Listen To The Silence by Sheryl

Chapter 4

We are the ones who are living under the guns, every day.
You might be gone tomorrow...

"You okay?"
Kellan's concerned voice only faintly penetrated the fog in Jordan's mind. Working too hard, watching too closely, but his anxiety wouldn't let him do any less. Things had gone out of control so fast, they needed everyone, and the boy, for all of his re-awakening power and interest, was still very much a variable.
He felt committed, felt like he was there, but he couldn't do it. Couldn't connect, couldn't find them. Self resistance, Jordan knew it, Kel and Sav knew it, he suspected even the boy knew it. If only he could overcome it...
"Jordan!" Kellan's voice, sharper now, broke through.
"What Kel..."
"You're making yourself sick, you have to pull back Jordy. You can't make him come any faster."
"We need him, Kel. And we need to find the oversear. Michael's fading, can you feel it?"
"I feel it... but Jordan." He sighed, running his hands through his hair, "You're only one person. You can't bring it all together on your own. The kid's coming around, he's remembering, he's finding his way again, but you'll have to give him time."
"Yes time..."
The two boys jumped, the additional voice startling them, setting their eyes to the doorway. The man who stood there, imposing and regal, smiled gently, nodding his greeting.
"Time to come to his own, Jordan. Don't blast him open in your impatience. The center will hold for some time yet."
His soft smile inspired a return from the exhausted Jordan, and he sighed in resignation.
"Michael, I know. But look at you... you're..."
"Somewhat less than I was?" The man chuckled, helping himself to coffee. "Jordan I've been in this position for well over 90 years, I think I've earned my fade, don't you?"
"Yes, but now Michael?"
"These things aren't chosen, lad. They're imposed. The call is out for my replacement, and you well know that I will be here until he or she is found and trained. As for your little prodigy, Kellan is quite right. He has the knowledge, and he is bringing it forth on his own. He's trying with ever fiber of his being to get it all back, and he will do it. But it was buried deeply, you did that well for him. Don't despair your own good work."
Jordan smiled back, rubbing weary eyes.
"I don't despair my work, I despair his undoing it..." He laughed in spite of himself, eyes drifting longingly to the open doorway beyond Michael's back. "It looks so nice out, why am I in here? Come on, let's move this little conference to the porch..."
Michael followed the boys out to the swing, studying them carefully, searching for evidence of how the stress of recent events was affecting them. Jordan looked alright, he though, tired but holding steady. Kellan was worrisome, face pale, eyes shadowed, running one hand along the wall for support.
Michael felt the ache again, gazing at the boy, who's loose trousers, beatnik sandals and tank top, combined with the ever in his face chinlength hair, suggested more suitable surroundings, say an arcade or a basketball court.
This was no life for a child, taking on the pain and sickness of others, for the good of all. No life for a child, yet he had never questioned it, his role of healer unargued, his responsibility accepted in total. That the injury he healed impacted on him seemed not to matter, the aches and pains he controlled transferring themselves to him with no complaint. He was remarkable, no doubt, but if they wanted him to survive he would have to curb his generosity.
"How old are you now, Kellan?"
The boy peered from under his hair, basking a little in the uncommonly warm English sunshine. "I'm sixteen, you should know that, Michael..."
"Don't be an upstart. You don't look particularly well, if you don't mind my saying so."
"And if I do mind?"
Jordan snickered. Of all of them, Kel was the least likely to let status hinder his reactions, and the look of mild shock on Michael's face pleased him.
"He's already been scolded for overextending himself, Morianis, Angel was all over him about it. Not that it stopped him, he's been bolstering me while I try to reach the kid there..." His hand vaguely gestured into thin air, prompting an annoyed sigh from the old man.
"You need to leave that boy alone, pure and simple, and that's my last word on it." He dismissed Jordan, who was unoffended and vaguely amused, turning his attention to Kellan. "Lad, do you realize that using this gift takes an enormous toll on you?"
Kellan winced irritably, nodding. "Of course I do, I'm not stupid. But it's my job, it's why I'm here..."
"And why you will not be here if you don't learn to use discretion. Boys, listen to me."
He sat forward, one hand moving toward the yard. "All this..." The air seemed to shimmer for a moment, glittering with previously unseen flecks of brightness. "This is what you are sworn to protect, this and everything it encompasses. If you use your powers blindly, who will be here to keep it? Dannon's faction is strong, and powerful. They rival even my own powers, and they are set in their convictions. You must be strong, and at full power, for the inevitable confrontation WILL arise, and it will be soon. Kellan, you have to stop, you have to recharge, you cannot be ill, as you are now..." He raised a hand, stifling the boy's protest. "As you are now, and yes I can see it so do not deny! This constant, ungoverned insistence that nobody around you ever suffer an ache, a pain, or a tired moment MUST stop, or you will not be of any use to anyone. Do you not see this?
Jordan, you're dogged perusal of this American boy, as talented as he is, as great an asset, must stop! You're run down and exhausted even with Kellan pouring everything he has into you! Do you boys not realize that there is going to be an attack, and it is going to be soon? With the two of you in this condition, who is there to defend us? 
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, my boys, and at this time you are two very weak links indeed. If Dannon senses this, you can expect him to act on it. He's anything but stupid. This... this entire complex may be a liability..." He fell to brooding, the downcast eyes of the two boys finally glancing up at each other.
"This complex is our stronghold, Michael, how is it..."
The old man sighed, and for the first time Jordan saw defeat on his face.
"It is too well known, too often a gathering point for all of us. It's a target... I'm heavily leaning toward breaking it down and destroying it."
"Destroying it!" Jordan's shout expressed his absolute rage. "This isn't your house anymore Morianis, it's mine! Mine and Sav's and if you think you're gonna get rid of it you'll have to go through us! Target... bah! It's our home, and it's where we draw our greatest strength!"
"And where you are known to be..." The old man's voice reflected no anger, only a quiet resignation. "I know you plan to bring all of you together here, to create one area of indomitable strength. In my views, it creates an excellent way for them to eliminate all of you in one swoop. In this case, banding may not be the best thing you can do... though there is indeed strength in numbers. You see now why I give up my leadership, I am no longer capable of logical decisions. Jordan, call you're American friend, with  the telephone, save your mind for other tasks. Kellan, go home. Go to Angel and stand by her there, her time is short now, this I've seen."
"What do y..."
"Not now. Just do as I say. It begins soon, I think..." His voice trailed off, as he stood to leave. "If your choice is to band together, do so, but so quickly. If your choice is to scatter, make that decision now. Clear all possible targets, take all necessary precautions."
"You make it sound as if we're at war, Michael."
"That's because you are." His eyes darkened as he made his way from the porch, rounding the corner of the house, out of sight in a moment. Both boys gazed after him, knowing that if they went after him he would already be gone.
"Jordy, what did he mean, about Angel?"
"I don't know, Kel..."
He lied then, for the first time, to his friend. He did know. And so did Kellan.
Sighing, he stood to go in.
"Go home, Kel, and get ready. Whatever it is, it's going to hit soon."