Chapter Three
The Beast
“I don’t like this one bit Chantry! We should not have come here!” Flint said testily.
Chantry patted Flint’s hand consoling, “I fully appreciate your reservations on this matter, but it has to be. He’s the best and perhaps only candidate suited for the job at hand.”
“He’s nothing but a brutal animal that would be best off taken out in the street and shot like a mad dog.” Flint responded hotly.
“And yet he is your brother, perhaps he deserves a second chance.”
Flint gave Chantry the full heat of his gaze, “He’ll burn you Chantry! He’s not to be trusted! He only looks out for himself and what he wants!”
“I’m not planning on trusting him Flint, rather I intend of manipulating him to do my will.”
“He’s too cunning for that Chantry!”
“I know, which is why when it comes down to it I’m going to be relying on his finer qualities to do the right thing. I just hope that there still buried somewhere yet inside of him.”
Flint looked away out the window of the chopper, “Chantry I won’t deny that at one time my brother was different, more controllable at least, but all that’s gone now since they twisted him up inside. He can’t be reasoned with!”
“He deserves a second chance Flint. I’d do the same for you and you know it.”
Flint shook his head angry, but he was defeated by his mentor’s stubbornness to relent from this foolish quest. “Maria should not go with us and you know why!”
“That’s precisely why she should come to help distract him.” Chantry said calmly.
Flint’s jaw pulsed angrily, but he said nothing further.
Chantry turned to address Maria Christina his gaze concerned, “Flint is right to be worried Maria. You need to use extreme caution and do not hesitate to shoot him if the situation warrants it. Above all do not try to fight him in hand-to-hand combat, you’ll lose.”
“I can handle myself!” Maria retorted back in an insulted tone. Maria wasn’t prepared for the sudden furious onslaught from the normally well-controlled Flint that erupted at her words.
“Do as he says! If my brother gets the drop on Temple and me you’ll wish you had never been born by the time he’s through with you!”
Maria stared at Flint shocked, she had never seen him so furious and wisely she remained silent.
“I’ve located where it appears that he lives.” Temple called out from the cockpit.
“Set us down near it.” Chantry responded.
With the aid of a walking cane Chantry made his way up the intricately inlaid flagstone pathway to the equally exquisite stone house. Maria commented on the beauty of the stonework, especially that of the house that appeared to have no mortar used in its construction.
“My brother was always good with his hands.” Flint commented grimly, in response to her praise of the stonework.
Chantry stepped through the open door into the one room space beyond. Beautifully cast-iron windchimes tinkled in the breeze blowing through the tall narrow windows artfully crafted into the stone walls.
The beautiful artistry on display all around him helped Chantry quell the fears that he felt inwardly that he was about to make one of the worst mistakes of his life by coming here to recruit Flint’s brother. He honestly hadn’t expected to be back to this island, since five years previously, when he had dumped John out of a chopper into the waters offshore. It just went to show that you never knew what pathway life would take a person.
Temple asked, “What do we do now?”
“We wait.” Chantry said, moving a hand whittled chess piece several squares forward on a homemade chessboard.
Maria asked gazing around wonderingly, “You left him all this metal to work with?”
Chantry shook his head no, “He must have mined it out and made his own steel with the use of charcoal and some other ingredients he found on the island. Which means……”
“He has knives, perhaps even a sword.” Flint finished for him darkly.
Maria glanced from Chantry to Flint. She’d never seen Chantry so keyed up before and Flint had descended into naked hostility the closer they had gotten to this island.
“Just what did he do?” Maria asked looking between the two of them.
Chantry spoke up never looking up from the chessboard, as he played the opposite side against himself, “Among other things he killed a fellow agent.”
“After he raped her.” Flint added pointedly.
Maria was truly shocked now.
“Why didn’t you just kill him for that?”
“He wasn’t entirely himself at the time and to be truly honest I’m still not sure that he is now.” Chantry said softly giving the pristine interior of the house another glance.
“Why have I never heard of this?” Maria exclaimed.
“It happened a good many years ago and at the time we didn’t want to publicize it too much.”
“Who was she?” Maria asked, shocked by all these Agency revelations that she knew nothing about. Maria continued on before her question could be answered, “You said you dropped him off here five years ago, but that his agency status was before my time?”
Chantry nodded, “He went rogue for several years and piled up a lot of destruction. Mostly against villains, which I didn’t mind, but when it became clear that he was a menace to society itself I brought him here so he couldn’t hurt anyone. Now the world is different and you could say that savage people like him is what the new normal will be unless we break the Code’s grip on the world.”
Still curious Maria asked again, “Who was she?”
“She was my sister.” Temple said speaking up for the first time.
Maria gasped and stopped with her questions not sure if she wanted to know any more answers.
They’d made no attempt at stealth, as they’d sat right down in front of the house with the chopper. I’d already scouted around to verify if there were any snipers to worry about. There weren’t. Perhaps my execution wasn’t what they had in mind after all. How intriguing.
The door was open so I sauntered inside and immediately I didn’t like what I saw. Chantry hadn’t just brought any run-of-the-mill stiffs with him. He’d brought my self-righteous brother, a girl that was nothing but eye candy meant to distract me, and worst of all Lori’s brother.
I sat down opposite of Chantry and I met his calculated smile with one of my own. He didn’t intimidate me. He never had. Cocking my head to the side slightly I asked, “I don’t recall inviting you to my island.”
“No, I don’t believe you did. May I stay?”
Oh he was a cagey one he was, but two could play at that game.
“No.”
“Oh, well I’ll leave then, but an old man like me is going to take at least five minutes to get going.”
“Did I say that I’d let you leave?”
“I don’t believe you did, may I?” Chantry responded in kind.
Sighing, tired of the game, I slouched back into the chair, “What do you want Chantry?”
“I thought perhaps we could arrange a little holiday from your quaint little island for you.”
After five years of surviving the harsh elements on this little island they wanted to give me a vacation? Yeah right!
“Chantry do you seriously think that I’m still on this island, because I don’t have the ability to leave it of my own free will?”
“Of course not! A resourceful man like you could easily build a seaworthy vessel and sail out of here with confidence. It’s the very fact that you haven’t that gives me confidence that some part of you may be ready for the challenges of society again.”
The chessboard and its pieces went flying and I was leaning across the table with a knife buried in the table in front of Chantry. The blade itself was slid between the crease of two of Chantry’s fingers resting on the table. My actions had been so fast that only my brother had the impulse to start to step forward. Chantry never so much as blinked, my face was but inches from his older more fragile one.
“Did it not ever occur to you that perhaps all I want is to be left alone?”
“It has.” Chantry replied calmly.
There was no budge in the old man’s eyes and I saw what I had always respected about him most, courage. I sat back down contemplating him. I glanced around at the odd group gathered within my house. Temple was stoically unreadable as ever, my brother’s hard-won control over his temper was barely leashed and the girl? She was brave, but unsettled.
I drank in her sensuous form. It had been a long five years without the one pleasure I craved most in life. Seeing her made the ach ten times more severe, but that was what her purpose here was for, to be a distraction. She did a good job of it too.
I felt the sharp pulse of a headache beginning in the back of my head. I had just been playing with them up until now, but anger wasn’t far away now. I watched as Chantry worked on pulling the embedded dagger free with his arthritic fingers. Successfully, after much tugging, the blade came free and he turned it over in his hands admiring the liquid flowing design engraved into the dagger.
“Absolutely beautiful John, you missed your calling in life! You’re good at being destructive, but your even better at creating.”
I shook my head softly, “The world must be in an awful sorry state for you to be here knocking on my door wanting to play twenty questions.”
Chantry nodded, “It is, in fact it’s downright awful and I need your help setting something right. The job I have in mind requires someone with a particular range of talents and freedom of expression.”
“You mean someone who’s crazy.” I added dryly.
Chantry’s response was sharp, “I’ve never called you that John!”
“No, you haven’t.” I admitted softly.
“A wild force of uncontrollable nature would be a more apt description for you. John, the world that was before when you were brought here, is no more. In short it has collapsed in mass at the feet of a select few puppeteer masters and we’re not sure who they are. They engineered a Code that controls everything mechanical and linked wirelessly the world around. Nothing happens or gets done without their say so. They have a virtual monopoly on the world’s market and there is no freedom at all for those who oppose them. The United States opposed them along with Canada, Australia, Great Britain, France, South Africa, and Japan. As punishment the Code shut them down. Millions have died John and millions more are likely to soon follow. This has been the reality of the world for the last two years. I think you can full well imagine what has taken place in the absence of any governing order in the form of either local police or military presence. Many atrocities have been committed in these switched off countries and many more within the nations now serving the requests of the Code. Genocide of certain ethnicities is happening on a global scale. I said the losses are in the millions so far, but if this Code and whoever is behind it are not stopped the numbers could reach into the billions. We must stop and break the power of this Code so that order can be restored and the injustices stopped before any more innocent blood is spilled!”
As unbelievable as it all sounded Chantry wasn’t one to lie and his passion was testimony enough, as to the truth of what he spoke of. I couldn’t believe it in terms of one thing though. I gazed at Chantry incredulously and then at those around the room, I began to laugh harder than I had in years. Oh this was rich!
Chantry looked displeased at my outburst of mirth and eventually I quieted down into post mirth, still half shaking with laughter. I sat up wiping the tears from my eyes and met Chantry’s now angry gaze.
“The world needs saving so you come to me?” I said pointing to myself mockingly.
“Regrettably yes.” Chantry responded tightlipped.
My mirth fell away in an instance, as I leaned closer to Chantry, “The world can go to hell for all I care Chantry! I have what I need. The world never did anything for me so why should I do anything for it?”
The last part hadn’t really been a question, but more of a statement of how little I cared for the plight for survival that mankind now found itself mired in.
“I told you this was a waste of time Chantry!” Flint said speaking up harshly for the first time.
I turned to him, “So sorry to disappoint you big brother, but I simply couldn’t care less about whatever good objectives you Agency hacks are up to now. Speaking of now, I think it’s about time you got off my island!”
Flint started for the door, but stopped at a gesture from Chantry.
“It has become clear that you won’t help us for any inducement of honor or nationalistic pride. What then might I ask would be something of value to which we might purchase your loyalties for the mission I have in mind?” Chantry asked not giving anything away.
I sat back in my chair looking him over contemplatively.
“Well you know Chantry I’m not quite sure as to what could significantly motivate me to joining the side of pure moral authority, but give me a few days to think about it, as I enjoy your pretty little agent over there and I should be able to come up with an answer for you.”
Chantry just smiled at my hedonistic request, but I heard the girl gasp and my brother’s teeth grind some more.
“You are a disgrace on our parents name John!” Flint exclaimed angrily.
“I guess I’ll have to take your word on that James, as I can’t remember them enough to say anything to the contrary.”
For just one moment the anger in Flint’s eyes dimmed, but then it was back in full force, “And to think mother named you for John the Baptist!”
Smoothly I quoted, “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?”
Flint looked like he wanted to break something and I smiled charmingly digging it in even further. He turned away to stalk over to a window and I turned back to see a speculative look in Chantry’s eyes. That look didn’t bode well. What did he have up his sleeve?
“I think we may have hit on something here John. A means of inducement, if you will, to engage you to do our bidding.”
I waited him out not saying anything.
“Would you like a woman John?”
Now that I had not been expecting to come from him. He truly must be desperate to offer such a thing. He pulled a picture from an inside coat pocket and scooted it across the table to me. I glanced down at the picture and was arrested instantly by what I saw. I glanced up from the picture to study Chantry carefully.
“She is your mission John, if you choose to accept it.”
I glanced down to the picture as Chantry continued. “She is of mixed parentage, as you might have imagined from her exotic features. Her mother was of Albanian descent and her father was Japanese. Her mother met her father through an escort service, while he was on a business trip. The father took such a liking to her mother that he paid for exclusive rights to her. The two eventually married and the result you see lying before you. She is quite stunning isn’t she John. Her father was the CEO of a rather important Cybertek firm. When she was three a kidnapping attempt was made. She was spirited away by a trusted bodyguard, but they managed to nab the mother. Whatever the kidnapper’s request were we’re not sure, but we do know that the father refused to grant them. The kidnapping was never made aware to the public. A month after negotiation fell through pieces of the mother were mailed to her husband. After that the girl’s father became paranoid over ensuring the safety of his daughter. He raised her in virtual isolation from the outside world that existed beyond the corporate tower complex of his corporation’s headquarters in Tokyo. We don’t know much about her early years other than, even as a child she possessed a genius like intellect and aptitude for technology, even more so than her father had been gifted with. She was given her own research and development wing at the age of 14. Her father insisted on exposing her to some outside influence, in preparation for her one day takeover of the corporation. He sent her to college in New York City, where she attended classes for four years, with a private security detail equal to what a president would receive. We know that there were several attempts made on her life during that time period, but none were successful. She returned to Japan and essentially took over the entire research division of her father’s company. He still served as CEO and was an active part, but it was her that set the tempo of the entire company. Seven years of unparalleled success went by, until the day the company was seized in a hostile takeover. The girl disappeared and her father committed suicide under suspicious circumstances. An EM pulse struck the world and there was global chaos. It is thought that the global recovery would have gone much smoother and less dangerously, if her company had been at the helm of the recovery effort, but the company was virtually shut down following the hostile takeover. We presumed the girl was lost for two long years, as the Code’s grip tightened down on the world, until four days ago. A hacker managed to somehow break into the Code’s operating data field. We don’t know any more than that. Following the breach the Code shut down most of the ability to interact with it worldwide, which has caused the hopes of many to rise in anticipation that there may yet be a chance of breaking the Code and regaining independence. Coinciding with the breach there was the largest ever to date bounty placed on the head of our girl here. The Code’s masters, at least seem, to believe that she is still alive. We’ve been unable to find a trace of her Japanese name, but Temple was able to discover the presence and activity of one Asia Smith on the Code’s mainframe. Asia Smith is the name of an obscure online gaming ID login that we believe was created by our girl here some time in her youth for a brief period of time before she went to college. We think that may be the name that she’s going by now. She may very well be the key or have the key to breaking the Code. The breach occurred in New York City and judging from the hell that the city has become it’s doubtful that she will be able to escape from it on her own, if she’s even trying in the first place. She is in grave peril and needs to be rescued as quickly as possible!”
“So let me get this right, you want me to make my way across a nation gone nuts to the biggest nut house of them all, where there probably already eating each other, if things are as bad as you say they are. Once there somehow, in the ruins of the city, I’m too find one little Asian chick hacker, who knows how to hide and bring her back to you? I have to admit Chantry that there is a heck of a complement in there for whatever abilities you believe I might possess, but the fact of the matter is that I’m not God and there’s still nothing in it for me. So no deal!”
Chantry was unfazed, “After you rescue her I want you to bring her here and I want you to keep her here safe, while she works on breaking the Code up to a year’s time from now.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop in the room.
“You really think I’m going to be able to keep my hands off of a hot chick like her for an entire year?” I asked disbelievingly.
Chantry’s gaze didn’t waver, “Given your track record with women I very much doubt you’ll last longer than a few days without putting your hands on her. All that I ask is that you be as gentle with her as you can be and that you keep her safe, while she works on the Code, until I can come for her.”
I had to admit that Chantry had surprised me with this one. “You’re actually serious about all this aren’t you.” I said wonderingly.
“I’m afraid I am.” Chantry stated resignedly.
I glanced off to the side at the Maria girl, as an old bitterness welled up inside of me that made me see red, which caused the headache I was suffering from to pound with earnest intensity. Maria’s jaw had fallen open in complete incredibility, as she stared at Chantry, as if she’d never known the man.
“This!” I said speaking directly to her, “Is what being hung out to dry and burned looks like! Remember it well and if you take my advice you’ll run from the Agency before some bean counter decides that you’re expendable to!”
Maria regained control of her face only to respond questioningly, “Is that what happened to you?”
Everything came back to me in an instance from the past and I couldn’t control the old hatreds that overwhelmed my sense of control. I looked at Chantry. I would kill him now! I started up, but was halted by my brother’s strong arms surrounding me tightly. He hadn’t had to do that. He could have just shot me, as my attention hadn’t been on him.
“No John!” He spoke directly into my ear.
I could break his hold, as even though I was the younger of the two of us I was the stronger. I was stronger than anyone I knew, but some modicum of respect for not just killing me and grappling with me instead bade me to respond.
“Let go before I hurt you!” Flint’s arms released me and I stood up and walked away to a window putting my back to them.
“Despite how I know it must seem I did not abandon you willingly John.” Chantry said softly.
Words was all it was, just words. I turned from the window with a mask of control firmly in place. “Despite how tempting your stock offer is Chantry I feel that I must turn it down. If I get desperate I’ll sail northward and pick up a few Eskimo chicks at far less peril than your Asian one. Now get out! I won’t say it again!” I said pointing towards the door.
Chantry stood up stiffly, with the use of his cane and a hand pushing off on the table. He walked to the door before turning back to me.
“There is another reason that I came seeking help from you.” He said.
I regarded him contemptuously having known all along that there must be some other reason behind his visit. “It was never like you to act on just one motivation. Well what is it?” I asked harshly.
“I asked him to come here.” Temple said speaking for the first time.
I had wondered at his presence here, but why he would ask such a thing, especially in concern to me I could not fathom.
He stepped toward me, “I’ve found evidence linking the people behind the Code with the people who captured you and Lori. I want to save the world, but even more than that I want revenge!”
I glanced down at his shaking hands. Here was a man that lived for only one purpose. It was a lifestyle I was familiar with.
“If you want revenge Temple, all you have to do is pull the trigger. I told you that years ago and the offer stands.”
Temple nodded, “I know and part of me wants to kill you, but I know enough to know how someone can be twisted into doing something that they wouldn’t have done by reason of their own choice. I can live with what you did knowing that, but I still want revenge against who brought it all about in the first place. This Asia Smith, she’s better than I am with technology. She can break the Code. If we find out who’s behind the Code not only will we save countless lives and restore balance to the world, but we both will have vengeance. I want you to do as Chantry says John, on the blood of my dead sister I ask it!”
I stared at him miserably, there had already been so much sacrifice and now this!
“Okay I’ll do it.” I responded gruffly.
Temple nodded and set a folder down on the table, “Everything you’ll need to know.” He said before leaving the room.
Chantry spoke, “I’m sorry more than you know for having to pull that card out on you John. For the duration of the mission your agent status has been reaffirmed. You are once more agent Logan Sackett.” He turned to go, but my words stopped him.
“Why a year Chantry?”
He hesitated in telling me, “You didn’t talk the first time so I doubt you will if you’re caught again so why not tell you I suppose. We need a year to prepare a coordinated strike with armed forces we are in communication with the world around. The extra time will also hopefully make them go to sleep over this breach so they won’t be expecting us when we strike. That’s why I need a year. If I haven’t come back by then assume the worst and take care of yourself and Asia. Temple is unloading the equipment that she’ll need to break the Code. Godspeed Logan.” Chantry left the room followed by Maria and I was left alone with my brother.
“Thank you John for honoring Temple’s request.” Flint said.
I nodded flatly not wanting any further conversation on the topic.
“About the mission I……”
“If you’re going to give me a big long spiel about how I shouldn’t freely enjoy humanity’s last hope then forget it! You heard Chantry she’s mine to do with as I please for a year.”
Flint’s jaw worked powerfully in anger, but he didn’t say anything. He stormed out of the house, anger in every movement of his long stride. That was good. As long, as he was angry, he would have no inclination to think. Moments later Maria stepped back inside the room.
I had been headed for my bed and her reappearance was unappreciated, as at this moment the throbbing pain in my head wouldn’t even allow a momentary thought of desire to enter my mind.
She looked nervous, as she held something out to me, “Chantry told me to give you these with his apologies for the last two years.”
“Thank you.” I said gratefully taking the bottle.
She looked at me a little surprised and before she could ask any questions I said, “Now go and rejoin the herd before the big bad predator ties you up to his bed.”
She backed away quickly and I soon heard the chopper take off and leave the island. I opened the bottle and chucked two of the blue pills back into my mouth. I set the precious bottle of pills down on the table and collapsed on my bed rubbing at my temples with both hands profoundly grateful for the pills that would take away the brunt of the pain and shorten the duration of the episode. I didn’t know for sure what was in the pills, but they always worked.
For the first three years of my stay on the island a plane had made a once a year flyover dropping a care package, which among other things had contained a bottle of these pills. The flyovers hadn’t happened the past two years and I had just assumed it was a sign of Chantry cutting off all ties. Little had I known that the world was falling apart outside.
I was a fool to let myself be manipulated like this. People would die. It sounded like they already were though. I’d brought the folder with me and I opened it. The picture fell out of it and I picked it up. Asia Smith was a very beautiful woman. Right now she was running for her life and in peril of being captured at any moment, but all I could think about was how much I wanted to kiss her and much more.
Chantry glanced to the side at Maria seated beside him, who was fixatedly staring out her window. She’d never once looked at him unless she’d had to.
“All right Maria this isn’t going to work. Speak what’s on your mind. You’re angry with me?”
Maria nodded, but didn’t say anything. Chantry sighed and waited for her to relinquish her silence.
“I can’t believe you set that girl up like that.” Maria said softly, still staring out her window.
Chantry nodded, but didn’t say anything.
Maria turned from the window to stare at him directly in the eye. “Would you sell me out like that?”
“If the fate of billions rested on the situation then yes I would entertain the risk of any of my agents, but they would know the stakes going in. What happened to Logan was different, and completely unexpected. I’ve gone through great pains to see that it never happens again.”
“What happens again?” Maria pressed.
Chantry just shook his head negatively in denial of answering the question.
“I want to understand Chantry! I need to understand! It defies everything I know about you to treat what happens to another innocent individual so callously!”
Chantry craned around in his seat to see if Flint was asleep, he was. Temple was busy flying the large chopper and out of hearing range. Chantry kept his voice low, “I tell you this on the strictest confidence Maria! Logan has as much integrity of character as his brother does!”
Maria glanced back at the sleeping Flint incredulously, “I don’t believe you!” Maria said, thinking back over how Logan had looked at her and the things that he had said.
“Didn’t you hear what he said to me or the way he looked at me?” She asked.
“That’s your problem. You listen too much to what was said. Some people are far more cagey with disguising their hearts and motives than you could imagine Maria.”