by Drew Avera
Chapter 21
I woke up after a long deep sleep and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. My body was sore and stiff from lying in the same position for so long. I could feel the bones in my back popping as I stretched and rolled over onto my back before sitting up. Despite all of this I felt like a new man. It's funny what real food and sleep can do for a man. I rose up out of bed and walked into the living room where Kara was sitting in front of a media device watching the latest report on the lottery winnings.
"Good morning," I said as I sat down beside her.
"It's afternoon, Serus," She said with a smile.
"Oh, I didn't know," it was the truth.
"It's fine. I know that you needed the sleep," she said. "White stopped by earlier today. He dropped off some food and asked for us to attend a meeting whenever you are ready."
"Sure, I'll eat some lunch and we can meet up with him after that." I walked into the dining area and grabbed a bowl of fruit and some pastries. I shoved the food into my mouth like I hadn’t seen food for over a month. Another product of my training with the Agency is my ability to eat an entire meal in mere minutes, of course manners and etiquette went down the drain.
I finished my lunch and put the rest of the food away. Kara laughed at me as I finished and I cut her a dirty look letting her know that I didn't appreciate it, not that she cared though, sisters never change. Kara walked over to help me with the cleaning. Once Kara and I were finished I contacted White via message and he set up an appointment for us in the conference room on the fourth floor.
Kara and I left the suite and went into the elevator. We were in the conference room and seated before White showed up so we just waited.
"How are you feeling?" I asked. I knew that she had been through much more than most people could handle, with the abduction and having to kill the policeman with her own hands.
"I'm fine considering our circumstances," she said.
"Did you sleep alright?" I asked.
"I did sleep, but I kept jarring awake. I had visions of that policeman from yesterday. All I could see was the blood running out of his mouth as he was grabbing me"
"I understand. You've been through a lot, but trust me, it gets easier over time." She nodded her head in agreement as White walked into the conference room. He was dressed in a black double breasted suit with a stiff collar. His suit was very similar to my own except for his dress shoes and lack of a gauntlet.
"I hope that you both rested well," he said in greeting.
"Yes, thank you," I replied.
"I hope you don't mind, but I would like for us to get down to business since the transports will be leaving in the morning. I already have a ticket from when you killed Harling, but we still need two more tickets in order for the three of us to make it on board a transport and return to Earth."
"Hold on," I interrupted. "I thought our mission was to bring down the Syndicate. Not just kill people to take their tickets so we can leave."
"Taking down the Syndicate will be impossible to accomplish in a single day, Serus. In order to fulfill our duty we must be on board those transports. We just have to take them out before they can set up another corrupt government on Earth, and if we can, we need to find a way to save the people that they leave behind. Quite simply put, we have a long road ahead of us," White finished.
"Alright then. What's the plan?" I asked.
"Thom has a ticket that was awarded to him because of his betrayal of you. He is probably the easiest person to gain access to being that he is still in the hospital. Most of the lottery winners and board members are already on the transports setup in their quarters. The transports are heavily guarded and it will be next to impossible to gain access to the board members. Our best chance is for you to kill Thom and take his ticket, and then we will ambush someone who is planning on boarding at the last minute. This way we will have three tickets allowing all three of us to board."
"Sounds easy enough to me," I said. I looked over at Kara and could see how the talk of killing Thom was affecting her. He had betrayed her as well, but she still had a soft spot for human life. A sense of compassion that had already hardened in mine and White's hearts. "When does this need to happen?" I asked.
"I suggest nightfall so you can go in under a cover of darkness. The hospital is not guarded so if you go in alone and use the rear entrance you should be able to go undetected. Besides, you and Kara are now presumed dead. I saw a report via message through the Syndicate that you were permanently dispatched. Apparently Sorell did not stick around to make sure that the job was done properly. I guess their plan is to just leave me here to die with everyone else. No one will be looking for either of us."
"Then it's settled then. I'll go kill Thom and meet you two back here."
"Yes, but one more thing," White said. "I want you to take Thom's gauntlet and bring it back to me."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you will be the only rouge policeman on the transport and I plan on taking part in this mission beyond just being some figure head making decisions. I will wear the gauntlet and help out with the mission," He said.
"Alright. I'll bring back the ticket and the gauntlet and meet you back here, and then the three of us will go to the transport station," I said as I rose to leave. Kara and White both stood up to see me out.
"The sun will be going down soon. I will plan on your return in a few hours," White said.
"Serus?" Kara said. "Please be careful. I don't want to lose you." She walked up to me and hugged me in a tight embrace. She was fighting back tears but was still trying to be strong. She was not as weak as she had been before all of this happened. She was turning into someone darker. I hugged her back and rubbed my hand over her hair. She broke away first and pulled her hair back behind her ears. I could still see my kid sister in that small gesture.
I smiled at Kara and nodded at White as I walked out of the conference room. I knew my mission, and I knew what would happen if I failed. I needed that fear of failure to empower me now. I felt it spike my adrenaline. It gave me a reason for each step that I took. The fear was taking over my body like a drug. It numbed the pain and fueled my rage at the same time.
The elevator door closed around me and lowered me down to the lobby. I could see orange and purple sunlight peaking through the stained glass windows of the lobby as I walked through. I was determined to succeed. I would save my sister, Kara. I would kill my friend who betrayed me. And as for the Syndicate? I would kill them all.
