“G-pa, you know it’s really not called that, right?”
“Don’t make one lick of difference what it’s called, especially when the damn thing doesn’t work for shit.”
“It’s bad down there in Galveston, too?” Tate said.
“The weather is crazy as a bedbug, especially the wind. Keeps knocking out cell towers and what the hell ever makes the internetathon work. And I’ve never seen the waves in the Gulf look like they do now. Do you know they’re drawing surfers? Actual professional surfers! Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
“Nope, G-pa, I haven’t.” When his g-pa didn’t continue, Tate nudged, “Um, you were talking about not using the Internet and finding stuff out anyway?”
“Yep, yep, that’s the truth. Good thing I’m used to picking shit with the chickens. I can research without it.”
“What did you find?”
“Doctor Stewart might be evil, but he’s undeniably brilliant,” G-pa said.
“Yeah, that’s what Foster keeps saying.”
“Well, the girl’s right. Tate, you might need to sit down for this.”
“G-pa, I’m in an old-timey phone booth. The best I can do is lean against the side of it.”
“Then lean, boy, and listen up. I believe you and Foster and the rest of those kids were altered on a genetic level. I can’t figure out the whole thing—wish I’d finished my damn doctorate. I might know more. But, from what I can piece together, during the gastrulation phase of in vitro fertilization Stewart inserted organic material directly into your cells and then he used gamma rays to irradiate that material and your cells.”
“Gastrulation, that’s the early phase of an embryo, when it’s still a blastula. When a bunch of important stuff happens, right?” Tate focused on accessing the science file in his brain, rather than panicking about what had been done to him.
“Yes, boy. Very important, as in setting a foundation for who or what the embryo becomes. My working hypothesis is that your DNA has been joined with organic material and altered.”
“I’m trying not to freak out here, G-pa.”
“Does it help if I compare you to Peter Parker?”
“Don’t kid around. This isn’t science fiction. This is science fact—fact that happened to Foster and me and probably six other kids,” Tate said.
“I’m not kidding around, Tate. Listen, I think the only place we can find clues about what was done to you is in science fiction. At one time flying machines and submarines and anything resembling the internetathon were the stuff of sci-fi. Sometimes reality takes a while to catch up with fiction.” G-pa’s voice gentled, “Hey, you did name your place the Fortress of Sauvietude. Seems to make sense that you’re actually a superhero.”
“G-pa, I’m eighteen. I’m nothing but scared and alone.”
“Boy, don’t you ever say that! Don’t even think it. You have me. You’ll always have me. Foster’s there for you, too. She’s in this with you, as are six other young people. You can be scared, but you’ll never be alone. I give you my word on that,” G-pa finished firmly.
“You’re right. Sorry, G-pa.”
“Not one damn thing to be sorry about. I’m proud of you, son. Real proud of how you’re handling this.”
Tate had to fight back tears. “Thanks, G-pa. I—I wish you were here with us!”
“Yep, yep, yep—me too. But I need to be here for the time being. I gotta keep researching. If I can figure out exactly what he did to each of you, it might help you learn to control your powers. Or at least you can figure out the extent of your powers. For instance, I believe the organic material he irradiated and joined with your and Foster’s DNA is basically O-two.”
“Oxygen!”
“Yep. Good ol’ air. And the organic material he joined to the next two is hydrogen with oxygen.”
“Water!”
“Exactly.”
“So, what Foster and I thought might be the truth, really is the truth! The next two kids will be bonded to the element water!” Tate felt a rush of excitement.
“As far as I can tell.”
“G-pa! I wonder if the crazy waves going on down there by you have anything to do with the next two kids being bonded to water?”
“Well, before the football game there certainly was an increase in tornado activity—and that increase has remained the only consistent thing about this damn weather, so I’m thinkin’ you could be right, son.” The old man paused and added, “And if you’re right, it’s going to be damn awful when we get to the kids bonded to fire.”
“Which is why we need all the information we can get ASAP,” Tate said. “Foster and I think we’ve figured out a code Stewart used for the state where each kid was born.”
“Good! Keep at that. It’ll be easier if we can narrow it down by even a little where the kids might be,” said G-pa. “I’m goin’ back to the MSL every day and doin’ more research. And every day I’m deciphering Stewart’s formulas a little—but honestly, Tate, when I say a little that’s exactly what I mean. It’s like trying to learn a language without a Rosetta Stone.” He paused before adding, “Are you certain you don’t want me to take this to one of the genetics professors? They’re a lot better at this than I am.”
“No, G-pa! You promised to keep this to yourself!”
“Hey, don’t get your feathers ruffled. I always keep my word, and if you say no outside help, then that’s that. I was just double checkin’.”
“Cora told Foster we had to stay off the grid. G-pa, Cora even had fake identity papers made for me and Foster. She changed our last names and everything. Foster totally trusted Cora, and Cora was married to Stewart, so she knew the guy better than anyone, and if she was this scared I have to agree with her. We’re in danger and we need to lay low.”
“Okay, boy. I get it. Lockin’ my mouth and throwin’ away the key.” G-pa cleared his throat before continuing, “Got somethin’ else to tell you. It’s good and bad news.”
“How about the good first?”
“I’m pretty certain no one outside Stewart and his four goons are going to be lookin’ for you,” G-pa said.