Chapter 2: Kryptonite
As Patrick Owen looked at Blake, he said, "I sure hope our paths don't cross again."
Exactly my sentiments, this has been an incredible experience. When I agreed to join Checkmate, I hadn't expected this." Lieutenant Blake replied as he exited the room.
"What were you expecting to happen?" Patrick Owen wondered.
Lieutenant Blake turned back to Patrick and said, "I thought perhaps the job would be more fulfilling."
After stumbling upon a cleaning crew, he instructed the head cleaner, "Please dispose of the bodies in this room and erase all evidence of their presence."
William Jackson, who had been working for Checkmate since its inception, was the lead cleaner. His job was to clean up and leave no traces that they had been there. Having worked in this field for almost 30 years, he has seen everything.
"My crew and I will start cleaning right away, Lieutenant Blake. Has Patrick been informed about the bodies?" William Jackson asked.
A look of regret crossed Lieutenant Blake's face as he glanced back at the lead cleaner. "He was there when the family was killed. In the event that they failed to sign the NDA, he approved their elimination."
"There's always a sense of sadness when innocent people are killed to keep secrets." William Jackson replied.
Lieutenant Blake said, "There is no doubt that in this line of work, the innocent always pay the price. Upon entering the room, I had no idea Amanda Waller had ordered them to be eliminated if they did not sign."
"Would it have made things easier if you had prior knowledge of her plan?" William Jackson asked.
"Perhaps." Lieutenant Blake said with a shrug, indicating his uncertainty.
"During my tenure here, I've seen many people arrive and depart, but it's the expression on their faces that alters them. There not the same after they experience something working for this Organizations." William Jackson replied.
Lieutenant Blake said, "I can see why many are different. I believe there's more I can do."
a glance at his watch, the lieutenant headed to the building's front entrance. William Jackson watched the lieutenant walked off and head towards the front entrance. Taking
After driving back to the airport, he waited for his team to arrive with the green rocks. Unaware of what the rocks were called, he hoped that Amanda would give him the answers about them.
He positioned his cell phone on the dashboard to have it easily accessible. He remained inside the van at the airport, eagerly waiting for the expedition team to bring the rocks from Krypton.
On the dashboard, the cell phone began vibrating. He observed it vibrating and swiftly picked up the cell phone. Seeing who was calling, Lieutenant Blake said, "Hello Amanda," recognizing the name on the phone."
"Did you have to kill Ian Fletcher?" Amanda Waller asked.
Lieutenant Blake said, "I'm not surprised you had heard about me eliminating Ian Fletcher. He asked for it and well he left me no choice."
"I'm impressed by your ruthlessness Lieutenant Blake." Amanda Waller replied.
Lieutenant Blake said, "Are you calling to tell me you approve of me killing a man. He was in my way and I removed the road block."
"I'm calling to find out if you were able to gather all the Kryptonite." Amanda Waller asked.
Lieutenant Blake said, "So that is what the rocks are called. I always suspected you knew more about the rocks than you let on."
"Of course I've known about the rocks. It's my job to know these things and you don't have enough clearance to know." Amanda Waller replied.
Lieutenant Blake slammed his hands on the dash and said, "Clearance I was told by the President I'd have access to everything related to do with Aliens."
"I had my reasons why you weren't told everything." Amanda Waller replied.
Lieutenant Blake said, "If you want me to do my job, I expect transparency about everything you know."
"You'd like transparency on this rocks then you'll get that, but I'd watch what you say lieutenant."
Lieutenant Blake said, "For starters I'd like to read the reports from these organizations. I'm assuming that S.T.A.R Labs was one of these organizations you're referring to."
"S.T.A.R. Labs and a few other organizations came across these rocks, but they came from the Moon." Amanda Waller replied.
"Let me get this straight there was a discovery on the moon and there was no information given to the public." Lieutenant Blake asked.
Amanda Waller said, "Yes the United States Government decided it was best that the world shouldn't know about this."
"So how did they prevent astronomers and the press from learning about what was found?" Lieutenant Blake asked.
Amanda Waller said, "We caused a communications blackout and gave a cover story to the papers."
"What else was discovered?" Lieutenant Blake asked.
Amanda Waller said, "A baby and a crystal were discovered with the rocks. But have no idea where the baby or Crystal ended up. Lionel Luthor was one of the contributors of S.T.A.R Labs and we've always suspected he stole the baby and Crystal after the organizations began studying the crystal once accessed."
"Then it's possible, Luthor took the child." Lieutenant Blake asked.
Amanda Waller said, "Well without any evidence to make up those claims. It's hard to prove he's responsible."
"I'm not surprised by any of it. The Luthor's were always getting away with things. Like father like son. Lex always causes crimes yet no one can over prove it was him."
Amanda Waller said, "Now it will be a lot harder to prove those crimes if he wins the presidency."
"Did he announce his candidacy today?" Lieutenant Blake asked.
Amanda Waller said, "He Made a public address earlier this afternoon."
"Over the years, I never noticed anyone with him just a girl who has been at his side." Lieutenant Blake replied.
Amanda Waller said, "Mercy has been by his side over the years and can be a little overprotective when it comes to Lex."
"So that means the baby was never mysteriously appeared claiming to be his son over the years. If he is still alive and out there, he'd be 33 years old."
Amanda Waller said, "No, there hasn't been any new Luthor's. Lena is the only blood relations that we've seen and she's more a handful than Lex."
"I've just received a texted from Dr. Thomas O'Neill saying they've gathered all the Kryptonite and are heading this way." Lieutenant Blake replied.
Amanda Waller said, "I'll meet you at the loading dock when you've arrived with the Kryptonite."
The call ended and Lieutenant Blake awaited the arrival of the Expedition team. He thought about what he had just witness with the family. He never wanted them to be murder and after seeing their bullet holes in their forehead.
Nothing in his military background, prepared him for what he has seen since joining Checkmate. All he wanted to do was head home and take a shower and watch his clothes.
