“We can get the drop on him,” Smokey said, finishing my mentor’s thought.
“Could have gotten the drop on him,” BT corrected. “Prior to today, he knew that technology could distinguish him from Jim. Now he knows that some of us can, too – assuming he didn’t before. Regardless, he’s not likely to try waltzing in here again.”
Chapter 70
With little more to be said at the moment, our discussion group disbanded, with Mouse and BT going back to the former’s lab, while the rest of us retreated to Smokey’s quarters. Atalanta was already inside waiting for us when we arrived, and I sent her a quick telepathic thanks for her help with Dynamo. (Knowing it was the real me, she had tackled him under the impression that I might have needed help with the situation.) She mentally replied that no thanks was necessary.
We congregated in the living room area, with Smokey and Atalanta sitting on a loveseat, while Myshtal, Electra and I sat on a couch (with Electra in the middle, of course).
Opening a telepathic link with Electra, I said, <Do me a favor – distract Atalanta.>
<Huh?> Electra replied.
<Distract her.>
<How?>
<I don’t know – girl talk. Shoes. Purses. Shopping.>
Mentally, my girlfriend narrowed her eyes. <You know, because I realize you’re under a lot of stress, I’m going to overlook how sexist and denigrating that comment is.>
Mentally, I groaned and was about to apologize, but Electra was already engaging Atalanta in a conversation, thanking her for jumping into the fray with Jack in the lounge. I took the opportunity to telepathically reach out to Smokey (which was the reason I wanted Atalanta distracted in the first place).
<Atalanta,> I said to him. <How much does she know?>
<You mean about Jack?>
<Yeah. How much have you told her?>
There was a slight hesitation on Smokey’s part, and I sensed a mild degree of worry coming from him.
<Everything,> he said a moment later. <I told her everything.>
<Oh,> I murmured. <Okay.>
<Listen, man, I just felt like she needed to know. Jack had already gotten to Sarah, and pretty much had me fooled. Bearing in mind that he can’t get over on Electra and Li, I was feeling like the weak link in the chain, and I kept thinking that Atalanta might be next on his list. Sorry if I made the wrong call.>
<It’s fine,> I assured him. <I trust you and I trust your judgment. If you felt she needed to be told, then she probably did. I just wanted to know what she knew so I’d have an idea of how frankly we can speak in front of her. But you didn’t do anything wrong.>
<Thanks, man.>
We then turned our attention back to the conversation between Electra and Atalanta, which was just winding down.
“Anyway, this wasn’t how I anticipated the day going,” Smokey said when the girls ended their chat. “So much for hanging out and having fun.”
Electra sighed. “I don’t know that having fun is going to be an option until we get this Jack situation resolved.”
“She’s right,” I said. “His antics are hitting closer and closer to home. And now he’s attacking people.”
“I suppose there’s an argument that we attacked first,” Smokey noted.
“Oh, so I was just supposed to let him kiss me?” Electra said derisively.
Smokey shook his head. “No, I’m not saying that at all. My point is that – from Jack’s perspective – we may have been the aggressor.”
“In that case, he has a very twisted view of reality,” Atalanta suggested.
“Exactly,” Smokey said. “He went after Incendia and others who had never actually done anything to him. Today, he actually engaged in fisticuffs with people. What’s he likely to do to them?”
Suddenly, the room was full of creased brows and frowns.
“Are we in danger?” Atalanta asked pointedly, looking at me.
Responding in kind, I said, “Frankly, I don’t know.”
Chapter 71
Unsurprisingly, my last comment put a damper on things, so we decided to call it a day shortly thereafter. Smokey and Atalanta indicated that they were going to stay in and watch a movie, while I offered to teleport Electra home. However, my girlfriend had driven her car to HQ and didn’t want to leave it there.
“Just get Myshtal home,” she said after we exited Smokey’s quarters. “You can come by and see me later, if you have time.”
I promised that I would, and then teleported myself and Myshtal to the embassy.
*****
My family was still out when we popped up in the kitchen, and I relayed that fact to Myshtal.
“No problem,” she insisted. “Thanks for taking me along with you today.”
“My pleasure,” I replied with a smile. “Sorry things ended on such a sour note.”
“It’s not your fault, and it’s pretty clear that you’re grappling with a lot of issues.”
“Thanks for understanding,” I said. “And I suppose I should have asked this earlier, but is everything okay with you?”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yes. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’ve pretty much gone mute since we were in Mouse’s lab. You didn’t say anything when we were in the conference room with Mouse and BT. I’m not sure I heard you speak in Smokey’s room, either. It just seems a little out of character for you.”
She simply stared at me for a moment, and then sighed.
“My speaking around Electra always seems to create problems for you,” she contended. “Regardless of the subject matter. I just decided to see if being silent would be beneficial.”
“Well, that’s kind of you,” I noted, “but I don’t think it’s necessary for you to hold your tongue because of how speaking might affect me. Just say what you’d normally say, and whatever happens is what happens.”
“Thanks,” she said with a slight grin. “But you may end up regretting giving me free rein to say what I feel.”
“I don’t control what anyone else says. Why should it be any different with you?”
“Because I came back from Caeles with
