Chapter 40

Terrorist Attack

John walked in quick strides, his eyes alert watching the movements.

"John" D called and John turned around in a reflex.

"Where had you been?" D asked.

"I had been busy" John avoided eye contact; Cynthia's words 'they are dead' ringing in his ears.

His first instinct was to hold him and strangle him and confess the truth of him

But he chose to find the truth himself.

Cynthia had also been a liar.

He did not know if he could trust him or not.

"Are you alright?" D asked.

"I am fine" John nodded "What are you doing here?" he asked

"Looking for Rae Salem" D stated easily.

Images flashed in his head at the mention of name.

"You remember him?" D asked "intelligence report says he'd be here today and it has something to do with the big blast they are planning."

"Rae Salem the convict of twin tower?" John pressed his forehead

"You arrested him" D stated.

"But he fled" John said angrily, his doubts back on D "I wonder who helped him."

"It is sad that we have some traitors within us" D said sadly "it is even sadder that our members do not trust us enough.." he shrugged.

John felt a tug on the left of his chest. He looked keenly at D's face trying to recognize him, trying to hunt back same face in his memories.

It was all a blur.

"Don't worry son" D patted on his shoulders "we will wait"

"What will you wait for?' John furrowed his brows "what do you know?'

D chuckled "we will wait for you to come back to us and trust us."

"You know?" John was startled

"Yes we have Dr. Markle" he also flashed his phone to John showing him the pictures of him and Cynthia in Peru "you met her, Cynthia's look alike. She is wearing her hair color and has same stature but she isn't Cynthia" a look of grave passed his facial feature 'Cynthia is dead."

"Who is she?" John asked, his feet jumping for he was in a hurry to get hold of the terrorists.

"We don't know " D shrugged "all Dr. Markle said was you have very faint memory and the images in your head a blur like visions in a dream."

"What are you doing here?"J ohn changed the topic, he still couldn't trust D or his heart that was saying otherwise, "you have stopped leading since ..." John stopped.

He was sick of mind games played with him.

"since I let my only son die" D's voice broke as he mentioned about his own son "same as you are" D composed quickly "trying to get hold of terrorists."

"You look unusually calm" John remarked. He remembered D always in a serious , no non sense tone whenever he was in a mission like this.

"Because there ain't anyone here." D shrugged "It was a false lead."

All the hopes of D being actual D vanished and the feeling of the look alike of D conning him settled at the pit of John's stomach.

"You are with them." John said "aren't you?" his question a growl."

"I do not blame you. You know?" D was unaffected by John's temper "I understand. We are family."

"Don't try this family shit with me." John shouted "You are trying to protect them for some sick reasons. Whatever you are doing.." John was about to pounce at him when Hailey stopped him

"Have you really lost it John?" she held his hand. The touch soothing him but the emotions was alien to John who simply pulled his hand as if the motherly touch was burning him.

"This is your fear of losing a motherly figure" D commented, "you have always hidden your emotions, a slight display upsets you."

"And this mushy mushy will make me trust you?' John said flatly.

"No but the fact is we both are here for same reasons" D stated, "to save our country, to save humanity."

"And how would you do that?" John folded his hands "and why did you get here?" John wasn't happy to see here, his protective instincts overpowering his doubts about their identity "You knew this place isn't safe"

"He was also going to be here" Hailey stated, her eyes filled with conviction. She lifted her gun "I wanted to avenge my son"

"But" the disappointment evident in her eyes 'no one's here"

"How can you be so sure?' John still wasn't in terms of trusting anyone but the statistics that

"Aren't we running out of time" Danny intervened not knowing about D's impersonation

"There's lot of time." D said, "We made thorough investigation. All the pilots are genuine, there is no breach of security. The crash was fake news to create panic and unrest. Security has been on high alert, no arms, nothing"

"How are you so sure?" Danny asked.

"Because all the pilots are under police custody and being interrogated." D stated.

"Thank god" Danny took a relaxing breath "we are safe"

"No" John shrugged "something is not fitting well."

"John you are hurting and confusing yourself by not trusting us." Hailey leaded "you remember first time you cam to our house, I had my back at you and you were shocked and shouted "mom"

You apologized immediately said my silhouette "

"is just like my mom. Sorry but she is ... John finished

"you could not admit that she was dead" Hailey shared "we two were alone in the room and I shared it with no one."

"Neither did I" John could feel his migraine approaching but realizing he had bigger issues to take care of.

"Look whatever, whoever you two are. I need to take care of this attack first." John said and was about to walk away.

"But it is a confirm news that they are not going to clash planes mid way." D insisted, "probably mass shooting at the college was their attack"

"You might be right " John nodded "but something is still seriously wrong.'

John looked at a person form the distance and breaking the conversation ran after her

He held her hostage and pulled her hair tightly "Who are you?" he asked

"Definitely not Cynthia" the girl with dark hair admitted laughing

"Why were you impersonating her?" John barked.

She smiled menacing "that is for you to find out" she said and John was about to punch her

"Hurting me is not going to help us" she remarked, "you have bigger problem to deal with. Don't you?' she teased.

"D" John called

D didn't need to be called twice "get her arrested and interrogated."

The absence of fear in the girls eyes made the goose bumps on Johns' body arise

"We stick to the plan," he told Danny who was shadowing him everywhere.

"I would have stopped you" D said looking him straight in the eye meaning every word he said "but your instincts have been always been right n the past. So go ahead son."

"D" John had so much to say but he simply stared at him. His eyes were filled with unspoken emotions but he uttered nothing.

D too said nothing but nodded at him.

A loud bang was heard and D, John, Danny and others rushed to the source.

They found pool of vomit on the floor and few cops surrounding the vomit.

The impersonator of Cynthia lying on the floor, her nose bleeding as she took her last breath.

She gave a sinister smile as she took her last breath

John was about to rush to her.

"She knows something" John muttered and was about to run towards her but was barely able to manage at the sticky liquid.

The cop checked her pulse "she's dead" he announced.

"We have other business to take care of" Patrick informed John who stared at stale body of the girl, his brows furrowed.

John nodded and walked ahead "we follow same pattern" he said "incase you find anything suspicious or different inform us through walkie talkie. We'll all be connected all the while" John instructed.

"Aye aye captain' Patrick saluted more like habit.

Another noise and John moved around to see one of the officers who'd held the girl captive coughing, his nose bleeding too

"We need paramedics at gate no4" was announced immediately.

Though John wanted to stop and think still he walked ahead

"Gate no 6 I am first" John said "you remember your respective flight numbers and gates?' he asked and a loud "yes" was heard.

John boarded the flight strangely there wasn't any steward to receive him.

He didn't need any boarding pass for he was accompanying the security staff and officers but still he expected a host or hostess on the gates.

The flight was noisy and it wasn't due to friendly chatter by passengers but most of them were coughing.

John furrowed his brows.

He knew there was no pilot in there as they were already being called for interrogation and D had already arranged for change of pilots as a surprise element.

But still he walked through the aisle, his eyes searching for something or someone susceptible.

He had lost his memory but his muscle memory was strong enough to notice if there were any.

Strangely he did not notice anything odd other than most of the people coughing

"Must be some flu" John commented "cover your faces immediately" and the officers along immediately removed their handkerchiefs to cover their faces.

John noticed he did not have any.

He shrugged and walked ahead.

"I want to use the rest room" one of the lady in late fifties told her co passenger who had her eyes closed probably sleeping "but someone's in there since half an hour"

"Damn! No hostess either" the lady yelled "what kind of service is this?"

"Ahh!hh" the lady in fifties held her chest

"Are you alright ma'am?" John asked.

"No I am not" the lady was in verge of tears "I can't hold my bladder any longer" she sniffed I am old"

But when she removed the napkin from she used to wipe off her face she noticed blood.

"oh my god" the lady shrieked "I am seriously ill. I need a doctor," she shouted in panic' and next moment she fell on her seat.

"Excuse me" John told the passenger who was sleeping besides her but she didn't budge.

"Excuse me ma'am" John said loudly "there's an emergency" he shouted" any doctor on board"

The old lady's co-passenger lay sleeping.

John touched her shoulder trying to shake her "Ma'am" he called but the lady fell sideways.

Oh lord " John yelled "any doctor?"

"i.. I am" a man in mid fifties stood and before he could reach John, he collapsed on the aisle.

John checked the pulse.

The officers who were accompanying John were now besides him helping him "Get out" John told the" as he saw the old lady too unconscious"

There was a young teenage boy with huge headphones probably bigger than the ones Danny used lost in his world unaware of what was happening besides him.

"She is dead" You guys need to get out of here asap" John shouted.

"I think you need us here." One of the officers suggested

"No I don't" John insisted, "Trust me and just get out.
"Wait" John said as his fellow officers were exiting the airplane "just lock the door before you leave"

"Is everything alright?" one of them asked.

"do as I say" john commanded "isolate yourself for couple of hours. Do not meet anybody before I talk to you and don't let anybody, I mean and I repeat, don't let anyone in this flight"

Hello hello' Danny check

"Hello hello John check

The walkie talkie called

"Everyone in check

Do not board the flight check

I repeat no one should board the flight check

What are you saying? Danny asked

Mission abort mission abort check

Everybody just leave check/

Are you sure check, this was Patrick.

Where is everyone.

"I am waiting for my boarding pass to be checked" one of them said

Any body boarded the flight yet?" John asked

no

no

no came repeated replies

"I have" one of them said "but strangely most of them are sick here. It rained yesterday so probably flu."

You stay where you are and cover your face" John instructed

"Others leave and stay in a secluded place till further instruction by me." Jon paused "but don't leave the airport."

Aye aye

Okay.

"Listen you cover your face and others with the handkerchief mask whatever you can arrange.

"Please pull oxygen masks' John yelled at the passengers "and wear them"

'What happened "One of them who was coughing asked

"No questions asked '" John said curtly "just wear the mask.

He pulled one from the dead lady's overhead and wore himself praying it wasn't too late

"D" John did not wait for pleasantries "they have already made the attack."

"Where ?" D asked confused "when? Are you okay?"

John coughed and as he put his hand on the mouth a drop of blood fell on his fingers from his nose

"I don't know" John admitted "But they have declared war. You declare emergency " John commanded "close all the inlets and outlets for the airport"

"But I heard nothing?" D was confused "the intelligence said they were going to crash and clash planes mid air."
"I repeat D" John warned, "This is serious. Close all the entries and exit of airport. Also no one should alight or board the flight, any flight," John stressed"

"What are you trying to convey JOHN?" D was serious now.

"We have had a terrorist attack, it's a viral attack" John passed another fit of cough "The entire universe would be in danger." John clarified "Highly contagious, airborne deadly Bio weapon "