Hand (Book)

*Hand* is the commencement story for Thomas Mans, one of the 16.

## Summary

The entire story is based around corruption in the therapy industry, and takes place starting in 1989. It is [possible] that the story will instead focus on the corruption in the "Troubled Teen" industry that started in the 1970's (and is based on a real event), which will change the book setting to the 1970's. Thomas starts out as a humble speech pathologist at his local practice, not seeking fame of any sort. After his impossible patient, Rachel Hargood, has a miraculous breakthrough, he makes a rise to fame as news channels cover Rachel's amazing story from frustration to relief. Thomas and Rachel pursue a relationship. After years of hard work previously, Thomas now finds himself at the center of an opportunity to work at a highly respected practice that works with children and relatives of the rich and famous.

Soon he finds the practice is not all it seems, and seeks to understand the inner workings of the industry. He uses his Hand of God ability to reach special access areas and remove anyone who might get him in trouble--this is more out of curiosity than anything. However, after he finds a deep corruption in the industry, he seeks to justify the wronged, letting his own ability get to his head. He becomes entangled with the men and women of the practice, plus the FBI, who is called in to capture him.

The story ends with him adapting a weird sense of justice, and him now left as a corrupted "hero." Rachel Hargood's son, Thames, is hinted at being The Mind of God.

## Breakdown

Thomas begins his story having sex with his girlfriend. Afterward, he gets a cramp in his hand that starts from when he wakes up after having sex to a few days later.

The story introduces Thomas' practice, his special patient Rachel, and his boss, who talks with him about how Rachel should be moved to another practice because no progress is being made. Even though Rachel won't get any progress anywhere, it seems, it's better to pass her on and let it be someone else's problem. But Thomas wants to keep going because he's sure he knows what is happening. The reader is introduced to Rachel.

Sometime later, we see Thomas with his Grandma at a holiday. His grandmother is visibly dying of something (probably cancer), and he has a close moment with her and we are introduced to other family members that will be relevant later.

Before Thomas' grandmother dies, she has a close moment with Thomas who shares her disappointment with her family's legacy, specifically her sons. Thomas' uncles' and dad aren't very well to do. His dad is alright, but his uncles are either criminals or good for nothings. Thomas' grandmother shares how she hoped for more. She dies.

Later, her uncles all have crazy things happen in their lives, culminating with a hidden estate that was described in the grandfather's will, which would make them all rich. Thomas realizes this is a miracle and connects it to himself. He learns how to use his ability to help Rachel get better over time. Their progress gains news attention.

Due to the attention he gets from Rachel's breakthrough, he is given the opportunity to work with a high value firm that is situated in Seattle. This detail is important later.

After getting in the firm, he finds corruption in the mental/physical therapy industry of all places, and seeks answers out of pure curiosity, using his ability to do things like make guards forget things, get access to restricted areas, and even read people's minds. His judgment ability is unique in that he can select specific judgements and get a like response. For example, if someone told someone a secret that was entrusted to them, Thomas could judge that action, and cause that person to tell one of their own secrets for recompense.

## Ending

Thomas' new firm--before he is fired, of course, among being on the FBI's most wanted list--is based in Seattle. The marketing agency that Eli Laffe works at is also in Seattle. This is no coincidence (well, in-universe, yes, but it's a purposeful narrative decision). Eli starts working at the firm many years later, in 2017. The plot of *Mind* takes place in 2019-20. In *Mind, w*hen Eli has a conversation with his co-worker Phil at the pool table about the insane man on the news, they're talking about Thomas Manns of couse, and this would be about thirty years after Thomas got a job at the firm. So at this point, Thomas is almost sixty. Regardless, this detail is important because Thomas' previous firm is a ground zero for his abilities, and when he started using them to a dangerous extent. The firm that Thomas worked went into bankruptcy due to his actions, and Eli passes by the building in his own book.