“Shit.” Jonas jumped back.
Everyone in the building stopped their clacking on the keyboards. Several of them stood in front of their computers trying to get a glimpse of the damage she was creating. Sparks continued to fly through the air and around the box and monitor it was attached to, until the lights on the box went dead and died out. Lydia could feel her cheeks redden for a different reason as she glanced to the geeky guy. “Sorry about that.”
The General placed his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay Lydia.”
General Lister nodded to Jonah. “I suggest you figure out another way for Lydia to gain access other than using her hands for now. At least until she learns to control it.” The general glanced down at her. “Tell me, what were you thinking about when you fried our machine?”
Lydia glanced at the doctor in the lab coat and nodded in his direction. “Him.”
“I see.” The General rubbed his neck. “That’s my fault Lydia. I ordered him to put you to sleep. You have my word that it won’t ever happen again, without your permission.” The General motioned across the room to a door. “If you wouldn’t mind following me, I’ll explain.”
Chapter 5
Lydia, Briggs, and Thompson followed the general into an oversized conference room. Nondescript white walls closed them in. No pictures hung on the wall. The whole place was very sterile and reminded her of a hospital instead of a military compound. Rick pulled out a chair and sat to the right of Lydia, and Briggs sat to the left. Across the table, the general leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. He cleared his throat. “I don’t apologize for knocking you out.” Rick half pushed out of his chair, ready to stand and take the man on. “Let me rephrase that. I apologize for not getting your permission and the way I handled it.” Rick plopped back down in his chair, his temper appeased for the moment. “But I need you to understand that I was concerned for the welfare of everyone on the flight.”
The general pointed toward the door. “Can you imagine if that little incident with the computer had happened on the plane? You would have single handedly taken us out of the sky.” The general stood and walked over to the coffee pot, pouring her a cup. He glanced over his shoulder. “How do you take your coffee?”
Rick answered for her. “Sugar and cream.”
Lydia glanced at Rick, surprised he’d even noticed that trivial fact, and whispered, “You do pay attention, don’t you?”
Rick’s lips tilted up in the corners. “You’d be surprised.”
The general returned to the table with two coffee cups in his hand. He sat one down in front of her and retook his seat. “Boys, you can get your own.”
Both of the guys remained planted next to her. She made a mental note that neither of them was addicted to the black juice, another Bennett family trait. Lydia’s heart expanded with a feeling she’d long thought a lost cause. She hadn’t had a lot of time to actually get to know her family in person, but she’d grown up dreaming of her siblings. She’d witnessed every trial and tribulation they’d experienced and assumed they were just dreams, her own fantasy friends, until recently. Remembering that she’d left them made her heart ache. She’d wanted to stay and let them get to know her, as she’d come to know them. She’d wanted to find her place in their world and figure out what she wanted. All of those dreams had been ripped from her the minute she’d dreamed of the general and learned that he was taking her away. Lydia crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring the peace offering the general had tried to give her.
“Start talking, old man. I understand about the plane, but what else is it that you think you know? And how do you suppose you’re going to train me to use my gifts if you don’t even know what I’m dealing with?”
Those had all been valid questions. If for one minute she didn’t like his answers, then all bets were off. It ended here and now, and the only thing the general gained from her short visit was a fried computer and one pissed-off employee.
The general set his coffee down and searched her face. “Lydia, please relax. We don’t need a repeat of what happened out there.” He motioned with his thumb. “Do we?”
Lydia took a deep breath. The general was right, no matter how much she didn’t want to admit it. She picked up her coffee and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat and soothed her nerves. It was the only drink that could manage to take the edge off her nerves the more she sipped it. She shifted in her seat and pasted a fake smile on her face. She could pull off calm if she got the answers she wanted. “Please explain what I’m doing here and how you can help.”