"Frequencies."
"What are you talking about?" Growled Sky.
"Frequencies," Syd repeated. "My hand changes material when I touch something because I can feel its natural frequency."
Sky and Z turned their full attention to Syd.
"Sky, you can create a shield because you manipulate the air molecules into a solid using their frequencies. Z, you can duplicate your own frequency to create copies of yourself. Jack can change his own frequency to that of other objects in order to pass through them!"
Z and Sky caught on what Syd was saying.
"But what about Bridge?" Z asked.
Syd thought for a moment and consulted the reports.
"Bridge must be able to tap into the frequencies of our brains to see our moods."
Sky stepped in.
"So if we can figure out what frequency Bridge operates at…"
"...we can figure out a counter frequency!" Z finished.
The three stared at each other half in disbelief and half in relief. They figured out how to help Bridge.
"One problem," Sky sat down. "How do we figure out his frequency?"
"How about we start on us?" Z suggested. "If we can figure out how to find ours, then we can probably use it for Bridge."
Syd nodded.
"We'll need to learn everything we can about frequencies. And we should tell Jack and the others what we're planning." Syd pulled out her phone to text them, but Sky placed a hand on hers.
"You did great, but you still need sleep. I'll contact the others. Go hit the hay."
Syd grunted at him. She hated when he was right. She still needed sleep, but at least now she felt like she'd done something worthwhile.
As if to accentuate Sky's point, Syd felt herself crashing from the caffeine high of her last cup of coffee. She stumbled out the door in the direction of her room.
"You think this'll work?" Z asked Sky. He shrugged.
"We have to make it work. Bridge doesn't have many other options."
"He also doesn't have a lot of time." Jack waltzed into the room. "Where's Syd?"
Sky checked his watch.
"She's sleeping. Why are you here instead of with Bridge?"
Jack shrugged.
"Docs kicked me out so he could sleep. What's going on here?"
Z filled him in on their plan, and Jack listened intently.
"Whatever we do, we better hurry. His powers started seeping through his gloves today."
Z and Sky's faces lit up in alarm, and the three set about to work immediately.
Bridge's powers had never slipped through the gloves before. What happened to Bridge during that month that caused his powers to grow exponentially like this? Sky couldn't imagine it, but he knew it wasn't good. None of them had been able to expand their powers, but somehow whoever took Bridge figured it out. Sky didn't like the idea that some unknown assailant knew more about their powers than they did.
Jack left to update Kat, Cruger, and Dr. Felix on their plans. Z made her way to the library and the archives room to gather any other materials they needed. Sky stayed behind to make space for the new resources and generally clean up so they could start semi-fresh. While at first, this seemed a menial task, it proved much more difficult. The papers from specific files were spread all over the room, and a few even landed on the floor. Sky spent the better part of four hours sorting and stacking files.
Z returned periodically to drop off materials before she headed to a different location for more. At some point, Jack returned with a plate of food for Sky and then left to aid Z. The longer he cleaned, the more appreciation he had for the archivists who usually took care of file maintenance after missions. Usually, he'd get frustrated if they took too long, but now it seemed he may have been wrong to scold them.
Jack and Z came in with the last load for the moment, and they divided up the tasks among themselves. Z researched general information about natural frequencies while Sky and Jack figured out a way to measure their powers. When Syd returned, she helped Z on the research.
Their second wind carried them late into the night, Sky slept in one of the cots at the back of the room. Jack, Z, and Syd continued into the morning hours before they took time to sleep.
When Sky awoke, the others had left. He realized no one had updated Bridge on their progress, so after a quick breakfast Sky was on his way to the hospital.
As Sky swung his speeder around the streets, the hair on the back of his neck tingled. He checked in his rearview mirror. A black four-door sedan followed him as he turned. Sky turned again and the car followed. Sky sped up and the car sped up. Sky had veered fifteen minutes out of the way of the hospital, and still the car persisted.
Sky's hands began to sweat. He didn't like this at all. He controlled the fear rising in his chest and focused on the road, looking for any turn-off with a width smaller than the car. His heart pounded as he sped faster and faster through the city. The further out they went, the less people there were. The fewer witnesses there were.
Finally, Sky spied an alleyway up ahead of him, his tires screeched at the sharp turn. Sky stopped just at the end of the alleyway and turned his head around to see the car slow down as it passed by. The squealing of tires told Sky he'd lost his tail, and he didn't wait to see if they'd find him again.
Doubts crept in as he once again headed for the hospital. Was someone really following him? Was he just being paranoid? Was it the same people as the ones who took Bridge? Sky pulled into the hospital's parking garage and took several minutes to calm his racing heart.
When he got himself under control, he went in to see Bridge.
His friend was sitting up in bed eating eggs.
"I'm surprised you're not eating extra buttery toast." Sky took a seat in the chair next to Bridge's bed. Bridge made a face.
"Who eats just buttery toast for a meal?"
Sky's stomach sank.
"You should try it. You might be surprised."
Bridge shrugged and reached for his water.
"What's wrong."
It was more of a statement than a question. Sky checked Bridge's hands. His gloves were still on. Jack had said Bridge's powers were seeping out of the gloves. Could he tell Sky was still on edge from his earlier encounter? Sky was a trained marksman, he was used to getting his nerves under control. Could Bridge still see his uneasiness in his aura? Even with gloves?
"Nothing."
Bridge nodded and took another bite.
"You're lying." Bridge looked at Sky. "Yes, I can still sense your aura. Obviously not as strongly as if I had my gloves off, but I can't do that because I can't tone down all the auras and emotions enough to even be able to single you out to read just your aura even if I wanted to read your aura specifically…" Bridge trailed off.
Sky waited for him to go on, but he didn't.
"Jack said that your gloves weren't cutting it anymore." Sky leaned back in his chair. "We're working on something we think may help. Syd figured out our powers have something to do with frequencies. We're working, but it may take some time before we figure out a containment chamber."
Bridge's face turned into a deep frown.
"You ok, buddy?"
Bridge shook his head.
"You said our powers have to do with frequencies. It sounds familiar, but I can't remember why." Bridge stared down his sheets in concentration.
"Don't strain yourself, it'll come back eventually."
"When?" Bridge snapped, surprising both of them. Bridge took a breath and started again. "I lost my memory, not my observation skills. I can see the bags under everyone's eye when you come to see me. I can feel how exhausted you are and I know how hard you've been trying. Meanwhile, I'm just sitting here, doing nothing."
Sky never had a great bedside manner. He didn't know what to do. What was there to say? If the team needed a pep talk, that was Jack's job. People only went to Sky if they wanted brutal honesty. He could tell that wasn't what Bridge needed.
"We'll figure it out," was all Sky could think of to say.
Sky stayed by Bridge's side most of the day. They talked about Bridge's transfer back to SPD headquarters in a few days. Sky tried to keep the conversation light and amiable, but the atmosphere was still heavy.
Sky's phone buzzed with a message from Jack. Sky sighed and shoved the phone back in his pocket.
"Let me guess, you have to go." Bridge commented.
Sky nodded.
"I'll see you soon though." Sky turned to leave.
"You never did tell me what was wrong." Bridge called after him.
Sky paused.
"Get some rest, ok?" Sky didn't face Bridge, but instead strode out the door. He still wasn't sure what to make of the car from earlier, but he didn't want to worry Bridge unnecessarily.
Sky rolled his shoulders to shrug off the last of his unease and stepped outside the hospital. When he looked up, a black four-door sedan awaited him.
Author's Note: Hello hello! It's been a few years, but after I figured I should finally get back to what I love: writing. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear from my readers! I promise I won't disappear for three years in the middle of a story this time.