Project: MI
Chapter 25

BruceKane exited his vehicle and headed over to the main entrance of New CanaanPenitentiary. The doors, made of solid adamant, stood tall, gleaming in thelight of the noon sun. Above them were a string of rusted barbed wire, a relicof an older time from even before the Golden Age. As he approached, an orbdropped down, an electric blue eye flashing at him.

“You have entered a restrictedarea,” the Guardian intoned automatically. “Halt and state your business.”

“Prisonerinterrogation,” Kane replied as the orb ran a retina scan. The orb’s eyeflashed three times as it processed the information.

“A thousand apologies, EpsilonSentinel,” the Guardian said, bobbing up and down,as though in a nod. Kane took note of this oddity, wondering how much moreadvanced this particular AI was. “You mayenter when ready.”

Theorb floated to the side, allowing Kane to continue forward unabated. As he didso, the adamant doors opened, creaking and groaning loudly. Kane entered themain courtyard where he was greeted by a vast emptiness, devoid of all lifesave for the barracks and jails that lay within the prison walls. He ignoredthe wasteland and made for the barracks. He saw movement from within one of thewindows of the barracks, and the door opened, revealing a massive, overweight,uniformed man. His stomach bulged like its own separate organism, and he noddedat Kane, recognizing him.

“He’sin his cell, like always,” he said, as though this were nothing more than aformality. Kane nodded in return, not bothering to speak. There was little elseto say after all.

“AdamBishop,” Kane said, coming to a stop. Before him was a clear screen, displayinga small, white and blue room with a single bed on the far wall. Next to it wasa toilet and a sink. Sitting in the center of the room was a pale, balding manwith a rough, scraggly-looking beard. He was thin, and his eyes were cavernous.In spite of his appearance, his expression indicated nothing but good humor.

“Bruce,”he greeted casually, a small smile touching his lips. “Did something happen?”

“Yes,”Kane nodded. He paused before adding, as a courtesy, “You seem to be bettertoday.”

Bishopwaved him off. “The reports from the psychiatrists, nurses and wardens sayotherwise. I’d ask for better conditions, but I know how far that will get me.”

Kanenodded reluctantly. The man was convicted of treason after all. “In answer toyour question, I am here to tell you, as a personal favor, that your actionswere premature. The First had to beremoved.”

“Oh.”Bishop’s face fell and he looked away. Running a hand through his beard heglanced back up. “So there’s only six more chances left.”

“Yes.”

Bishopsighed. “Not a lucky number to have.”

“No,it is not,” Kane agreed. His normally stone expression cracked a little,becoming sorrowful at the other man’s plight. “It’s…not your fault,” he said.“There were some developments that you couldn’t have predicted.”

“Naturefavors the unseen flaw,” Bishop grimaced. “And the next six will be…more so.”Uncrossing his legs, he got to his feet. Kane noticed his shakiness.

“Areyou eating well?” he asked, noting how thin his legs were. Again, Bishop wavedhim off.

“Nomore than anyone else behind these walls, including the guards.” He looked atKane more fully. “Don’t worry. It’s the effect of the Darkness. It’s drawn toplaces like this more readily than out there where it’s safe and full of light.It won’t be life threatening for a while yet.”

Foldinghis arms behind his back, his fingers gripped his wrists tightly. That didnothing to help him feel better about the man’s condition.

“Ihave petitioned to remain in Clark City for the duration,” Kane said, hoping torelieve Bishop of some of his burdens. “If allowed to do so, I can protect Greyuntil he is ready. He is coming of age, and will need someone to guide him.”

Bishopsmiled. “Thank you for that, but I have already…ensured that little matter istaken care of.”

Kaneinclined his head slightly, frowning. “Pardon?”

Bishopturned around and half-staggered towardhis bed. “Never mind for now. Maybe it is a good idea though for you to bethere. A little redundancy is important.”

“Bishop…”Kane began carefully. “Have you been in contact with…?”

Afinger rose and wagged at Kane like a naughty child. “I’m under watch and keyhere,” he warned. “Be careful.”

Kanereluctantly withdrew his question.

“Isthat all the news?” Bishop asked, craning his head so he could look over hisshoulder. His motions were stiff, and coupled with his pallid, malnourishedappearance Kane would have sworn he was looking at a man already dead.

“RomanaPax is folding under investigation,” he said. That was all. No details. Nothingmore needed to be said. Bishop simply nodded and sat back down on the floor,back to him.

“Thegovernment chose the right man for the job,” he said. “I wish I had theirconfidence. I wish that I had the same for them.” Kane heard a tired sigh fromthe man. “You might want to get going. The weather is about to become foulhere.”

Kanedidn’t argue with Bishop about the weather even though the sun shone brightlyin the sky and not a cloud was to be seen. He regarded the courtyard carefullyas the door to the barracks closed behind him. This time, instead of beingempty, a trio of Guardians floated to and fro, eyes sweeping the ground beforethem. As he watched, he saw one of them fire at the ground, scorching the earthbefore moving on. The process was repeated by the other orbs. Turning his gazedownward, he saw a tiny curl of inky blackness start to rise like a seedsprouting.

“It’s the effect of the Darkness…”

Theblackness curled and began to take a new shape. Kane raised his foot andwatched it form for a moment.

“…It won’t be life threateningfor a while yet.”

Grimacingwith disgust, he brought the heel of his shoe down on the darkness and groundit against the unfeeling ground, Q-Field flaring around his body. Ignoring thequiet hiss of the heat burning beneath his foot, he looked back around theempty courtyard for a moment before setting off back toward his car.

End of Book 1