Artificial light filled the room, causing the feral to cry out in pain. The molecular inhabiting the stiff bed across the room stuffed a pillow over her face with a moan.
"What the hell? It's 4:00 in the morning," Chloe hissed, rising up onto her elbows.
"Chlo, it's the first of the month," Ashley reminded her.
"Already?" Chloe threw herself back onto her cot dramatically.
Ashley trudged over to Chloe's side and shoved her. "Let's go."
Chloe rolled off the cot and followed her best friend out of the med-bay, where she and Ashley had been living for the past six months. Angie and Darren were silently shoveling cereal into their mouths. Chloe gave a grunt of greeting and slid in next to Darren.
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Good morning guys."
After a few minutes of silence, all heads turned towards the sound of the approaching footsteps.
"Tell me again why we have to do this so early in the morning." Chloe's fierce gaze met Michael's chocolate orbs.
"The first time we did this six months ago, we tried doing it at 9 am, but you had gotten enough rest and you tied me to a chair," Michael said dryly.
"Ashley let you out," Chloe protested.
Michael raised an eyebrow. Chloe scoffed. "One time and you're labeled for life."
"You've done the same thing or something similar for the five months after that," Darren reminded her. "Last time, you let all the oil out in the car so it overheated!"
"Yeah, whatever," Chloe gulped down the rest of her breakfast and stomped over to the coat closet to grab a jacket. "Ready?"
Their breath was frosty in the crisp, thick morning air. By the time they reached the mountains, the sun was just peaking over the crests of the hilltops.
Each pound of her feet echoed after a huff of breath. Her arms pumped rhythmically at her sides, her eyes were fixed straight ahead through a clearing in the trees. She could see Michael's figure about 200 meters away shadowed by the sun. Inhaling deeply, she churned her feet swiftly beneath her, passing Michael in a full sprint before decelerating to a jog, then a walk.
"Well?" Chloe queried after a few calming breathes.
"Two minutes and forty seconds," Michael reported. Glancing up at her, he added, "That's an abnormally fast mile."
"So I'm all healed," Chloe flashed a grin of relief.
"Yeah, I'd say," Michael chuckled, glancing over her shoulder as he caught a glance of the other three members of the team.
Chloe followed his gaze and waved gaily with a huge grin on her face. She was greeted with harsh glares as they slowed to cross the finish. "What?"
"You're the feral," Ashley choked out, sweating profusely. "You run insanely fast."
Chloe shrugged and plopped down on the dewy grass. She plucked a leaf from the ground and twirled it around her fingers. Darren threw himself down beside her, feigning pain. Chloe smacked him playfully, giggling lightly. Ashley and Angie were focused on Michael, who was intently making notations on a pad of paper. After a few minutes, Michael looked up with an easy-going grin.
"Well Ash and Chloe, seems you two are finally up to your normal health. Angie and Darren, I have never seen you run that fast in my entire life."
Angie let out a laugh of disbelief. "All that for nothing?"
"I said good job," Michael protested.
"Yeah, yeah," Angie headed off towards the car.
Michael and Ashley ambled off behind her. Chloe stretched, flexing her sleek muscles before rising onto her feet. Inhaling the fresh mountain air one last time, she slowly strolled down the hill.
"Chloe," a pathetic voice called from behind her. "Carry me."
"No, Dar. Let's go hun."
"We need a plan." Chloe spun around in a computer desk chair.
Michael looked at her oddly, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, we're all healthy now. A full, healthy team," Chloe pointed out between rotations.
Michael still looked completely and utterly lost.
"Don't tell me you're backing out!" Chloe's voice echoed in every corner of the room.
"Chloe! Stop spinning! You're making me sick!" Ashley snapped.
Chloe stopped in mid-spin looking like a deer caught in headlights.
"Look Michael. We're ready to fight. The past six months we've been watching Morgenstein build up a new army of Mutants and his company, Genomex, is thriving. We're ready to go," Angie explained seriously.
Michael felt four pairs of eyes burning into his. He looked into Angie's midnight blue eyes. He could feel the shock and pain reflected in those emotion-filled eyes.
"You are having second thoughts," Angie accused, her anger striking him like lightning.
"It's just. You guys are so young. I mean Chloe is only 16 years old, and Ashley's 18—"
"And I'm 22 and Angie's 21 and you're 35, so what?" Darren proclaimed. "Our life is dangerous Michael. We can barely go outside! This is no way to live."
"There were mutants younger than us in Morgenstein's army and Morgenstein is still out there." Michael could see Chloe trying to maintain her composure. But her fists were clenched at her sides, her mouth was set in a straight line, and she was breathing in short, tight gasps. One thing Michael had learned in the six months Chloe and Ashley had lived there: Chloe had a short temper, and once she starts, she doesn't stop.
He gave Angie a quick glance and she nodded.
"Don't you dare blast me!" Chloe warned, her orange feral eyes glowing.
"Then calm down Chlo," Ashley soothed. "Save it for the people who deserve it."
Chloe sat down, rubbing her temples gently. "I'm sorry guys. I'm fine now."
"Michael, we have to do this," Ashley spoke gently, squeezing his hand lightly.
Michael glanced around at their hard-set faces and knew this was a battle he wasn't going to win. "Okay, but this is going to take months of planning."
"So you mean that I'll be able to die at 17 instead?" Chloe smirked.
"Chloe, be serious. Come on," Darren was un-amused.
Chloe sobered up immediately. "Let's do it."
Six months later
"T minus 24 hours and counting," Ashley announced.
"You know what this means?" Michael stopped scanning the website he was looking at and glanced up at Ashley.
"We finally get to see Darren and Angie again?" Ashley replied with a grin.
Michael laughed. "Sure. Exactly."
"So what's California like?" Ashley attempted to start a conversation.
"Hot," Michael replied looking back to the screen.
"Helpful," Ashley rolled her eyes and went back to work.
"Guys," Chloe's voice appeared behind Michael's shoulder.
"Shit, where did you come from?" Michael gasped.
"Um, my room," Chloe frowned in confusion.
"Right," Ashley laughed. "What's up?"
"I just talked with Ang and Darren. They're ready for tomorrow," Chloe leaned against the back of Michael's chair. "We headin' out there?"
"Give me a few hours," Michael requested before standing and walking towards his office.
"Hey Mikey, how long is this car ride exactly?" Chloe called after him.
"Just long enough for you to give me a migraine," Michael muttered.
"I heard that. I'm a feral you idiot," Chloe snorted.
"Exactly," Michael sighed.