The room echoed its response, “room, oom, oom.”
Why do I have no shoes or belt in this nightmare? He wondered.
This is some seriously strong drug Sloan gave me. He scowled.
“Sloan! If I wet the bed because of this messed-up drug you gave me, guess who’s cleaning up the mess?”
Cole looked around the dimly lit room and this time, noticed a laptop sitting open not too far from where he was lying down earlier. The screen had gone black so it wasn’t too surprising that he hadn’t noticed it before now.
Besides, he thought. This is all a stupid dream anyway. That thing could have popped into the picture at any time. Cole sighed heavily and skulked to the computer. Careful of his pounding head, he lowered himself to sit on the floor, ran his finger across the track pad and saw the monitor come to life.
“Well, this is one weird dream that just keeps getting weirder,” he said to the monitor that had an image of a good-looking older guy smiling behind the “play” triangle.
Cole shrugged to himself and double clicked.
Chapter 43 Path of the Navigator
Theo watched Alik walk toward the kitchen pantry where the rack of keys had been installed. His fingers went directly for the keys to the gun safe they kept in the parents’ bedroom. Theo and Farrow followed him.
“What is your plan?” Theo finally asked once he was sure they were out of Danny’s earshot.
“I have to track them. I’ll try to use my evolved gift of sight. I’m not sure, but I think if I get in the SUV, I’ll be able to follow my veiled vision of the vans. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
Theo was nodding. “Okay, that sounds reasonable enough. Not that I ever believed in clairvoyant or retro-cognitive abilities before now, but heck I never believed in empaths or metahumans or Monarchs or evil scientists, for that matter.” Theo was rubbing his head like it was itching to explode from the inside from overload.
“What about the nanoweapons?” Farrow asked, shoving the weapons Alik was handing her into a large duffel bag.
“I don’t know. Seven feet is too far to ride in the same car, but maybe we could use a plane. We need to get them back here so we can figure out how to deactivate those nanoweapons. I need Evan’s help with that. He’s the mechanic in the family. I just have this annoying ‘gift’ to see into the past. What a dumb ass gift.” Alik mumbled to himself as he angrily shoved more ammunition into the duffel.
“If I remember correctly Alik, Meg thought her gift was pretty useless, too. Look how much good she can do with it. Give yourself time. You don’t even know if this is the full extent of your evolved abilities, right?” Theo tried to reassure the fifteen-year-old shoving weapons into a pack and slinging them over his shoulder.
“I must be out of my mind to let you leave with all those weapons on a chase to rescue half our family by yourself.”
“He’s not a regular teenager, Dr. Andrews. And he’s not going alone.” Farrow tossed her bag over her shoulder.
Theo nodded slowly at first, then more decidedly.
“You’re going to need money, and the keys to the Honda.”
Dr. Andrews opened a hidden drawer from the inside of the gun safe where there were several stacks of cash. Theo grabbed three of the bundles and handed them to Alik. “That’s three-thousand dollars. Use what you need and if you need more, call me. Just please bring my Cole home. Everyone. Everyone needs to come back or it will kill Margo. You know that, don’t you, son?” Theo looked teary eyed at Alik.
“Yes, sir. I know. But I have to tell you. My tactics aren’t as full of finesse as Meg’s. I’m pissed off and I want my family back. Doesn’t mean I’m going without a well-thought-out plan, but I am going…and I will plan on the way.”
“I think we’re all sick of this, Alik. Do what you have to do, your way. You have your mother’s and my support no matter what.”
Alik nodded.
Farrow and Alik started back toward the kitchen. Thinking ahead, Farrow grabbed some protein bars and sports drinks to throw into a canvas bag.
Theo reached back into the pantry and grabbed another set of keys. “Farrow, you’re driving.” He tossed the keys in a gentle arch. “Not only is Alik not old enough to drive, but he’s going to be using his gift to see back in time. My guess is it would be pretty dangerous if he’s trying to drive in the present, but looking in the past.”
Alik nodded in agreement. “No argument here, Theo. She can drive. I’ll be the navigator.”
“And don’t think the irony is lost on me that I won’t let him drive, but I will give him military-grade weapons.” Theo shook his head, and chewed the inside of his cheek worriedly. “Is there anything else you need? Have you got your cell phones? Change of clothes?”