Previously on Ordinary People. The death of Alec Lions proved tragic in Casey's life. Sarah, after another fight with Tara, left the young woman to herself. She must move on with her crusade without her. The Mother must carry the burden of another death. Who is this mysterious woman?

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX "THE DARK"


The late evening set in. A hazy mist of clouds drifted above, lazily they moved across the sky like the calm of a river. The purple and pink combination disappeared behind the city skyline allowing the darkness of night to settle in its place. Sparkling lights and a white circle were soon to be expected.

The Lighthouse Mansion was somber, a mood of melancholy for its inhabitants. Even with all the noble statues and elegant paintings, the large hallways seemed small and insignificant. The throne was not for a goddess. It was for an ordinary person who was just like everyone else. A human who felt emotions. And cried when someone died.

She sat in the large chair. Her arms dangled loosely at her sides, barely resting on the curled armrests. She stared ahead. In the blank canvas that was her mind. She wondered about the time when she thought she could save lives. Raise people back from the dead. There was a time when she thought she could bring the dead back to the living.

But that time had passed. She knew the truth now.

Two tears fell out of the corner of her eyes. Each droplet ran down her cheek and dangled on the edge of her jaw line before falling off into her clothes.

Target walked in from the hallway entrance. His clothes were covered in dust. Dirt hid beneath his fingernails. He clapped his hands forming a small cloud that dissipated into the air.

The Mother did not acknowledge him.

"The boy and I buried his body."

She did not respond.

"How are you doing, Mother?"

Her eyes drifted to his face. She paused for a brief moment, looking at his features. He looked like his father. "I thought the feeling would go away, but the girl was so heartbroken over his death. It reminded me of myself."

"It wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could do."

She hung her head down into her palms. "Just like before."

"You have to forget about that," he said. He knew what she was referring to.

"I can't forget. I failed."

The man walked closer to her. He kneeled by the throne, placing his hand on hers in a reassuring manner. He took a deep breath. "I failed too. Do you remember? I came here to stop Lions from changing the timeline, but I didn't. I couldn't. That day will be in my head forever. I don't think I'll ever forget." He looked straight into her eyes. "But we can't let that memory hold us back. You healed thousands of lives. Evolved or not, you saved lives in the week of New York's Explosion. You're helping evolved humans now, saving them, giving them new lives, new appearances. We have new lives now. You have not failed anyone," he paused for a second."He would have been proud."

She shook her head, a nostalgic smile overcoming her frown. "You are so much like your father."

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."


Sarah twisted the handle. The engine to The Blackbird revved up, increasing the speed of the vehicle.

An armored bank truck sped down the road ahead of her. Small scratches and dents spread across the left side. The number of the truck itself had been severed ending at the zero and cutting off the eight. The back doors hung loosely on the hinges, swinging open every time the truck turned sharply. The wheels screeched. It went back and forth from the left and right side of the road as if someone had commandeered the vehicle. Three police cruisers followed behind it.

She lowered her head and increased her speed.

The police scanner revealed to her that an armored truck was hijacked during a routine transport to the bank. Over a million dollars was inside. According to the report, it was a woman. She wore a black ski mask and dark clothing. Oddly, though, the hijacker did not stop the truck before boarding. She jumped on. The general consensus is that The Guardian Angel is responsible.

Sarah wanted to rectify the situation.

The sleek motorcycle pulled up alongside the left side of the bank truck. She reached out to grab onto the flinging, open door, but the vehicle swerved viciously to the left, locking them closed and nearly knocking her off of her bike.

Quickly, she drove ahead. Oncoming traffic zoomed around her. She dodged and weaved, slipping between cracks. The Blackbird sped around two cars before coming back to the bank truck.

Sarah glanced into the window.

The masked figure looked back at her before turning the wheel to hit her again.

Sarah increased her speed to dodge the strike, but did not see the oncoming car. She kicked the motorcycle out from under her, out of harms way, and instinctively, decreased her density, floating in the air before crashing down onto the roof of the bank truck.

The wind blew her hair in her face. It passed through every strand, flinging it in every direction. Increasing her strength, she raised her fist and brought it down, punching a fist-sized-hole on the roof. She grabbed at the punctured metal and pulled it apart. As the hole became larger, she peered inside. Two unconscious guards. Large bruises on their faces.

Decreasing density, she phased through the roof and jumped inside.

(Will and Dawn – The United Secret Headquarters)

Dawn looked at the forest in appreciation and wonder. Six individuals walked across the floor of the greenery. Dried leaves cracked beneath their feet. Trees rustled in the wind. There was so much to take in. Lacie's eyes were milky white, keeping them camouflaged from sight.

"Where are we going?" Dawn asked.

Philip, who led the group, did not lose his stride. "We're going to an old bomb shelter that we found. It's the perfect place for meetings. Hidden from spying eyes and ears."

Lacie allowed her hair to fall, hiding the left side of her face.

Jeanette walked beside Will. "We were lucky you came in when you did."

"Why?"

"We were planning to attack Military Base 21 tomorrow night."

"Then it's lucky we came in when we did."

He smiled at her. She chuckled.

Dawn saw their interaction. Her expression of appreciation and wonder faded away. Replaced by sadness. Her shoulders slumped low and she quietly followed them to a small bomb shelter.

The entrance was cleverly hidden underneath a blanket of logs and twigs with branches and dirt, leading to a crude flight of stairs underground. Philip became the light once the cover fell over the hole. His flame flickered ahead of them until he stopped at a door at the end of the stairway. A combination lock hung on a ring attached to the handle. Twisting the knob back and forth in various directions, the right combination unlocked the doorway. A neon blue flicked on and they entered.

An averaged sized room. Blank walls enveloped in the blue of the neon lights. A single stainless steel table sat in the middle. Manuel, Lacie, and Jeanette gathered around the sides. Dawn and Will took their places at the end. Philip stood at the head. He placed a large sheet up paper on the top and unrolled it. White markings of a blue print stood out in the neon, accenting the directions they were to take.

"These are the blueprints of Military Base 21. We lost good soldiers to get this information, but we will make sure that their deaths were not in vain."


Danny sat on the bed in his designated room. The walls were empty, lacking the touch of home. The rotating blades of the fan spun above his head. He sadly kept his lips sealed. Sweat rolled down his forehead. He had another dream. It was similar to the others he had been having. Each one abruptly ended with him waking up in reality. Where hope was dead.

Dirt clung beneath his fingernails. The dirt from Alec's burial. Frantically, he tried to clean his filthy hands from the dark stain, but some of it stuck to his skin. He needed to clean himself from the thought of death. Alec's death.

Slowly, he slid off of the edge and walked towards the door. Quietly he turned the knob and cracked it open a little. Three men stood in the hallway, dressed in dark suits and dark glasses. They were Government personnel. Wayne Rockwell stood in front of them, giving them orders to stand guard until he returned.

Danny slowly closed the door and went back to his bed. He didn't want to get involved with anything concerning the Government again.


"Mother," Target said opening the door. "Agent Rockwell is here to see you."

She nodded her head. She took a deep breath and followed her guardian into The Throne Room. Standing in front of the throne was the Government's best secret service agent.

The Converter of Energy. Wayne Rockwell.

He grinned as she entered.

The Mother nodded her head in acknowledgment.

Target suspiciously eyed the stranger.

"It's good to see you again," he said to her.

"Hello, Wayne."

He looked at Target from the corner of his eye. "Can we have some privacy?"

"He stays. Whatever you want to say to me can be said in front of him."

"Come on Jessica," Wayne persisted. "Don't you trust me?"

Jessica Donner narrowed her eyes. "No."

"Fine." He briefly looked at Target and then turned his attention back to her.

"What do you want, Wayne?"

"I'm here on business. Three terrorists have been seen in this area. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

"You're going to have to be more specific."

He sighed. "Casey Walker, Alec Lions and a young boy named Danny."

"Yes, they were here."

"Were you the one who changed their appearances?"

"Yes."

"Damn it, Jessica, you and your 'Mother' persona. Where are they now?"

"I don't know."

Wayne gently touched the bridge of his nose in irritation. He sighed a sigh that signified his annoyance. He glanced at Target again. It was then that something caught his eye. Something intriguing. "You know," he began. "He looks a lot like David."

Target shifted uncomfortably.

Jessica's lip quivered angrily. She breathed out of her nose and clenched her teeth. "You have no right to say his name."

"There is an uncanny resemblance."

Target noticed The Mother's agitation. She curled her fingers into a fist. She was trying so hard to control herself.

Wayne walked closer.

The Guardian confronted the secret agent. He glared at the man.

Wayne stared back into his face, looking for the similarities.

"I think it's time for you to leave," she said through her teeth.

"Just tell me-"

Target grabbed him by his jacket collar. "Time to go, Agent Rockwell."

Wayne brushed his hands away and fixed his suit jacket. "Jessica, may I remind you that The Government gave you your lawful immunity. Just because you served as a medical miracle after the New York Explosion doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want. You're still withholding information about those terrorists, but since you're an old friend, I'm going to give you some time to think about it."

"What happened to you?" She sneered.

"What happened to you?" he replied before turning for the door. "I'll let myself out.

Jessica and Target watched the secret agent walk away.

"I'm not a sniveling rock star anymore," Wayne said into the hallway. "I have a job to do and my loyalty is to my country."


"That's interesting."

When Sarah jumped into the armored bank truck, there were two things very strange: The money remained and the inside was almost freezing.

The two unconscious guards. Massive bruises on their faces. Their bodies were relatively warm signifying that the freezing temperature was sudden. She tugged at her jacket, wrapping it closer to her body and zipping up her sweater. The air of her breath passed in front of her eyes. Her eyes became blurry. She looked at the bags of money. Virtually untouched.

Why would this person leave the money?

The truck swerved to the right. Sarah braced herself, catching herself on the bulletproof glass. The hijacker noticed her and sharply turned the wheel. Losing her footing, she fell against the wall.

"I'm getting really tired of this," she said under her breath.

Sarah decreased her density, floating back to the roof of the armored bank truck. She increased the density of her body just enough to nimbly make it across the roof and onto the passenger side. She grabbed the edges of the passenger door, flipped around, while simultaneously changing density, and smashed through the window, landing in the seat next to the hijacker.

The masked figure immediately swung her arm and punched Sarah in the face. She rammed her elbow into her shoulder. Taking hold of Sarah's jacket, the hijacker threw her into the windshield.

Glass shattered in every direction.

The alarms of the pursuing police cruisers rang in their ears.

Sarah grabbed whatever she could to stay on the hood.

She looked at the masked figure.

A powerful fist connected with her face sending her flying in the opposite direction.

Sarah crashed onto the road.

Quickly, she became intangible, allowing the armored bank truck and the police cruisers to pass right through her.

Sarah sat on the ground. Defeated. She turned her head to see the flashing lights of the police cars to disappear behind a curb. With her hand, she touched her jaw, massaging a soft spot. Slowly she stood back up. Wiping the dust and gravel from her jacket.

"I've never been hit that hard in my life," she said to herself. "Who is this girl?"


Jessica's head rested on the palm of her hand. She shook her head, a sigh floated out of her mouth. Hearing David's name come out of Wayne's mouth was foul. He said it disrespectfully. It was a wonder that she used to think of him as a friend.

One year had transpired. Filled with chaos. Filled with violence. She was the one who took it upon herself to heal the wounded. Those with powers and those without. Everyone needed healing. It was during that time that she saw Wayne Rockwell again. After so many days searching for him, he finally reappeared.

Her husband spent time and energy searching for him because he made a promise to protect him. But Wayne made a promise to The Government. He was an Agent of Silence. A government agent. He promised to protect his country against terrorism. And loyalty to country was more important than loyalty to friend.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I never should have let him in," Target apologized.

"You had no choice. He has the clearance to do so."

"He was rude and disrespectful."

"He's right though," she said, pausing for a moment to remember how he used to be. The way she remembered him most. "He isn't the same person he used to be."

"He must have known him pretty well to see the similarity."

She looked at the young man. "Do you think he knows?"

"That I'm from the future?" Target chuckled at the absurdity. "I don't think so."

"Good. Let's keep it that way. The less that Wayne knows the better."

"The only reason why I'm still here is because you were pregnant with me when I entered into the past."

She stood up, nodding her head. "And I'm glad you are. You've been an extreme help to me this last year."

"You gave me life. The least I can do is protect yours."

Jessica smiled. He was so much like his father. His eyes. His demeanor. His strength of character. She looked at the empty hallway. The elegance fading away with the light of day. "It's been a long day. I should check on David."

Target agreed and followed The Mother into the darkly lit room, stopping in the doorway. The light from the Throne Room cast his shadow on the floor. She walked through the darkness to the crib. The baby rustled in its sleep. Cooing at the imagination of its mind.

She looked down at the infant child. "My little David," she whispered.

Target leaned against the wood of the doorway. Watching Jessica tenderly look upon her child. A young infant who never knew his father like he did. It was strange to him. The child in the crib knew nothing of the life he could've had. The man from the future, Lions, made sure of that. But Target still knew. He still remembered the future he came from and the one he was apart of. He sighed. "Why didn't you tell him you were pregnant?"

Jessica gently touched the baby's hair. "I didn't know." She paused to stroke his sleeping head with her gentle touch. "He didn't even get to know that he had a beautiful baby boy."

Target smiled. "I wish he were here now."

"So do I," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "So do I."


"Manuel, you may begin."

Manuel cleared his throat and took Philip's place at the head of the table. "Here," he said pointing at the back entrance of the facility, "is where Will, Dawn, and Philip will be. Philip you will be commanding Unit 18."

The leader nodded his head.

"You will be the distraction. I need you to take out as many guards as you can, destroy as much property as possible. Just keep their attention on the front entrance. Jeanette, Lacie and I will be taking the sewer conduit in the rear into the heart of the base here," he pointed to the schematics. A small tunnel line went from a small reservoir, beneath the military base and into a small section in the middle of the station. "From there we will make our way to the generator-"

"And blow it up," Dawn finished his sentence. "I wonder where I've heard this plan before, Bob?" she said to the writer. "Could you be a little more original?"

Manuel nodded his head. "Precisely. The base's power should shut down internally and allow us to take it apart."

"How many charges do you have? That's a large generator. You're going to need a lot of explosives."

"Don't worry, Will," he reassured the new recruit. "We got that covered. You just need to keep them busy so we can do our job."

"Remember, there are humans and evolved humans enlisted as soldiers at Military Base 21," Philip added.

Will nodded his head. "Yeah, and just as a heads up: they have one of The Government's Secret Agents stationed at there. The Invisible Man. Be careful."

Manuel nodded his head.

Will turned to Jeanette. "Be careful."

"I will," she replied.

Dawn couldn't help but see them exchange smiles.

"Okay," Philip said. "Everybody knows what they're doing…"

"There must be a reason for everything that has happened. There must be a reason why these atrocities keep happening. Where is it all leading?"

"…We leave tonight at oh one hundred. Get some rest. Prepare for your assignment. Do whatever you need to do to get ready..."

"Everybody keeps saying that we're in a war. A fight for justice. But there are reasons for wars. If we are soldiers, we must be fighting for something. Is it justice? Is it loyalty?"

He looked at each individual in the room, keeping eye contact to reinforce his point. "In a few hours, we take down the first of three targets. We are going to take down The Government."

"I keep thinking that everything we're doing, everything they're doing, is for nothing because what's the point of fighting when all it ever leads to is more death?" – The Narrator

Continued…

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