ACT 2

  Year 2199, October 17, Time:1400

  Chapter 7

  -So what are you going to do for our three year anniversary?- Jodi says over comms.

  -Do the same thing we did when we first met; get so drunk I'm paralyzed?- I reply.

  -No, any of you three getting drunk is really not a good time for me. That reminds me, one of you three has started leaving foot piss around the comm room.- She says.

  -Chemically it is H20.- Maria says.

  -Why are you bitching about foot piss when Edgar is shitting on the helmets?- Stinger say.

  -I told you, keep your helmet in your room, they look too much like his poop platform.-

  -Are you saying your bird is dumb?- Stinger says.

  -No, I'm saying he's smart and found a loophole to not get told off for shitting on the helmets. I never claimed that he wasn't a little ass hole. Anyways, just give it a quick mop if you make a mess. Oh, someone bring Edgar mealworms, he was pissed off when no one brought some home yesterday.-

  -That task is defaulting to Goliath.- Stinger says.

  -Why me?- I say.

  -Because, if Edgar isn't happy, Jodi isn't happy, Jodi not being happy is a bigger problem for you.- Maria says.

  Fricken mealworms, I swear Edgar gets more attention to his diet then we do. I'm no where near Central Park, I'll grab some from Sakura Park.

  -I'll get the mealworms.- I say.

  -Thank you darling, don't forget to get the mealworms from Central Park by the zoo, those are his favourites. I'm only mentioning that because you know this and I see your tracker changing direction towards Sakura Park.- Jodi says.

  It has been 3 years since the fusion, the three of us barely see each other, we talk on comms constantly though. We discovered we only need about 12 hours sleep a week, Maria and Stinger are out 6 days a week. I stop back home daily because, well, no one else is there and Jodi never leaves so we get a lot of privacy. We're doing solo extractions, scouting, each of us doing the job of 2 teams. The Agents are even complaining because they are all having to do just Scouting we do the rest of it to efficiently. Not everyone is built for Scouting. Things are almost so easy it's boring for us as well, Paris doesn't even listen in on the comms anymore, that's why we can get away with arsing around so much on comms. From what I understand he's spending a lot of time with Frankie and Lenny.

  -Stinger, report back to HQ for reassignment.- Paris says.

  -Sorry, repeat?- Stinger says.

  -You heard me, report back immediately.- Paris says.

  -Everyone, get back to HQ fast... Hey don...- Jodi says.

  -Jodi? Paris?- I call. No response.

  -Maria, Stinger, meet at scramble spot Delta 12.- I call.

  -No, Stinger to HQ now.-

  -Underwood? No, Delta 12 team, turn off trackers, turn off Comms.- I say, shutting both down myself.

  While we've been working more independently the last three years all three of us have become stronger and more independent from the chain of command and more loyal to each other. We put up with 6 months of nothing but them sending us the bare minimum combat rations because of a disagreement over us refusing to use extract location Alpha Delta Charlie Charlie 1-2. We discovered location was unsecure. They started sending us real food after the Others raided it and took out two techs before we could even respond. We never want to lose anyone, but in war, the fact is some people are more valuable; a tech has a bare minimum 3 years schooling, it hurts the effort when they bite the dust, we lost 6 years training with two dying.

  Hitting precept 1 on the suit it covers my hands and helmet and the personal cloaking kicks in; that's a new trick we learned, we can see through the small slit where the visor is, also Jodi set it up so we can see a proximity feed on the three closest cameras the Others have deployed.

  Scramble spot Delta 12 is pretty close to former extract Alpha Delta Charlie Charlie 1-2, I picked it because it seemed like a poor choice; so they likely wouldn't begin to look for us there. Arriving at the location the doors already been popped open.

  I walk in; it's a run down abandoned dental office, on the Inside there is yellowed newsprint all over the storefront window, green and yellow checkered tile the walls painted beige yellow. I turn off the precept and remove the helmet as I go to put it behind the door I see another helmet there. The real world shows pretty much the same interior, only older, no newsprint on the windows.

  “Maria? Is it clear?” I ask.

  “Yeah, all clear. Goliath what the hell is Underwood doing here? I thought we were done with him, are Jodi and Paris Ok?” She says.

  “Yeah, I'm worried about Jodi. Well, and Paris, but I don't think they're in danger. I'm more wondering what's going on with redeployment. From a tactical point I understand breaking up and redeploying us; we're running very efficient. But it seems like this is all decided, something doesn't feel right.” I say.

  “Hello.” Stinger calls out from the entrance.

  “We're in the back.” I call.

  We hear footsteps approach; it's not just Stinger. Maria and I pull our revolvers from out of our suits.

  Stinger walks around the corner, Underwood is following with 4 soldiers and a man I don't recognize. Stinger doesn't look like he's being coerced. The soldiers see our revolvers and draw their Grease Guns on us.

  “What the frick is this Stinger? You brought Underwood to the scramble point, now we have to burn it.” I say.

  “They have something to say, hear them out. ” Stinger says.

  “'They'? I though the three of us we a team, I don't like your sense of familiarity with this.” Maria says. She has a point.

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  “You know what? Don't even start that, it's been three years since our suits touched; you two had the last vision together and it's been you two and me. You guys saw something and have gone out of your way to leave me out, so cut the shit. You have your little secret, your little side glances.”

  “Stinger, where is this all coming from?” I ask.

  “He asked for redeployment.” Underwood says. “Samuel here is, a representative we'll say, of the party that bartered access to the suits. He's here to assess you three before we alter our agreement.”

  “Stinger?” Maria says.

  Stinger doesn't say a word.

  “Why do you speak of the suits as a piece of equipment?” I ask.

  Underwood and Samuel look at each other.

  “Greetings, you may call us Samuel. I am a representative of the Collective. The suits, as you call them, are neither property to be owned, as your Commander Underwood seems to like to express, nor sentient entities. While they are a part of you, they are not, and it's not your choice to decide their fate without consulting.” He says.

  “No, fuck this. Ok, fine, take the suit back.” Maria says.

  “It is not that simple. While we are able to do that we would need a suitable place for the suits to go. We won't snuff out their life, that would make us no better then Others.” He says. “If I may, we haven't had a chance to see which ones survives the procedure. May I inspect you all? It's very noninvasive.”

  “So the suits are alive? Underwood said they're like dogs.” I say.

  “Well Underwood misspoke, what he said was very derogatory towards them.” Samuel says looking to Underwood in a displeased way.

  “I meant no disrespect for the comparison, our kind has a keenness for dogs, it's meant as a kind comparison.” Underwood says.

  “Very well. If you allow us to assess who the suits are it'll give us some more insight we can share with you.” Samuel says with a big gentle smile. Only the smile seems, off, not sincere.

  Stinger turns to Samuel “Inspect me.” He says.

  “Stinger? Are you done speaking to us?” Maria says.

  “Stinger? Don't you think we should discuss this?” I say. He's ignoring Maria and I.

  Samuel takes a handheld device out of his bag, it's tech I've never seen. He plugs a wire into it and places the other end of the wire on the suit. The suit seems eager to take the wire, almost reaching out to grasps it, Samuel smiles.

  He gently strokes Stingers arm as one would stroke a purring cat, ”Ah yes, a very happy childhood, I...” He suddenly rips the wire out of Stingers arm, his eyes blink rapidly, “No, yes, no, no decide, yes, no, no, no, Underwood.” Samuel pulls a pistol I've never seen before on Underwood. “You broke the deal.”

  The soldiers pull their grease guns on Samuel. Raising his pistol to Underwood then lowering it in a rapid succession, Samuel looks as though he has no control. The soldiers look unsure, one fires a single shot a Samuel, then all the soldiers empty their mags on him.

  “No! Stop!” Underwood yells.

  But he's too late, Samuel is no more. Glancing at him, bullet ridden, he doesn't look right. I've seen many dead humans, but Samuel, his bones, they look plastic.

  “You fucking fools! Why???” Underwood screams.

  “He... He was unstable, my finger slipped.” One of the soldiers says.

  “Underwood, I see you still don't understand soldiers, Samuel was threatening you, the Commander, you can't blame the soldier for their behavior.” I say.

  “Maybe YOU are wrong Goliath, walking around, ordering us, keeping secrets. And out of all of this YOU are aloud to have a semblance of a normal life with Jodi. I haven't even touched another human in over 2 years, you and Maria look at me like I'm some sort of freak, even Jodi looks at me odd at times, then looks at you. Whatever the secret is you told her, you told her before you told your own brother!” Stinger says.

  “You're right, but Stinger, we're not brothers.”

  Smoke starts to billow from Samuel's body, then flames, then a brilliant white phosphorous burn, I cover my eyes. I look back once the light subsides, there is an outline of ash where Samuel's body was.

  “Soldiers, drop your weapons, another representative is on the way.” Underwood says.

  All but one soldier drops their gun. The last soldier is unsure, he refuses to let go of the gun, looking at Underwood, then us. We could disarm him, but who knows who will get shot?

  “No, what the fuck is this?” The soldier says.

  “I'm trying to save your life, moron.” Underwood says.

  The front glass storefront window shatters, the armed guard points his gun, he's cut down with some sort of small caliber automatic fire; Its Frankie. Him, Lenny and Paris enter through the storefront and scan around. The other three soldiers remain unarmed.

  “Frankie, we don't know the full story, they're unarmed. You know the collective is wrong with this.” Paris says.

  “I fucking know! Give me a minute to talk to them.” Frankie says.

  “Soldiers, if you value your life do not move a centimetre.” Paris says.

  “Sarge? What the frick is going on?” I say.

  “Silence!” He orders.

  Frankie goes to the back of the room, talking quiet, but the three of us can hear him, our hearing is as perfect as a humans can be. He's negotiating for the life of the three soldiers. Frankie walks over.

  “Who shot first?” Frankie asks.

  The soldier that shot first steps forward, “I did, but I didn't even mean to, he...”

  “It's Ok kid, best for you to state the truth.” Frankie says.

  “He raised his arm up and down, I was nervous, honestly my finger slipped, I really didn't mean to shoot, but he was threatening the Commander.” he says.

  “It's Ok kid, you did your duty, I have your back.” Frankie says.

  He's negotiating again, we can only hear Frankie's side. Frankie turns to the soldier.

  “Ok kid, I did what I could. You have two choices: I shoot you, or you live with Lenny and I for 5 years, to make up for the lost operative.” Frankie says.

  “Wait what? Underwood?” He pleads.

  “This is beyond me soldier, if you want to live I'll see you in 5 years.” Underwood says.

  “This, can I at least talk to my Mother before I go?” He says.

  “We'll let you radio her kid.” Frankie says.

  “What is your name?” Maria says.

  “Dan.” He replies.

  “Dan, sometimes in life you need to do whatever it takes to survive. I don't fully understand the whys here, but 5 years is only a part of your life.” She says.

  “Ok, I don't really have a choice, do I?” Dan says.

  “Nah, but it'll go fast with Frankie and I, maybe you'll learn something useful hanging around with us. Come outside, lets wait in the cab.” Lenny says.

  “Ok, Stinger, step far away from Maria and Goliath.” Frankie says.

  “But...” Stinger starts.

  “Everyone! Do as you're fucking told! I can only do so much here, just to make it clear; everyone's life is at risk right now, including mine. Just do as I fucking ask!” Frankie yells.

  Stinger goes to the corner. Frankie picks up the device Samuel had that was thrown back as he was shot and hooks it up, holding the wire end to Maria's suit. Her suit attaches to the wire.

  “The girlfriend.” Frankie says.

  He then attaches the wire to me.

  “The brother.” He says.

  Frankie holds his ear piece away from his ear.

  “They're talking it over.” Frankie says.

  Stinger can't even look at us. Maria and I look at each other, none of today makes sense. Why didn't Stinger talk to us? I had no idea things were that bad, but it's like Stinger said, I've been focusing on Jodi a lot. Even now i want to be home, to be with her, to stare into her dark, smoldering eyes, feel the warm touch of her long, delicate fingers.

  “Ok, so it's been decided; Stinger is leaving the island. Underwood, your other request, they each have to agree on their own accord, no coercion.” Frankie says.

  “Screw this, I'm leaving the island as well!” Maria says.

  “You can't.” Frankie says.

  “Wait, why not?” I say.

  “It's part of the deal.” Frankie says.

  “Wait, I never wanted to leave, but I can leave if I want, you can't just stop us.” I say.

  “I've been asked to demonstrate.” Frankie says, he hit's a couple of buttons on the device he's holding. I can't move. I look at Marie, she's frozen like a statue other then her hands and head. “This is what happens when you get a certain distance from my place. You, your government and the Collective made a deal, you can't just walk away unless we allow it. Stinger is going, and it's for the best.”

  “I didn't agree to be a slave! Nononono I'm not going back to living like this! I'm done with this.” Maria says.

  “Weak as ever. You have so much power, yet complain.” Underwood says.

  “By the time this is all done the guilty will all pay.” I sneer.

  Underwood walks up to me and flicks me in the nose. Frankie slaps Underwood so hard on the back of the head he knocks him over.

  “Never do that again Underwood.” Frankie says. “I'm going to release you two. Keep in mind no one in the room actually has control of this, me, Lenny, Underwood, we are all pawns and messengers.”

  He releases us. Maria moves around, pacing and glaring at Underwood. Frankie looks at her then Underwood.

  “You mock her, yet she has the strength to rip your arm out of its socket. I would advise you don't mock your people.” Frankie says.

  “Perhaps. Perhaps they will look at things different once we proceed with he next phase of power and sacrifice.” Underwood says, he reaches into a bag and pulls out some sort of playing device, it looks like very old and very advanced tech, the styling looks somewhere around 2035-2055, the peak of human technology. “So, who wants to make a deal?”