Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Columbia Pictures and to the writers and producers and whoever else I may have forgotten to mention. The only things I claim to own are my own characters and the plot of this story.
By the time Connor finally wondered his way to the Ag Science classroom, it was quite obvious that Allie had made it there first. The door was cracked open and he could hear the rest of the class talking inside. He paused briefly in the hallway, wanting to hear some of the conversation.
"I can't believe it!" he heard one of his classmates said as they approached the door. He heard something thud into the trashcan nearby and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "She's the most dedicated student in this class. In the whole club!"
"I know," another student responded. "We all know Paliento has had it out for her since the beginning of the school year. But she hasn't even gotten that last detention yet! If he makes her quit, who's going to be president?"
Connor stepped closer so her could peer into the room unseen. Most of his classmates had pulled their desks into a tight circle in the center of the room. It was easy to see how upset they were as they tried to focus on doing whatever work Mr. Hayes had given them. So instead they were talking about the events of the past few minutes. "I only took the vice president position because nobody else would!" a boy in the back said as he slammed his book. "She's the only natural leader for the club."
While the class was welly distracted, Connor quietly pulled the door open and slipped inside. His entrance went unnoticed. Allie was nowhere to be found, although her backpack sat beside her usual desk at the front of the room. As he sat down in his desk, Connor noticed the door to Mr. Hayes' office was closed. Underneath, though, he could faintly made out two shadows moving around on the other side and could make out the sound of muffled sobbing.
Someone finally noticed that Connor had arrived, as the rest of the class suddenly fell quiet. In the silence, the conversation in the teacher's office could be heard. "I just don't know what happened," Allie's voice sounded strange coming through the door. "I was just trying to get to class and- He didn't even give me a detention, but I know he's going to kick me out of the club. I just know it!"
She broke down into tears again. "What do you mean you don't know what happened?" Mr. Hayes asked after a minute. "If there's a problem with your locker or something, we can talk to Paliento and see if we can resolve this problem without you having to leave the Ag Society."
There was another moment of relative silence as the class listened intently. "It wasn't my locker. I was-" Allie paused. "I was nearly attacked. Cornered at my locker."
"What?" Mr. Hayes' question was loud in surprise before his voice grew hard. "Who was it?"
At his desk, Connor clenched his fists. Charm was going to rat him out, and then probably turn everyone against him with her powers.
"Connor. It was Connor Shepard."
She sniffed, then the entire story of the day came spilling out. How he'd made her do the Physics presentation by herself and they were getting a bad grade. How he'd been ignoring her for weeks. How he'd cornered her that afternoon in the lockers. How Mr. Paliento had found them before anything had happened and sent them on to class. That she was probably going to lose her position in the Ag Society when they talked the next day.
Connor stared at the wall. She'd ratted him out, all for the sake of saving herself. He could feel the eyes of everyone else in the room on him. They all knew. And knowing who Allie really was, she could very easily convince them that her version of events was true.
In the glaring silence that followed the tearful story, Charm spoke softly again, voice shaking. "Mr. Hayes, may I go up to the barn to check on the cows?"
The response was so quiet that it couldn't be heard out in the main classroom. The door to the office opened, and both occupants stepped out. Mr. Hayes was purposefully not looking in Connor's direction like the rest of the class was doing. Allie caught sight of him, choked back a sob, and disappeared out the back door of the room. Everything fell quiet again until Connor heard footsteps approach and a shadow fell across his desk. "Connor, may I talk with you in my office? I want to get your side of this story," Mr. Hayes asked quietly.
The rest of the class suddenly erupted into loud shouting. "You don't need his side of the story! Why would Allie lie about something like that?" "He's just going to make something up!" "How could you do this to her! I thought she was your friend!" The accusations flew at him like knives. It only made him angrier. They didn't know who she was or what she was capable of.
"Class, quiet down or I'll give you bookwork and homework tonight!" Mr. Hayes called firmly. "Connor, to my office. Please."
The shouting quieted down, but it didn't stop the whispers. Connor reluctantly stood and began to make his way toward the teacher's office. As he made to step around another student's desk, someone stuck their foot out. Before the action could process, Connor had already tripped, barely managing to catch himself on a nearby desk. He turned to glare at the boy, which only earned him a smirking whisper of "Traitor."
Red flashed through Connor's vision. He lunged forward and grabbed the boy's shirt color. It happened so quickly no one could try to stop him as he sent his fist into the boy's nose. There came a satisfying crack upon impact, and Connor immediately released the other student. The boy slumped to the ground, holding his bleeding nose and cursing furiously. Everyone in the desks around them fled. The few girls in the class ran screaming to the front of the room, while the guys went to the aid of their injured buddy.
Connor ignored them all and stalked toward the back of the classroom. It had grown unbearably hot in the room all of a sudden. But he was ready to leave anyway, as he only had one more person to confront. He flung open the back door, the commands of his teacher telling him to stop falling on deaf and uncaring ears.
He could hear the cows mooing up at the barn. As the classroom door slammed shut behind him, he threw a hand back toward the handle and blasted the door. The metal crumpled inward from the blow. It wouldn't keep anyone in the building, but it would distract them long enough for him to confront Charm.
Connor saw her long before she could see him. Allie was hanging over the side of the wooden fence separating the run in from the rest of the barn. The cows had gathered along the fence line, curious as to why she was there and looking for treats. He heard her murmur something to them before reaching out her hand to rub one on the top of its head. She didn't see him coming. Perfect.
As he approached the barn, Connor heard the sound of a vehicle flying through the parking lot. He glanced back, briefly worried that the resource officer had called the police. But instead her found the black van that usually carried the Zenith Team on their missions squealing out of the lot on two wheels.
His pager hadn't gone off. The realization suddenly hit him that General Laraby must have had it disabled as part of his punishment. The red flash of anger built again. In a matter of seconds, Connor reached into his backpack and retrieved the pager. It crunched as he balled a fist around hit, letting out one last sad beep before he threw it as far and as hard as he could. It was stupid that they'd pulled him off missions. The near meltdown at Jaskier had been Charm's fault, not his. If she hadn't manipulated him into her trap, then nothing would have happened.
He'd caught Charm's attention when he threw the pager. By the time he walked into the shadows inside the barn, she'd turned to face him. Her eyes were puffy and red, the unmistakable evidence that she'd been crying. But now that they were alone, he could see her own anger building in her suddenly piercing blue gaze.
She jumped down from the fence, causing the cows to back away. "What is your problem, Connor?" she asked, voice firm in an effort to hide her previous tears. "One day we're all buddy buddy and today you act like I'm the villain of the story!"
"It's not my problem, thief. It's yours. What happened that first time we met? Did you pick the wrong government site to break into to get data on the Zenith Team? What about that security guard? Couldn't convince him to let you in by holding his hand so you shot him? That's sloppy work, Charm," Connor countered, stepping closer to her and letting his backpack fall to the ground. "But there is one thing I can't figure out. Why do you want that information in the first place? After all, you know most of us pretty well already."
Instead of the angry or smug look Connor was expecting, Allie just looked confused. "What? When did a guard get shot? What the hell are you talking about? Who is Charm?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know exactly who you are. 'We could brush hands and I could tell you exactly what I wanted you to do and you would do it no question.' Remember that? You think no one will believe me because you can just charm them into believing whatever you say." Connor took another step forward, prompting Allie to finally step back. "So, what exactly are you and your little thieves' guild up to? The serum, the Cobalt, plans for the particle accelerator. What's your endgame?"
"Connor, you're scaring me," Allie said as she took another step away from him. "I have no idea who this Charm is or why you think we're the same person."
He was now only feet away from her, and still moving forward. Allie finally backed into the fence, and he watched her confusion melt away into terror. When he stepped forward again, she scrambled up the fence without turning away from him and jumped into the run in.
"Oh, come on," Connor growled as he grabbed the middle board of the fence. "I've seen your Macbook. And your messages to Nyx about the particle accelerator. I have to say that it is amateur to use your Chat Name as a code name. Dahlia showed me everything. Your late night sneaking around, trips 'back to the farm,' and those odd injuries you keep having come up, just after we've had a show down with your team. You can't hide anymore, Charm."
Allie gently pushed away a curious cow. "Connor, I use a custom PC that my brother built for me. I don't even own a Mac," her voice trailed off suddenly as realization lit up her eyes. "No. Connor, Dahlia is using you!"
"Shut up!" he yelled. Now he could hear shouts from down the hill toward the school. Mr. Hayes must have called for school security. "Nobody is using me!"
He suddenly threw out his hands, only intending to knock the fence down between them. His anger, however, multiplied his power. The concussive wave not only took out the fence, but also several support posts for the barn. The cows fled from the falling building, nearly trampling Allie in their stampede. She managed to avoid the cows, but she couldn't avoid the roof that was quickly coming down. Allie dropped to the muddy ground below her as the metal and wood run in crashed down around her.
She screamed his name, but he'd already cleared the crumbling building. As he ran through the field, he could hear distant sirens. But before they arrived, he hopped the fence at the back of the pasture and turned his pounding footsteps toward home.
By the time Connor made it home, it had already grown dark. He'd wandered around town for a bit to cool off and come up with a story. It wouldn't be hard to convince Dr. Grant and Marsha that he'd been acting in self-defense, especially when he had so much evidence against Charm. At Jack's house, the porch light was off, which usually meant that his brother wasn't home. Which was fine with Connor. He didn't really want to talk to his brother anyway.
As he stepped on the porch, though, someone spoke. "You're home late, little bro."
It took Connor a moment to make out his brother's silhouette on the wall by the front door. It was the one spot on the porch the streetlights couldn't reach.
"Whatever," Connor said as he reached for the doorknob.
Before he realized what was happening, Jack was behind him, whirling him around and pinning him to the door with a strong arm. Sometimes he hated that Jack had thirty years more experience that he did. "I heard what happened today at school. The principal called and said that because of several incidents at school today, you are suspended indefinitely during the pending investigation." Jack eyes glinted as they caught the light from a nearby lamp.
Connor glanced away, avoiding his gaze. "This isn't like you at all, Connor," Jack continued. "Suspension from not only the team but also school is serious. I don't know what you've got going on, but it has everyone worried. Dylan and Summer have both said they aren't speaking to you, Cindy says you've been reclusive on the bus, and Marsha now has orders from the general to give you a psych eval to see if you're fit to continue with the team!"
Jack paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Not only that, but you're grounded. That's from me. I gave you one rule and you broke it. Now get your ass inside and get changed. Dr. Grant ordered a mandatory evaluative training session for you tonight."
The moment his brother eased his grip, Connor was twisting the doorknob. He practically fell into the house and ran to his room. He'd never seen Jack so angry before. For someone who was usually so laid back to the point of laziness, his brother could be pretty terrifying when he wanted to be. The confrontation had actually scared any remaining anger out of Connor.
It only took him a couple of minutes to get changed. He absentmindedly reached for his backpack by the door as he made to leave, only to realize that he'd left it in the field at school. But he didn't need it now. He'd been suspended after all. For a brief moment, he felt a bit of remorse for what he'd done to the kid in Ag Science. He was only going by what he knew. But for Allie or Charm or whatever she called herself, he had none whatsoever. She'd only gotten a portion of what she deserved.
But he'd make sure she got what was coming to her before too long.
A few hours later, Connor was finishing up on the training simulator. It was the hardest level he'd done by himself, and he definitely felt like it. He was dripping with sweat, his brown hair plastered to his forehead. Dr. Grant was saying something over the comm link, but Connor's heart was pounding so hard that he could hardly hear a thing. Probably something about needing to get a better time or something.
As he stood doubled over struggling to catch his breath, his thoughts turned back to the events of the day. Even the toughest training session he'd ever had wasn't enough to clear it from his mind. Connor has pressed Dr. Grant for details on the rest of the team's mission, but all the scientist would tell him was that the team had been called out. And since Connor was on the schedule for a psychological evaluation, there was nothing more that could be said. He glanced up to the observation room to see Dr. Grant examining a second monitor, and the teen could only assume he was being briefed on the mission status while Connor was occupied.
When the pounding in his chest became more manageable and his breathing didn't resemble dry heaving anymore, Connor stood up straight. "Hey, Dr. Grant?" he called, turning the scientist's attention away from the monitor. "Did you ever test that blood sample that was collected from our mission at DataTech?"
He'd suddenly remembered that it had been Charm who was injured in that fight. If they could find the right markers in the DNA, then it would confirm what he'd known for a while.
Dr. Grant perked up as he thought about Connor's question. "You know, I don't think I ever got around to testing it. Why don't you come up to the lab and I'll check your vitals while I run the sample?"
A few minutes later, Connor was witting in a chair in front of Dr. Grant's desk while the scientist used a variety on strange instruments to examine him. Around them, lab assistants frantically searched the lab for the blood sample to doctor had managed to misplace. "I know it's here somewhere," the doctor called cheerfully as he went to write down some measurement about Connor's kneecap. "I could have sworn I put it in the blood cooler. Agh, papercut!"
Connor rolled his eyes as Dr. Grant stuck his injured finger in his mouth. "I tink thas abou it," the doctor tried to say as he turned back to his patient. "Ur fee to goo."
The teen stood as a lab assistant approached. "Dr. Grant? Is this the sample you were looking for? I found it in the cafeteria refrigerator next to a molding ham and cheese sandwich with your name on it."
"Oh, that's where I put it!" the scientist said as he took the sample from the assistant. "Did you happen to bring the sandwich with you as well? I've been looking for it since October, and I'm a bit hungry now."
The assistant stared at the doctor for a moment before turning and leaving without responding. As he passed, Connor thought he heard something about not being paid enough. Dr. Grant, however, ignored it, instead moving over to some sort of computer that Connor had never noticed before. "Let's see, put this in here. Now push that lid closed. Hit this button, and voila! This baby should have the identity of our thief here in a just a couple minutes!"
Connor rolled his shoulders in an attempt to loosen them up. Soreness was already beginning to creep into his overworked muscles, even though he'd only been out of training for fifteen minutes. While they waited for the results, Dr. Grant quizzed him on fighting techniques. He'd just been asked a question on the proper way to punch when the machine beeped to let them know it was finished. Both the doctor and teen turned to the monitor.
"Let's see what we have here," Dr. Grant mumbled as he typed something on the keyboard. Connor nervously glanced over his shoulder, eager to see the results.
The screen was filled with long complicated words that Connor could only pretend to understand what they meant. Models of genetic structures, DNA markers, and even a note saying the data included a marker for superpowers flashed across the screen. Dr. Grant was giddy over the results as Connor began to get nervous. Would it even be able to find a DNA match?
A moment later, the words 'MATCH FOUND' flashed across the bottom part of the screen. One side listed the details the database could find, while the other side searched for a photo of the individual. Connor quickly read the information given as it appeared.
LAST NAME: A. D. ELLIS
AGE RANGE: 15-20
GENDER: FEMALE
POWERS: UNKNOWN – GENETIC ANOMALY DISCOVERED
LOCATION MARKERS: SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES
"Genetic anomaly detected?" Connor asked as he waited for the photo to load.
"It means that there is a genetic marker for superpowers, but something is different about it. I'll have to look closer into it. That's not commonly noted in this test, so it must be significant," Dr. Grant replied.
Connor turned his attention back to the screen. "How did it find a match so quickly? Was the DNA already in the system for something?"
Dr. Grant types a bit more on the keyboard and brought up information about the search on a second monitor. "Let's see. Initial DNA markers for familial lineage were pulled from… here actually! Whoever this person is, they are a close relative of an old colleague of mine, Dr. Thomas Ellis. Brilliant mind in the world of biochemistry. He used to work here before- oh, ah, stuff happened that he opposed. The rest of the markers seem to have been pulled from a private database somewhere. It looks like…"
Connor turned out the rest of the scientist's babbling. Dr. Thomas Ellis, the man who'd first worked on the power nullification serum. The man that he'd attacked all those years ago under the effects of the gamma radiation. He shuddered at the memory.
But what if the attacks weren't random at all? Dr. Grant had just all but said Dr. Thomas had left shortly after the incident with Connor. The initial DNA markers pointed to the doctor and thief being close relatives. Allie wasn't old enough to be his daughter, but she could be his granddaughter. And if he'd ever mentioned anything about his time at Area 52, the surely Connor would have come up at the reason he'd left. What didn't make sense was why someone would want revenge thirty plus years later.
Pictures continued to flash across the screen, but he saw a couple of them repeat themselves as the database worked to find a match to the information listed. But in his mind, Connor knew it had to be Allie. There were no other possibilities. He closed his eyes to try and calm his pounding heart when he heard the computer beep.
"Ah, Connor, it looks like it found a match!"
Author's Note: Hello all! I hope that all of my readers are safe and healthy, and if you are sick and reading this, please know that I am sending prayers and good vibes (whichever you prefer) for healing your way!
So this is it! Finally, we have the big reveal of Charm's identity! Or do we? Next month's (or maybe sooner since I am out of work at this time) chapter will be very exciting, so stay tuned to find out what happens next! Okay, y'all, that the end of my cliff hanger TV show speak. But seriously, it's about to get pretty interesting, so I hope y'all will stay tuned. I love seeing how many people have read this story over the past few months because I just encourages me to write and helps me break through my writer's block that I struggle with frequently.
And, as always, if you like this story, even just a little bit, would you mind leaving a review? Also, please feel free to message me if you have any thoughts/ideas/concerns/etc. I may not answer right away, but I'm trying to check my messaging at least once a week now. Thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed and followed and favorited! Every email that I get saying the story has a new follower or review or favorite motivates me to finish another chapter! Stay safe and stay healthy out there, y'all! ~NightRider
