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Chapter 7

Huddled in the corner of their little kitchenette nursing a half-filled cup of coffee, Tina sighed ... again. So far, she had counted at least ten sudden sighs. They seemed to need to escape and were totally unexplained. Shaking her head, she scoffed at herself.

"What is wrong with you?" she muttered, resting her head on the warm cup.

Craig had been having nightmares and hadn't been sleeping. When questioned, he evaded by saying he didn't know what it was, but she knew ... he knew what was bothering him. She could only guess, but it still hurt that he didn't trust her enough to verbalise what was happening inside.

"I need to eat," she muttered, pushing to her feet, "and not from my own kitchen."

Pulling on a thick robe and plush slippers, Tina left their apartment, moving through the silent house. The kitchen was empty; sighing in relief, she opened the double-door fridge looking at the contents.

It was always well stocked, but she was undecided about what it was she really wanted to snack on. Absently she rubbed her swelling belly. Jenkins had said everything she was experiencing was normal yet seemed concerned at the growth rate. He tried to hide it but was unsuccessful.

Locating a few items, she placed them on the counter. Turning to close the fridge, she found herself looking at levitating vegetables. They seemed to hover level with her eye line.

"I'm guessing this is you," she murmured, looking at her stomach, "okay, we can add these."

Slowly she lifted her hands carefully, taking hold of the tomato, onion and celery sticks. Placing these on the counter, she jumped as the fridge doors closed behind her. Leaning on the counter as she glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, she breathed deeply, fighting the unsettling panic that threatened to grip her.

"You okay?" a soft voice came from the doorway.

Glancing around, she found Alexis watching her with an open, worried gaze. Nodding her head, Tina made to straighten. She didn't know how to explain what was happening or how it made her feel.

"I know that look," Alexis smiled slightly, "your baby did something, and you're panicking."

"How ..." Tina cleared her throat, "how did you know?"

"Not so long ago, I was pregnant with someone different," Alexis murmured, "want to talk about it?"

"I'm not sure I know how to," Tina sighed, beginning to assemble the necessary to make a sandwich. Reaching for the bread, she gasped as it moved out of her reach, "things like that."

"Have you tried talking to ..." she indicated the swell on Tina's midriff, "I found it helped me."

"Ah ... sometimes, but there seem to be conflicting views on what I must eat," Tina sighed, "okay ... let's give it a try." Shaking her head, she closed her eyes, preparing herself for something weird to happen, "what would you like to eat?"

Looking around, Tina waited, then looked at Alexis and shrugged, but Alexis wasn't watching her. Following the other woman's gaze, she gasped. Turning toward the wall counter, she found items floating and assembling independent of anyone's help.

"Guess you don't know how to speak yet," she whispered. "Can I get a plate ...." her words trailed off as the cupboard door above the counter opened, and a small plate floated to the countertop with the items settling neatly together.

The two women waited for anything else to happen, but nothing else seemed to move. Picking up two forks, Tina picked up the plate and moved to the large table. There was a lot of food, and Tina knew she couldn't eat all of it. Glancing at Alexis, who still stared at the counter area.

"Want to join me?" Tina asked, "there is a lot of food here."

Startling, Alexis turned to her, hushing Mandy, who murmured from the blanket cradle strapped around Alexis' chest.

"Sure," Alexis nodded, "I was coming to get something to eat."

The two women ate silently for a few moments before Alexis raised her gaze to Tina's actions. They seemed to be on autopilot, picking food, putting it in her mouth and chewing.

"How long has that kind of thing been happening?" Alexis asked.

"About two weeks," Tina said, "there are other things as well, but I'm scared to put a name to anything."

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"Are you ... different?" Alexis asked, turning her attention to the plate of food and selecting an item.

"Not that I know of," Tina said quietly, "I was cloned, but as far as I know, I'm still normal."

"How do you fit into this world?" Alexis whispered.

Tina gazed absently across the room before answering, "It was hard," she sighed, "at first, I didn't fit, not at all. I wasn't military, I wasn't enhanced, and I didn't have any skills they seemed to need. I couldn't leave my sisters, who seemed to fit more easily than I, using their enhancements to help others."

"What did you do?" Alexis asked.

"Struggled at first," Tina said, "I tried to fit where I thought everyone else would need me, but in the end, I only found myself to be more alone than I had ever felt."

Alexis nodded, "I know that feeling," she shook her head, "I never want to feel that way again."

"Then you need to remember who you are, what you like to do and follow your own path," Tina said quietly. "Craig found me smuggling paper and art supplies one night," Tina smiled, "I thought he was going to report me for stealing."

"Did he?" Alexis asked, worry in her gaze.

"No," Tina shook her head, "instead, he found where I was hiding my drawings and fashioned the room so I could draw, paint, craft .... whatever I wanted to do. One night I found one of my completed paintings framed with a note of where he thought it should hang. The note said he found the painting inspiring and calming; perhaps others would find it the same."

"Really? Did you hang it where he suggested?" Alexis asked.

Tina nodded, "It was then I realised that I may not be anything like them, but I had something they needed. To be reminded of true humanity, love, peace, acceptance and that beauty still existed in a world where they found none of what I knew and felt."

"Wow," Alexis breathed, "so you paint for them?"

"Paint, draw, remember their birthdays, put together celebrations," Tina said. "Make sure they have things around them that remind them of who they were before all the madness was thrust upon them."

"You remind them they are human, not monsters," Alexis nodded, "they may be different in some ways, but they are no more different than you or I."

Tina smiled, "Yes."

"Did you find it difficult?" Alexis cocked her head to one side.

"At first," Tina nodded, "I had to remember what it felt like to be human before I could remind them. But places like this, with gardens and views that could inspire anyone, have helped. Michael always ensured I had rooms with such views or a balcony I could sit on and get the needed reminders."

"It must be nice to have a purpose," Alexis smiled, "I'm glad you found your place."

"You will as well," Tina said, looking at the pensive woman opposite her, "you have Mandy and Jaxon."

"I do," Alexis nodded, gently stroking the side of Mandy's face, "I'm more fortunate than I know, but I need to understand more than I do now. Find my place in this world. Jax wants us to be safe, and I sense that we are where we'll be the safest."

"You are safe here," Tina nodded, "what do you like to do?"

Alexis frowned, "When I was younger, I loved to bake, cook meals ... that kind of thing," her frown deepened, "when I was working at the bar, I invented new drinks and named them." Alexis chuckled, "I don't have anything that anyone here would probably need. They have everything so well organised and maintained."

"Did you have any brothers or sisters?" Tina asked.

Alexis shook her head, "I never knew my parents."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Tina whispered, "you're an orphan?"

"I ..." Alexis cleared her throat, "I don't know."

"That sounds a little mysterious," Tina smiled, "do you have any memories of them?"

"Vague memories of a woman hiding me," Alexis glanced away, frowning and looking back at Tina, "I have nothing of any man in my life."

Tina frowned, "They could still be alive."

Alexis shrugged, "I was found by a woman that apparently lived in our neighbourhood, and she raised me. She fed me and paid for my clothes, education and even my apartment when I left home, but I knew she wasn't my mother."

"How so?" Tina asked, feeling there was more to Alexis than even she knew.

"Well, we didn't look anything alike," Alexis said, "there were other things. Small things. Adding it all up, I knew she wasn't my mother."

Nodding, Tina said nothing as she continued to eat.

"What if they had to hide me?" Alexis whispered, "I keep dreaming of the woman hiding me; her face is fearful ... desperate almost."

"Perhaps something happened that caused your safety to be in jeopardy," Tina murmured, "how old were you?"

"Hmmm, I think about four years old," Alexis frowned, "I don't remember her saying anything to me."

"Well, I know one thing the Agency is good at," Tina smiled. "Finding out things that no one else knows and putting together all the information for a better picture to be viewed."

"You think they would help me?" Alexis asked.

"Yes," Tina said, "I'll be happy to chat with Bre about it for you."

"Thank you, Tina," Alexis smiled, reaching out her hand and clasping Tina's.

Tina gasped before folding Alexis' hand in her own. Pictures flew through Tina's mind, like a fast-running glimpse of Alexis' life.

"Tina? Are you okay?" Alexis asked, a worried frown on her face, "what is happening right now?"

Tina closed her eyes as the images faded, "I think my babies are using their enhancements through me."

"What?" Alexis frowned, "what are you talking about?"

"I saw ..." Tina met Alexis' concerned gaze, "I saw images of your life ... I think memories ... your memories."