Reverse

by Steven Tandberg

  “Oh, my…” Her hand snapped up reflexively to her mouth.

  “We’ve gotta act quickly to bring them down. It’s now or never.”

  An increasingly concerned look grew on her face. “Coyle, when we meet with my dad, you have to tell him to not help us. They’ll kill him just like they killed Dr. Strayer. You know it.”

  “I’ll tell him, but I think he’s pretty motivated. And, Jamie, I don’t think it matters what any of us do now, everyone is a target. If our friends and family want to be safe, they gotta come here.”

  “You mean you’ll bring them here?”

  “We’ve gotta.”

  “Thanks, Coyle.” She wrapped her arms around me. “I’m scared.”

  “I am too.” In that instant, I’d become an insomniac. I didn’t dare sleep and risk the connection again.

  26 Guidance

  We called the pastor early the next morning at our usual spot in Roxborough. Stefan said we needed to find a new area after this final call in case they had triangulated the location. Aedan kept watch near the main road.

  “Hello?” the pastor said.

  “Pastor, it’s Coyle.”

  “Coyle! How’s Jamie?”

  “She’s OK, I mean, she’s safe. She’s dealing with a lot.”

  “You and I have put her through a lot. She pleaded with me to bring her home, but I told her I couldn’t like you wanted. Broke my heart, Coyle, just ripped it out of my chest. Her mom is distraught too.”

  “Yeah, about staying separate, I’ve kinda changed my mind. We’d like to meet up with you. She’s not coming home, though, so don’t worry.”

  “Coyle, you said it yourself, Somatotech is watching and frankly probably listening. They’d snatch both of you up the second you came close to me. Whatever you want to tell me you can over the phone.”

  “It’s a risk; I know, but Jamie needs to see you, and there are things I need too, that I can’t say over the phone, with them possibly listening.”

  “But, they’re surely listening right now! They’ll know we’re meeting.”

  “I’ll get a message to you about when and where, just keep your eyes open for it. Have you noticed anyone following you?”

  “No, no one.”

  “You’ve got protection, and they’re some of the best we got, but Somatotech surely has their best watching you as well. Keep your eyes open, especially for anyone who looks like me.”

  “Like you?”

  “Somatotech’s been busy. There are at least twenty copies.” I waited for him to respond, but he didn’t. “In the message I’ll get to you, I’ll describe what I’ll look like, so you’ll know I’m me.”

  The pastor kept silent for a moment. “His evil knows no bounds, Coyle. He must be stopped.”

  “Working on it.” I sighed.

  “As will I,” he responded.

  “That’s not what Jamie would want to hear,” I said, glancing over at Aedan.

  “’Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.’ Abdul Kalam. She may not understand, but the fight we have today is for her tomorrow.”

  “It’s my fight, pastor.”

  “If only it were,” he said slowly.

  He spoke the truth. This fight would involve the entire human race if we didn’t end it soon. I glanced at my watch, making sure Jamie had time to talk. “I’ve gotta go. Look for the message.”

  “I will. Keep Jamie safe.”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes. Wanna talk to her?”

  “She’s there?”

  “Here she is, but keep it quick.” I took the phone off my ear and handed it to Jamie. “Two minutes,” I whispered and winked at her. She snapped the phone from my hand and pressed it to her ear.

  “Dad!”

  I walked away, knowing she would probably want some privacy. I made my way to Aedan and let him know we’d be leaving soon. He nodded and walked back with me.

  “Do you wanna call your mom?” I asked.

  “Nah, Stefan told me she’s still at my aunt’s place. I’d rather not call there and put them on Somatotech’s radar.”

  I almost told him about the dream, about the veritable army of clones about to unleash an onslaught on us, but I thought better of it. No need to jack up the anxiety right now, there would be ample time for that later.

  Jamie joined us in the car.

  “Your dad agreed to meet. And, I told him we didn’t want him helping us but—”

  She interrupted, “Yeah, he’s as hardheaded as you, I know. He told me in his usual pastoral way that he’s helping no matter what.”

  “I tried.” I held my hands up, but I couldn’t help but grin. I’m not sure why I did, maybe because I realized that both the pastor and I are crazy enough to take this fateful adventure to the end, but for very different reasons. Craziness leads to a certain degree of levity.

  After dropping off Jamie and Aedan at the compound, I drove to the seminary to watch the comings and goings for a few hours that same morning. I parked across Santa Fe Avenue and climbed a small berm next to the train tracks. I didn’t need binoculars; my eyes could focus on objects miles away. No one at the seminary would suspect anything from a guy seated nearly a half mile away. Security guards and metal detectors stood at the main entrances to the buildings. I watched as people walked through, after having their bags checked and visitor’s passes with pictures printed. Given that I was labeled a domestic terrorist, I was fairly certain they’d seen my face. So, entry through the front doors was out of the question. I assumed the emergency exits in the buildings were likely locked from the inside so they wouldn’t be an option either, without creating a ruckus pulling them off their hinges. Twenty minutes passed. I grew impatient; my men would be arriving soon to a very tense situation at the hacienda.

  I started walking back to my car but stopped when a food service truck entered the complex at 10 a.m. and went around on Vinewood Street, which led to the rear of the main building. I sprinted across Santa Fe Avenue, weaving through traffic easily as the honks rung out. Large maple trees ran along the perimeter of the complex, so I quickly climbed one and perched myself on a limb looking over the rear of the compound. I watched as the workers delivered large bins of food through a loading bay in the back of the main building. A security guard would inspect each bin and then the worker would wheel them into the kitchen. Once the guards inspected all the bins, they would accompany the workers inside, leaving the door unprotected. They didn’t return for a good five minutes. A non-reciprocating camera hung on the wall adjacent to the door, focused on the loading bay. It couldn’t see the southern wall leading to the door. I had my in.

  I rushed back to the compound, knowing that the men would be arriving soon if they hadn’t already. This wasn’t going to be pretty. Too much change right off the bat could weaken my leadership, and having the prior enemy the men were after as guests could push them over the edge. Manuel had painted them as an enemy that threatened their entire operation; it may be hard to sway that opinion. Stefan was right, I had to show my men I was aligned with them, but I didn’t want to alienate Roxanne’s crew either. I needed their help.

  As I drove up the driveway, I could see a group of men congregating not far from the guesthouse. Instead of driving up to the compound, I pulled up right to the guesthouse and jumped out to join my men.

  “Señor Coyle, what are they doing here?” One of the men approached me, shaking his head.

  “I’ll explain in a moment, give me ten minutes. Can you gather the men here?”

  He agreed and began rounding them up. I sprinted to the hacienda and bolted into the hallway just as Stefan stepped out of the kitchen.

  “Ready for some crowd control, my friend? I hope you have a plan.”

  “I do, but the seeds Manuel planted may be too much to overcome. We’re meeting at the guesthouse in ten; can you help round up the men?”

  He also agreed and ran around the compound.

  I ran to Jamie
’s room to give her the news about the seminary, but she wasn’t there. Aedan wasn’t in his room either. I sprinted to the kitchen again, but the seemingly always-busy kitchen was empty. Finally, I ran to the back patio and found Jamie, Aedan, dad and the Doña sitting around a small table.

  “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you,” I said, placing myself between Aedan and Jamie.

  “Coyle, sit down, we’ve something to discuss with you,” the Doña said. Aedan’s eyes shifted to me and then away.

  Did Aedan tell them? If he did… I couldn’t finish the thought, a surge of anger rushed through me, spreading from my head down my extremities like electricity. I wanted to crush his head, to snuff out his betraying life. I took a step toward him with my nostrils flaring and muscles contracting. He saw the crazed look in my eyes and jumped behind the chair. I followed him, leaping over the chair with ease and catching him by his arm before he could get away. I pulled him in and wrapped my arm around his neck. A simple contraction of my upper arm muscles would snap his neck. Instead, I turned him around so he could see my face before I ended him. I held him with both hands around his neck and started to lift and squeeze simultaneously. Tears flowed freely from his eyes, and his lips started to swell.

  “Coyle!” someone yelled. Someone else yelled, but it didn’t register. I was drunk with rage and blind with power.

  “Please, Coyle, please don’t. Remember who the enemy is. Aedan’s your friend, your best friend.” Jamie’s voice came to me clearly, like an angel cutting through the dark mist. My rational mind caught hold of her voice like a lifesaver and pulled itself out of the pit of anger. Where the rage was, panic now entered. I let go of Aedan, and I fell back onto the concrete patio. Aedan crashed to the patio as well and then scampered away on his hands and knees to the Doña.

  “No!” I yelled out. “Not again, please, not again!” I yelled. The fits of rage that plagued me before had returned, likely with the revival of my other. I had nearly killed my best friend. I crouched down on the ground, my forehead resting on the cool concrete. My hands began to shake violently as I came down from the adrenaline high. I closed my eyes, hoping this all was just a terrible nightmare or just a freak accident. I couldn’t revert back. A few seconds passed with my eyes closed, and I could feel the similar feeling, the summoning. Somatotech wanted me back into my other. I ripped my mind out and shot my eyes open. I turned to face my family and friends. Jamie’s eyes expressed concern, as did the Doña’s. Aedan and my dad looked absolutely shocked, not that I blamed them. The monster had returned.

  “Dude, Aedan, I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”

  Jamie came over to me. “We do. Coyle, I told them about your dream. Your other is back; that’s why your anger has returned.”

  “Aedan, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want to get people worked up.” I stayed on the ground letting the hard concrete ground me.

  “You worked yourself up, Murray.” He rubbed his neck and rotated his head to pop the kinks from his now sore neck.

  “We believe you should be honest with the men regarding Somatotech, about how much of a threat they are to all of us,” said the Doña.

  “Or how much of a threat I am now?”

  No one said anything. They all knew it, at any moment I could snap again. What if Jamie isn’t around to calm me down? What then?

  “I don’t want to bring them into this any more than absolutely necessary. Many will die all because I ordered them to fight. I don’t want their blood on my hands.” I’d almost had my best friend’s blood literally in my hands.

  “That will be their decision, Coyle.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If you don’t tell them, I will,” said the Doña. “We’ve,” she motioned towards herself and everyone around her, “all decided this fight is our fight. Our men should be allowed make that decision as well.”

  “Taking control I see?” A flash of anger entered my heart.

  “Coyle, I’ve always had it.” She smiled, not a boasting smile, but one of subtle recognition. “But we all recognize you’re our savior, our leader, and the key to ending this evil.”

  “Do you all think this is a good idea?” I looked at dad and my friends.

  “It’s the only way to bring them down, with everyone together,” said my dad.

  “Dad, you’re not taking part in this. I can’t protect you 24/7 if you’re out there.”

  “We’ll be smart about it. We’ve got a genius on our side.” He also smiled. All this smiling was beginning to get on my nerves. Don’t they understand the severity of the situation?

  “All right, but I can’t…” I choked up and had the force the words out, “I can’t lose you.”

  “Together we can do this,” Jamie hugged me from behind. I needed her now more than ever. Jamie and I had to be constant companions, or I might kill someone.

  27 Sway away

  We walked down to the guesthouse together. Stefan kept wiping sweat from his forehead and the Doña focused her eyes on the guesthouse. My hands shook as I came down from the angry high. When we arrived, the two groups faced each other and neither looked happy. Roxanne was even making faces at Stefan, who sneered back at her. I placed myself in between the two groups who could throw down any moment. The only one of the group who seemed calm was Talon. He stood near Dr. Bartnev, apart from both groups.

  “Thank you for meeting us here. I know there’s a tension in the air because you all feel these people, including Roxanne, took advantage of your hospitality.” I turned to Roxanne. “Would you like to say anything?”

  Roxanne stepped forward and began speaking an obviously rehearsed speech, “Dearest saviors and captors, we are grateful you allowed us to crash at your hacienda back when we saved the pretty one, Jamie.” She pointed to her, and Jamie blushed. “At the time, we didn’t realize the nature of your operations and the need for secrecy. We left without that understanding, hence, why you all came after us. We’re… sorry.” She curtsied and grinned at me.

  “Uh, wow. Thanks, Roxanne.” I’m sure the company ordered her to make the speech, but still, she went through with it despite the obvious pain in her voice. The look on the men’s faces told me that this came as a shock to them as well.

  “We don’t want them here, Señor Coyle. They’re not a part of us. Manuel never would’ve let them in,” one of the men shouted out. A few of the men stepped toward Roxanne. She and Striker smiled confidently. I moved in between them holding out my arms.

  “I understand, and I agree, they’re not part of us. But, things have changed. Men, Somatotech has threatened to kill my family, Jamie’s family, Aedan’s family, and all of you. They’ve got more resources, more men, and more power than all of us. If they knew where we were, they would’ve crushed us already. I wanted to keep our operations and my fight with Somatotech separate, I really did, but now I realize I can’t do it alone. We need all of you, including Roxanne and her crew.”

  Stefan shook his head and cast his eyes down, obviously disappointed.

  “It’s true, we welcome Roxanne and her men as fighters in the same cause,” said the Doña. “But, they are not part of us and will leave once we have executed the plan.”

  “Exactly. That’s how it has to be.” I looked to Roxanne. “Agreed?”

  “Yes, sir!” She saluted again.

  “We would’ve been better off with Manuel!” shouted the same man who had voiced dissent when we ousted Manuel.

  “Manuel couldn’t protect you, only Coyle can,” said the Doña.

  “Hmmph… why’s that?” he replied.

  “Because they couldn’t protect themselves; Manuel and Tigre are dead,” she said.

  A hush spread over the men.

  I turned to the Doña “What? In prison?” I said loudly. I came close to her. “You didn’t, did you?” I whispered.

  “No, Coyle, as much as I wanted to.” I frowned at her, and she turned to the men. “A group from
the Aryan Nations shanked both of them in their cells. My contacts inside said the guards let them in to kill them. Someone must have deep pockets.”

  “Somatotech,” I said as a surprising wave of grief came over me. I really hadn’t wished for Manuel and Tigre to die. Suffering in prison for a lifetime satisfied my need for justice. The grief dissolved into guilt as the image of Manuel’s girl in the window of their home flashed in my mind. Could there have been another way? I thought.

  “If they can get Manuel and Tigre so easily, none of us are safe,” the Doña added.

  “You brought this on us! If you’d never shown up we’d have kept on our merry way,” he yelled again. This time a few of the men nodded in agreement. The crowd shifted at that moment; I could sense it. I could lose control if I let this go further.

  “Look, whether it happens now or later, Somatotech would threaten our way of life. Somatotech has an army of clones, of human copies, but these people are much smarter and stronger than all of you. They will continue to grow these clones unless someone stops them. We, you all and I, have to stop them.”

  “Clones?” one of the men asked. The men again started whispering to one another. Manuel hadn’t told them who I truly was. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had told them I was the devil himself.

  “Yes, clones. Perfect and enhanced copies of damaged and diseased humans. They prey on the sick and weak just as I was with my cancer. They claim to make us better, but it’s quite the opposite. Manuel didn’t tell you about Somatotech’s true doings because he was corrupt just like them.” Should I divulge who I really am? I thought. How would they react if their boss were one of them, a clone?

  Before I could finish the thought, the question came. “Senor, we know you’re, uh, different, tu sabes, you can’t die. Are, are you a clone?” he hesitated.