Just doing my job

Simon led the way through the labyrinth of tunnels and passageways deep below Armstrong City. We couldn’t do anything but follow: these area are closed to the public, accessible only to those with the right clearance. The Council makes sure that the public areas, looks as Earth-like as they can, but down here it’s clear that you’re anywhere but home.

“So what we looking for?” John asked, finishing yet another cigarette and flicking the butt into a nearby bin.

“Something I feel I may need in the near future.” Simon pressed his hand against the palm print reader next to a door and it slid open, “My father always knew that there were those who wanted to know how he built me, and would do anything to discover his secrets.” The room beyond was a large laboratory filled with complex machinery, the purpose of which I couldn’t even begin to guess at, “So he took measures to ensure that I could protect myself after his death.”

“But you’re a legal-human, a citizen of Luna.” Sid exclaimed, “Surely they couldn’t do anything to you…”

“They killed my father.” Simon stopped in front of a large crate, “This is what I need. Nathan, if you would be so kind…”

“No problem.” I lifted the crate like it was nothing, still a little surprised at just how far my powers have developed.

*********************************************************************

“So I see the stories about your metaphases are true.” John fell in step beside me as we made our way back to the spaceport, “Defiantly not from your mothers side.”

“What?” I stopped dead in my tracks, “You knew my mother?”

“Yeah I knew her: she was an undercover police officer sent to try and infiltrate one of the clubs I owned back then as a waitress. I knew straight away, but I liked her, so I didn’t do anything. I even passed on news about what some of my competitors where up to through her; a little way of keeping the Old Bill off my back.”

“What happened to her?”

“She was killed in a car crash about two days after you were born. From what I was told, she was killed instantly.”

“What was her name?”

“Mary, her name was Mary Clark.”

“Did you know my father?”

“Not very well: I don’t think anyone did.”

“What was his name? Can you at lest tell me that?”

“John Loch.”

The words hung in the air like a thousand ton weight. Simon and Sid stopped dead in their tracks, turning to look at me. I must have looked like a fish out of water: I just stood there, unable to take in what had just been said.

My entire life, I’ve wondered just who my parents where and what happened to them. And now, in the space of a few seconds, everything had been revealed. I looked at John, and saw in his eyes that he was telling the truth.

“I wish I could have told you yeas ago, but there were complications.” He explained, “You can understand how it would have looked: undercover policewoman becomes pregnant by Crime Lord. There were those in the government who wanted me gone, and would have used you as leverage. That or one of my enemies may have gone after you. I couldn’t protect you, so I did the only thing I could: I hid you in plain sight.”

I wanted to say something, anything, that would explain how I felt, but words failed me. I just stood there, like an idiot, looking at him.

*********************************************************************

We made the trip back to Earth in silence, my mind still working a mile a minuet in a bid to understand what I had been told. I’d known that there was a strong possibility that at lest one of my parents was superhuman, as it tends to run in families. I’d always thought that knowing who my parents were would set me free.

Instead I felt more confused than before.

“Any ideas were we should land?” Simon asked, speaking for the first time since we’d left Luna.

“Kay’s place in Tibet.” I replied without opening my eyes, “The plan was that if anything happened, Ren and Artemus would head back there.”

“You think Diana will be with them?” Sid asked.

“It’s a possibility.” I turned my head to the side and tried to get some sleep.

*********************************************************************

Simon brought the ship down for a textbook landing just outside the entrance to Kay’s base, the landing gear touching the ground as gently as a snowflake. I was somewhat relieved to see Kay, Jackson, Ren, Artemus and Diana waiting for us.

Ren ran up to me the moment I stepped out of the ship and flung her arms around me so tightly that, if not for my resent transformation, I would had trouble breathing.

“You scared the hell out of me!” She laughed as she finally loosened her grip, but kept her arms around me, head resting on my shoulder.

“You know me and my wacky sense of humour.” I smiled, planting a kiss on her head as I returned the embrace. I was surprised by how much I had missed her in the short time we’d been apart, but I didn’t feel comfortable going into it right then.

“It’s good to see you again Simon.” Ren broke away, perhaps sensing my discomfort, “I’m sorry about Dr Lang.”

“I fully intend to avenge him.” The A.I. nodded.

“So you must be the legendary Ren I have heard so much about.” John leaned back against the ship, “Nathan always did have a strange sense in women.”

“Maybe.” Ren smiled, “Nathan, aren’t you going to formally introduce us?”

“He’s nobody.” My face went blank as I pushed past the others and headed for the entrance to the underground complex.

“He’s John Loch.” Kay surprised me by speaking up, “Nathan’s father.”

“I told you to keep out of my head.” I snapped at her.

“I didn’t go anywhere near your head, or any of the others: I’ve known for a few years now.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“It wasn’t my place to get involved. But I admit, I was curious, so I looked into a few minds in the right places until I found someone high enough up in the British government. It may surprise you to know that your confidential S.I.U. file states who your parents are; it looks like someone’s been trying to chart the family history of every superhuman on the planet, and some of those on Luna.”

“No doubt wanting to know who to go after for a specific trait or ability.” Jackson spat, shocking Ren and Airtimes: despite his big, dumb Texan act and an ego that could fill the Grand Canyon, he had two degrees from the University of Texas.

“Our adversaries seem to have nearly unlimited recourses to call upon, while we have very little.” Simon looked deep in thought; “We may be able to use this to our advantage. Kaywinnit, I take it you have access to the Internet?”

Despite myself, I snickered: very few people knew Kay’s full name, and only a handful had the nerve to call her it to her face.

“Yeah, inside.” Kay glared at me, but seemed happy that I’d cheered up a little.

I stood and waited while everyone else filed past, leaving me alone with Ren.

“So, you know who your father is.” She brushed a few loose stands of hair out of her face, “How does it make you feel?”

“Confused.” I looked at the darkening sky, the first few stars becoming visible in the crystal clear air; “I’ve known John for years, and he never said or did anything that gave the slightest hint about who he really is.”

“I suppose that’s something all orphans feel when they find out who their parents are.”

“Spoken like someone who’s never wanted to know who her parents are.”

“Oh, I’ve imagined it: when I was in the orphanage I fantasised about what it would be like to have a real family. But I grew up quick when I was moved to the School.” She looked at me, “You can’t be angry with him forever; it’s just not in you.”

“When did you get to know me so well?”

Ren stool still for a moment then walked over to me, putting her arms around my shoulders and kissed me on the lips like she had a dozen times before.

But for the first time ever, I kissed her back.

To Be Continued…