Tuesday, 9am.
Sitting in the car with Charlie, our eyes fixed on the front door of the house down the block, reports of heavy traffic through related to local sources. Our conversations were pointless, I couldn’t tell her what was on my mind, Jasper, still recovering, the week I took on advanced first aid to make sure I wouldn’t leave my team mates at the mercy of the butchers known as doctors.
I woke Screaming, my hands gripping the wheel until my knuckles were white, looking around me, Charlie was staring at me, an expression of pure terror in her face. I hadn’t even realised I had dozed off, only an hour, 10am, trying to remember the dream, that sound, that blood curdling, bone crushing sound, like thunder, shaking my body to its foundations, something was wrong.
Charlie demanded an explanation, I couldn’t give one, I didn’t know. She ordered me to drive, not far down the road she asked me again, I fumbled for a pathetic answer before she got out of the car, walking. I circled the block to pick her back up, she refused as she held her phone to her ear. I wasn’t long before mine rang, my supervisor ordering back to the field office.
He was waiting for me outside when I arrived, he also asked for answers, I was stuck, clutching my chest I blamed it on my chest wounds. Pushing myself to hard. He looked at me and arranged transport to the medical centre.
Speaking to the doc, I took the pain meds he offered before glancing my watch as 11am rolled around. M pager buzzed, incoming email.
The email was simple, another invitation to the opera, 3pm, Chicago, I was going to have to rush. Calling my supervisor, explaining the doc had told me 48 hours, no troubles there, he had seen my chest, he knew the damage.
I jumped the first plane to Chicago. I was a mess, no kit, just what I was wearing, boots, jeans, polo shirt and jacket, sidearm, cuffs, phone and ID, bare essentials.
I had to get to the 5th floor of 125 West Ohio St, a good 20 minutes by taxi. It was going to be tight, but I was going to get there.
The taxi pulled up at 2.47pm, no signs on anyone here, just a lost tourist hovering outside. I knew that if Jason was still out of action, I was the next in line, there was no way Jasper was going to be fit for whatever this was. I moved through the doors, across the foyer to the elevator, the concierge smiled as I threw a wink her way as the elevator doors closed. The fifth floor was empty, another small foyer revealing a construction site that had been taped off with yellow and black tape. Listening, there were no signs coming from anywhere, something wasn’t right, or I was just early.
Moving to the wall to the left of the elevator, I squatted on my haunches, waiting to see who would be the next to arrive.
As the elevator came to life again, the doors opening to reveal the strange tourist from outside, rising as he walked out, my left hand instinctively moving to my holster. He clocked my movement, holding his hands where I could see them, a smart tourist. He seemed strange, mid 40’s maybe, educated, glasses, well dressed, what I would have expected Jason to be when I first met a team leader.
He asked who I was, slowly pulling his phone from his pocket, the same phone I had been given by the group. He rattled off all our names, Jagger, Jason, Jasper and Jude, my grip eased as I introduced myself as Jude, his response of Joshua took me by surprise. I asked his involvement with J-Cell, he had been present on the last opera, only leaving the investigation before my arrival. He gave me a brief run-down of the previous events, I gave him an overview of the latter, he seemed glad to have missed it.
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| Jason |
It wasn’t long before the elevator opened again, this time to reveal Jason, looking like he hadn’t showered or shaved in weeks, his appearance, far from the suit wearing, somewhat clean cut, now in jeans, a jacket, his eyes sunken into his skull more than usual.
I started the conversation regarding his recovery, it seemed clear that his mind was intact, more to the point, he seemed almost too calm given what he had experienced. He goes right to the point, asking if anyone was inside the taped off door, shaking my head, he asked me to take the lead. I didn’t hesitate, Joshua wasn’t sticking his hand up and Jason was, well, Jason.
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| Inspector David Hua |
Moving through the door, the site was bare, fallen building debris all over the place, wiring hanging from columns and beams. Moving through, my sidearm out of the holster but still remaining by my side, something didn’t feel right, we had received no information on this opera, nothing at all. Ahead of me as a moved passed a damaged column from ceiling to floor, a shadow in the distance, a man’s shadow. I advanced on him, gun raised, calling for him to identify himself. The man stepped into the light, shaking, holding a briefcase and a phone. He was rattled in seeing me advance on him, my pistol levelled at his face, he identified himself through his trembling and chattering teeth as David Hua, Department of Energy. As Jason and Joshua joined me, David explained that he also did work for the group, purely as a consultant, lowering my sidearm, it was Joshua who stepped up, watching him talk to David, it was clear he knew what he was doing. Within a minute, David was calm, and the sound of high heels filled the air.Turning around to see a woman walking towards us, mid to late 40’s, greying blonde hair, carrying a folder. Identifying herself as Eve, she greeted all of us by name, including Inspector David Hua from the DOE.
She handed Jason the folder she carried, explaining that the operation was to infiltrate the newly developed Olympia Holobeam Array, a privately funded scientific research project with oversight from the Department of Energy.
We all had question, David was our way in, he was a legitimate Inspector for the DOE, the rest of us were going in as fellow inspectors regarding the first day of operation of the new device. The group was after data and technology, we were tasked with securing several documents, military in nature. It sounded like a fire sale, the way an embassy would be cleared of all sensitive documentation prior to going offline. Two vehicles had been secured for us downstairs, a van and a sedan, equipment would be found in the trunk of the car.
David was nervous, he wasn’t sure what he was doing, or who we were other than his “team” of inspectors. Joshua did his best to calm him down, keeping him in a clear state of mind.
I looked over the list of staff, 10 on the books, 4 security, 3 researchers, 2 engineers, Janitor. Security were going to be an issue, looking at our team, it was clear that David and Joshua to a lesser extent, may not be comfortable if this turned violent, which I had every expectation it would.
Eve handed Jason a phone before she departed, her number the only one saved also handing each of us our ID’s for the operation, Inspector Paul Wade, nice, I didn’t think I looked like a Paul. Eve’s final words to us, these were the ID’s of retired and deceased DOE staff, they will not hold up under close inspection. Great, with 4 security checking us, it is going to get bloody, I know it will.
We headed down the elevator to the garage, at the far end, a sedan and a van were parked on their own, branded DOE, that was us. We popped the trunk to find bare essentials required, suits and badges, as well as four government issue Smith and Wesson 39-2,
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| S&W 39-2, 40cal |
40 calibre pistols with holsters and spare magazines, papers and permits to match. We each took turns changing into the suits in the van, strapping the pistols to our sides, all except for David, who handed me his and asked me to carry it for him, my suit, slightly oversized, feeling like a businessman who had lost 40 pounds, made only slightly better by the room required to look two holsters to my waist, one at my side, the other at my back, the jacket concealing both easily.
Joshua and I took the van, Jason and David in the lead car, the plan was to drive to the closest gas station and work out what to do once we were closer, it was a clearly time sensitive mission. During the drive, I got to get a better understanding of Joshua, it was clear he was smart, very smart, his answers to the simplest questions involving moments of thought and carefully crafted answers, honest, yet cautious, much better than the usual distant denials that were as watertight as a bucket full of holes that I usually get from Jason. My guess, he was a doctor of some kind, not medical or surgical, but a head doc or something like that. Although having the feeling that he was constantly analysing me, I didn’t care, we were all fucked up here, that’s how we got the gig.
Stopping at the gas station, we reviewed the folder again given to us by Eve, 10am the Array had gone online, 10am, the same time I woke screaming in my car. Joshua, Jason, David, all the same, something had hit us all at 10am, something was very wrong.
David made a phone call and several trips inside the gas station, cash in hand, he came back with a set of blueprints for the facility, I guess being a real inspector for the DOE had its perks.
Located in the centre of a man-planted Pine forest, it was clear that the facility was meant to be secluded, the Array and main building at the centre, a large circular wall around the main complex, a security station inside and out, this was going to be interesting.
We approached the main gate at about 5pm, a single security guard wearing a Stetson hat met us, Joshua getting out of the car with David to meet and greet. Joshua was ballsy, talking to everyone, it was clear he was a talker, a very good talker. The Security guard never breaking his smile, taking our ID’s for inspection he returned to his booth, ‘now the fun begins’. I kept my hand on my holster, ready in case the ID’s given to us were so thin that the mention of our aliases caused guns to be drawn. Breckenridge Security, a private firm, great, most likely ex-military private contractors, shoot first, ask questions later, wonderful.
After a minute or two, we were waved through, approaching the main building along the gravel road that led to a small parking lot.
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| Dr Campbell |
Parking the van, we moved towards the main building where an African American lady stood waiting, early 50’s, short greying hair, a slight smile on her face, flanked by a second security guard, a woman wearing the same uniform as the man at the front gate. David took the lead, as we walked I could hear Jason whisper to him, if there is any trouble that he was to get behind me, ‘thanks boss, not only is this guy completely useless in a firefight, but I’m the human shield!’
Introducing ourselves, the lady waiting, Dr Campbell, lead researcher and director of the project. Another ID check, the security woman took our ID’s again, disappearing into the smaller booth filled with monitors for a few moments as David and Jason made the pleasantries with Dr Campbell. I could feel my hand rubbing the small of my back, above where my second pistol was, waiting and watching the security woman for signs of alarm through the glass. She returned, all clear.
As we entered the main building, I remained David’s shadow, close enough to grab and protect, but not too close to be walking on top of him, Jason threw me a nod as he knew what I was doing.
We entered Dr Campbell’s office, meeting in the hallway a round bearded man known as Dr Scott, the junior researcher, still being in his 40’s junior must have meant something important. Joshua again, the only one of us wanting to meet and greet with a friendly smile and handshake. Jason was giving a slight grin, immediately asking for the bathroom, Dr Campbell, annoyed to say the least allowed it, Joshua followed his lead, also going to the amenities. Campbell was pissed, getting really angry, we were in her way, we all knew it, I couldn’t help but chuckle, Jason was doing this on purpose, subtle, but understandable, he is old after all, maybe he does have a child’s bladder?
After several minutes, both men returned, Dr Campbell already acting defensive, the argument was speed, yet our team was wasting time. Jason played it, he loved the conflict, he loved seeing people get nervous. Joshua was trying to defuse the situation, he was a master, however he was not as masterful as Jason at making it blow up again. Poor bastard.
After a good 10 minutes of shit flying in all directions, Joshua prevailed, one of the engineers of the facility, Mr Kozak entered to be our guide around the facility. A power surge was recorded at 3.30pm, something that we needed to investigate with the help of someone who knew their way around. Kozak, shuffling constantly and clicking his fingers to a beat no one else could hear, I approached closely, looking him in the eyes at close range, inspecting for pupil dilation and signs of substance abuse. Nothing, possibly just a geek of the highest degree.
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| Evan Kozak |
Walking towards the workshop, not allowing us to separate at any time, Kozak seemed very genuine in his conversations, he was excited to be working here, “Dee” the super computer that was on site was where the action was, decoding all data that had been gathered since the machine went online at 10am. Looking around the workshop, portable clean rooms, industrial machinery, everything I would expect from a lab of this size, it was not really taking my interest though, my priority was David, keeping him safe, watching for any signs of alarm. All the way through the facility, inside and out, I had been clocking the cameras, some visible, some hidden, every inch of this place was being watched, not your standard research facility, this felt like something else, the kind of place conspiracy theories are born.
Joshua was leading the conversation, his methods sly and accurate, he had figured Kozak out, he knew how to ask the right questions, peak the interest, peel back the curtain slightly.
Moving away from the workshop towards the engineering office, Jason made us stop in the kitchen, he needed coffee, Kozak was happy to stop, he himself seemed to be running on minimal sleep, still clicking and bobbing as he went.
After a brief chat with Kozak, we hit the engineering office, to our surprise, Dr Takagawa, the head engineer was passed out on a couch. Asking about him, Kozak spoke of finding him out by the Array at 3.30pm, the same time as the power surge, they brought him in here and followed their protocols. I moved over to Takagawa, my first aid training still clear in my mind, his pulse was faint, opening his eyes with my fingers, he was out of it, no movement, no reaction to light, nothing, he was there, but not there. I insisted on an ambulance.
As the voices grew louder, Campbell came storming into the office, Jason was ready to combat her, protocols be damned, causing a scene to distract her as David slipped out of the room, across the corridor into Campbell’s office.
Another wonderfully constructed confrontation from Jason gave us plenty of time to plan our next move, Kozak mentioned a woman named Tsang, she was the IT specialist, she was the one with the computer “Dee”, we needed to find her. Everything here was wrong, a man passed out and semi catatonic, another who doesn’t realise he is physically moving, not allowing us as inspectors to actually inspect, something was off, way off.
Something hit me, a wave of Vertigo, something washing over me, forcing me from my feet to sit next to Takagawa to steady myself, a dream, I can see myself hitting a large button, looking up I can see Jason and the others, all running to the main gate, so many faces, some unknown, all running for the gate.
The scene before me passing, Takagawa stirred and rose from the couch, sitting up and asking me who I was, Joshua responded, pushing me out of the way. Rising from the couch, Kozak was still here, Jason was walking with Campbell to her office, David was, somewhere. What had just happened?
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| Dr Takagawa |
Takagawa needed to piss, he also needed help, Joshua and I taking his arms to help him walk, Kozak tried to clear out but grabbing him by the collar, he knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
Entering the bathroom, we stood Takagawa at the urinal and gave him some space. Looking back to make sure he was still standing, Takagawa was making strange sounds, looking at the urinal, his piss was blue, florescent blue! Joshua and I were both dumbfounded, watching as Takagawa recoiled and fell to the floor, not only his piss, but his eyes and mouth now emitting the same blue light as he screamed.
Dr’s Black and Campbell came rushing in to see what the commotion was about, Jason in tow, that was it, Jason had seen enough. Pulling me aside, Jason and I were on the same page, get everyone together, including security, take them down and begin the search for whatever was happening here.
Springing into argumentative action, Jason went at Campbell again, demanding everyone into Campbell’s office, including security as a matter of containment, engineers to remain in the bathroom as the ambulance was on its way.
As we all stood in Campbell’s office, she began making calls to different departments, furious as she was, she still complied for the moment. Tsang, the computer genius, Black the researcher. Jason was in search of everyone, the Janitor was not in, only two security on a rotation, pushing for more calls to be made, Jason confirmed the whereabouts of everyone, no surprises. Only one missing, the other researcher, Ms Klinger. Black had been looking for her with no success, calls to security came back with no visual on any of their monitors, something was off.
As all the arguing continued, Joshua approached me, his theory of contamination seeming more and more relevant, radiation warnings were everywhere, I hadn’t noticed the two Giger counters in the DOE car, he had been checking everyone, Takagawa was ripe, he was setting it off.
Jason also caught my eye, meeting him in the corner of the room, explaining that we needed to get over security, he would handle the woman, I was to hit the front gate.
David was also hovering, inspecting bunches of recently crumpled then smoothed out papers, pouring over them as if it was a puzzle needing to be solved, either way, he was a genius apparently, if he was struggling, we were in trouble.
As Jason continued the argument with Campbell, all eyes were busy, too busy to watch me slip away across the hall into the kitchen, waiting for my chance to move to the guard at the gate. Footsteps down the hall, the Guard, Henson, the woman was heading to the office. Jason’s voice was clear, demanding to go and check the monitors for Klinger, after a few moments, Henson was escorting Jason to the guard hut outside the main building, following at a distance, I would have to wait for Jason to move before I do anything.
Hovering inside the main entrance, just able to see Jason making a fool of himself on the consoles of the security station before Henson took over only to find the barrel of Jason’s pistol in her neck. That was my que, I ran, running in my oversized suit towards the front gate, nodding at Jason who nodded back at me. As I approached the front gate, the man in the Stetson hat was on the phone, looking at me, I was ushering him to come towards me, medical emergency, we needed his help to move Takagawa. He finally began to follow me, it was clear he wasn’t going to lead the way, he was going to stay behind me the whole way.
As we approached the security booth where Jason and Henson where, I could feel the man behind me, very close, close enough to catch off guard. I knew I had seconds, it was going to be clear that Jason was in control of the booth, turning on my heel, this guy was fast, his holster already snapped, his hand on the grip of his sidearm. Not fast enough, crunching my fist into his kidney, fuck! Kevlar.
He recoiled enough to raise his gun at me as my knuckles began to burn from the hit. I raised my hands, I had missed my chance, he was fast, and I should have gone for the jaw.
Henson’s voice sounded on the small PA speaker, demanding he drop his weapon or she will be killed. I looked at him, his face stern, however I knew that Jason wasn’t bluffing, he could see that, I was worried, and not about me. He relaxed his arm and dropped his pistol to the ground. Drawing my own, I removed the cable ties from his belt and cuffed him behind his back before taking up his Beretta 92, 9mm and escorting him towards the door. Jason was doing the same with Henson, cuffed, disarmed and on the march.
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| Beretta 92 Series 9mm |
Dr Campbell appeared at the main entrance followed by David, she had come to investigate and recoiled at the sight of her security being escorted towards her in cuffs. David seemed to laugh, he seemed to have had enough of Campbell. It was time to clean house, retraining Campbell, David and I continued our search for Klinger, opting to take control of the security hut and search the monitors.
Vertigo again, knocking me against the wall of the security hut, the sky is black, descending down all around, something suffocating about it, it is descending all around me, utter blackness.
Shaking my head, the security console returns to my view, searching the monitors, that was what I had to do. David was staggering, he had felt something, as we watched the security feeds he spoke, he had seen me, firing an automatic weapon into the workshop. I had seen the sky falling, he had seen me shooting at something, earlier I had seen me hitting a button to open the gate for the others to get out, were these premonitions, was I going to die here? Helping others could escape?
The hell I am!
The workshop monitor came to life, a blue flash of light was instantly replaced by the figure of a woman, screaming in silence before another blue flash made her vanish. Both David and I froze for a moment, it was David who made the first move, heading back to Jason to report, following him without a word scanning the security hut for a firearms bigger than what I had, nothing, maybe this was all just nonsensical dreams.
Jason was standing in the hallway outside Campbell’s office when David caught him, telling him of what happened. Jason turned to me for confirmation. Calling Joshua to join us from the office we began moving towards the workshop. Jason and I leading, weapons drawn.
The workshop was empty, deserted, scanning the room for anything at all, nothing.
Turning and moving back towards the office with the purpose of moving towards Dee, the computer, a blue flash hit, right in front of us in the hall. A strange woman appeared, staring t us, screaming at us, screaming like thunder and lightning mixed into one unique sound. Screaming for someone, anyone.
She explained that they had turned the experimental laser on at 10am, something had happened, something was making an incursion through the machine and the rifts it created, something we had to go and stop.
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