I glanced at Adrien. “Sometimes I lose control, and I feel like it’s too powerful to fit inside my skin.”
Jilia nodded. “Training for you is going to be a bit difficult because we’ve never seen anything like you before. I’m not sure how best to tap into it and control it, but we can experiment with a few different methods.”
She looked away from the screen. “You might be the most powerful glitcher in the new generation, perhaps even the most powerful we’ve ever seen. I can see now that there could be truth to all of Adrien’s visions, Zoe. Perhaps you’ll be able to save us after all.” Her voice held a note of awe.
I didn’t know what to say to that. I wanted to convince her that she was wrong. I wasn’t special. Maybe even Adrien’s visions were wrong. I didn’t have a clue how to save anyone, couldn’t they see that?
Adrien leaned in, his expression dark and withdrawn as his eyes flickered over the data on the scan. He didn’t look at me, and I couldn’t tell what he must be thinking, but his silence sent a chill through me.
Chapter 5
DURING OUR LATE BREAKFAST, Jilia explained the results of my brain scan to Tyryn. “It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Tyryn was a friendly guy, just a few years older than Adrien and me. I’d never seen anyone with such a developed physique. His arm muscles strained the sleeves of his shirt. He also had a wide scar from forehead to chin. The angry line of healed skin was shiny against the dark brown skin of his face.
“General Taylor will be pleased to hear it,” Tyryn said, finishing his last bite of an omelet and then sitting back in his chair. I could feel his eyes on me, assessing me. “She’s asked me to head up a new glitcher task force. We’ll start training when we get to the Foundation.”
“What?” I nearly choked on the gritty protein mix coming through my straw. “But—” I started, then stopped. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
“Don’t worry,” Tyryn said, his voice calm. “I’ve actually never trained a team of glitchers before, but I’ve been training Rez recruits for eight years. We won’t put you in the field until you’re ready.”
“It’s not just the, um, fighting I’m worrying about,” I said, looking between him and Jilia. “It’s my power. It’s getting harder and harder to control.”
Tyryn turned to Jilia. “You’ve studied glitchers. What do you think?”
“Telekinesis is a unique ability with its own set of obstacles,” Jilia said. “It’s not like other glitchers can tear a room apart if their power goes haywire.”
I looked down. “But do you have any idea why it’s gotten so out of control lately? Does that happen to other people?”
“Most glitchers experience an expansion of their powers as they grow into them. And glitcher powers are so closely connected to the emotion centers of the brain. You’ve been through a lot lately and you’re still so new to feeling emotion of any kind, it makes sense that overwhelming emotion would make your power erupt in unpredictable ways.” She leaned in, her eyes compassionate. “Most people have seventeen years to learn how to deal with emotions. You’ve only had eight months. But Zoe, I do think that with some discipline and practice, you’ll learn to control it again.”
“Jilia’s helped me before,” Adrien said, eyeing the older woman. “I wasn’t having exactly the same kind of problems, obviously, but she worked with me to help focus my visions through meditation. She can help you, Zoe.” He turned to Jilia. “You’re coming with us to the Foundation, right?”
“Oh,” Jilia hesitated, pushing her food around on the plate with her fork. It was the first time her excitement had flagged since she’d looked at my scans. “I’m not sure. I’m more helpful here in the field.”
“From what General Taylor was saying,” Tyryn cut in, “the Foundation’s almost completely finished, and it’s already her new base of operations. We’ll need a good doctor.”
“I’m sure Professor Henry would look forward to seeing you again,” Adrien added.
Jilia’s face went red and she stuffed a forkful of food in her mouth. She stared at her plate and didn’t respond.
Adrien’s voice softened, as if he knew he’d hit a nerve. “And it would give you more chance to study Zoe and the other glitchers there.”
“Either way,” Tyryn said. “The sooner we head out, the better. Chancellor Bright’s cracking Rez operatives faster than we can get them in place.” He looked at Jilia. “Not many people know about this location, but it only takes one. We’ll be heading out in a couple of days. I’ve already arranged transport to the Foundation, and there’s plenty of space if you want to come with us. If you stay, though, you should think about going mobile again and moving this compound deeper into the forest.”
Jilia pressed a napkin to her lips. “I was hoping there’d be more time.”
“Time’s short these days,” Tyryn said, his mouth grim. “Xona and I know it better than anyone.”
A girl came out from behind the flap to the other sleeping quarters, yawning and stretching her long arms. Her skin was ebony and her hair cropped short. She looked about my age, maybe a year or so younger. “Did I hear my name?” she asked through another yawn.
“Nice of you to finally grace us with your presence,” Tyryn said. “Xona, this is Zoe, and you know Adrien.”
Xona gave a quick nod but didn’t look our way. She hopped up on the counter with the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. It had to be cold by now, but she didn’t seem to mind. She drank it down in one long gulp. Her legs dangled and I could see a small laser weapon strapped at her ankle, even though she was still in her sleep clothes.
Jilia frowned. “You know I’d prefer it if you weren’t armed at the kitchen table.”
Xona’s eyes narrowed as she tossed the metal coffee cup into the sink. “You never know when a detachment of Regs is gonna bust in. I’d rather be prepared than have table manners.”
“Xona,” Tyryn said, a warning in his voice. “Jilia’s place, her rules.”
“Ugh, fine.” Xona rolled her eyes and hopped down from the counter. She whipped the weapon out of its holster and clicked a small release switch that detached the grip from the barrel. She dropped both pieces on the table with a loud clunk. “There, not armed.”
“Xona—” Tyryn started, but Jilia put a hand on his arm.
“It’s fine,” she said.
Xona grabbed a piece of bread from the counter and stuck half of it in her mouth, then sat down at the table and started cleaning the weapon with the edge of her tunic.
“At least get a plate,” Tyryn said, his teeth gritted. “Mom didn’t raise you to be an animal.”
Xona glared at him. She ripped the rest of the bread into pieces and dropped it on the table beside the gun. “Don’t talk about Mom.”
Jilia and Adrien exchanged a silent look. Then I remembered Tyryn and Xona’s parents had died recently. I cleared my throat, hoping to dispel the tension in the room by changing the subject.
“Have you met the rest of the glitcher task force?” I asked Tyryn. “What are they like?”
“I haven’t met many yet,” he said, finally looking away from his sister. “I just know what General Taylor’s told me. Glitchers make for unique Rez fighters. Taylor ultimately wants a task force that can take on the Chancellor herself. From what I heard, everyone’s really looking forward to meeting you and having you on the team. You’re the only one who can even get close to the Chancellor without falling under her compulsion powers.”
“Wait.” I pulled my hand away from Adrien’s and held on to the edge of the table to steady myself. “You expect me to take on the Chancellor?”
“You’ve faced her before,” Tyryn said.
“Things are different now,” I sputtered. “She was only the Chancellor of the Academy in one small city then. Now she’s Underchancellor of Defense for all of Sector 6. She’ll be surrounded by the highest security.”
Xona let out a low whistle. “Shunt, that’s intense.”
Tyryn waved a hand and looked at me. “Adrien’s had visions of you as a leader, and Jilia’s scans confirm
