Storm - Nano Novel 2009

Excerpt:

Mallory knocked on the door of Brita's house in her village and when Brita answered she introduced herself. "My name is Mallory O'Reilly. I'm a friend of Rosarin Tailor. May I speak to you a moment?"

"Certainly. Come in. I was about to have my morning tea. Would you like a cup?"

"Yes, please." Mallory sat at the small two-person table and waited while she went to get an extra cup.

When Brita returned, she poured the tea. "Now, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"Another friend of mine, Dr. Michael Walters, was able to retrieve a small portion of data that survived the electromagnetic attack. On it we found your name and a description of an ability you have. Specifically, you have the ability to absorb massive amounts of heat without harm. We have data collected from the old module for the past few years that leads us to believe that a nearby volcano will erupt with the next few days, causing the shield around Candor to fall. If you can truly absorb as much heat as your data file says... we think you could prevent the eruption."

Brita took a sip of her tea before replying. "I'm sorry. I can't help you."

"Why not?"

"I refuse to use it." Her voice was firm.

"Why?"

"Because so many people died to make it possible to give me this ability. If I use it, then I'm saying what those horrible men and women did was justified. I'm saying that... do you understand what I mean?"

Mallory nodded. She had been wondering the same thing herself recently. "But what if someone else's life was in danger? Would you let them die rather than use your ability to save them?"

Brita paused at that. "I... I don't know. Do hundreds of lives justify hundreds more?"

"But those hundred of lives are already lost. Simply not using your ability won't bring them back, nothing will. That's just the way it is. Brita... right now, there are at least a thousand people, maybe more, who will die if you don't help us. Are you telling me that you'll let them die? People who had nothing to do with this? If you could save them? I'm not saying what those scientists did was okay. But it was done. And the ones who did it... they'll pay. One way or another it'll be paid."

Brita shook her head. "No. Mallory, suppose... suppose your daughter was one of the victims. Would you want people to go around enjoying all their fancy new abilities while your daughter is dead?" Her voice started to crack. "The only reason I can absorb all this heat, is because while they were experimenting, they killed my daughter!" Then her voice grew softer. "They killed my daughter."

Mallory reached out her hand across the table, holding Brita's hand. "Then make sure she didn't die for nothing. Now, please... help us."

Brita pulled her arm back and stood, facing the wall for several minutes before she turned back, tears in her eyes. "Okay, I'll do it... but only to save the lives of everyone here. I won't do it for any reason less."

"I wouldn't ask you to."