Paragon

Chapter 17:

I didn't speak at Gamma's funeral. Instead I sat at the back with the others as Malcom, Morgana, and the new Chairman of the board, Mrs. Noble, spoke about his many life achievements.

"I hate this." Weska whispered to me. "They're saying it was a suicide."

"I know." I replied. "And they won't even start an investigation."

"Why isn't Falcom with us?" Sasaki asked, indicating where he sat across the church aisle from us.

I hadn't told them about my meeting with Falcom. "I don't know."

We all stood as Gamma's coffin was carried to the hearse outside. We walked behind it as it drove slowly to the cemetery. On the sides of the street were people from all walks of life, from Prime Order agents to Master Kontrol employees. When we arrived at the cemetery several Suits lowered the coffin into the ground. Malcom and Morgana draped a white Prime Order flag over it. As it began to rain several agents stepped up and fire a 21 gun salute. As the last gunshot faded into the distance the Suits began to cover the grave with dirt.

Slowly the people drifted away.

"Katana?" Roman asked me. "were you coming back to the church with us?"

"Go ahead." I replied. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

After everyone left I knelt on the grass beside the grave.

"You saved us, you know." I said quietly. "If not for you we'd either be dead or still be working for Master Kontrol. Why couldn't I have saved you?"

It was silent except for the falling rain.

"I didn't know if I can do this alone." I continued. "I'm just a kid. I can't take down Master Kontrol. But I have to try, didn't I?"

Thunder rumbled overhead. I suddenly felt as if I were being watched. Standing at the edge of the graveyard was Logan.

When he saw me looking he turned to leave.

"I don't think so." I said.

Before he had taken a step I was in front of him. He barely reached.

"It couldn't be avoided." He said. "His death had to happen."

"Who are you really?"

"I knew about time energy because where I come from, it's common knowledge." He smiled at my confused expression. "Yeah, that's right. I'm Enhanced. My power is the ability to move through time."

"You're saying you're a...time traveler? That's impossible."

"Why? You know people who can control the elements, and you yourself can run faster than most people can see. Why not someone who can walk through time?" Lightning flashed and he disappeared.

"I was exposed to too much time energy."

I turned as I heard his voice behind me. Again he disappeared.

"They call me the Timekeeper."

He was back in front of me.

"Stop, I got it." I said. "How can you prove you're not just someone who can teleport, like Roman?"

"Give me a small example of something from your past that there's no way I could know about."

I paused for a moment. "When I was in Cairo in the bank I had a book. What was it called?"

Logan disappeared for a split second.

"Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley." He said. "The cover was green."