Remission: Chapter 1

IS THIS THING ON?

Jacksonville, Florida, March 3rd - 9:32 P.M.

Sitting in the cover of night, an unmarked van sits with five individuals focusing on a pair of monitors.  They are observing a group of individuals via a sky drone camera.  Amongst the video surveillance equipment, two men wear official badges from Government sanctioned establishments.  One, for a federally funded group known only as C.U.R.E., and the other from the F.B.I.  Both seem to be interested in the operation in progress, but one sits on the edge of their seat.

Squinting to gain more detail, the Bureau individual, Deputy Director Paul Jacoby, appears slightly nervous about what is unfolding right in the monitor before him.  His clean-shaven face, dark hair and permanent frown almost compliment the dark grey suit and tie ensemble.  However, he seems to promote a hidden concern about the current scenario, "Doctor?"

"Deputy Director," a man in dark slacks, white shirt and loosed bow tie speaks.  His greying black hair is neat, but his face needs a shave.

"Is it a good idea to let the team go into that part of town wearing those outfits?"

"Of course, Deputy Director.  They should be alright if they don't take a direct hit."

"What do you mean should?"

"Oh, don't you worry about them like you care.  Besides, the projectiles fired at them would have to be from something beyond the caliber rating of the suit's armor resistance."

"Do you mean to tell me that the Laredo Suits are NOT bullet proof?"

"Well, they have armor in them, but they are not meant for peace keeping, if that's what you're getting at."

"Dr Nign, these are children playing dress up, not SWAT!!  Are you crazy or something?"

"The definition of crazy is based on..."

"Doctor.  Call the code and get them out of there NOW."

"It's not that simple Deputy Director.  See, those children playing dress up, are far more talented, trained, and skilled than you, or anyone from your office give them credit for.  Just wait, they are ready for the world to see them.  I mean, now that they have my leadership."

"I'm not comfortable with this Doctor and if one of them gets hurt, you'll be the one in the hot seat."

"Of course, and I'll remember you said that Deputy Director, especially when they achieve the unexpected."

Suddenly the ceiling of the van caves in.  Sparks fly as electronics respond to the impact.  From the rooftop, as well as the van’s audio system, there is a giggly sound of a high pitched and apologetic child’s voice, “my bad Doctor B, pushed the wrong button.”

Creaking sounds echo in the van as the object moves off the roof of the van, “that’s okay Stephanie, stay focused,” Dr. Nign responds in kind.

“Will do, Doctor B.”

“Stephanie,” Jacoby questions.

“I believe the Bureau has her identified as Four, but I call her by her given name Stephanie.  She likes the name the team gave her Voice; however, I need to remain neutral as her doctor.”

“She sounds really young.  How old is she again?”

“Old enough to be used as a pawn in a game of F.B.I. Chess.”

“Pardon me?”

“Her age is in her file, Sir.  Did you read the material I sent you?”

“I did, however if I remember correctly, there was no personal information on any of these subjects.”

“Children,” Dr. Nign adds.

“Children?”

“Children, not subjects.”

“Funny coming from a scientist turned physician.”

“Their files will remain with me.  Along with their personal data.”

“I don’t like secrets, Boris”

“Says the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.”

“Don’t play coy, you know what I am implying.”

“Client-Patient confidentiality Deputy Director.  It is for their protection.”

“I have ways of finding out.”

“I am fully aware of what your organization is capable of.  I will let you know when I can assure that our government won’t try to weaponize them.

A few moments go by and Jacoby asks a query, “Why does the team call her Voice?”

The doctor smiles, “she likes to sing,” he adds, then looks back at the monitors.                                                          

The scene changes from inside the van to the confrontation between six individuals in hard suits and a swarm of others in tech gear and armed with high tech weaponry.

One of the six realizes that this seems oddly familiar to her, “this is like a Mexican stand-off,” she says looking at the group squaring up against them.

“Wait.  Hold on.  None of us are Mexican, RayDee,” another speaks through their com units.

“That is why I said like, as in similar, Eric,” she pauses, “I mean, Kryos.”

“Thanks for remembering my code name.  Also, that makes a lot more sense,” he laughs, “we’re not from Mexico.”

The team leader speaks up, “We need a diversion, they outnumber us 4 to 1,” he sees that most of them are using cars as cover, “and this parking lot gives them really good cover,” he continues, “I hate to ask this of you Machina…”

“Keemo!  Please, don’t make her do it in the suit.  We don’t know what it will do to her.,” RayDee pipes up extremely concerned for Machina’s safety.

A small meek voice comes over the coms, “I haven’t tried more than one, Keemo.”

“Do you think you could do four?”

“The natives are starting to get restless, Keemo.“

“It’s okay Voice,” he looks at Machina, “she’s got this,” he says, then looks back to the men hiding behind cover.”

The little girl and youngest of the team reaches her arm forward and as her eyes begin to cast images of circuitry scrolling at different intervals, a few cars in the parking lot begin to react to what she is doing to them, “I’ve got this,” she says as twelve of the vehicles their attackers are hiding behind, start up and shape shift like Hasbro Transformers.

The whirling confuses the attackers for a moment, but when the vehicles turn into stuff from fiction, they begin to fire at the giants in front of them.

“Team,” Keemo shouts, “Arm L7 suits for non-violent engagement.  Let’s make sure not to hurt them if we can help it.”

“What if they want to hurt us though?”

“Kryos, please concentrate on not hurting them for now.”

“Gotcha!”

Many minutes of the offensive pass by.  The giant transformed vehicles push the attackers back and after the L7 suits utilize non-lethal attack methods, the group of attackers retreat in a hurry.

The group cheers.

“Good job Machina,” Keemo voices like a proud parent.  However, when he turns around, Machina’s suit has melted away nearly seventy-five percent and she has fallen back onto the ground, “Toni!”

The team runs to their teammates’ side.

Keemo speaks up quickly, “Doc, she needs medical assistance,” he speaks urgently, but there isn’t a response, “Scout,” he adds, “get her to the base.”

“I will need to shed this suit to do it,” Scout mentions almost apologetically to someone not there.

Boris comes in through the com links, “authorized.  Her wellbeing is our priority.  Retrieve Scout’s suit and the remains of the other L7 suit and report to HQ for further instructions.”

“Yes, Sir,” the team says in unison.

Scout steps out of his L7 Suit and picks up Machina.  His body begins to glows as he lifts into the air and flies away.

Back in the van, “Well, that went better than expected,” Boris says quietly.

Jacoby shakes his head, “You’re mad, and I want the report of this little test on my desk by 9 am sharp,” then he hurriedly exits the van and slams the door behind him.

One of the other men asks a simple question, once the van goes quiet, “what about the shapeshifted cars,” he points to the scene on the monitors, “they are still standing there as giant robots.”

Dr B chuckles, “that…, is not my department,” and as he exits the van he mentions, “you may want to get someone on that before the press sees it.”

Outside the van Dr B calls someone on his phone, “hello, yes, have I got a story for you.  I mean, if you’re interested in making the front page tomorrow,” there is a short pause, “let’s just start with full size transformers on Broadway and 8^th. I will text you the rest in an hour,” he hangs up the phone and smiles.

GO TO ANOTHER CHAPTER

CHAPTER 2 Coming Soon