"Am I deaf or I did hear you say that you know the girl's name?"
Dave, for the hundredth time, asks Parker who happens to be the guy behind the voice on the line; the one that told us that he knew her name.
"Yes," the tall, brown-skinned man answered while flipping through some pages of paper.
"Are you sure, man? This is not some kind of a joke or a prank, right?"
Parker, annoyed now, eyed Dave.
"Do I look like I'm joking right now, Davidson?"
Dave was about to respond when he caught Parker's eyes, which happens to be burning out of irritation.
He could only gulp his reply then.
"Okay, enough you two! Time is the essence here," Third booms while glaring at the two men. Then, his focus shifted to Parker.
"Now, tell us what you know."
Doctor Moe Parker, hearing the command from the Lieutenant General, stood up straight and began scanning his files again.
Seeing the concentration on the Doctor's face now, a few sudden intakes of breath from the boys were heard; a sign that they were all anxious yet excited.
I mean, who wouldn't be?
The woman was a mystery from day one, and if it weren't for the patrols that night, we wouldn't have known that a human being was still alive inside that DEATH ZONE.
Then, imagine seeing only glimpses of her on the monitor screens, or CCTV footage of her risking her own life just to save others - for FIVE consecutive years.
..... Wouldn't you go nuts from the unknown?
Even now, and after experiencing it firsthand, I can't help but feel on edge since she is still an enigma to us; a puzzle game with millions of pieces that needed to be put together to form a whole picture.
Thankfully, we have Parker to do that kind of stuff.
Anyway, as for me, I was not thrilled by the upcoming revelation anymore.
Maybe half an hour ago, but it died down the second I remembered how good the woman was in hiding her identity.
Even with the high-tech, HD cameras, and motion sensors installed on each perimeter, we never get a hold of a single picture of her for data processing.
I don't know how was that possible, or if she was that good at avoiding the hidden cameras, but it made me doubt the genuinity of the information to be presented.
However, this was Parker, and it's typically his expertise when it comes to deciphering this kind of mystery. And, besides, he's been obsessed with our mystery girl for five years now.
Seriously speaking...
Within that course of time, I've seen how the doctor works, and let me tell you this; whenever he gets interested in something - or someone, he never stops until he gets the answer.
And it is not just any answer, but he strives to obtain the most valid and reasonable justification to help clear out the fog inside our heads.
Still, I don't know if it's really the seeking of an answer that drives him to do it... Or just the idea of desperation and obsession – but whichever way it is, he's really great at it.
That's why both the Horizon and Bureau put him in the Search and Rescue Department, as well as a part-timer in the Science and Technology division.
I know, for a twenty-five-year-old guy like him, it would mean too much work.
Right?
Well, apparently, the guy likes the challenge and meticulous work; it was like a game for him, which brought me to a point where I questioned his sanity.
- If he was already MAD or, still, mentally STABLE.
Soon after escaping my reverie, Parker ordered us to gather around the dinner table and focus on him.
We did what was asked of us and from there, we all grew quiet as we waited for the Asian Doctor to speak.
At this point, and to calm my intense nerves, I glance around the space - happens to be Parker's apartment.
And boy I was jealous...
Unlike mine, his place was far cleaner and well-maintained;
His appliances were properly arranged and categorized, surfaces were smooth and shiny - making a clear impression that he surely maintains a dust-free policy here.
Then, here in the kitchen, there's the organized tableware, silver cutlery on hanging racks, and food condiments arranged based on color.
Finally, everything else - aside from the sofa - was color white.
I don't know how should I feel - besides the jealousy, after looking around the doctor's home, since mine was - and still was - unlivable even until this day.
Yet, I'm a soldier;
I work in the field while health workers like Parker stay in the office...
So yeah, we are two different aspects of this world, which I should always remind myself of.
"Sure this is relevant information Doctor?"
Third inquires, making that scary look in his eyes again - but this time, it was either in disbelief or doubt.
Parker, instead of being mad or offended by Third's concern, just kept on studying the paper he was holding.
He was so focused and preoccupied with it that he didn't even notice his lip was already drained of blood through the biting he, unconsciously, committed.
"I do believe this is relevant information because I got the data from an old system," He says, now looking at us, "The old world system."
All of us instantly halted.
Unlike our system now in the new world, the old world system held the most relevant information yet high-end secrets of the society.
There is so much sensitive information published there that it could actually ruin a man's life...
You could picture it as somewhat like a journal about the worst things people tried to hide when they were alive and even, after death.
A dark web full of data about dreadful deeds that even the strongest at heart could not survive once they hear about it.
It was a nightmare flowing around the internet...
What's worse was the fact that the person mentioned in the system, doesn't even know they were being exposed because the information was written by somebody else.
It may sound dubious but trust me, all written there are reliable and fair since, and as we found out, the ghostwriters there were mere stalkers, professional hackers and some, once belonged to the national security of the government.
Yeah, it sounds bizarre but for us who once served justice, the old network was just as useful and sensible - rather than interrogating criminals using force or reverse psychological means.
Still, even if it was that helpful, everything about the old system was wrong and illegal for it became a way for other people to blackmail others, especially those in higher positions.
In the end, with the Z-day and everything undead, the system - aside from being banned - totally vanished from the Internet world.
..... Well, until mister smarty pants here unlock it.
"The old world system you say?" I inquired, still in shock at what I just heard.
Parker swallowed hard before nodding his answer.
"But that system was gone for years," Sage, our black Pakistan Engineer, and technician, says while eyeing Parker in uncertainty. "How did you manage to get it?"
"To be honest, it was not that simple. The system was very outdated and in the worst condition. Though with a little nudge here and there, I got access from an old ID number and made some thorough research then."
"So, what does it says? Care to explain now?" Otto, our small man in the group, questions – quite impatient now.
Parker, sensing the eagerness, shot us a frown before reading the said article.
"Our mystery girl's name, as a lot of us, wanted to hear is Maxine Rose. She's already 24 years old and a Sagittarius..."
I don't know if I just felt breathless or stunned but finally, after all these years, we – I, personally knew her name.
Strange but I kind of felt relieved...
Relieved in a way that it's been so long since we were dealing with the unknown, and learning this piece of information - needless to say, her name - makes it much easier for us.
Especially when, given the chance, to interact with her...
"Okay, so we have her name," Third finally announces, snapping us from our brief trance. "Though, do you have anything interesting about our girl, other than the age and sign?" He added, almost excited now.
Parker only nodded and went back to reading the paper he was holding.
"Well, says here, she was only five when her family abandoned her; No reason found... Got into a total of fifteen foster families since her relatives, especially the men, abused and raped her... same goes with the foster fathers and brothers..."
Aside from Parker, we all tensed up on this part. Still, we listened while the doctor, slowly, continued.
"She killed some of the men who touched her but shockingly, the cops, instead of arresting her, adopted her.
Reason; they saw a 'special' potential in her, a rare potential which then the law used for justice... She then became part of a project called..."
The Doctor abruptly stopped.
We all glanced up at him and questioningly, we saw him grow pale. Too, his eyes have grown wide and he began shaking.
That's a bad sign.
"Project what?" Gabby, one of our soldiers, hastily inquired.
The horror looked in the doctor's eyes, as he shifted his gaze at us, was so vivid that it was starting to disturb me.
Then, the Doctor was beginning to tear up but, took the courage to compose himself before replying;
"She was part of Project Horizon in the 2019 operation. She..."
"She was our experiment gone wrong."
A hoarse voice, deep but stern cut off Parker's speech.
Recognizing who it was, Third instantly called out an "ATTENTION!" and all of us shoot out of our seats to stand up straight.
"Good evening, General Speed!"
We then all greeted in unison.