Fan Fiction ❯ Endless Power ❯ Agatha’s Arrival ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

Agatha's Arrival

Neo looked down on his rough and beaten hands and was shocked that they were in that condition. He felt like he had been working out for months, but it wasn't even a week since he first arrived at camp, and he still hadn't completely adjusted. It seemed like he would never get over the aftermath of the mourning "coffee".

"Talk about horrible," Neo thought as he quickly got dressed and pushed open the door.

Still half asleep, he walked into the cafeteria, served himself some toast and milk (he had had enough with the coffee) and casually sat down next to Max, who was snacking a gram cracker.

"Ugh, how can you stand that stuff? It's as hard as rock," asked Neo.

Max just shrugged and continued to nibble on the cracker. Neo sighed to himself. Though he still felt kind of weird, there was a feeling of safety being at an army camp.

"A lower chance for me to get killed," he chuckled to himself, as Stan seated himself next across from Max.

"How's it going Neo?" he inquired.

"Fine, just fine," Neo replied.

"I heard dat the Agatha lady is comin today, ya know anything `bout that Neo?" asked Stan.

"As a matter of fact, no," said Neo, who was surprised to hear the news.

"Lieutenant Baker wants you two in his office afta breakfast," continued Stan. "He says it's `bout yer training, but I reckon yer two are going ter be the first ter see her," he said while nodding his head towards Neo and Max.

"What? He wants me too?" asked Max, who looked surprised and scared at the same time.

"Ya, that's right," said Stan.

"Well, we better get going right Max?"

Neo stood up quickly, leaving half of his toast still uneaten on the plate.

"A-a-alright," stammered Max, who still looked quite scared.

In fact, Neo noticed that he was sweating quite a lot and kept wiping his forehead with a small piece of cloth that he produced from his pants pocket.

"Max," said Neo suddenly as the two walked down the hall, which made Max jump about a feet in the air.

"I don't know why you're so scared. Care to talk about it?"

"Well, I'm a bit afraid of Baker," he said somewhat lamely.

Neo tried and just succeeded in holding his snicker. Trying to keep his face straight, he looked at Max intently. Both of them had stopped walking. They stood there staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity and then both burst out laughing. They laughed so hard that they didn't realize that Baker was standing above them the whole time.

"Well, well, well, having fun aren't we boys?" said Baker.

"Wha-what?" cried Neo, as he and Max suddenly paused, "It's you!"

"I think you boys need to pay a little visit to my office," replied Baker coolly.

Neo looked at Max, whose jaw was wide open. Then they both shrugged and followed Baker to his office.

"Sit down," said Baker coolly as he opened his office door.

Max and Neo reluctantly pulled up two largely overstuffed chairs and collapsed on them.

"In a matter of minutes," said Baker, lighting a cigarette, "we'll meet the psychic Agatha. Now, my superiors," he said somewhat lamely, "have informed me to tell everyone not to disturb the girl at any costs."

Neo turned away from Baker and caught Max's eye and winked. It seemed like Baker had finally been throttled by someone of higher power. Delighted, he continued to listen to Baker's lecture.

"Anyway," Baker continued, "the girl is considered a top secret biological test subject. You are not to make any direct contact with her got it?"

"Yes sir," replied both Neo and Max as they followed Baker out of the office and down the corridor.

"This here leads to the loading docks," said Baker suddenly, pointing at a minute crack along the wall.

"That?" said Neo disbelievingly, "You expect us to go through that?"

"Of course," Baker sneered as he pressed a red button on a device he had drawn from his pocket.

Slowly, the crack grew bigger and bigger until it was no longer a crack, but a huge tunnel that seemed to continue endlessly.

"This is one of the new additions to our modified base camp," explained Baker as the three of them walked along the path. "This tunnel leads directly to the loading docks, which is where the aircrafts are."

The place was dimly lit, and Neo could barely make out his shoes, but nonetheless bright enough to see Baker a few inches in front of him. Determined not to get left behind, he picked up his pace. Besides him, Max did the same.

"So where exactly is Quadrant 3?" inquired Max suddenly.

Baker looked at Max for a second as if to object but then started to explain.

"In the year 3578, almost right after WWIII, the W.B. was founded by a group of ambitious young men, determined to make the world a better place for all people. So countries all over the world were given code numbers, kind of like a encoding of their location in relation to the W.B. itself. This system has been modified many times throughout the years, but its principle remains the same. The lower a code number is, the closer that location is to the W.B. So Sector 3 is very close to the W.B. Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah, I guess," said Max, "but there is still one thing I don't get. If we are so close to the W.B., then how come the environments are so different?"

Neo, who was also wondering about that, nodded his head in agreement, though he doubted anybody could see.

"Well it's simple," explained Baker. "Each city or sector is protected by a huge translucent dome. The domes simulate the weather, produce oxygen and make basically the entire environment. The domes were first designed around the 31st century, when the greenhouse effect was getting worse than ever. The human race was on the verge of extinction due to that fact that much of the ozone had been destroyed. Temperatures around the globe began to soar threw the roofs. Finally a group of scientists doing research on the matter discovered a way to solve the problem. Thus, these domes were created, establishing safe environments all around the world. Since Sector 3 is a military facility, the dome generates sand storms and and other hazards around this building. We believe it's good training for the soldiers. To be able to fight in harsh conditions is one of the most important tests for a soldier. Who knows what we could be up against... ah, we're here!"

Neo and Max gasped in amazement. In front of them was about the biggest thing they had ever seen.

"It's certainly a work of art," agreed Baker. "What you're looking at is a S1 Cruiser. The army has over 10,000 of these babies around the globe. They're renowned for their fast cruising speed. A Quantum/Gravitic reactor powers the two Jump Engines. This makes it capable of traveling in Hyperspace, which is kind of like an empty space. Thus, traveling in Hyperspace is a lot faster than space travel. The S1 Cruiser is also equipped with a wide array of weapons, and capable of destroying a city like New York in a matter of minutes."

"Shamus! Do I pay you to lecture children on military secrets?"

Neo, Max, and Baker all whirled around. A muscular looking man that looked no shorter than 7 foot was facing them. He had short black hair that was brushed neatly to the side. The army cap he was wearing shaded his eyes, so Neo could not get a good look at his face. Altogether, his character was quite intimidating.

"General Paul Bushrak," the man said, as he held out his hand, "And this must be Neo and Max, am I correct?"

"Yes sir," said Neo as he shook the general's hand.

"Come on, we don't have all day," he said after the introductions. "The girl has just arrived. Follow me please."

Neo and Max both went after him, while Shamus tagged along behind them. They went all the way up to the highest level via some stairs and Neo gasped. Floating in midair was a girl that looked a couple of years younger than himself. Her beautiful hair was silver white and shaded her eyes, hiding her expression from view. However, Neo could tell that she was in deep concentration, for she was as still as a statue.

"She's been like this for the last fifteen minutes," explained General Bushrak, shaking his head in amazement.

"She's beautiful," Neo thought, almost sure that he wasn't the only one who thought so.

"Do you really think so?" a voice said suddenly.

Neo nearly jumped out of his skin as he fell back onto the railing with amazement. He turned around to see that Max, Shamus, and Paul were all looking at him intently.

"Something the matter Neo?" asked the general.

"Uh… nothing sir," stammered Neo, "Just a little jumpy today that's all."

The general nodded in return.

"Did you just speak to me?" Neo thought telepathically, trying to direct his question to the girl.

"Yes I did," the girl replied. "I'm surprised that you can communicate with me. Few humans can achieve this level of psychic ability."

"That's what Mr. Hopkinson told me too," said Neo. "You must be Agatha. I'm Neo, but I'm sure you know that by now."

"Indeed," answered Agatha, as she sent a mental picture of a handshake to him.

"Glad to meet you too," Neo said as he returned the greeting.

Lying on his bed later that night, Neo smiled. He could have sworn there was a faint look of amusement on her face when he left. Listening to the remote snores of Max on the top bunk, he drifted off to sleep like a child.