Chapter 7
The New White

Aaron collapsed back into his chair and blinked back the tears. He couldnÂ’t believe it. After all that they had done, after all that had happened, Martin and PhilÂ… he just couldnÂ’t believe it. Behind him, he could hear nothing from Liam and George. The two were too shocked to move.

“How…” was all he could say.

Evan sighed. “A few nights ago, I was patrolling the islands north of here with a battleship when we encountered a shipwreck. It turned out to be one of our battleships, the one commanded by our Prime Minister’s son. He had been killed. A few soldiers who were left alive told us that they had been attacked by a Chinese battleship.”

Aaron was suddenly filled with anger. “Sean…” he whispered to himself.

“I brought the body back to my uncle, the prime minister. He ordered me not to pursue the matter. However, that night we received intelligence that a Chinese battleship was headed up the islands, bound for China. Against my uncle’s orders, I took a crew of loyal men and attacked the ship off the coast of one of the islands. We saw the commander and a few others board a helicopter and fly out over the island. If we had known then what we do now, we might not have done what we did, but…” Evan hesitated for a moment. “We opened fire and shot the helicopter down. There were no survivors. We searched the wreckage afterwards. I am sorry.”

Aaron nodded slowly. “There was no way you could have known.”

Evan crossed over to Aaron. “How about this. I’ll tell you which island the wreck is on, and you can go pay your last respects. I’ll even refuel your plane for you.”

“Thank you,” Aaron said. Then he brushed past Evan and out into the hall, wiping the tears off his face.

* * *

“Where does it wants us to take it?” Gollum asked nervously from the backseat. “Where will it go?”

“Shut up,” muttered Fred. He was seated in the front seat, balancing his laptop on his knees, typing furiously. Maps and databases popped up on the screen, and he scanned them all. “Here’s something.”

“What is it?” asked Sam. He was still seated next to Gollum in the backseat, Sting pressed to Gollum’s right ear.

Fred pointed to the screen. “The government of Russia has just shut down all airports.”

“Don’t you mean ‘major’ airports?” Sam asked.

Fred shook his head. “No, all of them. They’re all being rerouted to a massive new airport near Moscow. Massive, like about fifty different runways, several hundred hangers, a terminal the size of a small city… it’s the only way in. All roads in have been shut down, except for this one through the mountains from Europe, which is too dangerous and well-patrolled to risk. Our only way in… is this airport.” He turned to Gollum. “Where’s the nearest airport?”

“Forty miles back.” Gollum rasped.

“Take us there. We’re going to try to fly in, through this…” Fred checked the name of the airport. “‘Black Gate’”.

* * *

It was dusk by the time the plane touched down on the small island off the coast of Australia. The fading light cast shadows across the coastline, where the twisted remains of the helicopter still smoked.

Aaron stepped out of the plane and crossed over to the wreck. Liam and George followed in silence. The three of them stood, staring down at the tomb of two of their friends. Liam began to recite something very quietly and in a different language. George stood in reverence.

Pain bubbled up inside Aaron. Pain and hurt. He had failed. After all this way, after all this work, he was a miserable failure. He couldnÂ’t save two teenagers, so how could he expect to save the world from Czaron?

His frustration gave way to rage, and he aimed a savage kick at a twisted piece of metal. His toes caught the metal and sent it sailing into the air. Then he screamed as loud as he could, piercing the silence.

“WHY?” he screamed into the fading light. “WHY ME? WHY THEM?” Then he collapsed onto the ground.

He lay there for a minute, trying to compose himself. He felt a hand reach under his arm and pull him up. “Come on, Aaron,” a calm voice said. Aaron recognized it as Liam’s. “We need to go.” Aaron let Liam pull him to his feet, and smiled at his friend.

Suddenly, George whirled around and drew his weapon. Aaron heard it too. A faint rustling in the grass. Movement. Aaron drew his own weapon, and saw, out of the corner of his eye, Liam swiftly draw and assemble his sniper rifle. The three moved so they were back to back, all directions covered.

“Shoot first,” Aaron whispered. “And ask questions later.” The others nodded. Whatever it was drew closer. Aaron readied himself. Seconds ticked by.

A white blur appeared from behind the plane wreck. Aaron fired at it, but the bullet seemed to pass right through it. The blur materialized into an old man wearing a white suit. He raised his own weapon and fired three shots. Aaron felt his gun fly out of his hand, and saw Liam and GeorgeÂ’s go as well. The three of them backed up as the man leveled his weapon at them.

Then he dropped his weapon to his side and smiled at them. “Hello there.”

“Who are you?” Aaron asked quickly. “Why did you attack us?”

“You know who I am,” the man said. “Think about it.”

Come to think of it, something about the manÂ’s stance, his walk, the way he held his weaponÂ… it all seemed familiar to Aaron. He thought, and suddenly, the answer came to him.

His jaw dropped.

“Greg?”

Greg smiled. “Bingo.”

Aaron ran forward and embraced his friend. “What happened? You must tell us everything!”

“Well…” said Greg. “I fought BA1R0G on the way down the shaft. I managed to use its body as a cushion when we hit an underground lake. He retreated to an observation tower at the top of the mountain and I followed. We fought, and I… I won. But I was badly injured. Fortunately, I was rescued by a passing national guard chopper. I was nursed back to health in Saint Louis and then… I was promoted.”

“To what?” George asked.

“Director of the F.B.I.”

Liam nodded. “Wow. That’s impressive. Congratulations.”

Greg smiled. “I know. It’s all desk work after this. This is my last field mission. Now come.”

“Um… Greg…” Aaron paused. “Did you know about… Martin and Phil…”

“Of course I know.” Greg said. “They are alive.”

“WHAT?” cried out Liam, George, and Aaron all at once.

“They are in good hands, but for now, we must go,” Greg said briskly and started to walk away.

Aaron followed. “That’s the Greg Grey I used to know.”

Greg stopped and turned. “Actually, officially, Greg Grey died in the Moria Project. I am Agent Greg White now.”

“Why White?” Liam asked.

Greg smirked evilly. “Why do you think? To mock Sean. Now, come. We have work to do. The country of Australia is in trouble. I think Sean might have chosen that country to attack. He has the military power to crush that country like an ant. Not to mention the Prime Minister has gone senile and under the control of a seductress and spy. Will you come NOW?” He turned and stalked away. The others followed.

The chase had ended. But a darker journey loomed on the horizon.

To Be ContinuedÂ…