#warehouse 14

                “Sir I’m going to have to ask you and all these people with you to leave,” Llyod tried to sound intimidating, “we don’t open for another hour.”

                “You won’t be opening again for a while,” The man smiled at Llyod.

                “What’s that supposed to mean?” Llyod took a step back, “Who are you? And what is the meaning of all this?”

                He motioned at the huge group of people who were still coming in through the glass doors. The man held out his hand. Llyod looked at it warily.

                “I’m Jim White.” The man introduced himself, “I’m running for president and I need your store.”

                “The hell you do,” Llyod held his ground, “You think you can just commander whatever you want?”

                Jim placed a hand on Llyod’s shoulder and Llyod’s eyes flickered and he stared at Jim.

                “I think you will find my campaign to be the right one to support Mr. ..erm… Mcbride,” He read Llyod’s nametag quickly. “So what do you say may we use your store as my headquarters?”

                Llyod nodded a little dazed at first then with complete resolution he looked Jim in the eyes, “Of course sir, why would this even be a question.”

                “Good man! I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a campaign!” Jim stood tall looking out at the department store which his followers were now starting to rearrange.

________________________________________________________

Callie’s head slammed into the Suburban window and she jerked awake. It was raining again. What was to be expected it was Seattle, Washington. They were stuck in traffic next to her Tyler stared out the window lost in thought. She tapped his shoulder. He jumped a little snapping out of his intense concentration.

“Sorry,”  She laughed but her smile faded quickly, “You doing okay?”

“Yeah I’m okay,” he nodded attempting a smile. “I’ll be fine.”

“It’s okay to not be fine, I mean your parents just died a few days ago,” she leaned on him.

“Let’s not talk about it,” He whispered. His face was blank and she couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or just pretending to be strong. Her thoughts were interrupted by Officer Black who was driving.

“We are almost to the warehouse,” He turned the street corner and accelerated a little.

“Where is this place hidden anyways?” Callie asked sliding forward in her seat. Black looked at Stander and a grin crossed his face.

“Right there,” Stander pointed out the front of the car.

“No way,” Callie’s eyes widened, “But that has been there for a long time.”

“What has?” Tyler leaned forward to look and he started to laugh. Up ahead pointing into the clouds like a majestic spire was the Space Needle. “This is friggin’ awesome.”

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The Space Needle’s sleek form stretched up into the sky as the group walked towards the structure. The bustle of people and tourists walking back and forth, snapping photos and admiring its height continued on around them as they headed for the lobby doors. Callie glanced over at Tyler and nudged him. He looked at her his eyes filled with excitement. Black led them to one of the elevators and pressed the up button. Tyler looked confused.

“Don’t think about it too hard you’ll hurt yourself,” Stander joked with him. Tyler laughed nervously. Why were they going up there was no way that this warehouse could be at the top of the Space Needle. The bell dinged and the doors opened. As they walked into the elevator a pair of tourists tried to enter but Black flashed his badge and shuffled them towards another elevator. The doors slid shut as he stepped back in. He pushed his badge against the bottom of the elevator’s button panel. There was the sound of something scanning it and then the elevator dropped suddenly. Callie grabbed Tyler’s arm trying to balance herself.

The ride was short and when the doors opened they were faced by a white tunnel leading off towards a door. Every few feet were pillars with silver cylinders in glass. Yellow hazard markers. Black stepped of first followed by Stander. Callie and Tyler followed cautiously. Tyler leaned in towards one of the pillars to get a closer look.

“I wouldn’t touch one of those. They are packed with enough explosives to take out the entire tunnel and more.” Black said without even looking back.

“I feel like that would be a little counterproductive what if someone sets them off accidentally?” Callie asked catching up. Black looked back at her with a “that has definitely happened before look.”

Black flipped a panel open next to the door and entered a code. The door clicked and there was the sound of air rushing through. Black pushed the door open and strode into the room. As Tyler stepped across the threshold he was surprised to see a quaint brick office. A spiral iron wrought staircase stood off to one side. Monitors on a nearby computer flickered and displayed rapidly changing images and videos. White boards were covered with scrawled notes and papers. Nearby a wall of flashing lights glowed in organized rows.

Callie gasped and walked forward towards a series of bay windows beyond which lay rows and rows of what looked like shelving, crates and boxes. Tyler silently joined her. They stared out into the vastness of the warehouse. Callie tugged on Tyler’s arm pointing out at a pyramid off to one side. Tyler was too fixated on the blimp that was hanging from the rafters in another.

“Welcome to Warehouse 14,” A voice brought them out of their trance. They turned to see a man in his mid 50’s gripping tightly to a cane. His hair was grey with streaks of white and combed to the side neatly. His glasses though big weren’t very thick and he had a warm welcoming smile one might expect from their fairytale grandpa. “I’m Edgar Dunn, head agent here at the warehouse. I’ll be your new boss.”

He nodded at them not attempting to move for a handshake. He then turned to address Black and Stander.

“Thank you boys it was a pleasure working with you on this last assignment. Send my regards to Rodriguez.” The smiled and nodded and headed for the door. Edgar smiled without even looking continued, “Oh and leave your Farnsworths at the door please.”

The two agents groaned playfully and laid two rectangular devices on the table by the door before exiting. Edgar turned his attention back to Callie and Tyler.

“They aren’t staying?” Tyler asked nodding at the door.

“Oh heavens no,” Edgar laughed, “While I do enjoy working with the CIA it is tedious and way too much paperwork for my liking. No you two are my newest agents and we need to get you up to speed on everything Warehouse related. I am supposed to show you a series of videos that Ms. Donovan created but that wouldn’t be much fun for me so if you two would have a seat I will begin.”

He motioned for them to sit down in two leather armchairs against a nearby wall. They sat down and waited as he shuffled over to the computers that were still working rapidly. He motioned at it. “This is the server. It tells me when and near where an artifact surfaces. It also communicates directly with my Farnsworth which will ‘ping’ whenever we have an artifact that we need to bag and tag. Everything okay so far?”

Callie raised her hand. Edgar nodded acknowledging her.

“What do you mean bag and tag?” She asked concerned, “And will it be anything like we experienced the other day with the lava spewing guy?”

Edgar laughed, “Slightly hopefully they won’t be as close calls. As you are both over the age of 18 and you don’t have any criminal records that either Ms. Donovan or I can find you are now part of the US government. We are a secret service branch that no other branch can or ever will know about. And if they do they are sworn to secrecy or told to cover it with another story. For example Black and Stander are required to say they were working with a branch of the FBI that was dealing with a biological weapon and that’s it.”

“Wait, hold up you mean to tell me that my parents worked for a super-secret agency but didn’t even tell me their only son about it?” Tyler burst in. Edgar held up a hand to calm Tyler.

“Yes, unfortunately protocol only allows each agent to have one other person whom they can tell about the agency and everything they do here at the Warehouse. Your parents had both already sued their one when you came into this world.” Edgar explained, “I’m sorry if that is a little harsh or disappointing but that is the way it was.”

Tyler shrugged so Edgar continued. “Whenever we get a ‘ping’ you will have to go out wherever it is and bag it using one of our special bags or subdue it with the goo which I will show you later. For now you should head back up to the surface grab the Farnsworths by the door it’s how we communicate with each other also you will need to get a Tesla in the black case also by the door and your ID’s are in their as well. Annalee will meet you at the top and show you to the place you will be staying at for the duration of your employment here at the Warehouse. Your stuff has already been taken to your rooms.”

Edgar stood back up leaning slightly on his cane and began to walk towards one of the doors leading out of the room. Callie and Tyler turned to head out the door when a strange beeping sound came from Edgar’s pocket. HE deftly plucked a small Brass box from his pocket and flipped it open. A red light blinked and an image was displayed on the screen. He turned quickly to face them and spoke in a very firm tone. “Scratch that grab your gear I’ll get you some bags and goo you are heading out we have a ping.”

“Where are we going?” Tyler asked his heart starting to race for some reason he was really excited knowing he was about to go on his first mission.

“And what is so important that we have to get it right now.” Callie demanded as Edgar shuffled quickly to the computers. Several images popped up and so did a map. Edgar looked over at them again and smiled.

“You are heading to Austin, Texas and as for what it is… I have no idea that’s the fun part.” His eyes sparkled with pleasure, “So….”

“So?” Callie asked not happy.

“So grab your gear and let’s go,” Edgar motioned for them to hurry as he shuffled off to get the goo.

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“We’ve been driving around for hours now and we still haven’t seen anything even remotely weird,” Callie braked at the red light and looked over at Tyler who was scanning the nearby streets. “You’d think with all the gadgets we have that these pings might be a little more specific. Like ‘Hey! There is a giant sword that wants to kill all the terrorists!’ or ‘Hey there is a locket that drives its wearer to madness!’ Why can’t they be like that?”

Tyler shrugged and pointed at a small group of campaigners holding up signs. A man’s beaming smile radiated out from their posters and caption at the bottom read: Join the Fight, Vote Jim White! Callie looked them up and down and shook her head.

“Doesn’t seem to be anything weird about them.” She pressed the gas as the light turned green.

“Wait pull up here something isn’t right,” Tyler motioned for her to pull into a nearby parking lot. He got out of the car before she even parked and headed straight for the group.  He waved at them smiling, “Hello can I ask you a few questions?”

One of the campaigners greeted him warmly giving her sign to another person. “Hi I’m Cecelia Burke one of Jim White’s campaign managers what can I help you with today.”

“My partner and I have been noticing your signs all over town wanted to ask a few things,” Tyler motioned to Callie as she walked up, “We are with the secret service.”

The woman looked shocked for a moment and then worried, “Is there something wrong? Why would the secret service be interested in our simple politics?”

“I wouldn’t say they are simple,” Callie nodded as a plane flew overhead dragging a banner with the same slogan as before. “And besides isn’t Jim White running or the presidency?”

“He is and can we count on your vote?” The question seemed a little to direct and pressuring and Callie took a step back. Tyler watched Cecelia step forward and quickly intervened.

“Well that’s all for now my partner and I will be on our way thanks for your help,” Tyler grabbed Callie’s arm and they moved towards the Suburban which was parked nearby. Callie groaned as she saw the Jim White bumper stickers plastered to the rear of the car.

“Edgar is going to kill us,” Callie started scratching at one trying to get it off, “This is only a rental car.”

There was a metal ringing and Tyler pulled his Farnsworth from his pocket. “Speak of the devil.”

“What?” Edgar asked having only caught the last word as the round glass screen came to life.

“Nothing,” Tyler shook his head, “You had any luck on your end?”

“Not a thing,” Edgar sounded exasperated, “Except for getting assaulted by a group of political nut jobs I’m at a dead end. It’s like…”

“Wait did you say political nut jobs?” Callie grabbed the Farnsworth from Tyler, “Did they work for Jim White?”

“Yes,” Edgar sounded surprised, “How did you know that?”

“We talked to some just a moment ago, what do you mean they assaulted you?” She asked brushing her hair from her eyes.

“They kept trying to pressure me into signing over my vote to this Jim White figure, it seemed rather odd how persistent they were about it.” Edgar seemed to be making notes.

“Something isn’t right about this guy he gives me a bad vibe,” Tyler looked up at the nearby group still waving their signs.

“You get vibes?” Edgar seemed a little too curious.

“Yeah… why is that important?” Tyler asked sharing a concerned look with Callie.

“Nothing it’s not … you two should go check out this Jim White guy I’m going to see if I can find any info on him. Let me know if you find anything.” Edgar disappeared and the screen went blank.

“Goodbye to you too…” Callie seemed annoyed.

“He’s kind strange isn’t he you know like ‘oooh I know things’ kind of weird,” Tyler climbed into the passenger seat.

“He is definitely not telling us something,” Callie opened her door, “But for now you want to go ask Ms. Cecelia nutjob over there where the campaign headquarters are?”

“Do I have to?” Tyler gave her a disappointed pleading look. “Fine but you get to talk to the next nutjob.”

“We’ll see,” Callie hopped in and started the suburban. Smiling jokingly at Tyler.

_______________________________________________________

“You want to meet Jim White and so does everyone else I’m sorry you will have to make an appointment,” A bald man at the front desk of the headquarters tried to shuffle them off to one side. “Look I can’t really help you right now I’m trying to coordinate an entire department store of people here to make posters, call people, and help the cause I can’t be setting up meeting s for everyone too.”

The man turned and went back to answering phones and shouting at people. Callie looked frustrated at Tyler. “Well now what? Are we just supposed to try and call in an appointment with this guy?”

                “I don’t know  this seems like something Edgar would know better about,” Tyler opened his Farnsworth and pushed the button. Moments later the screen flickered on. Edgar’s face appeared, lights passing by overhead.

                “Hey Edgar where are you?” Tyler asked.

                “The hospital I was trying to dig up something on this Jim White of ours and it seems his campaign has people working themselves into a frenzy. There are two entire floors here packed with people who are working on his campaign exhausted and in critical condition. From what the doctor has been telling me they are literally working themselves to death. They can’t even get these people back on their feet the moment they start feeling better the start to work and end up right back here. They are forgetting to eat or drink. The weirdest thing is they don’t even care all they want to do is work on this presidential campaign.” Edgar showed them a few of the hospital rooms.

                “Hey that’s the woman from earlier Cecelia!” Callie exclaimed, “What’s wrong with her?”

                “Dehydration sent her into a frenzy,” Edgar turned the Farnsworth back so they could see his face, “But tell me what did you find out from Jim White?”

                “Nothing,” Tyler looked bummed, “That’s why we called you they won’t let us get an appointment with the guy.”

                “Did you flash your badges?” Edgar asked.

                “What?” Callie moved in so she could see well.

                “Seriously have you never seen like a detective show or an officer in real life? You two are agents flash your badges get pushy. You don’t need an appointment you are the appointments remember secret service.” Edgar explained exasperated.

                “Oh yeah…..” Tyler smiled sheepishly, “We’ll get on it.”

       Edgar looked unamused as he hung up. Tyler stuck it back in his pocket and head back towards the desk where the bald man was shouting at some secretary. Callie cleared her throat.

                “Oh you two again what is ti this time?” The man sounded out of breath. Tyler whipped out his badge dramatically trying to imitate a movie cop.

                “I’m Agent Deadport and this is Agent Howell. We are …” He paused dramatically, “Secret Service.”

                Callie elbowed him. Tyler grunted rubbing his side. The man looked confused.

                “We need to speak with Jim White, and I’m sure our identification will serve as our appointment or should I call our boss back at headquarters? I’m sure Mr. White would love to have a phone call from the FBI wondering why he is refusing to follow government protocol.” Callie said with a firm voice standing her ground. The man looked guilty and picked up a small handset.

                “Right this way sorry about that we just get a lot of people through here wanting pictures and interviews and the whole nine yards,” The man was panting sweat creased his brow.

                “Are you okay?” Tyler asked, “Maybe you should sit down.”

                The man waved them off. “I’ll be fine just have a lot of work to do I can’t stop know.”

                He led them through the store filled with table after table, desk after desk. Phones were ringing and papers were flying off printers. All the while people bustled to and fro preparing things and answering phones. At the back of the store where the customer service desk used to be Two men stood talking animatedly about several papers on the table.

                “Mr. White two agents are here to speak with you.” The bald man pushed them forward and then hurried off. Jim turned to face them his smile beaming out at them. It was almost frightening.

                “Well hello there, Jim White. What can I help you with today?” He shook both of their hands enthusiastically. “I haven’t done something wrong have I?”

                “Not that we know of we just wanted to ask you a few questions about the amount of people ending up in the hospital because of your campaign and if you knew why this was happening?” Callie asked rubbing her hand.

                “Not the slightest clue ma’am,” Jim was still smiling, almost as if he couldn’t stop. “It is a real sad thing though. You know I really should go visit them. Make a note for me would you Lloyd.”

                The other man whom he had previously been talking with scribbled the note down on a pad and then continued to pour over several packets. Tyler could feel something was wrong but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

                “Not to be rude but unless you have more questions for me or you have some proof that I am behind the hospitalization or some other crime I have to ask you to leave now.” Jim still smiling ushered them back towards the front. “But if you’d like to come back and help at any point we could always use the man power. And remember ‘You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves.’”

            Callie looked at him curiously but waved goodbye and followed Tyler out of the store.

            “What was that about?” Tyler looked a little disheveled. “Seriously how can that guy have so many people working for him? He’d never get my vote.”

            Callie didn’t get to answer as the Farnsworth started to buzz. Edgars face filled the screen and he looked worried. “We have a problem meet me at the hospital right away!”

 _______________________________________________________

            “It’s rather odd and the effects of the artifact are getting worse,” Edgar led them back through several wards. The sound of people crying in pain was getting louder. They pushed through a final set of doors and found themselves in what felt like a riot. People in wheel chairs and attached to machines were fighting doctors and shouting.

            “What are they saying? And in what language because that is definitely not English.” Tyler stared at the scene around him.

            “It’s Russian and they are crying out in pain and lament and asking for justice.” Edgar turned to face Callie and Tyler, “From what I’ve been able to gather is this is the last stage before they go flatline.”

            “Flatline?” Callie looked dazed.

            “Dead,” Edgars face was dead serious, “We have to figure out something quick or a lot of people are going to die.”

            Callie walked around the room listening to the Russian words being shouted again and again. She felt a twinge in her mind, something she couldn’t quite remember.

            “Vy ne mozhete delat' revolyutsiyu s shelkovymi perchatkami .” One Lady kept muttering quietly nearby. Again and again she said it. Callie’s eyes grew wide.

            “You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves!” She exclaimed. The entire room went silent and they all seemed to be staring at her. She looked around nervously and scooted closer to Edgar and Tyler.

            “What did you just do?” Edgar asked drawing his Tesla. “What did you say?”

            “It’s what Jim White said to us before we left the headquarters. ‘You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves.’” Callie whispered at him. “It’s a quote I think some Russian guy said it.”

            “Not just any Russian guy,” Edgar looked worried, “Stalin said that, this is making a lot more sense than I would like it to right now. Let’s leave quickly shall we.”

            As the doors to the ward swung closed behind them they heard the roar of Russian chatter start back up and nurses ran for the ward.

________________________________________________________

            “Do you remember anything about what he was wearing?” Edgar asked as they walked through the front doors of the Department store.

            “Um… just a normal business suit, I mean it wasn’t anything to fancy just probably more than I’d pay for a suit,” Tyler tried to remember.

            “How are we going to get whatever it is from him anyway?” Callie asked, “I mean He probably knows that he is using it right?”

            “Not necessarily,” Edgar responded, “He could be just enjoying the effects but believing that his life is just like this. Sometimes people come by artifacts accidentally and suffer whatever the side effects are. But think did you see anything here out of the ordinary on or around him?”

            “Okay,” Callie focused, “Wait there was a medal he had one pinned to his suit jacket I thought it was a bit strange. It was some kind of military recognition.”

            “That is indeed strange,” Edgar looked at her, “He was never in the military he grew up here in Austin and never left not even for college.”

            “That’s it then it was shaped like a star on a red ribbon like thing,” Callie described it.

            “Of course!” Edgar exclaimed as the rounded a corner, “It’s Stalin’s ‘Hero’s of the Soviet Medal.’”

            “Um guys!?” Tyler pointed at Jim who was on the floor convulsing, “What is happening to him?”

            “We need to bag it now!” Edgar roared, “Stain died of a hemorrhage! And afterwards his followers went crazy at his funeral.”

            Tyler rushed forward slipping on gloves while Callie grabbed a bag from Edgars black case.

            “Quick! Quick! Put it in here,” Callie rushed Tyler who fumbled with the medals clasp.

            “I’m getting it! Just hold on!” Tyler snapped back. The clasp finally came undo and he went to drop it in the bag.

            “Look away!” Edgar shouted but too late purple sparks flew from the bag as the Artifact was neutralized. Callie and Tyler tried to blink away the stars in their eyes as they walked back over to Edgar.

            “Thanks for the heads up,” Callie rubbed her eyes.

            “Yeah thanks Edgar,” Tyler said sarcastically.

            “Would you have preferred watching a 3 hour video on the warehouse protocol?” Edgar rolled his eyes, “Lets head home to tag this.”

            “What about all them?” Callie pointed to all the campaigners who were now looking around dazed. Jim Sat up and looked over at them confused.

            “They will be just fine,” Edgar walked away his cane clicking on the tile of the department store.

_________________________________________________________

            “Are you sure there isn’t anything else we need to learn before we head up to meet Annalee?” Callie laughed poking Edgar.

            “Don’t poke me,” Edgar looked a little peeved, “and yes I’m sure that is all now go one you two go get some rest I expect you to be here tomorrow bright and early to help me start shelving some of the more recent bags.”

            “Alright sounds good catch you later Ed,” Tyler headed out through the door followed by Callie. Faint traces of a conversation about Italian food floated back into the office as the door swung shut behind them and locked. Edgar sat down at the computer and began to type out a report on Stalin’s Medal.

            “You know the video was made for a reason,” Claudia’s voice made Edgar nearly fall out of his chair in fright. He turned to see her staring out the window at the warehouse floor.

            “Christ I will never get used to that,” He muttered then spoke to her, “I think it’s better if we throw them in and let them learn they are still young, besides would you have wanted to watch that video?”

            “I made the video,” Claudia laughed turning to face him. “But it doesn’t matter now they are learning quickly and it seems that our young Tyler might have the ability to sense artifacts we will have to keep a close eye on that.”

            “We definitely will it would be a very helpful tool here,” Edgar stood up leaning on his cane, “But I don’t think you came here to talk about Tyler.”

            “You are right,” Claudia motioned for Edgar to join her out on the balcony overlooking the warehouse. “Our ‘issue hasn’t gotten any better has it?”

            “Unfortunately no,” Edgar followed her out. “To be fair what we did was against every rule in the book.”

            “I know but what else were we supposed to do?” Claudia looked out again. Concern filled her eyes. “We couldn’t move it anywhere else and some traditions need to be broken.”

            “But what if they can’t be broken?” Edgar looked out too. “What if we broke the wrong ones?”