Lockout

By Ethan Somerville

One day at school thirteen year-old Tala Somerset discovers that she can read minds. Mutants of any kind are feared in the Oasis, her futuristic society, and she struggles to hide her new talents.

But a cruel gang of youths discover the truth and force her to steal for them. Then she meets the Children of the Mind, a secret organisation of psychic youngsters. With their help, and the aid of two friends, Darryn and Sarula, Tala manages to stop the bad boys.

However, Tala soon learns that the Children of the Mind aren’t the benevolent psychics they first appeared to be. They are just as cold and ruthless as the youths who tried to blackmail her, and actually work for an insidious company that is trying control the entire Oasis.

Everywhere she looks she sees the dark influence of these evil psychics. Tala must master her new powers while trying to evade their clutches, and help her friends when they find out they have psychic powers too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Storm Publishing
• Release date: Mar 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310018589

Ethan Somerville

Ethan Somerville is a prolific Australian author with over 20 books published, and many more to come. These novels cover many different genres, including romance, historical, children's and young adult fiction. However Ethan's favourite genres have always been science fiction and fantasy. Ethan has also collaborated with other Australian authors and artists, including Max Kenny, Emma Daniels, Anthony Newton, Colin Forest, Tanya Nicholls and Carter Rydyr.

Book preview

Lockout

By

Ethan Somerville

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Storm Publishing on Smashwords

Lockout

Copyright © 2014/2017 by Ethan Somerville

www.stormpublishing.net

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

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Chapter 1

On Monday in Double History, while she was staring at the back of Darryn Ferndell’s blonde head, Tala Somerset discovered that she could read minds.

At first she didn’t pay much attention to the flickering images and sounds. She assumed they were coming from the video screen hanging overhead. Then strange feelings started to creep into the pictures and words. When Tala saw the face of a boy she knew, she experienced a sudden flare of dislike in the pit of her belly. Just you wait, the boy growled, shaking a huge fist. I’m gonna get you!

She knew who the boy was. His name was Shane Michelson, and he was a big, stupid boy in her form. Tala didn’t have much to do with him as he wasn’t in any of her classes, and he usually hung out in the bottom playground with the rest of the losers. So why had she felt such hatred towards him? He hadn’t done anything to her … yet!

Why am I seeing all these pictures and hearing these sounds? Tala wondered in confusion. She tried to focus on the film the class was watching, but now she was too distracted. A few minutes later her attention was drawn back down to Darryn Ferndell’s head. He had such nice, golden hair. It was a little long, and hung over the collar of his school shirt at the back, but at least it was soft and clean. She longed to run her fingers through it. Very few people had naturally blonde hair these days.

Suddenly Tala was staring at a picture of herself. There was no mistaking those big green eyes, upturned nose with a spray of freckles across it, and mouth full of metal braces, all framed by lots of golden-brown curls. Hello, the Tala-picture said softly, and smiled.

Tala jerked back so hard she almost overturned her chair. Someone giggled behind her, and she felt a sharp jab between the shoulder-blades. She spun around in anger.

Did you fall asleep, Tarl? Marie Johnson whispered.

No, I did not! she snapped, still shocked by what she’d seen.

Hey, no need to bite my head off! Marie lifted her podgy hands. Gee!

Marie, Tala! Miss Warburton reprimanded tiredly. Pay attention! There will be a quiz on this when it’s over!

The whole class groaned. Miss Warburton resumed what she had been doing before; tapping away on her computer.

Tala stared at her own screen, trying to sort out her tangled thoughts. What was going on here? Why did she keep experiencing all these weird things? It was like … like…

A horrible thought leapt into her mind, sending a chilly shiver racing down her spine. It felt like it was making itself a nest of broken glass in her stomach.

She had to test her theory. She stared at the back of Darren Ferndell’s head again, and the pictures started back up. Quickly, Tala looked up at the teacher.

She saw more images. These were of a small, cosy lounge room where Miss Warburton lounged with her feet up, enjoying a very large glass of whiskey.

Tala froze in horror, her heart galloping like a runaway horse. Icy sweat sprang from every pore.

She could see people’s thoughts!

Darryn Ferndell’s seemed to be roaming every which way. He certainly wasn’t concentrating on the film, which he had actually seen before. Mostly he was worried about Shane Michelson and his cronies, who had been on his case since the beginning of term. But for some reason he was also thinking of her. Could he actually like her?

Miss Warburton certainly didn’t want to be here in this cold, smelly classroom. She’d enjoyed teaching as a young woman, but now she was bored and lonely, and her only pleasure was getting fall-down drunk every night.

Tala couldn’t take any more. Her stomach cramped painfully, and she lifted a hand. Miss – I have to go to the toilet.

Miss Warburton sighed. Okay Tala. But be quick, or you’ll miss the ending.

I’ve missed most of the film already, she thought as she collected the hall pass, and hurried out of the suddenly stuffy classroom.

Out in the hall, a cool breeze ruffled her hair and helped to clear her muddled thoughts. She hurried along the corridor and down the stairs, only feeling safe when she was locked in a toilet cubicle. Another cramp doubled her over, and she had to sit down. Her mother had told her all about this monthly business, but it was still painful and scary.

And now she was reading minds!

Whoever said puberty was a difficult time for kids certainly wasn’t wrong, she thought gloomily. Last year, when she was twelve and still playing with dolls, everything had been fine. Now her life was a complete mess! She rubbed her eyes, remembering all those pictures, sounds and feelings – thoughts.

I am psychic, she whispered, and tears stung her eyes. I am psychic… She burst into tears and buried her face in her hands. "I’m a mutant!"

She must have sat there for a long time, because someone walked in and knocked on the door. Tala? Maria’s voice called uncertainly. Are you okay?

Tala looked up. Yes, she sniffed, and quickly dried her face with some toilet paper. I’m fine.

Are you sure? You’ve been in here almost fifteen minutes!

Tala opened the door, and saw Maria’s genuine concern in her mind. She tried to focus on something else, and found herself staring at some graffiti on the broken mirror above the washbasins. Can you keep a secret? she asked in a whisper.

What? Maria asked, touching Tala on an arm.

"I have my … you-know-whatsits," she whispered.

Maria stared at her blankly for a second, and then laughed with relief. Is that all? I’ve had mine since I was eleven. It’s annoying, but nothing to be so upset about. The big girl slipped an affectionate arm around Tala’s smaller shoulders. Come on – let’s get back to class before Miss Warburton bursts a blood vessel.

By the time Tala and Maria got back to the history room the movie was over, and Miss Warburton was about to start the quiz. Are you all right, Tala? she asked the thirteen-year-old girl in concern.

Yes miss. Tala took her seat. Maria whispered something in the teacher’s ear, and the old woman nodded understandingly. Tala stared down at her little Notepad computer. She couldn’t bear to look at either her friend or the teacher any more. She could see every one of their thoughts hurrying across their minds, and some were quite personal and embarrassing. She offered up a silent prayer. Dear God, please don’t let me end up like poor Jewel Carlin, who had to leave school because everyone found out she was psychic!

Jewel had been in year ten, two forms above Tala’s. She had been one of the most popular girls at Coburg High and everyone liked her. She was both pretty and smart, and her boyfriend, Rodney Ridgeway, was the captain of the footy team. Then one day, she started seeing things that weren’t there. She had no idea what was happening to her, and started telling her friends about these visions. She thought they would understand, but instead they turned on her.

Tala remembered the mob in the main quadrangle, pelting their friend with rotten food and lunch scraps while a gang of youths distracted the Sireborg security guard. It had been like a witch-hunt from a history text. Tala could only watch in horror while a tiny part deep inside screamed at her to run in and help Jewel. Perhaps she’d known that one day she would be in the same boat as the poor girl.

It took all the Maths, Science and History staff to break up the riot. All the students who’d taken part were severely punished, but an entire term of picking up playground rubbish at lunchtimes didn’t change their opinions. Poor Jewel left after the incident and never returned. Tala didn’t know what happened to her.

Now Jewel’s old friends pretended that they’d never known her, and Rodney Ridgeway was going around with Sonya Fiorello, a tall, giggly girl whose mouth seemed to be bigger than her brain.

Miss Warburton cleared her throat. Out of habit Tala looked up. "Now I’m going to ask some questions about the movie, and you’re going to record your responses on your Notepads and send them to me I will have your scores ready for you at the end of the lesson.

First, an easy one – what are the two main characters’ names? It doesn’t matter if you can’t spell them properly – so long as I get the general idea.

Tala knew the answer to this question already, but she saw the correct response flash across Miss Warburton’s mind. Quickly she typed in the couple’s names.

Is everyone finished? the teacher asked a minute later.

Yes! the students chorused.

Okay, the next one is easy too. What was the name of the ship on which the couple met?

Tala knew that too, but still saw the answer in Miss Warburton’s mind. I could get everything right this way, she thought – and shivered again.

What date – day, month and year – did the ship leave port?

Tala didn’t know this one. She stared at the teacher, and sure enough, she saw the right answer. She hurriedly tapped the response into her pad and sent it to Miss Warburton’s machine. Her new ability frightened as much as it excited. She could see a lot of benefits – and just as many problems.

What time of night did the ship run into the iceberg?

By the time the quiz was over, Tala had recorded every answer correctly. She wasn’t surprised when the teacher gave her a smile and said Very good, Tala – twenty out of twenty! You may have an early mark!

But Miss - she missed the last fifteen minutes! protested Maria Johnson.

But Tala was glad to leave. She hurried out into the quiet quadrangle, welcoming the time to be alone. Every person she saw seemed to have a brain like an open bowl. Their thoughts were hers for the taking. She saw only what swam on the surface, but she knew if she concentrated, she could probably delve deeper into their more personal secrets.

Boy, this will take some getting used to, she thought. If only I can keep these new powers to myself!

She crossed the quadrangle, passed the canteen, skirted the bottom playground and hurried down to the oval. She found a spot under a tree and sat down. She rarely ate lunch here, preferring to sit with Maria, Cynthie Hinch and Julie Massoud in the canteen area. But she couldn’t bear to face any of them at the moment. Even though they were her best friends, they would never understand. Even they picked on muties. Most people believed that mutants should be banished to the coastal regions, which were already overflowing with their kind.

Tala had no appetite, but she pulled her lunch out anyway. She had made the egg and salad sandwiches herself, so she might as well eat them. The bell rang and almost immediately a pack of youths swarmed out onto the oval to belt a tired old football around. Tala recognised the tall, muscular form of Rodney Ridgeway and a couple of other guys from the footy team.

She watched them as she chewed through her sandwiches and an apple, and then gulped down a small carton of orange juice. When she finished she packed up and headed back to the main quadrangle, where no doubt her friends were wondering what had happened to her. She didn’t look forward to explaining. How could she? She would just have to stick to the excuse she’d given Maria, lame as it was!

As she trudged through the bottom playground, she noticed a lone figure sitting by itself in the shadow of the art rooms. She recognised Darryn Ferndell, and he was thoughtfully peeling an orange. She stopped, remembering what she’d seen in his mind.

Did he like her? Or was that picture simply one of the dozen random thoughts that passed through the average human mind every minute? She had never approached a boy before, and at this distance, she couldn’t see his thoughts. At least not without concentrating.

But just as she made up her mind to walk over to him, four large figures stepped out of the boys’ toilets and surrounded Darryn. Tala recognised one of the boys by the long black pony-tail hanging down his back, and the studs on the shoulders of his leather jacket.

He was Shane Michelson. That meant the other three were his cronies Tim Whitely, Mehmet Daaboul and Gin Koo Park. But where were Fergus Finn and Stan Castanelli?

That looks like a nice orange! Shane yanked the piece of fruit from Darryn’s fingers. Mind if I have some? Without waiting for an answer, he wolfed down the entire orange, not even bothering to spit out the pips. His friends chuckled wickedly. Darryn sighed and waited for this latest torment to be over.

What else you got in there? asked Tim Whitely, a big, burly slab of a youth with close-cropped black hair and a nose like a pig’s. He grabbed Darryn’s lunch bag and dived inside, hauling out some plastic-wrapped sandwiches.

Give us a look! Mehmet and Gin crowded close, and Tala couldn’t see. Eww – banana and peanut butter? Gross! The sandwiches were dropped and ground into the asphalt beneath a big dirty sneaker.

Why can’t you have decent food for once? Shane demanded. How are we supposed to grow big and strong on this stuff? He threw the lunch bag on the ground and stepped on it, flattening the rest of its contents.

Well, you know, I actually pack lunch for myself, Darryn answered. I happen to like banana and peanut butter.

Shane grabbed him by his collar, yanking him up off the bench. That was your first mistake! Your second was being a smart aleck! Shane pushed Darryn into the wall so hard all the air whooshed from his lungs. Hold him, he ordered Tim and Mehmet. The boys obeyed, and Shane drew back a huge fist.

Tala realised that she was the only one close by. When she looked around for the playground Sireborg, she noticed the big android being pelted with rocks and garbage by none other than Fergus Finn and Stan Castanelli - Shane’s remaining two cronies. The robot defended itself wonderfully, deflecting all the missiles, but it made no move to grab the youths and drag them off to the Principal’s office. Sireborgs might look like human beings, but they were incredibly stupid. I wish this school was rich enough to afford Bodyguard Sireborgs, or real security guards, Tala thought.

It looked like she would have to take matters into her own hands. Surely the bullies wouldn’t hurt Darryn while she was in plain view?

Hey! Tala marched bravely towards the cluster of boys. Leave that poor guy alone!

Her high voice barely carried over the top of Darryn’s swearing and the bullies’ insults. She watched in horror as Tim and Mehmet picked up Darryn like he weighed no more than a doll, and carried him towards the boys’ toilets. Darryn yelled and struggled, but the playground Sireborg continued to single-mindedly defend itself against its laughing attackers.

Tala hurried after the youths, still calling out for them to stop. Finally Gin Koo Park heard her and spun around. Hey Shane – we got company!

Shane and the rest of his friends stopped in the doorway to the toilets. What d’you want, girlie? he growled.

Tala suddenly felt very small and afraid. But she had waded in this far, and wasn’t about to give up. This close, she could see into the boys’ minds. The bullies thought she was a joke, and they hated Darryn because he was small, slightly built and many times smarter than they were. She could almost taste their jealousy, and it made her angry. How could they be so stupid? She balled her tiny hands into fists and planted them on her hips. I want you to leave that poor boy alone, she said pointedly.

The youths hooted with laughter, exactly as she had known they would. This doesn’t concern you, pipsqueak, now run along and play with your dolls before you get hurt, Shane declared.

He didn’t even realise that she was in the same form as him! He thought she was some squirt just out of primary school! Well, she would show them what this little squirt could do! She could feel something building deep in the pit of her belly, a boiling hot ball of fire that swelled to fill her entire body. I’m going to the Principal! she shouted.

You do that, shorty. Shane motioned for Tim and Mehmet to drag Darryn into the toilets.

Fury filled Tala from her head to her toes. She wondered if she cut herself, would red fire leap from her veins instead of blood? She took a deep breath. Leave that boy alone! she commanded in a deep, echoing voice that wasn’t her own. It seemed to fill the air with electricity, like the crackling before a thunderstorm.

Shane, Tim, Mehmet and Gin froze like statues. Their eyes widened in a mixture of surprise and horror. Only Darryn continued to wriggle, trying to free himself from vice-like fingers. Then abruptly they let Darryn go and he stumbled forward, rubbing his arms. The bullies backed off into the darkness of the toilets, their eyes never once leaving Tala’s face. They looked positively terrified.

Tala couldn’t believe her senses. When she looked into their minds, she saw only a blind need to obey the order she had bellowed out so loudly. Darryn was unaffected, and seemed very grateful for her help.

What on Earth had she done? Had they finally seen the error of their ways? She wanted to believe that, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t true.

She had done something to them, something psychic.

Tala hurried Darryn off across the playground. The two boys harassing the Sireborg stopped throwing things at it, stopping to stare in amazement. The Sireborg, stupid as it was, seized the opportunity to grab both Fergus and Stan by the collars of their school shirts and drag them off.

The penalty for attacking a Playground Sireborg is detention! the big robot boomed.

Tala chuckled.

Thanks for coming when you did! Darryn gasped when they were safe in the main quad, surrounded by hundreds of other students. I thought those creeps were going to flush my head down a toilet for sure!

Tala shuddered at the thought, still shaken by what she’d done. She kept her gaze fixed on the black asphalt beneath her school shoes. That’s all right – I guess they didn’t want to be seen doing something wrong in front of me.

You realise they’ll probably have it in for you too now.

Tala looked up – and wished she hadn’t. Darryn’s thoughts were swimming all over his mind like eager little fish. He did like her, and couldn’t believe his luck at being rescued by her! She reddened furiously and quickly looked away. "Surely they