Free The Push Chronicles (Book 3): Incorruptible by J.B. Garner Page B

gone now.  I could only assume that this was another expression of what Mackenzie had told me: every Natural was a little different.  My strength was in my physical talents and Ian had been an intellectual powerhouse.  Quentin's abilities seemed to be in his perception, senses enhanced beyond any of the rest of us.  I kept that fact in mind as we moved out onto the street.
    The Plaza pierced up into the sky, already dominating the immediate skyline.  That dominance was extended by the pure golden beam of light, overpowering the glowing background of the dome, which shot up into the sky.  The entire block housing the Plaza was surrounded by police barricades with gated checkpoints at the main entrance and the attached parking deck.  The conventional security seemed somewhat lax outside of the guards at the two gates.  That was because there were far more dangerous security watching, only a moment away.
    We were about to cross the street to the main gate when my watch's alarm sounded softly.  Right on schedule.  I gave Quentin a single nod as we crossed.  His only response was to refocus on the security guards ahead of us.
    Our approach had not gone unnoticed.  The three guards at the gate itself moved into action.  One seemed to take center, his hands raised to arrest our approach.  The two others raised their sub-machine guns, taking aim to cover their fellow.
    "Stop right there, folks," the officer said.  "Authorized workers only.  Let me see your ID cards."  The people who had been shuffling along the sidewalk behind us began to slow, attracted to the change in the silence around them.
    "Sure thing, officer," Quentin said in a soothing voice as we both raised our hands.
    "Can we, well, get them out?" I added, pointing a finger at the gunmen.
    "Go ahead.  Just don't make any sudden movements."  The officer seemed relieved.  "We've had a lot of problems the past week."
    "I'm sorry to hear that."  We both slowly dug into our coats.  I felt a pang of regret as I closed my hand around the handle of the industrial-strength pepper spray.  My mind and body kicked into overdrive as I flicked that certain mental switch.  Unlike the escape from the prison, the mental focus came easy, almost as easy as it did before my imprisonment.
    The guards seemed to be moving like slugs as I drew the pepper spray and squeezed the trigger as Quentin did the same, firing concentrated doses right into the eyes of the two gunmen.  Rachel assured me that every security profession tries to familiarize its members with these kind of chemical weapons, but I still didn't like to use them.  As the two guards screamed in agony, I easily hopped the gate, landing beside the first guard.
    He was disarmed before he could draw his sidearm as Quentin hit the ground beside me, discarding his overcoat.  The guard had more than enough experience to realize it was better to just scramble away than to try anything more.  I wasn't going to argue with him.  One less normal person I had to hurt was so much the better.
    "Give it a moment and they'll be here," Quentin assured me.  "I can hear the orders to back off now."
    I nodded, casting my own coat aside, as well as the spray canister.  That wouldn't do me any good in a moment.  The helmet was next to go.  I wanted whoever was watching to see who it was that was coming.
    "Alright, Epic, here I am!" I shouted.  My ears weren't as good as Quentin's, but they were good enough to hear a sudden strange stir in the people that had stopped to watch across the street.  "I'm taking this thing down so I'd suggest getting your people out of here before I come up there."
    Quentin had drawn the two fighting batons he carried in a back sling before the sickening twist of an influx of Pushed energy hit my gut.  Reality split asunder as a white disk formed in the air.  One of my ex-boyfriend's teleportals.  I felt my muscles tighten as another surge of adrenaline rushed through my veins.  I only