For some reason, Rocko believed the two men were communicating in some way, and with each passing day, he became more convinced.
“It could help, but we should wait for Apollo to make the first move,” Rocko said as he grabbed three burgers.One each for him, Apollo, and Frank.
Frank and Mary were sitting on chairs facing Asher, who was playing on the floor with Griffin, Ellen, and Renee.Apollo sat in a chair beside them, and he’d reserved an empty chair for Rocko.
“Here you go, guys,” Rocko said as he handed out the burgers.“I didn’t know what you wanted on them, so I went with the works.”
“Sounds great, I’m starving,” Apollo said as he took the plate.
“Thank you, son,” Frank said before taking a bite.“Mighty fine burger.”
Rocko sat and was about to bite into his burger when Jagger shouted, “Checkmate, man.I win.”
“What?Where?”Blade asked while scanning the chessboard.
“Right there.Your king is mine.”Jagger laughed.
Blade stared in disbelief for a few seconds before conceding.
“Fine, I surrender,” he said before tipping over his king in defeat.
Only the table wasn’t level, and the chess piece rolled off the chessboard and onto the deck.Before anyone could move to pick it up, Asher raised her hand, and the chess piece floated up into the air, landing back onto the table in front of Blade.
“Thanks, Asher,” Blade said as if what she’d done was completely normal, and to the team it was, but Frank and Mary didn’t know that yet.
Frank dropped his burger as Mary scooped Asher up off the floor.Panicked, both backed away from the team as if edging toward their truck.Frank made sure to keep his daughter and granddaughter behind him.
“It’s okay, Frank, Mary,” Apollo said.“We already knew.”
“W-what do you mean?”Mary asked.
“Rocko saw Asher move a doll earlier today when we were at your place cleaning up.”
“Please, don’t tell anyone.She’s only a baby,” Frank began pleading.
Renee hurried forward.“It’s going to be okay.”She lifted her hands, and they began glowing, sending out waves of calm.“We’re the same.”
Apollo stepped forward, as did the rest of the team.Jagger took off his glasses to show his birdlike eyes, Blade inched his knives out from his fists, Damon created a small fireball in the palm of his hand, Griffin extended his teeth and claws, Apollo’s eyes shone from within, and the stereo Hendrix had been manning rose into the air before breaking apart into its individual components.
“You’re going to put my stereo back together, right, boss?”Hendrix asked, and moments later, the pieces fit back together as if they were brand new, and music began playing.
“We’re all survivors of The Noah Project and believe Asher is one as well.We won’t harm anyone; our mission is to protect people like us.That’s why we built this place,” Apollo explained as he motioned around the yard.
“You’re like my husband, Asher’s father,” Mary said in shock.“How is that possible?”
“You’d be surprised how many survivors are out there alone and needing help,” Rocko said.“My ability allows me to track anyone down, no matter how far, as well as a supercharged memory.I was six years old when the division of The Noah Group I was created by was shut down, and I was thrown into an orphanage.”
“So, you’re not a detective in Florida?”Frank asked.
“Yes, I am.I use my ability to help find people.My colleagues simply think I’m good at my job.”
“My ability hasn’t manifested yet,” Ellen said.
“Mine’s boring,” Hendrix drawled in his Southern accent.“I can trace family lines.”
“You’re not boring,” Rocko said.“Stop thinking that.”
“You’re all survivors?”Frank asked.“Like Asher and Tom, Mary’s husband.”
