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CHAPTER ELEVEN

Russell, Mike and Lucy entered the lab where Irene was looking at a monitor. "You called, great leader?" Russell asked.

Irene glanced back at him. "Have you got an internet girlfriend or something?"

Russell blinked. "Hey, I know we had a bit of a moment but no need to get all jealous…"

"Trust me, you're safe."

"Oh, okay." Russell glanced at Mike and Lucy. "Forget I said that."

"It's just that I've been picking up some strange connections on the wifi. I think someone's been using a webcam or something."

"Have we got a spy?"Mike asked.

"That new kid, Andrew?"Lucy suggested.

"We're getting ahead of ourselves,"Irene told them. "It could be someone calling home or posting a music video. But I think we should ask around." She looked round as someone else entered. "Hi, John."

John took in the group. "Where are Stephen and Cara?"

Russell grinned. "Who knows? I think they must have gone off for a bit of alone time, know what I mean?"

"Do you know of anyone who's used a webcam?"Irene asked.

"Yes,"John replied simply. Then he fired off a TK burst that sent Irene flying into the screen, knocking her out. A second burst knocked Mike and Lucy into a wall.

Not really understanding what was going on but aware that something was, Russell gave a yell and dived at John, knocking him to the ground. The two old friends rolled around for a few moments, struggling with each other, before John got the upper hand. He trapped Russell underneath him and delivered a series of punches to the other telepath's solar plexus that left him winded. "You're just lucky you're not important,"he hissed. He got up and left the lab.

John strode down the corridor, blasting every Tomorrow Person he saw out of the way with telekinetic bursts. Charlotte emerged from a room and stood looking at him, wide-eyed. John prepared to fire a blast at her, then stopped. "Just walk away,"he told her. Charlotte shrank back from him. As soon as he looked away, she ran.

Luca collapsed onto the sofa in the rec area and glanced across at Sophie, the only other person present. "Cool party you Tomorrow People throw."

"Do you have to be somewhere?"

Luca glanced at his watch. "This time? Mum's gonna go crazy whatever time I rock up. Might as well crash here."

"Where were you thinking of sleeping?"

Luca gave a slight grin. "Well, big brother and sister seem to have disappeared for the night so…"

"So…I guess we can do whatever we want?"Sophie suggested.

Luca looked at her closely. She seemed to be leaning forward invitingly. Did that mean what he thought it meant? He leaned closer to her and slowly their lips met, feeling warm and soft. The kiss deepened as they slowly began to caress each other.

Then the door opened with a loud bang as John entered. The pair sprang apart. "We weren't doing anything!"Luca yelped.

John sent Sophie flying with a telekinetic burst, then drew a gun and pointed it at Luca. "Stephen and Cara! Where are they?"

Luca stared at him in horror, his body tingling with fear. Tingling really hard, in fact. So hard that it seemed to be glowing…

He teleported.

With an angry roar, John turned towards Sophie, who was sprawled in a corner. "You tell me."

Luca's first teleport obviously hadn't taken him very far. He ran back into the room and dived past John, grabbing hold of Sophie and teleporting them both clear.

John stormed into the office and faced Tim's screen. "You can tell me where they are."

"I believe I can come up with a location,"Tim agreed. "But I'm not sure I should tell you."

John pointed his gun at the door. "Tell me…or the next Tomorrow Person who walks in here gets a bullet between the eyes."

Stephen and Cara were sat on the bed, putting their clothes back on. "Well, it's definitely comfortable," Stephen remarked.

Cara shot a smile at him. "Always makes you wish we could stay here all night."

Stephen looked severely tempted for a moment then sighed. "I suppose we'd better check back in."

Cara nodded. "Do you ever get tired of being responsible?"

"I'm responsible now? When did that happen?" Stephen pulled Cara to her feet and kissed her, their arms wrapped around each other.

They were interrupted by John teleporting in. Cara looked at him, confused. "John, what are you..?"

John pointed his gun at them. "You both need to come with me."

"Come where?"Stephen asked, confused.

Cara looked at her old friend in shock. "John, what have they done to you?"

Not understanding the situation but understanding that they were being threatened, Stephen blasted the gun from John's hand. John responded by sending him flying with a TK burst.

Cara unleashed her powers at John at the same moment he unleashed his at her. The forces met in the middle. Both struggled to force the other back but Cara was hampered by the fact that she didn't want to hurt a friend. John had no such compunctions. His blast broke through and slammed Cara backwards into the wall.

Stephen leapt at him.

Astrid had known something was wrong when she saw the wrecked corridors and shell-shocked Tomorrow People. Not stopping to talk to anyone, she ran to the office, only to find it deserted…at least of humans. "Tim, what's going on?"

"Something has happened to John,"Tim explained. "He attacked the Tomorrow People. He has gone after Stephen and Cara."

"What's he going to do to them?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. But he had a gun. It appears the John that came back is not the John we are familiar with. Something has happened to him."

"Where are Russell and the others?"

"I have been unable to contact them. It seems likely they have been put out of action."

Astrid reached into her pocket and took out the pyramid-shaped communicator. "Get ready, Tim. I'll call you in a minute." She hurried out.

John threw Stephen through the bedroom door into the flat's main living area. Stephen dived aside as John sent a TK burst at him. John looked around for his gun but Stephen pulled him away, hurling him across the living area into a wall. He was on him in a second, holding him against the wall. "Stop this, John!"

John's response was a headbutt that left Stephen momentarily dazed. John aimed another blow that Stephen just managed to block. Stephen knocked John away from him and he crashed into a bar. Stephen grabbed him and turned him round but John kicked out, knocking him away. John grabbed Stephen around the throat, his face a mask of anger and hate the kind of which Stephen had never seen in him before.

Then Astrid teleported in, matter transporter belt around her waist, stun gun in her hand. Taking in the situation, she aimed at John and fired. He slumped to the ground.

Stephen took a deep breath. "Thanks." Then he realised Astrid's attention was focused on John, her face stricken. He spoke to her gently. "We'll do what we can to help him."