Super Genetics

He grabbed the bare essentials: couple days of clothes, some socks, and underwear. As he turned for the bathroom to grab his toothbrush, his eyes caught on the wraith-glass remote on his desk. His grandfather had given him his own after his father left for Topeka and the two of them had been using it to correspond ever since.

His heart began to race as he stared at the device.

Ice cold, Terry. Stay ice cold…

Picking up the remote, he activated it and keyed in his father’s device. The square piece of glass on his desk flickered as a blue-white spirit materialized across it. An image fuzzed for a moment before resolving into his father’s face.

“Terry?” he asked in surprise. “Everything alright?”

He examined the lines of his father’s face, the subtle wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, the dark hair tinged with grey. It was a face he had re-learned to love, fighting past all the anger to rekindle a relationship with the man who had abandoned him after his mother’s death.

Now, his anger eclipsed that love and he had to remind himself once more.

Ice cold…

“I did it, dad.”

James raised his eyebrows in question. “Did what, kiddo?”

“I cracked her roses.”

His father’s face dropped, his brow furrowing with confusion. Terry waited patiently for the silence to burst.

“What do you mean, cracked?”

He kept his face placid, pleased to feel his heartbeat was steady.

“Just that, dad. I learned the truth about mom. That she was a revenant—has been for years. That she’d been manipulating my memories since I was a kid.” His father’s eyes went wide. “Tell me, dad, was the Emperor controlling her the entire time? Was it even her choice to steal my memories or was that him?”

James’ eyes darted around frantically as if looking for a way to come through the wraith-glass personally. His tone was panicked, his eyes wide with terror.

“No one controlled her, Terry! We did it to save her—”

The fire rose up, too hot to quench.

“I’ll never be able to believe a word you say!” he shouted. Stay cold, Terry. Don’t give him the satisfaction. He forced in a deep breath, then stared steadily at his father through the wraith-glass. “I’ve already seen the memories in my rose and Mesmer’s. I know there’s two more. I’m guessing it’s yours…and mom’s.”

The panic crescendoed in James’ eyes, his voice cracking with raw emotion.

“Terry, listen to me very carefully. Whatever you do, do not enter your mother’s—”

Terry cut the connection, feeling empty, more alone than even after his mom’s death.

You don’t get to tell me what to do…not anymore.

He started to prepare a portal out of the palace; there was nothing else here for him. But then, his father’s last words rang out in his head.

Do not enter your mother’s…

Had he been about to say rose? But his father had the last two roses, didn’t he?

His eyes went wide as he realized what the man had let slip. His mother’s rose was accessible, possibly even somewhere nearby!

Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he marched from the bedroom, extending his senses out as wide as he could. He had the roses’ signatures now and had sensed Mesmer’s from quite some distance. Maybe, he could do the same for his mother’s own rose.

Messages came in from his father over System chat, but he ignored them.

He was on the hunt.

The palace was big—far too big to search—but this wasn’t something his father would have just left lying around. The most unlikely location was also the most likely.

He strode down the hall, heading for where his parents’ suite was located. His senses ranged, feeling for that familiar signature as he neared.

When he reached the door and tried to open it, he found it locked tight. With a flex of his aura, he parted space and stepped through to the other side.

The interior of his parents’ suite was much the same as it had been eight months ago. Furniture covers had been placed back over the couches, the blinds were pulled closed against the eternal night, and the air was dusty, stagnant.

His eye caught on a Monopoly piece forgotten on the carpet floor and his heart clenched in pain. The memory of that final goodbye before his father left for Topeka stabbed at him; such a beautiful memory, now tainted with his recent revelations.

He pushed that pain down, focusing back on his aura. Ranging it across the suite, he felt for a sympathetic energy, a resonance to the rose still tucked away in his jacket pocket.

Pushing deeper into the suite, he went to the door leading to the bedroom. It was also locked, but this time, he didn’t bother portaling to the other side. Instead, he simply lifted his foot and kicked the door in. Wood splintered easily under his E-grade physique and he strode past the threshold.

That was when he felt it.

Energy pulsed in his senses, drawing him toward the far wall where a painting hung. It intensified as he neared and he ripped the painting down, revealing a large safe inset into the wood. His palms began to sweat as he realized the truth.

I actually found it…

Creating a small pinprick portal, he examined the interior of the safe. He gasped at what he saw.

Resting on a velvet pillow was not one, but two White Roses! He released the small portal and created a new one, just big enough to fit his hand through. Reaching in, he felt that familiar tingle on his fingers as he gripped the first rose. Once it was connected to him and his aura, he was able to pull it back through, even though the portal was typically one way. Placing it gently inside his backpack, cushioned by his set of clothes, he reached in and gripped the second rose lightly.

As he began to pull it through, the sound of keys jostling at the suite entrance made him flinch. In a rush, he shoved the second rose beside the other, released his portal and looked for a place to hide. For a moment, he wondered if there was time to portal out, but the door was swinging open before he could think to activate his Skill.

[The White Rose] Quest Updated

4 of 4 White Roses acquired.

The sound of stomping boots heralded Whipvine’s arrival, the man stopping to gape at the threshold of the smashed bedroom door. His eyes flicked up to the safe behind Terry, then back.

Terry felt his blood rise at the sight of the man and he crossed his arms.

“What are you doing, son?” His tone was light, but there was an undertone of accusation to the question.

Which really pissed Terry off.

“Getting to the truth, Whip. Nobody seems interested in giving it for free, so I’m taking it.”

His eyes narrowed, the scars twisting in a way that would have pinned Terry in place, had him squirming like a worm on a hook, once upon a time. Now, he just returned the stare defiantly, letting the man feel his raw contempt.

“And what truth, exactly, is that?” Whipvine asked with a hint of hesitation.

Terry scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Spare me, Whip. I know she was a revenant.” He stepped toward the man, his hands falling to his side, clenching into fists. “And so did you!”

Instinct guided him now, his fist rising up to smash into the revenant’s jaw. Whipvine reeled back in surprise, but Terry was on him, a left hook coming in hard and fast and textbook-perfect—just as the man had taught him.

Whipvine steadied himself, a trickle of blood dripping at the corner of his mouth.

Terry hit him again and the man simply took it, his head snapping back.

“You knew!” he shouted, sending another fist crashing into Whipvine’s gut. The man flinched, but otherwise didn’t react. “You always knew!” He sent an uppercut flying toward Whipvine’s jaw, staggering the man a couple steps back.

Whipvine’s stoicism broke, his face contorting in pain that wasn’t due to Terry’s assault.

“I was forbidden!” he said with desperate energy. “I was forbidden, son!”

Terry’s rage peaked, a raw growl escaping his throat. He charged Whipvine, punctuating each word with a strike.

“Don’t. Call. Me. That!”

Whipvine was on one knee now, even his A-ranked physique suffering under Terry’s rage-fueled attack.

He stepped back, heaving for air, his fists bloodied and aching from hitting the man’s hardened body.

“If you really loved me, you would have found a way!” His voice broke, the tears finally slipping free. “He should have found a way…”

“To do what?” Whipvine asked frantically. “She was taking your memories the entire time, Terry! Anything we could have done would have been nothing in the face of her power!”

Terry turned away, his rage spent, his voice weak.

“Did you even try…?” Silence reigned and he had his answer. Turning back, he shook his head. “Why are you here, Whip?”

The revenant shakily rose to his feet, his eyes flicking to the safe once more.

“Your father called me, more panicked than I’ve ever seen him. He begged me to stop you.” Whipvine couldn’t hold Terry’s gaze, his eyes trailing to the carpet. “What…what’s in those roses are dangerous, Terry. There’s a reason those memories are locked away.”

Terry scoffed, bending down to put his backpack on his shoulders.

“The truth will set you free,” he muttered, turning back to Whipvine. There was a questioning look in the man’s eyes as they continued to flick toward the safe. “Don’t worry, Whip, as you can see, I didn’t have time to break in.”

He moved past the man, clutching his backpack straps tight.

“Terry…” Whipvine called from behind him.

He looked back, a sad smile on his face.

“Goodbye, Whip.”

He turned away before he could see the man’s reaction, leaving the suite and moving quickly down the hall. When he was around the corner, he focused his aura and split space again. It parted easily, the restriction on the palace only clamping down on those coming in, not those going out.

Tears slid down his face as he stepped through and arrived in the warehouse office.

He wiped them away angrily, ashamed that he cared so much. They had been lying to him his entire life. They obviously didn’t care enough about him to find a way to tell him the truth, so why should he care about losing them? He wasn’t losing them, he realized, because he’d never had them.

His life had been a lie.

Turning away from those painful thoughts, he regarded the dim warehouse through the office windows. He could see the others racing to put up new lamps, hear Tania’s voice calling out instructions, and little pockets of light sprang into existence as Tristan did his best to fill Flore’s shoes. But it wouldn’t be enough.

Thankfully, Terry finally had a solution.

He wiped his face one more time to clear away the evidence of his tears, then strode out of the office to the warehouse floor.

Tania saw him approaching and hurried over.

“It’s a shitshow, Terry!” Her voice echoed across the warehouse floor. “Even with the new lamps from Terraform, we’re lacking coverage on…” She trailed off as she neared, her eyes narrowing. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Are you…are you okay?”

He nodded, looking away. “I…I don’t want to talk about it right now.” Then, he turned back, focusing on the one thing he could control right now. “I had a breakthrough. Can you bring Tristan over?”

She squinted at him for a moment, obviously torn on whether to push him about whatever was bothering him. He preempted her with a sigh.

“Tania…please. I swear we’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s just handle this. Okay?”

She pursed her lips, clearly considering an argument. But after a moment, she nodded and he breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to grab Tristan, then spun around quickly, her finger under Terry’s face.

“Don’t think you can just push me off. Something’s obviously wrong and I’m gonna get to the bottom of it eventually.”

Then she whirled around and strode across the warehouse toward where Tristan was struggling to light up a section of plants.

Terry rolled his eyes at her back, though he felt a spark of happiness kindle inside his chest. Though she could be a pain, her pushy demeanor only proved how much she cared about him, and he needed that reminder, now more than ever.

When she returned with Tristan in tow, the Elementalist had a harried look in his eyes.

“Terry, I can’t do it.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I’m just not strong enough. I’ll never be strong enough—”

“It’s okay, Tristan. Take a breath.” Terry put his hand on the man’s shoulders. “I think I’ve got the answer to our problem, but I need your guidance.”

Tristan furrowed his brow in confusion.

“Check this out,” Terry said, reaching for his aura. He stretched his senses far—as far as they could go. Up they went, high into the air. When he felt like he had gone far enough, he created a small portal and activated the light-emitting switch with a flick of his aura.

As it formed, he felt his face drop. Only inky black came through the portal. He let it go with a sigh.

“Uh, Terry…” Tania started, but he held up a hand.

He stretched further this time, his senses straining, his aura feeling thin. Another portal formed with a flick of intent.

Light invaded their senses, streaming through the portal like liquid gold. He tied it off, turning back to the two of them with a giddy laugh.

“It works!” he shouted, wrapping a surprised Tristan in a hug. “It actually works!”

Tania was double taking between him and the portal, her mouth wide with surprise.

“What the hell is that!” she demanded.

“That, dear Tania, is a light-emitting portal positioned thousands of feet into the air!”

Tristan was trailing his hand through the sunlight filtering into the warehouse, collecting it with his aura, then tracing it through the air in watercolor patterns. A boyish grin filled his face as he looked at Terry.

“It’s real sunlight!” he exclaimed. “Not artificial! How? How are you doing this?”

Terry shrugged casually. “Like I said, it’s a portal. It’s reaching above the Emperor’s working.”

“But you’re an Alterant!” Tristan said in disbelief. He turned to Tania and bumped her shoulder. “He is an Alterant, right?”

That was when Terry noticed the look on her face. Shock, hurt, and betrayal all mingled together.

He bit his lip, feeling like a total idiot as he realized how casually he had displayed a power that she had so desperately yearned for, but hadn’t yet received.

All her life, she’d dreamt of becoming a Traveler like her dead mother. Instead, she’d failed her first attempt at Awakening when she’d turned fourteen. They both knew that not everyone Awakened right at that age, but the reality that she might never Awaken had begun to set in. She’d handled the disappointment as well as anyone could. But Terry had never considered how much his powerset would affect her emotionally.

Perhaps he had realized on some level, considering he had never explained exactly what he could do to her. As far as she knew, he was an Alterant who manipulated metal and he had never confided in her the truth. Silver and his father had impressed upon him just how dangerous a secret his powerset was, and he had leaned on those warnings as an excuse to keep it to himself.

She masked the hurt quickly, a pained smile forced onto her face.

“Wow, somebody’s been keeping secrets.” She said the words playfully, but there was a bitterness to her tone that she couldn’t completely hide.

“Tania…”

She shrugged a bit too casually, and Terry felt his chest pang as he realized that he had done to Tania what Whipvine had done to him.

I’m such a hypocrite…

“It’s fine, Terry. I’m fine. I think it’s amazing you can create portals. We’ll have to add that to the list of things you gotta explain to me.” She arched a brow. “But for now, this is more important.”

He studied her face, wondering if there was anything he could say or do to fix the hurt he had caused. But before any solution came to him, she was waving toward where Alan and Peter were working on some lamps.

“I better check on them. You and Tristan got this?”

He nodded, forcing a smile on his face. “Yeah, we got this.”

She nodded once, then strode off.

Terry turned back to see Tristan frowning as he interacted with the light.

“What’s wrong?”

Tristan coalesced the light from the portal, manipulating it like thread from a loom. Terry marveled at the man’s control, his eyes widening as the light took on unnatural properties.

“It’s too much,” Tristan said, indicating the thread of light he was holding with his aura. “Most of our farm isn’t resilient enough for this level of UV. I’m guessing this light’s origin is two miles high—or more.”

Terry frowned with confusion. He understood what UV was, but usually in relation to getting a sunburn.

“What does that mean for the farm?” he asked.

Tristan shook his head. “It’s not usable.” He let his hold on the light go. “It’ll hurt the plants more than help. I could probably offset it a bit…but I’m not certain.”

Terry’s shoulders slumped, a feeling of defeat washing over him. Had it all been for nothing?

He turned away, the anger of the day threatening to overcome him. This couldn’t be it. There had to be a way to filter the light somehow.

His head shot up as he remembered the Skill he had copied from Sol. With a thought, he pulled it up.

Skill Cataloged: Light Shift (D)

Use aura as a filter to shift the wavelength of light across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Error. No appropriate Affixation slots available.

This was it! This was what he needed! But how could he Affix the Skill to filter the light? His eyes went wide as a crazy thought hit him like a gut punch. He pulled up his Quest, a mad grin filling his face.

Quest Given: [Create a Skill]

Create a new D-grade or higher Skill OR hybridize two cataloged Skills into a new D-grade Skill

Reward: D-rank

He turned back, his lips set with twisted determination. Tristan unconsciously reared back, clearly made uncomfortable by the manic look on Terry’s face.

“We’re gonna be fine, Tristan.” He started for the office, needing the privacy to begin experimenting. “Just give me a few hours!” he called over his shoulder.

Then, to himself, he muttered, “D-rank…here I come.”