The water level at this part of the tunnel during his last escape barely reached above his ankles, and even that time he still needed to swim underwater to make it outside. With the water this deep, Robert feared it would be almost impossible. Despite this notion, he decided to push forward. He waded about 100 feet towards a fork in the tunnel and took the left fork to where the exit tunnel should have been. Instead, there was a wall of concrete rubble blocking his path.

  “Now it makes sense why there’s so much water,” Robert muttered to himself.

  The exit was one of a few drainage points positioned around the city, but was the only one Robert could safely escape from. If the HIVE walls could not keep out the rough seas, or groundwater otherwise penetrated the system, these exits let the water return to the outside world. The collapsed tunnel created a dam, stopping the water’s exit to a mere trickle.

  Robert stared at the rubble dam standing before him and thought through his options. He would need some serious power tools and a lot of time to clear up this mess. Neither of which he had. Robert was discouraged, but far from admitting defeat.

  “Where there's a will, there's a way,” he thought.

  He brainstormed ideas as he waded back out of the sewer. His options weren't all that plentiful. Even if he made it through the initial blockage, there was no way of guaranteeing the rest of the way would be clear. The tunnel could be collapsed anywhere within the mile-long crawl to freedom. The train leading out of the HIVE was the next best idea. Unfortunately, his recent escapade had caused them to tighten train security for the unforeseeable future. It would not be impossible, but by no means would it be easy.

  Two options Robert noted were blasting through the outer wall, or climbing over it. Needless to say, blasting a hole through thick concrete would not be subtle, and would also require large amounts of explosives. On the other hand, scaling the wall would be less conspicuous, but making it through the atmospheric membrane may prove to be a challenge. The only sure-fire way to get through was to power it down, but that meant turning off the most mysterious part of the city—the power source. Robert laughed at the irony of his situation. The only thing known about the city's power source was it worked without fail. The only person with the knowledge to create and control it was long gone.

  Robert finally reached the sewer cap and climbed back up to street level. He then pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket, lit it, and filled his lungs with the familiar burn.

  “Old man really knew how to build an impenetrable fortress. The only surefire way in and out is...”

  His jaw dropped with his sudden revelation, but the sharp ring of his wrist top brought him back to reality.

  “Ah, my favorite sister. How's it going?” said Robert, answering the call.

  “Oh Robert, you flatter me. I have more business for you to take care of. Unfortunately, I also have a lot of work in the upcoming months, so you will receive all future orders from my associate.”

  A deep voice with a commanding presence came over the line.

  “Welcome back, Agent Phoenix. I am Commander Aesculus — Senior Delegate of the American Republic Intelligence Agency, and top advisor to The Honorable Marcella Phoenix.”

  Robert scoffed at Marcella's title before taking another drag of his cigarette.

  “Nice to make your acquaintance,” he replied. “I don't mean to be that guy, but let's cut to the chase. My time is precious.”

  The commander cleared his throat.

  “Very well then. We've got some targets for you to take care of, all of which rank high on our watch list.”

  “So hold on,” Robert interjected. “If she’s got ARIA backing her, then why bring me in?”

  The commander sighed with frustration.

  “I thought your time was precious, Mr. Phoenix. The why of it doesn’t matter. You’re not a citizen; you’re not even a soldier. You are property. The only thing that matters is what we tell you. And if you want your freedom, obeying our orders is exactly what must be done.”

  Robert’s blood boiled. He clenched his fist into a tight ball and prepared himself for the piece of his mind he was about to unleash. But before he could let his words fly, Aesculus continued as if all was well.

  “The list has been uploaded to your wrist top. As you finish one, another will take its place. Better get started, your time is precious.”

  The transmission cut out as Robert exhaled in frustration.

  “I see Marcella still surrounds herself with jerks,” he thought. “But I guess that just comes with this line of work.”

  Robert took one last pull of his cigarette before he flicked it down the street.

  “High-priority targets require intricate plans, and intricate plans require the proper equipment. I could try to ask Marcella, but I don’t think that will go well. Even if she did give me something, it would most likely be shoddy equipment that couldn’t be traced back to her. I need to find someone who I can trust that also has dependable equipment.”

  Robert knew it was a long shot, but he had one person in mind who might still be around: Nelson.

  

  A couple hours and several miles later, Robert found himself in the streets of downtown Zone 3. Brick, stone, and rusted steel buildings painted by the afternoon sun stood in rows along the avenues. The faded lines on the pavement served as another reminder of the world before. Despite the old world being long gone, the city was not.

  The people heading to their destinations filled up almost every inch of sidewalk. Vendors selling all types of goods lined the middle of the unused roads. Some of the intersections were even filled with large, circular buildings made of whatever scrap materials could be found. Robert caught whiff of all the foods as he strolled through the streets. He could hear the banging of pots and pans intertwined with the sounds of talking, laughter, and footsteps. The heart of Zone 3 was alive. It felt as if Robert had stepped back in time. The nostalgia of walking these streets almost engulfed him, but he kept his head. He knew business came first.

  Robert walked a bit longer before stopping in front of a store on the corner of 5th and Broadway. Iron bars rested within the window frames, and the neon sign above the door which once read “Lucky’s” now only flickered the “LU’s”. Robert opened the door to the nostalgic ring of a physical bell hanging in the frame. Inside the store, he found the shelves and refrigerators barren. A middle-aged woman with graying hair sat behind the register. She looked over at him with distrust as he appeared through the doorway.

  “Buy or get out,” she said.

  Robert unfastened the top buttons of his coat as he walked over to the counter. Without hesitation the woman drew a revolver and pointed it at his head.

  “Get out.”

  She looked him dead in the eyes as Robert returned the stare.

  “I'm here to see Nelson,” he replied, raising his hands in the air in front of him.

  Robert approached with caution and pulled back his collar to expose the tattoo on his neck. The ink had faded with age, but the two Greek letters of Delta and Omega still stood out against his light skin. The woman pulled him close and pressed the pistol against his throat as she inspected the tattoo. Satisfied, she let him go and pressed a button underneath the counter. A metallic sound emanated from Robert's left, and a section of the wall swung open to reveal a passageway. Robert gave the woman a nod as he left the counter and entered the opening.

  He followed a staircase downwards into a dimly lit room. It was complete with a lounge, pool table, and a small bar next to a large glass humidor. But the main feature was the desk towards the back of the room. It was neat and simple, with one small desk lamp fixed to it. Behind it was a comfortable leather chair facing a television on the back wall. The news was on, but the volume was low enough to make the words indiscernible. A thick haze hung over the area, and the smell of cigar became stronger as Robert approached.

  “Ghosts,” said a voice. “They linger around without sound. Whisper in your ear and bring fear. Keep you up at night even though they're out of sight. Yet, you know they are there. How is that?”

  “Because those who you can see have seen,” Robert replied. “Those who you can hear will whisper of their doings. And because those who know all did not know what they saw or heard. Ghosts. Th—”

  “That's all we are,” the voice finished.

  The chair spun around to reveal the man occupying it. He had dark skin, short gray hair, and a stubbly salt and pepper beard. His warm brown eyes matched the grin his lips cracked around a smoldering cigar. The man studied Robert for a second.

  “You aged well, Brother,” he said. “It has been a long while, yet you look exactly as I remember you.”

  “You're not looking too bad yourself,” replied Robert.

  They both reached out and grabbed each other’s forearms in a symbolic handshake.

  “It looks as if you are enjoying retirement quite nicely,” Robert continued.

  Nelson chuckled.

  “Definitely can't complain.”

  He let go of Robert and leaned back in his chair before continuing.

  “So Robert, what can I do for you?” he asked.

  “I'm just going to come out and say it. I need guns, ammo, and any other supplies or gadgets that might prove useful.”

  “C'mon Robert, you know those are hard to come by.”

  Nelson paused to ash his cigar and looked back at Robert.

  “Besides, I'm officially retired now. Don't have the government hookup I used to.”

  Robert looked around the room as he returned Nelson's volley.

  “Yet here we are in a windowless basement that is impenetrable by imaging or listening technology.”

  Nelson took a lengthy drag from his cigar before changing the subject.

  “Tell me, what brings you back to the HIVE?”

  “You know I wouldn't come back for any other reason,” Robert muttered with disgust.

  Nelson looked at him with interest.

  “Ah, so you are working. Why come to me?”

  “Because I know you’ll have everything I need to get the job done,” Robert replied. “And because I know better than to think Marcella would trust me with a gun, or any other weapon.”

  Nelson laughed as he took another puff.

  “You’ve got that right. Giving you a long-range rifle wouldn’t be smart on her part.”

  Robert could almost see the gears turning in Nelson's head as he thought out his next move.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Nelson proposed. “You can have full access to my inventory under two conditions. The first is guaranteed protection when the hit finally gets placed on my head.”

  Robert grinned.

  “And the second?”

  Nelson returned his grin as he gave the second half of his proposal.

  “I need you to retrieve something for me.”

  “What would that be?”

  Nelson made the tip of the cigar burn bright red and filled the air with smoke.

  “The U.S.S. Obama will dock in the lower shipyard tonight before heading up to Zone 1 in the morning. One of the things it is carrying is a payload of Warhammer missiles. I need at least one of the guidance system chips out of those missiles.”

  Robert was taken aback at how uneasy the request made him feel. Why would Nelson need the most advanced guidance system known to man? Or even worse, whom would he be selling it to?

  “That look you're giving me tells me you’re unsure of my intentions,” added Nelson. “I can’t tell you what I’m using it for, but you’ll have to trust me when I say you won’t regret it. Just like I trust I won’t regret making this deal with you. After all, I’m the one asking you to steal from the very people you work for.”

  Robert considered the consequences. If he got caught, he was dead. But he needed this connection to get supplies. And then there was Nelson. He was a bit strange, but Robert knew him well. When Nelson said something, he meant it.

  “Consider it done,” he said, shaking Nelson's hand.

  “Excellent,” replied Nelson. “Lucinda will have a package ready for you upstairs with some equipment you may need for the operation.”

  Robert nodded and walked towards the exit, but Nelson called for his attention once more.

  “One more thing, Robert. If you ever find yourself a free agent, there's always a high-ranking position for you within my organization.”

  Robert shook his head.

  “You know I prefer to work alone, but I’ll consider it.”

  Nelson laughed.

  “You haven't changed a bit. I'll see you soon.”

  Robert ascended the staircase back into the shop to find a backpack already waiting for him on the counter. The woman smiled and nodded as Robert slung the strap over his shoulder and pushed into the outside world. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the streetlights buzzed above the crowded streets. Robert lit a cigarette and looked at the sky. There was something about the night that just felt right. Robert wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew where he had to be. He used his wrist top to figure out his bearings and mapped a route to the U.S.S. Obama.

  “Looks like I'm going fishing.”

  Chapter 11: The Ghost Ship

  It was an average night in the HIVE. The sky held the same monotonous shade of black, and the streetlights illuminated the area with their familiar yellow glow. But tonight was special, Raj could feel it. The surrounding air buzzed with good vibes. After all, it was the night he was to meet with The Major – the mysterious young woman he met nearly a month before. When he woke up this morning, he found a message sent to his wrist top.

  Raj,

  Meet me at the corner of New Amsterdam Ave and River Street at midnight tonight. There is something important I need to show you.

  The Major

  Raj wondered what the big thing was that she wanted to show him. He even wondered if there was anything to show at all. Perhaps it was a date; a chance to get him all alone. Between Robert and the mysterious girl, Raj’s head filled with more questions than answers. He hoped some of them would be answered tonight. So there at the corner of New Amsterdam and River Street, Raj waited for his secret rendezvous. He even showed up early to make sure he didn’t miss her.

  The first thing he noticed upon reaching his destination was the colossal ship docked in the water across the street. It was unlike anything he had seen before. The gray painted sides were adorned with a large white 23. The top of the ship was mostly flat except for a large structure sticking upwards from the middle of the ship. With the ship docked parallel to the street, Raj could fully gauge its sheer size.

  As he marveled at the vessel, Raj caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. On the other side of the street, a figure watched the ship from down the road. The figure’s dark clothes blended with the night, and Raj probably wouldn’t have noticed the figure at all if he or she had been a few feet farther from a working streetlamp. Raj’s heart pounded. In a completely deserted street, that person could only be The Major. Raj crept across the street towards the figure. As he got closer, he realized the person lurking in the shadow was not The Major. Instead, he ran into the person he least expected to see.

  “Robert?”

  Robert turned around and motioned for Raj to be quiet.

  “Jeez kid, could you be any louder?” he said in a low voice.

  “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting to meet you here.”

  Raj’s cheeks blushed at the embarrassment of his mistake, but he regained his composure.

  “Say, what are you doing here anyways?”

  “I could ask you the same question,” Robert shot back.

  Raj noticed that Robert’s gaze never strayed from the ship in front of them. Before Raj could press the question again, Robert changed the subject.

  “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” he said, pointing at the ship. “I remember when she was first commissioned. Those were the good old days.”

  Robert cracked a small grin as he reminisced.

  “She’s old technology now though. Nuclear powered. Could you imagine that?”

  “What do they run on now?” Raj asked.

  “Who knows?” Robert replied. “Sebastian Phoenix created the Phoenix Core long ago, but the Phoenix Technologies database wiped itself as a failsafe to being hacked just days before the patents became government property. If they had those, any new ships would run on core technology.”

  Robert’s eyes lost their focus as he looked back into the past.

  “The world would also be a much different place.”

  He took a drag of his cigarette and brought the conversation back on track.

  “They tried taking one apart once. Damn near took out a whole city with the explosion.”

  Raj was just about to ask him how he knew all of this, but Robert changed the subject once again.

  "So you still want to be like me?" he asked.

  Thrown off by the question, Raj could barely hold in his excitement or answer the question with coherent words.

  “Uhb-duh yea!”

  “Perfect,” Robert exclaimed.

  He took one more drag on his cigarette and flicked it into the water.

  “I need to get on that ship.”

  “Wait, what?” Raj asked in disbelief. “That one? Why?”

  “Need-to-know basis, kid,” said Robert, dismissing his question. “Now are you going to help me, or not?”

  Raj sighed in frustration, cueing Robert to continue instructions.

  “I see you still have my fancy wrist top. Good, cuz you’re gonna need it. You’re also gonna need to take this.”

  Robert handed Raj a cylindrical device about the size of a can of soda.

  “What is it?” Raj asked.

  Robert smirked as he patted him on the back.

  “Your next lesson.”

  He looked around to make sure the coast was still clear before turning back to Raj.

  “The question is this: If you do something, and no one was there to witness you do it, did it even happen?”

  “Well...” Raj began, but Robert cut him off.

  “Rhetorical question,” he sighed. “The point is, stealth is your best friend. Conflict is a last resort, so it is always best to use every possible resource to avoid it. And for tonight, you are my resource.”

 

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