"That concludes our meeting ladies and gentlemen. If we need you for anything or have any news for you, we will contact you on the usual secured lines. You are dismissed." The auditorium rose up and began their fellowship discussing amongst themselves about the meeting event. The general and I stepped away from the podium. As we walked together towards the back of the stage towards the exit that would lead to his office, he started to whisper in my ear. "So did you see any irregularities with any of the members?"
"I saw a few but I will have to review the film of the meeting to make sure which country diplomats looked uncomfortable." He nodded and then continued with his questions.
"How come you didn't tell them more about the investigation like we agreed upon?"
"I fully intended to tell them the full details but there was such a blatant reaction from more than a few countries when I mentioned 'The Company' that I felt it would be more beneficial to not let them in on the information that they have been pretty much wiped off the map by our real targets."
"I see, let them expose themselves and capitalize on their shame when they get caught."
"Exactly." We finally arrived at his office, he beckoned one of his assistants to give me video and gave me a strong handshake.
"I have to say, a couple of weeks ago I had my doubts about whether such a young man fresh out of school could bring proper order to the world but you have certainly proved me wrong. I am honored to be working with you Nicholas." This filled me up with pride and confidence.
I've been working on this investigation since my sophomore year college. Watching and studying the battles of the war across the map. Looking at all the details of territorial swapping and the rise or fall of leaders across the globe. The incidents happening in the order of the U.S cabinet assassinations Britain's monarch suspicious deaths, the terrorist threat in Tokyo. The simultaneous leak of all Russian and Chinese intelligence. No matter how much sense I tried to make of it and connect it to rival countries. None of it correlated to what they were doing at the time. At the time all indications were that of a stalemate. Other countries were just trying to keep the peace until the oppositions weakness was shown. Only then did any country make a move. Around my senior year last year, as I started to take interviews from various law enforcement agencies, some domestic and some foreign, it dawned on me that maybe this wasn't the first time in history this type of incidents occurred. So, I started to dig. I started to find incidents in the 40s, 60s, 80s and 90s that matched the abrupt tragedies and earth-shaking events. Maybe I was grasping at straws but this was worth investigating further. It was my belief that something shadowy behind the scenes was taking place. I just needed the access and resources to prove it. I went to every renowned government agency in the world, well the few that were still left. None of them however, took my theory seriously at all until I talked the Secretary General of the United Nations. The interview went astonishingly well and my theories were not met with skepticism but encouragement. I paused as the Secretary General started to walk away. The more I thought about for someone of my experience and youth to even obtain an interview for such an esteemed international organization made me suspicious. Common sense tells me that my resume wouldn't have even passed screening to be considered. So how in the world did I get an audience with him. Something wasn't right and out of the excitement of having this job and opportunity to make a difference I ignored this. This is the type of things if I'm going to succeed in this job I need to root out and understand why they happened. Irregularities.
"Sir, before you go there's something that has been bothering me." He stopped in his tracks, turn to face me, and looked at me silently. His face was unreadable. Gone, was the proud father look that I just witnessed him have. "Why did you hire me? There was no reason to hire someone with such little experience, and such unreasonable conspiracy theories." He gave me a surprised look.
"You mean, you didn't figure it out already? Maybe I overestimated you a bit." That hurt my ego, but I didn't let it stop me. I'm here for the greater good and uncover truth. To do that I need to stay honest with my situation and use my resources to the fullest.
"To be honest sir, I was so absorbed in doing the job, restoring order, that I ignored the clear signs. I just want to bring justice to the world. How I achieve that and the way I got there was of little consequence." His once doubtful face disappeared, and a warm smile replaced it.
"I may have overestimated you, but I still made an excellent choice. I have no problem telling you why I accepted an interview with you. We're both neck deep in this now anyway. Your theory was not something unheard of in the international law enforcement circles." This surprised me, if this was something known was hasn't it been addressed. "To arrive at the theory however without seeing how international law operated firsthand is a rarity. We observed several of your interviews after we caught wind of a young upstart mouthing off incredulous claims. Your passion on the subject interested me. Your past, compelled me to meet you." My past, what about my past would interest anybody? Young black man, raised in a two-parent household, from the suburbs, fresh out of college. Nothing really noteworthy. "You're a one of the few people that has seen and spoke with Lucius: the greatest terrorist in American history." Huh? How is that possible? How does he know that? My parents didn't even know that. Wait. Why am I the only one? He was an adult who worked and took care of children like anybody regular. "Lucius; sir name unknown, was a ghost before his body was found in the capital and blamed for the death of hundreds. Irrefutable video evidence of him alive snooping around the capital in dangerous and related areas was obtained. The way the evidence was obtained was sketchy at best. He was a ghost before he was known and a ghost after he was dead. His house was ransacked and gutted by the time any information was obtained. Identity scrubbed before anyone had the chance to look deeper. A ghost with only a name. The sincerity of your surprise, words, and actions so far has already exonerated you in my eyes but it helped in me giving you a chance. A chance that I grabbed to obtain the truth. I'm no different than you, we want the same things. Don't let me down." Stunned, confused, didn't describe half of the emotions I was feeling at the moment but I would have to unpack all this later and show my gratitude regardless.
"Thank you, sir that means the world to me." I turned and walked away to get back to work. I waited so long and worked so hard to get a chance like this. I was now more determined than ever to bring justice to the world Ty and I resented so much. My thoughts started to drift to the conversation we had a couple of weeks ago. It's not often he gushes about his feelings as much as he did. Although there was something about the conversation that I couldn't help but feel like I glossed over. Something important. I already made up my mind to confess to Ni the next time I see her. What other thing did I miss?
"Excuse me Mr. Nicholas here is the video of today's assembly with five different angles of all of the member nations." The assistant to the secretary general finally returned with the tapes.
"Thank you, I appreciate your diligence and dedication"
"Anytime sir. By the way sir, did you hear the report that they found 25 dead bodies in an abandoned building close to where the terrorist incident occurred in Tokyo? Apparently the building was some sort of base of operations but all electronics were wiped clean of any information."
"Is that so? Thank you that's something I haven't heard yet." The assistant nodded and exited the room. My mind started to race. I was 100% sure that we had a complete grasp of that incident. That the dead bodies that were left in the street at that time was the extent of it. I mean all the data and info we got from the bodies and phones that were left on the bodies gave us proof of this "Company". It was a farfetched theory that this organization was forcibly brought down, it was far more likely that they collapsed from within because of the irregularities of this war. With this information however this suggest that there was a miniature gang war happening in the city of Tokyo. Were these bodies connected to the previous bodies? Or were these bodies from the opposing side? There were so many questions that needed to be answered. At any rate I have to be on the first flight to Japan to understand what's really going on. I started to gather my things and rush out of there.
"Can someone please inform the secretary general that my team and I following up on a lead in Tokyo and that I will be in contact." I hurried out of the building but then I paused. Didn't Ty say that Ni was injured in Tokyo? Was Ni injured because of the Terror attack? I was so focused on Ty's feelings and my feelings for Ni that I totally didn't register that she got hurt in Tokyo around the same time as the incident. What's going on? Why are those two always near when it hits the fan?