Chapter 16

Angelika - Like an angel
Truda - Fighting woman
Varick - Protecting Ruler
Harman - Man of the army
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Angelika ran to Alan as soon as she was sure it was him. “My god Alan! Please stop doing that! If the worry doesn’t kill me the apprehension will!” Throwing her arms around him she held him as close and tight as she could.

“I’m sorry mother; I had to find the answer to what you asked me. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t find out the truth.” Alan told her as he held her close. “I believe that I found out enough to actually give you an answer, mother.”

“Alan it wasn’t that important right now I was..., Wait, did you just call me mother? It sounded like you were completely convinced now. What has changed?” Angelika asked.

“I asked Uncle Emory if he remembered where that bunker was. He did, so I thought I might be able to visit it and find out a few answers.” Here Alan sighed.

“Was it all bad news Alan?” Angelika asked a little afraid of what Alan had found or might not have found.

“No, I wouldn’t say all bad news. I did find evidence of all of you, the assistant, the Doctor, and one other. Apparently three others besides you four survived. Though I haven’t felt the presence of this third person.” Alan explained

Varick had just walked up his eyes growing wide at this news. “You mean to tell me that there is another homicidal maniac out there?”

“I’m not so sure, the third person might be hiding much like all of you were. I’m not even sure if it was a lab person or not. I guess we’ll have to see if they make a move. They are nowhere as strong as the Doctor or the assistant were, but they have some abilities that I can tell,” Alan explained.

“Have you tried to go back to that day again to possibly find out?” Alan heard Truda behind him.

“Not as of yet though I don’t think I can. Remember when you tried with me and I stopped you?” Alan asked to which Truda was nodding. “It’s a little like that the further back I go to that point the harder it is to see. The only time it is clear is in the dream state. I can’t really explain that though.” Alan replied.

Truda was quiet a moment as she was in deep concentration. “Have you ever tried to induce that state on your own,” she suddenly asked.

Alan thought a moment then replied, “No, the thing is I don’t even know how I do it. I’d try to induce it if I had any idea of how I could.”

Truda sighed then a new light shown in her eyes. “Can you tell me anything about this third person? Did you feel anything at all? I know you found the doctor’s, the assistant’s and our DNA there. What of this third person?”

Alan almost smacked his head when Truda mentioned this. “That is another strange thing. The third person’s DNA felt female but I know that is impossible, you and mother were the only females left weren’t you?”

Truda’s eyes went wide again as she turned toward Angelika. “Are you thinking what I am?” Truda said as Angelika’s eyes also went wide.

“You really think she survived? I know they kept her around but we all assumed that she was killed also. My god!” Angelika said in horror her hand over her mouth. “All this time alone! None of us knew!”

Alan was at first confused, then a little upset that they were purposely keeping him out of the conversation. “Excuse me, powerful person here? Hello? HEY!” Alan finally shouted to get their attention.

“We’re talking Alan in a minute!” Angelika told him. Shaking his head Alan knew better than to argue with her.

Sitting on a bench Alan looked at Varick who was also shaking his head at what the women were discussing. Finally what seemed an hour later Alan felt a tap on his shoulder.

“We need your help Alan.” Angelika told him after he opened his eyes.

“Why?” Alan snapped at Angelika. “You both obviously have no damn need to talk to me!”

Angelika and Truda both stopped short backing up a bit. What in the hell was Alan’s problem? “I’m sorry Alan,” Angelika said, her face turned toward the ground a small pout on her lips. “We didn’t think it wise to discuss this until we were more certain. As you know there were ten of us in the bunker.”

“Yes I remember that part, what was this talk that you both were on about? They kept her around and you thought she was killed?” Alan asked. Sighing and taking a deep breath Angelika started. “There were ten of us, five males, and five females. Five you know of, all of us here. Of the last five four were killed a few months into the program. The last was a young woman named Helga. The Doctor gave her to the soldiers to ... to use. She did it to survive we thought she was with the soldiers when the bunker exploded, now? Neither I nor Truda are sure.”

“So how do you think she responded after they were all killed? I haven’t felt any others as strong as we are out there.” Alan stated.

“Yes I know,” Angelika replied a strange look on her face. “I know it was horrible for her, to be used by so many so often. My god Alan if she really survived she is probably a master of hiding.” Tears were now starting to fall freely from her eyes. “If she is alive you think you could heal her Alan?”

Alan looked at the almost shattered look of pain in his mother’s eyes. “All I can say is, I can try. As powerful as I am though, I have had no inkling to her. I’ll start to look, though if as you say she is hiding, it might not be a solicitous welcome I receive when I do find her.”

Angelika nodded a true look of gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you Alan that’s all I want, if we can help her I want to. No one deserves the pain and torture that both of them put all of us through!”

Alan nodded as he reached out he had to be careful not alert the Doctor if he did find her. They really didn’t need him finding her and starting on her again. In the mean time the others went about strengthening their abilities.

It was almost a week later when Alan got the first niggling of another strong natural ability person. Gently Alan tried to talk to the presence finding that he was quickly pushed away! Startled Alan tried again only to have the mind disappear! Shaking his head Alan knew that they couldn’t hide from him anymore he’d already felt their energy.

Another day Alan finally had a break through as the mind finally talked to him. <Go away!> Alan heard very forceful thoughts!

<I am here to help you as I have the others.> Alan told the voice.

<NO! You are one of those that wish to hurt me, I won’t allow that EVER again!> the mind said as Alan was knocked off his feet!

Smiling Alan knew he had his work cut out for him. Winking out Alan appeared outside a stone building on the other side of the village! Well I’ll be damned! Alan thought. <May I talk to you? Please?> Alan asked.

<I told you to go away! They won’t like you disturbing me. Go before you get hurt!> the voice told him almost pleading.

What in the hell was going on? Alan thought as he held up a hand blocking about thirty energy blasts. <I suggest you call them off before they get hurt.> Alan told the mind.

<Hurt? Just who are you?> the mind asked, even as Alan blocked and reflected half of the next wave of blasts that hit his defenses. There were about fifteen cries before Alan felt the minds of those cries passed out.

<I suggest that you withdraw before more of you get hurt!> Alan told those left. <I am far stronger than you think!>

<Stop my children, please? I do not want you hurt. Let him pass> the mind told those left.

<But Mother!> Alan heard several minds respond.

<NO! Stop before you are hurt. This one is different, very different.> the first mind said. <Stranger you may come in but I warn you what you will see is not for the faint of heart.>

<I understand, may I ask? Are you Helga?> Alan asked.

There was an almost audible gasp as the mind replied, <I haven’t been called that in an extremely long time. Tell me stranger how do you know it?>

<I was told that a Helga was one of the five that were still alive when the bunker exploded. That she might have been one of those that survived.> Alan responded.

<Survived? I thought they all were killed. When I awoke I was alone, in such pain, so broken. I knew I had to get out of there before I died. I was suddenly miles from the bunker beside the river. The same you see here, I have been here the ever since. Who told you my name?> the mind asked.

Alan smiled as he prepared his self for the surprise that he was sure the mind was going to receive. <Why my mother, Angelika Verlorenen.>

Again there was an almost audible gasp, <Angelika? My god! She’s still alive? She survived? And what of her brother?>

<He did also, as did Harman and Truda.> Alan told the mind as he was moving to the door.

<That is such good news, thank you for telling me the truth. Please don’t be alarmed when you see me?> Te mind told Alan.

Alan took a deep breath as he opened the door. On the other side he saw a huge bed though what was on in resembled nothing that could be called a human any longer. It appeared to have possibly been human at one time though now every part of it was twisted and misshapen. Parts were still charred with a great many that seemed to be missing.

<As you can see I am no where what I was. I haven’t had the gift of speech since that day. I knew I couldn’t go home, not like this, not after what I had done to survive. I have tried to heal myself to no avail. I therefore accepted my fate and here we are.> Te now sad mind said.

<As I said I am far more powerful than you think, I could try to heal you if you wish. In fact it was my mother’s wish that if I could I was to help you. May I?> A unfazed Alan asked.

<I would like that if you could, though I do not hold out much faith. Let me tell the others so we are not disturbed.> Te mind told him.

<I should tell mother also so they don’t start hunting me. Mother has an annoying habit of doing that!> Alan replied. With a chuckle the mass of broken, charred, twisted, misshapen flesh was silent as they both told the others.

It was almost two hours later that Alan stopped with his examination of the mass. There had been an extremely huge amount of the DNA that had been rewritten. Finally understanding Alan told Helga, <I finally know what I have to do. I am afraid that parts of this will be painful. I am sorry I’ll try to hurry through those.>

<Anything that you can do will be a god send. Just to be able to look at myself again and not be disgusted would be wonderful.> Helga told him.

Nodding Alan finally started the long and arduous process of restoring Helga to a semblance of looking human. After an hour Alan could see that this was going to take a hell of a lot longer than he thought. Two hours and he finally had almost all her DNA where it should be. Feeling drained Alan knew he had to keep going. This was taking far more energy than he thought it would.