Cougar's Roar

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Cougar's Roar Page 9

by Jim Mohr


  “A Timere thing? General Andrews, how did you become a General? Holy shit! The first assassin was a Timere.” I breathe deeply, I don’t want to start a fight, but this fucker is insulting me. “Human, I’ll say this once. If you call me a Timere one more time, I will kill you. I can still get you, even if they restrain me.” I grab the man with my telekinesis. I can see the fear in his eyes instantly, as he realizes that I have him and that I have power. “Now, either send someone worth a fuck in here or kill me.” I release him.

  General Andrews hurriedly jumps back in terror. He is spry for a fat ass. His chair tips over at the suddenness of his movement. “All right. I’ll send someone else. He turns and leaves the room. I sense him entering the observation room. He leaves the observation room again. A short time later, I sense the female Psychokinetic leave the room as well. Finally, someone worth a fuck.

  Chapter 22

  Cheetah—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  When Major General Andrews talks to the prisoner a female voice comes over the com.

  “Sir! General Malik here.”

  “Shirley, I want you to launch all jets. We have word from this prisoner that two fleets of Resistance jets are in route. Work with O2 as to the direction, but I would guess they are coming from the north or northeast.”

  “Yes sir, I’m on it.” The com clicks off.

  Sergeant Slowiski turns to the Admiral. “Sir, we are launching based on the word of a prisoner?”

  Just then we all see the prisoner face the hologram wall and say. “Can you send someone other than tukove’ here?”

  The Admiral chuckles. “I like that kid, he just called General Andrews fatty.” The Admiral smiles as he turns. “Lieutenant, read his mind. When General Andrews is done pissing him off, read his mind.”

  “Yes, sir,” I reply.

  “Kal, to answer your question, yes. He saved my life and surrendered. I don’t think he’s a Timere. I think that kid,” as he points to the prisoner, “is a Psychokinetic. My guess is, he read their minds and that is why he turned.”

  There is a pause as we hear the prisoner say. “A Timere thing? General Andrews, how did you become a General? Holy shit! The first assassin was a Timere. Human, I’ll say this once. If you call me a Timere one more time, I will kill you. I can still get you, even if they restrain me. Now, either send someone worth a fuck or kill me.”

  “See!” The Admiral yells. “Damn, I’m good. He’s a mind reader.”

  General Andrews jumps backward knocking his chair over.

  “Um, sir,” says Sergeant Slowiski “Sir, General Andrews is on his way back.”

  The door opens as General Andrews enters the surveillance room. “That kid’s a cocky little bastard. He grabbed me with his power. It felt like he was going to crush me. What a creepy ass feeling when they grab you with their telekinesis. Sir, he’s a tough one that one is.”

  Admiral Cummings nods in agreement. “Steve, get back to Command Central, find out which direction the enemy jets are coming from.”

  “Yes, sir!” General Andrews turns and leaves the surveillance room.

  Admiral Cummings looks at Sergeant Montclair. “Sergeant, when you are with him, be careful. I think he’s a bit of a wild animal. I think the Resistance turned him feral.” He looks at me. “Well Lieutenant, go use your Psychokinetic powers and tell us who he is.”

  Anxiety washes over me. Oh hell, this isn’t what I wanted to do today. “Yes, sir!” I respond as I leave the room. Memories of the lives I took earlier today are still fresh in my mind. Lord, I hope I need not take another one.

  The door into the holding room clicks and slides open when I am in front of it. Immediately, I smell blood. The humans couldn’t smell it, I can though.

  As my foot crosses the threshold I can sense that our prisoner is a powerful Psychokinetic. He seems familiar. Maybe he is a cat like I am. I touch my sword; a small relief comes to my nerves. The prisoner watches me. He knows that I am Cheetah.

  “What is your Psychokinetic name? You are attached to an animal. Which one?” I ask. My voice is squeaky.

  He stares at me. He is powerful. “Don’t read my mind. Minds are private, don’t do it.” He answers.

  “I won’t.” I walk slowly to the overturned chair. I pick it up and sit on it. “What is your animal?” I ask again.

  “I am Mountain Lion. I am Cougar.”

  I gasp as I feel my soul wilt. “Oh, God!” I exclaim. Tears flow from my eyes. “Oh God. Cougar!” I sob as I reach for him. He pulls back, confused at my advance. My heart is beating with such force that my chest is visibly moving. “How?” I gasp.

  “Are you all right?” he asks. He does not know who I am.

  “Cougar, I am Dena! Dena Smith! April’s little sister!” His eyes flash and I can see he remembers me. “Cougar, why is it that every time I see you, you are covered in blood.”

  He looks at himself. I can tell there are spots of blood from two other people on him, plus his own. He shrugs his shoulders as he says, “Just lucky, I guess.”

  Chapter 23

  Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  I can see that Dena is upset. Obviously, she is excited to see me but my presence here surprises her. Tears run from her eyes as she smiles at me. “Dena, I am serious. The Resistance is attacking.”

  “Cougar, I know. We are launching the jets,” she replies as she wipes her eyes.

  My budding headache has grown into a full-fledged attack on my senses. “May I have something for my headache, please? I don’t want to use up my healing power and have it drain my physical power, just in case you decide to attack me.”

  She turns to the hologram wall and repeats my request. She turns to me blushing, “Oops, I probably shouldn’t have revealed that to you. Cougar, you are safe. I won’t attack you.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “I knew that it was fake.” I smile at her. “There are three humans in there. I can sense the Admiral and the fucker who hit me. Who is the third?”

  “She’s from Security,” Dena replies.

  I turn to the hologram wall. “Hey trooper who hit me, I owe you one.” I smile and point a finger at him. I know exactly where he is. I look at Dena. “What now?”

  “Cougar, we need to know how you got in, why you stopped them, and what happened.”

  “What happened? What, with me, or the assassination. Is the ‘we’ you talk about the Alliance, or you and them.” I say as I point to the wall.

  “Both,” she responds as she lowers her eyes. “Cougar, I thought you were dead,” she breathes deeply. I can tell she is fighting to remain in control of her emotions. “They returned your dad to the civilians, but you weren’t found. Cougar, the police listed you as killed in the attack.”

  A memory flashes through my mind. “Dena, my mom! Where is she?”

  She pauses again, a confused look is on her face. “Cougar, we don’t know. There were searches for you both. She never returned to your house. Nobody knows where she went.”

  I feel another pain in my already tortured soul. My mom, God how I miss her. I miss her voice, her gentle touch, and her love. I look at Dena, she is still smiling at me. She is the only remaining proof of my prior life. “Dena, read my mind. Get what you need.”

  Her face turns red. “It’s private, Cougar. I don’t want to,” she replies.

  I smile at her as I try to comfort her. “Well, honestly Dena, I remember you being a damn bore to talk to. I don’t look forward to hours of interrogation by you. Just read my mind.”

  She smiles softly. Gradually, her smile grows and her blue eyes liven up. “A bore huh?” she asks.

  “One question though, what is your animal?”

  Her eyes flash. “I am Cheetah.” Her smile fades and is replaced by a resolute look. She has power. I nod to her, understanding she has seen death. I know the look, everyone who has
seen a person die by their own hand has it.

  “Cougar, I will read your mind. I will only search for the answers to our questions. The humans question your truthfulness and your motives.”

  “Motives?” I ask. “My motive first off was killing Sebrev. When you read my mind, you’ll understand that. My second motive was to foil their assassination. Regardless of the education they’ve given me, they abused me. Lastly, I saw the sneak air attack in Sebrev’s mind. This used to be my home. My mom may still be on the outskirts of the base. I don’t want civilians killed.”

  Dena sighs softly as she touches my hand. I pull back slightly but then I allow her touch. She smiles shyly as she says, “Okay, I’ll start.”

  A slight buzzing fills my ears for a second. I cannot tell what memories and thoughts she is sifting through. Every so often a flash of a painful memory comes. I see tears form in Dena’s eyes, she closes them and breathes a deep sigh. She is filled with pain, remorse, and sorrow. She is seeing my life. Dena’s eyes open. She blinks as tears are pushed from their resting places. Her mouth opens, she cannot speak.

  “So, I think it’s safe to say that you found what you were looking for.”

  “Cougar, I am so sorry. I never realized… I didn’t know. Todd, your dad, the Timere.” Her head lowers in shame.

  “Now, my turn,” I say. Her head snaps up.

  “What?” she asks.

  “Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m not going to read your mind. I have one question for you to answer, then I’ll tell you my next move.” Anger grows in me, my powers bristle.

  “Okay, Cougar, what is it?” she asks as she wipes her cheeks.

  “How do I find the Timere? Especially someone called Taipan. I have a message for him, payment for something he did to an acquaintance of mine.”

  Dena looks at me confused. “Taipan? Cougar, I have no idea,” she says shaking her head.

  “You’re in the intelligence department, right? Find him, for me, would you?”

  “Cougar, I’m in the Alliance. We don’t just hunt people down for revenge. We’re in a war.”

  My chest burns as my power boils. The anger is consuming me. I look around the room, searching for an escape. “Well, if you can’t help me, then release me. I have work to do.”

  “Cougar, it’s not that easy. I saw in your mind that you are a Resistance Sergeant. You are the enemy. We can’t release you.”

  Memories of the mountain lion in the Prague zoo flash in my mind. The news article that the little fuck, Funnel Web, held in front of my face. They tortured that mountain lion, because of me. It was put down, because of me. It had harmed no one. It didn’t deserve what happened to it. Now, I am caged. Now, they will torture me.

  I look at Dena, she stands and backs away from me. She fears me. The anger is devouring my soul. How much more will this life assail me? How much torture will I endure? My defensive power rises. It washes over me like a hot blanket on a winter’’s morn. I cannot restrain myself any longer.

  My telekinesis shoots out in strands of power. Like giant octopus tentacles, it spreads, grabbing everything it touches. I feel Dena’s leg, the chair, the toilet, and sink. My power lashes out, hurling the chair, pulling the toilet and sink from the floor and wall. The sink and toilet slam against the door. Water splashes on me as they pass in front of my face.

  Dena slams into the hologram wall. Cracks in the display spider web out from her as it flickers and dies. Now, it is only a black display. Dena gasps and struggles, she reaches for her sword.

  The door to the holding room opens. I feel a pain in my back. I turn to defend myself. Standing in the doorway is a Hispanic man. In his hands, he holds a dart gun.

  “Hello, I am Doctor Ezekiel Ramos. You will be sleeping soon, so calm down.”

  Dizziness washes over me. My power releases Dena as the floor rises up to greet me. Damn it, I was beaten by a human again.

  Chapter 24

  Cheetah—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  This is the first time I have ever been inside a Command Staff Room. I am seated next to the pudgy O2 (Intelligence) officer, Major General Steve Andrews. Next to him, seated in the first seat is the O1 (Operations) officer, Brigadier General Diane Rose. She is a rather plain looking human with shoulder length red hair and green eyes. A large scar extends from her right eye to her chin. She is a warrior, she is proud. On the other side of the table sits the Security officer, Brigadier General Tyson Jones. General Jones has the physique of a grizzly bear with eyes that stare through you. Sergeant Carrie Montclair is seated next to him. Standing just inside the door is the Admirals assistant, Sergeant Kal Slowiski.

  General Jones looks as if he has something to say, and it isn’t long before he does. “General Andrews, how long until we have the report from Lieutenant Smith?”

  “We are finalizing her report. My assistant is finishing it up and we will have it to you within the hour.” General Andrews nods toward me, he appreciates my hasty work.

  General Jones looks at me. “So, Lieutenant, is the terrorist to be killed? If he’s a security risk it’s either death or prison.”

  The thought of deciding Cougar’s fate is too heavy a load for me to bear. I hope the decision won’t rest on me. “Sir, he’s technically not a terrorist. He was an American citizen captured by the Resistance. He had no choice in the matter. He fled them as soon as he could.”

  General Rose leans forward slightly, as she looks past General Andrews. “Do Psychokinetics look out for each other, or is this your honest appraisal?”

  My nerves jump as I realize I’m in a battle for Cougars life, these humans are relentless in their quest for blood. I touch my Kastane sword, the cheetah head is cool against my fingers.

  “Ma’am, we stand for what is right. My feelings would be no different if he were a human or even a Timere.”

  The Command Staff Room door opens and the Admiral enters. Immediately, Sergeant Slowiski yells, “ATTENTION!” We all snap to our feet.

  “Sit,” says the Admiral as he approaches the head of the table and sits.

  We take our seats and the Admiral looks at General Andrews. “Steve, what’s the verdict on this guy?”

  “Sir, Lieutenant Smith has completed her report. We are finishing our analysis of it so we can submit it to Security. I recommend we let the interrogator decide on his fate.”

  General Rose raises her hand slightly as the Admiral nods at her. “Sir,” she begins, “she is a Psychokinetic and only a Second Lieutenant. Can we trust an honest evaluation on this?”

  The Admiral points politely with his upturned hand at General Andrews, as if beckoning him to reveal something.

  “Staff,” begins General Andrews, “Special Operations passed a message to me from an operative at Prague. I remind all NCOs present, this is classified. The message reads. “I am certain my cover is blown and my execution is imminent. From Intel gathered, I have found that one of my former students may have been responsible for the foiling of the assassination of Admiral Cummings. I have attached his records from Prague to this message. I can vouch for Cougar Reed and would highly recommend that he be enlisted in our force. Separate from this message I will be sending him a package. Please see that he receives it. God help our cause, and God save the Alliance. Major Bradley Yarrow; WISPCOPS.” General Andrews folds the message and scans the room for reactions.

  After a brief pause, Admiral Cummings looks at me. “Lieutenant, is he safe?”

  That is not the question I was expecting, I cannot lie. “Sir, he’s wild. The abuse that he’s been subjected to, the things he’s seen and done, he’s wild. I cannot say if he is safe. He hates the Resistance with a passion. He’s trained in their ways and highly intelligent. If he were tamed down a bit, he would adapt. He would be loyal to our cause.”

  The Admiral smiles and nods at me. “Lieutenant, that was my evaluat
ion as well. So, our interrogator, Special Ops, and I all think the kid should get a chance.” He looks at General Jones. “Security, how do you feel?”

  General Jones looks briefly to Sergeant Montclair, then to the Admiral. “Sir, we want him supervised. Regardless of his actions in saving you, we cannot let him roam freely. At the minimum, Sergeant Montclair will be assigned to him.”

  General Rose again raises her hand. “Sir, there is no way Sergeant Montclair can handle him. The kid destroyed the interrogation room.”

  General Jones leans forward slightly and speaks, “General Rose, all of my personnel are warriors. Sergeant Montclair will be fine.”

  General Rose rocks back in her chair and sighs. “Sorry, General, but he destroyed the room while pinning Lieutenant Smith to a wall with his power. If a Psychokinetic can’t handle him, what is a human going to do? Gentleman, we need to proceed with caution where these Psychokinetics are concerned.” She looks at me, “No offense, Lieutenant.”

  I see General Jones elbow Sergeant Montclair gently in the ribs. She begins, “Ma’am, whenever Mister Reed was confronted, or felt attacked, he lashed out. I will be peaceful with him. I can guide him through his orientation and aid in his re-acclimation. If he was close to the special operations agent in Prague, I would recommend getting him the gift as soon as it arrives.” I can sense this Sergeant Montclair is nervous about the prospect of being with Cougar.

  Admiral Cummings nods in agreement. “Why is it that my NCOs and junior officers see this kid as a potential windfall, but my Generals don’t? You people realize that this guy is trained in their tactics. He not only saved the base from their air attack, saved my life, but he also spilled the beans on their route into the base. Air has finished the analysis of the battle over Rhinelander Wisconsin. We really kicked them in the ass. It looks like our casualties are in the 30 percent range but we destroyed over one hundred jets. It’s all because of this kid.” The Admiral nods his head, satisfied at the day’s victories.

 

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