Author's Note: This one is a little shorter than usual. I just don't want things to get long in the tooth. I've been doing a bit of balancing between this, training, my social life, and a million other things I can and can't do because of this damn virus. So writing has become a bit of challenge that will be happening between now and the finale.

Putting this out now I do have the finale planned out on what's going to happen. The real challenge is filling up the space in between with material that keeps you all invested. And please if you see something that you know I can improve on say it. An art piece isn't an art piece if there's no critique.

Chapter 60: The Patriarchs

June 16th 2011 2200 Hours

Bull Run Estates, Virginia

I felt like I had absolutely no fucking clue as to what I was doing. Everything that I've tried, everything that Dad tried, everything the agencies tried, was either backfiring, stagnating, or doing nothing at all. I was so frustrated after we got to safety at the embassy in Singapore that, without thinking, I kicked a full garbage can with my injured leg. The shock of pain from my knee to my hip caused me to collapse to the ground, howling at the top of my lungs. Dietrich immediately came to my side to see if I was alright, but once again without thinking, I batted her off to leave me alone. Not seeing that I slapped her across the face in the process.

As if I couldn't feel any lower. Now I'm taking out my anger on a defenseless girl like an abusive husband. She didn't even look at me on the plane ride back.

It feels like I'm just prolonging the inevitable!

She's always three steps ahead and I'm running out of options on how to catch up. I feel like sooner rather than later I'm going to start winging it. Not that I could do much moving of any type anyway with after falling off my rope, through a window, and onto a car. With my arm in a sling, my knee in a brace, and a few cold compresses on my back, I was more than pushing my body past it's limits to what it could handle. Including the amount of whiskey I was drinking in front of dad's fireplace since he wouldn't let me smoke in the house.

The house was a bit of an organized mess with dad turning it into his own command center. The guy on the current shift was a Marine named Coleman. He and a Navy Commander named Krauser kept giving me the very subtle glare when dad wasn't looking.

Their reasons were obvious, but I could care less at this point. Hekmatyar was responsible for their comrades deaths. Forgiveness wasn't something I put on my list of priorities. What was, was trying to numb out all that's happened in the last week alone. I didn't bother with a glass. I just grabbed the bottle.

"I don't believe that for one second."

And now this shit fly's in outta nowhere.

"Hey neither do I. But if she could have made false orders to a Marine unit to save Bookman, then a company take over is nothing."

"I made those orders. She had to have given me a false message using Olson's authentication codes."

Dad, Colonel Raiser, and the NSA guy Carlyle were going over a spike in HCLI's recent activities. Which was about all we had to go on for now since me, Scarecrow, and Dietrich came back from my ambush Singapore. I didn't even bother with the face to face debrief we did when we came back. Partially because I felt like absolute shit and if I heard one more word out of Scarecrows mouth, regardless of the fact he saved my ass, I would have killed him. His bitching about me had reached its limit. We couldn't fully confirm if Carlyle's virus had erased Hekmatyar's funds. But even if it did, it wouldn't matter. Cause now she has a HAL 9000 on steroids WITH unlimited resources from her father's company which she just stole right out from under his nose. It may sound like her being the new head of HCLI would expose her more and make herself an easy target for us. But she just made herself even more secure. That means she has her father's protection detail at her beck and call. Even if she never shows her face in their home office, a lot of people would start asking questions on why the newest head of a multi-billion dollar maritime delivery and weapons dealer either vanished or ended up dead. It would be more than what we could cover up in our current situation but it will have to come down as an absolute last resort. Even with SOCOM's CIC doing his best to make Dad's activities seem legit, there was a limit to what we could do.

Which means if I don't come up with a solution soon, I'm screwed.

"GRAHHH!" I shouted as I threw the whiskey bottle into the unlit fireplace.

Things constantly going worse to worser was usual for me in the last three years. But constant failure when what's at stake is the future of the planet is not something I can just act so passive on. I just needed something to let me win.

Then again, what the hell am I trying to save? With all the crap I've been reading in the news the last few years. Not including what I've seen in my travels. People in this country alone needed a big wake up call. All this entitlement shit, education that doesn't give you any knowledge, social media turning people into image conscious narcissists, blind rage because you have a different opinion. Hekmatyar wouldn't even need to activate that machine. People will just be so uncaring that they'll kill themselves off through sloth rather than each other.

I don't recall home being full of a rotten pile of weaklings.

As I stumbled back into one of the two leather chairs next to the fireplace, I knew that eventually the pain on the injured side of my body would be worse once the alcohol wore off. But it my furious stupor I noticed that Dad's library got real quiet.

"Coleman, wait outside the house. Peter, Arron, I think we better call it a night. Go home. We'll figure out something in the morning."

I could tell without looking on where this was about to lead.

"Yes sir. I'll make the usual excuse on why you won't be in the office tomorrow."

"Appreciate it."

"Go easy on him man." Carlyle whispered.

I just slouched in the chair and waited for Dad to say something after I heard the door shut. It was a bit of a wait too. The only sounds were the crickets outside the open window in the warm summer night. Combined with the ticking of the reproduction Bracket clock on his desk. When I was a kid, it was always the waiting that got to me whenever dad or mom had to punish me for doing something stupid. Because I didn't know what they were planning. But I don't think it would work now, plus I take my frustrations out in my own way and he can only tell me otherwise so much.

"What I'd really like to know is why are you throwing a tantrum like a child? You pull shit like that in front of your men they'll question you confidence and leadership."

He was standing next to the chair. I didn't look at him.

"Aww…cut the Army shit out dad. I ain't been a Captain in three years. It's not like I'm still drawing benefits or anything."

"I was using it as an example boy. You know what I mean." He said sternly.

"Ugh…whatever. What do you wanna say? Cause frankly I've had enough."

It's moments like this I didn't want to have after being away for so long. The arguments we had, like every father and son have at some point or another, were normally settled on a level like two average men short of throwing fists. Only reason we never went that far was because mom was the one that always eased the tension in the house. But regretfully she never lived to see my teenage years. It was just the two of us for the longest time.

"So that's it then?"

"What's it?" I asked.

"You heard me boy. My question is; Are-you-done?" He said with a bit of an underlying growl. "Because I don't recall agreeing to bringing you home to help you fight a crisis just so you could quit halfway."

I still didn't look at him but I knew what he meant. But honestly I really don't know right now.

"Sorry I've been a little sore since I've been trying to save the world by failing at every turn." I said sarcastically.

"Failing?" He said before sitting down in the other leather chair. "You think she just stole her own father's company to boast her power? That she's even more untouchable now?"

"What else is there?"

"It means she's just as afraid of you as ever. If she was willing to put up a wall with that kind of price, it shows that she's desperate to try and stop you. Didn't you say to her over the phone that she was afraid of you or was that a lie?"

I grit my teeth and fists at the end of that sentence. Her presence seems to be fucking everywhere. Dad did not really know her. Even drunk I still remember some of the more memorable parts of our time together.

"I just wanted to say something to piss her off. It's about all I can fucking do now." I said looking at my injuries on the left side of my body.

"True. Because if you do something like jump off a building again…"

"I meant literally dad. I don't know how to fight her." I said stopping him so I could speak. "Even if by some miracle I pull this off, nothing will change either way."

I stood up in a stumble and made for the window. Trying not to trip on both my own feet and the cables spread along the floor. More memories of all the horrors I've seen wandering the Earth. The shit the news outlets don't put out because it ain't sexy enough, violent enough, or politically aligned enough.

"I thought all the crap going on back home was just routine but it's everywhere and it's worse. People just wandering through life just wanting things while carnage happens all around them. And they don't do anything to stop it. It's like they don't care about life at all. Not even their own."

…

"Did you know that six months after you disappeared I put a pistol in my mouth?"

My whole world came to a complete stop. I sobered up real quick.

"Specifically it was your Grandad's old .38 he kept when he was flying over the Pacific."

"Dad?" I said terrified as I turned to face him. Still holding his iconic stone faced confidence.

"When I thought you were dead, it was like my whole world came to an end. It was as if I didn't have anything anymore. You think I just march through all the pain and anguish without feeling anything because as a Green Beret I'm supposed to be strong and unnerving!? I've lost so many friends over the years, I've been scared to make new ones. I couldn't do anything to stop your mother's cancer. The real reason I got my first star was because the guy ahead of me got both his legs blown off from an IED on routine drive that was supposed to be clear. I didn't deserve it. That pressure ain't something anyone can just handle boy! And after I lost you I wanted it all to end!"

I remember Hex saying that Dad was placed on suicide watch. In recent years it had been on the rise throughout the US military. So I thought she was just trying to get to me. I didn't think she was serious. Dad always seemed so steadfast and dedicated. I thought nothing could get to him.

But then again, he did think I was dead.

"But as I pulled the hammer back and put my thumb on the trigger, I didn't feel peace. I felt fear. Fear of a terrible regret. But that wasn't what really stopped me."

"What happened dad?" I said starting to choke up but not cry. Hopefully it wasn't a reaction of possibly vomiting from drinking too much.

"I heard your mother."

Many people experience strange phenomenon's when near death. I would know. So I humored him.

"What did she say?"

"If you do this, you will never see either one of us again."

Mom may have looked like a bit of a rebel when she ran away from her strict parents. But she did have a large heart. She would always let dad lean on her whenever the stress from being a soldier became too great. It didn't surprise me she could reach across from the afterlife.

"I…did find out that you were placed on watch." It was about all I could think of to say in this very moment. "Did you tell Grandpa Bobby? Or Uncle Frank? Or Uncle Eric?"

"You're the only one I've told, son."

Dad had always shared some of the more uneasy things in his life with Mom and me, Army or not. But this took the spot as the new number one.

"And in a way, she was right. If I pulled that trigger I wouldn't have been able to help you. And you would have even less or no options to fight Koko Hekmatyar. I know that you don't believe in fate like I do. But if she really wanted to end the world, she could have done it at any time when she explained her plan to you. The reason she won't, is because of you."

He's right…how could I forget I'm her last real and greatest threat. There's still…Oh God.

My vision started to fade out a bit and I started to lose my footing. But dad caught me before I could hit the floor. Even intoxicated I wasn't surprised on how he could hold me up as he did. You're never bigger than your old man.

"Sorry to ruin the moment pop."

Thank God I didn't make it worse by blowing chunks.

"It's alright boy. But going back to earlier, you aren't doing anything until you've healed up at least. That includes rummaging through my liquor cabinet. Let's get you to bed."

"Ugh...you think your back can handle hauling me up the stairs?"

He glared at me while smiling. "You're a piece of shit boy."

I knew the appropriate response. "Yeah. But I'm your piece of shit."

June 17th 2011 0945 Hours

Daylight, a throbbing migraine, and a screaming left side of my body. Only weird thing was that I thought I would have woken up later. This kind of shit I needed to fix eventually. The source of my problems wasn't hiding in a bottle. I should have known better and this was the price.

"Grah…son of a bitch."

As I was sitting on my bed grasping the front of my head, my body was covered in sweat because dad never kept the air on during summer nights, I smelled coffee. Fresh coffee, as well as what smelled like pancakes. I didn't feel sick but even if I did I needed energy to get the day started. Even if I was going to be out of action for a while I could still at least do some desk work. So I made my way downstairs to the kitchen while gently stretching my injured limbs. I kept my knee brace off unless I really needed it.

I thought I wasn't supposed to have this type of constant pain until I'm old and grey.

But as I entered the room lined with walnut wood and black marble, dad wasn't on the stove. Instead was someone else entirely, a familiar blonde girl. Next to her was a plate of sloppily made pancakes. Girl could inhale a whole animal if given the opportunity but it appeared she wouldn't know how to cook it.

"What are you doing here?"

"Your father asked me to keep an eye on you for a bit while he went to Langley for a few hours." She said focusing on the frying pan.

Well at least I can get my apology to her out of the way.

"I had something I had to give him that might help you out. That's why he's not here. He told me to make myself at home and I didn't have breakfast yet so I'd figure we eat together." She turned to face me. "I hope I didn't make too…"

She dropped the spatula on the floor and her face turned red as a tomato.

"…m-m-much."

After a brief moment of confusion on why she looked away from me so flustered, it was kind of obvious.

Oh boy.

I was standing in the kitchen door in only my boxers. I felt like an idiot.

"Hang on. I'll go get a shirt on." I said as I made my way back upstairs.

"Y-y-yeah." She said nervously. "Oh damn it! Please don't burn!" But got back to normal.

After a few minutes of getting dressed, I came back, took a stack of three and started to eat. I didn't bother to use the dining room so I just stood next to the counter. The girl just looked at me like I had no idea what table manners were. So she took one of the stools and sat opposite the central counter top.

"So was it true that Koko took complete control over HCLI?" Dietrich asked.

"At this point, I half expect that machine make Julián fries, cut the grass, or make an elephant appear out of thin air."

It was then that I noticed that she didn't have on her normal gentle carefree look. Instead she looked more neutral and on guard. I couldn't let the atmosphere get awkward.

"Speaking of elephants, I want to get this out of the way right now. I feel worse than I look. My anger is my biggest strength as well as my crippling weakness. If you don't want to forgive me for lashing out at you like that I understand. You're not the first person to hate me with a passion and you won't be the last."

As I reached for the syrup, I saw her smirk come back. But she took her time to think of a response.

"You know when I first took this job I thought I could really make a great use of my talents in technology to find out what our enemies were doing without even knowing we were there. I didn't think I would be in any type of real danger or ever even see the face of my enemies. I honestly thought it was guys like you that did all of the brute force."

"You thought that working for the CIA was nothing like James Bond. Am I right?" I said wondering if she wanted any pancakes with her syrup.

"Yeah…"

It was insane to think I had so much experience in the nastier side of what the world really is as compared to the average person. I just wish that part wasn't where real power was. It should be earned through achievements and not just a given position.

"There's a difference between what is shown and what really is. Problem with Hekmatyar is that she's mastered it to a point where she could convince you what something really is and make facts totally irrelevant." I didn't want to think about her right now so I decided to switch the subject. "Well anyway, what did you give my dad?"

"Something that could possibly label HCLI's practices as dirty."

As I put a coffee mug to my lips I paused. "How did you do that?"

"Well I can kiss whatever I wanted with it goodbye." She said with a pout. "But I think that diamond Koko gave me might have been a step in her own undoing."

I remembered that big stone. And more than likely where it came from.

"If that stone can be seen as a legit blood diamond then it could be evidence of HCLI's business deals as illegitimate by the international trade agencies." It was a good idea. "But there's just one problem, it ain't gonna work."

"What do you mean? If the WTO or even the UN come down on HCLI then…"

"Hekmatyar lives in her own reality. She doesn't care what law applies to her. What we need to figure out, is how to combat that computer. And the only ones who know how it really works are her and Amada."

To be fair she did have a good idea on making Hekmatyar's position as HCLI's owner sketchy. But that didn't matter to her since she could just see what moves would be planned before they happened. That and her warped perception of right and wrong.

"You think that 'Jormungand' is perfect but it's not. She might have figured out the technical workarounds but those flaws are still there like any other type of machine."

"Huh? What flaws?"

"After Agent Carlyle told me about the technical capabilities of 'Jormungand' we went through everything we could dig up on the subject. Both public and confidential. According to some of the more reliable engineering reports on quantum computers the non-ideal circuit elements and the interaction of the qubits with the environment around them can cause errors. If they aren't corrected then the computers results would be either off or wrong all together. The unknown qubits cannot be copied to incorporate redundancy as an error correction technique. Furthermore, errors present within the incoming data before the error-correction coding is introduced cannot be corrected."

"Umm…" She seemed to be thinking this through more than I did. All I was hearing is more techno babble.

"It basically makes a flawed solution. Each qubit consists of a single electron left hanging by nitrogen's inability to bond with a fourth carbon atom. This electron is addressed, set, and read optically. Hence, the first problem is to search through a crystal for the few isolated vacancies that can be individually addressed. Optically addressing the qubits means that the vacancies are too far apart to directly couple, so qubit operations and entanglement between qubits has to be done via optical and microwave photons. Unfortunately, microwave emission will couple to all qubits, reducing the precision with which the qubits can be controlled."

"Uhh…Dietrich?" She lost me at the part about atomic particles.

"That optical address system it has is still complicated, but it is much simplified by the use of microwaves and trap motion to take care of some operations. This is enough to make the engineering feasible."

"Pruedence." She sounded like she's in a trance.

"Superconducting qubits are manufactured. They probably have the worst quantum properties of any qubit contender. Gate operations, setting and reading qubit states, and storing operations can all be designed to keep the computer functional for as long as possible."

"Prudence." I said firmly cause I was totally lost on what the hell she was saying. Maybe she's not some type of gluttonous ditz after all.

"The problem is making a photonic circuit programmable. It's difficult but not the sort of challenge that makes an engineer run away screaming."

"Prudence!" I said putting my plate down cause it looked like I had to forcibly stop her.

She looked like she was in full on auto-pilot. No choice now. Plus my head was starting to hurt.

"Then we get to operating costs. Ion-trap computers require vacuum systems with expensive pumping systems, while superconducting…MMPH!"

My hand managed to cover her entire mouth to get her to stop. Her blue eyes widening wondering what I was about to do. Best not to scare the poor thing. My shadow itself was already overwhelming her blocking out the morning sun.

"Prue…I have a touch of hangover this mornin'. I have absolutely no idea what you're babbling about. And frankly it is not interesting. How can I exploit the 'whatever the hell you're saying' to my advantage?" I said taking my hand off her mouth. It felt sticky from the syrup. "And keep it simple please?"

It took a second but she recomposed herself. "It's…umm…ahh ok. You know that if you don't secure a wheel on a car properly it'll fly off if you go too fast?"

"Yes?"

"Same concept. If the information input can't keep up with the hardware it runs the risk of being an error. Making the system give the wrong answer even if you know what the outcome would be beforehand."

So that means that if she uses the thing too much it won't give her what she wants. But in order for that to happen she has to use it. It's like if you wanted to keep an enemy occupied is to let them shoot holes in you.

"Wow. Thinking about it that way, it's a bit of a Catch 22."

"Hey it's better than nothing."

My coffee was getting dry. I needed a refill for my meds. Recuperating was bout all I could do now because I'm in no shape to do any fighting after recently.

"Alright then. How do we access her system?"

She then looked down to her empty plate. "I don't know."

"Great." I then went for a refill. "Well, I got time on my hands now to figure that out. But I wonder how long she'll wait."

Knowing her for wanting to make dramatic flair, she would have wanted to wait for the perfect time to get back at the world. Problem is no one but her knows when that's going to happen.

"You know coffee's been proven to make a hangover worse. It actually makes you dehydrated and more tired."

"Focus on the task at hand and not my health chocolate girl." I said annoyed.

June 29th 2011 1300 Hours

Zurich, Switzerland

Floyd Hekmatyar had become a prisoner in his own home. His bodyguards who had kept him safe for so many years were now his jailers, watching his every move. His shipping company who he had built from the ground up with his wife Katrina had been taken from him by his own daughter.

His only question to all of this was why.

His old chateau, nestled in the forests outside of the city was once his isolated retreat. It's previous owner had let it fall into disrepair and Floyd had decided to rebuild it in a mixture of its original design of French Normandy with Tudor. Befitting of a billionaire who knew how to spend his fortune. During his business travels all around the world he actually had grown weary of seeing some of the same things over and over again. He knew that they would still be there regardless of how much time he spent near them or away from them. He felt content enough with having his own palace to run his empire from a little spot in Europe. Too bad that the newly installed surveillance cameras installed in every room and outside the house had nullified any possibility of privacy. As well as having an option of leaving his property willingly.

He was alone today as he sneered at one of the cameras to whoever was on the other end. Dressed like he just got back from work. He didn't really finish dressing for each day like he normally did. There was no point as a prisoner. But at least he was able to meet and speak to people. There was one man he could still trust.

"How are you doing this morning sir? Enjoying your retirement?" Said former Delta Force Colonel Abraham Jones. Plastic bag in hand full of fresh fruit, some pastries, and a newspaper.

"Are you? I figured you'd already left Switzerland by now."

Their conversation was calm and mundane. It was also a farce.

A little insurance policy they put together years ago. Working in the arms trade opened a lot of hazardous doors. Floyd Hekmatyar wanted to be prepared for every situation. It required a lot of learning several techniques.

What have you managed to find out?

John was a little more trustworthy. Koko has been making a lot of trouble.

Including the ability to read lips. One would talk shop while the other one was telling the true conversation.

"I still have much to do."

What is she doing?

"Well I have at least managed to get done what I've been neglecting around the house."

Buying up rocket fuel, raw materials for computer parts, and an abandoned Soviet rocket site in Kazakhstan.

"I find it strange that you never really hired anyone for that kind of labor."

Hekmatyar almost let an expression of confusion slip.

She's not running the company, she's just using it as her wallet. What's it all for?

"I only needed a house sitter if I was away for long periods of time. It's my home and I should be the one to take care of it."

Something to do with using the Global Grid as a part of a separate project. John wouldn't explain that but there was something he was avoiding altogether.

Hekmatyar could tell by the look in his eyes that he figured it out. He carried on with the "conversation" so he could answer.

"But I would like some help on my car later if it's not too much trouble."

Her newest member, Damien, he ran from them and now the CIA has been causing trouble.

"Of course. Any idea on what might be wrong with it?" He said while slightly widening his eyes to elaborate.

What? Why are the Americans involved?

"Replace the fluids and see that the brake pads are ok." Hekmatyar was doing his best to stay in character since his house was bugged all the way down to the wood screws.

They were the ones targeting our assets in Europe and Africa. Damien's the only one who could have told them.

"Sure I'll find some time to make do."

Ok the situation has changed. This is getting out of hand. We need real answers.

The two older men had concluded their duel conversation with the exchange of the newspaper, Jones had his instructions. It was another little trick the two had made together. The articles were genuine but an entire message was encoded in it with words that were misspelled so that they would form a full message. It contained the more specific details of what had been going on with Koko and HCLI. Too much to so to be dealt with their little trick of having two conversations at once. The guards out at the front of the house did search Jones before he came in so they didn't worry at the sight of a harmless newspaper. But eventually they would have kept a tighter grip on security because each one of them knew that Floyd Hekmatyar was no fool and neither was their former head of security. But they didn't suspect anything just yet.

"You know…" Hekmatyar then broke character. "…that's the one thing I wish I could get back so that this wouldn't be happening."

"Get back what?" He asked as Hekmatyar looked to a picture frame on a shelf.

Jones knew he wanted to talk to someone just to alleviate some stress. No surprise since he'd been in his house by himself for the last month or so. Their line of sight was toward a shelf, a shelf of firsts for Hekmatyar. St Elmo's Shipping ownership transfer which he would later change to the company's current name. His receipt for the purchase of his first ship. His first commendation from a foreign government for exceptional service. And in the corner, a photo of himself, Kasper age 5, and Koko age 3. The only photo of all three of them together on the deck of his old flagship, the Aurora Borealis.

"Time." He simply said as he walked to the photo picking it up. "Just enough to undo whatever I did wrong. I thought that if I could teach her everything on how the world truly works, she would steer towards the right choices in her life. No one should be taught comforting lies and support dreams of utter fantasy as a child. That can lead to great disappointments loss of faith in things that are truly good. She said she wanted to do what I did, I didn't see any flaw in it at the time, and I encouraged it. Just any father that would support their child for when they make good decisions. Instead, I just made her hate me."

When Abraham Jones first formed the protection group Clandestine after he retired from US Army Delta Force he always instilled a strict rule upon himself to never make business personal. That didn't mean that he would abandon his human side. It was a lesson he had to learn the hard way so he always remembered it. Unlike his old friend John Lehmbrick, having to go through a real divorce and having your children disavow your existence and not even address you as their father can make a man feel awfully lonesome. He saw a bit of a scary similarity with Floyd Hekmatyar and his own children but at least he attempted to make peace with his daughter. Jones just tried to assert his authority because of what he was instead of who and it backfired.

"It's still not too late to make up for that Floyd."

He put the photo back on the shelf. "You're right."

Use the old back channel and tell them I want protective custody.

Jones looked towards Hekmatyar if he heard him right. He was encouraging him to make up with his daughter not fight her. It took a moment for him to figure out a response if he had anything else to add.

"I know I am. Time is the one thing that everyone always has."

Tell them if they send just Damien, I can help them stop my daughter.

"Well I will find a way to make proper use of it."

What makes you so sure they'll listen?

He just smiled and nodded him to go. "Well just don't go putting your nose in the papers as usual Floyd. I'll see myself out."

As his old guard left, Hekmatyar went to the paper. He knew that he would have to give the CIA something solid so that he could be taken into protective custody as opposed to his distrust of his own flesh and blood. Jones and what few left he trusted had just been barely scraping by with what little they had but Hekmatyar had finally managed to score more luck than whatever they had.

Koko's most recent location.

Sometimes being the best parent means doing what you're child will hate you for when you know that they have their best interests in mind. I will save my child.

July 1st 2011 1000 Hours

Istanbul, Turkey

Koko Hekmatyar and Minami Amada had been the best of friends for the longest time. So friends knew to look out for each other's best interests even if the other one didn't agree with it. She was used to Dr. Miami's smoking after being around Lehm for so long but with her current state she didn't want anything to harm the life she was carrying inside of her. She didn't want to run the risk of second hand smoke as she snatched the cigarette out of her mouth and stomped it out.

"You could have just told me 'No' Koko."

"Sorry. These damn hormones are making me act on impulse." She then put both hands on her stomach. "Getting through this is not as easy as it looks. Not to mention the heat here is tripling what I'm already sweating now."

The two were on a morning walk enjoying the scenery in the Sariyer District along the Rumelihisari with the light detail of Lutz, Valmet, and Dr. Miami's personal bodyguard Mokoena. Their earlier discussion was about the current development of 'Jormungands' second brain, which there wasn't any. Professors Amada and Baburin were working later and later into the night to try and figure out the technical workarounds without the help of Dr. Faiza. Damien's killing of her as well as the difficulty he placed on getting Koko's finances to come through was putting an immense strain on her plan. Kasper said that he was still determined to help his little sister no matter what but he needed reassurance that this would be all worth it. He knew who Damien had the protection of and he knew that Koko's computer couldn't do everything.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but when do you think is the due date?"

"I'm guessing…maybe by or at the end of the year."

"Uh-oh. You know you'll have to double down on her Christmas and birthday gifts at the end of each year!"

"Hey! You don't know that. What if it's a boy?"

Lutz was somewhat relieved that the little lady had started to act like her normal self again. She was always a little bit more cheery when she was with Dr. Miami. But as he took a quick glance at Valmet, he saw that look again that he had caught sometimes when she wasn't looking in his direction.

Envy.

There was no doubt in his mind that she wanted to spend her life with Damien. Lutz had come to terms to accept the fact that he failed where Damien succeeded. He couldn't believe that she of all people wanted to have a type of domesticated lifestyle. He thought that they were really perfect for each other. Instead Damien cheats on her with Koko, gets her pregnant, shoots at the rest of them, goes on another rampage against HCLI, and he more than likely doesn't even know Koko is carrying his child.

So why was Valmet always looking at Koko as if she wanted to be where she was?

"You need to make sure that no matter what happens you have to give me some time so that she or he will get the best first Christmas present personally made from Aunt Minami."

"I'm not sure the kid will recognize what he'll be looking at." Koko said skeptically even though she knew Dr. Miami had the best intentions.

"Nonsense! Just make something look cute and adorable and they'll cherish it!"

"Ok. Ok. I swear you'll get a moment of pause."

The pair stopped on the cobblestone sidewalk to look out to the Black Sea.

"I told you that I would guarantee 'Jormungands' success Professor Amada. I do not want you to think of me as a liar."

She adjusted her glasses as she stared out to sea with her.

"Koko, nothing comes to fruition without a challenge. If I didn't believe that we could achieve our dream I'd still be just sitting around MIT waiting for an opportunity to put my robotics skills to use. I'll just think of this as something that came up that was totally out of our control. It's kind of like if you had a party planned and you knew that it wasn't going to rain the next day but it did anyway. We'll just have to plan the big reveal again. Just a little further down the road than we had anticipated."

Koko appreciated Minami's gesture. But that "rain" was a sentient, violent, and uncontrollable wild storm. Luckily the storm didn't know where to strike and it hadn't shown itself for a while. It seemed that asking Kasper for help had paid off somewhat but she didn't know for how long. Damien would be back and she still didn't have the full capabilities of 'Jormungand' finalized. What she had currently was capable enough but she needed have the absolute pinnacle of computational power in the world. She would settle for nothing less.

"Minami I have to admit I'm rather nervous." Koko said fidgeting. "I mean just how far we've come. The end is practically in sight and now I have this to bring into the new world. I'm practically speechless."

She put both her hands on her friends shoulders.

"It's the tomorrow that matters Koko. The world will know for sure that there will always be a tomorrow from now on." She then kneeled down, faced Koko's stomach, and started to poke it. "And you will have an absolute blast being able to do things that no one else will ever experience again. Your mother has a knack for doing that!"

"Minami! Stop! That tickles!"

Two of the three bodyguards looked at the two women with smiles. One still had the look of envy but promised herself that she would do her damnedest support Koko when the time came. The birth of her New World. She was through playing little love games and focused solely on her warrior tasks. The man she thought she cared for was never coming back and she had to press on. To do what Dr. Miami said, focus on the tomorrow. It was the life she yearned for when she was able to unlock the world with Koko's help. It was what she was best at.

So why the hell do I feel so empty and alone?

Before a tear could fall, she turned away to fake a yawn.