Tonight Jose Sleeps In Hell Chapter: 2

Tonight Jose Sleeps In Hell Chapter: 2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This chapter is pretty late because of my mid-year examinations and activities. The next few episodes would come faster as the June holidays are starting soon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meridiana

Time: 1800hrs

The sun was setting; it's last rays of light turning the cobbled brick pavements and houses from its unique shades of yellow and brown into orange and red, the other half of the sky was a darkening shade of blue, signifying the takeover of night. Caryn was leaping over single houses stretch along the hillside. She marveled at how she could leap and jump for distances, and at how each one was performed with grace and skill of an expert sports athlete. Landing at last in her backyard that had a clear view of the Meridianan coast and sea. Taking a last look at that beautiful sight, Caryn sighed and pushed aside the glass door and stepped into the living room. She then noticed conversation and light coming the dining room. Caryn stuck her head out into the hall trying to see the people in the dining room.

"Caryn were have you been? I've been worried sick."

Mrs. Amato had just come out from the dining room as though she knew Caryn was hiding there for an hour.

"Um… I had some research work in the library to do…er… that's why I came home late."

Stuttered Caryn, who was looking guilty but trying her best to look angelic. Mrs. Amato stared at her for a second.

"Okay, next time try to come home early, Meridiana is not a safe place to be for 18 year old teenage girl. We have a guest staying with us for a week. Time for dinner."

Caryn followed her mother into the kitchen and help bring out a bowl full of mashed potatoes with sauce into the dining room. The mysterious guest turned out to be Caryn Aunt, Kayla Diedrich. Her Aunt gave her a small smile.

"Hi Caryn, hadn't seen you for a while, my, you've grown big."

Caryn gave a hug to her Aunt and sat down at her usual place at during meals.

Dinner was excellent; Caryn's mother was a marvelous cook, despite being a literature teacher.

"Kayla, I hope the flight in was pleasant."

"Yep, it was. The only nuisance was that the airport is far from here. I had to spend five hours non-stop in a taxi to get to Meridiana. Anyway, I happy being with family after staying in crowded NY."

"You're on a business trip?"

"Well, no. Any longer in the office and I'm going to explode!"

Aunt Kayla laughed as she sipped her coffee.

"Only a week here, sister?"

"Yeah. Hey, even though I'm in the board of directors, I still need to do lots of paper work."

Caryn looked at her aunt and wondered whether there was a time when her mother and aunt were ever like this when they were teens, lively and playful, caring more about life than work.

"Oh, Caryn, after thinking, I'm not buying your excuse. What were you busy with? Come on, I'm your mother, I'm not going to eat you."

"Err… I don't know how to say this… When I was walking home, I…jumped…four levels straight up."

Everyone from her father to her aunt looked in deblief.

"But how…" Said her mother.

"I know, it sound s silly and…"

But her aunt cut Caryn short and gave a look to her mother; Don't let the cat out of the bag.

Aunt Kayla turned towards Caryn, the expression was mixed, it somehow looked like a person who couldn't believe that something had happened and who was trying to be business-like.

"Did anyone see you, Caryn?"

"No one."

"Good, don't do this ever again. Never."

Caryn looked confused. "Why? Am I special? Are they hiding something from me?"

The room was full of conversation again like it never happened at all.

Soon…

"Time to go back to your room to pack your stuff for tomorrow."

Her aunt gave her a strange look, her face was calm and her eyes were bright. She gave Caryn a last smile and walked out of the dining room, disappearing from view with her parents.

Caryn pushed open her room door and dropped onto the bed. She stared at the framed photo her parents had taken with her when she was six-years old. "Did they know since I came into this world? Or they're just and truly clean, not knowing what is happening? Are they different from other people? OR AM I different from them? This is weird…"

Caryn buried her head in a pillow; feeling like the whole world was against her. She didn't notice Mrs. Amato entering and sitting down beside her.

"Honey, I know what you think, when people act a little different when you are around doesn't mean that they hate you. I think it's time for you to know about your aunt and my little secret."

Caryn sat up and looked wearily at her mother.

"What's so fabulous about that?" Said Caryn sarcastically.

"It'll answer all of your questions, dear. Follow me." Replied her mother as she led her daughter out of the room.

A minute later…

"Why are we outside?" Said Caryn shivering as she stood out in the backyard.

"Well, do what I told you, follow me."

And with that, Mrs. Amato soared into the sky and landed on top of a house two houses away.

"What the…?"

"Okay Caryn, try and leap onto the same roof that I'm standing on."

"Here goes nothing."

Caryn reversed and started her run across the backyard. At the last moment she leaped, propelling herself with her long and coltish legs. Surprisingly, Caryn sailed high up into the air, her long and shiny raven-black hair shining and trailing in the moonlit night. Unfortunately, she overshot the rooftop she was supposed to land on. Gravity started doing its work until a dark figure shot past her, grabbing her outstretched arms, the black figure pulled the failing Caryn back onto the rooftop. The figure turned out to be her aunt.

"You should be more careful, I may not be there to save you neck again. Control your leap."

Caryn looked at her mother and aunt dumbstruck.

"You both can… I mean…you both have supernatural powers. Why didn't you tell me?"

Aunt Kayla sighed and shook her head.

"We were afraid that you may not accept what we are and most importantly… whether you could keep it a secret after we confessed to you."

Caryn glanced at her mother. She had never seen her mom looking so tired before. Her mother was one of the most energetic and tolerant people she ever knew. Her mother spoke up.

"Your aunt and I aren't…natural, we were… a lab experiment that went wrong. We had a creator, by the name of Von Richter. He created 4997 other brothers and sisters. All in all, there were 5000 of us, we were known as the Cyberseries. One day, when we were around 9, Von Richter felt that we were too "human". Von Richter is an evil man, twisting life to suit his needs for world domination. I managed to escape but your aunt was not so lucky. She was massacred by Von Richter but was later resurrected by his lab assistant, who died later when Von Richter was covering up tracks. The only disadvantage we have is that we need neon green organic acid called "Sustenance" to survive. But you on the other hand, are different, you have Cyber powers and you need not consume sustenance."

"You said that 4997 Cybers died, that's you and aunt and who else?"

Suddenly, there was a ground shaking roar and a giant panther landed nimbly and heavily in front of them, growling and baring its inch-long teeth. Caryn backed away from the panther, terror written over her face.

"Whoa, Data 7, she's not an enemy!" said Mrs. Amato

The panther became quiet but still looked at Caryn as though she was still dangerous.

"What is that… that thing? Caryn stammered as though the weather was cold.

Her mother just laughed.

"He is the third Cyber that escaped."

"Then why is he a giant cat? I thought Cybers were humanoid?"

"That's because… he was hurt when… we were young. Well he tried to pick some flowers for me on a cliff face but…"

"He fell?"

"Exactly, Von Richter placed his brain into the body of a panther." Explained Mrs. Amato sadly

"Um… one more question… did you all have call names or something, 'cause you called him Data7?"

"Yep, he used to be called Cyber 29, I used to be called Cyber 6 and your aunt was used to be called Cyber 338. We stop using those names a long time back."

Aunt Kayla suddenly spoke up.

"Caryn, the reason why we are telling you this is because it is much safer that you know what and why this is happening to yourself. If we didn't and you gave yourself away, well… we would be asking some awkward questions in a hospital by now. I hope you will understand the seriousness of this matter. You are NOT to tell anyone about your powers except to your parents and I, you heard me. NOT even to your best friend."

Her aunt took another breath and she looked at Caryn in her usual cheerful mood.

"I'm happy and proud that you got those powers. Use them wisely and you'll be able to help others besides yourself."

The three females and the panther disappeared into the night. Leaving only the cold wind and empty streets behind.

The Pentagon, Washington D.C

Time: 2000hrs

The offices in the District of Colombia had long since gone quiet after the end of the day's work shift. The only people that remained were cleaners, watchdogs, night watchmen and… the high-ranking civil servants of the department of defense. The Pentagon had no work shifts. The Pentagon was opened 24 hours, monitoring the nation's security every second, minute, day, month and year non-stop, knowing that danger may loom in a second, anytime, anywhere.

"We lost contact at 1623hrs with 5 of our Meridiana CIA agents who were tasked with looking for Jose, we found their bodies two hours later in a dumpster."

General Jack H. Cooper's words had little impact on his other colleagues.

"So what now? Jose has managed to get past natural selection, so what the hell would he do now?" asked Admiral Richard Collins.

"Most probably, he'll mass an army and try to take over Meridiana so as to stop a coastal invasion force from us or NATO."

The words belonged to Major General Fredrick Williams; his face showed signs of ageing in the battlefield and his hair was white, yet it still was kept in the uncanny G.I style; short and straight. His eyes had not lost the fire of his youth and it still burned with energy and anger.

"One more thing: How the hell are we suppose to tell that nosey CIA director Foley that 5 of his agents suddenly croaked on a mission to look for a criminal?" announced Admiral Richard Collins.

"We just tell him to shut the hell up and go ask the president." Sneered General Alexander Bennett.

"Speaking of which, here he comes." Said General Jack H. Cooper as a middle-aged man in a business suit burst into the conference room.

"People, I demand to know what happen to my men and who the hell where they looking for." Demanded Adam K. Forley, CIA director.

"Fuck off Forley, we don't need your big nose right now." Snarled General Alexander Bennett.

"I want answers! Not bloody excuses!" Threatened Foley looking angrily at the general.

"You have to obtain presidential clearance before we allow you into this matter, until then, this remains a classified military operation. Foley, you are requested to leave this room now." said General Jack H. Cooper.

"I'll be back, I'll make sure you all get it!" Screamed Foley as he backed out of the conference room.

"With dick-headed bureaucrats like him in the government, who needs enemies?" Said Admiral Richard Collins in open defiance.

"Back to the subject guys, I don't like a criminal who can get enough support in a few hours just to kill 5 CIA agents tracking him. Fred's right, he could raise an militant group in days and an army if given a month." General Alexander Bennett.

Suddenly, A colonel burst into the room with a video tape.

"Sir, we found this tape among post and it's addressed to "the highest pentagon officials."

"Well, play it!" Hollered Admiral Richard Collins.

The tape started playing and a room came into view, standing in front of the camera was the dirty and haggard looking but triumphant Jose.

"Generals and admirals of the United States of America, I have eliminated some of your… pesky civil servants, if you attempt to send more, rest assured, their fates would be sealed. I have a Russian VX ICBM warhead, it has enough chemical payload to bathe a continent. If my demands are not fulfilled, I shall fire this missile randomly at any country that comes into my mind. You have 4 days to send me 50 billion US dollars all in 5, 10 and 25 denominations. Until then, do not try to send a convert assault team such as your delta force or seal teams six to get me. I will be prepared.

The tape ended and an eerie silence echoed through the conference room, the only sound that was heard was the air-conditioning.

Admiral Richard Collins broke the silence.

"Hot damn! Nobody threatens the US of A unless they wanted they balls bitten off, send a convert assault team indeed! I'll send the entire fucking US Army, Navy and air force after this son of a bitch!

"Good idea, we'll show him that when it comes down to slogging it in the battlefields, we're the experts!" Thundered General Alexander Bennett.

"Okay guys, let's get this show on the road. Gather together as much forces that we can muster. Max speed, boys! 48 hours doesn't last forever!