I’m still in the moon boot, which is a royal pain in the arse, and I’ve still got a few weeks plus physio to go. All this lack of movement is driving me a liiiiitle coo coo, and I think it’s making my knee arthritis worse. Sure, I’m an introvert who’s happiest at home with her cat, but I still like to walk around and get out and about, be mobile, and feel like I can at least contact someone if I want.
I managed to visit Boss in hospital. I got a driver from HQ to take me there to find out what’s going on.
She’s doing OK, and will probably be out in a few days. She wouldn’t tell me what’s going on with the ship she had me blow up. Even though she’s in the secure hospital, she wants to keep this info quiet. She said she would come to my safe house when she can, and that in the meantime I should go down to my local pier in Mornington to see what the cops and the fish n chip shop people are up to. I don’t know how she expects me to do this when I can’t walk well, and definitely can’t drive.
Anyway, here’s where the interesting stuff comes in. After I was done talking to Boss, and before I went back out to the driver, I slipped into invisible mode and took a little walk around. I hadn’t heard anything at all about the panic of missing superheroes from a few weeks back, and I really didn’t think it could be possible that I’m the only one in on this mission just because I live down south and it’s convenient.
I took a walk around and looked in some of the rooms. It’s a nicer place than your average public hospital, that’s for sure. Everyone has their own room and there were plenty of free beds. It’s a place that’s only for HQ, so I guess that’s to be expected.
So I was walking around, most beds were empty. A couple of heroes were in casts, or just recovering from whatever in bed. There was the super strong girl (she’s really petite but can lift up a truck with one hand), and the phasing guy (he can phase in and out of physical matter at will). Those heroes are big players and are always working around the city. Might be a bit presumptuous of me, but I assumed they were there just because of their regular job. But get this… Zeb was there.
Now Zeb’s been missing for weeks. Months? A while now. He’s cool. I started on this missing with him. I’ve worked with him before.
Zeb was lying there in bed hooked up to oxygen and a drip, eyes closed, maybe asleep. I don’t know what’s going on. Obviously I’m invisible, and shouldn’t be there, so I’m not going to start asking anyone anything. But with Zeb’s telepathic powers, I thought maybe I could send him a message.
I just wanted to let him know I was there, so I indicated to him through my mind.
He opened his eyes immediately and looked out to where I was. He couldn’t see me, but he could sense my presence.
He nodded.
And then went back to how he was.
Anja, I heard him in my mind.
Yes? I indicated back.
Stop the energy deal. End it.
Do you know what’s happening? What are we dealing with? I asked.
The ex-cop, John. He’s bringing it to Melbourne. He’s got his hand in all the energy companies. He is planning to control the whole country’s energy, Zeb said in my mind.
Why do we need to stop him? And why are they telling me HQ are doing it and that they are the bad ones?
He’s planning to run the country. He wants full power. His whole backward views forced onto us. You know he’s a psychopath. He’s been getting the whole cops involved. Little Billy at your local – they wouldn’t go for it, but John has them all under control. Billy’s stuck there. There’s nothing they can do.
OK… this is sounding like something I think would make more sense than what I’ve been told so far.
Boss told me you blew up the ship. That’s a start. But there’s going to be a whole lot more. He’s got more ships coming to Melbourne. Then Darwin. Then the rest of the states. We’re fighting the good fight here Anja. Do what you can.
I indicated that I understood, and then also, What happened to you Zeb? Can you tell me?
Don’t worry about me, he shook his head. Stop the boats. Stop John. Help Billy.
What about the other missing superheroes? I asked. There was a mad panic at HQ about it.
Just stop them, he indicated, and that was it. He seemed to switch off. I guess he was tired.
Thank you, I indicated. Get well soon Zeb.
And that was it.
I don’t know why I believe Zeb more than the cops, or even more than Boss, but what he was saying does make sense. The only problem now is, I can’t get out and about doing superhero shit. It’s hard enough just walking around my apartment.
This is obviously a big project going on, so it’s not all going to happen in a week. But there was a real sense of urgency in Zeb’s communication. I guess once word gets around about this new type of energy going on, the media is going to go off, and then the political games will start. And unfortunately, we all know who’s going to be the loudest, who’s going to lose, and how we’ll all suffer here.
I don’t know about you, but even though I don’t necessarily like who’s in power, at least I get to vote for them. At least I get to vote out the ones I hate the most. At least I get the chance. But if John gets in? If he’s got his hands in the power of the whole country? Power begets power, and it’s not the kind of power I like.