Chapter 3: In Times of War (Part 3)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Bennett

Sir, we have to deal with a witness.

Saunders

A witness to what?

Bennett

The nurse who was with Mr. and Mrs. Fields at the hospital.

Saunders

Oh, right… her. What’s her name again? ‘Welsh’?

Bennett

‘Walsh’, sir.

Saunders

I knew it is something that sounded weird…Irish maybe? Anyways, let’s go get her. I have a plan for her.

Bennett

What’s that?

Saunders

We need a doctor.

Bennett

We have plenty of doctors.

Saunders

Yes, but we’re already having them do too much. Come on, we’re not trying to be evil employers. It’s bad for business.

Bennett

So what’s the plan for this nurse?

Saunders

We need someone to take care of what’s going on downstairs, has knowledge of the Pods, and it also doesn’t hurt that she has a personal relationship with Mr. Fields and some of the other employees of LifeSource.

Bennett

I see what you mean. I’ll go get her.

Saunders

I’ll come too. No offense, Bennett, but you tend to scare people. Besides, I’ve been looking at surveillance videos all day; I need to stretch my legs.

---

A loud ringing comes from Gabriel’s pocket and he lets out a sigh as he takes out a phone and looks at the screen.

Carrie

What’s is it?

Gabriel

They’re coming.

Carrie

How do you know that?

Gabriel

Not important. I need to get going. Remember everything I told you. Stick to the plan. Do whatever they ask you to do. When the time comes, you’ll need to betray them and report that information to me so we can stop whatever they’re doing.

Carrie

We don’t even know what that is yet. They could be working on something good.

Gabriel

Whatever it is they’re working on, it can’t be for good. I just don’t know what it is yet.

Carrie

Alright. Will I see you again?

Gabriel

Yes. We’ll meet again. It was really nice seeing you, Carrie.

Carrie

You too, Daniel.

Gabriel

Oh, right. About that; you should know from now on, call me...

Carrie has a puzzled look on her face and Gabriel just stares into her eyes not seeing the point in finishing that sentence.

Gabriel

Never mind. It’s not important. Goodbye, Carrie.

Gabriel walks over to the window and crawls out of it.

---

2009 – Army Dormitories

Daniel

Leonard! Ouch!

Daniel trips in the dark over the chest that is laying at the foot of Leonard’s bed.

Daniel

Leonard, wake up!

Leonard

Ugh, what do you want, John?

Daniel

I can’t stay here. I have to leave.

Leonard

What? How the hell are you going to leave? Why would you want to?

Daniel

It’s my brother. It’s not right that he has to think I’m dead. It’s not right that I’m still here and I can’t see him. It’s not right that they’re making me stay here.

Leonard

But, John...

Daniel

I don’t think there’s much point to calling me that name anymore.

Leonard

Daniel, your brother is successful now. He started that company, the government is finally giving him funding, and he’s provided a lot of support for the military. Maybe they’ll reconsider your agreement and let you see your brother now that he’s on his way.

Daniel

I don’t know if they’ll do that.

Leonard

It’s worth a shot. Isn’t it?

Daniel sits on the end of the bed and shakes his head as they sit in silence for a moment until Leonard sighs.

Leonard

I shouldn’t be telling you this...

Daniel

What? What is it?

Leonard

Rumor has it your brother’s found a girl.

Daniel

Really?

Leonard

Yeah. Jimmy told me it’s the daughter of that billionaire, Joe Tyler.

Daniel

You’re kidding me!

Leonard

I’m just saying your brother seems happy. I’m sure that if you ask them they’ll let you see him again. Everything seems alright now. Those fancy looking machines we recently received that your brother worked on seem to be pretty important.

Daniel

Right now all they do is keep a heart beating a little longer before someone dies.

Leonard

It’s healed two men so far.

Daniel

One of those guys is in a coma and the other one is barely injured. And he seems different now.

Leonard

How so?

Daniel

For one his breathing improved. He had a small asthma problem, you see. Why someone with asthma joined the army is beyond me, but it seems like it’s all but gone now.

Leonard

I don’t really understand what that means.

Daniel

I don’t know. Never mind. I’ll talk to the general and see what he says.

---

Present Day

The doorbell rings and Carrie opens the door to see a large man standing in front of her.

Saunders

Carrie Welsh?

Carrie

Walsh.

Saunders

My apologies. I’m Agent Saunders of the FBI. May I come in?

Carrie

What is this about?

Saunders

I just have a couple questions to ask you.

Carrie steps aside to allow agent Saunders to come inside as Gabriel slides down the railing of the fire escape and walks out of the alley and into the streets. He looks around for a moment and sees Agent Bennett is sitting in the car outside the apartment.

Bennett

Where the hell is he getting that I scare people? I think I’m adorable.

Bennett is watching people walk by when he notices a man in a black hood leaving a nearby alley and walking in the other direction.

Bennett

No...

Bennett starts watching more closely until he’s almost certain the person he’s seeing is the same man he saw at the hospital before he picks up a radio.

Bennett

Uh, sir. I think I found him.

Saunders

What the hell are you talking about? Found who? Aren’t you still sitting in the car?

Bennett

It’s the man from the hospital. He’s walking across the street right now.

Saunders

Are you certain?

Bennett

I could swear that’s him.

Saunders

Follow him. Let me know when you’re sure. Keep me updated.

Gabriel peeks over his shoulder and sees the agent walking out of his car and following him. His eyes widen and he starts running.

Bennett

It’s him!

Saunders

How do you know?

Bennett

Because he’s running!

---

2009 – Army Base

General

No.

Daniel

‘No,’ sir?

General

That’s right.

Daniel

If you don’t mind me asking... I’m just a little confused. I thought we needed my brother to believe I was dead so he could make progress on his research. He has made progress and you’re funding him now. Why can’t I see him?

General

I do mind you asking. This isn’t a negotiation. This is an order. Your brother is far from where we want him to be. As for you, you were told to forget your old life. You’re dead and that’s the way it stays. Your brother could have single-handedly won this war but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re dead. Of course, with this new president things are looking promising but you are still ordered to forget that life and move on.

Daniel

How can I do that? You’re saying that I can never see my brother again?

General

I’m saying, as long as we are giving the orders you are to follow them. Do I make myself clear?

The General doesn’t even wait for a response and turns his back to Daniel as he starts to walk away.

Daniel

No.

General

What is that?

Daniel

I said no. I can’t go along with this anymore. I can’t keep hiding from Adam. I need to see him. He needs to know I’m alive.

General

Well I have no choice now. I’m sorry son, but you’re not going anywhere.

---

Present Day – In Carrie’s apartment

Saunders

Chase him. I’m going to call for backup and meet up with you.

Saunders puts down his radio and looks at Carrie, who now has a frightened look on her face.

Saunders

Damn, it’s me who scares people, isn’t it?

Carrie

Huh?

Saunders

Never mind. We’ll have to continue this conversation downtown. I’m going to call a backup car to take you there while I meet up with my partner.

To be continued...

Check back later this week for our third podcast and a Q&A with writer and co-creater, Jesse!

Chapter 3: In Times of War (Part 2)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

2007 – army base

Daniel

Hey, Leonard. How’s the food today?

Daniel is walking towards his usual table in the cafeteria of the base he had been relocated to.

Leonard

How do you expect? Hey, Jimmy, you got another story for us?

Jimmy

When don’t I? See that table over there? I hear that squad was sent on a mission to find Osama Bin Laden after a tip the President received and they found him.

Daniel

What? No way, we would know about that!

Jimmy

They say they can’t be sure yet if it’s actually him, but they believe it is.

Leonard

How did they do it?

Jimmy

I heard they went into a cave where he was hiding and there was a lot of gun fire. But that big guy there, you couldn’t even see him because he was so fast. He took out most of the hostiles single-handedly and when he got to Bin Laden, he ripped out his skull and beat him to death with it.

Leonard

What? That doesn’t seem physically possible!

Jimmy

Well it’s true.

They all start a form of awkward laughter. The laughter is interrupted when General Larken walks up to the table.

General

Lieutenant Fields, may I have a word with you?

Daniel stands up and salutes the General.

Daniel

Yes, sir!

The general orders Daniel to follow him and leads him to a tent a few minutes away from the rest of the camp. As Daniel enters the tent he notices a large table in the center with ten people surrounding it. Each has a blank expression on their face and keeps their focus on Daniel from the moment he walks in.

General

Please, have a seat. Don’t mind everyone here; they’re just going to evaluate you.

Daniel

Evaluate, sir?

General

Relax, son. You’re not in any trouble. We’re just going to ask you a few
questions. First, how is the progress going on that special assignment I gave to you?

Daniel

Last I heard, Adam said that all his research had seemingly hit a dead end and
that it is likely impossible to achieve what his theory suggested.

General

Well that is… disappointing.

His voice carries a sense of impatience through the room and for the first time all eyes in the room left Daniel and refocus themselves onto the general.

Daniel

I tried pushing him but he seemed to be more interested in pursuing other things.

General

Such as?

Daniel

Speaking honestly, nothing that could be of significance to the US military.

Felicia Grey

General Larken mentioned in his report that you claim your brother had started to pursue researching his theory after the death of your mother.

Something in the woman’s voice sent a chill climbing up Daniels spine. This entire meeting has struck him as creepy, and he can’t shake the feeling he is in over his head.

Daniel

Yes, I guess that is correct.

General

Is that a guess, or is it accurate?

Daniel

That is what happened, sir.

Unknown Man

How far is your brother in his research?

Daniel

That’s the confusing part. He told me he is making great progress in our previous
conversation. He said he actually believed he and Lionel Sabetelli could find a way to
control the brain to tell the heart and body to sustain life for a long period of time. He
said there could also be a possibility of bringing a recently deceased body to at least a
comatose state.

Unknown Man

Well, that’s not really good enough for us.

Felicia Grey

I can imagine you see the interest the military has in this research. If he perfects the technology we can invest more research to see if it has a possibility of healing injured soldiers or even reviving fallen ones after they are brought back to camp. It would certainly give us an advantage and we would lose a lot less American soldiers.

Daniel

I do; and if I may speak honestly, that idea disturbs me a little.

General

It doesn’t exactly paint a pretty picture, but you have to admit that anything that can save lives is nothing but beneficial to mankind, and that providing an edge to this war doesn’t hurt.

Daniel

I guess not. So I assume the plan is to try and convince Adam to continue his work the next time I see him?

The room grew silent and once more, every eye is on Daniel.

General

It’s not that easy. We need him working on this right away and there’s only one way he’ll be convinced to continue.

Daniel

I don’t understand.

---

Present day

Carrie

Well, what did they tell you to do?

Gabriel

I’m not sure I can continue on. The memory alone scars me.

Carrie

Daniel, it’s me. You can tell me.

Carrie reaches over to place her hand on Daniel’s lap once more, hoping to console him, at least a little.

Gabriel

Fine…but first, I have couple more questions.

Carrie

Alright. Ask away.

Gabriel

What do you know about the missing LifeSource members?

Carrie

Well, I don’t work at LifeSource so I only know what Lionel and Adam told me. They said that some personnel would just not show up for work. It’s usually people that have been there for a long time. They would start to get worried but then days later they would receive a note, email, or even a phone call from the missing employee saying they got offered another job out of the city. The thing is they would never say where it is or the company name, only that they got offered a lot of money to leave right away.

Gabriel

And they haven’t been seen since?

Carrie

Not that I’ve heard of. Adam said he heard once or twice that someone who went missing had been visited by people from the government about a new job opportunity. He just assumed that is probably why they left. The weird part is that the ones who disappeared without notice had said that they declined the offer.

Gabriel

Interesting.

Gabriel gets out of his chair and starts to pace for a moment or two as he thinks about all the possibilities and circumstances that may be on their hands. His thoughts, however, are cut short when Carrie breaks the silence.

Carrie

So… who are they?

Gabriel

Who?

Carrie

The people from the government; FBI, right? You said that they would be coming for me. I assume from where this conversation is going that these are the same people who were talking to the LifeSource employees before they disappeared.

Gabriel

That’s certainly what it sounds like. I only ran into them once.

Carrie

But you do know about them, right? Are they involved with that happened to you?

Gabriel

No. I’m just finding out about them now. It seems like they have something to do with all this, but now I’m not so sure. It seems they have their own agenda. None of this makes sense. It doesn’t fit with everything that’s happened.

Carrie

What does that mean?

Gabriel

I have a feeling that the crash Adam and Lisa were in was planned. I also have a feeling that if the crash hadn’t happened then they still would have been in danger.

Carrie

From the Protesters?

Gabriel

No, the Protesters have nothing to do with anything that’s been happening.

Carrie

Then what do you mean by the crash being planned?

Gabriel

Adam is the brains behind LifeSource. I don’t think anyone with power in the company would want him to leave.

Carrie

So the government put him in danger? That sounds really crazy.

Gabriel

I don’t think that the thought is out of the question for the US government, but it isn’t them. I think it is the FBI. Well, the special task force for LifeSource, anyways.

Carrie

Why?

Gabriel

The two guys who I faced are behind the operation and from what I’ve seen they don’t like to follow any rules and have their own secrets.

Carrie

So what do they want with me?

Gabriel

I haven’t figured that out yet, but I think they’re planning something that the government might not even know about. They’re getting as many people from LifeSource as possible, which means they’re probably working on something.

Carrie

So I’m supposed to spy on them?

Gabriel

Yes. If you put up a fight then they’ll lose all trust in you and you’ll be treated like the ones that refused. You need to willingly go along with what they say.

Carrie

What about Adam? Do you think he refused?

Gabriel

Did he ever meet with them?

Carrie

He never told me.

Gabriel

I think I should probably go. I don’t think I have much time.

Carrie

Wait, you never finished your story.

Gabriel

It’s probably for the best.

Carrie

I have to know. I haven’t seen you in years.

Gabriel

Alright, but I have a feeling you’ll be crying by the end of it.

---

2007 – Army Officer Tent

Daniel

Get off me!

Daniel manages to pull himself out from the hold of the officials who had a hold on him only to stumble onto the ground. He quickly gets to his feet and makes a run for the door, jumping over stools and chairs, sliding across the large table that sits in the room and trying to push his way out of the tent. However, despite his best efforts, the officials outnumber him and eventually one of them tackles him to the ground as another pulls out a handgun and presses it against Daniel’s forehead.

General

I’m sorry son, but we’re going ahead with this plan, even if you don’t agree. I’m giving you a choice here. Your brother needs to believe you are dead. We discussed this at great lengths and have agreed this is the best option. He will be in an emotional state, like he was when your mother died, and hopefully he will be re-inspired to continue his research. We don’t have to spend money we could use for other resources so that if this little project of his goes south, we wouldn’t have wasted our time and money.

Daniel

I can’t just let my brother think I’m dead!

General

Oh that’s out of your control. What you can do is comply and continue fighting in the war. You are a great soldier and we would prefer if you were with us on this one. If not, we can contain you. You won’t be contributing to the war, your brother will still think you are dead, and you would rarely be seeing sunlight. The choice is yours. I just hope you choose the obvious one.

Daniel has completely given up in his attempt to escape by this point and the officials allow him to get off the ground and take a seat at the table again; gun still pointed at his head. He takes a seat and begins to contemplate his situation. Should he go along with the officials and assist in the war, or should he be kept a prisoner?

Daniel

Well, seeing as these are my only options, I’ll go along with it. I just want to make it clear that I don’t agree with this solution.

General

And I want to make it clear that we don’t care. We’re here to win, not to put into consideration your feelings on the matter. Oh, and you are forbidden from making any more video calls or discussing with other soldiers to give any indication to your brother that you are still alive. You will be given a new name that everyone else will refer to you as from now on.

Daniel

What name will that be?

General

I don’t know something generic perhaps. John? How does everyone feel about ‘John’?

Daniel

Now it matters how people are feeling?

The woman holding a gun to Daniel’s head butts the handle of the gun against him.

Felicia Grey

John is fine.

General

Alright, ‘John’ it is then. You are dismissed.

---

Present Day

Carrie

‘John’?

Gabriel

That name didn’t stick.

Carrie

So they made Adam think that you were dead and you couldn’t say anything? That’s horrible.

Gabriel

I wish that was the end of it.

Carrie

There’s more?

Gabriel

Nothing that is particularly important to this situation.

Gabriel stands up and looks out the window to check for the agents. When he finally believes it to be safe Gabriel turns back to Carrie and realizes that he has been gone for years and hadn’t even bothered to ask the generic questions a long lost friend would ask.

Carrie

What about to me?

Gabriel

How about I tell you another day?

Carrie

Alright. If you have any more questions, now would be the time to ask.

Gabriel

I have many, but I feel I should ask this one while I have the chance. A question I have been meaning to ask you for years that I was hoping I would be able to ask you if I ever saw you again.

Carrie

What is it?

Gabriel

How have you been?

To be continued...

Chapter 3: In Times of War (Part 1)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Gabriel comes out of the kitchen of Carrie’s apartment holding two cups of coffee and hands Carrie one of them.

Carrie

Thank you. Now, I’ve told you enough already. I think it’s your turn now.

Gabriel

Where do I start?

He puts the cup down and falls back into his seat.

Carrie

The beginning is always a good choice.

Gabriel sighs.

Gabriel

Fine, but you should know that I may stop at times for more information you have and to tell you the FBI could be coming at any minute. Are you sure you want to know everything?

Carrie

Yes.

Gabriel

…I was afraid you’d say that.

---

2004 – Fields House

Adam runs up to his brother in the airport terminal the day he is leaving for his tour. He is fighting back tears as he hugs his brother and takes hold of his emotions before he pulls away so Daniel can see his face.

Adam

I can’t believe you’re joining the army.

Daniel

Hey, it helps pay for school, right?

Adam

But dad left us a big inheritance…

Daniel wraps his arm around Adam.

Daniel

Well all those dates aren’t cheap.

Mrs. Fields

Daniel Lucas Fields, are you saying you’re blowing away all the money your father left you for fun?

Daniel

It was a joke, mom!

Daniel laughs for a moment, but a serious look creeps across his face.

Daniel

The truth is I feel like I should be doing something great and I think this will be a great experience for me.

Mrs. Fields

Well, we’re proud of you either way.

---

Present day

Gabriel

By that time, as you know, Adam is starting University and I was being shipped to Iraq. Why we were sent there still baffles me to this day.

Carrie

I know all this, Daniel. We kept in touch, remember?

---

2005 – Fields House

Carrie pushes Adam out of the way to get in a moment on the web cam.

Carrie

We miss you a lot, Daniel!

Daniel

I miss you all too; except maybe that guy…who is he? Do I know him?

Adam pushes Carrie out of his chair.

Adam

No, you don’t. His name is Lionel. We met a little while ago. Lionel, this is my brother Daniel.

Lionel is about the same height as Adam but with a more toned shape. Their facial features couldn’t be more different. In contrast to Adam’s dark hair and light blue eyes Lionel had dark brown eyes and sandy blond hair.

Lionel

Pleasure to meet you, friend.

Adam

We actually met after that competition I told you about.

Daniel

Oh, right! I wanted to ask you how that went.

Adam

I didn’t win.

Daniel

Oh, sorry, bud. The next one for sure. Did Lionel here beat you or something?

Lionel

Actually my field is more technology based.

Daniel

Yeah, I found a flyer the next day about a tech completion so I checked it out and Lionel won for his video game.

Daniel

Wait, so he made a video game and won a university-wide competition?

Lionel

I didn’t make a video game. I took an existing video game and used a sort of brain-mapping helmet and pulse detecting gloves to prove that it’s possible for someone to control a video game just by thinking about it.

Daniel

That doesn’t even sound possible

Lionel

It didn’t exactly go as planned, but the idea won me the prize.

Daniel

Congratulations. Um…Sorry, if you all don’t mind, I don’t have a lot of time and want to speak with Adam alone.

Carrie, Lionel

Sure thing.

Carrie and Lionel walk away.

Daniel

Adam, did you do what I asked?

Adam

Yeah, I put flowers on mom’s grave for you.

Daniel

I wish I could be there. I still can’t believe she’s gone.

Adam

I wish you were here, too. I want you to come home.

Daniel

It’s not that easy, Adam. I have to go now. Take care.

Daniel stands up out of his chair and bumps into the general who is standing behind him.

Daniel

Oh, sorry, General Larken. I… I didn’t know you were standing there.

Daniel stumbles over his words as he tries to ignore the embarrassment of walking into his superior.

General

I know these conferences are supposed to be private… but I was a little curious.

Daniel

About what, sir?

General

Your brother and his new friend, I’ve been told, are starting to work on a small project that is intriguing the US government. It’s a theory at the moment, but could end up possibly beneficial to the war. And at these times, we want to look at every option available.

Daniel

I’m not sure I understand, sir.

General

We just want you to keep track of his progress. Make sure during your future video conferences that you lean the conversation to his work and find out as much information as possible and report back to me. I’ll promise that future conversations will be private from now on but we need to make sure you’re pushing him to continue his work.

Daniel

I’m not sure I’m comfortable exploiting my brother’s personal life for military use, sir.

General

Well that doesn’t matter because this is an order, and you will do this for us.

Daniel

Why not fund his research to guarantee he works on it?

General

Because, this war is costing us a lot of money and we want to make sure we’re using that money on the proper investments for this war. Don’t let me down, son.

Daniel

Yes, sir!

Daniel raises his hand to salute the General before he drops his head and walks out of the tent.

---

Present time

Carrie
So… they asked you to spy on Adam?

Gabriel
They ordered me to spy on Adam. But that still isn’t the worst part.

Carrie
Why? What happened?

Gabriel
First, you have to tell me what you know. Why are LifeSource employees disappearing?

Carrie
Fair enough; well, as you know, the first appearance of the Pods spawned a group of religious people who believed that the machines were going against the work of God – or whatever the belief was based on the religion of the individual. Many of these people believe that once dead, the soul is gone and that bringing someone back to life makes them a different person, a pseudo-man. These people were then given a name; ‘The Protesters’. I know, it’s a stupid name, but what do you expect from a group that listens to baseless theories instead of scientific fact?

Gabriel
Can we skip over this part?

Carrie
Sorry. Anyways, the group was strong before the laws were placed. They formed a large, nation-wide following and prompted the government to look at life, death, and the beliefs of the nation. The following died down after the resolution but core followers stayed strong, keeping the movement alive as an underground community, or so the rumour goes. Recently, there seems to be indications that the Protesters are growing in numbers again and are becoming more active in their message. There have been threats on the company and the employees. What is once a peaceful group that stood for something has turned to a violent group that won’t listen to reason; a group that doesn’t care about who their actions may hurt. So many employees say they are leaving for safety reasons. Adam told me that’s why he is leaving.

Gabriel
They were threatening Adam, too?

Carrie
Especially him...

There is a worrisome pause before she continues.

Carrie
Who else but the co-founder of the technology to be the prime target? After he felt like his family might be in danger, he said he was leaving. He left all responsibility to Lionel and his father-in-law.

Gabriel
How is the company split?

Carrie
I’m sorry?

Gabriel
Do Lionel and Joe have an even split of the shares, or is Lionel in charge?

Carrie
How is that important?

Gabriel
Everything is important.

Gabriel takes another sip of coffee, accidentally drinking too much and burning his tongue.

Carrie
Well, you know Joe Tyler. He makes sure he’s in it for the money. He has a huge stake in the company.

Gabriel
That’s what I thought.

Carrie
But you also know Adam. He stayed strong and he and Lionel ended up owning the company and after Adam left, Lionel now has complete control of the company.

Gabriel
Good.

Carrie
Why? Do you not trust Joe?

Gabriel
I don’t trust anyone.

Carrie
I still don’t understand why.

Carrie places her hand on Gabriel’s to comfort him.

Gabriel
I told you I’ll tell you more after you give me something.

Carrie
I just answered your question.

Gabriel
I asked why employees were leaving and you said that you were led to believe they were leaving over safety concerns. You never told me what is really happening or explained the missing employees.

Carrie
Fine, I’ll continue with that after you tell me more.

Gabriel
Alright, but the story doesn’t get any more pleasant after this.

To be continued...