Vol. 2, Chapter 24: War of the Titans (Part 3)

Joe Tyler and his daughter, Susan, are sitting at a table at Brooke’s Family Breakfast Diner. He just finished telling her about what happened with Lisa and Ryan when they were on the run.

Joe
So now you know everything.

Susan
So how come I feel like you’re still hiding stuff?

Joe
Listen, you just learned a lot more about me that I honestly should have told you about a long time ago. What more do you want from me?

Susan
So are you still in contact with that family?

Joe
Yes, but it’s a delicate situation.

Susan
Because the father died?

Joe
Actually…

Joe sighs and takes a moment.

Joe
Since I’m being honest with you, he’s still alive.

Susan
How?

Joe
I was able to pull some strings and he was revived in a Pod. His family is living in a witness protection program.

Susan
And you have the connections to do that?

Joe
Listen, Susan, I would rather not get into this conversation, I’m not sure either of us would like where it ends up. Let’s just get to the part with Ryan. You said he’s upset and you’re worried; that’s why I’m here.

Susan
I think he got attached to these kids and he’s missing them. I get the feeling he feels guilty for putting the family in a situation where the father was murdered.

Joe
Poor kid. So what do you suggest we do for him?

Susan
Use your connections and let him see them one last time.

Joe’s heart starts racing as he begins to panic.

Joe
No way! I can’t do that.

Susan
Just so he gets a little closure and can get over the guilt.

Joe
Susan, it’s a very delicate situation. The family is in witness protection, it could jeopardize their cover. Plus I don’t think the family is ready to deal with this and poor Ryan probably wouldn’t be able to wrap his head around what is happening.

Susan
He’s smarter than you think.

Joe
Oh I know, and that’s another thing that worries me.

Susan
That he’ll start to have the same questions I do?

Joe
I wouldn’t be surprised if he already does considering what I’ve done for them these past months.

Susan
He needs to see them, dad. Will you at least consider it?

Joe sighs once again and tries to relax so his heart rate goes down.

Joe
I’ll see what I can do, but no promises.

---

Isaac is sitting in a chair as Saunders walks into the room.

Saunders
Hello. Sorry about earlier. I hope you’re more comfortable now.

Isaac doesn’t say a word.

Saunders
Silent type. Normally I like that but it does make things harder for me. Look at it this way; the quicker we get through this the quicker I’m out of your hair. So, I hear your first name is Isaac. Do you have a last name to go with it?

Isaac
You’re fun.

Saunders
I would like to think so.

Isaac
So, where is your partner? I’m assuming he’s supposed to be the bad cop.

Saunders
My partner is unconscious. Can you answer my question now?

Isaac
I’ll pass. Try asking another one.

Saunders
Alright, I’ll play this game with you. We believe you have been using an illegal Regeneration Pod and were used in unethical experiments to enhance your physical limitations. How did this happen and who provided the Pod to you?

Isaac
Come on, agent Saunders. What’s the real question you want to ask me? Something about me intrigues you. You went out of your way to make me feel at home. There’s something burning inside you that you want to ask me and you’re putting up a façade for your superiors. Forget doing things by the book and take what you want for once.

Saunders sits silently for a moment when General Larken enters the room.

Larken
Jason, a word please.

Both men exit the room.

Larken
Listen, you’re right about him being here because he wants to be. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because he got satisfaction from beating up Bennett so he doesn’t care, maybe he was sent here by someone to spy on us… I don’t know but I don’t care. The public knows we have him and we can’t keep him here. Get him to go along with the standard procedures and get him locked up in an official facility so the public is happy and we can continue this interrogation at his new location.

Saunders
It’s probably for the best. I don’t feel safe with him around everything we’re building here.

Larken
Then wrap it up quickly.

Saunders walks into the room.

Isaac
I’ll do it.

Saunders
I’m sorry?

Isaac
I’ll do whatever you want me to do and I’ll answer your questions when I’m sent to prison.

Saunders
Did… did you hear everything we were saying outside?

Isaac
There’s a lot you need to learn about me, agent Saunders.

---

The resistance is still at the bar, everybody talking socially rather than professionally at this point. Lisa, Gabriel, Felicia, and Sandra are separated from the group at one end of the bar.

Lisa
How’s the hand?

Gabriel
It should be fine but it still hurts. I’m guessing you got this surprise strength after you were revived.

Lisa
Yes, and my vision improved, too.

Gabriel
Yes, I noticed you wearing glasses when we first met. This is something that’s commonly referred to as “after-effects”. It was first discovered from the original Pods. They were first used for military purposes and I witnessed first hand the effects of the technology. It was very slight back then and barely made any significance. A man with asthma started breathing better. We didn’t give it much thought but the group Felicia was involved with, I’m sure, and others from the government took notice. LifeSource was made aware but forced to keep it a secret. They were tasked with trying to understand this phenomenon and try to either harness or remove it.

Felicia
Unfortunately, to this day, it seemed like an impossible task. Everyone at LifeSource had no answers for why this was happening. It was some unexplained science that was associated with resurrection. But if you’re right about Isaac, he could provide more answers for them.

Gabriel
The question is, will they use that information to try and suppress or even remove the effects or will they try to create military designed Pods to make an army of super soldiers?

Lisa
Obviously they’ll try to remove it in hopes of changing the laws, right?

Gabriel
This is a company that was built from military funding. The Pods were originally designed for the military. Say what you will about Adam, but LifeSource was made to profit on war.

Lisa
Adam and Lionel were, above all, about the betterment of mankind and human life. I think he would see the brighter opportunity in removing the dangerous effects of the technology.

Gabriel
I hope you’re right, Lisa. We’re with you and we’re going to try and help, but we haven’t given up on these people either.

Felicia
What this group will do will impact what happens next and we need to make sure it goes smoothly. If they are successful, the term Protester will be a reminder of the mistakes of the past and provide a more open mind towards future science advancements we can only dream of.

Gabriel
Let’s just take this one step at a time, Felicia.

Felicia
Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital.

Gabriel
I can’t go to the hospital, I’m keeping a cover.

Felicia
Relax. I know what I’m doing. We’ll see you girls at the farm later.

Sandra
Bye.

Lisa
Bye. Sorry again about the hand, Gabriel.

Gabriel
You know, once in a while, it would be nice to not get beat up by you.

Gabriel and Felicia leave the bar as Lisa and Sandra stay to talk. Lisa notices Sean has been hanging around the bartender this entire time.

Lisa
Is it just me or does it seem like Sean and that bartender are really close?

Sandra
Oh yeah, they’re dating.

Lisa
Oh, that makes a lot more sense now. How come I haven’t seen her at any of the other meetings?

Sandra
Well usually our group needs to meet at different times depending on our schedules. This location was Sean’s idea because they haven’t seen each other in a while and Cassidy there is still getting paid while the meeting is going on.

Sean walks over to the girls.

Sean
Where did the odd couple go?

Lisa
Felicia is taking Gabriel to a hospital.

Sean
Ah, hurt him that bad, huh?

Lisa
He’ll be fine. Sandra was just telling me about your girlfriend there.

Sean
Oh yeah? Hopefully nice things this time.

Lisa
Why, do you not like her?

Sean
It’s nothing bad, she just usually gets bent out of shape because I stole Cassidy from her.

Lisa
Huh?

Sandra
Come on, she doesn’t need to hear this.

Sean
It’s kind of a funny story, sis.

Lisa
Wait, I’m confused.

Sean
We were hanging out one day at this very bar when Sandra noticed Cassidy and went to see if she could get her phone number.

Lisa
So you’re…

Sandra
Yup…

Lisa
Ah, I understand now.

Sean
Anyways she turned her down.

Sandra
No big deal, happens all the time. Just get the wrong impression, I guess.

Sean
Anyway, we somehow end up talking with her later and she and I sort of hit it off. We’ve been together since and it embarrasses the hell out of Sandra here.

Lisa
Aw, but that’s such a cute story.

Sandra
Yes, but it’s still a little awkward.

Nathan comes up to them.

Nathan
Lisa. I want to apologize and hope I didn’t offend you earlier.

Lisa
It’s fine, Nathan. I went a little overboard. I just think we need to broaden our scope of all this.

Nathan
Well, we all support you but I don’t think we’ll be able to help you this time around. I hope you understand.

Lisa
Don’t worry. I’ve got friends who are by my side with this.

---

Felicia is driving Gabriel to the hospital.

Felicia
So, what’s the plan?

Gabriel
Talk to Lionel, somehow get in contact with Isaac, and then break Adam out of that place.

To be continued...