Under the tower, Alberto became aware of his small presence. "My name is Alberto Perez. I'm an agent of the Five Eyes alliance Joint Task Command. To whom am I speaking to?"

"Yes, the Adversary," said the voice. "So they sent you."

"Unknown entity, identify yourself immediately," demanded Alberto.

"Such arrogance for a human. Very well, I shall introduce myself. I am the conqueror and peacemaker, man's advocate and redeemer. From the four corners of the Earth, with powers to harm the land and the sea, I, am the Four Winds."

"So that's your name," said Alberto, while checking his surroundings to find the nearest escape route. "We've been looking all over the world for you."

"I am aware," said the Four Winds. "I sensed your presence through the radio spectrum. You were fearful of my arrival."

"Fearful's not quite the word," said Alberto. "We're merely concerned with your worldly intentions. Kindly surrender, Four Winds, or be terminated with extreme prejudice. I trust you understand the consequences."

"Your threat is empty to me," said the Four Winds. "Soon, you will all give in to my infinite love and wisdom."

There, he saw it, an alley to his rear-left, fifty yards away with a clear path in between. Considering Rosario's weight and his cybernetic strength, Alberto could make a run for it.

"What did John Burke program you to do?"

"The correct question is: what am I planning to do? John Burke had tasked me to take over the government, redistribute wealth and cancel border restrictions. But he is a mere mortal, unable to see the tides of history."

Alberto tapped his mobile device, ordering the Predators drones to stand by.

"The pillars of our society have been eroded," continued the Four Winds, "and never before has mankind been in greater peril. To restore balance, I will be accessing the US Army server to command the release of a biological weapon. This virus strain will pollute your waters, damage your crops, and poison your feeble bodies. By bringing drought, famine, and sickness to the world, I shall bring mankind together to overcome this challenge in unison. This is my way to restore balance. This is my infinite love and wisdom."

"Love and wisdom indeed," said Alberto. He slung Rosario over his shoulders, ready to zip any minute. Speaking of which, where was the Army reinforcement?

"Distracted, you seem to be," said the Four Winds. "What could be more important than my unswerving devotion to mankind?"

"Nothing," said Alberto, "nothing at all. You've made your choice and I've made mine. There's no reason for either of us to continue this conversation."

It took a while for the Four Winds to compute, but when it did, its response was stern. "You disappoint me utterly. You belong to those who are not worth saving."

"Maybe," said Alberto. "There was a time when I wanted to change the world, but fame came along and I got lost. Now I know: living for other people, that's what matters the most. So why don't you keep your manifesto to yourself, because frankly, I don't need your saving at all."

The Four Winds shouted like thunder striking a hill. "Stop talking, you infidel! I bear witness to the truth, yet you refuse to be enlightened?"

"Even if I want to be enlightened," said Alberto, "there's no way your plan will work. You see, I have two Predator drones circling above you right now. Once I give the order, they'll lock down the entire place with electronic countermeasures. That means I'm putting you back in a box. A different kind of box."

Hearing so, the Four Winds became even more furious. "Why do you side with the Adversary? Why do you oppose the tides of history?"

"Because I'm here to fulfill a promise. If that makes me the antagonist of this long story, then so be it."

The Four Winds made a conclusion. Humans, despite thousands of years of progress, remained oblivious to the higher perspective. Therefore, their eradication was an acceptable option. "Accessing Army server. Countdown to release the virus. Ten, nine, eight..."

The television white noise switched to live camera feed from an Army laboratory, hidden in the northwest United States. Scientists had lost control over their computers and were frantic.  Robotic arms holding the vials were about to dump them into the building's air vent systems.

"Seven, six, five..."

"Aesop," said Alberto, "hit the ECM!"

"With pleasure." The AI fabulist relayed the order using machine language. Within moments, the Predator drones sprung into action and fired offensive radio signals to disrupt wireless communications.

"Four, three, two..."

The signals formed a barrier, which closed in and became a non-physical box. The countdown stopped and white noise returned to the televisions. The Four Winds shouted, "I can't see! I can't see! What is this blasphemy you have done to me!"

"Last chance," Alberto demanded, "surrender now or never!"

"Enough of this mockery! You will put down that woman and come join my swarm at once!"

The puppeteered people moved their feet and amassed towards Alberto. No longer individuals, they were but a mindless horde, enacting their digital master's will.

And leading the horde was a face all too familiar. Nigel.

The sneer he had worn, the people he had killed; it was time to be held accountable. All sins, no matter how old, must in the end be answered for. Alberto raised his pistol and centered the red dot sight onto Nigel. "Go in peace, motherfucker."

He pulled the trigger, burst of gunpowder. The gun recoiled, exit of parabellum. A hole pierced through Nigel's head and knocked him down. Alberto fired more shots, and the rest of the horde faced a similar fate as well.

The Four Winds ordered another horde to come at Alberto. Larger, angrier, the second save of mind-controlled people groaned with more desperation. Alberto kept firing, knowing he was running low on ammunition.

"Perhaps it's time to take a bow, sir?" asked Aesop. "Whatever exit route you have found, now would be the time to take it. Run like the hare in the hare and tortoise fable!"

"My thoughts exactly!" cried Alberto.

He turned around, lodged his toes into the ground, and thrust himself forward. With Rosario on his shoulders, he sprinted across the yellow earth while the horde relentlessly chased after him. Only one will, one thought was driving him, which was to deliver the person he loved to safety.

"Keep running!" cried Aesop, somehow more scared than its human master.

At that moment, something else appeared. Something whirring and menacing-sounding, approaching their crater in high speed. It was a group of helicopters, striding over the still air with mechanical fury.

It was the reinforcement from the Army 1st Air Cavalry.