The Mirror Initiative

By Nathan Rux

Continuing on from NEW LA, Catherine Dever has convinced Lydia Cristan to allow the establishment of a Paranormal colony near New Los Angeles. But with the Paranormal Control Unit opposed to this endeavor, tensions are high.
Myelyn is a woman with a dark past trying to be a hero. When her friend Theta is abducted by the Paranormal Control Unit, Myelyn and her teammates cross universes to find Theta. But Theta's abduction is a part of a bigger plan called THE MIRROR INITIATIVE.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483596419

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Part I: Cat

Prologue: Adrenaline

Myelyn pulled back her bowstring with a strong sedative arrow nocked, aimed at the head of Adrenaline. They were old sparring partners, having danced many times. Why was he so obsessed with her? He targeted her constantly, and they had tangled many times. And every time it had been a hard-fought battle that ended with his getting away only to come back and torment her again. But this time, he had raised the stakes. This time he had taken it a step further.

Glad you could make it, Myelyn, he said in a sick way that could almost be interpreted as flirting. In front of him, firmly in his grasp, a young woman squirmed while he held one of his wrist blades to her throat. This one was starting to become, well, boring.

Release her and play with me instead, Myelyn replied.

Myelyn focused on Adrenaline’s head through the scope mounted over her left eye. She was almost sure she could make the shot, particularly with her enhanced hand-eye coordination. And the fact that she rarely misses. The variable is the flight time of the arrow and the unpredictability of the woman’s squirming. If she twitched the wrong way at the wrong instant, the arrow would hit her and cause serious injury to her. Although Adrenaline wore body armor, Myelyn’s sedative arrow was designed to penetrate it. She briefly wondered why she had chosen a bow and arrow instead of a rifle. With a rifle, she would hit for sure. But holding a rifle brought back memories of a darker time in her life, one she would rather not revisit. A bow took her back further, to her childhood and happier times. To a time before things changed forever.

Oh, I will, he said, but after you drop your bow.

My bow is the only piece of leverage I’ve got, Myelyn replied. If I drop it, how do I know you will let the woman go?

And how will I know you won’t just shoot me? he retorted.

So, an impasse, Myelyn observed.

Not if we do it at the same time, Adrenaline taunted.

Myelyn calculated the odds of making the shot and the repercussions if she missed. Could she trust him to let the woman go? Should she actually drop her bow in honor of this agreement? Because of his abilities, he had an advantage in hand-to-hand combat. Yet could she risk this innocent bystander’s life? The old Myelyn would’ve taken the shot without hesitation. Her old self would not have given up her one advantage. But her time here had changed her. It has made her a hero.

On the count of three, Myelyn said.

One, Adrenaline snarled.

Two, Myelyn coolly counted.

Adrenaline immediately shoved the woman toward Myelyn, blocking her shot. Myelyn stepped to the side to draw a bead on Adrenaline, but he had already leapt up in the air, both wrist blades out and pointed at her. Myelyn dropped the arrow she had nocked and brought her bow up to block the incoming blow. Adrenaline’s blades sliced through the compound bow cleanly, as if it were butter. Myelyn tried to dodge out of the way, but the razor sharp blade barely caught her arm, blood flowing from the wound. She grimaced and tried not to show pain, jumping back instinctively trying to draw and fire before realizing her bow was in two pieces.

First blood, Adrenaline hissed. How does it feel?

Myelyn paid no attention to his taunt. He got off on pain, both inflicting and receiving it. If she acknowledged her injury, or showed she was in pain, it would only encourage him. If she hit him, the pain would make him stronger. She really needed that sedative arrow, she thought, searching the ground where it may have landed. She spotted it at Adrenaline’s feet.

Adrenaline charged again, his wrist blades slashing out trying to cut her skin. She backed up, her heightened reflexes allowing her to dodge his attacks. He was relentless, and he sensed he had the upper hand. She knew he had the advantage. Fighting him in the past had always been difficult, but she always had her bow, which allowed her to keep him at a distance. And Doc had always built custom arrows for her to defeat Adrenaline. She told herself to not think about Doc. That was a distraction she couldn’t afford at the moment.

Myelyn continued to back away and dodge his blows, looking to see that the woman who had been held captive was fleeing. Myelyn distracted Adrenaline, giving the captive time to reach safety. Perhaps the other woman would call for help, though the police wouldn’t be much help against Adrenaline. If only Myelyn’s reinforcements would get here.

Right on cue, the ceiling exploded, with debris raining down on them. Myelyn dodged out of the way of falling pieces and away from Adrenaline, who looked up at the source of the disruption.

Floating above them was Stonewall, wearing her crimson goggles, her long blond hair flowing against her skin-tight black-and-red outfit. She wore a red belt with a red starburst symbol on a black background and a long crimson cape floated behind her.

You brought a friend, Adrenaline snarled.

Myelyn had sent out an alert to Theta Force for assistance, but Stonewall was not Myelyn’s first choice. Stonewall specialized in hand-to-hand with her superhuman strength and agility. But that played into Adrenaline’s abilities. And knowing Stonewall, she probably hadn’t read Adrenaline’s dossier.

More than I can say for you, Stonewall replied.

Don’t… Myelyn started to say, but Stonewall swooped down into Adrenaline, who stood looking up at her, not flinching or moving. Stonewall pummeled him to the floor, dust flying up everywhere. Myelyn covered her eyes as the dust settled. She looked toward the crater created by their impact. For a few seconds, there was no movement. Then, Stonewall’s form burst out of the crater, smashing into a support column before she fell back to the floor. Adrenaline stood up in the crater, looking first at Myelyn and then over to Stonewall.

I haven’t felt pain like that in a long time, he growled. It was exquisite. I may have a new favorite.

Myelyn glanced over at the sedative arrow laying on the floor. In one swift move, she rolled over and grabbed it. Using her enhanced reflexes and hand-eye coordination, she hurled the arrow at Adrenaline. He turned back toward her just in time to see the arrow imbed itself in his chest. He shook his head, grabbing the arrow and pulling it out in one firm yank.

Nice try, Adrenaline smirked. But I’m hurting too much right now for that to be effective.

He moved toward Myelyn, slowly putting one foot in front of the other. His wrist blades popped out again as she started to back away.

I wasn’t done with you yet, Stonewall said as she plowed into Adrenaline. He took the blow and shrugged her off, backhanding her, sending her flying across the warehouse.

Wait your turn, he said before turning back toward his prey.

Myelyn backed into a wall and realized she had no more room to retreat. Adrenaline continued to advance, his blades ready to eviscerate her.

I have waited a long time for this, he said as he raised his blade.

Myelyn stared into Adrenaline’s crimson goggles, looking for an option. She doubted she could escape, and with the extra strength Stonewall had provided him, Myelyn doubted she could take him.

You’ll have to wait a bit longer, a voice said from behind Adrenaline, and Myelyn thought Stonewall was foolishly attacking again.

Violet energy surrounded Adrenaline’s head and he slumped to the ground. Myelyn looked up to see Theta floating just below the hole in the ceiling that Stonewall had opened. Theta’s black armored chest plate glistened in the sunlight, streaming in from above, the crimson Greek letter Theta emblazoned on the chest. Her blond hair was tied back, and her dark, goggled eyes were focused on the now unconscious form of Adrenaline.

Thanks for the save, Myelyn said.

Theta nodded and floated down to the floor in front of Myelyn. Stonewall flew over from where she had been slammed and landed next to Theta.

I could’ve taken him, Stonewall said.

Gotten yourself killed, you mean, Theta replied. Did you even read the dossier Myelyn prepared.

Who has time to read those? Stonewall said with a shrug.

Theta sighed and responded, I do.

You have no life outside of this, Stonewall replied.

Because I know this is not a game, Theta said. If we are unprepared, people can die.

I have to side with Theta on this one, Myelyn said, and Stonewall shot her a look.

You would, Stonewall said.

Stonewall looked at the unconscious form of Adrenaline, reached down and hefted him up with one arm.

Since I fly faster than you, I suppose I can get him locked up before he comes to, Stonewall said.

Please do, Theta replied.

Stonewall huffed and then floated up into the air, firmly grasping Adrenaline with her right hand. She launched herself and her prisoner through the roof’s opening and flashed out of sight.

Theta turned to Myelyn. Can I give you a lift someplace?

Myelyn sighed and responded, Home. I need to take a shower before my date.

Date? Theta asked. Does Doc know?

We’re not talking at the moment, so, no, he doesn’t, Myelyn replied. He wouldn’t notice even if we were talking since all his attention is on his project.

You know what he’s working on? Theta asked.

I have an idea, Myelyn replied.

But you are not going to tell me, Theta finished. You know I could just pull it out of your head.

You have too much integrity to do that, Myelyn said.

Can you imagine if I didn’t? Theta said, chuckling ruefully.

The thought scares me, Myelyn said.

The noise of a door opening caught their attention, and they both turned toward the source of the sound. Standing in the doorway was a man in a skintight black-and-gold outfit and carrying a golden guitar on his back. His long blond hair was tied back in a ponytail. His eyes behind black sunglasses scanned the room.

Decibel, Theta said and floated over toward him. Myelyn followed, curious about his appearance.

I heard there was some trouble here and came to help, he said.

I’m afraid you are a bit late, Theta replied. We’ve already taken care of it.

Decibel looked over the warehouse while he said, Where’s the bad guy?

Stonewall already hauled him away, Theta responded. I’m sorry you missed it.

Something is off here, Myelyn thought. Her senses were warning her of danger, as if something was not quite right.

I’m sorry I missed it too, Decibel said. Been awhile since I ‘ve busted some heads.

Happens when you are on tour, Theta said. Less time for heroics.

Tour, Myelyn thought. Where is he supposed to be right now? I’m missing something here. And why am I having a hard time focusing my thoughts?

Aren’t you supposed to be in Dallas tonight? Myelyn said, straining to voice the thought.

Theta shook her head before Decibel responded, Date got canceled because of, um, low ticket sales.

Low ticket sales? Decibel always sells well. Being a super-hero helps bring in the fans. And why is he all business when he’s usually a lot more flirtatious?

He’s not flirting, Myelyn realized just as Theta looked back at Decibel. He reached over to Theta with a rag in hand and placed it over her mouth. Theta struggled but quickly lost consciousness.

She’s just an archer, Decibel said. No witnesses.

Myelyn started to move on Decibel, but stopped and jumped back. Relying on her unique abilities, she somersaulted backward, dodging the golden bolts of energy filling the space she had just occupied a second ago. She straightened up and dashed away, her legs speeding her along faster than a normal human could go.

More than an archer, it would appear, Decibel said. Two and Four, pursue her and capture her. Everyone else, on me and secure the prisoner.

Ropes dropped from the rafters as three men in black uniforms slid down from the ceiling and circled Decibel. Myelyn heard steps up in the rafters and knew she was being pursued. A few seconds later, a fresh barrage of golden energy rain down on her from above. She dodged and leapt, and took cover behind the support pillar Stonewall had crashed into earlier.

Myelyn glanced back toward Decibel and the three men. An unconscious Theta was being carried by two of the men in black uniforms. Myelyn gasped as she recognized the uniforms, wondering how they got there. Decibel nodded to one of them, who tapped a series of buttons on a band on his right arm. Immediately, there was a flash of light and an azure portal popped into existence in front of the group. Decibel stepped through it, followed by the other three men carrying Theta. The portal snapped closed, and they were gone.

Chapter 1: Remembering

I am sitting in a chair in the middle of a small, brightly lit room. My arms and legs are bound to the chair. Before me is a metal door that occasionally opens to let people in and out. I’m having a hard time focusing on who those people are. I’m having a hard time focusing on who I am and where I am. Loud music blares at me from all sides, which makes it harder to focus on anything. Why am I here? Something about this doesn’t seem right, yet at the same time, it seems normal.

The door opens, and a muscular man in a black uniform steps through the opening. This is not unusual, I realize. A man in a black uniform occasionally comes through the door bringing me food and water. Once, he brought me some relief to this noise. But, as I look up, I see that it’s not the same man. The one who usually came had a sadness to him. This one was radiating anger.

Marilyn is starting to get frustrated with you, he says with a grin.

I look up at him, and my resolve hardens. Marilyn must be the name of the woman who comes through the door and confuses me. The one whom I must resist. Why must I resist her? I can’t remember.

Do you know what that means? he snarls.

I stare at him as if I really didn’t care what he has to say. In part, that is true. But mostly, even through the haze and fog clouding my mind, I recognize he is trying to scare me. He is really easy to read, and he wants me to fear him. And I don’t fear him. Looking at his face now, I know that I have seen him before. I know I have beaten him before.

Do you know what that means? he repeats, following up with a slap to my face. It stings, but I don’t respond to the pain. I know his type. I had encountered his type while growing up. Jarred taught me how to stand up to them. I wonder where Jarred is and if he is OK.

Answer me! the man demands, another slap striking my face. Again, I remain impassive. He knows I have beaten him before, and he is trying to take that away by asserting his dominance over me now. But that only works if I recognize his dominance, which I don’t. The pain is sharpening my thinking, allowing me to focus for the first time in a long while. I’m able to ignore the noise and the fatigue.

Our eyes meet, and he sees the fire in mine. He wants to see fear, but there is none in my eyes. I have no fear of him. I see him as he truly is. I see a pathetic man with a need to dominate me. I refuse to be intimidated. I can defy Marilyn and her mind-twisting. I am certainly going to defy this little man.

He bends down close and says, It means I can do whatever I want to you.

He looks into my eyes, hoping to find the spark of fear that was supposed to inspire. But he finds only defiance. There is nothing he could do to me to break me. I won’t let him break me. He sees it in my eyes, and I see the frustration in his.

Blinding pain shoots through me as his fist connects with my head. I taste blood in my mouth and my vision gets foggy. The pain sharpens my mind even more. The idiot doesn’t realize he is helping me marshal my mental defenses, which is where the real battle will be fought. I feel his fist connect again, filling me with more pain. And I feed on that pain. It tells me I am still alive and that I have another breath to draw. As long as I am drawing breath, there is hope.

And I think of Jarred, my old master. I think of the pain he had gone through and the tortures he had faced. He taught me how he endured them, and I put those lessons to work now. What happens to my body is irrelevant. My spirit is alive and kicking. And I am winning.

I look up at the man assaulting my body, and I let a tiny smile cross my face. That infuriates him, and he strikes me again. Two more blows to the head followed by a solid punch to my stomach.

I sit up in a bed, my breathing heavy. The brightly lit, bare room is gone, replaced by a dark, almost black room. Faint light comes through a window to my right, and I hear rain splattering on the roof. My eyes scan the room, until they fall on a clock on a dresser. The time reads 4 a.m. Is it really this early in the morning?

My breathing settles as the nightmare starts to fade, and I realize where I am. Was it a nightmare? Or was it a memory trying to break through? I can’t remember much about my time in PCU captivity a few months ago. That would be the so-called Paranormal Control Unit, which was created to capture and control Paranormals. It is supposed to protect us from the Paranormals. In reality, it is a military organization that controls what is left of the United States. But it doesn’t control New Los Angeles.

New Los Angeles is an independent city built in the crater left behind after much of Los Angeles was destroyed by a Paranormal. It is protected by an impenetrable crimson energy dome that covers the crater. I used to be a detective there, but then I had an adventure outside the city. During which, I was captured, and I don’t remember much of what happened. I asked Terry to help me unlock those memories, but she said it was better that they remain locked up. If I’m meant to remember what happened, I shall in my own time.

I yawn, yet I feel that sleep will elude me for now. I reach over to the lamp on the nightstand and flick the light on. I look over at the mirror on the dresser and see myself. I am a mess. This is not the first night of lost sleep I have had. I somehow don’t think it will be the last. And my days are exhausting. Who would’ve thought being an administrator could wear you out?

My name is Catherine Dever, and I am the governor of the Huntington Paranormal Colony. It is a colony of Paranormals, or Paras, that inhabits what used to be an enclosed neighborhood in Huntington Beach. When we first arrived, we found the once nice houses had fallen into disrepair. But we all worked together and started fixing them up one at a time, each person using their gifts to help out the whole. Two months later, we have a handful of houses that are livable. They are not the upscale luxury homes they once were, but they are not bad places to live either.

I crawl out of bed and throw on some sweats. My mind is awake now and will be for some time. And about the time I do start to tire, it will be time for me to start my day. I just have to prepare myself for that.

I quietly open the door to my room, being careful not to wake anyone else in the house. I live in a four-bedroom two-story house that has been dubbed the Normal house by the community because all the non-Paranormals in the colony live here. Everyone in this house represents the government of New Los Angeles, who allowed this colony to be established. I was skeptical that it would work, but the Paras have been well-behaved and working hard to achieve this dream. And they have been a help in securing the outer borders of New Los Angeles, though there are some tensions with the Gatekeepers, the guardians of the domed city. They don’t trust the Paras. Up until a couple of months ago, I didn’t trust them either. But working closely with the Paras these past two months has started opening up my eyes.

I creep downstairs to find Gatekeeper Grazini sitting at the kitchen table, her R-12 rifle next to her. She is one of the two Gatekeepers on my security detail this week. The security detail changes every week, and they guard me in shifts throughout the night. Her counterpart, Gatekeeper Dobson, is probably asleep in the downstairs bedroom assigned to my security team.

I wasn’t fond of the idea when Lydia, the leader of New Los Angeles, assigned them to protect me from potential Chameleon reprisals after I had foiled their plot to take over New Los Angeles. And I thought I would be done with them when she made me governor of this colony. The Chameleons would have a hard time getting at me in a colony of Paras. When I mentioned that to Lydia, her response was that they were there to protect me from the Paras. I told her I was in no danger from the Paras, but she insisted. At which point, I gave up. I figure they are here to keep an eye on me as well as protect me. I’ve lost some of Lydia’s trust. To be expected, as I have softened my anti-paranormal stance.

Morning Antonia, I say to Grazini. Trouble sleeping, so I’m going to work out.

She nods, and I step to the door to the garage. Her reaction is distant, as it has been the entire time she has been on this assignment. It is one of the things that tipped me off to their real reason for being here. Antonia Grazini and I were roommates back in Gatekeeper training. We had a lot in common so we had hit it off immediately. We both lost family in Los Angeles, and we both had to endure the aftermath. She had been a little more fortunate, as her father had survived.

He had been an outdoorsman, and they were able to hike over the mountains, living off the land, until they made it to civilization on the other side. After that, they had bounced around, his going from job to job, trying to survive. When CrisTech announced that it was rebuilding Los Angeles and needed construction workers, her father was one of the first to apply. They moved back to Los Angeles and initially lived in the tent city for the construction workers in the crater. They were fortunate to win the lottery for one of the first residential units to be completed. But there weren’t many children around, and she lived a lonely life. And she held a deep resentment toward Paras who had taken away the life she had known. That was the thing that had bound us together in training and led to her becoming my first friend in New Los Angeles. Looking at her now, I can see that our friendship is over in her eyes.

I step into the garage, which we have adapted into a makeshift gym. I’m surprised to find the light on and somebody already working out on the bag I was planning to hit.

Nightmares again, Jarred states, already knowing my answer.

Do you ever sleep? I ask him, brushing off his comment.

Yes, he replies, but not as much as I used to. Somebody has to keep an eye on your security detail.

I look back at the door to the rest of the house and say, Yeah, they don’t care about you that much.

They don’t like anyone in the house, Jarred says, making a couple of quick jabs at the bag. You’re not trusted, and the rest of us are former PCU in their eyes, so we are never going to be trusted.

I trust you, I say. And I do. When I had first discovered that he had survived at the epicenter of the event, I thought things would change because he had kept this big secret. After seeing what had happened for myself, I can understand why he had chosen to remain silent. I wouldn’t have understood what had happened when I was younger. I was angry that some unknown force had taken my