Comes Great Responsibility

by Chuck Kienzle

  “Our world is, was, divided between the Northern Hegemony and the Southern Alliance, not that that matters anymore. The Southern Alliance did have a program to extend the protection to the general public. As for the telepath, you have to ask Mr. Krelick,” Abilola said.

  We looked at Krelick. He pursed his lips ad then said, “She was eliminated for the greater good.”

  John looked down at his tablet computer and said,”OK, we will go back to that. Now, why did you ask to speak to us and why are you here?”

  “We thought you would be more understanding?” Abilola said.

  “We have questions? What is going to happen to us?” Krelick said.

  “As I am sure you can understand, given what happened after I arrived, we need to make sure you carry no communicable diseases. After that, it will depend upon why you came here and what are your intentions,” John said.

  “And how long until we are medically cleared?” Krelick asked.

  “Our Doctors would like to keep you in isolation for at least a week,” John said.

  He shook his head.

  “Is there a problem?” I said.

  “No, I was just reminding myself of your limited medical technology,” Krelick said.

  “We came for refuge from a nearly destroyed world and we only want freedom,” Abilola said.

  “Destroyed by who?” I asked.

  “By those like you,” Krelick said.

  John and I looked at each other. We both knew what could happen if either of us had lost control. My loss of control at the Cleveland Disaster and the damage caused by his battle with Saifullah had showed what could happened if we lost control.

  “Perhaps, you can be more specific?” John asked.

  They two told us that for the past two centuries, their world had been divided between the Northern Hegemony and the Southern Alliance. They both tried to paint their governments in the best light, but they both took, from my perspective, horrible actions.

  First, the Northern and then the Southerners, developed the method to change make genetic changes in embryos to give them enhanced abilities, similar to what we called standard powers. A virus, similar to the power virus John brought, was development and released. It was more effective than the power virus, and by the present all people were enhanced. People like John and I were the result of specific genetic manipulation of embryos.

  “How many Warriors are there?” I asked.

  “At one point, a perhaps fifty on each side. It is a difficult process to create them and the failure rate was high,” Krelick said.

  The thought of a hundred of people with the same powers of John and I was disconcerting.

  “Was the failure before or after birth?' John asked.

  “At first, it was in fetal development. After the process was more fully developed, problems occurred after birth,” Abilola said.

  “What kind of problems?” I asked.

  “The more powerful the warrior, the greater the occurrence of mental issues. They were usually detected before their full powers developed. Until a way to correct the mental problems were developed the children were destroyed,” Krelick said.

  “In both your countries?” I said.

  Abilola looked down and then said,” I is not something we are proud of, but it was necessary. As soon as possible, we developed a procedure to correct the mental issues in the embryos. The North, later, found a procedure that was used after birth.”

  “And what was your success rate?” Krelick said.

  “At first, one in ten embryos survived to birth. It was more than thirty percent later,” she said.

  “And how many live births were for every embryo created?' I said.

  “Once a template was successful, usually half the embryos were successfully brought to term,” she said.

  “So, if you corrected the mental issues, why did they cause problems?” John asked.

  “The procedures to maintain their mental stability did not always last into adulthood. Also, as I am sure you found on this world, power corrupts. At first, those warriors who stayed loyal were able to stop those who went rogue. Still, the battles sometimes devastated population centers. Then two warriors broke the rules and had a child. That child's had power beyond all other Warriors, She was called The Destroyer,” Krelick said.

  “And she, alone, devastated your world?” I said.

  “She first, destroyed all Warriors sent to stop her. Nothing the military on both sides could do that stopped her. Then, after she sought out and killed any remaining Warriors, she turned to the population. She destroyed major population centers first, then began on smaller ones,” Abilola said.

  “She was the woman I saw through the portal before it closed,” I said.

  “Yes, fortunately, as planned, the portal closed before she could come through,” Krelick said.

  “So, you arranged for both of us in case she came through?” I said.

  “We knew she was searching for our installation. We believe it is one of the last remaining functional portal units. The installation was cloaked, but when the portal opened, we were sure she would detect it. A self-destruct should have detonated as soon as the portal closed,” Ton Krelick said.

  “So, she should be dead,” I said.

  “That is our hope, but with her advanced abilities there is a chance she might have survived,” Abilola said.

  I was sure that neither John nor I could survive even a small nuclear explosion. That they were not sure about The Destroyer unnerved me.

  “So, we were here, just in case she did get through,” John said.

  “Of course, would you not have done the same?” Ton Krelick said.

  No, I thought. I would have stayed and made sure the self-destruct went off, even at the cost of my own life.

  “Now, our questions, what are you going to do with us?” Krelick said.

  “You will be treated humanely. If you co-operate, answer all our questions about your world, yourselves and your technology, basically, if you earn our trust, then, you may be released to integrate into our society,” John said.

  There were a lot of “ifs” in John's words. The Apollo I knew from five years ago was known to use plainer language. He was often accused of not being politically correct. He had changed, and I was not sure it was for the better.

  “We agree,” Abilola said.

  Krelick looked at her with a look of disdain. I suspected that he was irritated that she had not even tried to negotiate.

  “Yes, but we must be protected,” he said.

  “As much as we can, now, your portal technology. You have been using it to spy on us for how long and have you sent any other of your people here?”?

  “The first viewing portal was created nearly a century ago. The first transit portal was not created for another two decades because of the power requirements. A few automated probes were sent through after that,” Albion

  “So, you have sent spies here?” I asked.

  “The energy required to generate a transit portal damages the portal unit. Often, the entire unit must be rebuilt. Given the resource required to build a portal unit, it was usually considered not cost effective to use them to create transit portals,” Krelick said.

  “That did not seem to be a concern when I was sent here,” John said.

  “That is a question for my Southern compatriot. Ms. Tarlock's transit was not approved,” Krelick said.

  “Not approved my who?” I said.

  “Your parents were not authorized to send you here,” Krelick said.”

  “What happened to my parent?” I said.

  “They were captured and eliminated,” Krelick said.

  “And what about me?” John said.

  “I was a low-level manager at the laboratory where you were born. You were born in an artificial womb. I spent many of my off hours taking care of you,” Abilola said.

  She looked into John's eyes and continued,” You were a beautiful child. I am sorry that you were treate
d so badly.”

  “Later, I would like to speak with you about that time,” John said.

  “Of course,” she replied.

  “What name was he called?” I said.

  Abilola was taken aback. She looked at John and then me.

  “Most of the staff referred to him as 'The Project.' I called him Baby,” she said.

  “I like John better,” I said.

  Chapter 6 – Tuesday, July 20, 8:30 PM Mountain Daylight Time

  After the interview, John, Hernandez and I when into the corridor outside the interview room. I had some of my answers, but they did not make me feel any better. I had parents that sent me here to protect me and like Supergirl's parents, they were dead.

  “As far as I could determine, they were telling the truth, but that doesn't mean they were telling the whole truth,” Hernandez said.

  “The leading expert on the multiverse theory, Doctor Rita Torres, will be here in a couple of days. She may be able to verify their story, at least about coming from a parallel world,” John said.

  Doctor Torres was not only the leading expert in the theory, she was touted as an Einstein level genius. She revolutionized the foundations of physics with her theories, beginning with her doctoral thesis. Given my origins, I was very interested in her theories about the possibility of multiple time-lines.

  “Since the arrival of our Visitors proves her theories, I would have expected she would come running” I said.

  “Apparently, her current work is time sensitive and she has to wait until it is completed,” John said.

  That sounded a bit odd, but, it was getting late. Even with my full powers, I still needed sleep. My body was still on eastern daylight time, so I told John I was going to my quarters. He walked me there. The name plate by the door had recently been changed to read,”Clarissa Tarlock.”

  “Have a good night. Tomorrow you can debrief,” John said.

  As he walked away, I touched the sensor pad beside the door, the bio-sensor recognize me and the door unlocked. I opened the door and the efficiency apartment was just the way I left it. There was not trace of dust, which meant the housekeeping staff kept it clean. The room was bare of anything personal. When I left, I had taken my personal things, most of which I burned.

  I went into the bathroom. The standard wrapped soap, bottles of shampoo and conditioner were on the sink. I took off my clothes and took a long hot shower. I was not physically tired. The last time I had really been tired was five years ago after the Cleveland Disaster. I was emotionally tired, too much had happened too quickly.

  I stepped out of the shower and toweled off. I looked at myself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. Even after five years with the nullifier, I had not aged. I looked like an early twenty-year-old non-talented. My boobs would stay firm for many decades, at least that is what the doctors thought. I was thirty-four, twenty-eight and thirty-four without a blemish and would stay that way. The best guess for the life span of standard powered was between one fifty and two hundred years. Talents like Kim might live a little less. Since, John had not aged appreciably in the last forty years, he and I might not be immortal, but we would be around for a long time. Sometimes that made me sad that I probably would outlive my friends and family. I accepted it. What else could I do.

  I walked into the bedroom and opened the two doors of the closet. Half was hung clothes, all standard uniforms and the other half was a set of drawers. I got out a pair of green pajamas. I had not brought any of my own clothes. I foolishly thought I would not need them. I went over and sat at the computer desk. I turned the computer terminal on.

  The flat screen lit and the computer said in a woman's voice,” Welcome, Artemis. You have a voice message,”

  “First, refer to me as Clarissa and play message,” I said.

  “Of course, Clarissa,” the computer said.

  I could have chosen any number of voices: male, female, young, old. This one was standard for most computers and I left it as is.

  The name “Kelly Price” displayed.

  The voice message played, “Hey. BB and I wondered if you might meet us for dinner tomorrow. Since the security lock down is over, we could meet in town. I know it has been a long time, but we both miss you. It is OK if you are busy. Hope to see you. Bye.”

  Five years and they still wanted to see me. Did I want to see them? I, admitted to myself, yes. They would remind me of David, but that was alright.

  I tapped the text replay button on the computer screen and wrote,” I would like that. Text me the time and place. I will be good to see you.”

  I then said,” Computer, please call my mother.”

  The display lit up and I saw my mother's face from her hand held. The secure line was encrypted and bounced across several servers. April Tarlock did not look her sixty years. She had the same blonde hair I had always known, now colored and a face that could pass for forty. She was the only mother I ever knew.

  I was not told until I joined the Agency that I had been under Agency surveillance since April and Doctor Charles Tarlock adopted me. I knew the story about being found in the forest in northern Pennsylvania by hunters, one of them who became my adopted father. I did not know that John had used his considerable influence to have me placed with the Tarlocks. He had been raised by the government, and, although he told me that, over all, it had been a good experience, he wanted me to have a close to normal home life as possible. Although, like most talented, my full abilities did not begin to manifest themselves until puberty, I was still a handful for two non-powered parents.

  “Daisy, how are you?” my mother said.

  I tried to keep in touch with them over the past five years. They understood that the media wanted to know why Artemis had dropped out of sight and her adopted parents were targeted for information. For the first year, we only spoke over secure lines. Then I met them every month in various motels and restaurants between where I lived in Cincinnati and where they lived, near Pittsburgh. The Agency had given me a new identity. John set the standard when he revealed his face against government wishes. It was then that his handlers realized he could not be handled. Even though I had long known that I was adopted, I could not imagine more loving parents.

  “I am fine. Just wanted to tell you I am at the Agency's headquarters,” I said.

  “Did you join up again?” mother said.

  I could tell by the sound of her voice, the look on her face and the change in her heart beat that she was worried. She never wanted me to play “super-hero.”

  “It may be temporary,” I said.

  “Why did you go back?” she said.

  “I found out some information about my origins. I need to work with the Agency to figure it out,” I said.

  “I am so glad. Your father and I wished we knew something. I assume it is the same for Apollo?” she said.

  “Close. I just wanted you and Dad to know I was all right,” I said.

  “Have you called work?” Mom said.

  “Yes. Fortunately, I am between contracts,” I said.

  “You know what I think about you playing superwoman,” she said.

  She understood my abilities. She even understood why I felt the need to use them to help people. But, she did not like it when I had to deal with rogue talented. She, always, reminded me that even I was not invincible.

  “We have had this discussion before,” I said.

  “How is Apollo?” she asked.

  Mom and John had a complicated relationship. When I was a teenager, just coming into my full talents, she knew he was the only one who could help train me. She, also, believed he helped me decide to play super-hero.

  “He seems to be doing well. Just needs a little help,” I said.

  Mom stared at me through the phone. Her eyes narrowed. She was not happy. She had told me once that given his powers she did not understand why he needed my help. I tried to explain that he could not be everywhere at once, but that did little to ease a
mother's concern for her child.

  “Just be careful. There seems to be more extreme powered appearing all the time,” Mom said.

  Unfortunately, that seemed true. At first, the results of the Power Virus were people with standard powers. Difficult for normal people to deal with, not so much for John. It was difficult, but they could blend in with the normal people. As time passed, people, like Hernandez and Kim, were born with extra powers. People with extreme talents like Saifullah had appeared more often in the last couple of decades.

  “I will. Give Dad a hug for me,” I said.

  “Just be careful. We love you,” Mom said.

  “Love you, too,” I said as I tapped off the call.

  It was almost eleven PM. I got into bed and pulled the covers over me. I decided to get up after eight hours and, unless something woke me up, I would get up precisely then. I closed my eye and quickly fell asleep.

  I was back at the Cleveland Disaster. In the street, I looked down at myself who held the dead body of my fiancee, David. She wailed in pain. It was the same dream I had over the years. This time, I stood in my Artemis uniform.

  “You made the right choice,” I heard behind me.

  I turned and saw an uninjured David. He was just as he was that day, before he died. I ran to him and we embraced. This was different. In all the dreams before, he vanished when I reached him. I pulled back, just enough to see his smiling face.

  “Which decision?” I said as I turned my head to look back of my former self.

  I turned back to him and he said,” Your decision to be yourself, all of your self. Artemis is part of you. You denied it far to long,” David said.

  “I miss you so much,” I said as I began to cry.

  He put his hand on my cheek and wiped the tears away.

  “Our memories together will always be part of you, but you have used them far too long as an excuse. I am glad they will no longer hold you back,” he said.

  I hugged him and never wanted to let go.

  Then I half awoke, smiled and went back to sleep.

  Chapter 7 – Wednesday, July 21, 7:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time