September 16th, 2262. 07:45 Washington D.C. Senate Public Hearing Room
John was sitting behind the Navy’s interview table in the reserved guest seating. He put in an earplug to listen to the audio from the news feed that he was watching on a TV on the left wall. His enhanced vision, thought to be between 20/1 and 20/2, made it relatively easy to see the finer details on the screen.
“New details have emerged from the brutal torture and slaying of Eldrick Paulson. He has been directly tied to a political fringe group known as Sunset Initiative. The group believes themselves to be above kings, premiers, or presidents. They recently were responsible for an attack that killed a retired admiral, a sitting senator’s wife, some aides, and house help. The military police did not share any pictures or videos of the murder scene, but they did confirm that Paulson’s digits and extremities showed clear signs of being cut, and then the wound was cauterized. A single gunshot wound to the head is what ultimately led to his merciful death. We’ve also received off-the-record comments from the police that his murder may be tied to three more members of the group.”
The other anchor smiled at the camera and added to the topic, “Also the explosion of an Embraer SO-152 at Hyde Parke has now been confirmed to be an act of terrorism. Attempts to locate the individuals responsible for the attack are ongoing but have thus far not resulted in any arrests. A ground-to-air missile was fired as the orbital inserter took off and struck it when it was barely fifty feet off the ground. We will update you more as we continue to follow the investigation. Authorities have suggested the attack was linked to the other murders. The FBI was clear that they do not believe the public at large is at risk.”
Brook shook her head in front of John before she turned around to scold him quietly, “God damn you. Was that really necessary?”
“I’ll concede that the theatrics were a bit, well, exceptional,” John said as he shrugged, “But sufficient to accomplish the task at hand.”
Julia joined in on the conversation, “The only reason NI is covering for this absolute shit show is the amount of intel you gave them. You…”
“We shouldn’t be having this conversation here. Thankfully this device is making it impossible to hear our voices,” John flashed a silver device in his hand, “But we all know the actual evidence they do have on the attacker doesn’t involve me. Also, Eldrick was not only an unsanctioned telepath but a telekinetic too.”
“Oh great,” Brook said sarcastically, “How on Earth did he not make you stroke out?”
“Reasons,” John said as he stared at the TV, “The first step is done. Sunset Initiative is effectively out of commission. Step two though is knocking down his group.”
John looked at Senator Fitzpatrick talking with one of his colleagues for a brief moment. Both Brook and Julia noticed that eye movement. Both then grabbed his right arm.
“You cannot do what you’re thinking,” Julia insisted.
“I’m not doing anything to the political critters. That would be insanely stupid,” John looked at both of them and leaned in toward them, “Reducing their power base and exposing, certain deals, will benefit us in the long run. Plus, NI has already stated, grudgingly I might add, that the recovered intel was critical and exposed a disturbing amount of rot in the Navy still.”
Their conversation was cut short as Senator Fitzpatrick hit his gavel and spoke up, “I am calling this session to order.”
John didn’t pay much attention to the hearing. Thankfully, John assumed, the hearing was in its final stages. Maybe another week, but no more than two were needed to wrap things up here. Unless the good senator had any more trap cards, that is.
17:15 I-495 Northbound
John was stuck in traffic. That he was wasn’t much of a shock, it was rush hour after all. And he bolted off to parts unknown after the hearings for the day wrapped up. He had already arranged with the captains that he’d be ‘sick’ the following day or days.
He had rented a black BMW M5 under an assumed name using an untraceable credit chit. He was once again off to his own devices. Naturally, Alice asked where he’d be going. His response started and ended with kissing Alice goodbye and promising her that he’d come back. He was gone long before either Captain had a chance to chastise his motives or actions.
John was once again a man on a mission. This time it was a bit different and ideally less violent. He could see his target though. A red Corvette was three cars ahead of him. He was hoping they’d get off this accursed road quickly.
“Could be out there. Doing Navy stuff. But nooooo, instead, I’m stuck in traffic in this cesspit,” John said to himself, “Fucking hell.”
The stop-and-go traffic continued for another thirty minutes. Just as John’s sanity was about to reach its limit the Corvette mercifully took the exit they were at. He followed the car down the ramp, with only a single car separating them now.
The mark was heading towards the Holly Tree Estates development. Them going to a residence was going to be a problem for John. Aside from a few handy gadgets he kept with him at all times, John didn’t bring any armor or stealth suits.
The Corvette continued to speed by each gated community. They eventually took a left and drove into an upscale shopping district. John continued to follow them but fell back a bit to not be too obvious. He didn’t think that he had tipped his hand, but he wasn’t certain.
His belief was strengthened when the mark pulled into a bar. John took notice of the man and hurriedly parked his car. He also put on some smart glasses before hopping out of the car and jogging into the bar.
John opened the door and spied the man at the bar, but his focus was interrupted.
“Good evening, sir, how many are dining with us today?”
John looked down at the hostess, “Oh, just me. I need a beer though. Can I belly up to the bar?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you,” John smiled and walked over to the bar.
His tablet was already intercepting messages from the mark. Even encrypted ones. John smiled as he skimmed through them. He confirmed that the man’s name was Aaron Smith. He didn’t believe that it was the man’s real name. It still sounded sketchy to him.
“What’ll ya have?” the bartender flung a cardboard coaster in front of John.
“Guinness please,” John answered.
John handed the bartender a fifty-dollar bill and told him to keep the change. He walked around the bar and sat down next to Aaron. His mark was surprised by the action and very nearly fell out of his chair.
“Woah there,” John said with a smile before taking a drink, “Ahhh. Settle down spaz. So, you need to let me know who calls the shots in your templar brethren.”
Aaron tensed up and froze. He gasped when he realized he had forgotten to breathe. A number of thoughts sped through his mind. The most concerning on was why this person was next to him, he was keenly aware of what he could do. In truth, he didn’t know the true limits John would go to see his mission to completion.
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“Nice wheels too by the way. Man, that red paint job is sharp as hell. I prefer a bright metallic blue myself, but I wouldn’t be disappointed to have something like that either,” John said to cut the tension.
“Why are you here?”
John took a sip of beer and shrugged, “I already told you. I want to know who’s the leader of your group. I know the Senator is one of the directors. I want to know the other names. If I’m not mistaken, there are two that live in this political cesspit.”
“Dare I ask what you’re going to do?”
John laughed, “A hell of a lot less than the Sunset Initiative. They attacked me and got what was coming. The problem is they originally kept you assholes in check. Without them, you’ll run roughshod over the other one percenters. I can’t have that.”
“What makes you think you can get that information?”
“Oh, leave that to me. Don’t worry,” John winked at Aaron, “You won’t be an accessory. If it makes you feel better, I will solemnly swear to do no physical harm to anyone.”
“I don’t understand what the hell you are asking me for.”
“Just the two names of the directors. That’s it.”
“But how does getting our information even help you?”
“Oh, I’m not going to keep it. Sure, I will openly admit to perusing through it once or twice. I can’t help myself when I get sweet, sweet intel like that. But I’m going to turn it over to Naval Intelligence.”
“What good would that do?”
“Well, then you rich fucks won’t be able to play the games you have been playing anymore. And you can bet that it’s going to be a long ass time until such graft is commonplace. The most important part of all of this though is the private civil judgments,” John smiled, “The best way to attack a rich person isn’t to go after them or their families, it’s to attack their wealth. And when all of your wealth has been built through cheating, manipulation, coercion, or bribes, well that tower of cards will fall over pretty easily.”
Aaron couldn’t understand why John was smiling so much. Or how anyone could be so happy threatening anyone else. But h was doing it in broad daylight and in public. Everything about this situation made his skin crawl. His thoughts were interrupted by his tablet buzzing.
“Better take that call. I can wait,” John smiled, “Oh, you don’t need to walk away for privacy. I already know why they are calling you.”
Aaron slowly pressed the phone icon on the screen and brought the tablet up to his ear, “Aaron here.”
“Why in the hell did you copy those databases and transfer them to an outside storage device? Do you have any idea what will happen if that information leaks out?” the voice on the line was very nearly losing control of their emotions.
“I didn’t copy anything though. I’m at McGuilligans to have a beer…” Aaron’s mouth fell open as he looked over to his side to see a devilish smirk come from John, “Hold on.”
“Yeah, you might want to give me that. I can explain.”
John grabbed the tablet from Aaron’s hand and brought it to his ear, “Hola asshole. Lieutenant John Lief here. So, here’s what’s going to happen. All of you fuckfaces that are milking the military’s tits dry with your contracts are going to reach out to your military contacts and begin doing two things. The first is repayment for all contracts where you cheated us out of money. The second is all of those contracts are going up for a rebid, and you don’t get to bid with any funny business.”
“You little shit. You don’t have that kind of power,” the voice on the other line hissed.
“I sure don’t Joel Ricard,” John smirked when the line got deathly quiet, “Naval Intelligence is going to be handling things, they are the ones swinging the big ass clubs. If they somehow fuck up this, then I can guarantee you that all this shady shit will be leaked to the media. One way or the other you assholes will pay. The real question here, from my perspective, is whether you want to pay in the dark, or in the limelight. You lot are like cockroaches; you prefer the former over the latter. Give my regards to Danica and Julio.”
John finished his beer and tossed the tablet back to a stunned Aaron. He pushed his stool back and hoped out of it. He paused to look at Aaron after he pushed it back into the bar.
“Don’t worry, I made it abundantly clear you weren’t at fault. You couldn’t have predicted me being able to piggyback a VI through one of your messages onto your private servers. None and I do mean none, of you assholes could’ve done anything to stop that. And on that note, fuck you and have a terrible rest of the week,” John smiled and headed back to his car.
21:42 Washington D.C. Safe House, Hillwood Estates, Living Room
John was sitting down in the living room. Alice sitting next to him holding his hand. Flanking the couple was the pair of Captains, who seemed to have aged nearly a decade in the past few days. Senate guards were flanked by the home’s marine guards. Senator Fitzpatrick was standing in the center of the room pacing back and forth.
“I trust if the guards leave nothing will happen to me?” the Senator said sarcastically.
“Yeah,” John gave the senator a dumb look, “Look we already went over this, if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. I’m not like the batch of no-talent assclowns the Initiative hired to attack you. I’m a fucking professional.”
The senator waved off his guards. The marines looked at the captains and both gave an eye-roll that they’ve seen plenty around this home because of the Navy lieutenant in their midst. The guards filed out of the room and took up positions throughout the home just in case.
“We had a deal you fucking asshole.”
John nodded, “Yes. You help me take down the leaders of the newly designated terrorist organization Sunset Initiative. I did just that.”
“Hold on. Why the hell is she here?” Fitzpatrick was pointing at Alice.
Alice sighed and rolled her eyes, “Oh, I don’t want to be here. I got wrapped up in more bullshit, again.”
“Senator, I never said that I’d agree to let your group hold dominion over everything. I couldn’t, in good conscience, take out the other group without doing something to your group. Now the good thing here is you aren’t directly linked to any of this BS so you are good. Granted your cronies are going to have a fraction of the wealth they once had but things are clearing up for the better.”
“I am going to watch you burn. I’ve seen your file…” spittle flew out of the Senator’s mouth before John interrupted him.
“No, you won’t. In fact, magically, I won’t be needed to testify any longer,” John tossed a data slate at the senator.
It bounced, painfully, off his sternum and onto the ground. The old man bent over and picked it up. He stood up once again and very nearly dropped the tablet back onto the ground when he unlocked the screen.
“See, I know how much of a vainglorious asshole you are. Your image is almost sacrosanct to you. That you’ve been able to cheat as much as you have is pretty impressive. If you even try to look at my general direction again, all of that gets out. Not only is your image destroyed, but you will be forced out of office. And then your wealth is going to be attacked. Those kids that love you so dearly are going to turn their backs on you. You will destroy yourself if you try to enter baseless records.”
John picked up his rocks glass and mockingly offered the senator a toast, “The problem with those pesky records of yours is that they aren’t official copies. You really think the public is going to believe that a single person is capable of all that shit?” John laughed after taking a sip of bourbon, “And as a teenager no less? No, you are going to accept this loss and crawl back into that dank hole of yours. And we aren’t going to see or talk to one another ever again.”
Julia stood up, “I think this conversation is done, Senator. We will expect confirmation that Lieutenant Lief is released from the hearings so he can both go home and accept his next commission.”
The Senator left the room looking like a frail old man. That was in stark contrast to how he burst into the room. That spit and fire were gone from not only his eyes but his spirit. He had been completely and thoroughly defeated. More embarrassingly, he was defeated by a nobody.
“Well, I feel like I need a shower and a yearlong vacation dealing with you Lieutenant,” Brook said.
“Yeah, how did you get so used to this?” John asked Alice.
Alice punched him in the arm hard, “That’s not funny.”
“So, all’s well that ends well, right?” John said with a smirk.
“Ugh,” Julia said.
“Just go pack,” Brook said as she was shaking her head, “I can’t even right now.”
John followed Alice back to their room. John smiled when he saw that most of their stuff was packed already. Alice was not smiling though. In fact, she was very upset.
“Was all of that necessary? The first night you were out sounded like you went on a murderous rampage.”
John shrugged as he leaned against a dresser, “Because it was. Tell me, how do you attack ridiculously affluent families?”
“You attack their wealth. But you didn’t do that here.”
“No, the second most effective way is to just eliminate them. Honey, they attacked us first. They killed a retired admiral and a senator’s wife,” John paused, “Granted the guy was an asshole and he may have had some comeuppance his way, but his wife didn’t deserve that ending. Since we were proactive, we were safe.”
“It still feels just so dirty. What if they go after us, or worse my family.”
John shook his head, “That’s incredibly unlikely. You see, they know…” he paused and chuckled awkwardly to himself, “They think they know the lengths I’ll go to defend myself or attack others. Their fear of retaliation will keep them in check.”
Alice sighed as she looked out the window, “They also know you don’t give a damn about proportionate attacks. They could attack, but at what cost?”
“They also know, much to their annoyance and chagrin, that there was no evidence left behind linking me to anything. Oh sure, they may think they have the goods on me…” John didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence.
“They actually have nothing that ties anything to you. That’s a neat trick you pulled off.”
“Well, I am very good at what I do.”