Part Sixteen

Elsewhere

Mario and Ash push Van through the set of opening elevator doors as the three arrive at the secure location for Chairman Winston Vernon as Alex and Chris look over as Van was seething as Ian moves aside so Winston could see his board member.

Winston: Ah, Van. Returned safely.

Van: No thanks to these assholes.

Winston: Alex, Chris, please excuse us. Me and my associate have matters to discuss I believe the D.R.C should not hear.

Alex raises an eyebrow as Ian nods at him, Chris not saying anything as he quickly heads out as Alex followed reluctantly which Winston took note of as Ash went and grabbed some coffee and donuts as Mario stops close behind Van.

Winston: You give them anything?

Van: Only everything that they wanted.

Winston: Fool.

Van: You weren't there. Xander Halstead was.

Ian looks at Van with concern.

Ian: You lie…

Van: Wouldn't dream that even in my worst nightmares.

Ian: So you've come back…

Ian trails off in thought as Winston stands.

Van: And let it be known that these assholes didn't exactly treat me well. Knocked me out cuz I wanted to off the fuckers who kidnapped. What kind of goddamn elite squad can…

Winston slaps Van to his shock as Winston sneers.

Winston: Whatever they decide, I'll trust their goddamn judgement more then yours you cololossal fucking idiot.

Van: I…

Winston: Whatever you gave those people I want erased from your mind.

Van: You wouldn't want to do that...I have all the knowledge and the data keys for Orion's entire video feeds. You simply can't…

Winston: I've no use for a man who crumbles after twenty minutes of mediocre torture. Xander Halstead withstanding...you have become my first priority.

Mario bashes his hand into a specific spot on Van's neck, knocking yum out cold as Ian paces about.

Ian: I've always said this day would come.

Winston: the future of my very family's very company hangs in the balance of information taken from this asshole. I hardly think one man matters.

Ian: That one man, can upend reality itself and render your legacy moot and obsolete.

Winston: We have prepared accordingly. Based on your Intel and data about said figure.

Ian: That's assuming he's alone or with Artur.

Winston: Mario. Take him into that back office. Hook him up to the neural network and download this…

Winston goes and grabs a USB drive.

Winston: My master code. Extract everything and...dispose of him as you see fit.

Mario: Yes, Chairman.

Mario and Ash grab him as the two head towards the back office as Ian and Winston look at each other as Winston takes his seat.

Winston: Should he obtain the second source code, we know where he'll have to go next. That will be our advantage.

Ian: You do not know him the way I do. He is cunning. Ruthless. He knows no compassion other than what he feels for Artur, and even then I fear I may be granting him a courtesy ill afforded.

Winston: What do you make of this Alex Crowe?

Ian: He's a good D.R.C agent.

Winston: I find myself worried about his involvement in this. He was close to Tobias whom we still have yet to apprehend.

Ian: If you're thinking about…

Winston: We are not afforded the luxury of a conscious today Mr. Bernard. Be well to remember what we stand to lose.

Ian nods as Winston grabs his phone and sends a message as he then sets it down.

Winston: Prepare your unit, Ian. We have much to do.

Ian hides his dissatisfaction as he nods and heads out as Winston pours himself a drink and nods as he taps his fingers together, contemplating his next move.

Elsewhere

Alex follows Chris as the two head up in the elevator as Chris checks his phone and puts it away as Alex takes note of it.

Alex: Where are we going?

Chris: We got a lead on Tobias, finally.

Alex: That's good.

Chris: Chairman Vernon wants us to lead the charge on this one with Mario and Ash back, I think he can spare us.

Alex: We heard from the captain?

Chris: That was him just now. Wants us there ASAP.

Alex: Sounds good.

Chris nods as the elevator doors open and the two step out and towards Chris's cruiser as Alex gets into the passenger seat as Chris gets in and checks his phone, lingering for a bit as Alex takes notices and balls his hands into a fist as Chris clears his throat and puts his phone away as the two don't say anything for a moment as the tension was palpable.

Alex: If you're going to do something...you better make it count…

Chris snickers as he shakes his head and quickly draws his pistol as he aims it at Alex's head but Alex quickly blocks his arm and slams it against the dash as Chris reached down for a knife in his belt but Alex disarms the gun and uses the free hand to slam Chris's head against the steering wheel as Chris exclaims before Alex wraps an arm around his neck and pulls him against his body as he locks in the chokehold and begins to choke Chris out in a sleeper hold as Chris kicks at the driver window and door as he was losing oxygen. Alex keeping the hold as he eventually feels Chris go limp as Alex pushes him off and opens the door to the drivers side as he pushes Chris out and grabs his phone, checking the message as he sneers and tosses it down before he takes the pistol and starts the car as he pulls his phone out and texts a number before driving out of the garage as Chris lay unconscious.

DreamWorld-Inferno Bar

Valencia comes over and hugs Kami as Kami smiles.

Kami: Val. It's been a while.

Valencia: It has. You look so pretty.

Kami: Thank you.

Valencia: Is this…?

Kami: Yes. Valencia this is my Echo.

Blayde: It's nice to meet a fellow Echo who doesn't want to kill me.

Valencia: That's a relief I'm sure. Are you…? Ray's brother?

Blayde: An echo of him yes.

Valencia: You just missed her.

Blayde: By?

Valencia: two three minutes tops.

Blayde: Damn.

Kami: She'll be back. Lucifer.

Lucifer: It's good to see you again.

Kami: You know why I'm here.

Lucifer: Seeing how Xander was just here I'm sure I can wager a guess or two. But I can't help you.

Kami: Can't or won't.

Lucifer: The Paragon and myself are at odds. And you're aware that any further involvement by myself or ilk is frowned upon.

Kami: We need the Paragon if we're going to stop Xander.

Lucifer: Such binds. There could be a... compromise.

Kami: Name it.

Lucifer: Valencia wants to be trained to be more efficient. We both know there is a reason to do so…

Kami nods as Valencia raises an eyebrow.

Lucifer: So. You train her. And I can give you the last known location of the Paragon. It's very old and a long shot that the information is still valid but it would be a starting point.

Kami: Is this okay with Tobias?

Valencia: Probably not.

Blayde: But it's not about what he wants...is it?

Valencia nods as Blayde looks at Kami who seems conflicted.

Kami: Fine. Coordinates.

Lucifer: Already sent.

Kami: You going to be alright? If we don't succeed…

Lucifer: Hard to get rid of me. I'll manage.

Kami nods as she looks at Valencia.

Kami: If you're going to want to protect yourself, and those of one's worth protecting, you're going to have to be willingly and do exactly what myself and Blayde say. Understood?

Valencia: Yes…

Kami: Then follow us. We have stops to make.

Kami turns and heads out as Blayde smiles and follows her out as Valencia looks at Lucifer who raises a shot glass.

Lucifer: Good luck to you. I'm strangely rooting for you.

Valencia smiles and follows them as Lucifer takes the shit and sneers as he looks behind him to see a figure sitting alone at a table.

Lucifer: You been there long?

Figure: Long enough.

Lucifer: Hmm.

Lucifer grabs two glasses, a bottle of spiced rum and a crystal blue bottle as he comes and sits across the Figure as he sets the glasses down and pours the rum and the other clear liquid.

Lucifer: Spice rum for me...and ethereal water...for you, brother.

The ArchAngel Michael smiles as his blue eyed and blonde hair are in stark contrast to Lucifer as the two take their drinks and nod as they gulp their drinks down.

Lucifer: I take it father is growing impatient.

Michael: You know he doesn't involve himself in such matters.

Lucifer: then why are you here?

Michael: To observe. And see what happens next.

Lucifer: He very well could succeed you know. What will father think then?

Michael shrugs.

Michael: I am only an extension of his will. Should my sword be raised it will be raised for him. And what of you Lucifer? How upsetting would it be to see a mere man do what you have always wanted?

Lucifer: I've grown weary. Not saying it wouldn't be fun to watch a little anarchy in father's precious world. But to see a new god rise from the hubris of his failings presents me with little comfort if I'm being honest.

Michael: There may be hope for you yet brother.

Lucifer: Unlikely. I am still one if not self served.

Michael: True.

Michael pours himself another drink.

Michael: The pieces move into place to fight what is the unknown. You feel the tide changing don't you? The great conflict…

Lucifer grimaced as he poured himself more of his rum.

Lucifer: What role do we play in this?

Michael: For now, exactly what you and I have been doing. We are not needed nor shall we interfere until there is nothing left but for divine intervention. I have come to remind you that your hand must stay, your time has yet to come.

Lucifer: You know I'm the Devil, right?

Michael: You are also bound by an ethereal law you cannot escape or bypass no matter how hard you fret and fight against the tide. Patience brother. I simply ask for you to continue to have patience.

Lucifer nods as he takes a drink as Michael's sips at his own as the two brothers go quiet.

Reality

Tobias knocks on the door as Vade keeps a look out as Esmeray stands beside him.

Tobias: Charles was an Orion Industrial legend. He used to host the biggest events and parties and was the primary defensive host for the D.R.C dream share raids.

Esmeray: Why'd he leave?

Tobias: Nobody really knows. But if we want a mind we can link to that'll help us wreck shop. He's the one.

The door opens and Charles Mahomes steps forward as he looks between the three as he huffs and motions for them to come inside as the three come in and he quickly slams the door.

Charles: All this damn chatter I'm reading and seeing and I'm kicked off my personal neural network and locked out of A.N.N and look who happens to show up at my doorstep.

Tobias: Hey, Charley Boy.

Charles: Tobias. Vade.

Vade: Been a while.

Tobias: You know each other?

Charles: Vade connected to my network an awful lot back in his Untherer days.

Tobias: (to Vade) Wasn't planning on saying anything?

Vade: Couldn't be sure it was the same Charles. I heard a lot of conflicting reports regarding your status.

Charles: Yeah to avoid any media scrums and terrorist cells finding out I had left Orion Industrial had me declared dead and sorta stripped away any digital footprint I had.

Esmeray: Then how do you know Tobias?

Tobias: Stumbled into one of his private events by accident and we hit it off.

Charles: I was told my neural patterns were perfect for being able to keep out dreamers.

Vade: True. Aside from Ian, no Dreamer could get through a dream share set up by Charles.

Charles: Except for Tobias here.

Tobias smirks as Esmeray rolls her eyes. Charles checks her out as he tilts his head as Esmeray notices him.

Esmeray: What?

Charles: You wouldn't happen to be... Esmeray Dixon would you?

Esmeray: Yeah…?

Charles smiles.

Charles: Wow. You've gotten bigger.

Esmeray: Okay…? Again who…

Charles: I knew your brother, Blayde.

Vade looks away as Tobias watches as Esmeray tries to process.

Esmeray: How?

Charles: I was the Awakened inside man.

Tobias: What?

Vade looks at Charles who shrugs.

Charles: Surprise?

Vade: It was you?

Charles: Of course it was. I knew which hubs didn't have civilian network links and when and where to attack them. Ian eventually caught on but by then he wasn't part of the D.R.C and decided to help me leave.

Esmeray: Why?

Charles: I never know with, Ian. He works with Winston now but I think it's mostly to keep an eye on him.

Vade: We just kidnapped a board member for specific dates. The night of the final Awakened raid.

Charles: I would let you my gear but the D.R.C has everything locked out.

Vade: I've got some tech work arounds. We need to see what we have.

Charles: By all means.

Charles points out his set up as Vade nods and goes and begins to look and check everything over as Tobias comes next to Charles.

Tobias: I wish that was the only reason we were here.

Charles: I know why you're here.

Tobias: You do.

Charles: Yeah, but we can get into that later. I've got someone on their way that we'll need to fill in.

Esmeray: Are you sure that bringing someone in right now is…

Charles: You came to me, not the other way around. Besides if you want my help, we're going to need all the help we can get.

Charles heads over to help Vade as Tobiad and Esmeray look at each other, a note of concern across each of their faces.

End of chapter.