What Lies In Me

Chapter 19

As we pull up in the department store parking lot that Tony and Jackson agreed to meet us in, I glance around to see if I can find them. Sure enough, they beat us here, and as they see us coming, they hop out of Jackson's truck. Malah swings in and parks a few spaces away from them. Jackson and Tony walk up to me just as I get out of the car, Tony carrying a shoebox in his arms.

"What's up, guys?" I cheerfully ask. Both Jackson and Tony are eyeing Malah, and my greeting pulls their gaze to me.

"Um, good, I guess," Jackson replies, clearly paying no attention to me. "Who is that? And is that her car?" Malah walks over to us just as he finishes, and I introduce her.

"Jackson, Tony, this is Malah. Malah, Jackson and Tony." Each of them nods as I speak their names. "Malah will be my escort for the near future as I work for her... brother." I can see the shock in Tony's eyes as he realizes what that means.

"Tall guy and lab coat guy, got it. Pleased to meet you!" Malah smiles and holds out her hand to them. Jackson shakes her hand shyly, and Tony hesitantly follows.

"So, you work with... your brother?" Tony asks, trying to affirm his suspicions. "What's the age difference there?"

"Oh, we were born at the same time, thousands of years ago!" Malah unabashedly confirms.

"Right," he replies, taken a bit off-guard. "Okay." I don't blame him.

"So," I interrupt, "What have to guys been up to? More specifically, what is in the box?"

Tony turns his attention to me. "Well, while you were off getting yourself captured and surrounded by women, Jackson and I headed to meet a friend of mine, Sander. He's really good at making custom apparel and stuff, and he runs an online store where he sells his handmade things. Anyways, I worked with him to create this!" He proudly hands me the box. I take off the lid and look inside.

What I see is an odd, interconnected assembly of metal, leather, and cloth. I can't even really tell what it is. The base is made of leather, and it has a few straps and extenders, but what really catches my eye is a dial on the base with three settings on it, each simply numbered.

"It may not look like much, but it'll make more sense once you put it on. Here," Tony offers, taking the device out of the box and holding out his hand. "Give me your hand." I allow him to take my right hand. He proceeds to strap the device onto my hand and wrist.

He was right. Now that the device is on me, it makes more sense. A metal extender with a bulky tip extends into the middle of my palm, and I can comfortably close my hand around it. A wire encased in linked metal travels down my thumb and partway down each of my fingers, but doesn't restrict my movement. The base that this all connects to wraps securely around my wrist, with the dial sitting on top of my wrist akin to a tiny watch. I flex my hand, and the assembly moves with it. The cloth and leather grip my hand comfortably.

"Cool." I continue inspecting the gauntlet-like device. "What does it do?"

"Well, first you cock your thumb like this." Tony gestures, curling his thumb tightly, but holding it away from his palm. I follow suit. The machinery on my hand makes a clicking noise.

"Then, all you have to do is put pressure on the metal pad in your palm!" Tony mimics using his middle fingers to push down on his palm. I mimic him, and there is a stinging sensation in my hand. I instinctively jerk it back and look at it. A very thin trail of blood drips down my palm.

"What was that for?" I ask, stunned. It was just a pinprick, but it still hurts a bit.

"That device," Tony begins, "is a means to keep you from cutting yourself over and over again. It can safely and reliably draw your blood, with one hand, in the middle of a battle. There are three settings: pinprick, cut, and lacerate. I don't recommend laceration."

I heal myself, and my hand dimly glows red. I cock my thumb again, and press my palm on my other arm. A similar pricking sensation irritates my hand, and when I lift up, there is a small spot of blood on both my hand and arm. Again, I heal myself.

"So, what do you think?" Tony asks eagerly. "It may look like a torture device, but it's a lot safer!"

"I... um, wow." I pause and swallow. "Thanks. This is really cool. Normally I wouldn't thank someone for something meant to cut me, but this was a great idea."

"My friend is working on another gauntlet for your left wrist." Tony laughs. "You should have seen his face when I told him what I needed!"

I smirk. "So how much of this thing is yours?"

"I am responsible for the idea, the activation gestures, and the coolness of the design. Jackson paid for the parts. Labor was free, Sander's a good friend."

"I'll say." I reply. "Thanks, both of you. This is really cool." Jackson nods and smiles, acknowledging my thanks. I close my hand and punch into my other fist. My hand still closes all of the way; the punch doesn't hurt my fist. I lay my hand flat on my arm. "There doesn't seem to be any way to unintentionally activate it."

"I know," Tony replies. "You'd have to be impaired to accidentally cock your thumb like that. Yet it's an easy gesture to make."

"It's perfect, thanks." I grin and turn to Malah and Sadie, who have been watching this exchange silently. "So now-"

"So you made this?" Malah asks Tony, reaching out and lightly touching the gauntlet.

"Um, yeah," Tony replies. "Like I just said, with some help fro-"

"That's so cool!" Malah interrupts, walking over to Tony. "Do you make any other things?"

"Um..." Tony is obviously caught off-guard by Malah's enthusiasm for creativity. "I make videos that I post online, and occasionally make video games."

"Wow!" Malah exclaims. "I'd love to look at that! You're so creative!" Tony is flustered now, but also seems pleased. I turn to Sadie and Jackson, leaving Tony to show off his work.

"So, what do you guys want to do tonight? I'm not on call right now, and we're still on vacation, so anything goes!"

"Hey, Jackson, can we head to your place?" Sadie asks. "I've got some new toys to play with from Malah that I'd like to try using in a more remote location."

"Whoa, what's this!?" Jackson exclaimed. "You've got cool gadgets and stuff? What for?"

"Demon hunting!" Sadie replies. "You can't think that I'm just going to drop all of this now that we know what's going on. I still want to help!"

Jackson shakes his head. "No, no, that's not it! Why don't I get any gadgets!?"

"There's plenty enough for all of you!" Malah calls out, having overheard us. "I grabbed whatever I could find!"

"Oh. Well then." Jackson lights up with excitement. "You're all welcome to come. We can stop and get some takeout on the way back."

"Sounds good," I reply, still flexing my wrist. This gauntlet is going to take some getting used to. "Malah can follow you there, I'm sure."

"Alright, cool." Jackson agrees. "Let's go, I'm hungry." With that said, he turns and walks over to his truck.

"Hey, Malah!" I call out. She turns from her conversation with Tony and gives me an inquisitive glance. "We're going to head over to Jackson's place! You and Tony can follow us!" She nods, and they begin heading for her convertible, still chatting about creative projects and ideas. They seem to be getting along rather well.

I turn to Sadie. "Shall we go?"

"Sure," she replies, smiling, and we head forJackson's truck.