Essence: The E.S.T. Org. (4 page)

Nicky was escorted back to his room for lunch. They created an exact replica of his room back home. It was a fifteen feet by fifteen feet cobalt blue room with two windows and a few inappropriate posters, which his mother was trying hard to accept as Nicky was getting older. The old oak wood furniture Nicky hated was there too.
“How did they know what my room looks like, and did they have to replicate the butt ugly furniture?”
he wondered. Just like home, there was a closet full of his favorite comic books, like X-Men, Wolverine, Batman, and The Punisher. He spent the rest of the day reading them.

When he finally got bored of reading, Nicky thought,
“I miss my family. Maybe if I do everything they ask, they’ll let me go home soon. Night Mom and Dad, wherever you are.”
He then turned off the light and went to sleep.

It was the start of day two.

“Good morning, Nicholas.”

“Great, another random pasty dude,”
Nicky thought.

“Good morning,” Nicky replied.

“Well, Mr. Macken is waiting in the Creation Room. Are you ready to go or would you like to eat something first?” the man asked.

“No thanks. Let’s get this over with,” Nicky replied. They headed to the Creation Room.

“Good morning Nicholas. We have some excellent assessments for you today,” Mr. Macken informed Nicky.

Nicky was not excited. He could only think of home.

“As you now know, you are linked to certain animals in extraordinary ways. Their essence has enhanced you.”

“What is their ‘essence’?”

“All in due time. Now please, do you see that large hill over there?” Instantly, a hill was created within a picturesque green valley. Nicky nodded. “Climb it and jump from the top, and as you fall, imagine yourself growing wings and flying.”

“Jump! So you mean I can fly?” Nicky asked in amazement.

“Well Nicholas, let us just complete our assessments. Now please go ahead.”

Nicky was at the thirty foot high peak within seconds.

“Okay Nicholas on three. One, two, three.”

Nicky jumped. He imagined an eagle flying gracefully in the warm, beautiful, clear skies. And then … like a lead rock he came crashing straight down into a stream at the bottom of the hill.

“Well, that did not go as we had anticipated
,”
Mr. Macken quietly muttered to himself, again showing no concern for Nicky’s well-being.

“What happened!?” Nicky yelled out after wiping the water from his face and making sure he was still in one piece.

“You see Nicholas, these assessments are being performed to see how your merges will manifest. We do not know how your body will react.”

“Ah, man … I thought I could fly.”

“Well that is disappointing. Nevertheless we must continue with our assessments,” Mr. Macken said.

Mr. Macken took Nicky to an area where several weapons had been laid out. “Here are some weapons I would like you to try out.”

In front of Nicky laid a bow and arrow, a war club, and a tomahawk.

“Cool!” Nicky was very excited.

“First let us try the bow and arrow.” Nicky picked up the large forty-four inch bow made of cedar wood and buffalo sinew. The primitive arrow had an obsidian rock tip. It appeared to be over a hundred years old. “Now gently pull back and aim at that bird. Do not worry, it is not real. Now go ahead.”

Nicky shot and hit the small bird over 150 yards away.

“Well done. Now, this is a war club.” It looked like a big, wooden club with a leather-wrapped handle curved at the top. It had a solid wood ball almost the size of a softball at the apex. “You will be attacked by several men. Remember they are not real, they are mere simulations so do not be afraid. You will be aiming for the attackers’ heads. They will simply disappear once struck. Do you understand?”

“Okay, but can they hurt me?”

“In theory, yes, but they are programmed to only try to immobilize you, not hurt you.”

Mr. Macken left to observe from a safe distance. Three men in military uniforms materialized and began to attack Nicky.

The first attacker came from behind; Nicky could hear his footsteps. Nicky hesitated, but remembered that they weren’t real. He quickly swung around and hit the attacker in the head. The uniformed man disappeared.

Nicky’s heart was pounding. Suddenly, the last two remaining attackers who were carrying knives ran at Nicky. Nicky ducked as one of the attackers slashed at his head. Nicky swept the attacker’s legs, clubbing his head before he could even hit the floor. He disappeared. Instinctively Nicky leapt and did a back flip over the second attacker. He quickly clubbed his head. The final attacker also disappeared.

Nicky didn’t know or care how he did it, but he felt excited. “This is so cool!” But suddenly another soldier with a much more powerful weapon, a machine gun, appeared!

“STOP!” And just like a DVR, the attacker froze. “Can that gun hurt me?” Nicky yelled.

Mr. Macken could be heard over a speaker. “Do not worry. The bullets cannot kill you. It may cause a mild sensation, but that is all. They are emulating a harmless pliable material.”

“Okay I guess, as long as it can’t hurt me.” The simulation continued. The attacker fired. Nicky could hear and see the bullets as if they were in slow motion. He ran towards the attacker avoiding every bullet. Hundreds of them came at him at once. Just before reaching his attacker, Nicky roared pushing bullets out of their trajectory. Eventually, a quick strike stopped the attacker.

“Exceptional,” Mr. Macken could be heard over a speaker. “Now behind you is the final weapon, a tomahawk.”

Nicky thought it was beautiful and by far his favorite weapon of the three. The stone axe head sat on top of a wooden handle. It was very ornate and beautifully engraved with two feathers tied to it with a leather strap.

“A herd of buffalo will charge at you. Your task is to avoid being trampled and neutralize the buffalo with the number seven painted on his back.”

“But how can I see a number painted on a buffalo’s back?” Nicky asked.

“Good luck, Nicholas.”

Suddenly a rumble like a passing train began to shake the ground. There was a herd of buffalo stampeding towards Nicky. Just like the bullets had before, the buffalo seemed to move in slow motion. There were thousands. Nicky stood without fear as the buffalo approached. He closed his eyes. When the buffalo were just feet away, Nicky raised his arms in a defensive position. A buffalo ran right into him. It was as if the buffalo hit a steel wall. The first buffalo’s neck broke just before it collapsed and disappeared. Most of the buffalo that hit Nicky’s immovable body met the same fate.

Nicky then leapt. He jumped much higher than he thought he could, and at that height he could see the entire herd. He observed many buffalo with numbers painted on their backs. Although within seconds, he recognized the buffalo with the large red number seven. It was to his left at about 10:00 o’clock. He came crashing to the ground. Immediately he jumped on a buffalo’s back and then another and another until he found the number seven buffalo. With a quick strike to the head with the tomahawk, the buffalo simply disappeared, as they all did.

Mr. Macken walked back into the dome. “Marvelous! You have exceeded our expectations, Nicholas.”

“Thank you,” Nicky stated. “Does this mean I can go home now?”

“Of course … of course, Nicholas. Your family is at home waiting.”

Nicky didn’t trust Mr. Macken, but he was hoping he could … at least this time.

“Now, let us get you home,” Mr. Macken said with what seemed like a strained smile. Nicky was surprised that Mr. Macken was forcing himself to be nice.

“Okay, so right now?”

“Certainly, go get your things, but remember we will be in contact.”

Nicky was so excited when he finally arrived home. Two more pasty guys, as Nicky referred to them, drove away in a dark Prius. Nicky was groggy; he had been gassed and knocked unconscious to protect the facility’s location.

Nicky was standing at his front door. “
Finally, I’m free!”
he thought.

He knocked at the door with a big smile on his face. As the door opened, Nicky’s dad appeared.

“Dad!” shouted Nicky.

“Nicholas is home, Mara!” his dad yelled out as they hugged. His mom wasn’t far behind.

After they hugged, Nicky wanted to tell his parents everything. They sat in the living room. He told them all about his assessments and how he didn’t trust those “strange looking guys.”

“Do not worry, Nicholas. They explained everything to us and they are good people. They told us how you were chosen and then enhanced to help the country. You should feel privileged.”

“Really, you think so?” Nicky asked his dad.

“Absolutely. Trust me, they are only interested in helping you reach your potential, and eventually helping your country,” Nicky’s dad told him.

“Okay Dad, if you think so.”

“They will be back for more tests, but I want you to go with them and trust them. Okay?”

“If I have to, I guess.”

“Do not worry. They will make your fantastic abilities even greater. Is that not good news?”

“Yeah, I guess that would be cool,” Nicky responded.

“I know you will be happy, Nicholas. Now what would you like to do?”

“Sleep! And in my own bed, not some stupid replica.”

“Nicholas! Your friends Sue and Becky are here!” his mom yelled. It was too early for Nicky at 10:00 a.m. on a weekend. He just wanted to sleep.

Sue and Becky came running into Nicky’s room. “Where have you been?” Sue asked.

“Oh … me,” He yawned. He didn’t know how to respond, but he was a masterful liar. “I was with my cousins … they live just south of us.”

“Oh, really? Did you have fun?”

“It was okay.”

“Okay … well … you wanna go play basketball?” asked Becky.

“Nah … my cousins are really into sports. All we did was play ball all day. I’m spent.”

“Okay. Well, how about we go get some ice cream?” Becky asked.

“Oh … yeah, sure let me ask my dad.” Nicky shouted, “Dad we’re going to Kilwoms, okay?”

“Okay Nicholas, but don’t be too long,” Nicky’s dad yelled back.

Sue, Becky, and Nicky rode their bikes to the ice cream shop. It was a local hangout only ten minutes away on bike. Nicky was making sure that he didn’t get too far ahead this time.

Kilwoms was always packed with kids on Saturdays, including Max and his posse of idiots. Max was still upset at what had happened in school last week.

As they walked in, Nicky saw them and knew things were not going to end well.

“So, how are you three girls doing?” Max asked.

“Watch your mouth, Tubby,” Sue said angrily.

“Ooh, I’m scared. I guess you’re the toughest of the three. I know little Nicky’s a wimp.” Max stared Nicky down.

Nicky briefly thought back to that beautiful tomahawk and what it could do.
“No, he’s not worth the trouble,”
Nicky thought to himself.

“Are you ignoring me Sticky Nicky?” Max sometimes called him this because of an incident where Max glued Nicky’s shoes to the ground in the fifth grade. “How about I glue your underwear to your ass cheeks this time?” All of Max’s friends laughed.

“Come on, let’s go,” Becky said.

“Aww, did I hurt Sticky’s feelings?” Max taunted.

Nicky knew he could hurt them all very badly if he chose to, but he decided to leave anyway. Unfortunately, Max didn’t want to leave well enough alone. As Nicky, Sue, and Becky stepped outside and got on their bikes, Max and his friends followed.

“Hey Sticky, I don’t know how you pulled off that trick back in school, but I’m not afraid of you.” He kicked Nicky’s bike making Nicky fall to the ground. Sue and Becky were being held by Max’s friends.

“No! Stop it!” yelled Sue.

Max started kicking Nicky in the stomach. Nicky felt nothing, but he had to pretend he was being hurt. He remembered his father’s words, “
Don’t let them know
.” Max kicked him again and again. Nicky pretended to be in pain, even yelling out.

“Stop!” yelled Becky, “You’re hurting him.”

“Come on Sticky. Scream again. Come on, cry!” But Nicky just laid on the ground. “Let’s go,” Max told his friends. “See ya later girls.”

All the kids were staring at Nicky through the glass from the ice cream shop. Sue ran to Nicky who was still on the ground. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just want to go home.”

When Nicky arrived home he ran to his bedroom and cried. Not from physical pain as Max had no ability to physically hurt Nicky now, but from anger, humiliation and frustration.

“Someday I’ll get that fat idiot alone. No, I can’t hurt him. But, I can humiliate him
.
”
He thought of all the ways he could make Max feel the way he did.

“Nicholas!” Nicky heard his mom yell.

“Yeah, Mom?”

“Your lunch has been served. Please come to eat.” Nicky’s mom noticed his torn shirt from the earlier incident, but said nothing. “Was the food satisfactory Nicholas?”

“It was fine, Mom,” Nicky answered.
“Man she’s acting weird,”
Nicky thought to himself.

The next few days went okay for Nicky at school. He tried to avoid Max and his friends. He, Sue, and Becky had fun hanging out after school and playing basketball. But always in the back of Nicky’s mind was Mr. Macken. When would the knock come and he’d have to go back to that “facility”?

One day after school, two loud knocks answered his question.