Part 0

Synopsis: The diary of an unknown TP child reveals to John and Stephen the horrors of what it's like to live during the dark and troubled days of Mass Breakout.

This is the third story in the Kindred Spirits universe and it is advisable for you to read the following prior to this story:
1.Kindred Spirits - Two Very Different Aims, One Destination.
2. Kindred Spirits - Double Bluff.

Thanks to Anyta for beta reading this story and to Elizabeth for making this universe come to life.

Disclaimer: The concept of 'The Tomorrow People' belongs to Roger Price, Thames TV & Freemantle Media. All original story ideas and new characters are copyright to Elizabeth Stanway and Jackie Clark. ( © Oct 2003).

E-mail Address(es):
tiylaya@yahoo.com
Jackie@the-tomorrow-people.co.uk

Warning: If you don't want to be deeply saddened, then do not read on!

June 2018

John sat on the couch, absorbed in his reading of the latest security reports. He'd been on the Trig consulting with Elizabeth for just three days, but in that time there had been two Sap agents discovered - and thankfully dealt with - in South America, and a family of Japanese TPs who'd died when officers from the local enforcement camp raided their home. But the news that disturbed him most was the report that a group of TP teenagers, who'd been seriously injured in a road accident in Huddersfield, were refused treatment at the local hospital. This incident prompted the British emergency services to issue orders to all staff not to respond to any 999 calls from suspected Tomorrow People. A move that, once reported in the papers, had done nothing to dispel the general population's growing hysteria over what they believed was the true nature of the TP threat.

On this occasion Tricia's team had been able to jaunt in and treat the kids before they died, but John knew, in his heart of hearts, that this was just a stroke of luck. TIM was stretched too far these days to monitor all the emergency, military and police broadcasts. Tricia had been an angel since the escalation of the Sap threat. She'd previously been in semi-retirement on the Trig, but once the situation began to spiral out of control, had been the first to return home and join in the battle. She had often pointed out to him good-humouredly: "You need all the trained operatives you can get these days, even those with arthritis."

He sighed. It had been eight months since the successful mission to thwart Operation Malthus - a mission that had cost the lives of far too many of their comrades, besides compromising the security of scores of Labs, once those unfortunate enough to be captured were interrogated. These events had served to jolt them out of their earlier complacency regarding the situation. John had always hoped, that once their numbers increased to sufficient levels, the Tomorrow People's takeover of the planet was assured, but with each security report he read, this hope dwindled.

John's life had always been an uphill struggle, one to which he'd grown accustomed ever since his teens, but these past few years had put demands upon him - and the other senior TPs - that no one of their age should be expected to bear. Too may TPs were dying, or worse, taken into captivity, enduring horrendous treatment at the hands of the Saps they once called friends. He was also shocked by how many new breakouts were refusing to accept their talents as a gift, choosing instead to live a life of denial. Through all this he tried to be strong, tried to remain positive in his conviction that one day they would prevail and bring a new era of peace to the earth. After all, he'd been the TPs' leader for longer than he could remember so it was his solemn duty to bring his people through this upheaval. They expected nothing less than a miracle from him every day. The burden of that conviction was something he would never shirk.

Sighing again, he cleared his mind of these worries and continued to read the report.

Some minutes passed before he both heard and felt Stephen jaunt in. Looking up, he was surprised to see his old friend looking tired, dirty and much older than his 59 years. "What's up?" John asked jovially, in an attempt to lighten the rage radiated by his companion.

Stephen stepped down from the jaunting pad and marched over to the nearest table. In response to his silent telepathic command, a glass of iced water appeared. Snatching it up, Stephen gulped down the liquid before dragging his hand across his filthy face.

John was very concerned, as he'd never seen Stephen look so angry, but decided not to probe too deeply. He'll reveal more once he's calmed down, he thought confidently. John didn't like to pry; being a telepath forced them all into a level of intimacy that was necessary for effective communication, but difficult to deal with in these tragic times. Realising that this was one of those occasions when it was best to leave well alone, he decided to change the subject. "You look tired," he said. "You've been on call for ten days straight now, with hardly any rest. TIM told me that you went to find a new breakout. Wasn't there anyone else who could go?"

Stephen turned towards him, staring in disbelief. "What?" he asked, in such a way that convinced John that he wasn't hearing him at all.

"I asked you if anyone else could have gone to find this new breakout," replied John anxiously. "At this rate, Stephen, you're heading for burnout. I need you to delegate more, I need you to be thinking straight and helping me with the bigger picture."

Stephen glared at him, fury burning in his eyes. "To hell with the bigger picture!" he spat.

Unable to contain his feelings, Stephen's rage manifested itself in a sudden burst of TK. The glass, which he was still holding, began to distort and turn to liquid in his hand, moulding itself into crude unnatural shapes that twisted and writhed around his fingers. Then, without warning, it became brittle again, shattering into a thousand pieces that flew out like tiny bullets in all directions, forcibly embedding themselves into the floor and ceiling and compelling John to duck in self defence.

"The world's gone crazy!" shouted Stephen, shaking with anger. "The Saps have pushed us too far this time."

John was too shocked to reprimand his friend. Something terrible must have happened, something so bad that even Stephen - with his many years of experience - found it hard to cope with. He went over to him and led him back to the couch. "Sit here and tell me about it," he urged, as he pushed Stephen down onto the seat. "Was it something that happened to this new TP?"

Stephen nodded. "It took us four days to trace her, but I was too late." He slammed his fist onto the seat. "This can't be happening, John. We're losing the war... losing our people. I can't believe the Saps could do this."

"Something has obviously upset you, Stephen. Tell me about it, please," begged John. "What exactly did you find?"

Stephen unzipped his jacket and pulled out a tatty-looking book, burnt down one side, showing signs of water damage and covered in dust. He threw it down on the couch beside him. "Read for yourself..."

The diary of Anna White Aged 13.
Friday 1st June 2018

This is my new diary. Mum bought it for my birthday. She had a diary when she was a teenager. She said it's fun writing down something that I do everyday, to look back on when I'm older. I was sent home from school today, it was good because I missed double maths. Mrs. Darycott called Mum to come and collect me because I had one of my bad headaches again. Mum says I must stay in tonight, but I'm feeling much better now. The headache has almost gone and I really want to go over to Michelle's house - to watch 'Top of the Pops' on her wide screen TV. Maybe her brother will be there, he's really nice and funny.

***

Sunday 3rd June.

Dad was playing football with Ben and Jess in the park. They wanted me to take Jess for a walk, but I said no because I'm too tired. I didn't sleep much last night. I thought I heard someone in my room, but Dad says I read too many ghost stories. He looked at me strangely and said I must never mention it again.

I wore my new pink trousers and top today. I bought them yesterday with my birthday money from Gran. There were a couple of other kids in the park who kept staring at me. When they walked close, I heard them laugh and say that I was fat. I wanted to punch them in the mouth and shouted for them to leave me alone. When Dad came over they said they never said nothing, but I heard them. They said I was mad and making it all up. Dad got really mad and I cried all the way home.

I had another headache tonight. Mum says she's keeping me off school tomorrow to take me to the doctor.

***

Tuesday 5th June.

I was in trouble at school today. I hate it there. No one likes me. I never meant it to happen - but it did and it wasn't my fault, but they wouldn't believe me. Miss Harvey, the English teacher, asked me to clean the board, but I was too short. I never meant for the board rubber to clean by itself. It just floated out of my hand and started to rub all on its own. I told them I was sorry. Miss Harvey screamed and fainted. The other people, even Michelle, pointed at me and laughed. I cried, but they sent me to the head teacher's office until Mum came and got me.

***

Wednesday 6th June.

Mum kept me off school again today. She sent for the doctor who asked me all sorts of silly questions. He kept asking if I new any people from tomorrow. He said they were strange people that I had not met before. I said that if I wasn't meant to meet them until tomorrow, then how could I know them today. I thought it was funny, but Mum looked cross.

It's late at night and I just woke up. I could hear a man calling me. He sounded old but friendly. He asked me where I lived, but I felt ill and my head hurt. I got scared and ran downstairs to see Mum and Dad. When I got to the door, I stopped to listen and I could hear Dad shouting. Mum was crying and saying that I couldn't be one of the people from Tomorrow: that her family was pure and had never had any mutations before. I've never heard Dad so angry. I was really scared. He's never shouted like that before. I didn't go into the room, but came back to bed. I want to tell them about the man in my room, but maybe they'll say I've gone mad.

***

Thursday 7th June.

Two men in black suits came to my school today. They took everyone from my class into the head teacher's office and no one would speak to me when they came out. Miss Harvey sent me to do silent reading in the corner and every time I looked around the kids were looking at me. Even Michelle won't speak to me today, but I know what she's thinking. She's scared of me. All I have to do is look at her and I can feel how scared she is. She's supposed to be my best friend. I hate them. They're taking away my best friend.

Mum came to get me and the head teacher said I was not allowed back to the school again. She told mum that her school didn't allow mutations to mix with the other children, that I was a threat to everyone I touched. Mum said she understood and we left.

Mum looks very tired, she didn't speak to me in the car on the way home. When we stopped outside our house she looked at me and asked if I would tell her the truth. I said yes, and then she asked me if I knew the people from tomorrow. Had they been speaking to me in my head? I was very scared. I didn't want to lie to mum. I don't know if the old man in my head is from tomorrow, but I don't want to make her sad and cry again, so I lied.

I don't think she believed me.

***

Friday 8th June.

I was told to stay in my room today. Dad won't even look at me. Ben's not allowed to play with me. Mum just cries all the time. When the news was on the TV, there was a man talking about people who could make things move with their minds. He was saying that these people are dangerous and will kill everyone in the world. I wanted to watch more, but Dad came in and switched off the TV. Then it came back on again. He turned it off again, but it kept turning back on. I saw them look at me, but I never did anything. The remote control was on the dining table, miles away from me, but they said I did it with my mind. Dad got really angry again and I ran upstairs, I think he was going to hit me. Mum and Dad had a terrible row and he called someone on the phone. I tried to listen. I'm sure he was telling them about me, but he closed the door.

Mum says that it's best if I stay here and eat my meals away from Ben. 'Just in case...' she said. I don't know what she means.

I was lying in bed, when the voice of the old man was inside my head again. He told me not to be afraid, that wonderful things were going to happen to me. He said that I must think of a fist, a tightly clenched fist that slowly opens. Then he told me to wait and he would come and get me very soon. I asked him if he was from tomorrow and he laughed. It was funny to have someone laughing in my head and it made me feel better. He said that I'm not a mutation, that I'm a Tomorrow Person. When he finds me he'll tell Mum and Dad all about it and everything will be okay.

***

Monday 10th June.

The men came today, the same men who came to my school. They asked me about the Tomorrow People and I said nothing. While they were speaking, the nice man's voice was in my head. He told me to hold on, he was going to find me and take me away to safety, to a place called The Lab that's in London. When I heard his voice it made me feel better, but I looked at Mum and saw how upset she was and then I got scared. Maybe he's one of the people who are going to kill everyone in the world? Maybe when he gets here he'll kill Mum, Dad and Ben? So I told the men about him and then I told them about everything else.

This is the last thing I can write in my diary. They're sending me away to a special hospital. They say that I'll never have headaches again and will never hear other children laughing at me. They said that I'll be safe in the hospital and the old man will never find me. They promised that when I'm better, I'll be able to visit Mum, Dad and Ben.

I said good-bye to Jess, and Ben promised to feed her and take her for walks every day. They sent me to pack my things and mum has given me five minutes to make my last entry in this diary. She says that it's best if the men don't see what I've written in it and that she'll keep it safe until I come home again.

John looked up from his reading. "Where did you find this?" he asked softly.

Stephen looked totally distraught. "It was buried under the rubble in the remains of a burnt-out house."

"Any sign of Anna?"

"No." He shook his head dejectedly. "The neighbours told me that the entire family was killed when the house caught fire late last night. The fire brigade tried to save them, but the roof collapsed and there was no way to get to them. The bodies were pulled out this morning and taken to the local morgue."

"So," said John thoughtfully. "They got to the family first."

"Yes, and I'm sure that the neighbours were more involved than they let on. Some of them looked really guilty." He took a deep breath before continuing. "How could they, John? Wasn't it enough to destroy the life of one innocent child, just because she showed some signs that she might be one of us? Did they have to kill the rest of the family too?"

"I don't think they know what they're doing any more, Stephen. The authorities have poisoned their minds against us. You know as well as I, that the Saps will stop at nothing to prevent our emergence. They're scared of the speed of the Mass Breakout." John closed the book and laid it carefully on the table. "This one slipped though our net, Stephen," he said despondently. "You mustn't blame yourself; there's nothing more you could have done, but there will be others. The Saps can't stop the Tomorrow People from rising up out of the shadows." He got up and walked back to the various security reports and dossiers that still required his attention. Pausing before he resumed his work, John looked around up at his old friend. "Anna White wasn't the first child to be whisked away by the Saps and she probably won't be the last. There will be other little girls who call out to us when their family betrays them, Stephen. From now on we'll have to trawl our nets wider than ever before. It's up to us, Stephen - to you and me- to maintain the hope that we can and will make a difference."

The End