"Your daughter is here?" I say as we continue down the hall, sandwiched between the guards.
"Of course she is. Why would I leave her at home alone?" Dr. G. smirks.
"Home, as in, all the way in England or just down the street?"
"Home, as in, back on earth… I am just kidding." She laughs.
I almost believe her. "You also told me that the only ones here are your staff."
"I told you of everyone on my staff. My daughter Anya is not on staff."
"Is there anyone else here 'not on staff'?"
"There is no one else, unless you would like to be officially added to the roster."
"We'll see." I say as we walk into a large room. It looks like a library, but there are only desks with computer screens… no books. There are comfy-looking, yet futuristically styled chairs along the narrow desks, soft light from table lamps and a fifteen-inch Screen Time on the wall next to a grandfather clock.
"Why do you want Anya to meet me? She doesn't already know what I am, does she?" I ask.
"You've missed two week's worth of lessons with her and she has not stopped worrying about you. You two can meet and have her lessons in here, as long as you are with us. And no, she does not know you are a mutant turtle."
"You think maybe that's an important thing to tell the little girl before meeting me?"
"If she becomes hysterical, I'll have Gleiv shoot her with a tranquilizer."
"You'd better be kidding." I murmur as I sit down on a comfy couch. I opt for this position, to look as unintimidating as possible, lest the child shriek.
"Of course I am! She may be my little stepsister but she knows me as 'mother' and that is the way it will stay… Give Anya some credit. I think she may surprise us all." The doctor assures me.
The door silently lifts open and a young girl walks through the threshold. She goes and stands beside Dr. Gavnikov. "You wanted to see me, Mother?"
Her voice instantly sounds familiar.
"I would like you to meet someone." Dr. Gavnikov says as she points at me, sitting on the couch. The girl turns to me. I stiffen a bit once our eyes meet and when they do, I am sure we are both thinking the same thing.
She lets go of the doctor's hand and steps toward me. I stand and remind myself to breathe. She's wearing a colorfully knitted shawl that drapes down over her arms. She is about four feet tall, a standard height for a child her age; with the most-golden hazel eyes I've ever seen.
"Hello. My name is Donnie." I say softly as I offer my hand.
Her little nostrils wrinkle and her eyes grow larger at, I assume, recognizing my name and voice. "H-hello!" She smiles and the gap in her teeth make my heart skip. "You must be Mr. Donnie! I can't believe I'm actually meeting you! It's me, Anya! Wow!" She turns to the doctor. "Mother, did you know he's, like, thee smartest person in the world?" She takes my hand with both of hers and shakes it in greeting.
Gavnikov just smiles.
"Anya…" I say absently. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well. What a… pretty young lady you are."
"Thank you." She says shyly. "So, what are you doing here?" She gasps. "Are you here to tutor me in person?"
"Uh, yes, and I'm also here to help Dr. Gav, uh, your mother, in the lab as well." This is so bazaar.
"Anya dear, why don't you fetch your notebooks and data-pad from your room? You and Mr. Donnie can have your lesson in here today." The doctor says.
"Cool! I'll be right back." Anya dashes to the door and looks back at me. "I can't believe you're actually here!" She pauses for a moment. "You look nothing at all like I imagined, Mr. Donnie."
I could say the same thing, little girl. "Is that a good thing?" I ask.
"It's absolutely phenomenal!" She says and disappears down the hall.
I stick out my bottom lip and glance over at the doctor whose face is beaming with the satisfaction of shocking me, yet again. I roll my eyes. "Well, Doctor, don't keep me waiting any longer. Due tell! I'm dying to know how in the world your 'daughter' also happens to be a mutant turtle!"
The doctor strides over to me and sits on the couch. She pats the cushion next to me and I slowly join her. I'm looking at her and she's looking at me. She's staring as if the answer to my latest inquiry is obvious. "Think about it." she says.
…Okay…
…Duh…
"Professor Perry mutated a turtle and meant to raise her as his own. That's… I don't know what that is! Did he tell you why?"
"If you consider the timeline I think it makes sense. Once Umen scrapped Jordan's Protagen project, my mother's meddling was no longer needed. My mother didn't want to leave New York; she'd already fallen in love with Jordan and was carrying his child. Umen eventually forced her to go back to Russia, unable to give Jordan any contact information. Then later Jordan met you and your brothers when you were fifteen. You must have given him samples of your mutated turtle DNA to be a starting point for Antigen… Jordan must have infused your DNA into an embryo and mutated the hatchling."
"So… Dr. Perry created Anya… but you both have the same hazels eyes. How…?"
She places a hand on my arm, stopping me short. We look over at the door as Anya bounces in, holding a large number of high-level books, which would look ridiculous in any other ten-year-old's hands. She makes her way to the table and invites me over with a big, gapped smile.
Anya sits on her knees in the chair at the table and methodically lays out her books and notes. She can barely wait for me to sit down across from her before she begins 'my' lesson. "Mr. Donnie, I have completed my homework for chapter nine in this book. I think I have the gist of dominant descending traits but… I have some follow-up questions for chapter 3 on synapses in this book."
Sheesh!
"Alright. Let's start with your questions and then I'll check your homework."
"Cool!" she says.
"Anya, I thought I told you to bring your tablet. Everything you need from those books is all on that one little piece of polyurethane."
"I know but I like books. I like turning the pages." She says, as if books should never be replaced.
The doctors sighs. "Very well, darling. I'll be here at my desk if you need anything." I watch her go to the large desk at the back of the room." I'm ordering some tea. Would either of you like something to drink?"
"I'd love some cocoa please." Anya says and the tail end of the word 'please' gets lost as it whistles through her gap. Adorable.
"Alright, Love. And for you, Mr. Donnie?" The doctor smiles at me.
"I'll… take a coffee, black." I say.
"I'll let Devin know." She says.
The doctor begins calling up the kitchen via her S-Wrist and I turn my attention to Anya, who is readily attentive to me. I smile at her and her grinning back at me is only outshined by her golden eyes. I've never really interacted with children in person and this child seems to be enamored with me. With the doctor occupied, I decide to use this sliver of time to indulge her… and maybe get some useful information as well.
"So, how are you today, Anya?"
"I'm right as rain and you?"
"Pleased as punch." I say and she giggles. "Your mom seems nice."
"She's wonderful. My mom is tops!"
"Well, she must be. Does she usually have your teachers come and school you in person?" I whisper.
"Oh, no." She mimics my volume. "I've been home-schooled, got my high school diploma online as well." She says with just a little pride. "You're actually the first… person, I've met in person, outside of Carder, Gleiv and the others on staff here."
I notice Carder and Gleiv at either side of the door. They look over at us when Anya speaks their names. Although I believe I've convinced them I won't hurt the doctor or her child, the two men are still armed. And they still follow me wherever I go to make sure I don't try anything stupid. The only privacy I have is behind the locked door of my quarters. There's no way I can ask direct questions with them so close. I still don't know where in the world I am, not that it really matters. And not being able to see or talk to my family, to let them know that I'm ok, has been heartbreaking...
Not as heartbreaking as Leo never seeing us again. At least I still have hope. I look down at one of Anya's books and open it, uncommitted to any information written therein when Anya places her hand over mine. Her three little fingernails have bright yellow polish.
"Mr. Donnie, I don't want to study. I just want to talk… is that ok?"
"Sure. What would you like to talk about?"
She smiles shyly. Her skin is a pure green, like the first tender blades of grass on the first day of spring. I swear I can see her blushing. "Isn't it obvious?" She whispers. "You are just like me, a mutant turtle. For a long time I thought that I was the only one."
She looks as if she is about to tear up. I quickly say… anything. "Well, now you know that you're not alone." I smile, trying to encourage her, also thinking that that was a strange thing to say. "So, there are no other mutants in England that you or Dr. Gav, uh, your mother know about?"
"I've seen other mutants, but only a few, and only the ones that have been brought here."
'Brought here'… a strange choice of words. I want to ask her where 'here' is but I can sense Carder straining to hear our words.
"I saw them in the cages downstairs. Carder took me down there once. They were wild and scary and most of them could not talk. He said that my mother helping them and that she was going to turn them back into regular animals."
That's strange. Why would Carder take her to see caged mutants? I wonder how Anya really feels about her mother wanting to change them back.
"Have you ever been on a plane, Mr. Donnie?" Anya asks.
An odd subject change, but I go with it. "Uh, no I haven't… have you?"
She smiles a familiar smile of knowing something she can't wait to share. She leans over to me. "Of course. We didn't swim across the pond from England to New York; although I do love being 'surrounded' by water."
My eyes grow wide. So we are still in America? Still in New York… and surrounded by water? That narrows my present location down to a few places I can think of. But I'm not certain yet. I'm closer to home than I thought I was. I'm happy that I'm not a thousand miles away on some remote island… and she must know that I was 'brought' here like the other mutants were, against their will. I think Anya is much smarter that she lets on. When Carder notices we've been a little too quiet to be going over a lesson, he starts to walk over to us.
Anya must hear Carder's footfalls or just be paying attention to my expression. She almost yells. "I've read a lot about our natural counterparts. Turtles can hold their breath for over an hour. I can hold my breath for almost five minutes now. How long can you stay underwater, Mr. Donnie?
"Uh… up to ten minutes… it's been a while so I'm a little out of practice." I say.
Anya starts to bounce on her knees in excitement. "That's totally awesome! I can do something else regular turtles can do. Watch!"
In an instant Anya's head recedes down into the top of her shell. It was a bit jarring to see her arms flailing about without a head on her shoulders. My brothers and I haven't been able to do that since we were her age… Mikey still tries. Carder is also a bit taken back by the girl's action. He shakes his head and goes back to stand with Gleiv by the door. Gleiv is rolling. The door lifts open and Ms. Devin walks in with a small tray.
"I've got the hot stuff." She announces.
"Nannie McGaff!" Anya's muffled voice comes out of her shell. The old lady jumps and gives a small yelp, almost dropping her tray when she sees the 'decapitated' girl amble toward her with arms stretched wide. Anya stops and tries to reach for her cup of cocoa.
"Honestly, Anya, you're going to send me out of here before my time!" She places the cup into the girl's searching hand.
Anya's miniature globe of a head finally emerges. "Sorry." She turns back at me and winks. What a clever kid.
The doctor walks over and takes the tray from Ms. Devin. "Thank you." She sets the tray down at my table and places a napkin down under a large white mug of coffee. The strong fragrance of steam hits my nose and I welcome the sensation openly.
"I can see a lot of teaching and learning has been going on since I left you two alone." Gavnikov says flippantly. I halfheartedly ignore her as I blow and take a loud sip of the hot brew between my lips.
It has been too long, my dark, liquid mistress!
Anya climbs back into her chair and addresses her mother's quandary rather quickly. "Mr. Donnie was instructing me on basic terrapin anatomy and how it contrasts from our mutated state."
"I'm so sure." Gavnikov says. She lifts her own mug from the tray and gives me a… playful… warning… confusing look as she turns and heads to her own workstation in the corner.
Ms. Devin shuffles over to me and gives me a quick look over. "So, how are things, Donnie?"
"Much better." I say over the rim of my mug. "Ms. Devin, this coffee is liquid gold to me right now."
"And this cocoa is chocolate gold to me!" Anya joins in.
We both look back at the doctor, who tepidly lifts her cup and says. "Your tea is always good, N'ann."
"N'ann?" I ask and turn to Ms. Devin, who wipes her hands with a rag hidden in her pocket and takes a seat next to our table.
"Aye. I've been with the Gavnikov family since Tabby and Umi were babes."
"Tabby and Umi?" I ask.
"Tabitha and Umen." The Dr. G. explains.
"Oh yes," Devin chimes in. "I watched them grow, tried to keep them in line. And when they got older and moved to America, I kept the family manor running until… well, until someone came home with more children or I got my release papers. Luckily Tabby came home, belly about to burst, then, m'dear Sasha came along." Ms. Devin says as she waves her handkerchief toward the blushing doctor.
Sasha. I love her name.
"When Tabby died I was at a loss. Had no idea what to do with my blossoming Sasha-kin. As I was sifting through the objects found with Tabby… when she passed, there was an old folder with Umen's name on it. It was filled with letters and pictures from a Dr. Jordan Perry that had never made it to our doorstep. I contacted Dr. Perry at once and told him all that had happened in the fourteen years that he and Tabitha had been separated. Within that week he had shown up at the Gavnikov manor and moved Sasha and me to England. And then little Anya came into our lives."
I want to ask Ms. Devin how she felt about being a nanny to a baby mutant turtle, if she had second thoughts about her decision of staying with the Gavnikov's now unconventional family. My question is answered when I see Anya cuddle her Nannie and lay warm cocoa-scented kisses over the cooing woman's face.
"Oh my Anya, why are ya wearing this old thing? This tattered shawl is half your age… it barely comes down to your elbows. Oh. My little leprechaun, your eyes, my pot of gold! You're growing like a weed.
"Nannie." Anya blushes. "This is my favorite one. I love all the colors." She looks down at her knitted poncho and twists her arms from side to side, making it twirl.
"Well, then I'll have to make you another one. I'll put it on my 'to do' list." Devin whips out some yellow tape and quickly measures Anya's arm. "Alright…" She then looks over at me. "And how are your clothes fairing, Donnie?"
"Oh, they're very nice. It's different, but I really like them. I admire your ingenuity."
"Good then. You'll get another batch coming by next week. Any particular style you like?" She asks as she whips out a pen and paper.
"Devin!" Dr. Gav, well, Sasha calls over to her. "Where's the data –pad I gave you?"
"Right her in my pocket, love. Get back to work."
Shade.
"Well, why aren't you using it?"
"Battery is dead."
"Well, all you have to do is sit it on one of the fifty charging beds in this place. You don't even have to plug it in, N'ann!"
Do I hear the doctor whining? Hilarious.
"Pencils don't need charging m'dear… Now Donnie, anything special I can make you?"
"Uh, my lifestyle had never the need for fancy clothing or any for that matter… I'm really liking the v-neck t-shirts. They're light and comfortable… maybe a few more of those, in different colors, and perhaps a dress shirt. I wonder how I would look wearing a crisp white one?"
"Hmm. I think purple is more your color. This is easy enough. Give me something tough next time." The old lady smirks at me.
"I appreciate it." I say.
"It's my job. Besides, I've had a lot of practice making clothes for my turtle tot over there.
"I have a whole wardrobe of clothes made just for me. I pick things out of magazines or online or sometimes I draw what I want and Nannie makes them for me." Anya sings.
"So, you cook, make clothes and rear children. You're like Super Nannie."
She smiles widely at me. "He's finally got it." she gets up and heads toward the door. "Speaking of cooking, best I get back to the kitchen. Until then."
Once Ms. Devin is gone I see Sasha relax her shoulders and cut her eyes at me. "You have less than an hour to finish your lesson, Mr. Donnie. After that, it's lunchtime.
Uh-huh. When Nannie's not in the room, you get your bravado back, eh Sasha?
"Can Mr. Donnie join us for lunch, Mother?" Anya asks excitedly. She reaches into her hot chocolate, pinches out a marshmallow and pops it in her mouth. She really does not need the extra sugar.
"If Mr. Donnie doesn't mind fish and chips, he is more than welcome."
"So long as bugs aren't on the menu, I gladly accept you invitation." I respond as I sip my cup serenely.
"Hmph." Is all she can say.
…
A/N: Awe! Anya is sooo cute! And Devin is a lovely old lady ain't she? Any comments?