Impulse Control (Talent Chronicles)

  * * *

  The rec yard was quieter than usual. The stress of NIAC’s investigation into what happened in the max security building weighed on everyone. Even those who had no idea what had happened or who was involved waited to find out if someone would be blamed, if we would all be blamed, or if NIAC would simply sweep the matter under the rug and pretend they had never lost control. I was leaning up against a tree, alone, thinking heavy thoughts and trying to enjoy a good brood.

  It had been three days, and if they hadn’t come for us by now, I figured that was good news. There were a number of Talents with the strength to cause the kind of damage I had. It had been so long since I’d let myself shift out of control like that, I was probably near the bottom of that list.

  “How are you feeling?” It was Elle’s voice. She had come up behind me. It was the first time any of them had spoken to me since right after it happened.

  “I’m okay.” I saw that I was unconsciously flexing muscles that were still sore and I stopped. I didn’t turn around. Maybe if I was rude, she would just go away.

  “I heard they moved Anderson into the Boy’s Dorm.”

  “Yeah. We’re roomies now. It’s awesome.”

  “He said the whole project’s been scrapped, for now anyway. Craig said they brought back the Intermediate test subjects. I’ve seen the three from the first experiment, by the way, fixed them up so they’re not responding the way they’re supposed to. Anderson says they’re calling the whole thing a total failure.”

  “Seems like you’re talking to Anderson quite a bit.”

  “Is that what you got out of that? How long do you think I’m going to wait around for you to get over yourself?”

  “Guess I hadn’t really thought about it.”

  “Well I’ll tell you,” she said, coming around to stand in front of me, “I’m pretty much going to wait forever. Is that how long it’s going to take?”

  I didn’t know how to answer that. Was that even a real question? It was hard to remember what we were talking about with her standing so close.

  “I don’t understand what this massive sulk is about. Karen says I have to give you time to readjust, or recalibrate, or I don’t know what. She says you’re embarrassed about what we saw. Are you actually embarrassed about saving my life?”

  “Well…I don’t know. No. Not about that. It’s just…”

  “The ten-foot, bright red, glowing eyed, long-limbed, muscle-bound…” She did this annoying imitation of my monster gait that looked like an ape, “…thing?”

  “It’s not my best side.”

  “Well, not your best side ripped through a steel door and jumped off a roof to rescue me and my best friend, so…I’m thinkin’ it’s a pretty okay side.”

  “Elle, you screamed.”

  She punched me. Hard.

  “Ow!”

  “You are not going to hold that against me! Oh my God! Did I mention ten feet tall with glowing eyes? And did anyone ever tell me you could do that? Noooo. What did you think I was going to do?”

  “Scream. Possibly cry, maybe faint, I dunno.”

  “I’m not a fainter.”

  “No, I don’t guess you would be.”

  “Are you done being an idiot yet?” she asked, stepping into me and wrapping her arms around my neck.

  “Uh, is that a trick question?”

  “’Cause I’ve been waiting around to thank you for saving my life and I’m getting a little impatient.”

  I felt myself start to smile for the first time in days. “Far be it for me to let my massive sulk get in the way of your mission,” I told her.

  And let her kiss me.