Time Leap: A Teen Superheroes Saga

by Preston Flint

  I frowned confusingly.

  “Let me remind you, Derek, that they are also able to travel through time. You’ve seen it … they activate it from their watches.”

  I nodded.

  “Their watches, which are devices with an advanced operating system, sending precise signals to the brain. They are a technological replica from our genetics. As I mentioned before, they tend to capture us to perform numerous experiments, to implant our specific gene into themselves. That makes you the most vulnerable from all of us, for being the least experienced. That’s why they’re tending to get to you first.”

  “It’s more complicated than I thought,” I admitted. “Why do they want me, when they already took the older me?”

  “Perhaps, they failed. And you’re their second chance.”

  I glanced down at the ground, feeling gloomy.

  “Keep your eyes open, Derek,” Thomas suggested.

  I nodded, disposing the yellow envelope in an open trash can, nearby. I slid the metal stick in my blazer’s inner pocket. Then I hung the gun to my belt, behind me, perfectly hidden under my blazer.

  CHAPTER 33

  Strolling back to my table, I saw the hostess, arriving with our dishes. I sat down as Samantha stared at me worryingly.

  “Is everything all right, Derek?” she asked me.

  “Sure, everything’s fine,” I replied. “This looks delicious!”

  “Indeed, it does!” she said, taking her first bite, using chopsticks.

  I savored a piece of General Tao, along with a few noodles.

  Samantha kept eating a few more bites before she fell into her thoughts. Seeing it through her eyes, thinking and searching, hopefully not too far in her memory.

  “What were we talking about before you left the table?”

  You’re asking me? That’s a pretty good question!

  I gently shook my head.

  “Oh! About me looking for a better job …”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” I said.

  “How about you … any calls?” she asked me.

  “No job offers, yet.”

  “Is everything all right?” the hostess said, passing by.

  “Everything’s great!” Samantha commented.

  “Delicious!” I nodded at the woman.

  Gazing into Samantha’s impossible-to-ignore blue eyes, I just couldn’t help smiling at her.

  “What is it?” she said vividly.

  “I’m very happy we’re doing this, Samantha,” I told her. “I wouldn’t be happier with anyone else than you.”

  “Aw! That’s so sweet!”

  I subtly glanced to various corners of the restaurant, as well at most tables. I was trying to identify anything that might be suspicious. Glancing at the diners and other waiters, walking by.

  Even the hostess could be an Elite. It could be anybody.

  Then I thought about my gun, knowing that it shoots white lights, but wondering what it actually does.

  “You wanna do something else, after?” I offered.

  “Like what?” Samantha said.

  “Go for a movie, maybe?”

  “Sure! Good idea. You want me to check what’s playing?” she said, fishing out her cell phone from her black purse.

  It was my thought of remaining alert, getting out of this restaurant as soon as possible and keeping a close eye on my girlfriend. Proceeding without giving the slightest worrying impression whatsoever. Giving my might for Samantha not to become doubtful about anything.

  But the restaurant was quiet.

  I was having an urge to go to the men’s room – this time for real.

  Figuring that if the Elites were in fact roaming among us, they’d probably be waiting for me to be by myself to capture me. And I knew had to face them, one way or the other. They were the only ones who could provide me with the answer of where my older self was being held.

  “‘Sack Lunch Party’ is playing at eight oh-five,” Samantha said. “It’s supposed to be a hilarious comedy.” She then scrolled down for a second option. “Oh! How about a cute romantic movie?” she suggested.

  “Can you excuse me for a few seconds?”

  “Washroom? Again?” she said.

  I nodded. “Be right back … you could order dessert if you’d like.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Entering the men’s room, I saw a man in a black suit, standing by the wall using the hand dryer. I held a cautious eye and attentive ear for any swift movement. But the man soon exited, with the machine shutting itself after a minute.

  I decided to survey the area, activating the see-through panel from my watch. A panel graphically emerged from the tiny screen of my watch, allowing me to see through the walls and compartments.

  Luckily, I was alone.

  I decided to get on with my business, still keeping myself alert. Then I went to wash my hands, keeping my gaze at the mirror and the door, from a side angle. I only heard sounds from the nearby kitchen: clapping dishes and people arguing.

  But I kept my full concentration at the mirror.

  Then as I immediately saw the start of a red flash, forming in the mirror, I had managed to quickly disappear and deliberately appear … behind a man.

  Already my gun in hand, I shot him before he could have escaped, or even turn around. The man was struck with bright sparks, surging his entire body. He fell to the ground, merely shaking, his limbs completely paralyzed. The sparks vanished as the man remained still, shooting a destructive gaze at me.

  So, that’s what the gun does!

  “Who are you?” I demanded.

  The man only smiled, unwilling to answer.

  Then a blue flash blew from one of the compartments, seeing Thomas stepping forward.

  “Good job, Derek,” he said, picking the man up and disappearing.

  Sliding the gun into my belt, behind me, I exited the men’s room.

  Walking out of the hallway, then entering the dining area, things began to feel a little weird.

  I continued toward my table, seeing a man from behind, sitting at my chair across from Samantha. I came around a few tables, noticing that the man wearing a black suit was definitely an Elite.

  It was Shelby.

  “Drop your gun, Derek,” he said in low voice, keeping his eyes at my girlfriend.

  “Derek, you have a gun?” Samantha almost whispered, trembling all the way through her voice. “What’s this all about? What’s going on?”

  “You haven’t told your girlfriend, Derek?” Shelby smirked. “It’s not nice to keep secrets from her like that.”

  “You leave her alone,” I told him, my jaw tightening.

  He finally turned to me, showing a smile. “Listen to me, young man,” he proceeded, keeping his voice low. “I have a gun under this table, aimed at your beautiful girlfriend. If you don’t drop it, I won’t hesitate of blowing her into pieces in from of all these people. Do you understand me?” He looked back at Samantha. “It would be a terrible waste. Wouldn’t it be?”

  Samantha seemed to struggle for holding back her tears.

  “Remember, Derek. I may have something that you want,” he added. “Not only that we have the old Derek, being still alive, in fact. We also hold serious knowledge on the origins of your genetic code.”

  I shook my head. “You’re a lying snake.”

  “I’m not gonna ask you twice, Derek.”

  “If I give you my gun, you let her go,” I said firmly.

  Shelby grinned. “Wow! That easy?” he cackled. “Just too bad you’re not so man enough to fight for her.”

  “It’s me you want, Shelby,” I said, reaching behind me, under my blazer.

  “Sit down and hand me the gun discreetly,” he ordered.

  I pulled a chair, from an empty table, and sat down. Then I slipped out the gun, laying it forward.

  I was feeling crushed for seeing Samantha’s eyes flooded with dreadful fear.

  My heart almost pounded out of my chest. I only had half the ch
ances to make it work and assure that Samantha would be safe.

  Shelby barely had the chance to lay the tip of his fingers on the gun.

  Just as swiftly …

  Samantha was slightly pushed back as I appeared right in front of her. I had already shot Shelby before he had the time to realize that another me appeared a split-second before I had vanished from my seat.

  Shelby fell off the chair, triggering a shot at the bar, blowing a large part of the counter, along with a shower of shattered glass, fortunately, leaving everyone else unharmed.

  The entire area grew into a panic. Shelby remained paralyzed, perhaps only for a moment.

  I dropped a few twenty dollar bills on the table and took Samantha’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “What the hell is going on?” she yelled.

  I saw Shelby taken away by Thomas and two more men, before Samantha and I fled out the restaurant.

  CHAPTER 35

  Leaving the restaurant, I drove my mother’s sedan to Samantha’s house, explaining absolutely everything to her. I figured she deserved at least that much, having my mind flooded with guilt, taking the blame on my shoulders to have made her go through this.

  This is so unfair …

  All I wanted was to go out on a quiet date.

  But as Thomas had already mentioned: that from now on, I will never lead a normal life.

  Pulling in front of Samantha’s house, I felt the intensity of her gaze pressing against me.

  “These people who call themselves Elites … are from the future, aren’t they?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And they want to capture you to attempt experiments on you … This is absolutely horrifying!”

  “That’s why I got into intensive training, to be able to protect myself,” I explained to her. “My life changed completely within a week!”

  Samantha still looked half puzzled. I couldn’t blame her, knowing myself that it was all too hard to swallow in a single shot.

  I held my gaze past the windshield, staring far into the street. Wanting so much to say more, I was suddenly unable to move my lips, struggling hard to keep in my tears. Afraid that something might happen to her.

  “I’m so sorry,” I forced out. “I didn’t want to lie to you. I was so afraid of losing you back there. If anything would happen to you, Samantha, I would never forgive myself.”

  Feeling her soft hand behind my neck, I finally turned to her.

  “But it’s not your fault, Derek! You’re born with an amazing gift!”

  “And because that gift, Samantha, things could get disastrous for the people around me. I promise to always be there for you. To protect you from any harm … I swear it on my life.”

  She smiled, although seeming sad. She leaned forward and kissed me. “Thank you, Derek!” She sighed. “Back at the restaurant, I saw that there were two of you during a whole second … How can that be?” she wondered.

  “I managed to transmit myself, in front of you, a second earlier, hoping to distract Shelby and to protect you from his gunshot,” I told her.

  “You could have been blown to pieces!”

  I nodded. “I’d give my life for you.”

  We slowly leaned closer to each other, suddenly feeling her gentle warm breath against my face. Then I felt the softness of her lips against mine, closing my eyes for a moment.

  I opened my eyes, both of us releasing a rejoicing sigh.

  Then we both stepped out of the car as I accompanied Samantha to her front door.

  “Sorry to intrude,” Thomas spoke a few meters behind us.

  We both turned to him, remaining on the front porch.

  Thomas drew a few steps closer.

  Samantha dimmed her eyes at the man, approaching us. “Is that your brother?”

  I nodded at her. “From the future.”

  “I know you told her everything, Derek. And it’s okay,” he added. “You could both sleep tight tonight. You’ll be safe.”

  “I’ll be joining you guys in a bit,” I told him.

  “You did good tonight, Derek. Actually, it was quite impressive!” he complimented. “Meanwhile you held Shelby paralyzed, we fought from a close perimeter, keeping any more of them from reaching you.”

  “Where’s Shelby, now?” I asked.

  “Locked up along with a few others at our facility.”

  “I think it would be wise if I let the Elites catch me,” I concluded.

  Samantha swiftly turned to me. “Derek … No! Please don’t!” she almost shouted.

  Thomas immediately shook his head. “Derek, that’s totally out of the question. By doing that you’re handing them their victory on a golden platter. That’s exactly what they want … for you to play their game.”

  “I will not accept to see anyone suffer because of me … it’s me they want.”

  “That’s exactly what the other Derek did,” Thomas alleged. “Sacrificing himself to save the others. And they’re still coming for us.”

  “Samantha almost got killed, tonight!” I said.

  “I know, Derek,” he replied calmly. “That’s why it’s our job to keep fighting against them.”

  Thomas nodded at both Samantha and I, then turned away, disappearing into a blue flash of light.

  “Derek, whatever happens between you and me, or everything else, you have to be strong,” Samantha told me.

  We hugged each other tightly, and kissed each other good night.

  CHAPTER 36

  “Where’s Shelby?” I asked Thomas, standing before his desk, in his office. The place was another room of many, with charcoal-colored tiles to every wall. But this time, the tiles generated a quite pleasing holographic ambiance all around us. Featuring a quiet scene from the woods: powerful rays of sunlight beaming between the large tree trunks filled with thick leaves, a tiny creek flowing nearby, along with several patches of green moss, covering several parts of the ground, rocks and the bottom of many trees.

  “He’s down to sector B-42,” Thomas stated. “You could try to talk to him, or all of them, if you want to. But it won’t do much good. Most of the time, they tend to babel continuously, to confuse and try to manipulate your mind.”

  I sighed tiresomely.

  “I’m not telling you not to go,” Thomas added. “Give it a try, if you want to. But be careful not to be badly influenced by their words.”

  “When they’ve captured your brother, Derek, did you ever tried looking for him?” I asked.

  “Yes I did,” Thomas said. “I spent months searching for my brother with no success, even though he told me, countless times, to never go look for him if he’d be captured.”

  “Shelby told me he’s still alive,” I said.

  “Maybe, but it may not be true. They could say anything to manipulate. Elites are very dangerous people, Derek. They are genetically modified, making them physically stronger and faster than we are. But the one thing that they can’t do, is to transmit themselves as fast as we can. That’s how you got Shelby – actually one of the strongest of the Elites.”

  “Like when he came to school and you tried to shoot him. He moved incredibly fast,” I recalled. “He has weird eyes, kind of unnatural blue.”

  Thomas grinned. “He has bionic eyes. After several testing chemicals were injected into his body, in attempt of making him superior to an average human, the whole process made him turn to insanity. He physically pulled his eyes out.”

  “But how do you know all this?” I demanded, frowning.

  “Looking for my brother, I distantly hacked into their systems, hoping to find anything about him. But there was nothing from the files I was able to access. I came across several of their archives about performing tests on humans. It was quite disturbing to look at. A few months ago, they’ve also managed to capture one of our best scientists, compelling him to work on their destructive projects.”

  I turned away, exiting Thomas’s office. The tiles unclasped, forming a doorway among the colorful
hologram of a peaceful area from deep into the woods.

  CHAPTER 37