Free The Arena: The Awakening (1) by James Robert Scott Page A

evident by Taylor greeting him at the door saying “You don’t look too great.” Inside the apartment, Taylor handed Hank a brown file.
    “Have you ever heard of project M.I.A. Hank?” asked Taylor.
    Hank shook his head as he didn’t have a clue.
    “All of your dead people worked on a government project called M.I.A. for a department called The Arena. I can’t find out what agency they were working for, but what I can tell you is that they were working on a very hush-hush project. This was to create a silent assassin who couldn’t be traced by law enforcement and would be key in protecting the internal affairs of the United States. The details available are quite vague, but it does mention keeping their assassin under control when not in use, almost in a vegetative state and activating them with a serum called LP76.”
    Hank took a deep breath and asked “Where are they based?”
    “I can’t find that out Hank but, from previous knowledge of government departments like this, I would say DC.”
    Hank took a moment and asked “But why kill these specific people? What had they done?”
    “Well, that’s the kicker Hank, all three had left the department and were working for civilian companies. They were all members of an anti-government protest group called Freespeak and they were about to go public with the details of the Arena team. Looks like they’ve basically been assassinated for attempting to speak out.”
    Hank was well into his stride now on putting the pieces together. “Did you find any details of the assassin in your research?”
    “I think I have” replied Taylor. “They refer in their text about subject L.R. and how their medical team put her back together after a serious accident. They detail bone and facial reconstruction, and other medical jargon. From what I can see Hank, this L.R. probably doesn’t even know that they’re doing it. For probably ninety percent of their life this person is a vegetable.”
    “ Christ!!” thought Hank. “Any idea who is running it all?”
    “Yes and no” replied Taylor. “From what I can see, it’s being managed by a Dr Cooper but I can’t find anything on this guy anywhere. He’s a ghost and properly off the grid. To be honest Hank, I would leave this one well alone. People like this, being so secret and having assassins working for them, are not the sort of people to be screwed around with.”
    Taylor seemed on edge when he said this, as if he had just realised how deep this actually went.
    “Thanks for the help with this Taylor. I promise none of this will ever find its way back to you” Hank said, while extending his hand for a handshake.
    As he returned it, Taylor said “Oh, and one last thing. There is mention of a house in Alexandria, south of DC. I’ve got no idea the significance, but they refer to it quite a lot so maybe that’ll give you a lead.”
    With a nod of his head, Hank walked out of the apartment and hit the road back to Morristown.
    By the time he got into the office, the boss had arrived and he wasn’t alone. He had another guy with him. He was slightly overweight, balding and had little John Lennon-style glasses. Hank asked who he was but got the reply from the boss “It’s better you don’t know Hank. Let’s leave it at that.”
    Hank was a bit surprised by this but so far, the boss had been true to his word, so he took his comment on face value. As they started the debrief, it was apparent that the boss had nothing new to bring to the table. He wanted step-by-step details from Hank about what had gone on, with which Hank was quite forthcoming. Hank did hold back the details from Taylor though, until the time was right. After about an hour of talking, Hank made up his mind what he was prepared to tell them for now. The boss told Hank he had no answers for him with regards to why his wife’s details came back on the DNA report.
    “It’s because she’s now a trained and controlled assassin working for a Government