Prologue 5: Rooks's Plans

Caption (to assist readers):

- Everything is good. - = speech of the character

"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)

*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)

This chapter is told from James Heller's point of view.

Blackwatch's base in Midtown, one I've raided before, though there are more signs of repairs rather than destruction now, one of the largest Blackwatch's bases on the island. This time I was met with no alerts or gunfire, it looks like things are going to start off calmer this time.

I jumped out of the helicopter before landing, a very subtle jump and not creating any cracks in the ground, unlike my last visit, coming like a monster breaking everything around me.

The aircraft lands a few seconds after my jump, I notice that Rooks is the first to leave the aircraft, coming towards me, his feelings seem difficult to analyze, but I don't feel fear or hostility coming from him.

- Come with me Heller, let's talk inside. - Communicates Rooks coldly stopping in front of me as he looks me in the eyes, and then walks in the direction of the access to the terrace, I decide to follow him even without answering anything.

It's the first time I've entered a Blackwatch base without having to wear a disguise, as I look around at the other guards and staff at the base, I realize that Rooks is the highest position present here, I can feel everyone's fear and respect while they look at him walking inside the base. In my case it likes the contrary, all the guards and staff share a mixture of fear and anger, like looking one monster and menace too closely, I feel like I still can't be sure about the possibility of it being a trap, but it remains clear that without Rooks my reception would be different.

We walked for meters inside the base, going through stairs and several side doors, until we reached our destination, a room with a plaque written High Command, confirming my suspicion about Rooks being the current leader of this base.

Rooks opens the door by placing his left hand on the panel in the upper left corner of the door, it is possible to read his name and the allowed access command on the panel screen.

- Close the door after entering Heller, our conversation will be private. - Rooks says, as he enters in the room and I continue to follow him into the inside, I close it with my right hand without changing direction while I continue to watch Rooks walk to a large wooden table, which he leans against then he turned to me, looking me in the eyes again.

I walk until approaching Rooks until our distance is reduced to approximately six feet from each other, assuming a resting posture as my way of demonstrating willingness to listen to him, maintaining my silence while I wait for what he wants to start saying.

- In our last meeting I told you to take your daughter and disappear from this damn city, I acted thinking like other father while ignoring my superior's orders, but the main reason I killed two of my soldiers was for hating to follow orders when we have zero chances of success, like trying to intervene in a fight between two monsters that alone could destroy this entire island. I won't forget about all of us you killed, including Riley, but I don't regret the decision I made, because I helped you, and last night you finally put an end to Mercer. - Rooks said while crossing his arms keeping his expression serious and cold looking at me, I could feel the feeling of anger during his speech, but I could feel by instinct that he was telling the truth.

- I do not believe that killing Mercer made your superiors change their minds so easily, they still see me as a threat and I can feel the hostility of everyone else present on this base, except you Rooks. Do you plan not to follow your orders again, or do you have a proposition for me? - I questioned Rooks without caring our current relationship, even if Rooks no longer saw me as an enemy, he would not have enough power or influence with his rank to be able to make Blackwatch's superior command share his opinion.

- I don't mind following orders under unfavorable conditions Heller, but I can't ignore your accomplishments and neither agree with my superiors that bombing an entire city can be better than trying to negotiate with you. Not only did you kill Mercer, you put an end to all the monsters he created, without taking the entire city along with their destruction, we have several records that prove that you were the one who ended the Second Outbreak, however you did it, you managed to end the chaos of this city in just one night, something that being as a monster or a super soldier, it was more efficient than our entire operation in the last 14 months, this feat gave me at least a chance to try a new approach with permission from my fucking superiors. - Rooks explained, sharing his current situation, his intentions and anger towards his superiors, something I could feel as he spoke. Rooks seemed great at following any kind of command, as long as he was satisfied with the goal or result afterward, regardless of whether it was moral or lawless.

- This doesn't mean your superiors will want to recruit me or we'll be best friends, right? What is your proposal, Rooks? I hope it's at least better than the proposal Mercer made before he died. - I questioned Rooks again, this time in a more ironic tone, because the conversation was starting getting long and seemed just a waste of time until now.

- Their first proposal was really stupid, they ordered me to convince you to hand yourself over with your daughter, just to become research objects, even I had to hold back listening to that shit, besides that I would not agree to follow a plan that any another motherfucker in this town would consider it suicidal. The second was the closest to what I really thought and with a better chance of success at the beginning, until we reached the part that after convincing you to help us, we would make another trap to try to capture you, another fucking stupid plan, that makes me sure that these motherfuckers superiors act as if we were dumb and disposable pawns, leaving only the third and final option. - Rooks replied, increasingly demonstrating his dissatisfaction with his superiors and their differences about the current situation.

- The third option would be the fucking negotiation attempt between both parties, am I right Rooks? - I interrupted Rooks before he even had time to continue his report, already in a less ironic tone and less patience, because I didn't enter this base to hear him talk about how he hates his job.

- Yes Heller, they want me to try to negotiate with you, probably still considering the second option as the best of the three, but even if I don't officially have powers, I'll try to give you what you want. I'm tired of this shit life, I'm not proud or sorry for everything I've done believing to protect this country, but now I want to spend time with my family, if I need to collaborate with you to achieve this, I want the rest of Blackwatch fucked away from me. - Rooks replied revealing his true intentions, I could feel that even after all the atrocity that he collaborated in part in this city, he still had family and cared about her, I could feel that he could do the same or worse than me if he was in my place. Like just another father.

- I want access to Pariah, or any project related to it or a possible cure for the virus. And I won't accept another counter proposal, Rooks. - I went straight and informed Rooks what I want in return, without caring first knowing what Blackwatch wants from me.

- Officially it will be impossible Heller, I will help you unofficially, the project involving Pariah was designated as my next mission after supervising you, which after desired success I will refuse to participate. I may not get much related information about the cure, as it will increase my superiors' distrust of my loyalty, but I will confirm Pariah's location and the current project status. - Rooks informed me, I felt with my instincts that he wasn't lying, but for the first time I felt a feeling of hesitation in his words, probably due the internal investigation initiated within Blackwatch itself, something connected to Mercer's infiltrators and the whole effect he caused internally within Blackwatch.

- What am I going to have to do Rooks? - I asked, feeling that I can trust Rooks even without knowing what it is.

- The virus spread far beyond this city, the bombing that created the Dead Zone was stupid and did not compensate for the effect as containment. We managed to contain the virus only in the eastern region of the state, we have reports of infected heading towards the interior of the country in all other directions, at the moment the government is using both Blackwatch and all its administrative and military power together to contain this type of leak of information. - Rooks replied, reporting on the situation outside New York, something I didn't consider the proportion. - I have a daily map that is updated according to our control and surveillance system, the situation is bad Heller, parts of New Jersey and Philadelphia are about to be considered yellow zones soon, this without including the northwest and north of our state, we need you to hunt these monsters and contain the spread of the infected outside this city fast, this will be our mission, in which I will supervise you and offer you tactical support. - Completed Rooks.

The Second Outbreak was much worse than the first, Mercer chose New York just because of its history related to the First Outbreak, he didn't want to destroy just the city that gave him birth as a living being, he only chose the first place to leave his mark of a national level destruction after coming back, or worse if he really was still alive, a continental threat level. I saw in his memories that his hatred was great enough for destroying more than only this country, he really wanted to destroy all of humanity.

- When can we start Rooks? And what rules will I need to know about it? - I asked Rooks, bluntly, regardless of my hatred of Blackwatch, I hate this virus more than this damn organization.

- I received a period of 48 hours to contact you, counting with this contact period designated, I believe I can get more 24 hours for you get ready, because I managed to contact you fast and obtained success with your cooperation, this is the maximum time I can get Heller, 72 hours almost. About the rules we will not act the same way as here, on the contrary, we need to act in the shadows, this is one secret operation with the knowledge restricted only to the Pentagon and Blackwatch, from beginning to end. - Rooks informed me.

- I'll be back here tomorrow, the faster we finish the better for us. - I said to Rooks as I got close and extended my right hand forwards, in a greeting position, for settling our agreement.

- Thank you, Mercer. - Thanked Rooks as he shook my hand firmly, sealing our new commitment and temporary alliance. I could feel a mixture of relief and success between his feelings, he really wants to cooperate with me and walk away from Blackwatch without looking back.

We let go of hands and went towards the exit of the room together, Rooks decided to accompany me to the exit of the base, he informed me that this would avoid any misunderstanding between the other soldiers and that the base cameras would confirm our contact to his superiors, as a consequence removing my name from Blackwatch's hit list, even if it was temporarily.

I chose to call Dana and let her know what happened briefly, before finally running lighter for the first time in this city, faster and less worried about the chances of fighting infected or hostile helicopters in my way, a false sense of freedom, but it really was better than before. I decided that this would be the best time to finally try something that truly gives any human being a sense of freedom, while Dana and Maya can use this time to get some rest, it's time to find out if this body can fly.