The drive wasn’t long. They drove from Solon to Shaker Heights both great cities located in northeastern Ohio. Along the way Nicki watched people walking their dogs and riding bikes. She envied those people, they didn’t have a care in the world her former life was gone she couldn’t go back.
They pulled up to a large house. It looked like a small mansion it could of easily passed for the White House. Nicki thought they were just here to pick someone up but she was surprised when Sasha put the Jeep in park and they all got out.
Sasha grabbed Marx’s hand and they followed Black Kettle into the mansion.
“Are they together?” asked Nicki.
“Who?”
Nicki motioned to Marx and Sasha. Aftermath smirked and shook her head.
“They’re twins Nicki”
“Really? She was sitting on his lap when we were at the other base”
“They are extremely close. They didn’t stop taking baths together until they were like twelve.”
“Oh wow…”
“I said the same thing when I first met them.”
The others were all sitting around a kitchen table. The house was void of any people besides the ones who just entered. The mansion was incredibly clean and virtually undisturbed. No one could possibly live here Nicki thought to herself. Black Kettle was seated at the head of the table with Sasha and Marx seated to her right. Nicki took the seat to the immediate left of Black Kettle and Aftermath sat on the other side.
“Did they leave?”
“No, he’s always late just be patient”
Marx smiled at Nicki and said, “This is not really our base”
“Oh well I thought that’s where we were going”
“We are. Our base is in D.C”
There was a loud pop and a little black boy appeared out of thin air. He had to be about 11 or 12 years old. He wore a CAVS jersey with some khaki cargo shorts. He looked at everyone and smiled. Black Kettle rolled her eyes.
“Wassup?” said the boy as he looked around the table. His eyes stopped at Nicki and he winked at her.
“Potts, why are you late?” asked Black Kettle.
Potts ignored Black Kettle and walked over to Nicki. He put his hand on her shoulder and started licking his lips.
“And who are you gorgeous?”
Nicki looked at the others they were all looking at something in the room, avoiding her eyes. Nicki looked at the boy and said, “Its Nicki”.
“Well Ms. Nicki we can get going as soon as you give me a kiss”
Nicki started laughing the boy had to be joking. Nicki saw Sasha give Potts a “thumbs up”. Potts leaned in closer he no respect for people’s personal space. His eyes were closed and his lips were puckered up. Nicki moved her head back.
“He’s not going to port us until you kiss him” said Black Kettle in a tone that suggested an unwanted kiss was protocol.
“You’re joking” Nicki looked at Aftermath she grinned and nodded her head.
“Could you hurry? We need to get going” spoke Marx sounding annoyed.
Nicki just sat there. Then everyone just stared at her like she was doing something wrong. She gave in and turned her head to Potts. She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. As soon as her lips grazed the boys he grabbed her head and pushed their faces even closer.
Nicki pushed the boy back. He started laughing and he walked over to the other side of the table.
“I love my job,” said Potts.
“Yeah okay Potts just port us now” said Black Kettle.
“If you want a kiss all you gotta do is ask!”
Potts touched the table. “Alright people grab a hold of the table I don’t want to teleport body parts!”
They all grabbed the table and were instantly zipped over to Headquarters in Washington D.C.
They arrived in a large room still sitting around the dining room table. Nicki was impressed this time.
“How’d he do that?”
Marx was the first to respond, “Potts is a teleporter. If he wants to teleport people they have to be touching a non-living object. His job is simple and he milks it for all that its worth and gets away with it”.
“Yeah I got to experience that first-hand”
Nicki was amazed as they walked down the hallway. It was filled with people moving as fast as they could. So far, Marx and Sasha were the only ones that could be called “white” everyone was Black, Hispanic, or Asian.
Black Kettle led the group over to an elevator. She took out a key card and inserted it into the slot. A male voice responded, “Level Once clearance granted”. Nicki recognized the voice at once; Morgan Freeman voiced the automated response. They entered the elevator and it closed with a hiss. Nicki watched as Black Kettle placed her hand on small screen. It scanned her hand and the elevator moved swiftly down towards the lower levels.
“We are going to talk to the leader don’t speak unless spoken to and make sure you look him in the eye is that clear?”
“Uh yeah”
Black Kettle shook her head, “You’re not ready, not ready at all”.
The elevator opened. There was a large gym. Inside people were running and practicing fighting. Nicki moved to walk out but Black Kettle blocked her. “This isn’t us you’re with me” Nicki was annoyed with Black Kettle her chest now hurt because Black Kettle just about stiff armed her as she tried to exit.
Sasha and Marx left the elevator. Nicki watched Sasha and Marx greet people before the elevator closed again.
They arrived at the floor and left the elevator. They walked down a hallway that was very bright. The walls were made of concrete and had been painted black and the floor had black tiles. Aftermath, Black Kettle, and Nicki walked up to a large black door. It opened automatically and much to Nicki’s surprise the room was also as black as the hallway.
There was a large desk in the center of the room. Behind the desk was a large chair. It wasn’t facing them. It moved a bit and Nicki figured the leader of this whole operation was sitting in the chair. Along the wall there were large maps of places around the world. Several places in the U.S had been circled. Nicki noticed North Carolina, Oklahoma, and California.
“Ladies, nice to have you. Take a seat in front of my desk.”
Three stools rose from the ground and they all took a seat on the stools. The man in the chair turned around. Nicki almost fell out of her seat when she realized the man that just asked them to take a seat was Michael Jordan.
“I know what you’re thinking”
“You’re Michael Jordan” said an awestruck Nicki.
“No, I’m a clone of Michael Jordan the name is Jordan Prime and I am pleased to meet you Nicki Jackal.”
Of course that couldn’t possibly “THE” Michael Jordan Nicki thought. The man seated in front of them was many years younger than the real Michael Jordan. He was Jordan in him prime.
“Well you’re the one they’re after. So, what can you do?” asked Jordan Prime.
“I don’t know,” answered Nicki.
“Aftermath has a theory but we won’t have an answer until we analyze her blood” said Black Kettle.
Jordan Prime looked at Aftermath. “Let’s here it”
Aftermath spoke, “Her power whatever it is only manifests itself when she is unconscious. I believe she won’t be able to access it until she is no longer aware, no longer in control”
“How can we get to it then?”
Nicki felt slightly embarrassed. They were talking about her like she wasn’t there. As if she were an object.
“Nicki is blessed with a rare form of Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. She doesn’t have multiple personalities or egos just one other-a split personality”
Aftermath took Nicki’s hand into her own, “Before when I read her mind I became aware of this personality. It is this personality that has the ability to wield whatever power is in Nicki’s body. I can feel her, she wants to be free she calls herself Jackal-“
“We need Jackal then not Nicki right?” asked Jordan Prime.
“If we want to use her in the field yes” answered Aftermath.
Black Kettle shifted in her seat a little. Nicki started to feel nauseated. She just learned that she was crazy. Jordan Prime took out a small tablet. He started moving his hands across the screen.
“Take her to the lab have them do some blood test. While we are waiting on the results we’re going to try and coax “Jackal” out of her Nicki’s mind. Your next assignment will take you to Hawaii. There our enemy has been beefing up their forces. Take out the recruiting facility. There you will find Cutter. I want Nicki to bring me his head,” commanded Jordan Prime. His finger was pointed directly at Nicki.
“Sir she’s not ready for the field”
“Black Kettle, don’t be a fool. Aftermath mentally teach her the following forms of martial arts, Wing Chun, Taekwondo, Savate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Sambo” asserted Jordan Prime.
“Are we giving her a weapon?” inquired Aftermath.
“For what? She is the weapon. You all may leave for Hawaii after her blood work is done”
Jordan Prime turned his chair away from the group. Black Kettle didn’t say a word and stormed out of the room. Aftermath and Nicki exchanged glances as they followed her out of the door.
“You know, I almost brought up a name change for Mr. Prime, he really should go by Goku.”
“Why is that?”
“He’s super strong, can fly, and he shoots yellow energy blast from his hands”
“Oh…” Nicki had no idea who Aftermath was referring to.
Black Kettle was waiting for them in the elevator.
“I hope you don’t die on us”
“I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that” chimed Aftermath as she took Nicki’s hand.
“Having knowledge of Martial arts doesn’t win fights. Nicki, I hope you figure something out because you’re about to die in Hawaii”
Nicki stood there silent, as Aftermath mentally instructed her in Martial Arts. She was completely shocked over what was just discussed with Jordan Prime. She really wanted to loose control and let this other person take over. To her it would mean that she wouldn’t have to exist anymore…
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