Hybrid: Project Vigil (8 page)

“
That can't be legal.”

“Who cares? We say if it's legal or not and remember it's just last resort if something goes wrong. Keep your head down and everything should be fine.”

“Few people care Hudson. Also why can't I meet others?”

"I'm sorry John, not my call. But I think I can go around that if you do something useful. And let me know what college you want to go to so I can get you there.

"Will do. Crisis, out"

John ended the call. Then he went to the shop to pay. Bikers watched him even more closely as he walked around them.

The cashier was watching news, something about North Korea making threats of nuclear attack.

“They are not gonna attack us. We would kick their asses.” John said to catch his attention. Cashier turned face to him.

“Why do you think so?”

John handled him precisely counted sum of money.

“Because I would be deployed.”

“You a soldier too? I serve in Army Reserve” Cashier's interest in John obviously raised.

John laughed. “Army Reserve? You guys don't even know how rifle looks like.” Then he started to walk towards the door.

“Who are you then? If you are so cool.”

John didn't even turned his head to answer he just said. “1st SFOD-D
*
.”

Cashier most likely doesn't know what that is. All John knew about his military classification was that he is member of Delta and should have rank of Corporal. Bikers still looked at him it already started to annoy him. He thought a little insult wouldn't hurt. So as he walked past them.

“What's up ladies? Do you like my muscles?”

Soon he heard heavy footsteps behind him and smell of cigarettes flooded his nostrils.

“You just called me and my fellas ladies?” Voice came from behind.

“Hey! Turn around when I talk to you!”

John felt adrenaline build up in his blood just like before good fight.

Claire said in his head. John turned around to face the origin of the voice.

“What is it m'lady?” They stood just few feet from the car, John wished he had his pistol. 'Weapons don't give you 100% chance of victory they just give you better bargaining position.' He remembered when Gillian said that once on shooting range.

“You want me to hit you?” Biker was trying hard to intimidate John.

“I want you to try, but I warn you. It could hurt you a lot.”

“What can you do to me?” Asked biker amusingly and swung his fist aiming for John's face.

John caught his hand mid air. “This.” Then he used his artificial arm to deliver punch to man's jaw. John let the fist he held go just milliseconds before he hit. That sent the man flying. Two other bikers went after him. John took first one down with elegant leg sweep.

Second one grabbed John's arm. John grabbed him too and smashed him
against a concrete column. The police officers were looking elsewhere.

“You aren't going to arrest me?” John asked them.

“No, 'bout a damn time someone kicked their asses.”

John sat back to car and drove away. John felt satisfied. Maybe he just made new enemies. Over years he had many enemies. None of them were lucky enough to survive. This country looked so calm and peaceful. Green forests, cold streams, rocky mountains.

People here had no idea who just moved into their lands.

They stopped few miles away from Breckenridge just before dawn. John needed Caroline to drive the last part. So John waited for her to wake up. Suddenly he couldn't resist the thought that they lied to him. He reached for pistol. Checked the rounds...real. He grabbed Caroline by front of her shirt to wake her up. Aimed at her head and yelled.

“Where is she?! Where's Gillian?!”

He woke up from the dream. His face and hands were covered with sweat. He must have fallen asleep while he waited for Caroline to wake up.

“Damn it keep your shit together John.” He said for himself...

*
Refers to fictional Geth-Quarian conflict

*
Popularly known a
s
Delta Force 1
st
SFOD-D is official name

It took Caroline almost an hour to wake up. John decided to check his C.I.A. I.D. card.

'Agent Sgt. John Blackburn'

“I guess I was promoted. Hope I'll be paid better.“ He said for himself.

“Damn it!”

It was 9am Saturday 1st of June. Caroline drove them slowly through the town. John could see people everywhere. Walking, buying groceries or just talking.

“We should buy some food too. I don't plan on starving.” Caroline parked in front of supermarket.

“Do you want to go with me?”

John put the sunglasses on. “Yes I want.”

He noticed that everyone was wearing short sleeve clothes and he wore lon
g sleeves to cover his arm and he also had gloves and jeans. That can attract some unwanted attention.

They walked towards supermarket. John took time to observe every person within twenty feet and with his fast senses he had plenty of time to do that.

“Maybe we'll meet some of my friends here and I can introduce you to few more people.” Caroline said smiling.

“If you say so.”

“You should smile a bit.” She said.

“Smile?”

“The thing you do with your face when Gillian is around.”

“She isn't around anymore.” Last memory of Gillian flickered in his head. Then he laid sight on approaching man. The moment their eyes met they recognized each other but both John and the man remained silent and kept walking.

“You know that man?” Caroline asked concerned.

“Yeah, he shot me once and I shot him back but not just once, about ten times.” John said.

Caroline just sighed.

While shopping John discovered lots of new things. Ice cream for example and he also saw humans in their natural
environment. But he still had suspicion for most of them. He even counted the change the cashier had given him. Caroline ordered him to carry the groceries to the car.

“We should buy you some clothing.” She looked at nearby clothes shop.

“Done.” John just ordered clothes online.

“Have I told you that we have to spare money until I find a job?” She looked at him

“Government gave me 10 million compensation for what they did to me so last thing I need to do is to spare money. And don't worry I'll keep most of it I'm going to need to pay for school.” He really received a compensation on a bank account with his name.

“Fine, just be
careful.”

They drove to the southern part of town, up the hill to Gold King Way. They stopped in front of nice house with big windows facing them. I had two floors and basement. A woman stood next to the fence gate.

“The hell is she doing here?” John asked.

“She gives us the key from the house. I got this, stay in the car. Never thought life with you would be so hard.” Caroline sounded annoyed.

“Deal with it.” John corrected position of his sunglasses.

It took about ten minutes to arrange all things. Then Caroline knocked at John's window.

“Unload!”

John reached for pistol under s
eat next to him and unloaded it then he put it back to it's box.

A car pulled over in front of next house, Caroline smiled on sight of it's passengers. John put down his sunglasses to see them better. A man and woman. Immediately after stepping out the woman headed towards Caroline.

“You are back! Where have you been those years?” The woman asked while hugging Caroline.

“Work.” Caroline said trying to evade the question.

Then the woman caught sight of John.

“And who's that? Your boyfriend? He is very handsome.”

John pretended to look for something in the car.

A flash of panic ran through Caroline's face.

“No. Actually he is my son. His name is John.”

John stopped pretending and shook hands with the stranger.

“Nice to meet you, I'm subject...I mean John.”

She smiled.

“Nice to meet you too John. I'm Miranda Stonebridge, I know your mother for years.”

Miranda would talk a lot longer but Caroline stopped her.

“So now you know each other. Miri excuse us we need to move in.”

“Yes of course, I'll come later.”

She said as she left.

“Who the hell was that?” John asked when she was far enough.

“My friend from college. Don't worry she is nice just sometimes a bit over-talkative. Now carry your things inside before the rest of it arrives.”

It took John over two hours. He picked a bedroom on western side of second floor he also claimed basement for weapons and equipment. He was about to start setting up computers in the basement when rest of things arrived in big truck. They brought everything John took and more. Looks like Caroline was the one looting before them. John carried most of things to the basement.

He started to set up database and multiple screens. His space was limited to two small tables, he ordered new furniture online with several other things. Garage was part of basement but car was still outside. Suddenly a door at the top of stairs opened, Caroline yelled at him.

“Come out from that damn cellar John! We have guests.”

Then a softer female voice said.

“I can just go down, no need to yell at someone.”

Soft footsteps on the stairs helped John remember one thing...he has all his weapons on a table behind him. There was no time to hide them and there was nothing to cover them with.

“Hi, you must be John.” The soft voice said from behind him.

He turned around.

“Obviously. And you are?”

He faced a black haired girl about his age. She smiled, he couldn't see much more in dim light of computer screens.

“I'm Emily Stonebridge, I'm your neighbor. Why are you holed up in this dark basement anyway?”

John thought of a lie that would explain why he has to wear gloves and long sleeve clothes.

“I prefer darkness over sunlight.”

“Why?”
She looked confused.

“I'm
allergic to sunlight, it affects arms and legs. I can be out for some time but not too long. That's why I'm down here.” He was a good liar, years back C.I.A. agents taught him in case he is interrogated by enemy. Shock in her face changed to surprise.

“I didn't know that.”

“I don't blame you for that. Let's go upstairs it's complete mess down here.”

She looked around.

“You're right. Let's go.”

John hoped that she couldn't see the guns.

“Good. You can help me get UV filters on the windows.”

He wanted to put screen foil they used back in facility on the windows so he can have bigger screens for computers. Now he had someone to help with that. While they worked she asked a lot of questions.

“What do you like to do in your free time John?” Questions like this. Questions he didn't have answers to.

“I like to read, run, computer stuff and sometimes I went shooting with my father. What about you.” Lies, lies, lies except running.

“I prefer hiking over running, I can take you with me if you want. Mountains around here are so beautiful. I also like to take photos.” She had sw
eet voice, Gillian would hate her.

“That would be nice. I could use seeing some trees after so many years in desert.” That was truth. He saw almost every terrain during training, but spent last year in desert.

“I've always wanted to see desert.”

“It's overrated
.”

Like this it went on for about thirty minutes until all second floor windows had screen foils on them. They stood in front of the big window on front side of house.

“Why those UV filters have wires in left upper corners?” She asked after installing last one.

“Check if laptop in my bedroom is turned on and I'll show you.”

Emily came back from his bedroom. “It's turned on.”

“Now watch this.” John watched lines of code on his HUD.

All screens lit up with data from John's memory drives. Photo of Gillian was on the biggest part of screen.

“It works.” He knew it will, but didn't really believe it.

“Who is that? Your girlfriend?”

For once John rather decided not to lie. “Yes, she is. I miss her.”

“What is her name?” Damn it, she'll never stop asking.

“Gillian.” The more he was thinking about her the more pictures appeared. He just raised his hand and swept them away from screens. He really missed her, after less that 24 hours.

“Will you ever see her again?”

“One day
maybe.” And anyone in my way will die a horrible death. John added for himself. His thoughts summoned pictures of fighting.

“What's that?”

“Just some games.”

When their guests left the house it was late afternoon and John was hungry. When he came down to the kitchen Caroline was expecting him.

“How much you told her?” She asked with interrogative face.

“She has no clue who I am, thinks I have sun allergy. What about the other one, Miranda it was?” John inspected contents of fridge.

“Good, I hope you behaved
nicely. Anyway what were you two doing upstairs? Don't worry I told Miranda same thing, Claire sent me message with details. What a smart A.I.”

She gave John a plate with few sandwiches.

“She helped me set up the screen foils. What else Miranda wanted? Except the thing about you having a son without her knowing.”

“You used that? Good idea. They want to put some meat on the grill tomorrow, we're invited.”

Their conversation in the kitchen lasted for hour. After it John went back upstairs to have a look at something, computers in basement can wait for now. He took the sheet of paper from Briggs and began to work. There was a small version of living room upstairs so he was comfortable. All he knew was on the big screen. Soon he added a photo to each name, later a personal file from C.I.A. database. It was hard to hack through it. At first he tried if he has access with his ID. Few times he went down for something to drink. Most of the time Caroline was on the phone. When he sat down again he had no ideas how to move forward. He started to focus, slow down breathing, focus. Sub-reality was same as he left it. Instead of thinking about the names he decided to find out more about Emily.

"Why do you spy on her John?"
Claire asked.

“I want to know something more, that's not spying.”

"So you'll have a file on her, some dirt if you need to blackmail her."

“You think I'll have to?”

"Maybe."

When he gathered what he could, there wasn't much dirt he could dig up but lots of information on her. He woke up from sub-reality. Sun was about to go down judging from light. Twenty names, photos and some personal details were on the big screen.

“Where are they?”

"I don't know yet but I'll find out."

“Good, good.” He was satisfied with Claire's progress.

"What do you want to do with them?"

Most of the men were from special forces. Recruited in early stages of project.

“They know how to kill hybrids. They already killed some of us. If they ally with wrong people we're all dead. These men must be eliminated.”