Act 10
The rest of the evening back in California was uneventful. Rebecca, Mark and April left the Skunkworks after speaking to Napoleon and Illya. They arrived just in time to have dinner in the mess hall before retiring to their accommodation for the evening discussing their plans for the next day.
They had arranged with Petersen and Major Young to return back to the Skunkworks to see the XJ23-S make her next test flight which was scheduled for 11.00. Rebecca also wanted to speak with Lieutenant Colonel Hays before they left to try and see if they could find out who the leak might be.
April again brought tea to Rebecca's room the next morning; the two agents enjoyed their early morning gossips before they were joined by their colleagues.
Rebecca had contacted UNCLE late last night, trying to find any possible lead on personnel at Edwards base that knew about the Skunkworks secret projects.
There were not many from Edwards who knew of the projects and the names she did have (which she had obtained from Major Young and Petersen) didn't seem to have anything flagged up as suspicious.
"So how's it going Becca?"
"I don't know April, I can't seem to find anyone with anything even remotely linked to THRUSH. I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall."
"Maybe Hays would let you look through the personnel files here? There could be something in them that isn't known to UNCLE"
"Mmm, maybe, if he'll give me clearance."
"You could always get Waverly to pull strings if he refuses."
"I'd rather not do that if I can help it, they only just tolerate us here now as it is."
"True."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door followed by Mark letting himself in. "Don't you two ever go to bed?"
Rebecca grinned "Only when there is a certain Russian in mine!"
April groaned "Yes, but I bet you don't do much sleeping!"
"We do….. eventually!" Rebecca laughed.
"Enough of your night-time habits Rebecca!" said a blushing Mark "Are we getting breakfast this morning?"
"Yes, come on let's go, I am hungry." April said as she linked her arms through Rebecca and Marks' and they proceeded to make their way to the mess hall.
After they had breakfast, they went to see Lieutenant Colonel Hays.
"Ah, good morning ladies and gentleman. How are we progressing?"
"We are gradually getting the information we need Lieutenant Colonel Hays, there are just a couple of loose ends that we need to tie up."
"That is good to know. If I can help in any way, you just need to ask Miss Andrews."
"Thank you, we know which aircraft THRUSH is interested in, but we are still trying to find the contact in the hopes that it will lead us to the mastermind of this little escapade."
"Your interrogation of our Mr Reinhardt hasn't revealed that information then?"
"No, unfortunately he didn't know the identity of his contact." Replied April. "It would help us if you could provide a list of personal who know anything about projects at the Skunkworks please Sir."
"Yes, I can do that for you Miss Andrews, I will have them ready for you in about 10 minutes."
"Thank you. I will come back in 10 minutes then."
The agents left the office and walked over to where Cody was waiting to take them back to the Skunkworks in the jeep. "Are you ready Miss Andrews?"
"It will just be April and Mark Cody, I'm stopping here for the moment, I have some research to do. I will contact you through April when I need collecting."
"Okay, Ma'am, I hope you find what you're looking for. I'll be ready to collect you any time Miss Andrews.
"Thank you Cody" Rebecca turned to April and Mark. "I'll let you know as soon as I find anything."
"Okay Rebecca, be careful."
"Aren't I always?" Rebecca laughed. "Besides I don't think I can be in a safer place than this, surrounded by all these big strapping air force guys!"
"Oh ho, don't let your Illya hear you say that!" laughed Mark.
April and Mark got in the jeep and Cody sped off, taking them to the Skunkworks. Rebecca wished that she could have gone with them, she would have loved to see the aircraft fly, even if it did hurt her eyes. She watched them go and then made her way back to Hayes office.
"Ah, Miss Andrews. I have the files you requested. I have assigned the room next door to you. I thought you may prefer the privacy."
"Thank you Lieutenant Colonel." She followed him to the room that had been provided for her. A large stack of files were on the table.
"If you need anything, you just need to ask."
"Thank you." She said as Hayes left the room shutting the door behind him.
Rebecca sat down and looked at the stack of files in front of her. She sighed as she thought of the boring task ahead of her and wished now that she has assigned this to either April or Mark. She decided that she would contact Napoleon first. "Open Channel F please."
"Napoleon here. Good morning Rebecca."
"Hello Napoleon, not much to report at the moment. How about you?"
"We think that our new found friend could be a member of the feathered variety, she seemed eager to mention that there was a lab on the base."
"Oh, that's interesting, so any idea where this lab is located?"
"Only a vague idea, we are planning on having a look tonight. What's your plans for today?"
"Well, I am at this moment in a small room at Edwards and looking at a large pile of paperwork, while Mark and April are on their way to the Skunkworks to see our prototype jet put through a test flight."
"Ahh, well, you know how I feel about paperwork, so I don't envy you there! What's the paperwork for?"
"I'm going through the files of all personnel who have contact with the Skunkworks to see if I can find a link to THRUSH."
"Okay, well if you find anything, let me know."
"Yes, will do. I'll contact you again tonight. Andrews out."
She picked up the first file and started to read through it. Markus Kendry; he was a pilot and was one of the regulars who were required to fly some of the aircraft from The Lockheed works, though mostly ones that had been modified rather than experimental ones. He had been at Edwards for over 7 years and had a glowing record, there was no mention of anyone in his file connected to any THRUSH they knew. She closed it up, put it to one side and took the next file.
After she had gone through 10 files, she contacted Records at HQ giving them the names of the personnel to see if there was anything in their files there. There wasn't.
She repeated the process with another 10 files, also with no results. She sat back and looked at her watch, 2 hours had passed. 'God, this is going to be a long job' she thought.
She went to find a cup of coffee and took it back with her. And went through the rest of the files, after another 2 and a half hours, she had gone through all files, but there was nothing she could find to link any of them to THRUSH. She sat back and sighed. She then realised that she didn't have the Lieutenant Colonel's file. She got up to go and request that she see his file.
She knocked on Hayes' door. "Come in" he answered.
Hayes looked up as she entered "Miss Andrews, please sit down. Have you found anything?"
"No Lieutenant Colonel, they all seem to be clear."
"Ah, that is good. What are you going to do now?"
"Actually, I came to ask to see your file sir, it wasn't included with the ones I had."
"No, I am afraid that I cannot allow that Ma'am."
"I am sorry, sir, but this is an important investigation and I really do need to see your file."
Hayes was becoming angry at Rebecca's insistence. "I have said that you cannot see my file. That is final. I do not care how important your investigation is, my file is classified."
"I am sorry sir, but I can't accept that." And Rebecca stormed out.
She went back to her assigned quarters, a bit uneasy with Hayes outburst, it seemed suspicious that he refused access to his file so vehemently. "Open channel D, Waverly please."
"Waverly here. What can I do for you Miss Andrews?"
"I have been checking personnel files at Edwards who have regular contact with the Lockheed instillation."
"Yes, I am aware of that Miss Andrews. Nothing has been turned up I understand."
"No sir. But there is one file that I am having difficulty in obtaining permission to see."
"Oh? Whose is it, Miss Andrews"
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Hayes, Sir."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do. I will contact you in a few minutes. Waverly out."
Rebecca disconnected her pen communicator and waited for The Old Man's return call. After 10 minutes her communicator beeped.
"Andrews."
"Miss Andrews, Mr Hayes has now been ordered to allow you to see his file. I don't think he is going to be too happy about it, so I would watch your step."
"Yes Sir, Thank you. Andrews out."
She returned back to Hayes office.
"Sir, I believe I now have permission to view your file."
He was fuming and practically threw the file at her.
"I do not appreciate people going behind my back Miss Andrews. I can make your stay here very unpleasant for you, you know."
"As I told you before, this is an important investigation and for me to carry it out to the best of my abilities I need to see everything to do with it. That includes your file as you also have regular contact with the Lockheed facility."
"I would have thought that with my position, I would be beyond suspicion."
"Sir, no one is beyond suspicion, not when THRUSH is involved." And she walked out of his office to the room allocated to her.
The stacks of files were still on the desk from earlier. She moved them to the side and started to read through Hayes file. There were some names of personnel mentioned in his file that she the files to on her desk, but there were also some names that she didn't know. She contacted Records at HQ again to see if there was any information they had on these new names.
This time she hit paydirt. One of the names was a known THRUSH operative. Hans Vogelsoor was connected to Reinhardt and was a weapons scientist at Leipheim. 'Bingo' thought Rebecca. "Open channel F, Dancer please."
"Dancer here, found anything Rebecca?"
"Yes, but I can't say here. I will meet you there in a couple of hours, please send Cody to collect me. I'll tell you then."
"Okay, Becca. Cody's here and has heard you. He's already on his way. We'll see you later. Dancer out."
Just then her door was flung open and Hayes stormed in.
"I'm sorry, I overheard you in the corridor. Why did you have to insist on seeing my file? It would have been much better for you to have accepted my answer. Now I'm afraid I am going to have to deal with you"
He signalled to someone standing outside the door and two heavy built guards entered and grabbed Rebecca by the arms, she struggled to get free of their grip, but they held her tight. Hayes smirked
"Take her away, I'll deal with her in a minute." And he left the room.
She had to move quickly, she bit one on the hand and he quickly let go shaking his hand as she pulled her arm free
"You bitch!" he shouted.
She punched the other guard in the face with her free hand and his nose pored with blood, she took her chance and ran for the door only to be stopped by Hayes throwing a punch to her stomach as she came round the door doubling her over.
"Get here Garcia, Lopez. Can't you two do anything right."
The two guards took Rebecca again and dragged her to the cell block and put her in the cell next to Konrad. Konrad saw her dragged past and sneered at her.
"Well look who's come to join me, got in a little over your head eh?"
Rebecca didn't look or pass any comment. She was thrown into the cell and they roughly searched her. They took her communicator, knife and gun and chained her to the wall by the bed before locking the door behind them as they left.
"Enjoy your stay!" Garcia and Lopez laughed as they walked away.
Rebecca sat on the bed cursing herself, she knew that it would be hours before April and Mark would know that something had happened. Cody would be back at the base to pick her up within the next hour, but would he think that something was wrong when he wouldn't be picking her up. She only hoped that he would realise that something was not right and would inform April and Mark quickly. As she was thinking about things, the door opened and Hayes and his goons walked in.
"Well, I know you have found a connection between me and THRUSH. It's too bad for you though, I know THRUSH would like to get their hands on you, they have grown quite interested in you."
"I'm sure they have, but they won't learn anything from me."
"Well we can see about that can't we? I have been allowed to 'soften' you up, it's not often we get UNCLE agents in our humble little establishment; and don't think rescue will be coming any time soon. I know Cody is on his way here, but he will find that you have left with another driver and by the time your two colleagues know it will be too late." He sneered "Hang her up and get her ready, I will be back in a minute."
The two goons took the chains from the wall, they removed her blouse and threw it on the bed before hanging her from the ceiling, leaving her hanging with her feet just touching the floor.
Hayes returned, just as they had finished, carrying a whip in his hand. He walked around her an evil glint in his eyes; he ran the whip over her body.
"such a fine body, it's almost a shame to spoil it!"
"Only almost?" Rebecca replied.
The comment earned her a blow to her back, she gritted her teeth.
"That the best you can do?"
"You are a lippy one aren't you! Now, tell me what you know."
Rebecca didn't answer and he landed a few more harder blows on her back.
She still refused to answer him or to cry out and he beat her across her lower back
"Answer me!"
Rebecca looked at him and smiled not letting the pain she was feeling show.
"Playing the silent game are you? I don't think you will hold out for long before you cry, I always believe that women are too weak for this kind of job!"
"I suppose you think we should be at home cooking and looking after children!"
"That's your proper place, not trying to live in a man's world!"
He hit her a few more times, she could feel blood trickling down her back,
"I will make you cry before long"
He leered at her, enjoying inflicting pain on her, he knew she was hurting, but he was annoyed that he couldn't get her to answer him or make her cry out. He caressed her body with the whip.
"Maybe Garcia and Lopez might enjoy trying to get something from you. They are, how shall I say, a bit heavy handed? Not quite so gentle as me I'm afraid!"
He walked around her, touching the wounds on her back with the tip of his whip. She sucked in her breath and bit her lip. Trying not to make a noise.
"But, of course if you want to avoid their way of doing things, you only have to tell me what you know. I also want to know who else is involved in your assignment."
Rebecca laughed, "You know who: April Dancer and Mark Slate, is your memory that short?"
Another blow landed across her shoulder blades, warm blood flowing down her back 'shit, that one's going to be deep' she thought, chewing her lip to stop herself making a noise.
"You know what I mean, I know you are reporting to someone else. Who is it and where are they?"
"Sorry, don't know what you mean."
"I think Garcia and Lopez may loosen your tongue."
He turned and left the room. She sagged in the restraints, the cuffs digging into the flesh on her wrists, blood trickling down her arms.
Within moments the two goons came in leering at her, one had the whip and the other a leather strap.
"Boss says we can have a bit of fun with you!"
"Oh, goodie, I can't wait!"
Rebecca replied sarcastically while thinking 'I've been with Illya so long his habit of tormenting captors is rubbing off on me'.
"Looks like the boss has had a bit of fun with her already" he said as he saw her back.
He proceeded to hit her hard with the belt a few times leaving burning trails across her back.
"Don't say much does she? Try her with your whip"
Garcia approached Rebecca, pure evil showing in his eyes making her cringe.
"My turn now eh? I'm going to make you loosen your tongue!"
He held the whip and cracked it across her back so hard that she thought she would be cut in two, she she felt more blood ooze down her back, he cracked it several more times, each time she found it harder not to let out a scream.
She wanted to curl up and cry, her back was burning, but the best she could do was to try and use her own hypnotic talents to try and shut out the pain and discomfort as much as she could. Her head drooped down, no longer having the strength to keep it up and could see her blood dripping on the floor around her feet. The whipping and beating with the strap was relentless; finally a moan escaped her lips just as blackness overtook her.
She woke up and it took her a while to remember where she was and what had happened, she was lying on her side on the bed, her blouse had been put back on and it felt stiff and rough against her sore back. Her back was throbbing, she moved slightly and cried out from the intense pain, it felt like her whole back was on fire, she tried to calm herself down and block out the pain by self-hypnotising, it helped… a little.
She looked down on the floor, a bowl of soup had been left by the bed, she tried to sit up, trying not to cry out in pain, it took her 10 minutes just to do a simple job of sitting and retrieving the bowl of soup. She drank it down, it was only luke-warm, but she was grateful for the moisture, her throat was so dry.
She didn't know how long she had been out for, our how long it had been since Hayes had gotten her. She looked around the room and her eyes lingered on the pool of blood on the floor before moving around the room, she couldn't see a way out, even if she could find the strength to try to get away, she knew she had lost a lot of blood by the way she felt, the pool of her blood proved just how much she had lost. She hoped that April and Mark would find her. She lay back down on the bed on her stomach, trying to block out as much of the pain as she could as she moved to try and get as comfortable as she could. Exhausted she fell into a restless sleep.