Author's Note: Yay, we've reached the final chapter of 'Phase 1: Hibernation'! (does the happy dance as she listens to the soundtrack of 'Aliens') I'm excited to end this section of the story with this chapter. It provides insight on a lot of things. Researching topics like the mitochondria was also fun. In fact, most of the information here is based on actual facts, including paternal mtDNA. I've also referred to the PE book (as opposed to the movie) as well. On a minor note: to anyone who is a fellow 'Aliens' fan, yes, I named 'Airman Vasquez' after 'Private Vasquez'. He's, like, her great ancestor or something. XD
CHAPTER 6: Trick or Treat
October 27, 2015 | San Antonio, Texas | 4:30pm
Dressed in faded jeans, an unbuttoned denim jacket with a brown graphic-tee underneath, and short-heel cowboy boots, Kyle sat at the patio of a Mexican restaurant with his feet up on top of the table. The eatery ran alongside the River Walk, which was a long stretch of man-made river that connected most essential parts of downtown San Antonio, including the River Center mall. He had watched a movie earlier there and now spent the rest of his afternoon eating beef fajitas while waiting for his informant to arrive. The crowd around him was thick and lively while the air was consumed by the scents of exotic perfumes and hot food plates. In the background, the sounds of proud trumpets, guitars, violins, and singing emerged from a group of mariachis nearby. Kyle smiled when a young girl presented a few Dia de los Muertos sugar skulls up for sale. He bought a few and made sure to leave extra money for her.
Admittedly, Kyle enjoyed his trip to the Alamo city. The people were friendly and the food was great. Originally stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, his visit to San Antonio had given him a large dose of nostalgia. The Tower of Americas still stood tall while his favorite restaurant, Pico de Gallo, continued to serve the best carne guisada in town. And his favorite basketball team, the Spurs, was on a winning streak despite a shaky start this year. Still, many things had changed during his long absence. There were a lot of unrecognizable buildings as well as new expansions to familiar ones. He also noticed a few places he once enjoyed in the past were gone now. How sad.
It was a Saturday. As always, the flow of tourists was at full force, along with the street beggars, hustlers, and church volunteers who asked for donations. Among the mix of traffic, however, were large packs of Air force and Army personnel who came to enjoy their weekend. Claudia didn't go into the details of who his contact was; only that he or she would meet him at this restaurant before five o' clock. Highly suspecting his contact was among the military workforce that roamed the streets of downtown San Antonio, Kyle kept an eye out for any uniformed man or woman that crossed his path. Meanwhile, he checked his phone for messages.
There were a few missed calls and texts; perhaps during the time he was at the movies. No surprise, there was a collection of messages from people he didn't care to speak to for awhile, mainly from the new agency he was currently employed under. Unbeknownst to Claudia, he already worked with a new group of people. In fact, he was an operative for the newly appointed Secretary of Defense now. Still, the Major didn't need to know that. In many ways, being classified as a rogue agent by the CIA and other intelligence-related organizations had its advantages. He could play all sides of the field and learn all the major key players and schemes better this way.
Scrolling down the list of messages, it was tempting to answer a few. Still, Kyle had made it clear to the Secretary of Defense about his temporary leave of absence since the last time they chatted. The United States would have to live without him for a week, especially when his trail had gone hot. Kyle continued to go down the list of callers until he reached the last number.
His mouth partway opened and he felt his heart skip a beat. Never in a million years did he expect to find this number among his list. Briefly, he rechecked the date and time of the caller and confirmed it took place today. My god, it had been so long since they last talked. Immediately, he dialed the number and waited until someone picked up.
"Kyle?" a female voice finally answered.
It took a few shaved seconds for him to spew words from his mouth.
"Eve…" He smiled. "I just realized I got a call from you earlier today. Sorry I missed it, princess."
"That's okay. I was taking a shower and getting packed for a trip. I'm… glad you called me back."
"Of course, Eve. This is certainly unexpected."
Eve Brea. The child he and Aya saved and adopted. She wasn't a child anymore, of course. The clone of Aya had acquired a fully grown, healthy adult body. She looked somewhere in her early twenties now, which psychologically matched her age.
"Yeah, it has been a long time…" Her words arrived slow and soft, as if she were uncertain. "I should call you more often, at least to keep in touch."
Staring at his wedding band, Kyle tried not to get lost in Eve's voice. And yet… it was the same voice Aya once possessed. For him, it was difficult seeing or talking to Eve. She reminded him of Aya all the time. He suspected Eve knew this and, like him, kept her distance. Although, he felt there was something else too. He just couldn't put his finger on it.
"Sorry I haven't called you much either," Kyle said at last, "I figured you needed time to yourself, to get your own life together."
"I appreciate that. Still. You're the only family I have in this world. I want to make sure we never become strangers."
There was a hint of uneasiness in her voice. Strangers. Yes, that's what they had become to each other. Kyle didn't know how to feel about that. He still cared about Eve and still saw her as the little girl he helped raise alongside Aya. It bothered him they no longer had a strong connection anymore. Whereas the old Eve would've openly embraced him, this new Eve was estranged and kept a lot to herself. In fact, she avoided eye contact and never initiated a hug during their reunions. Was she uncomfortable with him? Perhaps one day he'd ask her what was wrong. Somehow, they needed to salvage what was left of their relationship. Aya would've wanted that.
"How has your search gone?" Eve continued from the other line. Her voice was quiet when she added, "Have you found eternity yet?"
Eternity… Kyle halfway smiled. "Not yet. But I'm getting closer to it. And you? How have you been, princess? Better yet, how's life with MIST?"
"I've adjusted well to it. I've picked up on a lot of tips on how to make myself a more efficient NMC hunter."
MIST. NMC hunter. It still shocked him. Granted, he told her a long time ago to follow her own path; to be her own person. At the same time, however, he knew how much Aya inspired her. Eve wanted to grow up and be just like her. Now she was following her big sister's steps. It was hard to believe how far little Eve had grown. Little Eve? Kyle chuckled to himself. No. He had to stop thinking of her as a child. She was a grown woman now.
"I'd like to talk more about it," Eve later said, a bit quieter, "But… this wasn't why I called you, Kyle…"
"Oh? What's wrong, Eve? Is something a matter?"
Silence.
"Eve? Sweetie?"
"I've been having a lot of horrible dreams lately," Eve confessed. "And they involve… you."
Kyle opened his mouth, as if to say something. He fell silent afterward.
"Aya meant a lot to both of us," resumed Eve. "We were a family, the three of us. I know she wanted me to live my life, to strive for a future than get lost in the past. However… she wanted the same for you too, Kyle."
"I… don't understand what you're trying to tell me, Eve."
There was a lot of seriousness and desperation in Eve's tone. He'd never heard her talk this way to him before, not even to Aya.
"Be careful, Kyle. I know you want to see Aya again. I know you'll do anything to save her. But I'm afraid this may develop into an obsession and you won't realize how deep you've gone until it is too late. The nightmares I have…"
"Look, I will be all right," Kyle cut her off. "They're just dreams anyway."
"I know but…"
"It's my life, Eve, my choice. I've made up my mind to find Aya, to bring her back to us."
"Even if it costs you your own soul?" challenged Eve, "Can you honestly tell me Aya would've wanted that?" She sighed on the other line. "I'm sorry, Kyle. I didn't mean to get upset. And I don't want to stop you. But don't you understand? I don't want to lose you either. I don't want you to lose yourself…"
Kyle took a deep swallow. "I'll be careful, Eve."
"The nightmares I've been getting… They're disturbing. The last time I felt this way was when Aya… died."
"So you think these are premonitions?" When Kyle heard an uncomfortable pause from the other line he added: "Premonitions of what, exactly?"
"…Of the world ending in ice," she said at last.
Kyle felt a shiver run down the stretch of his back. Briefly, he wondered if she was seeing the events that would take place in Alaska. Before he could inquire about it, though, he heard a voice address him from behind.
"Lieutenant Madigan?"
Kyle turned. Beside him was a lean, tanned-skinned man. Young, he was dressed in a light-blue buttoned top with dark navy-blue bottoms that were ironed to a sharp edge. It was the standard Air Force uniform. Kyle cocked a brow. The man looked as if he came straight out of high school.
"I'm Senior Airman Pepper Vasquez, but you can call me Pepper, sir," he introduced himself and removed his hat. Tucking it under his arm, he ran a hand across his evenly shaved head. "I believe we have an associate in common, Lieutenant? Someone that wanted me to meet you?"
Kyle blinked when he realized who this was. To Eve, he said, "I have to go now, princess. We'll talk more about this later. Okay?"
"Kyle…"
"I promise we'll talk again."
"…"
He heard the line go dead. The sound of it left a sour taste in his mouth. A part of him wanted to call her back, if only to reassure her that everything was going to be fine. Yet, his informant was here and he needed to get straight to business. He had to settle this thing with Eve later.
"You're a little young, aren't you?" Kyle noted as he put away his cell phone.
"I'm eighteen, sir."
"Jesus. Claudia sent you? Are you even potty trained?"
Pepper gave Kyle a stiff look. He kept his cool, however, and took a seat across from Kyle. His movements were soundless and precise. "I may not look like much, sir, but I'm a killer inside the cockpit of a helicopter. Or any plane for that matter."
Kyle nodded back without saying a word. Jokes aside, he knew this kid meant business. No doubt he had to be incredible if Claudia was already recruiting him into the agency. Tilting his head slightly to the side, Kyle studied Pepper further.
The kid's large, almond-shaped eyes were the color of hazel. They stood as a sharp contrast against his mocha-colored skin. His lips were thin and a dark mole decorated the far side of his right cheek. He was short, but the way he carried himself was quite impressive. With his head held high and his voice loud and clear, Kyle could tell this boy was very comfortable in his shoes.
"Got family?" he asked.
"No, sir, both my parents died serving in Iraq. I was their only child."
Kyle was sad to hear that. Nevertheless, he was grateful Pepper had no ties to the world anymore. The CIA tended to use those types of things to their advantage.
"Stationed here?"
"At Lackland Air Force Base, sir. I rank first in my class."
"Impressive."
"I understand you ranked top in your class when you served at Lackland too, Lieutenant. From what I've been told, you dominated the sky until you switched over to the telecommunications department. You were a bit of a maverick, Claudia tells me."
"That was a long time ago, a very long time ago."
Grinning, Kyle took a bite from one of his beef fajitas and reminisced a bit of his past. He'd entered the Air Force with the sole intentions of becoming a combat pilot. Like so many men, he sought glory and praise. However, the pay grade was better as a telecommunication specialist and he learned all of the state-of-the-art technology needed to gather intelligence. The career switch ultimately made him a valuable commodity for Claudia, who quickly recruited him into the agency. His qualifications and talent was the reason why he'd been chosen to work for the President. It was no surprise that Claudia declared him to be the 'perfect soldier'.
With a nod, Kyle motioned toward the plate in front of him. "Want some, Pepper? They're really good here. Damn best Mexican food I've had in a long time. Help yourself to whatever you want. It'll be my treat."
"No, thank you, sir. I'm fine."
"Suit yourself." Kyle wiped his mouth with a napkin and sipped some water. "So do you have what I need?"
The young man removed a USB from his pant's pocket. Taking one of the table napkins, he concealed it and handed it over. Kyle wanted to laugh.
"No need to be extra cautious with our little get-together, kid," Kyle said as he received the USB. "Claudia is pretty good at setting up private gatherings without attracting uninvited guests. You should see her arrange a bachelor party."
Pepper scratched his nose. "Sorry, Lieutenant."
"No worries." Kyle raised the USB device at eye level. Without taking his eyes off of it, he asked, "And my uniform and identification card?"
"Those should be in your hotel room right now, sir, along with a few other items Claudia sent your way."
"Fabulous." Kyle tucked the USB into the chest pocket of his jacket. "So what can you tell me about this mission, Pepper?"
"You'll fly out with my squadron tomorrow, sir. Our destination is St. Matthews Island. However, because that area may be too hot we'll be landing in an adjacent island. There'll be others with us too, not just the Air Force. Apparently, the agency doesn't want this to turn into another NYC incident, especially if the Leviathan intersects."
"A joint military operation, huh…" Kyle realized quietly to himself and stroked the bottom of his chin.
Any time other military branches were called in that usually signaled bad news. This wasn't a simple in-and-out operation. They were headed to war where the stakes were high. Briefly, Kyle watched a boat pass along the path of the river next to them. All smiles, the passengers laughed and took pictures. He sighed. He didn't plan to get too involved on this mission. After he acquired what he needed, he was out of there. Still…
"And the White Queen?" he finally asked; his eyes on an adorable young couple. "Do you know anything about her?"
Pepper shrugged. "Claudia never went into the details with me, sir, mainly because there have only been rumors about her existence."
"Rumors…" Kyle repeated and returned his attention back to Pepper. "Care to elaborate on them?"
"Well, there's a big claim that all the research being conducted in that underwater facility is tied to a female specimen dubbed the White Queen." Pepper crossed one leg over the other. "That's all I know really. The rest of your mission's details are provided in your report so hopefully that'll shed more light for your investigation."
"And the Leviathan? Any new intel on that creature?"
"Negative, sir. The CIA even looked at past records of the region to determine if the creature had been spotted there before. There were no reports. Maybe this is more reason to believe it's a product of the base's experiments?"
"Perhaps…" Kyle quietly tapped the tips of his boots together on the table. "By the way, Claudia mentioned there are a group of agents assigned to this mission. I assume you'll be working with them."
"No. I've been assigned to monitor and record the Leviathan in action. Honestly, I don't know what their mission is, sir, or location." Pepper's rigid face suddenly relaxed and he broke out with an unexpected grin. "But word has it that they're some pretty bad-ass motherfuckers, if you don't mind my saying, sir. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, right?"
Kyle nodded. "Genetically enhanced soldiers, correct? Yes, I am aware of them. The military has been conducting those types of experiments even before the NYC incident, all with the hopes of creating the so-called 'super soldier'. Although, the last time I checked, it wasn't a perfected procedure. There were side-effects caused by the Y-chromosomal Adam."
"Y-chromosomal Adam…?"
Kyle cocked a brow when he noticed the puzzled look on the young man's face. "You need to crack open a Biology book someday, kid. You don't know what the hell I'm talking about? Do you even know what mitochondria are?"
"Enlighten me, sir."
Inwardly, Kyle had to smile. Pepper's words were neutral and polite, but it still had a 'fuck-you' vibe. He had to give the young man kudos for holding his own.
"Mitochondria are basically cellular power plants," he explained. "They were once parasites, until they fused with human DNA. They provide human cells the energy needed to perform certain tasks, like growing fingers, dicks, and other human evolutionary shit. People maternally inherit the Eve the moment they're born."
"So where does Y-chromosomal Adam come into play?"
"The Adam appeared many thousands of years after Mitochondrial Eve emerged. We still don't know much about it, other than a father's mtDNA, or the Adam, is found in the sperm. The paternal mitochondria inheritance among humans appears far less, if at all. The transmission of paternal mtDNA gets lost during the egg fertilization stage, you see." Kyle stopped himself. He chuckled out loud. "My apologies if that's a mouthful to swallow. Biology was never my cup of tea either."
"I'll say, sir." Pepper slightly shifted in his seat. "So long story short: everyone inherits the Mitochondrial Eve, but not the Adam because it gets cut off during sexual reproduction."
"That's pretty much it. You catch on fast."
A group of mariachis stopped by their table and Kyle politely waved them away. Afterward, he took a long drink from his glass of water and observed all types of males that crossed their path, from young to old. The y-chromosome was a part of them, passed down from father to son. Yet, their gender was still dominated by the Eve. No matter what, they were at her mercy. It slightly disturbed him.
"There've been numerous predictions that claim men will become an extinct race," Kyle informed a bit bitterly. "Our sperm count isn't as high as it used to be and, already, the science community has theorized we'll ultimately be replaced by evolved women with an Adonis chromosome that grants them unisex reproductive abilities. They call it the Adam's Curse. Crazy, huh?"
Pepper blinked. "That… certainly is a doomsday scenario, sir."
"It certainly is. First, our paternal mtDNA gets cut off during the fertilization process. And now our seeds have deteriorated with each generation of males."
"It's almost as if evolution has selected us for extinction."
"Evolution?" Amused, Kyle raised a brow. "Maybe it's something else, kid."
"Eve?" Pepper shook his head. "Knowing all of this, it makes me wonder why the military is invested in the Adam at all then. It doesn't seem to be as powerful as the Eve."
"I wouldn't underestimate the Adam just yet. In Japan, the paternal mitochondria of a man named Toshiaki were able to stop the birth of an ultimate being. Toshiaki's sperm, used to impregnate the Eve in Japan, contained the Y-chromosomal Adam. In a revolt, the Adam rebelled against the Eve since she intended to wipe out all males in the 'new order'. As a result, the offspring kept switching between male and female genders until it eventually died."
"I'm guessing that's why the Eve in New York artificially inseminated herself with specially engineered sperm."
Kyle smiled. "Very good. I underestimated you, kid. You've done your homework. And you're correct. The Eve in New York felt threatened by the Adam and wanted to prevent another uprising."
Pepper kept quiet for awhile. When he addressed Kyle again his face was unreadable. "The side-effects you mentioned earlier in those tests that involved the Adam, sir… What were those, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Aside from the body rejecting the alterations and having a breakdown on the cellular level, the test subjects had a tendency of losing their heads."
"Excuse me, sir?"
"They went mad," Kyle pointed out flatly. "I witnessed a lot of these experiments related to the paternal mitochondria firsthand. Shortly after the New York incident, the military became heavily invested with the Adam on account of Toshiaki. They wanted to create a biological weapon to use against a future Eve outbreak."
"The military basically wanted to fight mitochondria against mitochondria…" Pepper grasped at last.
"Exactly. However, I don't think they really thought things through. They opened Pandora's Box. While the test subjects, at first, were fine and exhibited strength and speed, as days went by they displayed other peculiar symptoms."
"Which were…?"
"Extreme mood swings. Hand tremors. Slurred speech. Many of them also complained about feeling cold all the time or a terrible itch throughout their body. I witnessed a few of the poor bastards slice themselves open, just to get rid of the itch."
Kyle briefly stopped. He tried hard not to remember all the men who lost themselves to those mad experiments. Whether it was Mitochondrial Eve or the Y-chromosomal Adam, to Kyle, it was all unpredictable and dangerous. He massaged the temple of his head, feeling a slight headache coming. Pausing for a moment, he retrieved his bottle of pills from his denim jacket.
"Of course, the worse symptom was paranoia." Kyle took three capsules and swallowed them in one chug. "They saw things that weren't really there. At that point, these men reacted on raw instinct and were considered lethal. A former associate of mines, who had his mtDNA altered, took out an entire squad of marines. Even when the squad filled his body with enough ammo to put down ten elephants, he didn't feel a damn thing. He just kept killing everything in sight with his bare hands. It took a fucking missile to the face to put him down for good and, even then, they had to fry his remains to prevent possible regeneration."
Pepper grew quiet; his face turned a shade paler than before. "I assume that finally did it."
"No. Not really. He was dead. And undead."
"Sir?"
"Simply put: his body was alive, but there was nobody home inside. He lacked a 'soul'. In the end, they put him, along with the rest of the poor bastards on the Golem project. These undead soldiers were given cyber modifications so that they could be better controlled. They had to also be encased in ice to preserve their strength and other abilities, however limited they were." Kyle crossed his arms behind his head. "I've no idea if they fixed this problem and, honestly, it worries me that they're sending these 'super soldiers' on this mission. The situation with the Leviathan is bad enough as it is. We don't need to deal with any more wild cards in this game."
"That must be why you're being sent in," Pepper finally said. His shoulders slightly tensed up. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Lieutenant, but weren't you a part of the Golem project yourself?"
Kyle stared at him for a moment. A sly grin crossed his face. "Has Claudia been telling you shit about me?"
Pepper shook his head. "No, sir. But I've heard a lot of hearsay from the other members of the CIA. Supposedly, you were given genetic alterations. You're also the only one who didn't 'lose your head'."
"It's nice to know I'm still the talk of the town."
Pepper was quiet for awhile. Afterward, he said, "So…?"
"So what?"
"So is any of this true, sir?"
Kyle cocked his head to the side. "What do you think?"
The young man's face flushed and Kyle could immediately tell he was frustrated with him. He resisted the urge to laugh.
"If you must know, Airman Vasquez," Kyle replied at last, "I wasn't a part of the Golem project. Nor did I receive any genetic treatments. However, I was among a small sample of men selected as the control group for the Y-chromosomal Adam experiments. As far as I'm concerned, I haven't lost my head yet. Well, unless you count that one time I was so wasted that I slept with a three-foot-high, one-legged stripper named 'Bambi'. Quite a wild night, that was."
Pepper ran a hand across his scalp. Then he asked: "I know this is inappropriate… but can you tell me if they did anything to you during these experiments?"
"As I said before, my group's involvement was strictly as the control group. The scientists wanted to investigate the natural state of the Adam, not to manipulate it."
"So why did they choose you then?"
At this, Kyle stared at his boots. An unreadable look was on his face. "Apparently, it's because I have paternal mtDNA traced in my body."
Pepper frowned. "Wait… Didn't you just tell me that paternal mtDNA transmission is impossible? That it gets lost during embryonic implantation?"
"I did. But there've been a few cases, very rare ones mind you, where remnants of the sperm, notably its tail, remain and fuse with the egg. As a result, it leaves behind its paternal mtDNA to the host. It happened in Toshiaki's case. And it happened to a twenty-eight-year-old man many years ago who was found to have a recombination of both Adam and Eve in his muscle tissues."
"And it happened to you too it seems. You inherited the Adam."
"Yeah. From my father, obviously. The paternal mtDNA is traced all over my body. Even more, there are large evident traces of it as opposed to minimal paternal leakage, which is often the case. According to the doctors, this has never happened before."
The sound of a loud squeal temporarily distracted Kyle. He turned and saw a young boy being lifted high into the air before settling on his father's shoulders. The sun shined brightly above the pair and, for a moment, Kyle's heart ached. Father and son. God, to have a child; to leave behind a beautiful legacy… It pained him that he wouldn't have that privilege. Similarly, it upset him that, if the scientists were right and things continued down this evolutionary course, there'd be no more fathers or sons in the future.
Underneath his breath, Kyle whispered: "I had an inheritance from my father… It was the moon and the sun… And though I roam all over the world… The spending of it's never done…"
"Excuse me, sir?"
Kyle blinked and returned back to the world at the sound of Pepper's voice. Scoffing at himself, he quickly apologized. "Sorry. It's just something I remember from Ernest Hemingway."
"The Y-Chromosomal Adam…" Pepper began, "I admit, sir, it's a lot more adamant than I originally gave it credit for. If the super soldiers being sent have had their mtDNA altered and everything went along okay, then they could serve as the biological weapons against Eve. Right?"
"Yeah, let's hope so." Kyle didn't sound convinced. That aside, he removed his wallet from his back pocket and left a fifty-dollar bill on the table. He glanced up at the young man. "I wish we could talk more about this, Pepper, but I really think we should get ready for tomorrow's operation."
"Yes, sir, you're right. We should get going."
Kyle took his legs off the table and stood. Honestly, he was surprised at Pepper. Unlike so many airmen, the young pilot was fascinated by other things beyond flying. He seemed to be on top of this mitochondria business and had an inquisitive mind. In many ways, Pepper reminded Kyle of himself. Inwardly, he smiled.
"I am not sure if Claudia has already told you this," Kyle asserted, "but after this moment we are complete strangers, yeah? We never met."
"I understand, sir."
Kyle stared at the young man. Concern washed over his face. "You realize you are going to get a serious crash course on NMC 101 tomorrow, right? I'd hate for anything to happen to a young man like you so stay frosty and alert at all times. Got it?"
"Yes, Lieutenant." Pepper nodded. Then he became silent.
With an unreadable look on his face, the pilot removed a pen from his chest pocket and wrote something on the napkin. He passed the note to Kyle. Curious, Madigan read what was written and realized it was a radio frequency code and codename.
As far as Claudia was concerned, Senior Airman Pepper Vasquez fulfilled his duty and this was the end of their interactions together. Still, it relieved Kyle to know Pepper felt differently and that he now had an ally on his side. Given the dangerous nature of this mission, he needed all the help he could get.
"I never gave you that, sir," Pepper told him with a slight smirk on his face.
Kyle laughed. "No, kid, you didn't."
When night fell over the city of San Antonio, Kyle was back at his hotel room. Previously, he had spent the early evening hours at the hotel's lounge downstairs, playing somber tunes in a piano while drinking several shots of vodka. An attractive brunette woman eventually had accompanied him and gave him a blowjob at the restrooms. Halfway into the act, though, he found himself unable to stay in the mood. Too lightheaded and too consumed by thoughts of his wife, he retired to his room alone instead. Somewhere in the middle of all this, though, he managed to call Eve back.
Whether the young woman was too busy or wanted to avoid him, he didn't know. He called at least twice and left messages both times before finally giving up. There was something going on with that girl. In the end, he decided to give her space and wait for her to call him back. Hopefully, they'd get to talk again after he set sail for the Berling Seas. He didn't like the way they ended their conversation, nor did he like the grim thoughts that plagued Eve's mind.
A world consumed by ice…
After a relaxing shower, Kyle focused on making preparations for his trip. Granted, he still felt a bit tipsy but he managed to work around it. Wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist now, he headed to the bedroom to unpack a medium-sized, fire-proof case Claudia left in his hotel room. Kyle set each item on the bed and conducted a quick inventory check. There was a laptop, a soldier uniform, a mini-sized earpiece and radio, a couple of identification cards and, of course, a standard pistol with an optional laser scope.
Kyle was particularly impressed by the black exoskeleton-like bodysuit also provided. Recently manufactured and approved for use by the CIA, the suit was light-weight and contained a pattern of intermeshed scales that lessened damage caused by knives and bullets. Additionally, the suit included a built-in biometric system and motion-sensor gadget, which definitely came in handy. Fireproof and waterproof, this was the ultimate item of choice.
Checking the case again, Madigan eventually discovered several magazines tucked inside a side zipper. He inspected one of them and noticed that the bullets were filled with a peculiar green liquid. No doubt, these bullets were specifically designed to take down any potential NMCs he might encounter in this mission. The CIA had based the bullets on the same concept a Japanese scientist derived during the NYC incident. He had incorporated Aya's DNA into a magazine, which allowed her to take out Melissa's offspring.
The liquid in Kyle's bullets contained the mitochondria of a powerful specimen. It slightly concerned him that it might've come from Aya herself. Or worse, some other donor who possessed such dangerous genes. In any account, he couldn't let his anxiety prevent him from doing his job. Kyle slipped one magazine into its proper home and set the pistol aside to focus his attention on the laptop.
After logging on and inserting the USB, Kyle spent a good hour going over his assignment. It covered everything he and Pepper already discussed, except in greater detail. For instance, he learned St. Matthews Island was the area connected to the underground base. However, because the island was potentially a hot zone, St. Lawrence Island was chosen as the drop point due to its close proximity. Onscreen, there were a few photos taken of the supposed entry point to the facility. Interesting, Kyle thought and stroked the tiny hairs on his chin with a thumb. Perhaps this meant some of the members involved in the secret organization were also stationed on the island itself. Maybe his mark was there too.
Kyle continued his mission brief and scrolled down its table of contents. He highlighted the next topic: the White Queen. Several images popped onscreen. They were satellite pictures, shot from high above. One photo captured a team of archeologists on a fisherman's boat. The group circled around a massive block of ice that hung by a series of thick cables. A body of text appeared after the photo:
"2000, Alaska. The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, the largest single block of ice in the Arctic, had shattered. Shortly after, many fishermen complained of finding burnt salmon, seals, and other ocean-based inhabitants. Scientists attributed it to the effects of global warming. After weeks of investigation, a group of archeologists located a hotspot in the Alaskan area and claimed to discover the body of an adult female. They nicknamed her the White Queen."
Kyle glanced at the next photo. It was a close-up shot of one of the archeologists who was a part of the extraction team. Platinum-blond with extremely short, ruffled haired, the man was lean and tall. His skin was fair while his eyes were the color of milk-blue. He wore thin-framed glasses and looked somewhere in his mid-thirties. Frowning now, Kyle recognized him immediately.
"Most peculiar was the team of archeologists that uncovered the White Queen," the report continued. "They were never seen again. Additionally, the names they provided to the authorities and residents had been ones of deceased persons. It is highly suspected they belonged to the Organization. One man, in particular, has been tied to the Neo Ark project in Dryfield, Nevada. He has been identified as Niklas Joachim."
"Well, well, well…" Kyle muttered and observed the man's face. "Hush."
He knew the man. Niklas was once the CIA's top assassin, despite the fact he was the youngest of the pack. Back then they called him 'Hush' because he rarely, if ever, talked. The German-born man kept to himself a lot and obeyed orders without question. Kyle had worked with him before. In fact, they had been partners. During covert operations, he gathered and provided intelligence to the assassin. It took Kyle by surprised, then, when Hush abruptly left the agency. Even more, when he learned he worked for the Organization now. He wondered what it was that set the man off.
Kyle investigated the other images for more clues. There was a series of burnt corpses discovered at the site. One showed an Eskimo kneeling beside a dead polar bear. Its claws had extended outward while its mouth was wide open in a snarl. The poor animal was charred alive. The next photo revealed even more disturbing finds.
"During the investigation, several persons within the area encountered symptoms similar to the ones experienced in the New York Blockade Incident." The report showcased victims of severe, massive burns. Kyle took a deep swallow when he saw a child suffer from a fourth-degree burn. The painful, bloody blister covered half of his face. "While details remain scarce, it is believed the White Queen may be connected to this phenomenon and is therefore considered to be dangerous. Use caution."
Kyle scanned the rest of the images and document but found nothing else. In the end, it was just as Pepper said: unconfirmed rumors. Granted, the report offered possibilities and theories in greater detail, but nothing was written in stone yet. The Leviathan, itself, and its origins, remained a big mystery. Even the satellite images of the block of ice revealed nothing. Taken from a top perspective, it was difficult to make out what was inside the ice block. For all he knew, the archeologists uncovered Big Foot. His job was to confirm or discredit the reports.
Still.
The very fact Hush was at the scene indicated there was more to the White Queen than a simple archeological find. The man was a hired gun, after all, so he must've been assigned there to either protect or kill something. In any account, Kyle needed to investigate that underwater facility. The answer to eternity was there. While he didn't care much for the mission, if it meant getting in contact with his mark, then so be it.
At the bottom of his screen, an incoming pop-up message promptly appeared. Kyle checked it. It was an invitation to a secured voice chatroom. The invite came from a user called 'the Professor.' Immediately, he clicked on it. A new window opened and the avatar of a tuxedoed mannequin with a blank face appeared.
"Long time no chat, Madigan," a voice emitted from the laptop's speakers.
It was a scrambled signal. The voice, itself, was a mixture of male and female vocal cords. Kyle smiled.
"Staying up for a late-night session of Warcraft, are we, Professor?"
"Warcraft?" the Professor sounded offended. "Please. That game is extremely primitive for my personal tastes."
Kyle rolled his eyes. He wanted to make a smartass remark but was too tired to work his mouth properly. Instead, he stretched out his arms and legs on the bed. He'd been sitting cross-legged for a long time, hunched over as he read his mission brief. Only a few more hours left and he'd have to get ready to meet up with Pepper's crew. God, he wanted to sleep now…
"What do you want?" he asked and lay on his back. He set the laptop beside him.
"I noticed you were going over the files," the Professor replied, "I thought you might want additional feedback."
It always amazed Kyle how insightful the Professor was. Then again, the Professor was a mysterious creature. They'd been working together since he entered the CIA. Hell, the Professor had provided him all the intelligence he needed for the Neo Ark project as well as conjured up false data when MIST's headquarters did a background check on him. However, to this day, Kyle still didn't know the Professor's real name, gender, or age. The Professor was considered to be a shadow agent. No one knew of his or her location.
"Did Claudia put you up to this?" Kyle finally asked.
"I'm here to assist you on your assignment."
"Hmm. Figures."
"You know the drill, Madigan. I'll be monitoring your progress throughout the mission and provide you with any necessary information. I'll also check your vital signs through the biometric device Claudia provided you and know your condition, in case the worse should happen."
"Spec-ta-cular…" Kyle yawned.
"Did you check the details on the White Queen yet, by the way?"
"Yeah." Kyle closed his eyes and stretched again. "Not too much information on her, though, other than claims that she was uncovered in 2000 and may be linked to the cases of spontaneous self-combustion in Alaska. Quite a lady, eh? She's definitely the type to bring home to momma. Anything else I may have missed?"
"A lot actually, Madigan. However, the additional information I want to share with you was not included in your report."
"Oh, goody… More information. Lovely."
"Your use of sarcasm is inspiring, Madigan."
"As is yours, Professor. Now get on with it, please." Kyle propped himself up with an elbow and rested on his side to watch the laptop's monitor.
"Very well…"
The screen on the laptop changed. It now revealed a front perspective shot of a figure encased in ice. Although enshrouded by a thick coat of frost, judging by the shape of the silhouette, it was definitely female. The environment that sheltered her looked massive and industrial. Kyle couldn't tell where the ceiling of the chamber began because the metal gated walls and interlocked pillars stretched far beyond the scope of the photograph. However, he did see that the chamber was divided into two floors. The entrapped woman rested on the top level while a flight of stairs led down a series of bio-reading monitors, gigantic screens, and human-sized machines.
Curious, Kyle glanced at the photo sideways. "Is this the White Queen?"
"Possibly."
"So is it true that all the research conducted in the facility is based off of her?"
"Unknown. But I will say this. Allegedly, she's of prehistoric date and may contain an early strain of Mitochondrial Eve, perhaps even earlier than the one discovered in Africa."
"Well, that would certainly explain why the Organization wanted her so damn badly. But…" Kyle paused. "You're telling me there was another Eve? Aside from the one discovered in Africa?"
"The mitochondria have always been opportunists, Madigan. They've existed during the time of creation; way before the birth of humankind. It seems very narrow-minded to think these parasites didn't choose other alternatives, yes?"
Kyle had to agree. The likelihood the parasites would bank it all on just one host sounded absurd. Of course, this revelation opened the door for many more possibilities and inquiries. Perhaps the Eves in Africa and Alaska were just one of many primitive human hosts. That was certainly confirmed during his trip to Dryfield. Having hacked the Organization's mainframe, he had discovered a long list of potential Mitochondrial Eve candidates. Still, there remained more questions.
"If the White Queen was uncovered in the year 2000, then why didn't we know about it, Professor? I was in Dryfield and nowhere did I encounter information on this second facility or the White Queen."
"Rumor has it that the Organization was formed by a group of archaeologists and scientists in search of a common human ancestry. Their ultimate goal was to investigate evolution and humanity's potential. They divided themselves into several teams. One group successfully located and uncovered the female specimen in Africa. The other factions either investigated the New York Incident or searched for the White Queen."
"You mean… they already knew about her then?"
"If this information is accurate, then yes, they did. The White Queen had been rumored to exist through legends and word-of-mouth by ancient tribes in Alaska. That was what led the Organization to set up a base there. As for your initial question: in the event that one base was compromised, each team conducted their own research and kept their own records private from the other. This prevented outsiders, like you, from ever knowing the existence of an additional facility. Secondly, this form of separation kept the scientists and staff in the dark."
"I see your point," Kyle realized, "It's a lot easy for a scientist to conduct unethical experiments if they don't know what they're really doing. I imagine there were a lot of joint projects conducted between the two bases. One team accomplished one half of the project while the second team completed the rest. All the while, both parties didn't know the true nature of the overall assignment, or what they were actually achieving. For all they knew, they were finding cures to cancer, or some shit like that."
"Exactly."
"Do you think there are other bases we don't know about yet?"
"Perhaps. Time will tell."
Kyle massaged the bridge of his nose. Terrific; another headache.
"It's kind of strange…" he began slowly, "Twice these people uncovered a Mitochondrial Eve. I mean, they found the Eve in Africa, right? And now, it seems, they uncovered the one in Alaska. They're pretty lucky, those bastards."
"Lucky?" The Professor went silent for a moment. "Perhaps luck has nothing to do with it, Madigan. The Eve in New York, the Eve in Dryfield, and the Eve in Alaska… Maybe it was the will of the mitochondria that brought the Organization to them. Maybe the Eves wanted to be found and, therefore, set the way to their resting places."
"That's… a rather disturbing thought," Kyle said quietly.
The possibility everything was predestined by the parasites was too frightening to consider. That, in itself, denoted intelligence. It worried him that even this trip to Alaska could be an intentional act on the mitochondria's part. But at this point what choice did he have? He needed to go.
"Where did you acquire this photo, Professor?" Kyle asked, deciding to change the subject. "It wasn't included in my mission brief. Why not?"
"I received this image two days ago."
"Really? From who?"
"The source is currently unknown. The photo was sent through one of my encrypted channels. It could've arrived from one of the initial teams the agency sent. Or someone from the facility. I am still investigating the matter."
Kyle abruptly sat up. His face was suddenly tensed. "Is this chatline secured, Professor? Does Claudia know…?"
"She knows I am checking up on you, yes. However, she will not know the details of this discussion. I've applied several filters to make it impossible for her or the agency to hear or read our conversation."
"And this photo?"
"I've yet to report it in."
"Good." With a serious look on his face, Kyle added: "Then can you tell me if this image came from my target?"
"It is a strong possibility. That is why I wanted to show it to you first."
Kyle stared absently at the image of the White Queen on his monitor. His mind rested heavily on a name: Dr. Sophie DuPont. His mark…
It was possible Dr. DuPont was the one to send the Professor that photograph of the White Queen. If that was the case, it relieved him greatly to know she was still alive and kicking. The fifty-five-year-old French scientist hadn't been heard from for several weeks. She was important to him. An expert in mitochondria research, she was one of the chief scientists that investigated the DNA samples of Aya after the NYC incident. She had also been among the staff responsible for Eve's creation in Dryfield. Shortly after being transferred to the underwater facility she contacted the Professor.
Dr. DuPont wanted out. Whereas the rest of the scientists were in the dark, she knew the true nature behind their research. But leaving the Organization had proven to be dangerous. Researchers who wanted to leave tended to be removed, permanently. Through the Professor, Kyle learned of the second base, her involvement, and her dire situation. He offered her his assistance to escape the base. Of course, he had his own personal motives in mind.
In exchange for his help, she would assist him in finding the answer to Aya's resurrection; even if it meant reproducing a new body for her. So long as Eve possessed his wife's original vessel, Aya's wandering soul had no home to claim. Given that the good doctor still possessed Aya's blood samples, reproducing a clone wasn't going to be a problem. The real challenge, though, was locating Aya's soul and somehow getting it to merge with the new body. It wasn't like he could call up a psychic to track it down and hire a Goddamn Ghostbuster to retrieve her spirit.
Kyle's headache worsened.
"Be sure to update me on the situation, Professor," he said. "I need to know if Dr. DuPont is still alive and where I can meet her."
Kyle opened the nearby dresser's drawer and searched for his bottle of pills.
"Are you all right, Madigan?" the Professor asked. "You don't sound so good."
"…I'm fine."
"Is it the headaches again? I heard what happened to you earlier this month. Are you all right?"
Madigan didn't bother to acknowledge the questions. Instead, he grabbed a water bottle from the mini-fridge and drank down his meds. He rolled his head side-to-side and massaged the back of his aching neck. He needed rest.
"Have you been taking the anti-depressant pills I sent you?" the Professor inquired. "I prescribed to you some pretty heavy stuff but they should do the trick. I know it has been difficult for you. The passing of a loved one always is."
Kyle refused to reply back.
"Funny thing about depression," the Professor continued, his voice even, "It tends to activate the body's need for self-preservation. You acquire various coping mechanisms to protect yourself. For example, you might block out certain key events or persons in an attempt to remove the pain. Additionally, you distort the facts or emit the truth in order to live in a constant state of denial. You could even suffer from a dissociative identity disorder, one where you express uncomfortable thoughts and questions through different personas. In this way, you disassociate yourself from the situation and pretend it's happening to someone else. All of this… to preserve your sanity and soul."
"I want you to scope for any encrypted signals emitted from Alaska," Kyle interrupted, not wanting to discuss his depression anymore. "If you have to stay up twenty-four hours a day to check for one, do it. I'm banking everything on Dr. DuPont being alive."
"…I understand."
"Good." Kyle sighed in exhaustion. "Then we're agreed. I'm heading to bed now. I'll get in touch with you whenever I get the chance, assuming the Leviathan doesn't pop up and tear me a part, of course."
"Good night, Madigan."
Kyle already knew the Professor wanted to further discuss his current mental state. After all, his depression had gotten worse throughout the years. He lost a few pounds and couldn't sleep much on account of strange dreams he constantly had. Things had really reached a low point for him earlier this month. He suffered from a severe headache and accidentally overdosed himself on the medication. Promptly sent to a hospital, he spent his time bedridden and out of his mind. Kyle he didn't remember much, only that he was released from the hospital a day earlier than expected.
Although getting help to treat his depression was important, Kyle didn't feel discussing it would solve his current problems or save Aya. It was going to waste valuable time instead; time he didn't have. Perhaps when he got closer to achieving his goal he'd take better care of himself. But until then, he had to set his personal issues aside and focus on the mission.
"Have a good one, Professor," Kyle said and immediately closed the laptop.
Only half-awake now, he stuffed the portable computer inside the case along with the other items he needed to take. Once everything was arranged and put into their proper place Kyle headed to the large window to close the blinds. His hand on the blinds' rod, he briefly stared up at the moon.
It was a gorgeous night; no clouds in sight. It reminded him a lot of the evening he and Aya shared together, when they confessed their feelings for the first time to one another. Granted, it wasn't as epically romantic as some Hollywood movie. In fact, they weren't even on a date. Eve had gone to a last-minute study group session and the two of them, having nothing to do that particular evening, were stuck together. It was a miracle they didn't kill each other. Aya accidentally burnt the dinner and he, being anxious around her, wouldn't stop patronizing her. Nevertheless, the evening turned for the better. She ordered food delivery and he found the strength to kiss her.
Kyle's hands went up to his sides. He pressed his palms and forehead on the window. The glass felt cool against his skin. In his mind, he replayed the entire night again and again. Her hair. Her face. Her eyes. Her lips. Her warmth. Their naked bodies… intertwined. God, those memories… Even now, he could still smell and taste her. Those sensations haunted him every night. He missed Aya. He missed making love to her. He missed thinking about their future. He missed seeing her smile. He missed simply being with her. Without Aya, he was nothing; just a shell of a man with no plans.
With a grim face, Kyle stared at an image planted on his right forearm. It was a tattoo he'd gotten during his days in the Air Force. Two skeletal figures with angelic wings faced each other. One was black, the other was white. Holding hands at eye level, the skeletons were intertwined by a long scroll ribbon that contained the words: 'Memento mori et memento amor…'
'Remember death and remember love…'
Sighing to himself, Kyle began to close the blinds. He paused when he noticed a small child sitting alone outside at the bottom floor's pool area. The boy was at the edge of the pool with his feet halfway sunk into the water. On his lap was a medium-sized pumpkin a bit too large for his size. It was currently lit. Curious, Kyle looked across the pool area for his guardians. He was surprised to find no one else out there.
Worried for the child's safety, Kyle considered calling hotel security. He feared the boy might fall into the water. As he picked up the phone and dialed zero, Kyle noticed the ragged clothes the small boy wore. Was the child homeless? If he called security he'd spend tonight at either a shelter or police station…
"Front desk," answered hotel staff from the other line.
"Uh… never mind."
Kyle immediately hung up and grabbed a shirt and his flannel pants sleepwear from the dresser. Snatching a robe and his card key as well, he quickly dressed himself and hurried downstairs.
By the time Kyle reached the pool area, he halfway expected the boy to be either gone or his parents to appear. He was surprised, then, to find the boy still sitting alone at the edge of the pool. Careless, Kyle thought and shook his head. Whoever were this boy's parents needed to be crucified. This was reckless child endangerment and it was unacceptable in his book. From the double door entrance, Kyle entered the area. The boy didn't notice him. Instead, his head was sunk low. Absently splashing his feet against the water, the child seemed lost in his thoughts. Once Kyle realized he was at the deep end of the pool, he increased his pace. His bare feet padded quietly against the pavement floor. As he approached closer, he heard the boy hum and sing an old nursery rhyme.
"When Adam delved, and Eve span… Who was then a gentleman?" The boy gently bobbed his pumpkin up and down on his lap.
"Hey, kid," Kyle suddenly announced.
Caught by surprise, the boy immediately stopped moving and looked up. Kyle walked over to him and put on his best dashing smile.
"Enjoying the pool? It sure is pretty, huh?" He squatted next to him and rested his elbows on his knees. "That's a nice pumpkin. Did you carve it yourself, kid?"
The boy kept quiet. He hugged his pumpkin tighter in his arms, as if he feared Kyle would steal it from him. When he noticed this Madigan raised both his hands up in the air as an act of peace. He chuckled softly.
"It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you."
Getting a good look of him now, Kyle was startled by how this boy appeared similarly to the one he saw at the nightclub days ago. The child wore the same filthy overalls, stained with grass and blood. When the moon's light reflected off the boy, it gave his tiny body a soft illuminist glow. For Kyle, the paleness of his complexion slightly disturbed him. The boy looked dead.
"I didn't mean to scare you like that." Kyle repositioned himself and now sat beside the boy with his legs crossed. "I'm just wondering what a small squirt like you is doing out here by yourself. Are your parents inside?"
With his large brown eyes, the child stared directly at Kyle. He didn't move or make a sound. Meanwhile his pumpkin, carved into a Jack-o-lantern, wickedly grinned. The light within it flickered on and off again. There was definitely something peculiar about this child, Kyle thought as he observed him, perhaps even familiar. He kept those minor sentiments to himself, however.
"Aren't you cold? It's pretty chilly out here." Kyle removed his robe. "Here, this will make you warm."
The boy hastily flinched back when he offered his robe. Kyle gave off a hearty laugh in reaction. He shook his head, a bit amused.
"I'm not going to hurt you, little guy, I promise. I just want you to stay warm. It's cold out here and you'll catch something without this."
Kyle waited for a response, whether audible or visual. After a long moment of dead silence, he noticed a hint of a smile on the boy's grimy face. Kyle took that as a sign of passive consent. Carefully, he placed the robe over the young male's shoulders. Accidentally, he touched some skin and immediately frowned. It concerned Kyle just how cold this boy really was. He felt like ice, for Christ's sake. Immediately, Kyle wanted to bring him inside the hotel. Perhaps if he convinced the boy with a cup of hot chocolate he could nap at his room while he searched for his parents.
"Did ya enjoy yo' time over there?" the boy suddenly said.
Kyle blinked. With one brow slightly raised, he was surprised the child finally spoke. There was a heavy southern accent in his voice; deep and raspy. It sounded strange coming from such a young child.
Kyle scratched the side of his fuzzed cheek, slightly confused by the boy's question. "Did I enjoy my time over where, little guy?"
"Home. You went home yesterday."
Wrapped by the robe, the boy fidgeted inside it. He snuggled close to Kyle for more warmth. Resting his head against Kyle's chest area, the frail boy sighed softly to himself and smiled. Meanwhile, the sound Kyle made in his throat was somewhere between a grunt and a half-hearted laugh. He was surprised. How this boy knew he visited Arlington yesterday was beyond him. Or perhaps the boy's assessment was nothing more than an assumption that happened to be correct.
"Where are your parents?" Kyle asked again. "They must be worried about you."
"It's almost Halloween," the boy interrupted him. "It's a time when the dead shall rise an' inherit the land. It's important to remember the dead, ya know."
His wide brown eyes shined with a light in them now. Kyle noticed the new tone in the boy's voice. He sounded a lot livelier than before. Splashing his feet again, the child eagerly watched the heavy droplets of water sparkle high into the air.
"Yessir, 's a time to honor past loved ones," he continued and nodded to himself many times. "That's why you went home yesterday. Ain't it, Kyle?"
Kyle studied him closely. "How… how do you know my name?"
The boy pulled away from Kyle and glanced at him only once. Then he focused his attentions on the moon high above them. He inhaled slowly, as if he were completely taken by the orb's magnificence and mystery. The reflection of the pool's water, meanwhile, sparkled across his youthful face.
"I brought ya there, Kyle," the child finally murmured back.
"Brought me there…" Kyle repeated, puzzled. In a slow hushed voice, he later added: "Who are you, kid?"
"I wanted ya to see."
"To see…?"
"To see the voices of yo' past, silly."
The boy giggled and splashed his feet some more. Staring at the child again, Kyle was at a loss for words. He didn't know where he came from or how he knew his name. The more he sat beside him the more uncertainties and inquiries accumulated inside his head. To his credit, the boy had done an excellent job evading and ignoring all of his questions. But that wasn't the only thing that baffled Kyle. As awkward as this encounter was so far, he couldn't shake this feeling of déjà vu. This child…
"It's important you remember those people," the boy spoke again. "It's important to remember what they say. They hold the very things that were taken from ya."
"Taken from me…?" Kyle felt the air grow chilly. "I don't know what you're talking about, kid. In fact, I don't understand any of this. How do you know…?"
"1987?" the child quickly said. "Ring a bell?"
Kyle stopped. He brought his knees up to his chin. His voice was quiet when he answered: "I was a junior in high school. I graduated the following year and went into the Air Force. My mother died while I was in training."
The boy sniggered. "You suuuuure that's what happened, Kyle? I mean, really, really, really sure?"
"…Yeah. Of course."
"Would you swear your life on it?"
Kyle paused.
"…'Cause honestly speakin', I don't think ya can." The boy scoffed. "I mean, sure, you did go to the Air Force. And yeah, you were recruited by the CIA. However…" The boy sat straight and grinned. "…That's only half the story. As crazy as that son-of-bitch was, Uncle Sky really did tell ya the truth 'bout what happened that year."
Struggling to maintain some self-control, Kyle rose to his feet and glared down at him. This kid… He knew so much about him. It was impossible. There was no way the boy could have known what transpired between Uncle Sky and him yesterday, not unless he was there. Who was he?
Violated and exposed, Kyle wanted to leave. "I'm heading inside to look for your parents. You should come inside with me before you catch a cold."
"Don' change the subject, now. What, you 'fraid of discoverin' the truth?" the boy snorted and looked away from Kyle in disgust. "You 'fraid 'bout yo' past? 'Bout who you really are?"
Kyle went silent.
"If ya want to know what really happened that year," the boy continued, "then I reckon you should talk to Claudia whenever ya get the chance. Yah?"
Kyle frowned. "Claudia?"
The boy finally stopped splashing his feet. He leaned closer toward Kyle's direction and his eyes grew intense.
"Shh, don' tell anyone this, Kyle," he answered in an exaggerated tone, "but Claudia has kept a very big, nasty secret from ya." Shortly after, he added quietly, "Not everythin' is what it seems to be."
Taking a step back, Kyle finally heard enough. He shook his head. Whoever this boy was, he needed him to stop.
"Listen, kid," he scolded him, "I don't know who you are nor do I care to know. Just shut up and come with me until I find your parents. Okay?"
The cheeks on the boy's face flushed with color and he held the pumpkin to his chest. Biting his lower lip, the boy shut his eyes. "I… I told you you'd forget me someday, Kyle…" he said with a shaky voice. "God, I told you… And you lied to me…"
Kyle's right eye twitched. Those words…
"You told me you'd never forget me. But you did anyway…" His tiny body began to shiver. "You left me behind!"
Although he couldn't comprehend it, something deep within Kyle recoiled and broke apart. His shoulders sagged. The last time he felt this way was when Aya died. The boy's words… He heard them before.
Kyle went on one knee to be at eye-level with the boy. Even if he failed to understand these odd emotions within him right now, he did confess to feeling a connection to the child. In fact, it was a bond he hadn't felt since…
"I didn't mean to hurt you, little guy," Kyle apologized. He reached out to remove a twig from the boy's hair. "It's just… you know… This is all very confusing to me."
"You're 'fraid!" the boy countered; frustrated. His face was red. "Yo' 'fraid of the truth. You've been runnin' from it yo' whole Goddamn life. Thought you could live happily ever after wit' yo' wife an' pretend the past never happened. But I'm here now… An' you can't stand it, can you?" He clutched the pumpkin in his hands tighter. "I will not be a forgotten memory, Kyle!"
Kyle lowered his head and exhaled slowly. He was unable to express the words that circulated inside his head. They didn't make any sense. Like yesterday, he was consumed by thoughts and emotions that were initially alien to him, yet somehow familiar. His past, it had something to do with his past. Kyle knew that much. However, for the life of him, he just… couldn't remember it. There was some type of mental concrete wall that blocked him from seeing into the other side.
"I made this for ya…" the boy said later and nodded at the pumpkin in his arms. Several tears rolled down his rosy-colored cheeks. "Halloween was yo' favorite holiday. T'was the only time of the year you could dress up an' pretend you was someone else…"
Covering his mouth with a hand, Kyle remained there. Contemplating.
"I promised that I'd never leave ya." The child's voice was slow and faint now. "An' I never did. Throughout all yo' life trials, I was there to take 'em with ya. I've been watchin' over ya all this time. An' I've been waitin' for this day we'd be together 'gain. The time is near now… Can't ya feel it?"
Staring at the empty space between them now, Kyle took a deep swallow and discovered his mouth had gone dry. None of this should've made any sense. Yet, somehow, it did. Even when all types of disasters had befallen on him, from Dryfield to the time of the Twisted, he felt he wasn't entirely… alone. There had been a presence with him. He did feel something.
"Uncle Sky an' the others thought they could separate us…" The boy laughed. It was a sad laughter, though. "But all they did was delay the inevitable. Not that it matters no mo'. In many ways, it worked out better fo' us. Like a larva, you slept an' matured throughout all these years." He looked up at Kyle suddenly. His brown eyes were fierce and sharp. They seemed to glow into a shade of red. "But you've rested 'nough in yo' cocoon, I think. It's high time we awaken. Together."
The boy's words completely mystified Kyle. For such a small child, he spoke with the authoritative tone of an adult's. Even his body language suggested a boy of mature age. Of course, that wasn't what startled Kyle the most. His tales of an 'awakening' were particularly disturbing. Before Kyle could inquire more about it, the boy pushed the pumpkin forward to him.
"Trick o' treat," the boy teased and waited for Kyle to take it.
Initially, Kyle was reluctant to accept it. It didn't seem right to take something from a boy he knew so little about. There was a connection between them, yes. But there was something else too, something he couldn't quite figure out at this point of their meeting. Kyle glanced up when he sensed he was being watched. The boy studied him with a look of amusement on his face.
"Is it a trick? O' a treat?" the boy taunted again, "You'll only find out the answer by takin' it. Unless yo' too 'fraid?"
His heart pounding loudly against his chest, Kyle's hands eventually touched the ribs of the pumpkin. "I'm not afraid…"
"That's what ya always say, liar," the boy sneered.
Pumpkin in hand, Kyle observed it for a moment. The boy's crafting skills were impressive. The interior had been cut away nicely and all the edges were sharp. It took Kyle back to the days when he carved pumpkins before Halloween as a kid. Uncle Sky smashed them all, of course, and accused him of celebrating the Devil's holiday. Still, he enjoyed the act of reshaping things with his bare hands.
"Today you will rest as the simple man you are now," the boy declared, "But soon… soon you will awaken to yo' true potential."
"My true potential…" Kyle echoed softly, "I don't understand a bit of that. In fact, this whole conversation is strange. Why won't you tell me your name? Or how you know me so well? I… I feel that I should know you. I feel like I've met you before. But… I…"
"You will understand, Kyle. In time, you will. That's why I'm here."
The boy stood with his back to the pool. Kyle immediately frowned when the boy took a step backward, towards the water.
"I came here fo' a reason," the boy clarified in a blunt voice and maintained eye contact. "Ya need to prepare yo'self. By that, I means to say, prepare for the pain."
"The pain?" Kyle's shook his head, confused.
The boy took another step back and was only an inch from the water.
"Yes. Soon, Kyle, you'll undergo pain, a pain that'll shatter the pieces of yo' own soul." He smirked. "But don' be sad now… Pain is jus' a necessary part of yo' process. 'S the final stage 'fore the larva becomes the moth. You'll finally be reborn an' I… I will breathe into this world. I've waited a long time for someone like you to come along…"
His arms spread apart. There was a large smile on his face. His lips echoed a verse from a poem Kyle was familiar with:
"Patient I wait through the long winter hours; You will see me again-I shall laugh at you then, Out of the eyes of a hundred flowers."
The boy fell into the water backwards.
"No!" Kyle yelled. He dropped the pumpkin and dove into the pool after him.
The water was frigid, cold enough to suck the air right out of him. Kyle accidentally took in a few gulps of it and nearly choked. He forced himself to swallow and breathe. Once the initial shock was over, he kicked his feet and swam. Underwater, he searched left and right for the boy. He turned his body in all directions; his heart pounding loudly in his ears. Kyle was surprised when there was no sign of the boy anywhere. He practically disappeared. Or maybe he got out of the water without him knowing? Kyle continued pushing forward anyway and swam the entire length of the pool several times before finally coming up for air.
"Jesus…!" he spat the moment he surfaced.
Panting loudly, Kyle pulled himself out of the pool and propped himself onto the pavement. He shivered and rubbed his arms against his chest to manufacture body heat. With only his eyes, he checked the pool area one more time for the boy. Gone. The child was gone. Like before, he disappeared to wherever he came from. Kyle paused as his eyes wandered the pool area. He noticed something was amiss. His pumpkin. It was smashed. There something inside of it.
Kyle crawled toward it. Slowly, his hand reached inside its ruins.
He pulled out an old family portrait picture. The picture had been aged and worn out, with edges that were torn. Kyle's eyes softened as he inspected it. There stood a man with similar features as him in the picture. He stood side-by-side with a blond-haired woman. The mother held a five-year-old boy with dust brown hair in her arms. Behind the family was a trailer and red pick-up truck. Checking the back of the photo, Kyle discovered words: Daryl Madigan, Jezebel Madigan, Kyle Madigan - 1976
"A treat…" Kyle realized and withdrew a breath.
Author's Note: That's it for now, folks! The next section, 'Phase 2: CHRYSALIS', will be up in a few weeks. I'm writing Chapter 13 right now and am over 130-pages already. I'm just *barely* getting into the gist of this section, lol. Lordy, at this rate this story is gonna be at least 300 pages long. ;_; Still, it's worth it. I love writing this and getting to watch these characters come to life. I already have the overall plot/direction in my head. But there are times when these characters poke me on my belly and prompt me to switch things around, lol. The dynamics between Eve and Kyle will definitely be interesting.
