The Games Villains Play (6 page)

After an hour and a half of this, Donny called everyone in.  With encouragement, he then dismissed the Hermes and the Titans, but asked the Prometheus group to stay for one more activity.  Donny had heard about the event that usually started each simulation game, where each team would send out a group of Hermes to spy on the other team.  This was the first part of the games that he wanted to change, and he had
an idea that he wanted to try.

Once the Hermes and Titans had left, Donny found himself in the arena with 11 Prometheus and Jay.  He decided it would be best if he just started talking, and let them figure out what was going on for
themselves
.  This would have the added benefit of letting Donny see how quickly they were each able to catch on.  “Jay…I mean, Decathlon, how are y
our abilities doing right now?”

“Well, my reading ability is doing great, but my othe
r two are diminishing quickly.”

“When would you say your abilit
y to mind read is at its peak?”

“Probably when I’m in class with other mind rea
ders.”

“Right, so it happens when you are surrounded by a group of readers.  Your ability increases by the amount of ability around you.  Like right now, you are surrounded by readers, so your ability to read should be pretty good. 
Ok, everyone, take two
steps closer to Decathlon.”

At Donny’s word, they each moved a little closer to Jay.  Donny could see that many of the older students had picked up on what was going on, at least partly.  He
could not
tell if Jay picked up on it before or after noticing the effects, but either way he could tell there was a change. 
“Any d
ifference in your ability now?”

“Yes, more pictures just showed up.  I guess I’m seeing a few deeper thoughts now.  Some of the dimmer ones are also clearer now
,”
Jay responded, looking off into space with his eyes, as he was clearly paying atten
tion to the images in his mind.

“Ok, so it isn’t just who’s around, but proximity makes a difference too.  That’s good to know. 
Alright, on to the point.
  I want to see how far we can boost Decathlon’s mind reading, and more specifically, if he could read the mind of someone on the opposite end of the arena from here with the help of the powers around him.  We are going to start with all the help available to us, just to see if it is possible, then if it is we will work down from there.  Snake, you and Decathlon have a strong mental bond already, so it would be easier for him to pick up on your signal.  I’m going to ask you to go over to the entrance on the far side of the arena and wait there, with your mind as open as you can.  The light boxes are open on both sides, so just flicker the lights to signal to us when you arrive on the other side, and we will flicker the lights when w
e are ready for you to return.”

Michael gave a nod, and began to jog off towards the far side.  While they waited, one of the Prometheus spoke up. 
“Hey, just a thought.
  What about us?  I mean, if he is able to read the mind of someone on the far side of the ar
ena, what would that do to us?”

Donny found the smallest amount of humor in the boy’s question.  He honestly had no idea what this would do, but he was sure it would not be harmful, as having one’s mind read has been shown to be completely safe for both parties.  “It won’t do anything to you,” Donny responded,
deciding it better to fake intelligence than to allow fear, “I just hope you don’t have any secrets you want hidden from Decathlon, because I’m sure he’ll be able to see them.”  Donny hoped his joke would keep them supportive; and more than that, he hoped his mental distortions were strong enough to trick the group of mind
readers he was trying to fool.

Finally the lights flickered.  “Ok, everyone move in close to Decathlon.”  Donny felt his stomach turning, but he
could not
tell if it was excitement or fear that this would all be a bust.  He watched his brother’s face intently.  The crowd got closer and closer, until Jay’s face was blocked.
  He would have to ask Jay now.

“Ok Decathlon, focus on Snake.  Take your time, and let me know if you can see anything.”

Jay remained silent for much longer than Donny liked.  When Jay finally spoke, Donny realized he had liked the silence better.  “Sorry Do
nny, I can’t see Snake at all.”

The group started to dissipate, but Donny
was not
finished quite yet.  “Hold on everyone, I have one last thing I’d like to try.  Everyone get into a position where you could touch Decathlon in some way.  I don’t know if touch makes a difference, but if proximity matters, there’s not
hing closer than direct touch.”

Everyone started moving about, getting close to Jay once more.  When the movement stopped, Donny was glad to see that Jay’s face was visible through a small window in the wall of bodies.  Donny saw his brother in deep focus, trying desperately to pick up on some hint of Michael’s thoughts.  Donny realized how silly the whole plan was and almost gave up then and there, but with everyone in
position,
it only made sense to try.  “Ok, now re
ach out and lay a hand on him.”

They did, and Donny could see the change immediately.  Jay had his eyes closed, but even with the eyelids covering them, Donny could see them almost widen.  There was a peaceful
amazement on Jay’s face for a moment, but the look quickly changed to a look of trapped fear, which quickly grew into full-fledged terror.  Donny heard someone yelling stop, and he began pulling people away from Jay with all his might.  He thought the voice yelling stop was Jay at first, but he soon realized it was his own.  The group began looking at Jay’s face to see what the commotion was about, and they could all see that something had gone wrong.  They moved away from him quickly, tripping over one another along the way.  Soon they were far enough for Jay to break out of his trance, and he fell to his knees shaking.  Donny rushed over and knelt beside h
im, making sure he was alright.

“It worked
,”
Jay whispered, with his head hanging low, facing down towards the ground.  The only reason Donny could tell his brother was crying was due to the small puddle that began to form on the ground bel
ow his face.

“You saw Michael?”  Donny asked in a whisper.  He
could not
think of why this could cause Jay such horror. 
Maybe Michael got hurt somehow?
  Donny wondered.

“No,” Jay whispered to him, letting him know his thoughts were wrong,
“
I saw…
everythi
ng.”

With that statement Jay could say no more.  Donny dismissed the group, assuring them that his brother would be alright.  He
flickered
the lights for Michael to come back, and when he arrived the three of them sat on the ground, waiting for Jay to recover.  None of them spoke a word.

CHAPTER 5

“
I HAVE
NOT seen
you two in a while.”

Silence.

“I take it you have something to report? 
A reason for coming to see me?”

Silence.

“I see.  Then it has happened.  What a pity, bringing the brother to the sc
hool had been working so well.”

“It was the brother’s fault.”

“Is that a
fact.
  Well, no matter who is to blame, it appears the time
has come for drastic measures.”

“Sir,
we had heard about your plan.”

“Yes, well it was
not
a plan until just now.  What you had heard was my fear, and it appears
that the fear is coming true.”

“But sir, are you sure it is a good idea to bring them back?  Couldn’t we just use hi
m the way we have
used the rest?”

“He knows too much to trust us that way.  No, this is the way it has to be.  I’
m calling them in immediately.”

“But sir…”

“I have made my decision.  You have been away from him too long already; he has had more than enough time to talk to someone with you gone.  I want this contained.  When we collect the boy for this, you are free to attempt the usual ways, but when he spits it in your
face,
I will be ready with my own solution.”

DONNY AWOKE TO
find a hand over his mouth, and a strong arm scooping him out of bed effortlessly.  He quickly began to think over all the things he had learned in class for countering a Titan, but they had only covered prevention from capture thus far, and he was already caught.  His mind was set at ease, however, when the Titan dashed off through the open dorm door with Donny still in his arms.  There was only one who could move that fast while lifting this much.  Jay carried Donny out of the main building, and across the school grounds to the buildings where the faculty lived.  With a jump that seemed effortless, Jay vaulted into a large second floor window that had been left open.  Jay caught the rim of the window frame to slow
himself
, and landed with surprisin
g softness on a carpeted floor.

“Don’t say a word,” Jay whispered, before removing his hand from Donny’s mouth.  Donny had many questions, but he remained silent.  After a moment where Jay looked like he was listening for
something, he began to explain.

“Ok, Donny, we need to talk fast, I don’t kn
ow how long they will be gone…”

“Who?
Where are we?”

“We’re in the Thomson’s house; they’re a couple of professor’s, one a Titan and one a Hermes.  I chose this spot because there
aren’t
Prometheus around to pick us up, and I can use their abilities for our escape.  They should still be asleep downstairs, but if you hear any movement, let me k
now, my reading is going fast.”

Donny was about to speak, but Jay put his hand up to stop him.  “There’s no time to discuss this,
I need to tell you what I saw.”

Donny kept his mouth shut and listened.  Despite the speed Jay claimed necessary, he still needed a brief
moment to collect his thoughts.

“Donny, it’s about the school.  It cannot be trusted.  When we did that exercise at practice this evening, I could feel my mind reaching out for Michael, and with all those Prometheus around with their hands on me, I got a burst of power that got me to him quickly.  But it was too much to stop there, so I let it fan out, and it picked up two more minds.  They’re minds that I’ve seen before, but never realized who they were.  Donny, the school has been watching me.  There are tunnels under the school, and two experienced Prometheus have been using them to stay under me and keep track of my thoughts and actions.  When I began looking at their pictures, more and more began to surface.  They must have been fairly close, and with so much ability available to me, I was able to get past their blocks easily, and I could see wha
t this school is really about.”

Jay paused for a moment to think of how to proceed.  Finally the truth came out.  “Donny, the school isn’t training heroes to protect the world from the villains.  They are training tools with whic
h to keep
themselves
in power.”

Donny was confused.  He had grown up seeing on the news all the group battles between the heroes and the villains, and the heroes were always attributed to have been trained here at the Academy.  “But if the heroes aren’t coming from her
e, where are they coming from?”

“No Donny, the heroes do come from here.  Half the students who graduate from the school are sent out as heroes to defend the earth.  But I know now why the villains’ base has never been found, and I know how they are able to keep up with the heroes despite all the training we get. 
Donny, this school is the heroes’ base, but…it’s the villains’ base as well.  The other
half of the stud
ents are
sent out as villains.”

Donny had to sit down.  His whole life…their whole life…they had dreamed of coming to this school and getting trained to be heroes.  “But how do they get half the students to become villains?  Everyone here hates them, and is training to rid the worl
d of them.  It doesn’t add up.”

“I don’t
know,
they have some way of controlling them, making them turn bad.  I didn’t have time to find that part out.  Donny we have to get back, I don’t want them coming after you.  I don’t
want them to realize you know.”

“Then why did you tell me?”  Donny
was not
upset
that he was told, he was relieved
.  His question was completely gen
uine, he merely wanted to know.

“Donny, I saw across the arena into Michael’s head, I penetrated the mental defenses of two trained spies, but the most difficult mind to get into was yours.  You don’t just block, like most do, you deceive, and your fake thoughts are believable.  If they question someone that I tell, and that person can’t keep them out of their head, then this information will make them a target.  You’re the only one I believe can hold them off.  But that is all for nothing if they discover we
’re gone, we need to get back.”

“Jay, you realize they’re going to come after you, right?”

“Of course I do.”

Without another word, Jay picked Donny up and dashed back out the window.  They landed with a run, and before long Jay was placing Donny back into his bed, and without a word he dashed off again.  Donny knew he was in the correct bed, the same bed from which he had been snatched not long ago, but now it felt different.  Donny came to this school young, small, and powerless, but the knowledge, the false knowledge, that everyone around
were
heroes, had kept
him feeling secure.  He was no longer at the same school that he had agreed to attend, and for the first time, he felt vulnerable.

DESPITE BEING UNABLE
to get any sleep after the middle of the night meeting, Donny refused to get up early.  Jay had entrusted him with dangerous information, and the last thing he wanted to do was to show a sign that something was different.  He got out of bed, washed, and went to breakfast with Lenny as he had originally planned.  After breakfast he attended his classes, got lunch, and went about a normal day.  Donny was surprised to see Jay at lunch, eating with his friends normally, untouched by the school. 
Whatever they will do, they
must need time to organize it.

Donny had called for a second practice that evening, so the group gathered once more at the arena.  Donny had a new idea for this practice.  It would be suspicious, but he felt like he could talk his way out of any questioning.  Beside
s, his brother needed the help.

Once everyone had arrived, Donny began.  “Alright, yesterday was a good practice, but there was one thing that made the teams uneven.  Anyone care to venture a guess
as to what that one thing was?”

“My plans to stop Decathlon didn’t work
,”
Duke responded with a smile.

“Well, yes, in a way that is what I was getting at.  The teams were a little uneven due to Decathlon playing with so many other strong players.  Can anyone think of ways to divide the teams that would be fairer?”

“There are no fair teams with Decathlon here, whatever
team he is on, he will win.” 

That was exactly the response Donny was hoping for.  “Ok, then I
suppose
the fairest we could do would be ev
eryone against Decathlon then.”

A few laughed, but the laughter quickly ended when they realized he was serious.  Jay said nothing.  Donny told everyone to get ready,
then
he called Duke and Flash over to himself.  Duke started be
fore Donny could get a word in.

“I’m not so sure this is a good
idea,
your brother seemed to have had a tough practice yesterday.  Don’t you think we should give him a day or two to recov
er?”

“I’m glad for your concern, b
ut he’s fine.  This will help.”

“Ok, but this is a little bit overkill.  I don’t see how this will get us r
eady for the simulation games.”

I’m not preparing him for the simulation games anymore. 
Donny thought to himself, disguising his thoughts so Duke would not detect them.  With the matter settled, Donny began his instructions.  “Halfway around on the right side of the arena is a storage room.  Inside are the paintball guns that they sometimes use in the games.  This game will consist of your team getting all the guns, and going after Decathlon.
  If you can hit him, you win.”

Duke paused to see if Donny had any further instructions, so Donny took that moment to turn and walk away briskly.  He did not want any more questions or comments about the exercise.  He then went to Jay, and together they began their walk around to the other side of the arena.  Donny wanted to talk to him about the previous night, but he realized that if Jay did not initiate conversation, the spies were probably
back
on him.  Finally Jay opened his mouth to speak, but it
was not
what Donny was hoping for.

“So what is the exercise going to be today?  This would surely make an inter
esting capture the flag event.”

“It won’t be
capture
the flag today, and I’m actually not going to te
ll you when the event will be.”

“How am I to have any chance if I don’t even
know what I’m supposed to do?”

“You’ll learn quickly enough.”

The conversation ended as quickly as it had begun, and they reached the far side
without another word.

Once again, Donny sat out of the game and watched.  This game was meant to do two things; for one thing it was to prepare Jay for anything.  With the information Jay found, they were both sure something would be coming after him.  The exercise was also for Donny’s sake.  He wanted to see what Duke and Flash would come up with to stop Jay.  Every plan that they came up with would be one more attemp
t that they could be ready for.

In the back of the storage closet Donny had found a ladder leading up to a catwalk above the playing area of the arena.  From there he could watch the events unfold without interfering.  He stayed above Jay first, watching him enter and look about.  For a moment Donny felt like maybe he was doing the wrong thing, segregating his brother from the team.  Donny wanted them both to be prepared, but he did
not
know what it was they should be prepared for.  As he watched his brother, he longed for the days when they were younger, playing games in the yard, imagining that they were heroes.  The dream was much nicer back then, when the villains really were villains, and their enemies were only a t
hreat when they could see them.

The game did not last very long.  A few people showed up to Jay’s right, and Jay saw them immediately.  Then the shot came, hitting Jay from the left.  The sneak attack was completely successful, and everyone s
eemed surprised by its success.

“Good, now let’s try it again, this time with Jay being aware that he is a target.  Go back to your entrance, switch to a different paint color, when you’re ready, flicker the lights to show
it’
s
begun, and start back again.”

They did as he said, moving back across the arena towards the far entrance.  Jay looked up at Donny with a smirk.  He was relieved to see that his brother was not taking this poorly.  In fact, it looked like this might actual
ly be cheering Jay up a little.

After a time the lights flickered, but this time Jay did not stand around waiting, but dashed off in the direction of the other entrance.  He was considerably slower than a normal Hermes, but he was still considerably faster than Donny.  Donny ran to catch up, making sure to be careful on the catwalk, but not wanting to miss the event.  Jay was quickly out of sight, and by the time Donny got close enough to see the group, they were all walking around casually.  Whatever
took place was clearly over.