that. Shit is just too damn weird right now; it’s not business as usual,” Brooks began, shaking his head grimly.
“What Duane is trying to say is that, we have no power to make such a broad statement. What we can do, if you think we can trust her, Agent Brooks, is utilize you as a confidential informant. Your identity will stay off the books and under the radar, at least for now, but we’ll still be able to maintain official ties. It’s the best we can offer you.” Rachel glanced at her partner, who confirmed her statement with a short nod.
The alien thoughts tried to poke through to me again, urging me to run now, that no good could come from relying on the police at all. I clenched my jaw and resisted the intrusion on my mind. If I was actually going to try to buck the system the Whiteout was trying to enforce, I had to go through with this now.
“Okay.” I nodded slowly. “I’m in. Now, here’s what I didn’t tell you before ...” I filled in the few gaps I had left about what was happening to me and my ultimate plan to try to beat Eric at his own game.
“That’s insane. Not to mention highly dangerous.” Rachel shook her head, then looked at Duane. “I don’t think we can condone that kind of action from a civilian.” To my surprise, Brooks shook his head.
“Rachel, we’ve already seen that we can’t tackle the Pushed problem head on. Kowalski and Roberts proved that one, rest their souls.” He waved in my direction. “Whatever happened to Irene here, she’s not one of them, but she’s got something going on that at least gives her some chance at protecting herself if the shit hits the fan. Well, that’s if we believe her entire story from start to finish.”
Choi flipped through her notepad for a few minutes. I remained silent and alert; I would simply have to let them hash this out themselves.
“The evidence, as astonishing as it seems, points to corroborating at least the broad facts she’s presented.” She chewed on the end of her pen, then sighed. “Okay, fine. I don’t want to risk anyone’s lives here but our own, but I don’t see another way out that doesn’t end with you and I in the morgue and all of this investigation evaporating with it.”
“Well, Irene, I guess we’re going to help you become a superhero. Shit, that sounds as crazy as it feels.” Agent Choi nodded in agreement but finally added a shrug. Neither one of them saw any better options. She was gracious enough to put the massive meal on the FBI’s dime as we departed to begin the most insane series of actions I have ever contemplated in my life.
Chapter 10 Mask
The suit was ridiculous. Alright, it wasn’t as ridiculous as some of the costumes I had already seen cropping up on the news, but it felt no less silly to see myself in it. I couldn’t say no, however; this was my plan as much as it was the two agents’. They had only procured and assembled the materials. Unfortunately, that had meant they made most of the aesthetic choices.
At least Brooks and Choi had made some nods to practicality. In essence, the suit was a top-of-the line leather motorcycle suit, complete with all the best safety features from the racing circuit. Obviously, all logos and corporate emblems were taken off; anonymity was vital. Don’t ask me how or why, but they had procured a suit that was pure white with bright blue highlights and panels. I had argued for black, a sensible color, so obviously the opposite was chosen. With matching touring gloves and boots, I at least had steel-toed boots as a weapon because, fighting all common sense, that’s all the agents would let me get away with. I knew it was the Whiteout twisting their sense, but it was still frustrating. The odd thing was, despite the insanity of this entire get up, it felt so very right.
Even the mask, something that in design reminded me of something out of a Hollywood movie and
“What Duane is trying to say is that, we have no power to make such a broad statement. What we can do, if you think we can trust her, Agent Brooks, is utilize you as a confidential informant. Your identity will stay off the books and under the radar, at least for now, but we’ll still be able to maintain official ties. It’s the best we can offer you.” Rachel glanced at her partner, who confirmed her statement with a short nod.
The alien thoughts tried to poke through to me again, urging me to run now, that no good could come from relying on the police at all. I clenched my jaw and resisted the intrusion on my mind. If I was actually going to try to buck the system the Whiteout was trying to enforce, I had to go through with this now.
“Okay.” I nodded slowly. “I’m in. Now, here’s what I didn’t tell you before ...” I filled in the few gaps I had left about what was happening to me and my ultimate plan to try to beat Eric at his own game.
“That’s insane. Not to mention highly dangerous.” Rachel shook her head, then looked at Duane. “I don’t think we can condone that kind of action from a civilian.” To my surprise, Brooks shook his head.
“Rachel, we’ve already seen that we can’t tackle the Pushed problem head on. Kowalski and Roberts proved that one, rest their souls.” He waved in my direction. “Whatever happened to Irene here, she’s not one of them, but she’s got something going on that at least gives her some chance at protecting herself if the shit hits the fan. Well, that’s if we believe her entire story from start to finish.”
Choi flipped through her notepad for a few minutes. I remained silent and alert; I would simply have to let them hash this out themselves.
“The evidence, as astonishing as it seems, points to corroborating at least the broad facts she’s presented.” She chewed on the end of her pen, then sighed. “Okay, fine. I don’t want to risk anyone’s lives here but our own, but I don’t see another way out that doesn’t end with you and I in the morgue and all of this investigation evaporating with it.”
“Well, Irene, I guess we’re going to help you become a superhero. Shit, that sounds as crazy as it feels.” Agent Choi nodded in agreement but finally added a shrug. Neither one of them saw any better options. She was gracious enough to put the massive meal on the FBI’s dime as we departed to begin the most insane series of actions I have ever contemplated in my life.
Chapter 10 Mask
The suit was ridiculous. Alright, it wasn’t as ridiculous as some of the costumes I had already seen cropping up on the news, but it felt no less silly to see myself in it. I couldn’t say no, however; this was my plan as much as it was the two agents’. They had only procured and assembled the materials. Unfortunately, that had meant they made most of the aesthetic choices.
At least Brooks and Choi had made some nods to practicality. In essence, the suit was a top-of-the line leather motorcycle suit, complete with all the best safety features from the racing circuit. Obviously, all logos and corporate emblems were taken off; anonymity was vital. Don’t ask me how or why, but they had procured a suit that was pure white with bright blue highlights and panels. I had argued for black, a sensible color, so obviously the opposite was chosen. With matching touring gloves and boots, I at least had steel-toed boots as a weapon because, fighting all common sense, that’s all the agents would let me get away with. I knew it was the Whiteout twisting their sense, but it was still frustrating. The odd thing was, despite the insanity of this entire get up, it felt so very right.
Even the mask, something that in design reminded me of something out of a Hollywood movie and
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