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CHAPTER TWELVE

Stephen and Russell stared through a glass partition at John, who had been strapped into a medical chair. Cara was in the room with him, trying to get through to him telepathically. "So what do you think happened to him?"Russell asked. Stephen gave him a look. Russell took a few moments to interpret it, then his eyes widened in realisation. "No! Jeddy?"

"He was the last person with John before he disappeared. We know he gave John his powers back. Guess he did something else to him along the way."

"And I really thought we'd stopped looking over our shoulders to see if he was sneaking up with a mallet. So what's his angle?"

Stephen shrugged. "I think only John can tell her that."

At that moment, they saw Cara knocked backwards. Stephen made to enter the room but Russell stopped him. "Wait, look. He just pushed her out of his mind. She's coming out."

Cara emerged from the room, shaking her head. "I tried to get through to him, to remind him of who he was. But he wouldn't listen."

"You want me to try?"Russell asked.

"No, I think there's only one person he'll listen to. Keep an eye on him." She headed off down the corridor.

Moments later, Sophie appeared from the other direction. Stephen gave her a sympathetic look. "How are you feeling?"

Sophie shrugged. "Being chucked around by a crazed sleeper agent is just how I like to spend my Friday nights." Her demeanour became serious. "Stephen, I think you need to talk to Luca."

Luca was sitting on his own in the rec room when Stephen entered and cautiously approached him. "So…I hear you've broken out then?"

Luca glowered at him. "Who told you that?"

"Sophie." Stephen saw Luca avert his gaze. "I think she cares about you, you know."

Luca looked up hopefully. "Really?"

Stephen smiled at him. "Really."

Luca sighed. "I just don't get how it happened. I haven't felt ill or anything…"

"Well, John was threatening you. Maybe the adrenaline rush triggered it or something…Look, if you want the scientific explanation, ask Irene."

Luca nodded. "What's happening with John?"

"I don't know, they're still looking into it. What about you, how are you feeling? Not just about John, about everything."

"Bit weird. But I guess I've got used to you lot being around. Shouldn't be too hard adjusting."

"Good, you can tell Mum then."

Luca winced. "She is going to have a fit, isn't she?"

"She was probably expecting it." Stephen patted his brother on the shoulder. "Welcome to the club."

John struggled against his bonds. There were restrictions in place to stop him using teleportation or telekinesis and there was no-one he wanted to use telepathy on. So he was just there. He looked up at movement and saw someone enter. Charlotte.

"They say that…you did what you did because…because you're with Jedikiah again."

John looked at her. "He's our only hope, Charlotte. He'll help us do what we should be doing, serve humanity. We have to stop the Tomorrow People, they'll destroy everything for all of us. Let me out."

"No!" Charlotte looked at him aghast. "Don't you remember the Citadel, everything he did? He hurt me, hurt all of us. He killed Errol, my friend. He let Julian…do things to me. You have to remember."

"Help me,"John told her through gritted teeth,"or get out." His voice rose to a roar. "Get out!"

Russell hurried into the room and took hold of Charlotte. "Come on, let's go." He led her out.

"I hate Jedikiah,"Charlotte spat. "All he does is hurt people."

"I think all of us hate him about now,"Russell agreed. "Don't worry about John. We'll help him."

Cara found Astrid in the kitchen. She paused, aware that she had a difficult subject to broach. Astrid looked up at her. "How's John?"

"Confused. I'm trying to get through to him but I can't." Cara took a deep breath. "Astrid, I need your help."

Astrid looked surprised. "Me? But how, why?"

"I've been trying to jog his memories of his time with us but it's not enough. I need something else. I need you. I need to give him back his memories of you."

"Why would that help?"

Cara sighed. "Because he loved you in a way he never loved me. Because last time he was lost, you were the one that brought him back."

"I'm not a telepath, I can't…"

"I can make the link. I can take your memories and pass them on to him."

Astrid thought about this. "Would you be able to see the memories too?"

Cara nodded. "If there was any other way…" She could see Astrid wasn't sure. "You love him, right?" Astrid hesitated and then nodded. "Me too. I'm not in love with him. I'm not sure if I ever was. It's become more than that. He's family. He's saved my life more times than I can count. And right now, he needs both of us."

Astrid looked at her, her expression suddenly determined. "What do you want me to do?"

John found himself on a rooftop, Astrid in front of him. Just inside his vision, a wave of light was moving towards him. "You were the best thing about being human,"he told her and kissed her.

Then he was somewhere else, lying on his back, blood pouring from his stomach, Astrid holding his hand and singing to him. He flashed from place to place: Lying in the dirt as a car sped past; on a subway, his confidence restored; jumping off a speeding train, hand in hand; the simple pleasure of her flesh against his, even when he didn't remember her…

And then he was in a cell in Ultra, strapped down. Back in the present. Cara let go of his hand and turned to Astrid, who was still holding her other hand. Silently, Cara stepped aside, ushering Astrid to John's side.

Astrid looked at him hopefully. "Welcome back?"she asked.

John nodded, his eyes full of regret.

John was walking between Cara and Astrid as they entered the conference room. Stephen, Russell, Irene, Mike and Lucy stood up to greet them. Stephen gave his one-time mentor a nod of greeting. "Good to have you back."

Mike seemed less keen. "Are we sure he's all right?"

"I scanned him,"Cara confirmed. "He's clean."

"I'm sorry for what I did to you,"John said quietly. "To all of you."

Russell shrugged. "Hey, no sweat. I'm sure I've done plenty to deserve it over the years."

Stephen gestured for them all to sit down. "John, what's going on? What happened?"

"It was Jedikiah,"John answered.

"We let him off way too easy,"Russell sighed.

"Some of us didn't get let off so easily by him,"Irene agreed.

Stephen motioned for them to be quiet. "What's he doing?"

"He's building an army,"John explained. "He's going to try and bring all telepaths under his control. I was meant to deliver you and Cara to him. Then his men were going to come in here, kill or capture everyone they saw."

"Is this attack still going to take place?"Lucy asked. John shrugged.

"Maybe we should get ready just in case,"Astrid suggested.

"Or strike first,"Stephen replied.

Cara shook her head. "Stephen, we don't have enough people here to take on an army."

"Then I'll go,"John said. "Alone."