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Agent Saunders, agent Bennett, and four other agents in the squad have found themselves in a rundown area in Oakland. They reach a giant abandoned warehouse.
They burst open the door.SaundersOkay, this is the place. Get ready boys, you may have to use gunfire. We have no clue who these people are or how dangerous they can be.
Agent Saunders is cut short by his own surprise. Waiting for them in the middle of the warehouse is a Regeneration Pod with a man sitting on a chair in front of it. Huge cables and power generators are surrounding the Pod so that enough energy can be produced to power the machine.SaundersFBI! Free–
Gun fire comes from all sides of the warehouse and bullets flow past Saunders and Bennett, crashing into each of their men. Blood shoots out of the agents and their bodies shake through the barrage of bullets until they fall and lay dead on the floor. Only Saunders and Bennett remain alive, surrounded by the brutalized bodies of their team.NicoCongratulations! You found it!
SaundersThis is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You are under arrest for stolen property of the US government.
NicoAh you see that’s where you’re wrong. I did not steal this machine. I simply bought it. Sorry about the mess, by the way. I was only expecting two of you to show up. I’m sorry to say that, despite this being a large warehouse and all, I do not have room for all these other guests you have brought...
SaundersSir, I need you to stand up and put your hands on your head!
NicoI would simply ask the others to leave, Mr. Saunders, because the rest of your team will not fully understand the situation I will soon explain to you... However, by stumbling upon this secret hideout, they already know too much...
SaundersPut your hands on your head, now!
NicoSo, I’m just going to have to kill them.
The people who shot the guns start to reveal themselves from the shadows of the upper balcony of the warehouse. Saunders and Bennett comply with the man sitting in the chair and put their guns down on the floor.NicoNo, Mr. Saunders. I’m going to have to ask you to put your guns down and keep your hands where I can see them.
NicoAh, good. Now that’s more like it. Oh, where are my manners? I’m Nico.
SaundersWhat do you want from us?
NicoWell that’s a fair enough question. I have a proposition for you, Mr. Saunders and I think you would be very pleased with it. Step into my office so we can talk.
It is recess for the kids of St. Joseph Grade school in San Francisco, California in the year 1990. Cole Bennett, who is 10, was just transferred to the school after his parents moved from Chicago. Unfortunately, not all the students from this town are very friendly to the only black child in the school; especially not the older grade students.Flashback to October 19, 1990 – St. Joseph Elementary School
Cole is beginning to cry. The gang of older bullies start to beat him up and grab his action figure.LoganHey kid. That’s a nice action figure you have there. You know, I used to have one just like that a few years ago but my parents gave it away to charity. I think that’s my G.I. Joe you have there and I want it back.
ColeNo, my parents bought me this for my birthday from a toy store. I saw them buy it.
LoganI think you’re lying, you little brat! Give it to me now!
ColeNo, it’s mine!
The bullies walk away. Cole picks himself up and sees a kid on a bench looking at him. Cole wipes his eyes and his nose before he walks to the door of the school and waits for the bell to ring.LoganNext time, you should listen to us. That way we wouldn’t have to beat you so hard.
Agent Saunders and Bennett are standing in a smaller room within the warehouse with Nico and a few of his men. The Agents finally get a good look at the man who had so quickly taken control of the situation. He is a little overweight, with salt-and-pepper hair and very defined crows feet which seemed to add a few years to him. The creases on his face make it apparent that he isn’t an overly serious man, and even in this heated moment, he has a large and seemingly natural grin on his face.Present Day – Nico’s Warehouse, Oakland
Bennett is used to Saunders always arguing for what he wants and has almost never seen him simply give into someone else so quickly.SaundersWhat exactly do you want from us?
NicoI’ll get straight to the point. I know you are in your own possession of a Pod, and let’s just say you are in possession of it illegally; although I don’t think you’re too worried about your superiors finding out, are you?
SaundersWhere exactly did you get that information?
NicoI don’t think we’re very different in this respect and I believe we can reach a mutual understanding for each other. Our Pod is having a little difficulty working. My good for nothing ‘expert’ couldn’t figure out the problem. Let’s just say he’s not a problem anymore. But one of my men is slowly dying in the next room over from a little incident we’ve been in recently.
SaundersWhat kind of incident would that be?
NicoA gun fight, from some scum bastards that think they run this city. In reality, we are the ones who run everything and we intend to stand true to that statement so that everyone knows it.
SaundersHow exactly do you think you run this city?
NicoWe keep everything in order. We may do illegal things but the fear we instill keeps everyone in their place. Most of all, we have power. Do you know what it’s like to have power over everyone? How you can do what you want and nobody can stop you?
SaundersYes.
NicoI’m sure you do. That’s why I set off the GPS signal to bring you here. I knew you were in charge of finding the Pods missing from LifeSource and I knew you would come here. I knew you would understand and help me.
SaundersAnd why would we help you exactly? You just killed my men, stole government property, and confessed to other crimes.
NicoLike I said, this is not one of the Pods that were recently missing. There are others, aren’t there? And there’s other things going on you have no other information on. You’re stuck and you need help. Like who stole those Pods, who is betraying you at LifeSource, and where Lisa Fields is located.
BennettYou know about Lisa Fields?
NicoI know a lot of things that I can help you with.
SaundersWhat do you want?
NicoI want this damned machine fixed.
SaundersWe can get you the information but you need to find your own repairman. We can’t risk you killing someone at LifeSource who wants nothing to do with this.
NicoThat sounds reasonable. That’s not all. I want these bastards who did this to my men to pay.
SaundersYou expect us to kill these men?
NicoI just want them gone. Kill them, arrest them, erase their memories, do whatever you have to do to get rid of them.
SaundersFine.
BennettReally?
Saunders stares into Nico’s eyes for a moment.NicoExcellent. One more thing; we want immunity.
SaundersWhat the hell does that mean?
NicoWe want to make sure we can use this Pod without consequence. We want protection so that we know nobody is looking for this Pod or is going to come after us. We don’t want another pile of FBI agents here.
SaundersDone.
Flashback to November 30, 1990 – St. Joseph Elementary School
The bullies are once again beating up a young Cole Bennett.LoganNo, we’re done when I say we’re done.
Logan stops and stares at the young Jason Saunders.SaundersNo, I said you’re done now! He can’t take anymore!
Logan takes a swing at Jason, who tries to duck out of the way, but instead gets knocked to the ground when the bully’s fist lands against his chest. Logan continues beating him up until a teacher notices and runs to Jason and pulls Logan off of him.LoganWhat did you say? Are you getting soft on me, Saunders? He needs to know his place here. We’re simply just showing him that he doesn’t have the right to eat at our table.
SaundersWe never sit here!
LoganWe do now.
SaundersYou know what? I’m done with you! You can’t treat people like this!
LoganYou think he’s like us? He’s nothing like us.
SaundersYou’re right. He’s better than us because he’s not a piece of shit that goes around beating kids for stupid things just so he can feel like he owns the damn school!
Jason catches his breath and staggers to his feet.TeacherWhat is wrong with you? You’re in a lot of trouble mister. Are you okay, Jason?
The teacher looks over to a very swollen Cole Bennett. She nods at him.SaundersYeah, I’m okay.
TeacherAlright then. Go see the school nurse to check on those wounds.
LoganWhat about the wounds on my fist?
TeacherQuiet, Logan. If I were you I’d keep my mouth shut to stay out of more trouble. I’ll check on you soon, Jason.
The rest of the bullies spread out and walk away.TeacherClean yourselves off, boys.
Jason laughs.BennettYou didn’t have to do that.
SaundersSomething tells me I’ll get the rest of that later. At least he’ll lay off you for a bit.
BennettWell, thank you.
SaundersI won’t always be around. You’re going to need to learn how to defend yourself.
BennettBy the looks of it, so do you.
The boys laugh.SaundersOuch. I think that hurt worse than the beating.
SaundersThe name’s Jason. Jason Saunders.
BennettCole Bennett.
SaundersHey, Cole. You want to maybe finish eating lunch after we get rid of the blood?
Present Day – Oakland
Saunders parks next to a restaurant; it seems to be an average Italian bistro. The building is old, maybe 30 years or so, with large arc windows and a red and white striped canopy over the door. However, despite the home-like feeling the building gives, the agents know they are not here for pleasantries.SaundersHey, Bennett! Are you listening?
BennettWhat?
SaundersYou want to grab something to eat before we go into a possible gun fight with a gang of lowlifes?
BennettSure, why not.
SaundersWhat’s wrong with you? Still thinking about our men? I know how you feel; I can’t stop thinking about it either.
BennettYeah, I can’t believe they all died in front of us there. Actually, I’m mostly thinking about why we’re doing this exactly.
SaundersListen, I’m not too thrilled about this either. I would like nothing more than to give that guy what he deserves. But we’re stuck. This guy is our only lead and he will give us the information we want.
BennettWhy not just go in with the whole team, arrest them all, and have them tell us anyways?
SaundersYou were there. You know why we can’t do that. And you also know what we have to do after.
BennettI know. I was just hoping you would have a different plan.
SaundersLet’s worry about finding these guys first. Oh, look, a bistro!
To be continued...
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