Alpha Project: Genesis

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Where are they taking us?" Cade whispered to Jasper.

"How am I supposed to know?" Jasper sharply responded.

The SUV was in a more suburban part of town, so the blanket of smoke was dropped. Tempest was now above them in the clouds, monitoring the roads ahead.

"Wait, why are you here, anyways?" Cade asked. Then his eyes grew wider, and he questioned, "Are you one of them?"

Sighing, Jasper grimly nodded, "I knew I was one, just not one of many. I always thought I was the only one."

"How did those people at the expo even do those things? How did Aaron lift all of us? Has he had that power since the beginning, but was hiding it from me?"

"You're not the only one who's being kept in the dark." Jasper glared at Erik, who was sitting next to Cade. He was breathing heavily from the electrocution, but one of his eyes snapped open.

"Do I look in the mood to talk?" He asked.

Cade continued, "I just want answers. What I saw today was impossible: you all have superpowers!"

"We do." Erik struggled to say, "That's why I came to your school; to find people like Aaron that have been infected."

Before he could continue, Cooper stopped the car and interjected, "We're here."

The SUV parked in front of a black, seven-story office building, constructed mostly out of glass. The orange afternoon sun created a multitude of colors, causing a rainbow tint on the glass that wasn't shattered. Part of the building was torn down, and lay there in a pile of glass and metal. The buildings surrounding it looked relatively the same, and the street in front of them was cracked and worn. Everything looked old and decrepit, in contrast to the modern, futuristic designs of the city they had just left.

"Welcome to our Utopia." Cooper commented as he exited the car.

"This is your secret headquarters?" Jasper replied. "It's a dump!"

"Shut up and get your friend out of the car." Cooper replied.

Cade carefully slid Aaron's body out of the car, and alongside a grumbling Jasper, the two carried his body into the office complex.

Cooper helped Erik to his feet and began walking with him, saying, "You sure took a beating."

Erik nodded wearily, replying, "The Resistance was hiding in the crowd. I had just gotten there when they shot Judas Silver."

"He's dead?!" Cooper exclaimed.

"I don't know if he's dead for sure, but I saw the bullet hit its target."

"What happened after?"

"We were right about Genesis Labs having a plan to hunt us down. They've developed soldiers who can track those with powers. They were at the expo, fighting the Resistance and capturing people."

"Someone to fight, finally! I guess that's the only plus out of all of this." Cooper replied with a grin.

"Erik! Are you all right?" a voice exclaimed from the sky. Tempest hovered down from the clouds, landing on the SUV. He jumped off and ran to his friend.

"I'll manage. Thanks for the save."

"I'm assuming the Resistance did this."

"They also killed Judas Silver."

Tempest was silent for a moment, then said to Cooper, "I'll take him upstairs from here. Watch the new guys."

Cooper nodded, and ran to the entrance of the office building, where Jasper and Cade were impatiently waiting.