The HYDRA jet was decked out exactly as Caldwell had imagihere was more real leather furniture than Caldwell had seen in his lifetime. There were plush leather sofas, reers, a massage chair, three desks with swivel chairs, a bookcase full of important-lookiher-bound books and a large plasma TV s. Even the bar stools were covered in real Italiaher. A bank of terminals lio cyberspace via the aircraft』s onboard satellite system blio one side of the main area of the aircraft. A fully immersive VR suit hung limply inside a glass et.
As soon as they stepped aboard, Ms. Levin disappeared into one of two doors leading to the back of the plane. A large red sign above the door read RESTRICTED: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Caldwell thought he was flying Lobotomy Air, courtesy of HYDRA, the pride of the Union. The two agents settled their frames in one of the plush Italiaher sofas and flipped on the plasma. Agent Jones opened a partment in the sofa』s armrest and pulled out two pairs loves. They started playing a holographic video game, dug, weaving, jabbing and pung the air. The two five-inch holographic boxers projected on to the top of a glass coffee table followed their every move iime. They were mauscle boys massaging their pathetic egos.
「You two don』t have anythier to do than play video games?」 Caldwell asked. He thought it was a reasonable question in the circumstances but they glared at him and theuro their boxing match. Caldwell sat in one of the swivel chairs and watched Agent Jones』 boxer pi Ja』s bainst the holographic ropes to the sound of a bell signaling the end of the first round. He was tired, both mentally and physically, but the thought of the impending procedure kept any notions of sleep at bay. He watched the two HYDRA agents remove their jackets and ties, poised for the sed round. Their holographic equivalents sat slumped in their ers sug water through straws and taking advice from invisible trainers.
Caldwell stood up and opened one of the doors at the front of the aircraft, the only ohat didn』t say AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY or CREW ONLY and found himself in a smaller room with a couple of treadmills and more leather reers. Was that all HYDRA agents did? Kick bad think of old England? He andeered one of the reers near a large window looking out on the runway. The automated fuel trucks were pulling away and the aircraft reparing to take off. There was a kno the door and two identical Eurasian twins in red crew garb walked in. Caldwell wasn』t sure whether he was halluating. There was something about the stewardesses, a certain telepathic coordination that seemed totally unreal.
「Wele on board Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Fouler asked us t you this suit to ge into after your procedure. We also have a suitcase of clothing and other items that will e in handy in Hong Kong.」 This said in unison, the sound of their voices ing at him in stereo. One of the girls was carrying a gray suit bag which she placed on a hanger on wall.
「Thanks,」 Caldwell said and gawked at the girls. There was something unnatural about the two Eurasians, an intense and vaguely disturbing artificial beauty.
「You are wele,」 they said, again in perfect syny.
「I am not going to bother asking your names. I am just going to get fused,」 he said.
「That』s a good idea. Just call us Siu Je then there won』t be any fusion.」
「Sounds like a plan. Do you guys always say the exact thing at the same time? And what does Siu Je mean