Freak of Nature

Chapter Six

Kaitlyn made her way around the table and sat across from Quess, unfolding her napkin and placing it in her lap, like she’d seen Quess do. There was one seat separating her from Lucas. 

He tugged at his T-shirt collar as if it were choking him. His cheeks were flushed, and she wondered if it was from the heat of the fireplace.

What is he thinking? Kaitlyn wondered. What was it that made him so uncomfortable? Quess had said he was anti-social. Maybe he was uncomfortable eating around others, but that seemed odd even to her. 

Lucas cleared his throat. “Professor Adams, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but what is the meaning of this meeting?”

Professor Adams gave a half-smile, helping himself to the pitcher of iced tea in the center of the table. “Beats the hell out of me. Ask the women of this family. I’m just as surprised as you are.” He filled his glass, and then his wife’s. “The sooner you learn women rule this world, the better off you’ll be.” 

Just then, Mrs. Adams walked in carrying a large plate of roast beef, the thinly sliced meat pink at the center. Her smile lit up the room. “Ain’t that the truth!” 

She set the platter on the table and retreated back to the kitchen. Quess rose and hurried to help her grandmother. Soon, the table was filled with roast, potatoes, rolls, and vegetables. 

The scents were wonderful, but Kaitlyn dreaded having to eat. The roast would taste no different to her than the potatoes. It was as if her taste buds had been removed, but more than likely it was a computer chip that overrode those senses. Sometimes she wished she could tear out all the sensors. 

Then again, what would that leave of Kaitlyn? Would she even be able to survive without the mechanics? She really had no idea. 

Quess tapped Kaitlyn on the arm. “Help yourself.”

It seemed they all watched as Kaitlyn placed a small portion of roast, potatoes, and green beans on her plate. She bypassed the rolls; that would have been too much for her to eat. Her internal encyclopedia informed her of protocols of etiquette, and leaving food on one’s plate would be offensive to the host. She didn’t want to offend Mrs. Adams. 

Quess reached across Kaitlyn to grab a golden roll. “Hey, Gramps, I was thinking that you should add a slang chip to Kaitlyn. Half the time she has no idea what I’m talking about.” 

Kaitlyn’s eyes snapped in the direction of Professor Adams. He rubbed his chin, lost in thought. “You know, that’s actually a great idea, Quess.” 

Quess smiled, obviously proud of herself.

“What do you think, Lucas?” Professor Adams stared at Lucas, awaiting his response. 

Lucas shrugged. “I don’t think it could hurt. If they want her to mix with the general population, it makes sense she would need to understand colloquialisms. I can work on a program tomorrow.” 

Professor Adams nodded. “Very good. Thank you, Quess. I would have never thought of such a thing on my own.” 

Kaitlyn watched the exchange, only somewhat interested. It was as if they were talking about a stranger and not herself. She didn’t really care if she could understand slang, as they called it. It wasn’t as if she had a say in the matter anyway. They always did what they wanted without consulting her.

At least the idea seemed to make Quess happy. The girl’s round cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone with pride at her grandfather’s compliments. 

Then Kaitlyn’s sensors alerted her to something she’d missed during the conversation. Lucas had said the general population. Kaitlyn took that to mean she was going to leave the compound. The thought was equally as exciting as it was terrifying. 

“Professor Adams, I am curious. Where did I live before moving here?” Kaitlyn asked between bites of roast. 

She was met with silence. Kaitlyn wasn’t sure if it was the question itself, or that no one had expected her to speak.

She watched as a look passed between Lucas and the professor. 

“Why do you ask?” Professor Adams asked calmly, setting his fork on the table and wiping his mouth on his napkin.

“I was just wondering. Virginia does not feel like home.” Kaitlyn took a sip of water and waited for their reply.

All eyes, even Quess’s, were wide and shocked. Kaitlyn realized she had made a mistake. 

“Feel, Kaitlyn?” the professor asked. “Please, explain what you mean by ‘not feeling like home’.” Professor Adams focused his attention solely on Kaitlyn. 

Her machinery kicked in, and her coded neurons warned her processing center that the situation was an uneasy one. One moment of analysis and she realized why—she had used the word felt. 

She meant it. Something inside her recalled some place, and she couldn’t figure out how or why or where. It bothered her when she couldn’t understand things. She was supposed to be a superior being, and yet the littlest things made no sense to her. 

Nonetheless, the professor—and Lucas—couldn’t know that. 

She considered her words carefully. “I don’t know. Quess was telling me she grew up in Ohio. I must be from somewhere else. I have no idea where I grew up.” 

The professor’s shoulders seemed to relax. “Perhaps because where you were from did not experience the drastic season changes. Summer is turning into fall, is that what you mean?”

Kaitlyn thought about his answer for a moment before replying. Her computer banks immediately began to filter through states and weather patterns. The professor had narrowed down where she was from without realizing it. “Perhaps, the change of season is what is triggering the random thought. It doesn’t matter where I am from. What matters is that I am here now.”

The professor smiled, satisfied. Lucas, however, looked paler than usual. 

They could use this information to narrow down the blond haired guy, and perhaps learn something about her past.