Abhuman: Revelation (The Covenant - Book 1)

Chapter 9 - Training Day

CHESKA AND HER NEW ABHUMAN friends stood in the gymnasium. Each wore a suit of flat-black, semi-rigid scout armor, with full-face helmets and integral atmospheric systems. In addition to their sidearms and knives, they carried heavy plasma rifles. They were lined up before the head of the resistance, Delfina Cifuentes. Cheska felt the tingling recognition near all her Abhuman allies. It was an interesting feeling. She'd have to ask Delfina about it.

"Team," Delfina said, "Meet Cheska. Cheska, meet the team."

Cheska walked down the line of four Metahumans, not including Delfina and Taro.

"Rupinder you have already met," Delfina said.

Cheska nodded and shook his hand. What was his power, she wondered.

"He's the Military Prime and chief tactical instructor."

They moved down to Zula. "Zula is our Technology Prime, and I believe you've seen her cybernetic powers in action."

"I have," Cheska said. Cyber for the win.

"Glad your sticking around," Zula said.

"Thanks."

Next in line was an enormous, swarthy man, maybe of Greek descent? Cheska remembered him. He was the man who'd taken her into custody on Delfina's orders—no, that had been another version of time, or rather, had never been at all. It had simply been one permutation of an infinite number of futures. She knew he was the Aoratos Security Prime, responsible for the local police force—like the Watchers on the Ghimorphos ... or, maybe not.

"Titus Sinclair," he said, shaking her hand.

As she shook his hand it seemed to dissolve like mist. She yanked her hand back sharply.

He smiled. "I'm a stoneskin."

"Stoneskin?" Cheska asked.

"I can control my body density." He proffered a hand again. "Squeeze."

Cheska did—it was hard as stone this time.

She walked to the fourth, and last, Metahuman—a very attractive woman in her twenties, with long, wavy auburn hair and piercing blue eyes. They were magnetic. Cheska had a hard time looking away. Cheska liked boys, but even so, she found this woman attractive in ways she didn't think she should.

"Felicia Raines," she said, shaking Cheska's hand, who hadn't even remembered extending it.

"Cheska Bellamy."

Felicia smiled. "Yes, we all know who you are, dear heart."

"What- can you do?" Cheska managed to ask.

"Oh, where do I start?" she said with a mischievous grin. "Only teasing."

Cheska giggled like she was five.

"I'm a teep. I can read minds," Felicia whispered, leaning close to Cheska's face, "peer into your deepest, darkest secrets." She leaned back and smiled. "Comes in very handy in my line of work."

"Oh?" Cheska said, genuinely curious.

"Intel, dear heart, getting to the truth. I'm the Aoratos Intelligence Prime."

Cheska swore this woman was a hypnotist.

"Go easy, Felicia. I didn't bring Cheska here for you to flirt with her," Delfina said.

"Of course not. But since she's here ..." Felicia batted her eyelashes at Cheska, then laughed.

Cheska walked back to stand beside Taro, who elbowed her gently. "Hey, I saw how you were looking at Felicia. I'm jealous."