The Embers Of My Heart, page 15
"Get him. Quickly." Davidson didn't even seem flustered. I focused my senses and dodged a wave of force by throwing myself forward, bouncing into a flip off the pavement. Another attack left a bright red line across my vision.
I formed a quick shield to deflect another attack, then used a momentary lull to yank someone off balance. Another blast to the ground sent me off balance and I stumbled into the streetlight. I used that momentum to swing on it, lift my feet off the ground, and throw myself feet first into one of the agents. He fell back and his head hit the pavement with a thump. The red glow in his eyes faded. One down, but that wasn't anywhere near enough.
"He's one target!" Davidson shouted. "Avoid crossfire and take him down." Something cracked against the side of my knee. I shifted my weight to my other leg before my knee gave out and threw raw kinetic energy in the direction of that attacker. I felt the impact as they flew and hit something with a crash of breaking glass. Two down.
Another jab to my injured leg forced me to leap into the air. I yanked myself up to the top of the streetlight and balanced on it with a little bit of psionic tethering. The height advantage didn't give me any advantage in this sort of fight, but at least it got me out of the direct line of fire. I created another shield and deflected a series of fiery bursts away.
My luck ran out when I realized the fire was only a distraction. With only a moment's warning, Davidson and one of the other agents electrified the streetlight. I tried to jump free, but the psionically directed surge blew the light out a fraction of a second before it jumped into me. My vision flashed white, then black, and then I hit the ground. I couldn't scream. I couldn't even breathe. I could only hope nothing was broken. My muscles shook uncontrollably and my heart thumped out of rhythm.
After what felt like forever, I managed to roll myself onto my back. The stars in the sky twisted and I shivered. Why hadn't they finished it already? "Congratulations, Parker," I heard a voice from the side. "You didn't kill anyone else tonight. Are you in pain? If not, we can fix that."
I focused my eyes and saw a red glow just a couple of feet away. "Hurts just fine," I managed to say between chattering teeth. "Could go all night."
"Could you?" The red glow brightened and I felt another surge of electricity arc through my body. It wasn't as strong as before, but it still tore a scream out of my already raw throat. "Would you like some more?"
"What do you want?" I asked as soon as I caught my breath. "People are going to find you. If you're not leaving me alive, get it over with." My power was unstable and it'd be a risk to use it, but there wasn't much of a choice.
"Maybe I want to make it look like an accident," he said.
"You're an accident," I said. "Your mom told me last night."
He snarled and I felt his power surge. He'd hit me with electric attacks back in Washington, too, and I had been able to deflect them with a shield back then. I threw a shield in his teeth and red sparks flashed to each side. He intensified the attack and I felt my shield sagging. The other Bureau agents added their own attacks and no matter what I did, I couldn't keep the shield up forever. Before it completely failed, I pushed forward, angled the shield to deflect his blast, and rushed him. Even if they killed me, I'd count it as a win if I could deck him again.
He caught my fist. "Do you really think that I'm going to fall for the same trick twice?" he asked.
"Worth a shot."
He squeezed until bones creaked and snapped, dropping me to my knees. With his other hand, he pointed his fingers at my forehead. "Now you're about to have a stroke. I'm sure your parents will be so very disappointed and sad. Their precious little boy, dead of a massive cerebral hemorrhage that no one could have seen coming. Shit happens, kid."
"Go to hell," I snapped. "I'm not going to die like this!"
Red sparks snapped out of his fingertips in slow motion. They'd fly across the inches to my forehead, burrow in, pop a few blood vessels, and that would be it. I'd be dead and everything would be over. Hopefully it would be fast enough to kill me before they could pull the phone number for Star out of my head. I closed my eyes and waited.
An eternity later, I opened my eyes. Everything looked the same, but duller, matte in color and aspect. Davidson's face still twisted in a snarl of hatred. My body felt sluggish and drained of energy, my hand and knee both screaming in pain, but in my mind, I had never been more alive. I knew this feeling from once before.
I reached out and took control of his power. Silver lines connected me to his red sparks. They were simple constructions and it took no effort to redirect them. The sparks flicked away on new vectors as I released my power. Screams rang out from all around me as time snapped back to normal. Davidson staggered backwards, his eyes wide and bright as his agents collapsed one by one. "What did you do?" he shouted at me.
"Not die," I said, and took a step toward him. My knee buckled and I dropped to my other knee. The pavement was as bright as day as I stared down at it. I knew this power could restore my knee and my hand to complete health, but I didn't have enough practice or focus to make use of it. I also had another priority. When I looked back up at Davidson, he turned and ran. He didn't make it more than a couple of steps when a burst of green light dropped him in his tracks. I stayed in place as Professor Burke strode toward me, Absynthe just a couple of paces behind him.
"Parker," Burke greeted me in the same manner I'd expect him to speak to someone late to class. "I'd suggest you cut your power now."
"Not sure I can," I said as I slumped sideways. My eyes fell out of focus as brilliant white power kept surging through my brain, refusing every command to stop. "Help?"
Someone touched my cheek. Everything went dark.
Chapter Twelve
"Agent Charles Davidson, have you anything to say in your defense?" I watched him from the other table.
Davidson stood, another suited man at his side, neither even glancing in my direction. Onlookers sat silently around the edge of the room and on benches in the back. It wasn't exactly a courtroom, but the layout was close enough.
"Sir, I state again, my actions were of my own volition and free will. I intended to remove a clear and present danger to the country before the situation could spiral out of control. My formal judgment of this situation is on record and the Bureau will release internal documentation upon request." He didn't even blink. "Unfortunately, I failed. The situation is already out of control."
Absynthe's hand pushed down on my knee. "Don't." I didn't think I had even done anything. I looked to her and she shook her head. "You'll get your turn."
"I've never been called a clear and present danger before," I whispered. "I'm not sure whether that's a compliment or not."
"As your advocate, please restrain your smart ass mouth before it gets you in trouble."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Agent Davidson, you acted with intent to cause terminal, irreversible physical harm to Kevin Parker, student of Ripley University, member in training of the Establishment for Psionic Order. You have openly admitted this before this tribunal." There were two men and one woman at the front, judges in all but name. The one in the center was doing all the talking. "Are you aware of the penalty for such an action?"
"Sir, I do."
"Agent Davidson, you inflicted severe injuries to three of your fellow agents in the process. Do you accept responsibility for their injuries?"
"Sir, I do."
"Agent Davidson, are you aware of the penalty for reckless endangerment with deadly psionic force?"
"Sir, I do."
The central judge looked down and noted something on a piece of paper, then passed it to the right where a somber woman took it and placed it in an envelope. "Agent Davidson, if you are found guilty, you will be dishonorably discharged from your agency, your psionic powers will be permanently and irrevocably reversed, and your memories will be permanently modified. In addition, you will be remanded to civil custody to stand trial for reckless endangerment. Is this clear?"
"Sir, I understand."
The central judge nodded and looked to each side. The others nodded back to him. "Agent Davidson, this is an unorthodox hearing, as you have freely admitted your actions of your own will."
His straight back impressed me. In his position, I'd be terrified, but he wasn't showing it. "Sir, I request permission to explain the circumstances. The Bureau considers this an affirmative defense."
The central judge glanced toward the other man. "You have our permission."
Davidson came to parade rest, hands clasped behind his back. "Sir, last year, in late summer, I was on field duty in Washington DC. I had been given the task to track and apprehend a local cell of the group of psionic terrorists known as the Resistance."
Absynthe's hand came down on my knee again. I nearly jumped out of my chair. "Don't worry about it," she whispered. "You did nothing wrong."
"You knew?"
"Of course we knew. We got a formal complaint about your actions."
I sighed. "I'm not scoring any points here, am I?"
"We enlisted the assistance of Mr. Parker," Davidson continued. He still didn't even glance at me. "With his assistance, I was able to flush the Resistance cell from hiding and disable their ringleader. However, at that point, Mr. Parker took the side of the remaining Resistance members, disabling me and inflicting a mindtwist that took nearly six months healing. I was only recently approved to return to active duty."
"Mr. Parker," said the judge. "Is this true?"
I stood up as Absynthe jabbed my knee. "Sir, Agent Davidson is leaving out some important points. It's accurate in general, though."
"And those points are?"
"He intimidated me and my roommates, who are normal untalented students, into helping him. He threatened me when I was confused as to who the legitimate authority was in that situation. I wasn't as knowledgeable then as I am now, so I assumed he meant harm instead of memory modification and acted to defend myself. Also, I wasn't the one who twisted him. I didn't know how to mindtwist back then. My mentor can vouch for that."
"Agent Davidson, do you have any response or clarification?"
"I will admit to pressuring Mr. Parker to assist me, though I did provide him and his roommates with standard contractor rates for their assistance." He had paid for our drinks. I was tempted to bring that up, but something told me that the tribunal wouldn't find underage drinking amusing in the least. "Also, I apologize for the lack of clarity. Mr. Parker's interference allowed one of the terrorists to twist me."
"So noted. Thank you, Mr. Parker. Please continue, Agent Davidson."
I sat back down and Absynthe patted my knee. "While I was in recovery from my injuries, a mission was dispatched to a college in this area to destroy a prototype device that may have been able to sense the presence of psionic power. As per the Second Treaty of Beirut, keeping the knowledge of psionics from the general population is an overriding directive for our agency."
"One moment," said the female judge. "Why would the Bureau take action deep within the heart of Establishment territory? That seems questionable, at best. Was the Establishment informed prior to this act?"
Davidson shrugged. "I was in an induced coma at the time. I cannot speak as to the reasoning of my superiors, though I thought it was irregular as well when I found out."
"My apologies. Please continue."
"During the course of that mission, our agents encountered an agent of the Kaze." That caused a few whispers to echo around the room. "Mr. Parker and another trainee member of the Establishment were in that agent's company. There was an altercation. During that altercation, Mr. Parker killed one of our agents."
Another round of whispers echoed around the room and I felt eyes on me. Davidson was staring at me now. His eyes were empty, without a trace of mercy or humanity. To my side, Absynthe stood. "As Mr. Parker's advocate and mentor, I would appreciate permission to address the tribunal on this topic."
"This is irregular," said the man.
"I will provisionally grant permission," said the lead judge. "You may speak on this topic and this topic alone."
"Thank you." Absynthe drew herself up straight. "The death of the Bureau agent was an unfortunate accident, ruled as such after the investigation. Mr. Parker's testimony indicated that the Bureau agents used deadly force from the very beginning of their encounter and only escalated from there. Furthermore, our trainees both testified that Mr. Parker was defending his partner from a lethal attack. We contacted the Kaze for a statement from their agent as well. The Kaze not only verified their testimony, but also complimented their abilities and thoughtfulness. Based on that independent verification, we found Mr. Parker not at fault, though we noted that he has a tendency to underestimate his own strength. As his advocate, I would respectfully request the past event to have no bearing on the issue at hand."
"Sir!" Davidson cut in before they could respond. "Respectfully, I must object! If it had not happened, the Bureau would not have been invited to Ripley University campus, nor would we consider Mr. Parker any sort of significant threat. That past event is foundational."
The three judges exchanged looks. "One moment." All three of them tapped their power, the man with red eyes, the woman with green, and the central one with yellow. It made sense that someone from another organization was in charge.
Absynthe sank back into her seat and looked at me. "Shouldn't be an issue," she said.
"You think so?"
"We already agreed with the Bureau on the particulars. Davidson's taking the blame. He's been doing that all along. Didn't you notice?"
I felt my stomach twist. "So they're hanging him out to dry?"
"No, Kevin. He's hanging himself out to dry."
The judges ended their conference. "It is our decision that Mr. Parker's actions during that encounter do not have any bearing on the present hearing. The Bureau and Establishment negotiated terms and reparations for the accident. Therefore, we uphold the finding that the prior incident was fully accidental and should not be held against Mr. Parker in any way, shape, or form. Agent Davidson, your objection is dismissed. The only consideration this tribunal will hold is that the incident factually happened as per the Establishment's records and testimony."
He nodded and his face paled. "Understood, sir."
"Do you have further testimony?"
"Yes, sir. I believe Mr. Parker has been subverted by the Resistance."
This time, it wasn't just whispers. Low conversations broke out around the room and I shook my head. If I could vanish, I would. It wasn't true. Star hadn't subverted me, though she was certainly working on it. "Please, if we could return to order," said the lead judge, oddly calm and collected. The room quieted. "Agent Davidson, if you please, expound."
"Sir, based on his irregular progression of powers, it seems obvious that he has had multiple training methods. Our agents also tracked him interacting with Resistance agents in New York City at the end of last year."
Absynthe glanced at me before returning her gaze to the judges. I didn't know what to make of that. "Interaction is not proof of anything," said the female judge. "Cross training isn't either. It's always happened when we meet other psions in peaceful circumstances. Neither implies that his allegiance has shifted. Do you have any other proof?"
Davidson took a deep breath. "It is well known to all factions that the Resistance does not follow traditional rules and procedures when it does not suit their purposes. Mr. Parker also does not do so. I submit to this tribunal that Mr. Parker violated one of our most important laws by invoking second tier powers in our encounter yesterday." He paused. "Sir, his eyes were glowing white."
The lead judge also took a deep breath. "Agent Davidson, please be seated. Mr. Parker, please stand." I stood up and felt cold sweat trickle down my side. His tone was neutral, but the room had fallen completely silent. "Kevin John Parker, you stand accused of using the second tier of psionic power in an altercation. Is this true?"
I looked down at Absynthe. She nodded at me. "I believe so, sir."
"To the knowledge of this tribunal, you are not registered or licensed as per the Essex Accords. Is this true?"
"I don't believe I'm registered, sir." No one had told me anything of the sort.
"Are you aware of the penalty for failing to register, and the penalty for unlicensed use of second tier powers?"
"Sir, I am not."
The two flanking judges leaned back in their seats and another series of whispers echoed around the room. The central judge leaned forward and folded his hands. "Mr. Parker, in both cases, the penalty is death."
Absynthe shot to her feet. "With your permission-"
"Granted."
"Mr. Parker is as yet a trainee, and he has not even reached a point in his training where he would know of the existence of the second tier, much less be able to use it at will. I respectfully submit that his use of second tier power was not premediated or purposeful in the least."
"You're claiming that Mr. Parker is latent for the second tier?" The lead judge raised his eyebrows. I couldn't tell whether he was skeptical, surprised, or impressed. I glanced at Davidson and saw terror on his face. Others in the room had similar expressions.
Absynthe put her hand on my shoulder. "I realize this is highly irregular, but there is historical precedent for this circumstance. The Establishment hereby formally declares our finding that Kevin John Parker is a second tier latent. We swear before this court that his status was unknown prior to this latent manifestation. As such, we hereby request that Mr. Parker be remanded to our custody for training and registration as befitting his newly discovered status."
"Please don't," Davidson said quietly. "Don't do this. He's dangerous."
"Mr. Davidson, please sit down."
"You can't do this!" he shouted.
"Sit."
He sat and buried his face in his hands. The central judge turned his attention back to me. "Mr. Parker, you are hereby provisionally remanded to Establishment custody. You must register your new status and provide public registration to this tribunal within seven days. Is that understood?"
