Gung Ho woke up with an aching head. The last thing he remembered was faking unconsciousness in the game room. He gave a soft groan. Somehow, he had lost actual consciousness.
He seemed to be laying on a cot – a very uncomfortable one, as he felt one of the bars poking into his side. Shifting, he glanced around, eyes wide in the darkness. He seemed to be in a small room, almost like a cell. There was a glow coming from the space under the door, the only light in the room. No window. He also seemed to be alone, he thought, frowning. Had his cover been blown?
He heard the door open and squinted against the bright light.
"Ah, Monsieur Chevalier, I see you have awoken."
Xamot stood in the doorway, a smile on his face.
"I have to apologize for your accommodations. Our infirmary is full at the present time with an illness we hadn't anticipated. If you had come a month later, this," he said, gesturing around him, "would look so much nicer!"
"Where exactly am I and what happened?" asked Gung Ho, rubbing the back of his head.
"You passed out during the card game and hit your head rather hard, I'm afraid. Our resident doctor advised that you rest and we see how you feel when you wake up. We thought you wouldn't want the inconvenience of a hospital visit."
Gung Ho frowned. "If I was injured, have you notified my wife?" he asked, wondering where Lady Jaye was at the present moment. He reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, but found it was gone.
"Ah, I'm afraid we had to remove any electronic devices from you, in case we needed to use the defibrillator. Don't worry – it's in a safe place with the rest of your valuables," Xamot said in a reassuring tone. "As for your wife, I'm afraid I have bad news."
Gung Ho narrowed his eyes and got up, making his way over to Xamot.
"What about my wife?" he growled, ready to strangle the smile out of the man.
"I'm afraid we've had a bit of an epidemic, and she's under quarantine. Don't worry – she is safe and under the care of our resident doctor. That is why, I apologize again, for the poor accommodations. We cannot have you exposed," he explained calmly, standing his ground.
Crossing his arms, he stared at the man. "I'd like to see my wife," he said again, using a slow but forceful tone. God knows what they could have done to Lady Jaye! "If I can't do that, then I demand my phone so I can at least communicate with her." He held his hand out.
Xamot nodded his head. "I'll see that it gets returned to you. It's in the vault right now, for safekeeping, so it'll take a few moments. Until then," he gestured towards the cot, "the doctor advised that you get some rest."
As Xamot started to close the door again, Gung Ho pushed his hand against it. "Wait a moment. If I'm supposed to get rest, why am I here, in this cell, and not upstairs in my own room?"
Xamot looked startled for a moment, but then his face smoothed into his usual genial smile. "It's so the doctor can see you easier. You are not too far from the infirmary, and it's easier for him to check up on your care."
"Then I demand the door be kept open, then. Unless….you are trying to hold me prisoner?"
"Ah, no," chuckled Xamot nervously, "I'm not sure why you would think that, Monsieur. By all means…I just didn't want you disturbed since you are in a busy part of the building, with our employees and such."
"That's fine," growled Gung Ho. "I'd rather not feel closed in."
Xamot bowed. "As you wish," he said, then backed out of the room.
Walking down the hallway, he allowed himself to roll his eyes. Idiot, he thought snidely, why do you think we have you in this room? Of course you're our prisoner! If you want your freedom…yours and your pretty little wife, then you will pay dearly!
He paused outside a door and took out a key. Unlocking the door, he entered the room and noted the women within seemed to be resting. Good. He glanced over at the small office in the corner, but saw the doctor was typing something on the computer within. The nurse, however, who had been sitting in the corner of the room, sauntered over to him, giving him a welcoming smile.
"Mr. Xamot," she cooed, "it's so nice of you to drop in!" She let a finger trail down his arm suggestively.
He gave her a smile. "Nurse Carrie, so nice to see you again. I take it that our patients are doing well?"
"Of course!" she simpered. "I doubt they'd put up a fight anyway, so used to having things done for them," she said bitterly. "Unlike myself," she said, returning to her breathy tone, pressing up against him. "I like to….work….for my pleasures."
Xamot allowed himself a brief fantasy, then gently pushed the woman away. "Tonight, my dear, we'll have to explore that further. I have to report to the Commander. You're sure they're all sedated? We wouldn't want any mistakes."
She was all business. "Yes, sir, they're out like a light and the drug keeps them from completely coming to, just like you ordered. The doctor is typing up the…bills…as we speak," she said, glancing over at the office.
Xamot nodded, picked up her hand and kissed it, with a promise of more to come, then left the way he came.
Bored, Carrie went to the office where Jim was typing. "How much longer do I have to babysit?" she complained, watching his back tense with her question. "These ladies aren't going anywhere. I'd like to go and get ready for my date tonight!"
Jim sighed. He really was a licensed doctor, but just hadn't finished his last year of residency. Stupid ethical laws, he grumbled to himself. Without turning around, he waved his hand, which Carrie took as a sign that she could leave. He heard the door shut firmly behind her.
Getting up, he personally checked on the women. Just to make sure, he picked up several arms, watching them drop limply on the bed. Carrie was right. There was no way these women were going to come to before the morning. He might as well pack it in for the night. He could come and check on them later. Meanwhile, he'd post a guard at the door, just in case. He didn't want to anger the Commander. He had promised Jim that, if some of the husbands couldn't pay for their wives care, that he could have a few of them to experiment with. Jim smiled. He wished he could pick which ones. He liked the woman with the red highlights. That, and the blonde southern one next to her. Whistling, he gathered up his things, shut down his computer, and called for a guard. Yes, he definitely had plans for the two of them. Maybe he'd just tell the Commander they didn't make it, and take them himself and hide them away. He pondered the possibilities as he walked out the door, carefully locking it behind him.