Hello hi!
I had a chat with my cousin this week. We last saw each other when we were little kids. I mean, I was like 9 and he is a few years older than me. I decided a few months ago that I wanted to reconnect, and maybe become friends. Family is too important to let each other drift apart. He’s also a reader, so we talked about books, but we have wildly different tastes which makes for interesting conversation. 🤷🏻♀️ I’m just glad he’s reading here.
As for the story.
I’m still a little ahead of myself, trying to buy some time. Giving this one last pass as well to hopefully catch any glitches and I am beginning to realize that I really need to make an index page. For now, if you’re a little lost, or you just want to see the whole of what is available, the scenes are listed as numbered on the website under the Bottled Embers tag.
Here’s the next issue.
Previously… Logan is sad when his oldest friend leaves on his first PG mission and Luke asks Logan to help him out with a new project that makes Victor Morgan’s plans all too clear. And Logan meets a pretty young Lieutenant.
INDEX | Chapter 3 | Scene 1 | Scene 2 | Scene 3 | Scene 4 | Scene 5 | Scene 6 | Next Scene →
Realizing what just happened, one of the soldiers outside knocks on the reinforced glass. Another pulls anxiously at the door handle.
"Don't be alarmed," Luke says to Cathy in his silkiest voice and adds with finality: "It’s just a precaution. Either Logan or I can override the lock-down with a word or the press of a button."
The Lieutenant releases the gun and inclines her head to reassure the men outside, but still eyes Luke somewhat worriedly. Distraction might be a good idea.
I clear my throat and grin to get her attention, as Luke, with an air of absolute self-confidence, rolls closed the regulator on the Grismand's sedative and injects the stimulant into his neck.
Rubbing my hands together for focus and a little friction, I quickly summon my bonds, and Cathy’s mouth drops open gratifyingly when, with a simple touch, I coat each lonsdaleite strap in a film of golden energy that quickly sinks in and saturates the fibers. Then with a rather cheeky wink, I force the shimmer to spread out like pooling oil, fortifying the entire structure right down to the thirty-centimeter-long bolts in the floor. She nods her approval and settles back into her seat with a smile. Nothing will be moving there soon.
The drug starts to take effect after a few seconds and Grora's eyes flutter a little while Luke gets into position on his high stool beside the stretcher. Then the air turns foul.
I lean coolly against the counter behind me, stifling my instinct to recoil at the touch of Luke's influence and conceal my revulsion behind a mask of boredom. You’d think it’d get easier after so many years. Cathy doesn't seem to notice a thing.
* * *
I haven't got much experience with Luke's interrogation technique. The first time he used his power on Tom and me, we were little and had been coached on what to expect. The sensation of it is decidedly unpleasant, like cool tendrils slithering around one’s brain, though it doesn't seem to bother Tom as much. It has even been especially helpful in many sticky situations. Tom and I, thanks to our Manorian blood, tend to get a little hot-headed. So, we know full well that his dark side exists, but Luke has always taken care to avoid letting us see it.
The thing is, we have always accepted Luke’s influence on friendly terms, and he has never abused the privilege. Now as I watch him sit there, flexing said dark side, I try to figure out what may be going on. Neither of them is moving. Luke has his eyes closed and his palms open in his lap. His breathing is shallow and even, and his fingers twitch every now and then, a faint smile playing on his lips. The cloud of influence that filled the entire room at first, receded somewhat as Luke’s focus sharpened and homed in, now I can't sense it at all and he, much like his subject, seems oblivious to his surroundings.
I pick up my tab and take a seat next to Cathy and we watch and wait.
Three hours later nothing has changed.
Cathy and I are both half asleep. I notice that my golden bonds are flickering and decide to stretch my legs. She looks up for a moment then, seeing it is just me, settles and resumes her quite comfortable doze on the plastic chair, arms crossed in her lap.
As I pace the length of the infirmary, I gaze at her from under my eyelashes, imagining a sense of something unusual; something more than human in her. She is uncannily beautiful, with an impressive physique. Slender but far from delicate with broad shoulders and hips, a perfect hourglass. She is also young for an officer. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is that fascinates me, a subtle substance to her presence. It feels just a little too strong. There seems to be an inner fire that threatens to show through.
I am so absorbed in my study of Lieutenant Morgan that I almost don't notice the change in Luke, almost but not quite. His hands move first, turning round to lay flat on his thighs. Then he sits up a little straighter and clears his throat. Cathy jumps, instantly alert.
"Okay, I'm done," Luke announces with aplomb, resuming his feet and the Grismand opens his eyes groggily, yawning. "Logan, please release our friend so we can talk."
A little puzzled, but trusting in my second father's good judgment, I move to obey.
"What do you think you are doing?" Cathy challenges as the gold fades from the lonsdaleite stretcher and straps.
Luke rolls his shoulders to ease his neck as I release the first buckle at Grora's chest and Cathy unholsters her gun, "I am afraid I can't let that happen." She chambers a round, muzzle trained. I freeze. The soldiers outside suddenly prick up. Luke takes two steps toward her, and the Lieutenant redirects her aim. I jump when one of the guys outside fires a shot. The armor-piercing bullet, pings bluntly as it buries itself fully in the glass and just sits there and the Lieutenant’s gun muzzle sways all over the place as Grora licks his lips with a sleepy sigh.
"Lieutenant Morgan!" Luke says sharply, his hands held up in the universal gesture. Her focus darts back to him, correcting her aim. I hold my breath as Luke’s influence once again floods the room. His smile is benign, and his composure is so perfect even I would believe him harmless if I couldn’t feel his mind working.
"Your men can't get in. We are locked down for another," Luke says craning his neck to check the control panel, "eight and a half hours."
"He is a terrorist, a war criminal!" She protests, clicking off the safety. Luke holds her gaze, and steps closer, slowly, smoothly. His attention sharpens, and I exhale, aware of the exact moment she starts to waver. I feel repulsed, imagining the sensation of Luke's mind taking hold of hers, the slippery telepathic tentacles invading her consciousness, probing the cracks of her mind until they find an opening and take over. She stiffens, her eyes glaze and roll back. The gun clatters to the floor. Then she slumps down and as her head hits the ground, the guys outside drop like as many logs.
"What'd you do that for?" I ask Luke, irritated as I pick up the Lieutenant, holstering her weapon and setting her back in her plastic chair.
"The General’s briefing apparently left something to be desired.” He clicks his tongue, coolly approaching the stretcher to resume the unbuckling. “She was terrified, dangerous, and about to open fire."
"And them?" I motion towards the soldiers outside the door lying crumpled on the tiles.
"They would've shot up the place to get in here." He protests, looking at me like an idiot for not understanding that fundamental truth.
"The whole lab and infirmary are reinforced, bulletproof!" I retort.
"The paint isn't." He shrugs as the last strap falls and turns his attention to Rashak Grora. "Now then, Rashak!"
"McKeen! How long has it been?" The bear growls drawing his lips back to show his teeth, an analogue of a smile. I stare at the two of them, hardly able to believe my eyes. Luke ignores me.
"A long time, my friend. I am glad to see you well!" Luke answers as Rashak gathers him up in a literal bear hug, threatening to snap his bones. Luke winces, but his influence never recedes.
I sit down beside Cathy, marveling for the umpteenth time at Luke's callousness. The General had said he would brief her. I wonder what exactly she had been instructed to expect.
* * *
By the time Lieutenant Morgan wakes up, Luke and Rashak Grora are chatting like old friends. They spend the next few hours discussing minute details about the Grismand War effort as if it were as mundane as the weather. Their tone is cordial, their body language relaxed and the Lieutenant is so shocked at the strangeness of a violent war criminal laughing and joking with someone he supposedly never met before, as if they have known one another all their lives, that she makes no further moves to interfere.
"I don't understand." She mutters sleepily and I reply,
"I've never seen Luke work before either."
Next time… Logan and Tom bond a little, as they discuss their mutual bafflement over Luke’s interrogation technique. The boys chat a bit about Logan’s newfound relationship with Cathy Morgan who seems to take a little too active an interest in Elle.
Thanks for reading.
As always,
and
or better yet
Until next time. 👋🏻
We learned quite a bit about Luke's abilities this scene. He can make strangers into friends, change moods, knock people out and this power can go through solid objects. And yay my guess on the bear was correct. This was a very fun scene, thanks Jenny!
Yes, I believe we are seeing just a touch of Luke's capabilities. Logan is amazed at the level he apparently has not seen before. Interesting that the LT is apparently not aware when Luke first broadcasts his influence and the air seems to turn 'foul' for Logan. Similar to Tom's level of awareness apparently. Possibly related to the unknown quality that Logan becomes aware of about her. Seems like too much perfection with the lady? She certainly got his attention!