“A herd of buffalo will charge at you. Your task is to avoid being trampled and neutralize the buffalo with the number seven painted on his back.”
“But how can I see a number painted on a buffalo’s back?” Nicky asked.
“Good luck, Nicholas.”
Suddenly a rumble like a passing train began to shake the ground. There was a herd of buffalo stampeding towards Nicky. Just like the bullets had before, the buffalo seemed to move in slow motion. There were thousands. Nicky stood without fear as the buffalo approached. He closed his eyes. When the buffalo were just feet away, Nicky raised his arms in a defensive position. A buffalo ran right into him. It was as if the buffalo hit a steel wall. The first buffalo’s neck broke just before it collapsed and disappeared. Most of the buffalo that hit Nicky’s immovable body met the same fate.
Nicky then leapt. He jumped much higher than he thought he could, and at that height he could see the entire herd. He observed many buffalo with numbers painted on their backs. Although within seconds, he recognized the buffalo with the large red number seven. It was to his left at about 10:00 o’clock. He came crashing to the ground. Immediately he jumped on a buffalo’s back and then another and another until he found the number seven buffalo. With a quick strike to the head with the tomahawk, the buffalo simply disappeared, as they all did.
Mr. Macken walked back into the dome. “Marvelous! You have exceeded our expectations, Nicholas.”
“Thank you,” Nicky stated. “Does this mean I can go home now?”
“Of course … of course, Nicholas. Your family is at home waiting.”
Nicky didn’t trust Mr. Macken, but he was hoping he could … at least this time.
“Now, let us get you home,” Mr. Macken said with what seemed like a strained smile. Nicky was surprised that Mr. Macken was forcing himself to be nice.
“Okay, so right now?”
“Certainly, go get your things, but remember we will be in contact.”
Chapter 16 - Home
Nicky was so excited when he finally arrived home. Two more pasty guys, as Nicky referred to them, drove away in a dark Prius. Nicky was groggy; he had been gassed and knocked unconscious to protect the facility’s location.
Nicky was standing at his front door. “Finally, I’m free!” he thought.
He knocked at the door with a big smile on his face. As the door opened, Nicky’s dad appeared.
“Dad!” shouted Nicky.
“Nicholas is home, Mara!” his dad yelled out as they hugged. His mom wasn’t far behind.
After they hugged, Nicky wanted to tell his parents everything. They sat in the living room. He told them all about his assessments and how he didn’t trust those “strange looking guys.”
“Do not worry, Nicholas. They explained everything to us and they are good people. They told us how you were chosen and then enhanced to help the country. You should feel privileged.”
“Really, you think so?” Nicky asked his dad.
“Absolutely. Trust me, they are only interested in helping you reach your potential, and eventually helping your country,” Nicky’s dad told him.
“Okay Dad, if you think so.”
“They will be back for more tests, but I want you to go with them and trust them. Okay?”
“If I have to, I guess.”
“Do not worry. They will make your fantastic abilities even greater. Is that not good news?”
“Yeah, I guess that would be cool,” Nicky responded.
“I know you will be happy, Nicholas. Now what would you like to do?”
“Sleep! And in my own bed, not some stupid replica.”
Chapter 17 - Bully
“Nicholas! Your friends Sue and Becky are here!” his mom yelled. It was too early for Nicky at 10:00 a.m. on a weekend. He just wanted to sleep.
Sue and Becky came running into Nicky’s room. “Where have you been?” Sue asked.
“Oh … me,” He yawned. He didn’t know how to respond, but he was a masterful liar. “I was with my cousins … they live just south of us.”
“Oh, really? Did you have fun?”
“It was okay.”
“Okay … well … you wanna go play basketball?” asked Becky.
“Nah … my cousins are really into sports. All we did was play ball all day. I’m spent.”
“Okay. Well, how about we go get some ice cream?” Becky asked.
“Oh … yeah, sure let me ask my dad.” Nicky shouted, “Dad we’re going to Kilwoms, okay?”
“Okay Nicholas, but don’t be too long,” Nicky’s dad yelled back.
Sue, Becky, and Nicky rode their bikes to the ice cream shop. It was a local hangout only ten minutes away on bike. Nicky was making sure that he didn’t get too far ahead this time.
Kilwoms was always packed with kids on Saturdays, including Max and his posse of idiots. Max was still upset at what had happened in school last week.
As they walked in, Nicky saw them and knew things were not going to end well.
“So, how are you three girls doing?” Max asked.
“Watch your mouth, Tubby,” Sue said angrily.
“Ooh, I’m scared. I guess you’re the toughest of the three. I know little Nicky’s a wimp.” Max stared Nicky down.
Nicky briefly thought back to that beautiful tomahawk and what it could do. “No, he’s not worth the trouble,” Nicky thought to himself.
“Are you ignoring me Sticky Nicky?” Max sometimes called him this because of an incident where Max glued Nicky’s shoes to the ground in the fifth grade. “How about I glue your underwear to your ass cheeks this time?” All of Max’s friends laughed.
“Come on, let’s go,” Becky said.
“Aww, did I hurt Sticky’s feelings?” Max taunted.
Nicky knew he could hurt them all very badly if he chose to, but he decided to leave anyway. Unfortunately, Max didn’t want to leave well enough alone. As Nicky, Sue, and Becky stepped outside and got on their bikes, Max and his friends followed.
“Hey Sticky, I don’t know how you pulled off that trick back in school, but I’m not afraid of you.” He kicked Nicky’s bike making Nicky fall to the ground. Sue and Becky were being held by Max’s friends.
“No! Stop it!” yelled Sue.
Max started kicking Nicky in the stomach. Nicky felt nothing, but he had to pretend he was being hurt. He remembered his father’s words, “Don’t let them know.” Max kicked him again and again. Nicky pretended to be in pain, even yelling out.
“Stop!” yelled Becky, “You’re hurting him.”
“Come on Sticky. Scream again. Come on, cry!” But Nicky just laid on the ground. “Let’s go,” Max told his friends. “See ya later girls.”
All the kids were staring at Nicky through the glass from the ice cream shop. Sue ran to Nicky who was still on the ground. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to go home.”
When Nicky arrived home he ran to his bedroom and cried. Not from physical pain as Max had no ability to physically hurt Nicky now, but from anger, humiliation and frustration.
“Someday I’ll get that fat idiot alone. No, I can’t hurt him. But, I can humiliate him.” He thought of all the ways he could make Max feel the way he did.
“Nicholas!” Nicky heard his mom yell.
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Your lunch has been served. Please come to eat.” Nicky’s mom noticed his torn shirt from the earlier incident, but said nothing. “Was the food satisfactory Nicholas?”
“It was fine, Mom,” Nicky answered. “Man she’s acting weird,” Nicky thought to himself.
The next few days went okay for Nicky at school. He tried to avoid Max and his friends. He, Sue, and Becky had fun hanging out after school and playing basketball. But always in the back of Nicky’s mind was Mr. Macken. When would the knock come and he’d have to go back to that “facility”?
One day after school, two loud knocks answered his question.
Chapter 1
8 - Return
“Mr. Macken! Welcome!” Nicky’s dad said as he answered the door.
“Thank you Mr. Hernandez. Is Nicholas home?” Mr. Macken asked.
“Why yes he is. Nicholas? Mr. Macken is here,” his dad called out to Nicky.
Nicky’s stomach sank. He thought to himself, “Oh no, I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to stay in that facility again.” He came out of his room to see Mr. Macken.
“Nicholas, it is good to see you again. Your parents have allowed another visit to our facility. Is that not great news?”
“Do I have to stay there overnight? Can’t I come back home today?” Nicky asked.
“Well Nicholas, it is very far away, but I assure you, you will be back soon. Now get some clothes for a few days. I will be waiting outside.”
“Nicholas, Mr. Macken only wants to help you. Do not worry. They can be trusted. Now, go get your things,” Dad said.
Chapter 19 - Shock
Nicholas was escorted into another dark Prius by two men. “Okay Nicholas, just like before we must darken the windows and put up the divider.”
“Where’s Mr. Macken?”
“He is in another vehicle.” A dark divider rose separating the back seat from the front seats. Nicky could not see out of the side windows either. A gas was released into the car, and after a few minutes, Nicky was knocked unconscious.
Nicky awoke, once again, and found himself in his replicated room from home. But this time, laid out on the dresser was a pair of dark blue coveralls. “Great. Now I get to look like all these other guys. I wonder what tests they have for me now,” Nicky thought to himself.
Another unknown man with similar physical features to everyone he’d encountered at the facility, entered the room. “Nicholas, are you ready for the tests?”
“Yeah, I’m ready … let’s go.”
Nicky was led to a different room in the facility. Like most of the other rooms, this one had the same white lacquer like finish to every surface. However, it was much smaller measuring about ten feet long by ten feet wide. Mr. Macken was waiting for him.
“Hello Nicholas, these set of tests will be a little different than what we have done in the past,” Mr. Macken explained.
“Okay, how are they different?”
“Well, most of today’s tests will be less physical and more cerebral. Please sit. Now, close your eyes and extend your hand. Good.” Mr. Macken pulled out a knife and slammed it down on Nicky’s pinky, cutting it off.
“Ahhhh …!” Nicky screamed in dismay. “What did you do?!” But as Nicky cried, Mr. Macken asked him to look down. His finger had already begun to regenerate.
“I am sorry Nicholas, but I had to see if the curative process was viable. And apparently it was.”
“But I don’t understand,” Nicky said puzzled.
“You see, Nicholas, we have experimented with a procedure so that you may heal in such a manner.”
Nicky was still in shock, “But why hurt me?”
“Again, I apologize for my methods. I was almost sure the curative process would be successful.”
“Almost sure! I don’t want to be here anymore!” Nicky stood and shouted.
“Nicholas, please settle down. I will not hurt you again, I promise. Also, please understand your parents have signed waivers, so you must remain here until we are ready to send you home.”
“My parents would never do that!” Nicky yelled angrily.
Mr. Macken was fully aware of what an angry Nicky was capable of doing. “They understand that your mission for your country is much larger than just you. Again I am terribly sorry. It will not happen again. You have my word. Now, please sit down.” Nicky glared at Mr. Macken and reluctantly sat.
“Are you ready to continue?”
“Yes.”
“Good, do you see that gentleman sitting down over there?” he pointed at a man sitting about fifty feet away.
“Yeah, I see him.”
“Okay, now concentrate on his face and tell me what happens.”
Nicky could hear a voice in his head, «Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.»
“I heard a voice counting down from ten,” Nicky told Mr. Macken.
“Very good.”
“Tell me how?” Nicky asked.
“Well, you have the ability to communicate telepathically with humans, not just animals.”
“Wow, really? Can I make his mind explode like in the comic books?”
“No Nicholas, I am afraid not. You can only communicate. Now, please close your eyes. Do not worry. I am only testing your mind. You have my word. Picture total darkness in your mind. No sound, no feeling, only focus on your breathing. Now relax and listen to this word … ko-kí.” Mr. Macken paused for a few seconds. “What do you see?”
Nicky started to become visibly disturbed. “I see a terrible war. Indians are being shot and are dying around me … I don’t like this.”
“Concentrate, Nicholas. Tell me what you see,” instructed Mr. Macken.
“I don’t want to see it anymore.” Nicky opened his eyes. “What was that?” Nicky was sweating and breathing heavily.
“These are memories that you can recall from the essence that has merged with you.”
“But I don’t understand,” Nicky said.
“These memories formed part of the life of a Native American who lived many years ago. You can access these memories,” Mr. Macken explained.
“What? You said I had been merged with animals? What do you mean a Native American?”
“It is true Nicholas. You have been merged with a man. His essence is part of you now.”
“How could this be? I don’t want this. I don’t want these memories. You have to reverse this.”
“I am sorry for your distress Nicholas, but once the merger process has been finalized, there is no way to reverse it. You must learn to live with your new abilities and connections.”
“But I don’t want to.”
“I am sure you will work it out. Well, Nicholas that is all for today, you may return to your room.” Mr. Macken abruptly stopped the conversation.
Now back in his room, Nicky was still shaken by the images in his mind, the cutting off of his finger, and the knowledge that he was somehow merged with another man.
Nicky knew he was being monitored; he just sensed it. This was strange considering there were no visible cameras in the room. He yelled out, “Can I get an Xbox and a TV in here?”
An unknown voice could be heard through a speaker, “As you wish.”
Video Games always had a way of clearing Nicky’s mind, no matter how badly he felt.
“Thanks!”
Chapter 20 - Fun
Nicky stayed up almost all night playing on the X-box. Only a couple of hours of sleep later, someone knocked on the door.
“Good morning, Nicholas.”
“Good morning pasty dude number 147,” Nicky thought as he smirked. “I know, it’s time to go,” Nicky said.
When Nicky arrived at the Creation Room, Mr. Macken informed him things would be a little different today. “Nicholas, today I would like you to take over the Creation Room.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Whatever you can imagine, the Creation Room will try to simulate. It is all yours. I will be back in a few hours.”
The first thing Nicky thought of was a movie theater hooked up to an Xbox. “This is awesome!” After a couple of hours of playing Halo, he grew bored. Next he thought, “Whitewater rafting on a jet ski? Why not?” Drenched from the experience, he thought, “What’s next. Hang gliding!” He was soaring over a mountainous area. When he finally landed he started to feel a little sad. He started thinking of those he missed so much.
Nicky tried to re-create home. He missed his family. He even created simulations of his parents. He hugged them, went outside to play some basketball with Sue and Becky, and finally he imagined their last trip and the cave that he fell into.
There i
t was, right in front of him, the cave. It scared him a little, but he was so curious he had to go in. “Could it re-create what was in there?” Nicky wondered. He jumped in the opening and walked until he saw it. The bones and the weapons were there just like he had seen so briefly in the cave before. “Everything looks smaller than I remember,” he thought.
“Interesting is it not, Nicholas?” he heard Mr. Macken’s voice behind him.
Nicky jumped. “Yeah it is.”
“Tell me Nicholas, why are you so curious about this place?”
“Well, I just wanted to see what’s down here.”
“I see. Well, since you are so curious, I suppose I should let you in on a little secret. We created the cave for a higher purpose.”
“What do you mean you created it? For what? Some kind of trap?!”
“I would not necessarily categorize it as a trap. You see, many came before you. They were unable to survive the essence merging process. Some of their bones were discarded here as you can see.” Mr. Macken pointed to them.
“But why?”
“To entice young curious types such as yourself.”
“So the cave was created to trap kids so you could experiment on them? But … but … I could have died?”
“Well Nicholas, we do not use the word die. Your journey does not end when the vessel expires. It is simply a transition.”
“You mean like the man and the animals that were merged with me?”
“Exactly. I promise, tomorrow all of your questions will be answered. Now, it has been a long day, please return to your room.”
Nicky had many more questions, but decided it would be best to just listen to Mr. Macken, for now anyway.
Nicky spent the rest of the evening doing what he does most nights; reading comic books and playing X-Box until he passed out.
The next morning Nicky awoke to the sound of gas filling the room. Nicky’s body was adapting to the gas. Larger and larger quantities of gas were needed each time it was used. But eventually his body relented. “Oh no. Not agai …” Nicky was out. When he awoke he could not believe his eyes.
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