Part Six: Second Impressions
It struck me as odd that the sun was still shining on the bright, desert trailer park I found myself in, but I suppose that time hasn’t been functioning for me properly. I felt like I should be tired, but the energy in my body betrayed the tiredness of my brain. I followed Maxwell to the next trailer, a medium sized yellow trailer with the occasional sticker here and there.
“This is where Kate and Gwen stay. Let’s see if they are up and about,” Maxwell says as he knocks on the door.
“Just a second,” I hear a calm female voice say within the trailer. Then the trailer door opens, and an olive skinned, well built, tall woman is in the doorway. She gives me the immediate impression of a professional swimmer; not just in body type, but also the serious look in her eyes. Even the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing seemed to look like a uniform just because how they seemed to fit her body.
“Oh, hey Maxwell,” she remarks, “Who’s this?”
“This,” Maxwell puts his hand on my shoulder,” is Josh! The famous anti-assassin! He is the guy I was talking about before.”
She looks at me, but I find that I can’t really read any emotion on her face. She doesn’t come off as cold, just the sort of person that doesn’t show her cards if she doesn’t need to. I feel slightly embarrassed because I need to do this sort of odd, impossible mental jujitsu just to hide anything about myself, and even then, I end up hiding it more from myself than anyone else.
I shake her hand, her grip is frightenly better than mine, but she doesn’t crush my hand, I suspect out of sympathy than kindness.
“Is Kate in?” Maxwell asks.
“No. She is out target practising with Dan.” Gwen answers matter of factly.
“Perfect,” Maxwell turns to me, “You have already met Dan, but I don’t think you met Kate.”
I wanted to say something about how I probably already knew Kate, but I am not sure if I wanted to go through the steps and try to explain what in the world is happening in my brain. Was that the future? Was that just a delusion? I guess I was about to find out, but if that is the future, than is this the present? Am I just remembering this as well? Or what if I could somehow change the past? Maybe I can travel through time? As I was wandering through my brain, the path Maxwell and I were taking seemed to be just as winding and confusing. We began to climb a sand dune, and the sweat is just starting to get in my eyes, luckily the wind is cool enough to not be completely unlivable.
We get to the top of the dunes and I see a well built man with a rifle aiming at one target, and a redheaded woman in desert colored fatigues aiming at the other with what I can see is a somewhat translucent gun. It is still rather far away, so I can’t tell if she is the Kate from the warehouse, but my stomach gives me a kick that tells me that I am about to be confronted with a paradox. The only thing worse than the sense of dread I feel like I was about to experience was the feeling that I have felt this several times before.
We approached them, and while neither gun actually seemed very loud, they had earmuffs to deaden the sound. I could see that the sniper rifle had an extra long tube at the end of it, which I guess deadened the sound somehow. The red headed women’s gun barely made any sound, and I was surprised it had enough strength to hit the target several meters away. Maxwell placed his hand carefully and gracefully on the man who was introduced as Dan to me earlier when he drove me to this trailer park in the first place. Dan seemed to give a little jump at first, but then calmly stood up and took off his earmuffs. “What’s up Max?” Dan said with his bald head reflecting a bit of sunlight, and his mustache dripping a bit with sweat.
“I wanted to give you and Kate a more proper introduction to Josh here, the newest member of the anti-assassination squad!” Maxwell said as he patted me on the back.
Dan gave me a look and shook my hand, “Nice to see you again Josh, glad to have you as a part of the group. What’s your specialty?”
I remember Ken talking talking about ‘specialty’ I guess these ‘anti-assassins’ each have their specific way of taking care of assassins. Ken’s was negotiation, and Kate seemed to like to subdue, but I have no idea what I am really great at, other than dumb luck.
“Well,” I said trying to think of something clever to say, “I figure I should explore a bit and find the thing I am really good at you know? I am kind of getting back into the thick of things.”
“Oh right, you can’t remember anything right?”
“Well, I can remember things, it just...takes me a while.”
“All right...I look forward to working with you.” Dan says a bit sleepily and goes back to his rifle.
Then Maxwell walks over to the red headed woman, whom I already assume is the same Kate I met before. She seems intent on the target, standing with her translucent gun outstretched with both her hands. I can only imagine how hard it is to aim in this windy weather, but she seems to at least hit the target, which that alone is impressive, at least I think so. Maxwell attempts to do the same shoulder thing he did to Dan, but she seems to avoid the touch and takes off her earphones and sunglasses without seeming to acknowledge our presence.
“Hello, Maxwell, what do you want? Is this the new recruit?” she says sounding somewhat frustrated.
“Yes, by the way, how is target practice going?”
“Crappy, but that is how it goes. I need to tune up the spring and maybe add a stock to get more stability. I didn’t think this tranquilizer gun needed all these mods, but that is what I get for trusting the manufacturer”
“Yes, well, first impressions are important,” Maxwell says as he gestures towards me.
“Ahaha, sorry,” I shake her hand, “I have a feeling this may not be the first impression we make.” I finally confirmed that this was the Kate from before and I am trying not to let all the implications that holds fill my mind to the point where I can’t function.
“What does that mean?” she looks at Maxwell as we are still shaking hands.
“Josh has a very special way of remembering things. This is actually the second time we had to introduce him to Dan. This may seem inconvenient, but I assure you, Josh is one of the best anti-assassins in the world!” Maxwell elaborates.
“How does having a bad memory make you a better anti-assassin?”
Both Maxwell and Kate look at me expectant of an answer, but I couldn’t really give one. I thought maybe it could be because I forget what I can’t do, but that just seems glib to say with these people practicing so hard on their aiming.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Kate says and goes back to her gun.
“Alright then!” Maxwell says matter of factly, “let’s head over to Ken’s and then you have met everybody!”
“Ken, I think I have met him, Kate as well. Is there any possibility that, we worked together before?” I ask.
Maxwell gives me a puzzled look (I seem to be getting all the ‘looks’ lately) and says, “I don’t think so. They started the business with me, and I would know if they ran into you. Unless you somehow got into some conspiracy with both of them to keep a secret, which I highly doubt, then no, I don’t think you have worked with them before.”
I then felt this surge of power, like maybe I could change the future, though if I am just remembering this, then any changes I make wouldn’t matter anyway. I almost feel obligated to try something just to test if this is real or not, but a fear deep inside me prevents me from doing anything too drastic. I could try to assault Maxwell, or maybe inflict pain upon myself, but then I would have to go back to the warehouse and see if anything had changed. I have a feeling I won’t be remembering that anytime soon, so I wouldn’t be able to check anything like a small scar or whatever I could think up to change. Before I can think of anything clever enough to test anything, we arrive at what I assume is Ken’s trailer, a smaller white, but clean, trailer.
Maxwell knocks at the door, and almost immediately the door opens and I hear, “come in, come in! I already have tea made up for everybody.”
We walk into the trailer and it is seems rather big, but that is only because the trailer is rather simple with mostly white walls and white carpeting. Ken seems to pull out three chairs and a table from compartments around the room. As I look around, I see all the various compartments, and I realize the room isn't so much simple and empty, but well organized and hidden.
“Nice to meet you Josh! I heard so much about you!” Ken shakes my hand with not much of a grip, but rather quickly, perhaps to compensate, “My name is Ken, and I hope to work with you soon! It is so nice to have a new people around here!”
“Yes, Ken here is a very good negotiator, you will actually be working with him on your next mission!”
I am sure this would flabbergast me in any other situation, but seeing as I had already succeeded in a mission, I figure that I should be okay.
“Don’t worry, you will be going with a team, we are sending three agents after one low ranking assassin. The tip I got seems very reliable, so I honestly I am more worried about not having enough people here than the safety of you all.” Maxwell says, “Also, I need to see Josh here in action as soon as possible, is this alright with you?”
I nod approvingly, “Sure, got to get my exercise right?” I expected this to get a laugh, but it turns out to be much funnier in my head.
“I think Kate also needs to test out her new pistol, so it will be you, Josh, and Kate.” Maxwell says authoritatively, I can tell on the look on Ken’s face that he has some objections but he does not voice them. “It will be fine, Ken” Maxwell says, “This is barely a training mission, you two can work together. I also need you two to have a better working relationship, so do try to work your charm on her, yes?” Maxwell says with a smirk. Ken decides to put away all the chairs and table, despite the surprising lack of tea that was ever served.
“Good to meet you Josh and see you soon!” Ken says as he gets us out of his apartment.
A part of me wants to make sure to find a way to perhaps wants to mention something about the turret, or perhaps mention to Kate that she should bring a chaff grenade (whatever that is), but I am so swept away about the possibilities, that I sort of freeze myself to inaction. As I try to think of something I see that everybody is heading to Maxwell’s trailer. I begin to feel a little off, but I try to stay on top of things as well all gather in Maxwell’s office.
It struck me as odd that the sun was still shining on the bright, desert trailer park I found myself in, but I suppose that time hasn’t been functioning for me properly. I felt like I should be tired, but the energy in my body betrayed the tiredness of my brain. I followed Maxwell to the next trailer, a medium sized yellow trailer with the occasional sticker here and there.
“This is where Kate and Gwen stay. Let’s see if they are up and about,” Maxwell says as he knocks on the door.
“Just a second,” I hear a calm female voice say within the trailer. Then the trailer door opens, and an olive skinned, well built, tall woman is in the doorway. She gives me the immediate impression of a professional swimmer; not just in body type, but also the serious look in her eyes. Even the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing seemed to look like a uniform just because how they seemed to fit her body.
“Oh, hey Maxwell,” she remarks, “Who’s this?”
“This,” Maxwell puts his hand on my shoulder,” is Josh! The famous anti-assassin! He is the guy I was talking about before.”
She looks at me, but I find that I can’t really read any emotion on her face. She doesn’t come off as cold, just the sort of person that doesn’t show her cards if she doesn’t need to. I feel slightly embarrassed because I need to do this sort of odd, impossible mental jujitsu just to hide anything about myself, and even then, I end up hiding it more from myself than anyone else.
I shake her hand, her grip is frightenly better than mine, but she doesn’t crush my hand, I suspect out of sympathy than kindness.
“Is Kate in?” Maxwell asks.
“No. She is out target practising with Dan.” Gwen answers matter of factly.
“Perfect,” Maxwell turns to me, “You have already met Dan, but I don’t think you met Kate.”
I wanted to say something about how I probably already knew Kate, but I am not sure if I wanted to go through the steps and try to explain what in the world is happening in my brain. Was that the future? Was that just a delusion? I guess I was about to find out, but if that is the future, than is this the present? Am I just remembering this as well? Or what if I could somehow change the past? Maybe I can travel through time? As I was wandering through my brain, the path Maxwell and I were taking seemed to be just as winding and confusing. We began to climb a sand dune, and the sweat is just starting to get in my eyes, luckily the wind is cool enough to not be completely unlivable.
We get to the top of the dunes and I see a well built man with a rifle aiming at one target, and a redheaded woman in desert colored fatigues aiming at the other with what I can see is a somewhat translucent gun. It is still rather far away, so I can’t tell if she is the Kate from the warehouse, but my stomach gives me a kick that tells me that I am about to be confronted with a paradox. The only thing worse than the sense of dread I feel like I was about to experience was the feeling that I have felt this several times before.
We approached them, and while neither gun actually seemed very loud, they had earmuffs to deaden the sound. I could see that the sniper rifle had an extra long tube at the end of it, which I guess deadened the sound somehow. The red headed women’s gun barely made any sound, and I was surprised it had enough strength to hit the target several meters away. Maxwell placed his hand carefully and gracefully on the man who was introduced as Dan to me earlier when he drove me to this trailer park in the first place. Dan seemed to give a little jump at first, but then calmly stood up and took off his earmuffs. “What’s up Max?” Dan said with his bald head reflecting a bit of sunlight, and his mustache dripping a bit with sweat.
“I wanted to give you and Kate a more proper introduction to Josh here, the newest member of the anti-assassination squad!” Maxwell said as he patted me on the back.
Dan gave me a look and shook my hand, “Nice to see you again Josh, glad to have you as a part of the group. What’s your specialty?”
I remember Ken talking talking about ‘specialty’ I guess these ‘anti-assassins’ each have their specific way of taking care of assassins. Ken’s was negotiation, and Kate seemed to like to subdue, but I have no idea what I am really great at, other than dumb luck.
“Well,” I said trying to think of something clever to say, “I figure I should explore a bit and find the thing I am really good at you know? I am kind of getting back into the thick of things.”
“Oh right, you can’t remember anything right?”
“Well, I can remember things, it just...takes me a while.”
“All right...I look forward to working with you.” Dan says a bit sleepily and goes back to his rifle.
Then Maxwell walks over to the red headed woman, whom I already assume is the same Kate I met before. She seems intent on the target, standing with her translucent gun outstretched with both her hands. I can only imagine how hard it is to aim in this windy weather, but she seems to at least hit the target, which that alone is impressive, at least I think so. Maxwell attempts to do the same shoulder thing he did to Dan, but she seems to avoid the touch and takes off her earphones and sunglasses without seeming to acknowledge our presence.
“Hello, Maxwell, what do you want? Is this the new recruit?” she says sounding somewhat frustrated.
“Yes, by the way, how is target practice going?”
“Crappy, but that is how it goes. I need to tune up the spring and maybe add a stock to get more stability. I didn’t think this tranquilizer gun needed all these mods, but that is what I get for trusting the manufacturer”
“Yes, well, first impressions are important,” Maxwell says as he gestures towards me.
“Ahaha, sorry,” I shake her hand, “I have a feeling this may not be the first impression we make.” I finally confirmed that this was the Kate from before and I am trying not to let all the implications that holds fill my mind to the point where I can’t function.
“What does that mean?” she looks at Maxwell as we are still shaking hands.
“Josh has a very special way of remembering things. This is actually the second time we had to introduce him to Dan. This may seem inconvenient, but I assure you, Josh is one of the best anti-assassins in the world!” Maxwell elaborates.
“How does having a bad memory make you a better anti-assassin?”
Both Maxwell and Kate look at me expectant of an answer, but I couldn’t really give one. I thought maybe it could be because I forget what I can’t do, but that just seems glib to say with these people practicing so hard on their aiming.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Kate says and goes back to her gun.
“Alright then!” Maxwell says matter of factly, “let’s head over to Ken’s and then you have met everybody!”
“Ken, I think I have met him, Kate as well. Is there any possibility that, we worked together before?” I ask.
Maxwell gives me a puzzled look (I seem to be getting all the ‘looks’ lately) and says, “I don’t think so. They started the business with me, and I would know if they ran into you. Unless you somehow got into some conspiracy with both of them to keep a secret, which I highly doubt, then no, I don’t think you have worked with them before.”
I then felt this surge of power, like maybe I could change the future, though if I am just remembering this, then any changes I make wouldn’t matter anyway. I almost feel obligated to try something just to test if this is real or not, but a fear deep inside me prevents me from doing anything too drastic. I could try to assault Maxwell, or maybe inflict pain upon myself, but then I would have to go back to the warehouse and see if anything had changed. I have a feeling I won’t be remembering that anytime soon, so I wouldn’t be able to check anything like a small scar or whatever I could think up to change. Before I can think of anything clever enough to test anything, we arrive at what I assume is Ken’s trailer, a smaller white, but clean, trailer.
Maxwell knocks at the door, and almost immediately the door opens and I hear, “come in, come in! I already have tea made up for everybody.”
We walk into the trailer and it is seems rather big, but that is only because the trailer is rather simple with mostly white walls and white carpeting. Ken seems to pull out three chairs and a table from compartments around the room. As I look around, I see all the various compartments, and I realize the room isn't so much simple and empty, but well organized and hidden.
“Nice to meet you Josh! I heard so much about you!” Ken shakes my hand with not much of a grip, but rather quickly, perhaps to compensate, “My name is Ken, and I hope to work with you soon! It is so nice to have a new people around here!”
“Yes, Ken here is a very good negotiator, you will actually be working with him on your next mission!”
I am sure this would flabbergast me in any other situation, but seeing as I had already succeeded in a mission, I figure that I should be okay.
“Don’t worry, you will be going with a team, we are sending three agents after one low ranking assassin. The tip I got seems very reliable, so I honestly I am more worried about not having enough people here than the safety of you all.” Maxwell says, “Also, I need to see Josh here in action as soon as possible, is this alright with you?”
I nod approvingly, “Sure, got to get my exercise right?” I expected this to get a laugh, but it turns out to be much funnier in my head.
“I think Kate also needs to test out her new pistol, so it will be you, Josh, and Kate.” Maxwell says authoritatively, I can tell on the look on Ken’s face that he has some objections but he does not voice them. “It will be fine, Ken” Maxwell says, “This is barely a training mission, you two can work together. I also need you two to have a better working relationship, so do try to work your charm on her, yes?” Maxwell says with a smirk. Ken decides to put away all the chairs and table, despite the surprising lack of tea that was ever served.
“Good to meet you Josh and see you soon!” Ken says as he gets us out of his apartment.
A part of me wants to make sure to find a way to perhaps wants to mention something about the turret, or perhaps mention to Kate that she should bring a chaff grenade (whatever that is), but I am so swept away about the possibilities, that I sort of freeze myself to inaction. As I try to think of something I see that everybody is heading to Maxwell’s trailer. I begin to feel a little off, but I try to stay on top of things as well all gather in Maxwell’s office.
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