Chapter 4: Adaptation (Part 3)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Saunders

How’s it going, Thompson?

Thompson

Got more footage for me to look at?

Saunders

No, I thought I’d give you a break.

Thompson

Good. We’ve found something.

Saunders

Let’s see.

Thompson

Is this the guy?

Saunders

Where?

Thompson

In the crowd, right there.

Thompson points on the screen where Gabriel is in the crowd.

Saunders

Thompson, I love you. Where is this?

Thompson

A couple blocks away from the restaurant.

Saunders

Good news, print this picture out and you get to go down there and investigate.

Thompson

Thank God.

Saunders

Oh, and get some more surveillance videos from the area to see where he went.

Thompson sighs at the thought of looking over more videos; he’s been at it since Lisa left the hospital.

Thompson

Yes, sir.

---

Lisa knocks on her neighbour's door and waits for Mary to come open it.

Mary

Oh my God! Melissa, what happened to your face?

Lisa

Oh, Ryan left a box we were unpacking on top of the stairs and I tripped.

Mary

Are you alright?

Lisa

Yeah, I’m fine, thanks.

Tom walks to the door.

Tom

Hey, Melissa. Ouch, what happened there?

Mary

She tripped and fell.

Tom

If you were married, that would sound like domestic violence to me. You sure you’re not covering up for something there?

Mary

Oh, stop playing the good lawyer.

Lisa

No, really, I’m actually a pretty big klutz.

Mary

Well, Ryan, the kids are inside waiting for you.

Lisa

Alright, honey, I’ll see you later.

Ryan and Mary walk inside the house.

Tom

Melissa, have you found a job yet?

Lisa

Oh, not yet. I’m still looking.

Tom

Well, if you like, I’m actually looking for a new receptionist if you’re up for it.

Lisa

Oh, well...

Tom

Here’s my card. Think about it and get back to me.

Lisa

Thank you, I will.

Tom

Great. I’ll see you later.

---

Gabriel is sitting in a church, praying. He is feeling bad for hitting Lisa to escape her interrogation, knowing he could have handled the situation better. There are not too many other people in there. The priest notices him and walks up to him.

Priest

Why so sad, my son?

Gabriel

I came here for solace but I don’t think it’s helping today.

Priest

What seems to be the trouble?

Gabriel

Why do we bother to help people? Why is it when we try so much to help those who do not ask for it that they don’t appreciate it? That they throw you aside, asking not to get in their way when both sides know they cannot help themselves? Why do we not go our separate ways to avoid more conflict?

Priest

Sounds to me like your good intentions are going unappreciated.

Gabriel

That’s an oversimplification.

Priest

Well, we do it because we know its right; because God wants his children to look after one another. If a child tries to reach for something high on a shelf and you know he would hurt himself trying to grab it, would you not stop him? Sure, you prevented him from grabbing the thing he wants in which he would be angry with you, but at least he’s not hurt.

Gabriel

Yes, but father, if that child was left to reach the item only to hurt himself, would he not learn to never reach for that item anymore?

Priest

Some lessons are meant to be learned, but if it’s an opportunity to protect the ones we love we should make sure they do not get hurt, even if they don’t see why. In time they will grow to understand. For now, it looks as if the child cannot be left to reach that item on his own.

Gabriel

I guess you’re right.

Gabriel gets up, steps out of the pew, makes the sign of the cross, and shakes the priest’s hand.

Gabriel

Thank you, father. I’m sorry, I must be going.

Priest

May God be with you.

---

Thompson and Chang are on the scene where the video showed the man last.

Thompson

So, the video showed him here but there were so many people around that I couldn’t follow where he disappeared to. It’s like someone crossed his path on camera and he disappeared.

Chang

That’s impossible; you should get some more eyes on the video.

Thompson

I had four other people looking at it.

Chang

Alright, which direction was he headed?

Thompson

I think that way. Bennett said that the man may have injured himself back at an alleyway close to that Chinese restaurant.

Chang

Okay, so I guess we can check there first and see if there’s a blood sample of some kind...

Thompson

What is it?

Chang

Looks like we don’t need to go far for that blood sample.

Thompson looks at the ground where Chang is looking and sees a spot of blood. Realizing what this could be, he stumbles for the radio to call Agent Saunders.

Thompson

Sir, this is Thompson. You’re going to want a forensics team down here. We found a blood sample.

---

Flemming

Better or worse?

Lisa

Worse.

Flemming

Well, Mrs. Green, it seems like your vision is relatively fine. You said you had to wear glasses most of your life, right?

Lisa

Yes. Is that odd that at my age to suddenly start getting perfect vision?

Flemming

Well, it’s not perfect, even though it may seem that way because your vision was worse before. We can choose some glasses for you if you like.

Lisa

No thanks, I’m actually going to stick with contacts. But about my vision...

Flemming

Well, I’ll be honest it is very unusual for the vision of someone your age to start improving but I guess it’s not impossible.

Lisa

What do you mean?

Flemming

Well, if you take evolution into consideration here, unless you believe in creationism in which I should probably stop talking... no? Well, scientifically, and theoretically speaking, we evolve to adapt to our surroundings to become a better species to survive. Now, there’s proven records of people who push the limits to what they can do, or even disabilities, and having their bodies adapt to the change. An example of such is increasing eye strain but not to the point of damaging your vision. It’s not something a doctor suggests and it could go horribly wrong and cause impaired vision, but I once had a patient who I thought needed glasses. Instead, this child decided to wear the glasses as little as possible, read often, watch TV, etc... but only for specific amounts of time he could handle. Surprisingly enough his vision improved and he has not had to wear any corrective lenses ever since.

Lisa

So this is normal?

Flemming

Oh, no, it is definitely not common but I wouldn’t be too worried about it. In fact, if I were you I would appreciate this rare situation. Who knows, maybe it will even get better. If you like, you could schedule another appointment for about a month or so for a check up to see if anything has changed.

Lisa

No, I think I’ll be fine. I was just wondering if this is something to be worried about.

Flemming

Not at all. Well, it was nice meeting you Mrs. Green.

Lisa

Likewise.

---

Saunders

I want a full report on my desk in 4 hours!

Thompson

Sure thing, sir.

Saunders

What, are you serious? I was just joking. Tell me what you know, I don’t feel like reading.

Chang

We’re assuming the mystery person noticed the injury and quickly bandaged it up somehow. We can’t seem to find any trail or evidence of where he went to. We have a handful of security tapes from nearby buildings that we started to look over.

Saunders

What about the blood? Have we figured out who this guy is yet?

Thompson

We’re waiting for the results soon.

Saunders

Well get back to the videos!

Thompson & Chang

Yes sir.

Bennett

Sir, Mr. Tyler is here.

Joe

Mr. Tyler? Why so formal?

Saunders

Listen, Joe, I was wondering if I can get your help with something. They need tighter security down at LifeSource. Two Pods were stolen this time and...

Joe

Wait, that bull you were telling at poker was true?

Saunders

Yes. Rather than trying to get through for further funding for security I thought I would go straight through you and see if you could help, instead.

Joe

Yeah, sure, fine. That’s no problem. What about these Pods, though? That’s not going to look good on the business.

Saunders

We’re looking at a bigger picture. Charlie believes this is an inside job. There was no sign of break-ins or any evidence at all other than two empty spaces where Pods should be. Now, we’re assuming you have nothing to do with this...

Joe

How flattering.

Saunders

But since you’re largely involved with the company we’re hoping you can help us bring security up to speed, figure out if someone from inside the company is stealing these, and helping us find the one responsible.

Joe

Sounds to me like this involves a large group of people.

Saunders

We’ve thought of that possibility.

Joe

Alright, I just got to talk to Lionel about this.

Joe leaves as agent Chang enters the room.

Chang

Sir, the DNA results are in.

Saunders and Bennett lean in to look at the information with Chang.

Saunders

Alright, who’s this bastard that’s been screwing us over?

Bennett

Says here it’s a one... Daniel Fields?

Saunders

As in, a relative to Adam Fields?

Chang

Actually, it’s his brother, sir. They specifically told me about this information because of how shocked they were.

Saunders

Why, that his brother has been trying to help him out? That makes sense to me.

Chang

No, because Daniel here isn’t supposed to be alive. He died years ago in Iraq.

Saunders

Well isn’t that interesting.

To be continued...