Untitled

To Trap An Animal
By Rilei S. Gateland & Krystina Stressman

About Mid October before the Presidential Elections.in the United States
(This however takes place in London)

*These brackettes <> indicate that this is part of Grace's Journal Entry*

Grace's Journal Entry:

"Computer, begin speech recognition programming."

<Hello, my darling! I am sitting in my office in the UK/I contemplating our future once you are born. I want you to understand everything in the years to come when our planet is once again free and the biggest problems that parents have to face concerning their children is whether or not they do well in school. I won't lie you, my lamb, for our world is in great danger, perhaps the greatest we've ever faced as the human race. I work each day with the Liberation movement to ensure that you'll, my precious, will have a chance to grow up and to thrive as you deserve. That's what all the Liberation is fighting for. . . .
Over the next few years you will hear terrible things about what the Liberation has been forced to do in order to ensure our survival. But, my dear, I want you to know the truth. The Liberation consists of some of the most courageous men and women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I have made many wonderful friends through this movement and I have lost them as well. Part of this journal will be dedicated to preserving their memories so that history may never forget their sacrifice for humanity. . . .>

    Agent Colin Grey had entered the hallway that lead to Grace's office only a few moments ago. He had overheard the last part of her speech and he decided then to investigate whatever it was she was doing. It was not like an implant, whatever it was. He waited until she logged off before entering her office without the slightest indication that he had overheard her. .
                     . .
    "Agent Whitney. . . ."

                     * * *
    Over the next several days, Colin watched Grace hoping to catch her accessing what he had come to believe was a journal of sorts. He set cameras that were inside the embassy to watch her. . . .
    Finally on the third day, Grace decided to make another journal entry while in her office. . . .
    "Agent Whitney, you are mine. As soon as I can I am going to see what little secrets you have been hiding from the Companions!" he murmured as he watched her. . . .

                     * * *
    Tara had just entered Colin's office with her usual stealth and saw who he was watching. Not only that, she had heard what he'd said. ~Oh no!~ she thought. Colin was going to have to be watched, since he obviously     suspected something. The question was what . . . Quietly, she stepped into the shadows to observe him for a moment, but nothing else happened. He just hunched over his security monitor watching Grace . . . Stepping back into the light, she cleared her throat, and Colin turned to her immediately, turning off the screen.
    "Just how long have you been there?" he asked, with obvious annoyance.
    "Only a moment," she lied, with cold indifference in her eyes.
    Something seemed to tickle his mind about her. Some memory that wanted to surface, but wouldn't. Her very presence irritated him. There was something about her that he didn't trust. He didn't trust her anymore than he trusted Grace Whitney, and yet, Zo'or seemed to value her. Why, he couldn't fathom . . . Was is because of the illegitimate child she carried, he wondered. Was it of Taelon origin? But if that were the case, he reasoned, Zo'or would have kept Commander Carmichael very near. Instead, here she was, working for Na'ar . . . He had requested her . . . And Zo'or did not trust Na'ar. There was something going on in this Embassy, but he couldn't put his finger on it. But he would sooner or later . . .
    "Why are you here?" he asked, with an icy tone.
    "We have business to discuss with Na'ar's upcoming speech to the public next week, or have you forgotten?" she asked snidely.
     He gave her a disdainful look. "No, I have not! But I will state that you are to knock before entering my office."
    "Then you will also do me the kindness," she replied, since he was notorious for simply barging in on people as if trying to catch them at something.
    She could see his face flush red as he tried to hold his temper in check. "I will meet you in the security room for the discussion momentarily . . . Now, if you don't mind, LEAVE!"
    For a few seconds they stared each other down, but seeing no point in the confrontation, Tara turned and left the office. Walking toward the security room, she thought of Grace and began to worry.
    ~Grace? I need to talk to you . . . There's something you should know about . . .~ she mentally projected.
    ~What?~ Grace replied.
    ~Mr. Colin Grey is watching you . . .~

                     * * *
    Grace quickly finished up some paperwork she had and then she opened up the special computer program that Augur had made for her to keep her journal on.
    "Computer, access program A.D.W and initiate security protocols for that program." Grace commanded.
    "Program accessed. State security code now within 15 seconds." the computer replied.
    "Code alpha alpha 94723 tango joi gin beta 45 artist 99 enable." Grace said.
    "Code confirmed. Accessing records. Would you like to start a new journal entry for this date?" it asked.
    "Yes, computer, I would. Computer, begin speech recognition programming."

* * *
"Blast it! Kindly say who the leader is of the US Resistance faction of you please, Ms. Whitney." Colin Grey muttered but Grace went on to other subjects.

                     * * *
    "Computer, end journal entry and closed down computer programming." Grace said. She stood up from her desk and stretched.
    ~Grace? I need to talk to you. . .There's something you should know about. . .~ Grace suddenly heard Tara's thoughts sent in her direction.
    ~What?~ Grace asked back immediately.
    ~Mr. Colin Grey is watching you. . .~ Tara replied.
    ~What?!! Are you sure?~
    ~I'm positive! I just caught him in the act of it!~ she replied.
    ~How long was he just watching me?~ Grace asked.
    ~Long enough to watch you whatever you were just doing last.~ Tara replied.
    ~Oh my. . .Tara, could you meet me for lunch or tea? We need to talk away from Mr. Grey's prying eyes.~ Grace asked.
    ~Sure, I have a meeting with Grey first but I should be clear for lunch. I'll see you then, okay?~
    ~Okay. Tara, be careful around him, would you, please?~
    ~That you can count on.~

                     * * *
    The Briar Rose Room at the Saxony Hotel was quiet and elegant. The perfect place to get away from it all. The walls were covered with soft pink roses on the wallpaper. Classical music played in the background and     there were several windows making the place appear light and airy, though the windows were covered by sheer white curtains to afford the patrons privacy, which is exactly what Tara and Grace wanted.
    As soon as they arrived, they were shown to a table. But both were still very anxious, though it wasn't apparent to anyone around them, only to themselves.
    "Sorry, that meeting took a little longer than I planned . . . But I think I prefer Tea to lunch anyway . . ." Tara said, trying to be pleasant under the circumstances.
    "I have been on pins and needles since you told me Grey was watching me. Tara, there's a chance he overheard me talking about the Liberation. If he goes to Zo'or then not only are my baby and I in danger but I've also placed Da'an in a compromising position. He knows that I work with Jonathan Doors." Grace said.
    Ever since early in the day she looked pale and she looked as though she might throw up at any second. When Na'ar had seen her, he told her to take some time that afternoon to rest. Grace didn't argue with him. She left the embassy and went home. She took a restless nap until Tara called her to invite her out for tea so that they could discuss Grey's nosing around.
    "Well, he's definitely a threat . . ." Tara said.
    Suddenly a server came to the table and they ordered what they wanted for tea. Within moments, and steaming pot of tea with two beautifully decorated cups arrived along with sugar, cream, honey and lemon slices. Tara poured the tea for them both, and added cream and sugar to her's. As she stirred the liquid with a spoon, she was lost in her own worries.
    "I don't think he's going to tell Zo'or yet . . ." she replied, "I can't explain why, but I think he wants to know something else from you first . . . Then the ax will fall . . ." She shuddered. She wasn't sure what to do.
    "Tara, was I stupid to keep my journal there at the embassy?" Grace asked quietly as she added sugar to her own tea.
    Tara sighed. "No . . . You thought your office was safe . . . Now we know that Colin has cameras everywhere. I'm sure my office is equipped the same way . . . " She took a tentative sip of her tea and set it back down. "I knew Colin was dangerous, but I didn't realize just how much so."
    "Dangerous is definitely the word to describe him. He's also paranoid. Hmmm, I wonder if he watches Na'ar as well with security cameras . . . And I wonder if he's tried to access my journal yet." Grace said and sipped    her tea. "One thing is for sure, we need to find out what Mr. Grey knows from me and from my journal."
    "We have to figure out what we can do . . . Does your journal have a feature where it will automatically destroy itself if someone other than you accesses it?" Tara asked, her mind trying to think of options.
    "Augur created it for me and when he gave me the program he told me that as a security precaution he had placed that feature on it. But Colin Grey is intelligent and devious enough to devise a way around that feature if he really wanted to read my journal." Grace said, thinking about what Augur had told her. "Or maybe I am just being the paranoid one now." Grace said with a shrug.
    "No . . . I am sure Colin COULD find a way around that feature. He is very intelligent . . . Too bad he uses it for Zo'or," she replied. Suddenly, a tray arrived filled with finger sandwiches. Tara grabbed a watercress sandwich and nibbled it. Though the stress had cut down her appetite, she was always hungry. Between her own body's needs and the needs of the baby, there was still Chiron . . . She was eating for three!
    Grace picked up a ham and cheese sandwich and nibbled at it. She wasn't really all that hungry but she ate because of the baby and her skrill. "It's too bad that Colin doesn't use his intelligence for the good of humanity. He'd make a good double agent for us. But I am not sure that I could ever trust the man." She took a sip of tea and picked up another sandwich as she realized that she was more hungry than she had thought originally. "The question is: What do we do about Mr. Grey?"
    Tara grabbed another sandwich and again nibbled on it. Stopping long enough to take a sip of tea. She was troubled. How could they deal with this man . . . ?
    She sighed and looked right into Grace's brown eyes. "Right now, I think the best course of action would be to just wait and see . . . As I said . . . There's something he wants from you first before he goes to Zo'or. We'll
have to keep him from finding out what he wants until we can think of something better and more permanent . . ." With that, she downed the rest of her tea and poured herself another cup.    Suddenly, she felt a light flutter in her belly, and smiled. "There's some brightness to this day," she said, "I just felt my baby move!"
    Grace couldn't help but smile at that.
    "Whatever we do we'd better stop worrying soon because I'm sure that it isn't good for our babies." She switched the subject back to Colin. "I am going to keep up my journal entries for the benefit of Colin but I am     also going to be cautious in what I say. I'd better not name any names he doesn't know. We'll just bide our time with him and wait for him to make his move."
    Tara nodded. That's the best course of action. We keep acting normal, but cautiously . . ."

                     * * *
    Over the next week, Grace noticed some very peculiar behavior from Colin Grey. For one thing, he always came into her office about something that Na'ar wanted done after she got finished making an entry to her journal. One day he came in when Ken Grayson was there to see her.
    "Pardon me, I didn't know that Agent Grayson was here to see you."
    ~Of course you did!~ Grace shot back in her thoughts.
    "We've received a new lead regarding the local faction of the Resistance movement. Na'ar wishes for us to investigate it within the next few days." Colin said and laid a piece of paper on her desk.
    "Very well, Mr. Grey, but why aren't you asking Carmichael to help you with this?" Grace asked.
    "Na'ar requires her services elsewhere. Now if you'll excuse me." he said and left.
    "So, that's the. . ." Ken began and became silent when Grace signaled for quiet.
    "In that case, would you like to join me for lunch/dinner?" he asked.
    "Of course I would. Just let me finish up these few things that Da'an wants done." Grace said.
    Within half an hour, Grace and Ken had left. A shadow moved towards her darkened office and activated her computer.
    "Let's see what you've been saying in your journal. Preferably I hope you used names, Ms. Whitney." Colin Grey muttered as he began the procedure to override the security on her computer. . .

    Suddenly, the lights came on. Quickly, he deleted the current screen and turned to find himself staring at a puzzled and annoyed Tara Carmichael. In her hand were some files.
    "Mr. Grey . . . What a surprise . . . And just what are you doing here?" she asked, her green eyes flashing her irritation.
    "I could ask you the same question," he replied, flippantly, his own dark gaze staring into her eyes.
    "I have a reason, Sir . . . Unlike yourself, I suspect . . . I am delivering some files that Agent Whitney requested so she could finish up some of her open cases. Just what are you doing here?" she asked.
    "What I am doing here is none of your business, Commander," he replied.
    "Oh, but I think it is . . . After all, I AM the Head of Security around here. It is my job to know who is doing what and where so that I can keep Na'ar safe." Tara was finding it difficult to keep the anger and contempt from her voice as she remained cool.
     For a moment, the two had a stare-down. Neither one willing to turn away. Both wanting the other to give in first. It was a silent war of wills . . . Suddenly, he turned away as if he had had enough of this game because he might not win it.
    "I was here to check on a file Agent Whitney was working on for me. Nothing more," he replied coldly.
    "Really? Well, perhaps next time you should wait until she is in her office before trying to access her files . . . Someone might get the wrong impression," she stated, adding a mildly threatening tone.
    With that, he tossed her one more scathing glare and walked out of the room.
    ~I will get into that Journal . . . Maybe not tonight, but I will get into it!~ he thought angrily, ~And no little Miss Annoyance will stop me . . .~
    As Tara set the files down on Grace's desk, she let out a breath. Grace hadn't requested the files. Tara had seen Colin enter Grace's office using the same security camera he did for his surveillance of Grace. She knew
she had to stop him from getting into the journal, but knew she couldn't do that again. Colin would start suspecting something, and she KNEW he would be back.

                     * * *
    Grace shut her global with a sigh. Ken was driving her back towards the embassy when Tara had called her and had told her that she had just caught Colin trying to access her journal.
    "I'm going to go see Augur tonight I think. I need to know exactly what kind of security he put on it. Tara, keep Grey away from my office if you can. I won't be gone long tonight." Grace said.
    [All right, I'll try to keep him out of your office.]
    "Ken, will you shuttle me over to see Augur, please?" she asked.
    "Of course I will." he replied and from the look on his face she could see that he was worried too.

                     * * *
    Augur sighed in irritation when HoloLili announced a visitor at the door. He looked over in her direction and smiled at HoloLili. She was dressed up in pale pink pajamas, the kind that had the feet in, and she was           clutching a teddy and she had her thumb in her mouth when she wasn't speaking. . .
    "Who is it?" he asked.
    "It's Grace."
    "By all means, let her in." he replied.
    "Right away, Auggie." HoloLili replied, causing Augur to grimace. Augur faced the doors just as Grace emerged.
    "Well, what do I owe this unexpected-"
    "Augur, I need to talk to you about my journal." Grace said, cutting right to the quick.
    "Okay. . .What's the problem? Don't you like it?" he asked.
    "The journal is fine. What I need to know is what kind of security you programmed into it. I have a certain Taelon agent right now snooping around, trying to break into my journal. Augur, I have some *very* sensitive    materials in that journal, material that would expose me, Tara, Lili, Liam, Doctors Belman and Park ALL as Liberation agents! I've also recorded some things in there that would endanger Da'an's life should Zo'or ever see it." Grace said.
    "Whoa. Why did you put all that onto your journal?" Augur asked.
    "I wanted to make a record for my daughter. She needs to someday know the truth about what we're doing here, she needs to know the truth about the Taelons and their agenda for humanity. I thought that the journal would be a safe place to record everything for her. Now what kind of security DID YOU program for it?"
    "I programmed a DNA and voice recognition program into it. I also programmed into it the ability to self-destruct if an outside besides yourself or your daughter tries to access it. Who's after your journal?" he        asked.
    "Colin Grey, Na'ar's attaché. Tara caught him in my office, trying to access my journal. Is there a chance that he could do it?" Grace asked as she paced around the room. Augur rubbed his goatee with his hand as he gave her question some thought.
    "He could do it but he'd have to have one !@#$ of a piece of sophisticated equipment to bypass every safety I put in that program." Augur replied.
    "I was afraid you'd say that. Grey is a Companion agent and he has access to the most sophisticated equipment in the world." she said and finally she sat on the couch. Augur sat down beside her.
    "I have an idea on how to frustrate Mr. Grey to no end. Now suppose, just suppose we. . ."

                     * * *
    A few days passed. With a sigh, Grace closed her journal down, grabbed her jacket and after gathering the rest of her belongings left her office for the evening. She quickly made her way towards the parking lot and got    into her car.
    Colin Grey watched her leave the embassy's grounds and quickly made his way towards her office. She had placed specific contact names in the journal tonight and perhaps she had listed a rendezvous point tonight. Or at least, that is what he hoped.
    He left the lights off in her office this time, despite the fact Carmichael had also left for that evening too. He wanted to take no chances that someone would discover him in Whitney's office tonight.
    After a few minutes he gained access to Grace's journal and he began to read everything she had written. Finally he read the current entry. It gave a time and address for a rendezvous with one of her Resistance contacts and the meeting was set for tonight.
    In her car, Grace's global beeped.
    "Grace, he's accessed the journal." Augur's voice said.
    "Good."
    "Just be careful, ma cheri. I don't want to lose you or the baby," Augur said.
    "I'll be careful, Augur. Don't worry." Grace said and broke the connection.
    "Tara, are you ready to move?"
    Tara looked over at Grace behind the wheel of the car and nodded. "Let's go grab a coffee first. The meeting isn't for two hours yet."
    "Sounds good," she replied, starting the car and heading to a little coffee house nearby.

                     * * *
    The girls spent the time sipping mochas and discussing what was about to happen. After all, they were setting up Colin Grey. What would happen? Neither of them wanted to think about what would happen when he saw Grace there. Would he say anything? Would he want to talk? Of course he would want her alive. He would want to take Grace to Zo'or for questioning . . . interrogation . . . He would want every piece of Resistance information in her head. Tara was the only Ace in the hole. Colin would not count on her being there. And though Grace was willing to kill Colin, Tara had other plans. What he didn't know, wouldn't hurt anyone . . .
    After they finished their mochas, they headed back out to the car and drove off toward a bad part of London where there were several abandoned warehouses. Grace stopped a block away from their final destination so    Tara could get out and walk. They felt it was a safe distance that would keep her from being spotted by Colin. As Grace continued, she tensed up and subconsciously ran her hand over the pocket where she had stashed the gun she was prepared to use. She pulled into the specified warehouse drive and continued up to the building. She did a quick surveillance and seeing nothing out of the usual, she slowly entered the dark, foreboding building.
    Once inside, she went to a table that had been set up previously and turned on a small lamp. To her surprise, she saw Colin standing behind her to the left in her peripheral view. Immediately, she acted surprised to see him.
    "So, Mrs. Whitney, what brings you here to this dark and dreary place all alone?" He asked, his dark eyes glinting with menace.
    All she could do was look at him in surprise.
    "Agent Grey, what are you doing here?" Grace asked, when she found her voice.
    "I think the better question is to ask what you're doing here, Mrs. Whitney," he replied, taking a step closer to her.
    "I came here to meet with one of my information brokers regarding some reports of Resistance activities." she replied. He smiled coldly and pulled out his global.
    "Really, Agent Whitney? At this hour of the night?" he asked.
    "My broker is not the type who likes to be identified for the information he sells. As it is, you've most likely scared him off." Grace said turning to leave.
    "'The meeting with the movement's leadership is set tonight. At 1:40 AM.' Shall I go on?" Colin asked looking up from his global.
    "Where did you get that?" she asked, not turning around. She pulled her gun out to where he could see it.
    "I downloaded it from your desk. It makes for some interesting reading that I am sure Zo'or will find equally interesting. You're under arrest, by the way." he said. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll see to it your baby lives             despite the fact that no doubt you will be executed for treason, after being interrogated of course, and I'm sure once he sees this about Da'an, Da'an will be asked to join the void for his own treason. But at least you'll be    taking a Taelon with you." he said mocking her.
    Grace leveled her gun at him. . .
    "I don't think so, Grey." she said and cocked the gun, preparing to fire. . .
    In the blur of an instant, Tara appeared beside Colin Grey. His eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't see her around. He hadn't see anyone around and had not felt her presence. It was rare for him to not notice the             presence of someone nearby. It had been one of the attributes that Zo'or had admired about him. But Tara always seemed to be like a ghost to him. Always alluding this sensory perception of his. Quickly, Tara gently, but firmly touched his face, his eyes closing, unable to fight her mind as it penetrated his, as it had done before, when she had blanked out a conversation he had barged in on between her and Na'ar. This was going to be       the same thing. She was going to have to suppress his memories of Grace and her journal. In their place, she was going to have to give him something to remember. She made him remember her and Grace as a dedicated agents and that he hadn't found anything suspicious about them. And on top of that, he had              accompanied them to this warehouse under the guise of finding Resistance members, but none were to be found. Only remnants of what might have been a hideout at one point. All of this done, she stepped away from him and to Grace. She knew it would take him a moment to recover.
    In a whisper she explained, "I thought this would be a better way."
    "What did you do to him?" she whispered back in turn.
    "I just changed his memories, now hurry and hide the gun!" Tara explained as she noticed Colin's dark eyes opening.
    He seemed momentarily confused as he looked around. His eyes falling on the women several steps away. He could feel the beginnings of a headache. Something he had not experienced in a long time.
    "Mr. Grey, are you not feeling well?" Tara asked, acting concerned.
    He shook his head slightly. "I have a headache . . . What . . . did we find?" He asked looking at the table, the lamp and scattered chairs around the warehouse.
    "Nothing. We didn't find a thing. Obviously the lead we were given was false or very outdated . . ." Tara explained.
    Grace followed her lead. "This place hasn't been used in a long time. This layer of dust is a testament to that . . ."
    "Looks like we'll have to try to find another lead if we're going to get any of these Resistance Members."
    Colin, having now regained his senses, nodded to the women. "Very well," he replied. "Ms. Carmichael, write up the report on this evening's events and have it on my desk by tomorrow morning."
    She nodded. "I'll do that," she answered.
    With that, he walked out of the warehouse with an odd sensation, as if something more had happened, but he couldn't recall. He knew it was preposterous that anything of the sort could happen as long as he had a CVI . . . But he couldn't shake the sensation. Quickly, he got into his car and sped off toward his home and away from the place that caused such unsettled feelings within him. Inside the warehouse, Tara and Grace listened for Colin's car to drive off. When they were sure he was gone they both breathed a sigh of relief.
    "Are you sure he doesn't remember anything of what really happened?" Grace asked with concern in her soft brown eyes.
    "He shouldn't remember a thing, except what I planted in his head. But I still plan on keeping and eye on him, just in case . . ."
    "What if he does remember, Tara. He'll remember you . . ."
    "Then we'll both be in danger," she replied matter-of-factly.
    "But what then . . . Maybe you should have let me kill him . . ." Grace stated. She loathed the man.
    "No, this is the better way. As you know the old saying, 'Better the Devil you know, than the Devil you don't.' Zo'or could send us someone worse."
    "Worse than Mr. Colin Grey?" Grace asked with incredulity. "I find that hard to believe. But either way, what will we do if he does remember tonight as it really happened?"
    "Do yourself a favor," Tara said, "Don't trouble yourself with it. If we come to that bridge, it will be handled. But let's hope we won't have to."
    Not wanting more details, Grace relaxed a bit. "What should we do now?"
    "Let's get something to eat. I'm famished!"
    With smiles brightening their faces, trying to leave behind their concerns, they walked out of the warehouse to Grace's car and headed to an all-night restaurant.