Feint walked slowly through the streets with watchful eyes. She walked on the sidewalk avoiding contact with anyone. A few people caught sight of her and ran from her almost instantly. Apparently walking around while wearing a mask wasn’t normal. Then again, the news didn’t help her public image but she needed her hands free.
Shaking her head, she focused on the building that the pinging came from. Turning off the radar she looked at the abandoned building before turning the pings back on to double check and it was easy to confirm. “I guess this is the place.”
Walking toward it, she walked through the door. The hallway was dark and sparse as she continued toward the source of the ping to a specific room. Walking through that wall as well she took stock. It was dark and musty inside with deteriorating furniture. She walked through what might have been a kitchen and into a living room.
Turning off her track she looked through her night vision and saw someone lying down on the couch. She was a frail thing with long silver hair. Her hair was at least down to her hips. She was wearing a nightgown and jeans, a hoodie on top of that chest and a scarf around her mouth. Her skin was so pale she might as well have been transluscent.
When she turned the radar on again it focused in on her. Specifically, her shoulder. “This is them, or her, at least.”
She wasn’t even close when the girl’s eyes opened. She sat up and turned toward Feint. She lost balance for a moment and swung back against the couch. Looking at her again though she seemed to be squinting. “You. I can’t see you. At least not really.”
“What do you mean you can’t see me?”
“I see you but I can’t. There’s a haze around you.” She raised her hands and waved them around as if to illustrate her point. “Who are you by the way?”
Feint was thrown off by how pleasant she was and how this was going. “I’m. Well. You and I are somewhat similar. Are you 144?”
She stiffened at that and looked at her. She stood and then swept forward, circling around her slowly. “Who are you? Where did you learn that number? Who sent you?!”
She moved forward and grabbed her by the shirt, her pale white eyes focused in a very precise glare. Feint stared at her and remained calm. “No one sent me. We’re not enemies.”
“Explain. I can’t read you. I guess I’m tired,” she rubbed her head. “Where is he with my medicine.”
Feint pushed her away slowly and took a breath. “You’re number 144. An experiment from a lab to see just how far they could develop and push humans. One of dozens or hundreds. We’re not sure yet. But we know you got out a little while ago.”
“You know a lot. And you’re also revealing a lot of information. What’s your claim? What’s your angle?”
“My angle is the fact that we’re similar. My name used to be 247.”
“247? I know that name.” She mumbled and her eyes widened. “You were one of us.”
“Yes. A serial number for a group of experiments. We managed to escape. Just like you.”
“I didn’t escape. They were not very thorough when they ‘let me go’,” She laughed lightly. “Whatever. It’s not my problem anymore.” She walked over to the couch and lay down. “How did you find me out here in the ghetto?”
“We’ve been taking and digging around in the files of the Royals. Among other things it helped us find you. Which is why I’m here.” She closed a few things on her mask and then looked at her. “We were able to track you.”
“What? Track me how? With what?”
“There’s a tracking chip in your shoulder. Very old but still active.”
She moved suddenly. Dropping to the ground and picked up a shard of broken glass. Dragging her sleeve up she dug it into her arm deeply. She didn’t cry out or make a sound other than a soft grunt. Feint however started and darted forward. Grabbing her arm, she stared at her. “What are you doing?”
“I won’t let them find me. I won’t let them take me back there. I refuse!”
144 was struggling against her grip and Feint leaned forward before pinning her against the couch. Dragging her hand through her body she stole the glass from her hand and tossed it.
“Be still!” Strangely 144 listened which was a relief. “I won’t let you continue to be tracked. I’m going to help you. I’ve never done this before but I understand the theory. And rather than let you risk losing your arm, we can try this.”
Holding up her hand she passed it through the couch and then looked at her. 144 was shocked and then looked at her again. “That’s not a normal evolution of our abilities. Someone’s been dipping into Enhance.”
“You could say that. Now hold still. I’m going to take the chip out of you. But it’s delicate and if I mess up I don’t know what might happen.”
She looked at her with determined eyes. “Whatever it takes, get it out of me.”
They locked eyes as Feint turned her hand intangible again. She turned on the radar of her mask and zoomed in quickly. She pushed her hand into her arm and moved it toward the chip slowly. It felt weird to slowly be moving through someone with the intention of taking something out. She didn’t know how to judge depth as efficiently as she would like.
It was slower because she felt things pulling at her fingers. Probably muscle or sinew. She wasn’t sure what but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Then she felt it, something even more solid. With a shiver she passed her hand out of her and into solidity.
“I felt the chip.”
“Can you get it?”
“I think so.”
“Do it.”
Feint looked into her eyes and finally noticed that they were unfocused. Either it was part of her powers or she was actually blind. She put her hand through her again and this time dipping through solidaty.
With a deep breath she placed it closer to the chip and then pressed her fingers around the edge of it. Biting her lip, she started to pull. She felt 144 stiffen beside her but focused on her shoulder. The signal of the chip was moving slowly as she pulled. That was good.
She gripped it tighter and continued the slow methodical movement. When she reached the edge of her skin 144 let out a sound of pain and Feint stopped for a second. She looked at her but 144 glared.
“Do. Not. Stop.”
Nodding she continued and pulled. Feint could see the effort it took for her to not make a sound as she ripped the chip out of her. 144’s shoulder was bleeding and the chip looked like it belonged inside a dog, not inside a person. She stared at the hardware before dropping it onto the floor and crushing it.
“You okay?”
She took a breath and then gasped holding onto her shoulder. “Yes. A lot better. A whole lot better.” She sat up and then winced at the pain but her smile came back brighter. “Okay not as better as I would like.”
“Just take it easy,” she said softly.
“You’re strange. If you’re really one of us then why are you doing this?”
“Because I want to know about the people that made us. And sticking together is better than going it alone.”
She smiled then. “I know. I’m not exactly alone. I have a roommate.”
“Is he?”
“Just another guy who took Enhance like most of them. Just scraping a living out of this.”
“I understand that. Is this where you two live?”
“It’s not much but it’s home. Why, do you live in better?”
“A penthouse. We’re kinda like thieves than anything else.”
“Thieves? We should have thought about that.” She seemed to be pouting at this.
“We have more than enough space. You can stay with us. Plus, I’m betting the others would really like to meet you.”
“It does sound better. And you sound nice enough. And so do the others. Though I think Yumi and he won’t get along.”
She started and took a step back. “How do you know that name?”
“Easy Feint. Just like you guys are special, I’m special too. It was just hard to concentrate when you first showed up.” She frowned for a moment. “Oh, he’s almost here.”
“Who?”
“My ‘guardian’”
As she spoke she felt someone just appear in the room. Turning she saw an Asian boy and he stared at her and then at the girl. He pulled down the bandana and made a face, “Great another one with a mask.”
“Don’t worry I am. Just like the last one she’s not bad.”
“Right.” He stared at Feint not bothering to hide her suspicion.
“Good news. We can move! To a much better place.”
“Did you at least read her to make sure she’s legit.”
“Sure did and she is. Though you should be on your good behavior.”
He scoffed at her and then looked at Feint. “Got anything to add to this?”
“Other than welcome aboard? Not really. Our leader is going to have to clear it but I know he will. ”
Yumi, Phase, Darren and Shade gathered into the living room as Feint and her guest arrived. Pulling off her mask she walked inside and led the pair inside.
“You’ve been busy.” Shade said.
“Very.” Feint agreed.
“Oh look, long time no see.” Yumi waved and earned a glare from her one time partner.
“Great. Of course you’re here,” he rolled his eyes.
“You two know each other?”
“Oh yeah. First, we were enemies. Then we were partners. Really tight now.” She crossed her fingers. “Like this.”
“I think we should do some introductions first.” Phase said stepping forward. “You already know Feint. And we’ve met on our own terms.” He gave a frosty look to him and he all but glared back at Phase.
“Once a little while ago.” She nodded. “Sorry about his reaction by the way. He was just looking out for me.”
“As long as we’re on the same side now.”
“Yeah.” 144 said and smiled. “Rogue here wasn’t good at giving me names and I was attached to my number name. Which was 144 by the way.”
“Rogue?” Yumi repeated and beamed. “You have a name?”
“What’s a number name?” Phased asked.
“She’s one of us, Phase.”
They met eyes and he nodded slowly. “Alrighty then. That explains a lot.” He looked at her with almost a familiarity then. “My names Phase. My number was 52.”
“Yumi. Formerly 365.”
“I’m Shade. Just a guy.”
“I’m Darren.”
144 looked at the three of them wide eyed. She seemed at a loss for words, almost like she hadn’t imagined that she would meet others like her. She walked forward a few steps before hugging Phase and then going to hug Yumi. She wasn’t crying but she wanted to. The trio started, each putting their hands to their heads as a voice echoed through them, a voice that wasn’t their own.
“I can read it You’re telling the truth.. You guys are you guys are like me. My family.” She slid away from them and her cheeks lit up with pink tinges. She looked at them and then glanced down. “Sorry about that. I. I just got a little emotional.”
Yumi put her fingers to her head and groaned lightly. “What the hell was that?”
“Why did I hear your voice in my head?” Phase asked as he looked at her.
“It’s.” She blushed more, clearly embarrassed and lowered her head. Her hair fell into her face almost like a shroud. “I can communicate mentally. Through other peoples thoughts.”
Shade blinked. “What?”
“You’re saying you can read our minds?” Darren asked. “Like right now?”
“Something like that. Yes.” She looked up, brushing a bit of her hair out of her eyes. This time all of them heard her voice in their heads. “I suffered because of the scientist. They took away my sight and my hearing. The experiments did this to my hair and skin. After a while I just couldn’t preform to their expectations. I was to be disposed of but instead I tricked them. Convinced them they’d done the deed and instead of burning me they tossed me out into the trash.”
As she spoke they saw flashes of images. They could smell the sewage, fresh and wet. Feel the cold against their skin as if they were soaked in the muck.
“I don’t know how I got outside. Into the drain. I guess I was lucky to make it through the dark back then. I just remember when I first tasted sunlight and how amazing it was. Amazing and new.
“That was when I first learned how to see. How to hear for the first time. By being a part of everyone else’s mind I could collectively see and hear what they saw and heard and then I would make a collage of it all to be a part of my surroundings. It was deafening, blinding, an overload. It took a while before I could throttle it back into something that I could manage.”
“So right now, you’re seeing everything we see and hearing everything we hear?” Shade asked.
“Y-yes. The longer I do it the more I eventually make a permanent blueprint for this area.”
“Are you reading out minds when you do it?” Feint asked.
“Not necessarily?”
“What does that even mean?” Yumi asked somewhat annoyed trying to put this together.
“Strong emotions, I can hear but specific thoughts I’d have to purposely read your mind for. Which I won’t do. Someone’s thoughts are their own and I don’t want to invade that privacy. Especially not yours. The only time I don’t ask permission is when I or,” She glanced over at Rogue. “Are in danger.”
“Alright,” Shade looked at the guy. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
Yumi rolled her hands. “Backstory, talents, goals, dreams, aspirations, etcetera.”
“I take it back. Your power is talking.”
“Fuck off.”
“I said be nice.”
He scoffed at her as well, folding his arms. “You heard her. My name is Rogue. I teleport. A part time criminal.”
“Wait. The Rogue Bandit makes sense now!” Yumi laughed earning a glare that just incentivized her to laugh more.
“Ignore her. You teleport?” Darren said as he looked him up and down. “Can you show me?”
Rogue looked at them then nodded. Looking around the living room he observed for a moment. Turning around he looked up to the second floor and nodded. He took a step forward and then vanished. Appearing he leaned against the banister and looked down at them. “That good enough?”
“Holy,” Darren nodded and grinned. “Yeah. That’s more than good enough.” Vanishing and appearing again he was back at where he once was. “What’s the max distance of that? Can you take others with you? How fast can you teleport? Where can you teleport?”
Rogue took a moment and stepped back digesting the excitement. “Alright. Dial it back. I don’t know my max distance. I can take others with me. I teleport as fast as I can think of my destination. I can teleport anywhere I can see or I can picture.”
“Fascinating.” They turned to look at 144 and smiled. “I’d like to ask you some questions too if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.”
“Hold on, Wiz Kid. We’re not done with the initiation yet.”
“What more do you want?” Darren asked.
“For starters you need a name. A real name.” Yumi pointed at 144. “You just have a serial number. We all figured out names, so now its your turn.”
“I had a lot of names that I liked but none of them ever felt right,” She was thinking about it hard and it showed on her face. A lot of her emotions showed on her face.
“Don’t overdo it,” Rogue said rolling his eyes.
“It’s haaard.” She pouted and folded her arms. “A name’s a big thing.”
“Why not Echo?”
Everyone looked at Feint who elaborated. “You hear and see echoes of what people say and see to make your blueprints right? You take echoes and make your own world. Plus its shorter than echolocation.”
“Echo. Echo. Echo.” She repeated the name under her breath, a smile forming on her face. “Echo. Yeah. I like it. Echo. My name is Echo.”
“Echo and Rogue.” Walking forward Phase put a hand on both of their shoulders. “Welcome to your new home.”
The Harlequin Library 