McNeil crawls out of the wreckage and drags Gorbul with him. Rogar is dead, hanging through a windshield. McNeil opens fire at the NOD troops while Umagon and Chandra crawl out as well. They all get on their feet and flee into the woods while NOD fires after them.
It doesn't take long before another APC and a truck arrives and unloads two dozen NOD soldiers that all begin to chase our heroes. A NOD Hind-helicopter arrives and lands and General Kovacs climbs out with bodyguards.
Our heroes runs through the woods, chased by NOD troops. Chandra trips due to his wounded leg. Gorbul runs over and helps Chandra along. McNeil and Umagon try to provide cover-fire. The NOD APC arrives and opens fire, spraying Chandra and Gorbul with bullets and the two of them fall to the ground.
Seeing Gorbul shot dead, Umagon cries out. "NOOO!"
McNeil drags Umagon with him through the woods in an attempt to flee. They both run for all their worth. That's when dogs catch up with them. Umagon kills one before she is dragged down by two others. McNeil is dragged down by two other dogs. NOD catches up and surrounds McNeil and Umagon and pull back the dogs. General Kovacs walks through the NOD soldiers, eyes the captives and smiles viciously.
XXX XXX
A black "limo-helicopter" with NOD insignias fly in over a demolished base that has NOD flags everywhere. It lands and allows Slavik to disembark. Slavik looks on as a GDI flag is torn down by NOD soldiers. He also spots GDI POW's stacking dead friends under guard by NOD troops. A Humvee drives up to Slavik and General Kovacs steps out.
"General Slavik" Kovacs says and salutes. "It is an honor to have you here."
"General Kovacs" Slavik says. "How strong are your forces?"
"I have three full cyborg regiments ready, sir" Kovacs replies.
"Excellent" Slavik nods. "We must move on Monaco as soon as possible."
They climb into the Humvee and drive through the base.
"Something interesting happened the other day" Kovacs says.
"Really?"
"Yes. A pickup broke through one of our checkpoints. They gave up a pretty good fight, even took out an APC."
"GDI commandoes?" Slavik wonders.
"No" Kovacs says. "Much more interesting. A couple of mutants and a GDI colonel."
Slavik turns to Kovacs, quite surprised. "What?"
Kovacs nods. "Yes. The colonel survived, so did one of the mutants. We're holding them as POW's at the moment."
"A GDI colonel and mutants?" Slavik thinks out loud. "I think I'll have a word with this colonel."
XXX XXX
McNeil is heavily bruised, hands tied behind his back, and placed in a chair by a table. A NOD soldier standing on either side of him. Slavik and Kovacs enter the small room and McNeil looks up and he and Slaviks eyes lock.
"Michael?" Slavik says astonished.
"Anton?" McNeil says, him too surprised.
Slavik sits down opposite of McNeil.
"It's been a while, Anton" McNeil says. "I heard you'd become Kanes number one brown-nose."
"And I heard your brother died up in Stockholm" Slavik says. "I'm sorry. He was a good kid."
"Yeah" McNeil nods, saddened by the memory. "He was."
"I also heard" Slavik continues, "that you went missing in action up in northern Germany. So what are you doing down here in southern France… with mutants?"
"What's it look like?" McNeil says. "Getting beat up."
Slavik chuckles. "Same old Michael. You know, it's really good to see you again after all these years."
McNeil frowns. "Sorry I can't say the same."
"Don't do this" Slavik says. "Don't piss me off, Michael. I'm really glad to see you alive, so don't start this shit!"
"What do you want me to do?!" McNeil snarls. "Pretend you're not an asshole?!"
Slavik simply looks at McNeil with a giant frown on his face. "Hit him" he then says. "Hit him hard."
One of the guards grabs McNeil by the neck and slams his head into the table. McNeil is almost knocked unconscious by the hit and is out of it for a moment.
"Alright, Michael" Slavik says. "I'll play your game. I will make you experience pain as never before. You'll scream and beg for mercy until you have told me every little GDI secret that you know, and then… then I will send your head to Solomon." Slavik gets on his feet and heads for the door. Before leaving, he turns to Kovacs. "Put him on my chopper when I leave. He's coming with me."
"Yes, sir" Kovacs says.
Slavik leaves. Kovacs gives the two guards a nod before she too leaves and then the guards begin to deliver punches to McNeil again.
XXX XXX
Umagon is in a cell, as bruised as McNeil. Looking at her through a hatch in the door is Slavik. Outside the door, Slavik is joined by Kovacs.
"It hasn't said a word so far" Kovacs says. "Not a sound. Not even when my men raped it."
"Have you established its nationality?" Slavik asks. "It's origins?"
"Not yet" Kovacs says.
Slavik then opens the door and steps into the cell, earning a glance from Umagon.
"Like I said" Kovacs says, "not a sound."
Slavik kneels next to Umagon and turns her head to face him. "Why were you with the GDI colonel? What are you doing here? You will talk, trust me… You will talk." Slavik then stands up again. "General, it's coming with me as well."
Kovacs is a bit unsure at first. "As you wish, sir" she then says.
XXX XXX
A Humvee drives through the base, passing units of Cyborgs that are mounting up onto APCs. The Humvee drives up to Slaviks limo-helicopter, Slavik exits the Humvee and climbs into the helicopter. The hatch closes and the helicopter takes off and flies away.
The interior of Slaviks helicopter is luxurious and high-tech. Slavik sits down in a comfortable chair, opposite of McNeil and Umagon, both in handcuffs and sitting in a comfortable sofa. Slavik pours himself a drink.
"So, Anton" McNeil says. "Killed any civilians lately?"
"Why are you being like this, Michael?" Slavik asks. "It's been, what, fifteen-sixteen years? Let it go."
"Let it go?!" McNeil says in disbelief. "You shot eighteen civilians! Some where kids damn it!"
"They were hiding Tiberium-smugglers, Michael" Slavik defends himself. "They were criminals stealing from GDI."
McNeil is in disbelief. "That's… That's not the point. The point is…"
"The POINT" Slavik cuts in, "is, Michael, that you're losing this war and we're not. It's the destiny if the Brotherhood to rule this world. To rule this planet. And do you know why that is possible? Because the Brotherhood has the resolve to make such decisions a thousand times a day. They is why GDI is losing this war, Michael. You don't have the guts to sacrifice thousands of innocent lives to obtain your goals."
McNeil can't believe what he's hearing. "You're insane, Anton. Completely insane."
Slavik sips from his drink. "We live in a crazy world, Michael. And in a crazy world, the insane are destined to become kings."
XXX XXX
Nighttime. Slaviks helicopter flies in over a mountainous landscape. Slavik looks out a viewport.
"We have arrived" Slavik says.
Umagon and McNeil look out another viewport, just as the helicopter flies through a giant cloaking-field. As they break through, a massive base is revealed, a small town and everywhere we see NOD banners. McNeil can't believe his eyes. The helicopter flies towards the center of the huge base and circles the impressive structure that is the Temple of NOD. The helicopter eventually lands next to the Temple.
McNeil is on his in a room with medical equipment and a couple of doctors, strapped to a bed. The door opens and Kane enters the room.
"Good evening, colonel" Kane says. "Comfortable?" There is no reply from McNeil. "No? Well, no matter. As I understand it, you have been missing in action from some weeks. I imagine you are not up to date on the war effort? I am happy to tell you that NOD forces have taken both Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and Rome is under siege. And we've begun our move on Monaco. As you can imagine, we are quite pleased by our recent victories. Now, my good friend Slavik tells me you were caught in southern France together with a couple of mutants. Which I find odd since mutants don't trust us humans whatsoever. What I want to know is what you've been up to, colonel. What have you been doing this past month? Have you been talking to the mutants sacred leaders? Can I expect a world-wide mutant uprising against NOD? Talk to me, colonel, or you will regret it. I promise you."
"Go to hell, Kane" McNeil growls.
Kane gives a nod to the doctors. One doctor gives McNeil a syringe with blue liquid and moments later McNeil screams from pain.
"See you tomorrow, colonel" Kane says and then leaves the room. Outside, Slavik is waiting. "Work on him all night, general" Kane tells Slavik. "I want results by morning."
"Yes, my lord" Slavik says and Kane walks away. Slavik enters the room where McNeil is suffering from pain. "Well, Michael, do you have something to tell me?"
McNeil finds strength in between the pain. "I can't think of anything."
"Electrocute him" Slavik says with a frown.
A doctor pushes a button and McNeil screams as his body tenses up by electrical-chock.
"Did that improve your memory?!" Slavik asks. "Again!"
Another surge of electricity shoots through McNeil.
"It's no use, Michael" Slavik says. "Eventually we will brake you. Tell you what; give me a GDI secret and we will let you alone for, say, an hour." Slavik watches as McNeil tries to cope with the pain. "Well?" But McNeil is silent. "What a fool you are" Slavik says and gives the doctors a nod.
McNeil is given another injection and is then electrocuted once more, screaming from the immense pain, the body shaking from the torture.
XXX XXX
Umagon, now dressed properly after NOD has provided her with clothes, is escorted by two soldiers and Commander Qatar into a impressive lounge-area. Qatar points to a comfortable sofa and Umagon sits down. Qatar then sits down in an equally comfortable chair. After a few moments of silence, Kane enters the lounge.
"Ah! The ugly duckling" Kane says as he spots Umagon. "A beautiful mutant; what a paradox."
"She isn't much of a talker" Qatar says, playing with a combat-knife between her fingers. "She hasn't said a word since she got here."
"That's because she doesn't realize what generous hosts we are" Kane says and sits down next to Umagon. "What's your name? Est-ce que tu parles français? Sprichst du Deutsch?"
"Looks like the cat caught her tongue" Qatar says.
"No" Kane says and smiles at Umagon. "She's just stubborn. Tell me your name" he then asks Umagon. She does not answer him, so Kane grabs her hair and pulls it hard, making Umagon scream. Kane leans in close to her face. "You Will Speak To Me!"
"Umagon."
"What?"
"My… my name is Umagon."
"Finally" Kane says and lets go of Umagon. "So, where are you from?"
"Germany" Umagon says.
"And you were caught in southern France" Kane says. "That's a long journey. Why did you help the GDI colonel?"
"None of your business" Umagon says with a frown.
"Oh, I think it is" Kane says. "You see, I fear an alliance between your kind and GDI. And if that is the case here, I would not only fight a war on the frontlines against GDI, I would also have to fight mutant-terrorists deep within my borders. Now, I want to know why you helped this human instead of killing him as you usually do."
To be continued...