Christian
Christian kept his head down so the black cap he wore hid his eyebrow ring, as he made way in to the amplifiers. It appeared he didn't have to sign anything or tell anyone why he was there, because they all knew why Taylor would be.
Because of this, he was teleported without any real dramas.
As soon as he stepped out into the space station, he was slightly nervous. Managing to squash his nerves, he sighted a floor map and went over to study it. So far, no one really gave him a second glance.
He took a deep breath as he sighted Tanya's quarters, then began on his way through the station towards her room.
Leroy and Tanya
"Sure?"
"I'm sure," Tanya replied.
"Okay, well, I'll talk to you tomorrow then."
"Okay. Thanks."
"No problem," Leroy answered.
He left Tanya's quarters and headed down the hall.
"Hi Taylor," he said, noticing him coming the other way.
Christian
Christian fumed when noticed Leroy coming.
As he came past, he gave a small wave in reply, then glanced after him.
Ok, that was weird. And pretty cool. Not being recognized by someone that had been hunting his ass for years.
He made it Tanya's door and knocked.
Tanya
Tanya walked toward the door.
"Leroy if this is about the -" she began as she opened it. "Oh sorry."
Tanya paused and frowned.
"Christian? What are you doing here? Come in."
She held the door open for him.
Christian
Christian darted a quick look around to make sure no one had heard her, then quickly slipped through the door.
Once he was in he took the cap off.
"A lot of reasons," he said plainly, looking around.
Tanya
"I have time," Tanya replied.
She had to admit, posing as Taylor was a pretty good way to get onto the station. Telepaths were instructed not to scan him for fear of doing damage to his mind, and empaths could be fooled depending on what emotions he may be emitting.
"Have a seat."
Christian
Christian sighed and finally sat down.
"I need... I need you to give me a block," he rubbed his hands together and looked up at her.
"And I need you to restore my powers again. I don't have them at the moment."
Tanya
Tanya was quiet for a moment.
"You do realise that if I help you, I could be getting myself into trouble as well? I might not be an agent anymore, but aiding and abetting is aiding and abbetting," she pointed out. "How'd you lose them anyway?"
Christian
"Tanya..." Christian spread his hands, "I'm at my wit's end. i've got nowhere else to go."
He stood up again and paced a little.
"After I called you, yes, I went back to Blakesley. Mid last month Racer showed up. Took me from Blakesley, blocked my powers, and locked me up in a jail cell."
He stopped and rubbed his chin.
"I've only got four days before he puts a command in my head to make me work for him. And he's gonna use me to get to you. And everyone else here."
Tanya
"If you're here, how can he put a command in your head?" Tanya asked. "Oh, never mind. But a proper shield..."
She paused considering. One thing was for certain, it wouldn't do for Lucious to get such an upperhand.
"Very well, Christian. I'll give you what you want. But please bear in mind that... that..."
How could she tell him that she didn't want to find out he had become the next big number one enemy?
"Please try not to make me regret turning you in by hearing that some YIRAAS agent has killed you. Because if you... if you continue down Craig's road, I fear that's what may happen."
Christian
Christian gulped, and looked into her eyes.
"Tanya... Avery's going to kill him," he said softly.
He looked down at the floor, then across at the door.
"I don't know when or how, but she's going to... he's going to die. I.. The main reason Lucious took me in the first place was to keep me out of the way. I have to find him before it's too late."
Tanya
Tanya pursed her lips.
"I sincerely hope she's not going to kill him, and not for any love of Craig do I say that. There are only two ways someone can react to killing someone telepathically - they either hate themselves and dread any repeat experiences, or they love it. Craig enjoyed it. I hate it. I don't want Avie to find out."
She paused.
"I believe one Lucious's comrads had premonitions... I'll talk to Avie again. I don't know where Craig is though."
Christian
"Yeah. He's going around with three other guys. I know... one has creation, that, and the other..."
He hesitated, thoughtfully.
"Oh yeah, telekinetic. Asshole."
Tanya
Tanya nodded thoughtfully.
"And just think," she teased. "That's what some people think about you."
Christian
"That's a hell of a lot more than some," Christian raised his eyebrows, before sitting down again.
He leant his chin on his fists, staring at her pregnant belly for a moment.
"What was Leroy doing here?"
Tanya
"Checking up on me," Tanya smiled. "He's been trying to talk me into moving in with him. I don't know... I might. But that would require some renervating of his quarters and... other things. It's rather messy really."
Christian
Christian hesitated, thens tood and made his way over to her.
"Can I touch it?" he asked, almost like a small child.
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"Sure," she said. "Three more months to go. Might feel movement too, if you're lucky."
Christian
Christian chuckled, reaching his right hand over to touch her abdomen.
He pulled back for a second, then put his hand on it.
"I don't know how women can live with... woah."
He pulled his hand back and raised his eyebrows.
"That was weird."
Tanya
Tanya chuckled.
"It's something we're geneticallyu programed to do. It's all good," she said.
Still she was definitely looking forward to having this baby out.
Christian
Christian put his hand back and chuckled softly.
"Guess I won't get to see much of the little guy when he or she's born," he said, almost sadly.
Tanya
"I can send you pictures," Tanya offered. "But I know that won't be the same."
She smiled, then went on:
"Would you like me to restore your powers and give you the shield now?"
Christian
Christian nodded silently, his hand roving over the pregnancy bump.
Maybe he could try and get back on the station in the same way, just to see the baby. As long as Leroy wasn't hanging around for too long, he'd be fine. And as long as someone didn't overhear he and Tanya talking.
Tanya
Tanya closed her eyes and concentrated.
Undoing Lucious's tampering wasn't easy - he was a powerful telepath, but she was powerful still. At last she managed to untie the knots and Christian's power was available again.
Then she started work on the shield. Craig had put one there some years ago, but it was the kind you give a child. Christian was an adult now, she could give him a proper one.
Christian
Christian knew she needed to concentrate, so remained silent until she could get the job done.
He sighed a little and closed his eyes to wait for her to finish.
Tanya
Tanya pulled out.
"There," she said. "Done."
At least she knew her shields were rarely broken.
Christian
"Thank you," Christian said softly.
"At least now I shouldn't have to worry about Lucious, or Guffery, or whoever else..."
Tanya
Tanya chuckled.
"True," she nodded. "But there's still Ray, Edgar, Munza, Sally-Ann... the lists goes on."
She winked.
Christian
Christian pulled a face and sat back.
"I feel like some kind of object," he confessed, "one of the guys in the jail thing where I was..."
He shook his head.
"Just seems like a lot of people are after me. For the sole fact of my connection with Craig."
Tanya
Tanya nodded slowly.
"You be careful," she said. "But above everything else, never betray yourself."
Christian
Christian gave her an odd look.
"If I do it's not exactly my choice."
He flinched suddenly and put a finger to his right temple.
Tanya
Tanya was about to reply that she meant not to go against anything he believed in or otherwise held dear, like principals (assuming he had any). Instead she tiled her head to the side and gave him a curious look.
Christian
Christian frowned, wondering what had just happened.
But he knew something. He needed to go... somewhere. Because...
"He's dead," he said suddenly.
Tanya
Tanya nodded slowly.
"It's the Fridith in your head," she said softly. "Typically, only the stronger telepaths can make them. They're intended to link someone with the telepath's life force, so to speak, and become active when that life is gone. Generally they're used to give the recipent instructions. Kind of a telepathic will, if you like. Craig put it in your head years ago. I probably should have taken it out, but who am I to deny a man, even a criminal, their death wish?"
Christian
Christian glanced at her, returned his gaze to the ground, then stood.
"I've... gotta go. Somewhere."
Then he stopped and frowned.
"Craig's dead and I can't even go to a funeral."
Tanya
Tanya stood as well and put her hand on his shoulder.
"He'll probably be cremated and his ashes scattered," she said. "That will have to be done on Earth. I probably won't be able to go, but ahh, if you contact me in a couple of days, I bet I could tell you when and where..."
Christian
"It's not safe... for me..." Christian shook his head.
"They'll be expecting me to be there. Or to try and be there. I... Maybe if you let me know where I can go in a few months or something."
He glanced up for a second.
Tanya
Tanya nodded.
"Sure," she said softly.
She wished so much she could change this. She regretted leaving him with Craig. She should have taken him away from his influence, cover be blown. Christian didn't deserve this life.
Christian
"Thanks," Christian replied softly, "I have to go."
He made his way to the door, opened it, then turned back.
"I'll contact you as soon as I hear about the birth, if not before," he promised.
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"I'd like that," she said, walking him to the door.
Christian
Christian took a deep breath, then replaced the cap on his head - pulling it down so it covered his eyebrow ring again.
"See you 'round."
And he made his way down the corridor toward the teleportation devices.