Noah was finishing formatting the data on the computers belonging to those who were investigating S/D. Everyone was then reporting in on their progress. From what the agents were saying they were all finished with their assignments. The black wolf was done with his work as well and turned towards the office’s window, and saw a white wolf outside. Noah froze and inhaled deeply, it couldn’t be could it? Why would he of all people be right here? This was just too easy… “Everyone mission complete, we’re pulling out now.” Noah said and began to move keeping the wolf in his sights. However Noah began to hear another voice on his comm. “Sir, requesting that I follow you for back-up sir!” Scratch said, and his tone of voice blatantly shouted that he was going to follow Noah regardless of any contrary orders. Noah wanted to retort to that fox to get back to base but thought that back-up would be necessary. So the black wolf agreed to Scratch being his backup. Noah hurried quickly through the building and went outside. “I’ve finally found you, after all this time.” Noah gasped out. Yet when Noah took a closer look he found that there was something off about this wolf. Then Noah saw the tattoo on the back of the wolf’s head. The black wolf dove to the ground as the white wolf turned around and shot at him. Noah rolled closer towards the gun wielder and swung his foot upwards. His foot knocked the gun out of the tattooed wolf’s hand and it flew off into the street. “Who are you?” Noah said. “Your death, you S/D lackey!” the attacker said as he lunged towards Noah. The two rolled on the ground engaged in a life or death struggle. “With you gone, that idiot Taylor will be unprotected and we’ll have the world in our pockets.” The tattooed wolf had his hands around Noah’s throat but the grip wasn’t strong enough to strangle Noah. This was because the black wolf launched several well placed punches, knocking the wind and strength out of his assailant Yet Noah couldn’t find good enough purchase to launch a counter attack. They both struggled on the ground and Noah wasn’t sure that he could keep this up. Out of nowhere Scratch came soaring with a flying kick to the white wolf’s face slamming the white wolf off of Noah. The assailant went soaring into the air and crashed onto the pavement. He recovered swiftly and seeing as he was outnumbered stole away before either Noah or Scratch could give chase. “Sir looks like I was right about tailing you.” Scratch said with smug satisfaction in his voice. “No time for that” Noah coughed, trying to get air back into his heavily battered lungs. “Who ever that was, he was waiting me and the fact that he was a white wolf out here in the open makes me smell a rat.” Scratch eyes narrowed “That wolf said something very interesting, something about an idiot Taylor being unprotected with you gone. There’re very few Taylors in our organization but the one that pops up to mind is our leader. What are you exactly in S/D Sir?” Noah’s eyes met the fox’s and what was behind them was a lot of exhaustion and loss. “Someone wholeheartedly dedicated to our mission, too much and for too long, in fact.” The black wolf turned his face away and whispered. “Damn I hoped that this would be over quickly but in this case…” Scratch overheard this and wondered what the heck Noah was talking about and the wolf turned back toward Scratch. “Well we go what we came for, let’s get out of here, you did better than I expected you’re a credit to your line. Scratch gave a salute and the duo retreated back to base but questions stirred around their heads and the answers seemed to be nowhere in sight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Somewhere else, far away, not exactly at this moment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven didn’t have a rough time traveling this time even though he walked all the way on foot. He escaped from New York to New Jersey and made way into Pennsylvania. Once there he continued his pace into some sort of public or private gardens. He couldn’t tell if this “Longwood Gardens” was either but it was a place where he was in his own elements and he could better study in his possession. The Voynich Manuscript, it was what was written inside that allowed him to walk from New York City to Philadelphia with a minimum of sleep, food, water, even air. Ancient secrets resided in the book, written in a near unbreakable code to protect it from forces that might desire to use it for dangerous ends. Diagrams and illumination further gave a measure of security so that only those who possessed the correct knowledge could utilize the information cleverly protected. Altogether the encryption gave the Voynich Manuscript the impression of the most complex writing down of nonsense ever in the history of mankind. This book might also have a clue to a way that he could undo all the mistakes he made that had led up to the abomination that existed today. Night was now falling and now Steven had the strangest feeling, his hair was standing up on end and somehow he felt somebody was walking over his grave, whatever that meant. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At an airport near Washington D.C -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Noah was boarding a jet directly to Texas and dialing on a cell phone a secure line to Julius Taylor the head of S/D. “Hello it’s me.” The black wolf spoke into the receiver glancing back behind him. While he was the only person on the bridge to the jet plane it paid to be careful especially after that recent assassination attempt. “Noah, have you been successful in that matter we’ve spoken about?” Taylor answered back there was a hint of something, stress perhaps in Julius’ voice. “We’ve wiped the evidence connected to us and to several other cases. Unfortunately Ben wasn’t there but someone else was.” The black wolf gave a pause at his end. Julius Taylor pieced together what Noah told him and took a sharp breath “It wasn’t…” “No, the person waiting for me wasn’t Steven but someone that looked like him and waiting for me. Apparently he had a good idea of my true position in S/D and acted accordingly.” Noah said nearly at the jet plane. There was a short curse that Noah overheard and the black wolf said “I’m still here and talking to you right? However I’m changing my plans and heading over to where you are right now.” “So this means that will you be joining us in the Independence Day activities?” Julius said, there was some disbelief in his tone. This wasn’t like Noah, while occasionally the black wolf did join in the S/D festivals Noah was dropping that other matter on his mind. Noah shook his head even though he knew Julius couldn’t see him “Seriously sir, it’s essential that you’re safe, now that I heavily suspect who’s behind this. Watch your back Julius” Julius Taylor said that he will and hung up. Noah boarded the plane and sat down in his seat, but with the crowd of passengers on the plane he didn’t see the particular traveler keeping an eye on the black wolf’s seat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Much later in Longwood Gardens --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steven Adams ground together his teeth, his entire body was on edge and he didn’t know why. The white wolf had studied the Voynich Manuscript diligently taking notes and making translations during the day. At night when no one was around Steven practiced the skills that he had learned in the book. Some sharp eyed visitors had wondered if somebody was doing pruning in the gardens and what kind of tool made such a clean cut. That wasn’t the problem though, in fact what was bothering Steven was a feeling that some horrible was going to happen. The worst thing was that he had no idea what could it be or why would it be important to him. One night when the moon was full and at its brightest and the lights of Philadelphia shone off on the horizon, Steven was silently moving his hand towards a branch while reviewing a passage in the manuscript. While it was a still night with no signs of a breeze the leaves and the branch that Steven was gesturing at moved and rustled. On the branch and several leaves around it sudden small gashes appeared out of nowhere on them. The white wolf was nervous and the tension that he been feeling the past few days seemed to be reaching its peak. Then suddenly it seemed like the entire world had turned upside down due the pain that struck Steven. A sharp aching pang shot through his left breast and his head felt fuzzy. Then as swift as the pain came, it left and Steven stiffened, his senses were sharp even more so in ways that very few people could understand. All of his normal senses were screaming at him not to turn around and yet if he didn’t turn how would he know what would be behind him? Steven regretted it as soon as he did so for what he saw was a very confused, sluggish, and lost looking wolf. However it wasn’t just any wolf, it was Josh Ville! Josh the wolf that Steven had started up an unusual friendship with. Why was he here? Steven thought quickly stashing the Voynich Manuscript behind his back. Even stranger how did he get here? I didn’t hear him approaching or anything. Steven mind raced. “Who are you?” Josh asked and he held his hand to his head for it was aching. He blinked his eyes for a few time and saw Steven. “Steven is that you? But why are you here in Texas?” “I was about to ask you the same thing but why are you near Philadelphia?” Steven asked in obvious confusion. Josh seemed to be under the impression that he was in Texas for whatever reason. “I was with Dad and Henry at the party and…” Josh said and stopped because Steven was looking at him with fear in his eyes. The white wolf was shivering not from the cold but from something that was missing. Steven heard what Josh was saying but the words bypassed his eardrums. Steven tried to concentrate and discovered that he couldn’t hear any breathing from Josh or a pulse. “Josh” Steven began to say slowly and carefully “what’s the last thing that you remember?” “Huh? I was with Henry and there was a lot of smoke, maybe a bomb of some sort and Ben was there and he” Josh’s eyes dilated “shot me… but if I was shot shouldn’t I be in the hospital? Why am I here and…?” Josh paused because he noticed something else. He held his hand up to his mouth and couldn’t feel any air circulate. “Why aren’t I breathing? Steven?” Josh ran over to Steven to grab him “why are you here and what’s happened… to… me…?” The words came out slowly because Josh’s arms went completely through Steven’s body and horrified words came out of Josh’s mouth. “No, this can’t be. Does this mean…I’m dead?” End of Reverse D Break Arc