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Description
Part One: The First Escape

A number. That was all they were seen as, a bunch of numbers. But, no, she herself knew that she wasn't. She was not just a number; she was a person. Not just a person though; she was special. 101356 was her number but soon she would have a name and she wouldn't be a number any longer. Her white hair was straight with bangs and unfurled down to the top of her shoulders; it was the color of purity. Her eyes were unique, a bright lavender which dazzled with energy and power. She wore a silver skin tight body suit like all of the other numbers and stood in line just like them. Guards were everywhere with dark murky helmets and menacing black guns in their hands. Her number was called and she took her place in a line with eight others wearing the same silver suits. The others were murmuring with excitement about what they were going to experience next.
Only 101356 knew. She had survived the brain washing procedure before the numbers were to be shipped out. They weren't numbers. They were people. The worst kind of people: experiments. Simply toys lying in the palm of an enthralled scientist. Only 101356 knew who she was. She closed her eyes tenderly and focused on the guard ahead with the clip board. He was completely oblivious to this happening. She saw what he saw, his bland thoughts were an orderly assortment of numbers listed and being checked off, announced and directed into position. She eventually found what she was looking for. Kentucky was the dentition for her and her eight companions. Fort Knox to be precise. All of the numbers in the facility were created by scientists to be used for military purposes.
101356 was called to the back of one the armored trucks along with the eight in front of her. They were shackled by their wrists to the benches of the truck in the back and a guard stepped in to close the back doors. She could sense the fear in the others that suddenly had up risen. 101356 curled herself upon the bench tightly into a ball, shut her eyes as tight as possible, and focused harshly. She was not a number. She would never accept that.
Curled up on the bench, 101356 let her mind wander slightly as she began to doze off. She had time to buy so she began to peer into the minds and conversation of the eight numbers with her. Even with her eyes closed she could see the emotions and faces of them. The boy next to her was rather quiet, even in his own mind. He was a soft-faced young man with floppy, silky brown hair that reminded her of the color of a redwood tree's dark bark. He had wide cheek bones, sharp features and wide eyes. His eyes were a peculiar orange brown that swirled with zests of yellow.
She also sensed the two across from her as well. One was a bouncing girl and the other a talkative lively young man.
The girl was the color of soft mocha with large black puppy dog eyes that dazzled with bursts of gold. She kept bothering those around her with questions about where they were going. Her wavy hair spilled down her shoulders and constantly seemed to get in her way and distract her. The boy, on the other hand, cool and collective trying to calm her down but he constantly failed. The boy was peculiar, because had glasses. Being highly successfully experiment, one would think his eyes would be very acute, but then again they might not. He also had a tingly aura to him that made the hair on her neck to perk up.
She had no time now, fully asleep, she controlled her emotions. They all treated her as a number. Everyone did, but she had great power she could use to prove that wrong. Her anger and hatred built up. A number, a person. She was a person; she was a person. Not a stupid number. She reached her breaking point. Now was the time and her only chance. She had one shot. She unfurled rapidly from her curled position, sat up and threw her hands out to the side of her. The truck ruggedly came to a halt and the doors flew outward along with the single guard who was knocked unconscious. The sleek aluminum shackles clicked. Free. She, a person, was free. All eight of them in fact. Well, for the moment. Now came the hard part. Weakened and weary, she began to run. She was not going to stop for anybody or anything. Run.
101356 ran. She couldn't have run any harder for it was hard to dart about among clawed etched trees by the moonlight when all of her energy was gone. Newly fallen leaves crunched under her feet. The leaves would have normally been such a bright colorful palette of fall but the shadows of night turned them to a color scheme of darkness. Her breathe began to huff louder as her speed began to diminish. She couldn't stop, not now, not ever, for guards could easily be on her way. A soft crunch of the befallen leaves pounded behind her and a little to the right. She was being followed. The figure had a heavy presence of power in it. The figure was definitely up for a chase and closing in quickly. She ran until she reached a small cliff face that blocked anyone's path ahead. Trapped. The one variable that wasn't included in the plan. She looked around swiftly then began to climb hard. She heard the heavy breathing of her follower was right behind her. As soon as she was several feet from the top, a strong grip planted itself upon her leg. The hand yanked and yanked but she could barley hang on. She screamed a little every time a yank brought her down closer to her fate.
"Let go!" she cried in desperation. She was on the verge of tears for the hand was strong.
With a final pull she thumped upon the leafy ground in a heap. She had failed. She could no longer be singled out as a very special person but a numerical failure. The figure stepped out into the moonlight. She began to whimper softly and cry. She buried her face into her hands as her fate awaited.
"Oh! Ssshh! Don't Cry!" cried a deep, gentle voice quite softly, "Please. Don't cry its okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
She looked up at the figure slowly. The face looked perplexed, or was it concern? She could no longer sense its feelings because her energy had drained. She sniffled and picked herself up from the ground. Her eyes widened at the face that stood in front of her. It was the boy. His sharp features appeared soft in the darkness rather than menacing. His eyes flashed relief to her. His hair, normally the color of the redwoods was shaded brown in the dark night. She smiled a bit and he grinned in return.
"Yeah. See? I'm not going to hurt you. Who are you?" he asked gently.
She looked deeply into his eyes and felt a warm mental embrace from his mind. She smirked,
"Who am I? Tuh. Well, to explain that why don't you tell me who you are?" Her voice was gentle too but she also gave a cold edge showing superiority.
The boy's eyes widened and slapped the side of his face with the palm of his hand. His mouth gaped a little, "Gosh, now that you put it that way… who am I? I don't have a name or anything. Neither do you huh?"
She nodded slowly.
"Now then, we're going to have a name then don't we? Well, what you did back there was unbelievable. A great burst of energy. Such power like a celestial being or something... like a super nova."
"Super Nova. Hmm... I like it."
"I'll call you Nova instead. But who am I?"
"Charlie. It fits you."
"Charlie? Uh… okay," he replied uneasily. "Where are you headed?"
"Away."
Where's that?"
No reply.
"Can I come then?" the newly named boy asked with a hint of pity in it.
Nova smiled. He had named her. He saw her as a person. He was different than everyone else. Of course he was to come. "Yes, but we must hurry."
The two ran off together. Nova smiled.
Nova awoke and found herself at the base of one of the many bare trees. Across from her at the base of another tree was Charlie. The person who saw her as a person. Nova giggled at the thought. A wrenching pain rumbled in her upper abdomen. Food. They needed food. Nova stood up, brushed herself off, and went on her way to find something to eat.
She wandered around a bit trying to find the presence of an edible animal or plant. Nova thought a bit and tried to think of a way to break reality to Charlie. They were experiments trained in the art of combat using their unique abilities then brainwashed in order for them to be controlled and shipped off to military bases and frontline battles easily. Once there, they were to relearn their training and abilities to defend their country. As for those shipped to war, many would die to the piercing of a bullet against flesh and many would kill people. Real people and not just experimental numbers. Nova escaped because of her abilities. Her mind abilities prevented the brainwashing process. She remembered everything. Nova knew she and Charlie would be the only lucky ones unless...
Nova sensed the soft pattering of rabbit's feet among the ground. She followed the signal to a small burrow. She reached in and pulled out a small white hare. Nova stared into its black eyes and saw fear. The rabbit looked so much like herself. Nova set the rabbit down where it darted into its hole. Nova would have to find something different. Nova came across a bush with wild tendriled, thorny branches and wide spiky leaves. Nova smiled. A blackberry bush. Nova peered around for the fruit and gathered only a few, but it was just enough to hold just the two of them for now.
When Nova returned, she found Charlie's absence. She cradled the black berries gently not to squish them and darted around for a sign. She couldn't find him. Had he too taken off for breakfast or to find her himself? Or was he really missing? She closed her eyes and began to focus on the feeling of Charlie's presence. She heard soft footfalls on the leaves and then a hand touched her shoulder firmly. She turned around and greeted
"Charlie!" Only to find it wasn't Charlie at all.
One of the guards had his strong grip on her two shoulders. Nova froze and her heart beat hard. Oh where was Charlie?
"You're coming with me, 101356," the guard ordered monotonously as if he had rehearsed it.
Adrenaline finally coursed coldly through Nova's body as she flinched at the guard's words.
"No," Nova replied sharply, "I will never go back ever again." Nova dropped her arms as the blackberries tumbled at her feet. Her silver suited arms were slightly stained by the sweet purplish-red blackberries and her fists at her sides unclenched and spread into vengeful shaky fingers. Nova whirled around and using her strongest force as she flung the guardsman against the neared looming tree that snapped in half where the guard had smacked into it. Surely he was dead from such force but Nova still held out her hand with her palm facing the middle of the tree where the guard hit it half expecting for him to get up. Nova put her arm down and her hands relaxed at her side. She yawned from such exhaustion, gathered herself together, and bounded off in search of Charlie. He couldn't be too far.
Besides, Nova was just warming her mind powers up.
Nova wandered around a bit trying to chase down the signal of Charlie's mind, unique to the world. In fact, the signal for one person's mind was always going to be different from everybody else. Minds often had a specific emotion projected from them all the time even with the person feeling a different emotion than the one projected. Nova thought of it as some sort of aura. Charlie's was calm and strong like that of a large stone rollicking under the serene rushing of a stream. Nova came upon a road one lane for one direction (North she presumed) and another lane for the other direction. Parked on the opposite side of the road was a black SUV obviously where Charlie was being stored. A single guard stood at the front of the car's bumpers with his helmet twitching side to side waiting for his partner to bring in Nova back. Nova was back alright but the guard wasn't and would never be. Nova stepped into the clearing and crossed the desolate road to the other side casually but in a way to show the guard she meant business.
The guard took no notice of her at first but then as soon as he saw her, he shouted and reached for his shot gun ready to fire. Nova lunged her foot forward and thrust her right hand at the man. She quickly concentrated and the man's gun flew about of his hand and into the mess of trees. Nova forced herself into the man's mind and lulled him into a deep sleep. The driver stepped out of the SUV ready to fire upon the intruder. Nova straightened her arms forward at the driver with her fingers spread out wide. Using her mind she thrust the man backward hearing a quick snap as his back hit the nearest tree. Nova ran to the car and hopped in through the passenger's seat. She stood on the step and peered inside. She saw two other guards who struggled to get out and equip their guns. Next to the first guard in the back row of the car was Charlie. Nova smiled and waved at him. Charlie on the other hand had a look of terror on his face with his hands digging into the upholstery. Nova quickly shut her eyes tightly and entered the minds of the two guards who were suddenly knocked into unconsciousness. As Nova was pulling terrified Charlie out of the seat she noticed another row of seats behind Charlie. She peering over Charlie who was clambering out and instead of another pair of guards there were two numbers. In fact it was the boy with the glasses and the mocha skinned girl that had been in the truck with Nova the other night. Both were straight faced which scared Nova a bit. Were they brainwashed again? Were they programmed to kill already?
"It's okay guys, she's here to rescue us. This is Nova," Charlie yelled from outside of the car.
Nova looked at Charlie in a perplexed manor and helped the two out.
"I said they could come with us. If it's okay with you," Charlie informed hesitantly.
Nova smiled. "Okay but I'm going to have to rest. I've used a lot of energy today." Indeed she had for as soon Nova had finished her sentence, she collapsed into the arms of Charlie fast asleep.

Nova awoke on the side of the road opposite of the desolated SUV. She was curled up in Charlie's lap who was also asleep, leaning against the boy with the glasses. Nova did not like the boy's aura. It made her nervous with his ecstatic presence. There was something about him that gave Nova the jitters. The girl on the other hand had a pleasant aura that reminded Nova of saffron, a rare, popular spice with strong flavor that could excite and lighten any dish.
The road was empty except for a few cars roaring by every half an hour or so flashing their luminescent headlights. Nova stirred each time one passed by. Those cars were going to be their only ticket out here. They were deep in the middle of nowhere and Nova could not even sense the buzz or hum of the thoughts of a single suburban area. Although Nova longed for some decent food and the contact of other humans around her, the stillness of the wilderness calmed her. Charlie's presence seemed to combine with the forest's serenity and create a new kind of mindset for Nova. Nova gazed upward and saw the looming empty branches of the trees guarding the road and opened up into the sky. The sky was the most wondrous part though. Billions of sparkling lights glazed across the dark sky and made Nova's eyes shine brightly with excitement. When she gazed at the stars she saw her own eyes; the sky and her eyes were dark and purple with a touch of a shimmering silver color that made them each celestial. Maybe Charlie was right, maybe she was part of the stars, unique in the way of she was powerful.
It was late into the night and Nova aroused her traveling companions. She whispered to each of them her plan of escape. She forced Charlie to stand beside the road and wave down a car. The rest of them huddled behind him sitting on the ground. After several attempts, Charlie managed to get a blue Acura to pull over. The driver rolled down his window and leaned over the passenger's side to talk to them. The man was young with steel framed glasses over his blue eyes. His mouse brown hair was combed back formally and wore a pale green scarf over the collar of his worn pale brown trench coat.
"You guys lost or something?" he questioned; as if four youths in the middle of nowhere, with peculiar looks and matching silver body suits was a normal occurrence.
"No," began Charlie, "You see we were with our summer camp when we wandered off as they took a rest stop. We got left behind… if you drop us off in the nearest city, I'm sure we can get home. A city though."
"A city," The man confirmed, puzzled by this request. "Okay, I am kinda headed to the city too myself…"
He opened the passenger door and Charlie let himself in. The two new recruits clambered in the back and Nova nervously boarded the vehicle last. The car waited a moment for everyone to settle in then pulled out into the road to continue its journey.
Charlie turned around in his chair a raised his eyebrows at Nova, "You okay?"
Nova nodded. She was nervous about riding with this man. Could she trust him? Well, if she couldn't she could always wipe his memory or take over his mind. Except it wasn't as simple as the plan itself. Nova curled up once again to finish the last of her sleep and to store enough energy for the morning.
They arrived in the city, a gleaming landmark of rapid paces and a large concentration of people. And many of those guards roaming the area for any peculiar people, particularly numbers. The four of them had clambered out of the car, thanked the man and headed to the nearest fast food joint for some food. Charlie was the most paranoid twitching and fidgeting at every person who came in close contact with them. The boy with the glasses smiled and loudly shouted "Hi!" to everyone they passed. The mocha colored girl smiled and looked in awe at the city. Nova curled her hand kindly around Charlie's wrist to calm him down. Once inside the restaurant, Charlie panicked once again for he knew for sure someone would surely notice them in their silver uniforms and lack of money.
Nova stepped up to the counter to order and beckoned the rest of her companions to join her.
"Alright you guys go ahead and order. I'll order mine last," Nova assured.
"But Nova," Charlie whispered into her ear, "We don't have any money." That was the harsh reality about the world but as far as Nova saw it, she could fix that. Charlie nervously went ahead and ordered.
Nova stepped back up to the counter and placed her order.
"Alright, that'll be thirty-four ninety two. Is that for here or to go?" the counter lady asked in a sing-song voice.
"For here." Nova confirmed.
"To go!" Charlie announced immediately.
Nova sighed and turned to the counter lady whose sing song voice turned to an impatient edge, " Aren't cha gonna pay? You need to pay!"
Nova turned coolly to the lady and calmed her mind. She entered the lady's mind just enough to convince her. "We're not going to pay," she began robotically, "In fact, you're going to. You are kind enough to pay our meal from your paycheck."
The lady's eyes widened and murmured the words Nova had instructed. She handed Nova and Charlie the trays of food like a robot then went back to her normal state rubbing her head and rambling quietly about a paycheck. Nova turned to the other two who stood frozen in their place absolutely stunned and wide eyed at Nova.
"Cool!" cheered the boy, "Jedi mind tricks! Can you use the Force too?"
Nova rolled her eyes. She wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about but somehow the boy with the glasses also must have remembered a bit from his training.
They found a booth to sit in and slid themselves into the cushioned red seats. They slapped their trays down and unwrapped their food. All four of them were so hungry, that they hoarded down their food with no side conversations. Nova calmly took large slow bites savoring the "oh so good" greasy flavor. Charlie stuffed his mouth with as many fries as he could and attempted a failed swallow. The boy with the glasses reached down with his hand into whatever food he could find, ripped a chuck off and stuffed it in his mouth smacking tongue loudly. The girl on the other hand took small quick bites rapidly diminishing her food. They all were a bunch of slobs but they were also starving teenagers so it really didn't matter.
Nova peered around as her friends ate on the lookout for any guards. She suddenly sensed a few guards standing outside of the joint. With their busy chatter it sounded like they were ready to step in and order. Nova turned back to her friends and her eating. The boy was undoubtedly finished and got up to throw his trash away when he walked by a man having lunch with his laptop. Nova noticed something strange for as the boy walked past, the man's computer screen started to flip pulling up random images and blacking his screen out several times and turning back on rapidly. Nova stared at the oblivious boy with terror as soon as he returned casually from his stroll.
Nova turned around to check on the conversation with the guards outside but she did not sense them. Well she did, just not outside but standing in line waiting to order. Nova gasped and stared at them. She must have gasped a little too loud because one of the guards instantly turned around and shouted, "There! Look!" The guards immediately whipped their heads around and stormed toward the booth. Bystanders stood in shock at the men's reaction to their sight and were "gently" shoved away by the charging men.
It took awhile for Nova to react being so shocked at the reaction of the guards. She quickly shoved Charlie out of the booth which somehow also pulled the other two away from the table. They dashed outside with Nova literally pulling poor bewildered Charlie out and the other two companions following closely behind. All of them burst out of the joint and madly dashed through the street startling cars and bystanders. Some bystanders gasped and shouted at the men and cars did not easily stop or move for them. Traffic blocked the guards' way to the wild faced teenagers running for their life. That's when the situation called for heavy artillery. The men drew assault rifles, and pistols as the mocha girl screamed at the top of her lungs.
Nova whipped around and threw her friends around the corner of a building. The men let loose with all they had as bystanders immediately dropped down for protection from the guards. Nova saw the bullets slowly make their way toward her body and some bystanders. These guys obviously had not kept collateral damage in mind. Nova closed her eyes and imagined time slowing. She tucked her head in and held out hands out as if to shove someone in front of her. She imagined the bullets slowing down until they reached a stop. All was silent and Nova carefully opened her eyes and lifted her head. A wall of bullets stood suspended in the air in front her. She dropped her hands and the bullets tumbled to the ground each landing with a ka-ping.
All was still and everyone gaped at the impossible event. Not a single person was hurt or killed. One of the guards whispered, "Impossible!" stunned by the number's memory of her ability. Nova smirked. She saved her friends, herself and some bystanders. Not bad at all.
The boy with the glasses gasped in amazement breaking the silence. "I knew you had Force powers!"
The onlookers turned toward the glasses boy puzzlement. The guards shook themselves off and charged through the frozen crowd toward Nova. They pulled out some sort of electronic device with a needle on the end. Nova squealed and hid behind the corner. She remembered needles all too much. The boy with the glasses jumped out from behind the corner and ran in the direction of the oncoming guards.
"Yeeahhh!" he cried at the guards. The guards slowed themselves and as the boy held out a fist to swing at the first guard, then the power in the whole city went out. Even though it was the middle of the day, the city was seemed dark. The boy swung his fist and came in contact with the first guard holding the device. A burst of energy launched the guard to the other side of the street. The air crackled with the hum of electricity. The boy stared at his fist gaping at what he had unintentionally done.
Nova shouted at him to swing again and so he did, sending the second guard into the nearest car. People began to cheer excitedly at the boy and kept their distance at the same time. He kicked the last guard who went straight into the sky and land on the roof of the building in which the rest of his friends crouched below. The crowd cheered and soon went back to their daily business as the power gradually returned.
The boy turned to his friends coming from their hiding spot and grinned as hard as anyone possibly could. Nova stepped out gently. No wonder his aura was so strong and buzzing. He could emit electricity. Nova smiled, "Can I call you Sparky?" He nodded approvingly at his new name.

Description
Part One: The First Escape

A number. That was all they were seen as, a bunch of numbers. But, no, she herself knew that she wasn't. She was not just a number; she was a person. Not just a person though; she was special. 101356 was her number but soon she would have a name and she wouldn't be a number any longer. Her white hair was straight with bangs and unfurled down to the top of her shoulders; it was the color of purity. Her eyes were unique, a bright lavender which dazzled with energy and power. She wore a silver skin tight body suit like all of the other numbers and stood in line just like them. Guards were everywhere with dark murky helmets and menacing black guns in their hands. Her number was called and she took her place in a line with eight others wearing the same silver suits. The others were murmuring with excitement about what they were going to experience next.
Only 101356 knew. She had survived the brain washing procedure before the numbers were to be shipped out. They weren't numbers. They were people. The worst kind of people: experiments. Simply toys lying in the palm of an enthralled scientist. Only 101356 knew who she was. She closed her eyes tenderly and focused on the guard ahead with the clip board. He was completely oblivious to this happening. She saw what he saw, his bland thoughts were an orderly assortment of numbers listed and being checked off, announced and directed into position. She eventually found what she was looking for. Kentucky was the dentition for her and her eight companions. Fort Knox to be precise. All of the numbers in the facility were created by scientists to be used for military purposes.
101356 was called to the back of one the armored trucks along with the eight in front of her. They were shackled by their wrists to the benches of the truck in the back and a guard stepped in to close the back doors. She could sense the fear in the others that suddenly had up risen. 101356 curled herself upon the bench tightly into a ball, shut her eyes as tight as possible, and focused harshly. She was not a number. She would never accept that.
Curled up on the bench, 101356 let her mind wander slightly as she began to doze off. She had time to buy so she began to peer into the minds and conversation of the eight numbers with her. Even with her eyes closed she could see the emotions and faces of them. The boy next to her was rather quiet, even in his own mind. He was a soft-faced young man with floppy, silky brown hair that reminded her of the color of a redwood tree's dark bark. He had wide cheek bones, sharp features and wide eyes. His eyes were a peculiar orange brown that swirled with zests of yellow.
She also sensed the two across from her as well. One was a bouncing girl and the other a talkative lively young man.
The girl was the color of soft mocha with large black puppy dog eyes that dazzled with bursts of gold. She kept bothering those around her with questions about where they were going. Her wavy hair spilled down her shoulders and constantly seemed to get in her way and distract her. The boy, on the other hand, cool and collective trying to calm her down but he constantly failed. The boy was peculiar, because had glasses. Being highly successfully experiment, one would think his eyes would be very acute, but then again they might not. He also had a tingly aura to him that made the hair on her neck to perk up.
She had no time now, fully asleep, she controlled her emotions. They all treated her as a number. Everyone did, but she had great power she could use to prove that wrong. Her anger and hatred built up. A number, a person. She was a person; she was a person. Not a stupid number. She reached her breaking point. Now was the time and her only chance. She had one shot. She unfurled rapidly from her curled position, sat up and threw her hands out to the side of her. The truck ruggedly came to a halt and the doors flew outward along with the single guard who was knocked unconscious. The sleek aluminum shackles clicked. Free. She, a person, was free. All eight of them in fact. Well, for the moment. Now came the hard part. Weakened and weary, she began to run. She was not going to stop for anybody or anything. Run.
101356 ran. She couldn't have run any harder for it was hard to dart about among clawed etched trees by the moonlight when all of her energy was gone. Newly fallen leaves crunched under her feet. The leaves would have normally been such a bright colorful palette of fall but the shadows of night turned them to a color scheme of darkness. Her breathe began to huff louder as her speed began to diminish. She couldn't stop, not now, not ever, for guards could easily be on her way. A soft crunch of the befallen leaves pounded behind her and a little to the right. She was being followed. The figure had a heavy presence of power in it. The figure was definitely up for a chase and closing in quickly. She ran until she reached a small cliff face that blocked anyone's path ahead. Trapped. The one variable that wasn't included in the plan. She looked around swiftly then began to climb hard. She heard the heavy breathing of her follower was right behind her. As soon as she was several feet from the top, a strong grip planted itself upon her leg. The hand yanked and yanked but she could barley hang on. She screamed a little every time a yank brought her down closer to her fate.
"Let go!" she cried in desperation. She was on the verge of tears for the hand was strong.
With a final pull she thumped upon the leafy ground in a heap. She had failed. She could no longer be singled out as a very special person but a numerical failure. The figure stepped out into the moonlight. She began to whimper softly and cry. She buried her face into her hands as her fate awaited.
"Oh! Ssshh! Don't Cry!" cried a deep, gentle voice quite softly, "Please. Don't cry its okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
She looked up at the figure slowly. The face looked perplexed, or was it concern? She could no longer sense its feelings because her energy had drained. She sniffled and picked herself up from the ground. Her eyes widened at the face that stood in front of her. It was the boy. His sharp features appeared soft in the darkness rather than menacing. His eyes flashed relief to her. His hair, normally the color of the redwoods was shaded brown in the dark night. She smiled a bit and he grinned in return.
"Yeah. See? I'm not going to hurt you. Who are you?" he asked gently.
She looked deeply into his eyes and felt a warm mental embrace from his mind. She smirked,
"Who am I? Tuh. Well, to explain that why don't you tell me who you are?" Her voice was gentle too but she also gave a cold edge showing superiority.
The boy's eyes widened and slapped the side of his face with the palm of his hand. His mouth gaped a little, "Gosh, now that you put it that way… who am I? I don't have a name or anything. Neither do you huh?"
She nodded slowly.
"Now then, we're going to have a name then don't we? Well, what you did back there was unbelievable. A great burst of energy. Such power like a celestial being or something... like a super nova."
"Super Nova. Hmm... I like it."
"I'll call you Nova instead. But who am I?"
"Charlie. It fits you."
"Charlie? Uh… okay," he replied uneasily. "Where are you headed?"
"Away."
Where's that?"
No reply.
"Can I come then?" the newly named boy asked with a hint of pity in it.
Nova smiled. He had named her. He saw her as a person. He was different than everyone else. Of course he was to come. "Yes, but we must hurry."
The two ran off together. Nova smiled.
Nova awoke and found herself at the base of one of the many bare trees. Across from her at the base of another tree was Charlie. The person who saw her as a person. Nova giggled at the thought. A wrenching pain rumbled in her upper abdomen. Food. They needed food. Nova stood up, brushed herself off, and went on her way to find something to eat.
She wandered around a bit trying to find the presence of an edible animal or plant. Nova thought a bit and tried to think of a way to break reality to Charlie. They were experiments trained in the art of combat using their unique abilities then brainwashed in order for them to be controlled and shipped off to military bases and frontline battles easily. Once there, they were to relearn their training and abilities to defend their country. As for those shipped to war, many would die to the piercing of a bullet against flesh and many would kill people. Real people and not just experimental numbers. Nova escaped because of her abilities. Her mind abilities prevented the brainwashing process. She remembered everything. Nova knew she and Charlie would be the only lucky ones unless...
Nova sensed the soft pattering of rabbit's feet among the ground. She followed the signal to a small burrow. She reached in and pulled out a small white hare. Nova stared into its black eyes and saw fear. The rabbit looked so much like herself. Nova set the rabbit down where it darted into its hole. Nova would have to find something different. Nova came across a bush with wild tendriled, thorny branches and wide spiky leaves. Nova smiled. A blackberry bush. Nova peered around for the fruit and gathered only a few, but it was just enough to hold just the two of them for now.
When Nova returned, she found Charlie's absence. She cradled the black berries gently not to squish them and darted around for a sign. She couldn't find him. Had he too taken off for breakfast or to find her himself? Or was he really missing? She closed her eyes and began to focus on the feeling of Charlie's presence. She heard soft footfalls on the leaves and then a hand touched her shoulder firmly. She turned around and greeted
"Charlie!" Only to find it wasn't Charlie at all.
One of the guards had his strong grip on her two shoulders. Nova froze and her heart beat hard. Oh where was Charlie?
"You're coming with me, 101356," the guard ordered monotonously as if he had rehearsed it.
Adrenaline finally coursed coldly through Nova's body as she flinched at the guard's words.
"No," Nova replied sharply, "I will never go back ever again." Nova dropped her arms as the blackberries tumbled at her feet. Her silver suited arms were slightly stained by the sweet purplish-red blackberries and her fists at her sides unclenched and spread into vengeful shaky fingers. Nova whirled around and using her strongest force as she flung the guardsman against the neared looming tree that snapped in half where the guard had smacked into it. Surely he was dead from such force but Nova still held out her hand with her palm facing the middle of the tree where the guard hit it half expecting for him to get up. Nova put her arm down and her hands relaxed at her side. She yawned from such exhaustion, gathered herself together, and bounded off in search of Charlie. He couldn't be too far.
Besides, Nova was just warming her mind powers up.
Nova wandered around a bit trying to chase down the signal of Charlie's mind, unique to the world. In fact, the signal for one person's mind was always going to be different from everybody else. Minds often had a specific emotion projected from them all the time even with the person feeling a different emotion than the one projected. Nova thought of it as some sort of aura. Charlie's was calm and strong like that of a large stone rollicking under the serene rushing of a stream. Nova came upon a road one lane for one direction (North she presumed) and another lane for the other direction. Parked on the opposite side of the road was a black SUV obviously where Charlie was being stored. A single guard stood at the front of the car's bumpers with his helmet twitching side to side waiting for his partner to bring in Nova back. Nova was back alright but the guard wasn't and would never be. Nova stepped into the clearing and crossed the desolate road to the other side casually but in a way to show the guard she meant business.
The guard took no notice of her at first but then as soon as he saw her, he shouted and reached for his shot gun ready to fire. Nova lunged her foot forward and thrust her right hand at the man. She quickly concentrated and the man's gun flew about of his hand and into the mess of trees. Nova forced herself into the man's mind and lulled him into a deep sleep. The driver stepped out of the SUV ready to fire upon the intruder. Nova straightened her arms forward at the driver with her fingers spread out wide. Using her mind she thrust the man backward hearing a quick snap as his back hit the nearest tree. Nova ran to the car and hopped in through the passenger's seat. She stood on the step and peered inside. She saw two other guards who struggled to get out and equip their guns. Next to the first guard in the back row of the car was Charlie. Nova smiled and waved at him. Charlie on the other hand had a look of terror on his face with his hands digging into the upholstery. Nova quickly shut her eyes tightly and entered the minds of the two guards who were suddenly knocked into unconsciousness. As Nova was pulling terrified Charlie out of the seat she noticed another row of seats behind Charlie. She peering over Charlie who was clambering out and instead of another pair of guards there were two numbers. In fact it was the boy with the glasses and the mocha skinned girl that had been in the truck with Nova the other night. Both were straight faced which scared Nova a bit. Were they brainwashed again? Were they programmed to kill already?
"It's okay guys, she's here to rescue us. This is Nova," Charlie yelled from outside of the car.
Nova looked at Charlie in a perplexed manor and helped the two out.
"I said they could come with us. If it's okay with you," Charlie informed hesitantly.
Nova smiled. "Okay but I'm going to have to rest. I've used a lot of energy today." Indeed she had for as soon Nova had finished her sentence, she collapsed into the arms of Charlie fast asleep.

Nova awoke on the side of the road opposite of the desolated SUV. She was curled up in Charlie's lap who was also asleep, leaning against the boy with the glasses. Nova did not like the boy's aura. It made her nervous with his ecstatic presence. There was something about him that gave Nova the jitters. The girl on the other hand had a pleasant aura that reminded Nova of saffron, a rare, popular spice with strong flavor that could excite and lighten any dish.
The road was empty except for a few cars roaring by every half an hour or so flashing their luminescent headlights. Nova stirred each time one passed by. Those cars were going to be their only ticket out here. They were deep in the middle of nowhere and Nova could not even sense the buzz or hum of the thoughts of a single suburban area. Although Nova longed for some decent food and the contact of other humans around her, the stillness of the wilderness calmed her. Charlie's presence seemed to combine with the forest's serenity and create a new kind of mindset for Nova. Nova gazed upward and saw the looming empty branches of the trees guarding the road and opened up into the sky. The sky was the most wondrous part though. Billions of sparkling lights glazed across the dark sky and made Nova's eyes shine brightly with excitement. When she gazed at the stars she saw her own eyes; the sky and her eyes were dark and purple with a touch of a shimmering silver color that made them each celestial. Maybe Charlie was right, maybe she was part of the stars, unique in the way of she was powerful.
It was late into the night and Nova aroused her traveling companions. She whispered to each of them her plan of escape. She forced Charlie to stand beside the road and wave down a car. The rest of them huddled behind him sitting on the ground. After several attempts, Charlie managed to get a blue Acura to pull over. The driver rolled down his window and leaned over the passenger's side to talk to them. The man was young with steel framed glasses over his blue eyes. His mouse brown hair was combed back formally and wore a pale green scarf over the collar of his worn pale brown trench coat.
"You guys lost or something?" he questioned; as if four youths in the middle of nowhere, with peculiar looks and matching silver body suits was a normal occurrence.
"No," began Charlie, "You see we were with our summer camp when we wandered off as they took a rest stop. We got left behind… if you drop us off in the nearest city, I'm sure we can get home. A city though."
"A city," The man confirmed, puzzled by this request. "Okay, I am kinda headed to the city too myself…"
He opened the passenger door and Charlie let himself in. The two new recruits clambered in the back and Nova nervously boarded the vehicle last. The car waited a moment for everyone to settle in then pulled out into the road to continue its journey.
Charlie turned around in his chair a raised his eyebrows at Nova, "You okay?"
Nova nodded. She was nervous about riding with this man. Could she trust him? Well, if she couldn't she could always wipe his memory or take over his mind. Except it wasn't as simple as the plan itself. Nova curled up once again to finish the last of her sleep and to store enough energy for the morning.
They arrived in the city, a gleaming landmark of rapid paces and a large concentration of people. And many of those guards roaming the area for any peculiar people, particularly numbers. The four of them had clambered out of the car, thanked the man and headed to the nearest fast food joint for some food. Charlie was the most paranoid twitching and fidgeting at every person who came in close contact with them. The boy with the glasses smiled and loudly shouted "Hi!" to everyone they passed. The mocha colored girl smiled and looked in awe at the city. Nova curled her hand kindly around Charlie's wrist to calm him down. Once inside the restaurant, Charlie panicked once again for he knew for sure someone would surely notice them in their silver uniforms and lack of money.
Nova stepped up to the counter to order and beckoned the rest of her companions to join her.
"Alright you guys go ahead and order. I'll order mine last," Nova assured.
"But Nova," Charlie whispered into her ear, "We don't have any money." That was the harsh reality about the world but as far as Nova saw it, she could fix that. Charlie nervously went ahead and ordered.
Nova stepped back up to the counter and placed her order.
"Alright, that'll be thirty-four ninety two. Is that for here or to go?" the counter lady asked in a sing-song voice.
"For here." Nova confirmed.
"To go!" Charlie announced immediately.
Nova sighed and turned to the counter lady whose sing song voice turned to an impatient edge, " Aren't cha gonna pay? You need to pay!"
Nova turned coolly to the lady and calmed her mind. She entered the lady's mind just enough to convince her. "We're not going to pay," she began robotically, "In fact, you're going to. You are kind enough to pay our meal from your paycheck."
The lady's eyes widened and murmured the words Nova had instructed. She handed Nova and Charlie the trays of food like a robot then went back to her normal state rubbing her head and rambling quietly about a paycheck. Nova turned to the other two who stood frozen in their place absolutely stunned and wide eyed at Nova.
"Cool!" cheered the boy, "Jedi mind tricks! Can you use the Force too?"
Nova rolled her eyes. She wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about but somehow the boy with the glasses also must have remembered a bit from his training.
They found a booth to sit in and slid themselves into the cushioned red seats. They slapped their trays down and unwrapped their food. All four of them were so hungry, that they hoarded down their food with no side conversations. Nova calmly took large slow bites savoring the "oh so good" greasy flavor. Charlie stuffed his mouth with as many fries as he could and attempted a failed swallow. The boy with the glasses reached down with his hand into whatever food he could find, ripped a chuck off and stuffed it in his mouth smacking tongue loudly. The girl on the other hand took small quick bites rapidly diminishing her food. They all were a bunch of slobs but they were also starving teenagers so it really didn't matter.
Nova peered around as her friends ate on the lookout for any guards. She suddenly sensed a few guards standing outside of the joint. With their busy chatter it sounded like they were ready to step in and order. Nova turned back to her friends and her eating. The boy was undoubtedly finished and got up to throw his trash away when he walked by a man having lunch with his laptop. Nova noticed something strange for as the boy walked past, the man's computer screen started to flip pulling up random images and blacking his screen out several times and turning back on rapidly. Nova stared at the oblivious boy with terror as soon as he returned casually from his stroll.
Nova turned around to check on the conversation with the guards outside but she did not sense them. Well she did, just not outside but standing in line waiting to order. Nova gasped and stared at them. She must have gasped a little too loud because one of the guards instantly turned around and shouted, "There! Look!" The guards immediately whipped their heads around and stormed toward the booth. Bystanders stood in shock at the men's reaction to their sight and were "gently" shoved away by the charging men.
It took awhile for Nova to react being so shocked at the reaction of the guards. She quickly shoved Charlie out of the booth which somehow also pulled the other two away from the table. They dashed outside with Nova literally pulling poor bewildered Charlie out and the other two companions following closely behind. All of them burst out of the joint and madly dashed through the street startling cars and bystanders. Some bystanders gasped and shouted at the men and cars did not easily stop or move for them. Traffic blocked the guards' way to the wild faced teenagers running for their life. That's when the situation called for heavy artillery. The men drew assault rifles, and pistols as the mocha girl screamed at the top of her lungs.
Nova whipped around and threw her friends around the corner of a building. The men let loose with all they had as bystanders immediately dropped down for protection from the guards. Nova saw the bullets slowly make their way toward her body and some bystanders. These guys obviously had not kept collateral damage in mind. Nova closed her eyes and imagined time slowing. She tucked her head in and held out hands out as if to shove someone in front of her. She imagined the bullets slowing down until they reached a stop. All was silent and Nova carefully opened her eyes and lifted her head. A wall of bullets stood suspended in the air in front her. She dropped her hands and the bullets tumbled to the ground each landing with a ka-ping.
All was still and everyone gaped at the impossible event. Not a single person was hurt or killed. One of the guards whispered, "Impossible!" stunned by the number's memory of her ability. Nova smirked. She saved her friends, herself and some bystanders. Not bad at all.
The boy with the glasses gasped in amazement breaking the silence. "I knew you had Force powers!"
The onlookers turned toward the glasses boy puzzlement. The guards shook themselves off and charged through the frozen crowd toward Nova. They pulled out some sort of electronic device with a needle on the end. Nova squealed and hid behind the corner. She remembered needles all too much. The boy with the glasses jumped out from behind the corner and ran in the direction of the oncoming guards.
"Yeeahhh!" he cried at the guards. The guards slowed themselves and as the boy held out a fist to swing at the first guard, then the power in the whole city went out. Even though it was the middle of the day, the city was seemed dark. The boy swung his fist and came in contact with the first guard holding the device. A burst of energy launched the guard to the other side of the street. The air crackled with the hum of electricity. The boy stared at his fist gaping at what he had unintentionally done.
Nova shouted at him to swing again and so he did, sending the second guard into the nearest car. People began to cheer excitedly at the boy and kept their distance at the same time. He kicked the last guard who went straight into the sky and land on the roof of the building in which the rest of his friends crouched below. The crowd cheered and soon went back to their daily business as the power gradually returned.
The boy turned to his friends coming from their hiding spot and grinned as hard as anyone possibly could. Nova stepped out gently. No wonder his aura was so strong and buzzing. He could emit electricity. Nova smiled, "Can I call you Sparky?" He nodded approvingly at his new name.