Jesep felt exhausted as he opened his eyes, his nose itched and he went to scratch it, only to find his handcuffed to the railing of a hospital bed. He let out a long groan pulling on the cuff. He assessed that his other hand was free and raised it. He scratched his nose, and found he had several tubes attached to it, supplying him with oxygen. Annoyed, he pulled the tubes from his nose then took a deep breath on his own, feeling his lung ache.
He vaguely recalled being buried alive as he gingerly sat up. His lung felt heavy with each breath, but it wasn't unbearable. He noted several bandages, an IV and a heart monitor attached to one of his fingers. He turned his head slightly, looking at the machines next to him. He read his overall vitals before removing the heart monitor and IV. The machines protested loudly, letting out continuous high pitched beeps. Jesep yawned, assumed this would cause whoever had put him here, to make an appearance.
He pushed a button on the side of his bed, causing the head of his bed to move up. He sat back, and wished he had a cigarette, but doubted they'd give him one in a hospital. Then again, he might not be in a hospital. He took note of the cement walls and floors, along with the two-way mirror and reinforced door, with a small viewing window. He'd seen setups like this before in his line of work. His best bet, given what he could see, was a military facility. Yes the room's layout seemed appropriate, but something seemed wrong at the moment. The lights were on secondary power, he wondered if they were on alert or if there had been a power outage.
He brushed his fingertips across his lips, trying to assess why he was here. He vaguely recalled images of a dream, and waking in the dirt once more. He looked to the ceiling as he thought and saw a shadowy figure moving about until it loomed over him. He titled his head, and casually grasped at his chest, where the stone had been. He could feel it inside him.
He wondered if he should pull it back out but, hesitated. He found he could no longer hear the voices in his head, but he could feel they were still there. Aware of them now, he could feel emotions, urges that could easily be mistaken as his own. From what he gathered it was important he not removed the stone...not now, not here. He let his hand drop back on the bed.
The shadow suddenly moved carefully blending in with the shadow of his hospital bed. Jesep heard a whisper then, "Someone is coming!"
He tilted his head from side to side as he rolled his shoulders. He thought 'Who, who is coming' but the shadow didn't respond. Jesep had another strong feeling, that the shadow couldn't hear his thoughts just now, not with his stone in limbo...limbo. hat did that even mean? Jesep rubbed his temple finding all of this rather confusing, none the less, he prepared for company. He took a deep breath, and moved his eyes to the reinforced door. Sure enough, a moment later it opened, and a soldier entered. He made eye contact with Jesep, before looking at his cuffed arm. He looked around the room, then took his post just inside the door.
An older man, in a lab coat, entered, followed by a younger woman with glasses. Jesep assumed they were a doctor and nurse. Another soldier entered behind them, but just stood in the doorway. The doctor turned off the machines that were still blaring, then stepped up to Jesep. He introduced himself as Dr. Fletcher. Jesep only vaguely paid attention as he assessed the soldiers and their uniforms. Wherever he was right now at least he was still in the same country.
"Do you know who you are?" asked Dr. Fletcher, trying to get Jesep's full attention.
Jesep looked at him, clearly by now, they had to know who he was. It was no doubt a connotative test, "Jesep Verin Zian, the year is Var six twenty-one of the seventeenth TriI. The current leader of Urutha is Reginald Mesk, of the Anwin Party. Of course it all depends on how long I've been out."
"Very good, very good Mr. Zian, and you haven't been out long, less then a day or so," said the doctor with smiled, "If you don't mind, I'd like to run a few simple motor tests, to see how you are recovering."
Jesep watched the doctor pull out a small light. He didn't want him flashing it in his eyes, recalling how badly the flashlight had burned. "I'd prefer you didn't. I want to talk to whoever is in charge, before any more tests are done."
"It would be better if you cooperate," said Dr. Fletcher, "You've sustained several injuries and I am simply here to see that you recovery."
"He looks good." said the nurse.
Dr. Fletcher turned giving the nurse a strange look. Jesep also gave her another glance, letting his gaze linger on her a bit longer. There was something off about her. The way she titled her head and held herself, he was oddly reminded of Esma, though the two women looked nothing alike. He stared at her for a moment longer, but knew it couldn't be her. The last time he'd seen Esma, she'd been flying through several walls, then again he'd survived.
He tapped his fingers against the railing for a moment but didn't address his feeling. Instead he turned his attentions back to the doctor and said, "If you wanted me to 'cooperate' you wouldn't have unnecessarily handcuffed me." He pulled on the cuff.
"It's just standard procedure," said Dr. Fletcher.
Standard procedure his ass, Jesep was done talking to the doctor. He turned to the two-way mirror, no doubt whoever was in charge, was on the other side. He cleared his throat and calmly started "As far as I see it, I've done nothing wrong. I know my rights as a citizen and as long as you continue to violate them, I wont 'cooperate.' I want to know what is going on and I want to know right now, so let's talk."
The nurse smiled and again Jesep was reminded of Esma, it was rather bothersome. When the doctor turned to look at her, the nurse quickly turned her expression to concern. Dr. Fletcher must have had an ear piece because he suddenly said, "Yes Mam," when no one in the room had spoken.
A moment later, the soldier in the doorway moved, and Dr. Fletcher pulled back from Jesep's bed. He left without another word. The nurse looked at Jesep, for a second, then quickly followed after him. The solider that had been in the doorway, soon returned with a wheelchair. The other solider in the room, unlocked Jesep's handcuff and they helped him into the chair.
He was slowly wheeled into a long hallway, and put into another room, two doors down. This new room was clearly an interrogation room. It was similar to the last room he was in, only instead of a hospital bed and machines, there was a metal table, attached to the floor, and two chairs. One of the soldiers removed a chair, and the other pushed Jesep's wheelchair up to the table. The soldier locked the chair in place, then both soldiers left the room.
Jesep folded his hands on the table as he waited. Several minutes passed, by his rough calculation, ten. It was enough time, for whoever was in charge, to study his demeanor, and decide on their approach. When the door opened again a woman stepped in. She was rather young for her uniform's rank. Under her arm she carried a small folder. "Hello Mrs. Zian, I am Survayant Krissy Rogers, with the SVC."
SVC, he wasn't familiar with that particular branch. He rubbed his jaw as he suddenly heard the shadow whisper. "Careful, she is dangerous!" He casually looked around the room, and saw the shadow was hiding within other shadows. He didn't know how exactly, but he was able to differentiate it from normal shadows. Jesep looked to this Survayant Rogers, and wondered if she'd heard the shadow whisper. If she had, she showed no sign of it. She put her folder down on the table, then took a seat across from him. Just to be sure, Jesep decided to run a little test.
He tilted his head in the direction of the shadow then asked. "What would you like me to call you," The question worked just as well for Survayant Rogers. While she had introduced herself upon entering the room she hadn't specified if she preferred a shorter title or not.
"You can just call me Survayant Rogers," she answered
"Atoe."The shadow whispered, "I am Atoe."
"I see," he said responding to both. He understood now only he could hear the shadow. Good.
Jesep swallowed then asked, "What is going on here? Just where am I?"
"You've been captured," Atoe responded. "You're in a discreet underground holding facility, 25 miles outside the city of Velfor, they call it the X-Site."
"You were rescued from a sinkhole and are currently in a recovery center." said Survayant Rogers.
Jesep sat quietly, thinking over their different responses. Survayant Rogers had said rescued, given where he was found, it was an acceptable answer but the shadow, Atoe said he'd been captured. He'd also given him a location, and the name of the site he was at. Of course Atoe could be nothing more then mental illness, or a side effect, of the injuries he'd sustained in his fall. Then again he had seen the shadow before the fall. Yes when he'd been inside Genoa that was the first time he'd seen it. He supposed he could have a tumor, or something that was causing him to hallucinate, but it did no good to speculate. At this point, he'd just have to wait until he got out of here to look into it.
"Can you tell us how you came to be in the sinkhole?" asked Survayant Rogers
"No," said Jesep, though he could quite clearly recall, just how he had gotten there. He wasn't going to share the details with her. He faked confusion and went on,"I...ah, it's a bit of a blur, really,"
"I see," said Survayant Rogers, "What do you remember?"
Jesep licked his upper lip and pretended to concentrate. When he spoke, he added uncertainty to his tone. "A storm...a rather large one."
"Where were you, when the storm started?"
Jesep spoke slowly and looked far away as if he were struggling to recall "I- I believe I was on my way home or had made it home. I don't really know." He put his hand to his head acting like it hurt to recall. They might be able to confirm his location, but it didn't matter. People who'd often sustained injuries such as him, didn't often remember every detail leading up to, nor after their accident. It was important to be as vague as possible.
Survayant Rogers studied him closely, then pulled out a map of the area, from her folder. "Where about were you?"
Jesep looked at the map, realizing this must have been the affected area. His heart swelled as he thought of Genoa doing this much damage. She was quite something wasn't she! Oh how he wished to study her inside and out! He wanted to possessed her now more then ever! Why if he could harness such a power, the things he could do. The things he could do! He recalled her warmth once more. The smell of her, the taste of her and the look in those eyes of hers. He looked at his hand rubbing his finger over the paint that was still on it. They had made quite a mess and he wanted to do it again and aga-
"Mr. Zian?" Survayant Rogers called pulling him from his thoughts.
"Oh what, sorry," he said looking over the map again.
He flared his nostrils, breathing in deeply. He ran his finger over the map, but couldn't help but think of her once again. Where was she right now? Was she even alive? His heart sunk, at the thought that she might have taken herself out. At the very least, a release like that surely would have taxed her. He furrowed his brow worrying about her. He vaguely recalled Atoe crying out that they took her.
Jesep just knew the shadow had meant Genoa. If they were taking her, she had to be alive...right. Why she could be in one of these rooms. He might have even just passed her. Yes! However if they knew what she could do, they might have moved her somewhere more secure The military would no doubt want to study her. He grew agitated thinking of them touching her. She belonged to him!
"Mr. Zian?" asked Survayant Rogers, looking concerned.
"Sorry," said Jesep pulling from his thoughts. He knew he was letting himself get distracted. He needed to focus. "I'm still feeling a bit off."
"If you need me to get the doctor, please let me know," said Survayant Rogers.
"No, I wish to continue, what was the question again?" asked Jesep. He wanted to get this over with so he could get out of here. Then he would look of her.
"Where about were you during the storm?" asked Survayant Rogers pointing to the map.
He looked over the map yet again, then pointed to a logical location, near his building. One that might have allowed him to be swept up into that hole. "Around here, I believe, but I can't be certain. Was the storm a tornado? It was just so sudden. I've never seen wind like that."
"Yes, it was quite sudden" said Survayant Rogers as she marked the map. "We're still determining the exact cause."
He wondered if he asked, would Survayant Rogers tell him, she had found Genoa? Would she let him know her status? He ran his tongue across the top row of his teeth. He decided he would ask about survivors, not only to Rogers but to Atoe as well. He cleared his throat then tilted his head and asked. "Were there any other survivors?"
"Yes Keyoko is here" Atoe whispered. Jesep listened closely, "She is still unconscious and has been locked away. Gigi is pretending to be that nurse. Eyo is conscious but restrained, they know who he is."
Jesep ran his tongue across the top row of his teeth again, trying to process what the shadow had said. Genoa was Keyoko. She was alive...unconscious but alive! He let out a deep sigh of relieve. As to the other names they sounded familiar but he could not be certain who they were. Gigi was pretending to be that nurse, could he mean Esma? Eyo is conscious but restrained? He suddenly thought of Grady. Was he making unconscious connections. He felt-
"Are you okay?" asked Survayant Rogers.
Jesep realized he'd lost himself in thought yet again. He quickly adjusted himself, "Yes, I just- I keep thinking of the sky. I have never seen it like that before. I also think others were around me, when I first saw it but I- When I woke in that sinkhole I was alone."
"I see," said Survayant Rogers. "We're still looking over the area, but so far you are the only survivor we have found."
"I- I'm the only one," Jesep gasped, putting his hands to his mouth, like he was going to be physically sick. He faked a devastating look and got real quiet. It was a normal persons response, but honestly he didn't care.
Again he got conflicting answers. She told him one thing and Atoe told him another. He knew Atoe could still be mental illness, or a brain injury, but if he had to place a bet, he'd put his money down on Atoe. Jesep liked his answers more, and there was something about Survayant Rogers that he didn't trust. He also knew it was in her best interest, to lie, or at best give half-truths. Information was power in this line of work. She would no doubt, only show him the cards she wanted him to see, but two could play at this game, and he was far better at it.
"I know this must be painful for you, but if you could you just go over everything, you remember once more, it would be very helpful to us."
She was no doubt trying to trip him up. He just sat there for a long moment still looking devastated. Eventually he lowered his hands and cleared his sinuses. He ran his fingers through his hair and said, "I want to help but I- I don't remember much. I'm sorry." He looked like he was about to break down but pushed on. "I just remember going home, being on the street, the sky," He looked up like he was seeing it again. "It wasn't right there were people around me. I don't know. Maybe someone screamed maybe, I did. I just want to get home. I woke up in the dirt and then here. I- I- How can can I be the only one. I don't understand." He buried his head in his arms on the table. "I don't understand what happened."
He knew he overdid it in some parts, but it was good to not be too squeaky clean. He knew she was going to doubt him, no matter what he did or said. He'd like to leave her with a few questions and concerns. Keep her guessing and distracted, should the need arise.
"I see," said Survayant Rogers.
She took up a pen and jotted down several notes. Normally he could read upside down, but she seemed to be writing, in some sort of code. If he had a few minutes he could probably crack it, but as things were, he didn't know what it was.
He knew he shouldn't let this continue on for much longer, or risk possible inconsistencies. He could tell he still wasn't fully recovered. He broke into a coughing fit and his lungs still ached. Some dirt came up and he wiped it away, then said, "Do you mind if I lay back down. I'm not feeling too well."
Survayant Rogers finished up her notes then said, "Yes, you should get some rest. I would like to speak with you again, once you're feeling better. Please let us know, if there are any other details you remember. Anything could be important, descriptions of the people standing next to you or anything strange about the storm."
"Strange, everything about that storm was strange." said Jesep.
"I know. All of this must be a lot for you, to take in." she said. For a moment she looked like she might be showing compassion, but he doubted it. She was a high ranking soldier, people like her, knew how to hide their true feelings. "If you don't mind we'd like to run some test, later."
"Tests, Why?" asked Jesep.
"We'd like to make sure you're okay and to determine how you were effect by this... event."
She was calling it an event now, instead of a storm that was a mistake. He acted like he didn't catch it. He licked his lips and Atoe hissed, "No tests! She's lying! She is our enemy! She is trying to figure out who we are! Who we 'really' are! Don't let her find out or she'll try to destroy us."
"How?" asked Jesep.
"She controls time. She could trap us." hissed Atoe
Time! She controls time? Normally Jesep wouldn't have given such a thing, a second thought. Yet given what he'd seen Keyoko do, and the fact that he was now conversing with a shadow, he found himself opening to the idea that there were others out there, with 'abilities.' He also considered the possibility that even he might have an ab-
"Excuse me?" asked Survayant Rogers. She stared at Jesep, wondering why he'd cut off.
"Yes, uh, How- How long do you think these tests will take?" asked Jesep, masking his question to Atoe.
"I'm not quite sure, but once we've run them, we should have more answers."
"I see and then can I leave?" asked Jesep.
"Not right away, we'd like to monitor you for a few days, just to be on the safe side." said Survayant Rogers.
"A few days, a few days, I'm sorry but that is unacceptable. I- I have responsibilities, people and businesses depend on me. I need to make some calls and... if there were no other survivors I need to let people know I'm alive."
"Yes I could see how that would be problematic." said Survayant Rogers. She tapped her pen on the table. "Let us run a few tests, and I'll see what I can do."
In other words, you're not going anywhere, and you're not contacting anyone until we get what we want. Jesep needed to time to think."I see," he said, "Thank you, I'll consider your tests, but I'm feeling rather tired at the moment. I'd like to return to my room and rest some, if that is okay?"
"Yes," said Survayant Rogers. It was clear she wanted to keep going, but she set her pen down, and began gathering her things. "Please do let us know, if you need anything, or if you remember anything else."
"I will," said Jesep.
Once she had collected everything, Survayant Rogers got up from the table, and left the room. Jesep sat there for several minutes looking worn out. He yawned and ran his hand over his face several times, wiping his eyes. He knew she was no doubt studying him, on the other side of the mirror. He looked at himself in the mirror, then looked even more tired. He eventually slumped forward, resting his arms on the table. He buried his head in them once again, and acted like he was resting. To anyone he would appear quite fatigued, but really he was more alert than ever. He went over what he now knew, and began calculating his next course of action.
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