Chaos: Thunder on High
Chapter III
Jessica stared down at the table, counting the number of lines were in the polished wood. Surrounding her was one of London's smaller parks.
She was waiting for her blind date that Lucy had set her up on. All she knew about the guy was that his name was Isaac Lee. Aside from that she was clueless, and that's what Jessica hated the most.
Lucy was sitting a good distance away in the shadows, intent on observing the whole date and seeing how it went.
She made a signal at Jessica that indicated Isaac had just walked in. He was directed over to the table where Jessica was sitting.
"Jessica Reynolds," he said in surprise. "I didn't know you were the one Lucy was talking about."
Jessica found his cockney accent to be easy on her ears. It was probably his light yet firm voice. "You know me?" She asked him, shooting a look at Lucy who shrugged visibly.
Isaac sat down. As he did so, Jessica looked him over. His black hair was shaggy, but not unkempt. His eyes were a light hazel color and his teeth a dazzling white.
"I do," Isaac said cheerfully. "You're probably wondering how. You see, I happen to know that you were in New York a few years ago…during the crisis with Alex Mercer."
Jessica stared at him, unblinking. "How'd you know that?"
"I was there too," he replied. "I had been visiting a distant relative, but those events caused me to have to cut my visit short."
"Yeah," replied Jessica. "The spread of a deadly virus would cause problems. It certainly did for me."
Isaac raised an eyebrow. "How so…if you don't mind me asking?"
"Blackwatch forces shot my parents in front of me," Jessica said bitterly.
"I'm sorry," Isaac said. "All I can offer you is sympathy."
Jessica looked up at him and smiled. "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."
Isaac glanced out at the city. "Now this thing has spread to London. It's almost as if it's following me or something." He paused. "I'm sure it's nothing to do with either of us."
"What does that mean?" inquired Jessica.
"Never mind," Isaac told her. "So…how are you enjoying the city?"
Jessica sighed. "You know, it's a nice enough place. Up until yesterday I thought the lack of nonsensical destruction was making it boring."
"Really?" Isaac laughed. "You must have enjoyed your time in New York Zero then."
Jessica watched him. "I'm perplexed. Is that sarcasm in your voice?"
Isaac shrugged. "It could be…I've gotten very well at hiding it over the years."
They watched each other for a few seconds. Jessica was trying to find some hidden emotion etched on his face. Isaac, according to his smirk, was waiting on her to laugh. Eventually she did.
"Okay," Jessica chuckled. "Maybe you were being sarcastic." She resumed her usual demeanor. "I wasn't really…connecting well with myself in New York Zero."
"How so?"
"Mercer seemed to…know me or something," said Jessica. "As much as I hated to admit it but I almost enjoyed the attention."
Isaac rubbed his temples. "I know…you're the one that Mercer infected. Before Heller, at least."
Jessica glanced behind her nervously. "What, uh…what are you talking about?"
"Don't play that game with me," Isaac replied. "I've seen you before." He took something out of his pocket, his cell phone, and showed her a picture that he'd taken.
It was an image of her, only her arm was morphed into a blade.
She sighed. "Yeah…you have."
"Don't worry about it," he told her. "I'm not seeing you as a dangerous threat. In fact, given what's been happening recently it may be a good thing you're here."
"Some might think so," Jessica said gloomily. "This is more like a curse than anything. I wouldn't wish it on anyone else."
Isaac sighed this time. "I really don't know what to say to that."
Jessica rested her chin on her hands. "Just don't bother yourself with it. I'm more curious about how you found the time to take a picture of me…and why've you kept it for so long?"
# # #
On the walk back to Lucy's house, Jessica noticed that her cousin kept shooting her several glances. She was grinning from ear to ear every time.
"What are you smiling about?" Jessica asked her.
"Oh, nothing," Lucy replied. After a long pause, she added, "You two got along better than I'd hoped."
Jessica slapped her hand audibly against her face. She'd known that this was coming. "You didn't tell me he was a manifestation of Sherlock Holmes."
Lucy looked back at her. "What's that mean?"
"He knew things about my past that I don't want to mention in public," Jessica replied.
"Oh," said Lucy. "Well…at least you know that he doesn't care about that, right?"
"I guess that's a good thing." Jessica shook her head. "I just don't know."
"Don't worry too much about it," Lucy chuckled. "I mean, you're making way too much out of this."
"I'm not trying to blow it out of proportion!"
"But you are," countered Lucy, "and doing a damn fine job of it, if I may add."
Jessica groaned. "Just forget it ever happened."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."