Isaac knocked on Taylor's door.
"Taylor?" he called. "I hope you're decent - we're going to be having visitors over soon."
Isaac, living with Taylor, knew perfectly well that he had not gone to see Tanya yet. So he had rung Tanya to confirm that Taylor hadn't set up an appointment or something, made one himself, and then called the number that Wayne had left when they needed the escort for Taylor's treatment. Now he was going to inform Taylor of him impending trip.
Taylor
Taylor raised an eyebrow before heading for the door and opening it.
"What visitors?" he frowned, leaning in the doorway.
Isaac
"Your escort," Isaac replied. "Y'know, for your appointment with Tanya for your treatment."
He looked at him squarely.
Taylor
Taylor groaned and rolled his eyes, turning back into the room.
"I'll get you back for this eventually. You know, I have a lot of time on my hands to perfect some kind of suitable revenge."
But he was grabbing a jacket as he said it.
Isaac
"It's worth it if it means you don't skip any more treatments," Isaac informed him solomnly. "I want you to get better.
It was just as he was saying this that the doorbell rang.
"That's probably them. I'll get the door."
And he did just that.
Taylor
Taylor glared after him, then sat down to get his boots on.
That done, he followed Isaac through to the front door.
Isaac
"See?" Isaac said, "I told you he wouldn't be long."
In the room way Tony, and two YIRAAS agents. Tony was looking a little apprehensive, and the two agents just appeared to be bored - more trivial duty.
"Everyone ready?" Tony asked.
Taylor
"Let's get this over with," Taylor sighed, eyeing the agents nervously.
He pulled the sleeves of his jacket down and rubbed his nose.
Isaac and Tanya
Not long later, the group arrived at Houston. Tony took his leave and the two agents escorted the boys to the teleportation room, where, as usual, they were teleported to the station and were subsequencly escorted to Tanya's quarters.
Tanya looked out the door and at the agents apprasingly.
"You boys coming in?" she asked. "Or are you going to hang around out here?"
"Out here, Miss," said one.
"Good. What about you Ike? Coming in?"
"Naw," Isaac said. "I'll come back later. I thought I'd look around the station. Besides, I think you guys might work better without me hanging around bored."
Tanya smiled.
"Okay," she said. "See you later then."
Isaac nodded and departed. Tanya held the door open for Taylor.
Taylor
Taylor silently stepped through and made for his usual chair. When he sat into it he hugged himself protectively.
"So... how have you been?"
Tanya
"Good," Tanya replied, closing the door. "Wondering why you missed the last treatment. Isaac didn't say, but I should be calling you when you miss."
She raised her eyebrows at him as she took a seat.
Taylor
"Sorry," Taylor's eyes immediately lowered.
"I just... the Adige..."
He shook his head, not sure how to explain.
Tanya
Tanya pressed her lips together.
"I see," she said softly.
She was quiet for a moment.
"Well, shall we get started?"
Taylor
"Sure," Taylor nodded, leaning back into the chair finally.
"And if you can, could you take a look at that part you saw last time? You didn't know what it was. Maybe it'll be clearer now."
Tanya
Tanya nodded.
"I will," she agreed.
She laid back on the lounge, closed her eyes and zoomed in on Taylor's mind. She wasted no time getting to work.
Taylor
"Anything?" Taylor asked after some time.
Tanya
*I haven't looked yet,* Tanya replied, a little startled at having been interupted. *I'm working on the area nearby though - when I'm done I'll look. It'll be clearer then.*
Tanya picked up a piece of Taylor's mind that appeared to have been floating around aimlessly. She had noticed it before, but wasn't sure where it went. Now she knew, and she fit it back into place. It wouldn't stay there though - just fell down again.
*I'm about to do something that's probably going to hurt,* she warned Taylor. *A lot, unfortunately. But it's neccesary, and it'll be over quickly, I promise.*
Taylor
Taylor couldn't help but cringe a little when she said that.
"Ok," he reluctantly agreed, before covering his eyes.
Tanya
Tanya gave Taylor a moment to brace himself, then took out her 'telepathic welder'. She made sure the piece was properly in place one more time (she would hate to have to do it again), and then took her tool to it. It fused the seams together neatly, and Tanya did it as quickly as possible.
*Okay, done,* she said. *I think that should be plenty for today - I'll just have a look and see what I can find for you.*
She moved carefully into the region of Taylor's mind where she had noticed something different before.
Taylor
Taylor tried to breathe evenly, keeping his eyes closed as his head throbbed from whatever she'd done.
He leant forward and put his head in his hands, hoping that would ease the pounding even slightly.
Tanya
Tanya studied the spot thoughtfully, and then carefully exited. She didn't want to cause Taylor any more pain to what was now a rather tender spot.
She opened her eyes and took one look at Taylor, before picking up her glass of water and gulping some down while she headed over to a drawer. She pulled out a box and gave them to Taylor.
"It'll be sensitive for a couple of days. These'll dull the pain but without causing any further damage. Telelpathic pain killers."
Taylor
Taylor looked up at her before taking the box.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Can I... Can I take some now? Or is it too early?"
Tanya
"Nope, by all means, go ahead," Tanya replied.
She sat down, and drank some more of her drink.
Taylor
Taylor quickly took a tablet, and put the rest of the box into the pocket of his jacket.
He rubbed his forehead as he waited for it to settle.
"Something big, huh?" he kept his voice soft.
Tanya
"Yes," Tanya replied. "A piece of your mind was just floating around, attached. I had to put it back into place. I hate having to do that, for obvious reasons."
She gave him a sympathetic look.
Taylor
Taylor closed his eyes again, not really understanding but deciding to let it slide.
"Anything else?" he asked, his voice still soft.
Tanya
"Well, I had another look," Tanya said. "It appears to draw lines with the power region of your mind. If you were a telepath, that's where your power would be centered. But you're not a telapath, you're a translator."
She frowned a little thinking this over.
Taylor
"It's something to do with the Adige," Taylor insisted, not really being able to concentrate any further.
"Maybe it's something... I don't know, it can't be shapeshifting. That doesn't affect the mind, does it?"
Tanya
"Hmm..." Tanya pondered. "The Adige are telepathic... only with their own species though. Although, Dath and Sem telepaths can communicate telepathically with them."
She shrugged.
"Maybe your mind is trying to establish a connection. In fact... perhaps your Tongue power even is trying to comprehend their telepathy. Or maybe telepathic activity in general, it just intensifies when the Adige are around because theirs works differently to ours."
Taylor
Taylor couldn't help but groan.
"So you mean I'm going to be telepathic too?" he shook his head.
He sat up slightly, glad to feel his headache lessening.
"Sometimes I really don't want this power."
Tanya
Tanya chuckled, but softly.
"I understand completely," she said. "I have felt the same way about mine. I can't say how far the telepathy will extend - it may just be simple communication, which would make sense with your power. I'd suggest that you talk to Courtney Shepherd - council member who has the same power as you. I don't know if she'll be able to help, but she has been living on the station, and if she's been having the same problem, she wouldn't neccesarily go to me about it."
Taylor
Taylor nodded to himself, thn carefully ran his fingers through his hair.
"Any idea if she's free today?" he asked.
Tanya
"I can find out," Tanya replied.
She paused for a moment, considering.
"I'll drop her a line, she if she's free now. If she is, I'll send you around... and I'll give Wayne a call - he can get rather uptight about these things," she rolled her eyes.
Tanya stood and made for the phone.
Taylor
"What things?" Taylor looked up curiously.
"Or is it part of the... technicalities that he has to know everything?"
Tanya
"Hmm? Oh it's just that the escort would have been told to take you to my quarters for your treatment, and then back home again. They would be well within their right to refuse to take you to Courtney's without orders from Wayne. And Wayne doesn't want me ordering around agents any more. He'd also want to keep tabs on you," Tanya explained.
She picked up the phone and called Courtney, giving her the lowdown. Courtney said that she could do with a break, so by all means, drop around. Tanya thanked her then called Wayne.
"Wayne? I'm sending Taylor around to Courtney."
"You are?" Wayne inquired. "And why's that?"
"They have the same power, and Taylor needs some guidence."
"That sounds a little frivolous."
"Uh huh. As I recall Leroy's nephew Oliver was having a great time setting things on fire everytime he lost his temper. Power control - reason why he didn't become an agent."
"Like that is it?"
"I can't really help him with this one, Wayne. Courtney would know more than I. And it's important. What? You think that Taylor's going to try and make a run for it on the space station?"
"Okay, fine then," Wayne sounded amused.
"Mmm, that's what I thought."
They hung up.
"It's all settled," Tanya said. "Whenever you're ready, I'll tell your escort you're ready to leave."
Taylor
"Ok," Taylor nodded.
He waited a moment further, before attempting to stand up.
"Ok," he repeated, "thanks... again."
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"No problem. I'm just sorry it had to hurt," she replied.
She walked to the door and spoke to the two agents. She advised them of the new orders, and told them if they had a problem with it to check with Wayne, but he would just confirm them. There wasn't a problem.
Taylor
After saying their goodbyes, Taylor took out his cell phone and messaged Isaac to tell him what was going on.
They soon made it to Courtney's quarters, and Taylor knocked on the door.
"Hello Taylor," she smiled when she opened the door, "come on in."
Taylor glanced at the agents who once again chose to stay in the hallway, before making his way in.
"How can I help you?" Courtney asked curiously, closing the door as she took in his body language.
"I'm... not all that sure," Taylor admitted, "I guess I'm just hoping you've had experience in what I'm dealing with right now."
"Which would be...?"
"Telepathy," Taylor blurted, turning to face her, "something... I don't know what it is. When an Adige goes past..."
"I can stop you there," Courtney raised her hand, making Taylor stop.
"You can?"
Courtney nodded.
"When the Adige first began populating the station, I began to have dizzy spells. Soon I began hearing voices in my head. I suggest it's merely their telepathy that our Dathrian bodies haven't adjusted to yet."
"Does it only work with them?" Taylor asked.
"Sometimes," Courtney looked uneasy.
"I must admit... I'm getting older, Taylor. My power isn't quite what it used to be. I can already sense you're having more trouble with it than I had, though it could always be because of less contact. It could also mean your power is on a stronger level than mine was. Either way, if it is what I'm suggesting, you will be able to telepathically communicate with the Adige. If I'm right in guessing that your power is stronger or working in a slightly different manner, then you may also have mild telepathy with other Dathrians. Nothing as complex as implanting suggestion I'm sure, but the simple ability to read what's already there."
Taylor just continued staring at her for a moment after she finished her spiel, before finally scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Did it take until now to surface because the Adige spiked it, ro was it going to come anyway?"
"Anyone with Tongue is already slightly telepathic, it's not only pheremonial readings we take," Courtney assured, "the prescence of the Adige just made this aspect become both more apparent and active."
"You can see in the dark too, right?" Taylor had to make sure.
Courtney nodded.
"You can choose whether you want to or not most of the time," she assured, "a little like X-ray vision, which I know your father has. You'll most likely still be discovering abilities up untilt he age of 25 when your human body has completely gone through puberty."
"Great," Taylor mumbled.
"It's not all that bad," Courtney insisted, making her way over to a small table where she kept a notepad.
"I'll give you my direct line and email address. If something happens that you're not sure of, by all means contact me. As you know, there aren't many of us. And only we truly know what we can and can't do. Am I right?"
"Yes ma'am," Taylor nodded, taking the slip of paper she handed him.
"Have a good day, Taylor," Courtney smiled as she opened the door for him.
"Ah... thanks," Taylor managed a smile, "and... you'll probably hear from me soon."
"I don't doubt it."
When Taylor finally left the room, he couldn't help but ignore the agents for a moment as he paged Isaac.
Isaac, Oliver and Yvette
"Really? That's interesting," Isaac said.
He was chatting with Oliver and Yvette.
"Isn't it though?" Yvette grinned. "And here we were thinking it was the other way around."
Isaac's pager beeped, and he glanced at it.
"Ahh, Tay's done. I should get going."
He stood, and Oliver and Yvette stood with him.
"Well, it's been great chatting with you," Oliver said.
"Yeah. And hey, I got you on your day off too. Pretty good timing there."
"Yep. Say hi to everyone for me. And don't forget to give Zac that letter."
"No problem."
They finished their goodbyes, and Isaac hurried off to rejoin Taylor.
Taylor
Taylor was beyond glad when he saw Isaac making his way toward him.
"Hey," he murmured, still not quite over his headache.
"Ready to go?"
Isaac
"Yep," Isaac said.
He closed the distance between them, and they started heading for the teleportation room.
"So, how'd it go?"
Taylor
"Turns out I'm going to be telepathic too," Taylor hissed through his teeth as they walked.
Then he stopped in his tracks suddenly as his head started pounding again.
Isaac
Isaac reached out for Taylor, both physically and telekinetically when his brother fainted.
"Tay?" he asked.
The escort stopped.
"He okay?" one asked.
A couple of Adige walked past, caught up in conversation.
Taylor
Taylor groaned, his hand flying to his head when he regained consciousness.
"Crap," he mumbled, barely managing to open his eyes.
He looked forward and back down the corridor, not seeing anything.
"What happened?" he breathed.
Isaac
"You fainted," Isaac said, then lowered his voice. "A couple of Adige walked past."
"Kid, you okay?" asked the escort.
He wanted this to be over, and not have to do another detour.
Taylor
"I'm fine," Taylor insisted, giving Isaac a wary glance.
He looked between them for a moment, before hurriedly beginning to head for the amplifiers again.
Isaac
Isaac and the escort followed Taylor to the amplifiers. Soon they were back on good ol' earth and Tony teleported the boys back home.
"So now that the boys brigade is gone," Isaac said, "was that the whole vertigo thing you mentioned before?"
He gave his brother a rueful look.
"I didn't think it was that bad. Not that I wouldn't have done anything differently, I don't think."
Taylor
"I didn't have a chance to find out," Taylor admitted.
"But... Tanya had to do something this time. In my head. She had to fix something and it hurt like hell. Maybe that added with their appearence caused me to black out."
He shrugged.
Isaac
"Oh okay," Isaac replied. "Have anything to do with you being telepathic?"
He raised his eyebrow in query.
Taylor
"Not the part that she fixed, that was from before. The whole Adige thing - yes."
Taylor paused, before taking his coat off.
"And it's that... thing she saw in there before and didn't know what it was. She said it borders on the part of my mind that controls my power, but it's activated in a region that it would be if I was telepathic. Only until today we never really thought I was - or would be. Turns out it's my body's way of adjusting to the Adige form of communication."
He pursed his lips, thinking it through again.
Isaac
"Okaaaay..." Isaac said. "Well, hey you can imitate empathy, why not telepathy as well? They say imitation is the highest form of flattery... So you must thinking highly of Avie and Tanya and Mom and..."
Isaac stopped himself before he said the name of the next empath to come to mind: Mouse.
"Ahem, so... was that what your meeting with Courtney was about then?" he asked, hoping Taylor wouldn't notice his slip.
Taylor
"Yes," Taylor nodded.
"Apparently she's now telepathic with the Adige. She also said her power wasn't what it used to be, and... mentioned something about if mine were stronger that I might just be able to use telepathy on Dathrians too."
He shrugged.
"Not to 'plant suggestion' or anything, but to read minds."
Isaac
"Huh," Isaac mused. "Sounds intriguing. Although, weird if you can use it on Adige, but not on your own species. But then, I guess when Zac changes he probably has telepathy, but only with other Aidge. Hmm."
Taylor
"It must be on a slightly different wavelength or something," Taylor suggested, "or a different part of the mind. They are a lot different after all, in more ways than one..."
Then he sighed.
"Have you ever wondered if stronger powers were genetic?" he asked suddenly.
"I mean, you're one of the strongest telekinetics anyone knows. Avie has GrandMaster potential. Two in the same family can't be such a coincidence."
Isaac
Isaac considered for a moment.
"That's an interesting thought," he said. "I mean, people breed animals for specific traits. It would make sense to me that you could have a long line of people who have stronger powers in their blood."
Taylor
"And considering the amount of power Avie is supposed to have, when it comes down to it, you're the only one who's proven their amount of power."
Taylor was considering something Courtney had mentioned.
"And you've almost finished going through puberty. Courtney believed I'd find even more quirks with my power until I turned 25."
Isaac
"Huh."
Isaac shook his head.
"I may have to do an extensive study of powers," he said, rubbing his chin. "I'm sure it would be very interesting. And it's not like I couldn't use the information in a book or something."
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
"I might end up having to read those books soon. I'm running out of things to do when I lack inspiration."
Isaac
Isaac grinned.
"I'm glad you enjoy them. Even if you do consider them a last resort."
Taylor
"Oh yeah, enjoy, that's the word," Taylor teased.
He grabbed his coat from where he'd thrown it and made to leave the room.
"Meet you in the music room?"
Isaac
Isaac poked his tongue out at Taylor.
"Sure," he said. "Meetcha there."