The Sellouts (9 page)

Chapter 12

April 4th, 2015 08:30 AM

Doctor Perry and Melody had to go through three more security checkpoints, all without incident, to get to his medical lab.

“Are we going down the vents like you did before?” Melody asked.

“No, I just need my medical bag. Do me a favor and stand in the doorway so the doors won’t close.” He said, not really wanting to go back into his lab after yesterday’s events. He noticed immediately that the body of his aide had been removed, as well as any trace she even existed, like all the pictures on her desk. He shook his head as he grabbed his medical bag, which contained everything he needed to give a physical to a prisoner.

Melody took the bag as they went down another level to Cell block four, passed it without incident, and then went down another level to cell block five. There were four guards at the entrance, and they forced Melody, who according to the doctor was performing a safety inspection for HR, to unload the entire medical kit on a table nearby. One of the guards rifled through the contents and said ‘All clear.’ quickly enough. The doctor packed his bag up, with Melody silently thanking him for doing so, and they were allowed to enter.

Once inside, Melody turned sideways down the hallway, as if trying to avoid the prisoner’s hands that could grasp her at any time.

“They’re not real.” The doctor said as he followed the same path that led them to Mrs. Oslett’s personal lab.

“They look real.” She said, turning just slightly, to a normal walk.

“They’re holograms.” He said.

“Still…” She said, awkwardly going down the corridor.

“Here it is.” He said as he pushed open a metal door with a small window in it. He immediately stopped in his tracks, causing Melody to bump into him.

“What is it?” She whispered.

“Look.” He whispered back.

When Melody looked over the doctor’s shoulder, she saw a tall blue metallic robot near one of the metal tables the doctor had told her about.

April 4th, 2015 08:33 AM

Chancer smiled at Douser when he had ‘accidentally’ bumped into him on the elevator, and then she pushed the timer on her watch. He knew this because it was her routine – and he heard the familiar beep from her watch.

He assumed, that because his powers were supercharged, she wasn’t able to disable them, even temporarily. She seemed to think she had disabled them though, given the way she smiled at him. He knew he still had powers, somehow. He couldn’t feel the ‘Extreme Power’, but he could feel them as they were normally. He wondered if she had just disabled the
Extreme
, and left him with
Power
.

As everyone departed the first elevator, Jeremy Owens moved the entire group to a really long golf cart, telling the inspection team that they would have to drive the rest of the way. Chancer knew that was bullshit, and Jeremy was just taking them through the long way in to impress them.

“Mind if I drive?” Chancer said as they neared the long cart and everyone started piling in.

“Yes, I do mind.” Douser said as she pushed him aside and sat in the driver’s seat.

Chancer smiled as he heard the beep from her watch again. He jumped on the back, with Eagle-Eye.

After everyone was settled, Douser drove slowly down the ramp to the cell blocks, stopping at the checkpoints along the way. Because all the security guards knew who Mrs. Oslett was, they waved the entire vehicle through after only checking Douser’s badge.

“What would happen if we found a shape-shifter that could impersonate Mrs. Oslett?” Chancer asked Jeremy, who was sitting behind him.

He had been explaining security protocols to the inspection team and stopped immediately. “I think we need to change protocols.” He said. He went back to explaining the security that surrounds the prisoners.

Chancer only smiled. He also noted that the security guards didn’t run next to the cart like they always had with him. He was about to ask about that, but Eagle-Eye cut him off.

“She take your powers?” He whispered to Chancer.

“Kind of. You?” He whispered back.

He shook his head. He figured she wouldn’t be worried about Eagle-Eye, on account that his powers weren’t very dangerous.

April 4th, 2015 08:40 AM

“We’ve been here ten minutes and it hasn’t moved yet.” Melody whispered to Doctor Perry.

They had slowly closed the door as quietly as possible, and were staring through the little window in it at the blue metallic robot.

“Why hasn’t it moved?” She asked impatiently.

“When we were in there, it went into some kind of repair mode. Robb did that every now and again when he acquired new parts.” He whispered back.

“It’s been half a day. Does it normally take this long?” She whispered. She kept looking back down the corridor.

“Never this long, no.” He said.

“Well we can’t sit here all day, Chancer is supposed to be coming here, right? He won’t be happy to see us.” She said as she peeked back through the window.

“I think we’ll be ok if it’s in repair mode.” He said as he took a deep breath. “And we hurry.”

“And we’re lucky.” Melody said as she pushed the door open slightly, silently wishing Chancer was with her. She waited for movement from the robot and saw none. She pushed open the doorway enough to squeeze through, and took a step inside. Another step, and another, until she was right next to the big blue robot. She peeked around to the front of it.

Finally, she stood up and banged on its arm. “I think it’s still sleeping.” She said, loud enough for the doctor to hear.

Doctor Perry cautiously walked up and inspected the front of the robot. Little things that looked like ants were pouring over the robot’s chest, right where Robb had stabbed it.

“Nano-bots.” He said. “Interesting.” He went to the tray of tools next to the metal table he was previously strapped to and grabbed a pair of tweezers. “Grab me an empty test tube, would you?” he asked as he got closer to the robot.

“We’re only here to get the files and the powers.” She said quickly.

“This is important too.” He said as he used the tweezers to one of the nano-bots off the robots chest. Melody sighed and came over with a test tube and he dropped it in.

Melody quickly screwed on the metal top and thrust it at him. “I hate bugs!” She said with a shake.

“You’d be surprised the good things that come from bugs.” The doctor said as he held up the tube to his eye and rattled it. The robot shook with it, and tried to climb the sides. It kept trying even after failing a number of times.

“Let’s just get the stuff and get out of here!” She said as she pointed to the wall of vials. “Is this it?” She asked.

“Yes.” He put the vial in his pocket and grabbed up an empty satchel like he had done before. He unzipped it and gave it to Melody. When he reached for another one, which was just past the blue robot, he was stopped by a blue hand on his arm. He jumped and looked back to see the robot staring at him.

“Hello Doctor Perry, It’s great, great, great to see you!” It said to him.

Chapter 13

April 4th, 2015 09:00 AM

“And this, my dear inspectors, is where we house the worst of the worst.” Mrs. Oslett said as one of the guards opened the door to Cell Block five.

Agent Douser, followed closely by Mrs. Oslett, led them into the cell block corridors. The inspectors hesitantly followed, and Eagle-Eye, Chancer, and Jeremy Owens filled in last. There were a few gasps from the inspectors as they walked in the exact center of the corridor, probably expecting to be grabbed at by the prisoners.

The prisoners lulled about in their cells, not even interested in the group as Douser took them further and further down the hallway.

“This was the one that was on TV a few days ago, is it not?” The head inspector, Robin asked as she stopped in front of Tony Blanchett’s cell.

“Yes, it is.” Mrs. Oslett said. “The chains that bind him are made from a new metal we devised that can withstand his strength. He isn’t going anywhere.” She said as she looked at the man sitting on the floor. He had chains attached to his wrists, ankles, and neck – each being bound to a giant plate on the floor.

“Not so tough now, are you, fucker?” Chancer yelled.

“What are you doing?” Jeremy asked. “You know better than to rile the prisoners.”

“Why doesn’t he look at us? You’d think he’d be fucking pissed off.” He said, looking at the strongman they had captured. “I would be.”

“We give the prisoners a sedative that keeps them mostly docile. It’s in the procedures we’ve already given to you.” Mrs. Oslett explained to the inspectors. “Shall we move on?”

Chancer pushed his combination in the panel that controlled the cell door to Tony Blanchett and it only beeped back at him.

“What are you doing?” Mrs. Oslett asked quickly.

“It would seem that my passcodes have been revoked.” Chancer said. He pulled one of his guns quickly and pointed it at Mrs. Oslett. He felt his powers kicking in as he did so. “Open it.” He said quietly.

The inspectors screamed, while Douser and Jeremy pulled guns and pointed them at Chancer’s head. Eagle-Eye pulled his gun too, though quite a bit slower than everyone else. He pointed it at Douser. Chancer pulled out his second gun and aimed it at Jeremy.

“There, I think everyone is fucking covered. Open it. Now.” He said.

“I’m afraid not everyone is ‘covered’, Mr. Chancer.” Mrs. Oslett said quietly as her secretary, Miranda, the blue metallic human looking robot walked down the corridor, half pushing Melody and Doctor Perry.

              When the three of them finally made it near the rest of them, Miranda pointed one of her blue metallic hands at Melody, and the other at Doctor Perry. Her fingertips sparked electricity.

              “It would seem we have the advantage,” Douser said. “Now drop your guns.”

              “What is going on here?” Robin asked. All the inspectors had their hands up in the air, even though none of them had a weapon pointed at them.

“Let’s show them what’s really going on in that cell?” Chancer said.

“What do you mean?” Robin asked.

“Why don’t you tell them, Mrs. Oslett.” Chancer said. He glanced quickly at Eagle-Eye and saw him sweating profusely and his gun was shaking.

“There is nothing going on, other than a prisoner is locked in the cell.” Mrs. Oslett said calmly.

“We know what’s really going on.” Chancer said as he lowered himself to the small hole in the bottom of the cell that was for food trays. He took his gun off Douser and put it in the hole. When he fired, the bullet stuck into the back wall. “It would seem Mr. Blanchett is just an illusion.” He said, pulling his gun back out and pointing it, once again, at Douser.

“What the--” Robin started to say, but was cut off by Jeremy.

“One of the prisoners have escaped!” He said loudly. Soon enough, the alarms were sounding throughout the entire cell block.

“No, they haven’t. None of these prisoners are real.” Doctor Perry said quickly. “They’re only holograms.”

“Miranda, kill them all please.” Mrs. Oslett said, still calm. She started to walk away, but the blue robot grabbed her arm tightly.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mrs. Oslett.” Miranda said with a voice that didn’t belong to her.

“Robb? Is that you buddy?” Chancer asked.

“Indeed it is, Agent Chancer. I am glad you made your escape yesterday. I was overriding Miranda’s controls at the time. My apologies for not helping.” He said.

Chancer laughed a little bit at Robb’s voice inside Miranda’s body.

“Explain yourselves!” Robin said. “Or I’ll call the Inspector General right now!”

“Robb, if you please.” Doctor Perry said.

Within seconds, the prisoners in all of the cells disappeared. The inspection team, shocked, gasped at the disappearance.

“Mrs. Oslett has been charging the government for prisoners she has killed, all in a vain attempt to rid the world of feelings.” Doctor Perry said. He turned to Mrs Oslett. “What I don’t understand is why? Why would you want to rid the world of its feelings?”

“You wouldn’t understand. None of you would.” She said as she pulled her arm free.

A bullet tore through Robb’s female robot head, throwing up sparks and parts as Douser pushed Mrs. Oslett away.

“Run mother! I’ll hold them off for you!” She said as she started firing into the crowd, attempting to hit Chancer.

April 4th, 2015 09:30 AM

Melody jumped in front of the group of inspectors and threw her hand up in a “stop” motion as Doctor Perry dropped to the ground. Chancer and Eagle-Eye both hugged the sides of the corridor.

“What the hell is this?” Jeremy shouted as he ducked down by Chancer’s legs with his gun pointed in Dousers direction. Unfortunately, the inspectors were in his way.

“We’re fucking saving the world, come on!” Chancer said as he fired a couple bullets over the inspectors, who had went to the ground and huddled together. Luckily, his shots missed Robb, but Douser hid behind him, and was firing around him.

Mrs. Oslett ran down the corridor behind the now motionless Robb. Occasionally, one of Robb’s arms would twitch, but not enough to be helpful.

“I always wondered when I would be taking you down, Chancer!” Douser shouted as she shot towards Melody, who was still standing in front of them with her arm up.

“Melody! Get--” Chancer watched as the bullets Douser fired bounced off an invisible force field in front of her. “Down?” He said, finishing his sentence.

Melody pushed her hand forward, and Robb fell backwards.

Douser was unable to get all the way clear in time, and Robb’s body fell on top of her, covering her legs. She screamed and dropped her gun as Chancer ran up and kicked it away.

“You’re a super?” He asked, looking at Melody.

“I am now!” she said with a smile. She was looking at her hands in a ‘Did I just do that?’ way.

“What about Mrs. Oslett?” The Doctor said, on his hands and knees now, watching her run down the corridor.

Suddenly, a line of electricity shot down the metal floor all the way to Mrs. Oslett. It hit her and she fell to the ground screaming. Chancer looked back at Eagle-Eye, who still had little bolts of electricity coming from his hands.

“You too?” Chancer asked him.

Eagle-Eye replied with a grin.

When chancer looked back down the hallway, Mrs. Oslett was getting up, half of her clothes were still smoking. She stumbled for a minute or two, and then ran down a side corridor.

“Stay here, I’ll get her.” Chancer said with a smile as he ran down the corridor towards her.

April 4th, 2015 09:55 AM

Chancer saw Mrs. Oslett run into Cell Block Six – The same place she had captured him before. He was comforted by the fact that she didn’t have Miranda anymore as he pushed open the door as quietly as he could. He could see her, but he felt his luck tingling in his body. He felt it as Douser’s dampening effect wore off and his power went into ‘Extreme’ mode.

He jumped forward as a tingle came from his feet, and just as Mrs. Oslett jumped at him from the side. He lost his gun in the roll he had to do and came up on the other side of the metal table that he had previously been strapped to.

“You don’t understand!” She yelled at him. “If we get rid of feelings we can cure all the negativity in the world!” She moved quickly to the table, opposite of Chancer.

“I understand that you’re fucking crazy.” He said as he danced with her, keeping her on the opposite side. He pulled his third – and last – gun out of his hip holster and tried to bring it up to fire, but Mrs. Oslett slammed a metal tray into his arm and it went flying.

“I have not lived a hundred and twenty years to be stopped by a lowly criminal like you!”  She yelled as she danced around the metal table. Chancer held his arm, but kept her opposite as she tried reaching him and grabbing him.

“Not everyone falls into the bad side.” Chancer said. His arm hurt badly where the tray hit it.

She laughed. “You were sent to us as a criminal about to go to jail.”

“I changed.” He shrugged. “Everyone can change.” He smiled as he kept up the dance around the table. “It seems you’ve changed to the bad side. Yer’ a monster now!”

“I’m saving the world from itself!” She said as she leaped over the table.

Chancer felt his luck changing as she managed to grab ahold of his coat, but the result of her colliding with him spun them both around and slamming the both into the shelf full of vials behind him. Chancer came out on top, holding her against the counter. She gasped once, and then started to convulse as he held on to her as tightly as possible.

He hung on to her as she convulsed and he guided her slowly to the ground. Only when he was moving his hand up her back did he find the three needles stuck in her. He rolled her a little to find the injection guns that were on the counter had stabbed her, giving her three new powers.

He remembered the video log. She couldn’t combine powers with anyone but Douser.

Mrs. Oslett died, still in his arms. He watched her spit up blood, and her body went limp. He gently lowered her to the ground and closed her shocked eyes.

April 4th, 2015 02:01 PM

After getting the inspection team safely out of harm’s way, and the lead inspector calling the Inspector General, and filling out a stack of reports; Chancer, Eagle-Eye, Doctor Perry, and Melody were about to leave. Doctor Perry and Melody were pushing what was left of Robb out on a gurney, and Eagle-Eye was pushing a large cart that was covered by a white sheet as Jeremy Owens came up to them.

“What will you guys do now?” He asked as they pushed through the doors.

“I dunno.” He said as he listened to the protestors shouting at them. “Maybe form my own team.” He said with a smile.

“That’ll be the day.” Jeremy said.

“You want in?” Chancer asked him.

Jeremy thought about it for a few minutes. “It depends, what’s this team going to be called?”

Chancer laughed at him, and then turned to the protestors, who were now up to their usual chant.

“How about The Sellouts?” He said with a grin.

“It’s better than what I thought you would say.” Jeremy said.

“What did you think I was going to say?”

“Something with ‘fucking’ in it.” Jeremy laughed. He held out his hand and Chancer took it. “I’m going to stay on. I think I might get a promotion out of this!” Jeremy said.

“Your loss!” Chancer said.

“What’re you going to do with those vials?” He asked, looking at the large cart Eagle-Eye was pushing.

“Destroy them, of course!” Chancer said with a wink as he left.

The team pushed past and a little bit through the protestors to get to where Chancer had parked his SUV.

“What do you think will happen to TSO?” Melody asked as she stared up at the building.

“I dunno, prolly get taken over by a different mad-woman.” Chancer said. “I’m sure we’ll be back sometime.” He added as he helped load Robb into the trunk.