The Dead Zone

Chapter 6

Without warning I grabbed Terri and yanked her to the left wall just as the electricity exploded out of the light above where we were. Looking back Tracy had disappeared and after dodging another attack, I figured out what happened. "Lightning speed," I groaned,"she had to learn lightning speed." Standing where we just were she was looking at us with curiosity instead of anger. Without considering the danger I suddenly took up a stance and took a huge instep towards Tracy. I figured if I couldn't beat her, I could at least hold her off till Terri could leave. Every time I threw a punch she either dodged it or lightning dashed around me, laughing the whole way. Finally I'd had enough and suddenly my arm burst into flames as I threw a huge uppercut at her. She froze when she saw the fire but dodged it just in time. Just as I was rushing at her she dashed and suddenly I was slammed into the floor, pinned down by her. Touching Zeus was like getting tazered all over my body. I felt numb and couldn't move. She gathered lightning in her hand preparing to slam her fist possibly through me, when suddenly Terri's fist slammed into her right side, and flung Tracy into the wall. Terri yanked me up by the arm and I had to struggle to stay up.  By the time I was steady enough and could see straight, I realized it was over. Tracy was doubled over against the wall in pain. Terri had probably completely broken her already cracked ribs on that side. Tracy glared at us when suddenly three men burst into the room. Jack, Burt, and the lanky man from before, all were looking around the room amazed. Paying attention I realized icicles had formed on the ceiling and Terri was almost in full snow woman mode. Then I noticed my arm was still burning and Tracy's electricity was still sparking around her, albeit more focused on her side. "Well, seems like you all had an interesting conversation." Jack called breaking our stare down up. "Now does anyone wanna explain what exactly is going on here. "Self defense," Terri replied. She had calmed down and I could feel the heat back in the air. Tracy glanced at Jack and then back at us, and suddenly her static aura shut off. Grimacing in pain she groaned and muttered out a few choice words. Burt ran over to her and helped her up carefully as if he knew very well how bad touching her could be. Terri finally relaxed and I doused my flames. "Well seems you three have history." Jack said breaking the silence. "What the hell?" The lanky man started, "now we got three freaks!?"
"We're not freaks!" Terri screamed at him. I had to grab her before she broke his nose. "Now's not the time Lenny," Jack told him. Go on out and take watch duty."
"What," he choked out in a high pitched deep southern accent that could never be missed. He had messy brown hair that looked fresh out the bed and a dirty white shirt full of holes. And ragged jeans to match. He shut the door on the way out but I could still hear him muttering outside of it under his breath. Butch had put Tracy in a chair and was making it a bit too obvious he had some sort of feelings for her with his constant low murmurs of worry, and dirty glances at me in particular. Jack sighed and sat on the old desk looking at us. "I understand that you may have your qualms with each other," he started, "but if all three of you plan on staying here your gonna have to learn to get along." "She attacked us" I countered. "We didn't have any problems until she tried to kill us. Even then if it wasn't for the fact that we're......" Terri blurted out before stopping herself. She almost said something that could get us in trouble but as I suspected Jack had clearly drawn lines. "If you weren't Peacekeepers too you'd be dead," he said calmly. She flinched hearing the name and looked down. "You're throwing accusations at me but who's to say your not one of the dogs who went back to work for the bastards who did this to us," Tracy hissed out in a pained voice. "Wait what?!" I was confused. "How are there other keepers? They went back? Why would they go back that's stupid! The government's killing every one of us they find, and hunting the rest down and calling us run away property!" It was my turn to get angry but Terri's expression made me hold off. "So you two really don't know," Tracy said somberly. "What do you mean we don't know," Terri shot back. I could tell she was just as lost as me. "Well I guess I should tell you, Tracy said sitting up a little. "About a month after I set us all free, the military came looking for us. I guess their logic was if the got us all back they could pick up where the started and move on. They found out that a lot of us were willing to fight back. You probably were one of those I'm assuming." She paused. I just nodded and she continued. "Well turns out some of the other Peacekeepers were actually fine with everything going on, and were rewarded for helping bring in others who fought back. But the biggest target was me since I caused the explosion that set us all free. They wanted me back at all costs and I had to kill a lot of people I had helped get out." She looked at the wall solemnly. "Atlas, Poseidon, Hermes, Gambler, Metal Head, and Quake," she muttered. "They all came after me, and I put them all down." It took me a minute to realize who she was talking about. They were all people we had known in that facility. "But I have to say, it's nice knowing you two were able to be oblivious to al this." Tracy told us. "What do you mean," I asked. "You haven't had to kill your friends." She answered darkly.