by James, Daz
Titch stopped her work, going over to the man, slipping her hand in his, “Do you really like boys?”
Sam scowled, “That’s yet to be determined.”
Santanna cackled, sarcastically, “Oh, keep believing that princess.”
Titch smiled for the first time, “That’s ok if you do. My mummy liked girls. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Sam smile, he felt reassured by this somewhat innocent kid.
She had no idea what horror awaited him if he was gay; those conversion camps were pure torture. How could a kid have any concept of that? It was even worse for a faggot Enforcer; you were targeted for abuse by the patients as well.
The children had found Marlin some clothes; a pair of army-surplus khaki pants and a suede vest. He was just putting on a pair of black combat boots that they had found for him.
The kids hung around; glued to every surface of the café. They were eager to know more about this man. They were curious, had they found their new dad?
Marlin looked up at them, suddenly feeling like a caged animal at the zoo, “What’s with the kids?”
“They like you. They’re wondering if you’ll be our new father,” spoke Flip.
Marlin looked across at the teenage boy, frowning, “How can you possibly know that?”
“They told me so,” spoke Flip.
“I heard nothing.”
Flip touched the side of his head, “I did…up here.”
“How is that possible?”
“Don’t ask me! I have no idea why I can do these things…but I can.”
Marlin turned to the children sitting around him, “And what about all of them, can they do the same?”
“No, we’re all different. We all have our own skill that helps this community,” spoke Flip, smugly. “See, Rusty over there…” Flip indicated a tall, carrot-topped, gangly teen at the back of the group. “He keeps the home fires burning.”
Rusty smirked, turning his gaze toward an extinguished candle sitting on the counter of the café. He clicked his fingers and a flame fluttered into existence.
Marlin looked on, in disbelief, what had caused these kids to demonstrate such extraordinary abilities? He went to search for his I-Pad but remembered it was lost to the horror house behind them.
Flip pointed a finger toward Meg, the stout girl who seemed to bark orders and give crass remarks on their arrival, “Except for Meg that is. She has yet to prove her usefulness in that area.”
The stout girl glowered at them, suddenly becoming center of attention for all the wrong reasons, “Whatya you all staring at! Shut ya faces or I’ll thump every last one of you.”
The girl stormed out, feeling alone and ordinary.
Her barking was her only ability, so she used it with great effect.
“So, why do you need a father? You’re doing a great job of surviving on your own.”
“The kids have been getting disobedient…they need a firmer hand,” spoke Flip, plucking a tattered parenting book from down beside him. “It says so in this book.”
“I think they have a firmer hand already. Perhaps all they need is for you to stop commanding them to attention,” spoke Marlin. “For example, you shouldn’t have embarrassed Meg like that.”
“Why do you care, she was so rude to you when you arrived?”
“A true grown-up should care. She’s obviously pissed off about something. It’s your job to find out what that is and try to fix it.”
“See, that’s why we need you. You know this stuff.”
“You can do this too…just listen to them. Really listen.”
This made Flip stop and think, suddenly beginning to nod his head in agreement, “I am beginning to see what you mean. I didn’t find any of that in this book.”
“Let me see,” spoke Marlin, taking the book from him, flicking through the pages noticing that some sections were missing.
The man was beginning to understand some of the issues here, they may be gifted but they were still children. They hadn’t developed common sense of adults.
In the darkened control room deep within Enforcer 6th Squad HQ, Frazer sat at her station studying the maps, “Ma’am, I think we have a problem.”
Roth stepped forward out of the darkness, “What is it?”
“The operative is stationery. They’re in the town called Narra. That is the testing ground for the experiment?”
“Yes, but I am not so sure you should know all that,” spoke the commander, a frosty look upon her face. “Get me that Professor! Now!”
Frazer scurried from her station. Roth stared at the screen, knowing what she now had to do.
It was a pity, Sam was a perfect operative. He was a blond haired, blue eyed, disarming beauty. Anyone would believe his stories.
Yet, if Parry knew too much about that town he’d have to be executed. She must follow standing orders for that site.
Santanna was bored. The woman was a little stir crazy. Sam was asleep on the bed. The girl had gone off to heat up some food.
She wondered over to the window once more, scanning the horizon for a hint of interest. She suddenly spotted something flash in the sun light upon one of the hills.
She wondered what had reflected the sun’s rays; the woman couldn’t detect any building up there. She would have to take a closer look.
The girl came back into the room at that moment, clutching a tea tray containing two bowl of soup; the scent began to make Santanna’s stomach rumble. She decided to eat first before investigating that hill.
The professor was brought before the Commander. Roth guiding the scientist over to a command station, out of ear shot of her team.
The professor was a dwarf with an inferiority complex. He made himself seem bigger by being belligerent and disrespectful.
Roth accepted those terms as he was fiercely intelligent and kept his work private, well until recently. He had obviously taken a lover.
Roth grimaced at the thought, he may be responsible for bringing another dwarf into this world, something not consider normal in this cleansed environment. They were hoping to start again but with less of the baggage of their former world.
“Max, how goes the experiments on operation Narra?”
“If I wasn’t called up here every five minutes I’d have ya fuckin answers.”
“Well, it is rather urgent. If I don’t get results by tonight I’ll have to abandon the research operation. It has been compromised.”
“No! Fuck your compromised operation! It must continue! I am close to isolating the genetic imprint of the super ingredient.”
Roth closed her eyes, gathering her strength to resist strangling the little fucker.
She turned away from him, trying to think of a compromise. She suddenly got an idea. The woman unzipped her jumpsuit, revealing her breasts, and then turned back to face the little man.
“Come now, professor, you’re intelligence should be able to meet my demands.”
Max locked his sight upon her breasts wanting so badly to plant his face in them. His one weakness was women, he got hard just thinking of them.
“Well…I could double check…see if I can speed up my moronic team.”
Roth leaned in toward him, smiling warmly, giving his arm a suggestive caress, “I would be very appreciative. I need that information by tonight. Is that clear?”
“Yes…ma’am. I’ll do my best,” spoke the little man.
“And remember…this is classified. No one must know.”
She watched the little man waddling away, zipping up her jumpsuit once more.
She grabbed a jug of water from her command desk, pouring cool liquid into a cup.
She hated a gossip. You never could tell when they might disclose potentially harmful secrets.
Roth opened a draw, taking out a make-up case, searching for her lip stick. She re-applied then put it away. The woman pulled out a pill case, opening the lid. She took out a red capsule placing it into the drink of water. She watched the capsul
e dissolve.
The commander gave it a stir before walking over to Frazer, “Frazer, I think it is time for your break…here you look a little parched. I must keep my troops happy.”
Frazer turned to her, smiling, this was the only gratitude she needed from the commander, just a little kindness meant the world to her.
The technician accepted the drink, sipping from the cup, it tasted so refreshing.
“Now, why don’t you get some air.”
“Ok. Thanks,” spoke Frazer, as she rose from the chair leaving the control room.
Suddenly, the sound of a crash could be heard from outside the room. People were calling for assistance. Roth just stared ahead, crimson lips pursed with elation. She really hated a gossip.
“Get me another technician! Now!”
Santanna needed to find out what was up on that distant hill, it had been bugging her the whole time she had consumed her soup.
She climb inside the bus, starting the vehicle, putting it into gear before Meg appeared by the side of the road.
“You’re not meant be leaving!”
“Fuck off!”
With that, Santanna drove the bus out of town.
Titch appeared by the side of a building, “Did she go?”
“We don’t need her!”
“No, but she could use us.”
Titch disappeared behind the building, returning a few seconds later with a bike, “Hope on…I’ll dink you.”
“No way!”
“Please!”
“Fine, but I’ll drive, you hop on the front,” spoke Meg, rushing toward her.
Meg sat upon the seat while Titch leapt up on the
handle bars. It wasn’t long before Meg was peddling the bike, rising herself up behind Titch so she could see. Titch held on for dear life.
Santanna travelled about twenty minutes along the highway coming closer toward the hill every mile she went.
There seemed no road access to the location, so she pulled the bus to a halt by the side of the road, taking the rest of her journey on foot.
Santanna found runners and a pair of jeans, preparing herself for the climb. She grabbed a water bottle from the bus and her shot gun just in case.
The woman trek the hill with ease, this was her country after all.
She knew its secrets; the marks left by environmental impact. Flood, fire and pestilent were scarred into the earth. She could almost hear the planet cry in pain. It sent a shiver up her spine.
Santanna’s keen eyes spotted dingo tracks, a mound concealing a possible snake and tyre marks.
The woman scaled the side of the hill coming across a tent and a small camp fire before it. The fire was cold and dead. The canvas chair was empty. She even found the source of the reflection, there was a pair of binoculars by the chair.
“Put down the gun! Now!”
Santanna did as instructed, turning to face the voice.
She was startled to find an Aboriginal man facing her. She smirked, realizing he was the only one who could survive out here.
The man had darker skin than hers, was bulky and powerful, like a pro wrestler. He had short hair and a goatee beard. His eyes burned intently, almost vicious; his top lip snarled unpleasantly.
“So, who the fuck are you brother?”
“I’m certainly not ya brother. I have no kin.”
“Oh…so it is gonna be like that, is it? Well, why don’t I just leave you to ya fuckin maudlin ways,” spat the woman.
“Where do you come from?”
“Down south.”
“No, I mean ya family ties?”
“I didn’t think you were interested.”
“I’m not…but I’d like to pay respects to your elders once I’ve killed ya.”
“You think it is going to be that fuckin easy?”
“Well…I do have a gun.”
“Yet, not as big as mine…bitch.”
Suddenly, a rock hit the man in the head. It was followed by another and another in quick succession.
The man cowered away, placing his hands before him to protect his face.
Santanna quickly grabbed her own gun from the ground, marching toward the man, standing over him, “Now who’s fucked.”
Down the hill, Titch slipped the sling shot back inside the belt of her dress, “You’ve got good eyes, Meg.”
“A lot of good that is.”
“It saved her.”
Back up the hill, Santanna stared down at the man, “So…who are you…and don’t test my fuckin
patience because I have none right now.”
“Just call me Winter,” snarled the man, propping himself up on one elbow, sneer creeping on his face. “I’m fuckin cold and harsh. That’s what this land has done to me.”
“Oh Boo Hoo! Cry me river! We’ve all got our own shit going on no need to kill anyone over it.”
Suddenly, Winter grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in her face. Santanna cursed him.
He rose to his feet, jostling her for the weapon, finally ripping it free from her grasp.
Santanna stood there, heart racing, trepidation rising within her. This was the end, after everything she had been through this is how it would finish for her. Fuck, not even one decent root either. Life sucked.
Winter threw the gun to one side, descending upon the woman, wrapping her in his arms, smothering her face with his mouth.
She tried to resist his kisses, at first, but slowly succumbed to the male touch.
His lip travelled to her neck, down toward her cleavage where he buried his face between her breasts, exciting the woman.
Suddenly, a large rock hit him on the side of his head, knocking him out cold.
Titch and Meg appeared from over the edge of the hill.
Santana groaned with regret, it was just getting interesting too. She fell flush in the face. She had to fan herself to cool down.
The professor fronted Commander Roth once again, this time looking a little shell shocked. He was devastated.
“Well…Max? Have you completed your report?”
“Yes, as instructed, commander,” spoke the dejected scientist. “Though, isolating the genetic ingredient will take some time. I, now, have all the samples I need to do that.”
“Well…what of your completed findings.”
“It seems the testing ground has indeed produced results that we speculated…” replied the professor, turning to the seat once occupied by Frazer. “The seeds were used by the children to produce food.”
“And what were the effects on the children?”
“Over 12 months they were observed performing random activities mostly set up by us. Enforcer squads sent in were attacked. Reports suggest extraordinary abilities from construction of sophisticated explosive devices to physical attributes such as a boy who set an Enforcer on fire with the snap of his fingers.”
“Excellent work…you may go,” spoke Roth, she turned away. “Where is my damn technician?”
Max glared at her, losing it finally, “You killed her! You fuckin Bitch!”
“Oh…you’re still here.”
“How could you do that? Frazer was loyal. She’d give her right tit for you.”
“Don’t blame me! You should think before speaking about classified matters in the bedroom.”
Max jumped upon her desk and then launched himself at the woman. He grabbed her by the throat, beginning to choke her.
Someone come up behind him, smacking the professor across the back of his neck, sending the little
man to the floor.
A young woman stepped forward, her blonde hair cast back from her face into a pony tail. She was petite and compact, ready to pounce on command, “Technician Cross reporting for duty.”
Roth composed herself, before addressing her latest subordinate, “Very good, Cross, take your post. I’d like you to order a strike on Narra. I want it burnt to the ground. Anyone found there I want eliminated. Is that understood?”
“I un
derstand from my briefing that we have an operative in the area. Should I pull him out?”
“Negative! I have already organized his retrieval.”
Commander Roth wasn’t in a hurry to recall him now that he had knowledge of the experiment site in Narra. He was condemned, tangled in a web he didn’t know about. Roth thought it would be an amusing surprise to reveal it to him just before he was shot.
“Very good ma’am.”
Cross went to her post ordering the hit upon the unsuspecting town. Commander Roth looked down at the unconscious form of the scientist, giving him a swift kick to the side.
“You stupid man!”
The two girls had finished tying up, Winter, while Santanna snooped about his tent. She found a small metal box.
She opened it gazing at the armaments within; explosives, hand guns and ammunition. She picked out a pair of hand cuffs, smirking at the prospects of their use. She tucked them into a pocket of her jeans.
She spotted a manila folder. She picked it up and a stack of black and white photographs spewed out. She bent down to look through them, they were mostly of men but a couple of pictures were of women too.
What stopped her was a photograph of Marlin, she marched out of the tent to get some answers.
She kicked him in the side, causing the man to regain consciousness. He bucked and convulsed.
“Now, now…there is no need to act like such a fuckin bull. Calm yourself.”
“Fuck off, bitch!”
“Not until you tell me why you have this photo?” spoke the woman. “Is it for masturbation? You do know you can go to a conversion camp for that.”
“It’s my fuckin business!”
“Oh…I can wait. Girls, let’s build a fire and sing songs.”
Santanna began gathering up some sticks from the ground leaving the two girls to wonder what she meant by her last remark. Adults didn’t sing songs.
The woman wandered across the other side of the hill coming across a motor bike.
So, that’s how he got here. She noticed the solar panels along the side of the now empty petrol tank. It looked to be a crude conversion; Winter must have done it himself. The man was smarter than he looked.