Welcome to the next installment of The Future History. I posted a version of this earlier this summer, but summertime activities have kept me very busy. I apologize to my loyal readers for this, but we all have lives so I'm sure you all understand.
Anyway, this is Shadow of the Cat. Part seven of The Future History. We find Eyes Only has resurfaced, but is it really Eyes Only? Only Original Cindy and the gang know for sure. Max is falling into darkness without Logan and speaking of the man… where is he?
I have to thank Abregaza at this point for keeping me straight on some points (technical errors and continuity) that I've missed. Catherder, Beta of the First Order, has pointed out many grammatical errors I don't really care about, but have changed anyway because she told me to. LOL. Anyway, as always, thanks for reading, please review. Let me know what you think and above all else, always ENJOY!
All Good things…
Three Months Later…
"Bip bip bip. These packages aren't going to deliver themselves!" Normal shouted. "How many times do I have to say that?"
"That's three times today, dude." Sketchy said.
"And five yesterday," Sky added, bumping fists with Sketchy. Normal stopped in front of them and stared. Sketchy smiled an awkward smile. Sky looked up for a split second before grabbing one of the packages Normal was holding and heading out the door.
"But who's counting?" Sketchy added. "What?"
"I've got a really hot run." Normal smiled.
"Oh, man! You're sending me clear across town, aren't ya?"
"Would I do that to you?" Normal asked. He leaned closer to Sketchy's face, handing him a flat package. "NOW BIP!!" He shouted.
"This is out in no man's land," Sketchy said.
"Lucky for you, you're not a man," Normal said. "And just where have you been, missy?" he asked, as OC walked down the ramp. She ignored him and headed toward the lockers deep inside Jam Pony Headquarters.
"I've been in South Market where ya sent me, fool." she replied. "I got held up at a checkpoint because some disgruntled something or other decided it was a fine day to start firing his weapon into the air. They locked down the sector. I called. Alec took the message. Didn't he tell you?" She glared at Alec as he rolled in and headed to the counter.
"Oh, by the way…" Alec entered the conversation. "Original Cindy called. She's been held up in South Market and won't be back for a while." He dug through about four packages until he found one he wanted, and then left without another word.
"Thanks for passing that along, Alec." Cindy shouted after him. "Next time why don't'cha just tell him I don't exist."
Druid walked up and started digging through packages on the counter. "Ya got anything for sector ten? I've got to be in ten in less than an hour." he said.
"I'll be in the back taking a break." OC interjected.
"What's going on in Sector ten?" Normal asked.
"Nothing," Druid answered.
"Hold on there, missy, I'm not through with you yet." Normal turned toward OC. She continued walking away.
"Do I really have to go all the way across town with this?" Sketchy asked.
"Hey boss," Biggs walked in. "The lady over at 5150 refused this package because she doesn't remember ordering it. I argued with her for fifteen minutes until she threatened to call sector security. Now, if you want to call her and explain the situation to her, then I'll gladly take it back over…"
Normal had turned and was watching OC walk away. Two more messengers came up to the desk and walked off with packages. "Get signatures!" Normal shouted after them. He looked at Biggs. "I'll call her. You head back over." He pointed toward the door, in the hopes that Biggs would actually go without wasting any time.
"Where am I going again?" Sketchy asked. He still hadn't left.
"Read the damn package." Normal shouted. "Why aren't you gone yet?" he asked Sketchy. The stoner turned, scratching his head, and walked toward the lounge area, mumbling.
"Why do I always have to go across town when there are so many other packages that can be…" His voice trailed off around the corner of the lockers.
"Why do you have to be in sector 10?" Normal asked Druid.
"There's a meeting I need to attend." Druid answered.
"One of your Pagan ritual sacrifices, no doubt."
"Sacrifices?" Druid asked. "Just because I practice the technical arts doesn't mean I sacrifice virgins or anything." He laughed. "Ya got something for ten or not?"
"Here, take these three." Normal reached over the counter and pulled up three tubes. "Deliver them first and get signatures. After that, I don't care what you do, but you better be back here after lunch."
Normal waved Druid off with a flutter of his fingers before turning and stomping after Original Cindy. She was sitting in front of her locker when he walked up to her. CeCe was sitting beside her. They weren't talking. They were watching Normal.
"Didn't I send you out of here about ten minutes ago?" he asked CeCe.
"I just got back," she said. "Here's the signature."
She held out a paper to him. He took it, looking it over. "Under ten minutes." he said.
"It was just across the sector," CeCe explained. "I'll be back." She looked down at OC as she stood.
"What was that about?" Normal asked.
"Nothun' that concerns you." OC said. "Do you want something?"
"You okay?"
"I watched a man get shot today." OC said. "I've seen worse. Believe me, I've seen worse, but things are getting bad around here. These last three months have seen Seattle falling hard and fast. It's getting bad out there. I had to rely on some of my military training just last week."
"Well I feel for you, but it's getting bad for everybody." Normal said. "Here. Not so hot run to sector ten. Get to it soon, please."
He turned and walked away, leaving OC standing there watching after him. "NO ROUGHHOUSING ON THE PREMISES!!!" he shouted from some distance away. "Idiots! We're not insured!"
OC laughed. It was the first time in a long time. Things had indeed become bad in the last three months. Almost to the week of Logan's disappearance and Max's return to Seattle, things had started to go sideways. Crime was at an all-time high. Young children were disappearing at an alarming rate. Business and government had tightened the grip on the masses, and left the already poor people with that much less.
Cindy had noticed. She was aware. She was right in the center of it. The Phalanx had brought the war to the front door, setting up camp in Seattle. They knew Eyes Only was centered here. They knew the transgenics were headquartered here.
They knew X5-452 was in Seattle. They had come for Max.
CeCe returned and sat down beside OC. "Where's that going?"
"Ten. A business," OC said. "I've been there before. It's a quiet place trying to do good things. They have a pretty rough time of it, but they manage."
"What's the business?" CeCe asked. "Anything we can help with?"
"New people?" OC asked.
"Fourteen so far this week and it's only Wednesday. We're running out of clothing and supplies. There're only three beds left in the Safe House. We're going to be doubling up over there soon."
"Not to worry. The other safe house is set up. We're working the power grid this weekend. It will be livable by Monday and have running water by the weekend." Original Cindy said.
"Should we set up security there?" CeCe asked.
"You can send people over as soon as you need to. Just send them in small groups though."
"Understood." CeCe said.
"What's understood?" Biggs asked as he walked up to the women. He hadn't actually left.
"The safe house in sector six is ready. It's not that far from the Captain's base." OC said. "I assume that Brin and her people are still housed in Cowers building."
"They are, and they've settled in just fine. They're blending in without drawing any attention to themselves." Biggs explained. "But we're overrun with transgenics here in Seattle. I don't know what we'd do if it wasn't for Cale Industries opening its doors to us."
"Can't argue an entire security staff comprised of genetically enhanced super soldiers…" OC whispered. Just then, the television grew silent for a split second. The screen went black, growing into snow which slowly dissolved the screen into the familiar red, white and blue of the streaming freedom satellite hacks.
"Man, I ain't seen him in a long time," Sketchy shouted. "I wonder what's going down."
"Does the set-up look different to you?" a young girl asked. "What's with the lightning? Eyes Only never used lightning before."
"It does." A big, hulking biker agreed. "It's a subtle change, but you can certainly tell."
"It's still the same background so it's still eyes Only." Sketchy said. OC, CeCe and Biggs had moved to watch the broadcast.
"Do not attempt to adjust your set," the voice started. The voice was different this time. It had changed. It was no longer the strong male voice alone. This time, the deep, resonant tones of a man were chorused with a strong, yet soft, feminine one. They spoke as one. "This is a streaming freedom satellite hack of the Eyes Only Informant Net." the chorus of man and woman said.
Alec rolled in and hung up his bike, just as Normal walked toward the television. Both were as stunned as everyone else at the new appearance of Eyes Only, but for different reasons. Original Cindy recognized the new eyes immediately.
"This hack cannot be traced."
They were female eyes this time. They were the eyes of someone she knew very well. Those eyes staring out from the screen belonged to only one person. Max. "This hack will never be stopped!" The eyes did not remain feminine, however. Slowly, as everyone was watching, the eyes began to morph into those of a male. A man all fans of Eyes Only were familiar with. Original Cindy recognized those eyes as well.
The chorus tested the tolerance of the flat screen's speakers. "IT IS THE ONLY FREE VOICE LEFT IN THIS BROKEN WORLD…" The sentence echoed, reverberating through the small commons area within the confines of Jam Pony.
"This hack is being beamed throughout these broken states as a warning. Eyes Only has been silent for far too long… this will not stand. The city of Seattle has seen a resurgence of criminal activity in the last three months. The time has come for the cleansing of Seattle to commence. Recon is in. Data has been gathered." A picture of a grim-looking man crossed the screen. He was ugly in a strangely pleasant way. "This is Rober Dubin. Not only is he a local gunrunner, but he has been managing a chain of local gambling establishments for the wealthy. You may be wondering what their specialty is. They specialize in high-stakes poker and higher-priced girls for lonely old men whose sole claim to fame is the size of their imported cigars. This is a warning to Dubin and his people. You have fallen under the gaze of Eyes Only. Tonight, it ends!" The phasing eyes of Max and Logan flashed brightly with the imprint of cats' eyes. Lightning burst across the screen, as a low rumbling built in the speakers and rattled the old windows. "Until Seattle is free, there will be no peace. Out," the chorus announced.
There were no words shared. Biggs, CeCe, Alec, and Original Cindy all turned and headed for the door, pulling their bikes with them. Alec pulled his down from the hook as Biggs tossed him a package without looking at it. CeCe and OC each grabbed a package from the counter as they passed.
"You see. I don't know where the hell they're going in such a hurry, but at least they took packages…" Normal shouted. "Bip bip bip, people. These packages aren't going to deliver themselves!"
The Conclave
Training Arena…
"Ames." The High Priestess called to him.
Ames White was spinning low, trying to sweep the legs before attacking high on his way up to a controlling position. Unfortunately, he was not fully healed yet after his ordeal with Joe and the transgenics. There had been more damage than he had first believed. The redhead, Jondy, had broken his jaw, and 452 had given him a concussion with her kick just a few seconds later. He had only recently begun to eat solid foods again.
"Enough," the trainer called. White stopped in mid-technique. Standing, he nodded, and walked toward the High Priestess.
"Ames. You are not supposed to be here," she said.
"I am tired of waiting. I've been following protocols but I am sick of the waiting. I need to get back into the field. I need to get out of here." White replied. "I know we are moving ahead as planned in Seattle. I will be a part of it."
"I have no doubt that you will be." The Priestess answered his frustration calmly. "But you will be a part of it when you are fully recovered and not before. We cannot risk sending you in at less than your full abilities."
"I've read the reconnaissance. The transgenics…"
"Are leaderless…" she interrupted him. "Manticore is broken. The Director is dead. Their rogue Colonel has disappeared. Eyes Only hasn't made a broadcast in months now, and 452 has gone to ground. None of our people have seen her since your encounter north of Phoenix. She and her kind…"
"Are centered in Seattle, and so was Colonel Lydecker's operation. They are just biding their time until the moment is right." White interrupted the priestess. Several heads in the training area turned to stare. It was unheard of to disagree with an elder. "We underestimated our position once before, and Eyes Only got to the transgenics before we even realized he was involved. Now, Joe and his outcast clan have sided with the freaks against us. I will not wait around here to defend our home against them."
"I know, Ames," the High Priestess said. "You want them to defend their home against us. It is a noble goal, and one that you will accomplish. Our experts have been gathering data for centuries. Not even Fifth Column can stand against, us and we know they will never stand with Joe and the transgenics. They are children. They are dependent upon the chain of command, and they are leaderless," she continued. "Even if they manage to organize without Eyes Only and the rogue Colonel, they are still no match for our Phalanx in straight-up combat."
"With all due respect, Priestess, the transgenics have a leader. 452 has stood against us with Eyes Only. When she resurfaces, they will flock to her like moths to the flame. Only a full-scale invasion of Seattle will stop them. We cannot let her resurface," White protested.
"Then we will make sure she does not resurface. Either way, it is not your concern, Ames." The High Priestess smiled. "Yet."
"Forgive me, Priestess," an acolyte said apologetically. His face was hidden within the depths of his hood and could not be seen.
"What is it?" she demanded.
"There is a situation that demands your immediate attention."
"What kind of a situation?" White asked. The acolyte did not move or attempt to respond. "Answer me!" White ordered.
"Answer him," the High Priestess commanded.
"Yes, Priestess," The acolyte bowed. "There has been a new development in the Eyes Only situation. Eyes Only just ran a satellite hack on a man named Rober Dubin."
"Who is Rober Dubin?" the Priestess demanded.
"No one of importance. Eyes Only claims he runs drugs and guns, and operates an illegal gambling brothel in Seattle," the acolyte explained. "However, our contact in Seattle is in direct line with Dubin. The middleman between us and the gunrunner is named Jaerko. He buys weapons and other ordinance from Dubin, and supplies our contact in Seattle."
"So Eyes Only ran a new hack on our supply line. Is there more?" the High Priestess demanded.
"The hack was different," the acolyte said. "It was not the same as all of the rest. The eyes are different. A male and female set of eyes are being used now. The male voice has been blended with a female one."
"Really? Eyes Only is a new entity now," White commented.
The High Priestess and White looked at each other for a short time before turning and following the monk out of the Arena. "You will prepare a full contingent of Phalanx soldiers," The Priestess said to White. "Go to Seattle and find Eyes Only."
Fogle Towers Penthouse…
Original Cindy used the key Logan had given her several months back when Max was gone. She cautiously opened the door, remembering the first time she had let herself in after Logan's disappearance.
Max had her by the throat before her head was completely through the door. She had apologized, saying she had forgotten that OC had a key. Things had grown darker ever since.
Max had changed. She had become darker, more intense. She had taken to walking the edge everywhere and in everything she did. She had become a soldier in every respect of the word. Without Logan, she was everything Manticore ever wanted her to be. She had no balance. She was not centered.
"Max. It's OC." Cindy said. She stepped cautiously into the outer hall and looked around. Max was walking through shadow from the far end of the hall. Jondy was barely visible at the opposite end. Alec squeezed past OC and stepped into the hall.
"Logan's not here, is he?" Alec asked.
"Why would you think that?" Max asked.
"The hack," Alec said. "We saw the new look. Hell, everyone saw the new look."
"We just thought maybe Logan had come back, and you two had been keeping things on the DL, you know?" CeCe explained.
"We were kind of hoping," Alec said.
"Were you?" Max asked through clenched teeth. "Were you really hoping? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is all kind of your fault."
"Max…" Alec protested.
"Don't 'Max' me. Fifteen more minutes and Lydecker wouldn't have had a chance." She turned and walked into the office, and sat down in front of the rig. Alec started to protest, but though better of it. "You left," Max mumbled.
"We'll get him back, Max," Jondy assured her. "We'll get Logan back, too."
"Yeah? Right..."
"That was an interesting hack," Original Cindy said. "You runnin' the show now?"
"I've been reading and learning from Logan's tutorials."
"What tutorials?" Biggs asked. He followed Cindy and CeCe toward the main office.
"Logan left me a whole folder of tutorials. It was buried deep in my folder on one of the drives." Max said.
"We think he planned for this, or more likely, he had the plan in place in case he disappeared," Jondy explained. "There's fresh coffee in the kitchen. Help yourselves."
"We think," Max said. "We've assumed that he knew Lydecker was up to something."
"When is Lydecker not up to something?" Original Cindy asked. "He's an asshole. It's no wonder he made Colonel. They look for his attitude."
"Yeah, well... Logan knew something was coming. The folder had files clearly marked and in a certain order. He had taken into consideration things I had already known, and left me with a list of stuff I could go through," Max said.
"Sounds like he knew you would take over big chair when he was gone." Alec commented.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Max asked with an edge in her voice.
"It doesn't mean anything," Alec said. "I was thinking more along the lines of a rescue operation. He gives you the resources to find him, and we put together an extraction team to pull him out."
"Pull him out of what?" Max demanded. "If Deck's plan was to insert Logan into the Conclave for recon, then I'd have to say it failed miserably. We've had teams in the field for weeks now, and have turned up nothing. We've captured and interrogated fifteen Phalanx warriors, and each one has chosen to die rather than talk. We know even less than we did before, and Deck has dropped off the face of the Earth..." She didn't finish the sentence.
"If Logan was out there and needed extraction, wouldn't he have contacted us by now?" CeCe asked. "He created the Informant Net, after all. Don't you think he'd use it?"
"We don't know that he went in. We don't know what Deck was up to," Jondy said. "We have to find Deck or the Doctor and learn what they know. As far as we know, Logan is dead."
"He's not," Max stated firmly. "I would know."
"Well, either way, we just don't know," Jondy said.
"Of course we don't," Max growled. "Someone I know dropped the ball hard and fast on that one." She glared at Alec.
"How could I have known?" he asked. "I hardly ever dealt with the guy. He was always out hunting for you and the Rogues. I had no idea what he was capable of."
"You're the one who was here. You're the one who could have stayed the extra fifteen minutes. You should have known the Colonel could not be trusted," Max said calmly, but with an underlying hint of the anger and frustration she could easily unleash on him. "It is your fault."
"Max…" Alec started.
"Get outta my sight," She whispered. "Jondy and I have a meeting with Bennett in half an hour at Cale Industries."
"About what?" Biggs asked. "Should I go with you?"
"No. It's just a meeting. I want to keep him updated on our progress," Max replied. "OC, would you mind meeting us back here in about an hour?"
"Sure thing, Boo." OC said.
Bennett's office
Cale Industries…
"So you've learned nothing?" Bennett asked. Max shook her head.
"I haven't found anything on Logan. Whatever Lydecker did to him or wherever he sent Logan is beyond my ability to verify. Alec and Biggs said they discussed infiltrating the compound, but Logan isn't a soldier. He wouldn't have a chance inside there. We've interrogated several Phalanx warriors, but they're not talking. Logan was the information guy. I'm new at this," Max explained. "I've got Sebastian digging around for anything he can find, but he's pulling a blank as well."
"So your Colonel has covered his tracks pretty well," Bennett commented.
"If his men know where Deck is, they aren't talking. He seems to have abandoned them," Max explained. "I've got half a company of Manticore Black Ops waiting in the wings for assignments. I have nothing for them to do."
"Black Ops you say?" Bennett raised an eyebrow. Max turned toward the window, not wanting to look at Bennett just then. "Are they trained?"
"Of course," Jondy replied. "Deck's troops were specialists from all branches."
"So they need work?" Bennett asked. "I might have something for them in a few days. I've got a situation that might need looking into. We could put them to use clearing up some minor irritants in the process."
"What do you mean?" Max asked. "Are you talking about corporate stuff here, or are you planning a war?" She laughed. Jondy snickered but Bennett was stone-faced.
"Corporations go to war all the time, but since the pulse, those wars have been fought with private armies. I've got a situation with a rival company. They are gathering troops and plan a move on some abandoned military installations. I'd rather they not get a foothold with their mercenaries."
"Would 45 or 50 troops work in that situation?" Jondy asked. "Even if the military base is abandoned, that's still only a handful of squads even if they are the best."
"I've just purchased the land from Washington State. I had planned to set up some research facilities out there, but Parker Labs is sending in the mercenaries in three days. Two at the earliest," Bennett explained. "I need to take it and hold it until we can secure the location for our own use. The State sold us the land. It's no longer their problem."
"That's so like the government. Take your money and wash their hands of the whole deal," Jondy said. "We could send some people out there to watch over the place."
"Plus your new security staff could be tapped in this situation," Max continued. "Then you could house the troops there, and make plans from a legitimate base of operation."
"I was planning something along those lines. The corporate world has become more than just business. It's about control now. Some of our exclusive technology was leaked during the government takeover. My father had some stuff on his system back at the house, but what's been leaked cannot be brought back. The old laws don't sit well with anyone anymore, and backing up product with force is becoming part of daily operations," Bennett explained before changing the subject. "What's up with the Dubin guy?"
"He's going to fall hard, tonight," Max said. "We've got a team in place and we're going to take him out and learn who he knows. We'll find out who's the next link on the chain."
"You already know who the next link on the chain is, don't you?" Bennett asked.
"Jondy has been running some late night surveillance on Dubin. He meets with a man called Jaerko. We know practically nothing about this man, except that he has a connection to rebels in the Brazilian Coalition. Their funding comes from Egypt," Max said.
"The trail ends there, though," Jondy finished. "We're sure that Dubin will give us Jaerko tonight."
"How sure is sure?" Bennett asked. "What are the chances that he'll give up this Jaerko?"
"There is a 100% probability that he will give up Jaerko before we start with him," Max said. "He's got bodyguards that he uses for even the slightest problems."
"Dubin is a pretty boy," Jondy said. "He wouldn't last ten seconds in an interrogation. We expect him to offer us money after he gives up Jaerko."
"Then what? Kill him?"
"With extreme prejudice," Max stated. Her tone was low, smooth, and cold. There was no mistaking it. She wanted to kill him just to relieve her stress. Jondy even cast a sidelong glance at Max. Bennett could almost taste the ice in her veins.
"Max..." Bennett started. She interrupted.
"I want Seattle to be what it was. I want Lydecker strung up by his balls." She continued in the same tone. "The Colonel took my man away from me. He will pay. He will pay for everything he has done. I will get Logan back!"
The room fell silent for a long time. Several minutes passed. Finally, Bennett spoke. "I want Logan back, too. He's family. You two and your friends saved this company. Nothing will be the same without him. I will use every resource at my disposal, Max. You just have to ask."
"Ask for what? I'm making this up as I go."
"Just tell me what you need," Bennett said. "Whatever it is, if it's within my power to give, it's yours."
Again, the room fell silent. Again, they stared into their own space. Time passed slowly. Max walked over to the office window. She stared out over the city as rain poured from the sky.
"Tell me about Jaerko. What do you know so far?" Bennett asked.
"Not much," Jondy said. "We have some surveillance from a meeting with Dubin. They discussed plans to move some cargo into the city tonight. Jaerko isn't going to be there, but Dubin and his people will be…"
"We're going to move in and take out everyone. Jondy and I will isolate Dubin and get his information," Max admitted. "Once we have the information, we take him out."
"So his power base will be non-existent after tonight," Bennett said. Max nodded.
"Then it's on to the next bad guy," Jondy said.
"You're sure you don't need anything?" Bennett asked again.
"You've already given us the drone surveillance. That should be enough," Jondy answered. "What about you? How are things around here?"
"Smooth enough," the ex-marine said. "We've had two more attempts at infiltration, though. Both failed."
"Infiltration by whom?" Max demanded.
"We don't know. None of them survived capture, and so far, none have left the grounds with any information. One of the X-6 was wounded in the last engagement. Spirit, I think her name is. She'll pull through. That's twice this week alone. It makes five attacks this month, and there's still a week and a half left," Bennett said. "They haven't hit our home yet. I don't want to worry Marianne, but this is going to get very ugly before it gets any better, isn't it?"
"It is. The Conclave has been steadily moving Phalanx soldiers into the city. I haven't figured out how yet. They keep trickling in, small numbers only. We've got people on it," Max explained. "We keep getting more stragglers ourselves. Our people out looking for Logan send them in. We still have no trace of him though, even with some of our best trackers on it."
"There has to be some lead," Bennett said. "There has to be something, somewhere. I have some contacts of my own working on it. Some old buddies of mine from the Marines have been helping out. They're running down some leads for me, and when I learn anything, you will be the first one I call."
"I appreciate it," Max said. "Expect the same from my end."
Bennett replied, "You don't sound convinced that we can find him."
"Logan is Eyes Only," Max said. "And everyone knows that Eyes Only doesn't exist."
Conclave Catacombs
Terminal Arena…
He stared out over the large underground arena watching the soldiers practicing their combat. They were strong. He had to admit that. These men and women were literally beating themselves senseless. Occasionally, one would be dragged to the side and left there. On extremely rare occasions, one would be tossed into the pit and forgotten, the body broken beyond repair or healing.
The brown robed figure sat quietly, watching, nibbling on the apples he brought with him. It had been pure luck that he had found them. A long time had passed since he had eaten much more than gruel and stale bread.
"Fe'nos tol," a man said behind him.
"Fe'nos tol," the monk answered.
"You know, Jack," the man continued. "I'd swear you have a death wish. I have no idea how you get away with it."
"With what?" Jack asked.
"Sitting in here and watching the soldiers train. And that they allow you to do it is another thing I haven't been able to figure out," the man said.
"It's simple, Bob. I come in here every day at the same time and sit here in silence for an hour. I eat my meals and I watch. Nothing more."
"You say that like you want to be one of them." Bob smiled. "But you know as well as I do that you were not bred for the Phalanx. You are too smart."
"I know, but watching them calms me for some reason. It's like I understand what's going on inside of their heads," Jack explained.
"It's not hard to figure out," Bob said. "Kill or be killed."
"That's the layman's definition," Jack answered. "There is so much more going on inside of them. I can see it and feel it. When one of them dies in training, it's like I can taste their spirit in the air I'm breathing."
"You are officially freaking me out, buddy," Bob said.
"Maybe, but it's all connected somehow. I just need to figure out the whole thing."
"Is this about those dreams you told me about?" Bob asked.
"No." Jack answered.
"So you're not having the dreams anymore?"
"The little gypsy girl is still there every night. She watches over me," Jack replied. "Always when things are at their worst, she comes out of the shadows and wraps me up in her light. She protects me."
"From what?"
"From whatever dark and evil things are crawling around inside of my head," Jack answered.
"Jack Eastman. You are a loon!" Bob laughed.
"I may very well be." Jack laughed with him. "But don't hold your breath on that one."
"I never hold my breath. I can't swim. C'mon, we've got to get back to the lab."
"Yeah... I suppose you're right," Jack said. "Not like I have all day to dream about fighting the good fight." He smiled. Bob tilted his head and looked at him.
"What the hell do you think you've been doing all these years?" Bob asked with a laugh."
"Running code," Jack said with a smile. "Yeeawww!" He gestured as if cracking a whip. "Get along there little null set."
"You are a loon." Bob laughed again. The two men headed out and down a long manmade tunnel, away from the training area.
Twenty minutes later they walked into a large room, cooled by a natural vent and filled with several banks of state-of-the-art computers. The two brown-robed men stepped into the room and looked around. The place was mad with activity. There were a hundred people running around. Some were shouting, trying to get others to pay attention to them. Others were yelling commands to the rest in the room, trying to maintain some level of control. Still more were sitting in front of terminals, punching keys, and calling for assistance. Bob reached out and grabbed someone.
"What the hell is going on?" he demanded.
"It's Eyes Only. There's been a hack. We are studying it. It seems that Eyes Only has changed," a monk said.
"What do you mean, changed?" Bob demanded of the acolyte.
"See for yourself."
Bob and Jack walked over and stood in front of the monitor. The monk nodded to his counterpart at the keyboard. The replay began. The four monks stood there and watched it without saying a word. Their faces were shrouded within the deep recess of their hoods. No one could see any reaction.
No one could see the look of complete shock on Jack's face. No one understood what went through his mind when he recognized the eyes on the screen. It wasn't just the gypsy girl's eyes staring back at him. Her eyes were the first thing he noticed. The male eyes were what really threw him.
He couldn't help it.
Until today, things had been strange but simple. Wake up in the morning and take breakfast. Worship came next, before a long day of work. It had been a simple life. It had been an uncomplicated life.
Sure, he had thoughts that there was something missing. Sure, he was worried that things just weren't as they should be. Then Bob came into the picture and showed him around, and he started to see things in a different light. There was purpose here. There were believers here. To a degree, he had become one of them.
He understood.
Now, all that had changed. There, on the screen in front of him, was the initial clue. It was that one piece of information he had been waiting for.
It was all in the eyes. The gypsy girl stared back at him, only this time she wasn't alone. This time, a man stared back at him right with her. He knew her eyes. He knew them better than he knew himself. Her eyes were what kept him alive, and now they were a part of something greater. They were a part of something beyond anything he understood.
The male eyes stared back from that monitor. To Jack, it was surreal. It was like looking in a weird mirror.