After The Storm (2)

Aug 24, 2009 00:52


http://poppetawoppet.livejournal.com/3062.html

read part one first

Subject #1059: Iraheta, Allison. Arrival 09/17/09. No visible symptoms. At first thought to be exhibiting signs of telekinesis. However, subject began to display control over light 09/30/09. At first 1059 was dispelling our theories on exposure to Project Storm and is correlation with power of abilities. We knew 1059 had had direct exposure, but her abilities seemed weak in comparison. However, as the weeks progressed, 1059 began to show control over all aspects of light. (Reflection, color, see related experiment pages). A sensitive subject, the decision to keep her here at base Zero has been justified many times over. Although probably belonging at Base Two, she has shown that she has been able to handle many things thrown at her. She has been fairly easy to control. It remains to be seen how useful she will be in future projects.

Subject #1058: Sarver, Michael. Arrival 09/17/09. No visible symptoms. Progressed to ‘phasing’ through objects 09/25/09. Had to keep 1058 drugged until we could determine he would stay here. Again, like may of the group 1058 arrived with, he was highly uncooperative. However, the lure of his family has kept 1058 in line. Although not a terrible powerful ability, his ability to literally walk through walls could prove to be a great asset. Recommendation to commence testing to see if he can ‘bring’ someone along.


Adam could have laughed at the irony of it all, if it weren’t so sad. In a camp full of freaks, he was still an outsider. In the weeks since they had begun to set plans in motion, all of it through Kris, of course, their group had begun to reach out, to feel for people they thought they could count on. For the most part, it seemed to be working. Most of the refugees were too cautious, still too afraid. Kris tried to reassure them, but he could only reach so many people at once, even with the daily exercise his abilities were getting. There was only so much he could do before collapsing. Adam sighed, hating seeing Kris this way, hated seeing him work beyond exhaustion. He wanted to give him a shoulder to lean on, but it had been too awkward. Adam cursed the storm again, cursed the day everything had changed. Because of the storm he had lost his best friend, the one person who had treated him as if nothing was different. Even when he had fucked thing up in North Carolina, Kris had been the one who had acted normal, had been seemingly unaffected. It was hard to be alone after so many months of having someone who accepted you. Someone who completed you in a way you could have never imagined. But Adam also felt it was better this way, better not to subject Kris to any more feelings than he had to take.

For Adam, the project of making new friends was not working. Well, it worked at first, especially with fans. But it was who he was that shied them away, what his abilities were. When you told someone you could control them with your voice, it scared them off. Not that Adam would want to use it, only when he had to. His main job seemed to be babysitting Scott, who was walking a fine line between sanity and batshit crazy. Adam could calm him down, stop him from taking off the glasses the counselors said were essential for him to keep on. All the things he had seen and Adam still had a hard time believing in heat ray vision. But what the counselor’s said was law, so he didn’t question it.  Whatever had happened to Scott, it had been bad. Even Kris had a hard time breaking though the wall, and the one time he had… Adam shivered as he remembered that night in particular, warring with himself every night over the nightmares in the bunk below him, this one night jumping down, holding Kris close until he slept again, never saying a word. But besides Scott, there was nothing, Adam shrugged; at least he had some use.

When Allison came bounding up to him, dragging Emily along, Adam smiled. Allison had been too subdued, and the new project as bringing her old self back again. Adam had tried to get her to say something about before to talk about anything, but she had looked at him and said,

“I’ll talk when you do. When I have permission to. What is there to say, Adam? We got struck by crazy lightning in the middle of Ohio and now we’re all living in superhero internment camp where they did bad things to get us to play nice? That’s pretty much everyone’s story.”

Alli, if nothing else, had become blunter than before. She was his rock of late, the person he depended on, since things between Kris and him were so… strained. Emily, well, they didn’t have an official name for their group, but she was one of the first to join up. She had little or no power, was often ignored by the guards, the counselors, had been given free range. She was also one of the few people outside the “fellowship” (and that name had stuck) who didn’t avoid Adam. For that reason alone, he loved her a little.

“What’s up girls?”

“We need to talk,” Allison emphasized, indicating a need to conference with Kris.

“Ok. What about?”

Allison began to prattle about sleepovers and cabin switching and how it was totally unfair that she couldn’t go spend the night with another friend. Adam murmured appropriate responses, clearing his own thoughts, concentrating. He was sitting outside because Kris was taking an opportunity to rest, and anyone who wanted to see him had to go through Adam first. They had found out, through trial and error that if one of them thought loud enough, Kris would ‘just happen’ to join their group, to be a part of a conversation. Although no real planning was happening, the beginnings of something was in the air.

He sighed. This was taking too long. He was going to have an aneurysm if he wasn’t careful.

“Alli, I love you, but it’s not going to happen. Maybe someone else can explain that.”

He stood, hoping he had gotten his meaning through. It was hard sometimes talking in code, avoiding everything that really needed to be said. He peeked in the cabin, saw Kris had gotten up, was talking with Mike in the main room. He walked in, paused as Kris shook his head. Wait a sec.

Adam stopped, leaned against the wall. Even Kris’ mental voice had the same inflection.

“What I’m saying Mike is that they did mean it. I believe it, but even if we do get to go home, do you think things could ever be the same?”

“I don’t know. But I have to try, without them, I have nothing. I mean after we get out of here, the first phone call is Katy, right?”

Adam should have walked away.

“Yes. But how much does she know? Can she accept everything that’s changed in me? I don’t know. I love her. Will always love her. But I have to face the fact that maybe I can’t go home again.”

Kris looked directly at Adam, his eyes unreadable. Adam blinked, knowing he had acknowledged the same feelings in his heart. To hear Kris say it aloud, to hear him recognize that this might be forever, it broke him.

“I get it. Just don’t give up completely. Okay?”

“I won’t. I have to go; Adam has something to show me apparently.”

Kris stood, patting Mike on the back, looked at Adam. Then after Allison, you and I are going to have a talk.

Adam raised his eyebrows. Over the last few weeks he had become the leader again, but this time because he wouldn’t let anyone take it from him. Plus the added bonus of being the only one who knew everything that was going on. They walked outside and sat on the steps, Allison and Emily gathering close. Kris could broadcast to anyone once he met them, but hearing their thoughts took familiarity or direct contact. For example, Kris’ knee touched Emily’s, but Allison and Adam were slightly apart. Unfortunately, Adam could only hear Kris’ part of the conversation, but he was getting the gist of it. When they had first done this at the beginning of the month, Adam had laughed and told Kris that he was lucky he was a musician and was used to doing multiple things at once.

It seemed Emily had finally discovered a new aspect to her abilities, or confirmed a long suspicion of hers. Why it was important now---

So if Em is a booster, then maybe…

Booster?

Kris grinned, looked his way. She and Allison seem to think she’s extra horsepower, that she magnifies other people. Her ‘vocal’ talent is merely an aspect of that.

Adam nodded slowly. Kris had been working hard to reach multiple people at once, but it was going slow, any more than ten resulted in a mild headache. He had tried for twenty once and had ended up in bed, the rest of them lying for him, saying he was feeling queasy. At the rate they were going, it would take years to reach everyone in camp.

Maybe dinner.

Adam frowned, knowing experimentation on top of the headache in Kris’ eyes was not a good idea.

“No.”

Three heads turned as he had interrupted the flow of their fake conversation. Adam hadn’t meant to say it aloud. He shrugged. “Sorry, but I, ah, don’t think it’s a wise idea to push too far, you know?”

The girls looked confused, because he had seemingly been on their side, but Kris caught the hidden meaning, sighed. Adam, I’m perfectly-

Adam turned to him, shook his head. He then ignored Kris’ attempts to get his attention as Alli and Emily finished up and went on their way.

You have no right to order me around. I’ll do what I want when I want.

Adam sighed. He didn’t want to have this conversation. Not now. Kris had scooted closer to him. It was easier to talk both ways if they were touching.  It wasn’t the right time, was never the right time, and he had trouble trying to form the right words, when before, before it had been all so easy. He stared out into the desert, if he squinted, the fence almost disappeared, and he could have been at summer camp. If summer camp involved men with guns.

You already have a headache, Kris. Why push it further. There’s still time.

No there’s not. The longer we’re here, the longer I’m here, the worse it gets. Soon enough none of us will have any reason to leave, because we’ll all be shuffling along on our misery, going through the motions-

Adam forced himself not to turn, forced himself not to react to the anxiety, the misery in Kris’ voice. Kris, if you kill yourself, or get yourself back in the bunker, what good will that do? One day won’t make that much of a difference.

It does. Kris laughed, short and bitter. Then again, what do you care? You pull yourself away from it all more and more every day.

Adam turned then, he didn’t care. That was uncalled for. You know that I care too fucking much, that it kills me that I can’t help more. But when everyone walks away from you, maybe I shouldn’t be associated with this at all.  You don’t think I can hear you at night? You don’t think I don’t know about the dreams?  I was just trying to save you a little pain and suffering. But if you want to go the martyr route, that’s fine by me.

He stood and walked away, glad to hear nothing but the emptiness of his own thoughts, the weariness of his heart, too tired to cry anymore, too worn down to even care.

Subject # 1060: Gokey, Daniel. Arrival 09/17/09. Symptoms mirrored those of 1052 and 1053 as well as a number of injuries he could not explain. After much observation and testing, it seems 1060 is able to transfer ailments onto himself. 1060 came into Base One eager to learn, and we have begun the process of transferring the ailments to other things, and it seems to be working on a limited basis. However a side benefit is that 1060 can see ailments where other testing cannot, so he may be useful as a diagnostician. He is perhaps our greatest ally in our recruitment program. The notion of giving him #458 to watch over is however ridiculous. Although 1060 is the perfect person to trust with 458, she is too much of a flight risk. Regarding 1060, he is recommended as first transfer to Base Four.

Subject #458: Todd, Johanna. Arrival 09/01/09. The doctors all agree that while 458’s ability is extremely useful, she represents the greatest danger to Project Storm. Although keeping 458 mildly sedated is working, it would take one missed medication to ruin many many plans. Furthermore, we have no hold over 458, and protest her release into the custody of 1060, effective 04/02/10.

Kris sat on the porch in the early afternoon, tired. He was always tired, the low level headache so familiar he barely noticed it. Adam had been right, he was overworking himself, but the thought of trying to get out of this place was too tempting to slow down. Kris closed his eyes, wincing at the memory of Adam walking away. He had been wrong to insinuate that Adam didn’t care, but… No, he had been right, and Kris had yet to apologize. Of course in the two months since he had left the bunker, it was hard to define his relationship with Adam anymore. They had been close before. Before. Before they had shared everything, and now they were practically strangers. Kris wanted to go back to before, to at least a semblance of before, but time had gotten away, and Adam wouldn’t listen anymore. Kris shook his head as he saw Danny coming toward him, a visitor in tow. Another recruit he supposed, sighing inwardly. He had signed himself up for this, signed himself up to be the fearless leader, but what they never told you was that being the leader meant you were tired all the time, that it was hard to sleep at night both because of the dreams and because of the worry that it might be your fault that they all die here in the desert. That being the leader meant that sometimes your friends were pieces of a puzzle, and moving them into place was hard because they were your friends, and you shouldn’t use them like that.

Then Kris saw that Danny was carefully leading his charge, gently settling her on the porch. Kris looked at him not knowing what to say. Her eyes were glazed over, just slightly, probably on whatever drug combination she was on. Some of the campers had to take drugs- they were safe enough to releases, but couldn’t be trusted not to escape just yet. Obviously this girl was one of them. Why Danny had brought her, though…

“Hey, we were just out for a walk, and I thought we could rest here,” Danny smiled carefully. “Joey, this is Kris, Kris, this is Johanna, but she prefers Joey.”

Kris sat carefully. “Hi, Joey, it’s nice to meet you.”

She mumbled a response. Kris looked carefully at Danny, who began to ramble on about something. Okay, what’s the deal Danny?

They told me to take care of her. To make sure she stays out of trouble, to see if I can be trusted. To make sure she stays alive.

Kris raised his eyebrows. Danny had long ago told him that he had been approached to be the first refugee to join the other side. Danny had volunteered to play along, to see if he could get information, and help their escape. Even though his experience so far had been fairly easy, Danny was very troubled by what was happening.

All right, so why risk bringing her here?

She, I, I can’t do it. I’ve had her for three days, and I don’t know if I can do it.

Kris sighed, took her hand carefully. He had made it a personal rule not to peek, but this was an emergency he guessed. Though what Danny expected, he really didn’t know. Once he got past the haze, Joey’s mind was very clear, very precise. Remembered sharing her dreams at one point.

What do you want me to do Danny? Even she understands why they are doing what they are doing.

I don’t know. It’s just you, and, I don’t know.

Kris scrubbed at his face with his hands. I can’t do anything either Danny. Sorry.

Danny’s face fell, and Kris wanted to punch him. Just because he was the leader didn’t mean he could change the way their world worked. Sure they could help Joey, but at what risk to themselves? Kris hated it, hated the idea that they had to let people suffer to achieve a goal, but it was necessary. He turned around, walked away so he didn’t have to face Danny, to face Joey, to know she was trapped in there, and he could do nothing to help her escape for the time being.

He had forgotten Adam was inside until he passed by him, saw him stir to get up.

“You don’t have to go,” Kris whispered, desperate for anyone to talk to.

“Yes, I do.” The look Adam gave him would have hurt if the feelings that went with it had matched. Adam had become slightly unreadable, not just because Kris didn’t want to know, but Adam’s emotions of late had been so varied it was hard to pick up on exactly how he felt. Kris had watched him walk away before, but he didn’t want that anymore.

“Adam, please. Look, I’m sorry.”

Adam turned raised an eyebrow.

I know this may sound a little self-centered, but did you ever think that you aren’t the only one who is alone? Just because everyone comes to see me doesn’t make me everyone’s friend. I mean they let me talk to them, but its hard to conceal your feelings that way, and I’m tired of everyone being afraid that I know what they are thinking, what they are feeling. I’m tired of you walking away because you think I’m weirded out or something. I’m… tired.

Adam sat across from Kris. “So what do you want from me?”

Kris looked at him. “I just want things to be like before. When you were the one person I could depend on for anything,”

Adam laughed. “Yeah, well, we’re living in after if you hadn’t noticed. Everything has changed. I mean, you’re the one who made the space."

“Only because you seemed to want it.”

Kris watched Adam’s face work for a minute, trying to come up with something. “I, how can we ever be normal, when I---“

Kris laughed. “Look. I’m not gonna say it’s not weird, but it’s not like it’s an entirely new discovery. I mean, I suspected about halfway through the tour something had changed. Especially in North Carolina.”

Kris smiled as Adam blushed a little. Remembering sitting on the bunk, the lengths of their legs touching, Adam’s face slightly leaning in, the caress of his breath on Kris’ lips. Kris couldn’t prove that Adam had been about to kiss him, but he was fairly sure that had been where Adam had been heading.

“So to say I was completely floored by knowing your feelings would be a lie. But I don’t have anyone, and well, I miss you man.”

Adam’s eyes were bright, but he didn’t speak for a minute. And even then it was no more than a whisper.

“I’d like that a lot. Because, even now, especially now, you’re the only one who really gets me. I miss that, too.”

Kris stood up, sat next to Adam. He pulled him close. “Now you’ll never be able to get rid of me.”

Adam laughed a little. “Now you are going to have to deal with me bossing you around all the time.”

Kris nodded. “That’s okay. I need it.”

Kris sat there relieved. He was tired, but he had regained a part of himself, regained some sort of footing. It was then he realized he had been in a battle with himself, trying to regain the person he was before, or at least some part of him. He knew he couldn’t go completely back, but for now he had a piece of it, if only for a moment.

“Adam?”

“Yeah?”

I think I know of something you can help with.

Kris was actually happy to be at dinner. Not just because meals were the most free times they had, but because something was getting accomplished. He saw Adam joking with Danny, nudging Joey and whispering in her ear. The guards gave him a look, but it was just Adam being Adam. Or so they thought. They forgot sometimes that controlling people with a voice didn’t necessarily involve commands, but could also be accomplished in suggestions. It was the cornerstone of the plan that was forming in Kris’ head. With the right people and the right timing, they might be able to get out of here with little trouble. Or so he hoped.

As far as Joey was concerned, there wasn’t much they could do about the drugs, but Danny could erase those effects any time he wanted. What Adam and Kris had decided on was that Danny would do that, but Joey would continue to act that way, exhibit all the symptoms, without the fog across her brain. She would familiarize herself with the showers in her cabin and the one with the rest of the idols. She could practice then, because the showers did not have cameras. It wasn’t much, it was terribly dangerous, but Kris was beginning to realize that nothing was going to get accomplished without any danger, without any risk.

part 3: poppetawoppet.livejournal.com/3583.html

word count: 20000-30000, pairing: kris allen +katy allen, warning: character death, genre: scifi, rating: r, after the storm, pairing: kris allen + adam lambert

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