Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Sierra’s Tomorrow

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything

Pilot

It was late, one dark night when Russell Kwon, a member of the Tomorrow People and a talented pickpocket, snatched a nurse’s dropped keycard from the reception desk before.

     He ran up a flight of stairs rather speedily. Russell was on an important mission and was in telepathic contact with his leader’s second-in-command, Cara Coburn.

     Okay, Russell, that card gets you up to the clerk’s office on the twelfth floor, said Cara. That’s where the files are.

      Got it, said Russell.

     Unbeknownst to Russell, he tripped a silent alarm as he passed by a door in the corridor.

     Cara, who was watching Russell’s movements from the security cameras via her laptop, scowled at Russell’s recklessness.

     Great, you’ve just tripped an alarm, said Cara.

     Hey, I’m doing the best I can. It’s not my fault I didn’t know about the alarm, snapped Russell. He frowned at the psychic residue he was picking up. Whoa, the kid you’ve been talking to was here just recently. He must be pretty powerful even if I can pick up a trail.

     Cara’s telepathic abilities were stronger than most of the Tomorrow People ever dreamed of. Picking up telepathic trails was difficult and not everyone could do it.

      So, which way am I headed? I’m kind of lost, said Russell.

      Cara sighed and was about to reply when she became worried. Hang on, Russell. The security guard’s headed your way. You’ve got to get out of there. There’s an exit directly behind you.

      Russell didn’t flee. He just grinned when he found a sign pointing him in the direction of the file clerk’s. Straight it is, then.

      Russell!

      Russell ignored Cara and went down a winding labyrinth of corridors until he came upon his intended destination. He used the keycard to grant himself access to the file clerk’s office. Inside the room, there were dozens of heavy, brown-colored file cabinets and fortunately they were all labeled, so Russell knew where to look.

      After a quick look through the file cabinet’s drawers, Russell grabbed the two files he’d come for and stowed them into his bag and not a moment too soon. The security guard had caught up with Russell and was just outside the door. Quickly, Russell raced out the backdoor and onto the rooftop where he then teleported onto the street below. Once outside, Russell put on a smug grin and walked casually down to the subway station, unaware of the capture squad that was on his tail.

      Before long, Russell was waiting for the subway that would take him home. But then he found himself surrounded by two Ultra agents and his training kicked in. Russell grabbed the nearest agent and fought him off before turning his attention to the next one. After a series of blows, the agent finally went down and Russell boarded an empty subway car. When the subway began to move again, Russell began to relax, only to be on alert again when an Ultra agent, a non-human one to be precise, teleported in and began to fight him.

      Russell was punched multiple times in the face and sustained bruises from being bashed into the metal pole he’d been clinging to. Russell fought back, only for his blows to be dodged before he was punched in the stomach and tossed across the subway car. Russell was then grabbed and held in a headlock that nearly suffocated him. By a miracle, Russell managed to teleport out of the agent’s grip and gave the agent a taste of his own medicine. He teleported every time he delivered a punch to the head and eventually knocked the agent out before Russell finally teleported to safety.

      At the entrance to the Lair, Cara was waiting and she looked both worried, angry and impatient.

      “What were you thinking? We don’t use our powers out in the open!” she scolded. She seemed angry, but her voice gave away just how worried she’d been.

      Russell rolled his eyes. “Would you chillax? I know that, but I didn’t have much of a choice. They were Ultra agents. They must’ve been following me.”

      Cara couldn’t stop herself from glancing in the opposite direction as she frowned in concern. “Are you sure you lost them?”

      Russell grinned as he nodded. “Yeah, Cara. I’m sure. Besides, you’re talking to me, remember? John taught me everything. I know what I’m doing. Speaking of which, how is he?”

      “Same as he always is this time of year,” said Cara, sadly.

      The leader of the Tomorrow People, John Young, was a mystery. When he wasn’t being everyone’s fearless leader, strict and commanding and protective; John was fun to be around like everyone’s favorite big brother. But John had his secrets and every year on the exact same date, John became melancholy and shut himself away for a few days.

       Russell winced as he handed Cara the stolen medical files. “Yikes. You really think these files on your mystery patient kid are going cheer him up a little? Are they really worth it?”

      Cara looked satisfied as she glanced over the files and then passed them to Russell. “It’s not just the kid that’s worth it, it’s also his mother. Look at their surnames and the mother’s birth certificate.”

      Russell looked confused and then his eyes widened as he looked over the files. “Holy crap. John’s going to have a stroke!”

       The mother’s lineage was just impossible. It couldn’t be true…could it?

XXX

It was raining cats and dogs one horribly cold and windy afternoon as a dark-haired young woman by the name of Sierra Jameson walked across the busy sidewalk in the direction of the red brick house where she lived.

     She was quite thin, soaked to the bone, her clothes were bedraggled from her walk through the rain and mud, her dark green eyes had a tired look to them, her feet throbbed and ached with every step she took, and the wind blew so hard she thought she might take flight, but still, Sierra preserved and eventually made it inside the building.

     With some difficulty, Sierra slammed the door shut and slid down onto the bench beside the door. “I’m home!” she called, as she slipped off her coat and began untying her shoes.

     “Mama!”

     The next thing Sierra knew, she had her arms full of her young son, Robbie. Sierra couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she hugged him tight. No matter how difficult things got, no matter how crappy her job was, Robbie always managed to make her smile. It was the best part of her day.

      Sierra’s relationship with Robbie’s father had ended badly, but Robbie was still her greatest treasure. Sierra refused to let Robbie be affected by the pain of the past while still so young, and chose instead to focus on the good until he was old enough to understand. Robbie had inherited some of his father’s good qualities that Sierra had loved—his blond hair, gray-blue eyes, his kindness, his selflessness and his ability to make Sierra laugh and smile.

     “Hey, sweetie. How was school today?” asked Sierra, as they broke apart.

     “It was good. We got to watch cartoons during recess because of the rain and I drew a dinosaur,” said Robbie. “Cara showed me how to make a paper airplane.” Cara was Robbie’s imaginary friend. “And I’ve been helping Grandpa Finch make dinner. We’re making your favorites because you’ve had a long day.” Despite his young age, Robbie always went out of his way to make Sierra happy.

     So, that explains the pasta and the chocolate cake I’m smelling right now.

     “Well, that is the sweetest thing ever. And as it happens, I’m starving and it smells delicious, so I can’t wait to taste it,” said Sierra, as she tickled Robbie and kissed his head. She looked up when Astrid poked her head into the entryway. “Hey, I need to talk to Aunt Astrid and take a shower. So, why don’t you go finish dinner and when I get out, you can show me your picture. Okay, kiddo?”

     “Okay.”

     Robbie slid off his mother’s lap and returned the kitchen.

     Astrid looked fondly in Robbie’s direction. “You really lucked out with that one. He’s the sweetest kid I’ve ever met.”

     “Yeah, he really is,” said Sierra, fondly. “Thanks again for picking him up from school for me, Astrid.” Sierra had had to pull a double-shift and was forced to ask Astrid to pick up Robbie from school. Although they’d been best friends since childhood, Sierra hated asking Astrid for favors, especially when Sierra was already so dependent on Astrid and her father’s generosity.

     “It was no trouble. Any excuse to spend time with my nephew,” said Astrid. She didn’t share in Sierra’s feelings regarding their situation. “So, how was work? What’d you have to stay late for this time?”

     Sierra made a face. “In that order? Lousy. Dylan had a hangover and didn’t come in. Hence, why I had to pull a double-shift today.”

     “Again?” said Astrid, disgusted. Dylan was Sierra’s least favorite co-worker. He was a lazy, arrogant pig of a man. “Why don’t they fire him?”

     “Because his dad is my boss’s boss,” said Sierra. Her job was crappy and Sierra hated it but in this economy, she was lucky to find any work that would pay the bills. “But it wasn’t all bad. I got a little extra in the paycheck for my troubles and speaking of which—” Sierra reached into her pocket and pulled out a bank envelope with cash. She counted out two hundred dollars and held it out to Astrid. “This month’s rent.”

     Astrid hesitated. “You know how I feel about you paying rent.”

     “Yeah, but this is your dad’s house and you know I feel if I don’t contribute at least a little. So, just take it,” said Sierra. “Please.”

     When Sierra had been a pregnant teenager, she’d fallen on hard times. She’d been kicked out of her mother’s home and separated from her younger brother. She’d had no place to live, very little money and no job, nothing to support herself or her unborn baby with. Out of shame and wounded pride, Sierra hadn’t gone to anyone for help. To avoid the authorities and foster system, she’d wandered around and hidden until Astrid, who often did volunteer work, found Sierra at a homeless shelter. When Sierra finally confessed her secret, Astrid had been horrified to learn of Sierra’s living conditions and had taken Sierra into her home with Mr. Finch’s whole-hearted consent.

     Sierra and Robbie had been living with Astrid ever since. Unwilling to be a burden, Sierra had taken online courses and gotten her high school diploma and as soon as she was able, took a job. Mr. Finch considered Sierra and Robbie family and hadn’t wanted to take Sierra’s money at first, but Sierra was stubborn and insisted on contributing. Eventually he’d agreed to two hundred dollars a month and some help around the house for rent in exchange for Sierra and Robbie’s room and board.

      Astrid looked like she wanted to protest but the stubborn look in Sierra’s eyes won her out and she sighed as she took the cash.

     “One of these days, I’m going to win,” said Astrid.

     “Maybe, but I doubt it,” laughed Sierra. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get out of these wet clothes before I get sick.”

     Astrid nodded and then Sierra disappeared up the stairs.

     Sierra’s life wasn’t the one she’d planned on. It had its ups and downs, and it had changed several times, but it was a decent life. Her life. However, she had no idea it was about to change yet again.

XXX

That night, Sierra’s sleep was disturbed by someone shaking her.

      Sierra yawned and switched on the bedside table lamp to see Robbie standing in front of her, all dressed. Sierra frowned and after checking Robbie’s side of the bed, which was devoid of its usual occupant, decided it wasn’t a dream.

      Robbie looked both anxious and excited, which didn’t bode well.

      “Sweetie, what is it?” asked Sierra.

      “Cara wants to talk to you,” said Robbie.

      Sierra was confused. “Cara? Your imaginary friend?”

      For the past month or so, Robbie had been talking to an imaginary friend called Cara. Robbie was shy and sometimes found it hard to connect with kids his own age, so he didn’t have a lot of friends. When ‘Cara’ entered Robbie’s life, she seemed nice from everything Robbie had said about her and she made him happy and not so alone, so Sierra hadn’t asked questions about ‘Cara,’ and now Sierra was beginning to regret that decision.

      Robbie bit his lower lip and twisted his hands together. “Cara isn’t imaginary. She’s…special. She’s like us, Mom,” he confessed.

      Sierra sat up quickly and narrowed her eyes. “She’s telepathic? Robbie, what have I told you about using your powers to communicate with strangers?”

      Time and time again, Sierra had spoken to her son about the dangers of using their abilities in public and to certain dangerous people. They hadn’t even told Astrid and her father the truth of what they were and the fact that they’d been able to keep such a secret was a miracle unto itself. Sierra had met few others like her and save for one exception, they hadn’t been the kind of people she’d wanted her son exposed to.

      “Not to,” said Robbie, as his lip trembled. “But Mom, I saw her. Really saw her. She’s good. She’s not one of the bad people.”

      Sierra sighed and was quiet for a moment as she reined in her anger. Granted, Robbie was young and could be considered naïve, but Robbie’s abilities were strong, stronger than her own, even. And Robbie’s trust didn’t come easily to the people he met, not until after he’d examined them thoroughly. If he trusted this stranger, there had to be a good reason.

      “I’m sorry, Mom,” said Robbie.

      “It’s okay, honey,” said Sierra, gently. She could never stay mad at Robbie for very long. It was a wonder he wasn’t spoiled rotten. “But from now on, there’s to be no more secrets and the next time you meet someone like us, you tell me immediately. Promise?”

      Robbie nodded. “I promise.”

      Sierra yanked off the bed covers and swung her leg over the mattress. “What exactly does Cara want?”

      “She wants to speak with you, but you’re blocking her,” said Robbie. “She says it’s important.”

      Sierra sighed again. Sierra’s barriers around her mind were strong, so it was no wonder why this Cara person couldn’t get through. She had no desire to talk to Cara but apparently, Sierra had no choice. So, Sierra closed her eyes and reluctantly lowered her shields.

      Cara, if you’re listening, I’m here, said Sierra.

      Hello, Sierra.

      The voice was female, gentle and unfamiliar. Sierra didn’t like it.

      I know you must have a lot of questions— began Cara.

      You don’t know anything, interrupted Sierra, sharply. Just because you’ve been talking to my son behind my back doesn’t mean you know anything about him or me.

       There was a moment’s pause. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you, came the sorrowful reply. I didn’t intend for this to happen. I tried to talk to you sooner but your blocks are too strong for me.

       Sierra ignored the pang of guilt she felt. I know. They’re up for a reason. I have to protect my son and myself.

       I understand that and I promise you, I don’t intend either of you harm. I just want to talk to you, said Cara.

       We are talking, replied Sierra, grumpily. And getting nowhere as well. What was the point of all this?

       In person, I mean. You and Robbie, said Cara. I can tell you where to meet. It’s safe. No one will find you there.

       Sierra paused as she considered this. Will you leave us in peace if I agree?

       If that’s what you want, said Cara. Yes. Will you come, then?

       Sierra pinched the bridge of her nose. The things she had to do for her peace and quiet. How did she get mixed up in this craziness? Fine. Where do we go?

       Pleased with Sierra’s response, Cara gave her directions.

       After Sierra dressed and wrote out a note just in case they didn’t get back before Astrid woke up, Sierra took Robbie’s hand went down to the Broad Street subway station. The station was devoid of life but soon a train came up. Not long after Sierra and Robbie boarded the train, someone came up from behind and placed his hands on their shoulders, causing them to be teleported to an unknown place.

      Robbie clutched Sierra’s hand for dear life as she took a defensive stance and narrowed her eyes at the two people before her.

      One was an Asian man who looked like an overgrown kid and the other was a pretty young woman, who seemed mature beyond her years.

      “What is this?” demanded Sierra.

      “You can relax, it’s all good here. Allow me to begin the introductions. Name’s Russell,” he said, as he extended his hand for Sierra to shake. “And this is Cara. You must be Sierra and Robbie. Great to finally meet you.”

      “Uh-huh,” said Sierra, as she reluctantly shook Russell’s hand.

      Robbie peered out from behind Sierra and his face lit up at the sight of Cara.

      Cara smiled at Robbie. “Hello, Robbie.”

      Robbie released his mother’s hand and hugged Cara, who returned the embrace.

      “Are we finally going to see the Lair now?” asked Robbie, eagerly.

      “The Lair?” echoed Sierra.

      Why do I not like the sound of that?

      “It’s what we call this place,” explained Russell. “Follow us.”

      Sierra reluctantly followed Russell and Cara down a passage and down a small set of steps. Sierra found herself in an incredibly well-lit abandoned subway station at least a hundred feet below the streets of Manhattan. It was filled with furniture of all sorts, food and other necessary supplies, games, exercise equipment and so much more. There were at least fifteen Tomorrow People there as well and almost all of them were staring at Sierra and Robbie with awe and wonder.

      Sierra couldn’t stop staring at it all until Robbie tugged on her sleeve.

      “Mom, can I go play pool with those kids?” asked Robbie.

      A couple of teenagers that were standing by a large green pool table in a distant corner of the room, were beckoning for Robbie to join them in their game.

      “What? Sure. But stay where I can see you,” said Sierra.

      Robbie nodded and joined the teens in their game.

      Once Robbie was out of earshot, Sierra turned her attention back to her hosts.

      “Okay, would someone care to explain all this?” demanded Sierra.

      “This is the Lair, our home. We’re called the Tomorrow People,” explained Cara. “We didn’t pick the name, I swear. We teleported you here. Have you—?”

      “I know what the Tomorrow People and the three T’s are,” said Sierra, briskly.

      Teleportation, telekinesis and telepathy, the three gifts of the Tomorrow People, homo sapiens and homo superior, and the genetic mutation that lay dormant until a certain point during adolescence, Ultra the organization that hunted them…Sierra was well-versed in all of it.

      “Considering how strong your shields are, I figured you would be,” said Cara. “But I’ve got to say, it’s the first time I’ve met one of the Tomorrow People who wasn’t breaking out as opposed to how experienced you are. What’s your story?”

      “There isn’t much of one to tell,” said Sierra. Her past wasn’t something she cared to discuss in detail. There were things even Astrid didn’t know about. “When I started breaking out, I thought I was losing it but then a stranger, Robbie’s father, came into my life and explained everything.”

      Cara nodded sympathetically. “We’ve all got similar stories.”

      Somehow I doubt that.

      Sierra began to lose her patience. “This is getting us nowhere and this meeting was a mistake. I need to go. I don’t have time for this. I’ve got to get up for work in a matter of hours and get my son to school and try to make ends’ meet so we don’t end up on the streets. If this is about you reaching out to me and my son just because of our powers, then this conversation is over. You may have it all great down here, but you have no idea how much I used to wish I didn’t have my powers. They’ve given me so much trouble. You have no idea what my life has been like for the last eight years.”

      Tears glistened in Cara’s eyes. “Sierra, I’ve spoken with your son and watched you for a long time now. I know exactly what it’s been like.”

      Sierra shook her head. “No. No, you don’t. You don’t have a freaking clue.”

      What did Cara know? Had she ever been pregnant and homeless and constantly looking over her shoulder while struggling just to survive on a day-to-day basis? Had she ever hidden out of fear and shame from those closest to her? Sierra seriously doubted it.

      “Maybe I don’t know everything, but I do know how it feels to be alone and scared, to be ashamed of what you are,” said Cara. Her brown eyes were pleading. “Please, I’m begging you. Don’t leave just yet. Hear us out first.”

      Sierra wanted to refuse but then she glanced at Robbie, who’d picked up on his mother’s distress and gave her a pleading look.

      Why did I ever teach him the puppy-dog eyes?

      “Fine,” she said, aloud. “But cut to the chase.”

      Cara looked relieved as she nodded. “Why don’t you sit down?”

      Sierra was led to a couch and sat down while Cara and Russell sat across from her on some chairs.

      “Sierra, do you know of the shadow war between the Tomorrow People and Ultra?”

      Sierra nodded and unconsciously rubbed her arm. Beneath the cotton sleeve, there was a scar there from a part of her past she didn’t care to remember.

      Ultra was a secret government containment agency that had been hunting down the Tomorrow People. Ultra wanted the Tomorrow People neutralized. Those that they didn’t kill, were captured and forced to use their powers to hunt down and betray their own kind. Despite being the ‘superior species,’ the Tomorrow People had one flaw: the Prime Barrier in their brains prevented them from killing, even in self-defense.

      “The Tomorrow People who work with Ultra, we can’t track them or communicate with them. It’s why we need your help,” said Russell. “We need you to find someone. I guess you could call him our leader’s leader.”

      Sierra frowned in confusion. “Excuse me?”

      “We have someone who takes care of us down here,” said Cara. “He’s a good guy, you’d like him.”

      “Why isn’t he here talking to me, then?” asked Sierra.

      Russell and Cara exchanged looks.

      “Let’s just say that he’s kind of a mess this time of year,” said Russell, hesitantly. “It’s an anniversary or something for him, so we generally leave him alone unless it’s an emergency. He’ll be back tomorrow, though. Is that okay?”

      Sierra nodded understandingly. “Fine. Continue.”

      “There was someone that our leader used to work with, his name was Roger Price,” said Cara. “Roger disappeared, went into hiding somewhere only our kind can reach. Roger never came back.”

      “How do you know Ultra didn’t nab him?”

      Cara shook her head. “According to our current leader, that’s quite impossible. Roger was the strongest of all.” When Sierra scoffed in disbelief, Cara quickly added, “Listen, Sierra, if you’ve inherited just a fraction of his powers—”

       “Inherited?” interrupted Sierra, furiously as she rose up. She instantly connected the dots and when she did, Sierra felt angry and foolish. Of course these people didn’t want her, they just wanted to use her to find someone who’d been dead to her for a long time. Still, the shock from the revelation was undeniable. “Wait, you’re telling me this is all to do with my lunatic, deadbeat father? He was one of us?”

       Roger Price or Roger Jameson as she had known him was Sierra’s father. During Sierra’s childhood, she’d looked up to the man as he’d showered her and her younger brother with love and performed magic tricks for them. But as Sierra got older, Roger fought more with her mom and disappeared for long stretches of time. Eventually, Roger left and never came back. Sierra had never forgiven Roger for it and to hear that the Tomorrow People wanted such a loser back into their lives and looked up to him, angered her.

      Realizing they were about to lose her, Cara and Russell tried to defuse the situation.

      “He was more than that, Sierra. He was a hero,” said Cara. “And we need you to help us find him. We believe that the two of you share a connection, just you do with Robbie.”

      Sierra snorted and shook her head. “No, you’re wrong. Roger was nothing but a pathetic waste of space that abandoned me and my mother and my brother when we needed him most.” If Roger was this powerful person who cared about people, he would’ve been there when Sierra broke out. Hell, he would’ve been there when Sierra was struggling to stay alive for her unborn baby’s sake! “I haven’t even seen him since I was eight years old!”

      “You’re his daughter. If anyone can find him and contact him, you can,” said Russell, encouragingly.

      “And who says I want to find him?” snapped Sierra. Why couldn’t these people understand? “He bailed on me and he bailed on you. And so help me, if you say he left so I could have a normal life, you’ll wish you hadn’t! I didn’t grow up human or safe from Ultra! He failed me, just like he failed you!”

      Even if any of their garbage was true, which Sierra doubted it was, she had no reason to go after Roger. In Sierra’s mind, there was no justification for abandoning one’s family, especially one’s own children. It was wrong in so many ways.

       There was a moment’s tense silence before Cara broke it. “You don’t believe us? Well, maybe you’ll believe this. Follow me.”

       Sierra rolled her eyes and followed Cara to another room. There was a strange-looking computer hanging from the ceiling and the room was filled with a desk, a couch and a bunch of useless junk.

      “Pull up Roger’s last message, TIM,” said Russell. “TIM’s our AI computer, just so you know. He’s kind of like our HAL, except not evil.”

      Sierra didn’t even blink as the computer projected an image. She did, however, inhale sharply, when her father’s image appeared on the screen behind her.

      “Hello, Sierra,” said Roger’s image. “If things turn out the way that I hope, you’ll never see this. If you are seeing it, then let me start by saying that I’m sorry. I know you probably won’t believe me when I say that I love you and Luca and have only wanted the best for you. Everything I’ve done has been to protect you and—”

      “Stop it!” Sierra forced herself to turn away. “Turn it off. Turn it off, now!”

      TIM switched off the message and there was another tense silence in the room.

       Sierra leaned against the desk and tried to compose herself. Her mind was abuzz with thoughts she didn’t want to think and her heart ached with feelings she didn’t want to feel. She could barely breathe and the urge to leave was unbearable.

      “I don’t need an apology from my father,” said Sierra. Her eyes were red with unshed tears and her voice was thick with emotion. “It’s a little late for that. I am nothing like my father. I may have powers, but deep down, I’m just a single mother trying to stay alive. I’m sorry, but you’ve got the wrong girl and I have to leave. I’m sorry.”

      Without waiting for a reply, Sierra ran from the room.

      Robbie, we’re leaving. Meet me in the entrance.

      But Mom—!

      Now, Robbie! said Sierra, sharply. Don’t argue with me! Just do as I tell you!

      Knowing better than to argue with his mother when she used that tone, Robbie didn’t argue further.

      Sierra was almost the entrance when one of the Tomorrow People teleported into the lair.

      “Okay, I’m here, Cara. What was so important that I had to—Sierra?!”

      A half-empty glass beer bottle fell to the floor and shattered, spilling the foul drink everywhere, but no one paid it any attention.

      Sierra froze in her tracks at the sight of the man before her. His appearance had changed. He no longer wore an expensive suit as he was now dressed in a casual T-shirt, denim jeans, leather boots and a black leather jacket. His blond hair was messy instead of neatly combed back and there was stubble on his face. He’d aged, which was only to be expected given how long it’d been since their last encounter. But there was no question of the man’s identity.

      “John,” she gasped.

      The man standing before Sierra was John Young, her ex-boyfriend. He was the leader of the Tomorrow People and Cara must’ve called him in to persuade Sierra to stay.

      John stared at Sierra in shocked disbelief. “You’re here.” As if to prove it to himself, John hesitantly reached out and touched Sierra’s shoulder.

      Sierra stiffened at John’s touch but didn’t pull back. Being reunited was completely unexpected and not something Sierra had ever intended to happen, but try as she might to deny it, Sierra had missed John’s gentle touch. Sierra had been fourteen years old when her powers manifested. When that’d happened, she’d started hearing voices and when she went to sleep, she’d often wake up in a different place no matter what she tried.

      “Oh my God. You’re real. You’re alive,” said John, his voice thick with emotion. His gray-blue eyes became red and glistened with tears. “But how’re you here? How’re you alive? I read McCrane’s mind! I saw—”

      “It was a lie,” interrupted Sierra, coldly. She pulled away from John’s touch. Her emotions were churning inside her and she forced them back. Now wasn’t the time to reignite the spark between them and nor could she deny the anger and hurt she felt. “What you saw in McCrane’s mind was a necessary trick to protect myself. You weren’t there to save me. What was I supposed to do? Besides, what did it matter to you? You broke up with me and left me, remember?”

      Sierra remembered all too well the night of their breakup. It was one of Sierra’s worst memories. She felt a fresh wave of anger when she recalled how she’d met with John that night, expecting a night of romance before she told him her news, only to be heartbroken when John unexpectedly announced he wanted to end their relationship. He’d claimed he had to put Ultra first and out of desperation, Sierra had begged John to leave Ultra and flee with her, so they could stay together. John had refused, much to Sierra’s grief. She’d believed him and his conviction then, but yet here he was, clearly an Ultra fugitive. He couldn’t be bothered to make that choice when he was Sierra’s boyfriend but he could make it now? It disgusted her.

      John looked offended and then immensely regretful. “It was a mistake, one that I regretted as soon as I made it.”

      Sierra scoffed in disbelief. “I don’t believe you.”

      When they’d broken up, Sierra had neither seen nor detected the slightest hint of regret in John’s behavior. Why should she believe anything John said now?

      “Believe it or not, it’s the truth,” snapped John. He seemed truly devastated and angry. “You want to know why I broke up with you that night? It wasn’t because of my duty to Ultra, it was Ultra was getting too close to finding out about you, about us and I panicked. I thought if I stayed away you’d be safe, but then things changed and I decided to run with you. I was going to come back to you, apologize and beg you to take me back and run off wherever you wanted. But when I was about to, I caught up with McCrane and when I read his mind, I thought you’d died. If you hadn’t blocked me, if our connection hadn’t just disappeared, I wouldn’t have believed it. You have no idea what your death did to me!”

      Sierra looked away, unable to meet John’s eyes. Her shields had slipped down and she could sense the truth in John’s words. She saw his devastation and felt his grief, and more importantly, she felt his love for her that she returned. Sierra felt the urge to reconnect with John and begin anew but she pushed it back.

      Sierra’s powers had manifested when she was fifteen years old and when that happened, it was the start of one of the worst years of Sierra’s life. Unable to find a reason for why unexplainable things kept happening to her and fearing she was losing her mind, she’d unintentionally cried out telepathically for help—any help. Help came in a form of a kind, calming voice that belonged to then-sixteen-year-old John Young, who’d not only heard Sierra’s cries, he’d sensed her and she him, they were connected. After a number of telepathic conversations, John not only convinced Sierra she wasn’t crazy and he was real, he persuaded her to meet him at a local café one afternoon.

      During that meeting, Sierra not only learned the truth of what she was—what she and John both were and about Ultra and the life John led—she also started to learn how to control her powers under John’s tutelage, which was a welcome blessing in her life. But far more than that, during the year that followed, Sierra and John developed a secret, close friendship that gradually blossomed into a deep, passionate love that was consummated when Sierra was sixteen and John was seventeen. It was a love that Sierra had believed would last forever and not once did she ever imagine it ending. But it had. When she’d least expected it, John had broken her heart and left her alone after he’d sworn on his life that he never would.

      Sierra had never intended for John to think she was dead, she’d just wanted to be safe. When she’d closed off their connection, it’d been because of her own heartbreak, nothing more. But regardless of whatever they still felt at the moment, how was Sierra ever supposed to trust him again?

      “I’m sorry for the pain my actions caused you, John,” said Sierra, softly. She hadn’t wanted to do what she did, but hadn’t seen any other way to protect herself and her unborn child. Not to mention, she hadn’t known John thought she was dead and even so, had he looked harder for her, he would’ve known the truth. “But I can’t change what happened. It’s in the past and I don’t have time to talk right now. I need to go, so if you’ll excuse me—”

      Sierra tried to leave but John blocked her and then the worst thing happened.

      Robbie appeared at Sierra’s side. “I’m ready to go.” He looked up at John and smiled. “Hi.”

      John blinked in surprise and then his brow wrinkled as he frowned. “Hi. Who…who’re you?”

      “This is Robbie. My son,” said Sierra, quickly, hoping John wouldn’t ask further questions.

      By now, a crowd had gathered and judging from the looks on their faces, they were quite shocked from having connected the dots while John had yet to. If Sierra had her way, John would be ignorant of the truth. It was hard to say who was all the more shocked, Russell or Cara. The former never would’ve imagined the scenario playing out in front of him and in all their talks, Cara had never once guessed at Robbie’s lineage.

      Realizing what was happening, Sierra knelt down to Robbie’s level. “Robbie, sweetie, go see if Russell can get TIM to play you a movie while I take care of this. Be ready to go when I say so. Understand?” When Robbie nodded, Sierra glanced at Russell and silently pleaded with him before he nodded and held out his hand for Robbie to take. She needed Robbie to leave just for a little while so she could fix the situation before it got out of hand. She wanted to leave right then and there but she knew if she did, John would more than likely chase after her and she couldn’t have that.

     “C’mon, kiddo. We’ll watch Wall-E and I’ll share my gummy bear stash with you,” said Russell, as he began scurrying Robbie away to the other room.

     However, it was too late and John connected the dots. “Wait. How old are you, kid?”

     “Don’t answer him!” said Sierra, before Robbie could speak. The last thing she wanted was for John to know the truth. He didn’t deserve to know, not after what he’d done. She shot a glare at John. “It’s none of your business, John. So, drop it!”

     But John was nothing if not persistent, just as Sierra remembered. “How old are you, kid?” he demanded, as his voice rose in volume.

     “I’m seven!” Robbie blurted out.

     Robbie disliked people raising their voices at him. It made him scared and caused him to blurt out whatever came to his mind. After yelling out his age, Robbie’s eyes were wide as though he was afraid he’d done something wrong, and he looked apologetic at his mother.

      Sierra just shook her head and looked kindly at him, signaling to Robbie that he wasn’t in trouble. Robbie relaxed a little but still looked nervous and Sierra could sense his excitement. He’d recognized John, of course, both from images in Sierra’s mind and from the one photograph Sierra had of John from their time together.

      Mom, can I meet him? Please?

      Maybe. We’ll see, said Sierra, as she mentally sighed. She didn’t want to deny Robbie’s request, but at the same time, was it better if they were kept apart until Robbie was of adult age and better understood the situation? For right now, just go with Russell.

      Robbie nodded and then disappeared into TIM’s room with Russell.

      When Robbie had gone, Sierra turned to face John, who was looking at her with fresh tears in his eyes, clearly distraught. Sierra’s son was seven years old and they’d broken up seven years ago. That combined with Robbie’s looks, it wasn’t hard to figure out the truth.

      “John—” she began, but John cut her off.

      “Is Robbie my son?” he asked, sounding hoarse.

      Sierra’s throat tightened and she didn’t reply. This was exactly what she’d hoped to avoid.

      “Is Robbie my son?” John repeated. “Our son?”

      Sierra wanted to lie, claim that Robbie was her son by another man or say Robbie had been adopted, and John was imagining things, but the words wouldn’t come; and even if they had, Sierra knew that John could always tell when she was lying. So, having no other choice, Sierra did the only thing she could: she told the truth.

      “Yes,” she confessed. “Robbie is our son.”

      Robbie wasn’t just a third-generation Tomorrow Person, he was a synergist—the son of two very dangerous and powerful Tomorrow People.

      John inhaled sharply and looked as though he might faint as he covered his face with his hands.

      After a moment, John disappeared.

      Even though everything Sierra’s body was screaming at her to just run and disappear, she didn’t. She opened up her telepathic connection with John and followed him to another room. She went down a flight of winding stairs and entered a room that was dripping from the recent rain and was furnished with soft mats and exercise equipment.

       John was in the middle of the room. He was shirtless, his hands were bound up with athletic tape and he was punching the living daylights out a large black punching bag. He was getting out his anger and pain and he had plenty of it. He had every reason to be upset. For the past seven years, he’d thought his girlfriend—albeit ex-girlfriend—was dead and then suddenly his world was turned upside down. Suddenly, Sierra was alive and had apparently been hiding away their son, John’s son. A child John never got to see grow up.

       John had missed everything—from watching his girlfriend’s pregnancy progress and hearing the baby’s heartbeats and feeling the baby kick, to the birth of their son, their son’s first words and steps, to seeing Robbie’s powers develop and his first day of school. He’d missed everything because of his own foolishness and Sierra’s decision to block him out. The pain from it all hurt worse than anything John could’ve imagined.

       Sierra hesitated but after a moment, she placed her hand on John’s shoulder.

       John tensed and his skin broke out in goosebumps as he spun around and faced her.

       The raw pain and anger in John’s eyes hurt worse than Sierra had expected but she didn’t avert her dark green gaze from John’s own grey-blue one. Like it or not, this conversation was long overdue.

      “John, we need to talk,” said Sierra, softly.

      “Yeah, we really do,” said John, gruffly as he grabbed a nearby water bottle and downed half of it. “Robbie. Our son. You found out you were pregnant the night we broke up, didn’t you? That’s what you wanted to tell me that night.”

       Sierra slowly nodded.

       John exhaled slowly as though he was trying to calm himself. “But you chose not to. You weren’t ever going to tell me about him, were you?”

      “No, I wasn’t,” she admitted. After Sierra’s past involvement with John, she’d had no intentions of ever telling him about their child. The day that Sierra had planned to tell John of her pregnancy was the day they’d broken up, thus destroying Sierra’s faith in John. He’d left her. What was to stop him from leaving their child? Not to mention, Sierra had seen what happened to people who stayed together for the sake of children and she hadn’t wanted that, so she’d made what she’d thought was the best possible decision at the time.

      “Well, he’s my kid too, so you don’t get to make that decision by yourself anymore,” said John.

      Sierra glared at John. Robbie’s father he might’ve been, but John didn’t get to just waltz back into Sierra’s life and take control. “Think again. I never put your name on Robbie’s birth certificate. And besides, legally, you don’t exist. You can’t exactly take a paternity test to prove your claims without risking getting on Ultra’s radar again. So, you can’t do anything if I don’t want you to.”

      John knew Sierra was right but he still refused to back down. “I want to be part of his life, Sierra. I may not be able to prove it, but I know Robbie’s my son. I’ve lost seven years, I won’t lose any more time with him! I screwed up with us, I know, but you know I’d never do anything to hurt our son.”

      “I don’t know actually! And even if I did, it’s not that simple, John!” said Sierra, in frustration. “You left me! More than that, you left Robbie before he was even born! We can’t just go back to what we were before. We’re not the same anymore. Things have changed.”

       “Then why are you even here if it wasn’t to tell me about Robbie? How did you even find this place?” demanded John, in frustration.

       “You can blame your little lackeys, Cara and Russell for that,” snapped Sierra. “I didn’t know you were even here, okay? Cara’s been talking to Robbie behind my back and she used him to track me down in hopes of locating my father, Roger, who apparently had more secrets than I was aware of. Did you know my powers are second-generation? That my father, Roger, was one of us?”

       John did not speak but the look of guilt and shame on John’s face answered Sierra’s questions.

       Sierra looked at John with disgust. “Of course you did. Why am I not surprised?” Considering how secretive John was, it was no shock to Sierra that he’d withheld that information from her. “And you couldn’t find a spare minute to tell me? You knew how I felt about him!”

       “I knew Roger, but I didn’t know who you were to him until the day he disappeared,” said John, honestly. “I swear, I didn’t know.”

       Sierra turned away from John’s gaze. Ironically enough, Sierra hated that John was telling the truth right then and there. It made things more difficult for her.

       How many more secrets am I going to uncover before this insanity’s over?

       “Sierra,” said John, sighing as he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Look at me.”

       Sierra turned around gazed into John’s eyes.

       “I know I messed up and I’m sorry,” said John. “All I’m asking for is a chance, one chance to make amends and start over. Just let me try, please.”

       Sierra hesitated. “I don’t know if I can do that, John. You broke my heart. If I can’t trust you with mine, how can I trust you with our son’s?”

       It was one thing for Sierra to be heartbroken but the last thing she wanted was for Robbie to endure that same pain, to be rejected and abandoned by those who meant the most to you. Robbie was too young to know any of that.

       John cupped Sierra’s face in his hands and used their connection to allow her to feel everything he felt before he kissed her forehead.

       “Because I’d rather die than lose you two again,” he murmured. “I know you don’t believe me now, but one day I’ll prove it to you. I will never leave you again.”

       A few tears escaped Sierra’s eyes. Fixing things between the two of them wasn’t going to happen overnight. Hell, maybe it was impossible. But just because things were messed up between the two of them didn’t mean they couldn’t attempt to start over and make things better for their son. Sierra had grown up fatherless. Robbie deserved better than that.

       “I can’t make any big promises about us right now. Let’s just take things one day at a time, John. One day at a time,” murmured Sierra. “Okay?”

       John looked relieved as he nodded. “Anything you want.”

       “Speaking of wants…Robbie wants to meet you,” said Sierra. “Properly, that is. If you’re up for it?”

       “I won’t lie to you, I’m scared to death,” confessed John. Much as he wanted to be in Robbie’s life, suddenly plunging into fatherhood was scary. “But I think I can handle it.”

       “Okay.”

       This was it. Now or never. Sierra could only hope she wouldn’t regret it.

       Robbie, come here, sweetheart.

       Seconds later, Robbie teleported into the room and stood in front of his father.

       John looked astonished. Even for a synergist, Robbie was terribly young to have powers already.

       Sierra stepped a few feet away to give father and son some privacy.

       “So, you’re really my daddy?” said Robbie.

       John wordlessly nodded.

       “I’m Robbie.”

       John knelt down to Robbie’s level. “Hey, Robbie. It’s nice to meet you.” John looked regretful. “I’m sorry it took so long.”

        But Robbie didn’t seem angry or the least bit upset. “It’s okay, you didn’t know.”

        John smiled a little. He was glad that Robbie didn’t think poorly of him. Truly, the boy was mature and wise beyond his years.

        “Can…can I hug you?” asked Robbie, shyly.

        Fresh tears glistened in John’s eyes as he nodded and the next thing John knew, he was holding his son tightly in his arms for the very first time and he never wanted to let go.

XXX

The next morning, things were chaotic.

      Sierra’s alarm clock kicked the bucket and she overslept. She barely had time to fix Robbie breakfast and rush him to school and get to work on time. It also meant that Sierra had no time to talk to Astrid and she really wanted to talk to her. She needed someone to confide in about John reentering her life and suddenly being part of Robbie’s. To make matters worse, Sierra was having the crappiest day of all times at her job and was on the verge of tears. One thing after another went wrong and Sierra was beginning to think it couldn’t get much worse. But it did.

      At the end of the day, Dylan the jerk extraordinaire, got Sierra fired. He was ticked off that not only had she complained about him harassing her but also refused to date him. He’d claimed her department was ‘downsizing,’ which was a load of crap. Then on the way home, Sierra was almost mugged by some bozo in a ski mask. Sierra’s powers and training enabled her to come out with very little injuries, but she’d still put the jerk in the hospital and she had to be looked at by the paramedics and file a report with the police.

      While Sierra was waiting to fill out the last of the medical forms so she could head home, an all-too familiar nurse entered Sierra’s room.

      “Sorry for the wait. If you just sign these, you can be on your—Sierra?”

      “Marla,” said Sierra, stiffly. Of all the nurses in the hospital, why did it have to be Marla?

      The nurse, Marla, was Sierra’s estranged mother. Once, they’d been quite close, but things changed when Sierra’s powers manifested. Sierra had often teleported in her sleep and talked about hearing voices, causing Marla to have Sierra visit numerous shrinks and try multiple antipsychotic drugs to try and help. The bills had been terrible, even when Sierra took a part-time job to help out. It had worn them both out when nothing they tried fixed Sierra’s ‘problems.’ Sierra had been led to believe that Roger suffered from the same problems and Marla had unintentionally made Sierra feel like a burden on the family.

      When Sierra learned the truth of what she was, she’d quit seeing the shrinks and taking the pills, and while that took a load off the Jameson family’s finances, it also caused Marla to go ballistic and they’d fought. Their relationship was estranged after that. Sierra had kept her powers a secret as she’d feared the reactions of her mother and younger brother, Luca, if they knew, which meant Marla was in the dark. The final straw had been when Sierra became pregnant and refused to give up the father’s name or even consider giving the baby up for adoption. Marla had kicked Sierra out of the house and they’d had no further contact until that moment.

       “It’s nice to see you. How’ve you been?” asked Marla.

      Sierra gave her a look. “Unless Luca told you, I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Can I have those forms? I need to get out of here.”

       When Sierra had left, she’d refused to let Luca think she’d just ditched the family like Roger had. Though it hadn’t been without difficulty, she’d kept in contact with Luca and they visited each other infrequently. Sometimes Sierra brought Robbie to visit. Luca’s busy high school schedule kept them from meeting more often, but when they did, Luca would eagerly spend time with his nephew.

       “You keep in touch with Luca?” said Marla, as she handed Sierra the forms.

       “Why wouldn’t I? Luca didn’t kick me out when I needed help,” said Sierra, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “Luca didn’t make me feel like a burden.”

       Marla winced and had the decency to look ashamed. “Sweetheart—”

       Sierra pulled away when Marla reached out and she glared at her mother. “Is there something you want? Because I need to leave,” she said, as she finished the signing the forms.

       When Marla didn’t speak, Sierra scowled and rose up. She was almost out the door when Marla suddenly blurted out, “Luca would like to have you over for dinner.”

       Sierra froze in her tracks. “Luca or you?”

       “Both,” admitted Marla. “Sierra, I—”

       “I’ll think about it,” interrupted Sierra. “I’m not saying never, just not right now.” Especially not after the day I’ve had. “Luca’s got my contact information. Now, if there’s nothing else, I really need to go.”

        Without waiting for a reply, Sierra left the hospital. She was in no hurry for Marla to see her tears.

XXX

Astrid was not home when Sierra returned after picking up Robbie from school.

     As she needed to put the word out about her need for a job, Sierra spent the next hour filling out applications and giving out her résumé. Once that horrendous chore was done, Sierra decided to take a good long walk to try and relax.

      Everything had gone completely bug nuts in the last twenty-four hours and Sierra needed a break from it all. She just wanted to forget about her current job situation, her issues with John and Marla and the new information about her father, just for a little while.

      Sierra’s peace and quiet was soon disturbed, however. She was headed home down her usual route, which was unusually devoid of life, when she spotted an unmarked, blacked out SUV following her out of the corner of her eye.

      Oh, crap. Sierra continued to walk casually, hoping she was wrong. John, can you hear me?

      Where are you? asked John, sensing the urgency.

      I’m on John and Pearl Street. I think Ultra’s following me, said Sierra. I’m going to try and lose them.

        I’m on my way, said John.

      No, don’t! said Sierra, sharply, as she broke out into a run. Robbie’s going to know something’s wrong. I need you to take care of him and keep him safe. Robbie’s your priority! Is that clear? If Sierra’s suspicions were right and Ultra had found her, then it wouldn’t be long before they found Robbie too. She couldn’t let that happen.

      Crystal, said John.

      Sierra didn’t want to risk expose, so she continued to try and run from the black vehicles, only to be cut off from all sides and then a blond-haired man that shared some resemblance with Sierra’s face, emerged from one of the parked cars on the side of the road. He had a smug, arrogant look on his face and was nothing if not creepy.

      “Hello, Sierra. I’m Jedikiah. Pleasure to meet you,” he said. “You remind me of him, you know. Your father, Roger.”

      “I don’t care,” said Sierra. She did a quick count of the vehicles and the agents surrounding her and the weapons they carried. “Is this place deserted of civilians?”

      Jedikiah frowned in confusion. “Yes. Why do you—?”

      “Then I don’t need to hold back,” said Sierra, with a glint in her eyes.

      Sierra clenched her hands into fists and suddenly the cars teleported away. The agents’ weapons flew out of their hands and were twisted like pretzels. Those who came at her, Sierra was able to put down with one little touch before fighting off the rest using the martial arts skills John had taught her. Sierra finally went down when a dart containing a sedative hit her in the back of the neck, causing her to lose consciousness.

XXX

Back at the Lair, John was going out of his mind trying to track Sierra down.

      Robbie had arrived in the Lair shortly after Sierra was taken. He’d sensed his mother’s distress and was scared to death and worried sick about Sierra. John had done his best to console his son before focusing his efforts on locating his former lover.

      While John knew that Jedikiah’s main base of operations was in the heart of the city, a place he was all too familiar with, there were also other Ultra bases throughout Manhattan and Sierra could’ve been at any one of them. It didn’t help that Ultra used special technology to render Sierra’s powers useless, making it all the more difficult for John to locate her.

     “What do you got for me, TIM?” asked John.

     “I had the car until Grand and Essex, but the traffic cams were down south of Canal,” said TIM.

     John growled in annoyance. Typical. Ultra always did know how to cover their tracks. “Fine, pull all the sat images you can find on the lower island.”

     “Already started,” replied TIM. “But they might need a minute to composite.”

     “We don’t have a minute!” yelled John, frustration. “Sierra could be dead for all we know!”

     John raised his hand as if to telekinetically strike at the computer, but stopped when Cara came in.

     “Could you yell any louder? I don’t think people can you hear you in China,” said Cara. Her face softened at the expression on John’s face. “I know you’re upset that we lost Sierra, but we’ll find her.”

     “No. I lost her. Again!” retorted John. What had he been thinking, just letting her leave the Lair when he knew there was a chance Ultra might pick up on her after the medical file theft? “I never should’ve let her leave. But I can get her back!”

      “Not alone, you won’t,” snapped Cara. “John, look, you can’t blame yourself for this. I was the one who talked to Robbie and had the files stolen in the first place. This whole thing is my fault.”

      “And I should punish you for breaking the rules, but I can’t,” said John, softly. “If you hadn’t done what you did, I never would’ve found Sierra or my son.” While John disliked that Cara had gone behind his back and acted without his consent, it was nothing compared to how grateful he felt about the end result of Cara’s actions.

      “And it’s because of your son that we need to be smart and careful about this,” said Cara. She placed her hand on John’s shoulder. “Sierra’s the key to finding her father and we’re going to do all we can to get Sierra back, but if we don’t do it right, Robbie will lose both his parents. Is that what you want?”

       John shook his head and looked down at his feet. Cara was right, of course, but John wasn’t about to admit it aloud.

       There was a knock on the door and then Russell came in with Robbie close behind him. “Hey, sorry to interrupt, but the munchkin’s got something to show you. It’s important.”

       Russell seemed on edge, which wasn’t a good sign.

       John pulled away from Cara and knelt down to Robbie’s level. “What is it, buddy?”

       “It’s Mom. Jedikiah’s going to hurt her. Look.” Robbie looked distressed as he held out the sketchpad that Russell had given him to draw on. On the first page was an incredibly well-drawn picture of Sierra locked up at Ultra while Jedikiah gave her the needle. There was also a time written on an empty space of the paper, one hour hence.

       Cara looked baffled at Robbie’s picture. She knew the boy was a good artist but this skill was far beyond anything she’d ever seen.

       John frowned in concern. “Robbie, how do you know Jedikiah’s name or what Ultra looks like?”

       Robbie bit his lip. “I saw it, in my head. Sometimes, when I’m really happy or really upset, I see things. Things no one else can see. I can’t always control it, but when I see things, I draw them. It’s how I knew I could trust Cara. I saw her past.”

       John exchanged shocked looks with Cara and Russell. There’d never been a single member of the Tomorrow People who’d had powers beyond that of the three T’s. If Robbie was indeed seeing bits of the past and the future, then there was no telling just how powerful he was or what this meant for the future of their species. It also meant that if Ultra had the slightest inkling of Robbie’s abilities, they’d stop at nothing to get their hands on him, something John wouldn’t permit.

       “Okay. What else did you see?” asked John, sounding a lot calmer than he felt.

       “That’s it. I just saw Jedikiah giving Mom the needle in an hour. I didn’t even see her get taken.” Robbie’s eyes glistened with tears. “Is he going to kill her?”

       “No,” said John, firmly. He put down the sketchpad and placed his hands on Robbie’s shoulders. “I promise you, I’m going to do all I can to get your mom back. I won’t let Jedikiah hurt her. That vision isn’t going to happen for another hour, which means we got time. Okay?”

       John had already lost Sierra once and he would not lose her again.

       “Okay,” said Robbie, as he hugged John tightly.

       John returned the embrace and rubbed circles on his son’s back to calm him. The poor kid was being so brave but John could still sense his son’s fear.

       “I found the car,” said TIM, interrupting the moment. “Would you like to know where it is?”

       “Yes,” said John.

       I’m coming for you, Sierra. Just hang on.

XXX

When Sierra regained consciousness, she found herself restrained to a chair inside an unfamiliar gray room with glowing blue lights. Jedikiah sat across from Sierra and there was a small black table in between them. On the table, there was a small black tablet and a tray holding a syringe.

      “I’m sorry about the cuffs,” said Jedikiah, as she struggled against her restraints. “Security precautions and all. And considering you took a lot of my men down with just a touch, you see why they’re necessary, don’t you? Oh, and speaking of which, don’t bother trying to teleport out of here. The walls are lined with what I call D-chips, a tech that blocks any use of your powers.”

      Sierra didn’t speak. She just glared at Jedikiah.

      Jedikiah clapped his hands together. “We didn’t get properly introduced before, Sierra. Allow me to rectify that. My name’s Doctor—”

      “Jedikiah Price, I know,” interrupted Sierra. “You’re the head of Ultra.”

      Jedikiah sighed dramatically. “I can imagine what John’s told you. Let me guess, he said I’m some boogeyman that’s systematically rounding up and wiping out your kind. Did he say why I’m doing this or is it just because I’m evil?”

       “I think you’ve answered that question yourself, don’t you think?” spat Sierra. A man who did what Jedikiah did, only did so out of fear, pure and simple. “You’re a coward. Mankind’s always feared what it doesn’t understand and you’re no different.”

       Jedikiah laughed. “Oh, please, Sierra. Give me more credit than that. I’m an evolutionary biologist. If anything, I’m fascinated by your kind. But to be fair, the only thing that concerns me is how the rest of the world would react if they knew a paranormal species was living secretly in their midst. A species that could annihilate them.”

       Sierra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. What was this, an X-Men comic book saga? “We can’t even kill!” she protested. “All I want is to be left alone! Why can’t you see that?”

       “That’s just it, Sierra. You want to be left alone. But the same can’t be said for the rest of your kind.” Jedikiah rose up and picked up the tablet that was sitting on the table. After a moment, the screen lit up with profiles on paranormals. “You see, you have no idea what the world would look like if I didn’t find and stop people like you. See here? This is a teenage boy who stole seventy million dollars from the Federal Reserve. Here we got a sixteen-year-old who was caught trying to tag the Oval Office. We’ve also got an adult paranormal who was caught Tweeting nuclear launch codes. The list goes on!”

       Sierra was silent. She knew her kind could be stupid and reckless with their powers and even less than benevolent, but this wasn’t something she’d expected. She didn’t want to admit it, but from Jedikiah’s point of view, he had reason to be afraid of the Tomorrow People. Like it or not, they were dangerous, but that didn’t make Ultra any less dangerous or evil.

       A computer screen hanging up on the wall lit up with a map of the world and there were countless little dots on the map, each representing one of Sierra’s kind.

      “There are so many breakouts, Sierra. They’re all over the world,” continued Jedikiah. “They’re unpredictable and uncontrollable. I’m not the bad guy here, Sierra, not by a long shot.”

      Sierra doubted that. So far all Jedikiah had done was prove that he was evil. She then tensed when Jedikiah pick up the syringe.

      “Don’t you dare!” hissed Sierra, as she furiously struggled against her bonds. “Keep that away from me! Let me go!”

      Sierra had seen the syringe before in John’s memories. It contained a power stripper. It made the victim human but ultimately destroyed them. Sierra sometimes wanted to be human again, but the price of it was too great, even for her.

      Jedikiah slung his arm over Sierra’s shoulder and rubbed her back. “Shh, relax, Sierra. This is nothing to be afraid of. It’ll only hurt for a second and then you’re free to go. This will fix you.”

      “There’s nothing wrong with me!” yelled Sierra.

      Jedikiah grasped Sierra’s chin in his hand. “You’re so much like your father, so much promise. But you don’t want to end up like him, do you? I don’t know what myths John has spun about your father, but they’re not true.”

       Sierra spat in Jedikiah’s face and couldn’t help the smugness she felt as Jedikiah pulled away from her and wiped his face. “I may not hold my father in high regard, but I’ll never believe anything you say about him!”

       This time, it was Jedikiah who glared after he’d cleaned himself up. “Well, you can believe whatever you want, but your father’s not coming back to save you or the Tomorrow People because he’s dead.”

       What?! My father’s dead? He can’t be. The brief moment of shock allowed Sierra to be distracted and Jedikiah took advantage by plunging the needle into Sierra’s neck.

       Sierra yelped from the pain of the needle and braced herself for what was to come, but nothing happened. There was no pain from the drug, no sense of loss, no destruction, and no sudden seizure from the drug’s effects. There was nothing. Sierra felt the same as she ever did, which baffled her and judging from the look on Jedikiah’s face, he was just as startled as she was, if not more.

       Suddenly, the door swung open and an Ultra agent burst in. “Sir! There’s been a breech!”

      Jedikiah took a remote from his pocket and aimed it at the computer screen. John, Cara and Russell’s images were on the security cameras and they were fighting their way to Sierra’s cell.

      “Well, look at that. Your friends are coming to rescue you. That’s one way to get them out of hiding,” said Jedikiah.

      “No!” cried Sierra. “No, please! You can’t do this!”

      But it was no use. Sierra’s pleas were ignored and she was left alone in the room, trapped like a rat.

      Sierra struggled against her restraints, but no matter what she tried, she couldn’t break free. She yelled in frustration. John and the others were going to get killed if she didn’t get out. But how was she going to escape? The room blocked her powers.

      Or does it? said a little voice in her head.

      A lightbulb lit up in Sierra’s mind. Sierra stopped struggling and thought it through. If the power-stripping serum hadn’t worked, could the same be said for the D-chips in the room? There was only one way to find out for sure.

      Sierra took a deep breath, closed her eyes and concentrated on teleporting out. Suddenly, Sierra found herself in the hallway outside her prison cell. She gasped and laughed in both relief and shock. It’d worked. It’d worked!

      “Sierra!”

      Sierra turned her head to see the baffled and relieved faces of John, Cara and Russell. But there was no time for a happy reunion as Ultra agents were coming in the opposite direction.

      “Run!” yelled Sierra, as the four of them began to flee.

      “Wait. How did you—?” began John.

      “I teleported!” said Sierra.

      “That’s impossible,” gasped Russell.

      They ran down the hall and down several flights of stairs. They’d just made it to the lobby and were almost home free when Jedikiah yelled out John’s name and they found themselves surrounded by Ultra agents. Jedikiah was aiming a gun at John’s face.

       “I see you’ve finally decided to come home,” said Jedikiah. “Did you think Sierra was going to help you find your Promised Land? Is that it? Well, I’ve got news for you. It doesn’t exist and even if it did, you’re sure as hell never going to see it.”

       Jedikiah fired his gun.

       “No!” cried Sierra.

       Without thinking, Sierra thrust out her hand and stopped time itself. Save for Sierra, John, Cara and Russell, everything was frozen. The bullet, Jedikiah and the Ultra agents were all trapped in a time-stop, unable to move.

       Sierra’s would-be rescuers stared at her in shock.

       “Sierra, how’re you doing that?” asked John. He was just as surprised as the others. He knew his girlfriend was powerful but this was an unexpected surprise.

       “Not important right now, John!” grunted Sierra. Keeping the temporal stasis field was difficult and she was feeling the strain.

       “Get us out of here,” said John. “Now!”

       Sierra kept her eyes on the bullet in front of her as she grabbed John’s arm and the rest of them did the same before she teleported them back to the Lair, leaving behind a broken window from the bullet and many baffled Ultra agents.

XXX

When they arrived at the Lair, John and Sierra were almost slammed into the wall by their worried son.

      Robbie was relieved to have his parents back safe and sound. He’d fallen asleep and had a nightmare shortly after John left to rescue Sierra and the dream had caused Robbie to be scared he was going to lose both his parents and be alone. It took nearly forty-five minutes along with the combined efforts of Robbie’s parents to assure the hysterical seven-year-old that they were both all right and everything was okay now.

      When Robbie had calmed down, he fell asleep on a couch and was tucked in with a blanket. Cara agreed to watch Robbie while his parents had a discussion. Russell reluctantly did the same, although he was more interested in exploring Sierra and Robbie’s abilities and giving said abilities labels. He cheered up when Sierra promised to do that with him later.

      With their son taken care of, John took Sierra into TIM’s room and locked the door.

      “John, I—” began Sierra, but she was cut off when John suddenly held her tight.

      “Don’t scare me like that. I thought I’d lost you again,” said John, sounding slightly muffled from Sierra’s shirt.

      The situation suddenly settled on Sierra and she felt a little shaken. She tightened her grip on John. She wasn’t ready to be with him romantically just yet, but she loved how John made her feel safe and protected.

       “I’m okay. I’m here,” she murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”

       They remained like that for a few moments before eventually breaking apart. They sat down on the couch, a few cushions separating them.

       “So, are you going to tell me?” asked John.

       “Tell you what?” asked Sierra.

       “About Robbie’s powers and yours,” said John. “I know about his visions, Sierra. He showed me. And how the hell did you do what you did at Ultra?”

       This was yet another conversation Sierra had wanted to avoid, but once again she was trapped. “I can’t explain it as I barely understand it, but the gist of it is, my powers evolved after we broke up. What you saw, when I did at Ultra, stopping time…it’s called temporal manipulation. I’ve never really been able to control it. It just happens sometimes when I’m scared or in danger. And it’s not the only thing I can do, John.”

       John gave her a questioning look.

       “It’s better if I just show you. Give me your hand,” said Sierra. “The hurt one.”

       The palm of John’s right hand was bandaged from a cut he’d sustained from cleaning up the broken glass of his beer bottle.

       John was still puzzled but he didn’t question Sierra. He held out his hand for her to take.

       Sierra took John’s hand in hers and gently took off the bandage. She then placed her hand on John’s palm and there was a slight tugging feeling. When Sierra removed her hand, John’s injury was just gone as if it had never been.

       John looked shocked. “How…?”

       “Biological manipulation. I can make people better…or worse,” explained Sierra. “Robbie has my abilities and a lot more. I can’t see the past or the future, only he can. And that’s not all he can do.” Sierra quickly told John of Robbie’s other, secret power.

      John looked visibly shaken. “How long has Robbie had his powers?”

      “He’s always had them,” confessed Sierra. “When I was still pregnant with Robbie, he was protecting me and communicating with me.”

      “Holy crap…” murmured John.

      Sierra nodded in agreement. She knew what John was thinking. Both John and Sierra were very powerful, very dangerous paranormals, but Robbie was still coming into his own gifts, which meant the possibilities for their son’s abilities were limitless. He could very well be the most special of the Tomorrow People of all.

       A look of determination crossed John’s face. “I won’t let Jedikiah get his hands on our son.”

       “I know you won’t,” said Sierra. When it came down to it, John was a protector and she knew he’d do all he could to keep Robbie safe. She folded her hands together and sighed. “John, before we go any further with this, can I see the rest of my dad’s message?”

       After everything that had happened, Sierra had reconsidered her earlier opinion on her father and decided to give the man a second chance.

       John’s face softened as he nodded and then he ordered TIM to replay Roger’s last message.

       This time, Sierra paid more attention to her father.

       “Hello, Sierra,” said Roger’s image. “If things turn out the way that I hope, you’ll never see this. If you are seeing it, then let me start by saying that I’m sorry. I know you probably won’t believe me when I say that I love you and Luca and have only wanted the best for you. Everything I’ve done has been to protect you and Luca. I thought maybe you’d get lucky and take after your mom. But if you’re watching this…well, things didn’t turn out the way that I’d hoped. I wasn’t the best dad and I regret that so much. If I could back and do things over again, I would. And I know I have no right to offer you advice...not after what I’m about to do.” The pain on Roger’s face and in his voice made Sierra’s heart clench. “But if you turned out like me, then your life just got very complicated and very dangerous.” Roger held a large coin, the same coin he used to perform magic tricks with. “Don’t believe everything you see. The truth is, there’s only one thing you can trust more than anything. You. Trust your heart, honey. I love you, Sierra. I love you.”

       Sierra wiped her face of the tears that had fallen. She’d been so wrong about her father. She’d been so wrong about everything. Why hadn’t she seen through Roger’s act all those years ago? Roger had been a good father, one that Sierra loved and missed so much.

       “I’m going to find him, John,” said Sierra, determinedly. “I have to.”

       “I know,” said John.

       One way or another, Sierra was going to get her father back.

XXX

Sierra and Robbie spent the night at the Lair.

     It was just lucky that the following morning was Saturday and Sierra’s turn to buy the week’s groceries, so she could explain hers and Robbie’s absence from the house. After purchasing a few days’ worth of food, Sierra and Robbie were escorted home by John. Once John had left for the Lair, it was time to face the music.

     “Hey, Astrid, we’re home,” called Sierra, as she shut the door behind her with her foot. “We’ve got the groceries.”

     Astrid emerged from the living room and entered the entryway. “Perfect timing. I was just about to call you. You’ve got a visitor waiting for you in the living room.”

      Sierra groaned. “Oh, great. Who is it? Marla?”

      Astrid looked surprised. “You reconnected with your mom?”

      “Astrid!”

      “Sorry.” Astrid shook her head. “But to answer your question, no. It’s not your mom. It’s a guy. He says he’s your uncle, your dad’s brother. Jedikiah Price.”

     Sierra’s eyes narrowed. “What?!”

     Without waiting for a reply, Sierra put down her grocery bags, went into the living room and her blood ran cold at the sight of Jedikiah, sitting on the sofa and casually sipping a cup of coffee.

      “You never told me you had an uncle,” said Astrid.

      “I’m afraid that’s my fault, Miss Finch. You see, Sierra’s dad and I had a falling out before Sierra’s brother was born. And I was telling you earlier, my work’s left me rather lonely and I decided to try and reconnect with my brother’s family. It’s been really hard tracking them down. I only found Marla and Luca yesterday—Marla can confirm everything by the way, just in case you were wondering—and since that went smoothly, I thought I’d take a chance with my beautiful niece and my grandnephew. But I’ve got to say, Sierra, finding you was quite difficult, it’s like you all just up and vanished.”

       Sierra caught the implication in Jedikiah’s words and narrowed her eyes. “We needed a fresh start, for Robbie’s sake. I’m sure you can understand.”

       “Oh, of course. Children are the future, after all,” said Jedikiah. “And I must say, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Robbie. You look like a very bright young soul, just like your mother.”

      Jedikiah smiled at Robbie, but the seven-year-old didn’t return the smile. Robbie pulled away and clutched Sierra’s hand tightly.

      Sierra gave Astrid a look and then she turned to Robbie. “Sweetie, why don’t you go help Aunt Astrid put the groceries away while I talk with my uncle for a minute? Help yourself to a doughnut when you’ve finished.”

       “Okay, Mom.”

       Sierra waited until Astrid and Robbie were out of earshot before she turned on Jedikiah. “What’re you doing here?”

       “Reuniting my family,” said Jedikiah, coolly.

       “We’re not family!” snarled Sierra.

       Jedikiah reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph of two young boys. Sierra recognized it from her father’s old photo album. On the back, written in Roger’s tidy scrawl were the words, ‘Remember, bro. Love, Roger.’ It was proof of Jedikiah’s claims.

       “That’s your dad and I when we were kids. Only I was born human and he was like you,” said Jedikiah. “The whole reason I became a geneticist was to understand him and perhaps one day help him, just like I want to do with you and Robbie.”

       Sierra scowled. “Excuse me?”

       “I want to offer you a job, Sierra,” said Jedikiah. “Work for me.”

       Sierra stared at Jedikiah in disbelief. “Work for you? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

       “I’m not,” said Jedikiah, seriously. “Hear me out. I know you’re jobless and dependent on your friend’s generosity, but you don’t have to be. I can give you everything you need: a large salary, your own penthouse apartment, a ticket to the perfect school for Robbie and so much more.”

      “Funny. I didn’t see any of this generosity when you tried to destroy me,” snarled Sierra. “You’re only offering this because your D-chips and power-stripping serum don’t work on me. Why should I even consider this?”

       “Because it’s the chance of a lifetime and I made a mistake with you,” said Jedikiah. “Clearly, I underestimated you. We’ve only just glimpsed at what you’re capable of. In all my years in this job, I’ve never seen anyone who even hinted at your powers. You’re living proof that your kind is evolving. If you let me help you hone your skills—”

       “Ultra hunts down, uses and exterminates people like me!” interrupted Sierra. “It’s bad enough you and I are related! Why would you think I’d be willing to work for you and betray my kind?”

       “For your family,” said Jedikiah. “And for your friend and her dad.”

       Sierra’s hand clenched into a fist. “Are you threatening them?”

       “No, you’re threatening them if you don’t help me contain the spread of your species,” said Jedikiah, sharply. He talked about Sierra’s kind like they were disease. “Can’t you see I’m offering you the chance to help protect the people you love?”

       “Yeah, and to be a traitor!”

       “To whom? Some rebel runaways you met two days ago? Or to your mother? Your brother? Your best friend? Or perhaps your son?” Jedikiah sat down and switched on his tablet. “Or is it because you still feel something Robbie’s father?”

       Much to Sierra’s horror, Jedikiah pulled up the results of a DNA test. The test results confirmed the identity of Robbie’s father.

       “Once I knew who you were, I was curious about Robbie’s father, so I acquired a bit of Robbie’s DNA and ran some tests. I know that Robbie is a synergist and that he’s the son of Ultra’s most wanted fugitive, John Young. Now, this information is strictly classified, of course, but imagine what might happen if my partner, a man who could be your worst nightmare, got ahold of it.”

       Sierra’s eyes darkened with anger as she grabbed Jedikiah by the lapels of his jacket. “Shut up! You leave my son out of this! Now, I may not be able to kill, but if you lay a finger on my son, I swear to God, I’ll make you wish I could!”

       “While I admire your mother bear protectiveness, it’s not me you have to worry about, Sierra,” said Jedikiah, as he freed himself from her grasp. “It’s the shadow war itself you should focus on. Sooner or later, you’re going to have to pick a side.” He switched on security camera footage on his tablet, which showed Roger entering a car and the car exploding in a ball of flame. “John and his band of rebels would have you believe that your father’s a hero, that he’s alive. They lied to you.”

       Sierra didn’t reply as she held the tablet in her hands. Her throat was tight at seeing her father’s death. She wanted to believe it was a trick of Jedikiah’s, another lie, but what if she was wrong?

       “I know it’s hard, but the man in the video is your dad, after he broke into my office and sabotaged my research,” said Jedikiah. “You don’t want that to happen to you. For Robbie’s sake. Work with me, Sierra. Come be an agent at Ultra.”

      “And what happens to Robbie if I do?” demanded Sierra.

      “Nothing,” said Jedikiah. “Much as I would love to work with Robbie closer, I give you my word that he won’t be part of this. He stays out of it completely.”

      Sierra put down the tablet. “I need time to decide.”

      It was a lot to take in and Sierra needed time to herself to think things through, consider each and every possibility before she made her decision.

      “Of course. Twelve hours should suffice,” said Jedikiah.

      “Forty-eight” said Sierra, flatly.

      Jedikiah sighed. “I don’t think you’re in a position—”

      But that was as far as Jedikiah got before Sierra angrily placed her hand on Jedikiah’s cheek. Within moments, Jedikiah was kneeling on the ground, in agonizing pain and gasping for breath.

      “I think that if you want that reversed, you’ll do as I ask,” said Sierra, coldly as she crouched down to Jedikiah’s level. “The Prime Barrier only keeps me from directly killing you outright…so, if I wanted to, I could take Robbie, disappear and leave you like that. You’d never be cured, you’d just die a slow, agonizing death. So, what’s your answer? Do I get the time I want or not?”

       Jedikiah’s pain was too great for him to give a verbal answer. He just nodded and held out his hand for Sierra to take.

       Sierra took Jedikiah’s hand and gripped it tightly as she undid the damage she’d done. Jedikiah was soon back on his feet, the picture of health and he was looking at Sierra with newfound respect.

       “You drive a hard bargain, Miss Jameson. Just like your old man,” said Jedikiah. “Even so, my offer still stands.” He handed her his card. “I’ll expect your answer the day after tomorrow.”

       Sierra nodded and slipped the business card into her pocket.

XXX

Time went by in a flash and before Sierra knew it, it was the night before she was to give her answer to Jedikiah about his offer.

      At that moment, Sierra was on a rooftop, waiting for John to arrive. She was tossing a coin in her hand and feeling beyond upset. She felt like she’d been betrayed all over again. She’d also been doing a lot of thinking and had reached a decision regarding her future and her son’s.

      When John finally arrived, the first thing Sierra did was slap him, hard.

       “Ow,” said John, as he clutched his red cheek. “Sierra, what was that—”

       “How long have you known Jedikiah’s my uncle?” interrupted Sierra, furiously. She refused to believe that John hadn’t known. He was a former Ultra agent, for heaven’s sake! What she didn’t understand was why he’d kept it from her. “You’ve known the entire time, haven’t you? Why didn’t you tell me? Were you ever going to tell me or was my lineage the only reason you and I were together?”

       John’s face fell and for a brief moment, there was hurt and anger in his eyes. “How could you think I’d do that?”

       “How can I not? My world’s been turned upside-down again. I’m thinking a lot of things right now, John!” said Sierra. “Now, answer me!”

        John sighed. “I suspected,” he admitted. “But I didn’t know for sure, not until Roger disappeared.”

       “You mean when he was killed,” said Sierra, as anger tears slid down her cheeks. “Jedikiah showed me the security footage. I saw what happened.”

       “And you believe him? Sierra, Jedikiah is a liar!” said John. “Look, technically, you two are related, but you’re not like him. You’re one of us.”

       Sierra clenched her hand into a fist and drew a deep, shuddering breath. “John, Jedikiah knows who you are to Robbie. He knows Robbie’s your son.”

       John’s eyes darkened. “What? How?”

       “It doesn’t matter how, the point is, he knows.” It was bad news. Heaven alone knew what Jedikiah would do to get his hands on John’s son if Sierra didn’t act. “And there’s more. Jedikiah’s made me an offer. If I come and work with him, he’ll give me a good salary and an apartment of my own. Robbie will be kept away from Ultra and Jedikiah’s sick partner. I have no desire to be near that man, but working with him will help keep Robbie safe and find out what happened to my father.”

      John looked horrified and then disgusted. “You’re actually considering this? Sierra, Jedikiah would drive us all extinct just for the sake of the human race. He’s using you!”

      “It’s not that different than what Cara and Russell are doing,” retorted Sierra. “Those two, they played me from the start. They want to use me, to find my father. And so do you.”

      John looked hurt and reached out to Sierra but she pulled away. “It doesn’t have to be this way. You and Robbie can come live with me in the Lair. You’ll be safe from Ultra, I’ll protect you.”

      “And then what, John? Where do we go from there? I can’t keep running and hiding for the rest of my life! That’s not fair to Robbie. He deserves better,” said Sierra, in frustrated exasperation. She sighed. “This is bigger than just us. I have to do what’s best for Robbie. He deserves more than what I’ve been able to give him so far.”

      There was nothing that Sierra wouldn’t do for her son, but for the chance to finally stop looking over her shoulder, to be able to fully provide for Robbie without worrying so much and maybe eventually lead a semi-normal life…Jedikiah’s offer had its pluses.

       John sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before he face Sierra. “Look, I know it’s hard. You have a life here, a family. But the people who’re like us, the ones we’ve found, the ones we will find, and you and Robbie, are my family. I’m not going to let anything happen to them and I won’t let anything happen to you and Robbie. Now, please, Sierra…” John held out his hand for her to take. “Just come with me.”

       But Sierra made no attempt to take John’s hand. Once, Sierra would’ve taken John’s hand and just run away without looking back. But that time was long since gone. Things had changed.

       “When I first broke out, when you and I started talking all those years ago…that mysterious voice in my head…even when I thought I was going crazy, I trusted you and I would’ve done anything to be with you. There’s still a part of me that does trust you,” said Sierra. She sighed again. “So, you need to trust me when I say that I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and I’ve come to a decision, one I think will be the best for all.”

       John tensed, as though he could guess what she was going to say and didn’t like it.

       “I have to find out what happened to my dad, whether or not he’s alive or if he’s a hero or not, I have to know. But there’s only one way I can do that and still protect those I love without the risk of losing them,” said Sierra. “I’m going to become a double-agent. I’ll work for my uncle, but I’ll still help protect the Tomorrow People, keep them off Ultra’s radar.”

       John inhaled sharply. “Sierra, do you realize what you’re getting yourself into? That’s a huge risk.”

       “It’s one I have to take,” said Sierra. “But I run the risk of Robbie’s secrets being exposed if I don’t do this, John. So, please, trust me and help me.”

       John sighed and for a moment, he was silent as he considered Sierra’s words. For a moment, Sierra thought John might be stubborn and refuse.

       “I don’t like this. I don’t like this one bit,” said John. “But for Robbie’s sake, I’ll do anything.”

       Sierra heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you, John.”

       With John’s help, maybe…just maybe, Sierra could get through what was to come.

XXX

The next day, Sierra went to Ultra and after showing the security guards her ID, she was escorted to Jedikiah’s office.

     The head of Ultra was waiting for her. Jedikiah seemed very pleased to see Sierra. “So, I take it you’ve made the right decision?”

      “I have,” said Sierra, without hesitation. “I’m in.”

      Jedikiah smiled and shook Sierra’s hand. “Welcome aboard, Sierra.”

      Sierra shook her uncle’s hand.

My name is Sierra Jameson

     I seem like your average girl. I’ve got family, friends and I just got a new job working for my uncle. But it’s a lie, a façade. I can never lead a normal life, not if I want my son’s future to be better. So, for the sake of those closest to me, I’ve got take risks and lead a life I never would’ve imagined…

A/N: Episodes 7 and 12, Limbo and Sitting Ducks will not be included as they don’t fit my storyline. Sorry.