Chapter 1: A New Home and Mission
Spectrapol Chapter 1:
A New Home and Mission
Barreling down the highway is a family of three in a duel-cab dually pickup truck hauling all of their possessions in a massive trailer going about 85 mph. Inside the truck was a teenage brother and sister and widowed father. The sister was leaning on the door, sleeping while the older brother was sitting in the passenger seat, eating the last of the pizza that was ordered on the go at a pizza joint a state back.
The father’s name is Gearhead Matrix, a former outlaw biker and founder of the Matrix Hacker Gang. Shortly after the Digital Devil Attack 6 months ago, the gang broke up. The Digital Devil Attack was a hijack of a Virtual Reality video game codenamed “Sweet Dream.” The brother and sister hacked a website that gave them a code to a Pre-Alpha version of the revolutionary game that allowed a special headset for a user to fall asleep and allow their subconscious to “immerse” into the virtual replica of their hometown. However, a hijack of the game’s IP and servers were placed into control of a rival hacker gang of the Matrix, the Dragons. One of them thought it was a good idea to play with the dark arts and intertwined demonic spirits into the game’s code, converting them into viruses on steroids. This hack prevented everyone who was playing to leave and even killed some people.
The older brother, looking out of the truck’s window, watching the desert pass by, his name is Ouija Matrix and the younger sister, Wicca Matrix. Ouija is a part of a mysterious organization that handles epidemic-scaled paranormal attacks and hauntings called Spectrapol. He was recruited shortly after being revived by a succubus merging with his soul by a failed assassination attempt by one of the Dragons. He managed to have the Dragons arrested and safely escaping the game. Directly after that, they moved out and have been on the road for a week. Ouija’s phone vibrated in his pocket, knocking him out of his bored stupor. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the number, ‘Wait, the agency can individually call individuals?’ He raised an eyebrow in skepticism, but shrugged it off. ‘Oh well, it must be important if they want to contact me in the middle of the day instead of in the dream world so badly.’
“Hello?” he asked. “Hello, Ouija” a sarcastic/serious toned voice filled his ear. His eyes closed and let out a loud sigh “Shit.”
“I Forgot to congratulate you on shutting that game from hell down, good work. Now that we know that you are far away from Baltimare, the remaining Dragons will have a hard time looking for your family. It was a bitch to get ahold of you.”
“So why did it take almost a week, Heat Wave?”
“That’s Colonel Heat Wave to you and you and your family disappeared right after the incident, but it took a while to trace your spirit energies and your transactions.” ‘Dammit Dad’ Ouija silently scowled at his dad, focusing on the road. He broke the silence by addressing his superior officer “So what is my next assignment? I’m guessing that’s not the only reason why you called?”
“We’ve been getting powerful spiritual energy spikes in Canterlot.”
“I’m guessing there’s more to why we are being relocated there?”
“Yes; we thought it was just another haunting the first time, so we turned the other cheek. However, when it occurred a second time near the same place that energy originated with even more power, that’s when we got curious.”
“So where did these energy spikes occur?”
“We had a local agent pinpoint its location.”
“And?”
“The spikes were pinpointed at Canterlot High School. The agent, however, is too old to attend, so I will input your new identities into the school records. Our sources show that a woman named Sunset Shimmer is responsible for the spikes; monitor her and her friends and report back to me of the data you received so we can decide if she is dangerous or not.”
“Can you tell me more about her?”
“She has red and yellow hair, wears a leather jacket, purple top, and orange skirt. If you see her for yourself, I would say that she would be quite the catch for you.”
Ouija blushed at that last sentence. “Can you give me details on her friends?”
“Ironically, we have insufficient data at the moment. Find out who they are as well because we think that they are also involved.”
“Got it, boss.” ‘Figures.’ he thought to himself, facepalming.
Heat Wave let out a small chuckle. Ouija got suspicious, “What’s with the laugh?”
“Nothing; just seems that your relocation and this new investigation just seems too coincidental for your tastes, but you are a Junior in High School, so you and your sister have been enrolled as we speak.”
“What about our schedules?”
“I will upload them to you and your sister’s laptops as soon as they are connected to the internet. Don’t worry; they are protected.”
“Thank you.”
“Good luck. Oh, I know your dad already knows, but your new home address is 5534, Manticore Drive. Hope you like it. Bye.”
Ouija hung up his cellphone and stared out of the window before Gearhead broke the silence. “So what did your CO say?”
“I’m in luck; not only are we living in Canterlot, but my next mission is based there. I’m keeping an eye on a few girls there that are linked to two extreme spiritual energy spikes that are near the High School.”
“Just don’t expose our lines of work.”
“I make no promises.”
Gearhead turned to his son, “Look, Ouija, I know this is hard for both you and Wicca.”
“Yeah, after what we went through.”
“We did some crazy shit.”
“Not crazier than half of what your gang did.”
“Me and the gang watched both of your asses outside of the game.”
“You bombed three buildings.”
“Hey, if you’re going to fight a rival gang, you gotta do it the right way.”
“I investigate the paranormal and fight demons using the astral projection of my spirit; I don’t take interest in tagging walls and digitally stealing money from the bank.”
“I know; your older brother, Postal, was a Spectrapol. He’s gone now, because of that damn book.”
“I wonder where that rift took him too?”
“Hopefully a safe place.”
“I take it that you have been informed about the house?”
“Yeah, your agency buddies gave it to us because of witness protection and as a reward for saving lives as well. The Dragons will be placed on death row or who else is still alive.”
“Are we going to change our names?”
“No; ever since that incident, we’re taking advantage of the mass confusion to get a new start in life. I wonder how the people are acting towards that game?”
“Impossible, the media only covered the gang war in the news this morning. If any Spectrapol-related activity was leaked, the entire agency, including myself will be in very deep shit with the government since most of our methods are deemed illegal in the ways we handle some of our cases and finding our suspects.”
“On the bright side, the feds only know our aliases. We only attacked each other at night while wearing masks.”
“Damn, 40 years old and my dad’s a combo of biker and hacker.” Ouija chuckled at envisioning his father in leather biker gear and thick-rimmed glasses with white tape in the middle of the ridge.
“Yeah, yeah.” was all Gearhead managed to say, rolling his eyes at Ouija’s attempt to get a rise out of him. “A week ago, that life of crime ended.”
“Speaking of which, what were you doing before you came to take us on the move?”
“You remember The White Rabbit?”
Ouija quickly turned to his dad, wide eyed. “You didn’t.”
“Yeah; we torched the place. Only 20 years for all of that shit going to waste, but what you are ya going to do?.” Gearhead reached for a slice of pizza and fumbles around the inside of the box, realizing it’s empty and sighed with an annoying tone. “You fatty.” he teased him. “I weigh a buck forty, and you are 200 pounds of geeky biker.” Ouija rebuttled in a goofy tone. Both of them spotted the town sign:
Welcome to Canterlot!
Population: 12,212
The truck stopped in front of a big, victorian-styled, two story house. Ouija just sat there, speechless. He shook his head to break his focus, turning around to face his sister. He shook her shoulder saying, “Hey, Wicca. Wake up; we’re here.” She quickly woke up, focusing both eyes on her intrusive brother. She then turned to look at her new home and nodded in approval. “Now THAT’S a house.” she complimented. Being a fan of classic horror, she always was fascinated by the gothic and victorian architecture. “You will never guess what town we’re living in now.” Ouija said, holding back the excitement in his voice, smiling like a clown. “What?” she said, blinking. “Canterlot” he nodded. She kept a straight face and started to slow clap. “Congrats. We are the newest rich snobs in town.” she joked, speaking in a tomboyish, but feminine voice.
“Since we’re living in a new home, don’t tell anyone our actual identities.” Gearhead said while opening the back of the trailer. Inside of the trailer was tables, chairs, boxes, and a motorcycle? “Hey dad?” Ouija called out to his dad, “how were you able to fit that massive bastard in there?” the white-haired biker nonchalantly turned to his son with a straight face, “Grease and Twinkies.” he joked “Take your stuff to the door.” Ouija let out a quick laugh before taking his boxes out of the trailer and placing them next to the front door along with Wicca’s stuff and the furniture. “At least this house is bigger than the one in Baltimare.” she shrugged. “Although, the corner shop looked pretty nice” Ouija added. She nodded in agreement.
3 Hours Later…
Ouija threw himself onto his bed, exhausted from helping Gearhead move all of the furniture into the house. He turned to look at his alarm clock: 10:37 PM. He lifted the top of his laptop up and booted up. He looked at his Email inbox and there was his school schedule:
Period 1: Calculus
Period 2: Astrology
Period 3: Strength Training
Period 4: Lunch
Period 5: Creative Writing
Period 6: Musical Theatre
Period 7: Web Design
Period 8: School Clubs
‘Thank you, Colonel’ He thought, happily. Another notification popped up in his inbox. He clicked on the closed envelope icon to open the message. In it showed a message: Here’s a visual on our suspect, courtesy of one of our drones:
(http://img03.deviantart.net/5442/i/2014/156/3/3/sunset_shimmer_rides_in_style_by_algoorthviking-d7l7rzy.png)
‘For a girl whose hair reminds me of bacon, she’s hot.’ He blushed. His door opened and Wicca walked in, sitting next to him. “So, when does school start?” he asked her.
“Today’s Sunday and Dad enrolled us online while we were unpacking our boxes.”
“And?”
“He told me that we start tomorrow.”
“Cool.”
“Be sure to get some sleep.”
“Will do. G’night.”
Wicca nodded as she left his room, closing the door behind her. “Well, this new life and mission is going to be an interesting one” he said to himself, falling asleep, not knowing his life is about to get even crazier down the road. (Subtle foreshadowing)
