Cloud to Cloud

Episode 28: Another Visit to Fred's House

The van rolled to a stop outside Fred's house, blocking the driveway.

"This it?" Linus's companion put the van in park.

Linus removed his camouflage jacket at tugged at the sleeves of his black shirt.

He tossed his jacket into the rear corner of the van and stepped into the cargo space. From the mounted cabinets along the vehicle walls he pulled a small black box.

"Do you need me to set that for you, Mr. Atticus?" His companion peered from the driver's seat.

"No thank you." Linus offered a taunt smile to the younger man. "I think I can recall how to use a device I aided in building."

The young man swallowed and returned a sheepish nod. "Right. I forget sometimes."

"It happens." Linus turned his full attention to the black box device.

He sighed as he reminisced of his first encounter with the much larger black boxes. His mind flashed to the Serapeum of the Library of Alexandria, adorned in sashes bearing crosses. He imagined the heat of the flames that licked the scrolls and manuscripts.

His thoughts receded as he and his companion emerged from the sliding door of the van and snuck to the rear of the house.

His cohort kept watch as Linus planted a small digital device among the shrubbery. He set the timer and slipped back along the walkway beside the house.

Linus glanced through the side window to see a somber Evan staring at a seemingly blank screen. "If this one is the architect this will solve Wave7's problems for another generation."

"Mr. Atticus. Please, sir. Come on." Linus's companion hissed from the driver's seat of the van.

Linus hopped into the passenger seat and slammed the door as they pulled away.

"I mean no disrespect, Mr. Atticus, but do you think it will be this easy to deal with the architect?" The young man watched the house shrink in the rear view mirror.

Linus shrugged his coat onto his shoulders. "I can only do as much as those above my station will allow, and hope it is enough."

Linc's countenance shifted mid-sentence.

"What?" Evan smirked at Linc's sudden look of concern.

"Hey. Buddy." Linc scanned the space surrounding Evan. "We've been chatting a while. You still live in a biosuit. Take a break. Go get some fresh air. I'll be here," Linc assured him.

"Don't worry about it." Evan leaned back in his chair. "Fred's place is nowhere near as stuffy as our old commo-van. I'm fine. And check it out. No squeaking chairs."

Evan laughed. He felt a lightness only familiar in distant memory.

"No." Linc's tone had turned stern. "You need a break. Now."

"Shit. If you're going to order me around." Evan shoved his chair back. "I'll hit the head and be right back."

"No." The frame surrounding Linc's image began to emit a dark aura. "Outside. Take a walk. Up the street. Get some air. Or a beer at that bar a couple blocks away."

The chat window abruptly closed. A moment more and the screen flickered out and blinked to black.

Aggravation pulled Evan to his feet. "Damn cables."

He struck the side of the screen. Dropping to his knees, he wiggled the array of wires stemming from the tower and monitors.

"Go." Linc's voice filled Evan's ears.

"Well. Hell. I guess I'll take that break, now." Evan pushed up from the floor.

At the front door Evan stopped. Air filled his lungs as he stretched. "Okay. Maybe I did need a stretch."

"Keep going." The persistent din of Linc's voice permeated Evan's every thought.

"Damn it. If this is how you're going to be, I'm going to pop a couple pills to shut you down."

As Evan's feet touched the curb of the street in front of the neighboring house, a faint glow filled his peripheral vision.

From the side of Fred's house, ripples of electricity rattled a row of flower pots.

Lights in neighboring houses flickered. A dull rumble reached out to Evan as he turned to face the light.

"Down!" The order assaulted on his ears.

Evan was blown into the street by a rush of air and energy. A rain of glass sprayed from the windows of Fred's house peppering Evan with the shrapnel. Electric popping filled Evan's ears as he rose from the cracked edges of the sidewalk.

Disorientation and vertigo wobbled Evan's legs as he brushed debris from his arms and hair. Ringing continued to block out the din of car alarms, barking dogs, and neighborhood doors opening.

Through it all, Linc's voice emerged like a bell. "Keep moving."

Evan shook the buzzing from his ears and cupped his head in his hands as his mind flashed to the battlefield years before.

"Son of a bitch. Again."

He turned his gaze to the skies.

"You could have warned me it was incoming mortars." He cursed the empty sky.

"Much worse than mortars." Linc's voice cut through the growing din. "Much worse. Move."