“But how will we know if you’re okay?” Nicky’s mother asks.
“I assure you Mrs. Hernandez, we will keep you abreast of their progress and condition.” Chléony hands Willy a note.
“Now please come with me,” Chléony tells the parents.
All the kids hug their parents one last time, and say their goodbyes.
Nicky’s dad clears his throat. “I love you Nicky.” Tears well up in his eyes.
“Love you too, Dad. Love you Mom.”
“Oh! One more thing Chléony?” Nicky asks.
“Yes?”
“Do you know why we survived when so many others have died?” asks Nicky.
“Our processes have improved over many years of research. I would say, more importantly though, you three all shared a common trait … even your spirit would never give up.”
Nicky’s dad winks at him. “We never do! Good luck guys and go kick some ass!”
Chapter 38 - Six
As their parents walk out of the church, Willy reads the note Chléony had handed him. “Okay guys, it says: Go to 7737 Commerce Lane. Safe house.” Along with the note, there was some cash.
“We can’t be out in public for too long. We’ll need a cab. Why don’t we go back to Denny’s and try to use the phone there,” suggests Isa.
They split up and adapt, becoming almost invisible. They’re careful walking back through the desert, since at a close distance they may still be sensed by a Chreé. Only Isa is able to block them telepathically from being identified.
When they finally arrive at the restaurant they call a cab. It arrives about a half hour later.
The cab drops them off at a beautiful home on Commerce Lane. The three stand outside the home on the driveway. It’s a picturesque, upper-class, suburban street. Each house is two stories with pretty black lampposts, large trees, and impressively landscaped lawns.
“Wow, maybe we can keep it!” Nicky says.
“Please! I just want to be home. So how do we get in?” Isa asks. Immediately the door opens. “Strange, I don’t sense anyone inside.”
“Maybe it has a device that allows it to open when we’re near,” Willy says.
“Cool! Alien technology! Maybe it’s full of alien blasters like in Halo. We can vaporize some Chreé,” Nicky says.
“Oh God,” Isa sighs.
They enter the house and immediately run around. They discover there are five bedrooms, there baths, and luckily for them a very nice pool and Jacuzzi.
“Nice house! Pool table! Oh and look a Jacuzzi and …”
“Xbox!” Nicky interrupts Isa. “Yes!”
“Guys we have to focus,” Willy admonishes them.
“Relax! We’ve done plenty already,” Nicky says.
“Yeah, chill,” Isa says.
“We can all chill when we’re safe and so are our parents,” Willy scolds them.
A phone rings in the house. Willy picks it up.
“Hello, Z. Yes we’re fine. What? Six are on the way. But … Okay I understand,” Willy hangs up. He looks upset.
“Well what did he say?” Isa asks with a concerned look on her face.
“He said they finally cloned us. There are six of them so far. He said these clones were specifically designed to sense us from almost anywhere in the world. That should lead them straight to us. Isa can you sense them? Can you block them from finding our location?” Willy asks.
Isa closes her eyes. After a few seconds Isa says, “I sense them, but I don’t think I can block all of them. I sense they’re on their way,” Isa says.
“If they want a fight, they’ll get one!” Willy exclaims.
“We can’t risk the people in the neighborhood or the safe house location. If we have no other choice, we should face them in the desert,” Nicky suggests.
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go,” Willy replies.
Carefully, so they’re not seen, they run through the neighborhood towards a secluded desert area many miles away.
“I sense them. They’re very close. Over there, I see them,” Isa says. All three see clones approaching. The three are shocked by their appearance.
Six carbon copies stood before them, two of each. The clones are wearing the same coveralls the Chreé wore.
“It’s like looking in a mirror,” Nicky says.
“We have been asked to acquire you. Will you surrender peacefully?” Nicky’s clone speaks first.
“Wow, you look like me, but you’re a jackass. No we aren’t coming with you,” Nicky replies.
“We are required to either terminate you or capture you,” one of Isa’s clones states. They stare each other down for a few seconds, and without warning the clones attack simultaneously.
Nicky’s clones charge into Nicky, throwing him back approximately twenty feet and knocking him on his backside.
“Ouch! Hey, I thought we were brothers!” Nicky rubs the back of his head. “Hmmm … They didn’t laugh. Guess they don’t have my great sense of humor.”
Nicky’s clones run at incredible speeds towards him. Nicky jumps ten feet over them. He manifests a tomahawk and in midair throws it towards one clone. It moves faster than a bullet instantly killing him. When Nicky lands, the second clone throws a punch to his face. He slips the punch and sweeps the clone’s legs out from under him. After two punches it’s over.
Isa’s clones are fast but not anywhere near as fast as she is. Isa sidesteps them and jumps towards them. Her lower half transforms into that of the palomino horse. She throws a hook kick. But the clones are faster than she anticipates. They jump out of the way.
When Isa lands, one of the clones manages to kick Isa’s stomach.
Isa grunts in pain. “You shouldn’t have done that,” Isa exclaims. She screams, “Ahhh!” and runs at top speed towards them. Running into one of them, she hurls the clone across the desert. The other Isa clone follows and positions herself just behind Isa. The clone lifts her right arm to strike Isa from behind. But before she throws her punch, Isa gives her a reverse hook kick to the head. The Isa clone falls to the ground.
One of Willy’s clones gets in front of him and the other behind. They run towards him. Willy waits and leaps out of the way. The two clones collide into each other. Willy lands and then jumps towards them. In midair he manifests his fangs and claws. They are similar in appearance to those of the grey wolf he was merged with. The only difference being his fangs are infinitely more powerful. He lands on a clone knocking him down. With one quick bite, he creates a bloody gash to the clone’s neck instantly killing him. Willy ducks a punch that is thrown to the back of his head. He spins his left arm back towards the second clone, slashing his neck. The second clone collapses.
It was all over in seconds.
“Everyone all right?” Willy asks.
“Yeah,” Nicky replies.
“I’m okay too,” Isa says. “They were definitely tougher than the Chreé.”
“Yeah and that’s just the first batch. Who knows if they’ll get stronger,” Willy says.
Nicky responds, “Or how about thousands of them. They’ll be unstoppable.”
“We need to stop them at the source. We need to stop the cloning,” Isa says.
“Yeah, but how?” asks Nicky.
Chapter 39 - Bored
The next day they are back at the safe house. They’ve been sitting all morning resting and watching TV. Nicky is bored and feeling a little homesick. He starts to sing, “School time … oh yeah … oh yeah.” It helps remind him of home.
“What are you doing?” Isa asks.
“What? You don’t like it?”
“Shhh … guys … the phone,” Willy tells them. “Hello Z, I see. Okay, I’ll let them know,” Willy hangs up after a brief conversation. “It seems they just wanted to know how their clones would fare against us. We are not a priority anymore. They got what they wanted from us,” Willy says.
“Did he tell you where the cloning facility is?” Nicky asks Willy.
�
�No. I’m sure he will, just give him time,” Willy replies.
“So what do we do now?” Isa asks.
“We wait,” Nicky replies.
For the next week, the three fight off boredom by training, playing the X-box, swimming, and relaxing in the Jacuzzi. After a week, they are becoming a little stir crazy.
“I love the pool and training and all, but we need to get out. If Isa senses anything, you’ll let us know, right?” Nicky looks at Isa, “Come on, let’s go somewhere.”
“No thanks. I’m staying, too risky,” Willy says.
“Isa, how about you?” Nicky asks.
“Okay, I’m bored. Let’s go!”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Willy warns.
“We need a break. We’re going,” Isa argues.
“Fine, just be careful,” Willy says.
“Yes mother,” Nicky sarcastically replies.
“So how do you suppose we won’t be spotted moving as fast as a comet?” Nicky asks.
“Backyards, alleyways, and don’t forget, only I move as fast as a comet. You’re more of a, well … fat grizzly,” Isa replies.
“Very funny, enjoy watching my grizzly butt cheeks from back there,” Nicky laughs.
Like two streaks, they’re gone jumping over fences and running through people’s back yards. They pass so fast that if a resident were outside, all they would notice would be a very strong breeze.
They stop near a strip mall.
“Look. There’s some stores. We have money. Now let’s spend it!” Isa tells Nicky excitedly.
“Oh no! A teenage girl shopping. I want to go home now,” Nicky protests.
“Be quiet. Let’s go,” Isa says.
For a few hours, they almost feel normal again. They eat a pizza and even catch a movie.
On their way out of the theater, Nicky tells Isa, “You know in real life, I could have kicked that superhero’s arse, and …”
Isa interrupts, “You mean we; we could kick that superhero’s arse.”
“No, just me,” Nicky says. They both laugh.
Chapter 40 - Shock
“Knock, knock. We’re home!”
“Hey, why are you pasty white?” Isa asks Willy.
“It’s happened,” Willy replies.
“What? What’s happened?” Isa asks.
“There are thousands of them. The cloning, it’s starting.”
“What do you mean?” Isa asks.
Willy tells them about Z’s call. “Thousands of clones are now ready.”
“Oh no! Already?! But how can we stop so many?” Nicky asks.
“Z told me he’d call us tomorrow with more information.”
“Okay guys, so I guess we sit around and wait for his call to see what we do next,” Isa responds.
Just before bed, they do some more fight training and work on their morphing.
But what they wake up to the next morning is something they never expected to see. It’s all over the news. The world felt like it had stopped.
The reporter on the TV announces, “We have the latest pictures of the small contingent of aliens. Four green aliens, approximately four feet tall, appear to shake hands with the president. They have met with government officials and have promised peace. Also, they have agreed to share many of their advanced technologies. Ladies and gentlemen, we are no longer alone.”
The three sit in stunned silence for what feels like hours.
“But they weren’t even in their true forms. They looked like the little green aliens from a bad fifties Sci-fi film,” Nicky notes.
Willy agrees. “They’re all about deception; who knows what they’re up to.”
The ringing phone breaks the silence.
Willy answers, “Yeah Z, we just saw the news. Okay we’ll be there. In the garage … yeah, okay.”
“Well, what did he say?” Isa asks Willy.
“He said we’ll be driven to the church. You know, I just realized we’ve never looked in the garage.”
“But we’re not sixteen yet. What if we get pulled over?” Isa asks.
“No need, this one drives itself,” Willy smiles.
“Oh, so the ghost driver will get the ticket, gotcha,” Isa says.
The three enter the garage.
Nicky shakes his head in disbelief and puts his hand on his forehead, “Oh no … another black Prius.”
“Don’t worry, this one is friendly. Get in,” says Willy.
The interior of the car is far from stock. This is an alien craft camouflaged as a Prius. The interior seems to be made out of the same Plexiglas like material they encountered before, making the car transparent when looking out. They could see all around them, as if they were floating in mid-air. Floating Chreé language and images surround the interior of the wall, just like the room they freed their parents from. Finishing off the interior are four, black, leather like captain chairs, with more floating images just above the arm rests.
“Welcome,” a pleasant voice comes from the car. “Your destination has been preprogrammed. Will there be a genre of music you would like to select?”
“Rock!” Isa yells out. Thunderstruck begins blaring. “Nice! AC/DC.” The car backs out and drives them to the church.
When they enter the church, Z is already waiting.
“Good to see you Z,” Willy says.
“Likewise, my young friends,” Z says. “As was shared with the three of you previously, our protocol does not allow for classified information to be shared with those outside of their own organization. As I am part of the E.S.T. organization, it is against our laws for any Chreé from Overwatch to share information with us. However, there are some brave brethren allies sympathetic to our cause within Overwatch who risk their freedom to provide us with intelligence. Yet, we did not have any forewarning that this was being planned. This contrived outing of sorts has shaken many of us, but it seems they feared exposure, specifically from you three.”
“So they ousted themselves because they feared we would? It doesn’t make sense. And why did they disguise their true forms? And what’s their next move?” Willy asks visibly shaken.
“Many questions, but I am sorry, I do not know the answers. Information is now much more difficult to acquire. In time perhaps I can answer them, but the more pressing matter for now is your clones.”
“So how can we possibly stop them?” Nicky asks.
“It will be the most difficult undertaking you have embarked upon thus far, but please remember why you all survived when so many did not. You never give up. I will let you know of any further changes.”
With that Z, Nicky, Willy, and Isa leave the church unsure of their next move.
Chapter 41 - Destroy
They are back in the safe house. After a few hours Nicky is bored, and when Nicky’s bored, his curiosity takes over.
“So, let’s say they force a merge with The President. How do they make people believe he’s The President? Wouldn’t someone be able to tell? I mean the whole world watches The President,” Nicky asks.
Willy answers, “Well, Z told me unlike us, they’ve mastered accessing the memories and knowledge of whoever they merge with emulating their personalities, sense of humor, and even idiosyncrasies. No one can tell it’s not them, even those closest to them.”
“Idiosyncrasies; they are the unique way we behave,” Isa tells Nicky.
“I knew that! Anyway so … just a single touch can capture a soul? And what about us? Could they capture our souls?” Nicky asks.
“Yeah, just one touch is all they need, but they can only do it to one soul at a time. Z doesn’t think it can be done to us since we were merged with Chreé.”
“Cool. That’s a relief. Still, I don’t see how we can stop them. They’ve been executing their plan for centuries,” Nicky says.
“I don’t think they expected us. We’re more powerful than they imagined. I’m sure they’re going to want us out of the way eventually,” Isa says.
“You’r
e right …” Nicky agrees.
Nicky, Isa, and Willy start back with their daily routine of training, playing X-Box, swimming, and watching TV. But after a few minutes Nicky grows restless. “Okay, I’m bored.”
Nicky turns on the television to catch the latest news.
The anchorman delivered the following report, “The alien visitors have stated they would study and should have a cure for cancer within months …”
Nicky quickly turns off the TV. “We’re in trouble. These guys are going to be loved.”
“We need a miracle,” Willy states.
The phone rings.
“Let’s hope it’s our miracle,” Isa says.
It’s the call they’ve been waiting for. Z finally gives them the location of the cloning facility.
Just before they get in the car, Isa tells Willy and Nicky, “I’m proud of you guys, I think we make a cool little family.” They all smile.
“Now, in the words of my father, let’s go kick some ass,” Nicky tells them as they all high five.
The car drives them to a secluded location in the desert. Suddenly, the car begins to levitate. The exterior transforms. It looks exactly like the ship they had encountered earlier, shiny, black, and oblong.
“Okay, even I’ll admit it this is pretty awesome,” Willy says.
“No autopilot guys. I’m flying this thing. Remember, I’m an expert on the Xbox, I have many hours on a flight sim. This thing can’t be that hard,” Nicky tells his comrades.
He ‘grabs’ a holographic flight control wheel and flies them straight into the desert floor.
“Are we still alive?” Isa asks slowly opening her eyes.
“I think so … nice, yeah just like the Xbox,” Willy smirks.
“Hold on. I got this,” Nicky tells them confidently.
“No! We’ll stick with autopilot!” Willy yells in protest.
A holographic image appears in the center of the ship and shows their route.
“That looks like Russia,” Isa says as she looks at the holographic image.
“Shall I navigate to the waypoint?” the ship asks.
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