Parkerson woke early Sunday morning and drove out to the lake house. Turned off the projections and brought the asset breakfast. Coffee. “Drink up,” he told the kid. “You’re going to need it.”
The asset obeyed him, wordless. The training was working. The kid’s eyes were vacant. He looked tortured, shell-shocked. He looked ready for work.
It was too early in the training for this kind of maneuver. Far too risky. The asset could bug out and go catatonic, could revert to normal as soon as he hit the outside world. Looking at Wendell Gray, though, Parkerson didn’t believe it. The asset looked compliant. He looked totally pliable.
Parkerson turned the hose on him. Sprayed the kid down until he was soaking wet and shivering. Then he tossed him a towel and a stack of fresh clothes. “Put them on,” he told the kid. “Haul ass. Big day today.”
Typically, Parkerson liked to ease the kids into killing. A couple small animals, then maybe a man. Sometimes the assets didn’t make it that far. Sometimes they became training fodder for the next candidates. There was a symmetry there that appealed to Parkerson, a ruthless efficiency.
Never before had he trained an asset in the field. He’d been careful so far. This was a necessary risk, though, for Killswitch. Parkerson couldn’t afford to disappoint a client. This would keep the program running smoothly.
The kid finished dressing. Parkerson led him out to the Cadillac. Drove away from the lake house and out onto the interstate, south toward the city and the airport. Parkerson parked in the economy lot. Then he turned to the asset. “This is field training,” he said. “Your first assignment. Understand?”
The asset stared at him, blank-faced. Parkerson slapped him. “I asked you a question, soldier. Do you understand?”
The asset nodded once. “I understand.”
“Better,” said Parkerson. “We’ll be traveling today. You and I are business colleagues, and friends. You will stay close beside me. You will engage me in conversation. If anyone else talks to us, you will be pleasant and civil, but you will allow me to carry the conversation. Understand?”
The asset nodded again. “Yes, sir.”
“Any deviation from these boundaries will result in your immediate and dishonorable discharge from duty. You’ll be returned to your room, and I’ll leave you to your visions.”
The asset flinched.
“If you complete this task, I’ll make the visions disappear and return you to your normal life. Understand?”
The asset looked at him, for the first time with hope in his eyes. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I understand, sir.”
“Good.” Parkerson reached for the door. “Let’s get started.”