Alien Storm by A. G. Taylor Page B

together, Alex. There’s going to be a war and it’s going to be us against them.”
    Alex shook his head, trying to process the information he was getting. War? What war? Perhaps you’re confusing me with someone else, because I’m just a kid—
    â€œWho has the power to make himself invisible,” Nikolai Makarov interrupted. “I think that makes you pretty special, don’t you? There are six others, Alex. They don’t know it yet, but they’re in imminent danger – I have sensed it. Go to them, help them and I’ll get you all out of Australia.”
    Alex looked round as the train pulled into the station. He guessed he didn’t have anything better to do – and there was nothing left for him in Melbourne.
    Just tell me where to go , he replied.
    The battered Range Rover drew to a halt at the crest of a hill overlooking the city. The driver’s door opened and the equally battered Eco staggered out into the fresh air. He’d been driving non-stop for hours and now they were finally at their destination: Melbourne . Major Bright emerged from the passenger side and surveyed the city spreading out before them.
    â€œIt’s bigger than I expected,” Eco said. The city seemed to stretch on for ever into the distance. Most of Melbourne was a flat expanse of suburbs and highways, with the centre marked by a towering spike of skyscrapers huddled together. It sprawled away from them, shimmering in the heat of the afternoon. “How will we ever find the children you’re looking for?”
    During their flight from the desert, Bright had spoken about how the children in the city were essential to his plans. They were the key to his powers. But now Eco couldn’t see how they could find them in a city of five million people. Bright, however, didn’t seem concerned. He raised his hand to the view and splayed his fingers.
    â€œI sense them in the north,” he said quietly. “They cannot hide their thoughts from me. Six of them.”
    Eco looked to where he pointed. “What are we going to do?”
    â€œTogether they’re strong,” Major Bright replied. “But capture one of them and the rest become weaker.”
    â€œHow do you intend to do that?” Eco asked.
    Fire leaped around Major Bright’s outstretched fingertips. In seconds his hand was aflame.
    â€œFirst I’ll divide them,” he said. “Then they’ll fall.”

9
    The sun hung low in the sky as Sarah entered the botanical gardens near the ANZAC shrine in the centre of Melbourne. She walked in the direction of the lake. The place was practically deserted, apart from a few people enjoying the last of the afternoon on picnic blankets laid out on the grass. From the way people had moved aside on the pavements as she walked from the train station, Sarah knew her giant-disguise was holding up – she projected it into the minds of the people around her in a five metre radius. However, the strain of maintaining the pretence was starting to give her a headache again.
    Keeping to the shadows created by the trees and staying on the smaller paths through the park, Sarah allowed the image to slip away with relief. Although she was getting stronger, as they all were, using her powers for an extended period left her drained. She checked her watch and doubled her pace.
    Dr. Rachel Andersen, the head of HIDRA in the region, was already sitting on the bench that overlooked the lake. She didn’t look round, but Sarah knew that she sensed her presence. Sarah was also aware of at least four people stationed in the trees and bushes around the lake, hidden from sight.
    â€œYou didn’t come alone,” Sarah said as she took a seat on the end of the bench.
    Rachel nodded. “Protection.”
    â€œFor you or me?”
    Rachel laughed. “For both of us. There are some dangerous people out there.”
    â€œMajor Bright,” Sarah said, seeing