Cristalina: Trent isn't dead, just captured, and who's the next bad guy… mmm good question. I liked your thing about OOT with Junior's 'problem' but unlike Link he can't go backwards and forwards in time. Yes and I knew you'd find the Nun's fighting funny. It's good to have a few laughs in a not so funny chapter.
Spiderbear: Yes… that is pretty weird but Skedar technology isn't exactly normal either.
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There is a bit of conversation this chapter…
Sean walked through the Institute doors with Jonathan, Joanna, Velvet and Junior. He still wasn't sure whether he had made the right decision, he became slightly nervous as he walked into the elevator and then to Carrington's office.
"Welcome back everybody" Carrington said
"Thank you sir" Joanna replied
"Hello to you Sean… now that I have you right where I want you there will be no running away this time!" Carrington suddenly pressed a button under his desk and Joanna, Jonathan and Velvet all pulled their weapons on him. Junior looked puzzled, but Joanna quickly put her arm around his neck and pointed her Falcon at his head too.
"Now! Where Easton didn't have the time to train your minds shall we say, I will… then you will become servants to me forever!" Carrington and the others started laughing evilly, and continually. Sean struggled against Velvet and Jonathan but couldn't move.
"ARGGGGGGHH!" Sean screamed out
He then looked around, the dark room. He tried to find something to defend himself with but it was hard in the dark, then he noticed that he was in bed. It was a dream… he was still in that Hong Kong hotel room that they got for the night and Junior was sleeping quietly across from him in the other bed, seemingly undisturbed.
"Sean you okay?" Junior asked sleepily, it was hard to get used to his voice.
"… I'll be fine…did I wake you" Sean breathed out in reply
"No, I can't sleep…" Junior said
"What is it? Being abducted by Trent and suddenly gaining 10 years?" Sean asked
"Yeah, but Mr. Carrington said something about me returning to normal. I told you I wasn't sure, and I'm still not sure. Now that I'm beginning to remember Trent put me through a lot during that process" Junior said "I'm not sure if I want to go through the awful process again when I grow up again, now that I am here already I can fend myself instead of relying on other people all the time, my Mum, Andy and of course you" Junior finished
"But you are… or were a kid… of course you rely on other people" Sean replied
"I know, but I remember in that process is people telling me I'm weak and pathetic. I knew that it wasn't real and I tried to convince myself of that but it became harder and harder, I lost track of time eventually and what was hours seemed like years. I was told continually that Trent was my master and I had to do whatever he said, I wouldn't give in but they kept trying and I said the words that he was my master and I'd do anything he said, but I didn't believe it in my mind and thought they'd know that and keep trying but they didn't and soon after I was released" Junior explained
"Wow, that's pretty rough, but I assure when you grow again it will be nothing like that" Sean said
"I know but, I hated my life as a kid, I always wanted to be strong" Junior sighed
"It's your choice really, while it wasn't quite anywhere near dramatic or bad as yours I was effectively warped 10 years ahead in life too getting caught up with Carrington and stuff" Sean said
"Would you want it back? To do over, as normal like I've got the choice to?" Junior asked
Sean thought, his immediate answer was no, he had it all together now so why would he go back and start over, he then realised Junior was in a very similar position.
"I guess not, hence it's your choice, but I actually lived out the 10 years with good and bad experiences" Sean said
"Give me some time, I don't know yet" Junior said lying back down
"Alright, but get some rest if you can alright?" Sean said
"I'll try" Junior replied
Sean then went back to bed and then after a while went back to his own thoughts, what if Carrington was setting him up. No, he couldn't be Joanna, Velvet and especially Jonathan would never betray him, the Maians wouldn't like it much either if they found out and Carrington simply wasn't like that. Despite all these logical thoughts however, the what if, never left. However he soon found himself drifting off…
Sean woke up and walked into the main lounge room, he found Jonathan sitting watching TV with Mel. Trent was currently serving the purpose as a footstool for Mel and Jonathan. Jonathan had to guard Trent because Joanna had only just returned and Velvet was still recovering, Mel couldn't sleep. Trent was sound asleep, but of course Jonathan had drugged him and wake him when they got to the Institute so he couldn't escape. Glancing at the time it was 8.30.
"Joanna and Velvet are already calling the plane in, so we don't have to worry about getting by the front door with Trent again" Jonathan said
"Alright" Sean replied
"Where's Junior?" Jonathan asked
"Still snoozin'" Sean said
"Hey guys, we've got to go like right now" Joanna said
"What? Why?" Jonathan asked
"So we can get out of here before anything happens, at least that's what he said" Joanna told them
"You coming Mel?" Jonathan asked
"Yeah, okay… I don't know what else I can do. Since it's free, I'm not going to knock it back" Mel said
"I better wake Junior then" Sean said
Walking into the room he approached Junior quietly.
"Hey buddy you gotta get up" Sean said quietly
Junior opened his eyes and then suddenly jumped tackling Sean to the ground
"Huh!? Oh Sean, so sorry…" Junior said getting off Sean
"Good morning to you too…" Sean replied as he stood up
"So, what's going on?" Junior asked
"We gotta go like right now" Sean told him
"Well whatever, let's go" Junior said
They all moved out and Joanna and Velvet carried Trent into Carrington's private plane. Generally he would be on the plane himself but not this time.
"Hey can I use Trent as a footrest again as Jon and I catch up on sleep?" Mel asked
"Nah, we can't" Joanna replied as she put the unconscious body of Trent in a seat.
"Damn" Mel said clicking his fingers
"Say what about Mary? Wasn't she after Trent too?" Jonathan asked
"Yeah but she agreed to let us talk to him first because once he's in her hands there is no escape for him and the President, so she's just saying that she hasn't caught Trent yet while spending a quick holiday. She'll come for him again in a two days which is more then enough time to get what we want from him" Sean said
The plane took off and because Jonathan and Mel hadn't slept all night they went to sleep while they went back to the Institute.
On arrival at the Hangar they went in, and headed directly to Carrington's office.
"Welcome back everybody" Carrington said
"Thank you sir" Joanna replied
"Hello to you Sean…" Carrington said.
"Hello…" Sean said looking at any sudden movements from Carrington
"Are you alright?" Carrington asked
"Yeah" Sean breathed a bit
"And Melvin I take it?" Carrington asked
"Yes, sir" Mel replied
"Jonathan tells me you helped us, at some self cost" Carrington said
"Yes sir" Mel repeated
"Well if you take the device down to the labs on this floor I'm sure they may be able to go into exactly what it is you have. Jonathan take him there would you?" Carrington asked
"Certainly" Jonathan replied
"Oh before you do may have a look at the device?" Carrington asked
Mel nodded handed it to Carrington, he studied it for about 10 seconds before handing back.
"Very well" Carrington nodded as Jonathan and Mel left
"Junior, I see your small problem, if you'd like you could have it fixed right now" Carrington said
"Well, that's the thing, I'm not sure I do" Junior said
"Yes, I thought you might say that… and I don't blame you, so I'm leaving the decision entirely up to you" Carrington replied "However, if you don't mind I just want to see how smart you are… whether your experience increased your intelligence to the age you are supposed to be or not" Carrington said
"I guess not, is it hard?" Junior asked
"It might be, it might not be… that's what I want to find out" Carrington told him
"What if I fail" Junior said
"You can't fail it is impossible, and don't worry regardless of the result the decision is still up you" Carrington said
"Well okay" Junior took the piece of paper and pen off Carrington reluctantly
"Go to the room next door, you shouldn't be disturbed" Carrington told him
"Alright…" Junior left the room
"Why do you still do tests by pen and paper" Joanna said
"Because, I like to… I just don't like looking on a computer screen for results" Carrington replied
"What kind of test did you give him?" Velvet asked
"It's two papers, one a basic test for his supposed to be age group, the second the entrance test for the Institute, you'd all know it since you've all taken it" Carrington replied
"You mean you haven't changed the test? Ever?" Sean asked
"No, it is still effective so why change it" Carrington said
"Is there anything you wish to tell us?" Joanna asked
"Not yet, after Junior and Mel both finish I'll call you back" Carrington said as the three walked out the door.
At the cafeteria Velvet, Joanna and Sean sat and just had something quick to eat.
"Where'd they put Trent?" Velvet asked
"Oh they locked him in one of the cells, there are only a few down around the hangar like about 3 I think" Joanna said
"Fair enough" Velvet replied as she sipped some juice.
They began talking about Trent while Sean was staring outside the window.
While at the device lab…
"Very interesting… so Melvin you say?" Wendy asked while looking at the device
"Yes" Mel replied
"Alright, I'll be sure to look at it. I think I know what this is but I'll just confirm it" Wendy said
"Thank you…" Mel said as he and Jonathan walked off
As they headed back to Carrington's office they started talking.
"Hang on, you wouldn't get off it before so why the change of heart now?" Jonathan asked
"That was more my brother, this is kinda what I intended, and I know I could have convinced him eventually. She seems to know what it is, but I wonder what it could be, why did dataDyne have it in such a secure location?" Mel asked
They walked into Carrington's office, and only found Carrington.
"Ah, Junior shouldn't be much longer then I'll call the others back, so take a seat" Carrington said
Both sat down
"Sir, can you tell me what that device is? Do you know?" Mel asked
Carrington laughed "Alright, you are impatient… but I do think I know… and I bet Wendy said the same" Carrington said
"Is it valuable?" Mel asked
"In the wrong hands… it could have been disastrous so yes…" Carrington said
"I saw one in Area 51 but I couldn't get it because it meant blowing my cover" Jonathan said
"How could it be disastrous, is it a remote or something to blow something else up?" Mel asked
"No, no, not that kind of disastrous. In another way… but…" Carrington stopped as he saw the door open.
"Hello everybody" Elvis said walking in
Mel just stared at Elvis…everybody else was silent
"What do I not get a hello? Isn't it customary on this planet to say hello back?" Elvis asked
"Elvis… come outside for a moment would you" Jonathan said
Just then the door opened again and Junior came in… he did the same as Mel and stared at Elvis.
"Oh… now I get it" Elvis said "So sorry"
"Yes… not everybody knows of your kind, I know what I said to you, that you could walk around Earth soon enough but the politics slowed that process down" Carrington said folding his arms "Although now it has happened and there is nothing we can do about it…both of you, what we discuss in this room, must stay in this room until further notice" Carrington said
Mel and Junior nodded
"Now listen, as you can obviously tell Elvis is from another race that does not live on this planet… known as the Maians… it had been a strictly kept secret only known by myself. Only about 10 years ago, more people started become more involved with the Maians, mainly people that worked here. Keep this a secret from everybody, only people who work here really know of their existence" Carrington said firmly.
Mel and Junior only nodded again.
"Anyway, hello Elvis. I guess after we cleared that up, sort of… I'm glad to see you" Carrington said
"You had something to tell me…" Elvis said
"Yes, but let's call the others in…" Carrington pressed a button underneath his desk.
Within 2 minutes Joanna, Velvet and Sean had returned.
"Err… hi Elvis" Sean said
"Hello" Elvis replied in his cheerful way
"Don't worry about the other two, I did my 30 second speech on Maians" Carrington said
Sean nodded as they all sat down around Carrington's table.
"Anyway, Junior first let me look at the test" Carrington took the papers from Junior. He scanned them for about 15 seconds and looked up.
"So, how did I go?" Junior asked nervously
"Better then I thought… this is very impressive. You have a good enough score to move onto the next stage for working at the Institute if you wanted" Carrington chuckled
Junior breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, I said it didn't matter anyway, and it was your decision" Carrington said
"I know, but I didn't want to be influenced to make a decision" Junior replied
"Very well…" Carrington said
"Wait, do you mind introducing me?" Elvis asked
"Haha, of course not. This is Elvis of course, and the one sitting next to Sean is Junior Easton, and before you ask yes, he's Trent's kid but more on that later. The guy sitting next to Jonathan is Melvin, I'm sorry I don't have your last name" Carrington said
"Its Moratana" Melvin said
"Thank you, so now we all know each other?" Carrington asked
"Who's that?" Jonathan joked motioning towards Joanna
"Very funny…" Joanna rolled her eyes
"Moving on" Carrington said as a beeping sound went off "What could it be now?" Carrington asked a little in frustration as he pressed another button on his computer.
"Yes?" Carrington said
"The device is what I thought it was, a Maian communicator, how it ended up in dataDyne's hands I don't know" Wendy's voice came through
"I think I do" Jonathan said "When the Maians were shot down in Nevada stuff was taken and experimented on, since I never got it out, dataDyne still had it" Jonathan finished
"Assuming they only got one, they may have more then one. If dataDyne ever at one point had the right kind of power charge to use it, then the secret would be revealed, and unlike before they would have proof instead of dead Maian bodies that everybody believed thankfully was only some kind of sick joke. It is getting out of hand now. The President, he said that he would tell people about Maians on one condition." Carrington said
"That condition is?" Joanna asked
"That somebody starts a business… a business that employs humans and Maians worldwide. It would get funded of course, at least at first" Carrington said
"But why can't the Institute qualify? Also why a business, I don't understand that" Jonathan said
"That's not a good idea due to the connection we have already, we are supposed to give everybody a fair shot at this experience to make it more acceptable to quote directly. It has to be a business because it allows humans and Maians to work together. Although nobody is quite sure how that would work" Carrington said
There was a long silence…
"I guess you are hinting at me to run it huh?" Sean asked
"Well… to be honest… yes…" Carrington said
"Why Sean, not that I mind" Joanna asked
"Because I am the only one who speaks Maian and is human" Sean replied answering her question
"Exactly… which is also why I didn't want you running off. I knew about this sometime ago but didn't want to ask you, I wanted to see if another solution would appear. Although when you said you were leaving I tried to stop you… a little too hard" Carrington said
"I don't know, it's not really me that kind of thing…" Sean said
"You don't want to give up your life again. I know that… Which is why I tried to find another way. It won't take long, maybe 3 months you will be needed, at least until Elvis teaches the Maians to speak English, then you can make your appearances a lot less… I don't know, but will you do it?" Carrington said almost begging.
"Okay… I will, I know it means a lot to you…" Sean sighed, he didn't really want to but he knew that something worse could happen, if somebody did organise the other side of dataDyne and somehow reveal Carrington's secret it would be much worse.
"Thanks so much, we'll be sure to make the company like this place and Andy's dataDyne put together so to speak, just to give you a rough idea" Carrington said
"Well at least you aren't asking me to bake bread or something else I know nothing about. Can I go now?" Sean asked
"Yes of course, come back in about 3 hours we'll discuss it a bit more" Carrington said
"I'll go with you" Junior stood up
Sean nodded
"Before you leave, what's your decision, you can wait, but keep in mind you are still gaining time in your younger self" Carrington asked
"I know it may not be good for me but I want to think about it for longer, it seems stupid but I always wanted to be able to defend myself instead of relying on others to do it for me" Junior said
"Well as I said it's your call, I'll see you later" Carrington said
Sean and Junior left
"What!?" Joanna shouted
"What's the matter Jo?" Velvet asked
"Junior scored better on the test then I did!" Joanna said as she read the paper
"Of course Jo, his mind was enhanced by the Skedar technology… and if I remember rightly Joanna you didn't even finish that test, I called you out before you finished it" Carrington said
"Oh… that's right" Joanna smiled again
"You really don't like losing do you" Jonathan smiled at Joanna
"Skedar? I've heard that word a few times before, what does it mean?" Mel asked
"Well… it's… another alien race, they are gone on the most part now but they were in war with the Maians for a very long time" Carrington said
"So there is another world happening, and everybody is completely oblivious to it?" Mel asked
"Indeed… but hopefully not for long" Carrington said
-----
Sean went down to leave the Institute. He pressed the key lock and unlocked the hoverbike.
"Can you ride these? Did you learn that?" Sean asked
"Of course, I just hope I don't drive like a lunatic to avoid the non existent explosions" Junior replied giving a smile as he and Sean got on two different hoverbikes.
"Where to?" Junior asked
"Who knows" Sean replied
They went out into the street which was still in the middle of nowhere. After the attack 8 years ago the Institute moved to a more deserted location. Then an idea hit him. He pulled out his communicator and talked to Carrington. Junior didn't hear what was said but could tell Sean was happy based on the smile he gave.
-----
Jonathan, Joanna, Velvet went into the cafeteria for some late dinner.
"Hey Jonathan" Foster was munching on a sandwich of some kind.
"Hi Foster" Jonathan said
"Where's your friend?" Foster asked
"What friend?" Jonathan said
"The guy you went to the device lab with" Foster said
"I think he's having a look around with somebody…" Jonathan said
-----
In the simulant training room
"Take that dataDyne scum…" Mel kicked one of the holograms into the wall, even though it was a hologram it crashed into the wall heavily and yelped in pain.
"And this…" Mel continued as he leaped over another hologram by the shoulders and slide backwards after landing on the other side tripping the hologram. "And finally… this!" Mel shouted as he parried the kick done by the third hologram and twisted it causing the hologram to shout out before Mel let it go to the ground.
"Very well done… want more?" Jenny the woman in the hologram room asked
"Yes please… great anger release… I thought this would be packed with people stressed from the Institute" Mel said
"Every section has its own way of stress management" Jenny replied
-----
20 minutes later…
In the firing range…
"Damn stupid gun… screw this" Foster put down his experimental weapon and started blowing all the targets up with a rocket launcher.
-----
In Carrington's office…
"Got you right in the eye Cassie… ah then you Easton" Carrington used the crossbow at the dart board that had pictures of Cassandra, Trent, Mr. Blonde, Grimshaw, a Skedar warrior and once the dataDyne headquarters Lucerne tower constantly spinning around. Eventually Carrington ran out of crossbow bolts and threw a remote mine at the dart board and set it off… a smile crossed his face and a new dart board with the same pictures came up as Carrington reloaded the crossbow and started over.
-----
In the device lab
"Grimshaw, I want to test this new device, would you volunteer?" Wendy asked
"Sure" Grimshaw replied as he had no idea what he was in for.
"Go in there and wait for the lights to turn out" Wendy smiled
"Okay" Grimshaw walked into the room and the lights turned off
"Now turn on the night vision" Wendy said
Grimshaw did so
"Now you have to press the 3 light switches on each of the walls" Wendy continued
Grimshaw then touched the 3 light switches, he didn't quite understand except when he finished the lights didn't come back on.
"Wendy it didn't work" Grimshaw called out
"It's not supposed to, now put your hands all over your face and turn off the night vision" Wendy said
"Why do I want to do that for?" Grimshaw asked
"It will make you invisible" Wendy explained
"Riiight…" Grimshaw did as he was told and Wendy turned on the lights. She had a big grin, she couldn't hold it.
"What?" Grimshaw asked
"Nothing…" Wendy giggled
Grimshaw felt something funny on his face, he then went to look in one of the mirrors and saw pink, black and yellow paint all over his face and hands. If it wasn't for the paint on his face he would have turned red as he chased Wendy around the room who was still laughing.
-----
2 hours later in Hacker Central
"Let's see how she likes this…" Grimshaw said as he readied the Camspy. The latest version was invisible as long as it didn't take a picture but he could still see in front of him like normal. He directed it into the device lab using the passageways that connected the device lab and Hacker central. Wendy was typing at her computer. Grimshaw smiled as he crept the Camspy closer.
"Now I just have to find the right position" Grimshaw said to himself as he directed the Camspy upwards and around to her face, Wendy seemed completely oblivious to the fact she was being spied on. Grimshaw then felt a tapping at his shoulder.
"Nice view you got there" A voice said
"Thanks… want me to go closer?" Grimshaw asked
"I think that's close enough" The voice replied
Grimshaw turned around and saw Wendy
"ARGGGGGH! But how! You are in there!!" Grimshaw screamed
"Quite clearly I am not, but I suggest you don't try what you did again for your own good" Wendy said
"Party pooper" Grimshaw folded his arms as Wendy left. He then looked at the other Wendy on his camspy screen and went right through it, it was a stupid hologram.
-----
Jonathan had to test with Foster which normally was quite enjoyable but when ever Foster was feeling inventive it was extremely boring, he was relieved when both of them were called up to Carrington's office. On arrival, Sean had returned with Junior as well as somebody he didn't know and Joanna, Velvet and Elvis where present as well. He wondered who this person who was sitting next to Sean.
"Foster, Jonathan take a seat" Carrington told them "Firstly, the company will be based in Japan… the President said that in negotiations with other nations they voted on where it should be and Japan got the most. The name of the company which Elvis and I created a while back is called Humaian, it's exactly what the company is.
"So we are going to Japan?" Sean asked
"Seems that way" Carrington replied "Provided your friend Juan does not mind" Carrington said
"Mind? No way… I'm in for experiences" Juan said
"In addition, Foster you have said to me you wanted to work with Maians in weaponry so here is your opportunity" Carrington said
"Thank you sir, but I like to work here" Foster replied
"It will only be temporary unless you like it there" Carrington said "The pay will be a lot better I assure you"
"Well then I'm in" Foster smiled
"Excellent. I have full faith in the Maians of course, I'm not so trusting of our own kind so the more people we can get in that we know and trust, the better" Carrington said
The others nodded in agreement
"So of course, the rest of us like Velvet and Jonathan will still be here?" Joanna asked
"Oh yes, most definitely, I still need you guys" Carrington replied
Joanna nodded
"There is one other thing…" Carrington started
Everybody looked at him
"I have kept this secret from everybody. Now it is time for you to be told. There is another alien race… I am almost certain of it…" Carrington said
-----
No real cliffhanger this time telling the secret… but how certain can Carrington be? Will the plan for the Maians to be known on Earth flop like Grimshaw's attempt to get a good photo of Wendy?
Spiderbear: Yes… that is pretty weird but Skedar technology isn't exactly normal either.
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There is a bit of conversation this chapter…
Sean walked through the Institute doors with Jonathan, Joanna, Velvet and Junior. He still wasn't sure whether he had made the right decision, he became slightly nervous as he walked into the elevator and then to Carrington's office.
"Welcome back everybody" Carrington said
"Thank you sir" Joanna replied
"Hello to you Sean… now that I have you right where I want you there will be no running away this time!" Carrington suddenly pressed a button under his desk and Joanna, Jonathan and Velvet all pulled their weapons on him. Junior looked puzzled, but Joanna quickly put her arm around his neck and pointed her Falcon at his head too.
"Now! Where Easton didn't have the time to train your minds shall we say, I will… then you will become servants to me forever!" Carrington and the others started laughing evilly, and continually. Sean struggled against Velvet and Jonathan but couldn't move.
"ARGGGGGGHH!" Sean screamed out
He then looked around, the dark room. He tried to find something to defend himself with but it was hard in the dark, then he noticed that he was in bed. It was a dream… he was still in that Hong Kong hotel room that they got for the night and Junior was sleeping quietly across from him in the other bed, seemingly undisturbed.
"Sean you okay?" Junior asked sleepily, it was hard to get used to his voice.
"… I'll be fine…did I wake you" Sean breathed out in reply
"No, I can't sleep…" Junior said
"What is it? Being abducted by Trent and suddenly gaining 10 years?" Sean asked
"Yeah, but Mr. Carrington said something about me returning to normal. I told you I wasn't sure, and I'm still not sure. Now that I'm beginning to remember Trent put me through a lot during that process" Junior said "I'm not sure if I want to go through the awful process again when I grow up again, now that I am here already I can fend myself instead of relying on other people all the time, my Mum, Andy and of course you" Junior finished
"But you are… or were a kid… of course you rely on other people" Sean replied
"I know, but I remember in that process is people telling me I'm weak and pathetic. I knew that it wasn't real and I tried to convince myself of that but it became harder and harder, I lost track of time eventually and what was hours seemed like years. I was told continually that Trent was my master and I had to do whatever he said, I wouldn't give in but they kept trying and I said the words that he was my master and I'd do anything he said, but I didn't believe it in my mind and thought they'd know that and keep trying but they didn't and soon after I was released" Junior explained
"Wow, that's pretty rough, but I assure when you grow again it will be nothing like that" Sean said
"I know but, I hated my life as a kid, I always wanted to be strong" Junior sighed
"It's your choice really, while it wasn't quite anywhere near dramatic or bad as yours I was effectively warped 10 years ahead in life too getting caught up with Carrington and stuff" Sean said
"Would you want it back? To do over, as normal like I've got the choice to?" Junior asked
Sean thought, his immediate answer was no, he had it all together now so why would he go back and start over, he then realised Junior was in a very similar position.
"I guess not, hence it's your choice, but I actually lived out the 10 years with good and bad experiences" Sean said
"Give me some time, I don't know yet" Junior said lying back down
"Alright, but get some rest if you can alright?" Sean said
"I'll try" Junior replied
Sean then went back to bed and then after a while went back to his own thoughts, what if Carrington was setting him up. No, he couldn't be Joanna, Velvet and especially Jonathan would never betray him, the Maians wouldn't like it much either if they found out and Carrington simply wasn't like that. Despite all these logical thoughts however, the what if, never left. However he soon found himself drifting off…
Sean woke up and walked into the main lounge room, he found Jonathan sitting watching TV with Mel. Trent was currently serving the purpose as a footstool for Mel and Jonathan. Jonathan had to guard Trent because Joanna had only just returned and Velvet was still recovering, Mel couldn't sleep. Trent was sound asleep, but of course Jonathan had drugged him and wake him when they got to the Institute so he couldn't escape. Glancing at the time it was 8.30.
"Joanna and Velvet are already calling the plane in, so we don't have to worry about getting by the front door with Trent again" Jonathan said
"Alright" Sean replied
"Where's Junior?" Jonathan asked
"Still snoozin'" Sean said
"Hey guys, we've got to go like right now" Joanna said
"What? Why?" Jonathan asked
"So we can get out of here before anything happens, at least that's what he said" Joanna told them
"You coming Mel?" Jonathan asked
"Yeah, okay… I don't know what else I can do. Since it's free, I'm not going to knock it back" Mel said
"I better wake Junior then" Sean said
Walking into the room he approached Junior quietly.
"Hey buddy you gotta get up" Sean said quietly
Junior opened his eyes and then suddenly jumped tackling Sean to the ground
"Huh!? Oh Sean, so sorry…" Junior said getting off Sean
"Good morning to you too…" Sean replied as he stood up
"So, what's going on?" Junior asked
"We gotta go like right now" Sean told him
"Well whatever, let's go" Junior said
They all moved out and Joanna and Velvet carried Trent into Carrington's private plane. Generally he would be on the plane himself but not this time.
"Hey can I use Trent as a footrest again as Jon and I catch up on sleep?" Mel asked
"Nah, we can't" Joanna replied as she put the unconscious body of Trent in a seat.
"Damn" Mel said clicking his fingers
"Say what about Mary? Wasn't she after Trent too?" Jonathan asked
"Yeah but she agreed to let us talk to him first because once he's in her hands there is no escape for him and the President, so she's just saying that she hasn't caught Trent yet while spending a quick holiday. She'll come for him again in a two days which is more then enough time to get what we want from him" Sean said
The plane took off and because Jonathan and Mel hadn't slept all night they went to sleep while they went back to the Institute.
On arrival at the Hangar they went in, and headed directly to Carrington's office.
"Welcome back everybody" Carrington said
"Thank you sir" Joanna replied
"Hello to you Sean…" Carrington said.
"Hello…" Sean said looking at any sudden movements from Carrington
"Are you alright?" Carrington asked
"Yeah" Sean breathed a bit
"And Melvin I take it?" Carrington asked
"Yes, sir" Mel replied
"Jonathan tells me you helped us, at some self cost" Carrington said
"Yes sir" Mel repeated
"Well if you take the device down to the labs on this floor I'm sure they may be able to go into exactly what it is you have. Jonathan take him there would you?" Carrington asked
"Certainly" Jonathan replied
"Oh before you do may have a look at the device?" Carrington asked
Mel nodded handed it to Carrington, he studied it for about 10 seconds before handing back.
"Very well" Carrington nodded as Jonathan and Mel left
"Junior, I see your small problem, if you'd like you could have it fixed right now" Carrington said
"Well, that's the thing, I'm not sure I do" Junior said
"Yes, I thought you might say that… and I don't blame you, so I'm leaving the decision entirely up to you" Carrington replied "However, if you don't mind I just want to see how smart you are… whether your experience increased your intelligence to the age you are supposed to be or not" Carrington said
"I guess not, is it hard?" Junior asked
"It might be, it might not be… that's what I want to find out" Carrington told him
"What if I fail" Junior said
"You can't fail it is impossible, and don't worry regardless of the result the decision is still up you" Carrington said
"Well okay" Junior took the piece of paper and pen off Carrington reluctantly
"Go to the room next door, you shouldn't be disturbed" Carrington told him
"Alright…" Junior left the room
"Why do you still do tests by pen and paper" Joanna said
"Because, I like to… I just don't like looking on a computer screen for results" Carrington replied
"What kind of test did you give him?" Velvet asked
"It's two papers, one a basic test for his supposed to be age group, the second the entrance test for the Institute, you'd all know it since you've all taken it" Carrington replied
"You mean you haven't changed the test? Ever?" Sean asked
"No, it is still effective so why change it" Carrington said
"Is there anything you wish to tell us?" Joanna asked
"Not yet, after Junior and Mel both finish I'll call you back" Carrington said as the three walked out the door.
At the cafeteria Velvet, Joanna and Sean sat and just had something quick to eat.
"Where'd they put Trent?" Velvet asked
"Oh they locked him in one of the cells, there are only a few down around the hangar like about 3 I think" Joanna said
"Fair enough" Velvet replied as she sipped some juice.
They began talking about Trent while Sean was staring outside the window.
While at the device lab…
"Very interesting… so Melvin you say?" Wendy asked while looking at the device
"Yes" Mel replied
"Alright, I'll be sure to look at it. I think I know what this is but I'll just confirm it" Wendy said
"Thank you…" Mel said as he and Jonathan walked off
As they headed back to Carrington's office they started talking.
"Hang on, you wouldn't get off it before so why the change of heart now?" Jonathan asked
"That was more my brother, this is kinda what I intended, and I know I could have convinced him eventually. She seems to know what it is, but I wonder what it could be, why did dataDyne have it in such a secure location?" Mel asked
They walked into Carrington's office, and only found Carrington.
"Ah, Junior shouldn't be much longer then I'll call the others back, so take a seat" Carrington said
Both sat down
"Sir, can you tell me what that device is? Do you know?" Mel asked
Carrington laughed "Alright, you are impatient… but I do think I know… and I bet Wendy said the same" Carrington said
"Is it valuable?" Mel asked
"In the wrong hands… it could have been disastrous so yes…" Carrington said
"I saw one in Area 51 but I couldn't get it because it meant blowing my cover" Jonathan said
"How could it be disastrous, is it a remote or something to blow something else up?" Mel asked
"No, no, not that kind of disastrous. In another way… but…" Carrington stopped as he saw the door open.
"Hello everybody" Elvis said walking in
Mel just stared at Elvis…everybody else was silent
"What do I not get a hello? Isn't it customary on this planet to say hello back?" Elvis asked
"Elvis… come outside for a moment would you" Jonathan said
Just then the door opened again and Junior came in… he did the same as Mel and stared at Elvis.
"Oh… now I get it" Elvis said "So sorry"
"Yes… not everybody knows of your kind, I know what I said to you, that you could walk around Earth soon enough but the politics slowed that process down" Carrington said folding his arms "Although now it has happened and there is nothing we can do about it…both of you, what we discuss in this room, must stay in this room until further notice" Carrington said
Mel and Junior nodded
"Now listen, as you can obviously tell Elvis is from another race that does not live on this planet… known as the Maians… it had been a strictly kept secret only known by myself. Only about 10 years ago, more people started become more involved with the Maians, mainly people that worked here. Keep this a secret from everybody, only people who work here really know of their existence" Carrington said firmly.
Mel and Junior only nodded again.
"Anyway, hello Elvis. I guess after we cleared that up, sort of… I'm glad to see you" Carrington said
"You had something to tell me…" Elvis said
"Yes, but let's call the others in…" Carrington pressed a button underneath his desk.
Within 2 minutes Joanna, Velvet and Sean had returned.
"Err… hi Elvis" Sean said
"Hello" Elvis replied in his cheerful way
"Don't worry about the other two, I did my 30 second speech on Maians" Carrington said
Sean nodded as they all sat down around Carrington's table.
"Anyway, Junior first let me look at the test" Carrington took the papers from Junior. He scanned them for about 15 seconds and looked up.
"So, how did I go?" Junior asked nervously
"Better then I thought… this is very impressive. You have a good enough score to move onto the next stage for working at the Institute if you wanted" Carrington chuckled
Junior breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, I said it didn't matter anyway, and it was your decision" Carrington said
"I know, but I didn't want to be influenced to make a decision" Junior replied
"Very well…" Carrington said
"Wait, do you mind introducing me?" Elvis asked
"Haha, of course not. This is Elvis of course, and the one sitting next to Sean is Junior Easton, and before you ask yes, he's Trent's kid but more on that later. The guy sitting next to Jonathan is Melvin, I'm sorry I don't have your last name" Carrington said
"Its Moratana" Melvin said
"Thank you, so now we all know each other?" Carrington asked
"Who's that?" Jonathan joked motioning towards Joanna
"Very funny…" Joanna rolled her eyes
"Moving on" Carrington said as a beeping sound went off "What could it be now?" Carrington asked a little in frustration as he pressed another button on his computer.
"Yes?" Carrington said
"The device is what I thought it was, a Maian communicator, how it ended up in dataDyne's hands I don't know" Wendy's voice came through
"I think I do" Jonathan said "When the Maians were shot down in Nevada stuff was taken and experimented on, since I never got it out, dataDyne still had it" Jonathan finished
"Assuming they only got one, they may have more then one. If dataDyne ever at one point had the right kind of power charge to use it, then the secret would be revealed, and unlike before they would have proof instead of dead Maian bodies that everybody believed thankfully was only some kind of sick joke. It is getting out of hand now. The President, he said that he would tell people about Maians on one condition." Carrington said
"That condition is?" Joanna asked
"That somebody starts a business… a business that employs humans and Maians worldwide. It would get funded of course, at least at first" Carrington said
"But why can't the Institute qualify? Also why a business, I don't understand that" Jonathan said
"That's not a good idea due to the connection we have already, we are supposed to give everybody a fair shot at this experience to make it more acceptable to quote directly. It has to be a business because it allows humans and Maians to work together. Although nobody is quite sure how that would work" Carrington said
There was a long silence…
"I guess you are hinting at me to run it huh?" Sean asked
"Well… to be honest… yes…" Carrington said
"Why Sean, not that I mind" Joanna asked
"Because I am the only one who speaks Maian and is human" Sean replied answering her question
"Exactly… which is also why I didn't want you running off. I knew about this sometime ago but didn't want to ask you, I wanted to see if another solution would appear. Although when you said you were leaving I tried to stop you… a little too hard" Carrington said
"I don't know, it's not really me that kind of thing…" Sean said
"You don't want to give up your life again. I know that… Which is why I tried to find another way. It won't take long, maybe 3 months you will be needed, at least until Elvis teaches the Maians to speak English, then you can make your appearances a lot less… I don't know, but will you do it?" Carrington said almost begging.
"Okay… I will, I know it means a lot to you…" Sean sighed, he didn't really want to but he knew that something worse could happen, if somebody did organise the other side of dataDyne and somehow reveal Carrington's secret it would be much worse.
"Thanks so much, we'll be sure to make the company like this place and Andy's dataDyne put together so to speak, just to give you a rough idea" Carrington said
"Well at least you aren't asking me to bake bread or something else I know nothing about. Can I go now?" Sean asked
"Yes of course, come back in about 3 hours we'll discuss it a bit more" Carrington said
"I'll go with you" Junior stood up
Sean nodded
"Before you leave, what's your decision, you can wait, but keep in mind you are still gaining time in your younger self" Carrington asked
"I know it may not be good for me but I want to think about it for longer, it seems stupid but I always wanted to be able to defend myself instead of relying on others to do it for me" Junior said
"Well as I said it's your call, I'll see you later" Carrington said
Sean and Junior left
"What!?" Joanna shouted
"What's the matter Jo?" Velvet asked
"Junior scored better on the test then I did!" Joanna said as she read the paper
"Of course Jo, his mind was enhanced by the Skedar technology… and if I remember rightly Joanna you didn't even finish that test, I called you out before you finished it" Carrington said
"Oh… that's right" Joanna smiled again
"You really don't like losing do you" Jonathan smiled at Joanna
"Skedar? I've heard that word a few times before, what does it mean?" Mel asked
"Well… it's… another alien race, they are gone on the most part now but they were in war with the Maians for a very long time" Carrington said
"So there is another world happening, and everybody is completely oblivious to it?" Mel asked
"Indeed… but hopefully not for long" Carrington said
-----
Sean went down to leave the Institute. He pressed the key lock and unlocked the hoverbike.
"Can you ride these? Did you learn that?" Sean asked
"Of course, I just hope I don't drive like a lunatic to avoid the non existent explosions" Junior replied giving a smile as he and Sean got on two different hoverbikes.
"Where to?" Junior asked
"Who knows" Sean replied
They went out into the street which was still in the middle of nowhere. After the attack 8 years ago the Institute moved to a more deserted location. Then an idea hit him. He pulled out his communicator and talked to Carrington. Junior didn't hear what was said but could tell Sean was happy based on the smile he gave.
-----
Jonathan, Joanna, Velvet went into the cafeteria for some late dinner.
"Hey Jonathan" Foster was munching on a sandwich of some kind.
"Hi Foster" Jonathan said
"Where's your friend?" Foster asked
"What friend?" Jonathan said
"The guy you went to the device lab with" Foster said
"I think he's having a look around with somebody…" Jonathan said
-----
In the simulant training room
"Take that dataDyne scum…" Mel kicked one of the holograms into the wall, even though it was a hologram it crashed into the wall heavily and yelped in pain.
"And this…" Mel continued as he leaped over another hologram by the shoulders and slide backwards after landing on the other side tripping the hologram. "And finally… this!" Mel shouted as he parried the kick done by the third hologram and twisted it causing the hologram to shout out before Mel let it go to the ground.
"Very well done… want more?" Jenny the woman in the hologram room asked
"Yes please… great anger release… I thought this would be packed with people stressed from the Institute" Mel said
"Every section has its own way of stress management" Jenny replied
-----
20 minutes later…
In the firing range…
"Damn stupid gun… screw this" Foster put down his experimental weapon and started blowing all the targets up with a rocket launcher.
-----
In Carrington's office…
"Got you right in the eye Cassie… ah then you Easton" Carrington used the crossbow at the dart board that had pictures of Cassandra, Trent, Mr. Blonde, Grimshaw, a Skedar warrior and once the dataDyne headquarters Lucerne tower constantly spinning around. Eventually Carrington ran out of crossbow bolts and threw a remote mine at the dart board and set it off… a smile crossed his face and a new dart board with the same pictures came up as Carrington reloaded the crossbow and started over.
-----
In the device lab
"Grimshaw, I want to test this new device, would you volunteer?" Wendy asked
"Sure" Grimshaw replied as he had no idea what he was in for.
"Go in there and wait for the lights to turn out" Wendy smiled
"Okay" Grimshaw walked into the room and the lights turned off
"Now turn on the night vision" Wendy said
Grimshaw did so
"Now you have to press the 3 light switches on each of the walls" Wendy continued
Grimshaw then touched the 3 light switches, he didn't quite understand except when he finished the lights didn't come back on.
"Wendy it didn't work" Grimshaw called out
"It's not supposed to, now put your hands all over your face and turn off the night vision" Wendy said
"Why do I want to do that for?" Grimshaw asked
"It will make you invisible" Wendy explained
"Riiight…" Grimshaw did as he was told and Wendy turned on the lights. She had a big grin, she couldn't hold it.
"What?" Grimshaw asked
"Nothing…" Wendy giggled
Grimshaw felt something funny on his face, he then went to look in one of the mirrors and saw pink, black and yellow paint all over his face and hands. If it wasn't for the paint on his face he would have turned red as he chased Wendy around the room who was still laughing.
-----
2 hours later in Hacker Central
"Let's see how she likes this…" Grimshaw said as he readied the Camspy. The latest version was invisible as long as it didn't take a picture but he could still see in front of him like normal. He directed it into the device lab using the passageways that connected the device lab and Hacker central. Wendy was typing at her computer. Grimshaw smiled as he crept the Camspy closer.
"Now I just have to find the right position" Grimshaw said to himself as he directed the Camspy upwards and around to her face, Wendy seemed completely oblivious to the fact she was being spied on. Grimshaw then felt a tapping at his shoulder.
"Nice view you got there" A voice said
"Thanks… want me to go closer?" Grimshaw asked
"I think that's close enough" The voice replied
Grimshaw turned around and saw Wendy
"ARGGGGGH! But how! You are in there!!" Grimshaw screamed
"Quite clearly I am not, but I suggest you don't try what you did again for your own good" Wendy said
"Party pooper" Grimshaw folded his arms as Wendy left. He then looked at the other Wendy on his camspy screen and went right through it, it was a stupid hologram.
-----
Jonathan had to test with Foster which normally was quite enjoyable but when ever Foster was feeling inventive it was extremely boring, he was relieved when both of them were called up to Carrington's office. On arrival, Sean had returned with Junior as well as somebody he didn't know and Joanna, Velvet and Elvis where present as well. He wondered who this person who was sitting next to Sean.
"Foster, Jonathan take a seat" Carrington told them "Firstly, the company will be based in Japan… the President said that in negotiations with other nations they voted on where it should be and Japan got the most. The name of the company which Elvis and I created a while back is called Humaian, it's exactly what the company is.
"So we are going to Japan?" Sean asked
"Seems that way" Carrington replied "Provided your friend Juan does not mind" Carrington said
"Mind? No way… I'm in for experiences" Juan said
"In addition, Foster you have said to me you wanted to work with Maians in weaponry so here is your opportunity" Carrington said
"Thank you sir, but I like to work here" Foster replied
"It will only be temporary unless you like it there" Carrington said "The pay will be a lot better I assure you"
"Well then I'm in" Foster smiled
"Excellent. I have full faith in the Maians of course, I'm not so trusting of our own kind so the more people we can get in that we know and trust, the better" Carrington said
The others nodded in agreement
"So of course, the rest of us like Velvet and Jonathan will still be here?" Joanna asked
"Oh yes, most definitely, I still need you guys" Carrington replied
Joanna nodded
"There is one other thing…" Carrington started
Everybody looked at him
"I have kept this secret from everybody. Now it is time for you to be told. There is another alien race… I am almost certain of it…" Carrington said
-----
No real cliffhanger this time telling the secret… but how certain can Carrington be? Will the plan for the Maians to be known on Earth flop like Grimshaw's attempt to get a good photo of Wendy?