Sean could see where this was going. “But mybrothers?”
“Are a different matter entirely. They’re in a band that travels internationally, which is its own set of problems logistically from a security standpoint, but the more critical issue is the MDF doubts they can keep who and what you are now asecret.”
Sean chewed on the inside of his bottom lip as he tried to bury the simmering anger rising up in him. Logically, he knew the MDF would always have an issue with the spotlight his brothers performed under, the same way the CIA had. Fame brought with it a life lived beneath the eyes of the world, where his brothers’ everyday habits were splashed across media gossip sites and picked apart by fans andcritics.
When Atomic Grace hit it big, Sean had pulled away from his brothers even more, knowing that he couldn’t be seen with them in public because it would put his job and his life at risk, to say nothing of his family’s. His efforts didn’t seem enough at thispoint.
“What did the director authorize?” Sean asked. He had an idea of what was decided, but he needed to hear Katiesayit.
“I was ordered to put a mental block in their minds where you are concerned.” She glanced over at him, frustration and a tiredness in her eyes he couldn’t ignore. “It’s not a mindwipe. It’s not even full memory alteration. They’ll be able to talk about you as family, but they won’t inadvertently say anything about the MDF or your position as ametahuman.”
Sean looked out the window, grinding his teeth against anger and the sense of shame he felt at being relieved the MDF had authorized Katie to use her telepathy in such a way. He couldn’t blame the director for handing down that order, because he knew how his brothers acted on stage, on camera, and on their social mediaplatforms.
“Thank you for telling me,” Seaneventuallysaid.
“I’m sorry the director deemed that order necessary,” Katiereplied.
“But you’re not sorry fordoingit.”
“No. Your family knows who you are and knows our identities now. That’s information we can’t allow to bereleased.”
Sean knew she was thinking about Jamie and the entire Callahan family. The presidential election was next year and Jamie’s father, Senator Richard Callahan, was leading in the polls by a wide margin for the Republican candidate nomination. If word got out that Jamie was a metahuman, it would throw the entire race intodisarray.
Metahumans made up a tiny percentage of the world’s population, but they were always on people’s minds. Most governments controlled the lives of their citizens who were turned into metahumans, and America was no different. Yes, people here could choose not to fight for the MDF and reveal their status to the world at large, but that led to a lonely life most ofthetime.
The general public was wary of metahumans, and that colored much of the politics governing their existence. The MDF grew out of a need for control, but that didn’t mean people approved of the agency in general and metahumans in particular. If Jamie’s status as a metahuman got out, there was a strong possibility that knowledge would complicate his father’s chance at winning thepresidency.
“I’m sorry,” Katie said after amoment.
Sean closed his eyes, forcing down his anger. He had no one but himself to blame for the position his family was currently in. “No,you’renot.”
Katie hummed a soft agreement. “I’m sorry my power isneeded.”
“But that doesn’t stop you from followingorders.”
“Not thistime,no.”
Sean nodded, reaching out to pat her shoulder. “Iunderstand.”
That still didn’t make it easy, didn’t make it right. But he understood why the director had made this decision and he couldn’t find it in himself to argue against it. In this instance, it was the right decisiontomake.
Rightjust didn’t necessarily meanbetter.
The rest of the drive happened in silence. By the time they made it back to base, Sean was as clearheaded as he could be for the upcoming confrontation with his family. Katie parted ways with him once they were past security, off to track down Jamie. Sean went to his office first, metaphorically dragging his feet as he checked his terminal and all the unanswered emails, messages, and reports he still needed to get through. Most of it couldn’t be dealt with today, unfortunately. He did respond to a couple of emails from Elena that were the most important ones before locking the terminal and running both hands throughhishair.
“Ceres, where is my family?” heasked.
“Level 19. They have been sequestered in several suites since their arrival, though they are currently in their assigned conference room,” the AI promptlyreplied.
“Anyonewiththem?”
“A JAG Corps representative. Shall I inform her you will beinterrupting?”
Sean very badly wanted to say no, but knew he couldn’t. “Yes. Tell her I’ll be there in a couple ofminutes.”
“Verywell.”
Sean took a moment to mentally steady himself before leaving his office and heading to where his family was. When he arrived, Sean swallowed thickly and palmed open the door before he could talk himself out of it. He stepped inside on quiet feet, scanningtheroom.
