Chapter 9: Aftermath Chapter 10: Good or Bad?

Chapter 9: AfterMath

Logan

The mission was a great success and the only person that got hurt was Drew and that was because of his own stupidity. My groan as I roll out of my bed. Man! My head feels like it’s about to fall off! I stumble to the door and out into the hallway, still in my sleep pants. I stagger down to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee.

"Thanks," I tell the coffee machine as I take my cup back to my room. I yawn and yank open the curtains, letting the sunlight stream in.

"Beautiful day," I hear a voice behind me and whirl around. "Sorry if I scared you." it's Zane.

"Its fine," I put my coffee down and slide back underneath the blankets.

"You should probably get up," he tells me.

"No," I mumble. "I want to sleep in!"

"You're going to be the last one up!" He says. He yanks the blankets off me, grabs my arm and flings me over his shoulder. He's a bigger dude so it's easy for him.

"Hey!" I yell. "Put me down!" I wriggle and kick.

"Nah," he jogs through the hallway, out the back door and onto the patio. He stops on the edge of the pool and drops me into the water. That wakes me up.

"Why'd ya have to do that?" I gasped as I came up.

"To wake you up, duh!" he laughs. "Now you can't get back into bed."

"Watch me!" I jump out of the pool and run back towards the house. I'm faster than Zane so it's easy to beat him. I run down the hall and back into my room. I hid behind the door and wait. It opens and Zane walks through, and I use a force field to pick him up and toss him onto the bed.

"AHHHH!" A scream erupts from him.

"You sound like a girl!" I tease him as I pick him up again and sit him on the floor.

"Whatever," He waves it away. "Training in ten minutes." He shuts the door behind himself and leaves me to get ready.

I slide a T-shirt on and head for the training area. I push the door open and look at Ash and Echo.

"Everyone's going to be sore and tired," I warn them. Members of the team start to trickle in.

"We've got an idea," Echo says.

"That won't make them any sorer than they already are!" Ash attempts to finish his sisters sentence.

"Stop trying to finish my sentence for me! That wasn't even what I was going to say!" She knocks him on the shoulder and he just grins at her.

"Ah come on, sis!" He rubs his shoulder.

"Training Time!" Echo ignores him and walks over to the group. "Today, we are going to be having a mixed training session. Yesterday, we didn't do too hot as a team, so we're going to work on that."

"We're also going to work on our mental strength," Ash adds.

"Ok," I tell them. I look at Camelia. She looks tired and there are dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes flash different colors and her hair keeps flashing from black to white.

[You tired?] I ask her through telepathy.

[Very,] She tells me. Her mental voice is weak. [I did too much changing yesterday.]

[I can tell,] I pat her on the back. [You'll manage.]

"'Ok," Ash yells. We all gather around him and he continues. "We are going to jump right into it. I want you to split into groups of two, preferably with the person you're going to be working with during each mission."

[I'll help you,] I tell Camelia.

[Thanks,] she says with a grateful smile.

[Anytime,] and the training session begins.

Chapter 10: Good or Bad?

Harmony

9 months later

"Hey," I tap Zeke on the shoulder. "Whatcha been up to lately?" I sit down next to him.

"Same as you," He answers. "Nothing but training."

"Yeah, it' getting a little boring and I don't know if I trust them," I tell him. "We've been here for a little over nine months now and they haven't really explained anything to us."

"Yeah," he says.

"Have you been trying to avoid me?" I look at him. I try to read his might but it's almost as if he's put a wall so I can't. "We haven't talked in seven months."

"No," he answers shortly and abruptly.

"Yes," I say. I found a little hole in mental wall and was able to read a little bit. "Why?"

"I haven't been," He persisted.

"Ok, fine," I stand up. "See ya around." I turn around and head back to my room.

How dumb does he think I am? Of course he's been avoiding me, not only would he not look me in the eyes, he wouldn't talk to me either. Whatever, I give up! If he wants to be like that he can.

[I'm sorry,] I hear Zeke's voice in my head. [I've just had a lot on my mind.]

[I forgive you,] I tell him. [What's on your mind?]

[I hate this place,] He tells me. I can feel his mental anger.

[Hate's a strong word,] I tell him.

[Not strong enough,] The mental anger became heavier. [This place and these people have taken me away from everything I ever loved or had, everyone, my mom, my dad, my brother, my baby sister that wasn't even born yet...] He left the sentence hanging.

[I HATE THIS PLACE!] The mental pain erupted in my head.

OW! I thought to myself.

[Sorry,] he apologizes.

[No, it's fine,] I assure him. [Go on.]

[I have to get out of here,] he tells me. [I'm not meant to be a monk, secluded from the world, not knowing anyone but you guys. I'm a people person. I love the city, the noise, the hustle and bustle, and I miss it. I have to get back to it. The silence and peace is driving me crazy!]

[Same,] I say. [Gotta go, Echo needs me.] I cut off the connection.

"What?" I ask Echo.

"We've got a mission," she turns and I follow her.

"What kind?" I ask.

"Don't know," She answered. "But it's going to be hard."

We enter the conference room and sit down.

"Hello," a short man stands from his seat and smiles at us."I have a mission for you and it's going to require you strongest telepathist. "

Instantly, everyone looks at me.

"What?" I want to ask, but I don't.

"Is that you?" the short man looks at me.

"Yes, sir," I answer, hoping and praying to God that I won't be the only person on this mission.

"Good," his smile grows bigger. "Are you the only one?"

"No," I tell him. "Zeke's also very strong." Zeke stares at me.

[What?] I ask him.

[Why'd ya tell him that?] He’s shocked.

[I don't want to go on this mission alone!] I tell him. [And besides, you’ll get out of this place, maybe.]

"Ok, two was more than enough," the short man nodded. "Your mission is simple really. We need you to get some files from a certain base. You'll have a briefing before the mission and if all goes right, a celebration afterwards. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," I swallow.

"Yes, sir," Zeke repeats. We look at each other.

[What did I get us into?] I ask