Chapter
3
Exposure
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The vague memory of her final moments…
Plays over and over in my head. And I can’t find a way to shut it away to somehow erase it from my mind as though it were some petty file in a computer.
I thought the sight of my children would’ve somehow given me a hunch of determination to go on… but I still see no light at the end of the tunnel. Because even then I still don’t understand my own ambitions.
I sigh.
I stand against the wall thinking. Thoroughly examining the circumstances concerning my little identity mix up. Can the Council be that blind? Or are they toying the systems…
No-no I doubt they’d compromise themselves to that degree. The only thing that possibly could have happened with Dr. Harrison Brown’s I.D.E mix up is a small hiccup.
But a dead man’s I.D.E being accepted access to floors E through D is astronomical. There has got to be something else with this Dr. Harrison Brown, something that I haven’t dug up yet.
I clutch my fist and slam it against the wall. I shake my head.
It doesn’t matter anymore. Once the Council examines this little anomaly their security systems will have a complete flush out. Shutting down all I.D.E’s of departed brethren. I might have to come up with a completely new plan to alter even the slightest of data… I’ll have to be on my toes. I know the consequence for my act will surpass anything Thomas can do to help me.
The echo of clicking footsteps has my hand in my pocket. I grip my pistol and slowly click the safety off. I crouch; press my back against the wall and peer down the left and right hallway. Nothing.
“Jake Hartman.” I hear a voice call out.
I loosen the hold of my gun and click the safety back on. It is Thomas… I try to calm my nerves, but my hands continue to shake feverishly.
“T-Thomas?” I mutter.
“That’s me.” Thomas answers.
I rise.
I hear him laugh quietly as he walks from the corner’s shadow.
“Pleased to see you’re still alive and well.”
I grin. “Thank you... and I’m glad to see you here. Can’t believe that I.D.E you gave me worked so well.”
I stare at him with apprehension. A golden mask veils his face, but his eyes I recognize, his strange fake-looking blue eyes that glow like a lone candle emitting light inside a dark room.
“You don’t have to thank me. But do understand that this area’s Dead-Zone status will soon lift in ten minutes. Best to have this conversation elsewhere.” Thomas says.
I shake my head. “Yes-yes, of course, I understand. W-who are the Caretaker’s for my children?”
“Ms. Elizabeth William and Ms. Amelia Malcolm.”
I bite my lip. I have no memory of Elizabeth William, but Amelia Malcolm I do know.
I glare up at Thomas. “I suppose the Council has already figured out about the little mix up.”
“They're investigating it as we speak.” He hesitates. “They’re investigating Dr. Harrison T. Brown’s remnants. They’re uncertain how a nonentity acquired his identity.”
“Will you be ok Thomas?”
I see his eyes squint.
“Yes. I’ll be fine. Remember, you exposed yourself to Sam and Rebecca. Ms. Elizabeth William already contacted the Council Officials that Dr. Scott Miles didn’t release Sam, but some man entitling himself as Dr. Harris Brown did.” Thomas crossed his arms. “However, Amelia has yet to contact the Council.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not too sure. But Dr. Scott’s body has yet been found… and that means there’s an anomaly in the system. The automatic protocol will release the Guardians…” Thomas inches towards me and clutches my shoulder, “Jake… if they find the slight scent of you on the children. This could turn out perilous.”
I gasp. If I place my children in danger I can never forgive myself. But what if I can turn this around somehow and have this little obstacle help me in the long run.
No, no, what am I thinking. I can’t put my children’s life in jeopardy. I’ll have to think of a way to deviate them away if they find a trace of my scent on Sam and Rebecca.
My cry of panic brought his hand over my mouth.
“Hey, hey, relax. I’ll monitor the children and I’ll look after them. You try to remain as inconspicuous as possible. But remember, once the Guardians acquire the scent… I-I can’t do anything to divert them from their path. Once they have that hunch… it’s impossible to do anything except to put it down.”
I narrow my eyes and purse my lips.
I gave Sam and Rebecca my entire fortune… once the Council traces their Encoding Number they’ll witness first hand that Jake Hartman is not finished.
“Jake just remain alert. I’ll follow by any plan you put together.”
I shake my head, because this is beyond fathomable, this is crazy. “If the Guardians place a trace on me… I’ll have to move to plan B. And I’m not entirely sure what that is.”
“You mean you didn’t think that could happen?”
I push his hand away and turn around. “I wasn’t expecting the Guardians to take control over their Myrmidon commanders. But apparently, the President doesn’t trust in your kind anymore.”
Thomas chuckles, “And a damn good reason why.”
I snort. “Of course. Disloyalty is the product of human nature. Human nature is the product of absolution. Absolution is punishable by penance.”
“You mean yours.” Thomas chuckles. “And you’re still reciting old lectures.” Thomas nudges me in the arm. “All those things we learned for nothing.”
I chuckle. Because he’s right. I can’t break away from that… my authenticity will be forever engraved in my mind and heart, as the president wished it to be.
“Apparently some of it rubbed off on you.” I face him, “Once apathy’s seed begins to blossom all self-control is abandoned. All care and humility is but an echo in a book that has a happy ending. But in this life, our life, there isn’t a happy ending. There is only misfortune.”
“Well then that’s something we’ll have to abolish.”
I crack a smile and bob my head. “So true. Out of all the Myrmidon you’re the most self-less, the most true to my kind. Perhaps we’ll make a dent in history as abolishers.”
“No. No. That’s too cliché for me. We’ll have to do more than that.”
“Let’s hope.” Before I said anymore, he interrupted me.
“Don’t hope. Hope is for the unconfident. We’re not that kind. We’re the confident. And this small step, could mean everything we long for.”
I failed to understand the we in his sentence. I have an ambition. One that’s wrought by my thirst for vengeance and longing to see the real light of day. To allow my children to grow somewhere where their future isn’t written before by the lust of man wanting to feel control. But it’ll take some time, and that time is precious to me.
“I’ll contact you later.” I whisper.
“No, I’ll find you. In between then I’ll visit your children.”
I take a breath and nod with a smile. I choose not to answer and then make my way out.
***
Sam
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