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Beating The System
A Little Bit of Paradise Island

A Little Bit of Paradise Island

As Enrique swerves in and out of traffic, Devin reluctantly scoots forward to hold on tighter around the young Latino's waist wrapped in a leather jacket.

"I'm not into you that much, Sargent!" Enrique laughs.

"Oh, you wish!" Devin squawks back with a scowl.

Enrique smirks picking up speed and jetting them out into the arenas of the San Deigo air space. They are heading toward the San Deigo airport. An invisible boundary abruptly illuminates outlining itself in holographic yellow lines leading to a transparent wall. On top of the wall in a flashing yellow marquis are the words "WARNING!". The sound of a mechanical voice being broadcast surrounds them:

"Warning! You are entering prohibited airspace! Warning! Return to the traffic lanes. You are entering prohibited airspace! Re-enter the traffic lanes immediately."

Enrique is only speeding up all the more and zips through the boundary lines. Devin looks back and sees that the blue orb has left the traffic lanes and is in hot pursuit. Meanwhile, Enrique looks below seeing two other orbs that glow red instead of blue racing up from treetops. He knows these red ones are fully weaponized and chooses that now isn't the time to inform his passenger about that. No need to create unnecessary panic.

"It's about to get really dicey! Hope your s da upright position, 'migo!" Immediately, Enrique soars upward to his left heading for the traffic flow of the air crafts departing the airport.

Devin keeps his head to one side because of the wind and notices that there appears to be a long strand of blue lights filing out of an airport garage in the distance. There are many of them coming out two by two and then, after a line-up, they launch into the air and move at great speed toward them.

Devin points and shouts, "What are those, 'migo'?" he asks in a mocking fashion.

"Yep, that's airport security. Right on cue! That's what we want."

Enrique manipulates his bike to circle around the front of a departing jet plane. The wind is blowing fiercely sending Devin's hair around like he is in a hair salon. The jets rumble and blast vibrating their skin. Soon, the blue and red orbs meet up nearby as if communicating and then split up again. One spins its way over the giant jet aircraft and the others go under it.

Enrique instead does a complete turnabout and heads straight on into the approaching herd of airport security away from the jet plane. They encircle him with their blue headlights shining on them. The men are in blue-colored uniforms with shielded metal plates blocking their torsos.

Enrique uses one hand to shield himself from the bright blaring lights shining in on them from all directions. He hadn't factored in blindness into the equation. He strains his eyes and head around for the next departing aircraft but there is none in sight.

"You are in violation of San Diego airspace! Follow us!" says one of the officers.

"No, no hablo Inglese!"

"Who is our Spanish-ese person today?" the security officer asks the others with a flat tone.

"That guy with him doesn't look Spanish speaking. You speak any English there, fella?"

Devin tries not to move from behind Enrigue, using his body as a shield, hoping against hope that someone or something intervenes.

"Hey guys, what are those?" asks another officer. Some of the officers turn their upper torsos around to see the fast-approaching orbs. Their vests make squeaks as they do so.

The lead security officer turns back in frustration looking at Enrique, "Those are military issue search weapons! What kind of trouble are you two in?" Enrique's eyes are shifting back and forth seemingly waiting for the right timing, and it comes none too soon.

"Gentlemen, thank you for your hospitality this evening, Buenos Noches!" Enrique powers down the bike so that they free-fall below the circle of security guards just as the orbs approach. Devin leans into Enrique's body holding on for dear life. The orbs immediately put a force field around the security troop so they cannot move.

Enrique and Devin speedily free fall as another large jet plane noisily zooms between them and the trapped security personnel. As soon as Enrique is sure that are eclipsed by the plane, he immediately gets the bike into full speed and jets them away from the airport down a dark service drive below and then shoots down an off-ramp.

Cruising Mission Bay Drive

The two men are quiet as they ride on over the war-torn bridge that heads toward Mission Bay. Devin takes a few deep breaths as he feels the cool wind off the water. He looks behind him and to the side at the glowing city in the distance with all the multiple-colored illuminated skyscrapers and flowing sky traffic. This is not the world he had known. He remembers at times working overtime at the office and falling asleep. He would have these deep dreams and wake up in the dream not knowing he was still inside yet another dream. He secretly hoped he was still dreaming, but if this was his new reality, how much of it could he digest right now?

A split in the road rises up, and they speedily go down Ingraham road across another bridge that leads to a series of lagoons. Enrique continues at high speed though no traffic is seen and no orbs are in sight. The silence, the wind, and the staving off of too many questions for each of them continue until they arrive at old Paradise Point.

"You all right?" asks Enrique.

"I'm fine, thank you. Where are we?"

"An Island. Use to be Paradise Point."

"Used to be?"

"Hold on!"

Enrique types something into a small touch screen between his handles. Immediately, the sound of earth and rock moving drowns out the sounds of crickets, frogs, and birds. Devin notices they enter through a now open tunnel in the side of a hill. He grips the side of his seat as they speed downward inside the hill.

The Island--Underground

A woman in torn jeans and a black T-Shirt that looks like she has worn this outfit for a week straight stands near a set of two large computer systems. She pulls out a weapon and watches the two as they enter a lighted small garage painted all in light gray. Her frown seems like it is carved in permanently by the gods.

"What the hell, Enrique?" hollars Theresa, her voice echoing slightly in the empty space.

"I can explain," he moans. Enrique parks his bike and helps Devin get off who is stiff and wobbly. Theresa approaches Enriques's side. Enrique steps a few paces back as Devin stretches his stiff back out.

"Who the hell is he?" she asks.

"Could you be a little less rude? You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," she smirks.

"Do I frick'en answer to you, anyhow? I'll take him to Kyle."

"When I'm at this guard post, you bet your sweet ass you do!"

Enrique bites his lips. "He's important. Enough with the theatrics."

She looks Devin over circling around him. "Important huh? You could fool me. You both look like shit...and he's had his damn chip torn out. For crying out loud Enrique, you know the red flags that send up?"

"Like I don't know that? I'm not blind. I'm taking him straight to Kyle."

"Hmmff! You ain't taken him anywhere till you start explaining to me why I shouldn't shoot you both for unauthorized entry plus bringing a strange dude with no brain chip. You could have already compromised us!"

A door slides up near the computers and out walks a tall man with military garb, a strap of bullets wrapped around his torso, and two burly soldiers next to him. His pale gray eyes shift about and the dimples in his cheeks frown.

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"It's all right, Theresa. I've been watching them since they entered Mission Bay," he places a hand on her shoulder, and they lock eyes. The anger flaring in her eyes slowly tempers down and she walks back to her station. The two soldiers by Kyle's side keep their eyes locked on Devin.

"You got the piece I need?" asks Kyle turning to Enrique.

"Yeah, it'll do." Enrique pulls out a flash drive. "The files on here should do the trick."

Kyle nods and walks past Enrique toward Devin who stands sweating and pale. "Now, I'm sure you must have one hell of a good reason for bringing this man in here and risking exposing this entire compound. So let's hear it."

Enrique clears his throat, gathers his courage while looking up at the ceiling, and then directs his eyes back to his commander.

"Yes, sir. He says his name is..Devin Richardson, sir."

"You mean the-"

"Yes, that one," Enrique replies quickly and then clears his throat as he realizes he cut the Sargeant off. Kyle's eyes widen a little in disbelief and concern. Enrique continues, "The orbs were trailing him. Military. They came after both of us, sir."

Devin begins to wobble again, about to faint. Kyle rushes to catch him. The soldiers assist in laying him on the pavement. Kyle bends down and examines Devin's face turning his head from side to side. He stands back up puffing out his chest a little.

"Did you ever think this might be a humanoid, Enrique? They could be tracing him. This could be a setup to find our compound."

"I did consider that, sir, but his brain chip has been torn right out of him. He couldn't function as a humanoid without one."

Kyle's eyes momentarily widen again and his chest deflates. He goes back to the floor examining the back of Devin's head. This time he stands back up in shock and brings a forefinger to his lips. Enrique knows this means he is safe and he was thinking of a plan.

"Theresa, you and these soldiers get a stretcher and some fluids for our detainee."

Devin with slurred speech blurts out loudly, "I need to get out of here...where's my wife, damn it? I need to uh..see my wife?"

Kyle and Enrique exchange glances.

"Orbs you said?" asks Kyle.

"Yes. Military."

"Hm. Get the doc. We need to make sure he is who says he is." He looks over to Devin who is staring off into space glassy-eyed. "I don't have a good feeling about him."

Devin looks over to the two men, but the room seems to have lost its lighting as though a dark ghost has cast a shadow upon the room which is slowly taking over. Just before he passes out completely, Devin's last view is that of Mr. Kelly staring at him with a questioning glare.

Underground Medical Unit

Warped sounds like music being spun backward turn into intelligible words. The words of an argument. Blurry images turn into Sargent Kelly and what appears to be a woman doctor conversing at the end of his bed. The woman appears to be in her mid-twenties, a medium build with broad hips and flowing light brown hair like that of some goddess.

"I'm not one of your cronies, Kyle. I don't worship at your feet."

"As long as you want to remain under my protection, you'll do what I ask, Kate."

"Oh cut that crap-ass line for once! Seriously, Kyle, do you think you can threaten me? He's the real deal anyway. The DNA test already showed you that, so I don't know why we are even arguing."

"Do you think you can handle this if you're right?"

"We are right, and do I have a choice?"

"Do any of us have a choice? I fear he may have a system virus still. Let's be cautious."

Kate Winthrop looks up at him skeptically, "Of course you do, everyone is a threat. Everyone outside your circle is a virus."

"If we can get him on our side, it is our one hope in this war, but you have to be objective. If this is a trap, if the system got to him, they'll use your emotions to get to you."

Devin, silently watching, attempts to now sit up, but a throbbing pain and dizziness force him to sit right back down. He groans uncontrollably. Kate hears his groan and rushes to his side.

"Mr. Richardson? Are you all right?" She turns back to Kyle while keeping a hand reassuringly on Devins's forearm, "He's awake."

Kyle approaches but doesn't get too close.

"You are just coming out of significant surgery. I want you to lay flat and relax," whispers Kate.

Devin reaches around the back of his head as if to remove something stuck there. "The back of my head?"

"Yes, are you having pain there?"

"I'll say."

"Okay, I'll give you more for that."

She begins pumping something into his I.V. "You're a little dopey right now. It's normal." Devin lays back a little sighing. "The reason you may feel some discomfort in your head is we implanted a modified brain chip. You can't go around without a chip. It sets off every red flag across the globe sensor-wise. It will take a while to connect with your brain and nervous system."

"You...you didn't ask me if I wanted that. You have no right," he interjects with a dopey frown, "I don't even know who you people are."

Kyle steps forward. "Mr. Richardson," he says loudly causing Devin's eyes to open like he had been given a shot of adrenaline, "You are a liability to us. You are fortunate that you are not dead. Make no mistake you are not a guest here. You are a detainee at this point until we figure out who you really are and what to do with you."

Devin eeks out a smirk, "You're a bundle of joy aren't you? A regular ole jolly Ole' St. Knick!" he cackles with a drunken slur. Kyle frowns and looks over to Theresa who bites her lower lip trying not to laugh and avoiding giving him eye contact. "While don't ya bend yourself down here and let me give you a big ole kiss," Devin reaches out his arms, and Kate snickers pushing his arms back down, wisely stepping in between the two.

"The drugs are kicking in heavy now, Mr. Richardson," Kate says with a little extra emphasis looking back to see if Kyle was getting the message and keeping his distance, which he is though his face is red.

A door slides open, and Enrique enters the room gleaming from ear to ear.

"Hey 'migo! The legend is awake!" Enrique's laugh is short-lived as he sees the seriousness on Kyle's face.

Devin closes his eyes and smiles, "You saved my life with your acrobats, Mr. 'migo."

"Oh, no problem! How's the nogg'en?"

Devin opens his eyes and puts his hand on his forehand, "The nogg'en is nagging."

"It'll get better and-"

"Enrique, we need to go and give Mr. Richardson some rest," Kyle insists grabbing him by the arm.

"Oh, sure!" Enrique replies his voice vibrating a little and his eyes shifting like a puppy that isn't sure what it did wrong. Kyle walks with him out of the room.

Later, Devin wakes up unsure how long has been asleep to find Kate is reading over medical information on an electronic clipboard. Devin shifts uncomfortably in his bed.

"Am I gonna live? "

She smirks, "Yes, you are."

Devin scoots himself back and sits up in his bed. Kate walks to the end of the bed, her brow furrowed as if straining to question him.

"Do you remember anything, Mr. Richardson?

"As in?"

"Who you are and what you did before entered cryo sleep?"

Devin scratches the side of his head a little. "I'm a bit hazy on that, but I was a senator for California and worked on The New Society committee. Myself and a scientist.... Bloomfield, something or other. I'm missing his first name."

"Leonard?"

Devin's eyes widen, "Yes! Leonard. How did you know?"

"Just keep going Mr. Richardson. It is important you keep going while you are remembering it."

"Well, I know we were working on congressional approval of some technical designs regarding cities, brain chips, and the use of cryogenics." He pauses looking at the wall to his right side as if there was a window there. "The cityscape I saw today... it was only a concept we had at the time. And then, cryogenic sleep...is that where I was?"

Kate seemingly holding more than just her own breath in, "I'm not sure."

"Cryogenic rotations of people for population control were to be 3-year term limits. How would I have been under for...what did Enrique say? Twenty? That can't be." Devin starts to move out of the bed, but Kate leans in, pressing him back down into the bed.

"Easy Mr. Richardson. If you were in cryogenic sleep that long, your body isn't ready for a lot of things. My guess would be somebody falsely or rightly imprisoned you. Whatever the case may be, time will tell."

"What? I'm no criminal!" Devin grips one of his own shoulders as his eyes dart about like ping pong balls trying to remember. "I was looking into something. Something my business partner was keeping from me." Devin momentarily seems to awake out of a daydream, "Tell me your name," Devin squints and wrinkles his brow as if he could squeeze his head hard enough to produce her name. "It is right on the tip of my tongue."

"Kate, Kate Winthrop," she replies.

"That's it, Kate. Listen, I have a wife, Cindy Richardson. We have to find her. She wanted me to find her."

"Mr. Richardson-"

"Who are you people, by the way? And what is this place?" he squints again looking at his surroundings. He goes to start to push himself up and out of the bed, but Kate places a calming hand on his arm and then needs two not-so-calming arms to push him back down.

"Mr. Richardson, you get out of this bed and you are going right land right on your ass and probably break your hip bone or something. Listen, the people here at this..facility...are part of an army. A Resistance. I am myself am a doctor, by contract. I just help out here for their medical needs."

"Why did that commander... Kyle, I heard you call him...refer to me as a prisoner?"

"Don't be too alarmed by that. You aren't a criminal to us so much-"

"So much?"

"You are to the United States military though." Kate presses something in her ear, tilting her head as if a bug lodged itself in there. She turns away from him and mumbles in frustrated tones, "Damn it, Kyle, I'll do this my way or you can do this yourself! I can't concentrate with you barking orders in my ear!" She takes a deep breath and turns back to Devin who stares at her with suspicion.

"Sorry. Brain chips now allow video streaming through the retina. You'll soon discover that. Pain in the ass. Spammers can sneak through. Only comfort is that this compound keeps us out of the loop from most of them" . Devin looks deeply into her eyes but sees nothing looking back at him, which lets him know he isn't being told the truth. The first moment of clarity he's had all day. Still, he could tell she wanted something from him and she wasn't completely in allegiance with this resistance. Maybe he could sway her or get more information out of her, at the very least.

"I think I dug too deep... found something. I just can't piece this all together yet. If I had more intel and could find my wife. Are you married, Kate?"

She shook her head and suppressed laughter, "Look, it'll take time for you to remember but you will. All I have are legends about you to fill in the blanks, and honestly, I don't believe in legends."

"Legends are a good start. It is something rather than nothing."

Kate shakes her head putting a hand on her hip. She stares at him and then defiantly puts the chart on a counter staring down at it as if contemplating a troubling question.

"You need to rest, Mr. Richardson. There is a lot more of ahead...I just hope you will come to remember my father."

Devin's eyes come alive with a glimmer of hope. Personal investment: I've hooked her!

"Your father? Okay, I'm supposed to have known him," he said intrigued sitting up a little.

Kate's eyes are red, and she blinks. She barely gets out the words before exiting the room, "Yes. Login Killian."

The door shuts behind her with her gowns fluttering like bat wings. Devin remains in the room alone blinking, unsure of what just happened but familiar with the name. He mouths the word "Login" to see what memory it may conjure up next.