• 10-31-3037, 0700 hours
    Location: Platona, codename: Area 51

    New Diary Entry -- Welcome back, Echo.

    Dear Diary, I think something's wrong. Everywhere I look, the normally cheery faces of all the people I used to know are getting less and less happy.
    More updates later, I'm sure.

    End entry.


    10-31-3037, 1000 hours
    Location: Platona, codename: Area 51

    New Diary Entry -- Welcome back, Echo.

    Dear Diary, something is definately up. James, codename: Puppetteer, just screamed at me for taking his water bottle. It's my normal routine, and he hasn't yelled at me about it before.
    What is happening in that room they won't let me near? Puppetteer has been in there more than once and I'm sure it's the cause for all this.
    More updates later.

    End entry.


    10-31-3037, 1400 hours
    Location: Platona, codename: Area 51

    New Diary Entry -- Welcome back, Echo.

    Dear Diary, confirmation acheived. Everyone that goes into that room comes out all antsy. I asked Ivy, codename: Techie, if she went into the room. She told me yes, but that it was none of my business. Who does she think I am, a robot? I don't listen all that well to my elders; that's what's gotten me into loads of trouble here in Platona.
    They're only letting those older kids who are over 25 into the room, and they always turn up the same the next day. What is happening, computer?

    Classified. Diary entry aborted.

    No, Computer, I--


    11-1-3037, 2430 hours
    Location: Platona, codename: Area 51

    New Message -- Welcome, Puppetteer.

    Kimme, it's James. I can tell you a couple things, but now is not a good time. Meet me tomorrow at 1700 hours by the door. I can get you in. You'll need to come as Genevive, and bring the pass I've left on top of the ice box. I'll see you then.

    End Message.

    "Aw, James. Why did you read my diary?" Kimme brushed her long hair out of her face as she stared at the crowded computer screen.

    "Computer? Coffee please." Kimme stood, stretched, and glanced at the clock on the wall. The shimmering blue numbers blinked '0900 hours' repeatedly to each second that passed.

    "Your coffee, Echo." A small hatch on the top of the smooth shite desk opened up, and a steamy brown liquid in a clear mug rose on a ledge that fit the hole. Kimme plucked the cup from the desk and tooka sip, then sighed contentedly.

    "Perfect as always, Computer. Thanks." Kimme sauntered to the window and stared out over the large city. Long, thick stems rose hundreds of feet into the air, towering above the main building that sat below. Pods that served as dorms lined the stems in four different directions, wide windows on the outer sides.

    It was Platona.

    Platona was long ago nicknamed Area 51, for reasons unknown. History claims rumors contained aliens and other ETs.

    Aliens, of all things. Kimme thought with a short smirk and downed the rest of the drink in her fist.

    "You have visitors, Echo." The Computer said in its normal monotone. A small screen lowered from the ceiling near the door, revealing the people outside.

    "Let them in." Kimme ordered and set the empty cup on the desk once more.

    The door split in two, one part rising toward the ceiling, the other lowering into the bottom of her dorm. Outside stood two people, a boy and a girl.

    "Hey guys, come on in." Kimme smiled welcomely to the couple, who both easily stepped into the pod.

    "Have you heard the news? They're stepping up the training for the older kids. Don't they have enough pressure now as it is?" The girl said in a peppy voice and sat down at the desk. Her bouncy brown hair matched her bright hazel eyes, and her soft features betrayed her age.

    "No, I haven't. I wonder if that explains why Ivy and James have been so crabby lately." Kimme refused to let her gaze wander to the ice box, where proof of James's promise lay.

    "And they're raising the levels for those with certain strengths, like mind control and shapeshifting. Guess it's your lucky day, Kimme." The boy had flaming red hair with dark tips, deep blue eyes, and angular features.

    "Yeah, guess so." Kimme averted her eyes toward the window again, thoughts racing through her mind at top speed.

    "Can I get some cereal, Computer?" Kimme muttered. Behind her, the boy and girl exchanged knowing glances.

    "I can't believe they're keeping some strengths back to train the others. Weather control really bites sometimes." The girl leaned an elbow on the desk and used it as a prop for her head.

    "Be thankful you're not in the death room all day. Go in there, and you'll never come out the same." The boy said, using dramatic hand motions to emphasize his point.

    "That's what it's called now?" Kimme said with a mouthful of crunchy cereal. The boy nodded very seriously.

    "Hm." Kimme murmered and chewed slowly.

    "Well that's not why we came by." The girl said after a quick silence.

    "I thought you guys were just saying hi." Kimme said and spooned another bite into her mouth.

    "You seriously don't remember? You have work today." The boy said dully. Kimme dropped the cereal bowl in shock, the chunks spilling all the way to the boy's feet by the door.

    "Oh no!" Kimme flew to the small dresser and threw open the drawer, digging in a flurry to find her uniform. When she finally found it, she tugged it on over the jumpsuit everyone was required to wear when they weren't dressed.

    "How could you forget?" The girl asked with a short laugh.

    Kimme gave her a dark glare and straightened her tie. "Shut up, Bella."

    "Genevive is taking some people over to the bar for her birthday. She's not going to the death room today." The boy interrupted, nudging a large chunk of cereal with the steel toe of his boot.

    Perfect. Kimme thought happily and pulled her hat over her light brown locks.

    "When is she going?" Kimme asked, putting her hands on her hips casually.

    "Around lunchtime. Feel free to join us." The boy answered with a touch of sarcasm as he shrugged.

    "Why the bar? That means I can't go!" Bella whined.

    "Three more years, short stuff." Kimme patted Bella's head and grabbed the bag that lay behind her friend.

    "See you two later. Brye's gonna kill me for being late." As Kimme stepped up to the door, it split and went seperate ways, and Kimme was gone.

    "She really does have memory problems, Ken. Go easy on her." Bella said quietly and carefully got down from the stool without stepping on the spilled milk.

    "I know. She's a ditz." Ken said, laughing, then looked down at the mess and sighed.

    "Computer, can you get the mess?" He asked and motioned for Bella to follow him.

    "Of course, Flame."

    "Thank you, Computer." Bella said and walked out the still open door as the food started seeping through the mesh floor.


    "Echo, you're late again." A woman was sitting on the tall table that sat off to the side of the large room. As soon as Kimme rushed in, the woman stood gracefully and practically floated over.

    "I thought it was Saturday." Kimme offered hopefully as an excuse as she hurried over to her tall locker.

    "Saturday was three days ago, Kimme. You're not that forgetful." The woman argued.

    "Let off it, Brye. I was busy all morning." Kimme said irritably and stuffed her bag into the locker.

    "Look, Kimme. We've been friends since we first got here."

    "Don't think I don't know because you remind me every morning." Kimme rolled her eyes and pulled off her hat, letting loose her long hair.

    "Don't have to be so snippy." Brye said lowly. "If Black hears you talking like that, he'll bite your head off for sure."

    "I know." Kimme sighed and shut the locker with a loud bang.

    "Anyway, the janitor's out sick and we can't get the fingerprints from her. Looks like you're up to bat."

    "Oh joy. Nothing like a little janitor work to get the old spirits up." Kimme said with heavy sarcasm. Brye grinned and looked at her expectantly.

    "Now?"

    "Yes, now." Brye said, lowering her head a fraction as she watched Kimme.

    "Fine." Kimme closed her eyes, remembering the janitor's light touch. Her skin began to crawl, and the pale flesh shifted over her scalp. The loose skin slowly dripped down her body, like water over metal. Her figure disappeared under the janitor's smooth form, bright red hair sprouting from her head. Soon, she opened her eyes that had turned green to look at Brye.

    "A perfect match." Brye winked once and waved a finger for Kimme to follow.

    "So what's the job today?" Kimme asked with the janitor's throaty voice.

    "You just have to get into the main control room and deactivate a couple lights for repair."

    "That's it?"

    "For now." Brye led Kimme to a tall man with a digital clipboard.

    "We've got Echo on the job, Black." Brye told the man and jutted a thumb in Kimme's direction. The man looked quickly at Kimme, then tapped a few places on the clipboard.

    "Bring her down to the main control, and I'll direct you from there." The man held out an earpiece for Kimme, who took it and clipped it behind her ear.

    "Yes, Sir." Kimme and Brye said together, and they smiled gently at each other.

    "Go on, now." The man ushered them out the main door, then turned to the next person awaiting their job.

    "Black's in a good mood today." Brye leaned over and whispered into Kimme's ear. Kimme just nodded in agreement, then focused on the task that lay ahead.

    "So this is main control." Kimme said with awe. She ran her fingers lightly along the smooth, pearl white surface of a chair that sat in a long room of flashing lights. Short walls with screens, wires, and buttons that lined them stood from the main four walls toward the center aisle.

    "Indeed. Amazing, isn't it?" Brye said, smiling.

    "It is." Kimme agreed, nodding her red head.

    "Echo, do you read?" Kimme pushed on the earpiece, blocking out the loud beeping from the panels.

    "I read." Kimme said, glancing at Brye.

    "You're in Main Control, yes?"

    "Yes. What do I do?"

    "Find the board that reads 'Seminar Room' above it. The panel over it will take your thumb print, and reveal the controls for that room."

    Kimme abandoned Brye at the door, leaned over the nearest board, and walked around the long counters until she found what she was looking for. There was a screen iwith a video feed from the room, and Kimme leaned in closer to watch as she pressed her thumb to the board.

    She had never seen that room, that much was certain. There were rows of desks with materials on them, like metal scraps and different chemicals. There was a complete model at the front of the room on a pedistal.

    "Done, Black. What next?" Kimme asked, preoccupied with the movement on the screen. People scurried from table to table to gather what the needed to complete the assignment. Ouf of the mess, she could identify James and Ivy by their faces, even on the small screen.

    "Unplug the top left wire to block the power to the broken lights..." Kimme didn't hear the rest.

    It had hit her.

    The model was a bomb. A nuclear bomb, and the men and women were building their own.

    "They're planning a war." Kimme breathed in shock.