Heroes of The Collective Volume One : Resentment

13. Agwé #2 : Strangers When We Meet

The Astral Sheriff, the three remaining siblings from Quadforce and Kimona herself were led to a large room that was found at the end of a long, bare corridor. Three of the walls in the conference room were decorated in grey and featured dark wood furniture and textiles in a softer grey.

Although Kimona had missed the decade, she would later learn that the décor and furnishings were inspired by the ninety-seventies. There were twenty sleek dark wooden chairs with grey textiles arranged in a large circle looking in at each other. Next to each chair was a sleek three legged wooden table with a miniature screen on top, for individual viewing. On the fourth wall at the far end of the room was a large bank of screens.

The five had spent the best part of the last twenty four hours at what they learned was called The Facility. Everyone they came across in the duration of their stay so far had shown total humility, honesty, warmth and kindness and so they felt more agreeable to being poked, prodded and assessed. It was part of the deal. Do'Lânqwa was still cautious and was keen to tell his four new friends that his co-operation didn't mean complete trust, but he knew the Government were being honest in their expectations.

DNA, bloods, CTs, MRIs, and X-rays were all taken, although Mindy broke one of the CT scanners with an elevated level of magnetic energy she omitted having felt under threat.

The five then had to spend time separately discussing the events in Rio de Janiro, about The 45th and the threat he posed. They shared what brought them together to this particular Earth, whilst Kimona focussed on her life in 1939. When they were reunited, they shared information about the Earths and the pact that isolated Earthuu from the others.

"And they just let you do all that to them?" Terri had asked the Secretary ahead of the actual meeting.

"Well yes, but so did you once upon a time," she reminded her.

"True but I knew a little more of the US Government and was a bit more trusting. These guys and even the mermaid are essentially aliens. As a race we are just as unknown to them as they are to us. I'm just impressed by their compliance!"

***

Kimona looked around the room, noting to herself that she was going to get Raj and Adam to bring her up to scratch on these new technologies. She looked at The Sheriff who was playing it very cool but knew he would be on his guard throughout all of this. She looked at the triplets, seeing them in Earthuu 2029 clothes made them look... normal. Holt's flame orange hair was slightly tussled, Mindy's pastel pink hair tied up and Blane with his black curls peeking out from a Kansas State Wildcats baseball cap that a technician at The Facility said looked cooler backwards. She was still undecided.

The lady who was referred to as 'Madam Secretary' entered the room alone and came to an empty chair. She perched on the arm of it informally.

"Thank you for waiting. As I mentioned earlier, I wanted you all to meet the other members of the Enhanced Beings Collective that runs out of this facility. I really feel that whilst this might be overwhelming for you all, this is the best time to introduce you all to the team early on. Having more allies will help with your adjustment period here on this earth. They are all clued up on you all as I wanted you to be able to ask the questions and find out what you want to know, rather than having to field lots of questions yourselves." She smiled warmly at them before getting up to indicate to the waiting Enhanced Beings Collective to enter.

Kimona and the triplets looked at Do'Lânqwa who nodded his approval and confirmation in his assessment that she was being completely honest and upfront. Later, he would express his surprise at a Government official conducting themselves so transparently. Apparently even on his planet the people didn't trust the Government.

Mindy shuddered with what Kimona assumed to be nerves, because she was feeling the same. They watched as a group of seven eclectic looking individuals came walking into the conference room. Kimona was expecting there to have been more but was relieved that the number of them wasn't so overbearing. She wondered if one of them was Terri who rescued her from Iron Lung.
The group took up some of the seats near the newbies, but left a few empty chairs between. There was a bit of an awkward silence where smiles were pleasantly exchanged, while they waited for someone to speak. The Secretary took the seat at the top of the circle, nearest the wall of screens, and welcomed everyone.

"I don't doubt the significance of today for everyone here. This is truly something remarkable and unexpected, but hopefully the start of something beautiful. To the seven of you who have just come in, you will recognise our five new friends; Kimona Jones, Do'Lânqwa Th'Mari and Holt, Blane and Mindy Daltom." The Secretary paused to allow for the nods and polite waves before continuing. "And you five will recognise Brad Jacobs-Brown and Ferris Deniel from Brazil. Kimona, Terri Turlingston here was who came to your aide in Truumdale. We also have Lucas Ilin, Reuben and Effie Pruneau and Dylan Petersly. We are all very excited to meet you."

There were shy smiles shared by the 'alien' five and no one said anything for what felt like a little too long.

"So ok, can I ask something first please?" Kimona asked, bravely putting her hand up. "Um, well hello everyone, it is nice to meet you all. My other new friends told me before Brazil that there are more enhanceds. People with abilities and strengths. So that is really you guys right? What can you all do? I still don't fully understand what I can do yet."

Brad answered first, standing up so everyone could see him. He wasn't in a floral shirt this time, instead opting for jeans, a black roll neck and a grey blazar which was unbuttoned.
"So we have already met," he reminded, "I go by 'Proten' which is Latin for stretch. My entire body is highly elasticated and malleable," and to demonstrate, from where he stood he stretched his arm, reaching for Blane's cap and flicked it off, and then allowed his arm to retract, reducing in length back to normal. The five were amazed- Kimona was slightly disturbed but mostly amazed.

A woman stood up next. "I'm Terri. Good job in Truumdale, by the way. You made my job easier," she smiled warmly. "I can transform my physiology into a state of rock, essentially, so I get called 'Sediment Terri'."

A young seventeen year old lad who Kimona thought may have had the same heritage as her, stood up next. She decided she would strike up conversation with him later. He had short black hair and also freckles like Adam did across his nose. He wore a black tracksuit like he had just come from the gym. He looked very sure of himself as he spoke.

"Yeah so my name is Dylan, you can call me Dyl though. Dylan's for when my Pa is mad. I'm blessed with next level athleticism and heightened flexibility and agility. Like, I can't fly, but this eight pack is real!" and with that, he pulled his top up to show it off, causing his friends to roll their eyes. Kimona gasped, not knowing where to look.

"Dude, you're still in diapers. Put it away," Terri quipped.

"I'll keep this quick-," came another voice.

"Yeah because there's not much to say," muttered Brad just loud enough. An uncomfortable hush descended for the briefest of moments and Kimona noticed Do'Lânqwa had registered it with interest.