COBALT

Episode 3 - Death

Anonymous
THE COBALT ORDER - HEADQUARTERS

I had saved them once, but I hadn't been able to save them again. Paha made it his business to see to their executions. He made sure they were all killed, and he even moved forward with explaining yesterday's happenings to the board of Order executives.

"I know I said one thing," Paha grumbled, "But sometimes, even your own organization isn't safe. Sometimes, there's even someone within that's agains you, and it's times like those when we really must consider our moves carefully. I have already been assured that I have the full support of the board behind me, so I hate to say that the Cobalt Order's rise will be postponed until we know just who saved those kids the first time - and risked the destruction of everything we've already worked so hard to build up. Starting in just one hour, we will be running extensive background checks on everyone in the facility, starting with the people in this room."

The Board members gasped.

Paha pulled out a list, saying my name. "Follow me," he said simply. "You're first."

I stood and followed Paha to an empty interrogation room. I took a seat while Paha began to pace around the room.

"Listen, we know it was you," Paha began.

"I didn't do it," I said simply. "You know I'd never risk something like this."

"Maybe," Paha argued. "But did you ever really care about The Order? Or did you just want to start funding us to save yourself?"

"I'll be honest," I started, "And say that at first, yes. I funded you so that I could protect myself and the ones I cared about. But over time, I've seen why The Cobalt Order makes sense. Why we need it."

"And why," Paha hissed, "Do we need The Cobalt Order? Why do you support it?"

"Because," I said, gathering my thoughts. I was just about to parrot everything I'd heard board members discussing before today's meeting, and I hoped Paha wouldn't catch on. "We need a stronger government - one that isn't subject to corruption and has more power as a national state, rather than a facilitation of the nation."

Paha nodded. "I see," he said. "And what makes you think that The Cobalt Order will give us that government?"

I stood up, preparing to leave. "The Cobalt Order will give us that government, because it's already corrupt."

As I went to leave, Paha shouted at me down the hall. "I'll be keeping an eye on your activities! You may have gotten off this one, but you've never been safe! Never!"

I decided I'd take my chances. I was lucky that Paha would start monitoring my activities only after I had done what was required of me.

EARLIER

"And you're sure," I said hastily, "That this will give me an all-access pass to the mainframe?"

"If it's anything like the software released in the past year, yes," The boy assured me. "But it's very possible that The Order is using something much, much more advanced, depending on their R&D department."

I laughed. "We don't have an R&D department."

"Then consider yourself a system administrator. Plug that drive in and dump all the data you can. It'll terminate the system for 48 hours after you're done, which should allow you ample time to blow the whistle."

"You're positive that will undercut all of this, right?"

"It worked last time. I'm sure it will work again."

"Thanks. I'm sorry it had to end this way."

The boy smiled glumly. "I already died once. I can do it again."