by C. S. Won
“Morgan brought me in for one purpose and one purpose only, so let me do what I came here to do and fulfill that obligation. Nothing is going to happen to me. Trust me,” Jae said.
Donnelly leaned back in his seat and sighed. He looked to be in deep thought, brow furrowed in contemplation. “Five minutes. I’ll give you five minutes,” he finally said.
“That’s not enough. I need more than that.”
“It’s all we can afford. Time is of the essence. If you fail, you’re likely to get killed, Daniel’s transporter will move everyone to a new location, and we’re going to lose our opportunity to end this. Five minutes is all I can spare,” Donnelly said.
“Thirty minutes. If I don’t walk out with Daniel in tow after thirty minutes, then you can swoop in to the rescue.”
“Again, sir, that’s too much time. We can’t—”
“Thirty minutes, or I walk away from this mission.”
Clearly not pleased with that mild threat, Donnelly gave Jae a hard stare, but Jae gave the stare right back to him.
“Thirty minutes, and not a second later,” Donnelly conceded.
“Thank you,” Jae said.
Donnelly took out a bulletproof vest from a locker. “Wear this, just in case.”
Jae declined. “I don’t need it.”
“I have to insist.”
“I don’t expect shots to be fired. It’s unnecessary.”
Donnelly dumped the vest back in the locker. “As you wish.”
Rena stood from her seat. “Let me at least scope the place out for you, just so we have an idea of what’s in store.”
Jae nodded. Rena stepped out of the van, and before Jae could even register his next breath, she was gone, leaving behind a kick-up of dust and swirling wind in her wake. Donnelly turned back in his seat and went back to work, staring at what appeared to be a blueprint of the Medical Arts Building on his laptop.
Pax smacked his lips, making an aggravating show of it, then grunted. “I still don’t get why Duffy recruited a civilian for this.”
“Because he’s capable,” Donnelly said.
“Why? Because he’s one of us? I don’t give a rat’s ass if he is a neo-human. You ain’t got the experience or know-how for this kind of thing, shrimp.”
Jae ignored him. Pax snorted heavily and continued. “A civilian who couldn’t even save his own girlfriend. What a ringing endorsement. Yeah, you’re definitely the right man for the job.”
A jab meant to provoke, and it worked. Jae edged forward in his seat, his hands closing tight into fists. Brandishing a knife, Dmitri moved quickly between the two, his blade glinting light from the monitors. “Fight now, and Cherie here will have something to say, and she’s eager to talk.”
“Dmitri is right. Stay focused,” Donnelly said.
“You know me, I’m always focused. The question is: is this mangy little mongrel focused? Pussy looks like he’s about to turn his knickers yellow, like the color of his skin,” Pax said.
“You really remind me of someone I used to know,” Jae said. “A real blowhard just like you, and always trying to compensate for something. A hopelessly insecure man.”
“And yet the burning man ended up having the last laugh, didn’t he?” Pax said, correctly guessing who Jae was referring to. “Since he strangled your lily-white girlfriend.”
“That’s enough,” Donnelly said.
“What are you going to do about it, G-man?” Pax asked.
Donnelly turned to face him, the expression on his scarred face hardening. “What do you think Mr. Duffy will do if I tell him you’ve been trying to provoke his newest asset?”
Pax shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m not provoking. I was just trying to harden his flabby ass. If—”
“You should know by now that Mr. Duffy favors harmony, not dissonance. Insolence will not be tolerated. End your provocations. Now.”
The expression on Pax’s face looked like a mixture of contempt, fear, and begrudging obedience. “I was just joking,” he finally said. It was a sad attempt to defuse the situation, but it seemed good enough for Donnelly Stone, who turned back to study what was on his laptop.
What kind of power did Morgan hold if his human intermediary could bully a neo-human into submission? Despite his many horrible qualities, Pax was still a fearsome man, and the fact that some aging billionaire’s proxy could hold that much sway over a person like that spoke volumes about his influence. Pax could crush Morgan’s skull between his steel hands if he wanted to, but instead it appeared the very utterance of Morgan Duffy’s name was enough to send him skittering in retreat.
Rena appeared before them, her advent as sudden as her departure, a slight gust of wind announcing her arrival.
“Report,” Donnelly commanded.
“The target is on the ninth floor, room 919, office with a window. And he does, in fact, have company with him,” she said.
“Who?”
“His transporter, Edison.”
Donnelly frowned. He turned to look at Jae. “That complicates things. Will you be able to handle that?”
“As long as I keep things friendly, the transporter shouldn’t be an issue,” Jae said.
“If you insist on walking through their front door, then there’s not much we can do to assist until your thirty minutes are up. You’re on your own. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jae rose from his seat. “Let’s get this over with.”
Chapter Fourteen
A rusted mesh fence served as a barricade to the entrance of the Medical Arts Building. Over that, a drape of iron bars and wooden planks provided an extra measure of security. Intimidating at first glance, it was mostly for show. Anyone determined enough to find a place to sleep for the night would have no difficulty shifting aside this faux blockade, walking inside, and occupying the building’s many abandoned rooms. But no one was desperate enough to do that, not even the poorest, coldest dregs. Everyone, from those who crawled belly to the dirt, to those who occupied gilded towers in unfathomable privilege, had their noses turned up at this place.
Medical Arts occupied a dubious place in the annals of Atlanta’s history. Having been built in the late 1920’s and withstanding modernization and gentrification, it served as both historic monument and eyesore, with its shattered windows, decayed paint, and rain-stained brick exterior. It sat in what many considered prime urban real estate, acting as a midpoint between midtown and downtown Atlanta, but the owners of this building, for whatever reason, refused to renovate and restore, seemingly content with having the building act as a pimple for the city. Despite the trendy business and commercial districts and the tall, gleaming skyscrapers that surrounded it, the building was stuck in the past, a relic that refused to drag itself into the 21st century. It was a leper, cast off by its proprietors and spurned by its neighbors.
And it was exactly that reason as to why it was the perfect cover for Daniel and his band of terrorist neo-humans. Daniel could do whatever he wanted within these walls, and no one would have any idea.
“Daniel?” Jae called out. His voice echoed out in the empty. “I’m here to talk. Can I come in?”
Only a calm wind answered his inquiry. Jae pulled one of the planks off the gate and shifted the fence over, the iron grating against the concrete, and stepped inside to the darkness. A strange, musky odor hit him.
“Hello? Is anyone here?” Jae called out.
Falling rocks clattered somewhere in the distance, the sound ringing. Jae took his phone out and turned on its flashlight. In its beam he saw a carpet of trash covering nearly every inch of the entire floor. Dust clung to the walls in a thick coating, and up above, thick, braided coils of wiring hung from the ceiling, bundled together like jungle foliage, reaching down to almost brush the top of Jae’s head.
“I’m just here to talk. That’s—”
Cold metal pressed against the back of Jae’s head. The sound of a gun cocking pierced the darkness.
“Who are you?” a woman’s voice demanded.
Jae raised his hands, slowly, the light from his phone bathing the walls and ceiling in a bright, white hue. He shifted his head to see if he could catch a glimpse of the woman behind him but abandoned the idea when the gun pushed against him. “My name is Jae Yeon. I’m here to speak with Daniel Duffy.”
“I don’t know a Jae Yeon or a Daniel Duffy,” she said.
“You might not know who I am, but you know a Daniel Duffy.”
“You’re sniffing the ass of the wrong dog. There’s no Daniel Duffy here.”
“You have a radio? Call him and ask. Tell him that Jae Yeon is here to see him.”
“I’m going to give you one chance to turn around and walk away. I suggest you take it. If not, then your brain matter will splatter these walls.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to check in with your superiors first?”
“I won’t repeat myself. Get lost.”
“I’d hate to see what would happen if he learns you turned me away. Do you really want to take that chance?”
Silence, a long stretch of it. Then a shuffling of noise, like something being pulled from a holster, then a sharp click. “We have someone here who wants to speak with the boss.”
“Who?” a voice answered back, speaking through a radio.
“He said his name was . . . what was your name again?”
“Jae Yeon.”
“Yeah, Jae Yeon. He said the boss knows him, but I don’t know him. What do you want me to do?”
Jae remembered the warning Daniel leveled against him back at the dorm fire, when he threatened an unfriendly welcome if they were to ever meet again. He hoped Daniel was bluffing.
“Bring him up,” the radio commanded.
Relief washed over Jae. The woman grunted, clicked the radio off, and tapped the gun against Jae’s head, encouraging him to move forward. “Lucky day. Move your feet.”
Jae obeyed, taking his first steps. Suddenly, the lights began to flicker around him, and he found himself in a hallway bathed in faint illumination. Several people emerged from opened doorways—men, women, and children—scrutinizing Jae as he walked past. Did Rena not see these people? Why didn’t she tell him about them? There was nothing to indicate that they were neo-humans, or even terrorists. Many of them looked like ordinary people in fact, the sort of blank, average faces one could find in a grocery store, or pass by on the street.
“Why are there so many people here? Are they all neo-humans?” Jae asked his new acquaintance, but no answer came. They reached the base of a flight of stairs and stopped.
“Elevator isn’t working, so up you go. And turn the light off from your phone,” the woman said.
Jae turned the light off from his phone and pocketed it. They ascended, passing by more ordinary looking people, each floor filled with new curious eyes wanting to catch a glimpse of their new guest. By the time they had reached the ninth floor, they had probably passed at least a hundred people, likely more. Are they all neo-humans? No, of course they are. They have to be. Jae took a moment to digest that realization, but his guide nudged him with the gun again, unwilling to stop. With a sigh, Jae obliged. They stopped before a set of double doors, faded green in color. A rusted plated number read: “919.” Ninth floor, room 919, just as Rena said.
The gun was eased away from Jae’s head. He waited for further instruction, but none came.
“Do I just go in?” Jae asked. No answer. He glanced over his shoulder but saw no one. What the hell? He looked around, but he was the only one present.
“Come in,” a voice called out from behind the door.
Jae looked at the door. For a moment, he wondered how Daniel knew he was here, but then he realized where he was—in a building filled with neo-humans—and whatever mystery there was quickly dissipated. Someone probably told him telepathically or something. The impossible was always possible with neo-humans, after all. But Jae couldn’t dwell on it any further. With less than thirty minutes to act, he couldn’t waste time thinking about every inconsequential detail of his visit. He had more pressing matters to attend to.
Jae opened the door, hinges creaking, and went inside.
He found himself in a large room, lit in a faint yellow glow by a tall lamp in the corner, and sparsely furnished with a few chairs, desks, and boxes. To his left was an expansive window, offering a scenic view of the midnight cityscape, and next to the window were two men and one woman talking, seemingly unaware of Jae’s entrance, their backs turned to him. Jae took a step forward, pausing when the floorboards gave a slight creak, but his audience seemed to not notice or care about the slight disturbance, continuing on with their conversation. Jae pondered on how to proceed, realizing that he didn’t really have a plan of engagement. Call out to Daniel and get his attention? Incapacitate them before they could do anything? Toss them out the window and call it a day?
The woman, who was the shortest of the three and wearing a military flak jacket, nodded to the man next to her, whose only distinguishable feature Jae could make out was black hair. The black-haired man nodded to the taller, bald man next to him, who waved his hands around and created a rippling portal behind the woman. She stepped through the portal, where it sealed up after her and vanished.
“That was your guide,” the black-haired man said, turning to look at Jae. “I apologize about her straightforwardness. She’s extremely distrustful of strangers and can be quite protective.”
There was no denying that this was Daniel Duffy. He looked exactly how he did when Jae saw his picture, with his almond shaped eyes, dark brown pupils, pale, white-yellow skin, and of course, his stark black hair.
Daniel stared at Jae from across the room, his gaze intense and observant. “Not a lot surprises me, but seeing you here definitely qualifies as one.” His mouth curled into a slight smile. “If I remember correctly, things weren’t so cordial the last time we met.”
“No, they weren’t,” Jae said.
“Then why are you here now? Are you here to fight?”
“No, I’m only here to talk.”
Daniel raised his eyebrows at that. “You weren’t so willing last time. What changed?”
“A lot.”
“Do you recall what I said if we ever met again?”
Jae recalled it clearly. “You said it wouldn’t be friendly.”
“And I usually make good on my promises, but for you, I think I can make an exception.” Daniel’s smile grew wider. “A man like you is too vital to hurt.”
So Morgan was correct. It appeared Daniel really had no intention of hurting Jae, at least for now. That helped calm the nerves some. Jae was eager to change the topic though, and quickly gestured at the hallway behind him. “My guide—how did she get in here? I didn’t see her walk in.”
“Ah, so you must have not noticed. Edison here created a portal for her.” Daniel gestured to the bald man next to him, ostensibly Edison, who nodded at Jae. The transporter, as he was known. The neo-human who made portals. Aside from his height, Edison was an unimposing figure. Bald, lanky, lacking color, and slightly hunched over, he looked harmless. Friendly even.
“Was my guide a neo-human?” Jae said.
“Was it not obvious?” Daniel asked.
“It’s just I never really got a good look at her.”
“She wouldn’t be very good at her job if you did. Camouflage—that’s her ability. A chameleon in human form. She could be standing right next to you, and while you might sense a presence at your back, you would never see her, because she’s blended right in.”
On reflex, Jae looked over his shoulder, but of course, saw nothing. Remarkably similar to Clay’s power of invisibility, he realized. Jae looked back at Daniel. “I passed by many neo-humans on my way up here. I had no idea you had so many working for you.”
“Only a small number actually work for me,” Daniel said.
That surprised Jae. “Then who are the rest?”
“The others are
here for a variety of different reasons. Some arrived seeking guidance and understanding for their powers, some are here seeking a community with kinfolk, and others came seeking my protection.”
“Protection from what?”
“From everyone who would do us harm or seek to exploit us, like my father, and many others like him.”
Jae was about to rebut him, but Daniel quickly interrupted him.
“I’m sure you’re probably wondering why a Phenom would even need protection. We all have remarkable abilities after all, so it should be an easy thing to protect ourselves, right? But realize that just because some Phenoms are capable of doing great things, it does not mean that they also have a taste for . . . what I do. Most want to be left alone, and are reluctant to use their abilities—afraid, even. And with the world becoming increasingly hostile to them, many realize they cannot stand alone, so they come to me for my protection, and I happily oblige.”
“Nobody said they had to use their powers. They can easily blend in if they didn’t use their abilities.” Jae said.
“So they should repress themselves just so others around them can feel comfortable? Why should Phenoms be ashamed of who they are? Of what they are? Why should they be barred from free expression?”
“I’m not saying that they should repress themselves, but rather exercise some self-control. We can do amazing things, but you know very well as I do that we can also be equally destructive. A measure of self-restraint is needed, don’t you think, considering what many of us are capable of?”
“And what will self-restraint do for us, exactly? People already think of us as savages, as if we’re inclined for destructive behavior. We have existed for six months and minded our own business, and yet they take one look at us and make all sorts of judgements. We are being criminalized for simply existing when we have done nothing wrong. The only thing self-restraint will do is make us an easier target.”
“Done nothing wrong? How can you say that with a straight face? You’re running around blowing people up! That’s nowhere near the same galaxy as nothing. How can you complain about supposed mistreatment while you wage a genocidal war against humanity?”