Promethean Read online

  The look he gave then was almost sinister. Directed at Brenner, instead of over at Liam. Everyone stared in return, as if that basic idea wasn’t going to be common sense, if anyone had bothered to think of it. That, then, would be the problem. They probably hadn’t considered that he, Liam the kid, was anything other than what he seemed. A child, to their eyes.

  Oaks had known better, hence naming him an adult in his identification. Which was almost certainly also a manipulation. Of him, of course. Probably one that was outside of any of the other things going on. Warren had his own plans, which involved Liam, but possibly not any of the others.

  Thinking about it, Liam shrugged.

  “I was just wondering if anyone would let me know that the person in control is Kim Simpson. It’s why her husband is being thwarted constantly, with these other people. If he get’s inside it would be too easy for him to identify her involvement. She also doesn’t want to kill him, which means that their breakup in the first place probably had to do with this greater plan. I can’t prove that though. People hate their exes, as often as not.” He dropped that, whispering the words, then waited, to see if anyone would refute it.

  Instead, Brenner wrinkled her nose at him.

  “That… Has occurred to me. I have no proof of it. You don’t either. It’s probably correct. There are too many signs of that being the case. So, what’s the plan? We set up a fake meeting and then… We can’t just arrest them, if they attack. That would just be a fight. One that the SAU would probably win. We don’t really know who in the government we can trust right now. Ridley had some thoughts that way. That we might be looking at something far larger than a few Agents that can’t cope with reality. If it is… Then, what do we do? We have to stop them, but we can’t arrest them, if the system is on their side. Plus, we can’t really take them to court for anything, because if we do…” She stopped then, seeming miserable.

  It was Mary who answered her.

  “Yeah. If we take them to court, they might talk. That wouldn’t make anyone believe them, but if the FBI can’t be trusted that way, if the SAU can come up with evidence… Well, we can’t risk that. Just like how they couldn’t really do anything to me. Not legally.”

  The room went silent then, as no one simply stated the obvious. If they couldn’t arrest the bad men, because they wouldn’t be able to speak in court safely, due to the secrets that were being kept from the public, then they simply needed to kill them all. That or stop them in some other way. Really, the trick there wasn’t the one that everyone was fearing to speak about, given what resources they potentially had.

  They even had part of a plan that would work, as long as everyone else was willing to go along with them and help. After a few moments, Liam nodded, which had Tiffany frowning at him. She didn’t speak though, letting him go first. She seemed ready to jump on his idea though, without ever hearing it.

  Then, to her it was probably obvious that he was going to mention that Oaks hadn’t been inside when the attack took place at all. Not in his vision of things. Leaving the giant outside, to kill the SAU was more than possible. Really, except for the part where murder should be avoided, it was a good plan. Definitely a thing to keep in mind as a backup, if whatever they decided on failed.

  “We could get the vampires to take control of their minds, couldn’t we? Then have them confess to something that would have them arrested and sent away, without any death being needed? We could draw them in with illusion? I don’t know how to do that. Can the vampires make that happen?”

  Oaks shook his head.

  “They can take over minds and make people see things, but not at a great distance. I believe that the Serrena can do what you need? We don’t have any in the area that could aid us that way. I might be able to contact some people that could arrange that, if we’re willing to deal with them?”

  Mitchel made a face, which seemed disgusted, then nodded.

  “That… They tend not to play nice with others. Great with illusion, since that’s how they hide from the world. They tend to eat the bodies of the dead. Anyone’s. That makes them less than perfectly popular. We’d probably have to arrange for some food for them, in exchange for the work.”

  Liam glanced at Mary then.

  “You have contacts, that way? With people who can get the dead? Plus, if anyone dies in the fighting, that would work. To get rid of the corpses?” It was, in fact, sensible. If the person didn’t need their body any longer, using it for food was preferable to letting it go to waste.

  Not that Liam didn't understand that some people might not like their granny or sister being eaten after they died. People had strange customs in regards to the dead.

  Mary, his mother, simply nodded in his direction.

  “I do and can set something like that up. Are they really that good? These Serrena?”

  Oaks who was standing to the side, patted his pocket, checking for his cell phone. When it was pulled out, he spoke, working the buttons at the same time. The thing was tiny in his large hands. Things nearly as big as Liam’s own.

  “They’re nearly perfect that way. If a Serrena wants you to see something, you do. It even shows up on camera. Liam, you saw the scene already, so you’re on that, if we can get any help that way. Mitchel, would you be willing to contact the others we need? It might be best if we don’t send the FBI for it, right now. Given the enemy we face.” There was a massive shrug then. “Or, perhaps that is the best idea? To show our friends that not everyone in the government is out to get them?”

  Brenner, Sanchez and Warner moved to the side of the room, to speak about that and eventually make their own calls. At the same time, Oaks moved away, his voice soft as he spoke, in the distance.

  Liam was left, on the sofa, near his mother. He turned to face her, even if that wasn’t strictly needed for his own sake. People needed to see your eyes on them, to understand you were paying attention, since that was how they did things. She made a face, which was a bit too playful for the moment.

  “So, you’ve been learning still? You seem so different. Mature. I’d have thought you an adult if we’d just met today. Your voice is louder, too. I need to check your vocal cords. I think they must be starting to become active. At least a bit.” She didn’t move to do that, lacking the equipment at the moment. The permission, as well.

  “You were in on the whole thing, with Brenner.” It wasn’t a question. She didn't try to pretend not to get it, either.

  Sighing, she nodded.

  “Yes. She needed a way to get Agent Simpson in with the others in his unit. She figured that you’d be a good way to make that happen. We’ve always been close. That… I probably should have said no. The idea was that you’d be gone for a day, possibly two, then back home with me. Except that the government has rules, so made a point of separating us, to punish me for daring to be different or creative. They really don’t want the people to have any sort of real power they don’t control. She was watching you though, so I knew that it would be fairly safe for you. Not what I had in mind though.”

  She spoke the words like she understood a lot of his life. They’d talked on the phone, so it was true enough. He hadn’t told her everything, of course. Some of it was new, after all. Like learning dentistry, or gaining the ability to drive a car.

  He nodded.

  “That wasn’t a very good reason to strip my entire world away from me. I could have learned more for a long time before leaving home, I think. I have kept up with things, so there’s that. I’m uncertain that the morality system I’ve created for myself is optimal, however. It certainly wouldn’t help Oaks with his plans to take over the world. Not yet, anyway. We’ve talked about that. He doesn’t seem too concerned in that direction. You have, in the past, seemed frightened by the idea.”

  He waited, since it was a good question, even if he sort of figured that he was going to be ignored or lied to about it.

  Instead, she glanced over her shoulder at Oaks, then nodded.

&nbs
p; “That’s not a great thing. I wasn’t certain he wouldn’t have a plan in place to control you. There were alterations to the formulae we used. What that did, I’m not certain. He only said that it was to make you better than the others. When I pressed him on it, he simply said that you would be closer to human than he or your siblings were. Does that make any sense to you?”

  It didn’t. Rather than discuss it in the moment, he simply looked over at Oaks, who was approaching them and spoke when the man was close enough to hear him.

  “What differences did you add to me?” The only thing he could think of was that his eyes hadn’t changed color. Then, he didn’t know a lot about how the others of his kind were, so couldn’t determine if he was different than that or not.

  The being glared at Mary, then smiled at him, his huge white teeth shining. Gleaming under the light that came through the shining crystal above.

  “Several disparate things. You’re far more empathetic than the rest of us. You have no emotions of note, which is part of who and what we are as a people. Not easily stirred to passions. Some fear and anger when young. You should outgrow that by ten years or so. In you that empathy is much stronger than in almost anyone else. Certainly, no human can match it. It allows you insight into their minds, or at least it should.” He let his hands flow outward, palms up. Then he went on, as if giving a speech. “You should also have improved balance. That and innate reflexes, allowing you to seem more human than I do. I move easily and smoothly, as do all our people. I must admit it took some time before it was easy to keep myself oriented to the world. You should have that without fighting for it.”

  Mary blinked and gave the giant a sour look. One that spoke of annoyance.

  “Why not just tell me that? I’d figured it was some way to control his mind, in case you wanted to turn him into a soldier of some kind. You spoke of world domination and an army.”

  He nodded at the words, not bothering with denials at all.

  “Indeed, Mary. We don’t need fighters though. We need people that are capable of outthinking their opponents. Of out-planning them, no matter how clever they imagine themselves to be. It is different than simply putting a gun in his hands. Plus, so far he seems to think that my idea that way is unneeded. I do believe you will change your mind, eventually, Liam. These humans aren’t ruling themselves well. They would all be better off if we helped them that way.”

  He waved a hand in the bigger being’s direction and sighed.

  “Which wouldn’t take any kind of war to make happen. All they need are ideas that will work and reasons to use them. Not an easy thing, perhaps…”

  The laughter drowned him out, the big being actually slapping his thigh. It was fake, of course, since Oaks wouldn’t have emotions. Like he didn’t. Except that, of course, he kind of did. He didn’t feel anger or fear much, but they existed inside of him. There was a strong need to learn, as well, which was outside of mere habit. Also, though it wasn’t a powerful thing, he felt a need at times to protect others, if they were in need. It had been that which had pushed him to fight for Clarissa, the werewolf girl, when her people wanted to kill her.

  The creature from the novel, who was never named Frankenstein at all, stopped after a bit.

  “Oh. Yes. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? We come up with a new policy that will share the wealth of the world, or perhaps keep people fed and clothed well, then simply guide the humans toward the right decisions. That or create new technologies that will aid them and protect their world. Who wouldn’t jump at such things? Particularly if they were given the credit for it? Humanity, is the answer, of course. We’ve all tried, for over a century, Liam. I’ve invented and offered up not just one, but three improved energy systems that would prevent pollution while costing less than using fossil fuels or atomics. Each time the government tried to kill me. I finally had to let go of the idea that this could happen the simple way.”

  Liam didn’t bother to think that he might be lying about that. Oaks could do that, no doubt. There was simply very little reason to. After all, even if he wanted to take over, ruling outright, using such a soft method would be preferable to war. For one thing it would leave more of the infrastructure intact. In his studies, which hadn’t been about war very often, he’d noticed that factor. Large battles didn’t just kill the people, they destroyed the cities and towns to a level that rebuilding was almost a given.

  It would be far more cost effective to simply have people fall into line and do what you say because you were correct. Thinking about the human people that he knew, Liam understood that just going along would be hard for some of them. Yes, many would follow along, blindly enough. Probably not with Liam or Oaks, since one out of five would be angered to be in their presence.

  So he let that idea go for the time being. They weren’t going to be taking such actions that day, most likely. Not that improved energy systems weren’t a good idea. Liam had noticed that Oaks hadn’t claimed they would be free or anything, simply cheaper. That probably meant they were real. Not that he was an expert on such things at all.

  Rather than go on about things that weren’t pertinent to what they needed at the moment, he waved, indicating the phone that the giant man had slipped into his pocket.

  “Do we have the needed aid?”

  “We do. The Serrena are sending a representative this night, after dark, to discuss what you want that way. Then we’ll hold the meeting in four days, again at night. They are not vampires, perhaps, but they do not love the light of day. We should connect with the others, to set the time. Mary, could you arrange for three bodies to be available that evening? I can arrange funds. Simply let me know what is needed for that. Cash, of course.”

  There was waving and Oaks calling out the date of the meeting, which wasn’t going to be happening at all. The trick of it would be making certain that the SAU found out about it, without the information being delivered to them too obviously to be believed. It meant each group had to put out word of it happening and that they were planning to go, without it being the case at all. A thing that would take real, in person meetings. Things that would, hopefully, be well away from any possible spies.

  Vampires didn’t always love the government, but that didn’t mean some of their people wouldn’t be willing enough to take cash in exchange for information. Werewolves were much the same that way. They actually distrusted the Feds more, constantly expecting betrayal. Then, they were willing enough to turn on their own, if the mood struck them.

  Especially if the price was right.

  At the same time, they were personally more loyal than humans were. Vampires weren’t like that at all. They’d side with the most powerful person or being in the room at the moment, almost every time. The elves were readying for a real war already, having worked potential outcomes out before the rest of them, it seemed. That or they were more willing to be obvious about it than the others. Buying them off, interestingly, wouldn’t be happening. They, as a group, didn’t sell out their own.

  Which, now that Liam considered the idea, probably told him who he wanted to have as friends, if he were ever given such a choice.

  Mitchel moved over to him and Mary, while Oaks shifted over toward the other side of the room where Brenner was chatting on the phone with someone. The pale skinned man waved a bit, seeming slightly nervous.

  “Liam, I have to go see to setting these meetings up.” He stopped then, glancing at Mary.

  For his part, he nodded at the man, understanding.

  “I can go with you. I need to practice driving, plus, I’m a bit upset with Mother and… Aunt Tiffany. I understand why they disrupted my life. That doesn’t mean I endorse their reasoning on it fully. Is that serviceable for you? I could find other arrangements for the evening.” If nothing else he could walk back to Mitchel’s home and sit outside. The door was locked and he didn't have a key. That would work well enough, however.

  Instead the man smiled at him.

  “Good. I was going to
ask if you’d come with me. We need to explain things and it will sound better if it isn’t just me doing it. I also know that it isn’t your job. Not getting involved makes sense here.” He spoke the last words reluctantly.

  As if they had that kind of a choice in the matter.

  “We’re already part of this. I, apparently, have been since before I was born. Which isn’t fair, but there you have it. We would go now? How far are we going?”

  The man nodded at him, and started to walk out, leaving the others behind, without so much as a goodbye. They were probably being rude, but it occurred to him that Liam wasn’t the only person that had a reason to be a bit miffed at everyone else there. They’d been lied to and kept in the dark, even if the others had acted as if that only made sense. It probably did, given everything. That didn’t mean he had to like it. Clearly, the elemental agreed with him.

  At the car, Liam was given the keys again, Mitchel speaking as he moved to the other side of the car, to get himself in.

  “We need to make four stops…” He stopped as Oaks walked out of the house, moving in front of the car.

  The giant man smiled. It was a bit wicked looking.

  “Liam, you’re supposed to tell the Serrena what to produce for the illusion? We have some hours, but I don’t know if it’s enough time, if you leave.”

  He was torn then but shrugged. While it was fascinating to meet new people and he did like the idea of having a job, he was only going to cover what he’d told the others as far as what he’d seen go.

  “You have that information. Unless I’m needed for some other reason?” He could think of several, actually.

  Such things as Oaks needing him to be there, since he wasn’t as scary as the others. He waited, in case that was the real reason behind things. After staring at him for nearly a full minute, Oaks shook his head.

  “No. I should be able to do the task as well. I was simply hoping that you’d spend time with me, this evening.”

  He sort of wanted to do that, since the being needed to be grilled as to what else had been hidden about Liam. It probably wasn’t the best time for things like that, however. Plus, Mitchel needed some backup, at least for his story, so that everyone would help them and give them a chance to make the plan work.