Author: Kailan Counahan

Since we left the house I have been on edge keeping a close read on everyone around me.  Parker called this morning but his update wasn’t much of an update.  There was no way to identify the unknown operatives aside from checking every person in the town for a chip, and so that’s what I’ve been doing every twenty minutes or so without any results.  Parker did warn against using my matter abilities, if the Unknowns were to attack, unless absolutely necessary because it would confirm the existence of a Chipped like me and that would be troublesome.

The whispering starts as soon as I walk into the arena.  Without a doubt caused by my glowing eyes as I check for any Chipped in the area.  We have special contacts that are supposed to cover our circuit board irises.  I, however, decided to go without them today because even with them in my eyes would still glow.  I didn’t really think it would be such a big deal, but apparently not everyone has been exposed to us.  Coming up with nothing yet again my eyes go dim; several people audibly gasp when my eyes go dim.  Looking at me like I have five eyes and an arm coming out of the top of my head.  

“I’m going to get some popcorn,” I whisper to Mom and Dad before making my way through the crowd or rather the path created for me as if I were Moses parting the Red Sea.  I try to ignore the dejected feeling that bubbles to the surface because of the furtive glances and the mothers that pull their children even further away from me as if I had some sort of disease.  I reach the counter and the teenager behind the counter looks up to ask me what I would like but takes a step back instead.  “Can I get some popcorn and a water, please?”

“Uh… shh… sure,” he stutters and sets out to fulfil my order, “that’ll umm… that’ll be uhh… eleven fiff-fifty.”

I pay him and make my way to the stands.  Finding Mom and Dad was easy; settling in between them Mom gives me a kiss on my temple, “Don’t worry about them, love.  You’re just different from what they’re used to seeing.  They’ll get over it as soon as the game starts.”

My eyes start watering and I give her a small nod.  Dad puts his arm around me and pulls me closer into his side as if to protect me from the stares and whispers.  I close my eyes and bring up the visual of the town checking everyone again for a chip.  Nothing resembling a chip within the town, but I do pick up on a familiar energy that isn’t one of my family members.  I look across the ice searching for the source of the energy and see a face I haven’t seen in a few years, Chief Petty Officer Jackson Adair.  Why is he here?  I wonder to myself.  He’s from the East Coast so he can’t have anyone playing in the game tonight, and he’s a SEAL.  Shouldn’t he be on a base or on a mission somewhere?  He looks up and catches me staring at him, and his face twists in an odd way.  Our attention is pulled to the ice as the guys come out onto the ice for the first period.  Corey was right about Reid; he is easily the best player on the ice and the other team knows it.  They go out of their way to check him against the boards or throw him to the ice, although it’s definitely not easy to do.  Corey being a little shorter and a lot stouter throws his weight around clearing paths for Reid and the other winger to move up ice.  

By Intermission Reid’s team is up by four with three of the four scored by Reid.  Mom and Dad use the break to go to the restroom and give Reid his mid-game snack.  Jackson seizes the opportunity and makes his way to me.  I pretend not to notice his approach; only when he clears his throat do I look at him.  “Commander Fleming, it’s good to see you again.”

“And you, Chief Petty Officer Adair.”

“Actually it’s just Jackson or Adair now.  I got out of the Navy.” He sits down next to me, “I was wondering if we could talk somewhere a little more private.”

Suddenly I sit straight up and my blood runs cold.  I immediately start checking my surroundings for the source of the feeling.  I find three Chipped headed my way.  I push past Jackson, who follows me sensing the danger too.  I lure the Urics away from the crowds of people, “Stay back, please,” I whisper to Jackson hoping he’ll back off and leave me to deal with this.  My hope is not misplaced as he simply nods and fades into the shadows.  I stop and turn toward my three attackers.  “Come on boys.  I’ve got a hockey game to get back to so let’s make this quick.”

They split up so I’m surrounded with the wall at my back and two on either side of me and the other in front of me.  Their eyes light up the short one in front moves his hand in a particular way and a knife appears in his hand.  Oh fan-freaking-tastic a weapons Chipped, I think, they’re a nuisance; with the ability to materialize any weapon as long as they have the matter to make it from they can be exceptionally difficult.  He charges me but I side-step grabbing the arm holding the knife and twisting it until I hear the pop of his shoulder joint coming apart.  Huh, that was easy, I think, why would they send partially trained Chipped for someone like me?  The other two seem to just be fighters and it doesn’t take long before all three of them are nothing but drooling messes on the floor.  

Jackson steps out of his hiding spot with a proud look on his face.  “I’ve seen you fight before, but it never gets old.”

I chuckle, “Thanks.”  I pull out my phone and call Parker, “hey, Parker, I just took out three Urics, a weapons and two fighters.  If you could send a chopper that would be great.”

“Sending one now.  Good work Gavy.”  And with that he disconnected.

“How can I help?  Or can we have that talk now?”  

“If you can find me some zip ties I would appreciate it.  As for that talk we’ll have to schedule something different.  I’m too tired to make any big decisions.”

He looks a bit confused when I admit to being tired.  It is pretty weird. I’ve fought for longer with less sleep and it never made me this tired.  Jackson leaves, even though he doesn’t seem like he wants to, to find some zip ties.  Once he leaves I check their pockets; in the short one’s I find a small black box that has a tiny green light on it.  I turn it over and find an on/off switch.  I switch it off and suddenly I’m not as tired.  Weird.  

I look up, resisting the urge to roll my eyes; leave it to a SEAL to be so resourceful, I think to myself as Jackson returns with not only the zip ties I asked for but also some duct tape.  I quickly hide the small box in the pocket of my jacket.  “I figured the duct tape wouldn’t hurt and it would make a piss poor weapon if that one tried anything.”  Jackson says with a lopsided smile on his face, motioning to the weapons Uric.

I smile slightly, “That’s very true.”

Once we zip tie and secure them with the duct tape Jackson looks at me, “What’s the ETA on the helo?”

I shrug, “Parker didn’t give one but I’m betting they’ll be here in the next few minutes.”  Just the word leave my mouth a helicopter comes onto the map of the town in my head.  And I do another quick search of the town to make sure I got the only Urics in town.  My search comes up empty.  “You should probably get back to the game.”

Jackson gives me a look that says that he’s not going anywhere.  I sigh, “What if you guys need help with them?”

Now it’s my turn to give him the look, “Really?!”

He shrugs, “I can at least help you get them outside to be put into the helo.”

I stare at him for a while, “Okay fine.”  He gives me a big smile, “grab the weapons chipped and I’ll get these two.”

Jackson lifts the weapons chipped to his feet as I lift the other two from the ground.  To keep them from trying anything that could potentially hurt anyone I regulate their serotonin levels keeping them high.  “Where are they landing?”

“There’s a large parking lot on the other side of the rink,” I say, leading the two fighting chipped toward the side exit.