Chapter 4: Time Moves On
Jet was not called upon for a month. In the meantime he applied for night jobs at bars across New York, hoping to prove his capabilities to Cathy next time he saw her. The way he saw it, if he could hold a job and still be there to hang out with Jimmy, Cathy might me more inclined to him. When still after a month the government called before he got an interview, Jet resolved to make being a CIA agent his full-time job. Even if the hours would be odd, he was more likely to be around than not, and after what Cathy's Ex put her through that was a bonus. Cathy herself had never explained the situation to Jet, but Jimmy liked to talk about anything that came to mind, and the kid had opinions about his father.
Avoiding run-ins with Cathy and Jimmy were difficult, but after a week Jet managed to land a temporary position at a nice night club a mile from his apartment. Two weeks later, and Jet's employers officially gave him the position and started training him on the bar. The mundane nature of the job gave Jet a strange feeling of accomplishment, one he was very unfamiliar with. The quiet atmosphere in the club, perpetuated by a soft live jazz band, left him with much time to think and reflect on himself. Between serving drinks, flirting with the female customers, and chatting with his fellow men, Jet enjoyed the work far more than he thought he would. More than 40 years ago the idea of enjoying work would have appalled him, but now Jet found himself fulfilled in his chosen task.
Ever since Black Ghost had abducted Jet and the others, their lives had become consumed with the next fight. Being a living super weapon meant their every action decided whether people should fear or respect them. A weapon with human intelligence had been the goal, but the emotions and sense of self that accompanied such intelligence made the 00 Cyborgs a great force of good or evil. At least a gun doesn't choose its own targets. Such thoughts had plagued Jet for so long, he felt the cloud of depression they generated lifting with every day he spent not having to worry about them. Every day his smile felt more genuine, and his steps felt lighter.
A month after signing the CIA's contract Jet awoke in the early morning to the ring of his government issued phone. The adrenaline spike that came with hearing an alarm from deep in sleep whipped away Jet's exhaustion instantly, two hours of sleep be damned.
"Hello?" Jet answered, unconsciously standing at attention.
"Good morning, Jet." The man on the other end introduced himself as Brian and Jet's contact for the CIA, and all jobs going forward.
"We have a mission for you, purely observation this time. There's a protest going on in Ontario tomorrow and we'd like you to observe the border for any suspicious action. We're not expecting much, but you know how it is."
Brian chuckled and Jet played along, in fact not knowing. After a few more details were exchanged Jet hung up and finally relaxed. Sitting back on the bed and watching the orange-pink glow of the sunrise splash across the building across the road, he considered forcing himself back to sleep, but decided to go out on a morning walk instead. Throwing on his leather jacket and a newly bought pair of red Jordans, of which he was very proud, Jet slid out onto the street and struck out in a direction. The early hour did little to diminish the constant stream of traffic, and the tired pedestrians going to and from work made Jet feel as if he might be the only person awake. This was a subdued city, but still felt like home. Jet wandered about for an hour or more before looping back and walking through the pier only a half dozen blocks from the apartment. The last time he was in New York Jet had found himself magnetically drawn to this place through his memories. It was in the ever shifting maze of cargo crates that Black Ghost had duped and abducted him. Thoughts on the past, and full of frustration, Jet had spent many an evening brooding on the moors.
As he wandered the shipping containers, skirting the gaze of workers and cameras, Jet reflected again on that night, and wondered after his old gang members. With a chuckle of resignation, he realized that they'd all be old men, bouncing grand babies on weakened knees and drinking black coffee with their chocolate pudding. Jet nearly laughed aloud as he admitted to himself how good that sounded. Shaking his head and moving on Jet's feet carried him back into the city, to where he knew Cathy would be starting her morning shift at the little cafe below their apartments, and brewing a hot batch of coffee.
