September 9th, 2017
3 pm
"In related news, a video has gone viral on the internet. It seems that a group has finally claimed credit on the terrorist attack on Naval Air Station Key West. This group, calling themselves True Justice, released a minute-long video that has made waves across social media. We will play it to you now but be warned, some of the images are graphic."
A black screen appears with arabic text. Images depicting destruction and the effects of war flash across as a man's voice slowly narrates.
"I am the lost sound of the fallen. The voice of a generation of endless bloodshed. Your soldiers have desecrated our lands. Your drones have slain our elders. Your missiles have devastated our homes. Your false promises have tarnished our hearts. To you, I say no more. I have slain your knife in the shadows. Your time of false victory ends here and your reckoning has only just begun. I am the Avenger, the bringer of True Justice and nothing can save you from the totality of my vengeance."
The reporter returns, "This video has multiple translated copies which have totaled tens of millions of views over the last 6 hours. It was trending across Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit. Despite many attempts to remove them, the videos have kept resurfacing. The authorities have not yet responded. Our experts say that True Justice is a new organization born from more radical elements of the dominant militant groups in the Middle East. Their leader, Avenger, is a voice for the extremists who felt subdued by ongoing peace talks. Now, he is making waves. We will bring you more updates as the story unfolds. Next is an update on the weather and local news, stay tuned."
This scene repeats itself across various news broadcasts in many countries in many languages. Different language versions of the same video had been deployed across the web so people didn't need official translations to watch the footage. Specifically, the video had copies in the official languages of all NATO powers. The Avenger was subtly declaring war on America and its Western allies.
***
FBI-LED JTTF ARE ON THE CASE!
FBI has declared counterterrorism operations against the perpetrators of the Key West terrorist attack. FBI Director, Don Bridges, has said "JTTF is on the case! No matter where those terrorists are hiding, the FBI will bring them to justice!"
WHITE HOUSE FILLS IN TOP ROLE OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE!
The White House has finally announced a new Acting Director of National Intelligence after leaving the role empty for nearly a month following the sudden retirement of the previous Director of National Intelligence. Major General Wade M. Matthews, an officer in active service of the US Army, will begin serving in the role while Senate approval is ongoing. He'll be the first active service member to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
SENATORS ARE CALLING FOR COMMISSION INTO KEY WEST TERRORIST ATTACK!
Many Senators from both parties are calling for a Senate investigation into the Key West terrorist attack. Some have repeated the claims of Sara Pauline that President Gertrude Pond has weakened the military with her budget reductions.
PRESIDENT'S GRANDDAUGHTERS RETURNING TO SCHOOL!
Serena and Mariah Ali have returned to Princeton University. The two have refused direct interviews regarding their abductions but they released a joint statement expressing their condolences to the families of the Secret Service agents who were killed protecting them. The twins say they will not mope around and shall honor the sacrifices made by returning to school without delay to complete their final year of undergraduate studies.
WORLD LEADERS EXPRESS CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FOR US!
President of the EU and Secretary General of NATO have expressed their continued support for the US in its Global War on Terrorism. The Secretary General of NATO stated "NATO stands ready to uphold its commitment to freedom and security" while reminding members to remain vigilant by upholding their pledge of spending 2% of their GDP on their military budget.
CHINA AND RUSSIA CONDEMN TERRORISM!
The Presidents of China and Russia have released statements condemning terrorism and called it a threat to order. Both have pledged to increase their own counter-terrorism operations.
KEY WEST SURVIVORS REMAIN SILENT!
Many survivors of the horrific Key West terrorist attack have remained silent, refusing to do any interviews. However, we found that although there have been no more deaths, there have been potentially life altering injuries. One such victim is said to have become paralyzed at the legs with doctors unsure if it is permanent.
LEAD SCIENTIST AT SETI SAYS "WE ARE CLOSER THAN EVER!"
Dr. Amanda S. Carter recently gave an interview where she claims, "We are closer than ever in discovering life beyond Earth." Dr. Carter further clarified, "I meant our technological progress has brought us closer to answering the question, are we alone in the universe?"
September 9th, 2017
8 pm, Smith Household, Key West, Florida
"Dinner is ready!" Yuki Smith shouts from the kitchen.
"I will be there soon." Max Smith responds from the living room.
Max's attention is on the living room TV. On it are two local reporters discussing the day's news.
"FBI Director, Don Bridges, said quote No matter where those terrorists are hiding, the FBI will bring them to justice!" The male reporter says.
"It's good to hear the FBI is on the case but it would have been better if they were aware of the threat before it happened." The female reporter says.
"The terrorist group, True Justice, claiming credit for the attack is apparently less than 3 months old, according to our sources. So it would be hard for any intelligence organizations to have known about them." The male reporter says, "Afterall, they aren't omnipresent."
"Then what are they using our tax dollars for?" The female reporter retorts with a snort, "Still, we are lucky the death count was only one."
"Yes, Alena Smith." The male reporter says, "I attended her funeral. Quite moving."
Max Smith tunes out the rest of the broadcast at the mention of Alena's name. His mind retreats into a reel of memories of his only child, Alena, who is now deceased. Max remembers all the things parents remember that kids forget. First steps. First words. First day at school. First graduation. So many firsts have now been reduced to only one last for she is gone forever.
"Our food's getting cold." Yuki says as she wraps her arms around Max from behind.
"Oh." Max says as he wakes from his reverie.
"Come on, I won't eat without you." Yuki says as she reaches for the TV remote, turning it off.
"Yes, dear." Max says, rising from his chair, "First the toilet, I will only be a minute."
"It'd better be." Yuki says, releasing Max from her grasp, "Or I will come in after you."
Max finally cracks a smile as he heads to the toilet. Once through, he locks the door behind him then turns on the tap thus filling the air with sounds of running water. He pulls the first drawer under the sink, clears away the miscellaneous items then lifts up a corner of the floor of the drawer in a smooth manner. Lying inside is a ziplock bag with a disassembled Nokia 3310.
Max pulls out the cell phone, simply puts in the battery then powers on the phone. Max quickly squishes the phone against his pants, muffling its wake up sound. Once that's done, Max checks the phone. Seeing the black signal bars fill up the left side of the phone's tiny rectangular green screen, Max navigates the rubbery arrow keys to the Menu then goes to Messages. He opens up a blank message, types in a phone number that starts with +7 in the To field. In the message space, he types in an email address and then presses send.
Max sees the message sent confirmation screen then proceeds to remove the battery from the phone and returns the disassembled phone back into the ziplock bag. The ziplock is restored in the false space beneath the drawer floor, which gets covered then hidden with random items. Max closes the drawer, washes his hands then shuts off the tap. Max looks at himself in the mirror, noticing his face had been neutral the entire time. He slaps his cheeks, forcing a more relaxed expression before drying his hands with a towel and exiting the bathroom.
Yuki's forces a resting smile upon her depressed face when she hears the toilet door open up.
***
"Really, Bridges?" President Gertrude Pond says with air quotes, "You'll bring em to justice."
"That quote sounds too brash out of context, ma'am." FBI Director, Don Bridges, says.
"I think it captures you perfectly." CIA Director, Nick Jones, says with a clear smile.
President Gertrude Pond, Director Don Bridges, and Director Nick Jones are on a 3-way video conference call from 3 different locations in the same time zone.
"This old woman needs her beauty rest so make your reports quick." President Pond says.
"Well, I finally completed the debrief from the HRT." Bridges says, "Their Team Leader, Iglesias, expressed his belief in the connection between Team Six and the terrorist attack on Key West."
"FBI, you do train your agents well." POTUS says, "Jones, fill him in. It's his investigation now."
"Ma'am." Jones says, "Director Bridges, I can confirm the rumors that Team Six was indeed on Naval Air Station Key West during the attacks. I can also confirm that… Team Six were killed during the attack. Furthermore, I speculate that the elimination of Team Six was the goal of the terrorists and their backers all along with the President's granddaughters merely bait."
"Team Six was the goal… That aligns with what Iglesias speculated." Bridges says then he pauses and asks, "But Team Six, dead? Really? But the death count mentioned only one."
"The president authorized the death count." Jones says with a sigh, "I saw their bodies myself. Rather, the pieces that could even be found. I escorted their corpses to the crematorium."
"My agents have heard rumors of you leaving the base in a van containing contractor corpses." Bridges says, "I can't believe they are really gone… That he is actually gone."
"Despite our clashes, he was a good man." President Pond says, "And he kept his promise."
"They all did." Jones adds, "We can't even hold funerals for them."
Silence falls for a minute until Bridges says, "My team has been unable to access the evidence."
"That's probably because the evidence was lost." Jones says, "All the evidence was destroyed."
"What!? How?" Bridges exclaims.
"By the terrorists, or their backers." Jones says, "I don't know how they bypassed our measures. They even rescued their only captured operative from my custody while we were in flight."
"And you couldn't stop them?" Bridges asks.
"They kindly knocked out my team and I." Jones says, "One moment I was suddenly drowsy, the next I woke up to find the prisoner gone and the evidence destroyed. They even bypassed our military escort. Satellites showed no activity in the area so it remains a mysterious case."
"You'll also be investigating that, Bridges." President Pond says, "Figure out whatever gizmo the terrorists used to bypass our top security apparatus. You're authorized to liaison with any Military Intelligence agency to solve that investigation."
"Yes, ma'am." Bridges says, "True Justice is sounding less like a small-time terrorist group and more like a sophisticated organization that has somehow evaded our radar."
"Until now." Jones says, "And their first strike decapitated our most effective Spec Ops team."
"Well, I'm getting sleepy here gents." President Pond then proceeds to ask, "What's the preliminary analysis on this Avenger? How come this is the first I'm hearing about him?"
"I hate to say it but it's like he appeared from thin air, ma'am." Bridges responds.
"I concur with Bridges." Jones adds in, "He and his group are just too new."
"When the media knows more about a new threat than the world's best intelligence and investigative agencies…" President Pond ponders.
"We will get right on it, ma'am." Both men say in unison.
"Well what can you currently tell me about his message, Jones?" President Pond asks.
"His knife in the shadows part probably refers to Team Six." Jones answers as he rubs his chin, "As for his future plans, we aren't sure yet."
"Hmm. Bridges?" President Pond asks.
"His M.O seems… flashy." Bridges says, "His announcement was almost like the last one."
"And Fire got the last one but he isn't here to stop this one." President Pond says with a sigh.
"We'll root him out eventually, ma'am." Jones says, "We always do."
"Good." President Pond says, "With Team Six down, even I can see the oncoming storm. So you two better buckle up pronto. Our enemy has struck first and we must strike back."
"Yes, ma'am!" Both men say.
"If that is all, I'm off to bed." President Pond says.
"Good night, Madam President." Both men say. The President's image goes dark.
"Oh, Jones." Bridges quickly says just as Jones is about to click off.
"Yeah?" Jones asks.
"My agents report that you had an asset active during the terrorist attack…" Bridges says.
"I did." Jones affirms.
"Details?" Bridges asks.
"Compartmentalization." Jones says, "Good night, Bridges."
End of yet another story arc! Thank you for all the support! We are past our first "50 collections" goal so expect 4 chapters per week (M,W,Th,F)!
Going on a short break to organize for the next part so see you all June 7! Will be coming back with a 5 releases for 2 weeks to "catch up".
Ruth: Hello and welcome to Ruthless Seat Live. Sitting across from me is a lady that needs no introduction, the one and only Mother Staringale herself. And as you can see folks, no halo.
Mother Staringale: I turned it off, just for you Ruth. Good day everyone, welcome to the other side of the US-Mexico border.
Ruth: We are currently only a few meters away from the crossing point at Gateway International Bridge between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros. What brings you here, Mother Staringale?
Shahab Feroz: Shahab is fine. As you saw yourself Ruth, refugees and migrants. Their lives were collateral in a plot that ensnared even President Gertrude's granddaughters. Fortunately, the ending to their story was nothing short of a miracle. At least this group of refugees gets an expedited process courtesy of the US Government.
Ruth: What was the official story? The young ladies were rescued by the FBI?
Shahab: My main concern lay with the refugees who were victims of human trafficking. Fortunately, their lives will continue on under what would usually be a grime situation instead being an extraordinarily lucky chance for them.
Ruth: Yes, they are lucky that the President's granddaughters were imprisoned with them which brought the weight of the US government to rescue them alongside the President's granddaughters. It makes you wonder, why go through all the trouble of capturing them yet give no ransom demands?
Shahab: The minds of deranged individuals is no place for answers. I am here for the helpless people caught up in all this mess. This time, the mercy of the US government and the American people are on our side.
Ruth: My apologies, you aren't the US government. You are Mother Staringale. Your aid organisation, Nova Lotus Foundation, is the world's foremost private NGO leading the fight against Human Trafficking. You are the biggest donor to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, giving over $1 billion every year since the fund has been active. That doesn't include your foundation's annual expense of over $4 billion on every facet of this issue. Why devote so much resources to this? Why is this cause so important to you? Is there a political angle? A long game, perhaps?
Shahab: Isn't doing good for goodness sake enough? I am extremely fortunate to be where I am. I have the will and means, so I have the responsibility to help wherever I can. As such, I have made it my mission to ensure every person is secure in their fundamental right to be free.
Ruth: That's quite the ambitious undertaking. How do you fund your operations, if you don't mind me asking? All of your businesses are completely private afterall.
Shahab: Well, most of our company funds come from patents and investments. The profits from that go into 3 operations namely research, investments, and charity. So capitalism funds this entire humanitarian enterprise.
Ruth: It almost sounds like you built a business empire to fund your foundation and its mission.
Shahab: Looks that way. Life is simply too precious to be bound by the ugliness of slavery.
Ruth: The ugliness of slavery… poignant. On that note, we shall take a short break. When we return, we will discuss Shahab's new book, Human Angels.
*CUT*
Giant lights shine down upon two figures sitting on separate foldable chairs. Behind the camera is a man with a pair of giant headphones. He moves to the laptop setup a short distance away.
"Clear." The man says.
"Thanks Tim." Ruth says, she then turns to Shahab asking, "How's the interview?"
"I see why it is called Ruthless Seat." Shahab says, "You are as ruthless as ever."
A teenage girl, carrying two bottles of water on a tray, approaches the talking duo. Shahab has her signature white floral lace headscarf with a shiny blue heart brooch pinned to the chest of her white salwar kameez dress. Ruth is in a blue buttoned-up short-sleeve shirt with a black skirt and matching shoes which compliment her dark-framed glasses and short dark-brown hair.
"Thank you, Isabela." Shahab says as she accepts a water bottle.
"Thanks." Ruth says, then asks after examining Isabela, "You were a migrant, right?"
"I was but no longer." Isabela answers, directing her brown eyes at Ruth while tucking her short dark-brown hair behind her eyes, "I have found purpose with the Nova Lotus Foundation."
"You are what, 15 or 16? Isn't that a little too early to be so sure? The US government is giving you a lucky break here." Ruth asks.
"I have no family to seek out or wait for. While I am grateful to the US government, they aren't offering me much of a future, just the legal status to exist within their borders." Isabela says.
"Don't be rude to Ms Ruth." Shahab says, then looks at Ruth, "Teenagers, stubborn little ones. Have no fear, I am taking her under my wing. She will get legal status and an education."
"Well, alright." Ruth says, "Being under the wings of Mother Staringale herself. Not bad."
"You speak as if I am a saint." Shahab says, "I am but an ordinary woman."
"Please. If you are only an ordinary woman, what about the rest of us?" Ruth jokes.
"I must thank you for keeping this interview." Shahab says.
"I should be thanking you for agreeing to an impromptu interview." Ruth says as she admires her surroundings, "Plus, being with you made it easier to interview the migrants, Ms translator."
This room is a white tent with special flooring and air conditioning. Only 4 people are in this tent. A logo is prominent behind the only two people who are seated. A white seven petal lotus cast against the black starry background of space. The symbol of the Nova Lotus Foundation.
"The things one does for old friends." Shahab says.
"Why do I feel younger even though I'm the older one between us?" Ruth asks with a stiff smile.
"1 minute!" Tim shouts.
"I will take the water bottles and get out of your way then." Isabela says as she retrieves the water bottles and steps aside.
"Despite bigger fishes, you still came out here for this little old story." Shahab says, "Thank you."
"It's an important story and another puzzle piece to the truth." Ruth says.
"Quite." Shahab says, "And we are in ever puzzling times."
"This Avenger character." Ruth says, almost whispering, "I smell... dark times ahead."
"The perfect time for Angels to rise." Shahab says, "Let there be Light."
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Live!" Tim shouts as he raises his right thumb up.
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GOT IT