Prologue 14: James Heller's Plans

Caption (to assist readers):

- Everything is good. - = speech of the character

"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)

*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)

~ Flashback ~ = Separates the current Plot from past events, will be used to help readers recognize and differentiate such events.

Attention (Please Read):

This chapter may be edited and revised soon, until the end of this volume.

This chapter is told from James Heller's point of view.

According to my virtual mental map, it will take me close to 3 hours while considering external factors, that's a lot of travel time and this worries me.

~ 2 Months ago, Last Dawn in the Red Zone ~

- Your evacuation plan doesn't look good Dana, unlike the Red Zone you should consider the hypothesis that Blackwatch currently monitors Ragland and his hideout in the Yellow Zone. - I disagree with Dana's plan, I know how they think and act, not because of my experience as a soldier, but because of all the memories of the soldiers I absorbed.

- There's no way we can go ahead with your plan James, what guarantees that I'll have all this time to prepare myself, apart from the possibility that I'll have to act independently due to my own disagreements in the Resistance. - Dana insists, considering her plan more viable.

- I'm your guarantee Dana, don't depend on the Resistance and just share our plan with Ragland. I am trusting you with my daughter's life, it will be very difficult for us to stay in touch after my trip with Rooks. – This time it was my turn to insist, because I couldn't entrust my daughter's life just to anyone, even cold or inhuman, my plan really is the best.

My plan involves predicting Blackwatch's steps including the scenario of us using their own tracker to our advantage, going beyond the tracker, needing to recreate a heat source similar to that emitted by a child my daughter's age, if they used infrared before of the intrusion or worse, during the current monitoring.

- How long James? - Questions me Dana, finally appearing to give in.

- One month, regardless of whether I can get in touch or not, execute my plan with this deadline. - I replied Dana, looking into her eyes, as I was sure it would take longer and considering the worst case scenario where we won't see each other again soon.

- Are you really considering the worst case scenario James? Don't you think we can come up with a better plan with Ragland's help? - Questions Dana, again showing insecurity about my plan, but I realize that it is not that feeling that she feels, she is not afraid of failing, she is afraid of me failing as a father.

- Even if he refuses to take care of Maya, my father will help you to escape to Canada. I really can't guarantee my return, but I need to know if I can trust you with my daughter, Dana, that's the best plan I believe we have. – I replied Dana by placing my right hand on her left shoulder, I felt as if every word said hurt my heart even more, no matter how painful it is, I really must prioritize Maya's safety. Regardless of failing my promise to return.

Matt Heller, a former Vietnam War veteran, currently living alone and probably well or he would have already been informed of her death, the government is quick with this kind of news. My father and I lost contact after I became a marine, a war and the loss of his wife can change a man, unfortunately I feel like I only found out now, even though I knew he could never forgive me, he is my only relative alive and Maya's only trusted one.

Collette's family never liked me, they didn't approved of our move to New York and they would never forgive me over their daughter's death, nor could they provide the support I need right now. Yes, an ex-war veteran who never trusted his country's government again would be a better option when it comes to running away and not trusting anyone else to look back.

- I'm going to write a letter, he will recognize my handwriting and signature, Maya inherited more traits from her mother than from me, but he wanted to meet her. I was against it because I was afraid we'd fight again in front of my daughter, I'm going to put it on my personal list to settle accounts with that old man later. – I informed Dana, who decided not to answer and just shook my hand before leaving. I could feel that she understood me, family can be complicated, yet sometimes it's nice to have someone in the family that you can trust, no matter what happened in the past.

Dana returned with a paper sheet and a pen, I thanked her and we stayed there for a few minutes in complete silence, while I wrote on that paper a summary of my feelings as a father, as a son, and my last request, ending with a farewell similar to that of a soldier who as much as he loves his family, he still has a war to face before his return. Done, worthy enough make me miss my father again, I hope it's enough to replace our reunion and get your support.

- Here it is, can you get a envelope later? – I asked Dana, after folding the letter and extending my hand to deliver it.

- I can and I promise not to read. - Answers Dana, taking the letter with a slight smile, but showing sadness.

- Thanks Dana, if I come back I promise we will try to recreate some diamonds. - I said trying to lighten her mood with a light joke.

- Just don't forget to get some diamonds first, even if you fails again. Now I'm going to try to rest, try to do the same James. – Dana said goodbye towards the sofa, I felt that her mood improved, but maybe a few hours of sleep would do better than my stupid joke.

~ End of Flashback ~

I hope Dana is doing well, if all went as planned I wouldn't need to consider the risks of defying the government itself, we haven't been able to communicate during these past two months, but contrary to Rooks' report, I not wasted my free time.

I possess memories and experiences of millions of people, what Blackwatch interpreted as good behavior and fear when I accept imprisonment during free time outside of missions, I used to further organize my own mind. I trained skills they couldn't see, I evolved discreetly and without even suspection, they underestimated me as much or worse than Mercer.

I perfected my rest skill, now I can sleep again, generating viral mass without becoming completely helpless for 3 hours, a perfect skill for a future scenario where I won't need to consume humans for recover, just finding a hiding place will be enough for a full recovery alone.

I improved both mental skills related to my virtual map and clock inside my mind, expanding my map nationally and further synchronizing my clock, now I able to find out my current location more easily, in addition, I was able to increase my perspective of time by increase my concentration, I can see actions in tenths of seconds and speed up my reaction time.

Without forgetting my new ability that came about due to the long time in prison, I raised my state of meditation to a super human level, I now can enhance my thinking when meditating, creating scenarios, plans and simulations using my memories as a database. Blackwatch really managed to get me back to thinking like a sergeant and marine again, but unfortunately perfecting their greatest enemy as a result.

Time seems to pass slower the more I concentrate, this also has a downside, like for example now where I can't do anything and just wait to arrive at my destination, I considered training a new skill idea where I can dividing my consciousness into two parts, the only skill I unfortunately haven't been able to develop during the last few days. However it seems like a bad idea to take the risk of losing control of an aircraft at supersonic speed, I considered turning on the radio, but that wouldn't be something Rooks would do, I need to maintain my disguise until landing, so patience James.

Damn Rooks...

Damn Blackwatch...

I miss you daughter...

I miss you Collette, I hope you understand me...

I miss you dad, I really should have called you earlier...

Missing Dana and Ragland my two new friends hope they are safe...

I reflect on everything I could and shouldn't, there were many hours of travel.

Finally I can land! Damn Blackwatch who decided to keep their experiments so far apart, this travel looked eternal even using the fastest transport option available due to the damn circumstances.

I pilot slowing down to control the perfect landing, a great landing for my first flight and a good enough landing that no one would suspect my disguise, finishing my landing just meters before the end of the airstrip.

I decided to get off the aircraft, as a Colonel and the new person in charge of this base, I could easily send someone to remove it from the runway later, I continue walking towards Pariah, as I easily discover its location using my hunting skill. Rooks has never been to this base before, it would certainly be welcomed and guided whether I was going in the right direction or not, it's just a matter of time.

I can see two Blackwatch soldiers approaching running, my welcome awaits me, now we'll see how my entrance goes, whether as Colonel Rooks or as James Heller.