This was a difficult chapter to keep down to manageable levels. I had to explain why Jarod never caught on to Damon until too late, Gemini, and tell why NBC never showed him eating at the Centre. That stuff must have made people vomit. Oh and don't forget the copyright warnings.
CHAPTER TEN
March 16 2001
Jarod kept close to the window just looking at Miss Parker as Rachel herded the children and got in the car. It was as if he wanted her approval or for her to come after him, but Miss Parker just ignored him except to hand Rachel a package. "To show what we lost when he escaped." As far as he was concerned, to her he was nothing more than a convenience for satisfying her pleasure, something to vent her wrath on or put her hands on anytime she felt the mood.
"Frederick, you come in the front," said the Profiler and don't step on the lap top.
"I will, my most beautiful."
Rachel blushed. "Practicing for that Pretender girl you saw at the Centre?"
Frederick nodded as Jarod moved to let him in. Dominant children grew up quickly.
Margaret sat with the other children in the back, telling about that famous opera singer and singing a few bars. Jarod put his right hand in his jacket. Yes, he thought, it was still there. Good thing I made an extra copy. When he got to Rachel's apartment, he would find out about those strange fishing boats.
Jarod still could not understand how the change from ordinary to Dominant killed his ability to scold. He had seen Sydney watching him, waiting for him to say a sarcastic remark about Mr. Parker, senior, the Navy officer, and when that was not forthcoming, Sydney had to open his mouth with the correct retort.
He also could not understand the other gift he acquired, hunches and premonition of danger. Before he had to read a headline of an atrocity, a newspaper article in a weekly about a widow having trouble getting her husband's pension, or see police cars lined up around a hospital to know something was wrong and then there was Damon. He had no idea that he was a killer until he shot that janitor.
"From the time I was brought into the Centre, when I looked at the DSAs of that boy and later that man, and what I was even before this change came over me, it was as if I were a different person. I think they injected a substance into what they fed me."
Rachel nodded. "It is entirely possible. If they put something in your food with long lasting effects to make you more cooperative, that would explain what you told me about Gemini's willingness to obey." She reached for her cell phone. "Could you take the wheel? I've got to make a call."
Jarod got out the passenger seat and went to the driver's side.
"Miss Parker? Rachel here. I asked Broots to analyze Jarod's DNA before and after Lyle tortured him.—No, I don't intend to bring a case against you, but if the Centre fed him drugs over a long period of time, it might make any results from the simulations null and void." She was quiet for about two minutes. "I checked Jarod's DSAs and compared his actions to boys of his age.—Yes, I know he is quite intelligent, but it's as if his body grew but his willingness to please and to help stopped at the three year old level. Even his need for revenge is not normal for a thirty- year old plus. It is something kids would do, not an adult. Kids get even, adults don't.—If you could find out, then I could get the Food and Drug Administration to ban this entire additive. Thank you."
"So it is what I got fed at the Centre. I'm getting quite hungry now," said Jarod not understanding why Rachel looked at him that way. .
"There's some packages of Smarties in the log compartment," said the profiler as she pulled over to the curb, and spoke in her cell phone. "Broots, Rachel Burke here. I'd like a sample of Jarod's hair before he escaped the Centre." She waited for his answer. "Thank you, Mr. Broots. You can reach me by this number," and turned to Jarod, "It'll take at least a couple of hours."
They caught a plane at the airport, rather than drive all the way to the Dominant School.
She discussed the case with Jarod, but he hardly said a word except, "I knew if Miss Parker made me get in her—shouldn't have killed Thomas."
"Get in her? Oh. And who's Thomas?"
"I fixed Miss Parker and Thomas up, but Brigitte killed Thomas. Maybe that's why she's angry."
"I would be too if I were Miss Parker and I'd fume. Two years of dating Aaron and he marries that snobbish Naomi Zimmerman just because her father has this stupid little shop on Fifth—" She looked daggers at the Pretender who had his mouth slightly open as in surprise. "Oh sorry, Jarod, I was getting carried away. Do you suppose she was waiting for a marriage proposal from you?"
"I know nothing about marriages; besides the Centre would not let it happen." He wondered why he told her this, but assumed it was because she now knew about the Centre or thought she did.
"It's a legal and or religious ceremony when the priest or rabbi says the couple is husband and wife. You get a certificate so that if one of you dies later, your inheritance goes to your partner or your children if you both die without a will. If you are married in the church or in the synagogue you're married in the sight of God."
"Which one?"
"There's only one God, Jarod. They did keep you ignorant didn't they?"
"Of lots of things, but it's a moot point. Besides, Brigitte died in childbirth, but not until she gave an heir to the Centre." His voice grew bitter and then he told her what went on with him and Miss Parker at the three-story house, telling each little detail as if reading from a Mathematical textbook. He was emotionless, as if his every reaction to the assault was a matter of course.
"Was the Centre behind the hit on Thomas?"
"Yes so Miss Parker could not leave the Centre, not that she had much future in it. They'd do anything to keep me and Miss Parker apart. Do you know they even created Ethan using Catherine Parker and my father, Major Charles making him mine and Miss Parker's half brother? A few years later, people would forget the half. Do you see the implications?"
"I do: Incest. Is there any other thing that I should know?"
"I have a clone called Gemini and the Parker baby is not in the main Centre nursery, not even the one for the regulars, that is, electricians, mechanics, the ones who attend to the upkeep. Both nurseries are near the infirmary and when he was born, Mr. Parker did not pick him up."
"Strange— if he is his son."
Jarod shook his head. "He's neither Raines nor Lyles. If he were, he would be out of the Centre and in a foster home with one shot, Raines or Lyle would then come along about ten or more years later, put a bullet in the foster parents and take him back to the Centre to be raised a true Parker."
She asked Jarod about his relationship with Miss Parker, trying to be discreet as possible.
It was stormy. They were friends as children, but his friend gradually began to despise him, and although she did not exactly say it, Miss Parker regarded Jarod as the lowest of the low for all his genius and his chameleon ability.
"I have no idea how that came out," he said, "I'm different now. It's like as if I see things, hear things, and smell things at a higher level. Before I got upset, and even cried and not just when someone I knew died, more than normal. I was terrified all the time and I didn't know why, But now, I do not have those feelings, it takes more to hurt me, anyway. Miss Parker does not understand this yet." He knew Miss Parker blamed him for Thomas's death and expected him to make up for it. He had told her that he did not have the gift of foreknowledge and she had better kill him then and now if she thought he was responsible.
"That five minute sense, isn't that foreknowledge?"
"No. It's the emotion, the other person shoots off. Your kind has feelings, but in us, our hunches take physical manifestations."
"What if the person is a stranger?"
"It might be something to do with the optical nerve combined with a natural telescopic ability, of which I am unaware"
"I understand," said the Profiler, "you can make out details at extremely large distances, your mind calculates when the person or persons approach, and to avoid confusion, your mind turns off the irrelevant material. It's something what I acquired through observation." She reached under her seat and handed Jarod a book. "I have a suspicion that the Centre did not want you to act like a man. This might help you."
He read the cover. "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus," thanked her, and browsed through it which he find was quite easy while driving and still keeping an eye on the road.—not that was not that hard, seeing there was not much traffic. "I presume suspecting something is wrong is beneficial in raising children. I used to say they're so trusting, but now I wonder."
Rachel shook her head, but remained calm, having heard such and the opposite statement that children were monsters, such being said by singles and sometimes by married women who let the appearance of the single woman addressed to determine what they would say.
He read more from the book and told Rachel about his life at the Centre, and the influence it had on his life, comparing it to an analogy of a light, a vivacious of life all children had, but that the Centre destroyed. His light had been dimmed and all remained of his former nature was his ability to become anyone he wanted to be. His clone had the same experience and even after the rescue, he got reports from Major Charles that "Gemini is eager to please and overly polite, too eager. With that 'can I get that for you, sir' or 'please what can I do for you?' Not like a teenager. I was rebellious at that age."
Later he got messages that "he's changed considerably, like a new person and he frightens me," and later, "It's amazing how things have changed. Gem rewired the whole house, set up an alarm system so that if any of the Centre goons come, they will be surprised. The alarm system is better than the old one, more powerful. A friend of mine, a general now, recommended the ROTC program." The clone was now becoming a full-fledged Dominant.
However, Jarod understood that Gemini was a duplicate of himself. In twenty or thirty years, if a similar circumstance happened, the clone would escape and be pursued by a team of sweepers and do pretends just as his originator had. The only way to prevent this was to let the Major raise Gemini and for Jarod to learn through emails what his life and reactions would be.
"Perhaps you could tell me now," said Rachel. "You mentioned drugs. How did you come to your conclusion?"
Jarod told of the nutritional supplements he received, not even a balanced meal. Every morning the Centre, through Sydney, brought him a bowl of some stuff, which he now called pig slop and said, "I must apologize to any pigs in listening distance." It contained most of the correct vitamins, minerals, and calories to sustain him during the day and he was only allowed to eat six spoonfuls at one setting, three times a day. Since the bowl was away from his sight at least twice, the Centre could put anything in his food.
"In one of his letters, Major Charles told me a doctor came over with a social worker came over to see that my mother gave the medication to me. It was standard policy in the schools—that should have made that Dominant group that originated in Mexico, suspicious". .
"So this drug whatever it is, robs Dominants of their independence. There is a Dominant school in Connecticut where we might see how the New Species really acts. By its architecture, I'd say they made the connection over twenty years ago
"Well I hope they have a good student attendance."
"Why?"
"I remember overhearing a conversation between Raines and Mr. Parker about the supply of those with the Pretender gene drying up and I assumed it was because the Pretender gene made one sterile. The first thing I do when I get back is to search for others like me. I have a feeling that there is more than was assumed. It would be easy if there were about two hundred or more Dominants or Pretenders at this school. Oh, by the way, you weren't upset about the money, were you?"
"No. I'll write Miss Parker a note. I have a feeling the Centre blackmailed her into doing what she did. " The look on Rachel's face showed hopefulness. At least the Dominants did not pretend benevolence like the Centre.
"That's the Centre way," said Jarod, "promising things and endangering her integrity but getting her to do something she would not normally do, but I did get what I wanted." He looked at Rachel's shocked face. "It's what I am now, not what I was before. We're new or think we're new."
When Rachel asked Jarod his future plans, he told her that he'd fix the house and remove any listening and video devices the Centre planted. He was certain that either Mr. Lyle or Raines had planted them and then he changed the subject. "She wants children. She might even be pregnant. I'm going to be a father, but this time I want to be with them, not have them corrupted by the Centre."
"Like Frederick and Margaret? Oh, you're speaking of Miss Parker's supposed little brother and of Lyle. What do you plan to do?"
"Make sure that the Centre doesn't have me killed after they find the offspring are Pretenders or rather Homo Dominants. I have to get used to that definition." He elaborated more about when he and Miss Parker first met. "There is some inconsistency. After we kissed, I went back to the sim lab, but I remember my clothes were different. I asked Sydney about it. He said that I fell on the floor. I tore my clothes so the Centre Laundry gave me a new pair. A period of time must have elapsed that I still can't account for."
Lewison met them at the airport. He took one look at Jarod, recognizing a fellow Dominant as Rachel took a folder from her glove compartment.. "You are one of us." He looked at Frederick and Margaret. "I want a full report as soon as possible."
"Yes sir," said Frederick, "Miss Parker, a most noble of woman is letting Jarod help Miss Burke, a crime solver in a most important case."
For the first time in his life since he was a little boy, Jarod let the pride of being a Dominant or 1.6r sweep over him. He smiled.
Rachel touched his hand and handed the folder to Lewison. "This is a case we're working on. Perhaps you can give us some insight into the situation?"
"Did the children conduct themselves in an appropriate manner?" he asked as he looked through it. "I hope when yours are mature, perhaps we can find a way in the school for them."
"Frederick and Margaret are perfect—" She thought to say 'angels', but knew that is not what Lewison meant, so she used the term "Representatives of their species.' There are those where I went who do not recognize their intelligence, and Frederick wrote your motto to strike fear in their hearts."
Frederick had no idea who wrote on the wall. Jarod could have done it, perhaps that Carla, or one of the others, perhaps someone that pretended to be human. Surely, the Council (which he learned about while in California), had spies in the Centre) would have to allow such a thing to go on.
Lewison took them to his office and showed them the history of the Dominants, their rise in Mexico and their eventual dispersal.
"Mexico?" asked Rachel.
"Our ancestors were from Europe. Thousands of years ago, we were the majority, ruling over the whole continent. You have read the great book written by the Advocate and approved by the Council?" He took a book off his shelf and handed it to her.
It had an ornate purple cover with gold trim embossed print with colored photographs inside of Oaxaca Mexico, and a map showing the Dominant dispersal from that area to California, New Mexico, and Nevada. In the center was a picture of a column decorated with symbols. There were other photographs of Dominant families, Dominant hunting parties, and spoils from victims. As well, the author of the book laid it in sections according to history, customs, culture, rules, and beliefs. Part of the book was blank with a title, The Lost Ships and Lewison showed it to Jarod and Rachel with a reverence usually devoted to God. The last revision happened in 1998, and a notation underneath it told the reader to refer to page 543. Rachel thumbed through it. It was small paragraph mentioning the Damaged Ones.
"What does he mean by damaged?" asked Jarod.
"I have no idea," said Rachel, "probably your kind who might have been in an accident. I would guess the Centre found them at their most vulnerable state and either killed or captured them."
"We will not kill you for you do not tremble before us," said Lewison. It was a code of the Dominants. Those who were not afraid of them, those who faced them, and were willing to accept death, were safe from extermination. Besides, he could wait. This Rachel woman had borne dominant children. In time, she would grow old, but her sons would impregnate human females, the girl united with a Dominant male. The children would be themselves Dominants. It was a perfect plan.
"You won't stand a chance."
"That's what the Chosen one's favorite said and she's still alive and he married her. A. political union, one that's supposed to bring us together. It won't sell." He showed her around his office. "You'll need someone to infiltrate this group," said Lewison, "but not you. Is there someone of the same background of this Kenyan?"
"There's a few African Americans or Blacks at the bureau," said Rachel.
"He has to be from the same background, Miss Burke," said Lewison. He turned on his computer, pulling up an article on East Africa, and then opened a web page showing photographs of certain Kenyans. "The African American is a mixture of different strains, from different backgrounds. Those in the West part are dissimilar to those in the East. Also we take in consideration, mating with your American Indians, Caucasians, and so forth." He turned. "An immigrant from Tanganyika is working for your bureau in Albany."