That only left those of them who would be traveling to the land of koalas and kangaroos. At least, that’s about all Cadence knew about Australia. “Christian seemed a little disgruntled.” Brandon smoothed back his girlfriend’s hair, making the understatement of the year.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. He seemed perfectly gruntled to me.” Elliott folded his arms like he didn’t really give a damn, and Cadence assumed that was because he didn’t.
“He’ll get over it,” Aaron replied. “You guys, we’re about to undergo an extremely dangerous mission. You know they’re going to throw everything they have at us. The Melbourne team is good, but they’re not up to the caliber of what we’re used to working with. We have got to be extra diligent and not veer from the plan, especially since, as Cassidy noted, we’ll be going into this with no communication system.”
“You were going to explain why you think we’re not ready to go ahead and try to take out Holland and Carter,” Cadence reminded him, knowing he hadn’t forgotten; that would be completely out of character, and hoping he’d go ahead and say now, though she wondered if he’d failed to circle back around to it because he didn’t want to mention it in front of everyone else.
He took a deep breath. “Well, I know some of you find me to be unreasonable at times…”
“Some of us?” Elliott questioned, looking around.
“All of you,” Aaron corrected, narrowing his eyes at his best friend. “But… after seeing what happened with Tara earlier today, I at least want to give this idea of yours a chance before I completely rule it out.”
Cadence was stunned. Never in a million years did she think it would be possible that Aaron might actually agree to letting her try the Transformation serum. “Really?” she asked, unable to control the smile on her face. “You’ve got to be kidding!”
“Shut up before he changes his mind!” Elliott insisted.
“Listen, we will have to do a lot of tissue trials before I let any of you try it, but… I do agree with Christian and Jamie’s assessment that it was likely the Transformation serum that had these positive effects on me, while the Retransformation serum is likely what would’ve killed me had I been left to my own devices. So, if we can be one hundred percent sure—not eighty,” he stressed, looking at Jamie, though it had been Christian who had made that mistake the first time, “then I’m willing to let a few of you try it.”
“Who are a few of us?” Cassidy asked.
“Not you,” Cadence and Aaron said almost at the same time. Her face fell.
“Cass—we have no idea how you’d react to it. You’re an enigma,” Cadence reminded her.
“Not you either,” Elliott said to his son before he could even ask.
“Fine,” Brandon replied, though his face said otherwise. “I don’t need it anyway.”
“True.” Elliott looked relieved there would be no argument and was willing to go along with his child’s exaggeration about his skills.
“And not you either, Jamie,” Aaron said. “Not initially, anyhow. I can’t mess you up.”
Cadence knew he didn’t want her to do it either but he would realize arguing was futile. “So you want us to do trials after we return, and then, once you’re satisfied, Elliott and I can do it?”
“Yeah, I’ll let you guys go first, and then maybe a couple of other volunteers. If it seems to pay off, then we can move forward. But, you guys do realize, I struggled with these new creatures, too, right? I mean… I literally had my throat handed to me.”
“But that was because you didn’t see her coming,” Cassidy reminded him. Cadence realized her sister had witnessed that. If she’d been there herself… she probably would’ve lost it.
“True, but even at the RV camp, it wasn’t easy,” Aaron stated.
“Look, if we can get to Holland, destroy her, that will weaken most of the rest of them. I don’t think Carter’s much of a factor.” Cadence wasn’t sure what had her feeling that way. Perhaps it was the fact that he had crumpled the last time she’d come into contact with him when she had no idea what she was doing or who she was.
“Don’t underestimate him,” Aaron warned. “He’s craftier than anyone gives him credit for, including Holland. Just because his last scheme didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of much more.”
Cadence nodded, assuming at first that he meant drawing her out at the Eidolon Festival, but there was something in his eyes that made her think there might be more to the story. Perhaps on their epic flight she’d have a chance to ask him about it, although the way she was feeling now, Cassidy’s idea of sleeping the entire flight seemed inviting.
“All right. Everyone go pack, and meet us at the airport at 11:45,” Aaron instructed. “Remember, our objective is to save Paul, which means avoiding Holland and Carter. Hopefully, we’ll be able to manage that until we have better chances at successfully defeating her.”
“You know she chose the name Asteria not because she fell from a star but because it was also the goddess of terror, right?” Cassidy’s voice sounded as if she were recounting something she’d heard in Holland’s head.
Of course Aaron did. “And Perses for destruction? I know.”
“Well, let’s bring them what they want then,” Elliott smiled. “I can be terrifying and destructive.”
Cadence chuckled along with everyone else but something told her none of them really had any idea what they were walking into. But then, she hadn’t the first time she’d met the pair either, and she’d come out on the winning end that time. Hopefully, things would end up the same way this time, particularly now that she was no longer a naïve little girl with no idea who she was. There was no doubt in her mind at this point she knew exactly who she was. And so did they.
