Sanctify

Jenna entered the safe house quietly. She had her gun ready, waiting to be ambushed. She was careful with each corner and when she had the place secured, she hurried down to the basement. There, she pulled out her rifles she had carefully hidden. When she made it to the garage, she noticed a black SUV parked just around the corner down the back alley.

She felt the attack before seeing it. She turned and raised the butt of a rifle to knock out her attacker but Oren stopped her attack by not attacking. When Jenna saw who it was, she relaxed and asked, “Where have you been? Are you alright?” Oren sighed and put away his own gun. Lifting his shirt, Jenna noticed a big bruise. “What happened?” she demanded, taking a step closer.

Oren stepped past her, towards the car, and replied, “Let’s just say, our organizations are in a bit of a war.” He turned and Jenna followed tentatively, “They didn’t approve of my loyalty to Michel and his loyalty to you.”

Jenna frowned, “What does that mean?”

“That means,” Oren continued, “they know what you are and they want Michel to get rid of you and return to them. There’s a plan to wipe out all remnants of the black-listed.”

Jenna stopped and asked, “And what part have you to this plan?”

Oren stopped and didn’t turn. “I’ve been marked a traitor. They’ll shoot me on sight,” he added. He turned to Jenna and explained, “I managed to talk to my handler, but I didn’t tell them anything about Michel’s situation. Not after everything I knew they would do if they found out about Rayner’s disloyalty.”

Jenna nodded, “Okay. So, now what?”

Oren swallowed, “Does the name Dane-Hawkins mean anything to you?” he asked, peering at her with uncertainty in his tone.

Jenna frowned, remembering seeing the name on a folder, somewhere. “Somewhat. I’ve read it somewhere recently,” Jenna admitted carefully.

Oren nodded and replied, “We have to check out a place. I’ll explain on the way. Come on,” he added, hurriedly making for his SUV, checking their surroundings for suspicious eyes and ears. Jenna knew better than to follow him without a shred of evidence to prove his claims, but had no other choices. She needed to find Oren and she found him. Now, it was only a matter of figuring out if they could trust him, despite his sad tale of abandonment from his own agency. Jenna knew better.

Noriko frowned and pointed to a dark spot on the map. “The old Dane-Hawkins country villa; I know it well. When I used to run away from the orphanage, I used to go there. To keep people out, Diane and I rigged the doors and gates with multiple passcodes. It was our safe house, of sorts,” Noriko added, leaning closer to pull up maps and recent activity logs she had long forgotten about.

Hayden nodded, “Jenna mentioned heading that way with Oren. She says it ought to be our main base when we finish this job. She wants us to head over one we’ve located the base of operations run by Sanctus.” And then his computer’s screen did a flash that both Hayden and Noriko caught.

Noriko stood up straight and looked around, Hayden also eyed the windows carefully. “Does anyone else have access to your line?” Noriko asked, stepping against the wall, listening intently.

Hayden shook his head, dropping low to the ground to look for bugs. “It’s my first time here in a long time. Even my memories from my Origin show no surface changes to this space.” He crawled around the room, neither touched the computer for a moment.

Noriko moved along the walls, touching and searching until she found an unfamiliar buzzing in the outside wall, next to an outlet. She pulled out the socket and found a small, old-fashioned, bug. She left it hanging as she rolled over to Hayden. Both surveyed the bug and then Hayden frowned, noticing the crossed lines that led to the Internet lines.

He pulled it off and it went dead. Noriko followed Hayden as he sprinted from the room and slammed the door to the den open wide. Inside, Mavis sat at his computer, looking at the same screen Noriko had been accessing before they found the bug. Hayden’s eyes went cold as he held up the bug.

“Was this necessary?” Hayden demanded, no gentleness in his voice.

Mavis sighed and sat back in his seat, “I used to work with Riko. I figured I could help if I knew what she needed. Old habits die hard,” he admitted, a bit embarrassed.

Hayden dropped the bug and stepped on it. “We don’t need your meddling. We’re on a clock and you just cost us precious moments.” Hayden shut up when Noriko reached out and touched his arm.

Mavis noticed it as well, none-too-happy with the contact. Noriko saw the flash of jealousy and looked up at Hayden, “Let’s go. We have work to do.”

“I can help,” Mavis offered as Noriko and Hayden turned from the room. “I’ve made technology my work.”

Noriko turned to Mavis and, with a hard voice, replied, “It would be better for your wife and yourself if you stayed out of our business. It was nice seeing you again, Mavis,” she added, “but I won’t forgive you again if you interrupt our work.” She dragged Hayden away, wishing she could forget the shocked and hurt look on Mavis’ face.

Hayden stopped the moment they re-entered the private quarters of his Origin and Noriko was very still. “Was that necessary?” he asked softly.

Noriko stared at the ground, tears in her eyes, “If I didn’t put it like that, he wouldn’t have gotten it. I am sorry you had to see that, though.”

Noriko took a step towards the desk but Hayden reached out and held on to her shoulders from behind. Noriko felt the regret flow over her and cried, her hands on his arm. Hayden stood very still, offering what comfort he could. He understood her conflict and saw how hurt Mavis had been at her words. It may have been for the best, but that didn’t mean the young girl wouldn’t hurt from delivering such a line.

When Hayden felt Noriko’s legs give out, he caught her and picked her up. He put her on the bed and smiled, seeing her fall asleep out of exhaustion. Dr. E had warned him of her trying to hide just how tired she would be the first few days awake again. Her body was still adjusting to functioning. She would be tired but fight it for as long as possible. And, it seemed, she hit her limit. She had only been awake for 12 hours and she was already asleep again. He smiled, seeing her sleep. He couldn’t help but smile down at her.

In the den, Mavis sat at his desk, a blank computer screen in front of him. His wife entered and walked over to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and stated, “You know, she’s right.” Mavis sighed and looked away from her. “You should stay away from her.”

“Shani, I can’t abandon her again,” Mavis confessed, tears in his eyes.

Shani wrapped her arms around her conflicted husband and replied, “You don’t have a choice, love. She has chosen who she wants by her side,” she added, “and it’s not you.” Mavis closed his eyes, knowing she spoke the truth but hated hearing it.

Jenna and Oren watched the quiet and abandoned dirt path that ran along a high stonewall. The abandoned Dane-Hawkins estate was one of true beauty and magnificence. She recalled a vague memory of how Noriko had snuck in the first time she found the gardener entrance. The codes rolled around in her mind until it was clear.

“You wanted to know about Jordan Christensen?” Oren asked, pulling out a thin file. Off of Jenna’s confused look, he elaborated, “You mentioned ‘Jordy’ and so I looked through everything I could find with such a person and here it is.”

Jenna took the folder and opened it. “Jordan Christensen,” Jenna stated, and then shook her head, “the guy was ahead of the game until the game changed and he, like all the rest of the non-coding world, fell behind in the greatest advancement of human and mechanical integration.”

Oren shook his head, “Classic case of the jealous type. His father took on a younger woman and had a son. Not to mention, this son stayed current with the changing times, giving him the advantage. But Jordy fell behind and eventually, became obsolete.”

“Jordan also had a sister who had a son. He’s not as well known, but the Christensen part of the family tree gets complicated,” Jenna observed softly.

Oren nodded, “As it always does when there are illegitimate children. Oh, the woes of our fathers,” he added. And then, he frowned, “There’s nothing going on up top but quite a bit down below. You ready?” he asked and looked over to Jenna.

“Let’s go,” Jenna replied, tossing the file aside, and opened her door. Oren followed, covering her back.

On their communication line, Hayden checked the satellites and replied, “All’s clear. There are a few trip wires still set up from the old days,” he added, a few beeps and clicks audible on his end.

Jenna frowned, “Where’s Riko?”

Oren frowned, “Your Origin?”

Jenna ignored him as Hayden replied, “Dr. E was right. She knocked right out. Asleep on my Origin’s bed. She’s been out for two hours.”

Jenna peeked around to see the courtyard clear, “Make sure she’s the only one who sleeps on that bed.”

Hayden grumbled in return, “I’m not stupid, Jenna. Watch your 4 o’clock,” he added, “that’s some kill box you’re entering,” he added, tapping into their video feed.

Oren nodded, “I got her back, man.” Oren peered around the area and then back to his car.

Jenna ducked and rolled across the open courtyard to the number pad. She punched in a set of twelve numbers and the gate unlocked. Jenna sighed and stood, opening the gate for Oren to pass through. Hayden smiled, “Twelve numbers? Impressive,” he mumbled.

Jenna nodded, “True, but if you know her, you’d know them, too.”

Hayden used satellites to check the safety and frowned, “Hey Jenna, you know there are underground tunnels that lead to that estate?” Jenna breathed in, making her way across the garden, and Hayden confirmed her suspicions with, “Some of them lead to the old zoo’s underground facilities.”

Jenna nodded, “I’ll ask Dr. E about them.”

Oren frowned and snapped his attention to the west gate. Jenna followed his gaze and stood to see a statue of a knight standing there. She shook her head and turned away, feeling the ghosts of the past dance past, busy with their own lives.

Jenna continued to the back door of the estate’s mansion and it opened to her touch. She frowned, but entered, ready for any of her attackers. Oren followed her without asking questions, watching her back. He knew better than to fight her but once they had each room secured, he stood up and looked over the intricate circuits in the basement.

“You think these still work?” he asked, looking over the switches.

Jenna shrugged and replied, “There’s only one way to find out.”

Jenna flipped the main switch and several glass pipes with bubbling liquid hummed around them. She looked up to see glowing liquid move through the spaces, along the walls, and up into the mansion. Oren frowned and asked, “Why would they fill these tubes with glowing liquids?”

Jenna’s eyes widened as she replied, “This is where the first Shadow was made. The liquids are radioactive now,” she added.