Samuel Bohovic - Hybrid - Project Vigil

People here had no idea who just moved into their lands.

They stopped few miles away from Breckenridge just before dawn. John needed Caroline to drive the last part. So John waited for her to wake up. Suddenly he couldn’t resist the thought that they lied to him. He reached for pistol. Checked the rounds… real. He grabbed Caroline by front of her shirt to wake her up. Aimed at her head and yelled.

“Where is she?! Where’s Gillian?!”

He woke up from the dream. His face and hands were covered with sweat. He must have fallen asleep while he waited for Caroline to wake up.

“Damn it keep your shit together John.” He said for himself…

* Refers to fictional Geth-Quarian conflict

*Popularly known as Delta Force 1st SFOD-D is official name

It took Caroline almost an hour to wake up. John decided to check his C.I.A. I.D. card.

‘Agent Sgt. John Blackburn’

“I guess I was promoted. Hope I’ll be paid better.” He said for himself.

“Damn it!”

It was 9am Saturday 1st of June. Caroline drove them slowly through the town. John could see people everywhere. Walking, buying groceries or just talking.

“We should buy some food too. I don’t plan on starving.” Caroline parked in front of supermarket.

“Do you want to go with me?”

John put the sunglasses on. “Yes I want.”

He noticed that everyone was wearing short sleeve clothes and he wore long sleeves to cover his arm and he also had gloves and jeans. That can attract some unwanted attention.

They walked towards supermarket. John took time to observe every person within twenty feet and with his fast senses he had plenty of time to do that.

“Maybe we’ll meet some of my friends here and I can introduce you to few more people.” Caroline said smiling.

“If you say so.”

“You should smile a bit.” She said.

“Smile?”

“The thing you do with your face when Gillian is around.”

“She isn’t around anymore.” Last memory of Gillian flickered in his head. Then he laid sight on approaching man. The moment their eyes met they recognized each other but both John and the man remained silent and kept walking.

“You know that man?” Caroline asked concerned.

“Yeah, he shot me once and I shot him back but not just once, about ten times.” John said.

Caroline just sighed.

While shopping John discovered lots of new things. Ice cream for example and he also saw humans in their natural environment. But he still had suspicion for most of them. He even counted the change the cashier had given him. Caroline ordered him to carry the groceries to the car.

“We should buy you some clothing.” She looked at nearby clothes shop.

“Done.” John just ordered clothes online.

“Have I told you that we have to spare money until I find a job?” She looked at him

“Government gave me 10 million compensation for what they did to me so last thing I need to do is to spare money. And don’t worry I’ll keep most of it I’m going to need to pay for school.” He really received a compensation on a bank account with his name.

“Fine, just be careful.”

They drove to the southern part of town, up the hill to Gold King Way. They stopped in front of nice house with big windows facing them. I had two floors and basement. A woman stood next to the fence gate.

“The hell is she doing here?” John asked.

“She gives us the key from the house. I got this, stay in the car. Never thought life with you would be so hard.” Caroline sounded annoyed.

“Deal with it.” John corrected position of his sunglasses.

It took about ten minutes to arrange all things. Then Caroline knocked at John’s window.

“Unload!”

John reached for pistol under seat next to him and unloaded it then he put it back to it’s box.

A car pulled over in front of next house, Caroline smiled on sight of it’s passengers. John put down his sunglasses to see them better. A man and woman. Immediately after stepping out the woman headed towards Caroline.

“You are back! Where have you been those years?” The woman asked while hugging Caroline.

“Work.” Caroline said trying to evade the question.

Then the woman caught sight of John.

“And who’s that? Your boyfriend? He is very handsome.”

John pretended to look for something in the car.

A flash of panic ran through Caroline’s face.

“No. Actually he is my son. His name is John.”

John stopped pretending and shook hands with the stranger.

“Nice to meet you, I’m subject… I mean John.”

She smiled.

“Nice to meet you too John. I’m Miranda Stonebridge, I know your mother for years.”

Miranda would talk a lot longer but Caroline stopped her.

“So now you know each other. Miri excuse us we need to move in.”

“Yes of course, I’ll come later.”

She said as she left.

“Who the hell was that?” John asked when she was far enough.

“My friend from college. Don’t worry she is nice just sometimes a bit over-talkative. Now carry your things inside before the rest of it arrives.”

It took John over two hours. He picked a bedroom on western side of second floor he also claimed basement for weapons and equipment. He was about to start setting up computers in the basement when rest of things arrived in big truck. They brought everything John took and more. Looks like Caroline was the one looting before them. John carried most of things to the basement.

He started to set up database and multiple screens. His space was limited to two small tables, he ordered new furniture online with several other things. Garage was part of basement but car was still outside. Suddenly a door at the top of stairs opened, Caroline yelled at him.

“Come out from that damn cellar John! We have guests.”

Then a softer female voice said.

“I can just go down, no need to yell at someone.”

Soft footsteps on the stairs helped John remember one thing… he has all his weapons on a table behind him. There was no time to hide them and there was nothing to cover them with.

“Hi, you must be John.” The soft voice said from behind him.

He turned around.

“Obviously. And you are?”

He faced a black haired girl about his age. She smiled, he couldn’t see much more in dim light of computer screens.

“I’m Emily Stonebridge, I’m your neighbor. Why are you holed up in this dark basement anyway?”

John thought of a lie that would explain why he has to wear gloves and long sleeve clothes.

“I prefer darkness over sunlight.”

“Why?” She looked confused.

“I’m allergic to sunlight, it affects arms and legs. I can be out for some time but not too long. That’s why I’m down here.” He was a good liar, years back C.I.A. agents taught him in case he is interrogated by enemy. Shock in her face changed to surprise.

“I didn’t know that.”

“I don’t blame you for that. Let’s go upstairs it’s complete mess down here.”

She looked around.

“You’re right. Let’s go.”

John hoped that she couldn’t see the guns.

“Good. You can help me get UV filters on the windows.”

He wanted to put screen foil they used back in facility on the windows so he can have bigger screens for computers. Now he had someone to help with that. While they worked she asked a lot of questions.

“What do you like to do in your free time John?” Questions like this. Questions he didn’t have answers to.

“I like to read, run, computer stuff and sometimes I went shooting with my father. What about you.” Lies, lies, lies except running.

“I prefer hiking over running, I can take you with me if you want. Mountains around here are so beautiful. I also like to take photos.” She had sweet voice, Gillian would hate her.