Chapter 9: The Truth
The door to the upstairs room crashed open, and a startled Jack, Michael and Diamondhead looked up.
"Rodrigo," Michael said reproachfully, "What do you think you're—"
"Senores, perdonme….but Michael's needed down at the car. Now. The Movement called early."
"Early? I don't like the sound of that."
"Me neither."
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Outside, Kitt switched the call from the mobile phone in the Cadillac to his autophone just as Rodrigo appeared with Michael.
"Yo guys," he said, "A little early, aren't you?"
"None of your business, Knight…no, actually, it is your business. Where's that progress?"
"Nobody's listening on the other end, man."
"Make them listen. Because if you don't have any results in less than 24 hours, we're going to kill a new hostage: Bonnie Barstow herself."
That made Michael's breath catch. In the background, Bonnie gasped.
"What did you bastards do to Devon?"
"I think I'll let the lady tell you herself."
There was a pause before a very shaky voice called out, "Michael?"
"Bonnie! What happened to Devon?"
"They…he's being…th-the terrorists turned him over to a small group for…Michael, they're beating on him. I can hear it from here."
"The hell?"
"I know what I'm saying. Devon had a nightmare and mentioned his sister and something called Gypsies…and not the normal kind. Marco says he's a quote, filthy Gypsy that isn't even a real human, unquote. Michael, after sunrise, they're going to kill Devon and send the body to Mexico."
"Madre de los Dios," Rodrigo said in a low voice, "They know. Senora, lo siento, they know!"
The information slammed into Michael as though Goliath had slammed into him again.
"Bonnie, calm down. We're on the job. We're not going to allow this," Michael's voice turned cold.
"Here's Marco again. Michael…hurry."
There was another pause before the man from earlier said, "You can't save that filth, Miles, but Barstow doesn't have to die." There was a click.
Kitt was stunned into silence.
"Rodrigo," Michael said, "I think you'd better start telling me some things."
"Like what, senor?"
"Like about Devon. Bonnie mentioned something and you freaked out. Now I want to know the truth. Just why are these guys tied into you, Marissa, Laura and Devon? What's this about Gypsies and fake humans?"
Rodrigo took a deep breath then said, "You weren't supposed to know until Devon's birthday…but now if you want to save Senor Miles, you need to know."
"I'm listening."
The Mexican man took a deep breath and began.
"That man, on the other end of the phone is Marco Chavez. He's not really a part of the True Liberty Movement. His true affiliation is with a secret society based out of Mexico, dedicated to exterminating any and all Mystics."
"Okay…what's a Mystic?"
"Despite what he says, Mystics are real humans. We…just have a different origin point, that's all, and abilities that regular human beings don't have. Chavez's group, including Douglas Parkson, see us as sub-human at best…and fake people at worst. Something to be hunted as sport, a stain to be eliminated…they use a disparaging name for us."
"Gypsies."
"Si, Gypsies."
"I noticed that you're saying 'we', not 'they'. Rodrigo…you're a Gypsy—I mean, a Mystic?"
"Yes…and so is Laura."
"Is he telling the truth…? Is Devon one of these…Mystics?"
Rodrigo sighed heavily and nodded, saying grimly, "Si." He quickly added, "But all of his abilities, except one, are latent."
Michael thought and said in a grave tone, "His 'whispers'."
"Yes. Marissa's own abilities are more developed, after a crude fashion. Her prophetic dreams, being able to hear music at sunrise, her acute perception…even her own 'whispers'. Now listen. There are three Lines of Ancestry, or Lines for short, on this planet. Each line has its own way of identifying themselves…and as a tradition, the members of each Line has, as a part of their names, a variation of who they are descended from."
"You sure we have time for this—" Michael started to ask.
"Senor Knight, you wanted the truth…now, more than before, you need the complete truth, if you want to save Devon."
He mutely nodded.
"Three lines of Ancestry, or Lines."
"Yes. There may be others, but these are the three I know about. I am Rodrigo Mariz…or in proper Mystic address, Rodrigo of Line Maris."
"What does that have to do with Devon?"
"The last member of Devon's Line to keep to the tradition was his mother when she named her youngest daughter Verona Medine Miles. Verona broke that tradition when she named Marissa. Everyone knows your boss as Devon Miles, even he himself. In the proper address…that would be Devon…of Line Medina."
"And these bastards want Devon dead, now that they know what he is…even if he doesn't?"
"Yes. That's why Douglas Parkson went after Verona seven years ago. Parkson was of this society."
Michael started to look sick. "That's why he killed Devon's sister, kidnapped Marissa…and put her through hell until Kitt rescued her. That's why you and Laura were on the run in Mexico…"
"She told you, aye? I wish she hadn't, but…it's inevitable, now."
"Rodrigo…is that society the True Liberty Movement?"
"No, no…it's not. The society in Mexico merely cooperated with these terrorists and sent in a number of their agents, with covers of being disgruntled comrades."
There was dead silence before Michael said, "Rodrigo…thank you."
"You deserve to know, Senor. I'll tell you the rest after we free the hostages."
"Yeah…after."
"You two," a quiet, strangled voice said from beside them.
Michael and Rodrigo turned and saw Jack standing beside Kitt.
"How much did you hear!" the Mexican asked sharply.
"Everything." Jack then said in a steadier tone, "I knew something was strange…when I first met Marissa. I felt something…a familiar vibe. Something I hadn't felt in years."
"Years?" Michael asked, curious.
"Yeah…my father was a member of the Mariz, family…Dominic. He had married an American woman, Karen Hunter. They…they died in a fire. I managed to survive…and lived on the streets ever since, as Jack Hunter."
"Dominic?" Rodrigo asked, "That…was my brother. He had made it to the United States and married. When he found out about the society going after us, he sent a letter to me and Laura…and that's when we left for the border."
"Man…this is turning out to be more of a big day than I thought," Jack said with a wavering laugh, "Who ever thought that a bunch of kids coming to me for help would bring me face to face with living members of my family? Don't worry…your secret's safe with me. I swear it."
Rodrigo nodded and Michael asked, "How soon can we all get underway?"
"Like I told Marissa, 5 AM."
"It'll be close."
"Tell me about it. But it'll have to be." Jack sighed and whispered, "Heaven help me…but it'll have to be."
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Right on the dot, at 5 AM, Jack and Angel went into the building and woke up the inhabitants. Marissa was already dressed and ready to go, and Laura wasn't far behind. The others, though, had taken some doing, but they all got up quickly.
As soon as Laura, Becky and Marissa walked outside, followed by the rest of the Foundation's Youth, their eyes widened by three familiar faces.
"M-Michael! RC…!"
"Papa…"
They turned white.
"It's all right," Jack said reassuringly, "They're with us, now. The Diamond Snakes arrived in the night and they're behind us all the way. Them, plus Michael, RC and…and Rodrigo Mariz, means we now have enough to storm the terrorists' hideout."
Everyone else was outside, including everyone in the Black Dragons and the Diamond Snakes.
"Our target is the abandoned blood bank, located 19 miles south of city limits," Jack stated, addressing everyone, "But before we arrive there, we will review the strategy one last time. Instead of reviewing it 1 mile outside of limits, we'll do it right here."
Marissa turned and said, "Kitt, turn on the projector and go over the battle plan, latest version. Everyone, if you'll turn to the wall of the bar…"
Kitt complied and projected the blueprint copy, and said, "Once we depart from here, the Diamond Snakes and Black Dragons will be taking separate routes, meeting up 1 mile outside city limits. We will be splitting the rest of the procession into two, to make us less conspicuous. Michael will take five cars to the rendezvous point and I will take the other four. Once we all reunite, we will proceed to the blood bank. As stated before, I will disable the security system. Half of the Diamond Snakes and Kate Sora's team will then create a diversion to draw some of the enemy out of doors. The method is up to them."
Jack inserted, "Diamondhead and the other half will be keeping a lookout for and neutralizing any ambush parties. The members of the Black Dragons have been evenly divided amongst the five Foundation's Youth teams."
"Chris Sato's team will take the south entrance while Christina and Janice's teams start from the east side. Mark and Michael's teams will take the north entrance." The same team colors appeared on the projection, although Michael's team had a dark red mark. "When the east side is secured, Teams 2 and 4 will split up, as previously established. Christina's team will make their way to the center room, while Janice's will head for the south side and back up Chris' team." The paths were marked out in the proper colors.
"At this point, Laura, Marissa and I will be going in from the south end," Jack stated, "here's where the major change starts. Marissa, your team will have only one objective: locate and free Devon Miles before the terrorists execute him. Michael, your team will make your way to the center of the building. Once you arrive, send the signal to Kitt, and he'll call the police and the paramedics."
"After the diversion succeeds, we'll go in. Kate's team will receive their instructions once they reach the center. As for the rest of us Snakes, they'll stand guard once the central room is secured," Diamondhead stated, tone as hard as gravel.
"Any questions?" Marissa asked, her own tone that one would expect of a commander.
There were plenty of tones, all negatory.
Marissa peered at everyone, then said, "We've got only one shot at this, so make it count. Foundation's Youth, move out!"
"Black Dragons, let's rock!"
"Diamond Snakes, time to storm!"
"Foundation team, let's go!"