Dogfights

Dogfights - Snake (Chapter 4)

Kane changed into his death garb, shedding his skin and transforming into the assassin. The dark ensemble was in pristine shape now save for a small stain of blood located near his wrist which was easily covered by the pair of leather gloves. Kane tucked the bandana into one of the many pockets that lined the outside and inside of the long sleeved vest. The bullet-proof material felt comforting as it rubbed against his skin and a feeling of immunity washing over. The drab clothes of the civilian were tucked away into the blank package hidden under the bed.

Before Kane was scared, scared to go out into the unknown and face the great machine that was the city. Fear still lingered in his heart, yes, but it was easier to deal with now, hidden by a professional demeanor that was all too necessary to survive in this cold world.

He was ready to proceed. Kane looked out the window of the motel room, his eyes scanning the streets below. A continuous stream of commuters flowed forward on the streets below. They went on, accepting their own paths in life, hoping that the city would not swallow them whole.

An hour had passed since the man in black had last spoken with Kane, assuring him that he would be in contact soon enough. Preparations had to be made for the day ahead. Kane took this time to don his gear and steel himself for the upcoming trials. But now the clock was ticking and Kane was becoming anxious. Their window of opportunity was closing in. Finally the familiar static drenched his ears, followed by the man in black's cold voice.

"I apologize for the wait, Kane. We only have one chance at doing this. We must be thorough."

Kane continued to gaze out at the street for a moment longer before turning away, not wanting to be seen by any curious eyes. The dust of time clung to his clothes, making his eyes water and skin crawl.

The man in black cleared his throat. "We are now relatively sure that Saul Kenneth will be at the mud pits. This is where we will strike. The pits are located deep within the sewers. The damned that live there are violent, more animal than man. It will be dangerous. You will need some guidance to avoid the worst of what the tunnels have to offer."

Kane drifted to the bed, taking out his dagger and staring at it as the man in black continued talking. The steel reflected the dull sunlight, sharpened to perfection. No blood caked the blade now. They had cleaned it.

"Unfortunately we have little information when it comes to the layout of the sewers. They change daily, areas of it becoming more dangerous in the blink of an eye. We are going to need the help of an artificial intelligence. There is one posted in front of a old census building a few blocs away from you. When you head out of the hotel go to your right and keep going. You will see the census building to your left, down the third intersection you come up on. The A.I. will be waiting for you. Go there, communicate with it, and find the safest route to Saul Kenneth."

"I don't trust A.I." Kane said quietly.

"I know. Neither do I. But this is our best bet, Kane. See what it has to say. If the machine truly has nothing to add then you will have to go into the sewers, blind."

The clock in Kane's vision changed. One twelve.

Kane sighed in irritation. "Fine. Do we have a map of the mud pits?"

"We do. It is located in your briefcase. Don't expect much."

Kane put the knife away. It was time to move.

"Is there anything else?" he asked. He could hear shuffling in the background.

"No. That is all we can give you at the moment. As the enemy becomes more aware of our plans we will need to employ more tools to your arsenal. But for now we must be as quiet as we can about this operation. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities."