CHAPTER SIX
“There were more of us,” said Kane. “We lost Mary and Ben. Kelly’s parents, Uri Bellum and his wife. We lost Gable. He was able to speak with animals.”
“That would have come in handy around here,” said Ghost. “You’ve done a fine job with keeping everyone safe, Kane. I always knew there was something special about you.”
“We tried,” he said, looking around at the rag-tag group. “We knew that the agency and the military were in on the pink dust.”
“Pink dust?” frowned Riley.
“Yes. We were all at The Depot at one time or another until it closed. Thirty years apart or more, yet we were all exposed to that damn dust and ended up with whatever it is we have.”
“Dust,” repeated Gabi.
“Did I say something wrong?” asked Kane.
“No. No, not at all. When the kids all came here, we did multiple workups on them. X-rays, blood work, CT scans, you name it. We finally thought we’d do brain biopsies, just small needle biopsies, because we knew they’d been injected in their brains.”
“You were injected in your brain?” asked Aislinn.
“I’m afraid so,” said Katelyn. “Each of us was injected in different parts.”
“Maybe they learned something different after all of us. We heard stories of those who didn’t respond well to whatever they were using, and some didn’t make it. We ended up with these really odd abilities, most of us with genius level IQs, but all of you have more than genius level IQs and don’t have the odd side effects.”
“We did hear all of you,” said Marilisa. “We couldn’t make it out at first. It was just sort of a weird vibration.”
“That’s the way it starts,” said Spook. “It was one of the ways I found all of you. The other was picking up the electromagnetic fields that you use to shield the property.”
“You can see that? Feel that?” frowned Ghost.
“No, sir. I can hear it. It’s pretty terrible sometimes, but for whatever reason, this doesn’t make me want to pull my hair out. In fact, on the property, I don’t hear the cell phones, planes, computers, all the other shit that makes me nuts. Whatever your technology is, it’s helping me to cope.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Wilson. “If you all don’t mind, we’d love to get some tests run on you to make sure you’re all okay.”
“We don’t mind,” said Adam. “I’m the doctor of the group and happy to help.”
“Well, we can damn sure use more medical around here,” said Nine.
“If you’re certain that this pink crystal was injected in their brains, I might be able to tell you where in their brains,” said Fiona. Nine looked at her, then back at Gaspar and the others. “I’m not crazy. I promise.”
“I’m sorry, Fiona. I didn’t mean to imply that you were. We’ve got some pretty spectacular things that happen around.”
“You mean like the alligator nuzzling that man’s leg?” smirked Adam.
“That would be one of them,” he laughed. “We have cabins on another island for all of you. I think Matthew believed it would be the right location for all of you.”
“How?” frowned Kane.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t ask,” said Gaspar. “Our businesses here are many, but Nine, Ghost, Ian, and I run Gray Wolf Security. Cam, Luke, Eric, and Hex run Voodoo Guardians. Razor, Skull, Whiskey, and some of the other boys run Steel Patriots Motorcycles. Callan runs Crescent City Tattoo. We’ve also got a salon and spa, Gwen N’Hana Designs, a diner and café, a dance studio, and a few other things I’m forgetting.”
“Robicheaux Oil and Gas,” smirked Matthew.
“Right. Sorry, Pops.”
“This is incredible,” said Kane. “It’s what we’ve been trying to do for years.”
Pax, Mav, Cam, and the others looked up as Saint walked hand-in-hand with Marilisa. Grinning at him, he just shook his head.
“Did you finally settle your attitude?” asked Eric.
“I did. I’m sorry to everyone for the way I behaved, but mostly sorry to Marilisa. It won’t happen again.”
“Yes, it will,” smirked Ajei. “You’re a man. You’re going to screw up big time.” Saint just laughed.
“Did we find out anything about who might be chasing them and coming after the others?” he asked.
“We were just talking about that,” nodded Luke. “It seems as though whatever the dust was they used with this group and others that didn’t make it, they refined to whatever it is they injected our people with.”
“I wish I could remember,” said Marilisa. “I’m guessing that they drugged us when they did the injections. I don’t remember it at all.”
“Neither do I,” said Katelyn. She looked at Stephanie, who shook her head.
“I’m different. You guys know that,” she whispered.
“You’re not different,” said Brax, looking at her with a strange expression. “You’re unique. There’s a difference.”
“Brax,” she smiled. “By the sheer fact that I’m a clone, I am not unique.” He grinned at her, realizing the poor choice of words, and everyone chuckled.
“You’re a clone?” asked Kane. Stephanie nodded.
“They were trying to clone all of us at one time. Were you the only one?”
“The only one that I know of,” she said. “I overheard them say I was an accident. I didn’t turn out how they thought.”
“That’s because they were trying to make weapons of all of us,” said Griffin. “They didn’t give a shit if we lived or died. Once they found our gifts, they were ready to make us lab experiments.”
Marilisa had a strange look on her face. Her head started to spin, and it seemed the trees were swaying above her.
“Lab,” she said softly. “No labs…”
“Marilisa!”