Margaret and Kyle were in front of the screens, with their facial recognition software running the faces of the men in David’s memories. The faces were blurred, but they managed to enhance it enough to make out the figures and points that they would need to match it to anyone in their database. It took a long time, before they matched one from their files. Margaret gave Kyle a nod, before the man ran the profile of the face.

“His name is Jackson Armitage.” Kyle pulled up the profile. “He’s in the system for the Manhattan database.” He walked over to Margaret, as they stared at the man’s profile. “Armed robbery, assault and…” the man sighed, shaking his head. “Assault and battery of a minor.”

“How is he connected to the Nighthowlers Program?” Margaret crossed her arms.

“I’m looking up known associates.” Kyle started typing on his tablet, before he grew frustrated. “Nothing so far that could connect to anyone who’s capable of doing the research.”

“Pull up their faces.” Margaret pointed at the screen. “Maybe David could identify at least one of them.”

Kyle glanced at the woman beside him. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but isn’t it best to just give him some time to rest for a few days?” Margaret glanced at Kyle, raising an eyebrow. “Look, I don’t really like him, but based on what happened last night, I think he’s close to crashing already.” Margaret pondered for a moment, before giving a nod, approving the idea. “Maybe he can join us for a couple of missions. He did really well on the last one. Got hundreds of laborers home to their families and stopped the trucks of Polonium.”

“Just make sure that he stays alive.” Margaret noted. “We need him every step of the way, if we’re gonna track the king pin of this organization.”

“Copy that.” Kyle gave a salute, before walking out of the room. Margaret sighed, as she turned back to the monitors.

David was in the cafeteria, while drinking coffee and eating his breakfast alone in one table. On another table, Michael and the others were having their meals as well, while the man kept glancing at the lone eater. Remembering their last mission, David’s voice echoed in Michael’s ears as he heard his own name from the man’s lips for the first time since they met.

Michael sighed, before picking up his stray, while standing up. Cain and the others frowned as they turned to the other man. “You’re really pushing it, Mikey.”

“If he leaves, then I’ll just come back here.” Michael told him, as he walked away from their table, leaving his friends with frustrated and worried looks on their faces.

David saw Michael stopping in front of his table, with a smile on his face, before placing his tray down. “Did you try the new jams? It’s really good.” Michael sat down in front of him, as he turned to the man. David raised an eyebrow, while holding a fork. “Oh also, I heard that the cooks here are going to cook spaghetti and pizza for lunch.” In David’s mind, he saw a flash of memory, with him as a boy, while laughing with his mother in the kitchen, making pizza before his father arrived to pick him up from the floor. Michael noticed a twitch from David’s eye, before he frowned. “Are you okay?” David sighed, before finishing his coffee, standing up, and walking away from the table. Michael watched as the man left the cafeteria.

In the afternoon, David was roaming around in the hallway, where he stumbled upon the weapons armory. He saw a man, in his forties, sitting behind a working table, while fixing a high-end rifle. The man looked up to David, seeing that he was behind the glass window, before giving him a nod. David frowned a bit, before the man glanced behind him, seeing that there was no one else in the hallway. The mechanic walked over to the door, before opening it for the younger man.

“Are you comin’ in or what?” David frowned a bit, before he hesitated in walking inside the room. “You must be that hot-headed recruit that I’ve been hearing so much about.” The man stopped beside his table, before turning back to David. “I’m Robert Manning, Lead Weapons Mechanic.” David nodded at him. “Can’t you talk or something?” David raised an eyebrow. “That scary look ain’t gonna work on me, boy.” He pointed at David. The younger man scoffed, as he leaned on the table to see all the weapons. “Heard you’re smart, not mute.” Robert crossed his arms.

David turned to him, slightly growing amused at the man’s guts. He also noted the western accent, along with the cowboy get up, without the hat. “You’re working on a heat-seeking rifle bullet.”

Robert felt impressed. “You know your shit, huh?”

David shrugged. “I dabble.”

Robert chuckled, as he walked around the table, picking up the rifle. “This here is an EHS rifle mag, with eighty-seven percent accuracy target control.”

“Forty caliber bullet, with a grenade launcher.” David added, as he pointed at the gun. “Laser range, high explosive air burst rounds.”

Robert nodded, as he stared at the young man. “Shit’s right.” He said, as he handed David the rifle. “Detonates over and or behind the target.” He watched as David examined the gun. “Wanna try it out for a spin?”

At the gun range, David aimed at multiple targets, hitting the bull’s eye every time. Robert grew in awe at the man’s marksmanship. Before the young man turned to him, with a smirk. “I like it.”

“It likes you too.” Robert humored, as he tilted his head. “Say,” David glanced at him. “If you feel like doing something different for a change, you can hang out at the armory and maybe get your hands on some of the weapons that needs tweaking.” David frowned a bit. “I know why you’re here, son.” Robert gave him a soft look. “You don’t need to go back to something I could see that you really don’t like out there.”

“What the hell do you know about me?”

Robert grabbed the rifle from David’s hands, before the young man noticed prison tattoos from the man’s arm up to his neck, while his shirt and button down covered it. “Because I wasn’t born in this facility, boy-yo.” Robert placed the gun back on the table, before David turned back to the targets. “I’ve heard your story before.” He started. “A young man thinking that he has nothing better to do than be someone people told him to be.” Robert leaned back on the table, as he crossed his arms. “They tell you you’re a killer; you were made to be a killer.” He shrugged. “Maybe you are, but it ain’t mean you should be for the rest of your life.” He pointed out. “Ain’t that right, son?”

“Don’t call me son.” David warned.

Robert scoffed. “No. I don’t think you’d need a daddy either.” He shook his head. “You just need to get your head on straight, boy. You’re in a good place here.” David frowned, as Robert started walking over to the door. “All I’m sayin’, kid, is don’t you mess this up for yourself.” He said, before leaving David at the gun range to ponder.