Absorption Distortion

Chapter 19

Back in Present Day.

Luna had walked into the Main Chambers just before 9am, getting ready to see Elder Drake for another days training. Nick stayed back at home with Nancy, invited to spend a day with just them two catching up seeing as they hadn't had the chance since he arrived. After speaking with Luna, he took the opportunity as it presented himself seeing as Malcolm wasn't going to be around. As Luna walked in, she noticed Elder Meeka standing at the reception desk, who perked up as soon as she entered. The pallidity of her robe and Kufi hat illuminated her smooth dark skin.  She approached her slowly, unsure why she was standing there. "Good Morning Luna dear, I have requested some of your training time," she began as Luna stopped in front of her. "Why? What's going on?" she queried, looking around for other clues as to what is occurring, all see could see was the receptionist talking cheerfully away into her mic. Meeka smiled, "No need to fret dear," Luna took a sigh of relief when she added, "Although this may be harder on you than your training with Elder Drake," Meeka walked towards the elevators and Luna followed curiously. The elevator lifted them from the ground floor to Meeka's chambers and as the doors opened her foyer was the same as it always has been, the empty white room with the three entrances. One a closed curtain, the center entry hosted large wooden double doors and the other was an open archway. She escorted Luna through the archway, as she turned the corner she could see she entered inside a dark lounge room. The couches and rug on the floor were all animal print, Meeka felt it gave her a sense of comfort and reminder her of Africa. Meeka turned some of the lights on, allowing the center of the room to be dimly lit. Luna sat across from her on the couch, waiting nervously as she hadn't spent much time alone in the Special City without Nick so close to her side. She looked at Meeka who reached over to a side table, pulling out a small wooden box and placing it on the coffee table between them. Luna lifted her head, somehow hoping to see inside the box by looking higher even though it had a closed lid. "I have something for you Luna," Luna waited as she lifted the box. "It's something I had once given to your mother," Luna wasn't shocked by the fact the Elders knew her mother. In a way she was proud that she was so well known. Meeka pushed the lid back and it caught on a silk joint holding it upright as Meeka turned it towards Luna. She gasped and reached out, "It's beautiful," Meeka smiled and stood up, "Let me help you put it on,"

--

Nick sat on the couch, he stared aimless as his mum, Nancy was in the background in the kitchen, "Ok, it's just you and me kiddo. What do you want to do today? Luna and Malcolm won't be back until  the afternoon. We could go to the beach, maybe grab some lunch, we could go for a hike, we could-" He cut her off, "I have some questions," he said with a sullen tone. She reached for two water bottles out of the fridge and walked over towards him. Nick didn't get much sleep last night, in the middle of the night Luna had joined him in his bed as he heard her knocking on the wall. So he laid beside her staring at the roof and wondering about his sister Nicky and his Dad. He worried about them, and questioned where his abilities came from over and over in his head. The memory of knowing his mother was dead seemed distant, but still raw enough to affect him and keep him awake all night. She sat down on the same couch beside him, placing the water bottles on the coffee table. "What is it son?" she asked, rubbing his leg comfortingly. "What about Dad?" he looked at her, staring into her eyes but she turned away from him. "Your father and I..." she began, stopping to find the right words. "We just weren't meant to be together Nick," he let out a sigh, not really wanting to hear it. "I'm sorry, I really am. But we fell out of love well before I had even left," Nick started to tear up, and stood up, walking across to the fireplace mantle and leaning against it. "The man I saw crying at your funeral was full of love for the wife he was told he lost while up in the mines. It crushed him and he pretty much stays up there now," he bangs the mantle with his fist, "It's not fair, we had to go through so much without you," he started to cry. Nancy stood up, her motherly instincts taking over. She rubbed Nick's back as she tried to make amends, "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry Nick. I wasn't left with many choices. I thought I was trying to protect you. Your father loved taking you kids on his camping trips. I didn't think it would impact you like it has," he turned to face her and they embraced in a hug. He squeezed her, the emotion of the past decade of missing his mother coming out as he hugged her. She rubbed his back affectionately. "I'm here now. And you're here now," "Well what about-" Nancy shook her head. "You, my beautiful boy, were the only one who inherited an ability from me," he wiped his eyes. "What ability do you have?" She smiled, "Come," she said, pulling on his arm and guiding him back to the couch. They sat down. "I only know of one," he listened with puzzlement. "When I first met Malcolm, I didn't know I had this ability," he listened intently as she continued, "It wasn't until we made it here that I realized. I have a Mind Link bond with Malcolm," "Mind Link?" Nick repeated uncertain of what that was. Nancy nodded, "I was able to permanently develop a mental bond with him," She could still see he didn't understand and couldn't help but let out a little laugh, "It's almost like a supercharge imprinting ability. We have bonded for life," he dropped his face, knowing his parents would never likely be under the same roof again but couldn't help but lift his head and smile seeing how happy his mum had become. He didn't bother bringing up his Dad or sister again. He could tell that was even a sensitive subject for Nancy to discuss so he changed the subject, "Why don't we go for that hike?" Nancy smiled and nodded, "Yeah?" Nick smiled back and they both jumped up off the couch.