A Mission Remembered

by Tanner Froreich

“You’re mad!”

  My voice returned and I asked, “If you knew me before Mindsweeper, what’s my real name?”

  Ethan tried to argue, “What kind of question is that? You don’t even know your name? You’re both crazy!” I was too caught up in the moment to notice or consider the fact that I had never told Ethan that I didn’t know my name.

  Phineas ignored Ethan and stated without thinking twice, “Arphaxad Richard Fredrick.”

  I had wondered why God let IODINE send me on this trip, but now I knew. God wanted me to find Wong. He could tell me the things IODINE was refusing to. He laughed. “We’ve been looking for you! It’s so good to see you again, Arf!”

  I couldn’t share in the same level of enthusiasm, but I was overjoyed to finally meet someone that knew who I was. “I’m so glad God led you here, but I honestly have no idea who you are.”

  Phineas’ smile shrank. “You mean you don’t know who I am?” I shook my head sadly. “B.D.I, Pinesberg, Stretton, Greenleaf. Any of them ring any bells?”

  “Greenleaf. I read an article about my father Stephen; it mentioned Greenleaf. I figured it was my home, but other than a hunch, I have no good reasons,” I replied. “What do you know of the day I disappeared? I have no memory.”

  “You went missing…” The sound of the door opening echoed through the hall as three Korean guards came up to my cell.

  I looked into the eyes of the men, and they into mine. One opened the cell and the other two approached. They released me from my ankle restraints but didn’t do the same to my wrists. I could’ve escaped easily, but something inside restrained me. I had no idea where these men were going to take me, but I was unnaturally calm.

  They lead me out of the cell and I looked at Phineas, who was just as confused as I was. The man who had opened the cell was not dressed as the other two, his clothing was much more distinguished. I was pushed to move towards the door without the guards so much as saying a word. Ethan attempted to protest, but his words fell on deaf ears.

  “Where are we going?” I spoke in Korean as we left the cell block.

  One man struck me hard, but the other corrected him sharply. “Be careful what you do to him. The Suryeong will treat you as you treat him.”

  I was grateful for this restraint of abuse, but I was now even more curious of where I was going. The word Suryeong was a term of respect. It meant “Great Leader.” Who had called for me?

  I was led away out of the max security portion of the prison and was brought to a visitation room where several men, military generals by the looks of it, were waiting for me. One of the men wasn’t quite dressed like the others and carried himself in an esteemed manner, but I couldn’t sense respect on the other men’s faces. He sat in a chair he obviously didn’t like.

  The man looked me over, and I could tell he disapproved of me. “Is this really the CIA’s other tactical officer?” he asked one of the guards in Korean.

  The guard, startled that he had spoken to him, mumbled, “Yes, mighty Suryeong, this is him.” I deduced this must have been the dictator I had been briefed on. His name, I couldn’t remember.

  In disgust he spat. “Ha, these Americans keep getting small…” He stood up and walked around me. “...and fatter.”

  “Excuse me?” I stated in Korean.

  The Guard who had hit me earlier struck me again. “Don’t speak that way to the Suryeong!”

  The Suryeong’s eyes blazed with rage. “Did I command you to hit him?” The man began to cower and beg forgiveness but the ruler didn’t heed his pleas. “Take him away. We’ll deal with his arrogance later.”

  The man was dragged out yelling. I was unimpressed with this man. My thoughts turned to my Christian brothers and sister locked in prison. I bit my tongue, knowing I would have to wait to speak, for their sake.

  The man looked at me again. “My apologies. This is not how I indented this to go.”

  Responsively, my words flew out. “What, the insults or the beating?”

  The man grimaced. “Careful, boy. Do you have any idea who I am?”

  I wanted to speak, but something restrained me.

  He nodded smugly. “Good. You see Agent, I have a problem. Agent Kingsley says there’s an attack about to happen, but he doesn’t know when or from where. I want you to tell me. You will be compensated quite nicely.”

  I wondered why he thought I would know about the attack. I barely knew anything, and apparently he hadn’t consulted with the traitor before pulling me from my cell.

  Something bold sprang up in me. The same force which kept me from speaking now prompted me to. I took a breath and said calmly, “I cannot turn on my country sir, nor can I ally myself with you, the man who murders my brothers.”

  He didn’t take kindly to my comment. With a slap, he barked, “Who do you think you are? Do you not see you are the captive and at my mercy?”

  I shook my head slowly. “You are mistaken. I am not the one who is a prisoner. You are the one who is not just a captive but a slave!”

  The audacity of my words caused shock and anger to reverberate through the officers and dictator, but in uncommon humility I spoke on. “You are the one at the mercy of the God whose servants you murder! You and your generals and all your people. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” [8] The words I spoke were not mine. From there I preached the gospel to this wicked man.

  As the Word of life flowed from my mouth, my captors only grew more enraged. The words of Matthew 10, which I had read the previous morning resounded in my mind as I spoke. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles...do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.

  When the Spirit had done its work on its intended ears, I grew silent. The dictator, filled with an unholy hatred, sneered, “Christian! I will kill you!”

  He pulled a gun from one of his officers and shot me. The bullet struck me in the chest and passed straight through my body. No bones were broken, but my lung was punctured. I fell to the ground and gasped for air for a moment, but my body healed itself rapidly in response to the injury.

  I stood back up and stared at the dictator. His eyes grew to the size of saucers as he witnessed the wound heal. “Sorcery,” he stuttered in fear.

  “No, not magic.” I wanted to add something to the end of it but couldn’t figure out how to explain it all.

  The men started chattering and arguing about what or who I was, but the Suryeong was trapped in a state of shock. “T-take him away. Back to his cell, do not harm him, unless his God strike us all dead.”

  ∆∆∆

  I was returned to my cell unharmed. The men were so scared of me, that they only chained me back to the wall and didn’t bother putting my ankle shackles on. I didn’t tell anyone of these events, though everyone asked. I simply stowed them away in my heart and thanked God for that witness. Good was indeed coming out of this trip.

  I sat in silence. No one spoke. Phineas and his two cell-mates prayed quietly and I joined them in spirit. The prayer was interrupted when two guards approached Phineas’ cell. One glanced into my cell, but by the bored look on his face, I assumed the word of my preaching hadn’t spread beyond those few men in that room.

  They didn’t say any words; they simply drew their guns. The three Christians raised their hands. One of the guards simply said, “Hands,” in Korean and tapped the bars. Phineas put both hands through the same opening and the guard cuffed him. Not knowing where they were going, my mind raced trying to figure out a way to get free of these bonds.

  Being pulled from the cell, Phineas said, “Don’t worry, Arf. We’ll be ok, one way or another.” He would’ve continued, but a guard must have been tired of his speech a
nd hit him.

  They disappeared from view and the door shut as they left the hall. I tried to pull at the wall again, but my restraints were still too strong. I wouldn’t give up; I was going to break these chains.

  I tried and tried, but my strength was never enough. Ethan muttered from his cell. “I’m sorry Wallace,” Why does he continue calling me that? “I’m sorry, but you know what these Koreans do to Christians.”

  I grunted as I yanked at the chains again. “I will not sit here and do nothing!”

  He huffed in his cell. “That’s all you can do. Just sit, do whatever you Christians do, and hope that IODINE gets here in time to hopefully disrupt the execution.”

  I was breathing heavily from my struggling, but Ethan was actually right. I had hope, not in IODINE though. I had faith in the only one that could do anything. I lowered my head and prayed aloud to myself. “God, I know I cannot do anything outside of Your will…”

  Hearing my faint prayer, an astonished Ethan asked, “Are you praying? How mad are you?”

  Not hearing him, I continued my cry. “But please, hear me. Protect Phineas, Jung, and Kwan. Give them courage to stand for your gospel. Give them peace, knowing You have a reward waiting for them. Give me strength to trust You in my unknowingness. Help me to say, ‘not my will, but Thine.’ However, God, the desire of my heart urges me to ask – break these chains, and set me free, so that I may do Your work.”

  No longer shocked by my prayers, but doubtful, Ethan said, “Waste your breath Wallace. Faith in something you can’t see is pointless.”

  I knew it wasn’t, and God was about to prove that. As I continued to pray and praise God, the sound of explosions could be heard in the distance. The building shook as a bomb struck it. The impact site must have been very close to us as I felt the shock wave travel through the wall. The wall bulged towards me, loosing the chains’ anchors on the wall. My prayer had been answered, and with a good pull the chains were ripped from the wall.

  Though my wrists were still shackled, I could move around now. I jumped and brought my wrists under my feet. With them in front of me, I was able to use one hand and pry the wrist cuffs open. I was surprised at my strength, as I actually didn’t think that would work. These restraints must have been cheap, but that didn’t matter, I was free.

  Chapter 17

  Second Encounter

  “W allace! What is going on over there?” Ethan shouted.

  “How many times do I have to tell you, my name isn’t Wallace.” I walked up to the bars of my cell and grabbed ahold of them. I shook the bars as hard and as fast as I could until they started to shake out of their placements. The bars that made up the door bounced out of place and fell off. I walked out of the cell and stepped into Ethan's view. “It’s Arphaxad.”

  I performed the same feat on their cell door as Ethan murmured, “How did he get out?”

  I motioned for them to follow and made my way to the cell block door. Giving it a gentle knock, I stepped behind the door. When the guard opened the door, I grasped it and swung it open, only to slam it shut on the poor man. I grabbed the guard’s keycard to unlock any other doors we came across. Letting the two women out first, I ushered Ethan out the door.

  Protesting, he said, “We should stay here! This is where the agency will know where to look.”

  The building shook as another bomb crashed into it. “Is that really a good idea? The first bomb wasn’t too far from my cell,” I argued.

  “Then what do you suggest?” Agent Shelly asked.

  “You three go down that hall; find an exit. I’m gonna find my friends,” I stated boldly.

  Infuriated by my orders, Ethan shouted, “Who do you think you are! I am in charge of this outfit, and I will not be undermined by a fool who could barely remember his own name. You are not going to go try to rescue some random prisoners you barely know!”

  “But he knew me,” I calmly stated as I turned to walk off.

  Before I ran off, I heard the click-click of a handgun being racked. I turned back around to see Ethan pointing a gun at me.

  “Where did you get a gun?” I asked in disbelief.

  “That doesn’t matter. You’re coming with us.”

  I wondered if he considered the fact that guns scared me, just like the way I’m scared of spoons. In one swift moment of speed, I disarmed him, broke the gun, and dropped it on the floor. “Now what are you going to do?” I said rebelliously.

  He scowled. “Tread carefully agent. You may not like the consequences of your actions.”

  “I’m not an agent. I’ve never been an agent, and I am going to find out who I am. Once I do, I’m coming after IODINE and you can tell Mr. Bordeaux that I’ll find out why he was lying, and every lie will be exposed,” I spitefully stated. I was finally tired of their tyranny.

  I ran off to find Phineas. I was done with IODINE secrecy, and this was my chance to escape. As soon as I got the three Christians to safety, Mr. Wong would be able to explain the truth. I briefly doubted if I could actually trust Phineas. what if him being in the other cell was nothing more than an IODINE trick? It would explain why he knew my name, but so would him truly being someone from my past.

  I stopped running to consider what I was doing. Prisoners around me begged me to set them free, but I was so caught up in my thinking I didn’t notice them. What if I was doing was exactly what IODINE wanted, but did they really think that far ahead? I didn’t know what to think, and I thought so hard my head began to ache. The pain intensified, making it difficult to stand upright.

  I remembered being in the jungle, not sure where. I had in my hands a large log, and I was moving it off the dirt road I was on. Behind me, I heard the sound of a gas-powered tool. Tossing the log off the road and turning back, I said, “You know this would go a lot faster if I had a hand saw.”

  Phineas was working on a fallen tree in the middle of the road. “Yes, but that must have been an oversight on Pinesberg’s part.”

  He revved the engine of the chainsaw and cut another chunk from the tree. Picking the piece up, I said, “For a stealth mission, that tool is as stealthy as they come.”

  Phineas chuckled and cut another piece. The memory faded and I was back in the prison with a receding headache. That memory couldn’t have come back at a more critical time, as I was given the information I needed. I knew he was a friend.

  Bolting through the prison, I searched, but couldn’t find them. I wondered how, in the short amount of time it took me to break free, they’d disappeared. Then I felt like a fool; they must have left the building for a public execution. I raced to an exit but stopped as I approached, since something wasn’t right. The lights were out and shadow enveloped the area, except for the green exit sign which was in Korean.

  I could sense the presence of someone in the shadow and hesitated to proceed. I thought I saw the figure of a man. As the stranger came into focus, a bolt of purple energy sped towards me. I dodged and let the bolt travel far down the hallway.

  “I’ve heard that you have a strong memory.” The man’s voice was computerized, but no amount of digitizing could conceal the menacing tone. His entire suit lit up with the same purple color as the energy shot. He moved forward into the light, and I could see that his face and head were covered by a threatening helmet. His forearms both had gloves that were covered in controls, and his palms radiated with the purple glow. He turned a dial on his right arm. “I’ve had a few upgrades since we last met kid, but not like you would remember that meeting.”

  One name exploded to the front of my mind. “Mindsweeper,” I said in surprise and displeasure.

  He chuckled. “Nice to see that you know my name. I originally wanted to remove it from that thick skull, but my superior needed me for only one thing.” He pushed a button on his glove, which released a wave of energy that enveloped the area.

  I didn’t feel different at all. For a moment, I figured whatever Mindsweeper just tried didn’t take, but he said, “That should keep y
ou from having those headaches, just in case they reveal anything that would ruin the plan.”

  “What plan?” I demanded. Rushing up to him, I pushed him against a wall. “You’re going to tell me everything you know.”

  He shook his head. “Why would I, when you won’t even remember this encounter.” His mask sprayed a mist and then I found myself with my fist embedded in wall with no idea why.

  ∆∆∆

  I paused to regain my bearings before racing off to find Phineas. Bursting out into the daylight, I could see parts of the city burning in the distance. The prison was in shambles with prisoners running amok. Security had managed to isolate some, but the majority were attempting to find a way out into the streets.

  In the sky, American fighter jets were flying around dropping bombs, but I knew they were IODINE. They hadn’t just dropped bombs on the prison. I wondered if this was a rescue or an attack. I searched the area, checking in the isolation zone first, for Phineas and the others, but didn’t have any luck. A guard tried to jump me, seeing me as just another escaped prisoner. I didn’t bother with fighting him, so I tossed him to the side and ran off. I eventually found a group of a few guards escorting Phineas, Jung, and Kwan back to an inside cell.

  Using my speed, I raced up and with a few swift motions, rendered the guards either unconscious or unable to do anything. “Come on, I’m getting you guys out of here!” I said as I pulled keys off a guard.

  Phineas smiled. “I knew you would come!”

  I uncuffed his wrist and motioned for them to start following me. “We need to find a way out of here before IODINE ends this air raid and the guards start rounding up the rest of the prisoners.”

  I didn’t use my speed to search the building for fear of leaving the trio and them being caught again, since guards were everywhere. By God’s grace we found an empty courtyard with chain linked fencing separating it from the outside. There was one fence that stood before us and then a secondary fence fifty feet away, each being fifteen feet high.