The Project

Mind Reader

-Arista's POV-

I'm sitting in the cafeteria with Cade, Nick, and Cole. Cole has been periodically placing bits of his food in Cades drink and I think so far I'm the only one to notice, so this is my entertainment for the evening. It's been a relatively easy day of training and since it's dinner time we have nothing afterwords but the eventual lights out leading us to seek amusement by staying in the dining hall for an extended period of time after eating to people watch and make fun of each other, which has become a habit for us. Just as Cole is slipping in a peice of spinach into Cades beverage, the crackling of the speaker system cuts through the room.

" 1220, 2020, 2520, 1997, and 2460 please report to Isaac Leona's office at once."

We just stare at each other. That was all of our numbers and one other.

I wonder who 1997 is?

-Cade's POV-

When I'm standing in front of Leona's desk I am always fighting the urge to kill him with my bare hands, consequences be damned. But now is not the time.

Something is definetely wrong...

My eyes wander the room and notice the fact that one of his glass panel walls is gone, without any evidence of why. It seems as though it was just taken out for the day and I almost turn my mind from it until I notice the blood on the floor near it. Not a lot, smeared on just an inch or two of flooring. I nudge Nicolai and point my eyes to it and I see his widen.

I wonder what poor soul that was.

"Ahem."

Leona clears his throught for no reason, it's deadly quiet in here anyways and that didn't shut anyone up or anything.

"Hello my children."

Silence.

"You are all looking well."

He states with a lingering gaze on Arista, causing me to clench my fists in my pockets. Isaac notices and smiles, oozing around the desk towards us.

"You have all been assigned to a mission with one of our senior Project members, 1997. When he arrives I shall explain the procedures that will follow, and the basic steps of your mission."

"Sir the protocal is that we can not perform any missions until we are finished with our training and are eighteen years of age. Cole is neither of those things and neither are Arista and Cade. Sir, not even I have finished my training!" Nick points out, his face is getting paler by the minute.

"Cade has been on plenty of missions, it will do you all good."

The only reason I go on "missions" is to look nice and flirt with gullible woman who happen to have the purse strings or the power Isaac wants.

Why would he send Cole, a twelve year old boy out to do that? What in the hell kind of people are we dealing with?

"Sir my brother is twelve. He is far too young..."

"I gave you an order, and you will follow it." Leona purrs.

"Sir I..."

"You will do as I say. There is no discussion. Ah, 1997, how kind of you to join us."

-Arista's POV-

1997 enters the room with confidence, striding in without so much as a glance at Isaac. He stops his rapid pace and stands in front of the four of us, taking us in. He is probably six feet tall, with dark skin and hazel eyes. He isn't as slender as Cade and is bulkier than even Nicolai, he radiates confidence.

I wonder how long he's been here in the Project?

"I've been here so many years that I cannot even remember when I first arrived." He answers with a smile.

I gape at him, I know fully well that I haven't said a word to voice my mental question.

Leona sidles up beside me, his presence a dark cloud. "One of 1997's innumerable skills is that he is a mind reader. Be careful of your thoughts around him my dear." His warning comes off as incredibly foreboding and gives me a chill.

"Don't worry, I don't tell him everything I know."

I look at him, asking "What the hell?" with my eyes.

"I can speak to you in your mind, if you allow me. You haven't set up a mental barrier against my powers yet so I can do this easily for now."

I nod my head the slightest bit, feeling a bit rattled by this newcomers skill set.

-Nicolai's POV-

My mind is reeling. I can't send my tiny little brother out into a world of missions that could easily kill him. I look at his face, which is lit up with excitement.

Oh Cole, you shouldn't have to deal with these things yet. You're too young, what if...

"Your brother will be safe with us. There is no need to worry." 1997 murmers in my mind.

"You know him, you know he will throw himself into the worst situations just to be a hero!" I argue back, my thoughts building in anger. I have met 1997 before, as has Cade. Cole was too young to remember but he has met him as well.

"The world needs more like him. Selfless, brave..."

"Foolish, unworldly." I think drily.

"Exactly. He can do far more good than you know. You have not yet been sent out, the world is changing and not for the better. It is tilting back and forth between evil and less evil, and the innocence of children like him may be our saving grace."

"You may now all leave to go to weaponry, 1997 will instruct you further on your mission on your way." Leona orders, clearly finished with us for the day. We all silently exit his office, following 1997 through the halls.