Cougar's Roar

by Jim Mohr

  She shakes her head at me. “Sir, I don’t trust him.”

  Admiral Cummings looks at me. “Reed, do you have anything to say to the General?” I enter her mind. Her soul is unblemished by death, she’s a paper leader; no combat experience.

  “Yes sir, only one question,” I answer. “Ma’am, I’ve killed three Resistance assassins and I gave the Intel to thwart an air attack. How many of the enemy have you killed?”

  General Rose stares at me, she nods her head and accepts defeat. “None, recruit Reed. I find it unusual that you now refer to the Resistance as the enemy. Your assimilation into our military is seamless. Okay, I’ll give him a chance to prove me wrong,” she says to the Admiral.

  Admiral Cummings has a look like a cat who just swallowed the family bird. “Well, that’s nice, General. I’m glad you gave the okay. I don’t doubt Reed’s loyalty, his candor, on the other hand, could be refined. He’s been around Kell too long already. Now that this is cleared up, can I be in command now?”

  “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” She salutes the Admiral and leaves Command Staff Room 1.

  As the door closes the Admiral chuckles. “You read her mind, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, sir. I suspected though.”

  He nods. “So, you checked before you leaped into a General’s battle? Nice, very nice.”

  I am confused by his style of command. He allows recruits to shame Generals. Besides, I’ve only experienced the hard boot of the Resistance, not this democracy form of command. Admiral Cummings is a bit of a cowboy. “Sir, I don’t understand,” I say.

  Admiral Cummings sits and leans back in his chair. “It’s like this, our training teaches us there is only one way to do things. We teach every officer to think the same way. There is no diversity of thought. You’ve been trained to adjust your technique based on the enemy. I saw your hand-to-hand training, kung fu, karate, weapons; you’re a sniper who beats the shit out of people and a Psychokinetic to boot. I think, just now, you could have killed us all, the entire Command Staff I mean. Couldn’t you have?”

  I think about his question. General Jones was armed, nobody else was. “Yes, sir, I would’ve taken Security’s firearm. Yes, sir.” I feel ashamed thinking about betraying this man. “Sir, should all the Command Staff be carrying? Do you allow them to be unarmed?”

  The Admiral squints as he looks at me. Sergeant Montclair clears her throat. “Your concern is that there are more spies in this base? More assassins?”

  “Yes, sir. There are more.”

  He nods and motions at the box holding the Kalashnikov. “That pistol there, the big cocksucker, it’s yours. I’ll write the orders. You may carry it as your sidearm. There will be no 45 or 9 mm for you.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “I’m also making you an offer. I want Sergeant Montclair to hear this.”

  “Sir?” I’m confused again.

  “Soldiering 101, I saw what O3 planned for you. If you take the final test in any course and score a 95 or above, you test out of it. I want you to be commissioned, you aren’t an NCO. I want you to lead. I’m enrolling you in BOT as soon as you finish BMT.”

  “Sir? You want me in Basic Officer Training?” As much as I am growing to like the Admiral’s civility and directness, I question his reasoning. Him wanting me to be an officer?

  “Listen, Reed,” he says as he leans forward, “we’ve got paper pushers coming out of our ass. You think like an officer. You’re a recruit and you question senior officers not carrying a sidearm. Plus, you’ve got more combat training and tactical knowledge than nearly any officer in the Alliance. Employing tactics is the domain of officers. Our prerequisite for BOT is to be a Sergeant and then pass the BOT entrance exam. All right, take the damn test when you finish BMT. You were a Sergeant in the Resistance. There you go, that qualification is met.” He smiles and shakes his head. “Montclair, what do you think?”

  “Sir, he seems qualified for BOT. I would caution pushing him too hard.”

  I look at the Kalashnikov on the table. Allowing me to carry an out of regulations pistol, skipping requirements for schooling, bypassing requirements for promotion. “Sir, I haven’t read your mind, and I won’t. This isn’t to groom me for a job in Operations, is it?”

  “That is why you are qualified to be an officer.” He points at me as he continues, “You’re a fucking recruit and you have no problem addressing a base Admiral. You are correct, I’m not putting you in O1 or O2. I’ll keep my plans to myself for now. Do what I ask. Test out of BMT, take the BOT test, complete BOT. BMT is supposed to take two months, BOT is four months. I expect a shorter time frame from you than six months, because we don’t have six months to wait for you. I’m not turning you over to Prague. I expect you to reward my trust, and my generosity.”

  I look down at the pistol grip as my fingernail traces the Latin engraving. “Mors Hostibus Meis.” A single tear falls onto the engraving. The warmth in my chest has returned. “It won’t take me six months, sir. Now, I am officially a pawn in this war.”

  Chapter 36

  Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  My emotions are raw and I am on edge. The elevator ride to my apartment floor is silent. There isn’t any talking between Sergeant Montclair and myself. As the elevator door opens I break the silence. “Sergeant Montclair, may I speak with you inside my residence please?” My voice is cracking as the images of Gabrielle and Nada again surface.

  “Absolutely recruit, absolutely,” she answers.

  I scan my badge and the door unlocks, we enter my small apartment. Boxes are neatly stacked chest high on the floor. The writing on the sides of the large boxes reveals the rest of Mikhailov’s gift; ammunition! Crates of 44 Magnum rounds. Enough for years, if necessary. All of it from the Concern Kalashnikov Group in Russia.

  Sergeant Montclair touches one of the large boxes. “Looks like Major Yarrow had some time on his hands. Getting that much ammo shipped here from Prague would’ve been a pain in the ass.”

  I look at the shipping labels. “This was shipped here from Russia, not Prague. I would guess he had it shipped through an arms dealer.”

  Sergeant Montclair sits in one of my two cheap kitchen chairs. “Why would he go through that much trouble for a student of his? How did he know that you would turn on your captors? Recruit, what did you need to speak to me about? I have to be honest with you, this whole situation has me a bit scared.”

  I lower my face as images of Nada again surface in my mind. “The executions, my friend, my foster mother,” I say. I see my chest pulsing with my heartbeat. I hear my heart in my ears. I am losing control of my emotions. I look at Sergeant Montclair, I can see the sorrow and pity on her face.

  “It’s all right, Cougar. There wasn’t anything that you could’ve done. This isn’t your fault,” she says. She knows my thoughts by only seeing my face.

  My breathing is speeding up as I think of Nada’s parents. Would they know how their daughter died? Would they be taken care of? Gabrielle… She did nothing wrong. “I remember what Gabrielle said the night before I left. She hugged me and told me that she was proud of me, that she loved me.”

  Behind me comes the sound of buzzing. I turn as the personal computer console moves from the wall into my field of view.

  “Who is contacting you?” Sergeant Montclair asks.

  “I have no idea…” The screen is static. A few seconds later I see Volker Gerdt. He’s shirtless and older than the last time I saw him. His bare chest is flabby and hairless.

  In German, he speaks as English translation voices over him. “Today is day two of my interrogation of Gabrielle Detches. Though I must say she doesn’t provide much information, she’s rather good at accepting my probe.” He laughs as he grabs his covered genitals. The camera switches, Gabrielle is chained in a position where she is bent at the waist. Her wrists are shackled to her ankles, sh
e is naked, her legs are held in place by rods and straps. Gerdt comes into view. “I’ll try this to loosen her tongue…”

  “My God!” yells Sergeant Montclair as the camera stays on my poor Gabrielle being sodomized.

  My world spins as my anger boils. I forgot doing it, but the force of my Kalashnikov being thrown through the computer monitor provides me with some satisfaction.

  ***

  “Cougar, stop pacing,” Sergeant Montclair reaches for my arm. Tears and rage are all that I have. I have to escape here, I have to kill them… Gerdt, Feng Chu, all of them. “Cougar, dammit! Sit down!”

  I look at Sergeant Montclair, she is difficult to see through my tears. “She was beautiful. You remind me of her.” Saliva, thick and frothy, fills my mouth. I am dry, I am hot, angry and lusting for blood. “Montclair, I can see you being abused. When I saw those pictures of Gabrielle, I could see you. I cannot allow this.”

  Sergeant Montclair shakes her head in confusion as I collapse to the floor. I suddenly feel her touch me on the back of my head. “Cougar, it’s okay. Calm down, it isn’t me.”

  I look up at her as her hand slides to my shoulder. “Innocent beauty, like Gabrielle. You are an innocent beauty…” I lower my head in shame, I couldn’t save Nada or Gabrielle. They are both dead now.

  The speaker in my room cracks, I hear Colonel Zahn’s voice. “Reed, that transmission came from Moscow. It looks like it originated from the office of a Colonel General Reginald Jones. He sent us a message piggybacked to the video that he sent you. He says that he doesn’t care what you do, if nurse Andrev gave you the hormone he wants you to return it to him, immediately.”

  I look at Sergeant Montclair. “Hormone?” I say as memories of my conversation with nurse Andrev return. “Sir, I don’t have it.” I clear my mouth of spittle. “She wouldn’t tell me who has it either, though I assume Tiger has it.”

  “Tiger? Thank you, Reed, he also said that he had Gerdt killed for killing nurse Andrev. He signed off by calling himself ‘Taipan’.”

  “Yes, sir. I know who he is.” I look at the boxes of ammunition as the COM goes silent.

  “Recruit, what are you planning?” Sergeant Montclair asks.

  My emotions are calm for now. I have to take advantage of that. “I’m not planning anything yet, I’m hoping that one of those bullets over there will be the one that blows Taipan’s fucking head off.”

  Chapter 37

  Dove—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  Cheetah is retinal scanned and the door opens, Owl and I are escorted by armed guards to a holding room. One of the guards that lead us is a Psychokinetic. As the door to our holding room slides open, we enter and he speaks. “Dove, I am sorry to have to put you here. It’s my orders after all. I have to do it.”

  Owl huffs, “Yeah, and to hell with Owl too, right?”

  He shakes his head. “No, ma’am, it’s just that Dove is… Well, she’s Dove.”

  Owl smiles at the guard. She is struggling to hide the pain of Mister Beauregard’s death. “It’s all right. I understand.” The unassigned Psychokinetic leaves the room and the door closes behind him.

  “Owl, will they let us see Cougar?” I ask.

  “No idea, honey. This is my first time in prison. Today and yesterday were the first times I’ve been in an Alliance base.”

  “Why did you say that dogs and cats are crazy?” I ask, referring to the statement she made to German Shepherd and Cheetah the day prior.

  Owl sits on the lone cot in our cell. “I know the Timere, what they are, I mean. I can concentrate on them and I can locate them. I see them as their animal or insect attachment. The Timere are evil, not one of them is good, well, maybe one. German Shepherd, Cougar, and Cheetah to some extent, want to hunt them. We birds are content with letting the laws of this world play out. The cats and dogs are driven by false senses of right and wrong.”

  I blink at her, she is honest, truthful, and carries wisdom that others don’t have. “Not all Timere are evil. They can’t be. All Psychokinetics aren’t good, look at Lion.”

  “No dearie, all Psychokinetics aren’t good. But there is a difference in being reclusive, like Lion, and power-hungry, like Taipan.”

  “I hope that Cougar is nice. I have already had enough conflict in my life.” I sit next to Owl as she puts her arm around my shoulders.

  “Well, if he isn’t nice, we’ll give him a fight,” Owl answers.

  ***

  Cheetah

  “Sir, the civilians are requesting to see recruit Cougar Reed. It’s of a personal nature and they are Psychokinetics.” The Major looks at me with disdain. He is the human officer in charge of the security section of the airfield, he’s the first hurdle in getting Owl and Dove inside.

  “Lieutenant, no offense, but I really don’t care. We aren’t running a convention hall for civilians here. The answer is no.”

  “May I see recruit Reed then?”

  “He’s a damn recruit! Send him a video message.”

  “Sir, we Psychokinetics must communicate face-to-face.” This guy is pissing me off. I have to get past him. I have to see Cougar.

  The Major looks at me. “Lieutenant, I’ve had enough of this conversation. As the security officer in charge of this sector, I am telling you no, period! Now, be gone.” He turns and heads back to his monitoring room.

  I see the cameras in the hall, monitoring me. How do I get past the security officer? If I run and am delayed for an instant, I will be seen. If I run and get clear of this sector, how do I find Cougar? I don’t know what room he is in. I need to find Sergeant Montclair, the Admirals assistant, Sergeant Slowiski, or anyone in the O2 department. It’s too risky, I’ll get caught, and then I’ll be court-martialed. I was just promoted to Second Lieutenant, I don’t want to lose it already.

  I turn from the Major and head back to the holding cell, back to Owl and Dove.

  ***

  “I am sorry, Dove, there is no way to get you in to see Cougar. My security clearance only gets us this far. We cannot get into the base,” I say with resignation.

  Owl rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “That’s nice, Cheetah. Thanks for dragging us along on this trip. I had nothing else to do, so that’s good.”

  Dove looks defeated as she hangs her head. “I have to help him. I have to try.”

  “We tried, Dove. Honey, we came up short. He is on his own,” Owl replies.

  I sense the approach of a human, probably the guard to release us. The door slides open. Standing in the threshold is the Security Officer in charge, Brigadier General Tyson Jones.

  “Lieutenant Smith, welcome back to Wisconsin Illinois base.”

  I snap to attention and salute. “Sir, thank you, sir.” He returns my salute.

  “So, you brought two civilians to see Reed? He’s at his residence now; 71B15. Can you find it or do I have to escort you?”

  I smile, I respect this human and appreciate his sense of humor. “Thank you, sir. If my clearance allows me into the housing floors, we can find it.”

  He looks at Owl and then Dove. “It will. Lieutenant, no more of these visits okay? Command Staff has more to do than grant clearance to a Lieutenant from Atlanta escorting two civilians. I’m doing this only because of my respect for… your kind. You mind readers seem to be an intriguing group.” He pauses. “What’s up with you?” he says as he points to Dove.

  The air seems charged as Dove stands and approaches General Jones. She looks at the powerful black man, his eyes glisten.

  “I am Dove. I am an empath. You have aided me and my sisters. I see a poison in your soul, from your childhood.” She softly touches General Jones’s face with her right hand. My hair is standing on end as a tear escapes his right eye, it rolls down her hand and onto the floor. “The poison is gone. You are a loving, God-fearing man.” Her hand leaves his face. General Jones
gasps and staggers back as he looks at Dove.

  “Thank you. Thank you for that,” he says as he exhales, his emotions are being held down by his fierce masculinity.

  Dove nods to him as she turns to face me. “The sword is not the only way to deal with humanity. Love cuts just as deep, deeper in some ways.”

  I accept her words as I think to myself. “Love wouldn’t have killed those assassins who were going to gun down Admiral Abraham in cold blood.”

  Chapter 38

  Cougar—Wisconsin Illinois Base

  “I’m sorry, Cougar, I’m not trying to be insensitive. I’m just confused,” Sergeant Montclair says. I quicken my pace to escape this conversation with Sergeant Montclair. She hurries her pace, nearing a jog, to keep up with me. “You have that kind of emotional weight dropped on you, everything today, and your answer is to go work out?”

  “I’d rather go shoot, but you don’t feel comfortable with that. Just so you know, starting Monday, when I’m off duty from classes, I will be carrying my pistol.” We approach the men’s locker room. It’s quiet inside, I sense no one else. “Well, I’ll meet you on the other side.”

  Sergeant Montclair sighs. “Okay, I will head back to my residence. I have reading to do so I’ll get a book. Behave yourself,” she says, jabbing me with her index finger. I look at her and feel a combination of attraction, and anger toward her. How dare this human jab me with her finger.

  ***

  Cheetah

  Owl looks at her cheap, thin watch. “So, it’s three in the afternoon, and he has nothing else to do but go to the gym?”

  I’m grateful to the Security department for notifying me that Cougar was moving. His ID badge is linked to the computer system and is the perfect tracker.

  “I guess not. He’s a recruit and probably bored out of his mind.” We enter the training portion of the building, I can sense that Dove is upset. She hasn’t been right since using her empathy power on General Jones. I dare not ask her about it, she seems too sensitive.