The Strangeness Within Pt. 05

"What abilities, Lukas?" Raj said uncomfortably. "Aside from your mathematical gifts, of course. You know I've never met anyone like you in that respect."

Raj was telling them he didn't trust Lukas.

"Not even this young girl, Esther? I saw the proof she managed on the exam. It was brilliant."

Raj shook his head. "She is brilliant, and for a while I wondered. But she had thought about the problem already. Given time she could be a truly superb mathematician. That is why Anatoly and I were so eager to have her come to Stanford. But I would pick you in a heartbeat, Lukas. It was the memory of losing you that led me to try to protect Esther from people I suspected might have hurt you. You could have accomplished miracles. I'm sure you still could."

Lukas gave Raj a sad smile.

"Perhaps, Raj. You always undervalued your own gifts, and I have admired your work from afar. In any case, my life has taken a different path, and mathematics is now merely an occasional hobby. The Unit figured out quickly what skills I had, the ones that gave me such success in mathematics. Raj, I find patterns. I can read immensely faster than anyone I've ever met, and all the facts are stored somewhere in my memory. My subconscious can find connections among these isolated facts and bring them to my attention in an uncanny way. Even I still don't understand how I do it. Like Janelle, I have excellent senses, and at times when I'm outside I can almost imagine I'm taking in the whole world's information directly, via the smallest disturbances in air and soil."

"You're the perfect intelligence analyst," Raj said slowly.

Lukas nodded. "I was terrifyingly effective, more so than any others in the Unit, even though they were collecting people like me. I dimly understood all this, but my days were filled with such a cornucopia of information, I had no time or interest in thinking of much beyond it. In truth, for the first few years I don't think Franklin needed much coercion to keep me on task. I was like a machine, running smoothly and happily, spitting out terse reports for the others."

"So what happened?" Javier asked.

"I'm not sure," said Lukas. "I like to think it was because I was too good at what I did. There was no way that Franklin could control my input enough when my entire day was spent absorbing facts about the real world. Parts of my subconscious connected larger truths about the way I was being used, and they triggered something in my older memories. Or perhaps it was just Franklin being careless. In any case, one morning I woke up and I realized I already knew how to escape, and that I had already decided to do it. A crossed alarm code here, a stolen uniform there, the timing precise throughout, and suddenly I was all alone in the outside world again. I would have taken them all with me if I could have."

"That's what you're doing, isn't it?" Kat asked. "Trying to get everyone out of there. Attacking the Unit's infrastructure."

"They must be stopped," Lukas said simply. "I will do everything necessary to do so. For the last four years I have been searching for any like us in the hopes they will join me. I've been accumulating resources and hampering the Unit's operations. For someone with my talents, money has not been difficult to acquire. But Franklin is a deadly adversary. He understood immediately how dangerous I might be, and over time he has become more desperate. I have nothing like his coercive power and I would never use it if I did. He has used his influence, even over those without special sensitivity, and he has expanded the Unit's resources massively. Most of their efforts are now aimed at me and any of those I might recruit. I am not sure I can win this conflict, and I need every advantage I can get. Therefore, I must ask you to tell me the truth. Where has Esther disappeared to?"

Raj, Kat, and Javier looked at each other nervously. Raj finally broke the silence.

"Do you know anything about an older woman? Someone who might have been looking for you years ago, around the time you disappeared? She contacted me when I was trying to find you, and said she also wanted to keep you safe. I believed her. I thought perhaps she was family."

A curious expression came on Lukas's face.

"Yes," he said slowly. "Yes. My memories of that time are hazy now. I thought perhaps I imagined her. She wanted me to come west. Of course. She is the one."

"The one?" Javier asked.

"As I have expanded my operations, something strange has happened," Lukas said. "The further west our agents go, the less success they meet in their tasks. The pattern has become obvious in the last year. There is someone subtly opposing my actions, someone whose influence is strongest in California. At first, I wondered if there was another branch of the Unit there, with someone as clever as I was. But the Unit has also had difficulties. Someone is intentionally keeping the conflict away, and I suspect it is this woman. She would have the power, if she reached me the way I seem to remember. Though I do not understand how she could have done that."

"She implied she could keep Esther safe," said Javier. "Esther disappeared and left a note saying she was with this woman. But we don't know where she is."

"I suspect I could find her if I had the resources to devote to it," Lukas said. "If she is protecting those like us, we are allies of a sort. But she may not be able to remain neutral. Raj, for the sake of what we once shared, I will believe you when you say she seemed trustworthy, and I will not ask what you may not have shared about her location. But if you can contact her, tell her about Franklin, if she does not already know. Try to convince her to join me against him. Because I will not allow myself to be hampered indefinitely."

The three of them were silent at the implied threat. Lukas sighed.

"You see what I have become, Raj. Perhaps you understand better why I didn't contact you."

Raj nodded. "Lukas, tell me this. If you defeat Franklin, and I think we both know what that might require, what will happen? What will you do after that?"

Lukas smiled. "Yes. Am I going to put myself in that man's place? The correct question, and the answer is: never. What I want is for those like me to be able to live their lives in peace. All of my efforts will go towards that, and I would be delighted if I could retire and pick up my hobby again. Perhaps that is too much to expect, but Franklin is an aberration. He may be unique in the world. At the least, there are none anywhere behaving so blatantly as he is. If he is removed, with time and watchfulness I believe the Unit will return to what it once was: a morally gray group of people who believe they are doing a necessary job. Not so different from any of the other intelligence agencies. Or, I hope, me."

"All right," said Raj. "A fair answer."

Lukas smiled. "Thank you, Raj. You know, I've missed you tremendously. You have always been so clear-minded. Would you be willing to spend a little time here? Just to talk mathematics, not politics. Like the good times. There are so many things I wish I'd told you back then."

Raj nodded. "They were good times, Lukas. I'm relieved that you're alive, and I understand why you didn't contact me. I've taken to heart everything you said, and I believe you and your motivations. But I think I'd best be getting back to California. With my friends."

* * *

"I'm surprised he trusted us with all that he did," said Kat. "Even that number to contact him."

The three of them were the only passengers on the jet this time. They huddled together near the back. Javier hardly believed any of it had really happened.

"I said I'd tell you everything anyway," said Raj. "And that you were as good as I was at keeping secrets. He's obviously dying to trust somebody. Poor Lukas. I can't imagine the emotional damage he suffered while being kept prisoner. He never found it easy to be close to anyone, and now he must feel terribly alone."

"Do you believe him?" Kat asked. "In this vast conspiracy? Hypnosis, whatever it is?"

"I believe he believes it," said Raj. "They did something to him for sure. The old Lukas would never have worked in a place like that. Whether it was a person or drugs or old-fashioned brainwashing, it hardly makes a difference to me. Something terrible happened. And I believe his description of his own abilities. He has a phenomenal mind."

"You didn't tell him about me, did you," said Javier. "He figured out it was me in Modesto within minutes of Geoff giving him a summary. And he knew all about how we were connected. Except Kat. I suppose he's not infallible. Anyway, I believe him about Franklin."

"And you didn't see what Janelle did," said Kat. "I've never seen anything like it."

Raj nodded. "Lukas has dangerous people working for him, and he utterly believes in his cause. A frightful combination, and yet it is hard to disagree with his motivations."

"He is what we guessed, then," said Javier. "An ally of sorts."

"Better to have him on our side than not," agreed Kat.

"I suppose," said Raj. "But there are always more sides than a first glance suggests."

..........................*** Chapter 30 ***...........................

It was past dinnertime when the taciturn driver stopped at Kat's apartment. Of course Lukas had worked out where she lived. It was terrifying to think how much information was packed into his head.

"Goodbye, Raj. We'll talk as usual, then?"

Raj nodded and waved tiredly as the car drove off. Kat and Javier stumbled up her apartment stairs to raid the fridge.

"I can't believe it's been just a day," Kat said as they ate. "I feel like shit."

"Let's blame Janelle for much of that."

"Yeah," said Kat. "What a fucking bully. Christ, she was terrifying, though. Do you believe her that she'd actually killed people?"

"I don't know," said Javier. "I hope not. God, I was sure she was going to kick me in the balls or something when I was naked."

Kat sighed. "That kind of physical vulnerability you felt? You get to live with that all the fucking time as a woman. It grinds you down."

"I can imagine," Javier said. "I'm so sorry, Kat. All of it was entirely my fault."

"And it got us more information than we ever could have hoped. Don't apologize, Javier. We came out all right. I just need a shower, and then some sleep."

Javier followed her lead. When he turned out the light and headed for the couch, Kat spoke up from the bed.

"You could join me here if you like," she said. "Like last night. I was so glad to have your company."

Javier swallowed. But she was right. It had been such a comfort to hold onto her for the night. Carefully he slipped into bed, lying on his back. Her body heat was already warming the covers. Kat moved closer, until her butt bumped his hip. She was curled up facing away from him, and it was pretty obvious what she wanted. He turned and spooned loosely against her, one arm resting on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Javier," she said. "I hope this isn't too strange."

"Who cares?" he said. "You're warm and it feels nice. I'll sleep a lot better this way. Tomorrow can't come soon enough."

She found his hand and squeezed it. "For sure. Good night, Javier."

* * *

There was a soft sound, and Javier opened his eyes slowly from an extremely erotic dream. His erection was pressing against something comfortable: Kat's ass.

She was shifting slightly in her sleep, and it was pressing her even harder against him. He was about to move when he heard the noise again. A tiny sigh. She was moving very gently, and he suddenly realized she wasn't asleep at all.

Something must have changed in his breathing, because she froze.

He moved his arm, tracing hers down toward her crotch. She quickly adjusted herself.

"No, keep going," he whispered.

With a low shudder, Kat moved her hand back. Javier stroked the muscles on her lower arm, and then he reached further down, sliding atop her wrist under her pajama bottoms. She moaned softly when his hand closed over hers, his fingers mingling with her juices.

He let her set the pace, stroking her fingers lightly and helping her rock against his dick. He snuggled against her, his nose against her shoulder, and half dozed as she worked herself more and more urgently, her fingers flicking quickly on either side of her clit. Finally she gasped and shook, and he held her tight through her orgasm.

When she fell still, Kat twined her fingers through his and pressed her butt against his erection. But he was happy just as they were. He fell asleep that way, holding her mound with her, and dreaming of Esther.

* * *

Javier sat up and yawned, swinging his feet over the side of the bed. Kat was in her pajamas, stumbling blearily around the kitchen to get the coffee going. Something tickled his memory and he reflexively sniffed his fingers.

It was Kat. They'd really done that last night.

"Hey sleepyhead," Kat said. She looked pretty damned happy. And she was doing a good job of ignoring the erection he knew was showing in his shorts. He stumbled off to the bathroom to preserve his modesty and eventually managed to use the toilet.

They sat at the little table and ate breakfast, not saying much. Kat kept looking at him, but he was too chicken to bring it up.

"You think we should forget about what happened last night? That'd be OK," said Kat easily.

Javier swallowed.

"No, I'd rather not," he said. "Because I really liked it."

"Oh, thank God. Me too," said Kat. "So, OK, it happened. I can't tell you how much I needed it. The whole time, I knew I shouldn't be doing it, and then when you woke up, I nearly died."

"Glad you didn't," said Javier. They shared a grin.

"All right," Kat said. "I have to hit the bathroom and take another shower. But you know, the door's open if you like. It's a big tub. No obligations either way."

Sure enough, Kat left the bathroom door open. With a last smile she turned away, undoing her buttons as she disappeared from sight.

When the shower started Javier sighed. He wasn't sure why he was hesitating. Probably it was Esther, but Kat understood about that better than anyone. He liked her, and when he thought about finally seeing her body, on their terms --

In the end he wasn't sure what decided it. But when Kat emerged from the bathroom, he was calm and happy. She smiled with only a hint of regret.

"So," she said. "Let's see if Raj left us any messages."

Javier and Kat,

I didn't talk about Esther on the plane, and probably you noticed how I directed Lukas's attention away from her. He thinks he's playing a game of chess, with everyone else as his pieces. I have no idea whether Esther has skills like Janelle or Lukas, but Lukas clearly guesses she might. I would much prefer it if he doesn't begin thinking of her as another piece.

I'm not sure what to make of his comments about the old woman. We agreed there was something unusual about the way she found Esther, and it seems consistent with Lukas's memories of her contact with him. I'm frankly inclined to trust the old woman over Lukas right now. With your permission, I'll send a letter to her P.O. box with everything we've discovered. I know Javier didn't want to worry Esther unnecessarily, but I think she's in danger from multiple sides now. I'll use our old encryption so that only Esther will be able to read the note, and she can decide what to tell the old woman.

I'm glad we learned what we did. I'm terribly upset that you two put yourselves in danger, but you're smart enough to have learned some caution from it.

Best,

Raj

"I hope she really is with the old woman," said Javier. "I hope she's still safe. I'd do anything to be sure of that."

They sent Raj a reply, and then Kat took Javier to the station for the long bus ride home. He'd deal with his abandoned shitty car the next time up.

"Tell me I didn't fuck things up between us, Javier," said Kat.

"No, I think we're good. But, just out of curiosity, do you think the door is still open? For another time, maybe?"

Kat smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Maybe," she said. "Better act quick, though, before I seduce some hot sorority girls."

* * *

Esther lay on the floor, her mind open, the gleaming threads swirling in the air surrounding her. It was the first time she'd gotten this far on her own. She could almost feel Javier lying beside her, his hands stroking her chest, marveling at the twisting structures above them both.

She could faintly sense the rug under her back. The chair a few feet away, with Abuela reclining in her own meditation. And then her point of view shifted, and she grasped it: the great bundle of connections that made up Abuela. A twist here, a breath, and she could perceive the unthinkably infinite connections between the two of them, most of them winking in and out of existence in an instant. But that still left an immense number of connections that could be bound together, joining her perceptions to Abuela's, until a new layer emerged: Abuela's own map.

For a while she simply held the connection, satisfied that she'd finally done so much. But she was having trouble understanding what Abuela was doing in her map. Perhaps Esther's perceptions were still too different from Abuela's. Finally her concentration wavered and everything disappeared except the rug, the pleasant wood smell.

She opened her eyes. Abuela seemed still within her meditation, but she was frowning, and her eyelids fluttered as though she dreamed. Esther had never seen her quite like this.

After a few minutes, Abuela mumbled something, and then shook her head slightly. But she didn't come back.

"Abuela," Esther said softly. There was no response.

For an instant she felt oddly queasy, and her vision flickered. Then Abuela frowned again.

"No, no," Abuela mumbled.

There was something wrong. Esther felt what had happened: Abuela had just used her powers, but without any focus. She jumped up and touched Abuela's shoulder.

"Come back, Abuela. You need to rest."

Abuela still didn't respond. Esther shook the old woman, but without effect. She was starting to panic.

Nicola was gone to town for a few more hours, and Mark was out hunting. Esther had to figure this out herself.

Carefully she lay down again and began her meditation. She couldn't possibly concentrate as well as she had earlier. But she felt her senses expand, and even if she was groping in the dark, she could remember enough of what she'd seen earlier. Abuela's complicated bundle of connections should be *there*, and if she pulled as hard as she could —

Abuela gasped softly, muttering something. Esther pulled again, and this time Abuela spoke clearly.

"That's enough, Esther. You have my attention."

Esther opened her eyes. Abuela looked confused and irritable.

"You weren't responding," Esther said guiltily. "I was desperate."

Abuela nodded slowly. "Tell me what transpired, and then perhaps you could get me some food. I feel terribly weak."

When Esther had finished, Abuela sighed heavily.

"My body is failing, Esther. These episodes have become much more frequent, and each time I recover less well. I fear I may not be able to use my abilities much longer, at least not the way I have been accustomed to."

Esther nodded and got up to get her some food.

"Well done, Esther," Abuela said. "Given how I shroud myself, I had suspected it might be impossible for another to seek and pull on me the way you just managed. And it would have been worse for me if you had not pulled me out."

..........................*** Chapter 31 ***...........................

Nicola and Esther looked up in surprise when Abuela entered the dining cabin. She moved slowly to the table and set down a few pieces of paper. Esther's pulse raced.