Reverse

by Steven Tandberg

  “Soooo, what’s gonna be your move?” asked Roxanne as she strolled nonchalantly into the room. We all shifted our attention to her, the outsider. “Heard your dad was taken, Jamie. I’m sorry. We’re here to help.” Silence. Everyone stared at Roxanne before I spoke up.

  “Uh, I need to scope out the compound. I never saw the outside of the place during my training, other than the killer training field, but that’s it.”

  “First step is always surveillance. And after that?”

  “I’m coming to scout the place,” interjected Aedan.

  “And so am I,” echoed Jamie.

  “Guys, that’s not necessary and you know it’s a crazy risk every time you go out.”

  “It’s my dad. It’s the least I can do. You’re obviously not letting me go in to get him.” She glared at me.

  “True, no way in heaven or hell would I let you in there,” I said, finally being honest. I wasn’t going to let either of my friends near the place.

  “Coyle, we can help, surveillance is our specialty,” Roxanne volunteered.

  “As I know, Roxanne.” I winked at her. She knew what I meant, she being the very person who had set up the peep show cameras in my apartment after my treatment.

  “Let’s use our vehicle. We’ve got some special equipment that may help.”

  “Oh yeah? What kinda equipment?” They’d been working on that van since the day they’d arrived.

  “A winch, battering ram, adjustable tint, dashboard and perimeter cameras, and network detectors to name a few.”

  “This is just reconnaissance; those are way overboard for this type of mission,” I said.

  “You can never be too prepared,” said Roxanne, while walking over to Aedan. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “OK, sure.” I grinned at the sight of the two lovebirds.

  “I’ll follow from behind, Coyle,” said Stefan. Roxanne shot him a look. Talon looked to me and tightened his lips. I furrowed my brow, but he turned away. Something was off, and Talon knew it.

  “Thanks, Stefan. It’s always better to be two deep.” I winked at Stefan and glanced to Talon. He kept his gaze away and down to the floor.

  “Well, let’s hit the road. Lots to do and see,” said Roxanne.

  “Right now?” asked Aedan, his arms still wrapped around her.

  “Time is of the essence. The longer they have him, the more likely they get tired of him.”

  “Indeed,” I said and walked out of the kitchen without another word. I beelined for the map room. The Doña saw me and followed. I waited for her before shutting the door behind both of us.

  “Something’s wrong, I can feel it.” I grabbed two phones and two earpieces.

  “I feel it too, Coyle. You must be careful.”

  “I’m letting it develop, but I’m gonna call on the men to provide backup, besides Stefan. Also, I need to make a call before I leave the compound, is that OK?”

  “Make it quick. We can’t risk them tracking it here.”

  I dialed Angelfire.

  He answered on the first ring. “You’re a clone, eh?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  “Sweeeet,” he said slowly.

  “Just putting you on alert. We’re gonna do some surveillance at our favorite company to hate.”

  “I heard about your GF’s dad from the Doña, I hope he’s OK.”

  “As do I. Keep your line open.”

  “Always open, always available, my friend.”

  I hung up and looked at my watch, thirty seconds had passed. I opened the door.

  “Ready to roll?” Aedan said as he walked up to the room.

  “Yeah, hey, keep your eyes open. Something is rubbing me the wrong way,” I said and pocketed two phones.

  “Dude, we don’t have to go if you really feel funny about it, or about me,” he said in an almost accusatory tone.

  “Jamie’s determined, so she’s for sure going. But, dude, you really don’t need to come.” He shot me a look but kept his mouth shut.

  “What am I?” asked Jamie as she turned into the room.

  “Motivated, determined. The same as I was when my dad needed rescuing.”

  “We’re getting him back,” she said with force.

  Aedan and I nodded. We both knew it might already be too late. Before, when they kidnaped Jamie, they’d kept her alive, barely. I doubted they’d be as gentle with the pastor. He, well we, were so close to blowing Somatotech open for all the world to see. They’d do anything to put the kibosh on that.

  We all walked to the same van we used to rescue my dad. Now, Roxanne’s crew was stuffing the back with all sorts of surveillance gear. The seats in the main area were now turned so that they faced each other on either side.

  “Changing it up?” I asked after peering into the van.

  “It’s best for big parties like ours,” said Striker.

  We sat in the back of the van, Jamie to my right and Aedan to my left. Striker and Jarom sat directly across from us. Red Cloud hopped in the driver’s seat while Roxanne slipped into the passenger seat.

  “I’d thought you guys had already put cameras on this place by now,” I said as we cleared the gate. I could hear Stefan and the Doña’s men in their cars behind us.

  “We wanted to but hadn’t received the order until now,” said Striker.

  I stared at him, studying his biofeedback, but I sensed nothing out of the ordinary. He wasn’t lying.

  “Why didn’t Talon come along?”

  “Wasn’t invited. Our orders come from Medital because they know each of our strengths. Talon’s wouldn’t be particularly useful on this mission.”

  “This mission? It’s a mission now?”

  “Yeah, you know, setting up reconnaissance,” he said. I sensed a slight uptick in his heart rate and the skin on his neck flushed. “Whenever we do anything as a group we call it a mission,” he added.

  “How close are we going to get?” asked Jamie.

  “Just close enough to set up our telephoto lenses, so about two thousand feet. Don’t need to get any closer,” Roxanne said from the passenger side seat. “So, Aedan, I hadn’t asked before but, how’s the leg?” She turned to look at us.

  “Almost good as new, thanks to you.”

  “You’re cute enough to save.” She grinned. “Besides, now that you’re not a cripple we could use you.”

  Aedan blushed, and I elbowed him in the side. “Good to know,” he managed to say.

  “So, Jamie, do you know if your dad would fight back? Do you think he’d struggle against them?” asked Roxanne.

  “Uh, I’m not sure.” Jamie shot me a look as if to say, “Are you kidding me?”

  “Why do you ask?” I said.

  “It’s important to know what physical state the kidnaped may be in. Somatotech may have already killed him, but on the off chance he’s alive, I’d like to know what I’m working with.”

  Jamie shot her a look with her cheeks flushed red.

  “Wow, Roxanne, you sure failed sensitivity training,” I said, opening my eyes wide.

  “Just stating the facts. It’s better to be prepared.”

  “Still, Roxanne, not cool.” I put my arm around Jamie. Roxanne kept quiet for the rest of the ride, occasionally covering her right ear as if to hear something else.

  We drove for another ten minutes until I could see the training facility in the distance. A chill crept down my back as I remembered the crap I’d gone through there. Crushing boulders, heat and sound seeking missiles, electrical submission system, and more delightful terrors. It wouldn’t be a happy reunion.

  I looked out and noticed the land around the complex was flat and devoid of trees or other cover. The nearest hill with cover stood a good quarter-mile away and even it only had a sparse covering of trees. We kept on traveling nearer to the compound, seemingly without regard.

  “Shouldn’t we set up in the hills? There’s no cover here.” I pointed out the windshield.

  “We’ll
find a place,” said Jarom without looking outside, his eyes fixed on his feet.

  “But what are you going to set the cameras on?” asked Aedan, also noticing the exposure.

  They didn’t respond. Collectively, their physiology put me on alert. A sheen of sweat grew on the back of Red Cloud’s neck, Jarom’s heart rate picked up by a single beat and Striker’s hand shook ever so slightly. None of them looked directly at us.

  I glanced to Jamie, who had sensed my growing uneasiness and responded with a furrowed brow. I switched my stare to Jarom.

  “Guys, what’s going on here?” I asked, trying to get their attention.

  Before responding, Jarom hit a small black button near his seat and metal brackets flipped out above Jamie, Aedan and I. They snapped over our shoulders, locked to the seat and tightened, tightened so much each of our arms instantly began to swell.

  “What in the heck?” Aedan yelled out, struggling against the confines.

  I pushed against the brackets, but even with my strength they didn’t budge. “What are you doing Roxanne?” I yelled.

  She kept her eyes fixed on the compound, now only a few hundred yards away. Jarom hit another button and the van released something metal onto the road behind us. It screeched as it slid on the asphalt and then came to a stop. Stefan’s tires squealed out as well, and I could tell he wouldn’t be stopping in time. The crunch of metal and glass shot out towards us. They’d taken out Stefan.

  “You pieces of trash. We trusted you!” I screamed and tried to kick Jarom. He inched closer to the door, just out of reach.

  “Roxanne!” Aedan yelled. “Let us go! C’mon!”

  A tear wetted the fabric just under her eye, but she didn’t speak. Red Cloud pulled up in front of Somatotech’s gate. The guard walked out of this station to the driver’s side window.

  “So, this is your plan? Deliver us to them and let them kill us. You could’ve killed us yourself. Or is it that you didn’t have the guts?” I yelled at them.

  Another tear slipped from Roxanne’s eye.

  “So, you’re actually working for Somatotech, right? This whole freakin’ time?”

  “Never, Coyle. Never.” She turned to me. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? You’re sorry you’re delivering us to be slaughtered?”

  Roxanne didn’t respond.

  Red Cloud rolled down his window a single inch. “We’ve got Coyle and his girlfriend in the car,” he said to the guard.

  The guard took a step back, shocked. His hand snapped to his radio. “Uh, Mr. Collins, there’s a vehicle here claiming to have Coyle. What should we do?” He tried to peer through the tinted glass as he waited for a response.

  “Open the gate, but put the compound on Alpha Alert,” Mr. Collins’ voice came over the radio. Mr. Collins, my friend from my last unfortunate stay, maybe he could help me, I thought. “Who is delivering them?” asked Mr. Collins.

  “Identify yourselves!” yelled the guard.

  “You don’t wanna know who we are, man. Just take the prisoners and we’ll be on our way.”

  “I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. Please drive through the outer gate to check in on the right.” He engaged his rifle and with a short, quick movement, pointed to a check-in area inside the outer fence.

  “Screw that!” yelled Red Cloud and he stepped on the gas. The van accelerated, nearly clipping the guard and careening into the inner metal gate, tearing it down. One of the metal posts in the middle of the gate shot through the windshield, nearly impaling Roxanne, but she dodged it gracefully. The van continued to the main building at an alarming speed. Sirens rang out, and I could see guards coming out of the building with weapons engaged. Red Cloud slammed on the brakes and fishtailed the rear of the van to face the building about twenty feet from them. Jarom slid the door open on the side away from the building. Striker detached an M16 from the wall of the van and pointed it at Jamie.

  “Get out or she dies.” He cocked the weapon near his ear.

  Jarom pressed the same black button, and the restraints lifted.

  “Don’t do this, Roxanne,” I said, standing up. “You don’t have to do this!” She kept silent, but she raised her hands and signed, “If only you knew.” She retrieved something from her pocket. Her left hand slipped behind the seat holding what looked like a small marble. Striker motioned to his ear and made the universal symbol for the phone. I let it drop in my hand and before stepping out of the van, I slipped it into my ear. This small act didn’t absolve these so-called friends of the sins they were committing. I glared at Striker, but his eyes were cold. He did point to his mouth. The small marble dropped deep into my ear canal, and when it made contact with my eardrum, I heard a distinct dial tone.

  “Get out!” Striker yelled.

  “We’re going,” I growled at him.

  Roxanne dropped the other small marble-sized cell phones into Jamie’s hand as she passed her. Jamie stalled at the door looking back at our former friends, now betrayers. Jarom looked down, as did Red Cloud, but Roxanne and Striker just looked ahead. Aedan reached out for Roxanne, but she leaned her shoulders forward out of his grasp. More tears spilled from her eyes.

  “Now!” Striker pushed Jamie into me. I caught her before she tumbled to the ground.

  Aedan started for the door, but Roxanne extended her arm to stop him.

  “Wait, stay with us, Aedan. I… I got approval,” she said, her voice cracking.

  Aedan couldn’t find words, his tongue stayed by the shock. He stood there, frozen. Roxanne slipped her hand into his and squeezed lightly. Aedan’s gaze shifted to me and then back to his girlfriend.

  “We gotta go!” yelled Jarom. “Whatcha gonna do, lover boy?”

  “Stay with them, Aedan. It’s suicide to come with us,” I said while holding Jamie close. She had begun to sob.

  “Aedan, I love you. Please stay with me. We can protect you,” said Roxanne.

  Tears began to stream down Aedan’s face. “I… I can’t do this. You’re asking me to betray my friends or die?”

  “Live on my friend, it’s the smart thing to do,” I said and started stepping back from the van with Jamie. I meant it, no need for him to suffer with us. His eyes widened with each step we took.

  Aedan lifted Roxanne’s hand close to his lips. Instead of kissing it, he flipped it over and hocked a quick loogie into it. “Consider yourself dumped, Roxy. I don’t need yours or anyone else’s protection. Besides, no one treats my friends-“ He winked as he tried to finish, but instead absorbed the wet slap Roxanne delivered. Jarom followed it up with a swift kick to his leg just below the knee. Aedan toppled out of the van and rolled in front of us.

  “Stupid original,” Jarom mumbled and sneered at me.

  Roxanne buried her face in her hands and screamed as Jarom slammed the van door closed.

  Aedan hopped up and wiped his tears. He gripped my collar and jerked me close. “Coyle, I’m doing this because I know who you are, the friend I’ve had all along, for whom I’d take another bullet anytime.”

  “I don’t deserve a friend like you, Aedan.” I wrapped my free arm around his shoulder and gave him a bro hug.

  The approaching Somatotech men and the dial tone in my ear brought me back to our predicament. I whispered Angelfire’s number and the tiny cell phone began the call. I need a major hack if we’re to get outta here, I thought.

  “Who’s this?” Angelfire came over my eardrum phone.

  “Angelfire, this is Coyle. We’re in deep. Roxanne delivered us to ST at the training facility. We need your help, now!” I whispered.

  We slowly walked around the van to face our captors.

  “I knew those guys were fishy. I’ll do what I can,” said Angelfire.

  “Stay on with us,” I whispered.

  Red Cloud stepped on the gas and peeled out, spraying gravel behind him in a torrent of dust and rock. He barreled back toward the front gate just as the guards started firing. The bullets hit the glass of th
e van and bounced off, leaving small divots. Striker opened the back door, flipped up an M2 Browning 50 cal, and aimed back at the building.

  “Get inside!” one of the guards yelled at us while two others surrounded us with their rifles aimed at our chests.

  Striker returned fire, blowing huge divots in the ground around us and in the exterior wall of the compound. He missed on purpose, I thought.

  Three of the guards ducked for cover, but the three around us just pushed us toward the compound. “Retreat, men. Calling in reinforcements.”

  At gunpoint, the guards pushed each of us in the metal front door. Once inside the front room, one of the guards swung his rifle at Aedan’s legs bringing him to his knees. Aedan wailed out in pain. I lunged for the guard but stopped short as I heard the familiar sound of electricity charging above. The ceiling-mounted orbs gleamed from the electrical submission system, my old nemesis from my training days here.

  “Stand down, AM1! Or your friends will die right here and now,” the guard yelled.

  “Officer Tanner, please bring them to the detainment cells. I’ll meet you there.” Mr. Collins’ voice came over the radio.

  “Yes, sir. We’ll restrain them and arrive promptly in one minute thirty-five seconds.”

  The guard lugged out metal restraining ties, pulled Aedan’s arms behind him, and wrapped them tightly.

  “Ow! Dude, you’re cutting me!” screamed Aedan in agony.

  Blood dripped down from Aedan’s wrist from where he attached the ties. They repeated the task on Jamie and me. I found out why Aedan’s wrists bled as they clamped them down on me. The edges of the ties were sharp as razor blades.

  “Move,” the officer yelled and pointed down the hallway. Other guards flanked the hallway and the electrical orbs above each activated as I stepped beneath them.

  We arrived in the detention area in exactly one minute thirty-five seconds, as the guard had predicted, or rather had stated as if it were a fact. These can’t be normal humans, they’re clones, I thought. The detention room had six cells each with an electrical submission orb hanging from the ceiling.

  Mr. Collins walked in behind the guards. He looked healthy, so opposite from the feeble man who had got me out of here before.