Chapter 13

  Water crashes into my face. I rub my eyes, my head is screaming, my body aches as I lay of the stairs. I'm cold. Maria is a flight up holding an empty bucket, she's looking to the side.

  “Wake up and fix your suit.” She says, I hear he walk up the stairs. What the frick is she talking about?

  Oh frick, apparently Carl is drunk as well, he's hanging from my ankles, cascading down the stairs like my shadow. No wonder I'm cold. I gather myself, Carl moves back into place and I head up to the fourth floor for some breakfast. Walking into the kitchen the smell of bacon and sausage assaults my stomach, I have to cover my mouth. I stumble over and open the window to get fresh air. How can something that smells so good make me feel so sick?

  “There is plenty here if you're hungry, I figured we might as well eat a hearty breakfast, who knows what will happen today or tomorrow for that matter.” She says in a chipper tone.

  Walking over to the stove I put a bit of this and that on my plate and have a seat. Picking at the bacon I'm glad Marie made it, she always seems to get the bacon perfect.

  “So, last night...” I start.

  “Not talking about it. Who knows what'll be decided, we need to focus on the next step with things. Where are you going once we're free? I still have some money stashed away, I was thinking of some remote area of the province far up north, maybe I'll buy a shop, I would imagine you'll stay an extract Agent.” She says.

  My mind is too slow to have this conversation with her and where her head seems to be right now. She is right though, we need to be prepared for what is decided. It seems like the last few years so much has been decided for us.

  “I don't feel as bad as usual, I think having the suit, um, not be so snug, helped the alcohol go through me fast.” I say.

  “Yeah, you might want to try that in your room next time.” She says.

  “I just woke up like that, sorry.”

  “Oh no its... so, it's sunny out today.” She says.

  I look at the window, “Yes, it is.”

  “We better eat up while we can, it sounds like the party has arrived.” I say.

  She nervously purses her lips to the left and taps her hand on her leg. I go over to her and she seems hesitant as she looks me in the eye.

  “Hey, just a hug?” I say.

  She gives me a tight smile and nods. We reach towards each other and hug, there is no odd behaviour from the suits.

  “Things will work out.” I say, she holds me closer, she feels slightly more relaxed.

  “Oh, you guys need a minute?” Dan says. We abruptly step away from each other.

  “No, help yourself to some food.” Maria says.

  “Oh nice, it smells great, it's what drew me over here.” He gathers up a plate and heads back to his station across the hall.

  Her and I nervously look at each other, we each look like we're about to speak, but pause. I have a lot I want to say but not sure if I should start.

  I open my mouth to speak...

  “Guys, they're back.” Dan yells out, we hear a few vehicles pull up outside.

  We hear perople enter and footsteps come up the stairs. It's Frankie and Jodi.

  “Lets go kids, we have a meeting.” He says. Jodi goes to walk by and looks at us, she balks, Frankie sees her. “Don't speak Jodi.”

  She goes into the other room then comes back. “No, it's all wrong, this is all wrong, they didn't see what I saw, its...”

  “Stop, or I'll have to report. Dammit Jodi, don't force me, we're already treading on thin ice here.” Frankie says.

  “Just, you two, good luck.” She pushes past Frankie and hugs Maria and I at the same time.

  We head downstairs, there are 4 other vehicles, about a dozen troops stand there, guns drawn. Some of them are Royal guards from back home, the other half are ones I don't recognized, with more advanced riffle and a third group has a uniform I've never seen, there load out are the rare C8 ARs that have been popping up here and there, their shoulder patches are blue, white and red, the red being a cross from corner to opposite corner and straight up and down and left to right.

  “I'm sorry kids, we have to cuff you.” Frankie says.

  “Very well.” I say as the shackle us.

  Marie just nods.

  We load up in the back of a van, Lenny climbs up.

  “No Lenny, you stay.” Frankie says.

  “No, we're...”

  “No old friend, there is no point in both of us being at risk,” Frankie says.

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  Lenny looks at us, then Frankie then jumps out of the van.

  We drive back over the bridge to the old facility that was blown up. They lead us through the rubble to an elevator that goes down a dozen floors. We get to the bottom and are lead into a room. There is a group of people in the shadows of a room.

  “Please, sit.” A voice says. “Maria, you have agreed to your terms?”

  “Yes.” She simply states.

  “The rest has been decided then. The hope is after the procedure you will go free for a bit, once it's deemed you're safe to release. Maria will be bound by the agreement, Goliath, you will be free. Do you have any questions?”

  “No.” I say.

  “None.” She says.

  We're lead to an operating room. Changing into gowns they seat us on the same a medical chair and bind us in.

  The put a mask over my face and it goes dark.

  Carl is screaming, Carl and Gail are distraught, I see flashes of Carl being stabbed, his brother standing over him. Gail yells out “No Terry, what have you done?”

  Terry, it's the brothers name

  It's Stingers name as well.

  No, this all feels worse knowing this. There is much screaming, gunshots, wait, this isn't what happened with the suits.

  My mind, I'm waking. There is a heavy presence in my face. Slowly, I open my eyes. Stinger is there, his suit swirls like mine did last night, only there are three not two. Three of them, swirling around in a chaotic dance, peaceful then randomly fast, violent.

  No, what were they thinking? He leans over me and whispers in my ear.

  “I know now brother.”

  There is a sharp jab in my stomach, his hand pointing straight he presses into my stomach, the pain intensifies.

  “It's not time for this. Good bye for now brother.” He releases his hand then walks over to Maria. It is at that moment I see the carnage around the room; about a dozen medical staff dead, ripped a part.

  Maria is struggling against the restraints, he kisses her on the head “It's Ok, I still love you.” He leaves the room.

  “Are you ok Maria?”

  “Yeah, you?”

  “Yeah. My head feels so quiet.”

  People stream into the room, Frankie and a few others I don't recognize, Underwood as well.

  “You fricken fools...” I say.

  “You put them all together?” Maria says.

  “It is what they all wanted.” A tall thin man with a black cloak and ceramic mask says.

  “And I have control of them.” Underwood says.

  “I if you had control then how did all this happen? Get us out of here.” I say. Looking at Frankie I can see there is more “Frankie? The restraints?”

  “Kid, they're still deciding what to do with you two. This is just one room, Stinger took out more of the staff here in a blur.”

  “Blame him! It's that training Underwood gave them!” I say.

  “What training?” Underwood says with a smug grin. “You all have the capabilities to do what Stinger can.”

  “You son-of-a-bitch! You tell the truth!” Maria yells.

  “Let us go!”

  “We'll be back when things are decided.” Frankie says.

  “No! Don't you leave us here!” Maria calls.

  They all stream out of the room. Maria struggles frantically against the bindings. “They created that monster! He'll never give us peace, I can feel it!”

  “We need to stick together, whatever is decided. We can survive this Maria, just like right after the procedure, we did what we had to do. I'll do whatever I have to for us to survive. You trust me, right?”

  “Yes Stanley, I trust you.”

  “And I trust you.”

  The door opens, over a dozen heavily armed soldiers stream in followed by some techs and other represents in uniform. The tall, very skinny man dressed in black wearing a ceramic mask with them. He looks at me, then Maria.

  “Greetings, I am Governor Clarence, I represent the Collective. Myself, the local government, and world representatives have come to an agreement as to you're future. Maria has an obligation which she is bound to, but beyond that there is the issue of everyone's safety. Commander Underwood says you all have the capabilities of Stinger, we can't just allow you to walk about with that power unrestrained.” The Governor says.

  “He's a liar!” Maria says.

  “Ye, wees well aware he's full of shyt, lass.” One of the men says, his accent unlike any I have ever heard before.

  “Pardon?” Underwood says, glaring at the man. The man just stares back.

  “Yes, we also know this is likely not the case.” Clarence says. “But there is enough doubt that we need to observe you longer in order to assess. No one wants you on their soil. Imprisoning you is seen as a cruel option, considering all you've done to help free souls from the Others. There is an area that is territory not claimed by any in this room though. You will be aloud to live here.”

  “No, no we need to be free. We've not done anything to warrant imprisonment on this island.” Maria says.

  “It is that or a cell. No government is to contact you here on the island, you will not be given supplies, you'll have to fend for yourselves, there is food readily available here.” Governor Clarence says.

  “The food the Others make? That is made from the human genetic waste...” I say. They can't be serious.

  “It is nutritionally balanced...” The Governor Clarence says.

  “We're not going to eat people!” Maria says.

  “Any attempt to leave the island will lead to a paralytic nerotoxin being released into your system through a hidden implant you both have, you will then be brought back. This is what we've all agreed on.”

  “You mean agreed ta.” The man with the accent says.

  “It's the same thing.” Underwood says.

  “See, ye not understanding de difference is why day has ta be on a prison island. I've erd enough of dis shyte. Truly, I'm sorry ye two, but I ave far more pressing issues back home that involve da safety and well being of thousands of citizens.” The man says. He turns and leaves the room.

  They gag us, put a hood on our head and take us to the surface.

  “Get out.” We're told as they remove a sack from over out heads. We stand in the van, still in the gowns they move us out onto the street and remove our bindings. The wind is cold and dreary, it's dark now. They toss a set of cloths for each of us on the ground. “Don't go past this point, don't interact with Agents or Collective members or they will face the most serious penalties their local government has.”

  They load up and leave.

  The cloths are wet, we get dressed.

  “It's so damn cold.” Maria says.

  “Yeah, we got used to the suits keeping us warm when it's like this. We're as free as we're going to get.” I say.

  “Yeah.” She replies.

  “We need shelter and warmth.” I say. Fire, shelter, food. We need these things. “Lets head to central park.”

  We trudge on, cold, hungry we walk for blocks, watching the exoskeletons walk by, we don't have a way to see or view the Inside world so we are invisible to them. Walking up to a street corner we see three Agents; my friends from yesterday. As we approach they turn their back to us and speak amongst themselves.

  “Yeah, it's crazy how Command ordered us not to talk to Goliath and Raven.” Nick says in an exaggerated, loud voice.

  “I know, Command is having us install passcodes on the Go Rooms, we got most of them done, still haven't locked up the one from yesterday where we met Goliath though.” Gary says, glancing in or direction but not at us. “Well whatever the case we can lock it and pick up the supplies stored tomorrow, what's left. It's a shame, the harsh punishment Command has for interacting with those two. Pretty soon the whole city will have audio surveillance. We won't be able to talk to them.” He glances at me.

  “Lets head out.” Nick says, they walk away.

  “We need to get to a Go Room right now.” I say.

  Bare footed we run to the Go Room from yesterday. Entering the room there is a bag full of combat rations, some matches, boots that fit us, two very well worn combat machetes and a spare set of cloths.

  We're free, but the city is colder.