The Mutant Prime (30 page)

The sleek yellow taxi sped past the towering gray eucalyptus grove that marked the entrance to the Dream Haven cemetery. Engine whirring, it pulled into the parking area and stopped. Michael climbed out.

A group of mourners clad in somber tones was already assembled around the gravesite. He could pick out his mother, his brother, and even gray-haired Rebekah Terling dressed in the purple robes. But who was that standing to one side—the muscular man with long hair caught back in a ponytail? Skerry? And a tall, angular woman stood with him, holding his hand. Her skin was a strange, silvery-green hue. Next to them was a Japanese nonmutant with his arm around a young, dark-haired woman. Was that Melanie?

As Michael hurried over, his sister looked up, spotted him, and waved happily. Her eyes glittered with unmasked mutant gold.

“Michael!” She threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad to see you.”

He hugged her. Hard. “Did you get my message?”

“Uh, not exactly,” she said, and exchanged a quick, private smile with the Japanese man at her side. “But at least I got here. I was beginning to think
you
weren’t going to make it. Mom said something about you being arrested?”

“Yeah. But thanks to Senator Greenberg, I paid my fine and got out in time for the funeral.” Michael shook his head in relief. “I was preparing myself to rot in some Mendocino jail cell. Then Andie’s lawyer showed up.”

“As the saying goes, better late than never,” said a warm female voice.

The face was familiar. The dark red hair pulled back in a severe chignon, save for a few loose strands. The warm hazel eyes, surrounded by a few lines now. The body, thickening a bit but fashionably clothed in a tailored fur coat and ivory silk suit.

“Andie!” Michael grabbed her hand and awkwardly pulled her into his arms for a quick, grateful embrace.

“Down, tiger.” Andie chuckled. “I’m glad to see that Douglas got you here in time.”

“He said he’d see you back in the office.”

“Now
he’s
a workaholic.” Andie patted her hair self-consciously. “And you must be the famous Melanie.” She reached out and took her hand. “I’m glad to meet you, finally.”

“Finally?”

“Oh, don’t look confused. You don’t know me, really. But I know you. I’m Andie Greenberg. A friend of your late father’s. And your brother’s.”

“No wonder you rescued him,” Melanie said. She tugged the Japanese man forward. “This is Yosh. Yosh Akimura. My fiancé.”

“Your fiancé!” Michael cried.

“Close your mouth and congratulate your sister,” Andie said. “I think it’s marvelous, Melanie. I recommend marriage highly. And while we’re discussing life planning, Michael, I want you to come see me in Washington. I understand you’re taking a small vacation. There are some people I can introduce you to on the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee. …”

“Andie, are you suggesting I become a part-time lobbyist?”

She smiled slyly. “I never said that. But come see me and …” Her voice trailed off as something caught her eye. The smile faded and a strange expression came over her face, one of recognition and nostalgia.

“Andie?” Michael touched her shoulder gently.

“I’m sorry,” she said. Her cheeks were red. “Would you excuse me? I see another old friend, and I’d better catch him before he disappears. Literally.” With a determined air, she set out toward Skerry.

Michael rounded on his sister.

“Marriage? Does Mom know?” he demanded.

“Yeah. But I haven’t announced it to the Council yet.” Melanie watched with obvious interest as Skerry enveloped Andie in a bear hug. “Was that
the
Senator Andrea Greenberg?”

“Of course.”

“I didn’t know you were such buddies. Gods, she’d make a great interview. Of course, I don’t know if I’ve still got a job—”

“Worry about that after the funeral.” Michael turned to Yosh. “Welcome to the family. Any fiancé of my sister’s is welcome.”

Yosh grinned. “Hope you feel that way after you get to know me.”

“Where’s Jena and Herra?”

“Probably fixing their hair one more time,” Melanie said with a malicious grin. “No, there they are. Near Mom.” She hesitated. “And Michael? Kelly’s here, too.”

“Good.”

Melanie gave him a strange look.

“We’ll talk later,” he said. “Come on. I’m sure Rebekah wants to get started.”

With Melanie and Yosh in tow, Michael took his place near his mother, behind his wife and daughter. He spied Kelly at the back of the crowd. She was dressed unobtrusively in a dark blue suit.

Rebekah held up her hands for silence and the crowd leaned in toward her. Opening the Book, she began to chant in her resonant alto voice.

The community is a circle

moving from birth to death

to birth.

Each life is a circle.

We grieve with each loss.

We rejoice with each death,

for the end and beginning are linked,

always, in our community.

Slowly, she closed the Book.

“Friends, we have come through a hard time,” she said. “A dangerous time. James Ryton left us before the danger was past, but his passing has brought us together so that we may celebrate the freedom from fear, from false supermen and supermutants. Please join hands for a sharing in thanksgiving at our deliverance.”

The groupmind took hold of each one there, mutant and nonmutant, floating them out of the lonely prison of their private thoughts into the warm, honeyed community of sharing. Each pain was eased, every thorny memory softened for the moment. Here was love. Understanding. Acceptance.

Together, they floated in harmony a moment longer before the sharing ended. Then silently, they all slid back into their own private concerns. But less alone. Less troubled.

“In James Ryton’s name, let us give thanks,” Rebekah said. “And let us go forth with hope—”

“I demand the right of hearing,” Skerry said, cutting off the Book Keeper in midsentence. Around him, the clan whispered, stunned by his outburst. Rebekah stared at him reproachfully.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Book Keeper,” he said formally. “But I demand the right of meeting.”

“Is it so urgent, Skerry?” Rebekah’s voice was soft.

“Yes.”

“Then right is granted. A plenary council meeting is called. All mutants come to the Dream Haven Council Rooms in ten minutes.”

The crowd dispersed slowly as some clan members moved toward the main buildings and others unable to stay straggled toward their skimmers. Somehow, in the confusion, Andie found Michael.

“I can see Skerry hasn’t changed much.” She rolled her eyes in affectionate exasperation. “I’d love to see what he’s going to pull, but I’m afraid I’ve got to leave.”

“Can’t you at least stay for the meeting?”

“Sorry. Wish I could. But duty calls.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t forget my invitation. Come see me. Soon.”

He held her hand for one moment more. “I will. And Andie, thank you. For everything.”

With a wave, she was gone.

“Michael, hurry up,” Jena said, coming up behind him. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to get seats together.” Herra stood next to her with a sulky expression on her face. Their blond hair sparkled with white gold in the sunlight. They wore matching blue silk tunics. They could have been twins, he thought.

“You go ahead and save me a seat,” he told her. “I really should say goodbye to a few people.”

“All right. But make it quick.” She nodded at her daughter, and together they walked into the building.

Mike searched for Kelly. The crowd was thinning fast, mutants hurrying down the hill toward the meeting hall. No sign of her near the building. Hold on. By the skimmer port. A slim blue figure in high heels with dark hair walking toward a gray sedan.

“Kelly! Wait.” Michael raced toward her. A couple of mutant cousins turned to stare. He didn’t care.

He caught her as she was closing the door of her rental skimmer. With telekinetic force, he held the door half-open. She tugged at it in vain, then looked up.

“I should have known it was you,” she said. She looked half-chagrined and half-amused.

“Where are you going?”

“Back to Armstrong. My leave’s just about finished.”

Quick, think of something. Don’t let her go. Michael’s head began to pound.

“Look,” he said. “I realize it’s inconvenient, but could you wait just until this meeting is over? It won’t take long, and I’ve got to go back to Armstrong for the rest of the hearing. I’d really appreciate it if you could give me a lift.”

She frowned. “I don’t know …”

“It won’t take long.” Please, Kelly, he thought. Say yes. “Why don’t you have lunch in Mendocino and meet me back here at one o’clock?”

“If you’re sure you want to do that.”

“Positive.”

“All right.” She turned away, gripped the door handle, then turned back to stare at him. “Michael, do you feel all right?”

“Yeah. Fine. See you at one.” He turned and scrambled down the green hillside toward the council chamber.

The room was paneled in silvery weathered redwood, which had been stenciled with holo patterns of the constellations. There was a seat waiting for him next to Jena. He slid into it quickly and gazed around the broad table. His entire family was here. Even Yosh with Melanie.

“All come to order,” Rebekah said. “We are meeting at Skerry’s request. Cousin, you have the floor.”

“Thanks, Bekah. I want to wrap up a few things before I say adieu to Mutant Council business for good.” Skerry stood up. His black leather jacket reflected the glow of the holo pattens on the wall behind him. “I’m getting too old for the kind of high wire act I just went through. This is my official resignation as unofficial clan troubleshooter.” He leaned forward, palms pressed upon the table. “I mean it, folks.”

“You’re referring to the death of Victor Ashman, the supermutant?” Torey Summers said.

“The so-called supermutant,” Skerry replied acidly. “We had a quick analysis done of Narlydda’s blood after Ashman had injected her with some special serum. Among other things, there were traces of trioxpanphetamine keyed to heighten metabolic processes.”

“Trioxpanphetamine?”

“In simple English, cousins, Victor Ashman was hopped up on speed. A special kind of speed that was designed to enhance mutant powers. My guess is, he was a multitalent outcast whose latent skills were superenhanced by this stuff.”

“You sound pretty certain about this,” said Chemen Astori. “I didn’t think you had much background as a chemist.”

“I don’t.” Skerry’s eyes flashed angrily. “But something my cousin Michael told me convinced me that Ashman was not a real ‘ubermutant.’ When we were trapped in the domeroom with Ashman, he was trying to kill everybody, except maybe Narlydda. And he damned near succeeded, too. Until that shuttle showed up.”

Melanie leaned forward eagerly. “That’s right,” she said. “He was cloaking himself in an esper shield. We couldn’t even see him. I remember how frustrated I was—I had a gun, and no target to aim at. Then he materialized just as the shuttle radioed its position. He seemed kind of surprised. And another thing. His eyes were funny. They weren’t silver anymore. They turned gold. Regular mutant gold.”

“Exactly,” Skerry said. “Mike told me that a multitalent can only maintain the coextension of his powers for so long before one of them weakens. So Ashman could support his shield, try to choke me, and subdue at least three other people with ease. But he couldn’t do that
and
fight off a space shuttle at the same time. The key was to overbalance him, pile the weight on until his arms started shaking.”

“Assuming this is true, and not just another of your wild stories, where would he have gotten such a drug?” Astori demanded.

“From our old friend, the late Dr. Sarnoff. With a little assist from Emory Laboratories.”

“How could Tavia Emory have gotten involved in this kind of thing?” Rebekah said.

Skerry shrugged. “That lady wanted to be a mutant. Maybe she hoped to inject herself.”

“No. I don’t think so,” Narlydda said. “I think she truly believed she was helping to create a marvel. She saw the supermutant as a perfect human being—a saint, really. Her intentions were good. Not that it matters now.”

“What about Ashman’s corpse?” Astori asked.

“Recovered by the military,” Skerry said. “After they’re finished with the official autopsy, I’m sure the Mutant Council could have it for the asking.”

“Skerry,” Rebekah said. “Thank you. For all of us, inside the community and out.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank Melanie.” He nodded across the table. “And Narlydda. Without them, I’d have been dead. Or a vegetable. Which is why I want to quit while I’m ahead. Take some time off for what counts. Maybe do a little finger painting.” He smiled at Narlydda. Then he stood up and walked around the table. “And while we’re on the subject of billing and cooing …” He stopped behind Melanie’s chair. “I think we should acknowledge that our cousin Melanie has returned to the fold, bringing her husband-to-be with her. Everybody, say hello to Yosh Akimura.” He put his hand on Yosh’s shoulder and nodded. “Yosh, say howdy to your new mutant cousins.”