He does.I’m now wondering if Kilroy was here still exist in this universe!
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The hilarious part to all of Anders and Angela's overall story is, once it finally reaches the conclusion, the idea that the Kaiser is going to have just an absurdly long file detailing how there's basically been a shadow government hiding critical information from the royal family for centuries.
Nice to see Vladimir's doing just fine in his new line of work too.
Nice to see Vladimir's doing just fine in his new line of work too.
I don't think the alien conspiracy is that old. Then again, I could just retcon that too...
Krasnoyar, Part 4
Ziz Convalescent Home, Palermo – 8:15 PM
Inside the elder care center, a nurse gave the patients their nightly medicine. Ivan Petrov casually walked in and went to the medicine cabinet, switching a bottle of pills inside with another one.
9:32 PM
A nurse opened the door. “Yes?”
Angela held up her badge. “Agent Hansen and Humboldt. We need your permission to come onto the premises and speak with you or any of your patients.”
“What about?” the nurse asked.
“May we come in?” Anders asked.
“Well, yes,” the nurse said.
They walked into the ward.
“When was the last time these patients were checked?” Angela asked.
“An hour ago, at bed check,” the nurse said.
Angela checked a patient’s pulse. “This man is dead.”
“What?” the nurse said.
Anders checked the other patients. They were all dead, and black oil residue covered their noses, ears, eyes, and mouths.
“Angie, these people are test subjects,” Anders said, “They’ve all been poisoned.”
“Who gave these patients their meds tonight?” Angela said.
The nurse sighed. “I did.”
“Alright, I need you to call emergency services,” Angela said, “Tell them you have an emergency quarantine of a biohazardous material. I need you to show us all of the entrances of the hospital. We’ve got to seal this building immediately.”
Imperial correctional facility, Frankfurt – June 22, 1996, 9:00 AM
“I don’t understand what it is you hope to learn here,” Angela said.
“Everything that’s happened....every death we’ve seen can be traced back to one man,” Anders said.
“But according to you that man is in Russia...possibly even dead,” Angela said.
“Well, he isn’t working alone,” Anders said, walking into a cell block, “Theodor Eduard. Can we talk with you…have a little off the record chat?”
“About?” Theodor said.
“Pavel Novak,” Anders said.
“Who?” Theodor said.
“The man who set you up,” Anders said, “You and the members of your RAF cell.”
“Name wasn’t Eduard,” Theodor said, “It was Arntzen, or something like that. Had a feeling he was working for the Chinese.”
“You came into contact with him in Armenia salvaging materials from a missile silo,” Anders said.
“I ain’t never been in no missile silo,” Theodor said, “Barely saw a missile even during the war. I don’t know nothing about that.”
“How did this Arntzen come into contact with you?” Angela said.
“He came to us with some building materials and big ideas,” Theodor said.
“What was he looking to build?” Anders said.
“Two...‘devices’,” Theodor said.
“Did he ever mention Black Cancer or black oil?” Anders said.
“Oh yeah!” Theodor said.
“What did he say?” Angela said.
“Found and refined by the Soviets and then seized by the Chinese,” Theodor said, “Zolton used it in the Gulf War.”
“You mean...used as bio-warfare?” Angela said.
“Why do you think they made them servicemen take all them pills?” Theodor said. “The Roman government knew about the Black Cancer. They lied. Didn’t have no cure...no inoculation.....I think we’ll quit right there. I got nothing more to say. I want my lawyer.”
“Let’s go, Anders,” Angela said.
“Wait a second,” Anders said, “You said there were two devices. Where’s the other bomb?”
“I ate it,” Theodor said.
Anders punched Theodor.
“You want to know about anarchy or equalism?” Anders spat. “You don’t tell me where that other bomb is and I’ll make sure you spend your prison time in solitary confinement or as a Bureau of Defense lab rat.”
Theodor gasped and groaned. “That idiot stole it, truck and all. A storage garage.”
“Where?” Anders said.
“Kars, Armenia,” Theodor said, “Could be headed for Persia now.”
Angela and Anders left the cell. Angela took out her phone.
“I’m going to get the license plates for any two-ton trucks stolen in Armenia in the last six months,” she said, “And Persian border police, in case. What about you?”
“Angie, this has been a big setup from the beginning, almost perfectly executed,” Anders said, “Someone used Pavel, then Pavel used us...someone who didn’t want that rock in Roman hands.”
“But what’s in Persia?” Angela said.
“Where would you put this rock if you didn’t want it to be found?” Anders said.
“Uh, no, you blow it up,” Angela said.
“Actually, that’s a good idea, but I was going at back in the ground,” Anders said.
Abandoned Imperial-Iranian Oil refinery, southwestern Persia – 3:00 PM
A helicopter landed outside the refinery, and Angela and Anders got out. They approached the truck and tried opening the door, but it was stuck. He noticed a pipe sticking out of the ground.
“I’m going to check out the refinery,” Angela said, walking off.
She went to a gate and climbed the fence. She heard a door closing and ran in that direction.
“Angie, I found something!” Anders said, pointing to the pipe. “There’s a box stuck in here but I can’t reach—"
The oil well next to him came on, coating the ground and Anders with oil.
“Oh come on!” he shouted.
He heard a beeping sound and looked down, seeing the box was a bomb. He ran away and dived for cover just as the bomb exploded.
Meanwhile, Angela entered the refinery and approached the valve room. The door was locked. She heard a gun clicking behind her and spun around, finding Ivan there.
“Privyet,” Ivan said.
“Great, another Russian assassin?” Angela said.
“I would just as soon kill you,” he said, “But please don’t make me. I finished my mission, sur posidive.”
Ivan disappeared into the refinery. Angela ran back outside and found Anders lying on the ground near the burning oil well.
“Not again…” she muttered.
Reichsrat subcommittee chamber, Constantinople – June 23, 1996, 9:00 AM
Romine pounded his gavel again. “I’d like to get started here. Frau Hansen?”
“Yes...I’m ready here, sir,” Angela said.
“You have evidence to present,” Romine said, “At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”
“Yes, evidence linking a number of deaths, a great number, to a biotoxin that was transported to Roman soil by a courier who was also killed,” Angela said.
“Is this the same man who was pushed from the Deputy Director’s apartment?” Sorenson asked.
“Yes,” Angela said, “He has not been ID’ed.”
“Do we have the name of the individual who pushed him?” Sorenson asked.
“Yes, sir,” Angela said, “Disavowed Athanatoi agent Pavel Novak...who is missing and, strongly likely, deceased.”
“And are you then in possession of the pouch or its contents?” Sorenson asked.
“No, sir,” Angela said.
The senators whispered to each other.
“What evidence are you then presenting us with today?” Sorenson asked.
“Documents and interviews in support of a wide-ranging conspiracy to control a lethal bio-toxin that is, in fact, extra-terrestrial in origin,” Angela said.
Sorenson chuckled. “Well...uh....what are we talking about...? Little green men, here?”
“No, sir,” Angela said, “Not at all.”
“Why is this so hard to believe?” Anders said. “When the accepted discovery of life off this planet is on the front page of every newspaper around the world? When the most conservative scientists and science journals are calling for the exploration and future colonization of Mars and Jupiter? With every reason to believe that life and the persistence of it is thriving outside our own terrestrial sphere? If you cannot get past this, then I suggest this whole committee be held in contempt, for ignoring evidence that cannot be refuted.”
“This is NOT why we are here today,” Sorenson said.
“Then why are we here today?!?” Anders said.
“Senator, I will suggest that we recess here until such a time that all the evidence can be properly evaluated.” Romine banged his gavel.
The smoking man stood up in the rear and left the room.
Tsarberg – 9:00 PM
Ivan returned to his apartment and found Pavel sitting in his chair.
“Okay, if you are here to ask another favor, I am retired,” Ivan said, “Go ask Agent Kirova, if you can find her.”
“I’m only here to congratulate you on a fine job,” Pavel said, raising a glass of vodka.
“Harasho,” Ivan said, raising another glass.
Sorenson’s office
Sorenson read the file on Anders’ findings in Tunguska, including a floor plan of the gulag and a description of the black oil experiments. Sighing to himself, he closed the file and handed it to the smoking man.
“You sure about this?” Sorenson said.
The smoking man tossed the file into a box of similar files.
“You know, Freiburg doesn’t complain as much,” the smoking man said.
“What about Agent Hansen?” Sorenson asked.
“We’ll take care of the problem,” the smoking man said, “But I think it’s best for all of us to just forgive…and forget.”
What would Wikipedia be like in this timeline? Would it be mostly the same as real life?
If the New England equivalent is the Rhineland and Alsace-Lorraine, then what are the Britannian Isles a parallel to, in that case?
If the New England equivalent is the Rhineland and Alsace-Lorraine, then what are the Britannian Isles a parallel to, in that case?
Yep, Wikipedia would be the same.
The British Isles are another parallel to the Deep South.
Maranasati, Part 1
St. Eudokimos Hospital – July 2, 1996, 9:00 AM
Angela looked down at the x-ray of her skull, especially at the large growth pictured. She knew exactly what it was, and she knew exactly what would happen. But she didn’t break down in that room. She held back her tears. Calmly, she reached into her pocket and took out her Walkman. She loaded an empty tape into it. Demetrios, knowing what she was doing, backed out of the room and closed the door. Angela hit record.
“Anders, I feel time like a heartbeat, the seconds pumping in my breast like a reckoning,” she said, “The luminous mysteries that once seemed so distant and unreal, threatening clarity in the presence of a truth entertained not in youth, but only in its passage. I feel these words as if their meaning were weight being lifted from me, knowing that you will read them and share my burden, as I have come to trust no other. That you should know my heart, look into it, finding there the memory and experience that belong to you, that are you, is a comfort to me now as I feel the tethers loose and the prospects darken for the continuance of a journey that began not so long ago, and which began again with a faith shaken and strengthened by your convictions, if not for which I might never have been so strong now. As I cross to face you and look at you incomplete, hoping that you will forgive me for not making the rest of the journey with you.”
She finished her recording just as Anders walked in, carrying a flower bouquet.
“How did you get past Demetrios?” Angela asked.
“Uh, he let me in,” Anders said, “I, uh, stole these from some guy with a broken leg down the hall. He uh, won't be able to catch me.”
Angela punched him in the arm.
“Yep, that’s the Angie I know,” Anders said, “How are you?”
Angela shrugged. “I guess that's the question. Actually I feel fine.”
“What uh, what exactly are we looking at here?” Anders asked.
Angela handed him the x-ray. “It's what's called nasopharyngeal mass. It's a small growth between the superior concha and the sinoidal sinus.”
Anders stared at him.
“It’s an inoperable tumor,” Angela said, “I’ve only told you and Demetrios. Haven’t told Mom and Dad yet.”
“But it's treatable, right?” Anders said.
“The truth is that the type and placement of the tumor make it difficult, to the extreme,” Angela said, “And Demetrios isn’t a neurosurgeon.”
“I refuse to believe that, I…” Anders said.
“For all times I have said that to you I am as certain of this as you have ever been,” Angela said, “I have cancer. It is a mass on the wall between my sinus and cerebrum. If it pushes into my brain statistically there is about zero chance of survival. I’m dead if that happens.”
“I don't accept that,” Anders said, “There must be some people who have received treatment for this, we can....”
“Yes, there are,” Angela said.
Erich’s office – 10:00 AM
Erich took off his glasses and started crying. Schulz got up and straightened his suit.
“I’ll show myself out,” he said, leaving the office.
Erich turned to Angela and hugged her, almost bawling into her shoulder.
“This news comes as the worst kind of surprise, Angie,” he said, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Dad, I didn’t know what to do,” Angela said, “I would really like to keep this confidential. I don’t want it to interfere with my work.”
“I’ll have to tell your mother,” Erich said, “And Schulz.”
“You’re going to take a leave of absence, right?” Anders said.
“No,” Angela said, “I've asked Demetrios to hold onto my medical records until you and I can exhaust a possible avenue of investigation.”
“Wait, investigation?” Erich said. “You have cancer!”
“Uncle, last year Angie and I pursued a case in which a number of women, purported abductees, experienced similar symptoms after having implants removed from the base of their necks or from their sinuses,” Anders said, “A woman in Lelow, Lesser Poland, named Brunhild Hagopian was undergoing treatment for nasopharyngeal tumor. We haven't been able to contact her yet.”
“I'm sure you're aware Schulz and I have contacts with the best physicians and medical facilities in both the Reich and elsewhere,” Erich said, “And Schulz knows. He lost his brother in Siam.”
“Thanks, Dad, but for my own reasons I'd like to like to pursue this through the Bureau of Justice rather than a personal matter,” Angela said.
“Angie, you’re my daughter, and you have cancer,” Erich said, “Do you know how hard it was to bury your sister? I don’t want to lose you too.”
“I know, Dad,” Angela said, “Which is why I want to do this.”
Erich sighed. “I guess if I can’t convince you otherwise, I’ll just get the paperwork in order. Just stay safe, okay?”
Brunhild Hagopian’s house, Lelow, Lesser Poland – 3:00 PM
Angela and Anders walked up to Brunhild’s house, where they saw a “For Sale” sign posted on the lawn. A woman, presumably the realtor, was peeling off the GUFON sticker on the window.
“I'm sorry, no early birds,” the realtor said.
“We're not here for the garage sale,” Angela said, “We're looking for Brunhild Hagopian. No one's returning our messages.”
“Sorry, Brunhild passed away, just 2 and a half weeks ago,” the realtor said, “Are you a relation?”
“A friend,” Angela said, taking out her badge, “And I’m with the Athanatoi.”
“Some kind of trouble?” the realtor asked.
“Not really,” Angela said, “Brunhild was part of a GUFON group?”
“I don’t know,” the realtor said, “I’m just the realtor.”
“Could we come inside and take a look?” Anders asked.
They walked inside. Angela looked around at the living room she remembered from last year. She saw some empty chairs where the women she met had talked with her last year. Then she touched the back of her neck, trying to feel around in the place she found the implant.
“Hey Angie,” Anders said, holding up his phone, “Hear the static? There’s two lines coming into this house. This one was lit.”
“Someone's sending a fax,” Angela said.
“Yeah but who and for what?” Anders said.
They walked downstairs and found a computer.
“Someone must have remote access to the system,” Angela said, “And is downloading data. Copying files.”
She took out her phone. “Let’s get a trace on this before they hang up.”
Apartment complex – 9:00 PM
Angela and Anders walked up to the building and rang the bell.
“Okay, Apartment 234 is listed under Kurt Corinth,” Angela said, “Go check around the back. I’ll get the manager.”
Anders walked around the building and walked up the stairs. A man came out the door and tried running away, but Angela drew her gun.
“Stop! Imperial agent!” she shouted. “Hold it! Put your hands where we can see them. Is your name Kurt Corinth?”
“Yes,” Kurt said.
Anders pointed at Angela. “Hey, Angie…”
Angela wiped away blood on her nose. “What? Stop staring at me, or I’ll punch you again.”
Apartment 324 – 9:05 PM
Anders knocked on the bathroom door. “You okay in there Angie?”
Angela finished washing the blood off and walked out. “I’m fine, you dolt.”
She noticed Kurt wasn’t in handcuffs.
“Did you—” she began.
“He says he's a member of the same GUFON group that Brunhild belonged to,” Anders said, “That he was downloading files for safe keeping as she had instructed him to.”
“Then why did he run?” Angela said.
“Maybe because you pointed a gun at him?” Anders said. “ He thinks his life's in danger, he thinks there's a government conspiracy to suppress the information gathered in those files.”
“Of course there’s always a conspiracy,” Angela said, rolling her eyes, “You sure he’s credible?”
“Well he seems to know an awful lot about Brunhild and the other women in the GUFON group you met in his house,” Anders said.
“Well, that will have to be cross-checked,” Angela said.
“We can't,” Anders said.
“Why?” Angela said.
“They’re all dead,” Kurt said.
Angela looked over at Kurt. “What?”
“They’re all dead,” Kurt repeated, “Brain cancer. All within the last year.”
“Everybody?” Angela said.
“From the group you met there's only Penny Nord, and she's in the hospital,” Kurt said, “It doesn't look good.”
“What makes you think this is a conspiracy, that the government's involved?” Angela said.
“What makes you think it isn’t?” Kurt said. “Eleven women are abducted, all with similar recollections of the experience, all developing identical brain tumors, and all refuse care with the Imperial Health Service or a private medical facility because of their insistence of the facts. And all dying within the space of a year.”
“Angie, I want you to listen to me,” Anders said.
“About what?” Angela said.
“About what you won't to admit to yourself, what you're denying,” Anders said.
“What am I denying?” Angela said.
“Where your cancer came from,” Anders said.
“So what if I got cancer from aliens?” Angela said. “Does it matter? What matters is I have cancer and I’m going to die from it.”
“It does matter, if what you have is a result of your abduction and that abduction is something the government knows about then those are facts that should be brought to light,” Anders said.
Angela sighed. “I don’t know what happened. I have no clear recollection, and what I ‘remembered’ through hypnosis is questionable and subjective at best. I could have been abducted or not, but I don’t have concrete proof. And you should know I’m more concerned about getting my affairs in order instead of aliens or Sentinel.”
“These women are dead,” Anders said, “Isn’t that proof?”
“No they are not, one woman isn't,” Angela said, “There's Penny Nord.”
“If you won't listen to me then I think you should go talk to her,” Anders said.
“About what?!” Angela said, raising her voice. “What it feels like to be dying of cancer? What it's like to know that there's absolutely nothing you can do about it? When you know you’re going to die soon?!”
“If that's too hard for you, I think you should call an investigator,” Anders said, “You have one remaining witness, Angie. I'd think you'd want to know what her story is.”
Angela sighed angrily.
Lelow Bethlehem Medical Center – 10:00 PM
Angela walked into the hospital room and sat next to the bed. Penny sat up on her bed and smiled at Angela.
“Hi, Angela,” she said.
“I'm...I'm sorry did someone tell you I was coming here to see you?” Angela said.
“No,” Penny said.
“Then how did you know it was me?” Angela said.
“I recognized you,” I told you when we met last year, I held you and comforted you in the place, after the tests.”
“I'm sorry, I don't mean to be insensitive, but uh, I don't remember much,” Angela said.
“It's alright,” Penny said.
“I've come to ask you some questions,” Angela said.
“About Dr. Scanlon?” Penny said.
“No,” Angela said, “Who's Dr. Scanlon?”
“He's treating the cancer,” Penny said, “He treated Brunhild too. He thinks he might have isolated the cause, and if he'd caught it earlier he might have been able to do more for her, and for me.”
Brunhild’s house
Anders’ phone rang, and he picked it up.
“Humboldt,” he said.
“It’s me,” Angela said, “I’m with Penny Nord at the hospital. Where are you?”
“I'm at Brunhild’s going through some of those hard files before stuff starts ‘disappearing’, and call me an early bird but I think I've found something,” Anders said, “Now some of these women who have died, they're childless, and they've been treated for infertility at the clinic about 30 miles from here. Penny Nord and Brunhild Hagopian are among them.”
“Anders that's..” Angela said.
“I've made some phone calls and I've tried to get some information but nobody is talking to me, so…” Anders said.
“Anders, I need you to come up here,” Angela said, “I need you to bring the overnight bag from the trunk of my car and I need you to call my mother and ask her to bring up some things at the hospital.”
“Is there something I should know?” Anders said.
“Anders, whatever you found or whatever you might find I think that we both know that right now the truth is in me, and that's where I need to pursue it, as soon as possible,” Angela said.
“I’m coming over now,” Anders said.
Apartment 324
Kurt heard a knock on the door. He got up and warily approached it.
“Agent Humboldt?” he asked.
The crew-cut man burst through the door and fired two shots at Kurt with his silenced pistol. Then he grabbed Kurt and stabbed him in the neck with a stiletto weapon. As Kurt’s body fell to the floor, it dissolved into green substance.
Lelow Bethlehem Medical Center – July 3, 1996, 8:00 AM
A middle-aged man in a lab coat walked up to Angela, carrying a clipboard.
“Angela?” he said. “I’m Dr. Scanlon. We spoke over the phone last night.”
Angela shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“How's your energy level generally?” Scanlon asked.
“Oh you know,” Angela said, “I don, I don't feel sick at all.”
“Your MRI's and your charts aren't here yet but I have an idea of what to expect, you probably do too from your medical training,” Scanlon said.
“I know the chemotherapy will make me sick,” Angela said.
“And the radiation,” Scanlon said, “They're both part of a high dose approach to knock your system down so we can attempt the gene therapy on P53. You're going to feel like dying.”
Magda Hansen walked into the room.
“Angie,” she said.
“Hi Mom,” Angela said,, “This is Dr. Scanlon.”
Magda shook Scanlon’s hand. “Took the first flight I could find up here. Ever think of opening up a clinic somewhere outside Poland?”
“We get that a lot,” Scanlon said, “We plan to do so when we get enough funding.”
“Mom, I'm fine,” Angela said, “I'm going to be fine, I'm just here for treatment.”
“I'll show myself out,” Scanlon said, walking out, “I've ordered some additional blood work and I'd like to start in this afternoon.”
“Thank you,” Angela said.
She turned to Magda. “Mom, I know what you're going say, but I don't have any experience being sick, unlike Anna. I promise you, I feel fine, I feel…”
“I don't know why you didn't tell me,” Magda said, “I don't know why you didn't tell me immediately. Your dad had to tell me. And he says he got it from Anders!”
“I wanted to get all answers first,” Angela said.
“And you found them here, in this random town in Poland?” Magda said.
“I have found some clarity, and maybe a way to fight back,” Angela said.
“I don't want to be kept in the dark,” Magda said.
“You'll know, Mom,” Angela said.
Magda hugged her tightly. “You have always been the strong one, but after Melissa you’re my only daughter now.”
“I know, Mom,” Angela said.
Magda started crying. “Oh, Angie.”
9:00 AM
Angela sat in her bed, waiting for the chemotherapy machine to be ready. Although her mother, waiting outside, was close to breaking down, she remained calm. She took out her Walkman and began recording again.
“In med school, I learned cancer arrives in the body unannounced, a dark stranger who takes up residence and then turns its new home against itself,” she said, “This is the evil of cancer, that is starts as an invader, but soon becomes one with the invaded, forcing you to destroy it, but only at the risk of destroying yourself. It is science's demonic possession. With my treatment, science has attempted exorcism. Anders, I hope that in these terms you might know it, and accept this stranger that so many recognize but cannot ever completely cast out. And if the darkness should have swallowed me as you read this, you must never think there was the possibility of some secret intervention, something you might have done. And though we've traveled far together, this last distance must necessarily be traveled alone. This is my fight, Anders, not yours.”
Scanlon entered the room just as she finished recording.
“We’re ready,” he said.
Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tschestochau – 9:30 AM
Anders quietly picked the lock on the doors and slipped into the building, where he sat down at a computer and booted it up. As it did so, he heard a window breaking and saw Kurt climbing in. He quickly drew his gun and aimed at him.
“I've got a gun pointed at your head, so turn around very slowly,” Anders said, “We seem to be traveling in the same circles these days.”
“You can put the gun away,” Kurt said.
“You disappeared with those files from Brunhild’s, and I called you at least half a dozen times,” Anders said, “I got to thinking you're a liar, now tell me I'm wrong.”
“I'm looking for the same thing you are,” Kurt said, “I've been trying to hack my way into that system but I can't make it past the password.”
“You think you can get access from here?” Anders said.
“I need to find that password,” Kurt said.
Anders picked up a nearby snow-globe and read the name on it. “Try Hügelsheim.”
Kurt typed it, and the computer chimed. They smiled.
“We’re in,” he said.
Lelow Bethlehem Medical Center – 1:00 PM
Angela woke up in her bed again and found Penny sitting next to her.
“Angela, it's okay,” she said, “You're safe.”
“I feel nauseous,” Angela said.
“It's the chemo,” Penny said, “The chemo's always the worst.”
“I had a bad dream,” Angela said, “Some..someone was doing something bad to me. You were there. I heard your voice.”
“They let me come to you during the procedures,” Penny said, “I don't know why, human compassion is not something that they have.”
“I'm sorry Penny,” Angela said, “I ca...can't hear this right now.”
“You've got to try to make sense of it Angela,” Penny said, “It will help you through the pain to understand why this is...this is happening to you.”
Schulz’s office – 3:00 PM
Anders barged into Schulz’s office.
“Hey, Director, I need you to set up a meeting for me,” he said.
“Where's Agent Hansen?” Schulz asked.
“She's at a hospital in Poland beginning treatment,” Anders said.
“What happened to your investigative avenues?” Schulz said.
“They've taken a turn, a pretty big U-turn by the looks of it,” Anders said, taking out a disk, “This is a file directory from a government operated fertility clinic. Angie’s name is on this file, although I'm pretty sure, pretty damn sure she's never undergone treatment for infertility.”
“What's in the file?” Schulz said.
“I don't know,” Anders said, “It's just a directory for a mainframe housed in the Lombard Research Facility, also in Lelow.”
“So you want to set a meeting, with whom?” Schulz said.
“Cigarette Guy,” Anders said, “I have no doubt in my mind he's behind this.”
“You've come to your uncle before like this Anders,” Schulz said, “Why me?”
“Because this is different, and you have influence,” Anders said, “And I'm willing to bargain.”
“Find another way,” Schulz said.
“No, no I need that meeting,” Anders said.
“You deal with this man, you offer him anything and he will own you forever,” Schulz said.
“He knows what they did to Angie,” Anders said, “He may very well know how to save her.”
“If he knows, you can know too but you can't ask the truth of a man who trades in lies,” Schulz said, “You saw what they did to your uncle. The Diet almost crucified me. I won't let you.”
“We are talking about Agent Hansen’s life here,” Anders said.
“If you do care about your cousin, find another way,” Schulz said.
Lone Gunman Office – 3:30 PM
“The Lombard system is a dedicated mainframe,” Rudolf said, “Impossible to hack, so they say.”
“How'd you guys get in?” Anders said.
“A modified clipper chip we cannibalized from a government surplus army field encoder,” Ragnar said.
“Bought it back from the Chinese,” Rudolf said.
“But for all the work it took to get it, what we got on Agent Hansen’s file…” Reinhard said, “I don't know how much help it's going to be.”
“What do you mean?” Anders said.
“It's a gene code we've seen before, Skye detected it in Hansen’s blood after her abduction,” Ragnar said.
“Does it tell us anything at all?” Anders said.
“Normal DNA is inactive in its usual form,” Ragnar said, “When it's unwound or branched like this one that's when it's active, when it can mutate.”
“It's probably what made her sick,” Reinhard said.
“Why store something like this and why keep it a secret?” Anders said.
“Scientists get angry about having their research poached,” Ragnar said.
“Someone might be trying to find a cause,” Reinhard said.
“Or a cure,” Anders said.
“Theoretically,” Rudolf said.
“You guys ever been to the Lombard Research Facility?” Anders asked.
All three men awkwardly stared at him.
“Well pick out something black and sexy and prepare to do some funky poaching,” Anders said.
Schulz’s office – 9:00 PM
The smoking man walked into Schulz’s office and sat down, smoking a cigarette as always.
“You know, it's funny, I always thought of you as Anders Humboldt’s patron,” he said, “Besides his uncle, of course. You'd think under your eyes that he wouldn't be consigned to a corner of the basement.”
“At least he doesn't take an elevator up to get to work,” Schulz said.
“You think I'm the devil, Director Schulz,” the smoking man said, “I know Assistant Director Hansen does.”
“I'm not here to talk about what I think about you,” Schulz said.
“Then why are you here?” Schulz said. “Is Agent Hansen under illness? Is it terminal, the cancer?”
“You tell me,” Schulz said, “Her father wants answers, and he’s not stupid enough to show up right now.”
“Modern medicine today, I hear they can perform miracles,” the smoking man said.
“Director Hansen needs a miracle,” Schulz said.
“Well, you think a lot more of me than you let on, Director Schulz,” the smoking man said.
“What would it take?” Schulz said.
“For Agent Hansen’s life?” the smoking man said. “What would you offer?”
“What'll it take?” Schulz repeated.
“Well, I'll have to get back to you on that,” the smoking man said, turning to the door, “Oh, by the way, which way is the elevator?”
I feared this was coming, but it's still not pleasant to see. I don't know how long Angela's story is supposed to be; this could well be her end.
Say, is Catman the world’s greatest detective like Batman. Actually since Anne got her training from literally Batman (I might use Batman interchangeably with Catman even through im talking about Tobas here since it’s much easier to refer to Batman since more people will understand that) I’m wondering how Anders and Angela’s cases would have gone if Anne was there involved in them since if she ever suspected a conspiracy, I imagine Anne learning a lot about the shadowy cabal before being assassinated. Then again she’s not Batman so who knows.
Tbh either Anders or Angela most definitely won’t become Batman/Catman, but if Anders were Batman what would that make Angela since I don’t her as a Robin type, maybe Batgirl (is there a Catgirl by the way)? And I’m not sure who the Smoking man would be if we where to Batman/Catmanify everyone in this AAR, I was thinking of Joker since he’s their main antagonist but that probably won’t work.
Wow I wrote a lot for what I thought would be a little joke and meme, ah well I still have more serious thoughts to share.
What is the design of Catman like since I’m wondering how it could be cool and imposing while still keeping the premise of Batman intact with its design differences. What are the differences of Batman and Catman outside of name (design like I said before, backstory, character traits, motivation,etc) And finally what would his cast of villains be like cause one of the reasons I personally like Batman is because of the cast of villain and characters around him. Also what would spefic stories like the Killing Joke and the Dark Knight Returns be like here. And what would the Christopher Nolan trilogy be like here?
I know you’re planning on more DC and Marvel discussions later on, but can we have brief summaries on what the Justice League and the Avengers/Vindicators are like or are they mostly the same?
Actually since Anne got her training from literally Batman (I might use Batman interchangeably with Catman even through im talking about Tobas here since it’s much easier to refer to Batman since more people will understand that) I’m wondering how Anders and Angela’s cases would have gone if Anne was there involved in them since if she ever suspected a conspiracy, I imagine Anne learning a lot about the shadowy cabal before being assassinated. Then again she’s not Batman so who knows.Tbh either Anders or Angela most definitely won’t become Batman/Catman, but if Anders were Batman what would that make Angela since I don’t her as a Robin type, maybe Batgirl (is there a Catgirl by the way)? And I’m not sure who the Smoking man would be if we where to Batman/Catmanify everyone in this AAR, I was thinking of Joker since he’s their main antagonist but that probably won’t work.
Wow I wrote a lot for what I thought would be a little joke and meme, ah well I still have more serious thoughts to share.
What is the design of Catman like since I’m wondering how it could be cool and imposing while still keeping the premise of Batman intact with its design differences. What are the differences of Batman and Catman outside of name (design like I said before, backstory, character traits, motivation,etc) And finally what would his cast of villains be like cause one of the reasons I personally like Batman is because of the cast of villain and characters around him. Also what would spefic stories like the Killing Joke and the Dark Knight Returns be like here. And what would the Christopher Nolan trilogy be like here?
I know you’re planning on more DC and Marvel discussions later on, but can we have brief summaries on what the Justice League and the Avengers/Vindicators are like or are they mostly the same?
Does Miami Vice still exist? Given that the drug problem in the Reich is less severe than in real life, and the series is made and set during World War III, when the Occupied Territories hadn’t been liberated yet, would it be the same as real life?
Would London be the same as real life, given that you moved many OTL events and locations in it to Constantinople and Berlin?
What was life like in West Berlin when it was divided? Was it mostly the same as real life?
Will the capital moving to Berlin affect the story arc? Just wondering, as Anders and Angela being based in Constantinople seems to be a very important part of the arc, given that all plot-important characters seem to either live there or spend much of their time there.
Would London be the same as real life, given that you moved many OTL events and locations in it to Constantinople and Berlin?
What was life like in West Berlin when it was divided? Was it mostly the same as real life?
Will the capital moving to Berlin affect the story arc? Just wondering, as Anders and Angela being based in Constantinople seems to be a very important part of the arc, given that all plot-important characters seem to either live there or spend much of their time there.
Anne probably wouldn't be assassinated, because her plot armor is even better than Angela's and Anders' (and her supporting cast isn't that big, so unlike Angela and Anders, whose luck translates into misfortune for the supporting cast, her supporting cast won't be affected much). I'd say she'd be Angela and Anders' best bet of alerting the Kaiser to the conspiracy, thought that is far from a given.Say, is Catman the world’s greatest detective like Batman.
Tbh either Anders or Angela most definitely won’t become Batman/Catman, but if Anders were Batman what would that make Angela since I don’t her as a Robin type, maybe Batgirl (is there a Catgirl by the way)? And I’m not sure who the Smoking man would be if we where to Batman/Catmanify everyone in this AAR, I was thinking of Joker since he’s their main antagonist but that probably won’t work.
No, Angela would also be Batman. Both of them would be equal partners instead of a hero-sidekick relationship. As for the smoking man, I'd think he would most closely be Lex Luthor (yes, he's a Superman villain, but none of the main Batman villains work well enough).
I'll post a detailed write-up in a separate comment after I post this.
I think it would still exist. Perhaps it would be called Dubai Vice, or maybe Neapolitan Vice (and involve the Italian mafia).
London would be smaller and not as developed as in real life, because it's not the center of a large colonial empire. However, it would still be a large provincial capital and industrial city.
About the same.
No, it won't much. While the capital will move back to Berlin, most of the government offices will take time to move back, and some agencies might remain in Constantinople (while officially moving their headquarters back to Berlin). Fun fact, I had originally wanted Angela and Anders to be based out of Berlin, but I decided Constantinople was a better fit.
Does that mean the game Hotline Mamimi would be Hotline Dubai instead (I think the gameplay and story would probably be the same)?
Also what is Film Noir like ITTL since you’ve already talked about other movie/tv generes like Westerns/Colonials before? Regarding Colonials, what would Red Dead Redemption be like here considering the themes in its story and its setting (one of the border countries with Mexico which plays a role in the plot).
Edit: I’m also going to add this question since this is a game I’m playing recently and enjoy (despite its insistence on killing off characters I like!
) and I figure it probably won’t be too different from real life, but what would Danganronpa be like here?
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I guess so then. I haven't played that, but I think it could be translated over to Dubai.
Film Noir would be even more popular because of World War II and people's grim memories of the Angeloi occupation. As for Red Dead Redemption, it would take place in Neurhomania, and Tawantinsuyu would fill in for Mexico.
Skimming the Wikipedia summary, I'm not sure if I can fit it into the universe without making it a cheap Hunger Games ripoff. I'll leave it up in the air for now.Edit: I’m also going to add this question since this is a game I’m playing recently and enjoy (despite its insistence on killing off characters I like!
Catman was inspired by real rumors of a crime-fighting vigilante in Berlin in the 19th century. This vigilante wore all black and a cat mask, from which Die Zeiten gave him the name Catman. Catman became a cornerstone of late Imperial Century popular culture, especially after being immortalized in a 1905 Sherlock Holmes story, “The Adventure of the Cat Masked Man.”
Set after Sherlock Holmes is found to have survived his encounter with the dastardly Moriarty, Sherlock is now hired by a rich nobleman to investigate a string of murders allegedly committed by the same man who killed the nobleman’s parents when he was a child. Making matters worse, a vigilante wearing a cat mask, dubbed the Cat Man, hunts down all of Holmes and Watson’s suspects. Sherlock quickly deduces the Cat Man is actually the nobleman in disguise. After setting aside their misunderstandings and different philosophies toward crime fighting, the two agree to work together to catch the murderer. After the murderer is locked away and awaiting judgment in court, the Cat Man disappears, while the nobleman gives up crime fighting and returns to his normal life, having avenged his parents. The nobleman thanks Holmes and declares he is an honorable man, expressing his willingness to work with him in the future, although never again as the Cat Man.
“The Adventure of the Cat Masked Man” catapulted the Catman from a peculiar legacy of late Imperial Century literature to a cultural icon and eventually one of the first modern superheroes. The Catman’s status as an antihero fighting to avenge his parents and right past wrongs endeared him to children and adults everywhere, especially as the economic crisis of the 1920s worsened and the specter of dictatorship loomed. He gained even more notoriety when the Angeloi banned him as part of their crackdown on “subversive and un-Roman speech.”
In 1939, as World War II broke out and the superhero genre began to boom, the success of Uberman prompted editors at Imperial Comics Publications (which would become DC Comics) to request more superheroes for its titles. In response, Robert Kane used his savings to acquire the rights to make a comic adaptation of Catman (the rights, while not that expensive, were a complicated matter, as Kane would have to go through the estates of Arthur Conan Doyle and an aristoi family which claimed Catman was based on one of their own, the legal team of Die Zeiten, and a Loyalist government agency which was still trying to clarify if Catman was in the public domain or the intellectual property of the two estates or the newspaper). However, Kane massively revamped the character, updating him from a late 19th century masked vigilante who resembled a highwayman to a true superhero.
Collaborator Wilhelm Finger recalled "Kane had an idea for how to redesign 'Catman,' and he'd like me to see the drawings. I went over to Kane's, and he had drawn a character who looked very much like Uberman with kind of ... reddish tights, I believe, with boots ... no gloves, no gauntlets ... with a small domino mask, swinging on a rope. He had claws sticking out from his boots looking like cat claws. And under it was a big sign ... CATMAN".
Finger suggested giving the character a cowl resembling cat ears instead of a simple mask, a cape instead of tights, and clawed gloves; he also recommended removing the red sections from the original costume. Finger said he devised the name Tavira Augustus for the character's secret identity: "Bruce Wayne's first name came from Beathan Tavira, the patriot at Ergyng. Augustus, being a playboy, was a man of the nobility. I searched for a name that would suggest nobility. I thought of Augustus Caesar."
Kane and Finger drew upon contemporary 1930s popular culture for inspiration regarding much of the modern Catman’s look, personality, methods, and weaponry. Details find predecessors in pulp fiction, comic strips, newspaper headlines, and autobiographical details referring to Kane himself. As an aristocratic hero with a double identity, Catman had predecessors in the Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro. Like them, Catman performed his heroic deeds in secret, averted suspicion by playing aloof in public, and marked his work with a signature symbol (his coat of arms, a heraldic lion). Finger, drawing inspiration from the Catman’s previous appearance in “The Adventure of the Cat Masked Man,” made the character a master sleuth.
The first Catman story, "The Case of the Chemical Cabal", was published in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). Finger said, "Catman was originally written in the style of the pulps", and this influence was evident with Catman showing little remorse over killing or maiming criminals. Catman proved a hit character, and he received his own solo title in 1940 while continuing to star in Detective Comics. By that time, Detective Comics was the top-selling and most influential publisher in the industry; Catman and the company's other major hero, Uberman, were the cornerstones of the company's success.
Over the course of the first few Catman strips, elements were added to the character and the artistic depiction of Catman evolved. Kane noted that within six issues he drew the character's jawline more pronounced, and lengthened the ears on the costume. "About a year later he was almost the full figure, my mature Catman", Kane said. Catman's characteristic utility belt was introduced in Detective Comics #29 (July 1939), followed by the boomerang-like catarang and the first cat-themed vehicle, the Cat-glider, in #31 (Sept. 1939). The character's origin was revealed in #33 (Nov. 1939), unfolding in a two-page story that establishes the brooding persona of Catman, a character driven by the death of his aristoi parents on the streets of Gothensburg, a fictional Roman city. Written by Finger, it depicts a young Tavira Augustus witnessing his parents' murder at the hands of who Tavira erroneously believes to be an Angeloi (after hunting him down years later, Tavira realizes he was just a simple mugger). Days later, at their grave, the child vows that "by the spirits of my parents [I will] avenge their deaths by spending the rest of my life warring on all criminals.”
The early, pulp-inflected portrayal of Catman started to soften in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940) with the introduction of Sparrow, Catman's junior counterpart. Sparrow was introduced, based on Finger's suggestion, because Catman needed a "Watson" with whom he could talk. Sales nearly doubled, despite Kane's preference for a solo Catman, and it sparked a proliferation of "kid sidekicks,” including Captain Reich’s sidekick Bucky Burkard. The first issue of the solo spin-off series Catman was notable not only for introducing two of his most persistent enemies, the Jester and Batwoman, but for a story in which Catman kill monstrous giants with a gun. That story prompted the DC editors to decree Catman could no longer kill or use a gun.
By 1942, the writers and artists behind the Catman comics had established most of the basic elements of the Catman mythos. In the years following World War II, DC Comics "adopted a postwar editorial direction that increasingly de-emphasized social commentary in favor of lighthearted juvenile fantasy". The impact of this editorial approach was evident in Catman comics of the postwar period; removed from the "bleak and menacing world" of the strips of the early 1940s, Catman was instead portrayed as a respectable citizen and paternal figure that inhabited a "bright and colorful" environment.
Catman was one of the few superhero characters to be continuously published as interest in the genre waned during the 1950s. In the story "The Mightiest Team in the World" in Uberman #76 (June 1952), Catman teams up with Uberman for the first time and the pair discover each other's secret identity. Following the success of this story, World's Finest Comics was revamped so it featured stories starring both heroes together, instead of the separate Catman and Uberman features that had been running before. The team-up of the characters was "a financial success in an era when those were few and far between"; this series of stories ran until the book's cancellation in 1986.
Catman comics were among those criticized when the comic book industry came under scrutiny with the publication of psychologist Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent in 1954. Wertham's thesis was that children imitated crimes committed in comic books, and that these works corrupted the morals of the youth. Wertham criticized Catman comics for their supposed homosexual overtones and argued that Catman and Sparrow were portrayed as lovers. Wertham's criticisms raised a public outcry during the 1950s, eventually leading to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority (no longer in use by the comic book industry). The tendency towards a "sunnier Catman" in the postwar years intensified after the introduction of the Comics Code.
In the late 1950s, Catman stories gradually became more science fiction-oriented, an attempt at mimicking the success of other DC characters that had dabbled in the genre. Catman's adventures often involved odd transformations or bizarre space aliens. In 1960, Catman debuted as a member of the Imperial Justice Alliance in The Brave and the Bold #28 (Feb. 1960), and went on to appear in several Justice Alliance comic series starting later that same year.
However, by 1964, sales of Catman titles had fallen drastically. Bob Kane noted that, as a result, DC was "planning to kill Catman off altogether”. In response to this, editor Julius Schwartz was assigned to the Catman titles. He presided over drastic changes, beginning with 1964's Detective Comics #327 (May 1964), which was cover-billed as the "New Look". Schwartz introduced changes designed to make Catman more contemporary, and to return him to more detective-oriented stories. The Catwagen was redesigned, and Catman's costume was modified to incorporate a yellow ellipse behind the lion insignia. The space aliens, time travel, and characters of the 1950s were retired.
The debut of the Catman cartoon in 1966 had a profound influence on the character. The success of the series increased sales throughout the comic book industry, and Catman reached a circulation of close to 900,000 copies. The show's campy nature was introduced into the comics. Although both the comics and TV show were successful for a time, the camp approach eventually wore thin and the show was canceled in 1968. In the aftermath, the Catman comics themselves lost popularity once again. As Julius Schwartz noted, "When the television show was a success, I was asked to be campy, and of course when the show faded, so did the comic books."
Starting in 1969, writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams made a deliberate effort to distance Catman from the campy portrayal of the 1960s TV series and to return the character to his roots as a "grim avenger of the night". O'Neil said his idea was "simply to take it back to where it started. I went to the DC library and read some of the early stories. I tried to get a sense of what Kane and Finger were after.” While their work was popular with fans, the acclaim did little to improve declining sales. Circulation continued to drop through the 1970s and 1980s, hitting an all-time low in 1985.
Franz Miller's limited series The Dark Crusader Returns (Feb.–June 1986) returned the character to his darker roots, both in atmosphere and tone. The comic book, which tells the story of a 55-year-old Catman coming out of retirement in a possible future to fight crime, culminating in a showdown with Uberman and an increasingly authoritarian Roman government, reinvigorated interest in the character. The Dark Knight Returns was a financial success and has since become one of the medium's most noted touchstones. The series also sparked a major resurgence in the character's popularity.
That year Dennis O'Neil took over as editor of the Catman titles and set the template for the portrayal of Catman following DC's status quo-altering miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths. O'Neil operated under the assumption that he was hired to revamp the character and as a result tried to instill a different tone in the books than had gone before. The dark trend was continued with 1988's 48-page one-shot Catman: The Killing Joke, in which the Jester, attempting to drive Commissioner Glucksburg insane, slaughters Glucksburg’s entire family for no reason (including fan favorite Barbara Glucksburg, also known as Cat-girl) and then kidnaps and tortures the commissioner, physically and psychologically. This one-shot is also known for providing the Jester’s origin story as a tragic figure driven insane by everything in his life going terribly wrong at the same time.
Catman's secret identity is Tavira Augustus, a wealthy Roman nobleman. As a child, Tavira witnessed the murder of his parents, Baron Theodor and Martha Augustus, which ultimately led him to craft the Catman persona and seek justice against criminals. He resides on the outskirts of Gothensburg in his personal residence, Schloss Augustus. Tavira averts suspicion by acting the part of a superficial playboy idly living off his fortune and the profits of Augustus GmbH, his inherited industrial conglomerate. He supports philanthropic causes through his nonprofit Augustus Foundation, but is more widely known as a celebrity socialite. In public, he frequently appears in the company of high-status women, which encourages tabloid gossip. Although Tavira leads an active romantic life, his vigilante activities as Tavira account for most of his time.
Catman faces a variety of foes ranging from common criminals to outlandish supervillains. Many of them mirror aspects of Catman's character and development, often having tragic origin stories that lead them to a life of crime. These foes are commonly referred to as Catman's rogues gallery. Catman's "most implacable foe" is the Jester, a homicidal maniac with a jester-like appearance. The Jester is considered by critics to be his perfect adversary, since he is the antithesis of Catman in personality and appearance; the Jester has a maniacal demeanor with a colorful appearance, while Catman has a serious and resolute demeanor with a dark appearance. As a "personification of the irrational", the Jester represents "everything Catman [opposes]". Other long time recurring foes include Batwoman, the Polar Bear, Ra's al Ghul, Double-Face, the Quizzer, Bane, Mudface, and Killer Gator among others.
Catman's body armored costume incorporates the imagery of a cat in order to frighten criminals. The details of the costume change repeatedly through various decades, stories, media and artists' interpretations, but the most distinctive elements remain consistent: a scallop-hem cape; a cowl covering most of the face; a pair of cat-like ears; a stylized lion emblem on the chest; and the ever-present utility belt. Catman’s catsuit aids in his combat against enemies, having the properties of both Kevlar and Nomex. It protects him from gunfire and other significant impacts. His gloves typically feature three long hooked claws that protrude from long, gauntlet-like cuffs, although in his earliest appearances he wore short, plain gloves without the claws. The overall look of the character, particularly the length of the cowl's ears and of the cape, varies greatly depending on the artist.
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I know I didn't talk much about the Nolan trilogy, but I think it should still be the same. And as much hate as The Dark Knight Rises gets, I think it should remain mostly the same, only with some slightly better dialogue. Also, it would ideally tie into the DC Extended Universe (which is much better here) somehow. I'm still working on that.
As for the Vindicators and Justice Alliance, their comic origins would be about the same. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, though, is different. I might post the Phase 1 MCU summaries when we reach the 2010s.
Absolutely love that breakdown on Catman, that's just more worldbuilding I appreciate. Also, we have the Jester so I'm happy.
Has the Mayapan capital moved back to New Peten yet? Just wondering, as I don't remember you mentioning it.
What are the A Series of Unfortunate Events books and the series based on it like in this universe? The Baudelaires, the main characters of the series, have French surnames, so will that element still be the same, as the French have almost been wiped out?
Does the Eragon film still exist, given how it removed and/or changed half of the plot? Just wondering, as Michael Bay doesn't exist because he makes terrible films.
What are the A Series of Unfortunate Events books and the series based on it like in this universe? The Baudelaires, the main characters of the series, have French surnames, so will that element still be the same, as the French have almost been wiped out?
Does the Eragon film still exist, given how it removed and/or changed half of the plot? Just wondering, as Michael Bay doesn't exist because he makes terrible films.
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The Mayan capital has been moved back to New Peten. I didn't mention it because I didn't have an event and just changed it in the save file at one point (I forgot exactly when).
Maybe the Baudelaires would have German or Occitan names instead. Otherwise the plot would be generally the same.
The Eragon film doesn't exist. Instead, there's a much better TV show.
Maranasati, Part 2
Lelow – 9:00 PM
Anders and Ragnar sat in their car just outside the mainframe, watching Rudolf and Reinhard break into a storm drain. After a few minutes, Rudolf and Reinhard got the cover off and vanished into the sewer.
“We'll double back in 50 seconds,” Ragnar said through his walkie-talkie, “Froniker, where are you guys?”
“We're in the K section in a storm drain where the communication system links up to public power,” Rudolf said, “Standby. Two minutes for a system check.”
“Let’s go,” Anders said, getting out of the car.
“We’re in motion,” Ragnar said, following Anders into the building.
“They’re in,” Rudolf said.
“Security cameras offline, patching in now,” Reinhard said, “Exterior security breached.”
“Smile, Biers, you're on Klar Kamera,” Rudolf said.
Ragnar and Anders reached a locked door.
“Lander, you reading this?” Ragnar said.
“Redundant systems, triple shut bypass…boy, this is going to be a toughie,” Reinhard said.
“You guys couldn’t spring for two of these?” Anders said,
“Humboldt, this will take a moment,” Reinhard said.
Anders saw doctors moving behind the window. He recognized Scanlon among them.
“The one time Angie gets treatment at a doctor who’s not Demetrios, he’s involved in some bad frakking juju,” Anders said.
“Come again?” Rudolf said.
“He’s on staff here,” Anders said.
“More mysteries await,” Reinhard said, “Bypass is complete.”
Anders turned to Ragnar. “Look I need someone to get to Angie to get her to stop treatment. Right now you're the only one who can do that.”
Ragnar nodded and ran off. Anders continued down the hallway.
“Lander, where the hell am I going?” he asked.
“Losing you on the video feed Humboldt,” Reinhard said, “Did you do anything Froniker?”
“Nah, I didn't touch a thing,” Rudolf said.
“Lander, can you hear me?” Anders asked, stopping at a door, “Lander, I can’t hear you.”
All he heard was static. Taking out his earplugs, he opened the door and found several individuals identical to Kurt.
“Agent Humboldt, come in,” one of the Kurts said, “We’ve been expecting you.”
“Oh, great, more clones,” Anders said, “Why is it always clones and not Sentinel?”
“Please come in so that we might explain,” the clone said.
Anders looked around and saw several liquid-filled vats with more clones inside.
“You've been using me,” Anders said.
“Not at all,” the clone said, “Your project just coincided with the execution of our objective.”
“What objective?” Anders said.
“Subverting the project,” the clone said, “The project that created us.”
“You’re making more clones of yourself,” Anders said.
“We're among the end results,” the clone said.
“And you want to destroy them?” Anders said.
“No,” the clone said, “What we want is the same thing that you want.”
The clone led Anders to a vault with several metal containers holding vials, each labeled with a different name.
“What are these?” Anders asked.
“Human ova,” the clone said.
“Taken from whom?” Anders said.
He saw a drawer with Angela’s name on it.
“Okay, this just got very creepy,” Anders said.
“During all similar abductions, a high application radiation procedure was conducted, which caused superovulation,” the clone explained.
“Why?” Anders said.
“For fertilization,” the clone said, “They constitute one half of the necessary raw materials.”
“For genetic hybridization, or reproduction,” Anders said, “You’re using these ova to create an alien-human hybrid.”
“They are barren now, from the same procedure that caused their cancer,” the clone said, “And now they're left to die, their conditions hastened by the men running this project.”
“You're trying to save them,” Anders said.
The clone nodded and handed one of the vials from Angela’s container to him. “Take it. Go now! They will be searching for you.”
Anders left the room and returned to the hallway.
“Humboldt, are you there?” Reinhard’s voice crackled in his earplugs. “We've got a security breach in section J14. RSB agents or something are headed your way.”
“You sure it's not Biers?” Anders said.
“I’m right next to him,” Ragnar said.
“Lander, help me out here, I don’t know where I’m going,” Anders said.
“You're in the bio-quarantine wing leading to an exit,” Reinhard said, “At the end of the hall you'll access a door to a bio-secure room. Working on the locks now.”
Anders ran to the end of the hall and stopped in front of the door.
“Okay, I’m here, open the door,” he said.
“The doors work on redundant systems, we're working fast,” Rudolf said.
An RSB agent appeared at the other end of the hall and started shooting in Anders’ direction.
“Open the frakking door now!” Anders shouted.
“Almost there...go!” Rudolf shouted.
The door beeped and clicked, and Anders ran through it.
Lelow Bethlehem Medical Center – 9:47 PM
Anders walked into Angela’s room, but it was empty. He noticed her Walkman lying next to her pillow and picked it up, playing the last recording she made.
Ragnar walked into the room.
“What happened to Angie?” Anders asked.
“I spoke to her,” Ragnar said.
They walked to Penny’s room and found Angela sitting by Penny’s bedside. Angela and Anders exchanged looks, and then Angela turned back to Penny.
“Dr. Scanlon isn't coming back?” Penny asked.
“No, I don't think so Penny,” Angela said.
“Angela, I want you to get well,” Penny said, “You've been such a comfort. You've got to be the one.”
Anders and Ragnar backed out of the room.
July 4, 1996, 5:05 AM
A nurse ran into Penny’s room, while Angela walked out and sat next to Anders, her face sad.
“She’s gone?” Anders said.
Angela nodded.
“I'm sorry,” Anders said, “I know what she meant to you. When I came to find you, I listened to some of your recordings.”
“I didn't want you to listen to that,” Angela said, “I had decided to erase that tape. I decided tonight that um...that I'm not going to let this thing beat me. I came into this hospital able to work, and that's how I'm leaving.”
Anders nodded. “Biers tell you about Dr. Scanlon?”
“Yes,” Angela said.
“He may very well have killed those women,” Anders said.
“That will have to be proven, if we find him,” Angela said.
“When we find him,” Anders said, “Angie, something was done to you, something that you're just beginning to remember. You can't quite figure it out but it can be explained and it will be explained. And no matter what you think as a scientist or a doctor, there is a way, and you will find it, to save yourself.”
“Anders, I can't kid myself,” Angela said, “People live with cancer. They carry on, and so will I. You know I've got things to finish, to prove to myself, to my family, to our family, but for my own reasons.”
They smiled and hugged.
“Come on back,” he said, “The truth will save you, Angie. I think it'll save both of us. “
Schulz’s office – 5:26 AM
Schulz had just gotten to his office when the phone rang. He picked it up.
“Schulz,” he said.
“I was just going to leave you a voice mail,” Anders said, “It's 5:30 what are y…”
“I'm working early,” Schulz said, “How can I help you?”
“I want you to know my cousin’s doing fine,” Anders said, “She says she's coming back to work actually.”
“Good, that's good to hear,” Schulz said.
“I was calling to thank you for your advice about Cigarette Guy,” Anders said, “I think you were right. We have to know what he knows, we just have to find another way.”
“There's always another way,” Schulz said, “Good to hear it. See you soon.”
They hung up. Schulz heard someone moving and spun around, seeing the smoking man sitting in one of his chairs.
“Yes I believe there is, if you're willing to pay the price,” he said, getting up and handing a folder to Schulz, “Are you?”
Schulz sighed and took the folder. “Yes.”
The smoking man smiled. “Glad to hear it.”
He turned and left.