The Ability Era

14: Collision Course

Gary Trebone – "Hourglass"

He was in his room where he spent most of his time the past few days. He was laying in bed trying to clear his mind. Sometimes he couldn't find the energy or the purpose to get up. He was disappointed in himself. No. He was just sad. His whole life he had been losing people. At the time of the Ability Advent, he lost his family. During the Squent invasion he had lost most of his squad. After that the rest left or disappeared. Squad Y was cursed. It must be.

On his beside table, his phone rang. He preferred the older models, so he used an old-world flip phone. Calling upon whatever energy he had, he reached out to grab it and looked at the display. It was the boss. He took the call wondering what he or she could possibly want.

"Mr. Trebone, in light of recent events, I have decided to once again introduce a new member to your team," the DO said through the phone.

"Understood," Gary said as he lay in bed.

"Details have been sent to your email," the DO said and the call ended.

It had been a week since the others had gone Renegade. Perhaps a new face would make things better. But based on his experiences, Gary felt that it wouldn't. Life had made him pessimistic. Everyone would leave him eventually. He felt that somehow, he would probably outlive whoever was left in the squad. For some reason he survived to this day and would continue to do so. He could feel it.

Luckily, he could read his email on this phone.

The details read as follows:

They were sending a kid? Gary thought. This was unheard of. She should still be in the academy. Why was she being sent into the force so quickly? He didn't understand why his squad was getting so many people in the past year. Was something shifting in the IBF?

He figured he was just overthinking. Sighing, he rolled over in his bed to face the wall and then closed his eyes. He was too tired to get up. That is until suddenly he felt he had to do something.

He felt that he needed to find Robin... And bring him to...

He could hear something moving.

The PA stuttered on and the deep voice of the DO spoke.

"Our organization has been compromised. We are now in lockdown. Do not attempt escape."

2G3T-119 – "Garett"

"Garett, I need information. That asshole Fragment is on my trail. Remember if I die, so do you," his boss said on the phone.

"Sir the prisoner has been... Uncooperative," Garett said.

"Do what you always do. Hit him with the bat, give him a few shocks, whatever it takes. And report back as soon as possible!"

"Yes sir," Garett said as the other line hung up on him.

Garett adjusted his red and black striped tie so that it was tighter on his neck. It matched well with his white dress shirt splattered with blood. It took a couple of teeth pulling and waterboarding for Soothsayer to give the last foretelling. It definitely came in handy as it appeared that the IBF had just gotten enough evidence to apprehend Foreman. Now that he was on the run, he needed more information about the future. His life was on the line. It was Garett's priority to keep Soothsayer alive at all costs. At least that was his programmed objective.

Garett walked opened the door to the basement and walked down the creaky wooden stairs. The basement was dark and he could hear Soothsayer moaning from the far wall to his left.