29th Oct 2003
Sisters
Set during "She Aint Heavy"
Ames' thoughts.
San Francisco.
Evening.
Special Agent in Charge Ames White, Special Agent Otto Gotliebb and eight other agents were strategically positioned outside an apartment, ready to move in on Ames' signal. When Ames gave the word, the agents burst in through the front door and the balcony window, their weapons drawn.
452 reacted immediately, she
grabbed one of the agents, then threw him across the room. Another agent quickly
used a taser on her, whilst another agent punched her adult male companion. With
the occupants subdued, Ames swiftly entered the apartment.
"Mom!" A very scared young boy
yelled.
"Get him and the kid out
of here." Ames ordered. Mom? She's bred?
That's all I need, the blasted freaks breeding!
"No!" 452 yelled. She struggled as the agents kept tasing her.
"Mom!" The boy yelled again, frantic at his
parents being hurt.
"You're a long way from your usual haunts."
Ames said sarcastically. See how you like
me, taking your son!
"What are you talking about?" 452 asked
totally confused.
"Dad!" The little boy yelled.
The agents quickly handcuffed
her, some of them then remove her husband and tearful son.
"You really think you could hide from me, 452?"
Ames asked, his voice dripped with sarcasm. Not
After you took my son!
"Oh, God." Was 452's only reply.
"What, no witty rejoinders today?" Ames drolly
responded. What's wrong with her? Usually
you can't shut her up!
"My designation is 453." The woman told the
agents.
"What?" Ames said incredulous. No! She can't be! Not a blasted clone! Damn
it! She's lying! She's got to be! I want my son back!
"453." The woman firmly repeated
Ames swiftly moved over to
her, and he forced her to her knees, then he roughly checked her barcode.
"I can't believe this." He said scowling fiercely. Damn
it! She is a blasted clone! Damn Manticore! Damn Sandeman! Senile old fool!
"What's wrong?" Otto asked in concern not
liking the expression upon his boss' face.
"It's not her." Ames stiffly informed
him. Blasted
freaks! I want to torture 452! Not some copy!
"It isn't?" Otto asked, he was completely
dumbfounded.
"It's a clone." Ames testily informed him. Do I have to spell it out for you! You
idiot! I'm surrounded by idiots! Stupid humans!
"A clone?" Otto stated, still not following.
"Get her out of here." Ames ordered, not
bothering to reply to Otto's query. And
stop repeating what I say, you blasted
echo!
The next day.
Seattle
NSA H.Q
An Eyes Only broadcast is running.
Ames watched the broadcast whilst some specialists sat at their computers,
attempting to figure out Eyes Only's location. Garcia was also in the room
overseeing the specialists.
('Lately every crime,
every act of violence committed on our city streets is being blamed on
transgenics...' Eyes Only stated.)
"Sixty seconds enough
time for a trace?" Ames asked one of the specialists. I want that pest!
"When he gets started on this whole transgenic
thing, sometimes he goes over." Johannsen replied.
"Keep rambling, pal." Ames said, in a
sarcastic tone, to the television screen. I
want my son! Wendy called you! You called that freak! I want Ray!
('Don't believe the hype. This
has been an Eyes Only streaming freedom video bulletin. Peace. Out.' Eyes Only
said then ended his broadcast.)
"Damn. A few more seconds and we would have
had him." Johannsen complained.
"Remind our Korean friends that if they don't
come through, they don't get paid." Ames ordered his subordinate. Damn
it! I need to get Eyes Only! I need him to get to 452! He's my back up plan! I
want my son back!
"Yes, sir." Johannsen replied, he then turned
and addressed the computer specialists
in Korean.
Otto entered and went straight over to Ames.
"453's DNA assay just came back." He reported.
Ten minutes later.
In a small room at headquarters,
X5-453 is securely handcuffed to a chair. Ames has just shown her the DNA
assay.
"So, you're the cheap knockoff. See, 452
doesn't have any junk DNA. Every base pair sequence she's got is coded with
genetic information. I'd like to know why." Ames said sarcastically. She looks like 452, but she doesn't act like
her! Where's the sarcasm, the wisecracks!
"You should ask her." X5-453 told him.
"Fair enough. Where is she?" Ames asked, he
managed to hide most of his sarcasm, having decided to try and play the nice
guy. Gee! Why didn't I think of that! He
refrained from rolling his eyes.
"How should I know?" X5-453:
"You mean to tell me you that you haven't been
in contact with her?" Ames asked incredulously. Tell me the truth you freak!
"Why would I?" X5-453 asked in
confusion.
"Because she broke you out, along with all the
other mutants." Ames replied. C'mon I
know you were simplified but this is ridiculous!
"I was already out. I was on a
deep-cover mission for two years. Industrial espionage." X5-453 archly told
him.
"So that poor sap that you're married to--he
was just part of your cover." Ames replied. Hmm!
I struck a nerve! Interesting….
"At first. But when I found out
Manticore went down, I..." X5-453 started to clarify before realising that it
was none of White's business.
"...you fell in love with him and wanted to
adopt his little boy." Ames said sarcastically,
faking tears. "I'm sorry, I'm tearing up here a little bit. How sweet." Oh hell! I forgot, I'm supposed to be
playing Mr. nice guy! Damn it! But I don't have the kind of patience needed, to
do that! Not with Ray missing! I hate playing nice with freaks!
"Where are they? They don't know
anything." X5-453 assured him.
"You never told him you were built in a lab?"
Ames queried. Like I care! Humans or
freaks, they are still vermin to be exterminated!
"Please." X5-453 replied in a
sarcastic tone.
"They're fine. And you will see them again,
after you help me find 452." Ames assured her. And if you believe that you really are simple!
"I already told you, I don't
know where she is." X5-453 told him in exasperation.
"Well, you're in luck, because I have a lead
for you. See, she turned up at a local hospital a while back. Really stirred
things up. The CDC was even brought in, and her doctor told them that he didn't
have any idea she was transgenic." Ames informed her. Damn doctors! I could have got that freak before she even thought of
kidnapping Ray!
"And you think he knows more
than he's letting on." X5-453 stated.
"Now we had him under surveillance for a
while, hoping she'd turn up again, but...now that I have you, why wait?" Ames
told the transgenic. C'mon, take the
bait! Think about your family!
Sighing, X5-453 asked "What
do you want me to do?"
"I want you to find out everything he knows
about her--which shouldn't be too hard, considering--and then I want you to
find her." Ames instructed. I knew the
freak would take the hook! Now to capture the original as well!
"And my family?" X5-453 asked
worriedly.
"You pull this off, and the three of you are
free to go." Ames silkily informed her as he removed her handcuffs. Two
freaks for the price of one!
X5-453 stood up and faced him.
"I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking, 'I could kill him right now.' But you won't." Ames accurately
read her slight body language. I will so enjoy sending you and 452 to The
Conclave! Our scientists will have a field day studying you both!
"You seem pretty sure of
yourself." X5-453 coolly stated, as she mentally evaluated him.
"You won't do anything to endanger your
family. I know this, because I have family too...or at least I did, before 452 took my son away. I
am very motivated, and I want
to find her really badly. I am
not a patient man. Don't let me down." Ames warned her, being almost completely
honest. She actually believes that I will
let her go free, back to her husband and son! She had, what twenty years of
military training, specializing in espionage, and yet she believed me! I know
she was modified, but how can she have believed me? 452, might have only had
eight years of training, but she's far superior. Maybe no junk DNA is a factor.
Ames mused.
Later that day.
NSA H.Q.
Ames is talking with Simms.
"We've been subpoenaed." Ames informed the
director.
"Yes, I know. McKinley's committee. The good
Senator is determined to blow this thing wide open. Needless to say, we're
taking the Fifth." Simms replied.
"Sir..." Ames started to speak.
"I don't want to hear it. Right now your
priority is to maintain your cover." Simms stated bluntly, cutting Ames off.
"Not capturing transgenics?" Ames asked. Make up your bloody mind! Stupid human!
"As far as anyone needs to know, they don't
exist. Understand?" Simms authoritatively asked.
"Perfectly, sir." Ames replied. Right! Like I'm gonna take your orders over
those of The Conclave!
"Well, then, I'll see you in Washington on
Thursday." Simms stated, a bit nonplussed, since he had been expecting more
arguments from White.
"Very good." Ames answered, managing to keep
up a respectful front. The Conclave will
fix Simms! At least I hope they will, I like being an agent!
"Oh..." Simms said, pausing as he looked Ames up and down. "....don't wear a
black suit." With that comment he leaves.
As Simms walked out of
the room, Ames quickly glanced down at his suit, his expression, showing
the fact that he is slightly nonplussed by the order. But I like black!
Damn! Wait, I've got a blue suit!
Ames then turned his attention, to Johannsen.
"How are we coming?" He asked. I want that freak lover off the air! Eyes
Only! I'll remove his precious eyes! I'll make him tell me where Ray is!
"Well, we got a partial trace from his last
hack. With any luck, we should lock on his position next time he comes on."
Johannsen informed his boss.
"Good. I'm gettin' tired of looking at this
guy's mug." Ames said, pleasure at the news, showed in his voice. First time I've ever wanted that cyber pest
to broadcast! Ames thought drolly. I
so want to catch him! Mmmmmm first remove the eyes, then a finger at ……… His
pleasant musings are interrupted by.
Otto and Agent
Sullivan entered the room, looking a bit shamefaced and very wary of Ames
reaction to their presence.
"And you are not tailing 453 because...?" Ames
asked sarcastically. If you idiots lost
her…
"She made us, sir. Shot out our tires and took
off. Said to tell you she works alone." Otto courageously informed his
superior, he managed not to stutter.
"That's my girl. Good to know she's on board."
Ames calmly replied. She won't risk her
family! She'll obey me to keep them safe!.......... Stupid
humans getting caught tailing her!
Ames' reaction totally threw those around him, who had expected an explosion and rapid fire verbal assault upon Otto and Sullivan.
A short while later.
NSA H.Q.
As Eyes Only broadcast
again, the Korean computer specialists
were hard at work tracing the location.
('The so-called "transgenic
threat" has continued to dominate the news. As usual, facts…' Eyes Only
stated.)
"Got him." Johannsen said triumphantly.
Twenty minutes later.
At an exclusive penthouse
apartment.
Johannsen and the rest of Ames' men, with the exception
of Otto, who was holding the fort back at NSA H.Q, burst in the door. They
entered, guns drawn and swiftly searched the apartment, and found that nobody was
there.
Johannsen checked the computer; which said, 'Unable to locate system folder. Hard drive erased.' He and the other agents then systematically shot everything to pieces, destroying the computer; the kitchen table, the TVs. They then smashed all of the computer equipment, kicked down the room dividers, and toppled the stand that held A/V equipment. They basically completely ransacked the apartment, destroying anything that they could.
Later that evening.
Ames walked through the wrecked
apartment, he was completely alone, his men had returned to headquarters. He saw the
whiteboard, and chuckled, he then erased the words "Ames White" and
"government cover-up." His cell phone rings. X5-453 is calling from
an abandoned building.
"Yeah." Ames said into his phone. Better be good news! Bad enough my idiots
were to late to capture Eyes Only, but if I've lost 452 too…..
"It's 453. I have her." X5-453
reported.
"Is she secure?" Ames intently asked. That damn freak has a very irritating habit
of escaping! Blasted cat!
"She's not going anywhere." X5-453
replied.
"Where are you?" He asked, as he walked to the
apartments door. Shouldn't count my cats
till I've skinned 'em!
"An abandoned building. Corner
of Parish and Beechwood." X5-453 told him.
"All right. I'm on my way." Ames told her and
hung up, he had an evil grin on his face, from the image conjured up by his
thoughts of skinning 452.
As he drove to the abandoned
building, Ames' cell phone rings again, he immediately recognized the number on
the screen and answered it.
"Fe'nos
tol. Tell the Conclave I've found 452. I'll bring her to you." Ames informed the Familiar on the other end,
then hung up. "...once I find
out where she took my son."
A short time later.
Ames arrived at the abandoned building
and swiftly entered, he quickly found the two transgenics. X5-453, lit a cigarette. 452, is securely
chained to a post, she is also gagged.
"Where the hell have you been?" X5-453 testily asked.
"I had a thing." Ames replied, not at all
apologetically. Like she's got somewhere
more important to be!
"Where's my family?" X5-453 asked bluntly, glaring at him.
"All in good time, 453." Was the only answer
she got. Not so different from your
sister after all!
"Yeah, right." She replied, with heavy sarcasm.
A man sneaked up behind Ames
and knocked him unconscious with a lead
pipe.
Later.
Ames awoke to find himself
chained to the post. X5-453 is still dressed as 452 and still chained to the
same post. 452 is still dressed as X5-453 but is no longer pretending to be
her.
"Ames White. I oughta put a bullet in your
head. But twenty-odd years ago, me and her got cooked up in the same test tube.
So, in my book, that makes us sisters." Max heatedly informed the Familiar.
"Get to the point." Ames snapped. I knew it was too damn easy! Damn her!
Blasted cat freak!
"The point is, I'm gonna trade your sorry ass
for her husband and kid." She told him.
"I don't think so." Ames drolly replied. Not in this lifetime! No one uses me as a
hostage!
"No? Well, then, I guess we get to find out
how high your pain threshold really is." 452 calmly and coldy stated, holding
up the lead pipe.
452 and the blonde haired man, escort Ames
through Terminal City. 452 had quickly changed back into her own clothes. Ames,
hands are cuffed behind his back, the blonde man had a gun trained upon him.
A little while later.
Outside.
A car drove into Terminal City. 452,
Ames, and the blonde haired man, stood waiting. Otto and Johannsen got out of
the car.
"Let's see what you're packing." 452 ordered.
"We're unarmed." Otto lied
"I
don't have a whole lot of patience. I don't think you boys want to stay in
Terminal City any longer than you have to." 452 coolly replied.
Otto and Johannsen glanced at
each other. Each then proceeded to pull a gun out of his jacket and set it upon
the ground.
"All right, let's do this." 452 said
X5-453's bewildered husband
and son got out of the car, they looked very scared.
"Okay, on three. One...two...three." 452
ordered.
"Is my son still alive?" Ames quickly asked,
in a slightly desperate tone. Tell me
PLEASE! Let Ray be alive!
"You
won't be if you don't start moving." 452 responded.
Ames slowly walked towards his
men, X5-453's husband and son slowly walked toward 452. They pass each other.
When Ames reached the guns lying on the ground, he agilely jumped through his
handcuffs and picked up a gun. Otto and Johannsen each pulled out another gun. Two
more agents got out of the car, now there are several guns trained on 452 and
the others.
"Not
another step. Nice work, Otto." Ames stated, in a very pleased tone. Wow, Otto actually did something right and
on his own initiative!
Suddenly there is the sound of
multiple guns being cocked all around them. The agents looked up and saw lots
of transgenics taking aim at them, from
all directions. Ames and his men are greatly outnumbered.
"You guys want to throw down, go ahead. But a whole
lot of people are gonna get hurt." 452 taunted them.
"This isn't over, 452." Ames coldly replied. "All
right, gentlemen." He added, calling off his men. Damn freaks! I will capture 452 and when I do, I will slowly and
painfully torture the whereabouts of Ray out of her! I'll teach her the meaning
of pain! I might not feel it! But I'm an expert at causing it!
Ames and his men slowly lowered
their weapons and head for the car. A lizard transgenic lead X5-453's husband and
son away from the area.
The next day.
At a court house.
Senator McKinley was conducting
another Senate hearing. Ames, wearing a blue suit, was in attendance. As usual,
there were many reporters in the room. Director Simms was also present.
"Committee
calls to the stand Special Agent Ames White. Now, Agent White, I'm sure you've
been instructed by counsel and by your superiors to invoke your Fifth Amendment
right. But I want to remind you, as an officer of this committee and as your
fellow American, that all this committee is interested in is truth." McKinley informed
him.
"The truth, sir, is quite simple. Did parties
within our government secretly divert funds for genetic experiments? Yes." Ames
calmly and bluntly stated. Stuff you
Simms! I obey my real superiors, not you!
The crowd murmured in shock. Director
Simms looked incredibly angry.
"Did they allow those transgenics to escape? Yes.
Did they then choose to withhold that information from the American people?
Yes. Are those transgenics dangerous? Most assuredly, yes. And I cannot, in
good conscience, continue to be part of this cover-up. These transgenics are a
great threat to our national security and our American way of life. Make no
mistake. This is a war...a war we cannot afford to lose." Ames continued, in
the same blunt fashion. Yeah! The freaks are the only things that
stand in the way of The Coming! Idiot humans are going to help us rid the
planet, of the only creatures who might save them from us!
Later.
In Ames' parked car.
Ames talked with Senator McKinley, a fellow
Familiar.
"Simms is going to want my badge." Ames
complained.
"Don't worry about Simms. By the time I'm
through, you'll be a national hero, positioned to eliminate the transgenics
once and for all. The Conclave will be in touch." McKinley assured him. Then he got out of the car. "Fe'nos tol."
"Fe'nos
tol." Ames respectfully replied. He grinned to himself. A national hero huh! This could be fun!
The End