‘He waited for the attack, then came in through the incinerator extraction, Riley.That alone is impressive.’
‘Not impossible though.’
‘No, not impossible.The Touchtrail… yeah, that’s unsettling, but logically, I can reason that someone on the inside told him.’
Riley cocks his head.‘What can’t you reason?’
‘The bullets crawling out of his face.’
The way he looked at me.
It’s not like Kade expects Riley to join him in his mini-crisis.Two years older than Kade, Riley Harker is the dictionary definition of unflappable.It’s more that Riley doesn’t seem shocked.Surprised.Intrigued, even.
He’s watching Kade closely, though.
‘Maybe we should bring in a Brightling to examine him.’
Kade sneers.‘A fucking Paranatural?’
‘They prefer Brightling.’
‘I could care less what they prefer.’
‘Couldn’tcare less, and what does it cost to call them—?’
‘We’re not bringing in a Paranatural.I don’t think crystals and chakras are the solution here.’
Paranatural.
The media seized the word and never let go.
The official classification had existed for years, buried in military reports, intelligence briefings and heavily redacted research papers.Like most truths too large and ugly to absorb all at once, the existence of different human classes was first met with exhausted public denial.
Another distraction, government sleight of hand.
Look over here, look away, what’s this?
But over the last decade, the reports kept coming.Un-redacted documents, medical studies, leaks, hearings, witness footage and too many officials discussing Paranaturals openly for the subject to remain inside conspiracy culture.Eventually, acceptance settled over the public, but slowly, unevenly, and heavily warped by fear, politics and prejudice.
Kade, like several others in Iron Star, dislikes the whole concept.It seems to be, at best, wishy-washy bullshit about ley lines and energy, crystals and “the universe”.People finding new gods to worship, answers in the stars, reconnecting with the earth.At worst, it stirs something inside of him that fears the unknown, fears being replaced, being made obsolete in his prime.
Riley has always been strictly against any kind of metaphobia.
‘That’s beneath you and you know it.’
‘Sorry.’Kade closes his eyes.‘Brightling.I do not recommend bringing in a Brightling for something of this magnitude, but of course, I defer to you.’
‘I’m gonna ignore that because I know you’re rattled.’
‘It’s the last thing we need.’
‘Whatdowe need, then?’
‘I need to talk to him.’
‘Why?’
‘Why?Because I shot him in the face and he’s breathing!That’s not…’ Kade gestures wildly, ‘throwingmagnetismat tin foil or whatever the fuck.This is something else.Something huge.’
