Alpha

"Sir, I have the readings you requested on Matrix.” a young lady said as she entered a rather lavishly decorated office.

Slowly the sole chair in the room spun around revealing a young gentleman holding up his first finger in the universally accepted "hang on" gesture. The look on the young lady's face changed from enthusiasm to something else as she waited for him to finish his telephone call.

"Camille I enjoy your enthusiasm but your decorum could still use some work.” he said as he hung up the telephone with one hand and extended the other across his desk.

Quickly she handed him her PDA.

"These are very interesting. Well done.” he said more to himself dismissing her with a wave. As she opened the door to his office to leave he stopped her.

By the way, you’re Fired!!” he screamed as he caused her total incorporation with a slight mental twist.

"Jaime"' he directed at his intercom.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need a new assistant."


Several months ago Thermo had been assigned a hit and run mission. As the only survivor he returned beat up and under suspicion. This was the last "desk" assignment he had to finish before he was reassigned as active. Tonight he was to evaluate and recommend the aptitude of a Sigma agent, Mydnyte. Collecting a headset recorder and a handheld tracker, Thermo walked across the hall from where his desk was and entered the mission room.

"Where you off to? asked Janet van Deem, Thermo's current love interest and third shift communications officer for Alpha.

"I've got a baby sitting assignment.” he mumbled as he stepped into one of the transport tubes.

"Luv ya, good luck.” she replied hitting the pneumatic switch for Thermo's tube.

Suddenly Thermo shot through the tube to the upper part of the complex and out a concealed hatch below the ring of gargoyles that decorated the top most portion of the building.

Flipping the recorder's switch with a movement of his right ear Thermo began to record the evening's events.

"All rightee then. Nice calm evening. Weather report says it's relatively warm, hard for me to tell since my temperature stays constant, but it looks warm. Now let's see if I can find this bitch and get this shit over with.” with that Thermo kicked up the wind current propelling him through the air. Thermo was born with the ability to control the various phenomena we lump together as weather. He could alter to his advantage everything from winds and moisture to lighting, so far. His abilities had only manifested themselves five years ago so there was probably more he could do, but he was fast losing interest. The major aspect of his current training regime involved exploring creative uses for his talents, rather then honing what was already present. So far not much had been achieved.

"Files say she likes to hang out on the dockside of the waterfront, guess I'll try there first."

After several hours of patrolling Themo spotted his quarry perched atop a water tower. Just as he settled in to watch he spotted a white BMW slow down on the street below.

"I've found Mydnyte. She seems interested in a white BMW that's slowing down on the street, plate reads "Titus". Damn, that's the Renegade's top dog. Wonder what's up? Wait a minute, where'd she go? There she is. She's down on the street trying to help two girls that got pushed out of the car. Now we'll see what she's made of. There are eight Renegades; the two that were runnin' point just grabbed the two girls. Two other guys, one with a handgun and one carrying a sword just broke away from the pack and are approaching the girls. Mydnyte just melted into the shadows and is attacking the two guys holding the girls. Damn, she just...wait a minute...she just ripped out the dudes' spines. Okay, now she put herself between the girls and the rest of the Renegade pack. The girls just ran down the street. They'll be all right. The dude with the sword swung and broke it on Mydnyte's arm; she must have increased her density. Dude with the gun just shot his buddy tryin' to hit her. Damn, she impaled the sword guy with her arm. This bitch is bad to the bone fellas. Now she's lit into the rest of the pack. They're fallin' one by one, look's like it's about over. Wait a minute there's one dude left and he's big, must be Catafalque. Reports said to watch for him. Man, he just swatted her across the street and through the wall of that building. She's up, looks to be okay. He tried to get her again but she melted away and popped out on the firescape above him. She tried to impale him through the top of his head, guess she doesn't know he's an android. It didn't work so she melted into his shadow. She just severed his left leg with her hand. Now she's just standing there. Catafalque just jumped at her and missed. Wait he hit her with a laser, hit her in the hand. And he just activated his teleporter. Damn, she just looked right at me and mouthed she hoped she got a good grade, she knew I was here the whole time."

Thermo started his flight back to the Centre at a leisurely pace so he could have his report ready by the time he got back.

"I don't think she'd have any problems with a sanction mission, but the personality profile and several of the intangibles don't mark her as being ready yet. It won't be long though, it won't be long."