The Deserter

Casino stood back in admiration. This was a safe worthy of his talents. He leaned in close, flexed his fingers and placed them on the dials. Turning the first one he listened. Something moved at the corner of his eye and he looked up. The Guardian was watching him. Actor's words came back to him. "You better watch out, Casino, with his superior hearing he could take over your job and you would be out." His anger flared. Now was not the time so he turned around placing his back to the would-be copycat. It was awkward this way but he wasn't about to show his secrets to someone who was after his spot on the team. Garrison could be bossy and downright infuriating at times but he had it good here and he knew it.

It took almost half an hour but he did it. The door swung open and he reached in taking the contents. Separating out the envelope he wanted, fortunately there was only one, he replaced the papers with the set he had brought, then, put everything back in the safe. He had eyed the bundle of cash and briefly considered bucking Garrison's admonishment to not touch anything else so the General would not know they had been there. If there was a way to make it look like the watchdog did it …In his mind he saw himself explaining how the Guardian had rushed over and grabbed the money and how he couldn't stop him. Weak. Even the dumbest cop wouldn't believe him. Sadly he caressed the cash with the backs of his fingers then withdrew his hand, closed the safe and wiped it down. Old habits die hard. Quickly the two men moved to the window. Chief held the sash while Casino climbed out. He then held it for Chief. The two men ran to the corner. Chief peered around the corner then motioned to his team mate as he moved out into the street. Back to the safe house and they were done. All they had to do was wait for the others who had been providing their diversion and for their transport to the coast.

The wait was extended when their transport was delayed by some heavy enemy traffic so Garrison decided to wait it out. They were safe, for now, in an old stable. The building, large enough to shelter a small flock of sheep or goats, was now empty but the hay in the loft made for somewhat comfortable sleeping. Chief, who had the watch, had moved into a clump of trees nearby. It was early fall and the leaves had turned and some had fallen but many were still clinging to the branches. From there he could see anyone coming or going. It had been quiet for a time until he had felt it. There was someone there, he couldn't tell where but he was coming closer. He slowly crouched down and watched and listened until he heard a sound. He pulled back behind a pile of deadwood as he saw the shadow step away from the tree trunk. The shadow formed into a man who moved slowly closer. He was not tall but from the dark loose clothes it was hard to tell his build.

The man stopped about twenty feet away and said "I come with empty hands." He held his hands out flat palms forward and away from his body. "You with them?" He nodded slightly towards the stable.

"Yeah."

"He trust you or is he dead?"

Well, Garrison didn't really trust him, just enough to let him take the watch. That was close enough. "He's alive."

"Lucky," and he shivered as he wrapped his arms around himself. "I couldn't take it anymore."

Chief understood. He had been there before and knew the only way out. No blame, no remorse. "Whatchoo'on?"

"One, not since yesterday. You?"

He couldn't tell him he was clean. If the guy got caught he might tell. Best distract him. "Whatta ya gonna do?"

"Don' know. Got anythin' to eat? I ain't ate in days."

Chief looked closer; close enough to see the haunted look in his eyes. He was young, probably early twenties, with the dark broad face of his race but even under his colouring Chief could see the bruises and swelling. The scarf was obviously covering the tell-tale collar. He lightly touched the scarf that was around his own neck. "No."

"You get me some'm ta eat and I'll kill yer Handler for ya." He sounded desperate and deadly.

"No." It was an automatic response.

"Why, you like it?" he said with a sneer. You like pleasin'm", the disgust clear in his voice.

Chief knew what he was referring to. Few Guardians had been lucky enough to escape the clutches of the abusive trainers.

The question now forced him to consider his relationship with Garrison? Did he want him dead? He is a Handler, he does control him. He had always vowed to never let anyone control him. He could kill him. It would be easy. He had his knife. All he had to do was wait until they were alone then stick him.

He visualized Garrison, the looks he gave him, questioning, watching … never hatred or disgust. Well, once he did but never since, and that was different. He talked to him the same as he talked to Casino and maybe even Goniff. Actor he talked to differently in a way but then he was older than him. Maybe that was why. Garrison did get him off the drugs. It would have been easier to just keep giving them to him. He could have sent him back to GCAT. On that mission to the rocket site when he had messed up so bad, going out like that, the guy never cursed at him or hit him. His present situation, was not perfect but he had it good. No, he didn't want him dead. Would the other guy understand? How could he explain? He couldn't. Would he be believed? No, but he had to say something so he didn't go ahead and kill him anyway. "No, I'll do it."

The other Guardian shivered. The withdrawal symptoms, he knew, having been through them, were bad; the shakes, the pain and the sweating, but the worst was the confusion. Actor said he had been hallucinating. Whatever it was called, it was terrifying. He did not want to see the guy suffer but he could not trust him. If he got caught he would tell them about him. He could not afford that. If GCAT knew he was off the drugs …. Did Garrison know what would happen? He had to tell him, somehow, so that he didn't accidently tell. If that happened he would have to kill someone then go on the run like last time. He would have to be careful though, especially since Casino was against him. If Casino knew then he would tell for sure.

Why did Actor have to say he could take Casino's job. He didn't know the first thing about opening safes. He didn't care either. Ever since then the safecracker kept giving him rotten looks. He had ignored him but he was getting tired of it. He didn't want to have to kill him too.

As soon as that though appeared, he quashed it. He couldn't kill him and stay on the team. Garrison had believed that Wheeler had died because he was out of position but killing another one of the team would be too much. Garrison wasn't stupid.

"You know any place I could hole up, do ya?" he was now holding his stomach. The cramps had come back.

"There's nothing back that way," and he motioned the direction they had come from, "but there might be someplace near the stream. Maybe a shed or some'm. If there is, I'll see what I can get for ya."

By now the other Guardian was almost doubled over with the pain. "Some booze would be good," he managed to say through gritted teeth as he limped away.

From ten feet away, Casino called out in as normal a voice as he could, "Hey Geronimo. I'll take over; you can go in now." He waited until they were passing then said threateningly, "Just one thing. If I or either of the other guys even think you're gonna do it, we'll kill you first. You got that?"

Chief had turned to go then stopped at the threat he didn't understand, at least not at first. Casino had heard? Shit! How had he gotten close enough without him hearing. Normally Chief would listen and watch in all directions. He knew danger could come from any direction. With the appearance of another Guardian, he had been distracted. Instead of listening around, he had concentrated on what the other was saying and on how to protect himself from him. He was not listening or watching which is why Casino must have gotten close enough to hear him say he would kill his handler.

Now what? He wanted to deny he said anything but Casino had obviously heard him. If he explained that he didn't mean it then he would want to know who he was and he sure didn't want to explain to Casino. That would only be more ammunition against him. Casino wanted to get rid of him as it was. He didn't want to help him. He had to say something. "I lied to get rid of'm."

"Or yer lying now but I'm not. I even think you're gonna and I swear I will kill you."

"I ain't." Casino stood glaring at him but not moving so he turned and walked back to the stable. Had he had enough time to tell the others? Did he tell Garrison? The worry made him cautious so he listened closely as he neared the structure. There was the usual sounds of people moving about but no voices. Even when he entered no one spoke. There was some tension and no one would make eye contact. Maybe he had. He would just lay low and wait. If he tried to tell Garrison that he hadn't meant it and he didn't know …. Best to keep quiet.

And what about the food the other asked for? Chief knew what it was like to be hungry. He also knew what it was like to go through withdrawal. The other said he was on one so it was not as bad as his was on three. He knew that if Garrison and Actor had not been there he would have died. The Trainers had made him watch a Guardian rip himself apart from the pain. Chief would never forget the sight and his screams that had lasted until his final breath. He could not help the other with the pain but a can of their rations would help relieve the hunger cramps. There was nothing else he could do.

He wandered over to their food cache and picked up a can. There were no pictures so he had no idea what was in it but Goniff said it was edible. Without looking around he headed for the door but was stopped, heart pounding by a voice.

"Where you going?" asked Garrison. It was not actually suspicious but it was not making conversation either.

"I gotta take a leak." He had turned to look back and forced himself to look his CO in the eye. You Never look a Handler in the eye but Garrison demanded that he do it. Maybe he just wanted to prove he was not a Handler. For whatever reason, he had forced himself to push past his training and do it.

Garrison held his gaze, unblinking until Chief dropped his eyes, turned back and walked out the door. Chief was glad Garrison was not a Guardian, though it was a wonder even he could not hear his heart pounding.

Once outside he moved off behind the manure pile then without looking back he unbuttoned his pants.

After relieving himself he listened hard. There was no one around so he moved toward the river. Maybe the other had found somewhere to hide. He was about to turn back when he felt it. He was near. There were no buildings but a stone wall ran right down to the river. About ten feet back some brush had been piled against the stone. When he approached he saw the huddled shape. Carefully he approached and put down the can. Without a word he turned to leave but was stopped by a grunt that he knew was a 'thanks'. Trying to look casual he headed back to the stable.