Kevin sits on the bed in his sterile white room for hours without interruption as he combs through the information from the colonel. The potential riot in CA is being stoked by a loose association of individuals outraged by election results and though the initial protest was designed to be peaceful, there are those who want to break things and disrupt the peace. For some reason Kevin is heartened by the diverse racial makeup of the group that includes blacks, whites, hispanics, and even muslim participants at the organizational level. It makes him hopeful about the future of the country that so many different types of people could come together to fight against perceived injustice. But a movement that encourages, or at the very least fails to discourage violence, is obviously wrong and ineffectual.
By the time the sun is coming up, Anish knocks on his door.
“The mind reader is sensing something big and we have to go.”
Kevin doesn’t have time to shower, but he suits up and runs to catch up with Anish. They are on a helicopter before they can talk and Kevin never sees the colonel. As they fly Anish fills him in.
“From what we can gather, a few of the organizers are militant and they’re planning to plant explosives at the RNC headquarters. The mind reader gave us their current location but if we don’t get their soon we’ll miss the people with the explosives.”
They land in a field and the two take a car to what they hope is the current location of the would be terrorists and when they arrive at an unassuming office building in Fresno, CA, they approach cautiously.
“We need to apprehend as many people as possible,” Anish says, “but the priority is that bomb.”
Kevin nods as they break in a back door and sweep through the halls. It isn’t long before they hear the passionate speech of one of the organizers coming from one of the rooms. Kevin eases to the door and peeks in. He sees a group of about ten and there is a complicated looking device on a table with wires and a timer. Kevin imagines a huge eagle that appears in the room to the shock of everyone inside that picks up the bomb and flies it out toward Anish and Kevin.
“It will follow you.” Kevin says. “Lead it out to our guys so they can take care of it. Send back up too.”
Anish leads the bird out and Kevin refocuses on the group inside the room that is reeling from the surprise. He imagines them all tied up and ropes appear that apprehend the group until backup arrives.
Back at the CIA facility, everyone is celebrating Kevin’s success as he and Anish sit in a sterile conference room with the colonel and his aides.
“We are so happy with what you’re doing,” the colonel says, smiling from ear to ear. “This operation is so much more successful than we could have anticipated.”
“What’s next?” Is all that Kevin says.
“Well son, take a breather, go celebrate, and we’ll have something for you.”
Kevin nods at the colonel and leaves the room. It isn’t long before Anish stops him.
“You’re headed to the gym?” She asks.
“Of course.”
“Why are you acting like this?” Anish says, she isn’t angry but she is frustrated. “Why are you acting like a robot?”
“Because emotions just get in the way. Don’t you see Anish? When I’m scared or in love or whatever, I make mistakes and people die. But when I follow orders, yessir no sir, good things happen.”
“But are you happy?” Anish asks.
“I’m happy no one died today.”
Kevin receives a series of missions that he successfully completes with Anish at his side. Anish asks more and more questions at each briefing. The idea of the mind reader violating the privacy of US citizens is worrisome and she wants to be sure that her agency is taking all necessary precautions. When the two are briefed about a possible incident involving the reporters at a small town newspaper, Anish can’t control her objections.
The colonel explains at their briefing that “This paper is well known for criticising the federal government for their environmental regulations. They have come under increased scrutiny from local political leaders and there have been rumblings about a possible attack to be perpetrated by some of the radicalized reporters who want to retaliate against the government for putting certain workers out of a job.”
“What does the mind reader say.” Anish asks.
“We’re only at a AD1 on this, but we’re getting pressure from higher ups to move in a shut anything down that might be suspicious.”
“But an AD1 isn’t actionable.” Anish says.
“It is when my bosses say it is.”
“What are we going in to do exactly? You call us in to stop imminent attacks. Is there an imminent attack?”
“There is not, but the higher ups say this is something we need to handle so we will.”
PRL Serials 