The nightmare begins

[MorningStar]

Belfast - King's Cross Pub

Delilah pushed the plate of food away from her and leaned forward towards Andrew.

“You have a genetic mutation which gives you certain abilities that regular humans do not have. Your abilities make you what we call hyperkinetic – your brain’s imaging, muscle control and motor skill centers are all perfectly aligned. This means your brain processes movement at a much faster rate than normal. This is why you are such a gifted athlete- no cracks, Andrew-“

- she pointed her finger at him and gave him a hard look –

“Your hyperkinesis gives you perfect balance, aim, and highly enhanced motor skills.”

Andrew looked skeptical.

Andrew: “’Genetic mutation’? I don’t think so. I’m a natural athlete – that’s all. Plenty of people are.”

Delilah nodded. She was silent for a few seconds, thinking. She reached into her purse and set a one pound coin on the table. She pushed it over towards him.

“I want you to buy me some plays on the juke box over there.”

She pointed to the machine across the pub from where they sat. He shrugged and nodded, and started to get up but she stopped him.

“No. I want you to do it from here.”

He gave her a look like she was insane.

Andrew: “Are you daft woman?”

Delilah spread her hands wide.

“Indulge me.”

She nodded towards the jukebox.

“Please.”

He doubtfully gave her a look that said “if you insist but this is nuts”. Andrew picked up the coin, aimed, and threw it at the jukebox across the empty pub. It slid perfectly into the coin slot. Andrew’s head snapped to Delilah in surprise and disbelief. He smiled, stunned.

Delilah pushed a second pound coin over to him.

“Do it again.”

He picked it up, still hesitantly but more sure of himself this time. Once again he aimed and threw the coin, perfectly hitting his target.

Andrew: “Wow.”

Delilah smiled, warmly.

“Stress plays havoc with your abilities, so under duress they can fail you. It’s not uncommon for hyperkinetics to perform extraordinary feats…then not be able to do it again. I can help you learn to control your abilities. There is so much that you can do in this world.”

Andrew’s elation quickly faded and his face fell. He stood up once more.

Andrew: “Circus tricks. That’s all I’m good for.”

He shrugged.

Andrew: “One minute I can’t lose, the next…working loading ships back home.”

He shook his head.

Andrew: “I’m sorry. I can’t be what you’re looking for.”

He backed away and left the pub.

Delilah let out a heavy breath and banged her fist on the table.

“Damn.”

Connor: “Well, I guess that’s that. Time to go home.”

Connor took a last long drink from his glass. Delilah just stared thoughtfully at the door.

 

[Matrix]

Rich helped them to the car, when Brenda asked that he help them home.

"Rich, would you mind riding with us? I'll need help getting Pete up to my room. Doyle's old. I can't expect him to be much help."

Strange question. It was obvious that if she had a driver that she had a guard who would be HAPPY to drag her friend to wherever she pointed. Rich was suspicious, but he got in anyway.

He sat silently, the events of the past few minutes replaying in his mind. THIS girl alive, but a dozen guards dead. He was silent and pensive as they pulled up to a NICE hotel.

He gets them to the elevator and gets ready to leave when she speaks again.

Brenda: "Thanks for your help. I'll have room service send up some food for us..... and..... I have a guest room, Rich. I insist you stay."

Huh?! How did she know that those were the two things he needed?! He stepped quickly inside as the doors closed, standing VERY close to Brenda. His eyes were unblinking and hard.

What do you THINK you know about me and how? Come to think of it...WHY were you swimming in dead motherfuckers back there?

Rich fell silent, waiting for an answer. Brenda was in no danger, but he knew how to get off this elevator FAST and he was increasingly thinking this was some sort of setup.

 

[Titan]

Andrew didn’t rush back to work. A mutant? Him? That was mad. He kicked a can down the street. Shit. The first somewhat interesting thing to happen to him in years and he punks out like a tosser. But the whole thing was crazy. Delilah was probably an escaped inmate from one of those mental hospitals you see on American tv…and that Connor fella was like some mafia hitman ready to fit him for concrete shoes and toss him in the Channel. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

He cut down an alleyway, and then heard a voice behind him.

Delilah: “Andrew, stop.”

He turned around, but didn’t stop walking.

“You should head back now, miss – this isn’t a safe part of town for a lady on her own.”

Delilah smirked at him.

Delilah: “I think I can take care of myself.”

He turned back around and kept walking.

“Suit yourself, but you can’t change my mind.”

Then he heard another voice, and a whole lot of commotion.

Voice: “You should have listened to your boyfriend, missy.”

Andrew turned around. Four big guys had come out of the woodwork and were closing in on Delilah’s wheelchair, armed with pipes, knives and other various low tech but no less harmful weapons. Andrew looked at her face, and to his surprise she looked perfectly calm.

“Leave her alone boys, she doesn’t have anything – just let her be.”

The one who had spoken – apparently their leader – just laughed.

Delilah calmly raised her left hand in the air. Andrew saw that she was holding a short, maybe six inch or so, piece of metal. As she held it up, though, it extended into a long staff. Now holding it with both hands, she swept the legs out from underneath the one closest to her, then thrust her right hand out and a blast of light left her fingers and struck the leader square in the chest, pushing him backwards several feet and knocking him to the ground unconscious. The third guy rushed her but she wheeled herself towards him then used the staff to vault the chair and herself into the air and out of his grasp. When he turned, she held a hand in front of his eyes and a bright flash of light blinded him. The last assailant decided to turn tail and run, but as he tried to pass under an archway, Delilah blasted the stone above him, causing it to cave in and trap him. The whole thing took about 30 seconds.

Andrew stared at her, his mouth open.

“Jesus. Mary. And Joseph.”

 

[Brenda Castle]

The more time spent with Rich, the more familiar Brenda would get with the way his mind worked. His surprise and disbelief was tinged with suspicion and slight hostility.

Rich: What do you think you know about me and how?

Brenda looked him straight in the eye. It was all or nothing now.

"I know that when you were helping us to the car, you thought that it was better that than wandering the streets all night in search of food. I heard you, as clearly as I hear you now in this elevator."

Rich: Come to think of it, WHY were you swimming in dead motherfuckers back there?

"I... that wasn't me. They attacked me. They know I can..... hear things.... I don't know how they know-- I've never told anyone! But they know. They were trying to capture me.... I fought back but it wasn't enough. They would have gotten me but... A woman came and killed them all. It all happened so fast. It sounds crazy when I say it out loud, I know."

Pete: Is this your room, Brenda? It's nice....

He interjects, breaking the tension.

 

[MorningStar]

Belfast

Damn it felt good to do that again. Connor’s own special brand of rehab had done her good, she could tell. Of course, she’d never tell him that. She was breathing fast but not too heavily. It was exhilarating. She looked over to where Andrew stood. He looked like someone had just slapped his mama.

Andrew: “How-?” Pause. “Who-?” Pause. “What-?” Pause. “So you’re a-?”

He walked quickly over to her, stepping over at least two bad guys, and started pushing her chair towards the street.

Andrew: “I think it’s best if we get out of here.”

They made it unmolested back to the square in front of the pub. She saw Connor casually leaning, back against a doorway but he made no move to intercept them. Andrew stopped pushing then walked around to face her.

Andrew: “I’m sorry about all that.”

Delilah shook her head, cracking a small smile.

“I’m used to it.”

Andrew’s eyebrows raised. He seemed amused by this.

Andrew: “Used to it? You moonlighting at Fight Club or something?”

“Something like that.”

The trace of a smile left Delilah’s face. She looked up seriously at Andrew.

“Andrew, you have great gifts. You could help a lot of people with them.”

He shook his head.

Andrew: “Nope, no, not me. I’m of no use to anyone.”

She forced him to look her in the eyes.

“Andrew, MysTech is killing people. They killed my friends. They put me in this chair. They aren’t just a corporation – they make bioweapons and foster terrorism. A year ago the reactor blew in one of their facilities and a deadly virus got out of the lab and infected hundreds of people before it was contained. Do you know what happened to those people? MysTech KILLED them. They covered the whole thing up.”

Delilah pulled out her phone. She tapped on the touch screen.

“Six months ago, Connor and I destroyed one of their underground labs in New York. They were testing bioweapons on people there, Andrew – mutants like you and me. LOOK at them.”

She held up her phone to show him pictures of people in tubular stasis chambers filled with bubbling fluids, their bodies horribly ravaged and misshapen by the various substances and torture they’d been exposed to.

“Those aren’t bunny rabbits, those aren’t chimpanzees MysTech is testing on…they’re people.”

Andrew is visibly sickened by what he sees.

“They won’t stop, Andrew, not until they control the entire world and they don’t care who they have to kill to do it. No one is safe, not your family, not your friends – no one.”

She put the phone away and looked up pleadingly into his face.

“We need you, Andrew, we need you to help us stop MysTech from doing this to anyone else. Come train with us. Use your abilities to help others. Please.”

Andrew looked down at her for a long time, searching her face, not knowing what to say.

Andrew: “I’m sorry, I’m just not anyone special. I can’t go charging into corporations, blowing things up because you say they’re bad. All corporations cover up bad stuff – that’s just the way the world is.”

Delilah sighed and looked down at her lap, disappointed. Then she nodded and looked up at him again.

“Okay.”

Andrew: “Okay?”

Clearly he had expected an argument.

“Everyone has to make their own decision. But take this.”

She fished a paper and a business card out of her pocket and handed it to him.

“That’s a plane ticket and the address where you can find me in New York. If you change your mind.”

Andrew: “I won’t, but thanks. And good luck and all. Hope it works out.”

He looked down at his feet.

Andrew: “Well, take it easy.”

And with a last glance back, he was gone.

Delilah sighed again as Connor stepped up beside her.

“Let’s go home.”

 

[Matrix]

A TELEPATH? That is the word I think...

Brenda: Yes it is.

Rich looked at her...then laughed. Laughed SO HARD for a second that it looked as if he would pass out. Then, as it subsided, he smiled at her and said,

My turn. Best way is to show you I suppose.

He looked at her and the quickly changed...INTO her!! As he spoke even the voice was the same.

As far as I know, I can become pretty much anyone or anything. My appetite appears to be a side effect.

He turned from her into Barack Obama, then into an orangutan, then Ne-yo, then finally back to Rich all over again. He helped Pete out of the elevator as the doors opened.

I figure the least I could do is help you treat Pete this evening, but I will be out of your hair by morning. I don't want to be a bother.

He helped the young man into the hall and waited for the telepath to lead the way.

 

[Ana-Leigh Moreau]

It had been over an hour since Ana-Leigh and Marco crashed the diner for food and gossip. But it was nearly 3am now and despite the fun she had, Ana had class the next morning. But more importantly Alycia Barnett was speaking to the law students at NYU! It was probably the most excited Ana had been this year at school. Alycia Barnett was a prime attorney. She was infamous for taking on cases that no other lawyer would dare to touch, AND winning! Ana even did her term paper on State v. Anthony Zacchara. It was probably one of the biggest cases since the OJ trial. All of New York had eyes on Alycia and whether she would actually bring down the powerful mob boss. It went on for nearly 6 months, but eventually, the state saw it her way. She put him away for LIFE. But that was nearly two years ago....she pretty much dropped off the radar after that [Morgan's death occured]. No one knew why or what happened, but the fact that she was actually making her debut back into the spotlight as a guest speaker at NYU was causing quite the stir. Ana-Leigh was just excited.

"Common Marco. It's getting late."

Late? It's only late when the sun starts coming up, bonita.

"Don't bonita me. I have class in 5 hours."

Oh shit....yeah, it's getting late.

[with a laugh] "Yeeeaah."

Marco had pretty much sobered up since they first left the club, but he was still buzzing enough to take a couple missteps as they made they're way out to the street.

You sure you don't wanna stay with me? The hotel's only 10 blocks from here. Beats going all the way to Brooks.

No one would guess, but Marco was the heir to the Empire Hotel, one of New York's most famous hotels besides the Parthenon and Palace Hotels. They branched out of New York back in the early 80's to only prime and luxurious locations throughout the world. So pretty much, wherever Marco wanted to go, he always had a place to stay. And the same applied to Ana-Leigh.

"I have all my books and stuff at home. But thanks."

A cab pulled up next to where Marco and Ana-Leigh stood, Marco opening the door to get in.

Had fun bitch.

"Me too."

See you tomorrow!

Giving a double cheek kiss, Ana-Leigh smiled as Marco got into the car.

"Kay. Night!"

Closing the door, the cab took off and disappeared along side the other yellow vehicles that made up the street. Turning around, Ana-Leigh began to walk back towards the club where the subway station was. It was dark out, and most girls her age would be stupid to walk the streets of New York alone. However Ana-Leigh wasn't like most girls. The once pumping lively club was no completely abandoned. Her heeled shoes knocked against the concrete sidewalk where the red carpet used to be. Continuing forward, she soon came upon the alley way where Brenda was attacked, still completely unaware of what had happened. Passing the alley, Ana-Leigh casually look down it and stopped. Her eyes widened at the sight of at least 10 dead bodies piled up on top of each other. Standing beside the bodies were two men dressed in what looked like Storm Trooper gear from Star Wars.....quickly hiding behind the brick wall, she peered into the alley watching. What the hell happened? Who were these live action toy figures? And why had the police not shown up yet? It didn't seem right....none of it did. Quietly taking off her heels, Ana-Leigh began to jog toward the subway knowing she shouldn't have seen what she did, and definitely knowing if she got caught she was screwed. Whoever those people were....whatever happened....didn't concern her. Disappearing quietly down the stairs that lead to the subway, she hopped on the next tram to Brooklyn.

 

[Seer]

<< From one side of the world to the other. In places both light and dark, friendships are born, seeds and ideas of something more are planted and what was once a faint glimmer from the ashes of loss, tragedy & even revenge have now become growing sparks of something more.>>


<< For every dark power that terrorizes, there always comes force from the light to stop it.>>

<< Destiny can't be avoided, even through the time stream.>>


<< Four people, as different as the points of a star, living in a world blighted by a shadow cast from the entity known as Mystech, are beginning to find themselves being drawn together as they experience the first taste of something much more than their immediate lives going on around them.>>

<< Mystech thought it had crushed the ONLY group of people who came together to challenge it, thought that was the end of it. They hadn't begun to see how wrong they were, but they will.>>