Paragon

Chapter 14:

The flight to Miami took several hours, and by the time we landed it was nightfall. A car waited for us at the airport, the driver a smiling woman in a red suit. She was Asian, with dark hair and eyes. I recognized her from a book about the war, but didn't say anything.

"Mr. Ezekiel can't be seen right away." She said. "We have a hotel for you to stay at overnight."

"Alright." Gamma replied. "Is Mr. Cane here?"

"Not currently. He's in Cairo, overseeing the search for the missing Paragon team." She lowered her voice. "You don't have to worry. Cane will never know she was here." She beamed at me. "Ms. Wilder. It's so great to see you. Last time we met you were only a baby. I'm Dolly."

"You're a clone." I said. "Aren't you one of the American League's two clones?"

"Yes. I was one of the last Dolly clones to be created before the ban. Nowadays I'm Mr. Wilder's personal secretary."

We got in the car and started the drive through the city of Miami.

"You met me as a child?" I asked.

"Yes." Dolly replied. "I knew your brothers and mother too. It was a shame when we heard that you'd been sent to Theta Sigma. My boss was heartbroken."

"Then why'd he give me up?"

She appeared uncomfortable. "Mr. Wilder will explain."

We spent the night in a nice hotel. Each of us had our own suite. It seemed that my mysterious father had spared no expense. The next morning, after breakfast, we drove out of the city and up the coast. Outside of the city we left the highway and drove down a palm tree lined drive. At the end was a white, modern mansion made of interlocking cubes. It had been built on the edge of a cliff leading down to the ocean. Several Master Kontrol employees in nice suits wandered the area, along with scientists in labcoats.

"Besides being Mr. Wilder's home, this is also the lab where we design many of our special products." Dolly explained.

She parked the car and we got out. We entered the main part of the mansion.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Dolly asked Gamma.

"No, thank you." He replied, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Alright. Just let someone know if you need anything. I'll take Katana up to Mr. Wilder."

I shot Gamma a concerned look. He nodded reassuringly and I followed Dolly through the resplendent mansion. We went upstairs, pausing beside a thick, white door.

"Mr. Wilder is very sick." She said. "We're going to go through some disinfectant."

She opened the door. The moment we stepped inside we were enveloped by warm steam. After a moment it stopped and we continued into another part of the mansion. Everyone here wore surgical masks with their lab coats. Dolly and I were given coats and masks before we stopped in front of two glass doors. Dolly knocked.

"Come in." A weak voice called.

We entered the dark room. Dolly opened the curtains as I stood in silence, unsure of what to do.

I hadn't sure of what to expect of my father, but the man who lay on the bed was nothing like I'd imagined.

He was Enhanced, that was obvious. His skin was pale and mottled with red bruises. Instead of a left hand he had a huge blade made of metal. Yet what scared me the most were his eyes. They were a bright, glowing red.