“Honestly Akari. I am doing all this to save Vin and Anul. I have to find a cure to this situation before it drifts out of hand. If Vin can’t control himself. Or if the U.F. somehow finds out he is one of them–”
“I understand. You are heavily invested in this situation. You and your family.” Akari interjects. A notification alerts on Quell’s computer and he checks it out.
“Uh, Akari. Sorry to change subjects but there is someone I want you to meet.” Quell holds down his intercom button. “Come in.”
A pretty young lady enters the room wearing a Redemption riot uniform and stands at attention. The young lady introduces herself. “Hello. I am Lana Mizrahi. A part of Redemption’s Riot Control Unit.” Akari examines the girl, looking at her hair, her eyes and her physique. “Interesting last name, young lady.” Akari says. General Quell stands up and smiles.
“She is one of our top members. It won’t be long before she is in command of her own squad.” Akari can tell he is proud of Lana. His brag is like one a father would give about his daughter. Lana looks to the general.
“Is there something you needed, sir?” Quell nods.
“Yes, but it can wait till later. I just wanted you two to meet.”Akari stands and shakes her hand.
“I’m Akari.” Lana looks at Akari and is impressed with her confidence. Akari isn’t the biggest lady but she carries with her an impressive presence. Without even knowing her very well, Lana can feel that she would be an extremely formidable opponent. Akari leans in close to Lana.
“Build your confidence and your resolve. This game is even tougher for us women, Lana. You have to be strong—no, the strongest—in order to protect what you hold dear in this world.” Lana looks at General Taurus and then nods to Akari understandingly. Akari rest her hand on Lana shoulder. “Welcome to the world of the elite, young lady. I’m sure you’ll one day be legendary ... just like your sir name suggests.”
“Umm, thanks.” She replies. Lana doesn’t understand what Akari means. But her words are strangely reassuring.
“I know we had a meeting scheduled but I’m still busy with Akari. We can reconvene later this afternoon.” Quell says. Lana nods and salutes and moves to exit the room. She briefly looks back at Akari. She is glad that Quell introduced her. Lana already knows she wants to be like Akari or at least have her presence. Akari and Quell sit down.
“She doesn’t know does she?” Akari says.
“What are you referring to?” Quell asks.
“The power she possesses. She is timid but I could see something else emanating from her.” Akari says.
“You are as perceptive as ever Akari. Lana was found at a Project Guardian test site. She is living proof that the mental defects only affect men.”
“So the next XR 2-012 will be a man. But if that’s so how did she end up with her abilities?”
“She is an anomaly to put it simply. She should have no resonation. Yet, under the right conditions, her power is off the charts—and by off the charts I mean on par with synthetic meteorite. Enough to light a city ... for starters.” Quell says.
“Under the right conditions? What did you do to her?” Akari asks.
“We are still taking things slow with her. She is potentially a walking bomb. That much energy should not easy to contain. Yet she does, subconsciously.”
“That explains her timid nature.” Akari says.
“Her mind is protecting her body. She is unknowingly suppressing her abilities to far lower states in order to keep her power in check.” Akari looks through her folder.
“She has parents?”
“We think she is directly related to Exari. He may have been her brother or cousin but other than that we have no record.” Quell replies.
Akari looks up and smiles.
“Cute—immaculate conception.”
“She may as well have been. She can’t be re-created.”Quell replies. Akari puts her folder down and looks at Quell.
“I see ... so Kamon and Lana, they will be your cleanup crew?”
“And hopefully Clave. This project must be silenced once and for all. We are gathering intelligence on the subjects as we speak. Soon we will move to deal with all the Project Guardian members.” Quell slides a small chip across the table to Akari. “It’s hard enough to get in contact with you. So on that chip are the relays for the mission specs. As soon as you decide to join the fray, contact me for the mission code. Enter it and that device will pull up the coordinates and the mission details suited for Clave.”
Akari picks up the chip and examines it closely. “Because of Clave’s relationship to Kamon. He will no doubt be dragged into all this sooner or later. Have him join on your terms Akari.” Quells says.
Chapter 22
Leaders
Location: Sprawl 15—Faux Forsaken hideout.
Faux Forsaken members bring in boxes of clothes and organize them. Others are sparring with each other. Faux Forsaken member Keith watches everyone while he waits for Vin to return. Faux Forsaken member Vette walks up to him. “No training for you today?” she asks. Keith waves his hand in the air dismissing the notion.
“I’m tired of training. I want to ransack some more gangs.”
“Some more? Have you ever been on a mission?” Vette asks with a laugh. Keith folds his arms.
“Not yet. But it’s sure to be my time soon. I mean, Vin can’t handle all the missions on his own.” Vette smiles at the comment.
“I dunno. He usually only brings two or three people with him.”
“Yeah, I heard that last time he didn’t even let you guys fight. Is he really that strong?” Vette holds her hand out.
“Look at our crew and ask that again. We’ve expanded so much even the Syndicate has noticed us. I think Vin wants us to all be administrators. He wants to keep us out of the fighting as much as possible.”
“Wait, wait. The Syndicate? They notice us? What do you mean? In a good way or a bad way?” Keith asks. Just then, Vin enters the room. Keith doesn’t wait for a reply and runs over to him. “Hey, boss man! Next mission, I’m ready.” Keith points at himself. Vin continues to walk into the bone room. He doesn’t pay any attention to Keith or his proposal.
“Come on! Let me show you.” Keith says. Vin enters the room and pushes Keith out.
“Maybe next time.” Vin looks over to Vette. “Vette, we have a meeting.” Keith stands by the bone room. He hits the wall with his fist. Dammit Vin notice me man. He thinks. Vette walks by Keith on the way to the bone room. She touches him lightly on the shoulder.
“Maybe next time, right?” Vette says and lets out a half smile. “Yeah … next time.” Keith replies halfheartedly. Vette enters the bone room and closes the door. Vin sits down in his chair and leans back with a sigh. The Faux Forsaken command room is completely different. Vin has rearranged everything and personalized the entire office.
Basically he has stripped it of everything that reminded him of the former leaders. Vette takes a seat on the front of his desk. “Way to alienate your people ... boss.” Vin looks through papers on his desk.
“They’ll get over it.” Vin replies coldly. Vette casts a frown at the remark.
“They look up to you. You should show them that you … I don’t know … actually exist.”
“That is still up for debate.” Vin says quietly and then changes the subject.
“Status report.” he asks. Vette holds up an electronic tablet. “Sprawl 15 is green status, minimal crime. We didn’t stop the petty thieves but the more serious crimes are all way down.”
“Good. What about the others?” Vette continues to check her tablet.
“Our newly acquired sprawls 34, 11, and 18 are all green.” Vin writes notes as she speaks.
“What about Saklas?”
“We need more manpower to defend Saklas. The gangs there are well equipped and dangerous,” she says. Vin stops writing and looks up. Vette hands him a note.
“The Syndicate ... they called us again.” Vin
opens the note and reads it.
“Gaidon hmm … do they have hostile intentions?” Vette steps close to Vin.
“I don’t think so, but—”
“Ignore them.” Vin interrupts Vette. She slams her hand down on the desk.
“Look, you made me second in command for a reason! We need to respond to them. If they are a threat we need to know so we can prepare and if they are not a threat we should listen to their offer.”
“I guess so ... I trust your opinion, set up a meeting.” Vin replies.
“Good you trust me because I ... already told them you would contact them today.” Vin leans back in his chair and smiles.
“Confident, aren’t we?” Vette returns the smile.
“That’s just one of my many good traits,” she says.
“Well then, I can’t argue with that. Let’s see what the Syndicate has to offer.” Vin replies.
Chapter 23
Connection
Location: City District 8—tenth floor of the Syndicate building.
Gaidon walks through a busy office while talking to himself. “Damn relics, trying to take the Syndicate from me. I just need a little more time.” He enters his office just as his phone rings. He walks over to his desk, sits down and answers it. Eva, his assistant, is on the line.
“Gaidon, we’ve found Vin.” The news brings a smile to his face. “Perfect. Put him on.” Eva transfers the line to Gaidon.
“You are a hard man to track down, Vin.”
“I don’t want to be found by people like you, Gaidon.” Vin replies. Gaidon is taken aback by the comment.
“Wait a minute. My alliance with the Syndicate, it doesn’t mean that I’m bad.”
“Yes, it does.” Vin says coldly.
“The Syndicate is full of corruption and they feed off the weak and helpless.”
“This is true but I am not allied with them.” Gaidon replies
“You’re not part of the Syndicate?” Vin asks.
“Actually, they aren’t. The Syndicate is my organization and a bunch of greedy old men are trying to take that away.” Gaidon replies.
“And how is that my problem?” Vin asks. Gaidon can hear the cynicism in Vin’s voice. He knows that he has to appeal to Vin logically in order to win him over. “This situation can end up being your problem ... or your solution. If those greedy old bastards in the Syndicate get their way. Their plan is to wipe out problem gangs like yours and put the sprawls under their protection.”
“How is that different from what you are going to do?” Vin asks.
“Listen, I won’t lie. Those old guys have a point and I might do the same if I were in their position. However, they aren’t as smart as me. I recognize potential and you are teeming with it. Also, I like the fact that you fight for the good of your sprawl. That makes you honorable and trustworthy. If you ally with me, not only will I let you keep your territory, but I will also help you expand and protect your territory according to your own rules.”
Vin remains silent. He certainly didn’t expect that kind of reply. He is now slightly interested in the proposal. However, he still continues to drill Gaidon. “And why should I trust you?” Vin asks. “Rumor has it you killed your own parents.”
Gaidon is caught off guard. He didn’t think that Vin would have that information. “Ah … well.” Gaidon calms down. “You shouldn’t trust me. And I would assume contracts mean nothing to you but you can trust my motivation and adapt to the situation at hand. Either the old men or I will be running the Syndicate by the end of the month. Either way you’ll have to fight a war. The only difference is. If they are running things, you’ll be fighting a war that you can’t win. Trust me, if they have to, they will use their connections with the corrupt U.F. officials against you.”
Vin thinks for a moment. Gaidon's reasoning is sound.
“What’s your motivation? Besides the obvious.” Vin asks.
“Ah yes. While they stick to the old ways of feeding off the weak and the helpless of the sprawls. You know, by extorting money from the more misfortunate. My tactic is to actually turn the Syndicate into a legitimate business. We will be the owners of clubs, bars, and other entertainment venues. This can provide lots of work for everyone—even children of the sprawl, which will help get them off the street.” Vin thinks about the proposal. This is something he has heard before but he doesn’t know if he can trust Gaidon’s dream … even if it is close to Zuri’s.
“The lesser of two evils.” Vin says.
“That’s usually the case.” Gaidon replies.
“I still want a contract with a guarantee.” Vin says.
“That can be done.”
“And I want to see you in person when we sign it.” Vin adds.
Gaidon leans back in his chair. A huge smile crosses his face.“That ... can be managed as well.”
Chapter 24
Survey
Time: Evening.
Location: Streets of City District 11.
Clave wanders through the streets. Unlike a normal tourist, he surveys the area. Examining the structures and noting landmarks. He walks through city blocks while he takes in the scenery. Clave analyzes the tall buildings and watches the affluent people dine and laugh.
He notices in District 11 there seem to be three classes of people. The wealthy, who live in the highest level of the massively tall buildings located in the city. The politicians, who live, close to the administration buildings. And the rest of the population who tries to fit in anywhere within the city.
No matter they class. They all struggle to fit in the city in one way or another. The other option is to move into the unprotected sprawls, where a difficult life is all but certain.
Each city has the same civic buildings, parks, and a U.F. military base. The most amazing part is that every city seems to be content. No one wants to dissent and risk losing their valuable position in the city.
All the city districts follow the same format … interesting. Clave thinks as he continues to walk the streets. The people of the city district show little interest in him. Some of the ladies steal glimpses of Clave’s handsome and mysteriously foreign face. He catches the stares and it actually makes him feel happy. It makes him feel, for a moment, as if he were a normal person and could possibly live a life impressing these girls.
The thought quickly leaves him as he realizes how bored he would be with an average girl. No matter how pretty or well-connected a girl is, she is still considered average in his eyes. In fact, Clave is given such special treatment and privileged information on his missions. That he starts to see the city residents as worse than just average.
Overwhelming thoughts of superiority grip Clave as he watches the people enter and exit stores. They live their lives with little or no care. I wonder if this is how they feel about the people of the sprawls. Clave thinks.
While walking around the outskirts of City District 11, he passes by a dimly lit bar. Most of the social clubs in City District 11 are upper-class, well-decorated establishments but this place is different. Clave watches the entrance of the bar as young people enter and exit. Some of the people look like ordinary denizens of District 11 others look like the kind of punks, thugs, and troublemakers you'd find in the sprawls.
This bar is an underground connection point. A spot where the youth of the sprawls and District 11 meet, they gather to enjoy music, drinks and sometimes even some conflict. Clave’s curiosity gets the best of him. He starts to wonder what peers his own age do. He stops his survey mission and enters the bar.
Clave is stopped at the door by a big tough looking guy. A bouncer for the bar. “Hey, you! What are you? City prep or sprawl dweller?”
“Neither.” Clave replies.
“Oh really? So what, you live in the sky?” Clave, already bored with the conversation, walks by the bouncer. “Sure.” he replies. The bouncer steps toward Clave and grabs his shoulder. Clave glances back.
“Not a good idea,” he says i
n a serious tone.
The two lock eyes and in that small moment, the bouncer can tell Clave is the real deal. He allows him through without further hassle. Another patron tries to enter the bar behind Clave. The bouncer picks up that patron and slams him against the wall. “City or sprawl?” he yells.
Clave continues into the bar which is dark in some parts, and in others, such as the dance halls, it’s lighted very brightly. LCDs on the ground, walls, and ceilings make weird illusions and seem to distort reality. The music blares as Clave passes through one of the dance halls. As soon as he exits the dance hall and enters the dark part of the bar, the music level drops to about a fourth of what it was.
Clave is slightly impressed. Even though the place looks rustic, it contains advanced sound focus technology. Clave moves toward the bar counter. He watches the punk sprawl kids and some city kids laughing around drinks.
The groups are pretty random. Some of the sprawl kids talk with the city kids, but, for the most part, they stick to their own groups and weigh the situation. Clave watches the dance floor from the bar. A group of the sprawl punks are doing an interesting dance.
It’s freestyle and they let their bodies move uninhibited. They seem confident in their movements. It almost looks as though they are training. One of the girls among the dancers seems to be dancing circles around the others.
She is pretty, yet she still has the presence of a tough girl. Even her dance moves are a bit masculine but Clave is more impressed with her nimbleness. To Clave, she actually looks kind of … cool. The rest of the dancers realize it, too, and they give her silent respect as they watch her intensely. A bartender takes Clave’s order. “What will it be?”
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