14: 14.
HUMAN VS POWER 14: 14.
HUMAN VS POWER The Plan Continues.
“Then me, William, Charlie, and Zander will wear the costumes and enter the base.
They won’t stop a police car.
As much as I can predict,” Blinc had said.
“Because maybe they’ve informed other towns to find the stolen CD ,” Lomro had added.
Smart.
Careful.
— The Military Base.
In the car, four of them sat in tense silence.
Their faces were covered with napkins.
Makeshift masks.
Ridiculous.
Necessary.
The military gate loomed ahead.
Floodlights.
Barbed wire.
Armed guards.
The guard at the gate saw the police car.
He waved them through without a second glance.
The car entered the base.
They parked.
They got out.
Their footsteps echoed on the concrete.
But Blinc didn’t come out.
“Why aren’t you coming out?” Zander asked.
His voice was tight with worry.
“I’m too short for a policeman,” Blinc said.
Flat.
Serious.
“That’s not the right thing to think.
Just get out,” Zander said.
Anger flickered in his voice.
Fear beneath it.
Blinc got out.
His feet hit the ground.
They walked.
Four figures in stolen uniforms.
Hearts pounding.
“Where is the C.D.?” William whispered.
“Last time, it was near the meteoroid.
So it must be in the lab now,” Blinc replied.
His eyes scanned the corridor.
Calculating.
“Last time, where was the lab, Zander?” Blinc asked.
“In the corridor where we stopped last time.
The last room,” Zander replied.
His voice was low.
Certain.
“Are you sure?” Charlie asked.
His voice wavered.
“Yes.
Because it was beside the stairs Blinc went down,” Zander whispered.
— Bruce.
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
Walking toward them.
Steady.
Confident.
William saw the name tag first.
His heart stopped.
Bruce Miller.
Head Chief.
They passed each other.
Inches apart.
Bruce stopped.
Something was wrong.
He felt it.
He turned.
“Hey!
Officers,” Bruce called.
All four of them stopped dead.
Their bodies went rigid.
Sweat broke out on their skin.
Cold.
Instant.
Their throats went dry as dust.
“Where are you from?” Bruce asked.
His eyes narrowed.
He was studying them.
Analyzing.
Doubting.
William turned back slowly.
He stood straight.
Careful not to let the napkin slip.
“Monovi, sir.” His voice was steady.
Barely.
“Okay.
Why are you here?” Bruce asked.
His expression shifted.
The doubt was growing.
Sharpening.
“Sir, Officer Tom sent us here,” Charlie said.
He did not turn back.
He couldn’t.
His face would give everything away.
“Oh!” Bruce said.
He acted like he accepted it.
But his eyes said otherwise.
“Okay.
I didn’t know he sent you here.
Sitting in my office.” He took a step forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
They all froze.
Fear locked their muscles.
Sweat dripped down their backs.
Their throats were sandpaper.
Bruce aimed a gun at them.
His hand was steady.
His voice was ice.
“Show your faces.” They raised their hands.
Slowly.
Their bodies trembled.
They were about to turn around.
About to be exposed.
About to die.
Then, suddenly, Blinc gasped.
His hands flew to his head.
Pain.
Sharp.
Blinding.
A sound escaped his lips — half groan, half growl.
“Oh, motherfucker.
It’s starting again.” He dropped to his knees.
His hands pressed against his skull.
His body convulsed.
Thunder crackled around him.
Blue sparks danced in the air.
The hair on everyone’s arms stood up.
Blinc stood up.
Their faces were still hidden.
But his eyes — his eyes were glowing blue.
“What is happening?” Bruce asked.
His voice was tense now.
The gun shook slightly in his grip.
Blinc moved.
Fast.
He attacked Bruce.
A punch.
Bruce dodged.
Blinc was not at full speed.
His body was still adjusting to the power.
Bruce dropped the gun.
It clattered on the floor.
Bruce countered.
A blow to Blinc’s stomach.
The air rushed out of Blinc’s lungs.
His transformation flickered.
He fell back to normal.
Vulnerable.
William rushed in, swinging at Bruce.
Bruce dodged.
His knee came up.
Connected with William’s face.
The sound was sickening.
Blood sprayed from William’s mouth.
He stumbled back.
Blinc stood back up.
His eyes flared blue again.
The power returned.
His hair began to float.
Lightning crackled around his fists.
“Go and get it!
I will handle them!” Blinc shouted.
His voice was not his own.
It was deeper.
Stronger.
Filled with thunder.
His face was hidden.
His glowing blue eyes were all they could see.
He was in control now.
His breathing was steady.
His eyes locked onto Bruce and the soldiers flooding in behind him.
Bruce attacked.
Blinc dodged.
One.
Two.
Three hits.
Blinc struck back.
His fist connected with Bruce’s chest.
The sound was like a thunderclap.
Bruce dodged the next blow.
He grabbed Blinc’s hand.
Twisted.
Hit Blinc’s face.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four punches.
Blinc blocked the fifth.
Blinc grabbed Bruce’s neck with his other hand.
Lifted him.
Threw him.
Bruce’s body crashed into the cabin.
Glass shattered.
Wood splintered.
Soldiers scattered like leaves in a storm.out side — The Lab.
Zander, William, and Charlie reached the lab.
Through the glass wall, they saw a scientist examining the C.D.
under a bright white light.
The disc glinted.
Waiting.
Zander opened the door.
Stepped inside.
His heart was hammering.
“What do you want?
You are not all—” the scientist began.
Zander hit him.
One clean blow.
The scientist crumpled to the floor.
Unconscious.
Outside the lab, two soldiers entered.
Their guns were raised.
Their eyes were hard.
“Stand back and show your faces,” one soldier said.
Commanding.
Cold.
Charlie slowly took his hands back.
He knelt down.
Calm.
Too calm.
“What are you doing, Charlie?” William asked.
Fear cracked his voice.
Charlie reached into his back pocket.
He pulled out a cylindrical glass bottle.
It was wrapped with black wire and a charcoal piece.
Green fluid swirled inside.
It glowed faintly.
Poisonous.
Volatile.
He broke it on the ground.
Fog exploded everywhere.
Thick.
White.
Blinding.
It filled the room in seconds.
The soldiers shouted.
They fired blindly.
Bullets hit walls.
Glass.
Nothing.
Zander grabbed the C.D.
from the table.
His fingers closed around it.
Cold.
Solid.
He ran.
William and Charlie followed.
Outside, they sprinted toward the car.
Their lungs burned.
Their legs screamed.
“What was that?” William asked, gasping.
“I don’t know.
Lomro gave it to me,” Charlie replied.
His voice was shaking.
His hands were shaking.
They reached the car.
Doors slammed.
Seatbelts clicked.
“Drive!” Zander shouted.
“What about Blinc?” William asked.
His eyes were wide.
Worried.
“Just go!” Blinc’s voice echoed in the base.
Zander placed the C.D.
on the dashboard.
It touched a n electronic cell.
A spark jumped.
William reversed.
Tires screeched.
Suddenly, a military car appeared ahead.
Blocking their path.
Tom was driving To be countinue