Surface R: Reunion

Part 03.2

::CODY::

[TIME REVERSE, Sunset a day before]

It's getting dark. I rise up a little from my low crouch in the bushes. They won't be able to see me as well in the dark and if I stick to the shadows. I'll be an almost impossible target. I'm sure they want to try and shoot me but they won't risk wasting their bullets not if I'm staying back and not trying to duck past into the gateway.

When I first made it back to the entrance area I was so relieved I got reckless. I mean, really. I actually started running forward! Luckily I didn't get close because the guards reminded me why no one who came from here tries going near anymore—by shooting at me. I ducked into the forest and they kept their guns pointed that way, not letting me get close enough to talk.

I've been waiting for night time so I can try to ask for help. I passed time by watching the guards. They talk and laugh, like what's happening up here is some weird joke that only they can find funny. I wonder how funny they'd find it after facing a Rabid bear on a rampage, even that thought freaks Meeko out. That makes me smile a little. I take a look at their clothes, grey contamination suits, boots, helmets—all stuff that keeps them from being polluted by the surface. I've been infected by Surface R's so called pollution ever since I can remember and I don't think it's bad at all. I also think it's funny that they call their outfit contamination suits, like the suits that protects them are contaminated themselves. They should call them anti-contamination suits; that seems to make more sense.

I think it's dark enough to sneak out. Moving slowly, I slipped out of the bushes and slowly approach. It's all concentration again. Concentrate on my movements, concentrate on my footsteps... Always concentrate. I click a button on my Red watch and check to see that both gauges are empty of bars. Good.

Concentration. It's super important, and I've never forgotten. Not after my first time. A few months ago, after I've turned from nine to ten.

[Flashback]

"Is it safe to come back?" I peered into our old base, looking for any Rabid creatures that had attacked it the last time we were staying here. The Scouts said it was cleared, but you can never be one hundred percent sure. As Rhys said, you can only be ninety-nine point nine percent sure with these things... whatever that means. "is there radioa-whatever left over?"

Besides me, Rhys shook his head. "It wouldn't make any sort of difference if there were," he answered, a wry grin on his face. "we've already undergone some rather significant changes. I believe that this is as far as we can go unless it gets beneath our skin."

"Whatever you say, dude." Meeko scratches his head.

We have a hard time understanding how Rhys explains things but we at least get the general idea. Right now, I think he meant that the radiation will no longer affect us much since we've already gotten used to it. We usually take his word for it since he finds out a lot of things way before us. When I was still a baby, on our first year up, even then he was the first to guess that they've gotten their abilities from being affected by the radiation. It was Trey and him who first had them, the rest followed in a few months. We try to remember what skill each of us have whenever we might need that in a sticky situation. Trey can make fire, Rhys can do anything that involves static and it means he can make lightning and electricity. Corrin involves body stuff, so it means he can heal, mend bones—or break them, but he rarely does, Meeko produces clones of himself, Lori can go through any non-living things but needs to try harder to go through any living thing and only if they're stationary, Lexie can sense things that has radiation and track its location. Sometimes, she can tell what type of thing it is but only if she's actually seen it herself beforehand. Kytes can communicate with nature, and to an extent, control them. Up until now, they were the only ones who had powers. The newbies, like myself, haven't developed ours yet.