ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 36

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• Amir •

Amir resisted punching Enzo. Crazy lunatic. He should be in a room bouncing around on metal spikes.

He wanted him dead.

But he wasn't dumb. Based on what he had illustrated in his bedroom, Amir knew Enzo was capable of more and that if his community of superhumans had to get down to business, it would be horrendous.

BARDA will end soon.

Everyone now sat in a room that looked like it was made of stone. Wall-mounted bulbs didn't refract, and the air smelled like leather. Several screens displayed aerial views of most major cities.

Complete disaster.

Many areas appeared to have been decimated by a massive asteroid, leaving just a large hole, implying they will never be recovered. Amir fought back tears while trembling.

He exhaled deeply when he looked at Enzo. "Can you show me Islamabad?"

After a swallow, Enzo narrowed his gaze and signaled for a crew member to flip the channel. Amir gasped at the roads and mountains. His family's house may have been destroyed, and he couldn't see it.

He looked at Moon, inhaling.

Amir massaged her shoulders and spine. After leaving Enzo's room, she'd been quiet, so he could tell she wanted to leave.

He did, too.

"I'm sorry, man," Greer said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Shukria."

"I need a few days to prepare everyone." Enzo switched to beer and devoured half his bottle since entering the room thirty minutes earlier. Amir wondered if he might get liver failure. "Some of my people are scouting for survivors."

Zander propped himself against the entrance wall. His eyes said he was ready to act now despite his cool exterior. "What's the Resistance's timeframe?"

Amir summarized the Resistance's bombing obsession method.

Sitting next to everyone, Greer responded, "We have time. Three days or so, but sooner is better."

Enzo swallowed again. "Afraid they'll strike more cities without you?"

Amir nodded. "They're trigger-happy."

"As I said, I need time," Enzo stated. "Warn your lackeys to expect us with weapons blazing."

Lackeys? That was one way to characterize them. When Amir circled Luna's waist, he squeezed.

Enzo scanned his empty bottle. "Where is the fight taking place at?"

Greer answered, "Everyone in California wants you to come to Edwards Air Force Base. If plans change—"

"You'll connect." Enzo patted his leather pants back pocket. The lunatic had yet to grab a shirt. "Understood." He paused before flinging the drink. Glass broke. He chuckled. "We will be there."

Amir glanced at Zander.

"We could have acted sooner, but we waited. We now have a chance to take them down." Enzo pointed to the doorway. "But I think we're done for the day. It's been fun negotiating with you all, but it's late."

"Okay," Luna said, taking Amir's hand.

"Another thing . . . I don't want any of you back down here, even you," he told Zander.

That infuriated Zander as he balled his fists. "We'll get back to you, Enzo."

Luna took a step forward, and Amir followed, desperate to escape this abyss, but Enzo suddenly stepped ahead. Amir snatched his wife away from him.

"You're clever, Mrs. Khan," he commented, inches from her mouth. "Well-mannered, too. I'd keep you with us if you weren't tethered. But your happiness outweighs God's. That's too bad for me."

Enzo smiled and placed his right hand on her chin, staring.

He kissed her. She received a mother-freaking kiss from him.

Before anyone could react and Amir could unleash his anger, the man turned into white mist and fog and disappeared.

Amir let out, "He's itching for a boxing match with me."

Luna pulled herself away, her face scarlet and lips crimson as if she'd been sucking on a cherry Blow Pop. She faced the group. "I'm going back up. Now."

Zander cast a glance at Greer. "Yeah, before we waste this trip."

"It's funny," Greer said. "Nobody was familiar."

"They seemed to know you," Amir remarked.

Zander walked forward, saying, "That's the thing, ladies and gents. Word gets around. Everyone has eyes and ears."

Luna nodded. "I think Enzo did something to me. There's a strange sensation flowing through my body."

Amir stopped, wide-eyed. "What?"

"No, no. Wait." Zander rubbed Luna's temples in the tunnel. "Wow," he exhaled. "I had no idea he could do that."

"What?" Greer said beside him.

"He made sure no one could physically touch Luna," Zander stated, spinning Amir's head.

"How?" Amir frowned.

"Sorry. I didn't explain it well," Zander continued. "Enzo transferred a power to her that protects her from superhumans and Defectives. They'll become sick instantly if they lay a hand on her. Ultimately die."

"Like Tethered Souls meeting in person?" Amir asked.

Zander nodded. "Precisely. Luna will feel her new skill growing over the next few days."

"How did he do that?"

Zander laughed at Luna's question.

"Enzo, whose real name is Maurice, is a product of BARDA and was raised in a compound," said Zander. "When you allow it, Luna, you can be touched. But not if you were sedated. Try not to let that happen."

She nodded and said, "Got you."

"His name is Maurice?" Greer asked Zander, and he nodded. "Why would he change it? It's not horrible."

Zander snorted. "Would you take orders from someone with that name?"

Greer's eyebrows were up when Amir looked at him. "I see your point," he replied.

"I don't care what we call this guy, but I'm ready to go," Luna said, four steps ahead of the rest of the group.

As they went through the confusing network of pathways, Amir groaned loudly.

Several hours later, they came back to the surface after taking various routes to make sure no agents were following them. By late evening, Amir was still furious about Enzo kissing Luna, and every breath tasted sour.

"You guys are welcome to come back to our place if you want to chill for a few hours," Zander offered as he exited the sewer. "Get some rest and eat. Do anything you need."

Amir saw Greer help Luna get into the back seat of the Explorer. Before going back to the base, they did need to relax. He could tell she was tired because she didn't say much as they walked out of the tunnels. Probably still shaken about everything.

'Does it sound like a good idea?' Amir asked Greer.

Greer threw open the driver's door. 'I think we could use the R&R and Zain and Zander are good people. But head's up. Luna doesn't want to go back to the base yet.'

Amir's eyes widened after he peered into the backseat. She fumbled with her seatbelt. Leaning in, he brushed her fingers aside and buckled her. 'Is she listening?'

'No. Just us,' Greer answered.

'But I can hear you.' Zander raised his eyebrows at them from a distance. 'I'm delighted you two like us.' He winked. 'That warms my heart.'

Greer looked at Amir and laughed. 'Luna wants to stop by Louisiana. She needs to see her house and studio.'

Amir sighed. He didn't dare to bring it up with her. Her home was too risky to visit.

"Thank you for the offer," Greer said to Zander. "We'll meet you there."

Zander quickly gave him directions and a cell phone to call Titus before he did his misty fog thing and traveled the incredibly fast way. Zain and Selena had their car. Greer took the wheel, held the phone, and glared at the screen while tapping it.

"What is it?" Amir asked.

He shook his head. "Titus sent an urgent text message asking us to listen to his voicemail. I'll check it out."

"Why don't we tether to him?" Amir suggested.

"Because they're all deep underground, and Titus is surrounded by lead," Greer explained.

Amir nodded.

After getting settled, Greer received the information. He hung up, frowning. "Titus said Chase . . . Well, he is gone."

"Huh? How?" Luna grumbled.

"I'll call him and find out what happened," Greer said.

Amir became apprehensive while listening to the one-sided conversation. Chase's actions were unclear, but Greer quickly explained to Titus what happened with Enzo.

He put the phone down in his lap and faced Amir and Luna. "Chase escaped with the help of Alisha Bankole and Daniel Kim. He was last spotted at the base once we crossed Wyoming. Titus and General Hayes don't know where they've gone to."

"Is the general trustworthy?" Amir believed he was the BARDA mole.

Looking at the screen, Greer nodded. "General Hayes is legit. Titus trusts him, and I trust Titus."

Luna cast a glance at him. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," Greer remarked. "General Hayes thinks Chase will look for Matthew and the other children. Titus has some people searching for him, but Chase . . . you never know."

He had a point. If they defeated BARDA and Chase disappeared, that was disastrous. Amir didn't want to live wondering where he was and if he would surprise them.

"Right now, it's not the most serious of our concerns." Greer glanced at Amir, then at Luna. "Not even close."

That was also true. "Titus will catch him," Amir chimed in. But when he got close and personal with his wife, he couldn't stop thinking about Chase Marquette. Was it possible that he discovered the underground community by following them? Would they encounter him before reaching the base?

Amir kissed Luna's temple. "You should take a nap."

She smiled slightly. "Mr. Bossy."

"Like always." He chuckled while Greer started the Explorer. "Close your eyes."

One brow furrowed. "So bossy," she uttered.

He smiled and brushed her hair behind her ear, caressing her cheek. "Doctor's orders."

"You need to improve your table manners." She finally closed her eyes, and Amir swore she was asleep by the time Greer found out how to exit the airport.

Amir moaned when they turned north on the main road. He noticed Greer's reflection in the rearview mirror, staring at him. "What aren't you telling me?"

"There's a major problem," Greer said. "It has to do with Luna's family."

Amir's stomach dropped as the Explorer passed several boarded-up buildings and debris on the freeway. Dark clouds covered the sun. "What now?"

"Sarah is safe with her grandparents, but Luna's sister has been kidnapped," he muttered while Amir gripped the seatbelt and stared forward. "Vikram burned half of the health care workers alive after she was taken. Titus said that things got . . . ugly."

Things were beginning to become real now. Amir swallowed, sniffing. "He burned them alive?"

"Vikram found out that half of the base was BARDA operatives. That includes most of the workers and civilians who came in for help. They were injecting Liberty with serums for months when she was unconscious."

While sliding between two wrecked 18-wheelers, Greer braked. Amir's anxieties grew. "If I know Titus, he will secure a new base for everyone. But, if we get caught, it's best not to know where they are. Not yet."

"Crap," Amir uttered. "So, while we were gone, everything went to hell?"

"Looks like it. It happened yesterday morning and took a while to get us the message." Greer's chest heaved when he grabbed the steering wheel. "What's your plan?"

"Let's focus on one thing at a time," Amir said. "We'll settle in at Zander's place, then find my sister-in-law."

It was the best they could do. He wanted to rescue Liberty before telling Luna anything. He wanted to save her from more bad news.

Even with little traffic, getting to Zander's home in Chicago's northern suburbs took some time. Water, power, and security were available.

Amir rubbed Luna's forehead.

Liberty was with BARDA, Chase was doing whatever he wanted, and Luna wanted to go to New Orleans to see what she left behind.

He understood her desire to visit, but he couldn't break her heart by saying no. Because Chase was free, they needed to let the underground crew do their thing and return their butts to their family.

His stomach coiled.

Returning to California meant giving up control and surrendering Liberty to experimental-driven and deranged people.

Amir couldn't find her without Luna.

Could he do it alone? That was a death wish.

He twitched when the car slowed and turned down an empty driveway barely visible from the road. He noticed the wooded suburban residence on the path.

Zander's car was outside the garage. Houseplants and garlands adorned a wide front porch.

Whoa. The house was serene. He expected a filthy, dreary environment. Zander's place wasn't.

When Greer cut off the engine, Luna woke and pulled her hair back. She gasped at the window. Stunned.

Amir put his arm around her shoulders as they jumped out of the car and walked up the front steps. Everything smelled like one huge orchid. It baffled him even more.

The door opened before anyone could reach it, displaying Zain. Amir noticed him blinking frantically from the light. "Hello and welcome."

Greer looked at Amir and Luna, then said, "Thank you."

"Come on in," Zain said, waving.

Amir was reluctant to join the Engineered Souls and chill out in their Backwoods Home Magazine-style residence.

But he led Luna in after Greer. Zain closed the door and entered a living room with closed curtains.

Selena stared at a paper next to an end table. "Am I missing anything?"

Zain glanced at what she was holding and shook his head. "Everything we need is on the list."

She looked at the guests and responded with a smile, "Food is on the way. Zain loves to cook, and his cooking is delicious."

Amir's eyes widened. "You cook?"

Zain strolled by him and gave Zander the keys, who appeared out of nowhere. "And bake. I'm hoping to have a cooking show once this is all over, like a culinary celebrity chef."

"You'd like my cousin," Amir said. "Faisal enjoys cooking."

"So do you, baby," Luna murmured, holding his hand. "Well, before your memories were wiped."

Selena walked closer, and Amir saw Zander approaching as if he didn't trust anyone near her. The role reversal between them was . . . surprising. "The first and second-floor bathrooms are rarely used. I laid out some shampoo, soap, hygiene products, and fresh towels."

"Thank you," Luna said with a grin. She looked at Zain, then at Zander. "Thanks for everything."

Zain nodded.

Zander nodded.

After frowning, Selena nodded.

They enjoyed nodding, and it made Amir think of them as little dolls with bobbleheads.

"I'm glad you guys are here," Selena said. "You're all working together to fight BARDA."

Zain tinkered with a volcanic science project on the kitchen counter.

Zander was twirling the car keys with his fingers.

And Selena pursed her lips while glancing around the room.

"Well, everything is in order." She clapped shyly. "We'll be back soon."

Zain glanced behind his shoulder and said, "I'm pretty sure we'll be back in thirty minutes. Try not to mess anything up while we're gone."

Amir laughed, considering his options. Reorganize the many floral arrangements that seemed to be springing from the walls? Rearrange the bedrooms and family room? Move the dishes around?

The three of them left, leaving Amir and the others behind. Greer voiced their thoughts first.

"I can't believe we're here alone," he said, his mouth open. "Did we step into the Twilight Zone?"

Amir barked out a laugh. "I feel like reorganizing a bedroom or an office." He took a long look around the fully furnished living room. "I think Zander would appreciate it."

"Don't do that," Luna said, staring at him. "I know you two have a long way to go before becoming BCFs, but they are super cool people who seem nice."

"BCFs?"

"Best Comrades Forever," she replied, her lips tipped to one side. "Let's just chill and get along with them when they come back."

"They did welcome us with open arms, unlike some people." Greer was staring at Amir with that last one. "Anyway, I'll go get the bags."

Luna reached Amir after Greer had walked away. She gave him a soft kiss. Despite his heavy mind, her lips made his rising panic more comforting.

He hugged her as he leaned against the wall. His other hand on her neck deepened the kiss. Her taste, as well as the whisper she made when he nipped her bottom lip, always astonished him.

Greer coughed and cleared his throat. "Really?"

Amir looked at him when Luna laid her face against his shoulder. "How about you go do something?"

"Well, I'm not sure. There is a lot to explore. We could—"

Amir thought the same thing as Greer. His senses sharpened as consciousness covered him like a warm blanket. Muttering, he tugged Moon back.

Someone had found them.

Luna asked, "What?"

Greer dropped their bags and turned toward the hallway. "Someone is here."

"Seriously?" she murmured. "What if they came to see Zander? Or—"

The massive rectangular window in the main room blew out. Acrylic and broken glass spread. Amir moved back, fighting off the sharp, painful objects.

Defectives landed inches from them.

"They're not here for Zander," Amir said.

Luna stood still and clenched her fists. "Dammit. All I want is to shower, chill, and eat cheese. Why can't I eat cheese?"

Greer glanced at her from the side. "They—"

Amir lunged forward and struck someone before transitioning into his angelic form. The guy fell on an antique chair and buckled his legs.

Amir collapsed, jerked, and punched another person in the jaw. He then released his energy and fired a steady shot into the man's heart, frying him inside out.

After Amir rose, his ambiance faded. "How many are here?"

"I . . . I don't know." Luna ran toward the foyer entrance.

Amir returned to his physical form and joined Greer and Luna at the archway when the front door flew off its hinges, swooped across the room, and crashed into the other wall.

Before looking, Amir knew who it was.

It was hard for him to believe.

It couldn't be . . . her.

Liberty eyed the three of them from the doorway. She smiled vengefully.

She came to destroy someone who had superhuman abilities. That "somebody" knew her well.

She came for Luna.

Amir could sense it.

Liberty said with malice in her voice, "Caught ya, little sis. Tag. You're it."

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Hey . . . Liberty told Luna in Book One that she wanted to be a villain (in "Blindsided"). The author is merely doing what she asked for. Get ready for BIGGER twists, more action, and finding out who is truly behind this war, which will be a surprising character. Whee. Thank you all for reading!