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Chapter Four“You seem to have a vision of my son’s abilities far beyond anything he could actually do. Negate’s powers are temporary at best and terribly inaccurate. And that’s not to mention, how hard metahuman abilities are to reproduce with any kind of solid result. I doubt anyone could find a way to replicate his powers, let alone the shysters who kidnapped my son.” Moisture looked through the observation window at her son. He seemed to be resting peacefully. She unconsciously twisted her damp red-gray hair as she turned back to Rubicon and Manslayer. Rubicon’s eyes narrowed as they met hers. “So what are you saying to us? That this was all a scam? I believe Manslayer, myself, and several dozen powerless degens may disagree.” “No that’s not what I’m saying at all. Obviously something has deactivated not only your metagene, but remade your bodies in to that of a baseline human. Something far beyond the reach of my son’s powers.” “If not the boy, than how?” “I really don’t know,” Moisture said. “I strongly suspect it may have to do with the Mindwarp woman, although I can’t say for certain. With her apparent demise, perhaps the resequencing she performed on your DNA is trying to reset itself. I have no idea what the prolonged effect on your genetic code might be.” “I can feel the energy coursing through the atmosphere but its power eludes me,” Rubicon said. “My hope was your son could provide me with answers.” “He has nothing to do with this, Rubicon.” She looked back at her son through the two-way mirror. “And even if he did have something to say, he’s still in a coma.” “Well, if your son can be of no help, I suspect we will just have to take your assistance, my dear.” Moisture shuddered and took a step back. “Please, Rubicon, don’t make me do this.” Rubicon stroked Moisture’s sweaty brow. “Now, now, dear woman. We both know you can’t turn down my request. It’s in your nature, isn’t it?” “Please. I don’t want it. And there’s no telling what it might do to your unstable genetic makeup.” “You will do this service for me, Moisture!” Moisture’s eyes welled up and a thin layer of water condensed on her skin. She refused to make eye contact with Rubicon as she unbuttoned her blouse. Her eyes fell on Manslayer. “Can she at least leave the room?” Rubicon let his own ragged clothes drop to the floor. “Why of course not, my dear. After I’m done with you, Manslayer will need her powers restored as well.” Manslayer giggled as Rubicon gently pushed Moisture down to the floor. She could only let out a low, miserable moan as he entered her.” ***** “I’m sorry,” Athena said. “But Wave isn’t… he’s not available right now.” The girl crumpled forward as she tried to stand. Athena stepped up just in time to catch her. “No,” the girl said. “I need to talk to him. It’s a matter of life and death. Please!” “Calm down or you’re just going to hurt yourself again. Please, you need to tell me whatever you have to say. Epsilon is here to help you.” Athena let the girl lean on her as she walked to a chair. “Perhaps you could start by giving me a name.” “What?” The girl’s confusion seemed palpable. Athena wondered about a possible concussion. “Yeah,” the girl said. “Sorry about that. The name’s Psalm. Sometimes … sometimes I see things. Visions I guess you could say. And within a few days or weeks, they always seem to come true.” “Precognition. It’s a rare but documented metahuman ability.” “I know all about that. It’s not that I can do it; it’s what I can see. Degens dead, the world in chaos, the governments of the world in shambles. Devastation everywhere. New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Beijing, all of them gone. Someone from the past, some kind of ancient evil, in control of the world. And Wave in the middle of it battling a horde of some kind of half-robot metahuman soldiers. He’s the key, I can feel it. I just know he will know how to stop it!” “I’m sorry, but the visions aren’t real. They can’t be.” Athena took a deep breath and tried to keep her composure. “Wave is dead, Psalm. He was murdered less than a week ago.” “No, that can’t be! I saw him!” “It’s the truth.” “But the meta-soldiers, the camps, the bombs; he’s the only one who can help!” Psalm started to shake as she spoke, her eyes open wide. “Calm down,” Athena said. “It’s all right. It’s not true.” “Yes it is! All of it! And they’re coming here first, the soldiers! They attack the school today!” ***** Flint threw the door open and ran in the bedroom. Bobbi followed him in a moment later. Beauty looked up at them with tear streaked eyes. “You got to help him,” she said. “I think I hurt him.” Flint narrowed his glowing eyes. “This makes no sense. The cure—” Flint shook his head. “Time for conjecture will come later. Let’s get him to the med lab.” Flint gently lifted Air Raid from the bed. He cradled the young degen in his thick, rock-like arms. He looked like a massive father carrying a human sized child. “Bobbi, Beauty, follow me. We’ll get him stabilized and then we need to talk.” ***** To a casual observer, the core of the massive super-computer known as Mainframe might appear haunted on this particular day. Security door after security door slid open with no sign of life anywhere nearby. Thief slid through layers of laser, heat, and ultraviolet sensors. His invisibility covered all spectrums of visual detection while his costume’s special design made his movements nearly silent. Coupled with his ability to phase through just about anything, he was the ultimate spy. Or thief. Or, in this case, the ultimate mole. The final security hatch slid open and a blast of frigid air hit him in the face. He stepped forward in to Mainframe’s server room. Mainframe was quite possibly the most powerful computer on the west coast. Able to constantly upgrade its own hardware and software, the semi-sentient computer archived any reports with even a possibility of metahuman involvement and highlighted any cases of epsilon-related activity for immediate review. The database now spanned forty years and an entire world. Which made it the ultimate target for Epsilon’s enemies? Thief pulled an ultra-high definition DVD from his pocket and loaded it in to the computer. A few keystrokes later and the location of every epsilon-class degen in the world started to download. Easy as pie, Thief thought. Betrayal always is. ***** Rubicon hitched his belt. Behind him he could hear Manslayer grunt as she worked towards her own finish with Moisture. Rubicon didn’t know exactly how Moisture’s metagene activation power worked, nor did he really care. Energy coursed through his body once more. He felt whole again, like his old self, even if he did find himself in the revolting form of a normal now. He could feel the wind, the rain, the atmosphere itself as it whispered to him. His power was once more wholly his. Manslayer grunted once more and let out a long moan. Moisture grunted and whimpered as the other woman climbed off her. A layer of moisture dripped from both of their bodies. Rubicon handed Manslayer a towel as he looked down at Moisture. He smiled at her, but she just looked away. “Despite how you feel about us, I must thank you, my dear Moisture. Your services were uncanny.” “I hope you shrivel up and die old man.” “Now, now, dear woman. That’s no way to talk to two of your most satisfied customers.” Moisture just rolled over, facing away from Manslayer and him. She hugged her knees to her body and sat silently in an almost fetal position. Rubicon chuckled to himself. “Enough of this. Come, Manslayer, we have a world to retake.” ***** Thief emerged from Mainframe’s core central back in to the school’s main office area. He glanced around the empty room before letting his body become visible. He pocked the disc and stepped out of the office. “There you are.” Thief jumped at the voice from behind him. He turned to see the smiling face of Devil Boy. “Where you been, man? I’ve been looking all over for you.” “Sorry, DB. I’ve just been working in here.” “Whatever, but you should know the boss lady’s looking for you. That fly girl we found out front is awake.” “All right, give me a minute and I’ll head over there.” The room around them suddenly shuddered. Thief and Devil Boy both managed to hold their footing, but the building seemed to quiver all around them. “Earthquake,” Devil Boy said. Thief wasn’t sure if it was a statement or a question, but he shook his head in reply. “No, not here. It has to be something else.” The ceiling exploded inward. Thief dove out of the way to avoid the falling wood and plaster. He looked up through the damage just in time to see the first armored soldier descend in to the Academy.
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