Once steady, she smiled at him. "Thanks, Bro. Owe ya one. Guess we're getting some weather. Great."
Beleth seemed unaffected, and continued speaking in his commanding voice. "What will happen to them once they are free? Will you release them into a world that would reject them as freaks and use them to test and experiment on? And what will happen to the powerless? Children with no control will create chaos everywhere they go. Some have powers that are benign and harmless, but what of those who are dangerous? Can you imagine the headlines? Angry ten-year-old sets fire to entire class. Overactive toddler freezes her teacher to death. Three-year-old throws temper tantrum and destroys an entire apartment complex. You really want to be responsible for that kind of damage?"
The Seeker had given Lucy a similar speech before they revolted and broke free of Rent-A-Kid. Before he'd died saving Sam. He, like Beleth, truly believed that paranormals needed guidance and protection, for the safety of everyone. Lucy didn't disagree with the premise, merely their methods. They'd impregnated her best friend without her consent, and experimented with genetics, not to mention drugging them into compliance.
Luke shifted behind her until he stood next to her—a cozy arrangement in the cramped quarters. He spoke to Beleth. "They will be protected, and given a new home. They won't be a threat to themselves or others and they won't be used and experimented on. We will protect them."
Beleth's laugh came out bitter and harsh. "So that's it? Those kids are just trading one facility for another. IPI just wants them for their own experiments. With you, they'll be lab rats. With us, they have purpose, a greater mission in life. We do what we must, and make the hard choices for the greater good of our kind. You're being used and you don't even know it."
Lucy's blood pressure spiked as she thought of all the ways Rent-A-Kid had manipulated them. "Your organization ruined my best friend's life. You killed our mother, killed one of our guards, and destroyed so many lives I can't even count. People, good people, are dead because of your 'greater good.' How dare you claim that you're better than IPI or anyone else. How dare you stand behind some grand purpose to justify the abuse you perpetrate. The ends, even if I agreed with them, do not justify the means you use to obtain them." She stepped closer, fighting the urge to beat the crap out of this guy.
He finally moved his head, just enough to stare into her eyes. "Those deaths mean nothing compared to what we fight for."
Her hand flew at him as if powered by its own force. Her palm stung at the force of the slap. His head didn't even budge at the force, nor did his skin show signs of the impact. He remained unflappable, and Lucy burned with anger.
In the same cold voice, Beleth spoke. "Aren't you the reckless one? Certain times call for being still. If you can't quench the flames that burn within you, they will consume you."
Is this guy seriously giving me Zen advice? Whatever. If he wouldn't give her the information she needed, they'd do it the hard way.
They'd had tougher assignments. Like their recent Russian adventure—genetic experiments, shootings, and... Adam. He'd been one of their mutations—part man, part beast, but the heart of a true friend. He'd run into a spray of bullets to save her.
She didn't need crap from this guy. She'd do it her own way.
She turned to walk away, but Beleth's next words stopped her. "You're not so different from us. When the time comes, you'll do what it takes. When hard decisions have to be made, you'll make them."
Lucy whipped her head around. "No. I'm nothing like you and your kind. I'll make the right decision, or none at all."
Beleth dropped his head. "Sometimes there are no right decisions, and you are left with the lesser of two evils."
More turbulence threw Lucy off balance once again. Before Luke could use his para-power to steady her, Beleth's arms reached out, his hard muscles stopping her fall against the sink. Thunder shook the plane and flashes of lightning lit up the windows. Lucy used Beleth's body to balance herself and stand again. His skin was cool under her hands, his gaze unwavering, and with each flex of his muscles, his tattoos came alive and seemed to crawl over his skin like living ink.
Lucy removed her hands from his body and nodded her head. "Thank you."
A small smile touched Beleth's lips, and Lucy wondered what secrets lurked behind his dark eyes.