4 years later
At one point in my life I always dreamed of flying, now I'd give anything just to walk. To be normal would be a blessing and to have everyone treat me like a person would be even better, guess that's too much to ask for the son of the first negative.
At least I'm not in public school anymore, being crucified every day of freshman year forced me to see that a normal life wasn't possible anymore. It never was to begin with. I don't remember everything from the day my dad turned into a negative, just fragments of traumatic memories. Like watching a horror movie through your fingers, closing them whenever you think something scary is gonna happen. You know something bad happened but you didn't see the bad only hearing it or other peoples reactions to it. Only when I put my hands down did everyone look at me like I helped the killer in the movie.
Life is not the same. I understand that but I wish I had a choice in the matter. I'm tired of imagining what could have been, tired of waiting for something to happen, I'm just so tired of what life has been since I started high school. Even now as I sit drawing birds they are always the same birds of that day between me and my father. If only I could fly.
"Mr. Curran!" Mr. Tulson shouted to the back of the classroom.
I looked up from the sketches of birds I scribbled into my notebook, seeing my teacher stare up at me from his podium. The small class of twenty minus had their heads turned towards me, I heard an under-breathed chuckle from the right of the room.
"Sorry." I said while closing my sketch book.
"No need for apologies but just because you're passing my class doesn't mean you get to doodle. Pay attention." Mr. Tulson remarked in disappointment.
My eyes stared around once he turned his back to his white marker board. Some of the minus students glared at me while others couldn't be bothered to look at me. Being the only person in my classes without powers would already cause stares, tack on the fact that I don't have to wear a Deus Collar and now I'm always a topic for conversation when I enter any room at MSAE.
Minus School for Alaska Education doesn't usually accept minuses without a confirmed Apollo gene development in their DNA but a few exceptions were made for me. For the most part it was for my safety due to the public reception of my father. We're disliked by minuses but humans hate the existence of the Viser name and would love nothing more than to bury it away forever with my father.
There was no way I could safely attend the high school I was zoned for in Colorado so one of the members of the Minus Five, Deus Ex Machina, leveraged his position within the government. He had me and my mom move to Alaska, the state with the least minus population. We took on my mom's maiden name of Curran and we were reportedly killed the day he attacked my school. Since almost every human that witnessed the event perished to my father, the cover up was a success. The only ones who know about me and my mom are ex members of the Minus Five, what's left of them anyway.
Felix's dad died trying to stop my dad, I haven't talked to him since I moved. Grandpa has been missing for four years. Mom and I have accepted that since dad was looking for him that he's most likely dead. Otherwise we don't know why he hasn't tried to contact us.
The dull ring of the worn out bell signal for the end of class, everyone shuffles about as Mr. Tulson warns us about the test on Monday. While I wait for everyone to leave, so I don't get in the way, I slip my books and utensils into my pack then throw them over the back of my chair. After everyone has left I grab my wheels, turning the right one back to aim myself down the back of the other desk chairs. While strolling out of the room and into the walking traffic of the halls I watch as other students mingle, grouping together in friendships that were formed over their high school times.
In my freshman year I was strictly adjusting to what had happened in my life while during sophomore year I was nervous to make friends from the fear they might recognize who I was, even though that was impossible. My last two years I decided to join the chess club after mom suggested it. I used to play all the time with my grandfather. Through the club I made a few acquaintances that I could wave to while strolling through school between classes but nothing close and personal like in Colorado. That was until Winston arrived.
He was a transfer like me but he was from Florida and I'm sure he didn't have any secret emotional baggage from his move. He also knew nothing about chess but joined because he heard one time it would make you smarter. On the first day he joined in our junior year he challenged me because he heard that I was the best player. He lost. The next day he challenged me again and once again I won. He challenged me every day that week and every day he lost. He promised that he'd beat me some day and we've been friends ever since.
He seems rather confident today but that's nothing new. I went easy on Winston by starting with a French Defense, moving my right middle pawn two spaces out to start against his pawn just across from mine. What followed was a sporadic attempt with his knights and forceful pawn play in order to attack my pieces till we both had as few pieces as possible. If he wanted to play aggressive and sacrificial, he should at least make sure he took out my most important piece, the queen. Between my last rook and queen I cornered him until me and Ms. Dasha heard the sound of loss that Winston is known for.
"Ah damn it!" He yells while pounding the classroom table, knocking the chess pieces standing on the board and to its side over or off the table.
"Hart! I've told you not to cuss every time you lose. The board game club next door has been complaining to me." Ms. Dasha says while turning away from watching the news.
Winston pushes his slumped glasses back up his crooked nose and begins retying his long auburn hair, fixing the fuzziness from frustration. "I know, I'm sorry. If you'd convince Alic to let me win it wouldn't be a problem." He said.
I laughed at the remark and so did Ms. Dasha. She stood from her desk and made her away towards the classroom door. "I'm just the overseer for what is basically insanity." She said as Winston rolled his eyes. "You guys go ahead and clean up, when I get back from the restroom I'm locking up."
"Yes ma'am." We both said.
Winston kneeled down to pick the pieces off the ground and I took care of those on the board while flipping the board over, tucking them away into their slots within the hollow wood carved casing. My eyes scanned the empty room, remembering when there were more members. All of them moved on in life due to changing interests, relationships, or preparing for college. Only me and Winston have kept the chess club from ending but with the lack of interest from new students I doubt it'll be around once we graduate this year. My attention met the small desk TV that Ms. Dasha had playing, noticing that Deus Ex Machina, was speaking on Minus population rights and representation.
I remember when I first met him with my dad, it was just after a press conference with congress. He was more man than machine then but his appearance always stayed the same whenever his power improved him. His Apollo gene gifted him with an ability to utilize technology through his body. He told me that the first thing he did with the power was a selfish act, he changed his appearance so that people would accept him as a minus. It worked but he felt hollow inside, like he was becoming more machine than man. Grandpa taught him that he needed to use his power to contribute to the world. That would keep him human, because technology either consumes or contributes and the person that uses it decides which one.
Deus is still using his technology to protect the Minus people from the humans after my father ruined what was built. I had only heard rumors but I believe Deus and grandpa were planning on expanding the Minus Five into either a bigger team or making another one altogether. Now the only progression he's been able to gain is the approval of every Minus having to wear Deus dampening collars at all times, nullifying the Apollo gene within them so that abilities stemming from the Minus blood can't be used. The government and humans fear us, they fear what we could become even though it's only happened one time.
Winston noticed me looking at the Minus public address while he was finishing up with the chess board. "You think it'll pass?"
"Huh?" I said confused while he grinned at me. "Sorry I zoned out, what did you say?"
"For someone so focused during our chess matches you always space out between them a lot." He said, teasing me.
"Maybe that's my secret to winning, I keep my eye on everything at all times." I said with false confidence.
"Yeah right!" He scoffed. "If you had an Apollo gene I don't know if your ability would be having a big head or being full of shit."
We laugh as he rises from his seat, heading to the shelf near Ms. Dasha's desk to tuck the board away. Wheeling myself to the middle of the room I see Deus continuing to argue with the human court members. I had been listening periodically when Winston had to think of his next move. The discussion was led by President James Cadence, an old and grizzled veteran of a man who won his first term the year my father lost his mind. He used the promises of Minus control and favoritism towards human progression to gain a seat within the white house. This year he will be running for a second term and he continues to hold the same method and underhanded tactics as before. Unfortunately for Deus that means he might as well be talking to a stone wall, Cadence didn't seem to care about what he had to say. I listened to the plea of Deus to the president and his council.
"The goal of these equal footed meetings is to lead to progression of humans and minus culture, society, and technology" Deus said. "Since the unfortunate events that took place four years ago you seem to only favor the technological side of the minus people. My people are more than just me, James."
The court camera angles hoped between the council of six browsing their desks, looking at papers, paying no mind to the words spoken. A long and drawn silence followed Deus's statement until President Cadence's deep voice broke it. "I'm assuming by that statement you have a much larger request than our usual federal funding towards your corporation."
"Indeed I do." Deus answers.
"Proceed." Cadence demands.
"I would like with the permission of the human congress, council, and president to begin the formation of a new defense force of minuses, one approved and overseen by my eyes personally." Deus says with a calm and stern tone.
The faces of the other six council members shot glances of disapproval towards Deus while Cadence looked down at Deus from his grand wooden podium with a hint of dismay. "That is not for discussion. Our agreement was the civilized compromise of control over your people and the abilities granted to them through the genetic alterations of Apollo's presence. You can not guarantee that an incident like that of Colorado's would not happen again."
"Before the horrible acts committed by Dan Viser we were on the cusp of a new age. We were going to change as a society for the greater good!" Deus said with passion in his strong voice.
"Things did change when Maximum spoke for you and your people with an act of villainy!" Cadence bit back at the rising voice of Deus
Without warning the lights of the school began to flicker suddenly as Deus's gaze turned to a cold but fierce steady stare towards the president of the humans. Deus was always excellent at hiding his emotions behind his cybernetic flesh but underneath his white and black steel exterior was the heart of a man who was still human. A man that had seen Apollo the day he descended onto earth, felt his cosmic force, and changed into a minus. He was angry at James but he let out his frustrations through other means in his technology. Every school that teaches minus students was built with his technology and funded by his pockets. I was sure we weren't the only school experiencing problems.
Deus took a deep breath and the lights ceased their sputtering. "Maximum does not define the average Minus, you know that very well President Cadence. Not I or any other minus wakes from our rest and wishes harm on humans. We are not villainous, we are just labeled by the weighted chains of a man's past actions. Whether that past is defined by the actions of Maximum Minus or Apollo, every Minus wishes to be freed from the shackles I made for humans to feel safe. We just want to fly again."
"The age of flying is no more Mr. Morris." Cadence says with a tone of authority. "Minuses will have to continue learning to walk amongst humans."
"My name is Deus Ex Machina. It's been that since Apollo changed me and we as minuses have walked long before we flew. We changed with the times of chaos and struggle. Perhaps you see us that way, as unwanted change. I hate to be the messenger of such news but change is inevitable. It will arrive regardless of how humans feel. I know that it is coming and when it does I trust that you will make the right decision, before it's too late."
"Is that a threat?" Cadence asks.
"It's a promise, one that I fear will be enforced by something other than me." Deus answers.
"I believe that will end our meeting, as always I thank you for your input Mr. Morris."
Cadence says while rising with the other six members and leaving off to the side, out of the camera's view. The final shot is one that most minuses have seen one too many times, Deus with a look of disappointment while standing at a podium alone.
A hand touching my shoulder pulled my attention from the television. It was Ms. Dasha who had returned from her leave.
"Alright boys, I'm locking up. You two have a safe trip home."
"Thank you Ms. Dasha." Winston said while gabbing my wheelchair and pushing me around.
"Thank you." I said.
As me and Winston left the room and made our way out into the snowy Alaskan afternoon I was lost in the thought of what Deus had said about change being inevitable. I thought about it for probably too long but the prospect of it entranced me. I just hope he's right, because I could really use some change in my life right now.