Chapter 25 – Blindsided
Only a few Souls traveled on the white and black checkerboard floor of O'Hare Airport's Terminal One. Most were heading through to other concourses and gates in the airport. Waiting for them would be quick and efficient shuttle flights taking them to anywhere around the globe. The relative emptiness made it easy for the Seekers who stood watch over the small group of mostly Humans.
Seeker Owen watched as Marc Walters spoke to his gathered people and a few of his allied Souls. There was an amiable mood to the Humans. But Owen though he could sense a sad undertone to the tiny crowd. One of their own was leaving. Going, as Owen had heard one of the Humans say, right into the belly of the beast. But Marc seemed determined to make his departure a happy one. He laughed and joked with some, hugged a few others, and kept their spirits high.
"I wish he would hurry up," grumbled Seeker Amber Rains. She stood next to Owen, watching the Humans with an expression of casual annoyance. She checked the clock and shook her head. "It's nearly time to go."
Owen stepped closer to the little group. Unlike some of the other Seekers apprehensively guarding the Humans, he was not worried about them becoming hostile. After coming all this way, he did not believe they were going to suddenly turn on them. The Humans had been through many searches before being allowed to see Marc off. While they irritably protested, they did cooperate.
Some amount of paranoia could be prudent, but Owen was starting to suspect many of his associates were becoming unreasonably suspicious about everything. He had seen it more and more as the Seekers rallied together to confront the humans behind the 'Facility.' It was not a winning strategy in Owen's opinion. If you tried to be hyper sensitive to every threat, you ultimately became ineffective. You spread yourself too thin, and you lost the ability to focus on anything.
Clearing his throat, Owen spoke to Marc. "We do need to get going."
Marc nodded. "Right Chief, just one moment."
He turned to faced a young woman, her curly waves of blonde hair framed around her face almost like a halo. Owen had listened to her talks several times in the past few days. He found her stories about her life with the rebel humans quite fascinating. Still, something about her presence here bothered him.
Bending down to look her straight in the eye, Marc began softly, "Wanda..."
"I know," said Wanda to Marc's unasked request, "I promise to keep everyone safe."
"Counting on it," replied Marc as he stood back up. He looked to his traveling companion, Bright Moon on Fallen Snow, and asked, "You ready?"
She stood apart from the gathered Humans, looking a little awkward as Marc had said his goodbyes. "Yes, I'm ready."
"Wait," said someone in the group. The tiny crowd parted, and now Owen did feel a rise of foreboding as he saw who had interrupted. Mia was small and hardly looked like she would be a physical threat. Yet rumors among the Seekers about this girl and what she was were rampant.
Mia approached Bright Moon. Her dark eyes watchful as she scrutinized the Seeker. Bright Moon stood very still. After a few seconds of consideration, Mia ordered - "You keep him safe," while pointing to Marc.
"I will," promised Bright Moon.
"Okay then..." Mia hesitated again, bouncing from one foot to another. Then in a rush, she blurted out, "You stay safe too and come back to us."
Bright Moon was visibly taken aback by the girl's wish for her safety. It took the Seeker a moment to find her voice. When she did speak her voice was still uneven. "I-I will...T-Thank you, Mia."
A smile widened across Mia's face. Her white teeth stood out in contrast to her darker olive skin. To Owen, her grin looked more than a little smug. Apparently she enjoyed seeing Bright Moon in uncomfortable confusion.
"That girl, Mia," muttered Amber Rains as she came to stand beside Owen and watch the Humans. "I find her very disturbing."
"I have heard the stories," he replied.
"I was there at the hospital," said Amber Rain, keeping her voice low. "I saw her eyes change. She posses one of us inside her."
Owen nodded slowly. Keeping his voice at a whisper, "As I understand it, the girl is the result of some egregious experiment. The Soul is fused to her Human brain."
"She is some sort of freakish hybrid," stated Amber Rains with an unhappy shake of her head. "All these Humans...they are simply atrocious," she decried. "And now we relying on this Marc Walters to help us?"
"I take it you do not approve of the long term plans for these Humans," questioned Owen.
Amber Rains went silent, apparently deep in thought over his question. Finally, she offered, "Their population will need to be kept to a manageable size. Their actions tightly controlled. And, of course, they will need to relocate to somewhere...more appropriate. Too many in the city are bothered by their presence."
Owen studied the assembled group as Marc and Bright Moon started off for their departure gate. He noticed a tall Human with dark hair standing next to Wanda. One of his arm around her waist, the other held high as he waved goodbye. "What about those of us who have chosen to partner with these Humans?"
The sound coming from Amber Rain's throat was not really a retch, but it was evident she was not happy with the idea. "I suppose they will have to learn to live with their choices," she said dismissively and began following after Marc and Bright Moon.
Owen studied the gathered Humans one last time. The remaining Seekers were leading them back down the terminal. Back to the safety of their home. None of them appeared to be vicious monsters. They too were appalled by what had happened to Mia and now were willing to stand with the Seekers against their own kind.
"But what does that say about us, when some of our own kind would rather live with the Humans than in our society?" asked Owen.
Amber was already down the concourse and did not hear him. Hurrying after her, Owen was not sure if he agreed about sending the Humans away. When listening to Wanda speak she had seemed so sincere about the idea Humans and Souls could work together. But his private contemplation quickly came to an end as he heard sounds of Bright Moon pleading with Marc.
Both stood in the waiting area for their assigned flight. The Human's previous jovial mood had completely vanished. Now he was agitatedly pacing among the rows of empty seats. A few others Seekers, already here for their flight, watched warily as Marc moved about.
"Marc," Owen heard Bright Moon say, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," replied the Human as he continued to stride back and forth. He was like caged animal. Feeling anxious as he came to a stop before the arguing couple, Owen wondered if Marc would become violent after all.
"Please," prompted Bright Moon as she laid a hand gently on Marc's arm. "What's bothering you?"
Her words and touch had the desired effect. Marc let out a deep sigh and stopped his pacing. He glanced fretfully at the door leading to the gangway connecting to the departing shuttle.
"I've never flown anywhere before," admitted Marc.
Bright Moon blinked in confusion. Shaking her head slowly, she asked, "Why would using a shuttle distress you? There's nothing to worry about."
"I happen to believe if we Humans were meant to fly we would have evolved wings," answered Marc with a frown.
Again Bright Moon twisted her head back and forth in confusion. "In your people's time, your aircraft were one of the safest ways to travel. And our shuttles are even more reliable."
"Well that makes me feel so much better when the wings fall off, and we plummet to our deaths," argued Marc sarcastically.
Growing exasperated Bright Moon replied, "You are completely unreasonable."
"Unreasonable? I'm unreasonable?" quipped Marc. "Bri, I could give you a list a mile long about stuff I've had to do in the last few days that I find unreasonable."
Upon Marc's use of his nickname for her, Bright Moon scowled. "Well, Human, I'm so sorry that efficient travel frightens you."
A fierce grin twisted Marc's lips. He leaned in towards her. His voice went flat with subdued intimidation. "I could have just stolen one of your patrol cars and made the trip by now for all the song and dance everyone had to go through to get out of the hotel to see us off."
Bright Moon leaned in as well, her jaw tightening. "Oh no, no more vehicle theft for you. You promised."
"Did I?" snorted Marc in reply.
Even as the two argued, Owen could not help but noticed how both Marc and Bright Moon had moved closer to each other. It was like they were two planets caught in each other's gravitational pull. And it was quickly becoming apparent both were so caught up with each other they had not noticed the flight was now boarding.
"Excuse me!" Amber Rains hotly interrupted the squabbling couple. The Seeker bobbed her head, incredulous. "But we're leaving now."
Both Bright Moon and Marc stopped arguing and looked around sheepishly. Everyone else waiting at the gate had already formed up into an orderly column. Heading through the door and down the gangway to the waiting shuttle, apparently eager to get away from their bickering.
With a long sigh and a sad shake of his head, Marc began walking towards the door. Bright Moon went with him. Both holding each other's hands.
Watching Human-Soul couple head through the gateway, Amber Rains was still shaking her head disapprovingly. Starting after them, she muttered, "Utterly insane."
"If I didn't know better," remarked Owen as he followed, "I would say those two liked arguing with each other."
####
On the day Craig Williams turned eighteen, he had gone directly to the local recruiter office and signed up for the Marines. It was a long two months wait until he left for boot camp. His mother had cried over the idea of her only son leaving home, but for Craig, it was long past time. As for his father...well, that drunk was hardly around to care.
Boot camp had been relatively easy for Craig. Mostly it was just following instructions. A lot of 'Yes, Drill Sergeant' and 'No, Drill Sergeant.' Plenty of repetitive exercises, miles of running. He was a natural fit for the military life. Do as you are told. Fight who we tell you to fight. Kill on command. It would shape his life for nearly the next twenty years.
After making it through basic and receiving his first assignment, Craig found he had a lot of spare time. Without many other options, he had taken to watching the base's boxing team. It was not long before he asked to join. Figuring he had been in plenty of fights as a kid. And from his father he knew how to take a beating. So to Craig, it was a natural choice. He had just assumed he would be good at it.
But his first time in the ring against someone more experienced had been a quick and brutal lesson. Knocked flat on his ass. Laying there on the mat with his head aching and vision blurry, he tried to make sense of what had happened.
Coming fuzzily into his view was the old drill sergeant who had taken to teaching him. The man's gnarled face had broken into a grin. "Its that hidden arm. Always gets you young pups."
Craig had tried to make sense of his confusing words. Still feeling dizzy he had given up and asked the sergeant, "The hidden arm?"
The saying was an old boxing term his trainer explained. As he had helped Craig off the ground, he said, "It's the hit you never see coming."
Sitting in his makeshift office, he absently wondered what had happened to that dusty old Brown Round. In Craig's youth the man had seemed ancient, but in truth that drill sergeant had likely been as old as Craig was now. Was he still alive? With a parasite in his head and a silly, dopey smile on his face?
No, not very likely, thought Craig. That old marine would have gone down swinging when the Souls came a call'en.
That brought him back to the young woman seated in the nearby chair. Melanie Stryder had not gone down easily either when the Seekers had her trapped. Threw herself down an elevator shaft in a desperate bid for a final escape. He had to respect that type of bravery. It was far better than his capture by the Souls. It had been the hit he had never seen coming.
Even after her capture and insertion, she had fought the Soul who controlled her body and mind. Again she had fared far better than Craig had against Pale Light Gleaming. Until the Doctors of the Facility had cut him open and sliced and diced his brain he had been completely under the parasites control. However, Craig had learned much in the last few months. He was quite certain Melanie had an advantage when it came to resisting the Souls. A birthright she did not even know she possessed. And if he was right about Melanie, then Smith, and by extension, the Vultures would be very interested in her.
Melanie sat across from him, glaring with open hostility. She had been pale and sweaty when Madison had brought her in a few minutes before. Looking like she was ready to strangle someone. Craig had to admit he had not handled their unexpected reunion several days ago as well as he could have. Melanie and her companions had blundered their way right into the middle of his work to capture the remaining Seekers in the city. Already a dangerous mission, their presence added one too many variables. Given their brief past interaction, it was entirely possible she might try to disrupt his plans. He had needed to keep them contained.
Craig let out a little sigh. Too late to fix their past, better to focus on the future. Was that not the whole point of his plans? Building a better future for the humans who could survive the coming apocalypse. He tried a little smile with Melanie and said, "I realize we didn't get off on the right foot. That's my fault. Hopefully, we can work to improve things."
She was not buying it. Melanie twisted her head back and forth, a riled movement of her body's anger. Glowering, she spat back, "I don't have a damn thing to say to you till I see Jared and Kyle."
Putting up his hands in a sign of mock surrender, Craig kept his voice calm. "They're going to be here in just a moment. I promised I'd keep you three safe and I meant it."
Melanie scowled. "Why?" she scoffed angrily. "Because we're going to help you save the world?"
He eyed the raven-haired, hazel-eyed woman. What he had planned for Melanie was risky. Smith would be back soon, and he needed a good distraction for the Director. With Smith already busy with the preparations for their upcoming raid, adding one more concern would hopefully be enough to let Craig make his move. How Melanie would respond to being used as bait was an open question. There was the possibility after she learned the whole truth she would understand. See the necessity of what he was doing...If she survived.
"More or less," he replied with a simple shrug.
"Terrorist stuff?" She questioned. "Going to blow up some more buildings or something?"
Tension tugged at him. Shaking his head, Craig said gravely, "The game has changed, Melanie. More than you can imagine."
A silence stretched out between them. He could see the curiosity in her eyes, she wanted to know more but held back. Coming as a welcome interruption, the door to the garage swung open and Madison Brinsfield and Joe Tanner lead Jared Howe and Kyle O'Shea through the threshold. Keeping up appearances both of his operatives were dressed in the usual black uniform of the Seeker, including sidearms. But Melanie was wholly focused on the tall golden-haired man. In a blink of an eye she was out of the chair and wrapping her arms around Jared.
Jared was quite surprised to see her but was quick to recover and pulled her close to his chest. "Ah Mel," he breathed as he squeezed her tight. Then they pulled apart just enough to kiss passionately. This went on long enough for everyone else in the room to feel a tad uncomfortable. Craig cleared his throat loudly enough to make it clear the two love birds needed to end their make out session. They, at last, broke their kiss, however, Jared remained to hold Melanie close, acting as her protector.
Standing to the other side, Kyle asked with a sly grin, "Hey, no hug for me?"
Melanie shifted to Kyle, giving him a warm smile. "Are you are alright? No one has hurt you?"
"They're fine," broke in Madison irritably. "Unlike some, we're not out to hurt our own kind."
Melanie let out a tired groan and turned back to Craig. "Would you tell her I'm not some sort of brainwashed spy for the Seekers!"
Craig was prepared for this. Yes, he had flexed the truth a bit with the others about Melanie and her friends. At the time, it had been necessary to get his team to quickly isolate the three intruders. While she might not be actually brainwashed, it was evident to him Melanie had gotten a little too attached to the Soul name Wanderer. But the other two, Jared and Kyle, could be a different story. He had time before Smith arrived to find out. Pulling out the latest issue of the LA Times, he handed over to Melanie.
Her eyes narrowed at the offered newspaper. "What's this?"
"Read the front page," responded Craig.
Melanie unfurled the paper and began to scan over the article. Jared and Kyle looked over her should and started reading as well. Kyle's head quickly snapped up as he saw the headline.
"Wild Humans in Chicago cooperating with Seeker Task Force," said Kyle, repeating the title of the article. His face contorted into bewildered anger. "What the hell!?" he demanded.
"This is the inevitable outcome of Marc Walters idiotic attempt to survive in a city full of Souls," explained Craig matter-of-factually.
Continuing to scrutinize the paper, Melanie started reading aloud -
"Seeker Sage of Tides reports substantial progress in locating the base of operations for a secret group of Humans collectively know as the 'Facility.' These savages are believed responsible for the terrorist attacks on the city of Chicago several months ago. Since their incursion, the Seekers have been working relentlessly to find and eliminate their threat.
Most remarkably, Sage of Tides credits the breakthrough to the willing assistance of a small group of Wild Humans recently captured at the Hotel Rose. These Humans had been discovered to be infesting the city several months ago. Their leader, named Marc Walters..."
Melanie broke off and looked at Jared. "Marc's alive," she began, "maybe the rest are to..."
"Worried about your traitorous friends?" interrupted Madison with a disgusted look on her face.
"They weren't working for the Seekers," explained an exasperated Melanie. "Marc and the others were secretly meeting with a few friendly Souls in the city, attempting to reach some sort of peace agreement. We know they were attacked by the Seekers but not much else."
She paused as she read more of the article, trying to make sense of what had happened. "Maybe...Maybe they didn't have a choice but to help..."
"Right," said Joe, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cause we all know Seekers just sit you down and have a nice chat with you when they want to know something."
Madison added on, her anger beginning to flare. "The only reason they weren't turned into hosts was that they were already in the Seekers pocket." She glared at Melanie, "Just like you!"
"It wasn't like that" shot back Melanie. "Wanda and the other Souls were trying to protect us. Find a way to stop the Seekers from further attacks." She pointed an accusing finger at Madison and then to Craig. "We're only in this mess thanks to you. You crazy 'Facility' people are going to get us all killed."
"Oh really?" replied Madison, her voice lowering and her anger turning cold. "If wasn't for Mr. Williams here and his friends at this 'Facility' I'd still have that a miserable parasite controlling me. We all would. They're the ones saving us."
Melanie's eyes went wide as did Jared's and Kyle's. They had not suspected the truth, reasoned Craig. Thinking Madison and the others had come from the Facility itself, not realizing they were former hosts. It was an easy enough mistake to make. The Facility had wrapped itself in enough secrecy that few knew how strong it really was. The reality was the they were weak. Only having a handful of Humans who could fight. It was why Craig had to bootstrap an army together here in LA.
Jared was the first to recover. He looked between the two former Seekers and then focused on Craig. "That's what you're doing here, isn't? Removing Souls…" he paused, thinking it over. "You know how?"
Craig was silent as he weighed just how much to tell Jared. There was still a general wariness to the man, but underneath it was an intense curiosity. "We're not popping 'em out at the 217th connection, if that is what you mean," he answered. "Recovery takes too long, and success rates aren't very good."
"It's that black gas," surmised Kyle. He had turned to Madison with an odd look on his face. "You thought we were Souls when you surrounded us. So you blasted us with it."
"It's called CURE," answered Joe. "Quite the little miracle drug. Knocks out the Soul and puts the original human's conscious back in the driver's seat."
"Joe," warned Madison, "You shouldn't be telling them anything. They'll just want to run back to their masters..."
"We are not working for the Souls!" thundered Jared with a surprising surge of rage. He took a threatening step towards Joe and Madison. Automatically their hands slipping to their weapons. Their training by the Seekers still very much a part of them. Coming to a stop before them, Jared ranted on, apparently oblivious to the danger. "I lost my father and my brothers to fighting the Souls' invasion. I will never, ever, forgive them for that!"
"Jared," whispered Melanie hastily. She came up behind him, wrapping her hand around his. Trying to pull him back, away from the armed former Seekers. Jared resisted for a moment, still angry until he noticed the effect he had on Madison and Joe. Taking a step back, he reigned in his anger and continued with a somewhat softer voice. "I don't know what this man has told you," said Jared as he indicated Craig, "but we are not in league with the Seekers."
"But you are working with the Souls," argued Madison.
"They're not some sort of hive mind," countered Melanie. "Souls are individuals. They do have differences in opinion. Some of them see what they did to us as wrong."
"Can't be many," said Joe with a slow shake of his head. "I know exactly how Seeker Rush thought. How they all think. Their race is a bunch of conformists. They all love to agree and get along with each other. So they're not going to have a lot of conflicting viewpoints." With a disgusted grunt, he added, "Their perfect little society wouldn't hold up if they did."
A look of genuine pain crossed Melanie's features. "I know, trust me, I know," she said soberly. "But they can change. Mine did. Wanda saw she was wrong and has been trying to help."
"Mel," interrupted Jared with a lamented sigh, "you know by Wanda's own admission she was a bit of a loner compared to the other Souls. Yes, some Souls can change, but there will be plenty who don't."
Melanie started to shake her head, to argue, but Jared pressed his point. "Wanda's plan in Chicago was always a bit of a long shot." He pointed to the newspaper. "Something has obliviously gone very wrong."
Craig thumped on his desk, attempting to bring the argument in check. Things were getting a little carried away and his time was running low. But in his estimation Jared Howe had all the makings of an excellent recruit. He was going to need survivors like Jared. People who could endure through the ending of the world. Who knew how to get things done. Smith and the others were too quick to dismiss these holdouts. Seeing them as either little more than a nuisance or at most collateral damage in their schemes. They wanted people beholden to them, obedient. And the dark truth to Facility was what they claimed they wanted was really what the Vultures wanted.
"Now look," Craig began, but was interrupted himself by his office door swinging open and Director Smith stepping in from the sweltering heat of the garage.
"Look, Williams," said Smith and then stopped as he saw Craig was hardly alone. He seemed to barely register Joe and Madison, and completely ignored Melanie and the others. Turning to him, Smith said, "We need to talk alone. Things are finally falling into place."
This was not exactly how Craig had things planned. He had hoped for more time. Having Jared and Kyle here might cause problems. But he could adapt. Keeping his emotion careful in check, Craig replied mildly, "Of course, but I've had a bit of a development of my own." He pointed to Melanie. "I believe she qualifies as unmodified genetic resistant."
Surprise radiated on Smith's face. He turned towards Melanie, seemingly seeing her for the first time. The girl, in turn, was giving the Director a very suspicious look. They overlapped as they asked the same question at almost the same time. "What are you talking about?"
"Her files from the Seekers indicated she able to wrestle control, at least temporarily, of her body from the controlling parasite," said Craig as he answered Smith's question. "By her own admission, she was able to manipulate her residing Soul to some degree."
"Really?" said Smith, intrigued. Then his face shifted into a confused glare. "Wait, who are these people again? When were they converted?"
Now for the tricky bit. "They weren't," admitted Craig. "These three stumbled into our highway operation. We captured them and I've been interrogating them."
"What?" Smith turned to him, his bewilderment building. "That was three days ago! Why didn't you tell me!?"
It was then Melanie decided to drop a bombshell. Waving with an emphatic sweep of her hand, she spoke to Madison and Joe while pointing to both Facility men. "You don't understand who you're dealing with. What they're capable of. They launched a plague in Chicago, killed thousands. Humans or Souls didn't bother them one bit. Murdered a kid just so they could maneuver Humans and Souls to fight each other."
"And you," said Melanie with sad shake of her head to Craig. "You know what they did to you and to your daughter. You're so quick to blame the Souls. But you know she died because the Facility tried to capture her. And then they twisted you and the Soul in your head...Why the hell are you following them!?"
You could have heard a pin drop after Melanie was done. Madison and Joe just stared blankly at her, trying to make sense of her rant. Then all at once everyone was speaking, yelling over each other. Inwardly Craig fumed. He had never told any of his recruits about the truth of his recovery. The bound and gagged Soul named Pale Light Gleaming cauterized in the back of his head. Too risky to explain and he needed their trust. Better to let them think he was one them, not some screwed up lab rat the Facility doctors had gotten lucky with. But more importantly, she dared to bring up his Samantha. He could have snapped her neck for that.
"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" screamed Smith at the top of his lungs. His face was scarlet, and his hands were balled so tight they had already gone white. Shaking in a rage, he twisted and back in forth as he glared at everyone in Craig's office. "I don't know what's going on here! But I'm getting to the bottom of it now!"
"You two," he commanded to Madison and Joe. "Get those two men out of here now. I don't care where you put them. But keep them quiet until I have a chance to talk to them."
"And you two," he indicated Craig and Melanie, "are coming with me. I've got more than a few questions."
"You out of mind if you think I'm going anywhere with you," snarled Melanie.
Smith's face went very dark. His words were cold, so different from his explosion of anger just moments ago. "Madison, shoot one of these men."
Madison paled. "But there...human."
Smith pointed to Kyle, apparently at random. In a deadly calm voice, he ordered. "Shoot that man. Now."
"Hey hey," said Jared. His voice tight and yet at the same time calm. He put up his hands, palms out. Seeking for peace. "Nobody needs to kill anyone. We'll do as you say." He gave Melanie a long look, pleading as well comforting. "Mel, it's okay. Go with him."
"But..."
"No, it's going to be fine," said Jared with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
####
A twitter of giggles came from beyond the open doorway. Wanda, who was on her way to meet Ian, stopped and glanced into Mia's bedroom. A girl of about fourteen sat on the edge of the bed, her long auburn hair messily cascading into sloppy pigtails. Crouched behind her, Mia was working with a brush to untangle some of the longer strands.
"Com'on Mia," said Red Leaves Caught in the Wind, "let me have the mirror and see what you've done to my hair."
"Not done yet," answered Mia. "Still trying to get the kinks out." She examined with a critical eye the other girl's flaming red mane. "You have too much hair, Red. I should cut some of it off."
"No!" exclaimed the other girl. She jumped off the bed, her hands going to her head in an effort to protect her hair's length.
"Ah, you should try it," challenged Mia. She ran a hand through her much shorter hairstyle. "It's cooler, and you'll run faster when you lose all the weight from that mop on your head."
"My hair is not a mop," defended Red Leaves. "I like its length." She snatched a mirror off the bed and began to examine Mia's handiwork. Her face feel when she saw the atrocity of her managed hair.
Wanda ventured into the room, a smile widening on her face. Of everything that had happened in the last two week, the revelations about Mia where the strangest of paradoxes. What had been done to both the girl and her inhabiting Soul by the Facility was horrific. A grotesque twisting of medical science for reasons no one could fathom. It had resulted in Mia's central nervous system becoming merged with the alien Soul in her body. It had given the girl the bizarre ability to detect the presence of Wanda's people at a distance. Mia had remembered none of this and being around a Soul had often sent her into a fit. And yet now as her memories of her former self slowly reemerged, a very unlikely friendship had grown between Mia and Red Leaves Caught in the Wind. This relationship strangely gave Wanda hope for both peoples' future.
"Might I help?" queried Wanda as she fully took in the mess upon Red Leaves' head.
"I can fix it, Sister Wanda," insisted Mia as she produced a large pair of scissors and eyed the incomplete braid. The other girl gulped.
A little surge of contentment went through Wanda at Mia's use of 'Sister.' She called all the Humans here her brothers or sisters. Perhaps it was some part of her mental makeup to think of her people as one large extended family. Just like a Soul would. It made Wanda feel quite happy that Mia now considered her part of said family.
"I'm sure you can," broached Wanda. "But would you mind if I tried?"
Mia shrugged noncommittally but did drop the scissors. Red Leaves let out a relieved sigh. Taking a seat on the bed, she coaxed the other girl back and began to undue some of Mia's work.
"Thank you, Wanderer," said Red Leaves as Wanda worked. To Mia, she said, "I don't think your calling is for hairstyling, Mia"
"I did mean to mess it up," replied Mia a little reproachfully. She was quite for a while and then murmured. "My mother used to do my hair when I was little. I remember that."
Wanda stopped brushing and turned to Mia. The girl's dark eyes were distant and sad. "I'm sorry," said Wanda. Trying to cheer her up she offered, "I can do you hair next if you want."
Running her hand through her short hair, Mia again shrugged. "Not much you can do with it."
"You could let your hair grow out," said Red Leaves. She smiled reassuringly at Mia. "Then we can have matching hairdos."
"Hmm, maybe" considered Mia.
Going back to untangling Red Leaves' hair, Wanda worked away until a thought came to her. "Is this okay?" she asked Mia. "I know if you have too many of us near it causes problems."
"Oh, don't worry about that," said Mia dismissively about the strange itching sensation she felt when near a Soul. "I guess it doesn't bother me as much now that I understand what's happening. She paused for a moment. "Well, I mean, I don't exactly understand. Long Rivers says I have a prion protein imbalance in my dendrites." She paused again and added, "I think he made some of those words up."
Wanda smiled. She too had heard this information from the Healer and knew he was not creating new words. Neurons in Mia's brain had mutated. Dendrites of these altered cells, the tree-like structure of a neuron which allowed them to relay messages between each other, were now similar to the smallest structures of the silver threads on a Soul's body. Mia had a hybrid central nervous system, part Human, part Soul.
"No," replied Wanda gently. "Healer Long Rivers isn't making anything up. You're just different, and we're still learning how everything works."
Mia hugged her knees to her chest and let out a lamented sigh. "I wish I knew why they did this to me. What's the point? Why hurt so many people and me?"
"I don't know," said Wanda with a shake of her head.
Sensing her friend's melancholy, Red Leaves began to chat up Mia about her latest activities at school. Apparently she was going to be in a play. As the girls talked and Wanda worked, her mind shifted to Marc and Bright Moon. She knew by now both had joined the other Seekers in the vast woodlands of northern Michigan. A massive army of her people had gathered to hunt down the Facility. If this army were able to capture some of these people alive, maybe they would learn the reason behind the girl's transformation. Wanda was sure what had been done to Mia was not some random cruelty. There was a cold, calculating design to the Facility's actions. With a little shudder, she considered perhaps it would be better to not know.
"There," said Wanda at last as she finished Red Leaves' hair. She had returned the girl's long red hair to a simple knot braid. Standing back up, the young Soul studied her hair. She nodded appreciatively to Wanda.
"It's okay, Mia," said Red Leaves. "I know you didn't mean to make a mess of my hair." She twisted the end of the braid back and forth. "Maybe I will get it shortened. It will make taking care of my hair easier."
Then looking out the window, she saw the sun was beginning to set and let out a groan. "I'm going to have to get going," she said with an unhappy frown.
"Aww, can't you stay for dinner?" pleaded Mia.
Red Leaves' frown deepened. "Dawn Runner doesn't like me coming here. She and Summer Sky insisted I be home before dark."
"I could speak to them if you'd like," offered Wanda. "I should be able to ease any of their fears. You are perfectly safe here."
Coming right at the end of Wanda's assurances was the contradiction of angry shouts from outside Mia's room. Red Leaves jerked in alarm, still not used to being around Humans who often were capable of considerably more anger than Souls. Wanda and Mia traded concerned looks when further yelling was heard.
"Stay here," instructed Wanda to the two girls as she jumped off the bed. She was out to the hallway before either one had a chance to reply. Wanda did not have to go far down before she saw the source of the commotion. A Seeker in a neatly pressed black dress uniform stood in the hallway, survey one of the empty hotel rooms.
Tension rose in Wanda, a twisting of fear and a little bit of anger. The Seekers were meant to stay off this floor and give the Humans some amount of autonomy. They were only to enter if they detected a problem. Stopping in front of the Seeker, she said tersely, "What is going on here?"
He eyed her warily. Wanda had found most Seekers in Chicago regarded her as someone between a curiosity and a semi-deranged individual. This Seeker seemed to fall somewhere in between. With his expression remaining neutral he replied, "We are conduction an inspection."
Wanda's forehead wrinkled in concerned confusion. "Inspection? What are you looking for?"
"Anything that might be considered dangerous," said a new voice from behind the man. The Seeker nodded in silent agreement and moved to the side to reveal the diminutive form of Seeker Jade in the Hollows and several other black uniformed Souls. Unlike the other Seekers, she was wearing a pale peach blouse and matching dress. Wanda had rarely seen her dress like a regular Seeker. Even as she was utterly committed to her calling, it appeared she did not like to dress in a uniform. She stood with her hands on her small hips, her expression quizzical as she looked back at Wanda.
"Dangerous?" asked Wanda.
"Dangerous?" mirrored the voice of Scott Alderman. "What the hell does that mean?" Wanda shifted her gaze from the Seekers to see the human striding down the hallway. Behind him were more of his people, all of them looking quite upset.
Jade turned to face the Humans and then shifted back to Wanda. Answering both sides with a syrupy-sweet smile, she said, "We are certainly within in our rights to inspect this holding site for any activity or material that might cause harm to the general populace."
Scott was incensed. "What!?" he exclaimed. "Do you think we're building weapons!?"
"Well..." considered Jade with a finger to her lips. "I doubt it...but one can never be too careful."
"This is total crap," snapped Jason from further down the hallway. "Marc's gone for less than a day, and you're pulling this raid."
"I agree," nodded Wanda. "It seems you timed this 'Inspection' to happen exactly the day Marc and Sage of Tides left." She found her words came out far more harshly than they would normally. She and Jade had a number of on-going debates which were increasingly feeling like outright arguments. This latest confrontation was shaping up to only add to their dispute.
"Believe what you wish," sniffed Jade dismissively. She looked about, seeing the number of unhappy Humans piling up in the corridor. Shaking her head she tried again with a cloying smile. "Really," she said sweetly, "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about."
Scott rolled his eyes contemptuously. "Oh, really? Well then, can I come inspect your home? Never can be too sure, you might be planning something."
"I believe the general populace is not concerned about the contents of my home," replied Jade dryly. She then turned and walked away, cutting off any further questions.
Scott and other humans fumed, but were there was little they could do. Over the course of the next fifteen minutes, the Seekers went from room to room. They looked through dressers and drawers. Under beds and inside closets. Their presence greatly upset Sarah's and Mike's children, both who started crying loudly when the Seekers searched their room. Then Eric was incensed when the Seekers went through his collection of DVDs. He bitterly complained they had no right to judge their content 'violent.' Mia and Red Leaves joined Wanda as Mia's room was inspected. The young Soul watched the events unfold with distressed dismay.
Ian had managed to maneuver his way over to join Wanda's little group. As the minutes ticketed by she could see his growing agitation over Jade and the Seekers intrusion. She whispered to him, "I will talk with others, let them know what Jade is doing."
With the sound of little Tim crying in the background, Ian did not seem to hear her. Muttering under his breathing, "This is the way its always going to be. We will always be treated like second class citizens."
Wanda let out an exhausted sigh. Pained by both the Seekers actions and Ian's angry allegation that Humans would never be treated fairly by the Souls. Reaching out, she took his hand in hers. She gave it a gentle squeeze. After a moment, Ian returned the caress. "It will get better," she said, "I promise."
Jade returned and Wanda was surprised by what the little Seeker carried in her arms. Her book bag, which contained all Wanda's notes and books from her various forms of research. It had swelled to a considerable size and it caused Jade some difficulty in holding it.
"I see you've decided to search my property as well," said Wanda icily. She found the intrusion into her property quite irritating. Suspicion among Souls was such a rare thing and to go through another's items without asking was unheard of.
Her earlier sweet smile was gone. The search for 'dangerous' material in the Human's home was obviously grating on Jade as well. Too many angry humans. Too many sobs of upset children. After sitting the book bag down, Jade straighten back and let out an irritable sigh. "I am not enjoying this. I don't want to be searching this run down old hotel."
"Then why are you doing it!" growled Ian.
"Because," snapped Jade, uncharacteristically angry, "I am constantly under barrage by the city's inhabitants worried about having a group of Humans living among them. Concerned you may be 'up to something.'" Her eyes focused on Red Leaves, and Jade pointed. "Like her mother," she added with another tired sigh.
Red Leaves shrank back, looking mortified. "Dawn Runner did that? But why?"
"She worries about you coming here. Associating with these...people." chided Jade to Red Leaves. Turning about, Jade looked over the hotel rooms and its unhappy inhabitants. "This is just my attempt to alleviate everyone's concerns."
Ian shook his head with an angry scowl and stomped away. Wanda sadly watched him go. "You could have handled this better," she told Jade.
Jade watch her silently for a moment and then answered. "Wanderer, you only meet with those of us happy over this 'coexistence' you are proposing. You don't see the disruption you are causing. Trust me, there are many more of us who are very troubled. I had to do something." She rolled her slim shoulders, attempting to shrug away the current unpleasantness. With her foot, Jade pointed to Wanda's satchel. "I didn't know it was yours till I opened it," she admitted. A little hesitantly she added, "What is it?"
"It is..." began Wanda but trailed quickly off. Between her readings on the Humans' ancient civilizations and talks with Eric, she had begun to see the possibility that Humans had indeed been visited by aliens in the distant past. Perhaps even multiple races. It was entirely possible, the universe was vast, and the Souls by no means knew everyone out in the cosmos. But the Vultures? Visiting Earth in the past? It might not be impossible, but certainly very unlikely.
"It's just something I've been studying," answered Wanda finally. She was not sure she really wanted to share this with Jade. "Learning about humanity's history."
Frowning, Jade bent down and retrieved one of her notebooks. She flipped it open to a drawing. Wanda had made it for Eric and Ian. They had been curious to know what an actual Vulture looked like. So Wanda had done her best to sketch from old memories what the alien would look like. Remembering from handed down memories of the tall, thin creatures. It was not the most pleasant of tasks.
With her frown deepening, Jade ran a finger along the image. "Is this what I think it is?"
Wanda was about to explain why she had drawn a Vulture when a trembling voice came from behind her, "Monster..."
Both Jade and Wanda blinked in surprise and turned to see Mia. The girl's eyes were wide as possible.
Alarmed at Mia's inexplicable fear, Wanda asked, "Mia, what's wrong?"
Mia pointed with a shaking hand at Wanda's drawing. "It's the monster with the yellow-red eyes..."
####
"You should have told me about them sooner," said Smith as they passed down the main entrance of the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital. His voice was not angry, he just looked tired and resigned. After they put Melanie in lock down, Smith had said little to him.
Things had not worked out exactly as he planned. Craig had hoped to have more time with Jared and Kyle. He still saw potential with those two. But Melanie and her denouncement of events in Chicago could well of damaged Madison's and Joe's trust in him. And truth be told, he need them a lot more than he needed Melanie. He had tried to play too many plots at once. Well, lesson learned.
As they walked through the lobby people around them were backing up needed equipment. Getting ready to move out. Things were moving fast now but there was still time for Craig to act.
"I know," began Craig contritely. "But you've been busy. And I was thinking we needed to keep them isolated, less they interfere with our people." Although it was a bold face lie, he added, "I only just found out about Melanie's resistance."
Smith said nothing, his dark eyes distant. They continued to walk in an unpleasant silence. A steady unease building in Craig's body. He was about to try again to salvage his screw up with Smith when the man turned abruptly and made for the door to the stairway to the second floor.
Pushing open the door, Smith looked back at Craig. He said nothing, but his expression made it very clear he wanted him to follow. Craig made a little show of a nonchalant shrug, letting Smith know he was still in command.
The stairwell was plain and unadorned. A wide set of cement stairs sloped upward until they reached a narrow landing. With the hospital being on the small side and few needing access to the second floor, the flight of steps was deserted. At the landing, midway point in the climb to the second floor, Smith chose to vent his pent up anger.
Spinning around fast enough to catch even Craig off guard, the Facility Director laid into him. "I don't give a goddamn what you think! You are here to follow my orders! I don't need you running around second guessing me!"
Pressing a finger into Craig's chest, Smith continued to rant. "We have a plan in place and everything...and I mean everything is riding on our success."
He turned away and took a few steps up the next flight of stairs. Stopping on the third level, Smith swung back around to face him. Crossing his arms, Smith towered over him. Craig stood absolutely still.
"You don't think I don't know about your little 'chats' you have with your groupies?" questioned Smith. "Filling their heads about how they're going to be the ones in charge when the dust settles. Telling them about the better world you're going to make." He again jabbed his finger at Craig, chiding him like a child. "You aren't the one to make those changes. You just follow orders."
Smith let out a very pent up sigh. "We are close Craig," he said in a softer tone. "We're on the cusp of fundamentally changing Humanity. What came before will be meaningless. After all Paz and the others have done for us, we can't turn away from that now." His diatribe done, Smith remained standing. Looking down upon Craig with a waiting expectant expression.
Slowly, very slowly, Craig felt his head nod. Let his shoulders sag a bit. Looking browbeaten he responded in a subdued voice. "You're right Director Smith. I'm...sorry."
Making no response if he believed Craig's contrite apology or not, Smith turned and began climbing the remaining stairs. After a moment of hesitation, Craig followed after him.
As Smith reached the second to the last step, Craig softly spoke up. "Just one thing, Smith..."
"What?" came the man's one word reply. He turned his head, expecting to see Craig still cowed and trailing after him.
It was the hit he never saw coming.
Craig jumped the last two steps, putting himself on the top step. He spun expertly and swung out his arms. Shoving the other man with a well placed blow. Smith's legs went from under him and his arms pinwheeled. He desperately tried to grab hold of the railing. But his hands skitted past the banister, clawing at empty air. There was nothing to break his fall but the hard cement steps.
Three successive bangs echoed in the stairwell as Smith tumbled down the stairs. With a sickening thud, he came to a rest at the landing below It was certainly loud enough to draw attention. Craig would have to move quickly.
Running down the stairs, Craig made a quick estimation of the man's injuries. Smith had landed on his back, with his legs crumbled underneath him and his arms splayed out in two different directions. The always present black tablet had come to rest on his out stretched hand. Smith's head lulled awkwardly to the side. He looked like a marionette who had its strings cut.
His eyes were open. As Craig bent down over Smith, they focused on him. Glaring hatefully, a faint whistling breath came from his throat. But nothing else happened. Smith's glare was replaced with confusion.
"Your neck's broken," Craig informed him.
Kneeling down Craig placed one hand on Smith's mouth. Taking his other hand, he pinched Smith's nose close. The faintest of whines came from the broken man. Craig tightened his grip.
"Did you really think everyone was going to get on board with Alex's little crusade? That everyone would just line up for your brave new world?" he asked softly. He shook his head sadly. "All of you would simply trade one group of puppet masters for another."
Now Smith's eyes held nothing but stark terror. As much as he loathed him, Craig did feel a swell of pity. He found even as he suffocated Smith, he wanted to comfort the man in his last moments.
"I'm going to free us," he explained. "Don't worry," he added patiently, "I'll bring the fire as ordered. But after that I'll be handling things my way."
Smith's eyes were still open, but they were empty and unseeing. Craig started to rise but noticed Smith's tablet computer. The screen had a crack running up one side but otherwise looked functional. He picked it up and switched it on.
The video's color was distorted and washed out, but it was readable. A myriad of windows with layers of information spread out on the screen. Craig searched for the one he needed. He scrolled about for a moment and then found it. Dropping the tablet he heard a sound coming from the fist floor stairway door. He had to hurry.
He only needed one more thing. The key card to Asag's chamber. Padding down Smith's body, he found the card in the man's front pocket.
The stairwell door below opened and voices echoed upward. It was time to move. Quick and silent, Craig dashed back up the stairs. Everyone's attention would be on Smith's body and he could make his escape. While it might not hold up to scrutiny, for now, Smith's fall would be seen as a tragic accident.
Excited shouts for a doctor reached Craig's ears as he slipped soundlessly through the upstairs door. The second-floor hallway was deserted. He let out one long breath, steadying himself. There was still much to do. But first things first, he needed to see Melanie Stryder.