At End's Gate

PLAYING THE PUPPET MASTER

"How are we going to do this?" Lisa asked.

Paige looked down before she looked at Conner. The setting had changed. They were hidden in an old cabin far off in the South. They had viewed most of the Southern area. It looked grotesque." Conner do you remember the cloning lesson we had?"

"Which one?"

"The one whereby we were taught how to make clones that resonate with the emotions of the person."

"Yes I do," he replied with a smile," I think I know what you want us to do and I believe it's brilliant."

Paige gave a devious smile." Guys we're going to clone ourselves. The clones will be the ones that die. We'll be fine."

"But still even if we clone ourselves won't Dukilian become aware of our appearances?" Blake asked looking confused by his sister's plan.

"That won't be a problem," James began," we just have to manipulate the clones' facial tissue to look different."

"Kind of like plastic surgery," Lisa joined.

Alexis looked confused." Okay wait. This is too much to take in so you're saying firstly you want to clone us then you want to alter the appearances of our clones?"

"Yes. That is exactly what she is saying," Conner confirmed.

"That is the only way it can tally with the plan I visualized. We want a scenario whereby Dukilian learns that the children of his enemy survived most of the demise. He'll then kill the clones instead of us. He'll never know our real identities and we can use the tunnels to escape."

"Still won't the tunnels have traps?" Alexis asked again.

"We use our own tunnels."

"Hah?"

"Lexi I think I know a way to develop our own escape tunnel. It's dangerous but the risk is necessary. We wait until after the final explosion."

Lisa's face turned pale." Paige what are you saying? How can we wait until the explosion that is going to wipe out the whole city and the entire tunnel system?"

Conner walked up to her." Paige I'm sorry about your uncle. I really am but don't you think your survival plan is now becoming a bit overboard?" That is what he whispered into her ear.

"Please trust me Conner. I know it's risky but I know what I'm doing," she whispered back.

Conner then looked at everyone else who were now all showing expressions that illuminated confusion." I trust her. Let's just here what she has to say and believe in her." They nodded.

"I'm saying we can combine the frequencies of our phones and produce a force field powerful enough to protects us from the impact."

"Paige how are we going to produce such a powerful field? Even the field from wall leading up to the gate won't be able to withstand such impact," James pointed out. He then fell silent for a while contemplating in his thoughts." I'm willing to try because I believe in you. It seems like it's not doable but it's not impossible maybe I can modulate the frequencies to a level that is impenetrable."

"Thanks James," Paige said giving him a grateful smile.

"Maybe I can develop a genetic synthesis that helps us alter the appearances of our clones," Lisa volunteered.

"We have to make the appearances believable if we want to fool Dukilian. They'll need a level of style and appearance that makes them look like they were running and they got injured all the time." Paige looked back at the red eyed girl. Alexis smiled." Might as well join the fun. It's not everyday you get to dress up another version of yourself," she said laughing.

"I'll try to work on that mind altering serum. We have to insinuate a reality to the clones. I don't think they'll accept voluntarily to go into a suicide mission. I'll manipulate their mind structure to do what we want without them suddenly going off the record. They have to stick to the plan."

"Blake that's brilliant," Conner commented.

"I guess we all share the crazy scientist gene from our parents," Blake said looking at his siblings.

"I guess we do," Paige responded.

"Paige and I will work on developing the clones. Let's get to work," Conner instructed.

Paige gave a determined and dangerous smile." Let's play the puppet master. He thought we were his puppets. He should know he has another thing coming."