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One isolated incident went viral overnight, derailing any future plans those in power had in store for the world. No shadow government could stop millions of people from witnessing the spark of enlightenment. Everything done in the dark came into light by those who fought to expose the truth. By those who secretly film confidential meetings of government officials. Those who stalk politicians, recording their every word. The very same enigma that hack and upload classified data to every social media outlet for the public to see.

Across the world, in every language known to man, memes and gifs gained notoriety as they revealed what their government kept in the dark. Videos on every platform showcase what and who the shadow government are. No more would the people be left in the dark. Be left ignorant to what their government do behind closed doors. The mother of all conspiracy theories were once and for all answered with a series of videos, now gone viral. No one could escape the truth. No one is safe.

 A muffled voice spoke in a low lit room while a monitor kept track of a patients heartbeat. The reporter on the television screen spoke of another recent revelation, exposing secrets the public were not equip to hear. The patient woke as he slowly opened his eyes. His blurry gaze focused but he could not see clearly as to who sat beside him. A fragrant of roses lingered. He looked around then stared at the screen high above in one corner. He tried reading the headlines but failed. Instead he listened intuitively.

“More well renowned politicians,” the reporter proclaimed, “Arrested this morning for ties to terrorism exposed by more anonymous hackers.” Again, he closed his eyes hoping to regain his focus. His heart monitor kept a steady beat beside him. Once his head stopped spinning, he found himself in a hospital room; or so he thought. He stared at the ceiling as he gathered his thoughts, all the while listening to more truths seemingly spilling out of control. The world, it seemed, was waking up.

A sigh escaped him soon after as he realized who sat beside him. He did not need to see for he knew just by the smell that lingered. He feared of the consequences that lay ahead but by the revelations unfolding in the real world he knew his mission was complete. He knew nothing could reverse what he and his team sought to accomplish. For him, another successful mission was his to claim. To brag, taunt, before his enemy. Anything that proceeded was mere weak retaliation. He opened his eyes again then turned to his visitor.

She sat glued to her phone in one hand while holding an iced coffee on the other. Her phone sang as she wrote to her many allies. Numerous bells chimed as they each replied to her inquiries. Why she wore shades inside a building was beyond him but he could care less. No threat or promise could break him for he had beaten the system. She took one more sip of her coffee then removed herself from her phone. Though he could not tell, she was now fixated on him. “We have got to stop meeting like this,” she began, “Agent Milestone.”

She took another sip of her coffee then placed it on the nightstand. “What accomplishments you dared achieve.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Look at what you and your little fan club started. I see now why Mother chose you.” A bell rang on her phone. She remained facing Milestone, hesitant to read the notification. As she removed her shades, agent Milestone noticed there was something different about his visitor. He knew who she represented only her eyes were not the same.

Every so often, there is a change of guard among the Family. Sister, for instance, once white with blue eyes and blond hair now turned Asian with jet black hair and slanted dark brown eyes. The same, it’s presumed, can be said about Brother and Mother. This season the Family went Asian to lead the rest. They change appearance to keep balance among the other cults. To please the masses. A treaty those in power uphold to keep a sense of harmony among thieves. Why the sudden change in the Family was for Milestone to guess.

Sister took the remote and changed the channel. Every station revealed more gut churning news of terrorism, violence and war. Bombings in one state. Mass shootings in local areas in the other. Escalation ran rampant. “Is this what you had in mind?” Sister asked. Footage of swat teams raiding secret meetings played in the television screen, reminding Milestone of his act of defiance. “What is the endgame here?” She continued to flip through the channels, each depicting more gore and despair.

“I have to make ends meet somehow.” Milestone answered.

“What,” Sister replied, “Did we take more than what we should have? Did we leave nothing for the rest?” She smiled, “Am I the villain in your story?” Milestone kept quiet. “I’m hurt that you see me as a vile woman. I don’t know how the other version of myself treated you, Agent, but that’s all behind us now. We have turned over a new leaf. I hope you can understand that person is not me. I’m a new woman now.” She turned the television screen off. “The Family has changed and we do things differently.”

“You’re all the same.” Milestone began. “The lesser of two evils are still evil none the less.”

“Ouch.” Sister replied. “That hurt me right here.” She placed her hand on her heart. “We may be evil in your eyes but we are human all the same.” She moved closer to Milestone. “Let me be frank with you Agent. I don’t know what kind of relationship you had with the old version of us but let’s be clear on one thing, we do things differently now.” She took a closer look at Milestone, “Want to know why the Family had a sudden change? Because we are efficient.” She bothered not to hesitate.

“Unlike our predecessors, when we are given a task, we accomplish our goals with no errors.” She let Milestone soak in the new Sister. “See, we are not so different after all. Just like you, we accomplish everything we set our minds to. That is why the Family turned to us.” Sister stood inches away from Milestone. “I see now why Mother chose you.” She stroke Milestone’s forehead. “But tell me, what are your followers going to think when they find out the truth about you?” Milestone stared at Sisters slanted eyes.

“I keep nothing from them.” Milestone proclaimed. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb with me Agent.” Sister turned to the television screen. With a press of a button the screen flashed on. A raid took place in a hidden location only Milestone and his team of activist knew. Milestone recognized the people being apprehended by the Family’s swat team. “It wasn’t hard finding your location Agent. But when we began interrogating your followers they were extremely shook when we told them who you really are.” She turned back to Milestone, “Who you work for.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Milestone repeated.

“Sure you do.” Sister reminded him. “But don’t worry your secret is safe with me.” She raised one hand and with the other marked an X on her heart. She smirked as she walked around the room. Milestone tried getting up but his feet felt heavy. His hands lay beside him though he wanted to strangle Sister. All Milestone could do was watch Sister move about. Free to do whatever she pleased, as usual.

“Tell me this,” Sister changed the subject, “Why continue on with this narrative?” Sister opened a drawer then closed it almost instantly. She was stalling, Milestone analyzed. “Why carry on with this façade?” Sister trailed back to Milestone who lay lifeless with eyes full of rage. Sister knew something she was not suppose to. Sister was on to Milestone. “You actually believe these people you are protecting are damsels in distress? You think these people are victims to our oppression?”

“These people are not victims, Agent.” Sister continued. “These people are nothing more than thoughtless bystanders bored out of their minds. Yearning a piece of excitement that we deliver, every time.” Sister stood by the foot of Milestone’s bed. “We are the only hope these people you defend have. We are all that this world has. Why would you ever think of us as evil untouchables?” Sister made her way back to her seat. “That narrative you created came out of left field. Where you improvising? I mean it was not part of the mission Mother assigned you.”

“In closing,” Sister placed a finger on Milestone’s mouth. She knew he had something to say but she was not done. “You think these recent revelations your fan club are posting on social media will hinder whatever plan we have for them?” She laughed, “Agent, you can’t even fathom the power we possess. We can quarantine the whole world if we want to. Set mandatory vaccinations just because we feel like making them do so. If we tell them to jump, they will instinctively say how high because those are the kind of people you are protecting.”

Milestone wanted to move. He wanted to make a stand, and not just with his words, but somehow he was not able to. His body lay frozen though he was wide awake. “Don’t worry Agent.” Sister added. “You will have my permission to move again. The dose I gave you will wear off in a few.” She took her bag and rummaged through her mess. “See, I’m not as evil as you depict me in your stories.” Sister found what she was looking for.

“Wait,” Sister pondered. “Would this count as a trilogy or is this the sequel?” They sat in silence for a while. “Can I show you something.” Sister took a syringe from her purse then showed it to Milestone. “You want to know what’s inside this syringe?” Milestone was not amused. He knew Sisters tactics all too well. “This is essentially a lobotomy without the bells and whistles.” She pressed on the syringe, squirting liquid into the air and onto the floor.

“This invention of mine is my prized possession.” Sister bragged. “With a single dose, all the neurons in your cranium go quiet and you will be left as a vegetable. There will still be activity in your brain only your neurons won’t know what to do. You will be left clueless, oblivious to your former self. You won’t even recognize your own reflection.” She pierced the syringe to Milestone’s I.V. bag. There was nothing Milestone could do to stop Sister. All he could do was watch her as she finally finished what the other Sister could not.

Sister instead removed the syringe from his I.V. bag and emptied the tube. A small puddle spread on the white tile floor. “Make Mother proud.” Sister whispered to Milestone’s ear. She placed a USB drive by the night stand and left the television screen on. A raid of Milestone’s secret hideout took place before him. Milestone watched helplessly as his loyal followers fell to the Family’s swat team. Sister made her exit, “Do it so others like you won’t have to struggle as much as you did coming up.”