Chapter 12
"Why would I talk to you?" The Mutant across the table asked. They were inside an interrogation room and this unlucky lizard had been pegged to find out what he knew.
"Because if you don't, you'll get blamed for whatever happens to the Evil Chaser that's in the ICU," Arzu said from across the table. The metal chairs weren't overly comfortable but Arzu didn't want her quarry to be comfortable.
"Pretty sure it doesn't matter what happens to the pig. I'm screwed no matter what happens," he said.
"Listen Grotke, there's a big difference between five years for assault and life without parole for murder. You see what I'm saying? Of course, I hear the Penal Planet is lovely this time of year," Arzu challenged. Grotke narrowed his eyes at her.
"You're a traitor. Why would I believe you?" He asked.
"Because I curry favor with the Evil Chasers and ThunderCats. Tell me what I wanna know and you'll get protective custody and a short prison term. Don't and take your chances. I'm sure I can get someone else to squeal," she shrugged. The Mutant across the table from her looked like he was about to crack.
"I'm not the Captain. Why me?" He asked.
"The Captain couldn't see the forest through the trees. He remains loyal to the High Council. Tell me, when did the High Council last help Plundarr's soldiers out?" Arzu wondered.
"What if I want to defect?" Grotke wanted to know.
"You just tried to kill a bunch of defectors. Now you want to defect?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't press the button. I wasn't the one who gave the order. Colonel Rattigan gave the order and that moron of a Captain agreed to it," he said.
"Where is the Colonel?" Arzu inquired.
"Where would you expect him to be? He's sitting on his fat ass back home," Grotke said.
"So, he ordered the hit. How'd the defectors end up with such a piece of shit ship?" She wanted to know.
"All I know is that a report had come in about a ship fleeing the atmosphere. It was thought the ship was in bad enough shape that it wouldn't survive clearing the atmosphere. When it survived, we were ordered to go after it. There was a pretty good idea where they were heading. The Colonel wanted a booby trap. I think he figured we'd nail you or Slythe. When the Captain relayed that the Evil Chasers where on site, we were told to finish the mission. I'm guessing the Captain knew that it might be the end of us, but he did as he was told. Those poor bastards on the other ship… that's what they got for following orders," he said.
"They had to know what would be coming. They fired on innocent people who did not provoke them, in front of Evil Chasers," Arzu gave him a look.
"Perhaps they preferred suicide over what would be coming if they came home without completing their mission," Grotke pointed out. Arzu nodded. They both knew the price of failure and it wasn't something that they liked to talk about. Punishment completely depended on the commander and Colonel Rattigan wasn't exactly known for his understanding or lenience.
"Let me talk to my people and we'll see what we can do for you," she said. With that, Arzu left the room and met up with Commander McCoy in the room on the other side of the one-way glass.
"I've had my crew update Lion-O," he said.
"I hope you told him to prepare," Arzu said.
"For what?" McCoy gave her a confused look.
"I'm guessing by now that Rattigan knows his crews aren't coming back. He'll be making his plans. Much like his cousin, Rattigan doesn't give up," she told him.
"Then we'll make sure we're ready," McCoy nodded.
To Be Continued…