Chapter 38: Knife Fight

"James, were you able to get in contact with our man on the outside? He's the only one who can get that information to Helian."

Welrod was stuffing a satchel that James had borrowed from logistics, to the brim with as much dirt on Archibald as she could. Faked combat reports, money flow documents, and personnel files, anything that could prove the new commander's utter incompetence. This was their one chance to change the future of Sector 78, and they had to act now. James, who was busily downing his third bottle of whiskey, let out a loud belch.

"Oh aye, I go' in contac' with your *hic* man… uh… Jack…. Jason…"

"John, Sir."

"Oh aye, him too!" The man popped open his fourth bottle of poison, and took a large swig.

"Alright Sir, remember: if I'm going to be able to slip out, the distraction needs to grab the entire base's attention. That's the only way I'll be able to requisition a vehicle from the motor pool."

Welrod flipped the top of the satchel over and snapped it shut, sealing her precious cargo inside.

"Oh, don' worry lass, I'll give em one hell of a show!"

With a loud guffaw, James threw his head back and guzzled down half the bottle of whiskey in one go, much to Welrod's astonishment.

This may have been a poor decision.

Welrod didn't have time to question her choice, as the hourly siren yet again disturbed the relative peace, announcing breakfast. The girl threw the bag over her shoulders and motioned for her team to follow her out. Welrod looked back one last time at James before she shut the door: the man was doing what could only be described as a tribal dance.

Yes... a very poor decision.

Echelon 3 made their trek towards the dining hall, as Welrod ran the mission through her head.

Ok, one last time: James is going to somehow distract the base long enough for me to slip out unseen and give this intelligence to John. I need to get to the dead drop, make the hand-off, and then return before Archie realizes I've gone missing. I do this, and Commander Archibald's days are numbered. Elementary.

"Well boss, you ready to pull off the caper of a lifetime?"

Grizzly pulled up alongside her leader, giving the girl an inquisitive look.

"I've been longing for this moment since Archibald arrived, I'm more than prepared to knock him from his pedestal."

"Good, because I'm itching to get my motorcycle back!" Grizzly gave a thumbs up as she retreated to the back of the column.

"Yea Welrod! I want my ice cream privileges back… and my water bed!" WA2000 piped up from the middle of the group.

"I'm absolutely confident that Miss Welrod and James will succeed. They've been planning this mission for the past two days."

Lee Enfield gave Welrod a reassuring smile.

"Hell yea they will!" Calico yelled from the back of the column.

"I-I appreciate your belief in us, but can you keep it down, I don't want to get caught before the mission even begins!"

Calico mouthed the word sorry and returned to counting the number of dots on the ceiling.

The echelon finally made it to their destination; they walked into the dining hall and sat down amongst the other T-Dolls. The girls opened up their bags of enhancement pills and slowly popped them into their mouths one by one. Several minutes passed in complete silence. Welrod scanned the room nervously as handlers began casting glances in their direction. They were beginning to realize someone was missing.

James, where the bloody hell are you?!

"Hey! Where the hell is your handler?"

Clint stormed over to where Echelon 3 was sitting, looking absolutely furious.

"Well? Spit it out androids!" The man looked from one girl to another, before setting his eyes on Welrod.

"Squad leader! Why are you wearing that satchel?! That is G&K property!"

Welrod opened her mouth to reply when the dining hall doors slammed open.

"Oi! Clint! Where are you ye cunt?!" An absolutely smashed James stumbled into the dining hall.

"James you drunk bastard! What the hell is wrong with you? It's not even mid-morning!"

James continued stumbling his way towards the echelon, using one of the tables as support. The man knocked over dishes, glasses, food, and anything not nailed down, much to the resentment of the other handlers.

"I've got some unfinished business with you… *hic* Clint! You still gotta pay for what yee said the oth… *hic* other night!"

James hurled an object at Clint. It bounced off the man's chest and clattered to ground.

"...a butter knife James? Oh… you're going to fight me? How cute."

James let out a laugh. His right hand was clasping his own butter knife. As the man drew closer, more and more heads were turning in the two's direction.

"Oh, I intend to fight! You… well… you'll just flail angrily won't yee? If ya hit like a woman in a fist fight, I'm curious to see your skills with a blade!"

Clint stiffened as the insult reached his ears; his hands curled into fists.

"Oh! Struck a nerve have I?! Not that I should be surprised, you were always such a nancy!" James was now within spitting distance of Clint.

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Calico and Grizzly had started up a chant, which was immediately picked up by the other T-Dolls, and even some of their handlers.

Clint sneered.

"It seems you haven't learned your lesson. I'm going to have to give it to you again!"

Clint cracked his knuckles. James let out another guffaw, before starring the man dead in the eye.

"That's what I said to your mother last night!"

Clint and James hurled themselves at each other, their butter knives at the ready. The entire dining hall rushed to get front row seats for the brawl of the year. Welrod let everyone rush passed her, the mass of bodies blocking her view of the fight, before slowly rising to her feet and edging for the door. The girl could hear whistles being blown as well as panicked screaming.

"Someone stop that ruffian this instant!"

Alright James, you played your part perfectly, now it's the Duchess's turn.

With a smirk, Welrod bolted for the exit. She threw open the doors and ran towards the motor pit, the sounds of the fight gradually fading in the distance. The girl passed by the repair station, and took a hard right, exiting the inner sanctum of the compound. She quickly approached the motor pool, and grabbed the keys of one of the Land Rovers off the wall. The girl mounted the vehicle, and inserted the keys. The engine roared to life as she turned the keys, and with a squeal of the tires, she accelerated out of the compound and down the road towards downtown Glasgow.