasn’t going to press the point and come across as a jealous lover, even if the green-eyed monster was in fact stomping happily round her thoughts.
“So did you enjoy the reading material?” asked Kate.
“Sorry?”
Kate didn’t look at her as she stirred her coffee for a moment. “The files on the desk,” she said evenly, “interesting were they?”
Kate was now peering at her from over her coffee mug. Andrea realised there was no point lying, she had been well and truly caught out. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” she said apologetically
A buzz came from the intercom on the desk saved her from further embarrassment. Kate’s secretary announced that Sophie and Kaminski were there to see her. Andrea decided it was about time to make herself scarce.
“Are we having dinner later?” she asked on the way to the door.
Kate sighed. “I’m not sure, it depends what this is about and whether it means I need to service another one of Miss Kaminski’s ridiculous requests.” Seeing Andrea looking a bit crestfallen, Kate quickly added. “But we’re still on for tomorrow?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
………
Andrea hopped down the stairs of the house, spotting
Marcus lingering by the front door.
“Was that the doorbell?”
He looked up at her, his blond hair flopping in his eyes.
She wondered when he was going to grow out of this latest teenage phase and get
it cut. He seemed to think it made him attractive to the girls at the school
near his, but then those King Henry’s girls weren’t very discerning.
“It was your little pal from school, Claire,” he informed
Andrea, “but I told her you were busy.”
“What?” cried Andrea, coming down the last few steps to
face him. “What did you do that for?”
“Because mother said you had to stay in and practice the
violin.”
“And who are you, her little policeman?” Andrea went to
step past him, hoping she might catch up with Claire, but her brother stepped
across to block her. Andrea tried to man-handle him out the way, but he resisted.
“Get out of the way, Marcus!” she said furiously as they tussled.
“She won’t like it,” he said in an infuriating sing-song
voice.
“Won’t like what?”
Both of them froze where they were. Slowly they swung
round to see their mother regarding them from across the hall. Andrea didn’t
know how she always managed to do that, sneak up on them without being heard. It
was almost as if she was floating along without making audible footfalls.
“Andrea’s trying to sneak out,” blurted out Marcus all of
a sudden.
“Grass!” Andrea shot back at him. He never could resist
mother’s stares for long.
That stare was now fully trained on Andrea. “Is this
true?”
Andrea shrugged. “I wouldn’t exactly call it sneaking, I
was just going to the shops with my friend Claire. It’s not like I was about to
go out to snort coke and joyride in cars.”
Her mother ignored the glib tone, keeping her own voice
as even as ever. “And have you done your practice?”
“No, but…”
“Then you’re not going anywhere.”
“What is this, a fucking prison?”
Her mother flinched at the use of the swear word. It was
exactly why Andrea had employed it. Still her mother’s voice didn’t change in tone
as she replied.
“No, it is my house, and while here you will live under
my rules.”
Andrea glared at her mother but could tell she had lost
this one. Turning on her heel she stalked a few steps up the stairs before
wheeling round.
“I hate you both!”
The words were still ringing in her ears as she Andrea sat up in the darkness. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light to reveal she was alone in her bed. Instinctively her hand brushed the pillow next to her, wishing it was occupied. Obviously Kate had been caught up with work again and thought it best not to disturb Andrea late. She wished she had, maybe then she wouldn’t have been subjected to the unpleasant dream about her past. She didn’t recall it as a specific incident, probably it was just a conglomeration of the many times Marcus and her mother had succeeded in annoying her, sparked by seeing him recently. Trying to banish it from her mind and think happier thoughts she lay back down and closed her eyes.
Come the morning Andrea found herself waiting alone in the
foyer of the base. It was another grey day outside, a few flakes of snow
visible drifting on the breeze. As Andrea gazed distractedly out the large
windows that ran the full length of the front of the building, she heard steps
behind her. Andrea swung round, only to find it wasn’t who she was expecting. Rather
than Kate, she found the beaming face of Nisha. She looked far too cheery
considering it was
The younger woman took in Andrea’s clothes, particularly the bulky coat. “Going somewhere nice?”
“I’m going to watch
“You are? I didn’t realise we were just allowed to wander off the island on our own, even if we do have these tracking things.” Nisha poked her right arm.
“I’m not going on my own.” As soon as she had said it Andrea realised she shouldn’t have.
Nisha was quick to latch on to the slip. “Oh yes? Who’s going with you?”
Andrea supposed she had to tell the truth now. No doubt Nisha would find out from someone else anyway. “I’m going with the Major.”
“Really?” Nisha’s dark eyebrows were high on her forehead, before something occurred to her. “An official escort thing is it?”
Andrea gritted her teeth and lied convincingly. “Yes.”
“Well, I can think of worse escorts,” commented Nisha. “Maybe I should ask if I can go somewhere, though I don’t think a football game would be my first choice, unless David Beckham was playing of course.”
Andrea didn’t dare ask what her first choice would be, and was saved from having to by the appearance of Kate. As she crossed the foyer towards them, Andrea couldn’t fail to notice the smile on Nisha’s face. Once Kate reached them, Andrea wasted no time in insisting they go, making some vague excuse about not wanting to be late. The sudden urgency bemused Kate, but she didn’t object as the two of them stepped out into the cold.
………….
A few hours later Andrea was warming her hands on a mug. Eventually she raised it to her lips and took a sip of the tea, grimacing as its bitter taste hit her tongue. No matter how much they tried to tart it up and charge the earth for it, motorway service station tea still tasted like crap. You could try putting in as many of those little milk cartons as you liked, pausing to wipe away where they had spit at you as you opened them, or try and disguise the taste with about ten sugars, but it still wasn’t a patch on a decent home brew. Andrea had known all this when she’d ordered, but she had hoped against hope that she would be proved wrong this time. Now she just wished she’d ordered a hot chocolate instead. She wondered if the other drink currently sitting on the plastic table was any better. However, Andrea doubted that coffee fared much better in such places and was certain Kate would be telling her as much as soon as she got back from the loo.
Placing her rancid tea back down, Andrea glanced around the
café, studying the other people who’d seen fit to take a break from driving on
the M62. There were a fair few red scarves, hats and shirts amongst them,
fellow fans on their way to the game at Anfield. It occurred to Andrea that she
and Kate really needn’t have forced their way through the Saturday afternoon
traffic with everyone else – they could have just flown down to
Andrea’s eyes drifted to the table next to theirs. The two
men at it were currently discussing the prospects for the game while flicking
through a tabloid in front of them on the table. Football was one of the
favourite topics of conversation in
Though Andrea would claim to be too high-brow for papers like the one they had, she couldn’t help trying to surreptitiously read it too. As usual a terrible pun blared from the back page in large type, this one connecting Wayne Rooney to a famous war film via some painful wordplay. One of the men flipped the paper over and turned the first page. Andrea tried to pretend not to look at the third page, but the picture inside was so in your face it was hard not to. It was the 21st century and still a daily paper could get away with a picture of a half-naked woman just inside the cover. Not a bad looking one, as it happened, Andrea noted, turning her head slightly to the side to get a better look.
“Did you see this?”
Andrea continued to sneakily look as the man addressed his companion. He was pointing at the story on the opposite page to the buxom woman.
“The thing about the secret army base in
Andrea was jolted out of her study, suddenly paying full attention to the discussion. The paper was too far away for her to be able to read the text of the article they were talking about.
“I dunno,” said the first man, “sounds pretty plausible to me.”
His friend wasn’t convinced. “And what exactly is it they’re meant to be doing there? Developing our own weapons of mass destruction? Anyway, the army must always be up to all sorts of secret shit, it’s hardly news is it?”
“It says here that some people stationed on that island were
there at that fire at the oil depot a week or so ago. Now what would the
military be doing sending people all the way down from
“I don’t know, maybe they were fire experts? The army are always blowing things up, perhaps they also know special ways to put fires out.”
“Special being the operative word.”
“What are you talking about?”
The man leant forward to whisper his answer, Andrea unable to hear his words. All she heard was his companion’s incredulous laughter that came in response.
“You are nuts!” he exclaimed once he could control his laughter. “You’ve been watching way too many sci-fi films.”
“I’m telling you,” said the other one, undeterred, “they’re experimenting on soldiers up there, doing things to them to make them different. That’s what all that gulf war syndrome was really – a cover up of their botched tests.”
“You are completely insane, you know that?”
“Just you wait, we’ll be overrun with freaks and mutants before you know it. They’ll be taking over.”
“Taking over what exactly?
“And call who?”
“Steven Spielberg, I’m sure he’d be interested in the rights to your sci-fi blockbuster – ‘When Mutants Attack!’”
Andrea felt an uncomfortable prickling down the back of her neck as the men continued with their increasingly far-fetched propositions. If only they knew how close to the truth they were they might not be quite so light-hearted about it.
Eventually the two men finished up their drinks, got up and left the folded-up paper on the table. Andrea gave them a couple of moments to get a discrete distance before she quickly leant over and snatched it up. She was still scanning it when she sensed someone taking the seat opposite.
“Have you seen this,” said Andrea, placing it down, open and facing Kate who was sipping at her coffee, somehow managing to avoid looking disgusted at the flavour.
Kate glanced down at the table, blue eyes perusing the newspaper. “Well, I have to agree…” she paused to squint at some text. “Debbie certainly does have impressive ‘assets’,” she finished, looking up with a grin.
“Not that page!” cried Andrea, frowning at Kate. “On page 2,” she said, tapping a finger on the appropriate story.
Kate’s eyes flicked downwards once more, her smile quickly fading as she read on. The concern was evident on her face when it finally turned up to Andrea again.
“It seems things may not be as secret as we might have hoped,” remarked Andrea.
Kate sighed. “I suppose the only small mercy is that it seems to be pure speculation at the moment. It doesn’t appear that they actually know what the ‘secret’ is.”
“That could only be a matter of time.”
“Unless Kaminski and co get onto it quick and manage to muddy the waters sufficiently, it is what they’re best at after all,” noted Kate, thankful for the other woman’s abilities for once. “I’m surprised she hasn’t been ringing me already to moan about how we’ve been letting things slip again. Perhaps The Sun isn’t on her required reading list.”
“I can’t believe anything gets by that woman.” Andrea glanced at the byline to see who the author of the article was, surprised to see it was the journalist she’d met briefly in London a couple of weeks previously. For some reason she’d got the impression that tabloids weren’t really her style. “Kaminski’s probably tracking down Miss Ferguson as we speak,” added Andrea.
“Your friend better watch out then,” noted Kate with a touch of sarcasm.
“She’s not my friend,” pointed out Andrea. “I spoke to her once, very briefly. Now if you’ve finished with that coffee, we should be going.”
Kate drank the last drops from the mug and pulled on her coat. “Right, we wouldn’t want to be late for kick-off.”
……
By the time the game was over, snow had started to fall, great clumps swirling in the headlights of the car as they travelled north. Some of it even lay on the well-travelled motorway, leaving two distinct tracks in each lane where cars continued to pass. Given the treacherous conditions, Kate’s attention was firmly fixed on the road ahead, leaving little time for conversation. With no distractions to keep her occupied and only darkness and snow visible out the window, Andrea soon found her eyes beginning to droop. A couple of times she jerked awake again as her head lolled at an awkward angle.
“You can have a nap if you like,” noted Kate. Andrea glanced across, able to see the half-smile on Kate’s profile lit up at intervals by the headlights flashing by. “Seeing us beat Middlesborough 2-0 was obviously too much excitement for you,” she added with amusement.
“I’m wide awake,” stated Andrea, making herself sit up straight in her seat. “But it was pretty exciting, don’t you think? I’m glad you could make it what with your busy schedule at the moment.”
Kate risked a quick sideways glance. “You know I always have
time for you,” she said softly, causing a strange tingling arousal to tickle up
Andrea’s spine. “And
Andrea chuckled. “Of course, we wouldn’t want that season ticket going to waste after all. What is that now, seven in a row?”
Kate nodded, switching her attention back to the road. “Yep, and it was nice to see Morientes get on the score sheet for once too. If only he could do it every week.”
“My money’s still on Crouch to come good for us.”
Kate laughed. “He’s all arms and legs. He looks like a stiff wind could blow him over.”
Andrea grinned back, enjoying the friendly banter after a week of hard work. “Ah, that’s all an act to lull the opposition into a false sense of security,” she insisted. “In reality he’s a lean, mean scoring machine.”
“If you say so….shit!”
Kate’s comment was abruptly cut off as she wrenched the steering wheel to one side. They barely managed to avoid the car that was careening across in front of them. Then the world was spinning as they skidded over the slushy surface of the road.
“Fuck!” exclaimed Kate. She wrestled for control of the steering wheel but it was hopeless.
Both of them saw the large lorry looming up in front of them out of the driving snow. Both of them knew they weren’t going to avoid it. Without thinking Andrea quickly unfastened her seatbelt and threw herself across in front of Kate.
The car slammed into the truck, the front-end instantly folding up with a teeth-grating wrenching of metal. The two women were flung forward, the resistance of Kate’s seatbelt the only thing stopping them from flying out the shattered windscreen. Andrea kept herself between Kate and the chassis of the lorry, which was crushing their smaller car with ease as it ploughed into it. Andrea felt hard, unforgiving metal digging into her back, but she used all the strength to brace herself and hold it off and away from the smaller woman.
The car popped and strained in a dozen places around them as it continued to be squashed. Then finally there was stillness, though not calm. Andrea could hear the sounds of more crashing metal and screeching tyres as the pile-up worked its way back up the motorway. Closer came the sound of hissing from the mangled engine that was currently positioned somewhere near Andrea’s right shoulder. Andrea tried to crane her head to look at Kate but found she was wedged fast up against the other woman. Kate in turn was pinned in her seat by Andrea and several tonnes of twisted metal. Andrea could feel Kate’s racing heart where their chests touched.
“Are you all right?” she called into the darkness.
When no answer came, Andrea’s own heart began to beat that much faster. Obviously Kate was alive, but beyond that…Andrea frantically sought out some sort of purchase with her limbs, which were positioned awkwardly around Kate’s seat. Sharp bits of car stabbed into her shins as she tried to get them onto something solid, but she ignored the pain, barely noticing it in her urgency. Finally she managed to push backwards, shoving the metal frame away from them both with her back.
It was dark in the mangled interior but she could just make out the pale blue-grey eyes focussed on her.
“Thanks for the save,” said Kate, breathing heavy but otherwise appearing unscathed.
Andrea couldn’t help smiling, more in relief than anything else. “You’re welcome, though I suggest we get out of here before anything goes up.”
Kate nodded. “Allow me.” A focussed concussion wave blew what was left of the door off its hinges, the battered door clattering onto tarmac a few feet away.
The scene outside the car was one of utter chaos. The snow was still falling hard and fast, sweeping across the exposed road. Andrea had to shield her eyes from the stinging flakes to get a proper look at her surroundings. They were on a raised section, a bridge over something Andrea supposed. She could just make out the crash barriers at the side of the hard shoulder. All around them were twisted, mangled and up-ended cars. The wails and cries of those trapped or hurt floated up the road, carried on the stiff wind. A few fires had broken out too, melting the snow around them. Once they had cleared their own car, Andrea turned to Kate.
“That was a bit risky for you, wasn’t it, we might get seen after all?”
Kate pushed her already damp hair away from her face, continuing to survey the scene. “Rather that than have you having to use your powers again,” she noted. “Not that I’m not grateful, but you are still under medical supervision remember.”
Andrea rolled her eyes. “How could I forget.” She rubbed some life into her arms as the wind cut through the thin material of her shirt. Somewhere in the squashed boot of the car was her coat.
“So no more using them for the time being?” prompted Kate, also looking decidedly chilly as she stood with both arms crossed across her chest to ward off the cold.
“All right,” agreed Andrea. “I’ll just use what I learnt in the police to help, no super powers ok?”
“That would be good. You check to see if there’s anyone left trapped at that end,” said Kate pointing up the road. “I’ll check the other and see if the emergency services are here yet.”
Kate was quickly lost to the storm as she moved off. Andrea turned in the opposite direction, picking her way round the debris from their car. She saw that it was actually a tanker that had collided with them, the vehicle now lying hapharzardly on its side, thick wheels spinning in the air. There were no obvious signs what the contents were. Andrea noted that at least she couldn’t see any hazard warning symbols on the main cylinder. A loud banging from the cabin prevented any further assessment. Andrea clambered up to the right door, which was now on the top, finding the driver was still trapped inside and frantically wrestling with the twisted interior of his truck. Seeing Andrea looming at the shattered window he became even more agitated.
“Help! Get me out!”
“Ok, take it easy, you’ll be all right.” Andrea kept her voice even and reassuring. “Are you hurt?” she asked him.
“I don’t know, I don’t think so. I just can’t get out.” He seemed unsure, dazed, but then he was trapped in an upturned lorry.
Andrea eased her top half through the broken window, careful not to catch herself on the remnants of glass. Dangling through it, she saw the man was still in his seat, pinned in place by something. As she peered and felt around, Andrea quickly deduced she was going to need some cutters if she wasn’t going to use her powers. “All right, just hang on, I’m going to go and see if I can find some help to get you out of here.”
She’d already started to pull herself back up through the window, when he reached out to grab her arm. “No! Don’t leave me, I have to get out!”
“I can’t get you out, not without some equipment,” she explained calmly. “You’re not in any immediate danger. Just sit tight and I’ll be back.”
He wasn’t letting go, though. “No, you don’t understand, the tanker…”
Andrea saw the nervousness in his face. “What? What’s in it?”
“It was all my boss’ idea,” rambled the man. “He said if we had all the right symbols and everything there’d be loads of extra surcharges…”
Andrea clutched his shoulder, bringing him to an abrupt halt. “What’s in it?” she repeated slowly.
“LPG.”
“Fuck.”
“Did you see any leaks outside?” asked the driver.
Andrea shook her head. “No, I don’t think so, but it’s probably not a good idea to sit around here more than necessary.”
“But the equipment you need?” he reminded her.
“Just hang on, let me take another look.”
Andrea managed to wriggle her whole body through the window, and into the crushed space at the man’s feet. It was a tight fit for her tall frame. She took a deep breath, placed her hands on the metal and pushed. It easily folded backwards under her power, grinding and crunching as it did. All the time she was waiting for it to come – the shortness of breath, the pounding in her chest – but fortunately there were no signs of her recent problems. Finally the man was able to pull his feet free and she let go.
“How the hell did you do that?”
Andrea yanked herself up, wedging herself between the seat and door. “It wasn’t as bad as I first thought,” she lied. “Obviously the metal was weakened by the crash.” Before he could ask any more awkward questions, she quickly added. “Now let’s get out of here.”
The snow drove into her face as soon as she hauled herself back up out the window. If anything it seemed to be getting worse, the flakes like a thousand icy daggers. The driver was grateful for the hand she offered to help him up out of the cab. He still seemed rather unsteady, in shock. Once she had lowered him safely down to the road, Andrea joined him on the tarmac.
Her feet had only just touched down when his cry came. “Shit!”
Andrea swung her eyes to where his widened ones were directed. The liquid ebbing out of the crack in the casing was obvious even in the darkness.
“Run!”
Despite Andrea’s instruction, the man remained rooted to the spot.
“I said, run!” repeated Andrea more urgently. Still he didn’t move, appearing too shocked. She realised she was going to have to make him go. She had hoped maybe she could stay, try and do something about the lorry before it went up. God knew how many people were in range of any potential blast. There just wasn’t time to find out.
She grabbed him round the shoulders. “Come on!”
They started running up the road, but it was hard going as they slipped through the slush mingled with oil. Eventually Andrea risked a backwards glance. The boom that resounded round the hills was deafening. The heat hit her first, and then both she and the man were flung forwards by the shockwave from the explosion, hitting the tarmac hard.
……..
The bridge rocked beneath Kate’s feet as fire shot up into the night sky. She could feel the heat on the back of her neck without having to look round, praying that Andrea hadn’t been close to the explosion. Kate would have been dashing to check if she wasn’t otherwise vitally occupied.
“What was that?”
The question came from a prone man, one whose femoral artery Kate was currently compressing. Even with her pressure blood was oozing out over her fingers, and without help he would be dead soon.
“Just a tanker going up,” Kate answered, “nothing to worry about.”
He laughed at the understatement, the sound immediately dissolving into hacking coughs. Eventually he managed to compose himself again. “Is that in the same way that the blood spurting from my leg is nothing to worry about?”
“It won’t be when the emergency services get here,” she tried to reassure him.
“And will that be before or after I’m dead?” he asked grimly.
Kate glanced up, trying to peer down the road through the driving snow. The icy crystals stung her eyes, but she could just make out the approaching flashing lights. “It won’t be long now.” As she turned back to him, she saw that his eyes were sliding shut. “Hey, come on!” she called. “No sleeping on me. That’s an order!”
His eyes struggled open. “An order? Why do I think you’re used to giving those?”
Despite herself, Kate couldn’t help giving a small chuckle. “I might be,” she allowed.
“Come on, talk to me, I’m hardly going anywhere. What do you do?”
“I’m in the army,” confessed Kate.
“The army?” he repeated in stupefaction. “What the hell is a gorgeous woman like you doing in the army?”
“Is there any reason attractive people can’t be in the army?”
“Well, no, I guess not,” he conceded. “I guess it’s just against the stereotype of dumb, muscular blokes or snooty officers.”
“You don’t know, I might be snooty.”
“Or muscular,” he pointed out, “though I hope not a bloke.”
Kate laughed. “I can say with certainty that one isn’t true.”
“But you are an officer then?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Though not on official business today?” he probed.
“No, I was actually at the game at Anfield this afternoon,
between
The man made a small snort of recognition. “I was there too! I thought the day couldn’t get much worse after seeing my team get stuffed, but then…So what about you, you don’t sound very scouse or northern, but my guess is going to be it was Liverpool you were cheering for.”
“You guess correctly.”
“And your excuse is?”
Kate laughed, knowing he was referring to the way that
“A glutton for punishment, eh?”
“You’re one to talk,” teased Kate, “supporting Middlesborough, and at away games too. Do you go to all their games?”
“God no, I just happened to be over this way. Even I’m not crazy enough to go to all their games!” He started coughing again, having to take a few moments to compose himself.
Kate used a free hand to steady him. “Take it easy, they’re nearly here.”
“You’re lying.”
“No, I can see an ambulance now,” insisted Kate. “You’re going to be fine. Anyway, Middlesborough can’t afford to lose any more supporters, they don’t have many as it is.”
The man managed a wan smile. “Thanks, for staying with me. Maybe next time we can do it somewhere a bit more comfortable, or at least warmer.”
“I hope you’re not planning on severing your artery again any time soon?”
“If I do I’ll know who to call.”
Finally Kate could hear the approaching footfalls through the snow, scrunching the powder underfoot. All of a sudden they were enveloped in a whirl of activity, paramedics and police vying for space as they attending the fallen man. Kate found herself being wrapped in a blanket and urged towards an ambulance, having to repeat a couple of times that she was fine and that they should tend someone who needed their help more. She was determined to carry on helping herself.
……..
Quickly righting herself, Andrea saw the night was now bright, lit up by the garish flare from the burning tanker. It revealed the other mangled cars in stark relief. A few of those close to the tanker were little more than burnt out shells.
Andrea turned to her companion, seeing him sitting on the soggy road, staring in disbelief at his former lorry. “Are you all right?” she asked him.
“I ... I … think so …”
He was soaked and shivering, but otherwise he looked unhurt. Glancing down at herself, Andrea saw she looked much the same, her drenched shirt plastered to her skin and allowing the bitter wind to numb her to the bone. The only saving grace was the out of control blaze from the tanker, which at least gave off some warmth. Another frantic cry drifted towards them on the breeze.
“Will you be all right?” Andrea quickly verified with the tanker driver. “The emergency services will be here soon.” Already she could make out the tell-tale red and blue glow further down the road through the tumbling snow.
He simply nodded and she had to take that as enough – the other cries were becoming more anxious, louder. For a second she had to stand and get her bearings, unable to tell where it was coming from in the maelstrom swirling about her.
“Help! Please!”
Andrea dashed in what she hoped was the right direction, quickly coming across a middle-aged woman kneeling on the ground and continuing to call aimlessly into the storm. About six feet in front of her was a man, also on his knees but seemingly alive and well. For a moment Andrea couldn’t see what the problem was. Then the man went to move. Immediately the ground beneath Andrea’s feet juddered, knocking her off balance momentarily. Now she could see it – the jagged and widening crack in the bridge between the two people. The section the man was on was teetering precariously, about to split away completely at any second.
Andrea crouched down by the woman, putting a quick comforting hand on her shoulder while she studied the man’s predicament. He was clinging onto the slippery road as best he could, but already it was at an unnatural angle, sloping down towards the darkness below. Andrea couldn’t even see the ground under the bridge it was so far down.
“Don’t move!” Andrea yelled out to him.
“I wasn’t intending to!” he shouted back.
Andrea took a quick look around but there wasn’t anything obvious she could use to throw to him to pull him up. Another loud crack and a scream from the woman prevented further study. The man had slipped further away. His feet were precariously near the edge.
“Ok, I’m going to come and get you,” Andrea told him.
The woman clutched at her. “You can’t!” she wailed. “You’ll tip it over!”
Andrea placed both her hands on the near hysterical woman’s shoulders, waiting for her to focus onto Andrea’s face. “What’s your name?”
“My name?” she repeated, taken aback by the question. “It’s Madeline,” she finally managed.
“And I’m Andrea. Now, Madeline I just need you to stay calm. I’m a police officer, I know what I’m doing. Trust me, it’ll be all right. Ok?” It was a slight fudging of the truth but that really wasn’t important right now.
The woman nodded dumbly, hardly in a position to object anyway. Andrea turned back to the dangling man. “And what’s your name?”
“John,” he replied, a nervous tremble detectable in his voice.
“Ok, John, I’m just going to ease out slowly to you,” explained Andrea. “You just stay where you are, try not to move.”
Andrea took up a position lying on her front on the ground, swinging her legs over the gap between the main part of the bridge and the part that was breaking away. Using her superhuman abilities she managed to hover the barest fraction above the concrete, making it look for all intents and purposes like she was still lying on it, while in fact she was applying no pressure on the damaged road. She floated down towards the man, keeping up the pretence that she was holding onto the ground. It required precision and concentration but she was determined to get to him, knowing that if worst came to worst she could always reveal the full extent of her powers and let the clean up squad sort it out later. That was as long as she didn’t experience any nasty blackouts, in which case it could get messy for both of them.
Eventually Andrea got in range, sticking out a hand that he gratefully grabbed. “Ok, slowly does it,” she reminded him as they tentatively worked their way back to the relative safety of the bridge. Once there the other woman instantly grabbed the man in a tight embrace, not letting go for a good while.
Meanwhile, Andrea was almost as relieved as them, thankful her body hadn’t let her down for once. She stood resting her hand on her knees, letting the tension ease from her as she breathed deeply.
“Thank you so much.” It was Madeline talking to her, having finally released what Andrea assumed was her husband.
“You’re welcome,” she replied. “I think you two should go and get checked out by the paramedics – you’ve had quite the shock and it’s freezing out here.” Andrea let out an involuntary shiver herself.
“What about you?” asked John.
“I’m fine,” she replied dismissively. “I need to carry on checking for other survivors. Go on.”
They didn’t really need to be asked twice, helping each other down the road in the direction of the sirens. Andrea couldn’t help smiling to herself as she watched them leaning on one another, supporting one another. Immediately she wondered how Kate was getting on. Even with the chill wind and the continued battering snow, a warm glow filled her deep inside at the thought of the other woman.
That was quickly obliterated by the sharp pain across her chest.
Andrea gasped, falling to her knees in the snow. Fuck, fuck! She scrunched her eyes shut willing the pain to go away.
When another wave hit, her hands reflexively clenched, gripping clumps of the white powder. It quickly turned to ice that dug into and numbed her palms. At least the pain let her knew she was still conscious. Her own gasps were drowned out by more wrenching noises from the concrete around her. Andrea forced open her eyes to see another jagged crack splitting through the road, dividing off more of the bridge. The section she was on shuddered alarmingly.
Christ, could it get
any worse?
Andrea tried to crawl towards safety across the snow-covered surface, but she was finding it harder and harder to breathe. Each laboured movement required her to stop and take several hacking breaths before continuing.
Come on, you can do
it!
She looked around for help but suddenly everyone seemed to have disappeared. She was on her own. Gritting her teeth she forged on, one agonising movement at a time. The pain was coming in an almost unending barrage now, yet she knew she couldn’t pass out, not yet.
Fucking useless body,
come on, move!
Somehow Andrea made it to the ever-growing crack that marked the main section of the bridge. Just a bit further and she could collapse. She was reaching over the gap when her section gave one final groan and fell away completely.
As the ground went from beneath her, Andrea darted out a desperate hand, managing to grab onto the edge of the broken bridge. Her fingers scrapped over the concrete but she couldn’t gain purchase, couldn’t find the strength to hold on. Then there was no more concrete and she was falling. She tried to call upon her ability to fly but she was too weak, drained. She had a moment to hope that her dense bones might protect her from the long drop when she saw something hurtling toward her from above. It was a dark blur in the white blanket of snow, but the red hair whipping back from the face was unmistakable.
She had never been more grateful to feel Kate’s arms wrapping around her than she was at that moment. Immediately her descent was halted as Kate used her own natural ability to defy gravity. They were left floating in mid air for a moment, the storm swirling around them. Andrea let herself relax, resting her head against Kate’s chest. She was soaked too, her shirt ruffled and damp, but Andrea didn’t care. Finally she could let the tiredness overcome her.
……
Pete Barnes hunched his shoulders and hurried on down the road, turning into the street that would lead under the railway tracks. God, it’s cold! He glanced up to the night sky, wondering if they might see snow for the first time that year. He burrowed his hands into his pockets, not knowing why he had left it so late to come home. Correction, he did know, he just didn’t want to admit it. The reason for the late hour was that he’d had to stay in the library until closing because he’d left all his work to the last minute; again. It was so late the tunnel was empty as he entered it, save for a few pigeons adding to the mountains of crap that caked its walls and beams. The orange glow from the strip lights gave it a faintly eerie feel and Pete quickened his pace to get to the other side as fast as possible.
As he walked, he reflexively looked over his shoulder to see if they were following him. Thankfully the quick glance gave no indication of anyone else braving the freezing December night, and he deduced he must have given them the slip with his quick change in route. Not that there was much point, because no doubt they would be there again by the time he got home to his flat, waiting and watching. He had no idea who they were, but they’d started following him about a month ago.
At first he’d thought he’d been imagining it, seeing people staring at him wherever he went – the man a bit too interested in him over his newspaper in Starbucks, the woman who kept glancing at him in the bookshop. He’d put it down to too much watching Spooks on television, and not enough time finishing his last three essays before the Christmas break. Then he’d noticed that on occasions it was actually the same person in different locations, and he knew it wasn’t all in his mind.
Why they were following him, he didn’t know. He was just a simple history student from an unremarkable middle-class background, hardly the sort of person that would interest spies. At least that’s what Pete tried to tell himself, but in reality he knew that wasn’t all he was. As soon as the powers had come to him he’d known he was different. That’s why he’d never told anyone – he didn’t want to be different. It was cool and everything, being able to manipulate water the way he could, but not exactly something he was about to broadcast to the world.
Yet it seemed somebody knew. It was the only reason he could think that anyone would be bothered enough to follow him everywhere he went. Who they were was another matter. Were they working for the government, or were they someone else? Whoever they were, he was getting sick of it, and he considered that maybe he should just confront them one day, turn around and ask them what the fuck they were playing at. Of course he knew he’d never really do that, he wasn’t exactly the confrontational type. Quiet and studious was more his thing. It was nice to imagine it in his mind, though.
The daydream was still playing happily through his thoughts as Pete reached the end of the tunnel. He went to turn the corner and ran slap bang into a large object. Pete bounced backwards, seeing it was actually a woman. A huge woman, like Romanian shot-putter huge, considered Pete.
“Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t see you.” It sounded a faintly ridiculous thing to say, given her size.
She didn’t answer, but as he tried to move she stepped across to block his way. Playing silly buggers! Despite his annoyance, Pete was hardly about to pick a fight with someone that looked like they could pulverise him with a single flick of a finger. Instead he turned to cross the street, only that way was also blocked now by a man who seemed to have come out of nowhere. He was a big guy too, though nowhere near as massive as the woman. He was taller than Pete with broad shoulders and a slightly swarthy complexion. Kind of cute in a sort of Neanderthal way, thought Pete appreciatively.
“Pete Barnes?”
An air of authority filled the man’s tone that led Pete to answer automatically. “Yes?”
The man smiled, though it wasn’t an entirely pleasant one. He clapped a hand on Pete’s shoulder. “Welcome to the organisation.”
Pete had no time to wonder what that meant. A jolt of pain stabbed in his shoulder, quickly flaring through the rest of his body and then everything went black.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 6
Andrea was almost at the door when a voice halted her progress. “I don’t suppose there’s any point in me asking you to stay.”
Andrea had to feel sorry for Doc sometimes, especially when he was charged with trying to keep her in the sickbay for any length of time. That sympathy didn’t extend to her granting his wish this time though. She glanced over her shoulder and merely gave him a look that indicated as much.
He could easily read it. “I thought not,” he sighed. He rubbed at his temple, knocking his glasses momentarily aside from their perch on his nose. He quickly readjusted them so he could focus on her. “We’re never going to find out what’s wrong with you if you insist on running off all the time.”
“I’m sure your new assistant will have a few ideas,” noted Andrea snidely. She didn’t wait for a reply as she swept out of the room.
It had been two days since her latest collapse on the crumbling bridge. Since then Doc had been prodding and poking her, yet coming up with little. However, that morning help had arrived for the bemused medic. As she considered the ramifications of that, Andrea heard another pair of footsteps striding after her. The boots resounded along the corridor, Andrea slowing to allow them to catch up. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the familiar red head drawing level.
“Escaped from Doc again have you?”
“I was afraid that if he tried to take my temperature one more time I might just have to insert his thermometer somewhere inappropriate.”
Andrea noticed Kate struggling to hold in a smile. “Are you heading upstairs for lunch?”
Something about the slightly forced evenness of the question gave Andrea pause. “And who might I find in the canteen if I am?”
They had reached the end of the corridor so Kate had to stop to press the button for the lift before answering. “I believe your brother’s there,” she admitted. “At least that’s where I left him.”
“Suddenly I don’t feel that hungry,” remarked Andrea.
The ping of the lift signalled its arrival and the two women stepped silently inside. Andrea stood facing the doors as they slid shut, though she could sense Kate’s eyes on her from the side. “You can’t avoid him forever, you know,” said the other woman.
Andrea pursed her lips. “I could give it a good go.”
A small frustrated sigh came from Kate. “Why don’t we go to the canteen together?” she suggested.
Andrea turned her head to the side. “Hoping for safety in numbers?”
Kate raised a single eyebrow. “For you or him?”
“I’ll let you know.”
Already her brother’s arrival was having an affect on Andrea and she hadn’t even seen him yet. She felt on edge, that feeling reflected in her clipped answers to Kate’s questions. She supposed she was going to have to see him sooner of later. “All right,” she conceded as the lift reached the ground floor. “Let’s go for lunch.”
…………..
Kate wasn’t sure whether she was glad Andrea had agreed to lunch or not. She’d half expected the younger woman to refuse. Now she was hoisted by her own petard, condemned to seeing the no doubt uncomfortable meal through.
She had to wonder if it had been an entirely wise decision drafting in the Andrea’s brother at all, given the already tense atmosphere round the base. Yet any doubts were soon banished if she simply recalled events back on the snowbound motorway. She dreaded to think what might have happened if she hadn’t spotted Andrea falling off the bridge.
The canteen was busy and Kate was glad to see that Marcus had already introduced himself to some of the others and was busily chatting with Tom, Bel and Nisha. Kate could practically feel the stiffness in Andrea’s walk as they approached.
Tom was first to spot them. “Hey, Sherlock,” he called to Andrea. “You never said anything about having a brainbox brother.”
“Didn’t I?” replied Andrea coolly as she took up a seat. “It must have slipped my mind.”
The look she offered Marcus could have frozen his soup that he was casually sipping. He was either oblivious or practiced in the art of disregarding such stares, as he simply gave a half smile in return. “It’s good to see you again, Andrea, how are you doing?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Kate noticed Andrea didn’t enquire as to Marcus’ health in return, as would have been polite. She was amazed he’d even received the thank you. It was abundantly clear that smoothing the relationship between Andrea and her brother may take some time. Years of bad feeling weren’t going to disappear with a simple sorry.
Kate determined it was up to her to save the fast faltering conversation. “How have you found our facilities?” she enquired of the scientist. “I trust Doc took great delight in showing you his vast array of equipment?”
“Indeed,” agreed Marcus, “I’m very jealous. And here I was thinking any government backed project was bound to be badly funded. I may have to stick around a bit longer to get a chance to play with all your wonderful toys.”
Kate was sure she detected a half-strangled gulp from next to her. “And of course we would be delighted to have someone of your experience on the staff.” She didn’t dare look to her side, though she heard a second noise, somewhere between a snort and a cough.
“That’s nice of you to say, considering I haven’t produced any results for you yet. Talking of which,” added Marcus getting to his feet, “I should be getting back to it.” He cast a last look at Andrea. “I’ll see you tomorrow for our first session?”
Andrea’s eyes slowly lifted. “I look forward to it.” The sarcasm dripping from her tone could have drowned the whole table. Meanwhile Kate saw the others shifting uncomfortably in their seats at the obvious show of hostility.
Again Marcus ignored Andrea’s attitude, simply giving a nod and departing. Deciding it best not to pull Andrea up on her behaviour in front of everyone else, Kate resolved to speak to her later. For now she directed the conversation onto more mundane things.
……
Andrea successfully managed to avoid her brother for the remainder of the day, thinking twice before she decided to venture to the messhall after hours. In the end she determined it probably wasn’t Marcus’ scene – he would no doubt still be tucked away in his lab. On opening the door to the room she did a quick check to verify her assumption before proceeding on in. There were the usual groups of people present – a gaggle of squaddies loitering near the bar, a few people gathered around the television, plus a smaller group by the pool tables. Andrea headed for the last of these, having spotted Tom amongst them.
“Sherlock,” he announced on spying her. “At last, some decent opposition.”
Seeing that Tom had just finished a game with a disgruntled looking scientist, Andrea took up one of the spare cues. “Too decent for you,” she remarked while he racked up the balls.
Tom merely laughed and gestured to the ready table. “After you.”
Andrea broke off, happy to have the distraction of the game to help her forget about Marcus and her other problems for a while. Unfortunately Tom hadn’t been reading the script, because it wasn’t long before he piped up with some friendly chatter.
“So what was all that earlier with your brother?”
“All what?” asked Andrea innocently as she took another shot.
Tom leant on this cue rather than take his next shot. “All what? I mean the ice storm drifting in from planet Andrea that nearly engulfed the whole canteen.”
“We don’t get on,” stated Andrea.
Tom rolled his eyes to the heavens. “No, really?”
“It’s your go,” Andrea reminded him, not wanting to be dragged into a conversation on the subject.
“Come on, you can’t leave it at that,” pressed Tom. “I’ll set Bel on you…”
Recognising the seriousness of that threat, Andrea supposed she better at least say something further. “We’ve just never got on, he’s an arrogant, self-righteous know-it-all.”
Tom stroked his chin thoughfully. “Hmm, sounds like someone else I know,” he teased.
“Would you like to be wearing this cue where the sun doesn’t shine?”
Andrea playfully poked the butt end of the cue at the back of Tom’s trousers, causing him to skip out of the way and straight into Kate who had just arrived.
Kate quickly took in the scene as Tom bounced off her. “Trying to give Tom some extra excitement again?” she asked Andrea with a raised eyebrow.
“He seems to like it a bit too much though,” joked Andrea in return, making a play for his rear once more.
“Oi!” cried the man indignantly. “I’ll have you know I’m no bum bandit! No offence intended,” he quickly added to Andrea. She merely fixed him with an icy stare, having fun making him squirm. “Er…I mean, you know, what with them and you and…” he stammered.
“We’re all the same?”
“Well…no…yes… oh, stop it! You know what I mean.” Tom finally poked his tongue out, having given up on making a reasonable argument.
Andrea decided to let him off for now, laughing as he moved away to chalk his cue with a continued pout on his face. With the man at a safe distance, Kate moved in closer to allow her and Andrea to talk privately.
“And how are you this evening?” she asked.
Andrea spotted the implied question immediately. “You mean have I had any episodes in the four hours since you last saw me?”
“Just humour me?” requested Kate.
“I’m fine.”
Kate favoured her with a doubtful look.
“Really, I’m fine,” insisted Andrea. “I’m sure you’re the first person Doc would have been running to if anything had happened. He knows everything after all,” she added tapping her right arm where the tracking and monitoring device lay under her skin. “Honestly there’s nothing untoward to report.”
“All right,” allowed Kate, “but you would say if there was?”
“Yes, I’ve learnt my lesson.”
“Talking of which…”
Andrea quickly cut her off. “Don’t even say it.”
“Say what? You didn’t let me finish.”
“Because I don’t need to,” remarked Andrea. “You’re going to talk to me about Marcus.”
Kate raised her eyebrows in query. “And what was I going to say?”
“To give him a chance, to be at least polite to him in front of everyone else,” recited Andrea, “and so on and so forth, blah blah blah.”
“Good, since you already know what you need to do, I don’t need to re-iterate it then,” noted Kate.
Andrea frowned at how Kate had manouvered her into an implicit agreement to modify her behaviour. Having claimed her victory, Kate wasn’t hanging about to accept arguments.
“So, who fancies a game?” she asked, picking up one of the spare cues from the rack at the side of the table.
“How about doubles?” suggested Tom. “You and Andrea against me and…” he glanced round the room for a likely partner just at the moment that Nisha entered. “Nisha!” he called to the young woman.
She offered one of her beaming smiles as she approached Tom. She was out of training uniform and in her own clothes, what there was of them. Her tight, low cut top left little to the imagination.
“Do you play?” Tom asked her, indicating the table.
“I’ll give it a go,” she replied non-commitally. From the evasive answer Andrea guessed she was either hopeless or so good that she didn’t need to brag.
“Great, just give me a sec, I need to visit the little boys room,” noted Tom before dashing from the room.
“I’ll go get some drinks shall I?” suggested Kate.
Before Andrea could stop her, Kate had moved off in the direction of the bar, leaving her alone with Nisha. Andrea stared after Kate for a moment, annoyed eyes boring a path into her back. Obviously she had left them alone on purpose. Eventually Andrea gave up trying to smite her with a look and turned to the younger woman.
“How are you feeling?” Nisha asked, taking Andrea aback for a second with the show of concern.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“I heard about your car accident,” continued Nisha. “And that the Major had to rescue your butt,” she added snidely, the brief show of concern quickly evaporating. “It’s a shame you’ve got some dodgy old powers ain’t it?” she added in a tone that suggested she didn’t think it was anything of the sort. “Whereas some of us have no bother controlling them.” She flicked her long hair over her shoulder in a smug gesture. “Maybe you need some extra lessons?”
Andrea held her tongue, though Nisha didn’t have any such restraint. “It’s a good job the Major was there too, eh?” she added.
“Yes it was,” said Andrea through tight lips.
Nisha leaned in closer, giving the impression she had something secret to discuss. “So what was it like?”
“What was what like?” asked a genuinely confused Andrea.
“Well, she had to carry you didn’t she?” pointed out Nisha. “How did it feel, flying along in her arms?”
How on earth does Nisha know all these details? wondered Andrea. Gossip certainly travelled fast. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Nisha rolled her eyes. “Only if that was me being carted around by the Major, I think I’d be having a sneaky feel.”
Andrea narrowed her eyes, her voice taking on a warning tone. “A sneaky feel of what?”
“Is there an echo in here?” said Nisha, looking around the room before settling her eyes back on Andrea. “Come on, I know you’re not this dense. You know…” Nisha made some unsubtle groping motions with first one and then both hands.
Andrea stiffened. “The Major is our commanding officer and I don’t think it would be proper to be touching her in an inappropriate manner while on duty do you?”
“All right,” allowed Nisha, “but how about when off duty?” she added with a laugh. “I wonder if she even swings that way?” she mused. “It’s hard to tell with these army types, you kind of assume they all do, the women at least. But I’m not sure with her. What does your gay detector tell you?”
Andrea didn’t recall ever having mentioned her sexuality to Nisha, but then again it wasn’t a secret. Any one of a number of people could have told her. She decided it was time to stop the conversation from going into more dangerous waters. “I really don’t think this is an appropriate discussion to be having about the Major.”
“Oh for christ’s sake, Andrea, no one’s listening.” Nisha caught herself and glanced round before leaning in closer to Andrea once more. “Then again, you never know round here. Maybe they have us all bugged and the Major will be listening to this conversation later. Nisha made a show of pulling up the edge of her top as if speaking into a microphone attached to it. Just in case you are, major, she whispered, I meant every word I said and I’m free most evenings if you want to drop by.” Nisha laughed out loud at her own joking.
Andrea clenched her fists by her sides but did nothing else. Kate’s big plan for telling everyone about their relationship couldn’t come fast enough as far as she was concerned. Then maybe she could set the younger woman straight, or otherwise, on a few things.
……
With less than a week to go until Christmas the atmosphere around the base was increasingly jovial. Many of the troops were preparing to go home and visit family and friends, though a skeleton staff would remain to guard the base. Unfortunately for Kate she couldn’t even begin to think about festivities when the weekly meeting with Kaminski required negotiating first. It was only ten in the morning that Tuesday when Kate entered the conference room, and yet she’d already had three fortifying cups of strong black coffee.
Kaminski was there before her, a fact that annoyed Kate for some reason. Not only that, but Kaminski had taken up a seat at the head of the table. There wasn’t any official line regarding who sat where, but it was generally accepted as the Colonel’s place. Kate offered a deliberately polite greeting to the other woman as she sat down. The Colonel soon followed, and Kate was still looking to the door for Sophie when Kaminski started up the meeting. Kate pulled her up immediately.
“Is Lieutenant McAllister not joining us?”
Kaminski looked displeased by the interruption. “She is otherwise engaged,” she stated before continuing straight on. “As I was saying, we’ve been monitoring communications traffic as usual,” she said, passing out some printouts for the others to view. “There’s not much of note to report.” She turned over a few pages. “Marcus Hallstrom did call his mother twice yesterday evening.”
Kate stopped sifting through her own papers to glance at the other woman. “Everyone on the base calls their families, why is that of particular note?”
“Because not everyone else’s family is involved in genetic research,” pointed out Kaminski as if Kate were stupid to not know as much.
Kate rose to the challenge. “As far as I understand it, the other Dr Hallstrom is engaged in research into cancer, in particular cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy.”
“You know about the doctor’s work do you?” asked Kaminski, an air of fake casualness in her tone.
“Andrea Hallstrom has mentioned it in the past,” said Kate non-commitally. She could tell Kaminski was on one of her fishing trips, and Kate certainly wasn’t about to hook herself on the line.
“Yet she doesn’t call her mother,” pressed the official.
“That’s her prerogative.”
When there was nothing more, Kaminski simply stared across the table at Kate, perhaps hoping to invite further comment. “Is that all?” she asked eventually. “Only I thought you might have some additional insight into why, since you seem to know so much about the Hallstrom family.”
Kate ignored the comment, looking back down at her papers. “Getting back to the topic at hand,” she said, pretending to leaf through them, before glancing up again, “was Dr Hallstrom actually discussing anything to do with the base or superhumans with his mother?”
Kaminski paused before answernig. “No, they were discussing Christmas arrangements.”
Kate tried hard not to laugh. She tried really hard. In the end she emitted a faint choking noise as she struggled to keep her mouth shut. She had to feel sorry for Kaminski. She so wanted someone to be undertaking a conspiracy, if only to justify her existence. Kate could tell Kaminski had detected her barely concealed amusement, a brief flash of anger evident on her face before the icy exterior slammed down in force once more.
“On another note, we’ve also been making use of the inbuilt tracking devices to monitor the whereabouts of the operatives.”
Kate realised it was most likely a calculated attempt to get revenge on her for the previous conversation, but wasn’t about to let the remark pass. “Hang on a minute, those are meant to be used out in the field, not to keep tabs on the operatives’ every movement.”
Kaminski looked nonplussed by Kate’s disquiet, though Kate was sure she knew full well that she would stir this sort of reaction. “They provide valuable additional data,” stated the other woman.
“What, like how many times Tom went to the toilet in one day?”
“Or how many times you visited Andrea Hallstrom’s quarters in one week,” said Kaminski pointedly. “Let me see,” the woman made a show of studying her notes, “twenty-five, was it?”
Kate had to fight hard to keep her expression even. Obviously Kaminski had been saving that one for an opportune moment. It seemed it was getting more and more difficult to keep her relationship with Andrea a secret. However, whether Kaminski actually knew about or suspected them or whether she was just concerned that Kate was associating with anyone that much was anyone’s guess. Kate certainly wasn’t going to press to find out, preferring to try and gloss over the subject instead.
“I visit all my operatives regularly,” answered Kate evenly. “It’s good management.” Before Kaminski could produce any figures on how many times she’d visited anyone else, Kate quickly turned to the Colonel. “I must object to this use of the tracking devices. Everyone on the base has a right to some privacy, including the superhumans. If the others knew of this I’m sure they wouldn’t be too happy either.”
“Though you won’t be telling them,” interjected Kaminski.
Kate favoured her with a withering look for jumping in and not allowing the Colonel to speak.
“Anything discussed in these meetings is confidential,” continued Kaminski, “and should not be repeated to anyone outside this room. That includes anyone’s whose quarters we might visit on our off duty hours.”
Kate bristled again. “I do know what confidential means,” she noted. “So other than some phone calls to relatives and the whereabouts of our operatives while on the base, do you actually have anything of value to report?”
“We do have another prospect that’s mysteriously vanished.” Kaminski passed a fresh handout around the table. “Pete Barnes, he went missing from his student accommodation three days ago.”
The name rang a vague bell in Kate’s mind and seeing her thoughtful expression, Kaminski elaborated. “I forwarded a report on him last week. You were copied in on it, Major.”
Kate met the other woman’s gaze across the table. The Colonel didn’t dare speak in the face of the chill that had descended over the room. “What exactly are you insinuating?”
“Nothing,” said Kaminski. “It’s just odd that a few days after I make his details known he suddenly vanishes, don’t you think?”
Kate wondered if Kaminski had deliberately forwarded the details as a trap. If she had then it wasn’t a very good one, since the man had disappeared anyway. Then again she only had Kaminski’s word for it that he was missing and not squirreled away somewhere by the government. “How many other people were copied in on that report?”
“Everyone around this table, plus some senior people in the Home Office.”
“Then the leak could have come from there,” pointed out Kate. “I hope you’re auditing them as well?” Kate decided it was best to omit the fact that Andrea had also inadvertently seen the file on the man, since that would only cloud matters. They needed Kaminski to be focussing her efforts on productive lines of enquiry, not dead ends.
“Don’t worry, we’re keeping an eye on everyone,” said Kaminski.
“And who’s keeping an eye on you?”
Kaminski glanced up, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she stared at Kate once more. She didn’t answer the question, though. Kate deemed that meant it was up to her to be the one monitoring the other woman. She hoped that Kaminski had a few of her own juicy secrets, ones that Kate was more determined than ever to discover. If Kaminski was going to insist on being a bitch, then Kate could be one right back.
………
Andrea fidgeted in her seat, looking to the clock on the wall for quite possibly the hundredth time. The second hand had moved a good ten seconds this time. She decided she would give Marcus two more minutes and then she was leaving. She had better things to do than sit around waiting for him to deem he could spare some of his precious time. He was the one who wanted to see her, after all, and now she was sat in his lab with no Dr Hallstrom in sight. Not for the first time she wondered if he was being deliberately late. That would be just like Marcus to try and put her off guard. As if she wasn’t perturbed enough by having to put her trust in him.
Just when she thought she could make her justified break for freedom the door swung open and Marcus breezed in.
“Good afternoon.”
Andrea made a show of looking at her watch. “So it is.”
Marcus placed the stash of papers he was carrying down on a desk. “Sorry am I late?”
“I’m sure you know you are.”
“Honestly, I didn’t,” he insisted. “I was talking with Theo, Dr Todd, and lost track of time.”
Andrea found the excuse unlikely, but decided not to pursue it. Things were tense enough without picking on every small thing that Marcus did to annoy her, otherwise they could well be there all afternoon.
“Shall we just get on with this?” she said instead.
Marcus smiled. “That’s what I like, nice keen subjects.”
Marcus busied himself assembling his equipment, describing what it was all for as he did. Some of it made sense to Andrea and some of it went over even her head, though she wasn’t about to admit as much to Marcus. When he was ready he took a seat opposite her, preparing to affix some sticky sensors to her. As Marcus went to attach the first one, Andrea couldn’t help flinching back, cursing herself for the involuntary reaction to the medical equipment. Marcus paused with the pad in his hand.
“Sorry, bad memories from a few months ago?”
“Been reading up on me have you?” retorted Andrea defensively. As if it wasn’t bad enough she needed his help now, it seemed Marcus also knew about everything else that had happened over the last year. The last thing she needed or wanted was his fake sympathy.
“I needed to know what I’m dealing with,” he answered reasonably.
“And it didn’t give you a little bit of satisfaction to read
what happened with
“No, of course not!” exclaimed an affronted Marcus. “Christ, who exactly do you think I am, Dr Mengele? Look, if you really don’t want me here, I can go. I’m only trying to help!”
Andrea caught his hand as he went to put the sensor down. “I’m sorry.” The words grated, but she knew she needed his help as much as it pained her to admit it. “I just don’t like to be reminded of it.”
“I’m sorry too, for what happened.”
Andrea thought he almost sounded genuine. “Just stick your sensors on,” she told him, cutting the thread of conversation off.
Marcus nodded and began attaching them, first to her forehead, then down her arms. At first he worked in silence, but eventually he attempted random small talk with her, maybe attempting to show a concerned bedside manner. They proceeded from the weather, to the quarters on the base to the other members of staff. Andrea maintained an air of indifference throughout until he got onto the subject of Nisha. When he expressed a liking for the young woman, she couldn’t hide her shock.
“I didn’t think you’d succumb to her obvious ‘charms’ like everyone else,” noted Andrea.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Ugh, she’s so…” Andrea searched for something vaguely polite, “…vulgar. She flirts outrageously with everyone!”
“Flirts? Or is just nice to people?” he wondered out loud. “And who do you think you are, the bloody queen? She’s so vulgar” he imitated. “You’re nothing but a snob!”
“I am not!”
“Are too, and you know who that reminds me of…”
“Don’t even say it!” warned Andrea knowing full well who he meant. “I am nothing like her.”
“If you say so.”
Andrea knew he wasn’t convinced, but considered he was deliberately trying to get a rise out of her. Why else compare her to her mother when he knew what their relationship was like? So she kept her mouth shut for the time being.
Eventually Marcus finished up. “Right, there we go, that should be enough for now.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stick on a few more?” asked Andrea sarcastically. “I think there’s a few spare centimetres of skin, somewhere around my navel.”
Marcus ignored the comment, instead flipping the switches on his equipment. The gentle hum of computer drives filled the room and one of the boxes emitted a rhythmic beep. Andrea looked to Marcus for instruction as they both stood there stupidly.
“So, um, you need to do something super,” he remarked with uncharacteristic hesitance.
The invite was too tempting to resist and Andrea stepped forward, taking a fistful of Marcus’ lab coat in one hand and effortlessly hoisting him straight up off the ground and above her head. He dangled above her, arms waving for balance as if he was afraid he was about to fall. His weight was well within her limits, though, and there was no chance off that happening, at least not accidentally.
Andrea looked up. “Is that enough of a demonstration? I could throw you across the room too if you like?”
Marcus had finally given up whirling his arms pointlessly around, now resting his chin resignedly on a folded arm. “I don’t think that will be necessary, but thanks for the offer.”
“Anytime,” said Andrea, lowering him back to the ground and gently setting him down. “Just let me know if you ever want to take me up on it.”
Marcus adjusted his ruffled clothing. “So was that sweet revenge for all those times I used to sit on you as a child during our fights?”
Andrea couldn’t help smiling, it had been nice to have the upper physical hand for once. “More like just desserts for your previous underhanded tactics at fighting, taking advantage just because you were bigger and heavier!”
“I still am,” he noted, “little good it would do me now!”
Andrea couldn’t help joining in his laughter, forgetting for a moment that she was making a determined effort to remain detached. She didn’t want to be lulled into liking her family again. Putting her professional exterior firmly back in place, they continued with the tests. Marcus for his part worked intently, studying all the readouts as he probed Andrea. Every now and then he would make interested noises, but other than that neither of them spoke. After an hour or so, he finally took a break, relaxing back in his chair and putting his feet up on the table.
“So what are you going to be doing for Christmas?” he asked conversationally as some computations ran on the monitor beside him.
“I have plans,” answered Andrea evasively, continuing on quickly before he could ask what they were. “Why? Were you going to invite me to mother’s?”
“Would you have come if I had?”
“Even if I didn’t have somewhere much better to be, no, I don’t think so,” answered Andrea honestly. “I can’t think of anything much worse than being cooped up in a house with her for a day. Then again, I do have an alternative means of escape these days.”
“Indeed, I wish I could fly too!”
“Like you need to,” she remarked. “She’ll love having you there, whereas I’m sure she won’t miss me in the slightest. It’s not like I’ve been there for any of the last five Christmases.”
“I’ll pass on your regards anyway, shall I?” suggested Marcus.
Andrea shrugged, wondering how they’d got onto this topic and how she could get off it as fast as possible. “If you want to.”
He put down his feet and leant across his desk, fixing his blue eyes on her, serious now. “How long are you going to keep this up?”
Andrea kept her voice dismissive and started to peel off some of the sensors attached to her body. “Keep what up?”
“This attitude that you couldn’t care less.”
Andrea had finally had enough and rounded on him. “My attitude that I couldn’t care less? My attitude?” She was so angry all she could do was repeat his words for a moment. “What about her attitude over the last five years? She couldn’t have given a flying fuck what I was doing! I could have been lying dead in a gutter and she wouldn’t have known, or cared.”
“That’s not true.”
“Right, silly me! She’s been aching to see me all that time, that’s why I’ve had all those calls and messages, wanting to see me,” said Andrea with heavy sarcasm. “Oh wait, I haven’t had any!”
Marcus remained calm despite her obvious antagonism. “So if you don’t care, why are you getting so angry?”
“I’m not angry, I’m…I’m…”
“Hurt? Rejected?”
“Slightly annoyed,” finished Andrea.
Marcus laughed. “All right, you can pretend to yourself that you don’t want to see her if you like, but wouldn’t it be better all round to get this out in the open?”
Andrea made a scoffing noise. “You mean speak to her?”
“It’s the only way you’ll find out why she did what she did, what she’s thinking,” he said reasonably. “I can’t speak for her.”
“Really, and here I was thinking you were in on all her confidences. You know what, you can give her a message from me at Christmas…fuck off!”
Andrea promptly pulled the remaining wires from her body and stalked from the room. She was still fuming by the time she reached her quarters on the second floor. In her annoyance, it didn’t register that they were unlocked, her first indication of that fact being when she discovered she was not alone in the lounge area. An army officer busily searched through the contents of her book shelf, the man not noticing Andrea had entered until she made a deliberate cough.
He spun round. “Ah, good afternoon, ma’am,” he greeted her, as if his presence was completely normal.
Andrea recognised the Sergeant, they’d even played pool together a few times, but she wasn’t in the mood for niceties. “Don’t give me that bollocks, what the hell are you doing in here?”
“Miss Kaminski’s orders, ma’am,” he answered, remaining placid in the face of her ire.
“I might have bloody guessed,” seethed Andrea. The day was going from bad to worse. “Right, you and I are going to have a word with Miss Kaminski.” Andrea took the book he was still holding off him and placed it back on the shelf.
“But I haven’t finished my search,” he tried apologetically.
“Yes, you bloody have.”
Andrea grabbed his arm and shoved him from the room, being careful not to overdo it with any powers. She knew it wasn’t his fault, that he was just following orders. That was why they were going to see the organ grinder. They didn’t have far to go, Andrea spotting the other woman leaving one of the upper floor offices.
“Kaminski!”
The short woman halted where she was, waiting for Andrea to march up to her.
“Miss Hallstrom, what can I do for you?” she asked in her overly polite way.
“You can tell me what Sergeant McTavish was doing in my quarters!”
“I believe he was searching them,” answered Kaminski obsequiously. She turned to the man who looked decidedly uncomfortable to be caught in the middle. “Did you find anything, Sergeant?”
“Only this so far, ma’am.”
Much to Andrea’s annoyance, he handed a piece of card over to Kaminski. She hadn’t realised the Sergeant had actually pocketed anything before she’d found him.
Kaminski read aloud from it. “Christine Ferguson, freelance reporter.” She glanced up to Andrea. “And what might you be talking to journalists about?”
Andrea tried to snatch the card back off her. “That’s private property,” she stated, “but for the record I haven’t called Miss Ferguson, which I’m sure you know anyway, she simply foisted her card on me a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, all that is beside the point, what was he doing searching my room in the first place?”
“Looking for just that sort of thing,” replied Kaminski.
Andrea bit down hard to stop any swear words slipping out. She realised that she wouldn’t get far by giving into her anger, no matter how tempting it might be. “Does the Major know about this?”
“Is there any reason she should?” fired back Kaminski. “This is meant to be an independent audit.”
“Targeted at certain people it seems,” noted Andrea. “Have you actually searched anyone else’s quarters?”
“Not yet, but we will do.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it!”
It was only a short walk to Kate’s office, though Andrea managed to rein in her annoyance somewhat by the time she got there. Even so it was pretty obvious to Kate that the visit was not a social one as soon as she stepped in the door. A quick glance up from her computer screen was enough to gauge Andrea’s mood.
“Uh oh, who’s pissed you off this time?”
Andrea automatically took the seat opposite Kate at her desk. “I’ll give you three guesses.”
“I might need more,” noted Kate as she finished up what she was doing to give Andrea her full attention. “Let’s see…your brother?”
“Well, he did, but that’s not why I’m here.”
Kate leant back in her leather chair as realisation dawned. “Ah, if it’s official then it must be our good friend Miss Kaminski.”
Andrea nodded. “I only found one of your soldiers searching through my quarters at her instruction.”
“What?” exclaimed Kate. “It’s the first I’ve heard about this. That bloody woman!” Kate rose from her desk to pace off across the room. Andrea noted how the back of Kate’s uniform shirt was rumpled and creased where she’d been sitting in her chair for some time. “I can’t believe she’s requisitioning my troops,” Kate said as she walked, “not to mention what she’s using them for!” Suddenly she stopped, whirling round. “I’ve had enough of this.” She started walking for the door. “Wait here,” she directed Andrea, “this shouldn’t take long.”
…..
Kate paused for a moment outside Kaminski’s temporary office, trying to reign in some of her anger. It wouldn’t do any good to go in too fired up, given Kaminski’s propensity for taking advantage of such things. Just the right degree of righteous indignation was needed. Taking one more deep breath she rapped on the door, being granted admittance immediately. Kate hadn’t been in Kaminski’s office before, and when she spotted the surprising number of family photographs dotted round the shelves it threw her off balance. She had expected cold, hard efficiency, but the space exuded homely warmth. Kate’s distraction allowed Kaminski to fire the opening salvo.
“Major,” she greeted, staying seated behind her desk. “I presume Miss Hallstrom came to speak with you.”
Kate didn’t like the insinuation in the woman’s tone. “Yes, she did,” she stated without apology, “and I’d like to know what the hell you’re doing searching private quarters and using my troops to do it?”
“Your troops?” echoed Kaminski. “Last I checked they were Her Majesty’s troops.”
“You know what I mean,” snapped Kate, remaining standing on the opposite side of the desk, hands thrust forcefully on her hips. “I’m the commander of this base and I’d thank you to clear any requests for secondment with me first.”
“The Colonel said I could use whatever resources I deemed fit.”
Thanks for letting me know, Colonel, cursed Kate internally. “I’m presuming he meant offices, equipment, that kind of thing,” she pointed out. “I’m sure he didn’t expect you to start using our own men to spy on us! What exactly were you searching Andrea Hallstrom’s quarters for anyway? What did you expect to find?”
Seemingly unfazed by Kate’s imperious tone, Kaminski simply raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know. Maybe you can tell me, since you seem to spend so much time there.”
Kate clenched her teeth together, holding back an angry retort. “All right, I will tell you - nothing. There’s nothing to find because Miss Hallstrom is one of our most loyal and trusted operatives.”
“By you maybe.”
“By everyone,” stated Kate.
“Of course,” said Kaminski, the scepticism heavy in her tone. “We did find this, by the way.” She slid a small white card across the desk which Kate gave a cursory glance.
“So what? She has a card from a reporter?”
“And that doesn’t concern you?” queried Kaminski. “Would it concern you more if it was another of your operatives?”
Kate had to pause. Would I be more ready to be suspicious
of someone else? Do I let Andrea get away with more? She mentally shook
herself. No, I don’t play favourites when it comes to work.
“We’re getting off the point,” Kate said, ignoring the question, “which is that you are not to use my troops for anything without my express permission. I’ve tried to be accommodating so far, aid you in the execution of this investigation, but I expect some consideration from your side too. I can make things difficult for you if that’s the way you want to play it.”
“Is that a threat, major?”
“No, just a friendly piece of advice.”
Kaminski leant back in her chair, sizing Kate up for a moment. Kate stubbornly held her gaze and eventually Kaminski dipped her head.
“Fine, I will clear any troop usage with you in the future.”
“And no more searches of private quarters,” added Kate.
“The operatives are already monitored in a whole host of ways,” pointed out Kaminski.
“Even more reason for them to be afforded at least a modicum of privacy. As I keep reminding you, the operatives are civilians, here of their own choice. They are not prisoners or play things for the government. They have the same rights as anyone in the outside world. If you have a specific suspicion of something untoward, then come to me and we can look into it. Otherwise there will be no more unauthorised searches.”
It wasn’t a request and Kaminski seemed to sense it best to concede the point in this case. “All right,” she said, “no more random searches.”
Kate considered Kaminski had caved in just a little too easily for comfort. Had she already gotten what she wanted? “I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”
“Yes, this time,” said Kaminski cryptically as Kate headed out the door.
…..
As Kate had promised, Andrea didn’t have to wait long for the other woman to return and seeing the thunderous look on her face when she stomped back in made her think twice about asking her opening question.
“So how did it go?”
“Let’s just say we’ve come to an accord,” said Kate. The other woman crossed the room but didn’t sit down, stopping by the window and absently fiddling with the model of the Dorset Flyer that sat on top of the cabinet there.
“She certainly could learn a bit of diplomacy,” agreed Andrea. “She seems to have it in for me in particular, unless I’m just imagining it.”
Finally Kate lowered herself onto the couch by the window, thinking for a moment before answering. “I’m not sure if it is you in particular, I don’t think she likes anyone here! Certainly not me. In fact it could be our perceived association that’s the cause of her hostility towards you.”
Andrea crossed to join the other woman. “What do you mean?”
“I just get the impression she knows something about us.”
Andrea sucked in a breath. Part of her was almost glad to hear it, hoping that soon everyone would know. On the other hand she didn’t like the idea of Kaminski holding anything over either of them. “Has she said something?”
“Not exactly, you know Kaminski, she never says anything outright that she can hide away under layers of diversion.”
“It’s even more reason why we should come clean,” Andrea prompted.
Kate laughed, relaxing back against the cushions of the sofa. “You make it sound as if there’s something wrong in it.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it, some people just don’t like people who work together engaging in relationships, especially not secret ones. It makes it seem as if we think we have something to hide.”
“Which of course we don’t,” agreed Kate, “and which is why all will be revealed a week Friday.”
“A week Friday?” repeated Andrea, trying to think of any significance to it. It didn’t take her long. She gave a low whistle. “That’s certainly one way to publicise it.”
“You’re against it?”
Andrea wasn’t about to let Kate off the hook. “On the contrary I shall be wearing my glad rags! And I can’t wait to see the look on Kaminski’s face.”
…………..
Marcus glanced up from his computer screen to regard Andrea sitting across the room from him. “Ready to go?”
“As I have been each of the last six days we’ve been doing this,” said Andrea, hiding her uncharacteristic nerves with an even tone.
Andrea tried to get comfortable on the seat in her brother’s lab, but she couldn’t help the nagging reminders of other past experiments the setting evoked despite the fact that they had been having sessions all week. The fear was completely irrational, she knew, but palpable none the less. Marcus appeared oblivious to her unease, far too involved in calibrating his instruments. Eventually he seemed satisfied and came over to her.
“Good. I have one extra request today,” Marcus gestured to the band around Andrea’s left arm. “Could you remove that?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Andrea pointed out. “It regulates my powers. Without it I can’t control my rate of energy absorption.”
“That’s the problem – I can’t get any accurate readings with it interfering. I promise I won’t let the experiment get so far as to cause any problems.”
Andrea was still reluctant to take it off. It was second nature to wear it now, and she felt somehow naked and oddly vulnerable without it. Not to mention she’d have to put her trust in Marcus.
“Please?”
Andrea sighed, supposing her fear was another irrational one. Peeling it off, she handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He gave her some dark glasses in return. “Now if you’d just put these on, I’m going to be bombarding you with light as I have been in the previous experiments and monitoring the effects.”
As she placed the glasses over her eyes, the lab was plunged into near darkness such was the strength of the tinting on them. Marcus moved away to his monitors leaving Andrea to stare at the bank of lights before her. Suddenly they blazed into life and she had to squint a bit despite the glasses. The heat from them washed over her skin, while the corresponding heat built within her muscles as her superhuman power kicked in.
“Great, that’s great,” called Marcus reassuringly.
Andrea didn’t feel so great herself as the energy coursed through her.
“This is interesting data,” remarked the scientist, studying his readouts.
Andrea started to feel an uncomfortable prickling sensation under her skin. “Marcus…”
He didn’t register her warning call, too busy poring over the data. “Fascinating…”
The prickling turned into stabbing. “Marcus!”
His eyes shot to her as the first spasm hit. Andrea jerked violently in her seat, her body catapulting off it onto the floor.
“Shit!” Marcus killed the lights immediately and dashed over, kneeling by the downed woman who was jerking uncontrollably.
“Hang on!” He fumbled for something on a nearby trolley. Andrea couldn’t say anything with her teeth clenched together by the crippling spasms.
Finally he grabbed the syringe he was after and jabbed it into her arm. Slowly Andrea could feel the sensations fading until she was left lying breathless but still on the tiled floor. She closed her eyes and took some deep breaths.
“Are you ok?” Marcus reached out to touch her.
“Jävla hästkuk!” Andrea batted his hand away knowing he would understand the Swedish insult. Her body ached as she rose to sitting. “You said you wouldn’t let it get that far!”
“I’m sorry, but I was getting such good data…”
“Screw your data! I was in fucking pain!”
“I’m sorry, really.”
Andrea attempted to stand, pulling herself up with the aid of the seat. “Of course you are,” she noted snidely.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” she said. “This incident just shows your usual callous disregard for anything that stands in the way of you and your precious work.”
“That’s not fair! I’m trying to help you. Things just got a little out of control.”
Andrea fixed him with a steely glare. “Well, they can get out of control without me from now on.”
……………….
“Hello, is there someone there?”
Pete Barnes half-hoped the answer would be no. Then again sitting on his own in the dark was also starting to get to him. He had no idea how long he’d been there. One minute he was bumping into tall dark strangers, the next he was secured to a chair in a windowless, dark room. Twice since he’d been there the giant woman from the street had come in, switched on a glaring spotlight, fiddled with some wires attached to his head and then left again, all without saying a word. He’d tried to engage her in conversation, but she remained mute. Now he was sure he’d heard the tell-tale sound of the door again, but no light came this time. He strained to hear anything in the dark, wishing that his powers hadn’t deserted him in his moment of need. Was that the faint sound of breathing?
“Hello, Mr Barnes.”
Pete almost jumped out of his skin. It was lucky the restraints were keeping him in place else he might have fallen off the chair. He craned his head round in the direction of the female voice that had come from behind him.
“Who are you? What do you want with me?”
“We need your help.”
The voice was soft and enticing. Somehow Pete didn’t think it belonged to the massive woman with the fists like bricks. He felt a touch on the back of his neck and he reflexively tensed his shoulders. It took a moment for Pete to realise the woman was stroking across them. He guessed it was supposed to be reassuring in some way, but instead it felt intensely creepy.
“How…how can I help you?” he managed.
“You just need to sit back and relax.”
“That’s it?”
He could sense she was in front of him now, his eyes peering into the darkness to try and see her. Was that the flash of teeth he saw? A smile? A snarl?
“That’s it,” came the reply.
Pete had serious doubts that was it at all, but for now he had little choice.
…………….
Two days after the accident in the lab, Andrea got a call from her brother. She’d not spoken him since that day, but the fact that he was claiming to have some insight into her condition after only a week or so intrigued her enough to forgive the brusque tone of the short conversation and put aside her apprehension for now.
Shortly after breakfast she made her way to the lower levels, seeking out his laboratory. When she reached it, she discovered she was not alone. Kate was also waiting inside, looking very different to how she had only a few hours before. As always she was immaculately turned out in her uniform, even if it was only her less formal barrack dress. However, her appearance was in marked contrast to the woman who had been moaning Andrea’s name, and a few other choice words, the night before.
“You received a summons too?” Andrea asked as she took a seat next to Kate inside the laboratory. She tried to remind herself that it was working hours and she should remain professional, even if her mind kept trying to give her repeated recollections of the woman next to her in much fewer clothes.
“Yes, it appears your brother has some news already.”
“Good old, Marcus,” said Andrea under her breath.
The comment got a look from Kate. “I thought you’d be happy?”
“I am…but…” Andrea hadn’t mentioned the previous incident to Kate, thinking she could deal with it herself. Now she wished she had to try and justify some of her trepidation.
“You just can’t stand that he might be right?”
“It’s stupid, I know,” sighed Andrea. “Let’s just hope it is a genuine breakthrough and then I might be able to stop this childish behaviour he seems to evoke.”
Kate reached over and lightly brushed Andrea’s cheek. The surprise contact sent a shiver of expectation through the younger woman. “You have been rather petulant it has to be said,” remarked Kate, “though in a very adorable way,” she added, tenderly running her finger down around Andrea’s chin.
Suddenly the door opened and Kate retracted her hand faster than a greyhound out of the blocks. If Marcus had seen anything, he didn’t mention it, crossing the room and taking a seat with them. Andrea could feel her cheek still tingling under the surface from where Kate’s fingers had been moments before.
Marcus shuffled the papers on his desk for a few moments, though Andrea guessed it was more for show than anything else. Finally he fixed them with his keen gaze. “So do you want the long or the short version?”
“Will the long version mean anything to us?” asked Kate.
“Not unless you’re a doctor of biochemistry or genetics, no.”
Kate made a quick confirming glance in Andrea’s direction. “In that case I think we can skip to the short version.”
Marcus shrugged. “Ok, well the short version is that your powers are screwed.”
Andrea frowned at the candid answer and left the talking up to Kate. “I think that might be a bit too short,” noted the other woman.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be flippant,” he said, seeing the
less than amused looks he was getting from both of them. “Basically it looks
like the…er…” he shuffled uneasily in his seat and cleared his throat before
continuing. “It looks like the experiments that
Andrea let out a long sigh. “Great, a lasting legacy of my time with those bastards, fabulous.”
Meanwhile Kate was keen for answers. “Is there anything you can do about it though?”
“Fortunately, yes.” He turned to Andrea. “You’ll need to undergo a course of treatment for the next few weeks and with your past history of problems it might not all be plain sailing. However, I can give you something immediately that should stop any nasty power dips or blackouts.”
Andrea did wonder how come Marcus had managed to not only make a breakthrough, but also come up with a solution in little more than a week while the experienced scientists already stationed at the base had been stumped. The paranoid part of her mind thought that it was almost as if he’d had a head start, such as knowing what was wrong with her before he’d even come to the base. Andrea dismissed the notion for now, too eager to seize on the opportunity his information presented. “Does that mean I can go back on active duty?”
“I don’t see why not,” came Marcus’ immediate response, before he looked to Kate and saw the disapproving look he was getting. “That is, if the major agrees.”
It was an unusual situation for Andrea, her brother actually backing her up for once. She looked expectantly at Kate who appeared more reluctant to believe in Marcus now he was suggesting something she wasn’t so willing to hear.
“You’re sure she’ll be all right?” Kate asked the scientist.
“It might pay to do some tests before you dash out on any missions, but yes, I don’t foresee any problems.”
Kate paused digesting the words. She didn’t look back to Andrea. “Thank you, doctor, I’ll take it under advisement.”
He simply nodded back before turning to Andrea again. “I can give you that temporary injection now, if you’re ready?”
Andrea’s thoughts staged a quick battle between having to trust him again and her desire to get back to action. The latter won out and Andrea rolled up the sleeve on her plain black top and offered her forearm. “No time like the present.” She steeled herself so she didn’t flinch this time when the needle pierced her skin. Marcus was just dabbing away the spot of blood that bloomed from the withdrawn syringe when a communicator signal resounded in the lab.
……..
Kate answered the hail, discovering it was Kaminski, summoning her upstairs for something that the other woman didn’t disclose. Kate thanked Dr Hallstrom and exited with Andrea automatically following on behind. Andrea seemed somewhat subdued in the lift on the way up, rubbing at her sleeve where her brother had just injected her.
“Everything’s all right is it?”
“What?” Andrea looked to her own absently rubbing hand, and quickly put it back down at her side. “Yes, it’s fine.”
“No side effects?”
Andrea laughed at Kate’s persistence. “They would have to be pretty fast acting! No, no side effects. Let’s just hope this means I can use my powers without any too.”
By the time they got to the conference room, they discovered the Colonel was also present, hunched over some papers spread out on the large table. Kate saw that once again Sophie was notable by her absence. She wondered if Kaminski was deliberately assigning her to other duties because of their personal connection. Eventually Kaminski glanced up and saw the two new arrivals.
“Is there any reason Miss Hallstrom is here too?” she asked immediately.
Kate glanced over her shoulder. It had been entirely natural for Andrea to follow her, both of them having forgotten themselves for a moment. Kate quickly thought on her feet. “We were just speaking with Dr Hallstrom, and needed to discuss his results further. I wasn’t sure how long you’d need me, or if it was a quick question,” explained Kate. “Andrea can wait outside if necessary…”
Kate left it dangling, thinking that Kaminski wouldn’t bother. She should have known better.
“I think that would be best.”
Andrea clenched her teeth in annoyance, a small muscle in her cheek twitching slightly. She didn’t object though, turning on her heel and leaving the room without a word. However, the door was shut just a touch too forcefully.
Kaminski carried on as if Andrea had never been there. “We’ve had some interesting intel of the subject who went missing last week.”
“Pete Barnes?” recalled Kate.
“That is correct. Unknown to Mr Barnes or those who kidnapped him we planted a tracking device on his person. The signal has been somewhat erratic, but we have managed to pinpoint three locations that he’s been in the last week.”
Kate looked incredulously at Kaminski. “Why didn’t you mention this the other day?”
The absence of an answer from Kaminski spoke volumes in
itself. Instead she carried on as if Kate hadn’t spoken at all. She pulled a
map to the centre of the table. “The three locations are in
“And you want us to go and investigate?”
This time Kaminski did respond to Kate. “Precisely. We’re hoping this might provide a concrete link to the organisation that’s been responsible for these disappearances.”
The Colonel broke into the conversation. “Are you sure this is connected with this ‘organisation’. Why has he been to three different locations? Are you sure he’s just not leading you on a merry dance round the country?”
“We’re not sure, that’s true.” Kate smiled internally at the way the Colonel had forced Kaminski to admit being uncertain about something. “Which is why we need to carry out some reconnaissance.” She looked to Kate. “I’ll leave it up to you to decide the logistics and personnel, though time is of the utmost essence.”
“And what exactly am I allowed to tell my personnel?”
“That they’re on a fact-finding mission, looking for anything out of the ordinary.”
Kate scoffed at the answer. “So basically bugger all?”
“I’m sure you can think of something appropriate.”
Kate could think of some appropriate things to say back to Kaminski, but it wasn’t the right time. If Kaminski was right, then the young man in question could be in danger. As she exited the room, Kate found Andrea was still waiting, leaning against the wall in the corridor. She fell into step beside Kate as she walked in the direction of her office.
“So what’s going on?”
“We have a mission,” answered Kate, “or rather three different reconnaissance missions.”
“Ok, so which one am I on?”
Kate stopped walking, slowly turning to Andrea, trying to think of the best way to say what she had to. She couldn’t think of one. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come.”
“What? But Marcus said I was good to go!”
Kate guided Andrea to the side of the corridor, wary of the fact that Kaminski and the Colonel could be close behind. “He also said that we should do some tests first,” she pointed out quietly, “just to make sure.”
“I’m fine, really!” insisted Andrea.
“Is there some sort of problem?”
As Kate had feared, it was Kaminski’s voice that broke them out of their hushed altercation. Kate swung to see the other woman watching them with interest, and Kate quickly pasted a smile onto her face. “No, no problem. We were just discussing team assignments for the missions.”
A faint smile flitted across Kaminski’s face. It wasn’t pleasant. “I didn’t realise the military was so democratic.”
“I find it pays to listen to counsel when it’s warranted,” replied Kate evenly.
“And I’m sure you listen to Miss Hallstrom’s counsel in particular.” The slight tone of disparagement was barely detectable, but it was there.
“I listen to everyone’s if they have something important to say.”
Kaminski nodded. “So with such wise words to offer, I presume Miss Hallstrom will be accompanying you on this mission?”
Kate cursed internally. She could say no, and look like a bit of a fool, plus incur more disapproval from Andrea. Neither was overly appealing. She supposed it was just a look-see, what could go wrong? “Yes, that’s correct.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 7
Andrea pressed her back up against the wall of the corridor, with Kate mirroring her pose on the other side of the closed door. In the green-tinged view from her night-vision goggles, Andrea saw the ‘go’ hand signal from the other woman. Andrea peeled away from the wall and kicked in the door in one swift motion.
Not that urgency or stealth were needed. As with the twenty-two rooms they’d already searched, they discovered nothing inside save a few discarded sheets of paper littered over the bare floor. Andrea picked one up, but it was just an old memo belonging to the previous occupants of the darkened and deserted office building. A company by the name of TechGen that Andrea had never heard of.
Andrea held up the ancient letter. “Do you think Kaminski considers Jan Pierce’s holiday request for 2003 vital information?”
“Who knows,” answered Kate who was surveying the rest of the room. “We could collect up all this junk for her to sift through. We wouldn’t want to make any assumptions about what she considers important after all.”
“Now you’re just been sadistic,” noted Andrea. “I like it,” she added, “though I’m not sure I can be bothered with the effort. Shall we just go onto the next room? It’s your turn.”
They filed back out into the corridor and took up position again by the next office door. This time it was Kate whose task it was to batter it down, which she did quickly and efficiently with a focussed concussion wave. The pair of them stepped over the flattened door to find much the same as before. Andrea was beginning to wish she hadn’t pressed quite so hard to come on the mission.
“Do you think this is Kaminski’s idea of a joke?” she asked Kate. “Or did she just have bad intelligence?”
“I don’t think even she would send us off on a wild goose chase. We should keep checking, we may find something.”
“Indeed, we might find out whether Jan Pierce got granted her holiday! We wouldn’t want to miss out on that nugget of information.”
“You were the one who wanted to come,” Kate pointed out.
“Don’t remind me! I hope the others are having better luck at the other locations and that it’s just us who picked the dud. We could speed things up by splitting up?”
Kate had removed her goggles for a moment and was wiping some dirt off the lenses. When she looked at Andrea the pupils of her eyes were pale in Andrea’s green-tinged vision. “I thought that would have been one of the first things they taught you not to do in police training?”
“Yes, but since when did I follow the rules?”
Kate didn’t look particularly enthused by the suggestion, at least Andrea assumed the slight pursing of the lips and the lack of answer indicated as much.
“We can keep in constant radio contact,” Andrea said in an effort to persuade her.
Kate sighed. “All right, else we might be here until next Christmas. You take the lower floor, I’ll continue on this one.”
As Andrea made to go, Kate caught her arm. “Just make sure you keep that radio on and don’t do anything stupid.”
Sooner or later Andrea was going to have to pull Kate up on her over-protective behaviour, but for now she simply gave an acknowledging nod. Once downstairs, Andrea found little of interest on the ground floor of the building, just more empty offices and corridors. The place looked like it hadn’t been used for months or even years, a thick layer of dust on what desks and cabinets had been left behind.
Several of the windows were broken and boarded up, though
there were a few still intact. It was through one of these that the moon now
cast its light, suddenly bathing the room in a white glow. Andrea had to remove
her goggles for a moment. She placed them up on her head as her eyes adjusted
to the still low light. Suddenly a loud clonk resounded from somewhere in the
building. Andrea was alert at once, listening out for anything else, but all
she could make out was the faint drone of
“Kate, did you hear that?” she asked into the radio attached to her uniform.
“Hear what?” came back the immediate response.
“It sounded like something metal being dropped or banged.” Andrea stepped out into the corridor and cast her eyes around. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.
“Stay where you are, I’ll come join you.”
Despite her investigative instincts, Andrea did as told. Frustrated by the lack of action, she couldn’t help kicking her boot through the dust on the floor while she waited. Another faint sound echoed over the top of her swishes and she instantly stopped what she was doing. The white noise of silence roared in her ears. Andrea walked up to the end of the corridor and peered round the corner just as someone came barrelling straight into her. Taken unawares, Andrea bounced off them, landing on her backside on the floor. A dark figure loomed large in the dark, the person’s face obscured by a balaclava and mirrored goggles. From the way they stood rooted to the spot for a moment, it appeared they were as surprised to find someone there as she was. Then suddenly they were off and running. Andrea scrabbled to her feet and gave chase. The sound of two sets of boots thudding down the corridor echoed off the empty walls.
Andrea called into her radio in between breaths. “There’s someone here…they’re trying to make a run for it…I’m after them.”
“I’m on my way,” came Kate’s voice in return. “Try to stall them but be careful - don’t engage in anything unnecessarily risky.”
Andrea had to wonder if Kate would give such an order to anyone else. Still she realised that memories of the motorway were still fresh in both their minds, and Andrea didn’t fancy a repeat of what had happened there much either. On the other hand she wasn’t about to let the man get away. He’d reached a junction now, but rather than take one of the options on offer he whirled round to face her and raised his hands. For a second Andrea wondered what the hell he was doing before dual bolts of electricity arced down the corridor at her. She flung herself to the ground as they blasted along the walls, dislodging paint and plaster that rained down around her.
When the dust cleared the man was gone. Not giving up that easily Andrea dashed to the end and quickly glanced both ways. There was no sign of him, so a quick toss up ended in her choosing to go right. A faint thumping sound was audible in the building now, a repetitive beat that got louder as Andrea ran down the corridor. When she barged out of the door at the end, the source of the noise became clear. A helicopter slowly climbed away from the yard. Andrea was almost knocked off her feet by the maelstrom whipped up by its blades as it took off, having to shield her eyes for a second before she remembered the goggles perched on her head. She quickly pulled them down so she could watch its ascent. Should she go after it and risk her powers? Or wait for Kate and perhaps lose the man?
Andrea hesitated for barely a second before she leapt up
after the departing craft. It seemed now was as good a time as any to see if
her brother’s treatment had worked. The helicopter flew up over the
As she got closer, the wake from the helicopter buffeted Andrea and she took her time, not wanting to have any of her limbs severed by the deadly blades. She finally managed to get a foot on one of the landing skids, grabbing onto the door handle as she did. With one wrench she pulled it off its hinges.
If she could have seen the man inside’s face, Andrea had no doubt there would have been a good degree of shock on it at the sight of her standing there hundreds of feet above the ground. The helicopter took a sudden banking turn, perhaps trying to shake her. Andrea lost her balance, automatically reaching out for anything to hold onto. Her fingers found purchase on the man’s shoulder. Supposing she might as well make use of the opportunity, she swiftly yanked the balaclava from his head.
Andrea was glad she was holding fast onto the door frame with her other hand else she might have fallen off her perch in surprise. The balaclava was whipped from her fingers by the wind as her grip on it slackened in shock. Staring back at her from inside the helicopter was Callum Chadwick. His lips curved into a sneering smile. Then he slowly raised his hand. Andrea saw a brief flash of static electricity before it hit her hard right in the chest. She was catapulted away from the craft, narrowly missing being skewered by the tail rotor as it continued on without her.
Then Andrea was falling fast, plummeting straight down
towards the
“Andrea? Where the hell are you?”
“In the
“In the…what?” It seemed Kate was at a loss for words for once.
“I’m afraid I lost our friend,” confessed Andrea, “but I’ve got some very interesting news for you about their identity.” Andrea decided that news was best coming from her face to face. “I’ll be back at the offices in a moment.”
Taking a quick survey of the surrounding area, Andrea deemed no one was around. Luckily she had splashed down away from the main centre of town. It might have been interesting trying to explain where exactly she had fallen from and how she had survived to a bunch of tourists on one of the numerous boat cruises. Instead there were just a few seagulls floating with the current and giving her bemused looks as she rose out of the water and flew up into the night sky. She stayed up high until she neared the location of the abandoned office, though it was unlikely anyone would spot her up in the sky, a black figure against the darkness. Swooping down as she neared, the office’s location was immediately visible from the flashing red and blue lights around it. Obviously someone had reported something out of the ordinary. Andrea hoped that wasn’t the sight of a woman flying after a helicopter.
Not wanting to attract any further attention she circled round the back and landed out of sight of the parked cars. As she walked round to the front she immediately spotted Kate. Unfortunately she was not alone. Chatting animatedly at her was Christine Ferguson, the reporter they’d bumped into a couple of weeks previously. She quickly spied Andrea’s approach.
“And look, if it isn’t the other half of the double act,” she noted, “Major No Comment and her mysterious friend.” She turned her attention to Andrea. “I don’t suppose I can trouble you for a comment this time? Or maybe just your name.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Your phone number?” tried Christine with a cheeky grin.
Kate immediately took the other woman’s arm. “I think it’s time you were escorted to safety, Miss Ferguson, we wouldn’t want any nasty accidents befalling you in this unsecured area would we?”
Kate made a gesture to one of the police officers who quickly came over to oblige. Christine still managed to get in another parting comment in Andrea’s direction.
“Is she always this jealous?” she whispered, though far too loud for Kate not to hear.
Kate’s expression remained unreadable as Christine was lead away, watching her the whole time until she was safely behind the police cordon.
“I think we may need to keep an eye on Miss Ferguson,” she said reflectively. “That’s twice now she’s turned up at one of our scenes.”
Andrea wondered if there was an ulterior motive to Kate’s suggestion. Not that Andrea was interested in the reporter in the slightest.
Kate turned back to Andrea. “Anyway, what was it you wanted to tell me about this person you were after?”
……..
“Callum Chadwick?”
The Colonel’s tone was as amazed as Kate’s had been when Andrea had told her.
“That’s right,” confirmed Andrea, “and he has powers.”
“But how?” The colonel looked to those assembled for answers.
They were back on Duransay, having an emergency late-night meeting to discuss the results of the missions. Kate and Andrea had been the only of the teams to encounter anything untoward, but what they’d discovered was causing consternation. Assembled in the meeting room were the Colonel, Kaminski, Sophie, Kate and Andrea. Andrea noted how none of the other superhumans had been invited, supposing her presence was only because she had information to impart concerning Chadwick.
No one appeared to be forthcoming with an answer to the Colonel’s question. Eventually it was Sophie who ventured something. “It appears someone has been experimenting with mutated genes.”
Kate was first to react to that. “That sounds horribly familiar,” she noted grimly.
Andrea didn’t like the sound of it either. “And with Callum Chadwick involved, then Adam Dixon may not be far behind.”
A pinched look crossed Kate’s face as soon as her former lover’s name was mentioned.
Kaminski remained surprisingly quiet, sitting at the back of the room, studying some notes. For once the Colonel seemed to be in charge, rather than the beaurecrat. Kate moved over to the woman, standing with her arms crossed. An uncomfortable silence filled the room as Kaminski made her wait before finally deigning to glance up.
“Did you know of Callum Chadwick’s potential involvement?” asked Kate.
“We knew it was a possibility.”
“And yet you neglected to mention it?”
“It wasn’t deemed necessary information.”
Andrea let out a scoffing laugh. “What a load of bullshit! If
we’re going to be risking our lives, I think we at least deserve to know what
for! There’s more going on than a simple security audit, isn’t there? You’re
after something in particular, something to do with this organisation of
Andrea held Kaminski’s gaze though the other woman seemed adept at resisting the urge to reply.
“That is none of your concern. All you need to know is that we are currently investigating a number of lines of enquiry.”
Andrea couldn’t stop her sarcastic laugh. The diplomatic answer was the sort of thing they’d had to broadcast to the public time and time again when she’d been in the police. “Sounds to me like you’ve got bugger all then! Not surprising when you’ve been wasting your time snooping on us rather than tracking these people down.”
Andrea got a withering look from Kaminski before she turned to Kate again. “Major, if you can’t control your people I shall be forced to ask them to leave.”
For a minute Andrea thought Kate still wasn’t going to say anything. Her lips were pursed enough to make Andrea think she was holding back on saying what was really on her mind. “You don’t get to order my people to do anything,” she finally answered. “Since it appears you in fact have nothing else to tell us then maybe you can come back to us when you have made some progress, whenever that might be.”
Andrea couldn’t help the shiver of arousal that shot through her as Kate asserted her dominance, even if it was entirely inappropriate in the crowded conference room. Andrea found herself staring at the buttons on Kate’s uniform shirt, wondering how quickly she could rip them off. It took her a moment to realise she was being addressed.
“Did you have any more questions, Andrea?”
Andrea met Kate’s eye. It was obvious the other woman had caught her staring. “Er…no.” She had completely lost her train of thought.
“Then I think this meeting is over.” Kate rose from her seat. “I’m sure you’ll keep us appraised of the situation,” she added to Kaminski on the way out the door.
…………………
Andrea flicked the last button onto the floor. It seemed it didn’t take long to rip them off at all she concluded as she viewed Kate’s disarrayed shirt and exposed skin.
“Are you going to sit there admiring what’s left of my uniform all night?”
Andrea dipped her head and slid her tongue up between Kate’s breasts, pausing when she got to the other woman’s throat. “Who said I was admiring the uniform?”
Andrea didn’t wait for an answer, tracking her tongue over the smooth flesh to the tip of Kate’s ear. “So are you going to let Kaminski get away with all that bollocks about their investigation?” she asked in between nibbles of the earlobe.
Kate seemed to be having some trouble answering as she writhed beneath Andrea on the sofa in her quarters. “Of course not,” she said eventually more breathily than normal, “I just want her to think I’m leaving it to her.” She took a calming breath. “Whereas I will be doing some of my own investigating anyway.”
Andrea rose up on her arms, hovering above Kate. “Don’t you mean we?” she asked, quirking up an eyebrow in inquisition.
When Kate didn’t reply, Andrea bent down once more, teasing aside the remainder of the starched olive shirt with her teeth. Taut nipples poked hard against a black bra beneath. Andrea clamped her teeth over one of them, tugging gently to begin with, and then with more urgency until the other woman relented.
“Yes, yes, we,” cried Kate, “I meant we!”
Andrea released her hold and offered Kate a knowing grin. Kate returned it with one of her own. The sauciness in the look did strange things to Andrea’s insides.
When she spoke, Kate’s voice matched the look in seductive
power. “Now remind me why we’re talking about
Andrea couldn’t think of one good reason. She couldn’t think of much at all.
……………….
Callum Chadwick tentatively pushed open the door to the office, seeing that its occupant was busy reading something at her desk. She didn’t bother to look up as he approached, and made him wait for a good few seconds before she finally deigned to raise her ice blue eyes. For a moment he forgot why he was there as the unwavering gaze studied him like bacteria under a microscope. Finally he managed to kick his brain into gear.
“I recovered the data from the test site.”
Dr Hallstrom rose gracefully from her seat, coming round to the front of her desk to take the file from him. Chadwick felt a nervous tickle up his spine.
“And did you encounter any problems?” asked Dr Hallstrom as she flicked absently through the folder.
Chadwick paused, quickly calculating whether he could get away with not mentioning the encounter with the younger Hallstrom. For one of the rare occasions in his life he decided honesty was the best policy. “I was disturbed in my search.”
Dr Hallstrom turned her full, penetrating attention to him. “By who?”
Chadwick swallowed nervously. “Your daughter.”
“Andrea was there?”
Chadwick fought to keep his voice even. “Yes, and Jarvis too I think.”
“I see.”
Chadwick wished he knew what she was thinking behind the deceptively placid expression. He steeled himself just in case.
“And what did you do?” asked Dr Hallstrom.
“I got out of there.”
Dr Hallstrom regarded him with narrowed eyes, as if she knew the story was incomplete. He wondered if she’d developed some sort of telepathic power to go with her telekinesis. He found himself forced to continue.
“Only Hallstrom…Andrea…chased me.”
“And?”
Chadwick squirmed. “I had to take…action to stop her.”
“You used your new power on her?”
“I did.”
Dr Hallstrom was close now. He wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he could already feel the invisible touch of her power round his throat.
“And was she all right?” pressed the woman.
“I…I don’t know…” stammered Chadwick.
“You don’t know? You electrocuted my daughter and you don’t know the outcome?”
Dr Hallstrom seemed to be looming ever closer, though Chadwick didn’t think she had actually moved. It was just her menacing presence causing the terror to fill him right from his boots to the tip of his head.
“It was only a small shock,” he blustered, “she’s got those dense bones, I’m sure she survived the fall…”
“The fall?”
Chadwick realised his mistake. “Oh God, please,” he begged as she relentlessly stared at him. “I had to do something…”
Suddenly Dr Hallstrom’s lips broke into a smile. Chadwick was unnerved and still trembling inside. For all he knew she could be grinning at the prospect of ripping him limb from limb.
“Luckily for you,” she said, “I have it on good authority that Andrea was fine.”
Chadwick stared stupidly at her. “You knew everything that happened already?” he deduced.
“Of course I did. You think you are my only source of information?”
Chadwick realised he was sweating profusely, and he took a moment to dab his forehead as the relief washed over him. It appeared he had got away with it this time. He was sure Dr Hallstrom would have killed him by now if she was going to. Thinking it best he make a quick exit while he could, he started to move for the door.
“If that’s all…?”
“Yes, that’s all,” said Dr Hallstrom, her attention already on something else far more interesting on her desk.
Chadwick made it all the way to the door when he found he suddenly couldn’t move. It was if his whole body was held in an invisible grip.
“Oh, and Mr Chadwick…”
Against his will he swung back round. Dr Hallstrom was still on the far side of the room by her desk.
“Be more careful next time, because my warning still stands – if anything happens to Andrea you will meet a similar fate.”
He heard the door opening on its own behind him and then he was propelled forcibly backwards out of it. He whacked hard into the wall outside before the door slammed shut in his face.
………………...
Andrea gritted her teeth as the needle punctured her skin. “I’d say you enjoyed doing that a bit too much.”
The smile flashed her way was one she’d seen a thousand times when growing up, though it was still odd to see it now. Marcus withdrew the syringe having injected its contents and tipped it into a biohazard bin. Andrea instinctually rubbed her arm as she tried to build up the courage to say what she wanted. Since procrastination really wasn’t her forte she took the plunge.
“I didn’t get the chance to say anything before, but I wanted to say thank you.” She was surprised the words didn’t stick in her throat.
Marcus looked equally surprised, stopping halfway through removing his latex gloves. “Thank you?”
“For getting to the bottom of this problem, and for sticking
up for me so I could go on the mission to
“I wouldn’t have if I didn’t think you were physically fit,” he replied before softening his tone, “but you’re welcome. Talking of which, you haven’t experienced any side-effects since then have you? No more dizziness or anything else out of the ordinary?”
“Out of the ordinary is a little hard to define around here,” noted Andrea, “but no, I’ve not had any adverse reaction to either the medication or using my powers.”
Marcus merely nodded. “Good.”
Andrea tried to keep her tone light as she continued. “So I guess this means you’ll be heading off to your next project?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” he replied. “I still need to monitor your condition for a while and then who knows.”
Andrea found she was strangely conflicted by his vague answer. Part of her couldn’t wait until he buggered off and yet a smaller, yet persistent part of her wanted him to stay. She’d tried to tell it to bugger off too, but it kept hanging around. While she attempted to squash it once more Marcus carried on.
“In the mean time my next ‘project’ is negotiating Christmas at mother’s. You haven’t changed your mind have you? You don’t fancy coming after all?”
“Hmm, let me think about that…” Andrea drummed her fingers thoughtfully on her chin for all of two seconds before delivering her blunt answer. “No! You’re welcome to that particular honour all by yourself.”
Marcus poked out his tongue, something Andrea imagined the serious scientist didn’t do much round anyone else. “Traitor!”
“Sycophant!”
“Judas!”
“Brown-noser!”
Marcus interrupted the jovial name-calling for a moment. “Brown-noser? Is that the best you could come up with?”
“The other things I had in mind wouldn’t be so polite.”
Despite her even expression and deadpan tone, he seemed to know as well as she did that she was teasing him. A wry grin crossed his face. “Seriously though, I hope you have a good Christmas,” he said, “wherever it is you’re going.”
Andrea almost told him, but knew she still had to wait. “Thank you, I’ll see you at the party tomorrow night?”
“I wouldn’t miss it!”
Andrea knew he wasn’t the only one.
…………………..
Kate knocked on the door for the third time. Still there was no answer. Where was Sophie? She hadn’t been to any of the last three audit meetings and now she wasn’t in her quarters either. Kate knew it really wasn’t like Sophie to be quite so neglectful of her duties. Her absences had concerned Kate enough to bring her calling, yet it seemed she would have to wait for any answers. Shrugging she supposed the mountain of paperwork back on her desk would have to receive her attention instead, though she was hardly enthused at the prospect. She was sure Kaminski was deliberately trying to drown her in the reams of paper. Turning for her office she found herself staring at the smiling face of Nisha.
“Afternoon, Major!” she greeted cheerily.
“Good afternoon, Nisha. Did Dr Todd let you out early?”
“Er…well…”
Kate placed her hands on her hips, fixing Nisha with one of her patented stares. “Did you skip the session?”
Nisha looked every inch the naughty schoolgirl as she scuffed her foot across the carpet distractedly, though Kate thought she was merely playing the part rather than she was actually abashed in any way.
“At least it gave me a chance to bump into you.”
Kate was a little confused. “And that’s relevant because…?”
“Because I’ve been meaning to catch you to ask you something personal without everyone else around.”
Kate thought she probably shouldn’t ask, but her mouth had opened before she could stop it. “And what is that?”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go for a drink some time.”
Kate made a small choking noise, managing to cover it up by saying something quickly. “I beg your pardon?”
“A drink? You know, like a date.”
Kate had to admire Nisha’s brashness if nothing else. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“Oh right, not really your thing, eh, batting for the same side.”
“Well…”
“Or is it no fraternisation with the plebs and all that?”
Kate thought she might actually be able to answer if Nisha would let her get a word in edgeways.
“Never mind, can’t blame a girl for trying.”
Kate attempted to speak but didn’t get much further than opening her mouth before Nisha continued.
“And I can’t promise that I still won’t. See you at the party tomorrow!”
Nisha gave a sneaky wink and turned on her heel. Kate stood there watching the other woman disappearing off down the corridor. It wasn’t often she was left speechless. Obviously Andrea’s ideas weren’t so far fetched after all; it seemed Nisha was interested in her. Kate shook her head, wondering when she had become so irresistible to women.
……………….
Andrea glanced at the slender watch on her arm. How can it still only be quarter to bloody eight?
She went back to the mirror, checking her hair yet again. A single strand of blond had come loose from the elaborate up-do she had fashioned and she tucked it back into place. Time had seemed to be dragging all day and was going at a positively glacial place now the moment of truth got closer and closer. She had no idea why she was so nervous. After all she had been the one nagging Kate to bring their relationship out in the open. Yet now the time had come to reveal all, she found herself oddly reticent. Was she having last minute doubts over whether it was the best thing to do? Over whether the timing was bad considering the pressure everyone was under? Then again when would be a good time? It wasn’t as if things were ever quiet.
The knock on the door made her jump and she had to take a moment to calm herself by smoothing her hands down over the silky blue material of her dress before she went to answer it. She was glad she had taken the time, else she might have been bowled over by the sight that met her on opening it. As it was she had to take a few deep breaths to bring her racing heart under some semblance of control.
“You look…fabulous,” was all she could manage in the end. It was an understatement, a gross understatement. Kate’s dark red dress clung to her like a second skin, accentuating her curves and pushing up her bosom which was revealed by the plunging neckline.
Kate smiled and Andrea’s heart melted just that bit more. “And so do you,” said the other woman.
It took a moment for Andrea to register what she was talking about. Where was her brain this evening? Quite possibly lost in all that cleavage, chipped in her inner demon. Andrea told it to shut up and forced herself to look Kate in the eye. “Thank you.”
“So are you ready to go?” Kate offered her arm.
Andrea half-considered completely foregoing the party so she could haul Kate inside and find out exactly how difficult it might be to remove that dress. Thinking there would be plenty of time for that later she took the outstretched arm. “As I’ll ever be.”
………….
Kate stood in front of the doors to the messhall. From inside she could hear the dull thumping beat of the music and the merry voices of those already enjoying the Christmas party. She’d thought she would have been more nervous and yet now it came to it she couldn’t wait to get inside. She realised she’d been putting this off far too long, worried about the reactions of others. Now it came down to it she felt an odd sense of pride to be announcing to the world that the wonderful woman at her side was with her. From a quick sideways glance she saw Andrea looked far more nervous about the whole thing and Kate gave her hand a quick reassuring squeeze. Andrea just gave a nod in return and Kate used her free hand to push open the doors.
If she had expected the room to come to a halt as everyone stared at them in stunned silence then she was sorely disappointed. She noted a few surprised glances and behind hand comments as they moved across the room hand in hand, but in the main they didn’t get much more than a second glance from most of those present. Surely coming out is meant to be more dramatic than this? Kate thought with an air of vague disappointment.
Of the stares they did get, she was pretty sure most were for the outfits they were wearing, rather than the fact that they were together. As much was confirmed when they got nearer to the bar and were intercepted by Harry and Tom. Neither man seemed to be able to keep his eyes above chest level, especially when addressing Andrea. Not that Kate could entirely blame them, since she often had the same problem. After a while Andrea seemed to get fed up of the constant stares and volunteered to go to the bar. Kate stood talking to the two men for a little longer before they moved off to mingle. She wasn’t left on her own long though.
“Major!”
Kate turned to see Nisha making her way through the throng in her direction. The young woman had on quite possibly the shortest dress Kate had ever seen. It was barely more than a belt.
“My God, you look stunning!” exclaimed Nisha. “What a gorgeous dress.”
Kate wished she could say the same thing in return. “Thank you, my partner bought it for me.”
“Oh, is he here?” Nisha glanced round the room.
Kate couldn’t help laughing; obviously the young woman had only just arrived. Over the perplexed Nisha’s shoulder, Kate saw Andrea approaching. “Talk of the devil, here she is now.”
…………
Andrea had seen Nisha entering and making a beeline for Kate as soon as she got to the bar. She wanted to go straight back over, but just about managed to restrain herself long enough to get their drinks first. As she strode purposefully back towards the two women Andrea knew it was finally time to put the young woman in her place, and she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity of drumming home her point with absolute clarity.
Nisha started to turn just as Andrea reached the pair of them. Andrea briefly caught the look of stunned amazement on Nisha’s face before she deposited her drinks on a nearby table, put her arm around Kate’s waist and swept her up into an embrace.
“Hello, darling,” Andrea said in ridiculously sickly sweet tones.
Andrea had a fleeting urge to peek to the side to see the reaction she was getting. That was quickly swept away as her lips met Kate’s in a brief kiss. As they broke apart, Andrea saw Kate giving her a quick glance to suggest she knew exactly what the younger woman was up to but was willing to accede to it for now. Andrea knew her actions were a bit childish, showing off that way in front of everyone and Nisha in particular. Meanwhile, a rare occurrence was happening next to them - Nisha was speechless.
Her eyes flicked between the other two women, Andrea still standing with her arm looped round the back of Kate’s waist. Eventually Nisha managed to stammer something. “You two…you’re….” Her cheeks seemed to be getting redder by the minute. “Oh my God.” She leant closer to Andrea. “All those things I said about…you know,” Nisha laughed nervously in the face of Andrea’s stern look. Andrea was enjoying making her squirm and wasn’t about to relent. Nisha laughed nervously again. “I was just joking of course. And…er…I think I hear someone calling me at the bar.”
She quickly turned in that direction, almost tripping over a drink-laden Corporal Lister in her urgency to get away. Both Kate and Andrea watched her for a moment before Kate spoke up.
“You are evil.”
Andrea was unrepentant. “She deserved it.”
Andrea thought Kate was fighting hard to hold back a smile. “Still, I don’t think we quite need to subject everyone to a full on floor show do we?”
Andrea supposed the open show of affection had been a bit much. “Sorry.”
“And what’s with the ‘darling’ bit? Talk about saccharine overload!”
“I couldn’t resist,” said Andrea. “Would you rather I had some more fitting pet name for you? Something more powerful and commanding? Iron pants? Steel knickers?”
Kate held up a stalling hand. “You’re making me sound like Margaret bloody Thatcher! How about we forego pet names, I have a perfectly adequate one my parent’s gave me.”
“All right,” agreed Andrea. “So how about a dance…pumpkin?”
Unwilling to dignify the last name with a comment, Kate grasped her hand and half-yanked her onto the dancefloor. Andrea briefly wondered which of them was going to lead before Kate took control in her usual commanding way. Andrea was happy enough to be led, though with most of her previous partners she’d been the lead, mainly due to her height. Kate’s right hand nestled in the naked small of her back, perilously close to slipping down below the hemline of Andrea’s dress. Conversely, Andrea’s left hand rested on Kate’s shoulder and she let it drift along so she could brush her fingers into the lower reaches of Kate’s bobbed hair.
“Do you remember the last time we danced together here?” asked Kate as they moved slowly over the floor.
Andrea could hardly have forgotten it. It had been in that moment when they were entwined on the dance floor that she had realised she was hopelessly in love with Kate. Unable to express as much openly she had fled instead.
“I hope you’re not going to be leaving me in the lurch again,” said Kate as if reading her mind.
Andrea smiled and lowered her head to whisper in Kate’s ear. “Not a chance.” She allowed her mouth to linger, her breath fluttering out over Kate’s skin. Andrea felt a small shudder from Kate where their hips touched. Completely forgetting where they were, she started to slide her tongue up the edge of Kate’s ear. Kate gave a guttural moan. Their bodies pressed closer together. Kate’s leg slipped between her thighs, shooting arousal through Andrea.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Andrea pulled back sharply seeing that it was the Colonel who had interrupted them. She felt a blush warming her cheeks. Though everyone now knew about them, it still seemed a bit seedy to be caught ‘en flagrante’ by Kate’s commanding officer. Kate didn’t seem to be as similarly perturbed, returning his greeting politely as if he hadn’t just caught them practically ravishing each other on the dance floor.
“Enjoying the party?” he asked. Andrea was sure he was winking at them.
“Very much so,” said Kate. “And you?”
“It certainly has been … interesting.” He glanced to Andrea. “Would you mind if I borrowed the Major for a moment?”
Andrea made a quick verifying check with Kate before leaving them to it and heading to watch from the bar. She perched herself on a stool watching the crowd enjoying themselves. The reaction to their entrance had surprised her, though in a good way. She’d expected a bit more resistance, a few more backhanded comments. Then again the night was young. As if the universe sensed her unease, a conversation from further down the bar drifted to her between snatches of music.
“…bloody dykes, you can’t trust them.”
“Yeah, it ain’t right is it, and with that snotty bitch Hallstrom too.”
Andrea bristled, contemplating marching over and showing them just how much of a bitch she could be, but decided against causing a scene. It wouldn’t do any good, such opinions were just ingrained in some people’s mentality and she certainly wouldn’t change them by putting her fist in their face, as tempting as that might be. Some more of the discussion filtered to her.
“Though you gotta admit, she’s pretty hot.”
Andrea snorted; trust the male brain to eventually be governed by one thing. She could only assume the two men hadn’t noticed she was only standing a few feet away with the crowd at the bar.
“Well, yeah, I guess,” agreed the other squaddie. “I would never have had her pegged as a rug-muncher. You know you could see her butt down the back of that dress.”
Andrea subconsciously hitched up the offending hemline a bit, thinking it best she moved further away before she heard something she really didn’t want to.
……
The Colonel gently guided Kate around the dancefloor and she wondered how long he was going to wait before saying what was obviously on his mind. She supposed it was only to be expected; he’d always been protective of her, even more so since her father’s death. After one more circuit he finally turned his blue eyes down to her.
“I wish you’d mentioned this to me before.”
Kate didn’t need to ask what he was referring to. “It’s my private life,” she replied evenly. “It doesn’t effect how I do my job, so I saw no need to inform you before now.”
“Come on, Kate, we both know better than that after last year’s fiasco,” he said. Despite the subject his tone was kind. “You know there will be questions asked.”
“By you?”
“I know you can do your job,” he said evasively, “and that you wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.”
“But…?”
He sighed, bringing them to a halt as the song ended. They moved off to the side of the floor, out of the way of the other dancers. “I’m just concerned for you, Kate. This is a risky relationship, in more ways than one. You better be damn sure it’s what you want.”
She looked him directly in the eye. “It is.”
Before he could question her further, they were disturbed by someone stumbling haphazardly into them. Kate automatically pushed back, seeing that it was Tom she was shoving. He staggered backwards before collapsing in a heap on the floor. Kate was amazed at how quickly the young man had managed to get drunk. The Colonel tried to help him up.
“Come on, son, I think you’ve had enough.”
“Don’t you call me fucking son!” Tom swatted away the assisting hands. He staggered to his feet under his own steam, swaying slightly once standing.
“What are you doing here anyway?” he snapped at the Colonel. “I thought you’d be with your latest whore.”
With his dulled wits Tom wasn’t quick enough to dodge the punch. The colonel looked as shocked as everyone else that he’d swung one. The officer glanced around the crowd that had gathered before making some quick apologies and hurrying from the room.
….
Seeing the disturbance on the far side of the room, Andrea swiftly moved over from the bar, happy to get away from the less than favourable comments anyway. By the time she got there, Tom was on the floor, nursing a fat lip. Bel was trying to help him up but getting rebuked.
“I don’t need any help!” Tom stated.
He barged his way off through the crowd and Andrea made to go after him but found a stalling hand on her arm. “I don’t think you’ll get much sense out of him tonight,” said Kate.
Andrea watched the angry young man staggering out the door. “Another happy family at Christmas,” she noted. “Something tells me I won’t be the only one not sharing turkey with my parents.”
She felt the warm hand encircling her waist once more, quickly banishing transitory thoughts of home. “But you will be sharing it with someone,” said Kate as she led them back into the rhythm of the music.
They had made several circuits, negotiating drunken soldiers and merry scientists, when Andrea noticed Kate appeared to be distracted. She was studying those on the sidelines and by the bar.
“Looking for someone?”
Kate turned her attention back to Andrea. “I just wondered if Sophie had made it.”
Andrea’s inner jealousy demon reared its ugly head. “Oh.”
Kate could hardly fail to spot the flat tone. “I haven’t seen her around much, I’m just concerned. It’s not like her.”
“Why don’t you go and have a look round?” Andrea surprised herself as much as Kate with the encouragement. “I can mingle for a bit, stop you monopolising my time!”
“I won’t be long,” said Kate as she moved off round the room.
Andrea drifted over towards the bar but quickly regretted
allowing Kate to go off on her search when she saw who was there waiting for
her.
“God kväll,” said the diminutive woman.
Andrea returned the formal Swedish greeting. “Would you like another drink?” she asked, supposing she could be civil for now.
“Thank you, white wine,” said Kaminski, “or what passes for it in this place.”
As she ordered the drinks, Andrea couldn’t believe Kaminski didn’t have something to say on the matter of her and Kate and she was waiting for it when she handed the fresh glass over. However, Kaminski said nothing, perhaps wanting to make her stew. Instead it fell to Andrea to make small talk. At least she’d had plenty of practice exchanging meaningless pleasantries with officious blowhards at the many police functions she’d attended in the past. Such conversations usually revolved around work, family or sport. Since none of those seemed appropriate, Andrea settled on one thing they did have in common.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, where did you learn Swedish? Kaminski isn’t a Swedish name is it?”
“No, it’s Russian in origin.”
Andrea raised her eyebrows, waiting for further elaboration and an actual answer to her question. Kaminski took a sip of her wine.
“I learnt Swedish from my grandmother.”
Andrea was shocked by the personal revelation from the normally tight-lipped woman. “She was Swedish?” she prompted.
“Yes, I used to go and visit her over the summer in
Something dawned on Andrea. “I used to live in
“I know.”
Andrea stared at her, not quite sure what the statement implied. Of course Kaminski could just be remarking on something she had read in Andrea’s personnel file, yet Andrea got the impression there was more to it. Had they met back then? Andrea thought it unlikely since she had only been about five years old at the time.
“Anyway, that was a long time ago,” said Kaminski, taking another sip of wine. “Coming back to the present, I see my suspicions were well-founded.”
“I’m sorry?” Andrea was slightly confused by the sudden switch away from the rare glimpse into Kaminski’s private life.
“About the amount of time Major Jarvis spends in your company,” clarified Kaminski.
“And is there something wrong with that?” Strangely Andrea felt more assured now they were on more familiar conflicting territory
“No, not at all, as long as the major can remain objective,” said Kaminski. “However, she does have a history of…bad errors in judgement when it comes to her personal life and its affect on her work, particularly in regard to the influence of those close to her.”
Andrea read between the lines. “You think I’m manipulating her?”
“You’re not?”
“I think you’re assigning me more influence than I have. Major Jarvis is perfectly capable of making her own decisions, especially when it comes to work, just as she was long before I came along.”
“That’s right,” agreed Kaminski, “decisions like Adam Dixon.”
Andrea felt the usual surge of anger, jealousy and a tinge of anxiety at the mention of his name. “That was a mistake. We all make them.”
“I suppose we just have to wait to see if she’s making another then don’t we?” Kaminski took a final sip from her glass before offering her parting shot. “I promise you she won’t come back from it this time if you are one.”
………
Out of the corner of her eye Kate saw Andrea talking with
Kate continued to scan the rest of the crowded room, finally spotting her target. She was half-surprised to see Sophie there, since she had proved so elusive recently. The other woman was sitting at a table on her own, nursing what looked suspiciously like a soft drink. Kate noted that she was still wearing her uniform unlike most of the others present and she looked pre-occupied, staring off at those dancing but not really watching them. Kate moved over and took up one of the spare seats next to the other woman. Sophie barely gave her a second glance, though she did acknowledge her presence with a short remark.
“Nice dress.”
“Andrea bought it for me.”
Sophie made a small snort and took a gulp from her drink. “She would do I suppose.”
Kate didn’t quite understand the meaning of the comment, but could detect the faint slur in Sophie’s words, which was curious since Sophie’s drink looked like plain coke. “Are you all right?” she asked, thinking Sophie could have moved onto the soft stuff given her obvious state of inebriation.
“I’m fine.”
Kate wasn’t buying it, especially as Sophie was still avoiding looking at her. “Only you’ve not been to any of the last three audit meetings and now I do catch up with you, you’ve had enough booze to sink a ship.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t need to worry,” said Sophie, “I’m not your concern, am I?”
The self-pitying words weren’t like Sophie at all. “Of course you are - you’re my friend. Not to mention under my command.”
“That’s not exactly true is it, as far as I know Miss Kaminski’s my boss.”
“Not unless she’s suddenly gained a rank she’s not.”
Sophie gave a shrug. “I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before the government take over here completely.”
Kate wondered if Sophie actually knew something or was she just trying to deliberately rile her for some as yet unknown reason.
“Anyway, I’ve had enough of watching this dog’s dinner,” Sophie got to her feet knocking her empty glass over but somehow managing to stay upright. “I’ll catch you later.”
Kate could only watch in bemusement as she stumbled off, supposing she would just have to wait to get any other answers.
…..
The water from the tap cascaded over Andrea’s fingers, the young woman distracted by the feel of it, caught up in her thoughts of the party. She’d come out for a few minutes, escaping the hubbub of the messhall for the quiet of the toilets. Luckily she was alone, there not being that many other female staff members who were likely to disturb her. Despite recent advances in equality, the army was still a resoundingly male occupation, and she could probably count the number of female personnel at the base on her fingers, with maybe a couple of toes thrown in.
So she was surprised when the door to the corridor did open, though not that shocked when she saw who it was.
She gave a small smile. “Following me, are you?”
Kate smiled back, though Andrea was finding it hard to keep her eyes at face level when they kept being drawn downwards. The light in the messhall was dimmed, but out here she got a full un-adulterated view of Kate’s deep-red dress. She was grateful she had the cold water on her hands to cool at least part of her.
“Just taking a breather,” replied Kate, coming towards Andrea on her way to one of the stalls.
Andrea turned back to the sink, able to see the other woman behind her in the mirror sitting above the wash basin. Kate paused directly behind her, leaning close to whisper in Andrea’s ear.
“I need one after all that dancing and having to restrain the urge to rip that dress off you.”
The heat shot straight to Andrea’s head. Before she knew what she was doing she had whipped round and crushed her lips to Kate’s. They stumbled backwards, locked together, banging into a stall door and shoving it open. It slammed back shut behind them. Andrea didn’t care that she was making Kate’s dress wet with her hands, the water just added to the velvety feel under her fingers as they roamed over the other woman’s body. She felt Kate’s hands brushing over her own back, caressing the bare skin, slipping down.
She let out a loud gasp as Kate’s fingers brushed her bottom. Having lost the contact of lips for a moment she looked down into the eyes that burned with a fire equal to her own. Kate simply grinned, the blood pumping faster, hotter through Andrea at the sight. When Kate did speak, she could barely hear it through the pounding, the other woman’s voice low, seductive.
“I never understood why women always went to the bathroom together before.”
Andrea took a deep breath, trying to calm her raging desire, just for a second. “Though I can think of somewhere I’d rather be.”
Kate’s eyebrows quirked up. “Your place or mine?”
…..
The door to Andrea’s quarters thumped open as the two women barrelled inside, not having the restraint to even wait until they were over the threshold before their lips locked. They staggered forwards, stumbling into the back of the sofa.
“I’ve wanted to get my fingers under this dress all night,” growled Andrea as her fingers slid down over the soft material at Kate’s sides, tracking towards the hemline just above her knee. Kate felt the swell of anticipation between her legs.
“And you’ve been tormenting me with this exposed flesh,” she replied throatily. To demonstrate she eased her fingers up Andrea’s bare spine, eliciting a shiver from the young woman. “But I’ve had enough teasing,” she whispered.
Her fingers found the clasp at the back of Andrea’s neck, undoing the only thing keeping the other woman’s dress up. Kate peeled back enough to allow the silky material to slide down, giving it a small helping hand over Andrea’s chest, being sure to flick a single finger over the taut nipples that were revealed. Andrea gasped at that touch, her breath catching in her throat. Meanwhile, her dress pooled at her feet and she just about had the sense to step out of it. Kate was momentarily dumbstruck anyway, the sight of Andrea standing there in just a tiny g-string and a pair of high heels scrambling her brain and body. Acting on the desire flooding her, she pushed forwards, lips seeking out the expanse of naked flesh. Her tongue slid across Andrea’s collarbone, easing towards her neck in a trail of soft kisses. Kate’s hands eased over Andrea’s hips, feeling the tremble from Andrea’s body beneath her fingertips.
“Oh God, can we…can we…lie down…not sure if I can stand….”
Somehow they made it to the bedroom, Kate easing Andrea towards the bed, but just before she flopped back onto it the younger woman pulled up.
“Hang on, I think you’re still far too dressed.”
Not waiting for any argument, Andrea slipped her fingers under the thin straps resting over Kate’s shoulders. She tracked her digits slowly downwards, sliding them just under the edge of Kate’s dress, caressing the top of her breast. Kate groaned at the feather-light touch, moaning louder as one of Andrea’s fingers slipped down between her breasts before moving out to flick a nipple, teasing it under the tight, velvet material.
Unable to restrain herself Kate wrapped her arms round Andrea’s naked torso, pulling them together once more, devouring the other woman’s lips. Andrea responded in kind, enveloped by the same fervour. She gave up on her slow teasing of Kate’s dress, instead slipping the straps off over Kate’s shoulders and reaching round to unzip the back. Kate moved her arms enough to allow her to push it down, though never relinquishing her hold on Andrea’s lips, her tongue playing across Andrea’s own.
Freed at last, Kate’s naked body pressed against Andrea, squashing their breasts together, legs slipping between one another. Andrea gave a gasp and pulled back for a second, looking down between them in shock.
“You weren’t wearing any knickers?” she cried. “Jesus! Good job I didn’t know that during the party!”
Kate offered a grin and a nonchalant shrug. “I am in the army, it’s only natural to go commando occasionally. Anyway, you can hardly talk,” she slid her fingers under the thin strands of Andrea’s g-string, “this underwear is hardly worth the name.”
“Then I guess you best remove it.”
Kate didn’t waste any time doing as instructed, the tiny garment finding its way to the floor.
Andrea quirked an eyebrow, realising there was one item of her attire left. “Would you like me to keep the high heels on?”
“To protect your modesty?” asked Kate with a small laugh. “No, I think we can do away with that particular cliché,” she added with a wink.
“Thank fuck,” said Andrea kicking them off and suddenly coming down a few inches in height. “They were bloody killing me!”
Kate eased her own shoes off. “Now shut up and get on that bed.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Andrea lowered herself onto the sheets, lying back expectantly for Kate. Not one to resist such a delicious invitation, Kate crawled up the bed, keeping low so that her nipples grazed tantalisingly up Andrea’s body until she was face to face with the other woman. The desire had been building all night long, ever since Andrea had opened the door to her quarters several hours ago and stood there in that dress. Giving up any hopes of controlling it, Kate lowered herself, her hungry tongue darting out to explore along Andrea’s lips and deeper into her mouth.
Kate felt the sweat slickened skin of Andrea’s thigh thrusting up between her legs, rubbing, teasing. Kate groaned, gyrating against it. Her fingers sought out Andrea’s breasts, squeezed between their heaving bodies. Taking a nipple between her fingers, she pinched enough to garner a loud gasp from the woman beneath her. Kate flicked the taut skin against her own, feeling the immediate flush of heat burning in her chest. Andrea’s hands groped for her hips, pushing Kate harder against her thigh, drawing a hot wet trail over it.
Unable to resist the primal pounding through her body, Kate ground herself against Andrea’s leg. Back arching, she gasped as her clitoris rubbed over the flesh. Fingers replaced thigh as Andrea slid them over her leg and up into Kate. The sudden penetration caused her to cry out. “Oh…fuck!”
Having long since given up trying to concentrate on anything other than the sensations swamping her, Kate braced herself with her hands either side of Andrea, bucking wildly as she rode the young woman’s fingers. She felt the wetness seeping down her inner thighs as Andrea drove into her.
“Fuck! Yes!”
Kate’s curses and cries became ever more urgent as the heat welled inside her, building into one explosive crescendo. Every muscle in her body felt the single moment of perfection, mind and body lost in an instant of pure pleasure. Screaming her release to the room, Kate flopped down, body resting heavily on the woman beneath her.
Andrea’s thumping heartbeat stirred Kate into life, her senses slowly returning. She drew her head off Andrea’s chest, her sweaty hair peeling away from the hot skin. Running fingers across the young woman’s abdomen drew a shiver of anticipation. Kate shuffled up the bed slightly, allowing her to capture Andrea’s flushed lips as she tracked her fingers lower. She delved into the young woman’s mouth, simultaneously pushing fingers inside the wetness waiting between her legs. Andrea groaned against her lips, but Kate didn’t release her hold. Even when Andrea started to writhe over the bed as Kate tormented her, she maintained her lock on the lips. Only when Andrea reared dramatically did she lose contact. “Christ! Fuck!” screamed the young woman, head arched back, eyes screwed tightly shut.
Feeling the tightening against her fingers, Kate knew the young woman was close. She moved her thumb up to brush the hard, sensitive spot that would drive her over the edge. Andrea’s hands flew to Kate’s shoulders, nails digging in hard as she sought something to anchor her in the rising storm of her orgasm. “Oh….God…..” Andrea’s voice trailed off as her body went taut, the rush of heat against Kate’s fingers coating them in sweet stickiness.
Sliding them out, Kate wrapped her arms around the still shivering body beside her. Drawing Andrea close she allowed her eyes to slide shut.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8
The streetlights of
“Cold?”
Andrea shook her head, deciding not to mention what had caused the reaction. “No, it’s nothing. Are we nearly there yet?”
Kate laughed. “You sound like one of my nephews. Who by the way, we will no doubt be expected to play football with tomorrow down the park.”
That’s if I don’t get hounded out of the Jarvis home for corrupting their daughter, considered Andrea. Again she thought it best not to give voice to her inner thoughts.
Kate turned up a hill that took them away from the seafront, but didn’t go far before she pulled into the drive of a typical 1930s detached house. It just looked like any other average family home. Strange to think this was where Kate grew up. Not that Andrea knew quite what she had been expecting. She supposed not everyone lived somewhere quite like she had as a girl.
“Come on,” said Kate, breaking her thoughts, “let’s just get inside for now, we can get the stuff from the boot in a moment.”
The pair of them made a dash for the door, splashing through the puddles collecting on the drive and sheltering under the small porch. Before they could knock the door was pulled open, the light from the hall spilling out over the front garden. The first thing Andrea noticed about Kate’s mother was her beaming smile. She immediately wrapped her arms round Kate who was ahead of Andrea and gave her a welcoming hug.
“Come in, come in,” she said enthusiastically, letting go enough to gesture them inside.
She was a small woman, perhaps a couple of inches shorter than Kate herself, but Andrea got the distinct impression the small frame harboured a big personality. She buzzed around them, eager to get their coats and get them inside. The warmth in the hallway compared to the chill, damp outside was marked.
“So aren’t you going to introduce us?” asked Kate’s mother as she took her daughter’s coat, her eyes glancing over at Andrea.
“Blimey, give me a chance, mother!”
Andrea found it strangely amusing watching Kate be bossed about by her mother. Having removed her scarf and hooked it over the coat rack just inside the door, Kate made the introductions.
“Mother this is Andrea, Andrea this is my mother.”
Andrea extended a hand, but found herself getting a hug similar to the one that had almost crushed Kate.
“Call me Grace.”
The younger woman wondered how long the friendly reception would last once Grace found out who Andrea really was.
“Why don’t you come through to the kitchen,” continued Grace with a smile, “I was just doing some baking.”
As they followed her up the short hall Andrea exchanged a brief look with Kate, wondering when she was going to broach the subject. Seeing the furtive look she got in response, she considered that maybe Kate was going to chicken out.
On entering the room at the back of the house, the smell of
some sort of cake baking assailed Andrea’s nostrils. It smelled a bit like the brownies
that her nanny, Nicolette, had used to make when she was a girl. They had been
a source of comfort many a time when she had been hiding out from her mother in
the kitchen, seeking the companionship of the hired help instead. That kitchen
couldn’t have been more different to the one she was in now. Andrea’s mother’s
kitchen was all stainless steel worktops and gleaming surfaces that didn’t look
as if they were ever utilised. All the pots and pans dangling around Grace’s
kitchen looked careworn, with a vast array of spices and ingredients
practically pushing their way out of the packed cupboards. Obviously Kate had
not inherited her mother’s cooking skills though. Andrea was lucky if her toast
was served un-burnt of a morning.
“You must want a coffee after that long journey,” Grace remarked to Kate, unhooking some mugs from a tree, “and you Andrea?”
“A tea, thank you.”
Grace beamed once more. “Ah, I like this girl. You can’t go
wrong with a nice brew.” She leant closer to Andrea, speaking in a stage
whisper. “Kate seems to think she lives in
Despite the un-subtleness of it, Kate hadn’t heard the remark, too busy poking her finger in a mixing bowl on the table in the centre of the room. She got a light smack on the back of her hand with a wooden spoon for her troubles. Andrea stifled a laugh as Kate indignantly pulled it back.
“You’re not too old for me to smack your bottom too if you stick you grubby fingers in my cooking again,” said Grace brandishing the spoon. The mischievous glint in her eye told Andrea the banter was purely playful.
Andrea’s initial impressions of Grace were reinforced as
they all took their drinks through to the living room. It was a fairly small room,
made even smaller by the large Christmas tree squashed into one corner. There
were a few other decorations adorning the room too, but nothing too showy. Sitting
on the sofa, Andrea took in her surroundings, spotting pictures of various
family members including a few of Kate in and out of uniform. She made a mental
note to study them in more detail when she got a chance. Meanwhile Grace was
the perfect host, making them feel relaxed and welcome as the chatted amiably. However, at no point in the friendly chit-chat
being exchanged did Kate even look like she was going to mention the real
nature of their relationship. Andrea sincerely hoped she wasn’t seriously
thinking of waiting until they were about to toast over the Christmas dinner the
next day. As Kate started to quiz her
mother about family Andrea couldn’t help stifling a yawn; it had been a long
journey down from
“Where are my manners! Gibbering on at you like this when you must be tired.”
Andrea tried to wave a dismissive hand but only succeeded in allowing another yawn to escape her lips. “I’m sorry, it’s been a long day,” she had to apologise.
“Don’t be silly.” Grace got to her feet. “I’ve made up one of the spare rooms for each of you.”
Andrea glanced to Kate as they both stood too. This is getting ridiculous. Either Kate better say something soon or she was going to. To hurry along the process Andrea gave Kate a surreptitious kick in the ankle.
……
Kate felt the kick to her foot and couldn’t help letting out an involuntary yelp. Immediately her mother’s eyes were on her.
“Are you all right Kate?”
“Yes…” said Kate, before seeing the look Andrea was shooting her. “No…there’s something I need to talk to you about. Maybe you’d better sit back down for a moment.”
Kate waited until her mother had sat back in the armchair, taking up her own seat perched on the edge of the sofa so she could face her. She felt much more anxious now than she had done at the Christmas party on the base. It was probably because she didn’t really care what those people thought. This was her mother though. She took a deep breath and ploughed on.
“I thought this would be better coming from me face to face, rather than over the phone…”
Her mother cut in straight away. “You’re not in any kind of trouble with the army again are you?”
Kate shook her head. If only. “No, nothing like that,” she said. “It’s a personal matter.”
“I didn’t realise you had a personal life these days,” noted her mother. “All that time you spend off doing secret things with the army, we’re lucky to see you from one Christmas to the next…”
“Mother.” Kate had to interrupt before the talkative woman went off on another tangent.
“Right, sorry, you had something to say.”
Kate cleared her throat before continuing. “When I said that Andrea was a friend, that’s not exactly accurate, she’s more than a friend.”
“I know.”
Kate’s heart was in her mouth. “You do?” she managed to croak out.
“Yes, she’s a colleague from your secret base.” Her mother looked to Andrea who was sitting quietly next to Kate. “Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone you’re here if it’s some big government secret.”
Kate sighed. “No, that’s not what I meant. She’s a lot more than a friend.” Why can’t I just come out and say it? Instead she hoped her mother would twig what she was intimating some point soon. To reinforce her point she decided to take Andrea’s hand and hold it on her thigh. “A whole lot more.”
Her mother’s eyes fell on the two joined hands, before coming up to first Kate’s and then Andrea’s faces. “Oh.” The single comment held the full weight of realisation.
Silence reigned for a moment. Where the room had seemed quietly cosy before, it now seemed oppressively stifling. Kate wished she had removed her jumper before coming in. She couldn’t quite read the expression on her mother’s face, apart from the obvious surprise on it. She felt her fingers being squeezed a little tighter. Either Andrea was trying to reassure her, or she was equally nervous and didn’t realise what she was doing. Kate hoped that she realised soon if it was the latter, before her fingers were crushed by super strength. Finally her mother found her voice.
“Er…so…um…” She seemed to be searching for something appropriate to say. Kate supposed it wasn’t the sort of conversation you planned for. “When did you decide you were a…”
Kate raised her eyebrows in encouragement, waiting to see if her mother could bring herself to finish the sentence and make what was unspoken real. Once it was said there was no going back. Seeing the look she was getting, her mother suddenly seemed to find her footing again, as if rising to the challenge.
“When did you decide you were a lesbian?” she asked without hesitation. Kate was thankful that the question seemed to be an honest enquiry rather than an accusation.
She gentled her voice to match. “Well, I don’t know if I class myself as one exactly,” she admitted, “but if you mean when did I decide that I was attracted to women, about the time I realised I was in love with Andrea.” She gave a small sideways glance to see Andrea smiling at her. Any doubts she had about this course were banished in that brief look.
“In love?” said her mother meanwhile, more surprise evident in her tone. As Kate turned back to her she saw that she was being inspected. Her mother even went as far to reach out and poke her with a single finger.
“What are you doing?”
“Just making sure it was really you,” said her mother, “because I was convinced you were far too obsessed with your career to spare time for anyone else, let alone for love.”
Kate shrugged. “Things change.”
“They certainly do.”
Kate still wasn’t quite sure what to make of the reaction. “You’re shocked,” she said, “I shouldn’t have dumped this on you, not now.”
“I’m a little surprised maybe, but it’s not every day your thirty-six year old daughter suddenly brings home their girlfriend for Christmas dinner!”
Kate felt a movement beside her. “I told you this was a bad idea,” whispered Andrea. “I should go.”
Kate didn’t get the chance to reply as her mother replied for her. “You keep your bottom on that sofa!”
Andrea did as she was told, probably as unsure as Kate where this was going. Both of them focussed back on Kate’s mother. Kate saw she was looking to Andrea for the first time since she’d made her announcement, addressing her rather than Kate.
“Yes, it’s a bit of a bolt from the blue, finding out Kate is that way inclined,” she said, her voice surprisingly gentle, “but that doesn’t mean you’re not welcome,” she added sincerely. Kate felt the relief starting to wash over her as she realised they were getting acceptance. “In fact anyone that can get her to display devotion to something other than her career is more than welcome!”
“You’re really all right with this?” checked Kate.
“Yes, I’m not that old and fusty! I do know such things happen, though not that often in