50 minutes before the call....
The secluded building stood quiet, far from the bustle of the city. A forgotten place hidden in the shadows. It was an old basement at the south of Buffalo. Surrounded by and abandoned industrial warehouses, Its purpose was known only to a few, and among them, Blake stood at the center of the room, watching Chairman Bot converse with two unknown figures. The air was thick with anticipation, a feeling Blake couldn't shake.
Bot turned to him, his voice deep and measured. "Blake, your performance in Serbia was impressive. You've earned the trust of the right people. Keep it up."
Blake nodded, though a part of him felt uneasy. Something had changed within him since the meeting, something he couldn't name. The stakes had grown higher, and he could feel the pressure.
"Thank you, Chairman," Blake replied, his voice calm but betraying an underlying tension. "But what comes next?"
Bot smiled, his cold eyes glinting under the dim light. "A good news just got to us 29 minutes ago,The U.S. government reached us just 29 minutes ago. They've heard of the dummy, and now, they know we have the key. Your job, Blake, is to get it from Parker. You know what I mean." He beckoned to one of the two men.
The taller one came as he handled Chairman Bot a tab. Blake looked surprised to see him. Chairman Bot only chuckled.
Bot showed him the Intel which was truly some minutes ago. It was from the SIA, telling them to investigate more if what they had been hearing was true.
Blake's stomach churned. The "dummy" was their cover—the secret AI weapon that they were using as bait to draw the Americans in. But it was all a lie. The real power, the weapon, was hidden in plain sight. Parker's child. The one thing they needed to unlock everything.
Of course,he had known it was Parker's child. Even though Parker hadn't told him a thing.
Blake forced himself to nod, swallowing the growing sense of dread. He'd known this moment would come, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
Bot's voice lowered, growing colder. "A country in the South has offered thirty billion dollars for part of the AI. They want it to build anti-ballistic missile protections. The weapon is a single entity, but it can spawn numerous AI systems for other uses. This is big, Blake. Do not fail us."
"I understand," Blake said, his voice steady, though his mind raced. He had known the moment would come when he would have to betray Parker, but he had never imagined it would feel like this.
Bot dismissed him with a wave. "Good. Get to work,we'll handle the rest."
Blake hesitated as he took out a picture. Chairman Bot immediately understood.
"Of course, Blake, she would be safe. I promised you that. Your daughter would be safe as long you cooperate and do your job."
Blake looked unconvinced. But he still had to believe him some how. His daughter meant everything to him: even more than his life.
He thought he hid his daughter enough, but unfortunately no. So that's why when Chairman Bot approached him with his daughter's life at expensive, he couldn't say no.
Now he had betrayed his friend, son and partner. He felt heavy with guilt.
Blake left the room. He soon found his way to the research lab at the part three building; just adjacent to the conference hall. An unseen down leads to a basement downstairs. With sound repellent and intriguing locks, it was a space only Parker and he knew about; a safe place created by Blake himself. With the help of Parker.
But as soon as he reached the door, he took the picture he brought out earlier and took a long look at it again.
The child was beautiful, her wide eyes innocent, a smile that could melt any heart. Blake stared at it for a long moment before pulling himself together. He wasn't about to let this girl become a pawn in a deadly game.
He walked to the basement, his mind turning over the implications of what he was about to do. It was for her—his daughter, Rose. He needed to protect her at all costs. And the only way to do that was to eliminate Parker's connection to the weapon.
As he entered the basement, he took out his phone and dialed Parker's number. His fingers shook, but his resolve was strong.
"Parker," Blake said, his voice hoarse. "We need to talk. Come over to the basement now".
Parker's voice came through, concerned. "Blake? Where are you?"
"I'm in the basement. You need to come here now."
"On my way."
Blake hung up, and as he did, he began preparing. He had planned this moment for days. The signs, the symbols, everything had been thought out to perfection. Blake was about to end it all, but not without ensuring Parker knew the truth—everything he'd learned about the AI, about the child, about the future.
He stood in front of the mirror, his gaze lingering on the picture of Rose.
As he stood there, expecting Parker, the door to the basement creaked open. Blake froze, his heart hammering in his chest. A figure stepped inside, a man he didn't recognize.
He could remember the door was locked with his fingerprint.
"Who are you?" Blake asked, his voice shaky.
The man's face was calm, impassive, but there was something about him—something Blake didn't trust.
The man's voice was low, steady. "I know everything, Blake. I've known all along."
Blake's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The man stepped closer, his eyes dark and calculating. "I know about your daughter. I know about the AI. And I know that you've been playing both sides."
Blake recoiled. "How could you possibly—"
"I know because I've been watching. All of this—the AI, the secret weapon, the deal with Bot. It's all a game. But you, Blake, you've been losing." The man's eyes gleamed. "And I'm here to help you."
Blake took a step back, trying to process the words. "Help me?" He shook his head. "How could you possibly help me?"
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device. "You want to protect your daughter, don't you? This—this is the key."
Blake looked at the device, his breath quickening. "What is it?"
"A self-destruct mechanism," the man explained, his tone cold. "Swallow this, and it'll make it look like suicide. No one will question it."
Blake's hands trembled as he reached for the device. The man was right. The only way to protect his daughter was to die. To make it look like an accident.
Suddenly Blake turned to him, his voice haggered. "How would I believe that what you're saying is true? Of course I know you well, I saw you the—"
The man interrupted. "I think that would be unnecessary now. I am magnanimous enough to help you with your daughter. Me knowing this hideout and about your daughter should tell you that all your questions would not be needed. You're at my mercy, and am in charge here."
Tears streamed down Blake's face.
But then the man continued. "I've got other evidence for you, Blake. You think you've been living in the dark, but you've been in the light all along. I know you'll believe me once you see this."
He pulled out his phone and showed Blake a video. It was a recording of Parker's wife, packing her bags, preparing to leave for Finland.
Blake's heart skipped a beat. "She's leaving?" he whispered.
"Of course," the man replied. "Parker had an argument with her. Almost done to divorcing, but the company didn't allowed it. She's going to her parents in Helsinki. You didn't know?"
Blake looked for a second relief. Of course, he has known, but it made sense. He could not believed it would actually worked.
When he had told Parker to pretend of him having feud with his wife, Parker had doubted it would work. But his wife and Blake encouraged him to.
Now even this man could not suspect a thing. Blake looked relief. He looked relief because the play had been believed to be real. He looked relief because the play make it possible for the operation to be done at South Florida.
A Doctor named Gideon of Nigerian heritage had saw to the operation. Though Parker hadn't told him; told him that his child is now officially the host. But he knew all along .
But that wasn't all. The man continued to show Blake more evidence, piece by piece, confirming things Blake hadn't even thought to ask.
The AI. It was all connected. Blake had known, but now he was hearing it from someone else's mouth.
Blake's chest tightened as the reality set in. Parker had trusted him, and now it was too late. He was just a pawn in a much larger game.
The man's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You can end it now, Blake. You can take control. Just swallow the device, and everything will be over. Your daughter will be safe. You won't have to live with the guilt."
Blake stared at the device, his hands trembling. He couldn't do this. Not yet. He couldn't let his daughter live without him. But then the man offered something else—a final piece of the puzzle.
"I know everything, Blake," the man said, his voice steady. "I know your wife died a year ago. You're alone now. But your daughter, Rose… she's the last piece. I'll make sure she's safe, but you need to die for that to happen."
Blake's fists clenched. He had lost everything. And now, this man, this stranger, was offering him a way out. A way to make sure his daughter would be safe. But at what cost?
"Please, just show me more," Blake said, his voice breaking down.
"You have much already, but if you don't want to believe." He brought out a footage and handed it to Blake.
In the footage, it shows a plane just arriving at Helsinki Airport, Finland. With Grace was Rose, the only child of Blake.
With them were some people who Blake believed to be Grace's Parents.
Blake fell to his knees, the weight of the revelation crushing him. He pulled out the picture of Rose, looking at it one last time. Tears filled his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking.
Nathan didn't flinch. He wasn't moved. He had a job to do.
Blake swallowed the device, the cold metal bitter on his tongue. His heart pounded in his chest as the world began to fade.
Now Blake had to do what he needed to do. Without warning he pounced at the stranger unexpectedly. With adrenaline setting in, the ferocious punch got him down, growning in pain.
He looked to punch again but the man suddenly scrambled to stand up as he muttered, " I think you need to save your daughter. She would be killed if you kill me here."
Breathing hard, Blake shouted with all his might. "JUST GO TO HELL."
He had to make it real.
He launched forward again.....the surged back as he pulled out a revolver. The effect knocked down Blake. He had received a direct shot at his forehead.
Red coagulated blood surged out of the hole, gulping ferociously.
The man touched his chip tooth tentatively as he breathed heavily. He walked to where Blake lay, watching him without emotion.
He removed the picture Blake hold tightly and tucked it inside his pocket.
He smirked as he brought a paper and wrote some words on it.
The letters were translated on the paper to Blake hand written with the help of a special machine.
"Just go quietly Blake. But I would keep to my words: your daughter would be safe."
He left as the body of Blake laid still on the floor.
---
Back to the Present
Parker rushed into the basement, his eyes scanning the room. He found Blake's body slumped against the wall, lifeless. His heart sank. Blake had always been his ally. The one person who could understand the weight of their mission.
But now, he was gone. Parker's breath caught in his throat as he moved closer to the body. Then, something caught his eye—a note, clenched tightly in Blake's hand.
He took it, his hands trembling as he unfolded the paper. The words were clear.
"I betrayed you, Parker. I knew the truth all along. The child, the weapon, it was all there. I've told Bot, and action will soon begin. I'm ashamed, but I couldn't live with myself anymore. This is my only way out. I'm sorry."
Parker's heart dropped. The secret had been leaked. He had no time to waste. He turned to leave but was stopped by a hand pulling him back.
It was Blake
One hour before the call.
It showed Blake in a short room, just directly to the unseen door that leads to the basement. A proof called 'The Viking Cover', developed by Parker, was locked away in an electronic cube. He opened the cube with his iris and brought out the bulletproof. This one is a very advanced one.
It has the ability to immersed into the epidermis of the skin and neutralize any threat in form of bullets. Inside the inner layer is a deceptive layer meant to bring out a coloring that looks like blood. In the case of being hit, this would surge out, and when mixed with the air turns to every form of blood. And then kept you unconscious for like 10 to 20 minutes
Blake shifted uneasily as Parker ran to him. He hugged him tightly as he lifted up his voice and wept.
Parker helped him sat down. Blake looked tired as struggled to straightened himself up. Parker noticed his forehead and then suddenly realized.
"You used the Viking Cover", he whispered as he hurriedly deactivate the cover. The coat splattered on the floor.
"You're gonna be okay",he said agitatedly to him. "Okay? Now let's leave here first." He make to move but was pulled back by Blake. He looked surprised as Blake handed him the letter.
" Look Blake, don't try to explain anything. I don't want to see this letter or you saying anything about it." He snatched the letter to tear it as he suddenly heard Blake saying weakly, "It wasn't written by me. It was written by Nathan."
Parker could not believed his hears. " Nathan"?
Blake slowly shifted as he pulled out a very minute pen and pointed the emitting lasers on the paper. Parker looked in awe as the letters in the paper started slowly turning to the unmistakable handwriting Parker and Blake were very familiar with.
It couldn't be any other person's handwriting but Nathan's.
Parker started breathing hard. He wasn't able to processe all these surprises all together.
"So, you're saying Nathan did this to you? He knew the secret? He all along?"
"Look",Blake said, "Nathan knows nothing. He wrote the letter deceptively for him to draw you out. He thought I would be dead, and he knows you would be here. So he wrote that so you would act irrationally and leak the secret out. That's what he planned to do for you.
Parker looked lost in thought but then tried to get Blake up again.
"Look, let's us just leave here. It's dangerous here. We will talk about that when you get treatment first and we leave here."
But Blake was reluctant. His stomach had started inching him. And hard at that. The machine had started working. He had little time left.
Parker looked sorrowfully, he face asking questions from Blake.
Blake fought back tears as he hold Parker tightly. So tight Parker felt the grip.
"Parker", he said, his voice so sorrowful. "I want you to promise me this. Look don't be sentimental and just promise me. Will you?"
Parker looked lost but then nod his head on agreement.
"I promised I'll do whatever you asked me to. But—"
"Thanks", Blake cut-in. He looked relax and as he avoid eye contact with Parker.
"I aint worthy to be called your friend; or father—Parker grunt hard as he tears rolled down his cheeks — but I want you to know that I'll love you with my whole heart. God in heaven knows that." He chuckled as he mentioned the name of God.
"I hope God have mercy on me— and of course you also. Though I don't deserve the mercies of you two. But—", he turned to Parker now; his face resolute—" I want you to protect my daughter, Rose and your unborn child at all cost. Even if it would cost your life. That's the only request I wanted from you. But do it with caution and wisdom. You know what I meant. "
He groaned in pain as he anticipated answers from Parker.
Parker want to tell him to stop the ranting; he wanted to tell him that they're going to fight the battle together; he wanted to tell that he will always be his friend, partner and father.
But the look on Blake discouraged this.
He took Blake hands as he rest his head on his shoulders.
"I promised you that, okay", he shouted, tired of this already; bent on taking Blake out of the basement. "Will you stop now and let us get the hell out of this of a shit basement." He struggled to back Blake.
Just then, Blake skin started turning green. He started gasping for air.
" Blake no!!', Parker cried out loud.
He tried to take them both out of the room as Blake forced himself off Parker.
Parker looked back. "Blake.!!!
Blake started shaking violently as black smoke started coming out of all orifice in his body. His eyes has turned black and look gory.
Parker braced it again to carry him. But Blake,his voice so febrile now and weak, called out with all his might.
"Parker you promised me, remember. You promised me here; do you want to go back on your word now? If you don't want to, then get out of this place. Don't wait for the next one minute." Blake pleaded
" I—"
" Parker please leave now. LEAVE."
The black smoke was now thicked inside the room; very difficult to see now.
Parker rushed out shakily. He dare not look back; he would be tempted to go back, and only God knows what would happened.
He soon reached the adjacent street to their building as a loud explosion rocked 5h4 the building.
He fell down beside the street lamp as he muffled his screams with the edge of his shirt. Nearbye, he could hear the sirens of the cops coming nearbye. Someone had reported an explosion.
He was till frantic and agitated— unable to hear the sounds of cars passing by the busy street of Buffalo. It was as if he was the only man in the world right now. He felt a touch. He looked up as a young girl offered him a lollipop.
Her hairs was tied in a ponytail; which reminded him of his wife. He wondered how she would feeling at Finland right now. He was glad Rose is with her now.
He drawed her closer as he hugged her, catching the sweet fragments of her hairs.
He collected the sweet and turned her face to his.
"It would be alright; you don't need to cry", she said softly as she helped him stood up. Nearby, the church bells could be heard,ringing solemnly in the night.
It was two days to Christmas Eve.