by Jim Mohr
***
The leaves have turned and fallen off the trees. Only a few hearty brown ones cling to their branches. The park is empty, it will close in an hour. The dark clouds overhead look ominous as an approaching cold front will bring us the first snow of the fall.
Carrie and I traverse the freshly paved road in our issued car. It isn’t one of the newer ones in the fleet, but it serves its purpose. Carrie is nervous sitting in the passenger seat; I can sense her anxiety as she stares out the window. She is unsure of what to expect. Memories of my fight with Cheetah are still fresh in her mind.
“So, is there a cue that you want me to start firing?”
“No. If we start to fight, stay out of it. Pull your pistol only if you need to. Remember, they have defensive power, so shoot more than once. Aim for the chest, you’re less likely to miss.”
“So, what is it with this Lion guy? He’s the one who injured that Owl lady, isn’t he?”
“Yes. I’m not looking forward to this meeting. Falcon is the one who started the fight with Owl. She better not try any of her shit with me.”
Suddenly, I sense the two Psychokinetics ahead. We turn a corner and I see them. They stand under a weather-worn pavilion. A vehicle with Georgia license plates is parked in front of it. Carrie sighs deeply as I park next to their car. I note how far away I was to the minions of Lion before I sensed them. Does our power magnify with more Psychokinetics?
“How do I know if they are reading my mind?” Carrie says, interrupting my calculations.
“You won’t… I will detect it though and I will say something. Regardless of what happens, I love you, Carrie.”
She unbuckles her seatbelt, as she replies. “I love you too, honey. Let’s go introduce ourselves, shall we?” I notice her hand go to her pistol as the seatbelt retracts.
I unbuckle myself and exit the car, Carrie exits on her side. I can hear giggling coming from the man. From this distance, I can see he is chubby. The woman, Falcon, holds up her right hand to us and waves.
“Cougar! A pleasure to finally meet you. I am Tina Johansson. My Psychokinetic animal is the falcon. This is Kevin Newsell, his is the hyena. We are minions of Lion and would like to speak with you,” Falcon yells. She seems restless, maybe nervous, at this meeting.
My right hand rests on the holster of my Kalashnikov as Carrie and I walk to the front of the car and walk toward the pair. “Nice to meet you both. I am Lieutenant Cougar Reed, this is Sergeant Carrie Montclair. I have to warn you both now, we are armed and are Alliance personnel. We have immunity from the civil authorities.” The man breaks out in laughter. Falcon looks at him with a scowl on her face. “Do you have a problem over there?” I ask.
“Hee, hee, hee… You! Warning us! Hee, hee, hee, here Kitty Kitty. You pussy!” Falcon pushes Hyena, trying to get him to stop.
“Falcon, I’d get your dog on a leash before he gets hurt.” I can sense both Psychokinetics’ powers. Falcon is more powerful than Hyena, and he seems slightly more powerful than Cheetah, without the speed.
“Cougar, I apologize for Hyena. We want to give you a message from Lion. On January 3, at noon, all Psychokinetics are invited to his home. It is in the Buckhead District of Atlanta.” Hyena giggles again, his laughter grates on my nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“His home, why?” I ask.
Falcon steps closer, still 7 feet away from me though. “Frankly, Cougar, there have been some problems with other Psychokinetics. Lion wants everyone to understand their place.”
“What’s my place? According to Lion, I mean.”
Hyena then steps forward, so he is standing next to Falcon. “Your place is to fetch saucers of milk for the other pussycats.” Hyena bends at the waist as he laughs hysterically. His humor is weak, if not annoying. He is only trying to instigate a fight. Carrie looks at me as she un-snaps her 9 mm and looks back at Hyena.
“Well Falcon, what is my place?”
“Cougar, you are in the cat family. You are under Lion and Tiger. You are a servant of Lions.”
“I don’t fucking think so,” I reply. “I’m an officer in the Alliance. I don’t answer to ANY civilian!”
Hyena’s eyes get big as his chest puffs out. “Hee, hee, hee, oh, big tough Cougar. I don’t answer to a civilian. Oh…” His eyes show his anger. A buzzing begins in my ears. I sense my defensive power awakening.
“Whoever is in my head, they’d better get out right now. You gave me your message. Now, go away.” I look at Hyena as his head turns slightly to the side.
“So, Cougar,” Hyena chuckles as he continues. “Is this human your girlfriend?”
“Hyena, enough!” Falcon yells at him.
Carrie faces Hyena. Her hand is on her pistol. “Pull it out, human,” he taunts. “Then watch what I do to you.”
I walk slowly toward Hyena, pacing my steps so my left foot will be forward when I strike. I’ve had enough of this shithead.
“Cougar, stop!” Falcon says. “We are done. Hyena, we are leaving.” I stop my advance.
Hyena looks at me, a sadistic smile on his face. “Aw, Kitty Kitty didn’t get to defend his human sperm catcher…”
My right hand, with fingers locked and extended, slices through the air. My strike lands between ribs six and seven on his left side. My hand penetrates the intercostal space of the ribs as my body shifts into a forward karate stance. Hyena’s eyes light up as the intense pain causes him to inhale suddenly. I leave my hand in place as my fingertips hook the sixth rib.
Falcon raises her hands and I hear Carrie speak. “Stay out of it bitch or you’re dead!” Carrie levels her pistol at Falcon. I can smell the cleaners that Carrie uses on her weapon. I can feel the warmth of Hyenas body. Ribs are above and below my fingers. I have his rib hooked by my fingertips, he cannot move.
“Apologize now or I’ll break your fucking rib.” I say with as calm a voice as I can muster. Hyena grabs my wrist with both hands. He is too weak to remove my hand. “Do it! Say it, or I’ll snap your fucking rib. I mean it, laughing boy.”
“Sorry… I’m… Sorry…” he gasps.
I withdraw my hand as Hyena collapses to the ground. He curls up into a fetal position as he heals himself.
Carrie is in a perfect firing stance, Falcon is ignoring her, staring only at me. “We gave you the message, Cougar. I warn you now, Lion defends his pride. If you know what is best for you, you will be there on January 3rd. Be forewarned, Dove and Owl are not your friends. You only get one chance to decide your allegiance.”
“Take funnyman here home. I think he’s had enough playing with the cats,” I reply. I do not acknowledge her warning.
Hyena stumbles as he gets to his feet, the wound is healed. “I’ll see you in January, Cougar.” He says as his arm instinctively covers his left side. “You just made an enemy.”
Carrie winks at me as she stays in a firing stance. “Let’s go, honey.”
“One moment,” I reply. “Hyena, I have shit loads of enemies.” I step toward him again. “No fucking civilian is going to threaten me.” He leans backward, he fears me.
“Cougar,” Falcon says calmly. “You are outnumbered. The human cannot kill me at that distance. My defensive power is too great. Leave here. We delivered our message, we are done with you.” Carrie shifts in her stance, taking careful aim. Falcon slowly turns her head to face Carrie. “Human, lower that pistol.”
“Carrie, lower it. We’re leaving now.” I point at Hyena. “You, fat boy, if you insult me or anyone with me, I’ll beat you to death.” Carrie lowers her pistol, keeping her finger on the trigger.
Hyena stands up straight, facing me, his mouth opens as his eyes grow wide. “Hee,hee,hee… You?! I can’t wait until the meeting at Lion’s home. Hee,hee, I can’t wait to see you again, Mountain Lion.”
“Did I not inflict enough pain on you? How about we tr
y again. How about next time I break your fucking nose?” I step toward him again.
Falcon grabs Hyena’s shoulder as she looks at me. “We’re leaving, be warned Cougar.”
Chapter 50
Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base
Wednesday
My Dearest Molly,
I am sorry to write to you. You do not know me, and we shall never meet. After much thought and wringing of hands, I have learned that contacting you would have no effects on the matters I am writing about.
Recently, my son was taken by Resistance fighters (Euro-Asian Militaristic Society) to Prague, Czech Republic. I know from my powers that you are not a sympathizer to the cause of the Resistance and that you have a daughter who, like us, shares the gift of Psychokinetics.
I know who your daughter will be and that she must seek out my son when she obtains her power. I beg you, with all that I am, that you would guide your daughter so that when the day arrives when our children meet, that she would help him. Her peaceful, loving nature will be needed by my son, Cougar.
If your daughter is not born yet, I apologize for ruining the surprise. Please understand, I have no other recourse than to reach out to you. Timere will hunt my son, and he will hunt Timere. He cannot surround himself with death and pain and still hope to survive. Please, Molly, help my poor, dear son; Cougar.
Your humble servant,
Calico (Calista Reed)
My eyes are full of tears as I finish the note and look up at Dove. Tears are streaming from her eyes, it is as if she is feeling my pain. Owl and Carrie stand beside me.
“Thank you, Dove,” I say as I hand the note back. “So, is she alive?”
“Cougar, I do not know. I only know what’s in this note,” Dove replies.
“Your mother has the power of premonitions.” Owl gently grabs my shoulder. “It is her ability. I can locate Timere, you have your… Whatever you have.” She releases my shoulder.
“Premonitions? She knew I would hunt Taipan? Or Funnel Web?” I ask.
Dove leans forward. “Leave them. Don’t pay evil with evil. Turn the other cheek Cougar. Love your life, love Carrie.” She motions toward Carrie.
“I do, and I will. Dove, I’m not like you. The losses of my life are building. If I don’t fight them, who will? Lion sure as hell won’t. Besides, I am in a war. If Taipan is Resistance, then he’s the enemy.”
Owl folds her hands as she closes her eyes. She shudders as her lips quiver. “He’s near Moscow now, he is with eight Piranha and Asian Hornet.” Her eyes open, I can see her fear. “He is incredibly powerful.”
“Where is the next most powerful Timere? Where is Black Widow?”
Owl again closes her eyes. She does not shiver. “I cannot see her. Her powers have not yet awakened.”
“So, there is time. We aren’t completely outmatched as of yet.” I answer as I look at Dove.
Dove shakes her head. “Time for what, Cougar? All Timere aren’t evil. What about your friend, Nada? She wasn’t evil. Owls mother wasn’t. You can’t just kill them because they’re named after spiders and snakes.”
Owl nods to Carrie. “Keep him under wraps, would you? He seems to be a bit of an angry lover.”
Carrie smiles meekly as she looks lovingly at me. “I’ll try,” she answers.
“Okay, Dove I will leave them for now, for you. I’ll talk to Security to see about getting you clearance to enter the base. I’ll ask for you as well, Owl. Understand though, if either of you step out of line, your clearance will be revoked.” I touch Carrie’s hand. “I only do this because I consider you both my friends. I’m sorry about before, about our first meeting.”
Dove smiles at me. Her smile brings more joy than anything I have ever felt since the evening Carrie played Moonlight Sonata for me. “Thank you, Cougar. I also consider you a friend.”
Part IV
Chapter 51
Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base
Mid-December
Doctor Ramos’s left index finger rests on his lower lip as he smiles. He is enjoying taunting me. “So, Lieutenant, you really have no idea why Sergeant Montclair is vomiting? Why she cannot keep her breakfast down?”
“No, sir,” I answer as this game of his is annoying me. I should just read his mind and be done with it. “She isn’t injured, I can’t heal her.”
“Reed, for a Psychokinetic you are a dense bastard at times, aren’t you?” His hand drops as he leans forward over his desk.
I stare at the man. I respect him and appreciate his candor. His playing with me though annoys me. “Honestly Doc, I’ve been so engrossed in recruiting I haven’t had time to study for your games. Enough already!”
He shakes his head. “Son, don’t get promoted. You are the perfect clueless Lieutenant. Sergeant Montclair is not sick, she is pregnant. Congratulations Lieutenant, you’re going to be a father.” He looks to the ceiling. “God help us, the Psychokinetics are breeding.”
My heart seems to skip a beat as I feel lightheaded. “Pregnant? How?”
“How?” His head tilts to the side. “How’d it happen, or how far along is she?”
“When, I mean. How far along is she?” I answer.
“Lieutenant, she’s three months pregnant. The baby is more advanced than three months, however. It’s safe to say he will be a Psychokinetic. Probably a damn powerful one too, judging by his progress.”
“He….” My mind is a whirl of emotions and thoughts.
Doctor Ramos chuckles. “Oh yeah, she’s having a boy. Sorry, I ruined the surprise. Your son is due in June, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s born in May or even April. As I said, he’s advanced. My guess is the hormone affects everything in the DNA. Like you, your power is in your DNA, not just the gland.”
I am struggling with discerning if I am happy, anxious, scared, or all of the above. “Doc, how do you know he’s a Psychokinetic?”
Doctor Ramos leans back and interlocks his fingers behind his head. “I’ve detected the Imperium hormone in him, as I’ve said. Though, you should feel lucky that his gestational period isn’t that of a mountain lion. Hell, he’d be borne already.” Ramos laughs. “Lieutenant, this is wonderful news. What the hell is your problem?”
I rub my temples as reality sets in. “I don’t want to be like my father. I’m not like that. It scares me to think of my power and being a parent. What if I get angry?”
Doctor Ramos stands and slowly walks around his desk. He goes to one knee at my side. “And what if you are a better father because of your power? The little turd can’t lie to you. Talk about a teen boy with testosterone issues… Here’s dad, an Alliance officer who carries a 44.” Doc puts his hand on my shoulder. “Do yourself a favor, Carrie is ecstatic. If you aren’t happy in front of her, it will crush her. I’ll Haldol your ass till next Christmas if you hurt that woman. Cougar, you only get one shot at this… Don’t fuck it up.” He shakes me slightly and as I look at the Latino man. My heart breaks thinking about hurting Carrie. I decide instantly how I will act. I will be happy about this. I will be a good father, and I should marry his mother… I just hope he doesn’t grow to be stronger than I am. Thankfully, there is a Tiger, Lion, Eagle, Wolf, and German Shepherd already. I’ll be safe…
***
Cheetah—Atlanta Base
Colonel Renfroe exhales, his frustration is visible. I don’t need to read his mind. “Lieutenant, I appreciate your work on Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. However, what you have here is not anything O1 can use for an airstrike plan. This Intel would work for a ground attack, not an air attack.”
I look at the piles of file folders, satellite pictures, analysis documents… My work. My human age belies my Psychokinetic maturity. Still, his words crush me. “Sir, I will continue on it.” I gather my work as I enter his mind. He is disappointed with me; lofty expectations are going unrealized. “Si
r, can Air get attack copters close enough to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky?”
He looks up at me, he is running the calculations for fuel, munitions, and protection. “Yes, but the Resistance air would tear them up.”
In his mind, I see some high-level Intel. At Wisconsin Illinois base, my former friend, my one-time crush, Cougar, is putting together an assault force. I must appease my bosses here in Atlanta. Maybe, just maybe, I could develop something that could be of use to Cougar. It would impress him and hopefully get me back in his good graces.
***
Dove—Atlanta, Georgia
The steam from my black coffee swirls in the air. The hot mug warms my chilled hands if only I had cream and sugar to go with it.
“Owl, may I have the cream and sweetener please?” Without looking at me the small creamer dish and sweetener slide across the table. How I wish my telekinetic powers were something greater than what I have. “Thank you,” I say.
Do you sense the Pigeon yet? “Owl asks.
“No,” Owl looks at me, her eyes convey her anxiety. “Dove, I don’t think she will show. They’re a hive mind, they’ll all know.”
“Yes, but we’re birds. Their first loyalty is to Eagle’s family. They have to know where Wolf or Cougar’s mother is.”
Owl sips her coffee as I add the cream and sugar to my own. Owl removes her mouth from the cup, a moment later I sense her, the Pigeon. She is heading in our direction.
Owl checks her watch. “She’s late.”
“Well, at least she came.” I reply as Owl harrumphs at the situation.
A few minutes later the Pigeon walks through the door of the small coffee shop. She’s a thin black woman, very calm demeanor, she is at peace. She sees us and approaches our table. She offers a slight bow and sits. “Hello Dove, hello Owl.”
“Hello,” we reply in unison.