Chapter 3: A new choice to make
"What do you mean your intel was off!?" Jessie yelled at the Omer Science representative on the other side of the large conference table.
"We didn't know that a Next would turn up until the last moment, this was after we hired you." The suited rep replied.
"But you knew just as we deployed Jonas onto the field, the least you could have done is tell us so we could prepare."
"We thought it might have distracted the Lynx."
"Distracted him?!"
"Exactly, that's why we covertly hired the Next, Linebreaker, to assist you, you would get the help you would need and the coming threat didn't alarm you the slightest during the first phase of the mission."
Jonas, having got out of his piloting jumpsuit and into plain clothes, sat next to an angry, upright Jessie who was yelling at the calm, collected and smartly dressed rep sat at the other end of the table. The calm man put his hands together.
"Your mission earnings have been deposited into your account and your Next has been loaded onto your drop ship. Would there be anything else you require before you leave?" It was obvious that this rep wanted the almost hysterical Operator out of his hair, and it seemed the mention of monetary reward worked well, this is mainly because she shut up and sat down. Jonas leant forward onto the table.
"No thank you, we'll be leaving shortly. However I need to speak to the Lynx of the Linebreaker about something before I go."
"Very well, it's not my place to pry. Your drop ship is prepared and ready for launch. Just leave when you're able."
"Thanks." With this said, Jonas stood up and heading for the door. Jessie got up after him and followed him out but not before she glared towards the rep and decided to get the last word in.
"Don't think that we'll be working for you again anytime soon."
"Of course." The rep replied with a straight face. It seemed that this man had godly patience as he didn't once show signs of any annoyance at the face of the operator.
The two of them were walking down a long corridor retracing their steps. This facility was a big place which made it easy to get lost. It had been an hour since he docked the Silent Howl in the hanger bay. Since then he had made it to his drop ship where his change of clothes resided. It wasn't practical to walk everywhere in a pilot's jumpsuit. He now wore some dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt. This was much more comfortable for Jonas to walk in, he felt that the jumpsuits were always so restrictive.
"Bastards, keeping intel from us, what's the point of briefings if they don't tell you everything hmm? Corporate slime, the lot of them." It seemed to Jonas that this topic still burned within Jessie. He only nodded to her. The next 10 minutes consisted of Jessie muttering and Jonas repeatedly nodding to her. Jonas had other things on his mind than to worry about the woman scorned. Eventually they made it to the hanger on the other side of the facility and the rep was true to his word. The drop ship was inside the hanger and ready to go. However there was another drop ship next to it. It was a slightly different, larger model.
"Ok. I'll head for the drop ship and get her checked over. You go talk to that Seth bloke. Got your radio?" Jonas patted his trouser pocket showing that it was there. Jessie nodded to him and walked in the general direction of the drop ship. Jonas headed for the catwalk where he was told to return to. He walked briskly which only proved his eagerness to quieten his mind. Surely enough, there he was, now wearing casual clothes like himself. He was wearing black jeans, a red shirt and on top of that, a light grey sleeveless bomber jacket. Seth turned to him and smiled slightly.
"Ahhh Jonas, you made it, how was your debriefing?" Jonas looked up thoughtfully and imagined Jessie verbally slugging it out with the Omer Science Rep.
"Troublesome."
"Sorry to hear it. Okay, let's get straight to the point, my proposition." The two last words made Jonas quickly looked back down. Seth noticed his eagerness and laughed under his breath.
"I lead a small group of Lynx that operates independently of the companies. Mercenaries if you will. I want you to join us."
"Me? But why?" Jonas eyes gave the distinct look of confusion which Seth picked up on.
"Because you proved yourself to be tenacious, I like that, besides I'm always on the lookout for more Lynx but so many of them just prefer to work like loners. And in the days of these Arms Forts, we need to band together to be effective. As it is said, there's strength in numbers." There was truth in these words and Jonas realized that. There was a slight pause as he thought to himself.
"How many Lynx are in this group?"
"Me and two others. I have enough room for four members overall so you can be the fourth. You have to admit to yourself, Omer did screw you over royally, it's in your best interest as well to join us." That much was true, if it wasn't for Seth and the Linebreaker, Jonas would be nothing more than a corpse in scrap metal. He couldn't help but think that being in a team would offer more benefits to him than working alone. However, Jonas learnt long ago that being hasty led to a hasty death, he had to play it slow.
"I'll tell you what. I want to see your base and other members before I make my decision. You okay with that?" Seth closed his eyes and looked up to the ceiling while putting his hands into his jacket pockets. About ten seconds had past while Seth thought.
"Fine you can come back with me, however only you. Your Operator, Next and drop ship crew go home. If you wish to join us, then they can come. If not, we send you home and to be on the safe side, I'm not showing you the location of the base." Seth's face turned to a stern one as he eyed Jonas up for a response. It was obvious that Seth had hoped for Jonas to make up his mind then and there.
"Ok, I'm in. I like the sound of the grand tour." If this was a trap then Jonas would be walking right into it. But his instincts told him Seth was being sincere in his proposal. And in the end, instincts were a Lynx most trusted ally. He hoped that his instincts would not betray him today.
Jonas got his radio out of his pocket and put it to his mouth.
"Jessie. I'm taking a ride on Seth's drop ship to his base for a while. Take Silent Howl home and get her patched up and resup..." Jonas was suddenly cut off by a scream on the other end.
"You're what?! Are you insane? It's a trap. You'll be killed!" Jonas looked at Seth awkwardly who just laughed out loud at the pissed off voice on the other end of the radio.
"Just go home, I'll radio you if I need anything okay." It almost seems like through the screams and rants, his last order didn't get through. Jonas flicked the radio off. He'd turn it back on later when she mellowed out.
"So, you ready to go? Drop ship's waiting for us."
"You realise I'm taking a big risk by coming with you." Jonas shot Seth a quizzical look.
"I know and I'm taking a big risk by letting you come." Seth and Jonas walked around the complex heading for the other hanger where the drop ships were. The distinct sound of engines could be heard from the direction they were heading. The sound got louder as they approached.
After about five minutes they made it to Seth's drop ship. Jonas forgot how big they were. Considering the size of Nexts, the drop ships were designed to be as much a flying fortress as a carrier for Nexts.
Seth beckoned Jonas inside. The Linebreaker had already been loaded on-board. Seth guided Jonas to just outside the cockpit and left him to his own devices as he headed inside. There he tapped the pilot on the shoulder who in turn looked towards Seth.
"Okay, take us home." With that said the pilot tapped a number of buttons and pulled some levers. The whole ship began to shudder as it began to move. Seth walked out of the cockpit as the pilot was communicating with the facility's flight control. Jonas was found leaning against the wall of the corridors in deep thought. Seth walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hey, there's a small room above us where we can discuss you joining our group, maybe get to know each other a little better. There's food too, I'm starving." Seth walked off waving for Jonas to follow him. Jonas just shrugged and walked after his possible new team mate.
The drop ship raced along the runway, gaining speed before taking off. It was gaining altitude at an astonishing pace. When it got high enough, it fired its afterburners and charged its way towards its destination. The destination that would change Jonas' life forever.
