Rise of Aen (14 page)

Wilson fell to the ground as Aen release his grip on him. He looked up at the creature standing over him, but saw little but some kind of armour-clad being before him; the colors of the armor shifted as the trees around it moved in the wind and rain like it was
alive.

“Consider that a warning shot Major, I won’t be so lenient next time we meet.” It squatted down on its haunches to finish addressing him. “Tell the powers-that-be how easy this was for me, and that continuing this pursuit of me will only cost them more of their precious freaks.” Wilson could hear footsteps approaching; the rest of his team was rushing to his aide. “Anger is a wonderful motivator, one that will fuel me to finish this if you and yours don’t back off! I am beyond your petty plans for me, and I will be merciless if I have
to.”

As it stood up again, Wilson felt a warmth well up inside and watched as the creature disappeared in a flash of light. In a blink of an eye, he was gone! The voices of his men as they arrived one by one to where he lay in a pool of mud and blood brought him back to his senses. Years of training told him that the knife had been placed in the perfect spot, passing through him but missing anything vital. He knew he would live, but wondered at the gravity of the creature’s
threats.

I am beyond your petty plans, it had said. The words rang in his mind over and over as he felt himself hoisted onto a stretcher. Carefully, the Major pondered these words and wondered exactly how much he had underestimated his target. He thought of the remnants of the morgue back at the lab and hoped this thing would never realize its true potential before he had a chance to end this. Wilson knew now there was no taking this thing alive. The stakes had been raised today and it had drawn a definite line in the sand. It was it or them; but in the end, one or the other would be dead by the end of this. As his fingers slowly caressed the knife edge that protruded from his gut, he fearfully wondered if any of them had what it took to bring this new threat
down.

Rocky Mountains, Utah –
Military Installation Code Named White Rock

With a thunderous crash, the coffee mug exploded as it crashed against the wall and General Patterson screamed in frustration. The mission report was scrunched up in his left hand and he paced up and down the board room as General Taylor and Sergeant Davis watched with fearful apprehension. Usually Patterson was reserved and calm, but now he was in a furor few had ever seen him
in.

“What the fuck happened?” he screamed. “How the hell did this thing lay down a perfect ambush for ten well trained
soldiers?”

Neither soldier was stupid enough to even open their mouths, never mind attempt to answer the irate
General.

“And now it issues a warning; is it declaring war on us? Is it him that brings the rapture down on us?” His voice was wavering slightly as the anger was being overcome with fear. “Taylor, you made this thing so I want you to take over the recovery team with Wilson as your second in command, soon as he’s up to rejoining you. He’s obviously overmatched on this
task!”

“Yes, sir!” Taylor barked. He didn’t want to go on this mission, but the times called for leadership and cunning, so it was a logical
choice.

“Davis, get me everything we have on who this guy was before we snatched him. I want to know what he was in to and what he was reading. For fuck’s sake, ten men just got owned by a fucking
banker!”

“Yes, sir!” she snapped a salute and started for the door before he stopped
her.

“And get the surveillance on the family reissued; the fucker obviously has full cognitive memory of his former life and may try to reach out to them. Watch them like
hawks!”

She snapped another salute and dashed out the door to get the orders instituted. As she rushed down the hall, Davis was relieved to be out of the line of fire; at least temporarily. The general had every right to be scared—as did she—because this creature had access to weapons and had them aimed directly at the project and those responsible for him being there. As far as she was concerned, everyone in the building had a set of crosshairs aimed directly at
them!

SIX

Highbury, England

Rain cascaded off his armor as Aen sat in the sparse clearing at the top of the hill. The shock of what had transpired stopped him in his tracks and made him take a seat on a stump. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would ever be capable of such actions—even the thought of killing a man had never entered his mind! But today he had been something different, today anger and malice had fueled him, and that forced him to become something he could never be in his former
life.

He knew he should be on the run and not hang around so close to where he challenged the soldiers, but his legs felt rubbery and refused to move. Below in the valley he could see the men of the strike team huddled around their fallen leader as the helicopter transport slowly descended towards them. All eyes were on the men below, so he was lucky in the sense that no one would notice the lone figure watching them from above. Even if they were looking for him, Aen was sure the image-reflecting armour would mask
him.

It was something that truly amazed him, so much so that thinking about this technology roused him from his state of shock. Made to fit his exact body, the armor was two separate parts acting as one. Beneath lay a form-fitting bodysuit that allowed for maximum movement efficiency, while still able to hold up to enemy strikes. On top, covering more vital areas, was metallic armour made from a substance he had never seen before. It was lightweight, flexible, but could crush a wrecking ball if it struck him. Add to that the reflective properties of the armor once powered up, and he was a walking tank. He only hoped that Caretaker was able to adapt the gauntlets of the next suit to better fit him; the three-fingered gloves were more than uncomfortable as he struggled to fit his ring and pinky fingers in the third finger of the ones he wore
now.

Inside his chest, his heart beat in a slow and steady rhythm. He felt his senses return and the drumming in his chest helped calm his nerves. Aen began to realize that nothing he did from now on would be within the normal lines of his old life. His place in the world had drastically changed and no matter what he had said to others, it was he who had to do some quick adjusting, the evidence of which lay in his hands in the form of a high-powered sniper rifle he acquired from his first
victim.

Victim. He chuckled at the context he used that word in. To him it was like the veil had come crashing down all at once. Before this incident, everything was simply surreal—until a few hours ago. Once merely a sheep in the flock he went about his life with a merry blindness; now his eyes had been opened to the madness around him and he was transformed into the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. And as he looked down upon the men loading their fallen comrades into the chopper, Aen realized that is how he saw them, as
prey!

It wasn’t a shocking revelation to him, but more of a final push to accept what he now was. No longer was he bound by the morals and laws he had grown up with; no longer was he tied to the life he used to live. Or was
he?

Aen’s thoughts returned to his family and that the possibility of repercussions for what he had done today was high. It was a minor foresight, but one that could be easily corrected. He had sent a message to these men and if they were thinking of trying to use his family against him, it would be time to send a stronger one. Standing for the first time in a bit, his anxiety had washed away with the steady rain and he was clear headed at last. Aen took one last look at the helicopter as it began its ascent into retreat and simply disappeared from where he once
stood.

Himalayan Mountains, Mount Kailash, Tibet

“I don’t think that is what Ameia had in mind when she said to help you practice your abilities.”
The construct, Caretaker, droned.
“The human’s defence network is full of inquiries about you. I believe you hit them a bit too
hard.”

Aen wasn’t willing to waiver in his conviction, but arguing with a machine would be a test in true insanity. He simply resumed shedding his armour and looked for more appropriate clothing to hide in the world
with.

“They needed a slap to the face, so as to remind them that I am not theirs to
control.”

“But in doing so, have you not tipped your hand at
revenge?”

A good question, one that Aen himself had fought with the entire time he had plotted the day’s events. Life always responded to events; his actions would escalate theirs and then would continue until there was no one left standing. But when he mapped out the whole thing in his mind logically, he had done the right thing. Now they knew he was superior to them, but the question still lingered with them, and in his mind, by how
much.

“So you are tapped in to the defence network now?” Aen asked, trying to change the
subject.

“I am connected to the entire planet’s communications, Aen.”
It replied boastfully.
“There is precious little going on in this planet that I do not know of, thanks to the human’s obsession with social
networking.”

This thing which had been little more than his conscience just proved itself to now be invaluable. The advantage he now held was astronomical; he would know their moves before they even made
them!

“Tell me, have they made any threat to my wife or daughter
yet?”

“Not a threat, per se, but they have re-established constant observation of them. I believe this is a result of your ‘slap in the face’ earlier today as these orders are very recent. Also to note, they have placed General Taylor in charge of the mission to find and retrieve you.
Interesting...”

“What is
interesting?

“Taylor’s orders are to bring you in alive, but his communications to the team is to shoot first and if you live, then all is well. He seems to have a personal agenda that directly conflicts with his orders. How very interesting. He goes so far as to offer the thought on using your family as bait to ensnare
you.”

Aen had finished changing into the suit that he wore the last time he saw his daughter. It was well tailored and made him look quite distinguished with the exception of his blue tinted dark hair. It was shoulder length and gave him a youthful billionaire look that made the whole outfit its style. Donning his dark sunglasses completed the disguise, and Aen was now ready to venture
out.

“Indeed.” He responded to his holographic companion and turned around with a sinister smile on his face. “Let’s throw a wrench into these plans of his and see what
happens.”

Bristol County, Massachusetts

It was a cloudy day and rain threatened to cut her weekly visit short, but Sara was determined to see out her full time with her dad. Armed with an umbrella tucked neatly in her pocket, she would be ready for when the heavens opened up. This was her time, her only time of solace, and she wasn’t going to let anything take it from
her.

With one eye on the clouds, she sauntered up the path to her father’s grave, a song she had heard on the radio played in her mind as she hummed the tune. Merrily, she walked along and was clueless to anything but the impending weather and the task at hand. Maybe it was this reason why she was so startled to see the man from the day before standing at her destination. She slowed her walking as she could hear him talking and wanted to sneak up
unheard.

“Good morning, Sara Foster.” He said in a dull voice as she was but a few feet behind him. Sara was sure she hadn’t made a sound; she had taken great care in being
stealthy.

“How did
you…”

“It helps if you don’t sing and dance up the path before you decide to sneak up on someone. I heard you from about a hundred yards out.” He turned to her with a sly smile. “You are probably the happiest person in the whole
boneyard.”

For the first time, she noticed the glint of blue in his hair and the texture of his skin; both seemed to be…off. Sara couldn’t put her finger on it, but she sensed that this character was different somehow. All her instincts were screaming that something was wrong. Again she caught the faint scent of ash on
him.

“Kinda cloudy to wear sunglasses, don’t you think?” She had decided on a humor-based question to start with to test the waters of his personality. Hundreds of questions rolled about her mind, but she tried to focus in on the facts; and right now she had none on this
man.

“My eyes are sensitive to light,” he replied instantly. “Whether it is cloudy or clear, I wear these so I don’t get
migraines.”

“I’m sorry,” she said moving forward and extending her hand in greeting. “You seem to know me but I know nothing of you. You
are…?”

“Aen, my name is Aen.” He said accepting the greeting and shaking her hand. As soon as his skin made contact with hers, she felt an electric charge come over her. Not only was his touch familiar, but also there was an energy about
him—literally.

“That is an interesting name. Where are you
from?”

“Nepal. I was raised in a monastery up in the mountains.” He said as he motioned for her to join him on the bench to chat. Aen was amazed at how she had grown in the past few years in his absence. She was a bit taller, but not much, and her face had narrowed a bit as she had become more fit; less hanging with the girls and more working out he guessed. All in all, his baby girl was now a
woman.

“My mother said she didn’t know you, she didn’t recognize you when I described you last week and she knew every one of Dad’s friends.” She threw the challenge down, eager to hear the
response.

“She wouldn’t know or recognize me, as I met your father after that
day.”

Sara’s blood ran cold. She knew the day he was talking about just from the way he said it; the day they said he had died! This man knew her father from after that day, which
meant…

“Is dad still...alive?” she asked with tears in her
eyes.

“I am sorry Sara, but no. He did pass, but not when they said he did. Aaron Foster gave his life to let me live,” a minor truth, but there was no way Aen would tell her the full truth, not yet. “In my mind, he is a hero and that is why I come to mourn
him.”

Sara was in shock; everything she was fighting to learn was true! His death, the cover up, even the hefty insurance policy; it was all there. But why? Why was it done? She needed to know more and decided to push this man further to get the
answers.

“You need to tell me everything, now!” she said as she looked at him with anger and eagerness all in one. He could feel her heart pounding through the bench; her excitement was
palatable.

He responded by sitting up a bit straighter; craning his neck about as if he was looking for something or someone. “Not yet, but soon,” he said as he rose to his feet. “I am charged with yours and your mother’s well-being, and I will make damn sure you are safe from any and all repercussions before you can know the truth. Right now, you are not safe.” He said starting to walk away. “But that will change very
shortly.”

Watching as he walked away, Sara was dumbstruck. This man had come in and dropped a bombshell on her and then just left. She turned to her dad’s tombstone and wondered to herself what had really happened and what had become of him. Then she turned her gaze back to Aen, only to discover him gone. For the second time, he had just vanished! Now she was really confused and she began to feel very insecure. He had said she was in danger and Sara instantly thought about the threat made to her boss and her about pursuing this. The surface of all this had only been scratched and for the first time, Sara was truly afraid at what may lie
beneath.

VA Medical Center, Washington D.C.

The air was crisp and clear, the day was warm, and the birds were singing beautifully in the garden. Emily Phillips sat in her wheelchair, enjoying the natural beauty of the garden plaza of the Veteran’s Hospital in Washington D.C. as for the first time she could remember she could be free of the confining bed and the infernal beeping of the machines inside. Today she was free, today she could be outside and away from the memories that haunted her day and
night.

The voice of the alien woman had never left her mind since that dreadful day, and her message robbed Emily of any sleep unaided by drugs. Even then, the thought of what was coming was almost too much for her to bear. But for the most part, she’d been able to keep herself together and apply every bit of strength she had into her
recovery.

Five surgeries in nine months and hundreds of hours in physiotherapy had resulted in her finally starting to walk again—with a great amount of assistance of course. Pain was a way of life for her now, it was there when she awoke and stayed with her in varying degrees until she fell asleep each night! Her legs were scarred from the surgeries; once her favorite part of her body, they were now a criss-cross pattern of scars and
stitches.

But today she was leaving that all behind. No physio, no white walls and hard bed—just fresh air and green grass along with all the splendors of nature. Today was all about her mental well-being and the want to be anywhere but cooped up
indoors!

The crunching of the rock pathway gave away the approaching orderly before Emily laid eyes on her; as the sound announced the arrival of breakfast. The woman, petite with a fake smile, drew closer with the food tray in her
hands.

“Perfect day for a meal outside, Major!” the woman exclaimed in her dreadfully cheerfulness. “Do you want me to help you over to the table
here?”

“I can do it myself, thanks.” Emily bit back the need to reach out and choke the annoying little bitch of a nurse; she had a deep rooted hatred for fake people and this woman was one of the worst she had ever encountered. “Just leave it there,
please.”