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Description
The Titan

Chapter Eight: Flight

"DeFoe!" came the sharp, nagging whisper. "Hurry! Wake up!"
DeFoe opened his eyes drowsily and the white light overhead morphed into Dr. Reese and Austin watching him. DeFoe groaned and grabbed the place on his arm where the IV had been, which was now wrapped tightly with a thin strip of bandage.
"Sorry for the anesthetic, but we had to make it look convincing." Dr. Reese said as he helped DeFoe sit up.
"We need to get out of here before someone discovers us," Austin prodded.
"What – what is going on?" DeFoe asked bewildered.
"We're saving your neck," Dr. Reese replied. "There is a back door out of this room that leads up a few flights of stairs to the street. The Organization thinks I' operating on you, so we need to leave immediately."
Austin helped him stand and Dr. Reese threw him his coat. DeFoe did not understand what was happening. This Organization surgeon who had probably performed dozens of shady operations on others and this suit, dedicated to the Professor, were helping him escape.
"Why are you doing this? Are you going to use me to start your own Organization?"
The surgeon gave him a long hard look. "You are of no use to me; you yourself saw that no one is able to summon the titans in you but the Professor. No; I do it because I am fed up with the Professor's constant spreading of evil. When it was just the greedy snatching of titans before the Foundation, I could treat it like a game. But what he did to you – what I did to you... I can't ignore that. I won't fight for slavery."
DeFoe looked at Austin, who was standing still, like usual, with a stern, pained look. "Are the reasons the same for you?"
"Yes," Austin replied. "The Professor does not deserve my loyalty and I refuse to give it any longer."
DeFoe didn't expect to hear that come from the mouth of any suit. He dawned his coat. "As you can imagine, I agree with you." He said.
Dr. Reese nodded. "Good. Let's get out of here."
The three men hurried to the back door hidden in the shadows; if Dr. Reese had not led them, they would have been hard pressed to find it. It was opened with a spell whispered by Dr. Reese that DeFoe had never heard before. Inside were switchbacks of thin staircases. Austin closed the door behind them and Reese sealed it before they began climbing the stairs as quickly as they could without making too much sound.
The staircase spit them out of a deep crack in the side of a building in Prague. The sun had just set and the light left over was beginning to ebb. Austin gripped DeFoe by the arm as they watched Dr. Reese hail a taxicab. When they were seated, Dr. Reese instructed the driver to take them to the airport.
No one spoke during the car ride except when Dr. Reese politely answered the driver's small talk. They were still dangerously close to the Organization base and a misplaced word might spell their doom. Perhaps they had already discovered their escape and were in the city. DeFoe felt pretty confident about his ability against the suits, since his knowledge of spells was quite extensive. However, if the Professor came – would he risk that? All he would need to do is get into earshot of DeFoe and all hope of escape would be lost.
DeFoe felt the urge to cover his ears, partly expecting the Professor to be waiting for them on the next street corner. Covering his ears wouldn't make a difference, would it? It wasn't he that was obeying the Professor's voice, but rather the amulets and he couldn't very well cover their ears. DeFoe shifted uncomfortably; he felt very exposed.
The cab arrived at the airport without any trouble. Dr. Reese was able to put on enough ease to cover for all of them as he paid the driver, thanked him and strolled alongside the other two.
"Wipe that fugitive's expression of your face, or security won't let you on the plane," Dr. Reese whispered to DeFoe without losing his carefree charade as they entered the shortest line at the ticket counter.
"Where are we going?" DeFoe inquired quietly.
"You'll find out. And use your head and think rationally," the surgeon answered as their turn came.
Dr. Reese and Austin showed their passports and DeFoe dug in his pockets, hoping his was still there. He had gotten into the habit of keeping it in his pocket at all times because he was always traveling across borders. His fingers fell across a leather booklet and he pulled it out. He handed the passport to the woman behind the counter and she handed the tickets to Dr. Reese. The passport was not even real, DeFoe recollected; he didn't remember what information the Organization had printed upon it, but he knew it wasn't his. He wondered if the other two passports were fakes as well.
Dr. Reese bought three tickets for Vienna. DeFoe held in his comments and questions until they had walked away from the desk.
"Vienna? Are you insane?" he whispered with as much feeling as he could. Vienna was the site of the main Huntik Foundation base. Where Gutenberg was.
"DeFoe, really. Do you think you'll be safe anywhere else? The Professor can track you and once he finds you, nothing can be done. They are they only ones who will be able to protect you. Use your head, DeFoe. Think logically, for once," Dr. Reese hissed.
"They are the enemy!"
"Of the Organization, not of you."
DeFoe was hot with anger, but deep down he knew the surgeon spoke the truth. So he sulked, saying nothing more until he had to convince the guard at the security gate that a bolt in his spine was setting off the metal detector and not a concealed weapon.
DeFoe sank into his seat on the plane soon afterwards, his head swimming with the thought of walking up to the doors of the Foundation, looking for shelter. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. He, DeFoe scourge of the Foundation, was fleeing to them for refuge. How would he do it? Reese would probably do most of the talking; he had so far. That would be smart, or DeFoe might blow his only chance with his smart mouth.
I would rather humiliate myself than let the Professor wipe my mind. He thought. Even if it is to the Foundation.
The plane landed and as the three men exited through the double glass doors of the airport onto the Vienna street, Dr. Reese laid a comforting hand on DeFoe's shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Like I am about to shame myself before the world," DeFoe answered.
"I meant about the amulets."
"Oh," DeFoe realized. "I feel pressure like they and my body are repelling magnets. It is less since we left Prague, though."
"It is probably that your boy is not used to having that much power inside it."
DeFoe was indignant. "I have plenty of power! I have mastered so many spells—"
"Seven amulets trapped in your body that belong to another man – especially one as powerful as the Professor – is an entirely different power, and not one you'll want to keep around for very long.
DeFoe was subdued and looked away. "So, do you know where the Foundation base is?" he asked.
"Of course." Dr. Reese replied. "Who doesn't?"
"I don't," Austin muttered.
"The Foundation doesn't do a good job at hiding their base; that's one thing the Organization did better. However, it is so secure that a direct attack would be futile," Dr. Reese said as they walked down the street. "It's actually not that far from the airport." He looked over his shoulder at DeFoe, who walked a little behind him. "Once we're in and you're safe, we'll go into surgery and I'll remove them all. I promise." The surgeon's eyes were hard and determined.
"Sounds like a good plan," DeFoe replied.
"It is, if we can get there before the Organization catches up to us."
"There is no way they could stop us. I'm sure they didn't even notice our absence for a good hour or more," DeFoe pointed out.
"Do you think the Professor would come?" Austin asked.
"He never did on any of the important missions I was in charge of; not even the ones he deemed most dire," DeFoe answered. "Surely, he will have contacted Grier and maybe sent Rassimov. But, no, he would never come. Not this far away from shelter."
"For your sake, I hope you're right," Dr. Reese said as they approached the main Foundation building, which was disguised as the beautiful house of a rich citizen. They stopped fifty meters away.
"I think you should let me do the talking; at least for now. They don't know of me, but they have learned to hate you." Dr. Reese explained.
"I see your point," DeFoe replied.
"And Austin, perhaps you should take off your sunglasses and jacket, and maybe your tie too. That's better; now you don't look like a suit. DeFoe, you should probably stand near the back, just so that they don't jump to conclusions when they see us. No doubt there are security cameras trained on the front steps, so even before we see any people, act friendly."
Dr. Reese straightened his shirt - his lab coat draped over his arm. They walked up the short stone steps and stood at the double oak doors.
This is all so wrong, thought DeFoe as Dr. Reese rapped the doorknocker.
In a few moments, the door opened to a butler – or, rather, a Huntik guard disguised as a butler. He probably had five or more amulets hanging around his neck under his white, pressed shirt.
"What is your business here?" he asked politely.
"Good evening," Dr. Reese began. "My name is Reese. We are here to seek the help of the Huntik Foundation. Whom should I speak to?"
The butler peered around Dr. Reese at Austin and then started at the sight of DeFoe. "What is that man doing here?" he demanded, pointing.
"He is why I've come. It is urgent that I speak with an authority immediately. We've escaped from the Organization and they will likely be upon us before midnight," Reese explained, a plea under the surface of his business voice.
"Or you could be trying to get inside as an attack," the man countered, crossing his arms.
"We wouldn't have brought DeFoe then, would we? Since everyone at the Foundation recognizes him so easily."
"I suppose not," the butler concluded. "Wait here." He closed the door and they heard it lock.
DeFoe exhaled a short, scoffing laugh. "They won't let us in. If Huntik agents came to me, I wouldn't let them in except to imprison."
"Hush!" Dr. Reese barked. "It is of utmost importance that we don't appear suspicious."
"There isn't much hope for that," DeFoe said as the doors opened again.
"Gugenheim has agreed to see you," the Foundation agent-butler relayed. As the doors opened fully, DeFoe became aware of more people – undoubtedly each with several amulets in their pockets and around their necks. The three refugees entered and the doors closed.
"Before you come any further, you must hand all your amulets to me," the butler continued.
Austin handed over two amulets and Reese, one. They – for the Foundation agents had closed in – turned to DeFoe when he didn't produce any.
"I don't have them," DeFoe explained, his ears burning with shame.
"It's true," a woman said. "Dante retrieved them almost two weeks ago."
"Dante—" DeFoe's angry words were cut short when Dr. Reese squeezed his shoulder with an unfriendly strength.
"Then what is that power I feel on you?" the butler asked skeptically.
"That's the problem, sir," Dr. Reese spoke up. "The Professor performed an experiment on him and inlaid his amulets inside DeFoe."
The butler paused, thinking. "Search him," he directed a couple of the men closest to him.
They obeyed and began emptying his pockets and patting him down; it was all DeFoe could do not to Touch Ram them. When they found no amulets, the "butler" was better inclined to listen.
"If what you say is true," he began, "Then this matter is serious indeed. Follow me and I'll lead you to Gugenheim."
They, and a large number of others, walked down a hallway, stairs, another hallway, more stairs and another hallway before they reached Gugenheim's office. The behavior was very different in the Foundation than it was in the Organization. There were no guards at the single office door and when they approached it, the "butler" walked in without knocking, as if the head of the Foundation did not mind being disturbed. Soon DeFoe, Dr. Reese and Austin were invited inside and the door was closed behind them.
The room was large, but not close like the Professor's chambers. Gugenheim's office looked like just that – an office. A large, mahogany desk dominated the room with a computer and papers, a filing cabinet, a large bookcase, pictures of his family, sentimental tokens… in fact, the only thing that separated this from other offices was the Holotome on his desk and the large spell-enforced safe against the wall. DeFoe and the other two stood in the center of the room, feeling wretchedly out of place in such a cheerful room. DeFoe felt he must look like he had just broken a terrible fever. There was no way he would look very presentable after all he had gone through. Though, that might have been good evidence on their side.
Gugenheim stood behind his desk with a solemn expression. "I'm told you three escaped from the Organization," he said and looked at DeFoe. "Even you."
DeFoe wasn't sure whether the last phrase was a statement or a question.
"We got him out and brought him here," Dr. Reese spoke up. "And we think that only the Huntik Foundation can help him."
Gugenheim sat in his chair. "I never expected an Organization man to say that," he commented. "But sit down. Let's have the whole story and then I'll see if we can or not."
Two chairs were against the wall and Defoe and Dr. Reese pulled them closer to the desk and seated themselves; Austin stood rigidly behind them.
"Isn't there another chair in here?" Gugenheim inquired as he twisted about in search of one.
"I am fine standing, sir," Austin replied.
"Whoever is listening through the crack in the door!" Gugenheim called. "Get this man a chair, would you?" A chair was slipped bashfully inside the room and footsteps were heard leading away. Austin pulled it closer and sat down.
"It is important that something happens quickly, because the Organization will be upon this base before midnight, and probably much sooner," Dr. Reese said.
"Well, I can't help you until I know what is going on," Gugenheim said leaning back in his chair, ready to listen.
Dr. Reese explained their predicament, since he had a broader view of what really happened, with a few interjections from DeFoe about the merging experience. The head of the Foundation listened intently and nodded, his fingers laced under his nose.
"The Professor's bond with these titans is strong," Dr. Reese concluded," And are no doubt acting as a homing device, leading the Organization here. If anyone in the world can stand against the Organization, it is the Foundation."
"I see," Gugenheim said, his brow tense as he assessed the situation. "So you want the Foundation to shelter DeFoe here until what?"
"I don't know. What I do know is that I need to get him into surgery and removed those amulets as quickly as possible." Dr. Reese replied.
"We have an infirmary."
"That will do."
"How many amulets did the Professor have you implant?"
"Seven."
"Seven!" Gugenheim was breathless. He looked at DeFoe with concern. "Seven of the Professor's amulets welded to your spine? I am amazed you haven't been torn to shreds by the sheer power!"
What if that's what the pressure is? DeFoe thought fearfully. He was determined not to let himself shrink before the Foundation, regardless.
"I am handling it just fine. Better than most; better than any Huntik agent I'll bet—"
Dr. Reese coughed rudely.
"If you are doing so well, why did you leave the Organization in the first place?" Gugenheim asked, half challenging, half teasing.
"The Professor refused to recognize my potential," DeFoe replied.
"So you would rather we kept the titans inside of you?" Gugenheim asked.
"I never said that," DeFoe quietly countered, looking away.
"Gugenheim," the voice came before there was a body to match it. A small, well concealed door by the bookcase opened and a man steppe through, holding a file. "I found it," he continued, "but it has a peculiar smell that I think might be a clue to where it comes from—" the man in the tan trench coat stopped when he realized there were others in Gugenheim's office.
His eyes trained on DeFoe and DeFoe's eyes were like flint in returning the glare.
"Dante Vale," DeFoe growled.

Description
The Titan

Chapter Eight: Flight

"DeFoe!" came the sharp, nagging whisper. "Hurry! Wake up!"
DeFoe opened his eyes drowsily and the white light overhead morphed into Dr. Reese and Austin watching him. DeFoe groaned and grabbed the place on his arm where the IV had been, which was now wrapped tightly with a thin strip of bandage.
"Sorry for the anesthetic, but we had to make it look convincing." Dr. Reese said as he helped DeFoe sit up.
"We need to get out of here before someone discovers us," Austin prodded.
"What – what is going on?" DeFoe asked bewildered.
"We're saving your neck," Dr. Reese replied. "There is a back door out of this room that leads up a few flights of stairs to the street. The Organization thinks I' operating on you, so we need to leave immediately."
Austin helped him stand and Dr. Reese threw him his coat. DeFoe did not understand what was happening. This Organization surgeon who had probably performed dozens of shady operations on others and this suit, dedicated to the Professor, were helping him escape.
"Why are you doing this? Are you going to use me to start your own Organization?"
The surgeon gave him a long hard look. "You are of no use to me; you yourself saw that no one is able to summon the titans in you but the Professor. No; I do it because I am fed up with the Professor's constant spreading of evil. When it was just the greedy snatching of titans before the Foundation, I could treat it like a game. But what he did to you – what I did to you... I can't ignore that. I won't fight for slavery."
DeFoe looked at Austin, who was standing still, like usual, with a stern, pained look. "Are the reasons the same for you?"
"Yes," Austin replied. "The Professor does not deserve my loyalty and I refuse to give it any longer."
DeFoe didn't expect to hear that come from the mouth of any suit. He dawned his coat. "As you can imagine, I agree with you." He said.
Dr. Reese nodded. "Good. Let's get out of here."
The three men hurried to the back door hidden in the shadows; if Dr. Reese had not led them, they would have been hard pressed to find it. It was opened with a spell whispered by Dr. Reese that DeFoe had never heard before. Inside were switchbacks of thin staircases. Austin closed the door behind them and Reese sealed it before they began climbing the stairs as quickly as they could without making too much sound.
The staircase spit them out of a deep crack in the side of a building in Prague. The sun had just set and the light left over was beginning to ebb. Austin gripped DeFoe by the arm as they watched Dr. Reese hail a taxicab. When they were seated, Dr. Reese instructed the driver to take them to the airport.
No one spoke during the car ride except when Dr. Reese politely answered the driver's small talk. They were still dangerously close to the Organization base and a misplaced word might spell their doom. Perhaps they had already discovered their escape and were in the city. DeFoe felt pretty confident about his ability against the suits, since his knowledge of spells was quite extensive. However, if the Professor came – would he risk that? All he would need to do is get into earshot of DeFoe and all hope of escape would be lost.
DeFoe felt the urge to cover his ears, partly expecting the Professor to be waiting for them on the next street corner. Covering his ears wouldn't make a difference, would it? It wasn't he that was obeying the Professor's voice, but rather the amulets and he couldn't very well cover their ears. DeFoe shifted uncomfortably; he felt very exposed.
The cab arrived at the airport without any trouble. Dr. Reese was able to put on enough ease to cover for all of them as he paid the driver, thanked him and strolled alongside the other two.
"Wipe that fugitive's expression of your face, or security won't let you on the plane," Dr. Reese whispered to DeFoe without losing his carefree charade as they entered the shortest line at the ticket counter.
"Where are we going?" DeFoe inquired quietly.
"You'll find out. And use your head and think rationally," the surgeon answered as their turn came.
Dr. Reese and Austin showed their passports and DeFoe dug in his pockets, hoping his was still there. He had gotten into the habit of keeping it in his pocket at all times because he was always traveling across borders. His fingers fell across a leather booklet and he pulled it out. He handed the passport to the woman behind the counter and she handed the tickets to Dr. Reese. The passport was not even real, DeFoe recollected; he didn't remember what information the Organization had printed upon it, but he knew it wasn't his. He wondered if the other two passports were fakes as well.
Dr. Reese bought three tickets for Vienna. DeFoe held in his comments and questions until they had walked away from the desk.
"Vienna? Are you insane?" he whispered with as much feeling as he could. Vienna was the site of the main Huntik Foundation base. Where Gutenberg was.
"DeFoe, really. Do you think you'll be safe anywhere else? The Professor can track you and once he finds you, nothing can be done. They are they only ones who will be able to protect you. Use your head, DeFoe. Think logically, for once," Dr. Reese hissed.
"They are the enemy!"
"Of the Organization, not of you."
DeFoe was hot with anger, but deep down he knew the surgeon spoke the truth. So he sulked, saying nothing more until he had to convince the guard at the security gate that a bolt in his spine was setting off the metal detector and not a concealed weapon.
DeFoe sank into his seat on the plane soon afterwards, his head swimming with the thought of walking up to the doors of the Foundation, looking for shelter. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. He, DeFoe scourge of the Foundation, was fleeing to them for refuge. How would he do it? Reese would probably do most of the talking; he had so far. That would be smart, or DeFoe might blow his only chance with his smart mouth.
I would rather humiliate myself than let the Professor wipe my mind. He thought. Even if it is to the Foundation.
The plane landed and as the three men exited through the double glass doors of the airport onto the Vienna street, Dr. Reese laid a comforting hand on DeFoe's shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Like I am about to shame myself before the world," DeFoe answered.
"I meant about the amulets."
"Oh," DeFoe realized. "I feel pressure like they and my body are repelling magnets. It is less since we left Prague, though."
"It is probably that your boy is not used to having that much power inside it."
DeFoe was indignant. "I have plenty of power! I have mastered so many spells—"
"Seven amulets trapped in your body that belong to another man – especially one as powerful as the Professor – is an entirely different power, and not one you'll want to keep around for very long.
DeFoe was subdued and looked away. "So, do you know where the Foundation base is?" he asked.
"Of course." Dr. Reese replied. "Who doesn't?"
"I don't," Austin muttered.
"The Foundation doesn't do a good job at hiding their base; that's one thing the Organization did better. However, it is so secure that a direct attack would be futile," Dr. Reese said as they walked down the street. "It's actually not that far from the airport." He looked over his shoulder at DeFoe, who walked a little behind him. "Once we're in and you're safe, we'll go into surgery and I'll remove them all. I promise." The surgeon's eyes were hard and determined.
"Sounds like a good plan," DeFoe replied.
"It is, if we can get there before the Organization catches up to us."
"There is no way they could stop us. I'm sure they didn't even notice our absence for a good hour or more," DeFoe pointed out.
"Do you think the Professor would come?" Austin asked.
"He never did on any of the important missions I was in charge of; not even the ones he deemed most dire," DeFoe answered. "Surely, he will have contacted Grier and maybe sent Rassimov. But, no, he would never come. Not this far away from shelter."
"For your sake, I hope you're right," Dr. Reese said as they approached the main Foundation building, which was disguised as the beautiful house of a rich citizen. They stopped fifty meters away.
"I think you should let me do the talking; at least for now. They don't know of me, but they have learned to hate you." Dr. Reese explained.
"I see your point," DeFoe replied.
"And Austin, perhaps you should take off your sunglasses and jacket, and maybe your tie too. That's better; now you don't look like a suit. DeFoe, you should probably stand near the back, just so that they don't jump to conclusions when they see us. No doubt there are security cameras trained on the front steps, so even before we see any people, act friendly."
Dr. Reese straightened his shirt - his lab coat draped over his arm. They walked up the short stone steps and stood at the double oak doors.
This is all so wrong, thought DeFoe as Dr. Reese rapped the doorknocker.
In a few moments, the door opened to a butler – or, rather, a Huntik guard disguised as a butler. He probably had five or more amulets hanging around his neck under his white, pressed shirt.
"What is your business here?" he asked politely.
"Good evening," Dr. Reese began. "My name is Reese. We are here to seek the help of the Huntik Foundation. Whom should I speak to?"
The butler peered around Dr. Reese at Austin and then started at the sight of DeFoe. "What is that man doing here?" he demanded, pointing.
"He is why I've come. It is urgent that I speak with an authority immediately. We've escaped from the Organization and they will likely be upon us before midnight," Reese explained, a plea under the surface of his business voice.
"Or you could be trying to get inside as an attack," the man countered, crossing his arms.
"We wouldn't have brought DeFoe then, would we? Since everyone at the Foundation recognizes him so easily."
"I suppose not," the butler concluded. "Wait here." He closed the door and they heard it lock.
DeFoe exhaled a short, scoffing laugh. "They won't let us in. If Huntik agents came to me, I wouldn't let them in except to imprison."
"Hush!" Dr. Reese barked. "It is of utmost importance that we don't appear suspicious."
"There isn't much hope for that," DeFoe said as the doors opened again.
"Gugenheim has agreed to see you," the Foundation agent-butler relayed. As the doors opened fully, DeFoe became aware of more people – undoubtedly each with several amulets in their pockets and around their necks. The three refugees entered and the doors closed.
"Before you come any further, you must hand all your amulets to me," the butler continued.
Austin handed over two amulets and Reese, one. They – for the Foundation agents had closed in – turned to DeFoe when he didn't produce any.
"I don't have them," DeFoe explained, his ears burning with shame.
"It's true," a woman said. "Dante retrieved them almost two weeks ago."
"Dante—" DeFoe's angry words were cut short when Dr. Reese squeezed his shoulder with an unfriendly strength.
"Then what is that power I feel on you?" the butler asked skeptically.
"That's the problem, sir," Dr. Reese spoke up. "The Professor performed an experiment on him and inlaid his amulets inside DeFoe."
The butler paused, thinking. "Search him," he directed a couple of the men closest to him.
They obeyed and began emptying his pockets and patting him down; it was all DeFoe could do not to Touch Ram them. When they found no amulets, the "butler" was better inclined to listen.
"If what you say is true," he began, "Then this matter is serious indeed. Follow me and I'll lead you to Gugenheim."
They, and a large number of others, walked down a hallway, stairs, another hallway, more stairs and another hallway before they reached Gugenheim's office. The behavior was very different in the Foundation than it was in the Organization. There were no guards at the single office door and when they approached it, the "butler" walked in without knocking, as if the head of the Foundation did not mind being disturbed. Soon DeFoe, Dr. Reese and Austin were invited inside and the door was closed behind them.
The room was large, but not close like the Professor's chambers. Gugenheim's office looked like just that – an office. A large, mahogany desk dominated the room with a computer and papers, a filing cabinet, a large bookcase, pictures of his family, sentimental tokens… in fact, the only thing that separated this from other offices was the Holotome on his desk and the large spell-enforced safe against the wall. DeFoe and the other two stood in the center of the room, feeling wretchedly out of place in such a cheerful room. DeFoe felt he must look like he had just broken a terrible fever. There was no way he would look very presentable after all he had gone through. Though, that might have been good evidence on their side.
Gugenheim stood behind his desk with a solemn expression. "I'm told you three escaped from the Organization," he said and looked at DeFoe. "Even you."
DeFoe wasn't sure whether the last phrase was a statement or a question.
"We got him out and brought him here," Dr. Reese spoke up. "And we think that only the Huntik Foundation can help him."
Gugenheim sat in his chair. "I never expected an Organization man to say that," he commented. "But sit down. Let's have the whole story and then I'll see if we can or not."
Two chairs were against the wall and Defoe and Dr. Reese pulled them closer to the desk and seated themselves; Austin stood rigidly behind them.
"Isn't there another chair in here?" Gugenheim inquired as he twisted about in search of one.
"I am fine standing, sir," Austin replied.
"Whoever is listening through the crack in the door!" Gugenheim called. "Get this man a chair, would you?" A chair was slipped bashfully inside the room and footsteps were heard leading away. Austin pulled it closer and sat down.
"It is important that something happens quickly, because the Organization will be upon this base before midnight, and probably much sooner," Dr. Reese said.
"Well, I can't help you until I know what is going on," Gugenheim said leaning back in his chair, ready to listen.
Dr. Reese explained their predicament, since he had a broader view of what really happened, with a few interjections from DeFoe about the merging experience. The head of the Foundation listened intently and nodded, his fingers laced under his nose.
"The Professor's bond with these titans is strong," Dr. Reese concluded," And are no doubt acting as a homing device, leading the Organization here. If anyone in the world can stand against the Organization, it is the Foundation."
"I see," Gugenheim said, his brow tense as he assessed the situation. "So you want the Foundation to shelter DeFoe here until what?"
"I don't know. What I do know is that I need to get him into surgery and removed those amulets as quickly as possible." Dr. Reese replied.
"We have an infirmary."
"That will do."
"How many amulets did the Professor have you implant?"
"Seven."
"Seven!" Gugenheim was breathless. He looked at DeFoe with concern. "Seven of the Professor's amulets welded to your spine? I am amazed you haven't been torn to shreds by the sheer power!"
What if that's what the pressure is? DeFoe thought fearfully. He was determined not to let himself shrink before the Foundation, regardless.
"I am handling it just fine. Better than most; better than any Huntik agent I'll bet—"
Dr. Reese coughed rudely.
"If you are doing so well, why did you leave the Organization in the first place?" Gugenheim asked, half challenging, half teasing.
"The Professor refused to recognize my potential," DeFoe replied.
"So you would rather we kept the titans inside of you?" Gugenheim asked.
"I never said that," DeFoe quietly countered, looking away.
"Gugenheim," the voice came before there was a body to match it. A small, well concealed door by the bookcase opened and a man steppe through, holding a file. "I found it," he continued, "but it has a peculiar smell that I think might be a clue to where it comes from—" the man in the tan trench coat stopped when he realized there were others in Gugenheim's office.
His eyes trained on DeFoe and DeFoe's eyes were like flint in returning the glare.
"Dante Vale," DeFoe growled.