“I did not choose the name.” Narinder states. “Neither did I.” Mason offers.
“You didn’t? But you gave them to us!” Erin exclaims now as confused as Aidan is normally.
“No. The Cascade gave them to you.” Mason curtly replies.
“The Cascade, what’s that exactly when it’s at home then?” Aidan enquires.
“We are The Cascade.” Mason answers.
“Right like that explains it.” Aidan replies.
“Look something granted me the power to gift powers to you all. It has a purpose and we are all a part of it now.” Mason says a little annoyed.
“And that something would be?” The professor enquires.
“Buddha.” Mason answers.
“What?” Aidan exclaims. There is general confusion and disbelief around the room at hearing that one solitary word as an explanation.
“I don’t expect you to believe me. Or understand it all yet but with a gift we all become part of Buddha. And that’s what The Cascade is.” Mason says.
“The Cascade is Buddha?” Aidan says further confused. “We are The Cascade and that is what it wants us to refer to this as.”
“I think I need a drink!” Mrs Kohbler announces as she has finally recovered from her swoon.
“Fuck I need something stronger!” Aidan exclaims.
“Now that we have all met and Mrs Kohbler is feeling better there are some important things that you all should know.” Mason announces.
“More important than all this stuff so far?” Erin asks a quizzically. Mason gives her a look.
“I am afraid so love” Tobias chips in.
“We are being pursued by the British Premonitions Bureau who employ telepaths as their agents. Okay so you figured that out already. Most of you have no defence against telepathic attack. Rune, you have some measure but maybe not against the strong ones. Tobias here is our only defence in that respect.” Mason states.
“Hang on why do we need defence what have you got us all into?” Aidan exclaims.
“Relax. You all need to understand that you are all important and that your gifts all inter connect. That’s why the BPB are interested. They think you are like them.” Mason answers.
“But none of us are telepaths.” Aidan says. “I know that’s why they are interested.” Mason says. “Hang on but you said…” Aidan stammers out still confused. “We are all something new and that makes us very interesting to them.” Mason says. “Oh” Is all that Aidan can get out.
“But this BPB cannot be, it was closed down in the 70’s and it was never anything more than a government watchdog for unusual activities.” “That’s what it looked like.” Mason answers. “They are now the secret, secret agency. Hardly anyone knows about them,” Tobias offers.
There is a moment of silence as this information sinks in around the room.
Jasmine pipes up. “Hang on. This is starting to make some ugly sense. You come back now. Your crew and what they can do, claws, killing with a look, without a trace is suppose? And you can all disappear in to thin air with her. And I suppose you can wield the screaming dragon punch cant you?” “Ah. Yes.” Mason answers.
“Show them.” She says sternly. “Mason stretches his right hand out in front him towards the others and it turns red and steams as though burning. He walks over to the sidewall and puts his hand firmly on it for a moment then removes his hand and steps away. It has left a burnt hand mark clearly on the wall.
“Holy bat shit!” Aidan exclaims. “Cool!” Rune says from the corner. The professor gives her a stern look.
“Put that altogether and what have you got?” Asks Jasmine to those gathered. “Eh?” Aidan asks.
“Look at them and at what they can do. What stopped 6 weeks ago? In the news, in London?” Jasmine replies. “You mean the gangland murders?” Erin says. “Yes. You are looking at the Red Hand Gang. Aren’t we?” Jasmine states.
Those gathered look to Mason and the others for some sign of denial but he stand firm and a sinking realisation that she has spoken the truth spreads across the group.
“Whoah.” Anders says. “Shit!” adds Peters. “Well I never!” Mrs Kohbler says and sits back down on her seat abruptly. The professor jaw is agape.
With a sigh and a smile Aidan says, “Took her long enough didn’t it mate?” “You knew!” Jasmine exclaims angrily at Aidan and Erin. “Sort of.” Erin offers. “Anyway…” Aidan offers. “We are not the Red Hang Gang anymore.” Mason cuts in before Aidan can say anymore.
“No?” Jasmine asks. It does not occur to her ask why as she is still so angry at his departure ten years ago and his return with all this new and weird baggage.
“Now we are all The Cascade.” Mason states. And with that the Buddha Orchid flares up around him and those present stand in awe at the sight of it.
-END-
Copyright Mark A Williams 2009.
