8. Take Back What Is Mine
Fermat was simply staring incredulously at his captor or who Vinnie had called Boss. The man was an enigma, impossible to understand what he was thinking let alone trying to do with him and Alan. However the man had taken great measures in order to kidnap him and set up this 'game' for Alan to come and rescue him again. So who was these people and why were they going through such lengths just to get a hold of his best friend?
Alan hadn't been very into details regarding explaining his past, only giving him cliff notes about what he remembered since he didn't have all the facts that supported whatever theory he suspected his past involved around. Still didn't take a genius to know that his life had involved criminal activity as well as violence due to the physical abuse he received by these people. And that his best friend was a very valuable asset to them and that they would do anything just to get him back even kidnap him and frame Alan for kidnapping him in order to get him to do it.
The man was sitting behind a desk, looking at the monitor in front of him meanwhile Fermat sat against the wall not too far away from the desk observing his environment as well as the man who was apparently the mind behind the whole operation. It was a fancy old home office, similar to the ones you found in British films with bookshelves and Mahoney furniture. However it worked more as a surveillance room than a home office. However Fermat wasn't at all interested in his captor's interior decorator skills, instead watched the man laugh hauntingly over whatever he was watching. Once the man noticed his gaze on him, his expressed changed similar to what a sneaky cat would look like and said, "It seems our friend in common has once again taken a reckless and hasty action in order to escape. Brilliant, but reckless and risky should he get caught by the federal agents."
Fermat didn't say anything, not that he could anyway since his mouth was covered and his hands were still tied. Still man continued talking to him like he actually could talk at the moment or probably guessed his thoughts by looking at his facial expression.
"Don't worry, Alan is too good to be caught by lowly agents, who has no idea what they are dealing with. Soon Alan will be on his way to you, but he need to find the clues that he needs to locate us. And the federal building is the best way to get on the right path."
Even thought he said that in reassurance, Fermat didn't feel the slightest reassured about it at all. Whatever this man had planed for Alan it would only end with that the life he created for the last four years would shatter into pieces, seeing his actions could and most likely would lead him to do criminal and illegal methods in order to get to him. The thought that Alan could end up hurt, imprisoned or dead because of him, made him just sick to his stomach. He wanted nothing more than tell Alan that he wasn't worth destroying his life, but at the same time his selfish side wanted his best friend to come and get him. He was afraid of these people, but he was more terrified for his friend's sake on what would happen to him when he finally got here.
Once he removed those damn handcuffs, Alan quickly moved his gaze around the interrogation room in order to spot the video cameras watching him. He found one easily enough since it was just hanging there at the corner of the ceiling above the glass mirror, which everyone that has ever watched a police procedural knew was actually a observation room. Apparently the agents thought it was just smart enough to have one camera in here, but then again it worked out for his benefit. Needless to say, he had to cover up the camera in order for them not to know right away that he was busting out of there. So he pulled down the zipper of his blue sweatshirt and threw it over the camera, that way the camera lens was covered up. Then he was facing with the question how he could leave this room, since the door had an automatic strip clock that allowed people from entering and leaving the room. Normally he could have worked out a creative solution to pick that lock, but right now he had limited with time as well as tools and materials. He was well aware that it was only a matter of time before someone would come back and by then he definitely couldn't be in here, so he had to think fast. What was he going to do?
He turned around, looking at the two chairs by the table behind him before his gaze moved on the mirror glass. It was one possible solution. Crazy solution, one that would definitely be loud and give away his escape, which would definitely get him in trouble or worse get him in prison, but it was a possible solution to get out. Who was he trying to convince? It was his only solution since time was an important essence in this whole plan of his.
"I'll definitely be grounded for life for this," Alan muttered to himself as he went to retrieve one of the chairs. "But for Fermat, I'll do everything. And besides it's just another notch on my list of trouble and grievances."
Then in one moment he grabbed the chair and lifted it up in the air before he walked towards the glass. And before he had the chance to convince himself to do otherwise, he slammed the chair as hard and as fast as he could and threw it against the glass. The mirror glass shattered into pieces, revealing it was in fact observation room on the other side of where the mirror had been. However due to his action the alarm had been activated and loud noises began drumming through his ears. Nonetheless, Alan quickly grabbed his sweatshirt and pulled it off the camera before he jumped out the broken glass window and began running as fast as he could out of there, while hoping and praying he had enough time to get as much information he could about the Golden Cobra before the federal agents caught up with him.
The idea that nothing was wrong was thrown out the window the minute the two agents hurried out of the room, leaving them sitting their agitated and confused over what was going on. Jeff tried to keep control over the situation, despite the fact that he had absolutely no clue what was going on and how to keep control, especially when Scott looked like he was ready to jump into action. Which caused a similar reaction from Virgil and Gordon, something they definitely didn't need at the moment.
"We might be able to help!" Scott shouted in order to voice over the loud alarm that was practically overpowering their voices, making it impossible to talk normally. Jeff shook his head and shouted back, "It is none of our business, Scott. And even if it was I'm sure these agents an handle this on their own, considering the fact they are trained for this sort of thing while we have a totally different kind of training."
He didn't have to explain what kind of training he was talking about, knowing fully well that Scott and the others knew that he was talking about their rescue mission training, but that wasn't the reason why he didn't say it out loud. It was rather the fact that he wasn't sure if this room they were located in didn't have video cameras and audio on whatever was going on and what was said. Either way he didn't want to take any chances and risk exposing International Rescue's operatives' real identities. Not that he didn't trust the federal government, he did, but it was just that he and the others had gone through such lengths to keep it a secret. So why bother exposing themselves to federal agents, who didn't have any business knowing at all? Their job was to get back Fermat safe and sound. And that was all they needed to know about them.
Scott's face frowned by his answer and when he tried to argue, Jeff instantly stared him down to stop him from continuing this conversation. Thankfully his son did what he was told and held his tongue, more due to the fact that they both knew that he wasn't going to change his mind and would most likely reprimand him for disobeying an order. And if there was one thing Scott hated other than not being able to protect and hover over the ones he cared about, it was that disappointed people for things like not following a direct order.
So they all sat there in silence, waiting for the alarm to stop and the agents to return to the room and finally give them the explanation they were dying to hear about. Everything went fine with that plan that is until Virgil stood up to go to the bathroom and told them that he couldn't wait. Unfortunately neither Tracy man liked the idea that Virgil went by himself and they tried to convince him otherwise, however the longer the arguing proceeded the more did Virgil appear pissed off and before he could prevent the temper explosion from his third oldest son, Virgil threw his hands in the air and exclaimed, "This is getting ridiculous! I don't need permission or a babysitter follow me into the bathroom. I'm twenty-two, not two-years-old. I promise I will be careful and not intervene in the agents business, at lest until the situation calls for it, and besides you can trust me to be the least likely person in our family who doesn't naturally get himself into trouble with the exception of John."
Jeff sighed heavily. Virgil did have a point. Between his four sons, it was more likely Scott and Gordon were the ones who stumbled themselves into trouble, intentionally or not, while John and Virgil were the more careful ones. John was probably the best example, seeing as he couldn't get into too much trouble up in space, but either way if there was son he trusted the most not to be careless then it was Virgil.
So he closed his eyes and sighed heavily one more time before he opened up his eyes again and said, "All right, you can go, but promise me that you will just go from point A to point B and back. No shortcuts or detours. Okay?"
Virgil nodded as a response before he stood up from his seat and left the room, leaving him alone with Brains, Scott and Gordon. Even though Virgil had given a reasonable excuse to leave the room he still couldn't help feeling slightly concerned about Virgil's well being. Whatever was going on outside these doors he seriously hoped that Virgil wouldn't be caught in the middle of it and if he did then he hoped that Virgil would come out of it unharmed.
Running down endless of corridors while keeping a low profile was seemed almost impossible. He stood up in this building that was filled with federal agents dressed in dark suits and wore professionalism on their sleeves, something he for one didn't exactly share with them. Alan realized that in order to venture around the building undetected at least for a short while anyways he needed to blend in, which meant that he needed some kind of disguise. And he knew exactly what he needed, so he walked around and followed the directions to the locker rooms. He searched around the different locker rooms until he found one that was empty inside before he entered inside. It was just an ordinary locker room, nothing very specially to comment on, but he wasn't really in the mindset on commenting the decorator of the place. Instead he picked up the lock on one of the lockers, hoping to find some extra clothes as well possible bag or backpack so he could keep his own clothes somewhere and among other things. The first locker proved to be useless, so he tried to another one, but this time he found a spare suit as well as a black sports backpack. He found also inside the locker a handgun along with bullets and blanks inside a safe, which was easy to break the combination to, and he wondered if he should bring it along with him or not. His memory didn't exactly include any knowledge in guns and artillery, but who know it might be useful to bring along in case he stumbled upon trouble.
Then he quickly changed clothes and put his clothes in the backpack. Alan found the suit pretty awkward and uncomfortable to wear, especially since it was a few sizes to big for him, and it was also even more uncomfortable with his hair hanging down his back. So he tied his hair up in a messy bun before he took one finally sigh before he left the locker-room and continued down the hallway.
His plan was simple find a available computer, download as much information the FBI had on the Golden Cobra and get the hell out of there before he was caught. Such a simple plan, yet something that he had to do in order to find Fermat. His memories were still not complete, so he had to figure out the organization's location on his own. Hopefully the FBI had some clue where he could find them if not then he was officially screwed.
The alarm was still going haywire, driving him insane, but he continued to on like nothing was the matter as he walked pass the few agents that was coming and going his way. The agents didn't take much notice of him and continued in their own direction. Alan almost couldn't believe his luck regarding how easy it was walking around the building. He had thought that it would be hard and stressing to blend in a place like this, especially considering that he really didn't appear as an adult in situations like this. Then again he have been mistaken for being a woman due to his long hair on many occasions and people could easily believe that he was older than what he was since some woman still maintained a youthful appearance even till their late thirties at least. It was kind of a pain as well as awkward to be mistaken for a young female, like the Scott Tracy had mistaken him for being his mother whoever she was, but in circumstances like this it was a good thing that his appearance could deceive people.
Anyways when he reached the end of the hallway he turned the corner to the left and entered the first room he saw that had an open door. It was a normal office room filled with phones and computers on top of all the desks. Alan moved his gaze around the room, watching out for agents looking or approaching him as well looking for an available computer. No one looked up at him and he found an empty computer not far away from him. So he strode over to the desk with a casual manner and sat down on the chair before he turned the search program on the computer and began searching for the information on the organization. The results from his search were pages long, and some weren't even reliable or relevant to him, so he had much work ahead of him. Alan only hoped that he had enough time to sort through it all and find something of value to him. Otherwise the rescue mission would be a lot harder to do, especially with his limited memory of his old life, and then he would have to take different measures to find and rescue Fermat, to which he had no idea what he was going to do. Needless to say, he had a lot of work to do so he leaped right into it and began looking through the search results.
Agent Farrell and Agent Emerson responded immediately to the alarm and headed towards the location where said alarm was going off like the place was on fire, which was very unlikely seeing as no one inside the building was fighting their way out in order to escape. One reason for that is that the sound of the alarm was different from the ordinary fire alarm and the other reason was that they had been paged by Agent Monroe and Agent Harrods, telling them to go to the interrogation room and that they would explain what was going on with the alarm once they got there. So without even getting into details, those two had just informed them that whatever happened in the interrogation room had caused the alarm to set in.
Agent Farrell wanted to smirk over the incompetence those two snobby agents showed and how it was her and her partner they asked for when they suddenly had a big problem. Of course they could have paged them because they knew that they were now working the same case, but she liked to think her personal reason was the right one especially since it was most likely considering their relationship with each other, which was barely civil at best.
Anyways once she and her partner arrived at the interrogation room she was shocked to see the sight in front of her. The door was opened with Agent Monroe and Agent Harrods inside, while the observation room next door was in a complete mess. Glass shards were on the ground, apparently on both sides between the two rooms, and a discarded chair on the floor in the interrogation room. So the most likely scenario that had happened was that someone, a suspect no doubt, threw the chair against the glass and escaped through the window to the observation room. Whoever had done this was either incredibly gutsy or incredibly stupid to escape in such bold way.
"So tell me, what happened here? Other than the obvious that a suspect was let here alone and escaped," Agent Farrell asked with a cocky, yet not amused by how those two snobby agents had handled the suspect. "How stupid could you be leaving a suspect alone in the room?"
Agent Monroe frowned by the accusation and almost sneered back at her and said, "We thought that things were covered and we had to inform the victim's family about the development in the case."
"Obvious things weren't covered seeing as our suspect escaped, quite smoothly," She replied back and turned around the crime scene. "Weren't the suspect cuffed? Did we catch anything on the video camera?"
Agent Harrods shook his head and said, "Of course we cuffed him and did everything by the book, Farrell, so don't accuse us of doing otherwise without any proof to support your theory. And as for the video camera, the suspect had been smart and covered it up until he escaped."
She rolled her eyes, thinking that only Agent Harrods would think that the suspect had been very smart since it was the most obvious and smartest thing to do if you wanted to escape undetected before the agents arrived.
"Can we see the video feed?" She asked instead, which Agent Harrods nodded and pulled out a portable computer and showed the whole interrogation video along with the minutes the suspect had been left alone in the room. The interrogation went by uneventfully other than the fact that the suspect or Alan Shepard looked like he wanted to punch them since they weren't listening to what he was saying, which she honestly couldn't say she blamed him for it, however it was the moments when he was left alone that was interesting. The feed showed that he began fidgeting with his hair before he suddenly stopped and began moving around with his cuffs. Minutes later the cuff were off and then in a matter of seconds Alan got up from his seat and covered the camera with his sweatshirt and seconds later the sweatshirt was removed and he was gone.
Agent Farrell sighed heavily, not totally sure how he did it but the kid had pick the lock with whatever he had managed to hid before his personal effects were taken away. The kid had obviously more tricks up his sleeves than what she or the other agents first thought, but either way it was clear that there was something more going on. The thing was what exactly was going on and how they were supposed to line up all the pieces?
It took time to go through everything, most of it was just useless facts and speculation on the FBI's side, but Alan found some of it informative. They had no clue about the origin of the organization started or where their current location was, but the list of possible suspects that was a part of the Golden Cobra. Not that they had enough evidence to convict them for the crimes they had committed, including himself. Of course he doubted that feds knew that he had been involved with the organization in the past, especially considering he was around eleven or twelve years old when he got out and lost his memory.
Anyways as he looked on the list of possible members of the organization, many names and pictures were pretty unfamiliar to him, but one name stood out from the crowd. Renée Belvoir, a young French-born woman in her early twenties with long black hair and chocolate brown hair. According to the feds, she was mysterious member and was often suspected for being the person behind some high-class robberies, but only recently been accused of running a prostitution ring in New York City. However it was not that reason that he recognized her, but rather the fact that he suddenly got a memory flash about him and her training together in both physical circumstances as well in thieving circumstances. They had been colleagues of some sort and had been pretty close from what he understood from his memory; he even remembered her nickname that the Golden Cobra used for her, The Temptress. The men inside the organization feared her since she had the ability to manipulate men and do her biding with her beauty and charm, but she was too important and excellent in her job to get rid of her.
Alan leaned back in his chair. He might not know where the Golden Cobra was residing and holding Fermat, but he had someone who might do. So he needed to find Renée and he had just a great idea where to start. Now that he got the information he needed it was time to leave this place, because his luck was soon bound to run out. And if he was to be honest, then he definitely didn't want to be around FBI agents once they found out where he was and that he was still in the building. So he grabbed his things and quickly removed any trace on the computer on what he had been up to, since after what he had seen with those two agents that interrogated him let's just say his faith in the agency was diminished into nothing. If he wanted things to be done, then he had to do it himself no doubt.
He left the office and began walking as calmly as he could down the hall and towards the stairs, heading for the direction of the exit of this fortress. Things were going smoothly until he came down the stairs. He was walking casually with his gaze turned on the steps when he lifted his head and was face to face with the two agents from before as well as another duo behind them, standing a couple of steps beneath from where he was standing. They stared at each other a for a moment, slowly recognizing him and him knowing that his luck had just run out.
"Oh crap," Alan muttered to himself before he turned on his heel and ran up the same direction where he had been coming from. Yells and exasperation came after and was then was followed by with hurried footsteps coming after him. The agents were on to him, but things were turning to the worse when they called for backup, which showed up in every direction from the passing floor he tried to stop on. So going upwards weren't doing so well, Alan thought quickly what he was going to do instead. It was an impulsive and reckless idea and he didn't think about it when he got on the banister and slid down on in like it was a water slide. As he slid down he got the chance to see the surprise on the agents faces when they saw him going down, no one intervene on his ride since they knew the danger of stopping him and their protocol stated to apprehend the suspect in a non-violent way possible unless they were out of options. So they stood there and let him slide down until he was at the bottom of the stairs.
However the minute he was at the bottom he found himself surrounded by agents. Once again he acted without thinking as he pulled out the gun he had taken earlier, loaded it before he aimed it at the ceiling and fired it. Don't ask him how he knew how to do it, since he honestly didn't know, but it was like his body did it automatically like it was a habit. It scared him how his body did something like that without him having control, however it worked somehow in his favor when the agents stepped back and took cover, giving him the opportunity to get away.
Virgil almost wanted to vent his frustration over this place. Seriously, who in the world decided to place the bathroom several floors away from the meeting rooms? And the only one he found available in this whole building was on the ground floor where the entrance was. Anyways once he was done doing his business in the bathroom he left and was on his way back to the meeting room where his dad and the others were when suddenly he got pulled into a situation that involved a fleeing suspect. Not sure how things turned out that way since one minute he was walking and minding his own business and the next he came face to face with a young kid with long blond hair, who looked pretty agitated, and was holding a gun in his hand. And before he had the chance to get away or remove the gun the kid twirled around in one second was behind him with an arm around his neck and a gun barrel aimed at the side of his head.
"Listen, don't make any sudden movements," the kid whispered in his ear. "I promise I'm not going to hurt you, but please don't try and do something stupid."
The kid sounded desperate and yet determined and sincere about his statement. Nothing indicated that he wanted to harm him, but then again most criminals said stuff like that and did mean it. So why should he believe the kid, especially when the kid was holding a gun to his head?
"You are making a big mistake, buddy," Virgil hissed back. "No way you are getting out of this that easily."
The kid just shrugged and said, "Yeah, well this can be one of the many mistakes I have made in my life, but I know I'm doing all of this for one certain and good purpose. You and the others might disagree on my method, but we all are interested in the same thing. Only I want to get something back from the ones who stole from me, the real bad guys in this mess, and make them pay for what they did."
Virgil only stared at the kid from the corner of his eye, shocked over what he was hearing. He claimed to be a good guy? That doesn't make any sense, especially their current situation. This kid was supposed to be the bad guy, right? But then what did he mean when he said someone had stolen from him? And that did he mean that he was going to get it back? And the most important question why was this person or thing or whatever so important to him that he was risking his life as well getting in trouble with feds.
Anyways the kid stood there behind him, with the gun against his head while keeping his gaze on the agents that was approaching him but keeping a distance for them, knowing that if they went any further they might risk his life being a hostage.
"Listen up, this is how things are going to go," the kid shouted out to the agents, catching everyone's attention including those two agents he met in the meeting room with dad and the others. "You are going to let me and my friend here…"
The kid looked unsure before he asked him for his name, which was kind of a surprise since most people knew his name due to his dad and his family. Either way he responded by grumbling his name to his apparent captor of some sort before the kid continued his demands, "…Virgil, let me out of this place unharmed. And I'll let Virgil go once we are gone somewhere safe and secure, not harm will come to him as long as you play by my rules."
The agents were unresponsive, rather fixated on him and the gun to his head. The situation didn't get any better when the elevator door opened on his left side, just a few meters away from him and the kid. And out of the elevator stepped out his family as well as Brains with two unknown agents. Virgil's initial thought when he saw them was so much for being the least likely one to get in trouble. Here he was with an arm around his neck and bullet to his head, currently held hostage by a kid who apparently seemed to be a whole lot dangerous than what anyone had anticipated.
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Thanks again for the response I have been receiving, hope you guys like this chapter.
So since school is about to start I can't promise when or how often I will be updating on this story, but I will continue it and write on it during the few moments I have time to spare and write.
And as for those of you who reads my other TB story, Whispers In The Dark, I will be trying to weekly update the story on Mondays, but again I can't promise I will always be on time since I will be busy.
With that said, please continue giving me reviews, favorite and/or followings, and the next chapter will be out as soon as its done.
xXrebelgirl07Xx
