Chapter 1
"So we all in agreeance that there is no way she is a human Garde?" Malcolm questioned, turning away from his whiteboard. On it were all sorts of theories about the most recent target of the HGA. Otherwise known as Human Garde Academy.
"If you give me a little more time I'll get you an answer. I'm almost into her file." Lexa added.
Riley perched on a stool, arms on the island and her head rested on them. She smiled contently as her father stood behind her brushing her hair out for her. Malcolm grinned at the scene, she was still so easily appeased by simple things. Although given what they all had to deal with it was nice to just appreciate the small things.
"I got it!" Lexa exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. She disturbed the blissful state Riley was in as Riley bolted upright. Then she yelped as the brush her father had got stuck in a tangle. Lexa snorted and held a hand over her mouth to conceal her smile. Riley rolled her eyes at Lexa and laughed.
"Alright, folks what did you find Lexa?" Nine inquired, resuming brushing his daughter's hair.
"Our teacher has a file because she was apart of project SRI," Lexa answered. Malcolm raised a curious eyebrow at her.
"And what exactly was that?"
"Space Rock Investigation. She was apart of the team that harvested the outcropping of Loralite crystals up in the Adirondack mountains back in 2015. The purpose was so that scientists could examine them in a laboratory." Lexa explained.
"That must've been happening right around the same time the academy opened." Nine commented.
"Wait how'd she'd go from that to being an art teacher at some private school in the Southern Tier of New York?" Malcolm seemed flabbergasted.
"How'd you go from the good graces of what college was it? I forget to head greeter of the Loric?" Lexa quipped, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.
"How?" Malcolm gave her a look in absolute awe.
"You forget that I know everything, Bill Nye." Lexa grinned. "Also her file is marked special notice because she is the mother of Casey Raya, leader of the rebellion. He is the second most wanted Human Garde." Lexa added with a smug grin.
"Glad to know Ceci is still at the top after all these years." Nine proudly chuckled.
"That just means no one has ticked them off as much as Cecilia has," Riley remarked cheerfully. Nine set the brush down and started braiding her hair.
"Riley only you have the legacy capacity to with enough training surpass Cecilia," Malcolm commented.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Riley giggled. Malcolm turned and frowned at his board.
"But how does she have legacies?"
"How about you contemplate it tomorrow in your free time." Lexa teased.
"Freetime? Remember I'm the target for tomorrow's games." Malcolm chuckled.
"At least we get out of afternoon classes." Riley grinned. Nine gave a hearty laugh at his daughter's commentary.
It was in chemistry class that the intercom went off. It interrupted Malcolm's lecture about the anatomy of the brain.
"Riley Worthington please report to the airfield."
Riley perked up in her desk at the announcement. She'd been doodling a brain that had arms, legs, eyeballs, and a mouth. Malcolm nodded and then winked at her. Her father must've gotten it approved. She quietly packed up her stuff and calmly left his classroom.
She took off down the hallway, navigating until she reached the entrance. She ran across campus in the direction of the airfield, pacing herself so accelix didn't kick on. She didn't stop until she was at the airfield watching a small luxury airplane land on the airstrip. She moved to stand with the three other students that had been called.
She bounced on her feet waiting for the craft to open up and reveal its passengers. After what seemed like an eternity they unloaded the craft. Two teenage girls first, which the three students Riley had been standing with approached, and then Mrs. Raya came out. The pilot held her arm gently and like a proper gentleman escorted her down the stairs onto the runway. He tipped his hat to her and walked off. Riley squealed in delight and ran to hug Mrs. Raya. She threw her lanky arms around the woman's neck and Mrs. Raya hugged her back. Once they broke apart Mrs. Raya frowned in confusion. "I'm sorry but why are you here Riley?"
"It's a very long story, Mrs. Raya." Riley sighed. But she winked at her when no one was looking. She and Mrs. Raya moved away from the airfield and more towards the academy.
I got the crystal, where to? Riley thought. She reached out for Lexa's mind and hoped the message was received.
Take her to your father's office. The board wants to meet with her. Highly unusual circumstances right now. Lexa answered.
Interrogation? Something to do with her involvement in that Loralite harvesting project? Riley questioned.
I'll let you know in a bit. I have to attend as well. After dropping her off go bug, Taylor. Lexa advised.
What about lunch? Riley reminded.
Go get lunch with Taylor then. Just stay with her until we're all done. Lexa pressed.
Got it, GUARD. Riley chuckled.
I thought you were cured? Mrs. Raya's voice echoed in her head. Riley
froze and looked at her art teacher in part confusion and part amazement.
"You?" She managed to get out.
Mrs. Raya nodded with a small smile. I presume the answer is also a long story? Mrs. Raya mentally chuckled.
We'll see how things work out and I might explain it. Don't let anyone know I have a legacy still. Riley replied.
I kept my promise when I first found out you had them and I'll keep still. Just be careful. Mrs. Raya warned.
You have no idea about all the precautions in place. Riley sighed.
"Come on let me try next month. The peacekeepers will never see me coming" Riley laughed. They were back in the cabin after dinner getting ready to set to work.
"What's the phrase that Six uses?" Nine questioned, crossing his arms.
"Six has a lot of phrases. You'll have to be more specific." Malcolm quipped.
"I'd rather die at the hands of Setrakus Ra." Riley reminded with a smirk.
Lexa stifled a laugh while Malcolm rolled his hazel eyes. Riley saw him hide a frown as his eyes seemed to darken with fear. She inwardly sighed at the thought. She remembered being told that Malcolm was held captive by the Setrakus Ra for almost nine years. He'd told her himself about the torture methods, the tools, the memory extracting equipment, the comas, and that he has lost so much of his past as a result.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Taylor is on her way with our latest addition." Lexa announced, tapping on her tablet.
"How's the cure going Malcolm?" Riley questioned.
"Still nowhere." Malcolm sighed, opening his laptop.
"Has our testing been helping?" Riley inquired.
"I'm sorry Riley but whatever your biology is doing I haven't figured out how it works or how to replicate it," Malcolm admitted.
"It's okay Malcolm. I still believe you'll figure it out." Riley beamed.
"Thank you, Riley. I hope your right." Malcolm nodded.
"The coffee and one art teacher with legacies." Taylor quipped, walking into the kitchen with a box of stuff to make coffee. Mrs. Raya walked in behind her and took it all in. She seemed in awe as she looked around the room.
"Welcome to the resistance, Mrs. Raya. We've got a lot of work ahead of us." Riley greeted, beaming at their newest addition.
"Trust me this part is a little boring but the next part will be a lot of fun," Riley reassured, holding her arm out for Taylor to take blood pressure.
Malcolm pricked Mrs. Raya's finger and put it into a machine.
"Taylor, when you're done, want to get me a vial from each of them?" Malcolm questioned, plugging his device into a computer.
"It would be my absolute pleasure to do so and heal the owie." Taylor chuckled.
"Every day?" Mrs. Raya questioned, giving Riley a baffled look.
"Everyday at six a.m. in the gym for lab testing and physical testing. We're working on finding a way to reverse the cure by examining my biology." Riley explained, flexing her arm as Taylor undid the cuff.
"Bp is normal," Taylor announced, typing into her tablet.
"Alright, who wants to have their blood sucked first?" Taylor questioned, pulling out a bag from under Malcolm's desk.
"I'll do it," Riley replied, practically bouncing on her feet.
"Someone's excited this morning." Taylor chuckled.
"That's partially because she can mimic two legacies at once for a time and also her favorite teacher is now here." Nine chuckled, sipping his coffee. He was leaned against a desk watching with an amused grin. Lexa stifled a laugh as she typed into a monitor. While Taylor was preparing to insert the needle into Riley's arm Riley frowned at her father.
"Hey remember our deal?" She scowled at his left arm. Nine choked on his coffee.
"Easy there Professor." Lexa chuckled. "Now surrender the arm Stanley or I will remove it for you." She teasingly threatened, holding out her hands for it. Nine rolled up his short sleeve and started working, fingers nimbly working on his shoulder. Much to Mrs. Raya's horror suddenly his left arm disconnected and Lexa caught it. She placed it on the table and chuckled at Mrs. Raya's face.
"What the metal wasn't a giveaway?" She teased. Mrs. Raya shook her head and regained her composure.
"I just never really thought about it." She seemed to stare at his blackened skin where his arm should've been. Nine smirked and let his short-sleeve fall back over, covering the blackened skin. "That's my battle scar. It usually freaks people out. Especially the government bigwigs." He mischievously grinned.
"Alright more samples will be taken later from Debra but we need to get to the sensors so I can get a feel where she is in the grand scheme of legacies." Malcolm suggested.
"Mrs. Raya." Riley corrected, folding her hands behind her back and leaning forward.
"It's okay you can all call me Debra now." Mrs. Raya shrugged. Riley seemed to almost frown at the thought as if it would be unnatural to call Mrs. Raya anything else but Mrs. Raya.
"Alright, Riley would you like to demonstrate for our new friend the sensors?" Malcolm questioned, turning away from his monitor.
"Bring it, Bill Nye." Riley grinned.
"Taylor?" Malcolm raised a dirty blonde eyebrow as he grinned. Taylor laughed and started applying the sensors to Riley's body.
"Alright, you know the drill, Riley." Riley proceeded to do two jumping jacks and giggled. She did her best Hulk impression, letting out a ferocious roar. "All her sensors seem to be responding excellently."
"Obstacle course?" Lexa questioned, dark eyes looking over her tablet.
"I thought we weren't trying to kill her this morning," Taylor questioned.
"Oh come on. At least let me make another attempt while Malcolm's running all his tests on Mrs. Raya. I can't fight the computer because they'll need the gym." Riley argued, lower lip sticking out as she crossed her arms firmly across her chest. Nine walked over to face her.
"The first sign of trouble,"
"You'll pull me out. I get it, dad." Riley finished.
"Be careful Ri." He tapped her on the nose.
"Taylor, you got Debra's vitals?" Lexa questioned.
"Go run the obstacle course." Taylor dismissed, waving her away. Riley squealed for joy and jumped up and down as she followed them. Riley ran down into the gym and headed for the obstacle course.
"How long until the malevolent AI housed in the obstacle course overcomes her?" Lexa asked, firing up the program.
"Oh come on she's my daughter I have faith she can outsmart the computer." Nine casually replied.
"Your terrified of letting her going in with legacy handicaps aren't you?" Lexa remarked, typing in commands for the program.
"Is it that obvious? I'm proud of my creation but it is merciless." Nine admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Just think, it's programmed to adapt to the player's legacies right? It might get confused with Riley." Lexa reassured.
"Aren't we all confused with Riley?" Nine sighed, walking over to the railing to watch.
Riley was bouncing on the tips of her toes waiting for the start.
"Go!" Lexa hollered, as the obstacle course came to life. Riley ran straight into it regardless of worry about what it was going to throw at her. Today it oozed grease onto the floor so she ran up the wall and ran along it. The wall started oozing grease next in an attempt to make her slip up. She jumped off that wall and her hands caught the edge of the opposite wall. She had enough time to regain balance before that wall was also oozing grease. She jumped onto the ground and kept on running. She was starting to sweat as she continued.
Rubber bullets started being fired at her from holes that had opened up in the walls. With a little bit of concentration, and biting her lip. She thrust her hands out and telekinetically stopped each bullet.
Just like it was programmed to do the walls started picking up pace attacking her, she flinched as several hit home when she couldn't keep up. She thrust her hands up and out, forcing herself to form a forcefield. She kept running through the course but she couldn't hold up the barrier and the bullets started cracking it until they broke through.
She tried another tactic with the machine. She imagined herself light as a feather and kept up the pace. She managed to turn a corner into the next section. The bullets just started passing through her. That's when the darts started up but they also passed through her.
She allowed herself to smile a little until it randomly started launching pillows at her. One caught her straight to the head and knocked her off her feet. The pillows were filled with rocks. Several darts landed on her and in a cry of rage slammed her hands onto the hard floor. The whole gymnasium shook from the force. It threatened to shake the gym apart until the sensors kicked in and put her in agony as her legacies were disabled.
Suddenly she felt a legacy breakthrough and she had all her legacies breakthrough. Someone was hollering at her but she just let out a raw scream as the obstacle course threw it's worse at her.
She never noticed the obstacle course shut down around her. It was all too much power at once for her as she laid there. Next thing she knew her father was next to her and he snapped something onto her wrist. Suddenly her body went into agony at the loss of her legacies. She groaned and curled up.
Slowly the world came back to her. Her father was looking at her in amazement. Lexa walked up to them and grabbed Riley's arm.
"Impressive, she burned the sensors beyond use. Lumen flare probably." Lexa seemed also amazed like she was at a loss for what just happened. They all walked back into the rest of the gym.
"What was that?" Taylor called down. They all walked back up into the observation deck. Mrs. Raya followed them up.
"That was definitely something new. Riley care to add any form of an explanation?" Malcolm pushed his glass up as he looked up from the monitor.
"I don't know what happened. I've never lost control like that." Riley sighed, rubbing her arm.
"She almost destroyed the obstacle course." Nine still seemed in awe. Lexa was over typing commands into the terminal controlling the obstacle course.
"She fried her sensors." Nine pointed out.
"Well, that's certainly new." Malcolm mused, examining the one on Riley's arm.
"Is this a sign that I'm breaking through the cure?" Riley inquired. Malcolm seemed to frown and turn back to the monitor.
"I don't know what that even was Riley," Malcolm admitted, shoulders slumping. Riley sighed and leaned against the railing.
"It was like every legacy she's mimicked rushed to the surface full force. She was overwhelmed and lost control. I've never in the past twenty-some years seen someone lose control like that though." Nine furrowed his brows as he looked at his daughter.
"Legacies respond to fear and danger right? Maybe it was a natural response." Taylor suggested, shrugging casually.
"I don't care how much danger you are in there is no way that is the cause. Do you know how many students have gone through the obstacle course, gotten broken bones and major bruising from it? None of them have ever lost it like she just did! I can't believe I had to slap a scrambler on my own daughter to shut her off!" Nine exclaimed in frustration. Riley did frown at the device on her left wrist but currently, she still didn't trust herself without it.
"Gentlemen may I point something out that might make a difference?" Lexa questioned, walking over from the terminal she was at.
"What?" Malcolm huffed.
"Have we ever really considered how much the cure affects how her legacy functions? Maybe she's more biologically damaged then we originally considered?" Lexa pointed out. "And that would explain that major loss of control." Lexa rolled her dark eyes at them. She turned on heel and went back to her terminal, ponytail swishing as she walked.
"Nine when your done arguing with Malcolm and Taylor we got work to do. She didn't destroy it but the obstacle course has still be damaged. I don't think any of your classes will be going through it today. There are several shorts in it among other errors." Lexa nonchalantly mentioned, typing into the terminal.
Riley didn't know if she should be proud to have damaged the obstacle course or not. She looked down at her hands, what had happened? She'd been doing so good at regaining strength and now she needed a scrambler to regain control?