The Old Mine

7: Sabotage Amongst Friends

                 Cal stretched, but refused to get out of bed, yesterday was too hard to even care about making an effort. True it had started out fun enough but ended with one hell of an argument that just kept going. "Cal, are you up yet?" Issi hollered from the kitchen. Cal rolled over and pulled the blankets over her head to block out the day and the noises coming from the rest of the house. The argument had lasted longer than she felt it needed too. Nobody would listen to her side of it; they all believed she acted foolishly. She argued that she can take care of herself and that she should be trusted to take care of herself. Her parents were adamant that her safety wasn't worth the risk; her father was the loudest opposition she faced. But what hurt was when Recke had taken her dad's side and his team stood happily by watching her get yelled at.

                       "Up?" Recke plopped down onto the foot of the bed, Cal ignored him "Still angry I see."

                     Cal sat up and glared "I'm the biggest joke right now" Cal remembered the discussion she had with East after the argument. He had pointed out that she would never be allowed to come forward. That regardless of what Recke had said... she wasn't going to be allowed to come. She tightened her grip on the blankets "And now the last memory of me my parents are going to have is that I defied their orders" she threw the blankets back and glared at him "Yeah I'm still angry, thanks..."

                      "What do you mean the last memory?" Recke shrugged and chuckled.

                     "East told me the truth last night..." Recke frowned at her "You idiot...I know you lied to me...I'm not dumb. Yes, you mentioned the gene like I have a gene that connects me to his family line. But that is not the gene needed to jump... so I have the gene that without an armband and lots of training is worthless. I'm here, where am I going to get training..."

                    Recke leaned towards her "Stop," he tapped her forehead with one finger "Cal..." she glared at his finger "Sorry, it's a jumper thing..."

                     She relaxed then got back on topic "Look just don't lie to me, I know I'm going to be left behind." She fought the tears "Because as I am right now, the jump could kill me."

                      "Jumps could kill anyone, even those with the best genes. They are very dangerous... but East had no right to say anything to you." He took a deep breath, wishing he could beat the shit out of East. "You might..."

                      "Relax, I understand... I come with a higher kill rate." Cal folded her arms into a pout as Recke fell backwards laughing. "What is so funny."

                       "You wiped the ground with my teammates, and you just said you have a higher kill rate..." He laughed "I just took that in a different way than you meant it."

                      "Shut up." Cal rolled her eyes.

                      Recke leaned over and kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry about yesterday. But first, let me explain this gesture" He kissed her forehead again "It's means I promise, so I promise to do whatever I have to do..." He looked into her eyes and for the first time her heart melted "I promise to not leave you behind, I promise to not leave you alone... ever. I will remain by your side until I can reunited you with your family."

                     Cal fought the tears "Thank you."

                     "About yesterday," He took a deep breath "I really wish you hadn't have gone off on your own." Cal glared "The one thing that has come in clearly is that the jumpers are after you... but why is unclear."