Chapter 3

The past three hours had been absolute hell for Sage. Again, he felt that terrible sick feeling. He found it harder and harder to calm himself after intense moments of exertion. After a short ride in the back of the white car, Sage was taken to a large, well fortified building with a sign reading Los Angeles Police Department. The police officer handling Sage through the building was rough and only laughed whenever Sage inquired about seeing Daniel Flynn. It was only moments later though that Sage was thrown into a holding cell. As the transparent material sealed closed, Sage grew frustrated. The officer pressed a few buttons on the control panel then walked away. Sage knew it was hopeless, he clomped over to the rough bench and sat on it, leaning forward with his head down, straining to think. He knew he had a duty here but while he sat doing nothing, on the other end of the portal, his allies were either awaiting his return, or had been derezzed by Nexor and his Guards. Guilt surged through him. So far no one had been any help in this world and he had no idea where to start looking for Daniel Flynn. Those hours finally passed suddenly, the cell door opened. Another officer approached.

"Hey, you have a visitor," he said in a gruff voice. Sage looked up, puzzled. A look of absolute bewilderment on his face who in this world would come and visit him…or even know him for that manner. Sage followed the officer into a room. The area was divided into two sections with a large piece of glass dividing them. On each side of the glass were chairs, facing each other, in a row, blocked by separate cubbies. The entire room was empty except for one other man. He sat wearing a large grey trench coat and a tie underneath. As Sage took the other seat opposite the man, he noted his aged face. He was bald with a small grey mustache. Beneath thick glasses were grey-blue eyes, surrounded by wrinkles from years lived. He spoke with a grandfatherly tone, yet with authority.

"That was quite a mess you made back at ENCOM," he said. "I've seen the recordings myself. Our system didn't detect you entering in at all. Your first appearance was in the CEO's office." The man paused. "Explain." Sage stared back at the man. The moment they made eye contact, the man's eyes widened in shock. "Those are some contacts you have," he mused.

"What?" Sage asked puzzled.

"Those aren't contact lenses?" he asked. Sage stared back helplessly. The cause of the man's curiosity wasn't apparent to everyone else because no one had taken a good enough look to see that Sage's irises were not round but octagon. The man eased back slightly to get a better look at Sage. He also noticed that his skin tone wasn't abnormal but rather pale. "I've never seen anyone fight like that before. You're not of this world are you?" the man said slowly; almost unsure. Sage sighed with relief, then carefully shook his head. The man chortled. "My god, a program here in our midst."

"Who are you?" Sage asked offensively. The man laughed again.

"I'm sorry, I'm Trey Furgueson, head of the Board at ENCOM."

"Why did you come?" Sage asked.

"I could ask you the same," Trey snorted.

"I've come in search of Daniel Flynn." Trey's joyful manner suddenly washed away to an expression of sorrow.

"I'm sorry my friend, but Danny has been dead almost seven years. Even before that he was bedridden. His son took control of the company almost ten years ago."

"Then I need to see him," Sage demanded.

"Why?" Trey asked him.

"The Grid, we're in trouble. The Disciples have had control for many cycles, programs are either forced to worship them or are derezzed in the streets. The regime of the Disciples must be put to an end." Concern grew over Trey Furgueson's face. "Only descendants of the Creator can help us." Sage's hard expression showed his passion and even his great faith. Trey only shook his head.

"Talking to his son won't help you." Sage sighed in aggravation. His head dropped. Trey spoke again. "But there is someone else that can." Sage looked back up. Trey stood from his chair and looked back at the officer behind him. The program couldn't understand what the aged man said due to the glass separating him. After a short transition between the two, Trey looked back at Sage and spoke clearly. "They're going to take you to the front. Wait for me there." The man left and Sage was lead away from the glass by an officer.

As Trey walked away from the desk, he tucked his wallet back away in his lapel pocket. He then jumped back to the desk after remembering what he wanted to do.

"Excuse me Officer," he said. The female Officer he had just paid three hundred dollars of bail to looked back up at him. "Could you tell me if officer Flynn has checked in yet?" he asked with a warming smile. She looked up at him in puzzlement.

"Officer who?" she asked.

"Oh I mean Officer Dietz," Trey corrected himself. She glanced over at a screen on her desk then replied.

"Yes Sir Mr. Furgueson, he checked in about seven minutes ago." Trey smiled again.

"Thank you." He turned away again and made his way through the double doors and back into the department. The entire area was cluttered with cubicles. All but four were abandoned for the night. Trey made his way on the carpeted floor to the cubicle in the far corner. Packing a back pack with his back to the opening was a broad officer. On his chair rested a motorcycle helmet. Stenciled on his cubicles' wall was a name tag reading, Officer A. Dietz. Trey stood behind him silently until Officer Dietz turned to notice him.

"Hey, haven't seen you in a while," he said with a smile.

"Yeah I apologize. I haven't been able to visit you too often," Trey said. The officer laughed and turned away to continue packing.

"Trey, I'm not thirteen anymore. Besides, you must be preoccupied at the tower what with those breaches," he said as he turned around with a snide grin.

"You knew about that?"

"I hauled him in."

"Is that so," Trey laughed. He paused as the officer continued to pack his bag. "Aaron," he paused again. "You haven't talked with your father lately, have you?" Aaron Dietz didn't turn around this time though his frustration was shown through the aggression of his packing.

"There's nothing new to say," he said shortly. "I've heard it all." Trey's expression softened.

"He's proud of you, you know that don't you Aaron?" Aaron said nothing. He only ceased packing. "And your Grandfather would be too." Aaron's gaze drifted to his desk where a small picture stood. On one side was an aged man sporting short white hair. On the other was a man that was younger but not without his own age. In between the two was a child nearly ten beaming and wearing the uniform of a football jersey. Aaron found it easy to admit that he was far closer with his grandfather than he was with his dad.

"Trey," Aaron started. He zipped up his backpack and turned around to face his Godfather. "Why are you here?" He asked defensively. Trey chuckled as he thought over his next move.

"Do I need a reason to visit my godson?" he replied with a grin. The stone like expression on Aaron's face then cracked to match Trey's grin.

"No, guess not."

"I was actually stopping by to ask you if you'd like to get a drink?" Aaron looked back at Trey.

"Old Sammie's?"

"Old Sammie's," Trey replied. Aaron chuckled to himself.

"Alright then," he said. "Why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you there. I got a couple more things to do anyway. Shouldn't take any longer than ten minutes." Trey nodded.

"See you then."