The First: EVO Uprising (17 page)

“
And if they fall again?” Rogers asked.

“
Like my mom always says,” she smirked, “you can always come home.”  

“
Sounds like a model Utopia.” Abe had a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“
There’s no such thing as a ‘model Utopia,’ she responded, ignoring the tone. “No society is perfect, and there are rules implemented and enforced by myself, and the council that I formed, and not everyone can come or stay here if they do not wish to abide by my rules. I don’t know if it’s a blessing, but in the past three and a half years, since I started this I had to remove only two people from this island. One was personally difficult to do, one wasn’t.”

She walked over looking through the open structure of the hut still under construction giving her a clear view of the village that was a five-minute walk away.

“
In that time, I’ve seen people from all walks of life, race, religion, and nationality that were cast away, beaten, broken, and scarred heal and band together. Forming not just a community, but a family,” she smiled with pride. “People who just needed a real chance, have risen to become teachers, nurses, electricians, and as you can see construction workers. Some have made their own online businesses while here. Here the only label that matters is one of being a human being.”

“
So down with religion and culture,” Abe asked.

“
Quite the opposite,” she answered. “People here are proud of where they come from, free to practice their religion, and open to share their cultures with one another. That is because they don’t have ignorant greedy men whispering in their ear that the reason they’re poor is because of ‘those people,’ or ‘remember 9/11.’ When you treat good people equally and give them the basic rights of a decent shelter, good food, clothing, and the safety of not having a suicide bomber or drone dead leveling their home or killing their loved ones. They have more time to learn and realize that the person sitting across from them who maybe a different skin color, or maybe worship the same God just a bit differently or call Him a different name is not that different. In the end, good people want the same thing all over the world for themselves and their children. Greedy people with power and a sense of entitlement are the ones that make this world a darker place. They use their influence to turn innocent people against one another by exploiting their weaknesses and misfortune in order to fuel their own agenda. Racism, corrupted use of religion, and fear are age-old business ploys men of power use to line their pockets.”

“
Greed isn’t good,” Rogers chuckled.

“
I’d like to deck Oliver Stone for creating that stupid line,” Sophia snorted.  

She began to chuckle at her own comment, which woke Rogers up to the realization that he was having a casual conversation with a woman he watched lay out two of the most powerful Titans on the planet. In a new world were the impossible was possible, it was still hard to fathom that so much unearthly power lay in a woman with such a pleasant warm smile.

“
So Sergeant,” Sophia sighed, “let’s cut to the chase, shall we? You didn’t fly all the way here from the states to admire my artisanship, or listen to my worldviews. I assume based on whatever file you have on me it’s not to ask for my surrender, so it’s either to enlist my services or for something else… which is it?”

“
I did come here to enlist your services,” Rogers smirked, “but it’s for something else.”

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Back at the Tornado, a restless male Esposito paced the sand contemplated what was taking Rogers so long as the rest of his teammates casually stood around waiting for the Sergeant’s return.

“
What is this shit?” snarled Adrian. “Standing here with our thumbs up our asses when we should be dragging this bitch out in restraints, not talking to her.”

“
What part of a ‘recon’ mission do you not get, Limp?” Erica sighed. “And attempting to ‘drag her out in restraints’ would be just rude considering she extended us the same courtesy of not knocked us out of the sky before we got within a hundred miles of this place.”

“
I’ve read the debriefings,” Rosann interjected in the conversation. “It’s still kind of hard to believe… I mean… about whom she is.”

“
EVO Zero, also known as the Source and proverbial birth mother of all EVOs on the planet,” Lady Tech recited, “possessing god-like superhuman strength, speed, durability, and stamina. She has the ability of flight and possesses energy on what is calculated to be on a bio-nuclear level that can sustain all her functions indefinitely meaning she doesn’t need to eat, sleep, or even breathe normal air… for all intents and purposes she’s a fully functional immortal.”

“
So she’s a bit “tough,” Adrian gave a dismissive gesture, “like the Sarge said,
everyone
has a weakness.”

“
And you’ve figured out how to take down ‘Mom,’” Rosann scoffed, “in the thirty-five minutes we’ve been standing here?”

Hard-On gave his sister the look she knew indicating that he had an idea, forcing her to run her hand down her face indicating that whatever he was thinking was a bad idea.

“
Adrian… no…” she whispered, “no!”

“
You haven’t even heard my plan yet!” he yelled back.

“
If your plan involves going against what the Sergeant told us
not
to do,” she lectured, “it’s a bad idea.”

“
Recon means to gather information, correct? Which means we’re eventually going to have to go to blows with her.” Adrian attempted to reason with his sister. “So why not use the element of surprise to take her out while we’re here? Based on what little Miss Poindexter…”

“
Bite me…” Erica blurted out.

Adrian ignored her remark while continuing to reason with his sister and Oliver.

“
Source or not she’s still an EVO just like us no matter how powerful she is. What would happen if
you
were to touch her?”

The prospect of gaining the power of the Source was enough to make Rosann pause and think her brother’s idea was not too stupid.

“
And how, pray tell, do you intend to get her close enough to touch her ‘genius’?” Erica butted in.  

“
With the help of our man Blitz over here,” he gestured. “Rosann touches him gaining the ability to fly at the speed of lightning, and while we’re distracting her, Rosann moves in close enough to touch her gaining her powers, and then we just triple team and beat her ass into submission, dragging her home in restraints.”

“
Somehow this feels more complicated than you’re making it sound.” Rosann frowned unsure of her brother’s plan.

“
Like the intel you forgot about how she can drain energy wielding EVOs like me increasing her strength, “Oliver finally butted in. “I would be like a power bar to her.”

“
And I don’t remember telling anyone I created anything that could restrain the likes of her,” Erica followed up.

“
Alright, let’s cut the shit!” Adrian howled. “We got an opportunity to take down the most powerful EVO on the planet today! It all comes down to
us
hitting
her
first!

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Back at the hut, the conversation between Rogers and Sophia continued as she leaned up against the doorway with her arms folded attempting to wrap her brain around his request.

“
You want me… to help you train your team?” she raised an eyebrow.

“
Yes,” he said plainly.

“
I take it you didn’t get authorization for this request.” She gave a head tilt.

“
I didn’t even ask for authorization to fly here,” he shrugged.

“
Why me?” she shrugged back narrowing her eyes.

 “
I am currently in command of a four person team that is supposed to be the United States’ answer to this new brewing Cold War if you want to call it.” He snorted. “Our other job which I was informed on the day of orientation was to also handle domestic threats that arise.”

“
That’s a lot of responsibility,” she nodded.

“
Aside from me, all four of my other team members just came off the tit,” he sighed, “but despite being a bunch of snot nose brats, they’re good kids with a hard work ethic. I owe it to them to equipment them in any way possible to make sure they don’t get killed.”

 “
Then maybe you should advise them to quit Sergeant,” she coughed, “if we’re being honest I’m not a real fan of my fellow superhumans and less of a fan of “super heroes.”

“
Something we have in common,” he smirked, “but I’m not trying to create super heroes. I’m trying to make soldiers.”

“
Doesn’t make your argument any better,” she sighed.

She turned looking out into the white sanded beach she created.

“
I’m fully aware of what is going on the world Sergeant,” she said with a bit of sternness not directed toward him. “I choose not to get involved because I can’t stop what’s coming, and I honestly don’t care. I was dragged against my will into the affairs of men looking to be gods. I paid an extremely heavy price for that in more ways than you can image. I didn’t just build this island to help others; I built it because I want no part of a world that has cost me so much.”

“
A lot of people paid a heavy price on that day,” Abe coughed.

“
Then they should take it up with their government Sergeant,” she snapped. “This whole mess got started because ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ and ‘Love and Hip Hop’ won over ‘What the hell is my government actually doing with my taxpaying dollars behind my back.’ Governments no longer fear their people, especially those that are elected into office, because they sadly see the people for what they are.”

“
And what are they?” Rogers asked.

“
A bunch of idiots,” she said bluntly, “ignorant, self-absorbed, easily manipulated, and distracted.”

“
Kind of harsh,” he scoffed, “don’t you think?”

“
Really? Who the hell with any common sense pays for an eight hundred thousand dollar house with a thirty thousand dollar income?” She looked him in the eyes. “The world didn’t just go to hell just because big business exploited the American Dream. It went the hell because ignorant people thought they could get away with partying like a rockstar on a poor man’s salary without consequences. We live in a world where people put brakes on the second they hit the cliff and are shocked when they fly off it.”

“
You act like you weren’t a part of that world at one time,” he frowned.

“
I very much was so.” She nodded. “Although I wasn’t as ambitious. I wanted what every girl wanted. House with the picket fence, a loving husband to care for, and children to love. The house I wanted only cost three hundred and fifty thousand, and we bargained it down to three zero.”

She let out a chuckle lightening the heavy subject.

 “
I can say that it was all taken away from me in a night, but that’s not true,” she shrugged. “My own ignorance blinded me to the signs right before me. I cracked my head a couple of times before I could see clearly. Now that I can fly, I see a world with both the power and potential to change but refuses to  because the one percent is standing on the neck of everyone else to remain the one percent, while everyone else is killing one another to be the one percent. And amidst that chaos, were those working in the shadows with deeper, darker ambitions to become actual gods. Because of me, they both failed and succeeded. So now I choose to stay out of the madness and to protect those that wish to stay out of it as well.”

An irritated sneer crossed her face as she continued to look out. It did not make him uneasy as he knew it was not directed toward him. He could tell, however, that this conversation was taking her back to places she did not want to go.

“
The world got its wish,” she snorted, “they wanted to bring fantasy to life, a world where people had super powers. Let them deal with the consequences.”

A strange silence fell over the both of them as they looked out onto the beach. It was if they were the oldest of friends, and Rogers had popped in for a visit. It was clear his initial mission would fail, and his request would be denied, but it was quite refreshing to stand and talk with someone over thirty. There were some things he agreed with her on, and some that he did not agree with her at all on, but even the reasons he disapproved of he could respect based on the intelligence behind her opinion.

She was not angry at the world; she was tired of it and its antics. She chose to politely distance herself from it so that she could be left alone.

“
Apologies if my tone was a bit abrasive,” she said with sincerity.

“
None needed,” he smirked.