CHAPTER 4: MEETING NEW PEOPLE
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
February 25, 2003
9:00
Later that morning Parker waltzed into the Centre. On the way to her office alarms started to sound. All of a sudden the center was in chaos. Sweepers and secretaries ran through the halls, in a frantic search for their bosses. Other people ran into to their offices and locked their doors. Parker quickened her pace to her office. On her way to her destination, the siren stopped. In the newfound quite Parker heard the giggling of a child.
"Oh, were gonna get in to so much trouble."
"It was worth it Mikey."
"Did you see Sam's face when he went running by."
"He new it was us." Parker followed the voices to an alcove near the elevators. There she saw five children all dresses in standard Centre issue, gray tunics and shapeless pants. All of them had straight, brown hair cut just below their ears. They appeared to be about seven years in age. They had their backs turned to her, and did not notice her until she cleared her voice. Startled by her presence, the children spun around. Three of the steeped forward in a protective stance, in front of the other two.
"Hello." Parker said. It took her a moment to realize that she as staring at three boys and two girls. They looked identical. The three boys blue eyes blaze with protectiveness as they stood in front of the two girls. It was obvious that the children were related. Staring at them Parker felt as if she were seeing multiples.
"Who are you?" The boy in the middle asked.
"I could ask you the same." Parker replied curtly.
"I asked first." The boy said defiantly.
"My, My aren't you bold for a Center project"
"I'm not a project. I'm a person." He said. His voice full of anger
"Forgive me. I'm Miss. Parker. And you are?"
"I knew it!" one of the girls exclaimed. None of the children showed any sing of fear at her named though it was obvious they knew who she was.
"I'm Arron-Daniel." The boy in the middle spoke. "To my left is my brother Andros, to my right is our cousin Michael. My sister Alexandra." He said pointing to the girl behind him to his left. "And Michelle, Michael's sister." He said pointing at the other girl.
"Are you sure they're your cousins? You all look like quintuplets."
"Were positive,"
"We did"
"The blood"
"Test"
"Our selves." The children spoke each taking a turn. Parker smiled at their way of speech.
"What are the five of you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your trainers?" Parker questioned them.
"We were bored." Arron-Daniel said
"So we decided to go on a..." Andros faltered.
"Exploration." Alexandra supplied with a mischievous grin.
"In order to do so," spoke Michael
"We had to cause a little...chaos" Finished his sister.
"Not that it was just the five of them." Spoke a deep voice. The five children grinned at the voice. "How many times have I you the lot of you not to run off. The Centre is a dangerous place." Said the man.
"Hello Sam. How are you fairing."
"Well I hope?"
"You seem to breathing a bit heavy."
"Maybe you should exercise more."
"Or just lay off the sweets." Parker realized two things after the children spoke. One was that they had no fear of Sam. The other was that they had a pattern of speaking. Arron-Daniel spoke first, followed by his brother and sister, then Michael spoke and his sister finished.
"I take it you know these kids Sam."
"Unfortunately, yes" Sam sighed.
"Oh Sam that hurt"
"Shut up Arron. Do you know how much trouble the fourteen of you are in? Raines is pissed. Cox is ready to blow his top. And Lyle..."
"Is always pissed"
"Watch you mouth Andros"
"Sir Yes Sir" He replied with a cocky grin.
"Sam who are these children?" Parker asked him
"These are the youngest of the Black Files. And a constant thorn in my side for the past eight years." He said giving the children a disapproving glance.
"Hey were not even seven yet." Alex said.
"Yes but Jake and Rachael are eight."
"How many Black Files are there?"
"Fourteen total. Ranging from eight to six years, ten months and five days. These five are the youngest. They were also born on the same day." He said answering her question. "Now," Sam said as he turned his attention to the five children "where are the others?"
"Where not gonna tell you." Michael said defiantly
"Really? Because I think that you are." Sam said with a smirk
"All right, all right" Michelle sighed
"Jake, Rachael and the rest..."
"Are all standing right behind you." Spoke a boy interrupting Arron. Beside the boy stood a girl. She was obviously his twin. Both shared a pair of gray eyes and straight light blonde hair. Unlike Alexandra and Michelle this girl's hair came down to her shoulders.
Next to the blonde hair twins were another set of twins. They appeared to be bi-racial. They both had wavy black hair. They too were a set of boy girl twins. Behind then were yet another set of boy girl twins. They had hazel eyes and light brown hair. The girl's hair was pulled back into a ponytail where the boy's was cropped short. Last but not least stood a trio of green-eyed red haired triplets.
"I'm assuming that the lot of us are in trouble?" the blonde haired boy spoke again.
"You know what they say about assumptions Jakey." The black haired boy said.
"Hush Marc." His sister reprimanded.
"Sam I take full responsibility for the groups actions. It was my idea none of them would have done it if I hadn't suggested it." A course of "whats" and "no way Jake" interrupted him. "Be quite all of you." Jake said.
"We will discuss what happen later Jake, once we get all of you back to your rooms." Jake looked at Sam his steel gray eyes never blinking. Finally he spoke; his voice was low but sounded much older than he was.
"You and I both know I will never allow any harm to come to them Sam. I am the oldest, thus I should be the one punished for our misbehavior."
"I have no control over what will happen Jake. But if I have any say in the situation, I will try to see that none of you are punished."
"I'll guess that will have to do for now." He replied curtly.
"Who are you?" the black haired girl said, noticing Miss. Parker for the first time.
"That's Miss. Parker Cassie." Said Jake
"Oh shit, were gonna get in t' so much trouble" the girl with the ponytail said.
"What your mouth Terra." Sam said.
"Don't worry Terra, Miss. Parker won't tell on us." Andros said
"Wait, What in the hell is going on here!" Parker yelled, "Is this some sort of twin convention, or am I just seeing double."
"I can assure you that you are not seeing multiples, Miss. Parker." Said one of the red headed children. "Let me introduce myself and the rest of Jake's band of merry men. I am Greg. To my right are my brother and sister Jeremiah and Melissa. The gray-eyed gentleman up front would be our leader Jake. To his immediate right is his sister Rachael. To their right is Marc our resident prankster, and his sister the lovely Cassandra. Last but not least are pensive Tobias and his sister the charismatic Terra. I assume that you have already met the Fantastic Five over there."
"It's the Fantastic Four you dolt." Said Melissa.
"No duh Lissa, but there are five of them not four. Or have you lost you ability to count. And just for you to know there was a short-lived comic series called the Fantastic Five. Ironically it only lasted five issues." Retorted Greg
Melissa opened her moth to respond to her brother but Jeremiah placed his hand over her mouth. "That's enough children, or do you to need to be separated." Sam said. The two opted to study their shoes instead of bickering. "Now let's get you all back to your room."
"Yes, Sir." The children replied dutifully
"Parker." Sam said before she could open her mouth. "I know that you have questions and I promise to answer them when I return. I must ask that not come with me. Mr. Raines nor Mr. Lyle will be to thrilled to learn that you discovered the Black Files." With that Sam left Miss. Parker standing alone in the alcove. The children followed behind Sam obediently.