Disclaimer: DC Comics owns all rights to the characters within. They are used without permission and not meant to infringe on copyrights or meant to generate income.
Also, if you have not read my other stories, it would be helpful to do so before reading this one. The chronology goes: Brothers in Arms, Where Do We Go From Here, Tragedies of the Past, Betrayal From Within, Future Sins, Reestablishing Bonds, Parents and Children, New Allies, Rivals or Friends, Public Enemy Number One, and Double Date.
Mind Games, chapter 1
1.
At lunch, Max told Conner and Dan, "I think we're being watched."
Conner took a causal look around. Everything looked normal to him.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "I don't see anything different."
Dan agreed with Conner. "I don't either."
"I don't see anyone watching us, but I can't shake the feeling," Max said.
"It sounds to me like you're being paranoid," Dan said. "Maybe you should cut back on the caffeine."
Conner considered what Max was saying. He usually had a good intuition about this sort of thing. It was possible that someone was using powers to keep an eye on them.
2.
"He suspects," a man said.
"His brother is on guard now," a woman said.
"We'll have to move soon," another man said. "We will not be able to wait further."
"There is leverage that we can use," another woman said. "Are we in agreement?"
"Yes," seven figures said in unison.
3.
Max stared out the window. He felt that there was someone out there. He couldn't shake that feeling, even though there was nothing he could actually point to that supported him.
Max frowned. He didn't like working on instinct; it was unnatural to him. He regarded most people's instinct as logical deductions that their conscious minds just hadn't made yet. He didn't do that; he was aware of just about everything his senses picked up. His mind analyzed it almost as soon as he knew about it.
"I know you couldn't possibly be letting your attention wander, Max," his physics teacher said. "So, why don't you tell me what we do to solve this problem?"
Max turned towards the teacher and said, "This can be solved with an application of Boyle's Law."
The teacher was taken aback. "Yes, you're right. I'm glad that you're paying attention."
As the teacher went back to explaining how to solve the problem, Conner gave Max a glance. He knew that his brother was distracted. He had been keeping his eyes open to try to figure out what Max had picked up on, but he hadn't seen anything suspicious.
Perhaps that was what was wrong, Conner thought. Everything was too normal for Max. Smallville might finally be getting to him.
4.
"What is it the younger brother senses?"
"He can't sense anything. We have made certain of that."
"Perhaps we have been remiss. There may be elements that he has observed that indicate a presence that he cannot see."
"Do we need to observe them any longer? There can be no doubt."
"Agreed. We shall confront them soon."
5.
"We're home!" Conner called out. "Is everything all right?"
It was unusual for the Kents to be home at this time of day; normally they were minding the store. However, the truck was in the driveway along with two SUVs.
The Kents were in the living room, sitting on the sofa. There were seven men and women in dark business suits in the room that looked at the three teenagers. The Kents shared a glazed look in their eyes.
"What's going on?" Max demanded.
"We're here to make you a wonderful offer," a woman said in a soothing voice. "We'd like for the two of you to join us in bringing peace to the world."
"World peace is a great thing," Conner said. "I don't see why you think that Max and I can help you."
The woman replied, "We know that you're psionic. We are, too."
Max's eyes narrowed. Dan looked confused.
The woman continued. "The two of you are among the most powerful psychics that we've ever encountered. What's more is that you have talents that affect the physical world. Those are rare."
"Wait, so you guys have powers?" Dan asked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"You've been blocking your presence from our minds," Max said. "Earlier, you were observing us and making sure that we could not see you."
One of the men smiled. "Very good. You have a very quick mind, Maxwell."
"We'd like you to come with us," the woman said. "We'd like to show you more of what we're about."
"If we refuse?" Max asked.
"I'm afraid that we must insist. We would hate for anything to happen to your aunt and uncle...or your friend."
Max turned to look at Dan. His eyes had glazed over. Max grit his teeth.
"We accept," he said.
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