| "Rules of Betrayal" | ||
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May 28, 2008 Unknown location Unknown time Paige woke up with a sharp pain in her neck. What did they do to her? Her throat was sore and dry and her body ached. Definitely anesthesia of some sort. She knew what it felt like waking up from it, and it felt just like this. The people who hovered over her were quite bothersome: move this, wiggle this, answer me, move, move, move. They spoke quietly enough, were pleasant enough, but something underlined those tones, something just wasn't right. Satisfied with her, the figures that hovered over her started leaving and there was only one left. She could feel it. It was like the stillness right before a bad summer storm, no sounds, no birds, the leaves gently moving, the heaviness to the air. That's how it felt. "Hello, Paige." That voice. And all her fears, all her worries, all the lies she told herself upon her capture culminated into one little breath that hitched in her throat. Madeline. She moved her head slightly to take the woman into view. She looked the same as Paige remembered. The authoritative stance of her slender frame with her tiny hands clasped in front of her. The soft smile that never reached the deep brown eyes, white skin framed by her dark hair. She was beautiful, Paige had always thought so. But beautiful in the way some snakes and fish were. How they used their splendid colors to mask their deadly nature underneath. "How are you feeling?" Paige said nothing holding her gaze steadily on Madeline. She thought it was pretty obvious how she felt and the question was a mere formality, something Madeline always insisted on asking though she cared not what your answer was. Madeline moved slowly to sit on the bed next to Paige. She reached out and touched Paige's hair softly and Paige's eye slid shut upon the contact. This wasn't Section, Paige thought. It didn't feel like Section. But Madeline was here. It had to be. "I know what you must be thinking and I assure you, you're not back at Section." Well at least Madeline could still read minds. Read this Maddy - go fuck yourself. "Paige," she said softly and Paige opened her eyes again. "We had to disable your tracker...for your own safety. We also checked the stitches in your head, they're fine, as well as your cast. The man you are with, the doctors are checking on him now, but I assure you he was not injured." "My own safety?" Paige whispered. "Yes, to protect you." "From whom?" Madeline studied her for a moment, "from Joshua," she said softly. Madeline said it as if Paige should already know this.You're going to kill me one day, aren't you? But he never answered. Never answered. "I don't understand," Paige whispered. "I know you don't. I also know you have no reason to believe me or trust me but I'm going to tell you everything and the reason why you're here." Madeline stood up and began her tale as Paige listened quietly. "Approximately six years ago a project began by the US Army bio-med research group, headed up by a Dr. Noah Carter. The project's focus was on microengineered mechanical systems or MEMS, microscopic machines incorporating GPS technology to be used for soldiers in the field. The machines are injected into muscle tissue and send a constant stream of data on the person's location, vital signs, and movements. It is a noble endeavor, with an objective to eliminate POWs, friendly fire incidents, and give us a staggering advantage on the field of battle. "The MEMS devices, however, can also be used for other things. In particular as a vehicle to introduce just about any kind of compound into a person's body. This is what Section was interested in and eighteen months ago we covertly aligned ourselves with Dr. Carter to..." "How?" Paige interrupted. Madeline nodded her head and smiled. "Dr. Carter began the research because of his wife. Six and half years ago Margaret Carter went to work and never returned. It was the inspiration behind the project. Dr. Carter believed the technology, though developed for military, could eventually be used for civilians. It is his idea to save families from the pain of a missing loved one by using these devices. We knew this, and offered money and resources to help find her in exchange for him to develop a delivery mechanism for the MEMS." "Are you really looking for her...or just using him?" "I know it sounds cruel, using his emotions against him, but we do what we have to do. And yes, we are really looking for her, but it's been six years..." Paige nodded her understanding ignoring the queasy feeling in her stomach. Margaret Carter was most likely dead and Section was merely capitalizing on Dr. Carter's vulnerability. So typical. "Now this part I need you to listen carefully, too, as it directly involves yourself. The restructuring of Section brought into light many interesting things. For one, Oversight was dead against any of the agents moving into the SIA. Michael and Joshua were key components into making them change their minds. Joshua especially lobbied for you to go. To be honest with you, I lobbied against it, but Joshua, getting promoted into Oversight, had a clear advantage. "I was quite suspicious as to why the two of them lobbied for certain agents and not others. I was very suspicious of Joshua's reasons for lobbying for you, as well as Michael's reasons for lobbying for Safara. So, I began my own investigation not approved by Oversight. In that investigation I found many disturbing things, files, tapes, missions, unsanctioned missions, all sorted out, encrypted, and hidden deep within Section computers. They weren't simply misplaced, they were purposely hidden. And all of these misplaced files pointed to two people, Joshua and Michael. I also noticed that once the first group of agents were sent to the SIA, yourself included, Joshua positioned himself as the liaison thereby guaranteeing him continued contact with all of you, and more disturbingly, all the files were erased. Simply disappeared as if they never existed. "Four months ago, Dr. Carter's facility in Washington DC was broken into. Four files as well as one of the MEMS devices were stolen. A perimeter camera picked up the individual, and though I haven't seen the tape, Dr. Carter has, he's actually retrieving it as we speak. But I don't need to see the tape to know who that individual was." "Joshua," Paige whispered. "Yes. But I want you to see the tape, so you know for sure. As a result of the break in, Dr. Carter was forced to move his lab down here..." "Where is here...exactly?" Madeline smiled, "Dr. Carter's labs are in Kill Devils Hills, North Carolina. This facility, I helped put together to house Project Capricorn, the delivery mechanism project, and we're outside of Duck, North Carolina. "In moving the lab, Dr. Carter discovered that four files were missing. Four files specifically related to Capricorn. I believe when Joshua broke into the DC labs, he stole the files and wrote a program to erase them if they were copied. The hardware was later destroyed. In fact, it was destroyed not three days ago in Pennsylvania. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" "No," Paige said flatly. "I think you do. I think you played an integral part in destroying that data, and I also think Joshua and Michael gave you those files." Paige shook her head slowly, "I don't have anything." "Really?" Madeline smiled sending a chill up Paige's spine. "Let me give you a scenario that says different. Joshua and Michael have been secretly gathering information on chemicals, weapons, and top ranking personnel within various governments. They have a plan in motion but they need time to implement them. The SIA comes about and they change those plans, lobby to have certain individuals in place that are no longer under Section control. They specifically have you placed there because they need somewhere to hide this intel. What better place to hide it than with you?" "I don't have anything," Paige stated again trying to sit up. "Maybe you don't realize you have it. First of all it's encrypted. Secondly, they wouldn't tell you what it was. They would hide it, maybe in the Directory? Did they give you any information? Tell you it was the Directory?" "No," Paige shook her head. "Don't lie Paige." "I'm not..." "You need to look past our former relationship. Despite everything that has occurred between us in the past you need to see the bigger picture. You do not owe them your loyalty. Once their plans are in motion...they will kill you." "No..." "Did they or did they not give you any intel?" Paige stared at Madeline but she made no effort to say anything. Madeline sighed, "Listen to me. Everything points to a very plausible and disturbing scenario. Joshua and Michael, if successful, will use the MEMS devices to take out key individuals in various levels of power. They plan to either dismantle or discontinue the existence of Section and Oversight. You and I both know that Section plays an integral part in keeping this world in order and protect civilians from terroristic groups. Without us...it would be chaos and anarchy. Now, tell me, did they or did they not give you any intel?" Paige stared at her trying to process all this information. She finally lowered her head. "Yes," she whispered. "How?" "I was only at SIA for a couple days. Michael and Joshua...sedated me, forced me to memorize a huge amount of encrypted data. They said it was the Directory. Joshua said that was the deal, I go to the SIA but I have to keep the Directory, because it would be safe with me if Section were ever compromised." "And you believed them?" Paige looked up to Madeline. "Why wouldn't I? Even one of the SIA directors was there. He knew and obviously agreed to it. Why wouldn't I think it was true?" Madeline nodded, "Ok, I can understand that. Does anyone else know? Safara maybe?" Paige shook her head, "I didn't tell anyone." "Did he tell you anything? Give you anything else?" "He gave me some more encrypted things to memorize. He said they were addendums." "And he told you nothing else?" "No." "What about the hardware in Pennsylvania - do you know anything about that?" "Yeah, I'm the one that destroyed it. Broke into the compound and set explosives." "What did he tell you that was?" "He never did." "Then why did you do it?" Paige stared at the floor. This was one area she did not want to venture into. "I couldn't say no." "Why?" Madeline pressed her the questions coming quick. "I just...couldn't." "Well, did he threaten you?" "No...yes...I just..." "What, Paige?" "It was because of your fucking chemical!" she snapped. Madeline took a small step back. "What chemical?" "The chemical you gave Saf after Immersion. The Glyconutramine variant 17b shit to make her more compliant. I wanted to know what it was so I asked Joshua to get it for me. Well, he did. And my payback was destroying that trailer. That's why I couldn't say no," she shook her head, "I fucking owed him." "I don't know what that chemical is," Madeline said slowly. "I never gave Safara anything." Paige's eyes darted up to Madeline's. "What did you say?" "I never gave anything to Safara. I've never even heard of that chemical." Paige's mouth dropped open slightly. "He told me you did. Michael knew about it. Gideon helped them get it out of Saf's system." "Gideon knew, too?" "I dunno. I guess since he helped. Or at least I think he helped. I don't know...everything is just...fucked up." "Yes it is," Madeline sighed crossing her arms over her chest. "I didn't know how deep the layers of deception went. They've been manipulating you for quite some time." "You'd think I'd be used to it by now. That I would be able to see it." "You need to give us all of that intel Joshua and Michael gave you. We need to finish Capricorn, expose them, and take them out of play once and for all." Paige scoffed. "I'm not helping you. I'm not giving out anything..." "Did you sleep with him?" "What?" "It's all effective measures of control. Threats, intimidation, and emotional isolation. They used force and lies to start it all off. Did they have you under surveillance? Threaten you into not telling anyone, forcing you into isolation from your team mates. Manipulate you with more threats, more intimidation, then wrap it all up with sex controlling your emotional needs as well. Did you sleep with Joshua?" Paige dropped her gaze to the floor shaking her head slowly. "I couldn't say no to him. I don't even know how it happened." But she knew alright. Knew exactly how it happened, how he got her when she was vulnerable, how he positioned her to be vulnerabe, then got her, trapped her in his intensity. God...she knew it was control, how come she couldn't say no? Madeline took a small breath, "it's alright Paige. Joshua is one of the best operatives Section has, that's why he's in the position he is. It's not easy to go against him and come out on the winning side. Let alone when he's teamed up with Michael. They need to be stopped. You need to give us that intel." "I don't...just...I need to think about this." "If we don't finish the project, Joshua and Michael will. They will move forward with their plans and when they do, everyone in their path will be cancelled. Do you really believe that he won't hurt you? That he won't kill you once he gets what he wants?" You're going to kill me one day aren't you? He never answered. Just never answered. "He's coming here," Madeline said quietly. "You don't know that." "Think about it. Do you really think an operative as good as Joshua would allow himself to be caught on tape breaking into the DC lab? Do you think he would destroy hardware after the fact when he already had the files? He knew about Capricorn, it's in the Section computers. But he wants it to himself, he doesn't want Section to have it. He also knows I head up the project. He wanted me to put it all together, to know that you had those files and that in order for Capricorn to continue that I would need to come get you. So, now it becomes a race, who can get the finished technology first, Section or him." "How does he even know where we are?" "He knows where Dr. Carter is. He always has. He mailed the MEMS device he stole to Carter six days ago. That was a message. He knew where Carter was and he wanted Carter to know HE knew where he was. It forced the timetable up, forced the completion of the project." "Was the envelope stuffed with paper, delivered from a federal building in Newark?" Paige asked feeling suddenly nautious. "You mailed that as well?" "Yeah, I mailed that for him. He said it was stuff for a friend in the state department. But he doesn't know about this facility...or does he?" "No, but it's not far from Kill Devil Hills. By me taking you in, he can use the tracker in your neck to find out the exact location." "But you took it out, right?" "We can't take it out. But we were able to disable it. We also used frequency jammers during your transport but there's no guarantees. That's why we don't have that much time." "At least he didn't lie about that," Paige muttered. "About what?" "He told me the tracker couldn't be taken out, that it was fused into the bone and encased around nerves. I get this tingling in my arm when it's activated." "Was it activated?" Paige nodded her head. "We can take it out. It is encased in a nerve bundle, but it certainly can be removed. It's a lengthy procedure, and risky, and we didn't have time, so we just disabled it for now. I do plan on having it removed since you no longer work for us." Paige looked up to Madeline. Everything, everything that man said was a lie. She had been played from the beginning. "How do I know you'll guarantee my safety? And Baz's?" "You don't work for me anymore, Paige. But if you work on the project, help complete it, you and the man you're with, I assume that's Baz, will be returned to the SIA." "You'll have to do better than that." Madeline shook her head, "I can't do better than that. You know what I'm telling you is the truth, I can see that in your eyes. You know what Joshua and Michael have planned, you know they used you from the beginning. It's a matter of what you'll do with the knowledge. You need to make the right decision." "And if I don't make the right decision as you say...what then? You torture Baz and myself until I do?" "Either that...or when Joshua eventually gets here...he'll do it." "So then it's not really a choice." "But it is. You can do this the hard way or the easy way." Paige stared at her coldly. "I thought I'd never see you again...and here I am." Madeline smiled, "to be honest with you I thought I'd never see you again either. But the fates have brought us together." "It's good to know that fate has a sense of humor." Madeline smiled. "I've missed your witty comments." "Yeah, well." Paige shrugged and attempted to stand, doing so only after holding on to the bed for a moment. "No offense, but I really don't enjoy being around you so...if we could get this done and over with, the sooner the better, you know?" "I understand. I'll show you the labs then I'm going to check on...Baz? Is his name?" "Sebastian, he's on my team in SIA. We call him Baz for short." Madeline nodded, "I'll bring him out to you when the doctors are finished looking him over. By the way, what happened...with all these injuries?" Paige shrugged. "Ambush, but it basically worked out ok." Madeline nodded, "this will work out, too, Paige." "Yeah," Paige sighed following Madeline to the door, "everything always works out in the end." Return |
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