Wraith

Tycoon Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Somewhat reassured, Wraith left the empty bungalow behind the Captain and made her way in a slow and meandering fashion back towards her house. It was about lunchtime but after her restless night she felt more like sleep than food. Safely once more in her bedroom, Olive put Wraith's costume away, set her alarm for dusk and tried to get a few hours' rest.

Olive woke to the murmur of voices coming from the living room. One was her Dad, but she wasn't sure who he was speaking to. Even as she sat up to check the time, she sharpened her hearing out of curiosity. Oh no. I slept through the alarm. Hurriedly she slipped into the pieces of her costume, then froze as Volcano's visitor answered him in the familiar tones of the Captain.

"No, that's all I wanted to know really. Since you're already all dressed up, I assume you want to be put back on regular patrols again even though the crisis with Magnoss is past?"

"Yes. I still have a month's leave from work, but it does me no good to sit in the house. I need to be out and doing something." Volcano answered.

Wraith quickly slipped the rest of her costume and then climbed out the window.

"Actually," the Captain added as she reached the roof. "There was something else I was curious about."

Wraith hesitated and then found a comfortable spot to listen. She was sure that the Captain had already asked about the Tycoon, so what else did he want from her Dad.

"Yes?" Volcano encouraged him.

"Well, I was wondering if you could give me some advice as my mentor." The Captain began diffidently. "Would you recommend a relationship to other Users?" He hurried on. "Either one with another User or one with a Normal."

Volcano was silent for a long minute and Wraith winced; wondering what had prompted the Captain to ask about such a sore subject. When he answered, it was clear that he was wondering the same thing. "Are you matchmaking, Captain; or do you want to know for yourself?" He rumbled.

"For myself," he admitted. "That bout of flu made me realize how isolated I am in both of my lives."

"I've heard worse reasons to get involved with someone, but not much worse." Volcano pointed out. "If all you want is someone to notice when you're unwell, why don't you hire a housekeeper or something?"

The Captain sighed. "It's not the only reason," he disclosed. "I met someone recently, and I was wondering if I should keep her at arm's length or try to get closer."

"That sounds more like it." Volcano observed. He let out a long breath. "I'm not sure what to recommend, Captain. If your girl is Normal, you've got to decide if you are letting her in on your identity or keeping it secret. And you need to be aware that if some Abuser finds out who she is, she'll be in real danger. Then too, you've just mentioned the talent flu. If you had a Normal girl with you and you had an outbreak you could hurt her badly with your strength."

As for if your girl is a User," his voice filled with pain and bitterness. "How sure of that are you? You wouldn't need to keep secrets, she could defend herself against your enemies, and she'd be aware of the risks and dangers of an outbreak. But if you're wrong about her, well I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. There've been many weeks where I've wished I never met Adamant. Olive is the only good thing that ever came out of that mess for me."

There was so much emotion in his voice that Wraith felt her own eyes well up with tears. Silently, not wishing to hear any more of her Dad's agony, she stood and sped away across the rooftops toward Quack Street and Donner. As she did so, however, she couldn't keep from querying who the Captain had his eye on.