Wednesday 31 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Sixty-Four (August Patreon Bonus Page)

“Okay,” Wendy said as she led them into the other room. She paused then leaned back into the first room. “And eat your sandwich.”

“I will,” he replied.

“Good!” she shut the door and turned back to Lucy and Sienna. “Right, first the armour.” She pulled aside the curtain to reveal it in its alcove. It had changed somewhat since Sienna had seen it – especially the helmet which now had extra pieces added to it to conceal what little of her skin and hair would have been showing previously. Well except for one glaring exception.

“What about your face?” Sienna asked. “That’s still exposed.”

“Oh right, I haven’t shown you that yet,” Wendy said. She reached into a draw and brought out what appeared to be a respirator of some kind and a pair of mirrored ski goggles with some odd technical add ons. “These should do the job.”

“Are you going to keep the mismatched scrapyard look?” Lucy asked. “And would you like me to work with you on a jumpsuit to wear under it.”

“I was planning to spray paint it a single colour but I haven’t decided what yet and it needs some final testing first.” Wendy hummed thoughtfully to herself. “And the jumpsuit idea is great. Could you work some systems into it if I designed them?”

“I think so, yes,” Lucy said. “Though I can’t swear to it. That’s why I asked if you’d work on it with me. I’ve never made wearable technology before but the idea of it intrigues me.”

“You’ll make it great I’m sure,” Wendy said.

“I think you should go with a silvery blue for the paint,” Lucy said. “A metallic one.”

“Metallic is good,” Wendy said. “But I was thinking red or green.”

Indigo Shadow: Page Sixty-Three

“Not to the best of my knowledge,” she said.

“Glad to hear it,” he said. “Now what I think is this gas is being created by someone human and I’m not sure what they want. The powers maybe but given that no one except you has shown conscious powers yet that’s a hell of a lot of collateral damage. Even if there’s one or two a town and they are just keeping their heads down like you that’s still a hell of a lot of collateral damage. I do not like either of these groups.”

“Me neither,” Sienna said.

“Are the lung conditions reported as well,” Lucy asked.

He nodded. “They are.”

“Do the victims who survive make a full recovery?” she asked urgently.

“They seem to, at least the ones from the first incident have,” he said. “It does take a long time I’m afraid.” He looked down sadly. “Of course there’s not many survivors among those it effects that way. You were really lucky.”

“I know I was,” Lucy replied. “If Sienna hadn’t got that wheelchair, if I hadn’t got that oxygen for a few minutes at the Primary Care centre…” she trailed off. “I’m so glad I’m alive.”

There was a brief silence after that but then Wendy cleared her throat.

“So Luce wants to see my armour,” she said. “And then she’s doing the pattern fitting for Sienna’s costume.”

“Oh, I’ll stay in here then,” Martin said. “Give you some privacy. There’s a few more things I want to check anyway.”

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Sixty-Two

“Let your gran deal with it,” Martin said. “Now let me tell you what I found.”

“Yeah, that’s important,” Wendy agreed. “What?”

“You were right, it wasn’t the first incident of Magenta fog. It’s been going on for a couple of years at least. So far I’ve found nine incidents including Castleham and the one in America. All over the world, always in obscure places and always in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Castleham breaks the pattern because while we’re on the small side Britain is just too crowded for anywhere to be isolated. Which makes me think whoever is doing this either didn’t intend it or picked here for some specific reason. The fact that the two incidents are so close together indicates that as well. Also descriptions of paranormal events and brain damaged people surround all the areas.”

“What about these paramilitary killers?” Lucy asked.

“Oh, I found them as well,” he said. “They pop up for the first time about nine months, initially it was taking them two or three days to appear at fog sites and they were much less organised but they seem to have gotten better as time went on.” He paused then added. “I found a website for them hidden on the darknet. They think we’re being invaded by aliens and the people they kill are alien interlopers.” He grinned at Sienna. “So are you an alien, Sienna?” His tone made it obvious he was joking.

“Not to the best of my knowledge,” she said.

Monday 29 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Sixty-One

They left the shop laden with fabric and accessories and headed back to Lucy’s house and her attic studio. Lucy was definitely getting better because while she was still slow climbing the stairs she was only slightly out of breath when they reached the attic rather than gasping like a few days ago.

“We’ll do the dress pattern fitting here,” she said. “And then after lunch we can go out to do the other. Too much risk of Mum walking in here.”

“Okay,” Sienna said.

The pattern fitting for the dress didn’t take long. Lucy had made dresses for Sienna before and had a good idea of her proportions and after that they raided the kitchen and made cheese and Branston sandwiches for lunch before heading out to visit Wendy and Martin’s secret workshop.

“Wow! What a fantastic space,” Lucy said when they entered the factory. “So large.”

“It is,” Wendy agreed as she put down another carrier full of food. “We just use the cellars but it’s got a lot of potential.”

They headed down the stairs and found Martin already working on something.

“Hey, Girls,” he said. “I think I have something.” He grinned as Wendy put a cheese sandwich and can of coke on the desk. “Thanks. I think I should warn you Dad called around at the house again after you left,” he added. “Helen threw him out again but I think she’s wavering.”

“I’ll call gran,” Wendy said. “Give me a few minutes then you can tell us what you’ve found.” She pulled out her phone and slipped into the next room. When she returned she was frowning. “Gran’s going to talk to her but she’s worried as well.” She flopped onto one of the seats. “I don’t know what to do.”

Sunday 28 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Sixty

“Yes,” Wendy said. “That’s a good idea as well.”

“And you two will have to help me carry it,” she said. “I’m still getting breathless at the drop of a hat.”

“It is getting better though?” Sienna asked anxiously.

“Oh yes,” Lucy inspected a deep red satin. “For one thing I can laugh without coughing now. Well mostly.”

“What did your coach say?” Wendy asked.

“That I’m to follow the specialist’s instructions to the letter and that he is consulting with her to come up with an exercise regime to help my rehabilitation. He says to treat it like any injury and take it carefully.”

“Sounds like wise advice,” Wendy said. “But it sounds like you’re getting better.”

“I’m just worried I won’t get all the way better,” Lucy said. “I really like hurdling and I was going to the UK trials next year. Coach says that a lung condition won’t necessarily stop me competing if it comes to it but I don’t know.”

Wendy patted her arm, “Trust your coach and your specialist, Luce,” she said. “They know what they are doing. And if you can’t become a world famous athlete you can become a world famous fashion designer.”

“Yeah,” Lucy said. “But I want to do both.”

“Heh,” Wendy said. “You’re ambitious, Luce. Most people would be happy to have the skills to excel in one field.”

“Yeah, well it’s not like an athletics career lasts too long,” Lucy said. “I want something for after and if I’m going to do something I want to be the best and not just a name attached to a fashion line for publicity purposes. Plus I enjoy both so why wouldn’t I want to excel at both?”

“Ah, when you put it that way it seems more reasonable,” Wendy said.

Saturday 27 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Nine

“How is she?” Sienna asked as she examined the fabric. Lucy was holding it over her arm to show her the drape.

“She’s doing okay.” Wendy looked around to check no one was in earshot. “She’s worried about the possibility that those men might attack you but she’s still scared as well. She’s not ready to see you yet though.”

“I can’t blame her,” Sienna said. “Not after I pushed her that way.” She turned her attention back to the cloth, feeling the soft weave between her fingers. It wasn’t quite the same blue as the dress she’d been admiring what seemed like an age ago now but beautifully vivid and had the right softness. Sienna nodded to herself. It was close enough. “I like that.”

“Good,” Lucy said. “And don’t mind Charlotte, she’s always been extremely nervous of anything different. Just give her time to get her head around what happened and she’ll be fine. Wendy and I will keep working on her.”

“Thanks,” Sienna said.

“No problem.” Lucy walked over and looked at some harder wearing fabrics. “Natural fibres I think to allow your skin to breathe so you don’t get too hot.” She selected a heavy, undyed cotton. “This looks good.

“It’s the wrong colour,” Wendy said.

“Oh, I’m going to dye it myself,” Lucy said. “Even if they had something the right colour – which they don’t – someone might remember us buying fabric that matched Indigo Shadow’s costume.”

“That’s a good point,” Wendy said.

“I know.” Lucy gave a smirk. “You’re not the only one who can think of operational security. And on that note I want to buy a bunch of other fabric as well to conceal this more.”

Friday 26 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Eight

Chapter Four
Training Session

A few days passed and the killings had died down though the police still seemed unable to track the shootings. The centre of Castleham had been reopened to the public and most of the shops were open again – albeit with scaffolding and boarded up windows in many cases and unnervingly armed police were on patrol – something Sienna had never thought to see. Sienna went with Wendy and Lucy to choose fabrics for her dress and her costume. She was still wondering why she had let Wendy talk her into this, but if she was honest with herself it felt like a perfectly natural thing to do with her new powers. Perhaps she had watched too many superhero movies and they’d gone to her head.

She had been practising with her new powers as well. She could still only lift light things and push slightly heavier things – nothing like that guy she had somehow thrown – but she no longer had to make herself feel stressed to do it and the weight she could move was steadily improving. Hopefully she would be able to move a useful amount of weight by the time her costume was made. More importantly her practice with her other power had got to the point where she could project a thought into a person’s mind without also forcing them to do it which made her feel better about it. And it would come in very useful. Martin was sure she should be able to hear thoughts as well but so far she had not been able to.

“I spoke to Charlotte,” Wendy said quietly as Lucy held up a bright blue silk that was obviously her suggestion for the dress.

Thursday 25 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Seven

 Lucy waved off her apology. “It’s not your fault,” she said. “And of course not spandex. That would look ridiculous. I’m thinking some sort tough and breathable fabric like you’d use for hiking or climbing.”

“If we could somehow get hold of any without leaving an online trail I’d suggest something stab proof,” Wendy said.

“Yeah,” Lucy said. “There’s a few good stab and slash resistant fabrics out there, but like you say they’re hard to get hold of offline. They're probably too expensive for my budget as well. A good hard use fabric will have to do. I have a few ideas.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” Sienna said. “You always make nice clothes.” She paused then added. “Are you still going to make that dress for me?”

“Of course I am,” Lucy said. “I’ve been working on a design for you while I was in hospital. I’ll need to do a pattern fitting for both once I have drafted them. We can do the dress here but the costume…” she trailed off meaningfully.

“We’ll do that at the secret base,” Wendy said. “Hopefully you’ll be a bit better by the time the pattern done.”

“I really hope so,” Lucy said. “Now how do you intend to track down these gunman and stop them killing anyone else?”

“That’s a good question,” Sienna said. “I really have no idea.”

“Martin is working on it,” Wendy said. “But we will have to think about it and make a plan. But Sienna needs to train more first.”

---
End of Chapter Three
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Wednesday 24 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Six

“I think that the killers must have some unusual resources,” Sienna said. “Whoever is behind the gas certainly does… and I don’t think they are the same people.”

“No,” Sienna’s father agreed. “I think they are working against each other, but I think both groups are bad people.”

“Can we talk about something else,” Sienna’s mother said. “We can’t do anything about this and it scares me.”

“Of course,” Sienna’s father said. “Though I think it’s natural to speculate in such a strange situation.” He turned the television off again and looked over at Lucy. “So what time is your mother coming to pick you up, Lucy?”

Lucy checked her watch. “About ten I think. I’ll call her and ask if you want.”

“Please do,” he said.

Lucy pulled out her phone and spoke with her mother briefly.

“Yes, ten o’clock,” she said.

“Ooh, we’ve got time to watch a movie after dinner then,” Sienna said. “That will take our mind off things.”

“That’s a good idea,” Sienna’s father said. “You’re all naturally tense.”

“Yes,” Sienna said and turned her attention back to her meatballs and spaghetti.


*


After dinner the three girls did return to Sienna’s room and put on a movie but only half watched it because Lucy immediately picked up her sketch again began refining it.

“I need to decide what fabric to use for the costume.”

“Not spandex,” Sienna said quickly. That provoked another attempt to laugh that became a coughing fit from Lucy, which made Sienna feel like jerk. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to happen.”

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Five

“Is there any more news from that town in California?” Sienna asked as they ate dinner. “Because it’s not a coincidence is it?”

“I don’t think it can be,” Sienna’s father said. “For one thing there’s video on the internet that shows the fog bubbling up from cracks in the ground and drains but there’s a pattern to it that looks artificial.”

“But how would someone know an earthquake was going to happen there or that meteorite was going explode here?”

“I don’t know,” Sienna’s father said. He curled and uncurled the spaghetti on his fork without eating it. “I wish I did.” He shook his head. “Not that it’s any of our problem. I’m sure the authorities will sort it out.”

“Excuse me, but what town are we talking about?” Lucy asked.

“Oh! You probably haven’t heard because you were in hospital until a couple of hours ago,” Sienna’s father said. “There’s another magenta fog incident. This time in America.” He twisted around in his seat to grab the remote control from the sideboard and flicked on the TV turning to the BBC news channel where news of the earthquake and fog was the top story.

Lucy frowned at the television as she watched the story unfolding. “Yes,” she said. “That’s certainly not a coincidence. Is anyone looking for similar incidents that might have flown under the radar?”

“I would imagine so,” Sienna’s father said. “But as I said, let’s leave it to the authorities. There’s not much we can do–” He paused as the news turned to the shootings in Castletham. “More? What the hell are the police doing? People shouldn’t be able to walk around in broad daylight killing people.” He shook his head angrily. “Is this incompetence what I pay for with my taxes?”

Monday 22 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Four

“That’s not a bad idea,” Wendy said. “Though Sienna’s figure is reasonably average.”

“Hey!” Sienna said.

“I didn’t mean that badly,” Wendy said. “I just mean it’s not distinctive enough to identify you from. Subtle changes should actually throw people.”

“Just don’t make me wear a fat suit,” Sienna said.

“No fat suits,” Lucy said. “Far too hot to run in. No high heels either.” She hummed to herself. “You need to think of a name.”

“I thought you thought this was a bad idea,” Sienna said.

“I do,” Lucy said. “But it’s also so much fun I can’t help getting into it. Now name.”

Sienna put her hand over her eyes and shook her head. “I’m surrounded by crazy people,” she muttered. “I really don’t know.”

“What about Push,” Wendy said.

“Boring,” Lucy said. “I think something like Psychic Avenger would be cool.”

“Ugh, no,” Sienna said. “That’s tacky.” She stared at the picture. “What about Sapphire?”

“It’s the wrong shade of blue,” Lucy said. “At least to what I imagine – I just used the closest pencil. I’m thinking more of an indigo colour.”

“Ooh! It's indigo and black!” Wendy said. “Indigo Shadow would be a good name.”

Sienna considered this and then nodded. “I like that. Descriptive of the costume and not tacky.”

“Indigo Shadow it is then,” Wendy said.

“And what are we going to call you?” Lucy asked. “Scrap knight? Junkyard girl?”

“I haven't decided on a name yet, but neither of those,” Wendy said.

“We'll work on it,” Lucy said. “Now what fabric should I u–” She broke off as they all heard someone coming up the stairs. Sure enough a moment later there was a knock on the door.

“Dinner's ready, girls,” Sienna’s mother said.

“We’ll be right down, mum,” Sienna said.

Sunday 21 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Three

“I think so,” Sienna said. She went to the cupboard began to search through a box of her old toys from when she was a child. “Ah here they are. They’re just cheap kids ones and I haven’t used them in years.” She tossed them to Lucy.

“They’ll do,” Lucy said. She pulled out a blue one and started shading. “Wendy, if you’re really going to do this could you design some sort of visor display thing for Sienna?”

“A Heads Up Display? Of course I can. My suit already has one I designed.”

“Great! I’ll make that part of the costume then.” Lucy sketched for another few minutes before passing the pad to Sienna. “What do you think?”

Sienna stared at the sketch. It was obviously quickly done but showed a girl of about Sienna’s build wearing blue trousers and a black and blue polo neck tunic that reached to her mid-thighs and black boots and long gloves. The lower half of her face was covered by a blue cloth mask while her eyes and the upper half of her face were concealed by what looked like ski goggles. The girl in the picture also had bobbed blue hair quite unlike Sienna’s.

“I thought you weren’t going to dress me as a performance artist,” she said. “Though it does look easy to move in.”

“It will be,” Lucy said. “And yes it is dramatic, but for what you intend to do it needs to be.”

“What’s with the hair?” Wendy asked. “I thought you were going to cover it?”

“It is covered,” Lucy replied. “That’s a wig.” She frowned thoughtfully. “But so far nothing about this conceals Sienna’s build.” She chewed on her lips. “A minimiser bra and shoulder pads maybe?”

Saturday 20 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-Two

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I shouldn’t laugh but only you could think that’s a good idea, Wendy.” She sagged backwards onto the bed. “Though suspect you’re right that Sienna will have to fight back against these gunmen at some point and she can’t do it as herself. Not safely anyway.”

“Or by herself,” Wendy said. “Will you design and make her a costume?”

“Of course I will,” Lucy said. “Who else would you ask.” She sat up again and grabbed some paper and a pencil from Sienna’s computer desk and began sketching. “Okay, one thing I am not going to do is make you dress like an acrobat. That’s the big problem with female superheroes in comics. They’re dressed like acrobats. So are the dudes for that matter but that’s not quite as bad – except who fights crime in costumes designed for performance artists?”

“I thought the trouble with female superhero costumes was that they sexed them up,” Sienna said.

“Yes, but that’s because they’re dressed like acrobats as much as anything,” Lucy said. “And having said that it does need to be distinctive and practical move in. A pretty problem” She hummed to herself. “And we don’t want to expose any skin or hair at all.”

“Why not?” Wendy said.

“Forensics,” Lucy said simply.

“Of course!” Wendy hit her forehead with the heel of her hand. “Damn! I should have thought of that. I’m going to have to make some modifications to my armor as well.”

“Sienna do you have some coloured pencils?” Lucy asked. “I need to show the colours I have in mind.”

Friday 19 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty-One

“I know,” her mother said. “But worrying will only make it worse. See you later.” She patted her daughter’s arm again and headed out the door. Lucy watched her go then looked back at Sienna and Wendy. “So how are you? I heard you two saw one of the shootings yesterday. That’s got to be worse than this.”

“We did,” Sienna said. “And I don’t know about Wendy but I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s go upstairs until dinner is ready.”

“Yeah, I don’t imagine you would.” Lucy said. “And sure, upstairs sounds good.”

Watching her usually fit friend climbing the stairs slowly and having to pause at the top to catch her breath really brought home to Sienna how sick Lucy still was. When they got into Sienna’s room Lucy immediately collapsed on to the bed.

“That was so hard,” she said after a pause. At least she was able to speak but she was still breathing heavily. “I hate this.”

“I can imagine.” Wendy said as she shut the door. “But we need to talk to you.”

“Oh?” Lucy said. “You mean about Sienna? I saw the videos people took of what happened yesterday.” She shuddered briefly. “No wonder you don’t want to talk about it, but it definitely makes me believe you about Sienna.”

“Good, because it’ll make this easier.”

“That’s right,” Wendy said. “Can you watch the door, Sienna?”

“Oh, very cloak and dagger,” Lucy said. “What’s so secret?”

Lucy listened in silence as Wendy told her what she wanted to do while Sienna listened for anyone coming up the stairs. When Wendy has finished Lucy started chuckling but it soon segued into a fit of racking coughs and they had to recover her breath before she could speak.

Thursday 18 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Fifty

“Ah! Of course,” Sienna’s mother said. “Another time.” She looked back at Sienna and Wendy. “Good news, Lucy is out of hospital and her mother has brought her over.”

“Lucy!” Sienna raced past her mother into the sitting room where Lucy sat along with her own mother. “How are you? Are you better.”

“They wouldn’t have let her out if she weren’t.” Wendy followed Sienna in more sedately.

“I’m… well I’m not fine but I’m much better,” Lucy said. “I don’t need Oxygen any more and the tests look okay so they let me out but my chest still feels really tight and even walking short distances makes me out of breath which is why mum brought me over.” Her face tightened. “I have an inhaler now as well. I hope the damage isn’t permanent.”

Lucy’s mother Irene laid a reassuring hand on Lucy’s arm. “You know what the doctor’s said, dear. Whatever caused that reaction doesn’t appear to have done any damage but your lungs have been sensitized and need time to calm down. You have an appointment with the specialist to work on your rehabilitation.”

“But my training…” Lucy trailed off unhappily.

“Will have to pause just like if you injured your leg,” her mother said reasonably. “Call your coach in the morning, I’m sure he’ll have some good ideas for rehabilitation.” She stood up. “Anyway I’ll leave you to catch up with Sienna and Wendy and pick you up about nine.”

Lucy stared at her mother for a moment and then nodded. “Thanks, mum. It’s just scary not being able to walk to car without gasping for breath. I’m worried it might never improve to allow me to run again.”




Wednesday 17 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Nine

“I think I’ll give mum a call later,” Wendy added. “I want to be sure she’s not just shunting me out of the way so she can reconcile with Keith.”

“Not much chance of that,” he said. “Your gran's staying over.”

“Good,” she said. “But I’m still going to call her.”

“Oh, yeah, call her,” he agreed. “Just don’t worry so much. I think she’s finally seen through him.”

“I really hope so,” Wendy said. “I’m fed up of seeing mum all folded in on herself like that. Not to mention having to lie about who I am to please him.”

“No argument here,” he said. “I think Helen will be pleased to hear you’re going to become an engineer not a nurse.”

“I hope so,” Wendy said. “Not that she gets a say either. I just really want to get back to normal – well as normal as we can with half the town a disaster area and people with guns running around.”

“Not to mention superpowers,” he said. “Or wannabe superheroes.”

Wendy just smiled at that.

*

“We’re going to need some sort of scrambler so we can communicate without being monitored,” Martin said as he walked with Sienna and Wendy as they returned to Sienna’s home. “At least if you're serious.”

“I know,” Wendy said. “I have a couple of ideas for the system but you’ll need to do the coding.” She frowned thoughtfully. “And Sienna will need a costume, as well. Lucy already knows what happened so I think we’ll bring her on board for that.”

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Eight

“A strange miasma hanging over an unimportant town during a disaster that has hit much larger ones?” Martin said. “It might be, if not ignored, glossed over as unimportant. Especially since it says here that the place has a chemical works. Without what happened here they’d probably have assumed it came from there.”

“Ah, now that I can see.” Sienna narrowed her eyes. “I wonder…Martin, can you see if you can dig out any other cases of magenta fog that might have flown under the radar?”

“Already on it,” he said. “You think here wasn’t the first place it happened too?”

“Now I've seen this, I do,” she said.

“I thought so even before this,” he said. “I think it’s important.”

“Yes,” she said. “I want to see if we can find other places and if there’s any sort of pattern. If nothing else it might give us a clue as to how those men are finding their targets.”

“Good idea.” He turned back to his keyboard. “Though I doubt they are the ones responsible.”

“Be careful not to leave a search trail,” Wendy said. Martin gave her a wry grin.

“I know,” he said. “I’m already being cautious.”

“Good,” Wendy said. “So am I coming home tonight?”

Martin shook his head. “Probably best not to. for now. I think Helen said she was going to drop a bag over at Sienna’s place.”

“That’s nice,” Wendy said. “Hopefully we can have a more normal evening without murders or disasters. God knows we need it.”

“I certainly hope so,” Martin said.

Monday 15 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Seven

“There’s been an earthquake in California,” her father said. “Which is not unexpected given that it’s California, but… well you’ll see when you check it.”

“Yes, I do,” Sienna said. Martin had turned the laptop so she and Wendy could see the video he'd found. It was being streamed from a helicopter flying over a town which was engulfed in the same magenta fog they had seen only two days earlier. “What the hell?”

“I don’t know,” her father said. “But the fact it’s sprung up after another disaster, even if it is a different one, suggests some sort of pattern. I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either,” she said. “What is going on?”


Her father didn't answer that. “Are you coming home soon, sweetpea?”

“Not just yet,” she said. “But soon. Tell mum I’m okay.”

“I will,” he said. “But don’t be too long. We're both fretting.”

“Okay, Dad,” she said before ending the call and looking at Martin and Wendy. “What the hell is this?”

“I don’t know,” Martin said. “But two very different disasters in different parts of the world closely followed by the same mysterious phenomenon? That's not a coincidence. I already thought that this fog wasn't natural but now I'm sure. How are they predicting the disasters?” He frowned at the text on the page. “And apparently only one of the towns hit by the earthquake is effected. This journalist thinks the place is small and unimportant enough that it might have gone unnoticed except for what happened here.”

Sienna frowned at the screen as well. “Really? It seems unlikely that people could miss something like that.”

Sunday 14 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Six

“Your mother committed suicide didn’t she?” Sienna asked.

He nodded, tears appearing in his eyes. “But it wasn’t because of her ability if that’s worrying you. It was his fault. That’s why I tried to warn Wendy’s mum away, but she just thought I was jealous.” He punched the table. “Jealous? I hate his guts if I could cut his half of my DNA out of my cells I would.” He shook his head. “But that’s why I’m taking this calmly, you’re stronger than any psychic I’ve ever heard of but I knew real psychics existed. But I think you’re something different. I have an inkling that the fog has something to do with it.”

“I do to.” Sienna checked the time and sighed. “I need to call mum and dad again. They did say every hour.” She looked at her phone and blinked in surprise. “And I have signal down here.”

“One of mine and Martin’s toys,” Wendy said. “It let’s us get signal just about anywhere.”

“Useful.” Sienna dialled her parents. She only intended to have a brief conversation to reassure them she was okay, but before she could speak her father interrupted her.

“Sweetpea, you should check the news if you can,” he said.

“What's wrong now, Dad?” Sienna's stomach twisted alarmingly at his stressed tone. She stared at Martin willing him to check the news, though she did try and make it a suggestion rather than an order. Martin gave her a curious look and grabbed his laptop.

Saturday 13 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Five

“Well, no. We're trying to turn you into a superhero not a supervillian.” Martin laughed. “You'll need a volunteer, like me. Try and make me do something.”

“Okay,” Sienna said hesitantly. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good,” he said. “Try to make me do something without speaking first. That way we’ll know it’s not just suggestion making me do it.”

“I wonder if that will work,” Sienna said. “I spoke when I made Charlotte get moving.”

“That just makes it a better experiment,” he said. “Come on then, make me do something.”

Sienna stared at him and willed him to pick up the glass of water next to him and empty the contents on the floor. After a moment she felt the click in her head again and he did just that. He stared at the puddle on the floor and then at her.

“Quite impressive, but I said not to say it aloud,” he said.

“I didn’t,” Sienna said.

“Really?” he said. “But I heard it quite distinctly.”

“She didn’t say a word, Martin,” Wendy said.

“Interesting,” he said. “We’ll want to test that some more but it seems like your mental control is some kind of broadcasting telepathy. I wonder if you can receive as well?”

Sienna had no idea about that, but she did know something that was bothering her. “How are you taking this so calmly? Shouldn't you be freaking out.”

He looked to one side. “Mum was sort of psychic,” he said finally. “Not like this, of course. Her ability wasn't strong enough or reliable enough to do anything with but she had occasional premonitions and she could sense other people's emotional state sometimes. Keith never believed it, but she could.”
He never called Keith father, he never had as long as Sienna had known him.

Friday 12 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Four

“That’s my job,” Martin said. “I think she’s mad too but I’m not letting her get arrested. I’ll monitor police activity while she’s out and help her avoid the cameras.”

“I see.” Sienna shook her head. “I really don’t know what to say.”

“Say that you’ll help,” Wendy said.

Sienna chewed on her lip unhappily. She wanted to say no. This was a really bad idea. If it weren’t for what had happened yesterday she would have said no, but those men were not going to leave her in peace, were they? Wendy was right someone had to do something about them..

“Maybe,” she said finally. “The police are either involved in this or ill-equipped to deal with it, but I’m not sure psychokinesis or a suit of junkyard armour constitute being equipped either.”

“I think it makes you better equipped then most,” Martin said thoughtfully. “Though I don’t think anyone is equipped for this. I will say that while I don’t know if becoming a superhero is a good idea you do have a gift here and you should use it for good somehow.”

“Hmm…” Sienna nodded. “That much is true, I suppose. I shouldn’t ignore it just because it scares me.” She took a breath. “Did Wendy tell you about the other thing I did, because I really need to get a handle on that as well.”

“She did,” he said. “And you do.”

“But I have no idea how I’d work on it. I can't exactly go around randomly controlling people for practice.”

Thursday 11 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Three

“It’s not fully functional yet,” Wendy said. “There’s a few things I want to tweak and I’ve been trying to work out a way to get some ballistic protection for it without leaving a trail by ordering it online.” She gave her step-brother a grin. “And you did the ridiculously complex software for it so if I have a superpower so do you.”

“Wait,” Sienna said. “You’re actually planning to go out and fight crime in that?”

“Yes,” she said. “Well more try and be a deterrent. It doesn’t have any weapons. I don’t want to break any laws.”

“You’re mad,” Sienna said.

“Maybe,” Wendy said. “But someone has to do something. The police are too reactive. Especially now. For heaven’s sake, Sienna, there are people running around shooting people in broad daylight and getting away with it.”

“Yes, but you didn’t know that when you started building it,” Martin said. “We’ve hardly got the highest crime rates in Britain here.”

“They’re bad enough,” Wendy said. “If me walking around in this will enable to scare off the rapists and muggers it’ll help.” Her expression tightened. “And if I can stop those men we saw yesterday that’s even better.”

Sienna continued staring at Wendy in disbelief. She could believe her friend might have built something like this just to see if she could, but she actually intended to use it?

“You’ll be arrested,” she said finally. “I’m pretty sure walking around in some sort of power armour is illegal.”

“Not if I don’t get caught,” Wendy said. “But I don’t think it is – no one has thought to ban it yet.”

“How do you intend to not get caught?” Sienna asked.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-Two

“Sure you do,” Wendy said cheerfully. “You’ve always said that you want to help people. Now you can.”

“Huh?” Sienna said. “What… how…” She hesitated as she realized what Wendy was thinking. “Wait you want me to become a superhero? Superheroes aren’t real, Wendy.”

“Only because superpowers aren’t real,” Wendy said. “Or they weren’t until now. Anyway someone needs to stand up to these guys and once you’ve got a handle on your powers you can.”

Sienna just stared at her open mouthed.

“Wendy has a real thing about superheroes,” Martin said. “She thinks she can be one herself.” He grinned as Sienna tilted her head at him.

“Wendy hasn’t got superpowers,” Sienna said. “Well not unless we’re counting be extremely intelligent as a superpower. Are we?”

“Not exactly.” Martin pulled aside one of the hangings to reveal an alcove that must once have been a cupboard. There was something standing in it. Something that looked like a suit of armour made from scrap.

Sienna raised an eyebrow and looked over at Wendy. “This is what you meant when you said ‘other scrapyard projects’?” she asked. “You’re building a suit like Ironman?”

“Sort of, I guess,” Wendy looked embarrassed. “Though not really. It makes me run a little faster, reduces fatigue and lets me dead-lift about two hundred pounds more than I can without it.”

“By a little faster she means she could give Usain Bolt a run for his money,” Martin said. “And run a marathon at that pace. She built it from scrap and the batteries last for hours. It shouldn’t be possible, so maybe she does have a superpower.”

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty-One

“Okay.” Sienna stared at the metal again and decided to try and move a small piece – about the size of her thumb nail. She imagined putting her hand on it and dragging it towards her. It twitched and moved slightly but not much. What was she doing wrong? She frowned and tried to figure out what was missing. Could it be that when she had thrown that guy she had been stressed and afraid? She took a breathe and let all all anxiety about the current situation flow to the surface before trying again. This time the piece of metal screeched across the table towards her stopping just by the hand she had imagined moving it.

“Woah,” Martin said. “That is freaky, but it took you a while to get it moving.”

“I had to focus on how scared I am,” Sienna said.

“Stress,” he said. “I suppose that makes sense. It’s dangerous though, what if your powers activate unconsciously in a bad situation.”

“I don’t think that’s a problem,” Wendy said. “It didn’t happen yesterday.”

“True,” he said. “But I think we still need to be sure. I saw it on Youtube.” He looked a little ill at that. “They didn’t shoot that guy until the fireball. If they do find her she needs to be able to fool them that they’re mistaken.”

“Oooh! Good point.” Sienna said.

“It is,” Wendy said. “So first we’ll make sure of that then Sienna can start practising moving things without making herself anxious because that can’t be healthy.”

“I’ll be happy just to be sure it won’t happen again,” Sienna said. “I don’t know that I need to control it otherwise.”

Monday 8 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Forty

“It is,” he agreed. “But at least it means that if these people are finding their targets via the CCTV network they won’t know about you.”

“That’s a very minor comfort when people who want to kill you are out there,” Sienna said.

“I know,” he said. “But for now it’s all I’ve got.” He pulled aside a bright blue batik wall hanging to reveal another door. “But let’s go into the main lab and see if you're really psychokinetic.”

“I really hope that I can,” Sienna followed him and Wendy. "That way I might be able to hide it."

The second room was both larger and far starker than the first. There were a few hangings but no rugs and half of the floor was taken up by a robot fighting arena where the step-siblings obviously tested their creations. Sienna barely had time to take it in before Martin dragged her to a table and pushed a chair at her.

“Sit down and try to move these pieces of metal.” He dumped some small pieces of mangled metal that looked like pieces of destroyed robots on the table.

Sienna stared at the pieces of metal. “I’ll try,” she said hesitantly. “But I’m not sure how I did it before.”

“I don’t either,” he said. “But from what Wendy said you had some sort of control over it.”

“I seemed to,” Sienna admitted. “I just imagined him flying away from us and it happened.”

“Then try imagining them moving,” he suggested.

Sunday 7 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Nine

“You’re here!” Martin stood up from the tatty computer desk and hurried over to hug his step-sister. Sienna always thought they made quite a pair – his skin was as pale as Wendy's was dark and he had tousled blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He was also at least four inches shorter than Wendy though his tendency to slouch made it look more. “Great! I want to see this for myself.”

“I’m not sure I can do it on demand,” Sienna said knowing he was talking about her powers.

“From what Wendy said you should,” he said.

“Before we get to that did gran and Dave convince Mum to split up with Keith?” Wendy asked.

“I think so,” he said. “At least she slammed the door on his apology last night. I think the fact he actually hit her this time was a wake up call. He’s never got physical before.”

“Wait! He hit her?” Sienna said.

Wendy nodded solemnly. “Only a slap but it was a definite escalation, but back to business. We need to know if any cameras could have caught what happened with Sienna and that guy.”

“I can check,” Martin said. “Where were you?”

“Castle Street, near the music shop,” Wendy said.

“Hmm, maybe, maybe not," Martin said. "Can you be a bit more specific?”

“We were right by the newsagent about two shops down from the music shop,” Sienna said.

“Oh, no then. You’re lucky that’s a blind spot for the cameras. Why? Do you think that's how the shooters are finding people?”

"It's not just that." Sienna described what the police officer had said to her and he frowned.

“That does sound like he knew something, but if he did it’s not because of the cameras.”

“Somehow that’s even more worrying,” Sienna said dryly.

Saturday 6 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Eight

Sienna just nodded grimly. “You’re sure there are no cameras here?”

“None,” Wendy said. “Martin checked before we set up here.” She led Sienna through a broken door into what would have once been the shop floor of the factory. Now it was a vast empty space full only of leaves and other detritus blown in through the broken windows. There was a surprising lack of graffiti or other vandalism but some signs that the homeless used it for shelter at night. She commented on this and Wendy nodded.

“They do, but they ignore us using the place too as long as we don't disturb them. We leave them some food and stuff as well which helps. I just wish I could do more.” She pointed to a rucksack full of sandwiches and cartons of fruit juice leaning against one wall. “Which Martin has dealt with today. Come on.” She headed to an intact door at one ends of the factory which she pushed open to reveal a flight of stairs. “Down here.”

Sienna followed Wendy into the stairwell. Wendy turned and closed the door behind them, bolting it shut with two large metal bolts before heading down the stairs. They ended up in what Sienna suspected had once been a back up generator room. It was a fairly small room compared to the vast space upstairs and had no windows. It would have been dark but for the lightbulb powered by the generator in the corner and completely stark but for the brightly coloured rugs on the floor and the swathes of batik fabric hanging on the walls.

Friday 5 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Seven

 Chapter Three
Wendy's Secret

“Are you girl’s planning to go out again today?” Sienna’s father asked the next morning after they’d had breakfast.

“We’d like to,” Sienna said. “But in the circumstances we’ll understand if you want us to stay here. It’s obviously not safe out there.”

“My gut says to no,” her mother said. “But I doubt you’d be any safer here if those monsters decide you’re a target. Not if they’re banging down doors to get to people.”

“But you should know that killing you saw yesterday wasn’t the only one,” her father said. “People are very tense. If you are going out try not to give them reason to be tenser.”

“And ring us at least once an hour so we know you’re safe,” her mother added.

“I can do that, Mum,” Sienna agreed.

***

This time they got through the streets to the ruined factory that Wendy still insisted on calling her secret base but Sienna could see what her mother meant by tense. There were people standing around in almost every street glaring balefully at any strangers who dared to pass through though thankfully none of them attacked the two girls. Sienna got the definite impression that their targets were the killers should they dare to target any houses in their streets. It seemed their warnings and attempts to terrorize people had only stirred up stubborn resistance rather than compliance.

“I don’t envy those guys if they try that again,” Wendy muttered as they climbed through a hole in the chain link fence around the factory. “Even with guns they’ll come out on the losing end of a mob.” She gave a half smile. “But boy would they deserve it.”

Thursday 4 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Six

Wendy nodded. “Of course I do. I know he’s Keith’s son but he’s a much better person than his father. He may only be my step-brother but I love him like a real one.”

“He has done a good a job of avoiding being like his father,” Sienna agreed. “So if we’re not going to talk about this what shall we do to take our minds off it?”

Wendy looked back at the laptop. “I guess you don’t want to watch more music videos?” she asked.

“Not really,” Sienna said. “I'm not in a music mood.”

“What about a movie then? Something with a lot of comedy and no violence? A romcom maybe?” She didn't sound very enthusiastic about that last bit.

“Meh,” Sienna said. “I can understand the lack of violence but I detest romcoms.”

“Yes, me too,” Wendy admitted after a moment. “I so much want to shake the main characters and yell 'talk to each other' in most cases.”

“Ooh I know” Sienna ran to her dvd shelf and pulled her My Neighbour Totoro DVD off it. “What about this? No romance, no violence, precious little conflict but somehow it still works as a great movie.”

Wendy took it off her and read the back. “Sure,” she said. “That looks cute. Cute is good right now.”

“Okay, just let me fire up my DVD player,” Sienna said.

They spent the rest of the evening sitting on Sienna’s bed, eating cheesecake, drinking pop and watching dvds until it was time to go to bed.

---

End of Chapter Two
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Wednesday 3 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Five

“I can see that,” Sienna said. “But there is one more things that I need to tell you after mum brings the cheesecake. If I’m right it’s important.”

“Okay,” Wendy gave her a curious look.

A few minutes later Sienna’s mother returned with two plates of cheesecake and then left them on there own again. Wendy picked hers up and began playing with it with her spoon.

“So what did you want to tell me.”

Sienna took a breath and then told her about her sense that the police officer had known about her and what he had said to make her think that.

Wendy frowned deeply and began absently eating her cheesecake. “Yes,” she said after a long pause in which half the dessert disappeared. “That does sound like he knows – or at least suspects – something. I wonder ho… oh shit!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Were there any CCTV cameras near where it happened?”

Sienna swallowed anxiously as she saw where Wendy’s train of thought was going. “I didn’t notice. I mean those things are everywhere. You think we were seen?”

“I think it’s possible but I’d have expected more reaction than this if you had.” Wendy frowned. “But it might be how the killers know where to look.” She frowned. “I’ll get Martin to look into it – he knows where all the cameras are that’s how we made sure no one could find our den that way."

“You trust him a lot, don’t you?” Sienna asked.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Four

“After I gave my statement the police officer told me that the range rover disappeared into thin air. Not just evaded but literally vanished.”

Wendy narrowed her eyes. “What… that would suggest…” she trailed off.

“What is it?”

“That would suggest that they have some sort of powers of their own,” she said. “Which could mean this 'she' has some sort of detection powers.”

“In which case I’m screwed,” Sienna said.

“Not necessarily,” Wendy said. “Not if they are looking for people in the state that man was in. They wouldn’t look twice at you unless you did–” She broke off at the sound of someone coming up the stairs.

A moment later there was a rap on the door and Sienna’s mother popped her head in. “Would you two like some strawberry cheesecake? I made it earlier and thought it might cheer you up…” she hesitated. “This is well beyond the power of dessert to fix, isn't it?”

Truth be told Sienna didn’t feel very hungry because her stomach was still churning but she didn’t want to upset her mother either. She was obviously trying but had no idea how to help. Sienna didn’t blame her. She didn’t think anyone would. So she smiled at her and nodded.

“Cheesecake sounds lovely, mum.”

“Oh good!” Her mother smiled at her and shut the door.

“She’s doing her best,” Sienna said when she saw Wendy’s look.

“I know,” Wendy said. “It can’t be easy on her.” she looked thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t think we should talk about what we were discussing any more, not here anyway,” she said after a long moment. “We should wait until we get to the den. Less chance of being overheard.”

Monday 1 August 2016

Indigo Shadow: Page Thirty-Three

“I wish I knew,” Sienna’s father said. “But we aren’t going figure it out standing in the street. Let’s get home before anything else happens.”

***


“How did they know?” Sienna and Wendy were sitting in Sienna’s room later that evening. Wendy looked around from where she was watching music videos on Youtube as if she could use them to wash the memory of what happened out of her mind.

“I don’t want to think about it let alone talk about it,” she said. “Not yet.”

“I understand,” Sienna said softly. “I don’t either. But it’s kind of important. If they knew about him will they find out about me.”

“I–” Wendy stopped and looked at her again. “I still don’t want to talk about it but I think you’re right we have to don’t we? The trouble is I’m not sure it will help because I have no idea.” She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully at the laptop.

“Except we need to think about security. I don’t know how they found out but I can hazard some guesses about things we should avoid.”

“Like what?” Sienna asked.

“Well simplest of all we need to tell as few people as possible. The more people in a secret the more chance it will leak. After that I’d say no talking on the phone or internet unless it’s thoroughly encrypted. No internet searches for information unless the same caution is taken.” Wendy narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “Searching for information might be how they found them except I imagine a lot of people were simply because of what they’d witnessed so it couldn’t just be that.”

“She,” Sienna said. "They said 'she was never wrong'. Someone told them."

“Yes,” Wendy said. “But how did this person know. I feel like I’m missing something.”