They teleported back to Atlantis as fast as they could. Not only would Iva and Heidi be climbing the walls waiting, Benjamin wanted to get Phoebe away from here before she changed her mind. Who knew what she’d been through the last couple weeks? Life with Nathan had to be worse than death. They teleported back to the hotel, and found Heidi and Iva outside by the pond. Just as Benjamin turned to the water, he saw a large tail disappear under the surface.
“What’s that?” he asked.
Heidi cocked her head and looked at him. He felt like walking over and kissing her, but decided against it. There were just so many people around.
“Some kind of Loch Ness Monster thing,” she said.
“Genetically engineered?” Cory asked.
“Without Gary here to confirm it, no one will ever know,” Iva said.
Andy walked over to Iva and gave her a huge hug and a more than embarrassing kiss. Benjamin’s face flushed as he looked away. He felt even more stupid now, unsure how he should have greeted Heidi. So he just stood there in place.
“Looks like you guys brought someone back,” Heidi said, walking over to Phoebe. “I’m Heidi Dylan. And you must be Benjamin and Cory’s sister.”
“I’m Phoebe.” Her mouth twitched like she was trying to smile but couldn’t quite let herself.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Iva said. “We’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
Phoebe let a smile escape this time, even if it was tinged with sarcasm. “That’s funny, because I’ve been looking for Benjamin and Cory most of my life, too.”
“Then why was it so hard for us to find you?” Iva asked. “We scanned the earth for your DNA more times than I even want to count.”
“DNA masking,” Phoebe said as if that explained everything. But seeing the blank expressions on everyone’s faces, she continued. “The shields could genetically filter out key DNA elements from being transmitted. It’s an old family secret.”
“Once again,” Andy said. “More of a conversation for Gary.” He looked around. “Don’t tell me he’s still at GERC.”
“GERC!” Phoebe said. “You don’t mean—”
Andy nodded. “The genetic place. I can’t stand to say the name.”
“What’s he doing there?” Phoebe asked. “Nobody’s supposed to go near GERC without proper clearance.”
“According to the old government,” Andy said. “The new government issued Gary and Aurora security passes. And that’s where they’ve been ever since.”
“No, you don’t get it,” Phoebe said as her eyes opened wide. “They keep all sorts of dangerous mutations there. Your friends could be in serious danger.”
“Phoebe,” Benjamin said. “We’ve been there ourselves. There aren’t any dangerous mutations. But I know why people were told to stay away from GERC.”
“Because they could get killed,” Phoebe said. “That’s why.”
Benjamin shook his head. “No. It’s because of a secret Atlantis has been hiding there for two hundred thousand years.”
Phoebe whirled on him. “What secret?”
“The secret that humans are genetically engineered,” Benjamin said.
Phoebe laughed. “That’s ridiculous. They were not.”
Cory nodded his head. “I saw it, too. It’s all right there in a hidden lab. Humans are just telegens bred with no telenergetic powers.”
“But that’s just plain wrong,” Phoebe said. “Humans will someday evolve to be like us, and that’s why until then, they need our guidance so they learn to properly use their powers.”
Benjamin couldn’t stop from rolling his eyes. “You are so brainwashed. Humans don’t need guidance. They need to be left alone.”
“Left alone,” Phoebe said. “Look at history. Before Atlantis stepped in to help humans, the world was in chaos. It was out of the kindness and mercy of Atlantis that humans were ever able to break out of their warring patterns and actually begin to lead civilized lives.”
“False gods and goddesses from Atlantis caused all the problems in the first place,” Andy said.
“If that’s the case, then why is the human world in such chaos now?” Phoebe asked. “After thousands of years without Atlantian involvement.”
“Because there has been involvement from Atlantis,” Andy said. “You know as well as I do that the shield didn’t hold everyone in. Atlantis brewed discord on Earth for ages.”
“That’s just not true,” Phoebe said.
“Don’t even try to lie,” Andy said. “Humans would be way better off if Atlantis had never been involved with them in the first place.”
“Well, technically, that’s not really true,” Heidi said. “If Atlantis had never been involved in the first place, humans wouldn’t even exist. Right?”
Andy opened his mouth to reply, but shut it. Benjamin almost busted out laughing. Heidi was absolutely right. Since humans had been genetically engineered, Earth wouldn’t even have them if it weren’t for Atlantis. Heck—there might have still been Neanderthals roaming the earth.
“Why don’t we drop the subject,” Cory suggested. “It’s probably time to make a few more introductions.”
“I don’t know why we have to go,” Phoebe said as they walked the distance to the Ruling Hall. “I know what the place is like. I grew up there.”
“You need to meet Joey and Selene,” Benjamin said.
“Right,” Cory said. “And isn’t there anything you need to get?”
“Yeah,” Benjamin said. “Like a toothbrush or favorite killing implement?”
Phoebe ignored the intended joke. “Maybe.” But from the way she avoided the subject, Benjamin didn’t push it.
They stopped in the throne room first, and if Benjamin hadn’t known better, he would have sworn Joey Duncan was stressed out. He had his hair, which normally was pulled back in a pony-tail, hanging into his face, and he stood over a huge table staring downward.
“Are you staying out of trouble?” Cory asked as they walked in.
Joey and Selene looked up from the table; Joey’s usual smile was missing, and Selene had circles under her eyes the size of galaxies. Even Lulu kept her standard sarcastic comments tucked away.
“Hardly,” Joey said. “Look at this.” He motioned for them to come over to the table.
Benjamin walked over with Cory and Phoebe trailing behind. On the table, a large map had been spread out, and Benjamin realized it was a geodine of sorts—animated and constantly changing and shifting. The coasts of California were lit up, blinking red.
“What’s wrong with California?” Benjamin asked.
Joey leaned back, and pushed his hair behind his ears. “It’s on earthquake alert. We’ve been trying to find a way to stop it all morning, but frankly, we’ve run of ideas.”
“Have you telekinetically strengthened the surface of the ground?” Cory asked. “Just a small increase in strength could make a big difference.”
Selene sighed. “It was the first thing we tried. It actually made things worse. The earthquake will hit two hours earlier now.”
“Can you evacuate everyone there?” Benjamin asked. “Otherwise, won’t lots of people die?”
Joey shook his head. “Even if we’d started first thing this morning, those kinds of massive teleportations would take days to orchestrate.” He took a deep breath. “No, teleportation is out.”
“Why don’t you just visit the plate-tectonics room and level out the plates from underneath?” Phoebe suggested.
Benjamin turned to look at her. He’d almost forgotten she’d come along. He’d been so caught up in what Joey and Selene were saying.
“The what?” Joey asked.
“The plate-tectonics room,” Phoebe repeated. “It’s what we always did when we wanted to control the plates under the surface of the earth.”
“Who are you?” Joey asked, but then shook his head. “Actually, I don’t want to know right now. All I care about is getting this California thing under control before the next catastrophe strikes. Can you lead the way to this plate-tectonics room?”
“Sure. Follow me,” Phoebe said.
After an hour in the plate-tectonics room, California was safe—at least from the impending earthquake.
“Who did you say you were?” Joey asked as they walked back up the steps leading to the throne room.
“This is Phoebe,” Benjamin said. “She’s our sister.”
Joey raised an eyebrow first at Benjamin and then at Cory. “Well, I can see who got the good looks in the family.”
Benjamin was about to open his mouth with a sarcastic response when he heard Phoebe laugh. Needless to say, Benjamin held the sarcastic response at bay.
“Well, good looks or not,” Joey said, “I, for one, am sure glad you showed up when you did. The last thing telegens need going against them is another earthquake. So you’ve used that room before to stop them?”
Phoebe’s smile vanished.
“What?” Joey asked.
She shook her head and bit her lip, and for a second, Benjamin thought for sure she was going to cry. Girls were such emotional roller coasters.
“No,” she finally said. “I’ve never used it before myself. But I saw my father use it plenty of times.”
“Same thing,” Joey said.
“No, not really,” Phoebe said. “Every time I saw my father use it, he was actually causing an earthquake with it—not preventing one.”
“Causing an ear—” Joey began, but shut up as soon as Cory elbowed him sharply in the side.
“He always said it was for the good of humans,” Phoebe said. “And I never had any reason to doubt him. But why would someone want to cause an earthquake? Didn’t you say lots of humans would’ve died if we hadn’t stopped that?”
Selene nodded. “Thousands.”
“How could that be a good thing?” Phoebe asked, turning to Benjamin and Cory. “Why would he have said that?”
“Because that’s what he wanted you to believe, Phoebe,” Benjamin said. “It’s what we’ve been trying to tell you. Atlantis has been causing problems for humans for thousands of years.”
Phoebe shook her head. “There must be some kind of misunderstanding. There has to be. It’s the only explanation.”
Benjamin didn’t reply. He didn’t think he really needed to say anything else. The plate-tectonics room had spoken for itself.
Phoebe let Benjamin and Cory go with her to her rooms. At first, Benjamin thought she didn’t want them to come along. Actually, he was pretty sure of it. Even though she acted like there wasn’t anything there she wanted to take, he could tell she was lying. Apparently, she wasn’t used to the triplet bond yet.
Benjamin wasn’t sure what he’d expected her rooms to look like, but he knew it wasn’t what he saw when the door slid open. His mouth fell open as he looked around.
“What?” Phoebe said.
Benjamin shook his head. “I just thought it would be more…oh, I don’t know…more simple.”
Phoebe cocked her head. “Why would you think that? Caelus and Gaea are the rulers—I mean were the rulers—of Atlantis after all.”
“But just look at this place.” Benjamin walked over and picked up a pillow off a chaise lounge. “This pillow has diamonds sewn into the fabric.”
Phoebe shrugged. “I like diamonds.”
“On your pillows?” Benjamin asked.
She walked over and grabbed the pillow from him. “Why shouldn’t I have diamonds on my pillows? Why should I even have to move out of here?”
Benjamin looked at her and then looked over to Cory. “I don’t know,” he said. “That’s a good question. Couldn’t Phoebe just keep living here? Heck, couldn’t we all just move in here for a while; it’s big enough.” He spun around. “This place is great.”
Cory laughed. “It is a step up from the hotel.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Benjamin said.
“I don’t think we should talk about living arrangements until everything’s resolved,” Cory said.
“Resolved?” Phoebe said. “What needs to be resolved?”
Cory stared at her like she’d just asked why the moon goes around the earth. “Caelus and Gaea are still out there,” he said. “And they intend to kill us. All of us.”
“Including you,” Benjamin added. “You killed Nathan. Remember?”
Phoebe’s eyes flashed. “Of course I remember. It’s not like I’ve killed so many people I’d have forgotten.”
“Have you killed anyone before?” Benjamin said which seemed like a strange question to have to ask.
“Well, no,” Phoebe said. “Our family assassins always took care of that.” She shuddered. “I’m just glad Nathan’s dead.”
Benjamin laughed. “Yeah, it was either going to be him or me.”
He stopped laughing when he noticed Phoebe hadn’t joined in. Instead she kept looking at Cory and him and then looking around the room.
“What?” Benjamin asked.
“Do you think you guys could go wait in the other room?” Phoebe asked. “There are a few things I need to pick up, and I’d rather do it in private.”
“Which room?” Benjamin asked, looking around at the five connecting doors. “Should we go through the one with the emerald curtains or the sapphire trim?”
“Ha ha,” Phoebe said. “Very funny.” She pointed to the doorway trimmed in blue stones. “Just go wait in there. I won’t be long.”
Benjamin and Cory headed through the sapphire doorway, but Benjamin made sure to keep the telepathic connection he’d formed with Phoebe open. He didn’t think she was even aware of it—at least he hoped she wasn’t.
As soon as the door slid shut, he sensed her moving.
“What do you think she’s doing?” Cory asked, and as he said it, Benjamin felt Cory’s telepathic bond also. Apparently, he’d had the same idea as Benjamin.
“Looking for something,” Benjamin said.
They didn’t say anything else as they eavesdropped telepathically on Phoebe.
From the main room, she watched the door shut and then moved into one of the other rooms, sliding the door closed behind her.
With practiced precision, she walked over to a holographic projector on the wall and pushed her hand through it. It evaporated and a keypad appeared, hovering in the air. Benjamin felt Phoebe’s mind as she keyed in a sequence, and a hidden door flipped open.
Benjamin wasn’t sure what he’d expected to be in the secret compartment. Maybe some sort of weapon. Maybe something she could use to escape. But the first thing she pulled out was an engraving tool etched with the three heart pattern. She must’ve used it to seal all the letters and clues she’d left. As she pulled it out, she almost caressed it. It struck Benjamin as an odd thing to do, but he just chalked it up to her being a girl.
After placing it in a small bag, she again reached into the compartment. When Benjamin saw the disk she pulled out, he gasped aloud, and then covered his mouth as fast as he could, afraid he’d given himself and Cory away.
The disk was as large as a golf ball and as blue as the ocean. And it reminded Benjamin exactly of the life force disk she’d stolen from Caelus in the future. Phoebe removed it from the compartment and held it in her palm, cradling it.
“Caelus gave it to her,” Benjamin said.
Cory nodded. “I know. I feel it too.”
Phoebe sat there looking at the disk for nearly two full minutes. After a while, Benjamin figured she’d forgotten where she was, and that somehow the life force disk had hypnotized her. But finally, she stood back up and replaced it in the compartment, before resealing the door and regenerating the holographic projector.
“She’s leaving it,” Cory said.
Benjamin nodded. He couldn’t figure out why Phoebe was leaving the disk. Her mind had been too chaotic. That or she’d detected their telepathic bond and was deflecting their eavesdropping.
“Did you get everything you needed?” Benjamin asked when the sapphire door slid open.
Phoebe nodded. “Yep. I got everything.” And she didn’t meet his gaze.