by Collin Earl
*****
"Put the motherly instinct in check, Samantha." Richard threw a beefy arm around her, picking her up off the ground. She tried to get away from him but he was strong. Surprisingly strong--it appeared that all the supplements were starting to work for him. But Sam wasn't the only one who was pissed. Many others, including teachers, were muttering under their breath, though Sam was the only one who was attempting to do anything about it.
"No way, Richard. That psycho doesn't get to throw knives at little kids and get away with it. There is no way."
"Samantha, listen to what you just said. She threw a knife at a little kid. Think of what she'll do to you. The boy is embarrassed, but he is fine. No use in bringing attention to yourself."
Sam's fighting spirit lessened. Richard was right, of course. He always was. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't even thought of what she was going to do when she made it over to the woman. Richard felt her reluctance.
"Let it go, Samantha."
Sam's body completely relaxed, going limp in Richard's arms. Richard didn't set her down though, but slung her over his shoulder and carried her to where they had been sitting. She felt like a sack of potatoes.
"Richard, you can put me down now. I won't do anything."
Richard shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'm not fast enough to stop you if you go all mother-hen again."
From Richard's back, Sam saw Cammie standing ten meters away next to the most unlikely of students. Coda was grinning outlandishly, watching with an evident amount of interest. He came across as way too excited in light of what was going on. Cammie was attempting to engage him with little success. Another three meters to his left, Adam lingered against a wall, totally relaxed, watching the knife throwing psycho lady with little to no interest. He seemed preoccupied.
Sam couldn't help but stare. Oh, was he a sight for sore eyes. Richard moved back towards their original spot, causing Sam to strain in an effort to maintain her view of Adam. Her mental function skipped a beat.
Adam was talking intimately with a girl that Sam didn't recognize. The girl was really pretty, and standing way too close to Adam.
"Richard, put me down. I need to...I need to...to go."
"Now my darlings, I would like to start with the young ladies sixteen and older. If all of you would be so kind as to make a line over here." Ms. Green pointed to her left, indicating the group of lab techs. "Once in line you will disrobe, allow our techs to run their test, and then redress. Once you are done you will be escorted back to your central pod." Ms. Green's voice had regained its sweet quality, though to Sam it was like nails on a chalkboard.
A confused mumbling swelled through the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing. Their faces reflected their confusion. All were asking the same question, wondering if they had heard right? Did she really say that all the girls in the room were to go and disrobe? Right here? Right now?
"Chop, chop ladies. Get to the side of the gym and take off your clothes. I don't have all day."
Well, that answered that question.
An instant outcry sounded, replacing confusion with a horde of other emotions: anger, outrage, incredulity, rejection, and eventually an embarrassed sort of acceptance. Over the pandemonium Sam could hear the Principal of 676 yelling.
"Now, now, Ms. Green. We can't have the young women undressing in front of the young men. That is just improper. The school board and city counsel will not stand for it."
Ms. Green ignored the Principal. "Children!"
The noise increased and chaos snowballed as the students fed upon each other's emotions. Sam wondered what Ms. Green was going to do to subdue the mounting anarchy when the woman pulled something from her belt. Slowly she raised the black device and –
Boom!
An explosion shredded the din as a ball of super-heated light hit the wall and literally melted a chunk away.
The room went silent as a graveyard. The only residual sounds were of those who were unfortunate enough to be splashed with some of the gooey debris from the now porous wall. Every eye stared wide at Ms. Green, who waved her weapon around nonchalantly.
"Now that's better. Ladies, if you please."
Sam took deep steadying breaths. She didn't see how this could get any worse.