I take in a deep breath of the slightly salty air and smile slightly to myself. With all the crazy things happening in my life right now I can always count on my home and family in Oregon to bring me back from the edge. It’s been a few years since I’ve been home but the two-story brick house looks exactly the same. I gather my coat close; its warmth a nice barrier against the already frigid fall air. Jack-o-lanterns line the walkway leading up to the house. When I reach the top of the steps I take in another deep breath before knocking on the door.
I feel Dad move from the couch and head for the door. As much as I don’t want to use my abilities around my family after years of being in the field, it’s ingrained in me to anticipate and feel the environment around me. Dad opens the door and smiles down at me, “Bloody hell Gavenia, what’re you doing knocking like you haven’t ever lived here?”
I smile up at him, “Well I thought since it’s been a few years I should knock first.”
He scoffs at me in a way only a true Scotsman can and wraps me in a tight hug that lifts me off the ground just like he used to when I was a kid. “Can you believe this Bridget? Our own daughter thinks she has to knock before coming into the house she used to call home.”
Mom scoffs as she makes her way toward us from the kitchen. “Are you sure that’s our daughter Fergus? Because no daughter of mine is polite enough to knock before coming into our house.”
“Oh aye I’m sure,” he holds me at arm’s length giving me an appraising look, “She’s grown to be every bit as beautiful as you were at her age.”
This gets him another scoff and a playful smack on the arm as Mom comes within reach. She gives me a big smile and steps toward me with arms wide open. “Well come on then.”
I rush into her arms and she squeezes me with all her might and I bury my face in the crook of her neck, “Sorry I waited so long to come home again.” I mumble into her flaming red hair.
“Aye I know but you’re here now and just in time for supper.” She pulls back and gives me a once over, “Seems like you could use a good meal. You’ve lost a bit of weight.”
“I’ve been working a lot and probably haven’t been eating as much as you think I should.”
She gives me a look, “Well we’ll fix that. How long are you staying?”
“I’m really not sure, it depends on when I get a call saying they need me.”
Dad moves to the base of the stairs and shouts, “Reid, your sister’s home.”
A loud clomping sound starts overhead and makes its way quickly to the stairs. “Gavy!” Reid launches himself at me and wraps me in a bone crushing hug.
He’s not the same scrawny fifteen year old I remember from my last visit. He’s grown a few inches and filled out no doubt from all the hockey practice. “Who are you and what have you done with my kid brother?”
“It’s been a little while since you came home last Gavy. Speaking of which, you’re looking old.”
I make an indignant sound, “You may be taller than me but I can still kick your ass, little brother.”
He gives me a wide grin, “Can you come to my game tomorrow? It’s the first of the season.”
“Unless something comes up I’ll be there. Now can we eat?”
Reid gives me a look, “I didn’t think robots had to eat.”
I give him a swift but soft punch to the stomach. “Of course we have to eat, silly, how else are we expected to take over the world?” I say leaving them in a fit of laughter as I head to the kitchen. As soon as I walk into the kitchen I’m enveloped in the smell of stovies cooking, “Do you need any help Mom?”
“Could you set the table for me, dear?”
“Sure.”
I start going through grabbing spoons and bowls and napkins when Reid pops his head in, “Hey Mom is it okay if Corey comes over to eat?”
“Oh aye, that’ll be fine”
“Is he the short chubby boy that used to follow you around all the time?”
“Yeah but he’s not so short and chubby any more now he’s tall and chu-oof,” he backs out of the kitchen only to step back in with Corey in a headlock. “Corey, you remember my sister.”
He looks up and waves, “Oh yeah, hey Gabby. Would you get off of me?!”
They wrestle until Corey finally gives up, ending up in a headlock again, “Nope, I like this. This way I can punch you in the face whenever I feel like it. Like right now for calling my sister Gabby not Gavy.”
“Oi cheeky lad, let go of your friend. That’s no way to treat a guest,” Mom scolds.
Reid sighs and rolls his eyes but lets his friend go. “Sorry Gavy,” Corey says once he’s recovered enough, from laughing so hard, to speak.
I give him a smile and shrug, “It’s not a big deal. You almost had it. So are you on the team with Reid?”
“Yep, I’m his winger. So what do you do? Reid talks about you a lot but never really says anything about what you do.”
He seems genuinely curious but just as I begin to speak my phone rings. I look down at the screen which reads Parker, causing me to curse under my breath, “Sorry, I have to take this.”
I answer my phone, using my abilities to finish setting the table, “Holy shit, your sister’s a chipped? I thought they were just a myth.” I hear Corey say on my way out of the kitchen.
“Yeah, Parker, what’s up?”
“Where are you right now? Please tell me you’re not in Oregon. Please, please, please tell me you are NOT in Oregon.” His voice is weird and he sounds really stressed.
“Parker, what’s going on with you? And why would it matter if I were in Oregon or not?”
“Shit! Of all the times for you to go home you just HAD to pick today! Do you realise how irresponsible you are being?! Do you?! You just left without telling anyone where you were going and without anyone to help you if you get into trouble.” He starts speaking faster and faster to the point where I can barely understand him.
“Parker.” He keeps talking so I say it louder, “Parker!” This gets his attention and my family’s, who have come into the sunroom, “Breathe. What’s wrong?”
He takes in a breath before speaking, “There has been a lot of chatter about you on the URCS radio. They’re reassuring people that someone with your abilities couldn’t exist but they’ve also put a bounty on you. And there are some rumors floating around that you visit Oregon a lot so they sent operatives to check out that rumor.”
“Can’t we intercept them before they get into the country?”
“They’re already here, and it’s almost a sure bet that they are in Oregon right now looking for you.”
“Well then I’ll just keep an eye out and hope they underestimate me.”
“No, that’s a terrible plan. You need to get back to HQ. The President wants you back here so we can come up with a plan.”
“No, he just wants to hide his precious experiment underground until the rumors fade away when they don’t find anything. I won’t leave my family, if they know I come to Oregon a lot then they have probably guessed who my family is. I have to be here to protect them.”
“Gavy I get that I do, but we coul-”
Parker’s voice cuts off being replaced by another’s, “Oh for God’s sake girl get your ass back to HQ or else!”
My entire body tenses, “Or else what Mr. President?” I ask, my voice full of icy shards.
Author: Kailan Counahan 