Chaos Theory – Chapter 13

Nightmarish Reality

2020, 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington – Manticore Facility

Earlier that morning…

494 lay on his bunk. The idle chatter of his unit mates was grating on his nerves. He was trying to think, plan, hatch an escape strategy but 714 and 664’s incessant bickering was slowly driving him insane.

“Hey pass the potato chips you pig!” 714 jumped on 664 who scrambled away and lifted the bag of chips high above his head to keep them from her reach.

“No! I bought them in canteen, they’re mine!” 664 jumped from his place and ran across the room, diving under the bed and lying prostrate, the bag of chips now crushed beneath his stomach.

“With money you stole from me!” 714 shrieked back, reaching under the bed to drag 664 by his legs back out into the open where she could attack with relish. She started to tickle him relentlessly, the sound of chips crunching causing both soldiers to laugh.

“You killed them! You killed them!” 664 pulled the bag out from under his belly and stared in disbelief at the flattened bag. 

“You did that all by yourself, dumbass!” 714 retorted as she snatched the bag from him, reached inside and grabbed a handful of crumbs, frantically shoving them into her mouth.

With a mouthful of chips she crowed in victory. “I rule!”

“Can’t you guys shut up for 10 minutes?! My head’s gonna explode!” 494 barked at them.

The two soldiers fell silent and stared in shock at their Commanding Officer. He was never snippy with them and they were confused by his behavior. 494 had been strange and distant since he’d returned from Psy-Ops, and even more so since telling them of his plans to escape.

“Look, I’m sorry.” 494 smiled apologetically at his unit mates. “I’m just edgy. I didn’t sleep much last night.”

They waved him off. “No big dealio.” 714 flashed him a smile that he returned heartily. 714 was always trying out words they learned in Common Verbal. It was endearing, most of the time.

There was a rap on the door and it swung open to reveal a guard. He motioned to 494 who rose and approached him quickly.

“What is it, McGill?” 494 asked, his voice low. He had a sweet deal going with the guards who exchanged cash for various items 494 was able to procure for them.

“Lydecker wants to see you in his office.”

“Any idea what he wants?” 494 asked, forcing an appearance of nonchalance. Inside he was apprehensive. The last time he’d been called to Lydecker’s office…he didn’t want to remember.

“They’re sending you on a retrieval mission. One of the ’09 escapees was spotted in Seattle.” McGill cocked his head and looked pointedly at 494 who nodded. He reached into his pocket and extracted a small plastic bag. 

McGill clapped 494 on the shoulder. “Thanks, 4. I’ll stay sharp.”

494 grinned. “You do that.”

Turning to his unit mates he gave an order. “664, you’re in charge while I’m gone. The big guns are sending me on a retrieval op. 714,  you’re Second.” He looked at them sternly but with a playful glint in his eye. “Soldiers, make me proud.”

“Yes Sir!” they replied in unison, saluting their Commanding Officer. 494 turned and left.

494 knocked on Lydecker’s door.

The door was opened my Agent Sandoval who motioned him inside.

The room was full. Sandoval, Renfro, Lydecker and even Trainer Vargas. That was strange. *Since when do trainers participate in missions?* 494 was a bit confused but he kept his mask in place, standing at attention.

“X5-494 reporting as ordered!” He stated sharply.

“At ease, soldier.” Lydecker said as he came around his desk to stand before the handsome X5. 494 relaxed his stance.

“We’ve been informed that one of the ’09 escapees, one X5-452, has been spotted by surveillance in Seattle. We’re putting together a retrieval team and I’d like you to head the operation.” Lydecker smiled at 494 who stood rigid and unmoving. 

“Trainer Vargas recommended you for the job, as did Agent Sandoval. You’ve come a long way 494, and I’m impressed with your progress. I’m giving you the opportunity to choose your own team. Pick the 3 best soldiers to accompany you. Then return to my office.”

“Yes Sir!” 494 saluted and waited to be dismissed.

Lydecker waved a hand at his prize soldier. “You can go.”

494 left the room. He stood outside for a moment letting everything sink in. He had been commended for his progress. 494 felt sick to his stomach. He didn’t want to be complimented on his performance. He only stomached the idea that his superiors were happy with his work because it meant he was succeeding in fooling them.

He walked purposefully down the halls and went in search of soldiers suited to the task.

He stumbled, physically stumbled, over 511 who lay prone in the middle of the floor outside of mess hall.

“What’s the meaning of this, soldier?!” he shouted, scaring 511, who sprang to his feet and gave a sloppy salute.

“Nothing, Sir!” was the shaky reply.

“Nothing? Man, it looked like something to me.” 494 reached out to pat 511 on the shoulder. “Another prank?”

511’s shoulders dropped in relief and he laughed. “Yeah, man. 325 put me up to it. She’s the devil incarnate, I swear!”

494 chuckled. “That girl’s gonna get you in trouble’s what she is!” He looked thoughtfully at 511. “You up for some action, buddy?”

“Hell yeah!” 511 replied without missing a beat. “I’m dying to get out of here! They actually gave homework in Common Verbal. I’m supposed to practice with 714.” He groaned as he mentioned her designation.

494 bellowed a loud, throaty laugh. “Serves you right! Putting you together with the CV Princess”

494 motioned to 511 to follow him. “So, what’s the action?” he asked his CO curiously.

494 glanced sideways at his friend. “Retrieval. One of the damn ’09 escapees. We’re going to Seattle. But I need another couple guys for the job. Got any ideas?”

“Um, 325? She’s damn good at stealth and weaponry.”

494 nodded in approval. “Okay. One down, one to go. What about 696? He’s a strong fighter and good tracker.”

“Sounds like a good bet. So, when do we go?” 511 asked with interest. Short term ops may be just that; short term, but he loved leaving the facility whenever he got the chance.

“We report to Lydecker as soon as I get 325 and 696. Let’s go.”

The 4 soldiers filed into Lydecker’s office. They saluted their Colonel and stood at attention, waiting for the mission briefing.

“State your designations for the record.”

“X5-494, Sir!”

“X5-511, Sir!”

“X5-325, Sir!”

“X5-696, Sir!”

“A smart unit, 494. Well done. At ease soldiers.” Lydecker leaned against his desk as he flipped through the file in his hands before facing them again.

“The subject was last seen in Seattle, sector 9, leaving a local bar in the company of an ordinary human female. Surveillance team followed the subject back to a residential area in the same sector. Our tag team planted a tracking device on her person which revealed her location within the building.

“We didn’t have to worry about chasing her down. She went up to the penthouse. And has continuously returned to the same place. We’ve correctly assumed it to be her place of residence. Funnily enough, her roommate happens to be the infamous Eyes Only.

“A team broke in and bugged the apartment. We’ve gathered some very enlightening information. But the only things pertinent to this operation are as follows: This morning Eyes Only briefed 452 on an operation Manticore has been secretly funding. She plans to steal vital secrets from our Institution. It is your prerogative to subdue and capture 452 and bring her back to Manticore. 

“I will be your handler for this mission, as well as a decoy. Is this clear?”

494 stepped forward. “Crystal, Sir!”

“Very good. The meet is set for 1230 hours. You leave in 30 minutes. That should give you plenty of time to scope the area and set up a perimeter. See Agent Sandoval on your way out for outfitting. Dismissed.”

The 4 soldiers were outfitted in the latest, most advanced weaponry and communications equipment. 494 slid the clip into his gun and secured the safety lock. He slipped a second clip into his pocket. The others mirrored his actions.

“We set to go?” he asked, glancing at his fellow soldiers.

“Yes Sir!” they responded, following their CO out of the facility and piling quietly into the car. They drove in silence, watching the scenery fly by. It was always a rush to be outside and they enjoyed every moment, every sight and sound.

The car slowed as it neared the shipyard, finally coming to a halt at the far side of a scrap heap, blocked from view. The vehicle had been camouflaged to look like wreckage. The techs had done a good job, 494 thought to himself idly as he waited for the others to assemble themselves.

A van pulled up behind them and the backup team and snipers jumped out. They took up positions around the yard, setting up a tight security perimeter. There was no way 452 could escape this trap. 494 felt smug and confident. The cat was in the bag, quite literally.

He signaled to his unit to take their positions and called for radio silence. “When you have visual confirmation give me two short bursts of static. After that it’s radio silence until I give the command. Acknowledge.”

“Affirmative, Sir.”

And the waiting game began.

About an hour later, two short bursts of static echoed in 494’s ear. Motioning to 511, he signaled at him to use the telescopic lens. Seconds later 511 confirmed visual. 325 and 696 closed in on the subject, keeping at a safe distance, undetected.

The boat cruised into the bay and was reeled into the dock. A man stepped out looking distressed at not having been met on time. 494 knew it wouldn’t be long before…

Lydecker’s car slowly came into the yard and came to a stop at the dock. The vehicle must have been blocking the subject’s view because 452 changed positions and moved closer. 325 and 696 advanced in time with her. 494 signaled to 511 again and the two of them moved forward from their respective positions. The 4 soldiers held back, waiting for the Colonel’s signal.

452 lost her balance and fell, a loud noise disclosing her position to everyone present. Lydecker raised his rifle, the designated signal to attack. 452 looked cornered, eyes darting wildly in all directions. The snipers and backup team shot to subdue but she evaded them. 452 sprinted and blurred toward the chain link fence surrounding the yard. As she leapt into the air, 494 raised his firearm and took aim. Precise and on the mark his bullet lodged itself in her thigh in time with the spit from 325’s gun that tore into 452’s shoulder.

452 fell to the ground in a heap but managed to rise to her feet. 494 had to give it to the girl, she was nothing if not resilient. She started to run, though it was more of a hobble, he though smugly. 494 gave the signal to surround their quarry. 325 slammed her fist into 452’s face. The girl faltered, but miraculously kept upright. It was 696’s kick to the gut that sent 452 sprawling. She flailed her arms in a vain attempt to ward off the strong soldiers. She was no match for them.

511 withdrew a syringe from his vest pocket and quickly injected the contents into 452’s neck. The girl went limp. 511 hefted her up in his arms and they started walking towards the car. 494 looked down at the spot where 452 had lain seconds before. Something round and barely visible caught his eye. He bent to retrieve it. Looking at it intently he observed that it was a microphone. 494 quickly flicked the device off and pocketed it.