Future Fires

We're not the Illuminati

We walked around the winding corridors until we got to Xander's office. Once we got to the office Fern sat down and I took the other seat.
"You have been here long enough to understand some semblance of the goings-on and this makes you ready to find out who we all are and what we would like you to become."
"Can I just check that you are not the Illuminati?"
"No. But we do keep tags on all members and call on them if we need something."
"No way, the Illuminati. Really." I let out a chuckle at the complete insanity of this. "And when you say call on them?"
"We blackmail them with the identity of their members."
I had once watched a 45 minute documentary on how Cardi B is a part of the Illuminati (45 minutes that I'll never get back.)
"So if you blackmail the Illuminati then you can't be with the American government. Considering they can't get themselves sorted out enough. And well you aren't the British government. So who are you?"
"Well, I'll start simple. Max, we are not with a government group. We are not an anti-government group either." We sit somewhere in the middle."
"So in comic book terms, you're like an anti-hero group."
"Not exactly. Some people think what we do is heroic and the right thing to do but to use your analogy most people would consider us the villains."
"What could you possibly do to be the villains."
"Well. You know when you see that people of power have died. And it is usually put down to natural causes."
"Really. You want me to join some vigilante murder group."
"Well, we don't just kill people to get rid of them. We protect people who are venerable and take down people who pose a threat to human rights."
"I'm in."
"What?"
"I'm in."
"You have only heard the good stuff do you want to hear the bad stuff before you sign yourself up."
"No I will learn of it as I start working, I'm sure."
"I have to tell you what role you will play in. If you would like a moment to consider joining first then now is the time."
"What do you do to the people who don't become a part of this group?"
"They usually end up in a fatal car crash. It's tragic really."
"Would you do that to me if I declined?"
"No."
"What would you do?"
"Keep you locked in the room you have been staying in and force you to participate if necessary."
"Well, if my mind wasn't made up before it is now."
"Okay well, that was easier than anticipated. I suppose I should give a briefing on the role you will play in the group."
"Does the group have a name?"
"People would like to give us names. But no we have no name to go by."
"Why not?"
"How would you recognise a secret group? The name. That's the only reason that people know about the Illuminati. A few whispers of the name here and there overheard by people who can keep secrets and you have a whole secret organisation revealed all because people made the connection via, the name."
I admit here that the logic was sound but would later come to find out that not having a name can be tricky if in a sticky situation and you don't know who to trust.
"Okay, So no name interesting. Can you at least tell me what I am going to be doing with what I would presume would be the next few years at least?"
"Well, you have shown an aptitude for hand to hand combat and also for with tech skills. However, we must play off the clear front runner of your skillset, precognition of future events."
"So you want me to see other people's futures to save them from mistakes?"
"Yes, we hope you will be able to help us with such conundrums."
"But I don't even know how my power works."
"We think we have figured it out, but we need you to help us test it further before we continue with setting you tasks."
"I'm all down to help but could we do it after I've had some rest. Today has been quite intense and I think I need a moment to consume the masses of information I have just be loaded with."
"That's fine we will take you back to your room and you can have a break and we will continue tomorrow."

We walked back to my room through winding corridors that I still hadn't got the hang of mainly because I had been lead everywhere by someone else, so I had never really bothered to learn the route. As we walked through the final corridor barrier before my room I was shocked to see that the metal door with two hatches had been replaced with a wooden door which still had a thick bolt on the outside, that I was informed would be kept unlocked unless under circumstances of my creation arose whereby which the door had to be locked. There was also a keyhole which I was given one of 5 keys to. I assumed the others would go to Dr Miller, Xander and Fern. I had no idea where the fifth one was going and I wouldn't find out for a while. I went into my room and found everything the same, par a keycard that gave me access to the cafeteria and gradually gave me more and more accessible as I became intertwined with the roots of the group to whom I now belonged. There was also a mobile phone which had an internet connection so I could keep update with the news. There was also a laptop set up with special systems that gave me access to every file ever. These items seem almost alien after months without them.

After spending nearly 3 hours catching up on as much news as possible I decided to go to bed as it was nearly 12 and I didn't need to see the future to know that tomorrow was going to be a long day.