7th of August, 2004.
Jim and two other kids who have their outreach at F.E.A.S.T. get off the bus. Carla, who's a sixteen year old brunette and Max, who's seventeen and blonde walk behind Jim holding hands.
"So why don't we go see that movie before we leave town?" Max asks Carla putting his arms round her. Jim goes ahead out of earshot and makes it to the F.E.A.S.T. building.
The building is kinda pink with a few steps leading to the entrance. A few homeless that seek shelter are on the steps in groups having a chat. Jim greets everyone on his way to the door. He opens it and a huge hall filled with bunk comes into view. He then hears a male voice talk to him.
"Jim, right on time. Where are the other two?" Jim recognises the voice.
"Morning Mr Li, they're coming in soon". Mr Martin Li is in his late twenties, and works as the vice manager of this F.E.A.S.T. branch. Keep in mind, he needs no second job as F.E.A.S.T. pays their staff very well. After all, it's one of the largest philanthropist organisations in Northern America. It's yearly donations comes from various places, such as the government, Rand Corporation and Roxxon, just to mention a few.
Mr Li sighs and Jim chuckles. Carla and Max spend as much time being in each other's arms as they do working for F.E.A.S.T.
"Alright Medic Unit is expecting you, they've really taken to you. You're doing great work here Jim and F.E.A.S.T. will remember. If you ever need help, call me up".
"Thank you Mr Li, I'll head there now" Jim says giving him a grin and walking away.
'Maybe after I take care of those things I can work here in future, but would they accept me if they know what I'll do' Jim sighs. He doesn't want to bring any trouble to this place that caters for the needy. He wants to believe he can find and kill those murderers without gathering police attention but isn't sure it's possible.
The F.E.A.S.T. building is pretty big, and Jim reaches the medical unit's blue door on his right. He then walks in. The medical unit is all white inside. There's a small waiting room which Jim is in and a few doors around with white plaques showing what they're used for. The waiting room has a few chairs and a nurses desk. It's pretty early but more than a few people are present already.
Jim looks at the nurse/medical assistant going through a few sheets of paper.
"Hey Martha" Jim says lowering his voice. The walls of the medical unit are thin, and they have some small scale surgeries sometimes. You have to lower your voice so the doctors don't make any mistake.
"Hi Jim" Martha replies giving Jim a full smile. Jim's cheeks heat up but thankfully it doesn't show as he's black so he grins back to hide it.
'Fucking hormones. Fuck you Puberty!' Jim curses in his mind. Martha is a recent graduate from medical school, and is working here so she can pay for further schooling. She stands at 5'8 with long black hair and blue eyes. She looks very beautiful wearing her scrubs.
"We got a lot of appointments today. Sorry, you'll have to do the rounds" Martha says to Jim apologetically. The rounds refer to going around asking previous patients who stay in F.E.A.S.T. how they are, whether they feel any pain or remaining symptoms and taking notes. Jim is allowed to do this cause the doctors fully believe in his ability. He has taken his job and learning seriously. They've also watched over him doing the rounds before and giving first aid to a few people when they're surplus patients.
"No problem, anything I can do to help you guys out. Any other task?". Martha looks through the desk giving a hum and picks up an envelope.
"Oh yeah, could you give this to Tom's Pharmacy down the street?" Martha says handing him an envelope containing a list of medical items the unit needs.
"Sure I'll go do that right now" Jim says. He hands his bag to Martha who helps him keep it in a drawer. He waves and exits the medical unit, then the F.E.A.S.T. building. The streets are way busier now than earlier and Jim begins his walk to Tom's Pharmacy.
He first crosses the road at the zebra crossing, then walks down the street to Tom's while making sure to avoid people rushing towards their destination. After about five minutes he reaches the white and blue store that's Tom's Pharmacy.
The bell on the door jingles as he steps into the store. He immediately sees old man Tom. A man in his sixties wearing a round pair of glasses and a corporate shirt and trousers. The man looks at Jim and grins.
"Jim! Welcome, been a while since I've seen ya" Tom says giving Jim a grin.
"Morning Mr Tom, how's the store going?".
"Been doing pretty great, still got mixed feelings bout that though" Tom says giving a chuckle. Obviously the more sick people there are, the more a pharmacy like Tom's sells.
"Haha yeah, i came over to drop a new list" Jim says handing Tom the envelope. Tom opens it and Jim walks round the store.
"Alright I'll head back and circle what we got, and what I'll have to deliver at a later date. I'll also check which ones can be substituted for others. Give me bout ten minutes as I look through the computer and help me watch the store" Tom tells Jim and opens the cashier's desk for him.
Jim knows how the payments work and every item in the store is tagged. So all he has to do is collect the money, print a receipt and keep the cash in the register. He has actually helped Tom with this before. Tom believes he is a very reliable kid.
"Alright Mr Tom, I'll do my best. By the way what happened to Sarah?" Jim asks. Sarah is Tom's assistant and cashier.
"Well she got an accounting exam coming up, so I let her go for the week so she could study" Tom says before entering the office part of the store, leaving the door open so he could look in anytime. A man Jim Knows comes into the store.
"Hey Bill" Jim says.
"How are ya Jim? You the new cashier?" Bill, a homeless man and resident of F.E.A.S.T. The patients of the medical unit come here after their consultation with a prescription to pick up their drugs. At the end of the week, Tom then calculates everything and sends a bill. What Jim is here for presently isn't drugs but medical supplies like gloves, face masks, bandages and so on.
"Just for about ten minutes" Jim replies.
"Alright man, I came to pick this up" Bill says handing Jim the paper with his prescription on it. Jim clearly reads the handwriting and shorthand of Dr Michaels, who works at F.E.A.S.T.
"Okay, triple action cream-" Jim says getting up from the register and walking to the part of the store that has topical creams. He picks up a pack.
"- Vitamin C-" Jim says walking to another section of the store and carries a white vitamin C pack.
"Ketoconazole pills are last" Jim checks the shelves behind the register and finds an open pack. He sorts out the medicine and places it in front of him.
"Okay from seeing this you got a yeast infection-" Jim says and Bill nods. Yeast infections are pretty common for the poor, who most likely have weak immune systems. Jim then shows and explains the prescription to Bill.
"Okay so, three times a day, these tablet ones are once a day. And the topical cream is twice a day after your bath. Rub the cream on the affected area. Drink a lot of water, shower twice a day with warm water and please Bill don't smoke or drink till it goes away". Bill sighs and gives a determined nod. Jim packs up the medicine for him and registers the sale before handing Jim the medicine.
He also hands Jim the invoice to give back to the medical unit.
"Thanks little doctor, you're an amazing kid" Bill says. He then looks at the prescription paper on his way out.
"Fuck I can't even read this". The bell rings and Bill has left the store.
Jim sits for about twelve minutes and Tom comes back with an envelope.
"Okay I've written what I can deliver this week, the rest I'll do it the next" Tom says handing Jim the envelope.
"Thanks Mr Tom" Jim says leaving the register.
"Good kid, here" Tom says handing Jim five dollars.
"Thank you sir" Jim says with a smile before leaving the store. He pockets the envelope and begins his trek back to F.E.A.S.T.
Jim is thinking on what to spend his money on when he feels someone bump into him. He stops and watches as the person, with their hoodie up, then bumps into someone else with nice looking clothes walking in front of Jim. Her bumping into the man seems to be as a result of her bumping into Jim.
"Sorry" the girl says and is about to walk away from the man when her arm is held. It seems it's not his first time getting pickpocketed.
"Damn kids this days, got no respect" he then proceeds to drag the kicking-screaming girl to a police officer who gets attracted by the commotion.
Meanwhile, Jim is still unmoving, deep in his thoughts.
'That just now, what was that? The moment she bumped into me I felt a huge amount of unique energy in her. Prana seems to be mixed in. Is she like me?' Jim is about to take a step forward but notices the girl getting pushed into a police car and driven away. He frowns.
"Shit" he says conflicted on what he should do. He watches as the car stops at a traffic light.
'Well it's now or never. Hint!' Jim thinks letting his ability make the decision for him. The car lights up with silver wisps of light. The traffic light goes green and the car begins to move. Jim focuses on the girl's image.
'Guide!'. The starlight path shows itself and Jim follows the path, at first walking briskly then changing to a run. He goes a few blocks and makes it to the police station. He stands across the road looking at the station and sighing. His starlight path going inside the station. Policemen are walking in and out of the station constantly.
'Fuck!' Jim curses mentally. He walks away from the station thinking of what to do.
The police building has a single entrance and is a three story building. It's pretty well guarded and the chance of sneaking in through the front is low.
'How do I get in? Besides how do I even get both of us out'. Jim looks at the police station again.
'Hint!' He says before looking around him. He sees a payphone gleaming a few feet away.
'A payphone?'.
He heads to the payphone and walks inside. He pretends to call and thinks about his situation.
'So what am I doing here, am I to wait for something? Hint!'. The number '9' lights up and he presses it. The number '1' lights up next.
'I can already see where this is going, I need to get most of the police out of there. I don't wanna do this but I have too.'. He presses the button twice and dials the emergency number. He takes a deep breath and tries to sound as hysterical and troubled as possible. He increases the state breathing pace and not just making it quicker but heavier like he is under duress.
"911, what's your emergency?" A woman says.
"Hel-Hello, they're about to bomb the church. I think they're Al-Queda. Hurry, they just killed my husband. They shot him, I can'tbelievetheyshotohmygodtheki" Jim says increasing the pitch of his voice, and he begins to give fake sobs.
"Calm down M'am, just breathe. Tell me where are you" the woman on the phone sounds tense now.
"I'm in the Anglican Church, the one with the angel on the roof, on Old Library. You gotta hurry, there are some kids that were doing choir practice-" he stops.
"Ma'am?" The woman says trying not to sound scared.
He then brings the phone closer to the glass wall and taps it.
"They're here, hurry please". he whispers with a few fake sobs and cuts the call. He still fakes as if he's on the phone though but watches as policemen rush out of the station. Most of the cop cars pull away and even the two people standing in front leave with them. He sighs.
'It's too easy as the twin tower bombing happened about two years ago. Law enforcement is still on edge. I'm sorry cops, but I need to do this'. He looks at his watch.
"I got like thirty to forty minutes". He then puts his hoodie up and comes out of the booth. He jogs across the road and enters the station. The station looks pretty deserted after the call.
'Guide!'. The starlit path shows itself going up a staircase on his right and Jim walks quickly but as silently as he can up the stairs. He follows the light up the stairs, around a corner and comes up at a room that reads 'Juvenile holding room'. He opens the door to a blue room with a metal table in the middle. The girl he's looking for sits on a chair, her head in her hands.
"I didn't do it, I-" she looks up and sees Jim who she was not expecting at all. Jim snickers. Now he gets a good look at her. She's blonde, and about his age with blue eyes. She's wearing a black hoodie and jeans.
"Come on, I'm breaking you out of here". The girl raises an eyebrow.
"And who are you?" She asks.
"Jim, now come on if you don't want to get arrested" he says with a serious tone in his voice. She shrugs and obliges.
"Put your hood up, huh, what's your name" Jim asks.
"Karol" she says following him. They are about to reach the corner when Jim sees an ominous red and feels danger. He grabs Karol and puts his hand on her mouth quickly before her she says anything. She looks at him with fear and he puts his hand to his lips. As he turns he sees a door close to them glowing with silver light and opens the door moving in and closing it quickly.
"Keep quiet, someone's coming" he whispers. Karol just gives him a frown.
"I'm not an idiot, that seemed implied" she whispers back. Jim is about to reply when he notices the room starts to glow.
'This feeling...' Jim calmly looks around him and sees various items around in bags and boxes. Most of the items have a red glow to them.
'Why are they red? It feels the same but why are they not blue'. Kate notices that Jim is looking around the room. She picks up a bag containing a bloody knife. The knife glows to Jim's eyes but looks normal to hers. She wrinkles her nose.
"This must be the evidence room" Jim says watching Kate look around. He goes closer to a cord with blood on it. He studies the energy and focuses on it, and discovers something.
'Prana! This is Prana!' Jim says. He carefully lifts the plastic bag and keeps the knife in his pocket.
He also sneakily takes a few red covered items as Kate looks around some more. He hides them in his hoodie and pockets.
"I mean if this is evidence shouldn't this place be locked?" Kate asks.
"Who knows why?" Jim replies and opens the door. His danger sense is gone so it must be safe now. At the other side of the door, is a key in the keyhole.
'Prolly forgot to lock up due to the urgency of the situation' Jim thinks to himself.
'Guide!' Jim says mentally, thinking of F.E.A.S.T.
"We're clear, lets go" Jim says. They head out and make it out the police building. They turn left and walk briskly down the street before turning left again.
"We should be alright now" Jim says heading into an alley.
"Yeah thanks a lot for that" Kate says breathing a bit heavily. "You walk very fast, how aren't you feeling the strain". Jim just smiles at her mysteriously. He removes the hood and stretches his hand to her.
"Jim James, Runaway" he says giving her a smile. She looks stunned for a moment and does the same. They both shake hands.
"Karolina Dean, Runaway" She says giving Jim a grin.
"So now that we've made our escape, could I ask why the station was so empty? I'm guessing it has something to do with you?" Karol asks Jim, who just sighs.
"Yeah, I played on the trauma and fear of a nation. I don't want to talk bout it" Jim says. Karol sees that it's a touchy subject so she doesn't push it and just nods.
"So why'd you save me" Karol asks folding her arms. Jim chuckles seeing her expression and decides to play for a bit.
"Does there have to be a reason? I'm just a nice guy" Jim says, his voice giving an undertone of sarcasm. Karol snorts and doesn't buy it.
"Ha, one thing you learn on these streets. Nothing is for free" Karol says matter of factly.
"True, you're right. Honestly, I'm interested in you" Jim says leaving the implications of his words up in the air. Karol's expression becomes tense and she takes a step back. Jim then begins to laugh.
"Not that way dumbass, I'm not even 14 yet" Jim says with a smile. Karol is a bit shocked.
"You're kinda tall for a thirteen year old" she says looking at Jim that's a bit shorter than her.
"I get that a lot. What bout you? How old are ya?" Jim asks Karol.
"I'm fifteen. Ha older than you kiddo. So what are you interested in?" Karol asks.
"I'll get straight to the point. Do you have powers or abilities" Jim asks. Karol shifts uncomfortably for a moment and starts to deny it.
"Powers? You watch too much cartoons" she says. Jim's reply isn't words but action. He raises up his hand and channels prana into it. Karol's response is to look at him weirdly.
"What are you doing?" Karol says. Jim just looks at his hand which to him is covered in purple energy.
'Hm, observation: it seems it's only myself that can view prana. I'll have to test this theory out later. Also, I must look pretty dumb right now'.
"Sorry, my fault. It seems I can't show you one of my powers. Don't worry I'll show you another" Jim says. Karol raises an eyebrow and is about to call Jim out for spouting nonsense when his right hand lights up with purple energy. Jim notices the shock on her face.
"Wha-" Karol says, at a loss for words.
"It seems this one is visible to you. I can sense life energies. At least that's what I call it. When you bumped into me, I felt a huge amount of energy from you. Not found in normal humans. It wasn't just large, it was unique. So I guessed you were special like me". Karol looks from his hand to Jim's eyes which are presently glowing purple. Apart from her shock though, Karol is relieved.
'He thinks I'm human, that's good. This also means if he's human there could be others like him. Life outside from earth's isn't a proven truth. No one will know I'm an alien. I can tell him I have powers at least. No point lying about that to him, he also controls his pretty well. Could I learn from him' Karol is deep in her thoughts about this situation, but she comes to her final decision quickly.
She pulls up her left sleeve and unclasps a black bracelet on her arm. For a moment Jim sees Karolina burst with color. She immediately clasps the bracelet and returns back to usual.
"Beautiful" Jim says, as for a few seconds he saw her other form. Karol just grins.
"I get that a lot" she says. Jim smiles back at her and looks to her bracelet.
"Impressive piece of technology" Jim says. 'This kind of technology isn't normal or basic. This girl has a backstory to her'. Karol covers the bracelet back with her sleeve.
"Yeah, it's a family thing" Karol says with a distraught look on her face. Jim decides not to push deep into the source of the item.
"Have you had any luck controlling the energy? I mean for you to keep the bracelet on means you'll bloom without it" Jim says, already trying to understand her powers.
"Bloom?" Karol raises an eyebrow.
"Sorry, I tried to named your transformation without your permission. I'm sorry" Jim says apologising while while Karol holds a ponderous look.
"Bloom huh, I like it" Karol says giving Jim a smile. Jim is relieved seeing he didn't push a button.
"To answer your question, I can only create blasts now, also the energy makes me stronger and heal quicker. A few other things too" Karol says.
"Hmm, that's similar to mine then. How about we meet up sometime, compare our powers and see what advice we could give each other" Jim says. Karol though contemplated it for a moment longer than he expects but gives a desired reply.
"I'm moving with a group and we don't settle too long, but I'll talk with them. Meet up back here tomorrow, round let's say 9:30?" Karol asks.
"Sure, I gotta go now. I have a job and I'm late" Jim says, suddenly remembering that he still got rounds to do.
"Yeah no problem. Later kid" Karol says trying to play it cool but low-key excited. She waves and walks away. She goes down the alley and leaves Jim in the alley. Jim just looks at his watch and sighs.
"Shit I'm late" he says as he begins to hear the sounds of police sirens. He leaves the alley and takes a brisk walk back to F.E.A.S.T.
The Next Day.
8th of August, 2004.
Although Jim doesn't work today, he still can leave the camp's premises. Everyone is actually free to come and go as they want.
Jim wears a blue hoodie with the camp logo on it. The logo is a printed black hand holding a torch within a circle. He wears jeans and takes his bag which contains a few snacks and his notebook. He hops on the bus which is slightly fuller this time and they head into town.
He gets off at his stop near F.E.A.S.T. with those that are volunteering there today. He checks the time.
'7:47, still got a bit. Lemme help out the unit then go'. He walks up the steps and sees Bill reading a newspaper and holding a tin cup of coffee.
"Hey Bill, hows it going?" Jim says.
"Going great. No need to worry, I'm following all the instructions I've been given" he says. I give him a smile and nod.
"Okay man, Im gonna check in with the unit. See what they need" Jim says and Bill nods in return before going back to reading his paper. Jim walks into the building and heads straight to the medic unit.
"Jim?" Martha says a bit shocked that Jim is here.
"Hey Martha, what's up?" Jim says walking into the room.
"I'm good, wasn't expecting you today" Martha says questioningly.
"Well I'm gonna help out a bit, then I'll be visiting the library" Jim says, using his planned excuse for leaving the camp. He does go to the library a few times a month. The camp has its own little library but it isn't as good.
"Oh alright, well you can help Mr Josh do the BP checks" Martha says. "He's going round now".
"Alright no problem" Jim says.
"Okay, so let's get you logged in" Martha says handing Jim the worker's register. He signs in for the day and will sign out when he's leaving. He hands his bag to Martha and leaves the unit, taking with him a notepad and a pen.
Jim greets a few people as he enters the hall. The hall contains rows of bunk beds, with good spacing in between for proper ventilation. Jim spots Dr Josh testing retired army man's blood pressure. He waits till he is done with the process and walks over.
"Morning Doctor" Jim says. Dr Josh grins at Jim.
"Morning Doctor to you too" Dr Josh replies with a playful tone "here to help me out?".
"Yeah I definitely am" Jim says with a grin.
"Okay, I'll need you to write down the names of people who show signs of hypertension. So we will deliver those names to the kitchens for special dieting and prepare Tom for their arrival" Dr Josh says, he hands Jim an A4 sheet with a two names on it.
"Alright sir, no problem" Jim says seriously. Dr Josh nods and they both start the BP rounds.
Two hours later.
Location: Alley near Police Station.
"Sixteen minutes late" Jim says with a frown on his face. 'Maybe she isn't coming' He thinks to himself. He then hears the sound of quick footsteps and sees a guy with his hood up come into the alley. The brown skinned boy is about 5'9 and some black hair is peeking out of his hood.
"Hey man, you the guy Karol supposed to meet?" The guy says.
"Yeah" Jim says giving him a nod and channeling Mana through his body. His eyes glow for a few seconds and the guy notices them.
"Damn, that's pretty cool. I'm Victor, sorry for being late. We had to change her plans since some heat is on her. Come on" Victor says.
"Sure" Jim says following Victor out of the alley.