ICONS (Final Draft Coming Soon)

-|Not From This World|-

Authors note:
This book is still under editing and is subject to change. Grammar mistakes occasionally included.
Warning: Contains scenes of strong violence.
All rights reserved. Any unauthorized copying, manipulation, selling etc, of my work constitutes as an offense punishable by law.
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2099/10/03
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8:47 pm
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
~ Abraham Lincoln

-Edited by sshaHALE-

  The cafeteria disgusted Lel to the core, and they never made good food here, not once but it was his break so he sucked it up and continued towards Barbella and Cero sitting at the corner table next to the windows. Cero was sleeping on the window with his arm arched leaving his body in an awkward position. Barbella didn't seem to notice Cero sleeping as she wrote in her journal, occasionally looking up trying to regain her thoughts. Lel plumped down next to her dropping his metal food tray causing a loud bang waking Cero from his trance. Cero cocked his head frowning at him as he rubbed his eyes.

"Late night...again?" Lel asks playing with his peas.

Cero brushes his face. "It's got me awake. I can't stop listening, wondering what it might be."

Lel raises his eyebrow.

"What if it's extraterrestrial..." He chimes.

"It's still sending symbols to my computer! It's like nothing I've ever seen before." Barbella slides her journal to Lel and Cero.

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"What am I looking at?" Lel says puzzled. "I thought it only sent high pitched clicks and noises-"

"Me to, till this morning. It's trying to communicate with us."

Cero and Lel stare at each other before bursting out laughing turning a few heads there way.

"How is that even possible, for all we know it could be a hacker!" Lel says with water in his eyes.

Barbella sighs playing with her strawberry blonde hair.

"It can't be a hacker, and my computer is practically 'unhackerble'." She sighs again. "I tried to write as much symbols as I could but my computer short circuited."

"That's the fifth one this week!" Roy exclaims putting down his back pack. Sitting down next to Cero.

"Fifth one?" I say staring at Roy.

"Yep mine blew up...two in fact! We need a bigger power source for our super computers and the only one big enough are the generators at school."

"So what are you implying?" Cero asks with his eyebrows raised. They all stare at Roy. He adjusts his glasses cupping his hands. He takes a deep breath.

"I can't say here..." His eyes slowly drift to the left indicating the camera mounted on the wall not to far from us. "After school we'll talk." Roy smiles making sure it doesn't look too suspicious. "Laugh." He whispers at the corner of his mouth. They all breakout fake laughing. Packing their stuff they stand up to leave.

"They're watching us." Roy whispers holding Lel's hand on the table his eyes dart to the camera now looking at us.

Lel nods.

"Hideout. Five." Lel says slipping his backpack on.

Roy nods.

***

16:15 pm

Lel Konn
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The smell of coffee rejuvenated my whole body. I toke a sip of my sweet coffee knowing it would be a long night. I needed the energy. Standing in the kitchen, I stared outside the window, parting the curtain. Roy's words lingered in my mind.

What if his right...no, it's impossible we covered our tracks nicely we made sure...

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I put my mug down on the sink. I let out a frustrated sigh and take another sip of my coffee leaving the window. I approached the stairs in the hallway about to go up.

"Hey! I didn't hear you come in." I look up only to see Amanda holding a laundry basket with piles of clothes in it. She always knew when I was around without me uttering a word. Her caring voice made me feel warm inside...or is it the coffee. I slowly put the mug away from my mouth a habit I've grown use to.

"Really? I came in like a hour ago." I say walking up the stairs.

She's about to respond when she trips nearly falling and taking the basket with her but I quickly intervene stoping her.

"Easy. Need help?" I ask steadying the basket.

"It's ok, I think I got it." She grips the basket and continues downstairs.

"Be careful," I say with a playful smirk. She turns around her red hair swaying with her.

"Don't you have friends coming over?" She asks putting down the basket, now in the hallway.

"Yeah, at five."

"There's food in the fridge if they get hungry and your mom left to another conference she said she's coming back in two days time." She bites her lip at the end part afraid of what I might say.

"Whatever." The words slipped out cutting her like blades as she let out a frustrated sigh rubbing her temple.

"You know she loves you...its just her work demands her to be fully committed."She then tosses the laundry down the shoot.

I shrug. She knows I don't like talking about the absent mom thing. She knows it's not easy being the Supreme Councilor's child, despite what the tabloids say.

"Can I get you anything?...I can make you your favorite, peanut-butter sandwich..."

"When's grandpa Tom coming?" I say avoiding the question.

"He's coming tomorrow."

Looking at my current situation all I needed right now was coffee and grandpa Tom's story telling...Amanda's so loving, kind and she wants the best for me but she's not family she can't replace mom...I guess I'm being kinda childish, but it's the utter truth.

"Lel...I know it's been rough with your mom not being around but I just want you to know..." She takes a big gulp trying to force the words out." I'll be here for you..."

"Just stop Amanda. You can't, and I mean can't replace her, okay? I'm sick and tired of my mom so what makes you think you can be better than her? Your just...your...your just a simple maid!" I let go of my mug as it breaks spilling coffee everywhere. I slap my hand over my mouth realizing what I just said...she was just trying to help. Her eyes widen as she bites her lip. Her hands begin to shake but she quickly tucks them away.

"Sorry...sir." She can't help but let her voice break.

"Don't ever call me..." She takes a step back as I climbed down the stairs. I quickly stop. Frozen I look at her, her green eyes so close to tears and I fear I am as well.

"Amanda, I didn't mean to..." The door bell rings throughout the mansion cutting me off.

"I'll go get it." She quickly heads for the door.

Roy and Cero enter with their backpacks and loads of paperwork in their arms.

"Hey man." Cero says heading upstairs.

"So you ready?" Roy asks holding my shoulder.

I nod, afraid my voice breaks.

Roy heads upstairs heading to the research room.

He looks back. "What happened here?" He says moving out of the way, gesturing to my shattered coffee mug spilled across the stairs.

"It's nothing I just...wasn't paying attention." I say pursing my lips. He frowns. "I'll catch up with you, just gotta make me some coffee." I say smiling hoping he would let it go and head upstairs.

He nods returning the smile.

I let out a sigh of relief as he continues upstairs. I walk to the kitchen brushing my curly hair.

Calm down Lel... Just calm down.

My heart drops as I see Amanda, I don't want to face her now. She's chopping some vegetables. I quickly move to the coffee maker and press button I then put a mug underneath the dispenser. My hands start shaking as she puts her hand on my back. I try press the button but my finger keeps missing it. She then holds my hand.

"You have to put hot water first." Her voice sends a chill down my spin. I look at her she lets out a nervous smile.

I move out of the way as she applies hot water from the kettle into the machine. She looks at me. I quickly but casually put my hands in my red hoodie. She hands me the mug.

"...Thanks." I say avoiding her eyes.

"Lel..." She looks at me with seriousness in her eyes. "I know I stepped out of line, but I just wanted to help you, you know that. I didn't mean to offend you." She grips the sink.

"I know I didn't mean to say that I wasn't thinking...you were just trying to help." I say reassuring her.

She smiles.

"You better head upstairs before your friends get suspicious." She heads back to the vegetables.

I'm about to climb the stairs when I hear a knock at the door. I open it only to see Aries and Preston kissing, they quickly stop as I cough awkwardly.

"Hey man." Preston extends his hand. I avoid it and tap him on the shoulder.

They then enter.

Disgusting

***