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Date Posted: 03:24:37 08/04/11 Thu
Author: asiacheetah
Author Host/IP: ppp-71-128-206-208.dsl.sndg02.pacbell.net / 71.128.206.208
Subject: Chapter 44 - Michael
In reply to: asiacheetah 's message, "The Recruit - Story continues" on 03:19:50 08/04/11 Thu

Chapter 44 – Michael

It was strange. That was the only way he could describe living on the outside after years of incarceration. He knew the feeling of freedom was just an illusion, and that he wasn’t really out in the real world. He knew he could be called back at a moment’s notice and Section still technically owned him.

That fact didn’t lesson the little thrills of excitement at the false sense of independence. His body was automatically conditioned to wake up at 0500 every morning after months living on the inside, but he could choose to sleep in if he wanted to, although he never did. He could set his own priorities and decide how to spend his day, whether it be working out or going out to the park. It was the ability to choose that provided the headiest feeling of freedom.

Not that he allowed himself to let that false sense of independence get to his head. He knew he was being watched, monitored every moment he was at his apartment. The first thing he did was locate all the surveillance equipment in the unit. He didn’t disable them though since Section would just send someone to repair or replace them. He merely tapped into the feed and set up a video loop in the event he ever needed to evade their watch.

He had been set loose on his own devise without Section’s interference so far. This allowed him to re-learn ‘normal’ behaviors of a civilian. He found that he had lost the ability to be a regular guy and blend in with the crowd. He could not stop scanning his surrounding to identify potential threats and scoping out the nearest exit everywhere he went. It was just plain hard to relax and shut down his fight or flight response.

Strangely, the toughest part of living on the outside was figuring out how to fill his time. He had been on such a structured schedule for so many years; it was hard to adjust to being idle. To keep himself busy, he had tackled a number of projects. The first order of business was making his apartment more secure. That meant numerous trips to the hardware and home improvement stores to upgrade the security in his apartment.

He was converting his apartment to better suit his taste. He was gradually replacing the furniture to make the apartment look less like Section. He was surprised at home much he enjoyed going to antique and consignment stores to find unique, non-assembly line furnishings. It also gave him an opportunity to re-learn how to converse normally to ordinary people and making small talk. This was an ability he has almost completely lost due to the necessity to be taciturn and tight lipped inside Section.

He was also getting practice blending in to the civilian population by some very friendly neighbors, some who were getting a bit too friendly. He had been living in his apartment for only two days when he met his next door neighbor.

***

Michael was painting the wall, being careful to restrict the range of his movement to prevent further injuries to his ribs. He paused in mid-stroke when he heard a knock on the door. He put down the roller and made his way silently to the surveillance monitor he had installed that morning. He grabbed a gun from the cabinet and held it out of sight as he opened the door as far as the security chain allowed.

“Yes?”

“Hi, I’m Carlos, your neighbor from across the hall. I just wanted to welcome you to the building.”

He studied the stranger for a moment, noticing the guileless, good natured expression on his face. “Give me a second.” He closed the door to disengage the chain and tucked the gun in the small of his back under his clothes. He swung the door open wide to allow the man entry.

“Hi. I’m Michael.”

Carlos step forward and shook his hand. He took a closer look at his face and exclaimed: “Whoa! What happened there?”

“I was in a motorcycle accident.”

“Ouch! Well here’s some beer to help dull the pain.” Carlos held up a 6 pack of beer.

“Thank you.” Michael accepts the offering and awkwardly offered: “Would you like to have one now?”

“Yeah thanks.”

They removed the drop clothes from the chairs and coffee table in order to take a seat. Michael took a sip at the beer, all the while watching the tall, dark haired stranger with concealed suspicion. The man seemed harmless enough, but he had learned to be careful and paranoid.

Carlos looked around curiously before returning his gaze back to Michael. “Are you new to town Michael?”

“Yes. I decided I wanted a change.”

Carlos smiled and replied: “Me too. Although in my case I moved to escape from the daily reminders.”

“A girl?”

“Yeah. Damn near ripped my heart out. Decided I had enough of those volatile, beguiling Spanish ladies and decided to try for some beautiful German ladies instead.”

“How’s that working out?”

“Not well. It must not be a Spanish thing, but an all women thing.” Carlos shrugged and smiled wryly. “But what can you do?” He held up his beer in a toast. “To the ladies.”

Michael tipped his beer up in male solidarity as the corner of his lips curved up in amusement. “How long have you lived here?”

“I’ve been here two years. Stick with me and I’ll introduce you to all the cool people here and all the people you should steer away from.” At Michael’s questioning look, Carlos continued: “There are a few alpha male types here that liked to pick on people to get their jolly. There are also a few man eaters here that would love to chew you up and spit you out.”

“Good to know.”

“So what do you do Michael?”

“I’m between jobs right now.”

“If you need any help finding a job let me know. I’ve gotten to know a bunch of people in town that might be able to get you something.”

“Thank you.”

“Listen, I was going to go meet a few friends at the pizza joint down the block. Want to come?”

Michael hesitated for a moment before replying: “Sure. Just let me clean-up and change.”

“Great! Gives me a chance to round up the gang.”

“Who?”

“Just a few people from the building I like to hang out with. You’ll like them, they’re all very chill. How about we meet downstairs in the lobby in an hour?”

“Sure.”

***

That had been three weeks ago. True to his words, the new neighbors were a friendly group who were eager to show him around town. Michael had technically been at the city for 15 months, but had not explored the city before other than on missions and training runs. The view of the city was much more charming through their enthusiastic introductions than through the lenses of a night vision goggle.

It had been a difficult transition adapting to life on the outside, but he was learning and getting more comfortable with the duality of his life. Tasks that he found difficult just a few weeks ago were becoming increasingly easier. He had stopped reaching for his gun every time a stranger crossed his path, small talk was no longer an excruciating exercise, and he no longer plan out tactical scenarios every time he entered a new location.

All this time on the outside, he had no contact with anyone from Section other than medical staff. It was a welcome break; one that he knew wouldn’t last forever, especially now that his wounds have mostly healed. At least the bruising and swelling have faded and he was cleared for physical exercise.

Michael put down the book he was reading when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to find Carlos and the usual gang standing on the other side.

Carlos: “Hey Michael, we’re going to this cool jazz club tonight. Do you want to come?”

Before Michael could answer he heard his phone ringing. He picked up the phone and heard Kendo’s voice on the other line: “Jacques.”

He felt himself tensing, mentally and physically preparing for the upcoming mission. He was no longer a man trying to blend in and pretending to be normal. He felt a strange calmness as his mind focused to sharp clarity.

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

He hanged up the phone and look up at the expectant party at the door. “I’ll have to take a rain check.”

The girls pouted with disappointment as Carlos gave him a hard time. He sent them off with joking admonitions to choose a designated driver before going to the club. All the while he felt the charade and masquerade he was putting on, like an ill-fitting glove.

The uneasiness and uncertainty of the last few weeks faded away, replaced by the need to prepare for the upcoming mission. It didn’t escape his notice that he felt more like himself at that moment than any time over the last 3 weeks. It seemed Section had succeeded in molding him to exactly what they wanted. He didn’t feel depressed or angry about that fact. He felt nothing.

***

[AUTHOR’S NOTE: THIS CHAPTER ACTUALLY LEADS TO A SIDE-STORY TO BE TITLED: ‘IT WAS HARD FOR ME TOO’ DEALING WITH MICHAEL’S TIME ADJUSTING TO LIVING ON THE OUTSIDE. THAT STORY WILL BE POSTED ONE DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND YOU WILL GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CARLOS AND MICHAEL’S OTHER NEIGHBORS.]

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