MITOCHONDRION EPIDEMIC
By: Stiltzkin
Author's Note: I have a confession to make. I thought I finished Parasite Eve II game and had assumed that Eve was killed. It wasn't until a review from Ken Arromdee (I think), that prompted me to consider that Eve did survive. After doing some reading on FFnet and the net it seemed that she did indeed survived. A few questions arose because of that fact, i.e., how old was she? Her history, etc. That's where I came into some difficulties I have read that Eve was anywhere between three to twelve years old in the game. Which brought me several other problems, so an executive decision had to be made. I assume Eve to be ten years old when Aya met her, so she would be thirteen in my story which takes place three years later (I thought things might be more interesting if Eve was a pre-adolescent). From this simple, yet profound revelation I ended up having too many threads in this chapter then I would have liked, but it's manageable. Sorry for the long Author's Note and the tardiness in getting this chapter up. I have been busy with school and had writer's block for the longest time. I hope the wait was worth it. Enjoy.
* * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER THREE: MNEMOSYNE'S SONG
Situation Room, White House
Washington, District of Columbia
July 14, 2003 05:00 EST
Louis J. Freeh, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation navigated his way through the plethora of interns and secretaries to reach his destination - the Situation Room. Freeh hasn't been in the White House for quite some time, but he didn't need any directions or escorts to get where he needed to be.
The Situation Room was where the Department of Defense, the Head of the National Guards and other high ranking governmental officials meet to discuss emergencies that threaten National Security. As Director of the Bureau, he was not usually privy to these meetings. Yet on the rare occasion, like this one where he was invited he knew that something major was afoot.
He opened the door without knocking. Admirals, Generals, high governmental officials, and Relevant White House Staff looked up to silently greet him. That silent motion stopped the Military Police from kicking him out. He saw the President sitting at the head of the table, to his right the Secretary of Defense and his left the White House Chief of Staff.
"Ah, Director Freeh, now that you're here we can begin."
"I'm sorry for being tardy..."
"Understood." The President quickly dismissed. Freeh quickly went to the only available seat and quietly waited for the meeting to start. The President cleared his throat and took a deep sigh. "About zero seven hundred hours yesterday morning Eastern Standard Time, Patient Zero from the Gilgamesh Project escaped from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia."
"The Gilgamesh Project." Freeh blurted aloud. "I'm sorry I thought we deemed the project too risky and put an end to it." He was not normally this insubordinate to his superiors, to his Commander and Chief, but he was caught off guard.
"Officially, yes, but unofficially..." The Surgeon General responded with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"Do we know where Patient Zero was heading?" The White House Chief of Staff asked.
"We have a theory." A General spoke. "We suspected that Patient Zero was heading towards the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution for reasons yet unknown."
"I may have a theory." Freeh spoke out of turn. "One of our operatives, codename Hunter entered the National Air and Space Museum to retrieve the Xeno Stone for disposal as per order from the United Nations...Hunter failed."
"Was Hunter killed?" The Surgeon General asked with concern.
"No." Freeh quickly answered. "Hunter successfully retrieved the Xeno Stone, but was knocked out from behind, before she could get it out of the museum."
"Did Hunter see the perpetrator?"
"Yes." The director sighed. "At first I didn't believe it when I read it, but Hunter claims that the attacker looked like an alien."
"An alien?" The President asked with confusion. "I don't suppose when you say alien, you mean an immigrant." The President said with cold sarcasm.
"No, I mean an extra-terrestrial."
"Are you telling me that Hunter saw E.T. steal the Xeno Stone?" The President facilitated with a hint of anger and frustration in his voice. "What did he need the stone to phone home?"
"No wait sir, that makes sense." The Surgeon General quickly added. "If Hunter was hit hard on the back of the head where the nerves for sight is located in the brain than what Hunter perceived as an extra-terrestrial may have been in fact Patient Zero." The President seemed unconvinced. "Think about it, if Hunter saw a three feet green skin person - it describes Patient Zero's height and the green hue could be due to the fact..."
"All right." The President agreed, albeit reluctantly. "Do you know where the Xeno Stone now?"
"We're not sure." Freeh hated to admit that.
"What about Patient Zero?" The President asked.
"We're not sure." The General replied.
The President gave a frustrating sigh. "I want Patient Zero and that Stone found and destroyed." He ordered.
"Aye sir." One of the Generals responded. "Is Hunter looking for the Stone."
"No, Hunter was ordered to handle the situation in New York, but we do have agents looking for it." Freeh reported.
"I'm afraid that you may have a bigger problem Director." The President added.
"Oh?"
"It seems that Interpol wants to conscript Hunter to help with the epidemics happening all over the world." All eyes shoot up at the President. Everyone was surprised, and they had a right to be. "I know it's bad news, but the United Nations recognizes the international urgency and reluctantly gave Interpol's jurisdiction in this matter. Therefore, first thing tomorrow morning I am ordered to hand over Hunter to them." The President sighed.
"I understand." Freeh replied, still in shock. "I think it's the right idea and I don't want to sound selfish, but who would help out with our epidemic if Hunter is galloping around the world?"
"What about Nimrod?"
"Nimrod?" Freeh gasped. "That operative is too young and inexperienced."
"Has she received the proper training?"
"To some extent, but even if Nimrod was ready, the operative is still too young and inexperienced for a mission of this magnitude."
"I understand Director, but what do YOU suggest we do?" The President asked rhetorically. Freeh was speechless. "You are ordered to give Nimrod temporary F.B.I. status to help with our epidemic and the retrievals of Patient Zero and the Xeno Stone." The President said forcefully.
"Aye, sir." The Director sighed, agreeing reluctantly. "If you'll excuse me I have to make an urgent phone call."
"No problem." The President sighed. "We're done here, but I want updates every hour on the hour and we'll meet here again tonight at twenty-three hundred hours." The President ordered. "Dismissed."
The room quickly thinned as Freeh headed towards a private spot in the busy White House hallways. He pressed a series of eleven digits on his mobile phone and waited patiently for the person to answer.
"Baldwin here, this better be good." Eric Baldwin answered rudely.
Freeh looked at his watch and realized that it was nearly three o'clock in the morning in California. "Hal, this is Louis."
"Louis?" Baldwin retorted with a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I'm sorry, it's just that..."
"There's no need to explain." Freeh quickly forgave. "I forgot that there is a three hour difference between California and D.C., but we have trouble."
"What is it?"
"I can't discuss it over the phone, but...NIMROD." Freeh said. The line went silent. "Hal? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah." Hal said breathlessly. "I'll be catching the first flight out of Los Angeles." Hal said.
"I'll see you soon." Freeh said hanging up the phone.
Brea's Motel Room
Washington, District of Columbia
05:00 EST
Aya found herself lying on a metallic table. The bright white light pained her eyes. Her heartbeat and the sounds of medical equipment were all she could hear. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She weakly said to the dark silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice sounded hollow.
"Yes sir." A different voice said.
"No." She weakly protested. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was sitting in a hospital bed feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed her, the whole room; her heart beat a faint background sound. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." The black doctor replied. He put a sticky substance on Aya stomach and than put a scanning instrument on top of it.
Aya shuddered from the cold of the metallic instrument as the doctor moved the instrument around. "I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier." Aya sighed.
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?"
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya sat up in bed, her heart in her throat. She was breathing very hard and her body was soaked with perspiration. She turned off the alarm clock and sat on her bed for a while. It took her sometime to get her bearings, she realized that she wasn't home, but in a motel room. "Just a dream." Aya sighed.
Aya went into her modest bathroom turning on the faucet. She took a deep sigh and splashed her face with the cold water. Her reflection in the mirror showed bags under her eyes; she hasn't been sleeping well. This was the first time she had this dream, but it seemed strangely more than that. That worried her. 'No, it's just a dream.' She tried to convince herself, albeit unsuccessfully.
Her teal eyes were shimmering invariably, glistening like blue green newborn stars. They ceaselessly radiate under any condition even when she looked like hell. Kyle had once told her that it was easy for any man to get lost in them, something she doubted ardently.
She reached out and touched the reflection of her left eye. 'Maya.' She reminisced. Aya realized a couple years ago that her left eye, the eye she required from her deceased sister, Maya, were two tints lighter. A difference so minutia that she almost missed it.
She headed towards the shower to start her day.
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington, District of Columbia
08:00 EST
It was a quiet morning. Aya and Broderick barely said three words to each other, not because they were tired, because they were, but because they had things on their minds. They had a quiet car ride to the airport and it seemed that they would have a quiet flight to New York.
They had gestures telling the world that they were worried, Broderick would stroke his goatee, while Aya would bite her lower lip. Broderick noticed his partner's apprehension. "A penny." Broderick said nonchalantly.
"What?" Aya asked coming out of her gaze.
"For your thoughts." Broderick explained.
"Oh," Aya sighed. "It's hardly worth that much." Aya smiled unconvincingly.
"Try me." Broderick smiled.
"It's rather silly." Aya sighed. "Just bad dreams."
"You too?" Broderick sighed.
"Tell me about yours." Aya probed.
"After you."
"I asked you first." Aya smiled.
"I had a dream about my late wife and daughter." Broderick sighed.
Aya knew that Rupert had lost his family during the Mitochondria Eve Revolution six years ago in New York City, but that was about it. During the past six years Rupert had not volunteered any information about his family. "Do you want to talk about it?" Aya asked futilely.
"Not really." Broderick sighed. "They're just dreams that would never come true." Broderick clarified.
"Yeah...I guess you dream of things you can't have." Aya sighed enigmatically, biting her lower lip as she gazed into the vista of seats.
"Care to explain that?"
"I had a dream that I was pregnant." Aya sighed.
"Why can't you have children?" Broderick instantly regretted asking the question as soon as it came out. "I'm sorry, that's none of my business."
"That's all right, Rupert." Aya sighed. "The reason I can't have any children is simple: I'm barren." She said above a whisper. "Doctors said that I was born that way."
"Care to talk about it."
"Not really." Aya sighed. Suddenly the flight attendant announced the boarding procedures to their flight came ringing through. Aya looked at her partner and returned the smile. "I guess we should be getting on our way." Aya hinted.
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. 'New York.' He thought. 'Why does it have to be New York?'
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, Georgia
10:00 EST
Director Freeh waited impatiently for Baldwin's flight to come in. He has been waiting for his friend for about two hours, ever since he got here. Then again, Washington D.C. is significantly closer to Atlanta than California, but Freeh, like most agents hated to wait - even if it was for a friend.
Freeh and Hal had been friends for a long time. They entered the Bureau roughly the same time and blazed ahead of their other classmates. Baldwin was even considered by the President to be the Director of the Bureau, but respectfully declined for reason still unknown to Freeh.
He walked towards the waiting area scanning for his friend. Baldwin was one of the first people out. Probably because he didn't bring any luggage and therefore didn't have to wait for it. They made eye contact and walked towards each other.
"Hello, old friend. It's been a long time."
"Yes it has." Baldwin smiled. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise." Freeh said.
"Now that the salutations are over, why is Washington so interested in Nimrod now?" Baldwin asked bluntly.
Freeh looked around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation. "Your questions would be answered, but not here. Come, let's grab some brunch."
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York
11:00 EST
The metallic table felt cold and sterile. The bright white light was the only thing she could see. The thumping of her heart echoed and the faint sound of medical instruments beeping were the only sounds she could hear. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She said to the silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice echoed.
"Yes sir."
"No." She weakly protested. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was transported to a hospital bed instantly feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed the whole room and her heart beat echoed in the background. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." Her doctor replied.
"I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier."
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?" Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya stood before a door, she opened it and walked through the threshold to see a black man sitting behind a desk. "Happy New Year, Doctor." Aya smiled.
"Happy New Year Aya." He smiled back. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Aya protested.
"Well according to your superior..." He said looking over his file. "Assistant Director Baldwin reports that you have been feeling ill?"
"It's just that I'm feeling faint and nauseous."
"In the morning?" He said with concern.
"Yeah." Aya recollected softly. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing, it's just a theory, but you may be pregnant."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hey sleeping beauty, wake up!" Broderick smiled.
"Where am I?" Aya said weakly.
"We just landed in New York." Broderick explained. "Dreaming again?"
"Yeah." Aya sighed. These dreams started to worry her.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine." She lied. "Com'on let's go." Aya said leading the way. "We have a mission to complete."
Brea and Broderick slowly walked through the prejudice aisles of the plane with some difficulty then through a series of corridors that they quickly meandered through. As they entered the waiting area, Aya was hit with a wave of nostalgia...
* * * * * * * * * *
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York
January 4, 1998 09:00 EST
"Godspeed." Dollis said. "The Department is going to miss you." He said giving her a hug.
"Thanks Bo, I'm going to miss you too."
"What about me?"
Aya smiled and got on one knee. "Oh, Ben." Aya smiled. "I'm going to miss you most of all." Aya said giving Ben a hug. "I'm counting on you to take care of your father."
"I will." Ben smiled. "And good luck in the F.B.I."
"Thanks." Aya smiled. She got up and headed down the line to where Kunihiko Maeda. "Good bye Dr. Maeda. I wish you well in your future endeavors." Aya said putting out her hand.
"Ah...before you go I have..."
"Please no more good luck charms." Aya smiled. "Honest I don't need them."
"No, it's not that...it's..."
"Oh sorry, that's my flight." Aya said hearing that it was last call for her to get on her plane. "I gotta go."
"But..." It was too late. She was out of hearing range. She would never know.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Aya!" A familiar voice echoed from the crowded airport.
Aya looked into the direction where the vice emanated. Aya was elated to see two familiar faces waiting for her. "Bo?" Aya smiled running towards him. Daniel "Bo" Dollis was Aya's partner during her short sojourn as an officer for the New York City Police. "It's so good to see you?" Aya smiled.
"Likewise." The forty-eight year old friend smiled.
"How did you know I was on this flight?" Aya asked.
"I have some friends in the Bureau that told me." A white, obese man replied. "It's good to be the Commissioner of police." Douglas Baker smiled. "You have friends in high places."
"Indeed." Aya smiled. "Let me introduce my partner, Agent Rupert Broderick. Rupert these are two good friends of mine Commissioner Douglas Baker and Detective Daniel Dollis."
"We've met." Broderick returned.
"Really?"
"Yeah, six years ago." Dollis said enigmatically. "And actually, it is captain now." Daniel corrected.
"Captain?" Aya was surprised. "I didn't think an old war-horse like you would sit quietly in a desk job?" Aya mocked.
"Yeah, well, ever since Lorraine died six years ago...walking the beat is too dangerous and I didn't want Ben to grow up an orphan." Daniel explained.
"I'm sorry." Aya smiled. "How is Ben?"
"I know that there's a temptation to catch up with old times, but we have more pressing matters at hand." Baker replied.
"You're right." Aya smiled. "Do we know the whereabouts of Dr. Robert Smith?"
"No we don't." Baker replied. "But we have men watching his office at N.Y.U. just in case he shows up there."
"Well, let's go." Aya said rushing out of the airport.
"Where are we going?"
"His office, there might be clues there to the whereabouts of Dr. Smith there."
"Our detectives went through that place with a fine tooth comb." Dollis defended.
"I know Bo, but there might be something that your detectives might have missed." Aya pointed out.
"Aya..." Dollis was interrupted by the static sound of his walkie-talkie. "Dollis here." He spoke into it. A garble of noise emanated from the instrument. "We'll be right there...with reinforcements." The last part of the statement was directed at Aya and her partner.
"What's wrong?" Aya asked.
"Mount Sinai had to be evacuated because of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures." Dollis explained ominously. "I figure that you..."
"Let's go." Aya said with determination.
Buckhead Diner
Atlanta, Georgia
12:00 EST
Eric Baldwin enjoyed Creole food. He tried to eat it every time he gets when he's in the South. The Buckhead Diner is a four star restaurant which is proud to offer the traditional Creole style food.
Louis Freeh had explained what happened in the Situation Room earlier that morning, that is almost everything, Patient Zero was keep confidential and Baldwin didn't have to know, at least not now. Freeh knew that Baldwin wouldn't take the news well.
"So we have no choice in the matter." Baldwin quietly said.
"I'm afraid not."
"Does Hunter know?"
"Not yet. We were hoping that you'll..."
"I'll do it." Baldwin answered. "I hate it, but I'll do it."
"I sympathize with you." Freeh sighed. "You know it's the right thing to do."
"Is it?"
"Hunter could save more lives this way."
"I know." Baldwin sighed. "But Nimrod is too young and inexperienced."
"I raised the same objections to the President, but we have no choice."
"You're right." Baldwin sighed. He took a lingering look at his old friend and realized that there was something off. "Why do I get the feeling that you're hiding something?" Baldwin asked scanning his friend's demeanor.
Freeh sighed. "Hal, there are some things that I can't tell you...at least not yet."
"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand." Baldwin sighed. "Let's pay a visit to Nimrod."
Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, New York
12:30 EST
Brea, Broderick, Dollis, and Baker quickly drove through the perpetual energetic city of New York. The city that never sleeps brought back memories both good and bad for the two F.B.I. agents.
Dollis took a sharp right turn and stopped his car in front of Mount Sinai Hospital. There was a police blockade preventing the populace from getting into the hospital. Dollis lead the team to the officer in charge. "Report."
"The patients in the intensive care unit and the infant ward has been rerouted to St. Mary's and St. Francis Hospitals. The last of the doctors are now existing the building as I speak." The officer replied.
"Any fatalities?" Dollis asked.
"No. Thankfully." The officer sighed.
"All right, we're going in." Dollis ordered.
"Sir?"
"That's an order." Dollis said sternly.
"Aye sir."
Daniel Dollis led the group, sans Douglas Baker towards the hospital with determination. "Daniel, where are you going?" Aya asked.
"Going in."
"Bo, Rupert and I can handle this." Aya explained loading her gun.
"Aya, you may need..."
"Don't make me pull jurisdiction on you." Aya pointed out. "Besides, I can never forgive myself if Ben ends up an orphan." She pleaded with her old friend.
"Then prepare to write me up." Dollis protested loading his gun.
Aya sighed. She knew that when Daniel gets this stubborn she couldn't do anything to change his mind. "Okay, you better not make me regret this."
"I won't." Dollis smiled.
"All right, let's go." Aya sighed. "You ready?"
"Yeah." Broderick loaded his Mongoose Magnum.
"Then let's go." Aya smiled.
They approached the automatic doors of the hospital and walked over the threshold when the doors silently opened. The smell of formaldehyde made Aya's knees weak and she saw flashback of her recent reoccurring dreams. Broderick caught her in his arms.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah...fine." Aya said weakly. 'Why is this happening to me?' She thought to herself. "Just got a little dizzy." Aya added nonchalantly.
"Are you sure?" Broderick asked.
"Yes, dad I'm fine." Aya mocked. "Com'on, let's get going."
"Lead the way."
The atrium of Mount Sinai was ominously still. The trio walked slowly and carefully across the atrium with Aya leading them. It was too quiet and Aya didn't like it. The cells in her body screamed. "There's something here." Aya reported.
The three formed a triangle and covered the 120-degree arc of their responsible vision. "I don't see anything." Broderick reported.
"Nor I." Dollis replied.
"Me either." Aya replied. "It HAS to be here." Aya insisted.
"Maybe you're wrong." Dollis suggested.
"Not with this." Aya stressed.
"Then if we don't see it, the only other place it could be is..." The trio looked above them and saw a giant spider crawling down its silk thread. Their eyes dilated. Simultaneously they dove away and turn on their backs and started shooting.
The spider gave an insect-like scream and fell on the ground motionless. The three got up ready to continue, but Broderick still shoot at it. "Rupert Stop!" Aya ordered. His gaze was fixated on the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature.
Dollis rushed behind him and stopped him. "It is dead man, let it go."
Broderick returned from his gaze. "I'm sorry." He said above a whisper. "I don't know what got into me."
"You okay?" Aya asked.
"Yeah." She didn't hear her partner replied. Her sixth sense went crazy; she turned around and saw three flies darting towards her. She raised her gun and heard three shoots being made under a silencer; destroying them before the missiles could come out of their mouths.
"Did anyone shoot?" Aya asked already knowing the answer.
"No." The men said in unison.
"Then who did?" Aya asked turning to her partners. In the distant she could see Kyle Madigan, her boyfriend. 'I'm going to kill him.' She thought. Kyle flashed his boyish smile as he walked towards the trio. "What are you doing here?" Aya demanded.
"Isn't obvious?" Kyle smiled. "I'm here to help you."
"Who is this Aya?" Dollis asked. "One of your operatives?"
"No." Aya sighed. "A civilian."
"How did he get through the police barricade?" Dollis asked.
"Please, don't make me laugh." Kyle smiled. "I've gotten through tougher fortifications - that police line was just a tiny obstacle."
"Who is this creep?" Dollis asked.
"Don't worry, he's just my boyfriend who should be in California."
"Kyle Madigan." He stuck out his hand towards Dollis.
"Daniel Dollis, captain of the men and women responsible for that 'tiny obstacle' out there." Dollis said bitterly.
"Sorry." Kyle boyishly smiled.
"Should I escort him out?" Dollis asked.
"No, Bo he could take care of himself." Aya sighed. "Rupert, why don't you partner with Kyle here." Aya suggested.
"Why?" Broderick asked. "Don't you want to be with your boyfriend?"
"No." Aya sighed. "Because right now the only people here who wants to kill him is Bo and I." Aya fumed.
"I'm sorry." Kyle smiled. "I did however cleared most of the first floor from Mitochondrion Creatures." Kyle offered as a peace offering.
"All right, you're forgiven." Aya leaned in and kissed him. "But you're still going with Rupert." Aya smiled. "Rupert you and Kyle take the stairs to the left and take care of the even number floors while Bo and I take these stairs and take the odd number floors, we'll meet on the sixth floor."
Brea and Dollis headed towards the right staircase and thanks to her sixth sense to detect Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures made the job rather simple. It felt like the good old days fighting side by side with her partner. Aya smiled to herself and remembered how safe and naïve she felt when she was with him. 'My how much I changed.' She thought as they reached the sixth floor, the floor where Dr. Robert Smith was kept under quarantine.
The Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures were insignificant in the hospital. Aya encountered a couple of flies and spiders on the way. The same ones that she fought in the National Air and Space Museum yesterday.
"We reached the sixth floor." Broderick reported through her intercom.
"We're on our way." Aya replied. Broderick and Madigan were waiting outside Smith's room. Brea and Dollis caught up to them. "What's wrong?" Aya asked with confusion.
"We can't get in." Kyle demonstrated, putting his hand beyond the threshold of the door. His hand glowed with fire and quickly retracted his hand.
Aya instinctively grabbed his hand to see if it was okay. She looked into his eyes and remembered that her two partners were present in the room. "You know you could have told me instead of doing that."
"Then how would I get you to kiss my wound?" Kyle smiled.
"You're incorrigible." She scoffed.
"That's why you love me." Kyle smiled.
"No that ain't it." Aya mocked back reloading her gun.
She broke through the biohazard warning and walked into Dr. Smith's room. The room was small and rather windy. She noticed that the window was open. 'That's probably how Dr. Smith got out.' Aya thought. She walked towards the window and looked down. 'Nobody could survive this fall.' She thought. 'No one human...that is.'
"What's going on in there?" Aya heard Broderick through the intercom.
"Nothing." Aya sighed. "It's surprisingly quiet." Aya wondered why her sixth sense wasn't activated. There was supposed to be a large and perhaps powerful Extra-Neo-Mitochondrion Creature nearby when a mitochondrion field was placed. 'Come out, come out, where ever you are.' Aya sung to herself.
Her wish came true. Suddenly her senses went crazy. Aya looked and saw a gigantic crow darting towards her. Aya swore to herself. "What's going on?" Broderick asked.
"I found our E.N.M.C." Aya said trying to duck away. She was too late the crow had grabbed her by her shoulders with it's claws and pulled her out of the window. The next thing Aya knew she was several hundred meters in the air. She swore again.
"Aya you're breaking up."
"There's good reason." Aya panted. "I'm approximately three hundred twenty-five meters in the air, heading south-south-east over the hospital." Aya reported.
"Don't do...thing...stupid." Broderick's voice got garbled.
"I'm sorry, Rupert." Aya said. "Can't hear you." She looked up and could only see the crow's stomach. She raised her gun and emptied her round. The crow screeched and dropped Aya.
Aya was in free fall. Wind brushing up her blonde hair. "Broderick if you can hear me, please meet me on the roof." Aya said calmly.
"Roger." Broderick's voice came loud and clear.
Aya landed on her feet and automatically rolled on the ground to lessen the blow. She automatically cast Metabolism and Healing; she could feel the cool, recuperating powers of the waters curing her of her paralysis and her broken bones.
Aya quickly circumspect the roof of the hospital and wondered where her gun has fallen. She spotted three meters to her left. Aya watch the crow and saw its eyes glowed diabolically red. The crow opened its mouth and shoot three fireballs towards Aya.
She somersaulted out of the way grabbing her gun in the process. She reloaded her gun and took aim. 'Too late.' Aya thought. She saw three more fireballs darting towards her.
After dodging the volley of fireballs Aya heard the crow scream with pain. In the distant she could see the men in her team shooting the crow. They triangulate their position around the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature. "Care to help us?" Broderick asked via the intercom.
"Love too." Aya smiled. She took aim with her gun and slowly the triangle surrounding the crow turned into a square. In no time the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature fell crashing to the ceiling, albeit with some reluctance.
The three men rushed towards Aya. "Are you all right?" They asked in unison.
"Fine, gentlemen." Aya smiled. She couldn't help being flattered by all the attention she was getting. "Dollis, tell your men that the hospital has been cleared of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures."
"Done." Dollis said leaving the roof.
"What are we to do now?" Madigan asked.
"WE'RE heading to Dr. Smith's office at N.Y.U. and you're..."
"Following you." Kyle smiled.
Aya chuckled to herself. She wasn't in the mood to fight. "You're so incorrigible." She said smiling.
"I know." Kyle smiled. "That's why you love me so."
"No, that isn't it." Aya mocked. "Com'on let's go." Aya escorted her partner and her boyfriend off the hospital roof.
Dr. Robert Smith's Office, New York University
New York, New York
13:30 EST
The four returned to New York University, to the building where Dr. Smith's office. Dr. Smith's Laboratory and Office was aristocratically and beautifully designed. Though the vain exterior was only skin deep. The halls of the building were ordinary and mundane, rather republican in nature. They headed to the top floor and entered his laboratory.
Aya walked through the laboratory and was shocked to see cages of monkeys were placed around the room. "What did Dr. Smith study?" Aya asked. Broderick and Madigan were curious about the same thing.
"He was a microbiologist and geneticist." Dollis replied. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Aya sighed. "It just explains the monkeys." Aya said teasing one of the monkeys. "I doubt that Dr. Smith has returned since his metamorphoses." Aya said.
"Why do you say that?" Dollis asked.
"These monkeys, their mitochondria is still dormant." Aya sighed. "Maybe you should remove these animals just in case they do mutate." Aya suggested.
"We've talked to the university, but we have to wait until they find a suitable place to place twenty monkeys." Dollis explained.
"The sooner the better." Aya sighed. "I would hate to kill them." She said, being lost in thought.
"The office is at the end of the laboratory." Dollis said, changing the tone of the subject. He led the trio through the labyrinth of cages and opened the door. "Here it is."
The quartet entered the messy, humble office. "What did your men do destroy the place?" Aya asked.
"No." Dollis smiled. "In fact our men tidy up a bit." Dollis sighed. "You should have seen it, before we came here."
"Scientists." Aya sighed. "Why are great minds always have messy offices?" Aya asked rhetorically.
"Aya come here." Broderick shouted from within.
She dashed towards her partner. "What is it?"
"This picture." Broderick said showing it to her.
"It's Smith and his..."
"Fiancée." Dollis answered. "She lives in Brooklyn."
"This is Coney Island." Aya said looking at the cute couple standing in front of the Ferris Wheel. "Have you talked to her?"
"Yeah." Dollis sighed.
"And his parents." Aya asked.
"Dead ends." Dollis sighed.
"How can a mitochondrion enhanced human eluded the entire New York Police Force." Aya asked rhetorically. She was frustrated and felt helpless. She hated feeling helpless. "Anything else?"
"No." Broderick sighed.
"Why don't we call it day." Aya suggested. "There's nothing we can do, but wait." Aya sighed.
"All right."
"Bo, I like to make the 17th Precinct, F.B.I. base of operation. That is...with your permission." Aya asked.
"No problem." Dollis sighed.
"Broderick, we should head..."
"Actually, Aya." Broderick interrupted her train of thought. "I have something to do...it's personal." Broderick explained. "I'll be there later...I promise...it's just that..."
"I understand." Aya smiled.
"Thanks." Broderick said giving a weak smile. "I'll see later this evening." Aya watched him leave the office in silence.
"What was that all about?" Dollis asked.
"Bad memories." Aya sighed.
"Why don't you and Kyle go on ahead." Dollis suggested. "I'll also have an errand to run." Dollis lied and Aya knew.
"Give him some time, okay Bo?"
"All right." Dollis smiled. "I'll see you at the 17th later."
"Yeah." Aya sighed.
"Hey you okay?" Kyle asked wrapping his arm around Aya's waist. He held her tight and smelled her hair.
"Yeah." Aya sighed.
"Do you know what that was all about?" Kyle asked.
"A common pain." Aya sighed. "Hey." Aya turned around with a smile. "Regardless of what I said before, I AM glad that you came to New York." Aya smiled, running her fingers through his dark brown hair.
"You mean you don't want to kill me anymore?" Kyle smiled, caressing her cheek.
"Of course I do." Aya smiled. "Just not right now." Aya leaned in and kiss him.
"I miss that." Kyle smiled.
"Me too." Aya sighed.
"I have an idea." Kyle smiled. "We blow this case and take the first flight to Tahiti and we can..."
"You know I can't do that." Aya sighed. "Though it was tempting."
"Really?" Kyle sounded surprised.
"No." Aya sighed. "You know how personal this case is to me."
"I do." Kyle sighed with false disappointment.
Aya smiled. "Don't be coy with me Kyle Madigan." Aya said ruffling his hair. "Com'on, we have to go."
National Center of Mitochondrion Control and Studies,
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia
14:00 EST
It was a beautiful day. Eve sat by her bay window looking through the two-sided mirror for her window. It was designed that way on purpose, she could look out, but people can't look in. She could never go out, she felt like a prisoner in her own home. This was her favourite place in the world.
'Home.' Eve scoffed. 'Do I really know what that means?' For most of her life Eve has been confined into a small room, keep secret from the world. She thought being liberated from Neo Ark in Dryfield, Nevada would mean freedom to her, but instead she was put in a bigger, fancier prison and still dead to the world.
The government reassured Eve that this was a halfway house, but to her it still felt like a prison. She had little freedom; the only place she could wander around is the confines of her prison. Which had a shooting range where Agent Jodie Bouquet teaches her techniques in using firearms; a small dojo where Agent Pierce Carradine teaches Eve the art of hand to hand combat; a gym to get in shape were added to the usual rooms located in a typical house.
When she was liberated from the Neo Ark she didn't know how to speak, read, write or do simple arithmetic so a halfway house was needed to assimilate herself to the world. Today, at thirteen years old, she had the ability to read and do mathematics at a third year collage level, thanks to her eidetic memory.
She may be an intellect academically, but socially she was totally inapt. Eve looked around her room and picked up her teddy bear sitting on her bed. It was the only object that reminded her about Neo Ark. "Hey Boko." She greeted poking at the bear's noise.
It was a tattered, old bear. Brown and missing an eye, the right one. Though it was old, she loved it. "How are you?" She asked not expecting an answer. "I'm bored...bored and lonely." Eve sighed. "I had that dream again...I know, it's a stupid dream...why is it that people dream about things they could never have?"
"You haven't touched your lunch." Agent Jodie Bouquet interrupted Eve's conversation with her teddy bear.
"I'm not hungry."
"What is it?" Agent Jodie Bouquet quietly asked. "Your dream." She added seeing confusion in Eve's face.
"My freedom." Eve replied, putting her teddy bear back on her bed. "To sit in a coffee house and watch the world go by, to go to a mall with my friends and spend money like crazy, to go to high school and try to dodge the teachers when we committed truancy, to fall in love, to kiss a boy, to live." Eve compassionate pleaded.
"I'm sorry." Jodie replied. "You can't have that...at least not now."
"Then when?"
"When you're ready."
"When will that be?"
"I don't know." Jodie said sympathetically.
"I feel like a prisoner here."
"You know that's not true."
"Then let me go out."
"You know I can't."
"Don't I have any rights?"
"No." Jodie bluntly answered. "The world thinks you're dead and..."
"Dead people don't have rights." They said in unison.
"If you all ready know the answer than why ask?" Agent Pierce Carradine asked leaning against the doorframe. He had been eavesdropping for some time.
"Can't blame a girl for trying." Eve smiled.
Carradine secretly smiled to himself. "Com'on, you have training." Eve groaned getting off the bed. "Eve you know the sooner you complete your training..."
"The sooner I'll get out." Eve completed Carradine's sentence.
"Don't be smart." Carradine sighed.
Eve was about to walk over the threshold when she bumped into someone. She was surprise, there wasn't suppose to be anyone else on the compound. "Hey watch where you're going?" Eve bellowed.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me Eve."
Eve recognized the voice. Her pupils dilated and her mood instantaneously took a polar opposite turn. "Uncle Hal?" Eve smiled giving the man a hug.
"Does this mean I'm forgiven?"
"Yeah." Eve smiled. "Did you bring Aya?"
"No, but do you want to see her?"
"Do I?" Eve gleefully smiled. "Oh, yes." Eve said jumping up and down. She couldn't contain her excitement of the news.
"Hal what's going on?" Jodie asked.
"She's NEEDED." Baldwin ominously replied.
"She's not ready."
"That's irrelevant." Freeh said. "The president has called her into service."
"Who are you?" Jodie asked with disrespect.
"Agent Jodie Bouquet, I like to introduce you to Director Louis Freeh, Director of the Bureau." Baldwin introduced. "Over there is Agent Pierce Carradine."
"I...I'm sorry." Jodie was flabbergasted.
"That's all right agent. I understand your frustration." Freeh quickly dismissed. "So this is Nimrod. You're right Hal, she is young."
"My name is Eve and I'm thirteen!" She protested.
"My apologies." Freeh smiled. "So are you ready to see your sister, EVE?" Freeh said stressing the usage of her given name.
"Yeah." Eve smiled. "Where are we going?"
"New York." Baldwin answered ominously, but to Eve it sounded magical.
New York Memorial Monument
New York, New York 15:00 EST
Rupert Broderick approached the humble monument with two stems of red roses in his hand. It was a simple monument, it resembles the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, but smaller. Broderick walked through the names of the people who tragically lost their lives during the Mitochondria Eve Revolution six years ago. 'Six long years.' Broderick thought to himself.
He walked through the wall of names looking for two particular names. 'Brant, Brock...' He read to himself. 'Ah...Broderick.' He found them: Emily and Rachael Broderick, his wife and daughter. He placed the roses on the ground before their names and slowly got up and brushed his fingers across the ebony marble where their names were carved. "Why?" Broderick asked, his voice cracked at the simple, yet profoundly difficult question. He closed his eyes and allowed a tear escape.
* * * * * * * * * *
Broderick Residence
New York, New York
December 25, 1997 05:00 EST
"Merry Christmas!" A serendipitous little girl ran through the doors of her parent's bedroom. She jumped on their bed waking them up in the process.
"What time is it?" Rupert asked.
Emily raised her father's arm to read his watch. "The big hand is at the three and the little hand is at the five." She said reading the clock's face. "It's...five fifteen." She slowly calculated in her head. "Wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
"Come on, Rachael honey let's get up." Rupert moaned.
"I'll go put the coffee on." His wife replied.
"Can I open my presents?" Emily asked, her big brown eyes twinkled with excitement, that only Christmas morning could bring.
"Yeah, just wait for me." Rupert sighed putting his robe on, letting his daughter lead the way downstairs.
* * * * * * * * * *
Rupert Broderick was leaning against the wall watching his daughter opening her presents. The joy on her face dwarfed the mess that she was making all over the living room. There were scraps of decorative papers and ribbon all over the base of the Christmas Tree; it was like a tornado ran through the house.
"I think you missed one." Broderick said smiling.
"Where?" Emily said scavenging the mountain of papers.
"Have you checked behind the tree?" Rachel Broderick, her mother suggested. "Here's your coffee." She offered her husband the mug.
"Thanks." Rupert smiled taking a sip. "Hmm...this coffee tastes different." Rupert noted. "What did you put in here?"
"Eggnog, I thought I'll be festive..."
"Rachel!" Rupert protested spitting out the coffee.
"It's non alcoholic." Rachel reassured. "I know the Bureau doesn't allow their agents to be intoxicated when on duty." She replied bitterly.
"I HAVE to work."
"On Christmas?"
"Honey, I don't control when deals goes down." Rupert rationalized.
"I know. I know." Rachel sighed. "I just hate it when you have to work...Organized Crimelords are so dangerous...I just don't want to hear that you died doing your duty."
"Honey, I promise this is the last mission."
"That's what you said about the last mission."
"This time it's not an empty promise." Rupert said reassuring his lover. "Robert is being promoted in the New Year, and he said that he'd promote me to assistant director when he does."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Rupert sighed. "It was suppose to be your Christmas present." A car from outside honked its horn. "That's my ride. I gotta go." Rupert said giving his mug of coffee back. He grabbed his blazer and quickly dashed out of the house.
"Don't forget to meet us at Central Park tonight for the concert!" Rachel yelled at her husband.
* * * * * * * * * *
Central Park
New York, New York
20:00 EST
Rupert heard that there was an attack at Central Park - at the concert, where Rachel, his wife was. "Please be all right." He said to himself. He checked his rearview mirror and did a sharp left turn and stopped the car behind a police car parked in front of it. He got out and quickly ran towards the entrance.
"Police! You can't go in there."
"F.B.I.!" He said showing his identification.
"But..." The policeman tried to stop him, but was unsuccessful.
Broderick felt his hand combust into flames. "What the..."
"I tried to warn you." The policeman sighed.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know what it is that's keeping us out, but my partner is inside. She'll take of it." The policeman sighed, sitting on the curb. "You have someone in there?"
"Yeah, my wife and daughter. You?" Broderick said joining him.
"My wife, actually ex-wife."
"I'm sorry."
"You and I both." The policeman smiled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"It's Dollis, Detective Daniel Dollis."
* * * * * * * * * *
"I thought you might be here." Dollis said.
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "Did you know that I never said 'I love you' to her when I left that morning." Broderick allowed a tear to roll down his cheek. "I always says it, but that morning...God! Why didn't I say it."
"I'm sorry...I don't know what to say."
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "She's been nagging me for years to get a desk job. I was a week shy from being promoted to assistant director of the organized crime unit - a desk job...She was convinced that I would die before she did, because of..."
"Your job." Dollis filled in the blanks. "Yeah, that's why Lorraine and I divorce, she couldn't handle being a wife to a police officer. I can't really blame her..."
"She didn't pester you to get a desk job?"
"She did." Dollis sighed. "But I was too stubborn to let life on the beat slip away. Ironic isn't? Ever since Lorraine died, getting a desk job is all I could think about." Dollis sighed.
"You have to take care of your boy...Ben was it?"
"Yeah." Dollis sighed. "Sometimes I wish that I was there in Central Park instead..."
"I have the same feeling too." Broderick sighed. "Some times I wish I was there with them."
"Is that why you joined M.I.S.T. and threw your promotion away?"
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "I needed to do something..."
"I know." Dollis sighed. "I wanted to join M.I.S.T. too, but..."
"Ben?"
"No...I realized that no matter how many Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures I killed it won't bring Lorraine back."
"Are you trivializing my life?"
"No...we must deal with grief in our own way." Dollis sighed. "I just want to know why you're doing this, because if it's out of guilt, anger, or revenge it's no way to live."
"It's not." Broderick protested. "I'm doing this because I don't want the same thing to happen to someone else."
"Is that why you kept shooting at the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature after it was long dead in the hospital earlier?" Dollis asked. Broderick remained silent. "Was that out of guilt, anger, or revenge?"
"I'm not sure." Broderick finally sighed.
"Come let's rescue my precinct from your partner." Dollis smiled.
"Then what?"
"Have some dinner at my place and sleep on your answer." Dollis suggested.
"Thanks. I think I'll take you up on it." Broderick said leaving.
"Wait." Dollis said behind him. He pulled out a long stem red rose and walked a couple paces down to where his ex-wife's name was carved. He touched the name on the black, obsidian marble and placed the rose before her name. "Now I'm ready." Dollis smiled.
N.Y.P.D. 17th Precinct
New York, New York
15:00 EST
Aya stood in front of the humble police station and looked at the modest features. After spending six years in a fancy and high tech building that the Bureau keeps coming back to her old stomping grounds made her wonder how she could survive without the latest technologies.
"Com'on Aya, let's go in." Kyle whined.
"In a minute." Aya sighed, still looking at the building. She was fixated at the building. She remembered thinking six years ago that this building was huge. Now it seemed somewhat small.
"Aya?" A familiar voice broke her gaze.
She turned to meet the person who called her. "Wayne? Is that you?" Wayne Garcia was the responsible for the weapons storage six years ago.
"In the flesh." He smiled giving her a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"There are Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures running around New York City and you ask..."
"Okay, okay, dumb question." Garcia raised his hands in defense. "Who's the jealous looking guy?"
Aya turned to where Garcia was looking. "Oh, that's Kyle, my boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you." Garcia smiled. "I'm Detective Wayne Garcia."
"Kyle Madigan." He introduced shaking his hand. "I assumed you worked with Aya six years ago?"
"That's right." Garcia smiled. "Com'on Bo would be so happy to see you."
"He's not in and I'm not here for pleasure." Aya reported. "I'm here to make this place head of oppressions for the F.B.I. while the threat of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures are here."
"Well come on in." Garcia smiled. "I'm sure that no one inside would object to your proposal." Garcia led Aya and Kyle up the steps of the station. "Hey that's an interesting looking gun." Kyle smiled.
"Don't you start." Aya smiled.
Wayne Garcia was right; those that knew Aya six years ago accepted her authority and those that didn't heard her name through reputation. It was a smooth transition. Aya, Kyle, and Wayne worked for three long hours.
"Hey partner, how's it coming?" Broderick announced waltzing in with Dollis.
"Good timing." Aya smiled. "I'm just about finished."
"I have a surprise for you." Dollis hinted.
"A surprise? Really?" Aya smiled with a hint of excitement. "What is it?"
"Come on in." Dollis bellowed into the hallway.
A tall, black pre-adolescent, man walked through. "Hi Aya." He smiled.
He looked familiar. "Ben?...Is that you?" She asked.
"Yeah." He smiled back.
"My how you've grown. You must have shot up about two feet since I last saw you." Aya smiled. "Come on, give me a hug." Ben walked towards her and gave her a bear hug. "My you look so handsome...you probably broken many girl's heart." Aya teased.
"Not really." Ben replied, blushing at the statement.
"How old are you? Twelve? Thirteen?"
"Thirteen." Ben smiled.
"So are you done?" Dollis asked interrupted Aya's memories of the boy.
"Yeah, just about. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking that all of you would join us for dinner."
"We couldn't impose." Aya smiled.
"Aya. I'm not letting you eat or sleep in some hotel." Dollis protested. "You deserve some home cooking."
Aya recognized that same stubborn look and knew that she couldn't do anything to change his mind. "All right." Aya smiled. She picked up her jean jacket and left the captain's office. "Oh, by the way, what are we having for dinner?"
"I don't know...I think of ordering a pizza." Dollis sighed.
"That's home cooking?" Aya asked.
"It is in the Dollis' house." Ben smiled.
The Plaza
New York, New York
18:00 EST
"Wow, this is so beautiful." Eve said with wide eyes looking out the balcony of her hotel room. Eve wanted a room on the highest floor so she could see more of the city.
"It is called Central Park." Carradine said smiling at Eve. 'It was good to see her happy.' He thought.
"Not just that." Eve smiled. "The whole city...it's breathtaking." Never in Eve's life had she seen so many people in one place, she had read how big and busy New York City was, but she didn't think that she would ever see it in person.
"She must be deranged if she loves New York City." Jodie sighed.
"Lay off her Bouquet." Carradine defended.
"That's okay, Pierce." Eve sighed. "Jodie was joking." Eve was one of the few people that Jodie knew that understood her dry sense of humour. "Hey, where's Aya?" Eve was so excited that she forgot that Aya was in the very same city she was in.
"She's at work." Bouquet replied.
"Yeah, don't worry." Carradine smiled. "You'll see her tomorrow."
"I can't wait to see her again." Eve smiled. "I'm too excited. I don't think I could sleep tonight." Eve said with excitement. Carradine noticed that she full of adrenaline. Something that he hasn't seen in Eve in a long time.
Carradine and Bouquet looked at each other solemnly. They knew what was going to happen in the morning. They knew that Eve's reunion would be short lived. It was a damming cold silence and Carradine didn't like it. "I'm cold, let's go in." Carradine suggest.
"Actually...I think it might be wise if we wait." Jodie stopped his flight. "Hal is talking to Louis in there and I think he wants to be alone with him."
"Yeah?" Eve asked with interested. "I wonder what they're talking about."
"You and I both." Bouquet sighed looking in.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure that you could handle things at this end?" Freeh asked packing.
"Yeah." Baldwin sighed. "I don't think Hunter would like it, but she would come to embrace this plan." Baldwin stalled.
"Good." Freeh sighed. "I have to go back to D.C. to speak to the President by twenty-three hundred hours."
"Louis before you go." Baldwin sighed. "Back at the National Center of Mitochondrion Control and Studies..."
"Yes?" Freeh asked.
"Why is there some places in the center that I don't have access to?"
"That's confidential."
"Louis. I'm the director of Mitochondrion Investigation and Suppression Team. I should know everything that happens under my jurisdiction!" Baldwin demanded. "What IS going on?"
"I can't tell you." Freeh said. "I'm sorry."
"Louis you and I have been friends a long time." Baldwin sighed. "Please tell me what's going on...off the record."
"I can't." Freeh sighed. "I'm sorry Hal. Look I really have to go."
"Yeah." Baldwin sighed. "At least let me drive you to the airport. Our time together is short and I don't know when we'll see each other again."
"I like that." Freeh smiled.
Dollis' Residence
New York, New York
23:00 EST
Aya felt cold on the metallic, operation table. The bright white light above her blinded her. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She said to the silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice echoed.
"Yes sir."
"No." She weakly protested. White.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya lay in her hospital bed feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed the whole room and her heart beat echoed in the background. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." Her doctor replied.
"I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier."
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?" Again white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya stood before a door and opened it walking through the threshold to see a black man sitting behind a desk. "Happy New Year, Doctor." Aya smiled.
"Happy New Year Aya." He smiled back. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Aya protested.
"Well according to your superior..." He said looking over his file. "Assistant Director Baldwin reports that you have been feeling ill?"
"It's just that I'm feeling faint and nauseous."
"In the morning?" He said with concern.
"Yeah." Aya recollected softly. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing, it's just a theory, but you may be pregnant."
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya found herself in a comfortable hospital bed. She felt pain from an operation. A white man entered her room with a chart.
"How are you feeling Aya?"
"Who are you? Where's my doctor?"
"He's...ill." He said.
Aya had a feeling that he was lying. "I'm still in pain. What happened?"
"Do you remember anything?"
"No."
"You had an accident, your child was in danger, we had to perform an emergency Caesarian Section..."
"My child." Aya gasped.
"She didn't make it." The doctor sighed. "I'm sorry. There's more."
"What?" Aya said with tears.
"I'm afraid that you can't have children again."
"What?" This time she said with shock.
"There were complications in the surgery and we were forced to do a hysterectomy." The doctor replied. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was back on the metallic table again. This time she was semi-conscious and all she saw was flesh red, caused by the bright light above her through closed eyelids.
"I can't do this!"
"You have your orders."
"It's unethical. I won't do this."
"Then I hate to do this. By order of the President you are under arrest and relive of duty! Do it!"
"Aye sir."
"Now let's proceed with the operation."
"You mean experiment."
"Doctor I could relieve you as well!"
"No." The young doctor sighed. "Let's proceed."
"Doctor, she's still conscious."
"Resilient isn't she?" Aya could hear him smile. "Anesthetize her."
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya shoot up in her bed. Her heart was beating hard. "What's wrong?" Kyle asked, still half asleep.
"I'm fine Kyle." She panted. "Just go back to sleep."
'What IS going on?' Aya thought. 'These weren't dreams...they felt more real...the smells...the sounds.' Aya got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a cold slice of pizza. She took a bite and contemplated what was going on.
"Hey Aya." Kyle's voice came tiredly behind her. "Phone. It's your boss."
'Hal? Why is he calling so late?' Aya thought to herself. "Thanks Kyle." She grabbed the mobile phone. "Brea. What is it Hal?"
"It is imperative that you and Agent Broderick come to the Plaza Hotel in New York City at zero eight hundred hours tomorrow morning." Baldwin ordered.
"Why?" Aya asked with confusion.
"I didn't want to do this over the phone, but...you've been reassigned."
"What?" Aya said in shock.
"Just come...YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS!" Baldwin hung up the phone.
Aya suddenly felt weak. She had another flashback of her dreams. "You okay?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah...fine. Just a headache." Aya lied.
"I'll get some aspirin."
"Thanks." Aya sighed. 'Why am I having these flashbacks...first it was the hospital and now when Baldwin said...' Aya gasped. She know the meaning behind her dreams, they were her memories.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to the Parasite Eve Genre (specifically Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve II (video game)) is not my invention and is the property of Square. [2] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clause and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
By: Stiltzkin
Author's Note: I have a confession to make. I thought I finished Parasite Eve II game and had assumed that Eve was killed. It wasn't until a review from Ken Arromdee (I think), that prompted me to consider that Eve did survive. After doing some reading on FFnet and the net it seemed that she did indeed survived. A few questions arose because of that fact, i.e., how old was she? Her history, etc. That's where I came into some difficulties I have read that Eve was anywhere between three to twelve years old in the game. Which brought me several other problems, so an executive decision had to be made. I assume Eve to be ten years old when Aya met her, so she would be thirteen in my story which takes place three years later (I thought things might be more interesting if Eve was a pre-adolescent). From this simple, yet profound revelation I ended up having too many threads in this chapter then I would have liked, but it's manageable. Sorry for the long Author's Note and the tardiness in getting this chapter up. I have been busy with school and had writer's block for the longest time. I hope the wait was worth it. Enjoy.
* * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER THREE: MNEMOSYNE'S SONG
Situation Room, White House
Washington, District of Columbia
July 14, 2003 05:00 EST
Louis J. Freeh, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation navigated his way through the plethora of interns and secretaries to reach his destination - the Situation Room. Freeh hasn't been in the White House for quite some time, but he didn't need any directions or escorts to get where he needed to be.
The Situation Room was where the Department of Defense, the Head of the National Guards and other high ranking governmental officials meet to discuss emergencies that threaten National Security. As Director of the Bureau, he was not usually privy to these meetings. Yet on the rare occasion, like this one where he was invited he knew that something major was afoot.
He opened the door without knocking. Admirals, Generals, high governmental officials, and Relevant White House Staff looked up to silently greet him. That silent motion stopped the Military Police from kicking him out. He saw the President sitting at the head of the table, to his right the Secretary of Defense and his left the White House Chief of Staff.
"Ah, Director Freeh, now that you're here we can begin."
"I'm sorry for being tardy..."
"Understood." The President quickly dismissed. Freeh quickly went to the only available seat and quietly waited for the meeting to start. The President cleared his throat and took a deep sigh. "About zero seven hundred hours yesterday morning Eastern Standard Time, Patient Zero from the Gilgamesh Project escaped from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia."
"The Gilgamesh Project." Freeh blurted aloud. "I'm sorry I thought we deemed the project too risky and put an end to it." He was not normally this insubordinate to his superiors, to his Commander and Chief, but he was caught off guard.
"Officially, yes, but unofficially..." The Surgeon General responded with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"Do we know where Patient Zero was heading?" The White House Chief of Staff asked.
"We have a theory." A General spoke. "We suspected that Patient Zero was heading towards the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution for reasons yet unknown."
"I may have a theory." Freeh spoke out of turn. "One of our operatives, codename Hunter entered the National Air and Space Museum to retrieve the Xeno Stone for disposal as per order from the United Nations...Hunter failed."
"Was Hunter killed?" The Surgeon General asked with concern.
"No." Freeh quickly answered. "Hunter successfully retrieved the Xeno Stone, but was knocked out from behind, before she could get it out of the museum."
"Did Hunter see the perpetrator?"
"Yes." The director sighed. "At first I didn't believe it when I read it, but Hunter claims that the attacker looked like an alien."
"An alien?" The President asked with confusion. "I don't suppose when you say alien, you mean an immigrant." The President said with cold sarcasm.
"No, I mean an extra-terrestrial."
"Are you telling me that Hunter saw E.T. steal the Xeno Stone?" The President facilitated with a hint of anger and frustration in his voice. "What did he need the stone to phone home?"
"No wait sir, that makes sense." The Surgeon General quickly added. "If Hunter was hit hard on the back of the head where the nerves for sight is located in the brain than what Hunter perceived as an extra-terrestrial may have been in fact Patient Zero." The President seemed unconvinced. "Think about it, if Hunter saw a three feet green skin person - it describes Patient Zero's height and the green hue could be due to the fact..."
"All right." The President agreed, albeit reluctantly. "Do you know where the Xeno Stone now?"
"We're not sure." Freeh hated to admit that.
"What about Patient Zero?" The President asked.
"We're not sure." The General replied.
The President gave a frustrating sigh. "I want Patient Zero and that Stone found and destroyed." He ordered.
"Aye sir." One of the Generals responded. "Is Hunter looking for the Stone."
"No, Hunter was ordered to handle the situation in New York, but we do have agents looking for it." Freeh reported.
"I'm afraid that you may have a bigger problem Director." The President added.
"Oh?"
"It seems that Interpol wants to conscript Hunter to help with the epidemics happening all over the world." All eyes shoot up at the President. Everyone was surprised, and they had a right to be. "I know it's bad news, but the United Nations recognizes the international urgency and reluctantly gave Interpol's jurisdiction in this matter. Therefore, first thing tomorrow morning I am ordered to hand over Hunter to them." The President sighed.
"I understand." Freeh replied, still in shock. "I think it's the right idea and I don't want to sound selfish, but who would help out with our epidemic if Hunter is galloping around the world?"
"What about Nimrod?"
"Nimrod?" Freeh gasped. "That operative is too young and inexperienced."
"Has she received the proper training?"
"To some extent, but even if Nimrod was ready, the operative is still too young and inexperienced for a mission of this magnitude."
"I understand Director, but what do YOU suggest we do?" The President asked rhetorically. Freeh was speechless. "You are ordered to give Nimrod temporary F.B.I. status to help with our epidemic and the retrievals of Patient Zero and the Xeno Stone." The President said forcefully.
"Aye, sir." The Director sighed, agreeing reluctantly. "If you'll excuse me I have to make an urgent phone call."
"No problem." The President sighed. "We're done here, but I want updates every hour on the hour and we'll meet here again tonight at twenty-three hundred hours." The President ordered. "Dismissed."
The room quickly thinned as Freeh headed towards a private spot in the busy White House hallways. He pressed a series of eleven digits on his mobile phone and waited patiently for the person to answer.
"Baldwin here, this better be good." Eric Baldwin answered rudely.
Freeh looked at his watch and realized that it was nearly three o'clock in the morning in California. "Hal, this is Louis."
"Louis?" Baldwin retorted with a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "I'm sorry, it's just that..."
"There's no need to explain." Freeh quickly forgave. "I forgot that there is a three hour difference between California and D.C., but we have trouble."
"What is it?"
"I can't discuss it over the phone, but...NIMROD." Freeh said. The line went silent. "Hal? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah." Hal said breathlessly. "I'll be catching the first flight out of Los Angeles." Hal said.
"I'll see you soon." Freeh said hanging up the phone.
Brea's Motel Room
Washington, District of Columbia
05:00 EST
Aya found herself lying on a metallic table. The bright white light pained her eyes. Her heartbeat and the sounds of medical equipment were all she could hear. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She weakly said to the dark silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice sounded hollow.
"Yes sir." A different voice said.
"No." She weakly protested. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was sitting in a hospital bed feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed her, the whole room; her heart beat a faint background sound. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." The black doctor replied. He put a sticky substance on Aya stomach and than put a scanning instrument on top of it.
Aya shuddered from the cold of the metallic instrument as the doctor moved the instrument around. "I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier." Aya sighed.
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?"
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya sat up in bed, her heart in her throat. She was breathing very hard and her body was soaked with perspiration. She turned off the alarm clock and sat on her bed for a while. It took her sometime to get her bearings, she realized that she wasn't home, but in a motel room. "Just a dream." Aya sighed.
Aya went into her modest bathroom turning on the faucet. She took a deep sigh and splashed her face with the cold water. Her reflection in the mirror showed bags under her eyes; she hasn't been sleeping well. This was the first time she had this dream, but it seemed strangely more than that. That worried her. 'No, it's just a dream.' She tried to convince herself, albeit unsuccessfully.
Her teal eyes were shimmering invariably, glistening like blue green newborn stars. They ceaselessly radiate under any condition even when she looked like hell. Kyle had once told her that it was easy for any man to get lost in them, something she doubted ardently.
She reached out and touched the reflection of her left eye. 'Maya.' She reminisced. Aya realized a couple years ago that her left eye, the eye she required from her deceased sister, Maya, were two tints lighter. A difference so minutia that she almost missed it.
She headed towards the shower to start her day.
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington, District of Columbia
08:00 EST
It was a quiet morning. Aya and Broderick barely said three words to each other, not because they were tired, because they were, but because they had things on their minds. They had a quiet car ride to the airport and it seemed that they would have a quiet flight to New York.
They had gestures telling the world that they were worried, Broderick would stroke his goatee, while Aya would bite her lower lip. Broderick noticed his partner's apprehension. "A penny." Broderick said nonchalantly.
"What?" Aya asked coming out of her gaze.
"For your thoughts." Broderick explained.
"Oh," Aya sighed. "It's hardly worth that much." Aya smiled unconvincingly.
"Try me." Broderick smiled.
"It's rather silly." Aya sighed. "Just bad dreams."
"You too?" Broderick sighed.
"Tell me about yours." Aya probed.
"After you."
"I asked you first." Aya smiled.
"I had a dream about my late wife and daughter." Broderick sighed.
Aya knew that Rupert had lost his family during the Mitochondria Eve Revolution six years ago in New York City, but that was about it. During the past six years Rupert had not volunteered any information about his family. "Do you want to talk about it?" Aya asked futilely.
"Not really." Broderick sighed. "They're just dreams that would never come true." Broderick clarified.
"Yeah...I guess you dream of things you can't have." Aya sighed enigmatically, biting her lower lip as she gazed into the vista of seats.
"Care to explain that?"
"I had a dream that I was pregnant." Aya sighed.
"Why can't you have children?" Broderick instantly regretted asking the question as soon as it came out. "I'm sorry, that's none of my business."
"That's all right, Rupert." Aya sighed. "The reason I can't have any children is simple: I'm barren." She said above a whisper. "Doctors said that I was born that way."
"Care to talk about it."
"Not really." Aya sighed. Suddenly the flight attendant announced the boarding procedures to their flight came ringing through. Aya looked at her partner and returned the smile. "I guess we should be getting on our way." Aya hinted.
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. 'New York.' He thought. 'Why does it have to be New York?'
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, Georgia
10:00 EST
Director Freeh waited impatiently for Baldwin's flight to come in. He has been waiting for his friend for about two hours, ever since he got here. Then again, Washington D.C. is significantly closer to Atlanta than California, but Freeh, like most agents hated to wait - even if it was for a friend.
Freeh and Hal had been friends for a long time. They entered the Bureau roughly the same time and blazed ahead of their other classmates. Baldwin was even considered by the President to be the Director of the Bureau, but respectfully declined for reason still unknown to Freeh.
He walked towards the waiting area scanning for his friend. Baldwin was one of the first people out. Probably because he didn't bring any luggage and therefore didn't have to wait for it. They made eye contact and walked towards each other.
"Hello, old friend. It's been a long time."
"Yes it has." Baldwin smiled. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise." Freeh said.
"Now that the salutations are over, why is Washington so interested in Nimrod now?" Baldwin asked bluntly.
Freeh looked around to see if anyone was listening to their conversation. "Your questions would be answered, but not here. Come, let's grab some brunch."
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York
11:00 EST
The metallic table felt cold and sterile. The bright white light was the only thing she could see. The thumping of her heart echoed and the faint sound of medical instruments beeping were the only sounds she could hear. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She said to the silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice echoed.
"Yes sir."
"No." She weakly protested. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was transported to a hospital bed instantly feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed the whole room and her heart beat echoed in the background. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." Her doctor replied.
"I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier."
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?" Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya stood before a door, she opened it and walked through the threshold to see a black man sitting behind a desk. "Happy New Year, Doctor." Aya smiled.
"Happy New Year Aya." He smiled back. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Aya protested.
"Well according to your superior..." He said looking over his file. "Assistant Director Baldwin reports that you have been feeling ill?"
"It's just that I'm feeling faint and nauseous."
"In the morning?" He said with concern.
"Yeah." Aya recollected softly. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing, it's just a theory, but you may be pregnant."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hey sleeping beauty, wake up!" Broderick smiled.
"Where am I?" Aya said weakly.
"We just landed in New York." Broderick explained. "Dreaming again?"
"Yeah." Aya sighed. These dreams started to worry her.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine." She lied. "Com'on let's go." Aya said leading the way. "We have a mission to complete."
Brea and Broderick slowly walked through the prejudice aisles of the plane with some difficulty then through a series of corridors that they quickly meandered through. As they entered the waiting area, Aya was hit with a wave of nostalgia...
* * * * * * * * * *
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, New York
January 4, 1998 09:00 EST
"Godspeed." Dollis said. "The Department is going to miss you." He said giving her a hug.
"Thanks Bo, I'm going to miss you too."
"What about me?"
Aya smiled and got on one knee. "Oh, Ben." Aya smiled. "I'm going to miss you most of all." Aya said giving Ben a hug. "I'm counting on you to take care of your father."
"I will." Ben smiled. "And good luck in the F.B.I."
"Thanks." Aya smiled. She got up and headed down the line to where Kunihiko Maeda. "Good bye Dr. Maeda. I wish you well in your future endeavors." Aya said putting out her hand.
"Ah...before you go I have..."
"Please no more good luck charms." Aya smiled. "Honest I don't need them."
"No, it's not that...it's..."
"Oh sorry, that's my flight." Aya said hearing that it was last call for her to get on her plane. "I gotta go."
"But..." It was too late. She was out of hearing range. She would never know.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Aya!" A familiar voice echoed from the crowded airport.
Aya looked into the direction where the vice emanated. Aya was elated to see two familiar faces waiting for her. "Bo?" Aya smiled running towards him. Daniel "Bo" Dollis was Aya's partner during her short sojourn as an officer for the New York City Police. "It's so good to see you?" Aya smiled.
"Likewise." The forty-eight year old friend smiled.
"How did you know I was on this flight?" Aya asked.
"I have some friends in the Bureau that told me." A white, obese man replied. "It's good to be the Commissioner of police." Douglas Baker smiled. "You have friends in high places."
"Indeed." Aya smiled. "Let me introduce my partner, Agent Rupert Broderick. Rupert these are two good friends of mine Commissioner Douglas Baker and Detective Daniel Dollis."
"We've met." Broderick returned.
"Really?"
"Yeah, six years ago." Dollis said enigmatically. "And actually, it is captain now." Daniel corrected.
"Captain?" Aya was surprised. "I didn't think an old war-horse like you would sit quietly in a desk job?" Aya mocked.
"Yeah, well, ever since Lorraine died six years ago...walking the beat is too dangerous and I didn't want Ben to grow up an orphan." Daniel explained.
"I'm sorry." Aya smiled. "How is Ben?"
"I know that there's a temptation to catch up with old times, but we have more pressing matters at hand." Baker replied.
"You're right." Aya smiled. "Do we know the whereabouts of Dr. Robert Smith?"
"No we don't." Baker replied. "But we have men watching his office at N.Y.U. just in case he shows up there."
"Well, let's go." Aya said rushing out of the airport.
"Where are we going?"
"His office, there might be clues there to the whereabouts of Dr. Smith there."
"Our detectives went through that place with a fine tooth comb." Dollis defended.
"I know Bo, but there might be something that your detectives might have missed." Aya pointed out.
"Aya..." Dollis was interrupted by the static sound of his walkie-talkie. "Dollis here." He spoke into it. A garble of noise emanated from the instrument. "We'll be right there...with reinforcements." The last part of the statement was directed at Aya and her partner.
"What's wrong?" Aya asked.
"Mount Sinai had to be evacuated because of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures." Dollis explained ominously. "I figure that you..."
"Let's go." Aya said with determination.
Buckhead Diner
Atlanta, Georgia
12:00 EST
Eric Baldwin enjoyed Creole food. He tried to eat it every time he gets when he's in the South. The Buckhead Diner is a four star restaurant which is proud to offer the traditional Creole style food.
Louis Freeh had explained what happened in the Situation Room earlier that morning, that is almost everything, Patient Zero was keep confidential and Baldwin didn't have to know, at least not now. Freeh knew that Baldwin wouldn't take the news well.
"So we have no choice in the matter." Baldwin quietly said.
"I'm afraid not."
"Does Hunter know?"
"Not yet. We were hoping that you'll..."
"I'll do it." Baldwin answered. "I hate it, but I'll do it."
"I sympathize with you." Freeh sighed. "You know it's the right thing to do."
"Is it?"
"Hunter could save more lives this way."
"I know." Baldwin sighed. "But Nimrod is too young and inexperienced."
"I raised the same objections to the President, but we have no choice."
"You're right." Baldwin sighed. He took a lingering look at his old friend and realized that there was something off. "Why do I get the feeling that you're hiding something?" Baldwin asked scanning his friend's demeanor.
Freeh sighed. "Hal, there are some things that I can't tell you...at least not yet."
"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand." Baldwin sighed. "Let's pay a visit to Nimrod."
Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, New York
12:30 EST
Brea, Broderick, Dollis, and Baker quickly drove through the perpetual energetic city of New York. The city that never sleeps brought back memories both good and bad for the two F.B.I. agents.
Dollis took a sharp right turn and stopped his car in front of Mount Sinai Hospital. There was a police blockade preventing the populace from getting into the hospital. Dollis lead the team to the officer in charge. "Report."
"The patients in the intensive care unit and the infant ward has been rerouted to St. Mary's and St. Francis Hospitals. The last of the doctors are now existing the building as I speak." The officer replied.
"Any fatalities?" Dollis asked.
"No. Thankfully." The officer sighed.
"All right, we're going in." Dollis ordered.
"Sir?"
"That's an order." Dollis said sternly.
"Aye sir."
Daniel Dollis led the group, sans Douglas Baker towards the hospital with determination. "Daniel, where are you going?" Aya asked.
"Going in."
"Bo, Rupert and I can handle this." Aya explained loading her gun.
"Aya, you may need..."
"Don't make me pull jurisdiction on you." Aya pointed out. "Besides, I can never forgive myself if Ben ends up an orphan." She pleaded with her old friend.
"Then prepare to write me up." Dollis protested loading his gun.
Aya sighed. She knew that when Daniel gets this stubborn she couldn't do anything to change his mind. "Okay, you better not make me regret this."
"I won't." Dollis smiled.
"All right, let's go." Aya sighed. "You ready?"
"Yeah." Broderick loaded his Mongoose Magnum.
"Then let's go." Aya smiled.
They approached the automatic doors of the hospital and walked over the threshold when the doors silently opened. The smell of formaldehyde made Aya's knees weak and she saw flashback of her recent reoccurring dreams. Broderick caught her in his arms.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah...fine." Aya said weakly. 'Why is this happening to me?' She thought to herself. "Just got a little dizzy." Aya added nonchalantly.
"Are you sure?" Broderick asked.
"Yes, dad I'm fine." Aya mocked. "Com'on, let's get going."
"Lead the way."
The atrium of Mount Sinai was ominously still. The trio walked slowly and carefully across the atrium with Aya leading them. It was too quiet and Aya didn't like it. The cells in her body screamed. "There's something here." Aya reported.
The three formed a triangle and covered the 120-degree arc of their responsible vision. "I don't see anything." Broderick reported.
"Nor I." Dollis replied.
"Me either." Aya replied. "It HAS to be here." Aya insisted.
"Maybe you're wrong." Dollis suggested.
"Not with this." Aya stressed.
"Then if we don't see it, the only other place it could be is..." The trio looked above them and saw a giant spider crawling down its silk thread. Their eyes dilated. Simultaneously they dove away and turn on their backs and started shooting.
The spider gave an insect-like scream and fell on the ground motionless. The three got up ready to continue, but Broderick still shoot at it. "Rupert Stop!" Aya ordered. His gaze was fixated on the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature.
Dollis rushed behind him and stopped him. "It is dead man, let it go."
Broderick returned from his gaze. "I'm sorry." He said above a whisper. "I don't know what got into me."
"You okay?" Aya asked.
"Yeah." She didn't hear her partner replied. Her sixth sense went crazy; she turned around and saw three flies darting towards her. She raised her gun and heard three shoots being made under a silencer; destroying them before the missiles could come out of their mouths.
"Did anyone shoot?" Aya asked already knowing the answer.
"No." The men said in unison.
"Then who did?" Aya asked turning to her partners. In the distant she could see Kyle Madigan, her boyfriend. 'I'm going to kill him.' She thought. Kyle flashed his boyish smile as he walked towards the trio. "What are you doing here?" Aya demanded.
"Isn't obvious?" Kyle smiled. "I'm here to help you."
"Who is this Aya?" Dollis asked. "One of your operatives?"
"No." Aya sighed. "A civilian."
"How did he get through the police barricade?" Dollis asked.
"Please, don't make me laugh." Kyle smiled. "I've gotten through tougher fortifications - that police line was just a tiny obstacle."
"Who is this creep?" Dollis asked.
"Don't worry, he's just my boyfriend who should be in California."
"Kyle Madigan." He stuck out his hand towards Dollis.
"Daniel Dollis, captain of the men and women responsible for that 'tiny obstacle' out there." Dollis said bitterly.
"Sorry." Kyle boyishly smiled.
"Should I escort him out?" Dollis asked.
"No, Bo he could take care of himself." Aya sighed. "Rupert, why don't you partner with Kyle here." Aya suggested.
"Why?" Broderick asked. "Don't you want to be with your boyfriend?"
"No." Aya sighed. "Because right now the only people here who wants to kill him is Bo and I." Aya fumed.
"I'm sorry." Kyle smiled. "I did however cleared most of the first floor from Mitochondrion Creatures." Kyle offered as a peace offering.
"All right, you're forgiven." Aya leaned in and kissed him. "But you're still going with Rupert." Aya smiled. "Rupert you and Kyle take the stairs to the left and take care of the even number floors while Bo and I take these stairs and take the odd number floors, we'll meet on the sixth floor."
Brea and Dollis headed towards the right staircase and thanks to her sixth sense to detect Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures made the job rather simple. It felt like the good old days fighting side by side with her partner. Aya smiled to herself and remembered how safe and naïve she felt when she was with him. 'My how much I changed.' She thought as they reached the sixth floor, the floor where Dr. Robert Smith was kept under quarantine.
The Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures were insignificant in the hospital. Aya encountered a couple of flies and spiders on the way. The same ones that she fought in the National Air and Space Museum yesterday.
"We reached the sixth floor." Broderick reported through her intercom.
"We're on our way." Aya replied. Broderick and Madigan were waiting outside Smith's room. Brea and Dollis caught up to them. "What's wrong?" Aya asked with confusion.
"We can't get in." Kyle demonstrated, putting his hand beyond the threshold of the door. His hand glowed with fire and quickly retracted his hand.
Aya instinctively grabbed his hand to see if it was okay. She looked into his eyes and remembered that her two partners were present in the room. "You know you could have told me instead of doing that."
"Then how would I get you to kiss my wound?" Kyle smiled.
"You're incorrigible." She scoffed.
"That's why you love me." Kyle smiled.
"No that ain't it." Aya mocked back reloading her gun.
She broke through the biohazard warning and walked into Dr. Smith's room. The room was small and rather windy. She noticed that the window was open. 'That's probably how Dr. Smith got out.' Aya thought. She walked towards the window and looked down. 'Nobody could survive this fall.' She thought. 'No one human...that is.'
"What's going on in there?" Aya heard Broderick through the intercom.
"Nothing." Aya sighed. "It's surprisingly quiet." Aya wondered why her sixth sense wasn't activated. There was supposed to be a large and perhaps powerful Extra-Neo-Mitochondrion Creature nearby when a mitochondrion field was placed. 'Come out, come out, where ever you are.' Aya sung to herself.
Her wish came true. Suddenly her senses went crazy. Aya looked and saw a gigantic crow darting towards her. Aya swore to herself. "What's going on?" Broderick asked.
"I found our E.N.M.C." Aya said trying to duck away. She was too late the crow had grabbed her by her shoulders with it's claws and pulled her out of the window. The next thing Aya knew she was several hundred meters in the air. She swore again.
"Aya you're breaking up."
"There's good reason." Aya panted. "I'm approximately three hundred twenty-five meters in the air, heading south-south-east over the hospital." Aya reported.
"Don't do...thing...stupid." Broderick's voice got garbled.
"I'm sorry, Rupert." Aya said. "Can't hear you." She looked up and could only see the crow's stomach. She raised her gun and emptied her round. The crow screeched and dropped Aya.
Aya was in free fall. Wind brushing up her blonde hair. "Broderick if you can hear me, please meet me on the roof." Aya said calmly.
"Roger." Broderick's voice came loud and clear.
Aya landed on her feet and automatically rolled on the ground to lessen the blow. She automatically cast Metabolism and Healing; she could feel the cool, recuperating powers of the waters curing her of her paralysis and her broken bones.
Aya quickly circumspect the roof of the hospital and wondered where her gun has fallen. She spotted three meters to her left. Aya watch the crow and saw its eyes glowed diabolically red. The crow opened its mouth and shoot three fireballs towards Aya.
She somersaulted out of the way grabbing her gun in the process. She reloaded her gun and took aim. 'Too late.' Aya thought. She saw three more fireballs darting towards her.
After dodging the volley of fireballs Aya heard the crow scream with pain. In the distant she could see the men in her team shooting the crow. They triangulate their position around the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature. "Care to help us?" Broderick asked via the intercom.
"Love too." Aya smiled. She took aim with her gun and slowly the triangle surrounding the crow turned into a square. In no time the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature fell crashing to the ceiling, albeit with some reluctance.
The three men rushed towards Aya. "Are you all right?" They asked in unison.
"Fine, gentlemen." Aya smiled. She couldn't help being flattered by all the attention she was getting. "Dollis, tell your men that the hospital has been cleared of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures."
"Done." Dollis said leaving the roof.
"What are we to do now?" Madigan asked.
"WE'RE heading to Dr. Smith's office at N.Y.U. and you're..."
"Following you." Kyle smiled.
Aya chuckled to herself. She wasn't in the mood to fight. "You're so incorrigible." She said smiling.
"I know." Kyle smiled. "That's why you love me so."
"No, that isn't it." Aya mocked. "Com'on let's go." Aya escorted her partner and her boyfriend off the hospital roof.
Dr. Robert Smith's Office, New York University
New York, New York
13:30 EST
The four returned to New York University, to the building where Dr. Smith's office. Dr. Smith's Laboratory and Office was aristocratically and beautifully designed. Though the vain exterior was only skin deep. The halls of the building were ordinary and mundane, rather republican in nature. They headed to the top floor and entered his laboratory.
Aya walked through the laboratory and was shocked to see cages of monkeys were placed around the room. "What did Dr. Smith study?" Aya asked. Broderick and Madigan were curious about the same thing.
"He was a microbiologist and geneticist." Dollis replied. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason." Aya sighed. "It just explains the monkeys." Aya said teasing one of the monkeys. "I doubt that Dr. Smith has returned since his metamorphoses." Aya said.
"Why do you say that?" Dollis asked.
"These monkeys, their mitochondria is still dormant." Aya sighed. "Maybe you should remove these animals just in case they do mutate." Aya suggested.
"We've talked to the university, but we have to wait until they find a suitable place to place twenty monkeys." Dollis explained.
"The sooner the better." Aya sighed. "I would hate to kill them." She said, being lost in thought.
"The office is at the end of the laboratory." Dollis said, changing the tone of the subject. He led the trio through the labyrinth of cages and opened the door. "Here it is."
The quartet entered the messy, humble office. "What did your men do destroy the place?" Aya asked.
"No." Dollis smiled. "In fact our men tidy up a bit." Dollis sighed. "You should have seen it, before we came here."
"Scientists." Aya sighed. "Why are great minds always have messy offices?" Aya asked rhetorically.
"Aya come here." Broderick shouted from within.
She dashed towards her partner. "What is it?"
"This picture." Broderick said showing it to her.
"It's Smith and his..."
"Fiancée." Dollis answered. "She lives in Brooklyn."
"This is Coney Island." Aya said looking at the cute couple standing in front of the Ferris Wheel. "Have you talked to her?"
"Yeah." Dollis sighed.
"And his parents." Aya asked.
"Dead ends." Dollis sighed.
"How can a mitochondrion enhanced human eluded the entire New York Police Force." Aya asked rhetorically. She was frustrated and felt helpless. She hated feeling helpless. "Anything else?"
"No." Broderick sighed.
"Why don't we call it day." Aya suggested. "There's nothing we can do, but wait." Aya sighed.
"All right."
"Bo, I like to make the 17th Precinct, F.B.I. base of operation. That is...with your permission." Aya asked.
"No problem." Dollis sighed.
"Broderick, we should head..."
"Actually, Aya." Broderick interrupted her train of thought. "I have something to do...it's personal." Broderick explained. "I'll be there later...I promise...it's just that..."
"I understand." Aya smiled.
"Thanks." Broderick said giving a weak smile. "I'll see later this evening." Aya watched him leave the office in silence.
"What was that all about?" Dollis asked.
"Bad memories." Aya sighed.
"Why don't you and Kyle go on ahead." Dollis suggested. "I'll also have an errand to run." Dollis lied and Aya knew.
"Give him some time, okay Bo?"
"All right." Dollis smiled. "I'll see you at the 17th later."
"Yeah." Aya sighed.
"Hey you okay?" Kyle asked wrapping his arm around Aya's waist. He held her tight and smelled her hair.
"Yeah." Aya sighed.
"Do you know what that was all about?" Kyle asked.
"A common pain." Aya sighed. "Hey." Aya turned around with a smile. "Regardless of what I said before, I AM glad that you came to New York." Aya smiled, running her fingers through his dark brown hair.
"You mean you don't want to kill me anymore?" Kyle smiled, caressing her cheek.
"Of course I do." Aya smiled. "Just not right now." Aya leaned in and kiss him.
"I miss that." Kyle smiled.
"Me too." Aya sighed.
"I have an idea." Kyle smiled. "We blow this case and take the first flight to Tahiti and we can..."
"You know I can't do that." Aya sighed. "Though it was tempting."
"Really?" Kyle sounded surprised.
"No." Aya sighed. "You know how personal this case is to me."
"I do." Kyle sighed with false disappointment.
Aya smiled. "Don't be coy with me Kyle Madigan." Aya said ruffling his hair. "Com'on, we have to go."
National Center of Mitochondrion Control and Studies,
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia
14:00 EST
It was a beautiful day. Eve sat by her bay window looking through the two-sided mirror for her window. It was designed that way on purpose, she could look out, but people can't look in. She could never go out, she felt like a prisoner in her own home. This was her favourite place in the world.
'Home.' Eve scoffed. 'Do I really know what that means?' For most of her life Eve has been confined into a small room, keep secret from the world. She thought being liberated from Neo Ark in Dryfield, Nevada would mean freedom to her, but instead she was put in a bigger, fancier prison and still dead to the world.
The government reassured Eve that this was a halfway house, but to her it still felt like a prison. She had little freedom; the only place she could wander around is the confines of her prison. Which had a shooting range where Agent Jodie Bouquet teaches her techniques in using firearms; a small dojo where Agent Pierce Carradine teaches Eve the art of hand to hand combat; a gym to get in shape were added to the usual rooms located in a typical house.
When she was liberated from the Neo Ark she didn't know how to speak, read, write or do simple arithmetic so a halfway house was needed to assimilate herself to the world. Today, at thirteen years old, she had the ability to read and do mathematics at a third year collage level, thanks to her eidetic memory.
She may be an intellect academically, but socially she was totally inapt. Eve looked around her room and picked up her teddy bear sitting on her bed. It was the only object that reminded her about Neo Ark. "Hey Boko." She greeted poking at the bear's noise.
It was a tattered, old bear. Brown and missing an eye, the right one. Though it was old, she loved it. "How are you?" She asked not expecting an answer. "I'm bored...bored and lonely." Eve sighed. "I had that dream again...I know, it's a stupid dream...why is it that people dream about things they could never have?"
"You haven't touched your lunch." Agent Jodie Bouquet interrupted Eve's conversation with her teddy bear.
"I'm not hungry."
"What is it?" Agent Jodie Bouquet quietly asked. "Your dream." She added seeing confusion in Eve's face.
"My freedom." Eve replied, putting her teddy bear back on her bed. "To sit in a coffee house and watch the world go by, to go to a mall with my friends and spend money like crazy, to go to high school and try to dodge the teachers when we committed truancy, to fall in love, to kiss a boy, to live." Eve compassionate pleaded.
"I'm sorry." Jodie replied. "You can't have that...at least not now."
"Then when?"
"When you're ready."
"When will that be?"
"I don't know." Jodie said sympathetically.
"I feel like a prisoner here."
"You know that's not true."
"Then let me go out."
"You know I can't."
"Don't I have any rights?"
"No." Jodie bluntly answered. "The world thinks you're dead and..."
"Dead people don't have rights." They said in unison.
"If you all ready know the answer than why ask?" Agent Pierce Carradine asked leaning against the doorframe. He had been eavesdropping for some time.
"Can't blame a girl for trying." Eve smiled.
Carradine secretly smiled to himself. "Com'on, you have training." Eve groaned getting off the bed. "Eve you know the sooner you complete your training..."
"The sooner I'll get out." Eve completed Carradine's sentence.
"Don't be smart." Carradine sighed.
Eve was about to walk over the threshold when she bumped into someone. She was surprise, there wasn't suppose to be anyone else on the compound. "Hey watch where you're going?" Eve bellowed.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me Eve."
Eve recognized the voice. Her pupils dilated and her mood instantaneously took a polar opposite turn. "Uncle Hal?" Eve smiled giving the man a hug.
"Does this mean I'm forgiven?"
"Yeah." Eve smiled. "Did you bring Aya?"
"No, but do you want to see her?"
"Do I?" Eve gleefully smiled. "Oh, yes." Eve said jumping up and down. She couldn't contain her excitement of the news.
"Hal what's going on?" Jodie asked.
"She's NEEDED." Baldwin ominously replied.
"She's not ready."
"That's irrelevant." Freeh said. "The president has called her into service."
"Who are you?" Jodie asked with disrespect.
"Agent Jodie Bouquet, I like to introduce you to Director Louis Freeh, Director of the Bureau." Baldwin introduced. "Over there is Agent Pierce Carradine."
"I...I'm sorry." Jodie was flabbergasted.
"That's all right agent. I understand your frustration." Freeh quickly dismissed. "So this is Nimrod. You're right Hal, she is young."
"My name is Eve and I'm thirteen!" She protested.
"My apologies." Freeh smiled. "So are you ready to see your sister, EVE?" Freeh said stressing the usage of her given name.
"Yeah." Eve smiled. "Where are we going?"
"New York." Baldwin answered ominously, but to Eve it sounded magical.
New York Memorial Monument
New York, New York 15:00 EST
Rupert Broderick approached the humble monument with two stems of red roses in his hand. It was a simple monument, it resembles the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, but smaller. Broderick walked through the names of the people who tragically lost their lives during the Mitochondria Eve Revolution six years ago. 'Six long years.' Broderick thought to himself.
He walked through the wall of names looking for two particular names. 'Brant, Brock...' He read to himself. 'Ah...Broderick.' He found them: Emily and Rachael Broderick, his wife and daughter. He placed the roses on the ground before their names and slowly got up and brushed his fingers across the ebony marble where their names were carved. "Why?" Broderick asked, his voice cracked at the simple, yet profoundly difficult question. He closed his eyes and allowed a tear escape.
* * * * * * * * * *
Broderick Residence
New York, New York
December 25, 1997 05:00 EST
"Merry Christmas!" A serendipitous little girl ran through the doors of her parent's bedroom. She jumped on their bed waking them up in the process.
"What time is it?" Rupert asked.
Emily raised her father's arm to read his watch. "The big hand is at the three and the little hand is at the five." She said reading the clock's face. "It's...five fifteen." She slowly calculated in her head. "Wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
"Come on, Rachael honey let's get up." Rupert moaned.
"I'll go put the coffee on." His wife replied.
"Can I open my presents?" Emily asked, her big brown eyes twinkled with excitement, that only Christmas morning could bring.
"Yeah, just wait for me." Rupert sighed putting his robe on, letting his daughter lead the way downstairs.
* * * * * * * * * *
Rupert Broderick was leaning against the wall watching his daughter opening her presents. The joy on her face dwarfed the mess that she was making all over the living room. There were scraps of decorative papers and ribbon all over the base of the Christmas Tree; it was like a tornado ran through the house.
"I think you missed one." Broderick said smiling.
"Where?" Emily said scavenging the mountain of papers.
"Have you checked behind the tree?" Rachel Broderick, her mother suggested. "Here's your coffee." She offered her husband the mug.
"Thanks." Rupert smiled taking a sip. "Hmm...this coffee tastes different." Rupert noted. "What did you put in here?"
"Eggnog, I thought I'll be festive..."
"Rachel!" Rupert protested spitting out the coffee.
"It's non alcoholic." Rachel reassured. "I know the Bureau doesn't allow their agents to be intoxicated when on duty." She replied bitterly.
"I HAVE to work."
"On Christmas?"
"Honey, I don't control when deals goes down." Rupert rationalized.
"I know. I know." Rachel sighed. "I just hate it when you have to work...Organized Crimelords are so dangerous...I just don't want to hear that you died doing your duty."
"Honey, I promise this is the last mission."
"That's what you said about the last mission."
"This time it's not an empty promise." Rupert said reassuring his lover. "Robert is being promoted in the New Year, and he said that he'd promote me to assistant director when he does."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Rupert sighed. "It was suppose to be your Christmas present." A car from outside honked its horn. "That's my ride. I gotta go." Rupert said giving his mug of coffee back. He grabbed his blazer and quickly dashed out of the house.
"Don't forget to meet us at Central Park tonight for the concert!" Rachel yelled at her husband.
* * * * * * * * * *
Central Park
New York, New York
20:00 EST
Rupert heard that there was an attack at Central Park - at the concert, where Rachel, his wife was. "Please be all right." He said to himself. He checked his rearview mirror and did a sharp left turn and stopped the car behind a police car parked in front of it. He got out and quickly ran towards the entrance.
"Police! You can't go in there."
"F.B.I.!" He said showing his identification.
"But..." The policeman tried to stop him, but was unsuccessful.
Broderick felt his hand combust into flames. "What the..."
"I tried to warn you." The policeman sighed.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know what it is that's keeping us out, but my partner is inside. She'll take of it." The policeman sighed, sitting on the curb. "You have someone in there?"
"Yeah, my wife and daughter. You?" Broderick said joining him.
"My wife, actually ex-wife."
"I'm sorry."
"You and I both." The policeman smiled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"It's Dollis, Detective Daniel Dollis."
* * * * * * * * * *
"I thought you might be here." Dollis said.
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "Did you know that I never said 'I love you' to her when I left that morning." Broderick allowed a tear to roll down his cheek. "I always says it, but that morning...God! Why didn't I say it."
"I'm sorry...I don't know what to say."
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "She's been nagging me for years to get a desk job. I was a week shy from being promoted to assistant director of the organized crime unit - a desk job...She was convinced that I would die before she did, because of..."
"Your job." Dollis filled in the blanks. "Yeah, that's why Lorraine and I divorce, she couldn't handle being a wife to a police officer. I can't really blame her..."
"She didn't pester you to get a desk job?"
"She did." Dollis sighed. "But I was too stubborn to let life on the beat slip away. Ironic isn't? Ever since Lorraine died, getting a desk job is all I could think about." Dollis sighed.
"You have to take care of your boy...Ben was it?"
"Yeah." Dollis sighed. "Sometimes I wish that I was there in Central Park instead..."
"I have the same feeling too." Broderick sighed. "Some times I wish I was there with them."
"Is that why you joined M.I.S.T. and threw your promotion away?"
"Yeah." Broderick sighed. "I needed to do something..."
"I know." Dollis sighed. "I wanted to join M.I.S.T. too, but..."
"Ben?"
"No...I realized that no matter how many Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures I killed it won't bring Lorraine back."
"Are you trivializing my life?"
"No...we must deal with grief in our own way." Dollis sighed. "I just want to know why you're doing this, because if it's out of guilt, anger, or revenge it's no way to live."
"It's not." Broderick protested. "I'm doing this because I don't want the same thing to happen to someone else."
"Is that why you kept shooting at the Neo-Mitochondrion Creature after it was long dead in the hospital earlier?" Dollis asked. Broderick remained silent. "Was that out of guilt, anger, or revenge?"
"I'm not sure." Broderick finally sighed.
"Come let's rescue my precinct from your partner." Dollis smiled.
"Then what?"
"Have some dinner at my place and sleep on your answer." Dollis suggested.
"Thanks. I think I'll take you up on it." Broderick said leaving.
"Wait." Dollis said behind him. He pulled out a long stem red rose and walked a couple paces down to where his ex-wife's name was carved. He touched the name on the black, obsidian marble and placed the rose before her name. "Now I'm ready." Dollis smiled.
N.Y.P.D. 17th Precinct
New York, New York
15:00 EST
Aya stood in front of the humble police station and looked at the modest features. After spending six years in a fancy and high tech building that the Bureau keeps coming back to her old stomping grounds made her wonder how she could survive without the latest technologies.
"Com'on Aya, let's go in." Kyle whined.
"In a minute." Aya sighed, still looking at the building. She was fixated at the building. She remembered thinking six years ago that this building was huge. Now it seemed somewhat small.
"Aya?" A familiar voice broke her gaze.
She turned to meet the person who called her. "Wayne? Is that you?" Wayne Garcia was the responsible for the weapons storage six years ago.
"In the flesh." He smiled giving her a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"There are Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures running around New York City and you ask..."
"Okay, okay, dumb question." Garcia raised his hands in defense. "Who's the jealous looking guy?"
Aya turned to where Garcia was looking. "Oh, that's Kyle, my boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you." Garcia smiled. "I'm Detective Wayne Garcia."
"Kyle Madigan." He introduced shaking his hand. "I assumed you worked with Aya six years ago?"
"That's right." Garcia smiled. "Com'on Bo would be so happy to see you."
"He's not in and I'm not here for pleasure." Aya reported. "I'm here to make this place head of oppressions for the F.B.I. while the threat of Neo-Mitochondrion Creatures are here."
"Well come on in." Garcia smiled. "I'm sure that no one inside would object to your proposal." Garcia led Aya and Kyle up the steps of the station. "Hey that's an interesting looking gun." Kyle smiled.
"Don't you start." Aya smiled.
Wayne Garcia was right; those that knew Aya six years ago accepted her authority and those that didn't heard her name through reputation. It was a smooth transition. Aya, Kyle, and Wayne worked for three long hours.
"Hey partner, how's it coming?" Broderick announced waltzing in with Dollis.
"Good timing." Aya smiled. "I'm just about finished."
"I have a surprise for you." Dollis hinted.
"A surprise? Really?" Aya smiled with a hint of excitement. "What is it?"
"Come on in." Dollis bellowed into the hallway.
A tall, black pre-adolescent, man walked through. "Hi Aya." He smiled.
He looked familiar. "Ben?...Is that you?" She asked.
"Yeah." He smiled back.
"My how you've grown. You must have shot up about two feet since I last saw you." Aya smiled. "Come on, give me a hug." Ben walked towards her and gave her a bear hug. "My you look so handsome...you probably broken many girl's heart." Aya teased.
"Not really." Ben replied, blushing at the statement.
"How old are you? Twelve? Thirteen?"
"Thirteen." Ben smiled.
"So are you done?" Dollis asked interrupted Aya's memories of the boy.
"Yeah, just about. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking that all of you would join us for dinner."
"We couldn't impose." Aya smiled.
"Aya. I'm not letting you eat or sleep in some hotel." Dollis protested. "You deserve some home cooking."
Aya recognized that same stubborn look and knew that she couldn't do anything to change his mind. "All right." Aya smiled. She picked up her jean jacket and left the captain's office. "Oh, by the way, what are we having for dinner?"
"I don't know...I think of ordering a pizza." Dollis sighed.
"That's home cooking?" Aya asked.
"It is in the Dollis' house." Ben smiled.
The Plaza
New York, New York
18:00 EST
"Wow, this is so beautiful." Eve said with wide eyes looking out the balcony of her hotel room. Eve wanted a room on the highest floor so she could see more of the city.
"It is called Central Park." Carradine said smiling at Eve. 'It was good to see her happy.' He thought.
"Not just that." Eve smiled. "The whole city...it's breathtaking." Never in Eve's life had she seen so many people in one place, she had read how big and busy New York City was, but she didn't think that she would ever see it in person.
"She must be deranged if she loves New York City." Jodie sighed.
"Lay off her Bouquet." Carradine defended.
"That's okay, Pierce." Eve sighed. "Jodie was joking." Eve was one of the few people that Jodie knew that understood her dry sense of humour. "Hey, where's Aya?" Eve was so excited that she forgot that Aya was in the very same city she was in.
"She's at work." Bouquet replied.
"Yeah, don't worry." Carradine smiled. "You'll see her tomorrow."
"I can't wait to see her again." Eve smiled. "I'm too excited. I don't think I could sleep tonight." Eve said with excitement. Carradine noticed that she full of adrenaline. Something that he hasn't seen in Eve in a long time.
Carradine and Bouquet looked at each other solemnly. They knew what was going to happen in the morning. They knew that Eve's reunion would be short lived. It was a damming cold silence and Carradine didn't like it. "I'm cold, let's go in." Carradine suggest.
"Actually...I think it might be wise if we wait." Jodie stopped his flight. "Hal is talking to Louis in there and I think he wants to be alone with him."
"Yeah?" Eve asked with interested. "I wonder what they're talking about."
"You and I both." Bouquet sighed looking in.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Are you sure that you could handle things at this end?" Freeh asked packing.
"Yeah." Baldwin sighed. "I don't think Hunter would like it, but she would come to embrace this plan." Baldwin stalled.
"Good." Freeh sighed. "I have to go back to D.C. to speak to the President by twenty-three hundred hours."
"Louis before you go." Baldwin sighed. "Back at the National Center of Mitochondrion Control and Studies..."
"Yes?" Freeh asked.
"Why is there some places in the center that I don't have access to?"
"That's confidential."
"Louis. I'm the director of Mitochondrion Investigation and Suppression Team. I should know everything that happens under my jurisdiction!" Baldwin demanded. "What IS going on?"
"I can't tell you." Freeh said. "I'm sorry."
"Louis you and I have been friends a long time." Baldwin sighed. "Please tell me what's going on...off the record."
"I can't." Freeh sighed. "I'm sorry Hal. Look I really have to go."
"Yeah." Baldwin sighed. "At least let me drive you to the airport. Our time together is short and I don't know when we'll see each other again."
"I like that." Freeh smiled.
Dollis' Residence
New York, New York
23:00 EST
Aya felt cold on the metallic, operation table. The bright white light above her blinded her. "What are you doing to me? What's going on?" She said to the silhouette.
"Anesthetize her." The voice echoed.
"Yes sir."
"No." She weakly protested. White.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya lay in her hospital bed feeling rather nervous. White light encompassed the whole room and her heart beat echoed in the background. "Aya, How are you feeling?" A tall dark man entered.
"Fine." Aya smiled. "I'll feel better if my boyfriend could be here for this." Aya sighed with frustration. "I wish I could tell him about my situation."
"I understand, but this is a highly sensitive area and your condition must be kept top secret." Her doctor replied.
"I know doctor." Aya sighed. "It just doesn't make it any easier."
"I'm sorry." The doctor sighed. "It has to be this way."
"I know." Aya sighed.
"Do you want to know the sex of the child?" Again white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya stood before a door and opened it walking through the threshold to see a black man sitting behind a desk. "Happy New Year, Doctor." Aya smiled.
"Happy New Year Aya." He smiled back. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Aya protested.
"Well according to your superior..." He said looking over his file. "Assistant Director Baldwin reports that you have been feeling ill?"
"It's just that I'm feeling faint and nauseous."
"In the morning?" He said with concern.
"Yeah." Aya recollected softly. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing, it's just a theory, but you may be pregnant."
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya found herself in a comfortable hospital bed. She felt pain from an operation. A white man entered her room with a chart.
"How are you feeling Aya?"
"Who are you? Where's my doctor?"
"He's...ill." He said.
Aya had a feeling that he was lying. "I'm still in pain. What happened?"
"Do you remember anything?"
"No."
"You had an accident, your child was in danger, we had to perform an emergency Caesarian Section..."
"My child." Aya gasped.
"She didn't make it." The doctor sighed. "I'm sorry. There's more."
"What?" Aya said with tears.
"I'm afraid that you can't have children again."
"What?" This time she said with shock.
"There were complications in the surgery and we were forced to do a hysterectomy." The doctor replied. Then there was white.
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya was back on the metallic table again. This time she was semi-conscious and all she saw was flesh red, caused by the bright light above her through closed eyelids.
"I can't do this!"
"You have your orders."
"It's unethical. I won't do this."
"Then I hate to do this. By order of the President you are under arrest and relive of duty! Do it!"
"Aye sir."
"Now let's proceed with the operation."
"You mean experiment."
"Doctor I could relieve you as well!"
"No." The young doctor sighed. "Let's proceed."
"Doctor, she's still conscious."
"Resilient isn't she?" Aya could hear him smile. "Anesthetize her."
* * * * * * * * * *
Aya shoot up in her bed. Her heart was beating hard. "What's wrong?" Kyle asked, still half asleep.
"I'm fine Kyle." She panted. "Just go back to sleep."
'What IS going on?' Aya thought. 'These weren't dreams...they felt more real...the smells...the sounds.' Aya got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a cold slice of pizza. She took a bite and contemplated what was going on.
"Hey Aya." Kyle's voice came tiredly behind her. "Phone. It's your boss."
'Hal? Why is he calling so late?' Aya thought to herself. "Thanks Kyle." She grabbed the mobile phone. "Brea. What is it Hal?"
"It is imperative that you and Agent Broderick come to the Plaza Hotel in New York City at zero eight hundred hours tomorrow morning." Baldwin ordered.
"Why?" Aya asked with confusion.
"I didn't want to do this over the phone, but...you've been reassigned."
"What?" Aya said in shock.
"Just come...YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS!" Baldwin hung up the phone.
Aya suddenly felt weak. She had another flashback of her dreams. "You okay?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah...fine. Just a headache." Aya lied.
"I'll get some aspirin."
"Thanks." Aya sighed. 'Why am I having these flashbacks...first it was the hospital and now when Baldwin said...' Aya gasped. She know the meaning behind her dreams, they were her memories.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to the Parasite Eve Genre (specifically Parasite Eve and Parasite Eve II (video game)) is not my invention and is the property of Square. [2] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clause and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.