Dr. Rosen took Gary home that night. He got into bed and tried to get to sleep, but he was plagued by the signals, and by images of Anna. Seeing her today had been the first time in a long time, since he had first met her. She had become his friend, the only person who understood his autism and social awkwardness. Then she went and screwed it all up with those fateful words:
"I don't work for them. They work for me."
She was the leader of Red Flag. It had been like a collision with a train for Gary. Then she tried to recruit him. That was where he felt torn. He believed her cause, but at the same time he was sworn to Dr. Rosen and the team. She overloaded his brain with signals and left him on the floor in pain.
He hadn't felt the same after that.
He had managed to forget about it, to immerse himself in his work. But seeing Anna today… it had awakened feelings in him, bringing him back to that last day with Anna. He tried to push the thoughts out of his head, but he soon found himself searching through the many signals he had, seeking out Anna. As luck would have it, she was still across the street.
Moving quietly and ninja-like through the house, he walked out the front door to the house across the street. The house that served as the base of operations for Red Flag. He walked around to the back, through the door that led into the basement.
When he got in, he called out, "Anna? Are you here?"
No answer.
"Anna! Hello? Anyone?"
A computerized voice spoke. "I'm in here, Gary."
Gary followed the voice into a small room. The body and blood of Don Wilson still lay in the floor. Gary resisted the urge to cringe.
He turned to Anna. "I've been thinking a lot about what you said. I've come to join you. I've come to join Red Flag, if you'll take me."
Anna nodded, stroking the brush that she used to communicate. The computer spoke.
"Certainly. Welcome to Red Flag, Gary Bell."
Gary nodded. Only he knew of the plan he had conceived just a little bit ago. Step one was complete: he had been accepted into Red Flag. Now come the next part: bring Red Flag crumbling down from the inside.