“There will be war!”
The Dreamer lay wreathed in medical tubing, a fixed rictus of horror frozen onto her face, trapped somewhere between reality and her own subconscious mind. Her body was contorted on the slab, shuddering and sweating at the visions she saw; the medtechs raced to her side with muscle relaxants and sedatives to silence her. She convulsed as the first wave of the medication hit her system and reached out wildly with the desperate, grasping fingers of a child, clutching at the sleeves and hands of the faceless scientists beside her. She caught one, and her face rolled blindly toward him, staring straight through him.
“It fails,” she whispered, as they prised at her fingers one by one. “Already it fails. The fusions are too narrow. They will come…”
Her hand was torn away, and the sedative pressed her mind. Vainly she struggled against it, but without much hope. She never won. She was never heard.
“War,” she whispered. A tear escaped one heavy eyelid and slid unnoticed to the slab. The scientists left.
Except one.
Under the pretence of checking her vitals, he leaned over her face.
“What must we do?” he whispered. “Can we avoid it?”
The Dreamer’s eyes flickered open one last time, and she almost managed to actually look at the man above her.
“Find the worker: the damaged one. She can think…she must be freed…”
Her eyes glazed over.
“She must fuse…”
And she was gone, trapped beneath the oppressive weight of the dreams of a planet. The scientist straightened. He had what he needed. He left the room, and left the girl to six hundred million people’s nightmares.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
ASBO-Boy: A Vue to kill: Part 4
Squeeze woke with a thumping headache. A faint light was coming from somewhere close by, but he couldn’t tell where. He was lying under a heap of dust and debris, deep under ground. He'd been dreaming again of the sea, but it was stronger this time, more vivid. The lights of the Mumbles were glowing in the distance across the water. In front of him was the coastal wall, 'protection' they called it, against rising sea water and global warming. Yeah, right.
In the low chamber were other figures, crouched and cramped in the gloom, cowering neat the flickering light. There were voices too that he could just make out over the pounding in his ears.
“Who’s there?” he mumbled, uncertain whether he’d even spoken. When an answer wasn’t forthcoming he opened his mouth again to speak but was saved the effort.
“Mike?”
“Nia? That you?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded tiny and he wasn’t sure it was just the effect of the headache. He stumbled over to the light and dropped to a kneel next to her. She was sitting next to a small battery torch and hugging her knees. There was a nasty looking gash running down the side of her face.
“Are you okay?” He stammered. Images of their turbulent months meeting in the park flashed through his mind. Those embarrassing first moments together, the sweaty palms and erratic heartbeat.
She gave him a withering look that told him he needn’t have asked. “How long was I out for?” He asked, a little more sensibly.
“Minutes. Hours. Don’t know.”
“Who’s down here all together?”
Nia shrugged. She was holding Malady’s hand, who was sitting next to her, looking dazed and upset. Nia’s cloak was in tatters but nevertheless she was using it to keep them warm. Squeeze sat up and asked to borrow the light. Malady whimpered as he examined the crevices that led away from the partially collapsed chamber with the torch. “Nothing.” He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Flicker was sitting close by cradling her head and twitching more than usual.
Everyone jumped at the sound of sliding rock but it was only the Elementals returning from their search. Beacon looked every bit the idiot Squeeze had assumed he was. Blonde, blue eyed and dressed in a Union Jack. Elixir was a darker horse, with lots of eye make-up and an unreadable expression. Squeeze wondered whether she was that pale normally.
“We could only find a long-ish tunnel that leads out somewhere,” Beacon announced, hands on hips like the picture-perfect boy scout, “Elixir managed to draw some water along it so we think it must go somewhere.”
“I’m going with you.” Squeeze said, feeling preemptively brave.
“And you are?” Beacon replied.
“Squeeze.”
Beacon considered him for a moment, sizing him up, and shrugged. What did he care? Elixir gave him a steady, dark appraisal and they both turned away to talk in silence.
"Mike – don't go," Nia said, her eyes darting furtively at the two Elementals. Squeeze looked over at Malady and Flicker, they weren't listening. Squeeze wondered whether they had a concussion.
“I can be useful. Watch.” Carefully, he began to extend his arm outwards. He was expecting his muscles to strain and stop listening after a metre, but it kept on going until it reached the far end of the cavern. "Wow. It's never gone that far before."
"I have that effect on people," Nia replied, blushing at how stupid it sounded, "I mean – that's my power, that's what I do. I'll shut up now." They laughed. The sharp, bright sound felt alien in the enclosed space.
"Be careful of those two," Nia whispered, nodding to Beacon and Elixir, "As far as they're concerned, if you aren't Hounds you’re criminals. If and when we get out they'll arrest you."
Squeeze nodded, "Why do you stay with them?"
"Where else could I go?" She blinked, "Besides, we do good. We save people's lives and protect the public. They aren't bad people. They're just snobs – they aren't bad." Squeeze nodded, thinking that she sounded like a propaganda poster.
"Take care of Malady," Squeeze changed the subject. "She absorbs illnesses and injuries. She's probably the one stopping the radiation from cooking us." Squeeze nodded and looked over at the other two. Flicker appeared to be getting worse, one second she was there and the next she was gone. It was getting faster and faster. Malady coughed – her skin was going green and jaundiced.
"Hurry." Nia muttered. Squeeze stood up and marched over to the two Elementals.
"We should go," he muttered. Beacon nodded and they began walking over the piles of rubble. Elixir shot a look back at Siren, but she was too busy taking care of the others to notice.
In the low chamber were other figures, crouched and cramped in the gloom, cowering neat the flickering light. There were voices too that he could just make out over the pounding in his ears.
“Who’s there?” he mumbled, uncertain whether he’d even spoken. When an answer wasn’t forthcoming he opened his mouth again to speak but was saved the effort.
“Mike?”
“Nia? That you?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded tiny and he wasn’t sure it was just the effect of the headache. He stumbled over to the light and dropped to a kneel next to her. She was sitting next to a small battery torch and hugging her knees. There was a nasty looking gash running down the side of her face.
“Are you okay?” He stammered. Images of their turbulent months meeting in the park flashed through his mind. Those embarrassing first moments together, the sweaty palms and erratic heartbeat.
She gave him a withering look that told him he needn’t have asked. “How long was I out for?” He asked, a little more sensibly.
“Minutes. Hours. Don’t know.”
“Who’s down here all together?”
Nia shrugged. She was holding Malady’s hand, who was sitting next to her, looking dazed and upset. Nia’s cloak was in tatters but nevertheless she was using it to keep them warm. Squeeze sat up and asked to borrow the light. Malady whimpered as he examined the crevices that led away from the partially collapsed chamber with the torch. “Nothing.” He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Flicker was sitting close by cradling her head and twitching more than usual.
Everyone jumped at the sound of sliding rock but it was only the Elementals returning from their search. Beacon looked every bit the idiot Squeeze had assumed he was. Blonde, blue eyed and dressed in a Union Jack. Elixir was a darker horse, with lots of eye make-up and an unreadable expression. Squeeze wondered whether she was that pale normally.
“We could only find a long-ish tunnel that leads out somewhere,” Beacon announced, hands on hips like the picture-perfect boy scout, “Elixir managed to draw some water along it so we think it must go somewhere.”
“I’m going with you.” Squeeze said, feeling preemptively brave.
“And you are?” Beacon replied.
“Squeeze.”
Beacon considered him for a moment, sizing him up, and shrugged. What did he care? Elixir gave him a steady, dark appraisal and they both turned away to talk in silence.
"Mike – don't go," Nia said, her eyes darting furtively at the two Elementals. Squeeze looked over at Malady and Flicker, they weren't listening. Squeeze wondered whether they had a concussion.
“I can be useful. Watch.” Carefully, he began to extend his arm outwards. He was expecting his muscles to strain and stop listening after a metre, but it kept on going until it reached the far end of the cavern. "Wow. It's never gone that far before."
"I have that effect on people," Nia replied, blushing at how stupid it sounded, "I mean – that's my power, that's what I do. I'll shut up now." They laughed. The sharp, bright sound felt alien in the enclosed space.
"Be careful of those two," Nia whispered, nodding to Beacon and Elixir, "As far as they're concerned, if you aren't Hounds you’re criminals. If and when we get out they'll arrest you."
Squeeze nodded, "Why do you stay with them?"
"Where else could I go?" She blinked, "Besides, we do good. We save people's lives and protect the public. They aren't bad people. They're just snobs – they aren't bad." Squeeze nodded, thinking that she sounded like a propaganda poster.
"Take care of Malady," Squeeze changed the subject. "She absorbs illnesses and injuries. She's probably the one stopping the radiation from cooking us." Squeeze nodded and looked over at the other two. Flicker appeared to be getting worse, one second she was there and the next she was gone. It was getting faster and faster. Malady coughed – her skin was going green and jaundiced.
"Hurry." Nia muttered. Squeeze stood up and marched over to the two Elementals.
"We should go," he muttered. Beacon nodded and they began walking over the piles of rubble. Elixir shot a look back at Siren, but she was too busy taking care of the others to notice.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
ASBO-Boy: The Circus comes to town...
They'd been travelling for half an hour when the armoured van pulled into the strip of wasteland along the sea-front. Unlike the rest of Swansea this piece of land had not changed much and existed today for much the same reason it had for decades, to host the wandering carnivals and shows that came to town. The van ground to a halt along the gravel and the back doors were flung open. Blearily, Omen opened his eyes and squinted into the evening light. Lurid colours swam in front of him before becoming two tall officers and a large man who appeared to be wearing the remnants of a balloon and a top hat. "Stand up boy," one of the Officers demanded gripping him by the collar. Omen rubbed his eyes and made a vague effort of getting to his feet.
"Is he wearing a Restrictor Suit?" The fat man in the top hat and techni-colour coat asked.
"Of course. His name is Omen - he controls short-term probability; minor miracles, that kind of thing. He can also see into the near future. You'll need to keep a close eye on him." The tallest Officer replied, height seemed to be the only way to tell the black-suited drones apart.
"Yes, yes – tell me something I don't know. What's wrong with his face?"
"He had a minor run in with an Elemental." The Officer replied with a smirk. Omen shuddered.
"Yes, well – we might be able to do something with a little greasepaint. Maybe we can paint him white and draw little sixes all over him." The fat man laughed, marched forward and gripped Omen by the arm. "Well, thank you very much Officers, your cheque is in the post as usual." Omen trotted to keep up with the enormous man as he strode off in the direction of the Big Top; a striped affair in burgundy and gold surrounded by a moat of caravans, lorries and lesser attractions. Omen looked down at the pudgy hand that held his arm, it was sporting a collection of vile gold sovereign rings.
The camp seemed to be deserted. There were lights in the caravan windows and the vague hints of muffled laughter and activity from within. Beneath their feet, mingling in the dirt were posters and candy-floss sticks. The air was full of the spice of burnt wood, laced with sweat and earth. The prospect of living in a circus appealed far more to Omen than the brainwashing he’d received at Sandfields. What if he was going to be locked up and chained to a post and made to dance like an animal for gawking tourists? At least the Borstal had kept away the nightmares. The fat man led him up to a long trailer which had extended wings and multiple layers of garish paint. A door was opened and Omen was led into to the smoky warmth within.
"Bloody hell," the fat man gasped pulling away a fake mustache and goatee beard. In moments the entire outfit was disposed of and replaced by a slimmer, white haired old man. "Sorry kid – I hate dressing up like a ponce for those in-bred sociopaths."
"Another freak for the show, Zant?" Behind him was a tall gangly girl with dark eyes ringed by a pair of thick glasses.
"Yes dear, another 'freak' for our little show. I seem to be collecting you." The old man smiled. Much like the exterior of the caravan the interior was a mish-mash of different styles ranging from the vaguely recent to the antique. Tapestries and rugs, incense burners and bookshelves, the place was amass with clutter and curios from all over the world.
"Wow," Omen muttered under his breath. Zant chuckled as he stirred a pot on the stove. It suddenly struck Omen how utterly ravenous he was.
"Let's get you into something a bit more appropriate." The girl said, leading him away from the stove, "I'm Locus, by the way."
"Omen," he replied, "You aren't wearing skin-suits." He muttered, observing that she was wearing a fluffy woollen jumper and a pair of tartan leggings.
"No, we don't – Zant doesn't believe in them. Nor do we." Locus replied cheerily, leading him into another room which looked like the wardrobe of a pantomime production. "Help yourself to anything you like. We all share clothes. Nothing's sacred here." She smiled and went to close the door behind her.
"How many of you are there?"
"Enough." She smiled, "Take your time."
Left on his own for the first time in months Omen felt a vague sense of claustrophobia. There were no guards here. No helicopters or explosions. No Elementals. He took her advice and took his time over his selection. There was nothing here that anyone at his old school would have worn but that didn't matter any more. He started to laugh as he fished through swathes of jumpers, t-shirts, jeans, pantaloons and cod-pieces. The Restriction Skin Suit took time to peel off; beneath it, his skin was covered in sores and an angry rash. With shaking hands he selected a pair of purple jeans and a long-sleeved jumper, he also found some gloves and an old pair of green Cons. Mentally he fought to suppress his powers as they welled up now that the suit was off. Finally, when he was composed, he wiped his eyes and opened the door.
Sitting around, laughing and joking with Zant were four distinctive Others. They were sipping soup from bowls and munching on bread and cheese. Locus appeared with a bowl and invited him to sit down with them. Hands trembling, Omen followed her to the table and lapped up his fare in silence. He felt content to sit and listen to them. In his own private world he allowed himself one small glimpse into the future. He saw happiness and warmth. As he wept, the laughter subsided and he felt five pairs of hands on his arms and back; they stayed there until he felt better. They all finished their meals in silence. When he was ready he told his story and they all listened.
**
That night he dreamt for the first time in a year. The night he was caught came back in staggering detail. Waiting outside the office, the raised voices, hearing words he didn't understand and the image through the opaque glass of two figures bent near the desk. He saw the headmaster's flushed, angry expression and the look of despair on the fifth former's – he'd seen something he wasn't meant to and so he was branded with an ASBO and locked away. To this day he didn't know what he was meant to have seen. The dream moved on, shifting focus and he felt that familiar surge of moving forwards into the future. Even in the lucid dream state he was aware of what was happening; it was like wetting the bed, somehow you knew.
There were figures cowered in a small space. They were running out of air. People were looking for them. There was something about the air – it was poisonous. He saw faces – girls, boys – kids his own age, younger, older. Then he saw Him, the Elemental. The one they call Swelter stalking a dark landscape through the fog, glowing like a fiery ghost.
He sat up sharply and banged his head on the bunk above him and got a sense of deja vu over the burning pain in his forehead. He rolled out of the patchwork quilt and held his head in his hands. That face, the gurning, twisted expression there in front of him whenever he closed his eyes. Swelter – even the word felt vicious and sickening.
Omen looked over at the tank in the corner. It was where Spout slept. The band of Others in the Circus were among the strangest he'd ever seen. Nearly all of the Others in the Borstal looked normal but of the Others here he and Locus were the only ones who didn't look odd. Spout had blue skin and could breath underwater, as such he slept better in a tank.
"Bad dreams?" Came a bubbly voice.
"Yes and no." Omen replied, "Just bad memories." He wondered whether the vision of the trapped kids was worth mentioning and decided against it – it'd take too long to explain.
"I never dream." Spout said, climbing out of the tank. Omen looked away quickly. Spout, apart from being blue and scaly, had absolutely no modesty and slept naked. He seemed to float over to the fridge at the other end of the room and open the fridge, from inside he grabbed a bowl of half-eaten sea-weed pasta and started munching away with his fingers. Omen had come from a very staid household in Sketty. Not a molecule out of place. There was something oddly satisfying about having one's underwear and clothes strewn on the floor. The whole boy's end of the caravan was a pig-sty.
The door opened and in walked Swarm who was older, stocky and covered in peaty looking soil. He slept outside and only came in to eat and talk. As per usual, he was covered in a variety of insects.
"Evening chaps," he muttered, following Spout to the fridge. He made no point of Spout's nakedness or the fact that it was four o'clock in the morning and not even remotely the evening. From within he pulled out a pint of brown soup. "Ahhhh! Beef dinner. Just like Mam used to make."
Spout laughed, "Half-digested beef dinner concentrate? Sounds lovely."
"Says he who's eating sea weed."
"Touché." Spout retorted through a mouthful of pasta.
"Come on Omen, what are you having?" Swarm asked earnestly. Omen smiled back and wondered. To be honest, looking at what those two were eating he'd never felt more ill. But hey, he thought, you're going to have to get used to this.
He caught a brief glimpse of the future and saw vomit and laughter. Swallowing whatever shame he might have once had he stood up and walked over to the fridge and bent down in front of the glow. The other two hovered nearby to see what he was going to pull out. Feeling cruel and vindictive he pulled out the remains of a sticky chocolate cake.
"Eurgh!" They both staggered back in revulsion. Omen stood up and brandished the cake, feeling sick and euphorically tired all at once. He had a devilishly cruel idea to break the ice. He was tired of being young, tidy and an Outsider. He wanted to belong.
"I have a challenge." He proclaimed. Spout and Swarm shared a reproachful look, "We each have to take a bite or sip of each others food."
"What's the challenge?" Swarm demanded.
"The last one to be sick wins." Omen replied with a shrug. Swarm and Spout shared a derisive snort as their chests swelled with the prospect of a challenge.
"Right. I'm winning this." Swarm announced which began an argument over who was going to come out on top. No less than three minutes later it was too close to call as all three of them poured out of the caravan and threw up into the wind.
**
The following morning Omen woke up with a sore throat and a headache. The upside was he hadn't had a repeat performance of the dreams and visions, which was a relief. The downside was he'd spent the wee small hours getting to know people through the medium of projectile vomit.
"You wouldn't believe the mess outside, Swarm hasn’t been eating cake again, has he?" Locus muttered as she stumbled in to get to the fridge. There was a muffled protest from outside and Omen laughed, in the corner he heard an expulsion of bubbles. Omen lay back in bed with his hands under his head and closed his eyes. He thought back over the vision of the trapped kids and wondered what he should do about it – then he remembered Swelter, and that ugly, twisted grin and decided against it.
“Come on,” Locus said, shaking him, “It’s time to start training.” He mumbled a ‘why?’ under his breath, to which she replied, “For the Circus silly!”
"Is he wearing a Restrictor Suit?" The fat man in the top hat and techni-colour coat asked.
"Of course. His name is Omen - he controls short-term probability; minor miracles, that kind of thing. He can also see into the near future. You'll need to keep a close eye on him." The tallest Officer replied, height seemed to be the only way to tell the black-suited drones apart.
"Yes, yes – tell me something I don't know. What's wrong with his face?"
"He had a minor run in with an Elemental." The Officer replied with a smirk. Omen shuddered.
"Yes, well – we might be able to do something with a little greasepaint. Maybe we can paint him white and draw little sixes all over him." The fat man laughed, marched forward and gripped Omen by the arm. "Well, thank you very much Officers, your cheque is in the post as usual." Omen trotted to keep up with the enormous man as he strode off in the direction of the Big Top; a striped affair in burgundy and gold surrounded by a moat of caravans, lorries and lesser attractions. Omen looked down at the pudgy hand that held his arm, it was sporting a collection of vile gold sovereign rings.
The camp seemed to be deserted. There were lights in the caravan windows and the vague hints of muffled laughter and activity from within. Beneath their feet, mingling in the dirt were posters and candy-floss sticks. The air was full of the spice of burnt wood, laced with sweat and earth. The prospect of living in a circus appealed far more to Omen than the brainwashing he’d received at Sandfields. What if he was going to be locked up and chained to a post and made to dance like an animal for gawking tourists? At least the Borstal had kept away the nightmares. The fat man led him up to a long trailer which had extended wings and multiple layers of garish paint. A door was opened and Omen was led into to the smoky warmth within.
"Bloody hell," the fat man gasped pulling away a fake mustache and goatee beard. In moments the entire outfit was disposed of and replaced by a slimmer, white haired old man. "Sorry kid – I hate dressing up like a ponce for those in-bred sociopaths."
"Another freak for the show, Zant?" Behind him was a tall gangly girl with dark eyes ringed by a pair of thick glasses.
"Yes dear, another 'freak' for our little show. I seem to be collecting you." The old man smiled. Much like the exterior of the caravan the interior was a mish-mash of different styles ranging from the vaguely recent to the antique. Tapestries and rugs, incense burners and bookshelves, the place was amass with clutter and curios from all over the world.
"Wow," Omen muttered under his breath. Zant chuckled as he stirred a pot on the stove. It suddenly struck Omen how utterly ravenous he was.
"Let's get you into something a bit more appropriate." The girl said, leading him away from the stove, "I'm Locus, by the way."
"Omen," he replied, "You aren't wearing skin-suits." He muttered, observing that she was wearing a fluffy woollen jumper and a pair of tartan leggings.
"No, we don't – Zant doesn't believe in them. Nor do we." Locus replied cheerily, leading him into another room which looked like the wardrobe of a pantomime production. "Help yourself to anything you like. We all share clothes. Nothing's sacred here." She smiled and went to close the door behind her.
"How many of you are there?"
"Enough." She smiled, "Take your time."
Left on his own for the first time in months Omen felt a vague sense of claustrophobia. There were no guards here. No helicopters or explosions. No Elementals. He took her advice and took his time over his selection. There was nothing here that anyone at his old school would have worn but that didn't matter any more. He started to laugh as he fished through swathes of jumpers, t-shirts, jeans, pantaloons and cod-pieces. The Restriction Skin Suit took time to peel off; beneath it, his skin was covered in sores and an angry rash. With shaking hands he selected a pair of purple jeans and a long-sleeved jumper, he also found some gloves and an old pair of green Cons. Mentally he fought to suppress his powers as they welled up now that the suit was off. Finally, when he was composed, he wiped his eyes and opened the door.
Sitting around, laughing and joking with Zant were four distinctive Others. They were sipping soup from bowls and munching on bread and cheese. Locus appeared with a bowl and invited him to sit down with them. Hands trembling, Omen followed her to the table and lapped up his fare in silence. He felt content to sit and listen to them. In his own private world he allowed himself one small glimpse into the future. He saw happiness and warmth. As he wept, the laughter subsided and he felt five pairs of hands on his arms and back; they stayed there until he felt better. They all finished their meals in silence. When he was ready he told his story and they all listened.
**
That night he dreamt for the first time in a year. The night he was caught came back in staggering detail. Waiting outside the office, the raised voices, hearing words he didn't understand and the image through the opaque glass of two figures bent near the desk. He saw the headmaster's flushed, angry expression and the look of despair on the fifth former's – he'd seen something he wasn't meant to and so he was branded with an ASBO and locked away. To this day he didn't know what he was meant to have seen. The dream moved on, shifting focus and he felt that familiar surge of moving forwards into the future. Even in the lucid dream state he was aware of what was happening; it was like wetting the bed, somehow you knew.
There were figures cowered in a small space. They were running out of air. People were looking for them. There was something about the air – it was poisonous. He saw faces – girls, boys – kids his own age, younger, older. Then he saw Him, the Elemental. The one they call Swelter stalking a dark landscape through the fog, glowing like a fiery ghost.
He sat up sharply and banged his head on the bunk above him and got a sense of deja vu over the burning pain in his forehead. He rolled out of the patchwork quilt and held his head in his hands. That face, the gurning, twisted expression there in front of him whenever he closed his eyes. Swelter – even the word felt vicious and sickening.
Omen looked over at the tank in the corner. It was where Spout slept. The band of Others in the Circus were among the strangest he'd ever seen. Nearly all of the Others in the Borstal looked normal but of the Others here he and Locus were the only ones who didn't look odd. Spout had blue skin and could breath underwater, as such he slept better in a tank.
"Bad dreams?" Came a bubbly voice.
"Yes and no." Omen replied, "Just bad memories." He wondered whether the vision of the trapped kids was worth mentioning and decided against it – it'd take too long to explain.
"I never dream." Spout said, climbing out of the tank. Omen looked away quickly. Spout, apart from being blue and scaly, had absolutely no modesty and slept naked. He seemed to float over to the fridge at the other end of the room and open the fridge, from inside he grabbed a bowl of half-eaten sea-weed pasta and started munching away with his fingers. Omen had come from a very staid household in Sketty. Not a molecule out of place. There was something oddly satisfying about having one's underwear and clothes strewn on the floor. The whole boy's end of the caravan was a pig-sty.
The door opened and in walked Swarm who was older, stocky and covered in peaty looking soil. He slept outside and only came in to eat and talk. As per usual, he was covered in a variety of insects.
"Evening chaps," he muttered, following Spout to the fridge. He made no point of Spout's nakedness or the fact that it was four o'clock in the morning and not even remotely the evening. From within he pulled out a pint of brown soup. "Ahhhh! Beef dinner. Just like Mam used to make."
Spout laughed, "Half-digested beef dinner concentrate? Sounds lovely."
"Says he who's eating sea weed."
"Touché." Spout retorted through a mouthful of pasta.
"Come on Omen, what are you having?" Swarm asked earnestly. Omen smiled back and wondered. To be honest, looking at what those two were eating he'd never felt more ill. But hey, he thought, you're going to have to get used to this.
He caught a brief glimpse of the future and saw vomit and laughter. Swallowing whatever shame he might have once had he stood up and walked over to the fridge and bent down in front of the glow. The other two hovered nearby to see what he was going to pull out. Feeling cruel and vindictive he pulled out the remains of a sticky chocolate cake.
"Eurgh!" They both staggered back in revulsion. Omen stood up and brandished the cake, feeling sick and euphorically tired all at once. He had a devilishly cruel idea to break the ice. He was tired of being young, tidy and an Outsider. He wanted to belong.
"I have a challenge." He proclaimed. Spout and Swarm shared a reproachful look, "We each have to take a bite or sip of each others food."
"What's the challenge?" Swarm demanded.
"The last one to be sick wins." Omen replied with a shrug. Swarm and Spout shared a derisive snort as their chests swelled with the prospect of a challenge.
"Right. I'm winning this." Swarm announced which began an argument over who was going to come out on top. No less than three minutes later it was too close to call as all three of them poured out of the caravan and threw up into the wind.
**
The following morning Omen woke up with a sore throat and a headache. The upside was he hadn't had a repeat performance of the dreams and visions, which was a relief. The downside was he'd spent the wee small hours getting to know people through the medium of projectile vomit.
"You wouldn't believe the mess outside, Swarm hasn’t been eating cake again, has he?" Locus muttered as she stumbled in to get to the fridge. There was a muffled protest from outside and Omen laughed, in the corner he heard an expulsion of bubbles. Omen lay back in bed with his hands under his head and closed his eyes. He thought back over the vision of the trapped kids and wondered what he should do about it – then he remembered Swelter, and that ugly, twisted grin and decided against it.
“Come on,” Locus said, shaking him, “It’s time to start training.” He mumbled a ‘why?’ under his breath, to which she replied, “For the Circus silly!”
Friday, 4 May 2007
ASBO-Boy - A Vue to Kill: Part 3
“Wait!” Arc-Light screamed as Vue threw punch after punch at her. She daren’t use a shock blast in case she hurt him. “I need to speak with you.”
“Squeeze! Where are you?” She cried out once more in between dodges. The drip seemed to have sauntered off somewhere. She felt herself getting more and more angry.
“Not interested,” Vue barked back as a punch swung past her head. In a moment of fury her self-control slip and she let loose with a wave of energy. The pins and needles in her hands tickled and she felt herself rise into the air. As Vue reappeared somewhere else she saw him get knocked back. She wasted no time gripping him by the collar.
“Seraph’s sister says hi, you little toe-rag.” She couldn’t resist knocking him out once and for all, but this time with her fist. There came an ominous roll of thunder and it didn’t come from her; she looked up to see the ground below her give way in a geyser of rock and dust, sucking everyone in the vicinity down into the ground. She caught a glimpse of Squeeze being held by a tower of flame, then they both seemed to vanish.
Their time was nearly up, she could already feel the beginning of radiation sickness sweeping over her. She couldn’t see any of the team. Time to make a decision. Grimly she picked Vue up and slung him over her shoulder.
**
“Squeeze! Malady!” Bark shouted in the darkness, he was beginning to cough with all the dust. The light from the helicopter swung through the gloom but it was impossible to see – the dust was as thick as fog. His mind began to race with all the thoughts of radioactive particles going into his lungs.
“Siren! Siren! Elixir! Beacon!” Someone was screaming in the fog. Bark thickened his skin and felt himself grow larger than he’d ever been before. Branches were beginning to poke through the skin-suit.
He couldn’t tell how far it was away but he could see a glow approaching. Bark felt the heat as the walking blaze became clearer – it was one of the Elementals. They froze as they spotted each other.
“What have you done?” Bark shouted.
“Nothing!” The walking flame returned. Bark felt a strange stand-off developing. Both of them were searching for their friends, but could he fight the urge to use the opportunity to strike down one of the Elementals? He remembered the hatred Squeeze packed into his rants about the Hounds and their sympathisers, the Elementals were one step worse. It looked like something similar had occurred to the walking flame.
“Stay away from me!” The Elemental shouted as he slipped back into the foggy dust. Bark didn’t need telling twice and drifted off on his own path through the newly turned mountain of rubble.
**
The helicopters were out in earnest sweeping the city that night. Arc-Light stumbled through the back streets of town past all the guards and used her old tricks to get through the gates. By shorting out the lights and creating a small degree of havoc she managed to divert their attention while she lugged Vue past them undetected.
It felt like hours, but eventually the alleys led her up parallel with Walter Road and St Helens into the Uplands and the house on Park Avenue. As discreetly as possible she managed to get into the back of the house and down into the basement where the others were gathered, waiting for their return.
Gwen was the first to rise when she heard the noise as Arc-Light descended the chairs. Adrenalin had powered through her exhaustion so she barely noticed as they bombarded her with questions. After several lucid minutes where the world swam around her, Gwen materialised before her like a vision in a dream.
“What happened?” She demanded.
“We got split up. I managed to get Vue out – but the others, I don’t know.” She barely registered the gasps and cries from the assembled. All she could see was Gwen’s face.
“You did well. Now sleep.” She whispered. Arc-Light felt herself slipping into the darkness. In her furtive, broken slumber she heard voices around her.
She needs to go to hospital –
What about the others? What about Malady? She’s only twelve –
We have Vue – that’s all that matters –
We’ll find them – don’t worry –
How is one boy worth all of the others? How can you be so cruel?
Because Vue might have the key to the cure – they’d all be saved –
What if they don’t want to be saved?
They won’t have a choice. No one deserves to live in a world with creatures like Helix. I want my brother to walk out of that tomb alive.
I hope the risk is worth it.
“Squeeze! Where are you?” She cried out once more in between dodges. The drip seemed to have sauntered off somewhere. She felt herself getting more and more angry.
“Not interested,” Vue barked back as a punch swung past her head. In a moment of fury her self-control slip and she let loose with a wave of energy. The pins and needles in her hands tickled and she felt herself rise into the air. As Vue reappeared somewhere else she saw him get knocked back. She wasted no time gripping him by the collar.
“Seraph’s sister says hi, you little toe-rag.” She couldn’t resist knocking him out once and for all, but this time with her fist. There came an ominous roll of thunder and it didn’t come from her; she looked up to see the ground below her give way in a geyser of rock and dust, sucking everyone in the vicinity down into the ground. She caught a glimpse of Squeeze being held by a tower of flame, then they both seemed to vanish.
Their time was nearly up, she could already feel the beginning of radiation sickness sweeping over her. She couldn’t see any of the team. Time to make a decision. Grimly she picked Vue up and slung him over her shoulder.
**
“Squeeze! Malady!” Bark shouted in the darkness, he was beginning to cough with all the dust. The light from the helicopter swung through the gloom but it was impossible to see – the dust was as thick as fog. His mind began to race with all the thoughts of radioactive particles going into his lungs.
“Siren! Siren! Elixir! Beacon!” Someone was screaming in the fog. Bark thickened his skin and felt himself grow larger than he’d ever been before. Branches were beginning to poke through the skin-suit.
He couldn’t tell how far it was away but he could see a glow approaching. Bark felt the heat as the walking blaze became clearer – it was one of the Elementals. They froze as they spotted each other.
“What have you done?” Bark shouted.
“Nothing!” The walking flame returned. Bark felt a strange stand-off developing. Both of them were searching for their friends, but could he fight the urge to use the opportunity to strike down one of the Elementals? He remembered the hatred Squeeze packed into his rants about the Hounds and their sympathisers, the Elementals were one step worse. It looked like something similar had occurred to the walking flame.
“Stay away from me!” The Elemental shouted as he slipped back into the foggy dust. Bark didn’t need telling twice and drifted off on his own path through the newly turned mountain of rubble.
**
The helicopters were out in earnest sweeping the city that night. Arc-Light stumbled through the back streets of town past all the guards and used her old tricks to get through the gates. By shorting out the lights and creating a small degree of havoc she managed to divert their attention while she lugged Vue past them undetected.
It felt like hours, but eventually the alleys led her up parallel with Walter Road and St Helens into the Uplands and the house on Park Avenue. As discreetly as possible she managed to get into the back of the house and down into the basement where the others were gathered, waiting for their return.
Gwen was the first to rise when she heard the noise as Arc-Light descended the chairs. Adrenalin had powered through her exhaustion so she barely noticed as they bombarded her with questions. After several lucid minutes where the world swam around her, Gwen materialised before her like a vision in a dream.
“What happened?” She demanded.
“We got split up. I managed to get Vue out – but the others, I don’t know.” She barely registered the gasps and cries from the assembled. All she could see was Gwen’s face.
“You did well. Now sleep.” She whispered. Arc-Light felt herself slipping into the darkness. In her furtive, broken slumber she heard voices around her.
She needs to go to hospital –
What about the others? What about Malady? She’s only twelve –
We have Vue – that’s all that matters –
We’ll find them – don’t worry –
How is one boy worth all of the others? How can you be so cruel?
Because Vue might have the key to the cure – they’d all be saved –
What if they don’t want to be saved?
They won’t have a choice. No one deserves to live in a world with creatures like Helix. I want my brother to walk out of that tomb alive.
I hope the risk is worth it.
ASBO-Boy - A Vue to Kill: Part 2
One hour ago.
Squeeze hugged his knees closer to his body, they were all sitting in the basement in their skin-suits watching Gwen point to the image on an old OHP screen. There was a blurred photo of the Elementals standing in front of County Hall. In the foreground was a tall boy with shoulder length hair and a wide grin. “This image was taken a year before the Battle of Dyfatty. Vue can open windows in the air and bridge large spaces with little effort.”
“Is that like event horizons?” Squeeze wondered aloud.
“Similar.” Gwen continued, “We can only guess why he’s searching the Dyfatty ruins. The entire area has been sealed with reinforced lead radiation walls. Going in is going to be dangerous, so you’ll need to be in and out fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to train you, but there’s not much we can do now, you’ll just have to do your best.
“Details are sketchy regarding the Battle itself. Communication was lost just prior to the black-out. The whole thing was hushed up quickly and the area was sealed within days. They say the explosion was clearly heard in the Vale of Glamorgan, but the cover up was so thorough most locals never knew it happened, beyond the noise. All we know is that in the helicopter journey before hand there was a fall out between Vue and Helix. We think Helix lost control of his powers and caused the incident during the suppression of an older, more vocal resistance group. He has the disturbing ability to control atoms. It gives him near limitless power – he can fly and he’s stronger than any Other, even his successor Beacon. Helix survived the battle and was contained, Vue managed to leap away but was apprehended later. Seraph and Physic were injured in the blast, but Core’s body was never found.”
Squeeze looked around at the others. He wondered which one of those was her brother. Her face betrayed nothing. Bark was sitting stoically in the corner, flexing his skin, Arc-Light was playing with her static hair, Flicker was twitching in the corner and Malady was watching intently with her legs swinging over the edge of the bed.
“The Elementals are going to be there. You can be sure that the message has been passed along to them. We’ve secured a vehicle to get you close to the wall but after that you’ll have to get in by yourselves. Arc-Light – you’ll be leading the team. Your task is simple. Deliver the message to Vue that I wish to speak with him; tell him I’m Seraph’s sister. He’ll understand. Good luck.”
Now.
It had taken a combination of everyone’s skills to get in. Arc-Light short-circuited all the electronics, Squeeze managed to wedge his way under and over the fences. Flicker by-passed the security system by doing something – Squeeze couldn’t figure out what – and Bark took care of any unwelcome guests. Malady hung back and took care of scrapes and grazes, periodically being zapped by Arc-Light or made to laugh by Bark. When they were past the wall it didn’t take them long to find Vue – they just followed the noises and the light until they were looking down on him fighting the Elementals. Squeeze immediately spotted Nia on the floor, swathed in her purple cloak. The water in his skin-suit went cold. “Wow! It’s her!” Malady gasped.
“Excellent.” Vue cried, “Now you definitely wont stop me.”
“Want a bet?” Squeeze found his voice shouting. Everyone seemed to turn to look at him but Squeeze could only see Nia. The message was clear, she’d recognised him. The next few minutes passed in a blur. Vue seemed to bounce around the forgotten playground like a man possessed, his anarchic laughter echoing into the night as he deftly struck the gathered from all angles, appearing out of thin air one moment here then another somewhere else.
“It’s the Hounds!” He heard an unfamiliar voice shout. Over the edge of the crater Beacon appeared, the Union Jack emblazoned on his skin-suit. Nia was still sitting in the centre of the playground, her arms raised to the sky and haloed by a strange glow.
Squeeze felt the air around him ripple as Vue appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t waste time in throwing a punch and Squeeze summoned all of his strength to dodge it. As he did his body twisted and changed more than it usually did and he found that he could easily avoid everything he was being dealt. Vue didn’t waste any more time in figuring this out and vanished. Squeeze pounded over the rubble towards Nia and slid to a hault near her. “Nia?”
She nodded fiercely, clearly concentrating on the bubble of energy around her. He could hear Arc-Light screaming his name, but it didn’t seem to register.
“I’m a little busy, Mike,” Nia managed to splutter. Squeeze was stunned at the use of his real name – his old name; nobody called him that now.
“These aren’t Hounds,” Beacon shouted over the din of the battle. Squeeze looked up and saw him with his arms around Malady’s neck. In a burst of rage Squeeze leaped across the distance and struck Beacon across his smarmy, pretty face. It did no good, the poster-boy shook him and Malady off and returned the favour. Squeeze felt himself being knocked back. Stars swam in his eyes as he wondered what the burning sensation around his neck was. Everything swam into focus. He was staring down the length of Swelter’s arm, his body engulfed in red hot fire.
“Get away from Siren!” He spat between gritted teeth. His eyes looked as if they were burning. Squeeze felt himself beginning to slip into unconsciousness, the water around his body began to boil. Vaguely he heard his name being called, there was rushing in his ears. Then silence.
Squeeze hugged his knees closer to his body, they were all sitting in the basement in their skin-suits watching Gwen point to the image on an old OHP screen. There was a blurred photo of the Elementals standing in front of County Hall. In the foreground was a tall boy with shoulder length hair and a wide grin. “This image was taken a year before the Battle of Dyfatty. Vue can open windows in the air and bridge large spaces with little effort.”
“Is that like event horizons?” Squeeze wondered aloud.
“Similar.” Gwen continued, “We can only guess why he’s searching the Dyfatty ruins. The entire area has been sealed with reinforced lead radiation walls. Going in is going to be dangerous, so you’ll need to be in and out fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to train you, but there’s not much we can do now, you’ll just have to do your best.
“Details are sketchy regarding the Battle itself. Communication was lost just prior to the black-out. The whole thing was hushed up quickly and the area was sealed within days. They say the explosion was clearly heard in the Vale of Glamorgan, but the cover up was so thorough most locals never knew it happened, beyond the noise. All we know is that in the helicopter journey before hand there was a fall out between Vue and Helix. We think Helix lost control of his powers and caused the incident during the suppression of an older, more vocal resistance group. He has the disturbing ability to control atoms. It gives him near limitless power – he can fly and he’s stronger than any Other, even his successor Beacon. Helix survived the battle and was contained, Vue managed to leap away but was apprehended later. Seraph and Physic were injured in the blast, but Core’s body was never found.”
Squeeze looked around at the others. He wondered which one of those was her brother. Her face betrayed nothing. Bark was sitting stoically in the corner, flexing his skin, Arc-Light was playing with her static hair, Flicker was twitching in the corner and Malady was watching intently with her legs swinging over the edge of the bed.
“The Elementals are going to be there. You can be sure that the message has been passed along to them. We’ve secured a vehicle to get you close to the wall but after that you’ll have to get in by yourselves. Arc-Light – you’ll be leading the team. Your task is simple. Deliver the message to Vue that I wish to speak with him; tell him I’m Seraph’s sister. He’ll understand. Good luck.”
Now.
It had taken a combination of everyone’s skills to get in. Arc-Light short-circuited all the electronics, Squeeze managed to wedge his way under and over the fences. Flicker by-passed the security system by doing something – Squeeze couldn’t figure out what – and Bark took care of any unwelcome guests. Malady hung back and took care of scrapes and grazes, periodically being zapped by Arc-Light or made to laugh by Bark. When they were past the wall it didn’t take them long to find Vue – they just followed the noises and the light until they were looking down on him fighting the Elementals. Squeeze immediately spotted Nia on the floor, swathed in her purple cloak. The water in his skin-suit went cold. “Wow! It’s her!” Malady gasped.
“Excellent.” Vue cried, “Now you definitely wont stop me.”
“Want a bet?” Squeeze found his voice shouting. Everyone seemed to turn to look at him but Squeeze could only see Nia. The message was clear, she’d recognised him. The next few minutes passed in a blur. Vue seemed to bounce around the forgotten playground like a man possessed, his anarchic laughter echoing into the night as he deftly struck the gathered from all angles, appearing out of thin air one moment here then another somewhere else.
“It’s the Hounds!” He heard an unfamiliar voice shout. Over the edge of the crater Beacon appeared, the Union Jack emblazoned on his skin-suit. Nia was still sitting in the centre of the playground, her arms raised to the sky and haloed by a strange glow.
Squeeze felt the air around him ripple as Vue appeared out of nowhere. He didn’t waste time in throwing a punch and Squeeze summoned all of his strength to dodge it. As he did his body twisted and changed more than it usually did and he found that he could easily avoid everything he was being dealt. Vue didn’t waste any more time in figuring this out and vanished. Squeeze pounded over the rubble towards Nia and slid to a hault near her. “Nia?”
She nodded fiercely, clearly concentrating on the bubble of energy around her. He could hear Arc-Light screaming his name, but it didn’t seem to register.
“I’m a little busy, Mike,” Nia managed to splutter. Squeeze was stunned at the use of his real name – his old name; nobody called him that now.
“These aren’t Hounds,” Beacon shouted over the din of the battle. Squeeze looked up and saw him with his arms around Malady’s neck. In a burst of rage Squeeze leaped across the distance and struck Beacon across his smarmy, pretty face. It did no good, the poster-boy shook him and Malady off and returned the favour. Squeeze felt himself being knocked back. Stars swam in his eyes as he wondered what the burning sensation around his neck was. Everything swam into focus. He was staring down the length of Swelter’s arm, his body engulfed in red hot fire.
“Get away from Siren!” He spat between gritted teeth. His eyes looked as if they were burning. Squeeze felt himself beginning to slip into unconsciousness, the water around his body began to boil. Vaguely he heard his name being called, there was rushing in his ears. Then silence.
ASBO-Boy - A Vue to Kill: Part 1
“Vue’s made his move.” Beacon announced to the assembled Elementals, “He’s been spotted near the Dyfatty fly-over by observation cameras. Obviously, the wasteland beneath it is still out of bounds and it’s all closed off, but Vue’s abilities have overcome every defence. We need need to capture him before he escapes again. Any questions?”
Nia looked at the other two. There were no questions. Within minutes they were airborne in the Elemental helicopter. Below them Swansea was going to sleep but the fly-over still looked busy and glowed like a bright chalk line leading out of the city. Below it, the crater that once was Dyfatty spread out like a black hole. The mountains of rubble and debris piled up around the foundations of the old blocks of flats that once stood there. Nia looked down at the Geiger counter nestled in the console. The clicking was clearly audible in their earphones.
“We have to be out in twenty minutes because of the radiation. Keep in pod contact at all times.” Beacon commanded over the intercom. The helicopter swept down over the rubble and dropped to a comfortable distance for them to jump out. “The pilot will sweep the lights and follow our progress. If you see anything, speak up. Vue is to be considered extremely dangerous. He’s one of the original Elementals after all. We’ll be following Search Pattern Delta. Move out!”
The place was covered in ash and dirt. All life seemed to have been cooked out of the place. There was no wind and the lights from the helicopter made the place look like a graveyard. Nia gathered her cloak around her and began to search the ruins. A chill sensation ran down her spine as she came across a playground and the stumps of trees. An iron railing jutted out of the ground at irregular angles. Dimly she wondered what on earth could have happened to this ghastly place.
“Nothing down near the flats – what about your end Siren?” Beacon’s cold voice sounded over the pod link in her ear.
“Nothing to report. Just a dead playground.”
As she stepped over the remains of a bed of flowers her mind began to wander. It hadn’t even been a week since the helicopter crash and the incident with the ASBO. Since then her time at Elemental Tower had become worse. The others kept their distance while she went out of her way to avoid them. Beacon was aloof and pretended not to notice, Elixir made no comment, and of the three, did the best job of trying to coax her back into socialising. But Swelter’s reaction was almost encouraging. He’d started to lose control of his abilities again, despite her natural influence. She watched as more and more he stayed in his room and declined to take part in exercises. It was almost satisfying to watch him squirm with guilt every time they crossed paths.
“Found anything?” Swelter muttered to her on what she assumed was a private link.
“No.” She replied, scanning the ground. In the distance she could see his silhouette on the top of a mound of detritus. Every so often the light from the helicopter swept over him as he climbed.
“Siren,” he muttered again, the effort it was taking him to speak was clear. “I just wanted to say sorry. I know you don’t want to hear it – I know that what I did sickens you. But you have to understand that I was doing my job. It wasn’t personal. I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
He was silent again as Nia raged inside. This wasn’t the time for a rant. Neither was it the time for a half-arsed apology, she thought.
“I just needed to say it, you know? I hope you can forgive me for what I did.” He continued solemnly.
“It’s not me you need to be asking.” She couldn’t resist replying fiercely. He was silent for a moment. She envisioned him stewing in his own guilt, it was a satisfying image. “And another thing - ”
“Wait!” She frowned, all she could hear over the pod was static, which was odd, because it was meant to be a clear line. The helicopter’s light continued to sweep past them, but there was something wrong. She could feel it.
“Boo!” A figure materialised in front of her; a man, tall and severe in an all-black skin-suit. He wasted no time in knocking her to the floor. She cried over the pod, “I’ve found him, he’s here!”
“Sorry love, that isn’t going to work. I’ve already sorted out your friends.” He replied, strolling towards her. Behind him there came a burst of light and Swelter appeared, bellowing at the top of his voice, his body engulfed in a rippling of heat haze. In a flash Vue was standing the other side of Nia with his arms folded.
“Clumsy and stupid. I’m shocked. Back in my day we’d have been the very image of efficiency.” Vue tutted.
There was an explosion from near by and the sound of gushing water. “My – it seems they’ve escaped. Is one of you a Catalyst?” Vue wondered.
“Too right I’m a catalyst,” Nia ground between her teeth, “Now!” She cried to Swelter as she concentrated fully.
“Excellent.” Vue said, “Now you definitely wont stop me.”
“Want a bet?” Came a familiar voice. Nia looked around for the source and didn’t have to look far. Standing behind Vue was Mike – surrounded by a group of Hounds.
Nia looked at the other two. There were no questions. Within minutes they were airborne in the Elemental helicopter. Below them Swansea was going to sleep but the fly-over still looked busy and glowed like a bright chalk line leading out of the city. Below it, the crater that once was Dyfatty spread out like a black hole. The mountains of rubble and debris piled up around the foundations of the old blocks of flats that once stood there. Nia looked down at the Geiger counter nestled in the console. The clicking was clearly audible in their earphones.
“We have to be out in twenty minutes because of the radiation. Keep in pod contact at all times.” Beacon commanded over the intercom. The helicopter swept down over the rubble and dropped to a comfortable distance for them to jump out. “The pilot will sweep the lights and follow our progress. If you see anything, speak up. Vue is to be considered extremely dangerous. He’s one of the original Elementals after all. We’ll be following Search Pattern Delta. Move out!”
The place was covered in ash and dirt. All life seemed to have been cooked out of the place. There was no wind and the lights from the helicopter made the place look like a graveyard. Nia gathered her cloak around her and began to search the ruins. A chill sensation ran down her spine as she came across a playground and the stumps of trees. An iron railing jutted out of the ground at irregular angles. Dimly she wondered what on earth could have happened to this ghastly place.
“Nothing down near the flats – what about your end Siren?” Beacon’s cold voice sounded over the pod link in her ear.
“Nothing to report. Just a dead playground.”
As she stepped over the remains of a bed of flowers her mind began to wander. It hadn’t even been a week since the helicopter crash and the incident with the ASBO. Since then her time at Elemental Tower had become worse. The others kept their distance while she went out of her way to avoid them. Beacon was aloof and pretended not to notice, Elixir made no comment, and of the three, did the best job of trying to coax her back into socialising. But Swelter’s reaction was almost encouraging. He’d started to lose control of his abilities again, despite her natural influence. She watched as more and more he stayed in his room and declined to take part in exercises. It was almost satisfying to watch him squirm with guilt every time they crossed paths.
“Found anything?” Swelter muttered to her on what she assumed was a private link.
“No.” She replied, scanning the ground. In the distance she could see his silhouette on the top of a mound of detritus. Every so often the light from the helicopter swept over him as he climbed.
“Siren,” he muttered again, the effort it was taking him to speak was clear. “I just wanted to say sorry. I know you don’t want to hear it – I know that what I did sickens you. But you have to understand that I was doing my job. It wasn’t personal. I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
He was silent again as Nia raged inside. This wasn’t the time for a rant. Neither was it the time for a half-arsed apology, she thought.
“I just needed to say it, you know? I hope you can forgive me for what I did.” He continued solemnly.
“It’s not me you need to be asking.” She couldn’t resist replying fiercely. He was silent for a moment. She envisioned him stewing in his own guilt, it was a satisfying image. “And another thing - ”
“Wait!” She frowned, all she could hear over the pod was static, which was odd, because it was meant to be a clear line. The helicopter’s light continued to sweep past them, but there was something wrong. She could feel it.
“Boo!” A figure materialised in front of her; a man, tall and severe in an all-black skin-suit. He wasted no time in knocking her to the floor. She cried over the pod, “I’ve found him, he’s here!”
“Sorry love, that isn’t going to work. I’ve already sorted out your friends.” He replied, strolling towards her. Behind him there came a burst of light and Swelter appeared, bellowing at the top of his voice, his body engulfed in a rippling of heat haze. In a flash Vue was standing the other side of Nia with his arms folded.
“Clumsy and stupid. I’m shocked. Back in my day we’d have been the very image of efficiency.” Vue tutted.
There was an explosion from near by and the sound of gushing water. “My – it seems they’ve escaped. Is one of you a Catalyst?” Vue wondered.
“Too right I’m a catalyst,” Nia ground between her teeth, “Now!” She cried to Swelter as she concentrated fully.
“Excellent.” Vue said, “Now you definitely wont stop me.”
“Want a bet?” Came a familiar voice. Nia looked around for the source and didn’t have to look far. Standing behind Vue was Mike – surrounded by a group of Hounds.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
ASBO-Boy: All Cooped Up
Thursday 10th November 2016
Squeeze’s new life in number 4 Park Avenue was quickly structured into three parts, sleeping, learning and relaxing. Camping beds were set up in the basement for the Others that were living in the house and a partition was all that separated the ladies from the gents. It was basic, but it was better than the Borstal. Arc-Light and Flicker slept on one side of the room with Bark and Squeeze on the other. Flicker was the quietest of all the Others who lived in the house and even Arc-Light had trouble communicating with her. Her ability seemed to involve blink invisible but largely it seemed to be beyond her control. Bark took very well to the freedom to read and talk with Arc-Light. They were both in the same school year and Squeeze found he couldn't quite get on with both of them together. Malady was far too young for him and Flicker didn’t talk, so Squeeze took to reading whatever Bark had finished with.
Mornings were devoted to learning. Malady’s parents taught her from home which meant she could stay indoors and be out of the way. It also meant that their house could be a school for all of the Others who were in their care. The dining room in the mornings became a school-room between the hours of eight and one. After that they were allowed to do whatever they want. So long as they didn’t go outside.
Squeeze felt his fingers beginning to itch for something to do. Windows became unbearable very quickly as they too tempting. Across the road he could see Brynmill Park and even some of his own graffiti, faded and partially covered with posters for the Circus.
“What are you drawing?”
Squeeze jumped as Gwen appeared behind him on the stairs. She sat next to him as he quickly covered what he’d been drawing. “It’s nothing. Just doodling. I’m out of practice.”
“Not good enough for me to see then?” She asked.
“No. Not yet, anyway.” Squeeze replied, feeling stupid. A year ago he’d have shown all and sundry, now he just felt stupid.
“You’re settling in okay then, I take it?”
“Yeah, ‘sbetter than Borstal.”
“That good, huh?”
Squeeze laughed. He didn’t know how he felt about the whole thing. Freedom came at a price, he mused, beginning to regret every time he ever stepped out of line. All those stroppy tantrums with his parents, the sneaking out to see Nia. It all seemed so pointless. “Things will get better." Gwen said, rubbing his arm. Squeeze couldn’t quite imagine how things could. Nothing was ever going to change.
“What’s your story then?” Squeeze asked, “You must have a good job, you aren’t related to anybody here…”
“I work at the Cefn Coed Facility. I only moonlight as a rebel.” She smiled, widely. She was very pretty, he noted, her eyes were framed by a pair of slender, expensive glasses and her hair was sleeked back. “How much do you know about the Battle of Dyfatty?”
“Not much. They’re still rebuilding it, aren’t they?”
“Something like that.” Gwen replied, he could feel her closing up, as if she was reluctant to impart what she was about to say, “My work, and the work that goes on at Cefn Coed is all to do with that. Helix in particular.”
“Helix was in the original line-up of the Elementals, wasn’t he? I was never interested in the Others before I became one. Besides all the news you hear about them doctored anyway. I doubt it was even a Battle really – it was probably just a mild disagreement.”
Gwen laughed, “I can assure you – it was a battle. You can’t be much younger than Helix really. He’s sixteen – you must be around, fourteen?”
“Good guess. Rowdy adolescent, guilty as charged.” Squeeze replied. “Are you related to him?”
“No. I’m related to one of his victims.”
“Victims?”
“It doesn’t matter. We don’t really know what happened. My brother – he was in the Elementals, the original line-up too. Helix, Vue, Seraph, Core, Physic – they were a good bunch.”
Squeeze felt himself getting more and more uncomfortable as she drifted off. “One thing I’ve never understood. Why are all the Others young? I mean, Helix and those guys must be the first.”
“They are. Helix was born on January 1st 2000, just after midnight if the rumours are to be believed.” Gwen said, “He’s officially the oldest Other.”
“Where is he now?”
“Locked in an impenetrable cell half a mile below ground.”
Squeeze shuddered. He daren’t ask the obvious next question and was saved the opportunity by the appearance of Flicker at the top of the stairs.
“We-we’ve got the c-call.”
Gwen sat up and tapped Squeeze on the shoulder. “Excellent. Chin up, we’ve got work to do.”
Squeeze’s new life in number 4 Park Avenue was quickly structured into three parts, sleeping, learning and relaxing. Camping beds were set up in the basement for the Others that were living in the house and a partition was all that separated the ladies from the gents. It was basic, but it was better than the Borstal. Arc-Light and Flicker slept on one side of the room with Bark and Squeeze on the other. Flicker was the quietest of all the Others who lived in the house and even Arc-Light had trouble communicating with her. Her ability seemed to involve blink invisible but largely it seemed to be beyond her control. Bark took very well to the freedom to read and talk with Arc-Light. They were both in the same school year and Squeeze found he couldn't quite get on with both of them together. Malady was far too young for him and Flicker didn’t talk, so Squeeze took to reading whatever Bark had finished with.
Mornings were devoted to learning. Malady’s parents taught her from home which meant she could stay indoors and be out of the way. It also meant that their house could be a school for all of the Others who were in their care. The dining room in the mornings became a school-room between the hours of eight and one. After that they were allowed to do whatever they want. So long as they didn’t go outside.
Squeeze felt his fingers beginning to itch for something to do. Windows became unbearable very quickly as they too tempting. Across the road he could see Brynmill Park and even some of his own graffiti, faded and partially covered with posters for the Circus.
“What are you drawing?”
Squeeze jumped as Gwen appeared behind him on the stairs. She sat next to him as he quickly covered what he’d been drawing. “It’s nothing. Just doodling. I’m out of practice.”
“Not good enough for me to see then?” She asked.
“No. Not yet, anyway.” Squeeze replied, feeling stupid. A year ago he’d have shown all and sundry, now he just felt stupid.
“You’re settling in okay then, I take it?”
“Yeah, ‘sbetter than Borstal.”
“That good, huh?”
Squeeze laughed. He didn’t know how he felt about the whole thing. Freedom came at a price, he mused, beginning to regret every time he ever stepped out of line. All those stroppy tantrums with his parents, the sneaking out to see Nia. It all seemed so pointless. “Things will get better." Gwen said, rubbing his arm. Squeeze couldn’t quite imagine how things could. Nothing was ever going to change.
“What’s your story then?” Squeeze asked, “You must have a good job, you aren’t related to anybody here…”
“I work at the Cefn Coed Facility. I only moonlight as a rebel.” She smiled, widely. She was very pretty, he noted, her eyes were framed by a pair of slender, expensive glasses and her hair was sleeked back. “How much do you know about the Battle of Dyfatty?”
“Not much. They’re still rebuilding it, aren’t they?”
“Something like that.” Gwen replied, he could feel her closing up, as if she was reluctant to impart what she was about to say, “My work, and the work that goes on at Cefn Coed is all to do with that. Helix in particular.”
“Helix was in the original line-up of the Elementals, wasn’t he? I was never interested in the Others before I became one. Besides all the news you hear about them doctored anyway. I doubt it was even a Battle really – it was probably just a mild disagreement.”
Gwen laughed, “I can assure you – it was a battle. You can’t be much younger than Helix really. He’s sixteen – you must be around, fourteen?”
“Good guess. Rowdy adolescent, guilty as charged.” Squeeze replied. “Are you related to him?”
“No. I’m related to one of his victims.”
“Victims?”
“It doesn’t matter. We don’t really know what happened. My brother – he was in the Elementals, the original line-up too. Helix, Vue, Seraph, Core, Physic – they were a good bunch.”
Squeeze felt himself getting more and more uncomfortable as she drifted off. “One thing I’ve never understood. Why are all the Others young? I mean, Helix and those guys must be the first.”
“They are. Helix was born on January 1st 2000, just after midnight if the rumours are to be believed.” Gwen said, “He’s officially the oldest Other.”
“Where is he now?”
“Locked in an impenetrable cell half a mile below ground.”
Squeeze shuddered. He daren’t ask the obvious next question and was saved the opportunity by the appearance of Flicker at the top of the stairs.
“We-we’ve got the c-call.”
Gwen sat up and tapped Squeeze on the shoulder. “Excellent. Chin up, we’ve got work to do.”
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