Chapter 5

POV:  Zaria Kevoski
Place, Anglasia Joint Forces HQ, Military District, Central City, Anglasia
Date:  March 28, 2013
     We all sat down to a debriefing.  Personally; I have better things to do like attend to the victims.  Orders are orders though.  Especially that lady who just recently came through.  I think maybe, just maybe, I can get through to her.  Kincaid walked through late.  He was leading proceedings.  Personally, I don't understand why everything people don't understand is a military threat; but, oh well.  People are people.
     "Wallings, report!"  Kincaid started in.
     "Nothing much.  All running from a life threatening emergency.  Almost all without the skip trace."  Kincaid answered.
     "Is that all General?"
     "That's all so far."
     Then I piped up; "General, how did we acquire the latest female?  I need to know what happened with the sex abuse victim to properly treat her."
     "Carrier pigeon"  Jace responded sarcastically.
     Everyone started chuckling.  He's a jackass.  Why does he have to be like that?  He knows exactly what I am asking.
     "General, and I do remind you again that your ranking is that of General; are you trying to be funny?"
     "I'm sorry, Elder, I figured with all of the diagnostic tools at your disposal that the answer would be an insult to your intelligence."
     "Children,"  Kincaid interrupted, "this is an adult proceeding.  However; if you want to call him out to the playground Elder, I'm pretty sure he'll meet you out there at lunch time."
     That gathered a few chuckles.  Sometimes I wonder why Kincaid tolerates him.
     "Tell me more about the child."  Gonzales ordered.
     "I have no facts."  Jace answered.
     "Rumors?"  Gonzales persisted
     "I'm researching it right now."  Jace responded.
     "General Wallings, do not withhold from the council.  What are they?"  Gonzales persisted even further.
     "None that I'm willing to disclose at the current time."  Jace continued.
     That always enrages me, how Jace always feels himself higher than the council!  He's always challenging the authority!  How dare him!
     "Are you defying the inquiry of the elder ship General?"  I chimed in.  Gonzales should not have to go through this because of a subordinate.
     "Maybe I should just do my job and hand him over to the people he has hurt."  Jace chimed in.  That's him, always the challenging one.
     "That's enough Wallings."  Elder Kincaid tried to interrupt to keep order.
     "Yes General Wallings; people have disappeared over less."  Gonzales said in a threatening tone.
     "Elder Gonzales, are you threatening a law enforcement agent in the commission of his duties?  Jace snapped back.
     "General Wallings, are you threatening and accusing an elder without just cause?"  Gonzales popped back.
     "As I recall, violation...."
     "That's enough Wallings"  Kincaid interjected.
     "But Elder Kincaid...."
     "Yes, I know.  Violation knows no rank or position.  I also know that a good leader always backs his men when they are in the right.  Mr. Gonzales, hands behind your back.  You are under arrest for arresting a military officer in the commission of his duties.  Wallings, this better be good."  Then Kincaid went over to place the cuffs on his wrists."
     "It happened over three hundred years ago."  Jace responded.
     "Apparently it is.  We will meet privately.  This meeting is adjourned until further notice."  He was apparently nervous as he slapped the cuffs on Gonzales and drug him away.
     At this point I approached Gen. Wallings.  I just couldn't let him get away with this without at least saying something!  This was entirely taken too far!
     "What the hell are you doing?!"  I confronted as I approached him, the whole chambers bursting into confusion.
     "What do you mean Elder?"
     "How dare you come in and disrupt everything?!  Who the fuck do you think you are?"
     "I am General Wallings of Criminal Justice; Elder Kivorski.  The lady you inquired of?  Okay.  Let me tell you what more than likely happened to her.  She was kidnapped from her home at the age of 13 or 14 more than likely and cycled through the various brothels.  It's a miracle her children were allowed to live.  From the age she was kidnapped until now she was more than likely raped well over a thousand times by men, a term used extremely loosely, that paid The Syndicate for the opportunity.  Seeing this kid's pattern, they were probably going to execute her for being too old and being worn out when the kid, saint, whatever you want to call him;  showed up.  This child saved her ass like so many others.  From the discription, the autistic child much like mine.  In the end, all I could do for the victim was assign her round the clock care and living quarters.  Anything else you wish to now as my superior officer, elder?"
     That took me back.  For once I see the human side of Jace.    Something actually got to Superman for once.  Plenty of questions came to mind; but, I couldn't ask any but one:
     "How do you know General?"
     "The brand on her neck.  It's The Syndacate's.  Anything else, elder?"
     "No General.  Thank you for your help soldier.  Carry on."
     At that point I just stood there.  Stunned.  While all the chaos was going on, we just turned around and walked out.

----

POV:  Thomas Kincaid

Place:  Kincaid's Office, Anglasia Joint Forces HQ, Military Sector, Cntral City, Anglasia

Date:   March 28, 2013

     I love Wallings to pieces, don't get me wrong.  He gets results and admittedly is generally entertaining in the process.  I do however have to take him down a few notches from time to time.This my friend, was definitely one of those times.
     "So, you find the need to accuse elders in the open now?"  I started.
     "Seemed appropriate at the time sir."
     Wow!  This disciplinary was going to be easier than usual, or so I thought at the time.
     "It seemed appropriate to confront an elder in the open involving information that is classified?  I understand the shock of not being the highest man on the totem pole, I still go through it at times after so many years.  However, the elder ship still outranks you if you do properly remember the chain of command.  And how exactly does the confrontation have anything to do with the case at hand soldier?"
     "It's because of the child."  He responded.
     This confused me a bit admittedly.
     "Are you starting to go daft on me General?"
     "The Forsaken have a prophesy.  Something about a child healing all wounds and leading the way.  I think this might be the child.  so do The Forsaken.
     This stopped me dead in my tracks, and there's not much that does nowadays.  Lets face it, I've lived a long time and seen a lot of things.  We've had no interest, at least officially, in The Forsaken, since the massacre.  It was in the interests of peace and ethics to simply leave them be.  that was the policy anyways.  Being that we had left them alone for so many years unless dealing with their dependants off that planet, this was probably old news.  Regardless, it was new to me.
     "A very special child indeed.  How do you figure he's the one?"  I finally asked when I finished gaining my composure.
     "He's already doing the previously thought of as impossible.  Crossing over to moving objects, using chalk instead of paint, crossing over those who do not have the skip art trait, and only God knows what else.  It's not too much too think that this is possible to."
     "My God, and how did you find all this out including about The Forsaken?"
     "I mean no disrespect sir; but, if I give my sources then my sources will be no more."
     I considered this for a moment.  Normally I would consider this as insubordination, but these were not normal times and they are turning more abnormal by the day.  So, I let him make it.  At least this once.
     "Keep me posted soldier.  And for christ sakes; please quit trying to piss off the elder ship.  I can only get you out of so much Jace.  You are driving me to an early grave."
     "Yes sir."
     "You are dismissed."
     "Yes sir."
    Then he got up and left.  I stayed there for awhile.  I had much to ponder.

Chapter 4

POV:  Chin Ha Yen
Place:  Osaka, Japan, Earth
Time:  2200 hrs local
     Hello, I am Chin Yen, officer within The Neutrality
     I awoke in the night beside my love to hear a child screaming gibberish.  Listening for a bit, it sounded like the child was in distress.  I knew that I had to assist, so I tried to ease myself out of bed without waking her unsuccessfully.
     "Honey, what's wrong?  Come back to bed...  What's that screaming?"
     "Apparently it is a child in distress."  I answered very plainly.
     "Baby..."
     "You know I have to."
     "Be careful baby"  She implored.
     "I will"
     And with that simple answer, I strapped my Katana on and bounded out the door.  it took her two hundred years to understand and she still worries about me.  However; I am part of The Neutrality.  It is my duty and honor to protect the innocent.  However; she still worries.
     I ran and I ran towards the scream with my hand on my hilt.  Apparently this child can scream very loud.  Finally I got there to find a full grown man holding a child that could be no older than six years old by the throat.  The child continued to scream while the man growled at him.  A woman with her children was on the floor cowed in a corner.
     "You appear to enjoy picking on women and children.  Why don't you pick on me for a bit?  I might appear to be a bit more of a challenge.  After all; I am not a defenseless six year old."  I finally said calmly.
     "Stay out of this!  It's none of your business!"  He growled back at me.
     "I beg to differ.  Anytime the defenseless is in danger, especially women and children, it becomes my business."
     At that point he threw the child down and ran at me.  That was a mistake, for I am not a defenseless child.  In one quick motion I stepped to the side and sliced his stomach open, at which point he fell to his knees attempting to hold his insides in and died.  I looked at the child in quiet admiration with a nod.  Then I approached the female.
     "I mean you no harm.  May I see your neck?"  Just as I thought.  The Consortium has been causing much trouble lately kidnapping females and taking them to work in brothels against their will.  Unfortunately; I know she would not be safe in this realm.  Then I approached the child, who still appeared a bit shaken.
     "Would you be the child I heard so much about?  The child that holds so much promise."  At that point the child beamed with pride.  "I am sure Barali has informed you; but, you must be more careful child.  You are far too important to lose.  However; I will admit.  You show much courage and heart.  I look forward to working with you possibly again in the future."  I watched this child's smile get bigger and bigger.  "Now do what you do and make haste.
     I stood at the ready while the child made a chalk design on the barn wall and it glowed.  The child motioned toward the design and the women and children crept toward it and eventually through.  As far as anybody knows, art skipping has never been done by chalk.  Barali was correct.  Apparently this child is full of impossibilities.
     After that I called a clean up crew, which arrived fairly quickly to recover the body and destroy all evidence that anything ever happened.  Making a long walk, I contemplated much.  When arriving home; I quietly disrobed, showered, and got back into bed.
     "Honey, I was worried about you.  What was it?"  My Love said.
     "Just a domestic situation My Love."  She learned a long time ago when I can't tell her everything.  She still doesn't like it, but, she accepts it more.
     "I love and worry about you."
     "I know My Love.  Know that I love you very much and always will."
     At that, we both went to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms.

-----

POV:  Jace Wallings

Place:  Anglasia Joint Armed Forces HQ

Date:  March 27, 2013

     I rush to Interrogation 3.  By now I dunno whether these people are victims, criminals, or refugees.  It's insanely crazy.  A five year old running around saving people doing impossible feats that have never been done before.  However; here it is, right before my eyes.

     "So, what exactly do we have?"  I asked.  Everyone turned around.  "Well....  Don't everyone speak at once!"

     "Sir, subject is around twenty years of age, oriental, with three children all under the age of eight.  We've tried all forms of passive interrogation with no luck."

     In the room sat an oriental lady completely and totally terrified.  I could tell she's been through a lot.

     "I'm going in."

     "But sir..."  The head interrogator started.

     "Are you questioning my decision soldier?"

     "No sir."

     "Good call."

     At that, I walked out and into the questioning chamber.

     "Soldier, you can leave now."

     "But sir, I..."

     "Are failing miserably and terrifying the subject.  You may leave now."

     "But..."

     "Soldier, I will not tell you a third time."

     "Yes sir."

     At that point, the interrogation officer left.  Looking at her, I felt for her.  Truth be told, it was at this point where I started feeling for these refugees.  I sat down to her level."

     "What is your name?"  I asked very calmly and softly.

     "No response."

     "Well...  My name is Jace.  Jace Wallings.  I can see you've been through a lot.  Can you at least tell me what happened?"

     Still no response.  I tried to give her a comforting touch and she started screaming and scurrying into the corner.  In her panic she exposed the syndicate's brand on her neck."

     "Shit.  The Syndicate."

     "What sir?"  I heard squawk through my communicator.

     "The syndicate.  She's a victim of human trafficking, probably the sex trade.  Put her in her own quarters with her own kids.  Alert rape crisis and make sure they are available around the clock.  No one deals with her but females, and I mean no one."  Then I got up to walk out.

     "With all due respects sir, how do you know?"

     "Because I'm an ex prisoner."

     Then I went to my office.  It would not be a good thing for my men to see me break down and cry.

----

POV:  Marcos Wallings

Place:  Ennis, TX, USA, Earth

Date:  March 27, 2013

     We're all sitting around the dinner table.  Well; not me.  My stuffed animals weren't lined up right.  Just can't quite get the order.  Something is wrong and I just can pin it down.

     "Baby; you haven't touched your food.  what's wrong?"  Mom started in.

     "Nothing, I'm just not hungry!  can I just not be hungry?"  Dad answered almost immediately.

     At that point, Mom gave him the look.  I rolled my eyes.  I had more important things to do.  there was just something out of order about my stuffed animals and I had to figure it out!

     "Don't tell me nothing.  Nothing generally separates you and your food, and I mean absolutely nothing."

     Long pause.  Mom wasn't letting up.  She rarely does.

     "It's this lady that just came into Anglasia with her kids.  She's a human trafficking case."

     "My God.  How many years?"

     "Dunno.  She was about twenty three or so, which means they probably would've killed her soon, especially in the state she came in.  She was terrified.  We couldn't get a word out of her.  This kid's a fuckin' saint for real.  All these people that can't be returned; their lives are probably better in Anglasia."

     "What did you do for her?"

     "The only thing I could do.  Hell, she's probably been raped well over a thousand times.  Call rape crisis and assign her living quarters."

     At that point I got up and gave Daddy a hug.  He seemed like he needed it.  Then I went back to more important things.  I had to figure this out with my animals!

     "See, even Marcos wants you to eat."

     Daddy chuckled a bit.  Then he started eating.  Crisis over.  Now time to get on to bigger things.  There is just something wrong with the order of these animals!

Chapter 3

Place:  Anglasia Joint Armed Forces
Date:  March 23, 2013
POV:  Jace Wallings
     "I swear, I did not know the child!"  I heard as I entered the viewing room of interrogation Chamber 1.  The Latino in the questioning room was very adamant and very nervous.  Understanding as they probably identified themselves as the police and therefore there's no telling what he thought we would do to him.
     "Tell him that we mean him no harm and that we do not intend to detain him any more than is necessary to find out exactly what happened."  I communicated to the interrogator.  Then I turned around to the officer running the interrogation.  "How long has he been there?"
     "Three hours at least sir."
     "Brief me."
     "Apparently they were on a bus drug cartel.  This kid..."
     "Wait...  A bus?  A moving bus?"
     "Yes sir.  I know it's impossible; but we've interrogated them but together and separately.  They all say the same thing.  I don't understand it myself."
     "Same five year old?"
     "Yes sir."
     "Aye!  Who the fuck is this kid?!"
     "I have no clue sir.  It's about time to mention that there might be more.  These are simply the ones we spot running around clueless."
     At that point, Elder Gonzalez floated in.  Literally.  "So General Walling, what have we found out?"
     "Virtually nothing."  I responded.  "Nothing new anyways.  While I was in the field I was confronted by Barali.  He was rambling about us being on the verge of something great or something.  Personally I think he's finally cracked."
     "Don't be so sure.  He's lived quite a bit longer than you Mr. Wallings.  Been through quite a bit more."
     "Understood Elder"
     "Let me ask you this young General.  What were his exact words?"
     "I don't quite remember Elder, but I do know he was hella interested in making sure the bootleg skip paint dealer stayed safe for some reason."
     "The one in New York?"
     "Yes, does that have any significance sir?"
     "Possibly.  A past better left forgotten.  If you see him again; maybe you should remind Sangha of this wisdom."  Then he simply floated out.  All of us but one was left  confused...  he looked a bit terrified.
     "Soldier, what was that all about?"  I asked the terrified one.
     "Dark times.  Times we talk about no longer, and with all due respects sir neither should you.  Then the officer in charge of the interrogation walked out.
     "What the...?"  One of the soldiers present started.
     "I don't know.  However; I think it's about time we find out."  I responded.  "Assign a protector to Barali."  Then I turned around to walk out.
     "Where are you going sir?"
     "The Bronx.

----

Date:  March 23, 2013

Time:  1630 local

Place:  The Bronx, New York, New York, USA, Earth

POV:  Jace Wallings

     I didn't know what was going on exactly; but, I did know it was bigger than me and probably WAY over my head.  This was one of the major reasons I kept the contraband skip paint dealer off the radar to a degree.  For exactly these times.  This time I went alone.

     Jace, to what do I owe you the pleasure of getting two visits in one day?  A truly momentous occasion!"  Sanchez greeted me as he walked in.

     I finished walking to the counter.  "Hey, look, I got some questions you may or may not know.  But I really need the answers."  I responded softly.

     "Jace, I lost connection with the under..."

     "Cut the bullshit Sanchez!  Somethings going down and it's serious!  It involves Barali, the elder ship, and God knows who else!  This is serious shit!"

     "Whoa Jace, calm down.  I've never seen you this scared.  Come to think of it; I don't think I've ever seen you scared.  I didn't even think it was possible."
     "Who says I'm scared!  Who the...!"
     "Calm down Jace, calm down.  I know it takes a lot to rile you up.  Follow me."
     I followed him into this back room.  I have to admit, it was rather impressive.  He pulled out a book and flipped a switch.  Then we entered another room.
     "Pretty elaborate setup for someone who's legit."  I said tongue and cheek.
     "Do you want somebody who's legit, or do you want someone that's gonna keep you alive."  Sanchez responded with astonishing seriousness.  Yes, we were all full of firsts today.  "We're safe here.  Wiped for bugs on a daily basis and since you're the first outsider ever to be here; can't be visualized and therefore we won't have any unexpected guests shall we say."
     "You already know what I'm gonna say don't you?"
     "Yeah, I got an idea.  But, go ahead and spit it out."
     And so I did.  Everything from the kid's first rescue up to the strange behavior of Elder Gonzales.  He didn't say a work the entire time.  Just stared strait into me intently nodding every once in awhile.  It took me about thirty minutes to get it all out.
     "Where are my manners?  You are a guest with both great as well as frightening news!  Would you like something to drink?  Coffee?  My best vodka?"
     "Thanks Sanchez.  Coffee will be fine."
     At that point, he pushed a button and a carafe came out of the wall.  He got up, poured us both a cup, and sat back down.
     "Damn Sanchez, I didn't know places like this even existed."
     "Nor were you supposed to.  You officially still don't.  Not even to your superiors.  I'm taking one hell of a risk by taking you here; but, this is not a normal occasion.  Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
     "Yeah.  Why would you trust me so though?"
     "Jace, you're a hard ass.  Hell, I'll even go so far as to say you're a fuckin' jack ass.  However, you haver one of the purest hearts we have ever seen.  Plus; if our suspicions are true, you're gonna need an ally.  I am a child of the forsaken."
     "The Forsaken?  Come on Mark.  Really?  The Forsaken?  The story told to us by..."
     "Your parents to make sure you act right and eat your vegetables and such.  Yes, the very ones.  Although probably not as you understand it today.  The true story exposes much of the darker history of Anglasia.  The story that Anglasia would rather forget.  The story that most of Anglasia already has."
     "The slaughter of The Forsaken.  About three hundred years ago, there was a civil war in Anglasia.  The government was much more oppressive than it is now and to everyone's credit, sweeping changes were made afterwards to correct it.  Many people suffered.  Finally, a group of about a thousand or so rose up.  They were no match for fully trained soldiers of course and about 25 died, the rest captured and taken to trial.  Of course the rest of the nine hundred seventy five were deemed traitors, their art skip blocked, and exiled to a far away planet for fifty years."
     "Whoa Sanchez, that's a major even.  Why did I never hear about it?"
     "Because of what happened fifty years later.  the medical staff went back to take the blocks off.  Something went wrong though.  No one still knows whether they screwed up or what, but the blocks wouldn't come off.  They became permanent.  This turn of events panicked the Anglasian government.  A mini war waged on the planet Zarkoff 2.Gonzales, General over general defense forces at the time, took a team there to exterminate them.  Kincaid and Barali; Barali then being general over criminal justice and Kincaid being his number 2, assembled a force to defend the quote, "traitors"  913 died that day. If Barali's men had not shown up all of them would've."
     "So Sanchez, why haven't I heard about any of this?"
     "Top secret type stuff.  Oh, there were rumors, all categorically denied by the military of course.  Rumors turned to fantastical myths which turned into childhood stories.  However; there is a prophecy.  A child.  Heal the land.  Remove the chains.  A child will wipe old blood stains away."
     A long pause.  This was definitely NOT the meeting I expected at all.
     "So; you think this kid's the one?"  I asked breaking the pause.
     "Who else would it be?  This kid literally does the impossible.  And I'm not the only one who thinks so.  The elders of The Forsaken are keeping a close eye on him.  Lets just say that when we find out who he is, he will be the most protected child ever."  Another long pause.  "Stiff drink?"  He finally asked.
     "Please."
     I usually don't drink when on duty, but I figured this would definitely be the exception.