Amir Shehata
director@azproductions.ca
28,700 words.
PRESIDENT DOWN
by Amir Shehata
The Attempt
Strongland's Presidential Palace is in the center of the capital, Chaunce, aptly named after Chaunce Strauss, the general who united Upper and Lower Strongland into the Great Nation of Strongland. The roads around the Presidential Palace are always on lock down and under heavy guard by three well armed military units. Chaunce has seen its share of recent riots due to the dire economical situation in the country. Many unemployed people have repeatedly taken to the streets to demand that the government open the doors for international entities to trade in the country. But the ruling party has never allowed it. They fear economic influence will invariably lead to political influence. A push to switch the military rule of the country to a democratic system. That's exactly what Strongland's enemies want.
Strongland's president is always under heavy guard. His movement is shrouded in mystery and subversion to curb any assassination attempts. President Norman Faye has been in power for the past fifteen years and he knows how to keep control over the population. He uses the carrot and the stick approach very effectively.
This night President Faye has a highly classified meeting with the top Military Brass in the country. The subversion for this meeting has been in effect for the past week. So much indeed that none of his staff knows the exact time or location of the meeting. Only two people know, the head of the Presidential Guard and Vice President Broderick Tabark.
President Faye sits at his elegant and large desk in the center of a spacious office. The walls of the office are decorated with pictures of previous Stronglandian leaders, and paintings of key wars that had taken place in the past. Faye takes his electronic tablet and places it close to his face. The camera in the tablet scans his face and eyes confirming his identity then it unlocks.
He reads a report from the General of the Stronglandian Army about some suspicious movements of Eitoria's Army units. Eitoria is always doing some military exercise along the Stronglandian/Eitoria border. They intend this show of force as a deterrent to their neighbors. It is to say, "We are stronger than you, so you better think twice before trying anything stupid." But this report outlines several suspicious changes in their routine. In fact the meeting with the top Military Brass is to discuss this exact issue.
There is a knock on the door of the office and Edgar Brampton, the head of the Presidential guard, pops in.
"Mr. President," Edgar says. "It's time."
President Norman Faye turns off his tablet and heads after Edgar.
It is seven in the evening and the Presidential Palace has been emptied. In fact, this happens on regular bases. An order goes out to empty the Presidential Palace of all staff. Only the heavily armed soldiers remain outside, guarding the palace. Following the order by exactly thirty minutes a decoy Presidential car departs the Palace escorted by the usual accompaniment of military police. This is a subversion technique. This way no one is sure about the President's movement.
President Faye and Edgar head through the corridors of the palace and take the stairs to the lower floor. They approach a locked room. Edgar passes his access key card by a card reader. The door clicks open. Edgar looks around making sure no one is there and ushers for the president to enter. Edgar enters after him and locks the door securely.
Inside there are five other Presidential Guards armed with machine guns ready to escort the president to his destination. Edgar walks to a fire place with a large painting of Chaunce Strauss hung on top of it. On the left side of the fire place is a an ancient looking clock, probably tenth century Stronglandian design.
"Positions," Edgar orders and the five guards turn around and take a military stance, their back to Edgar. Edgar enters a secret code, by turning the long arm of the clock to specific hours. The clock produces a short chime and the fire place moves forward a foot and then slides open revealing a tunnel behind it.
"Let's move," Edgar orders the guards and they surround the president as they move quickly through the tunnel, which ends in an underground garage. A convoy of military escorts consistent of six heavily armed vehicles are waiting for the president who gets into his bullet proof car.
The convoy exits the palace and drives through the empty streets. The meeting is scheduled in a military base outside Chaunce, in the mountain desert. It should take approximately an hour to get there.
The convoy leaves behind the urbanized city and drives through a rocky road cut through the mountains of the desert. The military base is built right inside those mountains. They pass a few "Military Area. Keep out" signs and when they are less than fifteen minutes from their destination, the armored car at the front of the convoy explodes. It's been hit by some sort of a rocket.
"What the hell?" President Faye looks through the window at the destruction. "What's going on?"
"Mr. President, stay down," Edgar forces the president down as the other guards in the car form a human shield around him.
"Turn around, go back. Now," Edgar yells at the driver, who complies immediately.
The rest of the convoy struggles to readjust their direction. Two drive in front of the president's car and three behind. Usually, you'd have one on either side, but the road is too narrow for that. Soldiers pop out of the armored vehicles to operate the machine guns mounted on the roof of the trucks. Edgar looks out of the window trying to ascertain where the attackers are, when a storm of bullets hammers the president's car. The bullets bounce off the bullet proof frame of the car. Edgar hears the soldiers in the convoy exchange fire with the assailants and realizes that the attackers must be hiding in the mountains. It's a bold move attacking the president's convoy. How were they able to determine his location? No one knew about this meeting, except him and the vice president.
Edgar uses a wireless device he has on him to talk directly to the military base.
"Mayday, mayday, This is the president's convoy. We are under attack. Send air support."
The battle rages outside. Another explosion destroys the convoy right in front of the president's car. The president's driver hits the breaks hard, as a piece of the armored car flies and hits the windshield. Although the windshield is bullet proof, there is a limit to the assault it can take and it cracks. Another wave of bullets penetrate the windshield and kill the driver. He slumps on the wheel and his foot presses the gas pedal. The car jumps forward and slams into the destroyed armored truck in front of it. The wheels of the powerful presidential car keep turning wildly pushing the car up on the remains of the destroyed truck, finally flipping on its side.
Edgar immediately hits a button in the door beside him and a solid metal separator blocks the driver from the compartment where the president is.
"Stay with the president," Edgar orders the other guards as he climbs over one of them and opens the door slightly. He sneaks a peak outside. They appear to be surrounded from all sides. The soldiers fire their heavy artillery towards various spots in the mountain. Edgar pushes the door open and climbs out.
"Shut yourselves in," Edgar orders and the guards activate lock down protocol. Thick metal barriers box them in. This box could withstand a direct bomb hit without losing integrity.
Edgar grabs a machine gun which belonged to one of the fallen solider and hides behind the destroyed armored car for protection. It appears that the assailants are busy trying to finish off the soldiers in the rest of the vehicles. Edgar is able to pinpoint the location of one group of terrorists in the mountains. He takes advantage that their attention is diverted towards the soldiers and runs towards their hiding spot, taking the rocky hills for cover. He encompasses them around and once he is behind them he fires his weapon without mercy. They don't get a chance to react before they are all dead.
Edgar doesn't notice that there is a terrorist nearby who is in a hiding spot by himself. That terrorist fires at Edgar, fatally wounding him. Edgar slumps down beside the dead bodies of the other terrorists, but he is not dead yet. The terrorist steps out from his hiding place to ensure that he killed Edgar. Edgar uses his last ounce of strength to fire at the terrorist, killing him. He drops his gun and tries to stop the bleeding from the bullet wounds in his chest. Just before Edgar dies he hears the roar of the fighter planes as they attack the terrorists' location, spraying them with bullets. They make another pass and drop bombs on their location, completely annihilating them. Everything goes silent. Edgar dies.
The Target
Raphael George, dawns on an all back suite. He is armed with an advanced machine gun, and wears night goggles. Four other team members, equipped similarly, follow his lead. They are walking through rugged terrain, surrounded by rocky hills. They stay in the shadow of the hills to avoid being spotted. Raphael signs for them to stop and he advances alone. His team forms a circle, back to back, weapons ready.
Raphael approaches the edge of a hill that slopes down to a valley between the mountains. He lays flat on the ground and uses a mechanism on his night goggles to zoom into the distant camp, built in the valley between the mountains. There are a few armed men, all of them stand around a small one level house built from rocks cut from the mountain. Soon an important looking man emerges from the house and talks to the guards. They all look around, apparently expecting an impending attack. They just don't know when or how.
"Get ready. I have eyes on the target," Raphael whispers through a wireless communicator, hidden completely in his ear.
"Roger," comes the reply
Raphael's team spreads out, circling the camp, ready to descend on it once they get the command. Raphael himself, adjusts his goggles and readies his weapon as he moves closer to the edge of the hill.
"Start the descend," Raphael commands once the rest of his team members are in position.
They all descend slowly down the hill, making absolutely no noise. Raphael, thinks that this is too easy. The target is too smart not to have some warning system in place.
"Stop," Raphael orders and everyone complies.
"Problems?" A woman, Mary Thomson, says over the communication channel.
"This is way too easy," Raphael responds.
"Agreed," Shawn Zaminski says.
"Switching to infrared," Raphael says as he fiddles with his goggles. Immediately he sees laser lines a mere few feet away from him. If anyone steps through these laser lines and disrupts the circuit an alarm will sound.
"I see them," Mary says.
"We're gonna have to go airborne," Raphael says.
"The sound of the jets will alert them," Michael Manfrotto says.
"Not if they are busy with the alarm," Raphael says.
"Are you asking one of us to sacrifice himself?" Mary asks.
"No, I'll do it," Raphael says. "Once I step through the alarm system, everyone's attention will be directed towards me. You'll have one chance to secure the target."
"Roger," everyone replies at the same time.
Raphael looks around. The laser field and motion sensors surround the entire camp. He figures that the warning system must be advanced enough to pinpoint where the field gets interrupted. This gives him an idea. He sets a few explosive charges in various areas, moving softly through the rugged hills. His black suite makes it impossible for anyone without night vision goggles to see him. Once he finishes setting all the charges he moves to a secure position and uses a remote to trigger the charges. They all go off simultaneously causing an avalanche of rocks to come tumbling down the hill into the laser field.
Loud alarms go off, and strong spots lights immediately go on, flooding the place with light. The spot lights move around to the different areas where the rocks had interrupted the field. In the mean time, Raphael's team activate their jet packs mounted on their backs and fly, in a scene reminiscent to a science fiction movie. Raphael in turn fires at the spot lights destroying them, plunging the place into darkness once again. Without wasting a single moment he runs down the hill towards the camp. Five armed guards leave the building to scan the surrounding area, while six remain behind to protect that important person inside the building.
Raphael goes down on one knee and changes the configuration of his gun quickly to take the form of a sniper rifle. He looks through the telescope until one of the guards is in the cross hairs and squeezes the trigger. A silent shot is fired and the man goes down without a sound. He searches through the telescope for the second guard and does the same. He drops like a fly and so does the third and the fourth, but Raphael can't see where the fifth went. He suddenly senses movement behind him and immediately dives to the side as a bullet whizzes by him.
Raphael swings his rifle towards the fifth guard and fires, but his bullet misses the moving target. He is now face to face with the fifth guard who takes aim. Raphael knows if he stays still he'll be an easy target, so he rolls around and jumps to his feet as a wave of bullets miss him. He dives behind a big rock. The fifth guard advances towards him, firing his machine gun continuously, not giving Raphael a chance to return fire. But soon the guard runs out of bullets. Raphael takes this opportunity and emerges with his gun ready, but the guard uses his machine gun as a club and knocks the gun out of Raphael's hand with a strong blow. Raphael attacks the man and they exchange hits and kicks. Both are skilled fighters. The guard takes out a mean looking knife and attempts to stab Raphael who avoids the lunge and grabs hold of the man's wrist keeping the sharp edge away from himself. The guard slams his forehead into Raphael's face and they both go down and roll around. The man gains the upper position and raises his knife in preparation to stab Raphael, but is propelled backwards when a few shots slam into his chest. Raphael looks back and sees Mary.
"Mission accomplished, sir," Mary smiles. "We have the target."
Suddenly, the entire place is flooded with light. It is an indoor training ground built to simulate mountain terrain. The man who was just shot gets up, smiling.
"Good aim," he says to Mary and extends an arm to Raphael who takes it and stands up.
"The distractions you guys caused was a nifty idea," the man says.
"That was Raphael's idea," Mary taps Raphael on the back.
"Team effort," Raphael taps Mary back, as the three walk off to an exit behind the hills.
"I think I'm gonna sleep for the next two days," Raphael says.
The Rules
Raphael stands on the roof of a tall building overlooking an old Neighborhood in Chaunce. The traffic at three pm is horrible as usual. Cars are bumper to bumper, horns glaring every few seconds as frustrated drivers let off steam. Raphael uses binoculars to watch a young woman, long brown hair, beautiful face, help her three kids, two girls and one boy get out of a beat-up van. Despite carrying shopping bags, she skillfully guides her children across the busy street to their apartment building. Chaunce's inhabitants have grown used to jaywalking, and the drivers have grown used to avoiding jaywalkers. It's the norm.
The young woman and her kids enter the apartment building, which is worn down. It's clear they are not well off. Raphael talks into his wireless communication device, hiding in his right ear.
"Ok, she's going up now."
"I'm in position," Mary answers.
Mary is inside the building, wearing a casual shirt and jeans. She watches as the young woman walks up the stairs.
"Mom, oppa," the youngest girl, three years old, says to her mother, stretching her arms towards her and jumping up and down. "I'm tired. My legs hurt."
"We're almost there, sweaty."
"Mommy, oppa, oppa," the girl keeps jumping up and down.
"Harry, carry this," the woman hands one of the shopping bags to her oldest son, eight years old. He takes it begrudgingly.
"But mom," Harry says, "Why do I have to always carry your stuff?"
"Cause I have to carry your sister the few remaining steps. And this is food for all of us."
The woman lifts her youngest daughter in her arms and climbs the stairs to her apartment. Each floor has two apartments only, one on the left of the stairwell, and the other on the right. Mary, situated one floor above the young woman's apartment, watches her struggle to get to her apartment.
"Ok sweaty, I have to put you down now so I can open the door," the woman puts her daughter down.
"Mom, I'm tired," the daughter says, but her mom ignores her as she scrambles for the keys inside her bag.
Finally, she finds them and opens the door.
"Ok, we're home," the woman says with a sigh of relief. "Everyone inside."
Everyone scrambles inside, not noticing the envelop on the floor. They close the door.
"She didn't see the envelop," Mary says over the communicator.
"What?" Raphael says in unbelief. "I left it right there."
"I got this," Mary says as she climbs the stairs down to the young woman's apartment.
Mary picks up the envelop and knocks on the door. She can hear the kids screaming and running around inside. She can't help but smile. A moment later, the young woman opens the door.
"Can I help you?" the woman asks.
"I was just walking down and saw this by your door. Is it yours?" Mary hands the woman the envelop.
"What's this?" the woman looks at the envelop without taking it.
"I don't know," Mary says. "Looks like someone left it here for you to find."
"Who are you again?" The woman asks suspiciously.
"Mary," Mary extends her hand and the woman shakes it. "And your name?"
"Ashley."
"Nice to meet you Ashley," Mary smiles. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have to get going."
Mary pushes the envelop into Ashley's hand.
"Hope to see you again soon," Mary waves at Ashley as she climbs down the stairs.
Ashley turns the envelop every which way examining it carefully. She walks inside her apartment and swings the door closed.
Once Mary is outside the building she speaks into her communicator.
"You have a very suspicious sister."
"Yeah, I taught her well," Raphael responds. "Thanks for doing this."
"You do know we're breaking the rules."
"I won't tell, if you won't tell."
"Dinner?"
"Meet you at our usual place in thirty?"
"Sure."
Mary taps her ear. That's how they activate and deactivate the communication device inserted in their.
Raphael and Mary sit in a busy restaurant at a table in the far corner. They eat in silence.
"Have you ever thought about going to see your father?" Raphael asks.
Mary stops chewing for a moment as she thinks on the question.
"I thought about it."
"And?"
"And nothing," Mary puts her sandwich down. "Raphael, you've got to get over your family. Remember what they taught us at the Unit. We are your family now."
"It's your father. And he thinks your dead!"
"I comfort myself in the fact that I'm saving his life every time I get assigned to a mission."
Raphael looks around and leans forward closer to Mary.
"I hate to break it to you," Raphael lowers his voice as if afraid anyone would hear what he's about to say. "But you haven't been on any missions yet."
"Get outta here," Mary pushes him back gently. Raphael chuckles. "You know what I mean."
"Yes, I've been to the same training as you. I know what they tell us. We're out here making a difference. Protecting Strongland from dangers that no one knows of. We are the last line of defense, blah, blah, blah."
"Why don't you say it a bit louder, eh? I don't think the people at the end of the restaurant heard you."
Raphael looks around at the people in the restaurant and everyone is busy with their own group and their own food. He shrugs carelessly.
"Bottom line is this," Mary says. "You were sentenced to death, and even before that you were discriminated against because you're from Lower Strongland. I was too. Couldn't get anywhere in my career because of my origins. This Unit changed all that. We're being treated as equals, not as outcasts. We were given a purpose. To protect this country. Even thought in someways it has rejected us."
"Nice lecture," Raphael teases her. "What's your point?"
"My point is eat your damn food and do your job."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't ma'am me," Mary smirks. "Do you think Ashley is going to use the money you gave her?"
"Her husband left her with three kids. She has a lot of financial obligations. She'll use it."
"She's gonna keep wondering where it came from."
Both their watches start flashing in a set pattern. Blue. Blue. Red. Blue. And it repeats twice.
"We're being recalled," Raphael says.
"You think it's a new mission?" Mary asks.
"I hope so. It's about time," Raphael leaves enough money on the table to cover both their bills. "I got this."
"My hero."
"Don't worry, I'll expense it," Raphael winks and they both smile as they walk off.
The Mission
Raphael and Mary approach the Critical Mission Unit (CMU) command center. It is situated in a secluded area two hours away from Chaunce, in the mountain desert. The entire compound is built inside the mountains. To the casual observer, all they'll see is a cement factory, which is actually operational, and produces product for several customers; a legitimate business.
Raphael drives his car to the gate; a large sliding metal door. A kiosk for the gatekeeper is setup on the left; the driver side. Raphael smiles at the man as he hands him his identification. The guard disappears inside the kiosk for a moment, presumably verifying Raphael's identity. A moment later, he pops out and hands the ID card back to Raphael as the gate slides open allowing the car to drive through. A windy road through a set of small buildings leads to a large, almost full parking lot. The factory looms large in front of them and they can see the workers moving around, going about their work. Raphael and Mary walk through a side door to a building attached to the main factory. Down the stairs is a long concrete corridor, illuminated intermittently with bright neon lights. The corridor slops down gently and ends at another metal door, which leads to a set of stairs. Raphael and Mary climb the stairs three levels down until their way is blocked by a formidable wall. The stairs end right there. There is no other place to go except the way they came. Raphael places his hand flat on the wall. Nothing extraordinary happens. Mary does the same. A moment passes in silence and then the wall slides up smoothly revealing an advanced elevator with slick controls, which stands in contrast against the rugged equipment at the cement factory.
Raphael and Mary walk in and the wall comes down again.
"Level 0," Raphael says.
Neither Raphael nor Mary feel the elevator move, but a moment later, it opens up to a modern, bordering on futuristic, office space; advanced screens line the walls, top of the line computers on each desk. People are moving around, each one busy with their assigned tasks, and no one pays attention to them. They head to an unmarked office at the end of a short corridor. Raphael knocks on the door.
"Come in," A man's deep voice sounds from the inside.
Raphael and Mary exchange nervous looks, and then enter.
"Reporting as ordered, Commander," Raphael says.
Commander John Hammond reads through various reports displayed on the surface of his desk, angled towards him, which is nothing but an advanced computer screen, with nifty touch controls. He taps a few buttons and a holographic image of a man gets projected in front of Raphael and Mary.
"You know who this is?" Commander John Hammond asks calmly.
"President Norman Faye," Raphael says.
"There has been an assassination attempt on the president. The head of the presidential guard has been killed in the process."
"And the president?" Mary asks concerned.
"Our Army units were able to neutralize the attackers before they could get to the president. But the attack was of a massive scale. They had access to advanced weaponry that no one should be able to get their hands on. We've investigated all the weapon dealers that we know of, and none of them could've provided such fire power."
"An enemy state, sir?" Mary asks.
"This appears to be the most likely explanation," Commander Hammond says. "At ease. Sit down."
Raphael and Mary sit on chairs facing the commander.
"As you know, the CMU operates with utmost secrecy. In fact no one knows about us, except the president himself, who founded and commanded this unit for the first few years of its inception. He allows us to operate with complete autonomy. Even though he has not assigned us this mission explicitly, such an atrocious attempt on the president's life can not be left to the standard law enforcement agencies. That's why I'm tasking you both with investigating and finding out who was responsible for this attempt and how they were able to get their hands on the weaponry they used. We need to plug that hole. Raphael, you'll be assigned as the Head of the Presidential Guard. Mary, you'll be assigned as a transfer to the Strongland National Security Agency. You'll be part of the team conducting the investigation. No one will know your real identities. You can not be exposed to the media under any circumstances."
The commander leans back on his chair and continues, "I have been following your progress over the past year since you joined the CMU. You have scored highest in everything, beyond anyone who has ever joined the Unit. Moreover, both of you make a cohesive and effective team. I'm fully confident that you can complete this investigation successfully. Before you are deployed to your respective posts, you'll spend the next two days going over the details our agents have collected so far. Good luck."
The commander goes back to pouring over some reports displayed on his desk screen. Raphael and Mary take this as their queue to leave. They exit the commander's office, feeling anxious to start their first official mission as part of the Critical Mission Unit.
Norman Faye
Raphael stands outside President Norman Faye's office awaiting his scheduled meeting. The president requested to be the first one to see him since he was taking over head of the presidential guard duties. He hasn't even met the rest of the presidential guards that will be reporting to him. To be honest, Raphael didn't much like the president. He has been in power for fifteen years. Like the rest of the presidents before him, he came in with a military coup. Norman Faye was the general of the army who rose against the previous president and oust him. Many people at the time supported Norman Faye. The previous president was in power for twenty five years before that and he wanted to pass on the presidency to his son. Most of the people might have turned a blind eye to that except for the atrocities that son was committing. His father was old and he took advantage of his age to rule with a rod of iron. He used the police force as an iron fist to crush anyone who would dare stand against him. The only power in the entire country that could stand against him was the army. A revolution broke out, led mainly by the youth who were either unemployed or were greatly impoverished due to the economic turmoil in the country; no jobs; little future prospects. They felt trapped and so a revolution seemed like the only way out. That's where Norman Faye came in. He sided with the revolutionaries and appeared like a hero to the people after ousting the president and his son and exiling them. Faye then won almost unanimous vote to be the next president. The people felt that he was the only one who can do that job. And indeed, reality was, most of the other contenders had no experience. Furthermore, the army is the largest force both militarily and economically, and who better to deal with them and appease them, except the ex-general himself. But like his predecessor, once he gained power, he wouldn't give it up. Many times he claimed that he would gladly give up the presidency if only there is someone who can take over the job and take care of the country. The truth is, he made sure there is no other political party that could stand against him.
This is Strongland's reality. Raphael didn't like it, but he hoped that overtime it would change. He didn't believe in a violent change though. He didn't believe that another revolution would bring about any positive change. In fact, if the regime would to fall it is mostly likely that Strongland's enemies would take this opportunity to invade the country. The army, although corrupt, is the only thing standing against that happening. And as for Raphael, it was his job to enforce the law and protect Strongland from both domestic and foreign enemies. That included making sure to expose the people behind the assassination attempt even if he doesn't like the president much.
Raphael looks at his watch. He has been waiting there for the past twenty minutes and he is getting anxious to start his investigation. Finally, a beautiful secretary steps out of the office and calls him.
"The president is ready to meet you," the secretary says.
"Thank you," Raphael smiles and heads to the inner door, which leads to the President's office.
He knocks on the door and waits until the president calls him in. Raphael pushes the heavy office door, impressed by its make. Everything in the presidential palace is very expensive. It gets Raphael a little mad thinking how his sister is struggling to make ends meat, while others live in breathtaking luxury. But you couldn't tell his disgust by the wide smile on his face as he meets the president face to face for the first time.
"Ah, Julian Harrington," The president stands up and shakes Raphael's hand warmly. "You come highly recommended."
Julian Harrington is the new name given to him for this mission. A detailed profile was created for both him and Mary and inserted in all the country's computers. For all intents and purposes he is Julian Harrington, a Secret Service Agent who is well recognized for his skills and abilities. When Edgar was killed, the first name that popped in the mind of all responsible people was his. How the CMU managed that, he had no clue. But these are details he doesn't care about. His job is to protect the president and conduct a covert investigation. An investigation that even the president doesn't know about; to bring the terrorists that carried out the assassination attempt to justice.
"Thank you, sir," Raphael stands at attention.
"Please, sit."
Raphael takes a seat opposite the president's extravagant desk. To his surprise, instead of Norman taking his customary seat at the head of the desk, he sits on the chair beside Raphael.
"First, I would like to extend my appreciation for the work you do," Norman says. "I know it's dangerous protecting a man that you don't know." Norman leans forward with a mischievous smile. "Or even voted for." He winks.
"The thought never crossed my mind, sir," Raphael says.
Norman chuckles out loud.
"Of course not," he says and then his smile disappears, replaced by a sad expression.
"You have big shoes to fill, son," Norman continues. "Edgar Brampton was a special man. He wasn't only the head of the Presidential guard, but he was my friend as well."
"I'm sorry for your loss, sir."
Both Raphael and the president look each other in the eyes. It's clear the president is trying to ascertain what kind of man Raphael is. And in all honestly, Raphael is as loyal as they come. Norman gets up and taps Raphael on the shoulder.
"Welcome onboard, son."
Norman circles the desk and takes a piece of paper and hands it to Raphael.
"This is my schedule for the next month. You and I and the Vice President are the only ones privy to this information. Can't be too careful, you know with the assassination attempts and all."
Raphael takes the paper.
"I know the protocol sir. Memorize and destroy."
"That's correct. Tonight I have a dinner with my family, I would like you to come."
Raphael wasn't expecting the invitation. He hesitates.
"I won't take no for an answer," Norman says. "Seven PM sharp in my living quarters."
"I will be there, sir."
Raphael gets up.
"If you'll excuse me, sir."
"Go ahead."
Norman gets back to studying some files on his desk.
Raphael stops at the door and looks back.
"Sir," Norman looks up questioningly. "I would like you to know, I will lay my life for you."
Norman smiles a kind smile.
Raphael walks out.
Strongland National Security Agency
Mary Thomson walks through the area where the assassination attempt took place. It's midday and the sun is hot. The mountain desert is exactly that a desert of mountains; not a single vegetation in sight. The dry, brownish surface of the ground reflects the heat of the sun adding to the temperature fifteen degrees more. It must be fifty-five degrees Celsius. A few other people from the Strongland National Security Agency investigation team are spread out, looking for any evidence that might've been missed previously.
"So, how can a fresh recruit find her way into the investigation of the century?" A man approaches Mary from behind. He is an older man, probably in his fifties, receding hair line, dark brown eyes, which matches his dark complexion. For an SNSA agent he's a little bit on the round side. She looks back at him, but doesn't reply.
"I'm just curious," he continues. "I'm sure you're a fine investigator."
"I hear a but," Mary says.
"Well, yeah, but you're a woman, but you're from Lower Stronglandian," the man says. "If you haven't noticed, no one here is from Lower Strongland."
"You know, Hans, I don't believe I like your tone much," Mary says.
Hans shrugs carelessly.
"I'm gonna forget you said that," Mary says and then looks around. "This area appears to have been the sight of a bombing."
"The A-27 fighters flew from the military base when Edgar called in the attack and blew everyone to smithereens."
"Thanks for the late breaking news, Hans. I read the reports too. But did the bombs hide all the evidence, not a single body remains, not a single weapon or piece of a weapon is left behind. Does that make sense to you? Does it... Hans?"
Hans' face turns a shade of red with anger because of Mary's condescending tone. He jabs a finger in Mary's chest, "If you weren't a woman."
Mary turns squarely to face him, "What? What are you going to do, Hans?"
Hans is about to say something, when another older man in his fifties walks towards them.
"What's going on here?" The older man says.
"Nothing, sir," Hans says. "We were just having a friendly conversation."
Hans turns around and walks past the older man, who happens to be the commanding officer in the investigation.
"Did he bother you?" the commanding officer asks.
"Not at all," Mary smiles. "Charming fellow. Sir, the reports I read about the investigation so far indicate that no evidence was recovered from here."
"That's not true," the commanding officer frowns. "We recovered all the remains of the soldiers who died in the attack and whatever equipment that wasn't destroyed."
"Is it possible to examine them?"
"No."
Mary blinks in surprise.
"Why, sir?"
The commanding officer doesn't answer.
"Ok!" Mary tries a different approach. "No terrorist remains were recovered, neither the weapons they used? Did they disappear into thin air?"
The commander turns away looking at the horizon.
"Sir, is there something I'm not being told?" Mary asks.
"We weren't the first team on site. The army arrived first."
"Ah," Mary's eyes open wide in realization. "I see. The Army is also conducting their own investigation. Are they planning to share any information."
The commanding officer bites his lower lip, then grabs Mary's arm and leads her farther from everyone else, behind a small hill.
"We're being stonewalled," the commanding officer says.
"How so?"
"By the time we arrived the entire area had been swept clean. It took us three days to get access to the president's convoy to examine it, and when we did, it was clear that it has been neutralized."
"Neutralized?"
"Yes, no evidence. They wouldn't even release bullet shells from the terrorists' weapons."
"Do we have any contacts in the army base?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Well, if you'd like sir, I can take a crack at getting some information from them."
"How?"
"I have some people skills."
The commander seems to think about that for a moment then dismisses the whole idea.
"No. You'll maintain the ranks."
"As you wish, sir," Mary says and the commander walks away.
Mary continues walking through the hills, climbing up over rocks, surveying the location. She makes it to a small peak. From that vantage point she has a good view of a large portion of the area. It has seen quiet a heavy bombardment. She wouldn't be surprised if some of Stronglandian soldiers fell by friendly fire. There is no way to be accurate with this scale of attack. What doesn't make sense to her though is weren't they worried that they could kill the president himself in that attack?
Mary sees her team of investigators start to gather and leave without finding anything. She has her own car, so she decides to catch up with them later. She starts to climb down the hill when she notices something shiny underneath a bunch of rocks. Mary goes there and with some effort starts rolling the rocks away. She moves a big rock and a bunch of smaller ones on top of it crumble down. Mary staggers backward once she sees what was hidden by the rocks. It's a severed arm, and the shiny thing is a golden, distinctive looking, watch. There is no sign of the rest of the body, so she assumes that an explosion probably blew the poor fellow to bits and the arm landed there.
"Well, that's a big piece of evidence," Mary says to herself as she takes out her phone and snaps a few pictures of the severed arm from different angles. She then takes a plastic bag and gloves from a backpack she's carrying. She puts on the gloves and carefully places the arm, which was already starting to decay, into the plastic bag.
"Let's find out who you belong to, shall we?" Mary says and heads back to her car.
Dinner with the President
It's 6:55pm. Raphael hesitates in front of another impressively large, well designed door. It's the President's living quarters. The term "living quarters" makes it seem like it's something small, which is far from the truth. It's an entire house built inside the Presidential Palace, equipped with the latest and greatest amenities. That's probably another understatement. Like the rest of the Presidential Palace it's built with the latest technological marvel invented around the world.
Raphael knocks on the door. A moment later the President's face is holographically projected in front of Raphael.
"Come in, please," The president says and his image dissolves. The door opens automatically, letting Raphael in.
After initial greetings and an introduction to the president's wife, Jessica Faye, and their eight year old son, Christopher Faye, they all sit together for dinner. They have some small talk about the food and the recipes. Apparently, Jessica Faye likes to do her own cooking, instead of relying on the kitchen staff. They finish the dinner and sit in the living room.
"Do you mind if we call your father?" the president asks out of the blue.
"Sorry?" Raphael is taken aback. "My father? May I ask why?"
"Oh, I would just like to know you better," Norman smiles. "And what better way than to talk to your father and congratulate him for raising such an upstanding citizen."
"Sure," Raphael smiles and takes out his phone.
"Do you mind if we use my holographic phone. This way we can project your father's image right here beside you. It'll be as if he's here with us. I'm a bit of a technology geek."
Raphael smiles. "As you wish, Mr. President."
"I hope you don't mind, I got his phone number from your records. The records are that detailed in this day and age, that's why I know he has a holographic phone as well."
"You do your homework pretty well, Mr. President."
Raphael knows what the president is doing. He is trying to make sure Raphael is who he says he is. Anyone else might be a bit nervous by now. But Raphael was absolutely confident.
President Norman Faye dials a number and soon Julian Harrington's father's three dimensional image is projected with impressive clarity on the couch beside Raphael.
"Hi, Dad," Raphael waves at Julian's father. It's worth mentioning that the CMU has built a foolproof identity for Raphael, complete with an entire family, work buddies, previous bosses, everything. They are all CMU agents working as part of this mission to make sure Raphael's cover stays intact. It takes a lot of resources to pull that off.
After a short, friendly discussion with Julian's father, the president hangs up and turns his attention back to Raphael. To Raphael's surprise, the call didn't seem to allay the president's doubts.
How can this man operate without trusting anyone? Raphael thinks to himself.
However, the president soon hides his sense of wariness very skillfully and goes on talking about other topics. Although these topics, about Raphael's past, previous job, family, love life, seem to be innocent, it is clear that the president is probing Raphael deeper. But Raphael gave convincing answers to all, until the president had nothing else to ask.
"I feel I've known you for years now," President Norman says.
"We really appreciate all the sacrifices you've made and continue to make for our country," Jessica Faye says with a heartwarming smile. It's the first time she speaks.
"It's my duty, Ma'am," Raphael says, then turns to Norman. "If you don't mind me asking you a question regarding the attempt..."
Norman raises his hand, cutting Raphael off. He looks at his son and wife.
"These topics are better discussed in private, Julian," Norman says.
President Norman and Raphael walk into a nicely decorated office by themselves.
"I wouldn't be doing my job if I don't ask about who you think carried out the assassination attempt," Raphael says.
"The president has many enemies, including the separatists, who wish to break Strongland into Upper and Lower again. Take us back centuries."
"I have read the reports on the attack. These terrorists used advanced weaponry that wouldn't be readily available to them."
"You've done your homework as well, Julian," The president smiles. "Even though there is a dedicated investigation team taking care of this."
"Just trying to do my job sir. The more I know the more effective I am at protecting you."
"The investigation team tells me that they suspect that an enemy state is behind the attack."
"That would be a declaration of war, sir."
"Of course, there is no proof pointing directly to them. They are too smart for that."
"But what would they gain by taking you out?"
"Regime change. Install a puppet that they can control," President Faye says. He turns around and looks out of a window overseeing a luxurious garden. "Have you met the Vice President, yet?"
"Not yet, sir," Raphael detects a strange hint in the president's tone. "I have an appointment with him tomorrow, first thing in the morning."
"Wonderful man. Very talented. We constantly work together on everything. It's important that the issues of the state are always secure."
"May I ask if the Vice President was with you in the convoy that was attacked."
President Faey turns and looks squarely at Raphael.
"Unfortunately, he had some urgent business creep up and couldn't make it."
This is very important piece of information wasn't in the reports. It makes the Vice President the prime suspect in the investigation. And if Raphael is not mistaken, the president seems to think so as well, but for whatever reason he's not coming out and saying it.
"Julian, it was great spending time with you this evening, but I must retire. An early day tomorrow," President Norman Faye smiles apologetically.
"Good night, sir," Raphael leaves.
His next step is now clear.
Retrieval
Mary arrives at the Strongland National Security Agency building at a late hour in the night. She's pretty sure not many people will be at the building at this time. Her intent is to examine that severed arm and try to determine who it belongs to. This is the only real piece of evidence in this entire investigation. It's a little strange to her that no one was able to find it until now. Are they really that incompetent?
Mary goes to the genetics lab and is able to access it using her key card. The entire building is running in power save mode, the corridors are darkened, the computer screens are turned off, but once she steps foot into the lab, its bright, florescent lights come on and all the equipment come to life in one shot. She puts on gloves and carefully takes out the severed arm. At the CMU they go through all sorts of training including some introductory medical courses, which would come in handy if they find themselves having to tend to injured people in the field. But her degree was originally in genetics, so she has extensive experience in doing DNA testing. There is no doubt she'll be able to identify the DNA of the person who belongs to that arm, and then it'll be a matter of running the DNA results through the Agency's database to get a match. Even if there is no match, she can send it to the CMU. There they have access to a much larger database.
"Well, well, well. Will ya looky here," Hans says. He stands leaning on the door of the lab. "What's a lower Stronglandian doing around all this complex equipment. Now don't hurt yourself."
Mary is surprised by his sudden appearance and spins around. A few test tables and equipment separate them, so Hans doesn't see what Mary is working on.
"Damn, Hans. You know how to make an entrance," Mary says in a sarcastic tone.
"I try," Hans replies as he walks towards her, but stands a few feet away. He still can't see the severed arm. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
"I thought you'd be home enjoying a doughnut and a beer by now."
"Are you even allowed to be here? You're not one of our science people."
Mary has no convincing answer to give Hans. And he seems to be the insistent type.
"Well, unlike the rest of the team, Hans, I'm doing my job. Trying to figure out who tried to murder the president."
"I'm sick of your insults, lady," Hans walks towards her. "You think you're so much better than us. But you know what the weird thing is, I didn't even here about you until you joined the team. You could be an..." That's when Hans sees the severed arm. "What the hell is that?" He points at the arm.
Mary sighs. She has to tell him the truth. It wouldn't make sense to hide it from him.
"Like I told you, I'm doing my job."
"Where did you find it?"
"After you guys left, I decided to expand my search and that's when I noticed it."
"We have to identify who it belongs to, this could be the breakthrough we were looking for," Hans' tone is no longer derogatory.
"Well, look at you acting like an... well an investigator."
"I'm guessing that's what you were about to do?" Hans ignores her comment. "Do you know how to do DNA testing?
Mary picks up some of the equipment used for DNA testing.
"Yes," Mary says. "I have a degree in genetics."
"What do you want me to help with?" Hans asks seriously.
Mary looks at him, curious at his sudden change in attitude. A moment ago he was being unfriendly and discriminatory, and now he's willing to help her out. Maybe he's not as much of an asshole as she initially thought.
She turns her attention to the task at hand. But before she can go on with the test, the lights go out, plunging the entire floor in absolute darkness.
"What the hell?" Hans says.
Mary hears him unholstering his side arm. A moment later the dim red emergency lights come on.
"When was the last time you had a power outage in the building?" Mary asks as she follows suite, readying her gun.
"Never."
Suddenly a gas canister breaks through the glass window of the lab and lands a few feet away. Heavy tear gas start streaming out of the canister.
"This way," Hans pushes Mary towards the back door as another canister lands closer to them. The gas is so heavy now, burning their eyes. They cough loudly and stagger. Hans reaches a cupboard and starts shuffling through it.
"Are you looking for these?" Mary says. Her voice is chocked up. She hands him a gas mask that she found in the cupboard next to the one he was looking through. Hans takes it and puts it on. Mary activates a function on her mask after she puts on to clear any gas that was trapped in the breathing apparatus. She takes a deep breath after the gas had almost chocked her.
"Are you ok?" Mary asks Hans.
Hans nods and signal for her to circle around the other side in attempt to surprise the attackers. She agrees and heads in the direction he pointed at. He circles the lab from the other side.
Mary can't see her own hand through the heavy white gas that has filled the lab. She reaches the ventilation control panel and feels around until she sees a button labeled "Emergency Fire Suppression". She presses it. Two things happen, strong suction activates clearing the gas, as well as water sprays heavily to suppress any potential fire. It takes a moment for the air to clear. Mary, soaked with water, takes off her mask and looks around carefully, but there is no one around. Hans is on the other end of the lab. Mary stands up and looks at him. He shrugs, indicating he didn't find anyone. They both have the same thought at the same time. They head to where they left the severed arm, but it's gone.
"Damn," Mary blurts out in anger.
Broderick Tabark
Raphael walks back to his apartment past midnight. It's been a long and exhausting day planning and making sure that the president and his family are secure. He had had his initial meeting with the VP, Broderick Tabark, this morning. The VP was sixty-five years old and the funny thing is, in the entire presidential palace he was the only elected official. He was voted in to be governor of Chaunce sixteen years ago, and when Norman Faye took over the presidency, he appointed him VP. The man seemed like a straight arrow fellow. Raphael has to admit he likes him a lot more than the president. In fact Raphael decided to talk to him straight up about his whereabouts when the president was going to his meeting.
"Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Raphael had said towards the end of the meeting with the VP.
"Of course, Mr. Harrington," Tabark said.
"Why didn't you accompany the president on the convoy that was attacked?"
Tabark smiles and sits at his desk. His hand firmly planted on the surface of it.
"Am I under investigation, Mr. Harrington?"
"I'm just trying to do my job, sir."
"I thought your job is to protect the president, not to carry out an investigation."
"To do my job effectively I have to anticipate where the danger can come from."
Tabark sat back on his chair and his eyes narrowed as they looked at Raphael.
"I was carrying out a classified assignment," Tabark finally said after a long pause.
"Understood, sir," Raphael said and then left.
Of course a classified assignment is not a solid alibi at all. This created a bit of a conflict for Raphael. On the one hand he likes the fact that the VP was elected by the people and didn't come as part of a military coup. On the other, he is still the prime suspect. Raphael had then decided to go around and talk to various staff in the palace to find out more about the VP, his relationship with the president, if there was any enmity between them, his family life. He tried to be as clandestine as possible.
Raphael turns a corner and notices that there is a tall, athletic man in a black suite who has been following him since he left the palace. In the empty streets it wasn't really hard for Raphael to spot him. He decides to give him a challenge. Raphael picks up the pace and rounds another corner quickly, then goes into an alleyway between two apartment buildings.
The man following Raphael is surprised by the sudden change in pace and he runs trying to keep up with Raphael. He goes through the same alleyway that Raphael took a moment ago and when he emerges from the other end, Raphael is waiting for him, cross-armed and leaning on the wall.
"Hi," Raphael says with a smile.
The man is flustered that he has been made out and acts like he doesn't hear Raphael, continuing on his way.
"It was nice meeting you," Raphael calls after him. "Let's do this again tomorrow."
Raphael continues his route to the apartment the CMU rented for him, ensuring he's not followed. The CMU actually owns the entire building and have a few apartments that they use for their missions.
The Message
At his apartment, Raphael hangs his jacket inside the cupboard by the door. He opens the refrigerator and takes out a Milk carton. Beside it, there is a gun. He grabs a glass cup from a cabinet above the microwave. On the lower shelf, is another gun. He pours some milk and replaces the carton in the refrigerator. The milk is nice and cold, providing him with the desired nourishment. He takes another sip and heads to the only couch in the small living room. There is yet another gun behind the pillow. It looks like there is a weapon everywhere in this apartment, in case someone tries to break in.
Raphael turns on his computer to get it ready for the scheduled sync up meeting with Mary. There is a knock on the door. Raphael puts the cup on the table and grabs the gun behind the couch pillow. He is not expecting anyone to come at one in the morning. He tiptoes to the door, but doesn't stand behind it.
"Who is it?" Raphael says.
"A friend," comes the reply.
Raphael swings the door open and points the gun at the man standing there with his arms up, a calm smile on his lips. It's the same man that was following him.
"So you decided to pay me a visit?"
"I'm unarmed."
"I'm gonna keep my gun if you don't mind."
"Whatever you want. I have a message from the Vice President."
Raphael is not expecting this turn of events.
"He's telling you, you're asking the wrong questions," the man continues as he starts to reach for something inside his jacket.
"Whoa, Whoa," Raphael thrusts his gun at the man. "I still don't trust you."
"I'm gonna move very slowly," the man says.
He opens his jacket revealing his inside pocket.
"I have something for you. You can reach into my pocket if you'd like."
Raphael takes a step back from the man, keeping a safe distance between them.
"Reach in slowly and no sudden moves," Raphael orders.
The man obliges and produces a small piece of paper with a few numbers written on it. He hands it to Raphael.
"What's this?"
"That's above my pay grade," the man says and backs away slowly, then turns and walks away.
Raphael looks at the numbers, it takes him a short moment to realize that these are location coordinates. He goes to his computer and enters the coordinates in a map application. It pinpoints a small house a few blocks away from his position. Raphael decides to pay that place a visit. As he gets ready to leave, he sends an encrypted message to Mary telling her to meet him at the specified coordinates.
Evidence
Raphael sits in his car, dressed all in black. He has special glasses on that allow him to see in the dark. He watches the house in question from a distance. He decided not to break into the house blindly, in case this is all some sort of an elaborate trap. The passenger side door opens and Mary climbs in, also dressed fully in black.
"Did you make sure you're not followed?" Raphael asks without looking at her.
"Don't worry," Mary says. Her voice cracks.
Raphael takes off his glasses and looks at Mary. Her eyes are bloodshot.
"What happened to you?"
"Long story," Mary says. "Why are we watching Edgar Brampton's house?"
Raphael looks at her surprised.
"You mean you didn't bother looking up who owns that place?"
Raphael puts the glass back on as his cheeks turn a shade of red. Mary looks at him and chuckles.
"That's why we're a team," Mary says.
"The VP seems to think there is some evidence worth while there," Raphael says.
"The VP? Can we trust him?"
"I don't know. He wasn't at the convoy when the president was attacked. Said he had a classified assignment."
"That's convenient."
Raphael nods.
"What's the plan?" Mary asks.
"Simple. Search the house. It doesn't appear that there is anyone else here except us."
"Let's do it."
They hide their faces with black masks and sprint to the house.
Raphael works the back door's lock and it opens rather easily. Him and Mary slide in. They immediately split up and start going through the house thoroughly. Raphael walks into what appears to be a small office. There are pictures of Edgar and the president dating back to when the president was an army general. The pictures line up the wall behind the wooden desk. They were clearly old friends, which explains the president's sadness towards Edgar's loss. But why would the VP point Raphael to Edgar's location in such a cryptic manner? What did he want him to find? It's always possible that the VP has planted evidence he wants Raphael to find. But did he think that Raphael was so incompetent to fall into this old trick. No, this is not a very likely explanation.
Raphael goes through the desk, hunting for anything suspicious. Without knowing what he's searching for, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. He opens a file cabinet and looks through the files there. He finds paper work on the house mortgage; his kids' university applications and their acceptance letters; his last will and testament, leaving everything he owns divided equally amongst his three kids, two daughters and one son.
Raphael goes through the rest of the files and finds nothing out of the ordinary. He sits on the desk chair, looking around the office trying to think what he could've missed. That's when his sight falls on a picture of the president and Edgar. It's in a row of other pictures lining the wall. The picture was taken of them as they were mounting an armored vehicle. The background is of the mountain desert; a vast, endless vista of peaks and valleys. It looks like the picture was taken in the spur of the moment. Raphael examines that picture and then looks at the rest of the pictures around it and something grabs his attention. Edgar was clearly a very organized individual. Everything is ordered immaculately, except for this picture. It seems to have been taken out and then placed back carelessly, crooked in the frame.
Raphael unmounts the picture from the wall and turns it around trying to see if there is anything different about it. He runs his fingers along the edge of the frame and notices a slight irregularity. He presses it and it springs in with a soft click and a tiny electronic slice pops out of an adjacent slot. He pulls the slice out and looks it over, wondering what it's for.
Raphael puts the tiny device carefully in his pocket and replaces the frame on the wall again.
His ear piece comes to life.
"Raphael," Mary says. Her voice very calm. "I'm in a bit of a pickle here. Can you come up to the second floor?"
Raphael taps the ear piece, "on my way."
He runs up the stairs feeling a sense of danger.
It takes Raphael a moment to find where Mary is. She has discovered a secret room, which was cleverly hidden behind a wall sized painting. As Raphael bursts into the room he freezes in place. Mary stands in an awkward form, as if frozen in the middle of a stride. At first glance, the room itself appears to be a library of sorts. Book shelves line up all four walls from top to bottom. A single window to their left. But then Raphael notices what Mary had discovered; a hidden vault. She was able to decipher the code and open it. But the way she's frozen in that pose, tells Raphael something is terribly wrong.
"I'm standing on an explosive device," Mary says.
Raphael kneels down and takes a closer look under her left foot, which is behind her right one. Her ankle is slightly raised in preparation to take a step, which was never completed. Under the ball of her left foot, Raphael sees the device. It was skillfully hidden in the floor, but now that it's activated, the flashing red light gives it away.
"How did you get yourself into that situation?" Raphael asks as he examines the device Mary's weight is on.
"Bad luck," Mary smiles despite the dangerous circumstance.
"You can say that again."
"I forced the door open without entering some access code. An explosive security system didn't cross my mind."
"Live and learn."
"I think the keyword here is, 'live'."
"Well don't move a muscle. This is a pressure trigger. If it detects any slight shift in weight, it goes boom."
"Thanks for the late breaking news."
Although the sarcasm is clear in Mary's voice, the past year with her had taught Raphael that she deals with stressful situations through humor.
"I'll get you out of here," Raphael says.
"We have another problem," Mary points at the open vault.
Raphael follows her pointed finger and sees that there is a countdown inside the vault. They have under fifteen minutes before a secondary trigger automatically detonates the explosives.
"Oh, well, that sucks," Raphael says.
"Take the files in that vault and leave," Mary says.
"Um, no," Raphael replies.
"You know as well as I do, if Edgar went through the trouble of setting this booby trap, then these files contain important information."
"Are you trying to be the Hero? Get your name on the wall of fame back at the CMU?" Raphael refers to a wall where Agents who had died on active duty have their names engraved.
"Raphael, there is no time for jokes. Take the files."
"Will you shut up and let me think," Raphael looks around the room desperate for anything he can use to solve this deadly problem. Raphael gets an idea and runs out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Mary calls after him, but he's already jumping down the stairs.
Raphael goes to the main electrical panel in the kitchen and cuts the power. He then runs back up to where Mary is.
"Cutting the power didn't have the desired results," Mary says and gestures towards the countdown in the vault. "Quiet the opposite."
The countdown was now at two minutes.
"Why would it ever be that easy?" Raphael mutters.
"Just take the damned files and go," Mary says. "I'm not blaming you for this. There is nothing you can do."
But again, Raphael storms out of the room without bothering to reply. He goes down to the garage and rummages through a bunch of heavy tools until he finds a sledge hammer. He races back to the kitchen, which is located right under the room where Mary is and uses the sledge hammer to make a whole in the ceiling. He climbs up on the kitchen counter and sticks his head in the hole he made. Using a flashlight he looks around until he locates the pressure trigger device. A bundle of wires run from the pressure detonation device to the explosives.
"Shit," he says. There is enough explosives there to take out the entire house.
"We have a minute left," Mary yells. "Get the hell out of here."
Raphael doesn't answer. He holds the flash light in his mouse and carefully shuffles through the wires connected to the device. He has gone through a bomb defusal course, but judging from the complexity of this device, it'll take him more than the few seconds they have left to defuse it. As he examines it, he notices that there is a slot similar in size to the electronic slice he recovered from the frame.
SWAG refers to a Silly Wild Ass Guess, and that's all Raphael has time for. He takes out the electronic slice and inserts it into the slot in the trigger device. The red light changes to green.
Raphael jumps off the counter and runs up the stairs to Mary. He looks at the device she stands on and the light is green. He hopes to God that green means it's safe. But the count down on the secondary trigger device in the vault still continues. They have fifteen seconds.
"Okay, on the count of one," Raphael says.
"What?" Mary sweats bullets.
"One," Raphael bear hugs Mary and they both fall on the floor. The bomb doesn't go off.
They have eight seconds left.
Mary grabs some of the files from the vault, but Raphael takes her hand and pulls her towards the only window in the room. Some of the files slip from her hand. Raphael uses a chair to break the window and they jump out landing painfully on the grass, two floors below.
Two seconds left.
They run as fast as their legs can carry them.
The house explodes in a humongous ball of fire. The shock-wave it generates lifts them off their feet and throws them five meters ahead.
Raphael's head spins, but he manages to look at Mary who's laying face down beside him.
"Are you ok?" Raphael shakes her. She stirs and looks up at him.
"Let's get outta here." Raphael gets up with difficulty and helps Mary.
They both limp to Raphael's car parked a few blocks away.
Mary and Raphael can hear the sirens in the distance. They take off the black masks they have on when they are a couple of blocks away from the house. People are already walking out of their houses to see what that explosion was. It'll only draw more suspicion if they see Raphael and Mary with their masks on.
They approach Raphael's car.
"Are you parked close by?" Raphael asks.
"Yeah, just a block over," Mary says, then hugs Raphael tightly. Raphael returns the hug, a little surprised.
"Thank you," Mary touches Raphael's cheek.
"Don't mention it," Raphael blushes slightly.
Mary laughs when she sees the slight redness travel up his cheeks.
"We'll sync up again at our regular schedule," Mary says and then runs back to her car.
Raphael watches her for a moment, then gets in his car and drives off.
The Exchange
Mary sits at her desk in the SNSA building, pouring over the file she had acquired from last night's heist. It contains a set of photographs of General Norman Faye with Edgar on various missions while they were in the Army. Some memos are attached to the photographs. Norman Faye was fifteen years senior to Edgar and from the memos it sounded like Norman Faye took Edgar under his wings because of his enormous skill and loyalty. Mary puts each picture or memo she goes over into a scanner, which scans it directly into her mobile phone.
The photographs chronicle the days General Norman Faye commanded the Army and then transition into his first days after he took on the presidency. Thus far all of them are the standard pose pictures from news sites, or from the Presidential photographers. But as Mary turns through the rest of the photographs they start to look more like surveillance pictures of the president; taken from a great distance by the use of a zoom lens and from different angles. It's hard to judge whether Edgar took some of these pictures himself or whether he recovered them from some source. Some of these surveillance photographs were of President Norman Faye and Edgar on the way to meetings or as they were getting inside the presidential car. Some were of Norman Faye's wife, before they had their son. Other pictures where when their son was only one year old.
There was no memos explaining these photographs. That left Mary puzzled at what conclusion she should draw. It's clear the president was under surveillance, possibly still under surveillance. Mary makes a mental note to tell Raphael about her suspicions.
"Well, well, well, will ya looky here," Hans surprises Mary.
Mary closes the folder casually in order not to attract unnecessary questions from Hans. She spins in her chair to face him.
"My partner in crime," Mary smiles.
Hans drags a spare chair. He sits and puts his legs on Mary's desk, leaning back, hands behind his head with a sneaky smile on his face.
"Did they find out who broke into the lab?" Mary asks.
"Nope," Hans shakes his head.
"You look like you have some news to share, so why don't you wipe that stupid smile off your face and come clean."
"Not here. Come along little girl. Show you how the pros work."
Hans gets up and walks out of Mary's cubical.
"Oh, brother," Mary shakes her head as she walks after him.
Hans drives his SUV with speed over a rocky road heading to an unknown location in the Mountain Desert. Mary sits in the passenger seat.
"Mind telling me what's going on?" Mary asks.
"Do you realize that this entire investigation is a sham?"
"Sorry?"
"The Army is really in charge here. Our involvement is just a formality. They consider the president one of their own, and it's a matter of pride for them to bring these terrorists to justice."
"Are they going to bring them to justice?"
"You're right. Probably not. They'll just obliterate them."
"And you disagree with their approach?"
"I know you think me an old racist fool, but whatever you think, I don't want to see this country plunge back into the dark ages. We have the law and no one should be above it, not even the army or the president himself."
"That's the wisest thing I ever heard you say, Hans."
"Yeah, well."
"But you still didn't answer my question. Where are we going?"
"Even though the Army issued strict orders to stay away from their investigation, I decided to break with orders."
"Sounds interesting. Like I say, rules are meant to be broken."
"Been making some calls to my informants and I think I landed a pretty juicy tidbit that checks out."
"I'm on the edge of my seat."
"There is a weapons deal going down tonight, we're going to check it out."
"Alone? That sounds pretty crazy to me. We need some backup."
"Oh, we're not going to stop the deal. But if we're able to track the shipment, we might be able to find the source. Don't you think that'll clear up some of the mystery surrounding this."
"I take it back, Hans. You're a good investigator."
Hans mumbles something under his breath.
"Sorry, what was that?" Mary asks.
"I said, you inspired me," Hans repeats out loud.
"Aww, chucks."
An hour later Hans drives his car off the main road and hides it in between two large hills.
"We continue the rest of the way on foot," Hans says as he exits the car.
Hans opens the trunk of the car and takes out a few weapons to arm himself and Mary, then they head off on foot.
They walk for another thirty minutes until they get to the top of a hill overlooking a valley. By the time they get to their destination, night has fallen. The stars are brighter than ever, casting a majestic glow over the desert. Mary and Hans take cover behind a bunch of big rocks and wait.
Hours pass and it's now past midnight.
"I'm starting to think your informant isn't very reliable," Mary says.
Before she could even finish her sentence, they hear the sound of trucks approaching from the distance. Soon, they can see their head lights dance as the cars drive over the bumpy ground. Within a few minutes three big army like trucks stop in the valley below.
Hans uses his binoculars to follow the events transpiring in the valley below. Mary takes out a small camera and starts to film the entire transaction.
"What's that?" Hans whispers when he sees the nifty gadget.
"It's a camera that captures in multiple light ranges, including infra-red. Should allow us to capture all the details of this transaction with remarkable clarity."
"Where can I get one?"
"I'll put in a word for you," Mary smiles.
They return their attention to the events taking place below them.
Ten minutes later another group of cars arrive. A few men get out of that convoy, led by an older man in his fifties, bald with a graying beard. Mary uses the camera to zoom on his face. She hits a button on the small touch screen of the camera and a few facial recognition marks are drawn on the man's face. A moment later his name appears on the screen, Jaiden Vulnar.
"Dude, this is the leader of the separatists," Mary whispers.
"Yes it is," Hans replies.
"Do you know him?"
"Are you kidding? We have a detailed profile on him. It makes sense that he would try to take out the president. He's an Upper Stronglandian zealot; believes in the utter supremacy of the Upper Stronglandians and would soon see all Lower Stronglandian be slaves."
"Charming guy. He kinda reminds me of you," Mary says sarcastically.
The separatists stand by their trucks. Moments pass like ages until the door to the leading army like truck opens and a man who has his face covered steps out. He exchanges a few words with Jaiden and then allows Jaiden's men to start unloading the trucks.
They take out a wooden box and set it in front of the Separatists' leader, who uses a crowbar to pry the cover open.
"Shit," Hans says. "Will you look at that? Who the hell are these guys?"
"Are these FGM-148 Javelins?" Mary asks in disbelief looking at a zoomed image on her camera screen.
"These are military grade missiles," Hans whispers.
"Do you think these guys are Eitoria Agents?"
"Operating that deep in our territory? This is crazy."
Mary zooms on the man who's covering his face, but the facial recognition can not get a lock. The separatists unload more of these boxes and transfer them to their own trucks.
"Come on, man," Mary whispers to herself. "Uncover your face."
And as if the man is fulfilling her request, he uncovers his face as he shakes Jaiden's hand.
It takes a moment for the camera to access the CMU database and identify the man on the screen. His name pops up.
"Holy shit," Mary says as she sinks down behind the rock.
"What? What is it?" Hans says.
"This guy is a Lieutenant General in the Army. Our Army."
"No!" Hans says in disbelief. "Let me see."
Hans changes his position trying to use his binoculars to take a better look at the man. Unfortunately, as he changes his position, he dislodges a few rocks that go tumbling down the hill. Jaiden and his men react instantly, weapons in hand. Just as quickly thirty soldiers jump out of the Army trucks with their weapons ready.
"Good one," Mary says. "Let's get outta here."
In the Valley, Jaiden and the Army officer exchange sharp words as they try to ascertain who is betraying whom. They agree that there must be a third party involved and order their men to go up the hill and investigate.
Mary and Hans see twenty five men head their way. Another group circle around intending to block any quick exit scenario.
"This is not good," Mary says.
Hans thinks hard about something, then turns to Mary. "I'm gonna distract them. Take this." He hands her his car keys.
Mary grabs his arm before he moves.
"Are you crazy. They'll kill you."
"Then don't waste this opportunity to escape with your life."
He shakes her hand off and walks over the hill with his hands up over his head in a sign of surrender.
The men yell at him to get on his knees.
Mary doesn't waste a moment and starts running. But instead of heading back to Hans' car she capitalizes on the diversion Hans caused and heads down the valley towards the Army trucks. All men who occupied the last one have been dispatched to look for intruders. After a quick scan of the area to make sure no one is watching, Mary sprints and dives under it. She wedges her petite form in the underbody of the truck. From her vantage point, she sees the Army officer and Jaiden head to the group of soldiers surrounding Hans. A few moments later a muzzle flash and a bang explode in the stillness of the night. Immediately afterwards everyone heads back to the convoy clearing Mary's line of sight. She sees Hans' lifeless body. A tear rolls down her cheek.
"Damn it Hans," Mary curses under her breath. "I was just starting to like you."
A few moments later the trucks move off with Mary hanging on the underbody of the last one.
Booby Trap
Raphael enters the office of the Vice President in the presidential palace. The VP's secretary greets him with an attractive smile. She's twenty-five years old, blond hair, blue eyes, clearly Lower Stronglandian features.
"How are you?" Raphael smiles back.
"Doing great," The secretary answers. "But the VP is not in his office at the moment."
"I didn't come for the VP," Raphael takes a seat opposite the secretary. "Among all the staff in the presidential palace there are only three Lower Stronglandians. Just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Julian Harrington."
Raphael extends his hand to the secretary.
"Sarah," she shakes his hand gently, then lowers her voice to a whisper, even though there is no one else beside them in the office. "I'm actually happy they filled the Head of the presidential guard with a Lower Stronglandian. That has never happened before."
"Tell me about it. Although we make up about twenty-five percent of the population, yet we hardly have any representation in government."
"I'm lucky, that I got this assignment. My dad happens to have some clout because he's such a successful business man. It's unfortunate that you have to know someone to get anywhere in this country."
"I know," Raphael sits back in his chair.
"Who recommended you for the head of the Presidential Guard?" Sarah's curiosity is unmistakable in her voice.
"Sorry, I can't say that," Raphael is apologetic.
"I understand," Sarah looks down at some papers scattered on her desk, feeling embarrassed. "It's just that Edgar was not only the head of the Presidential Guard, he was the president's personal friend."
"I know. Must've been devastating for the president to lose such a close friend."
"You'd know better," Sarah shrugs.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you're the only one who spends any meaningful time with him."
"The Vice President doesn't?"
Sarah leans forward again and whispers, "The president seems to always find some trivial tasks for the vice president to do."
"Really? Like what?"
"Sometimes he asks him to go on site of a new development of some random government building," Sarah continues to whisper. "Or sends him to meet some low ranking foreign delegates."
"So the Vice President is not involved in any National Security matters?"
"Not really."
"Is that why he didn't accompany the president to that meeting that got attacked?"
"Actually, I don't know."
"Don't you organize the VP's schedule?"
"Yes, but he had that slot blocked for personal matters."
"Ah," Raphael nods. It's starting to look more and more like the VP had a hand in the attack against the president. And when Raphael suspected him, the VP gave him a cryptic message that led him to Edgar's house, which he got his men to booby trap. But this is such a convoluted way to kill him. He could've just had his goons gun him down.
All of a sudden, Sarah stands up as the door to the office opens and the Vice President walks in. Raphael stands and turns to the Vice President, with a smile on his face. He expects that the VP will be surprised to see him alive.
"Mr. Julian," The VP says. "Come with me."
Raphael and the VP enter the VP's inner office.
"How can I help you sir?" Raphael asks
"I hear you've been asking about me," The VP sits at his desk calmly.
"I don't know what you mean, sir."
"Son, I wasn't born yesterday. You clearly suspect my involvement in the attempt on the president's life. But what would I benefit from that?"
"Permission to speak freely."
"By all means."
"The presidency, sir."
The VP laughs out loud.
"Oh, you're serious," The VP says as he sits back in his chair. "It's clear you don't understand the Stronglandian politics. The president is not elected son. He's is appointed by the Army. And if you haven't done you're homework, I've never served in the Army."
Raphael's ear piece comes to life.
"President requests your attendance," a voice says from the other end.
Raphael taps his ears, "On my way." Then turns to the VP. "If you'll excuse me."
"By all means," The VP points to the exit.
But the VP calmly says just before Raphael opens the door, "The question you should be asking, is why would Edgar booby trap his own house."
Raphael opens the door and walks out.
Mary moves through an empty concrete underground corridor, lit with bright neon lighting. She had waited in the underbelly of the 6-wheel army personnel truck until she was sure that all the soldiers had left. Her body was acing due to holding onto the underbelly for over three hours of driving over rugged roads. The truck was parked in an orderly manner along other military vehicles in a huge underground storage space. It took a few minutes of searching around until she found an exit, which led her to this corridor.
Right now she sticks like a sore thumb in this army base. She wears no army uniform. Anyone who finds her will immediately identify her as an intruder to be shot on sight. She's been on Army bases before and has a rough idea of the layout of the place. The changing rooms would be in the crew quarters, but to actually get there without being seen is tricky and dangerous.
Mary finds a door to a stairwell that she climbs up. There is a door with a small glass window on every level. Three floors up is where the crew quarters are. She sneaks a peak through the window and it's quiet busy. Soldiers, both men and women are moving around talking and laughing. If she walks in wearing civilian clothing, no one will believe that she belongs. There is only one solution. Mary strips naked and dumps her cloths in a garbage can in the stairwell, but keeps her phone and camera. She takes a moment to swallow what's left of her dignity and walks through the door.
Everyone's eyes are instantly on the naked woman who just walked in trying her best to cover her private parts rather unsuccessfully. A few of the men whistle and laugh as they look at her.
"Okay guys, it's not that funny," Mary says. "Quit staring. Is that how you treat all the new recruits?"
One of the women soldiers looks at her in sympathy.
"Did Mountain Squad 3 do that to you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Mary nods embarrassed. It doesn't take much effort to act the part.
"Where is the changing rooms?" Mary continues.
The men are starting to gather around gawking at Mary's attractive form.
"Everyone, move away," the woman orders as she leads Mary to the changing rooms.
Mary hurries in, breathing a sigh of relief that no one made her out. But she's sure her luck is not going to hold.
There are plenty of uniforms lying around and it's not hard to find one that fits. It even has the Mountain Squad 3 insignia sewed on the shoulder of the uniform. It's a mountain with a lighting bolt going through it. She puts on an army hat and covers her face as much as possible.
Outside in the corridor everyone has already moved on and Mary walks quickly, her head down so no one can take a good look at her face. Someone taps her shoulder as she's about to exit the crew quarters level. It's the woman who helped her.
"When did you come to the base?" The woman asks.
"Just this morning," Mary answers.
"I wasn't aware that we were in an intake period," the woman starts to be suspicious.
"It's a special transfer. I actually requested to be moved here. Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but I need to get to a meeting with my Staff Sergeant."
Mary heads out the exit and down the stairwell as the woman eyes her in distrust. Once Mary disappears around the corner, the woman soldier heads to a phone in the corridor and makes a call.
Mary knows that her luck has just run out. The soldier will most likely check in with her Sergeant, who will confirm that there was no addition to the Army units on the base. And before long the military police will be turning the base upside down looking for her. The way she figures it, this is the Army base that is supplying the Separatists with weaponry. The type of missiles being given to the Separatists is not something that will go unnoticed. These weapons are probably being checked daily and accurate accounting is being kept. So for more than two dozen of these missiles, along with a platoon of soldiers to leave the base, that most definitely requires approval from the highest levels. What does that mean? Why are they supplying the separatists with weapons? Is there a coup going on in the Army? Are there Army generals who hold the separatists ideology? That would be a disaster. A dissension in the Army ranks would spell disaster for the entire country. The current political environment in Strongland depends on the Army's continued backing of the economy. If the Army breaks down, so will the economy plunging the country into an upheaval that will most probably end in bloodshed.
Mary reaches a floor with a sign that reads "Science Labs". A thought flashes through her mind. The severed Arm could be here and they might've already identified who it belongs to. She tries to open the door but it requires a magnetic access card. The window in the door reveals an empty corridor with a man in a white robe at the end of it. Mary knocks on the door. The man heads to the door and looks through the window.
"I have important news," Mary says.
The man frowns, but when Mary knocks insistently, he finally opens the door. That was probably a mistake he'll regret later on when he regains consciousness. He didn't have enough time to realize what Mary has done just when he cracked the door slightly open. There was a blur of a fist to his face, then he felt his head being slammed into the door, then blackness.
Mary drags the man's unconscious body into a maintenance room and locks the door.
There are a few labs on this level. Some of the labs are occupied with technicians performing their assigned tasks, while other labs are empty. Thankfully no one noticed the little scene that she just made. Mary looks into the labs trying to find the severed arm and she's lucky enough to see it lying on one of the tables in the third lab to the left. The door has a sign that reads "evidence". Two other technicians are working on some machines on the other end of the lab and don't notice her as she enters.
"Hello, Doctors," Mary announces her presence. The two technicians turn to her. "I was sent to get the reports on that arm."
They technicians look at each other. One of them is probably fifty-five years or so, dark aging skin, white hair, and about Mary's height, five feet, ten inches or so. The other man also has Upper Stronglandian features, but must be fifteen years younger, well built.
"We sent the report in yesterday," the older technician says.
"Just following orders," Mary shrugs.
The older technician turns to the younger one, "Call it in. Let's make sure."
"There is no time for that. It's urgent," Mary makes one last attempt to peacefully get the information. However, that makes them even more suspicious of her. The younger technician heads to a phone, but Mary is faster. With a skilled kick she takes the younger man's legs from under him, then jumps in the air and twists landing a mighty punch to the older man's head. The man's head recoil and hit the wall, then he falls down unconscious, blood spurting from his broken nose. The younger man lunges for a red warning button and hits it. The alarms go off in the entire base.
"You just made my life more difficult, asshole," Mary says as she picks up a chair and slams the man with it. He also collapses down unconscious.
Mary heads to the computer that the older technician was working on and thankfully he left it unlocked. She looks through the files he has open on the desktop and one of them is a report on the arm. She uses special software on her phone to download all pertinent data from the computer. But a quick glance over the information reveals that there is no match for the the DNA extracted from the Arm in the Army's database. The report doesn't mention anything else. She put her life at risk for nothing.
"Damn it," Mary looks desperately at the arm, and then something clicks into place. There was a distinctive golden watch that adorned the wrist of the man the arm belonged to. At the time, she thought that the watch was somewhat unique, but didn't give it much thought. Then she recalls one of the photographs of the president that were in the folder she acquired from Edgar's house. It was of him and Edgar as they get into the presidential's car. The president has his arm in plain view on the door of the car. Thankfully, the scanned photographs are on her phone. Zooming into the president's arm she sees the exact same watch on the president's wrist.
"Oh, Damn!" Mary says as a realization dawns on her.
There are foot steps outside as soldiers run through the corridor outside and within moments they burst into the lab.
"What happened here?" The leader of the group asks.
"I don't know. I came in to get a report from them and found'em like that, so I hit the alarm," Mary says.
"Split up," the leader says to his soldiers. A group of five soldiers go through the lab, while the leader heads with the remaining four soldiers back out into the corridor. Mary takes this opportunity and slips out into the corridor and then through the exit she came in from. Just before the door closes behind her, she hears one of the soldiers yell that they found another unconscious doctor.
Mary needs to find a way out of here. Another two levels down, she exits into a huge garage, with armored trucks. Just then she sees a wreckage of a car in the far corner. It looks like it has been blown to smithereens. That's not the only wreckage. Mary counts another 6 armored vehicles. It takes her a moment to recognize what this is. It is the president's convoy including the president's personal car. From the damage pattern it's almost certain that the convoy was destroyed due to areal bombardment.
Do you know what that means? Mary asks herself. Means that the president died in the attack. Everyone died in the attack. I was right the Army didn't spare anyone in that convoy. Who the hell is in the presidential palace then? I have to tell Raphael. But I need to get the hell out of here first.
Soldiers start streaming into the garage and Mary moves in haste away from them, hiding behind the rows of trucks. There is a door on the other side of the garage that leads into a room with more military equipment. Among the equipment there are jet packs. The same ones she used in her training with Raphael. Mary secures one of the jet packs on her back and runs for the exit to the outside.
The night is almost pitch black, with clouds blocking the moon and star light. Flying the jet-packs in such conditions without night-vision goggles is a risky proposition.
"Hey," Someone yells at her. "Stand down."
There is no time to consider the risks. Mary hits the ignition button and the jet-pack's strong engines roar to life propelling her up into the sky at crazy speeds. The soldier aims a few bullets at the striking light, but the target is moving too fast and soon disappears in the darkness of the night.
Edgar Brampton
Raphael knocks on the door of a house in an uptown area of Chaunce. Unlike most of Strongland, this entire area is built with single family homes. Due to the population growth in Strongland and the lack of land, it is more efficient to develop medium to high rise apartment buildings in residential areas. Only people who are very well off can afford houses like this one. In fact a sad but sure truth is that the middle class is slowly disappearing in Strongland. You have the extravagantly rich, or the desperately poor.
A twenty-five year old woman opens the door and smiles at Raphael.
"May I help you?" The woman asks.
"Jessica Brampton? My name is Julian Harrington," Raphael extends his hand and the woman shakes it. "I knew your father."
"Did you work with Dad?" Jessica asks excited.
"I didn't work with him directly, but he is legendary in the Presidential Palace," Raphael says.
"Please come in," Jessica leads Raphael to the living room. "Take a seat. Would you like something to drink?"
"I'm good thank you," Raphael is surprised by Jessica's warm welcome. She takes a seat on the couch opposite him.
Edgar had bought a house for each of one his kids a few years before his death, but how everyone decides to decorate the house, tells much about what kind of person they are. Raphael observes that the interior of this house is quiet simple. The furniture is common, the art work is not expensive. Nothing in that house screams grandiose. Raphael decides that he already likes Jessica. He never appreciated people who went out of their way to show off their wealth. There is something to say about a person who is truly humble.
"I haven't heard anything from the Presidential Palace since my dad's passing," Jessica says, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I kept trying to reach them for more details, but they wouldn't tell me anything. Do you know what happened to my father?"
"I can't divulge the details since it's part of an active investigation," Raphael says apologetically. "All I know is that he died a hero, in the line of duty."
"I would've rather had him with me today, than him being a dead hero."
"I understand."
"What do you do by the way? How are you involved in the investigation?"
"I'm trying to uncover the mystery behind the attack that killed your father. Has he talked to you before his death?"
Jessica doesn't answer.
"Please, any little piece of information will be infinitely helpful," Raphael encourages her.
"I'm sorry, but my dad never talked to me about his work."
"That's unfortunate. All his colleagues at the Presidential Palace said that out of all his kids, he was closest to you."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you," Jessica shrugs.
Raphael is almost sure, she knows something. He takes out a card and gives to her as he stands, getting ready to leave.
"Well, if you remember anything, don't hesitate to call me," Raphael turns and leaves.
Jessica's excitement quickly changed to distrust once he told her he was part of an investigation.
At the door to the house, Raphael turns to her, "has anyone come by before? To ask you similar questions?"
Mary shrugs. Raphael looks at her for a moment and then is about to leave, but decides to add one final thing.
"I'm not like the others. I don't work for the president. My mission is to get to the truth, no matter what that is."
"Thanks for coming by," Jessica says and Raphael heads back to his car disappointment that the trip didn't bring him any closer to resolving the mystery behind Edgar's booby trapped house.
To get out of this residential area, Raphael had to drive on a road that formed a 'U' shape. Jessica's house is on the inside edge of the 'U', while the exit is on the other end of the 'U'. This is a closed down residential area, so there is a guard at the exit gate, who had opened the door for him when he initially came. Working as the Head of the Presidential Guard opens almost all gates in Strongland. The guard lets him out and Raphael turns right on the main street, but suddenly a hooded person jumps in front the car. Lucky for them, Raphael has fast reactions and he hits the breaks, coming to a sudden stop before he runs over that person.
The person walks in hurried steps to the side window and looks through it. It's Jessica. Raphael unlocks the door and she climbs in.
"Drive," Jessica says.
Raphael drives.
"Where to?" he asks.
"Anywhere away from here."
They drive in silence for half an hour. Finally, Jessica takes out a golden badge of sorts from her pocket. At first Raphael doesn't get a good look. But then she places it right in front of him.
"Do you know what that is?" Jessica asks.
Raphael instantly recognizes that golden badge. He has one exactly like it. In fact he got it after he completed his training at the Critical Mission Unit. The instructions they received was to always keep this badge on them at all times. It's covert enough that if it is discovered no one will know what it means. But at the same time it allows CMU agents to recognize each other.
Raphael stops the car on the side of the road and gives Jessica his full attention.
"How did you get that?"
"It was my dad's."
Raphael stares at her in disbelief. He takes out his own badge. When Jessica sees it, she sinks in her seat in relief. Once Raphael puts his badge close to Jessica's the pair emit a faint glow flashing in a set pattern. He takes out his phone and activates a special application that detects a radio signal. The phone reads a code hidden in that signal, which verifies the authenticity of the badge. But there is no way Jessica can get a hold of an authentic CMU badge, except if Edgar was also a CMU agent. If so, why was he never told this?
"My dad told me that in the case of his death another person with the exact badge will eventually come knocking on my door."
"What did your dad find out?"
"He didn't tell me much, but he said never speak to anyone in the house. That's why I couldn't say anything."
"What did he say, Jessica. This could be key to saving the President's life."
"He told me not to trust anyone from the Presidential Palace, and gave me this," Jessica takes out a piece of worn out paper with a series of numbers.
"Do you know what these are?" Jessica asks.
"They look like a set of coordinates. But only up to here," Raphael points at a place in the sequence of numbers. The numbers after the coordinates are: 031532.
Raphael types the coordinates in an application on his phone and it displays it on a map of Strongland. It's a public library in down town.
"Is that it?"
"Yes," Jessica says and then gives him the badge. "He also told me to give that badge to the person who'll show up. So here you go."
Raphael puts the small badge in his pocket while Jessica opens the door and gets out of the car.
She leans down and looks at Raphael. "Find out who killed my father, please,"
"I will. I promise," Raphael says.
Jessica closes the door and walks away.
Raphael walks through the front doors of the public library, looking for anything out of the ordinary. What could "031532" mean? Sounds like a locker combination. There are some lockers which people can rent in the bottom floor of the library. He goes there and sees rows and rows of lockers. Most of them have a number lock. If it's a locker combination, what locker could it be for? There must be hundreds here.
Raphael is at a loss. If he stands here and keeps watching people coming in and out, it'll look weird and he'll probably attract unwanted attention. Who ever he's looking for will be alerted of his presence.
On the main level of the library there are a set of public computers in the center of the floor, surrounded by rows and columns of book shelves and desks where people can sit and read or study. On the other side of the library there are couches. Raphael takes a seat on one of the couches, watching people as they walk in and go about their business. He makes sure to sit on a couch that has a good view of the computer screens.
Suddenly something attracts his attention. It's a twenty-four hour digital clock, hung on the wall behind the receptionists' desk. It reads 13:24 as in twenty-four minutes after one in the evening.
1532, Raphael thinks. Could it be a time? 3:32pm? But what does 03 mean? Well if it's a time, then could 03 be the third day of the week? That's today, Tuesday, if we assume the week starts on Sunday. What will happen in two hours? Guess we'll find out.
The two hours pass uneventfully. It's now almost 3:32pm. There is constant activity happening around the computer area. People sit down, use the computers for a period of time and leave after logging out of the guest account. At 3:32pm exactly an unremarkable, average man, sits on one of the computers. His back is to Raphael. The man plugs in a flash drive and starts some data transfer. From a distance, Raphael can't make out the details appearing on the screen, but he recognizes the program being used to transfer the data to the computer. It's an advanced encryption application, designed to encrypt the data such that only the intended recipient with a special key can decrypt it. The man then leaves the computer without logging out. Almost immediately another man sits on the computer and uses it. That instantly gets Raphael's attention. The second man places his phone close to the computer and types a few commands. Some data transfer starts to happen soon afterwards. Raphael is sure that the data the first man copied to the computer is currently being backed up to the second man's phone. He must be witnessing a drop-off. The first man must've left some information for the second man to "pick-up", in a manner of speaking.
The second man finishes the data transfer and logs out. It's likely that he deleted the data once he was done. Raphael notices the first man pretend to look through a book he picked up off the shelve, but in reality he is making sure that the second man got the data he left on the computer. This action gave him away to a professional like Raphael. He is either an amateur spy or he greatly underestimates Stronglandian intelligence officers. In either case, Raphael is now sure that he witnessed a weekly exchange of information.
Raphael hesitates for a moment then decides to follow the first man. It makes sense that the first man is transferring classified data to a foreign entity. It is more important to identify him than the second man.
Outside it's rush hour and the streets are overcrowded with pedestrians. Raphael makes sure to leave a safe distance between him and the man, whom he has already decided must be a spy. The spy stops at a food cart and buys a hotdog. He spends a few minutes enjoying it while walking slowly without a care in the world. But Raphael starts to suspect that he's been made out. The spy stands in front of a clothing store looking at the product in the store's window. The window reflects the busy road and the buildings in the background. A red flash pulls Raphael's eyes and he sees a red dot skip over a few people in front of him until it settles on the back of his head. Raphael immediately kneels down, disappearing in the sea of people on the side walk. When he looks up the spy is gone. Raphael looks left and right until he catches a glimpse of the spy as he runs, rounding a corner. Raphael explodes after the spy. Two bullets miss him and hit two people around him. Chaos and panic ensues as people run around frantically, and others check on the victims.
Raphael rounds the same corner and sees the man as he jumps over a fence into an alleyway between two buildings. Now if Raphael competes in track and field, he would easily win the gold medal. The spy has no chance of escaping Raphael when it comes to a foot chase. Raphael jumps over the fence and into one of the buildings. Once he enters, the man fires at him, but in the heat of the moment misses him by a mile. Raphael produces his gun and fires off a few shots at the man, who continues climbing the stairs. Raphael goes after him, closing the distance between them rapidly.
They both exit on the roof of the building and Raphael dives and tackles the man down. Raphael bombards the man with a sequence of punches and then drags him behind a concrete slab. He knows that there is a sniper on the roof top of a neighboring building and he doesn't want to make himself or the man an easy target.
The spy reaches for a knife he has strapped to his ankle, but Raphael is much faster and stronger. He grabs the man's hand and twists his wrist breaking it. The knife falls as the man screams in pain. Raphael slams the spy on the head with the butt of his gun. He collapses down, losing consciousness. Raphael can now pay attention to the sniper on the roof.
The red dot is darting all around trying to find it's target. Raphael takes his phone out, activates the screen facing camera and sticks it slightly out from behind the concrete slab he hides behind for protection. He moves it around until he sees the sniper on the other roof. The man must be overconfident or desperate to get Raphael because he's not taking cover. In a fast, gutsy move, Raphael dives from behind the concrete slab and fires a single shot that doesn't miss its target. Blood gushes out from a hole in the sniper's forehead. An astonished expression is still on his face, as he falls off the roof, down ten stories before coming to a violent stop as his body slams the ground. His weapon lands beside him. More chaos erupts on the streets as people panic at the site of the dead body.
The spy starts to stir and open his eyes only to see Raphael's gun aimed at his head.
"Who are you?"
The spy doesn't answer.
Raphael points the gun at his knee.
"Do you like using your knee? Because in three seconds you'll lose that ability."
The spy looks at Raphael in defiance. Raphael fires off a shot that cuts through the man's thigh, but it doesn't rip any vital arteries. The spy screams in anguish.
"You're fucking crazy," the man spits out.
"You're name and rank?" Raphael says as he points his gun to the other knee.
"No don't," the man says then takes out his wallet and throws it at Raphael. The man's ID indicates that he works in the National Security Advisory office, which reports directly to the president. That office is not in the presidential palace, that's why Raphael didn't recognize the man.
"Who do you spy for?"
The man doesn't answer.
"Really, you want to play that game?" Raphael points the gun at the man's head.
"What the fuck does it matter now? I'm a dead man."
"Who do you spy for?"
"Eitoria."
The man smiles a crazy smile.
"It's so much bigger than you think."
Abruptly the man grabs Raphael's gun hand and squeezes his trigger finger. That unexpected action takes Raphael by surprise and he isn't able to prevent the gun from firing. The bullet penetrates the spy's head and exits through to the other side; his blood splattered all over the concrete slab. The man's body sags down.
"Damn it," Raphael curses as he looks at the dead body.
Spies Among Us
Mary has been walking through the mountain desert for the past seven hours. She landed the jet-pack with difficulty twenty kilometers away from the Army base and spent the night in a cave. Luckily, there were no wild animals this night. She was not in a mood to fight it out with a mountain lion. With the first light she started on her way toward Chaunce, but at this speed, it'll take her three days walk to get to the first inhabited town. In the heat of the desert, she'll probably be dead in two. It's a conundrum really. But the important thing is to get the information she has to CMU command.
Mary checks her cell phone. There is only one bar of battery left and no signal. She keeps on walking and checking her phone every hour or so, careful not to deplete the battery. The sweat drips over and into her eyes, blurring her vision. The sun is in the middle of the sky now. The temperature must be at least fifty degrees Celsius. It's crazy to continue walking in this heat. Without cover and without water, death will just come that much sooner. Mary finds a big rock and sits in its shade.
Beep.
Mary snatches her cell phone and sees one bar in the signal indicator portion of the phone display. It keeps coming in and out. Not wanting to waste this chance, she composes a short message and sends it to CMU command. The "sending" animation keeps flashing on and off.
"Come on, send the message."
The phone's battery indicator turns red with an "X" going through it, while the "sending" animation continues flashing. Then the phone shuts off. Mary hangs her head down, eyes closed in disappointment. In a burst of anger, she hurls her phone at a rock. It smashes into it and breaks apart, damaged components flying in random directions. Mary puts her frustration in one loud scream.
A moment passes in silence while Mary looks at the broken phone in regret. This was her only chance to get a hold of someone if she ever makes it to civilization. She crawls to where the phone broke apart and gathers the different components, but there is no way she'll ever be able to put it back together.
The distinctive chopping noise of a helicopter approaching gets louder. Anyone else would consider this a life line. But Mary is almost sure the Army base sent a search party after her. The only thing to expect is a bullet to the head. She was too tired to run though. Let them come. Who cares?
The helicopter is now right on top of her. There is no flat area for it to land. Ropes dangle down from the side doors and five soldiers repel down, weapons ready. It doesn't take long for them to find Mary. They train their weapons on her. One of the soldiers approaches Mary. It's the same guy who made the trade with the leader of the Separatist. And the same man who shot Hans.
"You," Mary says and lunges at him, but the other soldiers restrain her.
"You should be arresting him," Mary tells the soldiers. "He sold weapons to the separatists and killed my friend."
The Lieutenant General smiles at her, takes a device off his belt and scans her face with it. A moment later the device beeps and displays some information on a small screen. The man takes a moment to read it and then hooks it back on his belt.
"Do you think they'll believe you?"
"It's the truth."
"The only truth is my truth," he responds and takes out his gun aiming it at her head.
Mary stares at him defiantly without blinking. The man smiles and puts his gun back in its holster.
"I like you."
He gestures to the group, "Bring her with us."
"But sir," A tall soldier with narrow eyes, says. "Why bother? The desert will take care of her for us."
"Do as ordered," The lieutenant general says.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Mary tells the soldier who wanted to leave her die. He gives her an angry look, as if she's causing him trouble by staying alive.
Another soldier ties her hand behind her back and places a black cloth bag over her head. They carry her and attach her to a one of the ropes hanging down from the helicopter. Soon she feels herself being lifted up off the ground.
Mary figures that she was transported back to the Army base where she escaped from. They handcuffed her to a table in a small concrete room. She can tell by the way the sound echoed off the walls; the black cloth still remains covering her face. She waits there for more than an hour, but time has somehow become irrelevant. Hunger and thirst are gnawing at her. A few hours in this state and she could lose consciousness.
The door to the room opens and the sound of military boots echo off the small room's concrete walls. Mary determines that there are three people in the room with her now. Why didn't they just get rid of her? What do they want?
Someone reaches over and snatches the black cover off her face. The bright neon lights in the room overwhelm her eyes. It takes her a few moments to adjust to the light. A man dressed in a General's uniform stands in front of her, hands locked behind his back, looking over her very calmly. The lieutenant general who killed Hans and the other soldier with the narrow eyes stand behind the General at attention.
"Ah," Mary smiles. "The general of the Army base himself. I must be important."
"You managed to sneak into the base, steal information and escape," The general smiles back. "I'm not sure if I should commend you or execute you."
"I'm the least of your problems. These men standing behind you are selling FGM-148 Javelins to the separatists," Mary says and watches the general's reactions.
For his part the general glances back at the men in disapproval.
"You let a Lower Stronglandian make you out?"
"Well, that's awful," Mary says. "I guess I should've known that the corruption goes all the way to the top."
Mary lunges at the general, but the handcuffs stop her.
"You're starting a civil war," Mary says, her tone full of hostility. "You should be ashamed of the uniform you're wearing."
"Don't lecture me about loyalty, little girl," the general is furious. "I've served in the Army protecting our great Stronglandian nation before you were even born."
"Then how can you arm the Separatists?"
"Sit down," the general orders. "Now."
Mary stares at him in defiance, but then sits down.
"What are you going to do now? Are you going to torture me? Or kill me, like you killed Hans?"
The general takes a moment to compose himself.
"That was an unfortunate situation and shouldn't have happened," The general looks back at the lieutenant general, who doesn't move a muscle. "I assure you I'll deal with it."
The general's answer confuses Mary. Why would he care if Hans was killed?
"But we have more urgent matters to deal with," the general continues. He brings his right sleeve to his mouth and speaks into a communication device attached to it. "Bring him in."
Mary watches the door, not sure who else is invited to the party. A moment later the door opens and a tall man, wearing a dark gray suite walks in. It's commander John Hammond.
"Commander!" Mary says as she tries to stand, but the handcuffs prevent her. The commander gestures for her to remain seated and calm.
"You're lucky we were able to identify you," the general says. "If we didn't find out that you worked for the CMU, we would've shot you on sight."
"Commander," Mary addresses Commander John Hammond. "I have video evidence of these men giving weapons to the separatists."
"There is no need for evidence," the general says. "I have already briefed the commander about our operation."
Mary looks from the general to the commander in disbelief.
Raphael enters the surveillance room in the Presidential Palace. There are computer server racks in four parallel glass enclosures in the back of the room spread across the door Raphael entered from, two on each side of it. Each glass enclosure is large enough for a service technician to enter and access the servers. An advanced work station with screens lining the wall is on the other end of the room opposite the main entrance. Each one of the screens shows a view of a different area in and outside the palace. Two technicians sit at the work station monitoring the screens and other various sensor reports. Raphael crosses the second server rack, before he becomes visible to the technicians. When the technicians notice him, they glance back surprised at his presence. Only a select few have access to this room, including the head of the Presidential Guard, Raphael. However, they are not very happy to see him and Raphael knows why. Like many of the Upper Stronglandians who work here they are dismayed that a Lower Stronglandian holds such a sensitive position in the Palace.
"You're not suppose to be here," The senior of the two technicians says.
"The access card and my rank begs to differ," Raphael responds flatly.
The technicians turn back to their stations irritated.
"What do you want, sir?" the same technician asks without looking up from his computer.
Raphael puts the spy's driver license on the desk in front of the senior technician.
"I want you to see if this guy visited the palace in the last week," Raphael orders.
"Why?"
"Listen, you racist asshole," Raphael is furious. "I don't care how much you hate me, or how much you think I shouldn't be here. The fact remains that I'm your superior and you will follow my orders without question or I'm going to have you removed. Do you understand?"
The technician doesn't respond. He picks up the driver license in deliberate slowness, just to make his disgust clear. He places it in a scanner.
"Any time today," Raphael urges him to move faster.
The man types a few commands on his keyboard and the scanner activates. It takes a moment to analyze the spy's photograph and then the computer starts running its facial recognition software through the video surveillance records. Images flash in a fast pace on the screen in front of the technician.
"It's going to take a..." But before the technician can finish his sentence the flashing images on the screen stop and a video plays. The spy drives his car to the palace gates and passes his ID to the guard at the gate. Shortly after the gate opens and the spy drives in. The video was taken from a security camera positioned at the main place gates such that it can have a clear view of the drivers of cars entering the gate.
"When was that?" Raphael asks.
The Technician types a few commands and the date appears on screen. It was two days ago.
"Is that his most recent visit?"
"Yes," the senior technician answers in a bored tone.
"Trace forward all his movement through out the palace," Raphael orders.
"Why?"
"Do as you're ordered," Raphael slams the desk.
The man shrugs and types a few commands. The screen displays brief video synopsis of the the spy's movement through the palace during that day. He went directly to the local National Security office and spent twenty minutes working on his computer, performing what appeared to be mundane tasks; printed a few papers and put them into a folder. There is a locked file cabinet in the office, which he unlocked via a thumb print. He took another folder from there and flipped through its contents. Once he was finished with it, he placed it into his brief case and walked out of the office. His next stop was an hour long meeting with some of the president's staff. He took his seat in between the representative of the office of the Council of Economic Advisers, a man in his mid fifties, whom Raphael knew quiet well and the president's secretary, a thirty-two year old woman. After the meeting was done, a group of the attendees stood in a circle at one end of the room discussing some issues. The spy's back was to the camera. People began to depart the room one at a time. The spy, then, grabs his briefcase and exits the room.
"Stop," Raphael says. "Zoom in on his brief case."
The brief case takes up the entire screen. It's a standard black brief case, nothing special about it. Raphael examines it in detail for a moment.
"Scroll back to when he was in his office, but bring up the footage on that screen," Raphael points to another screen beside the one with the briefcase frozen on it.
The technician complies and the footage of the man opening the file cabinet and going through the file plays on the other screen.
"Stop," Raphael orders. The screen shows the man walking out of the room with the briefcase in hand.
"Zoom in on the brief case."
Again the image of the brief case is enlarged on the screen. Now both screens show an image of the brief case from roughly the same angle.
"Damn," Raphael notices something that the senior technician doesn't.
"What's so important?" The technician asks.
"Play the footage from the end of the meeting again," Raphael orders.
The footage plays. The spy engages in the discussion with the rest of the group. From this camera angle, Raphael can only see the edge of the spy's brief case behind the chair. The president's secretary walks back to her seat and stands blocking the camera's view of the brief case. When she walks out the edge of the brief case is no longer visible. A few moments later the spy walks back and picks up a briefcase, then leaves. There was a switch. The president's secretary took the spy's brief case, and he took hers. Although they are almost identical, the enlarged images of the briefcases side by side on the screens shows that there is a very minor difference. The spy's original brief case has a small, almost unnoticeable, scratch on the top left corner, while the secretary's brief case does not.
"Thanks," Raphael stands up and starts to turn.
"How should I report the time we spent looking through the footage?" The senior technician asks.
"However you want."
Raphael heads to the exit but before he's too far away he notices from the corner of his eye the other technician reaching for his pocket and taking out his cell phone. Raphael approaches the door to the surveillance room and opens it, then closes it without exiting. He hurries behind one of the enclosures and watches the reflection of the two technicians on the glass of the enclosure opposite him. The younger technician gets up from his station and stretches.
"Just gonna get a coffee," he tells the senior technician. "Do you want one?"
"Two sugars, please," the senior technician says.
The man walks to the coffee machine and disappears from Raphael's vision. Raphael moves softly to a location where he can watch the younger man standing by the coffee machine. Instead, however, of pouring himself a cup of coffee, he types frantically on his cell phone. Raphael takes out his gun and walks on the balls of his feet towards the technician, who doesn't notice him until Raphael's gun touches the back of his head.
"Hand your phone back," Raphael orders. His voice is low and threatening.
The man tries to hit send on the message he was typing, but Raphael lands a violent blow with the butt of his gun to the back of the man's head. The man goes down with a thud, unconscious. Raphael picks up the phone and looks at it then breaths out in relief. The message wasn't sent yet.
"What the hell is going on?" The senior technician says as his eyes dart between his unconscious co-worker and Raphael.
Raphael aims the gun at the senior technician who puts his hands up.
"What are you doing man?"
"Nothing personal," Raphael says and gestures with his gun at a locker on the wall. "Open that and grab the plastic restraints."
The man obeys.
"Retrain your co-worker's hands behind his back. Then his legs."
Once the man finishes doing that, Raphael restrains him similarly, then gags both of them.
"Sorry, about that," Raphael says. "But I can't take any chances."
Raphael looks at the message written on the younger technician's phone as he turns and leaves. It reads : "HPG on to you. Execute contamination protocol." Raphael assumes HPG stands for "Head Presidential Guard".
The text was written in a special message encryption application, which encrypts, sends then deletes all traces of the message from the phone. The message itself is bounced through many relay servers which decrypt and re-encrypt the message in layers to prevent anyone from tracing it. Raphael uses a similar application to communicate with Mary.
Raphael heads to the president's office intending to brief the president directly about the Eitoria spy he encountered earlier today and the one he just captured in the surveillance room. The government has been thoroughly infiltrated and immediate action is required from the highest level of authority in the country.
Raphael looks at his watch as he approaches the president's office. The president's schedule has him in a locked meeting with the Eitoria ambassador and the Eitoria military attache to discuss Eitoria's unprecedented military exercises along the Stronglandian border. Raphael is no politician, but this seems like a golden opportunity to pressure the Eitorian government to pull back their troops from the border. Now that they have captured one of their spies alive and got a hold of his phone, it'll be a matter of time until Strongland's Military Intelligence Agency (EMIA) is able to crack the encryption software on the phone and uncover the rest of the spy cell in the country. Eitoria has always been careful with regards to their international image. They have projected themselves as the victims of their aggressive neighbors, justifying their continued tyranny in the region as necessary for self protection. Uncovering a spy ring and their plans can tarnish their image in favor of Strongland
Historically, Eitoria didn't belong on the Mountain Island. They came in hundreds of years ago as an occupying force from across the ocean. They found the island rich with natural resources and its land fertile. Their military might compared to the original inhabitants of the island allowed them to carve themselves a large piece of land from Lower Strongland's territory as well as from Aborennon's territory. Over the centuries and hundreds of wars they expanded their so called country by occupying more of the original inhabitant's land. Not only that, but they engaged in a different type of war, rewriting history to make it seem to the rest of the world that they have always inhabited this land. They did their job so well, that many of the powerful nations in the world currently support and back them, making it very hard for the countries they stole land from to reclaim their rightful possessions. Any attempt by Strongland or Aborennon to simply state historical truths is countered with a hurricane of media attacks claiming that they are trying to ethnically cleanse the Mountain Island; thereby painting them as an evil, Hitler like, force. Hypocrisy at its finest.
Raphael walks through the doors to the outer office. No one is there. He opens the door and enters the president's private office. His sudden entrance causes a state of confusion from the attendees of the meeting. The president puts his phone down on the desk as he looks up at Raphael, left eyebrow shot up in bewilderment. Raphael scans the room quickly. To his left, on the couch, sits the Secretary who has made the exchange with the spy. She has a small computer on which she types the meeting notes. The Eitoria ambassador and his military attache are to his right. The ambassador sits on the chair opposite the president's desk and the attache stands behind him.
"Is there a problem?" Norman Faye asks rather calmly.
Raphael second guesses his decision. Is this the right time? The secretary is the spy. In such a sensitive position, managing the president's notes in all national security meetings, she can easily transfer sensitive secrets to Eitoria. And it looks like they are using multiple cut-outs. She transfers the information to the spy Raphael chased after. Then he transfers it to a second person. Who knows how many times is the information transferred before it gets to its destination. Revealing this information now, and especially that the president seems to trust his secretary, might seem like a witch hunt.
"Mr. Harrington?" Norman Faye stares at Raphael expecting some sort of response. "Has there been an attack on the presidential palace?"
Raphael looks at the spy's phone in his hand. He comes to a decision. The encryption application is still open on the spy's phone. If he types a message and sends it, the secretary will receive it and this will prove her involvement beyond the shadow of a doubt. Then he can tell the president everything.
"There is something you need to know, sir," Raphael says as he types in a message on the spy's phone.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Then he hits send.
The president's phone vibrates.
The president picks up his phone and looks at it. A shocked expression flashes on his face, but he hides it quickly.
It takes a full second for Raphael to realize what just happened. He sent the message and instead of the secretary's phone receiving the message, it's the president's.
The president's.
The President is the spy.
Compromised
Raphael is the first to act. He snatches his pistol from it's holster and closes the door to the office in two successive movements.
"Everyone move over there," Raphael gestures with his gun for everyone to stand by the spy president.
There are a few moments of hesitation as the Eitorian Ambassador and the Military attache exchange meaningful looks. The military attache reaches for his weapon. But before he could grab a hold of it, Raphael fires an accurate bullet that hits his weapon and knocks it to the far end of the room. He retracts his hand in shock.
"Next bullet will take off your head," Raphael says.
"This is a declaration of war," the ambassador says.
"I never think that far ahead. Now move," Raphael orders in a no-nonsense tone.
Everyone moves alongside Norman Faye, who remained calm throughout this ordeal.
"Mr. Raphael George," Norman Faye smiles a devious smile. "Isn't that your real name?"
Raphael thinks fast about what to do. Everyone else in the palace, including the presidential Guards still considers Norman Faye the legitimate president of Strongland. If they see him hold the president hostage as he's currently doing, they won't let him get out of here alive. Deadly force will rightfully be their only option. Added to that the fact that Norman Faye some how knows his real name, makes the situation even more complicated.
"How do you know my real name?" Raphael asks, as he ensures that the door to the office is locked securely. The office is built like a bomb shelter to protect the president in case there is an attack on the palace.
"Do you really think you could hide your real identity from the President of Strongland?" Norman Faye sits on his chair. His hand extends to a small emergency button on the underside of the desk. It is designed to raise an alarm that will alert the Presidential Guards.
"Stop," Raphael takes a threatening step forward. "Keep your hands where I can see them."
Norman Faye pulls his hand back and raises his arms up in a gesture of surrender.
"What do you hope to do, Raphael?" Norman Faye asks, his voice cool and composed. "Are you going to take the president hostage?"
"You are not the president," Raphael says. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Raphael picks up the military attache's gun and puts it in his holster. He goes to a weapons safe built in the wall. These safes are all over the palace, but only a select few have access to them. He types in his secret access code and uses his hand print to unlock the safe. Inside, there are two machine guns, a bag of other weapons, which include remote control bombs and a set of plastic handcuffs. At the end of the day, Strongland is a military society and having access to such weaponry is considered necessary.
Raphael throws the plastic handcuffs to Norman Faye.
"Tie everyone " Raphael orders.
Norman Faye does so.
"There is something you need to know," Norman Faye says as he finishes securing the last of them. "We have Ashley and her cute kids as our guests."
The mention of Raphael's sister ignites uncontrolled fury inside of him.
"You fucking spy," Raphael punches Norman Faye, his fist landing on the man's face like a sledge hammer.
Norman Faye crumbles down, nose broken and bleeding profusely. Raphael follows it by a kick to Norman Faye's ribs. The spy grunts in pain. Raphael opens the bag and takes the remote control bombs and a duct tape, which he uses to tape the bombs securely around Faye's torso. Raphael grabs him by the neck and forces him up.
"Where are you keeping them?"
"What are you planning to do? Blow us all up?" Norman smiles through the blood.
"If anything happens to them, I'll make you regret ever being born," Raphael threatens.
"Look around you. You have no where to go," Norman's smile widens.
Raphael grabs Norman's left hand and twists it so hard, forcing the man to his knees. He keeps applying pressure on his fingers until one of them breaks. Norman screams.
"Lucky for us your office is sound proof," Raphael says. "Where is my sister?"
"Alright. Alright. I'll take you." Norman says.
Raphael eases his grip on Norman's wrist, who cradles his broken finger, now twisted in an awkward angle.
"Get up," Raphael orders, gun aimed at the spy. "Give me your broken finger."
Norman hesitates for a second then extends his shaky hand to Raphael, who grabs at his broken finger and straightens it roughly. Norman screams in anguish. Raphael pushes Norman fay to the wall on left of the president's desk.
The interior office of the president is built in the most secure place in the palace, right in the middle of it; built like a bunker. But as the head of the presidential guard, Raphael was briefed about a few hidden features about this office, like the fact that there is a hidden door behind this wall. It leads to a system of underground tunnels which extend a few kilometers beyond the palace. These tunnels were built like a maze to allow the president to escape in case of an attack on the palace. No one has used these tunnels for probably the last century. The palace itself was two centuries old and it had undergone many modifications and repairs, but no one has closed those tunnels off and they remained unused.
Raphael smashes the wall with the butt of his gun in a particular spot breaking a cover which was skillfully blended with the rest of the wall. There is a handle there. When he pulls it down a hidden door cracks open. Raphael forces it open the rest of the way and shoves Norman Faye through.
Norman and Raphael climb down a long set of stairs to the dark and damp tunnels. Norman walks ahead of Raphael, while Raphael keeps his gun aimed at the spy with one hand and with the other he holds a strong flashlight.
"You are not the real president, are you?" Raphael says as they continue walking in a fast pace. Raphael knows exactly where he's going.
"No," Norman answers.
"Talk," Raphael orders.
"You Stronglandians are a bunch of barbarians. You didn't even notice it when your president went missing ten years ago."
Raphael realizes the extent of what that means. This man must've been inserted in place of the president ten years ago. He probably had plastic surgery to make him look like the president, but to pull that role off for a decade! It's the role of a life time. The entire government has been compromised; their secrets at the hand of the Eitorian intelligence officers, steering them in whatever direction they wished.
"I get it," Raphael has a sudden understanding. "Your main mission must've been to compromise the Army. It's the only thing standing in Eitoria's way. Even as president it would take years to sow the seeds of distrust among the Army generals. If there is a civil war in the Army, Eitoria's forces can easily come in, maybe as a peace keeping forces, and never leave. You fucking bastards."
"You're pretty smart," Norman sounds disconcerted that their plan is now known. "We can use a man like you. Even as we speak your army is divided and preparing to battle each other."
Norman turns to Raphael.
"You can be part of this transition. We will need men that the people can trust in the new system of government."
"You're lucky, I don't shoot you right now," Raphael doesn't bother hiding his disgust. "Move."
He shoves Norman forward.
They walk for more than half an hour, taking several twists and turns through the maze of tunnels, until they arrive to an open area that has been setup as a garage. There is a bullet proof car there for the president to use. It's been designed to blend with the general public, specifically for the purpose of escaping a coup or an uprising.
"Get in," Raphael pushes Norman into the driver seat, while he gets in the back seat.
They drive for another twenty minutes through the tunnel, which gradually becomes paved and rises until it exits out onto an abandoned street twenty five kilometers away from the palace. Just as they exit Raphael's phone vibrates in a distinct pattern that indicates he received an encrypted message from Mary. It reads:
PRESIDENT COMPROMISED. SUSPECTED Eitoria SPY. ARMY DIVIDED. FACE-OFF WITH GENERALS LOYAL TO THE PRESIDENT IMMANENT. NEED PROOF TO CONVINCE THEM, OTHERWISE CIVIL WAR.
Raphael Responds: MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY ARE IN DANGER. COME ALONE.
Mary reads Raphael's message and walks out of the small quarters they assigned her in the army base. The general had told Commander John Hammond and her what their plan was all along. They wanted to get rid of the president, but not make it look like the army is starting a coup, which will weaken the national support the army has. In order to accomplish their goals they had been arming the separatists with limited weapons for the purpose of assassinating the president. However, the president has been very careful and has used subterfuge in order to keep the army guessing at his whereabouts. He knew the Army would never attack him in the palace or in any public event. That's why the separatists had a golden opportunity to take out the president and his convoy when they were on their way to meet the army generals loyal to president. But even then the president must've gotten a whiff of their plans and sent a decoy in his stead. That's the man the arm that Mary found belonged to.
As time went by the rift between the generals loyal to the president and the generals who suspected that the president was a spy grew dangerously wider. Throughout, the president has been feeding his loyal generals fabricated evidence that the other generals are planning a coup. He used his clout as president to prevent any sort of negotiations between the different factions in the Army. Each faction of the army has been moving weaponry and troops in key locations in case one side tries to move against the other. All the while the Eitoria Army has been amassing forces along the border claiming suspicious movement from the side of the Stronglandians. The situation has become extremely dire. Any wrong shot and civil war might be inevitable.
Mary walks into a meeting room with the general of the Army base as well as another general she doesn't know. Commander John Hammond is present as well. They all look at her perplexed.
"What do you want?" the army base general says.
"I can get you unquestionable evidence that the president is a spy?"
"How dare you say that?" the general loyal to the president slams his fist on the meeting table in the center of the room. "How can you accuse Norman Faye, a national hero, of being a spy? Are you out of your mind?"
Mary looks at Commander John Hammond.
"All I ask is a helicopter ride," Mary says. "Please sir. I'm asking you to trust me."
Commander Hammond considers her for a moment, then turns to the generals.
"Sirs, our Nation is on the brink of civil war. If there is even a one percent chance we can avoid it, should we not grab at that chance with all our might?"
The generals look at each other, then the army base general turns to Mary.
"You have three hours to report back," he says.
"Thank you sir," Mary says in relief and then turns on her heals and runs out of the meeting room.
The Forbidden City
The car Norman Faye drives has exited Chaunce an hour ago and now enters an old abandoned town. An areal view of the town reveals buildings that must be at least a hundred and fifty years old. They were only two or three levels, built mostly with red brick. Vegetation has grown over a large percentage of these buildings some of which are partially collapsing. The roads are old brick roads that are hardly wide enough to pass the car. Most of the roads are overgrown with moss and tree roots have broken through the brick. The car bumps over them as it drives through the roads after Norman slowed down its speed significantly. There are what appears like decaying medieval carts and wagons tossed to the side. Some of them have completely broken down and there remains only wheels or parts of the skeleton of the various differently designed wagons. The entire town seems to have been left untouched for centuries. It's a strange blend of western medieval towns and eastern, mostly Greek designs. One would think it's left like that as a tourist attraction, except for the eerie silence that encompasses the entire town. The only sound in the entire place is the car engine as it drives through the town heading to its destination.
"Are you serious?" Raphael says with a strange sense of awe and reverence to the place.
Norman Faye laughs in a condescending manner.
"You Stronglandians are so superstitious," Norman says, sarcasm drips from every one of his words. "Your fear of this town has made it a perfect place for our operation. We can work in peace and quiet."
Raphael shoves his gun in the back of Norman's head.
"Shut up," Raphael is angry. "I'm sick of your contempt for us and our culture. We left this town untouched because of the strange myths and apparitions that encompass it."
"Don't sugar coat it. The whole lot of you fear that there are ghosts that inhabit this town. You believe it to be cursed, even after all the technological advancement the word has gone through, you still believe in the supernatural."
They travel the rest of the way in silence. Finally the car arrives at a dead end. In front of them is a large church with four brick towers rising taller than any of the buildings in the town. In the middle of these towers is huge dome with a cross on top of it. Some of the surface area of the dome shines with a golden reflection. These areas appear to have some remnant of a golden metal, most of which has been torn away and only the brick underneath it remains.
Norman and Raphael get out of the car and walk up old stairs leading inside that Cathedral like church. Raphael looks around him in apprehension as he climbs up. His feelings are amplified by the bizarre, uncanny silence that envelops the place. Even the sun doesn't appear to shine with its full strength over this town. Raphael knows that the geographical location of the town and the ring of mountains which surround it, constantly block the sun no matter how high it is in the sky. But this quality gives the town a frightening feel.
All of Strongland have avoided that town. There are reports of people who have ventured into its borders and have completely disappeared, and those who have returned have lost their sanity, talking about horrendous creatures that attacked and torn apart some of their companions. They called them daemons, because they would appear one moment and be as real as flesh and blood can be and then vanish the next moment, right into thin air. Over the years the army had sent in scientific teams. Some discovered absolutely nothing and other teams completely disappeared and never came out of the town, except for one or two who repeated these incredible tales of mythical and unimaginable creatures. However, these mysterious appearances seemed constricted only to the town. It never bothered any other area in Strongland. The fear and horror surrounding this town drove people as far away from it as possible. Its location which is almost but isolated inside the ring of mountains, served to curtail many from unraveling its mysteries. Stronglandians called it "The Forbidden City".
Raphael enters the cathedral and walks through what once was a majestically designed corridor with magnificent art work on all its wall. The art work portrays a horrible battle between an army of light and an army of darkness. The army of light had human soldiers dressed in full iron armor. Their heads covered with pointed helmets and they carried shields that were almost their height, with yellow crosses on them. Accompanying these soldiers were strange animals that had the bodies of lions and the heads and wings of eagles. They flew over top the soldiers. In the second rank behind the human soldiers were creatures that had the face of a human on one side, the face of an ox on the left side, the face of a lion on the right side and the face of an eagle on the back side. These creatures had two wings spreading outward and two wings covering their bodies. The way the images of these creatures were drawn clearly portrayed the artist's reverence towards them. In the final ranks of the army were what appeared to be priests, dressed in ancient golden robes, carrying banners with the picture of the resurrected Christ. Although the colors of the art work has worn away through out the years, but in its original form these paintings must've been sublime. The soldiers carried long swords and spears as they attacked the army of darkness. These were mostly demon like creatures, horrendous in their appearance. The front most ranks were pig and lizard like creatures. The ranks after them where what appeared like men with deformed heads and bodies, walking hunched over; some even on all fours. The final ranks were of many beasts roughly divided into four categories. The first group were like lions with the wings of a bat. The second group were like bears with sharp, twisted horns sticking out of their heads and backs, some stood on their rear legs and walked almost like men. The third group were winged leopards with two heads and the final group were like beasts with the head of a man, but the body of an ape and the wings of a dragon. All these were controlled by a larger creature, but the painting of that creature is scratched out, almost intentionally with strange claw marks. Raphael couldn't identify the animal that made these claw marks which erased the form of that final creature.
Norman Faye glances back at Raphael and sees him in awe of his surroundings.
"We don't have to continue," Norman says. "Listen to me. All you have to do is give me the phone you got from my colleague, and you and your sister can walk out of here. No harm, no foul."
"I don't negotiate with spies," Raphael shakes off this sense of awe and returns his full attention to his current mission. "Move."
They approach a huge double door made of solid gold.
"Your sister and her kids are right through here," Norman says.
"Go ahead, I'm right behind you," Raphael says. "And don't forget, one little press on this remote control and you'll go up in a puff of smoke and blood."
"And you don't forget if you do that, my men will kill your family. So we both lose."
Norman pushes the heavy double doors open and enters into a circular judgment hall of sorts. In the middle of the hall is an elevated platform built from stone blocks. The ceiling of the hall must be the dome in the center of the four pillars Raphael saw from outside. It rises four levels up. Each level has balcony with a clear view of the hall and stone platform below. It appears that this stone platform witnessed events of such importance that many came to watch them.
Three Eitoria agents setup a mobile reconnaissance unit on the stone platform. It consisted of a few computers and some transmission equipment. The agents are busy working frantically on their equipment, that it takes them a moment to notice Norman. It's clear they are not expecting any guests. The Agents startle and scramble to grab their guns and point them at him in apprehension.
"What are you doing here?" One of the agents says. "You're breaking protocol."
"I didn't have a choice," Norman gestures behind him.
The men look but there is no one there.
"Who are you pointing at?"
Norman looks back and there is no sign of Raphael. He moves quickly towards the rest.
"He found out about us," Norman says. "He's here some where. Can you locate him?"
"Our equipment has been on the fritz for the past few hours," the agent says frustrated.
Norman circles around and looks at the screen. They are suppose to display the feed from security cameras setup around this old church. But all they display is just some garbled static, with the interjection of the actual feed they are suppose to display once in a while.
"What the hell is going on?" Norman asks.
"We can't explain it."
"Don't tell me you're starting to believe the fables about this place," Norman jabs at them in anger. "Look, that asshole strapped bombs to me. We have to find him and neutralize him. So fix it."
"We have his sister in a secure location," the agent said as he signs to the rest of the agents to spread in different areas of the hall in preparation to engage the enemy. "Our analysis of his personality tells us that he will not risk their lives."
"Where are they?" Raphael's voice echos through out the hall, but they can't pinpoint him.
Norman turns one of the screens in a random direction. It's display static, but once in a random while it shows Ashley and her kids tied in some stone cell.
"How about we make a deal," Norman says. "This can end one of two ways. Either we all die and Strongland is plunged into a civil war. Or you get to walk out of here with your sister and Strongland still plunges into a civil war. See we've already accomplished our mission. Even if you kill me, the rest of my team will spin my death as the Army assassinating the president to enact a coup. We've already won, Raphael."
There is a moment of silence.
"How can I be sure you'll keep your word?" Raphael asks in surrender.
"I'll gain nothing by killing you. It's the word of the president against yours, so even if you come out and say that the president is a spy, who'll believe you."
"Bring my sister here first."
"I need a gesture of good faith," Norman says as he glances at the agents. Two of them run through a doorway leading to a set of stairs used to go up to the upper levels. It's clear they have pinpointed Raphael's position.
A small object comes flying from somewhere on the second level and crashes a few feet away from Norman. Norman and the lead Agent exchange looks and Norman walks towards the object. It's the detonation remote control that Raphael had. Norman breaths in relief as he uses the remote control to deactivate the bombs.
"That's smart," Norman says as he removes the bombs off his body. "Very smart indeed. Now the phone please."
"My sister first," Raphael says a sense of desperation creeping into his voice.
"She is in a cell below us, but we've surrounded her by an advanced security system, if it is not deactivated with a special code, a small bomb attached to each of their necks will detonate. I would hate to see that happen to your family."
The two Eitoria agent climb up the stairs rapidly and quietly. They reach the second level where they think Raphael is. His voice as he tries to negotiate the release of his sister has become clear. He must be on this level. They sneak a quick peak through the door, but they can't immediately see him. The balcony circles around the entire level. So he could be just around the corner. The agents stay low as they move with their guns ready, intending to shoot on sight.
"Are you guys looking for someone?" a female voice startles them. They snap around trying to see who's talking. When they realize that the voice is coming from right on top of them, it's already too late. They look up surprised, but before they can come up with any reaction, Mary, who has used her arms and legs to wedge herself in a curve in the roof, lets go and lands in between them. They swing their gun at her but she kicks one of the men's guns away. A few bullets are fired at random as the man's arm swings wide. She rams into the second man and pins him to the wall. With her left hand she snatches her pistol and wedges it's barrel into the man's armor. Two rounds of bullets end the man's life. By that time the first agent has recovered and started taking aim at Mary, but before he could squeeze the trigger, Raphael's bullet kills him.
Mary looks back at Raphael.
"Are you okay?" Raphael asks, but before Mary can respond a hand grenade lands in between them.
They run in opposite directions seconds before the grenade explodes making a hole in the floor. The old architecture of the building can't handle the explosion and a huge part of the second floor starts collapsing all around Raphael. The floor gives way underneath him. He halts his fall as he grabs onto a protruding rock. His lower half dangles two floors up. But his hands soon slip and he falls about seven meters down, breaking his ankle. His weapon skids away from him.
Norman Faye points a gun at Raphael and fires a bullet that lodges itself in Raphael's shoulder. Raphael screams in pain.
"That was for all the trouble you caused me," Norman says as he aims his gun at Raphael's head. But before he could squeeze off a bullet Mary charges him and they both roll on the ground, struggling for control over the gun.
Raphael gathers his strength and gets up just in time to see the last agent left alive point his gun at him. Unarmed, death seems inevitable. But suddenly, the entire place starts to shake so roughly that both Raphael and the agent lose their footing and fall down. Big blocks of stone start falling all over them, crashing dangerously everywhere. The sun light coming through the large windows lining up the ancient walls turns a dark shade of orange, and within a few seconds it has become an unnatural dim red glow. Wind blows around the hall in a strange manner, as if it's being generated within the hall itself with its origin being the stone platform. A dark wind tunnel forms above it. Frightening howling echos through out the whole place. They sound like shrieks of men and women in anguish. The shaking subsides, but the wind continues blowing through out the hall, getting stronger by the minute.
The Agent gets up looking around him in confusion at what's going on, but he quickly overcomes his fear and decides that it's more important to end Raphael's life. He takes aim again, but then his eyes widen in fear as his sight locks at something behind Raphael. He aims his gun at that thing and fires round after round screaming in fear. Raphael snaps around to see what caused a professional killer to go mad. Behind him out of the wind tunnel, spinning wildly on top of the stone platform emerges a demonic bear like creature. Raphael recalls that something like it was portrayed on the wall of the corridor they walked through when they first entered into this cathedral. The bear creature roars frighteningly loud causing the entire place to shake.
Raphael backs up. His brain doesn't know what to make out of this turn of events. The creature charges them. Raphael uses his last ounce of strength to dive to the side, while the Eitorian agent continues firing his weapon at the creature, until he exhausts his ammunition. The creature attacks the agent sinking its large teeth into the mans torso, lifting him up with ease. The man tries to scream but the only sound he produces is a choking gurgle. He tries to fight off the creature to no avail. The bear creature thrusts its claws into the man's body and yanks, tearing him apart in a burst of blood and gore. The creature leaves the man's mangled body fall to the ground and lets out another loud triumphant roar.
Raphael pushes himself back in complete horror. He looks for Mary who's reacting in a similar way. She appears to have knocked Norman unconscious before this whole supernatural events started. Raphael gestures for her to back up slowly from that creature, which appears to phase in and out of existence in a chaotic scene. It starts snapping around as if fighting some unseen foes flailing it's arms wildly, then it charges at the wall. For a moment Raphael thinks it'll crash right through it, but it simply fizzles out of existence in a wisp of black smoke. The wind subsides inside the hall, but the wind tunnel still spins on top of the stone platform. It keeps on rising and rising until it breaks through the dome. A huge chunk of stone and debris start raining down on them.
"Watch out," Mary screams at Raphael. He looks up and sees a huge stone falling at him. Mary dives at him and they both get out of the stone's trajectory a fraction of a second before it crashes through the ground making a hole right to the lower level.
"We need to stop the bleeding," Mary says as she examines Raphael's injury.
"No time," Raphael takes a small pistol which was secured around his ankle. "Take the spy and head to the car in front of this cathedral. I'm going to get Ashley and the kids."
Mary takes the gun from Raphael and heads to Norman Faye who's starting to regain consciousness. She forces him up and shoves him towards the exit.
Raphael looks through the hole that falling debris opened up in the ground. His sister is some where down there. He has to find her.
Darkness
Mary sits in the rear seat of the car. Her gun aimed at Norman Faye in the front seat. The spy looks like he has completely surrendered to his situation. Mary shifts her eyes from Norman to the grand stairs leading up to the Cathedral. The dome of the Cathedral has been completely destroyed. The supernatural wind tunnel rises up to the sky and from there thick cloud and darkness spreads in all directions.
Mary sees Raphael, Ashley and the kids hustling down. Ashley supports Raphael as they go down the stairs.
"Hurry," Mary gets out of the car and waves to Raphael.
Within a few minutes they are in the car, heading out of this strange town.
"We have an army helicopter waiting for us at the border of the town. The cowards didn't want to risk entering here," Mary says.
Ashley attends to Raphael's bullet wound. He has lost a lot of blood and is starting to get weaker. Mary sits in the passenger side with her gun aimed at Norman, driving the car.
"I thought you were dead," Ashley smiles gently.
"It's a long story," Raphael turns to Ashley and smiles back.
"It's getting dark really quickly," Harry, Ashley's oldest son, says as he looks from the side window. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing we can prevent, I'm afraid," Raphael says. He closes his eyes and lays his head back. "I'm afraid our life might not be the same after today."
Raphael loses his consciousness.
Raphael opens his eyes and looks around. He's in a hospital bed. The wall opposite him has the insignia of the CMU printed in large form. He tries to get up, but feels a hand pushing him gently back into the bed.
"You have to rest, buddy," Mary says.
"Where is Ashley?" Raphael asks alarmed.
"Don't worry, she's safe here with us. Just sleeping in with the kids."
"How's she taking it?"
"She's a strong woman. Still doesn't understand why the CMU faked your death. Tried to explain it's for her own protection."
"What's gonna happen to her now?"
"They'll probably relocate her. Give her a new identity. You know, the works."
Raphael relaxes back into his bed.
"They better buy her a house."
Mary smiles.
"You're a hero buddy. You prevented a civil war. A house is the least they can do."
"I remember it differently. You kinda saved my ass a few times out there."
"That's what I'm here for," Mary smiles.
"Were they able to shutdown the spy ring?" Raphael asks.
"Pretty much. You don't know how thoroughly we've been infiltrated. Government. Army. Police. Every place in society."
"CMU?"
"I don't know."
"What next? How are we going to use that?"
"You've been out for a couple of days. Lots of things happened."
"Like what?"
"Strongland made a media circus of the whole thing. Brought in international observers. Showed them the evidence and Eitoria's plans to ignite a civil war and use that as a pretense to expand their territory. Solid proof. We forced Eitoria to pull back their troops."
"Wish I can believe that this will be the end of it."
"Nah, probably not. Is it really ever over?"
"So Strongland is without a president? Did the Army step in?"
"No. Actually we're swearing in a new president as we speak, Broderek Taberak. The Vice President."
Raphael gives Mary a thoughtful look.
"Do you know he's the only elected official in the Presidential Palace?" Raphael asks. "And now the first president without a military background."
"I didn't miss the irony."
There is a period of silence. Mary walks outside the room and when she is back she has a mug of coffee and two chocolate bars. She gives one of them to Raphael.
"Not exactly what the doctor ordered, but..." Mary smiles.
"I'll take it," Raphael unwraps the chocolate bar and takes a bit. "Why are you still here? Don't you have something better to do?"
"Hardly. No family. No friends. Current company excepted."
"Oh chucks. Am I your best friend?"
Mary chuckles, "lucky you."
Mary stares at Raphael a bit worried.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Raphael asks as he takes another bite from the chocolate.
"You don't remember anything else?"
Raphael sits up in a sudden motion. He had forgotten about that darkness till now.
"The Darkness!"
"The Darkness," Mary confirms.
"I guess I was hoping it was all a nightmare."
"It is a nightmare alright," Mary leans forwards and speaks softly. "Are you going to tell anyone about what we saw?"
"I don't know what we saw. Was it just a figment of our imagination?"
"It looked pretty damn real to me. And what it did to that Eitorian Agent, wasn't my imagination. His remains are on this base, still being investigated."
"Did they figure anything out?"
"They say a wild animal must've done it, but they can't think of what kind of wild animal is able to tear a man limb to limb. There is nothing like that in our neck of the woods. Or in the world actually."
"When I was walking through the corridors of that Cathedral, I saw paintings on the walls. There were creatures like the one we saw painted there," Raphael recalls.
"Where did it come from?"
Raphael opens his mouth to say something, but then realizes he has no good answer.
"What about the darkness?" Raphael asks.
"Still spreading. It covers a big portion of the mountain desert. At this rate the entire island will be covered in less than a month. It's Driving people crazy. Day time looks like a bad horror movie. Dark red," Mary sits back in a chair beside Raphael's bed.
"What are we doing about it?"
"Scientists from around the world are being dispatched to understand this phenomenon. No one really knows what's causing it."
Raphael lies back in the bed and closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them and looks at Mary.
"What if it's not a scientific phenomenon?" He asks. "What if it is a supernatural one?"
"Then God help us all," Mary says in a solemn tone. "Because I don't think anyone else can."
End of Episode 02
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