The Beta Force: The New Family

A Story by Michael Gill

The Beta Force

The New Family

Chapter 1

The past three months had been busy for The Beta Force taking scum off the streets working along side of Lt. Brown, they had finally cleaned up the streets of New York City of gang activity and instead of sending them to jail they sent them to a Youth Center to where they could get an education and a second chance. Those who chose not to take the alternative were put behind bars. There was now only two or three gangs left but they have decided to call a truce and not start any trouble with the authorities or with one another. Though they couldn’t receive any official recognition The Beta Force was still glad that they could be of help.

It was late March now and school was out for Spring Break. They had decided to take advantage of the break and relax. They thought about joining up with The Alpha Squad as they were going to Castle Dark-Rider but when they heard that Zendras’ team was going to be there, they saw there was no need in having three teams there at one time. They stuck around in The Beta House and took advantage of the peace and quiet.

Majority of the school though decided to check out a new camp site that was opened for teens for Spring Break as an alternative of going home or to Florida. When the time came for people to start coming back…all those who went to the camp didn’t come back! Rodney decided to check with Lt. Brown who was his girlfriends’ father to see why her and the others had not come back yet.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Lt. Brown greeted him with a sincere look on his face, “I just received an E-Mail from Rhonda.”

“She went with the some of the school to that camp right?” Rodney asked.

“Yes, and it would appear that they won’t be coming back.” Lt. Brown said with a sad tone in his voice.

“How so?” Rodney asked as he sat down.

“Read this E-Mail she sent.” He pointed to the computer monitor.

Rodney read it and it stated, “Dear Dad, I’m sending this to you for it is most likely it will be the last time you’ll hear from me. I’ve had to sneak into the computer center to send this off to you. This camp is not what it appears to be! It’s a cult! The leaders’ name is Father Malachi. Please send help! Love, Rhonda!”

“I’ve looked up this Father Malachi character.” Lt. Brown said as he pulled up a file. “Born Michael James White, born in 1985, in Boston, Massachusetts to a Mark and Jenny White. His father was a minister at a church, and was arrested several times for abusing the young boy. Michael then ran away from home at the age 16 and filed for emancipation. He moved to New York City and fell into a wrong crowd and was arrested several times, the final time he was arrested for statutory rape and was sentenced for 10 years. He was later paroled five years earlier, but while he was in prison he studied up on men such as Charles Manson and the like. He started a following in the prison and began to be a leader among them.

“When he left the prison he told his followers where he could be found. He then changed his name and began a cult. With the money that was donated to him he bought the property that now is the camp where the students had gone to for Spring Break.”

“How could the school allow this to happen?” Rodney asked in confusion.

“With a changed name and all the school would most likely not have known that he was truly someone else.” Lt. Brown answered. “Now we can’t go in there for the kids are old enough to stay there if they want.”

“So that means it’s best if The Beta Force and I to go in there.” Rodney stated.

“That’s what I was about to suggest.” Lt. Brown said.

“Send a copy of the files you got on him to IQ2, and tell them I’m on the way.” Rodney said.

“Just do me a favor, don’t leave without my baby girl.” Lt. Brown said trying not to tear up.

“Trust me, I’ll tear that place apart if I have to bring her home and the others.” He sped out of the place and headed to The Beta House.

Chapter 2

The Green Defender came through the secret entrance of The Beta House to the secret headquarters of The Beta Force. The rest of the team had already assembled in The Meeting Room. He briefed them on all that he told them of everything he had learned from Lt. Brown. “This Father Malachi is one sick dude!” Shellshock said slamming his huge fist on the table.

“Which is why we’re going in and taking him out of the cult business.” Boom Box stated, “Half of us are going in as students that decided to come in and be apart of this “family”. The other half will be recon and back up. Now we can’t get everyone out of their legally unless there are some that have shown that they feel they are being held captive. Most of them are minors but the religious clauses are protecting this cult from the law.”

“Which is why we’re going in.” Green Defender spoke up, “Techno, Shellshock, Detector, Micro, and Time-Out, you guys are the Recon/Back up team. The rest of us are going in.”

“What’s are cover outside of being students?” Plantra asked.

“We’ll make it up as we go.” Boom Box answered her. “Everyone is to grab a few days change of clothes, and some cash. One thing that these cults all have in common is that they are very greedy.”

“What if they ask for more money than what we have on hand?” Aquatrina asked.

“We’ll have our debit cards on us, and when they use them, it’ll be traced to whatever account they are using.” Boom Box told her. “Now the Recon/Back up team will come onto the camp site at night when everyone else is asleep. Now there might be guards posted so it’s best you be careful. Now if you get caught, that’s where Time-Out will come in. With her time stopping abilities you should be out of sight when time goes back to normal. Any other questions?” Boom Box looked around and saw that everyone was good to go. “We leave tomorrow morning, everyone get everything you’ll need and get some rest, something tells me we’re going to need it.”

Chapter 3

Father Malachi walked around the auditorium before the next service was to start. Everything was going according to plan…so far. Soon he will have not just a family that he always wanted but an army as well. He looked to his left and saw that Brother Jeremiah was coming towards him. “Any news on the intruder that broke into our computer room the other night?” He asked his faithful follower who had been his bunk mate in prison.

“None Father, but I assure you it was none of the non-believers they’ve been heavily guarded since their attempt to leave.” Jeremiah answered.

“Then it may be someone who has somehow escaped our grasp of truth.” Father Malachi suggested as he ran his left hand through his thick beard. “Keep looking but be careful, for if there is someone who is among us that is a pretender than we must be on our guard.”

“As you command Father.” Jeremiah bowed, “Shall I now ring The Bell of Assembly?”

“How else can I reward my most faithful follower?” He suggested with a smile.

Moments after Jeremiah had rang the bell, everyone had come into the auditorium and taken their seats. They sang songs that brought glory and honor to the man that changed their lives forever…Father Malachi! After the singing they sat down and listened to the sermon. “My children! Once you were lost and am now found! I searched the world over and sought you out. But it took you to come to me that now has brought us to be together…forever!” There was cheering and clapping. Father Malachi basked in it, soaked all of the admiration they gave him. “The outside world tried to show you that you could be apart of their society but it has rejected you for you are all unique, created in my image, not that of the world.

“They tried to mold you into their way of existence, through television, video games, school, church even! But you saw that they were more false than their leaders that rule their lands. The time will come that they will see the light. For the day shall come when we shall march into the city, with our heads held high and I leading us to victory and showing them once and for all that they were in the wrong!

“The day will soon be here my children! Until then embrace my love and follow my guidance for it will be the only thing, I am the only one that will protect you now and forever!” A standing ovation came from his followers, and even some who had been declared “non-believers” were now standing and when they motioned to the ushers that they have accepted Father Malachi’s teaching that they were brought down to the stage and placed before him. He blessed them and gave them a new name and announced to the rest of the followers that they now would receive new brothers and sisters!

Later that night Rhonda went back to her room along with some of the other girls. She had to keep her Bible hidden from them, for if they knew she had that, then they would turn her over to The Elders to be persecuted and convinced to either deny the ways of the world or to be cast out with the other non-believers. When the rest of her roommates had left to the showers she took her Bible out and read a couple of verses and immediately put it back in it’s hiding place. She prayed a quick prayer, and by that time the others had come back from the shower room. She hated pretending something she was not, but it was the only way she was able to get the information she wanted. With her father being a cop and her boyfriend a member of The Beta Force.

She was given a new name Tamar, she pretended to like it but she preferred her birth name, something else she had to keep secret. She was glad about one thing, learning how to pick locks from her dad years ago and she was already a good hacker to get into the computer systems and was able to send off a quick E-Mail off to her dad. She knew that he himself couldn’t do anything but knew that he would contact The Beta Force. Now the waiting game had started as soon as had sent off the E-Mail, but hopefully somebody she knew would come in and help her and everyone else out of there.

The girls said good night to each other and turned the lights out. She prayed to God silently in her mind, “God send help quick! I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out!”

Chapter 4

Team 1 of The Beta Force which consisted of Boom Box, Green Defender, Plantra, Aquatrina, and Jinx, drove up to the camp. “Now remember team we’re here undercover as a group of kids that decided to join up with the rest of the high school that came here.” Adam reminded them. “Observe every detail and we’ll find a way to reconvene. Most likely we will be separated.”

“Then how are we supposed to be in contact?” Eve asked.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Rodney answered.

They drove up to the entrance and they were let in, and registered at the Registration Cabin. They were given keys to their cabins and was told to report to the auditorium at 5pm. The guys were put into the one cabin with 2 other guys that had room in their cabin. Eve and Rachel were put into one cabin and Janie was put into a cabin with a couple of girls that were already in there.

Once they were settled in they introduced themselves to their roommates whom welcomed them openly and showed them around the area. Once they were able to get some free time before the service they tried to meet up with one another. “This place is big.” Janie said.

“That’s for sure. I just hope our recon team doesn’t take too much time mapping out the area.” Adam said as he looked around to be sure no one was listening in.

“Have you guys seen Rhonda yet?” Rodney asked, “I asked around but they all say that they know no one with that name.”

“I found out that as soon as you decide to join up for good with this place you get a new name.” Eva told them.

“Then the first thing we need to do is locate Rhonda.” Adam ordered, “Let’s spread out and see if we can find her before the service starts. We’ll meet back here in an hour.”

Within a couple of minutes of walking around Rodney saw Rhonda coming out of her cabin and he motioned her to follow him. Once they were able to see that they were alone they embraced each other. “You okay?” He asked her.

“Yes, I’m glad that my E-Mail went through.” She answered.

“Your dad was seriously worried not to mention your mom.” He told her.

“I’m pretty sure they’re not the only parents worried.” She said with a sincere tone.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“Since we got here a few days ago we’ve not been able to have any contact with the outside world.” Rhonda explained, “Those who refuse to convert within two days are put into that cabin behind you.” She motioned for him not to look back for there were guards standing there, “They’re fed but not very well. No electricity, no showers.”

“Any way to break them and bend them to the will of this Father Malachi guy?”

“Yep. I decided to convert but as a cover so I could gather as much intel as I could before I contacted my dad.”

“You’ll have to tell me about it later, but right now that service is going to start soon, and I’m sure they don’t like people being late do they?” He asked rhetorically.

“Correct.” She started to walk away and he followed, “How many others are here with you?”

“Four, the others are Recon and Back up.” He answered, “how many guards are there?”

“During the service, just those guarding the outside of the auditorium and Father Malachi’s cabin.” She told him.

“Then while everyone is in the auditorium I’ll have Team 2 to begin bugging the cabins and such.” Rodney told her.

“I best get going, I need to meet up with my roommates.” She waved good-bye and jogged away.

Rodney met up with the rest of the group and told them that he was able to find Rhonda and briefed them on all that she had told him. “I’m thinking it’s best that we get to that service.”

“Here put these on your eyes and in your ears.” Adam began to hand out a pair of contacts and a pair of ear wigs. “Techno made these in case the hypnosis is used either way.”

“Gotta love how she’s always prepared for such things.” Eva said as she put in the contacts in her eyes.

Chapter 5

Team 2 of The Beta Force received the signal as a go ahead to begin their recon work. Techno led the team through the forest the led to the rear area of the camp. She signaled them to disperse and begin bugging the cabins. She found herself in the cabin that had the computers in it and she took out some gig sticks and placed them in the computers and began to download all of the information off of them.

Micro headed towards Father Malachi’s cabin, since he was able to shrink himself down to a size of an ant there was no way that the guards could see him. Once he was inside he returned to normal size long enough to place the bugs which were so small you had to have a microscope to see them. As soon as the bus were in place he shrunk down again and exited the building.

Moments later they regrouped in the forest and went back into the van. Techno took the gig sticks out of her belt and began to upload the information that was abstracted from the computers into the van’s computer. When the information was done uploading she began to sort it out. The other three guys took to their stations and began to listen in once everyone was back in their cabins. Techno scrolled down the as she read the information and let out a whistle. “Now this is interesting.”

“What is it?” Shellshock asked.

“This Father Malachi is rich enough to buy out a few states.” Techno answered, “So far he has enough to pay off the national debt and then some.”

“How can that be?” Micro asked her.

“This guy has more followers than just here in the camp.” She told them,

“People that are on the city council, some people that are within the police departments, even some other people from other states…whoa now this is something.” She pointed to the screen, “This next list is a list of weapons not only in this camp but also in New York City!”

“What’s he planning?” Detector asked.

“Well whatever it is, it’s best we stop him now before we leave.” Techno said with a definite tone.

Chapter 6

As the others sat in the auditorium listening to the sermon, Adam looked at his watch when a green light went off. He have a thumbs up to the others stating that the bugs were planted. After the service was over they piled out of the building and began to head to their cabins. Once they were back in their cabins they saw that they were alone in the cabin. Adam activated his communicator and spoke into it, “Boom Box to Techno you got five minutes to fill us in as much as possible.”

“Good thing we got here when we did, this guy is about to make the American Riots look like a simulation. They have enough arsenal to take over NYC within a matter of hours. Not only do they have weapons here but also placed in calculated areas in the city”

“Okay here’s what I want you to do.” Boom Box started to say, “There’s a cabin full of people that are called “Non-Believers”, I want you to rescue them and once that’s done, head back to the city and take them to give their statements to Lt. Brown. Then get back here.”

“We’ll wait until 1am to begin the extraction.” Techno told him.

“Sounds good to me, Boom Box out.” He deactivated his communicator just in time when the rest of their roommates came into the cabin.

“You guys going to take a shower?” One of their roommates asked.

“We took one before coming here, we’ll take one in the morning.” Rodney answered.

“Suit yourselves.” The other roommate shrugged.

At the girls’ cabin Rachel and Eva were lucky enough to be put into the same cabin as Rhonda. Rhonda told them that she thinks that the water has something in it that was causing people to come under Father Malachi’s control. When they went into the shower room, Aquatrina turned into her water form long enough and saw that Rhonda was right for when she started to absorb the water it began to turn into a different color. She flushed it out of her and returned to normal. She grabbed a sample of the water and once they were back into the cabin she placed the vial in her suitcase. She gave the other two girls a thumbs up.

Chapter 7

At 1am Team 2 went through the forest one more time towards the cabin holding “The Non-Believers”. There were two guards posted and Techno hit them with a stun bolt. Shellshock broke down the door as quietly as possible. The others swarmed in so that they could free the prisoners. Some of them were strong enough to walk out on their own, but the others Shellshock carried on his shoulders. They walked out of the cabin and there was four guards waiting for them to come out.

“Put The “Non-Believers” down and put your hands up!”

“Last time I checked you weren’t the police.” Techno countered, she turned to Time-Out and nodded.

“Time-Out!” She called and put her hands together forming the time-out sign and time froze. “Now let’s get out of here we only got two minutes.” They back into the forest and headed to the van. They loaded the former prisoners into the van. They piled into the van themselves and drove off.

Two hours later they were back in New York City at the precinct that Lt. Brown was stationed at. They brought the kids in and got them something to eat. Those whom they had rescued began giving them statements saying that they were fed only once a day, weren’t allowed to take showers but once a week. Techno also gave the locations of the hidden cache’s of weapons and Lt. Brown said he would get some men on it, and she also gave him a list of those who belonged to the cult which was called The New Family.

“There’s about forty cops about two in each precinct that belongs to this New Family.” Lt. Brown pointed out after bringing up the names on his computer. “I’ll get this to my Captain.” He rolled his wheelchair up to his Captains room. Moments later he and The Captain came out, “We’ll get these dirty cops and place them under arrest and we’ve contacted the other precincts and they’re having some extra men find those cache’s.”

“Good cause we need to get back and hopefully everything there is okay.” Techno told him. They went back to the van and headed back to the camp.

Chapter 8

Father Malachi and Jeremiah approached the cabin and saw that someone had broken in and taken “The Non-Believers”. Father Malachi walked up to the guards who were just now waking up from being stunned. “Who did this?” He asked them.

“Some outsiders Father.” One of the guards asked bowing his head.

“Where did they go?” Jeremiah asked next.

“We’re not sure.” The other guard answered.

“No matter now. The time is near anyway for The Cleansing to begin.” Father Malachi dismissed. “Tomorrow morning we shall gather all of our followers, and the new ones will have to choose either to join us, or be cleansed.”

Instead of going to the showers as they told their roommates, the remaining members of The Beta Force and Rhonda met up with one another about a half a mile out from the camp ground area. “I just got word from Techno, they made it back to NYC and have reported in with Lt. Brown.” Boom Box informed them.

“Are they on their way back here?” Green Defender asked.

“Yes, and they should be back here long before morning.” Boom Box answered.

“So what’s the next part of the plan?” Plantra asked.

“Most likely we’ve moved up their time table which was part of my plan to begin with.” Boom Box told her, “My plan was to force their hand, make them nervous.”

“Are you sure that’s a bright idea?” Aquatrina asked.

“I agree with her.” Rhonda stated, “When it comes to these Cult types, when someone does something like that they tend to become more aggressive than normal.”

“Which is why most likely we need to be on our guard tomorrow.” Boom Box warned them. “And if that’s the case, The Beta Force will have to come out of hiding and into action.” With that said they went back to their rooms after Aquatrina had doused them with water to make it look like they were in the showers and headed back to their cabins.

Chapter 9

The next morning had come around and everyone on the compound was in the cafeteria for breakfast. Some of The Elders came around and told each table to meet in the auditorium as soon as breakfast was over. Adam looked at the others and they nodded saying that they were ready to move at the slightest hint of danger. On their way to the auditorium Adam pressed on a button on his watch using Morse Code to Techno saying to stand-by and that a distraction would possibly be needed.

Once everyone had sat down Father Malachi came up onto the stage and began to speak, “My Children, the time has come! The time for The Cleansing of the city of New York is at hand! And today we shall begin to Cleanse that evil town until they finally see the light or perish!” Cheers and applause rang throughout the room.

“However there is some business at hand that must be taken care of first. We have here some whom have not fully devoted themselves to me. Will those five please come forward?” Adam looked to the others and nodded to play along with the leader of The New Family. As soon as they were on the stage they could now see that up close that Father Malachi was nearly six feet tall, with fading blonde hair and his build was disguised thanks to the robes that he wore. “Now my friends will you join our family?”

Adam looked at the others and they nodded that they were ready to answer, he looked at his watch with the green light showing that Techno and her group was ready. “We have an answer…NO!” With that said the whole auditorium began to rock and sway and it was because of Adams’ voice but because of the combined abilities of Jinx and Shellshock! Adam motioned to the others to move to safety and they followed him off stage.

“My children the heathens are attacking this holy sanctuary! Defend it with your lives! Defend me with your lives!” Father Malachi called out and retreated. The kids and The Elders ran out of the room and headed to the weapons room and grabbed guns of all kinds. Once they had received their weapon of choice they ran out of the building and saw that The Beta Force was standing there.

“Kill them! Kill them for Father Malachi!” They shouted together in one voice.

“Okay that’s a bit creepy…” Techno said as she saw the rest of the team coming up to them.

“Sorry but we had to change into our Bio-Suits.” Boom Box apologized.

“Hang on a second while I change the settings for each of your stun bolts.” Techno said as she changed the settings with incredible speed. “These stun bolts will not only knock them out but counteract the hypnosis.”

“Good work!” Green Defender said as he began to blast away at some of the cult.

“Thank Aquatrina she had taken a sample the other night. She left it by the van before we left with those kids.” Techno admitted.

“I’m as fast as a raging river if I want to be.” Aquatrina said shyly.

“Well right now we have an ocean of people to take care of.” Boom Box said. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Father Malachi escaping. “You guys take care of these jokers, I’m going after that fake Father.” He told them and ran after Father Malachi.

Green Defender using his speed would run by some of the teenagers and grab the weapons out of their hands. And before they could react Detector and Micro would stun them. Aquatrina would push them down with waves of water and then stunned them. Plantra would entangle them with grass, and grabbing the guns out of their hands and then stunning them. Shellshock didn’t want to hurt them with his strength but kept his “Shelled” armor up to protect him from the bullets that were flying in the air. He stunned them with a stun rifle as well as Rhonda. Jinx would shoot Jinx Bolts at their guns and turn them into plastic toys and then stunned them. Within a matter of minutes all of them threats were down.

Boom Box ran down Father Malachi and cornered him at the bottom of a mountain. “You can’t stop me! Even if you defeat all my children here, I have others!”

“You mean the cops and people you have planted throughout the city? Yeah we found out about them and they’re being picked up by “real” police as we speak.”

“Lies! Lies! There’s no way!” The villain declared.

“There is a way, God always makes a way!” Boom Box countered. “And since you like the sound of your voice…try out mine!” Boom Box threatened as he took a deep breath and let out a giant Boom-Bastic! The sound caused Father Malachi to cover his ears but the sound penetrated and finally he fell down unconscious.

The Beta Force regroup just as the state police approached the area. Green Defender turned to Rhonda, “Cover for us?”

“Sure thing.” She said with a wink, “Come by tomorrow and we’ll celebrate.”

With that said The Beta Force ran to their van and headed back to The Beta House.

Chapter 10

The teens met up with Rhonda and her family at the Browns’ residence and celebrated their latest caper. “So Father Malachi has been charged with conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism along with some of his followers.” Lt. Brown said as he passed the mashed potatoes around.

“What about the kids from the school?” Rodney asked.

“They’re going to go through some counseling for awhile and school has decided to give everyone an extra week of Spring Break but everyone has to stay on campus.” Rhonda told him.

“Well sounds like that’s a week in which we’ll take advantage of.” Janie said as she handed the dinner rolls to Eva.

“So what are you kids going to do during that time?” Lt. Brown asked them.

“Sleep.” Candie answered for herself.

“Paper work.” Adam answered.

“Paper work? What paper work?” James asked.

“You think being a leader has all the perks? Part of being a leader sending reports our to the rest of the teams.” Adam answered.

“Trust me, I know how you feel.” Lt. Brown agreed, “I have enough paper work from this caper to last me nearly a week myself.”

“Well here’s to paper work!” Mrs. Brown said raising her glass, and they all cheered, “To paper work!”