Harper showed up three days later. JJ actually was the one manning the compound’s security center and spotted her in a Jeep pulling up to the gates. While he had never met her, he’d seen the pictures circulated by the government, so he called me on the internal intercom while letting her through the gate remotely.
I was with Sarah and Astrid at the time, going over the most recent communications from the NYPD and the Connecticut state police, as well as Zone Defense and the attorney general’s office. They had been less than thrilled that we left the city and the state, but Sarah had provided video that Hannah had taken during the road chase.
JJ’s announcement brought our meeting to an instant close because I needed to greet her and there was no way Astrid was going to let me do that without her. Plus, Sarah herself wanted to meet her.
In fact, the whole compound turned out to welcome her or, in a few cases, meet her. When we got down to the front of the building, Harper was still sitting in her powered-down Jeep, just looking around at our new home.
“Hey Gunner Kid, nice military installation ya got here,” she said as soon as I appeared in the door of the main building. “Homesick for Zone Defense or what?”
“It’s kind of in the genetic code,” I said, giving her a quick hug, her sitting and me standing. A little awkward with Astrid standing right behind me. Harper ignored her for the first exchange but then shifted her eyes to my girlfriend and nodded. “Hey.”
“Welcome,” Astrid said, standing close enough that parts of her were touching parts of me. Ah, territory and the marking thereof. Awkward.
JJ arrived next, coming out of the same doors we had used. Thank you, God. Perfect timing.
“Harper, this is Astrid’s big brother, JJ. He’s an admirer of your work,” I said.
Harper’s eyes widened a bit at the sight of him, which is a pretty common female response. Then her face lit up in recognition. “You’re the one who went into the buildings? With the hammer?”
“No duh. That’s why they called him Thor,” Astrid said.
“Who called him Thor?” Harper asked, eyes still on JJ.
“The public, Harper. Astrid, she never saw the show. She probably saw you guys inside the Zone, in person, right Harp?” I asked.
“What?” Harper asked, shaking JJ’s hand. He was smiling at her, perhaps just a touch uncertain of himself and Harper hadn’t looked away yet. “Oh, yeah. You guys would pull up to stores and stuff and this one would get out in armor and knock the doors in with a sledgehammer. I think I saw you guys like twice. Once on Fifth Avenue, and once on Madison Avenue.”
“Ah, it’s really nice to meet you, Harper. Ajaya’s told me a lot about you,” JJ said. They were still shaking hands, far longer than convention required, if you asked me.
“Really?” Harper asked, glancing at me.
“Yeah, really?” Astrid asked, her brow furrowing as she recalculated the situation.
“Well, I was curious about you, because of all the neuroprothesis work he had mentioned. Fascinating stuff. He also said you were getting into fitness. I’m kind of into fitness myself,” he said.
“No way, you?” she said with pleasant snark, eyeing his muscular form with a sly grin.
Then the rest of everybody arrived. I made introductions to those people who hadn’t met her, like Brad, Martin, my grandparents, Sarah, and Hannah, then backed up a little, letting my mother take charge of the welcome. Harper responded with honest warmth to my mom, and the twins were even decently nice to her. I stepped back a bit more and bumped into Astrid, who leaned close, her breath tickling my ear. “I see what you did,” she said in a voice that sent a little shiver down my spine.
I shrugged. “He already had a little crush, I think. So when he asked questions, I just answered.”
“Smooth move, sniper boy,” she whispered, taking my hand in hers.
With the introductions over, the group started to disperse back to whatever they’d been doing before Harper’s arrival, leaving just Astrid, myself, Mom, and JJ.
“Ajaya, do you want to give Harper a tour?” Mom asked tentatively, eyeing Astrid’s hand in mine.
“Actually, Mom, I was going to ask JJ to cover the basics and help her haul her stuff to the rooms you and Aama prepared. Lunch is coming up in less than an hour and I thought I could give her the full tour after that, if that’s okay with everyone?”
“No problem, Ajaya. Glad to help,” JJ said, grabbing a suitcase in each hand and lifting them easily out of the back of the Jeep.
“If it’s no problem, Mrs. Gurung, that actually sounds great. A quick look around, then lunch would be perfect. I’m sure everyone has important things to do,” Harper said.
“Yeah, we’re just finishing up with Sarah. JJ, be sure to give her a glimpse of her computer lab,” I said.
“My computer lab?” Harper asked, surprised.
“Yeah, of course. What did you think we’d have you doing? Planting gardens?”
“Well, no, although I would like to learn about that stuff. And more about fighting and stuff. Even how to grow food.”
“Well, you’re in the perfect place, dear,” Mom said. “Between this motley collection, there’s quite a few skills. And my parents are both master gardeners. They’re always happy to have help.”