by Jakob Farrar
He lifted the missile and threw it back and the tank with just as much force as the tank had. The tank went up in flames, exploding with a crash that could be heard for miles. Soldiers went flying, screaming for help, yet receiving none. Only now did soldiers try to retreat. Phoebe let them, and so did the new arrival.
Byron sprinted towards Phoebe and Stephen, Ashley and Mark close behind him. He knelt next to Stephen’s side, inspecting his wound. “This isn’t fatal,” he said, “But he’ll be in a lot of pain when he wakes up. Mark, get in the bag and see if there’s anything we can stitch him up with.” Byron stepped aside for Mark, standing and turning towards the newcomer.
“Gabe, I presume?” Byron said. The tall man just nodded. “Byron Peters. Yes, I was the one in your head. I don’t know how to explain it, but you are like me.”
“I can get into other people’s heads?” Gabe said, his voice deep and quiet.
“Not quite,” Byron said. “I saw what you can do, and it’s fascinating. It seems that you can absorb any material that you touch and create an outer shell to protect and strengthen yourself.”
“How do I do that?”
“I don’t know exactly. It’s possible that your skin could be ripping molecules from the surface of the material you touch and replicating them, cloning them almost.” Suddenly, something dawned on Byron. “Where’s your friend?” he asked.
“He got caught,” Gabe said, “We were running out here and we were surprised by police. I managed to make it, but they got ahold of him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Byron said. “I wish we could go after him but I’m afraid that as soon as Stephen wakes up we’ll need to get moving.”
“I know,” Gabe said, “I don’t know that Oscar would want me to come after him anyways. He understood the situation and would want me to get as far away as I could.”
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Byron said, “Most of us are together now. Soon we’ll all be safe and out of harm’s way.”
Chapter Nine
Project Zero
Stephen awoke, only to nearly pass out again. The pain in his shoulder nearly killed him, literally. He heard Byron’s voice saying that it wasn’t lethal, but he didn’t seem to understand. Stephen could barely sit up, and, when he did, the sight of the giant Gabe nearly threw him back down onto the ground. Gabe hovered six feet above him, his small eyes peering down at Stephen. The sight of the huge man startled Stephen into forgetting his pain. He leapt up and was ready to fight a losing battle, but was reassured by Byron that this man was not an enemy.
“You’ll live,” Byron said to him regarding his wound, “But I doubt you’ll be able to fight at all until later.”
“Wonderful,” Stephen said sarcastically, “I might as well stay here. I’ll just slow you guys down, and I won’t be of any use.”
“No,” said Phoebe, “What you did back there was brave. Thank you.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I won’t be able to help you guys,” Stephen said.
“We’re not leaving you here,” said Mark, “You’ll come with us. You might have to teleport a few yards ahead and wait for us every once in a while, but you’ll come.”
“A Ninth Sector?” said Kristine Neff, Thomas Garek’s assistant, shocked. Thomas was in his office at Sector One, gazing out into the wide streets where soldiers stood at attention for hours on end. He had been tasked with creating Sector Nine, a luring safe haven for the Unnatural. He had told Kristine, and Thomas planned to work with her to create Nine.
Kristine was a tall woman, but other than that seemed pretty meek. She wore a gray suit and carried a tablet with her wherever she went. Her hair was always expertly arranged in a bun, and she did whatever Thomas asked her to do.
“Yes,” replied Thomas, “That’s what the President said. And it must be kept out of the people’s knowledge, including the Unnatural’s.”
“But who will we populate it with?”
“Who knows? The President has his ways. Most likely some Secret Service agents, with relocated citizens as the majority of the population.”
“What will they do there?”
“I don’t know that, either. At least, I don’t know what the President has planned. I know what I’ll do, though, once he appoints me governor.”
“And what is that?”
“I’ll capture the Unnatural and hold them there as the President has already instructed. However, I will do something outside of his knowledge. I am going to create an army, Kristine; an unstoppable army,” he turned from the window to face her, “I’m going to clone the Unnatural’s DNA and give it to the population of Sector Nine.”
“That seems pretty treacherous,” Kristine said, “I should tell the governor.”
“It’s your word against mine, sweetie.”
Kristine looked offended, but that didn’t matter to Thomas. She wasn’t really the type that made him feel threatened. “What are you going to do with your army?” she asked.
“I’m going to make sure the Leonic Threat ends. We’ll be free; we’ll never have to worry about another 2107 Incident again.”
“What about after that?”
Thomas was silent. “I don’t know,” he said, honestly enough, “Maybe I’ll kill Sector Nine. Or maybe we won’t have any need for Sector One anymore; we’ll just use the people from Nine as our law enforcement.”
“Or maybe use them to overthrow the government,” Kristine said accusingly.
Thomas looked at her, shocked. “I wouldn’t do such a thing,” he said defensively, “I would use my creations for the good of the Nation.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” Kristine said, “But is this really what is best?”
“Of course it is,” Thomas said, “The only way to defeat force is with force, and currently we don’t have that kind of strength.”
Kristine looked at him as if she didn’t believe him before turning around and walking out the door, shutting it behind her.
Thomas looked back out the window, watching the soldiers march through their school below, wondering about Kristine’s statement.
Was he doing what was best for his Nation?
Meanwhile, Peyton Burton was having similar thoughts, except miles and miles away, underground, outside of the Sectors. He was in his headquarters, the Head of Secret Service Operations, the place he spent most of his life. He was far beneath the upper levels in a laboratory only he and a select few scientists knew of. Here was where he was building a weapon.
Here was where he would stop the Unnatural.
He called it Project Zero, an unstoppable force that could counter the Unnatural’s abilities and was virtually indestructible. It wasn’t finished yet; Peyton had had a difficult time re-earthing the genetic code that made the Unnatural who they were. However, he calculated that the Project would be complete by the time the Unnatural gathered together and escaped their reach.
Then Peyton had a thought. Thomas Garek was creating a Ninth Sector; maybe Peyton could use that to help with his Project.
He rushed over to a keyboard that sat on a desk. He pressed a button, and the screen that projected across the entire wall lit up, awaiting his command. Through a series of passcodes and intricate scrolling, Peyton was able to find a biography of Mark Konners, one of the Unnatural. Peyton had a particular interest in Mark, perhaps because of his interest in Peyton’s daughter. Maybe it was because of his ability. The thought of Pyrokenisis had always fascinated him, fire being an extremely dangerous, yet incredibly beautiful, entity. As Peyton read, he found two perfect subjects for his tests.
Caleb Watkins, scheduled to be transferred to Sector One in three days.
And Nellie Reed, who was supposed to stay in Sector Two for the rest of her life.
If he and Thomas could use these two…That would make it much easier to capture the Unnatural, or, at least, Mark. That was a problem, though; only Mark would be drawn towards these two, not necessarily the others, especially the two n
ewest of the group; Stephen and Gabe.
So Peyton dug some more, this time into Gabriel’s biography. Like Mark, there was really only one person Gabe trusted; the person’s name was Oscar Baker. Perhaps Peyton could use Oscar to draw the Unnatural in, as well. He looked into Stephen’s too, and he found someone by the name of Grace. She was only sixteen, though, so it might not work exactly how he wanted.
Peyton picked up the laboratory’s telephone. Normally he wouldn’t be able to communicate to people outside of his headquarters, but some scientists from Sectors Five and Eight had willingly given him a hand.
He dialed the war coordinator. Peyton savored the process. Normal people, if they could afford it, would use a touchscreen, computer, or even a hologram, but not Peyton. He enjoyed the simplicity of the relic. It was one of the only things he could remember about his old home.
“Thomas,” said Peyton when the war coordinator picked up the phone, “There’s been a change of plans. Once you finish excavating Sector Nine, I need you to do something for me.”
“I’ve noticed something,” said Byron to Mark that night, after they’d traveled for miles once again.
“What?” Mark said, not really interested in Byron’s observations.
“Which Sector were you assigned to on your Placement Test?” he asked.
“Sector Two,” Mark answered, “Why?”
“And Ashley was assigned to Sector One. Phoebe was assigned to Sector Three, and Stephen was assigned to Sector Four. Want to guess where Gabe was assigned?”
“Five?”
Byron nodded. “It seems as though we’re all being assigned to our Sectors of origin. It’s as though they’re trying to keep us trapped in our homes. They’re trying to keep us apart. I don’t think we’ll need to look in any Sectors for the other three; they’ll be kept in their own Sectors. Especially this next one.”
“You know who we’re looking for again?”
“You mean who I’m looking for.”
“What?”
“Stephen won’t be able to come with us, and he can’t be left alone. There’s no telling what could happen to him.”
“So you want me to stay with him?”
“Yes. Try to go around the Sector, we’ll meet you there with the newcomer.”
“Why me?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Why can’t Phoebe stay behind? Or Gabe? Or even you?”
“Gabe can’t stay with Stephen because of his lack of experience. At least, lack of experience with us.”
“Oh, yeah, and taking him with no experience into the middle of the job is a great idea,” Mark said sarcastically. He was getting mad.
“Perhaps it is.”
“Then why not Phoebe?”
“You wouldn’t want that, would you?” Byron gave Mark his sly, mischievous grin again. “And don’t bother asking about Ashley, there’s no way I’m leaving her with Stephen.”
“Why?”
“Here’s the situation. This woman we’re looking for has been captured. She is trapped somewhere far beneath the Sector Six Control Center. Ashley, with her Shapeshifting abilities, will be essential to infiltrating what will inevitably be such a high security prison.
“I don’t necessarily like her going in there without me. Why can’t you stay with him?”
“Because you’ll need me to find her.”
“Who?”
“Kaytlen Williams.”
“I doubt we would. We’d just follow the path of destruction that always happens when people show up.”
“Mark, you’re staying here with Stephen.”
“Why?”
“This is going to be a rather circular argument, isn’t it?”
“Stephen’s fine! He can go in there with the rest of us!”
“No,” said Byron firmly, “I’m not going to take that risk. He has someone back at his home waiting for him. You going in there and feeling heroic is not worth Stephen or Grace’s life. You will stay with Stephen, Mark.”
“I know why you’re leaving me here,” said Mark accusingly, “You want to take Phoebe. You want to make sure she stays away from me, and with you. You’re evil, Byron.”
“Do not attempt to lecture me on morals, Mark,” Byron says smoothly, almost as frightening as if he had screamed the statement, “Believe me, I have no interest in Phoebe beyond making sure that she makes it out safe, just like the rest of you.”
“I wonder why I doubt you so much, Byron,” Mark said sarcastically.
“Do not antagonize me, Mark,” Byron said angrily “I am much more powerful than you could imagine. I could know your every move before you made it, I would know your weakest points, physically, emotionally, and mentally. There is much at play here you cannot begin to comprehend, both with me and with what we’re doing and why. I’m the only reason you’re alive and I will be the only reason you survive this ordeal. You will do as I say and you will trust me, or else your life will not last much longer.” Byron sped up, walking past Mark as Sector Six came ever closer, the sun setting behind the tall buildings of the large city.
Chapter Ten
Dreaming
Mark heard sounds of battle all around him. Gunshots went off, fire burned, people screamed for help but receiving no mercy.
Mark opened his eyes, his head rested against a rock. All around him were people fighting, some people soldiers and other obviously, from their dress, citizens of different Sectors, all rebelling against the military.
Mark stood. How had all of this happened while he slept? Mark felt fire in his hand. He was ready to fight, even if he didn’t know why. He threw the fireball forwards, incinerating a soldier. He felt a hand grab him from behind. Mark elbowed the soldier, turned and connected his fist with the mask the soldier wore. The soldier threw a punch at Mark, who ducked. However, this gave the soldier time to swing his rifle around. Mark came back up, yanking the soldier’s pistol from the soldier’s holster at the same time. Mark didn’t know why he did it; he didn’t need a weapon, he had his fire. The soldier fired his rifle, but Mark jumped aside, feeling the heat of the laser as it passed by him. Mark brought the pistol up, leveling it with the soldier’s face. Just as he pulled the trigger, though, the soldier ducked, the laser going straight over his head and connecting with another body that was not a soldier. Mark brought the pistol down and shot the soldier on the top of his head, running forward to see who he had accidentally shot, dropping the pistol and extinguishing the flame in his hand at will.
He turned the body over and stumbled back, feeling sick. The person he had just shot was Phoebe. Mark felt dizzy. He didn’t know it was her; how could he? But it was still her. Mark had just killed Phoebe.
Mark’s vision blurred and spun. He could feel the fire coming back to his hand again without him telling it to. He didn’t care. All he could focus on was Phoebe’s body. But, this time, the fire didn’t stay limited to his hand. It traveled up his arm, across his chest, up his neck, until it had consumed his whole body. Mark felt nothing but heat, nothing but pain.
He was fire.
Mark screamed in pain as the fire traveled outward, out of his body. And then it was gone. The fire had left him.
And, now, all around him for miles and miles, was nothing but a charred, ashen wasteland.
Mark opened his eyes again. The sky was dark, dotted with little lights. The moon was full and huge, lighting up the field, making it almost as bright as day. Had what he just experienced been real? Or was it just another dream? Mark had a feeling that he wouldn’t be able to sleep again that night. He sat up, looking around and the quiet landscape. His companions were asleep. For the first time, he saw Byron resting. Good. Mark wouldn’t have to deal with him.
Phoebe wasn’t asleep, though. She was sitting on a nearby rock, staring off into space. Mark stood silently, approaching her. “Hi,” he said quietly, sitting on the rock with her. Phoebe jumped, alert all of a sudden, but settled down a little, when she saw who had addressed her
. She still looked nervous, though.
“What’s wrong?” said Mark, noting her anxiety.
“I feel something,” she said, “I’ve not felt it before. It feels like it’s a part of me, though. It’s getting bigger, coming closer to me, almost as if I want it to.”
Mark was quiet, trying to understand what Phoebe was saying. Wait…was she saying that-
Suddenly, Mark heard a loud, chopping sound above them. He saw a large, black shadow cover the bright moon and begin descending. Mark saw Byron sit up as the thing landed on the ground. People began pouring out of it, loading weapons, shouting.
It was a helicopter. Byron, Stephen, and Gabe stood, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, preparing to fight. He saw Ashley, who had already been awake, changing her skin to match the armor typically worn by the soldiers that were about to attack them. Phoebe turned, slid off the rock, and ran towards the helicopter.
“Phoebe, wait!” shouted Mark, running after her. Phoebe ignored him, going straight for one of the soldiers. She hit him on the back of the head, but another soldier ran up behind her and smacked her head with the butt of his rifle. Phoebe collapsed. Mark shouted, bringing out the lighter Byron had given him. He struck it, calling the flame to his hand. Stephen teleported behind one of the soldiers, kicking his neck in mid-air, then teleporting away. Gabe punched one of the soldiers, cracking his helmet and grabbing his gun. The material of the metal ran up Gabe’s arm and had soon consumed his whole body. Gabe turned and sent a soldier that was running at him flying. The soldiers opened fire on him, but the bullets did nothing more than make dents in his skin. Where Ashley was, Mark had no clue, but he was sure that she was wreaking havoc as amongst the soldiers as one of their own. Byron ducked under a soldier’s punch and came back up, shoving his fingers into the gap in the armor in the soldier’s armpit, rendering his arm useless and making the soldier cry out in pain. Byron kicked the man behind his knees, making him collapse, then drove his foot into his neck. Mark threw his fire forwards, knocking several soldiers back. But, when Mark saw that two soldiers were dragging Phoebe into the helicopter, which looked as if it were getting ready to take off, Mark stopped and ran for them. Stephen looked up from taking care of a soldier and was hit. The soldiers began dragging him off, also. Mark jumped into the helicopter, looking around for Phoebe. He ducked as a soldier swept his rifle at his head. Mark came back up, grabbing the soldier’s mask and yanking it around so that he fell off of the helicopter, which began to rise slowly. Mark ducked around another soldier and heard shouts from outside. He kicked the soldier in the back of the knees, sending him sprawling outside. Mark looked over the edge and saw Byron clinging to the edge of the helicopter. “Help!” he shouted. Mark almost ignored him and went back to fighting. He had no love for Byron. He had just threatened to kill him! But Mark’s conscience got the better of him as he reached down and grabbed Byron’s elbow, yanking him up and over Mark, colliding with a soldier, who went down. Mark grabbed his ankle and flung him out of the vehicle. Mark stood next to Byron, his back to the exit, facing a squadron of soldiers. “Don’t use your fire,” Byron said, “we’re in too close of a-”
