Chapter Twenty-two #2
Of course. I almost rolled my eyes. “What injections?”
“There are a lot of factors. You cannot get it confused! None of you!” Dr. Ryder started pacing. “No, indeed not.”
“Dad. Breathe.” Gabby grabbed her dad’s hand. “From the beginning. What are you trying to tell us?”
“Which beginning? There are two!” He raised his hands to show her two sticky notes.
“The injections, which ones?” Annie asked.
“You see, Mrs. Logan, I did not know. Not until you provided your sample after the time jump, that is. I had a suspicion. It is your blood that boosts blockers, but we can use Gabriella’s blood to do it permanently. We can remove the powers.”
“What? No,” Annie said.
“Oh yes! I had limited information from when I extracted this young man’s blood when he was cured.
” He pointed at Kevin with an accusing glare, as if he’d held out on purpose.
“And none of my other formulations worked quite the same. They never told me when I worked on it at their facilities before. The first was strong, then it was watered down. I assumed it was the frequencies and the infrared lights, but I was wrong about that. You see? They did not have enough of you on hand.”
“Of me? My blood?”
“Correct. The rebels had your sample all along. I never knew it was hers.” He turned to Nick. “Possibly from original experiments when Dr. Lake was interested in your wife, my apologies, Nick.” He spun fast. “But this cure, theirs, was compounded with other things—”
“Which we don’t have?” Annie asked.
“We don’t, but that’s no problem at all.
They simply did not have enough from you, as I’ve said.
But David and I, we’ve tested it all. You do not need anything else.
Just your blood and my daughter’s. If one should want injections, they can choose that after I make the serum.
But I believe you two can combine your abilities and—well, oh my.
It’s up to you, isn’t it?” He gestured between Nick and Annie.
“What is up to us?” Nick asked, letting out a long sigh. We were usually more patient with Dr. Ryder, but we still had too much left to plan, and he was grating on everyone.
“If your wife and my daughter can get their hands on Jack, they can remove his powers.” His shoulders slumped. “But he may never regain them. Together, the boosted blocker is strong enough—stronger, even—than the injection. And we rewrite the code in Luminary blood.”
“Would my amplifying Gabby do the same?” I asked.
“Perhaps. You were too weak to give blood when we made the discovery. We did not study it, but Mrs. Logan can do it.”
Annie nodded. “So, I boost Gabby’s blocker . . . and that removes Luminary powers permanently? And you think we should do this to Jack?”
“I’m afraid so,” Dr. Ryder said. “It may be your only chance for them to lose interest in your son. Perhaps you should all do it. You’d all be safe then.
Gabriella and you would need the injection, however, as you cannot remove your abilities while using them to do the work.
That would be impossible. But if you and my daughter donate more blood, I’ll synthesize enough of the cure, so you need not worry. ”
“I guess that would make you happy, wouldn’t it?” Annie turned to Nick.
“I—What? Hey, don’t be like that. I don’t even know what to think.”
“This is what you’ve wanted the entire time. For him to lose his powers. Us. All of us.” She pointed at Chris. “The two of you have wanted to do this since before the jump.”
“Annie, we might not have a choice.” He frowned. “But wait, we’ve never seen any indication Jack has any powers.”
“He does.” Dr. Ryder nodded. “David and I tested everyone after the time jump to ensure your health, except Jay, who cries about needles. You recall your donation, yes? That’s when we saw the markers in your boy.”
“What can he do?” Nick asked.
“We do not know.” Dr. Ryder shrugged. “His blood interacted with all other samples, but not on its own. I cannot tell. Perhaps, like the twins, it’s stronger in combination. Oh! Young lady!” He pointed at my sticky notes. “Right, right. You must use the other combination!”
“The other . . . the second solution that you mentioned earlier?” I asked.
“Yes, but you must do them in order!” He pointed at Annie and me. “Boost the conduit, Ms. Ryan here, but not for fighting—no, not yet! First is the short-circuiting. Then, after the chips are gone, the amplification happens. That’s second.”
I was so lost. “What?”
“For the kill chips. And possibly nanites. They should no longer be controlled.”
“Start again, please. Beginning,” I said, rubbing my temples.
“Not a problem. You see, we could combine your abilities.” He pointed at Annie. “Mrs. Kinetic will boost you to short-circuit the implanted chips.” He nodded quickly. “Before you amplify them all to fight, use your conduit and reach out to anyone close by to kill it. The chips, not the people.”
“Not the people. Got it,” I said.
“Yes, hit them all at once. So many combinations!” His smile died, and he slumped. “But without the twins, we cannot reach everyone . . . We cannot save them all. Only those nearby will be saved. I’m so sorry.”
“Okay, Dad.” Gabby held his hands. “This is helpful. Whoever she does save from the chips, you’re saying she can also send out amplified energy for other Luminaries to help us fight, right? Because Annie’s boost would help her do that?”
“Yes, yes. But I thought, perhaps the twins and Mr. Pierce—No, it’s space and time. It won’t be the same. We do not need them.” He spun to Nick. “Do you have anyone who can control Luminary blood?”
“No. Never heard of it.”
“Then I am sorry.” Dr. Ryder shook his head. “All my theories and experiments were for nothing. I simply cannot help further. We do not have the reach to save everyone from the evil woman.”
“What you’ve given us is enough,” Nick said.
“No. It’s not. It is not. I believe combinations of powers have great impact.” He took off his lab coat and sat down. “But we do not have further reach than perhaps the city.” He threw the coat behind the sofa. “Only the city. I’ve failed them all.”
“No, you haven’t, Dad. We’ll use this,” Gabby said, raising the sticky note in her hand. “And we’ll figure it out when it’s time.”
He spun to look at her. “The powers, Gabriella. You must use them together in the correct order.”
“We will.”