Balance, p.2
Balance, page 2
Pulling up next to the aircraft, the car door opens. An armed soldier leans in, points at Rena, then Michael. Stepping out, they’re directed to the jet, signaled to enter the craft as quickly as possible. The scout follows, stopping briefly to converse with the soldier. As they move from the vehicle to the plane, Michael and Rena observe several well-dressed, well-armed agents positioned inside and outside the hanger.
Rena, barely seated when the jet starts taxiing onto the tarmac to the runway, airborne moments later, watches out the window as they climb rapidly into the dark night.
After several minutes, the jet levels off.
The scout releases his seat belt, looking back at his guests, indicating that Michael and Rena, again seated across from each other in the rear of the cabin, do the same. He walks over to a chest built into the forward bulkhead and pours himself a drink, returning to a seat, joining the pair. Extending his hand to Michael, he introduces himself. “Alexander”.
Michael just looks at the man’s extended hand, indifferent to the attempt at civility.
Alexander withdraws, takes a pull from his drink, sets it down and takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly, suggesting impatience. “Listen, you’ve got a five hour flight to Chicago. You can sit here like a pair of sandbags or you can try to enjoy the trip. At least lighten up, have a drink. I was once in your place, many years ago. I know how it is, make the best of it. If you had families, I apologize. If not, you can look at this as an opportunity, as a way to rise above the Hustle ... any questions?” Alexander pauses, observing both of them. “You can ask me what you want. I might be able to provide you some answers. I guarantee; I will likely be more forthright than almost anyone you meet when we get to Chicago.”
“Who is it?” Michael asks.
“Chango.”
“Why us?” Rena follows.
Alexander considers the question for a moment, works his way through various answers, finally deciding ambiguity, seizing the opportunity to test a theory, “You both exhibit, let’s say … desirable skills. Now, whether those skills can be honed, and made useful to Chango, hard to say. I will say this … the fact that I found your unique skill sets at the same time was quite, fortuitous. I will also say that I haven’t seen your level of raw talent in a long time.” Alexander takes another pull from his drink. “Must also admit, I was surprised you two were not acquainted before last night.”
Rena and Michael turn to each other, confused by the implication.
Alexander smiles, ever so slightly, “I’ll leave you two alone … you might want to at least get to know each other a little before we arrive. Considering timing, skills and development … you two might be spending a lot of time with each other in the future.”
“What exactly was it about each of us that peaked your interest?” Michael inquires, less interested in himself, more so in Rena.
Alexander again pauses to consider whether that information should be shared, “Let me think about that a bit, but, I’d hazard a guess, your new friend might be able to deduct the likely reason for the invitations.” Turning from his guests, he returns to his seat in the forward portion of the cabin, leaving Michael and Rena alone in the rear.
Michael turns to Rena, mildly curious as to the meaning of the answer he just received. They regard each other for a moment, each not knowing what to say next.
Knowing far more than she suspects Michael or Alexander realize, and worried she might give herself away, Rena makes the first effort, hoping to direct the focus away, “Although, not too sure about me, I know why you’re here.”
“Know why I’m here? What are you talking about?” Michael exclaims.
“Seriously?” She states incredulously, “Your fighting, it was amazing. How’d you do that?” Rena inquires.
“Do what? I didn’t have to do much, at least enough to base my fighting skills on.”
Studying him, confused by his ignorance, she clarifies, “It wasn’t the content so much as the execution. I’ve never seen anyone move like that. It was as if you knew what your opponent was going to do before he did. You move faster than I’ve ever seen anyone move.”
Michael considers what Rena said. He had thought there was something different about the way the fight unfolded. In his mind, he walks himself back through the bout, replaying everything he can remember; but ultimately still unable to put his finger on what transpired that made it different. Dismissing the implication, Michael redirects; “You really don’t know why the invitation was extended? From what I’ve heard, Scouts are looking for military specialists. Did you do anything tonight that might have relevance in military operations?”
Rena answers as best she can, without revealing too much, completely understanding why the invitations were extended. “It might have been how I managed the promoter. I guess, I kind of manipulated him, to get you paid. Skills like that might be helpful in intelligence. Right?”
“Maybe?” He shrugs.
Rena leans forward and whispers, for only his ears, “What do you know about Chango?”
Michael considers the question. “Only what you hear on the streets. He’s a very powerful SuperElite, based in Chicago, one of the first to secede from government control … Bad guy to get on the wrong side of.”
Rena tries to determine if his response is the extent of his knowledge, or truncated. She wants to expound on his statement, but until she has a better feel for him, Rena acknowledges and adds nothing. Certain he has more information, she suspects he’s holding back some of the more daunting details, for her sake, concluding he’s just being chivalrous.
No disrespect intended, Michael watches Rena closely, appraising her entire person. Now in close quarters, with more time to consider, he concludes she’s about his age, with an air that would indicate a good upbringing, maybe even Elite. He finds it curious she was in the Hustle by herself. Most women, especially someone so attractive, would be fearful of the elements that reside there. It dawns on him; he’s never seen someone as beautiful as her in the Hustle.
Rena, noticing Michael scrutinizing her, returns the gesture. He’s healthy, which considering the conditions, says a lot about his person. He obviously knows how to survive, has probably used his good looks to his advantage. She assumes his non-confrontational reaction to the invitation could mean he has no family or anyone close to him he might care for. Considering his display in the cage, he had a good chance to escape, yet chose to remain. She turns away; avoiding Michael’s gaze … he remained, out of a sense of responsibility for her.
Lifting her eyes, their gazes lock on each other. Michael says nothing, fixated on her brilliant turquois eyes. After several moments, embarrassed, she turns away.
Feeling uncomfortable, Rena rises, walks over to Alexander, and sits down in the seat next to him.
Alexander studies her, takes another sip of his drink and sets it down in the holder in the table in front of him. “Young lady.” He addresses her congenially.
“I was wondering if you could be a little more forthright as to where you are taking us.” replying in the same amiable manner as her host.
Smiling warmly, intrigued with her initiative, he concedes, “You two are going to Chicago. We’ll land at a small private airstrip where you’ll be taken to a secure military facility, the ‘Bunker’. There you will be tested and evaluated. If, after evaluation, they feel you have talents of value, they’ll determine where your skills and strengths will be best utilized.”
“What if we are determined to lack the skills required for effective use?”
Alexander smiles, “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, I am a very good judge of talent. I’m pretty sure you’ll both make the cut. If for some reason I am wrong, well … I wouldn’t worry about that.”
Perplexed, Rena returns to her seat. Still feeling a little self-conscious, she tries to relax, crossing her arms over her chest. She shudders, just starting to notice the chill of the flight or her nerves starting to kick in.
Seeing her discomfort, Michael stands and opens one of the overhead compartments. Returning with a blanket, he carefully lays it over her, never saying a word, and then returns to his seat.
She regards him for a moment, then whispers, “Thank you.”
He smiles and nods. Worried his further appraisal could upset her, he swivels his seat to look out the window.
Time passes, how much, Michael is unaware, but when he turns back around, Rena’s sound asleep. Her condition reminds him, it’s been quite some time since he last slept. He leans back in his seat and closes his eyes.
Awoken by turbulence, Michael realizes the jet is in its descent, meaning he slept through the remainder of the flight. He looks over at Rena.
Now awake, she hasn’t moved, still covered by the blanket he placed over her, and staring absently at an unseen spot out in space. Blinking herself back to the now, she turns her gaze on him. She doesn’t say anything, just looks at him, no real expression on her face, save maybe a little apprehension, which he feels understandable considering the circumstances.
Alexander walks back to the rear of the cabin and sits down.
Removing the blanket, Rena stretches and sits up. Both of them turn their attention to their host.
Alexander studies them, trying to determine his course of action. “In a few minutes we are going to land, a small airstrip outside Chicago. I’m not going to tell you exactly where, so don’t ask.” After a brief pause for effect, he continues. “Once you depart this jet, there are protocols, follow them … Understand this; everything is a test and you are always being evaluated.” Alexander waits for comments.
Rena turns to Michael, a concerned look on her face. He winks, trying to calm her fears.
Alexander watches, “Now, when we land, I will exit first, you will remain until agents escort you off. The agents will take you to a waiting vehicle; from there taken to a facility called the Bunker. Do not delay the transfer… in any way. I need to make this very clear, the moment you walk off this jet you are assets of Chango. Our rivals are always looking to infiltrate our business; an exposed asset is a threat to our security. Do I make myself clear?” He waits a moment for a reply. “If there are no questions, please prepare to land.” Alexander turns his seat forward.
Michael and Rena briefly look at each other before turning their seats as well.
Rena gazes out the window; the dense lights of the metropolis visible in the distance. She guesses they are roughly fifty miles outside metro-Chicago. The interior of the jet abruptly goes black. She notices even the indicator lights on the wings, no longer visible.
Minutes later the jet lands on a darkened runway, taxis into a similarly darkened hanger. The doors close immediately upon entrance as the jet engines shutdown.
No more than a minute after the craft comes to a complete stop and powers down, the side entrance door opens from the outside and interior black lights illuminate glowing running lines in the floor.
Without comment, Alexander gets up and climbs out.
Moments after, an armed soldier, wearing night vision goggles, climbs in, his form no more than blackness in the front of the compartment. He points at Michael, directing him to the doorway.
As Michael climbs down the steps, a second soldier slips a black hood over his head and guides him to a waiting military vehicle.
Rena repeats the extraction exercise.
As soon as the vehicle doors are closed, it departs the hanger. Underway; the hoods are removed.
After Michael’s eyes adjust, he finds he and Rena seated next to each other in the aft compartment of some sort of military personnel carrier. The windows, tinted black and impenetrable, the world outside veiled to them. Two soldiers sit at the rear of the compartment facing them. One of the soldiers places a finger on his lips indicating conversation is not advisable.
After what Michael thinks a twenty-minute ride, the vehicle stops briefly, then drives forward and down. He feels confident they’ve just entered the Bunker and it is, as he expected, an underground installation.
The vehicle makes several turns over nearly ten-minutes of driving, before coming to a stop. The side door opens, allowing exterior light to flood the inside of the vehicle. Rena blinks from the sudden brightness. A soldier leans into the door, without saying a word, points at Michael and Rena, indicating they’re to follow him.
Michael climbs out first, turning to help Rena. Outside the transport, they both scan their surroundings. The massive underground installation expands out before them, forty-foot ceilings, windowless, with bright lighting filling the almost limitless space with near daylight illumination. Military transports, helicopters, and two business jets, at the far end facing the wall, reside inside the cavernous facility. The operation is alive with military personal moving randomly to all extents of the tunnel-shaped chamber, yet no one pays either of them any interest.
“Hey!” someone shouts, the abrupt summons capturing Michael and Rena’s attention. Refocusing, they reacquire the soldier and follow him through the large installation, along an outer wall, finally turning into a doorway. The hall on the other side stretches at least fifty-feet in front of them, only a single door, visible at the end.
Passing through the door, Rena and Michael walk into a large meeting room. A conference table with several chairs positioned around it fills the front half of space, a small sitting area with four leather chairs around a small coffee table reside in the rear of the room. A large monitor covers half the long wall opposite the sitting area.
The soldier points to two of the leather chairs. Rena and Michael take seats next to each other in the sitting area.
The soldier departs through the same door they entered, locking behind him.
Left alone, Michael turns to Rena, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine … thank you.”
Without warning, a section of the wall, adjacent to the monitor, opens, exposing a brightly lit hallway beyond. Michael and Rena look at each other, acknowledging neither expected the hidden entrance. Returning their attention to the newly visible passage, they watch as two people walk into the room, a woman, mid-thirties, business-like and a man, mid-forties, military. Conversing as they enter, they stop and turn their attention to the couple sitting on the chairs.
Michael and Rena stand to meet their hosts. The woman steps forward and introduces herself; extending her hand politely to Michael. “Hello, my name is Angela. I am head of human resources.” She shakes Michael’s hand, turns and addresses Rena.
The military man, indifferent, waits silently until his counterpart is finished. Without extending his hand, he introduces himself, “Commander Still.” He nods at Michael.
Angela motions, “Please sit.”
Everyone seated, she immediately starts into an introduction. “As Alexander has explained, we are in a military installation called the ‘Bunker’. We work for the businessman known worldwide as ‘Chango’. This is his installation, and he ultimately oversees its operation. If all goes as expected, you two will operate out of this facility for the next year.” Letting her guests become accepting of this revelation, Angela goes silent. She knows that a complete grasp of their situation is imperative to their successful acclimation.
Commander Still nods, directing her to continue. “For the first two weeks, you are to be evaluated. We will ascertain your skills, talents, psychological makeup, strengths, and weaknesses. Assuming positive evaluations, you will be assigned a position, trained and eventually placed within Chango’s operation. Depending on position and skill level, training can last three to six months. Commander Still is the head of this facility. It is his job to facilitate evaluations and training.” Angela pauses a moment, letting the information absorb before continuing. “After training, you will participate in field rotation exercises, basically, ‘on-the-job’ training for field experience and evaluation. If all goes as planned you will then be placed outside the facility for permanent assignment.”
The commander supersedes, “You will reside here, in the Bunker, each assigned a personal living space. There are curfews and restrictions. Abide by them. You will have no contact outside this facility, until field training. As Alexander explained, there are protocols. It is your responsibility to become familiar with them and abide by them. The facility operates under a merit system. You will gain and lose merits. It is not advisable to lose all of your merits. Merits gain you privileges. Demerits constitute punishment.”
“Any questions?” Angela asks.
“What happens if we lose all of your merits?” Michael inquires.
“It is not advisable to lose all of your merits.” reiterates Commander Still, “You will eat, sleep, wash and train in this facility. There are talents already training and new talents will arrive throughout your training. These talents are your colleagues and your competition. You will be training with them and evaluated against them. … Do I make myself clear?”
Michael and Rena remain silent, attempting to assimilate all explained.
“Good.” Angela remarks.
It is at this point, Michael and Rena realize each of their lives, as they had known, just ended. From this moment forward, they would be creating entirely new lives, of which they had no clue what direction that would take them, or for how long.
Michael could tell by the way her eyes glistened; Rena was trying to hold back her emotions. He had not gotten to know her at all in their little time together and for that, he was sorry. If he had tried, she might not have felt so alone. He did not know if she was leaving behind family or friends, but based on what little he had gleaned of her personality and what he expected to be a proper upbringing, Michael was confident she felt abducted. This opportunity was not a way to get out of the Hustle; it was the abandonment of her life.
Angela interrupts Michael’s thoughts. “You will be escorted to your living quarters. Meals brought to each of you shortly. I recommend spending the remainder of the day reviewing the Protocol and Procedures manual you will each find in your quarters. Both of you will be expected in the dining hall at 6:00PM this evening. Please come appropriately dressed. You will find attire in your rooms. Your evaluations start in the morning.”
