Chapter Four

“Is there anyone in particular you want to meet?” Martin asked them later. “Or have you never heard of any of us?”

“I heard you had a…” James paused in thought. “…Meena Ran…? Could we meet them?”

Martin shrugged, “Sure. But- I’ll warn you now- she’s not emotionless. That’s why she’s the best. She’s actually lived, adding to her knowledge. She refused to let the council take her emotions. Shot one of them in the leg to prove her point.” Matt exchanged a look of dread with Charlie as the teenager led them down a corridor and into a room. It was huge! With about twenty single beds taking up one side of the wall, a large oak table surrounded by chairs in the centre of the floor, and on the back wall was the largest computer monitor any of them had ever seen. “This is the computer base. Our…research centre, if you’d prefer.”

“It’s incredible…” Matt marvelled.

“Thanks.” They all looked at him. “We built this whole upper floor by ourselves, Phillip and I. When we claimed the house, it was a run down, one floored old… I don’t know what it used to be, actually…”

“That’s so cool…!” James enthused.

A sarcastic voice cut in. “Do you just like having people praising your work?” The voice was young, and as they all turned to look at the table, they discovered the host was too. A girl who looked to be about two years of age was sitting, crossed-legged on the surface, a thick book open in her lap, staring at them. She had short curly blonde hair and clear grey eyes that peered out from under long lashes. Her face was delicate, the look on it wasn’t.

“Aren’t you meant to be finished Lord of the Rings by tomorrow?” Martin decided to change the subject.

“I’m almost done!” she squawked indignantly, in an accent similar to that of Cali’s. She closed the book and set it aside, before standing up and walking to the edge of the table so she was closer to them. “Well, don’t these three look clueless…”

“Was that your version of an introduction?”

“Would you shut up?!” She smirked at them, “Andrea Carlton-Wilson. Glad to make your acquaintance.”

“You’re only six months old,” Matt recalled in shock.

Andrea moved close to him, surveying him. He was closest to the table. Suddenly, she grabbed a handful of his sweatshirt and pulled him even closer, so they were practically nose to nose. “I’d like you to bear in mind that I’ve never let that stand in my way,” she hissed dangerously. “And I’d also like to advise you not to piss me off, because- if you do- I know exactly where to aim.”

“Andy!” came a shocked voice from the doorway, and they all twisted round to see yet another boy standing there. “Do you have to be so-?” he motioned frantically, searching for the word.

Andrea let go of Matt’s jumper, grabbed her book, and hopped effortlessly off the table. “Yes, actually.” She left the room.

The new arrival sighed. “Sorry about her,” he said to Matt in a broad Manchester accent, coming all the way into the room. “She can be a little hostile. Kyle Wilson, I’m her dad.”

Charlie frowned at him, “What age are you?”

“Sixteen. Big party, lots of alcohol,” he said by means of explanation. He was a brunette, with heavily spiked hair, and the same eyes as his daughter, except his lashes were darker. One of his eyebrows was pierced, and as he leaned on the table, James could see that his short fingernails were painted black. “Not that she isn’t perfectly lovely,” he said through gritted teeth. He glanced up, “And you can shut up and stop smirking.”

“Did I say anything?” It was the first time that James had noticed that there was someone else in the room. Over by the computer. One of the two fighting girls. It must be the Human, she was the Meena. Oh, God.

“I know what’s going through your mind though, Kenz,” Kyle snapped. He turned and left, muttering, “Bloody Human.”

There was silence for a moment. Then she spoke up, “Is it just me, or was that closing statement so typically Nierriao?”

Martin grinned, “It wasn’t just you.”