Hearts before Lions

Chapter 8

Fort Carson had always been a favorite stopping place for observer 11. It was quiet, discreet, and full of restaurants that didn't ask too much or look too closely. He pulled into a diner early this morning in order to receive further instructions. After departing Victor base he had received some additional biometric texts through his STAR application informing him of a rendezvous with two additional site operators. 

The coffee was still warm in his hand and the plate of waffles and eggs had not yet arrived when two Air Force officers clothed in civilian attire strolled through the front door. Colonel Robinson was an older man and he showed the wear on his face of a life stuck in the military without purpose in other areas of his life. He moved with a sort of pace that seemed odd to 11. It never felt relaxed but always under a large amount of anxiety. 

Major Espinosa on the other hand was an attractive female in her late 30s or early 40s who probably had to fight her way to her position. Likely marginalized and overlooked due to her physique she probably worked twice as hard to get her assignments. The layperson may have thought her beauty to be an advantage, but in the intelligence world its only trustworthiness that matters. Asperger and paranoid single males tend to win the day in this world. An attractive female only has more potential partners to spill her secrets too. 

The two slid into the booth right ahead of the waitress bringing 11 an enormous plate of food. 

"I'm always catching you right at the wrong time," Col. Robinson stated with a half a smile on his face. "Ma'am I'll have a cup a coffee and my friend next to me will have an egg white omelet with a fresh cup of coffee. I hope you feel comfortable with that Christine?"

"No problem Mike you always lead the way," she retorted. 

"No problem folks, I'll be right out with the place settings and your food," the waitress said walking briskly back towards the kitchen. 

"So what more can you add to this file that I haven't already seen or dealt with in the past on the case," 11 stated not looking up from cutting his waffles along its cooked lines in a symmetrical fashion. 

"Well there may be a few things that we can discuss that could raise your eyebrows." 

"I'm listening." 

"Well first you should be aware that Christine intercepted some intelligence suggesting that Shriver AFB is getting interested in the case. Now we need them to provide real world intelligence, but we don't need leadership snooping around any further on this case. We can't have them fucking this thing up like they did in New Mexico." 

"Please, I'm eating here." 

"Sorry, I know that is still a sore subject for you." 

"Well the next time you lose a subject to an intelligence cluster fuck come give me a call." 

"The fact of the matter is that there is a lot of eyes now drawing down on this case and so we need you to be quick and decisive in your orders," stated Major Espinosa, "We can't afford to fail when you have the children taking extra risks being out in the open during temporal transmission long enough to allow the technology at Shriver to catch them. The only thing that makes sense is that the subject holds some special meaning to them, or they screwed up doing something previously, but we've just never seen that happen. Right now, half of the Russian intelligence agency is dissecting this material and cyberattacking us constantly."

"The Russians don't mean much to me, they lack the technology and balls to be effective. Now if the case was in Saint Petersburg, then you have my attention. What are you really trying to tell me?" 

"Well there's more," Mike stated as the waitress came strolling back towards the table.

"The food is almost done and I'll be bringing another coffee soon. Is there anything else that I can do for you?"

"Thank you ma'am, but were all okay." 

"Great, be right back with the food." 

"Alright, Shriver AB, intelligence communities, Russians... let's just cut through the bullshit and let me know what you want." 

"The subject is one of our own. I mean she just doesn't know it yet," Christine stated while placing two packets of Splenda in her coffee. "Her father has her set up to join the AF Academy. The superintendent has already been persuaded to roll out the red carpet which isn't the concern. What is the concern is the admission requirements. One of which is a full medical and mental health physical. This subject is having physical symptoms related to the interactions that are taking place. This has led to psychiatric evaluation and potential treatment. We cannot have certain details of this interaction winding up in an electronic medical record or worse the subject finding out the true meaning behind these physical symptoms and then going public. We need everyone involved to belief that these symptoms are transient and that the admission to the Academy is occurring in a traditional manner."

"I understand. Essentially we have more players on this chess board." 

"Exactly, your job is to neutralize any threats that can compromise her coming in and eventually working for us. My goal is to fast track her career into intelligence and have a true insider interacting with the children for the first time." 

"Good luck having that conversation with her. I'd love to be there when you break that news."

"This is why we keep psychologists on staff, we'll be fine." 

"Mike, you agree with all of this?" 

"I agree with Christine's assessment that this case has an air of unpredictability. That the children and the world intel communities are acting differently. Any difference is bad until proven otherwise. This is sensitive enough to meet outside of normal STAR protocols. There are lot of brass and executives that are going to lose their commands if this thing goes south." 

"I understand. I don't plan to fail on this mission. I'm locked in. Let's finish eating and we'll get back to work." 

"Where is that waitress?"

Mike turned his head just in time to see the waitress approaching with the egg white omelet.

"Here you go ma'am, thank you so much for your patience."

"It looks good," Christine stated as she grabbed her fork. "I've been hungry ever since my morning workout."

"I'll be honest it's nice to have some company this morning, I've been below way too long, and you know how you can start to feel a little emotional claustrophobia." 

"This is what secrecy produces. A lonely, miserable, life. You may know who shot JFK, but you have nobody to share it with and nobody that would believe you anyway. It's just a thankless job saving the world, but you can go to the grave knowing that you did things people only dream about." 

"I am dreaming about taking some time off for sure. The pressure from these agencies is starting to work on my nerves." 

"We all have our orders Eleven," as Colonel Robinson opened his phone. "I hope you enjoyed your eggs Christine; we're already ordered back to base. Good luck, Eleven." 

"Thanks, I won't need it. I'm sure we will be in touch." 

Eleven got up from the table and made sure to tip the waitress 20%. He always paid in cash. He liked this restaurant. No cameras and nobody with a discerning face. He can easily disappear back into the public. Colorado Springs felt incredible this time of year. It was always good to reflect on one's work. Live in the moment. Smell the roses.  

Now it was time to go to work.