The adventure continues!

Chapter 24

Outside of Area 61

The camouflaged figure recorded precisely when and where she first saw the silvery craft zoom upwards and head towards civilization. Moving rapidly, and nearly invisible in her reactive camouflage, she had almost reached her objective when the shining craft returned, with friends. The two military jets were making very sure the saucer went back home. Dialing up the magnification on her goggles, she could clearly see the red racing striped framed name on the side, Rocket!

Val, you minx! She didn’t doubt for an instant that her partner had arranged this little air show just for her. Smothering a laugh she had no time for, she carefully watched the escorting jets, their job done, peel off for home. Maggie marked exactly the elevator’s location and took note of the sensors and security. It had taken her almost a week to work her way through the web of security. However, the only entrances were heavily guarded not just by electronics, but by highly competent soldiers and dogs. It was a near perfect example of layered security.

None of that was insurmountable, but along with the constant patrols over the area, it was taking a toll on her. The good news was this saucer silo’s security looked to be more automated than the other entrances, all the better for her to work her special talents upon it.

She backed off, finding a more or less comfortable place to wait for darkness to fall. Before closely checking out this gift of knowledge from her lover; she wanted every possible advantage. Configuring a sensor to alert her if trouble approached, she closed her eyes. Getting inside was just the beginning. The real task was still unknown, hidden behind all of this paranoid security.

She would get through all of this, and she would find Val. But my that girl had some ‘esplaning to do!

Area 61

Dr. Courtney Hathaway crossed her arms across her chest as she watched Alan Glenn sitting cross-legged in the detention cell. She’d been showering, following an exhausting dance class. Courtney knew she was in good condition, her mutation assured that, but keeping up with six enhanced children was a superhuman job. No, she corrected herself, seven. Alan Glenn definitely had to be added to that number.

His working with them had yielded wonderful results. The candidates were ahead of schedule, and would soon begin teamwork exercises. He had adjusted to the self-paced scholastic program, and performed the minor miracle of keeping his students interested and involved in their classes.

Yet here he sat, responsible for a major security breach. He actually had the gall to claim it as an unscheduled field trip due to a gastronomical emergency. She knew that the children’s diet was being carefully moderated to meet their special needs. Trying to make some of that look and taste appetizing was a challenge that even the best chefs couldn’t overcome.

Which was why she ate from the officer’s cafeteria, but stubbornly Alan Glenn insisted on sharing the kids’ facility. A fact that made security happier, but better food was one of the things they’d hoped to insure his cooperation.

He’d ignored her attempts to flirt with him or manipulate his masculine ego. She was starting to wonder if he was gay despite his stereotypical macho guy front. The whole racing bad boy attitude didn’t match up with his actions.

All the children went to him. Even the girls for problems that were well out of the province for any male. Courtney had to admit that she’d made an enormous mistake from the very first day dealing with this man. Even worse, she suspected that somehow he’d taught the children to resist her mental control.

In her opinion, despite that, they were still viable subjects for the program. She wished she could omit the ‘so far,’ but she couldn’t. For one of the few times since her powers had developed she was feeling helpless and unsure of what to do. Even those times she’d run into those who she couldn’t mentally read, she could control everyone else around them, giving her a measure of second handed domination.

Courtney stiffened as Dr. McClellan came up beside her. She had an intense dislike of failing and a part of her knew she was going to hear about her shortcomings.

Instead, the Doctor just stood there a moment watching Alan Glenn with her before speaking. “When he was young and still had his powers, he used to have something he called slow time. To everyone else he may have been moving in a blur, but not to him. He was moving normally and it was us who’d slowed.”

“Once he spent almost two days in detention in slow time. The next time we tried to detain him; he was out almost before the guards could turn around to leave. During those two days, he had spent almost a month and half of subjective time studying how to get out. Then he waited for the next time to escape.”

Chuckling he shook his balding head. “It was a complete waste of time to give him a timed test. Most people see him flashing by and think that was his power. Ridiculous! It was always because he had all the time in the world. His thought processes was also affected by his ability, giving him the precious gift of time.”

“I grew to love chess as a child, but as I aged it became harder and then almost impossible to find a stimulating opponent. Alan Glenn was one of the few who could give me such a game. Yes, his ability gave him all the time needed to consider his moves, but like them all, he was also extremely intelligent. Of all of The Rocketeers, he was my favorite.”

“His speed was so great that he could nearly break the sound barrier. He described the experience to me as trying to run upstream against a swift flowing current. The very air resisted every movement with just one careless move being all it took to sweep you off your feet.”

Lost in his memories, the old scientist sadly shook his head. “Not even he could outrun a nuclear shockwave. He was still suffering from residual radiation poisoning from the Z-Ray 9. They all were also recovering from injuries received in their fight with Leviathan. That poor, tragic creature was heading right for the center of one the largest cities in the United States.”

“John, General Lafitte, was in a state of extreme agitation. The Rocketeers had experienced setbacks before but never had they been soundly beaten like they were by that creature. Leviathan, the navy project Bruce Flag had been working on, must have been using much the same principles as my Z-Ray. He defeated six of the most powerful supra-humans on record, the incredible power of that creature!”

The scientist sighed. “I can’t imagine the awful price Dr. Flag has paid for that power, forced to wander the world searching for a cure, while hunted like some monster from the cinemas. An important safety tip Ms. Hathaway. If you’re going to experiment on yourself, make absolutely certain that it’s going to work the first time!”

“But I deviate from my point. John, all of us, was well aware that we’d been sending children out into harm’s way. It was a matter of the good of the many versus the needs of a few. Then suddenly not only were they injured and hurt, but the safety of millions in Chicago was at stake.”

He believed we simply didn’t have a choice, but to use the Z-Ray 9. I disagreed. Extensive changes had been made to the device in hopes to expand the age range of the subject it could safely be used upon. Our experience had shown us that the use of the Z-Ray on subjects more than two years after their mutation manifesting was risky in the extreme. However, it had never been tested, and I feared what might happen. To my sorrow, I was correct.

Young Joyce Sturm, Sensation, died after her exposure, and Gus, Alan’s brother, suffered a change much like Dr. Flag’s. He became a ravaging creature of pure energy in his rage over her death. When Gus exploded, the injuries put Alan into a coma that even with his phenomenal healing lasted almost a month.

When he woke, he wasn’t the same youngster. He no longer had his extraordinary abilities, and the only family he’d ever known was dead. Alan turned bitter and cynical. His one remaining friend, Jeff Fuller, Fortune, was being kept from him by bureaucrats who were terrified he would tell Alan his brother was still alive. They feared what he might do.

The Government had a huge investment in those six youngsters. When four of them died, it was as if it had lost an aircraft carrier or an entire Air Force base full of bombers. It was pandemonium here as the witch-hunt descended upon us. Everyone who survived was under suspicion, including myself. All we could do was watch as Alan was quite literally thrown out. I suspect by those same bureaucrats who were relieved he was harmless and wanted to cover-up all signs of their failure.

“He certainly got his revenge when he ran away from the family that was assigned to watch him. They were paranoid he was going to start revealing all the secrets he learned in his time here. For 14 years, he avoided every single government agency looking for him. When he did return, it was as their greatest nightmare testifying to a Senate investigation committee.

“He planned that investigation just like he did that day long ago when he broke out of there. Alan set the stage for those politicians to see great advantage for themselves by dredging up events a decade and half old. He did his very best to get me put on trial for not only the murder of Joyce Sturm but for crimes against humanity!”

“I see him there, and I know that somehow he’s back in slow time once more, working on his next move. Every means of testing I have tells me he’s nothing special. Is it because, having done it before and knowing it’s possible, that he’d reached it with training and meditation? If so he’s proved that it is indeed the man who makes the hero and not the powers he possesses.”

Courtney nodded, but could understand Alan Glenn’s stand. However without it being said, she knew Dr. Albert McClellan had walked free of all charges because he had power. Not like that being studied here at Area 61, but that which put him above the common man or even the most powerful mutant. That was what she so badly wanted.

Although the ex-teenage hero may have made her doubt herself, she knew the only real protection in the world was to be at the top. Even if she had to climb over others to get there and kick any that tried to stop her. If putting these kids in harm’s way, was what it took, then she was prepared to pay the price.

Chapter Twenty-Five

September 16, 2008

ETWF: minus 17 Days

Area 61

Alan opened his eyes as the guards opened his cell. Pretending his legs had gone to sleep he stumbled as he stood. It fit the persona of the tough guy who wasn’t as young as he used to be after spending a night in the hoosegow.

He was escorted from the detention block and they let him go on his way. Well, Laramie had dressed him down good yesterday, and it didn’t look as if anyone else wanted a turn.

Still, it’d been worth it. He’d found out that the buggy was still in good shape as well as that Ollie hadn’t let his pilot’s skills rust too badly. Not only that, but if who he thought was out there in the desert watching, he’d shown her a way in that wasn’t as obvious as the well guarded elevator shafts. Besides, Dad’s burgers really hit the spot after Doc’s special slop.

Stretching, he started whistling as he headed towards the gym. Wondering if any of those guys had ever seen the Great Escape, maybe he should scrounge up a ball and glove. Alan saw he still had enough time for his morning workout and headed to the gym.

Changing into his Gi, he had to admire the laundry service around here. Everything was always fresh and no doubt newly bugged with surveillance crap. It was surprising he’d hadn’t stopped up his toilet considering how much of that stuff he’d flushed down it. Not that he worried about it too much because Ollie and Big Mac were well able to protect the clubhouse's location as well as their other secrets.

He was taken aback to find someone else in the gym at this hour. The zoomies had their own facilities topside, and everyone else was just getting up. That suited him fine. It was nice having the place to himself.

Maxi-Badd was there with his keepers. The big con was working out using the bags. Alan seemed to remember the big guy boxed some before mutating. He had used boxing moves in their battles so he guessed it made sense. Watching him move, Alan could see just how much power he was using. It was a good thing everything in this gym was built to take just about anything anyone could dish out.

The two zoomies stiffened as he came in but he could tell one of them had been heckling Maxi. Most of the guards down here were fairly professional, but every now and then, you ran across someone who wasn’t. Alan wondered if it was by chance or just another one of Doc’s tests. If so, it was important to bear in mind that Maxi might be another victim of Doc’s too.

“Hey Maxi, What’s up?” Alan greeted.

Finishing the series of blows before he looked over, the big guy gave a crooked grin. “They told me I could come here because no one else was about. Ya’ going to make me leave?” he said, just confrontational enough to make his keepers check for their remotes to his implants.

Alan kept an eye on bad cop and said, “Nope. Work out to your heart’s contentment. I was a bad boy yesterday, and someone is letting me know it. I would just as soon not give them the pleasure if you know what I mean. I’m just going to do a little Tai Chi over in the corner to warm up this morning.”

The big con grunted, throwing a blow that made the steel cables holding the bag hum like violin string. “I can dig that, Squirt.” Inclining his head upwards, he said. “With that low gravity crap on the moon, that was about all the exercising ya’ could do unless strapped down on one of the weight machines. Mind if join you?”

Alan raised a brow, but nodded. “No problem.”

There was a couple of rough spots in Maxi’s routine because the low gravity he’d been in for so long had let him develop some bad habits. To Alan’s surprise, he just nodded and accepted the gentle correction. All in all, it was a pleasant session.

Paying attention to the bad cop, Alan wasn’t too happy at his attitude. He sent in a little note to the man's supervisor about how ill advised it was to heckle someone like Maxi. He might have mellowed out some, but the man had a violent past. You just didn’t play with fire with someone like him.

The rest of the day went pretty well too. Everyone was getting used to the routine and settling down. The self-paced academic classes was challenging because of all the different grade levels. Lizzie was in the first, while Josh was in eleventh as a junior. In effect, he was tutoring them all with the computers for help rather than the other way around.

At least he only had the history and world geography side of the house, leaving Dr. Hathaway with the math and English. As much as he didn’t like her or her methods, he had to admit she was competent and intelligent. Perhaps, if she could learn a little compassion, and put aside her selfishness, she could reclaim her humanity. As far as he was concerned, for the moment she was the enemy besides being a gold plated witch.

His powers 101 class went smoothly. It might have been his imagination but Maxi and his clones seemed less on edge. If getting a good workout in the morning helped, Alan was all for it happening every morning. Malak and Lizzie were getting good enough with their flying thing that they needed more space to practice. For that matter, Amanda and Billy could use the extra room too. Her weather powers needed some elbowroom to really stretch themselves, and it would do a world of good for Billy too. Just another detail for him to attend to.

Considering the way the day had begun, Alan was quite pleased. On another note, Saul and his clones were sinking into their “Oh Gawd, I’m going to die” post-exercise depression. One by one the kid’s doubles were led away to be examined by Doc.

As much as Saul was anything but his friend, Alan wished he could’ve warned him about Laramie and his promises. He was certain that the Air Force officer had no intentions at all of releasing the convict, which meant all the mental pain and anguish all this was putting Saul through was for nothing.

Alan was certain that by anyone’s standards, Saul Simpson was about as insane as they came. You would think that with his vulnerability to the mental powers stuff, a practitioner could’ve cured him. Thing was, while you could make him dance a waltz, you couldn’t get him to like it. His healing talent just treated the imposed commands as another injury and made the altered neural pathways go away.

The old murderer was going to be a problem for someone 'til the day he died and that could be a very long time given his mutation. The ACLU had declared most of the ways that would kill Maxi-Badd were cruel and inhumane. Alan believed that as dangerous as Saul was it was inhumane to keep him alive when it’d been proven he was ill and that there wasn’t a cure. For that matter, Alan wondered if even the cortex bomb Saul had between his ears would permanently put him down. After all, back in the bad old days Gus, Capt. Blazzar, had blown a hole through Max’s chest big enough you could read the morning paper though it, but Maxi-Badd had regenerated even from that.

Just then a nagging feeling that’d been with Alan the last few hours started itching with a vengeance. Jeff, Fortune, used to call it ‘That Bad Moon Arising’ feeling. Not letting his alarm show, he looked about for the cause of the impeding trouble even as it built up to explosive intensity.

Saul was still looking mournful as a pair of Zoomie cops were leading Lizzie’s clone off to the lab while Dr. Hathaway was looking on. Opening his senses Alan searched for the oncoming train wreck he knew was moments away. When his Luck was wailing this loud just about all anyone could do was duck and cover.

As soon as he heard the man speak, Alan recognized the guard from earlier as the same one from this morning that was harassing Maxi-Badd.

“Come on Maxi-Pad. It’s time for your appointment with your gynecologist and the stirrups,” jeered the cop.

Alan hyped senses could smell how afraid the Maxi-Lizzie clone was of her impeding derezzing. Fear and anger overwhelmed her as she spun around. With a powerful shove, she sent the smart mouthed guard flying across the gym like rock from a slingshot. With unintended accuracy the pin wheeling cop struck Hathaway, sending both sprawling as if struck by a truck.

A split-second stood still as everyone was in shock by what happened. In a fury, time cut loose as Maxi-Lizzie whipped about and flew like a bullet for the exit. Instantly, Saul Simpson laced his hands above his head as he dropped to his knees even as both of his handlers grabbed frantically for their cortex bomb remotes.

“Ollie!” Alan sent to his friend. “One of Maxi-Badd’s clones has blown a fuse and ran for it. A damn smart-ass said the wrong thing at the wrong time. She’s just upset, so far.”

The little alien gray responded, “I understand Alan, and I see that it is a clone of Lizzie. If she causes too much damage before she is restrained, not only will Big Mac surveillance of the complex be hindered, my security could be at stake from the repair crews. Additionally, if I mentally interfere, Dr. Hathaway could find traces of my efforts, which could cause her to ask unwanted questions.”

“Oh Great Ollie! Just what I needed to hear!” Alan replied. Jeff had a saying for this too. “When it rains, it pours, and pours till you need a boat.”

Josh without even thinking faded out of sight before that Air-dale cop and Hathaway had even rolled to a stop, still bouncing on the gym floor. When in a rush of air Lizzie’s clone took off, he sprinted off after her.

He wasn’t even close to being as fast as Mr. Glenn used to be, but being able to give the fastest runners in the world a real work out was good enough for him. In front of them, right out of Star Wars, the big doors at the gym’s entrance slammed shut!

The slim six-year-old figure he was chasing covered her head with her arms and rammed it. Josh dodged a flying piece of debris as the heavy metal exploded outward. Squinting past a hand thrown up to protect his eyes, he saw she had punched a hole clean though the blast doors. He glimpsed her disappearing into the hallway beyond.

Josh took a running leap through the ragged dimpled hole she’d punched though the door. Okay, maybe all that dancing stuff does have a purpose, he thought, as he landed lightly on his feet. Another thunderous crash let him know which way to go, as he ran as fast as he could.

With a bit more confidence, he took the next sundered doorway like a hurdler. The pair of guards lying on the other side almost tripped him up, but after a not so graceful stumble, he kept on running. A hurried glance behind him assured him that the Air-dales were still alive, just concussed by being too close to the sundered doorway. Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of guys.

Now that he’d a little time to think, he realized he wasn’t sure what he’d do if he caught up with her. Josh had been practicing with doing other things with his powers. Maybe he could just slow her up a little.

He got his chance as he cleared the last corner. Another pair of Air-dales were having their weapons turned into pretzels. Oh, Crap! It didn’t take a genius to figure out the boys in blue were next in line. Concentrating, he sent at the pint-sized hurricane, ‘See nothing!’

Josh figured he must’ve faded back into sight as the two guys stared at him. That was fine as long as she couldn’t see to hurt them. Trying to keep her blind, he waved at them to run. Part of him was amazed when they did just that. Getting over the fact, that those two represented The Man who’d thrown him into detention so many times, was a little hard.

However now it was just him and a supra-powered kid with the mind of a mass murderer. Josh was beginning to regret bullying Bill into telling him the whole story. He couldn’t help but breathe a little easier as the kid with Saul Simpson sister’s face sat down burying her face in her arms. The mixture of tortured emotions as the kid tried not to cry wasn’t something he’d soon forget.

He almost didn’t, but Josh felt he had to say something. “Hey, you calmed down?”

Lizzie-clone looked blindly around. She had a small cut on her forehead from something that somehow had gotten though that force screen of hers. “Ya’ that Josh kid with the invisa-thing right? Thought it might be ya‘.”

Josh hesitated. He’d always known that little Lizzie was no one you wanted mad at you. All the blast doors torn apart behind them made it damn clear he wouldn’t last a half second if she got her hands on him. If she went for the sound of his voice, she might just be able to do that, but something told him her temper tantrum was over.

“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry about turning the lights out, but I couldn’t let you hurt those guys. I don’t much care for them either, but messing them up wouldn’t help anyone,” Josh told her.

The small forlorn figure just hung her head low. “You’re right I guess. I shouldna’ let that ass-wipe get ta’ me like that, but he doesn’t know how it feels! All my life the only defense I’ve ever had was being bigger and nastier than anyone else. I shoulda’ never let them talk me into using my Mojo again.”

“Every time I never know if I’m going ta wake up as the clone. The one who’s going ta die.” Nearly overwhelmed with emotion again, she waved her small hands at herself. “This sucks! I’m a grown man, not a schoolgirl! It ain’t right. I can’t tell ya’ how it feels, but I guess I don’t have to worry about it for long.” She gave a short bitter laugh.

Josh heard people coming up behind him. Stealing a peek, he saw a wobbly Ms. Hathaway and bunch of Air-dales. “They’re coming to get you. You’re not going to try anything are you?”

The small girl cursed, “Crap. No, I can feel that mind frakker in my head, so I don’t have a choice.” She stood up. “Ya’ know, you’re a good kid. Don’t let your Mojo frakk up your brains like I did.”

Silently they waited for the guards to reach them, unaware of a blue blur keeping watch on them both. With the pride of a teacher for a student who’d passed the hardest test of all, the blur raced off to sneak back in with the others.

Alan made it with plenty of time to spare. Thanks to the dynamic duo of Ollie and Big Mac, he was safe from the surveillance picking up his brief absence and everyone else was too shocked to really notice. He did make sure, that for once, the boys in blue caught the true villain of this piece on tape.

Josh came back under escort, but kept his small bit of heroism to himself. After a break, it was time for study hall for them to catch up on their homework since Doc had not any testing to do on them. Then came their dance classes. Alan did have to smile at Lizzie’s enthusiasm as she happily bounced around in her tutu. The other girls helped her as they worked on their own stuff while a still shaken Dr. Hathaway taught the ballroom style dance class.

Alan helped with the boys, but since Billy and Josh was working with the girls, it was mostly Malik. The Powers 101 class had helped a lot, helping the athlete work out his psychical energies, but he still needed to be challenged.

Seeing how Malik needed a little extra help building his agility, he’d set up the gymnastic rings. It’d been a long time since Alan had worked out on them, but he’d sneaked some time out to practice a little before hand. Starting a beginner’s routine, he demonstrated what the rings were all about.

The sheer strength needed for maneuvers like the iron cross was enough to get Malik interested and working out on them. He even captured everyone else’s attention for a while. Then clean up and dinner was next on the schedule.

The kids then had some free time before bed if they’d already done their homework. Tonight though, Alan had something else in mind for himself rather than watch the bland TV that’d been edited by the Air Force. He’d made up his mind about Billy’s problem while meditating in detention the night before.

The youngster was still really out sorts regarding his gender identity. Alan had seen Dr. Hathaway not so gently pushing Billy into experimenting in ways that was most inappropriate for the kid’s age.

Alan was really needing time to be her real self too, and this made it a good time to have some girl talk with Billy. With that in mind, he’d slipped the teenager a note; they were going to the clubhouse tonight. A short nap had made up for some of the sleep he would be missing.

Quietly he woke Billy. Then as the boy was coming awake Alan pulled out a pair of girl’s uniforms and under things for the two of them from Billy‘s locker. The sizes were a little small for him but within limits. Picking up the shoes, he passed them to Billy who was more or less awake now.

Looking at the Mary Janes in his hands, Billy whispered, “What are you doing and where is everyone else?”

Smiling to reassure the sleepy teen, Alan said, “We have a mission just for the two of us tonight. Ollie might come by later, but there’s a job only the two of us can do.”

The boy’s eyes got round as he tried to match the clothing his teacher held with the idea of a secret mission. Despite whatever doubts he had, when Alan lead the way to the clandestine entrance to the clubhouse, he followed.

Alan putting down his burden of clothes mentally asked his friend, “Ollie are you in your lab?”

The little alien answered him immediately, “Yes Alan I am. Do you require assistance?”

The old hero sent back, “Yes Ollie, I do. Could you and Big Mac give us some privacy in the clubhouse? I would ask him, but Billy doesn’t know about him yet and I don’t think it’s time yet he finds out.”

Alan heard the irony in Ollie’s mental voice. “Not to mention Big Mac doesn’t know about you either. It is all right. I understand how hard this is for you, but you must promise me something Alan.”

“And what would that be Ollie?” he asked back.

His oldest friend in the world asked, “Someday you must show me. I know that somehow you have achieved your most cherished desire. You are not fighting yourself anymore. No more is your heart in conflict with mind, body and soul. I understand about secrets, but someday I want to share your joy of being complete. Promise?”

Alan replied with his heart in his throat, “If things are unraveling the way I think they are, it won’t be a secret for much longer anyways. But if keeping it for a little longer can give us any kind of advantage, I’ll hold onto it for a while longer. You’ll be the first to see. I promise.”

Ollie said, “Big Mac has turned off his sensors in the clubhouse, and I will remain in my lab if you need me.”

Turning around, Alan saw Billy looking at him questioningly. “I was asking Ollie to give us some privacy while we do a dress rehearsal. You take your half of these behind the curtain over there and get changed while I’ll change over here behind this one,” he said, pointing to the makeshift changing areas he’d set up earlier.

The boy looked at the schoolgirl outfits that, no matter how you looked at it, wouldn’t fit his teacher. “Rehearsal for what?” he stammered out.

Picking up one of the dresses and sorting though the pile for a bra and panties, Alan answered, “A very important mission. Perhaps the most important one of your life.”

Looking at Billy and seeing his uncertainty he asked, “Would you feel better if I went first?”

Confused the teen nodded and Alan could feel his eyes as he walked to the purloined shower curtain turned changing room. He took a deep breath and reached inside himself. Seeking for his true self he opened his heart. Radiance bloomed forth and as it faded, a joy filled her. She was herself again!

Using a touch of slow time, she changed out of her stars on a field of blue uniform this form still wore. There were still questions she wasn’t ready to answer and the ones about Dixie Belle were among them.

Slipping on the schoolgirl’s dress, she couldn’t help feeling a little naughty. Oh, the teasing Maggie would give her, if she could see her now!

The dress was a bit short on her because that witch had been pushing Billy to experiment with rather overly feminine forms. That was what had made her decide to have this talk with Billy.

The witch saw the world in terms of those she could manipulate and those who manipulated her, users and the used. That was sad, but she was trying to push Billy into doing the same using his ability to shape change as the tool.

Having a talk with a 14 year old who was transgendered about sex was uncomfortable enough without adding other stuff she just wasn’t ready for. However since it had been taken out of her hands, she would just have to do the best she could.

Moving the curtain aside, she stepped out, aware of his incredulous expression. Curtsying, she turned a near perfect ballet Pirouette. “So Billy, how does the dress fit?”

Covering her mouth in a polite laugh, she reminded him as his face turned blue, “Breathe Billy, yes it’s still me.”

The disbelieving teen choked out, “Mr. Glenn?”

Giving another graceful curtsy, she nodded. “Yes, but the real me. Like you, I was born male, but something else was trapped inside. I was lucky enough to find a way of letting the girl, the woman, I was meant to be, out,” she said, pirouetting again.

“Have you figured out our secret mission for tonight?” she asked.

She could almost see the smoke come out of his ears as he shook his head.

“We’re going to try and discover the girl inside of you. Your turn. Now go change,” she directed, pointing at the curtain.

Picking up the clothes as if they weighed tons, he went to change. Patiently she sat waiting for him to finish, but it was simple to see that after a while he was hiding.

“Oh, Billy?” she called in after him. “Come on out. You can’t hide in there forever.”

Shyly the girl inside moved the curtain aside. Unsure of herself the teen walked out, ready to bolt at a second’s notice.

The older woman smiled, trying to not scare the girl in what she knew was a very nervous situation. She gestured for her to turn around so she could see all of her. “She’s lovely. Who is she?”

Hearing Billy’s male voice coming from this young woman wasn’t a surprise. “She’s Megan Fox. Hmmm… an actress,” the girl stuttered.

Standing up she moved gracefully to the young girl, guiding her over to the mirror. “Now you’ve shown me her, why don’t you show me you?”

The model perfect face looked up at her. “I don’t understand Mr. Glenn.”

Clasping the girl’s hands, she said softly, “As males we both enjoyed looking at women that look attractive like you are now. She is a beautiful woman, but she isn’t you. You’re a teenager who is just starting to blossom into womanhood. Could you see Miss Fox chatting with Malak and Amanda at the lunch table? Where is the teen who wants to join in with her friends? Can you show me her?”

“I don’t know Mr. Glenn. All I’ve ever done before is sorta copy pictures. I’ve never tried something like that,” the uncertain teen replied.

“Billy how did you become a girl the first time?” the older woman asked.

Blushing red the girl stammered, “I was looking at these magazines … and … and all the girls were so beautiful, and the way it made me feel looking at them…, but it wasn’t enough. I had to look like one.”

The woman nodded her understanding. “Billy that feeling came from your heart. Can you reach that feeling inside of you now? You’ve come part way, and now all you have to do is reach for her.”

Still stuttering she replied, “I don’t know Mr. Glenn. It’s hard.”

Smiling her encouragement she said, “I believe you can Billy. You can do this.”

Taking a deep breath, the teen closed her eyes.

As the girl’s face began to change, the woman found it was her turn to hold her breath. A part of her had been truly concerned about what that witch Hathaway was trying to mold this youngster into. Billy was at a very impressionable age besides being a girl with something extra. She’d hoped that if she could help the girl achieve a more realistic self-image, the teen would be more immune to the witch’s manipulations.

Against all odds, she watched it happening before her eyes on the very first attempt. Sometimes she just knew when things were going to break her way, or had that proverbial bad feeling at other times when they weren’t. She was grateful for the sake of this young teenager that they had both beaten the odds this roll of the dice.

“Open your eyes honey,” she spoke softly. “You did it.”

The two of them looked at the rather cute teenager with the amazed expression revealed within the mirror.

“When it’s just us girls, please call me Val,” Valentina told Billy, hugging her.

Chapter Twenty-Six

September 17, 2008

Tonopah, NV

ETWF: Minus 15 Days

Inspector Imbert studied the information spread before him. The situation with the Air Force’s Project Chiron was stable. Alan Glenn had quietly surfaced as an instructor for the project. If the public affairs office was to be believed, teaching history, geography, and physical fitness.

The children were apparently doing well. He had, of course, found it strange that the United States military had been so forthcoming about their status. It was as if they were proclaiming 'see we have nothing to hide', when of course they did. No mention had been made about Dr. McClellan’s attachment to the project. As if one of the world’s foremost scientists being associated with the project was of no importance. So far it seemed the children were alive and well. For now, that was enough.

Margaret Carson had utterly disappeared. Her office still received correspondence from her supposedly from her hometown in North Carolina, but he knew that was nonsense. No one there had seen her, and he had not been surprised to learn her family emergency was also nonexistent. A check of her accounts revealed none of her accounts or credit cards had been touched since she lost his two agents almost two weeks ago.

Further information about Valentina Zarya Savitskaya was slowly coming in. Recalling Andrea’s latest briefing, he considered what they knew.

His assistant began, “First things first. We know now she was adopted by the Savitskiys. She was an orphan found in the aftermath of a train derailment in what is now the Caucasus country of Georgia in 1975. Reportedly, she suffered amnesia because of injuries received in the accident. Her age was estimated to be between 12 and 14 years of age. The authorities were unable to determine who she’d been with or her next of kin.

“Upon examination she was found to be unusually healthy and fit, with the exception of her injuries which healed quickly. Suspecting she might be a mutant she was placed with the Savitskiys who’d just moved to Almaty 3 because of their son Peter. “

“I still haven‘t been able to determine just how many of their 13 children were adopted. Peter the oldest and two others were definitely not adopted. How many of the other nine besides Valentina are adopted? “

“Another worrisome datum I found, after finding Peter’s identity and cross referencing it with other notable Zolotoye-Yablochko inhabitants with the known ages to the Savitskiys' children, is that the woman known as Energiya has a high probability of her being one of the children. She came to our attention during the Gray Alien Invasion. We can be reasonably certain she and Valentina isn’t the same woman since she had already moved to the US at the time of the invasion.”

Philippe looking for confirmation asked, “Did Dixie Belle make any appearances during that time?”

Andrea had answered, “Nothing documented sir, but stopping something like an alien invasion would be a little out of her league. Additionally, Energiya’s powers of flight and other powers are likely Telekinetic in nature. Neither Dixie Belle or Kali’s abilities fit the profile.”

“If you look at the summary I included, you'll see she keeps a low profile. Her only public appearances were during and just after the failed alien Gray invasion in 1996. She took out three of the alien bombardment saucers single handed, one of the very few powerful enough to do so.

Unfortunately, like Peter the Great, we have no hard data on her. Like I said before, her powers seem Telekinetic. It wouldn’t be the first time a similar talent ran in the same family, suggesting she isn’t one of the adopted ones. However, she seems to have more power but less control using her ability, unlike her brother Peter who can accurately project his power a considerable distance.

We all know how strong the alloy the Grays used for their vessels is, but credible witnesses tell of her cutting her way inside in a matter of seconds. As for how she disabled the three ships once inside, no one knows. It is of note that ZY militia forces made certain the data banks of the vessels they couldn’t recover were destroyed. After the invasion she disappeared back into obscurity, following the acceptance of an award from the UN for saving those cities.”

The inspector cleared his throat. “Yes, the infamous citizens of the world speech. I remember it. She upset a lot of UN and ULTIMATE officials with her assertions. Some of them were pressuring her to help convince Zolotoye-Yablochko to disband their mutant army and sign the ULTIMATE accords.”

“She responded that she would be willing live under the auspices of ULTIMATE’s goal of all mutants being a citizen of the world instead of any one nation when they were no longer 2nd class citizens, regarded as little more than criminals, except when some catastrophic event comes along requiring their help to save the human race.”

Andrea gave him a trying look. “Energiya then reportedly returned home to her presumably normal life. Analysts thought it was a pointed reminder that anyone attacking them would have to deal with the unknown factor of their entire civilian population being members of their militia.”

The Inspector remembered his last questions to his overworked assistant. “So this Energiya is likely a blood sister to Peter the Great. Quite the family Valentina was adopted into. Speaking of Energiya, where does our information on her abilities come from?”

Checking her notes she replied, “We have no solid information. Our agents did try to get DNA samples of all those of the Zolotoye-Yablochko delegation at the post-invasion UN ceremony, including hers. They had no success.”

“All we have is from what was observed at the ceremony, and eyewitnesses of the battles. She was seen TK’ing objects to her as well as flying while in New York. Witnesses from the three cities she saved said they saw her fly right through the bombardment-saucer's protective globe of attack craft so fast, none had time to react.”

Sitting back in the cheap hotel chair, he rested his aching back. Decisions would soon have to be made just how long he was going to keep his people out here in the desert doing nothing. Still, his instincts told him that monumental events were moving out there in the Mojave.

Thinking about Valentina and her remarkable family, his face suddenly brightened in understanding as he put the facts together. It became a frown as another thought came to him.

Was Peter the Great part of their delegation to the UN, and did Energiya name herself or was it given to her? Checking her notes, he found the answers. Bearing in mind that Peter too was the son of an illusionist, yes, he was there and in every photograph they had for her.

As for Energiya’s name, it was given by those she saved. While it is Russian for energy, it was also their name for a series of spacecraft. Watching the lone woman defending them, they said she flew up at the giant alien space vessel just like a rocket.

Between Universes

Whipping the raging torrents of energy like blazing whips, the being of pure power ruthlessly tore at the barrier imprisoning it. Particles exploded releasing even more energy. It hated the dark well with a mindless fury. Feeling the walls restraining its anger withstand against its assault, it howled splitting atom’s fire into the deluge of power.

Slowly the prison in the crevice amid realities began giving way again. Reason was lost to its wrath. It would not be denied the feast of destruction that it hungered for.

New York City

September 18, 2008

The exclusive private club in Manhattan flaunted the wealth of its members; from the rare wood paneling on its walls, to the handcrafted carpets upon its hallowed floors. Many of its members came from old money, but in this enlightened age the only requirement for membership was to possess power. Some might describe them as movers and shakers, and they were more right then they knew. It was all about influence. Their decisions affected the lives of thousands, millions of their lesser brethren.

In theory, the club allowed men of authority to relax and unwind from their stressful day. In reality, it was where many of the real decisions were made and real business was conducted. Its halls had become cliché for backroom deals. Because of that, privacy and security had become a paramount issue for the management. A detail, the group enjoying brandy and the solitude of the one of the plush private rooms, appreciated.

The three men lounged around the table that was worth the average citizen’s yearly income, as a servant passed out cigars. Of course, it was forbidden by the city’s smoking ban, but to such men mere laws were obstacles. It was only wrong to get caught.

Together they represented the majority of the permanent Directors of ULTIMATE. It had taken them many long years to rise through the bureaucracy to their present positions, but they had done whatever it took. They knew the very survival of the human race was at stake. Mankind’s question of whether there was life out there had been answered and the reply had not been friendly.

However dire a threat such invaders offered, it was the other threat that most concerned them. The one nestled under man’s very nose; Mutants. The inhuman creatures masquerading as men but more often as the hideous monsters they really were. All were an affront to all honest men and to Gawd. All deserved nothing more than to be cleansed from the gene pool before they corrupted others of the faith.

As an inside joke, they always referred to themselves by numbers, a holdover from their early days when a careless remark about their true feelings could have resulted in trouble for them and their cause. They knew their views weren’t those of the majority, but unlike their fellows, they were willing to take whatever steps necessary to save mankind, whether or not it wanted to be or not.

Number One puffed on his illegal Cuban import. “The Frenchman has stumbled onto information that links Kali and the Witch to Mutant-stan. I’m not certain of his reasoning but events are unfolding as he has surmised they would.”

Number Two opened his eyes that were closed in pleasure, exhaling the fragrant smoke. “I’ve been following that case as well. Whatever is happening at Area 61 must be nearing a critical phase. Our analysts have spotted a hurried pattern to the construction at the nearby testing range. Their security is very good and we still don‘t know why they have reactivated Project Meridian.”

Number Three’s sour expression made his thoughts clear on the subject. “It’s disgusting that the United States actually still allow the empowerment of the vile creatures. We probably have enough evidence to get this cover project of theirs, Chiron, canceled, but that still leaves that madman McClellan out there with his depraved experiments. I still think our best bet to get rid of them all is to let it blow up in their faces.”

Waving his cigar like a pointer, Number Two countered, “That would be convenient for us, but we have no guarantee that will be the outcome. Regardless of how accurate the Inspector is about their identities, we do know they are moving against Area 61 presumably to rescue those mutant brats from that mad scientist.”

“I believe the question before us is whether or not to warn the Air Force about Kali and the Witch’s impending assault. Do we hope if warned they can stop those two where we’ve failed or do we do nothing hoping their presence further worsens the situation into something more in our favor?” Number Two put to his colleagues.

Sipping the expensive brandy, Number One sighed. “We have spoken of this before and decided to let things develop on their own. What this information alters is if we can prove a link between Mutant-stan and an attack on an United States military facility we might finally push the Security Council into letting us take care of that problem once and for all.”

“I don’t think their Air Force would be any more successful than our own forces with neutralizing those two mutants. Like any group of insurgents, they depend on staying away from enemies powerful enough to defeat them, but the witches’ ability to negate their opponents’ technical advantage gives them the upper hand. There forth I vote no. Those two have been thorns in our sides for long enough. We know what they can do. I believe they have a reasonable chance of causing significant damage to Project Meridian, perhaps to the point of forcing the Wildfire Protocols.”

All three men sat back considering that scenario, a nuke going off in the United States. For practical purposes, it would be the same as any other sub-surface nuclear explosion. There had been hundreds of such explosions and no real problems had arisen from them. That was of course why Area 61 was so far off the beaten path to begin with.

Politically it was very different, and particularly so if they could prove the involvement of Mutant-stan in the disaster. Few events would guarantee the fury of the American public more, than a nuke going off on an American military base. No matter the weapon would be one of the Air Force’s and detonated by one of its own officers. Spin-doctors could handle that little detail. It would surely result in the United States declaring war on that nation of mutants and certainly prevent or at least hinder Mutant-stan’s mutual defense treaties with Kazakhstan from protecting it.

On another level, the destruction of Area 61 and the harm it would do to their rivals, the Office of Achieves and Records, OAR, would be a very desirable outcome. They all knew of the illegal United States Supra-human program, but as long as certain limits were not exceeded, it was easier to ignore it than fight it. In truth, nearly every single signatory to the ULTIMATE accords had some type of program to avoid the spirit of the intent of the treaties.

However, an unpleasant incident last year in the American city of New Riverside had thrown ULTIMATE into a public relations disaster. A high-ranking officer had succumbed to blackmailing from a major supra-human threat performing traitorous acts. Due to Lt. Colonel Benjamin Hostler’s actions, and the extreme mismanagement by the administrator of that region, ULTIMATE forces had fallen into open conflict with the local Supra-group and their allies in a knock-down no holds barred battle that the supra-villains than had taken advantage by attacking both groups.

The United States Air Force had been involved as well, as activity they suspected came from OAR, despite claims that the intervention came from other dimensional beings. It was just too much for them to believe that a powerful supra-team could appear out of nowhere without OAR having something to do with it. Not to mention Major Victory, of all people, coming out of his retirement, whom many still regarded as a living symbol of the American Ideal.

To throw a such a huge wrench into one of OAR’s major projects was very satisfying thought, as petty as it might be.

Number Two made use of the silver ashtray and said what they were all thinking. “It would be satisfying to ride to the Air Forces rescue and it would be an excellent opportunity to make sure no undesirables survived the experience. I propose we pre-position our Heavy Assault Brigade close enough to respond, perhaps using an unscheduled training exercise as their cover story. Additionally, we can send in Supra-Reaction Team One. That conceited bitch has had her comeuppance coming since long before that mess at New Riverside. With luck maybe Wildfire will get them all.”

Number Three nodded in agreement. “Perhaps we can put some pressure on the State Department about our concerns of something escaping from there, making them more likely to press that button for Wildfire. I did see a report about a flying saucer being seen in the area.”

Number One picked up his glass. “We’ll keep these plans from our dear inspector, but we will encourage him to stay in the area keeping a close eye on Area 61. As you say with a little fortune all of our problems will take of themselves and we will come out looking like the saviors.”

As one amid the bluish cloud of cigar smoke, they toasted their decision. Callously glossing over the lives of the men and women their plan would throw into harm’s way they drank secure in their own minds they were acting for the greater good of mankind.

Chapter 27

September 19, 2008

Area 61

ETWF: Minus 13 Days

Lizzie bounced on her bed. She was bored. It was Friday and they had the rest of the evening to themselves. They did have some yucky testing tomorrow with that creepy Doctor, but it was still only a half day. At least Mr. Glenn would be there. Ms. Hathaway would be too, but she was almost as scary as that Doctor.

Still, she mostly liked it here although she missed her friends back home. The older girls, Amanda and Malak, were really nice, but didn’t make up for not having anyone to play with. The boys, well, were boys. Josh and Malik were always busy watching sports or playing games on the TV.

Then there was Billy. Lizzie stopped bouncing her face screwed up thinking hard. He was closest to her age even if he was a boy. Besides that, he was nice to her in class and in the gym. Thinking really hard now, she knew from the practice they had with Mr. Simpson’s clones Billy could become almost her size. Not to mention all the funny shapes she thought giggling. Mr. Simpson’s clones looked a lot like her and were her size, but he and his clones were even scarier than that Doctor.

Jumping up off her bed, she knew the clones didn’t last long disappearing like soap bubbles after a little while, and she didn’t think any of them would want to play with her anyways. It was time to find someone who would. She ran to the room where the older girls were, but they were busy talking about boys and clothes. Stomping her foot, Lizzie skipped over to Billy’s room.

Bill stared into the mirror at the reflection within. It was her face. Ever since that night when Valentina had helped him find her, he’d been distracted to the point of being obsessed. It wasn’t him, but in a way, it was.

He was mystified by the incredible rightness about this image. Touching her face, he could see, feel, the subtle differences that gave the one he was born with an unmistakable feminine cast. She wasn’t beautiful like the women in the pictures Bill had imitated in his experimentation, but had something they somehow all lacked. His parents’ kinship was reflected back at him. Looking at this girl in the mirror was like looking straight into his own heart and seeing the true person hidden there.

Mr. Glenn, Val, had shown him how to give those features he’d always thought of as ordinary and bland, that while not classically beautiful, a fresh cute look. About the only real criticism she did give to him was about his voice.

She gave him some homework. Bill had to find songs by female artists he liked and sing along with them. He wasn’t to copy them, but to practice pitching his voice as she’d showed him. If anyone else walked in on him, he could just play it off as singing along, no big deal.

Almost as important as finding her face, was finding Val. Here was someone like her. Completely mind-blowing was that of all people in the world it was Captain Vroom. It was hard for Bill to reconcile the fit muscular Mr. Glenn with the athletically trim Val.

The ex-hero carried himself with a real tough guy attitude. At the same time, there was something about him that told you this man was good people. Bill could see all the other kids felt it too. You kinda knew he would make things right somehow. Even Josh had lightened up and started being more friendly under his tutelage.

If Mr. Glenn gave off good vibes, Val positively shone with them. Her happiness dancing out of from behind that curtain was so obvious it was like standing in the sun. Strangely, Bill could see the very things that he admired most in his teacher in this woman who was so much alive. It was as if being able to stop pretending to be Alan Glenn lifted an impossibly heavy veil from her. Now that she’d been freed, Val had almost literally danced into the air.

That rang true with what he’d felt as well when he changed his form to that of women he’d seen in photographs and TV. However, all of that paled besides finding that girl in the mirror. Val called her Billie and maybe that should be her name.

The loud knock at his door startled him and the face in the mirror snapped back to his familiar boy face. He felt such a sense of loss at something precious being taken away from her, that a lump froze in his throat from the strength of the emotion. Perhaps he’d been right about the way Val had felt, when she could stop pretending, if he was feeling like this when he had to go back to being a boy.

That thought made Bill pause despite the thunderous knocking at his door. Was he pretending to be a boy too? Was Billie who she really was?

Giving his image one last searching stare, he answered his door. Bill was a little surprised to find Lizzie there.

Looking up at him she asked, “Can you play with me?”

Really wanting to get back to his thoughts about Val and what they’d done the night before, Bill replied, “Can’t Amanda or Malak play with you? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”

Lizzie stuck out her tongue in dislike. “No. They’re talking about boys and clothes. I want to play with you.”

Remembering she could rip the door right off its hinges, Bill sighed. “Why me and not one of the others?”

Looking at him as if he’d lost his mind, she said, “They’re boys! They’re always playing games or watching TV.”

Wondering just where this was going as well as being a little freaked out because he’d just been thinking about just how much of guy he really might or might not be, he asked, “Lizzie. You do know I’m a boy, right?”

She thought about that for moment, and said, “But you’re not like them. You’re nice to me and never treat me mean. Josh or Malik would’ve told me to just go bother Amanda or Malak and shut their door. You were nice and asked me.”

Then bouncing up, hovering off the floor she said excitedly, “Besides you can be my size like I saw you do it in the gym! I know you and the big girls are older than me, but I don’t have anyone my age to play with. Please play with me.” Finished, she looked up at him with her big green eyes.

Bill blinked, trying to buy time to make his brains work. In the gym Mr. Simpson’s clone of him had shown him how to compact himself down to nearly Lizzie’s height. He still kept his secret that he could mold himself into other people’s likenesses, but sometimes he wondered why. It seemed almost everyone knew. Ollie, Mr. Glenn and let's not forget Ms Hathaway who’d put all those girl clothes in his closet.

He liked Lizzie and didn’t mind spending time with her. However, Bill really wanted to have some time to work through what he was feeling about his newest revelation. Then the thought came to him, 'why not do both at the same time?'.

Bill knew she could keep a secret because she hadn’t mentioned anything about the clubhouse or Ollie to any of the grownups. Besides, there’d been times he so wanted to join in Amanda and Malak’s little group so badly his chest hurt. Lizzie was a lot younger than he had in mind, but he was new to this girl thing. Why not start at the beginning, he reasoned.

“Okay,” he said. “But if we’re going to play I’d need to borrow something to play in. If I go down to your size, nothing of mine will fit me. How about one of your jumpers like what you’ve got on?”

Bill knew Dr. McClellan was still working on super-suits for them. He needed something that would grow or shrink with him, but so far he’d made do with a loose gi. However even that wouldn’t fit with him losing more than a foot of height and slimmer. Besides if someone did see him, if he was dressed like Lizzie and near her size, it might confuse them to who he was.

Lizzie bobbed in the air excited. “Yay! We can be twins like Malak and Malik.” With that, she zoomed off to her room even though she wasn’t supposed to fly outside of the gym. Hardly a few moments had passed before she was back with an armload of clothes.

Picking up the kid sized clothes, a part of him couldn’t believe he was dressing as a little girl. Bill almost stopped, but Lizzie standing there expectantly in front of him, made sure he’d to go though with his promise.

“I’ll meet you in your room where your toys and stuff are. It’ll take me a bit to change,” Bill told her.

Still not believing he was doing this, he waited till she’d shut the door, sighing. Turning to the mirror, he took a deep breath, and started shrinking. He knew from Dr. McClellan’s testing that he still weighed the same no matter what shape he took, he was only rearranging how he looked.

When Bill shrunk like he was doing now, he did get harder, being denser. He did get stronger kinda, but it sorta worked out about the same since he had less leverage being smaller. The same was true when he was larger. A little weaker, but being able to exert himself more efficiently made up for it.

The testing had also revealed that he was an Alpha class mutant with all his psychical and mental abilities as good as the best normal humans. That made his schoolwork a lot easier and his better memory let him copy Lizzie’s slim form. He thought about keeping his own face but decided he could change that if he needed to after he made the dash to her room.

It took less time than it used to, although compacted like he was, it seemed it was harder to sculpt his face. After dressing, Bill was Lizzie’s double. He still hesitated before the door. The fear of being seen and teased by the others was hard to overcome. Whispering a silent prayer, he opened the door.

Malak giggled at the picture of the outfit Amanda was showing her. The short skirt would make her grandmother have a heart attack. The girl was definitely developing a crush on Josh. Not that any of them had a lot of romantic choices, given there was only six of them. At least Amanda had Josh as a possible boyfriend, who was returning her interest.

The only other male near her age was Bill. Not only was he younger than she was, but Malak wasn’t sure of just exactly what her sexuality was. There were times she felt tingly all over, embarrassingly enough, in the girl’s locker room with Amanda, but could get the giggles discussing how much or little, guys were cute. Sighing inside, she guessed she was still working it all out.

Both of them had turned into their little group’s social coordinators. It sucked having to get up early tomorrow on a Saturday, but at least they had the afternoon off. The testing they went through was pretty easy but boring. Lift this, fly here, freeze this other, or electrify that.

On the other hand, they had the whole afternoon and Sunday to themselves. Okay, their Mom and Grandmother had insisted both twins attend church and that hadn’t changed. Conveniently, there was a small chapel with a friendly Air Force chaplain. Moreover, someone had to make sure little Lizzie got to Sunday school, because as powerful as that child was, she needed all the help she could get telling right from wrong.

That didn’t change the fact they had all of Saturday and Sunday afternoon free of Hathaway’s schedule. Supposedly, they all had homework assignments to work on, but none of them had been slackers before all this mutant stuff had hit them. Now all of them qualified as brainy and found the self-paced classes taught by Mr. Glenn, easy to keep up with. Needless to say, homework was also a snap.

Which all added up what to wear for tomorrow evening. The high point of their week was the mid-night Saturday meetings at The Rocketeers’ secret clubhouse. Before hand was movie night, even if the movie didn’t get watched much. It was a chance to dress in something not a uniform and to clown around having some fun.

Thing was, everything the Air Force had provided for them was a uniform even if it wasn’t because they were just like what everyone else had. It was as if everything had been ordered out of a catalog with only the sizes being different. Malak could tell Amanda wanted something to wear that would catch Josh’s eyes. While she might not be dressing to impress someone, Malak wanted to get out of these drab clothes too.

Amanda had the idea of getting dress ideas from magazines and seeing if they couldn’t modify some of their wardrobe so it didn’t look as it came from a uniform catalog. At the same time, they were keeping half an eye on Lizzie’s darting back and forth. They both giggled at the pout she put on at the door when she found both of them busy.

Lizzie skipped to Bill’s room, but soon after ran to her room and then back to his again. Amanda had nudged her, pointing out the bundle the young girl had carried. Curious, but not enough to stop what they were doing, the two teenagers gave their wardrobe a close examination. Unhappily, they decided that about the most their sewing skills could manage would be shortening their uniform skirts.

Lizzie ran to her room giggling. Then a few moments later, another Lizzie followed her, déjá  vu!

Malak stopped, blinking her eyes. “Did you see that Amanda?” She turned to her friend only to see her nodding.

She considered for a second that Lizzie might be playing a joke on them, perhaps egged on by Bill whose room she’d just come from. However even if it were, they were going to have check on the little red headed powerhouse, because of all the stories of weird stuff happening down here.

The two girls sneaked over to Lizzie’s room. Hearing subdued giggling and laughs from two girls, Amanda gave her a wondering look asking wordlessly, what is going on here?

Malak pointed at her own eyes and then at the shut door. She’d learned how to use her magnetic ability like a Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, MRI. It wasn’t quite like that supra dude out of the comic books, X-ray vision, but it came close. Inside she saw the sparkly outline that was Lizzie’s surrounding force screen, but there was another person there too!

This mystery person was the same size and shape as Lizzie, but somehow was really thick or heavy from what Malak could see. She was a little alarmed, but the two of them were just playing. Taking a second to blink the strange image away, she whispered to Amanda what she’d seen. “I saw Lizzie playing with something, someone else who was about the same size, but whoever it was seemed thicker or heavier some how,” she said, shrugging. “I’m still learning how to figure out what I’m seeing.”

Amanda got a thoughtful look, asking softly, “Or maybe just compacted?”

Malak looking over at his room, they both said at the same time, “Bill.”

They looked at each other surprised. In the dojo, they had seen him elongate and twist himself into all kinds of impossible shapes. Amanda whispered, “He’s not just a stretcher, but a shape changer to!”

Amanda stopped her as she reached for the door. Insistently she pulled Malak back to her room with the bed covered in magazines and clothes.

Though understanding her friend wanted to talk, she was still ruffled by her interruption. “What?” Malak asked, not quite understanding the look Amanda was giving her.

“You said Bill and Lizzie were just playing right? Were they doing anything wrong?” the older girl asked gently.

Malak shook her head, no. “But he was pretending he was a little girl. What if he does something to Lizzie?”

“Assuming anyone at all could get through her force screen to hurt her, I don’t think he would do anything like that,” Amanda answered, flopping down on her cluttered bed.

Not really understanding her own feelings, Malak replied, “It doesn’t seem right somehow. It has to be wrong,” she said, getting ready to go back over and confront the boy.

Amanda didn’t get up to stop her, but gave her a piercing stare, asking, “Is it him spending time with her or is it him using his powers to give her someone her age to play with? He stays to himself mostly and doesn’t hang with the boys. Okay, so he’s not into the stuff most guys like, but now we find him playing with Lizzie. So, is it wrong, or only different? Just like we‘re different.”

Malak stopped as she remembered a boy in school back in LA who’d started dressing as a girl. “You mean he’s gay, transsexual or something?”

Amanda looked upward as she considered it. “Well Bill did say something about someone had made a mistake and put a lot of girl clothes in his locker when we first got here. Could be they knew about him and were trying to encourage him,” she said, waving her hands at the unseen monitors they knew were watching them all the time.

Continuing Amanda said, “In any case, Lizzie is fine and having fun it sounded like to me. It does occur to me that we might need to see what clothes he has. If they wanted him to experiment they might’ve given him a, hmmm…, wider selection,” she said, picking up one of the too long plain skirts with distaste.”

The young teen sighed. Although it still bothered her in a way she really couldn‘t explain, her friend was right. Bill wasn’t hurting anyone, or anything, and if there was ever a little girl on the planet that didn’t have to worry about that kind of trouble it was Lizzie. Malak wasn’t sure of her own sexuality yet so who was she to start casting stones?

Let the two have a good time and who knows, maybe the girls would end up outnumbering the boys down here after all. Besides, if he did have a better wardrobe than they, he was about to learn of the ancient and revered tradition of girls borrowing each other’s threads!

To be continued.