Sleepers and Scouts

by Phillip Murrell

  “Thanks, kid. Let me know when puberty kicks in,” Alex jokes back.

  Alex then stops and looks a little closer at Abel.

  “Do I know you?” Alex asks.

  Benji throws up his hands in disgust. “Apparently everyone except me does.”

  “I don’t think so,” Abel answers.

  “Strange,” Alex says, “you look kind of like a kid I see at church.”

  Claire’s ears perk up again. Smith notices this.

  “He’s not from here,” Benji answers.

  “I must be mistaken then,” Alex says, although he doesn’t look entirely convinced.

  “You must be a racist,” Donald jokes. “Not all Asians look alike.”

  “You must excuse Milk Nuts over here. He’s drunk and says even more stupid shit than usual when he is,” Alex tells the group.

  The night progresses, and the game begins. It’s clear during the first period that the Demons will end the series in just four games. When the final buzzer sounds, the Demons win by twenty-one points. Miss Ery’s explodes with excitement. High fives are passed around, and songs proclaiming champion status are sung. The police officers of the group follow Benji out the door as they go back to work to prepare for what they hope will not happen in the streets of Colberton. The remaining Templars follow Abel out of Miss Ery’s. Left behind are Claire, Alex, Donald, Kim, and Toby as they share a massive hug. The excitement in Toby apparently provides him the courage to be touched by more than one person at a time.

  Chapter 6

  “We’re number one!” a Demons supporter screams as he runs nude down the streets of Yama with only red and orange paint covering his body.

  The streets of Yama are filled with drunk celebrators with destruction on their minds. Mixed among them are completely sober criminals taking advantage of the situation.

  Compel and Seal Pup fly above the chaos.

  “Animals,” Compel mutters.

  “Yama finally wins a professional championship in a sport; what did you expect?” Seal Pup asks. “Just tell them to go home.”

  “No,” Compel says. “That’s too easy for these people. They want to party, then I’m gonna make them regret it.”

  “What do you have planned?”

  “I’m fully loaded with AZ-10 capsules. I’m gonna let the city have ‘em all.”

  “That’s a lot of stink spray,” Seal Pup says. “I see great minds think alike. I brought plenty as well.”

  “Good. Let them have it.”

  Seal Pup and Compel, visible to the casual observer, swoop down above the unruly crowd. Each vents a putrid cloud over the mob. It’s a form of Templar crop dusting. The rioters quickly gag and fight to find a way to fresh air.

  “Just another twenty runs like that, and we might have this place under control,” Compel says. “At least Colberton was grown up enough to behave themselves after the win.”

  “I think the unruly ones probably made the trip up here,” Seal Pup mentions. “So, are we gonna talk about you bringing Abel to the bar with Claire sitting right there?”

  “I screwed that one up. My bad.”

  “What were you thinking?”

  “I forgot that Claire had met Abel before. It was over a year ago and only a week or two into my time as a Templar. I just wasn’t thinking.”

  “She looked like she figured something out.”

  “She did. At least she was clever enough to keep her mouth shut in the moment.”

  Seal Pup sighs and sprays another street below. “A journalist with a scoop is a dangerous thing.”

  “Do you think she’ll tell Benji?”

  “I don’t know. She’s protected us as sources to an extent, but that’s when she doesn’t know who’s behind the mask.”

  “Maybe we can fix this with the clone drones,” Compel suggests.

  “How exactly?”

  Compel sprays the next street. “We show up at the precinct in armor while our clone drones stand in uniform.”

  “Won’t work,” Seal Pup says flatly. “Claire may suspect us of being Templars, but she doesn’t know which ones exactly. Unless we had all hands on deck, she could always think we’re just different Templars.”

  “It worked before when Benji and Carlos deduced you were Seal Pup.”

  “Yeah, but back then there weren’t that many Templars, and they specifically had me pegged as Seal Pup.”

  “Shit,” Compel curses.

  “Don’t worry too much about it. It’ll all work itself out. Abel didn’t seem fazed.”

  “He’s not the one I worry about. What’s Votary gonna say when she finds out?”

  “We should probably just talk to Votary and Abel after we clear this crowd.”

  “Good idea.”

  The Templars disperse another mass of rioters, but Seal Pup sees something unusual about this group. They’re spray painting the sides of buildings with something other than their support for the Demons.

  “You see that?” Seal Pup asks.

  Compel looks in the direction he’s pointing and reads the wall.

  “In Abel we trust? That doesn’t sound good.”

  “It sounds like something else we have to discuss with him.”

  “Let’s just finish up here. Then, we can go and take our medicine,” Compel says.

  “Sure, but before I forget again, what’s up with the black eye?”

  “You, too? That’s all I was asked at Miss Ery’s.”

  “And your answer was?”

  “Some scrawny bitch stepped up to me. I didn’t agree with her opinion.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The Templars continue with their mission of restoring calm to Yama.

  “So, the self-proclaimed gods of the universe are at it again,” Papa Nutmare complains to his radio audience.

  “What now, Papa?” Shattered Blanket asks.

  “I’m glad you asked. You see Yama finally won at something. The Demons’ win is the first time any professional team from Yama has won the championship. So, of course, the people want to celebrate. Yes, that means some ass clowns out there take it too far, but it’s no different than any other big city. Apparently, the Templars of Anus decided Yama is different. They caused panic and resulted in even more injuries when they impinged on the personal freedoms of hardworking Americans.”

  “People got hurt, Papa? That’s scary.”

  “Relax, SB, I’ll keep you safe. Just hold onto my pocket.”

  “Yay!”

  “Maybe I’m the one overreacting, Driblets, but when you gas people, they panic and run. Am I being naive in thinking that those thirteen people injured from being trampled would have been fine if the auggies weren’t trying to be the vocal minority?”

  “Some might say that it’s because we’re talking about Yama,” Shattered Blanket suggests.

  “If anyone needs a pass it’s the people of Yama. We have to deal with more auggie shit than anyone because of our proximity to Colberton. I don’t know what that little city has, but it draws the auggies like flies to shit. In addition to that, until the last few years, the Demons have sucked. They were as worthless as old douche water.”

  “Mmmm, now I’m thirsty again,” Shattered Blanket interrupts.

  “The toilet’s that way. Let me finish my thought.”

  A sound effect of a dog licking water is played over Papa Nutmare.

  “Quiet!”

  “Sorry,” Shattered Blanket says.

  “You want to know what part of the problem is, Driblets? It’s because we now have a famous auggie. Gallery’s stunt last month has emboldened these people, and the Templars are using that to their advantage. Gallery, you may have amazing tits, and I thoroughly enjoyed motorboating them, but you’re now banned from this show. Call your mothership and get the hell off
my planet!”

  Keith lies in his bed with his phone in front of him as he waits for a video call to be accepted.

  “Hey, baby,” Jenny says when she answers.

  “It’s so good to see you again.” Keith sighs.

  “The month-long device ban is finally over!” Jenny cheers.

  “I have so many questions for you.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Well, ladies first.”

  “You should see what I can do with my augmentation now. Hold on, I’ll send you a video.”

  Keith’s phone chirps. He watches a sixty second video of Jenny. She produces bubbles, but they now take different shapes. She makes one look like a unicorn, then has it jump over a soapy fence.

  “Pretty cool, huh?” Jenny asks.

  “Awesome, babe. Maybe a naked one next time, huh?”

  “Pervert. We just got out of trouble over that, and you already want more?”

  “It was totally worth it.”

  “It was,” Jenny pleasantly agrees.

  “You aren’t worried that someone will find out about your powers because of the video?”

  “Not anymore,” Jenny admits. “I showed my parents and Joel. By the way, my brother wants to kill you right now. He came home for the summer and is plotting ways to end you before beginning the fall semester.”

  “Thanks for the heads up. I guess he wouldn’t be much of a big brother if he didn’t want to kill me. What did they all say when you showed them?”

  “It was actually kind of underwhelming. They said it was neat but nothing else.”

  “Good thing you can’t turn into a stone monster or shoot lightning, I guess. The A-Men may have tried to snatch you up.”

  “The A-Men?”

  “My dad works with them. I thought they were supposed to be a secret organization, but I saw some footage of them fighting online and my dad said that they aren’t actually classified. I guess the government wants them to be known.”

  “Why?”

  “I guess so people with real powers will join them instead of the Templars.”

  “Real powers? Good to know that I don’t qualify in your opinion.”

  “You’re not mad.”

  “No, I’m not. Besides, I have my calling now.”

  “Which is?”

  “I’m going to be a clown. I’ll make little kids happy when I go to their birthday parties. The bubble effect will make it that much easier.”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  “Thanks. Percy came up with it. He’s pretty smart.”

  “Cool.”

  “So, what’s new with you?”

  “Wait, one more question for you.”

  “I got my period. Crisis averted.”

  Keith lets out a deep sigh. “Thank God.”

  “I told your dad a week ago.”

  “I guess he never got around to passing the message. It’s like him to let me sweat for as long as possible.”

  “Again, what’s new with you?”

  “I got fourth at state in the two mile.”

  “That’s great!” Jenny cheers.

  “Yeah.” Keith grins. “The guys in front of me were all seniors, too. That should mean that I’m top dog for the next two years.”

  “Don’t let that go to your head. There was probably a junior in fifth place who’s thinking the same.”

  “Coach said something like that. Don’t worry. I’ll keep my body strong for you. Hunter and I are going to hit the weights all summer long, then I’ve got football in the fall and wrestling in the winter. Mom thinks I should focus on the running, though.”

  “Why?”

  “She has a scholarship in her eyes and doesn’t want me to train my body in contradictions. Something about white muscle fibers and red muscle fibers. I don’t really care. My dad’s in the Army, so it’s probably where I’m going. Then I get my scholarship, too.”

  “My dad’s in the Army, and I’m going to be a clown. You can be your own person, Keith.”

  “I want to be in the Army. The Templars can’t save us by themselves. When the aliens come back, they’ll need help from soldiers. I plan to be there for them. Votary was there for me.”

  “Okay. The Army’s a great thing, and I can move around as a clown.”

  “You’d come with me?”

  “Of course. I love you. We just have to get this high school thing out of the way first.”

  “You better not move away from me.”

  “My dad just put in his retirement paperwork. He’s looking for a job in Yama.

  “Awesome! That’s a much closer drive.”

  “Now if only you could get a car.”

  “You could, too.”

  The two teens stare at each other for a moment on their respective tablets.

  “You really look good, babe,” Jenny says.

  “How about a flash?” Keith asks.

  Jenny laughs it off. “My door is open and my family is home, so no. And keep your voice down when you want to go all pervy on me.”

  Keith just smiles again at his girlfriend and looks longingly at her body.

  “You want to watch the news together?” Keith asks.

  “Sure. Pierce the Issue is on.”

  Keith rolls his eyes. “For you, babe.”

  “Thank you.”

  Keith grabs his remote and changes the channel to Cammy’s show. Jenny does the same from her own bedroom. Cammy is in the middle of a report.

  “–are showing up everywhere. They all say the same message, ‘In Abel we trust.’ This is an allusion to the name that was dropped on a rival network’s program that an Abel leads the Templars and is the catalyst for all the world’s augmented problems of the past two years.”

  Keith sits up on his bed and focuses on Cammy’s every word.

  Cammy continues. “The group is responsible for the vandalism and protests in dozens of cities across the world. They believe that Abel is the true god. They denounce all branches of Christianity and other major religions. The Abelists, as they call themselves, say that all religious doctrine are just bedtime stories that our ancestors invented to placate questioning children. As you can imagine, many religious leaders don’t agree with their views.”

  Cammy’s show cuts to a prerecording of a man wearing Jewish rabbi attire.

  “The Abelists are just scared, and they’re clinging to anything that they can get their hands on to help explain augmented people. This is all part of God’s plan. We’ll try to enlighten them and bring them back into the fold.”

  The show cuts back to Cammy at her anchor’s desk.

  “Personally, I’m not entirely convinced Abel is real. Let’s not forget that D2I News and Claire Kennedy in particular like to play loose with the facts, then apologize afterwards. They believe in asking for forgiveness instead of begging for permission. I don’t subscribe to this philosophy and will report only the facts once I get them.”

  Keith switches the television off. “Sorry. Trashing Claire is where I draw the line.”

  Jenny still has Cammy on in the background. “Okay, baby, I still want to watch. I’ll talk to you later. I love you.”

  “Okay, I love you, too. Good night.”

  The two end their video chat.

  Claire sits in Larry’s office as he rants to her.

  “You saw the highlights from Cammy’s show, right?” Larry asks.

  “I did,” Claire admits.

  “She called us liars.”

  “We did lie. My audience has long forgiven us for that.”

  “We need to find out how to get in touch with Abel again. If only we knew the Templars’ secret identities.”

  Claire averts Larry’s eyes. She calculates how much she should reveal and decides against saying
anything.

  “Perhaps I can help you with that,” a woman says from Larry’s doorway.

  “Who the hell are you, lady, and how the hell did you get into my office?” Larry demands.

  “I’m Julie, and your people are easily bribed,” Julie answers, “and rather inexpensive, too.”

  Larry scowls. “Do you have a last name, Julie?”

  “That’s not important. What is important is that I can find the Templars outside of their armor.”

  Claire suspiciously eyes Julie. “Are you asking us to pay for this information?”

  “Not at all,” Julie answers as she strolls into the office. She confidently sits in the chair next to Claire across from Larry’s desk.

  “So, then what are you asking for?” Larry asks.

  “I want to be interviewed,” Julie answers.

  “What’s your power?” Claire asks.

  “I’m not an augment,” Julie says.

  “Bullshit,” Claire accuses. “Only two types of people ask for interviews on my show, augments and groupies. I can tell by your outfit that you aren’t a groupie. So, what’s your power?”

  “I don’t have one,” Julie repeats. “What I do have is great intuition. I know who some of the Templars are. Many are police officers.”

  This comment worries Claire, but she fully believes that Julie isn’t boasting.

  “I’ll let the audience know that I’m aware of their secret identities. That should draw some Templars out, and I can use this to find out about Abel for you.”

  “That’ll draw out every gangster out there to catch you and force you to give them the information you claim to have,” Larry says.

  “That won’t be a problem,” Julie answers.

  “How can you be–” Larry starts.

  “That won’t be a problem,” Julie repeats.

  “Fine.” Larry glances at Claire. “Your call, Kid.”

  “I say we put her on, Boss. It’s her life and her choice. We put her on and maybe get the story we need to shut Cammy’s cock holster.”

  “The mouth on this one,” Julie says. “I would never have imagined, judging by your on-screen persona.”

  “Welcome to my world,” Larry says.