The Project

Our Mission

-1997 POV-

They trail behind me, these young innocents who have no idea what lies before them. I have been on many missions such as this, this is just another day. The fact that I am a mere resource in the Project does not bother me. If not here, then I"ll just be another expendable mortal elsewhere. Those who think they are trapped here are fooling themselves, thinking that escape will fix all their problems. Don't they realize that in the outer world they are one of millions, and are in fact less cared for and noticed?

I see the light of rebellion in the girl, her eyes are reading and scanning everything as we make our way towards weaponry. I hope she gets some sense in her head soon.

You either die in here, or you die out there. Either way, you die. What does it matter how early or late you pass?

I scan my number to pass through to the weapons department and almost laugh as I see the look of wonder in the small boy's eyes. Then the concern in his brother's.

"Let him have his fun, God knows he won't have much of it in this life. Don't spoil his wonder with parental concern." I think at 2020.

Fine. But promise me if I can't, look out for him on this one.

"I will do my best".

-Arista's POV-

They must be think-talking at each other.

I think as I watch Nick intently staring at 1997. The weapons room is glinting steel and the sharp scent of metal all in one bright flashing silver room. My nose twitches, I have never liked this smell. '97 steps in front by a few paces and begins speaking out loud which is slightly surprising, I guess speaking in our heads gets old fast.

"You each are going to go over to section A, scan your palm and the machine will tell you what weapons you are going to use. These are an additional part of your natural-born skill sets, your weapon is an extension of your powers. The ability to use these will come easily as you are born capable of weilding them. All you need to know is what they are."

At that, he strides away and we all cross to the machine that will tell us what weapons we are to use, forever I guess. Cole sprints to be first in line, looking enthralled with the whole thing. I guess his idea of fear is not yet devolped, becuase to me this is a grim thing. I've never liked killing anything, minus the occasional spider that startled me in the shower.

Will I be able to kill a human being?

He sticks his hand in the machine which closely resembles a medieval glove, all chain link metal. At least thats what it looks like, but I notice as Cole slips his hand inside it forms to him like shifting sand. After about seven seconds the device beeps and a projected screen on the wall before us displays his weapon.

"Blow-Dart.

Combination of Poison and Marksmanship."

Cole huffs, obviously not impressed. I stifle a giggle at the absurdidty of it.

Cade is next. The screen flashes.

"Poison."

He grins, it suits him.

After him, it is Nicks turn.

"Guns."

He is a marksmen from now on out.

Then it is my turn. I feel the glove conform to the lines and grooves of my hand, and I feel my fingertips tingling for just a brief instant before I look up.

"Swords, and any object similar"

What do you know....

"Well looks like you'll be verrry good at handling any shaft-like thing my love."

Cade's suggestive grin leads to me giving him a solid slap in the face, knocking him to the ground.

"What does he mean Nick?" Cole asks his brother, looking thourougly confused at why I would hit Cade over his comment on my weapon.

"Well my sweet little inncocent child, there are 'other' objects shaped like swords that I would be more than happy to let her handle..."

At that Nick clamps his hands over Coles ears and glares at Cade, who has recovered enough from my slap to continue with his perverted jokes. I note with satisfaction however that there is still a bright red imprint of my hand on his cheek.

"Now now, thats enough. He did deserve it though."

1997 cuts into my thoughts, and I turn. He has selected a belt covered with tools that look like nonsense to me, but perhaps he can weild them as easily as I can my Wind.

As '97 starts speaking with Nick I notice Cade out of the corner of my eye trying to fix his hair, which got slightly ruffled when he fell after my slap. I'm still pissed at his comment so I twist my hand just slightly, bending the air into a small breeze and sending it whistling through his blonde strands, causing him to look quite the mad scientist with his hair on end. One perk to powers is that they don't always have to be crazy abominations of nature. Sometimes I can just use them to screw with people. He looks irritated but hasn't figured out its me yet, and pulls a small brush from his pocket in an attempt to tame his appearence. I laugh mentally and concentrate on making a small tornado, just the size of a spool of thread, and send it whirling about the crown of his head.

Now he knows its me, and I see him concentrating on summoning his own powers. It is harder for him, with his Lightening. I can draw from the air around me and have a never ending source for my Wind, but he has to conjure his from nothing if there is not a storm nearby. I can see his hands twisting and know I'm in for a dreadful shock if I don't break his focus, so I step forward and send a massive gust of wind in his direction, unfortunatley I miss him by an inch as he jumps to the side, and I send several racks of armor crashing down with a metallic clang, making everyone in the room jump at the obnoxious noise. This does suceed in breaking his thought pattern as he laughs at my embaressed apologies to the others, and the flush spreading across my cheeks. At this point 1997 comes back our way and tells us it is time to move out, the transportation is ready. He said he would brief us on the way and promptly set off out of the room, leaving us all rushing to catch up.

-Cades POV-

We all stumbled onto the plane that would take us to our mystery destination and select a seat. 97 instantly starts telling us the bare bits of information that we need for our mission. I figured they wouldnt tell us much, they only need us to make the problem go away. We dont need to be invested too deeply.

"It is an underground group of protestors in a small village. They hold a computer file of vast signifigance to the Project, therefore 1220, the others shall create a diversion in order to get you inside. This mission relies on your capability to access their computer and destroy the file."

Cole looks thrilled at his special assignment, and 1997 continues

"As for the rest of you. Use whatever means necassary to remove any obstacles."

"Would those "obstacles" be people? You want us to kill them don't you?" Arista blurts out.

"I do not want anything from any of you. This is your job now, accept it. "

I get it, we are told the bare minimum to avoid any connection with our targets. Not a problem. I just hope 'Ris and Nick can handle this. Arista looks slightly green, and I hope she doesn't fail us.