Chapter 10 – Unusual Abilities
Central London, England. 7:02am, 4th November 2032.
He can see the sun from here, it's probably the only consolation he's had all morning. It's a decent view if you take into account the skyscrapers that block it's view, he can see it all from the highest point on the building. He sits on the edge, facing the sun with his legs dangling. The raccoon looks down, twenty stories to almost certain death, and all it would take is a push; a push from his two hands that rest on the edge of the building. He doesn't want to push, no matter how distraught; he wouldn't take his own life, no matter how driven he is to the edge, he doesn't want to fall again. But, there's a comfort in being so close to the edge. The physiological rush of doing something like that is strong; it gives him a sort of lightness, the alertness to do anything if necessary. He can look into a nearby office building, and watch at how it slowly fills up with workers as time goes on. He wonders if one were to look out and see a blue shirted raccoon just sitting there in such great despair, would they turn away and continue on or would they do something to make him stop? Just thinking about it is somewhat distressing, that he would make someone feel bad for something he did. It makes him get away from the edge and stand on the top in the chilly gusts of occasional breeze.
How could she know? There are only four people who he can think of right now who would know about his strange ability. Two of them are in prison, one of them is himself and the other is his sister Erin. Oh how he wishes that she was here, she's the only one who knows that could be here, she would know how to deal with this person this stranger who is just the cherry on top of a whole cake of realized fears.
"Alex?" A voice calls out.
The raccoon's head turns around and sees Matt shutting the door to the rooftop as a gust of icy wind blows, sending a slight chill up Alex's legs.
"Are you okay?" Matt asks as he slowly approaches his friend. Alex lets out a sigh, there's only one answer to this question.
"No, no I'm not okay." It feels good to admit it.
"Well then, what's wrong?" Matt asks, wondering how to continue his enquiry.
"I don't know why…" Alex begins but he lets out a little chuckle at how stupid he was. "…why I didn't say this earlier."
All Matt can do is nod and listen.
"I can turn invisible." Alex admits. He hopes it doesn't take Matt back a step in the fact that it would probably destroy his scientific way of thinking.
"That's… um, useful I guess?" Matt replies, he's trying to remain calm on the outside and not react with more questions. He doesn't want to let scientific curiosity get in the way of sensitivity.
"Yeah, sometimes it's saves my life, others… it's a complete nuisance." Alex explains.
"Just sit down, not on the edge, just, here." Alex says, hoping it would be the right spot, about 5 metres away from the edge, sitting upright, they can just see the London skyline. They both sit down on the hard concrete floor with air-conditioning and heating systems whirring quietly behind them; along with rows of solar panels that are even quieter, silent even.
"The weird part about it… is that I can't control it. It's like an involuntary self defense mechanism. If I get surprised I just disappear like a blink, I blink out of existence until I calm down. If I get nervous, it's easier to prevent it from happening, I just have to stop being nervous. I was, more self confident, when we first met. But now I have to be that way just to fit in. I'm not like that anymore; I'm probably just as scared and nervous as you about everything. But… I can't show it, I have to be confident in everything, even if I don't know what to do or get scared. If you think I'm crazy or something…" Alex explains.
"I believe you." Matt says.
"Why?" Alex asks after a brief pause.
"I've seen it." Matt answers, scratching the back of his head. "He, had a camera strapped to his chest, and when he pushed you, you disappeared like he pushed you literally out of existence. But, then he changed the camera to an infrared setting and you were there. I knew there'd have to be only one conclusion, even if it didn't necessarily agree with me at first."
"But, what you have to know is, that I can't control it like an on or off switch, I think my dad could, but…" Alex explains, he feels way more comfortable now than when he was first explaining it before.
"Wait… you mean?" Matt says, figuring it all out for himself.
"Yep." Alex says with a nod.
"So you inherited it from your father?" Matt asks.
"Not totally it seems." Alex says.
They sit in silence for another 10 seconds, both waiting for the other to say something.
"I'm a freak." Alex says out of the blue.
"What?"
"Admit it."
Matt remains silent.
"Who else do you know that has such an unusual ability like me? " Alex asks.
"Tyson has an unusual ability to support his upper body with his pair of legs." Matt jokes, it's very brave considering the circumstances.
"Yeah." Alex says, trying to contain his laughter.
"Even she has those dinner plate ears, think about having to live with that." Matt jokes.
"So, what about you?" Alex asks after laughing again.
"Somehow, I have the unusual ability to keep us all together, if only for one day." Matt answers.
"Well, someone has to." Alex comments before realizing something. "What's going happen when you're in Belgium?"
"It'll be the same I think, just from several thousand kilometres away, the Internet nowadays is much more stable than what it used to be." Matt answers. "Except I'll be selling diamonds in the capital of diamonds. If only I was on the planet made of diamonds."
"Are you serious about that last one?" Alex asks out of curiosity.
"Yeah, there's a planet, very far away which has a core that's made entirely of diamond." Matt explains.
"Really? Well, the things you learn." Alex comments.
"You're already thinking about how to steal it, aren't you?" Matt asks. The mood has really brightened up now.
"A whole planet? It can't fit in my pocket." Alex answers.
"Tell me how you would steal it while we walk back downstairs, this weather's becoming typically miserable." Matt says, standing up to get to the rooftop door.
"So I'd need a spaceship, a lot of spaceships, and rope…." Alex begins thinking about this hypothetical situation. They both chat about how they would pull off such a daring heist in outer space as they descend down the stairs, not bothering to take the lift.
"…When I send the planet through the worm hole like you suggested, how would I know that it would end up near earth?" Alex asks as they near the 10th floor.
"You have to hope, have faith that it will work again, that the wormhole hasn't changed once you've used it." Matt explains.
"So, I'd place my faith in a worm hole to deliver me millions of tonnes in diamonds?" Alex asks.
"Yes, but when it gets there, you'd single handedly crash the price of diamonds because of all of your new supply you've brought back with you, basic economics." Matt answers as they reach the 10th floor.
"Only if I choose to sell." Alex notes.
Matt opens up the door and sees that same tan white fox leaning with her back against the front door, seemingly waiting for them to arrive after having given up in finding the location of Alex Cooper.
"Look, I'm…" She says, trying to apologise.
"One question." Alex says, still completely disappointed at her. "How do you know?"
She reaches into her pair of jeans and takes out a folded piece of paper.
"I stole this off a private investigator." She answers, unfolding the piece of paper and handing it to Alex to read over, Matt looks over it as well. It's a detailed profile of Alex, with a lot of notes at the bottom about the various predictions he made over 10 years ago about the fate of this displaced raccoon.
Other notes: Alex Cooper is not a normal kid, his only obsession is about his parents and presumably their occupation of choice, which is being a master thief. Reality won't cure him, neither would a good education, nothing would quell his desire to follow in his footsteps. (Revisit this when older) .
No doubt he will become a thief, finding him early will be crucial to prevent him growing out of control.
DNA sequencing is complete, but gave unforeseen results. Compare with Sly
Sequencing analysis complete, both share unique genes.
Similar to prison officer's statement? Believable?
Adaptive camouflage? Invisibility? Believable? Genetic Link?
If so, highly dangerous.
"This is a copy?" Alex asks, he wonders how many more people could possibly know.
"Yeah." She replies. "I used his photocopying machine, deleted the history and took this for myself, he probably doesn't know a thing."
"From who?" Alex asks.
"I don't know his name, I just did what I have to do, I got some information about you before I came here, I didn't want to be under prepared." She replies.
"How did you know it would be there?" Alex asks, continually searching for the source.
"What's the problem about me knowing?" She asks.
"Because I don't know that you know, which means that someone else knows." Alex answers, it's turning into an endless trail of questions that never finds the source.
"Is it really so bad?" She asks, considerably less concerned than Alex is.
"Of course it is! What I have is not normal." Alex replies.
"Just don't worry about it." She says nonchalantly.
"Ah!" Alex exclaims, waving his arms in the air. Alex is arguing a losing battle, he's becoming more and more exasperating with every passing second while his opponent is ice cold.
"Fine, okay. I'll listen to you." He says, admitting defeat but not inwardly. In his head, he's drawing up some plans. "Let's all just get out of here and move on once we can get the money."
"Agreed." She concurs. "I can get the money changed in an hour, I know a dealer."
"So what do you do then?" Alex asks out of curiosity before he re-enters the apartment.
"Anything that involves a profit." She replies.
"Hmm." Alex grunts as he opens the door. "Go and take the money."
"Okay." She replies. She walks in and grabs the two bags of money, both slung over her shoulders and leave the apartment. Alex and Matt wait for her to leave before they go in.
"Hey, um, what's you name?" Alex asks before she steps into the elevator.
"Jess." She replies before steeping into the elevator.