‘THE PRISON OF JUNE’
Abner Jenkins saw the third red light blink on the collar strapped to the young man sitting opposite him before, with a dull thud, his head hit the floor.
“Jesus fucking hell!” Abe swore as he backed away from the still quivering remains of the other prisoner. “What the hell is going on here!?” He asked, as the only door into the dark room with multiple seats opened up and two men dressed in blue uniforms walked inside.
“Keep calm prisoner.” One of the soldiers ordered as he and his colleague picked up the body and placed it at the back of the room. With a hiss the door opened and the body was dragged out of the chamber, air sucking out until the door closed again. “Don’t cause trouble and you won’t end up being ejected.”
“Where am I?” Abe asked, as the two men retreated back out of the room. “Answer me?” He called as he looked at the blood stain on the floor. It was clear that he was in some kind of aircraft, albeit not one that he recognised. Perhaps asking where he was, was the wrong question, maybe the right one was, where was he being taken.
Abe guessed that maybe it had been thirty minutes since the ejection before the guards walked back into the rear section of the aircraft.
“We’re landing.” The soldier stated as he bent down to check the harness that was keeping Abe locked in.
“Once we arrive you can get to work.”
“On what?” Abe asked as the soldier walked back to what he assumed was the cockpit, just as the aircraft shuddered and a few minutes later felt the vehicle touch down. Seconds later the guards exited the cockpit and unbuckled Abe’s harness leading him to the back of the aircraft. Resisting slightly, Abe breathed a sigh of relief when he saw solid ground waiting for him. That relief changed when he saw rows of armed soldiers arrayed in rows towards a series of low-slung grey buildings, all balanced on a massive chunk of floating rock positioned in mid-air. Standing before him was a woman dressed in a white bodysuit, her blond hair covered by a hood, a wicked smile on her face.
“Welcome to Sky Island, Abner Jenkins.” The woman stated as the soldiers lead Abe towards her. “I’m Dr Covington, and you now work for me.”
“I’ve heard of you.” Abe replied. “You have a trail of bodies that tops most mercenaries in your wake. I’m sorry but I won’t work for you.” June clicked her fingers, and Abe felt the collar he was wearing tick slightly.
“That’s a shame.” June sighed as she turned to one of the soldiers. “Get Virgo out here.” She ordered as she took Abe’s hand and led him to the edge of ‘Sky Island’, two guards following her. “Take a look Abner.” She ordered, as the two men wrestled Abe onto his knees, before forcing him to look down at the dark sky, crackling red energy lighting hidden rocks far below.
“Where is this place?” Abe asked.
“You declined my offer, so I don’t have to tell you anything.” June answered as two guards brought out a red-haired woman dressed in a pair of green scrubs overlaid with a lab-coat. Pushing her down next to Abe, June placed her foot down onto the female prisoner’s back, forcing her into a prone position, her head hanging over the edge of the earth mote. “Goodbye Miss McLaughlin, your services were…” She stopped to think for the appropriate word, “…satisfactory.”
“I have done what you asked!” McLaughlin cried as she tried to struggle free, her green eyes flooding with tears as she looked at Abe. “Please, help me!”
“Wait stop!” Abe called. “Will you spare her if I work for you?”
“Of course.” June stated as McLaughlin sobbed at her looming demise.
“What do you need?” Abe asked, his words causing the soldiers to drag McLaughlin back from the edge, her body shaking as she mumbled thanks under her breath.
“I am a master geneticist and chemist, but I don’t have the mechanical expertise you have.” June announced as she stepped off McLaughlin’s back as Abe got to his feet. “My employers need technology; arms, power armour and equipment. We have resources they’ve confiscated from people like you, all I need you to do is reverse engineer and build what they ask of you.”
“So, what do they want first?” Abe asked through gritted teeth, as he saw the shuddering McLaughlin still thanking him for saving her.
“That can wait, your guards will lead you to our inventory.” June stated as she walked over to McLaughlin and bent down to look her in the eyes, placing her hand on the woman’s head. “Don’t you have my daughter to tend to?”
“Y…yes Ma’am.” McLaughlin gulped as she got to her feet before darting back towards the building she had been dragged away from.
Abe examined the core of the Melter’s heat ray, the thick gauntlets protecting him from the thermal output radiating from the energy cell. The guards had never taken their eyes off him, even when he changed into the overalls that had been left for him. Dr Covington hadn’t lied to him in regards to their resources, there was technology here from multiple super heroes and villains, some of which Abe didn’t even recognise.
As Abe turned the core over with a thick pair of tongs, he heard a chime and turned to see McLaughlin standing on the other side of the airlock talking to the guard inside the lab. Opening the door, the guard let the woman into the lab followed the female guard that had accompanied her.
“Jenkins, you have a visitor.” The guard snorted, prompting Abe to place the energy core back into the original weapon it had been housed in. As he turned round, there was long pause as the two prisoners looked at each other.
“Thank you for saving me.” McLaughlin stated timidly as she looked down at her feet.
“No problem.” Abe replied as he noticed a fresh blow on her left temple. “Tell me, would she have thrown you off the island?”
“When I arrived, I refused to work for her, played her bluff.” McLaughlin stated quietly as she moved her hair to cover the bruise. “She threw one of the scientists that worked for her off the side. She then sent a recovery team down into the darkness to retrieve what was left of her.”
“I understand.” Abe sighed, as he remembered what little of what he had seen when looking over the edge of Sky Island. “I’m Abe, Abe Jenkins.”
“Elaine McLaughlin.” McLaughlin replied as she looked at Abe. “I used to be Virgo, from the original Zodiac.”
“How did you get that bruise?” Abe asked as he looked at the two guards standing either side of the airlock, their faces obscured by helmets giving them a sense of anonymity.
“Oh that, that was caused by July, she had a panic attack when her powers manifested again.” Elaine answered as she looked down at her hands. “I had to tranquilise her before she hurt herself. If we get hurt Dr Covington won’t care, if the guards get hurt, she doesn’t care, but July…she’s special, Dr Covington will kill us if she gets hurt.”
“Is July anything like her mother?” Abe asked cautiously, causing Elaine to shake her head before looking back down at her feet.
“She’s a good girl, but…but her powers are…problematic when they manifest.” Elaine replied as the door chimed and two more guards walked in. “I have to go, I hope…hope you survive.”
“Survive?” Abe asked.
Elaine nodded as the guards escorted her back to the air lock. “There’s nowhere to escape to, that’s the best thing we can do.”
Abe looked at the formula for chemicals within the Melter’s weaponry that he’d written down on the white board. Looking towards the guard he stretched slightly before getting up from his chair and walking to the airlock.
“I need to use the bathroom.” Abe stated as the guard stood motionless by the airlock.
“Follow me.” The guard replied blankly as he opened the airlock and gestured for Abe to walk inside. After the air had cycled inside Abe and his escort walked through the facility, past multiple labs that stood empty.
Heading down a staircase, Abe saw a large white chamber with a hardened plastic windows, multiple scientists observing what was inside. Stopping by one of the windows Abe looked inside to see Elaine sitting on the floor cross-legged with a tray on her lap sitting opposite a fifteen-year-old girl with short blonde hair dressed in a white jumpsuit.
“Is that July?” Abe asked the guard.
“Move along Jenkins.” The guard replied as he pulled Abe away from the window. “Your field is the electronics and machines; the girl is not your concern.” He added as Abe turned away from the window.
“I need to talk to Elaine on the way back.” Abe told the guard. “I have some questions about the old Zodiac cabal’s tech, and she might have the answers I need.” He added as the guard followed him towards the bathrooms.
The guard situated in the observation chamber turned to face the airlock when she heard the console behind her chime. After a few seconds conversing with the guard outside the airlock opened and Abe and his own guard walked into the chamber. Almost immediately the teenage girl looked at the new arrivals with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
“Miss McLaughlin, Mr Jenkins wants to talk to you about Zodiac tech.” The female guard announced as Elaine placed the tray down and got to her feet.
“Can you make it quick; I’m trying to get July to eat.” Elaine stated as the guard stepped back to where the other guards were standing.
“Actually, I just wanted to see July was like.” Abe replied as he looked around the room noting the lack of decoration. “This is a pretty drab room.”
“We haven’t had time to get her toys.” Elaine replied sadly as she sat down before gesturing for Abe to join them. Sitting down Abe saw July cock her head to one side.
“Toys?” Abe asked cautiously.
“July isn’t like other girls; she has the mind of a six-year-old in a teenage body.” Elaine explained as she took a plastic spork and handed it to July. “It’s likely the result of her mother’s flash cloning attempts and accelerated maturation process, but no one’s willing to tell her that.”
“Miss Elaine do I need to eat this?” July asked as she looked at Abe. “And who is this?” She added as she looked at Abe.
“The vegetables are good for you July.” Elaine sighed as she turned to look at Abe as well. “This is Mr Abner Jenkins, he works here.”
“Please call me Abe.” Abe stated as he gave Elaine and July a big smile. “Elaine tells me you have super powers; can you tell me what they are?” He asked.
“They change every day, today I’m strong.” July replied as she took the tray and bent it in two, vegetables and rice flying everywhere as she childishly giggled at what she had done. Sighing Elaine gestured to one of the guards to come over, the motion causing July to stop laughing and begin hyperventilating.
“Can you get me a broom please.” Elaine asked as the guard approached the three of them.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” July whimpered as she brought her knees up and held them, rocking slightly.
“It’s my fault July.” Abe stated as he stood up as the guard went to get a broom. “Elaine, what if I could help with July, maybe make some stuff for her.”
“Dr Covington wouldn’t approve.” Elaine gulped as she went to hug July and try and calm her down. “Anything not related to the work she dictates to us is not allowed.” She added as Abe went over to his guard and waited to be led away.
“We’ll see.” Abe answered as he and the guard entered the airlock.
Dr June Covington and her two guards entered the airlock to Abe’s lab, the engineer turning away from what he was working on to greet her.
“I don’t appreciate being called down here Mr Jenkins.” June hissed as Abe smiled before presenting her a hexagonal shaped plate.
“I think you’ll be interested in this.” Abe stated as he tapped the centre of the plate a hard-sound dove flying out and circling the room before alighting on the desk. “It’s a hard-sound imager that produces holographic figures.”
“This is a child’s toy!” June growled as she clenched her fist in anger at the device Abe had created in his lab.
“Yes, this is a toy for July, consider it enrichment for her.” Abe announced as he turned to a larger plate that was on the disc. “This one uses the same technology but uses high frequency sound waves to liquify human flesh, well in theory since I haven’t had a chance to test it.” He added as he folded his arms and smiled. “I also know why you consider July so precious. You are using her to generate new powers, but we don’t know what neurological effects they have on her.”
“What are you suggesting?” June asked as she looked at the small plate and the holographic image hopping around the desk.
“We have the technology; I can create an encephalograph to detect if there are any abnormal brain wave patterns.” Abe answered. “Assuming it’s okay with you.”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with you work schedule, I have no problem with it.” June replied as she gestured for one of her guards to take the larger disc with them back with them in the airlock.
Abe and his guard walked to the airlock of the observation chamber where Elaine and July were sitting on the bed, the later reading a book as the former smiled warmly at the progress she was making.
“Hope I’m not intruding.” Abe announced as he walked in, the plate in his hands. “Dr Covington wanted me to give this to July.” He added as he handed the plate to the teenager, her eyes lighting up with joy at the item.
Pressing the top of the plate, a hard-sound dove flew around the chamber before landing on Elaine’s head.
Tracking its motion with amazement on her face, July touched the plate, the bird transforming into a rabbit that bounced down onto the bed between her and Elaine.
“Thank you, Abe.” Elaine said with a smile on her face as she got up and gave Abe a hug.
“You said we have to survive; well, I plan to thrive here.” Abe told her in a quiet voice. “Up until my fiancé breaks us out and burns this place down.”
Abner Jenkins saw the third red light blink on the collar strapped to the young man sitting opposite him before, with a dull thud, his head hit the floor.
“Jesus fucking hell!” Abe swore as he backed away from the still quivering remains of the other prisoner. “What the hell is going on here!?” He asked, as the only door into the dark room with multiple seats opened up and two men dressed in blue uniforms walked inside.
“Keep calm prisoner.” One of the soldiers ordered as he and his colleague picked up the body and placed it at the back of the room. With a hiss the door opened and the body was dragged out of the chamber, air sucking out until the door closed again. “Don’t cause trouble and you won’t end up being ejected.”
“Where am I?” Abe asked, as the two men retreated back out of the room. “Answer me?” He called as he looked at the blood stain on the floor. It was clear that he was in some kind of aircraft, albeit not one that he recognised. Perhaps asking where he was, was the wrong question, maybe the right one was, where was he being taken.
Abe guessed that maybe it had been thirty minutes since the ejection before the guards walked back into the rear section of the aircraft.
“We’re landing.” The soldier stated as he bent down to check the harness that was keeping Abe locked in.
“Once we arrive you can get to work.”
“On what?” Abe asked as the soldier walked back to what he assumed was the cockpit, just as the aircraft shuddered and a few minutes later felt the vehicle touch down. Seconds later the guards exited the cockpit and unbuckled Abe’s harness leading him to the back of the aircraft. Resisting slightly, Abe breathed a sigh of relief when he saw solid ground waiting for him. That relief changed when he saw rows of armed soldiers arrayed in rows towards a series of low-slung grey buildings, all balanced on a massive chunk of floating rock positioned in mid-air. Standing before him was a woman dressed in a white bodysuit, her blond hair covered by a hood, a wicked smile on her face.
“Welcome to Sky Island, Abner Jenkins.” The woman stated as the soldiers lead Abe towards her. “I’m Dr Covington, and you now work for me.”
“I’ve heard of you.” Abe replied. “You have a trail of bodies that tops most mercenaries in your wake. I’m sorry but I won’t work for you.” June clicked her fingers, and Abe felt the collar he was wearing tick slightly.
“That’s a shame.” June sighed as she turned to one of the soldiers. “Get Virgo out here.” She ordered as she took Abe’s hand and led him to the edge of ‘Sky Island’, two guards following her. “Take a look Abner.” She ordered, as the two men wrestled Abe onto his knees, before forcing him to look down at the dark sky, crackling red energy lighting hidden rocks far below.
“Where is this place?” Abe asked.
“You declined my offer, so I don’t have to tell you anything.” June answered as two guards brought out a red-haired woman dressed in a pair of green scrubs overlaid with a lab-coat. Pushing her down next to Abe, June placed her foot down onto the female prisoner’s back, forcing her into a prone position, her head hanging over the edge of the earth mote. “Goodbye Miss McLaughlin, your services were…” She stopped to think for the appropriate word, “…satisfactory.”
“I have done what you asked!” McLaughlin cried as she tried to struggle free, her green eyes flooding with tears as she looked at Abe. “Please, help me!”
“Wait stop!” Abe called. “Will you spare her if I work for you?”
“Of course.” June stated as McLaughlin sobbed at her looming demise.
“What do you need?” Abe asked, his words causing the soldiers to drag McLaughlin back from the edge, her body shaking as she mumbled thanks under her breath.
“I am a master geneticist and chemist, but I don’t have the mechanical expertise you have.” June announced as she stepped off McLaughlin’s back as Abe got to his feet. “My employers need technology; arms, power armour and equipment. We have resources they’ve confiscated from people like you, all I need you to do is reverse engineer and build what they ask of you.”
“So, what do they want first?” Abe asked through gritted teeth, as he saw the shuddering McLaughlin still thanking him for saving her.
“That can wait, your guards will lead you to our inventory.” June stated as she walked over to McLaughlin and bent down to look her in the eyes, placing her hand on the woman’s head. “Don’t you have my daughter to tend to?”
“Y…yes Ma’am.” McLaughlin gulped as she got to her feet before darting back towards the building she had been dragged away from.
Abe examined the core of the Melter’s heat ray, the thick gauntlets protecting him from the thermal output radiating from the energy cell. The guards had never taken their eyes off him, even when he changed into the overalls that had been left for him. Dr Covington hadn’t lied to him in regards to their resources, there was technology here from multiple super heroes and villains, some of which Abe didn’t even recognise.
As Abe turned the core over with a thick pair of tongs, he heard a chime and turned to see McLaughlin standing on the other side of the airlock talking to the guard inside the lab. Opening the door, the guard let the woman into the lab followed the female guard that had accompanied her.
“Jenkins, you have a visitor.” The guard snorted, prompting Abe to place the energy core back into the original weapon it had been housed in. As he turned round, there was long pause as the two prisoners looked at each other.
“Thank you for saving me.” McLaughlin stated timidly as she looked down at her feet.
“No problem.” Abe replied as he noticed a fresh blow on her left temple. “Tell me, would she have thrown you off the island?”
“When I arrived, I refused to work for her, played her bluff.” McLaughlin stated quietly as she moved her hair to cover the bruise. “She threw one of the scientists that worked for her off the side. She then sent a recovery team down into the darkness to retrieve what was left of her.”
“I understand.” Abe sighed, as he remembered what little of what he had seen when looking over the edge of Sky Island. “I’m Abe, Abe Jenkins.”
“Elaine McLaughlin.” McLaughlin replied as she looked at Abe. “I used to be Virgo, from the original Zodiac.”
“How did you get that bruise?” Abe asked as he looked at the two guards standing either side of the airlock, their faces obscured by helmets giving them a sense of anonymity.
“Oh that, that was caused by July, she had a panic attack when her powers manifested again.” Elaine answered as she looked down at her hands. “I had to tranquilise her before she hurt herself. If we get hurt Dr Covington won’t care, if the guards get hurt, she doesn’t care, but July…she’s special, Dr Covington will kill us if she gets hurt.”
“Is July anything like her mother?” Abe asked cautiously, causing Elaine to shake her head before looking back down at her feet.
“She’s a good girl, but…but her powers are…problematic when they manifest.” Elaine replied as the door chimed and two more guards walked in. “I have to go, I hope…hope you survive.”
“Survive?” Abe asked.
Elaine nodded as the guards escorted her back to the air lock. “There’s nowhere to escape to, that’s the best thing we can do.”
Abe looked at the formula for chemicals within the Melter’s weaponry that he’d written down on the white board. Looking towards the guard he stretched slightly before getting up from his chair and walking to the airlock.
“I need to use the bathroom.” Abe stated as the guard stood motionless by the airlock.
“Follow me.” The guard replied blankly as he opened the airlock and gestured for Abe to walk inside. After the air had cycled inside Abe and his escort walked through the facility, past multiple labs that stood empty.
Heading down a staircase, Abe saw a large white chamber with a hardened plastic windows, multiple scientists observing what was inside. Stopping by one of the windows Abe looked inside to see Elaine sitting on the floor cross-legged with a tray on her lap sitting opposite a fifteen-year-old girl with short blonde hair dressed in a white jumpsuit.
“Is that July?” Abe asked the guard.
“Move along Jenkins.” The guard replied as he pulled Abe away from the window. “Your field is the electronics and machines; the girl is not your concern.” He added as Abe turned away from the window.
“I need to talk to Elaine on the way back.” Abe told the guard. “I have some questions about the old Zodiac cabal’s tech, and she might have the answers I need.” He added as the guard followed him towards the bathrooms.
The guard situated in the observation chamber turned to face the airlock when she heard the console behind her chime. After a few seconds conversing with the guard outside the airlock opened and Abe and his own guard walked into the chamber. Almost immediately the teenage girl looked at the new arrivals with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
“Miss McLaughlin, Mr Jenkins wants to talk to you about Zodiac tech.” The female guard announced as Elaine placed the tray down and got to her feet.
“Can you make it quick; I’m trying to get July to eat.” Elaine stated as the guard stepped back to where the other guards were standing.
“Actually, I just wanted to see July was like.” Abe replied as he looked around the room noting the lack of decoration. “This is a pretty drab room.”
“We haven’t had time to get her toys.” Elaine replied sadly as she sat down before gesturing for Abe to join them. Sitting down Abe saw July cock her head to one side.
“Toys?” Abe asked cautiously.
“July isn’t like other girls; she has the mind of a six-year-old in a teenage body.” Elaine explained as she took a plastic spork and handed it to July. “It’s likely the result of her mother’s flash cloning attempts and accelerated maturation process, but no one’s willing to tell her that.”
“Miss Elaine do I need to eat this?” July asked as she looked at Abe. “And who is this?” She added as she looked at Abe.
“The vegetables are good for you July.” Elaine sighed as she turned to look at Abe as well. “This is Mr Abner Jenkins, he works here.”
“Please call me Abe.” Abe stated as he gave Elaine and July a big smile. “Elaine tells me you have super powers; can you tell me what they are?” He asked.
“They change every day, today I’m strong.” July replied as she took the tray and bent it in two, vegetables and rice flying everywhere as she childishly giggled at what she had done. Sighing Elaine gestured to one of the guards to come over, the motion causing July to stop laughing and begin hyperventilating.
“Can you get me a broom please.” Elaine asked as the guard approached the three of them.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” July whimpered as she brought her knees up and held them, rocking slightly.
“It’s my fault July.” Abe stated as he stood up as the guard went to get a broom. “Elaine, what if I could help with July, maybe make some stuff for her.”
“Dr Covington wouldn’t approve.” Elaine gulped as she went to hug July and try and calm her down. “Anything not related to the work she dictates to us is not allowed.” She added as Abe went over to his guard and waited to be led away.
“We’ll see.” Abe answered as he and the guard entered the airlock.
Dr June Covington and her two guards entered the airlock to Abe’s lab, the engineer turning away from what he was working on to greet her.
“I don’t appreciate being called down here Mr Jenkins.” June hissed as Abe smiled before presenting her a hexagonal shaped plate.
“I think you’ll be interested in this.” Abe stated as he tapped the centre of the plate a hard-sound dove flying out and circling the room before alighting on the desk. “It’s a hard-sound imager that produces holographic figures.”
“This is a child’s toy!” June growled as she clenched her fist in anger at the device Abe had created in his lab.
“Yes, this is a toy for July, consider it enrichment for her.” Abe announced as he turned to a larger plate that was on the disc. “This one uses the same technology but uses high frequency sound waves to liquify human flesh, well in theory since I haven’t had a chance to test it.” He added as he folded his arms and smiled. “I also know why you consider July so precious. You are using her to generate new powers, but we don’t know what neurological effects they have on her.”
“What are you suggesting?” June asked as she looked at the small plate and the holographic image hopping around the desk.
“We have the technology; I can create an encephalograph to detect if there are any abnormal brain wave patterns.” Abe answered. “Assuming it’s okay with you.”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with you work schedule, I have no problem with it.” June replied as she gestured for one of her guards to take the larger disc with them back with them in the airlock.
Abe and his guard walked to the airlock of the observation chamber where Elaine and July were sitting on the bed, the later reading a book as the former smiled warmly at the progress she was making.
“Hope I’m not intruding.” Abe announced as he walked in, the plate in his hands. “Dr Covington wanted me to give this to July.” He added as he handed the plate to the teenager, her eyes lighting up with joy at the item.
Pressing the top of the plate, a hard-sound dove flew around the chamber before landing on Elaine’s head.
Tracking its motion with amazement on her face, July touched the plate, the bird transforming into a rabbit that bounced down onto the bed between her and Elaine.
“Thank you, Abe.” Elaine said with a smile on her face as she got up and gave Abe a hug.
“You said we have to survive; well, I plan to thrive here.” Abe told her in a quiet voice. “Up until my fiancé breaks us out and burns this place down.”