Gravity Rises (S3)

SP: Part Eleven

Content warning: This chapter containssemi-graphic descriptions of child abuse and its effects.

SPRING 1987

"Gaston Northwest turns eighteen next month," Percy commented.

Lincoln glanced at him across the table. He, Percy, and Eleanor (or, Ellie) sat together in the dining room of the Order headquarters, eating a meal of Lee's making. The table was a gift from Percy two years ago, given to celebrate when Lincoln had officially joined the Order. Lincoln sometimes felt that the position was more honorary than anything — after all, the most common duty in the Order was to bring people down to headquarters for a memory wipe, and Lincoln never went into town — but Percy still treated him as a member of full standing, and Lincoln felt like a part of things.

Now, after Percy's comment, Lincoln tried to make sense of the statement. When he didn't answer for a few moments, Ellie turned to Percy and said, "I don't think he knows what that means, dear."

Lincoln glared at her. "I know it means he's an adult. I'm not stupid." Since his first deal with Bill four years ago, Lincoln didn't mind his missing memory nearly as much. But he did mind being treated like a child because of it. "I just don't know what Gaston's birthday has to do with anything," he clarified.

"She wasn't implying that you didn't know about his adulthood," Percy said calmly. "There's something else."

"And what's that?"

"When Gaston turns eighteen," Ellie said, "he won't be able to use the amulet anymore."

Lee frowned. "Really?"

Percy nodded. "The amulet only works for children. The youngest age that someone can use it is when they turn eight years old, and they lose the ability at eighteen. That's why Gaston uses the amulet and not, say, me."

"Also because the Northwests are greedy," Ellie added. "They've claimed the amulet as a 'family heirloom', and they refuse to let anyone else use it."

Percy patted her arm. "Yes," he said, "though that was over a hundred years ago. It's tradition now, and they're not going to give it up."

Lincoln didn't care for a history lesson. "So, who's going to wipe memories after Gaston loses the amulet?"

"That's what I want to discuss with you," Percy said. "No one else in the Northwest family is young enough to wield the amulet. We'll have no amulet holder until Gaston's oldest child turns eight."

"It's caused problems in the past," Ellie said. "Gaston had to wipe about a decade's worth of memories when he turned eight. It took weeks."

Percy nodded. "Having no amulet holder used to leave us helpless. This time, though, we may have a solution." He finished his last bite of food. "Delicious as always, Lincoln. Let's clean up and go to my office, shall we? I have something to show you."

The threesome took their dishes to the nearby kitchen and rinsed them off. Then Ellie left, and Lincoln and Percy went to Percy's office. "What do you have to show me?" Lincoln asked.

"This." Percy reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a strange-looking gun.

Lincoln frowned at it. "And that is. . . ?"

"We found this gun when we found you," Percy said, "five years ago. We did some tests, and. . . it's a memory eraser."

Lee's gaze snapped up to Percy's face. "You mean—"

"It's likely what caused your amnesia, yes."

Lincoln stared at the gun. Even though his deal with Bill helped him cope with his amnesia, it didn't stop the rush of anger that swept through him. "Who shot me, then?" he demanded. "And why did you wait until now to show me?"