Hi ya, Minna-chan.
This is a whole new story my little twisted mind cooked up last night. It's an alternate reality, (yes, I know, I'm the one that said she didn't particularly LIKE alternate realities... but this DEMANDED to be written.) My pre-reader, Sakura, has demanded I write more, so let me know what you
think so I can!
Luv,
Meredith
Legal Shoot: SM isn't mine. If this is new to you, I suggest seeing a doctor.
Personal Disclaimer: You guys know me, judge for yourself ;-)
Cadre Sister 1/?
By Meredith Bronwen Mallory
mallorys-girl@cinci.rr.com
In the late ninetieth century, two scientists made a shocking discovery. Telepathy was not merely a possibility, or a theory, but a reality. Humans actually had the ability to contact one another, mind to mind, without any assistance. Their findings rocked the world, and in the blink of an eye, the whole universe changed. Whether or not that was for the better, was up for debate.
Almost over night, the entire population was tested for the gene that controlled telepathy. Those that had the gene where taken, train load by train load, to ‘communities’ set aside just for them. Children where torn from their mother’s arms, screaming siblings were separated, husbands and wives, lovers and couples, where ripped from their tender embraces, simply because one of them was different. The world was afraid of the telepaths. ‘A race of homo-supierors? They would take over the world!’ declared one leader.
“It’s what’s best for all,” commented a senator from within his plush apartment. Had he seen the tear stained faces of the small children, the couples that cried and clung to each other even as the guards ripped them apart... they might have changed their minds. The communities were set up none the less. Parents were no longer allowed to raise their own children, instead the youngsters were to be raised in communal homes, called cadres. Any child born was immediately tested for the gene, and those that registered positive never even saw their mothers. It was a dark day indeed.
But some, some could not accept the inhumanity being forced on the telepaths, the ‘Deviants’ as they were called. Some escaped, slipped through the cracks. And some... some did not.
--------
“Mommy, why... why can’t you come with me?” Five year old Darien pleaded with his mother as he clung to her leg amidst the chaos of the train station. Cassie Chiba looked down at her son, tears in her jade green eyes. He was her only child... all she had left in the world, since he husband had died in a telepath riot only two days ago. Now they were going to take her son from her as well! All because he had the gene... and she did not. Just in her line of sight, a guard stood stock still, semi-automatic in hand. He waved it threateningly, hurrying her good-byes with cold brown eyes that said ‘I don’t have TIME for this’. Cassie wanted to cry as she knelt beside her son. But she needed to be strong, for his sake.
“I... I’m not allowed, pumpkin,” she tried to sound reassuring, but only sounded sad. Her brave little Darien nodded slowly, tears in his eyes. Glancing to make sure the guards weren’t watching, Cassie reached in her blouse and removed the locket from around her neck. Darien knew what it was. The star locket his father had given his mother as an engagement present. Slowly, Cassie took Darien’s hand in her own and placed the locket on his palm, closing his small fingers over the golden treasure.
“But, Mommy, this is yours,” the boy protested. Cassie shook her ebony locks and looked his son in the eye.
“No, baby, it’s yours now, so you’ll always remember me... and someday, you’ll give that to the woman you love, just like your daddy did for me?” Cassie asked. This was so important. She would never see her baby again, but she needed him to remember her.
“Yes, Mommy, I promise. I’ll never forget,” Darien wrapped his tiny arms around her neck and hugged tight.
“That’s enough now!” a guard said as he moved forward, shoving Cassie in the back with the barrel of his machine gun. With harsh hands he separated them, bodily handing Darien to an officer. The boy began to cry, but wisely shoved the locket in the lining of his jacket, even as he was screaming from his mom.
“MOMMY!!!” he cried, sobs wracking his entire body, “NO!!!” Cassie watched them drag her baby away, and felt her knees collapse beneath her.
“Remember me, Darien! I love you!” she cried as they lifted him into the train, where dozens of other bawling children where crying for their parents.
“Mommy! I love you too!” and then Darien was lost in the crowd. Cassie sat there on the ground, tears falling in earnest.
“Aw, shut up!” the guard said, shoving her again, then dragging her from the station, “There’ll be other kids, bitch!”
“Inhuman...” Cassie whispered softly as she watched the train pull away, taking her baby away... miles and miles. “Inhuman...”
------
“Serena! Wake up, sweetie pie!” the young girl’s mother shook her in sleep.
Serena moaned and rolled over. It was still dark out, the five year old
noticed, why was her mom waking her up so early. Alone in her dark room, Serena set about doing as her mother asked. Things
had been strange lately. First off, all they did on the news was talk about
mind-speaking, and then mom wouldn’t let her go to school anymore, because
they were testing for something that told whether or not you could
mind-speak. Personally, Serena didn’t see the big deal. So what if people
knew that she could mind-speak? But her mother said that she should NEVER
*EVER* tell anyone what she could do, and she should never mind-speak to
anyone outside her family, because, if she did, they might take her away and
put her in the zoo (or something like that, all Serena knew was that she’d
seen pictures on the TV of all those poor kids being put in the train, which
looked like a cage, so it may as well have been the zoo.) Now her mother was
scared, even more scared than she had been since Dad disappeared, and Serena
knew, from a flash she’d caught in her mother’s thoughts, that they were
leaving... and not coming back.
Twenty minutes later, Serena came downstairs Her mother was all bundled up
too, even though it was summer time, and she held baby Sammy in her arms.
The curtains were pulled, and their normally bright living room looked dull
and full of shadows. Mother kept looking out the window briefly, trying to
find something. Serena kept silent, listening to Sammy’s baby-thoughts,
which he leaked all over the place on a count of he didn’t know how to block
yet. That was okay, though, Serena liked his little daydreams of color and
smell.
“Thank god, here they are!” Mother said suddenly, opening the front door
and pushing Serena out into the darkness of the early morning. In their
driveway, Serena could see the Mizuno family’s RV, waiting for them. Amy
Mizuno was one of Serena’s best friends, and their families were very close.
To make things better, Amy could also mind-speak, so she and Serena had lots
to talk about. Amy had been very upset about not being able to go to school,
much more so than Serena.
They could hear murmuring through the girl’s mind, and realized that her
parents must be explaining things to her. Closing her eyes, Serena reached out to infinity with her mind. She could
feel her mother’s heart as it beat wildly in her chest, fear for her family
in her mind. Through the whisper line, Serena could feel the rough leather
of the car seat Mina laid on, the wind as it whipped through Lita’s hair,
for the girl was sticking her head out the car window. She felt the scratchy
wool of Ms. Osaka’s sweater as it brushed against Molly’s arms, the taste of
the fresh bread Raye ate and the feel of Chad’s scraggily mane as he leaned
against the dark haired girl in sleep. Then Serena reached further, testing
her boundaries She stretched her mind... and touched on something. He was
alone, and frightened, and ready to break down. Through his eyes she could
see the dirty train car, filled to the brim with frightened children. She
could smell the grim around him, could feel the hot tears as they trailed
down his cheeks. And she knew he felt her.
