“Like what?” Sara kept playing with the leaves.
“Reading, writing, painting, make-up,” Eve told her.
“I don't wear make-up either.” Sara looked up as she told Eve, “My mom won't... Didn't let me. I couldn't do much when I was a kid. Mostly because my parents didn’t want me to come here. My mom and dad hate this place. But you know, I think they’re wrong. Since I've been here, I've seen a lot of kids who could hurt someone if they didn't know what they were doing with their powers. Maybe no one likes to be told what to do, but someone has to be responsible.”
The radio squealed then cut out. Eve held it up to her ear and waited.
On The Outcropping
Rachael was using a blend of zoom and x-ray to monitor everyone’s position. So far Eve and Sara hadn’t moved. Scott and Michael, however, were trying something new.
“They’ve split up,” she said into the radio. “Michael is west of your position.”
“I’ve got him,” Joe shouted into the radio.
From where she was standing, Rachael could see Joe split off from Koji. “Stop. Hold your position,” she ordered.
Joe ignored her. “How far?” He asked huffing.
Judging from the distance he covered, Rachael guessed that Joe was at a full sprint. “Ten yards,” she told him.
“Uh, what should I do?” Koji asked over the radio.
“Wait where you are,” Rachael told him. “I want to see what Scott is up to.”
“Okay,” Koji replied. “I got Joe’s powers before he took off.”
“Fine,” Rachael said harshly; she was busy watching the Epper brothers.
Somewhere In The Woods
“I’m taking fire,” Michael yelled crazily into the radio.
Joe used the noise to pinpoint his brother and fired again. A black bolt of energy slammed into a tree nearly hitting Michael’s head. It left a layer of frost clinging to the bark. Michael rolled out from behind the tree and returned fire. A blast of white light left his fingers. The heat singed the leaves and set a dry patch of grass on fire. Joe quickly extinguished the blaze with his foot.
“I’m telling the Master Sergeant,” Joe said.
“Go ahead,” Michael retorted, then began firing.
Beams of light shot erratically towards Joe. He dodged and dashed to put out the fires.
“Stop it,” Joe yelled at his brother. He fired back with one hand. With his other hand, he used his powers to smother the flames. One of Michael’s beams glanced off his cheek. “Ahhh,” he screamed, holding his face. “That hurt. I told you to stop.” Joe turned his full power onto his brother.
Michael matched him.
The forest flashed like a light show.
Near The Stream
Koji found a cool, shaded area to sit with his handheld. For the sake of the exercise, he had turned the volume down. His radio hissed, and he pressed pause on the game.
“Scott is headed toward me, fast,” it was Rachael’s voice. Koji waited for her to say something else. “Koji, are you there, come in.”
“Yeah,” Koji said into the radio.
“I need you to stop Scott,” Rachael said. “Go to the stream.” Koji went back to his game and opened the save menu. “Now, Koji,” Rachael barked. “I can see you.”
Koji grumbled and flipped the handheld closed. He could hear the stream, so headed in that vague direction. The ground went down in a steep incline. Koji struggled to keep his footing and finally came out onto a plateau overlooking the water. Scott was about to run past.
“Hey,” Koji shouted.
Scott came to a stuttering halt and looked around. “You’re alone?” He asked, and Koji nodded. “You better run,” he advised.
“No, you better,” Koji replied. He pointed at Scott. A curl of darkness, like smoke, rose from his fingertips. “I think I've got the hang of this power. So, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“We're not in a videogame, Koji,” Scott laughed. “You don't need cheesy lines.”
“Then how about this?” Koji created a sphere of darkness and threw it at Scott.
Scott jumped clear splashing face first into the water. Chunks of ice had formed where the orb struck. He looked up at Koji, and they both knew he wasn’t going to dodge a second one.
Scrambling for the radio, Scott started shouting, “I’m under attack. I’m under attack.”
Koji formed another orb and lifted it overhead. From inside the ball a hand reached out and grabbed Koji's wrist. He screamed and dropped the darkness on himself. As it fell, it seemed to swallow him, and when it hit the ground, Koji was gone.
“What the...,” Scott started
“Koji Kojima has been neutralized,” Eve said. She was standing on the bank near a cluster of trees.
Scott flipped around to look at her. “Where… Wait…You don't mean dead do you?” He asked hesitantly. There was a blast of light from the forest. Scott picked himself up out of the stream; he was drenched, and tried to ring out the water. “I don’t think Michael is going to get the flag for us.”
“I agree,” Eve said. “I will take care of it, but it would be easier if it were by surprise.”
“Okay,” Scott shrugged. “I guess we’re winning, so I can’t argue.”
“Radio me when you have distracted Rachael,” Eve said as she started off into the woods.
Rachael’s Position
“Koji, what the hell is going on,” Rachael said, but there was no reply. She had seen Koji disappear, and Eve appear from nowhere. “That’s not possible,” she said to herself. “Danni, is your roommate a teleporter?”
Danni came over the radio, “How should I know?”
“She can’t be,” Rachael responded.
“Is there something you need?” Danni growled.
“Scott is nearly here,” Rachael told her.
“Is there something you need?” Danni said again.
“Joe, come in,” Rachael called. “Can you get to the flag?” Another blast of light came from the trees. “Can you do anything useful at all? Danni?”
“What?” Danni snapped.
“Can you send one of your things to get the flag?” Rachael asked.
“No,” Danni said.
“No, you don't want to, or no, you can't?” Rachael was getting angry. “Never mind, don't bother.”
Scott came up the rocks as casually as ever and waved to Rachael. The nonchalant approach threw her off-guard.
“You should relax,” Scott said, “The stress will kill you.”
“At least you're smart enough to know invisibility won’t work,” Rachael taunted Scott, “What are you going to do, drag me off of here? Talk about cheating.”
Scott had reached the top and stood next to Rachael. He took some time to look at the view then said, “I'm not here to fight you, just distract you.”
Rachael growled, realizing that she had stopped paying attention to the game. She turned to where Eve was supposed to be. At the same time, Scott reached out and swatted the radio from her hands. It flew into the air and down the rocky cliff, cracking open on the way.
“And to keep you from radioing Danni,” Scott said with a smile.
“You jerk,” Rachael screamed. She raced down the rocks hoping she could get to Danni in time.
Scott brought up his radio and said, “Eve, you're good to go.”
Team One's Flag
Danni sat in the center of the rock formation that always reminded her of Stonehenge. She had her handheld out and was messaging one of her friends. From off to the left there was the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. A Minotaur appeared from around a rock, seven foot tall and snorting. It was formed from shadows and darkness, but moved like a living thing. The creature stomped at the ground with its hoof and scanned the area. Satisfied that it was clear, it went on with its patrol. Danni didn't pay it any attention. It was one of the ten just like it, guarding the flag while she was distracted. She was used to their noise and the b
eeping of her handheld.
But today there was a new sound. Danni looked up from her conversation and sat motionless, waiting for it to happen again. And it did. Whatever it was it reminded her of a cork popping. She shoved the handheld in her pocket and got up to investigate. One of her Minotaurs made a nervous sound. The things could sense something was wrong, and the beasts were beginning to panic. Danni came out from behind the rocks and searched for the nearest creature. She spotted one in the woods when the sound came again, and the Minotaur was gone.
“What the hell?” Danni cursed.
She ran around the rocks looking for another of her creations. As she stumbled onto one, it disappeared right in front of her, making that sound as it went. Quickly she recounted the number of times she'd heard that pop.
Five.
Danni went back to the flag, calling the remaining shadow monsters to her. They surrounded her, forming a phalanx, but it didn't help. Whatever was going on, was still happening. Two of the Minotaurs blinked out, one after the other.
“You wanna play,” Danni shouted.
Again, a Minotaur disappeared, but this time Danni replaced it with another. She did it again the next time and the next. The creatures were starting to vanish faster and faster. Danni struggled to keep up the pace of creation. She was forced to make smaller and smaller things until she was exhausted. She sat down on the ground sweating and puffing air. Then next to her she heard someone and looked up to see Eve.
“Is this the flag?” Eve asked pointing to the red strip of fabric on the pole.
In The Tower
“That went better than I expected,” Porter said.
“Maybe,” Lewis retorted. He pressed the button for the radio. “Anyone know where Koji is?”
At the same moment, the phone rang. Lewis answered, and Porter became curious when he saw the look on his face.
“No, don't bother,” Lewis said into the phone and hung up. He looked at Porter and hesitated to tell him who it was. “Apparently your girl sent Koji to the rec room.”
Porter didn’t say anything. He got in the elevator and headed down. For the sake of peacekeeping, he waited till he was outside to start laughing.
Lunch Time
Koji was having trouble breathing while giggling. He grabbed his side and tried to calm down. Catching some of his breath he continued his story. “So, I was like, 'what happened?', and Eve says, 'good luck on level thirteen.'”
Scott started laughing hysterically, which was soon drowned out by the other kids around the table. Eve and Sara sat next to each other and listened silently. A number of cadets were gathered, and still more came to listen to Koji.
“I wish I could have seen Master Sergeant Lewis' face when I called him,” Koji said.
“What took you so long to call,” Scott asked.
“I had to beat level thirteen,” Koji answered seriously.
The crowd burst out in another chorus of laughter.
“So, like what, you can teleport or something?” A girl asked Eve.
Another kid piped up, “Remember that boy who could teleport, but everything exploded when he did it, and they told him he had to stop?”
“Not the same thing,” Scott told the crowd. “Eve walks from shadow to shadow.”
A little boy, who had managed to squeeze in close, lit up and said, “Awesome.”
“If there's a shadow she can go into it and come out at any other shadow,” Scott continued.
“Show us,” someone shouted, starting the kids chanting, “Show us. Show us.”
There were too many people surrounding her, and now they were shouting. Kids were nudging and pulling, trying to coax Eve into a demonstration. There was a spot inside her chest where the panic was growing larger and larger.
Scott leaned across the table and said to her, “Come on, give 'em a show. Like pull a rabbit out of a hat.”
Eve didn't hear him; she was getting ready to run. Scott grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Touch was the universal language. It was a form of communication that she knew well from her world. Through that contact, Eve read his emotions, thoughts and ideas. Without knowing it, Scott had conveyed compassion, support and friendship. Eve’s heart steadied, and all she sensed was Scott’s hand. The soft palm. The callous on his thumb. She stood up and looked around.
“May I?” Eve asked a nearby boy for his long coat.
The boy smiled and took it off. Eve held the coat in one hand letting it dangle in front of her. Then lifted it up and put it over her head. The crowd hushed. From inside the coat there was the sound of a muffled conversation. People began shifting to get a better view. Eve lifted the coat off her head and stuck her hand inside. It looked like she was pulling on something, and the next thing everyone saw was Shruti stumbling out. The room exploded into shouts and cheers.
“That was the coolest thing ever,” Shruti exclaimed.
Part 4: A New Life
August, Colorado
High overhead the sun glared down making the air smell of pine and grass. Robert had led Alison up into the Testing Field. He had found a secluded place on the side of the mountain. They could have easily sat in the garden at the Residence, but Robert wanted privacy.
“You know I think you’re doing a good job,” Robert waded his way into what he’d come here to say.
“Thanks,” Alison said meekly.
“I enjoy working with you, and I trust you,” he continued.
“But?” Alison put in for him.
“But we kissed,” Robert said. “It’s against regulation and it’s wrong.”
Alison clenched her jaw and tried to hold back the feeling in her stomach.
“It would be nice if things could go back to the way they were,” Robert said. “I don’t think that’s possible, and truthfully, I wouldn’t want that.” He paused, hoping that Alison would catch on. It certainly would make things easier. As commander and subordinate, this level of intimacy was frowned on. Worse was that he knew what he wanted was wrong, and he was too responsible just to do it. Except that for the first time, in a long time, he knew what he wanted. “I love you,” he said finally. “I’m in love with you.”
“Oh god, Robert,” Alison gasped. She hugged him pressing her face against his chest.
With one big hand, he tilted her head up and kissed her. They kissed again and again until they couldn’t breathe or stand. Then when they were lying on the ground, dizzy with bliss, Alison rested her head on Robert’s arm. The two lay there for a long time not saying anything, staring at nothing, and enjoying the moment.
“What's going to happen now?” Alison asked.
She was afraid of the answer. What she wanted was to run off and be with him, despite the consequences. She and Robert had only been together for a few minutes, but it was enough for her to know she wanted it forever. Maybe it wasn't enough for Robert. He was a commander first. His responsibility would get in the way of that; he'd probably break it off before the relationship went anywhere.
Robert shifted uncomfortably and said, “If people find out about us, you'll probably be reassigned. A new platoon at least, if not an entirely new division. And I'll be demoted.”
“Maybe no one will find out,” Alison said, but she held little hope in that idea. “One of us could try to get reassigned to another regiment.”
“Maybe,” Robert said distracted.
“And then they wouldn't have a problem with us dating,” Alison said.
A gust of wind blew the trees, rustling the pine needles. The little green pins rained down without a sound.
“When I graduated top of my class, Director Kelley came to me and said that I was exactly what The One needed,” Robert said. “He told me I was an example for everyone, and that I had to live like it. He said that I couldn't make any mistakes because all eyes were on me.”
“You think I’m a mistake?” Alison said softly.
“I think the ramifications of what we do next are bigger than you or me,” Robert said.
>
He didn't deny her question, but his words were meant to ease her worries. It didn't work, because Alison’s heart was beating so hard it hurt.
A Few Days Later
Robert lived on the fifth floor of the Residence overlooking the forest. It had a beautiful view that was the subject of much envy. It was sort of a bonus for The One's poster boy. No doubt the moment the last box was out of there, someone would be moving in their things.
He grabbed the packing tape and sealed another box shut. It was just one more of a dozen, filled with things and memories. Robert hated memories. Throughout his entire career with The One, he had tried to stop himself from keeping mementos. In his apartment, there was hardly a single photograph. The awards he won were in a filing cabinet. Any gifts he received from friends or comrades were stuffed neatly in a closet. All accept one thing. Hidden on the top of his bookshelf was a white coffee mug. Robert reached up and took it down. He rolled it around in his hands, feeling the weight and reading the lettering on the side. Number one dad, it said. He didn't have any children, unless he considered the people under his command. And one in particular might as well have been his kid.
“Alex,” Robert said under his breath.
The name held a mix of emotions, everything from laughter to anger. Alex was dead, and he had died under Robert's command. It wasn't a particularly heroic death, nor was it harrowing. He was just another name and number on the memorial in the garden, nothing different about it. Robert blamed himself. He had been constantly on Alex’s case to take things seriously. So often that Alex took to calling Robert, dad. To everyone else it was just a joke, but between them it was real. He was quickly running out of family. He'd made a mistake with his sister. Then he lost Alex and now he had to move on.
Absolute Power (Book 1): Origins Page 16