Recursion Page 15

  So of all of the forward group who couldn’t self-extract only Villain-X had remained behind, out of range of his ride out of here. Maybe he’d been an intentional sacrifice, or maybe he’d just gotten high off the power of his boost, thought he could squash Grendel and me into red smears before joining his buddies or flying out by himself? What would Black—?

  I took deep breaths and didn’t burst into tears. I’d been doing that a lot in the past hour.

  Shell twitched. “Lei Zi is calling a meeting. All Sentinels, Veritas, everyone you brought in with you.”

  “What about security?”

  “There’s enough on-station Guardians now, and the DSA superhuman response team finally got here. They’ve camped in the Atrium.”

  When I arrived with my little Hillwood troop, right behind Kitsune, she gave me an indecipherable look before finding herself a seat. I stayed standing to stick with my impromptu “team.” Chakra excused herself from the meeting, staying in the infirmary with Dr. Beth to work on Rush’s legs. Flash Mob had shot both of them after Balz’ spheres dropped him. Rush belonged in a trauma center, but Lei Zi had vetoed moving him out of the Dome and into a civilian environment.

  “We’ve been attacked,” Lei Zi began with a look that took us all in, “by an enemy with full strength unknown. Blackstone is dead. Willis and Bob are dead along with most of our security Platoons. Rush is in critical condition. This was a cold-blooded massacre—Flash Mob killed all of our Dispatch people and as many civilians as possible. All who couldn’t hide or barricade themselves behind strong doors until rescue.” She folded her hands in front of her. “The situation is now secure and we have fulfilled our responsibilities to the injured. We are beyond exhausted, and what’s left can wait for another day. However, now, there is one order of business that must be seen to. That is the leadership.”

  Looking around again, she nodded at what she saw.

  “The Sentinels charter clearly lays out what happens in the event of the death or removal of the team leader. The field leader assumes the role until a new team leader is chosen by majority vote of the team’s full active and reserve membership. The charter stipulates that, in an emergency, selection and voting may be waved until it becomes practical. I do not believe that our current moment qualifies as a continuing emergency. We are not, at this moment, under attack. If I had years, or even months, of experience with this team, I would have the basis of trust and experience from which to act as both field and team leader. Since I don’t, I require an appointed team leader to take point when off the field and lead this team with me.”

  Holding up a hand, she waited for our shocked protests to die.

  “This isn’t negotiable, and I’m opening the floor for nominations. I’ve reached Artemis, and she is networked with us now so that all current members except Rush and Chakra may weigh in and cast their votes. Artemis, you are there?”

  “I’m on a DSA plane at three thousand feet,” Artemis answered through our earbuds. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Also, Blackstone briefed me on our three-year-older girl and I’m nominating Astra.”

  “Thank you.” Lei Zi had to raise her voice to be heard over the rising questions. “Astra has been nominated, and I second the nomination. Before I accept further nominations, you’ll all be read in on the situation which Artemis has referred to. Astra?”

  I’d sucked in a breath when Lei Zi’d summoned up Jacky. Since I’d “woken up” I’d gotten so used to thinking of Jacky’s New Orleans duty-tour as uninterruptable that I hadn't even considered that all this would bring her back. “Ma’am— Blackstone considered this is need-to-know— I nominate Quin, she should—”

  “I am not accepting other nominations yet, and everyone here needs to know your current situation.”

  “I—” I stared at Dad where he stood arms folded, an iron statue, and let out my breath when he nodded. He had no idea, but he trusted me. Feeling Chakra’s presence, grieving but fierce and full of approval, helped too. I nodded, pushing beyond my numbed thoughts to reach for the words.

  “Most of you here know—you know how I’ve been since the funerals. A few days ago, I began to act in ways atypical of my recent mental state and level of experience. My . . . depression disappeared. Some of my mannerisms, even my fighting style, changed. When—someone—brought all this to my attention, I recognized an anomalous memory. It was a memory of something that hadn’t happened yet. Working from that memory opened more, all at once.”

  I drew a deep breath, essayed a shaky smile. “Call me Future Girl. I’ve lived three years of experiences as Astra. And I fought the people who attacked us today. Repeatedly.”

  Lei Zi raised her hands to stop the flood of exclamations and questions.

  “Before we continue, I will say that when Blackstone briefed me on this, Chakra told me that Astra is not under any form of mental manipulation she can see. Dr. Mendel has also examined Astra before and after being told of the situation.”

  I started. I’d had no idea, but of course they would have gotten our team therapist’s opinion.

  “In Dr. Mendel’s professional opinion, only years of training and seasoning can account for the change. Also—” Lei Zi nodded to Veritas across the table. “Veritas confirms that in his interviews Astra has been entirely honest in her claims. Whatever has happened, in her mind she’s what she says she is—herself with three more years of vital experience.”

  “And you didn’t see this coming?” Quin asked the question for everyone.

  I shook my head. “No. Most of the people who attacked today, we’ll meet—we’d have met some of them—in a few months. A new Villains Inc. The others not for over a year, and none of them exactly like this. All of this is different.”

  “Are there other differences?” Dad asked, his low, hollow Iron Jack voice cutting through the flood of questions.

  “Yes. A few. I’m not sure about—since I got all my memories back I don’t remember this month like it happened last week, I remember it like it was three years ago. Some of the things I don’t remember I may just not have been paying attention to . . . back then. Three years ago, I mean.” I laughed shortly. “I’m sorry, it’s just so confusing to talk about. For me it’s been three years since the state funerals. I remember doing—all of us did so much since then. I’m missing people who aren’t here yet, or who aren’t the way they’re going to be yet. Lei Zi, I’m not—”

  “You weren't. Now? I’ve read Veritas’ file. You became the public face of the Sentinels. You saved the whole country, once. That’s certainly a milestone. You went reality hopping by accident and used the opportunity to form your own scratch-team to bring back vital intelligence. You became field leader of your own Young Sentinels team and three of them are here with you now.”

  She shrugged. “But that’s just memories—tonight you went from a standing start hundreds of miles away and a hint of something wrong, to drop into the fight with heavy backup in minutes. I've seen experienced officers do worse. Did I miss any highlights?”

  “But the public—”

  “The public will learn what we decide they need to learn. Right now, for this fight, the team needs your experiences and your experience. I’m opening the floor for further discussion. Does anyone wish to consider further nominations?”

  Quin raised her hand. “I move to close the floor to further nominations and call a vote on Astra’s nomination.”

  “Does anyone second The Harlequin’s motion?”

  “Hell, yeah.” Riptide turned his head and spat. “The girl fought these pendejos, we need to put them all in graves. Yeah, I second. Get on with it.”

  “Motioned and seconded. All in favor?” Dad, Lei Zi, Seven, Riptide, Quin, Vulcan, every Sentinel hand in the room but mine went up. “In favor,” Artemis called over her line. Lei Zi nodded. “Chakra is also in favor. Opposed?” My hand froze halfway up from my side. “Let the record show that, with one abstention, all present voted in favor of the motion. Astra? Meetings are c
haired by the team leader. The floor is yours.”

  Fortunately, Shell’s “Holy shit!” was for my ears only.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “People who enjoy meetings shouldn’t be in charge of anything. Blackstone led because he knew someone needed to point everyone else in the same direction, but he coached, inspired, led by expectation and example. He didn’t manage. He left big, polished, wingtip shoes to fill.

  From the Journal of Hope Corrigan.

  * * *

  “All of you suck. I can't believe you're doing this.” I licked dry lips, trying to unfreeze my thoughts. This wasn’t a nightmare, wasn’t a hallucination, I wasn’t going to suddenly wake up. “Veritas, how deep is DSA involvement in this now?”

  He tapped his lips with his shades, gray eyes measuring me. “Since one of the suspects is very likely a wanted terrorist, the Director has declared the attack a national security concern. What do you need?”

  “We’ve lost most of our Dome security force.” New Tom, Laconic Bob, Willis . . . I blinked but my eyes stayed dry. “Can you fill it with agents from the local office, maybe US Marshals if needed until we re-staff?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you. Everyone, Dome security, Dispatch signals integrity, all of our systems except Vulcan’s downstairs have been completely compromised. I’ve seen—Future Me’s seen Phreak’s attacks before, and fixing it means complete shut-down and isolation of our system network, teams of techs pulling cables, running diagnostics on our hard drives, everything. If you’re wondering, right now everything currently back up is being run by the one person I know who can counter Phreak’s cyber-warfare. Jacky’s met her, and Blackstone knew about her. Shell, main screen please. Say hello.” I held my breath, let it out when the big screen went live with Shell’s freckled face.

  She waved shyly. “Hi, everybody! And Hope, really, ‘All of you suck?’ What happened to ‘I’m very grateful for the amazing opportunity to be working with all of you?’”

  I groaned as the laughter swept around the table. Dad was the only one who didn’t join in. He looked stunned, but nodded at my mouthed later. “Everyone, this is my friend Shell—short for Shelly; she answers to either. She’s a twenty-second century quantum-ghost, and the two of us are neurally linked. We’ve been linked since the Whittier Base Attack, and she’s the one who spotted my . . . changes. Shell, I need you to secure the Dome network until it can be purged or replaced. Suborn every system you need to, nothing is off limits. When Phreak hits us again, I want him to meet you.”

  Shell saluted with a laugh. “Yes, ma’am! I’m the very model of a quantum-frame computer! Hack-proof! He can bring it!”

  Shell’s antics brought a chuckle from the room and I relaxed a little. “Also, as Lei Zi said we’re down all of our first-string Dispatch people.” David, broken and still, staring. I closed my eyes, opened them. “Everyone, if you’ll trust her then Shell can serve as the Dispatch hub until we can rebuild and re-staff there as well.”

  Shell gave us two-thumbs-up, suddenly wearing a Dispatch headset. “Rodger-dodger, and ready to fulfill all your Dispatch needs!”

  I rubbed my brow. “Vulcan? In my future Shell becomes a remote pilot for your Galatea program. She’s very good at it. Could you consider how you can implement some part of that program now?”

  He nodded, looking startled. He’d spent the attack isolated in The Pit, locked in by the system-wide shutdown. Designed as a shielded and hermetically sealable environment just in case his polymorphic molecules turned into something nasty, it was effectively a fortress of its own.

  “Quin, the press is yours. You decide what gets released and what doesn’t. Kitsune? I’ll meet you in my office in a few minutes. I don’t know where that is yet—ask Shell, she’ll pick us a spot. Lei Zi? I’ll have an updated roster to you shortly.”

  “Of course.”

  I looked around.

  “That’s it for now. You know our after-action protocols, so let’s get to them. Artemis? Get here faster. Thank you, everyone. I’ll be speaking to most of you individually later, but right now I need to see to our Hillwood visitors.”

  I stayed where I was as everyone else left. I was practically vibrating with anxiety and tension and . . . the need to not start crying again, and if I moved then it would be obvious. Once it was down to the Hillwood group I collapsed into a chair, putting my head back to stare at the ceiling. “Everyone have a seat, and give me a minute?” I allowed myself a few breaths, listening to my heart, before straightening up and looking at my Hillwood Team.

  The kids still wore their Hillwood uniforms, but we’d found them Sentinels jackets from the Dome Gift Shop to wear over their thinner school blazers. Myst sat curled on Alecia’s shoulder. Both Nox and Nix had followed Ozma through the mirror, and I smiled to see Nix on Grendel’s shoulder. Nox stood balanced on the back of Ozma’s chair, a tiny murderous Goth-ninja ready to cut anyone who took liberties with his princess. Brandon and Alecia looked a little shell-shocked, but If-Man sat watching me with an open face and a smile; not expectant, just waiting in a good-humored sort of way.

  I smiled back and sighed. Shell had peeked at some files and figured out what had happened back at the mirror. Alecia was a thought-form projector; her animations were a part of her psyche. Alecia had wanted to help, so impulsive little Myst had too and he’d followed. Alecia could have let her little friend go alone. . . .

  I studied the young brown-haired girl, snorted. Nope. The idea probably hadn’t crossed her mind. And If-Man wasn’t about to let a student run towards danger; he’d gone right in after her. Brandon had followed Alecia because, well, he was a high school boy watching a pretty girl run headlong towards danger. What else was he supposed to do?

  “You’ve spoken to the Headmaster?” I asked If-Man.

  He laughed. “The Headmaster spoke to me. A lot. The school’s scheduled a flight back leaving in an hour.”

  I nodded. “Thank’s for your help. Everyone. And I mean that sincerely. But.” I straightened up, game face on. “Lei Zi said that three of my fellow Young Sentinels were already here. Shell is one of them. Ozma and Grendel are the other two, and I need them here now. If they’re willing.”

  * * *

  If-Man said no. Of course he said no. Shell pointed out that while Ozma and Brian were only third years they couldn’t be required to return to Hillwood, or to any school for that matter. Called, the Headmaster said Hillwood could expel them if they didn’t return. Ozma sweetly suggested that expulsion would be unwise. Brian kept his mouth shut, but I knew he wasn’t going anywhere; I’d named the Ascendant as his family’s killer, and he wasn’t going to miss a chance to rip him into pieces too small to identify outside of a lab. His target being a mass-murdering breakthrough supremacist supervillain, I couldn’t disagree with his ambition. Though I’d try to thwart it; I wasn’t going to let Brian become a murderer.

  Negotiations complete—Ozma and Brian were on a “field-study” outing and had to be back in a week—Shell put on a bellhop’s outfit and issued out Dome epads to direct them to their guest rooms. I walked If-Man, Brandon, and Alecia out and upstairs where a car waited for them. A car with a police and DSA escort that would make sure they got to the airport quickly and safely.

  I stopped them at the doors before handing them over, shook If-Man and Brian’s hands, and hugged Alecia.

  “You guys, what you did tonight? You might not think that you made a difference, but you did. My speech today—Atlas and Ajax would have liked you. A lot. But this—” I waved my hand at the shattered Atrium. “This isn’t . . .”

  “We know, we heard what you said.” Brandon finished for me.

  Alecia nodded. “This isn’t what superheroing is about. Right?”

  “Not mostly. It’s just, helping. The greater good, arête. Well, that and the costumes!” I added cheerfully, hugging her again. Myst nipped at my wig. “If you need to talk about anything you saw tonight, anything, you know, just call. Now fly sa
fe!”

  Getting out of the way of the doors, I let them join their waiting escorts. When they disappeared into the night I took a breath and headed back downstairs. “Shell, have you got me an office?”

  “And a kitsune to go with it. On the Base Level.” When I stepped out of the elevator and turned past Laconic Bob’s wrecked lobby station she highlighted a door at the end of the hall.

  “She’s in there?”

  “Yup.”

  “Good.” I opened the door to the room next to it. A supply closet. Good enough. Closing the door behind me, I sat on a box of cleaning stuff, tucked my cape around me, and put my head on my knees.

  “Hope?”

  “Hmm?”

  “What are you doing?”

  I sniffed. “I’m not crying, throwing up, screaming, or flying to Australia. Australia’s nice this time of year. No snow.”

  “Oh. Okay . . . I mean, yeah, no snow, but they’ve got these enormous toxic spiders and, you know, sharks and . . .”

  I choked on a laugh, raised my head. “Thanks, Shell. Check with Veritas? If Flash Mob recognized Eric in the fight then Agent G’s at risk, and he’d be more useful here if Veritas will let us have him. We can use Black Powder, too. Ask Ambrosius if he’d be willing to sign on with us for a bit. If they’re good with it, put them on the roster. Brian and Ozma, too. Also, ask Eric if he’s willing to help us some more. Tell him I’ll talk with him about it if he’s not sure he can. Veritas needs to vet him. Also, see if Jack Frost will let us borrow him for a few days—his cold power would be ideal against Swarm. Oh—and look up Blackstone’s emergency reserve list and call Sifu.” I wiped my nose. “You haven’t met him yet, but we need a fieldable speedster. Then get the modified roster to Lei Zi.”

  “Got it. Anything else?”

  “No. Just . . . give me a minute?”