A Democracy Fallen

by Matthew Savage

  “We need to understand that if he isn’t home then we might have to call off this mission,” Wilson said looking back at Nolan.

  “I understand. He will be home though,” Nolan said as he looked out the window at the city passing him. “He has to be there,” He thought to himself.

  They drove for fifteen minutes before Laurence told them that they were a block away from the target house. He told them that they would drive past the house and see if they could glance to tell whether anyone is home. As they drove down the street Laurence called out how many houses it was until the target house. “Five houses… Three houses… Two… This one on the right here.”

  Nolan looked at the house to see if he could see any signs of someone being home. At the last minute before they lost sight of the house Nolan saw a man exit the house with a garbage bag.

  “He is home!” Nolan yelled in the car.

  “I saw him too. Let’s make our move.” Mary said as she took out her gun.

  “I am gonna turn around and we will take the house from the front,” Laurence said.

  “You sure that is wise?” Wilson said.

  “It won’t be any less risky from the back,” Laurence said and turned the car around

  “This is a one-way road?” Mary added.

  “That gives us the element of surprise.” He said.

  Laurence sped up down the road before coming to a quick stop in front of the house the tires of the car squealing. They all exited the car and forming a line made their way up the driveway. Nolan could hear the garbage can shut and he knew this guy was going to come around the corner any second. They were right on the corner of the house when he did. Laurence holstered his pistol and tackled the man. He was fighting on the ground when Mary got on top of him and helped restrain him.

  “I am a United States Security Bureau Agent. What do you guys think you are doing?” He yelled.

  Wilson tore a piece of his shirt and put it in the agent’s mouth. Laurence managed to handcuff the agent and they carried him back to the van. The agent was fighting as they put him in the back seat and Mary elbowed him in the nose. Nolan heard the agent’s nose break and blood was running down his face. The agent sat in the back between Mary and Nolan. Wilson sat up front with Laurence. Mary wiped the blood from the agent's face and put a bandana around the agent's eyes as they drove out of the city.

  After an hour in the car, the team made it to the airport where they had landed several days before. As they pulled up to the hanger where the plane was waiting for them. Sarah and Steven were waiting outside the plane. Even from afar Nolan could tell that she had a worried look on her face. The car stopped and Nolan opened the van door and put a finger to his lips to indicate not to say anything. Sarah’s face showed she understood and ran to the car. Mary handed the prisoner to Nolan, and Sarah helped take him to the plane. Wilson was on his cell phone as they walked up into the plane. Nolan couldn’t hear what was being said on the phone. Laurence entered the plane and Cerina came running or what Nolan figured was running for someone as pregnant as she was. Wilson gave the order to the pilot and they were ready to take off. It was several moments before they were cleared to leave. In those moments Nolan suddenly was afraid that they wouldn’t get the clearance and they would be caught with the captured USSB agent. To Nolan’s relief, they were cleared and the plane took off. He and Sarah seemed to be the only ones who were afraid. Nolan knew Sarah felt the same way because she sighed when the plane started moving.

  “I let headquarters know that we are bringing a prisoner back. They are going to have an escort team waiting for us.” Wilson told the group. He looked at Laurence and Cerina as he spoke. “You two will be staying at the headquarters until we find a new place for you to relocate.”

  “Are we not allowed to stay?” Cerina asked.

  “It is for people in the Insurgence. We can’t have civilians there.”

  “I figured I had joined when I decided to help find-” He paused for a moment looking at the prisoner. “Our guy and when he recruited me.”

  “If you wish to fight then I can push it through. I am not sure what we can do with someone who is pregnant.” Wilson said this last part looking at Cerina and rubbed his head thinking. “That will be something we figure out when we get back.”

  The flight back to headquarters seemed so long. Nolan wanted to get back so they could start the interrogation of the USSB agent. Sitting next to this agent it made it so Nolan didn’t want to sleep for fear the agent might try and escape. The last thing they needed was a fight breaking out on this little plane. Which already seemed too full with the three extra people on it. After several hours the plane landed. It pulled into a hangar where six cars were waiting. The plane came to a stop and they opened the door and led the prisoner out. Several D.I. soldiers took the USSB agent into a van. One of the Sergeants told Nolan’s team which car they would be in. They got into the van and to their surprise Director, Moore was sitting in the front seat of the car.

  “Director,” Wilson said in a surprised voice. “I didn’t know you would meet us.”

  “I didn’t know you were coming back with two civilians and a prisoner.” The Director said.

  “It was a bit of a surprise to us also, Director,” Mary added.

  “Who is this prisoner?” The Director asked.

  “This is a USSB agent that worked at The Fortress,” Wilson said.

  “The prison where my father is being held,” Nolan added.

  Director Moore looked back at Nolan. He gave Nolan a look of surprise and Nolan knew he made a mistake interrupting his Captain. He knew while on missions things were lax but the mission was over and he was back at to normal military conduct.

  “He is right,” Wilson said covering for Nolan’s mistake.

  Wilson everything to Director Moore on the way back to base. Nolan couldn’t tell if the Director was mad at them for taking the prisoner or if he agreed with what they did. Nolan tried to see Director Moore’s face without it being obvious. As Wilson explained what had happened in the days before. The Director paid close attention to Wilson. It sounded more interesting when Wilson explained than when they lived it. Nolan figured this was mostly due to the large amount of time that they spent waiting in the house.

  They arrived back at base and Nolan felt a sense of relief being back. He almost felt like it was a sort of home for him. They entered the hanger, Nolan noticed how there were more people and vehicles now than there were compared to when he had left. Nolan got out of the van and took in the scene. He was surprised how busy everything seemed. He wondered if it was always this way and he is noticing now because of how little he had done those last couple days. Director Moore came up behind Nolan and patted his back.

  “Things have changed a bit here.” Director Moore said. He followed the soldiers who were taking the USSB agent to an interrogation room.

  Nolan followed Wilson who was walking behind Director Moore. Nolan looked back and the rest of the team was coming with as well.

  “If we could get him a room and I will change and begin questioning him,” Wilson said to the Director.

  “Take your time. He is probably thirsty and hungry it will be good to make him uncomfortable.” Director Moore said with a tone of pleasure.

  Nolan could tell he liked the idea of making this agent suffer. Nolan also had this sense of anger in him at this agent. He wondered if he had ever tortured his father or if he had seen him get tortured this made him angrier. Nolan knew he wouldn’t be able to go into the room but he wanted to hurt him. Mary led then to the waiting area on the other side of the two-way mirror. Insurgent soldiers brought the agent into the room and handcuffed him to the table. They took the cloth out of his mouth and left the bandana around his eyes.

  “What are you planning on doing to me?” He started saying. “I know you people don’t think you are going to get away with this!” He yelled.

  The USSB agent yelled for several minutes before becoming silent. He
tried taking the bandana off but he couldn’t reach it. After several minutes Wilson entered the room wearing his Democratic Insurgent uniform. He takes off the bandana and sits down in front of the agent.

  “I am Captain Underwood,” Wilson started. “I have some questions for you.”

  “Fuck you.” The agent said.

  “I see your name is Jake. Jake Frederick. So Jake how long have you been with the Security Bureau?”

  “I am not saying anything. Don’t you people give lawyers?” Jake said in a sarcastic tone.

  “Do you?” Wilson asked. “Last I checked all those rules were thrown out. We are playing by your rules.” Nolan could see fear strike through the agent's eyes. “No lawyers here,” Wilson continued. “I am going to ask questions and you answer them. If you decide not to answer you will suffer. If you answer them you will be rewarded.”

  “Will you let me go?” Jake asked his voice cracking.

  “That depends on your answers,” Wilson said in a neutral voice. “How long have you been with the Security Bureau?”

  “Three years,” Jake answered

  “Why did you join?”

  “I was forced?”

  Wilson shifted in his seat.

  “Forced? How so?”

  “That is how a lot of the low-level people are in. I was forced to draft after my father was convicted of treason. The Security Bureau came to our house and forced my sister and me into joining.”

  “What did your father do?”

  “He worked for a paper and he insulted President Marshal in every one of his articles. He made a comment about the President being a dictator. He even had a cartoon of the President in French Revolution era clothes. He had him at the guillotine. After it was published they USSB came to our house and took our father. We were forced to join.”

  “Why did you stay? Couldn’t you have fought against it?”

  Jake laughed. “And be executed. I don’t think so. You have to do as you’re told or they will kill you. When General Ravana got the attention of President Marshal, he started taking and listening to his ideas. He took charge of the Security Bureau and things changed. They got more power in the government. If you join and perform poorly or disobey orders you could be executed. I had no other choice. My joining stopped my father being killed. He got moved to the prison where I worked and when it was found he was my father they transferred me.”

  “What prison was that?” Wilson asked

  Nolan’s heart skipped a beat was he going to give the information they wanted. Jake didn’t even realize how much he was giving.

  “The Fortress.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Complicated Choices

  Sarah paced back and forth behind her team, as they listened to the information Jake was giving to Captain Underwood. Jake didn’t have a lot of information about The Fortress he was a low-level agent but Sarah knew any information was good information. During the interrogation, Jake would break down and he would make Captain Underwood promise to get his father. During these times her team would become restless. Steven would sit and stare at the room as if trying to control what was going on in there, Orson would at times whisper to himself “Don’t lose him.” Sarah wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or trying to talk to Captain Underwood. Director Moore would leave the room during the breakdowns, Sarah couldn’t tell if he was nervous or viewed this as a good time to get out of the cramped room. The only people who didn’t seem to have a reaction during Jake’s tantrums were Nolan and Captain Underwood. It was like they both were not losing their concentration. Sarah could tell that Nolan wanted nothing more than to go into that room. He wanted to get every piece of usable information he could get out of Jake.

  After several hours of questioning and many breakdowns, Captain Underwood told Jake that he would get him some food and water. Director Moore left the room to meet Captain Underwood in the hall and the rest of the team followed. Sarah went to leave the room but Nolan was still sitting not taking his eyes off of Jake.

  “Are you coming out?” Sarah asked.

  “I think I will stay here,” Nolan said. His voice seemed dry from not speaking for so long.

  Sarah could see the bags under his eyes and could tell that he was tired. She entered the hallway and found Captain Underwood surrounded by Director Moore and the members of their team. Captain Underwood was smoking a cigarette while explaining his thoughts on the interrogation.

  “I think he is sincere. This place sounds terrible. If he is telling the truth then we must work fast to save Neil.”

  “If he is alive,” Director Moore added. “He doesn’t know if he is alive. He has no information on the people being kept in the prison.”

  “He could help us get in though,” Mary said. She looked at her husband and Director Moore. Sarah could tell Mary was trying to remind them how important Jake was.

  “We need to find out if he is alive,” Director Moore said. Sarah had the feeling that he hadn’t paid attention to what Mary had said. Director Moore continued. “If Neil is alive we need to find out what kind of condition he is in. We can’t barge into this prison. We don’t know who is being held in there.”

  “Jake said they had people who are considered enemies of the United States.” Steven interjecting.

  “What does that mean though? That is the question.” Captain Underwood said taking a long drag from his smoke. “That could mean a number of things.” He paced for a moment. “It could mean there are more D.I agents there. People we thought to have been killed could be in this prison. Secretary Hill could be held in there. It is worth the risk.”

  “That is a big jump, Will.” Director Moore said and gave Captain Underwood a piercing stare. “There could just people who sympathize with us in there. The Security Bureau could be trying to get information about how to find us.”

  “There are a lot of people out there who support what we want to do but aren’t helping us,” Mary said. The tone didn’t suggest confidence in Captain Underwood’s conclusion.

  “That is why we need to go in there,” Nolan said. Sarah had not heard him come of the room. He had a determined look on his face. “If there are people in there who support us and we let them rot in that prison, then that makes us just as bad as the government that we are fighting. We need to stand with the people that is the only way we will gain the people’s support.”

  “He is right, Director.” Captain Underwood said a renewed confidence in his voice. “This is our next step. We need to take direct action now.”

  “I know you aren’t suggesting what I think you are.” Director Moore said his voice becoming serious.

  “I am. We attack this prison.” Captain Underwood said matching Director Moore’s gaze.

  There was silence between the two men as they stared at each other. Sarah wondered what they were thinking. If what they had was enough to mount an attack. So far as Sarah knew there had never been an actual face-to-face attack against the US Government. She wasn’t sure if this was going to be the best plan for the first big move against the government.

  “I’ll run it by command. Get some more information from this guy about the defenses around The Fortress. If it is anything like the name it might be harder to get into than you think it is.”

  “Yes sir,” Captain Underwood said before turning to his team. “Get some rest you all. I am gonna get this guy some food, and try and get everything out of him.”

  Captain Underwood headed for the mess hall before anyone could say anything. Director Moore headed towards the elevator. Sarah knew that it lead to Senator Powell’s office. She wanted to go with Sarah figured she could put up a strong case for the mission.

  “I think I am going to stay and watch the interrogation,” Nolan said and this didn’t surprise Sarah. Sarah knew it wouldn’t do any good to sit and watch, but she wouldn’t tell Nolan that.

  “That is your choice,” Mary said interrupting Sarah’s thought. “You do need food though so I will bring you s
ome and you can eat in the viewing room. The rest you though,” Mary said turning to the rest of the group. “Get some food and rest. I will send word to you all when Will has finished up today.”

  Sarah and the rest of the team decided to change then get food. This was a mistake when Sarah, Orson, and Steven arrived back at the mess hall. It was close, it was late in the night, or early Sarah wasn’t too sure of the time. Sarah could hear her stomach rumbling luckily Steven said he had some MRE’s in his desk. They decided to meet up at Sarah’s room and eat there. Sarah and Orson arrived first, they found something that surprised them, Ian was sitting with his back to her door he looked as though he was sleeping. When she and Orson got closer he stirred at stood up smiling at her.

  “I heard you were back,” Ian said and Sarah could tell he was trying to hide the excitement in his voice. “I wanted to stop by and see how everything went.”

  “I don’t think I am allowed to talk too much about it but I can say it was interesting,” Sarah said. She felt happy having a familiar face to greet her.

  “I am glad you made it back fine. You have missed so much since you’ve been gone.” Ian sounded excited.

  “How about you come in and tell us about it,” Sarah said and she opened her door and led Orson and Ian into her room.

  The room was as she and Nolan left it. Relatively empty except for the few pieces of uniform that were left on the floor. They had left so suddenly they didn’t have time to pick it up. Orson lay on Nolan’s bed and Ian took a seat at the small table in the room. He had barely sat down before standing again. He was so excited to tell them all the things that had happened.

  “Admiral Hays has been recruiting heavily. Anyone who wasn’t able to fly or work on boats came here for the ground support. I heard we stole a bunch of planes and helicopters from this base in Kansas.” Ian became distracted with the detail of where it was. “Or was it Iowa. I can’t remember, it was one of those states.”