Snippet #2467656

(So, is this still alive then?)

Daniel got off a block from his stop. The warehouse was close. But, he needed to re-supply first.

He still felt shaken, and it wasn't something he was used to feeling. For the first time, he felt targeted and hunted. It was not something he was used to. He worked solo perfectly fine, but even then, he had intel, ops, and supplies. And the one man he actually knew that he trusted more then anyone else was dead.

He had established several safe houses in multiple cities, and only a little less then half were registered by the agency. He walked up the stairs, and entered one of them after he unlocked the door. He locked it after he entered, and re supplied ammo for his guns, and explosives for general use. Then it occurred to him that the ballistics wouldn't match. Each gun made its own marks on each bullet, so if they tested it the gun would not match the wounds. He left that gun in a secure case in the Safe house, got changed quickly, and left.

He left via the fire escape into the alley, and made his way to the warehouse by hiding in crowds or using back alleys. When he made it to the warehouse, he knew it wouldn't be long before they managed to follow him here. He set up a breaching explosive, enough to get in, but not to make a loud noise or big light. Once that was done, he went in. There were a lot of empty shelves, crates, and junk. But there was this room inside, with the light on. He went over there, to see if anyone was inside.

There wasn't, however. There was a computer though. Daniel moved the mouse, re activating it. A video file, with audio, started to play as he looked around. It was a variety of things. Financial reports, employment papers, approval of allocation of Government resources, transit records, flight plans, power company reports. He did not see it at first, but then he realized this was all related to the Agency. Because he found some files, on his handler, on the others, on the director. And then, he found his handler.

"Patient's name is listed as Daniel Westfield..." Daniel looked back at the video playing. It was him, after having been operated on it seems. "...we managed to stabilize him. He survived, though I am not sure if he should have. He was injured, well, not sure by who or with what. Neither of his parents are reachable, I fear whatever to him happened to them, possibly worse. Anyways, seeing as he hasn't fallen into a coma, I am calling the Social Welfare Agency. This case is just the thing they would handle, that is for sure..."

He could hear his own voice in the background, moaning. "He must be strong. He is awake already..."

Daniel wasn't sure what to think. This data was supposed to be scrubbed, it shouldn't exist. But here it was, a copy of it saved. Daniel felt like this was familiar, but there was this blank feeling combined with a migraine. Whoever was behind this had something big planned, and they were confident if they were showing their hand like this. However, Daniel got distracted again when another video started to play.

"Hey Danny, remember me?"

"Michael! Your back from college!"

The video camera was focused on Daniel, but Daniel ran towards this Michael. It appeared to be him holding the video. "Say Hello to mom. I plan to send this video to her".

"Hiiiii moooom!"

"Alright Daniel, let me make us both a snack. Is dad home?"

"Not yet. And nachos, please!"

The video ended. What was on the computer now was a certificate of death for Daniel Westfield. A voice was also playing from the computer now. "So tell me, what keeps you loyal to these people? The fact they saved your life? After all, you did mysteriously arrive at the hospital, with no witnesses how, and your injuries perfect for the SWA? Seems rather suspicious, I would say. And hiding you from your family. Tell me, why do you think they took your memories, as well? Why isolate you from the people you belong with? The answer is simple, to them you are a tool, nothing more. Now, they will see you as a liability. So they will discard you, end your life, and make it look like you died in that hospital room like they faked. You can't go to the media, not with what you have done. You can't return to the government, they will kill you to keep themselves safe. You have two options. Find your family, starting with your brother because he is closest, or work for us and let us protect you, and your family. The first option will almost certainly lead to us anyways, because they will see them just as much of a risk as you".

Daniel wasn't sure what to do. He was still processing everything. He looked back at the warehouse main room, then at the computer. "Why me?"

"You were sent on this mission".

"But why set me up if you wanted to help me?"

"Because..." The computer monitor switched to a traffic camera. He could make out a man and a girl in the vehicle. "The SWA has sent Alice after you. An assassin. If we had simply asked you, you might have not believed us. Your brother is currently in the city for a meeting. You see, after he was done with the army, he went to college, and after your death, strived to become great in your name. He is currently making massive amounts of money, and is planning to build the Danny Westfield Memorial Tower, just for you. He truly is a great brother, and you two were robbed of each other. So, are you going to let Alice kill you, or are you going to re-unite with your brother. They can't kill your brother in public, not with a government registered vehicle or with a government officer, even if his job isn't quite what people think. He is at Durrenbell Tower. You could wait for him in the lobby".

Daniel wasn't sure what to do. He knew he was being played like a piano. No way someone would do what they have done for the right reasons. But his brother had answers, and the truth would be a lot easy to find if they talked, he believed.

He just also knew this was quite obviously a trap. He was a mouse in a maze with a cat, and they controlled the walls.