Probe

by Douglas E Roff

  “But following the Incident in London, we have also, unfortunately, been blocked from going operational by a severe lack of money. We don’t have the funds to fully develop and produce the E-5 virus or the A+/A- serums. We need both in tandem to carry out your plan of insurrection and to initiate the Great Cull. By your own calculations we are within months of having both of our projects ready to unleash, and need at least six months more for production, weaponization, and global distribution. You have summarized the logistics, and personnel necessary for this phase, but again, lack of funds has blocked our progress. We need another catalyst to bring all remaining Gens onside, a catalyst that will also generate the funding we need to move ahead.”

  “Patrick, all you have told me is what is plainly obvious and has been described in the updates to our War Plans. This I know already. What is your point?”

  “Well, the way to get cash, to get more support and to subvert the Collective is to solve a problem that the Collective has been unable to solve. Something everyone thinks they know about but, in reality, they don’t.”

  “Such as?”

  “Finding the Human, killing his team, and recovering the Library. This one act will solve all our problems and get our Movement closer to launch.”

  “And you think we can succeed where the Collective has already failed? What makes you so sure?”

  “Tactics. Simple as that. I have read the reports of the events leading up to the Incident in London and have found one glaring deficiency in how the Collective operated.”

  “Do tell. I saw nothing, and their tactics were successful in getting the information required.”

  “Not true! In fact, they stopped when they should’ve pressed their advantage. Had they done that, the Human would be dead, and the Library back in our hands.”

  “How?”

  “Remember what the report to Paulo said? The Gens working for the Inspector General got his information not from management, but from one of the warehouse workers. He said he thought that management knew everything but wasn’t sharing.”

  “What would you have done that’s any different?”

  “Taken the building, capture the managers, and persuade them to talk. Killing their employees one by one would probably have gotten their full attention and cooperation.”

  “And if it doesn’t, we look incompetent.”

  “Not at all. We blow up the building, and whether or not we get the identities we want, we take credit for getting them anyway. Who’s to know any different? The media will cover the event and speculate about who the terrorists are. It will not be lost on our rank and file in the Collective. If we get what we want, and we will, then we track down the Human and the Library. That makes us heroes even if we aren’t, and we spin the story that the Human is dead, and the Library is back in our hands. There will be no one to contradict us. We have all means of communication in our hands. The Collective will have nothing.”

  “Why not just say we’ve done this anyway? That way no resources are expended, and no lives lost. Ours, I mean.”

  “Because we need this to be big, and public, and on the evening news worldwide. That way the ordinary Gens will believe us when we tell them our story, true or false. There’s no one to contradict us, especially if all the humans are dead. And even if it comes out later that we lied, by then we will have gotten the funds we need, finished our research, and begun the war. As long as we attack that first building and create publicity, we win. The key is to make this a plan with the most to gain in the short term. If we do find the Human and the Library, so much the better. The propaganda value is immense.”

  “How exactly does this lead to getting the capital we need?”

  “We will do a variation of crowdfunding. Once we tell the masses what we have accomplished, we then use our means of communication to ask all loyal Gens to help us finish the battle. We should make it sound as though we will exhaust all means of negotiation with the humans but, failing that, we will defend ourselves against the clear human threat. The taking of innocent Gens lives after the Incident is still fresh in the minds of our kind. They see it as an unprovoked attack on defenseless, and peaceful Gens scientists and researchers. I think money will pour in.”

  “And the Collective will be disgraced as ineffectual, and bumbling old men, and women, out of touch with reality,” said Saldana. “The Black Shirt Movement is the modern answer to the modern threat. It’s brilliant, Patrick. Just brilliant. No matter the outcome, we control the message, and the message is that we have acted forcefully to protect our kind and been successful beyond imagination. Well done.”

  “You may thank me, but the idea was hers.”

  “Hers who?”

  “Katarina Petrova, my lieutenant.”

  “I see,” Saldana said cautiously. “Then as I said, bring her tonight, and you both can share the credit, and explain this to my senior staff. I look forward to meeting your woman.”

  ***

  They met in Saldana’s personal residence, a place unknown to all but a very few. A personal visit there was considered the highest of honors within the Movement, one accorded only to the elite of the elite. Many of the Movement’s ruling class had never been to the residence; indeed, many didn’t even know where it was and had never met Saldana in person.

  There was the occasional story floating in the air that Saldana liked to enjoy the company of select humans for her amusement, and carnal pleasure. These were the humans that were to be used in experiments in the research undertaken at the base, so their life expectancy was limited anyway. Saldana mused that she was entitled to use them in any fashion she chose, even though the supply of subjects wasn’t unlimited.

  But this night no humans would be on the schedule for entertainment. Saldana had other plans, and tests of loyalty, and obedience. She had become fanatic about her inner circle, and paranoid of a coup or discovery by the Human. He had done much to unsettle the Movement’s ruling elite and the fear was this rodent might eventually discover their headquarters.

  Dinner went well and on schedule and both Patrick and Katarina were given the opportunity to describe their bold plan. They were questioned in some detail over the nuances of the attack, and tactics once entry into the building was gained. Did they know what security precautions were in place inside? Was security present and armed. Did they have a schematic of each floor, who was there and staffing levels? Did they have access codes? How was the building to be taken down?

  Both Patrick, and Katarina were ready with answers about what they knew, and what was left to find out. All in all, the presentation had gone well. By general agreement, the plan was adopted and the timing set for no later than one month, sooner if that could be arranged.

  “Then that concludes our dinner for this evening. You’re all dismissed with my thanks.”

  The group headed for the entrance to the residence and, as they began to depart, Saldana said, “Katarina, you stay behind. I’d like a word with you.”

  She also held back two of her female lieutenants and bade everyone else to leave. “Patrick, you may go. Katarina will find her way back to you later this evening.”

  Patrick was loyal and normally unquestioning, but he knew of Saldana’s baser predilections, and didn’t want any of them practiced on Katarina. Saldana was harsh and ruthless, even with those close to her. Her punishments weren’t in the form of a reprimand or a black mark in their service record. No, her punishments were given personally, and with a zest for cruelty that sometimes even exceeded even his own perverse mind.

  But he had no alternative but to obey, so he turned and walked briskly back to the small cabin topside that he and Katarina shared away from staff.

  ***

  Many hours later Katarina arrived back at the cabin entering silently and slowly. Patrick could see she was in a tender way, and that something had happened to change her mood.

  “What is it, Katarina? What did she want? Are you OK?”
<
br />   “She wanted the truth, and she wanted to see my reaction to being questioned by her. She was quite skilled in the application of persuasion, and I held nothing back. Still she pursued the interrogation, and my recounting of my story over, and over again. When she could learn no more, she promoted me and said she would join us in a few days’ time to reward us in some new thrill. She has a new game she wishes to try and wants us to be a part of it.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not to say. It’s a surprise for you. But for now, I need to lie down and rest.”

  Patrick watched as Katarina began to slowly and gingerly undress. The cuts, and welts, and whip marks were in evidence all over her body. She had been expertly tortured, not for information, but for pleasure. Patrick recognized the handiwork.

  It was what he had taught Saldana of his own craft.

  Chapter 42

  A week later, Patrick was summoned to see Saldana in her office below ground. He dutifully arrived on time, curious what she wanted. Neither he nor Katarina had been in contact with Saldana, and it was beginning to look as if the reward they had been promised had been forgotten.

  It had not.

  Saldana said, “Take a seat, Patrick. We are going to have a wonderful treat tonight, but there are a few things you need to do for me first.”

  She handed him a manila envelope. “This contains the script you are to follow over the course of the evening tonight. There isn’t much to remember, but you must do exactly as you are told. Do you understand.”

  “I do.”

  “Then leave me now, send Katarina to my residence at 4:30 this afternoon, sharp. You should be out of your cabin by 5:00 pm sharp. Are we clear?”

  “We are.”

  Patrick left, somewhat disturbed by the order to send Katarina to Saldana again. Katarina was just now healing up well from her last encounter with Saldana and her female lieutenants who had taken turns. Patrick feared that Katarina might not survive another round of that kind of mindless brutality fully intact. The human frame, even a Gens in human form, was only resilient when given enough time to heal and healing medicines. He feared if Saldana went too far too soon, the result might be deadly.

  When he arrived back home, he opened the manila envelope, and read his script. He would’ve no trouble carrying out his tasks; neither would Katarina. Saldana and another would be the guests tonight at the home of Patrick and Katarina and their parts would be the starring roles. If this went as expected, the reputation of Saldana RI would grow among her followers. Her craft was exceptional, and her creativity, and leadership unassailable.

  At 4:15 Patrick sent Katarina on her way, telling her not to worry, she would be back soon. Katarina was not worried in the least anyway. Her life had been pledged to the Movement, and if Saldana wanted to use her in any fashion, she would accept that role, even a meaningless death demonstrating the depth of her loyalty. This she had conveyed to Saldana a week ago after dinner.

  Katarina had endured unspeakable cruelty, pain and torture, and been resolute in her steadfast devotion to Saldana, Patrick and the cause. Saldana, in her own way, had devised the only tests she thought would reveal the answers she sought.

  Saldana was correct in every case, except one. In that case, she had exceeded the full measure of devotion available from her comrade. But, she wouldn’t discover that error in judgment, at least not tonight. That would come later, and when she realized her mistake, and by then it would be far too late.

  ***

  Two women were brought into the small cabin, the hands of both bound with cord, and tied behind their backs. They wore leg irons attached to small chains permitting them a hobbled walk, but the chain wasn’t sturdy. One of the women calculated that it could be snapped if pounded with a rock on a rock. Both women wore the expression of abject fear; each had told the other that they had been abducted from small colleges in the Midwest. Did the other have any clue what this was all about? “No” came the answer. One minute she was walking on campus, the next thing she knew she woke up in a small cell somewhere in the world. Did the other know where they were, where they were being held? If they could make their escape, where would they go?

  The two women were walked hurriedly into the dark cabin, the windows blacked out with little light streaming through from any direction. The one young woman thought she saw another form, perhaps another woman leaning against the wall. She couldn’t see her or make out any detail. The young woman was scared, frightened out of her mind not knowing any details of her situation, the why or what was going to happen. Still she tried to calm her mind and try to think through how to escape. It was a long shot, she surmised, but one she had to try. It was life or death; she was pretty certain of that.

  The woman who brought the two women into the cabin turned to leave. “Someone will be here soon to give you instructions. You will be bathed, and this is where you will remain until further arrangements can be made.”

  The young woman shouted, “What arrangements? What do want from us? What have we done to you.”

  “Nothing,” the woman said. “But that hardly matters. We have need of you, and we intend to use you as we see fit. Forget escape, if that’s what you’re thinking. Never going to happen.”

  She left.

  The young woman called out to the shadow standing against the wall, “Are you awake? Do you know where we are? Are you OK?”

  “I’m here, but I don’t know anything. I was at school one day then the next thing I knew I was here. They put me in a room, and said to stay put, if I tried to escape it would go hard on me. I didn’t listen. I ran away as fast, and far as I could, but they found me in the woods, and brought me back. Then they punished me. Don’t run, even if you can, don’t do it. If they catch you it will be very bad. Very, very bad.”

  The young woman was listening to the voice in the dark and trying to decide what to do. The one thing she knew for sure, if she didn’t escape, she would die here or somewhere else she didn’t want to be. In any event, she had to try no matter what. But tied, and shackled as she was, escape didn’t seem likely. She would wait.

  As the sun set, and an even gloomier darkness set in, the two new additions began to whisper to one another. Both had the same thing on their minds: escape. They plotted, and planned, and agreed to help each other get as far away from this dreadful place as they could.

  The other woman said, “I have a metal key of some sort, you know the kind they use to open cans of meat. I don’t know if we can use it, but maybe we can use it to get these shackles off. I’m sure we can cut these cords with something sharp. Then we run.”

  Minutes later, a man came in the cabin, turning on the lights so he could assess his captives. I see you’re all nice and comfy. I’ll bring some food for dinner a little later and, at that point, I’ll free your hands. If you behave yourselves, I’ll let the three of you sleep on the bed, nice and comfy like. But try anything and you’ll be punished and punished severely. If you think I’m kidding, then have a look at our friend Katya over here. I warned her, but she disobeyed me, and she had to be punished.”

  The man stepped over to where the woman was standing and ripped her t-shirt off in one motion. The two women on the floor gasped at the sight. The woman was healing from a brutal assault; she bore whip marks and cuts, bruises and contusions that were yellowing as they healed. She had been brutally assaulted, and the evidence of a sadistic mind at work was clearly evident. Who could treat an innocent human being in such a fashion. It was despicable. It was monstrous.

  The other woman on the floor shouted, “You monster. You depraved sick animal. How could you do such a thing.”

  The man strode over to her and said, “Useless and irrelevant questions. But you must be taught the meaning of respect and obedience.”

  With that he quickly backhanded her face, causing her to flail and fall over. Then he pulled her up roughly by her hair and backhanded her again.

  “You wi
ll not be in the bed tonight; you will be on the floor. Then he pulled out a knife from his back pocket and said, “And you won’t need to be dressed for bed.”

  With that he cut off her clothing, methodically as if he had done it many times before. The man had a vacant stare, the young woman thought, looking on with horror. He must be the sadist who hurt that other woman. If she got the chance, she would get his knife, and cut him up. But she had to survive first.

  He finished with a warning for the young woman. “Don’t talk back because your opinion doesn’t matter. Do not try to escape; if you do, you will be caught and returned. Then I will punish you personally. You don’t want that. Someone will be by later on with your dinner, and only one of you will have your hands freed. She can feed the others. It’ll be you, young lady, since you’ve been the best behaved.”

  In one motion, he cut the cords behind her back leaving her hands free. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  As he turned to leave he carelessly pushed his knife into a jacket pocket, but it fell out onto the pile of clothes stripped from the other woman now lying naked on the cold floor. The knife made no sound, and he walked away leaving them to their plots and plans.

  As soon as the door shut, the young woman grabbed the knife, and put it in her pocket. “My name is Alice,” the young woman said. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now.”

  Chapter 43

  The woman standing up looked just awful. She had been badly hurt, and it seemed the only way she could maintain balance was to remain tethered to an eye hook above her head. If she collapsed, it would be very painful, but she seemed to have found a way to lean against the wall and lessen her burden. Tenuous as it was, it seemed the best she could do. Alice assessed her physical ability to run at nil.

  Alice asked her, “What’s your name?”