by Ballan, Greg
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Epilogue
Six weeks had passed since the dramatic climax of events in the sleepy suburb of Hopedale.
The military had done an excellent job of squelching any further outside media regarding the unorthodox occurrences. All photographs of the Esper-Human Hybrid and Seelak encounter were confiscated for official government security reasons, leaving behind several furious press photographers and reporters. There were several small carefully planted stories pertaining to the incidents in the larger metropolitan papers such as the Boston Globe, but each story related the events and occurrences in humanistic terms, ignoring the actual facts.
People who actually witnessed the encounter rarely spoke of it. The parents of the children who were abducted were paid substantial amounts of cash from the government to say nothing. The Reynolds, who had no need of money, were compensated by receiving lucrative government contracts to the family's business enterprises. The Pendletons also benefited greatly by saying nothing more of their daughter's abduction. Two of the families had placed their homes on the market with the intentions of moving as far away from Hopedale as possible and starting over again with their new federally funded nest egg.
Erik Knight continued his small agency, operating out of Madame's Restaurant, and continued to fret over his finances. His relationship with Shanda intensified. An inseparable bond had formed between the two, which Erik planned to cement with a diamond.
He would occasionally feel the irresistible urge to head up into the mountain where he would vanish for several days at a time in the woodlands with little notice. Erik liked becoming the Hybrid, and enjoyed leaping from tree to tree like a jungle animal. He could move through the forest like a phantom, unseen and unheard, unfettered by darkness or any other limitation that would beset a normal man. These private times allowed him to further explore his talents and abilities. To Erik, these times were as close to ultimate freedom as he could experience. As the Hybrid, he could sense the very essence of every living thing around him from the largest deer to the smallest fly. It gave him a new appreciation for wildlife and the wonders of nature.
It was at the end of one of Erik's forays into the mountain that he spotted Martin Denton's SUV parked outside Madame's. Erik walked into the restaurant quickly and was intercepted immediately by Alissa. The young waitress gestured to him as she walked toward him.
“Mr. Denton has been here for you for the past three days. I told him that I would have you contact him upon your return, but he didn't seem to want to wait,” she whispered to him as he headed toward his office. “I keep telling you, Shanda keeps telling you, and Jeff has told you: When you get the urge to commune with nature, please bring along your cell phone so we can reach you in case of emergencies. Or,” the waitress continued, “times like this when you have important people who need to contact you.”
Erik looked down at the small woman and smiled brightly. “Yes, Mother.” He opened the door to his office.
Denton was sitting on Erik's couch, examining a framed picture of Erik, Shanda, and Brianna. The attorney looked up, startled, and stood, quickly placing the frame back on the table.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to show up here again,” Denton began as he extended his hand toward Erik.
“Sorry about that, Martin, I wasn't expecting anybody this week,” Erik apologized as he shook the man's outstretched hand.
“My boy, you need a pager, or a cell phone, or something,” Denton added as Alissa cleared her throat and elbowed Erik in the side.
“So I've been told,” Erik answered, looking at Alissa. “Repeatedly,” he added, watching Alissa leave with a self-satisfied smirk.
Martin sat back down on the couch, and Erik sat at his desk. He looked over at the large man in a suit who always accompanied the older man and nodded slightly. The suit returned the gesture. The three men sat in silence for nearly sixty seconds.
“Erik, I'm going to get right to the point,” Denton began.
“Please do,” Erik replied.
Denton smiled. “You've been a consultant for our company for quite a while now, and have established an excellent reputation within the firm.”
“Thank you,” Erik replied, wondering where this was going.
“Our firm is looking to branch out, get into smaller markets. Establish a more personal relationship with small clients. Only our operatives and agents aren't equipped to deal with the kind of cases that come up in this type of market. We're used to corporate investigations, political corruption, and cases of that nature. We want to broaden our base, so to speak, but don't have the in-house capability,” the elder man stated.
“Are you trying to recruit me, Martin?”
“In a way,” the older man answered. “Before you answer, please hear what I have to say.”
“Please,” Erik replied, gesturing for the man to continue.
“Let me start by saying that the firm knows that you've undergone ... how shall I phrase it, a change?” he stated delicately.
Denton reached inside his black attaché case and produced a sealed envelope. He tossed the envelope toward Erik who opened it carefully. The envelope contained a series of nine by fourteen photographs. They were pictures of Erik, as the Hybrid. Erik studied the pictures carefully; they were various snap shots of his final confrontation. It was unnerving to see himself that way in photographs, and it reminded him that beneath his human-looking appearance, he was a being very alien to those people around him.
He looked over at Denton, his eyes desperate. “And what makes you think this is me?” Erik challenged.
“Keep going,” the older man urged.
Erik came to the final three pictures that clearly showed the silvery being reverting back to its human form, his particular human form. Erik was impressed. He realized that Denton's law firm must be very powerful and influential to be able to keep these from the military and the government.
“I suppose you're not going to tell me how you got these,” he said, chagrined as he placed the pictures back in the envelope and placed them on his desk.
“That would be betraying a confidence,” Denton answered.
“Are you going to try to blackmail me with these? Is that why you're here?” Erik said forcefully as he stood up from his chair.
“No! My young friend, please sit down, nothing like that. I just want to be completely open with you, lay out all the cards on the table. The firm knows what you are, and I'm sure you've already guessed that we're more than simply a law firm, but that's a discussion for later. We've discussed recruiting you before, but I've always advised against it. You're most effective as a rogue, and frankly, you wouldn't fit into the corporate structure of the firm.”
“Thanks,” Erik remarked dryly.
“I'm telling you nothing that you don't already know, young man,” Denton responded. “But, there are things that you don't know, such as even now, there are several organizations within the government and military that have taken great interest in you.”
“I've expected as much,” Erik replied. “I didn't think that this would just go away. But,” he added, “I'm more than able to take care of myself. I have capabilities that the military or government haven't seen, that your firm hasn't seen. I'll make them sorry if they come after me,” Erik added in a deadly voice of steel.
“Which is exactly why they won't come after you,” Denton responded. “They'll come after your pretty little girlfriend. They'll come at you from your daughter, they'll come at you from your friends. They'll come at you from your business, attacking everything that you care about, never confronting you directly, but always there in the shadows,” the old man replied. “As strong and as powerful as we suspect you've become, you can't be in two or three places at once, can you?” Denton asked gently.
Erik sighed heavily. He hadn't anticipated having to protect those around him, only himself. Suddenly, he felt very stupid and very f
oolish. That feeling of helplessness began to settle in the pit of his stomach, the feeling that he detested most of all. He felt his eyes burning, and he glanced down at his hands, which were resting in his lap. The skin began to change hue; he felt his muscle tissue contract as the adrenaline in his body reacted with his genetically enhanced DNA.
“No,” Erik answered with a savage hiss that made the older man shudder. “I can't be in two places. But if they hurt my daughter, or anyone close to me, I'll make the Seelak problem seem like a kindergarten picnic. I have the ability to wreak more havoc than just stirring up a small town.” He looked up at the older man.
Two fiery aqua embers replaced Erik's blue eyes. His body seemed to swell as he raised a metallic fist. He grabbed two three-inch thick telephone books from his shelf and effortlessly tore the volumes in half with his bare hands. The act of aggression seemed to calm him and he felt the mutation lose its hold upon him. He looked down at his hands; they were flesh colored again, and the mild burning sensation that marked his transformation ceased.
He looked over at Denton; it was clear that the old man was nervous, seeing pictures of a transformation and actually observing the phenomenon were very different. “I'm sorry, Martin, sometimes when I get aggravated, it begins to happen without my control. I didn't think about the others, I didn't think they'd be affected by this so soon. I figured I'd have enough time to sort through all the complications and work it all out before hand,” he whispered as he looked at the older man. “That was pretty stupid of me.”
“Nobody is perfect, Erik,” Denton said, his voice warm with understanding. “Good people don't go after innocents, Erik, and you're good people. Unfortunately, there are those people in higher places that don't play by the same rules you do. That's where we can help you. We are the most powerful law firm on the eastern coast; we have connections in Washington all the way up to the President. We can protect you, your family, and your friends. I know how you feel about being your own man, and I understand and respect that. I would have made this offer to you months ago if I thought you'd accept.
“Even without your new capabilities, you're an asset. Now, you're not only an asset, but you're going to be a target for every black ops military program with a budget or government agency with some scheme that would benefit from your talents. Sooner or later, they will come for you, and the government doesn't play fair. They'll use any method to take what they want, and they won't ask before they do it. Whether they go through your family or your lover, they won't stop until you capitulate. To them, you're an uncontrolled, unknown force—a threat to government security and, more importantly, a resource they wish to exploit.”
“I have no wish to work for the government,” Erik said forcefully. “Tell your black ops friends that if I'm pushed I will push back, and they won't like it when I do. I can be just as dark and deadly as any government agency, Martin. If it comes down to a war, I'll give no quarter, government official or not; bureaucratic bones break just as easy as anybody else's,” the detective threatened. “If you really want to serve your Washington employers, you best tell them to back off and stay very clear of my world,” he warned. “Or else.”
Denton sighed; he'd anticipated Erik's stubbornness. “Let me finish, please. Think about what you're saying. Do you want armed agents raiding this place? Do you want the government issuing a warrant for your apprehension, if it comes to that? Maybe you can fight off the army and the government, maybe you're even more powerful than we suspect, but, Erik, you can't live in a vacuum. You can't spend every waking moment fighting the government,” Denton implored.
“Son, you're outnumbered by about a million to one. Also, how long until the Chinese or the Middle Eastern factions get wind of what happened here? That's an entirely new kettle of fish. Do you really think you can take on the whole world by yourself? Is that what you really want: to spend the rest of your days fighting and fretting?” Denton asked in a reasonable tone.
Erik exhaled heavily as he considered Martin's words. The elder gentleman had an annoying way of putting things into perspective. Erik knew he was right; alone he could probably engage any force, but he wasn't alone, he had a child and he had other relationships. As powerful as he was, he couldn't protect them all. Denton was offering him a possible way out, a solution to a problem he hadn't fully considered yet. Working for the government left a foul taste in his mouth; taking orders and simply being a lackey wasn't his idea of a life, especially since he'd spent most of his adult life avoiding this type of situation.
Erik cracked his knuckles and shook his head, frustrated. He felt trapped, caged by events beyond his control. He had no way out; the government, apparently, wasted no time in coming for him.
“So, what exactly are you proposing?”
Denton smiled, obviously encouraged by Erik listening to reason so quickly. “If you join the firm, we'll make the appropriate contacts to see that you're undisturbed. Also, you get the benefit of a steady, rather large paycheck, whether you're on active status or not. You will no longer have financial problems and you'll have more time, effort, and equipment to help those that come to you, the little person who really needs the help,” Denton added as a further enticement. “Hell, even if you don't join the firm, I'll do everything in my power to keep you appraised of what's coming your way. I like you and I respect you,” the old man paused. “I'd also like to consider you a friend as well as a business associate.”
Erik was tempted, but also suspicious. The offer was nothing like he'd anticipated; in fact, it was almost too good to be true. “It's a very generous offer, but what's in it for the firm?”
“Fair question,” Denton answered. “We get the benefit of branching out into human interest cases. I won't lie to you. There is a degree of self-interest here. We want to bolster our favorability rating in the market place. Branching out into smaller human-interest cases will allow us better position in public relations. The firm plans on growing into this market slowly, one man at first, then eventually grow that one man to a team leader of three or four investigators. We've gotten the reputation as a ‘rich man's’ firm. I admit that we haven't done ourselves any favors with some of our clientele, but there are those on the board of directors who feel that we could benefit from some good PR.
“Plus, there's the other side of the issue. The larger cases, the kind of things that we do in the dark for dear old ‘Uncle Sam.’ I already know you're familiar with those, because we've used your talents on these in the past. Only now, we see the ability to use you on more sensitive cases that would benefit from your unique talents,” Denton answered honestly and bluntly. “I won't lie to you. Seventy to eighty percent of the time, you'll be doing your own thing, being your own man as you prefer, with the exception that our firm will be diverting a small number of small private clients to you, in addition to the clients you glean yourself.
“The other times, we'll need you—'we’ being the firm and the feds—on our more ... sensitive projects. There'll be times when we may pull you from a small case to handle something of a delicate nature for us. We'll place an outside specialist to pick up your case load in your absence. You have the firm's solemn word that your clients won't suffer for your removal if that occurs.”
Erik leaned back in his chair. Denton's offer was appealing; he had refused an offer long ago, and it had cost him his marriage and nearly cost him his daughter as well. “You make a good case, Martin, a damn good case. As long as you can assure me that I'll still have my own business, and am my own man most of the time, I think we can come to an agreement.”
“You have Martin Denton's solemn word.” The man extended his hand.
“One thing first, something I've been sitting on and could use your help with.”
Denton raised an eyebrow as Erik walked away from his outstretched hand toward his wall safe. Erik tapped several keys on the safe's code pad and the small steel door swung open. He reached into the wall unit and produced a black leather binder. He appro
ached Denton and tossed him the binder. The old man opened the binder and leafed through its contents. He looked at the young investigator incredulous.
“Mineralogical reports, mining core samples from Hopedale Mountain,” the elder lawyer remarked. “That's all conservation land. Nobody should be doing anything up there, let alone conducting a mining operation.” He placed the folder on Erik's coffee table. “I gather you obtained this from the site during your escapade last month.”
Erik nodded.
“Pendelcorp is a tough nut; if I recall correctly, the CEO is now married to your ex-wife,” Denton observed. “This wouldn't be a personal vendetta, would it?”
Erik looked over at the old man, his eyes burning. “Martin, if I wanted to deal with Richard, I'd handle it in a more subtle manner. This document puts his corporation at the site where those creatures were. I saw abandoned mining equipment in that tunnel, as well as several corpses. They unearthed those monstrosities, broke into their chambers, and unleashed them upon this town. They're responsible for the deaths of at least a dozen men up there, as well as indirectly accountable for the death of forty or fifty soldiers, and possibly two pilots and choppers.
“I don't have enough horsepower to go after Pendelton directly with this, but with your firm and your reputation, you could begin the process of exposing those weasels. I'm not an attorney, so I don't know how to go about building the right kind of case against them. This is the kind of thing you specialize in, can you help me?”
Denton leaned forward, picked up the bound pages, and leafed through the pages of the binder again. The dated reports and studies were incriminating, but the firm would need more to go on than one man's word and a binder. Plus, the government had already released its report on what had occurred up on Hopedale Mountain. Trying to prosecute this now would undoubtedly catch the interest of certain federal agencies that would rather the matter be kept quiet. Denton knew that to pursue this without further evidence would be pointless, and to hunt down further evidence would only involve the same bureaucracy that wanted this story buried forever.