Episode 2
Cold of night greets Bel as he stands on top of the BTC Tower. Neon lights beneath a dark sky cast a faint glow below. With augmented eyes he watches the movement of a certain business.
It has been a week since he accepted the target. A period of time to study the movements of a person with odd destinations… and guests. One thing is clear to Bel, this mark isn’t normal.
There the mark goes, in a dark long coat and a black fedora. His eyes are hidden behind black mirror shades, concealing the window to his soul. His height is above average, as well as his build; when he moves it is in a predatory manner with steps of rigid purpose.
For now, Bel calls him the cyborg. Nothing more added to him other than that name. His movements are strange… his guests are even stranger. During the day his shop is usually empty. From time to time he will exit the shop to vape in the front by the street. Other than that, he is still during the day.
From observation one could see he lives above his shop. Or… maybe beneath it. At the moment, no engagement with the target has been set. The reason is the observations that are made during the night.
At night he receives different visitors. Some of them are of the rougher sort, while others are professionals. Truthfully, there are no connections between some of the groups. From time to time they enter with a bag or briefcase and leave empty handed.
Also, at night time the cyborg becomes more active. Leaving and returning at odd times during the night, he is becoming more interesting to Bel. Due to the nature of the operation, only the building at the moment is being watched. However, soon he will be followed.
The clouds above are heavy; shortly the rain will fall. Bel heads toward his site hidden on the roof of the tower. For years no one has set foot on top of this particular tower. As with many structures in the megacity, they were abandoned after the war.
The site is hidden within an empty tank. Bel accesses the inside from a hatch on the top. Outside of the tank it looks ordinary; like any other water tank in the city. However, once you enter it you will soon find out this is not the case.
Weapons, screens, provisions, and systems are setup at the bottom of the tank along with a worn mattress that rests in the corner. By one of the screens is a communication terminal. This allows Bel to communicate securely and directly with his clan.
The terminal is a bit old school, however it is safe. He logs his daily report on the terminal ensuring that all details are mentioned.
After he finishes his report he breaks out a MRE and sits on the mattress. He can hear the beat of the rain as it falls against the metal surface of the tank. He thinks to himself, how soothing. Bel knows this is just the beginning. Tomorrow, he begins the hunt.
Bel and the Cyborg is a miniseries created specifically for this platform by Patrick Barber II. Remember to follow, as there will be more episodes on the way. If you like this series, it is a small part of a larger series located on Kindle Vella called Paradox Tower. You can read 3 free episodes here.