Problems of the Gifted

The beginning of an end

(Eric Whitlock pov.)

[IGO laboratory, February]

This laboratory is a secret one, so it's located underneath the ground.
Nevertheless, the rooms and hallways are illuminated by the strong lamps from above. Also, they have surprisingly good Wi-Fi.

If this isn't going to work, someone will get sued.

I enter one of the rooms full of other scientists, wearing their white coats as well.
As soon as the door falls shut behind me, faces snap up from their working tables and the atmosphere brightens up immediately.
Everyone smiles at me:

"Hey! How is it going?"

"Oh, it's Tony! Long time no see!"

"We missed you!"

"Want to get some coffee afterward?"

While patting one of them on the shoulder I reply:
"Heh, sure thing! Just give me a few minutes-"

Then I walk out of the room, and enter another one. This one has lots of hard-drives and a big monitor in it.

Found it.

After locking the doors, I shift back into myself.

Reddish hair is so not my style.
Ms. Volkov made it clear that I'm the only one who can infiltrate the building unnoticed.
Sure, whatever would they do without my ability?

"This is the stupidest thing I've done in my life." I mumble to myself.

I quickly rush to the monitor and start searching for the transition file, then Josh comments through the ear pod:

"You know, you might just look better in a lab coat than your usual attire."

"You think?
Wait, how do you-"

"Hahaha, just joking! I don't have access to the cameras in their facility."

"Didn't you claim to be the best hacker?"
I spit back his reply.

"Wha- hey! You little punks have no idea how this works, alright?
Now, get moving.
We don't want a supernatural controlling zombie apocalypse to keep going."

He starts giving me the instructions on how to locate the transition beacon.
When I find it, all that's left to do is wait for the others to get the code, put it in and end this nightmare.

(Dhalia Dever pov.)

[Main street of the city:]

I recall what Ms. Volkov told us before we separated:
"As guests, we will get a very nice greeting, so remember to bring some nice presents as well."

Is this what she had in mind?

With high speed, the motorcycle we're on roars with high speed, attracting TOL's drones on the empty streets.
Many people were instructed to hide at home by the government.
Aiden is the one driving it, I'm in the back, holding on as good as I can while the wind blows against us.
It's a good thing that we decided to put on helmets.
At first I wasn't sure if he should really be the one to drive, but as it turns out, he is impressively good at it.

"Can't believe Jian lent you his motorcycle!" I shout as we speed away from the drones, the roaring drowns out our voices so we have to talk loudly.

"That's because he didn't!"

"You're in trouble!"

"Hey, come on. We have to get there as soon as possible, and I'm sure he can afford 10 new ones if he wants-!"

We duck because the drones blast our way from behind, gaining on us.

"Don't worry, we're almost there!" Aiden reassures.

We turn sharply into a straight, big street and Aiden motions right towards a construction site of a building.

He questions:
"Now?"

"No, we need to get closer."

The bike accelerates and yet I can almost sense the drones coming nearer as well.

"How about now?"

I look back, eyeing the drones:
"No."

"Now?!"

"Wait a little..."

"Right now would be perfect timing!"

They catch up and by grabbing the collar of Aiden's jacket, I yell:

"Now!"

The motorcycle crashes into the construction site with a thunderous explosion, the drones aren't able to stop immediately and get destroyed in it as well.
Needless to say, we would've crashed as well, though thanks to my teleportation skill, Aiden and I land in an alleyway, not that much far away, on the ground.
Both of us realize that I still have my hands wrapped around him and he holds them together.
When we do, he smirks and I stand up, immediately wiping the dust off my pants.

He follows, leaning on a wall with his elbow:
"Whoa- I feel as if I was spun around in a mixer! Does teleportation always feel like that?"

"You'll get used to it. I thought you liked extreme sports?"

"I do, I just- I think I'm going to be sick."

"Oh."