Three kids, twin brothers (Kevin and Tobias) and their younger sister (Ronnie), have been separated all of their lives. They see each other once in a while as approved by the state but they are constantly moved around from foster home to foster home. Each of them has abilities unlike that of any other human being...mainly because neither of them is human. Kevin, the eldest of the three is a bedwetter and is being shunted from home to home, and treated horribly by one family causing him to act out violently. Tobias has no control of his sphincter muscles so he must wear diapers to prevent messing his clothes. In the midst of it all, the three children must escape the government who wishes to use them for the purpose of producing a perfect soldier. Will they be captured by the government and exploited? Or will the power of the three combined with Project Darwin send a clear message that four is more powerful than one? [email protected] Telekinetic By Nathanielle Sean Crawford Part 1: Take these Broken Wings It happened again. Only this time the childcare center did something about it. Kevin wasn't a violent child by definition, but when he was hurt or needed to defend himself it was a painful time for the attacker. With a bruise on his face and a new scar on his right arm the state defender had more than enough evidence to put this foster family into jail for fifty years. This last family did more than hurt him physically; they tried to break his will, too. For wetting the bed, he was force to wear nothing but diapers all day and stand in the middle of the living room for people to stare and ridicule him. Candice, his foster mother forced him to drink liquid laxatives, causing him to mess them as well as wet them. Before he went to bed, she called the other children into the room to watch as she changed him. If he talked back to her at any time during the day, she and her husband Gregory would take turns hitting or spanking him until he screamed or fainted. The thing that angered them off the most was the fact that Kevin never did cry. His bruises and cuts didn't last long either because of his natural healing ability. His blood wasn't red like everyone else's and they hated that he was different from them, so to make sure he knew his place, they abused him to the fullest extent possible. He endured it for as long as possible, and when he could no longer handle the pain, he struck out. Like a champion wrestler, Kevin caught Greg's fist and pushed it back so hard that his shoulder dislocated. With another punch to the stomach and nose, it was now Greg who was humbled in front of the children. Candice grabbed him by the hair and pulled it so hard he fell on his bare back. It was one of her stupider mistakes as he induced a massive migraine with his telekinetic ability. The police were called to find out what the noise was and they took Kevin away from the house, along with the other foster children. He was acquitted of charges against him and Candice and Greg were stripped of their foster parenting licensees and taken to prison for repeated acts of child abuse. Outside the courtroom Jerry Fenway, the defender appointed to speak Kevin's case, spoke to him in a leisurely tone. "You know, on any other occasion, I would have said what you did was impossible." He led Kevin to his car outside the building. "A twelve year-old boy completely injuring Gregory Townsen, a body builder and a construction worker. I wish I had your stamina." Kevin didn't say anything in response. Silence was his only friend right now, because this time it came very close to getting out. If anyone knew about what he and his siblings could do then the government would be on his ass as quickly as a lioness to a gazelle. "Let's get a burger, you must be hungry," Jerry suggested throwing his briefcase in the back seat of his mercury and opening the passenger door. Kevin seated himself in and buckled the seat belt but remained quiet. His modesty and his dignity were ready to jump out on to the leather interior along with his stomach. He wasn't interested in eating at the moment. Jerry pulled the car out of the parking lot and drove on to the busy street. Something was on the boy's mind but he couldn't figure out what. He kept talking and tried to bring Kevin out of his rut. "I spoke with the doctor before the hearing. He says your own injuries are healing as quickly as usual, and that the laxatives, surprisingly did no damage to your system. He thinks that if he can find out what it was in the laxatives that made it through your body with out giving you a seizure than maybe he can make other medicines that won't kill you." Kevin just leaned against the car door with his arms wrapped around him. His eyes stared off into space trying to find something to look at, but they found nothing but a hateful and dreary existence. Jerry was worried that this whole ordeal might have caused Kevin more psychological trauma then he originally assessed. Kevin was usually such a strong boy, and now after all this time, maybe he collapsed. "We'll take care of you kid." He said finally. It was quiet the whole drive after that. At a secret government lab in Washington, General Headly entered his security code and placed his hand on the handprint identification console. After being cleared, the solid metal doors slid open allowing him into the laboratory. Locked in a room being monitored by cameras was a small eight-year old boy. The boy was dressed in a bright white shirt and a disposable diaper. The boy was called Project Darwin, and he passed his time by making small toys float in the air. Technicians observed the various computers taking up space all over the lab while biologists conducted experiments. Doctor Felix Morgan sat at the console observing Project Darwin. "Report." Headly ordered standing in front of one of the monitors into Project Darwin's room. "We have been gathering massive brainwave data from his unique brain structure," Morgan looked up from the console. "As far as we can tell, this child is the most powerful being on Earth. His DNA matches that of human DNA and yet there are certain genes in the sequence that are virtually non-existent inside our own structure." "So what are you telling me, doctor?" Headly watched as the boy dropped the toys and stood up in response to the nurse's call. "Is he human, or is he alien?" "The DNA is of an extra-terrestrial origin, General." "Why is he wearing a diaper? I doubt a species with such advanced mental capacity would lack the ability to potty train." "We made a decision to delay his toilet training so we could focus on his mental development," Doctor Morgan explained. "He can walk and manipulate objects, but he has no bladder or bowel control." "And in the meantime your costing the US government one thousand dollars a year on his expenses," Headly replied in half-disgust. "Can he be trained as a soldier?" "I don't see why not," Morgan answered, looking back at the telekinetic readings. "But if I may make a proposal, there is a much better use for such a specimen." Headly looked down at the doctor who was now opening a program called DNA compatibility. "Which is." He prodded. "His genetic coding is similar enough to ours to try and graft it to the human structure," Morgan explained. The program showed a new genetic sequence being added to the regular human genome, and forming a completely new one. "With time, we will be able to extract his DNA and create our own breed of soldier." The general considered the doctor's words carefully. Such a project would be in violation of certain human rights and could not be kept quiet for long, and the sustaining of such a project would cost more money than could be kept quiet. Still, with the possibility of a third world war breaking out, having a soldier that could destroy an airplane with all but a simple thought was a compensation for all of that. "Proceed," Headly answered finally. And he left the room. Part 2: Purple Blood is thicker than Red Blood Kevin was taken to a group home until he could be placed with another foster family. He was speaking again, but everything he said came out in an emotionless mechanical voice. The psychologist couldn't get through to him because he didn't want to speak. In hopes that it would get him to open up, Shane, the group home counselor, arranged for his twin brother Tobias, and his sister Ronnie. It seemed to work. Kevin was back to himself as he awaited their arrival. "Cyan offered to take you guys out for ice cream," Shane explained as Kevin sat on the front porch dressed in a black and blue sweatshirt. "That way you three can spend some time away from the home and get to know each other." "Thank you," Kevin said smiling. "This was very kind of you. I haven't seen Ronnie and Tobias since we left Los Angeles and were separated." Shane returned the smile and ran his fingers through Kevin's short blond hair. "Don't worry about it. We want to make you as comfortable as possible, and you deserve the right to see your brother and sister one in a while. I wouldn't mind meeting them myself." A mini van pulled up to the curb and the door slid open. Two children jumped out. The boy was no doubt Kevin's twin, he had the same blond hair and facial complexion. Both he and the girl had light hints of yellow in their skin, but it was so small you had to be looking for it to notice it. The girl had long black hair which and bright red eyes. Uniquely colored eyes must have been a trait in the family, Shane figured. He wondered if Tobias and Ronnie also had Kevin's fatal resistance to certain medicine. Kevin jumped off the porch and the three caught themselves in a group hug. Cyan, the driver, stood just outside the passenger door smiling at the site. She had never seen siblings love one another this much, even if they had been separated for a long time. In the van the three talked up a storm, each one sharing stories of his or her life and adventures in foster care. Cyan listened intently as she drove to the Dairy Queen. They were articulate and well spoken, and not one of them stuttered. "When I head about what they did to you I was ready to go on a killing spree," Ronnie told Kevin truthfully. "I can't believe what some people get away with." Kevin winced in pain from the memories. He was sitting next to Tobias in the first back seat if the van and Ronnie was sitting right behind them. "Don't worry," Tobias put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We've all been through it. In my last home I got tired of speaking to people, so when I stopped talking they thought I was sick or something. "They forgot that my blood is unstable to medicine and they forced me to take these pills. I ended up in a seizure and then in a coma. They had to pump my stomach for four hours straight before I could come out of it." "Did you remind them that you were allergic?" Cyan asked shocked at what she just heard. "Yes, but they wouldn't listen. I was taken from that home because they ignored my doctor's medical advice and the psychiatrist who prescribed the medicine was sued for mal-practice." "So Tobias," she decided to change the subject so as not to kill the mood. "You're Kevin's twin, so you're twelve, How old are you Ronnie?" "I'm eleven." She answered politely. "You can call me Ron." "That's a good thing," Kevin joked. "If Ronnie lets you call her by any name other than Ronnie it means she likes you." "Brat." Ronnie playfully punched him on the shoulder. "You sound almost fifty, all of you." Cyan commented turning into the Dairy Queen parking lot. "I've never heard siblings your age getting along so well." "I guess it's a force of circumstance," Kevin remarked as they piled out of the van. "We get to see each other like this once every year, and having no parents it makes us feel closer to one another." "Kind of like we have to take care of one another," Tobias backed him up. After they chose their ice cream flavor the foursome sat at a bench and continued the conversation. "So you don't have any parents?" "No," Kevin answered, licking his strawberry sherbet. "Our biological parents are dead." "Well," Ronnie hesitated and looked from Kevin and Tobias. The three looked at each other for a long time before speaking. "You see, we aren't exactly." Tobias hesitated trying to find the right words. "We don't know.It's a little difficult too.Oh Kevin, you do it. You're better at this than I am." "We aren't human," Kevin blurted on cue. "Aren't human?" Cyan asked, completely fixed now. "You mean because of the blood?" "Well, that's the general consensus," Tobias was able to find the words now as he casually ate his hot fudge sundae. He wasn't worried because they decided that she was safe to tell. "There's more to it though. Watch." Tobias focused on the spoon in his sundae with barely a glance and lifted it into the air with out even touching it. He picked up a small amount of ice cream and put the spoon in his mouth slowly savoring the sweet milky flavor. All the while Cyan was watching with wide-eyed amazement. "That's amazing," she said once she could speak again. She had to fight to stay planted in her seat, but despite instinct, she wasn't afraid of these children and their abilities. "Is that the only thing you can do?" "We have minor telepathic abilities," Kevin explained. "We can converse over short distances without ever speaking, and we can read the memories and immediate thoughts of others." "We would never do that without a reason," Ronnie assured her. "I myself have strong empathic capabilities, which I'm careful not to let interfere with judgement." "What can you do with empathic capabilities?" Cyan asked curiously. "I can feel people's emotions. I can even induce certain emotions like fear and anxiety." "Where did you all come from?" Tobias was about to answer but then he got a strange sensation. When it passed, he asked to use the bathroom. He wanted Kevin to come with him, under the pretext that he didn't want to get lost. Kevin went into the single bathroom with Tobias. Normally he would have felt weird about being in a bathroom with another person, but he knew that his brother had a reason and after having zero privacy in numerous situations it wasn't the worse thing to happen. "I need to show you something," Tobias said, standing back a few feet he began to undo his buttons and zipper. "I didn't share this memory with you or Ronnie yet, but I have to at least show you." With that he pulled down his pants and revealed a green disposable diaper. It was totally discreet beneath his pants and underwear, but completely noticed when his pants were down. Tobias lost his smile as he waited for his brother's reaction. "The seizure?" Kevin figured it out. "The medicine did something to you didn't it?" "It totally fucked up my muscles," he answered, pulling his pants up. "I can feel the need to pee and poop, but I can't control it. If so much as an ounce forms in my bladder I'll be soaked. And when I need to poop, it all builds up and pushes its way out without me having any say in the matter. I need to wear diapers." "You think I'm going to think differently of you," Kevin sensed Tobias's emotions and immediately toned down the anger he felt against the people responsible for this. "It's like you said Tobias, we've all been through it. You aren't one bit less my brother if you wear diapers or if you need a wheelchair. The same goes for Ronnie." "Then you're okay with it?" Tobias asked. "Of course. Do you need to change it now?" "Well, I do. But I don't have any other diapers with me right now. They sent some with me for the trip but I asked Cyan to keep them in her place where we're staying." "Is it just wet?" "Yeah. I can hold out though. I pooped earlier so I shouldn't have to go for a while now." After pulling his pants up Tobias and Kevin returned to the bench where Cyan and Ronnie were waiting. "Everything come out okay?" Ronnie joked. "I still want to know where you guys came from," Cyan prodded. Kevin and Tobias sat down and shrugged. "We don't know," Ttey said in sync. "They do that from time to time," Ronnie commented resting on her shoulder. "The fact is, we were too young to remember much. We don't know where we come from, only that we were found playing together in a park at a late hour. I was about three then. A policeman discovered us and took us into custody. When they couldn't find our parents they decided to do a blood analysis. They found no one related to us, but they did find that our blood types were the only ones on record." Since then we've been hopping from home to home with them trying to figure out what to do with us," Tobias picked up. "As far as we know, we were left here and we were given no memory as to where we came from, or even who our people are." Cyan was satisfied with the answer. She took them to a lake up near the National Forest and then it was time to return home. When they got to the group home Kevin spoke to Cyan very quietly. "We have trusted you with our secret. We have never told anyone this before. You can never tell anyone about us." "You can trust me." Cyan promised them. Part 3: Project Darwin Darwin was a sort of a private joke brought on by the xenobiologists and cold scientists. Nurse Reynolds was the only person in this whole building that cared for him. He was eight years old blond and had deep yellow skin that felt as smooth as aloe. He couldn't talk because when he was born the doctors engineered him so that his speech centers were turned off. The only way he could speak was through his mind, it was also the only way he could signal when he was hungry or needed a change. His diaper smelled and it made him uncomfortable, because he couldn't tell when he needed to go. he called when it his diaper was full. "I'm coming," Reynolds called cheerfully from the kitchen. This entire room was Darwin's home. When he was here, he wore only a shirt and a diaper, outside the room he had to wear pants so he could do the tests that they wanted him to perform at times. The room was decorated with army posters and drawings of his dreams. There was a big screen TV and a Sega Dreamcast in front of the sofa and a bed with a Digimon sheets and blankets. Darwin was standing up when Reynolds came in with her supplies. She took him into the tiny bathroom off to the side of the kitchen and helped him up onto the table. In Reynold's opinion, the military was being downright selfish forcing an eight-year old boy to lose his ability to speak and his ability to be independent. If this job weren't paying for her own son's college tuition she would go to the press and send the word to every major newspaper in the country. She took Darwin's diaper off and lifted his knees with one hand. She cleaned the poop off his buttocks with a baby wipe and pulled the diaper out from underneath him. "You certainly did a lot this time," she commented, emptying the diaper into the toilet and rolling it up to throw away. Darwin apologized frowning to show his sincerity. Reynolds smiled as she ran her hand over Darwin's smooth moist skin. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. She liked the feeling of it. "You don't need to apologize, honey. You can't help this. I've changed people much older and bigger than you."Darwin asked lifting his butt up so Reynolds could slide another diaper under him. "Of course I do," she answered, taping the diaper up and lifting him up to her for a hug. A lot of the day was spent hugging Darwin, soothing his tears and trying to give him something to hope for besides being an alien guinea pig. One of these days she would rescue him from all of this and take him into a loving home where he could learn to use the toilet, and maybe even speak. "Let's get you some lunch and then we'll have a nice long bath." Reynolds helped him onto the floor and told him to wash his hands. Doctor Morgan's research was in full sway. He had begun the research simulations for finding compatible blood types to fuse with the alien DNA. The computer used the gene sequencer to line up the numerous codes of DNA. Fortunate was the fact that Darwin's DNA matched the same double helix structure as a humans, and the search would only take a few minutes. Through a cup of coffee Morgan watched as Nurse Reynolds prepared lunch for Darwin. The cameras were located in several areas of the room and focused on key points, the playroom, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Due to certain privacy laws the camera could not focus on the toilet, but the bio-scanners could tell the doctor who was sitting on it. If for any reason Darwin was found sitting on it Reynolds would be in serious trouble. If he began focusing on controlling his bowels and urine then his mental energy would be concentrated on nerve reactions and not his telepathy. Morgan sipped his coffee and almost sprayed it on the computer when the screen started flashing. The DNA sample was flashing with the words `Match Found'. For years since Darwin's test tube birth the Pentagon computer had been programmed to alert the government upon the location of a DNA sample matching Darwin's. Morgan turned off the sequencer program and accessed the Pentagon information unit. He entered in his password and called up the messages for his lab. Fifty different hospital records showed up in an outline. Each record contained a familiar name, sex, and the name of legal guardians of those names. Morgan nearly pissed him self as he picked up the phone on the wall and dialed General Headly. "Project Darwin's older siblings have been found," he said quickly. "They are in New York. I repeat, Project Darwin's siblings are in New York." "I'm already sending agents to locate the children," General Headly replied. "You aren't the only one who gets messages from the Pentagon. Make sure our Darwin doesn't find out." "Yes, sir," Morgan hung up the phone and continued reading the information. Eleven.Thirteen, the most recent reports indicated that the children were almost adolescents. Remarkable healing capabilities, purple blood, unusually moist skin.all traits that Darwin possessed. To have all four of them would provide more DNA samples than the government would need, plus more research on older specimens of the species. Part 4: Cyan's Decision Tobias and Ronnie said good-bye to Kevin as he was dropped off at the group home and were taken to Cyan's house where they were staying during their visit. Ronnie sat in the front seat chatting with Cyan and Tobias sat back and fell asleep. Cyan lived with her husband at the top of a rural hill in the Albany area. The house was surrounded by several acres of farmland and it over looked a beautiful view of the sunset. "It's very kind of you to let us stay with you," Tobias commented as he and Ronnie got out of the van. "And after what we just showed you I'm impressed that you're able to handle it so well." "Don't even think about it," Cyan replied smiling. "You guys have been awesome today. I don't want to see anything happen to the three of you, besides, I watch a lot of science fiction." Ronnie and Tobias giggled at the small joke as they entered the house. They each had their own room, which gave them more privacy than they had in. Tobias just pooped in his diaper and now needed to change himself. He went into his room to get another diaper and then headed to the bathroom. He wasn't very good at changing himself because for the last five months since he had been wearing diapers he had someone else do it. One of the older kids at his group home in Grafton was really good at changing him, but Toby didn't like the way he kept making comments about his parts. Being twelve he was very modest, which was why he hated to ask for help now. He was afraid that he might make a mess on the nice bathroom floor, so he decided to swallow his pride and ask Cyan for help. He went downstairs where she was preparing dinner. Her husband Lucas was home from work and helping out. Tobias entered the kitchen nervously and asked Cyan if she could speak to her privately. "I need help with my, um..." Tobias trailed off looking down briefly. Cyan realized what he was asking and put a hand on his shoulder to calm his adrenaline down. "Would you rather have Luke help you?" she asked quietly. Ronnie was reading in the living room and she didn't want to embarrass him. "He works with elderly at the home so he knows what he's doing." "If he doesn't mind, but can you ask him for me please?" "Sure." Cyan went back into the kitchen and asked Luke to help Tobias with his diaper. Lucas went up to the bathroom with Tobias. "Let me just get some wipes," He said going into the cabinet below the sink. "I'm sure that would feel more comfortable than toilet paper." Tobias took his shoes and socks off and then pulled his pants and underwear down. He wasn't as nervous around Luke so he didn't sweat quite as much. "Why don't you lie down on the floor," Luke suggested. "That will make things easier." "I know the drill," Tobias replied meekly as he carefully lay back so as not to make the poop squish around any more than necessary. "I'm still trying to learn how to change myself with out making such a mess, but the group home doesn't want to afford the time to teach me." "It's definitely not easy. But you do get used to it." Luke undid the tapes and pulled back the front of the diaper. He went to work wiping the poop from Tobias's bottom and cleaning around his crotch and penis. "That wasn't so hard," Lucas commented as he took the new diaper and helped Tobias fasten it tightly. "I'll give you credit, most kids your age would complain about something like this. I guess you've had time." "Complaining doesn't do very much good," Tobias replied getting up to wash his hands before putting his underwear and pants back on. "I know Ronnie finds it comforting, but I'd rather try to get through a problem without it." "That makes sense." Luke opened the door and let them both out. Dinner was cheddar Hamburger Helper and root beer. Small talk was made, and then Ronnie went upstairs to take a shower. Tobias helped to clear the dishes and was soon tired. "Thank you again," he said yawning. "Dinner was delicious." "Well, thank you, Tobias," Cyan replied. "You three have made this a very pleasant weekend." Tobias smiled and then left them with a goodnight. "He is such a sweet boy," She told Luke as they sat down to a cup of coffee. "So are Kevin and Ronnie. It's wrong for them to be torn apart like this." "They're three in a million that's for sure," Luke agreed. "Ronnie, she has eyes like daggers. If I get caught in a dark alley I want her to be nearby." "Did you notice anything about Tobias when you were changing him?" Cyan asked curiously. "As a matter of fact I did." Luke sipped his coffee. "Except for the usual hair on his head, he doesn't have a single strand of hair on his entire body. Some of the residents I work with would be lucky to have skin as moist as his, I'm betting it doesn't even wrinkle." "They aren't human." "Oh, I know that." "What?" Cyan looked at Luke wide-eyed. "How could you have known? I didn't even have a chance to tell you yet." "Well it's not too hard to figure it out," Luke explained. "For one, the yellowish tones in their skin stands out in fluorescent lighting. Plus, Tobias and Ronnie both have distinct eye colors not normally found in humans. Ronnie's, for instance, are a bright red, whereas Tobias's are more aquamarine." Cyan had to admit, she noticed these qualities as well, but she wouldn't have linked them to being alien. Many humans had strange bodies that defied conventional evolution. "Their blood is purple," she added. "It went under a new classification. Type X." "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Luke asked taking another sip of coffee. "If what you're thinking is that these kids are going to have it tough growing up, then yes. Which is what I wanted to ask you." Cyan listened upstairs as the shower went off and Ronnie left the bathroom. "I think we should take them under our roof, all three of them. They could grow up together and they wouldn't have to be tortured by morons who don't know how to take care of them." Luke listened quietly and nodded. "We've always wanted children." He smiled taking his wife's hand. "I think this is a good start." "I'll call Shane tomorrow and make the arrangements." Captured Kevin awakened in a startled sweat after his nightmare. As he woke up he also noticed he was peeing and he couldn't stop it. When he was sure he had stopped he got up from his bed. The plastic sheet crinkled and he thanked whatever powers existed that the home had decided he was behaved enough for his own room. That made it easier for him to remove the wet sheets and linen from his bed and carry them to the laundry room in the basement. After taking care of his wet bed linens and his clothes he changed and replaced the sheets. He was still sweating from the dream and he couldn't get it out of his mind. There were men and women in black suits, and they were all over the place. They were looking for them, and Kevin was helpless to do anything about it. He was too far away to call Tobias and Ronnie, and he couldn't prove to anyone else that these people were bad. He went back to the bathroom and splashed water onto his face. They were all over the place, he couldn't stop them, that's what the dream told him. He needed to be prepared. He needed to be ready to fight when the time came to rescue his only flesh and blood. Tobias and Ronnie woke up with adrenaline in their blood as well as well. They each had dreams involving people being sent to capture them. These people were hidden from sight, they blended in with the background, but their thoughts were not easily clouded. Ronnie told Tobias as he tried to fall back to sleep. He searched the dream. they both finished. Kevin ate breakfast mechanically this morning. The nightshift worker ate with the children and asked him how his day with his siblings went. "Oh, it was excellent," he answered, although he didn't sound convincing. "Did you have a bad night?" She asked. "That's putting it on a low burner." Kevin sipped his tea. On most mornings it helped him relax, but when the enemy was anyone and anything he couldn't possibly relax. "Bad dream, wet bed. It's the usual life." "Do you think the dream is prophecy of some kind?" "In all honesty, I severely hope not," he commented. "I should go there today and make sure they are okay." "Oh I'm sure Cyan is taking care of them." "It's not Cyan I'm worried about," Kevin looked straight at her, his purple eyes glowing bright as neon. "Something is happening and I may not be able to stop it." Darwin called out in his sleep. He wasn't doing it on purpose, but he knew the doctors would be monitoring his brainwaves. "I must outwit them, but they have anticipated my possible moves," he thought in his sleep. Pee was filling up his diaper but he knew he couldn't do anything about it. Darwin searched through the one area the computers couldn't scan, his dreams. He sent out delta wave mental frequencies and searched for others, others with his DNA. It was all he could get out before Reynolds woke him up. She was checking his diaper with her finger. It was wet. "Sounds like you were having a nightmare, kiddo," she said comfortingly as she helped him out of bed. He told her. There were tears in his eyes and they were glowing yellow. "Oh dear, your eyes-" Reynolds knelt beside him and placed a hand on his forehead. "There's no fever, what's wrong?" Darwin cried. Reynolds pulled his pajamas down to his ankles and took his diapers off where he stood. She didn't even have time to get him into the bathroom when two men in white coats busted in. "We need to take him to the laboratory," One of them told Reynolds while the other one yanked him from the floor. "Can it wait until I get a diaper on him?" "We'll diaper him when we get there. Doctor Morgan wants to see why his mind wave readings are changing." Darwin roared in their minds as he sobbed. He reached out to Reynolds as they carried him away, and in his fear he began to pee on the man that was carrying him. "I'll be with you again soon baby," Reynolds called holding back her tears. "Be a big boy." Darwin cried the whole time and as he cried and peed he sent out his message. Kevin met Tobias and Ronnie outside of the group home. Cyan and Lucas were taking them to the Great Escape that day. In a large place like that it would be easy to hide from the people who wished to capture them. The three children were growing more and more comfortable with these people every day. They shared their dreams mentally, and wondered whether it would be fair to tell Cyan what was happening. They parked at a gas station because Tobias needed a diaper change. He was very comfortable around Lucas, and Lucas clearly had no problem with changing him. Cyan had to use the bathroom allowing Ronnie and Kevin time to talk out loud about their dreams. "Project Darwin," Kevin repeated after Ronnie finished. "I wonder if that's the reason why these people are after us." "I don't know. But who ever it was, what ever it was, it was calling us." Ronnie repeated the message that was sent to her. Kevin tried to comprehend it. Even though it was clear what it meant, but it was harder to find out what it needed help from that would force it to reach out telepathically. Two vans pulled up a quarter of a mile from the gas station. Six men wearing black suits stepped out and gathered in a circle. Over their heads they wore black masks to protect them from telepathy. "When we capture them we'll need to put them to sleep until we get to the airport. Afterwards they won't know what happened to them." They took out rifles armed with tranquilizer darts. "Anyone near the aliens will need to be tranquilized too. If they attempt to interfere, Rodman is licensed to kill." They broke up and headed for the gas station. Lucas gently wiped around Tobias's testicles. "You're really good at this," Toby said lying back on the pillow that Lucas brought with them. "Is it really hard to change grown-ups like this?" "Sometimes," Lucas said beginning to clean the penis. "Some of the people I clean have Alzheimer's and don't like being changed, so they kick and flail. Often I'll need an aide to hold them down while I wipe them." "What's Alzheimer's?" "It's a disease that happens to old people sometimes. It makes them lose their memory." "I hope I never get that," Tobias remarked as he lifted his butt up to get another diaper. "Probably by the time you get to be my age they'll have a cure for it." Luke taped the diaper up and let Tobias stand up to take care of his pants. Cyan emerged from the bathroom and met Kevin and Ronnie who were still speaking softly. She didn't want to interrupt them, but she wondered if it was something that she should hear. She headed over to the van and became suspicious when she saw six men dressed in black suits and masks moving in their direction. Rodman pulled out his silenced clip and led the group into the gas station. They were using the bio scanners programmed for the alien DNA. Where they were expecting to find at least two aliens out in the open and unprotected. Instead they found an empty parking lot with only a few station workers tending to their jobs. Cyan parked the van just a few feet from the station. Kevin and Ronnie were lying on their backs underneath the seats. "That was close," Cyan commented. She looked in the rearview mirror as the men searched the area and found nothing. "I'll contact Tobias," Kevin whispered. "Ronnie, try to keep the van hidden." Ronnie kept a mental shield up around the van while Kevin sent out his telepathic waves to Tobias. He called out. Lucas washed his hands and was ready to leave when Tobias locked the door from where he stood. "Lucas, wait," he warned in a robotic tone. Luke turned around and saw that Tobias's eyes were glowing. "What's wrong?" he asked feeling a jolt of adrenaline. "Outside," Tobias echoed the disembodied words of his brother. "Men in suits, with weapons, searching for us. They will try to capture us, they are afraid of what we can do." Luke looked around for a way out but there was only a small window above the sink. They couldn't escape through that, and it didn't look like they could make a run for the van with out being caught either. "They are taking position around the door of the bathroom," Tobias reported. "I can see them from Kevin's eyes. He is far from the gas station and looking at us now." "Can he tell Cyan to drive up to the bathroom door?" "I'll ask him." "This is the FBI," A man's voice bellowed from outside. "I am warning you, I have a license to kill, send the alien out and you will not be hurt." "Ronnie is hiding the van with her abilities," Tobias relayed. "If Cyan moves she won't be able to hide it." "I will give you to the count of ten," The man continued. Luke heard the cocking of a gun. He looked at Tobias nervously, at the moment he wished he had the luxury of a diaper so he wouldn't have to pee in his pants. Tobias relayed the warning to Kevin. "We have no choice," Kevin told Ronnie. "We need to fight them or they'll capture Tobias." "But they'll take all three of you," Cyan protested. She was still behind the wheel of the van and fighting every urge to step on the gas pedal. "But if we don't get out there by the time he gets down to ten than Lucas will die." Ronnie began to drift out. "Ron," Kevin jumped over the seat as she fell onto his lap. "Are you okay?" Her nose began to bleed as she looked on in vague awareness. "I have a headache," she moaned desperately falling to sleep. "Kevin," Cyan cried urgently. "They see us." Kevin looked out the windshield and saw two of the men turning and moving towards them. He jumped in the passenger seat besides Cyan and told her to drive to the door. "I'll deal with them." Cyan was hesitant as the men had rifles in their hands. But then she saw Kevin's eyes begin to glow and knew that he was at work with whatever he planned. As she placed her foot on the petal the two guns flew from the men's hands and spun around in the air. The barrels were now pointing directly at them. "Don't shoot them. They're using tranquilizers," Kevin assured her. "They don't want us dead, we'd be useless to them." With that he pulled the triggers and fired the darts into the men's shoulders. The van zoomed past them and towards the gas station. "Five.four.three." The man's counting was interrupted. "Holy shit. Kevin is heading straight for us," Tobias told Luke. "Stand off to the side, I can handle the guys outside." Lucas hugged the wall as Tobias turned both faucets of the sink on to full blast and then stood to the side. He focused on them with full concentration. As the water continued to pour out the pipes began to shake. Tobias's eyes began to glow the fullest purple they had ever been before. He warned the men outside. The faucet popped off of the sink and into the door where it lodged itself. Following it was an assault of hot water. Combined with his telekinesis Tobias broke down the door and sprayed the men with hot water. They screamed in agony and ran. Tobias stepped out of the doorway to make sure it was safe, when he saw no one there he signaled Lucas that it was okay. The van was a few feet away and Kevin could be seen opening the slide door with his mind. They were almost free until the man with the license to kill, sneaked up from behind and grabbed Tobias. "NOOOO!" Kevin screamed as Cyan hit the breaks. She tried to keep him from jumping out incase the man decided to shoot her husband but he was unstoppable. <"LET HIM GO!"> He roared in a mixture of telepathy and speech. "I'm afraid I can't do that," the agent responded with his gun to Lucas's head. "I've been given orders to take you three without delay. And I wouldn't try your mind power on us, our masks protect us." <"THEY CAN'T PROTECT YOU FROM TELEKINESIS!"> Kevin focused on one of the gas tanks. Only two of the other black suited men stood next to it. Kevin induced heat friction on the pipes and caused it to ignite. A mushroom cloud exploded around the gas station killing the two men. The FBI agent let down his guard for a moment allowing Lucas the chance to grab his gun. They began to struggle. Although the FBI agent had been trained in self-defense, Luke had been trained in restraining techniques, which gave him an ability to fight. <"YOU EVER SEE THE MOVIE FIRE STARTER?"> Kevin taunted as he approached the struggling pair. <"I DID"> Tobias was on the ground, limp and unconscious. A tranquilizer dart was buried in his arm. He would be asleep for a few hours. The van screeched to a halt in front of the station. Cyan was being careful not to drive into the flames. Lucas delivered a sharp punch to the agent's stomach and ran to the van. He stopped to try and get Tobias to his feet. Kevin bent over to help him but was missed by a centimeter when the agent tried to shoot him. In his shock he wet himself. As the puddle seeped through his pants and on to the ground Kevin's mental power dropped. He had held it up as long as possible. Lucas backed away from Tobias as the agent and one more man in black approached them with armed weapons. "Give the aliens to me," The agent demanded of Luke. "I'm not letting any of you touch these kids," Luke defied him with every ounce of strength in his body. The agent pulled the trigger. Kevin focused and stopped the bullet before it could reach its target. His brain began to ache. It was being pushed too hard, which was what happened to Ronnie in the first place. With out saying a word he yanked the gun from the agent's hand and turned it on him. The man in the black suit reacted quickly and pointed his tranquilizer at Tobias. "Too much of this stuff and he'll die," the man warned Kevin. "Let the man go." "You won this round." The agent knew when his hand had been played. "We'll let you and the girl go, but we'll find you. Make no mistake about that." The man in black threw the rifle around his shoulder and bent over to pick up Tobias. Kevin and Lucas backed in to the van, closed the door and drove off. Decisions to Make Night fell, and Kevin had awakened to a strange feeling. He was in the van, far away from anything normal, and the only thing he had covering his private area, was one of Tobias's disposable diapers. "Oh no," He cried at the thought of Tobias. "I let him go." "You had no choice," Lucas's comforting voice whispered. Kevin was in his arms, being held and caressed. Something he could not remember even since the days when he was a little child. Ronnie was being held by Cyan too. They were both vulnerable right now. "Why am I in a diaper?" He asked humbly as the tears flowed down his cheeks. "It was the only dry thing you had," Luke explained. "You didn't have an extra pair of pants so I couldn't get any on you. I think the strain in your head was causing you to lose control of your bladder so I had to put a diaper on to keep the seats dry." Kevin looked down at his diaper and felt it was moist. He had been peeing the whole time. But now he felt embarrassed knowing that the girls may have seen him being changed. "Don't worry," Ronnie yawned as she gently sat up in the seat. "It's just a diaper. Tobias has to wear them, too. Which is another matter." Kevin shook the sleep from his mind. He needed to think clearly. Their thoughts corresponded without the telepathy but they knew what it would mean. "Lucas," Kevin whispered so as not to awaken Cyan. "We need to find Tobias. But we need to do it alone." Luke nodded in understanding. They were at the point where nothing was beyond possibility or reason. Ordinarily he would have wondered what an eleven and twelve year-old could do against the US military, but he had seen enough to convince him. "Do you know where they came from?" He asked. "Tobias called me as he was coming out of his drug induced state," Kevin explained. "The plain they loaded him on is heading to Washington DC. From there we don't know where." "The nearest airport is in Albany," Lucas said as the three quietly piled out of the van. "I can drive you there at least." "We can't ask you to do that," Ronnie said. "You and Cyan have done more than anyone has ever done. You're the first humans we could actually trust and we don't want anything to happen to you." "Well then," Luke began digging into his pockets for his wallet. "Take this money. We were going to spend it at the Great Escape, but I guess that plan is off the list. You'll need it when you get to Washington." "Thank you," Kevin took a pair of pants from Tobias's book bag and put them on. Then he put the money from the wallet in his pockets and slung the book bag around his shoulders. "Will we hear from you again?" Lucas asked as Kevin slipped his shoes back on. "When Tobias is back with us we'll give you a call," the purple-eyed boy responded. With a last good-bye and a hug for security they turned and headed for the nearest airport. Tobias sent the message as soon as he awakened. He was being carried into an unmarked jet and he was fast asleep. When he awakened he found himself in a revolving leather chair in the passenger section of the jet. He wasn't restrained, but there was something about the inside of the jet that kept him from reaching out mentally. The FBI agent sat in the seat across from him. They were the only passengers on the plain it seemed. A woman bustled about in the galley taking care of short odds and ends. "My name is Craig Rodman," The agent introduced himself as he played a game of solitaire. "What's yours?" Tobias didn't answer. Instead he got up from his seat and explored. There was a mini-fridge situated near the kitchen. The windows were tinted and the lighting was dim. Everything, the carpet, the furniture, was the color of a coal mine. "You will find that your mind power is being suppressed," Rodman spoke calmly and quietly. "When we began studies on a cloned specimen of your species we discovered that you cannot reach anything past extremely dark colors." Tobias remembered the men back at the gas station. Although he could still manipulate objects he couldn't penetrate their suits. "You'll find that if you want to move something in here, you're going to have to use your hands like us humans," Rodman continued rearranging the cards into the deck and placing them face down. "Now, what is your name?" Tobias turned around to face him with a look of disgust. "You were willing to kill people to get to us. And now that you have me you want to know my name?" He smacked the cards off the table with his hand showing his frustration. "My job was to capture you and your siblings, yes." Rodman replied unaffected by the cards. "But I assure you, I would have only killed the people that got in my way. It was for your safety mostly, what if some idiot cop decided to `rescue' you and ended up taking you to a hospital to see if you were damaged? I doubt you'd want another medicine seizure." "How do you know about that?" "We have your hospital records in our labs." Tobias wanted to penetrate his mind and find out what made him tick. Look for the dark memories in his life and force them to replay over and over again. Instead he turned to the head. "I need to change," He told Rodman. "My diaper is wet." "We'll have Mrs. Kingly take care of that," Rodman signaled to the stewardess. "Would you be so kind as to take care of our young guest?" "Of course," She replied putting a gentle hand on Tobias' shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you like you were my own." The stewardess carefully changed Tobias and cleaned him with the same expertise as Lucas had. Oh no, he thought. Lucas, Cyan, Kevin, and Ronnie...the military would be after them soon. He would need to try and delay them for as long as possible. Even if it meant giving them what they wanted. When the Stewardess was finished he went back to the table and sat down. "I'm Tobias," He said to Rodman. "But my friends call me Toby." "And I want to be your friend," Rodman assured him. He had picked up the cards and was now dealing them. "Do you know how to play gin?" "I can learn." "Then I'll teach you as we go along." Morning was drawing near as Kevin and Ronnie approached the airport. A jet took off for the south leaving the rest of the airport silent for the time being. "What are we going to do?" Ronnie wondered out loud. "Steal a plane." "You know how to fly?" "I was being sarcastic." Kevin looked around as they walked closer. There was a large barbed-wire fence surrounding the airfield as jumbo jets lay idol in their hangers. "It's ironic," Kevin commented as they huddled beside a mound of dirt and waited for a car to pass. "Aliens have been abducting people from planes in midair all along and we can't even get into one on the ground." "Look over there," Ronnie pointed to another private jet getting ready to enter the runway lift off. "We might be able to sneak aboard." "They might not be going to Washington," Kevin pointed out. "So," Ronnie started climbing up the fence. Kevin climbed after her making sure to avoid security detection. Once in they began searching for trip wires that might alert the tower. "This is a civilian airport, they might not have those types of security," Ronnie thought out loud. "No, but they will have search lights which is why we need to get out of the open." They ran to the runway stopping only to hide from lights and cars. The jet stopped momentarily to allow the passenger to board. Kevin and Ronnie took advantage of the opportunity and quickly jumped inside. Before the pilot and co-pilot could react Ronnie hypnotized them with her telepathy and told them to fly the jet to Washington DC. Kevin closed the gate and sat back and tossed the backpack into one of the seats and looked through it for a clean pair of underwear. He didn't like the idea of being stuck in a diaper the whole day. Finding what he was looking for he went into the bathroom to change. He removed the soaked diaper used the towelettes in the dispenser next to the sink to clean himself off. He stuffed the diaper into the trash and returned to the passenger area to sit before they took off. Ronnie was buckled in the seat next to the window and asleep. Kevin sat across from her and soon he was asleep too. The day had been tiring for the both of them, much less the night. The challenge that lay ahead of them would be even more tiring. Tobias arrived at an airport and was taken to a large building via limousine. When they arrived at the building he was brought to a man by the name of Felix Morgan. "I am very pleased to meet you Tobias," He said putting his gloved hand out to shake. "You see, even without your brother and sister you are a very valuable specimen." "I don't know if I like the idea of being your specimen, doctor," Tobias scowled. He was alone with the doctor. Two guards stood ready outside the room incase of trouble, but other than that he was helpless to act on instinct. "Oh, no worries," Morgan replied circling Tobias and checking him up and down. "We intend to treat you with the best care tax dollars can provide. You'll have your own room with puzzles, pictures, furniture, and virtual reality video games. The room of every young boy's fantasy. You'll even have a private nurse to change your diapers when you need it." "If you want to be so accommodating then why not help me fix my bladder and bowel muscles?" Tobias countered. "I'm afraid that would hinder our progress. You see, it takes a large concentration of neuro-electric impulses to control the sphincter muscles in your colon and urethra. "Those same neuro-electric impulses are the very things your species needs to move objects with your mind. That combined with your own will is a powerful weapon." Tobias felt strong telepathic energy with in the building. Somewhere...deep in the central core of the building. "Not only will we keep you in diapers, but in order to ensure that you can not regain that control you will undergo a small operation." Doctor Morgan pressed a button summoning the two guards into the room. "Take him to surgery. I will be down in a moment." "Now wait a second," Tobias pulled himself away from the guard. "What kind of operation is this?" "Don't worry," Doctor Morgan responded. "We will simply impair the nerves in your body that allow you to feel the urge to relieve yourself. Eventually your muscles will weaken and you will no longer have control of your functions," "You've read my medical documents." Tobias pulled away once more. This time the guards grabbed him and held a good grip on him as they tried to pull him away. "That seizure I had a few weeks back ensures that I'll never have control over those functions again. I'd like to still be able to feel it at least." Doctor Morgan signaled the guards to stop. He considered for a moment and then looked Tobias directly in the eye. "Very well," He said finally. "We will forgo the operation. But under these conditions, you will do whatever we tell you. A private nurse will be assigned to care you for, and from here on out those diapers are to be your toilet. Is that clear?" Tobias nodded. It was the closest to a reasonable agreement he would get from these people. He would just have to play his next hand very carefully. "Take him to his quarters." And the guards took him away.