The People with Useless Power

Chapter Sixteen

[Follow my mom at st0909 . She's a nice mom. Maybe she'll start reading my story again.]

"Well, I think the army is doing pretty well," Mara said, standing on the same podium that she died on. Everyone in the army was surrounding her, their arms crossed, and a new uniform on, which was just a solid black bodysuit, along with the beating heart panel in the center of their chests.

Emily watched her, sitting in the front row and still sleepy. She had called them to the meeting at 2:00 am, and Emma's body was looking exhausted. Mara didn't seem to notice, though.

"So, we're doing pretty well. But we're going to be evaluated by the government today, so this is what I want you all to do." She cleared her throat. "And, to be fair, we can only do this because of Emily's god-awful power. She can make sure our food is healthy and our attacks succeed." Mara sent her a smirk, and she mirrored it back. She was being nicer to Emily, for some reason; maybe it was because she knew Emma was being distant. Emily sighed. Mara knew everything.

Mara pulled out a sheet of paper, a long one, and the soldiers groaned. She rolled her eyes and looked back at it.

"Okay, so today, we will start out by..," she trailed off and squinted her eyes, "...killing them all."

After a few moments of stunned silence, everyone cheered loudly. Mara gave them all a small smile and tucked her pink hair behind her ear. "Mark, I believe your static will fog their radios?"

Emily turned and saw a man with black hair nod. He had the lightest blue eyes Emily had ever seen, and they seemed to be glowing. She squinted- they were glowing.

"And, Delaney, you have the attack dogs ready?" Mara questioned with a tilt of her head.

"Yes, but, Mara," a woman with brown hair and a widow's peak said, "isn't this a shelter? With the government?"

"I'm sick of them," Mara hissed.

"Don't they supply us?" Delaney asked again.

"There are no rules in love and war," she shrugged. "Besides, the head of their army is visiting. I'll take care of him."

"And who would that be?" she asked once more.

"You ask too many questions," Mara snapped. "So, here's the plan. Because Emma is such a good liar, I'm going to make her greet the officials and take them on a tour. As me, of course. They have not been notified of our... body switch."

As soon as she takes the head of the army and any other valuable-looking fighter to my office, Mark will render the radios and crap useless with his power, Emily will raise the chances of it all working out to 100%, and Delaney will send out the attack dogs. Then everyone will flood the building and kill the government. Don't be afraid of the dogs, though: they've been trained not to attack anything unless the thing wearing the government uniform. Any questions?"

Delaney raised her hand, and Mara groaned. "What?" she snapped.

"How do we know when Emma takes the officials to your office?" she asked, ignoring Mara.

Nonetheless, Mara smiled. "That's actually an intelligent question. I'll send out a telepathic message to the three I mentioned, and when you all hear psychotic barking, that's when to go. Anyone else?"

After a few seconds of silence, Mark shyly raised his hand. Mara nodded to him, and he spoke in a soft, hushed voice.

"Where's Emma?"

"She's practicing her impression of me," Mara smirked. "Okay, now, everyone in their apartments. Act like robots if Emma comes around."