by Amy DuBoff
Haersen looked unsure. “Can you really trust him to make those kinds of tough decisions?”
“He’s trying to find his son. If that isn’t enough motivation, then nothing is.”
CHAPTER 5
Wil was directed to a small, plain cell. He rubbed his sore wrists. There was a thin red line around each from the wire binding, but the marks were already fading.
The cell resembled the interrogation room, but it had a barred front. Across the central walkway, the other cells contained prisoners who were empty husks of their former selves. Most rocked back and forth muttering under their breath, and many were immobile—simply curled up with their back toward the cell door. The air was dank and the lighting was dim, but Wil caught an occasional glance from the more lucid prisoners. Their gazes were filled with pure dread. How long can I last before they break me, too?
Wil looked over his own cell and was surprised to see his handheld placed at the center of the slab-like platform functioning as a bed along the side wall. Cautiously he picked it up. The factory seal along the back panel had been breached and all wireless functionality had been disabled. Probably installed a tap to listen to me. He was about to destroy the device entirely, or at least chuck it outside his cell, but then he remembered the other object he had been carrying. He casually slid his hand into his pocket and felt the thin strip of film he’d grabbed from his electrochemistry class for some experimenting after hours; it had explosive properties if exposed to the right electric charge. The film was stuck to the pocket lining and must have gone unnoticed. I should hold onto both of these. They’re the only tools I have to help me escape. He pretended to just be scratching an itch on his leg.
He sat down on the bed platform. It was a futile exercise to get comfortable, especially with his already sore hip.
Moving to the far end of the platform, he tried to stay out of view at the back of the cell. He was hungry and thirsty and at a complete loss for what to do. Despite all his training on how to handle diplomatic situations, no one had ever thought to inform him on how to conduct himself if he were ever captured by an enemy. Though he had learned years before how to take care of himself, Wil desperately wanted someone to give him guidance. He had no way of knowing if anyone would come looking for him, or if they even knew he was missing.
They won’t let me live much longer, no matter what they have planned for me. And there’s no way I could ever survive a duel with Colonel Tek, if it does come to that. Stars! I hope someone comes for me… Wil caught himself. No, I can’t rely on others. I have only myself.
Wil detected a presence in front of his cell. He looked up and was dismayed to see a Bakzen soldier watching him.
“General see you now,” the soldier announced. His New Taran was barely intelligible.
Wil did a double-take. The soldier looked identical to the guard in the interrogation room, but his uniform and a small scar above his right eye marked him as a different individual.
The soldier opened the door and beckoned for Wil to come out.
Wil didn’t move from his perch. “What do you want from me?”
“Come now,” the guard said, yanking on Wil with a telekinetic rope.
Wil slid down the bed, caught off-guard. He gained control and managed to land on his feet. Stars, even the guards have telekinetic abilities!
As soon as Wil passed through the cell doorway, three more Bakzen soldiers came to stand behind him as the original took the lead. They all bore strong physical resemblance to the first.
Wil stared at them with wonder. They were too similar to just be related. Clones? He had never seen one before, since cloning whole bodies was banned in the Taran worlds, though he’d occasionally thought it would be handy to have a second self to help him out.
The guards initiated an invisible barrier around Wil. It wasn’t a strong field—Wil assessed he could break through it if he tried—but its very presence was baffling. Clones with telekinetic abilities. Shite.
Wil was led through a massive compound. Unlike TSS Headquarters, the Bakzen had not made the slightest attempt at giving their facility a homey feel. Rather than carpeted corridors adorned with art, only riveted metal walls and concrete floors stretched the length of the hallway.
The small procession reached a door marked with a golden insignia Wil didn’t recognize. Wil was thrust through the riveted doorway and the guards filed in behind him.
A Bakzen soldier with a highly decorated uniform watched Wil enter, a slight curl to his lips. He sat behind a metal desk with an inlaid touchscreen, which reminded Wil of the furnishings found in the Captain’s quarters on a TSS cruiser.
Wil glared at him. I can feel his power even from this distance. I don’t stand a chance. He placed up what mental guards he could, but he doubted his ability to hold the block against an attack.
After eyeing each other for a minute, the Bakzen soldier broke the silence. “So, you’re to be the Tararian Selective Service’s beloved Primus Elite Agent?” Like Tek, he spoke New Taran well. He looked to be older than Tek and had slightly softer features, though he had the same piercing red eyes and rough skin of the other Bakzen soldiers.
Wil didn’t say anything, and instead tilted his head a little and narrowed his eyes more in response. They seem to know about me. But why do they care?
The soldier looked him over thoughtfully. “I’m General Carzen,” he announced, “and I control your fate. Are you clear on that, Dragon?”
What’s with this “Dragon” name? Tek called me that, too. “Yes, General Carzen. Very clear.”
The general looked on with a hint of approval. “Perhaps you can be turned to our side after all.”
Wil came to attention. So that’s what this is about! “I’m listening.”
General Carzen looked to the four guards hovering around Wil. “You may leave now.”
The guards hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was wise to leave a sworn enemy alone with their commander, but they backed out of the room. The last one closed the door telekinetically with a flip of his wrist.
General Carzen redirected his attention to Wil. “Please, sit down.” He gestured at an unadorned chair in front of his desk.
Wil sat down after a slight pause. There’s no way I can trust the Bakzen, no matter what they say.
Carzen cleared his throat. “First of all, I would like to apologize to you for the… unfriendly nature of your capture.”
Apologize?
“I’m afraid that it was Colonel Tek’s idea,” Carzen continued. “He is boastful and wanted to prove that he was skillful enough to get through the TSS’ defenses. But I can’t argue with the methods, since it did get you here unharmed and in a timely manner. You aren’t hurt, are you?” Carzen appeared to be genuinely concerned.
Wil’s head still felt a little fuzzy from Tek’s assault earlier. “Nothing serious.” His stomach growled right on cue.
General Carzen smiled, a foreign emotion on the man’s severe face.
It’s all an act to win me over.
“Food, of course. My colleagues are not known for their hospitality with our guests. Would you like anything in particular?”
Now I’m a ‘guest’? “Un-poisoned, preferably.”
Carzen smirked. “Poisoning you would be counterproductive. If I wanted you dead, I could easily kill you with my mind.”
Wil shifted in his chair. He has a point…
“I hope we can build a mutually beneficial relationship.” Carzen input a message on the touchscreen surface of his desktop. “A meal is being prepared.”
“I’m surprised you would want me on ‘your side.’ You know, of course, how the TSS regards the Bakzen—I assumed those feelings were mutual.”
“Most do feel that way,” the general replied. “But I have opted for an alternative approach.”
Wil forced a polite smile. “I’ve never had the opportunity to see things from another perspective.”
Carzen nodded. “It is that alternate per
spective I wish to give you. What they have undoubtedly told you is nowhere near the truth.”
The TSS? What would they keep from me? “There are subjective elements to truth sometimes.”
“I’m talking about facts!” The general’s face flushed. “They treat us like we’re the monsters, but they made us this way.”
Wil instinctively pressed back into his chair to distance himself from the Bakzen commander. “Whatever has driven this conflict, there’s always a chance for resolution.”
“Some wounds can’t be healed so easily. To have one’s existence denied…” The general’s demeanor changed. He was hurt, vulnerable.
The way the TSS talks about the Bakzen… Tek embodied that image, but Carzen is different. “So what do you want with me?”
“Despite everything our people have been through, a part of me still hopes there is a peaceful end to our conflict.”
“If you want me to set up a meeting with the High Commander, I—”
“Oh, Dragon, this runs much deeper than that,” Carzen interjected. “Your High Commander is a menial cog. What I seek to exploit is your unique position between the TSS and Tararia.”
Wil swallowed. “What of it?”
“You mean far too much to the Priesthood for them to ignore us while you’re under our care. If they want their precious Cadicle, they’ll need to face what they did to us.”
Wil hesitated. The Priesthood? I thought he meant the High Dynasties. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I steer far away from the Priesthood. And I’m certainly not some sort of mythical savior, or whatever their old doctrine is about.”
“Have they kept you so sheltered from your true self? You don’t know your own destiny.”
My destiny? He’s crazy! “General, I acknowledge that there is still much I don’t know about myself. But that…” How do I begin to reason with a crazy person?
“You can deny it now, but you’ll eventually have to face who you are. The question you have to ask yourself is who do you want guiding you—your peers, or the broken remnants?”
Shite! He really is completely out of his mind. Maybe the cloning messes with their heads. “I aspire to excel in everything I do.”
“Then you should seriously consider what the Bakzen can offer you—” The desktop illuminated with a buzz at the door. “Come in.”
The door swung open and a Bakzen soldier entered with a plate of bland-looking food on a metal tray. He silently set the tray down on Carzen’s desk in front of Wil, then backed out of the room and closed the door.
“Please, eat,” Carzen said.
Wil eyed the plate. Suddenly I’m not hungry. The food looked to be reconstituted nutrition blocks mashed into a thick paste. Field rations at their worst. There was no smell to it, and the taupe color didn’t instill confidence that the taste would be any more appetizing. Do I risk it? Reluctantly, Wil picked up the spoon next to the plate and grabbed a bite of the goop. The texture was somewhat slimy but bearable, and the vaguely potato-like flavor was less offensive than he had feared. “Thank you, General.”
“I imagine it is not the fine cuisine you’re used to, but we have no need for those luxuries.”
Wil took another bite, his appetite growing with the access to sustenance. This may kill me, but at least I won’t die of starvation. “I’m grateful for your generosity.”
“Do you patronize me?”
“No! You have a generosity of spirit,” Wil replied, pausing his eating. “Others might have considered me the enemy, but you have sought to find common ground between us.”
“I can tell you’re skeptical of my offer.”
“Surprised more than skeptical. But you can’t blame me, given the tension between our people.” Wil downed a few more spoonfuls of his meal.
“You know nothing of the conflict.”
“Then tell me.”
Carzen shook his head. “You aren’t ready to hear it. As much as you’re pretending to listen, you think I’m crazy.”
Is it that obvious? Wil set down his spoon, the plate mostly empty. “I’m sorry. I’m trying. But you’re asking me to question the only reality I’ve ever known without giving me any details for an alternative.”
“I think you need some time to let all of this settle,” Carzen stated.
“Sure.” No amount of time will change the fact that he’s out of his mind. But the longer I can play along, the greater my chances for figuring out an escape.
Carzen nodded. “I’m glad we had a chance to talk. You have so much potential, I hope you can be open-minded.”
“I’ll try.” Stars! How long can I hold out?
“We’ll talk again soon.” Carzen tapped his desktop, and a moment later the door opened. “Take care, Dragon.”
* * *
General Carzen watched the Dragon walk out of his office. Their conversation had not gone like he planned, but it was progress. His captive was more defiant than he had anticipated, and it was clear he had been highly trained in foreign relations. But, the Primus Elite’s telekinetic prowess was his focus. At the rate he was improving, the Primus Elite was well on his way to becoming a powerful Agent. Carzen’s fear was that he was already too far into the ways of the TSS to sway his allegiance. All he could do was hope it was not true, and that Colonel Tek did not suspect the same thing.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Tek barged through the office door, looking annoyed. “I heard that you had a rather overconfident meeting with our hostage,” Tek grimaced, then as an afterthought added, “General.”
“You were informed correctly, Colonel Tek,” replied Carzen. “I see nothing wrong with testing the waters for an alliance. How else do you expect to gain his trust?”
“Just remember who he is,” Tek reminded his superior officer.
“He poses no immediate threat, Colonel,” Carzen countered. If Tek went against him, all of his carefully thought-out plans might be ruined. He wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Sir, I’m just saying that—”
“You have made yourself perfectly clear, Colonel. I know what I’m doing.”
“But everything is at stake! I just don’t want to see anything go wrong after all we’ve worked for,” Tek implored. Though his intentions might not parallel Carzen’s, they relied on the same variables.
Carzen eyed Tek. “Everything is under control, Colonel. Save your concern for a more desperate time.” Carzen leaned back in his chair, all the while watching Tek to see if he would try to test the boundaries of the order again.
Tek fumed, but he kept his anger and frustration in check. “Yes, of course, sir,” Tek muttered through gritted teeth.
“Was there anything else, Colonel?” questioned Carzen.
Tek paused before answering. “Yes. As I’m sure you noticed, he’s much stronger than expected. Is your plan even feasible if he’s—”
“That’s quite enough, Colonel,” General Carzen snapped. “I thought that I had made it clear that it’s not your concern. After our last meeting, appropriate modifications to the plan were made.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If that’s all, you are dismissed.” Carzen gave a slight wave of his hand as he sat up straighter in his chair.
Tek opened his mouth as if to say something more, but instead walked out the door. Carzen watched him until the door closed. Tek was becoming a problem that required an immediate remedy. All plans depended on complete cooperation.
* * *
Wil was escorted back to his small cell. At least they don’t have immediate plans to kill me. That will buy me some time. However, Tek appeared to have different motives than the general. I need to be careful.
Wil leaned against the cool wall at the back of the cell and closed his eyes. He was drained from the activities of the past day, and his full stomach made him feel sleepy. He ran a hand through his hair, which was feeling greasy after two days without a shower.
As exhausted as he was, he was still too on edg
e to completely relax. He knew that he would have to sleep eventually, even though he didn’t trust the Bakzen not to run in and attack him while he slept. Wil shifted to a marginally more comfortable position on the slab bed. As he rolled over, he caught sight of an irregularity in the far corner of the otherwise smooth ceiling. Careful not to look directly at it, Wil assessed the object from the corner of his eye. A camera. Great, I’m being watched.
* * *
Kate’s stomach rumbled, pulling her from her thoughts.
She had hit a wall with her investigation. The encrypted communication logs on the Mainframe were expertly handled. She knew how to identify such records, but she wasn’t a cryptologist. Wil could probably figure it out, or Haersen maybe, but it appeared that more than one person was conspiring—or, at least, one person talking with multiple outsiders. Say something to the wrong person and she’d be vulnerable without knowing who to turn to for backup.
She cleared the desktop with a swipe of her hand. Time for a break.
Kate made the short trek from her quarters to the mess hall on the opposite side of Level 2. The halls were relatively empty at that evening hour, with most Agents and trainees retired to their rooms for the night.
A dozen Agents and three Junior Agents were in the mess hall when she arrived. The main buffet had been cleared for the night, but refrigerated cases next to the entry door contained meals packaged from the day’s leftovers. She grabbed one of the transparent containers.
As she closed the door to the refrigerator, Banks entered the mess hall.
He looked startled to see Kate at first, then smiled in greeting. “I guess I’m not the only one to miss dinner.”
“I didn’t realize how late it’d gotten.”
Banks grabbed a meal for himself from the case. “Were you…”
“Yes, I’ve been looking into the security logs,” Kate replied and she stepped over to the warming tray to heat her food.
Banks glanced over at the other occupants in the mess hall. “Have you found anything?” he asked Kate telepathically.
“I’m still looking into it,” she replied aloud, closing her mind to any further questioning. I want to trust Banks, but no one is above suspicion. He has so many locked files… he’s hiding something.