Christian
It was a while after sunset when Christian went looking for Tanya.
He had no idea of what he was going to say to her, but there were a few things he needed to know. Although he wasn't sure if she would have the answers.
But she was his best hope at the moment.
Tanya
Tanya was having trouble sleeping that night.
"Too much stress, that's your problem, girl," she told herself.
Nonetheless, she found herself going over the reports. The final foundations for the spacestation were being laid. Soon the amphlifier would be in place and they would start teleporting up more people to increase production.
She sighed. At least they had managed to keep the humans from finding out. Some countries (like the one she was currently living in) would get a mite upset if they realised a space station capable of holding a few thousand people was being constructed in an orbit about their planet.
Tanya paused, sensing a mind nearby that wasn't sleeping.
"Christian?"
Christian
Christian heard his name.
Recognizing the voice as Tanya's, he headed toward the room she was in.
"Ah, hey..." he began when he spotted her.
"Late night, huh?"
Tanya
"You could say that," Tanya replied.
She put down the report and turned to face him.
"So, what are you doing up?"
Christian
"Ah..."
He put his hands behind his back so she wouldn't notice them shivering, then thought better of it and crossed his arms.
He frowned a little.
"I don't guess that ah... anything came from looking for my mom, huh? I mean, the one that went missing..." he began.
Tanya
"Well, in hindsight it's easy to think it was all pointless," Tanya replied. "But every moment of our lives influences the next. Your search to find your mother might not have been successful in the way you wanted it to be, but it helped create the person you are today."
Christian
"Yeah, a complete loser," Christian rolled his eyes, then went to sit on a nearby chair.
"I meant the YIRAAS search but... they probably would have given up by now."
He sighed and shook his head.
"You know, if she'd never left, and dad was never killed, I... I probably wouldn't be here. No, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be this screwed. I could have grown up normally, you know? Had the, the normal family life kinda thing," he rubbed his nose, "but no, guess I'm just too lucky."
Tanya
"Oh, the YIRAAS search. I have no idea what the status of that is now. Sorry. And you're only a loser if you think you are. And you are most certainly, not a loser, Christian. I know it's rough now, but you'll get there," Tanya replied.
Christian
"And get to where exactly?" Christian just stared at the wall, leaning back.
He began to fiddle with a ring that Kirk had given him.
"I mean, Taylor's fine. He has his brothers, a girlfriend, and the music to keep him going. I know he's going through hell at the moment, but you know... at least he has that to fall back on. He's going to make it, you know? Be somebody. I don't..." he shook his head, "I don't have anything to go by. I have no idea what I want to do in life, what direction I want to take. And who, if anybody, will be included."
He scratched his head.
"I know you probably know all this already, but you know... it's kinda better to get it out. Sorry."
Tanya
"So, you're at a crossroads huh? You can't go back, but there are so many paths to choose which go forward."
Tanya sat back.
"Well, you're the only one who can decide where you want to go. But I might know someone..." she considered for a moment. "I know someone who may be able to help you figure things out."
Tanya opted not to mention Tate's name or power. It may work better if Christian wasn't aware.
Christian
Christian looked up warily.
"Who? An agent?" he began nervously, "I mean, not that I have anything against them... sorta..."
He cringed a little, hoping he wasn't getting himself in trouble.
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"Don't you worry. The person I'm thinking of... isn't really an agent. But at anyrate, the erm, capacity in which I would introduce you would be as an agent anway."
Christian
Christian raised an eyebrow, actually looking at her.
"Ok..." he looked down.
"So ah... how's the report going?" he changed the subject.
Tanya
Tanya sighed.
"I've read the thing twice already. You'd think it would ahve sent me to sleep by now, it's that boring," then she laughed. "Actually, considering the amount of time we've got to build this space station, it's all going very smoothly."
Christian
"Yeah well, agents should be used to paperwork. That's probably why."
He sighed and leant back again, his mind racing.
"Was that true? I mean, what you said at the Hanson's..."
He hesitated.
Tanya
Tanya smiled at him.
"Well, I did watch you grow up, virtually," she said. "Yes, I did mean it."
Tanya reached over and took his hand.
"You mean a great deal to me Christian."
Christian
Christian flinched, but let her hold his hand.
"I don't understand," he shook his head slowly, annoyed to find his hands shaking.
"I don't know why you keep giving me all these chances. You could have taken me in so many times already, and made me pay for the things I've done. I know you know about Dustin..."
Tanya
"I know a great deal of things about a great many people," Tanya said. "Once must always becareful with knowledge, because knowledge is a kind of power. Yes, I could have taken you in, and some others would have. But there's a line, and then there's a line. I try to look at the bigger picture."
Then Tanya smiled.
"Besides, you did us a favour, getting rid of Dustin. He was actually on our list of people to erm... deal with."
Christian
"Dustin was an old, fat, downright bastard. I don't know how he got on with anyone," Christian frowned, "although if I'd kept him alive I could have investigated his sources. He just kinda got all defiant when he realized I was hybrid."
Then he chuckled.
"Well, full. I guess. God I miss Craig."
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"I imagine you do. I... I don't like him, but he was a father to you. And that's a bond not easily broken. If I hear from him, I'll let you know."
Christian
Christian nodded.
"Ok," he agreed softly, not sure whether to believe it or not.
"I just, I can't help being worried. About what happened to him. I haven't even seen him or heard from him since the fire, and, the last person I know that did was Taylor. As you can guess, he's not really being open about it."
He scratched his cheek, annoyed.
"I know this is going to sound really weird, especially coming from me but... you know how think of me as the child? Well..."
He hesitated, uncomfortably.
"I guess you're more of a... a sister, or someone to... I don't know. But it's not like the mother figure I remember so much. You know, getting told off and my ass kicked."
Tanya
Tanya laughed.
"Either way we're like family, right?" she grinned.
Christian
Christian smiled. He loved her laugh.
"Yeah, I guess," he agreed, "but some family, huh?"
Tanya
"There are worse ones," she smiled.