The Hive Solution

Chapter 36

Mason waits patiently for the call. There's no point in him heading back to the FDP operating base, for one thing the call would most likely come pretty quickly and by now he'd of probably picked up a tail from his potential suppliers as they'd be checking that Mason was legit. Going back to the FOB would definitely give the game away.

And so he sits and waits alone at his table at the beachfront bar in Long Beach. Mikey had taken off to run an errand about an hour ago living Mason alone with his thoughts. Watching the setting sun and the world passing by in front of him his mind starts to wonder about the events of the last few weeks. So much has happened, the solution, the mission to the red zone and his new found abilities. All this has happened in such a short space of time, and then came the final meeting with Cooper right before he traveled down to L.A. He'd been walking through the forest on a break from medical testing when Cooper sought him out. It was then that Cooper asked if he'd be interested in helping out the FDP with the drug investigation. Colvin and Mason were struggling to get any traction with the case and Cooper thought it a good idea for Mason to help, his contacts in the criminal underworld might be able to get things moving. There was only one proviso if he agreed, and that was to follow orders and not go out on a limb but, if the need arose he should follow his gut instinct, to trust his new sixth sense and let his new powers take over. The thing is, how would he know when to follow orders and when to follow his gut, surely that's a bit of a grey area?

Masons attention gets drawn to a pair of male joggers running along the beach promenade toward him. His trained eye picks up the loose fitted vest tops, the long beach shorts poorly concealing the knives that each of them carry, this is the first sign that the meet is about to happen. Obviously they'll be no phone call, they've come to get him. He gets up from his table takes his phone from his pocket and strolls round to the front of the building to where his car is parked. But when he gets there he finds his car boxed in by a bright red mustang, two scantily clad girls lounge around on the hood while a dealer from his past by the name of Ash leans against the side of Masons Camero. He's black, tall and a little overweight but he's dressed in only the finest sports clothing.

"Get in yer car courier boy and follow me" he says with no introduction. Mason casually pulls his keys from his pocket as Ash climbs in the mustang while the girls bicker about who going to sit up front. Mason follows the Mustang south out of the city with Ash making a number of unnecessary turns to check that they're not getting tailed. Mason knows this game, he's played it dozens of times and he knows what the next move will be. It'll most likely mean him leaving his car somewhere and getting taken to a meet in another vehicle with a hood over his head. Yes these people know of Mason but the don't really know him and this is how it's gonna be until the trust has been built up.
Mason follows at a respectable distance until nightfall when they pull up in a back alley littered with trash behind a downtown nightclub. He stops the engine and climbs out.

"Wait here kid, someone'll be along soon" says Ash as he leans out the window

Mason nods at Ash as the red Mustang drives on up to the end of the alley and turns out into the street. Mason leans against his car half expecting a van of some sort to enter the alley. The next thing that normally happens is for him to be bundled inside and taken to a secret location where he'd meet the supplier but so far nothing's happened. These things are normally timed to perfection, something must be wrong? He walks on up the alley to the street, maybe Ash got the meet wrong and he's in the wrong place but apart from the normal evening traffic and bustle on the street there's nothing. He turns and walks slowly back toward his car now concerned that somehow his cover might of been blown. He reaches his car door and freezes as he senses a presence behind him.

"Can I help you?" Mason asks calmly while still facing his car. For a moment there's silence before a soft familiar male voice replies.

"I think its me that can help you Joe"

Mason slowly turns round to see a hooded individual stood in the shadows about twenty feet away. He's dressed in a black hoody with black leather pants and boots.

"Who are you?"

"A friend"

"What do you want? asks Mason as he folds his arms and leans against his car.

"I can help you Joe, in ways you can't possibly imagine"

"How do you know my name?"

The hooded figure starts to walk slowly toward Mason. " I know much Joe. I know about the Solution, your connection to the FBI and I know all about your friends back at Redwood and here in L.A. Alek Colvin, your sister Claire and your girl, Caitlin Storm, do you want me to continue?"

Mason studies the man stood in front of him, the dim light obscures his face but he can make out the muscular build.

"How do you know all this, the Solution, that's top secret" Mason replies angrily.

The man puts his hand up to calm Mason " calm yourself Joe, in time everything will make sense. I know your not sleeping well, I also know that your abilities have started to show themselves, strength, stamina, reflexes have all appeared, as well as a sixth sense that influences your actions"

"Now wait a minute!" yells Mason as he steps forward to grab the man but before he even gets close the hooded man quickly holds up an opened hand to him and to Mason's shock he suddenly finds himself rooted to the spot by some invisible force. It's as if an invisible hand has suddenly grabbed him and held him in place. He struggles to get free but there's nothing he can do.

The hooded man continues on but this time he's being more forceful, more desperate. "Listen Joe, I only have 30 seconds left before your drug friends arrive, I came to give you some advice. Like I said your abilities have started to show themselves but your capable of so much more. Allow them to lead you Joe, to control you're thoughts and actions and then your power will grow, act on your instincts"

The mans head turns in the direction of a distant glow of headlights coming up the alley.

"Anyway, gotta go" he says calmly before a slight push of the mystery man's hand increases the pressure knocking Mason back making him tumble over the hood of his car. Mason crashes to the floor in a heap before getting to his feet looking up and down the alley to look for his new friend but the alleyway is empty. Only a white panel van approaches through the darkness