The Change (Unbounded) by Teyla Branton

to the desk and clapped on her headset, not appearing to mind the probes that must dig into her scalp. As she sat in front of one computer, the computer linked to the headset also came to life and began running code. “No way it’s coincidence.”
    “Agreed. But I was unable to extract any valuable information from the employees. Dimitri stayed behind to do a little more investigating since he’s the one with the medical license.” Ava’s gaze focused on me. “Feeling better?”
    “I’ll feel fine when you let me go.” I tried to keep my face expressionless like Ritter, but I failed miserably. Ava’s complete self-assurance provoked too much resistance in me.
    She sighed. “How about I take you someplace else? Now that you don’t need around-the-clock supervision, you’ll be more comfortable staying with me until we leave for New York.”
    “What if I don’t want to go to New York?”
    Ava frowned before crossing over to the desk area to stand behind Stella. “For the moment, you have no choice, but I’m confident you’ll make the right decision. Sooner or later you’re going to need us.” Her exasperation was clear, and that slip of control made me feel victorious.
    Stella rose from the computer, setting down her headset. “I’ve given the computer a few search parameters to look for indications of what might have happened at the burn center, but I have to leave in a minute. Bronson made dinner.” Her voice became painfully bright at the mention of her husband. I didn’t understand why, but I liked her enough that I was curious to know the reason.
    “Be extra careful on your way home,” Ava advised her.
    “I always am.”
    Ava set a comforting hand on Stella’s arm, and though the contact lasted only fleetingly, I knew it was genuine. Turning, she said to me, “Let’s go.”
    With a farewell nod at Stella and Cort, I followed Ava out the small door and down the concrete ramp to a white sedan. I had barely opened the passenger side door when Ritter appeared and threw a black duffel into the backseat. It clinked heavily as it landed.
    Great. Just great, I thought as he ducked into the car . His presence would make any escape attempt that much more difficult, but at least I still had the phone in my pocket, and I would use it the moment I had the opportunity.
    As she started the car, Ava said, “I have a late class tonight, so Ritter’s going to stay with you.”
    “I don’t need a babysitter.”
    “But you do need to begin training. Tonight will be your first lesson.”
    “What kind of training?” I tried to keep the resentment from my voice, but I didn’t think I was fooling Ava—or Ritter who hadn’t yet spoken a word from the backseat.
    Ava kept her eyes on the road, shifting down as we approached a red light. “Every Unbounded is genetically predisposed with an ability. Some are good at science or medicine. Some have a way with computers and technology. Languages, combat, patterns, numbers—you get the picture.”
    I rolled my eyes. “People aren’t genetically predisposed for careers.”
    “Oh, but they are. Even among mortals many sons and grandsons follow in their parents’ footsteps.”
    Since I’d wanted to follow my father into law, maybe she had a point.
    “Unbounded really don’t have a choice.” Ava glanced at me and then back at the road. “We often think we’ll go into something different—we may spend years fighting it—but we always end up in the same or similar profession as one of our Unbounded ancestors. It’s tied up with the gene. Most of us develop many different skills over our long life spans, but we are truly talented at whatever drives us, so we focus on our dominant trait. Playing to our strengths makes sense.”
    “Let me guess. Stella’s has something to do with computers.”
    “She’s what we call a technopath—an ability that wasn’t even understood until the past fifty years or so. Not only does she understand anything to do with