Chapter 2

The three women escorted Adam into the building in handcuffs. He was pissed because he knew he didn't do anything. In the distance was a young woman with dark hair sitting on a black moped. She watched as they took him through the glass doors.

"Shit." Was all she could say under her breath.

She got on her cell phone dialed, a voice on the other end picked up.

"Operator."

"The agents have him." She said.

"Damn! We're going to have to think of something else." The operator told her.

Back inside the building Adam was being led to what looked like an interrogation room. There were only two chairs and one large table, the light made it green in hue. The blonde and the brunette sat him down roughly. He was surprised that for women they were quite strong. The redhead produced a file which read Anderson, Adam S.

She took a seat in front of him.

"Why am I here?" Adam asked.

Her scarlet lips curled into a seductive grin as she spoke in a mechanical yet sensual tone.

"As you can see, we have had our eye on you for the longest time now, Mr. Anderson."

She opened his file and flipped through several pages, she was still wearing her dark sunglasses so he couldn't really tell if she was looking at him or if she was looking at his file. Finally Agent Lewis spoke again.

"It seems that you have been living two lives. In one life, you are Adam S. Anderson, a local public access personality who hosts a weekly TV show about conspiracy theories. You have a social security number, you pay your taxes and you help your landlady carry out her garbage."

She continued to turn the pages as she continued speaking.

"The other life is lived in computers where you go by the hacker alias Phoenix, and you are guilty of virtually ever computer crime that we have a law for, including the unauthorized use of the D.M.V. system for the removal of automobile boots."

Adam couldn't help but feel he was sinking into a serious pit of shit at that moment. She continued to speak.

"One of these lives has a future. One of them does not."

She closed his file.

"I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can Mr. Anderson. You are here because we need your help."

She removed her sunglasses revealing her unnaturally fiery amber eyes.

"We know that you have been contacted by a certain individual. A woman who calls herself Mystere. Whatever you think you know about this woman is irrelevant to the fact that she is wanted for acts of terrorism in more countries than any other person in the world. She is considered by many authorities to be the most dangerous woman alive."

She leaned closer, still looking into his eyes. She was so close he could smell the light sweet scent of lilacs emanating from her being.

"My lady friends believe that I am wasting my time with you, but I believe you want to do the right thing. It is obvious that you are an intelligent man, Mr. Anderson and that you are interested in the future. That is why I believe you are ready to put your past mistakes behind you and get on with your life."

Adam matched her stare.

"We are willing to wipe the slate clean, to give you a fresh start and all we are asking in return is your cooperation in bringing a known terrorist to justice."

Adam let out a small laugh. He was not going to let some government chick in dark suit tell him what to do as he nodded to himself.

"You know that sounds like one hell of a deal lady. But I think I have a much better one. How about I give you the finger."

He flipped her off with a smirk.

"And you cram that file right up your secret service ass."

Agent Lewis put her sunglasses back on

"You disappoint me, Mr. Anderson."

"You ain't seen shit yet sweetheart."

"The irony of your situation is that you have no choice."

Adam was getting annoyed with the whole situation when he spoke again.

"Listen bitch, you can't scare with this gestapo bullshit. I know my rights and I want my fucking phone call!"

Agent Lewis just smiled back at him.

"And tell me, Mr. Anderson what good is a phone call, if you are unable to speak?"

Somehow Adam was unnerved by this and when he tried to speak no words came out. The three women just snickered at his predicament as his confusion grew into panic. He opened his mouth but no words would come out. Wild with fear, he lunged for the door but the small built blonde and the brunette held him down with superhuman strength. Agent Lewis nodded to both women as they ripped his shirt open

"You are going to help us, Mr. Anderson, whether you want to or not."

She produced what looked like a long fiber-optic wire tap. He struggled helplessly as it came near his navel.

"Oh and another thing, Mr. Anderson. Never address me as your Sweetheart again. And if you are going to call me a bitch, you better address me as Agent Bitch."

A with that she slapped him ... hard, making him bleed. Horrified he watched as the tap became animated and thin tentacle like probes pierced his navel as he writhed in agony.

He bolted upright in the dark. He was in bed in his apartment. A few moments later the phone rang, it was Mystere and it would also be the beginning of his new life of being unplugged.