Wraith

Tycoon Epilogue

Epilogue

It wasn't until they were in the rail on the way back to Megalopolis that Wraith asked the question that had been bothering her. "The Tycoon was in complete control until right near the end. He looked like he would be able to outlast us. What made him suddenly go into overload?"

"I've been wondering about that," the Captain answered. "I think that his talent allowed him to control a few talented people at a time. But he was using his amplifier to enhance that ability in order to control so many. When it was destroyed, well, he couldn't completely take over Dojo and he didn't seem able to get you at all. I think he was also using the talent that Volcano mentioned to make things easier on himself. The one that allows someone to compel someone through their signature and intent. He didn't really start to struggle until Volcano destroyed his briefcase. Remember that Flare said the puppet chains might have been leading there instead of to him? Maybe he had a bunch of User signatures in there and without that tool he was suddenly working overtime to try and keep the Users he already had under control while also trying to add you to the list."

Volcano grunted and looked out the window at the rising sun. "You might be right. Or he may have just reached the end of his strength. Doesn't matter; he's gone." He looked back suspiciously at Wraith. "How did you keep out of his clutches? Have you got some sort of mental talent?" He drew away slightly as he asked the question and Wraith knew that he was thinking of Adamant and how she had controlled him for years.

"No!" She answered forcefully.

"I think you do," Donner said gently. "Remember how Bingo, Sam and Chris were able to affect the minds of a whole group of Users back in the summer? You didn't seem affected at all. And," he hesitated. "When Flare was using her light in Lairden, I tried not to see any secrets, but I still caught a few glimpses from the Captain. You just looked like yourself." He looked at her soberly. "I know that with Adamant, and now with the Tycoon you've seen a lot of the bad side of mental abilities, but like with any talent it is the individual that determines how it will be used."

"If you ever use it on Olive," Volcano promised in a deadly tone. "There will be nowhere safe for you." He turned away from her so that the two of them were as far apart as possible.

"I," Wraith felt her throat close as she looked from one of her friends to the other. At least Volcano was the only one actively threatening her. "If I had some sort of mental ability, wouldn't I know about it?" She asked plaintively.

"Not necessarily." The Captain shook his head. "If Donner is right, it seems to be purely a reflexive defense. At least, for now."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember how your talents grew over the summer as you used them? If you do have mental abilities, the same thing could happen with them." He frowned. "We're currently lacking mental talent in Megalopolis. It's a rare talent anyway and hard to identify. I'll have to see about finding someone to come and test, and if necessary, teach you."

"But," Wraith bit off her protest before she said anything more. Clearly the Captain felt that Donner had made a valid suggestion. I don't have mental abilities, she thought fiercely. I'm nothing like Mom. But she couldn't help remembering the feeling she had had when the Tycoon had tried to control her mind. The sense of grabbing onto some form of unsuspected defense. It's not what they're saying, she tried to assure herself. There is some other explanation. But she couldn't think of one and spent the rest of the trip back to Megalopolis with a chilly feeling deep inside that she couldn't shake.

Author's Note

And so ends Wraith's first story arc. Thank you for reading. Please let me know in the comments section what you enjoyed, what you didn't and the questions you'd like to see answered in the next book. I have a number of ideas for that already, but I always welcome more.