Chapter 1
Project Duality
Devon entered the cafe ordering his usual, a black coffee. Cheapest thing on the menu.
Once he had his drink he slung his bag over one shoulder, spotting a corner table, he rushed over to it positioning his back against the wall. When nobody else was looking he waved his hands beneath the table, two illusions shimmered to life across from him, both looking like tired students deep in their work.
Satisfied with his handiwork, he pulled out his own books and got to work. Those men had only given him a week to make a decision, something was not quite right about them though. He poured through books, and pages, tabloids, and news reports dating back almost three centuries but there was no mention of any groups of people. In fact it was the opposite, important events always seemed to have holes or excuses that tied the issues up in too perfect of a bow.
He paused, coming to the same conclusion as the day before. Could a complete lack of proof be the proof he was looking for? Sure that sounded crazy but the evidence was all in front of him, slave labor ended over night, the failed coup of the eighth ruler of Dominion failed just in time for him to implement elections moving forward, even a supposed invasion of Tranquility forces, according to one tabloid, from a hundred years ago just a complete foot note. No turmoil lasted more than a few days in Dominion, Devon shook his head, accepting what he found in silence.
He pulled out his personal notes and added these new thoughts after verifying his feelings. He scanned the room making sure nobody was looking at him and then slowly piled his documents back into his bag. As he was standing up he made sure to not screech the feet against the ground, slowly tucking it back in, leaving his illusions in place as he sped out the door. When he stepped into the bitter cold wind he pulled up his mask and pulled the hood of his jacket up so only his eyes were exposed. When he saw an empty ally he dipped in and faded into invisibility ducking out of the other side.
Devon gripped his bag at his side and dashed through the streets. With the storm blowing in most people were hiding away inside, making it easier to slip by anybody that he would pass. He made it to his dorm, rushing up the stairs to his floor instead of taking the elevator this time. When he made it to his room he unlocked the door, jumped in the room then slammed the door all in one motion.
“A little dramatic aren’t we darling?” Devon spun around as he was coming back into sight and pressed his back against the door, feeling the bile and coffee mix bubble up in his stomach.
The woman’s lips turned upwards on one side and she peered at him over the top of her glasses, her dark hair flowing down her face and shoulders. “Surely you didn’t think we would leave you to your own devices for too long boy.”
Devon tried to speak but his throat had dried up the moment before so all he could do was make a tiny croak before he closed his mouth.
“Pull your mask down, we need to talk about our proposal Devon.” He complied and slowly pulled the cloth down his face, his jaw trembling as he did. “This recruitment has been a bit… unconventional, to say the least.” She paused as she stood and stepped towards him. “However, that doesn’t take away from the importance of why we need you.” She stood face to face with him, tall, confident, against his slumped posture.
“I… I can’t be what you’re looking for.” He couldn’t meet her eyes and his voice was barely a whisper now.
Her lips twitched into a sneer for a brief moment before going back to a smile. “Not in your current state. You’re a coward, you don’t use your abilities properly, and you lack vision, but we can fix all of that.” Devon looked further down after those insults. “You do bring a unique skillset though. That is the reason we want you in the first place and it’s one that we will desperately need. And unfortunately, someone of your birthright is far too valuable to let fall into any opposition’s hands.” She pulled a glove over her hand and up her arm.
“What if I die?” The question wasn’t just for her but one that had lingered on his mind since they had approached him yesterday.
“Its possible.” She touched her hand to her chin. “But if you don’t join, that will be your fate anyway, along with all of your loved ones.” She let out a sigh. “The Hand protects Dominion, sometimes that means its at the cost of our own lives. Whether you die by my hand today or someone else tomorrow, either way Lights End will be a safer place but we are offering you the option to save lives before that inevitability.”
Devon slumped over further now. “Ma’am, miss, whoever you are? I just want to go about my life. I won’t oppose you or join anyone else, I’m not a threat.”
The woman grabbed his face with her gloved hand and turned his gaze towards her. “Devon, sweetheart. You are the top of your class and have two abilities. Regardless of your confidence issues you are valuable, not because of who you’ve become but because of what you can do, you’re a number. A number that can help people, stop being foolish and don’t throw away the lives of you and your family.”
She pulled a card out of thin air and handed it to Devon. “You have four more hours darling. Don’t be stupid.” She gestured for him to get out of the way. Unable to break her gaze Devon sat there frozen. When he did not move the woman shook her head and rubbed his cheek before she vanished into thin air.
After some time had passed Devon looked closely at the card. The name Nina Breakweight stretched across the top in white letters along a black glossy surface and a mark that looked like someone had kissed the card but there was no address or any other identifying information so he dropped the card to the floor and lay down on his bed, finally being able to convince his body to let go of a full breath.
The timer hadn’t changed but her reminding him felt like it made things worse. Devon read through his notebooks one more time before packing everything up and heading to his parents house on the other side of Lights End.
When he arrived Helen, his mother, was outside de-icing their walk way to their door. “Devon?” She looked up and dropped the ice scraper. “Oh my baby boy!” She ran up and embraced him pulling tight enough that he could feel his breathing become more difficult.
“Mom, everything’s fine, you don’t need to suffocate me I promise.” He hugged her back before pulling away and making his way to the door. “I know that someone is going to be here soon, did you guys get packed like we talked about?”
His mother put her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. “Devon, we can’t just pack up and leave. Your father is on the back half of his working years before he can retire and your sister just finished her introductory education.”
Devon shook his head at her words and made his way inside to find his father and sister next. When he had found them upstairs they were working on Illiana’s entry exam project for her post general education. “Devon, You did make it home today!” Illiana ran up and gave him a hug. “I made that roasted mushroom and potato blend you told us about just for you today.”
His mouth hung open as she looked at him so excitedly and then he looked over her shoulder to see his father next, begging him with a look for the older man to jump in and help him get ready for the bad news. “Illiana, thank you, I think all of us need to go downstairs though to talk before someone else shows up.” He slowly looked between the two of them and both of their expressions darkened but they followed him down the stairs where his mother was already waiting in their living room.
Illiana had gone and taken four servings out of the oven of the dinner she had made and Devon started. “I know when I was here before none of you believed me, but I think they are going to come here to talk with me so that we are all in the same room.” Before he could get any further there was a loud knock at the door. Devon’s stomach dropped as he looked, horrified, down the hallway to the door to the outside.
His mother made her way to the door without saying anything and let the newcomers in, three people all walked in and introduced themselves but the only name that Devon could hear was “Nina” and his throat felt like it was closing.
“Hello Mrs. Saunder, we are some potential future colleges of your son Devon.” She gestured towards him. “I wanted to come introduce myself and make sure everyone in the family knew what was going on with our proposal.” She slowly spun around the room smiling at each of his family members but ignoring him.
His father started but he seemed slower, did she have an empath with her? A telepath? His father rubbed his head “Devon has let us know that someone had met with him and that we were in some trouble, can you explain what he means by that before I start wanting to throw you out of my home?” The man clearly looked like he was off but he did seem to be holding onto some normalcy better than his mother and sister.
Nina chuckled. “Oh Mr. Saunder, no no no there seems to have been a misunderstanding. Our organization relocates families to other cities, we are a covert group so we want to ensure that when Devon’s official file reflects as deceased there are no familial ties close by to blow his cover.” Greg turned towards Devon but it felt like time had slowed with that explanation to his father and the woman continued. “We are an underground organization that works directly with the government. I am sure you are aware of your son’s uniqueness. We have been monitoring his skills for the last half decade and we would be honored to have your blessing to bring him under our wing. Your family will be compensated fairly and Devon will be taken care of as he does the important work that citizens like yourself should never see.”
Nina let those words hang in the air as his whole family turned towards him, all of them with looks of shock on their faces. He finally swallowed and attempted to speak. “I’m sorry you guys.” The words did come out but they were dry. “If I am going to join them, you can’t be here. They will take you south and set you up with a nice life while I stay here and do my part.” He repeated every word the telepath had pushed into his mind, however, this was his only choice to keep his family safe at this point.
His sister and mother started to cry and rushed him to hug him tightly. “Sweetie, are you sure you want to do this?” His mother had tears streaming down her face now. “Listen, we can help you find something else, you can move home with us.” She looked back and forth both of his eyes so he closed them and shook his head.
“You don’t understand mom, I have to do this.” He was fighting back his own tears now and then felt a grip on his shoulder just as his own eyes started to well.
“Come on Helen, the boys already made his decision, I don’t think we have any say in the matter anymore.” Devon shook his head slowly not wanting to say anything that would put them in danger. “Nina was it?” He turned to the woman as she shook her head. “I will need to resign from my job and we will need to pack everything up and sell the home. When do we need to leave by?”
Nina smiled right at Devon. “You don’t need to worry about a thing Mr. Saunder, we actually have connections at your employer so you will be granted your retirement package early and we can purchase this home from you for fifteen percent above fair market value.”
Greg paused. “And the only catch is that you own my son until the day he dies.”
Nina closed her eyes and grit her teeth. “We don’t own anyone, Mr. Saunder. Your son has volunteered to help keep Lights End and the rest of Dominion safe, as the rarity he is.”
Devon’s father walked up to him slowly. “Is this what you want son?”
Devon opened his eyes, meeting his fathers gaze. “It’s what I need to do.” He nodded as he said it and his father reached out his hand. Devon took his hand and both of them shook, as if in understanding before embracing in a hug.
“Illiana, Helen, we need to let him do this. It’s like he said, he needs to.” Greg nodded slowly and started to walk back up the stairs. “Lets get everything packed girls.” He faced his son one more time. “Good luck Devon, we know you’ll do great.”
Devon’s arms went slack and he turned to Nina. He grit his teeth together and made his way out the front door seeing another group of people there and then followed them to the car and then they took him away.
