Page 102 of Concluded
This was a major gap in the plan, one that they’d been aware of.But without knowing exactly what their little army would be capable of or what actions the enemy would take, it was hard to be more specific.
But then someone else spoke up.“I have an idea.May I share it?”He was a handsome man in his forties.
Achilles looked slightly relieved.“Sure, Keaton.Go ahead.”
“Thanks.So… I’m an empath, right?It turns out my talent is a two-way street.I can receive emotions from others, but if I try, I can alsosendthem.When Owen and I were trapped by that Miller guy”—he shuddered—“we defeated him by pushing a bunch of positive emotions at him.We had an angel’s help with that, I think.”He smiled at Ish, who gave a slight bow back.
“That was just one guy,” Keaton continued.“And I don’t even know if he was all that big a player.But what I’m thinking is that all of you, with these ibburs inside you, you’d be like… like an enormous battery.I’d be like a jumper cable, directing the charge at the bad guys.But instead of electricity, the charge will be all the feelings that they loathe.”
The room was silent as everyone considered what they’d heard.Dee thought that it was a lot of mumbo-jumbo and hocus-pocus.But so was just about everything he’d experienced since the Bureau came into his life.So was his entire existence, really.Achilles said that magic was simply science that nobody yet understood.Dee was willing to accept that.Especially since nobody seemed to have a reasonable alternative.
“I like it,” said Achilles.“It… feels right.Can you direct your charge over distances?And when you don’t know exactly who your targets are or where they are?”
Keaton winced.“I don’t know.I haven’t tried it.But… I doubt it.”
Dee realized that he was standing, although he hadn’t made the conscious choice to do so.He’d never done public speaking, but unlike Achilles, he didn’t feel uncomfortable with it.“We have to bring them to us, then.”
“How?”asked Keaton.
“Make a wish.”
* * *
“It’s not very exciting,is it?”Achilles said, looking around.
Dee shrugged.“I didn’t think we came here for the décor.”
The gathering in the lobby had broken up after everyone agreed to the plan and Dee had promised he’d be ready to facilitate the possessions soon.As people wandered off, many in pairs, Achilles had led Dee to his old office.It was dusty and unremarkable, with a desk and a couple of chairs, a small bookcase containing labeled binders and a couple of dozen volumes, and a well-worn loveseat that looked as if it came from Ikea.There were no windows, and the only adornment was a framed vintage poster forWar of the Worlds.
Dee pointed at the poster.“You’re a sci-fi fan?”
“Not especially.It was a gift from Orson not long after we met.Sort of a joke, since he was named after Orson Welles, who did the radio version, and the Bureau often deals with weird creatures, and….It wasn’t a veryfunnyjoke.”
Dee thought it was interesting that Achilles had kept the poster even though they had broken up and Orson died.It was sweet, really—a small psychological slip from a man who had usually refused to admit how much he might care for someone else.
But again, décor wasn’t the point.
Dee crashed into Achilles, hard, nearly sending them both sprawling onto the floor, and he kissed like he’d never kissed before.Achilles immediately got into the spirit of things and clutched him fiercely.Dee was ravenous, desperate, would have swallowed him whole if that had been possible—or would havebeenswallowed, because it was all the same anyway.
“You’re hot,” said Achilles, panting, his hands under Dee’s shirt and spread against his bare back.
“Thanks.”
“No, I mean physicallyhot, like you have a fever.”
“I’m burning for you.”Dee couldn’t help it—he laughed.Then he used a thumb to smooth the lines of concern on Achilles’ forehead.“Really, I’m fine.I swear I’m not sick.I just really need this right now.Need you.”
Achilles looked only slightly relieved.“You’re supposed to be resting.”
“No, I’m supposed to be gathering energy.This will do me way more good than any amount of napping.”Although he lacked scientific proof that this was true, Dee believed it wholeheartedly.This was a craving far more urgent than one for food or drugs.
He put his hands on Achilles’ shoulders and looked him steadily in the eyes.“Do you want me?”
“More than I want oxygen.”
“Then what I need you to do, Achilles my love, is tell me what I should do to you.”
“But what?—”
