JANUARY 5TH

RAS 1

“So, you guys want in huh?” I painfully acquiesced. “Okay, but under one condition.”

“Yeah, what’s that?” Duran annoyingly complied.

I scanned the area for any possible onlookers. Clearly, I was too much in my feelings a moment ago; I hadn’t detected Duran’s presence until it was already too late.

“Sit down, would you? And try not to be so conspicuous!” I yelled quietly.

The two casually took a seat next to me and Alex around the table. The area was beginning to fill up. It wasn’t crowded, but it definitely had much more people than before.

They both walked over to the table then took a seat. “Speak Kernel.” Duran smugly replied with a squinted smile.

I knitted my brows in a frown then proceeded to sigh heavily. “If we’re going to do this, you need to give us some answers.”

“What kind of answers?” Raymond hastily interrupted.

“How did you both end up in prison?” I replied.

The two turned to look at each other before responding. Duran gave a subtle wink and then pointed at himself and then Raymond, “Theft and Cyber Hacking. Anything else…”

“That doesn’t tell us Jack! Alex proceeded to respond in a slightly pejorative tone.

“He’s right.” I backed him up. “We need to know the full story of how you ended up here. And how long have you two been a duo? There’s clearly more than you are letting on and if you expect us to trust you, you need to give us a reason why.”

Raymond with his hands folded across his chest, hovered his contempt for this lackluster story-time with droopy eyes of anger and impatience.

“Alright, shut up.” He rudely interrupts Duran to address me directly, “You want the full story?”He went on, “Well, here is it. 27 years ago I used to work for the Government….”

MANLEY BLK AVENUE

*VRMM*

*VRMM*

The thudding rhythm of the phone vibrating on his bedside table was enough to get him up and alert. His usual routine would be to wait for his wife Anna to turn sideways and fondle his beard but these past few days, he was alone. She and his kids weren’t quite done vacationing on the Beaches of Agnes in Demeter. He surmised that there were some disturbances with the CCP Signal last night. They usually called him before, but last night his several attempts to reach them were futile. He intends to give them a proper scolding when they finally call to apologize. He gets up and gets dressed, not bothering to get breakfast. He goes downstairs, steps outside and stumbles into a laughable misunderstanding.

“Hey! Hey, what are you doing?”He called out.

*Knock*

*knock*

The poor boy was alarmed by his outburst; he wasn’t expected anyone to be home as he was informed that the house was vacant.

“I’m sorry,” he calls out, “I must have the wrong address.”

“What’s going on here?” He reaches out for answers. “What’s with this for sale sign?”

“Oh, the residents of this proper no longer live here so the Government is putting it up for sale.”

“What?” He shouts. “Let me see that!” He says as he proceeds to manhandle the chart from the worker.

He reads it then argues, “This is a mistake. This is my home!”

The worker begins to flip through the chart, checking to see where the error might have occurred.

“My family and I have lived here for over 20 years and we are definitely not moving. Call your boss and tell him that he’s got some explaining to do.”

“Okay, got it.” The worker responds looking completely puzzled. He walks over to his car then get in.

Normal, realizing that the little mishap had made him late for his appointment, rushes to his car then drives off to the doctor’s office.

“Hey, sorry I am late!” He calls out to the receptionist as he enters the waiting area then comes to an abrupt stop. “You’re not Janet!”

“Hello,” the receptionist greets him with a smile.“No, I am not. Janet is out for the week, so I am taking over until then. How may I help you?”

“Oh, I see” He cognizes.“I am here to see Doctor Sheffield for my 8 o’clock appointment.”

“Name please?” she asks.

“Sure, that’s Norman Anthony.”

She smiles then looks down at her chart. After a while, she turns to the computer and begins to look through some files.

“I’m sorry, but could you spell your name for me please.”

“Is there a problem?” He puzzlingly asked.

“Well, I can’t seem to find your appointment. Please forgive me; I have only been here for a few days. Would you mind if I just scanned your U.I, it would be a lot easier?”

“Sure” He complies and places his hand over the scanner.

*Beep* Error: not recognized.

“Try again.” She chuckled nervously.

*Beep* Error: not recognized.

What’s happening…

Why is my U.I doing this?

Normal slowly begins to back away as her view is fixated on the computer.

Something’s wrong…

“I am sorry, the machine must be malfunctioning,” She frustratingly assumes. She turns to address his directly “Could you wait here for a moment while I…”

But he was gone.

PRESENT

“Brother, why is this happening?” Todd calls out to his brother in a completely desperate tone, “What does it mean?”

“It means that you’ve been double-crossed,” I muttered while lying down feeling half-dead on the floor. I was recovering from the ass-whooping I’d just gotten, but slowly.

“Whoever you’re working for” I coughed out, “They’ve abandoned you.”

Just then the door flew open and a guard walked in. I swallowed my heart from shock then turned on my side and groaned slowly.

What have I gotten myself into?

He quickly yet quietly closed the door behind him then walked across the room. He moved aside some containers then attempted to push open a sealed exit.

“Would you give me a hand?” He called out.

What’s going on?

I was still badly suffering from the oxygen depletion my brain had suffered and I couldn’t entirely move my body around to follow their fast movement around the room. And being down on the ground didn’t quite help me to get a proper view of his face. I needed to get myself together, so I fumbled and tried to make an attempt to get up off the floor.

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Someone called out to me.

I looked up and found that I was not so surprised, “Why are you doing this?”I struggled to get out while suddenly reaching for my side to grab the location that was in pain.

You’re going to be fine. He placed on hand around my waist and threw my hand over his shoulder.

He’s that Guard from the bathroom incident...

“My name’s Norman Anthony. I am here to help.”