Kristi tapped on the Disappearance Case icon and a document popped up. She shifted into a comfier position on the sofa and started to read:
Case: The Disappearance Case
Assigned Member (s): Kyle and Shelly
Note: Kristi, if you are reading this, then we (Maria and Don) must either be dead or as good as dead. You have been a wonderful daughter to us and we regret we couldn’t have spent more time together. Nevertheless, if you have gotten ahold of this electro-slate, then you must know about the Revealers. We hope you forgive us for keeping this part of our lives a secret from you and Jaiden. If you have unlocked this slate (which you obviously have if you’re reading this), then you must’ve found the other three Naturals. Best of luck in completing the cases we have left behind.
Situation: Where are the Accidents disappearing? Every year, thousands of Accidents, most under a month old, disappear from the records without a trace. Why is the government collecting them and where are they keeping them?
Information gathered:
• All Accidents—save the Naturals—are under two months when they disappear
• People who have questioned where the Accidents are died shortly afterwards
• Stevey is more than he seems
ѻ Stevey probably knows where the missing Accidents are; the only problem is getting him to talk
• Possible locations where the Accidents may be found:
ѻ San King, East Region
ѻ Waterfront, West Region
ѻ Klisbury, East Region
Kristi finished reading and no one spoke for a moment. The sound of Ghost’s tongue rasping as he washed his paws was amplified a hundredfold in the otherwise soundless room.
It was Kristi who spoke first. “But that still doesn’t explain why there are four Naturals. Any member of the Revealers could’ve completed this case.”
“Read the second file,” Troop suggested.
She exited the document and selected the Individualism Case. Then she started to read once more:
Case: The Individualism Case
Assigned Member(s): Kyle and Shelly
Situation: Many would argue that humanity has become perfected with science. Diseases and conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart attacks are unheard of. Everyone is more or less genetically perfect. Or are they? Has the human race forgotten what perfect is? The truth is, while it may be true that people nowadays have perfect vision, faster learning skills and better physiques than before, the overwhelming majority of the population has forgotten how to think for themselves; they have accepted “perfect” as who they are; no one has individual opinions anymore. This may cause serious problems in the future as the population has a standardized mindset, thus allowing everyone to be manipulated easily. However, what is most troubling is that the human race seems to have forgotten “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” “Perfection” is merely an opinion, not a state of being. The people have to be reminded that having genetically perfect DNA does not make the human race perfect if their minds and humanity are growing weaker.
Solution: We (Kyle and Shelly) have requested four babies with unaltered DNA to be brought up as normally as possible. The Revealers have agreed to provide protection to these four kids to ensure their survival (Tiffany Mendax is in charge of this). It is our goal for these four Naturals, as we have dubbed the four kids, to grow up as normally as possible and in time, show the world it is our differences that make the world a more interesting place. The Revealers have been relentlessly recruiting more followers and members since this project was launched. To date, there are roughly 125,000 Revealer members worldwide.
“125,000 members,” Kristi said. “That’s quite a lot of people.”
“Not really, if you consider there are over three billion people in the world,” Finn said.
“I’m sure the Revealer’s numbers have grown though,” Finn’s dad said.
Dr. Hanson nodded. “Last time I checked, which was about two weeks ago, our numbers were up to 500,000. Tiffany’s been a charm recruiting members.”
Then out-of-the-blue, realization dawned on Kristi. They were expected to fulfill these two tasks left by her parents. Four—five if counting Jaiden—teenagers were expected to fulfill two cases started several years ago.
Troop must’ve caught her thoughts because he said, “This is a lot to take in. Are we actually going to attempt to complete the two cases?”
“Of course we are,” Kristi said, her own words sounding uncertain even to her own ears. “Well, at least I will at any rate.”
“Count me in,” Troop said.
“And me,” Finn added.
“Chelsa?” Kristi prompted.
“Sure.”
Ghost purred his approval.
“Then I’m in as well,” Jaiden concluded.
Finn’s mom interrupted, “As sure as I am of the fact that the five of you are willing to finish the Disappearance and Individualism Case, I must say that is not going to happen.”
Finn’s dad nodded gravely. “You’re too young and inexperienced to be working cases as important as these two. It would be better if the assignments were turned over to other, more seasoned Revealer agents.”
“Mom, Dad,” said Finn, “shouldn’t that decision be up to Kristi to decide? After all, it was her parents who specifically gave her the two cases to complete.”
“Kristi has absolutely no knowledge in this sort of work,” his mom said. She turned to Kristi and said, “No offense.”
“None taken.”
But, she agreed with Finn; it was her right to choose whether she passed on the tasks Maria and Don had left her to better qualified people or not. I mean, I did just cross the entire country to unlock this electro-slate; I don’t want someone else to decide what to do with the contents on the slate.
“Derek and Mellany are viable candidates to work on the cases,” Finn’s mom said to the other adults in the room.
Her husband made an agreeable sound, adding, “Yes. Kelvin and Tom may be interested in this as well. What do you say, Dr. Hanson?”
“I agree with Finn,” said Dr. Hanson, startling everyone by siding with the kids. “It was clearly stated in their wills that Kristi is to receive this electro-slate containing information on the Disappearance and Individualism cases. Kyle and Shelly are smart people; they wouldn’t have done such actions without a good reason.”
Finn’s mom gave a curt nod. “I can see your reasoning, Dr. Hanson, but that does not mean I have to agree with it.”
Dr. Hanson acknowledged her opinion. Then he faced Kristi and said, “The law’s on your side if you decide to take on these two cases. Your parents unmistakably stated this electro-slate is to be for you to inherit. Because the files for the Disappearance and Individualism cases are on the slate, technically, they belong to you as well.”
“Kristi isn’t eighteen yet,” Finn’s mom interjected.
“That fact is irrelevant,” said Dr. Hanson. “I will do everything in my power to ensure you succeed if you choose to complete the two cases. I have many useful connections, so feel free to give me a call if you’re ever in a sticky situation.”
Neither of Finn’s parents looked happy, but they didn’t say anything either. I guess Dr. Hanson was right; the two cases legally belong to me, Kristi thought.
“I want to carry out the two cases,” she said.
“I beg you to think over your decision. You’re still young and will make impulsive choices,” said Finn’s dad. He perched at the edge of the couch, wringing his hands.