by Moon, Adam
“We don’t know yet, but he knows about us so we can’t let him out of our sight.”
“Come inside then.”
Under one Roof
The inside of the farmhouse wasn’t as dirty as the outside but it still left a lot to be desired. The furniture was ancient with varnish worn away over the years from constant use and little upkeep. The carpet was of a style that went out of fashion in the seventies, but the pictures on the walls and the smell of fresh baking made up for all of its deficiencies. It was a well lived in home, the way homes were supposed to be.
Dan took a seat at the kitchen table as Molly fussed around in the refrigerator for some snacks for her guests.
Where Molly was warm and welcoming, Dan was hostile and suspicious. He got right to business. “What the hell was in that artifact last week?”
“We don’t know.”
“It changed Molly and me. We’re exhibiting some odd behavior lately.”
The doctor sat down now and leaned in, his interest piqued. The mention of the word artifact took him by surprise.
Jack took a seat beside him and said, “It did the same to all of us then.”
“What can you do?”
Jack thought about that. He wasn’t sure of his capabilities yet. He had the feeling there were latent abilities still locked inside that he would discover later, but there was no way to put a finger on what they might be.
Melanie held a hand out and said, “I can do this.” A dirty plate, with crumbs on it, floated precariously in the air just inches from Dan’s face. It wobbled like one of those fake flying saucers from the videos charlatans made back in the fifties. Then it came down slowly on the table in front of him. “I’m afraid to do more than that because it’s hard to control it.” Memories of that poor soldier flitted across her mind and she was forced to put her hands in her pockets to hide the fact that they were trembling now.
“I know what you mean. I can burn things, but I can’t control the heat yet. I’m practicing and it’s helping me focus it, but if I get distracted, the consequences are horrendous. I accidentally burned down my shed the day before yesterday. I was just trying to make a glass of water boil, to see if I could do it, and instead the shed erupted. The heat burned my clothes and reduced the shed to ashes in just a few minutes. It scared Molly half to death.”
Molly shot him a fearful look, and Dan looked away. He stared at his hands, ashamed about his lack of control.
Jack said, “It sounds like we’re going through the same crap then, except that all of our abilities vary. I teleported here from Denver.”
“Bullshit.”
Scott shrugged. “It’s true. He brought all of us.”
“What were you doing in Denver?”
None of them wanted to answer the question. They knew how private the couple was and they didn’t want to frighten them with stories about quarantines and government cover-ups.
But the doctor screwed that up with, “We had them under supervision. We had to escape when the military decided they were too much of an anomaly to keep alive.”
Dan stood up and looked at Molly. She said quickly, “Let them stay. We’re all in this together now.”
He sat back down and said, “You’d better not have led them here.”
“We told them nothing and I teleported here. I don’t think there’s any way for them to guess where we are.”
Mount up
General Parsons had just finished his report. He’d been given the green light to go after the kids and he planned on wasting no time.
He had eight men left now which would be more than enough with the additional firepower he had at his disposal.
To the group he said, “Alright men, we’ll have superior firepower and the element of surprise on our side. And now we know what the enemy brings to the table. Mount up. We’re heading to a little crap-hole called Ault.”
Tests
The doctor had set up a line of soda cans on a tree stump in the backyard.
He said, “You all have powers. From what I can see, Melanie has telekinesis, Scott can erect invisible force fields, Jack can teleport, and Dan can burn things. What can you do Molly?”
Molly said, “I’m indestructible.”
Jack was about to chime in with, me too, because he remembered the doc telling him that needles couldn’t puncture his skin, but he didn’t want to steal Molly’s thunder. He also knew that Scott and Melanie had similar attributes, and Dan probably did too. Maybe Molly didn’t have an ability or maybe she was even more indestructible than the rest of them were.
The doc asked, “How do you know?”
“I was inside that shed when Dan accidentally torched it. All that happened was my clothes burned off. I didn’t even feel the heat. I’m strong too.”
Dan stared off into space, ashamed of what he’d accidentally done to his wife, but thankful she’d gotten out of it unscathed.
Molly looked around and then said, “Follow me.” She led them out to the front and walked over to the ancient tractor. She reached beneath it and tilted it over with one hand. Her smile was priceless.
That was an ability that none of the others had, but it was pretty lame compared to telekinesis. No one brought that up because Molly’s smile was too contagious.
She rejoined them and they went back around the house.
The doctor said, “I’d like each of you to practice your aim. I understand you don’t have powers to direct Molly, so you can help me reset the cans.”
Jack said, “I don’t understand why we’re doing any of this. What the hell are we going to do with powers? We’re not superheroes. We’re not going to don tights or capes and stop crime in Ault, Colorado.”
Melanie said, “We could go to a ghetto in Greeley. There’s plenty of crime there.”
“It’s not like we have crime radar. And crimes don’t happen around every corner. If a seventeen year old white kid like me showed up in the ghetto, the only crime would be me getting mugged.”
Scott added, “I think that’s called entrapment.”
“Right. It wouldn’t be legit.”
The doctor interrupted them. “Why are you guys interested in costumes and crime fighting? You just survived an attack by the United States government. You have to imagine that men with guns are looking for you at this very moment. If that’s not motivation to explore your abilities then I don’t know what is.”
“He’s right.”
Uncontrolled Power
Molly got bored watching them miss their aluminum targets so she disappeared inside the house.
The doctor kept saying things like, “concentrate,” and “focus your mind,” but he had no idea what he was talking about.
It wasn’t until Scott told him so that he shut up.
Melanie was the closest to being able to aim her ability. She did manage to lift the cans into the air, but chunks of tree bark floated up with them. She got mad about that, and they watched in awe as all of the cans crushed themselves flat.
She said, “I didn’t know I could do that,” as the smashed cans fell back to the ground.
The doctor set a new batch up and had Scott give it a shot but all he was able to do was create a force field around his own body. The doctor had no idea the field was even up until he walked face first into it. But at least Scott’s eyes didn’t get affected this time. In fact, they had almost healed entirely already from when he’d had to erect a field to stop the bullets that would’ve surely killed them all.
Jack wondered if that meant they had super healing powers too, but there was no way to know that yet.
Scott said, “I practiced in my cell for an entire day but I couldn’t get a handle on it. It’s tough to control.”
Dan said, “I’ve been practicing for a few days and my aim still sucks. I can’t even control the intensity of the heat I create. Watch this.” He held his hands out, palms out and fingers up. Nothing happened but the air did get drier and the grass in front of him started
to turn brown. He let his hands fall down at his sides and said, “See,” but his powers were still at work. His pants started to smoke before he realized he hadn’t turned his ability off. He held his hands out again until he was sure they weren’t going to burn anything.
Molly rushed out of the house in time to pat out the fire engulfing his pants. She must’ve been watching them from the kitchen window. Dan tried to tell her to stop fussing but she wouldn’t hear it.
Jack took a turn now, sure that he would fail too, and he was right.
The doctor said, “Teleport a can away from there.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Just try it.”
Jack concentrated. He felt the power surge within him, and then he unleashed it all at once. Now he was standing on the stump with the cans. He’d accidentally teleported himself. “I told you so.”
The doctor said, “Try and fly then.”
“I can’t do that. I can only teleport.”
“You were flying in that hospital. I showed you the tape. You can do it again if you can harness the ability.”
Scott asked, “You flew in the hospital?”
“Yeah, well, it was more like floating, but I was still unconscious at the time.”
To the doctor he asked, “If Jack could fly while he was knocked out, what did me and Melanie do when we were out of it?”
“Nothing. Jack was the only one of you to exhibit any abilities. We saw what he could do, recognized that his two best friends were also unconscious with some unknown illness, and decided you must all have been afflicted with the same ailment. That’s why we quarantined both of you with Jack.”
To Jack, Melanie said sarcastically, “Thanks a lot, man. You tipped them off about us while you slept.”
“Sorry. How could I know they’d try and kill us just for being special?”
Scott changed the subject. He said, “I’m starving.”
Jack was more interested in trying to sneak off to visit his mom, just to let her know he was ok, but Scott was right; he was famished. He could sneak into town later.
Dan said, “Come inside and fill your bellies.”
“Thanks Dan.”
Starving
Molly was sitting at one of those old fashioned sewing machines with the metal pedal and the big spinning wheel, hard at work when they walked in.
Dan pulled a loaf of bread out and placed a jar of peanut butter and jelly next to it. “Have at it,” He said, as though he’d just presented them with a feast.
Scott got to it first, grabbing four slices of bread like it was the last food left on Earth.
The doctor asked, “Have you all been eating more lately?”
Melanie said, “Ever since I discovered I could move things with my mind, I’ve been starving.”
Jack nodded. He’d been starving ever since he’d transported them all here. He wondered if there was a connection.
As if he’d read his mind, the doctor said, “I wonder if there’s a connection.”
Dan took a seat at the table and said, “Why do you think we only have peanut butter and jelly left to eat? We already ate everything else.”
The doctor said, “I have a theory then. If using your powers causes you to need calories, then maybe if you fill up on calories, your powers will be magnified. Where can I buy some food around here?”
Dan said, “You can hit up the convenience store in town but you’ll stand out like a sore thumb since you’re not from around here. I’ll go and get the food. We needed to stock up anyway.”
“Can I at least contribute some money?”
“I’ll do you one better, you can contribute all of the cash,” Dan said with an impish twinkle in his eye.
“I’d be glad to. Make sure to get high calorie food and lots of it.”
Molly said over her shoulder, “Get some regular food too just in case the doctor’s theory is bullshit. We’ll still need to eat.”
Stocking up
Dan was trying his best to keep his cool. He had to make sure not to draw too much attention to himself, but that was easier said than done. There was a humvie next to a big black SUV parked at Ault’s only gas station.
He’d already passed two soldiers on foot patrol on his way to the convenience store. But he couldn’t turn back now or else they’d suspect he was up to something.
He parked his pick-up and went inside the store. An older, severe and cold looking man with a hatchet face was at the register asking the owner questions about Jack, Melanie, and Scott.
Dan smiled at both of them and grabbed a shopping basket. He knew he couldn’t get all of the junk food he’d been sent to get now. The owner would know something was odd if he came to the register with a basket full of candy bars and sodas. He stocked up on canned foods, bread, cheese, and lunch meats. It was his usual fare and nothing to bat an eye at.
He placed the basket on the counter. The older man took a look in his basket and then stepped aside so the owner could do her job.
She looked nervous as she tallied up his total. “How’s Molly holding up?”
“She’s good.”
“How’s business?”
“Can’t complain.”
He couldn’t risk elaborating because that would be out of character for him.
The older man sidled closer and said, “My name is General Parsons. I’m with the U.S. government and I’m looking for three teenagers from this town. They’re not in any trouble; I just need a word with them. Their names are Jack Peterson, Scott Smith, and Melanie Roth. Have you seen any of them lately?”
Dan opened his mouth to answer but the owner did it for him. “Dan doesn’t exactly get involved in our unique little town. He lives out of the way with his wife. They don’t come out here for the annual Fall Fest or the Food Fest.” To Dan, she said, “We’ve missed you two, Dan.”
Dan shrugged. He hated Ault and he let anyone interested know it. It was full of losers and drunks pretending to be normal. He was a private man who didn’t like being judged which meant Ault was anathema to his way of life.
He said, “You know that if it wasn’t for the farm, I’d have left this dump a long time ago.”
“It’s a shame you feel that way.”
The general interrupted. “If you see them around, send word back into town. I need to speak with them about an issue of National Security.”
“I sure will, sir.”
Fuel
Jack was walking down the gravel sidewalk, on his way home to see his mom when Dan pulled up. “Don’t go into town. It’s swarming with troops and they’re looking for you.”
“Damn it! I need to get word to my mom that I’m alright. We all want to stop home at some point.”
“You should stay put for now. I wouldn’t use a phone either, kid. Those guys looked serious. I would bet they’re keeping a close eye on your families. Come back inside and let’s eat.”
Jack reluctantly gave up his mission to see his mom, but that didn’t mean he gave it up for good. He’d find a way into town after dark, or maybe he’d wait a few days until the troops lost interest and left.
The doctor looked perplexed when Dan emptied the shopping bags. “Where’re all the sweets?”
“There was a general Parsons in the store. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself.”
The doctor got a fearful look on his face as he whispered, “Dammit.”
Then Dan turned out his pockets and placed eight candy bars on the kitchen table. “That’s why I had to steal these.”
The doctor nodded his approval and flipped the chocolate bars over to read their caloric contents. He handed one to each of them and watched them eat, as though they were test subjects in an experiment that he hadn’t just pulled straight out of his ass.
They were all hungry, so no one ridiculed the doctor for his non-scientific ways.
Jack felt a rush of stale adrenaline and dread when he heard that the general was in town. Was he harassing his mom? Was he questioni
ng his fellow students from Highland High? Would he ever quit looking for them?
But then the dread turned to elation as the sugary concoction hit his bloodstream.
The doc said, “Let me know if you can feel your powers surging.”
Dan’s hands started to glow. “Oh shit, I think it worked.” He rushed outside before he lost control and burned everyone to death.
By the time they followed him out through the back door, a willow tree was engulfed in flames and Dan was naked, his clothes having burned to ash from the heat in an instant. His hair and eyebrows were burnt away and either he shaved his privates or that hair burned off too.
Thick black smoke oozed from his hands, causing the doctor to gag.
Dan whispered, “I think I must be impervious to my own heat.” As he said it, he lifted his hands above his head to direct the heat as far away from everyone as possible. It worked, which meant that, in a small way, he was able to direct his abilities.
By the time his hands started to become flesh colored again, he was covering himself with his hands and rushing for home to redress.
Molly laughed a weird belly-laugh which broke the tension and made Jack chuckle. It was odd to be so afraid and yet so light-hearted at the same time.
Melanie’s hands started shaking. They were bright red from blood engorgement. She said, “I have to let it out. Stand back.” She held her hands straight out towards the tree stump. Her breathing was labored as she tried to gain some measure of control over her powers. The ground reverberated and the stump twitched. Then, all at once, the stump sucked loose of the ground, pulling twelve-foot long roots out with it, and rose into the air. It looked like a grotesque flying wooden octopus.
Dan was dressed and rejoined them. He said, “Whoa, who’s doing that?”
Scott pointed at Melanie.
Before they had a chance to revel in their newfound control, the huge stump started to wobble and tilt on its side. Then it moved around in the air quickly, barely missing them with its raw, damp roots.
