The Life of Jacob Track (Book Two of the 33X Series)

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

February 16, 2014

Tyrell Carter had led a troubled life.  His mother was addicted to cocaine and he had no father figure for guidance.  It led him to the streets in Los Angeles where he joined a gang by the age of thirteen.  Even though his gang life was filled with violence and hate crimes against whites, he found a brotherhood there.  Tyrell was proud of his African-American race but found that most whites weren't always so kind to him.  Certain parts of Los Angeles were still very full of racism and violence.  Tyrell wasn't always proud of what he had to do to survive, however, but he did it nonetheless.

            When a recruiter came to his high school, he jumped at a chance to join the army and get out of his gang life.  He was athletic, strong, and virtually made for the army.  He moved up in the ranks quickly.  He was in Desert Storm and came to love the brotherhood between the soldiers in battle.  It reminded him of his gang days.  When he was in trouble, he knew the soldiers had his back, and he had theirs.  He loved being a soldier: helping people in trouble, bullets and smoke surrounding him, and his adrenaline pumping. It made him feel truly alive. When he was fighting for his life, and other lives, there was no time to feel anything but grateful to have made it to another day.  The violence was always there, but the freedom and brotherhood are what stuck with him over the years.

            He moved up to Sergeant after a few years. In 2007, he was asked to join a special underground program under General Magnus Cain.  It was beyond top secret.  He had to accept the job before they would even give him details.  He was to help Magnus in any way possible.  Mostly they looked for special scientist in certain fields.  The Program was there to make the US army the strongest, most powerful army in the word.  It was, to Tyrell and Magnus, the most important program ever made. 

            Tyrell was the muscle when Magnus needed it.  He'd go on secret missions for information or help kidnap a certain scientist or doctor to help with the cause.  They had done some things that weren't always pointing due north on the morale scale, but it was for the cause, and the cause was the most important thing.  Tyrell had no problem with violence when it had a reason.  The Program had, at any given time, thirty scientists and/or doctors working on drugs or specialized equipment to help the soldiers. It was usually a very busy place.

            Larry Rumsfield had recently joined the Program's at its hidden location.  His lawyer, John Woods, and Magnus, had planned an explosion to extract Larry from a jail in Larned Kansas.  If everyone thought he was dead, no one would come looking for a body.  It should have been a flawless plan with barely any causalities, but John apparently messed it up.  There were either too many explosives, or he purposely chose to blow it with too many staff there. Eleven people died from the explosion, some of them were innocent civilians in nearby houses.  Even after that unfortunate circumstance, Larry was safe and free to work endlessly on his drugs.  Tyrell didn't know much about science or how drugs were made, but the ones that Larry either were making or made, excited him. 

            He had been on the battlefield enough to see great men and women, great soldiers die from a stray bullet or infected wound. Strong, kind, loyal, men and women that shouldn't have died, but unfortunately did anyhow.  Soldiers that would have stayed fighting, who loved defending their country, died in his arms. It didn't seem right.  If people wanted to fight for their country, they should be able to.  If given the opportunity, he knew most would choose to be brought back from the dead to finish what they started.  Until everyone was free, war would continue.  As long as humans continued to be humans, war would continue.  War wasn't made for everyone. It should be left to those that could handle the pressures of it.  Tyrell knew he'd want to be a candidate for testing when the LZ Virus was complete.  He'd be one of the first to sign up for a dose of it.  The idea of living on, possibly forever, fighting for his country made him happier than anything.  He felt he owed the army and the US back for all they had done for him.  They took a young, black, troubled teen and gave him a future and brotherhood.  That was more than he had ever dreamed of achieving.   

            As he sat in an unmarked van with Ben Hamilton, another Sergeant, he smiled.  He hoped the trials would be completed soon and ready for the soldiers.  They were on a mission from Magnus to capture the only two test subjects of 33X: Jacob Track and Zacchya Packers.  The mission was not going well so far.

            Zacchya had been with her family for the morning, then school, and then headed over to Zac Reynolds house.  It looked like they were arguing about something, but she showed no signs of leaving.  Tyrell was getting impatient.  Magnus had ordered them to return to headquarters as soon as possible.  And they still hadn't found Jacob, who was supposed to have been at the railroad bridge, but was nowhere to be found. 

            "What time is it?" Tyrell frowned impatiently.

            "1700. Should we go look for the Track boy? She doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon," Ben replied.

            "No.  If she hasn't left the premises by 1830, we remove her."

            "What? That was not in our orders!" Ben exclaimed.

            "We cannot wait all night for her. We've already wasted too much time on her today.  Jacob Track is still missing. We still must find him and return. General Cain wanted this done by tonight. There is really no time to delay."

            "I've worked around you long enough to be worried by your idea of removing someone.  Will you at least tell me the plan?"

            "At 1830 ... if it becomes necessary."

            "You can be a real asshole, Tyrell," Ben stated flatly.

            "I'm just looking at the bigger picture here, Ben.  The need for them at headquarters is more important than us sitting here all night waiting.  Sue me if that's the wrong idea."

            They sat uncomfortably in the quiet, no longer talking.  Tyrell looked in his binoculars, glad the winter sky was already dark, so they wouldn't be spotted.  Zacchya and Zac were sitting on his couch, talking and hugging.  Apparently, their fight was over and into the making up part.  He hoped that he wouldn't have to watch them make love. It was not something he felt comfortable with.  Hopefully they'd kiss and she'd leave. By 1830 Zacchya was still on Zac's couch, his arm around her shoulders.

            "We've given them enough time," Tyrell said flatly.

            "Maybe we should look for Jacob first?  I don't feel an extraction is necessary here," Ben said firmly.

            "We were given our orders, Hamilton."

            "Yes, but ..."

            "No buts', we need to move." Tyrell reached for his gun from his belt. 

            "Are you going to kill the cop?" Ben's eyes widened with worry.

            "I hope not. Let's move."  Tyrell opened the van door.  The sky was already dark enough to give them some cover, also it wasn't a very populated street.  Their chances of being seen were very slim. 

            Ben rushed from the van, nervous about what Tyrell's next move might be.  It didn't sit well with him knowing Tyrell might kill an innocent man just because he was in the way of the bigger picture.  Ben understood the cause and The Program, but killing a civilian was wrong.  He followed Tyrell to the house, hoping no one would die.

            Tyrell slipped quietly to the front door, opening it without a sound.  Zac and Zacchya were in the nearby living room, which was not visible from the front door. Tyrell motioned Ben to follow. They moved past the entry way around the corner, seeing their target in sight.  Tyrell lifted his gun, staying hidden around the corner.

            Ben tapped him on the shoulder, shaking his head no viciously.  Tyrell nodded, aimed the gun and fired.  Zac fell to the floor, sliding quietly off the couch.  Zacchya, unsure of what just happened, blinked curiously at Zac's body on the floor.