Mutants

Chapter 9

           CHAPTER NINE: FOUND

U.S. GOVERNMENT BUILDING 7: STRANGE THREATS

     "Sir, dark matter sensors have been going off like crazy under Ushterminia."

     "Those sensors are always going off. What's wrong this time, Fedson?" Captain Millers shifted in his seat, worried. If this was worth mentioning, something was up.

      "Sir," Officer Fedson began, "We sent two men down there for a routine sensor check and calibration. We thought everything was fine, it was just an old ghost town. Then, they heard voices. Everybody here was within 5 feet of the comms console. Then, the sensors marked a fluctuation, and we lost contact. The last thing heard was a young man, identified as Mark Medderfield from Building 30." Fedson was sweating, obviously aware of what this meant.

      "So," Captain Millers said, "Building 30? Mutant studies?" Fedson nodded. "I thought we teleported Medderfield to Test Sector Five. I remember now. That was a bad day for our technicians. Never arrived on the other end, I remember. So, he arrived in a teleporter pad in a ghost town? Things have been way too boring lately, and this all seems like a fun excuse to fly a vintage chopper. Get me a team."

     "Sir, comms is down for now. The satellite was knocked out of orbit."

     "By what?"

     "A 21st-century house, sir."

     "Deploy team D-7."

     "Sir?"

     "Now."

     "Yes, sir."

   GHOST TOWN: MORNING

    I woke up inside a house. The house, the one I remembered in the dream. I realize I'm in a bed. I hear soft breathing. Carefully, I look to my left, and see Kate, embracing me in her sleep. I feel Lythus and Mark in other rooms. All is well.

    I feel elated. I made up with my brother, I have a girl against my body, and we can live our lives here together. I feel Kate's dream. With me awake, everyone is stuck in their own dreams. Kate's dream is dark, sad, terrifying. I begin to slowly stroke her hair.

    We can't fix the damage that has been done to us, but we can be happy with what we have now. I guess this means I'm a philosopher now.

     I move my hand, and stroke Kate's good cheek. She seems to loosen up in her sleep. We have each other.

     What's that I hear in the distance? I can't remember an animal that makes that sound. It sounds a bit like thunder. Maybe there's an Electric walking into town. Well, maybe we can turn this ghost town into a fully functioning city soon.

     My phone dings. I check it. Blah, blah, news and stuff. I scroll down, and freeze. New message. From who? I open the message.

     We've found you, Mark.

     The noise outside is louder, everybody is awake.

      Please, no. Kate reads my message, then begins to tremble. The message was sent by... Captain Millers.

      No. Not the government. Anything but this. I know we would win, but the real question is how far they'll go.

      The noise is now unmistakable.

      THWUM-THWUM-THWUM-THWUM

      A retro helicopter. Possibly a hovercraft. This is very, very bad. This is a capture mission. But why Mark? He came in through a telepad glitch, right?

      That's it. He never said where from. He was a test subject. Now it's time for him to face his past. I look at Kate. She nods. We're going to battle.