64
“Okay,” Aura said. “The library is closed. Let’s call this meeting to order.”
The Shines sat around a long book-sorting table in the basement. During the day, when people worked upstairs, they tried to remain quiet. Liking hiding out in Anne Frank’s annex, Twinge had groused.
“First order of business—”
“Who made you the leader?” Dream asked.
“Exactly. That is the first item on the agenda.”
“I don’t see why we need a leader,” Gearhead said. “Why can’t we all just do our own thing?”
“Because if we all do our own thing, we’ll all end up dead. We either hang together or we hang separately.”
“You don’t know that.”
“They tried to kill us. We only survived because we worked together.”
“They tried to kill someone,” Dream said. “I’m not sure they wanted to kill all of us.”
She put a fist on her hip. “Are you suggesting they were only after me?”
“I don’t know why anyone would be after me. I didn’t bring down the Space Needle.”
“That was not—”
“And if I’m right, just being around you puts us in danger. We’re potential collateral damage.”
Mnemo stood. “Are you forgetting that Aura saved our butts?”
“Actually,” Gearhead said, “you saved our butts, Mnemo.”
“Aura got us out of the firing line. Showed us how to function as a team. We owe her our lives.”
“Don’t go all Lifetime Channel on me,” Dream said. “You came up with most of the good ideas. Maybe you should be the leader. If we must have a leader.”
“I don’t want to be the leader.”
“Does Aura?”
She flustered. A good question. “I think we need a leader. It doesn’t have to be me.”
“I think it does,” Tank said. “Aura’s the only one who ever stood up for us when all those wipes back at the rehab tried to mess with our minds.”
“Ancient history,” Dream said.
“Important history,” Tank replied.
“I agree,” Mnemo echoed. “There’s more to being a leader than coming up with bright ideas. Part of it is being a symbol.”
“And what is it you think Aura symbolizes?” Dream asked.
“A new world. Where Shines aren’t ashamed or treated like second-class citizens. Where they stand up for their rights.” She inhaled, apparently steeling herself. “Where they use their abilities for good.”
“Do you know what you’re saying, girl?” Twinge asked. “You could be arrested just for thinking that.”
“Yeah, well, too late,” Mnemo replied. “Our Shines are the only reason we weren’t blown up or locked away in Mordock. We used our abilities and no innocents were hurt and no—forgive me, Aura—no national landmarks were leveled. We just did good. We should do it again.”
“This is getting way too treasonous for me,” Dream said. “That kind of talk could get us on the America’s Most Wanted list.”
“We’re already there,” Harriet said quietly.
Thank you very much. “Can you tell us anything else, Harriet? What’s going on in the world that concerns us?”
“I can’t get a signal any more.”
“That’s because of our ingenious electronic signal-dampening blanket,” Gearhead said, jumping in. “Mnemo and I got it up and running. Stole the parts from that electronics store near the In & Out. No one can detect us down here, not with any existing technology that I know about. But the blanket also blocks wireless signals. That’s why Harriet isn’t getting anything.”
“Maybe we can sneak her outside late at night. Disguise her.”
“Sounds risky to me,” Mnemo said. “And we’re getting off topic. We’re supposed to be picking a leader. It’s Aura. I don’t think there’s another choice. She’s a beautiful person.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a crush on her,” Dream said.
“Sounds like you’re jealous,” Tank said sotto voce.
“Could we please stay on topic?” Mnemo said. “Honestly. Have none of you read Robert’s Rules of Order? A motion has been made that Aura be elected our leader. Do I hear a second?”
“Second,” Twinge said.
“Any other candidates?”
No one spoke.
“Discussion?”
Didn’t seem to be any.
“Then we can take a vote of acclimation. All in favor.”
Some of them said Aye.
“All opposed?”
Silence.
“Good.” Mnemo sat down. “You’re the leader now, Aura. Take over.”
She pushed herself awkwardly to her feet. “Well…I’m not sure what to talk about first.”
“Explain your big master plan,” Dream said. “All leaders have big master plans, right? Tell us how you’re going to get us to freedom. To Ohm.” She snickered a moment. “And stop the people who are trying to kill us.”
“Yeah. That I don’t know. But here’s what I do know. When I went to Santa Monica, where Perfume…you know. Something was definitely not right.”
“Like what?”
“Like, for starters, Perfume wasn’t really a Shine. So even if Shines were dangerous—which they’re not—she couldn’t have blown up the joint. And if she didn’t…”
“Someone else did,” Twinge completed. “But who?”
“I can’t be sure. But I know who was there. Stirring up trouble.”
“The SSS.”
“Right. I want Gearhead to make reconnaissance runs. Scout out the SSS headquarters downtown.”
Mnemo sat up straight. “That’s too dangerous. She’ll get caught.”
“We’ll all get caught if we sit around not doing anything to help ourselves. We need intel. So let’s see if we can get some.”
“I’ll do it,” Gearhead said.
“Unacceptably risky,” Mnemo said, even louder than before.
“This is war,” Tank replied. “We can’t afford to be Safety Suzys in a war.”
“On a brighter note,” Gearhead said, “I have something for all of you.” She opened a small box and pulled out several pairs of lightweight e-glasses and wristwatches.
“These things are incredibly expensive,” Aura said. “Did you steal them?”
“I borrowed them. So I could improve them. We can return them later. If we must.” Gearhead distributed them to everyone in the group. “Harriet doesn’t need them to receive messages, of course, but she might want to send a verbal message. And there are several other apps I’ve packed into those glasses stems. More than just net and cloud connects. You’ve got GPS tracking with satellite capacity—but the readers themselves cannot be tracked. They leave no IP address. You got encrypted texting and calls. Completely untraceable. Universal computer access. I’ve given us all secure email addresses and a bulletin board where we can exchange messages. High-powered camera. Hell, you’ve even got a decent flashlight.”
“Corkscrew?” Dream asked.
“Working on that. Anyway, you should carry this stuff with you at all times.”
“I will.” As soon as I figure out how to use it. Tech was never her strong suit. “Thank you, Gearhead.”
“Thank Mnemo. She researched the specs. I just figured out how to retool them using bobby pins and watch batteries and whatever else I could find.”
“You two make a good team,” she commented.
Mnemo and Gearhead exchanged a glance but said nothing.
“Why do you both—” She stopped mid-sentence.
They heard something.
The sound of movement. Upstairs.
“Who would be in the library this time of night?” Dream whispered.
Someone who shouldn’t be, obviously.
More sounds. Steady movement.
No doubt about it. Those were footsteps. And they were drawing closer.
A door creaked.
Someone was in the stairwell.
“Defensive battle stations,” she whispered.
“Which are what?” Tank whispered back.
Yeah. Would’ve been better to work that out in advance. “Tank, you take point behind the stairwell door. Twinge, I want you to position yourself behind that tall stack of boxes to the left. If the intruder looks hostile, hit him with the worst case of piles he’s had in his life.”
“Eew.”
“Just do it. Gearhead, you got that weapon you’ve been working on?”
“Still just a prototype. Untested.”
“Be ready to test it. If necessary.”
“Understood.”
“Dream, scan his brain as soon as you can. See what you can learn. Mnemo, take cover in my office. We may need you later.”
“But—”
“And take Harriet with you.”
“Very well.”
Unbelievable. They actually listened to her.
The footsteps grew nearer. It would only be a matter of seconds.
She held her breath. Please don’t let me screw up my first official mission as duly elected leader.
And please don’t let it be our last mission.
Five, four, three, two…
The door opened noiselessly. A lone figure stepped out of the shadows.
She hadn’t been sure what to expect. More soldiers. Dr. Coutant. Cops. Could’ve been anything. But what she absolutely did not expect was—
A skinny Indian kid she’d known since grade school.
“Taj!”