I grabbed my shielders and gave Marissa and Anna one each, “You guys know how to use it, right?”

“You’re, going to visit her?” Anna asked softly and my body halted. Was I taking advantage of her? For a second, I put myself in her shoes. How absurd was it that a thirteen-year-old boy would randomly visit the Home Secretary? Why did I attempt to save her? I must’ve had a death wish, I thought. But in truth, I didn’t think about it at all. My body moved without my command.

“If you say I can’t go, then so be it. I can only hope you understand that there are things I have to do.”

Marissa threw an arm over her big sister. “Go ahead, hero. Before she changes her mind.”

“Thank you. I have to make a detour and retrieve the TK first then dip in at the lab. Once I reach her house, I’ll text.” With that, I took my leave.

GPS said TK was at TEO headquarters, so I flew there. I’m surprised she didn’t ask why I was in UGO Medical. That damn Cennet. Thinking about our meeting made me even more curious as to what was on the flash drive he gave me. But first, I landed in front the TEO’s main building.

Esther Serrette saw me and motioned me into her office, then gestured me to take a seat. “Well?” My feet began lightly tapping the ground. “Can I help you?”

“You know, I didn’t like you at first, kid. You’re damn arrogant and reckless.”

“And?”

She sighed in frustration, “After those meetings with Michael Asher and the director, I found their behaviour a little weird. They leaned towards the notion of authorising lethal force against you.”

“Can you cut this short? Just say what you want to say,” I folded my arms.

“Impetuous too,” she commented on my behaviour. “What I’m saying, Ugo, is I’m on your side. Providing you don’t do anything to make their suggestion of lethal force justifiable. Your robot’s in a containment unit. Take a left and go straight.”

I stood up and briskly walked. “Thank you,” I said to her before exiting the office. Three men were surrounding the TK when I entered the large cell. They held drills and tried to get at certain places on the TK.

“The fuck are you doing?!” I shouted. They turned around curiously.

“It’s that kid.”

“This is your toy, right?” another asked.

I had to take a breath and calm myself. Getting in a scuffle with them would make Serrette’s newfound allegiance with me nil. Just then, Randy Mortierre, the TEO’s techie strolled in from another entrance.

“Oh, Jared. Sup, dude?” he placed his fist out and I obliged, bumping fists with him. “You here for this guy, huh?”

“Yup, but…” I looked at the trio in front of us.

“Oh, no probs, man. Go ahead,” he said, chomping on some potato chips.

“What?!” one of the men walked up to us. “This is part of evidence in a murder scene!”

Randy looked at the brawny guy and laughed, a wheezing one. “Evidence my ass. You just want to see what’s inside. Besides, who the hell’s brave enough to walk in HQ and just take something without permission? He wouldn’t even make it in here. Anyway, I’m goin’ for some lunch, fellas. Later!”

What a carefree guy, I thought. I placed the headgear on and the TK followed behind me. Finally, I was able to go to the lab and see just what was on the drive. There were photos, audio files, and a few bank statements showing extravagant amounts of cash transfers. No one transfer was below two million. Franklin Donovan and Michael Asher’s names were on different accounts, and sometimes there would be transfers between themselves. A third party called Dennis Ida also received and transferred cash to both their accounts. After listening to the phone calls, I learned they both conspired to scare the Home Secretary from forcing the police to investigate brokerage firms suspected of money laundering. Dennis Ida apparently owned those firms and put both men on his payroll. They didn’t actually wish to kill Rosa for fear that eyes would fall on them because they were the most likely to take her position. They didn’t want to be investigated.

How did you get in possession of this stuff, Cennet? Why give it to me? If he was good enough to procure incriminating evidence like this, then surely, he was good enough to send it to Rosa without being traced. What’s your plan? I made a copy of everything on my laptop and stored the flash drive in a safe place.

I also placed the dirt I dug up on Franklin Donovan and Michael Asher. What I found on them was proof that they were involved in political lobbying and embezzlement. Those guys were as dirty as they came.

I closed the laptop’s lid after a while and flew to Rosa’s place. I was stopped by the first line of security. “Come on, man. Just tell her it’s Mr Ugo,” I pleaded with the steadfast guard. “I know you’ve seen at least one of the videos.”

“Again, she’s not taking visitors.”

“Dude!” I was about to argue yet again but simply rubbed my temples to ease my thinning patience. It would take nothing for me to just fly over anyway, but that probably wouldn’t end up good for me.

Thankfully, the guard next to him was not as suspect of me. “Ma’am, you’ve a visitor called Mr Ugo.” He said, and waited patiently for her answer. “Roger that! I mean uh, yes ma’am,” he answered whatever she said. Mayhap he was new. “You can go in, but uh…” he stared at the TK, then shook his head in disapproval.

“Fair enough,” I shrugged. “Thanks a mill, man.” I left my weapons with the TK and proceeded inside.

Rosa looked devastated even now, but still afforded me a smile and welcomed me inside. She invited me to have a seat with her, but remained silent. Looking at her dresser, I could see the bottle of booze already half-opened and lipstick marks on the glass next to it. “How are you feeling?”

She looked at me seemingly absentminded for a long time, a habit that might’ve been engrained through all her years politicking. I sighed, “You don’t have to keep formulating the perfect answers to every question, you know? Just, tell me how you feel.”

She sniggered meekly, “I’ve never felt so scared in all my life. In my position, you get the usual protest from those who don’t like you. Or maybe a few people throwing eggs or something. But this…” she pulled her legs up and hugged them. “Someone tried to kill me,” she kind of spoke to herself. “I still can’t believe it.” Her body trembled, as if feeling a chill. “Jared?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you,” she said, stealing a couple glances at me then sighing.

I wonder… I asked myself then shrugged it off. If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong. “I’m not one to boast but,” I scooted around to her and wrapped both my arms around her, “I’m pretty sure I’m a better hugger than your legs.”

A weak, trembling chortle sounded, “I never thought I’d see the day a thirteen-year-old had to comfort the home secretary.” She gently hugged back.

“Me neither, I guess. But no matter who you are, you’re human first and foremost. Nothing’s wrong with needing help or wanting someone to comfort you. Besides,” the sides of our heads somewhat rested on each other, “I wished someone would’ve done this for me when I needed it, so I won’t hesitate to do the same for you. It’s alright now. I’m here with you. You’re not alone. Everything will be okay.”

Her embrace tightened, tremendously so. “Where’d you learn to talk like that?” she giggled. “Stay with me for a while, will you?” her whispers touched my ear.

“Sure,” I agreed, “but not in this position.” I pulled her down onto the couch and we laid facing each other. Her eyes kept shifting between mine and periodically they’d bounce down to my lips and back up. “What? Nervous?”

“Jared, I,” she paused and held my hand a little tighter, “want you to know that… I don’t want you to misunderstand. This is, purely platonic.”

“Hmm,” I held her closer, “I don’t know, Rosa. The fact that you felt like you had to say it makes me think otherwise. Well, either way, today’s been tough, right? Don’t think about that and just relax.”

“Relax, huh?” She wiggled a little, getting comfortable. “Shouldn’t you be telling him that?” Her eyes gestured down then back up to my eyes.

“Says the lady getting even closer to him,” I retorted. “It’s a natural phenomenon anyway. You’re going to have to deal with it.”

“In what way?” she inquired, not taking her piercing eyes off me.

“Hmm, I’ve never done it, so it would be hard for me to explain. It would be easier to show you.” The mere air began feeling a bit heavy. My heartrate surged. Even if only words were exchanged, those words were leading to something one with as little years as I only fantasised about. Her head inched closer, as did mine.

After a few minutes of indulging in something I never imagined was possible, I carried her off to bed. The alcohol had done a number on her and she was quickly asleep.

My phone began vibrating on the dresser. I stopped it quickly so Rosa wouldn’t wake. It was a text from Anna, asking me how I was feeling. With that, I decided it was time to return to my lab and continue working. Cennet’s flash drive was left in Rosa’s hand and I jetted from her house.

Once I replied to Anna, my focus converged on Cennet’s actions today. Why would he help me? Should I even consider it help? How would getting rid of Donovan and Asher help him? I knew they were investigating him for his crimes but he must’ve known – as well as they – that they couldn’t trace him. Nothing about it made sense. And what did he really inject me with? That liquid, I recalled, it made my muscles go a bit crazy. I sighed, coming to a conclusion after properly looking at myself in the washroom’s mirror. He used White, I realised, especially after flexing a little. My muscle mass had increased ever so slightly; unnoticeable with clothes on. I knew Cennet was no such fool, though. He wouldn’t even the playing field. It meant he still thought he could outdo me in some form. What are you up to? I wondered. Thoughts of sinking Z-21’s edge into his flesh haunted me every day, but I would supress the snowballing thirst for vengeance as best I could. There were others things that demanded priority.

My phone rang yet again. Samuel Andino’s number popped up, “Mr Andino?” I answered, but nothing came through. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard a faint voice, so I decided to record it so that I might bump up the sound on better hardware. Playing back the recording, I heard Cennet speaking to Samuel Andino. Things were getting weirder by the minute that day. Cennet and Mr Andino? Just when I began pondering about what they would possibly have to talk to each other about, I was somewhat let down realising that their conversation was merely to arrange a rendezvous under a bridge. But at least it was something I could follow. The meeting wasn’t until ten o’clock that night, so I had a little less than four hours.

I leaned back in my chair and placed a couple fingers on my chin, brainstorming what to do. Alas, following my recent pattern, I bought up small recording devices, most of them meant for audio only and flew over to the great bridge. The graffiti made it easy for the devices to camouflage once I stuck them to dark places of the artwork. The mini-cameras were tucked into corners to get the best vantage point and I made myself scarce.

After warning Anna that I’d be out late, I fixed myself a comfortable spot higher up the river, out of anyone’s site and honed in on the signals from the devices. On the screen, Cennet sauntered into the camera’s frame, propping his glasses up. A couple minutes later, another man appeared. But it didn’t seem like Mr Andino. He handed something over – a file by the looks of it – to Cennet. “No one saw you?” Cennet asked the young man.

“No,” he answered flatly and turned to walk away.

“I don’t have to remind you what your existence means. That little girl knows too much already. Take care of it,” Cennet said, earning the attention of the young man. He seemed appalled, or stricken with fear.

“And what of that little boy, huh? He’s an even bigger liability! Why don’t you kill him?” The man argued, losing just a bit of his temper.

“Jared Ugo?” Cennet laughed. “He has quite a big role to play in my plans, Stan. He is an asset, not a liability” Cennet suddenly stared directly at the camera, “Isn’t that right, Jared?”