The Renegade

Chapter 20: Is Thicker than the Water of the Womb

"W-What? But... you're right here." Mike sputtered.
    Riley's eyes widened. She leans over and whispers something to Jeff, who's now sitting in front of Mike, concerned. Mike's heart undoubtedly sank. But Jeff nods and runs towards the exit. "Riley, what's going on?"
"Mike. I need to you look at me. And look at me hard." Mike looks around. As he does so, Belle comes running and sitting next to Riley. "Nikki what's going on?"
    Soon enough, Belle wasn't there. She had suddenly disappeared. Jeff comes back with a glass of cool water and Mike drank it greedily. Mike closes his eyes and rubs them sheepishly. He slowly opens them to see... no Riley. Nikki sat where Riley once was a minute ago. That's it. It's official. Mike was going crazy. 

    "You okay?" Nikki asks slowly. 

    Mike wipes his eyes again, feeling as if tears had already started to prick his eyes. But Mike just nods. 

    Nikki and Belle help him up and he drags them into a hug. The girls are tense and they hesitate for a second before relaxing. Jeff puts a hand on Mike's shoulder.
    Over Mike's shoulder, Belle mumbles, "We need you to do something. As far as training."
    Once he draws away, Mike asks, "What do I need to do?" 

    "Well, we have an old program that we updated and reprogramed. You just need to get some blood drawn or some shiz," Belle replies simplistically. "Then from there it'll give us a start to what to training you on. We have species blood samples and stuff, I guess. I don't know how this stuff works, it's like a poorly a written plot point or something that should be significant, but isn't really touched on."

    Mike blinks. "That was... Pretty Odd. "
    "And you're acting rather odd. Noe get up and off your ass and get over there." Belle responds. 

    Mike slowly heads over to a chair to get his blood drawn. Kylee stops him. 

    He hums in question.

    "So, we might have a problem with you."

    Mike's eyebrows fly up in shock. "With me?"

    "No, no, no," Kylee soothes. "If anything it's with your blood. You see, there's hundreds upon hundreds of individual species of aliens? So we won't know what you can... do. You might just have to start to figure it out on your own. Who knows, you might not even have enhanced abilities. Some aliens don't. Doesn't make you an exception."

    Mike's head hangs low. "I get it."

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    Mike hears voices, but he can't tell them apart. They all sounded the same.

    He blinked, but the salty water of a great ocean poured into and out of his eyes. He was under the crashing waves, sinking further and further down. Hands above and below the great storm reached out to his aid, but offered no further help. Mike saw them. He tried to reach out, but he was just sinking father and father beneath the surface, farther into the dark abyss. 

    "Mike, c'mon. I'm kinda dying here." He hears someone cough. 

    And, suddenly, his arms feel heavy.

    "R-Riley?" He says, looking down. 

    "Hey, so, I wanted to apologize." 

     Mike realized where he was. Except, instead of Belle holding Riley's near-lifeless body, he was.