Becoming Super

by Plowden, Richard A.

  Everyone in the room looked at Eli. “I think it’s time you just accept you’re a hero,” Blake said. “This is the way my father would have wanted it. You’re the man Eli.”

  Eli sighed but nodded. “Okay, I need a rundown of everyone’s powers.”

  Blake lightened up. “Well I can--”

  “Not you Blake,” Eli interrupted. “We all know what you can do.”

  Blake looked down dejectedly.

  “It’s okay Blake,” Taia said comfortingly. “He didn’t mean you’re not useful.”

  “You know mine too,” Fielding said. “Able to grow any type of vegetation in the world as long as I have some type of soil to grow it on.”

  Eli shook his head in disbelief. “Still one of the strongest Transcendeds I know.”

  Fielding merely huffed in response.

  This surprised Taia. Being able to grow plants and flowers didn’t see pretty useful.

  “What about you Mellissa?” Eli asked.

  Mellissa stared blankly at Eli before touching the wall in front of her. Her skin then began changing into the exact color of the wall and the material that it was composed of.

  “Wow,” Eli said obviously impressed. “And you can do that with anything?”

  She nodded before turning back to normal.

  “Cool. And you Carl?”

  But Carl was leaning in his chair and looked to be sleeping.

  “Carl!” Blake said.

  “Hmm. What?” Carl asked in surprise, waking up.

  “Tell Eli your gift,” Blake said.

  “Oh. I can put anyone to sleep.”

  “I’m sorry,” Taia said, obviously confused. “What?”

  Carl then reached over and touched Blake on the arm. Blake immediately crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

  Eli stared at Carl in surprise. “And you can do that to anyone?” he asked.

  “Yep,” Carl said yawning widely and nudging Blake with his foot to wake him up. “As long as I get in contact with them.”

  “Great,” Eli said. He then looked at all of his fellow Transcendeds in the room. “We all have pretty useful abilities and they’re going to need us on the front line guys.”

  “The front line?” Fielding said in disbelief. “I came here to help, not to die.”

  “Yea, dying would not be good,” Carl said.

  “They need us there,” Eli said. “They aren’t prepared to fight the Core. We are. And we’re Transcended.”

  “There’s only five of us Proof,” Fielding said. “You heard the Prime Minister. It’s 4000 of them. What can we do?”

  “What can you do?” Taia asked, laughing slightly. “Is that a serious question?”

  “Yes it’s a serious question human,” Fielding said. “I think I know what my people are capable of better than you do niña.”

  “I don’t think you do,” Taia said. “I really don’t. Because I hated you all. I hated Supes. Or Transcendeds. Or whatever it is you want to be called, I hated you. I thought you all were monsters because one of you had killed my mother. But I was wrong.”

  All eyes in the room were on Taia.

  “I was wrong in thinking that just because someone had Transcended that they were evil because that’s not at all the case.” She then reached out her hand to Eli and he grabbed it.

  “Just like it’s not the case that all humans are good. Because I just found out my father might be one of the most evil people I know and he’s 100% human,” she choked out. “No one can tell you if you’re good or evil. Not even what you did .yesterday determines that. It’s what you do here, what you do now, that shows what kind of person you are. But you’re wrong too Fielding. You’re wrong if you think that we don’t stand a chance here. If you think that anything is impossible. Because if that was the case, me, Blake, and Eli would be dead already. We went up against hundreds of Supes and 2 Core teams and we’re still here. Because if humans and Transcendeds work together, there’s no limit to what we can do.”

  Taia looked around the room into the eyes of every person there. “I don’t know all of you and all of you don’t know me. But I don’t fight just for the sake of fighting. I fight to survive. So if we’re fighting just to die, then what’s the point of fighting at all?”

  The entire room was speechless and it was Blake still sitting on the floor that broke the silence. “Yea,” he said. “You’re right Eli. She should lead us.”

  Eli laughed and looked at Taia. “Yea I know. We’re the ones with powers and she’s the one who’s super.”

  Taia smiled sheepishly and wanted the attention off of her. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it.”

  “Alright, what should we do?” Eli asked her.

  “Well Code: Omega means every soldier is going to head to battle and the rest of the city is going to head to the Shelter where hopefully the fighting won’t reach.”

  “Got it,” he replied. “We’re going to head to where the action is at the West Wall. You head to this Shelter” he said to Taia.

  “The Shelter?” Taia asked. “I’m a soldier. I’m going with you.”

  “You’re a cadet Taia,” Eli replied.

  “That is true,” Blake mumbled.

  “A cadet that has killed more Supes than most of those soldiers,” Taia said angrily.

  “Well she has a point there,” Blake said.

  “On a technicality!” Eli exclaimed.

  “Real. It was a technicality—“

  “Shut up Blake!” nearly everyone in the room screamed.

  “Look,” Taia said. “Is this cause I’m a girl?”

  “What?” Eli asked disbelievingly. “No! I’m letting Mellissa go and she’s a girl.”

  “So it’s because I’m human?” Taia scoffed. “That’s even worse!”

  “It’s because I care about you too much Taia,” Eli said grabbing her. “I can’t fight and watch your back.”

  Taia looked at Eli sympathetically. “You won’t have to,” She said. “We’re stronger together and I’m a soldier. I’m fighting with you.”

  Eli stared at her for a moment. “Grab your rifle and meet me at the Gate.”

  He then left the building with his team and Taia ran towards the armory. Civilians were already running toward the ‘Bo’ as alarms blared in the street. Taia couldn’t help but notice how similar this was to when she was running away from the Core in Carthage. The only difference was this time it was her turn to defend her city.

  The city was prepared for this kind of situation. Parents were grabbing their children, soldiers were helping the elderly, and everyone else was getting to where they needed to go. Soldiers that were not yet armed for battle were running in the same direction as Taia toward the armory.

  “Taia!”

  She stopped in her tracks and saw Jesse and Kate running towards her. “You’re going the wrong way! All of the cadets are supposed to be helping the children and elderly to the ‘Bo’.”

  “I’m headed to the armory Jesse. I’m going to fight.”

  Jesse gaped at her. “Taia…”

  “No Jess. You’re not my father. I just found out my father is a sociopathic kidnapper. Plus, you and I are better trained than most of these soldiers to fight Supes.”

  Jesse sighed. “Alright, you win. Let’s go.”

  “Huh?” Taia asked.

  He shrugged. “You said you and I are better trained,” Then he smiled. “Plus you know I’m a better soldier than you anyway.”

  Taia smiled at her friend. “Kate,” she said looking at the blond girl. “Can you make it to the shelter on your own?”

  “Well I can,” Kate said. “But I’m not going to go there.”

  “Kate, what?”

  “If you all are going to go fight, I’m going to go to the hospital to help there,” Kate said. “They’re going to need all the help they can get if soldiers are coming in wounded and getting any sick people evacuated.”

  Taia enveloped her friend in a huge hug that Jesse soon j
oined them in.

  “You two be careful,” Kate said, wiping tears from her eyes. She then headed to the hospital alone.

  The pair took off to their destination. When they got to the armory there were 2 guards at the entrance.

  “What are you two doing here?” one of the guards asked.

  “The same reason the rest of these soldiers are here,” Taia said. “We need weapons.”

  “You two are cadets.”

  “We want to fight,” Jesse said.

  The other soldier spoke this time. “Cadets aren’t allowed to fight. Help evacuate the elderly and children and then hid to the Shelter.”

  “Look Douche,” Taia said. “I just found out for the past 20 years, my father, your General, has been in communication with the Regime. Not only that, but he’s been shipping off babies just because they were Transcended. And now, NOW, 4000 Supes are headed here to kill us all. I’m in the mood to fight. And I think the Sector can use all the help it can get.”

  The soldiers gaped at Taia and Jesse just shrugged. “She’s had a rough day.”

  Jesse and Taia ran into the armory. It was a large warehouse filled with soldiers. Several tanks and trucks lined the walls in the back of the building with soldiers climbing into them. Other soldiers were running toward the assault rifles lined up on the sides of the wall.

  There were soldiers passing out rifles to each of their comrades. Jesse and Taia collected their own weapons and started to walk out of the armory. Taia stopped.

  “Hold on,” Taia said to Jesse.

  She then went up to one of the soldiers. “I need two pistols,” she told her.

  “Two pistols?” the soldier asked. “Soldiers are supposed to keep their pistols on them at all times. Why do you two need pistols?”

  “Just give me the guns,” Taia said impatiently. The soldier reluctantly complied and the pair took off toward the West Gate.

  When they finally arrived at the Gate, night had completely fallen. Some of the tanks and trucks had already arrived at the Gate and were getting into formation. Several hundred soldiers had also already arrived at the area and more were coming every minute. But all of the soldiers seemed to be avoiding a particular area like the plague.

  Eli and his team of Supes were in their own separate corner. Taia saw Eli talking to Connor. She walked over to him.

  “The guns at the top of the gate will handle any airborne attacks,” Connor said. “I’m sending tanks and 1000 men out to the front line for the first wave.”

  “My team and I will be on the front line too,” Eli said.

  Connor nodded in response though he did not seem particularly enthused at the idea. “Well according to our sensors we have a little under 2 hours. So….I’ll see you out there.” He then walked away towards his solders.

  Taia initially felt that Connor could have at least showed some gratitude towards Eli, but considering Eli was a Supe, Taia felt Connor not trying to kill Eli and his team was him showing gratitude.

  “Here you go,” Taia said to Eli, handing him the two pistols. “I couldn’t get any Pre-Outbreak weapons so those will have to do.”

  Eli smiled softly at Taia. “At least I won’t run out of ammo.”

  Fielding walked up to the pair. “This is better than the Wasteland,” he said, sticking out his arm. In his open palm there was a pile of dirt. “But the Earth is still going to die.” He then sighed and let the dirt fall to the ground.

  “You know Valdez,” Eli began. “Most people who care about the Earth as much as you do try to save it. They just don’t talk about how we’re all doomed.”

  “What’s the point?” Fielding replied. “We’ve done too much damage to the Earth to come back from this.”

  “If we’re all going to die anyway than why are you even here to help us Fielding?” Eli asked.

  “You already know the answer to that,” Fielding said before walking away.

  “What’s his deal?” Taia asked.

  Eli smiled. “Don’t let him fool you, Fielding’s a really good guy. But you remember the slums we visited in Carthage? That’s how he grew up.”

  “How?” Taia asked. “You said he was one of the most powerful Supes you know.”

  “He is. But his parents weren’t. They weren’t powerful at all. And Fielding saw the way his parents were treated and hid how powerful he was from the Regime when he was young so he wouldn’t get drafted to the Core. Now he just makes the life of the Regime a living hell. People like him are real life heroes.”

  “So are you,” Taia replied. “What can he do?”

  “He can make vegetation grow from any soil,” Eli answered. “Even the Wasteland. Any type of vegetation. It’s why he’s so negative about the earth. He hates that so many of the plants are dead from the Great War.”

  “Hmm,” Taia said. “I have to be honest, I don’t understand how that can be particularly powerful, but I guess I’ll see it soon enough.”

  Eli looked at her confusedly. “What do you mean?”

  “Well I’ll see him in action while we’re on the front line.”

  “Woah, woah, woah,” Eli said. “You’re here to fight with the Resistance. Connor won’t send you on the front line.”

  “I’m here to fight with you Eli,” Taia responded.

  “So am I,” Jesse said, walking up to the pair, weapon shouldered.

  “No way,” Eli said. “My team are Transcendeds.”

  “No. Your team are people equipped to fight against the Core,” Taia countered. “You’ve been teaching us to do that for weeks.”

  Eli groaned. “I’m not going to win this, am I?”

  The two Cadets just stared at him.

  “Well let’s go,” Eli said. “You guys should meet the team.”

  Chapter 22

  The Sector soldiers all now knew what Eli was and knew that he was leading a team of Supes against the Regime. But they were still terrified of him and his comrades.

  Seeing the Supes in the isolated area, Taia could not believe she once thought that all Supes were the same.

  Fielding was sulking, kicking around the dirt. Melissa had her arms folded, and was staring at the Gate looking frighteningly dangerous. Carl was sleep laid against a tree. And Blake was bouncing on his heels excitedly.

  “Taia!” he said happily, before engulfing her in a hug.

  “Hey Blake,” Taia said smiling. With all of the craziness going on, the two hadn’t gotten a chance to actually greet one another.

  “Hey guys,” Eli said to his team. “This is Jesse and Taia. They’re going to be fighting with us on the front line.”

  “With us?” Fielding asked.

  “As part of our team” Eli explained.

  “They’re human,” Melisa said. “They’re going to die if they fight with us.”

  “Well then it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Eli said. “It’s our job to make sure that no one dies. And we definitely look out for our own. Jesse and Taia are our own.”

  Melissa grunted before continuing to stare at the Gate. As Blake introduced himself to Jesse, Taia looked at where Melissa was staring.

  This was the same gate that her team has used to leave Sector 6 on an unsanctioned mission that brought Eli into her life in the first place. And she was going out of it again, but this time to defend her home against the Regime instead of attacking it. The one thing that was similar though, was that she had a feeling she would not be coming back to Sector 6.

  “You okay?” Eli asked coming up behind her.

  “It’s just a lot Eli,” she replied. “I just found out my father is a lunatic. And now my Sector is going to war with the Regime in a little over an hour. On top of that, the only chance we have of surviving.”

  Eli then wrapped his arms around Taia from behind. “We’re going to be fine Taia. You’re going to be fine. And I’m going to do everything within my power make sure your Sector is fine.”

  “Look at you,” Taia said, smiling up at the hand
some boy, her heart racing. “Becoming super.”

  Eli smiled. “Still not a hero.”

  An hour passed and Connor came up to the group. “I’m going to have the Gate opened and you all go before I move the first of my soldiers out,” he said. “You’re either going out now or you’re not at all. I don’t want you marching with my soldiers. It might affect their morale.”

  “Oh I can just teleport us out,” Blake said happily.

  “No one wants to go through one of your vortexes except you Blake,” Eli said.

  “Your loss,” Blake then pulled his goggles down over his eyes, pulled up his scarf, and opened a Vortex that he was pulled through.

  Eli led the rest of his team with Connor up to the West Gate doors. “I don’t trust you boy,” Connor said to Eli. “Cross us and I’ll kill you myself.”

  Taia rolled her eyes. “Just open the door Connor.”

  Connor opened his mouth but didn’t say anything. He did not want Taia and Jesse going with the Transcendeds but he realized it was nothing that he could do. He pressed the communicator on his ear and spoke. “Open the West Gate doors. Over.”

  After a few moments, the doors began to slide open. Taia nodded at Connor before walking before anyone through the gate doors and into the dimly lit tunnel leading out into the Wasteland. The rest of the team followed after her.

  The Gate doors closed behind them.

  Fielding knelt down. Taia saw him make a rose grow out of the ground. He plucked up the rose and began walking down the tunnel, letting the rose scrape against its walls. “I smell death in the air tonight,” he said in a sing song voice.

  The set of doors leading out to the Wasteland were still open. As soon as the team stepped through the doors, they closed behind them.

  The team was greeted to the sandy and desolate plains of the Wasteland. In the darkness of the night, Taia was barely able to make out Blake’s visage already waiting for them.

  Melissa turned towards the doors. “What are these doors made of human?” she asked Jesse.

  “Uh, titanium alloy I think,” Jesse said.

  “That’ll work.” Mellissa then put her hand on the doors and her entire body changed into the titanium alloy.