Jesse stared at the screen, displaying the different camera angles of Valencia's room. He had heard the conversation, and it was definitely with someone. Since no physical person was present, he assumed it was an internal conversation.
"How is she?" Clio asked, handing him a cup of coffee.
"She is trying to find common ground with whoever is inside, but whoever that is doesn't want to," he sighed, sipping at the aromatic beverage.
"Do you think she will be able to win whoever it is over?" Clio sank into a chair, watching the form of Valencia writing at the table, "what is she drinking?"
"Hot chocolate," Jesse muttered, "the other one took over just to make sure it could get a hot chocolate. Val wanted Ice Coffee."
"That cannot be good," Clio sighed, "what are we going to do?"
"Hope that Val can find out how to get through to this side of her," Jesse leaned back in the chair.
"Jasmine has a lot to answer for," Clio muttered, "I don't know why Breanna allows her to tag along with us."
"Clio," Jesse turned to look at the frustrated woman, "Jasmine has nowhere to go. What kind of people would we be if we didn't shelter and assist her in understanding what was done to her."
"Do you have to make excellent points?" Clio sighed.
"Someone has to," Jesse grinned.
A bustle of activity drew their attention to the doorway. Craig, Breanna, Jasmine and Michael came in chatting. Jesse turned to the screen to find Valencia was no longer at the table but staring at the doorway camera. She pointed at the door, indicating that the door must be opened.
"She wants to come out," Breanna said, "until we can ensure the safety of everyone with us; that is not going to happen."
"Wish I could tell her that," Jesse said, "we can hear her, but she can't hear us."
"That's Darcia's old room," Craig said, moving to a nearby computer station. He typed something in while Jesse watched the screen. The body of Valencia turned her head, looking at something across the room. Jesse pointed to another camera angle on the screen where the TV screen descended. Across the screen appeared the words "until you two live in harmony and work together for the good of everyone, you remain in the room."
The Valencia form roared in anger before punching into the soundproofing. Breathing heavily, she turned to the screen again, where more words appeared "temper tantrums will only prolong your stay."
Breanna bent over Jesse's shoulder, "Whoever that is, they are strong, emotional and childlike."
"What about the journals?" Jasmine asked, staring at the face on the screen, "Are they writing in the journals?"
"Seems they are using the same journal," Jesse said, "perhaps Val will find a way to get through to this side of her, whoever it is. Val talked to this half over beverages; I heard her say that getting angry was not the answer. Val collapsed, and this appeared... over hot chocolate or iced coffee."
"The Val I know will not let the spoiled child rule much longer," Breanna said, "let's hope she can bring it to heel before steps have to be taken."
"The soundproofing and energy shields installed seem to be holding," Craig said, "although there have been energy surges, none have been registered outside of the room."
"Good," Breanna sighed, "we can only hope that Madden doesn't find her. Did anyone discover why he wants her?"
"Calla and Kyle are looking through some leads they found last night," Tina said, entering the tech room.
"It seems those two really hit it off," Jasmine muttered, "surprising since one of them is so freaky."
Breanna turned to Jasmine, intending to reprimand her, but she found Tina extending a hard right punch to the woman's jaw. Jasmine hit the floor hard, holding the right side of her face.
"Damn," Jesse muttered, "where did that come from?"
"I just thought about punching her, and ... I was," Tina whispered, "do you think Darcia could have enhanced me somehow?"
Running feet came before the doors to the tech room opened, bringing Calla, Rose and Iris into the room.
"What happened?" Iris asked.
"Tina punched Jasmine. Why?" Jesse asked.
"We all felt a pull on our abilities," Rose spoke quietly, looking between Jasmine and Tina, "what happened, Tina?"
"She was talking badly about Calla," Tina murmured, looking at her still closed fist, "I thought how much I wanted to hit her for her words and... I was"
"You didn't move?" Clio asked.
Tina shook her head, "Daisy has a fairly new ability to move quickly, but she isn't here."
"This proves what we suspected," Calla said, "we were wondering what the range of using our combined abilities could be. Daisy isn't here, yet you used her speed and our abilities."
"Each of you needs to be alive for all the abilities to be used," Craig muttered, "Jon was right; she is definitely alive."
"Have we been able to find her yet?" Breanna asked, "what is the status of the location breakdown?"
"Being worked on," Clio said, "it's more complex than we thought."
"I can help," a mellow raspy sounding voice on the other side of Valencia's screen said.
"How can you hear us?" Jesse asked, turning toward the monitor.
"I hear your minds," the voice came again and a calculating smile, "we can help you."
"How?" Breanna said, "if you are willing to help us let me talk to Valencia."
"She's... sleeping," a slow blink after the words alerted Breanna to a manipulation tactic.
"No," Breanna said, "when you stop lying to get what you want, we'll talk again. You will stay in that room until you can honestly work with Valencia for good."
"Then I will kill her," the voice ground out.
"You do that," Breanna said, her anger rising, "and I will kill you. Your choice."
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The form of Valencia turned from the camera and moved back into the dining area, where she sat at the table, flipped open the journal once again and began writing for the second time.
"Could you do that?" Clio asked, "kill Valencia."
"That is not Valencia," Breanna shook her head, "I pray I don't have to make that choice."
"Dr Madden," a nervous fanatic entered the laboratory where an experiment was underway, "you wanted an update about the energy surge."
"You give it to me now?" Madden froze mid-movement, looking over the rim of his thick black glasses, "speak."
"The energy source seems to be coming from an old experiment of civilian origin," looking at the clipboard continuously. "The energy signatures are extremely similar to one of the empathic telepaths under Darcia's care."
"Do you have a name?" Dr Madden asked, continuing the procedure.
"It seems to be Tyler's sister," the fanatic looked up, then avoiding the sight of the unconscious person strapped to the chair, "Valencia is still alive."
"Although against Darcia's orders," Madden spoke while he finished the procedure, "it now serves us well. Do you have a location yet?"
"No," the fanatic edged toward the doorway, "we are still working on that."
"Make it quick," Dr Madden growled, "I must have her working for me."
"What about the other one," the fanatic stopped in the doorway, "the clone."
"She will serve us as well," he grinned, "even if she doesn't know it."
Daisy ate slowly, judging she had been here a few days. Her last meal had been nearly two days ago. Little wonder she was so hungry, but she refused to eat quickly to assuage that hunger. The longer she took, the more she could see. The more she could hear. Eating meals was the only time she was brought out of the room. She had tried using her new ability to teleport, but it didn't seem to work.
"Do either of you know why I haven't been feeling too well in the last few days?" addressing the man and woman who held her.
Their stares felt unnaturally cold, as though they were shells of their former selves. Clones of humans somewhere else in the world or dead? Darcia was capable of anything. A lesson learnt from Breanna, Valencia and her sisters.
"It could be the device," the woman said, "it does affect you, but you get used to it."
Looking around, Daisy wondered where it was, "What device? It seems like a weird thing to have in an apartment."
"The device is not in the apartment," the man said, "it is planted on the roof."
"If it is on the roof," Daisy said, "why does it make me feel sick?"
"Apparently, it is powerful," the man replied.
"Have you ever seen this device?" Daisy asked.
"When we were chosen to live here," the woman said, "years ago."
"You've been living here for years," Daisy nodded, "do you ever go out for fresh air?"
"Sometimes," the man said, sitting at the table.
"Where do you go?" Daisy asked, needing information to plan her escape.
"On the roof," the woman replied, "sometimes to the park."
"Why do you ask?" the man asked.
"Perhaps a little fresh air will make me feel better," Daisy said, "when I feel like this, I start throwing up. No one will be able to breathe in this tiny apartment. A little time in the fresh air will be good for me."
"We are not taking you to the park," the man muttered, "you will try to escape."
"Then take me to the roof," Daisy said, "some time breathing fresh air will help everyone in the long run."
The two looked at each other while Daisy continued to eat. Keeping her eyes on her plate mostly while glancing at them. They seemed to communicate silently with each other. Finally, the woman looked at her.
"A few moments," she said, "finish your meal, and we will take you there."
Daisy nodded, pushing food into her mouth slightly faster. Anything to get out of here for a few moments. Putting her empty plate aside, she stood.
"Let's go," she smiled, "roof time."
The pair stood, put on the jackets and opened the door to the apartment. The building was one of many sharing the same roof, making the space enormous. Stepping onto the tar-like substance, Daisy inhaled deeply.
"Only a few moments," the woman said.
"Stay close to this side," the man demanded.
"Do you mind if I walk a little?" Daisy asked.
Both shook their heads. Daisy ambled around the structure enclosing the stairs. Slowing moving away from the pair. She did feel better up here. Something in that device must be interfering with her abilities.
What could be used in the device to do that?
Where could that device be?
She was not to wander too far, meaning it was somewhere around the stair structure. Taking in the view, she walked further down the roof feeling more herself. The signal on her necklace seemed to vibrate against her skin, pulsing harder. Perhaps it was getting stronger. She kept walking while her mind churned over the new facts. Suppose the device jammed signals and abilities, one of those all-in-one gadgets. Perhaps, Tina, Breanna and David could get a reading but not lock onto her position. She moved further away from the stairs. Breathing in deeply, she exhaled and continued strolling down the roof.
Jonathan ran into the study where Michael, Breanna and Craig sat, "We got a lock. We got a lock on Daisy."
He left the room without waiting. The trio stood and followed. They found Jonathan, Trevet, Jasmine, Cala, Tina, Iris and Kyle hovering around a specific computer bank in the tech room.
"What do we have?" Craig asked.
"Somehow, the signal is stronger and less scrambled," Trevet spoke from the group's center.
"Is it in the same area as the previous one?" Michael asked.
"It looks like it is," David straightened, "but she seems to be moving away from the signa-jammer."
"Clever girl," Jasmine murmured, "where is that exactly?"
"Why?" Breanna asked, watching her, "what are you thinking?"
"I could phase in there," Jasmine pointed to the screen, "grab her and phase-out."
"What about your energy requirements?" Jesse asked.
"When I was in The Madhouse," Jasmine grimaced, "a device was attached to my necklace allowing me to draw energy."
"How was it made?" Breanna asked, "perhaps we can replicate it."
"I don't know how it was made," Jasmine shook her head, "Darcia had someone make it."
"Who?" Craig asked.
"A tall, silent kind of guy," Jasmine frowned, trying to remember, "he was always tugging at his necklace like it was too tight."
"Phoenix," Breanna whispered, "that was Phoenix."
"Why so happy it was Phoenix?" Jasmine narrowed her eyes.
"Michael," Breanna grinned, "can you get hold of Phoenix and ask him if he can make another one."
"You know he will not be happy about the interruption," Michael sighed, "but I will contact him."
"He doesn't have to do anything but make it," Breanna said.
"I'll tell him that," Michael nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket.
"Why would the Phoenix want to help us?" Jasmine whispered, "have you met him?"
"Yes," Breanna said, "the only reason the necklace was so tight was for Darcia to keep him under control."
"He doesn't wear the necklace anymore," Tina said, "so Darcia doesn't control him, and he's happy about it."
"How would you know that?" Craig asked.
"I talk to his sister a lot," Tina said, "after the world summit incident, we got on really well."
"What happened at the World Summit?" Jasmine asked.
"A lot of stuff and the demise of Darcia," Iris said, walking past the group.
"Darcia is dead," Jasmine smiled, "if that is so, why are we still fighting?"
"Darcia may be dead," Craig grunted, "but Madden is still unaware that Darcia no longer exits; he may be continuing with her plan."
"Perhaps he is continuing with his own," Iris said, walking past again.
Breanna looked at Craig, trying not to laugh. It was clear that Iris interjecting every time she walked past was irritating him. Jasmine exploded into loud gasps of laughter, startling everyone. Breanna followed with chuckles, only earning a condemning glare from her brother.
"I'm walking away now," Craig muttered, "perhaps Michael has made some progress."
Breanna watched him leave. Clearing her throat, she addressed the room.
"Tell me what is happening with Daisy," Breanna said, joining the group.