Dr. Cochran lead Jakob into his office and closed the door behind him, then walked over to his desk and opened the top drawer. “Let’s see, I’m thinking about $1200 for this one. Does that sound good?”
Jakob shook his head. Needless to say this took the doctor back a bit.
“How much do you want?”
“None of it.” Jakob thought for a moment, “$300 actually. For expenses.”
Dr. Cochran let out a sigh of relief, “You never were the greedy one Jakob.” He said with a laugh as he handed him the money, then sat down at his desk and started to go through some papers. He looked up when he realize that Jakob was still there.
“Is there something else I can do for you?”
“I need to talk to Karl.” Agent Karl Danvese, head of the Agency, although that wasn’t much of a title since the agency responded directly, and only to Dr. Cochran.
“What for?” Jakob hesitated. “Jakob,” He said taking off his glasses, “Why do you need to talk with Karl.”
“I,” Jakob stopped. While he was being trained by the agents there were certain things he was told not to tell the scientist, not because there was any real reason they shouldn’t know, but just because there was no real reason for them to know. “I just need to.”
“Fine. You can find him in his quarters.” Dr. Cochran pushed a button on the bottom of his desk that opened a door on the floor of the building. Jakob walked down some stairs that were hidden by the door and soon found himself surrounded by metal walls. He was now underneath the complex. After navigating his way around he found himself in front of a metal door. He knocked once. The door opened revealing a small metal room with nothing but a desk, a chair, and a man seated on the chair. “Jakob.” The man said with a small nod signaling Jakob forward. The room was a desolate place, the kind that was so simple it managed to make a man shiver. But that was how Karl liked it. “What do you want.” Karl said plainly. Whatever ideas of manners he had once had have long been gone.
“I, uh need another gem.” Jakob told him.
Karl raised his eyebrows. “After I had to force you to take that one you want another?”
“Things have changed.”
Karl looked at Jakob. “What is it Jakob. What is troubling you.”
“I fought a couple of bearers recently. Out of the five I encountered four of them had fully developed powers.”
“Fully developed?”
“I was forced to run from the first, and then I wasn’t alone when I fought the last three.”
“You had help? From who.”
“Stinger.”
“Stinger? Ah yes. He hasn’t reported in for some time now.” Jakob thought about telling him about this Dr. Hugh, but decided against it. “Fully developed.” Karl said again, “How is that possible.”
“They know we’re hunting them. Their adapting, and advancing.”
“That’s ridiculous. These creatures can’t adapt, they don’t have that kind of intelligence.”
“They’re learning that they need to defend themselves.”
Karl didn’t respond. Jakob knew exactly what he was thinking. The scientist had told them that the bearers wouldn’t be able to evolve any further then simply having wings. Then the powers started coming about, and they said that it was only a few freak incidents. But four out of five is no freak occurrence.
“Fine. You know where to go.” Karl said at last. Jakob left him without another word.
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Leo didn't want to die, but he didn't want others to put themselves in danger for his sake. But right now there wasn'ttoo much he could do. Before he sat on the ground he wispered "wings dissolve", and they did just that. Leo couldn't do anything, but he could try to find out as much as he could. "So whats the big deal with this girl? Why is she so important. You obviously didn't attack us for me or the other bearers. You came for her. Why?"
Stinger looked at the bearer. “Does it matter that much to you? Be honest, do you really care what happens to this girl, just as long as you get away?”
