Authors: Suze Reese
Tags: #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Paranormal & Urban, #Teen & Young Adult, #Aliens, #Science Fiction, #paranormal romance, #Young Adult
ExtraNormal (36 page)
Until I felt them relax, I hadn’t realized just how much energy the agents were extending to keep the stream open. The room went through a dramatic transformation from strenuous and nervous energy to jubilance. Though they all remained in their original positions, the feeling in the room was like a circus.
And they deserved to feel vindicated, even if the council did take all the credit. But I couldn’t bring myself to join in their cheer. Apparently Mom and Geery wouldn’t be punished. Which was wonderful. But I still hadn’t heard a word about Jesse.
Keddil rested his hands on the desk in front of him and spoke directly to me. “The Council has decided against including the remainder of this meeting in the official record. However, I must caution you that a record
is
being kept, and we expect to maintain a professional atmosphere.” He gave me a stern warning look.
I shifted in my seat. If they were going to tell me they’d murdered Jesse…they could just stick their decorum and professional atmosphere—
“It is time to turn our attention to the matter of the half-breed.” He nodded to a female agent standing near the door. I sat up tall, my head darting in that direction. The agent opened the door. Two agents stood in the doorway. Between them was the most wonderful sight in the entire world.
I jumped out of my seat.
“Sit!” Keddil bellowed in an uncharacteristically stern voice.
I froze in place, poised to run.
“We still expect decorum.”
My eyes locked on Jesse’s as the agents guided him to that third chair. I dropped back into mine but scooted on the seat as close to him as possible.
Jesse is alive.
He is here and alive.
I wanted to shout. To leap.
Keddil cleared his throat. “Now, I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised to know the council’s initial recommendation regarding this individual.”
I couldn’t pull my gaze away from Jesse’s face to look at Keddil. I held my breath, waiting for his next words, my heart pounding.
“I must admit that I was close to carrying out their instructions. But that was before his test results came in.”
I gripped the edges of the chair and turned to Keddil. He tapped the top of the desk with his fingers and stared at me for a long thoughtful moment. Then he looked to my mom. Then my dad. Obviously reluctant to say what he needed to say. I was afraid I might faint if he didn’t continue.
He leaned back in his chair and scratched his chin. “I didn’t sign on to eliminate the linkmate of one of my best agents.” He looked pointedly at both my parents.
They both gasped.
I rose from my seat. “D-did you say…?”
He nodded gravely. “The repatterning isn’t perfect, but adequate.” He watched me, giving me a moment for it to sink in.
I reached for Jesse, but Keddil blasted the word
“There are a few terms,” Keddil continued. He opened a desk drawer and slammed a ream of paper about two inches thick onto the top of the desk. “This is the boy’s copy. Yours will be sent by stream.” He looked up, to me poised half-way out of my seat.
I looked to Keddil…my parents…Jesse. Had I heard right? Maybe I was still dreaming. It sounded like Keddil said Jesse had repatterned. With me. We were linkmates. And he wouldn’t be eliminated.
“Please sit,” Keddil continued brusquely. “I am not quite done.”
I hesitated before dropping onto my chair once again, though my right hand and leg inched closer to Jesse.
“In the course of the investigation it has also become clear that Mira has committed a series of offenses that warrant harsh consequences.”
I looked nervously at Mom.
She tried to give me a comforting look but her face was riddled with worry and confusion.
“However,” Keddil continued. “The government is currently in upheaval. History files are being revised as we speak. The Stones have left a trail of children with questionable genetics that the Governing Council has decided will remain classified. Frankly the agency is not prepared to handle them.” He adjusted his necktie and cleared his throat. “It has taken quite a bit of persuasion. But in this climate, the council was able to see the logic in allowing the two of you to remain on Earth—especially given your special communicative abilities—as lead agents of our newly-formed Juvenile Investigations Division.” He put his hand up, stopping me from the leap to my feet that he knew I was about to make. “But there is one important caveat,” Keddil said. “Travel to Nreim with the half-human will be strictly forbidden. For any reason. At any time. This means you can never return home, unless you come alone. Is that clear?”
He studied me as if I should be giving this serious consideration. As if I’d think for a minute that giving up Nreim would be too big of a sacrifice to make for being with Jesse. Before I could be told to sit back down, I flew across the desk and wrapped my arms around Keddil’s neck. The stack of papers scattered, causing a flurry of fluttering white. “Thank you!” Not only did we both get to keep our lives, but we would be together. More than I’d dared hope.
Keddil chuckled awkwardly, his back stiff and straight, as he pushed me away.
I scrambled off the desk, slipping on the loose papers, and turned to Jesse’s open arms. He lifted me easily and swung me through the air. When my feet were back on the ground I placed my hands on his face. Felt his eyes, his nose, his mouth—putting them all to memory. I took a deep breath and soaked him in. “I thought…I thought they…”
His eyes danced merrily.
I gasped.
He nodded in the direction of the desk.
Keddil smiled knowingly, as if he knew perfectly well that we were streaming and what we were talking about.
?>
<
We
won him over. He’s just as impressed by you as he is by me.>
I started to protest, but Keddil cleared his throat. “I’m still not quite finished.”
I reluctantly turned to him, keeping Jesse’s arms wrapped around my waist.
“There is an opening for a biology teacher at Los Robles High School.” Keddil’s face was serious again. He turned to my dad. “The council tells us his replacement will be known as Larry Johns.”
Dad gasped and scooted to the edge of his seat. Mom clapped her hands.
“He’s staying?” I rushed towards him while holding tight to Jesse’s arms. On the way I reached out and snatched up Mom. Dad met us halfway.
“This is stupendous news!” Dad said.
Mom placed her forehead on Dad’s, grinning. “If you’re really staying, you’re going to need some vernacular lessons from Mira.”
I threw my arms around both of them. “Definitely.”
“I have obviously given up on decorum,” Keddil said, trying to hide a grin. “But I do have one more order of business before we can conclude.”
Mom lifted her head, stroking my hair. “We’d better listen,” she whispered. We stayed attached, each clinging to another in some way, and turned to face Keddil.
“The council has made recommendations for other parties involved. Agent Gretta Johns has been reassigned as a special liaison to the new Juvenile Investigations Division. She’ll be working closely with yet another new agent—a quasar-force juvenile—”
“You don’t mean—?” At that moment I received a stream: a blast of cheesy spy music.
About the Author
Suze Reese has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She’s always loved that she can have adventures both in the real world and her imaginary world. She has a degree in journalism and has written both fiction and nonfiction for decades. To keep up with her coming works, including the remaining books in the ExtraNormal series, go to her website at
www.suzereese.com
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