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Chapter 7 - Jade
Bria and I were not that girly; Jon only thought we were. Now, where was I... Oh yes.
That nice looking guy opened the door and brought us into his office and took care of Dragon. Then he spoke the words I had wanted to hear from the beginning:
"Let me explain."
"You can explain everything?" I interrupted with a very hopeful look on my face. He looked at me, sympathetic for a moment, then became business-like again.
"Yes. If you all will refrain from asking questions till I am finished speaking." We nodded and he continued. "Your parents were assigned to work on the Fantasy Project, so named for the appearance of the androids, and they accepted on the condition that they would be allowed to work at home with the one annual visit to the home office here. At the time your mother was on maternity leave because she had just had you two.
"One question. Are you related to them?" He looked at Bria.
"No. I'm a friend."
"Our best friend," I said.
"Ok. Anyway, the administrator accepted this condition and your house was remodeled with state-of-the-art security systems and the basement was remade into their laboratory. They would have weekly vid conferences with their co-workers here and all the components that they could not get at a regular store were disguised and sent in the most ordinary way, by mail. They were usually hidden in an everyday item. On their annual visits they would bring their latest diaries of that year which contained all the notes of their research, everything and I do mean everything. They couldn't have anything on their computers because they might be hacked. We thought no one would notice ordinary notebooks and it looks like we were right. This went on so smoothly that we became lax in our observance of them.
"There is an opposition that has been trying to steal our research and technology for quite some time now and your parents must have looked like an easy target, especially with our lapse in security precautions, so when the opportunity was ripe they took it and them and vanished.
"This organization, called the Radicals' Association for Terroristic Strategy, has been in operation for almost as long as we have. They have been covertly opposing us and trying to steal our research since the beginning. And they are led by someone with as much authority in the government as our leader so we can't just expose them, we have to find their leader so that this doesn't happen again.
"Our organization, Communications And Technology Services, supplies the services of scientists and engineers and such to the various government organizations and installations throughout the country as they are needed. So when the pentagon asked us if we knew anyone who could possibly invent and construct a small, pet sized robot that could act as a bodyguard, we chose your parents because they were the experts in the necessary fields.
"All that is past. What we need to know now is if you've seen anything out of the ordinary lately. Strange cars on your street, strange people loitering near your house or school, that sort of thing. Have your parents acted abnormally in any way in the last week or so?"
I was slightly shocked after that very long speech. I think that was the longest anyone had ever talked directly to me, and my brother and my friend. I looked to my brother.
"I don't think so," Jon said slowly. I guess he was a little shocked too. "I know our parents were normal. We definitely would have noticed if our parents had started acting weird. I didn't notice any strangers, but we live in a really big town and we don't know everyone. Their disappearance was really so totally unexpected."
"You're absolutely sure you felt nothing abnormal?"
"Yes. Absolutely," Jon and I said together. Tobias looked surprised for a moment, but quickly composed himself.
"OK, good. At least they did not show any inclinations to hurt you two. This means one less thing to worry about. This means they don't involve unnecessary innocents in their dealings with their targets. It also means things will be a little bit harder because they are top-of-the-line professionals.
"My superiors know you are going to insist on coming and helping in the search for your parents. They know that your parents made you take martial arts and self defense courses and survival training. They also know that there is nothing they can do, short of throwing you in a cell, to keep you from going and searching on your own if we refuse to take you, so you will be able to come along, but," here he paused to make sure we were listening because we were getting very hopeful looks on our faces. "But you must remember that I am in charge, that we must never break the law, and that I must know where you are at all times." Here is where things got a little interesting.
"I have a question... or two," Jon said. "Why should you be in charge? We know just as much about our parents as you do, probably even more. We know how they think and behave. We might not have known exactly what they did for a living, but they were always honest with us about how they felt and what they thought. You barely even know our parents so I think I should be in charge."
"Those are some good points, but I have some good points as well. First of all, this is my job, to find your parents. Second, I am older and more experienced in this sort of situation. And third, you three are still minors and so can not go into certain places. Plus, being a government agent gets me certain privileges that you would not otherwise be able to have."
"Both of these sides have good points," I interjected before Jon said anything to get the man mad. "But isn't that more reason why we should all be equal. We should be a team with all parts contributing to the whole. If you feel the need to be captain, Mr. Wild, then so be it, but it would be kind of rude to make us acknowledge that fact all the time." I glared at Jon to keep quiet.
"Please call me Tobias and I bow to your superior wisdom. It shall be as you say. I must leave you now to make preparations, but first I will bring you to where they are fixing Dragon 006. Follow me." As we followed him out of the office and down the hall I wondered about Tobias as I wonder about all new people I meet. I wondered how old he was, why did he choose this job, what his background was, and most importantly, if he really cared about what happened to our parents or if he was just really dedicated to his job. I had inkling it was some of both; he sounded as if he really liked his job and it also sounded as though he did care what happened to our parents. I would have to get to know him better to see whether this was just a front or genuine feelings.
By the time I had thought all these things through we had reached the room which held Dragon 006. We had turned a few corridors, gone down an elevator, walked down some long hallways; we must have been near the center of the earth or at least the center of the building. It was a very big building, bearing a slight resemblance to a warehouse.
As we entered the room, which held Dragon, I noticed that it looked a lot like the hospital operating room I was in when I had my appendix removed. It was white, very clean, very neat, and very bright with lights everywhere. It was just bearable without sunglasses. I almost didn't notice Tobias saying he would see us later.
"Bye for now," I turned and said to him. He gave me another strange look before leaving the room.
As we watched the technicians work on Dragon, they recited out loud each step as it was executed, explaining clearly and simply every detail. We did not ask why they did this because we knew we might have to make repairs or upgrades some day by ourselves. They even let us get up real close to watch. I wished we had classes like this in school. Except they didn't teach robotics in twelfth grade. We now knew what had gone wrong. Dragon's satellite communications chip had shorted out due to the fact that it was an old chip and it could not handle the capacity of information that traveled to and from Dragon's systems. The techs had to upgrade him and put in a surge protector so that if something else happened the sensory pads that Jon wore would not shock him. They asked Unicorn if she had a surge protector and she said yes. Because she had been the later model she had a few extra things that Dragon did not. The Ashtons had not had time to upgrade him before they were kidnapped.
"Did you actually see their assailants?" the head tech asked. "Yes", Unicorn replied. "At one point they lifted the tarp that had been placed over us and we saw their faces. They did not notice us because the Ashtons had activated our new camouflage holograms before they went to answer the doorbell. All the intruders saw were a lawn mower base and a stereo. But our internal recorder saw their faces. Would you like to see them?"
"Let me call the director first. He needs to see them first."
So the director was called and we all waited with baited breath till he arrived and everything was ready. Dragon and Unicorn placed themselves at a 90-degree angle to each other and faced away from the center of their audience. They each projected an image and the images met at the point of the angle and the images became a 3-D hologram. Unicorn gave a commentary with the show.
"The intruders' voices activated our recording system because they were unfamiliar to any voice data we had. We heard the intruders arguing about were to look for the androids as we saw the tarp that had covered them when they had been in the basement.
"You know R.A.T.S. is not going to be pleased with us if we come back without those androids so you better have an epiphany or something rather quickly," one of the intruders said as they came up to the tarp.
"What about under here? They could be trying to hide it right in plain sight," Number two said. This one sounded like the follower.
"Now why would they do that? It could not possibly be that easy. Look," Number one lifted up the tarp. Number one had long, white hair and she was looking sideways so they only saw her profile, but since the androids were laying on the floor they were half way to looking at the bottom of her chin. Number two was a very average looking male: brown hair, brown eyes, and unmemorable face. The androids had paused the picture and they asked the director if he wanted them to download the screen shot to his office. He responded in the affirmative and hurried back to his office.
I was studying the image with my brother and Bria when a familiar voice spoke behind me, startling me.
"I really wish people would notify me sooner when things like this happen," Tobias said, looking slightly annoyed, slightly resigned, and so totally handsome. I had not noticed this last fact before because I had been worried about my parents, but now that things were getting done and progress was being made, my mind was free to worry about things closer at hand, or maybe I should say closer at face. When I turned around to see who was talking, I saw Tobias standing only two feet away. Believe me when I say that it was a very startling experience to suddenly have something so handsome practically in your face. I took a step back and for the first time in my life I almost blushed. Almost being the operative word here. Instead I put an annoyed look on my face.
"Ya know, you really should not sneak up on people like that. It can be very detrimental to their health." Whenever I become uncomfortable I would use big words.
"I'm sorry," Tobias replied looking slightly embarrassed, slightly repentant, and totally adorable. I know Iknow. I really shouldn't but I'm starting to have a crush on this guy. Fortunately for me I can hide my feelings really well when I need to, and I have a feeling that I'm gonna need to.
"That's ok. Just don’t let it happen again." I gave him a stern Look.
"Yes ma'am," he answered very serious and very cute. "Now, what are we looking at?" Bria who had turned to watch our conversation answered him.
"These are the people who kidnapped Steven and Katrina. Do you recognize either of them? No one will tell us anything. If we are going to be working together we need to know everything you know."
"I agree. Sharing information is the smart thing to do. Let's head back to my office and I'll tell you all I can." So the four of us and the two androids went back to his office and he told us everything he knew about RATS and its endeavors to steal the Fantasy Project Androids.
"The woman with the white hair is one of RATS top spies. Her name is Ashley. She has been with them almost since the beginning. She is a veteran at spying and sparring and sneaking around in disguise. The only other thing we know about her is that she's an American."
"How can an American do something like this to their own country," I asked.
"I honestly don't know. How does anybody get to be the way they are? Some terrible situation in her life must have had a bad effect on her perceptions. Whatever the case, she is a very dangerous person and when we go out into the field I want you to have an android near you at all times. This woman will not hesitate to get rid of you if she thinks you are in her way. Do you all understand this?" We nodded. "Good. Now, the man with her is called a medium. Mediums are a middle class of spies that are chosen for their everyday, unmemorable looks. Their plain face and proficiency in general knowledge make them perfect for dealing with civil matters. We have not discovered this one's name yet.
"What we need to do now is get ready to go out into the field. We're going to test your skills to see how well you've been trained in self-defense. We're going to school you in the behavior of enemy agents. And, most importantly, how good agents behave and what rules we follow. Any questions?" Jon raised his hand.
"When do we eat?"
"Jon" Bria and I yelled at once.
Later on, after all the tests and briefings, Tobias took us out for dinner to a little burger restaurant down the street. As Tobias opened the door, a girl with rose colored hair came out, arguing with a blond boy who was right behind her. It was kind of amazing because I had never seen someone with that exact shade of rose before, except maybe in a cartoon. The boy wasn't too weird except he was taller than Jon was. He stopped arguing with the girl long enough to say 'excuse' me before they both headed down the sidewalk still arguing. Dinner was good. The place had a nice, personal, cozy atmosphere, and the food was great. The conversation was slow and polite fluff since we didn't want anyone to over hear something they shouldn't. When we were done eating Tobias took us to a nearby hotel that he said was just for agents. The furnishings were few and the decor was so simple as to be bland, but it was clean and that is way more than I can say about our last place. Tobias said we could have two rooms but I told him I might panic if I woke up and didn't see my brother anywhere so I wanted us to stay together. He told me that this was fine.
"Can you guys sit down for a minute? I want to talk to you." We three sat on the bed and he sat in a chair.
"I want to ask you something," he continued. "Do you three really want to do this? Now that you know what this entails do you think you can handle it all?"
"Of course," Jon said quite calmly and seriously. "They are our parents and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they can't take care of themselves. Besides, I'd really like to ask that spy why she would do something like this."
"There will be no vendettas or revenge taking on my watch. We are only here to see justice served."
"Nah. Revenge isn't our style. It's mostly curiosity. Don't worry about us."
"It will be my job for the next eight weeks and how ever much longer to do just that. I am officially your guardian as of this morning."
"Oh really. Are you gonna tuck us in and read us a bed time story?" I had the most innocent look as I said this. He looked at me with this confused and very adorable look on his face and then realization dawned on him.
"Oh, you were joking. You're very good at that. Well, I must go. Have some last minute papers to fill out. You all do have your passports, right? Just in case?"
"Yes," we three chimed. "Goodnight." After he left we sat there discussing what we thought about him, and we decided that, even though he is a government agent and technically an adult, he's not that much older than we are and he's actually kinda cool.
That done, we got ready for bed and lay down in our respective places.
"'Night Jon. 'Night Bria."
"'Night," from the both of them.
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