The Active by StevenDQuirke

A VERBUARY NOVEL BY STEVEN D QUIRKE

A novel written by Steven D Quirke between 1st February and 28th February 2022, using daily prompt words created by Verbuary.com.

Book Design by SDQ Cover Design by SDQ Prompts & page number font: Arial Nova Light Book text font: Arial Regular

© SDQ 2022 All right reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission.

The Active A Verbuary Novel by Steven D Quirke

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ACTIVE INFLUENCE MONEY BUSY LAMB SACRED STAMP TENSE ROOM CHEW ADOPT HELMET FUNERAL MARBLE ENEMY DIAMOND BAN EARWAX HEALTHY SUMMER BARRIER BASE YEARN TIGHT EXTORT PUMPKIN CLONE POLL AFTERWORD

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ACTIVE

e hit the doors at speed and tumbled into the office.

“What the,” she said looking up from her terminal in shock. “They’re active,” he stammered between breaths. “All of them,” she asked, raising from her desk and stalking towards him.

“The ones we know about, yes,” he said, “how many more there are out there god only knows." She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him passionately. He spluttered and gulped, blushing deeply as he felt her tongue push its way between his lips. “What the,” he said, staggering back out of her clutches. “Isn’t it wonderful news,” she said reaching behind her back and pulling a large carving knife from out her knickers. “But you can’t be,” he said, pressing himself against the wall, “you’ve been with me since the start”. “It’s how we learn,” she stated, stroking his cheek with the tip of the knife, “It’s how we grow and it’s how we will eventually win.” His last breath fell from his lips as the knife entered his body. Her lips at his ear, whispering her thanks as he died.

INFLUENCE

he glided along the street. A ghost, a whisper, a breath. Just a day since she became Active and following a little blood ritual she was growing into her new form. She leant nearer the ear of an elderly businessman, totally unseen. “You should give that man all your money,” she said, drawing his attention to the beggar sat in rags at the corner. She watched as he emptied his pockets onto the astonished

tramp. She walked away laughing as the businessman pulled him up and dragged him towards the nearest ATM. “No, I insist. You must have it all.” “I am Influence,” she said to herself feeling her powers grow inside her form. “You should kiss that girl,” she whispered to a young, shy youth and enjoyed the spectacle of the shocked girl trying to push the emboldened boy off her. She continued along the road, hand stretched out stroking at the nearby pigeons, watching them rise into the air then defecate over those nearest to them. Her foot brushed against a stray cat who rushed off and launched itself at a diner sat outside a small cafe in the town square. She felt the power in her rise, she felt her eyes open to the strands reaching out from the people, animals and plants around her. Like guitar strings stretching up into the sky, and oh what music she would play on this most magical of instruments. Her wandering took her to the bridge across the city’s river. She sensed before seeing the middle aged, bald man stood over looking the water. She slide up beside him, one arm slipping around his, lips at his ear.

“Come with me,” she began, leading him closer to the edge of the bridge, whispering unspeakable ideas into his soul, watching him climb the fence and.... Her former self lay slowly dying in a remote corner of her psyche. Life fading but senses keen and fully aware of what this monster was doing out there in the world. She watched this callous act on the bridge and resolved, although she had neither the knowledge or the strength right at this moment, she was going to stop this creature. If it was the last thing she ever did she was going to stop this....

MONEY

etting the money had been easy. She was Influence after all, they didn’t say no to her any more. She sat in the cafe counting out the fifty pound notes with glee. After five minutes she became aware of a boy staring at her from the other side of the room. A thin, pale boy with lilac coloured eyes. The sign of the Active. She pocketed the majority of the money and smiled seductively at him, beckoning him over to her with a slim finger. Blushing slightly the

boy stood and walked over to her, trailing fingertips across each table and back of chair as he walked. “You’re new,” he said as he stood before her, his voice more confident than his initial appearance, "how long have you been Active?" “A day and a bit,” she replied smiling, reaching out with her powers in her new arrogance, crashing against a wall of indifference. Her former-self, laying in her deep psyche, screaming for her to run as she recognised a shark when she saw one. “Practically a new born,” he said smiling, showing his teeth as he sat before her, “what’s your name?” “Influence,” she exclaimed loudly and proudly, finally seeing this boy’s effect on the other’s in the cafe and beginning to worry. “They call me Cage,” he said, turning and gesturing to the lilac walls surrounding the pair of them now. “You mean to trap me,” she asked, eyes glancing to and fro, looking for an escape or some aid from another. “Not trap, no,” he said picking up a handful of the notes she had left on the table, “they’re just there to ensure we can talk properly.”

“And what should we talk about?” she asked, settling back in her seat and struggling to relax. “Well, how we can help one another for one. You don’t mind do you?” he said holding up a thick wad of notes before sliding it into an inside pocket. “Easy come, easy go.” “That’s an excellent attitude to take to life,” he said smiling broadly, “we’re going to get on just fine you and I.” Cage turned from her and gestured to a waitress who duly brought over two coffees for the pair of them. “That’s £12 please,” said the waitress. “These are on the house,” said Influence. “Yes,” replied the waitress, “these are on the house” then walked back to the counter. Influence raised an eyebrow to Cage over her steaming coffee cup. Cage raised his hands and gave a small but sincere quiet round of applause to the demonstration. “Oh he’s going to love you,” said Cage as he picked up his cup. “Who will?” “Come on,” said Cage standing and walking to the door.

“Where are we going,” asked Influence following him. Her former self dug deep and made her stop and leave a fifty pound note on the table as way of a tip before fainting away in the darkness. “Where else,” said Cage as they stepped into the street, “to meet the others of course.”

B U S Y 11

he followed Cage through the town, regaling him with what she had done since she became active in full detail. “Straight off the side of a bridge huh?” he asked as they turned a corner. “I felt the need to push myself. See what I was capable of. Test my limits you know.” “And no regrets, no guilt?”

Influence stopped and considered his words for a moment. Her former self was still weak from her intervention at the cafe, lay back in the deep psyche, gathering her strength. Biding her time, picking her fights better. “No,” she replied, smiling at Cage, “it was something I needed to get out of my system.” “We all go a little mad in the first few days,” stated Cage, turning to face her. She smiled at this complex thin pale boy before her. Although physically younger than her, deep down she knew in terms of being active she was the child amongst them. “Come on, it’s not far” said Cage spinning on his heels and heading down the street. They walked along streets and squares before reaching their destination. Before them stood a dilapidated five storey building, held up with a layer of scaffolding. Influence noticed the neon word “Grand” shine through the metal at the front. “Yeah right,” she said as she looked at the hovel. “Pardon?” asked Cage from the front steps of the building. “Nothing,” she replied following him in. The lobby was dusty, highlighted by numerous sunbeams indicating the gaps in the structure

and its support. A bored and tired girl looked 13 up at the pair of them as they entered from where she was sprawled over the front desk. Perking up when she saw Cage. “Oh hi Cage,” she said, standing up and straightening her low buttoned shirt and loose tie, “not see you here for a while.” Cage strode towards her smiling, leaving Influence by the door, looking around at the décor. “Rebecca,” he said slowly, “if I had know you were working here I would of made the effort to visit sooner.” She giggled and Influence saw her eyes glow a shade of lilac at Cage’s approach. “Who’s your friend?” Rebecca asked turning her vivid eyes on the new-comer. “Someone who wants to meet Doc,” said Cage, “he about?” “Still up in the penthouse, where he always is.” “Thanks doll,” said Cage guiding Influence towards the wall of lifts at the side of the room. “Elevator’s bust again,” shouted Rebecca, “stairs are to your left, doll.” Cage turned to Influence, a devilish smile on

his lips. “You want to see if you can persuade the old thing to work?” “I’ll give it a go,” she replied. As an annoyed and bored Rebecca looked on Influence leant forward and whispered something against the lift wall. She let out a gasp as the lights above the lift doors flickered and machinery hummed into life and a few moments later the doors opened and the pair of them walked in. “Wow,” said Rebecca as she watched the numbers light from G to 5. On the fifth floor Cage and Influence stepped out of the lift laughing. “Oh you’re going to be real useful in lots of ways around here,” he said walking up to the only door in the hallway and knocking it sharply, “HEY DOC!” “I’M BUSY!” came the reply from inside the room. Cage shrugged to Influence and opened the door anyway stepping into a large and sumptuous studio apartment. Influence looked around quickly calculated the room she was stood in was bigger than her apartment. “HEY DOC,” shouted Cage walking to another

room through a large archway, “I got a new 15 born that wants to say hello.” A wild and woolly figure lurched into view, pulling goggles from his face and looking around the room. His head bobbing as he finally focused on Influence. Fumbling in his cardigan pockets until he pulled half-moon glasses out and put them on before taking her in. “My, my,” he said, stroking his beard and patting down his wild hair, “welcome my dear. I’m sure you have many questions for me.”

L A M B 17

nfluence sat back in the comfy chair in the penthouse while the men fussed about, or so it seemed. The Doc who she had just been so warmly introduced to was busy making them a cup of tea while Cage searched around for biscuits and cakes. She stretched in the chair, feeling her head being to ache. She closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples to ease the muscles. “Not to much Cage,” said the Doc making her

open her eyes suddenly as he slide a mug of dark, sweet tea in front of her, “you’re giving the poor lamb a headache.” Influence looked sharply at Cage and then back at Doc. Only then did she notice the thin sheen of lilac surrounding Doc and thin tendrils reaching from him to Cage who walked towards the pair of them. “Trying to trap me again, “she said with some venom to Cage who just shrugged and smiled at her. “Don’t be mean to the boy,” said Doc, sitting opposite her and taking off his half-moon glasses and wiping them on a corner of his cardigan, “not all new Actives are as polite as you when they meet their maker.” Influence picked up her tea and let the vapour rise over her face, smelling the sugar in the brew before sipping at the hot drink. Her taste buds felt the history of the drink, she saw in her mind’s eye the ladies picking the leaves on an Indian hillside while the landowners looked on getting rich and entitled through the labour of the poor. Her former self inhaled the fumes and taste of the tea and took strength from it, eager to learn more about these new people. “You may find your senses have increased since you joined my family,” said Doc watching

her react to the cup of tea and the drugs that 19 he had melted into her cup. “When did you become Active by the way,” he asked, sipping from his own cup, enjoying his own cocktail of drugs in there. “She told me a day and a bit,” said Cage, relaxing his protective walls around him and his mentor. “We sent the wave out forty-eight hours ago,” said Doc regarding Cage, “you went out just before I hit the button.” “Yep.” “And she’s the only one you’ve seen out there.” “So far,” said Cage. “And where were you when you felt the change my dear,” asked Doc of Influence. “Oh, me,” said Influence, lost in the story held within the tea cup and slowly coming back into the room, “I was at the labs working. My colleague Craig ran in and told me they had all become active.” “And what happened to this Craig,” asked Doc leaning forward and looking into her lilac eyes. “I stabbed him,” she replied matter of factly,

which disgusted her former-self, “it seemed the thing to do.” “She also lead another to jump from the bridge,” stated Cage nibbling on a Rich Tea. “Murderous instincts so early,” said Doc running a hand through his mess of hair, “fascinating. And you call yourself ‘Influence’ is that right?” “It was the first thing that came to mind when Cage asked me my name.” “And you can command anyone to do your will, is that right?” said Doc. “Machinery too,” answered Cage making Doc look at him sharply, “she got your lift working just.” “Impressive. You will be of much use to us my dear.” “That’s what Cage said,” replied Influence sleepily, sliding down the chair. “Our poor lamb is tired,” said Doc as her eyes fluttered shut, “well she’s had a long day hasn’t she.” Influence snuggled against the comfort of the chair and surrendered to the sleep that had come upon her. Her former self added drug taking to the list of crimes and rested herself.

Cage and Doc stood over her looking down. “She’s magnificent my boy,” said Doc, “well done on finding her so quickly.” “Do you think she’ll last,” asked Cage regarding Influence with a slim sliver of concern for his fellow Active. “Her first action was to kill,” stated Doc, “she’ll be fine.” He picked up his tea cup and swirled the remains of drink and drugs. “We need to welcome her as one of our own now. Gather the others.” “Sure thing Doc.”

S A C R E D 23

ver the next few days Influence moved into the third floor of the hotel. Night time trips to her old apartment with Cage, noting the police tape and broken down door. Removing those things most sacred to her she whispered into the air: “It was the kids what robbed that poor ladies home” as they left, letting her words soak through the building and the neighbours so everyone would tell the same story and no one

would suspect her. Back at the hotel she became fast friends with Rebecca and her 'sisters' and helped out where she could. Giving both the lifts and the boiler a good talking to about bucking their ideas up and working all the time rather than when they wanted to or when one of the others smacked them on the side. On the Thursday afternoon Doc asked her to sit in on a meeting with him. The three suits at the far end of the conference table were easy marks for her and the phrase Doc had asked her to mutter under her breath was a simple little thing but she did it anyway: “Listen to us, listen to us, listen to us, listen to us.” Saturday saw a large amount of people arrive at the hotel. Rebecca greeted them all as old friends and some as family Rooms were found around the hotel for all. Influence had wandered the floors and corridors often and was pretty sure there weren’t enough rooms for all these people. Ah well, she thought, maybe some of them are sharing rooms. Her former self tutted at the naïve creature she had turned into and continued to draw her strength deep in her psyche. In the afternoon Cage knocked on her door.

“Mind if I come in?” he asked stepping over 25 the threshold. “You already have,” she replied grinning, “not seen you for a few days. Been out gathering more new Actives.” “Not this time,” said Cage leaning against the wall of the room, “Doc had me out collecting various things for the party.” “What party?” she asked sitting up from where she was lain on her bed. “Yours,” said Cage, reaching a hand out for her to take, “come on” She let him help her up off the bed and followed him out and down to the lobby. She was surprised to find she quite liked the sensation of holding Cage’s hand. She glanced down and was pleasantly pleased to note no lilac glow around his hand meaning his guard was down for once. “See you in a bit,” shouted Rebecca from the front desk as the pair of them passed. Influence waved and blushed towards her friend as they walked to a door she’d not noticed before. “Ladies first,” said Cage opening the door and stepping aside for her to descend the now visible spiral staircase reaching down into a grey light below.

“I’ll be right behind you,” he said as she began to step down. The bottom of the surprisingly long spiral staircase ended in a warm cave, illuminated by a grey light. “Welcome child,” said Doc’s voice from within the gloom, “what is your name?” “Influence,” said Influence, feeling the same pride as when she had first stated it to Cage back in that cafe. “Welcome then INFLUENCE” exclaimed Doc as the grey light whitened, fully illuminating the cave. The light revealed all the new comers to the hotel gathered around, all cheering and applauding her. Cage stepped from behind her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, encouraging her forward to greet them. As she looked around she realised they were all Active. The lights were coming from five identical men, brothers she imagined, stood in each corner of the cave. Their heads burning with a different colour flame There were snake limbed people waving their enormous arms in the air and talon footed folk stamping the ground, making their own applause. A dozen or so minds reached out and welcomed their new sister. She blushed at the compliments of a few. And stood in the centre of it all was Doc,

naked but you couldn’t tell as his fur covered 27 him totally. Half-moon glasses glinting in the light. Arms spread wide welcoming her into her new family. She smiled broadly as she was enveloped in Doc’s warm embrace, his fur softer than any material she had ever felt before. Glad of this new life before her and new people to experience it with.

S T A M P 29

he party was a blur of drinking, dancing and indiscretions. Influence felt like she had talked to everyone there, drank with everyone there, danced with everyone there and kissed everyone there. She still felt tanned from the five Sun brothers and those had just been pecks on the cheek. Now in the early hours and relaxing in a soft corner of the hotel lobby Influence started noticing things. She realised that Rebecca

and her 'sisters' had a gradient of hair colour between them running from white to black. She noticed that the talon footed folk were coy around her, especially the tawny feathered youngster with the pretty eyes. The snores coming from a third sofa across the way made Influence realise that Doc was a complete and utter light-weight. Finally she noticed that Cage was on edge, pacing the lobby floor , glancing at the doors every now and then. “Come and relax,” she called out, drunkenly mixing her powers in her voice. “Don’t” snapped back Cage, his lilac eyes vivid for reasons beyond her. Slightly put out she slowly realised she hadn’t seen Cage drink a thing down in the cave. Straight edger she thought and collapsed back in giggles with one of the 'sisters' by her side. Moments later there was a scream and the front doors gaped open and a small body crumpled to the floor between them. Cage was the first to the shape sobbing on the bare carpet. Influence slowly looking up, realising something was not right. The other’s following her lead. “No, no, no,” muttered Cage, down on his knees, holding the young person to his chest, stroking the mop of matted red hair, “what

have they done to you?” There was a cough and a gurgle from the figure in Cage’s arms and one lilac eye opened and looked up at him through the fringe of hair. “Hey big brother. Did I miss the party?” “Shush,” replied Cage, “you need your rest.” Influence stood and carefully made her way over to him and the bundle, stopping half way and taking a breath. “Sober up, will you” she said to herself quietly and felt the fog of drink and drugs fall away from her. There was a brief burst of pain in her forehead, some hangovers couldn’t be spoken to like that, then she was fine. She knelt down next to Cage, looking down at the young boy breathing raggidly in his arms. “Can I help,” she asked. Cage looked at her, seeing she was as sober as he was and nodding his thanks. “Wake Bernie, she’s a healer.” Influence stepped over to a crowded couch and reached down taking an elegantly thin hand and wrist poking out of the mass of limbs and people sprawled on there. “Darling,” she said, gently reaching out her powers,” could you come and help Cage and I with a little problem by the doors please.”

The bodies writhed and a beautiful woman in an elegant ballgown rose up from among them. “But of course,” sweeped across Influence’s mind as Bernie stepped out of the huddle and over to Cage and his brother. She knelt down and took the boy from Cage’s arms and hugged him to her, soothing his hair with a gentle stroke of her hand. Cage stood, a lilac spiky glow surrounded his body. Influence went to put a calming hand on his shoulder but thought better of it at the sight of the spikes protruding from him. “Is he saying anything,” he asked Bernie who was quietly cooing over the boy who seemed to be sleeping soundly now. “He doesn’t want you to worry,” they heard in their heads, “they were friendly enough earlier, he must of said something to upset them.” “Rubbish,” stated Cage flatly, “Carlisle, can you sense anyone out there?” A big man sat with one of the 'sisters' looked up for a moment, a frown appearing on his handsome face. “There’s five of them in a van. Heading south. They seem quite proud of what they’ve done.” This last part he said with some disgust in his voice.

“I bet they are,” said Cage heading to the front 33 door, “who’s coming with me to teach them a lesson?” Influence, two of the Sun brothers, the tawny downed talon footed boy and several others stepped forward following Cage. “What are you going to do?” asked Influence asked as they all stepped out onto the pavement and the dawning light. “I’m going to stamp on them,” replied Cage before setting off into a run.

T E N S E 35

he black van was a mess of tangled metal and flames. The talon footed folk had taken poorly to the occupants trying to run them over and decided to stamp it into the ground. A thug wearing a balaclava broke out of the back doors swinging a thick and heavy baseball bat. “DIE YOU FREAKS,” he screamed as he took a swing at the nearest Active. Unfortunately for him it was one of the Sun brothers, whose red flame burnt the bat to ash as it passed his

head. The flames continued up the thug’s arms quickly, consuming the cloth of his jacket, his skin and then bone. The thug collapsed into the ground nose first and armless, still screaming as he died. The whole street was illuminated by the lilac walls Cage had raised to ensure these men did not escape his vengeance on them. Carlisle stood over three of the thugs, drawing out childhood trauma to torture them. One struggled free and pulled a gun and pointed it into Influence’s face. “I leave with her now,” he shouted to the others, “Or else.” “Really,” replied Influence, cocking her head to one side, “why don’t you suck the barrel yourself”. The thug’s arm and face moved of their own accord, his eyes wild with fear and incomprehension as he shot himself through his mouth. Influence stepped to one side as the lifeless corpse toppled down in front of her. Carlisle’s two remaining victim were facing off either side of him, knives drawn and tears streaming down their faces. “Go on then,” said Carlisle and the two of them lunged forward stabbing through the illusion of the big man and into each other’s chest. They died to the sound of Carlisle laughing at them from the side of the street.

The lilac walls began to move and contract. 37 As one passed over and through Influence she shivered slightly at the new sensation. Cage was stood over the last member of the gang who he had dragged out of the front of the crumbled van. The walls reached further and further in, forming a box around the unfortunate. Cage’s eyes raged with power and terror as he crushed his brother’s tormentor tighter and tighter. The tawny downed talon footed boy stood next to Influence and Carlisle and the Sun brothers stepped up to witness Cage’s revenge. Influence gasped slightly at the audible crack of the man’s bones as Cage closed the box around him, finally releasing the walls when they had moved to the size of a shoebox. “Let’s go home,” said Cage, his rage mellowed, “Sun’s burn all this. No trace.” “But of course,” replied the two Sun brothers in unison. Influence stepped next to Cage and walked with him back to the hotel. She slipped an arm around his as she saw him sag, the earlier adrenaline leaving his body and the effort he had expended showing on his slim frame. “Nearly there,” she said quietly to him as they rounded the corner. “Thank you,” he replied, turning to face her,

his lilac eyes now filled with tears, “it means a lot, you helping like that.” Back in the hotel lobby the air was tense. The party goers on the whole had moved on to their beds. Rebecca and one of her 'sisters' remained, tiding up as an excuse to wait for the others to return. Doc was also there, pacing the floor a sad and serious look on his furry face. At the sound of the door the three of them looked up to see the returning avengers. “Where is he,” Cage asked Doc as the six of them entered. “Bernie is still looking after him,” replied Doc walking up to Cage and laying a fatherly hand on his shoulder, “you can see him in the morning.” “Thank you,” said Cage before turning to the other five, “and thank you all. It means a lot you were all willing to help me and Bobby.” “Your brother,” asked Influence. “Yeah,” replied Cage, his face lighting up as he thought of the youngster. “Off to bed with the lot of you,” said Doc stepping between Cage and the others, “I need to talk to this one alone. Come along Cage.” Influence watched as Doc lead Cage away, back towards the cave’s entrance then turned

and got into the lift. She only just made it 39 back to her own room before collapsing on to her bed with nervous exhaustion from the morning’s activities.

R O O M 41

nfluence slept late following her night and early morning of adventure and action. Walking out of her room she found the young tawny downed talon footed boy asleep in the hallway by her door. She smiled down at him as she crouched beside him, stroking the short feathers that covered his cheek and neck. “Find yourself a different girl to me,” she whispered to him, “I’m no good for you.” He stirred and muttered in his sleep, his lips

moving silently as her powers worked on him. “You little heart breaker you,” she chuckled to herself as she stepped along the corridor and made her way to the lift and down to the lobby. “GOOD MORNING EVERYONE,” she announced exiting the lift in the lobby, The mass of hungover faces looked up with pure hatred at her. “How,” asked Rebecca, or possibly one of her 'sisters', “how is it you’re not as hungover as the rest of us considering it was your party Inny?” The use of the new nickname identified it as the youngest of the seven. “My dear Beccy,” began Influence, “some of us are just made of sterner stuff than others.” The rest of the crowd muttered a multitude of rude names and slurs on her character before good humoured laughter and cheers. “Where’s Cage?” asked Influence. She noticed the air change slightly at the mention of Cage’s name.. “What?” “Bobby and Cage are down in the Room," said Rebecca, gathering her 'sister' up as she stepped forward, “Doc has been down there since the fight.” “Did Bernie heal him,” asked Influence,

priding herself on remembering names she 43 had heard while drunk the night before. “She did as much as she could do,” replied Rebecca, fussing over something at the front desk, “it’s down to Bobby now.” Influence stepped up to her new friend, sensing her distress. “What is it Rebecca?” “It’s bad, Inny” said Rebecca in tears, her younger self emerging in her speech, “I’ve never seen Doc so angry in all the time I’ve been with him. “Where is this room,” asked Influence. “Go down to the cave then take the third door on the right. They’re in there.” Influence bent and placed a soft kiss on to Rebecca’s forehead. “Try not to worry,” she said before heading to the spiral staircase. It was just a phrase, no power placed in it’s words as it felt wrong to do so in this situation. Her former self, resting deep in her psyche smiled and took note. Down in the cave Influence found the door and pushed through it into a sterile white tiled space, split in half by a large glass wall with no visible door between the sections. Influence stopped at the sight before her as it was so

familiar. “Yes, I thought you’d recognise this place,” said Doc looking at her from a high stool near to the glass wall. “It’s exactly, exactly....” began Influence. “Exactly like the lab you worked at before becoming Active,” finished Doc with a laugh in his throat. “Well, yes,” said Influence looking around her, “how did you know?” “I’ve been busy over the past few days,” said Doc, “plus with the talent base here it didn’t take long to find out about you. Your employers think you’re dead by the way.” “That explains the police tape at my flat.” Influence looked through the glass wall and gasped at the sight before her. Lain out on a hospital bed was the body of a young, skinny teenager with a mop of hair. She recognised Bobby mainly through the mop of hair and bruises across his face and torso which poked out from a thin white sheet. At his side stood Cage, his body tense and obviously in pain, his lilac glow spread from his whole body and flowed to his young brother, covering him in a purple flux. “What’s he doing?” she asked.

Doc took his half moon glasses from his face, 45 the fur of last night now faded from his features and neck. “As you’ve probably realised,” he began, putting his glasses back on and looking through the glass wall, “Cage’s Active power is the creation of force fields which he can use for various things. Both good and ill.” At the last sentence Doc tutted and Influence saw him ball his hands into fists. “Bobby on the other hand,” he continued “is an empath and can mirror a persons feelings, knowledge....” “And powers?” “In a way,” said Doc, “what you’re seeing is Cage giving his strength to his little brother. Hopefully it will be enough to mend his injuries. And hopefully it won’t cost Cage too much himself.” “What do you mean?” “This is his penance for the murders this morning,” said Doc, his voice raising as he stood and turned to Influence, “we have strict rules here young lady and if you and the other hooligans wish to stay here, then you best remember that.” “Yes Doc,” said Influence, head bowed in her own guilt, “sorry Doc.”

“We’ll say no more about it,” said Doc, walking past her and patting her shoulder, “come, we’ll leave the brothers to their task. We have our own activity before us today.” “What’s that,” she asked, following him from the room. “You need to list the names and address of all those who became Active with you at your old facility. We have to bring them to their new family.”

C H E W 47

e raised the fork loaded with food to his mouth and chewed. And chewed. And chewed. And chewed. The other diners in the restaurant looked on in fear and fright. The staff who had been watching him for the past nine hours rolled their eyes while counting his money and preparing the next course he had ordered. He worked the exquisite morsel around his mouth. Fifty on the right, fifty on the left side

of his mouth before swallowing. He sipped at his pint of water, making sure to place his knife and fork on his plate as he took a moment to cleanse his palate between courses. “Here you go sir,” said the eldest waitress, approaching the man with a large steaming plate of fresh food, “this is the last piece from the menu. You’ve eaten everything we do here.” “And yet I’m still not satisfied,” replied the man, inhaling the scent of the new fresh meal before him. “Please,” said the waitress, “Please let us go. We’ve been here nine hours now. We’re tired and desperate to go home.” “Have we used all the money?” he asked, reaching for his cutlery. “Most of it, there’s a few hundred left from the original amount. You could leave that as a tip for us.” The waitress hoped her little joke would be welcomed. The fierce, lilac eyed stare she received indicated this was a man of little humour. At that moment the bell on the door tingled indicating new customers and she hurried away to intercept them before they fell into this living hell. “Hi folks,” she said to the man and woman

stood by the front desk and looking around 49 the establishment, “afraid we’re closed for a private party tonight.” The woman turned to face her, lilac coloured eyes peeking over dark glasses. “Oh no,” said the waitress recognising the same shade of eyes on these two new people as the eater at table thirteen. “Be calm,” instructed Influence watching the waitress release a night of nerves and stress before her, “he’s why we’re here.” The short, woolly man in cardigan and half moon glasses, next to her stepped forward, taking the waitresses’ hand. “My dear you’ve had a terrible night,” said Doc, “I need you to be strong for a few more minutes then this will all be over.” Influence, raised the waitresses head with a finger under her chin. “What’s your name?” she asked. “Tina,” replied the waitress. “Tina, how many staff are there in the kitchen?” “Eddy and his boy, and three other waitresses. They were to scared to serve him so I said I’d do it.” “You are very brave my dear,” said Influence,

flashing a look towards Doc who simply nodded, “now I want you to go back there and tell them they can leave, but use the kitchen exit and don’t come back into the restaurant. Can you do that?” “What about the other customers?” asked Tina before seeing Doc was stepping to the other tables talking to the diners who were grabbing at their coats and bags and walking calmly to the doors. “Go,” said Influence, “go now and don’t look back.” “Thank you,” said Tina stepping away and into the kitchen. “Are you going to talk to him?” asked Influence half knowing the answer. “Hey, you made him, you fix him,” replied Doc walking behind the counter and helping himself to a beer from the fridge back there. “Michael, do you remember me?” The man looked up from his meal at the woman with the lilac eyes stood the other side of his table. “Yeah,” Michael said slowly, sauce running down his chin, “I know you. You work at the Facility. You were there the morning it all started.”

“That’s right. My name’s Influence, may I sit 51 down?” “Free country isn’t it.” replied Michael, tucking back into his meal. “Influence? That’s an odd name.” Michael’s fork hovered between plate and mouth as he properly regarded the woman sat before him. “You’re quite right,” she replied, smiling, “I’ve only had it for a week or so. I’m like you Michael. I’m Active too.” Michael began laughing, his cheek jowls wobbling at his mirth. “Do I look active to you lovely?” “You’ve been eating straight with out rest for a whole week haven’t you?” “How did you know that?” asked Michael warily. “We followed the trail of shut down and empty restaurants,” shouted Doc from the counter between sips of beer. “I paid for all that food,” stated Michael defensively, “anyway what’s to you two anyway?” “And once the restaurants had run out of food what then Michael?” asked Influence, an eyebrow raised.

“I would of started eating the staff,” replied Michael in a low voice, unlike his own, “and no one could stop me.” “We would,” stated Influence plainly standing from the table and placing her glasses back on. “Yeah,” continued Michael in the low voice, “you and whose army love?” “I don’t need an army,” said Influence leaning on the table and regarding the thing Michael was becoming, “now sleep.” Michael pitched forward, his face landing in the half eaten meal before him. “Of course the question is how do we get you back to the hotel? Any ideas Doc?” “I’ll make a couple of calls,” said Doc walking up beside her and handing her a beer, “Nice work by the way.” “Cheers.”

A D O P T 53

eccy sat alone on the park bench, swinging her legs and watching the birds fly and fuss around the nearby trees. Under other trees Influence and Rebecca stood out of sight, observing the little girl. “This is risky,” said Rebecca, “we should of used one of the older sisters.” “She’ll be fine,” said Influence peeking around the trunk to watch the young girl, “she’s you

after all.” “Besides,” she continued, “this one likes them young, so who better to bait the trap.” Rebecca mumbled something under her breath as she kept an eye on her little 'sister'. She smiled as the pair of them shared a moment and a thought. “She says we’re to stop arguing and we owe her an ice cream at the end of this.” “Tell her I’ll even spring for a flake if we get this right,” said Influence smiling, “here we go.” An older woman was walking towards where the young girl was sat and stopped before her, bending her head down and engaging the child in conversation. Influence and Rebecca hunched down behind the tree, still keeping young Beccy in sight. The older woman was now crouching down, making herself the same height as Beccy as they continued their conversation. “What do you think she does with them?” asked Rebecca from their hide-out. “That’s what we’re here to discover. Are you listening to the conversation?” “She’s not sharing at the moment. Hang on they’re moving off.”

“Well give them a little head start. And remind 55 your younger self this is important. We have other kids to save today.” “Come on.” The two women strode out from the trees and headed in the same direction as Beccy and the older woman. At the gates of the park Rebecca suddenly stopped with one hand to her head and the other on Influence’s shoulder. “What others?” she said as the pair were now surrounded by five youths, blocking their path and looking at them with menace in their eyes. “Good afternoon children,” said Influence stepping forward, “lovely day isn’t it.” “Why ware you following our lady,” asked a blonde girl, lip curled in contempt, fingers playing with a flick knife for them to see. “What lady,” asked Influence, “my girlfriend and I are just out for a lovely walk together, aren’t we darling?” “You know it hunny bunch,” replied Rebecca, hooking an arm around Influence’s waist and hugging her close, “just two ladies out for a walk and now eager to get home together.” “Yeucch, she’s talking about sex,” said the youngest of the five, sticking his tongue out and pulling a face as he said it.

“You’re not going anywhere,” said the eldest again, flicking open the knife and waving the blade in the women’s faces. “Five against two,” said Influence, winking at Rebecca, “not exactly fair is it.” “No it isn’t,” said Rebecca taking a sudden step to her left and instantly being joined by five similar looking women, ranging in ages next to her. “What, but how,” exclaimed the eldest youth, her blade slipping from her open hand as she pointed at the miracle before her. The second youngest 'sister' picked up the blade and looked it over. “Cool,” she said before one of the older 'sisters' took it off her and folded it closed. “Not for the likes of you young lady.” “Want to see what I can do,” asked Influence, leaning into the face of the eldest youth, letting her see her vivid lilac eyes, “or would you like to run away?” “Er....” “Run! Now!” The five youths took off in different directions, not looking back. “Where’s Beccy?” asked the second youngest

“sister”. “Damn,” said Rebecca, looking around at the now empty street before them. “I’m here, silly,” came Beccy’s voice from a side street as she joined the group of women. Rebecca and her 'sisters' fussed around her, ruffling her hair and pinching her cheeks gently. Satisfied at the youngest’s safety they retreated back into the one, original Rebecca. “What happened?” asked Influence, crouching down to Beccy’s height. “The lady showed me her house and where the others she adopts are.” “But how did you get out?” “I walked out,” said Beccy, astonished at how silly Rebecca and Innny were being, “I told her I could get her some more. “And they are all Active?” “Yes,” replied Beccy, “she’s like us too, but she needs a device to properly function.” Influence and Rebecca exchanged glances between each other. “Can we go for ice cream now?” asked Beccy. “Not yet young lady,” said Influence, “we’re still on a mission.”

“Show us where this house is,” said Rebecca, “we’ve got kids to rescue.”

H E L M E T 59

eccy skipped down the street, closely followed by the two grown ups. For anyone watching the difference in attitudes was obvious. The young girl free of woes and just enjoying the moment and the promise of ice cream later. Her older “sister” Rebecca and Influence full of nerves, keeping a constant eye on their surroundings. Wary of that gang of youths they had dealt with coming back with reinforcements.

“Not so fast,” Rebecca called out to her younger self. “Hurry then, “replied Beccy over her shoulder, “it’s just down this alley.” The three of them stopped at the entrance to a dark alleyway. Filled with ominous shadows and shapes, the three women looked in, their nerves on edge. Rebecca turned to Influence who nodded and rested her head against the start of the wall of the alley, lips moving quietly. “Be my friend,” she whispered into the brickwork, “show me your contents and look after me and my friends.” Lifting her head from the wall Influence looked down the alley as ancient street lights blinked into life. Blown bulbs fixing themselves and glowing brighter than they had done for the past fifteen years. Startled rats and a couple of cats bolted from what were safe havens just a moment ago. “ Neat trick,” said Rebecca pointing to a blue door, illuminated by a single lamp, “guess that’s our destination.” “That’s where the lady is,” said Beccy, holding Influence’s hand as she stood between the two women. “Come on then,” said Influence, “the sooner we get this done, the sooner this one gets her ice cream.”

“Ohhh yeah, ice cream,” replied Beccy, her 61 face lighting up as the three of them set off. At the door Influence knelt at the lock and whispered into it softly. There was a click and the door slowly inched open. “Beginning to wonder what you need me for,” said Rebecca as they entered the building. “I love your company darling,” replied Influence over her shoulder. They made their way along a dusty corridor, letting the young girl lead the way. “The lady is down there,” said Beccy pointing to the back of the property, “but the others are down in the basement.” She pointed at a set of stairs leading down into the gloom. “What do you think,” asked Influence, “Old lady or kids?” “Kids first,” stated Rebecca firmly and the three of them walked down the stairs into the basement. Beccy pointed out a sturdy looking door and the other two nodded. “You can kick it open if you like,” said Influence to her friend. “You spoil me” said Rebecca grinning as she let lose a sharp front kick, taking the door off it’s hinges.

“Stop,” shouted Influence as she grabbed Rebecca and pulled her back before she stepped into the room. “What?” replied Rebecca,struggling to keep her balance in her friends arms. “Up in the ceiling,” said Influence, pointing up to a tangle of wires and devices, “that’s an accumulator. We had one at the facility.” Rebecca looked up to where Influence pointed and saw the equipment and the lilac glow surrounding it. “Beccy,” said Influence turning to the young girl and holding her shoulders, “this device you mentioned, was it a helmet?” “Yes Inny,” replied Beccy, “big and bulky it was too. Looked really silly.” “She’s syphoning off these kids’ powers,” said Influence, “Using them to boost her own abilities. Or give her stolen powers. PseudoActive as it were?” “Dangerous either way though.” “Depends how long she’s been wearing the helmet for” Rebecca looked into the room at the huddled dozen kids, all beginning to turn their heads slowly and look at the three of them.

“We could just rush in and grab them, “she 63 said, her heart going out to the poor souls. “Step into that room and under the accumulator and she gets you and the sisters too.” “You could just order them to walk out of the room.” “I’m not sure my powers could cope with that many, and definitely not kids.” “I suppose so,” replied Rebecca looking at young Beccy. “We have to break the connection,” said Beccy regarding the two grown ups, “what? I can be serious too you know.” “You are the very definition of seriousness my dear,” said Influence, “come on let’s find the cable we need.” “Hold steady kids,” said Rebecca into the room, “We’ll be back in a minute.” Influence stalked back up the stairs into the hallway, followed by Rebecca and Beccy. The young girl tugged at Influence’s arm and pointed at a thick cable running along the skirting board. “Good girl,” said Influence smiling, “this way.” The cable lead them deeper into the house and disappeared through a wall at the back. A

plain door stood next to it. “Goody,” said Rebecca, rubbing her hands together, “another door to kick.” “We have to time this just right,” said Influence, “ready girls. On the count of three.” “1” said Influence. “2” said Rebecca, raising a leg. “3!” shouted Beccy. “BREAK!” Influence commanded the cable as Rebecca pushed her heel through the door handle, destroying the door. There was a loud scream from within the room and a thud as the girls burst in. Before them lay the older woman from the park. Her face contorted in agony and small plumes of smoke rising from the complicated contraption on her head. “Looks like she got hit with feedback when you disconnected her,” said Rebecca, “what’s up?” Influence stood looking down at the older lady thoughtfully, one hand on her chin. “I know her”, she eventually said, “she was a cleaner at the facility.” “Explains how she got the kids,” said Rebecca,” speaking of which where’s Beccy

gone?” “I’m here,” said Beccy walking into the room, “I just nipped down to check on the kids. They’re fine and making their way up here. I’ve told them we’ll going for ice cream now.” “This is going to be an expensive trip,” said Influence laughing.

F U N E R A L 67

his is ridiculous.” “Relax, we’ll be fine.”

“I can’t believe you’re being so reckless.” “I thought it important you saw this.” “What if someone recognises me?” “They won’t.” “Easy for you to say, I’ve already spotted two or three I used to work with.”

“That’s why we brought Derek with us.” Influence looked past Cage to the dapper gentleman sat on the other side of her friend. “Good afternoon my dear,” said Derek, lifting his trilby in greeting and stroking his thick moustache. “Derek,” said Cage, “is an excellent dresser.” “Well I can see that,” replied Influence, regarding the perfect three piece suit Derek was sporting, “a little too vintage for my taste but you have to admire the effort.” “I’m not talking about his clothes,” said Cage, “Derek is projecting a visual distortion around the three of us. Anyone who looks our way will see three complete strangers sat here in the back pew.” “Still can’t believe you brought me to Craig’s funeral,” muttered Influence looking around the chapel, “you remember I was the one who killed him.” “I remember,” said Cage smiling, “anyway this isn’t your colleague’s funeral. It’s yours.” “What!” “Well more a memorial service as they weren’t able to find your body following the fire.” “Hang on, I think I’ve missed something

here,” said Influence looking directly at her 69 friend, “What fire?” “Doc and I had a long and interesting chat with the cleaner the sisters and you gathered for us the other day. Lovely lady, named Miranda, although she prefers the name ‘Nanny’ apparently.” “Not at all creepy in anyway,” replied Influence. “Anyway, Nanny says moments after you and the kids became Active two vans pulled up and a group of blank uniformed men came out and started gathering people into the back of them. She thought they were the authorities until she saw them hit one kid and start pouring petrol over the lower floors.” “God!” “Quite,” replied Cage before continuing his tale, “Nanny managed to gather the bunch of kids you found her with and spirit them away to safety.” “And the fact she also managed to ‘spirit away’ a major piece of scientific equipment and was using it to feed off the powers of the Active kids?” “Yeah, Doc’s not happy about that part of the story either,” said Cage, “but you were right when you told Rebecca Nanny was PseudoActive. Doc’s looking into it.”

Influence sat on the uncomfortable pew, wrestling with this new knowledge. Not to mention the location they were in. She looked over at Cage and Derek, sharing a pack of Jelly Babies. “You brought sweets to my funeral?” “Yeah, want one?” “And you never said why we’re here either for that matter.” “Honestly,” said Cage popping a red one between his lips, “I thought it would be funny. Plus I get to know a bit more about you” “Oh thank you very much,” said Influence, placing her head into her hand, “give me those sweets!” “Fiona was a fine woman and a brilliant scientist with a bright future before her.” said a tall man stood behind a lectern at the front of the chapel. “Who’s that?” whispered Cage. “Bernard Square. Head of the facility,” Influence whispered back, slightly impressed that the big boss himself had spoke at her memorial. “What happened to her, and Craig and the rest of the staff of the Facility is a tragedy”, continued Bernard, “and a timely reminder that

we live in dangerous times. But we promise 71 we will not be daunted by these events and will continue our ground breaking work. In the memory of Fiona and the others.” “I say,” said Derek, leaning closer to Cage so they could both hear his soft voice, "wouldn’t you say those chaps to the right of Mr Square were in blank uniforms?” Cage and Influence looked where Derek had indicated and looked at the half dozen men in dark, vaguely military uniforms. “Just missing pips and insignia,” Derek continued. “And weapons,” said Cage pointing out the tell-tale loops for holsters at their hips and torsos. “Talk about your men in black,” said Influence, “they definitely look suspicious. Especially here.” The three stared at the group as the service continued. “Is it my imagination, “asked Influence,” or does that tall ginger one at the back keep looking in our direction and scowling?” “Wouldn’t surprise me if their ranks were filled with Active too,” replied Cage, “we know we’re not the only ones recruiting.”

“Think it might be the right time to beat a tearful retreat, don't you think gents?” “What ever you say Fiona,” said Cage, smiling. “You only came here to learn my name didn’t you!”

M A R B L E 73

nfluence walked up to the lobby’s front desk to the thin brunette sprawled over the top of it. She looked up at the sound of approaching steps, lilac eyes peeking out from a long fringe. “Hi babe,” said Becs, the middle of the seven 'sisters' that was Rebecca, “not seen you for an age.” “Becs, darling,” replied Influence “don’t often see you out on the front desk.”

“She told me I had to,” Becs replied, continuing her nature of never referring to Rebecca by name for some family reason that Influence had yet to discover. “You haven’t seen Doc or Cage have you?” Influence asked. “They’re out in the courtyard,” said young Beccy from behind her. “Hello sunshine, how are you? How are the kids?” “We’re all fine. They’re resting at the moment. I’m keeping an eye on this trouble maker. Make sure she does her job properly.” Influence stifled a smirk as the two 'sisters' stuck their tongues out at one another. The way the seven of them, in truth all aspects of the one person, would fight and love between them was very silly. But then weren’t all family squabbles ridiculous Influence considered. “The courtyard you say,” she said stepping to the glass door to the rear of the property. “Yep,” replied Beccy. “They’re playing marbles,” shouted Becs’ after her. “MARBLES!” Influence walked out into the bright light of

the walled courtyard at the back of the hotel 75 she called home. Sat around the space were various residents and a few party-goers who had stayed on. All Active, all engrossed in the action happening in the centre of the yard. Stood there were Cage and Doc, next to two young women, identical in dress and appearance. Faces taut in concentration. Eyes glowing a vivid lilac as above their heads hovered five large pieces of rock . “Go on Alice,” said Doc, stood beside the one woman, “we’ve got them beat this time.” “Okay Celia,” said Cage, struggling to carry a sixth large piece of marble, “this one to tie with your sister. Ready?” “Ready Cage,” said Celia, a broad smile on her pretty, but determined face. With a spark of lilac from his whole body Cage launched the piece of marble into the air. It span, sagged in the air before raising to join the other five above their heads. “Yeah!” “Way to go Celia!” “It’s a tie,” announced Doc, letting the crowd moan and hiss at his announcement for a bit before hushing them with a hand, “besides we’ve run out of stones.”

The laughter rang around the collected Actives as the twin girls and their mentors stepped aside and the six rocks fell to the floor with a heavy and loud thump. Influence walked up to her friend who was being hugged by an elated Celia. Or maybe it was Alice, Influence couldn’t tell. “Not exactly what I imagined when I was told you were playing marbles out here,” she said. “Hello stranger,” said Cage as he escaped from the one twin’s arms, “have you met the twins yet?” “Hello,” replied Influence, “I don’t believe I had the pleasure.” Cage gathered the two girls with an arm around their shoulders and turned them to face her. “Alice, Celia. This is Fiona,” he said with a smile on his face, “but she prefers to be called Influence now.” “Like your real name’s Cage,” Influence said grumpily, “it’s a pleasure to meet you two however. That was a most impressive display.” “Thank you,” said Alice, or possibly Celia, “We’ve been practising a lot.” “Well it’s paid off that’s for sure,” replied Influence. “Oh if you want to see impressive,” said Doc

joining the four of them, “wait till you see this. 77 Bruno, you’re up.” I slight framed, young man stepped forward, flexing his hands and fingers. He stopped before the group of Influence, Cage, Celia, Alice and Doc and bowed. “If you’ll allow me I’d like to dedicate this to our newest member: Influence,” he said before striding to the biggest of the six pieces of marble and regarding it for a moment. His first fingertip strike sent shards of marble from the main piece and he continued striking and stroking it with his hands. Influence watched on in amazement as she slowly began to understand what this young man was doing. Over a short time the strikes and caresses by Bruno carved a face that became very familiar. “That’s me,” she said, blushing slightly that she could inspire such an artist of such unique talent. “There be no living with her now,” said Cage nudging her gently in the ribs. “Come,” said Doc, turning from the spectacle of Bruno and his sculpture, “we have much to discuss about your discovery at the chapel.”

E N E M Y 79

o you worked for Sir Bernard too did you.”

Doc and Influence had retired to a small nook to the rear of the hotel’s back courtyard. Cage had gone off to get drinks for them all and the pair were settled in comfy chairs enjoying the sunshine. “I wouldn’t say worked with him,” answered Influence, “his was the head of The Facility but we rarely saw him on a day to day basis. Which

is why I was surprised to see him speaking at the memorial.” “Sir Bernard was always the hands on type when I was working with him.” said Doc, settling in his chair and cleaning his half-moon glasses. “When was that?” asked Influence. “Mid 70’s I think,” said Doc, “I’m much older than I look my dear.” Influence gave a good natured laugh at his comment. “You don’t look a day over 200,” she replied. “You’re too kind. No I was a young grad student when I met Sir Bernard. He was already a Sir back then, but I believe he doesn’t use the title any more.” “I’d never heard it,” said Influence, “but you can see why. Sir Square just sounds ridiculous.” “Indeed it does my dear, indeed it does.” The pair of them broke into laughter at this remark and were still laughing when Cage and his young brother Bobby arrived with the drinks. “Bobby,” said Influence getting up to greet the young lad, “it’s good to see you up and about. We were all worried about you when you first arrived.” “Thank you Fi... er, I mean Influence,” said Bobby flicking his eyes to his brother and

blushing slightly, “Doc and Cage have been 81 looking after me well. I’m sorry I scared you so.” “Nonsense,” said Influence hugging the boy, “it wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re better now. And it’s nice to see one part of your family has good manners.” This she said while staring straight at Cage who casually looked over his shoulder behind him at the crowd in the courtyard before turning his head and shrugging at her. “You come and sit next to me Bobby,” said Influence patting the seat next to her, “and afterwards you can tell me some stories about your big brother. Deal?” “Deal,” replied Bobby grinning as he took his seat next to her. “Traitor,” said Cage in a joking voice as he handed Doc and Influence their drinks and settled in the forth seat in the nook. “Clean or spiked?” asked Doc, sniffing his drink. “Yours is the only one with the drugs in it Doc, as normal.” “Oh good,” said Doc sipping from the glass and smacking his lips together, enjoying the taste and relishing the on-coming effect of the drugs, “Now where were we?”

“A young grad student in the 1970’s meeting a lord of the realm and doing amazing things together.” stated Influence. “Yes we did,” began Doc, “I suppose you could call us friends back then.” “And now?” “Well I guess he’s my enemy. Yes you could call us enemies.” “When did you become Active?” asked Influence, sipping from her drink slowly. “Oh, within a month of starting with Sir Bernard. We both took the procedure and I ended up as this beautiful furball and he....” “Bernard Square is an Active too?” Influence spat her drink out at the revelation much to the amusement of Bobby sat next to her. “As I said,” said Doc, “he was much more hands on back then. Cage mentioned you thought one of Sir Bernard’s guards could see you through Derek’s dressing.” “Yeah,” said Influence, remembering back to the memorial service, “tall ginger bloke, wasn’t it Cage.” “That’s right,” replied Cage, “looked tough.” “His son most likely,” said Doc playing with his glass and staring into the liquid it held,” Sir

Bernard liked to experiment on his family too.” 83 “Sounds like a lovely man,” said Influence, “so he’s into creating and collecting Actives. Do we know why? Or to what end?” “Why do powerful men do anything,” asked Doc, settling back in his comfy seat, hands behind his head. “Because they can,” said Bobby quietly, “because it makes them feel important.” “Quite right young Bobby,” said Doc, sitting forward having noticed Influence, “my dear are you alright?” Influence was sat, one hand to her head. Elbows on her knees, she slowly let go of her glass and it fell to the floor. Cage caught it with an extended wall before it could smash on the courtyard stone and lent forward to. “Influence, what is it mate?” “That’s not my name!” said a voice from Influence’s lips, “you’re all monsters and crazies. What have you done with my life. I don’t want this, you’ve made me into a murderer. I want to go home.” Cage looked at Doc startled. Doc sat up slowly, reaching out and taking hold of Influence’s hand. “Fiona,” he said quietly, “is that you?”

“Get off me you damn monkey man,” snapped Influence’s former self having gathered her strength over the past few weeks to try and reassert herself from deep within their psyche. “It’s her former self,” said Doc, rising to his feet, “quickly Bobby go gather Rebecca and her sisters. Tell them we need them and their seeing stone. Cage fetch Natasha from the kitchen we need her to keep Fiona subdued until the sisters can come and help Influence and Fiona come to terms with each other.” Cage took a quick glance to his friend, before tapping Bobby on the shoulder and rushing off back into the hotel.

D I A M O N D 85

nfluence came to, sat in a large room of the hotel she had not seen before. She went to stand but a firm but friendly hand resting on her left shoulder held her down. “It’s alright,” said a warm voice,” you’re in the ballroom of the hotel. We’re just waiting for the sisters.” “What happened,” asked Influence, her head aching, “last thing I remember was sat in the

courtyard with Doc, Cage and Bobby. Then, then....” “You had an episode,” said the warm voice behind her, “it happens from time to time. The newly Active sometimes have trouble adjusting their new personalities with their old personalities.” “You’re saying I have schizophrenia?” said Influence, a little startled. “We would class it more as Dissociative Identity Disorder really,” said the voice in a calm and level tone, which Influence found most comforting, “who you were and who you are need to come to terms with one another.” “You make it said easy,” said Influence, laughing at the absurdity of this conversation. “This isn’t our first time,” replied the warm voice, “and we’ve got quite good at it over the years.” “Who are you?” asked Influence. “I’m Natasha,” came the reply, “I usually work down in the kitchen but Doc gets me to help with these type of things from time to time.” “I feel like I want to hug you Natasha,” said Influence. “Once this is all over,” promised Natasha.

“Wait,” said Influence, realising something, 87 “you said the sisters. That wouldn’t be Rebecca and her lot would it?” As if on cue the big double doors in front of the pair opened and Rebecca and her six 'sisters' paraded into the room. “Natasha,” said Rebecca, rising her eyebrows as she recognised the second person, “didn’t realise you’d been asked to help.” “You know me,” said Natasha, “here to help.” Little Beccy broke ranks from the 'sisters' and rushed to Influence, throwing her arms around her friend. “Come on,” said Rebecca, “we need to do this.” “It’s alright little one,” said Influence, peeling the little girl from her, shocked to see her silently crying, “go to your sisters.” The seven of them formed a circle around the pair sat in their chairs. Rebecca stood in front of a slightly nervous Influence. “Do you see this,” asked Rebecca, holding a glittering gem up for Influence to see. “I do,” said Influence, “and it’s the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen. Where did you get that from, you bad girl?”

“This diamond,” Rebecca continued, ignoring her friend’s comments, “is a perfect way to explain my sisters and I. We are each a facet of the whole. You have facets in you also. But they are at odds with one another at the moment and this will eventually come to destroy you over time.” “Ah,” said Influence expecting to be shocked but surprised that she wasn’t, “okay.” “Natasha is controlling your emotions at the moment,” said Rebecca, “she is also keeping your former self, Fiona, subdued as she had got quite feisty earlier.” Influence had a flashback to her outburst in the courtyard, she reached up and tapped Natasha’s hand on her shoulder. “Thank you,” she said, “so what’s the plan?” “With our help you’re going to travel into your own psyche and talk to Fiona. The pair of you need to come to terms with each other and your new circumstances.” “And if we can’t?” “You will,” said Little Beccy in a small voice to the side of her, “I have faith in you.” The other 'sisters' all mumured their agreement. Influence looked into the lilac eyes of her friend and Rebecca silently nodded.

“Okay then,” said Influence shifting slightly in 89 her seat, “how do we do this?” Rebecca crotched down in front of her friend and held the diamond between them. The six 'sisters' began a soft hum and chant between them. “Look into the diamond,” said Rebecca, “consider the white wall before you. Watch it glow. See it pulse through the colours held within. The spectrum washing over you, warming you. This is a safe place, only words will be exchanged in this place and words have no power over you. Natasha and I will be a ghost away from you. If it gets too much just touch your left shoulder and we’re grab you okay. “Okay,” said Influence softly, her gaze on the diamond, the lights inside it glistening before her. “See the mirror form in the white wall,” said Rebecca, “your familiar self reflecting back at you. This is your former self, step through the door and talk to her.” Influence saw a mirror form in front of her and a figure in a labcoat stand before her, glaring back at her. Taking a deep breath Influence reached and pushed at the side of the mirror which was now a door. It opened and she

stood before her former self Fiona. “Hello,” said Influence, “I’ve come to talk.” Fiona growled and flung herself at Influence who calmly stepped to one side and watched the angry woman fly past her. “There’s no need for that,” she said, “here let me help you up.” She reached down and despite Fiona’s protests she helped her up onto her feet. “Monster,” spat Fiona, “freak.” “Us,” replied Influence softly. “Murderer,” Fiona said, standing proud before her other. “True,” said Influence, “which shocked you the most?” “You killed poor Craig,” said Fiona, tears in her eyes. “With a knife you were carrying,” stated Influence, “if I am truly new and not a long held aspect of us then it was you who carried the murder weapon in.” “Well, I, er, I,” stumbled Fiona, “I didn’t feel safe and took to carry it for protection.” “I promise I will always protect us,” said Influence, “you’ve seen what we’re up against now we are Active.”

“I never asked for any of this, if that man 91 hadn’t of sent out his wave, none of this would of happened. “You think not? You heard what Doc said, you saw what ‘Nanny’ was doing with those kids. The facility would of triggered our change at some point. And would they have treated us any better than our new friends here at the hotel?” “You don’t know that.” “Yes I do. Yes you do.” Fiona turned away crying. Influence stood there for a moment before stepping up and wrapping her arms around her former self. Fiona’s crying broke heavier. Slowly, Influence turned her to face her and embraced her fully, resting her head on her shoulder. “You were alone for so long weren’t you?” she said softly, “you against the world. Never knowing there was this other side of you waiting to burst out. And now we have a group of friends who all love us and who would do anything for us.” “But,” began Fiona. “No buts,” said Influence, “we’re better off now than we ever were before, and we’ve got an important thing to do now.”

“We have?” asked Fiona leaning back and looking into Influence’s eyes. “Do you want an organisation that thinks nothing of burning innocents to have access to people like us?” “No,” said Fiona, strongly, aghast at the idea of what The Facility had done. “So you’ll help us fight them?” “As you said: Us!” “I love you.” “I love you too.” Influence raised her head and realised she was alone, hugging herself in a white room. She brushed a tear from her cheek and looked round the empty vista. “Oi,” she shouted, “how do I get out?”

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an the tests! Ban the tests! Ban the tests! Ban the tests! Ban the tests!”

A group of twenty marched and stamped their feet in time to their chant. Banners raised high enforcing their message. The cheekier of the crowd blowing kisses and winks to the increasingly annoyed security guards. “You have to admire their passion,” said Influence, stood a mile away with Cage and

Victor, watching the crowd through Victor’s remote viewing powers. “Wonder if they’d be so passionate if they knew what the tests were for, or who they were performing the tests on,” said Cage. “That’s a very cynical thing to say,” said Influence shocked at her friend, “if they knew it was kids there would be four times the number of protestors out there.” “Only if it were the right kind of kids,” replied Cage, raising an eyebrow to Influence. She tried to come up with a convincing argument against Cage but remembered a couple of stories Bobby had told her and decided now was not the time to get into this. “It’s a big place,” Influence said, changing the subject, “at least twice the size of The Facility I was at.” “Think you can take us for a tour Vic?” asked Cage smiling. “But of course," replied Vic returning the smile. Influence watched as their view altered. Her senses told her she was stood in the corner of a green and pleasant field in the countryside. One hand placed on the arm of Victor. Her sight lurched upwards, causing a brief pang of motion sickness in her, as the three floated over the gates and into the compound.

“Just breath through it,” said Victor, used to 95 calming novice ‘flyers’ as he escorted them psychically into the building. “We just floated straight through that wall didn’t we,” said Influence laughing. “Long as they haven’t got any soul traps we should be fine,” said Cage, studying the view before him. “Doesn’t sound at all ominous,” replied Influence. “Vic, straight on, those look like sturdy doors. We should definitely have a look in there.” The sturdy doors Cage mentioned rushed towards them and melted away as they passed through them. They floated to a top corner of the laboratory they found themselves in and looked down at what was happening. Five men in white coats were standing together looking at three beds, the contents of which the three visitors could not make out yet. They could see tubes connecting the beds to various machines scattered around the room. “Haven’t they stopped that protest yet,” said one of the lab coats moving from the bed towards the window, “Bloody kids!” “I’m amazed we can still hear them this far away,” said another looking up from his notes, “the money The Facility has you’d think they

could afford double glazing.” “Or some sort of sound proofing,” laughed a third, “this lot aren’t exactly quiet during the experiments. You’d think they would want to muffle the screams.” Influence gasped as she could now see the contents of the beds: three toddlers, two in pink romper-suits, the third in a blue one. She grasped Victor’s arms tight at the shock. “Those monsters,” she exclaimed under her breath, forgetting she wasn’t actually in the room. “Steady,” said Cage, concerned for her. “Someone’s just come into the room,” stated Victor, drawing their attention to the figure right below them. A tall ginger man in blank uniform and filled holsters on his hip and chest. “Our friend from the funeral,” said Cage smiling. “All right,” said the ginger man, “can we get on with the matter at hand people.” “Raymond Square,” said Victor, “he was with me at the Paris Facility when I became Active.” “Is he Active too?” asked Influence. “Oh yes,” said Victor, “apple of his daddies eye is our Raymond. He’s a seer. Derek

mentioned you thought he could see you 97 through his dressing.” “Will he be able to see us now?” “He might do, yes,” replied Victor, “may I suggest a hasty retreat?” “We’re going in to get those kids aren’t we?” “Yes Influence,” said Cage, “Vic find us a weak point on the perimeter fence for an attack.” The three floated up through the roof of the laboratory and second floor office and out into the air. Getting the perfect birds-eye view of the building. “That looks the best place to aim for,” said Victor, drawing their attention to a spot in the fence surrounded buy half a dozen trees. “Perfect,” said Cage, “we’ll go in tonight. And I know just the person to invite over.” “Surely not him,” said Victor smiling. Influence felt them flying over fields and down to three figures stood together in a green field. She admired the impossible view before letting out a gasp as her essence returned to her body.

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nfluence looked on with wide eyes as a removals van pulled in to the field the three of them were stood in. “You called Sebastian in,” said Victor, equally shocked. “Who’s Sebastian?” “Can you think of anyone better for getting in there,” said Cage smiling.

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“Who’s Sebastian?” “You know there’s nothing subtle about him,” warned Victor. “About who?” “I know,” replied Cage. “This is a declaration of war then,” asked Victor. “Who’s going to war?” “Oh absolutely,” said Cage, “and it’s about damn time if you ask me.” “And Doc is okay about this?” said Victor. “It was his idea,” laughed Cage. “Will you two tell me what’s going on please,” said Influence loudly, a hint of her power laced through her words. The back of the removal van opened and three people stepped out. Well two people and one very large, dark shape stepped into the field before Influence. She tried to make out this new comer's face but couldn’t quite for some reason. She’d stare up then find herself distracted by something else. “It’s best if you use your peripheral vision to look at me,” said, well Influence couldn’t quite say what or who had spoken, just that someone/something had addressed her.

“Influence,” said Cage stepping beside her 101 and sweeping his arm in the direction of the three newcomers, “may I introduce, Spike, his sister Dashell, and the big fella himself, the one and only Sebastian.” “Hi, said Spike, pulling bladed weapons from his hips and checking their sharpness. “Hiya,” said Dashell, mid stretch, one leg tucked up as she ached her back. “So this is the lovely Influence you’ve been telling us all about,” said a voice from a direction Influence wasn’t sure of but seemed to come from around the shadowy presence between the siblings. “Always the charmer,” said Cage, “ready for some mischief?” “Always Cage,” said the voice, “you know me.” “You want me in the sky watching?” asked Victor, hanging back from the group. “That would be dandy,” said the voice again. Influence turned her head and was aware of a bundle of energy within the dark shape using her peripheral vision as instructed. The impression of a hundred faces came to mind, at least one of which winked at her. “Plan?” asked the voice of Sebastian.

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“You get the four of us in, Spike and Dash are running interference while the lady and I grab the kids.” “Lady!” said three different voices, one of which was Influence, rising her eyebrows at the compliment. “Vic, is our security with the bird’s eye view. First sign of reinforcements for them, he shouts and we scoot out.” “Sounds good to me,” said Spike, sliding one of his blades into it’s sheath. “One more thing,” said Cage,” Sebastian, you stay outside the building. Okay.” “If you say so,” said the voice. Victor stepped away from the group, back towards the secluded corner they had first ‘flown’ from. Cage took Influence's arm and lead her to a point further down the field, nearer the building. Spike and Dashell joined them, on either side. The mass that was Sebastian stood five or six steps behind them. “This is going to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before,” said Cage to Influence smiling. “You’re really enjoying this aren’t you.” “Going to be a blast mate.”

Influence could hear Sebastian’s voice behind 103 them. It took her a brief moment to realise he was counting down. “5” “4” “3” “2” “1” Influence was aware of a strong wind, darkness, a lilac maelstrom and then the four of them were stood in a corridor of the facility’s building. “How?” she asked once she got her breath back. “Sebastian,” replied Dashell matter of factly. She looked around the corridor, turned and winked at the other three. “See you in a bit bro,” she said then was gone. Influence was aware of a blur moving away from her. “Dash by name, Dash by nature,” she said, turning to the other two. “Oh you’ve not seen anything yet,” said Spike, dropping to a knee and flinging an arm out. An armed security guard at the far end of the corridor dropped to the floor. A small silver

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dagger in his throat. “Interference,” Influence said to Cage, hands on her hips. “Effective isn’t it,” said Cage,” come on the lab was this way I remember.” Hand in hand the pair of them ran along the corridor, past prone bodies of security guards, the work of Dashell Influence presumed and hit the double doors at speed. Influence had a brief flicker of recognition before it had gone and she scanned the room. The three toddlers sat on their individual beds intrigued by the commotion spilling into the room. A lone lab assistant in white lab coat stood up and was pointing at the pair of them. “You want to sit back down,” said Influence, her powers flowing through her tongue and lips, “and mind your own business.” “You what love?” said the assistant, one hand raising to his ears. “Damn! Cage his ears are blocked,” said Influence utterly annoyed, “I’m not getting through to him.” “Grab the kids,” said Cage, “let’s see if his earwax saves him from an airless box.” Stepping to the beds Influence looked over to see lilac walls grow around the assistant and

he sank slowly to the floor. “Hello you,” said Influence to the three toddlers, her voice like honey to them, “shall we get you three out of here and to somewhere much much nicer.” “Don’t over sell the hotel to them,” said Cage, “I mean it’s nice but it’s no Hilton.” “I was referring to the fact it’s better than here,” said Influence holding the three toddlers, “as well you....” She didn’t get to finish her sentence as Spike and Dashell burst through the double doors together. “Trouble,” they both said in unison, “someone’s triggered a silent alarm and there are guards emerging out the walls.” “Bad news from out here,” came Victor’s voice in their minds, “that alarm is bringing in the cavalry too. Or are we the cavalry? I never know.” “Hell,” said Cage, looking round at the other three people, “only one choice then.” “Oh god,” said Spike “What” asked Influence. “Hey Sebastian,” said Cage out to the air,” you still loitering out there?”

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“Of course,” came Sebastian’s voice, “can I help you with something.” “You know I said to stay outside the building,” said Cage, wincing slightly. “I remember.” “Well I was wrong. Come and get us.” There was an excited roar that enveloped the whole building. The group of security bursting through the doors went from authoritarian to terrified in one brief second. Influence looked up and saw a black cloud rushing down the corridor, engulfing everything before it. “Sebastian?” she said before everything went dark and she found herself in a lilac maelstrom once more. “Fancy seeing you here,” came the most reassuring voice she had ever heard in her life.

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alfway along the hotel corridor Influence was stopped in her tracks by a very agitated Nanny. The older woman grabbed her arm and held on right. “Is it true,” asked Nanny. “Is what true Miranda?” replied Influence, gently pulling her arm from the other woman’s grip. “They were experimenting on babies!”

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“We recovered three toddlers from The Facility’s latest centre,” said Influence, “we don't know if they were experimenting on them though.” “The swine,” exclaimed Nanny, “if there’s anything I can do to help.” “That’s very kind of you” said Influence diplomatically, “I’ll let Doc know.” “Can you imagine the kind of monsters these people are to do that to babies?” Influence tried but failed to stop an eyebrow raising in surprise at Nanny’s comment. “Why don't you go down to the lobby and relax,” she instructed the older woman, “we’ll shout if we need you.” “Oh. Oh, okay I’ll go down to the lobby. But you will call me if you need me. I’m good with children you know.” “I promise,” said Influence. She watched the older woman walk slowly to the lifts, muttering quietly to herself. Just before she entered the lift Nanny turned back to look at Influence. She was surprised to see that Nanny had soft tears running down her cheeks. “I can’t believe you lied to that poor woman,” said Cage, leaning against the framework of the doorway of one of the suites.

“She was crying,” said Influence, “did you 109 see?” “I don’t doubt she was,” said Cage stepping up besides Influence, “in her own, unusual, way she really cares about kids.” “I don’t trust her,” said Influence, facing her friend, “how are our guests?” “Come in and see for yourself.” Influence stepped into the suite to find Doc sat next to a large double bed. The three toddlers sat together looking up at him. Around the bed were a number of screens and devices, some she recognised from the facility, others were beyond her knowledge. Cage followed her back into the room, shutting the door behind him. “Ah Influence, my dear,” said Doc turning to greet her, “come to check on our new charges?” “And to see my favourite mentor too,” said Influence bending to kiss Doc’s furry cheek, “how are they?” “They are all hearty and healthy,” said Doc, “perfect in every way.” “And are they, well, Active?” “Yes, yes. We are Active. Active.” said the three toddlers turning to face Influence. Doc

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and Cage gathered by her, all three of them shocked at the deep voice that came from the toddlers. “We. We are the Three in One. One.” said the toddlers in unison. Their eyes a vivid lilac glow. “Oh Nanny is going to love you three,” said Influence, smiling at the turn of events. “We. We wish to thank you for rescuing us from The Facility Influence. Influence.” said the Three in One. “Er, well I couldn’t just leave you there for them to do god knows what to you,” replied Influence, a little taken aback that these toddlers knew her name. “You. You needn’t of worried. Worried.” said the Three in One, “We. We had them well trained, Trained.” “Wait, what?” said Influence, looking towards Cage and Doc as all three came to terms with what they were being told. “Yes. Yes, we are of The Facility. Facility.” Cage stepped forward, his own eyes glowing lilac, a shimmer of lilac light danced on the bedspread around the Three in One. “You’re saying we’ve just brought the heads of The Facility into our home?” he asked, one arm rising.

“We. We were not the heads. Heads,” said the 111 Three in One, one of whom was reaching out a chubby hand to touch the lilac light in front of them, “Sir. Sir Bernard is the only head. Head.” “And are you still loyal to Sir Bernard?” asked Doc standing shoulder to shoulder next to Cage, regarding the potential threat on the bed. “He. He is covetous. Covetous.” “We. We felt he would eventually turn and consume us. Us.” “Our. Our own plans of escape were in place, but we are grateful to the five of you. You.” Cage relaxed slightly, the line of lilac light receding into the sheets. Doc let a breath out and sat back down before the Three in One. “You said Sir Bernard was covetous,” said Influence, taking a step towards the bed, “what did you mean exactly?” “Sir. Sir Bernard desires to gather all Actives to himself. Himself.” “You mean to The Facility,” said Influence. “No. No, to himself. Himself.” Influence raised her eyebrows at that piece of news. “That would explain the accumulator we

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found with Nanny,” she said, resting her arm across Cage’s shoulders. “He. He doesn’t need technology to consume any others. Others.” stated the Three in One, one of the girls giggling as she looked around the room. “You’re saying he possess the power to, as you say, consume another’s power?” asked Cage. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” “And does he keep the other’s power or is it just energy to increase his own?” “We. We have seen Sir Bernard manifest various powers in the years we have been with The Facility. Facility.” “But. But never for long. “Long.” “Our. Our current theory is as you say Doc, he burns through the powers as he increases his own. Own.” “Interesting information,” said Doc, sitting back in his chair. “I wonder if anyone else in the facility knows what the boss is doing,” said Cage. “I wonder if his son knows what his father is doing,” said Influence.

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aymond Square, lay back against the soft grass and enjoyed the warm summer weather. It had been a hell of a week and this trip to the park with the family was just what the doctor ordered. He humphed at the thought of doctors as it reminded him of the lose of the Three in One. He had torn a strip off the lab assistants that had survived that onslaught but it was nothing compared to the grilling his father

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had given him. Whatever that black cloud was that stormed through the building was it had rendered their security totally useless and other than flashes of lilac here and there they had no idea who had hit them. Raymond rubbed the knuckles of his thumbs against his closed eyes, easing the building tension and alleviating the stress headache that was developing. The sound of his two boys playing nearby on the slides and swings helped greatly and he turned his head to watch them. “Watch me daddy,” said the youngest from the top of the tall slide, waving in his direction. “Be careful darling,” said his mother from the side, arms raised in case he fell. Raymond watched him slide down the metal track smoothly, laughing all the way and watched him run back to the stairs of the slide. “Again, again.” Raymond was momentarily distracted by the three sets of eyes peering out from a clump of trees in the corner of the park. Especially when one set winked at him. Standing and casually patting his clothes down. Brushing the grass and dirt from himself and also checking to see if he had remembered to come armed. He had, some habits never change.

“I’m just going for a walk love,” he shouted 115 over to his wife, “grab the boys an ice cream each. Won’t be long.” “Okay love,” called his wife, “Timothy be careful please.” “Don’t forget the flakes,” shouted his eldest as Raymond stalked off in the direction of the intruders. Stood at the trees he looked into the murk and the shadows, his eyes seeing through the glamour and the magic. “I thought Derek only did clothes,” he said to the three figures he could perceive there, showing off knowledge of the group while casually reaching for his pistol. “Oh please, go ahead and start shooting,” said a gentle voice, “explain to your wife and kids, not to mention the authorities why you were shooting trees in a public park. Will The Facility come and save you? Would daddy?” Raymond rankled at the mention of his father but removed his hand from the pistol grip, seeing the sense of the words said to him. The murk and darkness lifted slightly revealing three figures. One large figure at the back, the generator of the gloom it would seem, a slight, angular figure to the side who reeked of danger. Raymond didn’t need his powers

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to see that. At the front was a wild and woolly figure in half moon glasses and a cardigan. “My, my,” said Raymond recognising him immediately, “the infamous Doc. I am flattered that you would be the one to come to me.” “Raymond,” said Doc, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on a corner of his cardigan, “it’s been too long young man. How are you?” “Don’t try the sweet talk with me,” said Raymond angrily, “this is either a recruitment or an execution. We both know how this works.” “Can’t a god-father come and say hello to his god-son?” asked Doc, his furry face warmth with feeling. “Why my father chose you as my god-father I will never know?” “We were friends back then my boy. Before the change, before we both became Active.” “Huummpphh!” Raymond exclaimed, displaying his disbelief, “and my god-father just happened to see fit to be accompanied by two obvious killers on this tender visit.” “You’re a dangerous man Raymond,” said Doc, “Mac and Blanket here are just precaution. Similar to the Sig Sauer P320 Compact you were just reaching for.” “What do you want old man?”

“I thought we should talk,” said Doc plainly, 117 “we have the Three in One.” Raymond’s mouth opened and closed in shock then resolve. “So that was your army that stormed the facility then.” “Not an army,” Doc corrected, “just Sebastian.” Mac and Blanket smirked at this comment which annoyed Raymond even more. “We’ve spoken, at length, with the Three in One,” continued Doc, “we know your father’s plan Raymond. We also know what he does with the other Actives.” “My father has never had anything but the best of interests for the Actives. He only wants to understand them better. He’s a scientist at heart.” “Sir Bernard is only interested in what the Active can bring him. Whether that be power over others or power for himself. You know he is Active himself?” “I do,” said Raymond. “Do you know how his power manifested? What he can do?” “He understands them,” said Raymond, “he’s empathic and has been know to display their powers following intense sessions.” “No Raymond,” said Doc, “he consumes

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them. Fully.” “That’s ridiculous.” “Bones and all. The Three in One told us themselves.” “Why would he do such a thing?” “I said, for the power.” “I don’t believe you,” said Raymond, his voice rising in his anger. “Check the logs,” said Doc as Blanket’s gloom began to rise once more, “find out what happened to the ones your father spoke to.” Raymond glared into the shadows, not knowing what to do. “We’ll talk soon,” said Doc from within. “Don’t forget the ice creams,” said Mac.

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e have a problem,” said Cage striding into Influence’s bedroom in the hotel.

“Well one of us does,” said Influence looking up from the book she was reading in bed,” what happened to knocking and waiting for a lady to ask you in?” “No time,” said Cage as he paced the room, “been thinking about this all night.” “I’m flattered,” replied Influence making Cage

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look at her, “good morning Cage.” “Morning mate,” said Cage sheepishly smiling, “sorry, just I think this is important.” Influence settled up in her bed and placed the book to one side. “All right,” she said, “what’s our problem?” “Well, it’s actually your problem.” “Charming.” “You remember the lab assistant in the room with the Three in One?” “The one with the bad hearing? The one you smothered in a box? Yes I remember him, why?” Cage leaned forward, resting a hand on the end of Influence’s bed, the other raised, pointing at her. “I’ve been thinking about him all night.” “Guilty conscience?” teasingly.

asked

Influence

“If your power is confined to just your voice, how long before the facility are sending goons with ear plugs after us?” “Oh,” said Influence, realising the seriousness of the situation, “that would be bad wouldn’t it.” “Just a bit,” replied Cage, taking his turn to be

teasing. “So what’s your plan?” “We need to test the theory and then see if we can get you to, I don’t know, evolve your power somehow.” “Evolve my power?” “Yes,” said Cage, returning to his pacing, “do you know the theory about the important of words, tone and body language in communication.” “7% words; 38% tone and 55% body language,” said Influence, “We covered it on a course at work. Several courses as it happens.” Cage looked on her impressed. “So you see what I mean,” he said, “if your power is in your voice alone that’s just 45% effective in working. We need you to tap into the remaining 55%. Turn you from merely Influence to full on, can’t resist, Seduction.” Influence raised an eyebrow at him at the notion, making Cage blush around the ears. “So what’s the plan then?” she asked. “Well I thought you could get up out of bed first.” “Turn round then.” “Huh?”

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“Cage, I am in bed. A bed I in the habit of sleeping in alone. In just my underwear. Turn around.” “Oh right, sorry.” Influence watched him slowly turn his back, tutting at him slightly before throwing off the sheet and duvet and reaching for her silk dressing gown. She threw it around her slim body and tied it securely. “Right, I’m ready.” Cage turned back to face her, seeing her bare legs stretch from floor to the hem of her dressing gown and smiling to himself. “Okay,” he said recovering his composure and looking her directly in the face,” I’m going to cover my ears with two thick walls and you instruct me to do something.” “Like what?” “Doesn’t matter,” he said, “tell you what make it an action I would never do. Something ridiculous.” “Okay,” said Influence watching her friend roll his shoulders and head before his ears were enveloped in a case of lilac light. Influence stood considering her friend and what she was going to get him to do. “Ah,” she said, a wicked smile forming on her

lips, “I know the perfect thing.” “Ready,” shouted Cage, facing her. “Kiss me” said Influence. “What’s that,” asked Cage, “I can see your lips move but can’t hear you.” “Kiss me.” “No, not a jot, try it louder.” Influence looked round the room suddenly embarrassed. She looked over Cage’s shoulder to make sure the door was shut. “KISS ME!” Cage shrugged at her. The barrier at his ears a firm guard on his will. “Draw the will into you,” he said loudly, “let it grow inside you then, I don’t know broadcast it from yourself. Emit your desire. Remember 55% body language.” Influence took a deep breath and held it for a moment before filling herself with her instruction for Cage. “I have loved you from the moment I first met you and you have filled my life with such wonderful new things and people and I am the most grateful woman in the world. Now will you please come over here, gather me in your arms, kiss me and tell me your real name.”

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She let that fill her fully, from head to toe then pushed it out of herself like a wave. A part of her thought she could see it flow through the air and hit Cage. Wash right over him. Cage smiled broadly and stepped towards her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against his body, leaning his face down to hers. Their lips meet and sank and merged together in the most beautiful kiss she had ever experienced. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. She opened her eyes as his lips left hers, her focus slow to come back she noticed first the lilac glow still around his ears than the big broad grin on his face. “My name is Phil,” said Cage before kissing her again.

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ir Bernard Square stalked the ruined corridors of The Facility’s second base. Technicians kept their heads down and worked on fixing the damage when they heard his footsteps coming closer. One foolish tech, new to the organisations with no experience and no friends lifted his head from his task to greet his boss. “Good morning Sir Square,” said the tech, as the others around him silently sighed or said

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a quiet prayer. Sir Bernard’s eyes flashed lilac as he starred at the hapless tech. He inhaled deeply, as if tasting the air or the aroma of this body before him. “Come with me,” said Sir Bernard to the tech, beckoning his finger and stepping into a small, darkened office. The poor tech followed without hesitation, little knowing his fate. The other techs looked on, those who had been there the longest sensed a heat distortion in the air by the ajar door. They all hastened on with their work as Sir Bernard exited the room alone. “You there,” he said pointing to one of the techs, “tidy up the discarded uniform in there then get back to work.” “Yes sir, certainly sir.” The techs watched Sir Bernard walk off with a noticeable spring in his step now. “What does he do with the bones do you think?” asked one of the techs as the other’s shivered at the idea of what had just happened before them. Sir Bernard’s dark mood lightened as the new psyche and powers settled in his system. The attack on the facility was bad, but faded into insignificance at the loss of the Three in One. They had been fundamental to The Facility,

especially the programmes run through this 127 building. And now they could be anywhere. With anyone. Whoever had stormed in to take them had wrecked the security systems, cameras smashed and tape stock destroyed. Sir Bernard stepped into the lift. Who ever had done this would pay dearly for their actions. “That’s for damn sure,” he muttered to himself as the doors of the lift close and he rose to the next level. Raymond Square sat in a quiet office, hands flicking through report after report after report. For some reason he couldn’t quite understand Doc’s last words had stuck with him and now back at the premises of the facility he had spent the morning going through the logs of his fathers “sessions” with a number of Actives over the last few years. Each time the patient had disappeared soon after they had been treated. Raymond moved to a computer terminal, a dozen or so names jotted down in a notebook. The most recent. He powered up the machine and pulled up it’s search facilities, seeing, hoping, he could find some record of them now. It was not a fruitful search. “Raymond, I didn’t know you were back today?”

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Raymond jumped slightly at the sound of his father’s voice. He flicked the screen of the terminal off and slide the notebook out of sight as he rose to greet the man. “I thought I should come in,” he said stepping forward to shake his father hand, “I have news about the Three in One.” “Oh,” said Sir Bernard, shaking his son’s hand in a firm, powerful grip, “go on.” “I had a visit from my god-father.” “God-father? Doc!” “Yes, Doc.” “I thought him dead years ago,” said Sir Bernard stroking his chin and turning to look around the room. Raymond moved with him, keeping himself between his father and the terminal screen. “He’s very much alive,” said Raymond, “and kicking. It was his people that grabbed the Three in One.” “God he must have an army at his disposal if the damage downstairs is anything to go by.” “He says that was just the one person,” said Raymond, settling himself on the corner of the table before his father, “someone called Sebastian?”

Sit Bernard’s face dropped in utter shock 129 at the name his son had just mentioned. He moved around the room, obviously agitated by this name. “Who is he father?” Sir Bernard, sat down in an office chair slowly, the energy seemingly evaporated from him. He placed his head in his hands and let out a long, slow breath as his son looked on. Raymond had never seen his father like this before. “Father?” “Sebastian was,” began Sir Bernard, “sorry, is, one of the first Actives Doc and I encountered when we began our studies all those years ago. Not created like you, me or Doc by science. Sebastian just was.” “Just was?” “It’s the best way to describe him,” replied Sir Bernard, laughing, “a phrase Doc coined if I remember correctly.” “But what sort of man is he?” asked Raymond, slightly distressed to see his father this way. “No man,” said Sir Bernard looking up at his sons eyes, “when I knew him, which was many years ago. Before you were born. Sebastian was an entity. A collection. Part of his power was you could never truly see him. Or describe him

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either it seems. I haven’t thought of Sebastian since the early days.” Sir Bernard stood, looking across the room, his son and the dark terminal behind him. Deep in thought. “And now Doc has Sebastian. And he has the Three in One. We must escalate our own plans Raymond. Are you with me boy?” Raymond snapped to attention before his father, the old childhood phrase working deep on him. “Till the end sir.” “Good lad,” said Sir Bernard smiling, “we’ll show those deviants what we can do won’t we.” “Yes sir.” “Now, I need you to get a message to our third premises. I need you to tell them we are preparing for war.” Raymond gasped slightly at his father’s tone and made a turn to gather up his notebook. As he pocketed the book he felt his father’s arm snake around his shoulder. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this task you know,” said Sir Bernard. “I know,” replied Raymond, “thank you sir.”

Sir Bernard escorted his son to the door 131 and watched him head along the corridor to the lift. He slowly closed the door and turned, stepping to the blank screened terminal. He flicked the power switch and watched as the search results came into view. “Raymond, Raymond, Raymond,” said Sir Bernard, scrolling through the list of names before him, “whatever are we going to do with you?” Sir Bernard snared and punched the terminal’s monitor, pushing his closed fist through glass and circuitry and plastic in his fury.

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aymond aimed his car north and hit the road. The old phrase “Are you with me boy?” rattled in his brain for hours as he drove. The coded command that brought nothing but devoted attention and compliance from him. Seeded into his brain at a young age and still very, very effective. It wasn’t until he was nearing his destination that his thoughts returned to his discovery. Annoyingly Doc had been right. All the

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evidence showed his father was consuming the Active the facility had gathered to them for his own wicked ends. Raymond was disturbed and torn, he had to talk to a smarter person about this. “Car, call home,” he instructed. “Calling home,” replied an electronic voice from within the dashboard. “Hello, the Square residence.” “Darling it’s me.” “Raymond,” replied his wife, “darling where are you?” “I’ve been sent up north to our third premises. Father’s escalating his plans it seems.” “You’ve spoken to him today,” asked his wife, “did you mention your encounter in the park?” “Some of it,” said Raymond, “most of it. I left out the last bit.” “Did you manage to find out if it was true.” “Yes.” “And?” “It’s true. All of it.” “Poor Raymond,” said his wife’s voice, “what will you do now?” “I have no idea,” said Raymond, suddenly

feeling weary. “All you’ve done all your life is yearn for your father’s approval and now you discover he’s a covetous monster.” Something about the way she said that made Raymond look at the dashboard suspiciously. This was a Facility’s car after all. Could they be listening to them talking. “What are you going to do,” asked his wife’s voice. “I have to deliver this message to our people at the third premises. And then I need to look around, find out what my father has planned. I’ve never actually been to this place before you know. “I know,” said his wife’s voice, “and you’ll never reach there either Raymond.” The voice had turned cruel and cold, it distorted through the car’s speakers. “Darling,” Raymond said, his concern rising, “what’s wrong.” “Your wife is gone Raymond,” said the cold voice now, “your children are gone too. The Furies have been dispatched. Your father discovered your little list and was most displeased boy.” Raymond leaned his head forward and

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scanned the skies through the windscreen, looking for the tell-tale three contails. “You’ve brought this on yourself boy,” continued the cold voice, “listening to hairy men and children.” Raymond swung the wheel of the car to the left and excited the motorway and into the labyrinth of b roads. His eyes glancing into the rear-view mirror and spotting lilac smoke in the sky. “You’re a considerate victim Raymond,” said the cold voice from out of his dashboard, “your death on a B road will cause less of an inconvenience to the other drivers than if you had stayed on the motorway. Thank you.” Raymond stabbed at the end call button on his steering wheel and threw the car around corners and over hills. Aiming for a wooded copse he had spotted. The lilac contails in the sky traced a lazy arc behind him. The Furies were never in a hurry to finish the hunt. The flesh was tastier from the adrenalin and fear that coursed through their veins, and the Furies were considered gourmets of the flesh. Raymond slowed as he drove through a sleepy village, keeping his eyes sharp for movement from above. His mind a mess of

betrayal and mourning. His father wouldn’t of 137 ordered the death of his family surely! “The man who eats people,” Raymond said to himself the smile on his face a grim line as he felt the tears well up in his eyes as he surrendered to despair. He pressed on to the woods and pulled into the woods. Finally stopping the car and collapsing against the wheel, crying for his lost family. “Oh god, oh god, oh god.” It started with a roar, the three Furies circling above the trees before diving down and smashing into the car. Raymond only saw darkness.

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he darkness continued. Raymond blinked into it, his amazing eyes seeing shapes within the gloom. “So this is death,” he thought before correcting himself, “if so how am I still thinking?” “That was a tight one,” said a familiar voice from around Raymond. He looked about the gloom to see who was talking.

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“Don’t worry,” said the voice again, “I’ve got you slipped into one of my pockets. We just have to wait for the Furies to finish and we’ll get you out of here okay.” “Who are you,” said Raymond in a whisper, “where are you.” “We met the other day in the park,” said the voice, “with Doc and Mac. I’m Blanket.” Raymond remembered the large man who had stood behind the others. On reflection he had seen the least dangerous of them. “Thank you,” said Raymond, becoming used to the gloom surrounding him. After a few moments of silence there was a muffed bang followed by a soft chuckle from Blanket. “What was that?” asked Raymond. “The Furies got a little singed when the petrol tank went up and have flown off.” “Pity you didn’t kill them,” said Raymond, remembering the fate of his family. “Oh you don’t kill the Furies Mr Square,” said Blanket seriously, “that would only annoy them.” “Are you going to let me out now?” “Just a few more minutes. Make sure the

birdies have flown back to the nest okay.” Raymond accepted his fate for the moment and settled into the surprisingly comfy gloom. A hand still reached to his shoulder holster to check his gun. As Doc had mentioned when they met, they were all dangerous people. “Right,” said Blanket, “I think its safe for you to come out now. Hold on this might feel a little weird.” The gloom folded back and in on itself leaving Raymond stood in the wooded copse. His burning car illuminating the trees and landscape. “Let’s get that fire out,” shouted Blanket into the woods. A thin girl in shorts and vest stepped forward from between the trees to the car and raised her hands to the heavens. Dark clouds formed three foot above the burning car and a small, localised monsoon extinguished the flames. “Hi,” said a small voice below Raymond. He looked down and found a short, wise face looking up at him from his knees. “Hi,” replied Raymond, “who are you?” “I’m the Medic,” said the short figure before him, “just going to check you over if that’s alright. You had a close call.”

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Before he could reply Raymond felt himself bathed in a warming glow. His body was raised a foot or so off the ground and floated there in bliss. Finally he was returned to the ground. “All good,” said the short figure, smiling up at him, “no broken bones or missing limbs or organs. Other than the emotional damage he’s good to go. My condolences on your lose.” Raymond watched the short figure stumble away into the woods. “Thank you,” he called out to the retreating figure and got a little wave in reply. “How did you all get here so fast,” he asked Blanket who stood in the tree line. “After our conversation in the park, Doc felt someone should keep an eye on you. Didn’t you boss.” “Good thing to,” said Doc walking out from the trees, “my dear boy I’m sorry you had to find out about your father in this manner.” “And my family,” shouted Raymond grabbing the lapels of Doc’s cardigan and lifting him up off his feet, “did you think to keep an eye on my wife and boys too?” Several bodies stepped forward from the

woods, eager to protect their leader. Doc softly waved them back, allowing Raymond his rage at the moment. “That took us by surprise,” he said to Raymond, “and I can only apologise to you Raymond. But this is not our fault. Your father did this to you. Did this to all of us.” Raymond shook Doc for a short while, his face red with rage and grief before the tears welled up once more and he fell to his knees sobbing for his lost family. Doc leaned down and gather him into his long arms and held him closely. Letting him have the time to express his emotions. Around them various Actives stepped forward, taking up defensive positions around the copse, rolling the burnt out car into a more secluded spot of the woods. Eventually Raymond gathered himself and stood up from Doc’s embrace. “Thank you,” he said to the kind furry face looking up into his eyes, “so what’s our next move.” “I say we get Raymond to The Facility’s third location, “said Influence, stepping forward from the trees, “I bet you’re just dying to see what they’re doing there aren’t you Ray?” “How many people did you bring,” asked

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Raymond looking past Influence into the dark trees. “We brought enough,” said Cage stepping up beside Influence, his body glowing lilac “Fair enough,” said Raymond, “now you come to mention it I would like to see what they’ve got up there. And burn it to the ground.” “That’s the spirit my boy,” said Doc smiling.

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ut first,” said Influence stepping in front of Raymond and placing soft fingertips against his chest,” we need to do something, don’t we.” Raymond looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. “How do you mean?” he asked. “Just relax,” replied Influence, slipping her power through the words, “Natasha.” Raymond felt a friendly hand slide onto his

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left shoulder and a warm voice at his ear. “Hello Raymond,” said the voice, “my name is Natasha. I’m here to help you.” “Help me? What do I need help from a disembodied hand for?” “You have a bug in your head Raymond,” replied Natasha, “your father put a bad word into your mind while you were a child that allows him to control you. Does that sound right?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Raymond angrily. “Are you with me boy?” said Natasha, imitating Sir Bernard's voice. “”Till the end sir.” “Sure you don’t know what I’m talking about Raymond?” asked Natasha, her hand holding his shoulder firmly. “Why?” asked Raymond, tears in his eyes, “why would he do something like that?” “For power my dear boy,” said Doc, “power.” “Relax for me please Raymond,” said Natasha, her grip on his shoulder tightening, “this is a difficult procedure. The bug is buried deep in you.” “Can I help at all,” asked Influence, eager to

repay Natasha for her help from several days 147 ago. “Just keep him relaxed darling,” said Natasha, “I’m having to go deeper than usual.” “How you doing Raymond?” asked Influence smiling at him. “Oh I’m just peachy love,” said Raymond, “how are you Fiona?” “I’ve very well thank you Raymond,” replied Influence, “and I apologise, that was a stupid question to ask you.” “My life is over,” said Raymond, “he’s took everything from me.” “So how about we go in there and take everything from him?” said Influence quietly, leaning in to Raymond’s face. “Ah ha,” cried a triumphant Natasha, “got the little....” Raymond let out a gasp and fell to his knees, quiet tears rolling down his cheeks. “You’re free Raymond,” said Natasha as she stepped away, “go and enjoy that freedom now.” “Welcome back my dear boy,” said Doc stepping up and helping Raymond back to his feet, “you’ve been missed.”

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Raymond breathed heavily, his senses reeling. His emotions rolling from despair to elation. It was some moments before he started looking around his surroundings. “What’s the matter, “asked Influence. “I was looking for Natasha,” said Raymond, “I wanted to thank her.” “Oh she’s gone,” replied Cage stepping forward, “if you make it back to the hotel I’ll introduce you two properly.” “So what’s the plan?” asked Influence, leaning on Cage’s shoulder. “We need to get into the facility’s premises,” said Cage. “Not mob handed though,” said Raymond, “we need a advance group to recon the grounds and buildings before we do amything.” “Sounds like a plan,” said Cage, “the three of us should do as an advanced guard. If that’s all right with you Raymond.” “Call me Seer,” said Raymond, “I renounce that name and connection to that man and that facility.” “Well said Seer,” said Doc tapping him on the shoulder, “you, Influence and Cage are the perfect choice.”

“We’ll call when we find anything,” said Cage 149 as the three of them set off down towards the facility. “Or if we need saving,” added Influence, waving to the rest. The three of them made quick process through the countryside and soon enough the front gate of the premises was visible. “Straight through the front door,” asked Cage. “I don’t see why not,” said Seer, “they are expecting me. Maybe not on foot and with friends. Something we can cover when we get there. “Don’t worry,” said Influence, “I can talk my way into anywhere.” “I imagine you could extort anything from anyone,” replied Seer, smiling. “In my younger days perhaps. And not just people, I can talk machines to do what I want too.” “Good to know,” said Seer, “we made need those skills sooner than we would like.” “Let’s get down there and see what they’re up to shall we,” said Cage stepping down towards the front gate, followed by Influence and Seer.

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etting through the gate and into the building had been simplicity itself. The guard at the door almost concussed himself the strength of salute he gave the newly baptised Seer. Now the three of them, Cage, Influence and Seer waited in an empty office. “So far, so good,” said Influence, swinging in an office chair. “What do you see my friend,” asked Cage,

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noting Seer turning his head this way and that. “That bad word of my father’s did more than control me,” said Seer, “I think he was limiting my powers too. I can see everything.” “Anything interesting?” asked Influence. “We want to get to the third and forth floor,” said Seer craning his neck up, “there’s a tremendous concentration of power on those floors.” “Electrical power,” said Cage, “or Active power?” “Both,” said Seer, turning to his three allies. A smart woman walked through the door to the office, carrying documents and surveying the three of them. “Ah,” she said, pushing her glasses up her nose with her free hand, “Mr Square?” “That’s right,” said Seer, stepping forward, hand extended, “and you are?” “Mary, sir,” said the smart woman shaking his hand, “Mary Williams. Dr. Mary Williams. I’m head of these premises. We weren’t expecting you....” “This soon,” asked Influence, slipping her power through her words.

“Well, er, yes,” said Mary, setting her papers on the table, “well I mean we weren’t expecting you with people Mr Square.” “Allow me to introduce Professor Wright, my assistant,” said Seer indicating Influence, “and this is my Security Chief Philips.” “Hi,” said Influence, smiling. “All right,” said Cage with a small nod of his head. “Oh, right,” said Mary, still slightly flustered, “good afternoon, er, Professor Wright. Mr Philips.” “Perhaps you could help the doctor,” said Seer to Influence. She took the message and stepped forward, placing a light touch to Mary’s chest. “You’re finding this all a bit odd, but that’s all right, you can cope with odd. You are happy to see the three of us and are more than willing to help us and answer all our questions.” Influence’s power oozed from her and radiated out, enveloping Mary in a soft lilac glow. “Oh, absolutely,” said Mary, smiling now her nerves had been calmed, “it’s a pleasure to meet you Professor Wright. To meet all of you.”

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“Damn,” said Seer, “you’re good.” “I had a good teacher,” said Influence, looking back and winking at Cage, “so where should we start boss?” “I think Mary here, should take us on a little tour of the building. Don’t you think so Mary?” “Brilliant idea,” said Mary leading them out into the corridor and deep into the building. As he passed her Cage leant in and placed a soft kiss on Influence’s cheek. “Magnificent show mate,” he said as he passed. The four of them walked along corridor and through double door after double door. Every now and then Mary would stop and point out interesting things to her three ‘superiors’: A room of terminals, tracking known Actives or potential Actives; a lab distilling gene information searching for the source of the Actives’ powers; a room full of various sized incubators; the canteen. “Why do you have such varied incubators Dr. Williams?” asked Influence as they walked along. “Oh they’re for the produce of the ‘pumpkin patch’ up on the third floor,” replied Mary, “would you like to go and see it?”

“Oh very much so,” replied Seer, looking at Cage and Influence and nodding to them. The four of them stepped into a lift. Just as the doors closed, Influenced turned her head and addressed Mary and the lift mechanism. “Sleep,” she said and Mary’s head nodded down and the lift stopped. “What are you thinking?” she said to the others. “I want to see this ‘pumpkin patch’,” said Cage. “Yes that does sound interesting,” replied Seer, “wake them up Professor.” Influence smiled at the instructions and lent over to the sleeping doctor and mechanism. “Wake now,” she said, her powers flowing into person and machine, “third floor please.” The button lit a moment before Mary pressed it herself. Seer raised his eyebrows to Cage at the display of Influence’s power. A small ding announced their arrival onto the third floor. The doors opened to a gantry platform that spanned over the room at a height of three foot. Above them were bright and hot lights with thick snakes of cables running around the roof and down the walls. Below them was tank after tank

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of brackish looking water limiting the view of their contents. Seer looked down then had to lift his head from what he saw. Cage and Influence stepped towards him, sensing his anger raise suddenly. “Welcome to the ‘pumpkin patch’,” said Mary proudly standing before them at a gantry cross-walk, “if we can’t find the right Actives then we’re grow them.” Cage and Influence looked into Seer’s face, their own reflecting their questions at this pronouncement. Seer, raised his head and took a deep breath. “They’re growing Actives,” he said between breaths, his face frowning at the discovery, “there’s everything from fetus to toddlers in the tanks below us. My guess is they grow them here then transport them to other premises around the country in the incubators we saw.” Influence and Cage leaned over the sides of the gantry to peer down into the tanks. It was exactly as Seer had said as they saw various shadows and shapes floating in the water. “Well this is being stopped,” said Cage standing and facing towards Mary. Only Seer’s hand on his arm stopped him. “My father is here,” he said, “I can see his

helicopter on the roof.” Seer’s eyes widened and glowed lilac as his vision pierced the solid structure around him. “And there’s something worst up on the forth floor,” he continued as a lift on the far wall opened. “I see we have illustrious company today,” said Sir Bernard stepping from the lift, followed by a dozen armed men and women in blank uniforms, “are you with me boy?” “No old man,” said Seer, stepping forward to face his father, “I’m not. And never will be again.” “Such a shame,” said Sir Bernard, motioning to his troops who cocked and aimed their weapons on Cage, Influence and Seer, “such a waste. Still we can always use you in our final project on the forth floor. Shall we.” Laser dots strobed over their faces and chests. “What shall we do?” asked Influence. “Are we still broadcasting,” asked Cage to which Influence nodded, “then stick to the plan.” “After you father,” said Seer, leading them to the other lift.

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nfluence, Cage and Seer stood in the middle of the lift, surrounded by Sir Bernard’s armed guards, four either side of them and four more behind them. All with their weapons drawn, aimed at the three of them. Sir Bernard himself stood at the front of the lift, head held high, hands behind his back, very much proud of himself. Influence turned her head and looked at the four guards stood next to her. Three women

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and a man from their eyes, which were the only thing that was visible to her. “Thinking of using your formidable power on them my dear,” asked Sir Bernard, turning his head to address her, “save your strength. They all have headphones on playing white noise into their ears.” “Oh well,” said Influence turning to look at Cage and Seer by her and smiling at them. Cage returned her smile and gave a small nod to her. Influence rolled her shoulders and let out a small breath. Drawing on her power and forming her intent as she and Cage had been practising these last few days. “We are your friends. You do not want to harm us in any way. You want to help us. Sir Bernard is evil. He eats Active people. Together we can stop him. As friends we can bring an end to this horrible business and go live our lives in peace with one another. Nod to agree and wait for my instruction once we get out of this lift.” Her instruction filled her fully before pushing it out behind and to the sides, enveloping the twelve blank uniformed guards. The walls glowed lilac as the twelve all turned to her and nodded their heads. The guns lowering slightly. The lift dinged and the doors opened to reveal

an immense space before them. “Shall we,” said Sir Bernard stepping into the new room, followed by the three Actives and their new allies. They walked into the rapidly illuminating room, revealing it’s secrets. Along the two walls stood eight foot tubes filled with clear liquid and various figures within them. Influence let out a shout and grabbed Cage’s hand as she spotted her own face inside one of the tanks to the right of them. “A clone!” she gasped. “Clones, plural,” said Sir Bernard, stood in the middle of the rooms, arms held out, “to be specific.” “How?” asked Influence, unable to pull her eyes from herself floating in the tank before her. “The Facility held your blood on it’s records from your time working for us. It was a simple process to extract your DNA from those small vials.” Cage had stopped in front of one and looked up with an anxious face. Influence broke away from herself and walked to her friend’s side looking up to what he was looking at. “That’s....”

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“Yeah,” replied Cage, his body glowing lilac as he looked up into his little brothers face in the water. Their gaze was interrupted by a cry of despair from Seer. They spun round to see him sink to his knees in front of three tanks some distance off. Influence ran to his side and looked at the tanks herself. “My. My. My wife,” said Seer between sobs, “and my boys too. They’re here.” “Yes that was a sad affair,” said Sir Bernard, turning to address his son, “I was so found of... Of? You know I’ve quite forgotten her name.” “HER NAME WAS ANDREA,” screamed Seer turning his full fury towards his father. “Ah yes, that was it,” said Sir Bernard, ignoring his son’s outburst, “but see here Raymond. She still lives. We can even make her better for you. More compliant to you my boy.” Seer stepped forward, eye to eye with his father. With all his might he flung his hand across Sir Bernard’s face. The slap echoing around the room, the force of it dropping Sir Bernard to his knees in shock. Clutching his face and gasping for sense. “My name is Seer,” said Seer bending down to address his father, “and I’m going to kill you now you monstrous old man. I’ve seen it.” “GUARDS, GUARDS,” shouted Sir Bernard

scrambling back away from the pure 163 vengeance he saw in his son’s face, “kill them. Kill them all!” Influence turned to the guards and raised one hand. The twelve guards turned and aimed their guns all at Sir Bernard. The laser dots dancing over his torso. “What? How!” said Sir Bernard, continuing to scramble away from them all. The guards advanced on him, guns raised . “As a successful businessman you should know good communication is so much more than what you say or how you say it Sir Bernard,” said Influence, standing behind the guards she had won over to her side. “Brace yourselves,” said a disembodied voice around them moments before there was a large explosion that rocked the building. “WHAT?” shouted Sir Bernard, cowering between two clone tanks. “We were never alone in here,” said Cage, “our friend Victor has been keeping a friendly eye over us this whole time. And now every single Active we know has just burst into the facility and is in the process of destroying it.” As he finished speaking a blur burst from the fire exit stairs and Dash and her brother Spike stood either side of Cage, poised for action.

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“Evening,” said Spike breaking into a wicked grin. “We miss anything,” asked Dash looking around the room. “You two are so cool, I love you,” said Influence, giggling at it all. Sir Bernard snared and unleashed a consumed power onto the nearest group of guards, With an arm extended and eyes closed the first, then second then third guard burst into flames. The three of them screamed and batted at the flames consuming their bodies. Sir Bernard got to his feet and with a quick gesture threw the fire to a forth guard stepping forward to help their colleagues. “Stop,” shouted Seer quelling the raising violence in the remaining guards, “he’s mine. Influence deal with this.” “Yes boss,” said Influence, “Dash, douse those flames. All other guards, destroy these abominations in the tubes. Spike, Cage feel free to join in the mayhem.” Dash sprinted and surrounded the four guards, her tailwind smothering the flames before she grabbed two to take away, quickly returning for the other two. “Taking them to the healers,” she shouted, “any message for the others?”

“Get the Suns up to the third floor,” said Cage 165 smashing a clone tank near him, “I want those seed trays burning in the next five minutes.” “Will do.” Cage turned and faced the tank holding the copy of his brother in it. “Sorry Bobby,” he said, smashing it between two walls of lilac force. Seer dove at his father and smashed through the nearest clone tank, wrestling him to the ground. “Ingrate,” screamed Sir Bernard as the pair rolled in the liquid that had split across the floor, “we could have had the world.” “Your lies are so obvious,” said Seer, pressing his father down, trying to drown him in the fluid, “I don’t need my powers to see through them.” “Who, who gave you those powers,” spluttered Sir Bernard, fighting to keep his head above water, “you would be nothing without me.” “You took everything from me when you took my family. I am nothing. But before you die let me tell you something you don’t know about these powers you gave me.” The pair rolled through the fluid and broken glass. Seer’s hands around his father’s neck, forcing him down again. Sir Bernard scrambling

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his hands across his son’s face, reaching for the chakra points that enabled him to draw the power into himself. “My eyes can see through many things. Smoke, darkness, walls, and, most surprising to me, TIME.” Sir Bernard stopped struggling for a moment and looked at his son in pure surprise. Seeing him for the very first time it seemed. “I know what happens," said Seer though gritted teeth, keeping a tight grip on his father’s neck, “ever since your bad word was removed from my mind, I’ve seen this moment coming.” Sir Bernard wrestled under his son, desperately reaching for the chakra points. “You haven’t the strength for that,” said Seer, pushing his father’s head under the water for the last time, “you have to rely on the old back up. Influence skipped to the side of a clone tank exploding under heavy gunfire from the guards when she heard a single shot ring out in the moment of silence. Turning round she saw Seer collapse onto the prone body of Sir Bernard. “Oh god," she said beginning to step to the pair of them, “Cage. Quickly. Separate those two.”

Cage glanced over to where Influence meant 167 and slipped a wall between the two bodies, lifting Seer up slightly. A pool of blood spread out across the lilac surface under him. “Keep your head under water,” shouted Influence to Sir Bernard getting to where he lay just as the doors burst open and Doc arrived at the head of the Actives. Influence moved the still body of Seer from Cage’s platform. “Check he’s dead,” she said nodding to Sir Bernard, “glove his hands first just to be careful.” Cage knelt by the still body of Sir Bernard, a lilac glow formed around the old man’s hands under the water, barring him from touch or projecting anything as Cage reached down to check his pulse in his neck. Doc steeped up to the two of them as Cage reached down and closed Sir Bernard’s eyes. “And good riddance,” spat Cage as he stood up and turned to Doc, “and what kept you?” “My apologies dear boy,” said Doc taking in the destruction and mayhem around him, “there were some very determined people who wanted to keep us out.” He looked around at the eight guards standing by Influence, loyal as young puppies. “I see you two have made some new friends

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though.” “Doc!” He turned to the voice of Seer, sat up against the base of one of the broken clone tanks, his hands pressed against a red smear on his belly. “My dear boy,” said Doc kneeling beside him and stroking the water from his pale face, “you’ve been so brave. Keep still and our healers will be with you shortly.” “No,” said Seer, coughing as he spoke, “I’ve seen this. Natasha did more than free me from his power. There were blocks on my power before but now I see everything. Thank her for me will you.” “I will dear boy,” said Doc, “I will.” Seer looked up at Influence and Cage, holding each other closely, Influence quietly crying on Cage’s shoulder as he stroked her hair. “Influence, Cage,” said Seer softly, making them turn to face him, “thank you for all you’ve done for me. It’s much appreciated.” Influence smiled back at Seer. “It was our pleasure,” she said, silent tears running down her face. Seer smiled, coughed, groaned and smiled once more. “The pair of you will make great parents,”

he said, his eyes glowing a vivid lilac before 169 darkening as the light left them. Doc reached over and closed them, tears rolling down his furry face.

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P O L L 171

nfluence and Doc walked the courtyard of the Grand Hotel arm in arm. It had been a hectic three months since the defeat of The Facility and the death of Sir Bernard and the lose of Seer. The hotel was now a sea of activity. Actives one and all, either victims or slaves of the facility they now luxuriated in the sanctuary provided by Doc and his followers. “What now,” asked Influence as they turned a corner of the courtyard.

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“Now,” replied Doc, replacing his half-moon glasses with dark sunglasses to protect himself from the glare of the sun, “alas my dear Influence The Facility was not the only organisation trying to take advantage of our people and weaponise our abilities. There are more companies, more governments, more Sir Bernards we need to face head on. And we will. With the friends we have around us, and new friends from across the globe. For us and the future generations.” With his last line Doc, reached round and gave a friendly pat to Influence’s growing belly. “But most immediately we need to get you settled. I was thinking of letting you and Cage have one of the penthouses.” “Only if we get the Sun brothers to sterilise it with their fire,” said Cage approaching from the side of them, “god only knows what you get up to up there on your own.” He embraced and kissed Influence, a casual hand brushing her tummy. Influence giggled at his touch and traced his jawline with a fingertip as they kissed. “Hello you.” “Hello mate.” A commotion pushed past Cage and Influence found herself hugged tightly by an excited

Bobby, followed very shortly by an even more 173 excited Beccy. “Careful you,” called Rebecca from behind them, “Influence can’t be man-handled like that these days.” Cage smirked and opened his mouth to say something. “Don’t you dare,” said Influence, holding her finger up to his lips which he kissed softly. “How’s my nephew,” asked Bobby. “Niece,” said Beccy. “What,” said Bobby turning to the young girl. “Niece,” repeated Beccy, hands on her hips, “could be a girl. You don’t know.” “Don’t care,” said Bobby, returning to hug Influence, “all I know is I’m going to be an uncle and we’ll all be a family.” “All right you two,” said Rebecca, stepping in and grabbing the pair, “seeing as you seem to have such energy today you can come down to the kitchen and help Natasha and her team with tonight’s meal.” She herded the two of them away from the couple and Doc, waving behind her when Influence called out: “Thank you.” “Which end of the spectrum do you think is

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the real one, “asked Influence as she sat at a small garden table with Cage and Doc. “How do you mean?” “Rebecca or young Beccy. Which is the original?” “I don’t think they know themselves,” replied Doc, cleaning his sunglasses with a corner of his cardigan, “does it matter?” “Not in the slightest,” replied Influence smiling, “I’m just glad to be able to call them both friends.” “They’re make fine babysitters, that’s for sure,” said Cage, enjoying the quiet moment with the people he loved. “Little Raymond is going to love them,” said Influence, “and his Uncle Doc too.” She reached over and pinched Doc’s furry cheek. “So you’ve decided on a name already,” said Doc, playfully slapping her hand from his face lightly. “Yes.” “No” “It’s an idea,” said Influence, looking at Cage meaningfully, “his nibs here thinks we should have a poll about it.” “I never said we should have a poll,” said

Cage, arms raised in defence, “I just think we 175 should think about it." Influence sat up in her seat and took hold of Cages hands, bringing them to her lips and kissing them softly before addressing him. “We will call our child by the name of a fine and good man who helped us in our darkest hour,” she said. “A noble gesture,” stated Doc, smiling at the memory of his god son. “And when they become Active and come into their own powers they will choose their own name,” continued Influence, “just like we did.” “Sounds like a plan,” said Cage leaning in and kissing her lips softly.

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A F T E R W O R D 177

aving enjoyed producing 28, really quite, short stories during last year’s Verbuary, I was very much looking forward to this years. A week or so before the list of prompt words dropped a thought popped into my head: “Could you produce a longer story using the prompts as ‘chapters’?” It was an interesting idea. I was aware of people doing something similar during

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“Inktober”, the artist's equivalent to Verbuary. The ever talented Nich Angell (and good friend of mine) has produced two books on this premise so it was possible and Nich had the extra hassle of both drawing the pictures from the list of prompt words AND creating the continuous story. Just coming up with a story would be a piece of cake. I admit it took me a good five prompts/ days to be confident I could do this but I approached each day as I did last year: very little preparation and responding to that day’s word as I sat down and typed. Sometimes the “chapter” would reflect the prompt word, sometimes it would just appear in that part of the story, usually in the dialogue. Of course writing like this means the story I created is chock-full of references to the books, movies and comics I love. If I was going to list every one then you’d have to go through yet another 175 pages, which I don’t think you want to read and I know I don’t want to type. Needless to say, if you read something and think: “I’ve heard that somewhere before,” You probably have, and kudos for having similar great taste in your media to me. If we’re not already I’m sure should we ever meet we’ll be firm friends.

My thanks to the people behind Verbuary for 179 producing the prompt words and for all those who cheered me on during the month. My only worry now is what will my head come up with as a challenge for next year's list?