She then saw the xenos for the first time as they entered the hallway and began lifting people up, carrying them away. The creatures moved fluidly, like they were swimming through the air.
They moved quickly, taking everyone away. Eventually they reached her, and one xeno took Anna, growing an extra set of limbs to carry her. Another had taken little Elijah, who was now sleeping in stasis. The creature seemed to carry him softly and gently, so as to not cause him any harm. Another creature looked at her, and paused for a moment. It then turned, and left her alone. The rest of them ignored her as well.
She didn’t feel afraid. Although she couldn’t see the creatures with her mind’s eye, she could see someone else though them. She could see Michael, in the room with the scrambler. He was awake, conscious. She started running to him, avoiding the xenos through the tunnels.
She soon reached the room. The door was open, the guards gone. Michael stood there, working on a data screen, trying to reactivate it.
She stopped, and walked slowly into the room. His back was turned.
“An unfortunate side effect of the scrambler,” he said, “is the EMP blast it creates with the stasis waves. The other effects are obvious; stasis sleep and memory loss administered to the human brain.” She ran over to him, and pushed him as hard as she could. He stumbled a few steps, but easily kept his balance.
“Why? Why did you do it?”
He turned to face her, rage in his eyes.
“You want to know why? I’ll tell you why. I was there. I was in the stasis chambers, down on the deck in the ship that night. I was hiding, afraid that he would kill me, too. I saw the whole thing. I saw that sick man, in his drug-induced state, mercilessly rape and beat her to death. I saw the dark side of humanity that night. I saw what they’re capable of. That caused me to look at humans in a new perspective. A new light. I’ve seen their history. It’s all death. Pain. Now I will control their future.”
Callista was speechless. She just stared at him, her eyes watering. He walked around to her, holding the data screen at his side. “Now you have to make a choice, Callie,” he said, “as to whom you will stand by.” Several xenos encircled them, moving in unison with each other.
“Michael,” she said, “how are you controlling them? Where did they come from?” He smiled at her.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that you stand by me in this. I have a plan, a plan to make humans better. We can do this together. You and me.” Callista stared at him quietly. She reached out to the city with her mind’s eye. She saw no one. The people in stasis were being moved to the surface, through tunnels the xenos had carved through the rocks.
Michael looked at her expectantly, waiting for an answer. His head was tilted to one side as he examined her with his eyes. The pupils in his eyes were slits, staring narrowly at her through dim light. She shut her eyes for a moment, and then reached out to him with her mind’s eye.
The telekinetic blast she shot towards him cracked the ground beneath them both. It hit an invisible barrier, Michael deflecting it with his own power. The ground beneath them ruptured even further as their two powers collided.
“Michael,” Callista said, “I can’t support you in this. I’m sorry about what happened and what you witnessed, but this is wrong. You should have come to me. You should have told me. I could have been there for you.” Michael stood still for a moment as he thought about her answer, and suddenly his eyes grew wide. His blast suddenly overpowered her own, and it knocked her back onto the wall behind her. She felt dizzy from the hit, and struggled to pull her self up from the ground.
“I’m disappointed,” Michael said as he walked towards her, “but I’m not really surprised. I’ve seen how you are around them. You seem to have a problem looking at the big picture. Well, now I can show you. You can be there for them. You always were.” She was still on the ground, leaning against the wall. He crouched to his knees, and pulled a syringe from his pocket.
“Now I’m going to make you sleep,” he said as he tested the syringe and then stuck it into her neck. “When you wake, you’ll be on the surface. You’ll notice some changes, deviations from the plans the Vanguards had for Dirge. It’s amazing what one can accomplish in a month when he has an army of amorphous creatures to do his bidding.” He pushed on the syringe, making the liquid enter her neck. It burned, and she wondered what it was.
“I have one final warning for you, however,” he said. "I’m allowing you to live, even among the creatures you love so much. Due to the scrambler, none of them will remember today or any events preceding it. If you make them remember, if you tell them about me or their past, then I’ll do something to hurt you. I won’t kill you. I’ll kill Isaac and little Elijah. Just to prove to you how serious I am, I want you to know that I’ve already killed Charlotte. That’s just the beginning, though.” He stared at her, and she saw a desperate malice in his eyes. He stood up straight and looked out towards the xenos around them. “I”ll be father of a new race, a new humanity.” His eyes were the last thing she saw before there was darkness
She awoke, and realized she was laying on concrete. She was on a street. There were buildings all around her, and a dark sky. There were people walking aimlessly all around, like they didn’t know who they were or what they were supposed to be doing. One man came over to her to see if she was all right. She realized it was Dr. Shepherd. She stepped away from him, backing into someone else. They just looked at her blankly. She turned and began to run. She ran as far as she could, but she knew she was trapped. She was trapped in the new Dirge; the city of twilight.
98
Twenty-five years had passed. Callista had avoided contact with the Vanguards, and anyone else she’d known before Michael had named himself Father. She wasn’t sure what he’d done to the sky, but she was sure it had something to do with his plan. She couldn’t be sure what, but she was too afraid to actually do anything against him. Once in a while she would see flashes with her mind’s eye, flashes of other unique auras that reminded her of her brother. She couldn’t figure out if it was him or someone else.
She spent most of her time in a homeless shelter, as a volunteer. She lived in East District; she knew Michael had made arrangements for her and a place for her to live. She had nowhere else to go, and she allowed him to control her through Civic Protection. The thing that kept her there more than anything, however, was fear. Fear and the shame that she was so afraid to do anything.
She recognized Elijah immediately when he came into the shelter, followed by some other men. He was a young man, very handsome. Brown hair and green eyes. Only average height, but the way he held himself gave him a taller and stronger appearance, like his father.
The network vids don’t do him justice, she thought as she watched him walk through the room. He was surveying the shelter, probably sizing it up to see if he could help it in some way. He stood silent until he turned and saw her. He walked towards her, recognizing her as a volunteer.
“Hi. I’d like to talk to you about this shelter,” he said. “I’d like to introduce myself first.” She hesitated at first, but she was drawn to him. She hadn't heard or seen from Michael in years, maybe he'd forgotten about her.
“I know who you are,” she said, “everyone knows who the Vanguards are. Since the...collapse, your father has stood up to help as many people as possible. People in Old District have especially been grateful towards Dr. Vanguards' aid. I’m sorry about your loss; I saw it on the network vid this morning.” He nodded with a solemn look on his face.
“Thank you,” Elijah said.“I was hoping to follow in my father’s footsteps, at least a little.” He motioned around them; to the shelter, “I’ve been hearing about all the work this place has been doing; it seems to be one of the most effective shelters in Old District. Who’s in charge here?”
“Well,” Callista said, “that’d be me. I’ve been here for the last fe
w years.” He smiled, somewhat impressed. He held out his hand.
“I’m Elijah Vanguard,” he said. She shook his hand, which was a strong, firm grip.
“I’m Callista,” she said, “but you can call me Callie.”
“Do you have a last name?” He had a kind smile.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I don’t.” He nodded, understanding what she meant.
“I see. Well, Callie, would you like to talk to me about how we could expand this shelter?” She smiled at him.
“I’d love to,” she said. They began to walk together through the shelter. She tried to avoid looking at him with her mind’s eye, for when she did she could see his attraction towards her. It made her blush, and she wasn’t sure why. She knew she should keep away from him, but she was drawn to him. She could see him through her mind's eye, and his soul was beautiful. She knew immediately she loved him, as crazy as that seemed.
99
Callista was walking through a thick crowd in the afternoon in East District. She was headed to see her son Alex, who was almost two. She’d visited her husband Elijah while out running some errands, and was returning home. Their nanny, Anna, was taking care of Alex while she was gone. Callista generally took care of Alex herself, but Elijah being the important person he was in the city required both of them to be out on occasion. That and the other projects they were involved in. She had suspected the Vanguards were leading a part of the resistance against Civic Protection and the High Council, but it was proven to her after she and Elijah were married.
She suddenly felt four powerful people with her mind’s eye. One of them was Michael, but the other three she didn’t recognize. Michael motioned to two of them, and they each took Callista by the shoulder and pulled her into the nearby alley. Michael and the other followed.
“It’s been a long time, sister,” Michael said. "You look almost the exact same as when we spoke twenty-six years ago.” The two young men had released her, and had moved back to Michael's side. She crossed her arms as she stared back at them.
“So do you,” she said, “although I don’t recognize your friends.”
“They’re my children,” he said. “William, Dante, and Ares. Triplets in a way. The first of several children of mine.” She looked at them, and realized she could see the small similarities between each of them and Michael. They were all silent. Each one was different, and it was especially true seeing them with her mind’s eye.
“What do you want, Michael?”
“I’m here to give you a warning,” Michael said. “I know what you and your...husband are doing. Trying to subvert my authority, my power. That’s not going to happen. Do you remember what I told you, all those years ago?”
Callista’s eyes narrowed at him. Without a warning, an invisible force pushed William, Dante, and Ares away from her, knocking them onto the ground. They were surprised, and were pulling themselves up when she spoke.
“I remember, everything you did.”
“Well,” Michael said, “I’m glad.” He chuckled a little, amused at her. “I’m going to give you one chance. Tell me the names of all the people involved in the resistance.” She glared at him defiantly and shook her head. “Very well, Callie,” he said, “but you’ve brought this upon yourself.” He pulled a phone from his pocket, and activated the autodial.
“Just the child,” he said to the person on the other end. He just as quickly deactivated the phone. The others had gotten back to their feet, and had moved to Michael's side. Michael was quiet for a moment, looking down at the ground. Without looking at her he spoke. “You'd better head home. I think your son might be in trouble.” He turned and left, followed by the others. They disappeared from her mind’s eye, and she moved quickly out of the alley. They’d disappeared into the crowd of people passing through. Panic entered her thoughts, and she started running. She ran home, worried about what she would find.
When she arrived there, she found Anna unconscious, next to an empty baby blanket stained with blood.
100
Callista stood in an empty room. She formed a perimeter around herself with her mind’s eye, so no one affiliated with Michael would see her. She could sense the others on their way to her, however. The first one entered the room. A man she remembered all too well, who had actually tracked her down a year ago. Dr. Derek Shepherd had aged considerably since the last time she’d seen him.
The others joined quickly, including some she didn’t recognize. The room was dark, but she could see them all with her mind’s eye. Callista wasted no time in bringing about the subject of their meeting.
“As you all have probably heard, “she said to the group, “my son was taken from me earlier today.” Dr. Shepherd stepped forward and began to interrupt her.
“Actually,” he said, “may I say something.” She was surprised by him speaking out, but she nodded her head quietly. He continued, “I’ve a brought a new recruit into our group. Normally this information might not have been of the greatest urgency, but it’s what this individual has contributed that you might be interested in.” Callista tilted her head in curiosity.
“This is Sean Garrett,” Dr. Shepherd said as he motioned to the young man at his side. "He's a deputy with Civic Protection. He was recently assigned a high position with the undercover division, although he’s shooting for lead detective.”
Callista looked a little confused. She stared at them, questioningly. Sean stepped forward and addressed her. “Today a group of Civic Protection agents in disguise broke into your home. I was in charge of that group. I’m against Civic Protection. Although I think there should be law and order, I disagree with their methods, practices, and general moral standards. I think they’re the opposite of what an authority should be. The fact that a group of soldiers would be sent to murder a baby is sickening to me.
“Your son is safe,” he said to her with a smile, “the blood you found was planted there. I’m not the only one in Civic Protection who disagrees with them. Alex is in the underground facility that Dr. Shepherd said you brought them to. I’m still amazed that Civic Protection doesn’t know of its existence.” Callista stuttered for a moment, still under the shock that her son was alive. She felt tears run down her eyes, and she backed into a chair. She sat down quietly. She could hear truth in the man’s voice, although not with her mind’s eye. Her vision of him with her mind’s eye was clouded.
“He’s ok? My son is all right?”
“He’s fine,” Dr. Shepherd said, “we have our doctors examining him in the facility.”
“I want to see him. I want to see him for myself.”
“No problem,” Dr. Shepherd said, “but you may want to wait on that. Civic Protection probably has you under watch. I’m surprised you were able to sneak out to see us.”
“I can avoid being seen,” Callista said confidently, “can you?”
“I’m well aware of the sixth sense you possess,” Sean said. "I’ve noticed it with others, others like you who are on the council. Somehow they can’t detect my thoughts or feelings; they can’t read me. I don’t know if I’m special or if it’s just a small percentage of humans that can avoid being detected. I’ve lied directly to one of the members of the High Council. I wasn’t detected.” Callista stared silently at them.
“Don’t you see,” Dr. Shepherd said, “he’s the perfect mole. He can be our inside man.”
“How can we be sure,” Callista said. "How can we trust him?”
“He saved your son,” Dr. Shepherd said. They were quiet for several moments. She finally stood up. She looked at Sean Garrett.
“Civic Protection doesn’t know about the facility because Michael never knew about it. It was built while he was away from the city underground, and no one ever got around to telling him about it before he led the attack.” They were all quiet; she had never spoken of it to anyone before.
“You
all know only what Carl Smith told Dr. Shepherd,” Callista said, “although that information was very limited. He was dying of a brain tumor, which somehow protected his mind from what happened nearly thirty years ago. You all were lost until Derek Shepherd found me based on Carl’s information. I can show you how to really beat Civic Protection, how to beat Michael, who calls himself Father. It has to be on one condition, though.” They stared at her expectantly.
“You must do all you can to protect Alex,” Callista said, “even if it means giving your own lives.”
“You can rest assured that we’ll do all we can,” Dr. Shepherd said, “but he is going to be safe. Sean is going to handle any of the paperwork, and he’ll make sure Civic Protection won’t discover him.”
“That’s not going to be enough,” Callista said. “My son is the key to everything.” Dr. Shepherd and the others stared at her.
“What do you mean?” Sean asked.
“Different people of my race have many common abilities, with our mind’s eye, which allows us to see the world beyond what you can see. Some of us can get glimpses of other possibilities, future events based on specific actions. They’re like memories or flashbacks, only they haven’t yet occurred.” Sean had a skeptical look on his face. Noticing it, Callista used her mind’s eye to cause a cracked mug on the floor to float in the air in front of them.
“Many things can’t be explained,” Callista said, “but things will get a lot stranger. Things will get a lot worse before they get better. I’ve seen many deaths that haven’t happened yet. One thing is for sure, though, Alex is the center of all of it. He’ll be the center of the conflict, and he will be the resolution. He’ll see the end of this city.”
City of Twilight Part III: The New Dawn (The Vanguard Chronicles Book 3) Page 6