One watched the General’s face while he spoke. And he listened to his words. The man was sincere if nothing else. And he might be right about needing a long time for the females to be okay, but he and his men… they’d be fine tomorrow, or the next day. All they needed were the coordinates of the fucks that had kidnapped the females and given them against their will. They’d slip in undetected and make them pay for what they’d taken from the females. Then they’d move on to the next target. He and his males would be just fine.
“We’ll take care of it,” One insisted.
Roscoe knew One was likely talking about retribution and decided to take the opportunity to let him and his men know they needed all the information they could get. “Any information we can exchange would be most appreciated. There are people who will pay for what they’ve done to you, to the rest of these men, to the ones we’ve not yet found, and to the females. But we’re going to need the input of all of you if we’re going to be able to make sure they’re going to pay,” Roscoe said.
One nodded. He’d exchange information he had for coordinates of where to find these fuckers. He didn’t know what he could possibly offer them in the way of information, but if they thought he had something to add, he’d gladly play along to find out where his next target was.
“Food,” Three grumbled, tired of standing around listening to all the posturing.
One heard him and his nostrils flared as he picked up the scent of meat being cooked over a fire. He focused on General Ferriday again. “We can stay here?” he asked begrudgingly, just to be sure they were welcome.
“Yes. You and your men will all stay here. There’s a cafeteria that serves damned good food, as much as you want whenever you want, a medical clinic, a store to get clothes or food, or over the counter medicines if you need them for your barracks or whatever you may want. If whatever you want isn’t there, just let me know. There’s a gym and a game room, too. My only rules at this point are stay away from the women, completely away. And no fighting amongst yourselves and other groups.”
“Squads,” One corrected as he gazed out over the compound.
“Squads? Is that what the groups of men are called?” the General asked.
One inclined his head a single time. Then he looked over his shoulder and jutted his chin in the direction of the food. As one unit they started walking away from the General and the men who’d rescued them that were still standing around them though their weapons were now at rest.
“Should we follow them, make sure they don’t get out of hand?” one of the rescue team asked.
“We’ve got men in every location, keeping an eye on things. So far there haven’t been any flareups. The squads are keeping to themselves, rather than mixing. This particular squad, though it pains me to say, seems more intense than any we’ve seen yet. If you can do so without alerting them that they’re being watched, it’s probably best to keep them observed. They seem more disconnected, so to speak, than the previous teams.”
“How can they not understand what these women went through?” Roscoe asked.
General Ferriday, who’d been watching Maddox and his men moving through the compound, turned his gaze on the man standing beside him. “They don’t even know their own names, how can they be expected to understand right from wrong? They just have no indicator of what they should and shouldn’t do.”
“He seemed pretty insistent his name is One,” Roscoe said, watching as One and his team zeroed in on the outdoor grill and went straight for it. “I know who he is. He’s the whole reason we stumbled across this travesty at all. But he doesn’t have any recognition of his own name. He became defensive when you didn’t address him as One.”
“I know. But his name is Maddox. He’s Lieutenant Maddox Larsen, and his father was my best friend. He was a bright, strong, moral young man who had no problem standing up for what he believed in. In fact, when I made it clear what these women had endured, though he doesn’t seem to know who he is, he reacted to what I’d told him. He even said he’d make it right. Makes me think maybe somewhere inside him, Maddox is still waiting to be found.”
“He also said he wanted his female,” Roscoe said, “like he owned her, or something.”
“He gave us a name for her, not a number, so maybe she’s a female he knew before,” General Ferriday answered.
“They all have numbers for names,” Roscoe said. “Every one of them is One, Two, Three, Four or Five. We have to do something about that. Once they have a day or two to relax, I’m going to ask for volunteers to speak with the psychologists we have on staff. If we can identify them, or if they can remember who they are, we’ll encourage them to use their real names. If not, it’s going to get very confusing around here.”
General Ferriday nodded. “This is the biggest shit show I’ve ever been involved in. How can perfectly capable, young, strong men be snatched from their lives and turned into vicious fucking robots with no memory of who they were before?” he wondered aloud.
“I don’t know, sir. But at least these men, the ones we’ve found so far, have the opportunity to overcome it.”
Chapter 18
Five days later One walked slowly through the cafeteria with his males in tow. He made eye contact with several males he remembered from the facility they’d been created in, but neither he, nor they, knew their real names. And truth be told, they weren’t really concerned about it either.
One of them inclined his head at One. One returned the gesture, he recognized the male from training before they’d ever been sold. Several others offered him a lifted chin or another nod. He returned each of them though most he didn’t recognize. None of these males were the type to trifle with, but they all recognized one thing — One was not the male any of them wished to set off. He was far more violent, extremely highly trained, and while some didn’t like him, they respected him — he was lethal. And none had a desire to be his next target.
One and his squad took a seat in the back of the room after being served their meals. They sat quietly, each making their own observances of the room and the males in it. Some of the males sat alone, having completely abandoned the squad they’d been trained to be a part of. Others sat eating and talking, trading stories of their exploits. Yet others seemed to make new alliances here and there, but a large number seemed to be taking a seat near the table of the first male that had inclined his head in recognition as One entered the cafeteria.
The sounds of male voices raised loud in shouts and laughter filtered through the windows of the cafeteria, and One noticed Three watching through the windows over his shoulder. One met Three’s gaze and raised an eyebrow.
“Playing football out there,” Three said.
One shook his head slowly and cut off another hunk of his steak to shove into his mouth.
Two sat beside One as they ate. He elbowed One to let him know they were being approached, then watched as a male moved steadily toward their table with several others following him.
“I am pleased you survived,” the male said, “though not surprised in the least. You and your squad always executed the demands placed on us flawlessly.”
One raised his gaze to that of the male that had inclined his head in greeting when they first entered the cafeteria and said nothing. He simply took another bite of his steak and chewed while he stared at the male.
“We’ve been talking amongst ourselves. We plan to stay on. General Ferriday believes there are more of us out there. I want to help make a place for any who are found and brought back. Others talk of being a part of the rescue missions as well as missions to collect intel.” The male turned and glanced over his shoulder as he indicated a few of the males that sat off by themselves quietly ignoring everything around them. “There are also those of us that want nothing but a quiet place to be left alone. Yet others want sanctuary here permanently. We can provide all of it here. But with this many males, trained as we’ve been, in one place, things could go to shit quickly. We need some typ
e of organization to keep this place safe and to insure the rules are followed so that we can all safely remain here.” The male paused and waited for One to say something.
When he said nothing, the male continued. “The majority of the squads in here have either learned from you, or faced you in training,” he smiled because his was one of the squads that had battled against One and his squad in the training facility.
One raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Learned from us?”
“Training films were distributed of your squad as you trained. Your successes are the bar to which we were all expected to rise — regardless of the facility we were trained in. You were first and we were to emulate you. Or, in our situation, battle you.”
The male paused again, but this time he waited for One to speak.
“I remember you. Your point would be?” One finally growled.
“That you command a great deal of respect. I think you should be our new leader. You should be the one to determine the rules we follow, enforce them, and to appoint others to help you run our new home in a peaceful manner.”
One chuffed a laugh and looked at the male unbelievingly. “I want no part of a democracy of any type. I have things to take care of — a female to find, vengeance to serve. None of that can be done if I’m here tending to political bullshit. I’m not interested,” One snapped.
“Surely you can see the need. I’ve heard of only a few of the males who even slightly remember who they are. This little community General Ferriday has built, Alliance Ranch, has all we need to continue to live here. Yeah, we’re getting full fast. But with this many males already here, we can build more barracks. We can establish security to patrol the property. We could even possibly find another way to make income for Alliance. Make it a feasibly long term self-sufficient community.”
“Why would you do that?” Three asked, setting his fork down and turning to look at the male speaking to One.
“Where else are we going to go? What are we going to do? Fade into the shadows? Become faceless, homeless shells of whoever we once were? No chance for a life or any type of one ahead of us, wandering, waiting for something to set us off and all the anger and rage we feel comes bubbling out and kills whoever is nearby? I can’t remember more than flashes beyond the training that we were forced through. A flash here and there, but nothing to indicate who the hell I am. And if my people already think I’m dead, do I really want to hurt them again anyway? But, I do know whatever I was, whoever I was, was stolen from me. And I’ll be damned if I allow my future to be stolen from me as well. We have a chance to be something here, and I’m going to take it.”
One nodded slowly. “It’s a good thing you want to do. You’ll do well.”
“We need a strong leader that will not be challenged at every turn as new males arrive,” the male said.
“And we have one,” One said, getting to his feet. He raised his beer in the air and spoke in a clear, loud voice. “I salute you. You will lead us well.”
Those that heard One applauded and whistled.
One retook his seat and swallowed the rest of his beer before slamming the empty can on the table.
“I didn’t say I wanted to lead,” the male said.
“Why not? Seems like you have all the vision and the ideas. Besides, I just endorsed you. Run with it. All I need you to know is that I have a debt to repay. It’ll be done on my own terms in my own way. When I’m here, I’ll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine. If you need something, let me know. I’ll do the same. Otherwise, carry on,” One said.
The male thought about it. He’d been after making One take the job, but, he did have a vision, and he saw it very clearly. And he’d trained right alongside One, though on a different squad. His own skills were nothing to scoff at. He nodded slowly. “Very well. I’ll do my best.”
“I’m sure you will,” One said, getting up and moving toward the food and drinks again, his plan to grab another beer.
“We’ve been encouraged to choose names and forgo the numbers we were assigned. We can’t all be called One through Five,” the male said. “Have you chosen one?”
One didn’t look back. He hadn’t even considered a name. Didn’t need one. “I am One,” was his reply without glancing back. He grabbed another beer, then made his way back to his table, his squad, and his meal.
“You are not One. One is a number. They decided we weren’t even worthy of numbers of our own, just repeats of those squads that came before us. Choosing a name is choosing an identity,” the male explained.
One sighed and looked up at the male. “Then may I suggest Law for you. You will be representative of the laws in Alliance. You will be fair and just. It is in your nature to do so.”
The male’s head pulled back slightly on his shoulders as he thought about it. “Law,” he repeated. “It is a good name.”
“It will also remind you that others depend on you for a just law,” One said, an eyebrow raised as he indirectly reminded the male not to get power happy.
“I am well aware. I will set up committees and boards to oversee all areas. Everything will be put to a vote.”
“Excellent. Now can I please finish my food?” One snapped.
“What will you choose for your name?” Law pushed.
“I am a male without a past, without a life, without a focus other than bringing down those that made us who we are and finding my female. I don’t need a name,” One growled.
Law stood where he was for only a moment longer considering One’s answer. “You are more than that. And you are always welcome to join our committees regarding anything you may be interested in. You are as much a part of this community we will build as anyone else.”
One raised his beer and tilted it toward Law, but didn’t look up from his plate.
“We will appreciate your input,” Law said, then turned away from their table as he and those that had followed him made his way back to the large group that had waited for them at the table. He took his seat and began speaking to them of the organizing of Alliance the way he saw it. As others joined the conversation and added their ideas, the males grew slightly louder, more excited about having their voices heard and making their home here permanently. Turns out, more than a few were concerned with where they’d end up next.
One and his squad rose to leave the cafeteria. As they passed the long table crowded with so many males they’d begun to drag chairs across the floor and sit on the neighboring tables to be a part of the impromptu meeting, One paused long enough to pat Law on the shoulder as he strode by. “Let me know if you require assistance, Law. I much prefer the job of assassin. I am far too lethal to find myself in a peaceful community. My focus will continue to be outside these walls.”
“That should be your name,” Law responded.
“One does just fine,” One responded.
“Yes, but Lethal is more threatening and much more accurate,” Law explained.
One allowed the corner of his mouth to turn up ever so slightly. “You going to go by Law?” One asked.
“I am.”
“Then I suppose I could manage to not hate Lethal.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The loud metal clank of a heavy iron door slamming shut caused the female chained inside the cell to jump with a start. She winced as the steel shackle around her neck cut into her already infected flesh when her body startled. She didn’t open her eyes — she didn’t need to. She knew what was coming next, it was the same thing that always came next.
She lay perfectly still, face down with her ass in the air, her mouth forced open with a metal ring, and her head leaning over the side of the hard surface of the table she was shackled to. She had no choice, she was held in place by not only the shackle around her neck, but at each wrist and each ankle as well. The table had been made to hold a female still so the males she was rewarded to would have ease of access.
She heard the loud footfalls of the males’ boots as they stomped toward her, toward t
heir reward. She didn’t even hope they’d be gentle this time. She didn’t care anymore. She found the best way to survive was to allow her mind to not be present. Her focus faded from the filthy cell she was imprisoned in, leaving her body to endure whatever the males chose to do to it. Instead, her thoughts centered around a certain dark-haired male that had called her his, then left her to survive whatever her captors threw at her.
She couldn’t remember what his face looked like. She couldn’t remember very much about him. She’d done so well in distancing herself from everything she’d managed to endure that she erased many of the details of the males she’d been at the mercy of. The details of his appearance were lost along with all the others, but she knew the sound of his voice as he growled her name, and the sound of his demand each time he entered their cell and proclaimed, “Female, your male needs!”. Life in captivity was hell on Earth, but for a short time he’d spared her from some of the worst of it. Part of her psyche called out to him, and craved his protection even now. If she’d had any sense of realistic emotions left inside her, she’d have mourned him. She believed him to be dead, along with his squad. But there was a tiny part of her that wondered if he really had left her behind intentionally. And that part of her hoped he was enduring as much torture as she was. He deserved no less for deserting her and leaving her to her fate if that was actually what he’d done.
She froze as she heard the sound of those heavy boots running, and gunfire and the sounds of males’ voices and screams. This was not the normal sound of the males she’d been given to returning to claim their reward. Minutes that seemed like hours passed as she lay unable to move, her body vulnerable still shackled to the hard table. Finally, the sounds outside the doors faded and she began to think that maybe she’d get a break tonight; maybe they wouldn’t come to her, maybe they’d failed their mission. But sometimes that was even worse. Her owner would then take her for himself while the males’ that had not earned her watched.
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