Paladin Stories: Ghosts of the Void (4/4)

An agent should keep his emotions in balance and in check—-sure, but not right now. I mean I should be, but when people give chase it’s hard to. Now that I know that hideous woman and her uncle’s got those kids under cover, I couldn’t help but move faster.

 

Trevor: *We’re almost there!*

Harry: *Then hang tight kid!*

Trevor: *Wait! If you could see the building...that means you can turn us invisible!*

Harry: *Huh? What do you mean?*

Trevor: *Just trust me! My powers sense yours with another activation. All you have to do is to tap into it...and the car will go blank.*

 

I channel my energy, concentrated with effort, as the car, well, still looked normal as it is. I asked the kid to survey the sleek mirrors outside, as our enemies seemed to have lost track of us. Great.

 

Another 25 minutes and I witness the building. I quickly speed up and fly into it, evading the guards as Trevor manages to get pellets from my bag, knocking them out from the gas. We get off quickly and enter, but in such a big facility like this, it’s sure to be a pain in the ass.

 

Harry: *Have you seen this base?*

Trevor: *I think I’ve dropped by....once?*

Harry: *Ok. Well, I’ll free some of the kids. You do the same as well. Since you can’t hear me, get this device, screen tapped, shoulder attachable. Face to face contact. You can read lips right?*

Trevor: *Yup. I’ll go find them.*

Harry: *Stay safe, kiddo.*

 

As we both part our ways to find the missing children, I’m definitely blocked by the notion of the guards holding this building. With my powers, it’s quick to take out and kill a few. To my horror, I come across the room—-the one that they harvest chambers. Trevor seems shocked from the live stream as well. I assume it’s his memories welling up. Observing the big machinery with the cables, wires and tons of equipment, I could not believe what these children had to endure, to suffer.

 

Trevor: *Harry, it’s the truth....*

Harry: *Damn.....this is fucked up.*

Trevor: *Yeah. I don’t even know it entirely, there’s much shady secrets behind it.*

Harry: *Have you got the other kids with you though?*

Trevor: *Yup. I managed to knock out some of the scientists with my telepathic powers. Got the access code and free a lotta kids, and now with their powers activated again. We’re on this floor now. You can get the others.*

Harry: *Depowered suits eh. Great. All I gotta do is to find—-*

 

I hear gunshots aiming at my head again. Those are “Carla Michaels”’s bodyguards shooting at me. Their bullets fire at the machine, and I take deep cover again. My eyes turn to the nearby lift. Could take a run for it, but my banadage is seeped with red and there’s no nanotech to heal me. Damn. With a deep breath, I turn myself invisible while those goons still keep firing.

 

I reach the floor Trevor asks me to go for, with the code of access and a couple more fights, I release the kids as their powers come back as well. Doesn’t take too long for us to regroup as I line up the kids to escape. I call my contact to extract them ASAP from Dubai, and he says he’s on his way. But that isn’t the case as “Carla Michaels” and co. has caught up with us. Trevor gets my look as he directs the kids to the other emergency lift, through a mental command.

 

Carla: “Well well well....finally done playing hide and seek haven’t we?”

Harry: “So this is it. Our ends meet on the path where you keep a bunch of kids. If you weren’t that mean I wouldn’t be calling you a bitch right now.”

Carla: “And you do, Ghostforge. Hand over the child to me.”

Harry: “No I won’t. Or here’s what you can do, melt me or him with your powers. You choose. Either way we both die and you’ll get fucking nothing.”

Carla: “A gamble then. Nice, I love it. A game of cards with men.”

Harry: “Made your choice yet?”

Carla: “How about I offer you mines?”

Harry: “Spill.”

Carla: “I offer you a job. You kill the child, and we’ll extract the brain from here on.”

Harry: “Yeah, not gonna happen.”

Carla: “We’ll promise you double with your superiors watching.”

Harry: “Fine then. I’m in for the money.”

 

At this instant, I knew I had to fake if I had to save him. I give Trevor a quick wink, as he finally mutters words which I could hear: “Please....I’m sorry....you're like a protective older brother.....don’t do this.” Knowing that he pleaded before execution, I had to make the act work, with much people witnessing around me. I grabbed my gun and prepared to shoot Trevor at the back of his head as he formed the surrender position.

 

I load the gun but shoot him in the back of his neck with a syringe and he falls slumped. The others looked pleased but I grab my rifle, which I made it invisible, and shot at the bodyguards. People took to my surprise as I shot the window with my remaining bullets and crashed out of the window with Trevor in tow.

 

“Goodbye fuckers.”

 

There I threw a grenade which totally blew up the floor, thanks to the connected wires I routed which will blow up the entire facility. Files gotten, and I launch my emergency parachute outta this chaos.

 

Still, I landed with a couple injuries because it’s a tall storied building while trying to shield the kid’s body. The cybernetic parts totally need a fix after this—-

 

“Come! Come quick!”

 

I hear a voice. It turns out to be Jericho, a buddy of mines who I befriended at the agency and is a top pilot. He’s already got the children in tow of the plane cargo, with the bunkers. Thankfully he cloaked it, as I give a quick glance at the wreck and the authorities arrive soon....

 

***

 

Jericho: “Hey Harry. Got you going. Kids are safe with us.”

Harry: “Let’s fly outta here then.”

Jericho: “On it mate.”

Harry: *Hey kid, feeling better?*

Trevor: *Mhmm. You saved my life again....but what you said up there...was it faked?*

Harry: *I’m sure it was. But you did call me a brother, for the first time, and I liked it.*

Trevor: *Thanks.*

Harry: *So anyways, we’re taking you back and you might get a chance to see our agency or my team along with your friends. Also, I gave you this—-a address for the school you guys could attend. It’s safe and has a mix of superpowered kids and normal ones. Formal education. Jericho can confirm that.*

Jericho: *Yup. I know sign language as well, I’ve attended the school, and learnt quite a lot. But given how smart you are, you might join the deaf intelligent class....something like that. Also, it’s the city next to us....you could visit if ya want or we could come over haha.*

Trevor: *Thank you, both of you.*

Harry: *Alright, go join your friends and get some rest. Long flight ahead.*

 

As Trevor walks away, he suddenly comes back and gives me a big hug. I stroke his hair and do the same as well. Then I shut the door behind him to talk to Jericho.

 

Harry: “So....it’s time then.”

Jericho: “I knew this. And it’s coming now.”

Harry: “We’ll have to figure out stuff...I got evidence that my *cough* team is pulling some strings. We’ll take em down in no time.”

Jericho: “And the facilities/bases?”

Harry: “I know the locations. Everyone can save those kids and take those down as well.”

Jericho: “Carla Michaels ain’t Carla Michaels now. Sounds like the clues are getting closer.

Harry: “True, she isn’t. Luckily you heard the info.”

Jericho: “And North’s niece is...”

Harry: “Sabine Rackham. Lava based powers, extremely dangerous. I was lucky she didn’t use it to burn out to crisp. Anyways, I’ll fill you more out later...but this means we know the compatriots of her uncle...and whatever it is, Avalon Squad and Paladin will do whatever it takes to stop them.”

Done