All American Rejects (Users #3) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Stacy, Jennifer Buck
far from modest. The Federal Government had spared no expense to fill the lab with the most cutting edge technology, all at the behest of one extremely talented scientist and doctor by the name of Heath.
"Hello, Alaric," Heath said.
"Good morning," Alaric said with a nod.
The man was older than Alaric by at least a decade. Heath looked the part of the nerdy scientist, complete with thick glasses and a white lab coat. He had a thin frame and a long beak of a nose. His hair was going gray along the sides, but was still a dark brown across the top.
"How's the hunting going?" Heath walked with a slight slump to his shoulders as he came over to shake Alaric's hand.
"Don't call it that." Alaric warned him. "I don't like it." Alaric left Heath's hand hanging until Heath finally pulled it away.
"So sorry," Dr. Heath bowed with sarcasm, rolling his right hand over a few times before extending it out as he bent down. "How would you prefer I reference it?" he asked, looking back up from his hunched position.
Alaric couldn't help but notice how socially awkward the scientist was. His attempt at a joke, came off with him sounding like a real asshole.
"We are arresting those who have broken the law. We are doing what is in the best interest of the American people, and doing our part to aid in the government's effort to maintain public safety and order." Alaric boasted patriotically. "They are common criminals as far as I'm concerned...But they are not animals."
Alaric looked back to his companions for support, but they were milling about at the bottom of the stairs, heads down; obviously uncomfortable with their surroundings. Beyond the sometimes volatile and, in general, disturbing demeanor of their host, the large laboratory boasted a major feature reminding them all of the current state of their world. Along the far wall from the side entrance was a row of seven foot tall glass cylinders built to house the non-compliant Users they had apprehended. Most of them were occupied by the Users they had caught the night before at the Compound.
Some of the Users banged on the glass, others screamed, but Heath, Alaric, and the All Americans on the outside of the small containers heard nothing. The barrier was nearly a foot thick; built to withstand the deepest depths of the ocean. The individual holding cells were bullet proof, fire proof, and essentially User proof. The perfect prison for Heath to keep his subjects in.
"We're almost finished. These new specimens you brought me are perfect," Heath said. "As soon as I've siphoned their powers, you can be done with this farce of a registration."
The government was utilizing the User Registration Act to gather up Users and drain them of their powers. Heath had found a way to isolate and extract their special abilities from their DNA, he was then able to divide and duplicate them, before injecting them into humans where they would infuse into that person's DNA. This would enable the transfer of User powers to hundreds of ordinary humans. Of course, as soon as he had presented his findings, the American government couldn't wait to get their hands all over it. Their dreams, of having an unstoppable super-powered army coming to fruition, were well worth the projected costs and whatever tools the doctor requested, he was given.
Alaric frowned. Being used as a chess piece in the government's game, was not his idea of being the great hero he had worked so hard to become, and he didn't like it one bit. Of course, he liked the idea of losing his powers even less. Better to be a pawn than a Guinea Pig. That was the deal for the All Americans, they put on the public show of support and bring in the Users who didn't register, and in return they were granted amnesty from the power extraction.
"Where are the Barber and Icer?" Heath asked as he walked the rows of glass cylinders with a notepad and pen, jotting down notes as he went.
"You mean Barber and Ryker?" Alaric asked, knowing full well who
"Hello, Alaric," Heath said.
"Good morning," Alaric said with a nod.
The man was older than Alaric by at least a decade. Heath looked the part of the nerdy scientist, complete with thick glasses and a white lab coat. He had a thin frame and a long beak of a nose. His hair was going gray along the sides, but was still a dark brown across the top.
"How's the hunting going?" Heath walked with a slight slump to his shoulders as he came over to shake Alaric's hand.
"Don't call it that." Alaric warned him. "I don't like it." Alaric left Heath's hand hanging until Heath finally pulled it away.
"So sorry," Dr. Heath bowed with sarcasm, rolling his right hand over a few times before extending it out as he bent down. "How would you prefer I reference it?" he asked, looking back up from his hunched position.
Alaric couldn't help but notice how socially awkward the scientist was. His attempt at a joke, came off with him sounding like a real asshole.
"We are arresting those who have broken the law. We are doing what is in the best interest of the American people, and doing our part to aid in the government's effort to maintain public safety and order." Alaric boasted patriotically. "They are common criminals as far as I'm concerned...But they are not animals."
Alaric looked back to his companions for support, but they were milling about at the bottom of the stairs, heads down; obviously uncomfortable with their surroundings. Beyond the sometimes volatile and, in general, disturbing demeanor of their host, the large laboratory boasted a major feature reminding them all of the current state of their world. Along the far wall from the side entrance was a row of seven foot tall glass cylinders built to house the non-compliant Users they had apprehended. Most of them were occupied by the Users they had caught the night before at the Compound.
Some of the Users banged on the glass, others screamed, but Heath, Alaric, and the All Americans on the outside of the small containers heard nothing. The barrier was nearly a foot thick; built to withstand the deepest depths of the ocean. The individual holding cells were bullet proof, fire proof, and essentially User proof. The perfect prison for Heath to keep his subjects in.
"We're almost finished. These new specimens you brought me are perfect," Heath said. "As soon as I've siphoned their powers, you can be done with this farce of a registration."
The government was utilizing the User Registration Act to gather up Users and drain them of their powers. Heath had found a way to isolate and extract their special abilities from their DNA, he was then able to divide and duplicate them, before injecting them into humans where they would infuse into that person's DNA. This would enable the transfer of User powers to hundreds of ordinary humans. Of course, as soon as he had presented his findings, the American government couldn't wait to get their hands all over it. Their dreams, of having an unstoppable super-powered army coming to fruition, were well worth the projected costs and whatever tools the doctor requested, he was given.
Alaric frowned. Being used as a chess piece in the government's game, was not his idea of being the great hero he had worked so hard to become, and he didn't like it one bit. Of course, he liked the idea of losing his powers even less. Better to be a pawn than a Guinea Pig. That was the deal for the All Americans, they put on the public show of support and bring in the Users who didn't register, and in return they were granted amnesty from the power extraction.
"Where are the Barber and Icer?" Heath asked as he walked the rows of glass cylinders with a notepad and pen, jotting down notes as he went.
"You mean Barber and Ryker?" Alaric asked, knowing full well who
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