Mentally - 5. Preparations

Stunned. That was the perfect description of how I reacted. Aiden stared at me seriously. His gray eyes were unemotional and menacing. My lips went dry and I just gawked at him. No wonder why he always had that aura of a snotty-nosed brat. He was definitely brought up in a rich family. A family that owns a big company like Helix Corporation.

“I...I don’t know what to say.” I squeaked. My body suddenly felt small compared to him. His father was a business mogul. And with strong military connections. It suddenly made sense why he had a bodyguard with a very strong killing intent. “Why did you suddenly drop that now?”

“Because it’s important to me.” He said with a solid determination. The light in his eyes suddenly changed. It went grim and dark. Full of unguided passion. A scent of hatred. And a solid grasp on his will power. “You’re not the only one looking for someone here.”

Looking at him, I knew he wasn’t in the mood for sarcasm anymore. Something just clicked in him and I can’t figure what triggered it. “Who would you be looking for?”

“I”m looking for Jaden Christensen.” He bluntly said. No emotions or whatsoever. Dead straight and on-point. “He’s my younger twin brother. And as the older twin, he’s my responsibility.”

“I assume you’re prepared to open up.” I replied. His demeanor was still unmoved. It was even perplexing that he dropped information so suddenly. “You’ve been keeping things hidden quite a while. And as you’ve said, you’re not the type of person who would share his business that easily.”

“If it would benefit me, that is.” Aiden corrected me. “And I believe we could benefit from each other. That’s why we need to push this through and infiltrate Helix Corp. We can find clues as to where my brother is. And your friend, too.”

“Wait a sec, I’m confused. Why can’t you access Helix Corp if you’re the CEO’s son? Aren’t you supposed to be granted access to a lot of things?” I asked. The aroma of coffee still danced in the air. We still haven’t left the cafe. And the tension seemed to be getting worse. “It just doesn’t add up.”

Aiden just looked at me. His eyes fixed on mine. Our determination for our goals was clashing against each other. One of us would most likely take advantage of the other. We weren’t friends. And he wasn’t really keen on that.

“Well? You could trust me. As you’ve said, we both have goals. And we could help each other accomplish them. So don’t make it so hard for me.” I said. His eyes were unwavering. It seemed to me that he wasn’t convinced at all.

“I’m 14, Kieran.” He replied. His voice was with a touch of sarcasm. “They are not just going to give away access to me just like that. But I have plans of my own to get in. That’s why I asked if you can take over through a video call. You can turn an associate of mine into a spy. It was the plan all along. But with your ability, we can speed things further.”

“And your brother?” I asked. A sharp pain was suddenly present in his eyes. But it wasn’t all that obvious. To me, it was. My telepathic ability picked it up. “Looks like your own company has taken advantage of him. The way I see it, you want him back as badly as I want Damian back.”

“Don’t push the wrong buttons. And don’t push your luck.” With a sudden flick of his mind, a small concentrated telekinetic push jolted towards me. But I was able to deflect it with my own. He wasn’t even fazed by his own act. “You don’t need to meddle with my business.”

“No. It’s you who shouldn’t push your luck.” I coldly stated.Then I suddenly strengthened the pressure with my ability. And I made sure he felt every ounce of it. “Let’s not forget I’m stronger than you. Way more than you can imagine. And I’m not afraid to use it to prove the difference in our strength.”

“I know.” He dryly said. “But it is you who really needs me.”

“Sorry? I think it’s the other way around.” I replied. “So spit it out and be honest. Stop your act of trying to be cool. You’re not like that, Aiden. I already confirmed it when you revealed your real identity. You’re the insecure boy trying to hide himself.”

“Well, you’re right. I was describing myself back then. And you almost fell for it, Kieran. You almost believed it.” He admonished. Then I stared at him coldly. His lips curled in disgust as he looked back at me. But I was silent. Simply waited on what he was about to say. “However, that is not what I really want to talk about.”

“You’re already brooding a plan, aren’t you?” I asked. “So spill it out.”

“Anna Festus is the Operations Manager of the Nevada Branch of Helix Corp. I was able to convince my father once into letting me join a dinner banquet before Helix Corp opened a branch in London.” Aiden explained plainly. “I used that opportunity to talk with people who have key positions in the company. Unfortunately, no one got really interested. Except for Anna that is. She was more than happy to make friends with me.”

“And you took the advantage?” I followed. He just nodded in agreement.

“Yes. I implanted a psychic command into her unconscious and I was able to maintain a minimal connection with her afterwards. But with her busy schedule, strengthening that command got a bit tricky.” He added. “With your proficiency in controlling people, we could use that and make her spill out more information. She’s leading the group in Nevada and that’s where most of the experiments take place. It was already a chance that I was able to meet with her.”

“I see.” I replied. “You planted a construct.”

“A what?” A brow was raised. The interest in his eyes flared.

“A construct is a programmed psychic energy designed to obey your commands.” I explained in a matter-of-factly way. “You can use it for a lot of things. It can trigger an alarm inside your head if it is accidentally touched by someone. Most of the time, it is just an invisible blob of energy. You can set a trap out of it. It can also disrupt the thoughts of people that touches it. There are a lot of things it can do depending on your proficiency in it.”

“Okay. So I unknowingly used it on her.” He quipped. “Is there anything else I need to learn?”

“It depends.” I muttered. “Going back, what’s your plan?”

“We’ll brainwash Anna. Look for files for my brother and your friend. And maybe get them out of there.” He pointed out. The resolve was there in his eyes. The way he expounded it was obvious in his voice. “I know Jaden is alive. And so is Damian.”

Then he looked straight at me in the eye with more intensity. As if he was about to pick a fight.

“And I’m sorry.” He added. “I’m personally sorry for the violations that our company had afflicted you with. Right now, I could say that I am already in debt to you. But don’t think we’re friends because of it. This is all being professional.”

“Just what on earth is with you and being friends?” I whined. “Do you ever get the sense of what a friend really is?”

“I know what a friend is.” He stated. His voice was so detached. Aiden knew that I wanted to get closer to him. But he was not budging at all. “And I know what a traitor is too. In a world like this, I am not so sure anymore who could be trusted. Or who is not worth my trust.”

“Is your trust that valuable?” I asked.

“I’m the heir to one of the biggest companies in the world.” He muttered blatantly. “I could help millions of people if I want. And it’s on the tip of my fingers already. Even now.”

“Yes. I know you’re a rich kid, Aiden.” I replied. But he was unfazed. “But you’re not as interesting as you think you are. So don’t think your trust is more valuable than anyone else’s. Because as far as I know, you don’t boast what your trust can do.”

“Kieran, as young as I am, I am already holding numerous foundations that help some cities in third-world countries. My signature alone can help thousands of people.” He disclosed more information. His cold demeanor wasn’t improving at all. “That’s why I concluded that my trust for others is more valuable than another person’s trust.”

“And that’s also the reason why you’re hiding. You’re a prone target to terrorist organizations that might take advantage of that.” Aiden nodded at my explanation. “But to tell you that truth, Aiden. I am not interested in money. What I am interested in is who you are and what kind of character you have. And so far, I’m pretty disgusted with what I am seeing in you.”

“Well, that’s already out of my field of interest. I could live with it.” He stated. “Come, we have to go. I’ll set a video call with Anna so you could do your thing. I’ll book a first class flight to Nevada as soon as possible. Then maybe you could make up some excuse for your mother.”

“We have school, Aiden. People will think we’re up to something.” I suggested.

“Wipe their memory.” He muttered. Then stood up. I could feel some sort of urgency in him. He was constantly on the move. Constantly avoiding everyone that gets too close. “It’s as easy as that.”

The two of us exited the cafe and left. Brian, on the other hand, was waiting for us and fetched us. The black vehicle was already a signal that a valuable person was inside. So I wasn’t really sure how covert we really were. As soon as we entered the back, Aiden closed the window between us and the driver’s seat.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I have a small base nearby just in case of emergencies.” He explain. “It’s fully equipped with weapons. And maybe we could check the perfect gear for you. We’re going to infiltrate a big company. So it would be best if we are fully equipped.”

“But we’re undermanned.” I replied. “There’s no way we could do it.”

“It would be better to keep our numbers few.” He stated. “Besides, this will be a hostage rescue once we confirm that they are in Nevada. We need to move fast before they get alerted that they are being infiltrated. Anna Festus is a smart woman. She’s one of the leading geneticist of this era and also a good military strategist.”

“So this is going to be a dangerous mission, huh?” I complained.

“Yeah.” He agreed. “But we’re both strong Mentals. We can overpower them if we want to. Or maybe blow up a big hole in that place.”

“I’m not sure that’s a wise idea.” I dissented. “And I thought you want us to keep hidden?”

“That would be a last resort. Don’t worry.” He added. “I’m sure we could get a floor plan from Anna once we get to her. We also need to think of an escape route. I have a couple of dirt bikes that consume electricity so we won’t make noise when we get in the vicinity.”

Aiden then took out a laptop from the backseat and booted it up. After logging into his account, the first thing he did was to leave a message for Anna, a message on when she could call. She was online but didn’t reply. Not even a seen.

“Are you willing to kill for your friend?” Aiden horridly asked. It was out of nowhere. My eyes looked away. I suddenly felt disgusted. The way he asked it was so unemotional. So psychotic.

“I’m not sure.” I honestly replied. The killing intent was in his eyes . His determination to save his brother was solid. Nothing could have deterred Aiden Christensen in that very point in time. “It never occurred to me. But my answer as of now is no. I would rather knock them unconscious than kill them.”

“I hope you won’t go as far as I do.” His voice went low. A chill ran down my spine. I knew what he already meant. And I was sure that I would witness it one way or another. Aiden was a shady person. And he even had a darker side. “I would kill for my brother.”

“You love him that much, huh?” I replied. My voice was soothing. And I meant it to be that way. I was already seeing Aiden as a friend. He was misunderstood. He was afraid. He was alone all the way. And my instinct was to comfort him.

“To the very core of my bones.” Aiden answered. Then I looked at him with pity. Damian used to be that way when I met him. His mom just died back then. Then he was forced to leave his old hometown. I was with him all the way. That’s where our bond started. That bond was precious. And it was happening all over again with Aiden. “I miss Jaden. He’s my other half and I felt a part of me suddenly went missing.”

He suddenly began to pour out. And I didn’t speak to make sure he would share some more. It was a rare instance and it shouldn’t be missed out. Aiden was filled with so much heartache and I could almost feel it on my fingers. But the worst part was that he has no one to vent it out.

“I’m sorry.” He said. “I didn’t mean to share.”

“It’s okay.” I reassured him. “You need to pour it out sometimes. It’s not healthy anymore if you let everything pile. I’m sure the burden is really heavy for you. And it doesn’t take a Mental to figure that out.”

“I have my reasons why I’m like this.” Aiden explained. There was that sudden shift again. He was already being vulnerable. And he hated it. So he had to put his guard up again. He hid again inside his small shell. “I’m not planning on sharing it any time soon.”

Suddenly, my hand grabbed his. It went on its own. Almost like an instinct to reach out to him. I was as shocked as he was. But I pushed further. Because I could already feel that deep down, he is someone who truly cares. Perhaps too much.

“Stop torturing yourself.” I said. My fingers were shaking. My lips were quivering. A weird sensation was inside my stomach. I was feeling it. And I was sure he was feeling it too. “Stop being evil to yourself. Don’t go down the road alone. I’m willing to be here for you.”

“Why on earth would you do that?” He questioned me. His eyes tried to pierce all deceit. But there was none. I was being a genuine friend. Because a genuine friend is what he needed. “You know nothing about me.”

“I don’t need a reason.” I replied. “Trust me. You’re not alone anymore. We’re both looking for people who are important to us. So I’m feeling exactly the same way as you are. Aiden, you don’t have to go through everything alone.”

“No. You’re not.” He retorted. Aiden was stubborn. A very determined person. And he wouldn’t let anything stand on his way. Not even me. He knew I was stronger. He knew I could tear him apart. However, that didn’t seem to scare him. “I don’t trust you that much. That’s my decision. So don’t push your luck.”

I fell silent. Aiden was far into the darkness. A few days ago, I wanted to turn him into a bloody meatball. But his wall cracked for a moment. And I felt his intense need inside to relate to someone. He just wouldn't admit it. All he knew was he needed to be strong.

“You don’t have to go through everything alone.” I said again. My hand squeezed his. It was already a miracle that he didn’t swat my hand away. I was being sincere and he knew it. His hands were warm and soft. My thumb rubbed his wrist to show that I actually care. But it had no effect. “I also made a decision. That I’ll help you go through with it.”

I didn’t know why I said that. For some reason, I was suddenly acting on instinct to care for him. He already showed a small portion of who he really is. Aiden wouldn’t admit it. But deep down, he’s tired and weary.

Before I could say anything, the car stopped. The window on the driver’s seat rolled down and Brian had a grim face. “We have a problem, sir.”

Aiden suddenly snatched his hand away. “Take care of it.”

“We’re surrounded sir.” He said. Then I looked outside the window. There were at least half a dozen of armed men outside. Then a dozen of their men were on the windows of the buildings around with guns pointed at us. “What should we do?”

Aiden immediately pulled the lever on the seat beside the driver’s. It folded the way it should then he pushed it upward, and opened it. There was contrapment under the seat. There were at least a couple of pistols with suppressors. More than a dozen of throwing knives. And a couple of high explosive grenades. Just beneath it was a couple of blades. Similar to a katana, only shorter.

“What are those?” I gasped. The katana had no guard. The black handle was followed by the blade collar then the blade itself. It was sheathed inside its scabbard and it looked like a long fat meter stick when the blade was still in.

“It’s called a wakizashi.” He replied. Then he handed one of them to me plus a belt packed with throwing knives. “I’m sure you know how useful throwing knives could be with our abilities. And I’m not really a fan of guns.”

“Just like Damian.” I shook my head. Then he handed a belt with at least a dozen small throwing knives. They were made of steel and the knives were flat. Its small handle was covered by a silky black material. The next thing that he handed me the short katana which I strapped behind my waist. That way, it wouldn’t be noticeable. “He would have enjoyed having his own sword.”

Then he pulled out a couple of dark cloaks with big hoods that were enough to cover at least half of our face. The fabric was soft and had a modern design. “Wear this. At least they would be having a hard time knowing who we are.”

“No guns?” I asked.

“What now, sir?” Brian asked again. His voice was more eager for action. The killing intent of his was creeping up to me. And I wasn’t liking any of it. “They’re approaching us.”

“This would be a good opportunity to test our skills.” Aiden said. He cocked one of the pistols and gave it to his bodyguard. “In short, we fight.”