The Alpha Force and The Secret of Orphan

The Secret of Orphan

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

 

It was a hot summer day in the later part of June in the town of Silverton.  Families were leaving for vacation, teens were working summer jobs to make some extra cash, and others like our friends The Alpha Force were swimming in the outside pool at The Big House, “Cannon Ball!”  Hollered Mike as he flew up ten feet into the air and finally coming down hard into the pool, causing a big splash!

When he came up his girlfriend Nicole scolded him.  “You know someone could’ve seen you do that.”

“I know but they would've had to been in a helicopter.”  He gave her an excuse.

“Just hope it wasn't an unmarked black helicopter, otherwise we’d all be in trouble,” Dan mentioned.

“I think you've been hanging around Mike too much,” Clara said opinionated.

“And I think you gals need to cool off!”  Dave told the two girls as he splashed them both with water from the pool.

“Do you mind?  I’m trying to get an early tan!”  Clara complained at him as she dried herself off with her ability.  She then looked at Nicole who was dry as a bone, “You shielded yourself from that didn't you?”  Nicole nodded, “Lucky, now my hair is going to be frizzy again!”

“Where’s Ally?”  Nicole asked changing the subject.

“She went to her internship at the Silverton Herald,” Dan answered.  “With a possible chance of landing a freelancing job with them after the end of summer.”

“Hey, guys where you at?”  Ally’s voice rang through from The Big Houses’ lobby.

“We’re at the swimming pool!”  Nicole hollered.

“Well, I got my first assignment!”  She told the group.

“Cool, where at?”  John asked.

“A town that was put on the Oregon map after the riots, it’s called Orphan.”

“Why is it called that?”  Nicole asked.

“It’s where they moved all of the children who were orphaned after the riots, plus it is the only town with an orphanage since then.”  Ally informed them.

“I've never heard of it,” Mike mentioned, “do you want us to come with you?”

“No, I think I can handle it, besides what could possibly happen in a small town?”  Ally asked and she looked at her friends who gave her an obvious look, “Okay it’s not like I’m going to find a bunch of villains there!”

“Keep in touch just in case.”  Mike ordered, “And if you do find any villains there, we’ll be there to back you up.”

“Will you stop worrying Mike, it’s just a story!”  Ally reminded him.

“I’m your leader; it’s my job to worry.”  Mike reminded her.

“Well, I need to go back to my house and pack up; you girls want to join me?”  Ally asked the other girls.

“Sure, beats being around here with a group of juveniles.”  Clara piped up as she got out of her lawn chair and headed inside.

“I’ll see you later Mike,” Nicole assured him as she left with the others.

A couple of hours later Ally dropped the girls off back at The Big House, the others waved goodbye to her as she drove off to the town of Orphan.  Everyone went inside to sit down, but noticed that Mike was heading to the study, “Hey Mike where are you going?”

“Going down to Head Quarters.” He answered, and he looked at the others, “you guys coming or am I the only one that has a bad feeling about this?”

The others looked at one another, shrugged, and followed him to the secret elevator.  As they were heading down to their H.Q. Clara asked, “Don’t you think your overreacting Green Defender?”

“No, I don’t.” He simply answered.

When they got down there Jacob Cagney, who was known as The Dark-Rider who was finishing tuning up The Alpha Force’s Battle Van.  “Oh, I take it Ally has left already?”

“Yeah, and Mr. Leader here thinks there is something bad about the place she is heading.”  Clara pointed at Mike.

“Well, that is going to have to wait, I’m still needing to put in the upgrade into I.Q. so until then…”  Jacob told them.

“Sparks help Jacob; I want I.Q. up and running by tomorrow.”  Green Defender ordered as he walked away.

“What is it with him lately?”  Clara asked, “I've never seen him act like that!”

“I’ll go check on him,” Shieldra assured the others and followed her boyfriend.  She caught up with him at The Holo-Dome control pad, “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“You've been on edge lately; it’s got everyone worried.”  She told him.

“Lack of action,” Mike answered quickly.

“I’m not totally buying that, there is something else isn't there?  Are you not happy with us?”

“No of course not, I am very happy with you,” Mike assured her, embracing her.  “It’s just that, the last couple of nights at my house have not been the best.  My Dad got laid off from his job due to the lack of business a couple of days ago.”

“So that is why you were asking Uncle Jacob for some overtime?”

“Yes, and I've been coming home from here for the last few nights at two in the morning.”

“That’s because we were patrolling…oh and your family doesn't know that.”

“Yes, and last night I snuck into my bedroom through my window and my dad was waiting for me.”

“Let me guess he thought you were partying?” She asked crossing her arms.

“Exactly, I told him I was putting in the overtime here at work, but he didn't believe me until he called your Uncle who told him that I was working that late.  My dad said that he was sorry, but there was something in his eyes that made me feel suspicious.”

“How so?”

“I think he is putting one and one together.”  He warned her.

“That we’re actually The Alpha Force?”  She asked in disbelief, and he nodded, “We might want to tell Uncle Jacob.”

“No, not yet, right now we need to see about that town.”  He countered, “We can deal with the parental units afterward.”

Ally drove for at least four to five hours before she arrived at the town of Orphan.  The evening had settled in, so she went to the only motel in town, checked in, called the Orphanage to make sure she was still able to come in for an interview and they said yes, and after all that, she went to bed.  The following morning, she showered and put on a nice dress, then headed to her destination.  She walked into the office of the orphanage, to let them know that she was there; she then had to go through security to make sure she had nothing on her to harm the kids or staff.  She then waited in the lobby for the Head Mistress to come in, and when she did, she greeted her, “Ms. Ally I presume?”

“Yes,” She answered and shook hands with the woman.  The Head Mistress was in her early forties, black hair, 5’7, blue eyes, wearing a black dress and high heels.

“So nice of you to come.  I was shocked that a nice lady like you was interested in our little town.”

“Well, the paper that I’m interning at is they wanted to know about the Orphanage.”

"We've been around for a few years now, and I’m hoping that the publicity of your newspaper will help adopt out all these great children.”

Ally looked around and saw kids playing in the yard, as they walked around the campus.  “Must be Recess.” She observed.

“Yes, and we teach the children all the basics, reading, history, math, science.  There are a few elite children those who have shown great promise, and they are usually the ones that are adopted out first.  And not all the kids here get adopted, if they pass the adult examination by our judge, then they can live freely on their own, whether they stay here or go into the world, either way, they become a part of our society.”

“Now do they get fed well?”

“They get three square meals a day, no snacks, but they do have dessert with dinner if they are good for the day.”

“Where does the food come from?”  Ally wondered.

“The food mainly comes from local farmers; the rest comes from private benefactors whose names I cannot give out.”

“Understandable.  Have you ever had any problems with disciplining them?”  Ally asked her next.

“Not really, usually the worst kind of punishment they receive is no recess; second worst is the cold shoulder, but nothing beyond that.  Anything else?”

“Is it possible for me to talk to any of the kids or take pictures?”

“I’m sorry, but the children are not to be talked to unless, by an interested set of parents, we do that for we don’t want them to get their hopes up.”  The Mistress warned her.

“I see, well that’s all I have, for now, I’ll send my story to my paper and if they need more info, can I come back for a second interview?”

“We’ll see I’ll have security escort you to your car.  Take care, my dear.”

“You as well.”  Ally walked out to her car as casually as she could, for she felt intimidated by the two big men who were escorting her to the car.  Once she was inside the confines, she took a few deep breaths, “That lady really creeps me out.”  Just then, a young girl pounded on her driver’s side window, and Ally rolled it down, “Can I help you?”

“Did you just come from the Orphanage?”  The girl asked she had brown hair and eyes; she was wearing a dirty flowered dress and worn shoes.

“Yes, yes I did.”

“Be careful,” she looked around to make sure no one was around, “The Superior one has eyes and ears everywhere.”

“What do you mean?”  Ally asked.

“If you’re not careful, you’ll be dead.”

“Let me get a hold of my friends,” Ally turned to grab her cell phone, and when she turned to ask the girl her name, she was gone.  “Hey, where did you go?”  She got out and saw that girl was nowhere to be seen, “I am getting out of here, and calling the others.”  She got back into the car and headed out of town.  She drove by the church; at first, the sign read “The Society of The Superior One.”  When looked at the sign through the review mirror it read, “The Church of God.”  She kept driving until she got into Bend.

Chapter 2

 

 

 

The following afternoon the rest of the teens met together now that their computer was finally online.  “Good job Sparks.”  Green Defender congratulated him.  “Now to find out more about this town that Mindra went to.”  He went straight to work, as the others went into The Holo-Dome for some extra training.  Green Defender typed in the name of the town and started the search program.  It did not take long for the results to come up on the screen, and he began to read the information that was given.  It was not much, but enough to satisfy his curiosity, but it left other questions in mind.  He continued to read until certain keywords started to pop up as it were in 3-D.  “Uh-oh, this isn't good.”  He muttered and did not waste time; he pressed the button to speak to the others, “Hey guys, you want to get here pronto.”

They others exited out of the domed room, and Frezor told Green Defender, “If you brought us out here for nothing…”

“Believe me this is important.  Now listen, according to the information given; the town of Orphan was founded shortly after the American Riots before that it was a ghost town.”

“That’s what Mindra already told us…”  Shieldra began to bring up.

“Yes, but what also happened during that time, outside of orphans being moved there?”  Green Defender asked them rhetorically.

“We escaped,” Blaze answered with a gasp.

“Wait a minute, are you saying that the town could be, where they took the other kids?”  Molder asked, surprisingly.

“That means Mindra is in enemy territory,” Jacob spoke up.

“We better contact her.”  Shieldra broke in, and before they could make their contact, the screen flashed incoming transmission.

“It’s Mindra!”  Blaze announced to the others, from the communications console nearby.

"Put it through I.Q.”  Green Defender told her, “Mindra are you all right?”

“For the most part, I think you were right Green Defender,” Mindra admitted.

“We've also come to that same conclusion, what’s your location?”

“I’m halfway to Bend now, I figured that if I tried calling from there, they could trace it.”

            “Good thinking, meet us at a hotel there, then we’ll take it from there.”  Green Defender instructed.

            “Will do, Mindra out.”

“At least we know she’s safe.”  Molder said with assurance.

“True, but that doesn't mean we’re out of hot water yet.”  Green Defender countered.

“What do you mean?”  Frezor asked.

“If that place is controlled by S.H.I.N.E. then it’s our job to tear it down and make it a ghost town once and for all.”

“Green Defender’s right!”  Blaze agreed, “Besides there’s no telling what they’re doing to those poor kids.”

“What are we waiting for?  Let get moving!’  Molder called out heading to the supply room.

“Jacob, can you call our parents and tell them you are sending us on to a Historians Convention in Bend?”  Green Defender asked him.

“Sure, good thinking, that’ll be an excellent cover since there’s one going on there this weekend.  I’ll make the calls, as well as making a reservation at a hotel there.”

“Good, Frezor you and Molder get The Battle Van ready.  Blaze, you and Shieldra get us some food and drinks we will need for the trip.  Sparks and I will install the Changer into The Battle Vans’ computer.”  Thirty minutes later they met up at The Battle Van, which with the Changer activated looked like a normal van on the outside.

“Do all the vehicles now have Changers in them?”  Molder asked.

“Not yet, however, it’ll be done as soon as this mission is over,” Sparks answered.

“Let’s get moving!”  Green Defender urged them to get into the van.  Four hours later they were in Bend and pulled into the hotel parking lot that Jacob had reserved for them, and Ally was there waiting for them.

“Hey, guys!  How was the trip?”  She asked all of them.

“Long!”  Clara complained.  “Poor Nicole and I were stuck in the van for the last four hours with nothing but these guys talking about guy stuff.”

“Hey!  You could’ve put on your headphones.” Dan said defensively.

“That’s if I had packed them.”

“Don’t worry we’ll get some girl time, just the three of us,” Nicole assured her.

“Let’s get our rooms and we’ll begin our debriefing,” Mike said business like.  They looked at one another, nodded and began unpacking.

Once they were all unpacked for the night, they met together in one of the rooms and began the debriefing.  Ally began it by telling all that she had observed in the town.  “I mean you should’ve seen how this lady was acting.  Just excessively rehearsed for my taste.  But that is not what scared me, what did was a girl that appeared out of nowhere!  She told me, ‘The Superior One has eyes and ears everywhere’.  And when I went to grab my phone she was gone.  As I was leaving town, I saw the sign at the church say: ‘The Society of the Superior One.’ and when I looked in my review mirror it read ‘The Church of God.’”

“With the information, we were able to gather, this town was founded shortly after our escape,” Mike told her.

“Now the question is what are we going to do?”  Dave wondered.

“First we’re going to get a good night’s sleep.”  Mike answered, “Tomorrow we leave for Orphan.”

“No argument there.”  Dan yawned.  They all said goodnight to one another and went to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

 

The next morning the teens regrouped at the van, and Ally’s car, packed them up and headed out, the boys went into the van and the girls rode along with Ally.

            Halfway through the trip, Dave asked Mike if he had a plan. He assured his friend that he was working on one.  “Part of formulating a plan is knowing the layout of the area, and the only one that knows it right now is Ally.”  He turned on the communicator to Ally’s’ car, “What is the population of Orphan?”

“4,500, that is not including the number of kids in the orphanage.”

“That’s a lot of people!”  Clara pointed out, “especially for a town smaller than our own.”

“Yeah, but how many do you think is with The S.H.I.N.E.?”  Dan wondered.

“The probability of that is 100%,” John answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

“How many kids are in the Orphanage?”  Mike asked his next question.

“250.” Ally answered.

“Let’s see, that’s two guards per kid, which leaves 4,000 to guard the town.”  John calculated.

“Here’s the funny thing,” Ally broke in, “The age factor of the adults ranges from 18 to 45.”

“No senior citizens?”  Dave asked in surprise.

“That doesn't seem right.”  Dan agreed.

“Well, that definitely helps in knowing what we’re up against.”  Mike put mildly.  “We’ll have to stay at the same motel that Ally stayed at the other night, and we’ll take it from there.”

They were at least three miles away when Alleys’ voice spoke up through the communicator, “Guys you need to pull over!”

“Why?”  Dave asked.

“Because the Battle Van’s disguise is coming undone,” Nicole told them.

“What?”  John exclaimed in disbelief.  They pulled over, got out of the van, and looked in shock.  “This can’t be happening.”

“But what could’ve caused this?”  Clara asked.

“For once I’m stumped,” John admitted.

“Looks like we’re all going to have to cram into Ally's car.”  Dave pointed out.

“But what about the van?”  Dan wondered.

“There was a forest nearby, I’ll drive it there and hide it.”  Mike told them, “Take what we’ll need from the van into the cars’ trunk; we’ll come back for the rest later if needed.”

Minutes later, they were back on the road crammed into Ally's car like a can of sardines.  “My question is what could cause the Changer to malfunction?”  Dan pondered.

“We’ll ask Jacob; hopefully, he’ll have an answer for us,” Mike answered.

“We’re here!”  Ally announced as she pulled into the motel parking lot.  They got out of the car and stretched.

“I’ll go get us the rooms,” Mike told them, “You guys get the car unpacked, then we’ll go into our room and meet in one of the rooms once we’re unpacked.”

Ten minutes later, they regrouped and sat around a small desk in Mike and John’s room. John put his laptop on the desk where everyone could see it, they activated the communicator in it to contact Jacob who was expecting their call, and they then explained to him about what happened to the van.  “The only thing that could cause that is an E.D.F. which is the same thing that can disrupt the use of your Bio-Suits.”

“But that means we can’t use our Changers, great just great,” Clara complained.

“Yes, and it seems that since it knocked out the vans Changer at a distance of three miles from here, that means that is what the radius of it is,” John concluded.

“Then all we have to do is find the point of origin.”  Nicole pointed out.

“But don’t forget the E.D.F. is set at a certain frequency.”  Mike reminded all of them.

“So, all we have to do is find that frequency to determine its point of origin.”  Ally concurred.

“There is one more thing you need to know.”  Jacob butted in with a voice of concern.

“What is it?”  Mike asked.

“Your parents are starting to suspect things,” Jacob warned them.

“That we’re The Alpha Force?”  Dan asked.

“Yes, it is a possibility.  I will try to my best here to make sure that all they know is that you’re in Bend.”

            “We know we can count on you Jacob, Alpha Force out.”  Mike closed out the box.  “Sparks I want you to stay here and find that point of origin, Frezor you help him.  Mindra, Blaze, you two will go to the orphanage and say that your newspaper wants a follow-up story; Blaze will be your back up.  Molder, Shieldra and I will walk around town and try to get a layout of the place.  We’ll meet back up here in three hours, let’s move.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

Clara and Ally arrived at the orphanage ten minutes later.  They walked up to the front desk and asked to see the Head Mistress and to meet her in the office next door.  The girls went into the room and shut the door behind them and sat down.  “You got your camera?”  Ally asked.

“Yep, you have your questions ready?”

“Yes, and its best we don’t give away our true intentions of being here.”  Ally warned.

“Agreed, I just wished we knew what we are up against,” Clara mentioned in a worried tone.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure we’ll find out soon.”  Ally assured her, and out of nowhere came a hissing sound, “You hear that? Sounds like a snake hissing.”

“No, it’s not a snake…it's gas!”

“We need…to get…out of here…”  Ally said weakly as they fell asleep.

They woke up a few minutes later chained up to a wall, “Clara you okay?”

“Yeah, just a bit dizzy…why is it that every time we turn around, we get captured?”  No sooner that she asked that question, the door opened and entered The Head Mistress along with some armed security guards.

“I see that you are awake.  Good.  Now you can tell me what you are doing here.”  The Mistress instructed.

“We’re here to do a follow-up story.”  Ally answered.

“Who’s she?”

“My photographer, our boss demanded photos to sell the story.”  Ally told her.

“I told you that we cannot permit photos to be taken.  Now, what are your true intentions of being here?”

“We told you, for a story, your ears clogged up or something lady?”  Clara fumed.

“Your friend has a wicked tongue, but since I don’t want to be a rude host I shall have you set free on the condition that you do not come back here without your editor’s calling me first.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Release them!”  She told the guards, and they took hold of the bracelets around their wrists and broke them with their bare hands.  “Now these gentlemen will escort you out to your car and see you off, and it’s best you remember my warning, for next time we won’t be so friendly.”  They were escorted by the muscle-bound morons and they got into the car and left.

“Man!  That was my favorite camera.”  She looked at what was left of it, for one of the guards had crushed it with his hands.

“I think we’re far enough to contact the others.”  Ally said as she investigated the review mirror, and activated the communicator in her car, “Mindra to base.”

“Sparks here go ahead.”

“Blaze and I just had an interesting encounter with The Head Mistress of the orphanage."

“Save it for the briefing, the others should be back here within the hour.”

“Very well, we’re on our way…oh and one more thing.”

“What’s that?”  Sparks wondered.

“Have Frezor fix us a couple of glasses of ice water, we’re really thirsty.”  Ally requested.

“Sure thing.”  he then turned to his frozen friend, “Well you heard the lady.”

“Since when did I become the designated water boy?”  Dave complained.

“Since you became Frezor,” John answered sarcastically.

“Very funny.” He laughed a fake laugh and got to work.

Mike, Dan, and Nicole walked around the town for about two hours and were on their way back to the motel.  “Is just me or are we being watched?”  Dan asked.

“We’re tourists; of course, people are going to stare at us.”  Mike patted him on the back.

“Yeah, but it still feels like we’re being followed.”  Nicole agreed with Dan.

“I know we are,” Mike admitted, “By the girl that more than likely talked to Ally, quickly take a right.”  They went into the alley and hid behind the dumpster.

As she walked into it, Dan appeared from coming out of a wall, and when she turned around out of fear, Mike grabbed her by the shoulders, “Why were you following us?”

“We’re not going to hurt you,” Nicole assured her.

“You’re with that one girl, aren't you?”  The girl asked.

“Yes, we’re here to help.”  Mike told her, “Now what is your name?”

“It’s Angie.”

“Listen Angie; is there a time and place that we can meet you?”  Nicole asked.

“Yes, there’s an old lumber mill three miles north from here.  Meet me there at seven in the evening; everyone will be at the church during that time.”

“But today’s Friday.”  Dan pointed out.

“They go there every night.”  She informed them.

“Okay, we’ll meet you there, now go,” Mike told her, and she left.

“You think we can trust her?”  Dan asked.

“I agree with Dan,” Nicole told him.

“Sometimes we must take risks that need to be taken to achieve one’s goal,” Mike told them as they head regrouped back at the motel and briefed each other on what they had learned within the last three hours.  Ally and Clara began by telling them what had happened to them at the orphanage.  John and Dave informed that they were still working on trying to find the point of origin of the E.D.F.  Mike, Dan, and Nicole finished with them telling the others that they had met Angie and described her to Ally to make sure that it was the same girl, and Ally nodded.  “We have a couple of hours until we need to meet up with her, so let’s get something to eat, rest and leave,” Mike instructed.

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

 

Later that evening The Alpha Force went to the place where they were to meet with the mysterious girl Angie.  They waited for ten minutes past the original time, “Okay I don’t like this.”  Dave broke the silence.

“I agree she should’ve been here by now.”  Ally concurred.

“We’ll give her ten minutes, and then we’ll leave.”  Mike decided.

“You’re the leader,” Dan relented, “however I feel that we’re in a middle of a trap.”

“I really hope you don’t feel that way.”  A girl’s voice came out of nowhere.

“Who said that?”  Clara asked looking around.

“Where are you?”  John asked secondly.

“I’m right here.”  The voice answered, as a metallic liquid rose from the ground and formed into the girl that the trio met earlier.  “My name is Angie, I’m sorry I took so long, I wasn't expecting my foster family to leave for church so late.”

“My name is Mike.”  He introduced himself, then he introduced the others, “Dan, Nicole, and Ally you've met, the redhead is Clara, next to her is Dave, and the guy with the glasses is John.”

“Please to meet you.”  She gestured.

“Now you said you could tell us what we need to know.”  Dan reminded her.

“Yes, what would you like to know?”  Angie asked them.

“How about starting with what your abilities are?”  John asked.

“I can turn my body into any type of metal, from Aluminum to Titanium, and can be either solid or liquid, and when I’m in my metallic form, I’m just as strong as the metal I choose.”

“Does your foster family know about…?”  Ally began to ask.

“No!”  She snapped.  “The reason for that is that those who expose their abilities end up disappearing and never heard from again.”

“Maybe that’s what The Mistress meant by those who she called ones with special qualities.”  Ally brought up.

“Exactly, of course, I do remember parts of my life before the Orphanage.”

“What do you mean?”  Nicole asked.

“It so happens that on my eleventh birthday, some men showed up at my party and took me from my family, only handing them papers, my parents didn't argue for they were a peaceful couple.  The next thing I remember, I was with some other kids in a giant place, we were tested on, and we attempted to escape numerous times.  Then six of them were able to escape, but I and others were captured in the process and we were sent here and were told that our parents were killed in the American Riots.”

“Wait a minute!  Then that means that you were with us when we escaped!”  Clara exclaimed.

“I just remembered that there was a girl named Angie in our group, as well as others.  We used to talk about science all the time.”  John brought up.

“Let’s hold off the reunion for now.”  Mike interjected, “As glad as I am that we found you, but we need to focus on the current situation.”

“Mike’s right!”  Angie agreed, “What else would you like to know?”

“Why does everyone go to the church every night, and why don’t you join them?”  Dave asked next.

“Because to them being adopted means you are not pure enough to join them.” Angie rolled her eyes, “Those like me are adopted to be nothing more than slaves.”

“That’s horrible!”  Nicole exclaimed in disgust.

“We at least need to shut this operation down!”  Mike determined, and the others nodded.

“As far as why they go there every night, I have no clue for I’m usually doing the dishes or other tasks that I’m ordered to do.”

“Okay one more question and this is important,” Mike began to say, “We need to find out if there is any place where they can broadcast an E.D.F. it stands for Electronic Disturbance Field.”

“And it’s set at a certain frequency to disable our Bio-Suits.”  John explained, “With them, people won’t know our true identities.”

“I see, look I need to go, I have to get back to the house before they get back.  Otherwise, I’ll be punished.”

“Here take this.”  John handed her a communicator.

“What it is?”

“It’s a way to contact us if you can think of or find out anything that might prove helpful to us. Just press the green button and speak.”  John explained.

“Sure thing, see you guys later.”  She told them and returned to a liquid form and was gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

 

 

The Alpha Force took their time getting back to the motel.  Mike told them to go to bed and for all of them to get some rest.  The girls sat down on their beds and began their girl talk for the night.  “So, do you think we can trust her?”  Clara asked.

“I think so; I mean John said he remembers her so that basically confirms that she was with us back then.”  Ally answered.

“I wouldn’t doubt that beings John, I’m sure had a crush on her back then.”  Clara sang.

“Did you see how red he got when he handed her the communicator?”  Nicole asked humorously.

“Oh, I saw that; he was so nervous it’s a wonder that the communicator didn't blow up in his hand!”  Clara laughed and the others joined in.

“You know, it will be nice to have another girl on the team.”  Ally mentioned.

“And how!”  Clara piped up.

“It would even things up with the boys.”  Nicole agreed.

Inside Dan and Dave’s room, they were discussing the situation at hand, “So do you think that girl was straight forward with us?”  Dan asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”  He answered in a yawn, “Did you notice she couldn’t keep her eyes off John?”

“Of course!  The poor guy sounded nervous when he brought up that she was with us in the facility.”

“But we gotta back him up man.  You know us guys got to stick together.”  Dave reminded.

“What do you mean?”

“If she joins the team, then the girls will brag how they got a new friend that they can gossip with.”  Dave pointed out.

“I see the point.”

Meanwhile, in John and Mike’s room, Mike had just got out of the shower and John was still working on trying to find the E.D.F.

            “Any luck?”  Mike asked.

“It’s like trying to find a very small needle in a giant haystack.”  He answered bluntly.

“Something tells me that it’s not the only thing that is bugging you.”  Mike deduced.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”  John pretended no to be annoyed.

“C’mon John, you can’t fool me!”

“Why because you’re the leader?”

“No, because I’m your friend and a friend know when another has something bugging them.”

“It’s that obvious?” He asked with a sigh.

“Yes, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one that noticed.  I mean before Nicole and I got together, Dave and Dan both knew that we liked each other, and I fought it, for a day or so, but then when it all came down with our first battle with Cyber-Destroyers when we saved those two, that she and I would make an awesome duo.  The same could be said about you and Angie…once we get her out of here.”

“I was just startled seeing her again after all these years.”  John defended himself.

“Maybe so, but you got to understand something, no matter how many of these other Abnormals we find, or even have to free from S.H.I.N.E., you can’t fool those who know you the best.”

“For once, you didn’t sound cryptic,” John observed.

“Careful, I may just throw one out there to get you on the edge.”  Mike joked.

“Okay, I’m going to put the computer on auto to find The E.D.F. and go to bed.”  John yawned.

“Good night John,” Mike told him as he turned off the lights.  He sat down on his bed and began thinking, which he had been doing a lot over the last few nights, for some reason he was getting less and less sleep, but still had energy, he could not explain it.  He did not want to bring it up to the rest of the group without any reason.  He thought back to where they had met up with Angie, and she had said the ones with abilities were all the sudden gone.  Nevertheless, no one knew where they went…not only that but everyone went to the church every night…what was the connection…then he was asleep.

“BEEP! BEEP!”  John’s computer went off repeatedly, and Mike awoke and looked at the computer and turned to John,

“Wake up, the computer found something.”

“What?”  John jumped out of the bed and looked at it, “It’s found the frequency, not the location, however, with knowing the frequency that it is on, I can modify the Changers.”

“Start with mine while I go get the others.”

“But it’s 5 am!”  John protested.

“I know, and we have work to do!”  Mike told him in a serious tone, and we woke up the others, who at first were no happy to be woken up so early, but when he told them that they have a chance to get The Changers working, they agreed reluctantly.  A few minutes later, they met in Mikes and John’s room.

“I’ve configured The Changers to withstand the E.D.F. but…”  John started.

“But equals not good.”  Ally countered.

“It’s only good for at least an hour…if that.”  John finished.

“And we’re going to use it wisely.”  Mike took over, “Molder and I are going to the church.  Blaze, Mindra and Shieldra, you are going to the orphanage.”

“What do we need to do there?”  Clara asked.

“Check the files in the office; see if you can find out what happened to the kids who they considered as those with special qualities. I believe both there and the church has a connection, but we need proof.”

“Let me guess you want us to stay here?”  Dave asked.

“Yes, continue to locate the signal of the E.D.F. we’ll report back here in two hours.”

 

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

 

Clara, Nicole, and Ally reached the orphanage at 5:45 pm.  They snuck into the main office through the window, “How long do you think we have?”  Clara wondered.

“Office opens at seven, so we have at least an hour.”  Ally answered.

“We better use it wisely then,” Nicole told the others and they nodded.  They began to search the office, Clara checked the desk, Ally looked through the file cabinet, and Nicole looked through the bookshelf.

“Nuts!  The file cabinet is locked!”  Ally complained.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” Clara assured her as she put her hand on the padlock and it melted.

“I guess that’s one way of doing it.”  Ally shrugged as she opened up the file cabinet and searched through the files.  Minutes later Alley slammed the file cabinet closed, “Nothing! It’s as if those kids never existed.”

“What now?”  Clara asked.

“We go back and report back,” Nicole answered.

“Why the rush?”  A woman’s voice came from behind them, and at the door stood the Mistress.  “There’s no need for you to go.”  She told them as she pointed a gun with a silencer at them and fired…but Nicole put up a shield to protect them, Clara threw a fireball at the gun and melted in the Mistress’s hand and she screamed in pain.

“Bio-Suit activate!” Ally said the password, and within seconds she was Mindra, and she ran up to the Mistress, grabbed her head, and began to suck information from her brain, and the Mistress dropped to the ground when Mindra released her, “She won’t remember that we were here, and I abstracted the information that we need.”

“Good, let’s jet then,” Clara told her friends and they left.

Mike and Dan walked through the church as quietly as church mice.  They looked around constantly to make sure that no one was in the area.  “So far so good,” Dan mentioned.

“A little too good for my taste,” Mike told his partner.

“There’s the pastors’ office.”  Dan pointed to the door closest to the sanctuary.

“Let’s see if he’s in for a confession.”  Mike joked.

“Very funny.”  Dan quirked, as he opened the door, they looked inside and saw that no one was inside and closed the door behind them, “do you think God will forgive us for breaking into his church?”

“Something tells me that this isn’t really a church Dan,” Mike told him as he studied the bookcase.

“Why do you say that?”

“Simple, ever heard of a pastor that studied molecular science, cloning theories, and gene splicing?”  He asked him as he held up the books, “Plus other’s and no sign of a bible.”

“Then Ally was right when she said that this was not a church of God.”  Dan concurred.

“Someone’s coming.”  Mike warned, “Activate Bio-Suits.”  And within seconds, he was The Green Defender.  “Why didn’t you activate your Bio-Suit?”

“Because I don’t need a Bio-Suit to do this,” Dan told him as he turned into soil and went into the plan next to him.

“Show off.”  Green Defender scoffed as he activated his invisibility belt that Sparks had given to him, and the others had one as well.

The door opened and two men came into the office carrying silver trays with small glasses filled with a clear liquid.  Following behind them was two armed guards and a man dressed in priest clothes.  Green Defender watched them open a safe next to the desk and put the trays into it.  “Good work gentlemen, that will be all for now, there’s plenty of the sacraments for tomorrow’s service.  Let us leave.”  The Priest told them, and they left.

As soon as they were gone, Green Defender turned off the belt, and Dan came out of the plant.  “That’s the strangest looking sacraments I’ve ever seen,” Dan admitted.

“Something tells me that it isn’t grape juice.  Let’s head back to the motel and report back to the others.”

The teens regrouped at the motel at 7 am, the girls got back first, and the boys got back minutes later.  They sat down and began to brief one another on what they had learned.  Ally had turned off her Bio-Suit to save up on from being disabled, and she told them where they could find the tower that The E.D.F. was being put out.  “It’s 5 miles from here over the hill where we met with Angie.”  Ally informed them.

“But no information on what happened to the kids?”  Mike asked.

“None.”  Ally admitted.

“The priest is giving these people some sort of strange liquid in place of sacraments,” Mike informed.

“Talk about heresy,” John said sternly.

“But I…”  Mike stopped in mid-sentence.

“What is it?”  Nicole asked.

“I know where they took those kids!  They took them into the church.”  Mike said with brilliance in his voice.

“But we searched there.”  Dan reminded him.

“But not below in the basement, and those glasses must be full of super-human DNA!”

“That means those men you mentioned must’ve been gene splicers.”  Clara deduced.

“And if those people are taking those sacraments daily…oh, my.”  Ally gasped.

“We’re not dealing with farmers with pitchforks and torches,” Mike spoke up.

Just then, Angie busted through the door, “We got to get out of town now!”

“Why?”  John asked as he stood up.

“They found the Mistress lying on the floor of the Orphanage’s office, so now The Preacher is calling for a town meeting in the church,” Angie told them.

“We’re not going anywhere, Angie.”  Mike told her, he then turned to the group, “Looks like it's crunch time team.  Frezor get the Battle Van, we’re going to need as much firepower as we can get.  Sparks you take Angie to where the E.D.F. tower is and take it down, then come back and help us.  Shieldra contact Dark-Rider; have him have the Alpha Cargo Jet on standby in case we need to get out of here in a hurry.  Then I want you, Blaze, and Mindra to get those kids out of the orphanage.  Mindra, I’m going to ask you to do something very hard, I want you to erase the kid’s memories of the last two days…”

“But why?”  She asked.

“They do not need to remember what is to happen on this day.”  Green Defender told her coldly.

“Very well.”  Mindra conceded.

“Molder and I will hold up the townspeople as much as we can until the rest of you can join us.”

“And remember, until the tower is down, the Bio-Suits are best to stay offline,” John told them.

“If nothing else,” Mike offered up to the table, but everyone was silent.  “Then let’s get to work.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

 

Frezor ice sled on the road as fast as he could.  He approached the van and opened the door, climbed in and headed back to town.

            The girls got to the orphanage and saw that there were guards waiting for them, “Looks like we got company.”  Mindra observed.

“Then let’s give them a warm welcome.”  Blaze winked as she took off into the air, and fired fireballs at the armed men, melting their weapons.  The other two girls followed taking out the guards within minutes.  They met up together in front of the doors and went in; as Mindra went into each room to brain drain, the children as Green Defender instructed Blaze and Shieldra guarded the hallway.

Sparks and Angie raced up the hill towards the tower; they could see it from a distance, “Not much farther.”  Sparks assured her, as she was cradled in his arms and as he went as fast as he could.

“Any ideas on how to destroy it?”  Angie asked him.

“I’m working on it.”  He assured her.

“Whatever it is, better make it quick, we got company.”  Ahead of them was the tower as well as some of the town’s people guarding it!

Sparks stopped a half a mile away from the tower, put Angie down, and told her, “Better armor up Angie…”

“In this metallic form, you can call me Metallica.”  She told him as she changed.

“Allow me to take care of these morons.”  He told her,

“Power Surge!”  Sparks called out, and from every part of him came a pure form of electricity that formed around him, and moved into his hands, he shot out towards the men in front of them, and they all were down within seconds.  “Well so much for those guys.”

Green Defender and Molder walked into the church quietly for they did not want to give themselves away just yet.  They could hear The Preacher speaking a sermon from the pulpit.  “Heathens have come to our peaceful town!  Mockers of the Superior One!  That is why you have been called here today, for you are to be ordained in the name of the Superior One to wipe out this evil among us!  Now that you have taken the sacraments of the Superior One, you have been filled with his power and might to purify this town!”

“Something tells me, we’re a bit late.”  Molder whispered.

“Then let’s not keep them waiting.”  Green Defender told him as walked closer to the sanctuary, “I’m sorry did I miss communion?”  He hollered at them.

“You blasphemers dare enter the domain of the Superior One?”  The Preacher asked in disgust.

“But you see the difference between you and us, is that you serve a false deity, and we follow the true God, Lord of heaven and earth.”  Green Defender countered.

“I’ve heard enough of your tongues of poison!”  The Preacher told them, he then opened his mouth and sonic waves of sound came from his mouth, and when the waves hit the duo, they were slammed into the wall behind them into the foyer.  “There you see.  The power of the Superior One runs through my veins, and I have vanquished two of the outsiders, now use your gifts that have been bestowed upon us to destroy the others, that they may join their friends in the pits of Hell!”  Then his face became a bit downcast as he saw that the two boys he had attacked were getting up and the people saw this in amazement.

“You know…that kind of hurt.”  Green Defender admitted.

“Yeah, but luckily we’re used to being pushed around.”  Molder agreed as he turned his body into solid cement.

“And the thing is we push back!”  Green Defender warned them, then using his speed, he punched out the nearest of people that were about to attack.

“Destroy the Heathens!”  The Preacher commanded.

“Look like we get to have some fun.”  Molder commented as he began to throw mud-balls at some of the people.

“I just hope we can hold out till the others get here and Sparks gets that tower taken out.”  Green Defender admitted as he began his next attack.

“We need some more room!”  Molder told his friend.

“Agreed!  Let’s take this fight outside.”  Green Defender concurred as he picked up a couple of people and flew outside.

Frezor met up with the girls at the orphanage, and they piled into the van.  Behind them, the Mistress and some more armed guards coming from the orphanage was getting close to trying to take out the members of The Alpha Force “We don’t have time for these fools.”  Frezor observed, he stuck out his hand and encircled them in an ice barrier that was 10ft thick and 10ft high to where they could not get over it, or through it, and they drove off in the van.

At the E.D.F. tower, Sparks and Metallica approached it until they were at least 50ft away from it.  “Okay here’s the plan…”  He began to say. However, she walked up to the tower and punched it, and it came down like a Douglas fir.

“You were saying?”  She asked proudly.

“Uh, never mind,” he said as he turned on his communicator,

            “Sparks to Alpha Force, the tower is down, and I repeat the tower is down.”

“Nice timing Sparks the others have just arrived.”  Green Defender informed, “Now we just need you…” then all of the sudden Sparks and Metallacia was there, “to get here.”  They all grouped up, “Bio-Suits activate!”  Within seconds, they were The Alpha Force. “Angie…”

“It’s Metallacia now.”  She informed them.

“Nice code name, now stand back we need to take out some of these pests.”  Green Defender told her, as the group of townspeople began to crowd them, “Alpha Force, prepare for Atomic Blast.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”  They created a large ball of energy from their stun bolts and Shieldra holding them into one bubble, and once she could no longer hold it, she motioned for them to release it, “Fire!”  Green Defender shouted, and with a powerful momentum, the ball blasted through the townspeople like they were bushes being uprooted from a strong wind.

“That took care of most of them.”  Molder observed.

Green Defender then noticed that The Preacher was heading into the church, “I’m going after The Preacher!  The rest of you take care of them.”

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

The Preacher ran through the church and stood behind the pulpit and pressed a button to open the secret chamber below it, and he saw Green Defender coming up to him, “You’ll never get me you green demon!”  He then jumped down the hole and the opening closed again.

Where’d he go?  Green Defender thought to himself and then he noticed that the control panel on the pulpit had been smashed!  He threw the pulpit to the side and punched a hole big enough for him to fit and glided down.  An eerie feeling overcame him as he looked at the metallic hallways, for they looked like the same hallways of where he and others escaped.  He continued to walk down the hallway until he found himself walking into a lab.  He was shocked in horror at what he saw…Teens around his age strapped to lab tables.  And a machine that had to be a Harvester.  He checked for a pulse on each of them and was surprised that they were still alive.

“Interesting isn’t it?  That they have survived this long.”  The Preacher’s voice came out of a dark corner.

“I demand that you release them!”  Green Defender ordered.

“I don’t think so; you see they’re the lifeblood of the sacraments, to remind ourselves of the Superior One’s greatness.”

“Then his greatness is nothing more than a shadow of his evil heart.”  Green Defender countered.

“Say what you want blasphemer for I’ve been ordered by the Superior One to destroy this place as a living sacrifice!  Making me and other martyrs for his cause.”

“I won’t let that happen.”  Green Defender told him.  The Preacher opened his mouth to make his attack and Green Defender stopped him with a Two-Hammed Hammer attack!  The impact of the blast knocked The Preacher into one of the super computers and he slumped down.  Green Defender checked to see if he was still alive…he was.  He activated his communicator, “Molder, I need you, Sparks, and Metallacia to come to my location, there’s a passage below the pulpit and I need you to free the teens that are locked up here.”

“We’ll get right on it.  What about you?”  Molder asked.

“I got a bomb to ship into space.”

“Be careful my friend.”  Just as he said that he saw a green blur fly up into the air. “Sparks, Metallacia follow me.”

“Roger that.”  Sparks saluted, and they followed Molder into the church.  They went inside, down the rabbit hole and found two guys and two girls tied down to lab tables.  They freed them and helped them out of the building, and by that time, the others had just finished taking out what was left of the townspeople.

“So much for the hometown favorites.”  Frezor joked.

“Yeah, because the underdogs just kicked their butts!”  Mindra cheered.

“Gee Mindra, maybe you should try out for the cheerleading squad.”  Molder teased.

“Very funny mud man.”

“Where’s Green Defender?”  Blaze asked.  For an answer, they all heard the explosion above them, “Oh my gosh…”

“I hope he made it.”  Metallacia gasped.

“There I see him!”  Molder pointed to the sky.

“He’s falling too fast!”  Sparks estimated, “We need something to cushion his landing.”

“Swimming pool!”  Molder thought aloud and quickly caused the ground to a giant hole, at least 300ft deep.  Then one of the girls that they had rescued walked up and filled it up with water.

“There it’s done!”  Frezor said.

“Wait what is he doing?”  Metallacia asked.

“He’s going to do a…”  Shieldra began to say.

“Cannon Ball!”  They heard their leader call at and splashed into the giant pool, causing the water to go everywhere and everyone was soaked.

“He really makes me mad when he does that!” Blaze complained.

Green Defender jumped out of the pool, his Bio-Suit was blackened and torn in places due to the blast.  “Good work everyone.”  And then he saw from a distance, flashing lights and tanks heading their way.  “U.N. Military coming to the towns’ aide…time for us to leave.”  They all got into the Battle Van and left.

The U.N. Military pulled into town five minutes after The Alpha Force had left.  They began to assist people to ambulances for those who were in severe condition and others were taken to a tent that was being put up.  The children were taken to a safe location.  The Preacher walked out of the church all battered, he asked for the person in charge and there he was escorted to a nearby tent and entered it.  There before him was a woman in her early forties, wearing a military suit, she turned and he recognized her, “Agent Ruthers…”

“Your assignment has been compromised.”  She told him bluntly with her Russian accent.  “I’ve been ordered to have you escorted to base for debriefing. From there, you will help Dr. Wrong in mass production of your finding thus far.”

“But what of the children?  Where will they be taken?”  he asked.

“They will be relocated into homes; none of them have any DNA defects.”  She assured him, “Now tell me who did this?  No, let me guess, The Alpha Force?”

“Yes, that’s exactly who it was…those blasphemers!”

“You can drop the act now.  Your services as a minister are no longer needed.  Now, the men outside will escort you to a vehicle that will take you to your new base.”  She instructed, and he left. She took the cell phone out of her pocket, punched in a few numbers, “Yes it's Ruthers…we’re ready to begin to Operation godhood.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

 

When the Alpha Force returned to The Big House, Jacob greeted them, “Welcome back, I’m sure we can begin debriefing shortly?”

“As soon as I get into normal clothes.”  Green Defender told him referring to his Bio-Suits condition.  “Shieldra why don’t you show our new friends to the guest rooms and have them freshen up as well.  We’ll meet in the meeting room in an hour.”

“New friends?”  Jacob asked.

            “Yeah, The Alpha Force just got bigger.”  Molder answered.

Once hour later, all of them met in the meeting room including the new members.  Mike began the meeting; “The last couple of days have been rough, however, it was well worth it.  For out of it, we now have five new members to add to the roster.  They have had a rough couple of years, but now that they are among friends.  They will become a great asset in our battle against S.H.I.N.E.!  Now, what are your names and abilities?”

“My name is Justin.”  The young thin Caucasian male spoke up first, he had light brown hair, 6’4”, and brown eyes, “and I can stretch my arms, legs, and torso to a certain length, so you can call me Long Yard.”

“My name is Adam.”  The other male spoke up who was African American, he was 6’1”, “I can make loud noises come out of my mouth, and you can call me Boom Box.”

“My name is Angie, and you already know what I can do, and am called Metallacia.”

“My name is Eva,” The girl next to her stood up, she was Mexican, dark hair and blue eyes, 5’7”, “I can create and or control water, as well as turn myself into water.  You can call me Aquatrina.”

“And I’m Rachel,” she had dark hair as well, 5’4” and was Native American, “I can cause plants to come out of nowhere as well as control them, and I can turn myself into tree bark.  You may call me Plantra.”

“Then on behalf of myself and The Alpha Force, we welcome you.”  They all got up and welcomed the new team members.  Once that was done, they briefed Jacob on what had happened to them.

“As far as your parents are concerned, it took some major persuasion to convince them that you were in Bend,” Jacob informed them.

“Why is that?”  Asked Blaze.

“This is why…”  Jacob turned on the main monitor, who played a previously recorded news broadcast, “This Melina Phillips with USA news, the town of Orphan was attacked today by the terrorist group known as The Alpha Force.  A spokesperson from the U.N. Military says, and I quote; ‘There are at least five hundred killed and other fatally wounded that won’t possibly make it tomorrow.  Others severely wounded to the point that they will need to physically rehabilitate for the years to come.  None of the children were hurt.  And as you can see the damage that was caused behind me, there is enough ample proof that The Alpha Force are nothing but a bunch of low-life thugs!”

“Great, just great.”  Molder shook his head in disbelief.

“I told your parents that you were not in the vicinity that Ally had met up with you in Bend.  Luckily the editor of the paper where she’s interning happens to owe me a favor, so I cashed it in.”  He then turned to Mindra and gave her a stack of papers,

“Here are the facts of the convention, from people that attended, guest speakers and what they talked about.”

“Looks like I got a story to put together.”  She said getting up.

“We all best be on our guard from here on out.”  Green Defender warned them, “Something tells me that if we’re not careful than our parents will find out the truth about us and there is no telling how they will respond.”

“I suggest you all go to your homes and take the next couple of days off.”  Jacob suggested, “You've earned it, plus I have new Bio-Suits to create.”  With that they departed, all but Green Defender.  “Is there something you need to talk to me about?”

“Yes, it turns out that I’ve not been sleeping that much lately…”

“Stop right there.  This means that you are about to go through the growing pains of you becoming the next Dark-Rider.”

“How long will this take, though?”

“As long as God sees fit.  Remember, I received all my abilities like the others before me at one time, but with you receiving yours as you progress.  Keep me informed of anything else that continues.”

“I will and thanks.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

 

 

Three months later:

The young man approached the alley with caution.  A man saying that he could help him get on the football team called him.  He was glad to hear since he was not the athletic type, in fact, he was not that strong either.  However, every guy in the school was able to try out and even though his parents told him that he should not because they considered him fragile for, he was nothing but skin and bone.

“Mr. Timmons, I presume?”  Came a voice, and a man came out of the alley.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“You sure you want to do this?”  The man asked rhetorically.

“Yes, you said the first sample was free?”

“Of course, and as long as you keep it our little secret, it’ll continue to be free.”

“Don’t worry,” the young man assured the stranger, “I won’t tell a soul.”

“Then here,” he handed him an inhaler.  “Take this an hour before you begin your tryout. From there you will see improvements.”

“Thanks.”  Bruce Timmons said, and he jogged back to his home.

The stranger took out a cell phone, pressed in a few numbers, “This is Dr. Wrong, our first god is about to be created.”