Prodigy

The truths to come

Kathy had known Kate since she was born, and she knew that the girl was nervous. Few people could read the girl, but years of being a therapist and a politician had given her the ability to see inside of people. On the outside, Kate was calm. She hugged her father goodbye, but something about the hug made it seem final. She knew that Adrian felt it also. Adrian was also excellent at reading people. This skill had been useful in professional sports and was even more useful to him in his position as first senator.

She waited until the flier had backed out of the port and into the open air before she spoke.

“Kate, what’s wrong? You may speak to me with absolute confidence. My profession prohibits me from disclosing anything.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Kate replied.

She paused for a minute; was she misreading the situation? She didn’t believe that she was. “Kate, you want to tell me something. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

Kate’s voice spoke inside her head. Everything is wrong. I don’t belong here, no one can understand me, and I’m afraid that if my father actually knew what I am…”

Kathy should have been surprised. It wasn’t normal for people to speak into your mind, but Kate had always been different, and there were the videos that Adrian had shown her of Kate. While speaking into the mind hadn’t been in the videos, other strange phenomena were. Kathy switched the flier to autopilot and swiveled her chair around to look at Kate.

The girl’s dark brown eyes were watching her, assessing everything. Was that fear in those eyes? “Kate, do you expect me to run screaming? You will need to do more than simply speak into my mind. What else can you do?”

“I can read your thoughts and feel your emotions, so yes, you already feel differently. You aren’t afraid, but you sense a threat that your mind can’t let go of, and you have known me my entire life. How could someone that hasn’t known me not be terrified, and this is the least dangerous of my abilities.” Kate said in a near whisper.

“My fear is only because I don’t know the extent of your gifts. Could you control my mind…read my innermost thoughts.”

Psyche gives me power over the mind in every way. “ It is considered r**e to enter a mind without the permission of the owner. When I speak into your mind, I am not invading your mind, I am projecting my thoughts. I cannot help…well…it is difficult for me not to pick up surface thoughts of individuals. Extreme exercises, art, or engineering temper this ability a little. My mind is a receiver and every mind is a transmitter,” Kate explained.

***

Very good…see this isn’t too bad. She wants to understand…to help you. You need to trust. A voice spoke into her mind. Trust can be dangerous. Another voice said. Kate pushed the voices into a corner of her mind and focused on Kathy. The woman was wearing her therapist’s face, but her thoughts were not as still.

Kate turned her hand palm up and allowed a flame to form above her hand. She could have placed the flame anywhere, she didn’t need the hand to be in any position, but it showed control.

Kathy studied the flame. “When you were three, your bed caught fire, but you weren’t burned, neither was your father when he pulled you from the flames.” She said.

Kate nodded. “Mother should have died that night. I didn’t allow it.”

***

The autopilot chimed, letting her know that they were close to their destination. Kathy looked at Kate and smiled. “We will talk more about this later. For now, let’s enjoy a meal and a more normal conversation.”

Kate nodded. “Thank you, Kathy.”

Kathy simply nodded. She knew that Kate needed this talk, she also had a feeling that Kate’s abilities went well beyond what she had shown.. The flier landed in a VIP zone and the doors rotated up. Kate stepped from the vehicle and turned towards the entrance of the restaurant, then paused.

She turned and looked to the south. For a moment Kathy thought she was looking at Huron, the purple sun, that was setting to the southeast. Then she noted that Kate seemed to be looking through the buildings. Moments later she turned. “Sorry about that.”

Kathy went to ask what had happened. We will discuss it later. The voice said in her head. She nodded and walked towards the entrance of the restaurant.

“Senator Grant, it is an honor, your table awaits.” The Maitre d’hotel said as she entered the building.

“Thank you.” Kathy said as an usher materialized from nowhere to take them to the table. They were led up a flight of stairs and onto an open-air balcony with pools and fountains spaced between the tables.

The suns had finally set and the temperature had fallen significantly, though it was still not cool. Kathy noted how the water seemed to calm Kate. She had chosen this place with that in mind. Kate had learned to swim before she learned to walk. Her mother had always called her a mermaid. Now Kathy wondered exactly what Kate’s relationship with water was.

The appetizer reached the table as they did. She had pre-ordered it. Kate sat primly in the seat the host pulled out for her. She was a perfect lady, even if her outfit was a bit…showy. Kathy smiled. What was it like to be young? She had nearly forgotten.

So you don’t quite approve of my outfit. Kate said in her head.

“Just because I wouldn’t wear it, doesn’t mean it is immodest, or in any way improper, and let’s stay with verbal communication.” She replied.

Kate nodded. “Do you know what it feels like to be accepted when you expect nothing but fear?”

Kathy shook her head. “No, I can’t, but let’s keep this conversation ordinary.”

Kate looked around. “I like this place. It’s comforting.” Kate paused. “May I ask you a hypothetical question?”

Kathy nodded.

“Say a little girl wrote a policy that insured people’s privacy and placed it on an undetectable network. She did it to protect a father she loves. What is the consequence?”

Kathy leaned towards Kate. “Hypothetically speaking, that young lady should request an audience with his majesty under article seventy two, section three of the third constitution.”

“I can’t blindside my father. I’d have to come clean with him.”

“Hypothetically, of course.” Kathy added.

“I have protection with you, you can’t report me. You took oaths.” Kate said.

“Kate, let me be very clear. My oaths cannot cover a continuing conspiracy,” she warned.

“It’s not a conspiracy and I only set everything in motion. It continues itself.”

“Kate, please, speak hypothetically. I made other oaths also.” She warned.

Kate nodded. “I will drop it. My daddy needed to be able to enjoy Danika for a time without media attention.”

Kathy nodded. “Article seventy-two, section three. You will be fine.”

“I’m thirteen, what can they do?” Kate replied.

Kathy shrugged. She wasn’t sure, but she knew she’d fight for Kate. They ordered their food and ate in relative silence. Kate was too relaxed. It was as if she was secure in her decision. Kathy paid the tab and she and Kate walked to the flier. Much of the tension in the girl had evaporated. Kate climbed into the flier and looked at her as she climbed into her own seat.

“Kathy, when I speak with my father, our relationship will change. He won’t see me as a little girl anymore. I am a weapon and he will see it.” Kate said.

“You say that, but you seem relaxed,” Kathy said.

Kate shook her head. “Daddy will always love me. I gave him a little girl, but I’m no longer a girl. I’m a young woman and he needs to understand what I will become.” Kate paused. “I will not fully disclose to you what I am, until I speak with my father. He has been too patient as it is.”

Kathy started the flier and set the coordinates for home.

Kate glanced at her. “I want you to look at something. It can be disturbing, but I know you like to analyze people from art.” She reached into a bag and pulled out a tablet that was unattached to the network.

Kathy glanced at Kate as she passed the computer to her. Then she hit the button and paused. The first image was of a man wading through a battlefield of blood. The man was covered in blood. Dismembered bodies littered the ground, but what was disturbing was the shadow of a woman doing gymnastics. You had to look to see the shadow, but it was clear once you saw it. Another image of a young woman entertaining a man had the same shadow on the wall. The images kept coming, each with the same shadow. Then she paused. It was an image of Kate walking n***d through a destroyed city. Energy danced around her and a large man, who she instantly recognized as Adrian, laid face down on a flag of Antre. A single tear slid down Kate’s otherwise serene expression. The image was of a goddess.

Kate was watching her closely. “Your art has improved,” She noted.

“What do you see?” Kate asked.

“You are afraid of what you’ve seen and what you think you can become.”

“You don’t believe any of it is possible,” Kate said.

Kathy shook her head. “For the first time in your life, I think you are wrong. I know you are capable of anything. All humans can do anything if pushed. I also believe that this is your worst nightmare.” She paused. “How can I help you prevent this?” She asked, tapping the image.

Kate looked down. “I need some people to understand…me. If I stay bottled up too long…” Kate glanced at the image.

Kathy nodded. “Well you have one. Do me a favor…tonight let’s watch holo-plays and relax. Tomorrow we have the ribbon cutting ceremony, then we can look at the future.”