by M A Scrawl
Quentin shouldered his backpack again, moving it to a more comfortable spot on his shoulder. Katy ran ahead, warping through the halls, back and forth with boredom. She technically wasn't supposed to use her powers in the halls, where she could be seen, but Katy didn't really care.
She warped into existence next to Kadir, and he winced at the sudden pressure gain next to him, hurting his ear. It balanced out quickly though, and Katy smiled at him. "Have you been thinking about what really happened to us?" she asked, staring into Kadirs’ face. Kadir nodded.
"Well, it's just, I've been wondering too, and it's driving me crazy!" Katy said, finishing her sentence with a teleport ahead, her toes a few feet from the floor. She did a front flip, and exploded in red before she hit the ground, appearing behind Kadir. Kadir sighed.
After a longer few moment, they walked to their bunker, which was there alone next to the gym, where they did the routine exercise Caheel made them do every morning and evening. Push-ups, sit-ups, running. These exercises were no longer painful or sore, just tedious. He could run 3 miles at a fast pace without losing his breath. All of this in six weeks? It really was amazing the way his body had improved.
Caheel walked in briefly, yelling at Kadir to do more push-ups, and Kadir unenthusiastically obliged, doing the extra push-ups with anger.
Caheel spent the most of his time away from Kadir and his siblings, spending as little of his time as possible from him. His hate for the children had only grown, his face contorting in a scowl every time he saw them. What was wrong with that man?
-Chapter 29-
-The Deal-
Caheel didn't have any physical problems. He was in great physical health, accomplishing physical tasks incredibly easy. He didn't have any physical problems, but he did have a lot of life problems.
From the start, his family had scrimped every penny they had, only to have it taken away by his abusive father to spend it on drink. He had lived his entire life bullied and uneducated, his father burning into his mind that any boy of his that goes to school is weak. So, Caheel learned from his father, even though he despised him for not strengthening his family.
Eventually, Caheel was the one that initially broke apart his family, leaving his working mother to go into the military. This action produced resentment, regret, and most of all, anger when his mother died of cancer without expensive treatment, leaving his abusive father to finally fend for himself. Caheel never learned the ending of his father, nor did he even care.
So, he had made himself the best of the best in the military, growing in rank to advance.
It was the result of a fistfight that placed Caheel in Facility C, his rank lowered because of his behavioral problems. His punishment was Facility C, and now, because of yet another fistfight, he was stuck training three children.
The whole reason Caheel had left his family and gone to the military was to fix a lack of something he had missed the entirety of his childhood life.
Money.
Caheel, although he would never tell anyone this, was addicted to money. Money was something he had never had growing up, and suddenly having a regular income of it was incredible, and it made him wish for more, and more, and more, and more....
Caheel was basically a mercenary, though few people knew it. He would work for the highest bidder, the one who waved the most money in his face. None knew of his obsession with money, but if they looked closely at his record, they could figure it out, if they were smart.
Unfortunately, Alexander Tundra was.
-----
When Caheel got the call from watch which summoned him to his bunker bathroom, he knew something strange was going on. He was just walking along, about to eat Lunch, and suddenly he gets orders to go to the bathroom? Strange orders, but he obeyed them. He had enough on his head as it was.
When he finally got to his bunker room, he was wondering why someone would want him in his bathroom. Some kind of strange test?
Whatever it was, he entered the empty bathroom. His bunker was identical to the one that the children were in, and he shared it with three other insufferable S.S.S. He entered the room, and stood there, looking around. No one was in there with him.
"David Caheel."
Caheel spun around, looking for the source of the sound. He didn't see anybody in here though, so what-
The speakers. Whoever had said his name was talking over the bathroom speakers. "Yes? That's me," Caheel said awkwardly, staring at the ceiling where the speakers were positioned. "Are there-uh...cameras in here?"
A silence came, followed by laughter on part of the man over the speaker. "No," he chuckled, "In fact I can't even see you, I only knew you entered by the sound of the door opening."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Alexander Tundra, and I'm here to make an offer."
Caheels’ mind spun. He'd heard of the disastrous happenings five years earlier with the terrorist cell and Alexander Tundra. Why was he contacting Caheel?
"What do you want?" Caheel said, tightening his fists.
"I can hear the threat in your voice," Tundra said. "But I need your help. I can't get into Facility C to get back what's mine without help."
Caheel grit his teeth and turned, walking out of the bathroom. "I'm going to report you, and when they discover whatever hack you made into this system they'll be able to track you." Caheel actually had no idea if they could do this, but he was certain it would make Tundra leave him alone.
"What about 1 Million Dollars?"
Caheel stopped, his hand on the doorknob. He turned. "I'm listening," he said reluctantly.
"Good," Tundra said, and Caheel could hear the grin even across a speaker.
"I am willing to share a bit of my wealth with you to get what I want," Tundra continued. "And you will be able to create an opening for me to get in. You might even be able to get into my group!"
Caheel noticed he used the easy word, 'group' instead of the sinister alternative, 'Terrorist Cell.'
"I could just go and report this to the Overseer," Caheel said, standing a little straighter.
"Ahh," Tundra said, smiling at Caheels’ simpleness from miles away, Caheel was sure. "But that would not benefit anyone now would it?" Caheel grit his teeth again, thinking.
"What is it you are coming to get?" Caheel said.
"A few clones," Tundra replied, his voice seeming to tighten somehow.
Clones? Caheel thought, remembering the children. For some reason it didn't surprise him at all that they were clones, it made sense after all.
"I'll take your offer," Caheel said, smiling at the thought of a million dollars. He could get revenge from Withers, and get rid of the clones, all the while receiving a million dollars from Tundra.
Caheel knew what he was getting into. If he betrayed the government now, he would not be forgiven, and would stay as an outcast for the rest of his life.
But these thoughts were shoved away from his mind, the sight of a million dollars clouding everything.
"Amazing!" Proclaimed the terrorist over the speaker. "Now, here's all I need from you:"
-Chapter 30-
-Kirby's Thoughts-
Kirby found the sight of the stars every day to be a refreshment, and she never found it boring. The constant spinning of Facility C made the experience even better, allowing her to see a new star every moment, and, if she was in the correct spot, Earth.
She hadn't seen the Sun before, even though you could get special glasses that allowed you to stare straight into it. The windows in Facility C always closed automatically when the Satellite spun to face the Sun. Its rays were much more harmful in space where there was no atmosphere, so one look would blind you for life.
Kirby had witnessed the pain that the clones had gone through, ordered by Caheel. She didn't want to put them through that, but it was also possible that they would be put through even more torture by the government.
She really was fond of them, and didn't want to see the misery they had
gone through for the sake of training. But then again, she didn't really have a choice. Withers had run that, making a deal with Caspian Bard, a C.I.A. leader, involving him keeping the clones secret in exchange for Withers training them.
Kirby wasn't sure how she felt about Withers. She respected him as her superior, but the fact that he had stolen her aspired job.... Kirby wasn't sure she could forgive him for that. In this day and age, jobs were hard to come by, and you shouldn't get one via stealing it. Was it actually his fault? Did he even want this job?
These thoughts had been festering in her mind ever since Withers had showed up at Facility C with her yearned job. She decided finally that she would talk to Withers about this, even though it might damage her work relationship with him.
Kirby exited her room, deciding finally to go to Withers office, even though she walked reluctantly. Sahara had wanted her to become Overseer, had it been his choice to make Withers Overseer?
She made it to Withers office after a long walk from her room, contemplating the words she would say to him.
She entered the room, and saw Withers sitting in his desk, pouring over paperwork. Her firmness seemed to bleed away as Withers looked up. I CAN'T DO THIS.
"Yes Ms. Kirby?" Withers asked, looking confused at her rigid posture. Kirby resolved herself, she couldn't back out now, and she had to go through with it.
"Um, Mr. Withers?" Kirby said nervously.
"Yes Ms. Kirby?" Withers repeated, putting down the paperwork he was holding.
Kirby breathed out, trying to calm herself. "I-uh, wish to know the reason you came to Facility C." she said finally. Wither leaned back in his chair. "Well, Ms. Kirby, that's rather a delicate conversation," he said. "But, I will tell you." He gestured at another chair in front of his desk. "Please have a seat."
Kirby obliged, sitting down in the chair to listen to what he was going to say.
"Well, I guess it's rather a simple story," Withers said, sighing. "I used to be an official in the government. A political agent to control politics in America, to wave the politicians the way we wanted them to go." Here Withers sighed and drooped his head slightly. "I was posted here after I pointed out that a man running for President, Bartholomew Creed, was working in a black market trade. The government already knew this and were going to use this in political warfare...Of course, I ruined this."
Kirby looked at him with wonder.
"So, I was posted here as Overseer for going too fast for the government," Withers finished slowly. “Yes, its an honorable position, but I have no influence here. It's a punishment…”
A silence went through the room, Kirby pondering what he'd said, and Withers probably thinking of his old life back on Earth. No wonder he hated the stars. He just didn't belong here.
And he never wanted this job, he was placed here against his will, Kirby thought, realizing the truth. The conflict she had ever had with him melted away inside of her as she started to pity the man. Jail was one thing, but a Facility stuck out in space, being placed in a stressful job against your will? That must've been horrible.
Well, Kirby thought, at least now I know…
"Why'd you want to know anyways?" Withers asked, looking at her with a curious expression on his face. Kirby gulped, nervous about the truth.
"Sir, I...well... I may have been resenting you for taking my desired job ever since you came here." Kirby swallowed. Saying that might get her demoted, but she couldn't help it. One of the first rules was to answer any question the Overseer asked truthfully.
Withers actually looked speechless for a moment, his face a hilarious image of pure surprise. Kirby had to stop herself before she actually laughed at his face. THAT would be disastrous.
Withers managed to rid of his surprise slowly, and looked around the room. "Really?" he whispered, "You really envy the job I'm in?"
Kirby hesitated, then nodded.
Then Withers burst out laughing. His raucous laughter spread through the halls, and Kirby blushed. She hadn't expected this from Mr. Withers, nor had she expected the fact that he didn't want the job he was forced into, possibly against the wishes of the former Overseer, Sahara.
Kirby found that she was actually smiling. Not fake, forced smiling that had been a common occurrence in her life, but a genuine, heartfelt joy that she hadn't had in a long time. All those festering thoughts that had burdened her down for months was gone now.
Withers was a good man, a good man told to do questionable things. Like train children to be weapons of war, and keep them locked up in a spinning vault in space, named Facility C.
-Chapter 31-
-Problems-
When Kadir woke, he didn't hear the command com to get up and be summoned to whatever room they were going to go. Today, Kadir woke to no sound, except the soft breathing of his siblings in the room. He glanced at the clock, and saw it was 8:12 A.M. The command com always called them on at 5:00 A.M.
Kadir smiled, realizing it was Saturday. Saturday and Sunday were the days on which Kadir and his siblings could do their favorite thing: Nothing.
Kadir pushed his legs out of the bed, waking his light-sleeping brother, Quentin. Katy, the deep-sleeper of their family.
Family.
That word had come without warning, an image of a mom, dad and children gathered around a table slotted into his mind. A reminder that two of those people weren't there, Mom and Dad.
Kadir thought often of whatever parents he'd had before he'd come to Facility C. Assuming he had even been off the Satellite ever before. He didn't remember his parents, but he was fairly sure he had them. After all, where else could he have come from?
Kadir wandered around his bunker, not really doing anything. Now that he thought about it, Saturday and Sunday were the most boring days of the week. No agenda, no decisions, no tests. They could and did do their exercises every morning and evening, even on the rest days, but they were brief compared to the rest of the day.
Kadir sat down on the couch, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Katy woke up, and warped out of her bed, standing in the kitchen. Katy was the one who used her powers more, her siblings preferring to only use the powers when they needed to, which was basically never.
Katy started making coffee in the kitchen, Kadir hearing as she poured the water into the top and placing the coffee grounds into the top of the machine. Kadir sighed. She really didn't need the caffeine, as she was energetic as she was. Katy had already explained though, that she liked the “energy boost.”
Kadir had tried the dreadful coffee before, and found its smell pleasant. It was the taste that made it horrible. Katy said he had to put 'creamer' in it, and had proceed to fill her cup halfway with the substance. At that point, Kadir had given up, promising himself to not drink any more of the stuff.
Kadir got up, going for the bunker exit.
“Where ya going?” Katy asked from across the small room, sipping at her coffee.
"I don't know yet. Maybe to the gym?" Kadir replied, opening the door and exiting.
He did go to the gym, and took off his shirt as he swam a few laps in the treadmill pool. Swimming was an interesting experience. It was like floating, or flying in mid-water. He just took a breath, and he bobbed up. Releasing it, and he sunk down.
The water treadmill was a square tank that was raised on the ground. A jet in front of Kadir pushed water past him, and he swam to stop from going backward. So basically, he was swimming in place.
The Treadmill had different speeds, and Kadir put it at a low setting first, gradually getting higher and higher till water was blasting past him, a little of the water going out of the tank and then slinking into the drainage next to the pool.
Four pools were positioned around the gym, and Kadir didn’t notice as his siblings entered the gym, getting into the other pools. Katy was next to him, swimming with perfect form as Caheel had taught them. Knowing how to swim could save their lives. At least thats what Caheel had said.
Quentin was not very good at swi
mming. He tended to sink unless he was going extremely fast, blasting water behind him with the force of his strokes. He was next to Katy, swimming with all his might, starting at the highest level. Quentin's exercises had been different. In order for him to actually get muscle on his chest, since his arms and legs were prosthetics, Caheel had him do different exercises designed specifically for amputees, or people with prosthetics.
Kadir got out of the pool, drying himself off with the towel from a rack next to the pool. Putting it in a laundry chute next to the rack, he proceeded to do more push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises. This was all he could do really on the rest days, unless he wanted to wander around Facility C aimlessly.
Katy grew restless, the exercises getting tiresome as they did so often. She started absently warping around, people warily looking at her in the gym as she stood atop some of the equipment.
Kadir sighed. He was getting restless too. Nothing but boring exercises they'd been doing ever since they escaped the detainment cell.
Katy groaned with boredom and teleported to the exit of the gym. "Hey guys! I'm gonna go wander around aimlessly looking for people to annoy!" Kadir grumbled and hastily got his shirt and shoes back on as he followed Katy. Bursting out of the gym, he saw an empty hallway to his left and right.
Hearing a slight boom sound to his left, he recognized the sound of Katy's teleportation and quickly ran down the hall.
-----
Kadir found Quentin catching up behind him, but kept running. Katy wasn't supposed to be alone in Facility C without one of them. Also technically Kadir wasn't supposed to be running. He stopped at a screen displaying the Alert Screen in the hallway.
