THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

V’ru, but I need your answers to help Mathias make a decision on what to do with the three of them.”
    How could anyone make life and death decisions based on a conversation with an eleven-year-old boy?
    V’ru made a quarter turn with his body as if he were on a spindle and asked me, “State your family history.”
    Spearing Callan with an impatient glance, I summarized what I knew quickly. “I don’t know my family history. I woke up this morning in the middle of the desert near the Sandia Mountains with a beast chasing me and with no idea who I am or where I’m from. Some people picked me up in a transport unit with wheels and took me to a school.”  
    “Wheels?”
    I nodded, noting that I wasn’t the only one who thought that odd.
    “Intriguing. How do you know your name is Rayen if you do not know who you are?”
    This kid would ask that. “I...uhm, let’s just say I do have some innate knowledge, like the fact that I’m seventeen.”  No point in mentioning the ghost or that I’m allergic to peanuts.
    Time stretched from one long second to the next as V’ru appeared to study on something before asking another question. “Why did you come here?”
    “To this Sphere?”
    “Yes.” The word might have been short, but V’ru loaded it with serious of-course attitude.
    “I didn’t have a choice. I was in an equipment room at the school with Tony and Gabby, looking for a computer when I turned one on and got sucked into it.”
    “Computer?”  V’ru looked from me to Callan. “That is...not possible.”
    Callan interjected, “I thought the same thing, but I believe she is telling the truth.” He paused, then added, “About the computer.”
    Meaning I might be lying about everything else? I let that go and spoke to V’ru again. “Anyhow, Tony and Gabby grabbed my arm to keep me from disappearing, but they got pulled in, too. Next thing we know we’re in the thing you call a transender, then spit out here where we end up fighting for our lives and saving little kids.” 
    I sent that last comment in Callan’s direction to remind him that two children were alive right now because of what I had done as well as the efforts of Gabby and Tony. 
    His eyes wouldn’t meet mine, but I could tell I’d hit the mark by the way his fingers curled into fists and uncurled.
    V’ru cocked his head at me. “What year were you born?”
    “I don’t know, but I’m guessing if I’m seventeen that I was born about 1996.”
    That answer turned V’ru into a statue, staring at me as if I weren’t human. When the kid did speak it was with a hushed awe. “No one has ever perfected forward travel through time. Not even the TecKnati.”
    Callan nodded, “Exactly, so how can this be?”
    “Either she lies–”
    I snapped, “It’s not a lie.”
    “–or the TecKnati have developed technology I cannot access.”  V’ru sounded as though that was beyond improbable. He looked right at me when he said, “Give me your blood.”
    “What?”
    “I said–”
    I waved him off with my hand. “I know what you said, but I’ve given up enough blood today.”
    “Why do you fear me?” V’ru appeared completely baffled.
    Fear a skinny eleven-year-old? Insulting. “I’m not afraid of you.” 
    “Then hold out your hand.” 
    Callan explained, “V’ru needs a sample of your blood to process.”
    I could accept that, though I didn’t like getting jabbed with another needle. The Institute had already taken blood samples and fingerprints. With V’ru stuck in this Sphere, I doubted the kid would get results back faster than the school.
    Still, to show good faith, I extended my hand with the palm up. V’ru nodded at Callan who produced a short blade from where it had hung from a loop on the belt slung around his waist. I breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn’t cut my throat when I’d stood over him earlier. Now he just pricked my finger then backed away as I offered the bubble of blood to V’ru.
    What exactly would this kid do with the blood?
    Reaching out with two narrow fingers, V’ru carefully lifted a smudge of blood between his thumb and forefinger. He swirled the drop for a minute between his fingers then took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
    I watched Callan for his reaction, but he seemed content to wait on whatever V’ru was doing.
    When V’ru opened his eyes again, he reached into a pocket on his toga outfit and produced a small cloth to wipe his fingers clean. With his arms