Tension hung over the room as my team sat in straggled groups in the middle, uneasy rebels stood nearby trying to look at ease but failing miserably, and a passed-out girl was slumped off to the right. Pretty weird, to say the least. And that's saying something coming from a genetically engineered fish-bird-girl. Everyone shifted nervously as the unconscious girl seated at one of the picnic tables began to sway and moan. As she blinked to consciousness, the general strode out in front of her.
"State your name and purpose," she snapped, bending over the delirious teen. As she awoke fully, the girl squinted and blinked up at the towering figure above her. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with recognition.
"You're Eve Hehewuti!" she whispered in awe. Suddenly, the light in her eyes seemed to cave in on itself, her eyes brimming with tears. She ducked her head with a bounce of her hair.
"What is it, girl?" asked Eve, popping a hip and tapping her toe. "We don't have time for this."
"I-I'm Jennifer and Mike's daughter," she sniffled, shoulders shaking. It pained me not to run to her, but I restrained myself.
"Oh..." Eve whispered, all steel gone from her eyes. "You're Harmony. I didn't recognize you, I... I'm so sorry." She stood still, crushed under the heavy quiet, the only sound being Harmony's gentle sobs. Just as Rose the scientist stood up to make her way towards her, Harmony's head whipped up and she jolted to her feet, eyes burning and tears now like molten metal.
"Why?!" she screamed, fists clenched and face twisted. I got the sense she could barely choke out the words, but rage forced them out. "Why did you kill them?! Why didn't you save them?!" Quiet hung over the room as Harmony's chest convulsed in hiccups and Eve for once looked taken aback.
"There was nothing I could do," she whispered, kneeling down as Melody sank back onto the bench, head in her hands. "Your parents fought like warriors, some of the best I've ever seen." Rebel eyes around the room had varied reactions, some indifferent, others aching in mourning, and even a few burning with jealousy.
"Her parents died in a raid on the Dome," Rebel Jamie whispered to us, his eyes pained. "We were totally underprepared. We didn't even make it into the building before the few survivors had no choice but to run. I was there, and so was Eve. She's never stopped blaming herself, that was the most we've ever lost with the least gained." As the information slowly spread across the group through whispers, I expected to feel my blood burning with rage against these extremists. But I didn't. Anger, of course, but not the blood-boiling rage I normally felt. There was even a small pang of- was it pity? The emotion beaten out of us after years in the Facility? What was happening to me?
"Excuse me," mumbled Flora over Eve's soft words to Harmony and the last of the team's whispers, "but what is the Dome?" I almost said something, surprised at her ignorance, but then the words stopped in my throat. Of course, playing dumb. What we were here to do. For a leader, I sure was an idiot.
"Oh, of course," said Rebel Jamie, eyes widening in realization. "You wouldn't know. It's the capitol of the Republic. We were going to stop another tax bill from- You don't know what taxes are. Well, we stopped bad things from
happening. At least, we meant to, but we didn't expect the sheer number of soldiers and we lost a lot of men." He trailed off in grief. I wanted to prompt him for more details, but if I wanted him to trust us it'd be better to leave him alone. Just as the silence got awkward, Harmony rose, bumping the table and scooting it back with a screech.
"Yes," she breathed, eyes wide. "Yes I will! I would love to!" Eve smiled in approval and rose to face the group.
"Everyone!" she shouted, with a voice louder than any I had ever heard. Except maybe Agent Davids. A shout-off between those two would be catastrophic. "Harmony here will be joining our scientist and geologist squad!" Everyone erupted in applause, white-coated people a little more excitedly than those in dark rebel clothes. "Well, Agent Harmony," said Eve, Harmony lighting up at her new title, "welcome to the team. I'm sure you'll be as courageous and skillful as your parents." She waved at Rose, who quickly waddled over.
"I'll show you the ropes," said the woman kindly, leading Harmony to the back of the room, a wall covered in screens.
"Alright, that's issue one dealt with," said Eve, muscular arms crossing in satisfaction. "Now for issue two." She turned to my squad and me, sitting at tables and on the floor. "What to do with the twenty-five of you..."
"We could start with introductions," suggested Feathered Jamie, straightening up to be noticed. "That may help." As the room is filled with mumbled agreement, I slowly stand.
"I'm Melody, and I'm the leader. If there's any trouble, come see me." I sat down and Asset 2, Daisy, stood up and introduced herself. As I glanced at the group, I noticed that the shortly shorn hair looked a little darker on all of our scalps. In fact, without the weekly buzzes, we could let our hair grow as long as we want it. Wistfully, I realized that I almost didn't want this mission to end. Feathered Jamie introduced himself with fiery blue eyes and a matching tone, a few more introduced themselves, Lily was amiable with a sweet smile, some others rose and dropped, then Flora with a barely audible whisper. Once Asset 25, a boy named Falcon, sank back to the floor, everyone was silent.
"O...k... then..." drawled Rebel Jamie awkwardly. "What now?"
"Well," exclaimed Eve, shifting with a sudden idea. "We need to get these kids accustomed to modern society before they join us. You do want to join us, right?" We all shouted affirmation, and I could sense light-headed relief that our mission is going so well, so intense it practically radiated from everyone. Eve laughed as she continued, completely oblivious. "I think we need to give them all places to stay and learn. We can assign one to each Agent-"
"No!" I interjected frantically. "We aren't splitting up." Separation meant the death of the mission and us, a fact drilled into us by the Facility workers.
"Are you sure?" asked Eve, leaning forward persuasively. "Alone, you are easier to hide, easier to manage-"
"We are staying together and that is final." I snarled, fists falling to my sides. Eve's lips pursed in annoyance, then parted in a sigh.
"Whatever. Agent Harmony!" she shouted over her shoulder. There was no response from the back of the room until Rose nudged Harmony, who then jolted in realization.
"Oh!" she shouted, whirling around in a cyclone of curls. "That's me!" She jogged over, hopping to a halt with eager eyes. "Yes Eve?"
"You are essentially living alone, yes?"
Eve asked.
"Yes," responded Harmony, eyes tinged with sadness.
"Well, not anymore." Eve replied with a smirk. "You will now be living with 25 other people. We need to accustom the Feather Freaks to modern society, and you're just the one to do it. I've gathered you have enough room to hide them?"
"Of course!" grinned Harmony. "I'd love to!"
"So it's settled," Eve said, turning to us. "You all can remain here until the end of the day as we teach Harmony about her new position, then you will
go home with her."
"Excellent!" said Harmony, clapping her hands as her beautiful eyes glowed. She made her way back to Rose and the screens as we made ourselves comfortable. In just a day we had a new home and even friends. No one seemed willing to bring up the fact that we would soon have to kill every one of them.
YOU ARE READING
The Indestructibles
Science Fiction*NOTE: This story contains a homosexual relationship* ~~~ "We were made to be untouchable. Now we're dying. And I'm going to find out why." Melody and 24 others were made in a lab to be supersoldiers. Fighting or fleeing, they were built to be perfe...
