The Fatal (Un)Believer

"History, Element, Importance" said thousands of voices together over the phone line, as if each of them were taken apart from their context, that of regular daily conversations. The man, walked with some difficulty across the room and reached for three books on his tidily (some would say obsessive) library. He then sat in front of his computer and after a couple of minutes, picked up his cell phone and dialed the first number on speed dial.

On the other side of the city, a fat man stood on his knees with a broken arm hanging by his side and crying in a dark alley.
- Please, I swear, I'll never hit her again, I'll never drink another drop of alcohol please, just please! don't kill me! - said the fat man suddenly repented of his sins, that is, beating his wife on a daily basis after getting home drunk. Though, this last time, he almost killed her, were not for the intervention of the man standing in front of him.

- Oh, I'm sure you'll never hit her again because you'll be skipping town without even going back home to grab your clothes, right? - a sarcastic smile lightened the serious face of the tall man in a suit. At that moment, his cell phone rang, which he promptly answered: - Another, Finch? I hope this one at least will offer some sport.

- I'm afraid you won't find this new number so interesting, mr. Reese. His name is Li Shengshun, a chinese exchange student. He arrived a couple of months ago and now works parttime as a janitor in a tech company. Due to his current status, I cannot understand what could possibly make him a victim or a perpetrator in the eyes of the machine. I'm sending you his picture and address. Try not to make contact until we've assessed the situation.

- I'll do my best, Harold. - Reese said with his customary whispered voice and, after ending the call, he looked to the man in front of him and asked "- Why are you still here? Feeling like losing the other arm as well? Get out!"

- Yes, yes, yes... thank you. Thank you! - was all the sweaty pig-like man could manage before running with his arm limping to catch the nearest cab.

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The company was almost empty, yet there he was on his last shift, doing all the assigned duties, such as emptying the garbage bins, flushing the toilets, wiping the sinks...  In one of the many restrooms in the company, a middle-aged man walked in and, while peeing, said gravely "- It's going down tomorrow at midnight, fiftieth floor. Here's the keycard needed." and, after taking a magnetic card from his pocket and handing it to the janitor, left without washing his hands.

Having finished his duties, Li Shengshun changed his clothes and went straight to his apartment on foot, five blocks from the company. On his way, he reached into the back pocket of his pants and produced a smartphone and dialed. "- Tomorrow, midnight, fiftieth." - quickly after saying this and not waiting for an answer on the other side, he took out the SIM card and the battery, broke them and then proceeded to do the same to the phone, throwing it all in the nearest bin.

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- Finch, he might not be just a janitor. Something will happen tomorrow at midnight on the fiftieth floor. Should I be worried ? - Asked with some concern, the man in the suit.

- Yes, you should be. - the man on the library answered. This company is but a front for the Northern Lights project, miss Shaw told me. The number Li Shengshun dialed, pinged on european satellites. Why would an exchange student dial sat-phone numbers? Ah! Just as I suspected, his name and visa are fake. This is but a cover ID Control has set, although I can't find his real name or anything related to this person. He is a ghost. - Finch was clearly worried, and if Reese noticed, he did not mention it.

 - Then, let's see what casper is up to. - was the eager response from Reese, marked with the usual sarcastic smile.

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"- John, you'll find that your cell phone will act as our chinese student's card and make the elevator take you to the penthouse. Be careful, though, we do not know what will await you there. I asked miss Shaw to join you on this one. She'll be arriving shortly." -  Instructed Finch. He then went over to Bear, the pet belgian malinois, picked up his favorite ball and threw it, trying to calm himself while Reese put himself in a dangerous position.

After waiting in an empty conference room, Reese calmly walked to the nearest pair of elevators and used his cell phone, as told by Harold. When the doors opened, he could hear people talking across the corridor. In the end of it, an office with large glass windows and doors. He could then spot two groups of stern-looking men. One of the groups, comprised almost entirely of chinese, possibly MSS operatives. On the other side, ISA operatives, Hersh among them.

- Finch, are you there?
- Yes, mr. Reese. What's happening? I can see lots of waiters, chinese and american intelligence operatives but no sign of our janitor.
- Well, the cameras tell me that he hasn't left the building. Do not engage unless necessary, we need to know what kind of deal are the chinese trying to make with our government.
- Wait, Harold. Someone is coming. It's Greer! - after saying this, an old chinese man steps from a side-entrance on the house, bringing with him a briefcase.  - Harold, he has a briefcase and... now we know who has the Samaritan drives from your friend. - says Reese in a hushed tone, though, as soon as he finishes, suddenly all lights go dark. The man in the suit rushes to find cover inside the office, behind a desk.
- Finch? What are you doing?
- I'm not doing anything John. According to the cameras, it appears that a masked man in a black trenchcoat caused the short circuit on the power lines of the building... from the elevator!
- Who is this guy? - Reese's question is interrupted by gunshots and the cries of many agents, american and chinese alike. A sound, from the end of the hall calls John's attention: the elevator on the right has brought the man dressed in black Finch had mentioned. Not a minute later, the elevator on the left side opens with a dozen men sporting PP-19 Bizons, and night goggles. "- tsc, russians " - Reese grimly mutters to himself as he recognizes their equipment.

Not wanting to give in his safe position, the man in the suit knows that he must act if he intends to get out of there alive, with Samaritan in hands if possible, but he can't wait for Shaw to arrive. He then rises from his cover and advances towards the Briefcase, currently unattended. A 2 meter tall american operative, watching Reese going after the drives, stands in his way and launches a series of punches. John is hardly annoyed, as he draws and shoots his opponent on his kneecap, making him cry in pain and topple over.

- John, the guy in the coat, he's a contractor wanted in multiple asian countries on charges of murder, kidnapping and information theft. He's dropped more bodies than you and Shaw together. He goes by the alias of "Black Reaper" or so they call him. - intervenes the worried partner.
- Don't worry Harold, I think that we have a third party here. Somehow the Russians got an invitation and they are slaughtering everything that moves.
.
With a glance, John spots the reaper grabbing the drives amidst the crowd and proceeds to intercept him before he escapes. Reese jumps over bodies of dead agents and shoots at the masked figure, who rapidly runs for cover behind a concrete wall. Before being able to react, John's gun is taken away from him by a thrown knife that almost cuts off his fingers. A white mask then emerges from behind cover, and the reaper presents a fighting stance, an invitation for close combat.

John is the first to throw a punch, which is deftly evaded. The enemy hits although often connecting, carry little weight behind, given the slim frame of his assailant. The former ranger knows that he has no chance of landing a single blow on his fast enemy and that, just like water against stone, Reese's stamina will eventually wear out...