I have no words to describe the next two days other than fun. I refuse to take another glove off anyone, and spend my days doing what they do – enjoying life and training. A lot of that training involved the other controllers fighting me – they could go all out on me without fear of hurting me. I figure they could actually hurt me if my control of my own power slipped, but I didn’t mention it and I apparently have a habit of instinctively wrapping myself in void.

It didn’t stop Stone from smacking me with his fists a couple of times.

It’s early morning when the house phone rings. Harry, fresh from his night shift, answers and takes a short message. I’m loitering around in the back yard, watching casually with one eye, when he motions me inside.

“You always seem to be awake.”

“Six hours sleep each night is a near record for me,” I say. I’ve already been awake for several hours. Unlike the first day, all the controllers ignore me when I rise and pad as quietly as I can downstairs. Even Harry, who has had the previous two nights off, has left me to my wanderings. The increase in sleep has me relaxed, though, and my use of void has calmed me even further. Flame has thrown knives at me several times. Aside from the initial shock of having a freaking knife thrown at me, I’d reacted calmly and deflected them.

“It seems Mac knows this,” Harry says.

“That was him?” Harry nods once. “What did he say?”

“He’s on land and waiting for you.”

“Awesome.” I can’t stop the smile spreading over my face. “I can go see him, and then June.”

“You want a ride?”

The offer is unexpected. “Er, thanks, but you need to go to bed. I’ll give Hayden a call, he wanted to see Mac.”

An hour later – and still before any of the other controllers had surfaced – I’m waiting outside for Hayden, my little notebook in hand. Everyone had been forthcoming with their details, especially after I revealed that Ocean had left his. If anyone had anything to hide, it was the pirate. He’d also left a note on the bottom of the paper, saying that while he didn’t have a number yet, he’d ring the house phone as soon as he did.

Hayden pulls up in a marked police cruiser. He’s alone, and I place my hand on the passenger door, my expression quizzical, before he nods an ok.

“I’m your taxi, not your chauffeur. You don’t need to sit in the back,” he says, grinning, as I open the door.

“This isn’t a taxi though. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed in the front. Are you on shift?”

“Yeah. I’m officially transporting you to make a statement on the pirate attack.”

“Oh.”

Hayden smiles. “I don’t actually care if you do, or don’t, it just gives me a reasonable excuse to take you to Mac.”

“You’re awesome.”

“So I’m told. I also had a chat with June about you. She still needs to see you, but she’s got the ball rolling.”

“Great!”

We chat idly as Hayden drives us to the port. Mac is easily visible as we approach, one of the very few humans walking around near the entry instead of a ship. The Freedom is docked, a rare occurrence which means it must still be unloading. We’re not far from the fish market. I’m pleased – it means the fish cargo wasn’t compromised by the pirate attack.

Mac sees the police car and approaches, a broad grin on his face. Hayden and I step out, and his smile falters for a moment.

“You didn’t make him ride in the back?” he asks, deadpan.

“He tried.”

I start laughing and give Mac a hug. He holds onto my shoulders to look me over. “You’re looking good.”

“Yeah, I’ve been sleeping ok, working out my issues.”

The broad smile returns and Mac shakes Hayden’s hand. They exchange greetings before Mac turns his attention back to me.

“So, what are we doing today, Andy?”

I appreciate the question. I’m sure Mac is itching to see his friend in the hospital. “I want to get back onto the ship.”

“The men have the unload covered.”

“I’m sure. I want to put this in the safe, if it’s alright with you and Cap.”

Mac looks at the book in my hand curiously. “What is it?”

“It’s got the details of all the controllers. They agreed to record it, if I kept it safe. Can’t think of anyplace safer than the Freedom.”

“Huh. I’ve been trying to get that info for ages,” Hayden says, though he doesn’t look upset.

“No offense, Hayden, but June got a hold of my name and now I’m forever tied to Stephen. They don’t want the same thing.”

“Would you like a tour of my ship, Detective?” Mac asks happily. Hayden responds with equal cheer.

“Absolutely!”

Mac and I take the lead. “So you’re not washing your hands of this?” Mac asks. Hayden is trailing behind us, close enough to hear, but he doesn’t intervene.

“I’m still coming home. I just don’t want to be blindsided again. And they’re my friends, I want to help set them up.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m going to access the money my parents left me and buy a safe house, somewhere that we can all go when we want to.”

Mac stops walking for a moment, causing me to stumble slightly. “You sure? That’s a big deal. You can’t hide who you are anymore.”

I realise what he means. “Oh, I was going to buy it as Andrew McPherson . . . I can do that, can’t I?” I look to Hayden, who nods, albeit unsure.

“Pretty sure it can be arranged.”

“Are you sure you want to be Andrew?”

“Of course,” I say quickly. “You’re my family. You, and the crew.”

Mac rubs his bearded chin. “You’re going to need a bank account to transfer the money to. I’ll have to come with you. You’ve still got your licence, but you might need me on the account as well to get approved.”

“It may be a wise idea to have you on the account regardless, Mac. It will give Andy an extra layer of protection, and gives us a second point of contact,” Hayden says. I nod agreeably. I trust Mac and have no real idea how to handle money.

“What do you do with the money you earn at sea?” Hayden asks suddenly.

“We don’t deal in cash while at sea,” Mac says, “for reasons that should be very obvious now. I distribute the cash when we port. What Andy doesn’t need, I hold for him, which is most of it since he’s scarcely left the ship since he boarded it.”

“Huh,” Hayden says, partially because we’ve arrived on deck and he’s watching the flurry of activity around us.

“Hey, Andy, alright?” Jerry asks.

“Yeah man.”

“And DJ?”

“Gone, on good terms.”

“Sweet, man.” He rushes back to work. Bobby approaches me, and Mac motions for the book in my hand.

“I’ll secure that. Bobby looks like he wants a word. Detective, come with me.”

I hand the book over, somewhat reluctantly, but I trust Mac and Hayden. Bobby looks me up and down.

“Saw what you did against the pirates,” he says gruffly. He’s a big guy with more than a few extra pounds, though friendly enough normally.

“You did?”

“Gonna do it again?” His eyes are on my hands, bare except for the strapping.

“Can’t, no.”

“Ok. We’ve got two days of loading and unloading. When it is done, I’m going to do deep maintenance on the engines. We’ll anchor in the bay, but not at the docks themselves. It’ll take more than a week alone, and most of a week if I have help.”

“So I’ll be back in two days, then?”

“Are you going to be capable?” He motions to my wrist.

“It’s a sprain. I’ll figure it out, I don’t want to miss it.”

“Ok. See you bright and early two days from now.” Bobby turns and walks away. I spend a few minutes checking up on my crew mates that are working around me and am pleased to learn that Cap was the only one with a serious injury, though there’re a few minor injuries about.

I rejoin Hayden and Mac as they’re walking from the ship. They’re talking animatedly until we reach the patrol car.

“Do you want me to drive you somewhere? I’m on shift for a few hours yet, but if you want, you can borrow my personal car while I’m working. You have to see June anyway, right, Andy?”

“Yeah,” I say, at the same time as Mac talks,

“That’s excessively kind of you. Are you sure want to do that? I drive a boat most of the year.”

“It’s fine, the car isn’t valuable,” Hayden says with a big grin. “I’ve been teaching Stone to drive in it. Andy, you have a licence, right?”

“Yeah but I can’t drive.”

“That’s fine. All I was implying was, if you find some time, Mac can take you for a lesson. Or I can, if you’re floating around in the next couple of days.”

“Thank you, Hayden. As always, you are far too good to us,” Mac says as he takes shotgun in the squad car, leaving me in the back seat. He winks at me through the rear vision mirror.

“I know,” Hayden says, unaware of the exchange. “I’m told I’m not much of a cop, more of a mate.”

“Well I, for one, like it. It’s good to have someone trustworthy in uniform.”

Hayden smiles and nods his thanks to Mac. The detective then peppers Mac with questions about our ship operations until we reach the police station. It’s not a big building but I find myself swallowing my nerves nonetheless.

“I’ll get set up with Hayden while you talk to June,” Mac says. I nod and go inside. There’s a man behind a desk immediately beyond the door and, by the way he’s looking at me, I assume I should report in to him.

“Hi. I’m here to see Officer June?”

“And you are?” he asks, bored.

“Andy.”

“Your full name, son.”

“Oh. Well, she knows more than –“

“Andy! Come in!” I’m saved by the woman herself, who seems far too pleased to see me. I nod to the guy I was talking to and immediately go to June. She ushers me into a seat in an office, and I find myself sitting before I comprehend what’s happening.

“Hayden told me you want access to your parents estate.”

“Yes. I do.”

“Will you be assuming your full identity?”

“No, no. I like who I am.”

She begins to talk, running me through all my options and who I need to talk to if I want to do different things. Most of it goes over my head, and she notices, but pushes through, having me sign numerous documents on my way.

“How do you know so much about this?” I manage at one point, my head swimming with technical terms.

“My mother is a lawyer. I studied some before I decided blue collar was more my style.”

Before I know it, an hour has passed, and I’m no closer to understanding what I’m entitled to, and more than a little upset at the constant mention of my dead parents, sister, and friends. I kind of knew what I was getting myself in to, but I wasn’t prepared for the realisation of so many details I had forgotten – their names, for one.

“Ok, we’re done for now, Andy,” June smiles softly at me, sensing my confusion. “Basically, we’re going to send the documents away and get a response. If they’re satisfied with your identity they will contact me, and you’ll be available to access everything.”

“And if they aren’t satisfied with my identity?”

“They’ll likely ask for a DNA test to prove you are who you are.”

“Is that probable?” I ask.

“To be completely honest? Yes. Come back in two days. We’ll have a response. If we need to run DNA, we can rush it, but it’ll still take the better part of a week.”

I nod and she shakes my hand.

*

I’m exhausted when Hayden finally drops me back to the safe house. It’s mental – I’ve done a lot of new things today, including opening a bank account and trying to understand the legalities of being me. Mac chose to stay at the hospital with Cap, to keep him company for the night. Hayden follows me into the house and goes to seek out Harry, who is due to leave for work soon.

“How’d it go?” Spark asks as I enter the kitchen, seeking dinner.

“Tired,” I say simply. She nods.

“Is our info secure?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“When are you headed back to your ship?”

“I’ll be working two days from now, but we won’t set sail for another week so I’ll come back and visit before that.”

She claps me on the back and I spend most of the night relatively silent. It doesn’t bother anyone, they’re all fairly quiet, except for Breeze, who is chattering about some random historical fact she learned at school. As per usual, and despite my exhaustion, everyone goes to sleep before me. I know I’ll be seeing them in my dreams tonight and I dread it. I’ve spent too much time today talking about them, too much time with them in the forefront of my mind.

As I’m heading upstairs, however, I’m bundled back down by Stone.

“I want to talk to you. Alone,” he says. I nod and follow him outside – no one else has seen us.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.”

I stutter slightly and fall into silence, caught completely off guard. He waits. Finally, I manage, “Do what?”

“This.” Stone waves a hand around as if it explains everything.

“You don’t have to stay in the safe house, you know that.”

“I don’t want to live this life at all.”

“Me either,” I say with a slight laugh.

“You aren’t getting it. You get to walk away, to live your life, to work and earn money and be normal. You aren’t bound. Yet you can swan in here, control any element you want, and bat us away like children when we fight you. I’m done. I want to be normal. I’m 18, I don’t want to be here babysitting other orphans.”

“Then don’t. Do what Ocean did, and go it yourself. Like you said, you’re 18. You can do it.”

“I want to be normal.”

“I don’t think that’s a choice for us.”

“It is for me. You can control any element.” He tosses his glove. It hits me in the chest and I instinctively catch it. “So you be the earth controller.”

“I’m not as powerful as you, and everything costs me.”

“You used fire the other day, without an ignition source, on your first try.”

“It cost me.” I hold up my wrist and pull the bandaging back slightly. It’s mostly strapped, except for my upper wrist, where the bandaging covers the burn I’d received the other day. I hadn’t done much, and it wasn’t much, unlikely to leave a scar, but it does serve as a warning. Stone sees it.

“That wasn’t balance.”

“I’m not like you, Stone. I can use an element, sure, but I can’t be what you guys are. I don’t have the power, for one.” I offer the glove back, but he shakes his head.

“I don’t want it. I don’t want this.”

“What do you want me to do, then? I can’t wield the power like you.”

“No. But Ocean came to you, when you held his glove.”

“I was literally in the middle of his element, so yeah, he did. Holding your glove won’t make a new one turn up.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know all the previous bearers are dead.”

“True, but this is a new generation. Maybe we have the choice. I want to find out. I want you to hold the glove. To see if anything happens.”

“Mate, don’t take this personally, but that is a bullshit idea. I’ve been beaten, shot and stabbed for holding a glove that isn’t mine. I don’t really want to tempt fate a third time.”

I’m surprised to see tears running down Stone’s face. I sympathise, I really do. I don’t want to be the null controller any more than he wants to be the earth controller. “Why do you have the right to choose?” he asks. I sigh. He’s bigger than me, taller than me, and he’s sobbing. I don’t know what to do.

“If I take this now, you’ll have to explain it to Spark, and Flame . . . and Breeze.” I’ve seen in the last few days how he treats Breeze as a little sister. Watching him deflate is something I wish I could unsee, though, and I know he’s got me. “In two days, I’m going back to work on my ship. I’ll take it then. In another week, I want a meeting, you and me, understand? I’ll hold it for a week and you can do whatever it is that you want to do and then we’re going to meet and talk it over. I don’t want it, you don’t want it, and it’ll probably end up hurting one or both of us, and we need to figure it out as men. Cool?”

He nods, his eyes still filled with tears, and I whisper, “What happened to the hot-head who was going to beat up the guardian one-on-one?”

He steps forward and grasps his glove, his hand lingering over mine. “He grew up, and he realised what the glove has cost him.”

With that, he takes the glove and disappears into the forest.

*

When I meet with June two days later, I have the earth glove on my hand. Stone had stepped up to me that morning, holding the glove out, refusing to make eye contact. I couldn’t say no. I’m an idiot, and all I want to be is selfish, but I couldn’t say no. My only reassurance is that I’m reasonably safe on the Freedom, a decent distance away from the element I’m supposed to be temporarily in charge of. I won’t see the news, I won’t see anything I should have avoided, and the water will act as a dampener on the unsettled feelings that had haunted me when I had the water glove.

June has equally depressing news. “It’s as we expected. You’ll need to give me a DNA sample.”

“Ok,” I say, swallowing. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, don’t be nervous, don’t you watch TV?”

I stare at her. “I live on a ship, miles from land.”

“Right. It’s a swab. Open your mouth, I take a swab, and I send it away. I’ll try to get it expedited, given your circumstances. How can I contact you? Where will you be?”

“We’ll be just offshore. It won’t be hard for you to contact the Freedom.”

“Ok. Just in case, I wouldn’t mind if we had another meeting set. A week from now?”

“Sure,” I nod. “I’m meant to meet Stone then too.”

“Good.”

We shake hands on it, I give her the swab, and I get the heck back to my ship. Mac intercepts me before I make my way down to Bobby.

“Andy. What did June say?”

“She’ll either contact me, or we’ll meet in a week. I need to meet Stone then, too. Is that ok?”

“Yes. I can give you time, just. We’re expected to sail then, we’ve got some cargo to carry.”

“Is Cap going to be okay by then?”

“No. His insides had to get fairly stitched up. The doctor’s don’t want him so far from help if something goes wrong. I’m going to take this run, then we’ll return and pick him up for the next one.”

“Oh,” I say, unsure. I’ve never done a run without the captain before. It puts a lot of responsibility on Mac’s shoulders. He’ll excel, for sure, but he’ll have to be a boss first and my mentor last.

“Are you going to be okay?” He motions to my wrist, and when doing so, notices the brown glove on my other hand. “What is that?”

“It’s cool, I’m just holding it for Stone. Honest.”

He stares me down for a long time. “You’re an idiot. Get to work.”

I can tell he’s seething, but there’s nothing I can do to fix it.

*

I pass the next five days with the earth glove on one hand and brown strapping on my other wrist and hand. Shielded by the long sleeves I wear when working the engines, the glove passes all but the closest scrutiny. Bobby notices and I can tell he’s curious but he doesn’t ask. I manage fairly well, relying on my uninjured wrist’s strength and, as per usual, I’m overjoyed with the learning. As I’d hoped, the water is a dampener on the earth glove and it doesn’t bother me.

June’s phone call, however, does. The fact that she contacted the ship at all is a concern, and then she requests I come in immediately. Mac offers to come with me, but I can tell he’s still annoyed by the glove on my hand, so I use the yacht to get to shore and June herself picks me up from the harbour. It’s early afternoon.

“Where’s Hayden?”

She doesn’t immediately reply. In fact, she doesn’t talk at all until we’re in her office at the police station, by which time I’m twitching with nervous energy.

“Sit,” June says. She waits until I do so before taking her own seat. “Your DNA was run faster than I ever expected.”

“So it’s all confirmed, then?”

“Yes, yes,” she says dismissively. “A lawyer will contact you or Mac, who is now your legal guardian, for the finalities. That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“You’re worried?” If she’s worried, I should probably start running for the hills.

“Like I said, your DNA was run fast. I actually received the results two days ago.”

“And you didn’t contact me then? Why now?”

“It was just before my shift ended, and I’ve had the last two days off, so I wasn’t worried.”

“So why now? Why not wait the other two days?”

“A private company contacted me first thing this morning. Your DNA triggered something in their system. I met with them. They study genetics, apparently. They have been researching Stephen’s victims.”

My expression must reflect my feelings, and June goes defensive. “I didn’t tell them anything more than what was originally in our reports, don’t worry. They asked me a bunch of questions, I answered within those bounds. I also told them why I was running your DNA, for confirmation of your identity so you can access everything you deserve.”

I’m shocked. “So, then, you’re warning me?”

“Yes. I’ve helped you where I could. I will continue to. I have no desire to investigate a legitimate company, though, so I’m giving you a heads up so that you know what you’re dealing with. I don’t know what the hell you are, and I never will, but I respect Hayden and his connection to you all. I also pity you, for your past. I get why you don’t want to be in the system.”

It takes me a moment to digest, and I wonder if June has a deeper past than I’ve credited her with. “So where is Hayden?”

She sighs. It’s deep. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? Are you still partners?”

“No. I was promoted three days ago. I’m now required to find a new partner and train them.”

“Congratulations?”

“Thank you. Hayden had the last two days off, same as me . . . but he didn’t show up for work this morning.”

“So, let me get this straight. You had a meeting with these mysterious genetics scientists, got promoted, your old partner has gone missing, and you don’t think that’s weird?”

“Of course I do,” she snaps, suddenly defensive again. “Just the same as I know that me running your DNA was the catalyst. I deliberately don’t ask about you lot, and I don’t want to know, and I’m washing my hands of this, too, because I have a feeling that if I go down that road I’ll find out everything and you have made it abundantly clear that you don’t want that.”

“But Hayden is missing,” I say slowly. She has a point on everything else – we’re all happier if the police keep their noses out of our business, and we haven’t exactly been kind or forthcoming with her.

“We will investigate that. It’s early – he’s only been gone a few hours.”

I slowly rise from my chair while nodding. “You won’t mind if I share this with the controllers?”

“Of course not. I don’t have their contact details, but they might know something useful to us. If they do, you will ensure they call?”

“Of course.”

“Good.”

There’s an awkward pause. I step to the door and turn back for a moment. “Thank you, for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Expect the call to confirm your details.”

I smile and step out of the office. My mind is whirling as I head past the desk sergeant and out the door. It isn’t until I’m outside that I realise I’ll need a lift back to the Freedom. I’m standing in the centre of the carpark, wondering if I should head to the safe house to search for Hayden, when a car pulls up in front of me. A man gets out. His blonde hair is in a military cut and his dark grey eyes are hard. His entire body screams strength and training.

“Hello. Are you Andy?” he says. I think he’s trying for friendly but a shiver runs down my spine.

“Depends who’s asking.”

I track the two people behind me with my peripheral vision. Every instinct is screaming at me to run, but I’m in a police carpark and running away will probably just lead to me being arrested. I figure these are the people that were questioning June but I can’t know for sure.

“We’re associates of one Detective Drew Hayden.”

Screw that, I’m sure.

“Where is he?” I ask. I sense the people behind me pushing forward. I’m rapidly running out of escape options, not without using the earth power and exposing myself.

“Hop in the car and we’ll take you to him.”

My heart jumps into my throat as the two behind me make a move to grab me. Channeling my element, I turn and smash a knee into the groin of the man, closely followed by an elbow to his throat. Without the void stripping my emotions, I never would make the move – there’s a lot of risk of accidentally killing the guy. I spin, lashing out with a fist to the temple of the second creep.

Unfortunately, that leaves me exposed to the man that had spoken. He grabs me with both hands under the arms. I slam my head back and feel his lips split. Moments later I feel the prick on the side of my neck. I struggle hard but I can feel my energy leaving me. The two I’d attacked find their feet again and grab my legs, lifting me effortlessly into the car.

Darkness shrouds my sight and mind and I have one final thought before my consciousness fades out.

I should have run.

#End