Chapter 11

General Concerns

It was my father who responded.

"I think you can understand the general's concerns, Wyatt," he said, not bothering to look at the ruined doorway. He didn't need to. I'd made his point for him. "And let me assure you," he turned back to Mill who was just getting some color back in his face, "I share those concerns, Harrison. Wyatt, what he can do, it's all so new. We at least understand now the effect the Hercules beam had on his DNA, the alterations it made to his code." News to me. "And the results are as I hoped in the beginning of the experiment, if not better. But making him a possession of the government is a mistake." He caught my eyes as he went on. "Wyatt is just as dedicated as we are to finding out the full extent of his abilities and how those talents can serve his country."

I didn't roll my eyes or make a face, proud of my restraint. Instead, I clasped my hands behind my back to hide my clenched fists and nodded to the general. "That's right," I said. Dad was on my side, but I wasn't sure why. Like I was buying the whole "he needs social interaction with others" crap. He had another agenda, that much was obvious. There was more going on than either of them were telling me. Still, if Dad's goals kept me from having to destroy my way out of the underground base, I'd play along.

Mill grumbled a bit under his breath. I caught "should never have let you talk me into this" before Dad interrupted.

"According to my calculations, all of Wyatt's abilities have manifested themselves. He is perfectly safe and aware of his strength and what it can do."

This I agreed with right down to the ground. I knew I had to be, well, super careful to make a pun of it.

The general wasn't so sure. He held up a file folder with my name and TOP SECRET stamped across it in red.

"Tell that to the boy's principal," Mill said. "My sources tell me they had to cut his office chair out of a hardwood." The file slapped against the table as the general used it as a projectile. "Do you have any idea how much work it's going to take to clean up that particular mess?"

He had me followed? I was pissed. But my father answered before I could.

"You were the one who told me to send him home," he said. "I wanted to keep him under surveillance."

Mill's face flushed very red. "Don't turn this around on me, Simons."

"All I'm saying is," Dad held up his hands to hold off the general's wrath, "you need to start trusting me when it comes to this project. I have everything under control, including my son. This is what you hired me for in the first place, Harrison. To run Hercules. I know we've had trouble in the past," the general's face darkened even more, "but aside from Wyatt's initial non-reaction, his progress is following my exact DNA reconstruction model. You know it. You've seen it."

It was very, very hard to keep my mouth shut. What trouble? They were still keeping secrets from me!

"We need to continue testing," my father went on, oblivious. "Wyatt is displaying multiple minor talents along with his invulnerability. I'd like him to hone those carefully. And what better way than to introduce more subjects just like him?"

Whoa. More subjects? So that's what this was all about. My dad wanted to make more super people like me. I wasn't at all surprised. There were six chairs in the chamber after all and none of them were empty the night I was tested. But who was he planning to put in them this time? Instead of asking the question, I thought of a better one.

"How did you know," I cut him off, "it would work on me?"

I fully expected the answer to make me unhappy.

Dad shot me a look before going on. "The last test we did, I noticed an anomaly in the results. One of the soldiers came to me later with a confession. He was dyslexic and now, all of a sudden, he isn't."

"So?"

"It confirmed what I knew all along," Dad said, glaring at the general. "Ordinary DNA is impervious to this particular energy radiation. I originally worked on the premise the Hercules beam would alter normal DNA. When I first stumbled on it years ago, it worked the first time on a test rat. But when I continued my investigations here, it only did so in twenty-five per cent of cases. At first, I couldn't understand why. Until I uncovered the rodents who succeeded in the test had some sort of disability, an inherent gene dysfunction weakening their DNA."

I actually found it fascinating. But the general evidently heard it all before and waved at my father to cut him off.

"We've been over this," Mill said.

"I haven't," I said. "Go on, Dad."

"You recall I wanted to start with damaged subjects from the beginning." Damaged subjects. It was all I meant to him. Dad went on, his enthusiasm growing. "But you insisted when we started the human trials we use flawless subjects. We both know how that turned out."

Mill gnashed his teeth on his cigar. "I hate it when you're right."

My father grinned. "And I am. Damaged DNA is able to let in the beam's particular radiation. It's why I insisted on Wyatt."

"So you want me to round up some disabled soldiers?" The general had a good grasp of the sarcastic.

"Ah, it's not so simple," my father said. "The soldier whose dyslexia was cured gained that change alone. No super abilities."

"Meaning?" I could tell the general was drawn in despite himself.

"It doesn't work for adults," my father said. "Only growing DNA, the genetic code of teenagers to be precise, is viable. The mice proved it. Not only were they disabled, they weren't quite to full maturity."

The general soaked in the information as he sunk into my father's chair. I was pretty floored by it myself.

"You're certain?" Mill said.

"Yes. Absolutely. I've checked my data over and over, even subjected a few new rodents to the beam. The results are the same in every case."

At least he was being honest at last, though I was actually amazed he was willing to spill the details in front of me. Until I caught the expression on his face and understood. He'd dismissed me again, was focused on the general, like I was one of those rats he mentioned, unable to comprehend. Oh, but I could, and did. Not to mention the fact I suddenly realized there were a bunch of super rodents running around the lab somewhere. It gave me the willies.

I was getting my answers, though.

"Wonderful," the general said. "Super kids. What a nightmare."

"Thanks," I said.

At least he acknowledged me. Mill shrugged and smiled at me for the first time ever.

"Very well then." The general got back on his feet. "You have a go. Proceed with Phase Two."

I looked back and forth between my father and Mill, not liking the small smile on Dad's face.

"Phase Two?" This whole fiasco couldn't have another level.

"More recruits," the general said. "I thought it was obvious."

"We're about to make you some new friends, Wyatt," my father said, finally turning back to me, though his tone told me he was only placating me and not taking me seriously. "I'm cleared for the full six, general?"

Mill waved at him as he headed for the door. "Six, yes, just do it before I get my sanity back and change my mind." He marched off without a backward glance. I caught a glimpse of movement in the hallway before I turned back to my father.

Uni winked at me from where he watched us and went after Mill.

"You can't do this," I said. "You can't just go around testing on kids."

"But I can," he said. "Wyatt, the subjects are already chosen. I just needed the final go- ahead." Dad reached for his phone.

I had to make him listen. "What if it doesn't work for them? What if you just make things worse?" What if I'm a freak and this proves it? I was not about to voice the last, but I couldn't help thinking it.

My father set the phone down and crossed his arms over his chest. "You're telling me you would deny other kids like you the chance at a better life? The kind of life the Hercules Project can offer them?" He shook his head. "This is your project now, Wyatt. And mine. You're as much a part of this as anyone and I want your support. But, I don't need it." He lifted the receiver, ignoring me as he punched in numbers with gusto.

My scowl did nothing to negate his obvious dismissal, so I finally turned and left. It wasn't like I was about to change his mind.

I was startled to find Uni waiting for me in the hall. He smiled his horrible smile and clapped me on the arm. He was short little man, but I felt the impact. Weird.

"I told you I'd be seeing you again," he said in a low voice as he led me further from my father's office. "Well done, Wyatt. Well done."

I was too angry with Dad to be in a charming mood.

"Whatever," I said. "Like I had a choice in the matter."

"You do now," Uni said. "You have all the choices in the world. Think about it." He winked one of his bulging eyes. "You can do anything you want, anything you choose to do."

"Not with my father and the general looking over my shoulder." The bitterness made me feel like a whiner all over again.

"Only if you let them," he said. "As you demonstrated with such clarity," he gestured toward my father's ruined doorway, "they must ask you nicely. It's up to you if you choose to obey."

He was right. The empty threat I threw in their faces wasn't empty after all. I paused in the hall, my bad mood fading as I considered the possibilities. I didn't notice Uni had gone until my father walked past me, telling me it was time to get back to work.

***