James slowly jogged on the treadmill inside the hotel gym. He had asked Xavier to see if he could make it so no one could enter, and after asking the right people and paying a certain amount, James was given his wish. There was no real reason for it other then embaressment. He knew he wasn't the most fit person, and with years of smoking, he couldn't run for extended periods of time.
But James also knew he had to push through that discomfort. Using a different ability had different effects, but the invisibility made him tired. Continuously activating it and running, he felt like he would pass out at any moment, but knew it was only a mental problem. He had to overcome the first barrier.
Ten minutes turned to thirty and thirty into an hour. By the end of it, James held the handles of the treadmill, covered in sweat. Panting like a dog, he slammed on the emergency stop and let himself collapse, falling backwards, deactivating his ability and letting himself breathe. Each breath hurt, feeling a thousand shards of glass tearing through his lungs, alongside a stab to his liver.
"You're finished." An emotionless voice called out from behind. Looking back, James saw the ISD agent standing there holding out a bottle of water, "Exercise is good, but one shouldn't overwork themselves." James took a deep breath and pushed himself up. Taking the bottle, he drank half and poured the rest on his head.
"I thought your job was to watch Xavier." The agent nodded and held his hand out. James took it and helped himself up.
"Agent V. I believe I did not introduce myself." James stared into the man's eyes, feeling a little creeped out by how open he was. It was basic courtesy for a normal person, but so far, other than during the meal, he had not heard the person talk, let alone show an emotion.
"What is it. Does the ISD want something from me?" Agent V nodded and held out his phone. James looked at the screen and frowned, seeing that it was private.
"I have him in front of me, Ma'am," V said with his usual emotionless tone.
"Mr Graham." A woman's voice spoke on the other side, "A pleasure, I am Secretarcy Parker. Agent V has told me he saw something, something the ISD has an interest in." James' eyes narrowed, hearing her robotic voice.
"He reported what he saw during our dinner?" James asked, already knowing. Looking up at the agent, he showed no change in emotion.
"I have arrived in Estella. Follow Agent V." The call hung up. Agent V pocketed his phone and walked off. Weighing up the entire situation, James sighed and followed behind, having been forced to cancel his training early. Agent V moved quickly, and getting into a car outside the hotel, they drove for a few minutes, arriving before the Embassy of the Unified States.
James walked forward, but was quickly stopped as a few guards approached him and pat him down. James held his breath in fear, forgetting to leave his weapons behind, but they quickly let him through after taking his knife and gun, placing them to the side and letting him carry on, entering a side room.
Secretary Parker sat, sipping on a mug of tea, her cybanteic eye looking up at him, flashing with a white glow when they made eye contact. James instinctively activated his ability and saw a sight he had never seen before. Inside the woman's body, he saw numerous pieces of machinery, held together by an aura that looked like a green circuit board. James was shocked, seeing her body was atleast 70% machine by this point, many of her internal organs and limbs replaced.
'Abilities grow with human thought. Stories of cyborgs have existed since the industrial revolution.' It was all James could tell himself to justify seeing a person who couldn't be called human anymore.
"It is rude to stare, Mr Graham." Despite her words, there was no change in her emotion to show she was offended. James cautiously moved forward without taking a seat as the door behind him closed, and an ISD agent quickly blocked it. Recently, he couldn't help but feel he was seeing things he shouldn't. "Please sit," Parker said, offering the seat before her.
James didn't speak as she carefully poured him a mug of tea. Not being rude, he took it and took a small sip, enjoying its taste. "First of all, the ISD forgives your mistakes in dealing with Mr Manning. It was a mistake on many fronts, including our own, that allowed your interference."
"Thank you..." James didn't know what to say and took another sip, hoping Parker would get to the point. Parker thinly smiled and leaned back, putting her tea down.
"As you know, the ISD values those with abilities related to time along with others, as seen with our deal with Mr Taylor. Before, you were of no consequence to us, but now." Her eye flashed with a white light, "Your ability has proven to be able to manipulate it."
"I could barely do it..." James paused, unsure of how to call her.
"Call me Maddam Secretary."
"Maddam Secretary, I am not like Xavier. I could use his power for a second, maybe less." James said, not wishing to lie before the woman. Parker shook her head.
"There is no need for humility. Sure, it may have been a second, but you have proven you can wield time." Her calm, robotic voice cooly said, "The potential of your power far exceeds what you believe it does. Honed correctly, you are a weapon that can't be predicted or beaten." Parker leaned forward, "But that is only if honed correctly by the correct people."
James' eyes narrowed, able to understand Parker's deeper meaning. His power, even he understood, was something that was dangerous. Right now, most abilities he copied made him tired, hurt, or couldn't be wielded to their maximum effectiveness, but what if he mastered his new power? James took a sharp breath, thinking about it. It was something that felt far out of reach, but on the slim chance he did, there was a chance he could become a threat to the very ISD, especially if left alone.
Parker's eye glowed with delight as she saw James quickly catch on to her deeper meaning. "The ISD does not exist to oppress ability users, Mr Graham, but as ex-law enforcement, you must understand that unregulated ability users are dangerous to human life and the state." James subconsiously nodded, "Unfortunatly our role within the state sees us having to take..." She paused and smiled, "Pre-emptive action in certain situations."
"So..." James reached for his pocket and pulled out his cigarettes. Getting permission to smoke, he quickly lit one up and took a deep inhale of it, "What does the ISD wish from me? I am not ignorant of the fact that my ability poses a great threat, whether by my own actions or others."
Parker nodded and took a sip of tea, "It depends. What do you wish for? The ISD is a powerful organisation, but we are still bound by the laws of the state. We can not force you to do anything." Parker took another sip of tea, finishing the mug and carefully put it down, "That being said, you are a wanted man, Mr Graham, guilty or not."
James narrowed his eyes. Staring at Parker, he felt his neck tighten, the cold hand of the ISD slowly wrapping itself around. They knew he was innocent, but if it meant dealing with a potential future threat, they would use it, whether it was to lock him away or tie them to him.
James nervously smiled and took a smoke, "What is the ISD offering?" Parker leaned back, her finger tapping on the armrest.
"As of now, nothing. This has only been brought to my attention so far, and whilst I have personal feelings on how to deal with you, I will not act without the Directors' explicit approval. But with the nature of your power, we will do our best to tie you to us, with a leash tighter than we gave to Mr Taylor. I am sure you understand why." James nodded and clicked his tongue. Taking a smoke, he looked into Parker's eyes.
"I am not opposed to cooperation with the ISD." James smiled, feeling he might have a chance. So far, he had been chasing a ghost, always one step behind. The protection of the Unified States was not his greatest concern, and he could tell Parker knew that, but with the resources at their command and manpower, he was sure they would be able to help him solve the case in Newport. Such a price was low in return for subordination. "But you know what I want. Afterall, why would I be in Estella?"
Parker rose from her seat and nodded, "The ISD will be in touch. Have a pleasant day, Mr Graham." Parker left alongside the other ISD agents within the room. Waiting a moment and finishing his cigarette, he left the room and got his gun and knife back before returning to the hotel.