Mik Murdoch: Crisis of Conscience: Mik Murdoch

By Michell Plested

9781988361055-Perfect.indd

Mik Murdoch has done a lot in his short career as a superhero. He's discovered the Cave of Wonders, battled giant glowing turkeys, and rescued a legendary creature. So when mysterious snow circles start appearing in the fields around Cranberry Flats, it looks like it'll be business as usual.

Except a voice in his dreams is warning him to ignore the circles.

And when disaster strikes, Mik is faced with a number of tough choices - choices that make him begin to doubt himself and his decisions. Is he making things better or worse for his town? Is he solving the mysteries around him, or is he simply running around putting everyone at risk? Will the voices end up helping him or haunting him?

What is a boy superhero to do?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evil Alter Ego Press
• Release date: Aug 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781988361055

Michell Plested

Michell Plested has been reading science fiction and fantasy since he was six years old, and writing for almost as long. He is an author, blogger, and podcaster living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. he writes in multiple genres, spending most of his time with science fiction, fantasy, and YA adventure.He is the host of the writing podcast Get Published, (a 2009 Parsec Finalist) and the science fiction comedy podcast GalaxyBillies, which has been called 'Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Beverley Hillbillies' by his listeners.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Press Conference

IT ISN’T EVERYDAY something exciting happens in Cranberry Flats. In fact, it would be more accurate to say, exciting things almost never happen.

How would I know? Well, my name is Mik Murdoch and I am the resident superhero in Cranberry Flats.

Oh yeah. My sidekick, Krypto, helps me too. Krypto is my best pal in the world, in case you’re wondering. He’s part blue-heeler, part black lab and several parts I can’t identify. He is every colour a dog can be and he has floppy ears that kind of hang down just above his eyes. He has a big white patch on his chest and is the best sidekick a hero could ask for.

When excitement does comes calling, we’re here to deal with it.

I also have a lot of friends who know how much I love it when something is happening. They usually contact me to let me in on whatever is going on.

Like this time. I was out patrolling town on my bike when my cell phone buzzed to tell me a text had arrived.

Come to City Hall now. Big news! Rahesh’s text provided no information whatsoever and that made me even more curious. No doubt what Rahesh had intended.

Rahesh doesn’t usually exaggerate so I knew something big was happening right now. That meant no time to lose! I rode down the slushy, slippery sidewalks of town to City Hall. Traffic on the streets was heavy, all going in the same direction I was.

What could possibly be going on at City Hall? I couldn’t peddle fast enough.

When I got there, a big crowd had already gathered. A crowd that was growing by the minute. A podium was set up on the top step of City Hall and several security guards were standing around trying to look intimidating. At least three news trucks were parked around the City Square, their mini-satellite dishes already pointing skyward.

The air was filled with excited voices and the emotions that pounded at my brain were equally excited and curious. That was one problem with having the power to sense emotions. It was worse here where everybody wanted to know what the mayor’s big announcement was.

Why DID the mayor call this press conference? A woman asked.

I heard several people were abducted, a man answered as I walked past him. He was wearing a long wool coat and carried both a camera and a laptop bag. The camera bag had the words, Cranberry County Tribune stitched into the side.

So there were both television and newspaper reporters. No doubt radio too. But why? As a super hero, I made it my job to know everything that went on in town. Surely I would have heard about an abduction, not to mention several. That kind of news always finds its way to me.

I stopped to search the crowd for my friend. Rahesh wasn’t the tallest guy alive and these people were all adults so he wasn’t likely to stand out. I pulled out my phone. There was another message from Rahesh. I’m at the tent.

I shook my head. If the mayor had gone to the trouble to invite all these reporters and put a tent up, he thought it was big news. Or, at least, he wanted it to be.

I started pushing my way through the crowd.

The problem was, no one was paying any attention to me. I would try to slip between groups of people and they would magically close the gap as I got close.

It was so frustrating but what could I do? I could yell and scream, I suppose, but that would only earn me glares and the attention of security. Neither of those things got me any closer to Rahesh or the answers I needed.

There WAS one other thing I could try. I had only been practicing it with the steers out in our pasture for a couple weeks, but it worked well enough with them. Maybe it would work here too.

I thought for several moments, trying to decide if I really should use my super power on these unsuspecting people. It’s not that I was worried about revealing myself. The power isn’t flashy so, unless someone was actually watching for it, it wouldn’t be detected. No, my concern was more about how much of my power I should use. It needed to be subtle enough that people reacted without thinking but strong enough that people couldn’t ignore it. Too strong? Let’s just say when I first tried this with the cattle at home, I caused a stampede. Some of the steers broke through the fence and a couple had gotten injured.

I didn’t want that. I wouldn’t be much of a hero if I hurt people with my super powers.

I stopped trying to fight my way through the crowd and reached deep inside myself. I visualized a bubble surrounding me. I charged the bubble with feelings of fear and unease. See, that’s my superpower. I can sense and manipulate emotions.

I was standing near a group of three men and a woman. I knew my power’s intensity was almost right when the woman, who was closest, started to unconsciously ease away from me.

I focused a little harder and the men also started to move away.

That was what I wanted. If I didn’t hurry, people would move out of my way without even knowing it and I would be able to get to the tent where Rahesh was waiting.

I slowly walked toward the tent, taking my time and waiting for people to move out of my way. It was working! I had been practicing with my power for months, trying to find more ways to use it, and it was starting to pay off.

In the time it took me to think about the practice, I lost focus. Just for an instant, but it was enough. People started crowding closer to me. I was already in danger of being bumped and squished. Would I be trampled too?

I panicked and turned my power up to try and force the space open again. I was successful but not before a heavyset, rather red-faced man collided with me. I should mention here that direct contact with someone else amplifies my powers considerably. For example, last time I touched Krypto while trying to calm him down with my powers, he fell asleep for more than an hour.

The moment the man touched me, his eyes widened in fear and he bellowed, sounding very much like a large angry bull. He followed up the bellowing by running as fast as he could through the crowd - away from me - banging into and careening off of people.

It was a disaster! People were being knocked over and into other people. Some were screaming. A few were running. It was exactly what I had been afraid of.

I changed tactics and began to project feelings of calm. The crowd was almost in full panic mode. I had no time to lose!

I turned my power to full intensity. Two women and a man standing a few feet away from me crumpled to the ground, fully asleep.

I couldn’t be sure I was doing the good I intended. I started to run toward the tent, still projecting calming emotions to the people in the crowd. By the time I reached the tent, the bellowing man had been subdued by security and calm was beginning to be restored.

Rahesh was standing on a table near the tent watching the show. His eyes were wide and his mouth was hanging open.

Rahesh? I had to call his name two more times before he looked down and focused on me.

Mik? He shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs out of his mind. I realized I was still projecting and clamped down on my power.

It’s me, I said. What are you doing up there?

He jumped down and grinned. I was watching the show. Did you see the guy who was running around the crowd knocking people down, yelling as he went? It took six security guards to stop him.

See him? I was right in the middle of that. I’m just lucky I didn’t get trampled. I couldn’t help but feel guilty as I spoke. The man had gone berserk because I had lost control of my powers. It was my fault. I hoped he was all right.

You’re right. He pointed at a couple of my sleepers who were being helped up by the people around them. It looks like those folks weren’t quite so lucky.

I reached out to them with my mind, trying to determine if they were injured or not. It was such a relief when I just felt feelings of confusion. Not pain. I shook off my feelings of guilt. I still needed to know what was going on.

They look okay to me, I said. But say. Why did you text me? What’s going on here, anyway? What’s the big news?

Rahesh looked around to see if anyone was listening. Rumour has it, the mayor is about to make a big announcement. Something about aliens.

Aliens? Really? I thought about that. It would be cool if aliens were real, but why would they come to Cranberry Flats? I have a hard time believing aliens would come here.

I’m not the one saying there are aliens in town. That’s just what I heard. Rahesh looked a bit put out at my skepticism.

Oh, I get it, I said. I projected the tiniest bit of reassurance at my friend. It just sounds odd that aliens might come here.

That’s what I thought too, but Todd seemed to think it was real when I told him.

Todd is another of my good friends. Todd, Rahesh, Carl and I hang out together all the time. Todd thinks there are aliens here? I looked around. Is he here?

He was, but his dad came by and Todd went with him. Rahesh pointed at the stage. See. They’re just over there.

I looked to where Rahesh was pointing. Oh. I see him now. Todd’s dad was actually talking to the mayor. As I watched, the mayor clapped the man on the shoulder and walked up onto the stage.

The mayor looked out over the crowd and tapped on the microphone a few times. The amplified sound caught everyone’s attention and people stopped talking to look up at the stage.

Attention everyone. Attention! The mayor waited a few moments before he started speaking again. Thank you everyone for coming. I have exciting news that could change the course of human history.

He scanned the crowd. I have just spoken to my lead scientist who has confirmed that strange circles found in the snow North of town appear to have been made by non-terrestrial life.

Try speaking English! a voice from the crowd shouted. That was followed by general laughter by many of the attendees.

The mayor raised his hands and smiled, showing lots of teeth. What my crack team is telling me is the snow circles might have been created by aliens.

Aliens? Are you sure it wasn’t elves or maybe Santa Claus? another heckler shouted.

Well… The mayor tried to look thoughtful. I suppose they could have been created by those notables, but if they were, I haven’t seen them.

He shook his head. And honestly, I haven’t seen aliens either. That’s why I formed an investigative team to inspect the snow circles. He thumped the podium. I’m not one to cry wolf about things like this. I was skeptical just like you when my team told me what they thought had caused them. But when they showed me their evidence…

Why don’t you show us your evidence? a man standing near the stage yelled. How about letting us see what you’ve got so we can draw our own conclusions? I’ve got important stories to chase right now. I think there might be a cat stuck in a tree somewhere!

All in due time, the mayor said, waving his hands in the air. But I will tell you, the evidence they have shown me is pretty convincing stuff.

Can you tell us who your scientific team is? the man near the stage asked.

Not at this time. I don’t want the investigation slowed if my people are contacted and questioned by all of you. I WILL, however, be releasing information after we are done here.

Why do you think aliens would come to Cranberry Flats? a woman called out.

I don’t rightly know. I’ve heard the same legends many of you probably have; that aliens came to this area hundreds of years ago and helped out the local natives. Maybe they have come back to see how things have gone?

The mayor got a strange glint in his eyes then. If they really are aliens - if my team proves they have returned - Cranberry Flats will be right in the middle of the greatest happening since Moses came off the mountain. This is where history is being made, my friends. I suggest you all remember that and pay close attention to whatever happens over the next few days.

A number of voices began calling out questions for the mayor then. Reporters tried to shout over each other to get the mayor’s attention. He just stood on the stage, watching and listening for more than a minute before he put his hands up again.

While the mayor was speaking I did my best to read his emotions. Between the distance from the stage and the sheer number of people in the square, everything was a jumble.

The yelling and calling died down then and the mayor spoke once more. I have press releases available for you all. They contain all the information we have at this time. Please go into the tent where you can have refreshments and get copies for yourselves. If you have additional questions, please speak with my press secretary for an appointment.

He waved his hands and nodded at the assembled reporters with a smile, stepping off the stage. Security surrounded the mayor and hustled him into City Hall. Several of the guards positioned themselves in front of the doors of the building with a you shall not pass pose. The few reporters who tried to go into City Hall were sent back toward the tent.

A young man in a grey pin-striped suit spoke into a megaphone, his voice cutting through the sound of the mob. Everyone! As the mayor said, there are refreshments and copies of the press release in the tent. I have a table set up to take appointments. The mayor will not be seeing anyone else or making any further comments for the remainder of the day. Thank you!

I looked at Rahesh. Refreshments, anyone?

Rahesh smiled. I thought you would never ask. We walked toward the entrance of the tent, only to be stopped by the man with the megaphone.

Sorry, boys, but this event is for reporters only. You should move along home now. He stepped in front of us to block our way into the tent.

That’s not fair! Rahesh said. We’ve been here just as long as they have.

The man ignored Rahesh, turning his back to him.

But we don’t have anyone who will listen to us. Tell you what, Rahesh. Let’s go to 7-11 and get hot chocolates. My treat. We can always come back here after and see if any goodies are left, okay?

Okay! Great plan, Mik. Especially the part where you buy me a hot chocolate.

I grinned. What are friends for? Especially after all this. I paused, my mind racing. Aliens? The mayor had been acting pretty confident. I wished I could have probed him. I wondered what information could make him so sure. Whatever it was, I had to get my hands on it for myself. There was a mystery to solve, after all.

Chapter 2

Tobogganing

AFTER RAHESH AND I had finished enjoying our hot chocolates, we went back to City Hall. I had hoped to find a loose copy of the press release and I think Rahesh was hoping for some goodies.

We were doomed to disappointment on both fronts. People were already cleaning up the square and the pinstripe-suited man was standing guard at the entrance to the tent.

I think we’re out of luck here, I said to my friend. We might as well go home. I’ve got some chores to do anyway.

Rahesh stared at the tent for a moment. Yeah, I’ve got stuff to do, too. See you tomorrow?

Sure thing. I waved. See you later.

Rahesh ran off toward home and I did the same. It was just about time to help dad feed the steers and look after the chickens. And it was pretty clear there wasn’t anything else to learn here. Not now.

I got home just as dad was coming out the front door.

Hi Dad. How are you doing?

Hey buddy! What were you up to?

I walked beside my dad and made sure my steps matched his. Rahesh texted me about a press conference at City Hall. I went down to see what was going on.

Huh. Dad draped his arm over my shoulder. And what did our beloved mayor have to say today?

How did you know… Then it clicked. Who else would have a press conference at City Hall? I shook my head and smiled. He said aliens have been visiting Cranberry Flats.

I heard about that, Dad said. Something about strange circles in the snow over at the Johnson place.

Is that where they are? I asked. I should have known Dad would know what was going on. Where did you hear about that?

Down at the feed mill. Some of the fellows that came by were talking about it. Said the mayor had guards around the field so people wouldn’t mess up the circles.

Here I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get the information I needed. Do you think they were really made by aliens?

Dad laughed. I really couldn’t say. Doesn’t seem very likely to me, but who knows? This is a big universe and there’s lots we don’t know about it.

By that time we were at the pasture and there wasn’t time to talk. As I helped dad carry hay out into the field I couldn’t help thinking about what he had told me. Now I knew where the strange circles were. I was going to have