Chapter 13: Gainful
“ How’s he?” Marcus asked Gwen, who was still sitting on Gillean’s bed.
“ He’s better now. What do you want to do when he wakes up?” she replied.
“ We’ll check his vitals during the experiment in comparison to the state he’s in now and just discuss what he saw. Pretty straightforward.” Marcus responded.
“ Who’s there?” Gillean asked, his voice sleepy.
“ It’ me , Gwen, and Marcus.” Gwen said softly.
“ What happened?” Gillean asked , feeling disoriented.
“ Don’t you remember?” Gwen wondered, getting anxious and disappointed.
Marcus turned around and left the room. After some time, he came back with a small flask of blue liquid in his hand. “ Drink it.” he said and gave the flask to Gillean.
“ What is it?” Gillean murmured as he turned the flask in his hands to have a look.
“ It’s a medicine for you to take to regain some musings about the events that happened not a long time ago. You passed out because of overstrain , so the recollections need to be refreshed.”
“ Oh, I see.” Gillean responded and drank the flask’s content in one gulp. “ Hm, it’s sweetish . Never thought I’ll be drinking something like it.” Gillean reacted.
“ Life is always full of some surprises and new things for you to try.” Gwen rejoined wisely.
“ Since when are you so philosophical?” Gillean asked with a hue of sarcasm in his intonation.
“ Have always been.” Gwen said in response and shrugged her shoulders.
“ Get ready, pull yourself together and come to my office.” Marcus interrupted them and went out.
***
“ So, tell us all what you’d seen during the experiment with the memory chair.” Marcus announced and sipped his hot bitter Americano.
“ Actually, it’d all been really hectic.” Gillean said and insufflated.
“ We’re all ears.” Lucas said and winked.
“ So. There were the three memories of mine . The one about my distant past and the one before getting to the future are not so significant. But the last recollection made the blood freeze in my veins . There was a riot and the cops were running around and shooting innocent people . I saw how Lucas died…” Gillean explained and hid his face in his hands.
“ Hey friend! It’s gonna be okay.” Marcus said and looked right in Gillean’s eyes.
“ We’ll help you out come what may.” Gwen rejoined and hugged Gillean.
“ I hope so.” Gillean responded with a quiet voice.
“ I need to talk to you privately.” Marcus whispered to Gillean.
“ At the office?” Gillean asked.
“ Nope. Outside, near the stream.”
“ All right, I’ll be in fifteen minutes.”
***
The sun was shining brightly, blinding Gillean. The warmth spread all over his body. The life was gradually coming back to him, waking him up from the freezing lethargy. Having taken an extremely deep breath, he looked around. Gillean walked towards the stream, the sound of water rushing over rocks becoming clearer with each step. He found Marcus standing by the water’s edge, skipping stones across the surface.
“ You wanted to talk?” Gillean said, approaching him.
Marcus turned, his expression serious. “ Yeah, it’s about what you saw in the memory chair.”
Gillean nodded , the images still vivid in his mind. “ It felt so real ,Marcus. Seeing Lucas… seeing him die like that. It’s haunting.”
Marcus placed a hand on Gillean’s shoulder. “ That’s why we need to talk. There’s something you need to know about the memory chair. It doesn’t just access memories. It can show possible futures. “
Gillean’s eyes widened . “ What? Possible futures? You mean what I saw might actually happen?”
“ Exactly. That’s why it’s crucial we understand the context of these visions. The chair taps into your subconscious and the collective consciousness . It’s possible that riot and Lucas’s death are events that could unfold if we don’t intervene.
Gillean felt a chill run down his spine despite the warmth of the sun. “ How do we stop it? How can we prevent something like that from happening?”
Marcus sighed, skipping another stone. “ We need to gather more data. The memories you saw- your past, the future- they’re all connected. We have to understand the root causes and identify the key players. Only we can alter the course of events. “
Gillean took a deep breath ,trying to steady himself. “ I’ll do whatever it takes. Lucas is a part of our team. I can’t let him die.”
Marcus nodded. “ We’ll start by going through the memories again, this time with more focus. We need to extract every detail, no matter how insignificant it seems. Gwen and I will help you through it.”
Gillean looked towards the stream, the water reflecting the sky azure hue. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Back at Marcus’s office , Gwen was waiting, her face a mask of determination. She had set up the memory chair as Asteria had taught her . Its design was both intimidating and alluring.
“ Ready?” she asked as he entered.
“ As ready as I’ll ever be,” Gillean replied , settling into the chair.
Marcus adjusted the controls, ensuring everything was set for a deep dive. “ Remember, we’re looking for connections . Anything that stands out, no matter how small.”
Gillean nodded and closed his eyes as the chair hummed to life. The world around him dissolved, replaced by a cascade of images and sensations.
***
He was a child again, running through fields of tall grass. The sun was setting , painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. His mother’s voice called out to him, filled with warmth and love. This memory shifted, replaced by another- him as a young man, studying late into the night, driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Then, the scene changed abruptly. He was back in the chaotic streets, the riot unfolding around him. He saw the fear in people’s eyes, heard the screams and the gunshots. And there was Lucas, falling to the ground, blood pooling from the wounds. He ran to the hotel building, called the ambulance and Lucas was on the brink of death, as he saw previously.
Gillean focused, trying to notice the details he might have missed before. The insignias on the officers’ uniforms, the faces in the crowd, the graffiti on the walls- everything could be a clue.
As the vision faded, Gillean found himself back in the chair, breathless and sweating. Gwen handed him a glass of water, her eyes filled with concern.
“ Did you see anything new?” Marcus asked.
Gillean nodded, taking a sip of water. “ Yes. The officers had a specific insignia on their uniforms. And there was a symbol on the wall, like snake wrapped around a staff. “
Marcus’s eyes widened. “ That’s the symbol of the Ophidian Order. They’re a radical group with a history of inciting violence. “
Asteria, who was sitting in front of the computer all time the experiment had been going on, frowned. “ If they’re involved , this could be bigger than we thought. We need to dig deeper.”
Gillean leaned forward, perseverance burning in his eyes. “ Then let’s dig. We don’t have much time. “
Marcus smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. “ All right, team. Let’s get to work.
***
The room buzzed with a sense of urgency as Marcus, Gwen, Gillean, Asteria and Lucas gathered around a table covered with maps, documents and electronic devices. The symbol of the Ophidian Order loomed large in their minds , a sinister thread that needed to be unraveled.
“ First, we need to understand the order’s current activities,” Marcus said tapping on the tablet that displayed a list of recent news articles and intelligence reports. “ They’ve been relatively quiet lately, but this riot suggests they’re planning something big.”
Asteria nodded, pulling up a detailed map of the city. “ We need to identify potential hotspots where they could incite violence. The memory showed a riot in a specific district. If we can pinpoint that location, we might anticipate their next move.”
Gillean, still shaken but focused, pointed to a section of the map. “ I saw a distinctive building in the background. It looked like the old courthouse, opposite the Hampshire hotel, where I carried Lucas . The area has been a hotspot for protests. “
“ Good catch”, Marcus said and gestured for Lucas to pass him the bright red pen. He marked the location on the map . “ We’ll start here. Asteria, can you get us access to surveillance feeds and any recent reports from that area? Gwen, help her out if needed.”
“ On it,” Asteria replied , her fingers flying over the keyboard. “ I’ll cross-reference with known affiliates of the Order and see if we can spot any patterns. “
Gillean leaned back, his mind racing. “ There was also a chant. Something like “ freedom through chaos” . It felt like a rallying cry.
“ That’s one of their mottos”, Lucas confirmed. “ It’s used to recruit and incite followers. We need to prepare for the worst. If they’re planning to use the slogan , it means they’re ready to mobilize.
Hours passed as the five people worked tirelessly , piecing together fragments of information. The atmosphere was tense but hopeful, each discovery bringing them closer to understanding the impending threat.
Suddenly, Asteria’s screen flashed. “ Got something,” she said. “ A large shipment of unmarked crates was delivered to warehouse near the courthouse. The company listed on the paperwork is a known front for the Order.”
“ That’s our lead.” Gwen said decisively . “ We need to check it out , but we have to be cautious . If the Order is there , they’ll be heavily guarded.
“ Agreed.” Gillean said. “ But we can’t wait. Every second counts.”
***
The sun had set by the time they reached the warehouse. The building loomed in the darkness , its windows glowing with an eerie light. Marcus signaled for silence as they approached , their footsteps muffled by the soft earth.
“ Remember, we’re here to observe and gather information,” Marcus whispered. “ No unnecessary risks. “
They split up, each taking a different side of the building. Gillean crept along the wall , his heart pounding in his chest. As he peered through a crack in the door, he saw a group of men unloading crates , their faces shadowed but their movements deliberate.
He recognized the insignia on their jackets – the same one he’d seen in the vision. This was definitely the right place.
Suddenly , a hand clamped down on his shoulder. He spun around, ready to fight , but relaxed when he saw it was Asteria. She gestured for him to follow her to a secluded spot where Marcus was waiting.
“ What did you see?” Marcus asked.
“ Men unloading crates. They’re definitely Order members,” Gillean reported. “ What’s the plan.”
Marcus thought for a moment . “ Lucas and Gwen will continue staying on guard. And we need to get closer, see what’s in those crates. It could be weapons or something worse.
Asteria nodded. “ There’s a side entrance that looks unguarded. We can slip in , but we have to move fast.”
***
With hearts pounding, they made their way to the side entrance. Inside, the air was thick with tension. They moved silently , sticking to the shadows as they approached the crates. Gillean pried open one of the lids and his heart sank. The crate was filled with assault rifles and boxes of ammunition.
“ They’re gearing up for a war,” Marcus whispered. “ We need to get back to the lab and try to process the information, to mull over our further actions.”
Just as they turned to leave, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. They froze, exchanging panicked glances. The Order members were moving closer , their voices growing louder.
“ We’re out of time,” Asteria hissed. “ We need to get out , now. Where are Gwen and Lucas? Why didn’t they warn us?”
They slipped back the way they came, hearts pounding, each step echoing like a thunderclap in their ears. Just as they reached the exit, an alarm blared, and the warehouse erupted into chaos.
“ Run!” Marcus shouted , leading the way.
“ Gwen Lucas, back us up…” Asteria muttered into the phone.
Lucas and Gwen rushed to the front door and Gwen pulled the BB gun’s trigger to distract the Order members. Lucas threw a small smoke bomb and they ran to the rest of their team.
Marcus, Asteria and Gillean sprinted into the night, the sound of pursuit close behind. Gillean’s lungs burned, but he didn’t slow down. They had the information they needed, and now they had to survive long enough to use it. They burst into the open, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stifling warehouse . As they ran towards the nearest porto-cab, Gillean couldn’t help but glance back, the memory of seeing fake but sort of predicted Lucas’s death driving him forward with relentless determination.
“ We’re going to stop all the shit going on here,” he vowed under his breath. “ Whatever it takes.
They used the porto-cab and came back to their surroundings. Finally, they could catch their breath and relax. Gillean took out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, sat on the damp cold ground and inhaled the tobacco fumes. “ It was intense,” he murmured. “ How are you, guys?” he asked his team.
“ I’ve never had anything like this.” Gwen said in an exhausted way.
“ Me neither.” Lucas and Mark blurted in unison.
“ Guys, don’t be such moaning minnies. “ Asteria remarked with a shade of sarcasm in her voice.
“ What is our plan?” Gillean asked.
“ First of all, let’s go sleep. It’s already six am and I’m totally pooped. “ Marcus responded and yawned.
“ Agreed. Need to regain the energy.” Gillean confirmed.
Everyone went to their rooms and the ambience of exhaustion lingered in the air. Gillean collapsed on his bed and stared at the ceiling. “ How’s it even possible?” he thought and winced. All the memories he recollected sitting in the memory chair were whirling around in his head, not letting him fall asleep. “ Will all of this ever be over?” he pondered and rubbed his eyes, feeling more and more drowsy. The morning sun has risen a long time ago, but Gillean concealed the light with the blackout curtains. He got up and went to get his bag. After rummaging in it for a little while, Gillean found a pack of sedative pills. He took one and went back to bed. Having laid on the side, he eventually managed to close his eyes and sleep.
