“Yeah. Who are you? Where am I? Where’s Yon?”
Holding onto his sore lower back, he shuffled out of the room and into the carpeted hallway. He heard a flurry of footsteps and saw the shadows of two people rising on the staircase wall. When they came into view, Takoda froze. Maybe this is an interrogation center.
While he did not recognize the man who appeared first, the woman who came into view shortly after, he knew instantly. It was the android NASF officer who had come to the clinic. Takoda felt the urge to flee but there was nowhere to go and he knew he was no match for the Steel-class bot.
“You are among friends, Dr. Wells,” said the man.
“Like hell I am,” Takoda said, glaring at the woman. “Sgt. Willow, isn’t it?”
“Cassidy,” she replied.
“And I’m Carlos. I work for Beacon too.” The mustachioed Hispanic stepped forward and extended a hand. “Code name is Shepherd. You’re in my home. Dr. Fujita is downstairs. She’s talking with Hoot.”
Takoda shook Carlos’ hand but continued to eye the female android warily. “Hoot’s here?”
“No. Sorry. They’re on a holoconference,” said Carlos. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
Carlos tugged on Takoda’s arm but he shook it free and pointed at Cassidy. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what she’s doing here.”
“I’m part of the underground too,” she said.
Takoda looked at Carlos, who nodded vigorously. “No lie. In fact, she saved your asses.”
“Saved us? You call crashing our cruiser saving us? We could have been killed.”
“It was necessary to maintain the illusion,” Cassidy said.
“Illusion? That was no illusion, andro.”
“I have just received a transmission from Hoot,” said Cassidy. “She requests your presence on the holoconference with Dr. Fujita. If you are too injured to walk, I can carry you.”
Takoda waved her off as she stepped forward. “No thanks. I don’t need your help.”
“Cool,” said Carlos. “Follow me.”
Stiff-legged, Takoda headed for the stairs behind Carlos. Cassidy waited and followed after Takoda. During the painful descent, he struggled to make sense of what he had just heard. Was it all BS to get him to lower his defenses? Or were they telling him the truth? In the short term, Takoda resolved he would have to rely on what he saw in Yon. If she seemed at ease, it would go a long way toward convincing Takoda that Carlos and Cassidy were on the up and up.
When they reached the first-floor landing, Carlos pointed to closed double doors. “Dr. Fujita is in there.” Nodding his head in the other direction across the hall, Carlos said, “We’ll be in the dining room if you need anything.”
With a degree of trepidation, Takoda pushed open one of the double doors, half-expecting to be met by a legion of NASF officers. Instead, he saw Yon curled up on a sofa in the small den. She was wearing a blanket around her shoulders and she faced a data-filled holoscreen. She beamed as soon as she saw him. “Please hold, Hoot. Takoda just arrived.”
Before Hoot could respond, Yon toggled the screen off and hopped off the sofa. She collided with him, burying her head against his chest. “Thank goodness you are all right.”
Takoda’s skepticism melted away. He hugged her and said, “Same goes for you.”
“That was scary. The crash,” she said.
“Petrifying.”
“Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so. Just stiff and sore. Are you okay?”
He felt her head nodding against his chest and she squeezed him tighter. “That was a close call. I’m glad we got out when we did.”
“Me too, but I’m having a hard time understanding what happened.”
“Yeah, I know. I felt the same way, but Hoot cleared everything up.”
She pulled from their embrace and proceeded to provide Takoda with a clipped version of Hoot’s explanation. Cassidy Willow had been a Beacon plant in NASF, regularly feeding Hoot inside information and obscuring evidence of the underground’s rescue operations from the New Atlantians. Cassidy, Yon told him, had alerted Hoot about NASF’s stealth mission to capture, interrogate and execute them.
“Why?”
“To send a message. I guess rescuing the Hearns family was the last straw for NASF,” Yon said. “They’ve evidently also detained everybody else who works at the clinic. They’re being interrogated right now according to Cassidy…”
As Yon continued to talk, Takoda felt a surge of nausea thinking about their innocent colleagues undergoing interrogation. Then, his mind turned to his conversation with Neville. Oh no, he’ll tell them. If for no other reason, he’ll do it to save his skin.
“…anyway, Hoot’s hoping NASF thinks we’re dead now. Of course, they may not. Cassidy said NASF was watching on their satellite when—”
Takoda held up his hand to interrupt Yon. As soon as she stopped speaking, he said, “I need to tell you something. I had a visit from Neville after the NASF people left. He knows…about the faked euthanization, about Mugabe’s smart-proteins in Billy’s DNA, about everything.”
For several seconds, Yon stared at him. When she finally spoke, she said, “Why didn’t you tell me as soon as I came over for dinner?”
Takoda shrugged. “Guess I was still trying to sort out the conversation in my mind.”
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the couch. “You need to share this with Hoot. Like, right now.”
Hoot was understandably unhappy to learn Neville had connected the dots and that Takoda had not shared that information right away. “Yon, ask Cassidy to join the call.”
Yon left the room and returned with the android. As soon as Cassidy announced her presence, Hoot said, “How difficult would it be for you to extract Dr. Thompson from New Atlantia?”
Without delay, Cassidy said, “I estimate the chances of success at less than five percent. It would require extracting him from NASF HQ in Minneapolis. Assassination is a better option. If armed drones are used, the odds of success are closer to thirty percent.”
“Whoa. Hold on, now. No way. I won’t be a party to an assassination,” said Takoda. He glared at the expressionless android.
“Me neither,” said Yon.
There was no response from Hoot, leading Takoda to surmise the underground leader was seriously considering Cassidy’s proposal. He made another attempt to dissuade her from killing Neville. “Look, Hoot, I messed up but what’s done is done. If NASF already has Neville in custody, it’s too late to do anything about it.”
“Not necessarily,” said Hoot. “Dr. Thompson is an evvie of high standing in New Atlantia. The Guild may intervene on his behalf. They’re very protective of their members.”
“Well, if that’s the case, why assassinate him? It’s not in Neville’s interest to—”
“Takoda, a scandal has occurred in Thompson’s clinic. Whether the scandal becomes public knowledge or not, his livelihood and reputation are at risk. Exposing what he discovered is in his best interests. I’m certain the Guild will agree. They will recommend divulging what he knows in exchange for leniency for not coming forward earlier.”
“Okay, let’s say you’re right, Hoot, and he talks,” said Takoda. “What can NASF do about it at this point? We’ve got Billy, we’ve got Sarah.”
“They could switch course and abandon the cover story they’ve concocted. They could go public about the GODD chip, turn Beacon into more of a pariah than they already portray us. We’re conducting evil experiments, they’ll say. As supportive as the Carapach government has been to us, such charges might cause them to turn on us as well.”
“NASF going public about the Hearns’ rescues may also lead the person or people who implanted the chip in Billy to go into hiding before we can make contact,” Cassidy said.
“Quite right,” said Hoot. “Keep in mind, Takoda, the GODD chip is only part of our mission. And it is a speculative part. Saving didgee conscripts, providing sanctu
ary for oppressed gutant families, advocating for alternatives to euthanization and sterilization. Those are our primary objectives.”
Takoda found Hoot’s arguments hard to rebut but assassinating Neville was wrong. He looked at Yon. The pained expression on her face told him she felt the same way. She leaned toward the holoscreen and said, “Hoot, assassinating an innocent man is against what we stand for. Don’t do it.”
“I second that. It’s a bad idea,” Takoda said. “Attacking NASF headquarters and assassinating Neville will only enrage the New Atlantian government more. Plus, it will draw the Guild into the mix. They’ve treated us as nuisances up until now, but not if we murder one of their own. Together with the New Atlantians, they’ll come after us. They’ll demand action from Carapach. We’ll get thrown out of the country or end up running from two security forces and the Guild.”
There was a long pause before Hoot responded. “Perhaps you are right.”
Takoda bowed his head and praised the four gods.
“We must pray the Guild intervenes and prevents NASF from interrogating Thompson,” said Hoot. “But, if he talks, Takoda, make no mistake about it, Beacon will be gravely affected.”
“I understand that, Hoot. And I’m sorry. I should have spoken up sooner,” Takoda said.
“Yes, but as you noted earlier, Takoda, what’s done is done. Now, we must make the best of our situation. Which means no more delays. I will have Sarah Hearns brought to you at once. Let us hope the information she provides is worthy of the costs we have incurred.”
Palace of Prefect Munoz
Minneapolis, Lakelands Province, New Atlantia
Jordyn entered Prefect Munoz’ private quarters and scanned the environment. Her audio sensors detected the sounds of giggles and moans coming from the direction of the bedroom suite. She approached the room’s double doors and signaled the apartment’s central control panel to toggle off the privacy setting on the bedroom cameras, allowing her surveillance module to tap into and activate the cameras.
Her command authorized, she saw the prefect was engaged in relations with two females, one android, one human. Jordyn signaled the andro engaged in the tryst to pause her activities and tell the prefect that Jordyn needed to speak with him. Urgently.
Shortly thereafter, Jordyn detected the prefect’s voice as she watched him sit up on the bed and pound his fists on the mattress. “How many times must I tell that frigid bitch not to interrupt me when I’m entertaining guests!”
The human woman who had been on top of him rolled off the bed and walked toward the bathroom. Meanwhile, the android, whom Jordyn’s sensors identified as Heather-4, retrieved the prefect’s robe and handed it to him. He threw it on the floor and slapped Heather-4’s rear. “Get back in bed. Make sure to keep Alana wet and simmering until I come back.”
Jordyn signaled Heather-4 to wait until the prefect had left the room and then ordered the pleasure android to detain the human Alana in the bathroom until Jordyn provided further instructions. The prefect would not be returning anytime soon, she informed Heather-4.
As Heather-4 acknowledged the instructions, the naked prefect burst through the bedroom doors and screamed at Jordyn. “Are your circuits rusty? Did you not notice the privacy setting on the door?”
“I did, sir. I disabled it.”
Munoz padded across the marble foyer until he stood within inches of Jordyn. “Sounds like I need to make some changes to your privacy parameters. Now, what is so damn urgent?”
“The stealth team we sent to detain the Carapach doctors has been attacked and destroyed.”
“What? By whom?”
“Unknown at this time.”
“Well, it has to be either the Carapach police or Beacon, right?”
“Those are the most probable options.”
“So, why bother me with it? You handle it.”
Munoz turned and began walking back to the bedroom.
“There will be diplomatic repercussions, Prefect. Whether the Carapach police are directly involved or not, the government will protest the treaty violation. They may do so privately…or publicly. Either way, we need to discuss our response options.”
As Munoz continued to stride away, he called back over his shoulder. “Formulate our options. I will meet you in my office after I am finished with my guests.”
Jordyn advanced into the room, her strides calculated to reach Munoz before he passed from the sitting room into the bed-chamber. She slipped in front of him, barring his way. The prefect collided with her and began to fall. Jordyn grabbed his arm and pulled him back up. “There is more, sir.”
“What the hell are you doing, Jordyn? Out of my way.” He pulled his arm from her grip and pushed her in the chest. The Olympia did not budge.
“There was a security breach, Prefect. A serious one. The android assigned to Maj. Spiers, Sgt. Cassidy Willow, abetted the attack on the stealth team. Satellite footage confirms she left willingly from the scene of the conflict. Since then, we have been unable to re-establish communications with her brain core.”
Munoz gaped at her. In the background, Jordyn’s audio sensors picked up the human Alana yelling at Heather-4. “Let go of me this instant!”
Munoz heard the argument too, for he called to Alana, “What’s wrong, my sweet?”
“Your trampy little peasant bot won’t let me out of the bathroom. She’s hurting me.”
He turned back to Jordyn. “Tell Heather to release Alana. Now!”
Jordyn complied, relaying Munoz’ command to Heather-4. Concurrently, the prefect tried again to push past Jordyn, only to be blocked by the Olympia once more.
“This is not an appropriate time to continue your liaisons, sir,” said Jordyn. “We must meet with NASF leadership and the province high council to discuss the situation, immediately.”
The bedroom cameras were still active, providing Jordyn a feed of Alana gathering her clothes while she berated the naked Heather-4.
“Look, Jordyn, I’m not going to tell you again,” said Munoz, “Move out of the way and leave my quarters. I will summon you when I’m damned good and ready to talk. Until then, I have more urgent matters that require my full attention. Understood?”
“I advise you to devote your immediate attention to this serious matter.”
“So advised. Now, move your synthetic ass out of my way.”
This time, when Munoz shoved her in the chest, Jordyn stepped aside. As he brushed past, he nearly collided with Alana coming the other way.
“Where are you going, sweetness?” he asked.
“Forget it, Munie. The mood is gone.”
“Oh, don’t go. I’ll make it right. You’ll see. Heather will be a good peasant. Won’t you, dear?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Heather-4 curtseyed.
“See, Alana? Now, please, come back to bed, My Queen.”
“But she hurt me. Look at my wrist.”
“It wasn’t Heather, dear. It was this one. She put Heather up to it.” Munoz pointed at Jordyn. “It won’t happen again. Will it, Jordyn?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. Now be a good little Olympia and do as I instructed. Oh, and make sure to reactivate all privacy settings on your way out.”
Munoz tugged Alana back into the bed chamber and slammed the door shut. Jordyn turned and left his quarters, commanding the control panel to deactivate the bedroom cameras and relock the entry door upon her departure. As Jordyn walked toward the elevator, she transmitted two messages. The first was to Heather-4. “Satisfy them quickly.”
The second message went to the province’s NASF headquarters. In it, Jordyn directed the commander of the stealth division to prepare another team to insert into Carapach.
The commander responded within seconds. “Affirmative. Define mission objective.”
Jordyn entered the elevator and transmitted her instructions. “Locate and terminate the Hearns family, the Carapach doctors and Sgt. Cassidy Willow.”
As the elevat
or began its descent, Jordyn received the commander’s reply. “Roger that. What about Maj. Spiers? Recover and extract?”
“Negative,” Jordyn answered. “If you locate Maj. Spiers and he is still alive, terminate him too.”
Interrogation suite, NASF Province Headquarters
Minneapolis, Lakelands Province, New Atlantia
Naked and shivering, Neville Thompson squirmed against the binds clamping his wrists and ankles to the table. To his dismay, there was no give in the tension of the restraints. Instead, the binds squeezed even tighter. Neville grimaced and shouted at the interrogation bot. “You can’t treat me this way! I’m an evvie, a member of the Guild!”
“I am afraid you forfeited your standing when you lied to me.”
Neville cracked open his eyes and glared at the female Viper leaning over him. The pleasant lilt of her voice infuriated him.
“I did not lie, you bitch!”
She patted his hip. “Of course, you did. Three times, as a matter of fact. I even allowed you to revise your answers, but you refused.”
Thinking back to the earlier part of the interrogation, Neville recalled no moment when his NASF inquisitor confronted him about any answers he had given. “That’s not true.”
The slithery Viper shook her head and stroked his inner thigh in a manner Neville considered highly inappropriate.
“Remove your hand from my groin. I’ve had enough of your—”
It happened so fast, Neville was screaming before his brain could process the sights and sounds of the Viper smashing her fist into his kneecap. Amid his thrashing and cries of pain, he felt the android’s hand return to stroking his inner thigh and heard her hiss, “Now, let’s revisit your answers. Shall we?”
Briefing Room, NASF Province Headquarters
Minneapolis, Lakelands Province, New Atlantia
The stealth team commander pointed at the briefing room’s holodisplay. His finger circled three vehicles streaming down a solitary road surrounded by miles of prairie.
“This is a replay of the satellite feed after Beacon knocked Spiers’ unit out of action. Five vehicles originally arrived at the scene. These three left together, while the other two remained behind. The satellite operator couldn’t keep tabs on all five once the first three left the scene, so he tracked the first group to leave.”
The GODD Chip (The Unity of Four Book 1) Page 17
