The PulseTeam, Book Two: Evolution

Chapter Seven: Almost Crossing The Line

Part One: Finding Alexa

The PulseCave | Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, June 30, 2033 | 18:45 EST

As I prepare to humiliate Brad extensively before I kill him, three of my teammates try to talk me out of killing him, and Rick is asking me how "we" are going to do it.

Something went wrong with the tracker in Alexa's communicator a few minutes ago, so as I work on trying to manually lock on to her bio-signature, Asune and Malaya, and even my sister try to talk me out of killing Brad for kidnapping Alexa and threatening to end her life in one of the most brutal forms imaginable.

Finally, I can take no more of it, and I say, "Everyone: SHUT UP!"

They do.

"Listen," I say, "the more you try to talk me out of killing Brad, the more ways I'm going to think about murdering him in cold blood. Now, since you all seem to care about him so much, I suggest you pray to the Almighty that not so much as even a hair on her head has been touched. Otherwise, he dies. Tonight. Is that fair? Is that good enough for you all?"

They nod.

"Good. Now maybe we can get back to achieving our top priority: Finding Alexa."

At that moment, I get a hit on her location. My friends go to suit up, and I say, "Nobody put their uniforms on. I'm going in alone."

I then turn to go and put my own uniform on.

"Hey, wait a minute," says Jessica, running toward me and grabbing my left arm with her right hand, "One of the rules you set in place for this team was that nobody goes in without backup. And you know how I feel about rules. But it's a good rule. And it's a rule that has got to be followed. Especially by you."

At first, I don't look at her, and I almost consider what she's saying. But something in me snaps as I remember that every second I spend here is another second Alexa is still in danger, and I feel my blood run colder than it usually does, I feel my eyes begin glowing, and I put the meanest possible scowl on my face as I possibly can, and now, I look back at my sister.

"I'm going." I say. "Alone. Remove your hand from my arm. Now. I will not repeat myself."

She slowly takes her hand off my arm and backs away from me with an expression of pure fear on her face.

"I'm going," I say for the final time. "Do not follow me. That's an order."

And with that being said, I use my super-speed to get dressed in my Pulse Junior uniform and fly out of the PulseCave as fast as I can.

Part Two: Brad's Salvation

Abandoned Warehouse | Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, June 30, 2033 | 19:02 EST

As I near the coordinates of Alexa's bio-signature, I render myself almost completely invisible, save for my eyes. I look inside, where Brad and his cronies are holding Alexa captive, and I can also see some slight movement from Alexa. I listen in to a conversation that is being held:

"Please," says Alexa, who sounds as though she's been drugged, "please, for your own sakes, let me go. You don't know what you've done to yourselves. When David gets here, if he's not in a generous mood, you're all as good as dead! Please! I won't tell anyone about tonight. I promise."

"Nah," says a voice that I know all too well belongs to Brad, "you're good. Although, come to think of it, guys, she's gotten a whole hell of a lot hotter since we last saw her in middle school. What say you all we have a little fun with her before he comes for her?"