Faster Than Angels

[BardicSMG]

December, 2206

Agent Hideki sat in an Interpol meeting bored to near disgust. It didn't really matter what they were going on about this time, no one else did. They couldn't have, everyone in this room wasn't here because they wanted to extend the force of justice, they all had some story of strings pulled in the system to some extent.

He used to be sheriff where he was, the highest form of authority. No matter how much crap he got, he earned his spot. Why shouldn't he indulge a bit of the record. All the pet sheep that told him that this was such a pristine honor must have known this and thought hours of whatever this meeting room is was more fun to them then just prison.

Hideki looked to the seat on his left, where the Germans were segregated off to. A man in a suit, clearly a guest, was twitching his eyelids, fighting his drowsiness, though the man forgot what he was doing here to began with. Hideki slapped the mans shoulder, jump-starting him to alertness.

“Enjoy the show so far?� Hideki said without an ounce of seriousness.

“Uh, yeah, it's good.� the man whispered, making little effort to sound genuine.

“Yep, I think it's a waist, too.� Hideki was satisfied to finally find someone transparent enough to be trustworthy, “Whats your name?�

“I'm Mr. Assange. I hope you actually have something to say.�

“You don't know why I'm really here, no one does.� the room was big enough to keep the conversation between the two. “That's what I want to talk about.�

“And I assume you're going to tell me why you're here.�

“Benefits. A little here or there, a bit off the top. You know, Benefits.�

Assange awoke with a grin, having remembered why he was here. “Are these benefits going to be shared any time soon?�

“Well, first I need help getting to these benefits.�

“What do you need?�

“15 minutes after we're done, I'll be taking a little 'coffee' break. Just take the closest bridge north, head right on the D1, drive 6 more blocks. You'll now the place when you see it.�

June, 2207

The sirens grow louder as Katsuo struggled with the magnetic lock. Hal looked behind him and noticed an armored van in the distance. A buzz emanated from the Elise when the doors remained locked. Kat looked on struck with defeat when Hal noticed the source of the rejecting sound near the back. He felt the vibrations with his hand and meet the sound with a smash, ending the buzz and unlocking the door. The two rushed in and were greeted with a ringing in-car phone.

“SHUT UP� Kat yelled when she struck the “deny call� hologram. The car took no extra time pushing forward. The humble town had never witnessed so much fire power, even if it was slightly modest compered to what it could have been. Police cruisers were spreading as to scatter across the town. This became apparent as Kat was busy swerving on every street. Another armored van drove across the street in front, ignoring Kat's car as she turned towards it.

“This is the only road out, I need a distraction.� Kat said.

“What distraction?�

“JUST DO SOMETHING!� They were getting closer to the van now. At the end of the road, two more blocked each side. Only one more van would be needed to block the road completely, and the van in front of them wasn't slow enough for her to overtake.

Hal spotted a lighter on the dashboard in front of him. He looked at his bottle, still more then half full, and took one more drink for good luck. The lighter lit easily, and followed the bottle to the front of the van. Flame engulfed the windshield and the panicked driver spun into the nearest building.

Kat's hand instinctively flicked the “AG� icon, releasing the very reason for the road-block. The back half of an F7200 Icaras emerged from the back, the car lifted while the tires turned their rims to the ground. The sirens did not follow, they know they had failed. The craft disappeared behind the mountain.

Katsuo had entered the craft into a wide cave, the thrusts in the back providing the only light. They were met by a fork in the trail.

“Get out here, take the right path.� Kat instructed “You'll see a mansion on the other side, it's safe to spend the night there. I'll be back by morning to explain what to from their.�

“And if you're not there by then, what do I do?�

“My mother will be there to help. Don't bother waiting for me.� Her casual optimism gave way when she spoke. Hal could do nothing else but put his trust in her.

Katsuo turned left and started to flee aimlessly into the mountains. At last she could find some calm by speeding through the mountains. It stopped being about running after a while, and became therapy. Her mind was preoccupied with testing herself on each corner. She'd gone past the point where the speed was excitement ever sense she'd gotten out of town. It was a much needed relaxing tool, that had worked wonders up until the phone in her car started to ring.

Kat started to slow, knowing this time it was probably important. She took a deep breath, staring at the caller ID; Mom's cell. Explaining the stranger that had just been sent to her wasn't going to be as fun. When she finished her stop, she moved her hand toward the green phone key, interrupted by a bright light entering her windshield.
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When she put her hand at the source, she made out a helicopter observing her movements. True anxiety was starting to sink in, she couldn't hang up and leave her mother in the dark. She answered the call.

“I know, I know, I sent someone home. I can expla-�

“So you did...� The man on the other end was pleased to here what Kat slipped up. “We'll bring him in here soon. And yes, we know it's a he.�

Kat wished she didn't know the voice on the other end. “Hideki...� She started pleading into the speaker. “Hideki, where's Mom?�

“If you'd answered earlier before boldly running of, then I wouldn't have to explain such things. The price for your freedom would also be one new-accomplice cheaper, seeing as he seems to have found a way to compromise the short circuit on your little toy.� Kat's mother was shouting in the backround.

If only she hadn't been home to her mother sooner, saying goodbye might be just a bit easier. All Katsuo could let herself do was lean back and analyze her situation. Of course she wasn't worth two people, especially when one was her very own mother. It would have been so much easier to think that not being put in her dilemma. She knew what she had to do, she couldn't live with herself if she just ran, but words escaped her. 'I can't do it.' Those words echoed in her head, torturing her, making her feel so horrible and selfish.

“Having trouble's deciding?� Hideki handed the phone to the shaken old woman.

“Daughter,� her voice started to calm when she finally had the chance to speak. “Please, listen to me.�

“It's okay, I won't run. I won't let myself�

“No, you have to,� her mother said, gaining Katsuo's attention, “it's not just about us.� Her words were brought to a whisper.

“Mom, I don't understand.�

“You purpose is more important then the two of us.�

“It's okay, I'm just one person.� Kat tried to argue, not fully understanding why this was so. “I can stay silent, I promise I won't say anything.�

“You know it's not that simple. You can't give yourself up.�

Katsuo tried to accept the fate she was given. “Is there anything else I can do. There must be some way out of this.�

Her mother didn't answer. “Stay strong, my child.�

Katsuo tried everything she could to collect herself. She could only think of one thing to say. “I love you.�

“I love you, too.�

Out of the helicopter she dove, waving goodbye in the distance. Katsuo waved back at the bittersweet sight, finding a bit of comfort in the closer she was given. She started to speed up, now things were clear to her.

The panic in the helicopter kept it still, and Katsuo faded into the distance.

---

Probably could've made this better if I had gone into more detail about Katsuo's family. I'll keep that in mind for future parts.